Thursday, September 29, 2005

Now is come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God...

Well, it turned out Ryan was right. The rehearsal was a little tighter than I expected, and a little more rushed than we might have liked, but the service was lovely. My heart was racing until I finished the epistle, even though I knew I was perfectly well prepared and I didn't feel nervous, exactly. I was able to pray well in this service, and it felt smooth and worshipful to me. It's amazing to me how much more comfortable I am in the chapel this year, even for the wedding a couple weeks ago. It's been a long time since I had that kind of visceral sense that I know more or less what needs to happen, and I am glad of it.

And for those who were waiting to hear about the war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back, but they were defeated. :)

I do like hearing stories over again.

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

Preparing for war in heaven

Thanks for the input, y'all. I'm still unsure about what I want, and beyond that about whether what I *want* for me is the best choice for my likely future, but I'll keep plodding along on that. I'm still working on tomorrow's alb-borrowing, but I imagine I'll find a way to make Judith's work, assuming I can find her again. Also I've forgotten how to tie a cincture, but I'm pretty confident that if I can get an alb, I can find someone to help me tie the cincture.

I am excited for tomorrow's St Michael service. We'll be proceeding on fairly little rehearsal, which makes me a bit nervous, but Ryan assures me that we'll be fine because the middlers and seniors have done it before. I do feel excellently well prepared to sing about war in heaven, however. (Someday I aspire to sing a normal-sounding epistle - my last one was about circumcision and uncircumcision.) So we'll see how it goes, but if we can pull it off all right, it should be a good service.

Monday, September 26, 2005

Soliciting Advice

I've been planning not to buy myself an alb until next year or so - you know, until I really need it for field ed or something. Partly this is to stall on paying for it, and partly because I'm not all that acquainted with various albs, and I don't yet know just what I want.

However, I'm subdeaconing Thursday for St Michael and All Angels, and I need an alb. This is the second time I've needed an alb at Seabury for subdeaconing, and I'm inclined to hope it won't be the last. The problem is that it's exceedingly difficult to borrow an alb when you're not quite 5' tall. I found one last year, but it graduated and moved to Ohio.

I'll find one for Thursday somewhere, but I'm wondering whether maybe I shouldn't just bite the bullet and buy myself an alb now, saving myself the pain of trying to borrow one. Does anyone have any advice on how I might best go about that, or what kind I ought to buy, or whether it makes sense to do it now at all?

Ta.

Saturday, September 24, 2005

ya think?

Brain Lateralization Test Results
Right Brain (50%) The right hemisphere is the visual, figurative, artistic, and intuitive side of the brain.
Left Brain (44%) The left hemisphere is the logical, articulate, assertive, and practical side of the brain
Are You Right or Left Brained?
personality tests by similarminds.com

Thursday, September 22, 2005

meme

via Brooke:

1. Go into your archive.
2. Find your 23rd post (or closest to).
3. Find the fifth sentence (or closest to).
4. Post the text of the sentence in your blog along with these instructions.

I had told the rest of the staff that week two would be way more relaxed and really fun, and luckily they agreed (though Frog admitted that during week one, they weren't going to believe it until they saw it).


Not terribly exciting, but hey.

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

well, damn

I thought I was fairly well aware that my seniors will not be here this year. I'd pretty well got over that denial and have now even started active denial of the possibility that, say, Hope and Andrew might leave this year. But apparently I was wrong, because today at Eucharist I realized that I hadn't quite found a chapel seat I really liked because subconsciously, I was listening for a place where I could hear Jane, Susie, and Dave singing around me.

In case you were wondering, this was not exactly a pleasant realization. It helps that the incoming class is really great, but today - I miss my seniors wicked bad. Y'all should feel free to return any time now. ;)

Monday, September 19, 2005

whiling away a few minutes before [mandatory] compline

You Are a Freedom Rocker!

You're stuck in the 70s - for better or worse
Crazy hair, pot soaked clothes, and tons of groupies
Your kind showed the world how to rock
Is that freedom rock?... Well turn it up man!

wasn't even on my list...

You Should Learn Swedish

Fantastisk! You're laid back about learning a language - and about life in general.
Peaceful, beautiful Sweden is ideal for you... And you won't even have to speak perfect Swedish to get around!

Day One

Well, th' incomin' students be here an' busily gettin' (dis)oriented. We successfully transformed them this mornin' - first into various an' sundry famous swabbies/characters, then into elephants, palm trees, an' bandits. Then we stuffed the'r bellies wi' food an' the'r heads wi' Very Important Details. Somehow, this be actually an exhaustin' task. If thar`s time after th' dean`s dessert reception, I intend on watchin' Gentleman o' fortunes o' th' Caribbean t' celebrate Talk Like a Gentleman o' fortune Tide.

Next high tide': academic advisin' an' faculty introductions. I`ll keep ye posted.

Sunday, September 18, 2005

Don't Lay Down

One of the things I like about iTunes is that some songs get played regularly and others don't show up for months - and then they switch patterns. I don't think this one has come on all summer - so when I heard it just now, I realized it's not the same. I used to appreciate the sentiment objectively - now I see pictures.

Don't lay down if you're gonna fall alseep
Don't lay down if you're gonna lose me
'Cause I'm with you pulling for a miracle
I'm with you pulling for a cure
I know that you isn't what they're giving you
But I'm with you taking some more so
Don't lay down

Don't give up gently
Don't give in to what they say will be
I'm not ready to lose you
I'm not ready to see
Your light shining on the ocean
Your love swimming in the sea so
Don't lay down

Let's go down and watch another night fall
Someday darkness is gonna find us all
So don't lay down
Don't lay down
Don't lay down, hey hey

Don't lay down
Don't lay down
Down
Don't lay down
Hey


Coincidentally (?) this song was followed by "Christmas Lullaby," with the lyrics:

"Glory, glory, I will sing the name of the Lord... And I will be like Mother Mary with a blessing in my soul..."

Which makes me think of a third song, written by a friend for contemporary worship services:

I believe in God
He made everything
He had a son named Jesus Christ
That's what I believe.

I believe he died
Hanging on a cross
Then Easter day God raised him from the dead
That's what I believe.

I believe he lives
And we live in him
And he will always care for us
That's what I believe.


Anyway...

General Appeal

If you and I are eating ice cream together, and especially if I am eating chocolate ice cream, and especially if I am eating a cone - please, please remind me to wipe off the ice cream that is inevitably around my mouth after I'm done. Thanks.

Saturday, September 17, 2005

alleluia

Hope and Andrew are married.

It was probably the loveliest wedding I've ever seen.

I am dead tired.

Friday, September 16, 2005

ding-dong, the bells are gonna chime!

Well, I don't really know if bells will ring or not. I think probably not. But tomorrow is the wedding! We had a very successful rehearsal today - thorough, and longer than average, as the cantors pointed out to me, but helpful and smooth.

Later I got to spend some time with Susie and Tripp and Dave and Stephanie, none of whom I get to see as often as I'd like, since none of them live in Evanston any more. That too was a good thing.

Did I mention we're having a wedding tomorrow?

Ok, people...

Let's get back on the ball. While the weather forecast still shows tomorrow to be 70s and partly cloudy (which is excellent), today is 55% chance of rain. Let's all be praying that the rain holds off until after the BBQ today, and that we get a fair amount of sun and good temps for the wedding and reception tomorrow.*

*Yeah, don't bother telling me that neither God nor the weather works this way. I'm not listening today. :)

Thursday, September 15, 2005

even longer day...

Your Element is Water

Your power colors: blue and aqua

Your energy: deep

Your season: winter

Like the ocean, you evoke deep feelings and passion.
You have an emotional, sensitive, and spiritual soul.
A bit mysterious, you tend to be quiet when you are working out a problem.
You need your alone time, so that you can think and dream.

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

Fall Meme

We've already established that I can't resist these, plus I'm dead tired from a very good but very long and full day, so I'll pop this in here and head off to bed, to wake up refreshed for a lovely, exciting day of "retreat" (read: work) with this year's worship committee.

Favorite fall dessert: Ted Drewes' Great Pumpkin (pumpkin pie topped with frozen custard and whipped cream).
Favorite fall holiday: Thanksgiving. There aren't a terrible lot of big fall holidays, and I love the time to spend with family or friends just eating delicious food and talking together.
Best fall memory: Best? Probably the feeling of waking up on my 22nd birthday next to a brand-new girlfriend and going to chapel with her for Sunday services, having just set up the Shower of Stoles exhibit together in the chapel the night before. Most unadulteratedly positive, though, was my 19th birthday. I was the first first-year in my college house to have a birthday, so my friends went all out with a pink things scavenger hunt, door decor, etc - plus it was Mountain Day, so we had the day off! (Why doesn't Seabury have Mountain Day?)
Worst fall memory: Five weeks of missing Emily.
Most puzzling fall memory: Maples and oaks that didn't turn colors (Hamburg)
Best thing about fall walks: Crisp air and colorful leaves (doesn't count if it's only one - the best thing is both)
Favorite fall chore: Buying school supplies
Least favorite fall chore: Dealing with Rockwell House leaves
Best change in the home: Sweaters!
Favorite flower: I'm supposed to like fall flowers? Are there other fall flowers besides mums (which I don't like)? My favorite fall flowers are leaves.
Best tree in the fall: Maple
Fall ritual: Starting school
Most frustrating thing about fall: November
Favorite childhood game: specifically for fall? I guess jumping in the leaves... I don't think we had games specifically for fall.
Favorite childhood memory: Dressing up as a red crayon
Favorite decorations: Fall leaves outside the window
Favorite clothing: Sweaters and jeans
Best scenery: Pioneer Valley. Specifically, any area of Smith campus where you can see both pond and mountains.
Best fall travel tip: um? I don't think I have any unique tips
Favorite drink: Hot apple cider. Red wine, too, but that's most of the year.
Best method of transportation: Where are you going? It does seem sad to take public transport in the fall, though, when scenic drives and walks are so nice.
Traditional fall candy: Well, candy corn is traditional, but I don't much like it. I don't eat much candy, really, any time of year. I do like caramel apples though.
Favorite Sound: Football cheering
Best for fall sex: I suppose having a spouse/partner would be a good start.
Fall song: Hmm. The one that comes to mind is "Elizabeth" (Catie Curtis), but I'm not sure what makes that a fall song.
Reliable prediction: School will start? (What kind of question is that?)
Best fall television show: "Shibboleth" (West Wing)

Tuesday, September 13, 2005

ok, ok...

I've been holding out on this one, mostly to prove that I could, but clearly I am powerless over the internet quiz.

Pure Nerd

91 % Nerd, 47% Geek, 34% Dork
For The Record:



A Nerd is someone who is passionate about learning/being smart/academia.

A Geek is someone who is passionate about some particular area or subject, often an obscure or difficult one.

A Dork is someone who has difficulty with common social expectations/interactions.



You scored better than half in Nerd, earning you the title of: Pure Nerd.



The times, they are a-changing. It used to be that being exceptionally smart led to being unpopular, which would ultimately lead to picking up all of the traits and tendences associated with the "dork." No-longer. Being smart isn't as socially crippling as it once was, and even more so as you get older: eventually being a Pure Nerd will likely be replaced with the following label: Purely Successful.



Congratulations!







My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:
free online datingfree online dating
You scored higher than 98% on nerdiness
free online datingfree online dating
You scored higher than 69% on geekosity
free online datingfree online dating
You scored higher than 54% on dork points


things you can't mapquest...

If anyone has decent driving directions from Skokie to the parking lots near Lake Shore Drive and Navy Pier, please let me know asap. I can get people there from Evanston, but from Skokie I'd have to take them out Dempster to Chicago and then up and over to Sheridan. Anyone have a better way?

Monday, September 12, 2005

who'd have thought

that even Jane was organized enough to remember which bag she put the four iron shelf supports for my bookcase in while moving? Thanks to Jane, though, my shelves are all stable and my books are halfway organized.

Thanks to Cliff, Andrew, Hope, Pippa, and AKMA for their moving help as well. I was amazed that we were able to get it all relocated in one day (during which I still had to do some last minute packing, even).

And now, back to finish a shelf of books before heading to bed. The room needs to be reasonably tidy and organized for my new roommate's arrival on Thursday.

Friday, September 09, 2005

Amendment

Thanks to those of you who've offered help tomorrow! An important amendment for anyone desiring to help move things:

We'll be starting the moving party at 12 noon, not 10 am. I don't foresee this being a big deal, since we're moving the time because that's when people can come.

See y'all tomorrow!

Thursday, September 08, 2005

plea

Some of you know this already, but I am planning to move dorm rooms on Saturday. This involves moving a fair amount of furniture, which I am hard pressed to do alone. I *think* a couple of you have in fact agreed to help with that, but I'm quickly losing track of who can be around when.

SO - if you are able, I would greatly appreciate help moving that day. I'll be ready to go from 10 am on, and will provide cold drinks and eventually pizza. If you can help, it would be super duper great if you could tell me ahead of time when you are able to be here. If, for instance, no one can come before noon, that would be great to know. I don't want to wait for people who aren't coming or despair of people who are. I know there's nobody anywhere in the Chicago area who owes me any sort of favor, and in fact I'm still in most of your debt, but I'm asking anyway, out of sheer physical limitation.

Thanks to any and all of you who can help!

just for fun

From Caroline's journal:

i-Pod game:

How many total songs?
1596 songs, 5.64GB

Sort by Song Title - first and last songs?
First: 'Comes A Time - Ani DiFranco
Last: Your Tongue Like the Sun In My Mouth - Sophie B. Hawkins

Sort by Time - first and last songs?
First: (0:24) 'Comes A Time - Ani DiFranco
Last: (27:15) Blind Frail (Hidden Track) - Jars of Clay

Top Ten Played Songs
1. Black Heart Today - Amy Ray
2. Falling Silent In the Dark - Catie Curtis
3. I Still Want To - Catie Curtis
4. Don't Cry Anymore - Catie Curtis
5. Kid Fears - Indigo Girls
6. Hold On - Sarah McLachlan
7. February - Dar Williams
8. Free In You - Indigo Girls
9. Fatherless at 14 - Kendall Payne
10. Laramie - Amy Ray (tied with Elizabeth - Catie Curtis and Come On Home - Indigo Girls)

Last Ten Played
1. Just Like Downtown - Carrie Newcomer
2. Luka - Suzanne Vega
3. The Women of Smith - Smith College Glee Club and Chorus
4. Superstar - Various (Indigo Girls et al)
5. You Oughta Know (Alternate) - Alanis Morissette
6. Stormy Weather - Joni Mitchell
7. Such a Way - Stephen Kellogg
8. When the Sun Goes Down In the City - Big River soundtrack
9. Soulfully - Catie Curtis
10. If I Had a Hammer - Peter, Paul & Mary

Find 'sex.' How many songs show up?
15: the entirety of Mary Chapin Carpenter's Time*Sex*Love and a Sufjan Stevens song

Find 'death.' How many songs show up?
1: Judas' Death - Jesus Christ Superstar

Find 'love.' How many songs show up?
105: everything from "Of the Father's Love Begotten" to "When We Make Love" to "Four Leaf Clover"

Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Then again, maybe I'll post a lot

Two fun facts:

First,

Athanasius
You are Athanasius! You are willing to fight a
losing battle, just to make sure that the truth
is told. But don't get discouraged; sometimes
it takes more than one lifetime for truth to
triumph.


Which Saint Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla


Second, I FOUND MY ROSARY!!! Now, I actually have a few rosaries. I have a Tibetan rosary with smooth wooden beads that's lovely but works better as prayer beads than for praying the Catholic rosary, since it's, you know, Tibetan. I have a gorgeous clay rosary that I coveted in the gallery case all through college, and told my parents I'd love it for my ordination present, and which they decided to buy me at the start of seminary instead. I have a sweet little wooden one from Notre Dame that I keep at my parents'. And I made myself one from hemp and pony beads in May, so that I'd have a sturdy praying Catholic rosary while I tried to decide what to do about losing my favorite rosary, the sturdy jade rosary a friend gave me as my very first rosary - the rosary I took with me to the hospital over spring break, which got me through several uncomfortable hospital nights over the last year. I hadn't seen it since March, and I was convinced I'd left it caught in the bedclothes at Rush, which meant it was lost forever by the time I gave up looking in my room. It's both a perfect fit for my hands, comfortable to pray with, and irreplaceable as a gift and reminder of learning to pray it in the first place.

Anyway - today as I prepared to move, I picked up the Vogue I'd bought over spring break as a distraction, which I'd never finished reading. As I paged through looking for good pictures to keep, I came to where I'd stopped reading - and THERE IT WAS!!!

I'm the most excited ever.

Weather prayers

While trying to coordinate some orientation/wedding process, I noticed just now that weather.com is predicting heat to break next Thursday night and give us a sunny 78 degree high on Friday Sept 16. Generally, I don't trust weather.com much, and especially ten days ahead of time, but let's all start praying that "sunny and 78" is an accurate description of both the 16th and the 17th, shall we?

Back

I'm safely back in Evanston and slowly working towards a move on Saturday. Anyone who's around is welcome to join in my "moving party" Saturday 10 am until we finish moving at least the big stuff. There will be cold drinks, also pizza at some point. The more, the merrier!

Between the move and the impending start of school, which brings with it a wedding and orientation and liturgical responsibilities, I'm still not sure how much time I'll have for blogging. I'm still way behind on reading all your blogs, and I'm pretty swamped by just the move itself. So keep stopping by... just know that my "routine" may not get reestablished until orientation actually starts.