Trills of wind

I had a really great with with D. We had fun visiting her friends and being with her family. We hung out and enjoyed each other and had some really great conversations. We both said it's great how well we get along since we do spend so much time together.

My trip continues. I decided to make the drive to see my grandpa after I ended my time with D and her family, so I'm at my uncle's house. Going to be with grandpa tomorrow morning after a short visit earlier tonight, then head back out. Assuming that the shock which went out on my car (electrifyingly enough) is able to get fixed straight away tomorrow.

What if you heard that peace is real? What if I told you there was a better way? Would you come Home if you knew the way?

One destination

Spending time with D where she went to college. Meeting peoples' friends is always interesting. I wonder how we get to be friends some times. I wonder if things will ever change. It's something how I've come to look at things through different eyes. It's also interesting how much growth it would take me to be able to live somewhere like here. I'm far more introverted than some people realize, I think sometimes, and it would take growth to be able to live here.

Been pondering that even when evil is used for good, it still has to be punished.

A new thing which has come into my mind is how sometimes I look back in wonder and I think to myself, "Where'd you go?" Being here with D where she went to college makes me wonder how my life could have been different, but isn't. I find new face and new freshness in the reality that I am here, not there, but here. And I was led here, though it may not have been what was intended from the start, it is where I am.

None today

My knee is getting better. I went down on rollerblades the other day. I ran this A.M., though, so good sign there.

We're spending time with D's family and friends. They are a rather enjoyable bunch, and they put up with me pretty well, which I like.

After Meeting on Sunday, D and I got to go for a walk and talk about what we heard. That was really great.

I think a lot about all the different ways I am blessed. Health, wealth, great family, great job, great girlfriend. All good things. But I don't think often enough about all the other ways that I am blessed. And those are even better.

Good news. It's not about forever later, it's about forever today.

Centrifugal and Angular Motion

We went to a carnival last night. And rode on a super turbo ferris wheel, plus a super slide, plus a ride where there is a central pillar with arms having cars at the end, which you are then propelled circularly around the central pillar and, once reaching a good rate of speed, then the arms begin to raise and lower. I almost got sick.

I've been really pushing numerous people that I have seen since returning to consider going overseas, whether to the 'Stan or to another place, and I would like to continue that challenge to those who read this blog.

Also been thinking about how I present myself to the One, as I don't want to proclaim my name in His presence, but instead want to come forth in humility.

Otherwise, they should dump him.

We went to the garden of eden today. Highlights included Eve's hips, and the tour guide, "Why would you want to port your potty?" and...

Other Guest is it like a sauna in there?

Nara It's about a 9 on the portapotty scale.

Other Guest ...

Call now!

So, jetlag. I had been doing OK until yesterday, then I took a nap during a movie then a little longer, so then I woke up at 3:50. Yay. That's OK, I've got electricity at least, eh?

Fourth of July was fun, I only almost killed myself once, so that was a plus. I'm kind of staying lazy, not really doing a whole lot. I am planning to run every morning, and that should help me be a little more in shape and have a little more energy. I got new running shoes the morning I got back so I could go run. I like running.

I'm pathetic. But I'm excited get to see D in 3 days!

Chowking

So. We are out of the 'Stan. After a three and a half hour delay, a flight with no food, we are in the hot, sticky-ness of Dubai. We fly to Moscow next, then to Atlanta, then to KC. And then I'll fly onto the folks from there.

We did get to go through the new airport terminal flying out, but some minister came in while we were waiting, so we had to go out and get re-screened. It was kind of ridiculous, like I said we waited for 3 and a half hours, including half on the ground.

But, now, after getting supper, we are going to make a quick shopping trip into Dubai, then back to the airport to fly out. We are going to have fun on this trip, no matter what it takes. That is why I brought my friendly lemur companion. D has already had it bite my nose a couple times.

It was kind of sad to leave the summer school kids today. I did get mob-hugged by a bunch of the 1-3 grade boys, which was interesting.

D's legs and feet are really hurting, so please Remember them for the rest of our... 24 hour trip. Thanks!

We have already won

... and what a great victory it is.

So yesterday we prowled around the new house on campus which is still under construction. I had to jump onto the wall since they had locked the compound, so that was fun. It's going to be a nice place. I won't live there, but it will be nice for whoever moves in.

Two more days here. I'm not going to get my new computer lab all fixed, which is a little disappointing but I just can't get it all wired. Oh well.

They were young once, too.

We're coming up on the last week of summer school, and my last week before heading out of the country for my summer vacation in the U.S. It's been a pretty good couple of weeks, I haven't gotten as much done as I should have, but that's OK. I've had a good time, but I'm ready to go.

Today, I played volleyball twice, once in the morning with a fun group, and once in the evening with a different, also fun group. I hung out with D (kneading bread!) and got some work done in my office.

I'm getting close to knowing that I know less than I thought I ever wanted to.

Reliquaries

Ah, the interesting things that happen in life - the sometimes seemingly random connections. D and I went over to eat with a family tonight, D works with the mom at her job, and we were discussing life histories. It turns out that I know some people that she went to college with! Halfway 'round the world, and you run into people that you have mutual friends with. It's strange.

Summer school is going pretty well, although I still struggle with how to work with the Planets, the youngest kids. At least the Stars (1st-3rd grade) and I get along great!

It's time to visit the planetarium.

Can't climb back in

More of life. Summer school is going well, although I never quite know how I'm going to get through half an hour with the Planets (the pre-k through K group). Kind of been on a cleaning/moving spree everywhere - I'm a third moved into my new office, and now have to wait for the maintenance guys to move into my old office so I can move the rest of the way into my new office. D and I cleaned out her kitchen and got rid of a bunch of old food and spices. And I rearranged and cleaned up my room. We're just a clean happy group here!

Understanding unit mulitplication

Well.

One week of summer school is done. Two more! And no more math for Mr. Newcomer!

D and I rearranged her house's living room, and it looks really nice. So we had people over for supper and ordered delivery. It was nice.

I am tired. So I'm going to bed.

Russ

40 out of 40

Day 4 of summer school is done. Today was also my last day having to teach math to 4th-6th graders. Yay! Now it's just PE for Russ. So I'll have to plan PE better now. Oh well. It's summer school PE. Tomorrow is easy because it's Dodgeball day! Actually, I take it back - it's easy for the 1st-6th graders. It's pretty hard for the pre-K and Kindergarten students.

I'm working more on getting the computer lab moved. It's exciting. They're working on the power and we'll get network cable ran soon. There is more room in the lab than we had drawn up, so the lab will be nice and spacious.

I played volleyball for two hours tonight with our national staff against our guard force. It was pretty fun. I can count lots better in the local language now, I think. I had some pretty nice blocks, and a couple of decent spikes. Some of our guards were really good.

D and I went out to eat with some of our friends to a local restaurant. It was fun. It was nice to have enough people to go out with - D and I can't really go out by ourselves to local restaurants, so this was the first time we had gone and sat down at this particular one. It was good.

Tomorrow is movie night! And I'll probably start moving more of my office tomorrow.

The Little Birds

Ah, summer.

The kids are gone for another few days, school is out, and I have been busy. I've been wrapping up the end of the school year tasks (computer returns, clearing out old accounts, some very minor infrastructure things) and then I've been working on the old/new computer lab. I wrote up a proposal that my bosses accepted to move our computer lab from 17 to 24 computers, and from our current small lab to a larger room downstairs. So I cleared out the old lab, and then over the next few weeks as painting and infrastructure work gets finished, I'll move the lab downstairs. I'm pretty excited about that.

After I get the lab moved out of my office, I get to start moving into my new office! Our key network infrastructure, server, battery-backup system, backbone switch, firewall, and satellite connection, is spread across two adjacent rooms, a server/storage room and the maintenance office. We're going to consolidate the equipment into one room, and then move my office into the other room, and move the maintenance guys to my office (which is next door to the existing rooms). So after the lab is moved, and a couple cabinets are moved to the new lab, I'll start moving my stuff to the server/storage room, then after I leave the maintenance guys can move their stuff to their new office. Then when I come back, I'll move the server and set up my new office.

I'm helping with summer school, serving as PE teacher and helping with other classes also. It's up to Grade 6, so we should have a good crew and a good time. D is still working, and we'll leave together the first part of July.

Yesterday was a sad day - the first of my closer friends here left, not to return next year. Other friends left as well, and that's sad. D and my closest friend here is leaving on Sunday, and that will probably be the saddest day. That's one of the hardest things about the way my life is currently - people keep leaving. Even though there are ways in our modern world to stay connected, it's still sad when they leave.

I need to get back to work now, but I hadn't posted a substantial update for a while, and I figured it was time.

Before you go

So, there is only one half day left in the school year. It definitely feels different than last year. Since I'm staying to help with summer school until July 1st (and spend time with D, who doesn't finish her contract until then either), I'm not part of the imminent countdown everyone else has. That makes their countdown a little annoying, but I deal.

Tonight, D and I babysat for my neighbors, our science teacher and his wife, since we won't get to see their kids for a couple months with the summer and their staying in the states a little longer for their new addition to join the family. We had a great time. Two great moments - once when the three year old girl just started telling me part of the Story, and another when I tried to explain to the seven year old why staring at bright lights was bad for you, and why staring at the distant sun was worse than the nearby ceiling light.

I'm a little stressed, but I know I'll make it through these next few days until the majority of people leave. Then it'll be time for summer school. I haven't really even planned anything for that. I'm doing PE. Our summer program is half day, and has a space theme, so probably instead of Trees we'll play Asteroid Fields, and instead of freeze-tag, we'll play gravity-tag.

I am more and more reminded that I need to GROW. Not just to be who I was, but to change to what I need to be. I'm really not all that spectacular of a person right now, but I should be. All glories to the King on the Throne.

Steel Guitars

What can we find in the simplicity of a wall? Not always the quiet that we want, but often the comfort that we need. Sheltering and protecting us, insulating us from the world around, and often far finer than the world around, it can be a comfort and a hindrance.

With everything in life, the key is balance. I'm trying to balance my life right now with not looking forward too much, but staying in the footsteps of heroes.

Please Remember the last week of school, and that we would get everything accomplished as a school that we need to.

Alive

I'm alive, but I'm tired. I'm green, but I've seen more than I want to. I'm restless, but I'm going to be here a while.

It's dark, it's warm and it's cool, it's bright. Louder than the storm. Louder than the hurricane.

Break in the clouds

Ah, graduation.

Transition.

Change.

Things fundamental to the lifestyle I feel called to, and yet, that doesn't mean that I necessarily like them, even though I want them to happen. So it took me another few minutes to figure out what I wanted to say here. And I still don't have it. I guess I have a love/hate relationship with change: I like new things and I like being comfortable in how things are.

So during graduation today, we had a person with deputy in their official title speaking when... the sound board suddenly powered off. As the sound guy who had arrived at 7:00 A.M. and had made sure everything was rock solid, I was surprised. I quickly checked power, and it was working. I checked the board, and it was not exhibiting strange behaviors. I had brought a good amount of spares and backups, but I didn't have a backup board. Argh. Checked power again, and noted the that the breaker on the powerstrip to the board was popped out. Popped it back in, and we were up and running again. Objective time off - perhaps 15 seconds. Subjective time off - 203 hours. Oh well.

I just want to take this blog opportunity to tell you that I have a successful and attractive girlfriend who I like. Also, our relationship is based on food.

Where is is to be found

Excuse me for not posting a lot recently. It's the end of the semester, and I'm getting crunched with some projects.

On the plus side, I think I may be getting some things figured out.

For what we can't pull down

It's been an... exhausting couple of days. Lots of good things, but lots of exhaustion.

Today was supposed to be the high school musical concert on campus. Right after I got all the sound gear set up for the outdoor concert, we had a dust storm. So I took out cable connections, closed up cases, etc. Just in time for the start of the short but torrential downpour of rain. So we had to emergenciarily (which is a good word I just made up) took the stuff inside, and some of the 7th graders helping didn't have quite the care I could have wished. Oh well. I just have to spend tomorrow setting everything back up for the rain date.

There's been some other stuff going on with students that I've gotten pulled into which I haven't exactly been thrilled about, but what can you do?

I've also had some really good meetings with my new boss, which has been encouraging.

And tomorrow, I get to have a date with a pretty girl!