BJ Bits

Dear Slaws, Lincenbergs, Ettlesons and Whites (the SLEW),

Wow, BJ found his way back to the blog! It's a Hanukkah miracle! The holidays are always a good time to give, share and reconnect. Perhaps this post will serve that spirit. Matt and Kim, especially, have done yeoman's work in filling the blog with wonderful stories since Camp Slaw.

When you're a single, exceptionally handsome man, rumors are always going to be swirling in this family about your love life. It simply comes with the territory. Mathias and Dan-O, I know you're feeling me. You can all stop the presses in their tracks because I have found a woman whose drama-free kindness has stopped me dead in mine. Her name is Christine. We used to work together when I was a member of the Elmhurst College Admissions Office back in 2004. We were always friends, but lost touch for the first year I was back here in Des Moines. Christine and I reconnected back in Chicago at summer's end and started to lay the groundwork for a deeper, more affectionate relationship. Autumn highlights included a Cubs game, demolition derby, Christine cooking chili and letting me pretend to help, seeing the Jane Austen's Book Club movie in place of watching a Bears game on TV (that's when you know the girl has a hold over you!), and culminated in her visiting me out here in Des Moines, Iowa this past weekend. Rather than smother you with all of Christine's unique, wonderful qualities, I'll let you discover them yourself as you meet and get to know her.

Work at Drake University continues on. I have grown to appreciate some facets of the student records environment, but I wouldn't say that I am completely enamored with the position. There's a lot of time spent in front of a computer and less interacting with students compared to admissions or academic advising work. Drake and Des Moines are good places to be, but developing a support system here that remotely resembles the network of friends I had during college here has proven to be difficult and has not really materialized. All of the developments these last few months does not mean that BJ and Chicago are on a crash course to reunite. Rather, I am being patient and believe that I will continue to inch closer to what it is that I truly want out of life. Any and all time spent with the fam and your support will further enrich the journey.

In closing, I love each of you down to the last drop and I thank Drake's Vice Provost for closing the University today due to an ice storm so that I could summon the time necessary to put all of these thoughts to paper (or screen, if you'd like to get technical).

xoxoxoxo,

BJ