Candler street preachers, behind a smaller version of the pulpit in the church where the Conference was held. 

The Korean Pastors' Wives Choir singing to the World Methodist Conference 

Traditional Korean breakfast, prepared for us by a church where we attended 6:30am prayers (their second service of the day). There were noodle dishes, several types of kimchi, fried squash, and fish. We drank fresh tomato juice and Korean style (read: instant with powdered cream and sugar already added) coffee. 

Letting off steam at, that's right, Outback. We needed a meal that did not include kimchi. And it was good. 

At the Conference, there were lots of ladies in traditional Korean dresses, just bowing all day. That would be the least fun volunteer job. They lined the entrance area, stood at all elevator and stairwells, and greeted us at the sanctuary. They were beautiful, and I became accustomed to bowing to any and everyone I saw. And I said "kawmap-sumneeda" (thank you) to everyone, too. 

At that Chinese restaurant with some of the St. Paul kids. 

Lane and me eating some weird black noodle dish at a CHINESE restaurant with the St. Paul crowd. I got pretty good at chopsticks (the eating utensils, not the song...) 

Shopping in Itaewon.  

That changing of the guards ceremony I mentioned. All the beards were fake. Sorry to destroy your illusions.  

Eating at Lina's favorite restaurant. I am so thankful Lina was with us, and so regretful that she was used as a translator instead of being able to just be a student. 

At the palace. There were always mountains around. Seoul is surrounded by them. Dana would love it. 

Standing near a "guard" at the palace we toured. His beard is fake. Later we saw a ceremony that replicated the changing of the guards at that palace. 

In the elevator with Malinda, I mean Malida, getting ready to finally be tourists 

The view at the Seminar House on our rainy first 3 days in S.Korea 

The group with Bishop Kim and his wife 

Home sweet home

I'm back in the ATL.
Korea was lovely, and I wish I could have experienced more of it. But I am glad to be home.
I didn't get to do much tourist-y stuff, but I did visit one palace, shop a bunch and spend a LOT of time in churches.
Friendships were made/strengthened, kimchi was eaten, and new people from around the world were met.
It was nice.
I griped a lot about not getting to do as much cultural stuff as I wanted, the beds and pillows were hard as rocks, we spent 3 hours on buses everyday, and I could have done without the 14 hour plane rides.
But I had a good trip.
I got back yesterday at 11am. I went to bed at 10pm and got up at 4pm. It wasn't all jet lag. The sleeping pill I took at 6am might have had something to do with it...
And tonight I went to a Braves game.
I love baseball.
Rock on.

Some Stories from Korea

Yesterday, an 18 year old Korean girl named Felicity who is volunteering at the Conference walked me down the street to an ATM. She was wearing a traditional Korean dress, with sneakers underneath. She was quite chatty and proficient in English. She asked me if Iwas in school, and after I explained that I'm done with college and back in school again, I found out that she goes to high school in St. Paul, MN. While we were walking, some women stopped us and asked to take a picture with us. They told Felicity that they hadnever met a foreign person. I bet her traditionaldress didn't hurt either. On the way back, another woman scolded Felicity for wearing her dress out on the street, saying that she should go home. Anyway,today Felicity is volunteering in the computer lab,and when my computer wouldn't work I asked her to help me. She pounded on the keyboard with both hands, said"This computer sucks!" and led me to another one.

Here'sone more story from today:
Some cute variously-aged and variously-dressed Korean kids did a performance for us earlier. While they sang in Korean, danced, and played instruments, theEnglish words to their song flashed across the bottom of the huge tv screens that project what's happeningon the stage. The song was about a town that got sad and afraid, but then Jesus came and everything was happy and bright. So, at one point it was talking about Jesus being humbled into human form and it said"Jesus even took off his underwear and became a naked human baby." I promise.

I had to walk out of the Korean Cultural Night. Several factors contributed to my speedy exit. 1) The church is massive, and has been cold thus far,but I suppose the whole congregation came out tonight so it is full and hot in the "sanctuary" (it's more like a stadium).
2) The minister of this church gave a lecture aboutchurch growth for 45 minutes before the program even started. He is one of several brothers who are all bishops in the Korean Meth. Church, and who have built massive mega-churches. This is not the largest, but on Sunday we will attend the largest Methodist church in the world -- 95,000 members. Anyway, I suppose this brother felt like since we were in his church he should get to give a spiel (sp?).
3) There are lots of lilies in this building, and they stink. There are other flowers, too, but the lilies are the smelliest ones. Lilies are beautiful, but I can't handle too much of the smell. So, the heat, uncomfortableness after having sat forever, and the smell all came together and I was overwhelmed and felt a bit ill.

I'd better get back.

Korea

So, I'm in Korea.

I'm here on a trip with school, taking a seminar for evangelism credit. We have been in sessions most of the time, with small chunks of free time every day. However, we are at a conference center at least an hour outside Seoul, in a tiny little town with no shops to speak. The conference center is on top of a hill in the mountains, so the view is beautiful.
(Pictures later. Never fear.)

Evidently, we are here during the annual three weeks of heavy rain. This year the rain has resulted in the worst flooding pretty much ever for Seoul. The flooding has mostly subsided, but some roads are still under water in Seoul. I am staying up in some mountains, and it has been rainy here every day until today, but not floody.

We have been pretty much secluded in the seminar house (conference center). By yesterday, we students started to get a little stir crazy. We came here wanting to experience the culture and see the sights, and we have felt pretty detached from the rest of the world since we've been sitting in lectures all day every day. We have had some adventures outside the seminar house, finally.

Yesterday, we got stir crazy and talked a staff person into driving us to a store. It turned out that he had a regular 4 door car, and there were 5 of us. So Skip sat in front with the driver, and the 4 of us girls (Lane, Lina, Malinda and I) piled in the back seat. We giggled for the whole 45 minute trip there, and then we wandered for 30 minutes, and then we piled back in the car for the ride back for class. The store was really just a department store, like Macy's, with a market in the bottom. But we were able to buy Cokes and candy.

Today, we had free time and scheduled touring. We were able to convince the grown-ups (group leaders/staff) to rearrange the schedule so that we could commence the tourism sooner. We went into Seoul and shopped, had lunch at Lina's favorite restaurant, and met a group of students from St. Paul (UM) Seminary to tour a palace (GteongBokgung Palace). After the palace, we visited a shrine to Catholic martyrs -- Decapitation Mountain. After that cheerful stop (at which there was a drink machine -- COKE!), we headed to Itaewon shopping district. Itaewon turned out to be more touristy and not as nice as the place we went earlier with Lina, who is the Korean student on the trip with us. For dinner, we went to a Chinese restaurant that is a favorite of the Korean professor with the St. Paul group.

Without Lina, we would not know what we were eating, how much things should cost, or how to interact with local folks. She pretty much rocks.

I'm tired. Tomorrow, the World Methodist Conference starts. We have to leave at 7:30am in order to make it on time for the opening worship at the church where the Conference is being held. We'll see how that goes. I'm pretty stoked about the World Methodist Conference, since there will be Methodist folks from around the world. Rock on, Wesleyan connectionalism.

Cheesy Tourist Photos in Portland

More Spammer Names

Today, I cleaned out my spam
and these lovely people had sent me messages:

Checkerboards K. Littleness
Gouged A. Dictatorships
Astounded V. Conductivity
Generalissimo A. Poulticing
Mischieviousness U. Cunningly
Irascability U. Barmaid

Ha. I knew it.

Your results:
You are Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman 92% Green Lantern 90% The Flash 80% Supergirl 77% Superman 75% Iron Man 75% Spider-Man 70% Robin 65% Catwoman 65% Hulk 55% Batman 30%

You are a beautiful princess with great strength of character.

Leaving on a Jet Plane

I got a new camera.
I'm flying to Portland
at 5:45 tomorrow morning.
You know what that means.
Pictures of Portland.

Rock on.

I am a baseball fan

and I have the sunburn to prove it.

And I am now a firm believer that it really is
Root, Root, Root for the Home Team
because
If They Don't Win
It really is a Shame.

I'm just sayin'.

The Festival of Spuggles

or SpughFest.

Today was Sara's birthday.
We made signs.
We ate at Dairy Queen.
We saw the chocolate exhibit.
We got Australian pastries.
We ate at Agnes and Muriel's.

It was fun.
I'm tired.

Tomorrow, I head back to SC to help the folks pack.
Rock on.

Today's Best Spam Names

Revelations H. Bulldog
Periscopes U. Backache

ABCD and TFT

I'm taking a summer class
called Church and Community Leadership.
It focuses on Asset-Based Community Development
and Training for Transformation,
which are community organizing/development/building techniques.
The class is intense -- 9am-3pm everyday this week.
And that's it.
We have a paper due next week,
but we only have the one week of classes.
We are reading about one book a night,
and I am exhausted.

I'm getting a pedicure on Saturday.

Let It Be

Grades are in (mostly)
and I am pretty much a B student.
I'm cool with that.
I do pretty much B work.
Or if I do A work, I turn it in late.
(Seriously, I got a B in class where I turned in EVERY paper late.)

I am academically slightly above average.
That's not how smart I am.
That's how much I put into it.
Actually, I frequently put in below average effort
but I do it well.

I so do not stress about grades.
In college, we competed over who got an A on which assignment --
not outright competition, but we competed nonetheless.
And now, I am more cognizant of needing a balanced life.
And I get Bs.

Spam

I've been keeping track of the names on my spam mail.
Here are the best ones:

Mr. Yazzie
Expostulate E. Summerhouse
The Misogyny
Wigwam B. Telescope
Talc H. Quadruped
The Opposite
Cosmology M. Researcher
Refugio Leonard
Rollo Piper
Pelageya Gabler
Precious Winn
Reckons O. Hokusai
Methuselah Rivers
Rosy Shirk
Bean P. McEnroe
Spool M. Justified
Prosper Browner

The Paper That Won't Die

is about the intersections and conflicts of the women's movement and the abolition movement in the mid to late 1800s, especially the role of the church.

It is supposed to be 10-12 pages.
I'm up to almost 8.
I don't know if I have addressed (or even clearly articulated) my thesis yet, though.

Alas.
At least the power is back on.
Writing by maglite is no good.

Spring Banquet, aka Candler Prom

Spuggles and Petey













Roomates and the J who frequents our couch













Craig was really excited to see his friend Dave













Lane and me in pretty dresses
Austin, Sara, me, Rachel, Candace, Leslie -- looking fly

I just wanted to say

that it's 4:30am and I am up writing papers.

I just finished my 7 page exegesis paper.
I think it might suck.

I have my 2-3 page colloquy paper halfway done
at 3/4 of a page. =)

Tomorrow, I will have to write my sociology paper
which is to be 10-12 pages.
I have at least one page of it done.

I am tired.
I am awake.

Alas.

For the Rest of Your Life...

Okay, so we have this thing going. You can read about it on Dana's blog. Basically, my friends fought over what 5 albums they'd want to have for the rest of their lives. Like these would be the ONLY albums you could have forever. They (Dana, Russell, J, Sara, and John) came up with a collective list, which I think kind of sucks. Check out my lists, and then feel free to post yours in the comments.

Top 5:
Magazine (Jump Little Children)
Tuesday Night Music Club (Sheryl Crow)
Back Home Again (John Denver)
White Blood Cells (The White Stripes)
Rock Steady (No Doubt)

Greatest Hits Albums*:
One (The Beatles)
James Taylor: Greatest Hits (James Taylor)
Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 (The Eagles)
Sounds of Summer (Beach Boys)
Films About Ghosts (Counting Crows)

*This list goes against Russell's original premise that no greatest hits, live albums or compilation/various artist albums could be included.
But whatever. I like greatest hits. I'm old, and it's easier. Sue me.

Damn these procrastination tools... I have papers to write!

It's called "Procrastinate With Me" for a reason...

I wrote this at about 12:30pm today. It did not post. Here's another try.


Here's what I have done in the 4 hours I've been awake:

• Filled out my FAFSA
• Checked email repeatedly, all four accounts
• Scheduled a meeting and decided on a lunch menu
• Ordered books for my summer classes
• Called for appointments regarding my candidacy for ministry process
• Took a shower
• Located a book I had loaned out
• Started a load of laundry
• Ate a banana and drank a glass of milk
• Wrote this blog

*I have been quite productive in 4 hours.

**Note that none of these accomplishments involve cracking an actual book or writing any papers despite my aforementioned assignments that are due this week.

All Dressed Up, No Place To Go

Spring Banquet (aka Candler Prom) is on Friday.
I have been itching to go buy a dress.
All day, I have been trying to figure out when I will have time to go shop.
Alas, I have no time until Friday, the day of the event.

So, I was bemoaning this fact to Dana,
who was also supposed to be writing a paper,
and she suggested that we look at the dresses she has
since we were just standing around anyway.
Then, I remembered a little dress I wore to Ali's wedding rehearsal.
So, we started trying things on.
Then we "did" our hair -- more silly than cute...

We made John put on a jacket with his tshirt and workout pants,
and the result is this picture:

One Down... Three To Go!

Okay, folks, it's that time again --
the end of the semester, when everything is due.

I have finished one paper.
It was the easiest one;
it was already half done;
and it was due a week and a half ago.
It's a narrative for ConEd about my imaginary ministerial hero.

Her name's Amelia, and she is the minister of outreach at a mid-sized UM church. For her, outreach encompasses the church's programs that interact with the community (like a subsidized childcare program, and a job training culinary arts program the products of which go to meals on wheels, a local homeless shelter, and the Wednesday night supper), as well as visitation, missions, and supporting the rest of the staff. It's insanely hokey.

Now, I just have three to go.
1) Global Feminisms presentation on Tuesday night. (12-15 page paper due in May, so we're not stressing about it yet...)
2) NT exegesis paper 7-8 pages, due Thurs. 8am
3) Sociology of Rel. paper 10-12 pages, due Thurs. 1pm

Come on big money, no whammies!

Okay, I'm going to take a shower.

Resurrection

I appreciate Easter. This Lent was long, and I was glad for it to end. Perhaps that is a sign that I am in seminary, and we take liturgical seasons very seriously. Regardless, it was hard and sad and frustrating. Mingled in with the Lenten season, my New Orleans trip and the death of one of my favorite ministers sparked those emotions. I didn't feel a lot of hope while I was in New Orleans during Spring Break. I was overwhelmed and sad and frustrated and angry. I was tired. I got home and I was tired.

New Orleans was really difficult. The work on the house was like a taking the first half of a Salkehatchie (or ASP) week -- the tearing out -- and doing only that for a week. There was no rebuilding, and really what was left of the house after we tore out the moldy drywall was not necessarily rebuildable. Many of the remaining wall studs were termite damaged or moldy. The first work day, I encountered a man in the hardware store at the end of our street. We had gone to get some tools, and I said hello brightly and asked where we could find the Wonderbars. After pointing us in the right direction, the man said, "Where are ya'll from? You're too happy to be from here."

Lots of elements of the trip reminded me of Salkehatchie. We stayed in a church and worshipped and processed together as a group. I feel strong bonds with the people who shared the experience with me. We ate, laughed, prayed, worked and cried together.
The tour we took of the city is not something that I will soon forget, as much as I subconsiously tried to push it out of my mind. And it's also not something I can adequately verbalize yet. We did a presentation for Candler last week, and I was forced to reconsider and remember the experience. I have not come near fully processing it, and I don't know when that will all happen.

At the end of our week in New Orleans, our last devotion included thinking of a phrase that summarized or epitomized the experience for us. Mine was "exhaustingly aware."

I pray that New Orleans and its citizens (since not all are currently residents) will find elements of resurrection. It is a continuous process of rebirth and renewal, filled with struggles and death but also full of hope and mystery.

Another powerful, yet exhausting, element of this Lent came in the form of some amazing discussions with close friends and near strangers. We talked openly about experiences of difference, racism, religious misunderstanding and manipulation...

And then there's Patty's death. I hadn't seen or talked to her in several years. She was the first female minister I was close to but not related to. She was strong, intelligent, compassionate, amazing. She was truly called to ministry. I attended her wedding in a pink ruffled dress in the 7th grade. I was the acolyte at her ordination. And on Palm Sunday, I sat in the third row from the back at her funeral. But Palm Sunday was fitting for Patty -- rejoicing in God -- as was the final hymn of the service, "All Things Bright and Beautiful." I feel a huge loss. I am sad.

But yesterday, I sat in University Worship and heard an amazing woman preach a powerful resurrection sermon. I sat across from the four robed female ministers, and something in me jumped. I was glad to be there.

A professor at our school pointed out that different people dwell in, or are most comfortable in particular liturgical events. I am Easter People. Give me new life and rebirth anyday.
Christ is risen. He is risen indeed.

Happy Shannon Day!

Today, my little brother turned 24.
Happy Birthday, Shannon!

HAPPY EASTER!!

for at least another 35 minutes!

I've had a good Easter.
- cinnamon rolls
- University Worship (I was the "gospel bearer" and I collected the offering, so I wore an alb, which was so long I kept stepping on it and I almost fell on my head going up the stairs at the front of the chapel during the offering.)
- University Worship Easter dinner from Agnes and Muriel's (I sat with a rockin' professor and Barbara Brown Taylor, who preached a rockin' sermon)
- Easter dinner #2 at Beth and Kevin's, with lots of friends and good stories and food
- Easter dinner #3 at Narcie's (I was still so full from my other two dinners, I didn't actually eat anything at Narcie's but it was fun to hang with the Wesley kids.)

And now I have to write up some info for a presentation.
And I have to read a book about postcolonial feminist Biblical interpretation for a meeting-outside-of-class tomorrow morning.
Yes, it's that time of the semester when everything piles up and is due all at once.
Rock on.

At least it's not Lent anymore.
I was sick of Lent.
Resurrection is way better.
I am Easter People.

Dude

I cannot write this paper.
It's on a book about Islamic women.
I have no topic.
I do, however, only have 2 hours and 15 minutes until it is due.

I suck at being a student.

I really like being here, and going to classes (except NT, that is), and learning things.
I just suck at making myself write the papers.
Alas.

Blah

Spring Break was overwhelming, and now it is just over.

I'll write about my trip to New Orleans soon,
and maybe even post some pictures.

However, in the meantime
I feel blah.
I got sick the other day, and I didn't have a restful break.
Thus, I am mildly feeble.

I have a book to read tonight
for a meeting that might be happening
with my prof at 10am.
I have not read said book.
And I am tired.

Mostly I just feel blah.
Not super stoked.
Not majorly bummed.
Just plain old blah.

Kirby's gone to the great outfield in the sky

Kirby Puckett made me a baseball fan.

When I was in 4th grade, the school patrol (tiny little crossing guards) went to a Twins game. We played the Orioles -- I remember because I kept calling them the "Oreos," and because one kid wore an Orioles hat it got thrown out the bus window.
Anyway, our seats were at the top of the Metrodome, and I could barely see the field. I don't remember much of the game, but I do remember Kirby. Whenever he was up, the announcer would call "Kirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrbeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Pucccccketttttt!"

I was sold.

Later that season, my Twins went to the World Series ('87). I got my homer hanky from the Star Tribune. I waved it. I cheered. I watched Kirby cross himself each time he stepped up to the plate. I watched him jump higher than a short man (several inches shy of 6') should be able to. They won. I was happy.

I wanted a Kirby bear.

I moved to the South in 1988, right into Braves territory. In 1991, my friend Kari (a fellow Minnesotan by birth) and I wore our matching Twins tshirts to junior high to cheer our team, and to ruffle local feathers. I got dangly earrings with quarter-sized baseballs that said "Twins," and oh yeah you bet I wore them. I taunted my classmates. I told my friends that they'd be disappointed, because Hrbek, Gladden, Blyleven, and Puckett would do it again.

Don't worry. I was right. My Twins won.
It was a Cinderella Series, and my Cinderella kicked the Braves' Cinderella Ass. Nah, it was close. It was exciting. It made me very happy.



And now, I live in Atlanta. I go to bunches of Braves games. I just bought a block of tickets for this season.
But I am a Twins fan in my soul ("at heart" is not strong or deep enough). I love the Twins. If ever there was an underdog, if ever there was a hard stadium to play in... if ever there was a team that loved the game enough to beat the odds and win the series -- that team was my Twins in '87 and '91.

And now, my favorite baseball player has died.

Let me tell you more about why he rocked. He played only 12 years (1984-1996), but:
He played in 10 consecutive All-Star games.
He stayed with one team for his whole career.
When he retired, he held the club record for hits, doubles, total bases, at bats, and runs.


Kirby was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2357158
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=2355887
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=2357209

Goodbye, Puck.

Take me home, country roads

I'm not from West Virginia. But for most of my life, country roads have led to my home of the moment.
I've moved a lot, and several times in college I had to call my parents for directions home. So, home for me is not a place, but a feeling, memories of times and people who guided and shaped me.

I was talking with some friends about what is the best idea for a first appointment to a church. Now, I don't want to be appointed to a church, but they do. And their position was that being an associate at a larger church is good because it offers a mentoring atmosphere. Plus, there's the whole city vs. country thing -- it seems it's hard to find a mate as a minister in a small town.

I argued for the smaller church, the smaller town. Country roads. People whose families have lived in that place for generations. Stores owned by real people who say hello and remember your name. Friends who live on streets named after their relatives. Folks who will invite you to eat homecooked Sunday dinner with their families.

Don't get me wrong, I love living in Atlanta. And parts of it feel so right to me. But I feel at home when I drive along the backroads in South Carolina or the canopy roads in Tallahassee, when I walk along the Market in Charleston, when I see miles and miles flat farmland and black dirt in Minnesota, when I turn onto my grandmother's street in Gainesville.

Moving into a small town, you are bound to be an outsider for a while. Perhaps quite a while. But I want those friends to know that in this case, being the minister affords you some grace. And once you get the rhythm of the place, it's home. Home for a while. And then you leave. Because that's what Methodist ministers do. As the daughter of two of them, I've been an outsider most of the time. And I left a lot of times.

I started over a lot of times, and that means that I don't have the same kind of friendships that other people have. Recently, I contacted some folks I went to elementary school with. Immediately, I realized how weird that was. For me, they were my friends from ages 6-10. For them, I was a girl who was there a few years and then moved away. Most of their friends stayed.

For me, friendship doesn't end when contact dissapates. Just because I don't see someone anymore, that doesn't mean I love them any less or value their impact on my life any less. If that were the case, I wouldn't have much. Perhaps it's the sheer volume of people who have been important to me that makes it less likely that I will keep in touch. Perhaps I am a terrible friend, but I hope that's not it. I hope that people can understand that I can't possibly keep in touch with all the people that I love. But the lack of contact also doesn't mean that I would be any less responsive if they needed me.

All of this means that I get very excited when I see anyone from my past. Overly excited. And I bet that is overwhelming for them. But my feelings for old friends don't change or fade in their absence from my daily life. This can create a disconnect, since I hold the person that I knew then dear, but I don't really know the person who is now. But I know that we are all becoming, not being, and it's exciting to see the changes in people's lives.

And man are there changes. At Christmas, I got more than one family photo card from college friends. My friends have kids, and dogs, and houses, and real jobs. Life is so amazing, and I feel so blessed to get to see so many sides of it. I am so blessed to love so many people. Even if they don't know it.

Country roads, take me home to the place I belong...

Stupid Grad School

Making me write papers and read stuff.

I have a colloquy paper (2-3 pages)
and a book review type paper (4-5 pages)
due tomorrow.
I have not started them.
I have read some stuff, but certainly not all the stuff.
I believe I shall fail...

So, here are my favorite crayon names*
from the 48 count Crayola box on our coffee table:
Mauvelous (malvavilloso, mauveilleux)
Naranja rojizo (red orange, orange-rouge)
Dandelion (diente de leon, pissenlit)
Purple mountain's majesty (montanos purpuras majestuosas, majestueuses monagnes pourpres)
Macaroni and cheese (macarrones con queso, macaroni au fromage)
Granny smith apple (manzana granny smith, pomme granny smith)

*all the colors are in 3 languages now, except for chestnut, lavender, salmon, tumbleweed, mahogany, melon, tan, sky blue, and spring green.

Please note that these are my favorite names, not colors, of crayons.

Happy Heart Day!

I hope you (my two readers) are having a delightful Valentine's Day!
Regardless of romantic status, know that you are loved.*
Enjoy the wind and sun on your face, take a minute to watch the birds and squirrels in the trees, soak in the beauty of the world.*
Have a wonderful day, full of love and laughter!*


*Here are classic Beth moments of pure cheesiness -- it happens less and less, but on Valentine's Day it has resurfaced!

Dinner at Taco Mac with Nikki, Josh, Bob and Joy from college. Ah, the memories, the laughter, the loud sports bar ambience... 

Vehicular Vascillation

So, I might finally get to pick out my own car.

Mine has bad brakes and
a gas leak they couldn't find,
plus some bad belts
and a problem with the exhaust system.
All that adds up to more than this
1992 Dodge Spirit is worth.

Now, I had almost this exact same car
in high school/early college --
it was a white four door Plymouth Acclaim.
I crashed the first one into a tree.
I ran this one into the ground.

A woman from school emailed me about a car
her aunt is selling for $1000.
She emailed me several times
telling me the details and recent repairs of the car.
In the last email, she finally mentioned the make/model:
1992 gold Plymouth Acclaim.

Now, the cheap, guilt-filled parts of me
feel like I should get it.
I have no desire to ever own this kind of car again.
I want a cute, little Honda/Toyota/Nissan
that will run forever
and fit into tiny parking places.
For less than $3000.
Wish me luck!


(for now, I'm driving Mom's minivan again...
if anyone needs to move, now is the time...)

What's Goin' On...

Projects, of sorts:
- organizing a Spring Break trip to NYC that I'm not going on, but which should rock
- trying to finish Christmas packages to send to midwestern relatives

Homework:
- reading, at least I ought to be
- two short assignments for tomorrow, require above mentioned reading

Work:
- tutoring 8 kids
- babysitting
- leading craft nights at the Religious Life Apartment

Misc.:
- sitting in my comfy new desk chair
- dying to watch last night's Gilmore Girls (I had class)
- thinking about what to eat for lunch
- wearing pajamas at noon
- looking at my insanely messy desk

blah blah blah

Do the Right Thing

Best Career for Your Zodiac Sign?
This is from CareerBuilder.com, but I got it in a forward. I'm pisces, and it fits me pretty well, except for the music part.

Everyone glances at their horoscopes once in a while. We love to be amazed when they seem to describe us to a "T" and simply ignore them when they don’t pertain to us at all. After consulting the stars (along with www.findyourfate.com), here is a list of zodiac signs, along with their characteristic personality traits and suggestions for career options that best fit the signs’ astrological profiles.

Aries (March 21-April 19) You are enthusiastic, alert, outspoken, ambitious, strong-willed and creative. A career in television or radio, advertising or architecture would suit your ambitious and creative nature. Because you are a strong, natural leader, the military or law enforcement would also serve you well.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) A Taurus is practical, methodical, determined, patient, honest, dependable and a good team player. Look to the fields of banking, accounting and scientific research for your perfect job.

Gemini (May 21-June 21) You are very optimistic, inquisitive, intelligent and full of energy. You need a vocation that keeps your interest piqued and keeps you going, such as a travel guide, nature explorer or a sales position where travel is required.

Cancer (June 22-July 22) Cancers are imaginative, dramatic, philosophical, nurturing and protective. You’re best at dispensing advice, so consider law, psychology, teaching, nursing or social work for your life’s vocation.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) You are spontaneous, gregarious, independent and born to lead, with a true lust for power. These magnetic qualities make Leos good CEOs, managers, editors and perfect for government positions.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Precise, witty, cheerful, perfectionist, detail-oriented, hard-working and neat, with a knack for languages -- all describe you. Technician, statistician, medical researcher, investigator or translator are perfect career options for Virgos.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Libras are very diplomatic, charming, sociable, easy-going and cooperative. Your sense of cooperation and ability to engineer a compromise mean you would do well in the United Nations or as a lawyer, mediator, negotiator or administrator.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) You are penetratingly intuitive, intelligent, analytical, hard working, motivated and resourceful. Because you like to solve mysteries, consider espionage, police investigation, law, physics, research and writing.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Sagittarians have a positive attitude, boundless energy, love of travel and a strong spiritual side. A sales position would be ideal, as would public relations, social administration or theology.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) You are rock-solid, dependable, responsible, highly organized, goal-oriented, logical and clever. You thrive in positions of power or any vocation where math or money is involved. Consider an IT position because you love software and computers. You are also well-suited for being a doctor, accountant or lawyer.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Intelligent, original, progressive, humanitarian and visionary are all qualities that describe Aquarians. Choose a job in astronomy, natural history, aviation, photography, poetry, character acting or music.

Pisces ( Feb. 19-March 20) Pisces are generous, friendly, sensitive, popular, artistic, versatile, compassionate and spiritual. You will do well in any of the arts: drama, literature, painting, music, but your compassion also makes you well-suited for philanthropy and judicial positions.
Copyright 2005 CareerBuilder.com

A Few Tasty Tidbits

1.) I finally got a new planner. It is blue and has until 9pm and space for notes. $4 at B&N.
2.) Tomorrow, my J-term Pastoral Care class will be finished. That means that today, I have reviewed my notecards, and read during commercial breaks. Also, I ordered Dana to keep me on task if I tried to chat, by saying: "Shut up, you idiot! You're supposed to be learning pastoral care!" Generally helpful.
3.) I have had a headache for several days now. I am non-plussed.
4.) The real semester starts Thursday.
5.) I think it will be a good semester. Last one was. 1 B and 3 As. (I feel no need for an apostrophe between the A and s. I hate that shit. But evidently I don't mind posting my grades for all the world to see.)
6.) "Love Monkey" is one hell of a show. I loved "Ed," and this is Tom Cavanaugh (perhaps I butchered his name...) talking fast about music. It's Ed plus music. It's like Dave's dream show. It, like Ed, is a male Gilmore Girls. The witty banter, the fast pace, the musical references, Jason Priestly... (Side note: Though my fanship for GG will not decrease, I must say that this season is less than stellar.)
7.) This Pastoral Care class seems to have broadened my career horizons. Alas. I can get certified in all sorts of counseling specializations. And I can take all kinds of different CPEs (again no apostrophe) -- hospital, social service, mental health... When will the opportunities narrow...?
8.) I still haven't written a Christmas letter or sent cards. Well, I sent 3 cards. But that's it.
9.) I need to clean my room. I have mounds of clothes. I don't wear them all, and that distresses me. I need to sort, wash, fold, donate or stow. Alas.
10.) I have nothing else to say. Dammit. Goodnight.

The Way to Watch

I have discovered
over this break
that the best way to watch television
is the entire series at once.
At least one season at a sitting.

So far over break, I have watched
the entire series of The Office (BBC) and Sports Night
and an entire season of America's Next Top Model.

I'm working on season 3 of Gilmore Girls
since I now have seasons 4 and 5.
Dana and I watched seasons 1 and 2 this summer.

I have long enjoyed a tv marathon --
Real World, Road Rules...

Also, whilst enjoying a marathon of cinematic delight,
one can also do some sort of handicraft
such as crocheting a scarf
or making jewelry
(or, in years past, making Christmas ornaments).


If you're out on your own, feeling lonely and so cold...
All you have to do is call my name and I'll be there on the next train...

Oh Man. Merry Christmas!

What a whirlwind...
I drove from ATL to Greenwood
to Kershaw to Pickens to Greenwood
to Kershaw to Greenwood.
And now I am supposed to be on the way to Florida.

Presents and families and church
and candles and silent night and church
and cinnamon rolls and fritatta
and more presents
and tiny babies and friends and
illness.

Everyone is sick.
I personally am stuffy and sniffly and a bit sore throaty.
And I have the dayquil light head.
Dave and his whole family are rather ill.
Except baby Eli, who is precious,
I mean awesome.

I lost my debit card.
Not cool.
Banks are closed today.
So I am going to Florida tomorrow.
Cancelled the card.
New one should meet me in the ATL
where I will be by New Year's.

I'm zonked.
Nap time.

Don't even worry

I don't have to quit school.
I finished the paper about 30 minutes ago.
I was so wide awake and so focused,
I have been trying to get my body to realize that it's 4am.
Anyway, the paper ended up being 16 pages plus biblio page.
I had a bunnnnnch of footnotes.
Theological footnotes can include all kinds of crap, it turns out,
so mine were mostly either regular citations of sources
or random questions I had about what I was writing about.

Must sleep.
SC tomorrow.
It's Christmas break!

Paper Update

I'm up to about 11 pages.
I will never finish this.
I can barely remember a time when I wasn't working on this paper.
Seriously.

All I have left to talk about is the gnostic Gospel of Mary.
Can I talk about that for 4 pages?
Or 3.5 plus a conclusion?

Holy crap. I will seriously never be done.
Can I quit school instead of finishing this paper?



** Man, that was a lot of whining.

Ooh, the dryer buzzed! Clean socks and underpants for the holidays!

Mary Magdalene

I feel like I've been writing about her forever.
I shall never finish this 15 page paper.
Only halfway there, and I should be halfway to SC instead.

She's lovely, and I am glad to do a paper on her.
I am just frustrated that I don't know what else to say
and I have so much space left.
In reality, I have not run out of things to say.
I just can't figure out how to say them.

I've talked about the actual passage I'm focusing on
(John 20:1-18 The empty tomb and resurrection)
and how it contrasts and compares with other similar passages.
Right now I'm talking about how John treats other women.
Then I have to talk about how this portrayal of Mary compares
to the portrayal of her in other gospels, including gnostic ones.
Then there's the Mary Mag mythology to debunk:
-- she was not a whore
-- she was not the Mary of Mary and Martha
-- she was not the one who anointed Jesus with oil

Also, the more I work on this paper, the less I like Peter.
Sure, the church is built on him, the Rock.
But he seems like a bit of a dolt, which Judy told us not to be in college.
He's always rushing to do things without pausing or thinking.
And in the gnostics, he's a jerk to Mary Mag.

Alas, now I must go write these things in my paper...

Dana, Jay and me at the party 

Dana got danced at a lot at Candace's party 

This week of Reading?

So, classes ended last Friday
and exams started yesterday.
The intermittent time is called
Reading Week.
But who really gets to read?
More like Writing Week
or Up Until 3am Week
or Aauuughh! Week.

Here's what I did this week:
3 hours of church nursery
3.5 hours babysitting
8 hours of tutoring children
8 hours of ConEd
2 more than 10 page papers (and one to go!)
2 3am nights writing above papers
2 parties
1 exam

And last night I found out that
whiskey makes me dance.

So much online quizzes... there really is stuff going on in my life...

You Are 27 Years Old

Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe. 13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world. 20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences. 30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more! 40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax.

What Age Do You Act?

Another Surprise, this one from the Personality Defect Test

Hippie

You are 14% Rational, 85% Extroverted, 14% Brutal, and 42% Arrogant.

You are the Hippie! Characterized by a strong sense of extroversion, irrationality, gentleness, and humility, you no doubt frolic through fields preaching peace and love to all! You are probably either very spiritual or needlessly paranoid about "the man", like most hippies, as a result of your focus on intuition and feelings over cold, brutal logic. You are also very, very social. And like any hippie who would have no qualms about hitchiking across the country just to meet some interesting people, you also love to interact with others, even complete strangers. Because we know most any hippie is peace-loving and humble, it stands to reason that you, as well, are terribly gentle and humble, almost to the point of revulsion. Your carefree attitude of peace and harmony is probably very, very sickening to realists or cynics or anyone who isn't a hippie, to tell the truth. In short, your personality is defective because you are overly emotional, extroverted, gentle, and humble--thus making you an annoying hippie. And you listen to psychadelic rock and smoke a whole lot of pot. Okay, maybe not, but I wouldn't be surprised if you did.

To put it less negatively:
1. You are more INTUITIVE than rational.
2. You are more EXTROVERTED than introverted.
3. You are more GENTLE than brutal.
4. You are more HUMBLE than arrogant.

Compatibility:
Your exact opposite is the Sociopath.
Other personalities you would probably get along with are the Hand-Raiser, the Televangelist, and the Robot.


If you scored near fifty percent for a certain trait (42%-58%), you could very well go either way. For example, someone with 42% Extroversion is slightly leaning towards being an introvert, but is close enough to being an extrovert to be classified that way as well. Below is a list of the other personality types so that you can determine which other possible categories you may fill if you scored near fifty percent for certain traits.

The other personality types:
The Emo Kid: Intuitive, Introverted, Gentle, Humble.
The Starving Artist: Intuitive, Introverted, Gentle, Arrogant.
The Bitch-Slap: Intuitive, Introverted, Brutal, Humble.
The Brute: Intuitive, Introverted, Brutal, Arrogant.
The Hippie: Intuitive, Extroverted, Gentle, Humble.
The Televangelist: Intuitive, Extroverted, Gentle, Arrogant.
The Schoolyard Bully: Intuitive, Extroverted, Brutal, Humble.
The Class Clown: Intuitive, Extroverted, Brutal, Arrogant.
The Robot: Rational, Introverted, Gentle, Humble.
The Haughty Intellectual: Rational, Introverted, Gentle, Arrogant.
The Spiteful Loner: Rational, Introverted, Brutal, Humble.
The Sociopath: Rational, Introverted, Brutal, Arrogant.
The Hand-Raiser: Rational, Extroverted, Gentle, Humble.
The Braggart: Rational, Extroverted, Gentle, Arrogant.
The Capitalist Pig: Rational, Extroverted, Brutal, Humble.
The Smartass: Rational, Extroverted, Brutal, Arrogant.

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:
You scored higher than 2% on Rationality
You scored higher than 86% on Extroversion
You scored higher than 8% on Brutality
You scored higher than 39% on Arrogance

The Personality Defect Test

http://www.okcupid.com/tests/take?testid=4741219933576750506