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.