With Fern and Dana on a bridge in Chicago 

Crushing Fern and Dana on the big red futon 

Scenes from Chicago

Need sleep...

Dana and I had a whirlwind trip to Chicago this weekend
(pictures soon...)
to see Fern and
to go to a young adult Peace and Justice conference
through the World Council of Churches.

Here's the cryptic shortened version:
Friday -- planes=drugs
Saturday -- conference, dinner and drinks with Fern's new seminary friends
Sunday -- shopping, site seeing, conference, worship, Gilmore dvds
Monday -- early plane, quick connection, airplane parking lot, straight to class (okay, we stopped at Dusty's for a bbq sandwich because I was starving!), tutoring

Today, I gave a presentation on Mary Magdalene.
I pretty much think she rocks.
Also, the way she has been portrayed is really a comglomeration of unnamed women in the gospels + the actual accounts of her.
Now, I want to learn more about her... must read the gnostic Gospel of Mary, and for kicks probably the DaVinci Code novel.

Tonight, I went running with Sarah and John.
We found a park near our apts
and hit the (somewhat obscure, and perhaps imagined) trail.
I will run again.
It did not hurt and was even fun with other people.
The trail made me feel healthy, even when I was falling on a rock and prickly tree.
Memories of high school and college Cross Country...
I really am still a runner in spirit.

Now, bed.

Waterfall rainbow, somewhere in northern Georgia 

Still Coughing

I can't seem to shake it.
I thought it was gone
and then I started coughing
halfway through dinner with Bob tonight.
Fun to see Bob, though.

Had a good mountain retreat this weekend with Wesley Foundation.
Hiked to a waterfall. Fell in the mud and slid down the mountain.
Had a stream outside my window.
Ate some campfire toasted marshmallows.
Delicious.

Bob, Joy and me at Joy's house a couple weeks ago... Hooray for old friends! 

Have I mentioned

that I am not a superb student?

I will never be able to read all that is assigned.
At times, I am at peace with this.

I was talking with a friend about that the other day
and he shared this quote from a similar conversation with someone else:
"If you're drowning, it doesn't matter how much water is above you."

In one sense, I suppose that is true
but really only if you have already given up hope.
If you can still see light above you
there is hope you will float
or that someone will notice your flailing body and reach out
or that you will have a sudden burst of energy
and kick and paddle your way to the surface.

I am still holding my nose.

The Best and Saddest Concert

Get ready for an abridged play-by-play.
And then some lamenting about the passing of my youth and favorite band.

Jump Little Children is doing their "Last Hurrah" tour,
and I went to the Atlanta show last night at the Variety Playhouse.

The show was perfect.
They started out playing recent stuff off Dim and the Dark (Rains in Asia, Mexico, Education),
played some rockin' songs from Magazine (My Guitar, Not Today, Say Goodnight),
and some vintage JLC (Cover Me/Dancing Virginia).
Matt did a couple of his songs (Body Parts, Habit, You and Me), and Jonathan soloed on the upright bass.

There were four encores.
They played Cathedrals in the first one, and seemed to have planned for a second encore.
At the end of the second encore, they bowed theater-style and walked off stage.
After a couple minutes of screams, they returned for the 3rd encore, which Jonathan said was "probably the most authentic encore we've ever done."
They unplugged the instruments and turned off the mics and the whole crowd stood silent while they played Down Where She Lies acoustic.
Jump left again, and we did not.
So, Jay came out alone and played my very favorite of their songs, Close Your Eyes.

This is my favorite band. This might be the last time I see them play all together.

They have a million side projects, and they are in each other's side projects. I saw Ward play solo this summer, and it was very different but very cool. I am sad to see Jump go, though Dave says they don't really mean it.

I first saw Jump in February 1997 at Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, NC with Scott and Abby. Guster opened for them. Jonathan was still in the wifebeater phase, not yet to the crazy wax mustache. Matt had a feather boa -- pink, I believe. I've seen them several (like 6 or 7)times since then, twice at this same venue within the last year. Tallahassee was far from their shows, so I had to catch up...

Anyway, I am a big dorky fan. I obviously remember well the first time I saw them. I saw Ward walking down the street in Little 5 Points before the show, and I almost ran back to talk to him. I did accost Jonathan to autograph the tour posters I bought.

And I am sure I will frame them.

Oy with the Poodles Already!

Here are some things:
1. It turns out I have bronchitis.
2. Thus, I shall be unable to attend the rockin' back to school party tonight. Nor shall I be able to weild my hammer or skill saw at Habitat tomorrow. Alas.
3. Classes have started. Instead of reading Harry Potter, I am reading James Cone. Hogwarts and Black Liberation Theology are not the same.
4. Dave and I went to the Foozer show last night. Weezer was pleasingly rockin', while Foo Fighters, as I had suspected, rocked a little too hard for me. Maybe if I'd remembered my earplugs, or hadn't been coughing... But I did get a super cute Weezer tshirt.

So here is my bronchitis agenda, to be carried out today and this weekend:
1. Not going to class today.
2. Not going to tutor small children today.
3. Read James Cone, Migliore, etc. for Systematic Theology.
4. Read Mark (in the Bible).
5. Watch movies.
6. Eat soup.
7. Drink orange juice.
8. Start writing my papers for next week.
9. Sleep.

With my roommates on Dana's birthday. I look super short! I had no idea. 

The Boys. (Ben, Dave Scott, J) Wordsmiths, theologians, drinkers... striped shirt wearers! 

With some peeps at Ashlee's party on Friday. 

It's All Happening...

Tonight
I am making meatloaf.
I like meatloaf
sometimes
but I rarely get a hankering for it.
Today I did.

I hope it is delicious.
I have become a much better cook
since entering seminary.
Odd.

Here are my old standards:
Rice Krispy Bars
Burgers
Pot Roast
Swedish Meatballs
Pasta + sauce + meat + vegetable
French Toast
Chicken marinated in various sauces, baked or grilled
anything on the George Foreman

Here are other things I have cooked in Atlanta:
Hamburger Casserole
Mojo Chicken with spinach and swiss
Vegetable Beef Soup
Haystacks
Several chicken casseroles
Stir-fry
Omelettes (with spinach, feta, and tomatoes -- obviously)

And tonight, we add Meatloaf.

Health Kits

Dana and I spent
several hours & about $80
purchasing items to assemble Health Kits
for the incoming hurricane refugees
seeking shelter in Atlanta churches.

Here's what goes in them:
1 hand towel
1 washcloth
1 comb
1 nail file or nail clipper
1 bar soap
1 toothbrush
1 tube toothpaste
6 band aids
in a 1 gallon ziploc bag

I am glad to help.
Later, I'll ponder and reflect upon the issue of the destruction,
poverty, and desperation from the hurricane.
For now,
I am glad to help.

Orientation

Emory students return.
New students wander, looking lost.
It's time to buy books again.

Faith and Health?

I took a Faith and Health class this spring.
I had not pondered the connection
between Faith and Health much before then.
Recently, however, several issues have arisen
that reflect how intertwined faith and health are.

When a person is physically low --
drained, hurting, frustrated --
questions of God's sovereignty and faithfulness
overcome people's minds.
Likewise, if a person feels peaceful and refreshed in spirit
health issues seem less daunting.

I have a friend who has overcome
many physical ailments
and has shown the most joyful faith.
Right now, she is struggling
and in physical pain.
She is living far from family and close friends.
She wonders if God abandoned her.

My grandmother is trying to decide
where to go
now that her health prevents her from
living alone.
I don't want her to leave her town,
her church, her social supports.


Grace faith hope strength love compassion peace

Ah, New Look

one for me,
one for my blog

This background seems more serene
and while I am not always a serene lady
perhaps the cool tones of the newly renovated blog
will encourage calm, reflective posts
as opposed to the random ridiculous collection of trivia
thus far assembled.
(Doubt it.)

Perhaps
it is just time for a bit of a change.

School is rapidly approaching.
The procrastination will certainly ensue
with classes like Systematic Theology, and New Testament.
I am stoked about some other courses, though.
Urban Ministry and Women in the New Testament
should be right up my alley.
And I am signing up for two certificate programs:
Church and Community Ministries
&
Women in Theology and Ministry.

Time to check the schedule,
buy the books,
arrange financial income,
and buy school supplies.

I'm still not used to being a theology student.
But, I came here because it was time for a change.
Maybe it's harder for me when things stay the same...

Afternoon Poetics

Inspired by Spider,
I will write a few haiku.
Should be delightful.

Sun outside is bright.
Air in the office is cold.
Arthritic bones ache.

Short curls block my view.
Brown streaks in periphery
Fun to toss, flip too.

I must do work now.
More poems when I am free.
Words will flow from me.

Sissy and me (with my new short haircut) in her rockin' orange living room 

Man, I keep having adventures

and seeing old friends

Greensboro this weekend
hung out at Sissy's rockin' house
got my hair cut short and crazy
(pictures soon...)
watched 5 movies
talked and ate with Alanna and baby AJ

much fun, friends, much fun

there's something about seeing someone
who has known you
through multiple stages of life
-- reassuring, comforting, centering

rock on

Old Friends

US-2 Reunion Weekend

Kris, Julie, Rachel, Miranda, and me at the Cafe for brunch

US-2 Angels




Kris, Julie, Beth A., and Rachel on my couch

Hooray for fun and friends!

Oh What a Week...

lions and tigers and bears, oh my!

Eventful seven days, including but not limited to:
A drive to SC to see Dave's new digs
A visit with my parents, then Dave's kin
Switching the big white four door for the minivan
Working twice on Sunday
Braves vs. Nationals, with lots of preachers
Moving Dana into the potassium apartment
Hanging out with some GC girls
Lots of working
Tutoring adorable Korean children

Becca and Jess: The Great Atlanta Adventure

• sampling Atlanta's finest cheap cuisine (Figo, Flying Biscuit...)
• Jake's -- ice cream and games
• baseball and public transportation with a crowd
• wandering shops
• potassium -- drinks and games
• bedtime stories with a twist
• sleepover -- friends and floors
• breakfast bagels and bosoms
• (the girls adventures while I worked included the King Center, Egyptian mummies at Emory, Little Five Points, the pool and sleeping)

Here's Weezer... 

and a few other people who wanted to see Weezer... 

We really like cookies

at my house.

I bought a thing of Oreos last week
and they lasted until last night
which seemed like a short time to me.
But John bought some double-stuffs last night
and there is one left.
A whole pack of Oreos --
24 hours.

"Something brown I'd like to eat -- cookies!"

Hell yeah,

Cheerwine Beachtowel!







I reached 805 points today
after redeeming my last 12 pack of cans.
Now I have 5 points
and a towel is headed my direction.

Rock the heck on.
In 4 to 6 weeks,
I will be the only one at my local pool
sporting a Cheerwine beachtowel.

I am a huge dork.
But I do love some Cheerwine.
And going to the pool.
Ha.

Live Music

rocks!

I just saw Weezer
for free downtown
and so did a billion other people.
I am covered in sweat
much of it not my own.

Lane and I might have been crushed
had it not been for Ethan
a skinny bald man who befriended us
and protected us
by shoving other people away.

Thursday
I had a different live music experience.
I saw Ward Williams
from Jump Little Children
at Eddie's Attic,
which is a small, intimate venue.
Ward played the cello
and was pretty damn awesome.

I love live music.
Rock the heck on.

Today has been really hard

My great aunt died last night.
She lived alone outside Chicago
and I haven't seen her in far too long.
She was independent and spunky
and short.
She was a part of my childhood family gatherings
singing and telling stories
making me who I am.
We wrote each other letters
when I was in college and when I was a US-2.
She's been sick for a while.
Her passing is not a shock,
but still a loss.
She loved me.
And now there is at least one less person who does.

I am sad.

Cheerwine Update

I have 760 Cheerwine points.
That means I am 40 points away
from my new beach towel
which is somewhere between
2 and 8 bottles of Cheerwine.
I have 2.
I do not have 8.

Come on, big money, no whammies!

13/15

today I reached 26 of the
30 hours I am to work
this week

which means I either work extra
-- more likely --
or I only work 4 hours over the next 3 days

I'm cool with a fat paycheck
but I am zonked
(local pastors take a lot out of you)

Patriotic Parachuter -- several actually, from the Navy, I believe... They soared in with sparks flying from their feet.  

My Super-Americana 4th of July Weekend

July 2:
roadtrip
to see Grandma
and my cousin Daniel

met his girlfriend

ate lots of potroast

July 3:
church
patriotic hymn
pledge of allegiance to american and christian flags

"Fanfare and Fireworks" in Gainesville, FL
-- a field filled with patriot families
listening to rock music/patriotic orchestra
standing and saying the pledge of allegiance in unison
eating picnics or cotton candy & funnel cake from vendors
drinking coca cola
cheering for branches of armed forces
oohing and ahhing at fireworks

July 4th:
roadtrip back to the ATL

where to see fireworks?

Braves game!
standing tickets in the rain
free flag hat (as mentioned below)
cotton candy
patriotic parachuters
fireworks

public transportation
avoids the traffic
feels less pretentious

Dana and me at the Braves vs. Cubs game on the 4th. Yup, those are "American Flag" Braves hats, which we got free for being among the first 45,000 fans. The A is filled with stars and stripes, and the edge of the bill also has stars and stripes. It was raining. So we wore them. Then we had hat hair. So we kept on wearing them. Also, we had "standing room" tickets, which means no seats. So we stood by the Braves bullpen, which was super cool. "That guy's warming up. Hey, now that guy's running onto the field. And now he's pitching in the game." Rock on. 

one of the nice things

about our new home in the retirement community
is the pool.
1.) it is not far from our apartment -- just around the building and across a footbridge
2.) there is an odd assortment of people -- today, for instance, there was a muslim family, a grandmother and a couple kids, three gay men in tiny bathingsuits, an australian woman and some guy, and an old lady who tans a lot and smokes upwind of us
3.) evidently, i will read if i am lying out in the sun
4.) we can invite friends to hang out with us "by the pool"
5.) i have not lived this close to a pool since i was in greensboro and it was right out my backdoor and i never went to it
6.) i might actually get a tan this summer -- healthy, slow progress toward a golden glow...
7.) if, actually when, it gets insanely hot, you just get in the pool
8.) it is summertime, and like popsicles, pools are for the summertime

Our new answering machine message

"Thank you for calling.
If you'd like to leave a message, go to the McDonalds at North Decatur and Clairmont. Behind the dumpster you'll find a blue mark on a brick wall. Under that mark is a tin box. In that box is a key. That key goes to a locker in Lindberg MARTA station. In that locker is a plane ticket. DO NOT take that flight. But do look at the destination and go to the street with corresponding name in Atlanta. You'll see a restaurant. You'll know. Ask for Muriel. She'll tap her shoulder twice. Tell her the message. She'll call and leave it after this beep."


This is our first message.
We decided we'll play a little game.
We will individually change the message while the others aren't around,
perhaps in a way that will humorously disparage the others.
And it must be changed by the 20th of the month.
Rock on.

Perspective

as in, it's always a matter of

where you've been
what you've done
who you've known
who's loved you

contributions to the view

we seek a preconceived outcome
i look for vibrancy and action
someone seeks peace and determination
another finds commonality in loss

Headache

chili peppers on the radio

today
i woke up
and wanted to stay there
or transplant to poolside

no desire arose
to go to work

i do like my job
the people are fun
the work is easy

almost time for quittin'
my head is splitting

at least there's a cookout tonight

i do love grilled meat
and groups of people
and being outside

Some quotes

that resonate with me today

"Everything is miraculous. It is miraculous that one does not melt in one's bath."
~ Pablo Picasso

"All big things in this world are done by people who are naive and have an idea that is obviously impossible." ~ Frank Richards

"The truth of the matter is that you always knowthe right thing to do. The hard part is doing it." ~ H. Norman Schwarzkopf

"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there."
~ Will Rogers

"If you don't like the way the world is, you change it. You have an obligation to change it."
~ Marian Wright Edelman

"It's not that 'today is the first day of the rest of my life,' but that now is all there is of my life."
~ Hugh Prather

"I can feel guilty about the past, apprehensive about the future, but only in the present can I act. The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of mental wellness."
~ Abraham Maslow

"I thank you God for this most amazing day;
for the leaping greenly spirits of trees and a blue true dream of sky;
and for everything which is natural which is infinite which is yes."
~ e.e. cummings

Cheerwine.

I am a dork.

I have 690 Cheerwine points.
Once I hit 800
I will have a Cheerwine beach towel
and my points will plummet to zero.

Also, I love Cheerwine.
If you don't know what it is,
I am sorry.
But it is pretty stinkin' delicious
and I love it.

It used to be
A Carolina Thing
but now it's
The Taste You Crave.

Rock on.

Home

"... where my thoughts escape me,
home --
where my music's playin',
home --
where my love lies waitin' silently for me..."
- Simon & Garfunkel "Homeward Bound"

One week ago, I moved my queen bed into its third apartment since I bought it in August 2003. Here are my long-promised thoughts about that thing called "home."


A friend of mine lives in the same town as all her family, has lived in that town her whole life, and was recently shocked when she thought of Atlanta as home rather than longing for Virginia.
Throughout college, my friends got homesick, missing their native climate, their local snacks, their best friend since the second grade.

The idea of home is different for me.

I went to five schools before graduating high school. My parents moved three times while I was in college. For 14 of my 27 years I had no extended family in the state where I lived.
My grandmother's house in Gainesville, FL has been the most consistent place in my life. When people ask me where I'm from, I say I don't have one of those. With both parents United Methodist ministers, we moved every few years, and each usually had two churches. That's a lot of churches.

I don't say all of that in a "woe is me" fashion. I wouldn't change any of it. Except for the people who were mean to my parents... I'd erase that. (Be nice to your minister!)


Here are a few results of my parsonage-hopping childhood:

I have had to call my parents to get directions to our house. That is a funny thing to do.

On a Sunday morning, I can walk into a United Methodist church and feel at home. I felt more at home in Wesley's City Road Chapel in London or in Epworth UMC at Candler Park here in Atlanta than I would if I were to return to a house I lived in as a child.

Home is a feeling for me, not a location.

I take a lot of pictures, because I'll never see some friends again. And that's okay. But it doesn't mean that I wasn't changed by them or that I don't remember them.

I both love and hate moving. I love going new places and trying new things, getting acclimated to a new environment -- a fresh start. But I hate boxes. I hate carrying my stuff to a truck and driving it somewhere else. I hate regretting that I have held onto certain things, and having to decide which momentos are less significant. If only I were a minimalist...

I am not afraid to go somewhere new. I've lived in small farm towns, state capitols, unincorporated communities, and small cities. I've lived in five states, each of which has a distinct and dynamic personality. If I get somewhere and it sucks, I've learned that it will probably get better, but if not it is just temporary anyway.


I came to Candler for lots of reasons: to gain a deeper grasp on theology in general, to focus on social justice, to live in Atlanta -- a deeply historic yet modern and exciting city...
But mostly I think I came here because I already knew people here. Several of my college friends live in Atlanta, and a couple are associated with Candler. Also, two of my US-2 classmates are here.
I've never started a new phase of my life with a pre-established support system (outside my family).

Regardless of the reasons I came, I am glad I am here.
Candler feels like home.
Atlanta feels like home, at least for now...

Moving

stinks

I am super stoked about the new apt.
But I hate packing.
I will hate unpacking next week.
I have too much crap.
I don't know what to do with it.

I have been packing some each day
but I have so much left.
I knew this would happen.
The sprained ankle didn't help me
overcome my procrastination.

Ugh.

sleep...

i must

i am not a person who can go without it
it turns out

goodnight.

My parents at their Surprise 30th Anniversary Fiesta on Sunday  

To Drive or Not To Drive...

Today I drove

for the first time since the sprain
last Monday.

And, it sucked.

I love driving.
I hate being a passenger.
Probably mostly a control issue
but I do get carsick
which is probably also a control issue.

My ankle/foot is at that point
where it seems silly to use crutches
because it doesn't hurt to walk
but it does hurt 30 minutes later.
And evidently it hurts to drive.


Side note:
my mom rocks
for driving me 4.5 hours to the ATL
for cooking me an awesome dinner
for taking me out to breakfast at the Flying Biscuit
for washing my dishes
(which I haven't been able to do because I can't stand long)
for packing my dishes
and just in general

On the injured list

that's me

I am officially sprained.

The doctor said
just to keep doing what I have been.
You know, R.I.C.E.ing it.
And using my crutches.
Then she had her nurse wrap my ankle
in an ace bandage.

Changing Gears

I have finished my school work.
Now I have summer.

What will she procrastinate now?
Never fear.
I need to move in 3 weeks.
And we all know how that goes.

Well, maybe you don't.
Here's the picture:
I'll pack a box here,
a box there.
Dishes, books, that sort of easy thing.
Then it will be 2 days before I move
and I will have massive amounts of stuff
left to pack.
I will stay up nearly all night
at least once packing.
Because, you see, I really want to organize
as I pack
but that's hard
so I'll put it off.

If you've been around for one of my moves
-- Spider, Sissy, Dave --
you are well aware of this process.
If you get to help me this year
-- John, Dana, Dave --
get ready.
Here it comes.
I'll buy you dinner for the trouble.


And also another thing too:
I think I sprained my ankle today.
I was jumping to catch a frisbee
and you know how your feet are
supposed to land flat on the ground?
Well my right foot didn't.
It hurts a bit.

Russel, angry Dave Scott, Me, Jaycephus, Dana, John at Spring Banquet  

With Dave at Spring Banquet last weekend -- precious, huh? 

Finals

It's the end, folks.
Of the school year, that is.
Only three 3-4 page essays
and one actual final exam
separate me from summer!
Yesterday, I turned in a 5 page paper
plus 2 brochures.

So, why can't I make myself write
my 3 exegetical essays?
Maybe because I still have no real clue
what an exegetical essay looks like.

Thus, today I have packed up
my Christmas dishes and decorations.
(I know, it's May...)
I talked on the phone for an hour and a half.
I went to lunch.
I even took a shower and put on real clothes.

Alas, I have nothing to say.
At least about the exegetical assignments...

Ooh, I do need to do laundry!

The other day, my friend said
that procrastination is a result of perfectionism
because you don't want to start something
if you know it won't be good enough.
I think that is true for me.
If I know it's not going to be as good as I want it to
why put massive amounts of time into it?
Also, I recognize the lack of logic here:
1) it could be better if I put more time into it
2) why not just get it over with?

Anyway.
I'm going to go sit on the couch and stare at the Bible.
I'll be waiting for divine inspiration...

I used to hate pink

the color, not the formerly famous singer.

It was too girly.
I was a tomboy growing up
and climbed trees and ran races in college.
Only after I graduated from GC
and started real jobs
did I gain an appreciation for
the color pink.

It is pretty.
And it looks nice with my skin.
I am wearing a pink shirt today,
in case you wondered.
Rock on.

cooking on the "campfire" the other night 

These crazies are my friends: Michael trying to make out with Dana at dinner... 

Camping?

Tonight
I am going "camping."

When I first heard the idea to camp
I was stoked.
Maybe we'd head out to a state park.
Maybe we'd go to the mountains.

Nope.

The rest of the idea was to camp in town.
In Atlanta.
Not just in ATL,
but in the woods behind my apt. complex.
Fire and all.

So it took me a while,
but I warmed up to the idea.
It'll be funny at least.

Now, we are not even going in the woods.
We're setting up camp,
so to speak,
in the yard behind the conference center
at the back of the apt. complex
(all owned by Emory).
And we're not having a fire.
We are using my grill.

Camping indeed.
Photos to come, I am sure...

Nada

So, my clock radio is set to an oldies station.
I like to hear the Beatles or the Monkees
in the morning.
Makes me get out of bed.
Sometimes.
(The other day,
I figured out that if I scoot down and over
a few inches
and lean toward my dresser
upon which the alarm clock is perched,
I can reach the snooze bar with my big toe.)

This morning,
I did not hear the Beatles
nor the Monkees or Mamas and Papas
or Sam Cooke.
This morning,
I did not hear english.

Evidently,
the world of communication has decided
that oldies are out
and spanish is in.
Turns out that my station
switched to spanish at midnight last night.

I was unaware.
And taken aback
due to being unaware.

I remember some spanish.
Not enough to put it on my resume.
Or, I recently learned,
enough to listen to a radio morning show.

Tallahassee lost its oldies station
less than a year after I moved there, too.
Perhaps it's just me.

Link that!

I figured out
what I was doing wrong
with my link sidebar and footer.
And now you can get to
Dana, Dave, Sissy, Jay, John and Spider
all from either the side
or the bottom
of my blog.

Rock on.

Seriously, I must start writing my papers!

Too much!

work to do, so I'll approach one of my
previously mentioned topics,
with more possibly following as the night wears on...


What Makes Cookies So Good
1) they are just the right balance of sweet and salty
2) frequently, they include random chunks of something delicious -- chocolate, for example -- which creates guilt in mass consumption due to its decadence; in small quantities, it is perfect
3) they smell yummy
4) they dip nice in milk
5) they are portable
6) one is a nice, healthy-sized dessert; and two won't kill you (76, however, could give you a tummy ache)
7) they are simply delicious (unless you accidentally get oatmeal raisin when you expected chocolate chip -- not a good surprise, I'd say)
8) if you aren't scared of salmonella, the dough is also delicious
9) they make good thank you gifts for nearly anyone (mailman, boss, friend, neighbor, teacher, you get the idea)

Hey, just so you know

I'll write a real post soon.
As real as they get
at least.

Here are some subjects
I plan to ponder
in the future
and which may or may not
become blog topics:

the idea of home
what makes cookies so good
working
television priorities
why/how i am less poetic now than 5 years ago
packing and discarding

Until then, enjoy the poetry
find some where you are
rearrange your sentences
and smile at the sun.

Ah, WCW... I love Poetry Month!

This is Just to Say

I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
an so cold

-- William Carlos Williams

Symphony in Yellow

by Oscar Wilde

An omnibus across the bridge
Crawls like a yellow butterfly,
And, here and there, a passer-by
Shows like a little restless midge.

Big barges full of yellow hay
Are moored against the shadowy wharf,
And, like a yellow silken scarf,
The thick fog hangs along the quay.

The yellow leaves begin to fade
And flutter fromthe Temple elms,
And at my feet the pale green Thames
Lies like a rod of rippled jade.

pondering

from M. Doughty...

help me know your enormity
and my finiteness

More poetry...

from Dylan Thomas this time


Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at the close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, Rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

It's Poetry Month

Few get enough, -- enough is one;
To that ethereal throng
Have not each one of us the right
To stealthily belong?

-- Emily Dickinson

Today in the life

Registered for fall this morning
got my classes:
Urban Ministry
New Testament
Women in the New Testament
Systematic Theology
and Contextual Education II

Five minutes of Bibilical Criticism
in Christian Thought
devoted to Elizabeth Cady Stanton
who rocks so very hard.

Presentation in 1.5 hours
on Parish Nursing.
Not quite done with it...

Babysitting later.

Then writing colloquy paper
for tomorrow
and doing exegesis work
before hanging out with Bob
who comes to Atlanta lots and I'm stoked.

Candler girls with Carson 

Dream Jobs

A friend of mine asked me this question:
If you could do exactly what you want to do, all constraints of reality aside, what would it be?

Here are my responses.
Feel free to add yours in comments.
Rock on for dreams.


Really:
I'd love to start (so I could set it up) and run a shelter for homeless mothers and children. It would be in an apartment setting, with families sharing common spaces for childcare, tutoring, exercise, community events, tv with cable, game room, swimming pool (with lifeguard and lessons) and playground. It would not be in the ghetto. It would have programs that would actually help the women gain life skills in practical, applicable ways, and would help them truly gain employment, as well as establishing/nurturing self-esteem and spiritual development. Childcare would be provided onsite. It would be a 1 year transitional program with required case management and family counseling, including/especially art therapy and music therapy. There would be yoga classes, and workout equipment. It would rock really hard.

Fantasy, with all social and faith conscience aside:
Travel writer! I'd get to travel all over the freakin' world on somebody else's dime AND I'd get paid to write about it! Think of the adjectives I'd get to use! Sparkling seas, luminous skylines, peaceful ruins... Ahh, the pictures, the words, the locals, the food....