my baby is back

yes indeed. I haven't been on here for quite some time. my faithful laptop was admitted to the Apple hospital and worked on by one of their geniuses. thank goodness for purchasing that wonderful warranty plan with my laptop. this is the second time my baby has had to be admitted. I've been saddened by its frequent illnesses: first it's hard drive punked out and this time, they had to install a new logic board and reset the aiport card. A cost of over $800, but zero for me! Don't be cheap...ALWAYS buy the warranty.

pierce me

I had the day off today with much to do: visit an apartment for a friend who lives out of town, visit church which is a potential for Philip and my ceremony, and meet with my proffessor about an independent study class. Things went by smoothly, however the apartment was a hole in the wall tiny ass weird apartment which did not receive my stamp of approval. The church was an interesting place. It is this small cute 100 yr old building nestled between many new condo proerties in a hot area on the north side of Chicago. Elizabeth, the administrator was very helpful answering questions and such, as I imagined this as a potential place for Philip and I to celebrate ourselves. So much to think about and so much planning to do. yikes! Here are some photos of the church building.



Also of interest, I recently decided that I wanted to get my ear pierced. So I decided that today was the day. I went to the local piercing and tattoo parlor only to find out that they do not offer gun piercing and that it would cost over $100 to pierce my ear. I was like, um.. goodbye now. So, my friend Darrin and I decided to go to Old Orchard Mall in the suburbs to get my ear pierced at Claire's. Yes, the suburbs! If you know anything about me, you know that I don't really like the suburbs. The people are crazy. that'a all. (yes, I'm sure that's what they think of me and my citymates also, but whatever) Anyway, so I walk into Claire's and the next minute I'm pierced. Oh the pain!

fill it up!

Thank goodness I don't own a car. Today, as I was leaving work and walking to the North/Clybourn Subway station I caught a glimpse of the neigbourhood gas station. I thought for a secoond that I was dreaming, then after a second glimpse I realized what I never expected to see. Gas prices over $3.00. Yeah, that's right. Regular $3.09, Plus $3.18, and Premium $3.27. No need for a double take, it's all real. Sheesh... thank goodness I don't own a car.

8:21 / stress...

It's 8:21 pm and I only have 40 minutes till the New Real World comes on at 9:00 pm. I didn't even remember it, until Greta reminded me at the wonderful dinner that she made. Oh yeah, in this 40 minutes I need to write 2 more pages for my stupid last paper for this Leadership course. Easy, right? Umm, not so much. I am blanker than blank could be right now. grrr...

computer farts?

I seem to be having all the problems with electronics these days. First, I must say that I adore Apple and I love my Ibook G4 dearly. But of late, I have not been in the best mood with my baby. 2 months back, my hard drive crashed.. yes crashed as I was writing a major final paper for my Qualitative Methods Sociology Class. Thanks goodness my professor believed me and let me turn the paper in as soon as I could. Who knew people were this flexible in grad school? Then this past week, as I opened my laptop it started farting! I was overcome with fear, madness, and sheer panic as I had no idea what was happening. 45 minutes on the phone with one of the least talented technicians from Apple Service got me nowhere. He thought it might be the fan. Fan Schman. grrrr.... I decided to try to ignore this obtrusive noise and squeeze it to make it stop when I could. I have just learnt the trick of putting a headphone in the jack to make it stop. Sure, Mr. Apple man it must be my fan...stupido! Oh, that's not all... my faithful airport card is not functioning so well. Yes it, picks up a wireless signal, but not over in that corner or down there. Is it out of range? NO! Everyone else's airport card works fine. Sheesh! Thank goodness for buying Apple Care. Now if only they could send someone to me so that I didn't have to part with my computer for how many days? weeks? what? On a happier note look at Humph:)

Dance Madness

So I think my new reality show that will take over my life is, "So you think you can dance?" At first, when I heard about this show, I was like, " whatever.. trash!" But after seeing tonight I have, all of a sudden become taken over by the drama, hot moves, and cute bodies. Sadness. It's so hard to be a good Mennonite boy.

More pics from our extended stay at the museum.

Here I am before taking flight...

Mid flight...

Cruising on flight 727..

Baby chicks hatching before our very eyes...

Philip and I lost (not really) in a mirror maze...

Bodyworlds

Yesterday, Philip and I trekked to the Museum of Science and Industry in Hyde Park. After over and hour on the CTA we arrived at the museum. As we entered this new world I couldn't help but notice all the tourists among us. Then it hit me: Why in the world am I going to a museum on a Saturday in the middle of summer. I suddenly began to stress out inside and become annoyed at the out-of towners. We keep walking to get to the ticket line and then as it comes into view, BAM... wtf? the line is immensely huge. I mean like a major security line in the airport where everyone is receivng the wand treatment. Annoyance hits me again. Thirty minutes later halfway through the line an announcement is broadcasted, "welcome to the Museum of Science and Industry. The next entrance to the Body Worlds exhibit is at 4:15" R u kidding me? It is only 12:45 at the moment and I have to wait till when? Grrr.. I look around at the hundreds of tourists and annoyance hits me once again. Why am I at this museum on a Saturday? Ok, so after some stressing out which Philip helped calm down, we decided on spending the majority of our day at the museum and then seeing the Body World exhibit at 4:15. After an overpriced lunch, much walking, watching baby chicks hatch, taking a flight, going through a toy factory, and seeing preserved fetuses 4:15 arrives. We get into line for Body Worlds for about 15 minutes and then we think we are in, but it is only another line. 15 minutes later we get in. The exhibit is made up of over 200 bodies or parts of bodies that have been plastinized at different stages in order to show their parts. It's basically like looking at the inside of dead hardened humans, without all the nasty juices and stuff. In some sense, it is incredible art. Here is one picture below. You can also check it out at http://www.bodyworlds.com/en/pages/home.asp It is quite the experience!

Fire on the El

So around 5:00 this evening while working at the 'Barn', one of my co-workers notified me of the madness that was taking place on our street. Traffic was backed up slower than our normal delightful rush hour times, helicopters were flying around in the sky, and rumors started to flow about the train station up the street. At first, we thought that the Red Line at the North and Clybourn stop was affected. We looked outside down the street and there were police vehicles and officers all over. For a slight second, and only a slight second, the idea of trauma in the subway hit, but then we noticed the elevated brown line train stopped on the track. Word got around that there was "a fire on the El" tracks for the brown/purple line. A quick call to Ross Bay who had access to the internet confirmed the rumours. The tracks had caught fire from something, continually reignited after the flames were put out, and sparks were flying to the street below. Possibly overheated brakes? Who knows. Thankfully, the fire was safely put out just before 6:00pm and all returned to normal. Check our the pics below.

Stress me out!

So, I have this ten page paper due on Monday that i have to get done TODAY, because I work all week and have guests this weekend. No biggie, right? Well, let me tell you...writing a ten page paper analyzing the Strategic Planning process of some organization isn't quite that fun. Yes, yes, strategic planning is oh so important, but must I spend my day off painstakingly grobbling over some silly paper. When did graduate school become so fun? Thank goodness for wireless internet to continually distract me from the boring template of Microsoft Word. So, the excitement is rushing through my veins as I analyze All Hallows College Strategic plan. Why am I not at the beach?

Greenness and Guinness

Ok, so several weeks ago before Georgia and Colorado I found myself in the beautiful city of Dublin, Ireland. Besides the 7 hr days of class, Dublin offered quite the fun for me and my classmates. Things to know about Ireland... You cannot ride a sheep (because it's probably illegal), fannie is not your grandma and johnny probably would like to take a ride, always look right, duck on the second floor of the bus, and can you pass the salt? Dublin is beautiful...Ireland is beautiful. The city is old and booming and the country is green and rolling. There's so much to do there, that you're never bored... and if you do get bored, just go to the next pub you see and get a pint of guiness (double pour only). My 15 days in Ireland was the best short trip I've ever had and remember I was in class all day for ten days. Here are some pics from the great times there!

Grafton Street, City Centre, Dublin,Ireland
Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
Dublin Castle, Dublin,Ireland
All Hallows College, Dublin, Ireland
Malahide Castle, Malahide, Ireland
Temple Bar, Dublin, Ireland
The beautiful perfectly poured pint a' Guinness
A 5600 year old grave, County Clare, Ireland
Ailiwee Cave, Ireland
Cliffs of Moher, Ireland
West Coast, Ireland

The rocky rocky hills...

So, after two great days with Emily and Philip I was off to Denver for my brother's wedding... and by Denver they really meant the suburb of Aurora, CO. For my first three days I was enlightened by the beautiful Colorado scenery... wide suburban roads,lots of shopping malls, Peace Mennonite Church, and well.. the Hampton Inn. How joyously lucky I was to be in Colorado and experience these things not found anywhere else! Ok, so I was there for my brother's wedding so it was all worth it. Here is my bro and hiw new wife on their big day.
Here are more photos from the grand event...


It wasn't all wedding madness. On the last day my fam and I made it our to Red Rocks park, which is an amazing array of Colorado beauty.

Southern Bound

So, here it's been done. My very first trip into the middle of nowhere southern Georgia. Americus, GA has tons of exciting things to do... like: drink sweet tea, look at pecan trees, eat boiled peanuts, and,oh yeah, visit Habitat for Humanity. What drove me to this tiny little town down where confederate flags can still be found? My dearest friend Emily aka Inga. Kudos to her for giving a year of her life to live in the south and give to humanity! Here are some photos from our journey.
Emily, Philip and I cooling off in the HOT Georgia sun.

If your not a good chicken, then you are a ...
Philip's magical fingers at work
Painstakingly concentrating on this mindabusing game