My Summer

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Wow - summer came and went so quickly! I'd love to hear about your summers. Here's how (or where) mine went:

  • May 17-19: Where else - Rogers, Arkansas! That place still does and always will have a special piece of my heart. Good friends, good food, good clean living.
  • May 22: GRADUATION! I finally walked and got my M.Div. to put up on my shelf with the other degree I don't use to make a living (Bachelor of Science in Mathematics). It was wonderful having family in town for something other than a funeral or a wedding.
  • May 26-28: Yup, Arkansas (again).
  • June 14-18: San Antonio, Texas. You know how every time the San Antonio Spurs are in the NBA Finals and ABC takes a camera crew down to the Riverwalk? Yeah, it's even cooler in person. Oh, and stopping at The Alamo is a must. It helps you rethink the whole immigration debate. When you see the names of the Latinos who gave their lives in defense of Texas you will remember that this nation was much more welcoming to immigrants, and immigrants were much more willing to help build this "One Nation Under God."
  • June 21-25: Minneapolis area. Yes, the Mall of America is so big that I went to the Food Courts for dinner and ate samples.
  • June 28-July 2: Minneapolis area (again). Yes, the Mall of America is so big that I didn't bother looking for anything else to do.
  • July 5-9: Tent camping with Samuel while the other two were at camp (Fellowship of Christian Athletes). Basma had the week to herself - a well-deserved break.
  • July 18-24: Minneapolis area (yet again). Yes, the Mall of America is so big that I brought my family, and they spent two days there by themselves while I worked. The road trip there and back was pretty cool. On the way there we spent the night in Madison, Wisconsin's state capital. The next day we took a free tour of the Capitol building. Lovely building, lovely setting. Overall, it was cool being able to bring the family to work with me.
  • August 9-13: Minneapolis area (still yet again). Yes, the Mall of America is still there but now I'm thinking that the people in Minneapolis like me. That's cool; I like them too.
  • August 16-20: Ft. Wayne, Indiana. It's nice to not have to fly out and rent a car; this is just a 3-hour drive from home.
  • August 23-27: Chattanooga, Tennessee. In case you're wondering, there actually is a hotel called the Chattanooga Choo-Choo. It looks like it could be a lot of fun, but it was a bit spooky walking through a big place with so few people there. I guess most families had to get their kids back to school. Chattanooga does have a nice, pedestrian-friendly downtown area with a free electric bus shuttle.
  • August 30-September 3: Minneapolis area (even still yet again). Yes, the Mall of America is in the flight path of one of the MSP runways. Speaking of paths, I now have a free dinner path I walk to get my protein (Thai, Chinese, Rybick's Cheese), carbs (Lindt Chocolatier, Villa Pizza, Charley's Subs, Sbarro, Harry and David), and beverage (Teavana).

Now that the summer is over and that I've put my white pants away after Labor Day (just kidding; with airplane turbulence and grape juice I'd never own a pair), I'll keep up a little better here. Which is a good thing because right now I'm on my way to...

Djibouti.

And yes, I'll be sure to let you know how this goes. Stay tuned!

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