Gratitude, Part 7 (Sep. 28 - Oct. 4)

  1. Watched Star Trek II, thus washing the disappointment out of my mind from Star Trek Into Darkness.

  2. Beautiful weather for the Rapid City Pumpkin Festival

  3. Signed petition to legalize chickens in the city limits of Rapid City.

  4. Watched the giant pumpkin weigh-off at the Rapid City Pumpkin Festival

  5. Read chapter 2 of The Gift of Being Yourself

  6. Meditation on Matt. 6:9-13 and Mark 10:17-22

  7. Participated in the church forum after service (Sep. 29, 2013)

  8. Made "ants on a  log" for the first time since childhood

  9. Met the University President today (Sep. 30, 2013)

  10. My wife had a good time at the wedding, after the wedding, and at the reception.

  11. My wife saw a giant rubber duck in its first American appearance.

  12. My wife's safe journey from Pittsburgh to Minneapolis

  13. My wife's safe journey from Minneapolis to Rapid City

  14. Picked her up at the airport

  15. Successfully set up TV, DVD player, and antenna

  16. Finished lining shelves in the kitchen

  17. Closed on our house

  18. Celebrated closing with sushi lunch

  19. Made dinner reservation for romantic getaway this weekend

  20. Use my 20% off coupon to buy gifts for my wife and parents at bookstore

  21. Discovered I had a coupon for a free lunch under the bookstore coupon

  22. Interesting seminar by the Mines Medal winner

  23. Free food at the seminar by the Mines Medal winner

  24. Met another new faculty member at the Faculty & Staff Lounge

  25. The technology and infrastructure to be warned of the coming blizzard this weekend (Oct. 3, 2013)

  26. Ease of rescheduling reservations to avoid the forecast blizzard

  27. Extra time to plan for what we had reserved for this weekend

  28. WNIU matching funds for pledge drive

  29. Opportunity to teach (and learn) about dark matter at the graduate level next semester

  30. Connie's help in setting up the class for next semester

  31. Good shelter from the blizzard (Oct. 4, 2013)

  32. The blizzard revealing bad seals on some of our windows

  33. Getting to know colleagues better at the Mines Medal Dinner

  34. Good food at the Mines Medal Dinner

  35. Surprise inauguration at the  Mines Medal Dinner

  36. Encouraging words from the governor at the Mines Medal Dinner

Total: 251