Bring on the Blitzkrieg!

So...in 72 more hours I should be on a plane bound Northeast at this time. :)
I am ready for it!
I haven't been back to the midwest since I left it for California last June. I finally saved up enough PTO time at work to constitute a worthy visit...and just in time for one cousin's confirmation next Sunday. Woo-hoo!
I'm going to be flying into the Twin Cities on Thursday, then driving a rental car to my hometown in WI that night. I'll be in WI for 4 and a half days and then I'll drive to MN to stay for another 5. I've got a lot lined up for this short space of time...including meeting with more than 80 people!!! I have come to think of my form of visiting as "Blitzkrieg" visiting...I think the term originates from WWII when German air power began a sort of 'lightening warfare'. Ok, so the history of the term is not very cheery, but I think the Ramones kicked it up a notch decades ago when they made the song "Blitzkrieg Bop." I think it's an apt term for me, anyway...I pack as much into my short times of visiting as I can!
Well I'm very much looking forward to quality time with family and friends! Also looking forward to a break from driving in LA traffic!
Till I leave on Thursday I'm just trying to get through the following days. I feel like I'm running on fumes today, but probably because yesterday I was going virtually non-stop from 4 am until 8pm. I guess a person is only young once...and looking down the barrel of 30, I'd better get my time in while I can!
So nevermind that the air conditioner in my apartment started leaking water all over the floor again!
Nevermind that the people in the library are sneezing and coughing in a way that grates my ears!
Nevermind that I don't have time to go to a friend's birthday party tonight!
Nevermind that I won't have a chance to sleep in until Friday!
Nevermind, because now is the time...my vacation is almost here, so nothing much will get me down. The clock is ticking. Bring on the blitzkrieg!

stage fright and cavities

So I haven't been posting much these days...my apologies to anyone who cares. I'm getting ready for a 10 day trip back to the midwest starting next Thursday (as in I leave LA then). I'm trying to tighten up my itinerary. It takes up a lot of my brain space. This might seem like a not-so-complex task, but I can take it to the nth level. Most of my 10 days are filled with a few different get togethers, meetups with friends, and lots and lots of food. Oy! I'm going to have to start ordering toast at restaurants or something. ;)
Anyhoo, two anecdotes from the last couple of days.
Sunday I had the opportunity to give the introduction to communion @ church. I was happy to be asked to do this, but sort of forgot that me behind a microphone is seldom a triumphant event. I tried to edit down a possible 10 minute discourse of my thoughts on communion down to about 3 minutes. And as soon as I walked up to begin (ok, before I even walked up to begin) my adrenaline was pumping, I got that familiar choking sensation, and my hands were shaking like mini-earthquakes. Ultimately, I muddled through it all...not sure that it had much lasting impact other than the practicality of letting people know the sermon was over and they were welcome to stand up and get some bread & grape juice. Afterward I felt rather embarrassed too. But, that's probably just my personality. I could probably deliver something akin to the Gettysburg address and still feel stupid afterwards. Heck, I think Lincoln did himself!

Anecdote #2 is that I went to the dentist today. The dentist in LA is nothing like the dentist in Minnesota or Wisconsin. But I guess beggars can't be choosers and there's enough people in this city to employ even the least personable tooth professional. I suffered through my xrays and exam to find out I have yet another cavity. Six months ago I got 2 or 3 fillings (I forget) and an accompanying migraine. A year ago I received 2 fillings as well. I used to NEVER get cavities! Not until I hit my 20's...and I take better care of my teeth now! I almost wonder if it's all a hoax and the anti-cavity mouthwash I use actually causes decay or something. Harumph!

Anyway...I guess I'll deal somehow. Yet another sign that I'm "getting old".

New Link...follow the Thompsons

My co-worker and friend Lauren T. and her husband Ben are leaving LA this Monday to follow a dream.
The dream is an interesting one, and one that I'll probably not eloquently represent here.
Essentially, they are taking 6 months out of life to Hike the Appalachian trail from Georgia to Maine.
Oh, and did I mention that both of them are Raw Vegans? So, yes, no refreshing steak dinners at the end of their hard hiking nights.
Wow.
So, if you'd like to follow them on their adventure, click on my "Lauren and Ben" link--located on the side.
Cheers!
And Go for it, guys!!!

Jesus...For such a One as Me

I hate knowing you’ll have to show me again
That the mists you divide and clear before my eyes
will once more settle between us
and keep me guessing
If I were you, I would have no patience
for such a one as me.

I hate that my ears are so stopped up
That I keep asking for the answers
You’ve already given,
Embarrassing myself for Lack of Listening
or confusing Your voice with my own
If I were you, I doubt I would repeat myself
for such a one as me.

I hate that I muddy it all up
That I seek to walk the line dividing right from wrong
but the colors bleed around me
and I lose track of what side I’m on...

I’m sorry that life seems like caffeine
and when too much accumulates,
I become all jitters and shakes with no focus
and I need you to never stop
pulling me to your chest
So I can realign my world with your heartbeat
and begin to breathe deep again
as you murmur ‘Hush’ over me.
If I were you, my compassion would grow cold
for such a one as me.

I’m sorry I can only trust in my weakness
While I seem to look for you
only in my strength
Help me to work out the equation
For You, alone are the utmost desire
for such a one as me.

Prayers for VT

If you live in the U.S. and watch any tv in the course of a day, you've probably heard the news about the shootings at Virginia Tech.
Seems that some details have yet to unfold (like who did this and why), but essentially, 32 people were killed at the college today, and more were injured.
Of course the news of any school shooting is disturbing, but it's a whole other level when you know people who may have been caught in the tragedy.
The church I am a part of in Los Angeles is comprised of a lot of Virginia Tech Alumni. Our founding pastors JR and Joe came to Los Angeles from NLCF (New Life Campus...something), which is a church that is still large and thriving in Blacksburg, VA.
It was a relief for me to hear that my friends the Castros are both fine. But I am still grieved for the community.
JR sent most of us in Kairos an email this afternoon asking us to pray for NLCF in the days following this tragedy. If you feel inclined to join us in prayer, ask God to use those at NLCF to minister to the community in the aftermath of the shootings.

Last Weeks Goings ons...

Yes, I know, after saying I have a laptop to compose blog posts from my very own home, not a peep from me for days on end. Oh, the Irony. :)
But really, to give me a little bit of credit, I've had a heck of a week.
Tuesday, my pal Andrew and I saw the band MUSE live @ The Forum in Inglewood (which passes for LA, I guess). The first pic here shows lead singer Matthew Belamy (?I might have butchered that spelling) wearing the same red jacket he opened the set with. The second pic is to give the other 2/3 of the band equal airtime.
Despite the outrageous cost of the event (including $22 parking!), it was a great gig. I wish I knew how many people the venue held...it was surely enough to form its own city. (I'm not sure that it rivaled the crowd in East Troy, WI when I saw 3 Doors Down and Creed a few years back though...)
The sound was a bit muddy due to the size of the place and the constant roar of cheering from the crowd, but it was still an excellent show. Hooray for Muse! (I do have to admit though that I liked seeing them @ The Quest in Minneapolis a few years back better because of the intimacy...however, this time I did know all the songs they played...)

Wednesday I went shopping for a bridesmaid dress with my pal S. That was an amazing experience. I'm one of the few women on the planet that doesn't enjoy shopping, so I just told S. to take the lead. That she did! She even gave me a briefing before we started about how I should be careful to not follow her too closely (thereby avoiding collisions if she turned in a hurry). I found that that extremely comical (in a respectful way!). She also made me grin when she sounded like a drill sergeant talking to me from within one store: "Retreat! Retreat!"
Anyway, we found a lovely black skirt that was originally priced over $100, and I got it for less than $40! (Wow, it helps to pray before shopping!) The top we settled on isn't quite doing it for my friend, the soon-to-be-bride, so we'll have to try over on that...but it was only a $5 investment, so I sure won't complain! All in all, a very successful venture.

Last night I went to see the movie The Reaping with my friends Deana, Andrew, and Josh. It was an interesting flick. I'm not sure how I feel about it, all told...I guess it's sure not bad for a horror movie. The ending left me a bit befuddled, and the four of us were trying to think out the moral ramifications of a person deciding to have an abortion if they were carrying the Spawn of Satan. Yes, deep theological stuff! Ha!

Ok, so lots going on, and even more I don't have time to write about...I'm off to a housewarming party in a few hours, so the week of STUFF continues!
Hopefully next week will calm down to the point that I can be more contemplative.
Ciao for now!

Hooray for a laptop!

Hello Readers...I am very happy to report that I now have at my disposal an old laptop given to me at a scandalously low price by my friends S&V. Ok, so I still have to come to the library to get an internet connection, but now I have the liberty of typing up something at home to put on my blog, and then copying it in, once I'm connected. The possibilities for future entries is endless! :)
So hopefully you'll hear a lot more from me soon. Unless, of course, you're too busy leading your own life to check in much anymore...in which case, I sure wouldn't blame you.
But for those of you Crazies clamoring to read my musings, it's like Christmas has come early!!! Ha!
More soon...