I've decided that I don't like writing these notes because I am 
writing to no one in particular.  Maybe you could tell that by how 
infrequently these are updated. Anyway...

The new Euro currency has transfered over without a problem.  The 
news on the radio does seem to now notice price differences of 
various products between the countries (eg. Burbon in Austria is 20% 
cheaper than the same burbon in Belgium).  It was easy for 
companies to vary prices widely across regions when there were 
different currencies and exchange rates. Prices across Europe will 
probably be more consistent in the future.

I'm still pulling for e-gold.  It is solidly backed money with the 
convenience of a credit card.  It is trying to compete as THE 
international/internet currency.  I like it because it is independent of 
any government and their arbitrary, changing monetary policies. I 
digress...

The first thing we noticed about the new year here is what a big deal 
it is.  The first week or two of January, everybody wishes everybody 
else a happy new year when they see them.  When Lee Ann 
returned to work, she got happy new years kisses (typical greeting) 
from everybody in the office - even her main boss, to whom she had 
never really spoken.  If you're Belgian, let me explain that in the 
states everybody basically forgets about new years by January 2nd!

I thought that 'Three Kings' was the final event of Kerstfeest (see 
first story under 'Our Christmas') but I was wrong.  Last Saturday 
night, we went to the annual Christmas Tree Burning!  They burned 
hundreds of trees in the middle of a field for 5 or 6 hours.  There 
was music, food, and gluhwein.  There were two or three hundred 
people there - it was pretty fun!  I think that it was sponsored by 
the Boy Scouts because they were the ones throwing the trees on the 
fire.  Boy do those things burn fast (the trees that is...)! I thought that 
it was a great idea for a party.  It probably wouldn't work in the 
states though - a big dangerous fire with all that smoke...I don't 
think it is as environmentally correct as using the trees to save the 
beaches.

We are not traveling much this month.  The new well that we had to 
drill in NC busted our budget.  We'll probably go somewhere in early 
February, with a couple of families we know from here.  We're still 
waiting for any visitors from the states...

that's all for now,
Lynn