Thawghtz / Payschintz

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

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

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!!!!!"

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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?...

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..."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...

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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)...

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..."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...

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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...

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..."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...

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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...

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..."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...

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recently enjoyed: Good Bye Lenin!



...very enjoyable and highly recommended...

Awaiting / Waiting

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!...

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..."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?...

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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

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...

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..."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...

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recently listened to: MXPX



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

Christmas Eve / Christmas Eve

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...

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..."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...

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currently enjoying: Jesus' birthday (see calendar)

Simply Complicated / Insignificant Disappointments

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...

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..."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...

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recently watched: The Truman Show



...ahhhhhhhhhh -- beautiful...