IF A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS...

HERE'S your 13,000 worth of words to chew on, in other words...here are 13 of our pictures. We took excursions to so many places. The people were so friendly. This guy just ran and jumped in my picture as John was trying to take it.

We drove through Rotterdam and saw the sites there.......

We went to a shoemaking village. Doesn't John look cute in these clogs...

This is your typical English breakfast...bacon, sausage, beans and bread. The

pancakes were good and yummy...kinda yeasty tasting...

We visited a Delft pottery shop...there are only two businesses that make this pottery in the world today. And there is this special signature thingy on the bottom of the originals...don't be fooled guys by the imitations. Yes, this pottery is beautiful...and no, I didn't get the vase that I'm holding $$$$$$. I got a tiny one that could hold one stem to be placed in my bedroom for fond memories of Holland.

There were so many shops in this village (Delft). There was a huge town square and Xmas tree that was breathtaking...

This shot is from the same little village square.

And this blue heart is the end of the town square.

This place was so exciting and fabulous. This is the northern rersort town called Scheveningen. That tall tower looking thingy is where you bungy jump. John wants to come back here. On January 1, people run into the north sea...some type of ritual...there are shops galore...really nice. Can't wait...maybe next time we can come in the spring when all of the flowers and tulips are in bloom.

This is the coolest place. John fell in love with Madurodam. This is the reason he wants to come back here and play in this miniature town with real trains that run through the place...it was too much for him...he says he has to come back. Okay...April 2009???

These windmills are in the town of Zaanse Schans. We toured a windmill, talked to people who told us the history of this area. Fascinating...you know 40% of the land has been reclaimed from the sea with these windmills. Now, actually I think they use electric pumps. This place is preserved for tourists.

Okay, we went to a cheese place and gots lots a cheese...my favorite is the smoked cheese with this honey mustard stuff. Yummo.

We really, really enjoyed this trip. I hope to come back in the spring. I know it would be absolutely beautiful.

AMSTERDAM...DAY 1

John and I like Amsterdam. This is a very interesting city...seems like the "entire world" is here. We are staying at a CITIZENM hotel. This place is really, cool. Very high tech...just wish the room was larger...but even so it's cool http://www.citizenmamsterdamairport.com/

We finally figured out the train system and took off hitting the streets downtown, FREEZING....The Xmas lights were so pretty we took a dinner cruise on the canal...there were really cool houseboats along the way decorated with lights.

BOPPIN' IN BANGALORE

Okay we went to Bangalore this weekend...my primary goal was to get my hair braided. I was ecstatic that I could actually get my hair braided in India. I guess there is a larger African community in Bangalore, and after searching the internet, I found "Sasha's" which advertised African braiding. Well, Vendan ranted on and on how well he knew Bangalore...I gave him the addresses well in advance. Even thought about printing out directions to this place...(my lesson for today, always follow your initial instinct and never rely on anyone else). We were so lost for so long...(oh well). We piled into the car, and it was really nice to get away from Chennai for a few days. The mountain range was nice, the weather was considerably cooler. In photo number 1, out of boredom, Bree decided to melt a chocolate mint on John's forehead while he slept...

Anyway, I had everything timed out, from how long it would take to get there, to how long it should take to get my hair braided (like 5 hours in the chair). Our hotel (The Monarch, above), was right across the street. Definitely nothing to write home about, but it was in the right location, and had a tub, {We only have showers in our home, bummer}...free breakfast, and was...okay for a 3-star, if you know what I mean. (Yeah, we had to scream to get hot water, but it eventually came).

I'm racing into the hotel after an hour or so circling around, trying to find this place...I call Sasha, tell her I'm checking in and I will be right over....AND THIS WOMAN HAS THE NERVE TO TELL ME, WHOOPS, THE STYLIST SAYS SHE IS SICK TODAY, COME BACK TOMORROW AT 2:30. YOU KNOW I AM SEEING RED. DOES SHE REALIZE WHAT IT COSTS TO STAY OVERNIGHT IN THIS PLACE, OR THAT MY HUSBAND HAS TO BE AT WORK THE NEXT DAY, OR THAT COMING IN AT 2:30 PUTS US DRIVING BACK ON THE ROAD AT ABOUT 9:30 OR 10:00...AND HOW DANGEROUS IT IS FOR NIGHT DRIVING HERE... YES, I AM LIVID. I HAD CALLED A COUPLE DAYS BEFORE TO VERIFY THAT THE APPOINTMENT WAS STILL "ON"...AND NO ONE CALLS ME BEFORE I COME THIS FAR TO ... I GUESS YOU GET IT.

I'm still mad about this. Then to top it all off, after starting at 3:00, I didn't get out of this chair until 8:30 p.m.; rather than risking life and limb trying to get home dodging cows and heaven only knows what else is in the road...we just decided to stay another day.

So, was it worth it...I really wanted my hair braided. No, it's hard to find the same quality that we have in good ol' Decatur. (One braid thick, one braid thin...) And then they charged me an extra 1,000 rupees over what was quoted before I came. Yeah, Merry Xmas. I hate being "taken", and I suppose I need to just become more adamant, aggressive and demanding over stuff. Yeah, that's my New Year's resolution. I need a good assertiveness class. I told this woman this was not the original price quoted...

Yes, this was a very expensive hair do; not sure I will do it again. Guess I will just wait to get to the State's next time.

We found the Hard Rock Cafe, (Poor Vendan couldn't seem to get directions right...I told him to just pull over, pay a rickshaw guy to guide us there, and let it go...but NO...he would find the way). Anyway, the important thing about this venture was....

I SAW THE GUITARS FROM "THE CARS" ON THE WALL. This is my favorite rock group. When I was a freshman, there was a girl on the floor who blasted the cars non-stop, like 24-7. I hated this music...but maybe after the zillionth time, you kinda get the songs in your head, and you start groovin' to the bass and rythms...yeah, I now confess, I really love the cars...Candy-O and all. So much for trippin' back to 1979.

We made it back to Chennai...and now we are bracing up for Amsterdam. Ashley and Bri will be running amuk, and I'll bring you up to speed on what's happenin' there later.

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE XMAS...

NOT. Okay, today is just like another hum-drum day. What is it..like 90 degrees outside? I laid out like 25 minutes as usual trying to get my fill of vitamin D in...http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/12/16/my-one-hour-vitamin-d-lecture-to-clear-up-all-your-confusion-on-this-vital-nutrient.aspx



So now I'm into the Budwig protocol...http://www.budwigvideos.com/ as well as infrared sauna and a few other treatments that are good for your liver. (Okay, I'll skip the boring health stuff).



Sunday we went to dinner at Sparky's. All I can say is WOW, boy does he have Xmas going on big-time. I'm gonna make John dig out our tree. I miss Xmas. My mother passed away Xmas morning, 2005. It really changes the way you live through your holidays. You know that year my kids got me Oprah's 20 year special anniversary collection, and I think I stayed in bed for a week and just watched the entire 6 cd's and cried. Well, Ashley drug it out a few days ago, and we just watched them every day and night until we got through them all and boo-hoo'd. I need to get out of this rut...



And guess what, I've got just the ticket. John, Bri and I are gonna bust a move to Bangalore this weekend. Yeahhh, they have African Braiding there. So I think I'm gonna transform myself, give my 'fro a rest and I'll post pictures if it turns out good.



So this pinched nerve in my back is driving me crazy. I'm seriously considering acupuncture. Ashley said she would give me a massage tonight. I hope this helps. John's working late, Bri is in bed sleep (it's only 5:00 p.m. (She'll probably be up all night talking on the phone since we got our Vonage going again.)



Okay, sisters...ya'll can call me now...get me through the holidays...

SO HERE'S THE REST OF THE STORY...

Okay, I'm gonna get through the rest of this trip today if it kills me.

We arrived in port to visit Pisa and Florence...Paulo was waiting for us. Paulo, we love you. You are such a sweetheart...(Johnnie let me say this, okay). A kiss on both cheeks to you.

Should any of you find yourself in need of a guide on an Italian tour excursion, go to www.unforgettabletuscany.com. This operation is run by Paulo who really, really helped us to fall in love with Italy. We went everywhere, saw everything, absorbed so much history, from the Medici's to Michael Angelo, from the leaning tower of Pisa to the back roads of Tuscany...such beauty...the wine vineyards, the olive trees. Ultimately we toured a beautiful castle, which was like a private hotel...wrong word, I mean museum. This is the first time I ever heard John exclaim that he would take me here on our 50th anniversary. I laughed and thought to myself, hmmm so that must mean next year, right. Let me give you the website...but the pictures on the web just doesn't do this place justice...oh well, http://www.montegufoni.eu/

I think I should rent out the lower wing that holds 8, and grab as many of my peeps as would travel that far and...wouldn't that be a blast. (Let's just pray that the economy doesn't completely tank).

Truthfully, we won a free round trip ticket to anywhere in Europe, and this would have been first on the list for this Xmas, but...I can't swing it $$$ with all of the girls right now, so John just settled on going to Amsterdam the day after Xmas to celebrate our 25th, since we were at a loss during September because of unforseeable events occurring then. The girls will be up to mischief for 4 days, but still having an adventure without us.

These private excursions were so wonderful, we got to see tons of more things than just taking the ship's tour with like 50 people being herded here and there and paying $$$much too much through them. Yes, we want to definitely come back.

FRANCE...

You know I loved Princess Grace. It seemed just like yesterday remembering her death...little Stephanie in the car with her...well Jerome came through to get us at the pier in France...http://www.rivierapremiumtour.com/ So according to Jerome, Prince Albert is now engaged to a beautiful blonde who is a great swimmer/athlete.

Oh, the French!!! You know you must be a gazillionaire to live in Monaco, yes, we saw it all. The changing of the guard... Nice was beautiful...and the most fascinating place that I tried to book for after Xmas this year (but had flight problems returning to Chennai) was called the village of Eze. This fortress was constructed in like the 13th or 14th century (I'm never good with details)..but it captivated my heart. The views into the harbor from the cliffs were so awsome. Here's a link to it: http://www.circumvista.com/chateau-eza.html

Yes, yes, the French riviera was wonderful. So now I feel the need to learn both French and Italian after I finish stumbling through my Tamil lessons. You know they say Tamil is one of the oldest languages on earth today...(and one of the hardest, if you asked me). My teacher said most other languages require your jaw to go up and down, in Tamil, it goes sideways.

We arrived back to Barcelona where the tour company emailed and said they had my cell phone and back pack. All is well, John is forgiven for leaving it...and there was peace in the valley.

So, that sums up our travels in a nutshell...but it seems like if you are following the news, chaos reins. I'm sitting here under a blasting air conditioner thinking about how hot it is now...but not really missing icy wintery weather. Ashley took Lilly over to a friend's house to play and boy oh boy did Lilly cause a raucus. So there it is...Merry Xmas everyone...no, our tree is somewhere in a box still.

TERROR ALERTS...WE ARE OKAY

I first want to let all friends and family know that we are doing fine. What has happened in Mumbai has been devastating. We are following the consulate's advice, but you can't go on living your life in fear...just take the best precautions that you can and then..."let go and trust God". Today we are just getting our internet back, and it is still popping in and out. I really wanted to finish up our last trip...after all, we have still got to get through Florence/Pisa (Tuscany), Monaco/Nice/Eze, France and back to Barcelona, but I am just moving in slow gear.

To Sister Olivia Hill...I love you, we love you...we were so shocked and hurt to hear of Bro. Hill's passing. He was just like a second father/uncle/loving, close relative to us. I am giving you a {{{hug}}}. It's so hard to be so far away, and then so many things start happening, and what can you do but pray to God. May He comfort your hearts, Jasper Street.

God has been so good to us, and today I received family pictures of Sean, his wife, Kris and new baby, Noah. The Sykes family name will go on (smile). Yes, John really, really wanted a son...but we won't go there...so Sean carries on the family name. Boy, if you aren't the spitting image of Willie James and Connie....we love you all.

Briana finally got admitted into the American School yesterday. I don't know how to say it, but if this child hasn't given me a head full of gray hairs...to cut to the chase, I am thankful in some ways that her "rocky" experiences and dealings in an underprivileged initial setting will eventually find a way to make her appreciate so many things that our kids take for granted...Thanks to all who have said a prayer for us, and especially for Bree. I can now see light at the end of the tunnel.

I've been busy with our OWC group, we've been singing Christmas carols for elderly men and women, I have been going to all kinds of neat places...the Madras Club...we visited another home for the elderly where orphaned children put on a play and sang. They were so sweet. I miss those days of directing choirs and singing with the children, but I am grateful I got to do a little of it here as well.

Our book club this month was a blast. This is the first book I managed to get through in a long time..."The White Tiger". I guess you almost have to be here in India, living the life to really, really "get it" and appreciate this book. Wow. Our discussions were fun and racy.

I even took a trip with another ladies' group to visit "Jean Lesage". Who is Jean Lesage, you might ask? I'll try to post a link for you...http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/10/13/stories/2005101300640100.htm

That's who.

We miss all of our family...immediate, distant, courthouse, Decatur Cat, church family..everyone. We are fine, I feel fine...maybe even lost a couple of pounds. ) Yes, I am jumping on a rebounder). Now, if only I can get John to jump. He's still golfing like crazy.

Well, I'll write more tomorrow, Lord willing...if the creek don't rise...