Challenges and Closures
Apparently, I don't have internet access in my room. This came as a huge shock to me when I found out this morning in an email from my director in Germany.
GAH!!! Its the only hall that doesn't (most have broadband, like any civilized facility should).
...So I calmed down, and thought about it a bit: There IS a huge computer lab in the building where I can hook-up my laptop (this from a folow up email), which means 2 things - I can't DL as much music as I do now, BUT, it will force me to not hole up in my room, and rather be in the mix with the rest of the hall, thus experiencing more cultural immersion.
I'll let you know how that one works out for me...
CU Welcome Back Events
FRIDAY, AUGUST 20th
RADIO 1190 KVCU ~ live at the Fountain ~ 4:45p-5:45p
INFO FAIR ~ first floor dining area ~ 5p-8p
BONGO THE BALLOON MAN ~ bookstore, first floor atrium ~
5:15p-7:15p
ART EXHIBIT AND RECEPTION ~ umc art gallery ~ 5:30p-8p
BREAKDANCING AND MOTION UNDERGROUND ~ glen miller ballroom ~ 5:30p
COMEDY TROUPE "MILE HI-LARITY" ~ glen miller ballroom ~ 6:30p
THE BUFFOONS AND OTHERS A CAPPELA GROUPS ~ first floor atrium ~ 5:30p-6:30p
DJ SEAN CHOI ~ umc balcony ~ 5:45p-6:30p
FREE BOWLING AND POOL ~ umc connection ~ 5:30p-12a
FREE NACHOS AND SODA ~ umc south terrace ~ 5:45p-9p
FREE BIG CHAIR PHOTOS ~ umc south terrace ~ 6p-9p
TRAMPING THE BOARDS: A THEATER AND DANCE SAMPLER ~ umc 235 ~ 6p, 7p, 8pPRIZE DRAWINGS ~ glen miller ballroom ~ 6:30p, 7:30p, 8:45p
FREE HENNA TATTOOS ~ dennis small cultural center (umc 457) ~ 6p-9p
JODI FROM MTV'S ROAD RULES ~ glen miller ballroom ~ 7:45p
JACK BLACK DOUBLE FEATURE: HIGH FIDELITY and SCHOOL OF ROCK ~ 9p-2a
SATURDAY, AUGUST 21st
UNWRITTEN LAW LIVE @ FARRAND FIELD ~ 7pW/ JOHN BENINGHOf, SIGNAL TO NOISE, AND THE F-UP'SORANGE COUNTY ~ on farrand ~ after the concert
hope to see you all there!! Welcome back to CU!!!
Reflections on Yellowstone
Yellowstone rocks (so to speak)! It has really started to recover after the season of fires back in the 1980’s. New trees (about 5 feet high now) are flourishing where the old burned. The thermal landscape is ever changing. Mammoth Hot Springs is all but dead, but new geysers are springing up, even in the middle of parking lots (See my pics). If you’ve never been to Yellowstone and seen the geothermal activity, put it on your “To Do” list! It’s like being on another planet, so bizarre are the Geyser eruptions, the boiling puddles of mud, and vivid discoloration from microorganisms.
The Grand Teton mountain range, though not as novel as Yellowstone, is a gorgeous park in its own right. Mountains jagged, much like the Alps, shoot right out of vast, grassy plains. It’s a dramatic contrast. The hiking is superb, as is the canoeing (picture lots of heavily wooded lakes with the mountain range rising directly from their Western shores).
Of course the Wildlife is a big draw for both parks. We saw bison (buffalo), deer, antelope, elk, muskrats, marmots, chipmunks, mini-squirrels, Western tanagers, hawks, osprey, and even Moose! We participated in the infamous bison traffic jam, and while waiting discovered that some good family friends from church and school were in the car directly behind us!
The trip was a great way to spend my last couple weeks here with my family. We got along better than ever (omitting the occasional bicker spawning from fatigue and hunger…), and I’ll have happy memories to bring with me to Germany. I was also really grateful to have a chance to camp for an extended period of time this summer and explore the West thru hiking, canoeing, and river rafting. After this trip I feel a little less guilty for squandering the beautiful mountains next door.
Apartment Assignment
For those of you acquainted with the matter, I found out that I'll be living in "O-Heim" (A particular apartment complex) for my year in Regensburg! Yay!
A Trip has Ended, Prep for the Next Begins
I am officially back from Yellowstone (and wide-open Wyoming) for my last 2 weeks in America. Check out my other site for Photos from the trip!
These next two weeks are going to be crazy~busy with preparations for Germany (Aussie Passport renewals, financial organization, packing, etc.), as well as savoring my last hours with everyone here in Boulder. Should be a whirlwind...
If you are looking for some aural entertainment, the new (kinda) CD by
Jump "Between the Dim & The Dark", and
"Die Reklamation" by
Wir sind Helden are wicked cool!
