Random Update Bullets

One of the blogs I lurk at recently posted and updated from a long hiatus. Her life has been complicated, and yet, her update was witty and funny and profound. She inspired me to update too, and try to get back into writing in this space. But, its a holiday and I'm off today, so I'm going the lazy route with bullets. Pretend the asterisks are fireworks, and it's downright festive around here.

* We moved, into hardcore Wolverine Country. The Phabulous Doctor is going to be teaching there beginning in September, so we've bought a house and officially moved.

* Paint colors are fun to think about, but actually getting around to painting takes us for. ever. I think our bedroom is going to have a similar color scheme to the new look here. Maybe by the end of 2008?

* Moving back to our home town is sort of crazy. It's strange to have to remember things like where the Thai food is and how to get to the dairy store with the great coffee ice cream, but run into people I've known my whole life and drive past all my college houses on the way.

* It rained every day for the first week we lived here. Now we have a lawn mower (the push kind) and a tree guy. Home ownership teaches all kinds of lessons.

* Youth ministry requires a lot of summer travel. I'm leaving for EYE 2008 in San Antonio next week, I'll be in Chicago for a week later in the month, and then DC in August. Yes, I do know that Texas and DC are not really the best places to visit in July and August, why do you ask?

* Watching friendships transform over fifteen or twenty years is an amazing gift.

* My kitchen and family room are all unpacked. The bedroom is mostly put away, and the office is getting there. Let's not talk about the basement.

* Our June included a random sports accident/head injury that lead to two days of being in the hospital. Luke is totally fine, but it was scary for a bit in there. I learned that getting a phone call from your spouse's cell and having it be someone else saying "Something happened" is terrible - but if that is going to happen, having a good friend make the call is the best possible scenario. He sounded steady and calm and in charge, in what must have been an absolutely frightening situation. I am so thankful for the new friends we've made since the last time we lived here.

* Six years ago, we lived in this town, Luke was working for the University, I was connected to diocesan youth ministry. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Happy 4th of July, y'all!

A Day for the History Books

At 9 pm eastern time, with the closing of the polls in South Dakota...




Yes, We Can became Yes, We Did. As he said tonight,
"Tonight is the end of one historic journey, and the beginning of another."

Celebrating The Defense

Defense is a big word in our house right now. Yeah, the Pistons are in the playoffs, so there's that defense, which seems to be working pretty well.

But more importantly... Luke is defending the dissertation as I type! In honor of the end of his educational career, a multiple choice quiz.

How does one prepare for defending a disseration?
A. Work a couple of 90-hour weeks
B. Teach a different class the day before to distract you
C. Get very nervous when people call you "doctor" beforehand
D. Be prepared with a good latte
E. All of the above

How does one celebrate defending the dissertation?
A. Go out to lunch with wife, advisor, and friends after school-sponsored reception
B. Go to a taping of "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me - The NPR News Quiz"
C. Attend another school's graduation
D. Have your wife throw you a party when you get home
E. All of the above

If you said "E. All of the Above," then you win! I'll take that as a good omen for Luke, thanks.

**Update: Defense is done, and all agreed it was a rousing success! He's now Dr. Luke!**

Organic Delivered

So, as I mentioned a while back, we're moving back to our hometown over the summer. I've been dreaming about shopping at the farmer's market and Trader Joes and the Produce Station and all the other places I miss. I've thought about joining a CSA, but with a mid-summer move, I wasn't sure that would work out.

Well, Frog came to my rescue!! She told me about a national company called Door to Door Organics that operates in my new area. You can have organic in-season fruits and veggies delivered right to you door. You can choose the size of the box, the frequency of delivery, and there is no minimum time commitment! I'm so excited to have this option. If you live in Michigan, parts of Ohio, and most of the upper east coast, you should check them out too.

Someone should write a song about dreaming of an organic veggie summer...

That Check in The Mail

Are you making plans yet for that "economic stimulus check" that might be coming in the mail? Honestly, we have been a little bit. We're in the process of moving and all, so a little extra cash flow doesn't hurt, even if I think the logic behind it is flawed at best.

Happily, the good folks at Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation - a non-profit dedicated to the work and ministry of the Millenium Development Goals - has been thinking about these checks too. They have started the Give it For Good Campaign. Here is the pledge they are asking folks to make:

"Because I take seriously Christ's admonition that 'where your treasure is, there will your heart be also' (Matt. 6:31), and

"Because I believe reaching out in compassion to the extreme poor around the world is more important than propping up an economy based on unsustainable consumption.

"I am donating all or part of my 2008 tax rebate/economic stimulus check (or all or part of the amount I would be receiving if I qualified for a check) to not-for-profit organizations that support the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

"Instead of spending it, I am Giving It For Good."

Make sense to you? Yeah, me too. Visit their website at www.giveit4good.org for ideas about where to give and how to spread the word.