Meet The Cordells

This weekend my older brother got married. He decided to have the wedding on the little island we are inhabitating. This brought over forty people to this small piece of land to celebrate. With this brought the feeling that I was in a movie mix of Father of the Bride, Meet the Parents, and The Harlem Globtrotters On Gilligan's Island. I had money going that my little brother would burn down the wedding arch.


Soon after most of the wedding guests left on Monday, God sent a sign to us all that we would not have to host that many people here for at least another year.


In other news... yesterday I snuck into town to help return some stuff and check some emails. While I was at the public library I sat across from the Hungry Cyclist. Unfortunately, I was overloaded with meeting people from the weekend, and I didn't bother to talk to him. I only figured out who he was after I left the building. I'm betting he has some great stories, and if I only took the time to talk, we could have talked for a while. Perhaps next time our paths cross.

Currently reading:

Living On The Edge

I'm back in the big town of Marquette for my second class session. On the way to class on Tuesday I discovered that the Blimpies offers free wireless internet. Two birds are now killed with one stone. I get my pre-class dinner and I check my email and messenger lists. (by the way - if anyone wants to chat I'm going to be on around 5-5:45 Eastern US Time - Tuesday's and Thursdays for the next couple weeks. Unless I'm ingoring you.)

Not too much else to report at this point, as I'm on stinkin' vacation. And while I sometimes think I could live like this for a while, I have thought about some of my friends I work with and even some of the students, and look forward to getting back to Korea to see them. Although I'm not changing my flight back to be any sooner. I'm not crazy.

Well, if I don't log off I'm going to be late for class, and when there are only three students in the class, you can't sneak in easily. So later.

Currently listening to: Carbon Leaf -

If He Never Saw An Eagle Fly

Well, it is not a Rocky Mountain High I've got right now, but I'm enjoying being out in the woods again. After living the last six months in a concrete jungle where I only saw on average three stars in the night sky, it is good to be back under a wide open sky. It actually makes me sad to think that when most people read Genesis 15:4-6 they don't get the full effect, as they have never seen a sky with thousands, if not millions of stars above them. I also find it funny that while I hate being woken from sleep by a dog or a chicken in Korea, I find it peaceful to awake to the sounds of loons here in Michigan.

And to top my nature experience off... yesterday as I swam in the clear lake an eagle soared above me for at least twenty minutes... never flapping his wings.

Today, I ventured out of the woods for a class I'm taking. Plus I've got to buy some lighters to set off a huge amount of fireworks that have been purchased for a celebration this weekend. If you are in the north woods on Saturday night, look to the skies for a million stars and things going boom.

Until my next escape from the woods....

It's A Small World After All

So I'm out in the middle of nowhere New York at Houghton College attending a Pre-Field Orientation for people working with Third Culture Kids. For those of you keeping score at home, you will realize that I've already been on the field, but that is another story.

It has been great to meet many new people, including several people I'll be working with at TCIS - like this guy. While I knew I would meet them, as well as the amazing Coach Foster, who I worked with at BFA, I didn't realize how small my world is.

See, I've been sitting in classrooms with people who: are realated to a gal I worked four summers with, have a daughter I went to Ireland with, are best friends with people I worked with at BFA with, went to college with guys from my BFA dorm, worked at English camps with me in Germany, are dating a friend of mine, or are parents of one of my current coworkers. I guess the longer you are in this industry, the smaller your world gets.

In other news: two days until I get to cruise around in my kayak.


Currently reading:

Don't Go Chasing Waterfalls

Is there a better way to celebrate the days between Canada Day and Independence Day than to spend some time in the Niagara Falls area? Probably, but that is what I did yesterday. Since I hadn't had enough travel lately, I hopped in a bus for a three hour trip.

I have to say that although the US has the waterfalls, them Canadians have the better view of it. Plus their town is a whole lot nicer to wander around. (Take note America, we got some work to do.) Heck, couldn't we at least get the WWE souvenir stand?

In my boredom after wandering around the US side of things, I ended up walking into the Niagara River less than 100 yards from the falls. I guess that will be added to the list of stupid things I've done just for the potential story. (Have I mentioned the running of the bulls here?) If I had lost my footing, I would have been seen somewhere in this view:

Kids, don't follow in Ryan's footsteps. Live by the motto, "Safety first, last, and always."

Currently rereading:

Back In The USA

Well, I've made it back and so far jet lag has no effect on this boy. In fact, I'm almost willing to say that jet lag is for the weak. That or I was born to travel internationally.

Speaking of my travels, yet again, I discovered more reasons to strongly dislike Northwest Airlines. This weeks reasons include:

• No individuals screens on the flight from Japan to Detroit.
• They actually thought people would enjoy The Pacifier starring Vin Diesel.
• Free porn on selected flights.

Yes my friends, that last one is not a joke. As we were flying to Japan, another passenger pointed out the fact that the flight attendant/air steward/plane boy or what ever you call them these days was reading an "adult magazine." I was shocked to see this guy openly reading it, especially as there were three rows of young kids right in front of him. And the guy wasn't even hiding the fact that he liked the ladies sans clothing. I wanted to get a photo of the guy, but my camera was tucked away in the overhead compartment and the pilot had turned on the seat belt sign.

And as to the movie... if you call a movie The Pacifier, it is only just that many people might use the word suck when describing it.

Currently wishing I hadn't watched:

Leaving On A Jet Plane

Tonight, or more like this morning, I'm finishing up cleaning my apartment and packing my stuff for yet another move. Over the summer, my new dorm is being built, so I must have everything packed up and ready to move.

In a few hours I'll be leaving for the airport to make yet another international flight. I'm hoping for a bump into first class. At this point, I'd even go for a flight trhough Europe like I had to endure on the way to Korea a few months ago.

So if all goes well, I'll be in New York sometime tomorrow night. And in a little over a week, my final destination for the summer... somewhere near this body of water...


Currently listening to: Tremolo -