commencement

Yesterday three of us met for the first of my monthly book clubs. (Three is a good number in theological circles.) I got good feedback about the location. It was a little loud due to the hoopla of a visitation weekend at the college. Lots of potential students and parents needed their caffiene. We had to move because a student started playing the piano next to us. But, when we got situated-- I did not start us well-- we just went around sharing quotations and commenting and reflecting on each other's picks. I found the exercise immensely helpful.

I bought Outliers yesterday. I borrowed it on CD, but don't want to listen to it in twenty minute installments. I also started reading a book on insommnia. And, while at the library, I enjoyed Meltdown Geography, an article in The Atlantic. I feel like I gained enough information and vocabulary that I could carry a cocktail party conversation about it. Phrases such as "mega regions", "talent clustering", urban metabolism", "spatial fix" and "a city's velocity and density". It was an optimistic piece that made me feel good about not owning a home and being so unencumbered. He ended on a positive, wry quotation of Paul Romer's, "A crisis is a terrible thing to waste."

I shopped for more Social Studies craft materials. They're going to be all crafted out. We're going to make a shaman ornament and a ancestor doll. I'm interested in how it will play out. My lower kids got really frustrated and some of them just quit with their masks. I'm not methodical enough in my presentation of steps. And, I don't sweep around the room to insure everybody is keeping up with my instruction. My bright kids took it and ran with it. My slow kids just quit. It kind of reminded me of Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers. I was productive with my school work today.

Today I sat between Boniface and Benedict on the other side of the church. It was a different experience. I heard an excellent sermon today on Mark 2, and enjoyed the readings in Isaiah and 2 Corinthians. I read 8 chapters in Exodus this morning before church. There's something to be said and just reading through the Bible. God is very present in the text. He's right there; it's impossible to miss him. But the Hebrews do, the Egyptians do, and I do. It's ridiculous to hear Moses argue with God about needing somebody to speak for him. It reminded him of Despereaux.

I still haven't nailed down what I should do for Lent. It will come... probably when I speak with my Spiritual Director tomorrow. I need to chat with him about creating some quiet in my life. I miss time to sit. I'm going to be one gleeful octagenarian.

I chatted with my friend in Germany. He wasn't as upbeat as usual; he was only a 9 on a scale of 10. I love talking to him because he listened to me chat about the Atlantic article and Outliers. He even interacted. And, he told me about Berlin and Prague. He met an American girl in Berlin and they chummed around the 4 day weekend. That'd be a cool way to meet someone. N's adventures, coupled with reading God's presence and action in Exodus, give me hope that I could meet somebody during a random expedition to the library or craft store. I feel like any hopes of amazing friendships with people my age and a romantic relationship is miniscule due to my geographics. But, I'm thinking puny thoughts when I think this, God is big, good and gracious.

I could not care less about the Oscars this year. It's so phoney maroney. It's a hoax, folks.