Welcome Back

It's September, and I'm back to posting. I took August entirely off from blogging, essentially to recharge my batteries and just give myself a break. I feel bad when I don't post regularly, but it had gotten too difficult to post regularly. That clean month break helped, and now I'm eager to get back to multiple-posts a week.

I'll start with a quick summary of the cool things that have happened in the last month.

First, I was accepted to Loyola's (Chicago) Health Law LL.M. program. They only accept about a dozen folks a year, and I was honored to be picked. The acceptance arrived a little late, and Laura and I decided it would be best if I not attend this Fall. I deferred my matriculation, and there's a fair chance that we'll end up in Chicago in Fall of '08. Then again, maybe Laura and I will head some other direction. We'll see. Regardless, it felt great to get accepted.

We took a trip home for a pair of weddings in the middle of the month. Laura's cousin got married in Wabasso, and we spent a few days with her folks and siblings. Wabasso was nice and quiet as always, and a chance to relax. It was also a stark contrast to the time we spent in Crapids with my family. My sister Emily got married the weekend after Laura's cousin. It was an absolute blast. From the time spent hanging out with friends and family before hand, to the rehearsal dinner, to ushering my mom down the aisle, to being the last ones on the dance floor, it was an awesome time. It was especially nice to see so much of my extended family that we so rarely get to see. Many of my mom's siblings are spread out around the country, and almost all of them made it back for the wedding. It's so awesome to see them together. It's a strong reminder that I don't always want to be away from home. Someday, we're going back to Minnesota. Family is just too important.

Being home also provided an opportunity to catch up with a bunch of my old friends from high school. A party was thrown, and there were people there who I hadn't seen in 6 or 7 years, and yet we all still seemed to fit together as a group, just like we had in high school. There's something really remarkable about how those ties can just keep holding throughout the years.

A week after we got back from that vacation, a bunch of the gang from college drove out to Baltimore/D.C. to catch the Twins at Camden Yards. First, baseball at Camden is amazing. Second, baseball with the guys is amazing. Basically, the experience was doubly amazing. Adding on was the fact that the Twins won both games.

The first night was the best. Somewhere along the line we may have imbibed some alcohol, which certainly didn't detract from the enjoyment. The Twins were losing, 4-0 in the 7th, when Justin Morneau came to bat. He hit a rocket shot over the fence in right field. The ball must have crushed someone's beer cup, because from our spot in center we saw an explosion of malt beverage.

Two batters later, as the pitch was leaving the mound, Brendan called a Jason Kubel home run. Sure enough, the ball kept flying, long and deep, towards the center-field stands. About half-way into it's journey we realized it was heading right for us! Unfortunately, it sailed just over our heads, about 5 rows. Fortunately, it bounced right back down 4 rows, right behind me. I had turned to watch where it landed, and it came to a stop right in front of me. I quickly bent over the back of my seat, and picked up the Jason Kubel home run ball. An awesome souvenir to remember an awesome time.

The month has ended on a down note though, as I've been ridiculously sick the past 3 days. Worst cold I've ever had. Not a good time. It seems to be clearing up though. Somehow, I think I'll pull through. Just in case I don't though, Brendan gets the Kubel homer ball, because, after all, he called it.

It's just my Japanese cigarette case