Hills

     I peeled my eyes open this morning to find Anna standing in the hallway inquiring if I'd run with her. I remember asking, "Am I going to slow you down if I'm sore?" She replied in the negative. So I arose and put on my new Saucony running shoes and began stretching in the entry. 

     As we hit the road, Anna asked, "hills or no hills?" I was indifferent and gave a noncommittal reply. She insisted I decide. "Hills."

     We ran three miles and were home in a decent thirty minutes. Running is always worse during my experience than in my memory, but this morning's run seemed particularly bearable. Maybe the shoes are magic....

     Other accomplishments for today include replacing the headlights and fog lights on my Passat, replacing the fuse for the fog lights so they work, shopping with Sara and Mom at Blick Art Materials, Loft, and REI. As always REI is full of good stuff, but I did not buy anything. I saw some Salomon XA Pro 3D Ultras in a new color. I might get them after a little while. Also, REI is having its used gear sale on December 31st. Stopping at the art store rekindled my thoughts concerning journaling more; I'd like to write more about my experiences. Finally, we stopped by Five Guys for a some fries, and now I'm home.

John

P.S. Gotta think of what I want from Mom for Christmas....

I'm at Starbucks in Charlotte right now, and I'm really enjoying this venti 4-pump mocha. This is a really nice store, very expansive floor plan. I'm here because I came to pick up a faculty member from the airport in an hour. I'd love to stay a little longer and tell you how things are going, but I really have a lot of studying to do. Maybe another time I can bring you up to speed on the events of the semester. See you later.

John

P.S. The weather got cold yesterday and today, and it is soooo nice.

Thinking about Portland

Hello, Everyone. I haven't been on here in a while, but I'm hoping to try to keep a little more regular update. (I know I've said that before.) On the airplane on the way here, before we got off the ground in Portland, these two guys that had been in town for the Dew Tour were asked to leave the plane for being unruly. They obviously didn't like it. One of the young guys was saying how they were under-aged so there's no way they could have been drinking. I shrugged; it was interesting. Then I put my head down and went to sleep. I woke up occasionally during the flight. The full moon shone in my window and glinted off the wing of the aircraft. When I got to the airport, I had to wait for my ride, so I tried napping in at least three different positions.

Now I'm back at school. All the guys in my dorm arrived on Friday, and we're ready to start this semester. More news later. And Timbers beat Vancouver 2-1. RCTID.

John

Long Story Short…

…I’m back at school.  Though I was unsure during last semester whether I would make it back, and though I made all the necessary plans in accordance with not returning to school, and though at times I really wished I were staying at home, I am now back at school for my second sophomore semester.  Today is the first day of class… or, it was supposed to be.  I’m sitting in my office right now, during what should be chapel time, with the time to write on my blog because today is a snow day.  Overnight, at least three inches of fresh, fluffy, powdery snow arrived, thus school was cancelled.  Longingly I felt the snow wishing I could be snowboarding on a fresh layer of such fine powder; it feels perfect, a fresh, cloudy, pillowy, cotton-candy-esque coating of pure skiing bliss.

So, my first day of classes is going very well, very stress-free and laid back.  I still need to buy a few books, arrange my schedule, and prepare for the onslaught to come.  But who knows, maybe I will find my way back here to my trusty old blog for concurring updates.  I hope so.  I hope you enjoy reading it too.  I hope that you too have snow where you are today.  God Bless.

John