Thursday, May 31
Once in a blue moon...
You got it! Tonight is a blue moon for the United States (parts of the country will celebrate it later in June due to time zone differences). A blue moon is when you have two full moons in the same month. How often does it happen, you ask? Every 2.5 years! The last time was in 2004. So, if you found yourself acting strangely or needing extra assistance today, give yourself a break; it only happens once in a blue moon.
Wednesday, May 30
Free stuff
Read this if you're interested in...
free office supplies (good stuff, too! 250 business cards or a personalized rubber stamp or personalized stationary or postcards or other premium discounted items)
free photo mug
free tampons, underware, or deodorant
and a free Oceans 13 movie ticket (this one requires purchasing Oceans 11 and 12 DVDs for $12)
Where does all this stuff come from? StealDeals.
free office supplies (good stuff, too! 250 business cards or a personalized rubber stamp or personalized stationary or postcards or other premium discounted items)
free photo mug
free tampons, underware, or deodorant
and a free Oceans 13 movie ticket (this one requires purchasing Oceans 11 and 12 DVDs for $12)
Where does all this stuff come from? StealDeals.
Pyramid
Last night our home meeting met in a park for dinner. We had a great time just hanging out, enjoying the weather and delicious food, and entertaining conversations. Before everyone left, we made a human pyramid! I would have volunteered for the bottom, but I thought my knee would be better standing. 
Then we got to talking about making a pyramid scheme, so a few of us posed for that too. =)
The latest news for Google includes new features to their Maps software. It's only available for a few cities now, but they have data for a bunch more and will be adding them soon. Google also changed their Korean homepage to add more animation. Is this a test run to eventually change the simple Google.com to a more cutesy page?? Who knows.
Microsoft just announced a new product called Surface that I believe will change the face of waiting rooms (and eventually the average end table!). Touch screens with even more functionality! I'm excited.
I also had my tire fixed yesterday, so I won't have any more tire babies popping up. Just kidding, bad pun...but I did fix my tire; the spare is safely back in the trunk where it belongs.
Then we got to talking about making a pyramid scheme, so a few of us posed for that too. =)
The latest news for Google includes new features to their Maps software. It's only available for a few cities now, but they have data for a bunch more and will be adding them soon. Google also changed their Korean homepage to add more animation. Is this a test run to eventually change the simple Google.com to a more cutesy page?? Who knows.
Microsoft just announced a new product called Surface that I believe will change the face of waiting rooms (and eventually the average end table!). Touch screens with even more functionality! I'm excited.
I also had my tire fixed yesterday, so I won't have any more tire babies popping up. Just kidding, bad pun...but I did fix my tire; the spare is safely back in the trunk where it belongs.
Tuesday, May 29
Flat tire
I arrived safely in Philadelphia yesterday. Memorial Day morning is a great time to fly! Grand Rapids Airport (which, granted, isn't usually busy) was a breeze to go through...where else can you walk right up to the security check without waiting in line? I took a few subways home since most friends in Philly were at a cottage up north for the holiday. At home, I finished a few papers for my masters class and tidied up my room.
Sarah came in last night from Pittsburgh after visiting with her family for the extended weekend. It was SO GOOD to see her again! We celebrated our return by going out to Mixto restaurant. I had a buy one, get one free dinner, which we enjoyed immensely. We got to catch up with each other and swap stories/pictures from the weekend, as well as look to how the next few weeks are going to look with my school finishing and her crazy board test studying schedule! Why does absence make the heart grow fonder?
I stayed at her place as late as I could before heading home. Unfortunately, when I returned to my car, I had a flat tire! I didn't have a jack and forgot that you need to take off the hubcap before removing the lugnuts on the tire. Fortunately, AAA came to the rescue; they were at my parked car within a half hour. I'm riding on my spare today, so I'll have to get that changed after school this afternoon.
It's good to be back at school! My computer lab had evidence of me being gone for a week (I should start a collection of the things I find left in my room...), and the teachers and few kids I've seen already were wondering how I was doing. We only have three weeks left, and much to be done before then.
Gotta start my first class! This year's going to be over before I know it!
Sarah came in last night from Pittsburgh after visiting with her family for the extended weekend. It was SO GOOD to see her again! We celebrated our return by going out to Mixto restaurant. I had a buy one, get one free dinner, which we enjoyed immensely. We got to catch up with each other and swap stories/pictures from the weekend, as well as look to how the next few weeks are going to look with my school finishing and her crazy board test studying schedule! Why does absence make the heart grow fonder?
I stayed at her place as late as I could before heading home. Unfortunately, when I returned to my car, I had a flat tire! I didn't have a jack and forgot that you need to take off the hubcap before removing the lugnuts on the tire. Fortunately, AAA came to the rescue; they were at my parked car within a half hour. I'm riding on my spare today, so I'll have to get that changed after school this afternoon.
It's good to be back at school! My computer lab had evidence of me being gone for a week (I should start a collection of the things I find left in my room...), and the teachers and few kids I've seen already were wondering how I was doing. We only have three weeks left, and much to be done before then.
Gotta start my first class! This year's going to be over before I know it!
Monday, May 28
Tony and Christen's wedding
This weekend I had the joyful experience of being part of the marriage of Anthony John Bordenkircher to Christen Joelle Conner. They are well on their way to Belize at the moment, and their wedding was beautiful. They met at Hope and have been dating for four years (Tony went to New Zeeland, Christen went Greece and Africa, and they broke up for a bit in there too). Their wedding seemed natural, as if it were the next step in their relationship. They know each other so well and love each other dearly. Both sets of parents were tremendously supportive and excited to see them marry. Truly, a beautiful day.
One of the elements Tony and Christen included to make their wedding personal to them was to make wedding favors out of recycled paper and daisy seeds! It was all part of their wedding theme of new beginnings. On the favors, they encouraged guests to plant their paper and start a "new beginning of your own". They also had the guys wearing a baby pink color for their tux vests. My personal favorite might have been the banner they had at the end of the receiving line after the reception. Instead of running through a finish line, they ran through a starting line of their marriage and into the car for their honeymoon. What a joyful celebration! Brian DePotty was a great MC/DJ for the wedding, using neat dances such as the snowball and two-line dances to get people up and participating. I wished Sarah was there, but there were some great guys to keep me company.
On a side note, I caught the garter belt! I had managed to snag the one at John and Kelly Hile's wedding two summers ago, so I'm hoping that this one does the trick. =)
One of the elements Tony and Christen included to make their wedding personal to them was to make wedding favors out of recycled paper and daisy seeds! It was all part of their wedding theme of new beginnings. On the favors, they encouraged guests to plant their paper and start a "new beginning of your own". They also had the guys wearing a baby pink color for their tux vests. My personal favorite might have been the banner they had at the end of the receiving line after the reception. Instead of running through a finish line, they ran through a starting line of their marriage and into the car for their honeymoon. What a joyful celebration! Brian DePotty was a great MC/DJ for the wedding, using neat dances such as the snowball and two-line dances to get people up and participating. I wished Sarah was there, but there were some great guys to keep me company.
On a side note, I caught the garter belt! I had managed to snag the one at John and Kelly Hile's wedding two summers ago, so I'm hoping that this one does the trick. =)
The bachelor (party)
Some people have a certain stigma associated with a bachelor party. It's unfortunate that marriage is associated with a prison and you've gotta be free one last night before you're in chains forever. Despite some of my good friends being married, they still have time for me--both with their wives and one-on-one. My experience has found that a bachelor party is simply an excuse for the groom-to-be and his best friends to hang out together. Such was the case with Tony's bachelor party this past Thursday. We had a great time together, and while I can't break the code of secrecy and tell you all about what we did, I can reveal a few pictures:
Thursday, May 24
Recovering
My knee is recovering. My doctor's appointment is scheduled for tomorrow morning, and I'm hoping for some good news. I've only worn the brace when I've left the house the past few days, and although the after pain reminds me things aren't as they should, it's leaps and bounds better than it was on Sunday. My sleep has been really good recently too, for which I'm very thankful.
With my extra time, I was able to fully apply to Spruce Hill Christian School in West Philadelphia. It was a pretty extensive application! I faxed the TEN PAGES to the school this afternoon, and it felt good to finish that beast. Here's hoping it's all worth it!
Last night I had the privilege of spending the evening with the growing Marlink family. Chris and Becky Marlink had me over for a delicious Greek pita dinner, the joy of which was only surpassed by their pleasant company. Becky is due to give birth to their first son in five weeks...she and Chris are going to make darling parents. Here's a picture of them:
I realized that I hadn't taken a picture of my knee brace, so here's one for you.
Note: the background are remainders of Maria's move back into our house from Calvin. It's hard to live in two places at the same time! Then when you want to move into one, the space disappears!
Tonight is "guy's night" before Tony and Christen's wedding (aka bachelor party). I'm excited to spend it with the Reese fellas. Weddings are really good for bringing people back together again. I'm wondering how we'll find excuses in a five to ten years when everyone's settled down somewhat.
With my extra time, I was able to fully apply to Spruce Hill Christian School in West Philadelphia. It was a pretty extensive application! I faxed the TEN PAGES to the school this afternoon, and it felt good to finish that beast. Here's hoping it's all worth it!
Last night I had the privilege of spending the evening with the growing Marlink family. Chris and Becky Marlink had me over for a delicious Greek pita dinner, the joy of which was only surpassed by their pleasant company. Becky is due to give birth to their first son in five weeks...she and Chris are going to make darling parents. Here's a picture of them:
I realized that I hadn't taken a picture of my knee brace, so here's one for you.
Note: the background are remainders of Maria's move back into our house from Calvin. It's hard to live in two places at the same time! Then when you want to move into one, the space disappears!
Tonight is "guy's night" before Tony and Christen's wedding (aka bachelor party). I'm excited to spend it with the Reese fellas. Weddings are really good for bringing people back together again. I'm wondering how we'll find excuses in a five to ten years when everyone's settled down somewhat.
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