So far, in these first nine days of fall, I believe we have had more clear, beautiful, sunny, and nearly warm days than we had all summer. Certainly we have, if we were to count by percentages. The days are still rather chilly, but this is less bothersome as they begin to match the time … Continue reading Fall is here, hear the yell, back to school, ring the bell. →

Berlin, like many great cities, has many great landmarks. But once I got to know her better, I was able to discover some of those special things about Berlin that are typical of Berlin, and set it apart from other great cities. For instance, when we first arrived, Markus pointed out that the street signs … Continue reading Survival on the Streets of Insincerity →

I have put a lot of thought into what I wanted to say about my Berlin trip. I was sorely tempted to use a Pink Floyd line as the title. "Just another brick in the wall" would have been an obvious choice, but for a while I favored "The flames are all long gone but … Continue reading Back in the G.D.R.? →

(And now, the second half of my now-two-week-old, one-in-the-morning ponderance.)I am no longer homesick in the way I have just described. My current state of homesickness is not crippling like the first. It does not really even hurt that much. It is, as I have said, a thoughtful sort of homesickness. I cannot say it … Continue reading A Sort of Homecoming cont. →

A curious phenomenon has struck me tonight that I have never before experienced myself, although I have often read of it elsewhere. I am not sure how to term it, but for now "blogging-lust" will have to do. In short, I needed to write this entry. I am usually slightly skeptical when I hear people … Continue reading A Sort of Homecoming →