We Are The Champions

Well, the Eurovision contest is now over, and I should have been a betting man. While I only picked three of the top ten songs, I did call the winner when I said, "going against the poppy sound could give the win to the Finn." To give those who don't click away from this page an idea of what I meant, here is a photo from the press interview of the winning band.

So today I raise my Finnish flag high and yell out the only Finnish my grandmother passed on to me, "rakastan sua Joulupukki"

Currently listening to: Mitch McVicker -

The Property of Jesus

So Friday night rolled around, and I kicked it off by cleaning my apartment. Gave the place a thorough scrub down, to the point that the phrase, "I could eat off that," passed through my head.

Luckily for me, I was going out with a couple friends for a late dinner. We had decided to check out a place rumored to have decent hamburgers. During our time out we encountered a fellow foreigner who was curious why three guys were not drinking alcohol on a Friday night. We explained a little about where we worked, and that we all made agreements when we were hired that we would not consume alcohol. As he walked away he exclaimed, "Jesus, who is your recruiter?" I quickly said to my friends, "I guess in some ways, Jesus was my recruiter."

Thanks folks, I'll be here all week. Try the chicken.

Currently drinking:

Ease On Down The Road

This week's theme at Photo Friday is "The Road." Here is one of my favorite road photos. It was taken in the Philippines two years ago.



Currently listening to: Moby -

Gimmie Something To Write On

That's tricky I said
Answering my friend's question
I'm not sure myself.

They should have been warned
Against left handed swordsmen
And gals with tent pegs.

Just how long until
The point of embarrassment
Mentioned in this verse?

Oh Jephthah's daughter
He made a vow to the Lord
That cost you your life.

Might pass on this film
Not on religious beliefs
But on bad reviews.

Two bitter rivals
In a neutral loving land
Riots on the pitch.

Chicken or mutton
The only dinner choices
At the restaurant.

Currently listening to: Moby -

Sing, Sing A Song

It is almost time for one of the biggest competitions to begin, and the excitement is in the air. No, I'm not talking about the World Cup, but the Eurovision Song Contest. This will be the fiftieth year that the countries of Europe have sent some of their finest musicians to compete for this annual battle of the bands. Previous winners include Abba, Celine Dion, and Katrina and the Waves. During my seven years of life in Europe, I became a big fan of the event, and was excited when I discovered that it was this weekend. So excited I stayed up way too late watching the videos of the song entries.

I now give you my picks for the top ten songs:
1. Germany - lighthearted country music from the people who brought us Rammstein.
2. Finland - going against the poppy sound could give the win to the Finn.
3. Malta - Could this be the Richard Marx of poppy music? The video says yes.
4. Romania - I think the video caught me, and the Erasure sound.
5. Switzerland - It is like S-Club 7 from the Alps.
6. United Kingdom - The song is catchy and kitsch enough to win
7. Ireland - One of the more thoughtful songs
8. FYR Macedonia - A catchy song, and if only males are voting this has a shot.
9. Slovenia - He pulls off a fauxhawk. Plus this video makes me smile.
10. Netherlands - Don't be afraid to turn up the Treble.

While Israel and Cyprus might have a chance, they lost my vote by bringing in Americans to compete. Cyprus loses extra points for bringing in a former backup singer for Britney Spears. She also cowrote "Everytime," giving me another reason to send my vote to a possible former Russian republic.

I will be shocked, flabbergasted, taken back, bewildered, dumbfounded, and lose any remaining faith in human reasoning and logic if these even make the top twenty:
1. Iceland - I'm still have forgiven them for giving us Bjork. This now means war.
2. Croatia - I have no words.
3. Lithuania - I feel the need to vote for them to be the winners... of the loser bracket.

So give all those videos a listen and let me know who you are rooting for.

Oh, and before you leave that site, be sure to check out the video for Dschinghis Khan, in the 1970-1979 section. You can thank me later.

Currently listening to: Some of those tunes still floating around my head.

Till I Go The Distance

Sometimes in this life we need more Godly persistence
As it will help make this more than a vain subsistence
And give purpose to this ever challenging existence.
Remember that when in this life you face resistance
Or feel ever beaten down by the world's insistence,
That is not a sign of weakness to ask for assistance
To help you carry on this path and go the distance.



This was such a good poem, I didn't want to break any consistence
But I got traditions to keep, so is this Rockwell's piece de resistance?

Currently listening to: Over The Rhine -

Mom Could Make A Gourmet Meal

Well, it is Mother's Day, and I'm too cheap to send flowers internationally. So being the nerdy one of the family, I thought I would put up a little tribute to the lady I know as mom.
From what I have been told, over thirty years ago she took a chance. She was told her second child would be mentally disabled and would not be able to take care of himself. The doctor recommended ending the pregnancy, but she didn't even consider it an option. Months later a little redheaded child appeared to the world, and proved that doctor wrong. (Although if I lived by his expectations, tying my shoes in the morning is a great accomplishment. I could stop there, and have a great day.!)
Skip ahead a few years, she and her family are on vacation. She decides to take her child on the rope swing, as she had done many times before. While swinging that day the rope decides to break, sending mother and child to the ground. She was the only one injured in the fall. (Although I still use the excuse that I was dropped as a child when needed.)
Those that know her, know that you can take the girl off the farm, but not the farm out of the girl. She brought her hard work ethic with her when a hot shot from Chicago swept her off the farm. She has worked at several banks, a city utility office, the local A&W, a feed store (where word was she could carry heavier bags of grain than some of the male employees), and even ran a semi-truck elevator. She currently works crazy hours at a bakery. Luckily she has passed down some of that work ethic to her kids... although I think she also passed down the desire for odd and random jobs too.

I know it wasn't easy for her when this nomad left years ago for a summer in Ireland. It was tougher when I took off for what I thought was going to be two years in Germany. And I don't think she ever expected I'd end up in Asia. But I still remember the words of my parents when they told me they raised me to be independent and wanted us to be happy in what we did. They knew God was leading me in this direction and were proud that I was following. If she (and dad) didn't do such a good job of raising me, I still would be living in their basement.

I could fill pages telling stories of a woman people on several continents call Eleanor or Elle, yet I still call mom. I could also probably get in trouble for putting up more photos of her through years. So I guess I will end this post with a funny note I got from my mom. It was on a bag of Musli she sent me in a care package. It says, "To Ryan: From IKEA 11/27/05 You can take out the raisins if you don't like."
You gotta love a mom who allows you to be a picky eater, even when you are half a world away and in your thirties.

So mom, if you are reading this... Thank you for all you did to help raise me right. Thank you for being supportive of my vagabond lifestyle. Thank you for being a Godly example of caring for others before yourself. Thank you for providing a place I know I can always return to. Thank you. You are appreciated and loved.

Currently listening to: Danny Plett - (one of my mom's favorite albums)