Go West Young (Wo)Man

I never planned to actually go to Abilene, much less make it my home (on and off again) for six and a half years. I swore I would never go to college there and then once I was there I swore if I ever did grad school I would go far, far away. We all see how that turned out. I won't lie though, it wasn't all easy: I spent a large chunk of time hating the place, the Mesquite trees, red dirt and ridiculous wind. Eventually though, I came to like the place. I even miss it when I'm gone. 

This past week I drove out and was busy both catching up and saying goodbye. It's tough cramming a semester's worth of socializing into one week, but I think I was lucky enough to touch base with just about everyone--from classmates and professors to friends, old roommates and former students who are now speaking English and holding down jobs with the best of them. On top of that I got to take in a few Abilene institutions like La Popular for breakfast one morning and The Paramount for their Christmas showing of It's a Wonderful Life. It was good week, so good in fact it even had me considering staying and taking a job there. 

Abilene I tell ya, it sucks ya in. 

I thought it through though, and I know I can't stay. So finally I got to say goodbye to Abilene (maybe) for good. 

A few pictures from the week: 

Driving out I remembered just how amazing west Texas sunsets can be. 

My friends also threw me an "engagement" party.

Thaaanks, guys. 

It was also time for our second annual Christmas cookie decorating party. This year thankfully Krystal made sure Abby didn't steal any of my cookies.  

Krystal's

Mike's 

Mandi's 

Mine

Abby's 

And, Cody's. Which are always a little special.  

Yum! 

Krystal's airplane cookie 

I also found this guy hiding away in my master's hood (which, I wore all weekend by the way). He came into our possession when we all worked in the Williford/Ellis suite at Logsdon. Some undergrad made an extra-credit 3D map of Paul's journeys with this lovely little guy standing in as Paul. Somehow we decided it would be fun to hide it in each other's bags/gas caps/furniture/desks/etc. Apparently it was my turn, but friends beware: I found him before I left town, so there is no telling where he is!

I also got to spend a lot of time with this little lady. 

Overall, it was a great week (even if I didn't make it out before my allergies exploded!). A big thanks to the people who made this week (and the last 6.5 years) great!

Free At Last, Free At Last

This morning I got a text early and panicked thinking it was my alarm. I get a bit antsy because I have a habit of only oversleeping things...when they are vital. Final exams, trains, you get the picture. But I won't lie, once I was up I was too excited to go back to sleep. I felt like a kid on Christmas morning. 

Why?

Today was graduation day!!!!!!!!! (As an aside: I have been trying to lay off my addiction to exclamation marks, but when it comes to graduation, they all seem merited!)

This is my third graduation (after high school and undergrad) and I was really thinking it wouldn't be much of a big deal. I even debated, when organizing things for Brussels, over whether I should come all the way back in time to graduate. I figured, if you have graduated once, you don't have any new excitement to look forward to. 

Boy was I wrong. Third time must be a charm, because I was so much more excited about this graduation than either of the others. I got there an hour early and got to see and catch up with some of my favorite Logsdon people. And I won't lie. I was getting a bit cocky. I looked over at the undergrads, having been in their position 3 years ago, and at the others graduating with grad degrees much shorter than the grueling 90 hour Masters of Divinity degree and felt that we somehow deserved our degrees so much more than everyone there. 

Three years people! I could build a moderately sized log cabin with all of the books I have read. I have written more papers than probably 100 average people write in their entire lives. I can (and do) use words like concretize, cogent and hermeneutical in everyday sentences. And I've drunk enough coffee to fill up Lake Superior.

Today has been a long time coming. 

Overall it was fantastic. I got to sit next to one of my favorite feminist friends during the commencement, the speech was good (and brief!), and I couldn't wipe the perma-grin off of my face throughout. My parents and lots of my lovely friends were there to share the moment with me, and I got the chance to say a final thank you to so many of the professors who have tortured taught me so much over the last 3 years. What I thought would never come, did in fact come. And, what I always generally assumed was an oncoming train, turned out to be the light at the end of the tunnel after all. 

And, let me tell you, I am enjoying being in the light!

The Lowden Ladies

I feel like there should be some church bells ringing. Or some tambourines. Some celebratory music and dancing.

Why? Because I just finished this:

That is a screen shot of the very last paper I have to write to complete my masters degree. I've written so many papers this last year (even pulling 2-a-days all through August), that it might take a while for it to sink in that I'll never have to write another one. But then again, maybe not!

Now, I do have to admit, the paper was in no way the best paper I have ever written, and was really just a write up, nothing special. But to honor the occasion, I actually typed it up in Times New Roman, proof read it, and even took the time to put page numbers on it. It has been submitted, the only thing that stands between and walking across that stage is the completion of my portfolio, which is basically finished as well.

I guess it is time to send out these:

Papers

So last night I was up till 2:30 determined to finish a paper. It has been almost 2 months since I wrote a paper, and I was a bit rusty. Trying to get to page number ten, all I can say is that I am incredibly glad that theology departments require you to learn and use Turabian form (as opposed to MLA, etc.) and this is for one reason only. Courier New. It's a totally accepted font, and it's HUGE.

I used to save it for only desperate situations, figuring professors knew I was slacking, but then I gave in. It adds entire pages. And, I figure since it looks like a typewriter font professors are somewhat nostalgic towards it too. : )

Anyway, it made me think of this gem (I did say there might be haikus...)

Oh Courier New

multiplies like loaves and fish

page count miracle.

The End.