The Naked Chocolate Cafe
Mani Pedis
A Full Plate Cafe
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Goodbye Kata
After 3 months working as a travel nurse in Philadelphia Kata is headed back to Minnesota. Ben and I really enjoyed having her so close. Here are a few of our favorite things we did before she headed out.
The Naked Chocolate Cafe
Mani Pedis
A Full Plate Cafe
The Naked Chocolate Cafe
Mani Pedis
A Full Plate Cafe
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Sunday, January 13, 2008
On Terrible Life Choices
What does one do in grad school?
Why take classes of course. This semester will see Ben take three courses at Temple, one at Princeton Seminary, and two private reading courses with profs. So, if you must call us for a chat,by George, call Toni! BTW, the classes are pretty interesting this spring: Cold War and Destalinization, International, Transnational, and Globalization History, 20th Century US History, and the Search for a Christian Nation (Religion and Politics). Each has a reading list of about twenty books and 10,000 words of writing. Someone once told me, "Grad students aren't bad people, they just make terrible life choices." Life couldn't be better.
Why take classes of course. This semester will see Ben take three courses at Temple, one at Princeton Seminary, and two private reading courses with profs. So, if you must call us for a chat,by George, call Toni! BTW, the classes are pretty interesting this spring: Cold War and Destalinization, International, Transnational, and Globalization History, 20th Century US History, and the Search for a Christian Nation (Religion and Politics). Each has a reading list of about twenty books and 10,000 words of writing. Someone once told me, "Grad students aren't bad people, they just make terrible life choices." Life couldn't be better.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Auntie and Uncle's First Christmas
We were blessed a wonderful family Christmas this year. It was even better than usual because we spent twelve days in Minnesota--suddenly a term of endearment--without stepping into one movie theater or shopping mall. Gasp!
We'd like to believe our anti-commerical Christmas came to place because of our oh-so-very spirited anti-Nintendo-Wiiness (lie), but upon further reflection, it occurred because of two very busy additions, or rather, replacement entertainment--newborn Ethan and baby Elise. We think the world would be a better place with more of these fun little tots slowing down the fast paced holiday season, and we're thankful that Ben's older sister Sara and brother John followed Shakespeare's dictum, "the world must be peopled." That said, we are grateful that we still get to sleep through the night.
McLaren/Bergstrom/Adams/Brandenburg Families
In 2008, we're back in Philadelphia/Camden gearing up for the academic dash and resting up after our marathon drive from Minnesota. Our usual half-day trip back to the east turned into a 24 hour Le Mans race complete with six inches of snow on the Cleveland interstate. What's wrong with those people? Someone call Drew Carey.
Brandenburg/Muhr Families
If you bump into Ben, he's made the overly ambitious resolution to do one push-up everyday and needs all the encouragement in the world! Happy New Year's to you all. Ein glückliches neues Jahr and a Gott Nytt År to you all!
We'd like to believe our anti-commerical Christmas came to place because of our oh-so-very spirited anti-Nintendo-Wiiness (lie), but upon further reflection, it occurred because of two very busy additions, or rather, replacement entertainment--newborn Ethan and baby Elise. We think the world would be a better place with more of these fun little tots slowing down the fast paced holiday season, and we're thankful that Ben's older sister Sara and brother John followed Shakespeare's dictum, "the world must be peopled." That said, we are grateful that we still get to sleep through the night.
McLaren/Bergstrom/Adams/Brandenburg Families
In 2008, we're back in Philadelphia/Camden gearing up for the academic dash and resting up after our marathon drive from Minnesota. Our usual half-day trip back to the east turned into a 24 hour Le Mans race complete with six inches of snow on the Cleveland interstate. What's wrong with those people? Someone call Drew Carey.
Brandenburg/Muhr Families
If you bump into Ben, he's made the overly ambitious resolution to do one push-up everyday and needs all the encouragement in the world! Happy New Year's to you all. Ein glückliches neues Jahr and a Gott Nytt År to you all!
Friday, December 21, 2007
3 Years!
Last night Ben and I celebrated three years of marriage with a scrumptious seafood grill meal at Devon in Philly's Rittenhouse Square. After a romantic dinner and a brisk walk through the old park, which coincidentally reminded us of our Saint Paul, MN wedding reception on Rice park, we headed to the historic Ritz theater for the arts. It was a perfect night.
Merry Christmas!
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
BENS HISTORY CORNER
BBB Rated: 2007 Landmarks in American History and Religion
For the second straight year this project (read Ben’s favorite books) serves the personal purposes of a PhD history student whose intellectual interests—U.S. relations with the world and modern American religion (especially that of evangelical conviction)—are shared by a whopping .03% of the general population. This year I actually got around to reading these books, unlike my 2006 list. Once again, BBB Rated marks my nominal contribution to the chattering types who happen to think about religion and history on at least a bimonthly basis.
A Secular Age
Charles Taylor (Harvard)
Faith in the Halls of Power: How Evangelicals Joined the American Elite
D. Michael Lindsay (Oxford)
Henry Kissinger and the American Century
Jeremi Suri (Harvard)
The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible
A.J. Jacobs (Simon & Schuster)
The Language of God: 'A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief.
Francis S. Collins (Free Press)
Christianity's Dangerous Idea: The Protestant Revolution, a History.
Alister McGrath (HarperOne)
Aimee Semple McPherson and the Resurrection of Christian America.
Matthew Avery Sutton (Harvard)
Providence and the Invention of the United States, 1607-1865.
Nicholas Guyatt (Cambridge)
The End of Memory: Remembering Rightly in a Violent World
Miroslav Volf (Eerdmans)
BBB Rated: 2007 Landmarks in American History and Religion
For the second straight year this project (read Ben’s favorite books) serves the personal purposes of a PhD history student whose intellectual interests—U.S. relations with the world and modern American religion (especially that of evangelical conviction)—are shared by a whopping .03% of the general population. This year I actually got around to reading these books, unlike my 2006 list. Once again, BBB Rated marks my nominal contribution to the chattering types who happen to think about religion and history on at least a bimonthly basis.
A Secular Age
Charles Taylor (Harvard)
Faith in the Halls of Power: How Evangelicals Joined the American Elite
D. Michael Lindsay (Oxford)
Henry Kissinger and the American Century
Jeremi Suri (Harvard)
The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible
A.J. Jacobs (Simon & Schuster)
The Language of God: 'A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief.
Francis S. Collins (Free Press)
Christianity's Dangerous Idea: The Protestant Revolution, a History.
Alister McGrath (HarperOne)
Aimee Semple McPherson and the Resurrection of Christian America.
Matthew Avery Sutton (Harvard)
Providence and the Invention of the United States, 1607-1865.
Nicholas Guyatt (Cambridge)
The End of Memory: Remembering Rightly in a Violent World
Miroslav Volf (Eerdmans)
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Flyers Game!
Tonight Kata received some complimentary tickets for a Flyers Hockey game from a co-worker who has season tickets. I was the lucky one she chose to bring along with her.
The game started at 7:00 and Kata got off work about 7:45. By the time we made it to the game it was 8:30...just in time for the 3rd period.
The most exciting part was that they were playing the good old Minnesota North Stars (now in Dallas:)
Even though we were able to be there for only one period it was still a blast! Especially with the VIP parking in front of the Wachovia Center. It made our short time at the game much longer:)
Thankful for the tickets!
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