Getting there from here

Day 7 - Pressing On

2007-01-10T22:59:21Z

Original post to be found Here at my Ramblings Blog

*side note only relevant to actually blog website*
You know, I was thinking I'm going to have to try and take a replacement picture for my current banner up there on top since I'm no longer living in Dresden, but it's such a pretty one.

Well, it is Wednesday afternoon and I have been in all but one of my classes at least once now. And I think they are going well. None of the classes look like they'll be an insane amount of work. But also enough to keep me busy, especially once I find a job. Speaking of which I applied for a job here today that involves working with the online classes, sounds pretty cool. And, I also found out today that my "Practical Christian Ministry"(PCM) assignment is going to be. I'm going to be an AWANA leader at the church where AWANA originally started in 1950. It's called North Side Gospel Center, and I'll start it next week. I'll be going with either 2 or 3 other Moodys. So, as a product of, and also leader in, AWANA this could be pretty cool. Although I know the adjustment from Sidney AWANA group to a surely much larger one, and differently run, will be there. (knew I should have brought that leader's shirt)

So, between classes, applying for the job, and finding out about my PCM I feel rather accomplished today. Of course there's still lots more reading to do be done, and still some forms I have to sign and turn in, but overall I believe adjustment to here has been pretty smooth. There are a lot of great guys on my floor, and I'm getting to know some of the other guys and a few of the girls. I'm really enjoying the community aspect of living here. So, while I'm not close to joining a commune or anything it is neat to be surrounded by and living with Christians.

So, prayer requests. Could you please be praying for my two friends Beth. One Beth is leaving to go to The Gambia later this month with the Peace Corps. So, she just needs a lot of prayer in general. The other Beth (site rarely updated) broke her leg on Saturday and ended up having surgery on Sunday, and had pins and a plate put into her leg. So, pray for her recovery and patience for having the limited mobility.

Well, that's all for now folks.

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Oh it's a great day in December

2007-01-05T00:58:51Z

Original post to be found Here at my Ramblings Blog

So first, for anyone who's kept track (probably just me) I have used that line before for an entry from December 1st of 2005. However extenuating circumstances warrant the now repeated use (more on that in a minute).

What a wonderfully long fantastic week I've had. Since Thursday morning of last week I have slept 5 different places, drove over 1,000 miles, been in three states, crossed two major rivers, got 4 new tires, said goodbye to all of my friends for the 4th time in less than 2 years, and for the first time in my life got to use the excuse, "I have a girlfriend" in response to a kindly lady in her early 60s telling me there were lots of pretty girls here at Moody.

Yes folks, you read the right. Sad to say I don't currently have any fitting pictures on the computer to put up here, but rest assured I will share as soon as I have any. But on the last day of last year Julie Muhr and myself had a nice heart to heart conversation and decided that we both felt it was God's will for us to go into the "next level" of our relationship (can I call it dating? We haven't really been on any "official dates"?) even though I was leaving for Chicago two days later.

So, here I am unpacking my stuff into my room. Listening to the constant traffic, and occasional siren, out my window. And thinking simply that God is Awesome. It's easy to get frustrated about not starting here at Moody until now, but I know that God has me here, and here now, for a reason. And I will simply trust in that.

Ross

P.S. Just found out my RA wants to work at a camp after he graduates... bonus!

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What does Christmas mean to me?

2006-12-19T03:18:04Z

Original post to be found Here at my Ramblings Blog

Greetings one and all. I apologize for my drastic departure from the world of blogging. It's just been one of those semesters where every time I thinking about sitting down and attempting to express my thoughts via type, either by email or by blog, I just kind of shut down. Took a bit of gumption just to do it tonight, and school's even over. But I hope this kind of absence will be avoided in the future. Especially with me leaving for Chicago in 2 weeks and a day. That's right, for those of you who haven't heard yet due to my horrible virtual communication this semester I am indeed heading off to Moody Bible Institute in Chicago the first week of January. I sit and wait with anticipation and expectation for this next phase which God has in store for me. He has already given me an amazing semester. It is going to be hard to leave all of my friends again so soon, in their many forms the people who have surrounded me this semester have made it amazing. Thanks to everyone out there, I hope to stay in better online contact next semester than I have this one.

In closing I have put up an essay titled "What Christmas Means to Me".

Ross

Three things go by the name of Christmas. One is a religious festival. This is important and obligatory for Christians; but as it can be of no interest to anyone else, I shall naturally say no more about it here. The second (it has complex historical connections with the first, but we needn't go into them) is a popular holiday, an occasion for merry-making and hospitality. If it were my business to have a 'view' on this, I should say that I much approve of merry-making. But what I approve of much more is everybody minding his own business. I see no reason why I should volunteer views as to how other people should spend their own money in their own leisure among their own friends. It is highly probable that they want my advice on such matters as little as I want theirs. But the third thing called Christmas is unfortunately everyone's business.

I mean of course the commercial racket. The interchange of presents was a very small ingredient in the older English festivity. Mr. Pickwick took a cod with him to Dingley Dell; the reformed Scrooge ordered a turkey for his clerk; lovers sent love gifts; toys and fruit were given to children. But the idea that not only all friends but even all acquaintances should give one another presents, or at least send one another cards, is quite modern and has been forced upon us by the shopkeepers. Neither of these circumstances is in itself a reason for condemning it. I condemn it on the following grounds.

1. It gives on the whole much more pain than pleasure. You have only to stay over Christmas with a family who seriously try to 'keep' it (in its third, or commercial, aspect) in order to see that the thing is a nightmare. Long before December 25th everyone is worn out - physically worn out by weeks of daily struggle in overcrowded shops, mentally worn out by the effort to remember all the right recipients and to think out suitable gifts for them. They are in no trim for merry-making; much less (if they should want to) to take part in a religious act. They look far more as if there had been a long illness in the house.

2. Most of it is involuntary. The modern rule is that anyone can force you to give him a present by sending you a quite unprovoked present of his own. It is almost a blackmail. Who has not heard the wail of despair, and indeed of resentment, when, at the last moment, just as everyone hoped that the nuisance was over for one more year, the unwanted gift from Mrs. Busy (whom we hardly remember) flops unwelcomed through the letter-box, and back to the dreadful shops one of us has to go?

3. Things are given as presents which no mortal ever bought for himself - gaudy and useless gadgets, 'novelties' because no one was ever fool enough to make their like before. Have we really no better use for materials and for human skill and time than to spend them on all this rubbish?

4. The nuisance. For after all, during the racket we still have all our ordinary and necessary shopping to do, and the racket trebles the labour of it.

We are told that the whole dreary business must go on because it is good for trade. It is in fact merely one annual symptom of that lunatic condition of our country, and indeed of the world, in which everyone lives by persuading everyone else to buy things. I don't know the way out. But can it really be my duty to buy and receive masses of junk every winter just to help the shopkeepers? If the worst comes to the worst I'd sooner give them money for nothing and write it off as a charity. For nothing? Why, better for nothing than for a nuisance.

-- C.S. Lewis

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Less than a week!

2006-09-14T18:03:54Z

Original post to be found Here at my Ramblings Blog

So, here I am blogging without waiting 2 or more weeks between entries.

So, for those of you who didn't catch it I had a birthday on Saturday and turned the ripe old age of 22. Not sure how I feel about living the next year of my life as a palindrome, but I'll try to keep my head up high.

Didn't do a whole lot for my birthday, headed up north to Scottsbluff and Mitchell to hang out with some friends. We would have done it even if it wasn't my birthday, but this way got me a gift to. Plus it's always a good night when I get hang out with Myrtle, Jessica, Beth, Julie, Lacy and Clint. Oh and Seth, can't forget Seth. I found out he went on a summer missions trip with Table in the Wilderness Ministries, the exact same trip that my youth group took in 2003.

Sunday (after being late for church) we went to Fort Collins and met up with Earle, Courtney and a couple of their friends. Had our traditional gorging at Hu Hot and then just took it easy the rest of the day.

So, coolest gift from my birthday, a Bluetooth earpiece/headset thingy from my parents. So far it works quite well with my phone. Now I just need a bluetooth adapter for my computer so I can use it with Skype.

Ross

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rimac80 @ 2006-09-09T10:13:00

2006-09-09T16:23:51Z

Original post to be found Here at my Ramblings Blog

Good morning everyone. This time it was only just over 2 weeks between posts. I'd consider this an upward trend.

Traveled to the mediocre state of Iowa over Labor Day Weekend in order to visit my brother and sister-inlaw. Considering it had been over a year since I had seen them, it was nice. Didn't do anything too elaborate over the weekend just spent a lot of time hanging out. That and fixing Wayne's computer.

So far classes are going fairly well. At the beginning of the semester I had thought that history might be my hardest class, well found out that the test will be one part True/False, multiple-choice, type questions with definite answers, and the second part will be short essay questions (5-6 sentences) and we can use our notes for the essay question part. So it looks like this will be the kind of semester I was hoping for.

For my geeky nature I got a bluetooth headset for my phone from my parents for my birthday. Very cool.

This weekend is looking pretty good, going up to camp, Scottsbluff and Mitchell this afternoon. Crashing up there for the night and after church going to Fort Collins and hanging out with Courtney and Earle.

So, there you have, an update. Hopefully I'll break the 2-week mark next time.

Ross

Wish I had what I needed
To be on my own
Cause I feel so defeated
And I'm feeling alone
And it all seems so helpless
And I have no plans
I’m a plane in the sunset
With no where to land
And all I see
It could never make me happy
And all my sandcastles
Spend their time collapsing

Let me know that you hear me
Let me know your touch
Let me know that you love me
Let that be enough

It’s my birthday tomorrow
No one here could know
I was born this thursday
Twenty-two years ago
And I feel stuck watching history repeating
Oh am I just a kid who knows he’s needy?

Let me know that you hear me
Let me know your touch
Let me know that you love me
Let that be enough

Let me know that you hear me
Let me know your touch
Let me know that you love me
Let that be enough

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Over 3 weeks? I need to work on this.

2006-08-25T17:46:32Z

Original post to be found Here at my Ramblings Blog

So, I apparently have dropped off the internet world the past 3 weeks. I have a stack of emails I need to respond to. But I think I've just been realigning and adjusting to things back here. And now that I've done 2 weeks of work, and one week of classes I believe I am approaching normality. I don't have a lot going other than that I guess. I feel slightly embarrassed to admit I have now seen Hawk Nelson in concert, but at least there were plenty of other good bands that day so it was worth it.

One small update though worth mentioning is that as of yesterday I now have my own cell phone again. I'm on the Alltel network so it's free for all you other Alltelers. If you want the number send me an email or ask, I don't feel like posting it up here for the whole world. But it feels good to have a phone again.

Ross

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Anybody get the license of that train?

2006-08-02T03:30:02Z

Original post to be found Here at my Ramblings Blog

Howdy folks. Yes I am home and I do apologize for not posting that up here sooner. It's been a very fun, but very exhausting, two weeks.

I was very surprised when I got out at the airport to not see only 3 people waiting for me but a surprise fourth person by the name of Joe Birky. This was of course after our 3 hour delay and so instead of midnight it was 3am. Which meant that since 11pm Saturday until 3am Wednesday morning I had gotten around 12 hours of sleep.

Which of course no way hindered me from heading off to camp Sunday afternoon with Scott for a full week of cooking. But I could tell I was not up to full force, I couldn't do my "stay up until midnight and still be the first kitchen staff in the kitchen" routine. I was usually back down to the Griffiths house before 10pm and down and out by 10:30. But Tim and I had a good week cooking for over 150 people every meal. And we were very thankful for the extra help we had throughout the week. Although I don't believe any of them read this blog, thanks for your help guys.

And now, here I am on August 1st. One year ago today is when I landed in Germany. It is hard to believe that 1 year has gone by. It was a good year, and I am so thankful to God for how He provided for me and guided me during that time.

Ross

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The final details

2006-07-16T19:54:52Z

Original post to be found Here at my Ramblings Blog

Hey, just wanted to check in before I left. I'm at my pastor's house right now and am just killing some time. I'm taking a train at 12:30am Sunday night/Monday morning going to Frankfurt. Then I will fly from Frankfurt at 10am local time, arriving in New York at noon local time. Then we have a program thingy in New York until Tuesday afternoon. Tuesday night at 9:45pm I will be flying from New York to Denver and arriving at DIA at midnight. My parents and I are just crashing in Denver that night. Then I will finally be back in Sidney on Wednesday.

Busy time. I'd write more but I gotta go.

Ross

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Ich habe es geschaft!

2006-07-09T16:30:05Z

Original post to be found Here at my Ramblings Blog

Time for a small quiz:
First Question:
What sort of lighting conditions should you attempt to go over a mountain that involves almost as much rock climbing as hiking?
a) Daylight
b) Moonlight (halfmoon)
c) Starlight

Second Question:
With what sort of lighting condition did Ross climb a mountain on Tuesday?
a) Daylight
b) Moonlight (halfmoon)
c) Starlight

If you answered "a" to the first question you would be correct. If you answered "d" as in "all of the above" to the second question you would also be correct.

I hope this has been an educational experience for you all. Tune in next time when we'll continue our focus on mountain climbing by discussing the descent of large snowfields better packing habits.

Ross

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What do you mean tomorrow is July?

2006-06-30T10:36:23Z

Original post to be found Here at my Ramblings Blog

Anybody else feel like the calendar is trying to pull a fast one on us? Tomorrow is already the 1st of July. But let's not focus on the fact that the time is simply going by what's happening in that time.

I currently find myself in the middle of a very long day. Wednesday night I went to bed around 1am and got up 5am Thursday. I haven't lain down since (It's now noon on Friday). I got some sleeping done in the trains and train stations. Nothing too long though because you keep getting interrupted by things like people asking to see your ticket and people asking for money. That last one stopped me from really getting some rest in Frankfurt, once I had been woke up I wasn't going back.

In the middle of all that after an extended period of non-finding I was eventually found by Pastor Birky at the airport. This was around 2 hours after their plane had landed. I had waited for them at arrivals, and they had come out at departures, we decided they were both honest mistakes. We just walked around Frankfurt for a little while, sat down and had some good German sausage and potato salad. It was cool to see the group and I'm glad it worked out for me to get down there and see them. Also found out they're getting back on the 19th of July, which is also the day I'll get (should) back into Sidney. But I don't envy their 10-11 hour flight to South Africa (that should be currently over) and then their additional 11 hour layover in Johannesburg(sp?) before they fly again for one hour. And now I have a small idea of the layout of the Frankfurt airport (biggest European airport not counting anything on an island) for when I fly in July, which apparently starts tomorrow.

Last day of work today, been working on making sure all the files on my computer for work are on the server so I don't leave them searching for something I had done. This also means last day of regular internet access. So this may be the last post I get out before I leave. I'll try to get one out while I am traveling around Germany the 3rd-12th but I make no guarantees. Just something to let you guys know I'm still alive.

Take care my friends.

Ross

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I just can't follow that up

2006-06-26T15:12:09Z

Original post to be found Here at my Ramblings Blog

Man, I need more blog fodder. Apparently the idea of unsolicited marrige proposal rejections is interesting to people. Sadly the closest I have to that kind of experience is a couple different people saying that they were already busy on a particular evening. Not exactly the kind of material that drives up speculations.

In other news I went kayaking on Saturday with some friends in an area of German about 90 minutes away. It was a really still river. It didn't really matter which way you went on the river. Which is a little different that what I'm used to. Even as gentle as the Niobrara is in September it takes effort to paddle upstream. But I am happy to have been able to kayak in Germany. The one downside is that due to less sun in Germany (possibly) and being on the water an hour longer than I had thought made my forgetting of sunscreen very painful. I've never had a sunburn this bad. Hopefully I won't be too much of a peeling mess on Thursday.

And Thursday matters because I am going to Frankfurt. And I am going to Frankfurt because a group of people from Cheyenne county (most of whom are from my church) are on their way to Mozambique, Africa and have 11 hours between their flights in Frankfurt. I'm really looking forward to it. Even though it seems funny to see people just a few weeks before I'll get back and being seeing them anyway. Just an extra bonus I guess.

Okay, that's it for now. I'm going to go back to avoiding thinking how much it's going to hurt when I have to take my shirt off tonight. *whimper*

Ross

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Because I'm special

2006-06-21T16:03:56Z

Original post to be found Here at my Ramblings Blog

So, I uh missed last week with a blog. I think I'm starting to feel the strain of being busy. You just don't feel like writing in your blog so much when you're away from home every evening for something like 10 consecutive evenings. So you, my ever declining readership, are having to pay the price. Didn't help that last week I actually had to work at my job. I even put it what would have been 2-3 hours overtime if I was getting paid.

But I just wanted to update you guys on one particular front. As many you are aware of (or participated in) there was a popular opinion going around in the month or two before my departure last year that I would definitely get "hooked up" while here in Germany. That I would either get married while I was here or that I would at least have a "serious girlfriend". Well, as the days are ticking and I'm sorry to say that a lot of you are going to be disappointed. It would appear that I have not found the future Mrs. Ross Ohnesorg while here in Germany.

In fact I've had quite the opposite. On Saturday while taking a tour on a steamengine paddleboat we passed by some castles/pallaces and one of my girl friends (notice the space) informed entirely unprompted that even if I owned one of those she still wouldn't marry me. So I'm getting turned down without even asking. That takes skills my friends.

Ross

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To whom it may concern

2006-06-09T14:05:50Z

Original post to be found Here at my Ramblings Blog

How frustrating, I had a whole blog written, and then when I went to press "Apple-T" for a new tab in Firefox I hit "Apple-R" and refreshed the post page and lost my post. So now you all have to deal with a short one.

Went hiking Monday with people from church, I'll try to get some pictures up next week. Was a great time. Sadly it was the last "official" holiday while I'm here in Germany. No more random days off now. :( Of course not counting the little bit I have today I've actually only got 15 days left of work, so I shouldn't complain too much.

So, I've got a new page on the links in that upper-lefthand box on the blog. The question is would any of you being willing to host a German for a short (2-4 days) time period in August-early September? The people on the German part of my exchange program start off in New York and then travel by Amtrak or Greyhound to their "permanent" and they try to have host families for them between points A and B. They all speak English (unlike the American-to-Germany part of the program there is a proficiency test) so that's no excuse. All the details can be found here:
http://www.camprock.net/pblog/static.php?page=hosting

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Ross

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Photos...

2006-06-01T13:08:18Z

Original post to be found Here at my Ramblings Blog

So, for the month of June it looks like I'm off to a good start with this blog thing.

I made a new picture page, but wanted to try the "post with pictures" approach because they just look nicer. But then I also didn't want to have an entry that was super long on the home page, so I have a middleground.
New picture page.

Of course clicking on any of the images will provide you with a bigger, better quality picture.

Ross

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rimac80 @ 2006-05-31T15:59:00

2006-05-31T14:03:49Z

Original post to be found Here at my Ramblings Blog

So, I feel like I should be posting. I mean this will make only a 4th time in May. I guess I've simply been too busy at work to type-up a good blog.

So, what I have been up to? Well, about everything. I've managed to temporarily lose "The Problem of Pain" and so haven't been able to finish it yet. I also parted with two other dear pieces of my possesions due to the trip to Berlin. My infamous Stargate hat and my battered Nalgene water bottle were both gone due to my absentmindedness. So needless to say when that book went missing I got fairly frustrated. But I know I had after Berlin because I copied out of it for my post last week.

The 25th was another holiday here in Germany. I spent most of the day with my host parents checking out a couple towns on the German/Polish border. I even snuck into Poland. Thankfully at least the same Polish guard was to let me back in even though the German ones had changed. I don't think I'd want to try and explain why I'm coming out of Poland with any proof of me entering it. We then crossed over later, and I now have a stamp of me leaving Germany, leaving Poland, and entering Germany, but the entering Poland stamp is still missing. So it really looks like I've never entered Poland according to my stamp.

On Saturday I learned how to make Eierschecke with my host-mom. It's my favorite cake from Germany. Yum.

Sunday we had a leadership meeting at the church. You can check out some pictures of it here at the blog site of my pastor and his wife.

So in general I've just been busy. Only one more month for my internship.

I've also decided that "cultural" events like operas and piano concerts when you know people in it. So I got to see Mel on the stage of the Semproper singing the lead male role in "Dead Man Walking". And then a friend of mine from Brazil, Breno, did a "piano evening" to help him practice for his upcoming competition in Brazil. He is a great piano player, and it was neat to see him play.

Ross

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I'm stumbling over mountains, one day soon I'll take them in my stride.

2006-05-23T08:01:02Z

Original post to be found Here at my Ramblings Blog

"The Christian doctrine of suffering explains, I believe, a very curious fact about the world we live in. The settled happiness and security which we all desire, God withholds from us by the very nature of the world: but joy, pleasure, and merriment, He has scattered broadcast. We are never safe, but we have plenty of fun, and some ecstasy. It is not hard to see why. The security we crave would teach us to rest our hearts in this world and oppose an obstacle to our return to God: a few moments of happy love, a landscape, a symphony, a merry meeting with our friends, a bathe or a football match, have no such tendency. Our Father refreshes us on the journey with some pleasant inns, but will not encourage us to mistake them for home."
C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain

"These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city."
Hebrews 11:13-16

What a book I'm attempting to read right now. It's really good but it's definitely a little harder to follow and understand that Mere Christianity. He didn't mention those verses, but they seemed to go together in my mind.

Thanks to Beth, Julie and Lacy for the care package. Lots of cookies and some Trolli sour worms and some sour straws. Enough sugar to give me a buzz for the rest of my time here in Germany.

To everyone who I've fallen behind in emailing and commenting in the last 6-8 weeks I'm attempting to play some catch-up. So I apologize for any late and/or short responses.

Ross

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Can you tell me who I am? I seem to have forgotten.

2006-05-12T15:41:51Z

Original post to be found Here at my Ramblings Blog

So, I almost didn't keep half of my word from my last mini post on Monday. However it looks like I have enough time to squeeze in a post before I head home from work today. It is kind of long though due to the time gap.

So, part of the reason I haven't gotten a post up is that there has been something eating my free time. So, in light of that I would like to officially diret over to the brand new http://www.camprock.net. Gwen and I have been working on this lately and due to it being a bit more of a task than I thought and been busier than I thought we kind of missed an original "First weekend in May" launch. However the second weekend of May isn't too long after the first. The site is not entirely dial-up friendly so if something doesn't seem to work right away, give it 10-15 seconds more to load. And while you're there sign up for one of the camps, as online registration continues to bring Camp Rock into the 21st century (yes I know we had it last year to, but this year it's better).

So, when I haven't been working on the website the past three weeks I've been busy having a great time here in Germany. I had to say goodbye to one of my friends as he moved across Germany but hopefully I'll get to visit him in July. Went to a house warming brunch where the electric grill (I know, sad isn't it?) broke and so I was making steaks and bratwursts on the electric stove in the tiny kitchen filled with college students. Oh, I also have a new roommate for this week and next. This time it's a lady from India. I think so far this week I've seen and talked with her more than my other 3 roommates combined. Also my good buddies the Goods are back for the week so I'm going out hiking with them tomorrow.

So, weird thought, next week I'm going to be in Berlin for our "End of the Year Seminar". And I have to keep reminding myself that it's really early this year because of the World Cup and that I really do have some time left here. But the time factor has definitely been evident in my schedule. I've been packing it as full as I can. Tonight will be a well earned quiet evening at home. With possible edits to the Camp site (simply because there's "done" and then there's "all the loose ends that most people won't see done" ).

Oh, I almost forgot this. So, it had been over 9 months since I had driven a car. And as I was heading out to a neighboring village with a friend I mentioned this fact to him. So, on the way back he let me drive his nice little VW Golf. Vrrooooom. Then 3 days later my boss needed to get his winter tires off but didn't have time to go to the shop so he sent me instead and I got to take his BMW around town a little bit. Vroooooooom. No driving on the speed-limitless autobahn though. Probably for the better. But it was nice to see I could still drive a stick-shift after not driving at all for so long. Even in bumper-to-bumper stop-and-go traffic on the way back with my bosses car.

So, there's a little glimpse of my past 3 weeks. Like I said I'm out of town Tuesday-Saturday next week so don't expect a post. But the hotel said "some" rooms have wireless, so I'm sure I can find it somewhere. Just not sure how much time there'll be for internet when all 75 of us Americans are back together for the first time since the flight over.

Ross

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Sleep, it does a body good.

2006-04-25T15:56:16Z

Original post to be found Here at my Ramblings Blog

Note to LJ users - Since Beth is no longer LJing it, does that leave me with any LJ readers? Just curious if I'm wanting to actually keep up this cross-posting. Thanks

So, right now I am either suffering from allergies/hayfever or a cold. I'm thinking since it's lasted almost a week now that it must be allergies. It's sapping a lot of my energy. It's probably a good thing that what the only reason I was up late Friday night and Saturday was my aforementioned project for renovating the CAMP Rock website. One more weekend and we should be left with simply polishing up. We being Gwen and I. You should check out her quotes currently posted.

So it's 72 degrees outside right now. We've had our window open at work all day. And I've sat here and done almost nothing all day. But it's now 5:35 so that means quitting time is coming soon. Then I'll be able to walk a little bit on my journey to Bible study and home tonight.

I also had what to me is one of the coolest things I've experienced here (it's happened a few times to different extents) happen again Sunday night. I was hanging out with some friends and this one family's apartment, he's from Belize, and she's German. Which made him and I the only non-native German speakers as there were also several other 20something Germans there. And as we hung out, we all just talked. Sometimes in German. Sometimes in English. Whatever came out, is what came out. Which to me is so cool. We're just communicating with each other, it doesn't matter what language. It was a good time.

Sign of the week that I've been gone too long. Somebody asked me if I thought a certain amount of food for breakfast was "just plenty" or if a request for French Toast should be fufilled. So, not only asking if there's enough of my favorite meal, but of one of my favorite foods at said meal... While everyone here in Germany has become fully aware of my food intake it would seem that "out of sight out of mind" might be taking affect back in the states.

Ross

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t's pretty hard to hit that magic number of appropriately vague, mildly serious...

2006-04-21T15:36:14Z

Original post to be found Here at my Ramblings Blog

So, I may just be back in bloggerland afterall.

So, it's currently 12:30 and 66 degrees outside, and when I went home last night around nine it was around 60 degrees. When I left the house this morning it was a chilly 50 degrees. Are you getting the feeling that the low/hi difference isn't quite what it is "out west"? The greatest difference in the 5-day forecast for Dresden is 22 degrees, and I must say that seems rather unusual while the smallest gap is 17. For Sidney the biggest is 33 and the smallest 23. On the plus side I was able to hang my clothes outside yeterday to dry. And yes, it was a whole day without rain. Also noticing the little bit further north that I am, we're already up to over 14 hours between sunrise and sunset.

Well, as the weekend approaches I currently have no plans for Friday and Saturday other than programming. Determined to get that new camp site finished. I may also get out and be in this nice wetter for a bit. It'd be better if I could find someone to con into going with me. But I'm not the only person who finds their calendar full so it's not looking too good. But that means I might get around to making a page with pictures from the flood.

Ross

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April showers bring May bloggers?

2006-04-18T13:35:22Z

Original post to be found Here at my Ramblings Blog

Hmm, the 18th of April and I'm blogging for the second time this month. And that other one wasn't really much of a post. It's been a week of busy though. In my short 3-day work week last week we managed to remove the labels from 850 small glass bottles, stick new labels on, clean up a mess after 400 of them turned out to be too heavy for a table overnight, fold little boxes for each bottle (brought back memories of Pizza Hut), stamp the boxes, put address labels on them, put stamps on them (the first stamp was an ink stamp), and pack them with a bottle and styrofoam peanuts. My hands were dried, cracked and sliced, I couldn't the smell of mouthwash out of my nose until Sunday (that's what was in the bottles), and through it all managed to bring it to a triumphant finish at 4pm on Thursday and got to leave early.

Which started my weekend of recovery. I managed to not be out too late (2am, 1am Thursday and Friday nights respectively), and otherwise pretty much stayed home. My biggest accomplishments could probably be listed under completing the first 2 ages in Myst V (I'm keeping that too convenient guide that came with it closed now though). So I blame my family for my lazy weekend since they're the ones who brought that game when they came. Earle, I need your help though, these puzzles aren't ones I'm geared to tackle alone, and we made a good team for Riven. You, Carle and I could get together and attempt to work through it only talking in German...

I've also discovered that time is apparently trying for a new record for these last days here in Germany. To those of you who just went, "Last days, what is he talking about?" allow me to assure you I share your surprise. But it is true. In 1 month we have our deceptively named "End of the year" seminar and in less than 100 days I will be back on Nebraskan soil. And as I look at what's happening in those 100 days I become ever more aware of the desire for a 28-30 hour day.

So yeah, I guess that's my update. Life is going great here but is approaching dangerous speeds. I still haven't gotten a picture page together yet from the pictures I've got from my aunt and uncles camera but might have time Wednesday night to put one together. If not, then it probably won't be up until next week. But I do hope to catch up on emails and blog commenting this week. I've also got to stop wondering around MySpace, I keep finding people who only use MySpace and so I feel like I'm getting more and more sucked into it. Still no cross-posting to there though. I'd call it an abomination of desolation if I didn't have strong feelings about misusing scripture. Anyway, there's some Ross thoughts to hold you over for a while.

Ross

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So, even when the sun did shine they couldn't see the bridge...

2006-04-12T13:44:25Z

Original post to be found Here at my Ramblings Blog

So, my mother mentioned how she was sure she wouldn't get to see the bridge that I have showing in the header of my blog how it looks in the picture. And while she was right in that we didn't have what you would call an abundance of sunshine while they were here there was something else preventing a similar viewing. Starting a couple days before they arrived there was a bit of a flood in the area.

If I had more time I'd put pictures and a better post up. But as it is I've actually had work the past two days. And to top that it's been work away from my desk, so no computer. Which combines from still recovering from the time while my family is here to make a noticible lack of posting.

I will make an attempt to put some photos and possible a better post up tomorrow. But since Friday-Monday I will not be at work (Friday and Monday are holidays...) I may just work on things over the weekend and you will all have to wait until Tuesdayish.

Ross

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Wie traurig

2006-03-29T11:36:39Z

Original post to be found Here at my Ramblings Blog

So, I had this great post all written. But it disappeared on me when I hit post. Maybe it will show up later...

But I don't feel like typing it all out again. So, the summary is my family (aunt, uncle, parents, Scott) fly out from Omaha at 1:30pm local time today (29th). They'll arrive in Dresden at 4:20pm local time Thursday (30th) afternoon.

Should be a good time for all.

I'll post more if I have time this afternoon, but I think there's actually enough work to keep me busy. And then after today (and a little tomorrow) don't expect much from me in the internet world because I'll be busy with my family. Who, by the way, flies back to the states on Monday morning the 10th of April.

Ross

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Somehow gray is less boring than brown

2006-03-27T10:48:29Z

Original post to be found Here at my Ramblings Blog

(Sidenote to Xanga and LJ users: This post will mean hardly anything to you unless you actually go and look at one of the links at the top or bottom of this post)

So, I wandered over to my blog this morning at work at was meet with an unpleasant surprise. A white screen came up with one line of text saying something about not finding the installation. I was a little bit worried. So, I quickly go over to the admin page that controls the Camp ROCK website upon which my blog is hosted to see if I could see anything wrong. I did this with not too much hope since my knowledge of the software and coding behind this blog aren't exactly areas in which I would claim expertise. I prefer to stick with my html and stay away from scripting. When I arrive on the "manage blog" page I see something that sparks some hope, there's a link saying I should upgrade the software.

And as you may have noticed my blog is indeed functioning again. I'm also tryin out a new theme, the old brown one was getting a little old. I've also added a few emoticons that you can put into comments and have started to add categories to my posts. We'll see how well the category idea holds up. One of these days of nothing to do at work I may even go back and categorize old entries.

So, I officially welcome you to Ross' blog v3.0. The theme may yet change if I can find one I like better, but I believe this one works. I'd like to also note that this is a direct by-product of a web-design itch that was started by my new job and has continued as Gwen and I discuss another makeover of the Camp website.

My parents arrive in a little more than 72 hours. I will hopefully get an actual update up before I leave work on Wednesday but I make no guarantees of updates or proof of my existence between Thursday the 30th of March and Monday the 10th of April.

One unfortunate addition to the blog software is that at the end of the comments box there is a little field where you have to enter in a few numbers to prove you're not a spammer. I've never had a problem with spam comments but there doesn't appear to be a way to easily remove this "feature". Thank you for your understanding.

Ross

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We'll write it down so we don't forget

2006-03-24T15:35:32Z

Original post to be found Here at my Ramblings Blog

So, Amos got on the train at 7:20am this morning (as compared to 7:20pm this morning) on his way to Berlin. He was planning on having a 4 hour stop in Wittenberg in order to check out the famous church doors associated with Martin Luther and any various other "historical" things to be found there. I can only hope and pray that he manages that. His flight leaves at 6:30 or 6:45 tomorrow morning from Berlin and he arrives back in Israel Saturday afternoon.

These goodbyes are getting hard. Back in July it was goodbye to everyone back home. Then after the first two months in Germany it's goodbye to everyone who you've met. Then the crew who came over New Year's, and now Amos. The 10th of April is not going to be any more enjoyable either.

Some of you may be correct if you had postulated that the 10th of April is when my family is going to be leaving Dresden. More immediately though they will be arriving on Thursday the 30th of this month. Which is less than a week away. Kind of weird to realize I've already reached the point of this long-planned and spoken about trip. My parents and brother and my parents are actually heading out on Tuesday to Omaha where they will stay with dad's sister and her husband (who are both coming) and then they fly out early Wednesday afternoon and will arive Thursday afternoon (local time) in Dresden.

In other news it's looking like it might actually be turning into spring here. Highs in the 40's and 50's in the forecast. So my family yet get nice weather during their visit.

Ross

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This time with success

2006-03-21T16:47:22Z

Original post to be found Here at my Ramblings Blog

Okay, Amos was indeed at the airport on Saturday. Sadly, his luggage was as absent as he had been the week before. After making it safely from Tel Aviv, to Rome, and from Rome to Milan it decided to protest the trip to Berlin. To the point of the baggage claim people not even having it registered in the computer. We decided it was a great way to start a trip, well, second thing since our wonderful approach actually started when I went up to Berlin the week before. The positive parts were that it wasn't too cold and that my jackets fit him. Well, fit him well enough anyway. The word stopgap comes to mind. That situation only improved on Sunday with my pastor bringing him a jacket to borrow that was a bit warmer (we're talking highs in the mid 30's to low 40's) a little bit bigger. They we rewarded by the fact that we didn't eat any of the dozen Dunkin' Donuts they had requested we bring back from Berlin.

We've spent a large majority of our time talking about love, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It's been a great time of catching up with each others' lives. And since we're used to not seeing each other but a couple times per year, we know how to play catch-up pretty good.

It's also nice to have these kind of conversations with a peer. You know, the ones where when the other person talks about their life and what's going on with people, school, etc. and the other person understands because in principal it can be very similar to their life. Change the name of a person here, split or combine a couple factors there, but it is a common ground.

I guess that's it for now.

Ross

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