Hello. My name is Mr. Frustration. I like to bother Ryan.

Anyway, we're going to be moving in July to a little town called Salem, WI. I'm trying to figure out the cheapest phone service. I'm thinking Julie and I could both have a cell and then not have a line in our apartment. The only thing is that I don't know if there's sufficient coverage in our area. I don't even know how to find that out! I don't know if getting "shared minutes" would be better or if it would be better to just get 2 phones. So...I'm just sitting here, my brain swimming, getting more and more frustrated. YIPPEEEEE! hehe I'm sure it'll all work out just fine.

Here's to technology!! THPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP.

One of my favorite Simpsons episodes is on:

Homer and Flanders are driving through the snow together and then the car hits something.
Flanders: I think we hit something!
Homer: I hope it was Flanders! What, I was just kidding! hehe, You're alright.

Still in car...
Homer: Mr. Plow, Mr. Plow, that name again is Mr. Plow!

Skinner: Gonna, wouna, shouna.

Skinner stuck in the snow: Get me out of here!
Bart: What? You want the pee bucket on you head?
Skinner: You're twisting my words!

Ralph: It's cold and hurty.

Well, junk. I changed my template but forgot to save the old one so I lost the whole sidebar thing. Oh, well. I'll fix it later. Maybe.

Took me a few minutes, but I finally found it out:

"One of the most frequently asked question about the Montreal Canadiens is where does the nickname "Habs" originate.

Legend wants it that the "H" on the Canadiens logo stands for "Habs" instead of Club de Hockey Canadien. The fable began in 1924 when US reporter Tex Rickard was falsely informed by someone that the "H" stood for "habitant", a french word that in those days was used to refer the farmers of Quebec.

Rickard was told that the french players on the team came from farms and were therefore, "habitants". At the time, the Canadiens were viewed upon as the french team of Montreal, whereas the Montreal Maroons were the english team.

While the nickname "Habs" resulted from this disinformation to Rickard, the "H" in the logo has always stood for Hockey, it is taken from the club's official name "Club de Hockey Canadien". The Canadiens are also referred to as "Les Tricolores" (the team with three colours), "Les Glorieux" (The Glorious Ones), and "La Sainte Flanelle" (The Holy Flannel)."

I know people who are very cynical about "praise and worship music." Well, phooey. There's nothing better than spending time with the Lord and then worshipping Him with the aid of some incredible music. "Better is one day in your courts than thousands elsewhere." Can a statement BE any more true?? In the tradition of Pastor Jim Hayford, I would submit to you that there is not. For some reason, God is really comforting me today. You may ask, "What do you need to be comforted for, Ryan?" I would reply, "I honestly don't know. You just have that un-peaceful feeling sometimes, ya know?" Then you'd say, "Yeah." Then I'd say, "When are we gonna get a dang frisbee golf course around here??" Then you'd say, "I know! Seriously!" I digress...

Maybe there's one in Kenosha.

Well, you may remember I "critiqued" a book by Jim Mulholland called "Praying Like Jesus." I said the book was "terrible" and "dumb" among other things. I gave specific examples of why. Well, today I received an email from...Jim Mulholland stating that he had "stumbled upon" my critique. Great. He actually agreed with some of my statements and said he enjoyed "conversing with someone who thinks my book is dumb." hehe He did a better job explaining himself in our emails than he did in the book, I thought. I must say, it was quite unexpected! (for the original review see 2/4/02)

This is not a joke: There is a business in our area called "Death Electric." I see the van all the time. Skull and cross bones and everything. Why would you name your electric company DEATH? Search me...

What a dreary, yucky day. Gray and rainy. Plus, I got to sleep really late because "The Season" on ESPN got it's hooks into me. So this whole day I've been kind of groggy and my concentration was horrible. Ever have those daze? That was intentional. A daze day. Maybe I'm still in it because this is barely comprehensible...

I suppose I oughta update this puppy. What a weekend!! Friday night we "performed" our 7 monologues for our Good Friday Service at church. I was Zacchaeus and it went off without a hitch. Except I left out a few of my lines. Whatever. I actually DID go very well and it was quite impacting. Then Julie and I got up at 5am to go "guard the tomb" from 6-10am. Our church erects a huge tomb representing the one Jesus was placed in. Then from 6pm Friday until 7am Sunday, people from the congregation guard the tomb in 4 hour shifts. Pretty corny, but it's tradition and everyone around here knows we do it. So Julie and I put on our guard uniforms (hilarious) and stood at attention for our four hours. We played 20 questions, cooked some dogs on the fire, counted how many passers-by actually looked at us...we really had a fun time together! It was fun to really be a part of the church and get involved. Then at noon we got together with some of the youth to prepare Easter breakfast...

Saturday night I watched the games and we rested a bit because Sunday morning required an early rise again! We got up at 5am and got to church about 6am to get the Easter Breakfast ready. The youth have traditionally served breakfast after the sunrise service and this year was no different! About 6 of us got there early to cut up fruit, cook our egg casseroles, make and cook pigs in a blanket, etc. Then we ate after the service and it went really well! Everyone who was there seemed to appreciate it and some even donated financially. booyah. That was really nice. Then we cleaned and for Sunday School we played a hilarious game for an hour. It really was a GREAT bonding time for us!

Julie's parents then came for the 10:30am service which went great. The sermon was really good and the music was...Eastery. hehe After service, Mr. and Mrs. Grahmann treated us to Houlihan's and I proceeded to leave my leftovers there. I was SO sad...Dublin Pot Roast...I MISS YOU!!! Then we had a nice visit with them until the early afternoon...and zonked out.

On MONDAY we got to go to our B&B that we spent our honeymoon at. It was just as we remembered it, but ths time is was...dare I say...better? NO pressure whatsoever was great. We got to just relax, watch the National Championship game...among other things. It was so excellent. So on our way home we decided to stop to see if my dad was around. Unfortunately, we missed him. So, I asked Julie if she wanted to go see "Ice Age." It was spontaneous and she loved that. We got there RIGHT on time and the movie was great! Funny and yet, not JUST funny. The story was cute and had Julie crying once even. hehe We left the movie and went to Noodles for a late lunch before we went home, too. One of our favorite places.

So, it's Wednesday now and I'm still busy. Getting ready for youth group. But, the last 5 busy days have been wonderful. Enjoying my wife and ministry...the way it ought to be.