the little details

Wise Teeth / Hairy Feet

2010-03-12T11:02:00.003+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...today is the day that my wisdom tooth gets pulled -- and i am going to the dentist to get it done, because Sarah wasn't willing to pull it for me...

...oh joy...

...oh sweetness...

...and did i mention that it is a discouragingly dreary day outside?...

...thank God He's with me...

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currently reading: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

(finally)

Coffeeship / Companionship

2010-03-05T21:23:00.003+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...it's a busy week -- and you know what i think?...

coffee is overrated

...there -- i said it...

...and it's on the internet, so it must be true...

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currently proof-reading: my message for Sunday (auf Deutsch) about friendship with God...

Giving Up / Trekking On

2010-02-16T21:44:00.004+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...last year, i gave up music for Lent -- and it was rough...

...this year, i'm giving up sweet/salty snacks/desserts -- 'twill also be rough...

...but, like giving up music, will be ultimately beneficial...

...no chocolate, pretzels, cakes, chips, blah blah -- should be pretty interesting...

...last year, with no music, i was able to keep myself quieter with less distractions -- more thinking, pondering, praying and more physical and spiritual awareness...

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currently watching: "Lost" -- Season Five

...yes, we are finally almost completely caught up -- and watching this season (5) has been quite entertaining -- no letdown whatsoever...

The Past 168 Hours / The Future Oscar Winner?

2010-02-13T14:48:00.003+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...here's a concise look over the last week...

saturday: Hannah throws up through the night (not constantly, but consistently)...

sunday: Saints deservedly win the Superbowl while Colts deservedly lose...

monday: Travis throws up through the night (not constantly, but consistently); Hannah joins in as well...

tuesday: tired after three nights of less than three hours each...

wednesday: Sarah throws up through the night (not constantly, but consistently); Ben becomes last man standing...

thursday: cool evening out with friend; break from the sick family...

friday: finish up English Camp brochures; anticipation increases...

saturday: Feinkost ladies tea is today; have fun, Sarah...

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recently enjoyed watching: The Hurt Locker

...Avatar should not win Best Picture, especially when this movie is in the running...

Short Thought / Rogue Agent

2010-02-07T19:30:00.005+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...after more than a dozen times throwing up within a span of 8 hours throughout the night, Hannah is finally feeling better -- and sadly, it was already laundry day today, so the washing machine is working over time...

...on top of that lack of sleep, the Superbowl game (starting at 12:30am local time) is welcomed at our party at Don's house, along with more than 10 other guys who are crazy enough to hang out with us superlate on a Sunday night (most of whom aren't even American!)...

...did i mention: go not-Colts!...

...i've almost forgotten what normal snowless sidewalks look like, as well as the fact that grass is the color green -- snow, just give it up already...

...how is Avatar the highest grossing movie of all time? -- disgusting...

...i'm wondering if Jesus Christ is one of the most mistakenly misunderstood individuals in the history of individuals -- or maybe just simply one of the most awesome, probably...

...you know why i'm blogging right now? because Sarah is watching Pride & Prejudice (the A&E Colin Firth version) in the other room -- and life goes on...

...dot dot dot...

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currently reading: Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Sanction by Eric Van Lustbader

Including Cold, Weight-Loss, Godfathers & Perspective / Including Smoke, Hatches, Numbers & Secrecy

2010-01-29T21:14:00.003+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...here are some recent thoughts, followed by explanations...

..."more snow, God? are You kidding me?" -- i walked out of the house the other day and, much to my dismay, the 15-degrees-below-freezing-Celsius weather was accompanied with even more snow, just when the recent barrage was starting to give way to the sidewalks underneath -- i know it is strange for me to think the following, but i was looking forward to having decent non-slip sidewalks to run on in the early mornings/late evenings...

..."wow -- this is tougher than i thought" -- last year, i was part of a group of four who had a small contest to lose weight, and, even though it went well for that period of time, and i was able to lose 15 lbs myself, i gained a couple more over the last month or so (Christmas time is a killer) -- well, to continue my weight-loss, i started a new personal campaign, and i have a goal to slim down to a certain weigh-in (which i will not post here) before the opening kickoff of the World Cup of 2010 -- it is a lofty goal, but i am determined...

..."yes, these have been pretty good, but i don't think they are any of my favorites" -- i've recently watched the Godfather movies (i re-watched The Godfather and have watched Part II and Part III for the first time) and, although i find the arguments behind them being great movies valid and seeing their place in movie history, they are not personal favorites...i did really like the first one, the second one was pretty good too, and the third one is kind of meh -- overall well done and interesting, but nonetheless slightly disappointing, with a letdown in the third act (Part III)...

..."does it all boil down to the matter of perspective, or is that just my perspective?" -- we are encouraged to be joyful always, to pray continually and to always be thankful in all circumstances (I Thessalonians 5) -- but why?...think about it -- and after i did for a while, i've concluded that it comes down to the view that we have on our life, on our perspective, on how we interact with the happenings of our days -- to sharpen a correct perspective on life centers on these three intentional choices, i believe -- living with joy (not happiness), praying as central, and having a constant gratitude -- enormously tough, of course, but invaluably imperative...

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currently watching: "LOST" (yes, still)

Singing & Friends / Forgetting Loved Ones

2010-01-14T22:27:00.007+01:00

to nobody in particular:

my daughter, at 18 months old, is a genius -- and this is just a sliver of proof...

...she does pretty well with learning the words (or at least, the sounds of the words), and we have a growing list of songs that she likes to sing...when it comes to music, i think Travis has the rhythm and Hannah has the harmony -- so far, anyway...

..."and now for something completely different"...

...at one of our last brunches last year (in reality, a few weeks ago), i guided our discussion in thinking about God as our Friend -- how Jesus views us, those who know Him and His Father, as friends...

...this reality and truth has carried on with me into this new year, and though many times i'm inclined to focus on my relationship with God as a Father/Child relationship, or Creator/Creation, i want to intentionally realign and look at it as a Friend/Friend relationship. this is very eye-opening and challenging -- in the areas of communication, perspective, responsibilities, etc. i think one of the toughest things is not necessarily looking at it only as God as my friend, but that i am a personal, close friend of His. how am i trustworthy, reliable, honest, listening, and sensitive to God as His friend? is my communication limited to my perspective, or should my improved perspective even enhance and breakthrough previously grounded limitations?...

...He's great...

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currently listening to: "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Soundtrack"

...great soundtrack to a fantastic movie -- gems like this are rare...

Photos & Black Eyes / Pages & Images

2010-01-06T23:30:00.011+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...the kids took part in a spontaneous photo session recently...

...yes, yes -- it's very cute...

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since i haven't posted in a while, here's a concise list of top choices from the last few months...

recently read: The Furious Longing of God by Brennan Manning (pretty good, but not as life-altering as i thought it could be), Shutter Island by Dennis LeHane (suspenseful and interesting), The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (classic and spectacular), Bad Monkeys by Matt Ruff (charged and thought-provoking), excerpts from The Bible by God (awesome, of course)...

recently watched: Avatar in the theater (not bad, but not life-changing either), rented Star Trek (pretty good, but Star Wars IV-VI still rule), State of Play (meh, but intrigued to watch the English mini-series instead) and borrowed The Godfather Parts I & II (still haven't watched Part III yet -- soon) and Apocalypse Now (heard it's a classic, and thought it was fairly interesting)...

At Last / At First

2009-12-31T20:37:00.004+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...i question whether anybody will actually read this, and, again, that won't be a problem with me if it goes unread -- not a big deal. if it is read by one person, that is great. two, greater. three, unexpected. that's the wonder of treating a blog as a personal journal -- it's personal to a point, and yet public to a point...

...after a full year of blogging and recording learning points on a daily basis, i took a small break. that small break ends tonight. my last blog was august 11th. when deciding when to write again, i thought: perhaps a september 11th post, equaling a one month break, would be appropriate? perhaps writing after my parents visit would be a meaningful time to restart? perhaps, now that's it's november, i could write a Thanksgiving post? maybe it would be good, rather than working around an "appropriate" time to restart the blog, i could just avoid that and do it at a random time with no significance? hey, Christmas is right around the corner -- perhaps a Christmas post would work? and now, here i am, on the last night of the year, writing -- finally...

...and it turns out, the timing is significant, yet the writing will be rather insignificant -- except in the fact that i am restarting my blog, 86 the learning points...

...it's nice to be writing out my thoughts in an informal and fun manner again -- hopefully it lasts and continues strongly in 2010...

...with that said, i am done here...

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currently watching: "LOST"

my wife gifted me with "LOST" on dvd for Christmas, so we are starting to watch the series again from the beginning -- and it is still spectacular...

1ne Year Is Over / God With Man

2009-08-11T23:37:00.004+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...i write this blog on the eleventh night of august, and to many of you, or at least the one or two of you that may actually read this, perhaps the importance of this date is yet an enigma...

...exactly one year ago, i began to test the theory that "you learn something new every day", and on the twelfth day of august, i started recording my daily learnings...

...three hundred and sixty five days later, i can honestly say that i believe this theory to be true -- with limitations...

...such limitations include: personal motivation, intentional interaction, boring living, lack of imagination -- if any or all of these are present, this could hinder one from learning something new every day...

...so go on -- go and live life, go and learn new things -- there is a whole world out there to discover, a plethera of lessons to learn and things to know...

...but as i've recently re-valued, in discussion with a friend, that in a culture where knowledge and self-discovery is cherished, perhaps wisdom should be sought after most of all...

...what good is anything without wisdom to accompany it?...

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and now, the last (and final?) installment if theory testing for this past year:

..."you learn something new every day"...

two days ago, i learned: Mauerpark Flohmarkt + two strollers = stupid idea...

yesterday, i learned: it's hard to tell what the ratio is for how much manpower/"doing" does and how much prayer/"relying" does...

today, i learned: no matter how many people there are in number, just add one more, because God is there all the time anyway...

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recently watched: Taken

...this was a pretty intense movie, and well-done...

English Camp / Almost There?

2009-08-08T20:04:00.002+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...here's the latest blog post from our family's site (www.xanga.com/thecareyjourney)...

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It was a wonderful experience for me (Ben) to spend the week up in Karchow for English Camp 2009! Thanks for your prayers and encouragement in preparation for it and during the camp. We had 24 teenagers and 14 staff (including me and Don from our team here, Katie who has taught three years now, Caleb our intern, two friends of the Jones family who helped cook and a team from Kenmore Alliance Church near Buffalo, NY) enjoy a week full of classes, activities, good food, fun times and, hopefully, spiritual encouragement! I served this year as Asst. Director for the camp and was able to see it all from a different perspective as last year. Next year I will be filling the Director role for the camp, and am excited about that. It was a fairly busy week, but we were able to enjoying moments of relaxation and genuinely spend quality time with the teenagers...

During the classroom sessions, they were able to develop their English proficiency, work their creative artistic juices through painting, baking apple pies/crisps and even doing Improv skits (think "Whose Line Is It Anyway?"). It was really fun to see how they all interacted with the different sessions...

Team and/or leaisure games and activities included Don't Touch the Can, Ultimate Frisbee, baseball, volleyball, "Kickerball" (Fussball, to Americans), 4-way Capture the Flag, Bandanaball, Intersection Races, and more -- and being fully-staffed this year (as compared to last) made it more flexible for all of us staff to join in or watch. All the students were separated into four teams, and throughout the week, all four teams were competing for points, which were gained from winning activities, saying the daily Bible verses (in English), receiving daily votes from staff for "Most English Spoken" or "Most Improved English", and more. In the end, the team I was on came in second, but all in all, it adds an element of excitement and motivation to it all...

Some of the teenagers come from a church-background, and that does not necessarily mean very much. However, several of the teenagers, when prompted near the end of the week, re-committed their lives to Christ, and that was refreshing and encouraging to see! You wouldn't believe how awesome the singing sounds during the worship/music time, and just the fact that several teenagers asked for us to have an extra praise time before the evening "Etwas Mehr" ("Something More") Bible session was encouragement for all of us...

God was truly working, and it was clearly evident -- but we're all praying that the teenagers would carry that encouragement on through these coming weeks and months. We're able to keep in touch with many of the students via internet/facebook and, when possible (but hard to come by) face-to-face visits, but are trusting for the extra bit of spiritual encouragement from the Holy Spirit to continue moving closer to Jesus, no matter where they are in their journey/relationship with Him...

Would you pray for them with us too?

Thanks!

Here are some pictures that capture a general feel for the week

...our main building...

...English Camp 2009!...

...us guys playing a traditional German kindergarten game...

...no, not any of the campers (although there was a hospital visit during the week)...

...what do us manly non-teachers do while everyone else is in class? why, pick berries of course!...

...me and Caleb photobombing Lisa Z.'s picture...

,,,"Etwas Mehr"...

...Jen's Beginner class...

...Laurie's Intermediate class...

...Katie's Advanced class...

...stretching their English through improv skits...

...4-way Capture the Flag explanations...

...bike trip to the gas station...

...volleyball...

...painting...

...Caleb, Dave (both staff) and Michel (camper)...

...playing Settlers of Catan...

...Adeline and Lisa E....

...Don and myself...

...and we had to give them even just a little bit more of American culture (and our generation) on movie night: The Princess Bride...

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..."you learn something new every day"...

seventeen days ago, i learned: book-smarts and street-smarts are oh so very different...

sixteen days ago, i learned: i can bike down to Alexanderplatz from Open Door church faster than the Straßenbahn can get there...

fifteen days ago, i learned: what a pastor shouldn't do...

fourteen days ago, i learned: English Camp 2009 is going to be awesome!...

thirteen days ago, i learned: these six years of marriage have gone by quickly but wonderfully -- so much has happened, and i'm eager for the next six and more!...

twelve days ago, i learned: i think i may have seen the best/funniest improv impersonation of Michael Jackson by a 16 year old German girl...

eleven days ago, i learned: to walk in to your room at camp and find flies mating on you bed is fairly disturbing -- "i sleep there, dagnabbit!"...

ten days ago, i learned: 4-way Capture the Flag does work and is fun...

nine days ago, i learned: the genius and wonder of The Princess Bride goes over many of the German teenagers heads...

eight days ago, i learned: slugs are cannibals...

seven days ago, i learned: English Camp 2009 was awesome!...

six days ago, i learned: i can play and sing an original song i've written in front of other people, including both friends and strangers...

five days ago, i learned: playing catch-up is not as fun as it sounds!...

four days ago, i learned: Hertha will be starting this season 33 million Euro in debt -- ouch...

three days ago, i learned: when there, buy it...

two days ago, i learned: Hertha tickets don't go on sale until the 10th of August -- bummer...

yesterday, i learned: men plainly should not wear short jean shorts, no matter how athletic or hairy their legs may (or may not) be...

today, i learned: my daughter is one smart cookie...

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recently watched for the first time but definitely not the last: Casablanca

...i'm not sure why i had waited so long to watch this classic, but i enjoyed it very much -- i think it's also my first Bogie movie, as well...

Nowadays / Thenadays

2009-07-21T15:55:00.003+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...Travis' third birthday today!...

...English Camp next week!...

...sixth anniversary on sunday!...

...life is good!...

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..."you learn something new every day"...

eleven days ago, i learned: fridays are overrated...

ten days ago, i learned: i can give great college-course-picking advice!...

nine days ago, i learned: some people got it, and some really don't...

eight days ago, i learned: Obama on Twitter? what?...

seven days ago, i learned: i kind of miss watching "Survivor"...

six days ago, i learned: i hate that the sound doesn't always work on our computer -- annoying!...

five days ago, i learned: take the background...

four days ago, i learned: Topfschlagen!...

three days ago, i learned: change and differences are okay, if not highly recommended...

two days ago, i learned: our first baptism was awesome!...

yesterday, i learned: good intentions followed by effortless actions equals uninspired normalcy...

today, i learned: it only takes less than thirteen months to get your front door fixed!...

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recently started watching online: "Survivor -- Tocantins"

Old Parents & Mysteries / Old Queens & Histories

2009-07-09T21:15:00.006+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...these last several days, Sarah and i have been working on finding a Kita (pre-school/daycare) for Travis, for him to start in a few months -- and everything has fallen into place in this last week: Travis will be starting at a bi-lingual, large school in a Kita group at the end of September -- it will be a great class, with tremendous teachers and a fantastic atmosphere for him to play with other kids, improve both his German and English, and for us to get to know other parents...

...and i was excited about this last point especially, but then last night, at the parents' info meeting, i was struck with the odd reality -- one which i was aware of, but had never let it sink in: 85% of the other parents are in their mid-40s or older...

...it is amazing to me that most of the kids that Travis will be spending time with that are his age or younger, that they have parents that could be old enough to be my parents -- it is just a ridiculously crazy fact that i still can't grasp!...

...i shared with Sarah, as we walked home after the meeting, how funny i find it that many Germans wait until they are around the age of 40 before they decide it is time to have children (or one child, at least) and then, when that child is less than a year old, already send them to a Kita for four hours a day (at least), increasing that time apart as they get older -- i haven't figured it out yet...

...i love my kids...

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..."you learn something new every day"...

nine days ago, i learned: there must be some kind of strange, bizarre, terrible connection between me and technology...

eight days ago, i learned: oh my, my dear Cleveland Indians -- why do you do this to yourself?...

seven days ago, i learned: performing Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful" is never an option, and that's my final word...

six days ago, i learned: don't fall behind...

five days ago, i learned: i don't need fireworks on a 4th of july -- but steak and baked potatoes are swell...

four days ago, i learned: just be flexible and adapt, and the positive side of things will emerge...

three days ago, i learned: mmmmmmm...Guylian Dark Belgian Chocolates...

two days ago, i learned: what i've been missing all this time!...

yesterday, i learned: i am a young parent (see above)...

today, i learned: on this date in 1982, some guy broke into Buckingham Palace and made it into the Queen Elizabeth II's bedroom before getting caught (i read it somewhere in passing in German, so i think i got it right)...

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currently reading: Earth: A Visitor's Guide

Three Highlights / Thirteen Lessons

2009-06-29T21:22:00.005+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...it has been a busy couple of weeks -- always something to do...

...in tonight's blog, three items...

...the other day, a bunch of us were chatting about some crazy people, and Sarah mentioned how one's parents go crazy over pregnancy, especially as they are those type of people who are always "biting at the chomp"...

...pretty funny...

...can't remember if i wrote this one yet -- i asked Travis if he pooped and, after getting off the potty when he didn't do anything, he answered, "no, poop not ready yet"...

...also funny...

...and an extra-special mention of something i learned recently: Merv Hughes, and Australian cricketer, who i remember watching play cricket when we lived in New Zealand, actually had his gloriously beautiful moustache insured for $38,000 US...

...and why not?...

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..."you learn something new every day"...

twelve days ago, i learned: Merv Hughes insured his moustache (see above)...

eleven days ago, i learned: if both kids are gonna be sick in the same week, just have them be sick and throwing up in the same night! -- better to get it all done at once...

ten days ago, i learned: The Sting (1973) -- still got it after all these years...

nine days ago, i learned: the number 7 is the number most often picked when asked to choose a number between 1 and 10...

eight days ago, i learned: some kids just don't listen -- Travis included!...

seven days ago, i learned: was Arnold Dorsey such a bad name that he changed it to Engelbert Humperdinck?...

six days ago, i learned: don't brave it -- embrace the sickness and get better quicker...

five days ago, i learned: some things that you think will only take a couple of days can take about five or more...

four days ago, i learned: i have the power!...

three days ago, i learned: for the most part, the BBC News "breaking news" e-mail makes it to my inbox before the USA Today "breaking news" e-mail, but in the case of both Farrah Fawcett's and Michael Jackson's deaths, USA Today won by a few minutes...

two days ago, i learned: saturdays are never a complete day off...

yesterday, i learned: i'm not the only one who thinks that...

today, i learned: the Berlin Zoo Aquarium sometimes has to feed the jellyfish either by hand or with tweezers...

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recently watched: The Sting

Vacation Pictures / Sex, Church, and Rock & Roll

2009-06-16T22:44:00.004+02:00

to nobody in particular:

these are my "top five" favorite pictures from vacation...

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..."you learn something new every day"...

six days ago, i learned: sexuality is a rarely discussed topic in the church-world (not sex or sexual morality, but sexuality in general)...

five days ago, i learned: not all Germans scrub...

four days ago, i learned: photography is my favorite medium...

three days ago, i learned: check and double-check the lyrics before you print them out...

two days ago, i learned: there is a place for the song "Tired of Sex" in church...

yesterday, i learned: "look, see, it's waterfall"...

today, i learned: be ready!...

Post #100 / So What?

2009-06-09T20:29:00.004+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...vacation was great -- we relaxed and relaxed a lot...

...swimming, walking, sleeping, reading, playing, laughing, eating, enjoying, watching, resting, sandcastling...

...that's about it -- relaxing...

...exactly what we needed...

...one of the things that was impressed upon me was "faith like a child" and "fear like a child" -- i saw moments when my kids were stress-free, care-free and totally relying on us for all their needs and desires; and yet i saw moments in which, in situations of clear uncertainty, they were overcome with fear, forgetting about their faithful, trustworthy and loving parents...

...i could expand, but i won't...

...and i don't think i need to spell the connection out in our daily lives -- it preached to me clearly, and i think the recognition of truth can be grasped...

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..."you learn something new every day"...

fourteen days ago, i learned: 2:26am to wake up for a flight to vacation in Mallorca is worth it...

thirteen days ago, i learned: yes, there are many Europeans who hang out at the beach topless...

twelve days ago, i learned: neither of the kids have any fear of a fifth floor balcony...

eleven days ago, i learned: Mallorca has a pretty sweet aquarium...

ten days ago, i learned: we booked a hotel on the quieter part of the beach -- thankfully, not on the party end of the beach (as a young family, we would've REALLY stuck out, even more than we already were)...

nine days ago, i learned: Travis doesn't like the ocean, maybe, but he likes the swimming pool...

eight days ago, i learned: more than half over? vacation goes by quickly!...

seven days ago, i learned: push the limits!...

six days ago, i learned: Sarah and i organize and prepare, more than enough in advance, for most things...

five days ago, i learned: the Mallorca airport is nice, but please, clean the men's bathrooms more often!...

four days ago, i learned: i got the gnome!...

three days ago, i learned: booooooo...

two days ago, i learned: God makes sure we come into contact with the right people...

yesterday, i learned: goals are good, and sometimes hard to reach, but just try it anyway...

today, i learned: my family -- parents, siblings, in-laws, nieces and nephews -- are astoundingly awesome (of course, this was more of a refreshing reminder, not newly learned)...

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recently watched: 12 Angry Men

...cinematically simple, philosophically complex -- love it...

Vacation / Vacation

2009-05-25T22:52:00.002+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...vacation starts in just a few hours...

...amen...

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..."you learn something new every day"...

...today, i learned: i can blog two days in a row!...

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currently looking forward to: vacation, of course

Already Done? / Not Enough Fun?

2009-05-24T22:35:00.004+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...we have been busy, busy, busy -- yet a good kind of busy...

...having the Crown team here has been tiring, yes, but it has been great to solidify our relationship with them more through this trip of theirs, and they've been very encouraging for us, too, as they've helped out with their project and even more -- spiritual encouragement and lasting effects that will continue to work for our advantages...

...it was a fast two weeks with them...

...early on tuesday morning, we get on the plane to head to Mallorca (or Majorca, depending on how you would like to spell it) for nine days -- it will be a welcome time of relaxation and rest...

...i'm looking forward to it...

...God is perfect...

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..."you learn something new every day"...

...eleven days ago, i learned: not extrovertness, nor extrovertiviticity, but extrovertism...

...ten days ago, i learned: Hertha still has a shot...

...nine days ago, i learned: University of Leipzig since 1409 -- take that, United States of America!...

...eight days ago, i learned: Hertha can't take 1st place, but will finish in the top 5, so that's nice...

...seven days ago, i learned: liturgy has its place, somewhere, of course...

...six days ago, i learned: i have no desire to ever encounter vampire fish -- ouch...

...five days ago, i learned: is the obvious too obvious, or are some people really that silly?...

...four days ago, i learned: Alan Arkin was a musician with hit songs before acting?...

...three days ago, i learned: i still, after all these years, don't understand the God/weather connection sometimes...

...two days ago, i learned: the necessity of flexibility is exactly that -- necessary...

...yesterday, i learned: Hertha, congrats on 4th place -- much better than last year...

...today, i learned: mauerpark + karaoke = greatness...

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currently enjoying: the enjoyment and talent of Stevie Starr

Team is Here / Vacation is There

2009-05-12T22:17:00.003+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...been pretty busy around here, and will be for the next couple of weeks -- we have a team here from Crown College in Minnesota, and so we'll be helping with them...

...exciting days around here! -- the team got here today, will be here until the 28th, but we're heading off for vacation on the 26th...

...it'll be fun to see what happens with the team here, and how God will work in and through all of us these coming days...

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..."you learn something new every day"...

eleven days ago, i learned: buy a newly updated Bahn map -- just go ahead and do it already!...

ten days ago, i learned: nobody has the distinct "right" to an abandoned recyclable beer bottle...

nine days ago, i learned: preparation, preparation, preparation...

eight days ago, i learned: the average mosquito lives for about two weeks...

seven days ago, i learned: don't go through anything alone...

six days ago, I learned: Alfred Hitchcock spoke German…

five days ago, i learned: add more European movies to my hit-list...

four days ago, i learned: i don't have a big desire to be a college professor...

three days ago, i learned: computers are like women -- you can't live with them; you can't live without them...

two days ago, i learned: i rock the Thurn und Taxis...

yesterday, i learned: the Bundesliga is INSANE with only a couple of games to go in the season...

today, I learned: “a rhinocerous beetle can push an object 850 times its own weight – the equivalent of an adult human strolling along pushing a fully grown hump-backed whale in front of them. Or one of the main supporting stones from Stonehenge.” (from Earth: A Visitor’s Guide)…

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currently longing for: vacation

Celebrations & Demonstrations / Respect & Internet

2009-04-30T22:18:00.004+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...May 1st (Labor Day) is "celebrated" all around the world...

...in Berlin, there are fests, cherished traditions and a day off of work...

...there are also registered demonstrations, intentional riots and planned mayhem...

...depending on how i feel tomorrow night, i may go check out an area or two, just to see the experience -- we'll see...

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..."you learn something new every day"...

...two days ago, i learned: "Respect" by Aretha Franklin is such a sham -- as a quintessential women's movement anthem in the '60s, it was actually written and released by Otis Redding two years earlier...

...yesterday, i learned: wouldn't the internet be awesome if it didn't cause any problems?...

...today, i learned: there's some "action" expected tomorrow just down the road from us (see above)...

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currently reading: Love & Respect by Emerson Eggereichs

Testing / Discovering

2009-04-27T21:58:00.002+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...thursday and friday were fairly intense, but after roughly five hours of test-taking, including written, reading, listening and speaking sections, Sarah and i both passed our language proficiency test -- we'll go in and pick up our certificates and results in a few weeks, but we were already told that we passed, and that we did a great job...

...i passed with 84.5 points (out of 100)...

...i'm happy with that...

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..."you learn something new every day"...

...seven days ago, i learned: leadership team meetings in German are with my reach!...

...six days ago, i learned: some people are difficult, whether you like it or not...

...five days ago, i learned: 111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12345678987654321 -- interesting, right?...

...four days ago, i learned: when waiting to take a huge test, it doesn't help that the test-giver is ten minutes late and apparently clueless...

...three days ago, i learned: i am able to pass the Zertifikat Deutsch B2 test at the Goethe Institut in Berlin-Mitte...

...two days ago, i learned: the Czech Republic is country that consumes the most beer (per capita) -- with Ireland and Germany in a close 2nd & 3rd, respectively...

...yesterday, i learned: Aids as a hoax?...

...today, i learned: baby humpback whales drink 500 litres of milk daily...

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recently finished reading: Blink by Ted Dekker

Upcoming Test / Anticipating Rest

2009-04-19T20:01:00.004+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...this past week has been an odd one, and the one to come will be, as well -- it will be nice to enjoy this coming saturday...

...on thursday and friday (23rd & 24th), we'll be taking a language proficiency test -- i can't say that i'm super-excited about it, but i will definitely be glad when it is over...

...i'm confident that we are going to do well, and am really praying we do better than well, so that we won't have to take again (a specific "grade" is hoped for/required)...

...but this week we'll continue our studying specifically for it, as it is the giant that we're gawking at right now...

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..."you learn something new every day"...

...seven days ago, i learned: Easter is so very especially fantastic...

...six days ago, i learned: i'm not necessarily afraid of or intimidated by females that are taller than me, but i do kind of notice when their a foot or more taller...

...five days ago, i learned: smaller groups can bring bigger results...

...four days ago, i learned: the Goethe-Institut only gives the B2 test every two months, and the next one is on april 23rd/24th -- register & pay, then study & pray!...

...three days ago, i learned: the Eisbären won the DEL (German Ice Hockey League) again this year, for a total of four times in the last five years -- dynastyabulous!...

...two days ago, i learned: the left side of the brain has two language learning regions -- one for grammar, the other for vocabulary...

...yesterday, i learned: even though language learning only takes place in one small region of the brain, your whole head will hurt after a super-long day of studying...

...today, i learned: Travis picks up and understands more than i realized...

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recently watched: Man on Fire

This Week / Last Week

2009-04-11T22:44:00.003+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...we had a fantastic brunch last week -- our first one in a public setting...of course it had its ups and downs, but overall, it was a great one...

...i turned 27 this past week -- and it was the first time in my entire existence that i didn't blow out any candles on my birthday...pavlova for dessert...

...we have a four day weekend this weekend, which is very nice...it has had a decent start to it, and we'll see how it pans out tomorrow and monday...

...Jesus is tremendous...

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..."you learn something new every day"...

...eight days ago, i learned: rebuilding a lost template is annoying, but finally finishing it is rewarding...

...seven days ago, i learned: kaffee und kuchen with neighbors is gooooood...

...six days ago, i learned: brunch is goooooood (but don't get all your hopes up)...

...five days ago, i learned: just take a day off -- seriously...

...four days ago, i learned: working on your birthday is a bummer, but it's not all that bad...

...three days ago, i learned: finally!...

...two days ago, i learned: each time i watch The Passion of the Christ, i am challenged with a new insight...

...yesterday, i learned: Travis rocks the Laufrad...

...today, i learned: stop and think about what the shortest way to your destination would be before you go ahead and start out with the first idea that pops into your mind...

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currently watching: "Fawlty Towers"

...truly wonderful...

Weird Week / Gorgeous Days

2009-04-02T20:06:00.004+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...this is a busier week -- we are having our first brunch in a well-known local church building here in the area on Sunday, and we are still working out the logistical and practical details -- but it is a huge step for Freischwimmer...

...Germany won both of their World Cup qualifying matches this week (saturday and yesterday), so that is good news -- and England won their match yesterday too...

...Berlin Eisbären are tied in their semi-final match-up...

...fantasy baseball starts this week -- look for me in the middle of the standings...

...Hannah isn't sleeping very well, Travis is showing more attitude, and Sarah and i love them tons anyway...

...this has been a weird week so far...

...God is speaking to me though, of course...

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..."you learn something new every day"...

...seven days ago, i learned: yes -- i can (and do) buy rice cakes...

...six days ago, i learned: the new exhibition at the gallery is pretty awesome -- i like it a lot...

...five days ago, i learned: days where Travis and i can hang out together are good for my soul -- i am looking forward to more, especially when he gets older...

...four days ago, i learned: even though it's gorgeous outside, some people will stay inside...

...three days ago, i learned: Sarah's mom owned Richard Simmon's exercise tapes -- and Sarah exercised along with them...

...two days ago, i learned: some days are just crappy -- but they usually end...

...yesterday, i learned: it feels good to sigh and take a victorious look at a completed 2000 piece puzzle...

...today, i learned: there are roughly 4 million (out of 80 million) illiterate people in Germany...

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just finished reading: The Brethren by John Grisham

...randomly grabbed this book of the shelf at the library a week or so ago -- i liked it...

The Weather / The Forecast

2009-03-25T20:11:00.003+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...yesterday, it was overcast, then rainy, then chilly, then a little windy, then sunny, then blue skies, then dark clouds, then hailing, then snowing, then very windy, then dry ground, then just cloudy...

...and that was all before the clock hit noon...

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..."you learn something new every day"...

...nine days ago, i learned: opportunities slip by, so make the most of them -- sincerely...

...eight days ago, i learned: i don't pray for my neighbors nearly enough...

...seven days ago, i learned: a hippo can run up to 30 kph...

...six days ago, i learned: it's still a little too cold out yet to "spend the morning or afternoon at the park"...

...five days ago, i learned: a new way to play dominoes...

...four days ago, i learned: i am really, really looking forward to the day when Travis and i can really Lego around...

...three days ago, i learned: bad stress and/or good stress?...

...two days ago, i learned: i want to read more...

...yesterday, i learned: some things have been thought through very well...

...today, i learned: i'm sad for some friends of ours...

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currently enjoying: doing jigsaw puzzles

At Least Ten Days / At Least Ten Lessons

2009-03-15T23:12:00.003+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...new bed for Travis / finger blisters /a computer crashed / forgetting to eat meals / lost electricity in living room / brunch planning / laughing / eating ribs once a year / video game anticipation / a 3D puzzle (a first) / tons of encouragement / three classic movies / a reminder of priorities / disappointments / challenging words / idiocy / everything lost on computer / tasty almonds / gained wisdom...

...i encountered and experienced all of these since i last blogged...

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..."you learn something new every day"...

...ten days ago, i learned: finally, there's a Ghostbusters video game coming out this summer -- sweeeeeet...

...nine days ago, i learned: time limits on certain things are necessary...

...eight days ago, i learned: roughly 82.4% of the time, first gut instincts are about right...

...seven days ago, i learned: riding the Straßenbahn + a big wet hairy dog = smelliness...

...six days ago, i learned: Jaws has still got it after all these 34 years...

...five days ago, i learned: giving up music (from cd's, mp3 player and radio) for Lent has been rough, but fantastic...

...four days ago, i learned: i want to first-hand experience an Amish barn-raising...

...three days ago, i learned: buy and use an external hard drive (i learned this the hard way)...

...two days ago, i learned: full, odd, random, spontaneous, multi-faceted days can be somewhat tiring yet beneficial...

...yesterday, i learned: don't wait to prep a song for a sunday morning on the saturday night before...

...today, i learned: sometimes that song will turn out great anyway...

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recently watched three classic movies with Sarah that i like, of which i am too lazy right now to post their respective trailers or clips:

Jaws -- directed by Steven Spielberg; with Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfus and Robert Shaw

Witness -- directed by Peter Weir; with Harrison Ford, Kelly McGillis and, as i realized this week for the first time, Viggo Mortensen

The Birds -- directed by Alfred Hitchcock; with Rod Taylor, Jessica Tandy and Tippi Hedren

Recent Reminders / Lively Lessons

2009-03-04T21:55:00.007+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...there's some kind of invisible connection between young kids and elderly individuals -- it is interesting: i can't count how many times Travis and i have been walking along and someone older we pass bends down to say hi to him, in a nice, friendly, non-threatening, nostalgic way...

...i was reminded of this today...

...also, i was reminded of the following yesterday, which i wrote to several people:

"I think it would be fair to say, that the face of the world has changed dramatically in the last several months – financial and economical changes that will alter how we live our day-to-day lives, possibly morphing the way we make decisions that affect the days ahead. However, I believe that these events could also lead to relational and spiritual changes – bringing into focus our priorities, our predisposed beliefs and assumed expectations. No matter what the days ahead bring us – whether in Berlin or in Washington D.C. – God is not caught off-guard, He is not powerless to interact, and He is not careless in being a part of our lives. We can trust His faithfulness.

He is here. He is active. He is good. He is love. That’s enough for me."

...on another note, here are some pictures!...

here's me and the daughter -- she is a cutie...

our ice hockey game, after they won 7-2...

i spontaneously cut my hair last night, after months of letting it grow out...

...and now my neck and ears are cold...

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..."you learn something new every day"...

...five days ago, i learned: coming home to an apartment smelling like nail polish is nothing fun...

...four days ago, i learned: Travis & i can have fun cooking breakfast for Sarah on her birthday...

...three days ago, i learned: vor vier Jahre war mein Leben vollgepackter als heute...

...two days ago, i learned: even sicknesses sometimes have their reasons...

...yesterday, i learned: technology doesn't simplify everything -- absolutely not...

...today, i learned: people living in Berlin pay roughly 10% more for rent than in 2007...

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recently watched: The International

...i liked it and Sarah liked it -- semi-good acting in a decent dramatic thriller -- don't expect an action movie...

Thawghtz / Payschintz

2009-02-26T22:23:00.005+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...it was fun to see Travis getting more courageous with his Laufrad (sort of like a bike without pedals) today -- he's starting to feel more comfortable with it, and was actually going almost as fast as my walking speed for a little bit...

...apples are tasty...

...i know i'll be a little late, but still undecided about what to give up for the next several weeks...

...patience was difficult and lacking today...

...excited to see what God is going to do this year in my life...

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..."you learn something new every day"...

...today, i learned: patience, patience, patience -- so very difficult, so very imperative...

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currently looking forward to: Sarah's birthday (28th on the 28th)

Morecambe F.C. / Berlin Eisbären

2009-02-25T23:09:00.003+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...i am desperately looking forward to warmer days -- it is depressing at times...

...and now, on to fun!

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Here are the rules for the album meme:

this is a fun one...

1. Go to Wikipedia. Hit "random" or click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
The first random Wikipedia article that comes up is the name of your band.

2. Go to Quotations Page and select "random quotations" or click http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3
The last four or five words of the very LAST quote on the page make up the title of your first album.

3. Go to Flickr and click "explore the last seven days" or click http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days
The third picture in the top row, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

4. Use Photoshop or whatever to put it all together.

5. Post it to Facebook with this text in the "caption" or "comment" and TAG the friends you want to join in.

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..."you learn something new every day"...

...three days ago, i learned: sundays can be long -- good, but long...

...two days ago, i learned: i really do miss watching/seeing ice hockey...

...yesterday, i learned: Berlin Eisbären rule! -- got to go enjoy seeing the Berlin ice hockey team (last year's champions), who are now number one in the league this year as well with yesterday's 7-2 victory -- and the kicker is that Nathan Robinson, former Toledo Storm player, got an assist on the very first goal...

...today, i learned: birthday shopping for the wife can be difficult -- especially when she gives you ideas...

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recently watched: hilarious English football own goals and embarrassing mistakes on Eurosport...

The World / The Cup

2009-02-21T14:00:00.005+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...there is so much in the world...

...then again, is there?...

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..."you learn something new every day"...

...four days ago, i learned: even really great things can be frustrating...

...three days ago, i learned: "Travis" is also the name of some deranged monkey who used to act but now attacks humans with a vengeance!...

...two days ago, i learned: two sick and out-of-it kids are NOT fun...

...yesterday, i learned: World Cup 2010 tickets are on sale!...

...today, i learned: i can accept the fact that i won't be able to go to any World Cup 2010 games, sadly...

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recently finished reading: The Shack by William P. Young

...after being recommended by 83% of the churched population, we were given this book as a gift for Christmas...with it being so popular, i reverted to automatic skepticism, yet read the book...

...the book is alright -- not bad, but not amazingly fantastic either -- it was interesting and challenging at times, but i felt that it was nothing so new and fresh as i expected -- at times, it felt like it had taken recent thoughts and beliefs and re-packaged them in a new way -- it did have helpful words that spoke truth, but it was also a little sketchy...

...then again, that's what opinions are for, right?...i guess i just wasn't so sold on it as many others have been...that's just me...

...but it was a good read -- now, on to the next...

"Anything?" / "HOWZAT!!!!!"

2009-02-16T22:54:00.006+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...i live in an age where it seems almost anything can be possible, anything can be believable, anything can be true, anything can be tested, anything can be comprehended, anything can be lived out, anything can be accepted as "right", anything can be denied and anything can be...

...i do question things, a lot, and in a few ways it can come off as a weakness, but overall, i believe it to be a necessary, sharpened strength...

...so, needless to say, i was recently encouraged by the following words:

"A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps." -- Proverbs 14:15

...beautifully stated...

...don't inhale what you don't know, don't wear what doesn't fit -- take a moment to realize what is going on, and then move forward...

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..."you learn something new every day"...

...four days ago, i learned: always know which cafe you're going to meet the other party at...

...three days ago, i learned: nothing unlucky happened...

...two days ago, i learned: i love being married to someone that doesn't care if we do anything for valentine's day or not...

...yesterday, i learned: i miss cricket...

...today, i learned: bike-riding + snow + slushy-ice + below-freezing + two-and-a-half-year-old-on-the-kid-seat-on-the-back + groceries-in-backpack = EXCITEMENT!...

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currently watching: "Heroes" (Season One)

...i'm glad we're re-watching it before we start season three, because i've forgotten a bunch of the bigger details from the earlier stories...

...yes, i'm kind of a nerd, but when i only watch a handful of television shows, i am a little pickier, and "Heroes" has some fantastic elements to it -- elements that can definitely connect to everyday life, relationships, purpose, sacrifice, inner-change, intentionality and motivation...

...Peter Petrelli is the bomb!...

*spoiler alert!*(pun intended)*end spoiler alert*

Berlin Sports / Berlin Television

2009-02-11T20:45:00.005+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...13 days until my first Berlin Eisbären ice hockey game -- nice!...

...they are only 2 points out of first place, so we could be seeing another Berlin championship this year...

...Hertha is doing really well in the Bundesliga as well, and they play Bayern this weekend...

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..."you learn something new every day"...

...three days ago, i learned: a good idea? -- move forward with it...

...two days ago, i learned: i question lots of things, and disagree with lots of things -- but that's not a weakness...

...yesterday, i learned: even though i can't understand some spoken German, that's okay -- some native Germans don't even understand some spoken German...

...today, i learned: "Richter Alexander Hold", even though an interesting experience, will not be a regularly-watched television program in my life...

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recently watched: Amadeus

...mmmmm -- good film-making...

Superbowl Without Commercials! / Appetite Without Satisfaction!

2009-02-07T22:37:00.007+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...it's hard to sit here and blog over when i haven't done so in six days -- makes it hard to choose something to write, especially when i've had so many ideas and topics pop up, making me think, ooh, that would be a good blog, but then never get around to it because of busy-ness/lazy-ness...

...maybe that's my lesson learned for today...

...oh, Superbowl -- watched it, enjoyed the game, a little disappointed by the result, but noticed two things: the Superbowl, to me, didn't seem to be a display of tremendous amazing football, but was more of a semi-alright game of flag football, if you know what i mean (penalty after penalty after penalty); and two, i know that commercials in the States are a big thing during the Superbowl, but when you are watching it overseas on channels that don't normally have commercials every two minutes, it becomes ridiculously tiresome watching the teams during all the commercial timeouts and seeing the players standing around on the field waiting for the signal that they can continue play -- unbelievable!...

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..."you learn something new every day"...

...5 days ago, i learned: biking home at 4:30am in the dead of winter is coooooooooold...

...4 days ago, i learned: Travis is infatuated with Mary Poppins -- craziness...

...3 days ago, i learned: i'm photographyhungry...

...2 days ago, i learned: index cards rule!...

...yesterday, i learned: it's not Jim's baby, of course -- but i think Jim's theory would've been better ("The Office", to Jim Halpert and Jim Rudd, respectively, with the theory that it is/was Ryan's baby)...

...today, i learned: see above...

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in the middle of reading: The Last Battle, the final book of C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia -- and, so far, it's really good (essentially, the whole collection is really good -- i had just, sadly, not read them all up until now)

Dogs, Frogs & Midichlorians / Potential, Anger and Just-Plain-Silly Ideas

2009-02-01T21:28:00.005+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...before i head out to our small Superbowl party, just wanted to write this really quickly -- laughter may be a result of reading...

...a couple days ago, i had Return of the Jedi on, and Travis saw Jabba the Hutt and said, "look, daddy, frog!"...

...and then, after calling Chewbacca a doggie, i said, "no Travis, Chewbacca's not a dog, he's a Wookiee", to which he replied, looking me straight in the face, "no wootee, daddy, doggie"...

...it was cute...

...but this young Padawan needs some more training...

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..."you learn something new every day"...

...two days ago, i learned: the Force is strong with my son...

...yesterday, i learned: even though i ride a bike and do not drive a car, i still get angry with other drivers...

...today, i learned: a remake of Capricorn One?...what?!?!?!?!...the first one is terrific already!...if you ask me, that's just plain Psycho (even though i didn't see the remake of that classic, i feel i can make that statement)...

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recently watched: Capricorn One

New Favorite / Old Goalkeeper

2009-01-29T23:24:00.004+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...Wir Sind Helden are a band from here in Berlin -- they are a new favorite of mine and they are great...

...see?...

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..."you learn something new every day"...

...yesterday, i learned: next month the 13th is a friday -- oooooooooooooh...

...today, i learned: in 1971, neither Arsenal nor Liverpool goalkeepers wore goalie gloves...

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currently listening to: Wir Sind Helden (see above)

Late on a Tuesday Night / Lovehate

2009-01-28T00:10:00.002+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...this is from a facebook thing, so i figured i would just gloriously cut 'n' paste it...

Rules:
Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

i. i was born and lived in New Zealand for the beginning phase of my life, but haven't been back there since 1993
ii. my nickname in high school was "Bubby"
iii. i don't have a favorite comedian/comedienne
iv. one of my favorite people in the Bible is Shamgar
v. i loved playing and watching cricket growing up
vi. i regret not watching "Futurama" as much as i did
vii. roman numerals are a great thing
viii. i once had a desire to be a movie editor/post-production worker
ix. i contemplated studying photography and becoming a photographer
x. i think the english language needs to come up with a great adjective for when someone needs to go to the bathroom to poop or pee, instead of one having to say "i really need to go to the bathroom" (it's too long and tiresome)
xi. my suggestions for the previous statement are: "i'm crossed" (meaning "i need to go pee"), and "i'm brick" (meaning "i need to go number two and have a book with me")
xii. i love reading books, but i take a long time to read them
xiii. i realize i am a nerd when i hear a popular song play somewhere in a public place and i automatically start singing the "Weird Al" Yankovic lyrics
xiv. i own a ps2 and it helps me relax and unwind
xv. when i eat a meal, i have a habit of eating one item at a time -- rarely do i mix it up
xvi. i want to see the United States embrace bicycles
xvii. i like candles
xviii. one of my worst birthday gifts in the last several years was when daylight savings time hit the morning of my birthday, and i lost an hour of sleep
xix. even though i'm not the biggest american football fan, i do enjoy watching and hanging out with others while watching, and will be awake to watch it at 12:30am on monday morning at Don's place
xx. i love Gob's chicken imitation/taunt on "Arrested Development"
xxi. i love my wife and love my kids, but don't think i want to add to the number of kids
xxii. i love to do puzzles
xxiii. Ron Howard hasn't made any movies that i really like
xxiv. Philippians, Ecclesiastes and the Gospels are my favorite books in the Bible
xxv. freezer mugs are the best, and you are amazing for reading this here thing...

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..."you learn something new every day"...

...two days ago, i learned: i love my kids a ton and a ton, but i hate it when they don't sleep when they should...

...yesterday, i learned: Travis really WILL eat cereal...

...today, i learned: twenty-five things barely scratches the surface...

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currently thinking about: going to sleep

Two Bits / Everybody Needs Good Neighbours

2009-01-24T14:10:00.004+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...not sure what it is about it, but i love this picture of Travis (from dec 08)...

...yeah, it's saturday -- trying to get a couple things ready for freischwimmer_brunch tomorrow (music, cleaning, last minute things)...

...oh, and just a side note, our horrible times of trying to give him a haircut are over -- two nights in a row we cut his hair, because we were so surprised that he wanted to have his hair cut, but didn't know how long he would actually sit for it...

...it is a good thing...

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..."you learn something new every day"...

...yesterday, i learned: apparently, in Germany, having an open house and coffee & cake and inviting your neighbors to get to know them isn't always successful, as we heard from a friend of ours -- nobody came...

...today, i learned: somebody is moving in to our apartment building...

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just started reading: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis

Escape / Alcoholism

2009-01-22T20:37:00.002+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...right now, Anne of Green Gables is playing on our television, and there are three ladies enthusiastically watching it and enjoying it...

...i'm on the computer...

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..."you learn something new every day"...

...yesterday, i learned: one out of every six Berliners have alcohol problems -- a third of those are addicted to alcohol, and the rest just drink way too much too regularly...

...today, i learned: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button got 13 Oscar nominations today -- but i still want to see it!...

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currently listening to: Live

I Would Be Scared Too / Hello, Good Ideas, Are You There?

2009-01-20T09:55:00.003+01:00

to nobody in particular:

..."ben, remember when we lived in that small apartment in nyack when we were first married, and i was in the bathroom and then got scared, because all of a sudden, this huge, long, thin bug came down out of the ceiling and it had all these testicles and -- ugh, noooo!"...

...(insert laughter here)...

...i think the intended thought was "tentacles"...

...hey -- i don't make this stuff up...

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..."you learn something new every day"...

...four days ago, i learned: apparently, some new york bugs have tons of testicles...

...three days ago, i learned: back in the day, a missionary here in Berlin once won "Wheel of Fortune" and traveled to Europe...

...two days ago, i learned: i need to prepare more than i do...

...yesterday, i learned: even though you are motivated and are intentional, you can't force good ideas to just "come"...

...today, i learned: you don't always learn something new in the first couple hours of the day -- except maybe what i just wrote (the first time, at least)...

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currently reading: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis

Short Story / Long Training

2009-01-15T23:05:00.004+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...yesterday, i wrote a short short story in German -- maybe i'll post it up here next time...

...it's not really that great, because i wrote it as it came to me and it evolved with each sentence and thought, but it was fun to do and try and accomplish in another language...

...it made me feel good to look down at two pieces of paper full of non-mother-tongue writing, knowing that most of it probably made sense somehow...

...progress!...

...it's the little things in life -- and why not?...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

two days ago, i learned: potty-training Travis looks like it is going to be an adventure...

yesterday, i learned: i CAN write a crappy short story in German -- yes!...

today, i learned: i don't think i have a favorite animal...

-----

currently watching: "Arrested Development"

...Gob cracks me up...

Three Mmmms / Four Hobbits & James Bond

2009-01-12T22:29:00.004+01:00

to nobody in particular:

....mmmm...Abendmahl (communion is always good)...

...mmmm...choking Giants (sorry, New York fans)...

...mmmm...grapes (they are so deliciously delicious)...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...two days ago, i learned: i have something to look forward to in september...

...yesterday, i learned: this was not the Manning boys' year this year -- thank God...

...today, i learned: Sean Connery was considered to play Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings trilogy?...craziness -- glad we all escaped that one...

-----

recently enjoyed: playing guitar this past sunday for our brunch...

National Pride? / Sunny Outside?

2009-01-09T22:15:00.003+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...before i have to hand back my borrowed copy, here's one more quote that i really loved from A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving...

"'Every American should be forced to live outside the United States for a year or two. Americans should be forced to see how ridiculous they appear to the rest of the world! They should listen to someone else's version of themselves -- to anyone else's version! Every country knows more about America than Americans know about themselves! And Americans know absolutely nothing about any other country!'"

...here's an excellent thought at the beginning of this quote -- i think that every person, no matter what nationality, should spend at least a year outside of their own country -- for cultural, personal, spiritual, emotional and perceptual enlightenment and development...

...it would be challenging, stretching, eye-opening and ultimately beneficial for the person and his/her soul...

...in an ideal world, of course...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...three days ago, i learned: our library right around the corner is a new favorite spot for me...

...two days ago, i learned: even though it is sunny out, -10 degrees Celcius is still very very very very, very cold...

...yesterday, i learned: me and my soul needed a good Freischwimmer meeting...

...today, i learned: Edvard Grieg CD for 4 Euro = golden...

-----

just finished watching: Rescue Dawn

...recommended: highly...

Outlook / Overview

2009-01-05T16:30:00.003+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...starting out this new year, i've had a verse on my mind and heart, and it is a good one to dwell on during the change of years -- and then the second verse after it, below, is one the stuck out at me this morning, that i think will encourage/challenge/strengthen me this year...

...Jesus's words here are good for the beginning of any year: "'I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.'" -- John 16:33

...and this is my verse for twenty09: "May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.'" -- Hebrews 13:20-21

...so, yeah, there we go...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...five days ago, i learned: it's never too early to start your new year's celebrations and fireworks...

...four days ago, i learned: Berlin's new year's fireworks puts America's fourth of july fireworks to SHAME...

...three days ago, i learned: yes, many Berliners actually do ride the Bahn at 6:30am friday mornings...

...two days ago, i learned: Homer Simpson's favorite song is "It's Raining Men" by the Weather Girls -- he and i do not share that in common...

...yesterday, i learned: on TV's "The Office", pregnancy is prevailing, through the character of Jan and the actress of Angela (yes, we're a little behind)...

...today, i learned: patience helps waiting bearable...

-----

recently enjoyed: Good Bye Lenin!

...very enjoyable and highly recommended...

Awaiting / Waiting

2008-12-30T19:17:00.002+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...the end of the year two thousand and eight is tomorrow, and the next year begins the following day...

...i don't ever remember being a very big fan of the whole "new year's" thing, but it is a big deal to some people...

...fireworks on new year's is a huge thing here in Berlin, and today, in order to compromise between the excitingly celebratory festivities of the city in which i live and my not-so-new-year's-emphatic-personality, i bought sparklers this afternoon...

...let the good times roll!...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...yesterday, i learned: people will wait outside a tourist location (in this example, the Reichstag) for more than an hour in below-freezing windy weather, but i won't, because i have a stroller with me, and there's a side entrance for strollers and wheelchairs that you don't have to wait for -- suck on that, fully-abled of-age tourists!...

...today, i learned: i'm not really sure what the opposite of handicapped/disabled/physically-challenged is, so i'm just gonna say fully-abled, even though that might get someone somewhere in the world upset with me, because i can't think of the right word right now (if there is one) -- physically-unchallenged, perhaps?...

-----

currently missing: British TVs "The Crystal Maze"

...always a favorite game show of mine to watch -- has the U.S. had a game show as cool as this or similar in any way?...i definitely miss watching this...

Christmas & Football / Chili & Ice Hockey

2008-12-28T13:43:00.004+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...Christmas was great...

...it was/has been nice to have Sarah's parents here for Christmas and, this week, New Year's, and it was super-special to be able to see my family on Christmas day via webcams...

...yeah, i am doing well...

...can't complain -- except...

...what is on my mind, is how my fantasy football team, after spending the first half of the season in the top half of the table, is fighting this weekend to play for seventh place out of eight teams...

...is there really a God?...

...yeah, i still believe there is -- and i'm wondering, if He had a fantasy football team, who would He have had on his team? would He have used His omniscience to His advantage and made killer trades? would He go for the dramatic comeback at the end of the season and take first place?...

...just curious, i suppose...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...three days ago, i learned: i really do miss my family...

...two days ago, i learned: Sarah doesn't make chili because she doesn't have a recipe for it...

...yesterday, i learned: there is always hope, but sometimes, things are just hopeless...

...today, i learned: how much i really miss being able to watch ice hockey on a regular basis...

-----

recently listened to: MXPX

...ahhhhh -- mid '90s punk rawk...

Christmas Eve / Christmas Eve

2008-12-24T22:34:00.002+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...the tree is up and decorated, the Christmas cookies are baked, the lights are on, the gifts are wrapped, the in-laws are here, the candles are lit, and the feet are warm...

...i love Christmas...

...thank God for Christmas, right? -- i mean, literally...

...Merry Christmas...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...yesterday, i learned: i don't know if i have any good reasons for me to like cats...

...today, i learned: after two decades, i still believe that the young kid's program/part of the Christmas church festivities are the best around...

-----

currently enjoying: Jesus' birthday (see calendar)

Simply Complicated / Insignificant Disappointments

2008-12-22T22:42:00.002+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...i was thinking today...

...in my opinion, i believe that i am a fairly simple man in many ways...

...i am very simple, yet so complicated...

...for example: i enjoy peanut butter, but only CRUNCHY peanut butter -- yet, almost as a contradiction, i enjoy orange juice, but only NON-PULP orange juice...

...i mean, how complicated can you get?...

...then again, i would settle for creamy peanut butter and pulpy orange juice -- that's not a big deal...

...but still...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...two days ago, i learned: when your plans for a day are shattered, just get over it...

...yesterday, i learned: yeah, those burgers at Belushi's are tasty...

...today, i learned: tremendously helpful free services can sometimes be limited, annoying and time-consuming -- thus, proving itself to be a paradox...

-----

recently watched: The Truman Show

...ahhhhhhhhhh -- beautiful...

Christmas Gift / Rainy Fridays

2008-12-19T14:53:00.003+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...i like Christmas...

...i like it a lot...

...within the next week, i'll be enjoying Christmas Eve, Day and 2nd Christmas (26th)...

...here's a couple thoughts from something i put together recently...

"Wer ist dieses Kind?" ("Who is this child?")

„Denn uns wurde ein Kind geboren, uns wurde ein Sohn geschenkt.“

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given."

Wer ist dieses Kind?

Who is this child?

Warum ist dieses Kind uns geschenkt?

Why is this child given to us?

Warum ist dieses Kind so wichtig?

Why is this child so important?

Ein kleines Kind für dich, für uns, für alle?

A small child for you, for us, for everyone?

Warum?

Why?

Wer ist dieses Kind?

Who is this child?

„Denn uns wurde ein Kind geboren, uns wurde ein Sohn geschenkt. Auf seinen Shultern ruht die Herrschaft. Er heißt: wunderbarer Ratgeber, starker Gott, ewiger Vater, Friedensfürst.“

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Dieses Kind ist: der Erste und der Letzte, Allmächtige, Diener, Licht der Welt, Wahrheit, unser Frieden, Retter, König der Könige, Helfer, Meister, Bruder, Treue und Wahrhaftige, Zuflucht, Freund, Leben und mehr...

This child is: the First and the Last, Almighty, Servant, Light of the World, Truth, our Peace, Savior, King of Kings, Helper, Teacher, Brother, Faithful and True, Refuge, Friend, Life and more...

Dieses Kind wurde uns geboren; uns wurde dieser Sohn geschenkt.

This child was born for us; this son was given to us.

Wie reagieren wir auf dieses Geschenk, auf diese Realität?

How do we react to this gift, to this reality?

Für mich ist dieses Kind: Treue und Wahrhaftige, Helfer, starker Gott, Freund, und viel mehr...

For me, this child is: Faithful and True, Helper, Mighty God, Friend, und much more...

Wer ist dieses Kind für dich?

Who is this child for you?

...this is what i did for our "input" at our brunch this past week -- Hannah did a great job as playing "Jesus" as a visual for us...

...although, this was only small glimpse of who this little 7-pound mushy vulnerable bag of innocent flesh was...

...here's a more complete picture...

Christ (Mt. 1:17; Mk. 8:29; Jn. 1:41; Rom. 1:16)

Jesus (Mt. 1:21)

Name is like Perfume poured forth (S.S. 1:3)

Immanuel (Isa. 7:14)

Messiah (Dan. 9:25)

Jesus of Nazareth (Mt. 21:11)

Beloved (Eph. 1:6)

Almighty (Rev. 1:8)

Brightness of God's glory (Heb. 1:3)

Altogether Lovely One (S.S. 5:16)

Shiloh (Gen. 49:10)

Amen (Rev. 3:14)

Head (Eph. 4:15)

Head of the Church (Eph. 1:22)

Rose of Sharon (S.S. 2:1)

Everlasting Father (Isa. 9:6)

First begotten of the dead (Rev. 1:5)

Guarantee (Heb. 7:22)

Horn of Salvation (Lk. 1:69)

Faithful & True (Rev. 19:11)

Deliverer (Rom. 11:26)

Heir of all things (Heb. 1:2)

Counselor (Isa. 9:6)

Comforter (Isa. 61:2)

Fountain (Zec. 13:1)

Bridegroom (Mt. 9:15)

Desire of all nations (Hag. 2:7)

Overseer of Souls (I Pt. 2:25)

Firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (I Cor. 15:20)

Forerunner (Heb. 6:20)

High Priest (Heb. 3:1)

Great High Priest (Heb. 4:14)

Merciful & Faithful High Priest (Heb. 2:17)

Minister of the Sanctuary (Heb. 8:2)

Ancient of Days (Dan. 7:9-11)

Alpha & Omega (Rev. 1:8)

First & the Last (Rev. 1:17)

Last Adam (I Cor. 15:45)

Beginning (Col. 1:18)

Fulfillment of the Law & Prophets (Mt. 5:17)

End of the Law (Rom. 10:4)

Branch (Isa. 4:2)

Vine (Jn. 15:1)

Tender Shoot (Isa. 53:2)

Seed of Abraham (Gal. 3:19)

Root of David (Rev. 22:16)

Offspring of David (Rev. 22:16)

Offspring of Woman (Gen. 3:15)

Child (Isa. 9:6)

Nazarene (Mk. 2:23)

Carpenter (Mk. 6:3)

Servant (Mt. 12:18)

Friend of sinners (Mt. 11:19)

Sower (Mt. 13:37)

Rabbi (Jn. 3:2)

Teacher (Mt. 19:16)

Helper (Heb. 13:6)

Physician (Mt. 9:12)

Apostle (Heb. 3:1)

Prophet (Acts 3:22)

Messenger of the Covenant (Mal. 3:1)

Star (Num. 24:17)

Bright & Morning Star (Rev. 22:16)

Light of the World (Jn. 8:12)

Stone (Ps. 118:22)

Capstone (Ps. 118:22)

Cornerstone (Eph. 2:20)

Foundation (I Cor. 3:11)

Commander (Isa. 55:4)

Arm of the Lord (Isa. 53:1)

Leader (Isa. 55:4)

Chief Shepherd (I Peter 5:4)

Good Shepherd (Jn. 10:11)

Gate of the Sheepfold (Jn. 10:7)

Lawgiver (Isa. 33:22)

Judge (Mic. 5:1)

Intercessor (Heb. 7:25)

Mediator (I Tim. 2:5)

Advocate (I Jn. 2:1)

Life (Jn. 14:6)

Resurrection & the Life (Jn. 11:25)

Bread of Life (Jn. 6:35)

Life-giving Spirit (I Cor. 15:45)

Author of Life (Acts 3:15)

Author of our Salvation (Heb. 2:10)

Author of our Faith (Heb. 12:2)

Perfector of our Faith (Heb. 12:2)

Lion of the tribe of Judah (Rev. 5:5)

Lamb (Rev. 13:8)

Offering (Eph. 5:2)

Sacrifice (Eph. 5:2)

Atoning Sacrifice (I Jn. 2:2)

Ransom for all men (I Tim. 2:6)

Savior (Lk. 2:11)

Consolation of Israel (Lk. 2:25)

Holy One of Israel (Isa. 41:14)

Holy Child (Acts 4:27)

Holy & Righteous One (Acts 3:14)

Mighty One (Isa. 60:16)

Just One (Acts 7:52)

One and Only Begotten Son (Jn. 3:16)

Rising Sun (Lk. 1:78)

Sun of Righteousness (Mal. 4:2)

True Light (Jn. 1:9)

Truth (Jn. 14:6)

Refuge (Isa. 25:4)

Rock (I Cor. 10:4)

Same (Heb. 1:12)

Outstanding among ten thousand (S.S. 5:10)

Ruler (Mt. 2:6)

Blessed and only Ruler (I Tim. 6:15)

Ruler of Kings (Rev. 1:5)

Ruler of God’s Creation (Rev. 3:14)

Creator (Jn. 1:3)

Creator of all things (Col. 1:16)

Wonderful (Isa. 9:6)

Witness (Isa. 55:4)

Faithful Witness (Rev. 1:5)

Son (I Jn. 4:14)

Beloved Son (Mt. 12:18)

Son of David (Mt. 1:1)

Son of God (Mt. 2:15)

Carpenter's Son (Mt. 13:55)

Son of the Blessed One (Mk. 14:61)

Son of the Most High (Lk. 1:32)

Son of Man (Mk. 8:20)

Man of Noble Birth (Lk. 19:12)

Man of Sorrows (Isa. 53:3)

King (Zech. 9:9)

King Eternal (I Tim. 1:17)

King of kings (I Tim. 6:15)

King of the Ages (Rev. 15:3)

King of the Jews (Mt. 2:2)

Way (Jn. 14:6)

Source of Eternal Salvation (Heb. 5:9)

Redeemer (Isa. 59:20)

Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6)

All & in All (Col. 3:11)

Our Holiness (I Cor. 1:30)

Our Righteousness (I Cor. 1:30)

Our Peace (Eph. 2:14)

Our Passover (I Cor. 5:7)

Our Redemption (I Cor. 1:30)

Master (II Tim. 2:21)

Lord (1 Cor. 12:3

Lord of lords (I Tim. 6:15)

Lord our Righteousness (Jer. 23:6)

Lord of Glory (I Cor. 2:8)

Lord of All (Acts 10:36)

Word (Jn. 1:1)

Word of God (Rev. 19:13)

Chosen of God (Isa. 42:1)

God Praised (Rom. 9:5)

God’s Anointed (Ps. 2:2)

Glory of God (Isa. 40:5)

Lamb of God (Jn. 1:29)

Holy One of God (Mk. 1:24)

Gift of God (Jn. 4:10)

Wisdom of God (I Cor. 1:24)

Power of God (I Cor. 1:24)

God (Jn. 1:1)

Mighty God (Isa. 9:6)

Jehovah (Isa. 26:4)

I AM (Jn. 8:58)

Image of the invisible God (II Cor. 4:4)

Exact Representation of God’s Being (Heb. 1:3)

Fullness of the Godhead in bodily form (Col. 2:9)

...yeah...

...i like Christmas...

...i like it a lot...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...two days ago, i learned: just give out Christmas cookies -- it's a nice thing to do, and you'll make someone smile...

...yesterday, i learned: watch out for the surface!...

...today, i learned: rainy fridays have got nothing on rainy mondays...

-----

recently watched: National Lampoons Christmas Vacation

"All" / "Input"

2008-12-16T23:16:00.003+01:00

to nobody in particular:

"All"

sometimes nothing...

...is everything.

ben.carey.11/15/2000

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...two days ago, i learned: i can lead the "input" aspect of a brunch/"church service" in German...

...progress! (yes, it was only three minutes long, but it was a good three minutes)...

...yesterday, i learned: i think the best my fantasy football team can place now is 5th of 8...

...today, i learned: "hast du was, bist du was"...

-----

currently watching: nothing

Teeth vs. Gums / Three Minutes vs. Thirty Minutes

2008-12-13T14:57:00.004+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...Hannah's first two teeth are coming in already...

...now, i can call her Mobile Motivated Mandibles of Mayhem...

...or, maybe i'll just stick with "Hannah"...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...yesterday, i learned: Hannah has teeth...

...today, i learned: preparing for a three minute "input" in German is way better than preparing for a twenty-five minute "sermon" in English, or any other language...

-----

recently reminisced about: "Neighbours"

our good friend here in Berlin is returning to Australia on tuesday and we were recently chatting about this tv show -- she said it's still running strong (of course sans Kylie Minogue and others)

my wonderful sister used to watch this when we lived in New Zealand -- some of us would just laugh...

freischwimmer_brunch / tree_carrying

2008-12-11T23:39:00.004+01:00

to nobody in particular:

*the following is an excerpt from our family/life blog*

"As I (Ben) sit down to write this, we are in between our second Adventsbrunch and our third -- and the first two went really well! Our first Sunday (Nov. 30th) we had 19 people here with us at our apartment for our first Freischwimmer "Brunch with Input", which we have started during this Advent season, and last week we had 12 of us -- both weeks were great! It was a huge step for the project, and as our first "Sunday gatherings", or "services", for lack of a better word, they went very well and we are headed down the right path. Of course they weren't perfect, and of course they were awesome, but we will continue to learn and continue to move toward what God has for us and for Mitte. We are really excited about this new chapter in the Freischwimmer project, and our love for the project, the people and the city continues to grow and deepen. God is so good...

"In John Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meany, which I am currently reading, the title character has many repeatable quotes, but one recently seemed to be in larger text for me during this phase for Freischwimmer. He is a boy of great faith, knowing full well that God made him for a purpose, but he mentions how he dislikes church services because it is for a mass audience, and how whatever faith a person might have, or how deep it is, that faith grows and moves at a specific pace relative to that person and their relationship with/without God. Now, while the church service issue is an opinion -- and likewise, that about his view of faith -- I think I would agree with him about the necessity for the personal "faith pace", and how, yes, indeed, certain aspects of the "Christian" life can come as a cookie-cutter facet. So, what do I do with this thought? How does Freischwimmer connect with it? Our "Brunch with Input" is a simple, non-threatening, "move-at-your-own-pace" atmosphere where nothing is forced, but nothing is really hidden. We come together, we greet each other, get to know each other better, eat together, maybe sing a song or two, or someone share a thought or two for all to hear, and chat and chat and chat -- how awesome is that?!?!

"Freischwimmer continues -- and thanks to many of you, it is continuing with the strength of prayer and encouragement from the Body of Christ...

"Sundays are very cool..."

-----

...additional note: we have our Christmas tree, it has lights on it, it has decorations on it and the popcorn was strung and hung tonight...

...all is well with my soul...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...yesterday, i learned: if you walk along the streets carrying a Christmas tree on your shoulder earlier on in the month of december, you will have people stare at you with puzzled and almost disapproving looks...

...today, i learned: make sure you read ALL the instructions before you start working on the homework assignment -- that will make things easier...

-----

currently enjoying: William Fitzsimmons

...he recently played here in Berlin, and Sarah went to the concert, as our good friend's husband is playing with him as he tours Germany -- so it was cool to see our friend again, meet her husband and enjoy some fresh music...

Alarm Clock / Flat World

2008-12-10T00:02:00.003+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...yes, thankfully, tuesdays are light in the morning, and we are busy in the afternoon and evening...

...Travis, or sometimes as i like to call him, our natural-alarm-clock-somewhere-between-seven-and-seven-thirty-every-morning, decided to not wake up and come out of his room until after nine this morning...

...while i can't complain, i am just glad we didn't have anything going on this morning that we needed to be up and prepared for...

...maybe, until these darker mornings during the winter are over, i will set our normal alarm clock, or sometimes as i like to call it, that-annoying-wakes-me-up-and-makes-me-realize-that-even-though-i-just-slept-i-am-still-so-very-tired-on-most-mornings-thing...

-----

...my next post shall be deeper -- i just know it...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...three days ago, i learned: Weihnachtsmarkts (Christmas markets) are great, but less great when superbusy...

...two days ago, i learned: yes, freischwimmer Adventsbrunch is killer!...

...yesterday, i learned: the world really WOULD be completely different if it was flat -- have you really ever sat down and thought about it?...

...today, i learned: kid's clothes were twenty-five percent off where i bought Travis a couple long-sleeved shirts -- hooray!...

-----

recently watched: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

...love it -- possibly one of the best movies about relationships ever?...

...very great on all levels -- art, execution, philosophy, entertainment, acting, imagery, music, and much more...

Quote / Once

2008-12-05T19:24:00.004+01:00

to nobody in particular:

"When I complained about church, I complained about the usual things a kid complains about: the claustrophobia, the boredom. But Owen complained religiously. 'A PERSON'S FAITH GOES AT ITS OWN PACE,' Owen Meany said. 'THE TROUBLE WITH CHURCH IS THE SERVICE. A SERVICE IS CONDUCTED FOR A MASS AUDIENCE. JUST WHEN I START TO LIKE THE HYMN, EVERYONE PLOPS DOWN TO PRAY. JUST WHEN I START TO HEAR THE PRAYER, EVERYONE POPS UP TO SING. AND WHAT DOES THE STUPID SERMON HAVE TO DO WITH GOD? WHO KNOWS WHAT GOD THINKS OF CURRENT EVENTS? WHO CARES?'"
John Irving, A Prayer for Owen Meany

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...two days ago, i learned: if you go up to the top of the Reichstag with a stroller, they hold your lock for ransom (not really, but that's what it seemed like)...

...yesterday, i learned: just walk...

...today, i learned: "ein Mal ist kein Mal"...

-----

currently reading: see above

Tired Text / Timed Times

2008-12-02T23:36:00.005+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...just after recovering from a very busy weekend, i once again feel very drained...

...is that more tiredness, or not-so-great-relaxation/recovery-ness?...

...God is good...

...our thanksgiving meal with our friends was spectacular (thanks, Sarah), and our first Freischwimmer "Brunch with Input" was also fantastic...

...metaphorically, tomorrow looks bright (even though, in reality, it will probably be overcast, gloomy and bitingly cold)...

...i just started reading A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...four days ago, i learned: it only takes fourteen minutes to bike from here to the Jones'...

...three days ago, i learned: Thanksgiving is always enjoyable with great food and good friends, no matter where (or what day) you celebrate it...

...two days ago, i learned: always, always, ALWAYS be flexible...

...yesterday, i learned: nothing is for everybody...

...today, i learned: from our place to Flughafen Schönefeld? -- forty-five minutes by Bahn...

-----

currently watching: Children of Men

Full of Thankness / Full of Forgetness

2008-11-27T23:19:00.004+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...today is/was Thanksgiving, and because it is/was so, i am going to write out a few things from the top of my head that i am thankful for -- but things that are not necessarily always at the top of my list...

...i am thankful for spoons...

...i am thankful for footprints in the snow...

...i am thankful for BIC Atlantis ball-point pens...

...i am thankful for nostril hair...

...i am thankful for webcams...

...i am thankful for carpenter jeans...

...i am thankful for the smiles and laughter or children -- my children, especially...

...i am thankful for bikes...

...i am thankful for functioning eyes...

...i am thankful for sunsets -- beautiful ones, especially...

...i am thankful for comfortable silence...

...i am thankful for caller ID...

...i am thankful for most sports...

...i am thankful for inspired and beautiful paintings...

...i am thankful for a vocal Father...

...i am thankful for challenges...

...i am thankful for singing birds...

...i am thankful for other people...

...i am thankful for homemade beef teriyaki...

...i am thankful for life, and for true life...

...i am thankful for so much more than this...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...yesterday, i learned: get everything written down on a shopping list before you go out shopping, even if it is a short list...

...today, i learned: thankfulness is a necessity...

-----

currently watching: Million Dollar Baby

...Sarah and i watched this last night for the first time -- good acting, interesting story, and, overall, it was okay/pretty good -- not my favorite, but alright...

...yeah, definitely liked Atonement better...

Poetry-Reading / Child-Naming

2008-11-25T19:22:00.004+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...when i don't have anything specific to write, maybe i'll bust out some of my old poetry?...

My Poetry... (an Intro to...)

my poetry is not to be
.criticized.

my poetry is not to be
.intellectual.

my poetry is not to be
.normal.

my poetry is not to be
.predictable.

my poetry is to be
.me.

just .me.

(10/25/2000)

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...today, i learned: there are people in this world that want to give their children names like "Stalin" and "Lenin"...

-----

currently anticipating: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Hooray for Technology! / Hype, Time & Cold

2008-11-24T15:47:00.003+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...the other day while we were out, i noticed something that i don't think i had ever seen before...

...i witnessed a male and a female, probably in the late teens/early twenties, and they seemed to be very good friends...their friendship was so deep, in fact, that they were completely comfortable with holding each other and kissing each other in the middle of a fairly public arena...

...now, this wasn't the uncommon thing, but the following could be used for cell-phone marketing...

...the young man had apparently given the young lady a hickey on her neck, and since the young lady could not see it for herself, the young man proceeded to pull out his cell phone and take a picture of his work of art to show the young lady...

...thank God for cell phones, huh?...

...on that day, i also encountered three very tall ladies at different times during the day, a dog with three legs and a person on a bike that would not stop staring at me...

...it also snowed...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...two days ago, i learned: hype is exactly that --hype...

...yesterday, i learned: time is overused, overspent and overrated...

...today, i learned: even though it's sunny, 0 degrees celsius is still cold outside...

-----

currently watching: Atonement

Freischwimmer Checklist / Humanity Evaluation

2008-11-21T15:39:00.003+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...name? -- check...

...vision and goals? -- check...

...leaders? -- check...

...home group? -- check...

...committed and motivated core group to start from? -- check...

...art gallery showing local artists? -- check...

...initial place to meet on Sundays? -- check...

...possibilities for Sunday meetings? -- check...

...excitement about starting Sunday brunches with "input"? -- check...

...ahh, yes -- Freischwimmer is moving along...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...yesterday, i learned: "Klüngel" is a German word for clique, or crowd...

...today, i learned: humans are humans and should know that other humans are humans too, but nonetheless, we as humans sometimes don't know how we humans should humanely interact with other humans -- but then again, that's what makes us humans human...

...but life isn't disappointing...

-----

currently watching: The Incredibles

...a.k.a. my favorite computer-animated movie...

...also, one of the few family movies that shows a young boy getting punched in the face out of a fast-moving vehicle...

Lego in Berlin / Lost in Space?

2008-11-19T22:49:00.002+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...we visited Legoland Discovery Center in Potsdamer Platz today -- Travis really enjoyed it, and i think we all had a fun time together...

...it was very cool...

...thank God for Lego...

...well, that's all i got for today...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...today, i learned: J.J. Abrams & a new Star Trek movie?...

-----

currently wondering about: Star Trek

A Thought / A Weekend

2008-11-18T23:42:00.003+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...no matter what kind of days may face me...no matter what kind of tears i may end up crying...no matter how many people i may fail...no matter when the hardest problems may come...no matter what kind of leadership may steer global affairs...no matter how long i fall short, how often i let go, how humiliatingly i disappoint, how quietly my heart screams -- God is always God...

...God's faithfulness, as i understand it through the Bible and through personally deep and perspective-changing experiences, is my favorite aspect of God's character...

...i'm not sure if, as a follower of Jesus, i should have a "favorite", but i kind of do -- His faithfulness...

...yes, God is love, is holy, is light...

...yes, God is merciful, is gracious, is patient...

...yes, God is strong, is powerful, is unconquerable...

...yes, God is wise, is just, is completely knowledgeable and everywhere...

...yes, He is all of this and more, and it is all incomprehensibly spectacular -- but it is His faithfulness that clinches it for me...

...His faithfulness -- in that He never changes -- binds all of these together, and strengthens and lengthens them as being His eternal essence...

...His faithfulness -- in that He is always Himself -- gives me a strong foundation with which my values, perspectives and worldview can be intertwined...

...His faithfulness -- in all the little things -- make me more and more thankful and aware of how He interacts with us and chats with us, how He relates with us and laughs with us, how He reveals Himself to us and brings us to more...

...yeah...

...i like His faithfulness...

(Selah)

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...today, i learned: next weekend is going to be busy -- but in a good way...

-----

currently watching: UHF

Speciecism / Sportism

2008-11-17T23:20:00.002+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...on saturday, i had made my way down to Alexanderplatz and was greeted by a protest...

...well, not that this is a surprise, because protests are common in this country -- and especially in this city -- and, well, Alexanderplatz is a commercial center to the former east-Berlin...

...it was a protest against any type of cruelty against animals -- using animals for clothing, product-testing, research, eating...

...some of the banners read: "kill capitalism, not animals", "don't eat animals", and "animals have life" -- you know, the usual...

...but one stuck out at me -- it read: "against racism, against sexism, against speciecism, against capitalism"...

..."speciecism"? -- i don't think i have ever heard/read that term before, and if i have, i've never taken notice of it...

...my mind begins to whir -- am i guilty of speciecism? do i live out certain prejudices and hold some species in higher regard than others? do i treat animals better or worse than other humans? do i treat cats and dogs differently, because of deep, inner presumptions? what can i do to rid myself of any and every hint of speciecism? am i even spelling the word right?...

...then i think -- i'm not that bad of a speciecist, am i? i do hold a much higher value on actual human beings than on rabbits and minks, but does that make me a speciecist? would i kill a human and use it as a fur coat or boots, or eat it between two slices of bread? am i prejudiced against cows? what kind of a speciecist am i?...

...and then i think -- mmmmmm...bacon cheeseburger...

...next Bible study: what does the Bible teach about speciecism?...

...mental note: other Bible studies are probably much more important...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...two days ago, i learned: "speciecism" can spice up my everyday vocabulary (see above)...

...yesterday, i learned: chess-boxing is a real sport...

...today, i learned: there is such a thing as too (and almost unbearably) needy...

-----

currently watching: Monty Python and the Holy Grail

...heh heh -- classic...

...i'm not sure, but i think Michael Palin was my favorite from the group -- either he or John Cleese...

February Stars (live acoustic version) / Life & Lego (lesson learned version)

2008-11-14T15:46:00.005+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...alright, well, i guess this one is for Sam -- i had no real desire this afternoon to write anything deep or original...

...so, here it goes...

-----

1. Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. You must write that song name down no matter how silly it makes you look.
4. Tag Your friends! (or not.)

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Pardon Me (acoustic version)

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
Send the Pain Below

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Falling On

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Something's Always Wrong

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Floaty

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Waste

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Parklife

WHAT DO YOU OFTEN THINK ABOUT?
Don't Shut the Gate

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Airport

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Whatever the Deal

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
St. Andrews (This Battle is in the Air)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Crazy Life

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
eBay

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Breakout

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
Move to Bremerton

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Beautiful One

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
No More Gold Lights for the Queen Earth to Keep You Warm in Your Kingdoms

WHAT WILL YOU NAME THIS?
February Stars (live acoustic version)

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...yesterday, i learned: the first five years of your first niece's life can go by really quickly!...

...happy birthday, Brodie!...

...today, i learned: i'm a little excited to take Travis to Legoland tomorrow -- should be fun...

-----

currently listening to: Foo Fighters

...beautiful...

...i think this surpasses both Take That AND New Kids On The Block...

...would you agree, Optimist Prime?...

...heh heh...

Late Evening Stillness / Recent Dinner Satisfaction

2008-11-12T23:23:00.004+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...Travis is dreaming, Hannah is snoozing, and Sarah is falling asleep...

...it's that relaxing part of my day in the evening where sounds are scarce and distractions are unlikely visitors...

...the fairly dense silence is sometimes accompanied by the faint whisper of a keyboard tapping, a disc whirring, or a page turning...

...it's where my body tends to shut down for a spell, needing to unwind, like a rubber-band being loosened and set free -- after being used for what was intended, it sighs back into comfort and rest...

...yes, i find it hard to just slip under the covers and "try" to fall asleep; i need the brain and body to slow down -- through a book, through the internet, through a movie, through a video game...

...'tis almost a de-energizing of the day before the re-energizing for the next...

...it is beautiful...

...now, if i could only find my groove for the mornings...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...today, i learned: my son likes eating green beans and two and half rolls for dinner sometimes...

-----

recently heard twice in German stores and reminiscing about: Take That

...i'm not 100% certain, but i'm pretty sure that Backstreet Boys, N*Sync and the like had/have nothing on these wonderful souls...

Visas & Humans / Lessons & Oceans

2008-11-11T22:30:00.003+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...today, we headed down to get our visas renewed for staying here in Germany and, for the most part, it went fairly smoothly...

...we can stay here for another year...

...on the other hand, we didn't have that other lady helping us -- the lady that was short, quick-tempered, rude and completely flustered with the couple that was in the waiting room with us -- yes, that lady that beamed with venom and shone like daggers...

...thankfully, we had to two kind and very helpful, courteous ladies helping us -- yes, those ladies that listened to us and smiled at our son as he said "hi" and "tschuss" to them...

...what a difference it makes when human beings interact with others as fellow human beings...

...what a difference...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

six days ago, i learned: if i have a gut feeling of 86% or higher, i am right -- or maybe, the American voting population is fairly predictable...

five days ago, i learned: the Mexican restaurant on Oranienburger Straße is excellent...

four days ago, i learned: don't wait so long to change strings on your guitar!...

three days ago, i learned: i can sing, play guitar and lead music/praise in German for a weekend of meetings -- progress!...

two days ago, i learned: it's so easy to miss and forget something, but try not to do it with BIG things...

yesterday, i learned: just pray, especially if it's monday morning...

today, i learned: there's nothing as exciting as waiting until the very last minute to have everything you need to get a visa to stay in a foreign country...

-----

recently watched: the Ocean trilogy -- Ocean's Eleven, Ocean's Twelve, & Ocean's Thirteen

...the first time i had seen each of these movies, i ended up liking the first and third, and was disappointed with the second...

...however, as Sarah and i recently watched these in the last few weeks, i think i liked the second film more the second time around -- it wasn't so bad...

...of course, it's not intellectually or philosophically enriching or challenging to one's worldview, as some movies are, but they're all cool in a sense that they are entertaining, enjoyable and fun -- exactly what they were made for...

...another example for my theme of "Movies: Art vs. Entertainment" -- my much-pondered/hardly-attempted blog topic...

Great Evening / Bad After-Effects

2008-11-04T23:59:00.004+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...Freischwimmer tonight was great...

...good conversation, good ideas, good clarity, good understanding, good input, good direction and good passion...

...it is always a little more difficult for me to go to sleep after an exciting evening like this...

...i have a feeling, the coming days for Freischwimmer are going to be very ground-breaking...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...today, i learned: pizza + milkshakes = not-so-enjoyable combination...

-----

currently reading: The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer

Presidential & Political Ponderings / Bicycle & Cross-Dressing Tips

2008-11-03T23:41:00.003+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...i tend to stay away from the political discussions, and this is primarily a result of personally weak political foundations and a sad-to-say lack of desire and knowledge in the arena, but i suppose i can share a few thoughts as many Americans ponder their vote tonight, go to vote tomorrow, cheer or whine the day after, and then, most likely, whine for the next four years no matter who becomes president because of:
a) "i really wanted the other guy to be president"
b) "this guy just isn't doing anything right and my personal life is a shambles because of him, ultimately"
c) "the media and entertainment icons don't like him, and hey, i think i agree with them"
or
d) "whining is what we as humans do best" (okay, maybe this shouldn't be in quotation marks, but the idea still stands)...

...after chatting with a friend the other day, i looked into something this afternoon -- in '92, '96 and 2000 (three of the last four presidential elections), the winning candidate won with less than 50% of the vote...

...i find that rather funny, interesting, and then, scary -- i realize that, yes, they for the most part had the majority, but that roughly not even half of the country is in full support of any president before he (or down the road, she) evens steps foot into the Oval Office...

...looking over the past decades, the winning percentage hovers around the mid/high '40s -- even JFK didn't have half the country behind him...

...maybe this is old news, or not even that enlightening to most people, but i found it intriguing...

...additionally, it puts Bush's approval in perspective -- he's only really "disappointed" less than 20% of the population during his days...

...so yes, tomorrow, people will vote...

...and, for me, i will wake up on the 5th, turn on the computer and check out who will lead the U.S. for the next four years, will probably mutter a "hmmmmm -- interesting", and then will continue on with my life...

...it sounds a little politically apathetic and, perhaps, irresponsible -- and it probably is...

...but i have other important things in my life that i have responsibility for in my life that i need to take care of -- it's a matter of commitment...

...life goes on...

...and God rules anyway, so...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...four days ago, i learned: cold weather is here -- ride bike with gloves on!...

...three days ago, i learned: not all cross-dressers shave their stubble before leaving the house...

...two days ago, i learned: an improvised trip to the zoo is never a bad thing...

...yesterday, i learned: riding a bike at night is a new favorite thing to do...

...today, i learned: Jonathan Ross and his funny voice got himself in big trouble...

-----

currently scared of and still questioning: Pink Elephants sequence from Dumbo

...Travis likes Dumbo for the animals (especially elephants), music and such, but this part still kind of freaks me out -- and when Dumbo is only 61 minutes long, this is almost 7.5% of the whole movie!...

Finally, the Classics / Finally, the Clarities

2008-10-29T23:04:00.003+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...i don't know why it took me so long, but i finally did it...

...honestly, i have no real reason or excuse for the delay and absence of it in my life, except for laziness...

...i mean, i like it a lot, but had never done it before ...

...but, finally, i can say, that i now have bought my own classical music CDs...

...Vivaldi and Bach...

...methinks, this is just the beginning...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...yesterday, i learned: yes, human beings grow up, but in some ways, human beings don't really grow up...

...today, i learned: cheap no-name German orange lemonade is not so bad...

-----

currently enjoying: Tally Hall

Several Thousand Words / A Surprise or Two

2008-10-27T20:11:00.008+01:00

to nobody in particular:

...here are some pictures from a recent trip to Tallinn, Helsinki and Riga...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...three days ago, i learned: guessing is okay, but not when the knowledge is accessible...

...two days ago, i learned: some fantastic news...

...yesterday, i learned: there is at least one German in the world that doesn't drink alcohol...

...today, i learned: some movies are really good the first time around, and then, for whatever reason, even better the second time around (see below)...

-----

currently watching: Be Kind Rewind

Scrumtrulescent / Stupendous

2008-10-23T20:46:00.006+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...wow...

...it was an awesome four-day trip, this past sat/sun/mon/tues-day...

...lots of fun, not too expensive, lots of walking, not tons of responsibility, lots of relaxing, not-so-scary hostels, lots of picture-taking, not too exhausting...

...it was fantastic...

...brief overview here -- pictures to come later: we (four of us total) flew on saturday morning to Riga, Latvia, and enjoyed our day there in the capital city -- quite nice; stayed overnight and took a train to Majori on the Baltic Sea for the early afternoon; spent the rest of the day in Riga until our four hour bus ride to Tallinn, Estonia; walked to our hostel there and had a short rest until our early ferry ride over to Helsinki, Finland early monday morning; spent the day in Helsinki (which is a fairly expensive city and, of the three, was a little disappointing -- thought it would be better); took the ferry back to Tallinn and stayed in our hostel again; hung out in Tallinn on Tuesday (which, of the three, i liked the most), enjoying the "old town", including some good eating and a private sauna for a couple of hours -- nice; were in Tallinn until flying back to Berlin late Tuesday night...

...yes, it was tremendous...

...additionally, all travel and lodgings only added up to 116 Euro (roughly $160 US) -- not bad for a four-day, three country trip, right?...

...i'll throw a couple pictures up here sometime soon...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...five days ago, i learned: enjoying good company and great drinks overlooking the skyline-sunset of the capital of Latvia from the 26th floor is quite an unforgettable experience...

...four days ago, i learned: the Baltic Sea is cold in October -- swimming isn't necessary...

...three days ago, i learned: Helsinki is an expensive city -- mental note: don't live there...

...two days ago, i learned: a "real Estonian pancake" with bacon and smoked cheese is tasty, yet filling...

...yesterday, i learned: i am capable of giving a presentation about the Maori culture in German -- progress!...

...today, i learned: re-hanging curtains is a pain...

-----

currently watching: Dead Poets Society

...wow -- i still love this movie...

...so good -- thank you, Peter Weir...

Checklist / Punctuality

2008-10-17T17:26:00.003+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...today is a day for a checklist...

--backpack: check...
--clothes: check...
--toiletries: check...
--camera: check...
--music/mp3 player: check...
--book: check...
--friends to travel with: check...
--passport: check...
--excitement for a four-day trip to Riga (Latvia), Tallinn (Estonia) and Helsinki (Finland) by plane, bus and ferry: check...

...leaving tomorrow morning -- should be a fun time...

...yes!...

-----

...today, i learned: if the Bahn (streetcar) hasn't come by in six minutes or so, when it should every five, and a firetruck has gone by in the opposite direction, followed by an ambulance, you may as well just walk home, even though there is a light rain, because you will probably make it home before the next Bahn would make it, because those emergency vehicles and the Bahn's lateness might have a connection to each other...

...yes, i did make it home before any other Bahn came...

-----

...currently enjoying: Cake

"Morgen!" / "Reservation Road"

2008-10-16T23:44:00.004+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...Travis usually goes to sleep around the beginning of the 8 o'clock hour, and he did so a few nights back as well...

...around 9:30om, an hour and a half after he went to sleep, Sarah and i hear his door open up and we both look at each other, wondering, uh-oh, i hope everything is alright...

...he walks around the corner into the living room with a smile on his face and says, "morgen!", in the usual way with which he greets us in the mornings in German...

...i think we may have confused him a little bit as we walked him back into his bedroom, trying to tell him that it would probably be better if he slept just a little bit longer -- say, for nine or ten more hours...

...but i must say -- i've chuckled ever since then whenever i picture it...

..."morgen!"...

...the moral of the story is: "chuckling is good for the soul"...

...yes -- that's quotable, folks...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...today, i learned: if you rent a movie with an interesting and challenging story starring Mark Ruffalo, Joaquin Phoenix and Jennifer Connelly expecting it to be a good one, you will most likely not be disappointed...

...see below...

-----

...currently watching: Reservation Road

Pictures / Peanut Butter

2008-10-15T20:08:00.003+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...i noticed recently that i don't really post many pictures on here...

...so i shall remedy that...

...a good friend of ours took some time to take some family photographs for us recently -- here are a few of them...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...today, i learned: peanut butter can be found in more than one store in Berlin...

-----

...currently enjoying: 2010 World Cup Qualifying Matches (check your local television listings)

A Couple of Things / A Couple More Things

2008-10-14T20:39:00.002+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...the following are some random things...

--there seemed to be more dog poop out on the sidewalks today than other days...

--i never thought i would see a naturally-exploded whale...

--Travis tends to refuse any kind of medicine or help for his cough and, now, walky nose (not quite runny, but just walky)...

--i am prepping for my "Referat" (presentation) in German class on thursday -- about the Maori culture (or, at least, three aspects of the culture)...

--tomorrow our intern and babysitter arrives from the States -- yes!...

--Germany will hopefully win number four tomorrow, after three wins for their first three World Cup qualifying matches (as does England)...

--i have a little bit of homework still for class tomorrow...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...yesterday, i learned: Maori Television exists in New Zealand as of 2004...

...today, i learned: life can be unbearable, boring and weird all at once -- even if only for 24 minutes...

-----

...currently watching: Whale Rider

Miniscule / Myriad

2008-10-12T21:40:00.003+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...i have a blog in mind about "art & entertainment", but i will save that for another day...

...meanwhile, we pay a monthly estimate for our electric bill, and our first year just came to an end, so we had to pay the difference after this past year...

...yeah, so yesterday, i made a payment of 00,01 Euro to cover our underpayment of our electric bill for the past twelve months...

...one cent...

...i had to make a payment of one, little, tiny cent...

...that's about 1.36 US cents (depending on the day)...

...our bank account is still hurting after that transaction...

...i guess we can forget about that steak dinner later this week...

...bummer...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...two days ago, i learned: my older brother was going to be Lando Calrissian in a Star Wars themed wedding...

...yesterday, i learned: this website about laser backgrounds is pretty funny...

...today, i learned: the German word for "freezer", when referring to one that is attached to or part of the fridge, is the "Refrierfach"...

...although, i'm not sure if i spelled that right or not...

-----

...currently listening to: The Guess Who

Reading / Without Crying

2008-10-09T22:47:00.003+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...finally finished reading Cormac McCarthy's The Road, which i'm borrowing from a friend...

...a very interesting, heart-twisting, and emotionally-engaging read...

...i very much enjoyed it...

...not sure will be the next book in my hands...

...any suggestions?...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...yesterday, i learned: for someone who likes reading, i sure read slowly...

...i think part of the reason for this is that i like to immerse myself in the story -- not just breeze through it, but the author took the time to write it well (hopefully), so i should take the time to read it and read through it, if you know what i mean...

...today, i learned: Travis is able to take a bath and get his hair washed without crying...

...yes -- dad is triumphant!...

-----

...just finished reading: The Road by Cormac McCarthy

My Son / My Intake

2008-10-07T20:37:00.002+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...i am truly blessed...

...i just put Travis down to bed, and was thinking, again, how he is such a great kid...

...he is funny, frustrating, joyful, moody, hilarious, whiny, loving, rejecting, compassionate, selfish, obedient, disobedient, considerate, ignorant, giving and greedy...

...those negative ones above test my patience, of course, but those positive ones are priceless...

...i love him so much...

...i took him to the playground today, and not even 30 seconds after we got there, a boy was upset about something that had just happened, totally unrelated to Travis, and pushed Travis over in anger, sending him toppling over a wooden barrier into the sand area, make him fall head-first, greeted with a face full of sand...

...thankfully (and i say this because maybe not all mothers would have done this), the mom was on top of the situation right away and eventually, after much talking to and many threats, the boy still wouldn't apologize to Travis...

...Travis recovered from the fall quickly and "shook it off", and continued on playing -- maybe not with as much confidence and boldness as normal, but enjoyed himself anyway...

...i felt bad, but proud of Travis...

...he gives great hugs...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...today, i learned: question, receive, reflect, and re-question -- that's not a bad sequence...

-----

...currently enjoying: The Iron Giant

...what a terrific movie...

Driving / Generalizing

2008-10-06T14:23:00.004+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...we now have German driver's licenses...

...yes!...

...we finally went down to pick them up this morning...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

two days ago, i learned: sometimes, things that should be difficult to do are relatively easy, and things that should be easy to do are relatively difficult, but then again, some things are easy that should be easy, and difficult that should be difficult, so i guess it all balances out in the end...

yesterday, i learned: sometimes the people that are hard to love, they are hard to love for more than just one reason...

today, i learned: if you look hard enough, you will increase your chances of finding what you are looking for...

-----

...currently watching: Iron Man

...very fun...

New Video! / New Discovery!

2008-10-03T21:49:00.004+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...i just finished putting together the following video...

...Travis is a funny, funny little boy...

(...music credit: Weezer...)

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...today, i learned: there really are Germans that play baseball...

...and i met one of them today...

-----

...currently enjoying: see above video...

Today's Disease: / Tomorrow's Blogease:

2008-10-02T20:55:00.003+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...i'm suffering from ridiculoussongrunningthroughmyheadinitis...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...today, i learned: throughout the day, i need to write down my good ideas for blog-writing when i have them, otherwise, later, when i sit down to actually type my blog for myself, i will forget them...

...you live, you learn...

-----

...currently enjoying: "Pork & Beans" by Weezer

Language Mistakes / Lesson Corrections

2008-10-01T20:07:00.002+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...on the way home from language school today, i was thinking about language mistakes, and here is what i have concluded for myself learning the German language...

...there are four different language mistakes that i make, or that one is capable of making:

...first, the "okay" mistake -- these mistakes are fairly overlooked and not a huge deal, nor do they really bother anyone -- they are just very small ones that don't change meanings or whatnot...

..second, the "poetic" mistake -- these mistakes are more on along the line of, "people don't really say that, but it's poetic and creative" -- they are basically a result of wanting to say something deep by using simple language or even metaphors, that aren't common in the German language, but don't necessarily sound bad...

...third, the "correctable" mistake -- these mistakes are the ones that must be corrected, because they change the meaning of a sentence, or is just simply incomprehensible -- what one might call "linguistic salad"...

...and fourth, the "unforgivable" mistake -- these are mistakes that sound horrible, terrible and annoying to the native speakers -- stay away from these!...

...ultimately, and idealistically, i someday will not make these language mistakes...

...but for now, i know i will -- and that is okay...

...that's another realization: making language mistakes are okay...

...amen...

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..."you learn something new every day"...

...4our days ago, i learned: playgrounds and photography certainly do make great bedfellows...

...3hree days ago, i learned: speaking at Open Door is a good experience...

...2wo days ago, i learned: becoming a new nation depends on more than just language, culture and history...

...1ne days ago, i learned: little old eastern German ladies are funny to see when they are racing across the Bahn tracks to try and catch the Bahn -- look at her go!...

...today ago, i learned: i'm not an animal-/pet-hater, but not an animal-/pet-lover either -- it's more of an issue, that i don't agree that human beings treat animals/pets better than other human beings...

-----

...currently watching: Enemy of the State

Forgotten / Reminded

2008-09-26T23:02:00.002+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...i was flipping channels the other in between soccer highlights when i came across a '90s Sinbad movie...

...wow -- what ever happened to him?...

...not that i really care, but the curiosity does tickle...

...almost as much as the thought, was he actually popular?...

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..."you learn something new every day"...

...yesterday, i learned: even though i may expect the unexpected, i can still get caught offguard by unexpectedly not expecting the unexpected...

...today, i learned: what wacky world we live in!...

-----

...currently reading: The Road by Cormac McCarthy

Twodays / Fourdays

2008-09-24T15:14:00.002+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...i think it went okay on sunday -- speaking at BIC...

...it is always hard to tell, and feedback was minimal...

...but it was okay...

...anyway, i'll be speaking again this coming sunday at Open Door, but not the same message...

...i think it will be alright, too...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...three yesterdays ago, i learned: sundays can be very emotionally complex...

...yesteryesterday, i learned: Sarah and Travis, together, make a supertasty banana bread...

...yesterday, i learned: i can understand more German than i think i give myself credit for...

...today, i learned: for every 100 girls born in China, there are 117 boys born in China...

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...currently wanting to watch: Hoosiers

Creative Writing as Sermon / Creative Vacuuming as Method

2008-09-20T21:17:00.005+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...tomorrow morning, i'm speaking at Berlin International Church -- a church that our Berlin team works with (also began several years back), and i must confess, i am a little nervous...

...i don't mind being up front and speaking, and, saying this as humbly as possible, i know that what i have to say is important, effective, challenging and encouraging all at once...

...but it's more about the approach i'm taking -- not a normal three point sermon with illustrations, pictures, Bible verses on the screen, movie clips, pop culture allusions, poignant stories, etc. (some of these i like to use, when pertinent)...

...i took the Feeding of 5,000 stories (from 3 Gospels) and took them all together, and wrote my own creative, firsthand account of one of the disciples looking back on the day, as if he wrote me in an e-mail with it -- then after that, just share a few thoughts...

...we'll see how it goes...

...don't know why i feel this way, but i'm just hoping it "works"...

...i like it, and i'm pretty sure God likes it -- so, i suppose, that should be good enough...

...we'll see...

...we'll see...

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..."you learn something new every day"...

...today, i learned: the method of cutting hair using a vacuum cleaner to suck the hair while you cut can work, but not when your 2 year old son isn't fond of it...

...another failed attempt at a calm haircut with Travis...

...(sigh)...

-----

...currently watching: The Jungle Book (Disney Animated version)

German / Swedish

2008-09-19T20:35:00.002+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...it's been a long/short day...

...lots of German studying, learning, listening, talking and more...

...time to relax -- in English...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...today, i learned: there's an interesting Swedish filmmaker, whose films i'm interested in checking out -- Roy Andersson...

...a guy from our class did his presentation on him and his filmmaking today -- pretty intriguing...

-----

...currently watching: Big Fish

...very good movie...

Confounds the Brain / Satisfies the Palate

2008-09-18T22:13:00.003+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...this morning, on my way to class, i walked past a guy with longer blond hair, black thick-framed glasses, a black unzipped jacket over a green shirt, blue jeans and i-didn't-notice-whatever-kind-of shoes...

...only about 6-7 meters behind him (that's roughly 20 feet or so, for my non-metric friends), there was a a guy with longer blond hair, black thick-framed glasses, a black unzipped jacket over a green shirt, blue jeans and i-didn't-notice-whatever-kind-of shoes...

...they looked unbelievably, ridiculously alike...

...i don't remember walking into Bizarroworld, but i must have some time this morning...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...today, i learned: broccoli salad is quickly becoming one of my favorite dishes...

-----

...currently enjoying: They Might Be Giants

...some days just call for a little Giants...

Blogless / Lessonful

2008-09-17T14:12:00.003+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...a couple busy days there and i didn't blog...

...and after these five blogless days, i'm not sure what to write...

...so, let's move on to the daily lessons, shall we?...

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..."you learn something new every day"...

...two yesteryesterdays ago, i learned: when i wake up early in the morning and the last thing i want to do is go to a team prayer meeting, that is usually the best thing for me to go and do...

...it was a really good time together on saturday...

...three yesterdays ago, i learned: it only takes me 20+ minutes to walk from our apartment to the bar where we can watch NFL football...

...on sunday nights, i meet up with a couple of guys to watch Sunday football action in the evening -- the bar has tons of English speaking tourists/people there, and we can always watch a game on Sky Sports or NASN (North American Sports Network?)...

...yesteryesterday, i learned: creativity, along with the right ideas, can come lightning fast, so be ready with a pen and paper (or computer)...

...this happened twice on monday -- for my speaking on this coming sunday, and brainstorming for a possible short-term missions trip from the States next year

...yesterday, i learned: customer service and idiocy can often intertwine...

...let's just say, phone conversations can be funny when you hear only side of it...

...today, i learned: soft pretzels work wonders...

...it's true...

-----

finally finished re-reading: Your God Is Too Safe by Mark Buchanan

Whacky Dreams! / Portugal Screams!

2008-09-12T20:50:00.003+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...last night, my dream consisted of: posters, quesadillas, Nyack College AND Black Forest Academy, old friends, a treasure chest, a 70 year old guy who turned out to be a zombie that i had to beat down to protect my son, a pack of baseball cards, plasma televisions -- including one with a Playstation 2 -- paying bills and a bike...

...there were elements of sacrifice, love, pride, rage, jealousy, expectations and suspense...

...it was quite bizarre...

...oh, and totally unrelated to any dreams, did i mention that Travis has had four successful and enjoyable baths in a row?...

...amen -- God does answer prayer...

...prayer and patience -- waiting and prayer...

...like peanut butter and jelly -- unless, of course, you don't like the two together, then, i guess, you could substitute that with some other two things that go together in your mind...

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..."you learn something new every day"...

...today, i learned: Portugal lost 3-2 to Denmark the other night in soccer for World Cup qualifying...

...HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!...

...that happinizes my face...

-----

...currently pondering: "the White Stripes have the coolest videos", as commented by Optimist Prime...

...yes, indeed...

...and these are just a few of them...

Titanic, Secrets & More / Germany, Soccer & Beyond

2008-09-11T14:23:00.005+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...in our class, each one of us has the chance to do a "presentation" on a topic of our choice, and yesterday was the first of many -- i'm not sure what i'm going to do mine on, yet...

...anyway, our 35 year old student from Italy did his "Referat" about the Titanic, and how there seems to be more than just an accident with an iceberg...

...he shared about how the world has changed because of the Titanic "catastrophe"...

...in essence, he told us that there were five very important and rich men on the ship, who were all against the Federal Reserve and opposing an oncoming "world war" -- and these rich, powerful, influential men died in the "iceberg accident", leading to a decision FOR the federal reserve and, of course, the first World War did happen...

...he believes that the captain intentionally sank the "unsinkable"ship, knowing fully well where it was vulnerable, ignoring warnings to take another route -- being a tool for the downfall of the Titanic...

...well, needless to say, it was interesting, and we talked about it for a while...

...i hadn't heard any of this before, and i didn't have any interest in the Titanic, really...

...when it comes to hearing and reading about "stuff", it's not that i'm stubbornly doubtful, i'm just not unquestioningly trusting...

...does that make sense?...

...interesting, nonetheless...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...yesterday, i learned: Germany, even though they should be the better and victorious team in most soccer matches, do like to cut it close sometimes...

...last night, Germany finally tied the game at 3 goals each with Finland in the 83rd minute -- why it took so long, and how they gave up the three before that, is baffling...

...today, i learned: Bed Bath & Beyond wants you to have a lovely home, but wants to stay out of anybody's business -- for better or worse...

...see this here blog for more info...

-----

...currently listening to: Muse

...maybe not a great video, but definitely great music...

Hatred & Love / Film & Sound

2008-09-09T20:34:00.004+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...yesterday in class, we read a few paragraphs from a novella written by a German that was entitled "I Hate Berlin", and the author was talking about the different things she hated about the city...

...it was interesting, tongue-in-cheek, exaggerated, ironic, cynical, funny, confusing, understandable and within reach...

...our homework assignment was to write a short piece entitled, "I Hate Toledo", or, you know, whatever your hometown is...

...so i did -- in an exaggerated, cynical, ironic, biting, sarcastic yet not-totally-true-to-my-mediocre-level-of-hatred-to-Toledo opinion...

...if you were given that topic for discussion/writing, what would be some things you would bring up?...

...then, this morning, we had a 45 minute discussion about marriage, just living together and divorce -- i'm sure it would've/could've gone on for longer, and i know not everyone agreed with me or saw where i was coming from, but it was interesting...

...all i said (or tried to get across, anyway) was that when you get married, the connection/responsibility/love/reality of your "togetherness" with your spouse is deepened and made stronger -- and then even more when children come into the picture...

...it was interesting, to say the least...

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..."you learn something new every day"...

...yesterday, i learned: i, an English-speaking American born in New Zealand, am capable of watching, understanding and enjoying a Spanish movie with German subtitles (El Orfanato)...

...progress!...

...today, i learned: Travis has a set of lungs so grand that i can hear him (and can distinguish that it is, indeed, my son) up in our language school classroom when he, his mother and his sister walk by before class is over to greet his dad...

-----

...currently pondering: seriously -- what is said by the guy laying on the ground in this video?

"Just" by Radiohead

Travis Enjoys Wonderful Music / Ben Enjoys September Soccer

2008-09-07T22:39:00.004+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...here's a little clip of Travis enjoying music -- i think it may have been Chevelle playing at the time...

...hey, don't worry, he gets his German Sesame Street CDs in his room when he's playing...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...yesterday, i learned: the Germans play soccer way better than those lads from Liechtenstein...

...they won 6-0 in their World Cup qualifier...

...today, i learned: the first week of September can usually go by very, very quickly...

-----

...currently enjoying: see video above...

Mish-Mash / Three Days Grace

2008-09-05T20:20:00.003+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...finished up my first week back at language school, and it has been pretty good so far...

...listening to McCain's acceptance speech as i write this -- a little humbler than Obama, i think, but definitely a weaker speaker...

...personal goals for this next year: learn more of 20th century European art and culture, with a minor in German film and authors...

...Travis enjoyed watching this video the other day, repeatedly saying, "fall?...fall?...fall?"...

...almost at the end of one book, anticipating the next...

...went to see The Dark Knight with Sarah and Hannah (she did really well -- slept most of the time) and our friend Don -- and enjoyed it just as much, if not more, the second time around...

...tomorrow is a big day for Europeans -- hint: check the World Cup 2010 qualifying schedule...

...i, too, am realizing the sickness of culinary pornography (footnote/source: C.S. Lewis & Mark Buchanan)...

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..."you learn something new every day"...

...yesteryesterday, i learned: public transportation in Berlin is reliable and great, but not always punctual...

...yesterday, i learned: "anderthalb" is another way in German to say "one and a half"...

...today, i learned: big change comes from intentionality, self-discipline, forming habits and personal desire, which, in essence, are all pathways of little change...

-----

...currently pondering: this piece of genius from Tally Hall...

...i'm gonna write them and ask them when they're coming to Berlin...

Bathtime / Catch-up

2008-09-02T22:55:00.002+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...Travis hates baths -- he used to like them, but since he turned a year old and we moved here, he hates them...

...he doesn't like showers either...

...he likes spraying himself and others with a water bottle, brushing his teeth, washing his hands, seeing fountains, being out in the rain...

...but he hates baths...

...i'm really praying this fear is annihilated soon...

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..."you learn something new every day"...

...yesterday, i learned: Tandem Language School actually DOES have male teachers...

...after several months of taking German classes at our language school, i finally have a male teacher in this next class -- all the teachers before have been women, have been good teachers, but it's always nice to have a different perspective, style and gender to learn from...

...today, i learned: Tuesdays can be worthwhile too...

-----

...currently listening to: Chevelle...

Deutschkurs / Perplexed

2008-08-31T22:14:00.002+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...i head back to the classroom again tomorrow after a little time away after Hannah was born, and personal study...

...so it will be a little weird to be back, especially without Sarah there (she will be staying with the kids, personal study and also having a private tutor twice a week until we find someone to watch the kids), but will be good at the same time...

...life will be in somewhat more of a routine -- a good routine...

...tomorrow is also the first day of the last third of this year 2008 -- already?...

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..."you learn something new every day"...

...today, i learned: perplexity is the noun, to perplex is the verb...

...for some reason earlier today, i was tlaking with Sarah about something, and she said something was perplexing, and i couldn't think what the right word would be -- is the perplexing thing a perplexion, a perplexity, or something else?...

...i learned that it was a perplexity...

-----

...currently watching: Dan In Real Life

Universal Soccer / German Newspaper

2008-08-30T22:27:00.002+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...the essence of soccer/real football is simple: you can use any part of you body to play the ball, except your arms and hands...

...unless you are playing the position of goalkeeper...

...however, when trying to play soccer/real football with your two year-old son, and trying to get him to not use his hands and only use his feet, and after a while, he starts looking up at you as he reaches down for the ball, and then you tell him, "no, don't use your hands -- kick the ball into the goal with your feet", and he responds by saying, "hey, nice", telling you to be nice to him -- well, i guess the real rules can be held off for a few more days...

...but seeing him kick a goal and his celebration afterwards is always a delight...

-----

..."you learn something new every day"...

...today, i learned: i am able to sit down with the first section of a German newspaper and actually comprehend a lot of what it is reporting about...

...progress!...

-----

...currently listening to: "Weird Al" Yankovic

Vernissage / Tolerance

2008-08-29T21:20:00.002+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...tonight, i enjoyed pure enjoyment and pure disappointment at once...

...enjoyment: the Vernissage tonight, and the fact that we walked to and from it with our neighbors below us, who we had invited earlier this week -- how cool is that?...

...disappointment: i forgot the camera for the exhibition...

...smiles...

...sighs...

...either way, it was a wonderful turn out for a great evening -- even with a little energetic two year-old on our hands......

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..."you learn something new every day"...

...today, i learned: i do have the power to seek out, watch and listen to a 45 minute Democratic presidential candidate's nomination acceptance speech...

...could've done without the first three minutes of cheering and "thank you", but the laundry needed folded anyway...

...and i don't necessarily feel guilty about lack of interest, but i guess, now that it is down to less than 70 days, i wanted to get a better grasp and understanding of the presidential candidates -- for better or worse...

-----

...currently enjoying: the Austellung "Licht und Schatten" (see yesterday's post for picture and website)

New Exhibition / Jogging Beat

2008-08-28T21:21:00.003+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...i helped out with getting the new exhibition set up in the Zionskirche this morning -- it is very cool...

...thirteen different artists, thirteen pieces of art, thirteen different styles and mediums -- thirteen different expressions of "Licht und Schatten" ("Light and Shadows")...

...tomorrow night is the Vernissage (opening), and i'm definitely looking forward to it...

...maybe i'll throw some pictures up here after tomorrow night...

www.kunstschwimmer.de

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..."you learn something new every day"...

...today, i learned: "Blue Orchid" by The White Stripes is a much better song to jog to than "Jackass" by Beck...

-----

...currently laughing at: the video below...

...ouch...

Informer / Imposter

2008-08-27T20:16:00.003+02:00

to nobody in particular:

...i was in a couple of stores with Travis this morning, and i heard a song that took me back a few years...

...yes, "Informer" by Snow...

...i don't think i need to say much else...

...cherish the classics...

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..."you learn something new every day"...

...today, i learned: Jim Carrey can pull off a good Snow impersonation...

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...currently re-reading: Your God Is Too Safe by Mark Buchanan