Farewell

May 8, 2009

The year year is finally over. Two years now I have experienced the meaning of college and all that it entails. The most important thing I've learned is how much I don't know and how much I still need to grow as a person and as a follower of Christ.

In the 2009 fall semseter I may be in D.C. through our study abroad program. If I go I will be back in the Spring. If by chance you attend CU and have read my blog even once, it would be great to get to know you. Say hi if you recognize me.

But for now, if and when and until then, goodbye and enjoy your summer. It's been fun and challenging to be a part of CU's blog team. This is my last entry and I'm not sure I'll ever be back. God bless you all.

The Weekend Part III

May 7, 2009

In our first game we’re up against Bethel University. They score a goal in the first minute. We’re well behind by the time I get out on the ice. Before even arriving at the tournament it was already decided that I would stay on defense. I assumed defense would be easiest for me to play because I didn’t have to have a good shot to block a ball. All I had to do was keep the ball away from our goal. Apparently I’m a little rusty because we lost 8-0 and never saw the second half of that game.

            We versed the University of Nebraska in game two. I spent most of this game on the bench. I didn’t mind though because I wasn’t exactly carrying the team. I was being carried. We were actually leading this game. We had a player put in the penalty box and then another. Excluding goalies, the match up was five men on three, in Nebraska’s favor. Our team held them the entire time until both our players were released from the penalty box. We led the game 2-1 until Nebraska scored with one minute left on the clock and tied up the game. Upsetting? Why, yes it was.

            Finally, we played University of Minnesota Duluth. Essentially, it was nothing more than a repeat of the first game. The only real difference was that Duluth was the former champs at the national tournament. What’s more, we made it past half time. We were pleased with that considering Duluth’s status.

            So there you have it. It wasn’t exactly a glamorous, fame-filled weekend—but we still were technically 6^th in the nation. We were pumped about that. And each sad day after the games, we ate and drank our sorrows away. Of course, there’s always next year.

The Weekend Part II

Apr 6, 2009

 Early in the morning…March 28

I had stayed up late into the night doing laundry. Somewhere near 2 am I finally went to bed.

6 hours later…

A little after 8 am I was in the cafeteria with the team. On the table was a giant good luck card. We ate breakfast and waited for the van. That van would take us to St. Paul Minnesota for the national broomball tournament.

The ninth morning hour was nigh. We find Andy at his mailbox. We try to convince him to join us at nationals for the weekend. He said he had job searching to do, a play to attend and papers to write. We all had other things to do. We ask what he’d rather be doing. There was no mistaking it. He wanted to come. Nonetheless he heads off to his 9 o’ clock religion class.

9 am…

My psychology class is starting. I’m not there. Instead I’m packing clothes and bedding into a van. Soon I’ll be heading for Minnesota.

Approximately 10 minutes later…

Outside the van Murdoch gets a call on his cell. “What’s up dawg,” he said. Andy’s on the line. He’s changed his mind. He leaves class, quickly packs and into the van he enters.

We’re off.  

The Weekend Part I

Mar 31, 2009

Thursday Mar 26 Approximately 11:30 pm 

"Hey Jorge this is Mark."

"Hey what's going on?"

"What are you doing this weekend?"

"Umm...you want me to tell you everything?"

"The reason I ask is because we have a team going to broomball nationals in Minnesota and we need another player and I thought of you."

"You want me to go to broomball nationals!? You know that I don't really play broomball. I, I, it'd be fun but I've only played a few times. And I've got a lot of stuff to finish this weekend. I also have no money."

"C'mon bro, we need you. We're going to broomball nationals. You get to go to Minnesota for the weekend and meet my family. I'm looking for a three letter word and it starts with a 'y.' I'll give you ten minutes to think about it and then you call me back and let me know."

"Okay, I'll call you in about 10 minutes."

Roughly 6 minutes later...

(call mark back)

"Alright, I'm in."

"That's what I wanted to hear. Pack some clothes, we have all the equipment you'll need and we'll see you tomorrow morning at 8 am in the cafeteria. If you have any questions just give me a call."

(click)

...    ...   ...

...  ...

Thinking to myself: Why am I so crazy!?

Spring Break

Mar 18, 2009

                 After spending half my break waking up just to play video games, watch movies all day long, and of course eat, I finally found something a little more amusing to do. I went with Brandon, an old friend of mine, to stay at his house for a few days. Now I must admit while there at his house in Scottville (MI), we did a whole lot more gaming, movie viewing, and yes—eating. But we did one more thing as well, we skated. I absolutely love aggressive inline skating. We took a short drive to Ludington and skated at the Ludington Skate Plaza for three days in a row. If I may say so myself, it was off the hook! We had so much adrenaline pumping through us on day three that all the old cuts, bruises and swollen spots from the all pavement skate park didn’t even bother us (well not largely, until later). If the lack of protective gear wasn’t dumb enough, then jumping into Lake Michigan certainly was. We were surrounded by ice as we submerged ourselves in the lake fully clothed. Err, well I guess it would be more accurately stated that I was actually tackled into the lake by Brandon which was how I got many other minor cuts up and down and across my arms and legs. Overall it was largely just splendid!