Sometimes I wish I could get out of my own head

Which sounds a little bit like a wish for psychotropic drugs. But it isn't. Really.

I'm having church angst again. "Again?" you say, "When have you Not had church angst?" And you would be right to a certain degree. But it's gotten worse since the car was stolen. I've taken an I-Go car a few times and was able to borrow a friend's car but this I-Go thing is not cheap. On the weekend it's $9 an hour plus tax. Which means that a trip to church that far away is... $30 or $35 if I don't hang around and talk to people. If I'm meant to sing and need to be there early to help set up and should be there after to help pack things up I'm doling out somewhere near $50. To go to church. Which, really, is just freakin' ridiculous. I think I can figure out how to get to the big mother-ship church of my chosen denomination. By car it's about 8 minutes. It might take 30 by train and bus. Up to this point I've refused to attend said church because it's big. I'm not so much for the big. I like knowing people and being known. But, as the baby shower last weekend demonstrated remarkably well, I can be at a church with about 100 people for a year and a half and not know people or have them know me. So I'll try it. I won't worry nearly as much about how much I'm spending to get there and back. I might be able to meet people who live near me and find a small group. I've missed my small group something awful lately.

I just hope I'm not being a cranky-pants church hopper because things aren't the way I want them to be. I'm always wondering about my motivations. I think they're usually mixed.

Made it through to Monday

Saturday I was off to a baby shower for someone I don't know all that well, but wish I knew better and adore from afar. It's her first child and they don't know whether it will be a boy or a girl. She seems to be doing well.

While I happily browse registries for babies I tend to aim towards having the most memorable gift. Usually it's something that I've made. I was actually trying to get a (very simple) quilt done for this person but it wasn't going as well as I would have liked and I just wasn't terribly pleased with the results so far. So I gave up. But I did pull out a onesie I had stitched up a while ago and then stitched up another one. And boy, were they cute. If only I had followed through on my year goal of setting up an Etsy shop, I could have made some good money at that shower. Alas, I've been (over)thinking the whole online shop deal and have not yet or may never open one up. But, she confessed to have been hoping for a onesie after seeing one done for a mutual friend. So it was perfect (and the best gift there!).

Unfortunately, I didn't get pictures of either onesie. Silly Hannita.

Trying to have a happier day

I don't envy the people I work with. Because they have to deal with me. And I've been grumpy for a couple of days. I'm doing better today but yesterday Every. Little. Thing. would set me off. I had to keep reminding myself to not email angry. Always a good rule.

Yesterday started off well enough. I was up and out the door and to work on time thanks to public transportation. The CTA is always a crap shoot. They claim to have schedules but there are days when I end up waiting 20 or 30 minutes on the bus. I even made it to chapel. We had a speaker from Zambia who is and AIDS orphan and is herself HIV+. She spoke on Esther and the response from the kids was fantastic. One of the things I love about where I work is they way that they see social justice as an integral part of being Christian. It's not just about evangelism or conversion. It's about meeting people where they are at and filling needs that should be met. It's about loving people. And I think the students get that. And they were out of their seats and responding because they feel like they are meant to make a change. It was a beautiful thing.

But, hey, enough of that. How about some crafty goodness? I didn't get a picture of the earrings or little white bird I gave away on Friday to my friend that was having a birthday (the earrings were really fun). But Tuesday morning I left one of my red birds on the train. Hopefully he brightened someone's day and found a good home. I think he did because later that afternoon I saw this hopping around the lawn at school. Perhaps he had become real like the Velveteen Rabbit.

Some days I wonder

I've just gotten through a series of interviews as we try to find a new office manager. Thankfully, we had a pool of pretty darn qualified applicants and so we're going to get somebody good. Hurrah!

But, honestly, I find myself thinking, what were these people thinking as they got ready for their interviews. Can we not put a little effort into our dress, think to comb the hair, for women, put some time into the makeup - making sure to not look like a trollop or someone who had three hours of sleep. Also, let's try to be on time for the interview.

Is this unusual these days? This position is our front desk. A professional appearance matters. Granted, we take a wide view of what professional might mean (I dye my hair red periodically and on a college campus, that's OK). But I can assure you that professional does not mean "just rolled out of bed".

When did people stop bring resumes with them to job interviews? Yes, I know you emailed it in to HR. But can't you bring me a nice copy? And if you have a copy would you offer it to me?

Come prepared to your interview. I know, I've blown interviews because I haven't been able to articulate well what my skill set is. I've just interview a few people who aren't able to do that either.

But I think we have someone in mind. And then I'll get to train them.

It's Raining, It's Pouring

Well, not anymore. Today it was dry. But this weekend, there was a deluge. And it rained and rained and rained some more. It even rained a bit in my apartment. That was not pleasant to wake up to on a Saturday morning.

But today I got a flood day from work because my school is right along the river and it was, well, flooding. We weren't even allowed into the building where my office is located. I did do some emailing and phone calling to make sure everyone knew that things were closed and classes were canceled. And I waited for the maintenance guy to come and look at the water damage in my apartment. He didn't show up until 5. Gotta love that.

Things will be back to normal tomorrow I suppose. It was fun while it lasted.

Fun Things

I just saw a mention of Parking Day NYC somewhere (gotta love the internets) and was so intrigued I had to click through. It's all about reclaiming parking spots in New York City and making them into something for public enjoyment. It is such a fantastic idea. Some were sponsored by restaurants and they put down sod and park benches and lawn chars. One was sponsored by a gym and was full of equipment for passer-bys to use. I'm intrigued, I must admit.

The second project that I'm enjoying is this one in a window of Urban Outfitters in Philadelphia. It's a handcrafted marquee with a different message every day. Folks submit phrases to be put on the marquee though the website for the project and then the artists pick their favorites. A new photo is posted everyday. (Image above taken from their website)

Drive thru communion? No thanks.

They said it was supposed to rain yesterday. It held off until today.

After experiencing something akin to drive through communion (pre-packaged grape juice and wafer, all in a little cup like a single creamer) I went to the beach for a little bit of sit down and wait communion on my own.

Howling

This is really funny.
Well, I thought it was really funny. Maybe not so funny to some.

Chairs