I liked today.  I biked to school in the cold frigid late autumn that is Ottawa.  I had 3 very encouraging and valuable conversations with dudes who I’m working with at Carleton.  Two were about similar things, but I know both conversations were very tailored and personalized.  I felt very prepared for those meetings.

I ate a stirfry from the Res Commons Oasis caf, and the dude (Nassem) served me twice as many vegetables (I just asked, can I get a bit of both kinds?) and did a good job, even if it took a while.

I was quite tired and so during the prayer time in the afternoon, I almost fell asleep.  Gotta watch out for that…

Had the chance to drive one of my students from work with me to Young Adults at the Met.  I brought vanilla ice cream with me “to-go” in a coffee mug and ate out of it as I drove.  David (the student) was quite amused.  It was my dessert after dinner!

After Young Adults, I had the chance to play bass for the first time in like AGES.  I was told that I’ll be playing bass for next Thursday… I had forgotten!  And the crew I’ll be playing with sounds absolutely and totally talented.  I’m looking forward to rocking out with them.

I listened to Sebastian Demry’s version of “Your Name” as I drove home afterward.  Part of the song is in French and I think I’ll be putting more French into my Ottawa U worship sets gradually.  I’m quite excited about that as well.

When I arrived home, I realized I drove home with the parking brake engaged the whole time.  I had not heard it because of the pumping music.  You know that feeling?  “Ugh… dang…. I can’t do anything about it though”.

Right now there are a few things that still need to be done for tomorrow.  But I think I’ll leave it for tomorrow.  I want to sleep before midnight for once (the past week or so has been late… because I’ve been reading Brisingr!)

Setting: Carleton grassy area behind Robertson Hall

Event: Prelude - clubs promotional time for 3 hours 11am-1pm

Intensity Level: very high

Wes and I set up our table around 10:30am and quickly realized that we were going to be short-staffed.  I drove my van right up to the edge of the grass, taking advantage of the four-way flasher technique that affords so much from onlookers — they know you are moving large items (which we were) and they won’t stop you from driving on sidewalks.

We called a bunch of people by phone and soon were dishing out Real Life Kits and getting students to fill out Spiritual Interest Questionnaires.  It was super-intense.  Students arrived in massive herds and they were split up into faculties by the colour of their t-shirts.  Public Affairs students were wearing forest green, Engineers were wearing yellow, etc.  It made it super fun to point out what a student was studying and then direct them to one of the two kinds of free RLK’s.  It was quite fun to be standing there shouting “free stuff, options for artsy or sciencesy students” and explaining the contents of the two versions’ free books “Case for a Creator” and “Soul Cravings”.  In general students wanted free stuff - almost every table was giving away something.

I definitely took advantage of the table giving away free fresh cold lemonade.  Like three times.  It was a searing hot day out today and the sun was out in full glory.  At a few points, I almost praised the clouds that passed and cast refreshing shadows.  mm actually I did praise them haha.

We ran out of RLK’s two or three times and had to get more from a vehicle and from a table at another location.  Fun fun times.  As they say, “movements are messy!”

We also has our first weekly meeting of the semester, which was a load of fun.  Intense and a bit anxious we were, but it went super well.  I had the opportunity to MC and we did a few rounds of a “The Price is Right” style game.  I think first-year froshies won each of the three rounds.  It was awesome!  Wes gave a fantastic talk on what C4C is and what we do.  I’m so glad, because he prepared very deeply, and it may have balanced from my spontaneous and fun-humoured MC’ing style.  I think when I MC, that’s one of the few times when I speak without a filter and whatever’s on my mind I let it roll out, resulting in awkward or humourous statements.  But it’s all good when a student frosh happily leaves the room with a bag containing a box of Hero Brand tissue, a bottle of Tide laundry detergent, and a folding TV table.  So good…

Well it finally has arrived.  My first frosh week on campus.  It started likely over the past weekend when everything was starting to begin, but it’s totally full-blown and deep in right now.  Today was a day when I realized I am now “that guy” (or girl, if you are a girl).

Here’s what I mean.  Today I left the free-stuff club table briefly to go to the washroom.  I felt like I needed a good time in the stall.  And then it happened: I received a phone call on my cell while in the washroom.  I picked it up.  It was important.  I answered and completed the call.  I hung up.  I kind of smiled at myself and pointed it out: I was “that guy”.

You know, the person who is talking on their cell phone while in the washroom… haha.  Fortunately there was no one else in the entire washroom except me.  I didn’t disturb anyone else’s stall peace.

Anyway, the call happened to be about a shipment arriving at my apartment this past afternoon, when a truck pulled up and unloaded an entire skid of RLK’s at my doorstep.  30+ boxes of free goodness for Ottawa U.  1800 lbs of it, in fact.  It was exciting.  But tiring for me to move it in my place.  But visionary as Ottawa U is one of the smaller campuses for sure.  And we still get a skid!!!!

Frosh week also means I’m functioning on very little decent sleep, I’m driving around a lot, dishing out a lot of laundry bags and NT’s, and talking to extremely open people.  That last one, that’s why it’s always been worth it.

Oh, and by the way, please pray for me that I’ll have grace.  Grace in communication, grace in my demeanor, grace in my approach, and grace in my own heart.  I think (and that’s a big “think”) that this year is my Year of Grace.

I’m in southern Ontario right now!  Last night I visited Guelph and popped into their Year End Banquet, now I’m in Toronto and prepping for the Fellowship Dinner, and tomorrow I’ll be speaking at church.  And then returning back to Ottawa in time for the Year End Banquet at Carleton.  Whoa man, I’m packing it in.

My toughest days are Mondays.