Day 147 - Tues (1/19)

Ladies and gentlemen, I present you:
The incomparable, unimitatable Paul Nelson.



This charming fellow is in his junior year at Wheaton, and a fine fellow generally. What makes him different from the other admittedly fine juniors at Wheaton is that I have known Paul since he was probably in 6th grade! His family attends the same church I did in Iowa City while I was graduate school there, and since I started grad school in 2000, well, that's a while. It's fascinating to watch people grow up before your eyes, in different places and settings, over long periods of time. Wherever Paul goes after he graduates, and whatever he does, he'll still be good ol' Paul Nelson in my eyes. And he'll always still be good for a cheerful "Mr. Thorne, good morning. How are you?"
Which he's been saying exactly the same mature, adult fashion since he was in junior high, which is really funny to me.

Day 146 - Mon (1/18)

Monday has rolled around again. I actually don't mind Mondays at all, since that just means I get to go back to doing what I love to do, and get paid for it. It's pretty awesome. But I still need hobbies, things that are fun, relaxing, and rewarding apart from academic stuff. Well, did you see my picture from yesterday? I've been playing my new keyboard a lot lately, and it's been great. I grew up playing piano since I was around 6 years old, and although I didn't want to practice until late in high school, now it's one of my favorite things.

Lately, I have been trying very diligently to learn the song below. "Thanksgiving" by the incomparable George Winston. Enjoy.

Day 145 - Sun (1/17)

Oh, did I tell you that I got a piano?



Thank you, Best Buy, for having an awesome sale on an open box item!

Day 144 - Sat (1/16)

Well, hello friends. It's been a while. It's not even the same school year anymore. But a promise is a promise, and I do in fact have the pictures for the rest of the 2009-2010 school year, so believe it or not, this blog is NOT dead. Oh no. It just rested for a while. A good, long while. Why, you ask? Well, if you know me well, you already know what happened the spring semester of 2010 that sucked all my time into a dark vortex. But, oh, the outcome was worth it. So, my faithful readers, read on! Thank you for being patient, and I hope you enjoy, however belated, the spring semester of my 2nd year teaching at Wheaton College -- Christo et Regno Ejus!

* * * * * * * *
Sometimes I let mail pile up. Sometimes I get the bee in my metaphorical bonnet and actually do the bills. Sometimes, I just take a documentary picture of my bills instead.

Day 143 - Fri (1/15)

Today, at the end of the first week of the new semester, I'll share a song. A great song accompanied by a great music video. One of the best I've seen in a good while.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4KiGN1j1No



"You make ALL THINGS NEW! Amen.

Day 142 - Thurs (1/14)

What does Mark look like when he's in his office, doing his thing, making the magic happen?



Well, he looks like he's busy! This shot finds me doing class prep for my Ancient Greek Hymns course. Which is awesome. Man, do I ever love my job.

Day 141 - Wed (1/13)

Much to do today. Classes started only two days ago.



Why do I feel so tired already?

Day 140 - Tues (1/12)

And it's up! My new computer seems to working fairly well, and the shiny new monitor is much bigger than any I've used before. And the mid-tower has blue LEDs! I mean, kachow.



And the first game? Well, actually it was Unreal Tournament 2004. With max video settings. And it was SWEET.

Hmmm...this could be bad for my productivity this semester...

Day 139 - Mon (1/11)

Today was the first day of classes. And so it begins again.

In a quiet place in the basement of the Student Center is a wonderful refuge I discovered last year: The Gold Star Chapel.



It's a place for faculty, staff, and students to come and talk with God and lift up prayer. Slips of paper containing prayer requests often cover the altar table up front. I like to go in there sometimes, have a time of quiet reflection, and then pray for many of the students' requests. It's just another way to join hand-in-hand with this incredible community called Wheaton College. I hope to make it in here numerous times this year.

Day 138 - Sun (1/10)

The view this morning from my bedroom window as I got up and prepared for church.

Day 137 - Sat (1/9)

One of the Christmas gifts I received this year was the computer game Fallout 3. AWESOME!

The newest computer I own is my laptop that is about 4.5 years old. (not awesome) So here I am, holding this shiny new video game (check out this video) (and this one's even better--although a bit violent) and yet I'm unable to actually play it.

What's a person to do? Buy a new a computer!

Ever since I had a job in undergrad working computer support and hardware/software repair, I like to build my computers from parts (it's a great way to stay current on the technology), so I did my research and parts started coming in the other day.



What do you think? Lots of cords. And poky metal things. And extra screws left over. We'll see in the next few days when I plug it in if the thing works. Any guess as to the first game I'll play on it?

Day 136 - Fri (1/8)

One of the laws of grandmotherhood is that grandmothers possess sovereign rights to distribute cute pictures of their grandbabies. I have received some of these photos, so I pass them on to you, my dear readers. Behold, my nieces in an encore performance.



I hear tell that they are not always this quiet and content, especially when they think it is time for being fed. :-)

Day 135 - Thurs (1/7)

My old college friend Michael has been getting into photography as of late. When he came into town for our Christmas party (see a week or so back), he spent a night at my place before he returned home and used the opportunity to try out some new lighting techniques. With me as the guineau...err, subject. He sent me a few finished-up photos recently, and I think they turned out rather nice.



So do I look mysterious and debonair?

Or just sleepy?

Day 134 - Wed (1/6)

Two days ago, a rather big event happened. I BECAME AN UNCLE!!!
My brother and sister-in-law by God's grace were finally able to adopt. After they were paired with a birth mother (also from Florida) a few months ago, everyone then found out that there were going to be twins! Would you like to see them? Of course you would.

Say hello to Autumn Thorne.


and say hello to Summer Thorne (and a very happy Amy).


So cute. Now, perhaps some people out there can give me some advice on being an uncle? I'm new at this, you know. Congrats everybody!

Day 133 - Tues (1/5)

Tonight I headed out to a sports bar with a few friends to witness the spectacle of Iowa Football awesomeness. Georgia Tech had a pretty good team, so going in I had no real idea who would win.

OH YEAH BABY! TOUCHDOWN IOWA!! HAWKS WIN!!!

I brought my 4-foot Hawkeye banner and waved it around like a fool, which would have made me feel awkward except that it was an official Hawkeye watch location, so *everybody* in the packed place was wearing Iowa gear and pretty much joining in. Sweeeeet.

Day 132 - Mon (1/4)

I'm back in Wheaton. Preparing for a new semester. What will this spring semester hold?

New friendships?

New opportunities for travel or research?

Finally getting my dissertation finished?



These are the thoughts in my head today. The future is a bit hazy.

Day 131 (1/3 - Sunday)

Today two things of import happened.
1) I drove back to Wheaton.
2) J.R.R. Tolkien had his 118th birthday!

So it was little accident that I went to a wonderful birthday party in honor of the dearly departed Professor. Everyone had a blast and was sufficiently nerdy. The cakes would have made Bilbo proud, and the tea was a delightful delicacy to the palate.



Thank you, Dr. Tolkien, for leaving a legacy of monumental power and impact. We are the richer because of you.

Day 130 (1/2 - Saturday)

Today I made a pilgramage of sorts. Aaron and I hung out most of the day, but that was really a big excuse to head down I-44 to Super Smokers BBQ.



Still the best BBQ I've had anywhere. I'm no expert, so I'm sure there are some better places out there. Maybe. I mean, I guess it's possible. All I know is, I once was blind to the best pulled pork ever, and now I see. Each table comes decked with 6 or more different sauces, and most of them are tremendous. Hmmm...when can I go back to St. Louis?

Day 129 (1/1/10 - Friday)

I rang in the New Year by doing one of the greatest things I could think of in my situation:

Watch Disney's Robin Hood! One of the best ever.

That's right, I rang in the new year the right way with the whole gang from Sherwood Forest.



And the good guys won in the end. Long live King Richard! Oodalollee!!!

Day 128 (12/31 - Thursday)

New Year's Eve. What's a professor to do when he finds himself back home, alone in his parents' house while they're out at their friends' party? Share it with quality company, of course.



He was a good companion. He mostly just wanted food. Thanks Sam for ringing in the new year with me!

Oh, and I also shared it with....

Day 127 (12/30 - Wed)

Most of us spent the night at Laura's place (epic Starcraft games about 3am...but I digress), in order to have a nice, quiet morning with some final farewells. It was a good day for lazing around, and Dante seems to be an expert at finding good spots.



Good boy.

Day 126 (12/29 - Tues)

There is nothing like old friends who get together again. My great great great great friend from Southwest Missouri State undergrad days (it's still a privilege to be a bear, I guess) Laura hosted some of the old posse for a Christmas party. Partay!!!



Josh and Laura, I think that no matter how many years pass by, or how long we go without talking, we will still be friends. Thanks for being who you are!

Day 125 (12/28 - Mon)

Today we returned from Kansas to our home in St. Louis, still aglow with the warmth of Christmas cheer.

And Christmas Loot. Here's my haul this year (for which I'm very grateful, lest you think otherwise):



It's fun to make your gifts all get together for a group photo.
I'm particularly looking forward to using the new bicycle panniers (thanks bro and sis-in-law!) and my brand new fancy pants (but oh so practical) tea set from Aaron. And I got books, and candles, and Harry Potter in Latin (mehercule! mirabile lectu!), and a fun mug, some new jeans (not pictured...might be wearing them), and various and sundry. Like Fallout 3 which I can't wait to play but unfortunately don't have a computer anywhere new enough to run it.

Thanks everyone for the great gifts!

Day 124 (12/27 - Sun)

Today was the big day for our extended family Christmas celebration. (In my family, doing things with "extended family" pretty much means my mom's side of the family, as my dad's side is scattered all over) I missed the last three for a variety of reasons, but I was happy to be here this year -- one side affect of missing for a few years is that my cousins' various children suddenly jumped to be 4 years older, which was quite a surprise. Oh, and I got to chat with my fun relatives and catch up, giving college advice to my second cousin who is attending Creighton now or learning about creating homebrew vanilla extract from my cousin Diana.



She's excited about vanilla! A good time of family being together.

Day 123 (12/26 - Sat)

It's traditional for our family to head to the Kansas City area right after Christmas to celebrate with my mom's side of the family, so today we packed up the car and hit the road.

Looks like somebody really wanted to drive.



(more like: "Do you have food? Where's the food?)

Day 122 (12/25 - Fri)

It's Christmas!

That means Dad reading the Christmas story (from Luke this year)!
And Sam doing silly things on the floor with wrapping paper!
And mom cooking up an awesome breakfast complete with cinnamon rolls!
And Christmas presents!

Day 121 (12/24 - Thurs)

Christmas Eve, near midnight.



Quiet expectancy.

Day 120 (12/23 - Wed)

Being home for the holidays often means the opportunity to reconnect with friends as well as family. Today, my long-time friends Josh and Jen came over (since he is also originally from St. Louis and thus in town for Christmas) to hand out and play some games. Little (cutie) Robert's game was to pull dad's lip as hard as he could!



It's a privilege to get to watch friends--whom you once knew as a freshmen in college just trying to figure out where they are going in life--now getting families of their own. Time marches on. And makes all things new.

Day 119 (12/22 - Tues)

Hooray! Guess what I say today?



St. Louis! Home sweet home. (Okay, my folks moved to Arnold a few years ago, but that's still metro area)
There's nothing like home during the holidays, is there?

Day 118 (12/21 - Mon)

I was supposed to go home today. Alas, I did not. The way I feel right now, a 5+ hour drive in the dark is the last thing I need. Thus, no exciting picture of my day, but I give you instead something even better: the message of Christmas.

Day 117 (12/20 - Sun)

My front window: a beacon of Christmas cheer to all who pass by.



But since I live close to the end of a long row of condos, only two neighbors and their families see it.

And the postman. Who brought me all of these lovely cards. Thanks everyone!

Day 116 (12/19 - Sat)

The first semester of this 2009-2010 school year is officially in the books. Quiet and peace have descended upon the campus, and that Christmas expectancy is in the air.



I love the snow. Home in a few days! Thanks to all of you for following along with my school year! Let's see what next semester will bring, eh?