Captain, Oh Captain

Things that make it better

-a vase of yellow roses

-"Process is more important than outcome."

-Mediteranian Pizza for dinner (spinach, olives, pinenuts,feta, garlic, zukes and romas)

-and then baklava for dessert

-red leaves, yellow leaves, orange leaves

-good friend on the phone

-ok hair day

-sunshine through rain because SOMEWHERE there's a rainbow

-Ferron

-a boy who puts "pottery wheel" on the top of his October Christmas Wish List

-2 recommended books arriving in the mail

-The Land of Oz

-someone telling it like it is, but kindly

-prayers for sick friends

-getting one more day to pay the thing that is already late

-wearing my favorite sweater all day for the second day in a row

-a dog who doesnt need too much but to know that we are close by

-a voice from another time zone

-and remembering kissing too soon and everyone laughing

Friday Five

Havent done one of these for awhile, but this has actually been on my mind for a while, so here goes: Shoe Friday Five from Jan.

Too often the Friday Fives I offer up seem extremely introspective, so here's something that could be fun. I notice as I finish my sixth decade that my taste in footwear is much different than when I was younger, as comfort wins out over fashion. So look at your feet and think about what you put on them!

1. What is your favorite footwear at this time in your life?

Most often wear: Dansko Clogs

Most awesome/favorite: Frey boots

2. What was the craziest shoe, boot, or sandal you ever wore?

Well. I've never been much of a crazy shoe wearer. In my 20's, I wore Doc Marten black lace ups, or knockoffs thereof. I wore silver flats on my wedding. They were not crazy, but they WERE shiny. I was just lamenting to someone yesterday that I didnt wear pretty, impractical shoes more often when I could have BEFORE I turned old and my feet started hurting.

3. What kind of shoes did you wear in your childhood?
I remember saddle shoes as a little girl. And, in middle school, some kind of kooky multi-colored hightops. Honestly cant remember a single pair of shoes I had in high school, except for the died-to-match violet shoes that went with my prom/graduation dress. I ended up only wearing one of those on graduation day, actually, because I had a broken toe and had to wear a "boot" on the other one.

4. How do you feel most comfortable? Barefoot, flip-flops, boots, or what?

Clogs, baby, clogs. I have this annoying foot thing, so my brother Dr. Jacob (hes not a doctor, but he plays one when it comes to shoes) has taken me off flip-flops for life. I've never been much of a barefoot person anyway - I always seem to live in climates with cold floors - so this is ok. But I'm hoping my feet survive the work out thing I'm starting this time (I'm great for starting work out things but not finishing them, how about you?), which is the couch to 5k.

5. What kind of socks do you like, if any?

SmartWool - funny, pretty, last forever

Bonus Elijahlogue or Uh-Oh, Mommy Better Get a Hobby

E: I watched this show about how things work and they took apart this exercise machine, what do you call it? (moves arms and legs as if skiing)

Mommy: Oh, the elliptical machine.

E: Yeah! Maybe you could watch that show with me sometime, when they call it How to Make A Church.

Mommy: Wait a minute, I'm interested in other things, besides church.

E: (thoughtfully) Hm. I did not know that.

And scene.

Brought this up at clergy group today and joked it was time to get a hobby, so someone suggested I take up snowboarding. Well, thanks, but if by "hobby" you mean "spending a week's wages to risk my neck by speeding down an icy mountain," I'll pass. I'm taking other suggestions, though.

What's Your Elevator Speech?

I'm taking this rather awesome class at PSU with the uninspired title "Introduction to NonProfit Management" during which those of us who are actually working in nonprofits spend about 85% of the time nodding in vigorous agreement. The prof, who is a non profit director himself, is just so very practical and has a way of breaking things into paradigms that you KNOW, but you've never had language for before. So, it's really great and it's helping me every single day, so far.

Anyway, last week, he told us "you should be able to describe your organization in 3 minutes (including, he added, time for a joke and questions)." I've heard this concept called Elevator Speech before-meaning, you should be able to describe your passion in the time it takes to ride an elevator. (Not like people in my experiene actually spend any time TALKING on the elevator, but whatever.) Nothing earthshattering, I know, but it did get me start thinking how I am no good at that, at all. I tend to "wellllll..." and to "on the one hand this, but on the other hand that...." Not sure why this is, but it probably has to do with the "oh. that's. um. nice." you get from most people when you tell them you're a minister. Not like the reaction the cool girl who sits next to met gets when she says she's the volunteer coordinator for the roller derby.

Yesterday, I was reminded of this again when Godsister's quiet pal, Sweet Friend said her first words to me of the evening in the quiet after the whirlwind caused by the other children rushing from the table to play: "My mom and dad don't believe in God, but I do."

Well. Of all the things I COULD have said at the moment, what I DID say "Well, both are probably ok, but it's when people start fighting about it that we get into trouble," was certainly not the best.

Then, "That thing you do, where you hold hands and sing? My mom doesn't do that. Why do you do that?" This is where I have the REAL Elevator Speech problem. I mean, there probably IS a one sentence response to "why do you pray?" but I'm sure I dont know what it is.

Cruising dog postings...

on kijiji.com, and really I'm amazed that no one has written a novel based on these. I mean, the posts have everything - love, despair, grief, joy, as well as all of life's changes: divorce, death, birth, moving.

Everyones has their own method for getting rid of a dog, and it's fascinating to read the different approaches. For example, there's the well-organized:

There has definately been some training (sitting, down, no, etc.), but must be consistent and firm. He comes with a nice large kennel, a brand new dog bed, food, dishes, two different collars, a raincoat, treats, etc. We have receipts for items and all his paperwork. It is the most important item on our agenda to find this gorgeous animal the best home possible! Please e-mail us with any questions! Thankyou!!
Read more:http://portlandor.kijiji.com/c-Pets-Dogs-puppies-Papillion-Sheltie-Adult-W0QQAdIdZ156231255#ixzz0TnPptzPV

there's desperate:

My Puppies, 12-weeks are brother and sister who need an excellent home. I would keep them but I lost my Job and can't afford my apt fees. PLEASE, THEY HAVE TO BE SOLD TOGETHER. It breaks my heart to seperate them
Read more:http://portlandor.kijiji.com/c-Pets-Dogs-puppies-puppies-to-a-good-home-help-W0QQAdIdZ151361406#ixzz0TnR7ChNL

there's practical

I am a disabled Senior. I have had this dog since she was 5 wks old. I got her to train as my Service Dog, and I have been diligently trying to train her as my Service Dog, but I have become too "disabled" to finish the training. I do not want to re-home her, but she has gotten to be too much for me to handle. I need a mellower dog. She is pure-bred and viable. She has a wonderful loving personality. Her conformation is perfect! She loves everyone!
Read more:http://portlandor.kijiji.com/c-Pets-Dogs-puppies-For-Sale-Dobe-female-between-Grants-Pass-Merlin-OR-W0QQAdIdZ134084159#ixzz0TnRkVIHT

But however they write them, see how much more you learn about the people than about the dogs? Fascinating.

Not in the market for another dog, btw, at least not in the immediate future. Sometime would like another pup, probably a smaller one. And when I do, I hope it's a cutie like this one (so adorable, I'm posting him twice!)

Evidently it's some kind of holiday, but I'm at work, how about you?

Full Moon Week Review

Wondering why I was feeling a wee bit edgy this Sunday night, then looked back over the week.

Which began, let us say, last Sunday when I celebrated Sunday afternoon by hurting a dear one's feelings. Partly becuase I was cranky because I was too busy. Too busy to cook. Ordered pizza for dinner. But they couldnt send the one we wanted because they were out of tomatoes. At the pizza joint.

Then, celebrated Monday morning with a broken wheelchair (the indoor transfer one, not the cool new one), a dramatic backward fall, seemingly -but evidently not - right on the head, resulting in a bruised, but somehow in no other way damaged, husband.

Got to work late, but led Bible study anyway with the patient folk. And, worked with a crew on the church library culling and re-org to send 200+ more books to this year's rummage sale (Because biographies of missionaries are interesting but only to a point, you know?) Then, came home from day of moving books to rearrange the bedroom furniture.

The rest of the week included:

Having my first first-day-of-school since 1998. Having the second to last meeting before we sign our lives away with the guy who's going to take out our kitchen and put a new one in. Worrying my mother. Engaging in several intense but profitable conversations. Brainstorming about transfer wheelchair - fix it, or something new? - and deciding to fix it. In the meantime, performing lots of extra transfer help. Lunching with two new friends, which took longer than usual because they were somehow out of bread. At the sandwich place. Doing dishes. Doing laundry. Making the bed. Packing lunches, but not every day. Not sweeping. Not dusting. Driving E to school, or taking him to the bus. Picking E up from school, or picking him up at the bus. Trying to find the new library signs so the community service worker could put them up. Not finding them. Seeing them three days later in plain sight on a chair. Eating a lot of ice cream. Reading several chapters of that second Mysterious Benedict book out loud. Going to the library but forgetting the books that need returning. Checking out more books anyway. Bragging about the sweetness of church folk and then having bragging confirmed. Trying to be encouraging to the rummage sale crew. Not pre-buying at the rummage sale. Going to Freddies for new socks for a fast growing boy. Trying on a shirt. Not buying it. Going to the grocery store at least twice, maybe three times. Attending two days of conference meetings. Forgetting to take either my phone or my wallet to the second day of meetings. Borrowing other people's phones. Borrowing other people's money. Not drinking the wine, but eating too many of the cookies. Hearing a really amazing sermon and a very inspiring keynote. Helping a second grader with homework. Reconnecting with a much appreciated former mentor. Meeting someone I've been wanting to meet. Praying with the Irish Jesuits, once. Dropping off wheelchair to be fixed. Getting a friend to pick up fixed wheelchair. Picking up fixed wheelchair from friend's house. Walking dog on new trail. Going back to Freddies. Trying on shirt again, plus six others. Also, a skirt. Not buying any of them. Deciding fixed wheelchair will not work. Remembering that one lever that adjusts the seat and deciding fixed wheelchair will work after all. Canceling a lunch date. Not reaching cancel-ee, because she left her cell phone at home by accident. Also her keys. In locked house. Feeling relief that I'm not the only one who does stuff like that. Trying to get the furnace going. Not getting the furnace going. Heating with wood. Getting up at 4:45 (yes, that is AM) to get Jeff to the train station. Picking him up again 14 hours later. Not calling Sarah back, but thinking about her alot. Comforting a crying 9 year old and a crying 7 year old at the same time. Trying to figure out what is going on in a committee I had my first meeting with. Receiving an overdue notice from the library. Learning about the sickness of the right-hand-everything-guy. Therefore. Putting together a bulletin for the first time in a while. Finding musicians for worship this morning. Scheduling two things at once. Singing in church. Having a meeting about something new, exciting, scary.

I think I actually worked, too, you know at my actual job. A week like this does make it hard to keep up my new Dorothy Sayers habit, however.

THIS week is already starting out more promisingly, however, with good friend time, lentil soup and a full-moon dog walk. Keep breathing, friends. I will too.