Today was the annual Fall Picnic here at GBS, and it was a gorgeous day for it! It was nice and sunny, but not too warm. I started off with my camera permanently enmeshed with my hand, but eventually broke away from that for some fun of a differnt nature. Frisbee was a highlight of the day, as well as sand volleyball (we dominated ). The food was good, as always. However, I am now being plagued with angst due to my lack of completd homework. It's really beginning to pile up. So, I stand at the scales so many college students face. Was the social enrichment worth the shortfall of completed homework? Do you create good memories, or get an A? I guess it all comes down to a balance between the two (how did you like that cop out ). Oh well, I guess I will stop philosophizing about it, and just do it. If you would like to see some photos from the day, I have posted some here under "Fall '08 Semester".

Ryan

Tags: Relax, fun, Picnic

I was forced to make an extremely unexpected trip home yesterday, due to a massive storm partly caused by Hurricane Ike. As the massive front caused by Ike moved north, a massive front from the north was heading south. They met near Cincinnati, causing a severe storm. Cincinnati got 45mph wind with gusts up to 75mph or more. Now, I'm a good size guy (6' tall), but it about knocked my feet out from under me on a couple occasions, and really battered you about. It caused severe damage across the entire city. GBS sits right on top of a hill (Mt. Auburn), and so was particularly susceptible to the strong winds. It knocked down at least three trees and branches too numerous to count. It knocked in a window in the girls dorm, and a staff members house. Siding is missing everywhere. Multiple roofs will need to be replaced. Power lines will have to be fixed, and that's on GBS' campus alone. We lost power (along with the 600,000+ other residents in the area). As I drove home, I nearly ran out of gas because basically everything from Cincinnati to Dayton is shut down (including gas stations). The lack of power has caused no small dilemma on campus. With nothing to keep the freezers and refrigerators going, they were quickly running out of food. So, they cancelled school until at least tomorrow (Wed.), and asked us all to go home because they could not sustain us, and there is also the element of safety, now that there is a blackout in the area. So, I'm home. For now. This really throws a kink, scholastically speaking, into the mix. Hopefully it will not bury me. Here are a few pictures that I took during the storm. I will try and post more later.

Ryan








This photo was taken about 10-15 miles from GBS.

Tags: Ike, Storm

Ahhh... you gotta love that feeling as layer after layer of skin gets peeled off your nose as you keep it to the grindstone! The semester is definitely back with a vengeance. It seems no matter how much I plan, or how hard I work, I am destined to never again see my pillow until at least midnight. Although, I am to the point where at a quarter till midnight, I just shut things down no matter where I'm at. Having to get up at 6:00am every morning simply will not allow for late nights. Which, by the way, brings me to my next point. I have been exercising every morning at 6am for the past three weeks. I thought I was supposed to feel some great "lift" in energy, and "focusing" of mind. *sigh* "I'm waiting!!" Oh well, it is making me healthier. To sum it up, things are going OK. Classes are good. I'm learning a lot (small digression - It continues to strike me just how blessed, and honored I am to be here, learning these things. When I consider that my brothers and sisters in Christ are suffering, being tortured, and dying every day for His Name, it humbles me). I'm going to be an uncle again soon! My brother Andy and his wife are expecting their third child. Hopefully I can get up there soon. Well, it's late, and the morning will soon enough be knocking at my door. So, I bid thee adieu.

Ryan

P.S. I walked about 1.5-2 miles on this trail one time, only to run across this sign and have to turn back.

Tags: School, Busy, Life