Greetings from Iowa...

...where today's weather forecast calls for rain and a high temperature of - get this - 62 degrees. Yes, really. It's cold in Iowa. What are the odds?

I cruised into town late Thursday afternoon all set for a very long evening of moving into my apartment. However, when I arrived I discovered that all of my belongings had already been mysteriously moved out of storage and were waiting in my apartment for me! How, you ask? Because I have the BEST friends in the whole WORLD! (A big shout out to Matt and Krista!) Thank God for friends who love you enough to be trusted with your apartment keys.

So I'm getting settled into my apartment and I've consumed the ceremonial "first bratwurst" of the new academic year (grilled by the same best friends who hooked up my crib!). I've started cracking the books and plowing through commentaries in preparation for next week's ordination exams. But my biggest achievement so far: I'm on my third day in Iowa and I still haven't plugged in my TV. I'm gonna see how long I can make that last. Feel free to form grids and place bets, call your bookie to get the "over/under."

Stay tuned...