half a world away

I have a new website

2006-07-16T16:39:00.000+02:00

I am no longer on blogger.com

My new website, full of pictures, music and opinions, can be found here:

tim.potten.life

From the book "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis

2005-12-01T23:35:00.000+01:00

I am reading "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis again and I just came across one of my favorite paragraphs...

I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: "I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claims to be God." That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic - on a level with a man who says he is a poached egg - or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a Demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronising nonsense about Him being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.

single

2005-11-14T22:01:00.000+01:00

i'm single. first time in a long time. if you are a timmy fan, smile - i'm feeling healthy, happy and very focused.

The joy of raw fish

2005-11-09T23:11:00.000+01:00

It’s been a hard three weeks. I was, along with the time a similar thing happened four years ago in Turkey, closer than I have ever felt to dying.

I ate sushi for lunch at a meeting in Frankfurt. I woke up at 4 the next morning and laid in, on, under and around the toilet until 9. There was a war going on in my small intestine, and I lost.

After two weeks of general agony and testing, I was finally diagnosed with what the doctor described as “a fairly dangerous bacterial infection”, most likely caused by something I ate. NO SHIT. I do enjoy the look on doctors’ faces when they finally diagnose you with basically the same damn thing you told them was wrong from the beginning.

After a week of heavy antibiotic treatment, I am finally feeling normal again. Tell you what, a damn good start to that diet I’ve needed for some time.

heaven and hell

2005-10-06T21:32:00.000+02:00

Heaven is where the police are English,
the cooks are French,
the mechanics are German,
the lovers are Italian
and everything is organized by the Swiss.

Hell is where the police are German,
the cooks are English,
the mechanics are French,
the lovers are Swiss,
and everything is organized by the Italians.

Opinion poll. Where do the Americans fit in, both "heaven" and "hell"?

on panther pond

2005-09-17T23:33:00.000+02:00

although i grew up in central Illinois, i spent the majority of my summers in my birth state of Maine on a pond named Panther.

a pond for the majority of vertical challenged midwesterners means that little bit of water that swells up in the cornfield when it rains too much. i am talking about a lake - and a big one at that. big enough to take us a good 20 minutes to cross in our state-of-the-art metal "boat" with a 15hp outboard engine.

for two months every year, my flatland existence turned into an adventure of woods, swimming, sea air and lobsters. For those of you who have been, you know. If you haven't visited Maine, you should put in on your "special things to accomplish before I'm worm food" list.

my feet are bare
used to the tiny stones
deep dark woods
bring kid fears

green and white
white and green

ein Mass bitte..

2005-09-17T22:59:00.000+02:00

i just returned from a weeks vacation on a lake house in Barvaria, not far from Munich. It is a beautiful area down there.

Barvarians are very proud of their state. I get the feeling that they wouldn't be all that sad if they had their own little country (much like Texas).

Do you see people walking around in Lederhosen in downtown Munich? Well, yes, actually you do.

Beer is such a part of the culture. I mean really built into the culture. They have these huge beer halls from breweries such as Hofbrau, Paulaner and Loewenbrau.

You drink big beers.

You eat Weisswurst (white sausages) with saurkaut, mashed potatos and sweet mustard.

The common one liter beer is called a "Mass" (pronounced Maas) - what we as Americans think of as a "stein". Stein, incidently, has no meaning in German other than "stone". I assume we got that because the original Mass was most likely made of stone. They are now just big ass beer mugs made from glass.

After only one Mass, you smile a lot and sing.

Oktoberfest just started today. Little known fact - It accually mostly takes place in September. But Septemberfest just doesn't have the same ring now, does it.

two in August!

2005-08-30T22:28:00.000+02:00

Wow, only going to be two posts in August.

Sorry boys and girls. A whole lot of no time on my hands the past weeks. I have some vacay coming up soon and I promise to write a post per day. Pinky swear.

halt polizei!

2005-08-02T23:04:00.000+02:00

my day began at a German police station....

Ok, so I left you hanging out there a while. Ups the suspense.

I am officially a "Schwartzfahrer" in the eyes of the German Police and about $50 lighter in the wallet because of it. A "Black Rider" as they say in German, is someone who rides the subway without a ticket, and most importantly, gets caught.

To make a short story long, I was born on the 20th of April in a little town in Maine ca.... ok ok. I actually wish I could say "yes", I was busted for riding without a ticket but actually I have a monthly ticket - it just needs to be renewed every month. This day happened to be the 2nd of August, 7:30am. I was on the subway on the way to the main train station to pick up my new one - not having time the previous day after working 12 freaking hours. In the four years I have lived here, I have been checked for a ticket on the subway four times. Just never happens. I was told you could use your ticket from the current month until the 2nd of the following month. I was told wrong.

These fools work on commision. After asking for my ticket and not being satisfied with my explaination, they told me to give them my Ausweis (ID). Feeling a bit groggy not having even a sniff of a sweet coffee bean, I told them simply "no". They said it was either that or the police. I, ......... finish soon. Time to eat

Genocide in Rwanda

2005-07-27T15:57:00.000+02:00

Please do yourself a favor and watch Hotel Rwanda. It is not going to make you feel good and it shouldn't. But it is going to make you think.

If you're not one to believe in anything that comes out of Hollywood then go online and do your own research. Some links to get you started.

Human Rights Watch
International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda

In the spring of 1994 I was celebrating my 21st birthday. Over the same period, in this small African country roughly the size of the State of Maryland, the unthinkable was happening. The United States, like the rest of the West, turned its back on these human beings when they needed support the most.

Former President Clinton acknowledged our country's mistake this week.

If it's one thing history has shown, it's that what happened in the past is sure to be repeated. Let's hope that enough people stand and raise their voice against such atrocities in the future.

your mama

2005-07-26T21:20:00.000+02:00

found this linked from another blog Alleyrat suggested by my bro Paul. good stuff.

Green Towel "Your Mama"

the chorus goes something like, "nobody loves you, like your mama loves you but who's loving your mama...I AM"

new t-shirt

2005-07-24T20:20:00.000+02:00

a new t I got while I was home.

twoferone

2005-07-24T19:37:00.000+02:00

I’m sitting at the airport in Amsterdam waiting for my flight to Germany. It was a good, albeit short, trip back home to middle America.

Going to America makes me feel good for a number of reasons. Seeing family and friends. Doing a whole lot of nothing. Playing golf and sleeping however much I’d like.

Not the least of which is the fact that, in Europe, I am one of the bigger (as in wide) people. Whereas yesterday, as I was in Wal-Mart buying some products which are far more expensive in Europe (toothpaste, deodorant, contact solution, etc..), I was EASILY on the thin end of all the shoppers to be seen.

Although stereotypes tend to generalize, the fact is that America is a fat society - fattest in the world. Why? I would suggest it is partly because we have the largest, by far, middle-class society in the world with plenty of disposable income – and too much time on their hands.

And while I’m on the subject, seeing obese adults raising young obese children really pisses me off. Give them at least a shot to be healthy. Genetics bla bla bla.

While I was home we dined one evening at Red Lobster, a favorite of my sweet grandma, who treated us that evening. I can honestly say, in my four years in Europe, I have NEVER seen portions as big as what was served on those plates. But unlike Germany, where it is impossible and uncouth to have the food you didn’t finish wrapped up to take home - the good side to that is, if one has control, there will be a nice big ‘doggie bag’ at meals end.

A twoferone deal. click here

you haven't heard #2

2005-07-01T20:02:00.000+02:00

In my endless quest to spread good music, I present yet another "The best album that you have never heard from a band you know"

INXS's 1992 release "Welcome To Wherever You Are". No Joke. Amazing album.

I'm a podcaster

2005-07-01T19:53:00.000+02:00

so I'm offically a computer nerd now.

I updated my iPod software and now I'm podcasting. If you have no idea what I am talking about then you're just not tech-cool baby!

I think I like my Apple Powerbook G4 and my 40GB iPod more than beer. Wow. I have matured to a whole new level.

wap! pow! blat!

2005-06-30T01:37:00.000+02:00

Saw the new Batman yesterday. Had to be dragged to it though. After the last two debacles, I didn't want anymore.

And I will say this. Batman Begins is a good flick and easily the best in the box office series. Why? Because, for the first time, they didn't try to make a movie into a comic book.

Check it out and tell me what you think.

weed

2005-06-18T00:09:00.000+02:00

I just saw a report on CNN International that, per capita, people in Colorado smoke, by far, the most pot.

Congratulations Willie.

you haven't heard

2005-06-18T00:03:00.000+02:00

The best album that you have never heard from a band you know:

The Cure - Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me.

dudies1

2005-06-17T21:21:00.000+02:00

dudies1
Originally uploaded by timmypoot.

A picture of the two most important friends in my life who I seldem see but often think about.

pilgrimage

2005-06-17T20:42:00.000+02:00

once you accept the existence of God - however you define him,
however you explain your relationship to Him - then you are
caught forever with His presence in the center of all things. You
are also caught with the fact that man is a creature who walks in
two worlds and traces upon the walls of his cave the wonders
and the nightmare experiences of his spiritual pilgrimage.

- Author Morris West, from his 1981 book "The Clowns of God"
which I am currently reading.

favorites

2005-06-14T22:14:00.000+02:00

big words here. music lists.

as of June 14, 2005, my top 5 favorite bands/artists - all time (in no special order)

the stone roses
the samples
smashing pumpkins
jack johnson
rem

the most ear-time given since I have been in germany

jack johnson
david gray
richard ashcroft
turin brakes
snow patrol

best pure rock album in the last 5 years

green day - american idiot

best "we're not the indigo girls but we're pretty damn good"

girlie man

coolest use of horn instruments

morphine

best song writer in the 2000's

ryan adams

best 3 cord song writer all-time

tom petty

coolest band that never got enough credit

the velvet underground

hail to the orange

2005-06-14T22:11:00.000+02:00

I have a bottle opener the plays "hail to the orange" in this wacky, loud computer tone when I open bottles.

Makes me want to open more bottles : )

World Bowl 2005

2005-06-12T21:10:00.000+02:00

I was at the World Bowl over the weekend with 35,000 eurofans watching former Illini Kurt Kittner led his Amsterdam Admirals over the Berlin Thunder - but it should be called the NFL German Farm League Bowl. What started in 1991 with teams from the States, Canada and Europe is now, with the exception of the Amsterdam Admirals, entirely in Germany. My local team is Rhine Fire and includes teams from Hamburg, Frankfurt, Berlin and Cologne.

When I came to Germany some years ago the league included teams such as the Barcelona Dragons and the Scottish Clamores - with their colorful fans wearing kilts and taking over the bar scene in Dusseldorf for a weekend. Due to business reasons and an avid fan base, the NFL has found it most profitable to have nearly all their "training league" teams in Germany. And you know what? It's pretty damn popular.

The ten or so NFL Europe games I have been to in the last few years have averaged 25,000 people and are easily the loudest football games I have ever been to (no joke – I actually use ear plugs it’s so deafening). I am pretty sure it is because, other than the all-powerful 125-year-old German Bundesliga soccer league, Germany doesn’t have multiple big fan based sports like we have in America (baseball, basketball and football - one could throw hockey in there but I won’t). It is a motley crew of drunk, smoking soccer turned American football fans and it is a hell of a lot of fun.

1:33 in the early german morning

2005-06-08T10:33:00.000+02:00

can't sleep
thinking about my life
thinking about the trees
i haven't raced by
too long
newly cut grass
socks of green
thinking about the
friends i can't
see
thinking about you
thinking about me

making time

2005-06-08T01:33:00.000+02:00

achtung! new posts to this blog will be appearing in the near future. please stay tuned and check back from time to time.

thanks.

november tuesday

2004-11-02T00:40:00.000+01:00

do the right thing tomorrow
vote for yo mama
glasses are so thick
when she looks at a map
she sees little people
waving back at her ass.

amsterdam

2004-10-18T00:10:00.000+02:00

wandering through shops
long since lost in middle america
over brick foot bridges, under trees
that have seen the seen
for more time that we have been
all the while smiling the
bulldog smile
the city that breathes new breath
amsterdam

festing

2004-10-04T17:14:00.000+02:00

my first blog posting, how exciting.

happy oktoberfest. i spent a very long weekend at a beer tent in munich called "spaten". just me and 1.6 million of my closest friends.

my word, i can not begin to explain the mass of humanity already drinking like a parched camel at 1030 in the morning.

i will not be fully recovered for days.