Friday Five

It's Friday, and the RevGalsBlogPals have a travel Friday Five:

1) What was the mode of transit for your last trip? Airplane to go to Texas for Christmas

2) Have you ever traveled by train? Does Commuter Rail count? If so, then yes!

3) Do you live in a place with public transit, and if so, do you use it? YES! I love the T.

4) What's the most unusual vehicle in which you've ever traveled? A dune buggy, when I was about 12, with a boy who I was madly in love with, but he was 18 or 19, and I'm quite sure no one had any clue I was Sooo In Love with him. We weren't even on sand dunes, it was a street legal buggy, and he gave me a ride home from my dad's shop (worked for my dad).

5) What's the next trip you're planning to take? Back to Texas, in another plane. And after that, maybe a train to NYC.

I'm taking a journey back through all my old notebooks this week. (like that travel segue? lol) It seems that I haven't been as organized as I thought. Five semesters times four classes each...that's a lot of unorganized paperwork. The good thing about sorting back through binders and looking at all the course notes and readings is that it is refreshing my memory of all the work I've done thus far. This term I'm working on my comprehensive exam bibliographies. I'll take three exams next fall, and each one will have a bibliography of about 25-30 books, most of which I've already read in my coursework (or read at least part of a book). So this notebooks exercise is helping me to think about which books I will want to talk about with my advisors in putting together those bibliographies.

Can you tell I'm an optimist? Always looking for that silver lining! :-)

busy days

It's been a busy couple of days, but I knew I had to get back in here and finish cleaning up. The windows need doing! :-) and the author needs to figure out why adding links isn't working in our little bloggy.

Now I have to clean up something else - I have to get off my mind how I'm feeling about the special senate election here in Massachusetts. It stinks. Period. It was just another round of expensive TV ads, all of them nasty and negative. It bothers me that politicians are so willing to rip each other to pieces to win. Politics is all about power. There is no public service in politics. Neither side (not even the independent parties) is willing to put the needs of the people above their own self interests. The so-called "health care reform" that Congress is working on now is not really reform. At its best, it might be expanded coverage. There won't be any reform of health care costs, there won't be any insurance reform. Those are what matters, but they aren't part of the discussion in Washington. I've come down hard on scripture - put not your trust in mortals or princes (Psalm 146:3).

Health care is in my view, a moral imperative. True reform and care for those who cannot care for themselves will only come when people of faith take seriously God's call to care for the orphan and the widow - code words for those who cannot provide for themselves. My family is blessed enough to have insurance and good doctors - but it hasn't always been so, and I'm grateful for good health and good doctors. I never want others to have to live with the fear of not knowing how you'll pay for what you need if you or your children get sick or hurt.

There. I'm done with that now.

It's been a busy week. I left my ID at the security checkpoint in Houston before flying back to Boston. That's a paperwork nightmare to navigate! But I should have it back soon, thanks to the TSA people. My Uncle David died on Wednesday, which is a little sad for my mom. He's not been well, and he's lived a long, happy life. I'm truly grateful to all the people who've worked for his group home over the years. I'll always remember his smile. Uncle David had a sweet, ready smile - especially when the Twins or Vikings were winning!

I'm back in classes, which means I'm riding the T again. I have to say, I LOVE riding the T. I think it's because it makes getting around so stress free. I like driving (how many times have I driven back and forth across Texas?) but driving in Boston is not easy. On top of that, there's precious little parking and it's (as they say up here) wicked expensive. :-)

When I lived north of the city, I'd take the Commuter Rail train and transfer to the subway, which stops right at the university. Now I'm in a western suburb, and I take a bus to a subway stop. Once I'm on the subway train, I study a little or look to see what others are reading. And thus, "Seen Being Read on the T" was born...

Tuesday's Seen Being Read on the T:
Jodie Picoult - Picture Perfect
Boston Globe
Metro (free daily paper)
Sarah Vowell - The Wordy Shipmates
Securities License Exam Study Guide
JM Cotzee - Summertime
Constitutional Law
Barbara Hamilton - The Ninth Daughter

Wednesday's Seen Being Read on the T:
Business Week
New York Times
Metro
Boston Globe
Richard Dawkins - The God Delusion
William Bramley - The Gods of Eden
Rhonda Byrne - The Secret

Thursday's Seen Being Read on the T:
Arthur C. Clarke - 2001: A Space Odyssey
Raising Arizona (screenplay?)
Paul Hattaway - The Heavenly Man

That last book was mine. I had my eyes on my own book, rather than sneaking a peek at other rider's titles. Amazon has been helpful when all I've seen was an author's name or partial title, and some cover art.

sheesh it's dusty in here

My poor neglected blog. You're all dusty and pitiful. Like no one's been here in months!

~dusting, vacuuming, general tidying up~

There. Better? I'll be back soon with more regular blogging. It was a New Year's resolution. :-)

Reading material on the T this morning:
Metro
Wall Street Journal
Sports Illustrated
Michener's Mexico
two Kindles

I like observing what people read on their commute. Lots of papers and magazines today, not so many novels.

Thoughts about the earthquake in Haiti are over on Facebook. It's so overwhelming, and I'm doing some heavy thinking about short term missionaries (who are now trying to leave rather than stay and help).

another friday five

It's Friday. That to-do list of mine...it's not done. The most important stuff for Sunday is done, but all the other important stuff, well, I should get to it today. It might help if I find all the scraps of paper strewn around the house with the different bits of the to-do list stuff on them....

Meanwhile, in the spirit of procrastination, I'll answer the RevGalBlogPals Friday Five for your entertainment. It's all about grocery shopping in honor of a Trader Joe's opening:

So in honor of the new Trader Joe's, this week's Friday Five is all about food shopping.


1. Grocery shopping--love it or hate it?
I love it. Actually like grocery shopping several times a week, little trips just picking up what we need for meals.


2. Who is the primary food shopper in your household?
Me! Lucky me. But Celia has appointed herself the primary "Put Away" person because she is so organized.


3. Do you have a beloved store like TJ's which is unique to your location or family?
No, not really. There's a Shaw's down the street from our apartment, so I can walk to the store. But the stores in Texas have tortillerias, so I can get fresh tortillas anytime. I miss that ALOT.


4. How about a farmer's market, or CSA share, as we move into summer? Or do you grow your own fruits/veggies/herbs?
There are two farmer's markets in town we can walk to, but only one is fairly local. I don't know where farmer's markets are in Texas, I'll have to search for one. I used to have a garden and sold my produce at the Walker County Farmer's Market, when the girls were really young. Just load stuff up in the back of the truck, park next to the other folks, drop the tailgate, and voila! Farmer's Market. lol


5. What's the favorite thing you buy at the grocery store?
I don't have a favorite thing to buy. There are lots of things I buy regularly, lots of juice and milk and stuff.

It's time to slow it down a little

My brain is full. I made a silly goof today, via email. Sent out the wrong document to SO many of my Sunday school parents and all of my teachers. Ugh. Nothing to do but to admit the mistake and send out the correct document, which I've done. At least the correct document had the right work done for Sunday.

At the moment there are too many details for me to be thinking about, and there has been company on top of all the lists and decisions in my head. There doesn't seem to be a spare moment to relax or get centered - and yet I know that if I could make the time to relax and get centered, things would come clear.

One of the girls asked me a few minutes ago for some homework help. After I'd answered her question, I went back to watching mindless television. When the next ad came on, I asked if she needed any more help, and she said no. I said "that's good because I think my brain was still trying to think."

And that, my friends, is how I know I'm too tired. LOL

Friday on Thursday

Today is travel day, back to the cooler temperatures of New England. I miss the girls, and I love to fly, but I don't like to pack. I'm not packing right now, thus the blogging. Guess that makes this the Procrastination Blog.

However, I don't have any clever new ideas for blogging, so this one is from last Friday's RevGalBlogPals "Friday Five". Friday on Thursday - there ya go!

"Here is your chance to get it out into the open and OWN your Big To-Do! Who knows? Maybe making the list will help you move the Big To-Do to the Big Ta-Da!"

1) What home fix-it project is on your Big To-Do?
We're still trying to fix up the house after the renters messed it up. Lots of painting, carpet has some odd bright pink spots, etc. James has some roofers coming this week to look at the roof, seems Ike left some damage and it needs fixing. But the roof is not on MY list. lol

2) What event (fun or work) is on your Big To-Do?
American Society of Missiology and International Association of Practical Theologians, both conferences later this summer. My first professional organizational meetings! Whee!

3) What trip is on your Big To-Do?
Driving the girls down to Texas. I think we'll probably stop at a college or two for Celia along the way. The girls are great road trip buddies. Should be fun!

4) What do you wish was on someone ELSE's (partner, family member, celebrity, etc...) Big To-Do?
Getting another mammogram later this summer. And dealing with all of last year's medical bills, that giant stack on the table awaiting payment. That could be on any celebrity's list, would only take a second to pay off!

5) Getting inspired? What may end this summer having moved from the Big To-Do to the Big Ta-da?
Moving the kids back to Texas will definitely get done. Moving me to tiny room will definitely get done. Painting? Not sure. Celia making a decision about what schools to apply to? Hopefully. Getting that mammogram? Inevitable. ~sigh~

How time flies

Time flies when you ignore your blog.

I confess that I've had a hard time focusing on the blog, and thus have ignored it rather than write anything. I've had several good excuses. None worth putting down though.

It's June and I'm in Texas. Actually, today is my ninth wedding anniversary. :-) We'll have a braai and South African wine later to celebrate.

Yesterday I drove down to Galveston for the first time since Ike hit. The church is very different. The damage to the building has allowed for repair to the walls around the stained glass and new plexiglass to protect them. Other repairs have been made to the sanctuary floor, and new pews have been installed. The roof is having extensive repairs as well. Several of the staff told me that they were moving back into their homes this week. After lunch I drove around a bit to see the damage in town for myself. The homes were as expected, in various states of repair, some still down to studs inside.

But what took my breath away was the trees. No one told me that the trees would be so bare, so stark. The big old oaks lining Broadway - nearly all of them are completely bare. Oleanders were also killed off, and one intersection with several tall eucalyptus trees was empty, not a branch or tree trunk in sight. It was disorienting.

Someone told me that they'd recently been downtown on the Strand for a celebration of re-opening the downtown district. However, only one out of three businesses are back. The island is steadfastly repairing and building up again, but clearly Ike has taken a hard toll on Galvestonians.

Although it was mid-day, I stopped and went down to the water's edge. Typically I won't get outside between 11 and 3 in the summer (I'll burn in a second if I'm not covered in sunscreen) but I couldn't be at the Gulf and not touch the sand and water. It was really peaceful. Families playing, flying kites, guys out fishing, boards of all kinds in the water, and picnics under umbrellas and shelters.

The soft sand back toward the seawall was really hot, then over the dead sargasso grass, and then onto the hard pack sand near the water. Millions of tiny seashells washed back and forth in the gentle surf. The water was so warm and inviting, washing up over my ankles. Hard to comprehend that the laughter, the gulls calling, the seashells - all seem so fragile, so joyful - and yet they are all part of the wind and water that in a moment become so destructive.

So many times I've been tempted to leave out part of the Baptism ritual, because when you're holding someone's precious infant in your arms, you don't much want to talk about the destructive power of water. But water is also a creative force. Being at the Gulf reminded me of all the times I went with family and friends, all the laughter and joy we shared, such simple times. And yet it is that same water that has been spun up into hurricanes, and I've lived through eight or nine tropical storms and hurricanes in my life. Ike was the first bad one to hit the Texas coast while I was not there - and it hit the house I used to live in, hit the houses of my friends, my church members, my co-workers, hit the schools my children attended. The one news picture that has stuck in my mind is the one of little Kaitlin helping her dad to hand out ice in front of the church in the aftermath. Kaitlin was the first child I ever baptized, she and her baby brother.

Waters of the Gulf to play in. Waters of the Gulf destroying trees, homes, businesses. Waters of baptism, making us holy. Water frozen into ice, sustaining life after tragedy.

Rains fell as I drove onto the island yesterday, but it was sunny and hot there on the edge of the Gulf. Back across the hard packed sand and shells, across the sargasso grasses, through the soft hot sands, back up the steep steps to the top of the Seawall. Driving across the Causeway, I saw gathering clouds ahead, and as I left the island, the rain began to fall again.