July 16, 2009

1. Am worried that my “sassy number” though shortened in straps, now feels awkward.  It is a little too wide in the bodice.  I mean, it looks OK, I think (party anxiety setting in, so all bets are off) but eventually I think further alterations are in order.
2. Almost all the altar guild paperwork is ready.  must finish (start) the roster tomorrow.
3. And get a haircut, though this has nothing to do with Altar Guild.
4. And get a spare key made for the aumbry.
5. Big moment today at the gym, as Captain Asskick promoted me to the treadmill routine “Turtle 2.”  It wiped me out, but so did “Turtle 1″ back in the old days (june).  I also have, if you look very closely, some sort of dent in my arms, that could be the start of what might be called “guns” by those in the workout community. Woo!

July 6, 2009

1. I have single handedly destroyed the church.  The “High Dusting” has brought down 30 years of black crap that is currently all over the floor!  Ahhhh!  It better look amazing when this is done, or at least like it used to be!
2. I feel like I have spent alot of time at church lately, which I suppose I have, what with the cleaning, and the July 3rd crew and the July 4th service and regular church on Sunday.  I’m ready for the cleaning to be done and to go to some movies.
3. Oh speaking of movies!  Paul and I did go to Whatever Works today, and it was great!  Though the Post panned it, we both liked it very much.  Nice afternoon.
4. I sat in the window in my attic room, and could see the fireworks just peeking above the treeline.  There was a very good breeze on July 4th, in fact the weather was phenomenal.  Somehow our entire state has been transported to Canada or something.
5. Working out is kind of kicking my behind. I suppose that is good, but it certainly takes more mental energy than I was anticipating.

June 25, 2009

1. Today an early meeting with someone doing a security check on a friend. (I’m an excellent character witness…”Convicted?  No never convicted.”) Then a visit with Michael and Mommy and a the formation of a plan to go to a movie.  Got the gym workout out of the way, and now am relaxing, with violet settling in for some laptime while I type.
2. Our J2A pilgrims are off on their trip today, and can be followed here.  The twitter feed is on the left sidebar.
3. I’m filling up my new little notebook with projects for summer: wrapping up AG stuff and cleaning house are dominating so far.  I am sitting in my comfy room, and once I get all the laundry put away, I think it will be revealed that I have way too much yarn, and need to get back to knitting.
4. Got to see the awesome AT the other night now that she is back in town.  Here is to the first of many pedicures!
5. Garden updates.  Things are growing, but some creature has been having a nibble.  I think of Peter Rabbit, hopping over and taking a look, lipperty, lipperty, lippet.  Pretty amazing how fast things grow.  I bought a book about gardening in small spaces, and now I want to talk the Fairlington Arbor association into making the area out back a community garden.  I mean, I love my little garden at school, but it is kind of a pain to drive across town!

May 26, 2009

1. At our school, we like to preserve some of our traditions that help give students control of their education.  One of these traditions is arena scheduling.  When you were young you might remember going into the gym and signing up for classes.  You know, in the days before computers.  We do this, and there can be some moments of panic for kids when they feel their classes are not working out the way they wished.  I had one of my gals come up to me rather sniffly, which progressed in to full out tears, as indeed, her schedule did not seem to be working.  We sat down in the center of the gym floor, and I said, “Yup, it does look like this turned to crap.”  Fortunately this made her laugh a little, and I told her we would go ahead and sign up for the few things that we could, and then hand it over to the powers that be and let them sort it out.  I’ll need to get on the phone with her parents and see if the deal breakers are really deal breakers, because what she wants doesn’t seem possible at this moment.  Anyway, we went to BFF the principal, and he gave her a hug and told her not to worry, and then he put it in the RED FOLDER.  So you know it is important.  Because the folder is RED.
2. Part of the interesting thing about arena scheduling is that you can see the classes forming before you and get an ideal of the sort of personalities that you will have next year.  My new ancient civ class is going to be very special.  Longtime readers might recall these 5 lads, and they ALL signed up!  At first I was glad to see that is was my last class of the day, because I was going to need a cocktail after.  But now I have decided, that the group of boys I have, is going to be very special to me, and I mean in a good way.  I had them in 8th and they were not awful, but no picnic.  They have a bad rep around the building, and don’t seem to have a lot of adult connections, or positive academic experiences.  I want to change that.  I think this is the perfect scenario.  I mean, my subject has swords, and samurai and stuff!  We WILL connect with ancient history my friends!  We WILL have positive experiences!  We WILL take field trips and execute battle plans on the soccer field!  As God as my witness, I am going to be these guys cheerleaders, and the whole class is going to have a great time.  This is my solemn vow.  Now who’s with me?! Let’s GOOOOO!!!!!
3. I was crew leader for the ascension service last Thursday, and had a few moments to myself in the hallway outside the sanctuary, and was grooving to some hymns, in which I feel very connected to God, and often think of what would be played at my funeral (on some occasions I consider what might be played at my inaguration to the presidency) because in those hymns I see the opportunity to state out what I believe, primarily in the ressurection.  I am very confident in that.  I don’t always understand how to talk to God in the day to day, but I think I am rock solid on the resurrection thing.  I would like to rely on God more, and think that particularly, the project in item #2 is going to need especial prayer and attention.
4. Testing week.  Always a joy.  Please pass punks.  Love you much.
5. I finally have a little money in savings, and two projects….One: personal training.  I am going to pay to have my behind seriously kicked this summer.  Two: a new(ish) car.  The windshield wipers stopped working today.  On the way to work.  In the rain.  That was fun.  The workouts are a manageble expense.  The car may require some thinking, but time is running out on the red menace, that is for sure.

April 14, 2009

1. Easter was most glorious, the Great Vigil especially.  The fire lit successfully, and I did, dirty as it sounds, polish the bishop’s crozier.
2. I almost lost faith, no I did lose faith on Good Friday because I was tired, and it was all a downer, and I really felt like I was over it.  But when I came in Saturday morning, I could feel things beginning to thrum and hum with energy.  Not the energy of the people, though that was there, they converted the place from plain to amazing in two hours.  The energy I felt was the stones themselves, wanting to sing.  I attribute amazing power to God, but I think even he had pause and muscle flexing as the moment of Resurrection occurred.  I mean, it is  called power for a reason, right?  It is powerful!
3. There was something in the bishop’s sermon that got me to thinking about risk.  He was talking about seeking the truth. (Look, it might have been our rector who preached this one, or this might be a conglomeration of sermons.  I heard a lot of sermons last week)  There was also something about people who live in places of risk or in fear (It is also possible that none of this was said, it was something else preached that triggered these thoughts)  Anywho, I got to thinking about how to seek the truth, that maybe truth is that life has to be lived with a certain degree of abandon and risk.  That those people who struggle are living in the truth.  I live a very safe life, one that I think is boring in a way in its physical and emotional barricade to avoid exposure and embarrassment and strife.  And the way this all relates to God is this: What exactly am I afraid of?  I don’t live in a place of war.  I have plenty (more than enough!) to eat.  All the standard worries are handled.  What do I fear? Embarrassment? Rejection? And even if there are things to fear: “If God is for us, who can be against us?”  I don’t mean that as an “F-everyone else, I do want I want.” I mean, if I say that I am secure and certain in the hope of the resurrection, what exactly is my worry about not being perfect in my time on the planet.  I need to think more like I did in the abstract painting class.  Do more things because I want to experience them, not because I want to be amazing.
4. Yeah, I am downloading turbo tax right now.  Don’t judge me.  Living on the edge has to begin somewhere. 
5. The dear seeking servant has been accepted to Seminary, and this is right glorious, but I am just starting to realize what that means for me and our parish, which is that he is going to leave us and cleave to another, and pretty soon.  His fine woman too.  I always knew that I guess, but I didn’t really understand how soon that was coming, and I think, Seeking, we ought to all have a drunken sit down, so as to understand how our weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth will play out, and if we can arrange some sort of flaming viking ship for an exit.  I joke, but I am sad too.  I guess I had thought that we had 3 years of seminary to go, and I am not so sure of that anymore.  Did they give you a handout on this transition?  Don’t get me wrong, it is all right and good and a joyful thing, and seeking the truth is risky, I get that, but ouch, ouch, ouch.

April 9, 2009

1. I’ve got about 15 minutes before I need to head back to church, but I thought I’d give a Holy Week Report.  Frankly, everything is going really well.  The crews are great,   and they get a lot done, really fast.
2. We added a funeral to the mix this week, for a longtime parishioner.  It was at 10am today.  Busy busy.  I got to put the pall on the casket, and even though I am all about the cremation, that thing is fabulous looking with black tassels on the corners!
3. Sometimes there has been a debate about which is harder, Christmas or Easter president.  At 6pm on Maundy Thursday, with 14 services to go, I can report: NO CONTEST.  Seriously.  I mean, there are no lights to flip on and off at Christmas.  Yes you have to wrap your presents too, but Easter has 17 pounds of extra stuff that gets done once a year and comes without explanatory handouts.  For example, why is the setup for this next service all at the credence, and not the altar?  There are 3 chalices, 3 things of wine and 40 billion wafers on a 7 by 12 inch shelf.  I mean, how about a paragraph explaining that?
4. Speaking of lights, some of those switches don’t do anything, or there is a closet somewhere where the light is flipping on and off.  Maybe it controls the copier in the office, or the hot water boiler.  I have no idea, but dammit, I’m a-gonna flip them.
5. In the interest of full disclosure, after today’s crew, I put my feet up on the desk in the sacristy and ate a steak and cheese sandwich.  So I may look holy, but I am, quite literally, a big fat sinner.

April 6, 2009

1. When I am crew leader, my favorite time is during the lessons and sermon during the 9 o’clock, when things have settled down and I can iron the linens.  I keep the door open and can sort of hear what’s going on.  I like to turn the overhead lights off and just use the undercounter lights.  It is very peaceful.
2. Palm Sunday went well.  Feebly waving palms.  The congregation gamely, but lamely saying “Crucify him, crucify him,” as instructed by the script.  Palm Sunday has never been a favorite service of mine, but overall it went well, except for the part where I interferred with the subdeacon assignment, because I’m a jerk, and then the part where a trash can caught on fire (though that was an acolyte issue, and I only found out about it after the fact. Frankly, I’m sorry I missed it.  If I hadn’t been interfering in other things I probably would have seen that show, so there is another lesson for me.)
3. I like the movie Dogma.  “You knew Jesus?”  “Knew him?  Dude owes me 12 dollars.”
4. Spring Break!  Woo!  Even though I have to spend lots of time at church, Spring break is still Spring Break.
5. While we were in Jamaica there was an exciting comminique, that the awesome AT and her family are coming back to Virginia.  Hooray!

April 3, 2009

1. The penny war was resolved in a most excellent way.  The HILT students (older English as a second language students) who often operate on the fringe of things, quietly organized, and in the last minute of the competition, rolled into the office with a trashcan containing 20,000 pennies.  They said they went to the bank four times to get them all.  I got to announce the result, and the cheering that exploded from their classroom area could be heard all over the school.  It was fantastic.  They are a lovely bunch of kids (though some of them are almost 20) and becoming more and more involved in the life of the school.  It was a magnificent display of strategy, teamwork, and sweetness.
2. You know how occasionally in a film on the native tribes of various continents you’ll run across a culture where the women don’t wear tops?  Well, welcome to the video I was showing.  So we had a little talk about differing culture etc, and how they needed to be mature or I would cut them etc.  And this was only on the screen for about 2 seconds anyway.   Oh, and of course toward the end there was a little boy frolicking in the water.  unclothed.  You know, equal time.  And in case that wasn’t enough, in ancient civ, I was showing some clips of the last emperor, and I tried to skip over the part where the mother is breast feeding the Emperor, but I didn’t quite make it.  Welcome to room 106.  All about the bosoms. Sheesh. 
3. Chris is back in the states (or on his way) on leave.  Hooray!
4. I had a great conversation with some of the kids today about people who were “undateable.”  “They may be dateable someday,” I said “but if they use to much sexy talk, and they are loud and tease to much, at this point….UNDATEABLE!”  This was well received.   It was a fun conversation, and one of the few times there was a group clustered about in my room.  I don’t know what caused it, but it was fun.  Though I do want my quiet from time to time, I don’t want to be the grouchy intimidating teacher, so I was glad to have this moment.  A nice way to head out for spring break.
5. 25 services between me and 6:00pm Easter Day.  Don’t believe me?  Count ‘em up!

March 10, 2009

1. All my friendsare blogging late, I shall join them, though I NEED to be in bed!
2. My dear English teacher friend has been dealing with big family issues lately, and has been in and out of school.  The kids adore her, and are always in her room. (Not mine, because I am not as warm and more prone to look busy until they go away)  But, knowing how much she adds, and how I would like to be a kinder gentler person, I deliberately was outgoing and warm in the halls, and tried to hang around making small talk to fill the gap.
3. My personality is split in several pieces:  The person I was, the person I want to be, the person I have become.  I like the last the least.  She seems controlling, too quick to act, and a trifle lazy.  I want to be like a human real simple magazine.  Well ordered lists and clean colors.  Chairs in the sun and lemonade. Warmth. Love.  Affection.
4. Geography class is getting better and better.  Ancient Civ is limping along.  Sociology is still breaking the big wind.
5. Vestry tonight.  Ate too much cake.  Delicious.  Here is a little question, and I am not saying I know the answer, but when people say God will provide, how come that never seems to include the money that is already in the bank?  I mean, what if he already DID provide, but I locked it into a long term CD?

March 1, 2009

1. What’s this?  A forecast for snow?  Lots of snow?  Hello!
2. I had a crew leaders meeting today, and that was pretty fun and informative.  The new carpet ordering and storage of various items in on the march!
3. Caught up on 24 yesterday.  An excellent season thus far.  Set in Washington DC.  Someone from Television without Pity said that it would be great if there were a scene in the metro where Jack was on the chase and had to push people out of the way who were standing to the right on the metro escalator
4. Maybe tomorrow I can catch up on lost, though I may be tempting fate to say that.  So, ahem, “Tomorrow I will go to school early and stay late and grade papers (oh crud, midterm grades are due Wednesday!) and I will work very hard and be excellent, and a credit to all teacherkind.”
5. Pajamas on inside out people!