I do update this. I just don't get to computers often.
So going from the South to the Northwest, I expected a few things. For instance, there would be no sweet tea. Here is a few things I didn't expect:
* Sticks of butter are a different shape.
* Huckleberries. More than just a Mark Twain character, they are delicious. And can only be grown in the wild.
* Local (or regional) beers are always the beer of choice.
* Traffic is virtually non-existent.
* Basketball takes precedence over football. Gonzaga doesn't even have a football team.
* Minorities are practically non-existent in Spokane.
* Fall starts late August. I'm scared to think about when winter starts.
* People are really laid back.
* Eastern Washington is definitely not the hippie/enviro-friendly Seattle. There's a big divide in the state between the regions. It's definitely more conservative here.
* People who think its conservative here have never been to the Bible belt.
* The world revolves around Eastern Standard Time.
* People say "back east."
* Hardly anyone drinks ginger ale.
* And it'd be called pop.
There are more, but they will be coming later!
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Spokes in Spokane
More biking adventures.
Sunday was the first annual Spokefest, a bike ride geared (pun!) towards non-bike enthusiasts. The participation fee $7.50 (!) included a pancake breakfast, the ride, aid, all the fig newtons you could eat, and a t-shirt. I think the cup of coffee alone was worth $7.50 at 7:00am, but getting a free bike tune-up was priceless. Okay, so maybe the mechanic said my bike needed about $60 worth of work. Pssh.
The ride went along the river to Riverside State Park. It was really a beautiful day. Low 70s, sun shining (not that it doesn't ever shine in Spokane; I think I've yet to see an overcast day). The course wasn't too hilly, but a decent 21 mile workout. Kelly, John, and I came in with the stragglers after spending a good half hour listening to a bluegrass band at one of the last aid stations, while looking out over the Spokane River. Twas wonderful!
Work, admittedly, is less than exciting, but that is balanced by the wonderful community I've found in Spokane. My house is incredibly supportive, which makes it all worthwhile.
So the other night, Alyssa lead spirituality night and asked us to reflect on "what is love?" This was my answer, which I shared with the house and they seemed to like it:
One hundred hands hugs given, thirty-seven hands held. Wiping noses - is this love? Love is patient, love is kind -- I am not. I know what love does: it rewrites the social order, sees as God sees, heals wounds, gives hope. I do not know what love is, but I know that it is that which makes life worthwhile. Love is free, and love is good. Love is holy and pure and true. God is love, and he lets us love. And we love imprefectly and impurely and we screw it up. But we are not asked to stop, we are only asked to love again.
Sunday was the first annual Spokefest, a bike ride geared (pun!) towards non-bike enthusiasts. The participation fee $7.50 (!) included a pancake breakfast, the ride, aid, all the fig newtons you could eat, and a t-shirt. I think the cup of coffee alone was worth $7.50 at 7:00am, but getting a free bike tune-up was priceless. Okay, so maybe the mechanic said my bike needed about $60 worth of work. Pssh.
The ride went along the river to Riverside State Park. It was really a beautiful day. Low 70s, sun shining (not that it doesn't ever shine in Spokane; I think I've yet to see an overcast day). The course wasn't too hilly, but a decent 21 mile workout. Kelly, John, and I came in with the stragglers after spending a good half hour listening to a bluegrass band at one of the last aid stations, while looking out over the Spokane River. Twas wonderful!
Work, admittedly, is less than exciting, but that is balanced by the wonderful community I've found in Spokane. My house is incredibly supportive, which makes it all worthwhile.
So the other night, Alyssa lead spirituality night and asked us to reflect on "what is love?" This was my answer, which I shared with the house and they seemed to like it:
One hundred hands hugs given, thirty-seven hands held. Wiping noses - is this love? Love is patient, love is kind -- I am not. I know what love does: it rewrites the social order, sees as God sees, heals wounds, gives hope. I do not know what love is, but I know that it is that which makes life worthwhile. Love is free, and love is good. Love is holy and pure and true. God is love, and he lets us love. And we love imprefectly and impurely and we screw it up. But we are not asked to stop, we are only asked to love again.
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