Michigan Tech

I had a fabulous weekend this weekend. And not just because I wore my roomie pants. My friends and I went up to Michigan Tech for the weekend for their annual Winter Carnival. My four friends all went to Mich Tech (well, 3 of the 4 did...Kat is married to Ryan and was there for almost all 4 years anyway). We packed all 5 of us into Ryan and Kat's SUV and made the 8 hour trek to Houghton. This was my first time in the U.P., as well as over the famous Mackinac Bridge, so it was a treat for me, even in the dead of winter when everything was covered in layers of snow. It made me really want to go back in the summer/fall when I'm sure the entire area is breathtaking, since it was quite beautiful in the middle of winter. But then again, I love winter as long as each day is not a subzero temperature (which it was not this weekend, thank God!)
We then packed ourselves all into one hotel room, which put me on an air mattress by the window. I was very happy that I brought a sleeping bag and comforter because there was absolutely no other place to put the air mattress, and being by the window meant I was a lot colder than everyone else, who tended to sleep with the covers half off because they were decently warm. We did well though coordinating the single bathroom, I was pretty proud of us.
They gave me a tour of campus and reminisced about their college glory days, which made me long to go back to Golden and walk through my old Chem E building and such. It was neat to see a school that was so similar to mine, which is pretty unique since we have the small nerdy engineering schools. Their Winter Carnival included some really impressive ice sculpture competitions, broomball tournaments, and some other random student activities that we as old people did not go to. We did have the opportunity to go to one of the Mich Tech hockey games though, and the team they played was none other than Colorado College! They're the only pretty decent team we have in Colorado as far as college hockey goes, and since they're based in Colorado Springs, I've grown up hearing about them. It was pretty cool that they were in town. It also meant that I ruited for them, which no one around me liked... Good thing the game was a tie in the end. However, Mich Tech beat them the next day pretty hard.
Right after the hockey game as we're walking out, there were people yelling something about a free concert. I stop and look at one of the posters and see that it is Seventh Day Slumber and The Afters, two Christian bands that I've heard quite a bit on the radio. I get excited and tell Kat, who I know also listens to Christian rock, and she got more excited than I did. Which was good, because none of the others cared, and when I started feeling guilty about going, and she talked to Ryan and said she really wanted to stay and they should go on without us and pick us up later. It worked out perfectly, Kat and I enjoyed the entire concert together, and the others did their own thing and picked us up at the end. I also got a child to sponsor while I was there because The Afters heavily support Compassion International, and since I've been wanting to do the sponsor thing for a while, I figured no better time than now. I later found out Compassion International is based in Co. Springs, which makes it even cooler! Apparently I never realized how freakishly awesome my hometown is because I hear about it constantly out here in Michigan, which seems a bit odd to me. I digress.
We also hung out with a bunch of their old friends that were back for Carnival or are still in grad school. It was nice to be meeting new people and be in a new atmosphere for a change, very refreshing. Mandy and Jon also took the opportunity to try to play matchmaker for me and one of Jon's friends. First of all, let me state that I do not like Matchmaker. In fact, as soon as someone tries to do that, it makes me instantly want to run away. Bad bad! However, to give them some credit, he was a pretty great guy and strong Christian. In fact, he was pretty much everything I've been thinking lately would be the perfect guy. It was pretty obvious he is strong in his faith, he is super active and does a million different outdoor activities, he's a geophysicist currently going for his masters, and he is well traveled, partly because companies all over the globe have him come do work for them. He just got back from Guatemala last month and is headed to Alaska soon. He is the quintessential perfect guy as far as my definition has been shaped lately. And he was definitely interested, that was obvious. However, the problem, which is always a big problem when it comes to this stuff, was that I was not interested. I've been questioning why I wasn't interested though. My reasons are basically that he is a quite shy guy that is not flirtatious, and because he looks young, like he's still in high school. I just wonder if I'm not being vain or just looking for the things that I've liked in the past, which tends to be the louder guys that are very social. I've decided it doesn't actually matter right now since Houghton is 8 hours away, and we can be pen pals. If it's something God has in store for me, then I can only pray that he opens my eyes. Or maybe it was just Him telling me that just because I have the perfect guy made up in my mind doesn't mean that's what he has in store for me and that's not really what I actually want. He does know me better than anyone, including myself.
At any rate, after another long car trip back, I made it home and basically passed out last night. It was a very refreshing weekend though, and I truly appreciated the opportunity to get out for a few days. I feel much more ready to take things on here again, and at least for now feel a lot less anxious. Jeff and I are on somewhat talking terms again too...not talking that much, but we've reconciled and both agree that as long as we keep good boundaries as friends, then we shouldn't need silly games. We'll see what happens with that, but it has at least put me at rest that I can communicate with him if need be without feeling like it's an awkward mess. Our friendship may not be the same anymore, but I have to understand that and not let that get to me. I'm just thankful that we're at least being civil.
And that was my weekend in a huge nutshell. It might have to be a coconut shell to hold all of my thoughts...maybe I need to take lessons on condensed blog post writing because I have clearly been failing in the keep it short and sweet category on this blog! So if you've made it this far, kudos my faithful reader. And better luck next time =)