I found a new hobby!

LONGBOARDING! Elliott, my friend and fellow classmate, and I tried our hand at longboarding this evening around west campus' parking lots. We spent an hour tooling around and made significant progress with our balance, turning, and speed! It was so much fun, we want to start a club. Once we can get our hands on our own boards (could be a while...I'm taking donations), we'll find an additional board to borrow and invite people to ride around with us. If they like it, they can join our club...all they will have to do then is buy a board.

This is turning out to be a great week. Emily and I had a great late night dinner followed by some Mad Men (great show...we are slowly catching up to the current season). I've also continued to make progress with my newest project at work (pre-departure meetings for all our students studying abroad in the spring...I think we have around 175 students +/- heading abroad internationally and domestically this spring semester!!).

Tomorrow after work I will be heading up to Sierra Madre for our first year cohort retreat. All I know is I need to bring some clothes, water bottle, paper, and a writing utensil. We will have our own private rooms and bathrooms. I believe the purpose of the trip is to provide a time for team building and personal reflection. I wish Mari hadn't told us that our retreat would have been in Malibu, had they been able to book it :( We will return from the retreat on Friday.

Friday evening Emily and I are planning on heading downtown Claremont for some frozen yogurt at Yogurt Land and maybe a drink before we go to the movie theater. We are going to see Precious, I'm looking forward to seeing this and spending some q-time with Em (I am also looking forward to seeing 2012 next weekend!). Then on Saturday we will be going to Pasadena for a concert in which one of Emily's kiddos is performing!

Sunday we will head to Mosaic. This is the new church Emily and I have been attending, we really like it! Afterwards Financial Peace University starts in Chino Hills.

At some point this weekend I also have to write two papers...they shouldn't be too difficult, I hope. That's the run down...keeping you all in my thoughts.

Here is a shout out to Uncle Mark Fredericks. Thank you for serving our country! Much love and appreciation.

I love you.

Maybe it's the full moon...

*WARNING....RAMBLINGS OF HAPPENINGS IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER TO FOLLOW:**

I used to associate the full moon with happenings at the restaurants I managed. Inevitably, every time the full moon had shown it's face upon the earth with flittering stars surrounding...the crazies would come out. I always thought upon interacting and dealing with these hidden gems (trouble makers, riff-raff, etc.) that, "It must be that full moon again." A day or two ago, in the morning, I awoke around 4:30am to the loud and overwhelming sound of howling. This was not the howling of the MANY neighborhood dogs, but something much more primal, much more WILD. I didn't get out of bed to look out the window, but I later recalled how very loud & CLOSE this ominous sound was.

Howling is a way coyotes communicate. It has several functions. One is to call the pack—really a family group—back together again after a period of individual hunting. A second reason that coyotes howl is to advertise their presence to other packs, essentially warning those other family groups against trespassing across territorial boundaries.

SO, I was walking into the apartment on Friday whilst talking with Emily on the phone. I had just began describing my strange wake up call when all of a sudden..."Wait, what was that," I said.

I heard a strange *YIP* in the distance. Before I could get in the apartment I was savagely

attacked by a pack of COYOTES!~!~ Well, not really... but in my mind I felt that was a definite possibility because at that moment the loud howling began again and I realized through the silhouette of the moonlit trees, there was a pack of coyotes howling to the heavens, right there on the fairway. I haven't seen or heard them since, but just another reminder of how close I live to the mountains.

On Friday I went on my first Angeles National Forest hike at Chantry Flat, about halfway between Azusa and Pasadena. A simple and relaxing trek down into the canyon only about a

mile or so, give or take. It was amazing to find

some natural beauty so very close to the suburbs

of the big city of Los Angeles. It was a nice time

to just be quiet and hike, while also talking

with a few friends from the CCSD program that came along. The end of this particular trail is a beautiful little waterfall of ice-cold and pure water. It was also the first sight of any sort of fall foliage dropping that I'd seen.

Did you hear about this "Thrill the World" tribute to MJ? Well, Emily and I were in Pasadena not this weekend, but last. We went to this GREAT restaurant with James and Camry (James is in my cohort and Camry is his fiancé). Towards the end of our time together we noticed a zombie walk in...and then another, and another. Before we knew it, we were amongst about 20 or so zombies, one dressed as regular MJ and another in zombie form. I am assuming that they were practicing for the actual world-wide event, either way the entire restaurant was delighted to watch their performance..."Cause this is thriller! Thriller night.." Followed by creme brulee for dessert, it was a great evening.

I am almost finished with the first of three final papers to complete my first quarter of grad school. I am so excited for next quarter to begin! This week I will be heading up to San Jose for the Western Regional NASPA conference (my new professional organization). It should be fun, I volunteered and will be working registration for the event. This will create a great venue to network, something I definitely will need! I also signed up for the pre-conference which is a seminar for new student affairs professionals including mock interviews and resume critique etc. I will be matched up with a senior level professional who will be my mentor for the weekend. It will also be great to attend the different workshops offered during the actual conference, especially because there are no assignments attached to this conference!

Last ramble...tonight I am making lasagne for Emily's roommate who is having some friends over from her cohort of med students. She wanted to pick up a pre-made lasagne from Cosco, and though I am sure that would probably be great, I felt that I could bring a little cheer to Julia and her friends with some home cookin! Gotta run and start getting that stuff ready...I miss you all and can't wait to come visit in December! If you have a car I could borrow from time to time during my visit, uh that'd be awesome!

Love,

Christian

The life of a grad student

Ah, a sigh of relief. I have not yet complete my first quarter as a graduate student, but I am so very close. The most daunting assignments have passed, with only a few more hurdles, if the remaining assignments even constitute that description. For fun, lets take a look at what I have left...

Learning Tournament, Part II & III (pseudo exam)

Case Study competition (pseudo exam #2)

Donut Day (after chapel to promote study abroad)

Careers in Student Affairs Day reflection paper

South Africa Acceptance party

Student Affairs personal philosophy paper

Faith Development paper (incorporating theory)

NASPA Westen Regionals in San Jose

Sierra Madre retreat (with First year cohort)

I do not believe I am forgetting anything, other then the day to day life. Emily and I are also planning on starting "Financial Peace University", which I know will be a great thing for us both. That class starts next Sunday, and continues through January. I have to go to study for my case study competition. I am looking forward to so many things...especially tomorrow. It was 90 degrees today, BARF ;) Tomorrow it is projected to be sunny and 74 degrees, much more to my liking. Sending my love to all my friends and family.

Happy in the grey

This will be a short post due to the lack of sleep. It's early, only 5 to 10:00, nearly time to recoup the lost sleep of yesterday. Though it may be difficult at this "early" hour...as I share a wall with neighbors playing Rockband. The bonus is, it is the new Beatles version, and the singing isn't that bad.

Busy week, I've got the first half of a two part learning tournament in my intro class...a pseudo exam so to speak. Followed by finishing up a reflection paper in which I must apply various theories to my development as an undergraduate student. Then on Friday I go to San Diego for the Jobs in Student Affairs conference, unfortunately I will be returning promptly after the conference concludes...Emily and I have volunteered to chaperon the Homecoming dance. Then on Saturday my Alumni homecoming event comes to fruition when, along with more volunteers from the office, we will set up our Study Abroad booth at the Fun Zone! It will be a good week though...I kinda feel like I am already ahead...hmmm.

Next week will be equally busy...

Looks like another warm day tomorrow...I really enjoyed todays weather. Many complained... but the overcast skies and gusty wind brought a smirk to my face that would put the cheshire cat to shame. Imagine that...happy in the grey!

PS...sleepy=random thoughts with little flow...

ZzzzzZzzzZzzzzz

Half way

As of last night I am half way finished with the first quarter of my first year of graduate school. So far, so good. My first presentation was last night as well. It was a doozy...1 hour long teaching Marcia B. Baxter Magolda's theory of self-authorship. I won't get into the specifics, but we nailed it. After we had finished, our professor let the class know that we had set the bar high for our classmates. I am pleased that we did well, and also that it is over. There will be no lack of assignments in the future.

I am almost finished with my assistantship at the FEC. I begin working in the Study Abroad department next week! It is going to be great! I'm so excited to learn as much as possible about how a study abroad department works from the inside out. I've also been presented with an opportunity this summer. You may have heard of it before, it is called Semester at Sea. This summer program is specifically for Student Affairs Graduate students and focuses on international and comparative aspects of higher education and student affairs. A wide variety of approaches to internationalization and globalization of higher ed will be examined through class discussion and faculty directed practica to international universities. The program begins June 15 and concludes on August 21, 2010. There are a few things that are exciting about this. It's graduate level experience, they offer a limited number of paid internships, and you get to travel to some pretty awesome locations. Check out this itinerary:

• Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
• Barcelona, Spain
• Civitavecchia (Rome)/Naples, Italy
• Dubrovnik, Croatia
• Piraeus (Athens), Greece
• Istanbul, Turkey
• Alexandria (Cairo), Egypt
• Casablanca, Morocco
• Norfolk, Virginia, USA

I can't even explain what a valuable experience this could be for me and my future career. I would appreciate your prayers about this opportunity, and if it is truly what I am supposed to pursue, that it will come to fruition.

It's going to get up to 87 degrees today, but we're looking at 70's for the next week...no fires nearby anymore, so it finally makes sense to wash the car! That's all I've got right now...gotta get to writing 4 papers....yup 4 papers (3 are easy...1 not so much).

...if your lucky

Though I do not have as many readers as others, you might get lucky...I might have time to write a blog this evening after my 4:45-9:45 class finishes...maybe

Murder...

A blog title sure to get my reader's' attention. Upon arriving home after this morning's seminar on the newly updated APA format, Critical reading, and avoiding plagiarism, I witnessed a murder...right on my street. This murder apparently doesn't like morning doves, hence they were chasing this (by Michigan standards) hunt-able bird out of the neighborhood. Wait, you didn't think I was talking about homicide did you? Of course not! I live on a quiet and might I add SAFE cul-de-sac. We're talking about crows here kiddies. Lots of crows live in my neighborhood too.

It has been a busy, busy week with school. Next week will be even more so when I add 3-4 interviews with student affairs professionals to the mix. Also my assistantship will be busier

this week with a few meetings and Donald Miller coming on Friday. The plan is to get the majority of my homework done on Friday/Saturday/Sunday...uh the weekend...so I don't have to worry about squeezing in last minute assignments before class. Pray for that will ya?

It is Emily's 25th birthday. If you haven't sent her any wishes, you should!

I have so very much writing and reading to do for class, so when I have these brief moments of

thoughts and ideas to "blog" about I need to quick type them out. That's all for now. Grace and peace.

We've Only Just Begun

I'm feeling somewhat settled in. The apartment is resembling completion (whatever that means), my assistantship schedule is becoming more regular & classes have begun. The overwhelming sight of the assignments to be completed in this short 9 week span is... well... frightening. Though after my first night of classes I found a bit of peace. You know, that "AHA" moment, school really is a bit like riding a bike. All you need is a little push and you are off, bt don't forget to pedal!

It is so exciting to imagine how many ways these graduate school experiences will be different than those of my undergraduate years... definitely fewer beer bongs and more, MANY MORE books! There will be many papers to write and much time spent getting used to the APA format which I'm not quite used to. Actually completing the assigned reading and immersing myself in this amazing field. There is a long road ahead with a lot of work and I'm ready.

The wildfires containment levels are increasing each day. It seems less and less smokey as the

days/weeks progress.

My finances are a wonderful mess. My financial aid overage has not yet arrived. I am waiting for that so I can actually pay my bills...once that happens I will feel MUCH better. It just makes me so anxious to be waiting and waiting.

Emily and I went to a Dodgers game this past weekend. It was really fun, and even funnier when we left at end of the 8th inning. We received some haggling from "true Dodgers" fans about leaving before the end of the game. "Real fans don't leave early," said the Dodger super (drunk) fan. "Actually, we aren't fans," replied Emily wearing a baseball cap with our beloved old english D.

We miss you all very much! But rest assured Emily and I are doing fine, after all we've only just begun ;)

Go Green! Go White!

Don't get me wrong, California weather is very enjoyable. These 100 degree days are exactly what I signed up for. I am also completely aware of what thoughts will soon fill my mind... longing for, pining for that good ole' Michigan fall weather. Cool days wearing hoodies, jeans and tennis shoes followed by crisp evenings. Evenings with no clouds to keep the warmth from the days sun below.

I began my assistantship last week. Though there will be the discomfort of unfamiliarity in my new job, I pray to catch on quickly to the way business is run at the Felix Event Center. During my tour I was brought on the roof, more for fun than for any actual training purpose. A magnificent view of the mountains as well as west campus at APU were achieved. Also, my first up close and personal encounter with a Black Widow spider on one of the many rungs of ladder scaled to actually get atop the building. You can imagine what it felt like up there wearing jeans and shoes, the smell of acres upon acres of burnt forrest in the air, the 105 degree afternoon sun beating down on my shoulders.

I do hope to have time and a few extra dimes to put together (gas money) for a trip north to see some fall colors and experience cooler Cali weather.

While out with Emily this weekend we ran into a women at the Old Navy outlet. "I'm looking for a small T-shirt with green and white," she remarked. My response, "Go Spartans!" "How did you know," she asked? Turns out this woman was a Michigan native as well, planning her trip to a favorite place you may know, Ingham County/East Lansing. How exciting to meet a Spartan fan so far away from home, one who was planning a trip to none other than the MSU vs. Uof M game to be held at Spartan Stadium this fall. I must admit, though I've only been here for a few weeks I was jealous of her trip to Michigan. Michigan during fall, Michigan during College football season, Michigan during the MSU vs. Uof M game....MSU TAILGATING!! Lucky. Have fun my Michigan friend, enough for me to live vicariously through you!

Rambles

Well, it smells like the biggest bonfire your nostrils have ever encountered outside. Smoke is drifting in for the night and hopefully will clear out by morning. I have to be to campus by 8am for work. It has been entirely too long since I've had to be up that early. Fortunately, God has given me an ample supply of coffee. If any of you have a spare Thermos... you should send it my way and give me the luxury of good coffee at work!

At this point I am not sure what I will actually be doing. I have a description of what my job theoretically entails. As Jimmy Cliff says, "Time will tell". It truly will. My mind is plagued with worry; I'm smarter than that though. Worrying will not get me anywhere, so why do I waste my time? I guess it's wired in my DNA...the apple doesn't fall far from the tree after all.

Sometimes when I write online I feel like it needs to be a masterpiece of my thoughts put together in a precisely and perfectly thought out paragraph... screw that! It's called a blog. To me that word = rambling ideas, dreams, thoughts, adventures, etc. and so on and so forth. I will attempt to keep my thoughts in a nice and easy to read format with some sort of cohesive line of purpose. Though keep in mind I'm not guaranteeing anything.

Love,

Christian

I live in California (amendment)

I spoke too soon. All I see out my window now is billowing smoke and aircraft after aircraft dropping water just over the NE crest of the foothills I live below. I'll keep you updated.

I live in California

Like a crop dusting plane swooping above the fields, these past two weeks have passed with amazing speed. Tomorrow will mark the second week of my life as a Californian and so far my time has felt more like a vacation than anything else. This week will change all of that.

Thursday, August 27th, I begin my Graduate Assistantship to the Felix Event Center Managers. I am charged and ready to begin these tasks and end my "vacation" days.

This also means classes will begin soon (Sept.

8th). After a three year hiatus from the college

scene I am ready to return to academia. Wish me luck! Fortunately, there are still days to be filled with fun and adventure before the full tilt of school and work begin.

Last weekend Emily and I went to Santa Monica, CA to check out the scene.

What an amazing city. So beautiful and unique, from the topography to the local citizens.

Along with the riptide, we also met a few students from my cohort.

From what I can tell this is going to be a great program with many different and interesting people. I'm excited to share my thoughts and learn from fellow classmates as well.

After getting our fair share of Vitamin D, we headed inland to the 3rd Street Promenade. My Dad and I had come to Santa Monica a few weeks earlier for the ocean and some dinner on the Promenade. Though we did not explore just how far this interesting street full of shops and culinary delights spans (many more blocks than we actually walked). Along with the familiar brand stores, Emily pointed out a few shops that hail from Spain (this excited her shopping bug). We'll have to go back sometime to actually search these shops...I wasn't feeling the shopping on Saturday ;)

It's been quite hazy as of late. Though yesterday the vail was finally drawn back and my morning coffee has gained a friend... the foothills of San Gabriel Mountains. It's hard for me to not feel sad that these land masses never see snow. I know, what a silly thought. They just scream with potential for a great mountain to shred on (maybe I will become a better snowboarder). The good news is these are "hills" compared to some of their snow-capped friends just a short drive to the North. But that's another adventure, another blog, another day... maybe by then I'll actually have a camera to document more of what I see on a daily basis. Until then, take care!

Thank you Sweden!

Do you love Dala horses? Skörpa? Meatballs? Even if you don't particularly fancy any of these, you must recognize the lovely country of Sweden for another great gift they've given the world. There is no sense in beating around the bush, I am of course speaking of Ikea! How could you NOT love this place? I've been to my fair share of Ikeas, possibly and probably more than most. I can now say I've been to 3 equally wonderful locations: Canton, MI - Covina, CA - (and my favorite) Kållered, Sweden. Notice how the Swedish Ikea looks just the same as those you've come to know and love here in the States...no frills, just the same maze of ever changing

products to be enjoyed by ALL.

I love their business idea:

"At IKEA our vision is to create a better everyday life for the many people. Our business idea supports this vision by offering a wide range of well-designed, functional home furnishing products at prices so low that as many people as possible will be able to afford them."

If you've been to Ikea you can attest to the reality of this idea implemented in each store. I was so extremely excited to find an Ikea store only 15 minutes away from my new, UNfurnished apartment. I spent $100 less than I had on the last bed I purchased 2 years ago and was able to furnish my bedroom. AMAZING! The prices are so reasonable that you get both form AND function. Thank you Sweden, thank you Ikea!