Early Sunday

It's funny how a person has intentions to do something but either doesn't follow through or just doesn't have the ability to follow through with those intentions. I fit into both of those categories.

Traveling to Germany was great! It's a country I've never been to, I got to hang out with two buddies, meet new people and see new things. I had every intention of blogging the whole way, while sharing my thoughts with the ones who happen to read my blog over here. None of that happened. I blogged once.

It wasn't a matter of not wanting to, because I did, but mostly a matter of actually doing it when I had the ability to do it. In all actuality, I only had the ability, maybe, half the time I was there, if that. But, when I did have the ability, it was usually spent catching up on what was happening over here in the States.

So, I'm going to share a bit of the trip now...

This is at the Topography of Terror, which is the site where Hitler's SS headquarters was located. They're currently building a museum on that site now. Also, you can see the wall behind me. That's part of the remaining Berlin Wall.


Check Point Charlie - This was something that I didn't really know anything about. Well, pretty much anything concerning the Berlin Wall, I didn't know about. Shawn is a genius at history, so he filled me in on a lot. Plus, the Check Point Charlie Museum was pretty interesting. (I can only do so many museums, but this one was pretty cool.)


This is the Brandenburg Gate. This was really cool just to look at. I don't know much about it, but still, really fun to see. I'll have to do some research on this one. Tons of beggars hang out down here asking Americans for money.


The Sony Center was awesome! This was by far the best/biggest movie theater I've ever seen or been to. We watched 2012. This picture was just outside of the Sony Center. I would have gotten one of the front of the Sony Center but it didn't look quite as cool. You can see the dome in the background? That's the top of the Sony Center.


The front gate to the German Concentration Camp - Sachsenhausen. Pretty self explanatory; however, I learned a lot about other things that happened in concentration camps that I was unaware of. For instance, Hitler used this camp and its inmates to make counterfeit money so they could buy goods from Britain to finance their Nazi cause.


This is the wine country we visited toward the end of our trip. Beautiful country.


Here's something I think we all could have eaten. Unfortunately, they were closed but they did let us take a look at the biggest cake in the area.


This was the first site of the trip for Shawn and I: Heidelberg Castle. Pretty interesting. It's from back in the early 1200's.


Here's a classic picture... Louie asking for directions in Prum one afternoon while taking a walk.


Here's a picture of the typical Frankfurt that I saw. Great place. Very diverse.


I had fun with these two dudes. It was one of those trips that you remember forever but hope you get to do again some time.

If I only remember a few things, it will be this: 1)"Nachte Station," which is "next station" and 2) you can't always trust a GPS.

I had a great time.

Ich Bin Ein Berliner
-JFK

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Here's a verse I've been going back to lately. Romans 14:17, 18 - "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God."

It's something to think about...

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Another author that is a good, easy read is Brad Thor. I just finished his second book, Path of the Assassin.

Just arrived

It’s beautiful here. Raining, but it’s beautiful.

The flight was long with not a whole lot of sleeping for Shawnly and I. Louie on the other hand, well, it sounds like he did it right. Seven hours or so for him I think he said.

Shawnly and I just got to Steve’s house, which is where Shawn is staying. I’m waiting to go to Tobias’s house tonight, which is across town from what I hear.


We made some lunch. I’m not even going to try and say or spell what we ate because I’ll butcher it. It was great though. Tasted like ham.

Shawn is getting some much needed ZZZ’s that he’s been lacking. I think he’s been awake for close to 48 hours with about two hours of sleep. Me, on the other hand, I tried and for some reason couldn’t sleep.
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This morning I looked out the window of the plane and saw nothing but clouds for miles. It was amazing. The GPS on my TV screen told me we were roughly over New Castle, England. For some reason it made me think of my parents and want to praise the way they raised me.

They did it right. What I mean is this… One of a parent’s job is to provide their children with opportunities to be able to be better, get farther ahead and do more in life, i.e., go to college, get a higher paying job, etc… It really made me want to thank my parents for providing me the opportunity to go to college and make the money to be able to do this kind of stuff. I don’t think my parents have ever had these opportunities. But that’s the goal. Making the next generation a little better, providing just a little more opportunity.

Thanks Mom & Dad.
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I watched a couple movies today while flying. The Proposal and the Soloist. I’d already seen the Proposal, which I thought was hilarious, but I thought the Soloist was great. Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Fox. Great!

The show really got me thinking about passion. I think passion is great. Robert Downey Jr. talks about Jamie Fox's character in the movie as someone who has a passion for music. All the guy can think about is Mozart and Beethoven. He lives it and it becomes inspiring to Robert Downey Jr.

I wondered if I was passionate about anything. (This is a topic that comes to mind quite often.) I believe I am. Unfortunately, I sometimes feel that the passion is turned around on me and it becomes obsession. Literally! I like passion but not obsession. To me obsession is not healthy and obviously, I know myself so I see the unhealthiness behind it.

I want my life to be full of passion. Whatever it may be, I want to live life passionately.

Dictionary.com says this...
Passion
1. any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling, as love or hate.
2. strong amorous feeling or desire; love; ardor.

I'll leave out #3. I wouldn't know about that anyway!

Sunday afternoon

So, here's how it's played out so far:

I came home and made a london broil, which was supposed to be eaten by more than just me, but circumstances hindered that one. It was pretty dang good though. Once I finished, I sat down to read chapters 9 & 10 of Blue Like Jazz,. Unfortunately, only three pages were conquered before the eyes wouldn't allow me to go any further. A great nap followed that. Now, it's between the remainder of a soccer game in the current 46 degree weather or sit here, under a blanket, feet up and blog. (Obviously, if you're reading this, you can see I went with the latter).

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I like serious conversations. The ones that help me figure out difficult questions about life that maybe I'm curious about or I just want to know others opinions, even though I don't necessarily agree with them. They help me form my own opinion, help me to understand another opinion so I can understand where they are coming from, or lastly, help me to understand both sides of an issue and be able to help someone else make an informed decision on their own.

Anyway, I had that opportunity last night with some friends and older men I look up to. It's great to find people that can be real with me. Dealing with life issues is something that is difficult at times and when people come forward and walk through those issues/questions with you, it's freeing. I appreciated last night.

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I was thinking about hearing God's voice this morning. I wondered what He was saying to me lately.

There's no follow-up on my part. That's what I'm feeling. I'm not doing my part.

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UNR vs. UNLV yesterday. Into the 4th quarter, I thought UNLV had a chance. They kept answering with a touchdown following a UNR touchdown. I guess you can only answer so many times. Eventually, it was a slaying, a 63-28 slaying. A good one at that. I love seeing "the Blue" take out "the Red." The Fremont Cannon remains.

Monday thoughts

I've never used drugs. I've never had the desire. But I understand why people use them. Unfortunately, they serve a purpose. They make you feel better, supposedly.

I understand what it's like to crave relief. To need something to heal the hurt. Complete desperation to feel some sort of comfort.

People just want to feel okay. That's what they do. Bring comfort, excitement, relief. Only for a short time, then they entice you and choke you, tear away all that is important.

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"Sometimes the thing we want most in life are the things that will kill us."

-Donald Miller, Blue Like Jazz

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I think about what I tell my probationers everyday - "do the right thing." I believe in it, to my core!

I think and try to apply what it really means. It's hard to do. Not only that, but you offend people by doing it. It's almost bothersome to some. When one lives by and is true to it, it bugs people. You definitely make a statement.

Are people really ready for it? Is it what people really want out of you?

Thursday

I'm not really a fisherman. I used to be pretty good at it but I'm not really any more. I got out of it during college and never started again, except once in a while. New hobbies I guess.

This was my bro's birthday present. My boss agreed to take me and my bro fishing. We had a blast. My boss is pretty entertaining so when you get him and my bro together, you've got a pair.

It started early this morning. 3:45 am to be precise. It was a little chilly this morning but a great sunrise and early morning ride from Cave Rock to the Incline area made it all worth it.

Shortly after, I donated my sunglasses (prescription glasses, that is) to the bottom of Lake Tahoe. There are worse things in this world but I wasn't exactly happy this happened. Oh well! I could use a new pair.

I caught the two biggest fish of my lifetime: 5 & 7 lb's. We brought in a total of 12 to the boat. I lost two while reeling in, my bro missed three, setting the hook and the boss missed two, while setting the hook. 19 possible fish today. Huge day of fishing! That's what it's all about. The boss-man usually gives us a good day.

It was a great day for my bro. I'm pretty sure he had fun. I know I did.

Happy birthday bro & thanks boss!

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ESPN Radio on the iPhone! This is going to be, quite possibly, the best application I have once I get to really use it.

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I like this time of year. New season's of The Big Bang Theory, Gary Unmarried, NCIS & Numb3rs. There are others too but those are my fave's. Oh, and college football. I can't forget that.

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Nevada vs. Missouri tomorrow. I've never seen a Big 12 team play before. I'm stoked. I'd really like to see Nevada hang in there, I'm just not too sure it's going to happen. They're having a rough year.

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96% of people put the peanut butter on first when making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

The human heart can create enough pressure that it can squirt blood at a distance of thirty feet.

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Coors Light has always been my beer of choice. I think I'm changing it, at least for now. I think I'm becoming a Bud Light man. It just does it for me!

Friday

Today was a day of sitting around. I wanted to do something and go somewhere, but I didn't.

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I think I'm on 15 episodes so far today. The Big Bang Theory (season two) is Awesome!

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I'm reading Donald Miller's, Blue Like Jazz, again. Great book!

Chapter 1 highlight:

"Perhaps it was because my Sunday school classes did much to help us memorize commandments and little to teach us who God was and how to relate to Him, or perhaps it was because they did and I wasn't listening."


Chapter 2 highlight:

"Nothing is going to change...until you and I figure out what is wrong with the person in the mirror."

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Other recent thoughts...
1) who am I
2) what do I believe
3) confidence
4) trust

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Nicole and I are going to Johnny's game tonight. I'm excited! Live football, get to watch someone I know; it'll be great!

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I recently received mine & Nicole's season tickets to Nevada Football. Next week is the home opener. It's gonna be great! Tickets are on the 20 yard line. We've already checked them out at the stadium.

Unfortunately, we just forked out a chunk of $$$$ for the upcoming Nevada Basketball season. Those seats are definitely nowhere near as good as our 20 yard line seats. They're 4 rows from the top of Lawlor Events Center. But, they're ours and I love having them.

Thursday around noon

Chicken & Homestyle Noodle, Hearty Chicken & Rotini and Clam Chowder soup: all three soups that I've consumed in the last few days. I don't know what it is, but soup is just doing it for me right now.

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I've been thinking about what I've been thinking today(?):
- helpless looking lady and B&N (what's it like being in her shoes, does she have friends, is she okay with who she is, does she like who she is, do people verbally or physically abuse her?)
- food thoughts (why do foods fill desires one day and not the next)
- why soup this week when it's normally tacos or peanut butter and chocolate chips?
- Dan Patrick show (what is it like to be him, what he see's and experiences because of who he is, how did he get where he is, how does he get his insight)
- emotions (why am I emotional w/ certain things, is it normal, I can't change how I feel inside)

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Secret Access: Air Force One. That's the documentary I'm watching right now. There's a lot of work put in to the Presidency. A lot of pride from the Air Force behind it. It's actually really interesting.

I remember seeing AF1 when President George W. Bush was in Reno. It was leaving the Reno Tahoe International Airport. It was an amazing site. I saw it from the freeway. It was that big. Then I pulled off to Mill Street just to watch it take off. Huge, absolutely huge! I don't know if it was just because it was AF1 or if it was just something I've never seen before but it was cool.

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I've been thinking how I can make some extra $. I don't want to put too much time/effort into it. I don't need the $. I'm just thinking how I can do it with what I already have.