things

well ive got no word yet on the promo. not fun......
went home this weekend and it was great. i always have a really awesome time going home but its hard to leave. tonight i took a bike ride down the north ave beach. this is becoming one of my most favorite places to be. I took a walk out onto one of the piers and just stared at the skyline with the great lake wish-washing below. I wish i could show how unbelievable of a view it is.
thats all i got for now

Oct 22

Three years ago today Katie and I went on our very awkward first date. She had no idea who I was and I definitely knew who she was but didn't know one thing about her. I had seen her about two weeks earlier for the first time and knew that I had to at least try. I remember sitting in the bleachers before a volleyball game with Joe Westra. As we did every year, we would assess the volleyball team. I spotted #6 and was overcome with emotion (just kidding, thats just too gay for me). Simply put, I thought she was HOT. These exact words came out of Joe's mouth, "dude Tig, she is totally your type. You should ask her out." So, a few weeks later, I did. "Awkwardly," according to Katie. She claims that I persisted on saying, "its not a date, its not a date." I think that was smooth because she was only a little freshman and if I would have labeled it a date she would have been scared away. I'm good.
Anyways, after I picked her up in her dorm room, and after she almost fell on her face while attempting a set of stairs, we had a good first date. One Trick Pony was good to us and so was the haunted house (she grabbed my hand in the haunted house, I felt pretty cool). We then played bags and hung out and talked in her dorm lobby. About two and a half years later I took her out to dinner at One Trick Pony knowing she'd have a ring on her finger within hours.
Now we are engaged and both of us can't wait to be married. Weird how things progress. Happy 3 year anniversary Katie. I love you.

decatur, il.

The interview went well and I have a second interview on Tuesday.

This weekend has been pretty good so far. At work on Friday, my buddy scott and I were exchanging text messages about our plans for the weekend. We brought up the possibility of driving down to Decatur illinois to see the volleyball team play a few matches. after some discussion we decided to leave early saturday morning and make their 11 oclock match. we made it, and i completely surprised katie. we walked in while they were playing and she obviously didn't notice because she was so intensely focused on the game at hand. they called a time out and we noticed a few of the girls looking up at us and smiling. then all the sudden katie swung her head around and looked up and noticed us. she smiled and blushed. I could see if from the bleachers. turns out, a few of the girls said, "katie i didn't know mark was coming" and she said that i wasn't. they told her to look and she did only to see her wonderful, committed, awesome fiance and his totally cool friend. It was great, I was so happy to be able to see her play for the first time this year and I know she was even more happy. We watched two matches, talked to the girls a little bit in between, and got back into the car to head back to chicago.
i was so tired from the trip that i didn't do a thing on saturday night except go to bed. now im just going to make some breakfast and ride my bike to church.

Good News...

I was asked to interview for another position within the company today. Nothing is for sure, that is why I'm not making too big a deal of it at this point. I interview on Thursday for the Baseball Recruiting Coach position which has just recently opened up. There are two others in the baseball department with the same position. I am excited about this possible promotion but am not getting my hopes up too much. Better that way than being disappointed right?
Just thought I would let you all know, "because I probably wont call you to tell you about [it]."

Weekend in GR

Just got back a few hours ago from another great weekend in GR. Although I would have loved to see more friends, my time was limited, so I spent most of my time with Katie. Saturday morning I went to the good ole Calvin library to help Katie with some grad school applications. We then went over the see the parents. Mom had another back surgery on Tuesday so she was in the recovery stage still. She was able to walk around but it was very limited and with a cane. Hopefully this surgery actually works. Sunday we went to church and then met Steve and Luimes for lunch. Our waiter sucked.
Overall it was a great weekend with family and Katie. Every time I have to say goodbye to her it was as hard as the first. Right now I am looking forward to the goodbyes being over with.

Another work week begins.......