In Defense of the Dead Superhero

     This isn't going to be a standard Brian and Ukraine post. I just saw Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice and couldn't resist writing out some of the thoughts I had as I was leaving the theater. That's the nice thing about having a soapbox. I can use it as I please. As a warning, if you have the slightest interest in seeing this movie, don't read this post. Everything below the fold will be spoiler territory. I will reference some very specific portions of the film which are pivotal to the story. Turn back now if you don't want that ruined before seeing it.

Dream Weaver

     I've talked a little bit in the past (mostly in passing) about my sleeping habits. But last week, it occurred to me that I should probably write about it. It's something that people don't hear about a lot unless you ask about it. And on the hierarchy of personal problems, it's usually not anywhere near the top. But after last week, it's worth writing about.

Time For Me To Fly

     There were many times over the past few days where I wish it was indeed time for me to fly. Alternatively, this post could be titled "Too Much Time on My Hands" or "Good Times Bad Times." That's what it felt like for a good portion of the travel I undertook the past few days. To preview the upcoming post/rant, I will simply say this. NEVER, EVER FLY THROUGH PARIS AIRPORT! That, and the air traffic controllers of France owe everyone flying through there yesterday Two Tickets to Paradise.

Saturday in the Park (part duex)

     Disclaimer: Parks were visited in the making of this post. For all who were disappointed by the lack of parks in last Saturday's post, you can stop complaining now.

Jet Airliner

     I actually started writing this post on Thursday. But due to reasons that will become apparent, I couldn't post it the same day. And as a look into the creation of the post, I started writing it sitting in front of gate B1 in Detroit while fighting some serious motion hallucinations. Kind of like how sailors get "sea legs" and then feel wobbly on dry land, except I was sitting still and felt like I was in a turbulence-shaken plane. I was glad to finally get to my bed in a hotel in Iowa.

Saturday in the Park

 Disclaimer: No parks were visited, perused, or harmed in the making of this blog post. This post is a work of "fiction." Any resemblance to a park, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Visiting parks does not increase chances of a better blog post. Seek medical or professional attention for parks suddenly existing where none were before.

     Sadly, the above disclaimer is (mostly) true. Not that that's a bad thing. We just didn't have parks on the docket today. What we (not in the royal "we" sense) had on the schedule was a basketball game, rock climbing and youth group. And, wow, was it a fun day.

I fought the law...

     In yet another fit of creativity this week, I'm posting something else for your viewing pleasure. Today on {radio announcer voice ON} BRIAN AND UKRAINE! {radio announcer voice OFF} we have a confounding confectionery conundrum.

International Women's Day

     Yesterday, I went out and bought a big pile of chocolate for International Women's Day. I mentioned it yesterday, but it's not a romantic thing. It's a socialism thing.... No, not really any more. It was started as a socialist political event but has since morphed into a general appreciation day. So most of the items in the picture will be going to some of the women I know.

My haul, of which I only get to keep two of the eggs pictured in the center.

English Club Antics

     Last week, David had the idea for a new game. The goal of the game it to write simple stories in English. It basically goes like this. The students are divided into five different teams. Each has a piece of paper. The team has to write one sentence. Then the paper gets passed to the next team and they write a sentence. This goes on until there are five sentences. So we have five different stories created in collaboration with over forty people on Monday and about thirty-five on Sunday. As David said on Sunday, "These are stories that have never been heard before." If you can understand the hand-writing, you'll have a good laugh from these.

Sunday/Monday

     This post is part two of my mom's adventure here. Like in the last post, her comments are in italics. 

Friday/Saturday

     I've finally had a chance to sit down for long enough to write out some things we've been doing. Yesterday wasn't very busy but it was a lot of fun. But Saturday was very busy. It took a while for me to be able to sit down, relax and think through all the things I wanted to say in this post. And for the first time, I have a guest writer. Since my mom is here, she'll be adding some of her thoughts here. I'll put her words in italics so you can see what she wrote.

My mom and Sasha.

Quick note

My mom is here! She got in about 2:45. We made it back to the city with no problems and had an excellent dinner with the Eides. We're back st my place now. She's sleeping and I'm waiting for my normal bed time. That is all.

Ramble On

     I had it again. That realization. I was walking to the office Wednesday morning for a meeting and I realized that I'm living in a foreign country. I think it's my subconscious trying to keep me from getting too complacent. Not in Kansas any more, through the looking glass, down the rabbit hole and all that.