Talking on the Road...

Tonight, I am thinking of a girl I shouldn't be because it's too painful not to. There are several reasons why both trains of thought are true.

Once again, I have met someone I wish I could pursue. She's new here, like me, and we met during our first day of orientation. I should note here that I skipped the first day and only showed for the dinner reception that night (a guy's gotta have priorities). Actually, there are two of us who are new to the department and somehow we were not sent information regarding Tuesday's half-day orientation. No matter, I heard it was little more than a boring round of introductions.

The reception that night was at the Dean's house. Staff, new and old alike, were introduced to one another and treated to an exceptional buffet line (say what you like about Laramie, but for a town this size, the food is second to none). I was meeting a number of interesting people (i.e. hockey fans) that night and enjoying myself. At some point just before I checked out, I was introduced to "someone you must meet!" (as I was told at the time).

The young lady I was introduced to and I hit it off almost immediately. She's a globe-trotting anthropologist and has done work for National Geographic. We sat through the next two days of training together and decided to stay in touch. Yesterday after roaming the farmers' market, we had dinner with one of her grad students.

After dinner, we dropped her student off and ventured over to her cottage. I refer to her humble abode as a 'cottage' because, in all seriousness, that's what it is. The landlord refers to it as a 'mother-in-law' dwelling. It's nice, don't get me wrong, maybe even ideal for someone new to the community, but it is cozy to say the least. We decided to talk for a while and discussed a wide-array of topics staying up well past midnight. This was all very innocent and in case you're wondering, I don't think she's interested...but I am...and wish I wasn't. This is a very similar situation as to what I referred to several posts ago. I am not sure as to why I am meeting these women and am even less sure as to why I am so interested in them.

I went to church with Noel earlier tonight. Noel attends a church I think I would attend if I lived in Colorado. I've only been there twice, but I've enjoyed it both times. I don't know if she could tell during service, but I was struggling.

After service, I made my way back to Wyoming. I had one of those long, hard, honest talks with God--the kind where you're thankful no one is present to witness. This talk kept me preoccupied a good portion of the way home.

One of the points made during the sermon tonight was why should continue talking to God if He already knows our thoughts. The pastor noted that God is interested in what we have to say because He is interested in us. And I am thankful for that.

A re-evaluation of home...

In case I haven't been abundantly clear in my previous posts, Laramie is a great place. However, it is far from perfect.

Why do I say that?

"NO MACS FOR YOU!"...The university does not use Macs. I have been offered TWO office computers--a desktop and a laptop--but both are PCs. I have no say on the matter. In fact, when I inquired as to whether or not I could obtain a Mac instead, I was shot down immediately.

(no need to worry, I'm not giving in)

REGISTERING TO VOTE...I thought motor-voter was universal. Guess not. Not only was my inability to register at the DMV annoying, but when I did register, I was informed that today is Wyoming's primary and I was required to submit a ballot.

I turned in a blank ballot.

However, I still find reasons on a daily basis to embrace this community. Last night I stumbled across a dresser with a big sign reading "FREE!" And today...El Zarape! I have eaten Mexican food here and there, the good and the bad, and have stumbled across few, if any, that do it as well as this place (Clint and Jake, take note).

The Passing of Summer...

Summers in Manhattan are brutal. Heat and humidity merge with one another to create a sweltering condition that should be avoided at all costs.

Laramie is not Manhattan.

The passing of summer began Thursday night as a front moved across the region. Temperatures plummeted and the town was soon afterwards hit with an angry thunderstorm. Yesterday, a rainy drizzle dominated the weather scene.

Why bring this up? Because summer, in Laramie, is over.

Officially, summer doesn't end for another month or so, but for all practical purposes, it's over. I took in the farmer's market yesterday and I don't recall ever attending one where the vendors wore heavy fleece jackets and stocking caps. I should have known this was coming when my fellow faculty members asked me which date I had for the first snowfall earlier in the week.

I picked September 24th.

While the rest of the northern hemisphere is basking in the last days of summer, here along the foothills of the Rockies, fall is in full swing...and I'm enjoying it!

Confirming my worst fears...

Once upon a time, I believed finding a good roommate was easy.

To be sure, not all my roommates have worked out. Most of these were simply a matter of timing, but some were deep seeded disagreements in lifestyles. Thankfully, most have worked out over the years.

Among the best of the best...

MIKE THE FIREFIGHTER (1 Year)...I will likely never again spend as much time in a given calendar year with one person as I did with Mike. The year we were firefighters, we lived together, worked together, and spent our free-time together. Amazingly, we were still good friends at the end of the year.

MIKE THE YOUNGER (2+ Years)...Mike was 9 years younger than me and yet I often thought I was the more immature of the two. He is an amazing individual and a good friend.

RYAN, SLAYER OF WOODLAND CRITTERS (3 Years)...If you read many of my posts, you know he worked out (even if he won't admit to the dominance of the '85 Bears!).

Before making my move to the High Plains of Wyoming, a friend suggested a young man as a potential roommate. He's an MBA student and has an amazing location (see previous post). However, in talking with him on the phone, I could tell something was odd with this one even if I couldn't put my finger on it. But I decided to go ahead and room with the guy.

The other night, Mike (my new roommate) and I were discussing a number of topics as I was packing up my things to make a quick trip to Colorado. I was traveling to Denver to take in a Rockies game and to spend some time with friends. When I shared this, Mike commented that he had never seen a baseball game.

Who hasn't seen a baseball game?! I couldn't believe it! I was shocked! Granted, baseball, as has been discussed previously on this site, might not be the most manly of sports, but it is still at least marginally a sport and a large part of Americana. But then he dropped the real bombshell...

"I DON'T LIKE FOOTBALL MUCH."

I didn't know what to say. Even now, the only words I have to offer are...

May God have mercy on his soul.

The Geography of a New Home...

Brett Favre as a Jet? Maybe. Maybe not.

The thought of my boy wearing a Jet's uniform this season does not sit well with me. When I think of Brett, I think of Green Bay, the Packers, and the Frozen Tundra (and vise versa)--not Gotham's concrete skyscraper jungle. There's something special about having a gunslinger playing in one of the legendary old school communities of the NFL. Granted, there are a number of cities he could have relocated to that would have made me cringe more than New York, but this move definitely does not excite me.

But as quickly as this trade was announced, there was speculation that this might not be his final move. In other words, someone might make the Jets an offer to obtain the rights for this future Hall-of-Fame quarterback.

I find myself relating to Favre's situation--a new residence, but no guarantee this will be a longterm home. Later this weekend, I will finalize my move to the high plains of Wyoming. Fittingly for a nomad such as myself, my new residence lies across the street from the Earth Sciences Building between "Lewis" and "Clark" streets.

I have already made a couple of trips to visit campus and my new community...and I think I will like it! I may not know where I will reside a year from now, but for the time being, I am not concerned with that and am looking forward to my new surroundings.

I wish the same for #4.

On Second Shots...

Sometimes in life, we need a second shot. I have found sharing my experiences via posts is one of those areas in life where I definitely need a 'mulligan'.

In case you're curious, I went on the second date. I enjoyed the second date as much as the first. She really is an interesting individual. In case you're concerned (or simply 'wondering'), I was never considering a relationship with this young lady.

I appreciated the comments that followed the previous post. Really! But I did discover that my thoughts were not as clearly expressed as they were organized in my head. What I was contemplating was whether or not going on a date with someone who does not share a deep-seeded faith was something to be attempted or not. A relationship was never in question for me...just the question of a date.

Based on responses I received via comments, e-mails, and conversations, I would say my friends are roughly split 50-50 as to whether or not I should have gone on the date with her in the first place (let alone the second date).

On a related note, a question I had brought up with a friend of mine this past spring resurfaced through this process...the question of whether or not I believe God owes me.

This is a very difficult question to address and I venture to guess that on some level I do. Sometimes (often?) I feel as if I am obedient through a trying process that I should be justly rewarded in this life. I hate admitting this, but it is true and probably no more evident in my life than in the area of relationships.

In one of his letters, Paul spoke of struggling with an issue time and again. There is a lot of speculation as to what Paul's thorn was. There is no question as to what my struggle is. My thorn, for better or worse, is singleness.

A number of friends and family members have commented on how Laramie might be the place where I finally meet someone. After years of vocational training and nomadic wanderings, many believe this journey will have a happy ending. Maybe. But my concern is that I will expect it rather than find contentment and peace in waiting.