Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Spring is here....at least it was today.




Some new friends of mine, Derek and Jackie, invited me to go for a bike ride with them tonight. This is my fourth time living in DC and the first time I've really taken the chance to go see all the cherry trees and their spring blossoms. Beautiful. Sadly, my photography depends on my cellphone, but you get the picture (literally). I'm headed to Pennsylvania this weekend and all next week for work and hope these blossoms stick around just long enough for Emily or Ned to make it down this way and see them. (and to trick them into painting my basement...:)

Monday, March 17, 2008


Hey, Who Broke My Window?
Oh yeah, that was me. It's been a rough first month for my apartment...holes in the wall, broken windows...come on Matt, time to start treating this like my home.
Actually, it was either break the window, or sleep in my car that night. I went running and when I came back I realized that I didn't have a key for the lock on the door knob. It wasn't that I forgot it....the landlord never gave me one, and I hadn't used the lock all month. Poor timing. So from about 6:30-11:30pm I tried to find a way in without breaking a window. My cell phone was in the apartment so I couldn't call my hometeachers...I don't have anyone's phone number memorized. So after running over to the church and finding a member who let me use their computer/internet, I found my landlord's # and basically asked for permission to break the window. (He was out of town). I asked a neighbor (who I didn't know) if I could borrow a hammer to break a window, which naturally resulted in a skeptical look. He helped me break it and I then spent the next 30-45 minutes cleaning up all the pieces of glass from my carpet. No cuts in my feet yet, so I think I got most of it. I think the tape and cardboard is a nice touch.
The irony of the situation is that my hometeacher happens to be certified locksmith, which I found out after I gave a talk on Sunday and used the experience as part of my talk. Oh yeah, and while I was trying to think of a way to break into my apartment I thought "too bad I don't have a talk coming up. This could be some good talk material. " Naturally, when I finally got into my apartment there was a message on my phone from the Bishop's couselor asking me to speak on Sunday. Be careful what you ask for.

Tuesday, March 04, 2008


Granada, Nicaragua
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