Guys' night out (Or, 'The Rock and a Comedy of Errors')

Okay, here we go, those of you who have waited impatiently to hear of our adventure last Friday...
It started out about a week or before that day, when we got an email from a mom from our homeschool group. It was an invitation to come to The Rock, (a Christian Cafe in Kent,) to see her daughter Leila perform her original music.
There had been two or three earlier other performances, (that we had been invited to,) at The Rock by Leila and the other members of her band, Outside the City.
Mommy had encouraged Brandon and I to go and support another homeschooler.
We hadn't gone the first couple of times because things came up or we had other things going on, etc.

So this time, when we got the email, we decided we would go. Brandon and I took off around 7:30-7:45 PM Friday night. The concert was starting at 8. We had several movies we had to return to Drug Mart afterward, and Mommy had asked that we stop and pick up paper at Carters' house.
We arrived at The Rock on time...we might have been a few minutes after 8, I think...
At any rate, we got there before the the music began, so I was content. We talked some with some friends who were there and Mrs. Hallenbeck. After a little warming up, the music started and everyone took seats.

The Rock turned out to be a pretty nice place. The music was good, though the mixing was not quite right, Brandon said, and I agreed. Afterward, we were preparing to leave, and as we boarded the van, I decided I would call home and see whether Mommy had indeed called the Carter's to find out if it was alright for us to stop. It was then a little after 9 PM. In consternation, I found that I did not have the phone with me. I also knew that I had not had it out of my pocket since leaving home. Did I indeed have the phone?

The comedy of errors had begun!

Needless to say I was a little shook up when I realized I didn't have the phone...as Brandon so ably put it, "We can't go home without that." I tried to rationalize that somehow I had not even brought it from home, but I distinctly remembered putting into the pocket of my sweatshirt. Brandon decided we should go back inside and see if it hadn't fallen out of my pocket where we were sitting. I didn't think it was likely, but at least it was something to do...at least we'd be sure.
I stepped down and shut the door, moved around the front of the van and met Brandon, who'd just shut his door. The look on his face told me everything, he didn't have to utter a word.
I groaned. We were locked out.
In my opinion, based on my limited experiences, locking yourself out of your car is one of the worst things that can happen, and here we were in Kent at 9:30, with no phone, and locked out of our vehicle. Brandon summed it up well, "Some adults we are."
It's hard to keep an optimistic outlook in a situation like that, but I happen to have a pretty optimistic outlook in life, so I tried to keep that it mind. Maybe the phone had dropped out inside
and we could just walk in and pick it up. Sagging mentally and, to some degree at least, physically, we walked back into the cafe. We looked around our seat - no phone.
The next step of course...well, what was it?
Why of course, we needed to make contact with base camp...but given our lack of a phone, we needed some help. As designated spokesperson, I made the request for the use of a phone to Mrs. Gilliland. She sent one of the kids to get Mr. Gilliland, who lent us the use of his phone, so I could call home. Feeling like a runaway puppy caught in the rain with his tail between his legs, I related the situation to Mommy. She said Daddy was out, and she would call him and have him bring us another set of keys. I thinked Mr. Gilliland, and Brandon and I settled down to wait.
I tried to get Brandon to see the funny side of the situation, but I didn't make much headway there. I on the other hand, now that the matter was resolved, (at least in my mind) knew that a week from then we would be laughing over it with friends. I began to play chess, (with my self,) and eventually I won! Meanwhile Brandon read a bit from a book on card games, and then tried to divert himself with a metal puzzle...you know the ones, with two horseshoes chained together and a ring between them. This went on for about a half an hour or 45 minutes...punctuated at intervals by a glance over my shoulder out the window...waiting.

It was probably about 10 or maybe a little after when Daddy walked in. He did not look very amused by our situation, of course, Brandon and I were not all that amused either, but I was moving in that direction. The adventures were over, Daddy was there and within a few minutes we'd be heading for home.

We all trouped outside and triumphantly unlocked the doors of the van. I turned to say something to Daddy as Brandon climbed in, but I was interrupted by a horrible noise...a grating wheeze followed by a series of unfriendly clicks. The battery this time. I didn't even bother to groan this time, I just started to laugh. I had been wrong. The adventure was by no means over! It was just beginning! Now it was Daddy's turn to feel a wave of consternation. He had used the jumper cables a few days before, and had thought of putting them right into the van, but hadn't. So the van was not going anywhere. There was only one thing to be done. Go home in Daddy's car and get the jumper cables. None of us were looking forward to doing that, though...
I still couldn't get over how ridiculous the whole situation was, and how funny it was because of the that.

We got home and the garage door was shut. Daddy called Mommy from outside and asked her to open the garage door. she did, he grabbed the jumper cables and then told her she could shut the door. I didn't figure she would, and I was right. She came out and asked what was going on.
We told her; all the gory details...
She was not as frustrated with us as I had expected, or as Daddy had expected, I think, and after telling her everything, we took off once again.

By the time we got back to The Rock, I thought the whole thing was hilarious. Maybe it was because it was getting late and that combined with all the changes in emotions in the last hour was making me slap happy...a very real condition in our family. Daddy's car is a two door , and I was in the back seat, so when Brandon and Daddy got out, Daddy had to pull his seat down so I could get out. I started to unfold myself from the back of the car and maneuver over the seat and out the door, and I was having some difficulty. Daddy tried to help me, but my foot got caught in the seat belt and I ended up falling out onto the parking lot. This was getting funnier all the time. Now to complicate matters, Daddy's driver's side door doesn't stay open on its own...it will just shut if you leave it alone. So after I fell, with my foot tangled in the seat belt, the door closed partway on the seat belt, so I couldn't un-loop my foot from it! Daddy tried to help me by opening the door, but he wound up stepping on one of my hands. It didn't hurt enough to curb our laughing, it only served to increase it.

We proceeded to jump the van and it started right up.I opened my door, and and what should fall out but the phone! It had been there all along!

...I know the end is kind of anticlimactic, but, that's the way it happened.:-)

Now I've just got to finish my story of meeting the Bashaws...

Song of the Month (March)

Song: King
Artist: tree63
Album: The Answer to the Question

We have heard the thunder
We have seen the storm
Echoes of your kingdom coming
Rumors of our home
Where one day we will stand before you Lord
Our altogether beautiful reward

CHORUS:
And we will give you glory, bring you honor
King above all kings
You deserve our everything
We will lift our voices with your praises
Jesus you are our king

Though now we walk in darkness
Though now we see in part
Right now we're warmed by the burning flames
Of the fire in our hearts
You've promised you would lead us to your throne
Where we will worship you and you alone

CHORUS

Song of the Month (February)

Song: I Will Bring You Home
Artist: Michael Card
Album: The Word


Though you are homeless
Though you're alone
I will be your home

Whatever's the matter
Whatever's been done
I will be your home

I will be your home
I will be your home
In this fearful fallen place
I will be your home

When time reaches fullness
When I move my hand
I will bring you home

Home to your own place
In a beautiful land
I will bring you home

I will bring you home
I will bring you home
From this fearful fallen place
I will bring you home
I will bring you home

"Still Geeking Out About It." (Part I)

I had waited for last Saturday for two years. Of course, I didn't know that it would be last Saturday, so the day came on me as a complete surprise.
"What's he talking about?" you may be wondering.

Well, last Saturday, we traveled down to Dublin, Ohio and met with the Bashaws!
To fill in the back story, I met Michael Bashaw, the oldest of four siblings on Narniaweb's forum in late 2006/early 2007. I don't remember the exact date that we met, but I know that it was a great blessing. We sent each other private messages on the forum for a while before, before graduating to e-mail. As time passed, we sent each other our projects, and we became instant fans of their movies, Dinner Thief, The Chocolate Lord and its sequel, to name a few.:-)
Then over the past year or so, my younger siblings had begun writing (my sisters and brothers, respectively) to Leah and Nathan, Michael's youngest siblings.
I've got to say that Michael has been a great friend to me since I've known him, and I thank God for giving me the opportunity of getting to know him.
We talked about how fun it would be to meet in person "some day," and I always hoped that we could. By that time, all my siblings shared this desire, having been writing to the Bashaws for a while. It was strange, because we had become so well acquainted, and it felt like we had known them for a long time, which really, I guess we did, even though we'd never met.
Alright, now we're up to speed, and I can get back to last Saturday.

With my birthday approaching, I had proposed the idea to my parents of inviting the Bashaws over for my birthday (I reasoned it was as good an excuse to meet them as any other.) I didn't really get a definite answer, and I didn't really push it too hard...notice I say I didn't push it too hard.:-) Anyway, Friday evening, my dad announced that we were going to be heading to Upper Sandusky to meet Grammy Pieplow and visit Daddy's Uncle Paul and Aunt Beaulah who both live up there on the following day. This did not excite a very enthusiastic response from us, but I think we all behaved well - no one complained about the idea, and we all went to bed anticipating the long drive (about three hours) planned for the next day.

Saturday morning we got up and had breakfast, and left around 10:00 AM, an hour later than we were planning to. Ah well, no use crying over spilled milk. We set out, prepared - (let me just define this word, "prepared". This means that some of us (myself included) were carrying bags that from the outside appeared to hold our luggage for a two day trip) - for the drive ahead of us. It was about 2 1/2 to 3 hours later when we executed a series of turn-arounds, going from one development to another. This happened twice or three times, before we got back on the right track, and I saw the first Dublin sign. I initially dismissed this, quelling my inner hopes about what was actually at the end of the trip. A few minutes later, as we turned onto Bashaws' street, I couldn't deny it anymore. I started feeling that strange lifting sensation...you know - when you realize you are walking into a very carefully planned surprise, and its something you've wanted for a long time. Which pretty much describes this situation.:-)

The Bashaw family came out the door, and of course, I was the first one of the Peeplets out of the van...(My parents were already out) I think my siblings were still a little stunned.:-) As was I, but I just had to get out! I walked up the driveway, and yes, this scene is stamped on my memory...so don't get bored by the details.:-) ...I don't have time to go into the details, so it will have to wait for later...

Valkyrie Movie Review

"Sehnt sich heiliges Lebhaftdeutschland" [Long live sacred Germany!]
"Feuer!"
As these quotations, or something like them, were drowned out by the roar of a firing squad on the night of July 20th, 1944, the life of Col. Claus von Stauffenberg, along with his plot to kill Adolph Hitler, were snuffed out.

'Valkyrie,' United Artist's newest release, and Tom Cruise's latest starring role, tells the story of Stauffenberg's involvement with the Resistance movement, his re-writing of the "Walküre" orders(from whence comes the film's title), and finally, the coup d'etat he and his colleagues launched against Hitler and the Nazi government in the Summer of 1944. It fulfills its mission with a surprising adherence to the true story.

With sterling performances from Cruise, Bill Nighy, Jamie Parker, Eddie Izzard, Terence Stamp and Carice van Houten, among others, edge-of-your-seat editing and score by John Ottman, solid directing by Bryan Singer, and a great screenplay by Christopher McQuarrie and Nathan Alexander, 'Valkyrie' is both an impressive piece of filmmaking and a powerful and moving story that makes you think.

Rated PG-13 for 'violence and brief strong language,' the film has more in the way of the former than the latter, however, due to the mostly bloodless violence that this film sports, the language may be more of a deterrent.

In tense moments, a few characters utter curses - a use or two each of "H---" and "D---," as well as one 'f' word, and God's name is interjected a few times. As far as language goes, if you can watch Secondhand Lions, you'll be able to handle Valkyrie.

As far as violence is concerned, in an early scene, Stauffenberg's division is attacked by Allied aircraft, during which Stauffenberg is wounded, (causing him the loss of his right hand, the third and fourth fingers from his left, and his left eye, as we later find out.) In the scene, explosions and machine-gun fire scatter troops and destroy tanks and trucks. The general with whom Stauffenberg has only just finished talking is seen lying dead. The scene ends with Stauffenberg lying in the sand after the truck he is attempting to flee in is shot up by a plane.
An air raid forces Stauffenberg and his family to retreat into other shelter.
A character cuts himself while shaving. Later, he asks to change and shows the man his collar which has a spot of blood on it.
Hitler and those with him at the briefing are subjected to a powerful explosion. One man is hurled out the window of the briefing hut by the blast.
Later, as the coup falls apart, and the orders that started it are terminated, the ringleaders are rounded up. Stauffenberg is hit in the arm during a brief shoot-out in a hall. One man asks for a pistol, "for personal reasons," he says. The preparations for these purposes are played out, though the actual shot is heard only as the camera cuts away. A man is hung. Another, (it's implied,) uses a grenade to kill himself. Still another is manhandled and dragged away by soldiers.
Four characters are shot by a firing squad.
All of the violence is, for the most part, bloodless. A lot of it is more implied than actually shown. An exception would be when Stauffenberg is hit in the arm, blood is shown dripping from the end of his sleeve.

Stauffenberg and his wife kiss several times, and in one scene, several women at the officer's club wear low-cut dresses.

A lot of characters smoke in the course of the film, and in a few scenes, strong drinks appear to be drunk by characters.

Let me level with you, this is not a feel good movie. You won't find many warm fluffies here. What you will find is a pretty solid and well-done portrayal of a little known true story. Although a thriller, this is not exactly an action movie, so it's very character- and dialog-driven. Even so, the film is never boring, and clips along at a fairly even pace. The characters are believable (beyond the fact that all the actors bear strong resemblances to the historical figures they play.)
In conclusion, I have to say that I liked this film, despite its tragic ending.
The end result is to ponder: what would you do in the same circumstances, whether the approach adopted by the July 20th plotters was really the correct approach, and why God spared Hitler's life so many times from assassination attempts? (There are said to have been at least 50 or more attempts on Hitler's life.)

Picture Post! (pt2)

Here are a few media things from the night of the Christmas Pageant (Dec. 28):

Me going over a scene with Brooke(Mary) and...someone else, during the practice before the performance.




Chris and Levi as Roman soldiers in their complete outfits. They looked so cool!


A behind the scenes (sort of) look at our lighting system for the play:
The lighting board and operator's seat:

And the lit stage:

Picture Post! (pt1)

Okay! Here are the pictures I said I would post. Enjoy!:-)

Christmas Day at Grampy and Grammy Frejofsky's house:

Above left: There is always TONS of bakery at the Frejofsky Christmas.
Above right: my cousin, Abby.

Above left: (L to R) My second cousin, Autumn, my Aunt Bev(Autumn's grandma), and Uncle Ron.
Above right: Little brother, Shane.

Above left: The closest to the tree is Grampy Frejofsky. Then preceding from him into the foreground are Aunt Maria,(Abby and Ricky's mom,) my oldest Frejofsky cousin, Stacey, Grammy Frejofsky, and John,(Stacey's husband.) On the floor from left to right are Hannah, Levi, Eva, Shane,(my younger siblings) and my cousin Kyle.
Above left: Since you've already met most of these people, I'll just introduce those I haven't mentioned yet. Nearest the tree is Uncle Wayne(Aunt Bev's husband, and Stacey's dad). Next to Kyle on the floor is Ricky, (Abby's brother), then Kyle's brother, Tyler, and then their brother, Ryan.(Uncle Ron is their dad.)

Above left: Abby again.
Above right: John, Grammy and Stacey.

Above left: Joke gifts are big in the Frejofsky family, and at times include and require elaborate explanatory letters and things.:-) Such is the case with the joke gift that we gave Uncle Wayne.(I mentioned it in my initial Christmas email.) In this picture, Uncle Ron is reading one such letter that came in a gift from Uncle Wayne.
Above right: Ricky, Autumn and Tyler.

(L to R) My dad, John, Stacey and my sister, Eva.