Counting down the days until Thanksgiving break!

My posts have been sparse lately, but crazy college is the story of my life right now.

Though excursions off campus are rare, I enjoyed a nice dinner out with my housemates last night. The 8 of us made the trip to Buffalo to eat at "The Cheesecake Factory."
The food was good, but was nothing compared to their specialty cheesecakes which we ordered to go and ate when we got back to Houghton. I had the raspberry white chocolate.

I'm very grateful for the blessing of my housemates. There's never a dull moment in Perkins 41. So much so that I have to pull myself away and study at the library. Trying to plug away for another week or so, then it's homeward bound for a time of Thanksgiving.

Simplicity Initiative at HC: Consumerism

PLEASE: Check out this video clip.

http://www.qideas.org/talks/default.aspx?id=5

Shown as an example for a time of refraining from the consumerism of the season.
Disclaimer: You don't have to agree with everything he says. But an awful lot of it is pretty good!

Stolen selections from my October break trip to the High Peaks of the Adirondacks

Thankful for my old school rain "slicker"

I felt like I was climbing Everest at this point.

The frost on the trees was so beautiful. Stepping stones.

at Indian Falls

The crew at the lean-to

Dee: the awesome Gillette Hall RD

Avalanche Pass

Route up Mt. Marcy

Recycling/Creation Care/Preservation

"Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"

Praise the Lord!!!

Emily Crikelair said her first words this week after being struck by lightning nearly 4 months ago.
"Hi mom" and "Hi dad"
way to go Emily!

A Happy 24th to the Luke'ster!

(Pictured here after his "white coat" ceremony at Boston U.)

Pray that this stuffy nose isn't me getting sick like everyone else on campus....Sickness tends to become epidemic here.

I want to see as many family, friends, and alumni at this as possible! Two weeks folks! It's gonna be a weekend to remember.

Can I just say: a day packing for months away from home is one of the most stressful, anxiety provoking activities. Thank God Houghton's worth it.

For Paul and Kat: in memory of listening to the album w/ the Shaffners in a Land Cruiser on a Tanzanian highway. Kat says it's a night driving album.

The Wallflowers - The Difference

These alumni SPOT contributers will be missed.

"He is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine...."

Every summer, around mid July, this comes in the mail.

We Houghton students need to sign, confirming our agreement to the statement of community responsibilities for the coming year. This year though, a few changes have been made. It's now called the "Community Covenant" and with some revision to the statement, there are different expectations at least around the area of on campus dancing. I'm still pondering my opinion on the changes, but in general, too much change tends to make me nervous. This summer, receipt of this letter is just another reminder of the approach of my final year at dear old Houghton. I'll not be sent another of its kind.

I've been sibling deprived for over six months. Tomorrow one returns from across the seas. Lucas, Luke, Luc.

Cell phone photos of a night outdoors

Almost full moon from the tent. Trusty sleeping bag.
Missing my 3 month stay in a tent, I decided to set of my brother's Coleman in the back yard earlier this week.

The night sounds, however, the hum of motor boat engines on the lake and the roar of car engines seemed to take away from the experience.

It just wasn't the same as laying awake to hear the sounds of the African night or the rush of the nearby river.

We've got wireless...

This "take your laptop anywhere in the house and be able access the internet" is dangerous business for the procrastinator in me.

Raging bull gores runner at Spanish festival

No fooling around here...they asked for it....

"World-famous Pamplona event pits hundreds against charging animals"

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25581214/

Trivia for the day

In an attempt to obtain some kind of comments on my obviously boring blog, here's a piece of trivia.

Define "khanga/kanga."

Whoever gets it, wins, and um, has found something out about life in Africa.

(this picture has nothing to do with it, it's just a good shot of travel there)

Dawn Treader

Dad, where he's happiest.