Nora woke up at 6.50 am this morning and after a few minutes she made sure we were awake as well. Nora and I went to get bagels. It was a nice outing -- Nora really enjoys these small trips.
G: Nora, ga je mee?
N: Auto rijen?
G: We gaan naar de bakker!
N: Brood kopen?
After we came back:
G: Nora, waar waren we?
N: Auto!
G: En waar gingen we heen?
N: Bakker!
G: En wat hebben we daar gekocht?
N: Brood! Kaas!
Another fast run tonight. First time I ran with the blinking light on the front wheel.
When I drove home I realized I was very excited about going for a run with Nora. It's become more and more special, since we have more and more conversations during the run. Nora likes to point things out and it's fun to anticipate those with her. Things we see:
The Dutch consulate in Chicago might close. The Dutch government is considering a package of austerity measures that includes closing five consulate world-wide, including the mission in Chicago.
The Michigan House and Senate approved resolutions urging the Kingdom of the Netherlands to reconsider the proposed closing of the Dutch Consulate General Office in Chicago and to retain a strong diplomatic presence in the Midwest region of the United States.
The Netherlands Club of Chicago also disagrees with the proposed closing. They point out that aside from providing consular services to Dutch services, the consulate is also important to maintain strong economic ties:
Closing the Chicago office would close doors politically for Dutch businesses that have settled in the Midwest, along with Dutch businesses that are looking for new opportunities in the region. Consider the economic importance of the Midwest: 25% of America's GNP is generated in the 14 states that it covers. Three of the states in the Midwest (Ohio, Michigan and Illinois) alone are responsible for 27% of all Dutch exports to the US and the region is a rapidly growing area overall. Thus, it is of strategic importance to maintain strong ties between our two countries geopolitically.
The Netherlands Club of Chicago has started a campaign to protest the planned closures. A decision by the Dutch government is expected soon. It is likely that the government will announce their austerity plans on Prinsjesdag, September 17.
Yesterday we celebrated our 15 year anniversary, remembering the summer that we met each other. In 1998 we were in an exchange program for college students, and we both worked in a resort in upstate New York.
The second week of September is a week of milestones -- 13 years ago Sasha arrived in the Netherlands to start her Dutch language study, and 10 years ago today she went to the United States on an assignment in Washington, DC.
We went out for dinner last night in a Grand Cru, a restaurant in Ballston that we hadn't been to before. We sat outside in a big courtyard with a fountain, and Nora was pushing her own stroller back and forth. It's amazing to see where life has taken us.
When we were running on the trail yesterday we heard the sound of a large group of motorcycles. On Wednesday, September 11, there will be a motorcycle rally in DC and I think these bikers were arriving early.
In any case, Nora is impressed by "motors" and when we reached the high school I stopped and we watched the traffic from the bridge for a while.
The Dutch consulate in Chicago might close. The Dutch government is considering a package of austerity measures that includes closing five consulate world-wide, including the mission in Chicago. 
Yesterday we celebrated our 15 year anniversary, remembering the summer that we met each other. In 1998 we were in an exchange program for college students, and we both worked in a resort in upstate New York. 
When we were running on the trail yesterday we heard the sound of a large group of motorcycles. On Wednesday, September 11, there will be a motorcycle rally in DC and I think these bikers were arriving early.