Spring Break Thursday

Well, I'm back from Montana. The interview went really good, I got to sit in on one of the classes I would be teaching, and they use the same books that I used at Highlands Ranch for MS Science. After the interview, I went to the Eekoff's for supper. (For you Dordt people, which is pretty much everyone...Bigs and Mark's parents) That night, Robin & Jon picked me up and showed me around for awhile. We looked around Belgrade at apartment complexes and houses. There were some really nice places there, a number of subdivisions I guess. We went on to Bozeman after that, which is where the closest Wal-Mart, Target, etc... are all located. Its also where Montana State is located, so there's plenty to do there.

When I flew in, it was pretty cloudy, so I didn't really get to see the area until the next morning, and the mountains seemed to be no further than 15-20 miles away in each direction, so its like a bowl in the middle surrounded by ski slopes, fly fishing streams, and all the hunting you can think of.

Well, the day after I got back, they called me and offered me the job! So as hard as it was to get on the plane, fly there, sit through the interview, and fly back... the tough part really begins now. I did let them know before I left Montana that I had another interview at a school in Indiana in 2 weeks, and that they had already bought plane tickets for me and Linds, so I was planning on going out there. They had no problem giving me two weeks to think about it so I could check out DeMotte.

As relieving as it is to know that I will have a job next year, I think I feel even more worried about it now in trying to reach a decision about our future next year. I know that God will reveal His plan to us when the time is right, but saying that and living that are two so completely different things that its making my head spin. So...it would be great if you could pray for God's guidance in this whole decision-making process, as there are definite pros and cons to each place I've interviewed with so far.

On another note, with baseball season I guess "officially" started with the games in Japan, I thought I would add a few baseball thoughts...

-Aaron Gleeman makes a good point about the Twins batting Adam Everett 9th and having Carlos Gomez hit leadoff. If you bat Joe Mauer 2nd...will he reach the 100 RBI total that everyone knows he's capable of?

-We know how big of a fan Gardy is of Punto (he did show complete confidence in him after his stellar .210 AVG last season. Gleeman says "don't be surprised if Punto takes over before midseason for Harris, unless we see a .350 AVG from Harris in April." Wouldn't that be just an amazing lineup? Punto, Everett, and Gomez batting before Mauer? How long before Casilla is ready for the majors? Maybe when he's 30 years old? 35? (I guess he is only 23)

-I don't get to see Twins games out here in Denver, but apparently Livan made an impossible play in the Twins' game vs. the Rays on Wednesday. Elliot Johnson bunted a ball down the line towards 1st, and Livan lumbered over to make the play with Morneau covering the bag. When the ball reached about 10-15 feet from the base, Livan and his 6'2", 250 frame wouldn't (couldn't) bend over to make the play, so he did the next best thing...he kicked it...right into the glove of Morneau for your routine 1-3 putout. It's a good thing we have a Canuck playing 1st base to make the save...to which Morneau replied "it wouldn't have counted anyway, you can't kick it in for a goal." Wow, spoken like a true Canadian. I don't remember seeing a kick in baseball so spectacular since Paul O'Neill's relay throw...er...relay kick.

-A non-Twins question for the Cubs fans out there...why the signing of Reed Johnson? Besides the fact that he can backup Pie in center, what now becomes of Murton? Another season in AAA?

So long everybody...