Merry Christmas

We leave for California in the morning. I can't stand to be at work right now... it's dragging on very very very slowly, so very slowly.

Cheers and Merry Christmas to our friends in LA who will be celebrating together tonight. Drink and be merry and think of us from time to time with a toast WE MISS YOU ALL! And a big Congratulations to the Gloyd's at Jackson's first Christmas.
ALSO... A MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS to our family in Michigan, we will miss you this week!


Until next year!

With Love,

The Harbaughs

last night we played Balderdash and drank wine with Beeman/Dennis and company. It is a game that is ok. I get upset at game sometimes though. I think I should win more often than I do in real life.

There is snow here. it is maybe 6 inches. Becca took pictures. they are on a camera.

Becca made spaghetti last night. it was tasty. it had red chicken sauce. I made pizza once.

sundya was the 75th anniversary of my field work church St James. not many people where there though because that was the morning after a big snow and the roads were bad. driving in the snow/slush/ice is like the equvalent of spotting yourself 5 beers before getting into a car. Except instead of the affects of alchohol working against you, it is the earth.

I have a Greek Test on Thursday and a Hebrew test on Friday. and then it is break.

we're gittin redy to go to califeeny.

et wil bee a fun crismus.

we lik sanna n presunds.

ets to col heer.

in califeeny ets mor wharm n we lik dat.

i got a job here. I tell people not to touch stuff.


This is what becca does.

we have advent services at our church on wed. it works out well, because on wednesdays we go to our new favorite hangout - the ritz-Carlton. They have free sushi on wednesdays. tonight i ate about 4 rolls. burp.

Last time i was at the Ritz, I saw Tony Larussa. the day after he pleaded guilty to a DUI charge.
I guess we just missed out on some big doings.
The room Larussa enters in this video at 1.30 is where Becca and Kristin and I were. sweet.

we saw "Gentlemen prefer blonds" last night. the movie theaters in St louis are sweet. Every one I've been to serves beer. Our favorite is an old shriners temple lodge with sofas and 3 dollar PBR tallboys.

update

i am in hebrew class. i have learned the alphabet, but other things are hard.
becca is working in a law office downtown. she rides the metro and sees weird people.
she is thinking about talking classes about being a teacher.
we went to michigan for thanksgiving. on the way we stayed with Dan bush in chicago. we drank 50 cent high lifes and tequila. he has a good cat.
michigan was cold. i showed becca colon. we went into a magic shop.
we also went to bells brewery with my pal john and his wife april. yum.
we went to the lake.
on the way home we drove past dan quayle's museum and a combo james dean/garfield museum.

we go to santa rosa, ca for christmas time.

happy advent!

Thanksgiving

Kitchen Witchin

WE'RE NUMBER 2!!!! oh, wait.

I was excited because I heard that now we're number 2! I thought, well who's number one. Oh. Yeah.

tim n eric

T & E

we saw Tim and Eric. It was good. We both liked the video about "all i want to do is it on you." It was nice.
We actually saw them twice. Friday was videos with commentary and QnA. Sat was live stuff. it was all funnys.

Our trip to the City Museum

today we went to church and then we got some pizza, but then we missed out favorite LA pizza joints because the pizza wasn't very good.
then we went for a big walk and drank teas and read newspapers.

Halloween

Holloween was cool.



----

It is Greek to me.

I took up the whole armor of God so that I was able to withstand in the evil day. I took up the Breastplate of Righteousness, donned the Helmet of Salvation, shod my feet with the Converse of Peace and then smoked the shiz out of my Greek qualifier. I got a 100%, which to toot my horn, is a rare feat indeed.

My boo and I are now celebrating with the Sword of the Spirit, which is a liter of St Bernardus Abt 12 Belgian Abbey Ale.




Watch out Hebrew. I will soon smite yo mama.

Happy Novemberfest

HAPPY REFORMATION DAY!

city museum

We went to the best place ever. The City Museum. It has whales and stairs and parts of buildings and slides and trains and paint and turtles and airplanes and castles and ball pits and pipe organs and a cave system and a log cabin bar.
It is better than tom sawyer's island. It is better than all of disneyland and any other amusement park I've been to.

weather

It's getting cold! It will only get colder! What's the difference between partly cloudy and partly sunny?

Typical night in the Harbaugh Household

Trapped In The Drive-Thru

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worky

I have worked here for the last tow weeks in the sales department. It's not too bad, it's actually fun. Being a temp is not very fun, it's so transitory and agitating by nature. I'm learning that I value consistency and relationships in a work place. I miss Catherine's (Bob, Catherine and the dogs) and I miss feeling like I belong. The staff at CW is great however, and even got me a cool Halloween gift (pumpkin Body Wash!). I think they secretly want me to stay but sadly have no place for me when the lady I'm covering for comes back. I imagine her to be an overbearing witch monster trying to ruin my chances of a permanent position in STL, in all reality she, from the looks of her desk and desktop (I'm voyeuristic by nature) is a sick grandma who needs this job More then me.
Next week it's Back to the law office (where I was before) unless another lead or opportunity comes along. I would like to take this opportunity to give a shout out to all those ladies (Amanda, Lisa, Amber, Linda) looking or who had to look for a job recently. Shout!
OTHER then feeling tempy life is good. Fall is here and we had a sweet pumpkin carving party at Dave's and Kristen's. They have nice fun friends and we are spreading the gospel of celebrity (the game that is) to all we meet. I went to Indianapolis to visit old friends (Courtney and Eric) this weekend and it was nice to catch up. The drive was sureal. I drove through Terre Haute , where I lived for three years growing up. It still smelled like poop and Indiana still gives me the creeps. I swear there is something in the air there, if it was not for the great friends I have still kept over these years I would never go back. Watch, now we will end up there on Vicarage. Poop.

We book Christmas tickets soon!! We will spend Christmas in Santa Rosa and Thanksgiving in Michigan, we are very excited. The big bummer however, is that I do not think we will be able to venture out to Southern California this December :(. We are shooting for this Spring. It's cheaper and that way more people will hopefully be around.

Darren made a sweet video about the Octoberfest we went to a few weeks back. We will try to post that soon, maybe combine it with the Concordia Octoberfest taking place this friday! PROST!

harbaugh simpsons

Cool. We are Simpson characters.

Beans, Jesus, fish, bikes, and stuff

After many hot days, it is finally cooling down a bit here in St Louis. I give it a warm welcome. No, wait that doesn't make sense.
Anyway, Becca and I went on a bike ride today. It was joyous. Until the chain on my bike broke and I cursed at it.
Becca is making a bean soup thing with ham and onions and garlic and tomatoes. it smells yum.
Today I translated a verse where Jesus had bread and fish and blessed it. It made me hungry.
I also translated a verse where there was Jesus and scribes and priests and children. Someone was saying "Hosanna" and some other people were really mad. I'm not sure which was which, which probably means I should go study my participles a little more.
Then there was a verse I translated about Jesus walking around a lake. That did not make me hungry. But then it talked about Peter and Andrew fishing and then I got hungry again.
All in all, I think it was the fault of the bean soup. or Jesus and his crazy fish. But to play it safe, I'll stick with the beans.

grandparents and beer

Becca's grand parents came to visit. We went to the budweizer factory, church, and oktoberfest. In that order.

Becca's grandparents are in town and we are having a good time. Becca's grandpa Duke and I went to the Cardinals/Bowling Hall of fame this afternoon and we are all going to see/hear some jazz tonight. Good times.

LOOK AT US

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

The War

We like The War. We have been watching it religiously. We like all that Ken Burns has done and will do. (Hint, hint. Christmas presents.)

We freakin rule!

Becca and I saw balloons flying in the air on the way to the Cards game that I sang at. Our camera was dumb though so there was not much footage, but I suplemented it with sweet jams.

It was pretty cool to sing at the game. I got to walk on the field. Joel Pinero and Yadier Molina were warming up right in front of us. There was also a celebration of the 1987 cardinal NL champs team so I saw Jack Clark, Whitey Herzog, Vince Coleman, Ozzie Smith, and a lot of other dudes I had never heard of.

New house

The Great Forest Park Balloon Glow

We went to the Great Forest Park Balloon Glow last night. It is held every year before the balloon race. It was fun.

Then we went to the Fox and Hounds Tavern. I believe we found a home away from home.

We play tennis now. Becca beat me. It made me sad. I want to be the next Richie Tenenbaum

We like watching South Park. It is fun.

I with sing the national anthem with the Concordia Seminary Chorus this Saturday at Busch Stadium.

We will post pictures soon.

We are no longer going to see the white stripes or the cold war kids because the tour is cancelled. I guess the white stripes are sick or something.

Becca is still looking for a job. She is making soups.

We hung out with former Biolan/Southern Californian and current CWK associate Dave Beeman and his lady friend Kristen and lots of cats. We played darts and ate Hot n Spicy Cheese It's together. I was pretty excited about the Cheese Its part especially. good times.
We also saw this guy David Bazan play music. It was cool. The best part was the beer selection at the venue. It was, I kid you not: Michelob Ultra, Michelob Light, Bud Select, Busch, Tequiza, Bacardi Silver, and Bacardi Raz. I was amazed. A gold star to whomever can guess which libation I chose to partake in.

I'm still Greeking it up. I am learning about adjectives now.

I also joined the Seminary Chorus. I will be singing in chapel on wednesdays and for special events. I've also got my first gig as Seminary Bartender this Monday during the Theological Symposium. Sweeeeet.

There are lots of squirrels and bunnies around our apartment. They are funny bunnies. Becca thinks the squirrels will bite her ankles though. There are also two ducks that like to chill in between the library and the fountain. They are my bros.

Info about our new church is here. Pictures to follow.

Greek is going well for me. Becca has many interviews.

I like oberon beer. YUM!

Elvis Costello and Bob Dylan are playing in St Louis, but we can't see them because we are poor.

But we get to see the white stripes and cold war kids in chicago. HOORAY!!

things

We like this place. it is fun. tonight we drank beers. we also ate here. it had tasty tapa olives, mushroomy, cheese, budweiser things.

Road Trip recap

Here is a quickly thrown together recap of our trip and Darren's opening ceremony at Concordia among other things that we have been enjoying in St Louis. Please excuse our 3.2-mega-pixel camera and our shaky video work. We miss everyone.
love
b&d

we went here. it was fun.

Moving in

We are in our new place. The movers came today. Part of our shelf is missing. Becca’s box of shoes is missing. My box of coffee mugs and beer making kit is missing. My chair is missing a leg.

We have a new address. It is all the same except it is 12D instead of 14A. We were moved again because the other place is broken.

We bought a big new comfy bed and pillows that smell like cookies. It is all very nice, but I probably could have bought 5,000 beers for the same price.

Becca has been telling everyone we see about Ron Paul. She has a big crush on him. I’m jealous. I’m going to knock him out. Naw. I like him too, but I follow the old adage about never talking about politics or religion in social situations. No wait. One of those can’t be right.

Today was my first day if orientation. It was good. I might work at the library part time. I’m going to work as a bartender at seminary events like lectures, theological symposiums, preview days.

We bought a chair and two dresser things at the seminary thrift store. Oh and a toaster oven and pot thing.

I just made chocolate milk.

There is a food bank on campus. You can visit it twice a month for food. I wanted twislers and cheese its, but instead we got things like tuna fish and bbq sauce.

It is hothot hot here. Its 100 degrees all the time.

We have been watching tim and eric show and southpark.

I found a cool blues radio station and called and won tickets to a blues show next Sunday.

The other day we went to the zoo and saw an okapi. It is my favorite animal. It is like a zebra/giraffe thing. I wish it played for the Tigers. It would be a better left fielder than Craig Monroe.

We found places that we like here. We ate a burrito at chipotle and got beers at trader joes. Those are two of our favorite places. Hooray!

We will tour the bud plant soon.

the lou

3:11pm sat 8/25/07
We have arrived in St. Louis.
It was a long journey but we are here. We are staying in a dorm room/guest housing because our apartment won’t be ready until Monday (new carpeting).

We are going to go explore our new hometown. There is an area called “The Loop”. It is where the streetcar used to turn around back in the day. The Loop is a few blocks on Del Mar Blvd where there are cool bars (one with 50 beers on tap. Yum. I will drink them all. Tonight. Now) and restaurants, a cool old theater (the Trivoli), a sweet music venue (The Pagent), and Chuck Berry’s bar, Blueberry Hill. He performs there every month or so. That would be a fun show. We cruised by The Loop when we visited in the fall and I am anxious to check it out tonight.

The trip across the USA was fun. I had all these audio books to listen too, but we mainly ingested local radio. It set a good mood. A local Navajo station while driving though Monument Valley provided an interesting mix of tribal songs and Michael Bolton-ish 80’s ballads. Blues in Kansas City

DENVER

City, beer, pizza and you tube watching this guy:



Ron Paul 2008!

road trip

we are at a bed and bfast in castle valley UT.

grand canyon = good
vegas= good. and all that stuff

later

OUR TRIP TO THE MIDDLE

8/20/07- Vegas Baby Vegas (drive time- 4 hours)


We are packing up the back house we have so graciously been allowed to stay in thanks to Catherine. Our plan is to leave at 1pm and arrive into Las Vegas around 6. We are staying on the Strip (Bally’s) for one night. I’m going to win big with our allotted 10$.



8/21/07- Grand Canyon, Arizona (drive time- 4.5 hours)

I have never been and it’s about time. We are camping on the south rim. I’m very stoked.. yes even to camp.


8/22/07- Moab, Utah (drive time- 6 hours)

More camping, hiking and gawking.


8/23/07- Denver, Colorado (drive time- 5.5 hours)

Yes, Darren tried to see if we could see a Rockies game, no it did not pan out. But in his words: “Lets see if there is a home game in Kansas City”.


8/24/07- Kansas City, Kansas (drive time- 8.5 hours)

As soon as the details get worked out I believe we will stay with my Great Aunt Virginia. I love her basement!


8/25/07- St Louis, Mo (drive time-
Hello arch and hello home sweet home for the next few years. Dear God please be kind with the weather.. please. Humidity must be a result of the fall.


We have loaded the Ipod up with several books on tape such as The wolrd According to Garth and to Kill a Mocking Bird. And as always we have our blessed podcasts and music.

Here we go.

La Bodeguita Del Medio

Darren is serenaded for his birthday

Becca points out the Night of the Iguana filming location

photos

Honeymoon photos

We love each other tender

honeymoon

This is the new blog of Becca (the boo) Harbaugh and me, Darren Harbaugh. Enjoy it and cherish it. Or else, efers.

8/1/07
My wife, Becca Harbaugh, and I are in Puerto Vallarta on our honeymoon. I like honeymoons. The place we are staying is fantastic. They fix up our room everyday. We get new robes and chocolate. We were greeted with a glass of champagne and a massage. We have been spending a lot of time by the Oceanside pool in a swinging king size bed drinking mojitos, pina colatas, margaritas, and tequila sunsets. The sunsets (real ones) here are amazing.
Before we got to Mexico, we stayed two nights in the Omni Hotel in downtown LA. That place was really nice too, but it wasn’t near the ocean. I think it is pretty damn difficult to mess up ocean things.
I have been drinking Cuban rum and smoking Cuban cigars and watching baseball games televised in Spanish.
There are good taco, fajita, pork, breakfast, eating, shrimp, fish, potato, sandwich, yum things here.
Our room has a sweet view of the ocean. I sit on the porch and smoke my pipe (that my hot wife gave me as a wedding present) at night. Becca is hot.
I like sitting in a swinging bed by the ocean and being served drinks. I would do this forever.
There is a spa here and we have sauna and steam things. I even used free hair product on my follicles.


8/2/07
My wife, Becca Harbaugh, went on a canopy tour today. It consisted of ride down 10 different ziplines of varying height and length across a river. For the most part, we were 600 feet above the Rio Cuale riding ziplines of about equal distance. It was neat.


Last night we ate at a Tapas place with a great view of the bay and watched the sunset. All aspects were enjoyable. We had a queso plate and goat queso and shrimpys and yum and a tuna things with sangria. Then the dude gave us free tequila and banana chocolate things.

I am down going to smoke a Cuban Montecristo cigar and drink coffee with a chocolate/coffee flavored tequila liqueur.

Tonight I would like to eat Fish on a Stick a Puerto Vallarense specialty.

Becca’s First Entry
The wedding was amazing but surreal. It felt like a movie on speed. I was not really in the moment more an observer watching beautiful things, people, family, and friends bustle around us. The Omni downtown was classy and a perfect oasis from the craziness of the last few months. BUT Mexico is like the ultimate escape. As Darren mentioned the view is perfect as are the sunsets. The weather is sweltering hot so hiding out in our posh room with its crisp cool ac is my first choice. But once the sun goes down PV is an amazing mixture of culture and gourmet treats. I sound like our friggin tour book. So suffices to say it’s nice. Real nice. I went on a zip line as previously mentioned. I loved it. I bought my husband sweet tequila mixed with coffee. Tastes like lovin. I also love being married. Darren is hot and fun (wink wink)

More later. Not sunburned yet!


8/5/07

It is my birthday. I am 27 years old. Today was fabulous. We lounged around the pool. Becca gave me Kahlua and chocolate milk. And we ate a feast (I had rack of lamb) at a place called trio. It was de-lish. I finished reading my book “the great American novel” it was bittersweet. I am reading a good book. I wish it would last forever. Or at least longer than a few days. It is a good book and I recommend it to anyone that likes baseball or god or America or all three. Or if you are interested in scandal, communism, red scare, etc. Good bday anyhow.

8/6/06
We when back to this Cuban place. La Bodeguita del Medio. It is Mexican outpost of the place of the same name that Hemingway frequented for Mojitos in Havana. We had tasty mojitos and pork. And Moros y Christianos (mixed rice and beans) I need to research way it is called that. We might go snorkeling tomorrow.


8/8/07
We got sunburnt today. Becca has a bathingsuit tan. It is funny. We went on a snorkeling trip with a German man named Reinhart.

It was out second boating adventure. A couple days ago we went on a sunset sailboat cruise. It was might fine. Nice wines, meat cheeses and the relaxing tunes of Dean martin, Frank Sinatra, James Taylor, Cat Stevens and Jack Johnson.

But the Reinhart cruise. Reinhart looked like David Bowie. He is an old German guy that came us to us on the beach. Becca thought he was a big gay (a “joe” as we refer to them) at first, but he is not. He talked with a funny German accent and sold us on his snorkel/ beach/good times adventures.

Reinhart zipped us around in a speedboat with five other Germans. And a lazy Mexican boat driver. Then he led us on a jungle trek where they filmed “Predator” with Ah-nold.


We swam with the fishes. The visibility wasn’t so hot because of a big rain/muddy storm, but I got to see lots of fish poop.
Last Day- Aug 9th.
We are supposed to be out of our room.. I have left the4 journal part up to Darren. This is Becca. I am sun burned. I’m sad and happy to leave. I loved our Honeymoon.
I love Darren.
I hate flying. Can’t wait to see the Pattersons in a few.
Peace out