Deepest apologies for my prolonged absence. I've been trapped by an insanely busy life these past few weeks. Here are the highlights:

1. Most demanding semester ever. I'm taking two classes and a directed reading. I've done that before. But, these aren't just two classes. These are - pick a theorist and read everything they've ever written and write two 30 page papers as a result and - listen to ridiculously educated New Yorker spew forth everything you've never wanted to know about the theories of Taclott Parsons for 2 1/2 hours non-stop. We're done with Parsons, but the contemporary theory spewing doesn't end there. Add to that my teaching duties and the research job I've picked up for a professor and it all boils down to overwhelming. In the truest sense of the word.

2. We had a delightful visit from this chap. It was a pleasure seeing him again and we wish he didn't live on another continent most of the year.

3. We also spend a grand weekend with old college roomies that we love dearly. We like to tell people that our respective college roommates married each other. To anyone outside the bounds of Grove City, it's just weird. We had a really great time with K & E. You can read about it here.

4. And because I haven't officially announced this yet, I also have to tell you that Joshua and I are going to Uganda at the end of the year with 4 others from our church. That has added mega-doses of stress and excitement to the past couple of weeks.

5. To top it all off, I'M SICK! I feel like I've gotten sick more in graduate school than in my whole life combined (I've also gotten better at hyperbole!) On that note, I'm going to go shower with a Shower Soother. They're overpriced, but they do make one feel better.