blogger stalkers

i always thought having a stalker (or two) would be cool. ya know, its not really scary for a guy, like it is for a girl, so i thought, "yeah, having a stalker would be flattering."

a couple months ago i found out that i did have stalkers...blogger stalkers. i'd heard of such things before. when the longbrake and i were in krakow, poland we ran into a random dude in the square who said, "Hey, you're thelongbrake, huh? I read your blog all the time." then he asked to get a picture. a little creepy, but also flattering.

so there are these two girls who live in prague. they found my blog through a mutual friend and started the blog stalking. my friends told me about them. one time sunny posted a comment (a little bold for a stalker if you ask me). so, i started reading her blog (re-stalking if you will...and you will). then from her blog i found jessica, sunny's co-stalker.

about two months ago i got the opportunity to meet jessica. it was fun. we hung out. we talked. good times were had. but as i left i wondered, "did i live up to my blog? i mean, this girl is one of my stalkers. i have a lot to live up to. am i as funny in real life as i am in my blog? man, i hope i wasn't a disappointment." maybe that is too introspective and self-consumed, but really, this girl only knows me from my blog and she loves it...its a real possibility that i wouldn't live up to it...

so, last night i finally got to hang out with both of them in what sunny affectionately called, "The 2007 Blog Stalkers Convention". it was fun...also awkward...i know them, but do i really know them? do i shake their hands? do i give them hugs? do i say, "nice to meet you", "good to see you again", or stutter and act like an idiot?

we caught up on old times, like the time sunny found the link to my blog on laura's blog or the time jessica commented on my "white." post, or the time sunny and her friend laughed for a long time about my "haduken" post...oh the fun we had reminiscing!

but sometimes as we talked, i'd start to share a story and i'd realize, "crap, i already blogged about that! can't share that one." it was terrible! i realized that most of my good 'material' is on my blog. so, i made up some stories...

eventually the night had to end. it was sad. we did hug goodbye. we even planned to spend another night hanging out. the relationship is progressing nicely.

new year, new look

yeah, i know the first month of the year is almost over, but, well, i haven't had time to work on this. so, this is it. new look for the new year.

new links to:

bloggers
tv shows
music
preachers

enjoy.

2 Years, 100 Posts

Happy Blogaversary to me,
Happy Blogaversary to me,
Happy Blogaversary, dear naaay-aaate,
Happy Blogaversary to me.

Two years ago today I was sitting in the lobby of a resort on Kauai. I had just finished seminary and was on vacation with my family. I started a blog to chronicle the time leading up to Czech and to share my experiences while in Czech. So much has happened in the last two years.

I've tried to let you in.

I've tried to let you experience life through my eyes (however twisted it may be at times).

I've tried to let you into my heart. To hear why it beats.

I've tried to show you the many faces (and hairstyles) of nate.

I've tried to share my art.

I've tried to share me.

I know that I have been blessed by your comments, emails, and encouragement.

I hope that in some small way I have been a blessing to you.

To another two years (and more...)

*raise glass, look each other in the eye, clink, pound the table, tip it back*

i am the church.

do you want to see the church?

the diversity?

the beauty?

the culture?

the young and old?

see the church.

photo project

My friend, *thelongbrake, had a great idea to do a community photo project on his blog. He had people submit photos to him through email and then he posted them on his blog. There are some great pics on there, so check it out here.

my submission: fallen leaf.

It's a Small (Blogger) World After All

Cue music...OK, are you singing it, or at least humming it? Come on, join in...you know if you do it, those sweet lyrics will be cycling through your head all day...do you need some help? "It's a small world after all...it's a small world after all..." OK, good. Now enjoy the ride.

This morning my friend Bobby B sent me an email to check out one of his friend's blogs. Bobby and I love comics and this posting was about comics, so he sent me to Aubrey's Blog. It was a great post and I noticed that she had some really cool art on her site, so I clicked to make a comment and before making my comment, I read the other comments and to my shock and utter amazement (maybe that is a little hyperbolized), I see that *thelongbrake has posted a comment on her blog.

Now, *thelongbrake is a good friend that I met in the Czech in the summer of '05. He was serving in Slovakia for the summer. He and his friend wrote a funny blog that I read. Then he came back to the Czech this last summer at the tail end of his euro trip. We hung out a lot. Laughed a lot. Went to Poland together. Stormed a castle in Krakow. Hadukened kids. Had fun. I read his blog often.

I don't know Aubrey...I mean, we may have met once...but I don't really remember. I've heard a lot about her, because my friends Bobby and Kyle are starting a church with her and I've heard she is a cool artist.

So, all that to say, I thought it was bizarre that when checking out a blog from someone I don't really know, I saw a post from someone I do know and I don't know how they know each other.

"It's a small, small world..."

First Post

The idea of having a blog is exciting to me. While I love to write, I haven't written anything other than theological and biblical papers over the last four years of my life. As I read other blogs (especially Sarah's) I'm intimdated by the articulate and crafty writting, knowing that my blog will pale in comparison. Yet, I am compelled to write. I am compelled to share what is going on in my life. While I'm in Arizona, I'm sure my blog will be filled with familiar stories, but what will be exciting is when I go to the Czech. My hope is that by having an outlet to share thoughts, feelings, stories, and adventures I will continue to connect with those of you that I consider family and friends. Happy reading and I look forward to reading your comments.

nate