Dateline: Hotel same as last night, Bergen Norway, 21 February 2005
Slept through my alarm this morning, so had to rush out the door. Driven to Naval Academy with fellow instructors Chet Richards and Col. Thomas X. Hammes (USMC) by our collective host Ole, who BTW spent a portion of his childhood with his astronomer father in SE Wisconsin.
Jumping right in, I brief the students (all in uniform) in a steep classroom theatre from roughly 9:15 to noon. We then break for a nice lunch. School is right on one of the fjords, so fairly stunning view that reminds me of Bar Harbor ME. Then we return to class and I brief from 1300 to 1500.
At that point I am released for day and accompany the colonel for a ride up one of the cityís mountains on a cable car-like system that works largely by gravity (one car goes up as the other goes down, and they pass each other in the middle where the track splits to allow them passageóall very clever). A beautiful view from the mountain top, where I snap a few photos with my cell phone camera, which I will post later.
Tonight, we all get together (Ole, colonel, Chet and his spouse and me) and split some beers that Ole brings to the hotel (insanely expensive here, so Ole brings some cans from far more moderately priced Denmark next door, where he lives). Then after dinner in the hotel buffet-style restaurant, where I eat too much (8-of-9 has never learned to behave at a buffetójust not in my genes, and, at this rate, I soon wonít be either (jeans, that is)).
Then I while away night watching a brilliant BBC production on Mary Queen of Scots.
Feeling a bit weird with the time change, but then I always do. I did a very extended version of the brief over the five hours, with intermittent Q&A. Tomorrow I will finish the rest between 0900 and noon.
The students, I feel, are getting their moneyís worth. Meanwhile, based on where they go with the questions, I am feeling better and better about the Vol. II.
OMYGOD!
I remember talking about an image that described the content of the two books in yesterdayís post, or at least I think I remember that.
But I forgot to upload.