Monthly Archives: June 2006

Trying to Beat the Heat

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Since I returned to Budapest a week ago, it seems like the focus of our lives is the HEAT!!! Don’t get me wrong, it isn’t terribly hot (only upper 80s), but the big problem is that we don’t have air conditioning. I know this is very common for Budapest and for most of the northern US, but it is driving us crazy. I just left Texas where it was in the 100s, but we just didn’t stay out in it. Now, we sweat in the morning, sweat at night, and sweat all day. It does cool down at night into the 60s, but that is where the mosquitos get bad. Therefore, we can’t open the doors and windows or we get bombarded by mosquitos. We don’t have screens on our doors or windows like most Hungarian homes.

I’m enjoying my office which does have air conditioning. In fact, on Tuesday night, I worked a little late and the whole family came up and had dinner up here. It was funny to see the kids sitting around the boardroom table (didn’t have my camera or you would be looking at the pic). It was a pretty high powered meeting. After dinner, we didn’t want to go home so we downloaded a TV show on iTunes and watched it in my office. By the time we got home, it was almost bed time and cooling off a little.

Yesterday, we went to the pool at a local campground. It was perfect on a hot day and got us through the hot part of the day.

Today it is overcast and rainy! YIPPPEEEE!!! That should cool things off at home.

I have the feeling this is going to be the neverending battle of the summer. I picked up some firepower in the form of two new fans today though. I was looking at their portable air conditioners. Very tempting . . .

Celebration in the City

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Yesterday was Valerie’s birthday and we had a great night celebrating in downtown Budapest. We started off at a cafe overlooking the Danube. The views were beautiful and the people watching was top notch. With tourist season in full swing, our favorite activity was trying to identify the language that different people were speaking.

Then, as we walked to the restaurant, we stopped in Vörösmarty Square and watched the end of the Germany-Sweeden world cup match on a big screen with hundreds of fans. It was fun to hear the German fans celebrate their victory waving flags and singing victory songs.

We ate at the Ocean Bar & Grill where we enjoyed a wonderful meal where we shared some wonderful shrimp and sea bass. It was a meal worthy of this celebration.

Then, we went to the Chain Bridge (shown in this picture) which was closed for a festival. There was dancing exhibitions on both ends with plenty of shops in the middle. We first watched an incredible performance by a group called Experidance. They were a fun group that took traditional folk dances and modernized them. They had lots of energy and were lots of fun. They played to a packed audience and we loved it.

While we were watching in this huge crowd, our language teacher Zsuzsa came up and tapped us on the shoulder. Amazing that she found us in the huge crowd. She told us that she was going to be dancing on the other side of the bridge. So, after the first performance, we went over and watched her do some traditional Hungarian dances from Transylvania. It was fun to see her outside of lessons and watch her dance which we have heard so much about.

It was a great evening and I’m so thankful for such a wonderful wife and friend to celebrate with. The evening couldn’t have been better.

Happy Birthday Sweetheart!

We are all home!!!

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Today at 2:00pm in Budapest, Trent & I walked off the plane to meet the welcome committee of the rest of our family. They had signs and cameras and hugs. Also, Duci came along for the ride. It is so great to be back together after almost 7 weeks apart.

Someone else very important came to Budapest yesterday! George & Laura Bush made a visit. We saw Air Force One and a smaller US plane at the aiport. Then, as we drove home, US Flags lined the streets and bridges along with hundreds of policemen. There were police every 50 feet along the main road from the airport into town. We listened to Bush’s speech on TV. It was given at the citadel with a beautiful view of the city behind him. It isn’t so often that the president comes to town when you live in the US. Overseas, it is a huge deal.

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Trent Update: Headed Home!!!

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We are going home!!!! Tomorrow, Trent & I get on a plane and return to Budapest. We are so excited to have our family back together. We haven’t been all in the same place since May 2nd. That is just way too long.

There still isn’t anything to report on Trent. The doctors haven’t found anything and are pretty much baffled by the situation. We are confident that they have considered all the possibilities and consulted with experts all around the country. Trent is on a couple of medications that they hope will make a difference over time.

The great thing is that as we look at how Trent is doing today versus when they left on May 2nd, the difference is dramatic. While he still has the stomach cramps, his spirits are much much better. When we left Budapest, he didn’t want to do anything but lay down. He didn’t feel like going anywhere or doing anything. Even in the first few weeks here in Texas, he would choose to stay home instead of going out. The time when we knew he was sick was when he chose to go home in the 4th inning of a Minor League Baseball game. Trent is a huge baseball fan and wouldn’t choose this unless he felt awful.

Today, he is pretty active and the pains really don’t restrict his activity. He went swimming today for 3 hours and had a great time. His stomach hurt while he was swimming, but he was able to endure it.

Please continue to pray that the Lord would heal him fully and that the transition back to Budapest would go well. We probably won’t send anymore updates unless something dramatic happens.

Valerie & I are so thankful for your prayers and notes of concern. They truly sustained us. We know that the Lord has been carrying us through this difficult time and we have felt his presence.

New Addition to the Family

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[image:360:c]It is with great joy that we announce the arrival of our latest…a baby boy…Duci Seely (pronounced Dootsy…this is Hungarian for chubby and lovable). He is 12 weeks old and arrived as a surprise to our children today!
Valerie’s Comments: He is a Bishon Havanese and is sooooo sweet. We needed some happy times at the Seely house after this year, and my energy ball Kirby Ann needs a playmate!! They are all thrilled. Trent was in on the secret and helped me pick him out and helped us name him!

Here’s a picture when Valerie & the kids picked her up from the Hungarian Breeder (in the yellow shirt)
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Family Visit in Dallas

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Uncle Tom and Cayden

Originally uploaded by G Luv.

Trent and I are getting a great treat this weekend as we drove to Dallas to spend the weekend with my sister’s family. Yesterday morning we talked on the phone and both jumped in the car. It is quite fun to have a spontaneous road trip!

Here I am with my neice, Cayden. She is a sweetheart.

I’m looking forward to a great weekend. We’re going to see Cars this afternoon. We’ll play the rest by ear.

Cross Cultural Adaptation

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[thumb:358:l]We talk a lot in Budapest about adapting to our foreign culture. Some areas are easy and some areas are much more difficult. The biggest challenge in Hungary is the language. It is one of the most difficult in the world and after 3 years, I know a lot of words, but I can hardly carry on a conversation.

This morning, I’m realizing that I’ve adapted in one area. Trent & I woke up early this morning to watch England play in the World Cup! I wasn’t much of a soccer fan before I moved overseas, but as a sports fan living in Europe I basically have two choices: Give up sports or Watch soccer. I guess I chose watch soccer.

We are watching the England – Paraguay match this morning and England had a great goal in the 3rd minute. David Beckham, one of the most famous athletes in the world, is overrated in a lot of ways, but he is amazing on free kicks.

In a lot of ways, I wish I was in Budapest to watch these matches because people care about it over there.

I’ve waited 26 years

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[image:357:l]In 1980 the Dallas Mavericks played their inaugural season. In 1980 I moved to Dallas. Also, Dick Motta moved from Washington DC where he coached the Bullets to Dallas to be the Mavs first coach. I also moved from the DC area to Dallas just a few months later. I’ve been a Mavericks fan since Day 1 and through the awful years of the 80s.

After an incredible comeback tonight against the Suns, they are going to the Finals for the first time and I think they have a great shot at winning.

It is fun to be here in Texas to watch the game. It is great medicine for Trent as well as it takes his mind off his stomach for a couple of hours. I’m so glad to get to hang out with him.

We’ll be watching on Thursday night when it all gets started.