Ethiopia to take on Somali Islamic insurgents?

There was an article on this in the Washington Post this morning, and here's one in The Scotsman. We hope this doesn't turn into a huge conflict, which neither Ethiopia nor Somalia can afford.

Today marks the beginning of my fifth month in the Foreign Service. It's hard to believe I've been in training for four months already. This week I've been learning telephones and telephone switching.

The girls seem to be enjoying France, where they're attending summer camp and playing most evenings with their older cousins and Tata (auntie) and Mamie (grandma). Lately when we've called, they haven't wanted to talk to us very long.

We have nearly finished painting the main level of the house and are having a pizza & beer/painting party on Saturday to get some help on the downstairs. We're also close to having the place rented, stay tuned. It would be great to have it done before Patricia leaves next week. I'll certainly have my share of prep work to do whilst she's gone.

One of my colleagues is scheduled to go to Beirut in September with her husband, we'll see what happens. I had hoped that the situation would improve by the time we can bid again, because I think Beirut (until the recent cross-border attacks by Israel and Hezbollah) had turned itself around and would have made a great post. I doubt things will have improved by bidding time.

Finally, an update!

Has it really been almost two months?

Clara and Gwendolyne have now jetted off for the summer with their French grandmother and are enjoying the sunshine of southern France. They'll also attend summer camp and visit their extended family.

Their absence also allows us to start painting and carpeting the house for our eventual tenants; we've also pushed back our move-out to the end of August.

We've had some parental time together, such as attending the Nationals' 4-3 victory last night over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, on a walk-off home run by Nick Johnson. Could a movie be in our future (gasp)?