FridayQ's: Foreign Places and Lovely Spaces

Michael has been doing this meme for a little while, and I thought I might give it a try, doing the past two weeks worth in reverse order. The first one is on foreign countries, the second on romance. If you'd like to answer the questions as well, feel free to do so in the comments.

FQ1: What's your native language? Do you speak any foreign languages? If so, how did you come to learn them?
English. I'm working on Koine Greek, presently, although the my main goal is to be good at reading it, not speaking it (who exactly am I going to speak it to?). This is my second time around with Greek, previously through books, now via a Greek instructor. As I've said before, I probably should learn Spanish someday soon.

I have friends and acquaintances who speak the following languages as their native tongues (in order of frequency that I converse with them): Romanian, Spanish, German and Swedish. If I was really good at languages, or at least had lots of spare time, I think I would try to learn all of the above; I feel bad that I know at least one person from each of the above language groups who probably speaks better English than I do, yet I cannot say one iota back to them in their native language or even another language native to neither of us (unless I time travel back to meet the apostles and greet them in Koine Greek).

FQ2: What's your native country? Have you visited any foreign countries? If so, which ones?
The good old US of A. I have not been outside of its borders; I was suppose to go on a trip a few years back, but a family emergency canceled that and other opportunities have not arisen.

FQ3: Are there any foreign foods, books, movies, or other items that you are particularly fond of? Name some of your favorites.
Foods, yes, most definitely. Probably my favorite foreign food would be Mexican, although I'll admit that I'd generally prefer the Americanized versions at Taco Bell over authentic Mexican food (not that I don't like the latter). Next would be Italian; I love finding a restaurant still owned by an Italian family and ordering a pizza from it. Chinese would probably be next; I really like egg rolls and broccoli chicken fried rice, among other things. I like a lot of German foods too, but I'm not sure how Americanized what I've eaten has been.

Books… well, I guess I have a number of books I like that are from outside the U.S. I mean, technically C.S. Lewis is a foreign writer, but I don't generally think about him like that. If we are going to do translated works, I'll say Jorge Luis Borges's writings, off the top of my head. Or does Dante count?

I'm not a big movie buff in general, so foreign movies aren't a big deal for me. I barely see any domestic movies! What else do I like foreign? Hmm… well, I like German cars (well, Japanese ones are nice too). I had some good chocolates from Austria a few years back as well. I'm not sure, perhaps it is too late at night for me to think of these types of things.

FQ NATIVE: If you had to trade your nationality for that of any foreign country, which would you choose and why?

Sheesh. I'm not sure. For practical reasons, I would choose a first world country. I dunno — maybe I'd “become” German, Italian, Switzerland, Sweden or something like that if I am imagining myself being a native of someplace else. If I was going for something a little different, maybe I'd pick Greece, Israel, Japan or Romania. Now, if I we are talking about yours truly expatriating and going somewhere else, I'd pragmatically pick someplace where I could actually communicate easily, which would give me the U.K., Australia, Canada and Ireland. Of those, I'd probably pick Canada or the U.K.

Last Week's FridayQ: Romance
FQ1: What music puts you in the mood for romance?
Not having ever had a “romance,” I guess I cannot say exactly. To me, though, I'd say that I think cordoning off romance into a particular area is rather foolish; it isn't what you are listening to, but who you're with, right? Admittedly, perhaps some music would be a bad choice, but if you love someone, I think all music would seem romantic in her presence.

FQ2: Where is the perfect place for romancing someone?
Similar to what I said above. I suppose I would think some place quiet that is well suited to talking. Perhaps someplace scenic. But, I do not think that need be necessary. I don't like the idea of “romancing” someone though — it sounds too much like a premeditated attempt at selling one's self. Call me idealistic or a hopeless romantic (pun intended), but I think a relationship ought to be formed simply because two people who enjoy each other's company, and are of opposite sexes, find themselves moving from friendship to mutual love. I have no doubt that this is naive, but still…

FQ3: What kind of foods get you feeling romantic?
Well, ditto what I've already said. I would think whatever food it was that one ate frequently with the beloved.

FQ LOVER: How would somebody go about winning your heart?
Just being herself. If she was kind, interesting to talk to and had a good sense of humor, that would go a long way to it. I think ideally, that person would have a lot of the same interests, but enough different ones that we both could have things to talk about in common and things to share that were not. In other words, not one particular action, but just the general way of being is important; this is a gradual process. Can you see a theme here in my answers?

I'll be honest here; I've had one person win my heart — I'm quite sure inadvertently on her part — so this is not idle speculation on this last question. Of course, the problem is reciprocating by winning hers… if that ever happens, it will only be by grace God chooses to grant me, for I am dubious about whether it could ever occur from what I say and do, and it certainly is not aided at all by my appearance.

The Second Questioning

A fellow Timothy who also happens to live in my neck of the woods gave me the following excellent questions to answer as part of the Interview Game. I now “owe” interviews to seven people. Would you like to be interviewed and receive your own question set of five questions? If so, please say so in the comments. You can see my answers to the last round of the game, here. Without further ado…

1) When and how did you become a Christian?
I became a Christian when I was 14. I grew up in a Christian family, although I had adopted a Pluralist viewpoint and really didn't “get” the Gospel. I equated good deeds with admission to heaven and therefore doubted my own eternal destination at times (the realization that I wasn't “mostly good” was probably one of the few orthodox ideas I had at the time).

I did not want to go to Confirmation, but my mother insisted, and that is where I first really came to an understanding of the Gospel. Within the first few weeks of the program, the students were asked if they had been “born again.” I didn't understand what they were talking about. But, I did soon learn what this meant, and shortly thereafter I prayed to ask Jesus into my heart. Over the years, there have been times that I felt like I've slipped away a bit from that initial plunge, and at those times I've prayed to recommit myself to Christ, but that time during confirmation is definitely when I would pick out as when I was “saved.” (Note: I do affirm the believe in the perseverance of the saints, so I do not believe I ever backslid out of my faith, but I still do see the value in renewing my commitment to Christ at times.)

Like many people I've talked to who grew up in a church but were theologically off-base, I did not have a dramatic conversion experience that makes for a “great testimony.” Much of the process was a gradual change rather than one experience I can point to. I'm not sure one could really have discerned a difference in me on the day before I prayed the sinners prayer and the day after, but God has slowly molded me into a much different person than I was before.

2) What tools do you use for blogging and why do you think they are better than other tools available to do the job?

I use my own blogging tool, known as SAFARI 2, which I hope to release under a Free Software license at some point. It does not have a lot of distinct advantages for blogging, but I have spent a lot of time trying to shoot for efficiency concerning database querying with an eye to making this a tool that can hold up to Slashdotting-like loads of traffic (and therefore, be usable for my company's online publication, OfB). I've also tried to avoid some of the mistakes in WordPress that makes it easy for spammers to post spam, added a “forum-like” view of comment activity and I am working on a new system of categorizing posts that I think will be advantageous for proper archiving of old content.

3) What hobbies do you have that have not yet made an appearance in your blog?

Hobbies that haven't appeared on my blog? I think now that I'm entering into my fourth year of blogging, I've pretty much touched on all of my hobbies at one point or another. Let's just go over a quick list of my hobbies, eh?

• Theology and Philosophy — primarily theology, but that's only because I've lacked the time to immerse myself in both to the same extent. I love these two fields perhaps too much though — they both should be the means, the windows, to the truth of God, not the end itself. Right now, I'm on a Karl Barth kick (who was repeatedly recommended to me by my professor Dr. Meyers over the past few years). Next up is a book on the “historical Jesus,” pitting evangelical N.T. Wright against Jesus Seminar scholar Marcus Borg.
• Politics — I enjoy political theory almost as much as the above mentioned subjects of philosophy and theology. Yes, I like abstract subjects that aren't suppose to be discussed in polite company. So sue me.
• Other readings — I do a lot of reading on the topics above, but I also enjoy good fiction, be it literature (Go Aeschylus!) or a modern novel, such as the Da Vinci Code.
• Creative writing — I'm the better part of 20 sonnets into my first sonnet sequence. I've written a bunch of haiku and one tanka, one villanelle, and various other poetry, some of which is posted here. I also have a novel and a play in progress at the moment.
• Photography — I love playing around with my camera, and it shows. I have over 10,000 digital photos in my iPhoto album.

Notice the conspicuous absence of computer related hobbies. I'm burnt out on computers at the moment, so they've been banned from the list. In reality, this really is the case: these days computers the things I work on as a job and I simply don't find it all that amusing fighting with them “after hours” anymore.

4) What one blog do you read on a regular basis that people who read your blog might be surprised about?

I may be proving rather unexciting now. There are only a handful of blogs I read that are not presently in my blogroll. Yours, Sparkle, Mysterium Tremendum (to which I add: et fascinans!), Celerate, the Book of Confusion…

5) If I had responded last time you did the Interview meme, what would have been one of your five questions?

“What would you say are the most surprising similarities and differences of living in the U.K. and St. Charles County, Missouri?”

Sunday Brunch: These United States

1) What state were you born in?
The show-me state, Missouri.

2) What state do you currently live in?
Missouri. As Christopher said, “this is going to be a boring brunch.”

3) How many states have you been in? (and yes, driving through counts!)
Eight states, ordered by how frequently I've been there: Missouri (obviously), Illinois (not much more surprising), Arkansas (see a pattern here?), Indiana, Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa. I need to travel some, one of these days — I'm in sad shape, I was suppose to travel out of the country a few years back, but that fell through due to a family medical situation, so I've been to eight states and exactly one nation (if you need me to tell you which one, you didn't read this paragraph very closely).

4) If you had your choice regardless of cost, which of the 50 states would you choose to live in?
I love Missouri, and while I haven't traveled extensively, based on the factors I can come up with either based on experience or what I know about places, I don't have a big desire to move anywhere else in the States. I wouldn't mind heading to Southern Missouri, though; the Ozarks are just beautiful. Springfield might be an ideal town for me, not to big but not too small either.

I wouldn't object to living on the western border of Illinois either, but I wouldn't want to live in the middle part of the state — it is too flat. Alton is a nice town, though, for instance. Arkansas would also do pretty nicely.

Now, about states/districts I'd like to see: Most of New England, New York, D.C., California, Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, etc. I'd also like to poke my head above the border and visit some Canadian provinces (nothing particular — I'd probably lean to the east, but if I was up in Washington again, I might try to take a day and go up that way).

5) Which of the 50 states would you rather die than live in?
I have a very bad taste concerning Indiana. It is a fine state and has some pretty areas, but as a whole I'd be loathe to live there. But I don't think there is any state I'd rather die than live in. I love the countryside I saw in Pacific Northwest, but I couldn't stand the rain of a state like Washington, despite the beauty of places like Olympic National Forest/Park. I'd also be rather unhappy in states like Arizona and New Mexico where it gets so hot. Missouri summers are hot enough, thankyouverymuch.

As a whole, I'd probably avoid the Southeast too. I'm not a grits kind of guy, so I doubt I'd fit in there.

35 Questions

Christopher blogged these questions the other day.

1. WHAT COLOR ARE YOUR BEDROOM WALLS?
White.

2. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
I don't read a book, I read books. I'm terrible at sticking to just one book. Right now, I am reading:

• Misunderestimated by Bill Sammon.
• End of State (Left Behind Political Series) by Nessa Hart
• Rumors of Another World by Philip Yancy
• Learn to Read New Testament Greek and It's Still Greek to Me by David Alan Black
• Just Started Back Reading: The Remanent by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins
• Planning to Start Back to Soon: Wild at Heartby John Eldredge

I plan to start Rush Limbaugh's second book and some others soon.

3. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
A big Dell logo pad for my main system, a blue (plain) ergonomic pad for my iMac.

4. FAVORITE BOARD GAME?
Monopoly.

5. FAVORITE MAGAZINE?
Time or eWeek

6. FAVORITE SMELL?
Ditto Christopher's choice: Freshly brewed coffee.

7. FAVORITE COLOR?
Ditto dittoing. For the one millionth time green, one of the darker shades.

8. LEAST FAVORITE COLOR?
Pink.

9. HOW MANY RINGS BEFORE YOUR ANSWERING MACHINE PICKS UP?
Four.

10. MOST IMPORTANT MATERIAL THING IN MY LIFE?
As long as I'm following Christopher's lead, I'll say cotton.

11. FAVORITE FLAVOR OF ICE CREAM?
Vanilla.

12. DO YOU BREAK THE SPEED LIMIT DAILY?
No.

13. DO YOU HAVE A STUFFED ANIMAL IN YOUR ROOM SOMEWHERE?
Yes. I collect seasonal ones.

14. STORMS - COOL OR SCARY?
Usually cool. I don't like the really bad ones though — I've had enough hail for a looooooong time. Of course, hail isn't particularly scary, just annoying.

15. FAVORITE DRINK?
Water (filtered or bottled), coffee, iced tea (no sweetener, no lemon), Coke, lime-aide.

16. WHEN IS YOUR BIRTHDAY?
September 24.

17. FAVORITE VEGETABLES?
Dittoing Christopher again. I love potatoes. Especially baked ones, but also fried, hash browned, mashed, twice baked, scalloped, au gratin, etc. I prefer Yukon Golds.

18. IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY JOB, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
A job that let me do a bit of everything. If I could only pick something “exciting,” I'd say a politician.

19. IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY COLOR HAIR, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Brown, just like I have.

20. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN LOVE?
Yes.

21. TOP THREE FAVORITE MOVIES (IN ORDER)?
I'm not sure. I don't think I have favorites like that. Some good ones: The Great Escape, Shrek, Home Alone, The Passion of the Christ…

22. DO YOU TYPE WITH YOUR FINGERS ON THE RIGHT KEYS?
Usually, yes.

23. WHAT'S UNDER YOUR BED?
Boxes, extra blankets, some pillows, an unopened Linksys EtherFast switch.

24. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE NUMBER?
13

25. FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH ON TV & IN PERSON?
Figure skating.

26. WHAT IS YOUR SINGLE BIGGEST FEAR?
I don't think I have a biggest fear.

27. FAVORITE CD OF ALL TIME & RIGHT NOW?
That's tough. Either Declaration by Steven Curtis Chapman or Woven and Spun by Nichole Nordeman

28. FAVORITE TV SHOW OF ALL TIME & RIGHT NOW?
All Time: I Love Lucy (others: I Dream of Jeannie, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)
Now: The Dick van Dyke Show

29. HAMBURGERS OR HOT DOGS?
Hot dogs, big kosher hot dogs… the kind Costco has in big packs and at their food court.

30. THE COOLEST PLACES YOU'VE EVER BEEN?
Big Cedar Lodge, Ridgedale, MO.

31. WHAT WALLPAPER AND/OR SCREEN SAVER IS ON YOUR COMPUTER RIGHT NOW?
My G5 has photos from a hike on the Katy Trail (randomly switching). PC has the Mandrake Linux 10 wallpaper at the moment. iMac has one of Apple's wallpaper collection and the PowerBook has the default Panther wallpaper.

32. DOES MCDONALD'S SKIMP ON YOUR FRIES & DO YOU CARE?
Sometimes, but my main concern is that they are hot, like Christopher.

33. FAVORITE CHAIN RESTAURANT?
Hollahan's and the Cracker Barrel.

34. IF YOU HAVE A BOY (OR HAVE ANOTHER BOY) WHAT WOULD YOU NAME HIM?
Mark

35. IF YOU COULD LEARN TO PLAY ONE INSTRUMENT OVERNIGHT, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Piano (after all, if you can play the piano/electronic keyboard, you can sound like you play almost anything.)