Sunday, 17 May 2009
Football
Today we played Kettering in Cambridge. We won 2-1! We have two games left before the season is over. One is Thursday night and the last one is next Sunday.
Jimmy's
I volunteered at Jimmy's again last night. Everything went very smoothly. We served sandwiches, salads, and a desert with custard. Afterward, we cleaned up and were done by 9:30pm.
Friday, 15 May 2009
Rotary Club of Littleport
Last night I spoke at the Rotary Club of Littleport. They meet in a restaurant which closes every Thursday just for their meeting. The chef used to cook for the Queen and you can tell because the food was great!
I had a great time catching up with several Rotarians whom I'd met before. My speech went well and they seemed to enjoy it, asking lots of questions afterward. One of the club members wrote me today saying, "Thank you so much for you visit to us old fogies of Littleport. Your presentation was excellent. Your success and enjoyment brought back the pleasure I had during my school and student days. We all wish you very much success in your future career and am sure you will squeeze every bit of enjoyment out of it possible. Please give your parents our thanks for "lending" you to us . . they must really miss you."
I had a great time catching up with several Rotarians whom I'd met before. My speech went well and they seemed to enjoy it, asking lots of questions afterward. One of the club members wrote me today saying, "Thank you so much for you visit to us old fogies of Littleport. Your presentation was excellent. Your success and enjoyment brought back the pleasure I had during my school and student days. We all wish you very much success in your future career and am sure you will squeeze every bit of enjoyment out of it possible. Please give your parents our thanks for "lending" you to us . . they must really miss you."
Wednesday, 6 May 2009
Rotary Club of Ipswich Orwell
This afternoon I spoke at a lunchtime meeting of the Rotary Club of Ipswich Orwell. The club meets at a very beautiful location right on the marina! It was the first time I gave my presentation without a Powerpoint, but all went well!
One of the club members said, "Thank you very much for giving an outstanding account of your life and career to date. From my point of view you were also a very positive ambassador for the USA - a reputation that has been a bit jaded over the past few years. Good luck for the future - Admiral Ortman has a certain ring to it!"
My next presentation will be on May 14th to the Rotary Club of Littleport. I may have to wear my whites (uniform), but we'll see.
One of the club members said, "Thank you very much for giving an outstanding account of your life and career to date. From my point of view you were also a very positive ambassador for the USA - a reputation that has been a bit jaded over the past few years. Good luck for the future - Admiral Ortman has a certain ring to it!"
My next presentation will be on May 14th to the Rotary Club of Littleport. I may have to wear my whites (uniform), but we'll see.
Friday, 1 May 2009
Paris
I just got back from spending five wonderful days in Paris. I stayed with an Air Force girl (Heather) I recently met on my Eastern Europe trip. Her place was just a five minute walk from the Eiffel Tower!
I was able to visit the Louvre where I saw the Mona Lisa. I was surprised to find its not that big.
I walked from the Arc de Triomphe down the Champs-Elysees past the Louvre all the way to Notre Dame.
The next day, I visited Notre Dame and climbed the towers. I was able to have a view over the whole city.
I stupidly went to the Paris Catacombs by myself. It was cool, but pretty scary!
Since I'd already seen the city from Notre Dame, I went up the Eiffel Tower at night. It was beautiful! There is a reason they call it "The City of Light."
I took a day trip to Versailles. Where I toured the palace and the beautiful gardens.
I also visited Montmartre and Sacre-Ceur basilica. Since it's near there, I walked by Moulin Rouge.
While I was in Paris, Heather took me to a wonderful creperie (Ty Breiz) for dinner.
On the last day, I visited the Musee d'Orsay and saw original Monet, Degas, and Van Gogh's.
I was able to visit the Louvre where I saw the Mona Lisa. I was surprised to find its not that big.
I walked from the Arc de Triomphe down the Champs-Elysees past the Louvre all the way to Notre Dame.
The next day, I visited Notre Dame and climbed the towers. I was able to have a view over the whole city.
I stupidly went to the Paris Catacombs by myself. It was cool, but pretty scary!
Since I'd already seen the city from Notre Dame, I went up the Eiffel Tower at night. It was beautiful! There is a reason they call it "The City of Light."
I took a day trip to Versailles. Where I toured the palace and the beautiful gardens.
I also visited Montmartre and Sacre-Ceur basilica. Since it's near there, I walked by Moulin Rouge.
While I was in Paris, Heather took me to a wonderful creperie (Ty Breiz) for dinner.
On the last day, I visited the Musee d'Orsay and saw original Monet, Degas, and Van Gogh's.
Eastern Europe
Six of us visited Eastern Europe over spring break. We had an amazing time! We visited Krakow, Prague, Vienna, and Budapest.
In Krakow, we spent the first day touring the Wawel Castle including the Wawel Cathedral where we climbed the bell tour and had birds eye view of the whole city. At night, we listened to the Orchestra of the City of Krakow play Vivaldi's Four Seasons in the beautiful St. Peter and Paul's Church. The second day, we arranged trips to Auschwitz and the salt mines. Before we left, the girls all went shopping and bought some amber jewelry.
From Krakow, we took an overnight train to Prague. It was quite an experience jamming all six of us in to one small, hot cabin, but we made it work. In Prague, we spent a day touring Prague Castle. My favorite part was St. Vitus's Cathedral. We also visited the Jewish Museum in Prague.
In Vienna, we visited the museum quarter, but we only had time for a couple art museums. The MOMUK is the largest museum for modern and contemporary art in Central Europe and had displays from artists such as: Maria Lassing, Nam June Paik, along with a mind expander section with a display on performative bodies. I won't lie. Some of it was pretty weird! The Leopold museum, which gives a panorama view of Austrian art of the nineteenth and the twentieth century, held works from Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt, Kolo Moser, Richard Gerstl, and Oskar Kokoschka. We also visited he zoo! At night, we went to the opera. We saw an amazing performance of Der Freischütz. Der Freischütz is an opera in three acts by Carl Maria von Weber to a libretto by Friedrich Kind. It is considered the first important German Romantic opera, especially in its national identity and stark emotionality. Its plot was taken from German folk legend and many of its tunes were inspired by German folk music.
In Budapest, we took a boat tour along the Danube river dividing Pest and Buda. We also visited Hero's Square and Buda Castle and saw the baths, the chain bridge, and Parliament. I think Budapest also had my favorite food of the whole trip, but every city had great food!
In Krakow, we spent the first day touring the Wawel Castle including the Wawel Cathedral where we climbed the bell tour and had birds eye view of the whole city. At night, we listened to the Orchestra of the City of Krakow play Vivaldi's Four Seasons in the beautiful St. Peter and Paul's Church. The second day, we arranged trips to Auschwitz and the salt mines. Before we left, the girls all went shopping and bought some amber jewelry.
From Krakow, we took an overnight train to Prague. It was quite an experience jamming all six of us in to one small, hot cabin, but we made it work. In Prague, we spent a day touring Prague Castle. My favorite part was St. Vitus's Cathedral. We also visited the Jewish Museum in Prague.
In Vienna, we visited the museum quarter, but we only had time for a couple art museums. The MOMUK is the largest museum for modern and contemporary art in Central Europe and had displays from artists such as: Maria Lassing, Nam June Paik, along with a mind expander section with a display on performative bodies. I won't lie. Some of it was pretty weird! The Leopold museum, which gives a panorama view of Austrian art of the nineteenth and the twentieth century, held works from Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt, Kolo Moser, Richard Gerstl, and Oskar Kokoschka. We also visited he zoo! At night, we went to the opera. We saw an amazing performance of Der Freischütz. Der Freischütz is an opera in three acts by Carl Maria von Weber to a libretto by Friedrich Kind. It is considered the first important German Romantic opera, especially in its national identity and stark emotionality. Its plot was taken from German folk legend and many of its tunes were inspired by German folk music.
In Budapest, we took a boat tour along the Danube river dividing Pest and Buda. We also visited Hero's Square and Buda Castle and saw the baths, the chain bridge, and Parliament. I think Budapest also had my favorite food of the whole trip, but every city had great food!
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