Tuesday, February 19, 2008

A much-needed break

It was so good to be home! For the first time since coming to school in Chicago, I did almost no homework on a weekend during a quarter--and it was worth it! I'm paying the price for it now of course. But I needed the break.

Courtney's mother made us a wonderful meal on Valentine's Day evening after Courtney picked me up from the airport. We then started the classic movie, "Gone with the Wind," a four-hour marathon of a film that we had to finish the following morning--good lines, semi-depressing story. Friday, Court had class and I finally got a haircut, moved my things into my aunt and uncle's home, and rested a bit from a busy week. I picked Court up from class and we went out that night for dinner before catching up with Ben and Crystal Davy at Bread and Cup in the Hay Market. We had great time with them. Saturday, it was quick workout in the morning with Jay Taylor and then off to Norfolk for the Winter Royalty festivities of my youngest sister Kalen, a senior this year. She was nominated for Winter Royalty queen--special because 1) she was completely surprised, and 2) I was nominated for the same event my senior year! It was fun to participate in that with my family. We got back late Sat. night and then I was up early again to go to Grace's early service Sunday morning. It was so good to be back. I have really missed the people and the ministry of Grace Chapel. Court and I met friends for coffee and then my old roommate/fellow banterer John for Jimmy Johns at his place. I flew back out of Omaha that evening to get home after ten and then up early Monday morning to start the next week. It was a crazy but encouraging weekend.

Funny how we NEED relationships, we NEED community.

Friday, February 8, 2008

UChicago

I finally joined the digital age, thanks to Christmas and my parents. These are a few pictures from the southern side of the University of Chicago campus--the side I tend to use mostly. More of the rest will come soon. I had about 20 minutes to kill before my bus left for home yesterday so I thought I'd take a few. You'll quickly notice it looks much colder than the cozy 65 degrees that a certain other blogger might be experiencing this time of year--I won't mention any names, you know who you are... (ahem, Tanner!).

This first one is a statue that stands on the south side of Harper Library--the "Harry Potter Library" as some refer to it. It's the old one. Most people use Regenstein for which i don't have pictures yet. Below is the Ice Skating Rink that sits in the middle of the Midway Plaissance on the south side of campus. I've heard it's only $2 to skate there! I haven't done that yet myself yet. Maybe when it's warmer.

Below is the famous Rockefeller Chapel. There's a big bell tower just behind but it's kind of unsightly with all of the scaffolding that's been covering it all year. You can kind of see the top corner of it from this view.


The right building in the picture above is the music school. Apparently anyone can check out piano rooms there. I've been meaning to do that. I had a class in the building on the left. I can't remember the name right now. Anyway, check out the sweet old doors. A lot of them are like that. Below are a few shots of the quad or near it.





Above, is the Divinity School from the side, there's a cemented, circular bench just in the foreground if you can see it. I have a class here and I eat Lebanese and other Mediterranean foods here for lunch all the time (mmmm... salmon kabobs!). These two pictures below are of my building, Pick Hall. It's the odd, non-gothic building on the corner. By "my" I mean this is where the Committee on International Relations (CIR) office and lounge remains on the third floor. I also have some classes here.


Anyway, I figure this is a good start. I hope you find this interesting. I'm sure there'll be more to come. If it's not too vain, (though I guess it's my blog so it may be appropriate--or at least appropriately vain), I'm contemplating doing a "day in the life" photo exposition, following a typical day of mine from early morning train rides, scary South Side "El" and bus tours, to the enlightening halls of the University and classic academia. Thoughts? I'm sure you'll all be captivated, haha. Cheers!

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Good time to come home

So it turns out I get to come back to Nebraska for Valentine's Day weekend! It will have been 6 weeks at that point since I was home for Christmas break; and, though it seems like those weeks flew by, I'm ready to be home. Valentine's Day last year was Courtney's first day in Australia where she would remain for the following five months--we didn't really get one together. So, when I discovered the lull (as much as there can be in grad. school) in my academic schedule for the weekend, I jumped at the chance. I'm so excited to see her and be home!

To make it even better, my littlest sister, Kalen, was nominated as a Winter Royalty candidate and the coronation is the Saturday of that same weekend after Val's Day! Hopefully I will get to be in Norfolk briefly to see that--li'l sis followin in her big bro's footsteps :). (I was a Winter Royalty candidate my senior year as well).

Anyway, life here is good. I thought I would be swamped with three papers to finish in the two weeks before heading home, but surprisingly things haven't been too bad. Two more papers to go though. Which reminds me, I should get back to work. See some of you soon, hopefully. Cheers!