"No gifts or explanations for"

Berg's 5 favorite songs of the 2008:

5. Holy Cow -- Margot and the Nuclear so and sos
4. To Run -- Josiah Leming
3. We All Need Saving -- Jon McLaughlin
2. Flume -- Bon Iver
1. Viva La Vida -- Coldplay

=====
Last 3 Movies Watched:
Valkyrie
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Taking Lives

=====
Wii Games in Collection (Post-Christmas):
Lego Star Wars
Lego Batman
Super Mario Galaxy
Guitar Hero III
Wii Fit
Sims: Castaway
The Simpsons Game

"No more let sins"

Joy to the world. It's amazing to think about the notion that the story of mankind, culminates with a birth in what I suppose would be equivalent to a barn. This birth and the subsequent 33-year life forever changes and ultimately defines our relationship to God.

And I do imagine it to be a quiet night. Imagine if you were there. A baby is born...later that night shepherds arrive to see the baby announced by angels. I wonder what Joseph and Mary thought when those guys walked in?

I was overcome with joy when we sang this in church this morning. Imagine, a baby is born and forever there can be joy in the world. For we now have the opportunity to have freedom from the law that we could not live up to. A mediator to bridge any one of us from what would be our rightful place eternally in hell to eternity with the God, our Father in heaven.

I praise and am ever thankful to God for this opportunity and my redemption.

"Majesty at my doorstep"

2008 is rapidly coming to a close. The year has been interesting, taken some unexpected turns, there's been good and bad and more. It seems like just yesterday, I was with friends playing Twister, popping balloons on high-tens with Parliament and dancing all night at Felder's New Year's Eve bash. Since then, there's been:

• 3 full seasons of Dexter (at least after Sunday's season finale) -- the year started on a two week Dexter binge
• Hit-and-run accident
• Shaking of hands with a Presidential candidate
• Sweet Sixteen March Madness basketball games
• Blood Lines of New York, game playing
• A serving of Passover for Rogers
• A PhilAndrea wedding
• A half move from Detroit to Anderson
• Trips to Chicago, Minneapolis and Boston for Berg
• A stop in to see Campbell in Boston
• A run in with Deardorff in Indiana that same week
• Vacations to Chicago and Florida
• New jobs for Rogers and Berg
• Flat tires for Rogers
• Margot, DMB, Matt Wertz, A Fine Frenzy concerts
• 4th of July fireworks in downtown Indy
• Friendships made
• Friendships rekindled
• Seasons of Prayer
• Scraping of wallpaper and painting of rooms
• 100+ listens to Viva La Vida
• Some great and some disappointing new music
• Laughter

How much more am I forgetting? Plenty, I'm sure, to be added soon. But I've also got a long day tomorrow...

"Take me the where the streetlights glow"

Like the Dow, it's been a volatile week. Yesterday I felt tired, burned out, ready to take a week off of work and read a book or watch a bunch of movies. I was thinking about how I missed Fall break when I would annually watch about 5 movies in one weekend. New, old and classics just because I had the time. Some things were frustrating me. I went to bed early and got a fair amount of sleep.

Today I spent 7 hours on the road at meetings and lunch and 5 hours in Indy working and eating dinner. It was a long day, but a good day. Meeting new people, being a resource for clients and eating some good meals are some of the highlights and that's what today was about.

Had my first trip to St. Elmo's this evening for a Filet Mignon. The food was good. And this after eating at Ertel's Cellar Winery for lunch. It's been a full day in several senses of the word full.

Things I've been listening too:
Killers -- Day and Age
Coldplay -- Prospekt's March
Josiah Leming -- Angel's Undercover

All have highlights and lowlights...but the bottom line is that overall and as expected, it's been a darn good fall for new music.

I went shopping on Black Friday. It was 5:15 a.m. and my sister and I were looking for parking spaces behind Wal-Mart. 5 minutes later, we're picking up microwaves and mixers, 10 minutes later I'm trying to make it to the electronics section, 10 minutes later I'm combing through $2 DVDs that were actually in the grocery area. 30 minutes later we're all checked out and on our way to Starbucks for a fill-up, Sears, Elder Beerman, Menards, Target then McDonald's for breakfast. Rogers and I hit Kohl's later that day. Overall, I enjoyed it quite a bit. Not nearly as bad as I expected the hassle, crowds and lines to be. It was a Julie Spires solo tradition...a fun morning worth considering in future years.

"Like a serenade of sound"

December arrives...

Miniature tornadoes of snow blow across the pavement

Inside - voices, music, crackling from wood in the fire

Lovers pull each other near for warmth

Others huddled within their own coat next to one they once loved

Outside - stars, silence, crackling from footsteps on frozen grass
Shining sheets of ice form across the pavement

"Saw Cinderella in a party dress"

It's been too long...I've been distracted with rumors of house sales, work, Dexter, Colts Football and other things. An update is overdue.

The Colts won a nail-biter tonight in San Diego for their fourth win in a row. They look to be pulling together a nice run at the playoffs after starting poorly at 3-4.

But what I really want to write about are the TV shows that I watched at certain ages...we were talking about the classics during the game tonight (California Dreams anyone?). Here's what I recall:

Very young -- (1) Sesame Street and (2) Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. For me Sesame Street was definitely the highlight. The earliest shows I can remember watching regularly.

1987 -- (3) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This was a regular on Saturday mornings when I was a little tike. I'm sure the late 80s saw a lot of little Berg sitting in front of the TV watching TMNT.

Elementary school -- (4) Darkwing Duck. The Disney Afternoon was just great, and for me Darkwing Duck stood out above the rest. Thanks Aunt Laurie for buying me the Nintendo Game for Christmas in 1992.

Elementary school continued -- (5) Saved by the Bell. At least by fourth and fifth grade Saved by the Bell was on 2 times each afternoon on WGN, 2 times on TBS and 1 on whatever Channel 7 was for a total of 5 episodes within a 2-hour and 10-minute time span (anyone remember thos TBS shows always starting 5 minutes late?).

Elementary and middle school -- While Saved by the Bell continued, I suppose I also watched a fair amount (6) Family Matters and (7) Step by Step during these years. (8) Home Improvement was likely popular with me during middle school as well.

High school -- (9) Boy Meets World came on strong late for me and I quickly grew to love this show throughout high school. (10) Seinfeld was on nearly every evening in the Rosenberg household when I was in high school and Thursdays were special, as that's when the new ones were on.

The best of the rest...Other shows I saw a lot in my younger years:

• Full House (always loved this one)
• Wonder Years (my parents watched this a lot when I was young)
• Rescue Rangers (another Disney afternoon mainstay)
• Felicity (watched this a lot with Rogers in high school)

And with this...regular blogging is back.

"Take back the city tonight"

Should normal blogging now resume? I don't know. I can't get the image of Obama giving his speech last night out of my mind. It was a powerful image. To me a dark image. Something about the dark gray backdrop with little contrast from Obama's crisp black suit and red tie. The only light on the stage being the huge podium and the many American flags lining the background. There was little joy in his demeanor. His words were eloquent (as always). They were meaningful and inspirational. It was a good speech, but I can't shake the image, which to me was unsettling. The man who will be the most powerful in the world. A young man, ready to go to work while the multitudes around the world rejoice, tears streaming down their faces. What is the meaning of this?

It's quite clear now that I'm in the minority in the country when it comes to Obama, and perhaps when it comes to conservative thinking. Still, I am a hopeful person. I am hopeful that Obama will be good for America. I am hopeful that he will be wise and strong. I am hopeful that America will remain the greatest country as he leads.

Perhaps tomorrow, normal blogging will resume.

"It'll eke away at everything but we'll be fine"

America has elected for president, a man who:

• Is most likely the least experienced president in history. A man who has little foreign policy experience. A man who has never had to make executive decisions aside from campaigning for president.
• Probably wouldn't have been able to get a job with the FBI when it came to doing a background check with his radical associations. (Ayers, Frank Marshall Davis, Tony Resco, Rashid Khalidi, etc.)
• Will likely work with a democratic house and senate that will try to ram through the "The Fairness Doctrine," which will muzzle talk radio.
• Will likely work with a democratic house and senate that will try to ram through card check, which will eliminate private voting for unions.
• Plans to raise taxes on small businesses.
• Likes to spread the wealth.
• Thinks Iran -- among other enemies -- don't pose a threat to America.
• Would have pulled our troops out of Iraq rather than surging to emerge victorious.
• Muslims in Dearborn see as a Muslim brother (according to a friend that works with Muslims in Dearborn). [Note: If he is Muslim, he's not too devout seeing as he's been in Reverand Wright's church for the past 20+ years.]
• And the list goes on...

America chose him. I hope we got it right. Regardless, let's hope our country stays strong under his leadership for the next four years.

"Make a move just to stay in the game"

In 1985, Joseph Sobran wrote in his Notes for the Reactionary of Tomorrow:

The conservative is bewildered by the comprehensive dissatisfaction of people who are always heedlong about "reform" (as they conceive it) or are even eager to "build a new society." What, exactly, is wrong with society as it is already?

This isn't just a defiant rhetorical question; it needs an answer. We don't have the power to change everything, and it may not be such a bright idea to try; there are plenty of things that deserve the effort (and it is an effort) of preserving, and the undistinguishing mania for "change" doesn't do them justice--isn't even concerned with doing them justice.

What we really ought to ask the liberal, before we even begin addressing his agenda, is this: In what kind of society would he be a conservative?

==========================
I haven't read through the complete Pensees yet, but the "undistinguishing mania for 'change'" caught my attention early given it's the centerpiece of Obama's rise to stardom. And the concluding question here is important. When would Obama be a conservative? In a completely socialist society, I'm betting he'd be somewhere in the middle.

How comforting.
==========================

“Mark my words. It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy. The world is looking. We’re about to elect a brilliant 47-year-old senator president of the United States of America.” he told a fundraising crowd in the Pacific Northwest on Sunday. “Remember I said it standing here if you don’t remember anything else I said. Watch, we’re gonna have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy.” -- Joe Biden 10/19/08

Sounds great for the country.

==========================
A few other thoughts:

• I'm definitely pulling content backing -- and perhaps helping to solidify -- my opinions about Obama. That being said, I definitely don't want these things to be true. If Obama wins, I hope he decides not to implement his current plans.
• Speaking of Phil's comment, here's a Bible verse I find peace in during the election season: "...the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will." -- Daniel 5:21
• I don't know what to think about the polls...some have it pegged for a landslide to Obama. From others (including AP) I'm hearing that it's neck and neck.
• Regarding Par's socialism link: 1) Great that McCain was around before 2004. 2) Obviously, this is not the platform he's adapted for 2008...but Obama has.
• Regarding the tax on small businesses link: I'm glad to see the tax is on "net profit" rather than revenue. Still don't like the idea.
• Regarding the McCain/Palin links, I'm guessing there's some crazy stuff on there that will undoubtedly make me want to link to the 1-hour special run on Fox News titled "Barack Obama and his radical friends." But of course that's Fox News...can't be credible. We've got to go to MSNBC to find out what's really going on. Seriously, I'll try to check out more of the links tomorrow.
• Not all of my posts will always be about politics...but that's three in a row. Getting bored?

"It's all a falling through"

I figured I'd start with the best line...perhaps Greg Tipton quite intoxicated said it best in May: "Anyone with a dollar in their pocket should be voting Republican."

Read on for like-minded opinions and considerations.
============
"When you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody." -Barrack Hussein Obama talking to Joe T. Plumber.

"...If Mr. Obama's plan becomes reality, it could well turn into an economic nightmare by punishing the most productive in order to reward the least productive in our society.

Spreading the wealth doesn't sound all that different from Karl Marx's famous dictum: From each according to his ability to each according to his need."

Feel free to read the entire op ed by Linda Chavez here: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/20/spreading-the-wealth-around/

This touches on perhaps a very big concern of mine about Obama being president...and frankly one of the reasons I'm generally in agreement with conservative thinking.

As Russel Kirk suggests with his 7th principle:

"Conservatives are persuaded that freedom and property are closely linked. Separate property from private possession, and Leviathan becomes master of all. Upon the foundation of private property, great civilizations are built. The more widespread is the possession of private property, the more stable and productive is a commonwealth. Economic levelling, conservatives maintain, is not economic progress. Getting and spending are not the chief aims of human existence; but a sound economic basis for the person, the family, and the commonwealth is much to be desired."
- http://www.kirkcenter.org/kirk/ten-principles.html

I bolded the three middle paragraphs, which really get to the heart of the matter. I'm quite concerned that Obama is not the right man when it comes to tax policy. 1) I may be taxed at a higher rate so others can be rewarded. 2) I'm perhaps more concerned about the taxes on businesses. I've heard a lot of talk recently about businesses not paying taxes, but simply raising prices for their customers. Makes a lot of sense to me, and frankly, I think I pay enough taxes.

Wake up, paid taxes on my house in Detroit and on electricity overnight -- go to work, paid taxes on gas -- work, pay income taxes and my company pays social security taxes for me (I do too, but I'll count that as an investment in my future -- or at least my parent's future) -- buy dinner, taxes -- buy anything, taxes -- invest in a 401(k), taxes later.

All in all, a pretty darn big chunk of my income is taxed. It's already bad...let's make it worse? Do we really have to let the Bush tax cuts sunset? Do I really need to pay more taxes so the government can get bigger and offer me and my neighbors great social programs (e.g., $4,000 to everybody so everyone can afford college)? Have they run Social Security well? Why would we expect them to run other social programs well?

How about people get jobs and go out in pursuit of that great American Dream and use their own money to pay for their own education, healthcare, etc...But wait, jobs are getting to be hard to come by...unfortunately that isn't going to get any better if small business taxes increase.

Every day I'm compelled to opine on this, but then get too busy/tired...since I got started it was hard to stop. Sorry for the rambling. More to come...

"We might not be here tomorrow"

ONE REASON TO NOT VOTE FOR OBAMA

(if for no other reason, this should suffice)

Obama: Friend of an unrepentant terrorist

• In 1995, During Obama's First State Senate Campaign, William Ayers And Wife Bernadine Dohrn Hosted A Meeting Of Chicago Liberals At Their Home For Obama, Which One Attendee Said Was Aimed At "Launching Him."
• From March Of 1995 Until September Of 1997, Obama And Ayers Attended At Least Seven Meetings Together Relating To The Chicago Annenberg Challenge.
• In 1997, Obama Praised Ayers' Book On The Juvenile Justice System.
• From 1999 To 2002, Obama Served With Ayers On The Board Of Directors For Woods Fund Of Chicago.
• During The Time Obama And Ayers Served Together On The Woods Fund, Ayers Was Quoted Saying "I Don't Regret Setting Bombs ... I Feel We Didn't Do Enough."
• While Obama And Ayers Were Serving On The Woods Fund Together, Ayers Posed Standing On An American Flag For An Article In Chicago Magazine Entitled "No Regrets."
• Ayers was a founding member of The Weather Underground. The group Produced A Manual Which Begins, "We Are A Guerrilla Organization. We Are Communist Women And Men, Underground In The United States For More Than Four Years."

Give me numerous reasons why Obama would make a great president...Give me numerous reasons why McCain would be a bad president...As I am pleased -- and proud (gasp) -- to be an American, I could never vote for a man to be our president who has or had any kind of ongoing relationship with a terrorist like that described above.

But then again, I haven't guzzled the Obama kool-aid that seems to have been the drink of choice for the past year for many in my generation. It's sad.

"More than I could chew"

My last post was number 666, and I must say it was up there all by it's lonesome for way too long, so it's time to move to 667 with a short list of songs for this fall. I'm looking forward to seeing it grow since fall's only a week or so old. Ray LaMontagne's going to have to provide something for this, right?

• Free Fallin - John Mayer (what a great cover)
• Flume - Bon Iver (it's got that fall feel)
• Hip Hip Hooray - Margot & the Nuclear So and Sos (first impression pick)

Stuck in a busy, busy week. It's felt like a day later all week meaning tomorrow should be Friday. But it's not.

"Beautiful in every way"

Images

• Comparing the Naptown Strutters performance tonight at the Anderson Paramount to my memoris of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band's performance at Preservation Hall in the French Quarter in New Orleans just a few days before Katrina hit.
• Grandpa Martin standing up to dance a few steps during an especially lively polka at downtown Anderson's very own bavarian Octoberfest.
• Going to see It's a Wonderful Life last December on a special day in Detroit in an old theatre similar to the Paramount in many ways and coming out to at least four solid inches of snow with more falling every minute.
• The portrayal of Edith Piaf singing in La Vie en Rose.
• The band performing "What a Wonderful World" at the jazz bar in Klaipeda, Lithuania.
• The wonder of perpetual melancholic nostalgia accumulated over a life of 80+ years.
• A house, 3 months lonely on Annabelle Street in Ferndale, Michigan.

"You can fly, you can fly"

I was in Disney World for a full week and only pictures can tell the story:

Rogers got in the spirit from day 1

I posed as Aladdin for this shot

My nephew spread the joy of Mickey everywhere he went

We reenacted Peter Pan: In this scene the pirate kidnaps Tigerlilly who passes out from fear

Here we blast are way through the galactic galaxy on our flight home

"This town was meant for passing through"

Since Wilbe has forsaken blogging, I can takeover with his listing.

Things I know:

• I've been blogging three days in a row.
• It's a late night for work and a good thing I didn't go to Journey.
• I may have missed a good time, but I was only really looking forward to hearing two songs anyway...you guessed it Faithfully and Don't Stop Believin. Not that others aren't good as well, but I just don't care about them.
• This Big Brother season is not too good.
• I'll be in Orlando in 60 hours.
• I'm excited about moving into a new house in the hopefully not too distant future.
• The movie I'm most excited about that's coming out soon is Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist. To be perfectly honest, it looks like an OK movie, but I can't get enough Michael Cera...I think I'll be laughing the whole time.
• The music by Beirut is intriguing, yet somewhat inaccessible.
• Friday night we are planning a dinner and fun night like the good old days. I hope you can make it.
• I miss my church in Royal Oak.
• Time for bed. I'm going to be running on fumes -- and maybe Monster -- tomorrow. Client meeting in 8 hours...

"And all I do is miss you and the way we used to be"

I was just reading through some blog posts from January 2005. What?! Nearly 4 years of blogging, eh?

Here's a few things that have not changed since that time:

• Still want to lose 12-15 pounds
• Still on the path to a successful career
• Still dating the same gal
• Still couldn't pass up a free movie with free popcorn even if it meant I wasn't going to sleep much

Here's a few things that have changed:

• Now losing 15 pounds would put me at 205 rather than 185
• I've been working two full years in corporate America and get paid a lot more for my work now
• I'm married to that gal.
• The free movie gravy train came to a halt in the spring of 2006. Weren't those good times?

Speaking of good times, I'm rallying support for an all night Blood Lines of New York bloodfest sometime soon...what about the first weekend in October? Just throwing that out there as an option.

Here is a shout out to my friends. Thanks to all of you who came to visit us in Detroit. We always couldn't wait until you guys got there and new we'd have a super-fun weekend. I love you all dearly. I think anyone reading this I've known for more than the four years I've been blogging, so here's to 5+ years of friendship.

That's pretty awesome. When we move to a new house in Indiana a steak cookout is on me...I'll buy the steaks, but Wilbe will have to cook them because he's the master.

"I'm not looking for sweet talk"

Dinesh Dsouza asks:
"Imagine if McCain came to the convention and spoke incessantly about compassion and how he was inspired by the biblical mandate: we are our brothers' keepers! This would be the lead story on the evening news. So why aren't the networks covering the fact that Barack Obama's half-brother George lives in a 6 by 10 foot hut in the slums of Kenya?"

Of course we know the answer to why the networks aren't covering it. Should Obama help his half-brother? Probably. Should Sarah Palin's 17-year old be nailed (pardon the pun) for being pregnant out of wedlock by our media while Obama has a brother living on one dollar a month only being reported by an Italian journalist for Vanity Fair? Come on.

Read on to learn more about helping impoverished George Obama in Africa.
http://townhall.com/columnists/DineshDSouza/2008/09/08/help_obamas_half-brother_move_out_of_his_hut

----------------
In better news, what a year for music. Still coming out in 08 in order of excitement:

1. The Killers -- Day and Age in November
2. Coldplay -- Prospects March EP in December
3. Margot -- Animal and Not Animal in September/October
4. Ray LaMontagne -- Gossip In the Grain in October
5. Jon McLaughlin -- OK Now in October
6. Josiah Leming -- EP in October

I'm sure there's more, but that's a pretty good line up for a long drive to work this fall.

"Burn my eyes"

You know it's a good day at work when:

• You eat at La Rosa's Pizzeria for lunch. Thursday I was in Batesville, Indiana with my boss's boss and the client's receptionist mentioned La Rosa's. Imagine my joy when my boss's boss says, I've been craving pizza recently. Yes, I'm talking about King's Island La Rosa's. Batesville's closer to Cincy than it is to Indy.
• You stop working at 4 p.m. for a toast to celebrate a big win. That big win is a project worth $1M+ over the next few years.

The NFL football season starts tomorrow and I can't wait. Their lighting up windows in my office building in the shape of a horseshoe for Sunday Night Football. Supposedly, they'll show a shot through the Lucas Oil Stadium window directly to my building where you'll see a horseshoe. Sounds pretty sweet. I can't wait to watch the game.

"Put your helmet on"

You know it's a good game of golf when:

• Squatch throws his golf club after a series of horrible shots and it gets stuck in a tree about 25 feet up.
• Squatch throws another golf club up to knock the first one down and it also gets stuck in the tree.
• Squatch realizes he's going to have to come back after dark with a flashlight to try to get the clubs down later so we don't get kicked out of the country club.
• A squirrel get's hit with a golf ball.
• Berg gets an average triple-bogey with a handy tap-in birdy right in the middle of the round.

It's a lazy labor day, which reads like an oxy-moron, but makes perfect sense.

Last movie saw: Prom Night

Last music listend to: New Margot on MySpace

"Hallelujah zig zag nothing"

655 Posts. That's one big book if you print them out and bind them together. Each post and corresponding comments it's own page.

It seems as though a lot has happened in the past 15 days. Last weekend alone was a busy time of Poker, Kathy Griffin, Zoo, Colts and more.

Thursday, August 21 was the 65th Wedding Anniversary of Mr. Harold Charles Rosenberg and Mrs. Verna Elizabeth Rosenberg (maiden name: Metzinger). Married on that day in 1943...during World War II, I suppose.

Grandma Rosenberg's advice after 65 years of marriage: "Sometimes you've got to get out your boxing gloves."

Grandpa's advice: "I don't know. She does my talking for me."

It's strange, but I already miss that my grandparent's will be gone sometime not too far away. I'm blessed to have known them so long.

===========

Lisa and I ate dinner with Grandma (Donna) and Grandpa (Don) Martin yesterday. I enjoyed hearing about making the decision to move to Germany when my mother was 8. When he retired from John Deere, Grandpa Martin's title was "Managing Director of Operations Latin America, Australia and the Far East." He traveled the world for John Deere, including, perhaps most interesting, trips to Iran.

When the Martins lived in Germany (my mother lived there from the age of 8-16), they had a four story house complete with a bomb shelter, if memory serves me well. I'd like to visit Heidelberg some day.

I suspect Grandpa traveled a large percentage of the time during his career, but on the flipside, he retired in his mid-50's and has lived comfortably since, wintering in the Bahamas and playing golf whenever he pleases.

Now in his 80's, he's dying of cancer. His accomplishments will soon be gone with the wind, but he loves and serves the Lord and that will continue into eternity.

He has a glad spirit, and I'm grateful to have known him. I'm looking forward very much to dining with them again sometime soon. Living near to them for the first time in my life, Lisa and I have an open dinner invitation. I hope this time lasts.

"If you fool everyone"

It's only Tuesday, but it feels like Thursday. The day of the week doesn't seem to matter too much these days. Most days seem pretty similar. Get up between 6 and 6:45. Shower. Leave for work at 7ish. Drive from Anderson to Monument Circle in downtown Indy. Eat an oatmeal bar on the way to work. Get to work at 8ish. Get a cup of coffee shortly after. Work. Eat lunch with people at work in our deserted 44th floor. Work. Leave from work around 5:45. Get home at 7ish. Eat dinner. Some evening event (tonight hung out at grandma and grandpa's house, one night accountability group). Socialize with parents. Eat two bowls of cereal. Hang out with Rogers. Fall asleep. Repeat.

It feels like a half-life when you are in transition. I guess it's really just a different life. We found a house we really like. We'll see what happens up in Ferndale.

Haven't been to Detroit for about two months now. We were going to go back this weekend, but we decided to wait another month. It's harder to be motivated to leave our friends than it used to be to come and see our friends.

The summer of 08 has been a strange summer. A summer of change.

"Are you one of the good ones?"

Movies I've seen in recent months:

• The Dark Knight (twice)
• Pineapple Express
• Step Brothers
• Mamma Mia
• The Bank Job
• Perfect Strangers
• The Happening
• The Strangers
• Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls

The summer Olympics in Beijing started this past weekend. I woke up this morning with Women's Handball France vs. Angola playing no MSNBC. What fun.

"Hold on, we're going for a long ride"

There's a house for sale in Ferndale, Mich. and the price is dropping rapidly. We're at $114,900, and we're praying that thing sells within the next couple of months. I'm going to start praying for an offer by September 15.

For that house to sell, all glory will go to God. The market has yet to bottom out up there. In the meantime, we're hanging loose at 2831 W. 38th St. in Anderson, Ind.

Things are OK. Two things to cheer about:

1) Pineapple Express is out and Rogers is dying to see it. Sounds like a good time to me!

2) KaiserCartel is my band of the month. I love these guys. I was about to declare them 2008's A Fine Frenzy in my book...not sure about that, but they're darn good. Check it out at www.myspace.com/kaisercartel. Found them because Aqualung helped produce their album, and I like Aqualung.

I'm frequently exhausted recently.

"Hang a wreath"

It's August Fools day. Amazing that seven full months have passed in 2008. It seems like just yesterday we were having a Twister tournament in Jason's apartment on New Year's Eve.

In contrast, I'd never even watched an episode of Dexter before 2008. Now it seems like a very long time ago that Rogers were on our Dexter bender during the first couple of weeks of the 2008.

A lot seems different. It's Friday night and I'm not hanging out with Rogers. I miss that.

Then again, we both missed hanging out with our friends on Friday nights when we were in Michigan. And we loved Friday nights when people were coming up to visit.

I think that 2010 is really going to be a great year. I've never been a fan of odd numbers.

Tonight's agenda:
11 minute nap
Eat dinner
Step Brothers

Currently listening to:
Kaisercartel
Margot and the Nuclear So & Sos

Amount of Martins in our house last night:
6 -- 7, if you count my Mom

"Thank you"

Saturday Jul 26 2008 Verizon Wireless Music Center
Seek Up *One Sweet World *Granny Grey Street *Old Dirt Hill *Pantala Naga Pampa *Rapunzel *What Would You Say *Rhyme And Reason *Out Of My Hands +Everyday *Crash Into Me *Lie In Our Graves *Money *~Money (Thats What I Want) *Crush *Anyone Seen The Bridge *(Too Much) *Ants Marching *_____ENCORE_______ Sister ÄGravedigger *Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) *

What an amazing show. Best show ever. They really pulled out all the stops. Astounding. Wheelchair boy.

"What's the use in worry, what's the use in hurry"

A great Dave show last night...and tonight's going to be even better! Setlist from the band's website:

Friday Jul 25 2008 Verizon Wireless Music Center
Don’t Drink the Water *So Damn Lucky *Eh Hee *Water/ Wine Two Step *Proudest Monkey *Satellite *Corn Bread *Dancing Nancies *Dreaming Tree *Sledgehammer *Stay (Wasting Time) *Lover Lay Down *Drive In Drive Out *Jimi Thing *#41 *So Much To Say *Anyone Seen The Bridge *Too Much *_________ENCORE________ You Might Die Trying *Louisiana Bayou *
Show Notes: Send good thoughts for LeRoi *Jeff Coffin indicates a segue into next song

I'd never heard Dreaming Tree or Lover Lay Down live so that was pretty sweet. Ben Westfall got grinded on by a 37 year-old woman, which was pretty funny, as he kept backing away to no avail. She left the concert shortly after his rejection.

I need to start posting more regularly. Hopefully, I can get back on the posting wagon this week.

Quote of the week: "It's fair food. You don't stop eating when you're full, you stop eating when you run out of money." --Wilbe at 4H

"When flowers gaze at you"

Updating from the home of...Josh and Keri Campbell. Only a note to say, howdy from Boston. Tonight the Campbells, tomorrow Nate Deardorff. Tonight Boston, tomorrow Indiana, the next day Chicago.

It's going to be a tiring week...and it started with waking up 20 hours ago at 4:30 a.m. Although in fairness I slept almost the entire flight.

"The skin belongs to you"

Tomorrow it's off to for all intensive purposes Metro Cleveland. Horray. My Mom's cousin's child is getting married and the entire Martin clan will be there. Anyone ever heard of a 2 p.m. wedding followed by a 6 p.m. cocktail party and 7 p.m. reception?

Me neither.

Sunday is my cousin's open house in Hudson, Ohio. I only have 3 cousins, so I'm glad I can be there, if only for a little while as I fly out to Boston at 7:15 on Monday morning.

I think I wrote something similar the other day, so let's make a list instead. Things that I'm looking forward to in Summer 08 (2nd half):

• Chicago vacation with LA Rogers
• Dave Matthews Band (2 nights)
• Margot CD (and records/downloads?)
• Big Brother
• Big Brother Parties at Eileen and Kyla's house
• Tubing -- I'll be sad if that doesn't happen
• Selling my house in Ferndale
• Hanging out with friends
• Acountabillibuddies
• My other grandparents moving to Anderson

Parliament -- I challenge you to Mario Kart 64 at Clodfelders later this month. Can't wait to give you a run for your money. I used to study the tipbook back in the day.

"I spent two long years in a strange, strange land"

Things have been busy and my internet time has been replaced by drive time, thus the lack of regular updates. My day has lengthened by a full 2 - 3 hours. I used to leave for work around 8:40 and get home anytime from 5:45 to 6:30... now I leave at 7:00 sharp and return around 6:45 or 7:00. I haven't been doing too much work at home though.

4th of July was good. We spent the day in downtown Indy after driving through neighborhoods to check out houses while working our way down there. Saturday was spent at Kings Island with Wilbe and Ricky Ray, which was great. Lines were short as we were on most coasters in 30 minutes. It was a good weekend.

The next ten days won't slow down at all...off to Cleveland area for a family wedding this weekend...then Boston for a day and Chicago for several days next week.

Something tells me I'll be worn out before long.

"I forget why I'm breathing out"

My grandmother in-law died a couple of hours ago. While we weren't close to her, it is still sad to think of her life ending at a relatively young age and unexpectedly -- no health conditions that we knew of.

Imagine being 25 and having all of your grandparents alive... and for a short time this summer all will live within five minutes of me.

"Turn my head out"

May 24 and you've just found out you're moving to Indianapolis.

June 24 you're in Chicago having worked in Indianapolis for one week. Someone asks you how "Naptown" is. I'd never heard that before. I like it though.

The best and shortest description to the current state of our lives -- at least from my perspective -- is that "It's strange." The next word is "Stressful."

Strange:
It's strange hanging out with friends on a weeknight.
Strange sleeping in my childhood home.
Strange to be sleeping on an old smokey matress purchased by a fellow found on Craigslist.
Not having Grace run around the house (she's at her Grandma's house).
Not having anyplace to put clothes.

Stressful:
Being gone 12 hours a day (rather than about 9 like I was in Detroit).
Having a house sitting empty 250 miles away.
Not knowing where we'll be living 3 months from now (hopefully not at my childhood home).
Being in flux.
Transition.
Change.

One day (June 14) we were there and had our little space and lives. We run into a Detroit friend at the movie theatre in Birmingham. The next (June 15) our lives as we knew it ended. We finish packing our house. We drive to Indiana. We hang out with our Indiana friends that night and go to another movie in Castleton.

For the first two years, we've had one married experience and that was in Detroit. Here's to the next chapter in Indianapolis. I've got to believe that despite new challenges, like a good book it's only going to get better as we go.

Happy Anniversary to the one whose hand I hold every night.

"One minute I held the key"

Man, I'm exhausted. Time to go to sleep. To take a page out of Wilbe's book:

Things I know:

• Moving to a new place three summers in a row is a little nuts.
• House hunting will be fun.
• Our house will sell, even though it's a bad market.
• Playing Super Mario Galaxy until 1:30 or so last night was a horrible idea.
• I'm totally stoked to be moving to Anderson in two days.
• I cannot imagine our house being ready to leave in two days, but I think it will happen.
• Speaking of happen, we're taking a break from packing come Friday night to go see The Happening on opening night.
• I enjoy working with the people I've worked with and for for the last couple of years.
• I can't wait to see and hang out at Wilbe's new house.
• I'm looking forward to reconnecting with some friends I haven't seen much in the last couple of years.
• Lisa is a master when it comes to packing stuff up. I look at a mess and move it around. She looks at a mess, packs it up and it's done.
• We have 1 out of 10 rooms 95% show-ready. By Saturday all 10 rooms must be show-ready.
• I am a bit stressed about this whole thing...this would have been a good use of vacation days!
• I am buying the new Coldplay album at midnight next Monday night so I can listen to it on the way to work on Tuesday.
• As of June 24, Lisa and I will have been married for two years.

"Be my mirror my sword and shield"

Now 25. 25 more and perhaps I'll have a child whose 20. Strange.

Things that were great today:

• French Toast for breakfast
• Leaving work at 4:45 with nothing to do at home
• Playing Guitar Hero for 75 minutes straight
• Hungry Howie's for dinner
• Phone calls, text messages and facebook notes of birthday wellwishes
• Viva La Vida -- Downloaded last night, played 37 times...but at least 20 of those were Rogers' while she was painting.
• The cake Rogers made for me (we already finished the ice cream cake...we got it a bit early)
• Wearing my new shoes to work
• Talking to Breneman about checking out his house neighborhood in a few weeks when we start house-hunting

I wanted to say the Wings winning the Stanley Cup finals, but they just lost in Triple Overtime...booo

Song of the Day: Viva La Vida -- Coldplay

"I guess I'd better stay in Indiana"

Sent: Thu 5/29/2008 6:43 PM
Subject: Andrew Rosenberg from Laurie and Debi

To All:

Debi and Laurie have an announcement...Andrew Rosenberg will be transferring from Detroit to Indianapolis and from his current consulting role in the Communication Business to Client Management.

For the past two years (nearly to the day) Andrew has worked as part of the Midwest Communication Business and on a variety of projects and clients that create quite a portfolio. He's played a key communication and project management role on a complex retiree medical buyout for XXXXXXX, the primary writer and project manager for the ongoing retirement education for the XXXXXXX, and most recently a key writer on the hectic retirement change project for XXXXXXXX. Through his contributions to these and other projects, the Company has been able to deliver high quality work to clients as well as build strong, long-term client relationships. Before joining the Company, Andrew was a student at Anderson University in Indiana, earning a Business Management degree with a minor in writing.

This new role in client management is a wonderful opportunity for Andrew and for the Company. The Company wins because we can leverage Andrew's talent and commitment to manage client relationships and sales processes. Plus, this move will put Andrew and his wife, Lisa, back home in Indiana near their families. In addition, it offers Andrew the opportunity to learn more about the Company and our clients as he becomes a Client Management Analyst and supports the Indianapolis market and clients. Another advantage to Andrew is that he gets to work with Debi and learn from her many years in HR.

This is truly a "win-win." We in the Communication Business, are sad to see Andrew leave us. But we wish him well as he moves on to a new, exciting challenging role within the Company. (said Laurie) Meanwhile Client Management is thrilled to have Andrew's fresh new talent join our team and help us continue to build and grow a strong and loyal client base in Indianapolis...and sell even more work...in communications and in all our business. (said Debi)

Please join us in wishing Andrew great success with the Company in the future.

========================
It's all true. My first day in Indianapolis is June 16.

"And home, home's anywhere you are too"

It's been a week and a lot has happened including visits to Detroit from Dr. and Mrs. Larry Rosenberg and Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Spires and family. It was a crowded house for a couple of days with my nephew Preston relegated to the office in his pack and play.

It was a good weekend full of visits to Frankenmouth, several good meals and a showing of Indiana Jones at the Palladium, my favorite movie theatre this side of the Applewood 9 on a Thursday night at midnight.

Bergworld has been busy indeed. Work's been interesting recently as I've been busy, yet inbetween big projects for a few weeks. The next will kick off on June 16 and it should be interesting...undoubtedly full of surprises. I think it will be good though. I'm sure I'll write more about it as the kick-off approaches.

In other news, I turn 25 pretty soon. It's been a good quarter century. Ah but our days are but dust in the light of eternity. Here's to a few more years on earth, and thousands upon thousands in heaven.

I am well. I rest in peace tonight. I hope you are well too.

Currently Listening to: Missy Higgins

"Work all day"

The best part of my job is celebrating successful projects with clients. I've had the opportunity to do that twice this year -- once as a lunch in Chicago and tonight as a dinner in Minneapolis. Both were great fun, enjoyable experiences. Laughing, sharing stories and bonding with teammates and the clients. This is the part of my job that will never get tiring...it's labor's reward.

"Always laughing in the midst of power"

I met Philip C. Patrie on in 2002, freshman move-in day at Anderson University. I settled into my dorm room in Myers Hall and caddy (or is it kitty) corner was Phil's room. We struck up a conversation on the way over to a movie/ice cream social outside of Byrum Hall. Within five minutes we were discussing Croquet and Nintendo -- the former of which we later had an argument over and the latter of which we share a passion for to this day...and for the record, I believe I won that very last game of Tecmo Bowl after a long losing streak of about five games.

That night we rode together to the Meijers shopping trip and I remember Phil riding the grocery carts recklessly throughout the store and pulling out his roll of sequenced $2 bills he kept on hand just in case. He had me laughing the entire evening. It was obvious we would be friends.

Arguably the most rounded Halo player in Myers Hall -- we'd have to dig out his old stat sheets to know for sure -- Responsible Jon was always making a run at the flag, but never forfeiting defense along the way. My arch enemy, whom I could usually only kill with a "Chucky"-style suicidal grenade.

A resourceful fellow, Phil is prepared for anything, including the unlikely event of being locked into a locker in the Fine Arts building. No need to call security or go get a tool set. Phil happens to have everything he needs in his pockets to dismantle the lock and escape.

Perhaps one of my funnest college memories, came in a trip in Goldzilla down Taco Bell after a university-sponsored event. The fog machine had filled up the car, strobe lights and Deep Purple blasting through the PA had led to a dance party in the van. When the song ended, we stumbled out of the car, laughing and surrounded by a cloud of smoke. To the line of students outside of Taco Bell, it was a shady sight to say the least, making it all the funnier.

Loft-bulding expert (in dorm or house), video game extraordinaire, seller of used TVs (two to me), perhaps the loudest chapel-goer in the crowd, founding Lounge member, hookah enthusiast, Goldzilla driving, fog machining, PA system addresser to unsuspecting bystanders, accordian playing, Christmas Sweater and S.A.D. party-planner, the funniest guy I know, and a true friend.

As Phil put it when I said my goodbyes at his wedding on Saturday, "These kinds of friendships last a lifetime." It's only been six years and will no doubt be a lifetime making great memories.

"And our lives are forever changed"

I'm super-excited. For what you might ask? Well for several reasons, one of them being the hanging out with good friends time that will occur this weekend at the one-time only PhilAndrea wedding festivities.

I'm also excited to be flying in to Indy tomorrow and being picked up by my sister's family, kids included. I love those little rugrats, and Noel can hold a decent conversation these days - now in her fourth year.

I'm excited for Hacienda.

I'm also excited to be taking off all day on Friday and having fun rather than working.

Excited to see my family...I'll have to stop by my grandparents one day this week.

Excited to be interviewing candidates rather than writing tomorrow - a change of pace is frequently a good thing.

I'm excited for other reasons too, I suppose.

"What have we done"

Seems like exciting times...a lot's going on out there now two years out of school. Consider this:

• PhilAndrea are about to get hitched
• Squatchett are also about to get hitched
• Eileen just graduated from dental school
• Rogers is loving her new personal assistant job
• My amigo Peter just got the Republican nomination for Madison County Commissioner -vote for him in November
• J. Breneman is graduating from the Anderson MBA program and launch a new career

All is well in Mercerworld. I've been traveling on a weekly basis recently. They continue to keep me busy and as my father says, "Busy is good."

Time to get some rest.

"Go to Wisconsin"

Things that Happened in the Milwaukee Airport

• Stood behind three year old triplets and their parents in line for security.
• Purchased and ate a bag of cheese curds.
• Got a $300 voucher for taking a flight that would leave 80 minutes later. Yeehaa.
• Tried to buy a Pizza Hut pizza (Haven style) after taking the later flight, only to find out that Pizza Hut had sold their last pizza for the day and was shutting down at 5:30...what?
• Ate trail mix and a Reeces Candy Bar for dinner.
• E-mailed Phil.
• Texted Rogers 10 times.
• Texted Wilbe 1 time.
• Deleted old voicemails.
• Worked for an hour.
• Listened to my On-The-Go playlist.
• Got on the plane and road in first class style.

"So many foreign roads"

Well the weekend visit with my maternal grandparents was great. Filled with several great meals, some good conversations and quality time spent with loved ones. It was a good weekend.

I also went on Saturday to watch my cousin Alex have a phenomenal round of Big Ten tourney golf. He was 5 under par going into the 18th hole. He ended up triple-bogeying the 18th after landing in a trap and missing a couple of tough putts. But it was still a great round coming in two under par, to put him in 6th place for the tournament after three rounds. Just a disappointing way to end the round. Unfortunately, Sunday's round was a complete collapse and one of his worst collegiate rounds so that was no good.

If you have the Big Ten channel (which I think is only Jason) you might see him on May 14 when they broadcast the tourney. He had a few highlights in the round I watched, including 7 birdeys -- one of which was a chip in from off the green.

I'm in Chicago, tired and getting up at 5:45 to leave for Milwaukee. Tomorrow's going to be a long day. Time to call it a night.

"The air is still"

I wonder if after about 650 posts, I've ever had the same title appear twice. I'm sure it's happened a time or two.

The Pennsylvania presidentail primaries were today and it looks like H. Clinton came away the victor. As much as I dislike H. Clinton, I'd almost prefer to see her beat out Obama as the Democratic nominee for two reasons:

1) I think she would be easier to beat in November. I could be wrong about this one... I think a lot more will become more widely publicized about Obama between now and November that could make it difficult for people to vote for him (e.g., his relationship [friendship?] with Bill Ayers, member of a terrorist organization whose book opens "I don't regret setting bombs. I feel we didn't do enough.")

2) Obama scares me. Read #1 starting after the ellipses.

Either way, I agree with classic conservative viewpoints through and through, and I'll be voting McCain -- although he wouldn't have necessarily been my first choice either. In any event, Lisa and I shook hands with McCain a couple of months ago when he was stumping in Michigan. First time I've shaken hands with a Presidential nominee.

Maybe I'll do some thorough research on all these yayhoos and post a more thoughtful WebLog on our potential presidents sometime soon. Probably not, but maybe.

"The sunlight barely breaking through the trees"

There's a nice full -- or at least nearly full -- moon out this evening. Today was an OK day. Work weeks seem to fly by these days. I know it's only Monday, but I know this week is going to be a quick one. They sure keep me busy down there. Old man Mercer's been busting my hump non-stop for quite some time. Good thing I like what I do, or I'd likely be downright miserable. I guess I'm quite fortunate in that regard.

This weekend my maternal grandparents will be visiting Michigan primarily to watch my cousin compete in the Big Ten Golf Tournament at Michigan State. I think I'll probably meet up with them quite a bit though. I'm looking forward to it. I haven't seen them since Christmas, so it will be a great weekend visit and just relax with them, hopefully enjoying some good weather and taking in a Big Ten championship for 18th ranked IU as well. My cousin Alex Martin is a sophomore on their team, and a downright good golfer as you might expect.

Song of the Day: "Wreckage" by Ben Jelen

"As if there were a mirror"

About time to take a nap, but thought I'd write a quick note for no great reason. Did anybody watch the double overtime Suns vs. Spurs game? That was unbelievable.

It was a nice, relaxing weekend spent chilling at the house. Watched P2 and Into the Wild. Both were pretty good and seemed to live up to -- if not beat -- my expectations. I really enjoyed Into the Wild. Very interesting tale there.

Why the sudden increase in movie intake? Well primarily because we opened up a membership at Family Video so now we can rent movies for half-price for a month. Even after that month passes, we'll still be paying $2.80 for new releases and $1.00 for other movies. This is in comparison to Blockbuster where it's $4.50 for new releases and $4.50 for other movies. That's right, I rented The Money Pit a few months ago for $4.50. I could probably buy it at Wal-Mart for $6.00, but I wasn't at Wal-Mart so I paid ridiculous fees to watch that movie. In any event, I don't like Blockbuster because of their stupid pricing structure. They'll give me four rentals for $18.00 or they'll sell me four movies for $20.00 most of the time. Stupid. I hate it, almost as much as Wilbe hates Space...not as much though.

If you take nothing else from this post, know that The Money Pit is a funny movie.

"Sky is womb and she's the moon"

Being sick really takes it out of you. Last Monday I woke up with a sore throat and got a fever over the course of the day. After the sore throat got worse all week I finally went to the Doctor and got some prescriptions.

This Tuesday Rogers woke up with a sore throat and got a fever over the course of the day. Somehow she'd been immune to it until after I'd been on antibiotics for about 4 days.

I chalk it up to neither of us eating much yogurt recently as Wilbe pointed out.

Anyhow, I'm doing much better but still tired and recovering. Rogers' fever went away after one day (just like mine had), but she's still got a killer sore throat (sounds familiar).

In any event, it's time to hit the showers and the pillow in that order.

• Last song listened to: "Flume" Bon Iver
• Last Movie watched: American Gangster
• Last TV show watched: American Idol
• Last drink: Hot Tang
• Last food: Baby carrots and veggie dip
• Last article read: Best and Worst NFL Games in the 2008 Schedule
• Last hour spent: Fast-forwarding through American Idol, cutting fingernails, updating my resume, surfing the internet
• Last night spent: Working late while watching American Gangster
• Last weekend spent: Sick
• Last voicemail from: Dad
• Last CD listened to in the car: "Sawdust" The Killers
• Last $5 spent on: Baby carrots and veggie dip
• Last spoke to: Lisa
• Last word typed: typed

"Haunt you like a ghost"

Well after effectively wearing myself out and killing my immune system with the trifecta Margot concert - Wilbe's birthday - Spoon concert weekend, I came down sick this week. Probably the sickest I've been in at least a few years as I've been up coughing nights, had a terribly sore throat and even have some sort of eye infection now.

However, all of the events of last weekend were very enjoyable. The Margot & the Nuclear So and Sos (preceeded by Bon Ivar) was remarkably fun. The new songs were great and I can't wait for the new album. Download fairly good recordings from the show by clicking here.

I've been listening to Broadripple and Carnival over the past few days. Those songs are amazing.

That's about it for today's update. Being sick is no bueno, so I need to go rest and maybe watch another movie. Just finished 3:10 to Yuma... it was sweet.

"Sweet Caroline"

A picture post of things that were enjoyable last weekend

The Cast:

Wilbe, Ricker and Berg

The Events:

The weekend kicked-off on Friday night with two Regional Semi-final games, including Stephen Curry wooping keester all over Wisconsin -- even outscoring them in the second half by himself.

Saturday was jam-packed, but not with basketball. In the afternoon we went downtown to the MGM Grand where Wilbe and Ricker tried their hands at Craps with quite successful results.

After grabbing a quick bite at Cheli's Chili Bar (thanks Ricker) we high-tailed it to the Uptown Paladium in Birmingham to continue the Casino theme with the movie 21. It was entertaining.

With some late night Qdoba and Monster energy drinks in us, we set out to conquer New York in the gangsta boardgame "Blood Feud of New York." That game rocks, but it takes forever to finish.

Sunday was spent discussing whether space sucks over Mexican food, then more basketball. Davidson lost by two, which was too bad, but the boys won some more dough at the Casino and Wilbe treated us with a portion of his winnings to Memphis Smoke in Royal Oak for dinner.

Then Ricky and I played Blood Feud again until 5 a.m. on Monday morning. A fantastic weekend. Proud. Proud.

"Endless rain into a paper cup"

I feel like I'm treading water. Exhausted most of the time, just trying to stay ahead of my work. The semi-stressful Easter weekend -- notably not making it down on Friday night and having to get up bright and early on Saturday -- certainly didn't help.

Perhaps this weekend of fun will allow me to catch up on rest and relaxation as Wilbe and Ricker come up for some March Madness. I am scheduled to take a half-day off on Monday to rest-up after a late night on Sunday so that won't hurt.

One of these days I have to squeeze in my taxes and get those taken care of...blarf.

Anybody see the Mayor of Detroit on the news? He pleaded "Not Guilty" to 12 felony charges brought against him for:

• Firing two police officers who were investigating an affair he was having with his chief of staff.
• Lying under oath about the affair.
• Lying under oath about the firing of these police officers.
• Settling out-of-court with those police officers in the amount of $9 million dollars worth of Detroit taxpayer money.

This has been going on since January when the Detroit Free Press published excerpts of literally thousands of text messages between he and his chief of staff during the time of their affair. It's been really ridiculous and I'm glad they've chareged him. He needs to do time for these crimes. It's national news right now...

"Silver hammer man"

Happy Belated Easter.

Easter weekend for the Rosenbergs consisted of a 7-hour drive to Anderson. Yes seven hours due to several inches of snow that just wouldn't let up. It made for a stressful Friday night after a very stressful week of work.

Despite that it was good to be home and visit with family and friends. Easter Egg hunting with my niece and nephew...playing late night Shout About Movies with friends...it was a good weekend. Brief but good.

Nevertheless, I am still recovering. I can't seem to get back in the swing of things just yet. Still exhausted after last week...

But things are looking good. Rogers job seems to be going well so far and she starts another part time job tomorrow morning. I hope they both go well for her. She's going to be a busy woman! Ricky and Wilbe are coming up for the Sweet 16 in Detroit this weekend. Perhaps basketball will bookend a trip to the Casino.

Before you know it, I'll be heading South again for Margot & the Nuclear So and Sos. This spring will be spotted with trips to Indiana, Iowa and likely Illinois.

"You can test my will"

A Fine Frenzy was an awesome concert. Lots of fun. Wilbe, next time she's around, you will have to come up to go to that. Although they are from California, her mom was standing right in front of us. That was strange -- she was in town on business.

If you like A Fine Frenzy download her iTunes live exclusive stuff as well as the song The Well. They are all good.

Work sucks right now. I've billed 24 hours so far this week. That means since Sunday at 8 a.m., I've worked 24 hours. That's too much for my tired bones. I'm sure glad I don't have to work 60-70 weeks very often!

Rogers got a job..."Yeeaaa!" "Bueno!" "Koo"

"Great in the eyes of someone"

I've been awake for 20 hours....ahhh. Of course that's excluding the 20-minute nap from somewhere over Michigan to landing in Chicago. Trips to Chicago -- although not always preferred -- definitely do help me focus on my work.

It's been a long, but successful day. 40ish hours until A Fine Frenzy. I'm excited.

Time for 5.5 before another long one.

"Celebrate we will"

Not to takeaway from my other new post immediately below, but Dave Matthews and his band will be in Noblesville as follows:

Fri 7/25
Verizon Wireless Music Center
Noblesville, IN
On Sale Mar 29 2008 10:00AM local time
Sat 7/26
Verizon Wireless Music Center
Noblesville, IN
On Sale Mar 29 2008 10:00AM local time

Somebody get the camping gear, because rumor has it we're going for two nights this year. After last year's show, how could we not?!

"We can be friends if you want to"

The time has come once again to begin to develop friendships with new people. It's been awhile since I've made a new friend. I would consider Taaha to be a friend, but he decided to move to Chicago so I've only seen him once in the past six months.

These new folks are a part of the Wednesday night class we started going to at church in January. (In fact, we've gone about 8 weeks in a row, which is pretty remarkable for us.) The people we are meeting are great -- although I must say there aren't many males in this little group. But the one male that is there invited me to play basketball with him a couple of weeks ago, which led to me playing basketball and subsequently being very...very soar for the next 3 days.

Most importantly I've been exposed to Scripture and eight more sermons than I would have been otherwise. The video series is called "The Bait of Satan" by John Bevere. In it he preaches about living free of offense. Not being offended by people, handling offense correctly, forgiving, etc. At first I found the guy kind of annoying (mostly his preaching style), but after awhile I warmed up to it. And he's got some darn good things to say.

PhilAndrea are coming up to D-Town this weekend. Should be a good time to catch-up and be friends...and maybe sneak in a game or two of late-night Tecmo Bowl. It's going to be a rip-roaring SouthEastern Michigan weekend.

"Got no regard for the thing that you don't understand"

Concerts I'm going to in March and April:

• A Fine Frenzy
• Margot & the Nuclear So and Sos
• Spoon

Summer:

• DMB
• Coldplay -- their next album is supposed to come out in early summer and then they'll tour North America
• Killers -- I hope they're on tour again!

Happy Leap Day to everyone. Leap Day should be celebrated around the world. It's the seventh Leap Day of my life. 3 more leap days, and I'll be pushing 40.

"Sent my head into a backspin"

Two months into the year and it seems as though it will be another year of perpetual change. It's started with an all night dance party before leading into a ten-day Dexter bender and then a BANG* on the corner of fourth and Campbell.

Rogers has been wearing foot gear to heal a broken foot, has been to the after hours medical center for x-rays on a badly bruised arm and to a regular medical center to drain a badly bruised thumb. She's been looking incessantly for a job...any job that will keep her busy from 8 to 5 p.m. and won't have her working every weekend or evenings. She's had a rough 2008!

Meanwhile, I'm maintaining a status quo. In January, I was in Chicago twice and really enjoyed dining and meeting with two of our clients that I spent about 70% of my time working with last year. Aside from that it has been fairly monotanous recently. They really like me, which has been great. And perhaps most exciting is that one of our lead consultants verbalized that she would back me moving to Indy in a couple of years when I want to be there.

The two of us continue to enjoy several TV shows despite the lengthy writer's strike. Recently Big Brother, Survivor and Lost have kept us busy. For the first time since moving to Detroit, we're really starting to get involved in our church and meet people, which has been good. We're still looking for a Wii...

We enjoyed our first 2008 trip back home over the weekend. It was good to see friends and family. I spent a couple of hours on Saturday putting a puzzle together with my Grandpa and chatting with my Grandma. It was perhaps my most well-spent two hours this month. From Detroit, I always feel like I couldn't spend enough time with them. They've been married for 65 years and won't be around much longer. I really appreciate my Grandparents.

I also had the opportunity to play with my neice and nephew for a little while. It was good.

As the week goes on, I always get more and more tired. I always take my iPod to work on Fridays, and Fridays do usually move quickly. So tonight, I planned to do work, but decided to update my Blog. It had been too long and too infrequent for the beginning of what is promised to be an interesting year.

A Few Things & Events I Look Forward to in 2008

• Margot & the Nuclear so and sos -- concert in April and CD sometime this year, perhaps another show when they tour
• Sweet 16 Basketball --we might just be watching the Hoosiers win that trip to the Final Four live
• Vacation -- Rogers and I are going to go somewhere and it is going to rock! Last year was Chicago and it was a blast.
• Chinese Food -- 2007 was probably my best year for Chinese Food and I want to keep it rolling in 2008
• Dave Matthews Band -- Two nights this year, right? Two days of contact high -- uh oh.
• 25 -- By 2020, I'll be nearing 40. Anybody think 1997 and Third Eye Blind and Matchbox Twenty being new doesn't seem like too long ago?
• Indiana Jones -- I saw the trailer. Old Harry Ford still has it.

And there's a lot more where that came from folks.

Currently listening to: To Run - Josiah Leming

*Upon re-reading, I decided it might be best to point out that the "BANG" was a reference to our hit-and-run car accident.

"The wings are wide"

Having company come to visit your house is a great feeling...and very much appreciated, by the way. Both are that much better when you live several hours away. On that note, thanks very much to those fellows who journeyed north last weekend braving the snowy February weather in Michigan.

It was nice to have you visit and I enjoyed the adventures, including specifically playing a good old game of Risk and sitting in the movie theatre looking straight up and moving my head from side to side for a couple of hours.

You all are welcome up here anytime...Lisa will make some muffins and we'll treat you to $0.33 Cinnamon Rolls from Ikea, if you want to shop at Ikea for Cinnamon Rolls.

It's been 0 degrees in Michigan with windchills at -15. After church yesterday we grabbed takeout Chili's Chips and Salsa and huddled in to stay warm. We watched both A Perfect Murder and Batman Begins. If you haven't seen A Perfect Murder, it's worth a rent. It's a great suspense movie.

I hadn't seen Batman Begins since the theatre so it was time to rewatch in preparation for this summer's The Dark Knight.

In Six Degrees, Viggo Mortenson is in A Perfect Murder and also in The Lord of The Rings with Cate Blanchett. Cate Blanchett was in The Gift with Katie Holmes who is also in Batman Begins.

I really wanted to take LOTR to Liv Tyler who was in Armageddon with Ben Affleck who was a Newsie with Christian Bale. However, I'm nearly certain Ben Affleck wasn't a newsy so that would have been incorrect.

That's enough rambling for one 20-minute period...

Currently listening to: "I Feel it All" -Feist

"Litter little brother spills"

This evening I hooked up the old Super Nintendo Entertainment System and began to play the Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. This was prompted in no small way by the recent re-browsing of the 25 Nintendo Power magazines from the early 90s that I purchased my freshman or sophomore year of college. I know it was one of those two years, because I ripped out all of the posters and decorated my walls.

As I read about A Link to the Past, I couldn't help but get excited about playing that game. I played it for a couple of hours several years ago, but now I am planning to play through the complete game.

The last video game I played was Madden 06 on XBox. I played a whole season and won the Superbowl so I think that's about enough of that game...unless I decide to fire up the old XBox Live account again. We'll see.

The last television season I watched was Heroes Season 1. I would give it a B- or C+. It was entertaining and interesting, but also slow at parts and overall not as well-executed as it could have been.

It's goal-setting time at Mercer. Time to write down what I'm shooting for this year. It would be nice if someone told me what I had to accomplish to get promoted. Then I would write those things down. Perhaps coming up with my own goals is one of the first steps toward that promotion. If I am promoted someday, I'll have 5 more vacation days. That's what I'm working towards folks. I am a fan of taking vacations to rejuvinate.

Happy Fridays to you all.

Currently listening to: "Dogs" -- Damien Rice

"Keep your eyes upon the road"

Perhaps the best Mexican restaurant in Oakland County is a little dive right off of Woodward called Margaritas. While it's called Margaritas, no alcohol is served, which makes for some angry customers who want some dang margaritas with their meal.

Anyhow, the Spanish translation for margaritas is "pearl" and I think that's a perfect name for this joint. I asked someone at our church if they'd been there and he couldn't place it even though he grew up within a couple of miles of the joint. It's a tiny little pearl...not much to look at from the outside. Especially considering its off of Woodward, which is lined with storefronts for 15 miles from Birmingham to Detroit.

We found Margaritas one night while house-hunting. Specifically, we'd visited the house we ended up buying and had asked the owner for some Mexican food recommendations. She pointed us in the right direction. We've only been there three or four times, but you get more bang for your buck at Margaritas than anywhere. For $14 dollars they bring out the biggest platter of fajitas I've ever laid eyes on. Rogers and I could easily eat two meals off of it. (However, since I have a "Leave no food behind" Army approach to eating I manage to stuff myself pretty good.) This stuffing is only aided by the chips and salsa, which aren't too shabby.

Why am I writing this at 1:30 a.m. when I have to get up for work in 6 hours and have a busy day?
1) I was up working anyway.
2) I haven't updated my blog much recently.
3) I might just be headed to Margarita's tomorrow...it's either that or Stuffed Crust pizza.

Happy Weekend, friends. May this weekend be car accident free and full of health and good meals for us all.

"Glad she never fell in love with me"

Well since January is nearly over, I suppose there's really no need to continue my chronicle of Christmas vacation. That was ages ago.

Perhaps more interesting will be a brief description of our hit and run adventure on Saturday evening. It was an exciting night in the Rosenberg household. After hours of debating on what we should do on Saturday evening it was decided we would go to Target. After all, I had a Heroes Season 1 rain check and we like walking around that store. Little did we know the journey home would be even more exciting.

On the southern edge of Royal Oak about a mile away from our house we drove south through a flashing yellow light only to be met by a black car driving east through a flashing red light. I saw the car coming in one second and saw him touch his breaks. The next second we both let out a scream as we spun around. If you haven't been in a car accident, a scream I have found is unavoidable. Kind of like when someone scares you...it just comes out.

We came to a rest a full three quarter turn and a lane over resting perpindicular to the curb and nearly touching a telephone pole. We ended facing east and I saw the car step on its breaks for about two seconds before driving off.

Lisa banged her arm very hard on the car door, but other than that we had no injuries. She quickly called 911 to report the accident. A man named Richard stopped to see if we were OK. He had seen us spinning around, but hadn't seen the whole accident.

Our rear passenger wheel area was completely smashed and the car was definitely not driveable. Do flashers help when you're car is sideways in the street? After standing outside in about 10 degree for a few minutes a police officer came to begin the process of creating a report. He called the tow truck and had the car taken away while we sat in the back of the police car with Season 1 of Heroes, our other Target goods and a few other items we thought it would be better to take with us than leave in a car that was going to the tow yard.

The backseat of a police car is made of plastic -- at least in Royal Oak. We waited for about fifteen minutes while the car was towed and the paper work was completed. The police officer poked around outside with his flashlight and came back with a black Chevy Impala grill and said, "Does this look familiar?"

After having a chauffered ride home in the police car, we tried to figure out what to do with ourselves. Riding home in the back of a police car is never a good thing. But its better than riding elsewhere in a police car or riding to a hospital in an ambulance.

We debated going to the Emergency Room to have Rogers' arm checked out as she was in a lot of pain and couldn't move it much. We called my father who was playing canasta with friends to get his input on whether it would do any good to go right away if the bone was in fact broken. We decided to make a sling out of a scarf and wait to go to a Med Center in the morning.

Thankfully, Rogers' arm wasn't broken and is feeling better already. The car wasn't totaled and is being repaired already. Both were the answers to prayer that we were hoping for, praise the Lord.

$5,000 worth of repairs to the Sebring. I'm wondering if State Farm is going to kick us out of coverage since we've had $7,000+ worth of repairs in six months worth of coverage!

Unfortunately, we had to cancel plans to eat at Middle Kingdom "Best Chinese Food" with my aunt and uncle on Sunday. That should tell you how bad the accident was...

"All the freckles on your face"

It's been awhile...a long while. In fact, I reckon this has been the longest time I've gone without posting on U.S. soil -- if not ever. I have my reasons, most of which are wrapped in a 9-day trip to Indiana, and the others are a lack of motivation.

But to kickoff 2008, let's do a rundown of all things that were enjoyable as 2007 closed and 2008 began.

• Christmas vacation (not the movie) -- it was a great time spent with family and friends for many of the reasons that follow
• Time spent with family and friends -- they helped make Christmas vacation great for many of the reasons that follow
• Great times -- Christmas vacation was a great time thanks to time spent with family and friends
• Grandparents -- This may have been my Grandpa Martin's last Christmas as his cancer has spread and he's been told he has about 6 months left. Thankfully, we convinced him to come spend some time in Indiana for a few days.

From here, why don't I do a Day-by-Day Log of our Vacation sprinkling in a few highlights:

1. We arrived in Indiana, dropped our dog off at Lisa's Mom's house, then went to my parent's house to unpack and great the family. My maternal grandparents arrived as well. My Grandpa was crying as he walked up to the door, so that was touching and sad. It was interesting to see my family talk about his condition and death for the next few hours. The way it was handled was unexpected. After dinner at Hacienda with Cathy we journeyed out with a few amigos to I Am Legend where Shannon grew angry that she was tricked into a Zombie movie and the rest of us enjoyed a good movie -- except for Lisa who was on the bubble and kind of mad about the zombie part too. As it poured rain that night, we decided to venture to Steak 'n Shake for some late-night conversation. It was a good day.
2. After church we ate a fantastic meal at Texas Roadhouse with Angela and Cathy Rogers. We then exchanged Christmas presents with Mama Rogers before heading back to the Rosenberg's for the family Christmas dinner and gift exchange with Grandma and Grandpa Rosenberg. The tree was reloaded Santa's presents for little Noel and Preston and all the other Rosenberg gifts that would be exchanged the following day.
3. This was December 24, but we pretended it was Christmas morning at the Rosenberg household and traditions such as stockings' first, turn-based-opening, and no one gets dressed before noon went off in typical fashion. We later played Outburst and Taboo, the latter of which found Rogers and Becky bonding...Turns out Lisa has a knack for Taboo and Becky really likes to win so the two made for great teammates. That night we went to Madison Park's Christmas Eve service at 11 p.m. to ring in Christmas Day.
4. Christmas Day was spent in Marion with Tom, Angie and her boyfriend, Matt. We exchanged gifts, played Clue and cards, and went to see Charlie Wilson's War, which we all enjoyed. Tom cooked some great food for Christmas dinner. It was a long day in Marion and a good day in Marion.

I suppose that's enough for now. I'd imagine this is fairly boring to read anyhow, but I promised (above) a log of our vacation and a log ye shall get.