Temperance Girl

Over the Pond (8) -- The Daily Hymn

2011-04-13T11:39:00.005-04:00

After meeting with Robert on Monday, I spent some time at the Cathedral. Over the years I've come to deeply appreciate the centering affect its presence produces in me. As I perused the hymnal and listened to the choristers practice, I remembered the years of singing hymns at the Episcopal church of my childhood, the Asbury seminary chapel, and other places. So, I'm taking OTP (8) on a tour of my favorites while I'm here. Below is "All Creatures of Our God and King". I'd forgotten that Francis of Assisi penned the lyrics, and I'd certainly never heard the 5th and 6th verses. But I feel they somehow complete the hymn, particularly the verse about "most kind and gentle Death." I know it doesn't always work this way, but there's something... comforting, in a way, about the image of Death gently "leading home the child of God."

If you'd like to sing along where you are, here's a link to a recording of the melody.

All creatures of our God and King

Lift up your voice and with us sing,

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Thou burning sun with golden beam,

Thou silver moon with softer gleam!

O praise Him! O praise Him!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Thou rushing wind that art so strong

Ye clouds that sail in Heaven along,

O praise Him! Alleluia!

Thou rising moon, in praise rejoice,

Ye lights of evening, find a voice!

O praise Him! O praise Him!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Thou flowing water, pure and clear,

Make music for thy Lord to hear,

O praise Him! Alleluia!

Thou fire so masterful and bright,

That givest man both warmth and light.

O praise Him! O praise Him!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Dear mother earth, who day by day

Unfoldest blessings on our way,

O praise Him! Alleluia!

The flowers and fruits that in thee grow,

Let them His glory also show.

O praise Him! O praise Him!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

And all ye men of tender heart,

Forgiving others, take your part,

O sing ye! Alleluia!

Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,

Praise God and on Him cast your care!

O praise Him! O praise Him!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

And thou most kind and gentle Death,

Waiting to hush our latest breath,

O praise Him! Alleluia!

Thou leadest home the child of God,

And Christ our Lord the way hath trod.

O praise Him! O praise Him!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Let all things their Creator bless,

And worship Him in humbleness,

O praise Him! Alleluia!

Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,

And praise the Spirit, Three in One!

O praise Him! O praise Him!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Over the Pond, volume 8 -- It's been a long time coming

2011-04-12T10:53:00.012-04:00

Well... here I am again! So, I just checked, and I've blogged just 5 times in the last 21 months. That's pathetic. And there's just no way to get caught up in any clever manner, so I'm going to jump back in with an old crowd-pleaser. It's the first installment of Over the Pond, volume 8. (If you'd like to read any of the back issues, you can get them on the sidebar.) Seriously, it's been so long that I can't remember how to do this.

So, if you've followed previous seasons of OTP, you'll know it means that I'm back in Durham to work on my dissertation. It's my first trip since September 2009, which I apparently never got around to blogging. Chalk it up to the fact that I was 27 weeks pregnant and trying to finish my paper on Augustine. Anyway, now that our son Roman (and that's a whole other set of posts) is 15 months old, it seemed like a good time to resume the journey towards the PhD. In a way, it feels like I was just here. The familiarity of arriving into London Heathrow, making my way through Passport Control and across London to King's Cross and onto the train to Durham. This trip was more draining than I remember (although it could be that I was just more exhausted upon departure. Hey, with 2 little kids it's possible.) Since I left during the kids' spring break, I wanted to spend as much time with them as possible, so I didn't depart until 7:30 Thursday night. A couple of hours and 2 glasses of pinot later, and we departed for London at 11pm. I had good intentions of either studying or sleeping, but -- like I always seem to do -- I spent much of the flight reading a wonderful new novel that I'd saved just for the trip. If you are in search of a good read, I highly recommend Never Let Me Go.

The trip through London was pleasantly uneventful, and I grabbed my favorite, favorite English sandwich, a warm brie-bacon-cranberry-spinach baguette. This is one of my favorite things about my trips. After phoning my friend Maeve, I hopped a train for Durham, which would have been far more pleasant if I'd had a seat anywhere but the hot, hot vestibule. After a quick doze and a a game of train bingo with a British 8 yr old, I reached Durham just in time for a small dinner party at my friend Maeve's flat, where I'll be staying this week. It was a bit of a challenge staying up after the trip, but a fabulous meal and a few glasses of shiraz were just what the doctor ordered. So the library's about to close, and I'm headed to Evensong at the Cathedral, to the Market Tavern for some pub grub, then back to Maeve's to write. But I promise -- I will be back tomorrow. With pictures.

He's here!

2009-12-19T10:19:00.002-05:00

Roman Matthew Kenney

December 16th, 2009, 2:38am

8 lbs, 9 oz, 21 1/2 inches long

Born naturally after 7 hours active labor

Everyone is doing well! Details, pictures, and birth story to follow. If you're on Facebook, there's already lots of stuff there, but I'll be sharing it here as well. I'll also be posting some Miranda-related items at Chronicles of Wunchie.

Thanks so much to everyone who prayed for us & supported us in every way. We're looking forward to introducing him to everyone, so feel free to call & stop by!

Over the Pond, volume 7 -- On its way...

2009-09-26T04:45:00.001-04:00

Hello all...

I know I promised on Facebook to blog this, my last journey to Durham before the new baby arrives. But somehow I've had very limited access to wireless here, and have been trying, trying, trying to get schoolwork finished, and for some reason Blogger Dashboard won't let me post pics or access links or anything. So, I'm going to try and blog it when I return next week. I might even get some good posts done, since I won't be feeling guilty about blogging instead of doing homework.

So, thanks for even being interested, and we'll see you next week!

5 things meme

2009-07-26T15:02:00.006-04:00

I borrowed this from Morning Coffee.

5 things I was doing 5 years ago:

preparing for our 5-week trip to Europe
trying to get pregnant
writing a paper on Aristotle
working in the garden with the neighborhood kids
working with Communality

5 things on tomorrow's to-do list:

leadership meeting
finish 2 DSE articles
fold & rotate laundry
order cake & make to-do list for Miranda's birthday party
get to the gym

5 things I would do with a million dollars:

pay off our mortgage
fund a 1-year sabbatical for Billy so that he could do some personal writing
donate money to our favorite nonprofits, to Communality, & to One Horizon, & become an extravagent tipper
take Billy & the kids to Guatemala, & go with Billy to Africa
ok, I'll admit it -- get a twice-monthly manicure & pedicure

5 places I have lived:

Lubbock, Tx
Jonesville, Va
Stickleyville, Va
Wilmore, Ky
Lexington, Ky

5 things I want to be doing in 5 years:

teaching ethics somewhere I enjoy
having adventures with my 9 yr old and 4 yr old
pursuing a more healthy lifestyle -- eating better, exercising more regularly
travelling
expanding my gardening and local food skills -- eating more sustainably, locally, & healthfully

If you're reading this, consider yourself tagged. Leave me a comment so I'll know to go read yours!

The 17-week turnip

2009-07-13T22:48:00.002-04:00

Here's the latest on our growing, 17-week baby.

Ok, Ok! I'm back!

2009-07-03T12:47:00.006-04:00

It's been a crazy few months, but I'm glad to be back, and am counting on a newly-arrived burst of energy to keep me here. More on that later. What's been happening?

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If you couldn't tell by the change in the picture behind my title, I'm pregnant, and due December 18th! We're at 16 weeks, and I'm feelings much better after a difficult 1st trimester. The dizziness and nausea which were ever-present for about 7 weeks have gone, and the remaining fatigue is tempered by bursts of 2nd trimester energy. Here's hoping they last, and that I make good use of them while they remain!! I'm also going to prenatal yoga at Baby Moon, a truly incredible pregnancy and birthing support center. If you are pregnant in the Lexington area, or know someone who is, I HIGHLY recommend paying them a visit.

Our community hosted another School for Conversion in April. Here's a post on the ashram about our time together, and some great pics of the event. Start with this one and move to the right. I'm also headed to Missiouri next weekend to facilitate another School with the Shepherdsfield Community.

I presented a paper at this conference on the virtue of temperance, which is the subject of my dissertation. Here's an article where I'm quoted about the topic. (Ok, only once, but still.)

Along with the rest of the board and teachers of Schools for Conversion, I'm now blogging at the Tikkun Daily site. It's an interfaith gathering of "spiritual progressives" who are considering how faith makes a difference in daily life.

I'm also working on several articles for the forthcoming Dictionary of Scripture and Ethics.

We hosted another concert by the psalters. Here's a post I did about the evening.

Billy took a fabulous trip to Africa through his work with the foundation. Here, here, and here are some posts about his time.

And, I have been doing some blogging at Miranda's site.

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Whew. Is that enough for now?

OTP (6) -- some humor from Hackney

2009-03-22T16:42:00.008-04:00

"Love Poem" by Banksy

Beyond watching eyes
With sweet and tender kisses
Our souls reached out to each other
In breathless wonder

And when I awoke
From a vast and smiling peace
I found you bathed in morning light
Quietly studying
All the messages on my phone

OTP (6) -- Cultural Imperialism (both imports and exports)

2009-03-22T11:24:00.008-04:00

I'm not sure if this happens to everyone, but whenever I'm here in the UK, I always find things that I wish I could import back to the States on a grand scale.

I'd bring back the beautiful window boxes which seem to exists absolutely everywhere. They adorn houses, restaurants, and lots of other public buildings. And they always seem to look beautiful, whatever the time of year.
I'd teach everyone to make tea like they do here -- usually by the pot, and when they pour, they leave enough room for you to add milk without it spilling over the rim.
I'd introduce pub culture. I ate dinner Friday night at a pub in Edinburgh, and was interested to see all these folks at the same pub: 1) 2 elderly women eating a sandwich dinner, 2) 3 academic types (one was carrying a work by Foucault) discussing something esoteric and sipping pints), and 3) a table of hevily pierced, tattooed, mohawked fellas watching sports and being mildly rowdy. I just LOVE that all these folks felt at home in the same place.

And conversely, there are things which I wish I could bring to the UK.

I'd bring enough "mixer valves" to install in each and every faucet in the country. That is, the contraption that allows you to mix the hot & cold water before it comes out of the faucet. I get so tired of washing my hands or my face or brushing my teeth, and having to alternate between the cold and hot taps. First you freeze, then you scald, then freeze, then scald, etc. Bleah.

OTP (6), day 9 -- Quick update

2009-03-21T20:39:00.002-04:00

In Edinburgh.

Conference went well.

No one laughed at my paper.

In bed, exhausted.

Headed to London tomorrow.

Until then.

OTP (6), day 8 -- Time flies when you're having fun

2009-03-20T13:38:00.007-04:00

It always happens. I find myself packing for the train out of Durham and wonder, "Didn't I just get here??" Well, here are some of the other interesting things I did when I wasn't studying.

I got to watch Maeve and two colleagues work on a project/grant from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation on 'The Media, Poverty, and Public Opinion in the UK." It was fascinating to hear about ways in which media, both traditional and "new media", can be used to shape public opinion -- positive and negative -- on poverty. People like Daniel Meadows at Photobus are using digital storytelling to empower people to tell their own story in their own way. Maeve & her friends did a presentation that evening in the St. Chad's Senior Common Room, which was great and very well attended.

I attended a postgraduate seminar on "Trees in Tarkovsky's Work" by Prof. Gerard Loughlin.

I watched children from a local school prepare for a concert in the Cathedral. It's nice to see the way that this magnificent World Heritage site is incorporated in the daily life of the community.

I went to a formal dinner at St. Chad's College and sat the Reverend Canon Rosalind Brown, the "residentiary canon" of the Cathedral. She also used to be part of a group called Community of Celebration outside Pittsburgh, which sounds strikingly similar to Communality (yes, in more than just the name).

Sorry for all the links in this post. It's all just so interesting.

OTP (6), day 7 -- What else should I do between papers?

2009-03-19T10:42:00.007-04:00

It seems there’s always something interesting going on in Durham. This time, there’s a fascinating exhibit at the Cathedral entitled On Being Human, created by South African artist Jane Alexander and featuring her ideas about the Bom Boys, children who live on the Streets of Cape Town. Check out the website through the link – it’s quite something.

Also, Robert (my advisor) and others are becoming involved in Climate Durham, an initiative to help reduce the city’s carbon footprint.

OTP (6), day 7 -- What should I do between papers?

2009-03-19T10:28:00.009-04:00

Through some stroke of luck, I have arrived in Durham during the most glorious spring weather. The sun has shone almost every day, bringing to my awareness the beautiful, vibrant green of the lawns, the vivid yellow of the daffodils and the blooming forsythia, the heather flowering a deep violet. The temperatures have stayed in the mid-60s, absolutely perfect for sitting on the Palace Green, as I’m doing now.

It’s easy to forget about the charmed aspects of life as a college student. As I sit here and write, there are dozens of students lounging on the Green – eating pastries from The Almshouses on the Green, discussing their end of term papers, young couples holding hands or napping together. Most interesting to me is the group of guys playing a passionate game of croquet on the lawn. This is not something you’d see in the States. (Maeve has just informed me that you wouldn't see it most places in the UK, either. "It's a class thing," she said.)

OTP (6) -- Proud of my (future) alma mater

2009-03-18T19:05:00.007-04:00

The Department of Theology and Religion here at Durham got some exciting news this spring. Apparently, they are the top ranked theology department in the UK for research and publications. That's actually very cool.

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(from the Durham U website)
Department Receives Top RAE Rankings

The Department of Theology and Religion is pleased to announce that in the Research Assessment Exercise for 2008, it has been ranked at no. 1 among all departments of theology and religion in the UK in two categories: (a) the highest percentage of publications at 4* (world-leading research) and (b) the highest Grade Point Average for these publications. This is a major achievement, which confirms Durham University's position as a front-rank institution for Theology and Religion and reflects its continuing leadership in the academic discipline.

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Good thing I was accepted before they received this accolade and could start getting picky!

OTP (6), day 6 -- Grandeur

2009-03-18T18:45:00.003-04:00

Tonight, I went to Evensong, then had dinner at La Tasca, a Spanish tapas restaurant on the Bailey. Afterwards, I walked up the cobbled streets to my friend’s flat, and cut through the Palace Green between the castle & the cathedral. As I entered the Green in the darkness of late evening, I was amazed, yet again, by the grandeur of the cathedral. Enormous, majestic, frontlit by spotlights, with tombstones on the lawn dating back to the 1200s. Even on my 10th visit, I just can’t get enough.

It's arrived -- Over The Pond, volume 6

2009-03-16T07:46:00.009-04:00

Someone said recently that I should change the name of this blog to Over The Pond, since that's the only time I seem to blog consistently. Point taken.

So here I am, again, in Durham. Usually I try to blog at the outset of the trip, but somehow there's no wireless in the Charlotte International Airport (not even for purchase). And when I got to my bed & breakfast for the weekend, nothing there either. So here it is -- Tuesday, day 4 of OTP (6), and I'm trying to get caught up.

This trip has been a bit of a blur so far, probably because the week previous was somewhat crazy. However, the actual departure day was lovely and relaxed -- somehow I'd packed the evening before, so Miranda & I were able to watch Sesame Street, and paint, and dig the garden bed & plant snap peas, and walk to the Meadowthorpe Cafe for lunch. It was wonderful, such good quality time with my girl. Then off to the airport at 2pm, where I caught a plane to Charlotte and on to London.

I spent my first nights at my old standby, the Castle View Guest House in Durham. It does indeed have a view of both the Castle and the Cathedral, plus a lovely garden when one can relax, read about Augustine, or just do nothing in particular. It's nice to be staying there for the 4th time, and have them recognize me and say, "Oh, hello, back again? How are the studies?" That just feels good after a long flight & journey up from London. The English breakfasts were also nice -- bacon, sausage, baked beans, eggs, toast, grilled tomatoes, & wonderful tea. Very sustaining.

I had dinner twice at the Cafe Rouge alongside the river Wear. The food was lovely -- caramelized onion & gruyere cheese bread, spinach tartlets, creme brulee & cappuccino. I was amused to see a young couple eat about half their entrees, then step outside and smoke for about 15 minutes, then return and finish their meals. I'm fairly sure that in the States, their table would have been cleared.

On Sunday morning, I walked about 20 yards down the street to St. Margaret of Antioch, a parish church there in Durham. It's pictured there on the left, and is literally a stone's throw from my bed & breakfast. It was small and welcoming, and the high church liturgy was just perfect for the setting. It was also nice to see a pile of toys in the back corner, where young kids & their mums could peacefully coexist with the rest of the worshippers.

I'm now staying with my friend Maeve, who's another of Robert's students. She's studying the theological bases for Church of England education, which is interesting to discuss as an American, with our stricter separation of church & state.

I'm trying to be witty -- I'm trying! But it's late, and I have some work to finish, and an early meeting tomorrow with Robert. But at least I can compose the daily highlights, days 1-4:

Having a truly fabulous meal -- pulled pork, fried okra, greens, hushpuppies, & my first fried pickle -- at the Charlotte airport. The last time I flew through there, I was 14 weeks pregnant & was just emerging from morning sickness. And the food was just as good as I'd remembered.
Staying close enough to the Cathedral (around 50 yards) that you can really hear the bells calling you in for the Daily Office
Being here 4 nights, and already having dinner twice with Robert & the family
The lovely, lovely spring weather
Sprays of daffodils on the castle lawn
Taking Communion in a church built in 1153
Hearing Miranda squeal with delight during our first call on Skype
Not having Miranda cry & ask me to come home during our first call on Skype
Just being back in Durham. Hello, old friend.

Over the Pond (5), day 13 -- Comings and goings

2008-11-15T14:21:00.010-05:00

Please bear with me -- I do have a couple of posts in the works about my academic progress while in England, and a couple other things. We have houseguests and our community's 10-yr celebration this weekend, and after that I'll get caught up.

I've been trying to decide whether is more enjoyable -- the journey across the pond or the journey home. In some ways I vote for the outgoing journey:

I'm excited about getting a break from childcare and having several days of uninterrupted adult time.

I've usually been working hard in preparation for leaving, so the relief of just sitting in the airport or on the plane is more acute.

I usually have several books that I've been saving to read while I'm gone, so breaking into the first one feels like opening the first of all the Christmas presents.

It's the beginning of the trip, so I'm just excited in general. That first day away feels like the first book -- the first of many exciting days away.

However, this time the journey home felt much more restful.

It's always more relaxing at the end of the trip. While I'm usually fretting over schoolwork on the outgoing flight, I tend to take a break on the way home, so I can read those non-school books or watch those movies with peace of mind.

The flight doesn't represent one "night" of sleep, so I'm less concerned about actually getting some sleep, and more able to relax with a fun diversion.

Anyway... coming home was so relaxing this time around. (Come to think of it, it was last March as well. Two blessings in a row!) I was somehow upgraded to Economy Plus, with extra leg room, and then I had the two seats by the window to myself, as the flight was only half-full. The plane was somewhat chilly, so I drank a glass of wine, snuggled under a blanket, relaxed on the window and let the warm morning sun shine on my neck and shoulders. It sounds silly to describe it now, but it was utterly blissful. I did the crossword, dozed, read parts of Stumbling on Happiness and Acedia & Me, and watched the X-Files movie.

Whereas I usually have a long layover in Chicago O'Hare, this time it was a mere 3 1/2 hours, which is actually the perfect length of time to accomplish the following:

deplane

get through Passport Control

collect my luggage

get through Customs

recheck my luggage

take the train to my next terminal

realize, once again, that I'm at the wrong terminal to get my next boarding pass; walk to that terminal, collect boarding pass, and walk back

proceed through security once again (since I left the "secure" area when I left the international terminal)

locate a Chili's on the way to my Lexington gate, have a burger and check email

get to my gate with 30 minutes to spare before boarding

This is very doable and stress-free. Which is good, because I inevitably crash sometime around now. By then, it's around midnight England time, and my body's ready to sleep, but I still have several hours before reaching home. But my shorter layover meant that I arrived into Lexington around 9:00, where someone was anxious to regain her mommy. Although I'd mentioned to Billy that they could stay home (as I was delayed until 9:45pm), he said that she was looking forward to "getting my mommy from the big airplane." They watched my plane taxi to the gate, and while Billy collected my bags, I was subjected to the delighted cries, kisses, and snuggles of a Wunchie. The best part of the trip home?

"I missed you so much while you were gone, Momma. So much. So SO much. And then you came back to me!"

No question about it -- arriving is better than departing.

Over the Pond (5), day 12 -- Hackney as bookend, and as a potluck of great experiences

2008-11-12T11:12:00.003-05:00

As I often do, I spent the last day of my trip with the Turners in the London Borough of Hackney. Not much of a day, actually, as I arrived just in time to help get the kids from school. Rachel, her mother-in-law and I walked through the drizzling rain and collected the kids, with me marvelling at the intercultural nature of their school. For instance, there are 18 languages spoken in the various homes of Eve's classmates -- English, French, Spanish, German, Yiddish, Fante, Twi, Igbo, Yoruba, Gujarati, Hindi, Urdu, Turkish, Tagalog, Arabic, and three others I can't remember.

After getting caught in a rainstorm on the way home, we made dinner for about 10 guests, families from the neighborhood. It was a great time, and I had a nice time cuddling with their 4-yr-old Eve. Then we put all the kids to bed, and I read a few pages before heading to bed. The next morning, I just had time for tea and toast with Andy and the kids before Rachel took me to Mile End Tube station, where I caught a train to Paddington Station and then to Heathrow.

It seems that I either begin or end my trips in Hackney; it's like a bookend to my trip abroad. And there's always something interesting going on, someone interesting to talk to. Here's a sampling of some of the things I've done while with the Turners in Hackney.

taking long, lovely walks through the Docklands and Hackney Marsh with Rachel, discussing all kinds of things

using too much soap in the washing-up, each and every time

eating takeaway curry and kebabs with Billy after Greenbelt

walking with Rachel to get the kids from school, seeing all the interesting sites in Hackney

sleeping in Jessie's room, sleeping in Millie & Eve's room, sleeping in the lodger's room, sleeping in the lounge, sleeping in the cellar

fixing tea (dinner) with Rachel -- for us, for the kids, for 10 dinner guests

sleeping late

watching Angela's Ashes and Notting Hill by myself

watching Doctor Who with Rachel and Millie

watching Starter for Ten with Rachel and her friend (whose name escapes me)

blogging

visiting the Tate Modern museum

doing laundry

chatting with their lodgers (boarders) -- Rachel, Matsui, Nathan, John

A few years ago I told a man who was considering moving in, "You'll never have a dull day in this house." Fortunately, I've always known that to be true. Until next time!

Over the Pond (5), day 11 -- Breast Pump Woman

2008-11-11T18:58:00.005-05:00

Some of you may remember this post (and this post) from the first season of Over the Pond, July 2006. Well, thanks to this series of events, I have a seemingly permanent nickname in Harrogate -- Breast Pump Woman.

On Sunday afternoon in Harrogate, Pete and Catherine took me to a birthday party of a family from their parish. As we prepared to leave, Catherine said, "Oh, you'll have fun tonight -- this party is being hosted by Tim -- you know, Breast Pump Guy." Apparently, the story of Tim having to send part of my breast pump to me in London, back in July 2006, has garnered quite a following. (His wife, Sue, was also described as "the wife of Breast Pump Guy.") So, as we got to the party, Tim came out to greet us, and Catherine said, "Tim, this is our friend Maria - -you remember Maria, hee hee hee." Tim and I shook hands and laughed, and I said, "We meet at last." Oh well, I thought, at least that's over. Then as we entered the party and began to circulate, Catherine would reply to anyone who asked how we knew each other with, "Oh, she's a friend from the States -- and Tim had to send her her breast pump once." Talk about your raised eyebrows. At least their friends were all totally cool. It was great fun.

So that's me -- Breast Pump Woman.

Over the Pond (5), day 11 -- Filling in the corners

2008-11-11T18:53:00.005-05:00

My Sunday in Harrogate was all about rest and recuperation. After our blissful, Enthusiast day in York, I got a lovely night's sleep, then awoke just in time to beg off of church and get a lovely morning's sleep. I woke, and dozed, and woke, and dozed, and slept, and dozed a bit more. It was just what I needed; I'd been rising early each morning to work on my writing, and was actuely aware of the luxury of resting until noon. In his books, Tolkien describes the hobbits concluding their meals by nibbling and nibbling, "filling up the corners." That's exactly what I did on Sunday, and it was wonderful.

After Pete and Catherine returned, each having preached that morning, Catherine and I drank tea and checked email and chatted by the fire while Pete fixed a yummy lunch of sausage and mustard mash, baked beans, poached eggs, and homemade bread. We all dozed in front of our computers before stopping by a friend's birthday party (more on that later). We then opted not to attend Evensong (Enthusiast malfunction) and returned to the house for more dozing, tea, and conversation.

They then went to dinner at another friend's while I remained behind. Catherine said, "You're not invited tonight, so you can stay home, rest and read." How did she know? Pete very proudly displayed the goodies he'd bought me for dinner -- tinned chicken curry and treacle sponge, the latter of which I decided to bring home and enjoy with the family. I stayed home, ate curry with cream crackers, apples and dates, talked to my friend Christine, and watched Fiddler on the Roof. It was a lovely day.

The next morning, Pete and I drove to Leeds, where he had a meeting and I caught the train to London. Although I wish these folks were still living in the States, I'm enjoying seeing another side of them, and another aspect of England, as they make their home in Harrogate.

In case you're wondering about my connection to Pete and Catherine, they are friends from the New Monastic network and are members of the Northumbria Community, which I've visited on previous trip OTP (see here, here, and here).

Over the Pond (5), day 9 -- Enneagram Sevens of the world, unite!!

2008-11-10T05:55:00.016-05:00

I've almost lost track of where we are in OTP (5). What with blogging about the election, college football, and wayward bats, I've sort of lost the thread of the trip's narrative. Maybe we can get back on schedule.

I stayed in Durham longer this trip than I have any other time, Sunday evening to Saturday morning. It was really nice to finish work with Robert early Friday afternoon, then wander down to the Market Square for fish & chips, a bit of shopping, and some mental decompression. Then Evensong and dinner with Maeve, where we talked about our week and the ups & downs of doctoral work.

The next morning, I boarded a train to spend the weekend with New Monastic friends Pete & Catherine (see their beautiful faces above). They live in Harrogate but wanted to spend the day exploring York. We started with a lovely Thai meal, then a jaunt through the shopping sector; I wanted to find one of those denim miniskirts that young Brits wear with tights and boots -- it's a very cool look.

However, we had no luck, so for solace Pete took us to The Whisky Shop, where I purchased some 23 year old scotch for Billy. Here's the Whisky Shop -- can you feel the good vibes?

We then spent several hours at the York Castle Museum, which was lots of fun and very informative.

We stopped to recharge with chai and hot chocolate at Borders book store, then saw the movie Easy Virtue with Jessica Biel, Kristen Scott Thomas, and Colin Firth. It was great fun and the first time I've actually laughed out loud at the movies (several times) in quite a while.

We finished the evening with dinner and a pint at The Olde Starre Inn, York's oldest pub. It was well worth the 40 minutes it took to actually get our order straight!

It was a fun day, not least because it was full of interesting sights and experiences. And Pete and I discovered that we're the same enneagram type; we're Sevens, the Enthusiasts who love to experience new things and live each day to the full. As Pete was outling what he'd had in mind for the day, I kept thinking, "This is just the sort of day I'd plan if I only had one day in York with an overseas friend!" So when Catherine mentioned the enneagram, I knew Pete and I were both Sevens.

It's interesting meeting another Seven who's in ministry; it's not a very common type of person in this vocation. Soemtimes we end up a bit ashamed of our Seven-ness, wondering if our zest for life is really just superficial and shallow. (And we did end up reading bits of an enneagram book aloud once we were back in Harrogate, and googling bits online and discussing them.) But for Saturday, we celebrated our enthusiasm for life's exciting journey, affirmed each other, and enjoyed every bite, every minute, everything.

Over the Pond (5), day 10 -- Hey, BBC, if you can cover the election returns, why can't you cover this??

2008-11-09T08:42:00.010-05:00

Why, why did I have to choose this week to be out of the country? Not only did I miss our historic national election, but I missed my alma mater turning out two decisive victories in their quest for a national football title! First University of Texas, now Oklahoma State!

The New York Times did a surprisingly fun article about the game and Tech's pursuit of the title, bits of which I've quoted between the pictures.

"It is not easy to get to this dusty West Texas outpost," says the New York Times. "Only three commercial airlines fly directly here, which may not be surprising considering there is not a building taller than 14 stories. But for the next two weeks, Lubbock will continue its improbable role as a college football hub. No. 2 Texas Tech blasted No. 8 Oklahoma State, 56-20, on Saturday, solidifying its status as one of the most dominant teams in college football. "

" So get used to tortillas flying in the air, a bandit Texas Tech tradition that was revived after Crabtree’s third score. And get used to Guns Up, the traditional Texas Tech symbol, and Leach’s entertaining sound bites. "

"And for now,' concludes the New York Times, "the Big 12’s road to the national title goes through Lubbock. No matter how difficult it may be to get here."

Amen, and get your guns up!

Over the Pond (5) -- Young man, do you have any idea what time it is? I've been worried sick!

2008-11-07T19:59:00.004-05:00

The bat equivalent of passing out drunk in your front yard.

Over the Pond (5), day 8 -- A pictoral tour of Maria's favorite parts of Durham

2008-11-07T19:25:00.013-05:00

I wanted to share a few pictures of Durham that reveal just a bit of its beauty. It's true that pictures rarely capture the fullness of what we see, but these do pretty well.

Here's Durham Cathedral as you're walking along the river Wear.

I've never been in Durham in the winter, but this might convince me.

The front of the cathedral.

The Galilee Chapel, where they occasionally hold Early Communion or Morning Prayer. It's cold, and quiet, and delightful in an understanded way.

The beautiful archwork inside

This is the Cathedral library, where you feel like you should be an extra in a Harry Potter movie. I studied (and snugged up to the radiator) in a window cubby, which you can see on the left, between the tall bookcases.

This is one side of the Cathedral Cloisters, which form a square between the Cathedral itself and the adjacent buildings (library, gift shop, cafe, offices, choral school, and others).

You can also visit this link to get a 360-degree view of the Durham Market Square, the hub of Old Durham activity.

Actually, here's a great website if you'd like to see more pics of the Cathedral. I'm such a groupie!

Over the Pond (5), days 7 & 8 -- I absolutely love Durham!

2008-11-06T18:33:00.012-05:00

It's Friday night, and I'm winding down after a long, difficult, and productive week in Durham. I'm working on a post about some of the fun things I've done this week, but tonight I'm just too tired for concentrate enough to make it look good. I also have some exciting news about my academic progress, but again, that's another post. Let's see what I can manage.

Some things I learned this week in Durham:

Saying "absolutely correct" 4 times in a 43-page paper (as in "So-and-so is absolutely correct in stating that Plato...") is about 2 times too many. Get a thesaurus, Maria!

Eating greasy fish & chips once a week while in the UK is... just about right.

There is a wonderful library in the Cathedral Cloisters, which has most of the theological books I need.

The library in the Cathedral Cloisters, and other old stone buildings, are amazing to walk through, and freezing to sit in for more than a few minutes.

There is a clothing store where you can purchase locally brewed beer. I bought 2 bottles for Billy, a Monty Python brew and an award-winning "Cloisters Brew." Let's see if I can get them home in one piece.

Staying with a new friend is much better than staying at a bed & breakfast.

When a Brit says, "Yes, well, that certainly sounds like something that could be considered at some point," you should recognize defeat and move on.

Tuna steak and canned corn on a homemade pizza is not quite the same as pepperoni and sausage on a pizza of any kind.

Instant messaging with friends on Facebook can help when, despite all the great things about Durham, you're still feeling homesick.

I did this post last March, sharing some of the things I love about being in Durham. In fact, almost any post I've done while in Durham is full of things I love about this place. It's partially the studies, partially the grandeur of the buildings, partially the break from the daily routine.

Sorry if this post was kind of a dud. I thought of all kinds of witty things to say earlier -- honest.

The votes heard 'round the world

2008-11-05T08:54:00.002-05:00

I found this slide show via a friend's blog, highlighting the incredible attention this election has garnered around the world, and underscoring its impact.

Unbelievable

2008-11-04T23:06:00.005-05:00

I can't help it, I'm sitting here crying. I realize that I have no idea, no idea at all what this means to millions of Americans. I can't believe I was able to be a part of this.

Amazing.

Over the Pond (5), days 3&4 -- A new twist on an old post

2008-11-03T14:09:00.005-05:00

I was thinking today, "Should I even bother to post anything about my time in Durham?" It seems like it's always the same stuff -- the Daily Office at the Cathedral, fish & chips, study, blah blah blah. Is it getting boring? And wouldn't you know it, someone saved me just in time. I've been tagged with a letter-bound meme, and my letter is C. I need to list 10 things I love that start with C, and I'll see if I can make them all trip-related.

The cathedral. I love, love, love the Durham Cathedral. It's marvelous. Just try and visit it and not fall in love. I dare you. Even visiting the Wiki site, you'll get a little crush.
Chips, as in "fish & chips." They make chips (the equivalent of our fries) differently, bigger and fatter and less crispy, and just ready to soak up all that strong malt vinegar and salt.
Cobblestone streets. They're all over the place here.
Custard. It's not like vanilla pudding -- it's milder and thinner and usually quite warm. It's perfect on things like treacle sponge and spotted dick.
Oh yeah, it's also great on rhubarb crumble.
Conversation. It's so refreshing, and so energizing, to have a sustained conversation about my work with Robert, Maeve, other students. Studying alone is difficult, at least for me. And as a verbal processor, conversations bring life back to the work.
Canonical hours. Making time for morning prayer, midday communion, and evensong has become important to me. It's easy to think that I don't have time for the daily office, but it usually makes me feel centered and rested.
Cups and cups and cups of tea. They have great tea over here, and I usually drink lots of it.
Connecting with my friends whom I only get to see in November and March, people like Robert, Margaret, Iona, Jamie, Maeve, the Turners, and the Askews.
Calm. All the time I spend on trains and planes and in between studying gives me time to sit and think, or not think at all. It's refreshing. (And now all my mom friends are hating me.)

Thanks Janet!

Shane Claiborne in Wilmore on Election Day

2008-11-02T17:15:00.004-05:00

Here is an article in the Lexington Herald-Leader about an upcoming visit from Shane Claiborne, member of the simple way and friend of the family. He'll be speaking in Estes Chapel at Asbury Seminary on Tuesday, Nov. 4th at 11am. You should go.

Billy and Miranda get to have dinner and spend the evening with Shane and our dear friend Chris Lahr on Monday. I'm jealous.

You're a mean one, Ms. Grinch

2008-11-01T17:58:00.007-04:00

Here is an absolutely deplorable story about a woman who, when greeting trick-or-treaters, actually asked kids who they wanted for president. If they said Obama, they were turned away emptyhanded. She also had a sign posted stating, "No handouts for Obama supporters, liars, tricksters, or kids of Obama supporters."

When asked how she felt about making some kids cry, she apparently said, "Oh well, everybody has a choice."

Look, vote for whomever you prefer. Campaign, donate, whatever. But don't pull a stunt like this. Because it's just rude, and classless.

Watch the video here. Then, go eat lots and lots of candy to get the awful taste out of your mouth.

Over the Pond (5), Day 2 -- Norwich

2008-11-01T17:22:00.004-04:00

You never know how travel will be from trip to trip. My flight to Heathrow was full but I was somehow upgraded to Economy Plus, with its 4”of extra leg room. It was probably the first overseas flight in ages where I haven’t watched a movie, as I was reading a new novel, Duane’s Depressed by Larry McMurtry. I’ve been on a McMurtry kick for about a year, the Lonesome Dove and Last Picture Show series. I was able to doze for a few hours, despite the plane being at capacity and my nagging backache. And whereas I spent over an hour last spring negotiating Passport Control, this time I breezed through in under 10 minutes. (I looked back and realized that our plane had arrived just before 2 other international flights, as I saw their passengers flooding into Passport Control as I was leaving. Timing is everything!)

I spent the weekend with some friends in Norwich. (Where’s Norwich, you ask? Here it is.) Mel and Hazel are the parents of longtime friend Sean Gladding, whom I’ve known at the Texas Tech Wesley Foundation, and again at Asbury, and again at Communality. They are gracious hosts and we’ve had a good time.

Last night, I was fortunate to see Martyn Joseph perform at the Assembly House. Billy and I met Martyn when Sean booked him to play at Asbury’s Kingdom Conference in 2001. His music reflects a faith that is vibrant and realistic and pissed off about the tragedies of our world, and it’s pretty amazing to hear. Plus he’s self-deprecating and witty and generally a nice guy. We spent a few minutes after the show catching up about our families and the busyness of life.

An unexpected treat was attending the show with Sean’s brother Lee and his wife Lynette. They are great folks, and Lynette and I had a great time drinking gin & tonic, discussing marriage and motherhood, and admiring each other’s sense of style. (Hers is better, hands down.)

Tomorrow I’m headed up to Durham on the train, and study begins Monday. After several trips where I’ve stayed by myself in a bed & breakfast, I’m looking forward to lodging with friends again. More conversation, less moping around by myself.

Over The Pond (5), Day 1 -- O'Hare Again

2008-10-30T17:00:00.002-04:00

Here we are, getting ready to board the flight to London Heathrow. I seem to remember a witty opening post for OTP (4), but I'm a bit tired. Plus we're about to board, so I'll have to make this quick.

In some ways, I was well-prepared for this trip. I did laundry and packed early, made good progress on my schoolwork, and lined up my UK contacts well ahead of time. (... this is the sound of the other shoe falling through the air, dropping, dropping...)

Other Shoe #1: On Tuesday evening, my computer began having mysterious problems. When I took it to the repair place, they hunted and mumbled and finally said some confusing things, with one word standing out -- "motherboard?" Oh no, even I know that's not good. They weren't totally sure, and recommended I see how it goes, but we might have big problems down the line.

Other Shoe #2: Yesterday, my lower back began to hurt, pretty badly. I stretched and iced and heated, and iced and heated again. Finally, I called my doc and said something to the effect of "I'll be on a plane for over 8 hours tomorrow -- have mercy." They did and provided Flexaril, which is helping but makes me very groggy.

At least both of them broke before I left the States -- that's something!

I'm off to buy a pack of gum and some Altoids before I get to the UK and they cost me $5 apiece.

Over the Pond, vol.5

2008-10-27T18:02:00.002-04:00

This week, don't miss the exciting season premiere of Over the Pond, now appearing in its 5th season. Debut is scheduled for this Thursday, October 30th.

To catch up on seasons 1-4, check out the labels in the sidebar.

The Ordinary Radicals tonight!

2008-10-15T16:06:00.009-04:00

Tonight at the Kentucky Theatre, our community's foundation is sponsoring a screening of The Ordinary Radicals: A Conspiracy of Faith on the Margins of Empire. Read below for a synopsis of the film:

In the margins of the United States, there lives a revolutionary Christianity. One with a quiet disposition that seeks to do 'small things with great love,' and in so doing is breaking 21st Century stereotypes surrounding this 2000 year old faith. 'The Ordinary Radicals' is set against the modern American political and social backdrop of the next Great Awakening. Traveling across the United States on a tour to promote the book 'Jesus for President', Shane Claiborne and a rag-tag group of 'ordinary radicals' interpret Biblical history and its correlation with the current state of American politics. Sharing a relevant outlook for people with all faith perspectives, director Jamie Moffett examines this growing movement.

Click here to view the film's trailer. The film's director, Jamie Moffet, will be present for live interview and Q & A after the showing.

Where? The Kentucky Theatre, 214 East Main Street, Lexington, Ky.

When: Thursday, October 16th, 7-10pm

Tickets are $7.50 and may be purchased at the door. You may also purchase tickets in advance by calling 859.231.7924 or 859.231.6997

The evening is also a fundraiser for Kentucky Refugee Ministries, with 100% of the door proceeds going directly to them.

And, you can check out the article in the Lexington Herald-Leader.

Say it ain't so, Romo!

2008-10-14T10:46:00.002-04:00

C'mon, Romo. We need you!

More Random Political Thoughts Which Require Your Feedback

2008-10-10T02:34:00.004-04:00

As I consider how our country is becoming increasingly polarized in our public discourse, I've begun reading a book called Patriotic Grace: What It Is and Why We Need It Now. It's written by a former Reagan speechwriter, and it calls Americans -- liberal and conservative alike -- to "see each other anew" and "face our common challenges together." Anyone out there read it? Care to comment? I'll report back as I go. In that vein, I've been increasingly intrigued by the apparent and unlikely friendship between commentators Rachel Maddow and Pat Buchanan. This article seems a good example of how people with radically different political positions can actively and positively participate in political dialogue. (Plus, it's just fun to watch them dig at each other energetically yet good-naturedly.)

One columnist I've been reading lately is Kathleen Parker. Although we differ in many areas of political thought, I'm beginning to admire her work quite a bit. She's taken some heat for her criticism of Gov. Palin (which are here and here), and while I tend to agree with her critique, I'm more taken with the thoughtful, nuanced voice she brings to the discussion. Take a look and see what you think. Let me know. Don't be afraid to disagree.

Speaking of Kathleen Parker, here's an interesting article about the possibility of Obama making a significant connection with voters in an area very dear to my heart, Appalachia.

And on a final and admittedly trivial note... Ann Coulter is an intelligent, extreme, and beautiful woman (whose views are MARKEDLY different from my own and likely always will be). I just saw her on a Fox News panel, and will someone please tell her to tone down the eyeliner???

Politics and Radical Inclusion

2008-10-06T23:00:00.025-04:00

I've been trying to gather my thoughts on all these issues into one coherent post with logical flow, but I've given up. Here are my thoughts; I just want to get them posted.

A friend of my sister's said, "Wow, Maria's blog is getting pretty political." If only she saw some of the other blogs out there...! But in all fairness, this post and this post I did on Palin weren't exactly moderate in nature. (Although this post about Obama and McCain had a much more conciliatory tone.) This is the first election cycle here I've been more than a casual observer and participant. (Ok, I'm still a casual participant, but I'm observing much more intentionally.) And I'm trying to figure out how to hold opinions thoughtfully and strongly while holding more tightly to the people whom I love and respect, and to the character of Christ which we try to cultivate in our community.

At our fellowship time last Sunday, our friend Will led us in a discussion of politics. What do we think of politics? How does the process make us feel? How does our participation in the body of Christ affect (and effect) our political involvement? One text we discussed was Matthew 18, and how Jesus' instruction to treat those who sin against us "as Gentiles and tax collectors" is actually a call for radical inclusion (since Jesus tended to hang out with Gentiles and tax collectors). I wondered how such radical inclusion would shape the manner and content of our increasingly polarized political discourse. Can we have close friends and family who vote differently? How do we relate to someone who believes passionately about something with which we disagree? What hope is there for us to journey together towards our common goals?

A good friend of mine, who's a lifelong and rabid (er, devoted) fan of the University of Georgia, said something which struck me as quite insightful. "So many people," he commented, "seem to be Democrats or Republicans the same way that I'm a Dawgs fan." It's a great analogy, startling in its clarity and evocation of an almost blind devotion to a certain allegiance. While this is entirely appropriate in the realm of sports (Go Cowboys [despite Terrell Owens]!!), it's hardly conducive to thoughtful political conversation. How do we, as participants in the kingdom of God, reduce the stridency of our discourse and genuinely seek that radical inclusion that we find in Scripture?

I'm not sure. I don't have a tidy theological answer. What I do have are 2 close, close friends and several family members who will certainly make a different choice on Nov. 4th than I will make. And I'm committed to them, just as committed as to the folks with whom I largely agree. I don't hate them, they don't hate me. We love and respect each other. How do we find the courage to sit down with someone and say, "Tell me why I should care about this issue. Tell me why you are voting for this person. I may not agree, but I want to know. And I'm really listening." And how do we have the grace to answer this question, not with arrogance and hubris, but with a passion tempered by humility?

What do we do? I want to hear what you think.

Love 'em or hate 'em, but these are just funny

2008-09-25T23:56:00.004-04:00

Here are some gems from tonight's Late Show with David Letterman:

Tonight's Top Ten from Wasilla, Alaska -- "The Top Ten Things You Didn't Know About Sarah Palin":

Once spent a week in the hospital after trying to put lipstick on a pit bull
Recently expanded her foreign policy experience by eating at the International House of Pancakes
Isn't afraid to go hunting with Dick Cheney

Hee hee hee.

Miranda has moved!

2008-09-19T14:11:00.003-04:00

I'm experimenting with having a separate blog for Miranda and keeping this blog solely for other things. Let's see how it goes.

Anyway, you can visit Miranda's very own blog, Chronicles of Wunchie, by clicking on the sidebar on the right.

Are you sure that's really a compliment, Governor?

2008-09-12T15:05:00.014-04:00

Much ado (over nothing, I might add) has been made of Obama's alleged insult to Sarah Palin, and whether he was actually referring to Palin when he said "You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig." Never mind that each candidate has used this same expression dozens of times, always referring to issues and agendas. We'll leave that topic for another day.

What's got me more interested -- and more concerned -- is Palin's referral to herself as a "pit bull with lipstick". Sounds rough, sounds tough; sounds like just the thing to strike confidence in the hearts of American citizens, and strike fear in the hearts of foreign terrorists. The problem with this kick-ass analogy is that it glosses over the exact nature of what Palin proudly claims to be.

Billy and I used to live in a neighborhood with at least a dozen pit bulls. Whenever one came down the street (even though they were always on a leash), I always made sure I was holding Miranda in my arms; I didn't want her even remotely within reach should the dog break free.

Pit bulls are perhaps the most vicious dogs alive. Yes, this is affected by training and environment, but it stems in large part from generations of breeding for aggression. They will often attack for no reason and with no provocation, savaging whatever they can reach. Children are often victims of their attacks, and the results are horrifying. An uncontrolled pit bull doesn't use discretion when it attacks; it doesn't respond to redirection, or commands, or cries of pain. It just savages.

Gov. Palin and the rest of the GOP might think this analogy works well. Certainly, it struck a chord during the convention. But as a pastor and a mother, I'm certain I don't want my daughter -- or anyone for whom I care -- around any pit bulls, canine or otherwise. And our country absolutely cannot afford to have our potential commander-in-chief and most public figure be someone who describes herself as a vicious dog that mains small children. Because I don't care how much lipstick is on that pit bull -- it won't be enough to hide all the blood that it sheds.

Looks like I need a new apron, a nightgown, and membership in a Ladies' Auxillary

2008-09-09T22:56:00.001-04:00

As a 1930s wife, I am
Very Poor (Failure)

Take the test!

Oh well, can't be all things to all people.

Atta Boy, Obama; Atta Boy, McCain

2008-09-01T17:30:00.003-04:00

I haven't done a post yet about this year's presidential race; there's so much to process in this inevitably historic year. But in the midst of all the "politics as usual", there are some moments of true graciousness and statesmanship -- on both sides -- that bear highlighting and commendation. Here are two.

**********************************************************
Example #1: When Obama's acceptance of the Democratic nomination fell on the 45th anniversary of MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech, McCain aired a TV ad congratulating Obama on this historic moment. Watch it here.

**********************************************************
Example #2: When Gov. Palin announced that her 17 yr old daughter is expecting, Obama adamantly denounced the media's involving families in the campaign tactics, and wasn't afraid to name the similarities between the Palins' situation and his own childhood.

"We don't go after people's families. We don't get them involved in the politics. It's not appropriate and it's not relevant. Our people were not involved in any way in this and they will not be. And if I ever thought there was somebody in my campaign that was involved in something like that, they'd be fired," Obama said.

Obama also said: "This shouldn't be part of our politics. It has no relevance to Gov. Palin's performance as a governor or potential performance as a vice president. So I would strongly urge people to back off these kinds of stories."

"You know, my mother had me when she was 18. And how families deal with issues and teenage children - that shouldn't be the topic of our politics," Obama said.

Good on ya', both of you.

... and Mommy's heart melts

2008-08-30T23:48:00.003-04:00

We were reading books tonight, assembling puzzles and generally relaxing before bed. As I stretched out on the floor, Miranda scrambled on top of me and laid her head against mine. "Oh, my Mommy..." she sighed, "...let's always be together."

July 30, 2005 -- Addendum

2008-08-28T11:33:00.004-04:00

Ok, I realized that I needed to unpack the last post just a bit. In honor of Miranda's 3rd birthday, I wanted to do something that I haven't done since her birth, which was create a slideshow of the actual event.

It was a long labor, just under 24 hours (the first 21 hours were drug-free, then we had the epidural), and we were fortunate to have a professional photographer there for the last half of the event. The Lexington Herald-Leader was doing a story on our midwife and wanted to get coverage of a "natural" birth. So, they asked if they could be present, and we said yes. Sure, not everyone would have wanted to have them there, but we've always been grateful for the photos of that incredible day. I especially love how they show Billy's involvement in the whole process; he was definitely not sitting on the sidelines!

The pics really are not that graphic (although they are realistic), and are a beautiful way of commemorating what to me is a somewhat dreamlike few hours. Anyway, feel free to watch it or not, whatever you prefer!

July 30, 2005 (i.e. the long-awaited sequel to the last post)

2008-08-28T11:19:00.003-04:00

Someone asked why I'd waited so long for the followup post about Miranda's birth. I told her, "I just wanted everyone to feel like it took as long to get through it as I did when it happened." ;-) No, it just took me a while to create a slideshow I actually liked.

So here it is -- a pictoral journey through the very first minutes of Miranda's life. Enjoy!

(PS -- Ok, I just ran through the show, and it tends to drag a bit. Try using the right arrow to advance the slide every few seconds. Wow -- a self-serve slide show!)

Make a Smilebox slideshow

July 29, 2005

2008-07-30T12:05:00.008-04:00

The beautiful belly!

After 12 hours, I'm... only 4 centimeters???

Many an hour was spent in the tub.

18 hours and 7 centimeters later...

Relying on support from Billy and our doula, Anita

Our midwife Nancy, who's had 5 children, can see the lighter side of it all.

And, we await July 30th...

Summertime Pics, vol.3 -- Berry Pickin'

2008-07-17T14:45:00.009-04:00

We spent the morning picking blueberries with Sherry, Isaac, Asher & Jodie at Reed Valley Orchard. They have pick-your-own prices, as well as pre-picked berries and all manner of yummy jams & spreads inside. (I'm dying to try the pumpkin butter.) We spent about an hour amidst the bushes, enjoying the sunshine and the peacefulness of being outside.

As relaxing as it sounds (and it was), I have a new respect for folks who grow and pick produce for a living. This hearty berry crop didn't just spring up overnight, like green beans or squash. These bushes took several years to reach full bearing potential, and must be covered with fine mesh to keep snacking birds away. (This grove of bushes was grown inside a huge mesh tent.) And after the bushes fruit, someone has to pick the gorgeous berries, and this takes a little longer than picking a squash.

I don't say this to complain; it just bring the price of food a bit more into perspective. I realized that when I go to Krogers, or even to the farmers' market, I tend to get a little judgmental and dissatisfied with the prices. "Why does a pint of blueberries cost so much?" After sweating in the sun for an hour picking berries, I began to wonder why they don't cost more. And it became more apparent at the register -- you save $2 a quart picking your own. No question, it was worth it.

We ended up with almost a gallon of blueberries (picked by us), a quart of blackberries (pre-picked), and a jar of pear preserves that Sherry highly recommended. Plans for the fruit include a batch of jam and at least one pie. Sherry was telling me how to freeze them, but I didn't pay much attention -- I'm fairly sure none will make it that far.

Miranda assesses the crop. At first, she didn't distinguish between green and blue berries, but after a while she would come up to me with a handful of gorgeous ripe berries. (I don't want to know how many she ate on the sly.)
Sherry displays her harvest.

Isaac and Miranda take a well-deserved rest in the shade. Ah, the life of the preschooler.

Praying, I guess.

Summertime Pics, vol 2. -- The First Tree Climb!

2008-07-16T15:34:00.003-04:00

Summer outings with friends: Flushed Away

2008-07-15T15:14:00.006-04:00

Miranda & I spent yesterday morning at the movies with her buddy, Isaac. (Here's a great post Billy did about their blossoming friendship.) We saw Flushed Away, a fun film about a posh pet rat from the royal London suburb of Kensington who gets swept down the toilet and into the hubbub of the rat city in the sewer. It was clever at several levels, a trend which I've seen growing in children's movies, I suppose in an attempt to also appeal to the parents who take their kids to those movies. Below are some awesome quotes from the film.

(spoken by the large, albino rat) Yeah, curry affects me the same way, guv'nor. I've got a bum today like the Japanese Flag.

****************************************************

Whitey: [after spotting the ruby in Rita'a back pocket] The booty's in the booty!

*****************************************************

Tadpole: Is it the Glorious Amphibian Dawn, Dad?

Toad: Anything for you, my little man.

Tadpole: Can I have a pony?

Toad: No.

Tadpole: A puppy?

Toad: We'll talk about it.

Tadpole: Can we talk about it now?

Toad: No! [All the tadpoles start asking for puppies]

Toad: No, you can't all have puppies! Please, daddy's working!

*****************************************************

Toad: You find my pain amusing?

Le Frog: I find everyone's pain amusing, except my own... I'm French!

******************************************************

Le Frog: We leave immediately!

Henchfrog: What about dinner?

Le Frog: We leave... in five hours.

Summertime pics, vol.1 -- Summertime BBQ

2008-07-13T23:24:00.006-04:00

I shamelessly stole the idea of summertime pics from Caren (but she borrowed it from another friend, so I suppose it's ok). Instead of trying to completely chronicle every occurrence of the past few months, I'll bring in some pics and try to give some glimpses of the fun things we've done lately.

Speaking of stolen, pretty much this entire post came from the ashram. Our friends the Nystroms hosted a summer barbeque for an Iraqi family, newly arrived as refugees and sponsered by our community. Omar, Suhair, and Yousef are lovely and blended easily into the evening's program of burgers, swimming, forest exploration, cornhole, and catching fireflies. They will hopefully be coming to our place soon for hot dogs and swingset revelry.

Cornhole, anyone?

Graham, Isaac, Ya 'el, Yousef, and Miranda

That's a funny face, Asher!

Graham & Isaac proudly display their catch

random meme (love it!)

2008-07-10T00:24:00.003-04:00

I've been tagged by Loco Lara. Thanks, hon!

Here are the rules:

1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Seven Facts About Me:

1. I have a very small tattoo on my right hip. It's my sorority letters & symbol. I would really like to change it, but am not sure how to do so without serious pain or money.
2. I love to do electrical work, especially anything with the breaker box. Running wire is my least favorite.
3. I want to become a runner, ie someone who loves to run. I dreamed once that I was running through the country, and loving it. I'm afraid I'm too lazy to make this dream a reality.
4. I used to ride horses, hunter-jumper and horse trials. I would LOVE to ride competitively again someday, if I could find the time and the money.
5. I can't decide if I'm an introvert or an extrovert. (You're welcome to vote on this one.)
6. I like to go to movies by myself; no need to find someone who also wants to see that weird indie flick or that tasteless slasher. Also, no one tries to steal my popcorn or Jordan Almonds (THE candy of choice at the movies).
7. I love doing tequila shots, in moderation.

OK, here's who I've chosen: Mike, Joy, Melinda, Peter, Jodie, Janet, Diane, and Alana. I can't wait!

And now, the rest of the story

2008-07-02T16:49:00.004-04:00

To all the sweet folks who have emailed or called -- John is fine, he's not dead. Sorry to get everyone concerned. Yesterday, it was all I could do to get the pictures up. Today, I've added some commentary and now, the fuller story. My hope in sharing it is not to impinge on anyone's dignity, but to share with the people who love our family -- all of it -- and seek their prayers and support.

Ever since our move, just one year ago, John has been slowly sliding downhill. We've struggled as a household over issues of rent, medication, family connectedness, and other things. By April, we all knew that a change was coming. It's been a difficult decision, and as a wise friend surmised, even more difficult thing to carry out. Yesterday was so depressing in so many ways, as we packed up the things which we'd accumulated during our 6 years of common life -- his NBA and UK posters, his pictures of JFK and Jesus, his Ghanaian shadowbox (which my family compiled for him), his clothes. I cried several times, especially when I came across his Christmas stocking, which I made for him for him in 2002, our first Christmas together.

John has many decisions to make now, some of which will be difficult. It's hard to know how to feel. Could we have been more faithful? How do we avoid vilifying ourselves, or him, in an attempt to ease the grief we feel? How do we trust God to care for us in this time?

Sigh.

Go well, dear brother

2008-07-01T14:29:00.009-04:00

August 2007: I love this picture -- affection and trust (or was it just the 3 of us being squashed in the truck??)

June 2008: Paint paint paint!

March 2008: John always made sure that Miranda wouldn't fall. He took very good care of her.

Sept 2006: All the neighborhood kids liked John.

July 2006: The Trifecta Trio (Billy, Mike & John) and their mascot, the Wunchinator.

December 2006: Munchie shares her scarf with her buddy.

December 2007: The beautiful shadowbox of Ghanaian items, which my family collaborated to create for him.

February 2007: Reading with Munchie. She always liked that.

December 2006: Santa brings some of John's favorites in his stocking.

January 2006: Miranda's first trip to a beer garden, where she hangs out with the only non-drinker!

Summer 2004: Billy & Troy are good pals.

October 2005: John and the Munchie.

August 2006: Eating at "Country Cookin', by George!" with Maria & Miranda, on the 4th anniversary of his moving in with us.

December 2006: Decorating committee, chair and co-chair.

March 2007: We celebrate John's 40th birthday.

December 2006: John helps Miranda take a spin on her new tricycle.

This is how I always think of John -- smiling. We're so glad you're our friend, and we trust God to keep us so for a long time.

Early summer garden update

2008-06-30T16:19:00.003-04:00

12 tomatoes, 3 okra, 13 peppers, 2 watermelon, 3 pumpkins, 32 runner beans, 2 artichokes, 1 eggplant, 1 squash, 1 zucchini, 1 acorn squash, 1 butternut squash, 1 cantaloupe, 6 cucumbers, 18 marigolds, 18 nasturtiums, 2 fennel, 1 cilantro, 2 parsley, 1 chervil, and 6 basil...

I'm back with a cool literary meme

2008-06-24T16:03:00.005-04:00

You know you've been away from the blog too long when your dad says, "I think something's wrong with your blog; it isn't showing any posts since mid-May."

I have lots of interesting things about which to blog, including

Papafest
motherhood & parenthood
our trip to Texas last month

But for now, I'll kick off my return with this interesting meme, which I found on a stroll through the 32-akre wood. It's cool, and I'm looking forward to hearing from everyone out there.

The rules:
1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open to page 123
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people, and acknowledge who tagged you.

"In the spring there were cold rains, that turned the street into canals and bogs; the mud would be so deep that wagons would sink up to the hubs, so that half a dozen horses could not move them. Then, of course, it was impossible for anyone to get to work with dry feet; and this was bad for men that were poorly clad and shod, and still worse for women and children. Later came midsummer, with the stifling heat, with the dingy killing beds of Durham's became a very purgatory; one time, in a single day, three men fell dead from sunstroke."

That's page 123 of Upton Sinclair's The Jungle. To tell the truth, there were actually 2 books closer to hand, but neither Around the World with Phineas Frog nor My First Book of Sushi had 123 pages.

And if you're reading this, you're tagged.

Finally -- race post!

2008-05-17T23:26:00.002-04:00

Over at Maria's Half-Marathon. Check it out if you're interested!

One Quick Question

2008-05-14T12:43:00.003-04:00

We're just traded in Miranda's plastic sippy cups (and our nalgene bottles) for Sigg bottles. Now the question is... What's the latest on the non-stick cookware debate? What's the best (as in safest) cookware to use? Any thoughts? Anyone???

A Quiet Meme

2008-05-13T13:53:00.007-04:00

Sorry for the absence. I would really love a wireless card, so I can blog when I have a few minutes to spare in the evening, instead of during my library time when I have a million things to do. Anyway... here's a lovely, somehow centering series of questions from my deep-thinking friend at Morning Coffee.

Outside My Window … someone walks past the Francis of Assisi fountain.
***
I am thinking … that I should start outlining my submissions for the Dictionary of Scripture and Ethics. And that I should probably get a shower before heading out to the Carnegie Center with Miranda tonight.
***
I am thankful for … our babysitter Marie, who takes such good care of Miranda on Wednesdays so I can study.
***
From the kitchen … probably a bowl of cereal later.
***
I am wearing … jeans, sneakers, and a Dallas Cowboys t-shirt. And a blue bandana around my hair.
***
I am creating … a tomato and cucumber garden alongside the driveway. Also, a huge mess.
***
I am going … home from the library in about an hour.
***
I am reading … Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury.
***
I am hoping … that Billy is enjoying his trip to the mountains of North Carolina.
***
I am hearing … almost nothing, I'm in the quiet room at the library.
***
Around the house … are lots and lots of hangers.
***
One of my favorite things … sitting on my front porch with Miranda, watching the birds at the feeders.
***
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... finish laundry, finish veggie beds, plant veggies, paint with Miranda, Miranda's end-of-school party, pack and fly to Texas on Friday for my uncle's funeral.
***
Here is a picture thought I am sharing … Miranda decided last night that she MUST try a boiled crawfish. I pulled off the tail and set it down, then turned my head for one second, and bingo -- down the hatch. Shell and all. The thought? BE BOLD.

If you are reading this, consider yourself tagged. If you complete this meme on your blog, please leave a comment.

Too Good to Pass Up

2008-04-28T17:04:00.001-04:00

Thoughts, anyone?

Mission Accomplished!!

2008-04-27T11:22:00.002-04:00

I did it! More info to come tomorrow at my training blog. Thanks to everyone who was so supportive -- you are awesome!

The half-marathon is tomorrow!!!

2008-04-25T21:45:00.002-04:00

Check out the updates over at my training blog. More tomorrow. You can also donate online via the link on the right. Many thanks to my amazing donors and supporters!

Conversations in New Monasticism

2008-04-12T10:47:00.006-04:00

Our community is hosting a School for Conversion this weekend. As part of the New Monasticism conversation, one thing we've been considering is what the tradition of monasticism might have to say to religious and spiritual life today. One of our sessions had the following thoughts, which I found very compelling. I need to chew on them a bit more, but here they are.

"By putting on a habit, by making vows, the religious is making a pledge of allegiance. By making a commitment to poverty or simplicity, I am by definition standing against the god of materialism. By making a commitment to chastity or monogamy, I am by definition standing against the god of sexual gratification. By making a commitment to obedience or humility, I am by definition making a stand against the god of power. By making a commitment to an ongoing conversion of life or to stability, I am by definition making a stand against the unexamined, ephemeral self of contemporary culture. Religious life, by its very nature, is an expression of resistance to some of the most pernicious values, ideologies, and structures of culture."

Obviously, the kind of monasticism practiced throughout the centuries is not what most of us would choose today, especially folks with families. But the core principles behind the movement can, I think, be translated into virtually every setting and situation.

Through the next few weeks, I'm going to be doing a series of posts about these commitments. I'm really hoping for lots of conversation from all of you. Feel free to post anonymously if you'd prefer, but please share what you think and how you feel.

Filthiness is Next to Godliness

2008-04-11T18:03:00.009-04:00

This I believe to be the truth, especially in the spring.

On Tuesday, our friend Julius helped me to edge our front flower beds. We had too much coffee, too many doughnuts, too big a lunch at the Meadowthorpe cafe, and a great time in general. The sun was shining and the air was mild, and Miranda enjoyed helping us work (when she wasn't digging for worms and using her sidewalk chalk).

Miranda oversees the placement of the edging.

When I applied her sunscreen, I thought, "She's going to get absolutely filthy." And she did!

The semi-finished flower bed. I'll post pictures of the final draft tomorrow.

more gardening with Wunchie

2008-04-07T15:21:00.003-04:00

Miranda has been helping me with our flats of flower seedlings. I really don't know what I'm doing, but I suppose we'll learn together. Here she's helping me fill shotglasses with water, to soak the seeds overnight before planting. (This facilitates germination.)

Miranda really got the hang of spraying the seedlings to moisten the soil.

I'll post some pics when the first growth emerges!

More amazing exploits of Wunchie

2008-04-07T15:02:00.006-04:00

Here's the latest from Radio Free Wunchie:

She sounds a lot like Winston Churchill when she says the word "never." It comes out "nevah." And she's saying it a lot now, for emphasis of her points. As in, "I don't take a nap! Nevah! Nevah!"

(handing me a stick) "Mama, you break this in half for me, please?"

(looking at a Central American plaque of Saint Francis and the animals) "Miranda, what's that?" "A bird... and a peagog." "A peacock?" "Yes, a peagog." "Miranda, where did we hear about peacocks?" "From Grover!" "And where did Grover see peacocks?" "In... Africa."

"Where are the worms? Where are the WORMS???"

"Mommy, I want to ride in the truck." "Well, the truck is a little sick right now, so we have to take the car." (deep sigh) "I nevah get to ride in the truck... nevah." (And the Oscar goes to...)

701 Golfview Drive -- I miss you

2008-04-01T21:44:00.002-04:00

Sounds strange, I know. Here I am in a beautiful house that's twice as big as the old one, lovely new kitchen, lovely fenced back yard, lovely neighborhood, and yet there are still things I miss about our home on Golfview Drive.

I miss how easy it was to feel in touch with the neighborhood while actually in the house. The kitchen window looked right out onto the side street, so I could see everyone walking by (and open up the window and say hello). The front windows offered a view of Golfview Drive and whomever was cruising by at the time.

The corner lot made it a central location. Whenever we were working on the flower bed, the herb bed or the vegetable garden, we could say hello to folks going by.

I miss our great mailman, who was so kind to John and always had news about folks in the neighborhood.

I miss our old bedroom. I love the color -- a deep russet red -- and how cozy the color made me feel. I especially miss the view from our bedroom window. We'd constructed a mini-ecosystem in that section of the yard, so we could see the vegetable garden, the trumpet vine, the honeysuckle, the rock garden, and 2 bird feeders from our window. I'd planted a flowering crabapple just outside the window, and its leaves, flowers, and fruit were lovely to behold. It also drew cardinals and mockingbirds. I also planted a mock orange just outside the window, whose sweet scent was a gift on summer evenings. And we could watch the progress of the daylilies that I'd planted underneath the window.

I miss the things we planted during our time there. The herbs who were 7 years old the month we moved, the japanese honeysuckle and the trumpet vine, the cranesbill in the front bed that grew 1000% during its 6 years, the coral bells (which I got from a professor at Asbury) encircling the birdbath. The mohawk viburnum, whose red berries were the same ones I carried in my wedding bouquet.

I miss the guest bathroom, which I redecorated southwestern-Texan-adobe. I loved that room.

There are plenty of things that are wonderful about the new house, but that's for another post. Today, I just want to grieve all the things I left at 701 Golfview Drive.

Pics from last year's garden Wunchie

2008-03-27T21:41:00.009-04:00

Helping dig the rhubarb bed, which was hard work!

Does this big shovel work any better?

Getting instruction from a friend (and his owner).

At home in the rows.

Sampling a fresh cuke from Three Springs Farm.

A butternut squash from our garden!

Wunchie-sized pumpkin

Thanks be to God -- Spring has sprung!

2008-03-26T15:21:00.007-04:00

This afternoon, I planted 128 flower seeds in peat pots: nasturtiums, moonflowers, hyacinth beans, and Texas bluebonnets. I also have 89 cosmos seeds, 32 of which I’ll try to get potted tomorrow. I’ve always been both intimidated and impatient with seeds, preferring to get nice, big, established plants in pots that will look good in the ground that day. However, at $5-20 each, who can afford it? So, I’m trying my hand at starting seeds. (I have friends who are starting some vegetables from seed in pots – tomatoes, peppers – but I’ll save that for next year.)

Last week, we also planted our spring vegetable garden. We try and follow the square foot gardening method, where planting is based on units of square feet rather than rows. It’s a good method for backyard gardens, as it takes about 75% less space to grow the same amount of food as the row method. (So, if you would like to garden at your home but think you don’t have the room, try this out. It really does work.) We have 2 rectangular plots, about 3’X16’ each, and a 4’circular plot for rhubarb and a few strawberries. We planted one of the long plots with spring crops, leaving the other for summer planting in May. We planted seedlings of cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, spinach, and kale, as well as 24 strawberry plants. We also planted carrots, radishes, beets, arugala, 3 kinds of lettuce, and snow peas from seed.

Miranda was a wonderful helper, bringing the plants and placing them on the soil, although she did tend to pull the plants out of the containers by their stems. I kept saying, “Honey, that hurts them. That’s like pulling you up by your hair! Be gentle with the little plants!” (She didn’t really look convinced.) She loved digging for worms, seeing them emerge from the newly turned soil, although she didn’t really like getting her hands dirty. All in all, it was a great thing to share together.

I’ve always said that autumn was my favorite season, and in some ways it is – I love the colors, the refreshing coolness after sweating through the summer, the smell of wood smoke in the air, apples and pumpkins and spiced cider. But I’m coming to realize that I find spring more invigorating. After the somewhat forced imprisonment of winter, those first warm days almost catapult me out of the house, weeding and digging and planting. I love watching the bulbs beginning their upward march, the beds of daylilies glowing that light, bright green of early spring, the little rose-red circles of the emerging peonies.

Nemo helps Mommy plant.

Our new strawberry bed.

Rhubarb and strawberries.

The Chronicles of Wunchie

2008-03-24T17:06:00.004-04:00

Time for some catch-up posting on the Wunchie. As has happened before, her verbal skills took a major leap while I was in England (or maybe it's just being away that makes the change seem so abrupt!). Billy & I have recorded some wonderful little conversations and observations.

********************************************

(Billy) Miranda, is Bambi finished?

(Miranda) Not quite yet.

********************************************

(Maria) Hey there, big girl!

(Miranda) I'm not a big girl.

(Maria) Then what are you?

(Miranda) I'm a munchie!

(Maria) Ok, and what am I?

(Miranda) You're Momma Mia!

********************************************

Billy and Miranda had just finished watching a Bugs Bunny cartoon, where Yosemite Sam is harrassing Bugs. Bugs rescues Sam from a shark, but won't pull him into the boat until they "make a deal." Sam says, "No deal!", but changes his mind after Bugs lowers him back into the water. With the stage thus set, and amidst cries of protest, Billy turns off the TV...

(Billy) Ok, wunchie, time for a bath.

(Miranda) No deal!!!

*******************************************

Miranda and Marie are out walking in our neighborhood...

(Miranda) Look, Marie, a bird's nest.

(Marie) Yes, Mirada, thats a bird's nest.

(Miranda) I want the nest, please?

(Marie) No, honey, the birds need that nest to stay there.

(Miranda) ... that's ok, my daddy will come get the nest for me, and take it home and put it in my room.

...What???? how many clauses does that sentence have??

************************************************

And perhaps the best yet... on Easter morning, Billy greeted Miranda with the following...

(Billy) Happy Easter, Munchie! He is risen!

(Miranda) Daddy, are you risen? (...pause...) You're not risen.

Holy Week 2008: Footwashing

2008-03-24T16:17:00.007-04:00

Ash Wednesday 2008 (with a flashback to 2006)

2008-03-24T14:24:00.006-04:00

OTP (4), Day 12 -- And Grace Will Lead Me Home

2008-03-19T13:15:00.004-04:00

Monday, the day I returned, was an unusually easy day of travel. And not just easy, but pleasant and good. It was full of those small moments of grace and kindness, where people help one another in ways large and small, where things just seem to go smoothly. Some of it could be written off as coincidence, but others can only be God's grace manifesting itself through us regular folks.

For starters, I had an easy trip to the airport in the early morn. When United Airlines emailed me, saying that I'd been changed from a 1pm flight to 9:25am, I quailed at the thought of walking to the tube at 5:45am, dragging my bags up and down the stairs, fighting with commuters at Kings Cross, and missing my flight due to horrendous lines at Heathrow. But somehow, things seemed to flow in serendipity. Rachel and I found a better way to get me across London, and she graciously took me to the Tube at 6am. After a hug and a picture of the pigeons eating leftover curry, I travelled to Paddington, caugh the express, and made it to Heathrow right on time. Somehow, each train magically appeared as I reached the platform, the crowds were minimal -- things just flowed smoothly.

At the airport, the lines were long but moved quickly. Everything felt relaxed. In the security line, I ran into the Turners' friend John and his buddies headed to Dubai for their theatre gig. On the plane, I said a grateful prayer at having an empty seat next to me, until an attendant asked if I would change with a woman and her 1 yr old. This was one of those moments -- wouldn't I have appreciated someone doing this for me? It felt good to help her in this way, and smile and say to her, "I know travelling with a baby isn't easy." (And the fact that my new seat was in Economy Plus, with and extra 4" of leg room? I'm not complaining.) The flight was easy, and I watched 3 good movies (Becoming Jane, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, and Why Did I Get Married?), and read, and dozed, and played with a fussy toddler by the bathrooms.

Passport Control went smoothly, as did baggage and customs. I wandered across the terminal, ate tortilla soup, and just felt good. As I crossed back through security, the TSA agent -- easily old enough to be my father -- complimented me on my blouse in such a genuine, understated manner that it made you feel just like a compliment should -- happy and grateful and in the mood to compliment someone else. And although our flight was delayed almost 2 hours, it didn't feel like a catatstrophe, which it wasn't. Just a small speedbump which is so easily absorbed into the calm of the day, if we can relax and let it. Best of all was the sight of my sweet hubby pulling up at the airport, kissing him hello and snuggling up to him as I fell asleep.

I'm not sure exactly why I've described this in such detail. I guess it just felt like the perfect ending to a good trip -- good friends, exciting academic progress, and now a final day of rest and calm. So often, travel (especially international) leaves everyone feeling crabby and selfish, only looking out for themselves. But today just felt different, somehow covered by God's grace. It may not happen often, but we give thanks when it does. And hopefully, we can be part of the chain of grace, a wave of blessing and shalom, even in the small things.

OTP (4), Day 12 -- Oh, so that's where the #&^%$* the outlets are in this airport...

2008-03-17T19:15:00.003-04:00

This question is unexpectedly answered, 11 days too late.

OTP (4), Days 10-11 -- Cuttin' Class in London

2008-03-17T15:21:00.003-04:00

What I should have done on Saturday was this. But what I wanted to do was this, followed by this -- and so I did.

Friday afternoon, after a very encouraging meeting with Robert, I caught the train down to London. It was a special treat to run into Margaret and Jamie at the train station, and give them a big hug and say "Can't wait 'til next time!" and all that. I dozed and read, and dozed some more, arriving into King's Cross around 8pm. I grabbed another yummy brie & cranberry sandwich and travelled on to the Turners' home in Hackney. I arrived in time to have a cup of tea with Andy and Millie, as Eve was in bed, and Rachel & Jess were out of town.

Saturday morning was a nice lie-in, sleeping until after 9am. I piddled around online, drank more tea, then headed into the city for the matinee of Spamalot, which I've wanted to see since last November. It was fun, in an over-the-top kind of way. (Not quite as fabulous as the original movie, but that's almost impossible.) It was fun to see how they wove bits from their other movies & skits into the show, things you wouldn't catch if you weren't familiar with their stuff. Afterwards, I walked through Covent Garden for a while on my way to dinner at Rules, billed as "the oldest restaurant in London" and very popular with the after-theatre crowd. (Those bits from the menu in my last post were from there.) It was a truly fabulous meal -- crab and lobster bisque, then steak diane with minted new potatoes, then finish with coffee and creme brulee with chocolate macaroons. Oh, wow. Thanks so much, Dad. After a walk in the rain from the subway, I went soundly to sleep.

Sunday was another quiet morning, tea and toast and the novel Atonement (which Billy & I saw at the movies and loved). After church, the Turners & I went to a local indoor pool, where Andy & the girls splashed, and Rachel and I went on a long walk along the canals in the Docklands area. We talked and talked and talked, about parenthood and marriage and the Olympics and everything. It was just wonderful. Afterwards, we returned home and made tea (dinner). Their weeklong visitor John brought a bottle of Shiraz, I got some wonderful chicken & lamb & salad from the kebab place on the corner, and Rachel made basmati rice and a beautiful tomato cream sauce. It was a feast, and very stone-soup in its concoction. We heard about John's travels to Dubai the next day, to lead a small production at DUCTAC, the Duabi Community Theatre & Arts Centre. After helping with the washing-up (again, used far too much dish soap! Maybe I need a tutorial?), I packed and took a bath and headed to bed.

Another nice weekend in Hackney. Already looking forward to the next one.

You don't see that everyday... at least I don't

2008-03-16T19:00:00.002-04:00

You know you're in a "posh" restaurant when the menu says the following:

"Game courses are from our own estate in the High Pennines, and may contain lead shot."

"Please let us know if you have a car and driver waiting outside; we will gladly attend to them with beverages and a snack."

OTP (4), Days 5-9 -- Time in Durham (ie. There's my thesis, and then there's everything else)

2008-03-14T11:04:00.010-04:00

This trip has been somewhat unusual and draining, for one reason -- it took me a long time to get acclimated to the time change. I couldn't sleep until late, late at night, then needed a nap later in the day. Why? I'm not sure. I'm suppose it wasn't surprising that I got a migraine on Thursday morning, which put me out of commission for part of the day. Fortunately I recovered quickly, and went on to have a great work session with Robert on Friday.

I really didn't feel adjusted until Friday afternoon, and of course that's when I left for London! Oh, well.

When people ask why I'm going to England, or what I do when I'm there, I usually say that I'm going to work with my advisor, to discuss what I'm working on at the moment. And that's true, but (fortunately) it's incomplete.

One of the things I like best about Durham is how many different things I get to do while I'm there. There are some perennials: studying and writing, going to the daily services at the Cathedral, Bimbi's and the Market Tavern, walking along the river and watching the ducks. And now a new perennial -- having dinner with Robert, Margaret, Iona, Jamie, and Maeve. And in between, there are always interesting additions.

Attending a postgraduate seminar on Jurgen Habermas and Cardinal Ratzinger's "The Dialectics of Secularlization: On Reason and Religion" (and having one of the professors bring a tray of coffee, thank you Chris Insole). There's something... deeply right about discussing the role of religion in the public square, then the brilliance of Calvin & Hobbes & The Far Side, one right after the other
Learning more about For City Sake!, a group of Durham locals who are protesting development along the riverside
Meeting Robert and Margaret's friend Sean -- it's always interesting meeting your friends' friends, you inevitably see a new side of them
Attending a lecture by Jean Porter on "Natural Rights and the Trajectory of Human Rights" (I'm fairly sure I didn't get that exactly right)
Walking through an old cemetary (circa 1820) where they are cultivating a natural greenspace for wildlife. I'm trying to think if anything sounds more peaceful than a field of moss-covered gravestones, where birds and wildlife can live quietly.
Remembering that you owe the bed & breakfast £10 from your visit last November, and having a good-natured laugh about this as you settle the account

Dinner with Robert, Margaret, Maeve & Iona was great. (Jamie was there, but went to bed early-ish.) I brought a bottle of Woodford Reserve bourbon for the adults, and "Where the Sidewalk Ends" by Shel Silverstein for Iona's 11th birthday. (Both were well-received and quickly ingested.) Margaret has been reading Shane's book, "The Irresistible Revolution", and we talked about the trials of living faithfully & courageously as the course of our lives changes through marriage, children, employment, and everything else. I find it very comforting that there are others who grapple with these issues, and who want to have the conversations about the journey.

One of the blessings of a trip like this is the deeply renewing nature of everything I get to do. I feel renewed by the time in the cathedral, where the presence of centuries of worship feels like a heavy blanket in winter; the sheer weight of it is comforting. I love the vista of the cathedral -- as I arrive on the train, as I jog along the river, as I leave the library at night. I love the lectures (even when I'm not sure I'm following them), extended conversations about meaningful topics. I love meeting other students, companions on that peculiar journey of doctoral work. I love going into the pub, having comfort food and pints of beer, feeling at home there. I love seeing the daffodils and forsythia blooming on the castle lawn. I love having a serious block of time to concentrate on my work, and the conversations which make that seem so much easier.

I'm so very blessed to be able to do this.

The ten finalists

2008-03-14T11:03:00.001-04:00

"I think we're ready to upgrade you to PhD candidacy."

Seven of the sweetest words you'll ever hear

2008-03-14T11:02:00.002-04:00

"Um, yes, this actually looks very good."

(said after reading some big revisions on my Plato paper)

OTP(4) -- Update from home :-(

2008-03-13T14:19:00.003-04:00

"I want my mommy"

Nicely Put

2008-03-12T12:27:00.000-04:00

I've made a great new friend here in Durham. Last night, she and I had dinner with my advisor and his wife, and we talked about community, the kingdom, and living faithfully. At one point, she quipped, "Well, community is basically a necessity to keep you from disappearing up your own arse."

Exactly.

OTP (4) -- Images and updates from home

2008-03-11T10:00:00.007-04:00

Billy sent an email this morning, describing the following conversation between Miranda and himself as they drove to get Miss Marie. Wow, what a munchie.

wunchie: Where's my dog?
daddy: I'm sorry honey, we had to find Charlie a new home.
wunchie: Charlie made mommy sick.
Daddy: yes, charlie's hair made mommy sick.
wunchie: I want my mommy.
daddy: mommy is at school honey, she will be home next week.
wunchie: mommy went on airplane.
daddy: yes, mommy went on the airplane.
wunchie: i go on airplane with mommy.

It was the most interactive conversation that I've ever had with her, simply astonishing. She is really making another big leap in her understanding of language. Otherwise, she's waited for your departure to begin climbing out of the crib and greeting me at least every other morning. This morning I heard a crisp, efficient, little "bump," and then the enthusiastic footsteps powering a small frame through the door and into our room, "Hi daddy...I miss you daddy!"

Here are some pics Billy sent yesterday, along with captions.

If I can't nap at home in my crib, I'll just have to make do behind a chair in Daddy's office.

"Snow! Snow!"

Hmmm... we're not sure about this.

Go away.

Go away!

I'm asleep!!!

OTP (4), Days 2-4 -- Languishing in Passport Control, Lazing at Nether Springs

2008-03-09T18:24:00.006-04:00

Friday was such a long day. We landed in Heathrow 30 minutes ahead of schedule; unfortunately, about 4 others planes landed just ahead of us. So, when we arrived at Passport Control, there were approximately 598,387 people ahead of me. And it was stiflingly warm. I inched my way through the lines, fanning myself and reading The Last Picture Show. Eventually, I collected my luggage, caught the express to Paddington, and took the tube to King's Cross. At the station, I got some pounds, bought a sandwich, checked the internet and made some phone calls, and caught the 11am train to Berwick-Upon-Tweed. All in all, it took 4 1/2 hours from landing to leaving on the train. Whew.

My weekend at the Nether Springs house of the Northumbria community was restful and fun, in turns. I spent time with friends Pete and Catherine Askew (whom I just saw last month at the simple way family reunion), visiting an enormous secondhand bookstore called Barter Books, cooking dinner and drinking tea. I slept quite a bit, attended a few of prayer offices they hold each day, and got to know the staff and visitors. The daffodils, crocuses, and snowdrops were in bloom, and the wind was fresh and spoke of rain. We saw a brilliant rainbow which truly seemed to end just above Nether Springs .

On Sunday, the Askews drove me to Durham on little back roads -- full of sheep, ancient stone fences, small stone chapels, gorse and heather. We even had to stop and open a gate which crossed our one-lane road. We stopped along the way at Alnwick Castle (see above) where several scenes from Harry Potter were filmed (Quidditch, the Whomping Willow, and Hagrid's hut). To get there, Pete the Anglican vicar helped us sneak behind the rope barrier, saying he'd blame the 2 dumb Americans if we were discovered. We also gleefully acted like children as we jumped up & down on the swinging bridges at the world's largest treehouse at Alnwick Gardens.

After dropping my bags at my B&B on the River Wear, we meandered through Old Durham by the castle & cathedral.

We went to my favorite pub, the Market Tavern, for bangers & mash, beer, and "the best treacle sponge I've ever had," said Catherine. We then wandered back to the Shakespeare Inn, which is reputed to be haunted, for another beer and some great stories about life as a vicar (pastor). Finally, and with reluctance, I put them on the road and headed home to get some sleep. I have a long week ahead of me, but I think I'm off to a good start.

The daily highlights:

Well, we can always start with the food. Old Speckled Hen (it's a beer) sausage at Market Tavern, and a bite of Pete's "mash with mustard." You make mashed potatoes, then mix in some fancy seeded mustard. Oh, yum. Then a fabulous treacle sponge with custard -- that's spongecake with golden syrup soaked into the top, then covered in that yummy british custard, which is like semi-sweet, runny vanilla pudding. And of course, good beer!

Seeing all the thousands upon thousands of blooming bulbs along the side of the roads. It was delightful.

Meeting new friends at Nether Springs, and seeing new friends who are becoming old friends. Sleeping until noon one day. Laughing about this, which involved a friend of Pete and Catherine's.

That first glimpse of the cathedral as we approached Durham. It never fails to thrill me.

OTP (4), Day 1 -- Where the !*?@$% are the outlets in this airport???

2008-03-06T15:50:00.002-05:00

OTP (4), Day 1 -- Is is that time again?

2008-03-06T15:36:00.005-05:00

On my last post, several of you left a variation of this comment: "Are you headed back to England already???" And that's pretty much how I feel about it, too.

How did time go so fast? It seems like I just got back from Durham a few weeks ago, and here I am, back at O'Hare Airport. The last few trips, I've been fortunate to find fares out of Lexington that are lower than Cincinnati, so the trip begins that much easier. Billy & the munchie took me to the airport at 9am, where I kissed the one and attempted to kiss the other (who was distracted by the impending pick-up of her favorite person, Marie). For once, flying into Chicago was uneventful, and I slept the whole way (to the nice lady sitting next to me, trying to chat -- sorry). I stopped at Chili's for a buffalo chicken sandwich, smiled proudly when the waitress admired my screensaver of Miranda, chatted with my sister Ellery, and headed to the international concourse. And here I am, sipping a latte and trying to find an outlet so I can charge my computer, waiting to board my flight to Heathrow at 6pm.

Boring so far. More updates later. Meanwhile, I might do some catch-up posting on things I've been neglecting over the last few months.

It's Coming...

2008-03-03T17:05:00.001-05:00

... the new season of Over The Pond: Maria's Adventures in the UK. For those who enjoyed seasons 1, 2, and 3, be sure to stay tuned as we get underway this Thursday, March 6th.

Six Word Memoirs

2008-02-10T10:57:00.000-05:00

Jenell at the Paris Project posted this idea. It's an interesting exercise to make concise and accurate statements -- about anything, much less about your life. Here are a few of mine:

Decided To Do A PhD… Why???

Texas Born, Then Virginia, Now Kentucky

Marriage And Motherhood – Not For Wimps

Temperance – Not Just Against Alcohol Anymore

Guatemala And Appalachia – Paths To Growth

Creative Lives Of Faith In Lexington

Plato, Aristotle, Stoics, Augustine, Aquinas, %@*#$!

Marriage, Family, Church, Neighborhood, City, World

Trying To Live A Healthier Life

Peace And Contentment Through Honoring Covenant

What are some of yours?

I've decided to do WHAT???

2008-02-08T15:29:00.000-05:00

OK, folks, I've gone and done it -- I've committed to running a half-marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. (Running, jogging, running/walking, whatever!) I'm training with Team in Training, an organization dedicated to raising awareness and money for research on blood cancers. Along with training for the 13.1-mile run, I've also committed to raising $3000 before the race. And this is where you come in! I need your help to make this happen - your support, your prayers, and your donations. Please donate -- as little as $2 per mile ($26). I have a website that describes a bit about the race, as well as tracks my donations. Please visit this site and consider supporting this important research. I've also set up a new blog to chronicle my progress, both in training and in fundraising. Stay tuned for more updates! And thanks for helping! Hey -- I'm doing the running, all you have to do is press a few keys! You can do it!!

Once again...

I'm running a half-marathon on April 26th -- the Kentucky Derby Festival Mini-Marathon.

You can follow my progress on my new training blog.

I need your help to raise $3000 for leukemia and lymphoma research.

You can donate by visiting my website here and donating. Or you can send me a check, payable to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Thank you!

Yes, I said dog

2008-01-30T13:15:00.000-05:00

Yes, we've acquired a dog, and he's actually really cool. His name is Charlie, a lab-hound mix whom we got from the Lexington Humane Society. It wasn't really an impulse decision; we've been considering getting a dog for some time. Billy grew up with dogs and really loved it; he's been wanting Miranda to have the same experience. So a few weeks ago, when Billy and I were out for a Miranda-free weekend, we wandered into PetSmart to look at the fish, and found Charlie at the LHS branch shelter there in the store, and fell in love. He's a great dog -- at 66 lbs, he's a bit bigger than we'd expected to get, but he's (largely) housebroken, and as a 4 yr old, he's much calmer than most puppies. Miranda really likes him, and we're getting used to the added responsibilities and trouble. (Our hardwood floors are beginning to take a beating, and the night he barked at 2, 4, and 6am, I thought "This is just like having a newborn again!!") But overall, he's a great addition to the family.

Here are our only pictures of him to date. Despite the menacing nature of the footage, he & Miranda do really well together!

Life is good

2008-01-29T14:23:00.000-05:00

A companionable dog in the passenger seat, crunching on a bone he received at the dry cleaners. A cool kid in the back seat, munching on a lollipop she received at the dry cleaners. A cool mom in the driver's seat, sipping a cinnamon latte. "Texas Women" playing on the radio. The weather just warm enough to roll down the windows and sing along.

Yep. Life is good.

Dance to the beat of a different (ok, the same) drummer

2008-01-23T14:28:00.000-05:00

My mom was visiting last week from Denver, and we did a ton of fun things, both with and without Miranda. The day after she arrived, we took the Wunchie to the PB&J Concert Series of the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra. They provide pb&j fixins', apple juice, and a kid-friendly venue to participate in music. This month was a drum circle at the Lexington Children's Theater. They had congos, tambourines, and dozens of homemade noisemakers. It was cacophanous but very, very fun. Miranda enjoyed acquiring and trying out lots of different instruments. We're sure to be there next month!

My mom (front right) shakes a spice-rack noisemaker while the Wunchie tries a tambourine.

You mean, it's not all about me? Then why am I out here, center stage???

Meditations on food that will not end up in my thesis

2008-01-22T01:03:00.000-05:00

I was shopping today, and started thinking about food and how strange we can be in our relationship to it. Not just in over- or undereating, but in our likes, dislikes, habits, and secret cravings. Here are a few of mine. I'm not going to tag anyone, but please play along!

1) We’ve been trying to eat whole-grain bread, but I still love a ham sandwich (with either miracle whip or mayo) on white bread. Lettuce and tomato optional. What is it about ham and white bread?

2) Cook either a chicken or a turkey, roasted in the oven. Make sure to leave the skin on, and rub it with olive oil and plenty of salt and pepper. The minute it leaves the oven (the very minute), place it on the range top and begin eating it straight out of the pan. You’re not allowed to remove it from the roasting pan.

3) I like jello salads, pretty much any kind. I like how southern women call them “molded salads”. My mom used to make one with cherry jello, bing cherries, and a little port wine. It was awesome.

4) My sister and I always like to eat tuna fish sandwiches (again on white bread), with Campbell’s cream of celery soup. This is a meal Ellery and I often eat together, since we were kids. I don’t know why we enjoy it so much, but we do. The tuna fish must have mayo, lemon juice, sweet relish, and chopped celery. No substitutions.

5) My mom used to make a spaghetti dish that Ellery and I still love. You open a can of Franco-American spaghetti and put it in a saucepan. Add ketchup and Italian seasoning. Mix, heat, and serve. The next day, make a spaghetti sandwich out of the leftovers. Yum yum yum.

6) I’m very particular about the big Thanksgiving or Christmas meal. I mean, if I’m a guest somewhere, I’m an easy guest, but if I’m preparing it myself, there are certain rules to follow. First, you have to have a turkey. Second, the dressing has to be my mom’s recipe. Third, you have to have both homemade cranberry relish and the kind from a can. Fourth, no fancy veggie dishes – just green beans or asparagus. And if there’s anything left of the turkey after #2 above, I love eating days and days of holiday leftovers. Make a sandwich with turkey, dressing, gravy, and a little cranberry sauce. Wow.

7) Sometimes I get a 12-pack of soda, put them in the fridge, and then chain-drink them throughout the day.

8) I love celery with velveeta cheese melted in the trough. This is soooo my Mimi (paternal grandmother).

9) My mom makes meatloaf with onions and raisins. It’s great. Then, make sandwiches from the leftovers, with French’s yellow mustard.

10) I love eating cereal (especially the less-than-healthy ones) with whole milk and half-and-half. Or heavy cream, even better. (Hey, if you want to eat water on your cereal, just use water and stop the charade that is skim milk.)

11) I love cheese toast – white bread with a slice of American cheese, put under the broiler until the cheese poofs up and the top gets nice and brown. Ultra-yummy.

12) When food is supposed to be hot (especially soup), I like it very hot, where you're just able to eat it.

13) Last but not least… this is almost too embarrassing to write. I still like to get Gerber’s meat sticks and eat them straight out of the jar. And I’m proud of it, so what!

This really was a meaningless post, but it was fun to write!

Doing something cool with my family

2008-01-15T20:40:00.000-05:00

While I was in Texas over the holidays, I spent one morning with my dad and his wife, working at the breakfast meal ministry run by their church. I attended St. Paul's on the Plains during my childhood, and I always enjoy returning there when I'm in Lubbock. My sister was married there, and there are lots of great memories.

And now we're making some new ones! This past year, St. Paul's began a breakfast ministry called Neighbor to Neighbor. Dad and Pat have been heavily involved since its inception, and I was happy to go work with them (even though we had to get up at 5am). Here's a blurb from a local paper:

Every Thursday morning, a core group of volunteers meets at 6:00 a.m. to cook breakfast for anyone who is hungry. From 6:30 to 8:30 a.m., eggs, sausage, bacon, kolachis, biscuits, refried beans, and tortillas are served. Hot and cold cereal, fresh fruit, milk, juice, and coffee round out the menu. The guests now number from 135 to 185 and include all ages and races. Families, the disabled, homeless, elderly, socioeconomically disadvantaged and college students are among the guests that are fed. The guests are encouraged to eat all they want – 185 to 235 plates of food are served. Everyone is given a sack lunch as they leave.

It was pretty amazing how well they carry this out. It wasn't that I doubted they'd do well; it's just difficult for anyone to do things like this well, in ways that are good and sustainable, both for those served and for those who do the serving. But they seem to run like a well-oiled machine. Several things made this possible.

First, they have the money to get semi-prepared food, which they can then quickly finish off in large, commercial-sized appliances. (Let's face it, money can make lots of things much, much easier.)
However, they also operate really well together. Volunteers arrive, get their stuff, do their jobs and do them well. They are genuinely happy to see the folks when they arrive.
The atmosphere is warm and welcoming. There is carpet on the floor, nice round table where folks can see each other and carry on conversations. There is a flower on each table, and volunteers circulating with coffee to refill their cups. Several people have commented on how much they look forward to the meal.
They have a truly sweet spirit of generosity. When they put me on the serving line, I asked, "How much should I give each person?" The volunteer looked at me kinda funny and said, "As much as they want." That's the spirit! Again, being able to afford virtually unlimited food makes this much easier, but they are unfailing generous with those blessings.
And perhaps most importantly, they are getting to know the folks who come on a regular basis. People are addressed by their names, those who aren't there are inquired after, and conversations continue from week to week. Relationships are being formed.

Anyway, here are some pics from the morning I was there.

Washing lots and lots of dishes

Here's my dad Bill, probably telling a good story (that's probably mostly true!)

My stepmom Pat and our longtime friend Tom, finishing up the prep

Lots and lots of scrambled eggs!

Dad and I take a quick break

The serving line. They had biscuits, tortillas, refried beans, scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, kolachis (yummy rolls with link sausage inside), cereal, oatmeal, fruit, coffee, and tea.

Quotable Quotes from SCE

2008-01-09T14:33:00.000-05:00

Ok, buddy, that's the only shade of green the light's going to turn.
I'm not a luddite, I'm a patient customer. I wait until it's a proven thing.
Yale might give you a chair to hold, but would they give you a pot to sit on?
I'm happy to pay for your dinner, you poor impoverished grad student... 20 dollars???
We need to keep our comments brief, preferably under 1 minute each.
I definitely like the 1974 version of Charlie Daniels' "Easy Rider" better than the 1988 version.
I'm hoping to be employed this time next year.
How much is that book, with the discount?
It's too late in the day to be eating beef, don't you think?
Those have to be the wives of all the folks at the youth ministers' conference, next door.
I think we've underestimated the degree to which ___ is indebted to the thought of ___ in this matter.
How many of you would like a free sample of our house cabernet?
I just think it would be nice to return the car clean. Just a drive-through car wash, that's all I'm suggesting.
You're nothing to me, both of you, but fleas on the backs of rats. You're just vectors.

Books I purchased this weekend at SCE (aka why I need to ask Billy for forgiveness)

2008-01-05T22:12:00.001-05:00

Conceiving Parenthood: American Protestantism and the Spirit of Reproduction
Rewired: Exploring Religious Conversion
Study guide to Making Room: Recovering Hospitality as a Christian Tradition (2 copies)
The Ethics of Aquinas
Inheriting Paradise: Meditations on Gardening
The Christian Case for Virtue Ethics
Amor Dei: A Study of the Religion of St. Augustine

Ok, so they were all 30-40% off, and I've really needed the Aquinas and virtue texts, and I'll probably give away both the study guides, and I'm reading lots of stuff about parenthood right now... what???

The really depressing part? Rewired is the dissertation of a friend of mine, who graduated Asbury after I did, and had the same advisor, and now it's in publication. At least he didn't have a kid.

Yet another thing to do in my "spare" time

2008-01-03T13:58:00.000-05:00

The Countess at the 32-Aker Wood tagged me for this meme. (And what does "meme" stand for, anyway?) Since I'm away from home at the SCE conference, I actually have more spare time than usual, at least until tomorrow. So, here goes...

8 Things I'm Passionate About

My faith community, Communality. After almost 10 years, I still love sharing my life with these folks.
Traveling. I love going anywhere, anytime. Seriously -- just throw a dart at the map, and I'm up for going there, right now.
Reading. I love reading new books, the excitement of the newness of the tale. And I love re-reading old books -- James Herriot, Anne of Green Gables, Watership Down, Louis L'Amour, Stephen King, Tolkein, Barbara Kingsolver -- and re-experencing the tales that I've grown to love. Billy once said that I'm a true lover of books, and I'm flattered by the label.
Staying connected with my friends and family (and I hope my friends who are out there reading this will agree!)
Making a home. I'm realizing more and more that I love homemaking, cooking, decorating, hosting, making the people I love feel at home.
My dissertation topic (sorry, my thesis topic, in British parlance). I'm really enjoying thinking about temperance and the ways in which it could help us think about consumption more clearly.
Being a parent to Miranda. I love her so much! I really see how parenting is a magnum opus, a life's work that has to be entrusted to God for its completion. (I feel this very distinctly right now, being away from her for a few days.)
Learning how to be a life partner to my husband.

8 Things I Want to Do Before I Die

Travel to Iceland and ride horses around the old volcanos (doesn't this sound awesome???)
Be able to say that I've read each and every book in my house (yeah, right)
Reach and maintain my ideal weight
Own a clawfoot tub, where I can steep like a tea bag
Make a real contribution to the field of moral theology (Christian ethics), something that makes a difference
Be a real part of the lives of my extended family
Watch Miranda grow up and have a good life of her own
Take an extended roadtrip across the US, really seeing the sites

8 Things I Say Often

No MA'AM!
What do you say? ("Please" and "Thank You" are the usual expected answers.)
I love you (to various people that I love)
Hey Munchie!
Why did I decide to do a PhD???
Honey, have you seen my... (keys, phone, purse, etc etc)
What time is it?
I'll get up in five minutes.

8 Books I've Read Recently (and by recently we mean in 2007)

Wealth as Peril and Obligation: The New Testament on Possessions
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
The Confessions of Saint Augustine
Sitka (Louis L'Amour)
Donde Viven Los Monstruos (Where the Wild Things Are)
Ruthless Trust: The Ragamuffin's Path to God (Brennan Manning)
Ender's Shadow (Orson Scott Card)
Wizard and Glass (Stephen King)

8 Songs I Can Listen to Over and Over

"Whisky River" Willie Nelson
"Hammer and a Nail" Indigo Girls
"Gift to Me" Martyn Joseph
"Scarf Dance" Psalters
"You'll Be Mine" Stevie Ray Vaughan
"Somebody" Depeche Mode
""Volcano" Jimmy Buffett
"Spring" Vivaldi

8 Things That Attract Me to My Best Friends

A sense of fun, wanting to experience life in all its craziness
A shared sense of purpose and meaning
A shared willingness to prioritize our friendships over time and distance
An amazing sense of humor (almost always)
A willingness to speak to me clearly, directly, and candidly, not coddling me or pulling punches
A willingness to love me despite my faults and through my failures
A history of shared experiences ("Remember when we...?)
The value of a deeply invested friendship

8 People Who Should TOTALLY Do This Meme

MeesheMama, because she's absolutely hilarious
LazyMom, ditto
Melinda, ditto
Loco Lara, because she needs a break from her 3 girls and her job
My sister (even though she doesn't have a blog), because she needs a break from her twins and her pregnancy
Lisa Samson, because she's a great author and so good with words that I like reading anything she writes
Her daughter Ty, because she's exceptionally cool
My husband, even though he doesn't have a blog

In the big leagues now

2008-01-02T21:29:00.000-05:00

Today I drove from Lexington to Atlanta for the annual meeting of the Society of Christian Ethics. My friends Jim and Christine graciously footed the bill for this poor postgraduate, borrowing a rental car from the seminary and covering the gas bills. We had a great time on the drive down to Georgia, listening to holiday carols, bluegrass, and Charlie Daniels. The conference starts tomorrow evening; we arrived early for Christine to attend the board meeting.

It's a bit strange to be attending these things. I feel something like an imposter, or a wannabe. Who cares what I think? I'm just a pathetic postgraduate, an unproven amateur who should heed that turn of the century parenting advice -- that children at the dinner table should be seen and not heard.

Ok, so it's not that bad. People are generally gracious and welcoming, sometimes even attentive to what we have to say. But last year, I felt a bit out of my depth, and was afraid to make comments for fear of sounding unknowledgable or insufficiently erudite.

Whatever! This year, I'm reveling in my status as a punter (Brit/Aussie slang for someone who doesn't run anything, but just shows up). I'm relaxed, I'm enjoying hanging out with my friends, I'm just sitting back and taking it all in. Turns out there's a certain freedom in being a nobody, which is that you can fly under the radar and just absorb everything. I'll let you know how it works out.

Holiday posts coming soon

2007-12-29T15:57:00.001-05:00

Lots of pics and commentary. I promise.

You pumpkin-pie haircutted freak

2007-12-29T15:53:00.000-05:00

Ok, I know this is a rude title for a post about your darling daughter's first haircut... but tell the truth, doesn't she look just a little bit like Jim Carrey in Dumb and Dumber?

You be the judge!!!

No, she really looks darling. Here's how it went down.

We're not sure about this whole situation, but we'll be cool about it, for now.

Good call providing the lollipop, although things did get a little sticky.

It's difficult to get that look just right.

It's starting to look like a haircut!

Honey, I promise you'll like the free blowdry. Plus, it's always easier to have someone else style your hair for you.

Hanging in there.

The finished product! It's amazing how she's moving from toddler to little girl!

The first picture aside, her new haircut looks great.

I am woman, see me wire

2007-12-21T23:11:00.000-05:00

Years ago, I worked for the Appalachia Service Project, doing home repair for low-income folks in the Appalachian Mountains. I learned quite a bit about construction, much of which I've forgotten, and my favorite was always wiring. It's interesting, and it has the best tools. But it's not the kind of construction skill that you find lots of opportunities to use.

So, we just switched our hot water heater from gas to electric. In an attempt to save some $$$, I said I'd wire it myself. The catch was that our electrical panel has plenty of power (200 amps) but a shortage of available spaces for new work. (We're also hoping to finish part of our basement this year, so we'll need to add more curcuits for that, too.) Our electrician came by and suggested we install a new sub-load panel, which creates new spaces for new work. He graciously gave me some pointers, I purchased the materials, and the result is below.

Here is where I attached the 10-3 wire to the water heater. It actually looks very tidy!

Here's our new water heater.

On the left is our existing breaker box, which has far too few spaces for its 200-amp capacity, and too few for a house this size. On the right is the new sub-load panel. I removed a circuit from our now-unused baseboard heater and installed a 60-amp breaker, which I then used as the main for the new panel. Note the large black wire connecting the two panels.

You can see the main wire at the top -- red, black, white, and bare copper. On the left is the 30-amp breaker for the water heater. To its right are 6 spaces just waiting for the new circuits in our basement remodel.

Here is the finished product. And 2 hours after we turned it on, we had hot water!!!

The Paradox of Motherhood

2007-12-20T17:01:00.000-05:00

If you ever read the BabyCenter blog "Tending Violet", you might recognize the basic format of this post. But if you've ever read this blog, you know I am not averse to shamelessly stealing good ideas for posts (and giving credit where credit is due). And I remember, when I read this certain post on Tending Violet, how much it spoke to me as a mother. And for some reason, I thought about it today; I guess I was just having one of those days. So, thanks Joyce for first pointing out this paradox, and I hope you don't mind my borrowing it. Here goes...

Sometimes, I am so tired of being a mother. I'm tired of asking Miranda to keep her feet off the table/please don't play with your food/stop mashing the food/please don't spit the food back out, when it goes in your mouth it stays in your mouth... at least twenty times during each meal. I'm tired of so many meals being rushed and chaotic. I'm tired of constantly running out of diapers, wipes, and milk at inopportune times. I'm sick of chasing little socks around the house and losing them in the laundry. I'm sick of having one outfit after another stained and ruined (hers and mine). I'm getting depressed about having no time to shave my legs, put on makeup, exercise, actually have the time to do something nice with my hair. I know, I could get up earlier in the morning and get these things done, but I'm tired, damn it, and I don't feel like getting up. I'm sick of taking care of someone who demands and demands and demands. I'm tired of having to arrange each and every moment we have away from her. I'm tired of trying to balance motherhood and school, and feeling like I'm shortchanging both. I'm exhausted by the burden of always wondering if I'm parenting in the right way. I'm just tired.

But Miranda, baby, I'm not tired of you. I love hearing you squawk in the mornings, throwing out your pacis and chattering away. I love snuggling you as you drink your milk, wondering which book you'll want to read first. I love how excited you get when you see Daddy or me, running towards us and yellling, "Mommy! Daddy!" I love how, whenever Grover comes back from a new adventure on Sesame Street, you get out your World Map placemat so I can show you where he's been. I love being your companion on the journey of life, watching you explore the world and learn new things. I love your sweet feet, and the fact that you have my legs. I love playing hide and seek with you, and how you play in the basement when Daddy's working, and how you run to the garden to pick tomatoes in all stages of ripeness. I love how you love your friends. You are my precious, my sweet scrunchie, my big girl and my baby, and I'll never get tired of you.