(no subject)
cleaning out my email and found all of my emails from when i was in belgium.
July 3, 2005:
Hi Meg,
Just wanted to wish you the best on your castle dig. Hope you meet some nice people and have a chance to see a few things when you're off.
We have 24 coming for BBQ today to celebrate the 4th. Nice and hot again...92 degrees and still no rain.
Please send us a good emergency phone number when you have a chance.
Love,
Dad
July 5, 2005:
hi guys,
i got my school email working again, but who knows how long that will last, so send emails to both adresses.
the emergency number is 32-472-60-89-60. it is the number for dr. youngs cell phone.
it is fine if sarah uses my purse. just put the stuff in it into a ziplock bag or something.
today was our first day at the dig. the weather ended up being beautiful. we were cleaning up the site, so it was a lot of shoveling and carrying buckets of dirt. the castle is beautiful though. since we are with the team, we got to go into some of the towers that are still standing, which are not open to the public. that was pretty neat. we just went to dinner and after we are all done with our emails, we are
going to this little gelato stand. they have great hazelnut gelato.
last night we celebrated the 4th by planning our trip to london - kind of ironic. it looks like this weekend i will go with some of the group to ghent on saturday and paris on sunday. on the 16th we have a feild trip to tournai and on the 17th i might go zith some people to brugge. the weekend after that we have a 3 day weekend, so we are hoping to go
to london then. so it looks like i will get to go all over europe while i am here.
hope everything is going well at home. i love you all and miss you.
love,
meg
July 5, 2005:
Hi Meg,
It sounds like your month is off to a terrific start! I'm sure it will go way too quickly. Not too much going on here. Talked for quite a while today with Aunt Lee, Om and Aunt Annie. Uncle David’s parents are having their 50th anniversary party next weekend so they will be coming back for that. Katie Madonna is out of the hospital and recuperating well. They broke a rib during her surgery and Pop says that is causing her more pain than the incision.
The Busheys should be in Plattsburgh when Dad and I go up, as well as Uncle Ken and Aunt Barb--so I guess there will be a houseful, as usual!
I opened the Penney's catalog today and it opened up to a page selling Chuck Taylor shoes. I think it is an sign! What size do you wear? If it is up to a size 3, I can get them for only $20. Anything larger, and I have to spend $45--go figure! I think you might have gotten yours in a size 3, can you still read the size on the inside of your shoe? If so, I can get them in black, pink, navy, and chocolate brown (high tops and low tops) Also, if I order before July 19, I get free shipping. So let me know 1) what size you need 2) what color(s) you want, and 3) high top or low top.
Love you and understand that you can't be in touch often--just write when you can!
Love, Mom
July 6, 2005:
Hi Meg,
I'm going to try sending this again--will you please answer?? Mom
July 7, 2005:
hi,
black and brown low tops size 3 please.
things are going well. we only went to the dig for half the
day today since it was raining so hard. we spent the
afternoon cleaning artifacts at the flats. we have found
some pretty cool pottery pieces and some goblet pieces.
we are heading to a crepe place after we all check our
email. they are supposed to have over 300 different options.
love,
meg
July 10, 2005:
hi,
how are things back home? things are good here. we went to ghent and brugge yesterday and back to brugge today.
ghent was really nice. we had really yummy waffles and then went to st. bavos to see the ghent altar piece. it was really beautiful. then we had lunch in this old crypt and took a tour of a medieval castel. then we went to brugge and walked around a bit. by the time we got there a lot of stuff was closed since it was after 5.
we went back today to brugge. we went to an art museum and then to lunch at a cafe. then we went to a really beautiful church. a michaelangelo sculpture is there, and there is also the masoleums of charles the bold and mary of burgandy. a while ago they excavater under the church and found these tombs with frescos, so we saw those too. then we went to another church that has a relic of the holy blood. the relic is in a protective thing, so you cant actually see it, but it was still really neat. we finished up the day by taking a boat ride on the canals.
oh, you would be amazed. even though ive been in belgium for a week, yesterday was the first time i had any Belgian chocolates. they are so good, ill definitely try to bring some home.
how is katie madonna doing? ive been lighting candles for her in all the churches.
tomorrow we are switching what spots we dig at. ive been working with a group on uncovering the walls of a structure. tomorrow we will switch with the other group and start digging in what used to be the courtyard. this is the first year that area has been dug, so it has a lot more stuff in it.
oh, on the train home today we made our first Belgian friend. he is from northern belgium and is spending the summer studying french at ucl. unfortunately, since we don’t have phones in the flats, we cant really keep in contact, so hopefully we will bump into each other around town.
love,
meg
July 10, 2005:
Hi Meg,
We must be on the same wavelength. I got on the computer about 5 minutes ago to see if you had an opportunity to write. Sounds like a wonderful weekend. I think you could be in Belgium for a year and probably not get to see most of the neat stuff. We went to lunch after church today with the O'Briens and the Diessners. Dad is out doing yard work and Sarah is off with Kelly, undoubtedly trying to avoid having to do chores. The latest we heard on Kate M. is that she continues to improve and is not is that much pain. Everything with the surgery went well and Marcia said it should hopefully not need to be
repeated for another 20 years. Continues to be very hot and dry here.
Father Bill spent a good part of Mass today praying for rain. The farmers really need it--corn crops are already reduced by 30%. Are you still hoping to make it to London? Dad and I were thinking that if the subway systems can be up and running again before you leave Europe, it would probably be safe to go because their security would be on such high alert. Does Dr. Young say anything or give any advice? Write back when you can. Love, Mom
July 13, 5005:
(to uncle joe and aunt shelly)
hi,
will you guys be home or in the area from the 21-24? we have a three day weekend so me and 2 other people were thinking about taking the train to germany, and we will probably stay in your area since id like to get to see you guys and jill and dan. also, do you know of any cheap hotels in the area?
hope everything is going well there. if you are every going to be in my area, the dig site is open to tourist if youd like to come look around, or even dig if you want.
July 13, 2005:
Hi all,
Just wanted to leave you with some contact numbers in case you have to get a hold of us while we are on a short vacation to Phoenix. We are staying at the Hilton Hotel in Mesa,AZ but will have our cell phones with us.
Ed's: 618-670-5851
Angie's: 618-580-6686
Sarah's: 618-960-3821
Leaving Thursday morning, July 14 and returning late on July 17. Bye!
July 14, 2005:
Meg,
We will be in Berlin until the afternoon of the 23rd. Maybe we could get together on Sunday? I think that you can probably find some cheap accomodations in the area if you look on the internet. Do you have a phone number that we can call you? Let me know, Hope all is going well and that you are having fun.
Love
U. Joe
July 15, 2005:
(to uncle joe and aunt shelly)
we dont have any phones in the flats unfortunately, so email and payphones are it for me. we got our tickets to koln today, we will be coming on friday morning and leaving sunday afternoon probably. maybe we could get together for lunch or something if you will be back by then? i could call on that sunday maybe and we could set something up.
love
meg
July 16, 2005:
Meg,
Sounds good. We should be back sometime in the evening on Saturday. Take care,
Love Uncle Joe
July 16, 2005:
hi everyone,
hope you all are having fun in arizona. things have been good here.
all last week camera crews have been coming to the site to film various news segements. one of the groups interviewed me and my clip made it to tv. i also slipped and fell 4 feet into one of the trenches a few days ago. i landed on a pointy rock, so my butt hurt a bit, but other than that everything was okay.
unlike last week when it was cool and poured every day, this last week has been sunny and hot. luckily we have tents sent up over the trenches, so we are at least mostly in the shade.
today we had a field trip into tournai, a medieval city. We left at 730, which is an hour earlier than we usually leave for the dig site, so that was a bit rough. we went through some churches and got to go to some dig areas that the public arent allowed into. we also climbed the belfry and had time to just explore around the town. we found a really
good pastry shop with fresh raspberry tarts.
in the afternoon we went to a city in flanders called ename. they have a dig site there zhere there used to be an abbey and a museum about it, so we went there. we were in the car for about 4 hours all together, and of course i spent almost all of that time passed out, so that made up for all the activity and getting up early i guess.
tomorrow we are heading to antwerp to see some stuff there. i guess ruebens lived or worked there, so there are a lot of museums with his art.
next weekend me and 3 other people are going to go the koln and bonn for the 3 day weekend. uncle joe and aunt shelly will be in berlin until that saturday night, but we are going to try to get together on sunday for lunch before we head back to louvain.
i will try to give you guys a call again on monday maybe. It will probably be around 1 or 2 your time.
love and miss you,
meg
July 18, 2005:
Meg,
Glad you're having a good time and getting to see so much. Enjoy the rest of your time in Europe and have a pastry for me!
Can't wait until you get home and wee can see your photos.
Love
Dad
July 25, 2005:
hi guys
the trip to germany was fabulous. i will tell you all about it another
time because i dont have much time left and i dont want to have to buy more right before leaving.
what is uncle joe and aunt shellys mailing address? we wanted to send them a box of chocolates as a thank you gift.
love you all and see you soon
meg
July 3, 2005:
Hi Meg,
Just wanted to wish you the best on your castle dig. Hope you meet some nice people and have a chance to see a few things when you're off.
We have 24 coming for BBQ today to celebrate the 4th. Nice and hot again...92 degrees and still no rain.
Please send us a good emergency phone number when you have a chance.
Love,
Dad
July 5, 2005:
hi guys,
i got my school email working again, but who knows how long that will last, so send emails to both adresses.
the emergency number is 32-472-60-89-60. it is the number for dr. youngs cell phone.
it is fine if sarah uses my purse. just put the stuff in it into a ziplock bag or something.
today was our first day at the dig. the weather ended up being beautiful. we were cleaning up the site, so it was a lot of shoveling and carrying buckets of dirt. the castle is beautiful though. since we are with the team, we got to go into some of the towers that are still standing, which are not open to the public. that was pretty neat. we just went to dinner and after we are all done with our emails, we are
going to this little gelato stand. they have great hazelnut gelato.
last night we celebrated the 4th by planning our trip to london - kind of ironic. it looks like this weekend i will go with some of the group to ghent on saturday and paris on sunday. on the 16th we have a feild trip to tournai and on the 17th i might go zith some people to brugge. the weekend after that we have a 3 day weekend, so we are hoping to go
to london then. so it looks like i will get to go all over europe while i am here.
hope everything is going well at home. i love you all and miss you.
love,
meg
July 5, 2005:
Hi Meg,
It sounds like your month is off to a terrific start! I'm sure it will go way too quickly. Not too much going on here. Talked for quite a while today with Aunt Lee, Om and Aunt Annie. Uncle David’s parents are having their 50th anniversary party next weekend so they will be coming back for that. Katie Madonna is out of the hospital and recuperating well. They broke a rib during her surgery and Pop says that is causing her more pain than the incision.
The Busheys should be in Plattsburgh when Dad and I go up, as well as Uncle Ken and Aunt Barb--so I guess there will be a houseful, as usual!
I opened the Penney's catalog today and it opened up to a page selling Chuck Taylor shoes. I think it is an sign! What size do you wear? If it is up to a size 3, I can get them for only $20. Anything larger, and I have to spend $45--go figure! I think you might have gotten yours in a size 3, can you still read the size on the inside of your shoe? If so, I can get them in black, pink, navy, and chocolate brown (high tops and low tops) Also, if I order before July 19, I get free shipping. So let me know 1) what size you need 2) what color(s) you want, and 3) high top or low top.
Love you and understand that you can't be in touch often--just write when you can!
Love, Mom
July 6, 2005:
Hi Meg,
I'm going to try sending this again--will you please answer?? Mom
July 7, 2005:
hi,
black and brown low tops size 3 please.
things are going well. we only went to the dig for half the
day today since it was raining so hard. we spent the
afternoon cleaning artifacts at the flats. we have found
some pretty cool pottery pieces and some goblet pieces.
we are heading to a crepe place after we all check our
email. they are supposed to have over 300 different options.
love,
meg
July 10, 2005:
hi,
how are things back home? things are good here. we went to ghent and brugge yesterday and back to brugge today.
ghent was really nice. we had really yummy waffles and then went to st. bavos to see the ghent altar piece. it was really beautiful. then we had lunch in this old crypt and took a tour of a medieval castel. then we went to brugge and walked around a bit. by the time we got there a lot of stuff was closed since it was after 5.
we went back today to brugge. we went to an art museum and then to lunch at a cafe. then we went to a really beautiful church. a michaelangelo sculpture is there, and there is also the masoleums of charles the bold and mary of burgandy. a while ago they excavater under the church and found these tombs with frescos, so we saw those too. then we went to another church that has a relic of the holy blood. the relic is in a protective thing, so you cant actually see it, but it was still really neat. we finished up the day by taking a boat ride on the canals.
oh, you would be amazed. even though ive been in belgium for a week, yesterday was the first time i had any Belgian chocolates. they are so good, ill definitely try to bring some home.
how is katie madonna doing? ive been lighting candles for her in all the churches.
tomorrow we are switching what spots we dig at. ive been working with a group on uncovering the walls of a structure. tomorrow we will switch with the other group and start digging in what used to be the courtyard. this is the first year that area has been dug, so it has a lot more stuff in it.
oh, on the train home today we made our first Belgian friend. he is from northern belgium and is spending the summer studying french at ucl. unfortunately, since we don’t have phones in the flats, we cant really keep in contact, so hopefully we will bump into each other around town.
love,
meg
July 10, 2005:
Hi Meg,
We must be on the same wavelength. I got on the computer about 5 minutes ago to see if you had an opportunity to write. Sounds like a wonderful weekend. I think you could be in Belgium for a year and probably not get to see most of the neat stuff. We went to lunch after church today with the O'Briens and the Diessners. Dad is out doing yard work and Sarah is off with Kelly, undoubtedly trying to avoid having to do chores. The latest we heard on Kate M. is that she continues to improve and is not is that much pain. Everything with the surgery went well and Marcia said it should hopefully not need to be
repeated for another 20 years. Continues to be very hot and dry here.
Father Bill spent a good part of Mass today praying for rain. The farmers really need it--corn crops are already reduced by 30%. Are you still hoping to make it to London? Dad and I were thinking that if the subway systems can be up and running again before you leave Europe, it would probably be safe to go because their security would be on such high alert. Does Dr. Young say anything or give any advice? Write back when you can. Love, Mom
July 13, 5005:
(to uncle joe and aunt shelly)
hi,
will you guys be home or in the area from the 21-24? we have a three day weekend so me and 2 other people were thinking about taking the train to germany, and we will probably stay in your area since id like to get to see you guys and jill and dan. also, do you know of any cheap hotels in the area?
hope everything is going well there. if you are every going to be in my area, the dig site is open to tourist if youd like to come look around, or even dig if you want.
July 13, 2005:
Hi all,
Just wanted to leave you with some contact numbers in case you have to get a hold of us while we are on a short vacation to Phoenix. We are staying at the Hilton Hotel in Mesa,AZ but will have our cell phones with us.
Ed's: 618-670-5851
Angie's: 618-580-6686
Sarah's: 618-960-3821
Leaving Thursday morning, July 14 and returning late on July 17. Bye!
July 14, 2005:
Meg,
We will be in Berlin until the afternoon of the 23rd. Maybe we could get together on Sunday? I think that you can probably find some cheap accomodations in the area if you look on the internet. Do you have a phone number that we can call you? Let me know, Hope all is going well and that you are having fun.
Love
U. Joe
July 15, 2005:
(to uncle joe and aunt shelly)
we dont have any phones in the flats unfortunately, so email and payphones are it for me. we got our tickets to koln today, we will be coming on friday morning and leaving sunday afternoon probably. maybe we could get together for lunch or something if you will be back by then? i could call on that sunday maybe and we could set something up.
love
meg
July 16, 2005:
Meg,
Sounds good. We should be back sometime in the evening on Saturday. Take care,
Love Uncle Joe
July 16, 2005:
hi everyone,
hope you all are having fun in arizona. things have been good here.
all last week camera crews have been coming to the site to film various news segements. one of the groups interviewed me and my clip made it to tv. i also slipped and fell 4 feet into one of the trenches a few days ago. i landed on a pointy rock, so my butt hurt a bit, but other than that everything was okay.
unlike last week when it was cool and poured every day, this last week has been sunny and hot. luckily we have tents sent up over the trenches, so we are at least mostly in the shade.
today we had a field trip into tournai, a medieval city. We left at 730, which is an hour earlier than we usually leave for the dig site, so that was a bit rough. we went through some churches and got to go to some dig areas that the public arent allowed into. we also climbed the belfry and had time to just explore around the town. we found a really
good pastry shop with fresh raspberry tarts.
in the afternoon we went to a city in flanders called ename. they have a dig site there zhere there used to be an abbey and a museum about it, so we went there. we were in the car for about 4 hours all together, and of course i spent almost all of that time passed out, so that made up for all the activity and getting up early i guess.
tomorrow we are heading to antwerp to see some stuff there. i guess ruebens lived or worked there, so there are a lot of museums with his art.
next weekend me and 3 other people are going to go the koln and bonn for the 3 day weekend. uncle joe and aunt shelly will be in berlin until that saturday night, but we are going to try to get together on sunday for lunch before we head back to louvain.
i will try to give you guys a call again on monday maybe. It will probably be around 1 or 2 your time.
love and miss you,
meg
July 18, 2005:
Meg,
Glad you're having a good time and getting to see so much. Enjoy the rest of your time in Europe and have a pastry for me!
Can't wait until you get home and wee can see your photos.
Love
Dad
July 25, 2005:
hi guys
the trip to germany was fabulous. i will tell you all about it another
time because i dont have much time left and i dont want to have to buy more right before leaving.
what is uncle joe and aunt shellys mailing address? we wanted to send them a box of chocolates as a thank you gift.
love you all and see you soon
meg