I am finally doing the unthinkable. I am learning a language actually spoken in the Americas! — I started Spanish and I have to say it’s a fun little language. Already loving things like dropping pronouns, c & z having regional differences, and b & v being the same!

The longer I work in IT, the more thankful I am of my training at The University of Alabama. — Engineering alone doesn’t prepare you for the real world. Management and leadership are skills that must be taught, too. I’m thankful UA gave me both.

The Arnold Family urban homestead. Chickens, bunnies, squirrels. We’ve got it all!

I’ve had my Daylight DC1 for a little over a week. Mini review: I’m glad I got it. — I still wish it were iPad mini size. But, it’s been great. For the first time I’m able to use Logos as it feels/looks like an eReader. Readwise works great and highlighting is a breeze.

What are the German or Dutch companies in Nashville (or that allow remote work from Nashville) that I am not aware of? — Ich bin Amerikaner, aber ich spreche Deutsch / ik spreek Nederlands. Das müsste für jemanden hilfreich sein…

Those who have no tradition, do not respect it.

This was a helpful video. I realized I, like apparently so many men, had convinced myself to focus on hard or challenging books. I’m going to make an effort to remember to read for fun, too. — How to Start Reading Again

Wir suchen doch nach Irgendwas. Das was wir suchen heißt Jesus. Er und er allein ist die Antwort. Irgendwas

I wish USPS would have an option they’d send the night before to just go out and pick up the package at the Post Office. It’s a few blocks away! — Related, my Daylight DC-1 is arriving today. Excited!

Ich suche eine Stelle bei europäischen Unternehmen, die einen erfahrenen Data- und Software-Leader benötigen.

Mit über einem Jahrzehnt Erfahrung habe ich zahlreiche Software- und Data-Engineering-Teams geleitet. Ich spreche Deutsch, Niederländisch und natürlich Englisch fließend.

Meine Expertise umfasst Datenmodellierung, Microservices-Entwicklung in Python und C#, CI/CD-Implementierung und die Leitung von agilen Entwicklungsteams. Ich habe Erfahrung mit Legacy-Systemen, Business Intelligence und arbeite gerne mit internationalen Teams zusammen.

Ich arbeite remote aus den USA, aber vierteljährliche Reisen ins Homeoffice werden erwartet.

I’ve been using Firefox since before it was “Firefox.” Starting this week, though, I’ve been giving Orion a try. I’ve lost too much trust in Mozilla to not give something else a go.

Jennifer surprised me with a bookmark of my patron saint!

St. Joseph the worker & terror of demons, ora pro nobis!

I‘ve been using Claude to help me analyze a tricky work situation and help me better understand my role in it and what I can learn from it.

It‘s been incredibly helpful at identifying patterns that I felt, but couldn’t name, and helping me see problems that I‘m actually not empowered to solve.

Claude had also helped me get clarity about systems outside of myself.

What a relief to let go of a stressful problem when you realize you aren’t the one who can fix it!

Some organizations genuinely prefer process over outcomes, discussion over decisions, and social dynamics over efficiency.

Chronic Contrarian

This is what’s called a “chronic contrarian” or “analysis paralysis generator.” His strategy is:

  1. Agree in the moment to end meetings
  2. Immediately re-open decided issues
  3. Demand endless re-litigation of settled points
  4. Never take responsibility for decisions

This is organizational sabotage, not legitimate technical discussion.

The Competence Trap

Because you’re good at your job and have been handling impossible situations well for years, there’s an expectation (from others and yourself) that you should just continue to figure it out. When you can’t, it feels like failure rather than a reasonable response to an unreasonable situation.

Somewhere out there, there’s a medium-sized German or Dutch company that needs a remote IT leader who speaks German/Dutch and is American. — I’m not sure how to find those companies, but I pray I do. My Resume

Das war ein Vorspiel nur, dort wo man Bücher verbrennt, verbrennt man auch am Ende Menschen.

  • Heinrich Heine

If you ever wanted a sign that I’ve suddenly come into money. Between St. Andrew’s getting a fancy bell tower, this pen would be another sign.

Ich bin immer noch und für die Ewigkeit zu Hause in Augsburg.

When God called me to be a priest, children’s ministry definitely wasn’t in my mind. But, He had different plans. Probably only my three today, but it‘ll be my first as a „children‘s pastor.“ May God bless and guide me as I teach His precious children!