I posted a few pictures, click the title for the link. I'll try to get more useful information later when I'm all unpacked. Sorry for those who have tried calling, but I've been busy, but I thought this would be an ok substitute. Hopefully everyone is doing great and surviving those severe storms.

Thursday:

It was the last day @ work and so I was pretty excited to get out of there. I was surprised when Fr. Roger gave me a nice card and was very pleased when it came nicely equipped with cash. Took a few pictures around the monastery before I left for possibly the last time (but Br. Xavier always says I look so good in black, sigh?) Got a picture of Saint Peregrine (sp?) Looks pretty ghastly, but I guess that happens when you?re dead. NaLeah stopped over with the kids. It was pretty hard to see them go. Hopefully I won?t get too homesick because December might be a long time. We had a great hug when she left and I noticed that we both had a strange moisture coming out of our eyes.

Friday:

It was crazy busy all day working on homework and a couple of other things such as trying to get paid from the Prep School for taping the commencement (but I blame St. John?s lack of communication mostly). Jenny text messaged me to me her at Davannis in St. Cloud @ 7:15. She surprised me because I had no idea that Mike, Jessica, Ashley, and Lindsay would all show up. That was absolutely awesome. I did not expect it, but was completely glad they made it. Got back and finished packing. We realized we couldn?t fit one recliner and a bookshelf so had to leave them. Got to bed about 1:30 am.

Saturday:

Got about at 4 am. Pretty awake, but decided would be a good idea to take a shower. Packed up computer and decided that it would be good to take a couple of pictures. I talked to Becky for a bit. I didn?t think it would be this hard to go, but I?m definitely excited. To make a long story short, I almost hit a deer just North of Wilmar, MN and somewhere along the line got another chip in the windshield (it must be bad luck). Otherwise the trip went as smooth as a whistle.

Stopped over at the Best Western in Oklahoma in a city I can?t remember now. No internet, but at least I had my laptop for a little comfort. We averaged about 57 mph on the trip with me getting about 28 mpg so I consider it an efficient little trip. Well I should get to bed since it?ll be another long day.

Sunday:

We got up about 5 am Central time in Oklahoma. After a fun filled drive through a rather smelly and flat Texas, we went through the rather plain New Mexico. There were definitely a few sites to see, but overall it was pretty boring. However, I should mention that the White Sands National Monument looked to be pretty cool and it may be good to do a little siteseeing there someday. Overall, I rate this state above a rather boring Kansas, but it has nothing on Minnesota or the Southeast.

We made it into Arizona around 3:00 or so. We hit some monsoon storms on the mountains. They were pretty heavy and there was some pretty intense lightning. We saw a bit of a wildfire about 70 miles to the West of Tucson. It was likely due to the storms but appeared to be in the process of containment. We also were able to witness the INS searching an abandoned car along the road and a car that must have rolled in the ditch.

Once we got into Tucson, it got pretty anticlimactic quickly. There is only so much excitement in moving stuff in. Well I should get going again. Hopefully everyone is doing great.

Monday:

Worked on unpacking and getting all the fun stuff done. Got a mattress and my CAT card. Definitely warm out, but it sounds like Minnesota has some strong storms. The high for Tuesday should only be 98 degrees, but from I've heard (and witnessed today), it hasn't been raining much in the evening so it is staying pretty warm at night, currently 87 degrees as of 10:00 AZ time (AZ since no daylight savings like the rest of the US with exception of part of Indiana.) Met my neighbor in the other part of the duplex/house. He seems like he's a great quiet guy. Well I should get going. Hopefully will get a chance to talk to everyone soon.

-Trevor