Donald Miller and Susan Isaacs

Last Thursday I went to see Donald Miller and Susan Isaacs at the NYC show on their "Million Miles Tour"

I had devoured both books fairly quickly - I knew I would Don's as I loved "Blue Like Jazz" and "Through Painted Deserts", but Susan's was a surprise.

Based on a ton of blogosphere recommendations, I downloaded the sample of "Angry Conversations with God" to my kindle, and then forgot about it. A few weeks later, when I was between fantasy novels and thinking it might be time to read something more spiritual, I found the sample and read it. A few minutes later I bought the book. Then less than twenty four hours later, counting work and train trips, it was finished.

I was with her through almost every situation in the book, though perhaps not to the same extent, until the very end when she ended up happily married. Lauren Winner did the same thing to me! Ah well, good for you, girls :)

Susan was fantastic in person, the way she brought the various situations in the book to life, including the accents, had me laughing out load. One of my favorite bits from the show, as from the book is the quote (and it's probably not word for word, as I'm too lazy to go find it on the kindle) "Christian men don't date. They've all read that book. 'Kiss My Dating Ass Goodbye'."

I didn't have a chance to meet her, the line was very long and I had to go, so hopefully next time!

Donald's book "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years" I also read in a twenty four hours period. It lived up to all I'd been reading about the past few months, and spoke to me on several levels - first as a writer how the art of story works. I'm going to be chanting "A character who wants something and overcomes conflict to get it." the entire month of November.

I loved also the parallels between writing a story, and living the story that God has written. It's fun to think of myself as a character, and to try getting out there and not being afraid of conflict.

Don was awesome in person as well. He had me at his first line "Welcome to Hogwarts." We were in this old very Englishy Episcopal church down in the village.
Before he spoke we had a video presentation on his ministry "The Mentoring Project", which is partnering with world vision, and there was a call for volunteers to sponsor a world vision child and also give to mentoring project as a package deal.

So I volunteered. Because, you know, when you've been feeling like you haven't been giving enough lately, and also slightly guilty about buying a third computer, and a cute and funny guy asks you donate for his project, how can you say no? Plus I got a hug out of it later. :) So I am now sponsoring a young boy from Brazil. I've done it before and it was a great experience, so I am excited.

Don talked about some of the funniest bits of the book, as well as the art of writing a story. My favorite line (and again this is a spotty memory quote), when discussing how the character's conflict needs to be something we care about, preferably a matter of life and death, "Frodo has to take the ring to the Temple of Doom and kill Darth Vader before the last Star Trek planet is destroyed."

He also talked about when "Blue Like Jazz" was first out, going to local book stores and moving his books over to the best seller rack. He then suggested we help with that, and move Dan Brown aside for him. Dude, anytime!

After the talks those of us who had signed up for World Vision were invited back to meet Don before the rest of the people who could line up for autographs. I think I conducted myself with slightly more poise than when i got my picture taken with Jason Momoa, but only just. (Plus there was no dressed up stuffed bear this time) I told him I had the book on kindle, and I was not going to let him sign that, but that I loved it on both levels, like I wrote above. I also then said something silly like he would bring me luck for NaNoWrimo (I was wearing my new hoodie). And I got a hug. Did I mention that?

All in all, two great books and an enjoyable evening, and I highly recommend all three!

Suffering

Life is good. Seriously good. It's one of those times where I have so much going on that I have to pick and choose what I have time to do. Writer's groups, book clubs, music and dancing, learning new skills like knitting and sewing, workshops at church - I just took training to be a small group leader, which was surprisingly exciting. I met with one of the group organizers last week for coffee and she asked me how I was planning to fit leading a group into my schedule. Hmmmm. Now if it would just stop raining so that I can go to the beach.

Work is good - busy and frustrating at times, but not overwhelming, especially when I hear about other people's jobs, and considering that so many people here in NY are losing their jobs, I really can't complain. Not that that stops me, all that much ;) I've got two trips coming up this summer that have been (mostly) paid for, and a friend coming to visit me for a week in between.

So. Life is good. And that's what scares me. I've been reading and hearing much lately that points to the fact that spiritual growth comes through suffering. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, dark nights of the soul, and so on.

I don't want to suffer. I want my life to stay good. But I also want to grow. I want to have my cake and eat it too, so to speak, but not sure if that is possible. And so I'm half waiting for something horrible to happen, and if it doesn't, is that a good sign, or a bad one?

Book Review: Christ the Lord, Out of Egypt

I borrowed this book from a friend because I was curious. I'd read "Interview with a Vampire" ages ago and was not overly impressed, but then I read Anne Rice's 'reconversion' story in I think Newsweek, and was fascinated.

I really liked the book. From a religious viewpoint, it's quite an interesting question the book dives into - what was it like for the child Jesus to grow up, being fully God, but yet fully a child that had to go through all the mess of childhood?

Being a science fiction and fantasy reader, I also saw a quite a few parallels with your typical fantasy hero, who grows up in a fairly low position in society, has something 'special' about him that he can't quite figure out, until he discovers his magic, power, talent, etc, and adventures ensue. In some of the early chapters, Jesus brings a dead child back to life, after accidently killing him, brings clay sparrows to life, and discovers that when he tells the rain to stop, it stops.

At the same time I was reading this, I was also reading a fantasy series exactly like that, where the hero discovers in the second book that as well as human he is part of another race entirely, and as such has all these talents and powers that need to be awakened, so he can then save the world. The character even undergoes a baptism of sorts, when he is immersed in a pool for several days to cleanse himself of a serious addiction.

The parallels between the two books remind me of what Tim Keller said in a sermon about why we like fantasy. (Those of us that do like fantasy, that is, I suppose. Which would be me.) We're looking for that hero, the knight in shining armor that will come and save the world and defeat the forces of evil. Who is, of course, Jesus.

I liked the characterization of Mary as well, but had a bit of issue with the Roman Catholic theology inserted that she remained a virgin always and never had any children with Joseph. Rice makes James the older son of Joseph from a previous marriage, which I assume is also taught, but bugged me since there is no mention of another child in the Christmas story. The details are so carefully recorded, and if Joseph had to drag his nine months pregnant wife down to Bethlehem to be counted, surely he would have had to take his son as well? But there's no mention of anyone else being with them.

Those details don't ruin the fantasy of the story, however, and I've placed the next book, as well as Anne Rice's biography on my wish list.

The Year Thus Far

As I break my Lenten fast with french toast and canadian bacon - yum! on Easter morning, seems like a good time to update this sadly neglected blog. I don't have to be at church till 5PM, going to attend that service before ushering at 7:15PM, so am having a leisurely easter morning/afternoon eating and listening to the Messiah on my ipod. Contemplating a bike ride also, but it looks rather cold and windy out there, so we shall see.

I've been spending way too much time on Facebook - its short soundbytes are addictive, and the amusing mix of internet friends, real life here and now friends, and high school people whom I didn't think even liked me back then but now are friending me, is interesting also. Talk about various worlds colliding!

So what's been doing with me? I see the last time I posted here was right before I went to England in January. England was awesome as usual, and Wales even more so. Pics are here, and Travelog here.

Sewing - I have successfully completed another pair of boxer shorts, and a baby blanket. Next attempt will be a skirt for summer. Because I am a glutton for punishment, I've also taken up knitting. So far I have made something that can only be described as a "thingie", which is being worn by one of my teddy bears. Am now on my fourth attempt to start a hat, which might be ready for next winter. If nothing else my fourteen inch bamboo knitting needles will be useful in defense against vampires.

Reading - I really really want a kindle, but have promised myself I will not get one until I get to the bottom of my to read basket, so am reading as fast as I can. Aside from an excellent fantasy novel, I'm in the middle of "Christ the Lord" by Anne Rice. I've never been much of an Anne Rice fan, read "Interview with a Vampire" ages ago and wasn't too impressed, but her story fascinates me. The book is very interesting so far. The Roman Catholic bent is pretty obvious, especially in the characterization of Mary and Joseph, but her Jesus makes sense - I've often wondered what it was like for him being God and child together, to grow up.

And with that I think I will attempt a bike ride after all.

Happy Easter, everyone!!

Vacation!

I am officially on vacation! And it is snowing. My car is all snug in the garage, and as long as the runways at JFK are clear by Monday evening, it can storm its little heart out.

I'm getting my stuff together for a trip to Wales and England starting the aforementioned Monday evening, and right now am doing one of the most fun tasks - deciding which books to bring. I am allowed only one fiction and one non-fiction because there is a serious raid on bookstores in Cardiff and London being planned.

I think i have settled on "When True Night Falls" by CS Friedman for the fiction, being the second in a series I started in Hungary. But I also have the second Otherland book by Tad Williams. The Friedman is thicker than the Williams - Imagine anything being thicker than a Tad Williams?? - and I read the first one earlier so really should stay in order.

Right, on to non-fic, I am settling I think on a book on Frances of Assisi in a spiritual classics series, but I also have two others in the same series that look good. Might have to just close my eyes and point.

My goal is to pack everything into two small bags rather than the big one, as will be easier for getting on and off trains and such, and plus I am trying to learn to pack light. The next debate will be on which sweaters to bring as I am only allowing myself two, but I won't bore you with that one!

Off to play do laundry in the snow, and then a fun time of dancing and music in the city is being planned, Lord and LIRR willing.

New Years Day, 2009

It's official. The year of no clothes shopping has ended. As I started the new year off with a very light day of work - only five patients, I headed straight out to the Island, first to Panera, where I had the tomato soup that I got hooked on during NaNoWriMo, and then to EMS where I broke my fast in style.

First I bought the thing I needed most since early fall - a new raincoat. My old one, which you can ring water out of, is now in the trash.




Waterproof, breathable, and not in a girly pastel color!

Next I bought a soft shell to go with it:



It's darker than it looks.

And not clothes but I needed a new travel wallet:



Then I came home and went online on Title Nine and bought a pair of pants, a tee shirt and two pairs of socks. Now I am all set for the rest of winter and my trip to Britain in two weeks.

I bagged for the thrift shop at my parents' church:

1 pair cords, a sweater, two fleece jackets and a shirt I never really liked and only wore I think once. As well as the old rain coat I pitched my old travel wallet which was all dirty and never fit my passport properly anyway.

What I learned from this past year:

1. I don't really like clothes shopping. It didn't leave much of a void, if any. And if there was it filled very very quickly.

2. I'd rather have one shirt I abolutely love than ten cheap ones I don't really like.

3. two pairs of jeans are enough.

4. when i find something I really do love, I don't need to go buy four more.

5. sewing is fun. I hope to eventually move on to things that can be worn out of the house, but at the very least I will never have to buy pajamas again.

That's about all I can think of at the moment!

Throwing away the scale

Now that nanowrimo is over, well almost over, there are still almost twelve hours to go. I've not written in my novel for a couple of day but i do plan to go out with a bang later after church by hanging out in the nano chat room and cheering on my fellow writers till midnight, and maybe getting another thousand or two words in before the deadline as well.

But this blog post is not supposed to be about fiction writing, or my future plans for that which are bouncing through my head, distracting me as we speak. I had resolved that once nano was over I would try to write a blog post a week, that is not a copy paste from my live journal, most likely on sundry mornings (*cough* afternoon) because that's my generally calm and quiet time, sitting around the house in pajamas, drinking coffee, and just puttering. A 7:15PM church service is a beautiful thing. I figure if I could pound out 50 thousand words of drivel disguised as fiction (and many scenes of people drinking coffee, or tea, or debating the relative merits of coffee versus tea - I think I should just call next year's novel 'Scenes from a Starbucks' and have done.) then I can pound out a few hundred words of blog post a week, surely? Though the blog will not be immune from coffee references, because coffee is love. Especially with pumpkin spice creamer.

Mixed up in my nano notes in the notebook I've been carrying around since mid October are lots of little ideas for blog posts, and the challenge today is to try not to cram them all in to one, because I am in the mood to write something not related to adventures on the moon, the coffee is flowing (see?), it's raining and I have the house to myself.

No. Must stay on track. Yes.

Right, so today's blog post will be about idols.

I've been reading and hearing quite a bit lately about idols - in books, sermons, podcasts, etc. When I think of idols, the first thing that pops into my head is a silly statue, like the falling fish god, the golden calf, or Jabu in the movie 'Major League' who gets offering of rum, cigars, and Kentucky Fried Chicken. And I always think, so self righteously, how could anyone be so stupid as to worship something like that?

Of course, we wouldn't. Two thousand plus years after Bible times our idols have become way more sophisticated.

If this year of no clothes shopping has taught me anything, it's that clothes are not my issue. Finishing my eleventh month of no clothes shopping today, I still don't really feel it. I wonder where on earth I found the time to go shopping for clothes, and I'm not really looking forward to resuming it. I could almost go another year, except that I really need a new raincoat, one that does not absorb water. Did you know Gortex wears out? Apparently after a few years, it does. And proper running shoes, from the store where they watch you run on the treadmill and look at your old shoes to see where you wear them out... But this post was not supposed to be about clothes.

My idol is the scale. I decided this after about two years now of weighing and recording, obsessing about numbers changing, counting and recording points, trying to hyper organize everything I eat in one day, blowing it, feeling guilty, and then blowing it some more. And then last year, trying to fit training into the mix, calculate how many points I exercised and need to replace, so as to not pass out during a workout, which would be bad. Discovering the the weight watchers site has no clue about energy bars and sports gels and drinks didn't help.

So I threw out my scale. Well, actually i didn't because I would feel guilty throwing out a perfectly good appliance. It, they actually, are in the top of my closet, if anyone would like them. I have one old fashioned and one digital that supposedly also calculates body fat and percentage of water. I have decided to accept my body as it is. I'm not *really* overweight. I did a triathlon this year, for crying out loud. Okay, it took me four and a half hours, but still. And with no new clothes, everything still fits from this time last year.

I had a wonderful time this past month with all the write-ins, making healthy choices as best I could from the menus at Panera and Cosi, and then indulging a little bit if I wanted to, to reward myself for my word count. I'm also having fun experimenting with cooking, and continuing my training, which are other blog posts.

so I shall leave you with a picture of my thanksgiving leftovers, and go make pancakes. And perhaps catch up on the blogs I've not read all month. My rss reader just might be about to explode...

For the win!

And now to get back to my Thanksgiving preparations!

Today I thank God for:

-tissues
-Blistex
- Chicken soup
-NyQuil

*wanders off to drink more fluids*

Advent!

Taking a short break from NaNoWriMo to celebrate the first day of ADvent, which according to my prayer book, Celtic Daily Prayer, starts today. Celtic advent is the forty days before Christmas, matching the forty days in the liturgical year of Lent from Ash Wednesday to Easter.

From the book: Advent is traditionally a time of preparation for Christmas. It is said that the door to the stable where the Christ-child has been born is very low - only those who kneel find access. being ready for Christmas should mean that our thoughts are focused on not just letters, cards, and presents, but on repentance, humbling and interior 'housecleaning'. John the Baptist warned his hearer to prepare a way for the Lord - to make a clear and level pathway. This involves removing any boulders that stand in the way, and filling in any potholes. The boulders are the things we have done that we should not have done; the potholes are the things we have failed to do which we obviously should have done. The more, as individuals, family or congregation, we are focused in this way, the less we will be overwhelmed by the commercialization of Christmas.

For this advent season, I am reading Forty Days of Living the Jesus Creed, by Scot McKnight, in part because I got it for my birthday and don't want to to save it till spring.

I'm also taking some more steps against the commericalization and frenzy of Christmas by not sending Christmas cards, or gifts outside of small ones for my immediate family. Instead throughout the new year I intend to be more vigilant about remembering people's birthdays (If they want them remembered that is!) And this year I am using the money I would have spent shopping on buying clean drinking water. Everyone should drink more water.

Join me at The Advent Conspiracy!

And now to head off to the city to get some writing done - 31k words and counting :)

NaNoWriMo time!

I know it's been about a month since I posted last. I had resolved to start writing a blog post a week. The best laid plans... I have about three half finished posts in my notebook, so if I get bored or am in procrastination mode, we'll see what happens.

Otherise this month is reserved for NaNoWriMo!

Here is my widget so you can follow my progress:



Now back to writing.

Renovare "Life With God" Conference

Spent the weekend in Houston at the Renovare "Life with God" conference. I had an amazing time, and learned enough to keep me thinking for about a year. Also the books I bought will keep me busy for quite awhile - see the last post for a pic of the books.

I am sitting here at the airport waiting for my flight and sipping a sugar free nonfat mocha, and eating a carrot muffin to make up for it. There is no free internet to distract me, so I thought i would type up some of the thoughts from my notes for posting later.

I can't do justice to any of the speakers, so just a couple of bytes from each of them on how they affected me.

Dallas Willard: I've heard much about this man, quotes from various other books that I've read, but I confess I've never actually read anything by him. I also confess that I didn't not buy any of his books this time either, as I was already trying to figure out how I was going to pack what I bought, but there is always Amazon later. The main things I took away from his presentation are that emphasis needs to be on what type of person I am becoming, and then routine easy obedience will come. In other words the emphasis on character transformation rather than behavior modification. Of course it took nearly two hours to unpack those points, so for more I recommend the cd!

John Ortberg: I really liked his way of speaking and need to see if his church does sermon podcasts. Of course him starting off with a Monty Python joke didn't hurt! He made the point that modern evangelism reduces the gospel to the minimum entrance requirements to heaven, and as an example compared the entrance to Heaven to the bridge at the end of the holy grail where the characters just have to have the right answer to get across, whereas if they don't, they plunge down into the chasm. He compared being an admirer of Jesus to being a follower of Jesus, and brought out the point that our core beliefs are not necessarily what we say, but are demonstrated by our actions, how we respond to certain situations, etc.

Chris Webb: A Welshman who likes books! (I stole that quote from Larissa. *waves*). Chris is the new president of Renovare, an Anglican priest, and absolutely delightful. He dressed in a monk's habit on Saturday for the feast day of St Francis, and introduced himself first as a Jedi Knight. I wanted to ask him if he had heard of the Jedi Chefs, but didn't get the chance. We took his workshop on Friday on reading the spiritual classics. He explained a bit about the process of Lectio Divina, and that we should read classics "not as we read John Grisham" (which in my case would be Tad Williams, Carol Berg, Stephen Booth, etc) but slowly and relationally. The purpose of the classics, and indeed the Bible, is not to give us entertainment or information, but to draw us into the presence of God. He gave us a lovely reading list which is going to make my wishlist explode.

Lauren Winner: Lauren is exactly how I pictured her, in a good way! She started off by saying that she was intimidated by sharing the stage with people like Richard Foster and Dallas Willard, but if Sarah Palin could share a podium with Joe Biden then she could do it. She said she tried to get her hair in an upsweep which didn't work, but she thinks her glasses are cooler than Sarah's. (I agree). Her talk was on the Trinity, which was very deep. What I took away was her illustration of Jesus' baptism as a trinitarian event - Jesus of course being present, the father's voice from above, and the spirit in the form of a dove (hey that rhymes!) all converging, so to speak in one place. She also had the criticism that many churches in America are functionally unitarian - emphasizing one aspect of the trinity over the other two.

After Lauren's talk we had an evensong service, which was a really nice end to the day, considering how much I had swimming around in my head, the periods of silence were especially welcome.

Saturday started with

Ron Sider: who gave a talk on social activism, and how the good news of the Kingdom of God does not end with salvation.

Todd Hunter: I took Todd's workshop on spiritual formation as the new evangelism. He started out by talking about how the culture has changed, the church and Christians no longer get automatic respect, and actually more the opposite. Coming from NYC, nothing he said was new or shocking to me, but I could tell it was to those around me. His main point was that the only tool of evangelism that will work is the authentic lives of Christians.

Richard Foster: was the last speaker, and I didn't take any notes during his presentation as he had given us an incredibly detailed outline in our packets. He has a ponytail down to his waist! Gorgeous, actually. Chris Webb teased him that he had been growing it since he was called to minister to the Woodstock generation, and the complained that no one ever asks him about his hair (Chris has crewcut shorter than my brother's). Richard is a powerful presence, strong and yet gentle, with a terrific sense of humor including about himself. He spoke on the importance of spiritual formation, sort of summing up what all the others had been talking about all weekend, and then we had a time where all the leaders prayed for us.

The conference as a whole was wonderful and I will definitely go to another - I wish they'd have some closer to home! Now, I need to decide which book to start...

Renovare Conference

Just finished the Renovare conference here in Houston Texas. I have tons of notes to type up, not that I could do anything justice, but I will not be doing that tonite. Maybe tomorrow as I wait for the SuperShuttle to take me to the airport.

Tonite I will leave you with two pictures that sort of sum up my weekend.

A few books managed to find their way into my bag....



And a statue of St Francis, in a Presbyterian church garden!

Calvin was green - who knew?

Despite the 87 degrees and much humidity here today, summer is officially over. This week I put away my beach things and did my best to wrap up some summer reading projects. I say did my best because there are still about 13 books on my to read pile.

Anyway, since I am in the process of joining a church which is essentially Calvinist, I figured it was high time that I read Calvin's "Institutes of the Christian Religion" for myself and see what the man really had to say. I tried to read with an open mind, but as I expected I did find a few points of disagreement, which I won't go into here as they are debated to death elsewhere.

I also found a few surprises, such as this quote from Part 9, chapter 10: So Paul, with good reason, urges us to use this world without abusing it, and to buy possessions as if we were selling them (I Cor 7:30-31).

Of course Calvin probably would not have known what carbon was (when were the elements discovered, anyway?) much less a carbon footprint, but this sounds suspiciously like take good care of the planet to me.

I also was surprised to find a passage with basically says it's ok to enjoy the pleasures of creation. If we think out the reason for the creation of food, we will realise that it was not only for necessity, but for our enjoyment and delight. So with clothing, the purpose was not only for necessity but beauty and honour. ... If this was not so, the Psalmist would not list among God's mercies, 'wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil to make his face shine' (Ps. 104:15).

Of course he also points out the dangers of taking enjoyment to excess, which I agree with, but it's nice to see that the concepts of enjoying and taking care of God's creation are not new.

I had many ambitious plans for today, and ended up getting through about half of my list. Two doctor's apts (I'll spare you squicky details, but everything's fine) took longer than I thought, and I ended up almost finishing my book in the waiting rooms, So naturally I had to go to Starbucks to finish it before I came home. Plus it was after 3 and I'd had no coffee yet! Or food for that matter. So, Starbucks, grocery store and by the time I got home, I might as well have been at Ork.

Did manage to get four loads of laundry done, as well as going though my dresser and closet and ruthlessly getting rid of anything I've not worn all summer.





Ronon Bear supervises The Great Clothing Purge



All packed up! 5 bags.

I had wanted to clean and bake cookies, but by now was after 8. So cookies will be baked tomorrow, and as for cleaning.... I'll negotiate with the dust bunnies to hide when my company arrives on Sat! Or perhaps TehJerry will feel a compulsion to clean tomorrow. That's a better plan.

I did however make a healthy dinner.



Now to shower and decide which book I will start next.

Birthdays and such

Today is my 39th birthday. For real. For the first time!
And so, you get picspam :)



Pressies before



And there was cake. Apparently I am 12...



Michael Phelps broke the record on my birthday!



Pressies after



Bonus pic: a butterfly on mom's butterfly bush

There were the best, but more piccies are here

Time

Time.

There's never enough of it to do everything that I want. And work too. But I have to work in order to have the money to do the things that I want to do, so quitting my job to have more time is not an option. Perhaps when I'm a best selling novelist - sometime in the 30th century...

Everyone has seen the movie "Groundhog Day", in which a man gets stuck in a time loop- playing out the same day over and over again. Pretty much every scifi show worth its salt has an episode with a similar theme - Star Trek, X-Files, Stargate.

My favorite (though XF's 'Mulder in the wet pajamas' runs a close second) is the Stargate version. Several loops of the same day have passed for Jack when Daniel tells him he has a unique opportunity, He can do whatever he wants for as long as he wants, with no consequences, because everything will go back to the way it was when the loops begins again. Except for him. Jack takes advantage of this. He learns pottery, perfects his golf shot (through the Stargate), teaches Teal'c to juggle, rides his bike through the SGC, and resigns so he can finally kiss Sam. *g*

What would you do if you were stuck in a time loop? With unlimited time on my hands, I'd become that best selling novelist, champion tin whistle player and step dancer, win a triathlon, hike the whole world (though travel might be a logistical problem if I'm stuck in the same day. Hmm.) Memorize the Bible in several translation. Heck, learn Greek and Hebrew and translate my own. Sew my own complete wardrobe, catch up on all the tv shows I've not seen, and read all the books on my wish list and then some.

Maybe that's what heaven will be like - stuck in the same perfect day forever, with unlimited things to do.

Progress, or lack thereof...

I just got back from vacation. Technically I'm still on vacation, as I don't go back to work until tomorrow, and I am writing this at the beach. Today is the perfect beach day - the air is warm, the sky is blue, and the water not too rough. Also I found a log to put my blanket over so I have something to lean on while I read and write.

I love the beach. Really love it. Perhaps too much. And there's no other place that I'd rather be in the summer. Which is probably why I did not have as good a time on my vacation as I could have.

Don't get me wrong, i had a blast. Traveling in Europe with some very good friends, what could be better? But my cranky self focus kept rearing its ugly head and showing me what I'm still really like inside. If things weren't perfect for my wants and schedule - too much food, too little food, too little exercise, too little caffeine at the right time, and I got, well let's just say it - bitchy.

Just when I think I'm doing great, remove me from my comfort zone, and blam. I can't beat my selfishness into submission, the Holy Spirit has to do that, and it's just not happening according to my schedule. Which just proves the whole point again of how far I have to go. It's not about my schedule, at all.

Part of the blessing of the single life is to be able to do pretty much whatever you want whenever you want. Which makes it difficult, however when thrust into a group 24/7, to learn to accommodate others.

I think one of the things I need to work on when traveling with others is finding ways to carve out more quiet time for myself... any suggestions?

Thanks for listening to my ramblings, and if anyone would like to see my vacation pictures, they are here.

The internet monk today has a good post on Bible translations. Anyone who's been in a Bible study with me knows that although I have many Bibles, for reading I adore the Message.

In other news, I'm off to Hungary for ten days :) As soon as I finish breakfast.

So I added a blogroll. Looks a bit... overwhelming. Wonder if I can make it smaller?

In other news I finally finished transcribing the last meeting I was responsible for at old church. It was pretty painful, and while listening to the meeting I worked on my application for membership at new church. Both have been sent away, which was the goal to get all finished and done before my trip.

Also spent 45 minutes driving around trying to find a verizon store, unsuccessfully. Came home and checked the net, found there was a store in one of the shopping centers I drove past, and I didn't see it. So will go back tomorrow. According to the site, I'm due for a free phone and it looks like one of the free ones can have global activated. w00t!