News from Inver Grove Heights

I feel like I've been in a haze lately. Well today there really was quite a haze - a fog advisory in fact. Is it August? Reallly? I look at my calendar and I swear I'm hallucinating.

I recently moved to a new apartment and am now a resident of Inver Grove Heights, MN. It is basically West Saint Paul however, which is home of my roommate's and my favorite mexican eatery, El Taquito. If you are in the area, I would check it out. Their burritos make chipotle weak at the knees.

After the moving frenzy was over, things have been quite enjoyable in the new locale. The cats also seem to have adjusted well and they are content with the ample window sill areas. I think overall my favorite part about the new location is that I am now a whopping 7 minutes from St. Augustine (never mind the 30 min commute to campus ;-)).

So my summary of the past few months:
- Recreating when ever possible
- Wild raspberry hunting and picking
- Quartets, weddings, singing, oh my (love this)
- Riverboat cleanup
- An Alaskan Adventure with the 'Rents
- Attempting to tie up the final objective of my research
- Trying to remain involved in activities church and otherwise
- Staring at my thesis draft
- Writing my thesis when inspiration and motivation hit at the same time
- Summer Olympics

Coming up soon:
- More wedding music-ing, yay
- St. Augustine Fall Festival
- Minnesota State Fair
- Winning tickets to see Brad Paisley at the State Fair (that would be nice!)
- Posting 1000s of pictures i've been meaning to post
- Finishing graduate school
- Finding a job!

check out relevantradio.com - they are having a pledge drive this week.

A new year, a new blog

Look what the storm brought in: Stephanie has started a blog. A grad student should theoretically not have time for this, and honestly, if you don't hear from me in a while, it probably won't be for that reason anyway.

Contrary to what the layout of this blog might strongly suggest, the purpose of this journal will not be exclusively for disseminating and scrutinizing Catholic topics, news, and commentary, nor will it contain heavy discussion pertaining to politics, government, current events and the like. I am grateful for the myriad of brilliant writers out there in the Blogosphere who regularly contribute their words for us to ponder and further discuss among ourselves. I am grateful for the spiritually uplifting anecdotes, stories of real life saints, and reading commentary on such things that make me go Hmm. I believe that part of bearing witness to the faith is sharing what you've read with others. With that, I turn your attention to the list of links over there on the right.

I know what you're thinking. What ARE you going to talk about, Stephanie? Well, first of all, those of you that know me know that I have a bit of a random mind. I like to think about various things. I will be the first to admit that I can be (frustratingly, to some) unfocused. I like to believe that is part of my charm or something. We'll see. I'll probably complain a bit, since those rumors you hear about graduate school are for the most part true. Right now I am in the middle of data analysis for a GeneChip study looking at some interesting genes involved in a detox process. When you are all aching from curiosity, I will post a colorful visual graph of the results.

It's so BRRRRRRRRR in this State! This morning we thanked God for the gift of two-digits: a Feels-like temp of 11 degrees. Saturday we are not supposed to make it over zero. Tis the season for knee-high-outdoor-sport-wool-socks-layered over warmies-layered-over-warmies. Yes, I meant to write that last part twice.

Tonight I will be attending a lecture at the Cathedral:
Mary Model of Femininity
Dr. Rosemary Lemmons of the University of Saint Thomas Catholic Studies and Philosophy Departments
7-9PM.

This lecture is one of a three-part "Creative Genius" series hosted by the Cathedral Young Adults of the Archdiocese of Minneapolis-St.Paul. I'm so excited!