Just wanted to give a quick check in from across the pond. We landed in Germany last Sunday morning and visited with our troops until Wednesday morning. It was great to see the men and women of our armed forces. They have such great attitudes and are so appreciate of our visit. We have been now for three straight years and it was great to see people that we have made friends with and so many new faces also.

I can't thank Fred Simmonds and Jeff Romack enough for everything they do for us on this trip. Fred makes it all happen and Jeff does such a great job documenting everything while we are there. Plus I have to give Jeff a big thank you for taking a bag home for Mel and me so we don't have to drag it along for the rest of our trip. We visited the hospital with wounded troops and a lot of other troops that support our forces everyday.

The highlight of my visit was when we got to fly the A-10 Warthog simulator. I blew up stuff and even made a clean landing back on the runway. Ask Jim Yates or Melanie about their landings. I may have crashed the shuttle simulator earlier this year, but I flew the A-10 clean.

After everyone else flew home, Mel and I went to Rothenburg, Germany to spend a day or so. It was cold and even snowed for a couple of days. We hung out and did a little souvenir shopping. On Friday Morning Mel and I headed out for Italy. We had heard about the transportation strike they where having in Italy, but hadn't heard anything about the train strike in Germany. Luckily our trains were on time and not cancelled and 10 and a half hours later we arrived in Venice. Italy.

Wow, what a place. It has been so much fun here. A place like you have never seen. No cars, just buildings on water all around. Forget the map, you will get lost so many times you can't worry about it. We've done so many things so far. Shopping, sightseeing, and eating and drinking. We just got back today from the island of Morona, you know, where they make the expensive Venetian glass.

Well we are bringing home a piece of Venice. That is all Mel talked about wanting from here and she got it a half hour before the shop closed tonight. We had to do a little dealing with them before the final sale. We just got back to our room tonight and I am watching Sunday afternoon football in the US. The Giants are winning over Detroit right now. We leave for Rome tomorrow on our final train ride before heading home Thursday.

I'll try and check in again before we leave for home or maybe when we get back on Thanksgiving. If not, Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and especially to our families for letting us not attend Thanksgiving with them and be on our trip.

TJ