Zach Alsgaard.com A comprehensive guide to Zach's random thoughts

Berkeley Springs

“Say to thyself every morning: “Today I shall encounter some meddler, some ingrate, someone who is insolent, crafty, envious, or churlish.”  All these evil qualities, however, spring from men’s ignorance of good and evil.

But as for me, since I have beheld the nature of good and know its beauty, and of evil and perceive its ugliness, and since I understand the nature of the sinner, that he is my kinsman, not as regards flesh and blood, but by virtue of his reason and participation in the divine, none of them can injure me; for no man can force me to a disgraceful act.

Neither can I be angry with my kinsman, or hate him.  We were designed to help one another, like feet, hands, eyelids, upper and lower rows of teeth.  To antagonize one another is contrary to nature; and anger and estrangement and antagonism.”

Marcus Aurelius, opening of Book II of “Meditations”

Last week my wife and I went camping in Berkley Springs, West Virginia and we found the historic town offers nice spas, an historic inn, and a lot of interesting shopping.  In one bookstore I found a 100-year-old copy of Marcus Aurelius’s book “Meditations”, so I will be browsing through it and posting random passages here.  I know the book is freely available online, but it’s so much cooler in old book format!

By the way, Berkley Springs is an excellent vacation spot for anyone who enjoys historic towns and fresh spring water.  The town has a park where there is an outdoor drinking fountain with spring water and a place where you can fill up gallon jugs with water.

Personal News: Today we had our green card interview and it went pretty smoothly.  It will be nice not to have to worry as much about all the paperwork we have been organizing over the past couple of months.

In other news, we are planning our trip to visit China in September.  I have my visa and I am ready to go!  We are planning a formal wedding ceremony on September 9, and then we're going to do some sightseeing and visiting the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai.  With that said, I really need to step up my Chinese lessons in preparation for the trip.  I will start offering some phrases I have learned here so you can learn with me! (or correct me if you already know Chinese - I need all the help I can get!)

Phrase: "How are you?"
Chinese: 你好
Pinyin: Nǐ hǎo
How it sounds to me: nee how

Phrase: "Excuse me / Sorry"
Chinese: 对不起
Pinyin: Duìbùqǐ
How it sounds to me: dway boo chee