Friday, December 25, 2009

a little less Scrooge...

I have not been able to get much into the Christmas spirit this year. I have never been so unexcited for Christmas as I was this year. I finally found a little Christmas spirit on Christmas. The Christmas Eve service at church was nice, and I got to be the assisting minister and wore a robe for the first time (sweet!). Small detail: one cannot wear a hooded sweatshirt under such a robe, because the hood is lumpy and looks ridiculous. Therefore I was a bit chilly under the robe, since all I was wearing was a t-shirt, having shed the sweatshirt. Details. They can be important. It was a nice service, though, and I was glad I went and assisted. Then overall Christmas today with my family was decent too. Civil, there was laughter and enjoyment, overall pretty good. A relief. I think my favorite gift is the photo album my mother gave me that has copies of old pictures they found of my dad and grandfather. I never met this grandfather, he died when my dad was really young, but somehow those photos touched me in a way I wasn't really expecting. It was really nice to get them and they mean a lot to me, although I'm not sure I totally understand why.
The only other story I have is that I am now officially a candidate for ordained ministry in the ELCA, and having that direction, that certainty of a direction, and a new sort of hope for a future is a great thing. I am nervous, but I am excited. Maybe it has been worth it to come this far.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

grocery shopping in the rain

Today we went to the grocery store. We really needed to go, we've needed to go for about a week now but one thing or another has prevented that. So of course we finally have time to go today and it's raining. We went to Target, then stopped at Schlotzsky's for lunch (since we didn't have any food!) but it was crowded (why was the whole town out at 3pm on Sunday?) so we decided to eat our food in the HEB parking lot. It was raining kind of lightly at that point, but we were enjoying watching some people running through the rain while we ate. As we went inside the store it was raining a little harder, and we had to cross a small river of water in the parking lot. By the time we finished our shopping it had obviously been raining pretty well for a while, because water was running all over the parking lot. Headed back to our parking spot, the river had gotten really wide, and there was a guy a little ahead of us who had rolled up his pants and was wading through in his flip flops. I was not wearing flip flops, and was like, that is not going to work, my shoes are going to get soaked. It was a bit at a downward slope, and I was pushing the cart, so I looked, and was like I think I can make it. I started running with the cart to gain momentum and then hopped my feet on the back of it and coasted through the river. My roommate was cracking up behind me, first laughing at the guy in flip flops and then me, so the guy in flip flops heard her and turned around and saw me and started laughing too. Then we still got pretty wet trying to load all the groceries, and the flip flop guy kept pulling the back of his SUV down over him as he loaded up his groceries. So now we have food again and had some entertainment to boot.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

flower power

Well, no, we haven't stepped back to the 60's/70's, but they had some good ideas then. I have noticed that I haven't been noticing as much lately. I've been caught up in homework, work, and who knows what else, worry, and haven't been paying attention to what's happening outside. I have noticed the weather, some, and am very glad it's below 90, but I've sort of forgotten to breathe the air, look at the flowers and new grass, see the birds and the trees and watch the way the wind blows. I don't do that as much as I should. I used to be much better at paying attention to nature. I've never exactly been a great gardener or anything, and I've had some more plants die on me (and have no idea why), but I used to be good at remembering to look at the sky and notice the wind. The last few times I've stopped and actually paid attention to nature, I realised it doesn't happen often enough anymore, and I hopefully can be better at renewing that. So pay attention to the rain, the grass, the wind, the sky, and the butterflies (and not just because they've smashed against the windshield you just cleaned), and remember God's work in creation.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Come Back To Me

That's the title of a song by David Cook that I like and is currently playing, from the cd I just burned. I feel like I should write in here a little more. The last few weeks, and months even, have been a sort of roller coaster style of certainty, disappointment, and uncertainty. I keep feeling sure and confident and then feeling like the rug is positioned rather precariously beneath me, to be yanked away at a moment's notice. I was thinking about grace the other day, and I realised, (again) that grace is rather a funny thing, and quite unpredictable. I no longer remember the exact reason this occurred to me, but I know I was thinking about how I wasn't entirely sure what I was doing, and I was reading The Lutheran magazine and grace touched me again. I still feel rather inadequate at times, like I am not sure I am capable of doing the things I think God has called me to do, but then I remember that most of the people in the Bible that God called had the same doubts, and God called them and then equipped them to answer the call, even as some were initially reluctant to do so. So I pray for the faith to live into the grace. Amen.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

words fall short here...

I do not even have anything to say to this. Incredible.

CANTON, N.C. (October 13, 2009)—The Amazing Grace Baptist Church in Canton, N.C. will celebrate Halloween by burning Bibles that aren’t the King James Version, as well as music and books and anything else Pastor Marc Grizzard says is a satanic influence.

Among the authors whose books Grizzard plans to burn are well known ministers Rick Warren and Billy Graham because he says they have occasionally used Bibles other than the King James Version, which is the sole biblical source he considers infallible.

According to the church’s Web site, members will also burn “Satan's music such as country, rap, rock, pop, heavy metal, western, soft and easy, southern gospel, contemporary Christian, jazz, soul (and) oldies.

“We will also be burning Satan's popular books written by heretics like Billy Graham, Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, John McArthur, James Dobson, Charles Swindoll, John Piper, Chuck Colson, Tony Evans, Oral Roberts, Jimmy Swagart, Mark Driskol, Franklin Graham, Bill Bright, Tim Lahaye, Paula White, T.D. Jakes, Benny Hinn, Joyce Myers, Brian McLaren, Robert Schuller, Mother Teresa, The Pope, Rob Bell, Erwin McManus, Donald Miller, Shane Claiborne, Brennan Manning (and) William Young.

During the book burning, according to the Web site, barbecued chicken fried chicken and “all the sides” will be served.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

haha a real pothead...

I came across this story today, and it definitely made me laugh. I can just imagine him saying to himself, "dude where's my weed?" Awesome.

Oct 15
Police: Pa. man busted with weed stuck to forehead

LEBANON, Pa. (AP) -- Police in central Pennsylvania say they've nabbed a real pothead. They said an officer spotted 29-year-old Cesar Lopez inside a convenience store with a bag of marijuana stuck to his forehead. Investigators said Lopez was seen peering inside his baseball cap early Saturday morning in Lebanon, about 75 miles northwest of Philadelphia. When Lopez looked up, the officer noticed a small plastic bag appearing to contain marijuana stuck to his forehead.

Police said the officer peeled the bag off Lopez's forehead and placed him under arrest. He has been charged with drug possession. Police do not know whether Lopez has an attorney.

Authorities say the sweatband of a baseball cap is a frequent hiding place for drugs.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

flew the coop...

My roommate is a local reporter, and she writes the police blotter. She got this report the other day about a couple of stolen chickens, and then wrote this blotter for it. All true, save the rooster bit at the end.

Chicken theft

(Seguin) -- Two local chickens have reportedly flown the coop, or perhaps they had a little help. Seguin Police reports, made Thursday, say that two "Vanny" chickens are missing from the 200 block of West Wetz Street. The chickens were last seen in the chicken house around 7 p.m. Wednesday. The chickens are valued at $10. Police reports did not include a description of the chickens or what they were wearing when they were last seen, although neighbors do say they may have seen the chickens leaving with several Roosters in hoodies from the Blanks Street area.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Maybe you should think...

So yesterday at work these three guys come up with a cartful of electrical stuff, and I start ringing it up. I get about halfway done when one of the guys goes, "Wait, we forgot something." So I finish scanning the stuff while he disappears, and he makes it back with some electrical tape just as I finish. I add that, and tell them the price, and the guy again goes, "wait, we forgot the wire." So they say go ahead and get the next person. I save the transaction and they disappear again. After a while they come back with a roll of wire, and I'm about to add that when the other guy goes, "wait, we need two more rolls, you can't just use one." So I resave the transaction, and they disappear again. I'm starting to get irritated at this point, and think that maybe they should finish shopping before they come to the register. So they bring back some more wire, but this time one of them decides they also need a wheelbarrow. Another of the guys tries moving the cart of stuff, and we start to wonder if they're really idiots or just trying to steal some stuff, so by this time several of my coworkers also have their eyes on them. So, finally, they come back, they have wire, they have a number for a wheelbarrow, and they pay for all the stuff. It took way too long, and I really do think most of the problem was lack of intelligence, but wow.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Awesome.



So, I saw someone had posted this video on facebook, and I was meaning to look at it but didn't get around to it, then my roommate came home and had seen it at work and made me watch it. It is awesome. I absolutely love it. First, I like the song, and second, I love the fact that they've taken the traditional and put their own personal twist to it. Some will probably find this nearly sacrilegious, but I think it's awesome that they have expressed themselves at one of the most important days of their lives, and I just love that they did this. I don't know, it's fun to me. And funny. Who doesn't love a happy wedding?

Sunday, May 31, 2009

random photos


I was looking at my memory card this afternoon, and realized again how random the assortment of photos on it is. Currently, it includes pictures from Easter and people at church, engagement photos of a couple from TLU, 3 different 10-50's (car accident), my car crunched, a ribbon cutting at the big red barn, TLU commencement, and my friends and I making cupcakes and playing Guitar Hero, plus a few other random photos.
My roommate is a reporter, and when I am available I get to be her photographer, so we have a host of random adventures that usually involve car accidents or fires, since that is her beat. I love being a photographer, although her beat can be pretty rough. I have seen some stuff even from a distance that has made me step back for a bit. This is the messier side of life, the side where we see the consequences of our actions and mistakes, and sometimes they are costly. Innocent lives turned upside down from someone's stupid decision, tragic accidents that simply make no sense.
Then there are the fun things I get to go see. The opening of new buildings, progress, gifts making something new and exciting for the community possible. Joys of life despite hardships and difficulties, fun events and people coming out to help each other.
Then there is just the random stuff my friends and I do, like play Guitar Hero, take spur of the moment trips to Target, or compile a meal from three different fast food places.
That's life for you.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

baby birds


I have baby birds in my hanging plant again. They are almost big enough to fly away. I thought it was cool the first time they built a nest in my plant. Then I realized how difficult it is to water a plant when you have to water around a nest. Apparently it's a good place for a nest, though, because this is about the fourth one they've built in it. I don't have the heart to pull it out and try to train them to build elsewhere, so I deal with it, and the plant hasn't died yet. It is fascinating to me to watch the birds build the nest, then watch eggs appear, then the eggs hatch and the babies grow. The babies are tiny, ugly, and mostly bald when they first hatch, but so small and helpless I can't help but find them cute. Then they grow, getting more feathery but still with big eyes and little wings, a little funny looking. Now they are getting big feathers, especially from the neck down, and have tufty little feather wisps around their eyes sort of like eyebrows, reminding me of medieval-type friars. When the parent birds come to feed them they stretch as tall as they can and chirp loudly. Then they settle down again, fed, and stretch their little wings and maybe dream of being big enough to fly. Reminds me a little of us people, stretching as far as we can sometimes to reach God, reach grace, and stretch our little wings as we shuffle amongst ourselves and dream of one day being big enough to fly.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

firefighters and mountain dew

Last night my roommate decided we should take cupcakes and brownies to some of the firefighters in town. So we started baking. Ok, I started baking, she was playing a more supervisory role. She did help on parts of it, but somehow between me, her, and our other friend I am the Betty Crocker. Ironic in some ways, as generally I am the least feminine of the group. At least my mother can be proud she taught me something useful.
Anyway, we made cupcakes and brownies, rotating various things in the oven for over an hour (I always forget brownies have to bake for a long time). Then we went to the fire stations to drop them off. We went to Station 2 first, and those guys were great. They were fun, and showed us the station, their truck, and the ambulance, and we got to try on their pants and jacket and helmet and try to lift all the heavy equipment they use. They invited us back for supper on Thursday, and while they cook all kinds of dead animal and I probably won't be able to eat most of it (being vegetarian) it would be fun just to go hang out with them. So, our quick trip to drop off some cupcakes took about an hour and a half, and we still had one more station to visit. Those guys weren't nearly as cool, which was kind of a relief because it was already 10pm and I was getting tired. So we left the brownies there and didn't stay as long. Kinda makes me want to be a firefighter, but I couldn't do that here because they are all EMTs too, and I don't think I could be an EMT. One of the guys showed us bloody ambulance photos on his phone, and they see some terrible and nasty stuff sometimes. Those guys do awesome stuff though.
As for the second thought for the day, when we went to HEB last night to get stuff to make the cupcakes and brownies I found Pepsi products on sale, and being a Mountain Dew officionado, I noticed the Code Red Mountain Dew and had to jump on that. I can't find that much anymore, and I like it. They also had a 'throwback' Mountain Dew, made with natural sugar as opposed to high fructose corn syrup, so naturally I had to try this new development too and see what it was like. It's definitely different, and actually reminds me a lot of Pepsi, at least from many years ago. I wonder when they started putting high fructose corn syrup in soda. The design on the can matches the Mountain Dew tshirt I bought recently, too, so I thought that was kinda cool.
Ok, I'll end my ramblings for now, and be back later with more. My head is always filled with randomness. I think it's a gift.

Friday, May 22, 2009

just a random intro

Wow, so I've decided to start yet another blog. The fact that I have 4 now, plus a livejournal, all to serve different purposes, is further proof of my OCD tendencies. That's ok. This one is going to be fun, probably random, a sort of let-loose kind of blog. Me just typing my thoughts and telling you about my day. I hope you enjoy it.
I had a host of other things I was going to tell you today, but I had some issues with importing and exporing blogs and other such technological nonsense that I have forgotten much of it. I will most likely remember the important things later, and tell you then.
It rained today. I like rain. Means I don't have to water my plants as often.
Alright I'm sufficiently distracted to procure no more meaningful thoughts for the time being.
Peace.