30April2010 Revolvers & Residency

Yesterday, I got lost trying to find an office building, and drove past, of all things, a gun store.  I didn't have a chance to go in but it got me thinking about a couple neat stories involving revolvers.
Back in North Carolina, when we were packing for our initial journey here, S. was packing some toys in one of his suitcases.  One of his choices was a toy gun; a shiny, silver revolver complete with western holster.  I jokingly told S. he couldn't take it because TSA screeners at the airport would think it was real.  We laughed, S. packed the gun and we made it through two US and a European airport without incident. When we arrived here they x-rayed all our bags and sure enough, the final bag was pulled aside and four very stern-faced guards, two of which had automatic weapons strapped to their backs, asked me to come with them.  I opened the bag and one of guards carefully examined it's contents. His stern composure quickly melted into a grin as he pulled out...you guessed it...S.'s silver, toy revolver.  The guard picked up the gun, pointed it at all his co-workers and said, "Cowboy!" 
Last week, M and I went to our neighborhood police station to complete residency paperwork for D. and the kids.  She carried her pink, Dora the Explorer backpack full of toys just in case.  As is often the case a ten-minute stop turned into a several hour ordeal.  Each office we visited asked for a different form, or copies of something else.  And, to get copies made we had to walk down the street to a bookstore.  After a couple hours of going to and fro, we were both plumb tired of that place.  We walked into the last office, or at least we hoped, and there were six officers and numerous people, from various countries in the middle of all sorts of tasks.  Every eye in the place turned to look at us and particularly at the cute little, pigtailed girl, dressed from head to toe in pink.  M., like the hero from an action movie, reached into her backpack and pulled out a .357 magnum pistol, with politically correct, Consumer Product Safety Commission approved, orange cap, and pointed it at one of the officers.  Every face in the place broke into a smile and a couple of the men began laughing.  Not sure if the revolver helped or not but we received their residency. 

24April2010 Ice Cream for T

We're so happy our friend, T., came for a visit.  She arrived this morning, after a very long journey.  Although she didn't sleep during the 2-day trip T had a big smile on her face when we met her in the airport lobby.  She caught a quick, 4-hour, nap and was ready to see a little bit of the town so we took her out for ice cream.  Below are some quick, cellphone pics.
12bf

Eating ice cream & window shopping on a Saturday evening. 

No idea what flavor, actually looks like multiple flavors, but A was very happy with his selection. 

 

The kids weren't the only happy ones.  T is the background, in her own little frozen world.  

 The sugar has already kicked in.

Now this little girl knows how to eat ice cream.  There is no shame or remorse here!