Have you ever noticed how much STUFF one can accumulate? I'm in the process of packing up my house - and MAN is it full of stuff! It's a little house - with a lot of memories - and a lot of fun stuff. The really cool thing, I think, is that all my stuff has stories attached to it. Stories of friends, of good times, of adventures, whatever. And new stories happening all the time - I've had bunches of people helping me to get organised in the past week or so, which has been GREATLY appreciated. I think the cool part of my life is that all my stuff relates to important people. A few examples... my little papier mache duck reminds me of a summer in Germany and a fantastic kayaking trip in Belgium (hey Dee! Margaret lives!)... I have a really cool candle from an amazing worship service with some Lutheran friends here a few years back... I have rocks from all over the world... my worship book, incredibly useful, was a gift from a phenomenol woman who has been a friend and support for over a decade (and who is SO hated in Winnipeg these days! Kristine, people are SO mad!!! hehehe...) and I doubt I'll ever forget the rubber monkeys or YUCK balloons... Stuff. Stuff in boxes. Stuff that is so much more than what it looks like.
Before I get too emotional (not that that's been happening or anything, really it's just rain! On my face! In the sunshine!) I'll post this - I'm out of touch for the next week or so, road tripping through northern Ontario (remember the great Arrogant Worms song trees and rocks? It describes the route I'll be taking... "there's rocks and trees and trees and rocks and rocks and trees and trees and rocks and rocks and trees and trees and rocks and water...") Then I'm honoured to be taking part in a friends' wedding - one of my oldest dearest friends (why are we sleeping on the wrong side of the tent? We didn't pitch it on a slope, did we??) Road tripping with the boys, plants and a bike... hmmm...
I'm off to finish putting stuff in boxes. memories that will come flooding out again when the time is right.
30 June 2006
25 June 2006
The latest...
Another crazy week in my world... I was at our annual clergy conference this week. We had the Bishop of Nova Scotia and PEI out with one of his clergy- decent conference. We were out at Pinawa (what happens in Pinawa, STAYS in Pinawa) and generally had a decent time. Even so - it was a busy time. It's really difficult to stay focused in session when you're up with friends laughing until 2am some nights, and then get up in the morning to go jogging at 6:30... not the best plan I've ever had, but the trail goes right along the Winnipeg River, which is WAY too beautiful to ignore. But the conference itself was good, I already blogged it on the National Anglican Youth site (generation.anglican.ca)
We had plenty of chats about the changes in the church - especially with the ECUSA convention going on - from their debate and resolutions about accepting the Windsor report (we accept - no we don't - yes we do - no we don't) and the election of the first female Presiding Bishop (Primate) within the Communion... hehehe... get a room full of clergy and some church politics that will have an impact on us... we had fun at the 'bar' at night (not the Pinawa Motor Inn, and I did NOT fall off any chairs or dance on tables, contrary to rumours from another event there...) But there was plenty of conversation and speculation. I love having conversations with people who have such differing opinions but can agree to not fight over them!
I also got to chat a bit with the Bishop about some of the NASTY rumours that are going around about me right now... that was interesting. I just hope that whoever is starting these horrible comments recognizes that they are inaccurate and unacceptable... and I have no idea why anyone would suggest that I don't like youth, hate youth ministry, am only at my job for the paycheck, etc. I know rumours happen in every workspace, but hopefully with me bluntly bringing this one up in the wider group we can start to curb this behaviour. (Yes, in my un-Christian moments, I want to inflict pain on the unknown person who started them... maybe tie them naked to a tree in mosquito season...)
Anyway, getting home was good - except for the reaction from Leo - he's a social creature, and has let me know he is none too happy about being left alone for 3 days. I think he's forgiven me now, he had some treats yesterday and had a good long run on the floor - I really must get this guy litter trained soon! Some friends came over Friday night to help me pack - I ALMOST admitted that I have too many books... but can anyone really have too many books? The fun thing is I'm not packing them all, some of the novels are going to the church. Anyway, Kieran was over too, so we had some fun. He had his first birthday this week, and his party is this afternoon (should be fun!)
It was really great to spend time with friends this weekend - in and around my work schedule - it's good to take a step back from my over-busy reality sometimes and just hang out! Yesterday was the final youth worship - it was hilarious decorating the church - helium balloons everywhere, streamers, etc. Never a dull moment!
So this next week should be pretty crazy... next weekend I'm heading out! Packing up the car with clothes and plants and pets and drive for a week... sigh. One day at a time!
We had plenty of chats about the changes in the church - especially with the ECUSA convention going on - from their debate and resolutions about accepting the Windsor report (we accept - no we don't - yes we do - no we don't) and the election of the first female Presiding Bishop (Primate) within the Communion... hehehe... get a room full of clergy and some church politics that will have an impact on us... we had fun at the 'bar' at night (not the Pinawa Motor Inn, and I did NOT fall off any chairs or dance on tables, contrary to rumours from another event there...) But there was plenty of conversation and speculation. I love having conversations with people who have such differing opinions but can agree to not fight over them!
I also got to chat a bit with the Bishop about some of the NASTY rumours that are going around about me right now... that was interesting. I just hope that whoever is starting these horrible comments recognizes that they are inaccurate and unacceptable... and I have no idea why anyone would suggest that I don't like youth, hate youth ministry, am only at my job for the paycheck, etc. I know rumours happen in every workspace, but hopefully with me bluntly bringing this one up in the wider group we can start to curb this behaviour. (Yes, in my un-Christian moments, I want to inflict pain on the unknown person who started them... maybe tie them naked to a tree in mosquito season...)
Anyway, getting home was good - except for the reaction from Leo - he's a social creature, and has let me know he is none too happy about being left alone for 3 days. I think he's forgiven me now, he had some treats yesterday and had a good long run on the floor - I really must get this guy litter trained soon! Some friends came over Friday night to help me pack - I ALMOST admitted that I have too many books... but can anyone really have too many books? The fun thing is I'm not packing them all, some of the novels are going to the church. Anyway, Kieran was over too, so we had some fun. He had his first birthday this week, and his party is this afternoon (should be fun!)
It was really great to spend time with friends this weekend - in and around my work schedule - it's good to take a step back from my over-busy reality sometimes and just hang out! Yesterday was the final youth worship - it was hilarious decorating the church - helium balloons everywhere, streamers, etc. Never a dull moment!
So this next week should be pretty crazy... next weekend I'm heading out! Packing up the car with clothes and plants and pets and drive for a week... sigh. One day at a time!
18 June 2006
The boys I live with
Here's my hedgehog Leo - he came from a home where he was getting care, but not enough love! His name comes from an article by Isaiah Berlin called "The Fox and the Hedgehog" and details Leo Tolstoy's views of history... very cool stuff. The gerbils, mischievious as they are, were also rescued to come and live with me - I named them Tartuffe, Orgon and Cléante after characters in Molière's play "Tartuffe".
Blog-a-saurus!
And so it begins... with so many changes happening in my life, a number of people have requested I do a blog site. So, here it is. I'll try to update about once a week or so...
Where to start... well, some of the basics about me... I currently live in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Look at a map, find the centre of Canada, and look closer to the US border - that's me, waving at you!) I have a cute little house (that was cleaned this week, holy cow!!) that I share with my 3 gerbils (Tartuffe, Orgon and Cleante) and my new hedgehog (Leo). Oh, and a goldfish. My house is filled with fun stuff - movies, books, candles, books, star lights, books... right now I'm re-reading a fun book of Irish fairy tales that my Jean sent me years ago. Not only is it fun, the Irish really have great ways of getting rid of people they don't like.... if I was vindictive, I'd be taking notes.
What do I do - well, my job is as the Youth Ministry Developer for the Anglican Diocese of Rupert's Land. It's a fun job, I get to do a lot of event planning and consulting with youth leaders/parish clergy/ecumenical groups/non-church people. I'm also a newly ordained priest, assisting at St. John's Cathedral. This morning I celebrated my first Sunday Eucharist - powerful stuff.
In my free time, I'm a student... I've already got my Bachelor of Arts in Politics from McGill, my Master of Divinity with Honours from Trinity College (Toronto) and my Specialization in Theology and Ecology from St. Michael's (Toronto). I'm working on post-grad work now at St. Mike's - I'd say it keeps me out of trouble, but hey, it's me. This summer I'm crazy enough to be learning biblical Greek (yikes) - I'm the only one who registered, so there's lots of personal attention with the instructor - I already hate declensions.
So when I'm not working or studying, I'm out having fun. For the past 2 years I've been a Pathfinder leader with the 151st unit - these are 11-14 year old Girl Guides. I've also been Area Chaplain and Assistant Area Commissioner (Scouts and Venturers) for Service Area 9 of Scouts Canada Manitoba. (How's that for a mouthful?!) I'm also out canoeing or cycling any chance I can get, and it's not unusual for me to be swimming or running in the mornings before work. (Yes, morning person - my last job interview asked me about that!!) I'm also a big fan of walking over to get gelati on Corydon Ave., or wandering through Assiniboine Park (the Leo Mol gardens, the Zoo...)
So... there's a bit about me. I'm sure I'll add more fun stuff as time progresses - like my excitement over the ECUSA electing the first female Primate for the Anglican Communion - this should have some interesting responses in the communion!
Where to start... well, some of the basics about me... I currently live in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Look at a map, find the centre of Canada, and look closer to the US border - that's me, waving at you!) I have a cute little house (that was cleaned this week, holy cow!!) that I share with my 3 gerbils (Tartuffe, Orgon and Cleante) and my new hedgehog (Leo). Oh, and a goldfish. My house is filled with fun stuff - movies, books, candles, books, star lights, books... right now I'm re-reading a fun book of Irish fairy tales that my Jean sent me years ago. Not only is it fun, the Irish really have great ways of getting rid of people they don't like.... if I was vindictive, I'd be taking notes.
What do I do - well, my job is as the Youth Ministry Developer for the Anglican Diocese of Rupert's Land. It's a fun job, I get to do a lot of event planning and consulting with youth leaders/parish clergy/ecumenical groups/non-church people. I'm also a newly ordained priest, assisting at St. John's Cathedral. This morning I celebrated my first Sunday Eucharist - powerful stuff.
In my free time, I'm a student... I've already got my Bachelor of Arts in Politics from McGill, my Master of Divinity with Honours from Trinity College (Toronto) and my Specialization in Theology and Ecology from St. Michael's (Toronto). I'm working on post-grad work now at St. Mike's - I'd say it keeps me out of trouble, but hey, it's me. This summer I'm crazy enough to be learning biblical Greek (yikes) - I'm the only one who registered, so there's lots of personal attention with the instructor - I already hate declensions.
So when I'm not working or studying, I'm out having fun. For the past 2 years I've been a Pathfinder leader with the 151st unit - these are 11-14 year old Girl Guides. I've also been Area Chaplain and Assistant Area Commissioner (Scouts and Venturers) for Service Area 9 of Scouts Canada Manitoba. (How's that for a mouthful?!) I'm also out canoeing or cycling any chance I can get, and it's not unusual for me to be swimming or running in the mornings before work. (Yes, morning person - my last job interview asked me about that!!) I'm also a big fan of walking over to get gelati on Corydon Ave., or wandering through Assiniboine Park (the Leo Mol gardens, the Zoo...)
So... there's a bit about me. I'm sure I'll add more fun stuff as time progresses - like my excitement over the ECUSA electing the first female Primate for the Anglican Communion - this should have some interesting responses in the communion!
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