the arrival of fall
fall has always been my favorite season. i love wearing a long-sleeve t-shirt and shorts. it reminds me of high school tennis games. the slight nip in the air boding of things to come. walking around the ut campus, kicking the occasional leaf out of the way. the excitement of renewal. while it seems like renewal is more often associated with spring, in the academic world, it is always fall that brings change. spring is draining. it is mid-terms, the end of a school year, lots of busyness. but fall...fall is new resolutions, new relationships, new possibilities.
i was watching TF1 (french news) yesterday and they mentioned confiture season. i remember walking along the hills of the l'ain countryside, gathering bushels of blackberries. 6 months later, a tragic end to our homemade jam in a deserted parisien hotel. i still mark my months by the events of a former life...
naturally, one of the key components of every fall is the prelude to something priceless and dear to my heart - ski season. :) i've only been looking forward to it since may. i can't wait to peel off the storage wax i put on in february 2004 and feel the smooth goodness of a fresh coat in just a few more weeks.
i think my summer went downhill after my last post. i asked for a lead role on my project and it's been ruling my life ever since. i've been waking up at 06:00, leaving straight for work and then returning home around 21:00 every day. i feel sleep deprived and yet when i get the chance to catch up on my zzzs, my body is unable to rest. this past weekend, i went to seattle to see an old mentor and visit my clone. they are expecting a new addition. starting the trend 3 years ago with their wedding, they are again pioneering the way for the twenty-something-year-old relationships in my life. i love seattle. if i could live one place in the country besides denver, it'd be seattle. and every time i visit, i leave knowing that i'll be back. the p sound, the evergreens, the surrounding mountain ranges. it leaves one breathless (not from altitude).
last night a couple friends and i kicked off our new accountability group. sitting in my friend jason scott's living room, i looked around and appreciated the relationships i've been able to develop since my return to colorado. each of us are very distinct, yet we share chemistry and the hand of God that's brought us together. i live in anticipation. and this is one thing for which it's worthwhile - deeper fellowship with the Body.
here's our group:
jason scott
the definitive southern gentleman. raised in kentucky, he speaks with a drawl, cooks dinner and drinks bourbon. his job entails philanthropic coordination and schmoozing. he's a talker with a heart of gold.
tosh
japanese soccer player. he has yet to make a bible study on-time because he's so passionate about soccer. he plays several times a week. as a sign of his commitment, he's no longer going to play wednesday nights. whoa. i don't actually know what he does as a job, but soccer is definitely his occupation. he's hysterically blunt and a bit rough around the edges, but adds a definite authenticity to the group.
tim
comes from a conservative, apple-pie family and in return sometimes acts dysfunctional. he went to college in vancouver where he made friends with many internationals. he'll be spending 3 months in el salvador this fall, surfing and helping his friend construct/renovate a hostel. he makes me laugh.
inga lisa
hard-core mountain-biking, rock & ice climbing, skier chick. she was an OR nurse who now works in medical device sales. she's recently spent several months in cambodia setting up health facilities and dreams about returning one day. despite an intimidating exterior, she's completely sincere and loves w/ admirable abandon. | 
