What's A Month Between Friends?

As promised, German is finished and I am officially back in the saddle. Unfortunately, the horse is blind and shaped like the letter "U". Oh well, you get what you pay for, I guess. Coincidentally, today's blog is also brought to you by the letter "U". Weird...

I digress...

There really is no better way to get back into the blogging groove than with one of my patented Bits and Pieces episodes. So, for better or worse, here's what I've done/learned in the past month:

1. One of the greatest epidemics facing America today is mumbling. Mumblers can be found just about anywhere, and you can certainly find them at Ebenezer's. A word to the wise--if you insist on mumbling while placing your order, and I respond by asking you to repeat what you just said, IT MEANS I WANT YOU TO ANNUNCIATE THE SECOND TIME YOU SPEAK. Mumbling a second time will only result in me asking what you just said a second time. We could repeat this little game ad nauseum--I really do have all day--or you could put in a little effort and stop placing your order like a primate. Just a suggestion...

-and I'm just getting warmed up!-

2. The German language is crazy. And not the good kind of crazy either. Oh, German, why must your words have 32 letters? Who came up with verbs that have separable prefixes? Why must you place the verb at the very end of the sentence? And, for that matter, why must you write sentences so long they would make Charles Dickens blush?

3. 2008 has been a good hear for music so far. Death Cab for Cutie, Tapes 'n' Tapes, Sigur Ros and Coldplay all have spectacular new albums, and those are just the big names. A host of other, more obscure bands have made my ears very happy this year--amongst them are: Amber Rubarth, Liam Finn, Headlights and Ghost in the Water.

4. Jess and I like visitors. A lot. Have you come to visit us in DC yet? If not, you are running out of time! ACT NOW!! THIS OFFER CAN'T LAST FOREVER!

5. The best movie I've seen in a long time: Lars and the Real Girl. If you haven't seen it yet, put it to the top of your Netflix queue. You won't be sorry. Hopefully I'll get to post something more extensive about this excellent film in the near future.

6. Movie to skip: Prince Caspian. The film version of the C.S. Lewis's excellent book is flaccid from start to finish. It boggles my mind why the director would have departed so much from the book and created motifs that are alien to Lewis's original story telling.

7. I had the privilege of attending Tim Russert's wake last week; Jess and I met his son and wife while we were there. So incredibly sad... He was one of the good guys in a world filled with blathering pundits. NBC won't be the same without him--he was the best in the business and an irreplaceable voice of reason amid the white noise.

8. Has anyone else noticed that the Twins are only 1 1/2 games out of first place? They're far exceeding my expectations for the year. I can't wait until they open the new stadium in 2010.

9. Speaking of sports, I'm happy for Kevin Garnett. It was good to see him get the monkey off his back; though he was well compensated while in the Twin Cities, dealing with Kevin McHale on a daily basis is its own special kind of hell. Congrats, Big Ticket.

10. (HT: Jessica Banti) Be sure to read this excellent and scathing op-ed piece by Thomas Friedman of the NY Times about the insanity of the Bush administration's current energy policy.

11. I confess that I have been regularly listening to NPR's "This American Life" lately. I'm officially an elitist. God have mercy on me...

12. Two of my favorite people came together in one place last week. Click here to see N.T. Wright's appearance on the Colbert Report.

Well, I best be getting to bed. I'm sure there's more to be said, but it will have to wait another day.

The Lapse Dance

The fact that I kept my blog in the grave for two months after I wrote on The Resurrection is an irony that I assure you has not been lost on me. And, though it has become incredibly cliche to give reasons for not blogging--as if the whole world were depending upon fresh wit from this corner of the internets--I'm afraid I must offer a few.

The primary of these is I just haven't felt like it. I could say that I've been busy, and that would be true. But I haven't been TOO busy. I've probably just been lazy. I think this blogging thing has to happen in seasons, and I was ready to let my blog lie in the tomb for a bit. Fear not, it's Sunday (well, actually, it's Thursday. But we're speaking in metaphors here...and if there's one thing I know about metaphors, its that they're SOOO much more profound when you type twenty five extra words to explain them). So, yeah. Seasons.

I'd like to be back. I've got a lot to say, and some of it might even be interesting...to the three of you who had the patience to wait around for another post. There's some politics, some funny work related happenings, some theology, some sports, some music and some movies. Just more of the beautifully broad range of thought that you've come to expect from this renaissance man and his renaissance blog.

Speaking of that--I still like the name of my blog after 3+ years. That really surprises me. I thought that whole, "I'm pensive, eloquent and misunderstood" thing would have gotten old by now.

Who knew?

So This Is The New Year...

*strums guitar*

"...and I don't feel any different."

Seriously--how else was I going to start my first post of 2008? Besides, Death Cab for Cutie deserve my advertising--and they've got a new album set to release in May of this year.

Lots of other things to say, many of which could fill a post of their own..but who's got the time? So, without further ado, here's another edition of the Speckled Mind's often-imitated but never duplicated "Bits and Pieces."

1. Jess and I celebrated our five year anniversary yesterday. She makes me happy in ways I can't express in words. My speechlessness should be evidence enough of how remarkable a woman she is.
2. Speaking of Jess, she was typing an email the other day that referenced 'Bethel.' The dictionary didn't recognize that word, and in its place suggested she change it to 'Brothel.' This confirms many of the suspicions I had about the undergrad female dress code while I was employed there.
3. I got a lot of comments on my post about meeting Bono. But none of them funnier than this one from Peter:
   

   tim - i don't know you, i'm friends with matt glatzel. but i have to say that meeting bono is cool, even if you did end you post with some of the worst writing bono's ever done. that's the shittiest u2 song ever.
   

   Well, 'Peter whom I don't know', there were a number of U2 song titles that just didn't make the thematic cut. "Where the Streets Have No Name" seemed silly because it happened on the corner of F and 2nd. "Mysterious Ways" was also a bad choice--Bono seemed like a pretty normal guy. "With or Without You" seemed a bit melodramatic for the occasion. "Sunday, Bloody Sunday" would have been odd because the incident happened on a relatively peaceful Friday afternoon. I could go on and on here Peter. The point is that the title fit the theme I was shooting for, regardless of the song's relative 'shittiness' in comparison to others Bono has written.
   
4. Thanks to all who read and commented on my Best of 2007 music blog. I enjoyed all of your comments immensely and appreciated those of you who took time to craft a list of your own. 2007 was a great year for music; I'm looking forward to many new releases in 2008; among them--Anathallo, Death Cab for Cutie, and Counting Crows (first new LP in 6 years!).
5. I really hope the Twins trade Santana soon so I can get on with the rest of my life. Please, please, please don't blow this, Bill Smith. Please.
6. Speaking of Baseball, The first Twins spring training game is less than 8 weeks away. Not that my favorite squad will necessarily be a contender this year. I'm just glad it's gonna be baseball season again soon.
   
7. I bought a new battery for my laptop while I was in Minneapolis. It makes me smile--I went from 12 minutes of battery life to 5 1/2 hours of battery life.
8. Call it 'Tapas,' call it 'Dim Sum' or call it anything else you like. It's a fantastic way to have a meal. We had tapas with some friends tonight in Alexandria at a restaurant called 'La Tosca' and it was sublime.
9. The Daily show and The Colbert Report are coming back with new episodes (minus their writers, of course) on Monday. As luck would have it, Jess and I get comedy central in our apartment for free. It's good that something is free in this city.
10. Congrats to all my recently engaged friends, including Brad and Christine, Chris and Tara, Andrew and Emily, Rob and Mindy. Seems like a good summer for weddings. I *really* appreciate you all waiting until I moved thousands of miles away to plan an event those events...
11. I hope to do a 'New Year's Resolution' blog sometime soon, so I won't pull back the curtain on those just yet.
    

I guess that'll do for now. If you stop by here and read the posts, I'd love to get your feedback. Just say hello if nothing else. It's good to know who's on the receiving end of these blogs.

It's a...nice day to....START AGAIN!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen--Billy Idol.

That might have been a little contrived. But is there really a good way to get back into this after not blogging for almost 4 months? Maybe that's unfair. I didn't blog here for four months. For any of you who missed it and are interested, the blog from our month in Europe can be found here.

There are a host of reasons why I've been absent from this corner of cyberspace, but none of them are particularly blog-worthy. The most important development in all of it is that Jess and I are now living in Washington, DC. It's crazy really. I already have a host of tales to tell, but I'll try to spin them one yarn at a time in the coming days. The most important thing for now is that DC really is a place to, in the words of Mr. Idol, "start again."

Right before I started at the University of Minnesota, one of the orientation speakers told us, "This is one of the few times in your life where you can make a clean break from your past and truly become someone new." It was good advice that caused me to think about the person I was and the person I wanted to become. This week I've felt the gravity of that same opportunity pressing down on me. And, unlike freshman year of college, I'm going to take it seriously this time.

So...I've started exercising. It's been almost a week of running and lifting weights, and tonight was the first time that I felt genuinely energized by the experience. It actually felt good to exercise. I'm also hardwiring study habits and locations--getting into a schedule to ensure that I'm as productive as possible. It's a beautiful thing.

With any luck, I'll be smart and beautiful in a few weeks time.

I guess that's about all for now. I hope I can lure some of my past readers back to me. I promise to make blog writing one of my new areas of concentrated discipline. Should be exciting.

The end?

Well, well, well...

It has been a long time, hasn't it. What exactly is it that keeps a person from blogging? Laziness, I think. At least to start with. Shortly thereafter, pure momentum kicks in and the breakneck force of doing nothing becomes irreversible.

I am truly ashamed, which is a response that a number of people have told me is appropriate. So, if I have any readers left--and it's entirely possible that I don't--here is what you've been half-heartedly waiting for.

This will, of course, be another 'Bits and Pieces' post; this time we'll focus on things that have recently ended or will be ending soon:

1. My blogging hiatus. It was...fun while it lasted? I'll try to be more regular. Do they make blogging prunes?
2. The internet. I found it. It was everything I hoped it would be.
3. My brother's losing streak in the North Suburban Church Softball League. Including last year's playoffs, Hope II had lost 29 consecutive games. Their victory this past weekend was a beautiful, beautiful thing. Was it a coincidence that Steve Treichler DID NOT play in that game?
   
4. Inventory. This has been the major reason (read *excuse*) for my absence from this little corner of the blogosphere. It's not a stretch to say that I would rather have two fingers and one of my earlobes surgically removed than do another year of inventory at the Bethel Campus Store.
5. My employment at the aforementioned establishment. August 3rd will be my last day. And, yes, I am counting them down.
6. My time as the music director at Hope Community Church. July 29th will be my last Sunday. I'm already mourning this. Jess and I will greatly miss Hope in our yearlong absence.
7. The Twins playoff hopes...? I hope I'm wrong on this one, but the signs are NOT good.
   
8. My attention devoted to this task.
9. This blog entry.
   

To Do List

It's been a long time. Almost a month. I know. I'm sorry. I realize many people still check here on a regular basis (most of whom have chided me for my absence) and I owe them at least a minute or two of what passes for entertainment.

I could give excuses. Baseball season started two weeks ago, Easter and Spring Retreat on consecutive weekends. But at best they're just excuses. Blogging really has been on my To Do List, but other things have gotten in the way (not the least of which is a lack of creativity to devote to this task).

Anyway, now that I'm crossing something off of my To Do List, I'd like to add a few things to yours. Here goes, in no particular order.

1. Pray for the students of Virginia Tech University and their families. Words fail...this is absolutely gut-wrenching.
2. If you live in Minnesota (or anywhere else where the earth has finally figured out this global warming thing) get outside and enjoy the weather today.
3. Buy the new Bright Eyes album, Cassadaga. Few people write with the creativity and passion of Conor Oberst. You can get a couple of free samples from the album here and here.
   
4. Read Peter Carlson's blog. I thought I was good at finding great music...until I met Peter. Now I realize that he's more indie than I could ever be, which only intensifies the stereotypical indie rock pout I was already sporting. Seriously though--if you want to find great music--and often get free mp3's, make sure you check out his blog with regularity.
5. As a spin-off of #4--listen to The Prayers & Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers; I found out about them from Peter. I picked bought their 2005 album, The Mother of Love Emulates the Shapes of Cynthia and I doubt I will hear anything more impressive this year. I HIGHLY encourage you to visit their myspace page and listen to a few of the tracks.
6. Cheer for the Twins.
7. Hate the Yankees.

Did I miss anything?

Bits and Pieces

There are a few things I've been meaning to blog about, none of which deserve their own entry. So, here goes:

1. Jessica and I were walking through Barnes and Noble in Duluth this past weekend. As we were about to exit the store, I noticed a table of books marked, "Easter is Coming Soon!" As we approached, I noticed the following books: The Jesus Papers, The Davinci Code, The Gospel of Judas, The Gospel of Mary and Jesus by Marcus Borg. Because apparently the employees of Barnes and Noble feel there is no better way to celebrate a Savior who is alive and well than with a table full of books that deny the historicity of His resurrection.

2. As Jess and I were driving to said book selling establishment, we saw three buildings on the side of the road. The first was a Christian radio station and the third was a Planned Parenthood clinic. In between? A legal firm. It's good to see that irony is alive and well in Duluth.

3. Part (I think) four in our ongoing 'For those about to waste time, I solute you' series is this curious little Russian website. Click on the red square in the middle and move it to avoid both the moving blue squares and the static black border. I've been told that if you can do it for 18 seconds or more you are a genius. I can't best 8 seconds.

Burning Up on Re-entry?

After one has been away for so long, is there really a wrong direction to go?

Maybe so.

I guess this post will be the determining factor.

For those who had the patience to wait out the month I've been away, thank you for still checking in occasionally. This place has more cobwebs than John Kerry's campaign headquarters--a situation I hope to rectify soon. Not Kerry's campaign...I think that's officially dead. I hope to revive this blog by bringing it back to the height of its former greatness..

er...I mean tolerableness

er...ok-ness?

Perhaps I'll just shoot for a pleasant way to waste five of your minutes. You didn't have anything better to do anyway, right? Would you be reading this if you did?

OK. That was all very silly. I will try to be more serious. Here goes: I vow to blog at least twice a week this semester starting now. And by 'vow', of course I mean 'do my best'. And by 'do my best', of course, I mean 'will likely fail at accomplishing but please continue to frequent this corner of the blogosphere anyway'. I hope that is sufficiently clear. If not, clear, at least translucent. If it was opaque, I suggest a hacksaw.

This is what happens when I view a Monty Python clip before 10:00 a.m. At least I'm back, right?

A Week Gone By...

I have been so lazy lately. It's pathetic really. It's not that I haven't had anything to write about...I just haven't managed to discipline myself enough to write in a witty and eloquent manner. Because I'm still not feeling particualrly witty, I'll just share in list form a few of the things on my mind this past week. This is a blog after all. I'm allowed to do that, right? Well, here goes.

1. We had our first week of softball on Sunday evening. Somehow I'm never as talented as I remember being the previous year. Curious. We took one out of two and I batted 'just ok.' If you want to see the team's stats, you can check them out here. What you won't see is my strikeout count. I have a mean underhand spinner, that leaves hitters as clueless as Johan Santana's changeup. Ok, maybe it's not quite that good, but I still struck out 5 batters over the two games.

2. I like the Twins. Even when they suck. Which they haven't lately. Kyle Lohse only gave up one run yesterday. I was surprised. Torii Hunter is on a ten game hitting streak. I like the Twins.

3. The new Snow Patrol album is tasty. Pretty standard rock album, but there's enough in there to keep it high in my playlist. Good riffs, surprisingly intelligent chord progressions and a shoutout to Sufjan Stevens.

'Put Sufjan Stevens on
and we'll play your favorite song
"Chicago" bursts to life and your
sweet smile remembers you...'

Who could ask for more. OH, and it has one of the best digital booklets iTunes has ever seen. It's like 30 pages--most of which are photos of the band in the studio. The rest of the booklet includes explanations about the creative process behind each song. I really dig that kind of stuff.

4. I'd like to continue with my series on Mythology. I have a few ideas, but I don't want to force it. I think it stifles the creative process when I force myself to write on a particular subject. For those of who that have enjoyed it so far, there will be more--I promise. For those who haven't enjoyed it--stop reading my blog and go make me a sandwich.

5. Speaking of Sufjan, I ran across this quote of his and thought it was absolutely stunning.

"On an aesthetic level, faith and art are a dangerous match. Today, they can quickly lead to devotional artifice or didactic crap. This would summarize the Christian publishing world or the Christian music industry. If you are an artist of faith (a Methodist or a Jew), then you have the responsibility to manage the principles of your faith wisely lest they be reduced to stereotype, which is patronizing to the church and to the world, and, perhaps, to God."

Any thoughts on this? Call me a bandwagoner. This guy can do little wrong in my mind.

6. I might change the look of my blog if I can figure out how to do it. I'm not what you would call "Technologically Literate." I'm hardly literate at all. If I do change the template and you like it, let me know. If not--yep, you guessed it--you can go and make me a sandwich.

A Few Random Bits

1. This is really funny, but only because it's a spoof. If it were real...oh wait, it is real and happening all over the country. Shame on you, Joel Osteen. I don't know about you, but I only make that face in the bathroom.

2. Though I've thus far avoided oozing progressive Christian admirational salve about Bono, I just can' t resist. No one else could have walked into the National Prayer Breakfast and said the things that he did. I could almost hear James Dobson fuming in the background--after all, he didn't use the words "homosexual agenda" even once when describing our countries greatest needs.

3. The Twins need a new stadium. The possibility of the Twins playing in Portland, North Carolina, or *gasp* Vegas in 2007 was almost enough to make me lost control of my bladder and emotions this morning. Just imagine how much trouble Lew Ford would get into in Sin City. Scary to think about. Keep our Twins here!! I'm talking to you, Pawlenty. Don't screw this up.

4. I watched an R-rated movie with a bunch of swearing and "sexual situations" in it last night. Guess where? That's right, in a seminary class. Of course, it was a class bout culture and ministry...so I can see...where that makes sense? It fit right in with the books we're reading about Black and Hispanic churches... I can't help but feeling something's amiss.

Life seems to be getting weirder by the day.