bierkergaard

Today I cleaned out my bill box. It has been piling up like leaves in Autumn for months. In the pile of stuff, I saw Social Security statement and noticed that my date of birth is listed as October 11, 1973 (my D.O.B. is 10/11/1963) which would make me younger than my wife. That would mean that I started paying into Social Security in 1980 when I was seven years old. The way Social Security is looking, that ten years could make the difference between getting benefits and not getting benefits. How is it the government prosecutes all Ponzi schemes but its own? Guess I have to battle Leviathan on this one to get D.O.B. corrected. Ah, government bureacracy--you'd think the computer would catch that one. I had a dispute with Penn-Dot last year when they sent me notification that they were going to suspend my license plate for a car that I no longer owned! After I burned the old bills to ash, I closed the flu to the chimney. There was still one ember burning but I figured that it was no ...

As you can tell, I have a passion for Rocky. Being from the Philly area is a part of it. New York is glamorous, DC is powerful. Philly is, well Philly. Almost but not quite. The Rocky story is the tale of a thumb-breaking tomatoe who gets a shot and makes it stick. There are other characters that are underdogs that I dig. Here's the short list: 1) Charlie Brown - I am not sure what explains the remarkable success of Peanuts. I think all of us feel like Charlie Brown. "Why is everybody always picking on me?" Peanuts put to rest the lie of childhood innocence. 2) Underdog - A humble shoe shiner who takes a pill and turns into a superdog to save Polly. What was in that pill anyway...doggie roids? 3) Spud Webb - Winning the NBA dunk contest at 5'7"

I like to run. However, recently, when out in Minnesota visiting family for Thanksgiving, I decided to not exercise much and conducted an experiment as if I was the star in my own reality show called "The Biggest Gainer." I came back from the trip 8 pounds heavier. On the Sunday after Thanksgiving, I was starting to loathe myself more than usual (typically, I just have a mild self-malaise). A combination of stuffing myself with Cheetos and other crap plus laying around like a slug and watching tv motivated me to run like Forrest Gump when he grew that big old beard and hit the road. Running, not more rest, brought renewal.

In the spirit of the Thanksgiving season, here are my "Top Ten" reasons for me to be thankful: 1) Salvation & Grace of God - While we were/are yet sinners 2) The Bible - How eagerly I would want it if I couldn't have it 3) My wife Lina - The love of my life 4) My family - Odd as it is 5) My Church - Wheatland PCA 6) Pastor Bruce and his wife Carol 7) Books - My friends when I was lonely 8) My Job - The kids at Northeastern HS are the best 9) Doctoral Work at Temple University 10)Yuengling Lager - Hmmm. 2nd time I mentioned this in my blog, maybe I have a problem. As we become more grateful, we become less prideful.

I usually come dressed to church like a slacker. Blue jean pants, sport shirt (if that). I think it honors the Sabbath. Dressing up in a suit and tie starts to look like work. Then, it becomes "Works Salvation." Blue jeans equals Grace. Come as you are, as you were, like Nirvana sang. One Sunday, though, after being pseudo-chastised by "No great formal dresser on Sunday" Tom Becker, I decided the following Sunday to wear my best suit--the one that my wife Lina hand-picked for me for our West Coast reception of our wedding (a lot of her family couldn't make it back East for the first wedding reception following our ceremony so we had an almost entirely Taiwanese function out in California--family and food). Well, I pulled a good joke on old Tom the following Sunday at church who immediately got the attire response gag and cackled like a crow (it was pretty obvious as I never dress up). But, alas, the joke was on me. As long as a dressed like a slacker, I was unde...

I drive my wife a little crazy about my poor sense of direction. Last night we went to a restaurant in Landisville that is about 5 miles from our house. Well, I took a wrong turn. She has a much better sense of direction than I. But, I could whup her in arm wrestling so my authority is maintained. I console myself with the idea that pigeons have a great sense of direction, and they are pretty stupid animals. Maybe that doesn't reflect well on my intelligence. The restaurant was great...not too pricey, good food. It is The Black Knights Bar and Grill on 335 Main Street in Landisville (ph. 717-898-7234). It is easy to get to...for most people.

My lovely wife Lina has her own blog (click title above)...check it out. It has kind of put me on notice that I better resume blogging too lest my reputation in our marriage as being the writer gets tarnished. Hence, the "Rise of Bierkergaard" quote. When we were dating she said that I wrote my emails like a Ph.D student but talked on the phone like 15 year old. Go figure...working as a high school guidance counselor has damaged my verbal skills permanently. Like, dude, no way man, dude. I am not going to take LinainLancaster laying down if for no other reason that I need to provide my perspective when she mentions me in her Blog and may sully my fine reputation. Ahem, only kidding dear. It is true that I didn't not shed a tear when we watched the film "Beaches." I am to be commended, though. When she asked me if I cried, I could have probably scored a few points if I said that I did. But I told her the truth, "No." The truth may set you free and p...