iowa

i have moved around a lot in my life. even before heading to university, my family moved quite a bit. i think i lived in seven different houses, which although is probably not on the same level as a so-called "army brat" it is still probably higher than average.
when i left home, i also moved around quite a bit. the summer after my freshman year at plu, i went to washington, dc to do an internship. that was quite an experiece. then came namibia, berlin, bochum, berlin, denver, south africa--amidst all of these, i was moving around cities, too. so i moved again today--amtrak train 6 to osceola, iowa. then an hour car ride to des moines. it is freaky, well, that is how i feel about it anyway. i had no idea how suburban the neighborhood i am staying in would be. there is a sod farm accross the street, and a working corn field in the middle of the development. nothing is within walking distance. while it is a nice neighborhood with green spaces and walking paths, it is just so different from what i am used to i.e. being able to walk around the corner to the store, a restaurant, starbucks, etc. i can't walk anywhere here, and i cannot drive until 29 june still.
ok, this is not meant to be a pity party. i am simply trying to convey the shock of moving to a completely different environment. i just need time to adjust.

in other news, my best friend in germany may have testicular cancer. i just found this out this evening, so i am of course really concerned about him.

i quit smoking last night at about 8 o'clock mountain time.
so far so good.
after hearing about my friend, i had one.
i think that is okay though. back on track now.