We were at Myung's condo for game night and people kept commenting on his small tube TV.

Helanne: You can have my TV.

Myung: Is it a tube TV?

She: Well, yeah, but it's bigger than what you have.

And we're all waiting for someone to offer us a 70" flatscreen.

*****

I played Risk for the first time ever and ended up winning. I got lucky by starting with most of Africa and half of South America, then took a big risk and went all in to take out Sam from the rest of South America. After Anson and Myung all but wiped each other out, I simply marched to victory.

During the game, Anson kept joking that the risks he likes to take are the ones that guarantee that he'll win.

*****

It's been almost three months since I started research. I've learned how to grow and test cell lines, isolate proteins using immunohistochemistry, operate on mice, cut and stain samples, and most importantly, enjoy weekends off. I've helped clean out Arturo's landfill of a backyard, enjoyed my first Bethel EM retreat in many years, and helped organize the residency picnic (i.e., show up with booze). But apparently I haven't been spending my time doing the one thing I'm supposed to be doing.

*****

There's a girl I've seen a handful of times on my shuttle bus. She's younger than most of the people that take the bus from Union Station. She's girl-next-door pretty and dresses in conservative tops and dark capris. I remember looking at her and thinking, if life took a few turns here and there, we could grow old together and we could tell our grandkids that it all started with a passing glance on a bus.

*****

My mom told me the name of a girl that she thinks I should meet. She said that she got the information from someone that she knows. The name sounded strangely familiar, so I texted Parker about it. He confirmed that he had gone out on a blind date with her a few months back and not again because she didn't seem to have much interest in God.

I have not contacted her.

*****

When Anson started preaching on the fruit of the Spirit two weeks ago, I immediately requested to lead praise for the week that he would speak on peace. On Sunday I want to tell everyone that peace does not arise from the absence of doubt, but from the presence of faith. I want them to hear it coming from me because then I can hear it too.

Hear me, full of doubt. The Lord is with me.