Overdoing it again and the lessons to be learned from that; trying to find balance by praying, but how to pray with attention?; Soundseeing in Utrecht; Podcast Plug: SQPN’s Into the Deep.
N.B. I noticed that the sound starts clipping halfway the episode and stopped when I added a new take. This is probably a memory problem on my MacBook and I will keep it in mind when recording new episodes. Sorry for the inconvenience!
Doing a faceplant after a busy week; learning to say no; getting healthier; Tuna Salad recipe; Playing UNO! on FaceBook; Indulgences: are they still around? Podcast Plug: Cliff Ravenscraft – Pursuing a Balanced Life.
A special episode recorded in two different continents, three different cities. I discuss my travel experiences, some first impressions of the United States, American beer and coffee, the CNMC 2009 and why the podcast ended differently then anticipated. Music by Sarah Bauer.
Today it’s June 25 and I am in Roswell, Georgia using CaptJeff’s network to give an update on how things are going. It’s an ungodly hour: 5:27AM Eastern Daylight Time and I am wide awake, getting a first hand experience of the “Jet Lag” phenomenon. I think I went to bed around 9:30 PM yesterday evening after being awake for more than 24 hours. Let be give a brief recap on what happened so far.
So yesterday I got up at 3:30 AM Amsterdam time, so I would be ready at 4:45 AM to walk to the railway station to catch the 5:45 AM or the 06:04 AM train to Schiphol Airport. I ended up catching the 6:04 AM train, hoping it wouldn’t have a delay, since I would be at the airport around 09:00 AM, with my plane leaving around 10:20 AM. I hoped that would be enough time to check in as a stand-by passenger. The train part of the trip went well, apart from the fact I got fined when we barely left Groningen Central Station. I was half asleep when I bought the ticket and purchased a train ticket with 40% reduction before 9:00 AM, because I never travel before that time. I couldn’t pay in cash for it, because I didn’t have any cash on me. The plan was to get some money later that day before checking in. I knew I would pass an ING ATM while walking to the departure hall. So it would be send to me and I would have it within 7 days. Fine, I wouldn’t be at home anyway. *SIGH*
My podcast coming out of limbo, Babylon 5, CNMC preparation: getting a new phone – Sony Ericsson C905. Music: Night Dance by Green Druid and Sonshine by Freja Bluegrass Band.
Yesterday was a very special day, partly because it would have been my granddad’s 90th birthday. I passed away this winter. I went home to see my dad because he had been complaining that he missed me. It had been a while since I spent some time over there, because my life has been hectic the last couple of months. It was about 5pm when I was able to catch a train back to Groningen. I needed to go back to there in time, because some friends had organised a film evening at the very last moment. I wanted to eat something at the railway station, but realised that I could not present myself to the Lord for Holy Communion if I would eat after 6pm. Therefore I decided to walk to the cathedral a bit earlier then planned and start preparing a bit already. When I rang the door bell of the parish house an astonished Fr. Wagenaar opened the door, wondering what I was up to.
When I went to the kitchen and brought coffee cups in the parish hall, he decided he needed some explanation. He had totally forgotten about our film evening . He had the “All right, if you say so and you’re happy with it, it’s fine with me” look on his face and disappeared to his apartment again. After Mass at 7pm we started our film evening and Fr. had to leave for an appointment. The gentlemen decided they were manly enough to get the TV plus DVD set working so the ladies could make coffee, tea and stuff. That was the theory. In practice we were waiting for them after we had set everything up. They couldn’t figure out how to get things working. So I suggested I could have a look and within 5 minutes everything worked. Men… what do you do with them?!
I will write down my review in a new blog post, because the film wasn’t the last event of that day. First of all the film took longer than anticipated, so we were still sitting in the parish hall when our priest returned home. Mark wouldn’t be home at a decent time, so I offered he could stay here. Again… So Mark and I went home and before going upstairs to my apartment, I usually look in the mailbox to see what the mailman got us.
One of the things I saw was that I had received a blue square card from the UK. I suspected Anne would have sent me something again, so when I opened it at home, I wasn’t thinking much of it. Until I discovered €100 in it. I couldn’t believe it! Someone I know via SQPN sent me one hundred euros. It was sooo sweet! I was floored and started to cry . Good thing Mark was there, because I could not believe what was happening. Every time again I’m blown away by God’s love for us and His ways to show it. It’s also incredible that people do this for other people they never saw in their lives. Fr. Roderick Vonhögen probably never envisioned this when he founded SQPN, but I am glad he did. Everything that’s happening within and around SQPN is wonderful and a true blessing for so many people
I’ve linked to feeds from SQPN before, but those were only feeds I am subscribed to. When looking at the site at a brief glance, it’s easy to conclude that they only offer religious podcasts meant for Catholics, which is not the case. I am not Catholic at all, usually I fast forward Catholic subjects, because I really don’t feel like listening to it. Which is the neat thing about podcasts: just forward the boring stuff.
Even though I am not a Catholic and also not interested in becoming one, travel podcasts like The Catholic Insider and shows like The Daily Breakfast are fun to listen to, precisely because they are not geared to a Catholic audience. The host of these shows makes more podcasts about movies (films) and makes an in-depth analysis of similar stories from our cultural heritage (which is partly Christian). Which elements did the makers use and why? Which myths and legends did they use? They answer these questions and make you look to popular films with new appreciation. I will give some direct links to their podcasts over here I think are worth listening to for us non-Catholics:
Via SQPN I heard about The Ringcast (which is another Tolkien-inspired podcast, based on the MMORG). It’s certainly worthwile listening to!
I’m open for more podcasts in this genre. I am particularly interested in a good podcast about Battlestar Galactica, the re-imagined series, that’s currently being aired (well, after the hiatus I mean). So if you know something, I’d preciate to hear about it!! Leave a comment down below or drop me an email. At the bottom left of this page you’ll find ways to contact me.
Photo by realityBesides listening to audio on my trusty old iPod shuffle, I’m also subscribed to video-podcast feeds. My current PC setup doesn’t like playing video in the latest version of iTunes, which becomes clunkier after every new release. I’m playing with the idea to install a dedicated feed aggregator with podcast support and have the videos being played by Windows Media Player or Real Player. Most podcasters, however use Apple proprietary formats like .mov for their videos. Usually I end up watching the video on Youtube or Google Video because my player doesn’t support the format.
Watching video podcasts is more fun for me and it takes less time. The average video podcast (or vidcast) takes about six to eight minutes to watch, whereas a podcast easily takes thirty minutes. I have been looking in the iTunes podcast directory to find videos about getting healthy and doing fitness, because I have to lose about 16.5 kilos to reach my ideal weight of 83.6 kg / 184.3 lbs. (I would have a BMI of 25 with my height of 183 centimetres or 6 feet with that weight, it still sounds very heavy, but okay).
Podcasting is a relatively new phenomenon. Everybody can be the host of their own radio show now, using their own computer with internet connection. It’s as easy as recording an mp3, host it somewhere online, make a feed using feedburner and promote it in the different podcast directories available. In the beginning it was audio only, but nowadays video podcasting, vodcasting is getting popular as well. Video platforms like YouTube enable people to host videos for free and ‘embed’ their content at their own web logs. People can download content to their portable music players and enjoy it during a commute.
You may have heard me complaining about the fact there’s never something interesting to watch on TV or to listen to on the radio, so the whole invention of podcasting has been great for me. I just download stuff I’m interested in and just discard the conventional television and radio stuff. I’m subscribed to a whole bunch of science related feeds, like New Scientist and also to some newscasts. If there’s really a TV show I want to watch, I can do it on demand using the public network’s on demand online video service.
Taquoriaan Had a great session at the neuropsychologist. I'm a bit bummed though that it caused me to miss the Stations of the Cross this week. :( [Taquoriaan].
Taquoriaan Back inside. Had lunch and an energy boost. Preparing to leave for another appointment and after that Stations of the Cross in the cathedral [Taquoriaan].
Overdoing it again and the lessons to be learned from that; trying to find balance by praying, but how to pray with attention?; Soundseeing in Utrecht; Podcast Plug: SQPN’s Into the Deep.
for the Wii (this link helps SQPN!)
. He had the “All right, if you say so and you’re happy with it, it’s fine with me” look on his face and disappeared to his apartment again. After Mass at 7pm we started our film evening and Fr. had to leave for an appointment. The gentlemen decided they were manly enough to get the TV plus DVD set working so the ladies could make coffee, tea and stuff. That was the theory. In practice we were waiting for them after we had set everything up. They couldn’t figure out how to get things working. So I suggested I could have a look and within 5 minutes everything worked. Men… what do you do with them?! 
So Mark and I went home and before going upstairs to my apartment, I usually look in the mailbox to see what the mailman got us.
. Good thing Mark was there, because I could not believe what was happening. Every time again I’m blown away by God’s love for us and His ways to show it. It’s also incredible that people do this for other people they never saw in their lives. 
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