My last entry was July 16. Here is what has been going on since then...

Hung out with Tom and Natalie Erickson down in Springfield. Had a good time going to a winery and visiting the Schell brewery in New Ulm. Lots of laughter and fun times.

Went to the Dark Knight...AWESOME!!!

Got together with Karla/Mike and Kevin and his girlfriend for dinner at Famous Daves. It is always a treat to see Karla and Kevin and I am honored that Kevin makes an effort to get together with me when he is in town. I really like that guy. Laura and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary on July 21st. We aren't doing anything special until August 9th because of scheduling.

Had a going away get together with some WBL people with good food and wine. It was a fun night saying goodbye to people who are like family to me and Laura.

I went to a silence retreat at a Jesuit Retreat Center in Lake Elmo. 3 days of no talking just meditating, thinking, journaling and praying. It was a well needed rest before the chaos that is coming soon.

Went camping up on the North Shore with Tom. 1 day of backpacking and 1 day car camping. It was a fantastic time and I laughed so hard sometimes my cheeks hurt. The funniest thing that happened involved a very friendly chipmunk.

Tomorrow, very early, I am leaving with my wife and inlaws on our annual Boundary Waters canoe trip for 4 nights and 5 days. The trip will be nice to relax and have some more quiet time before I get my butt in high gear for packing.

I'll update this site a few more times before we leave. I'm not sure if Xanga works from China but we'll find out. If you like also check our website at http://web.mac.com/long243 we'll be using that one more once in China as a joint venture for the both of us.
Also check out my killer beard. It is awesome! I've grown quite attached to it and will be sad to shave it.



keep in touch.

Nate

In the absence of my beloved Xbox 360, which is in Texas at the moment being fixed by the way, I've been watching movies, storms, TV, and reading. In the last 3 months I've read 3 books for fun and will start my 4th on the trip to MT.
Iron Man - fantastic
Prince Caspian - better than the first
Incredible Hulk - fantastic

the next movie I want to see is Wall E.
I also went to the Science Museum Star Wars exhibit. We spent 4 hours there. It was fantastic and the models were something else. I have a great wife who went along and said she had fun too. Next week we are off to MT with a stop at Medora along the way. I am excited to visit as it has been nearly 15 years since the last time I was there. It will be a good vacation.
This weekend is our last playing at Wooddale a place where we have worshipped for the last few years together, and I have been attending since 1997.
Anyway, keep in touch. We are having a going away party on July 14 at 5:00pm our house so if you are in the area please stop by.