Monday, November 30, 2015

Occupational Hazard

While this problem is not restricted to church musicians, it's definitely an issue for us:
EARWORMS--those melodies that stick in your head and won't let go!

posted by Stahlkes @ 9:59 AM 0 comments

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Thanksgiving

Ukrainian culture values family and extended family more than most of us do in the United States.  So when it's time for a holiday, and especially a celebratory meal, our children go the extra mile to help prepare food, clean the house, and host our guests.  In fact, if we don't have guests, they're disappointed.

I am thankful that our children value this, and look forward to our day together at church and home, in the company of friends and family.  The big change, however, is that for the first time Paul and Rachel are not with us for Thanksgiving.  I miss them, and wish them the best on their celebrations today in Texas and Washington state.

posted by Stahlkes @ 8:30 AM 0 comments

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Winter is Here

"If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes (and it will change).” 

 Well, it didn't change quite THAT fast this week, here in Chicago.  But . . . last Monday, I gardened in our yard with a T-shirt and no sweater.  This morning, as I drove to church, the snow lay in deep mounds along the road, and the temperature gauge on my car measured 14 degrees.

 PS Just saw in the Chicago Tribune that Saturday's snowfall was the largest for any November day in the last 120 years!

posted by Stahlkes @ 12:31 PM 0 comments

Friday, November 20, 2015

Things Swedish II

Drinking a lot of coffee
It's no secret that Swedes are some of the world's biggest coffee drinkers, with on average three cups consumed per person every day. But there are also very intricate rules as to where and when you drink it. I could write a dissertation about this, but here are the basics: I drink a cup in the morning to wake up; if everyone else around the table has a cup, I will have one too for social reasons (this is egalitarian Sweden, after all); I always accept coffee when it is offered, because it is rude not to; and I even have a cup just before I go to bed to relax. Yes, of course I am still able to sleep, why would I not be?
source: Loefgren, Emma. "My Swedish habits that foreigners just don't get." Published: 22 Apr 2015, thelocal.se

posted by Stahlkes @ 11:28 AM 0 comments

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Things Swedish I

I follow a English-language website for Swedish news, which often publishes lists of various things.  I sometimes find that my own personality traits show up in these lists.  In a recent article "My Swedish Habits that Foreigners Just Don't Get," written by a Swede who lived in England, here is Habit #1:

Numbering the year in weeks
Swedes like rules and context, and not knowing what week we're in, in relation to the calendar year, makes us uncomfortable . . . . Therefore, we have taken to numbering all the weeks of the year from 1 right up to 52. So instead of saying “the week starting Monday, April 20th” we will simply say “week 17”. Not only that, but we will know instinctively what week it is without checking. 

posted by Stahlkes @ 2:24 PM 1 comments

Friday, November 13, 2015

Lifts Your Spirits

This morning at the grocery store, I saw an adult male shopper perched on the back of his shopping cart, riding it all the way across the parking lot to his car.  He was not a young kid.  Made me smile!

posted by Stahlkes @ 11:44 AM 0 comments

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Endurance (Again)

We have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.  May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

- Colossians 1:9-12

posted by Stahlkes @ 11:33 AM 0 comments

Monday, November 09, 2015

Witnesses: Jonathan, Peter and I

Lombard Man on Bicycle Killed 
in Oak Brook Crash

A 43-year-old Lombard man, riding a bicycle, was killed when he was struck by a vehicle Sunday near the intersection of Route 83 and 16th Street in Oak Brook.
Pedro Jimenez was found down the road from the intersection, police said, when they and the Oak Brook Fire Department arrived on the scene about 5:58 p.m. and found Jimenez suffering from traumatic injuries. Jimenez was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the vehicle, a Westmont man in his 50s, was not injured. He was taken to the Police Department, where he provided a statement and was released.
Initial driver and witness statements indicate that Jimenez disobeyed a red light as he entered the intersection, police said.
The Felony Investigative Assistance Team was contacted and responded to the scene to assist Oak Brook police, including conducting a crash reconstruction and investigation. The investigation was continuing Monday.
source: Chicago Tribune 11/9/15

posted by Stahlkes @ 10:42 AM 0 comments

Friday, November 06, 2015

Spread Out

The conference call begins every Friday morning at 8:00 am.  For me, that is, who lives in the Chicago area.

My brother calls in at 7:00 am from his home in the Colorado mountains.  And my sister often telephones at 9:00 am from her workplace close to the National Mall in Washington, DC.

Ah, American life.  My friends in Germany and Hong Kong went away to university, but mostly returned to their hometown.  We Americans, however, tend to spread ourselves out all over the United States.  It's definitely part of the culture in our country.

posted by Stahlkes @ 11:35 AM 0 comments

Thursday, November 05, 2015

Autumn Glory

I am not partial to gingko trees, but their color in the fall is SPECTACULAR!


posted by Stahlkes @ 2:34 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, November 04, 2015

Cute Pic

Rachel celebrated Halloween with the extended Stahlke clan in Austin, Texas, where she attends university.  She wore a very adorable costume, and I want to share the photo with you!


posted by Stahlkes @ 2:03 PM 0 comments