A Flattering Picture
Click here for a closer look. (Sorry for the quality, but I just took a picture of it hanging on the fridge at work.)
I have now officially concluded all of my Office Staff obligations at Zion Church, PCA. I never really thought I’d enjoy the church secretary scene, but let me tell ya, it’s been a great, great job for me: office work mixed with Christian service, excellent co-workers and supervisors, flexible hours... it was, well, great! Praise God for dropping it in my lap when I wasn’t looking, because I sure wouldn’t’ve sought it! It’s been a good year-plus. Yes, yes it has.
I Ate Too Much!
So, I made that trip to Kentucky (and Illinois, and Tennessee) last week, and it was very good. Nothing like vacation to relax a person -- who’d’a thunk!
My mom’s parents live in Kentucky, and I have loved visiting them almost every year for my entire life. It’s great just to see them, there’s always a great “vacation pace” associated with our visits (we do things, but not in excess), but one of the defining aspects of our visits is the food. The South is of course known for its cooking, and Grandma happens to a cuisinière extraordinaire (an excellent chef). It is also important to note that hospitality = feeding your guests, which means that one is never even close to hungry in that lovely house. For example: the menu for dinner one night (for four of us) was, I believe, fried pork chops, mashed potatoes, fried apples, creamed corn, mixed vegetables, salad, biscuits, and sliced tomatoes, with lemon meringue pie for dessert. And did I have seconds? I had seconds! But I also refused seconds on other items because capacity is capacity, if you know what I mean.
Speaking of creamed corn... A few years ago I decided to mention to Grandma that her creamed corn is a favorite of mine. I was partly curious to see what effect that information would have, but partly just wanted more of it. :o) I was not disappointed! She always makes creamed corn regularly when I come and I’m always loudly grateful. The year after I made that request I remember being worried that I would max out on that dish and then have to relent or eat it out of politeness or something, but I’m happy to report that I love it as much as ever. It’s so good!
I added a KY photo album on Flickr, but here are some teasers:
We made a stop at an apple and peach orchard.
We visited the nearby Amish settlement.
We took a day trip to Cumberland Falls.
Yes, all in all we had a great vacation. (And successfully got my work visa, too! Whew.)
STRESS
Stress is moving your “little” sister to a town more than an hour away where she will begin her career as a music educator, and then saying goodbye.
Stress is getting a call from your sister the following day and having her relate in distress how her washing machine leaked (or rather poured) water all over the carpet and surrounding floor.
Stress is making an unplanned trip to Auburn with a box fan, a rented steam vacuum, and lots of towels in the family’s second car.
Stress is having to say goodbye to your sister again when you wish you could stay.
Stress is getting run into head on at the end of her street. (No one was hurt. It was clearly his fault.)
Stress is having the now undriveable van towed to your sister’s apartment and writing a rather hefty check to cover the expense (and making her drive you back to Lincoln).
Stress is saying goodbye to your big brother, who is moving to JAPAN to play in the army band there for two years or so.
Stress is preparing to leave for a week’s vacation to Kentucky (on Wednesday) amidst all the chaos.
Stress is getting the paperwork ready for your stop at the French consulate in Chicago on Wednesday, at which time you hope to get your work visa.
(sigh)
When it rains, it pours, but life is good!
Purpose Statement
As I have already alluded to, I do have a purpose for this blog: it’s going with me to France, an adventure which will officially begin on the 12th of September -- whoa-ho, that’s just a month away! Yeah, I thought it’d be nice to pull a Bethany and keep everyone updated on my experience at the same time that I provide for myself an opportunity to process and discuss those happenings. Plus I have this weird fear that my English will deteriorate while I’m there (since it did something similar when I went to Mexico for a measly little week-and-a-half) so I want to keep my lingual skills on their toes, or the tip of the tongue, or wherever.
I make no promises that this blog will be interesting, but it should, at minimum, live up to its name as being a web log. Read it, don’t read it, comment, don’t comment... it matters not to me. This is just for me and whoever happens to appreciate it. Enjoy! ...or don’t. :o)
Turtles
You may have guessed that I finished Harry Potter 6 some time ago. For the record, it took me nine whole days to read -- speaking of which, since when is finishing a book in just over a week considered “slow”? I know, I know, since the book in question is the newest Harry Potter. How silly of me to ask! :o)
Yeah, I decided a few years back that my theme animal should be the turtle, due to my chronic slowness. Does anyone else have a theme animal, or am I the only one? (Not to be confused with your favorite animal. For the record, mine’s the fox.)
