Honk Honk Beep Beep

I'm still a little bummed that I'm not going to the Festival of Homiletics this year, so instead of the festival Friday Five, here is a little thing from Emily's place:

Your Summer Ride is a Beetle Convertible

Fun, funky, and a little bit euro. You love your summers to be full of style and sun!

What's Your Summer Ride?

Walk to Detroit

A friend and parishoner walked to Detroit this week. From Lansing. For those of you who aren't familiar with Michigan geography, thats roughly 100 miles or so.

Why would someone do this, you might ask? Well, it has to do with a proposed buisness tax cut, his Baptismal Covenant, and how we treat those in need. But don't take my word for it. Matt runs a blog called Michigan Liberal - check it out, read his stories. I think you'll be glad you did.

Friday Five

I'm back from Miami, but swamped in VBS stuff. So, here is the Friday Five instead of a Post with Thought.

1. Favorite birthday cake/ice cream/dessert
When I was a kid, my mom and I used to pick out cakes that you could make in different shapes and decorate to look like stuff. We did a ladybug one that was pretty cool, and a butterfly one.

Mmmm. Ice cream. Thank goodness thats not only for birthdays!

2. Surprise Parties -- have you ever given or received one?
I was at one- a 30th birthday for a seminary classmate. Her mom flew out from a western state as part of the surprise... it was just wonderful. Who knew seminarians could actually pull that off?

3. Favorite birthday present
My guitar. It was a birthday present, oh, 10 years ago or so, and I still love it. We picked out a really good one.

4. What do you think of those candles that won't blow out?
No thanks!

5. Best. birthday. ever.
Probably my 25th. My 24th was two days into seminary, we didn't know anyone, it was a hard day for me. So the next year, Luke threw me a huge blowout party. He actually formed a committee of a couple of my friends. It took up the entire floor of our apartment building, and we invited the entire seminary. We decorated with stuff from the last 25 years, so some people came in 70s disco outfits... It was just wonderful.

Three Days Off

here i am in the place where I come let go-miami
the bass and the sun set low.
Everyday like a mardi gras- everbody party all day
no work- all play, ok

so we sip a liitle something, leave the rest to spill.
me and charlie at the bar running up a high bill
nutin; less than ill when we dress to kill,
and every time the ladies pass they be like "Hi will"

Ya'll feel me
All ages and races,
Real sweet faces, every single nation
Spanish, Hatian, indian jamaican,
Black, White, Cuban or Asian

I only come for 2 days of playing, but every time we come
we always wind up staying.
This the type of town i could spend a few days in,
Miami the city that keeps the roof blazing.

chorus:
Party in the city where the heat is on.
All night on the beach til the break of dawn
Welcome to miami (bienvenido a miami)
Bouncin' in the club where the heat is on
All night on the beach til the break of dawn.
I'm going to miami, welcome to miami

Today's post brought to you by Luke's business trip, Will Smith, and American Airlines.

Culinary Conquest & Friday Five

I haven't played the Friday Five in a while, but before I get to that, a bit of procrastination in the form of shameless self-promotion.

I made meringue cookies! They're gorgeous, and nicely shaped, and lovely pale golden color. They're crisp and light, and not soggy on the inside. They are vanilla-flavored, with real vanilla bean seeds and everything. (Beth, I found a use for those left over vanilla beans!) I'd post a picture, but I can't find my camera. Still, this is a major accomplishment for me, and I'm just not sure the youth group kids will appreciate the milestone.

You see, I love love love meringue cookies. In college, I worked as a part-time church secretary, and someone there brought in these amazing cookies with chocolate chips in them. I'd only ever had meringue on pie (which, I also love). I asked for the recipe, as any good aspiring cook would, and gave it a shot. It didn't work out so well. Ever since, making good meringues has been a goal, but they always come out sort of soggy, or really flat, or they turn into powder if you look at them cross-eyed.

This time, I had my trusty Cooking Light with pictures and tips, and I followed the recipe patiently. It turns out that patience is a virtue, even for the kitchen. Now, if only I could be as patient and goal-oriented in the rest of my life and work...

So, on that note: Friday Five, Procrastination Version!
Of course, what I'm procrastinating has a huge effect on how I procrastinate. For example...

1. When I should be cooking dinner and just can't get up the energy... I watch Rachael Ray shows, or read an old Cooking Light. This has one of two very good effects. Either, I get excited about cooking something and I go do it, or I get soooo hungry looking at the food that I can't possibly cook and convince Luke to go out.

2. When I should be writing a sermon... read blogs. Its only sort of procrastinating! I'm sure to find inspiration somewhere in the stories of my friends.

3. When I should be doing just about anything at a computer... instant message. And yes, I realize that my IM is up most of the time. Who wants to wait around to start it up when its time to procrastinate??

4. When I should be going to the gym... naptime. Because, really, don't I deserve a rest before I walk a mile and a half?

5. When I should help clean up... TV. Or napping. Or any of the above activites. Or grocery shopping. Or going to the gym. Or, really, just about anything to avoid this one. I guess thats not so much "procrastinating" as "complete avoidance", but isn't that really just semantics?