Archive for July, 2007

Camp starts

Monday, July 16th, 2007

Our two-week kids’ camp starts today. Do not wish wife a good vacation. She’ll be with 3 others and cooking for 160 hungry people.

I’ll have a room of teenage boys and classes, the choral, afternoon activities and policeman during the nights. You know what it’s like.

Son 2 will have a room of boys ages 7-9. He’s got a volcano ready for "activities".

Daughter will be a camper for the last time.

Son 1 is still taking and preparing exams. (Great fun.)

So I’ll be away, but thinking of you, of course.

 

July 14

Sunday, July 15th, 2007

Today is July 4 in France. French National Holiday. La Marseillaise and all that stuff.

Liberté, égalité, fraternité…

Translation: bells, equilibrium and school clubs…

Plus the Tour de France.

Vive la France. 


 

Rejoice

Thursday, July 12th, 2007
Trinh was baptized on Monday evening. About two years ago, she came to a Sunday worship with one of our members, her ex-coworker. She didn’t know much about Jesus or the Bible, but the ex-coworker bought her a Bible and during the last two years she’s been reading and coming regularly, more regularly than many “members”, to worship. She’s a third year medical student who was dissatisfied with the life of a bio-chemist. Born and raised here, she is Swiss-Vietnamese.

Anyway, she asked me at the beginning of the week if I would baptize her.

I said yes.

And Jesus welcomed her into his people. Into himself.

Roger Federer at Wimbledon

Tuesday, July 10th, 2007
Yes. Roger Federer was able to serve by his opponent Sunday, the overly biceped Rafael Nadal, who is getting way too good on grass.

I got a hold of Monsieur Federer on his portable just a few minutes after the match. The conversation went something like this:

Me: Congratulations on the win. We were on the edge of our seats the whole match and when you hit that final smash, we went crazy.

Rog: I was pretty excited too. I almost started crying before I even hit the grass. I was so relieved. There were moments when I started to doubt.

Me: And then, before they gave you the cup, I could tell it was emotional. Especially when you pulled on your long pants and court-side jacket.

Rog: What do you mean?

Me: Well, as soon as you stood up and started walking toward center court, Wife said: Hey, Roger’s got his pants on backwards. His pockets are facing the wrong way. Man, you must have been really emotional to put your pants on backwards. Way too funny.

Rog: What are you talking about? That’s the way they’re supposed to be worn.

Me: Oh, come on. We saw you trying to pull your coat down so no one would notice. But Wife has sharp eyes. We could even see the fly was in the back…

Rog: Now, what a minute. I’m a pro. I know how to put my pants on. Come on!

Me: And we were thinking all along: Your sponsor is going to be so upset. They made you a really cool outfit, and there you are holding the trophy over your head, back-pockets front-ways. But we understand. It was an emotional moment.

Rog: You’ve got it all wrong. I’ve changed sponsors. I’m now wearing ekiN’s outfits.

Me: Oh… No wonder things looked backwards. I’ll tell Wife.

Swiss Sport update

Sunday, July 8th, 2007
So Alinghi did take the America’s Cup earlier in the week, though the Swiss consortium had only one Swiss on-board. But like I wrote earlier, it is a Swiss boat.

Saturday featured the prologue of the Tour de France, in London. The Swiss Fabian Cancellara won with a huge 12 second margin, keeping his promise to wear yellow for today’s first stage. He’ll most probably keep it during the first few days when the stage victories are “reserved” for the sprinters. Who will win it this year? Not Basso, Landis, Ulrich… The list goes on.

Today, the Swiss Roger Federer will be playing to win his 5th straight Wimbledon Championship against el Señor Nadal. Promises to be no picnic on the grass…

All good things to celebrate. But nothing as good as celebrating this Sunday the living Lord.

High School Graduation

Friday, July 6th, 2007

It was a big day at the Evenday’s household yesterday. Son 2 graduated from Beaulieu High School and received the award for best student for the option Math-Physics, a prize that not only honors him, but also puts $250.00 cash into his pocket.


We got to talk to his principal and a couple of his teachers. They spoke of his character and his positive influence on his classmates. We are very proud of him!

Tonight we will celebrate at our place with 20 of his classmates along with half a dozen of his teachers. Beaulieu High School has been good to all of our kids, and for that we are thankful.

Son 2 will leave for Marseilles, France on September 15 in order to follow the spiritual internship that Son 1 received in 2005-2006. After, Lord willing, he’ll start university at Harding, which has offered him a huge, four-year scholarship.

Congratulations, Smiley. We love you. You are a wonderful blessing to our lives. We’re already missing you… 

Happy Birthday, U.S. of America

Wednesday, July 4th, 2007
Though we don’t celebrate the 4th of July in Lausanne (the Swiss national holiday is August 1, the date a pact was signed between three cantons in 1291), many Americo-philes will be in Geneva for fireworks, hot dogs and hamburgers this evening. It is a huge celebration, the biggest July 4th party outside of the USA.

Enjoy the day off. (Is there really a day in America when everyone takes off?) Be filled with joy because of your freedom.

On our end, we’ll be working on camp stuff and Bible study preparations. It should be a good, productive day.

Could’ve-Would’ve-Should’ve.

Monday, July 2nd, 2007
In honor of the iPhone’s recent release and to wrap up my Mac History posts:
(All stock prices are split adjusted.)

In March of 1990, Apple stock was at 8.56. My Mac SE sans printer cost us $2900.00. Could’ve bought 338 shares. Running total: 338 shares.

In March of 1995, Apple was at $10.00. My Powerbook 520 cost us $1000.00. Could’ve bought 100 shares. Running total: 438 shares.

In July of 1999, Apple was at 11.84. My Blue and White PowerPC G3 cost $1440.00. Could’ve bought 122 shares. Running total: 560 shares.

In December of 2004, Apple was at $32.63. My iMac G5 cost $1994.00. Could’ve bought 61 shares. Running total: 621 shares.

In July of 2006, Apple was at $57.27. The family MacBook was $1050.00. Could’ve bought 18 shares. Running total: 639 shares.

Apple’s closing price on Friday, June 29, 2007? $122.04.

Had I stuck to pencil and paper, an exhaustive concordance and Randy’s old sermon notes, and had we bought and held, we’d have $77,983.56 in AAPL stock.

BTW, I bought the program Microsoft Word for $292.00 in March, 1990. MSFT was at $0.69. Could’ve bought 423 shares. I’d have $12,471.36 in the account if I’d held.

Now I know MS Word is not worth THAT much.