New Favorite / Old Goalkeeper

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?...

-----

..."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...

-----

currently listening to: Wir Sind Helden (see above)

Late on a Tuesday Night / Lovehate

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...

-----

..."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...

-----

currently thinking about: going to sleep

Two Bits / Everybody Needs Good Neighbours

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...

-----

..."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...

-----

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

Escape / Alcoholism

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...

-----

..."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!...

-----

currently listening to: Live

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

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...

-----

..."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)...

-----

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

Short Story / Long Training

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

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?

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

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...