Gotta love PBS

Last night, after it was on our calendar, I watched the first showing of a documentary about Chicago called THE FOODS OF CHICAGO. It rocked. I gave money to PBS within the first 20 minutes so I could get the DVD. The guy who did it has several actually 10 documentaries about Chicago and we own 1 about the CTA. So if you happen to catch it on the PBS-it is well worth it.

We also realized that we have assigned seats on the sofa. I always sit on the one side even when that means Jim has to step over me to get to his spot. So we switched it up and I sat in his spot and it felt weird!!! I thought assigned seats where only for church :)

Cross Cultural experience in Ohio and other stuff

A couple notes about the last week or so:

1. Route 30 has become 4 lanes from Upper Sandusky to Fort Wayne - this is so cool!!! Even my dad thought this was a boring 2 lane road, I was excited about this on our way back to Chicago on Saturday.

2. There is a really cool A and W in Delphos, Ohio. They have a salad bar and pie along with the menu that A and W requires. A local take back - I like stuff like that, does that make me old?

3. Another thing in Delphos - a store that you drive through - the first one that Jim has ever seen. I love doing new stuff with Jim, even if it is a drive through store.

4. Jim kept mentioning the sunset of the drive Saturday night. He will mention some "country" thing that I just accept and I see it in a new light.

A Poor Rich Man

this guy lives on nothing but lives a good life plus he has given 5mil in to charity since 1999

http://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/state/all-a11_millionaire.6154857nov26,0,2692797.story

it's an interesting article

Added something new...

I added a slideshow of our wedding photos on my sidebar... So what do yall think of it?

Wedding Dance

Funny reception dance:

http://voshy.com/videos/view.php?id=t6pnxn4k

from the geek to the sour patch girl

Ok, Jim told me he has told me this before but I didn't think it was that neat - but when he showed it to me again - I think it is way cool!

google.com/reader

It is a great place to read stuff - let me explain....so I like to read a dozen or so blogs - but just like ours they aren't updated everyday - so this reader on google "reads" the blogs for me and when there are new entries or news stories from news sites it tells me! So I can go to my reader and read all the stuff off all my favorite blogs and news sites without sorting through the stuff I have read.

I love having my geek around to find this cool stuff!

Good Monday morning/Sunday night

Hi - I am a little too chipper this morning because I didn't go to bed last night.

You might be thinking - wow, what project did she have due? None. Then, maybe wow - what crisis at work did you have? None. Wow, what was on your mind? Nothing.

I am just old. I have been battling a recurring migrane for several days and forgetting that the meds that work to get them to leave have caffeine in them I took several at oh, 10 last night. I used to never have a problem - but now, I was up all night. But I wanted to let you know what I learned while up last night.

Sudoku - oh my....Jim, Nadia and lots of others have talked about it but last night until about 4 I was playing off and on. I had never played before last night and it might be a one night wonder - but wow is it cool.

Then, around 5 I realized that I was still wired and got out my work and laptop and started working. I figure with the work I am getting done - my usual midday swim at 1 will be the end of the day for me today!

Fun Kid Photos

Nice staged photo's of kids in dreamlike worlds. I really dig these so check them out below:

http://www.janvonholleben.com/dreams_of_flying.php?n=1

Whole Foods and the Dentist

Monday night, I went to a Whole Foods class - it was so fun!!!!! I highly recommend them!

Tuesday, I got my last cavity filled at the old time dentist that Jim and I go to.

I have no idea why these are in the same post!

Church Sign Theology

Another post from Meg on her blog: Bridget Jones goes to seminary


Church Sign Theology
I recently drove by a local church with one of those cutesy church signs out front, this one proclaiming:

Christians Aren't Perfect, Just Forgiven.

Well, first off, I suppose I should affirm what is true about this statement. Christians aren't perfect. I would assess that the lingering nature of depravity is a correct doctrine of humanity. And Christians are forgiven. That is the grace of the Gospel message, the forefront concern of Christ's incarnation and the peace/shalom we are enabled to bring to the world. So, yes, forgiveness. Good. Very well done on the soteriology.

Having said all that, church signs are for the benefit of those outside the church (seems obvious given their location.) Those outside the church are unsually not INSIDE the church for a reason. And, if you ask your run-of-the-mill 10am Sunday gardener/runner/New York Times reader why they aren't in church, I'm guessing you'll hear something about the hypocrisy and irrelevance of organized religion. So,

In a world where Christians scream hate at scared, pregnant 16-year-old girls who don't know where else to turn
And priests molest little children
And pastors carry placards proclaiming, "God hates fags"
And the affluence of most churches is chilling in the face of worldwide AIDS, violence and war
And church elders tell women with black eyes to go back home and submit
And deacons turn away people who can't turn on their heat

If you were a non-church person, how would you hear the quip,

Christians Aren't Perfect, Just Forgiven?

Because, in the context of very real and lamentable failures on the part of church folk, this piece of church sign theology sounds, to me, like a giant "Screw you!" You (people outside the church) can't hold anything against us.
Jesus doesn't care anymore that the Christian kids in your 3rd grade class mocked you senseless because your mom was an atheist. They're forgiven.
Jesus doesn't care anymore that your Christian neighbor was way too cheery in her assessment of your father's front-row seat to inferno post-mortem. She's forgiven.
Jesus doesn't care anymore that your former preist or pastor told you that people with your kind of problem aren't welcome anymore. He's forgiven.

Nanny-nanny-boo-boo, WE'RE forgiven. Now, wouldn't you like to join us this Sunday? We have lovely programming for you children.

Local Anti-War Protesting

I graduated from this school and I'm damn proud that some of this protesting is going on locally. I hope the kids don't get expelled for their efforts. I like the corrolation between the school receiving money from Army recruiters and the school trying to stop the protesting.

Read the full article from out local paper here:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-mortonprotest_09nov09,0,6565432.story?coll=chi_tab01_layout

Cool Book

I love this book that I just finished yesterday. It is a sociological study on the change that happens/is happening in 4 neighborhoods in Chicago - but they changed in the neighborhood names and I can only figure out 3 of them - it is driving me nuts.

Pete's Market

So I love grocery shopping, but especially at Pete's here in Chicago - it is a great place for all produce that you could even imagine. And I wanted to brag that for the last several weeks I have bought red bell peppers not because I needed to but because they have been 98 cents per lb - can you believe it?

Unforgettable Wedding photos

Some crazy and weird wedding photos can be found here:

http://divinecaroline.com/article/22072/37887

Overheard at a Circuit City

I was wandering around looking for new computer headphones when I passed by the new DVD section and I overheard a man who was carrying an infant as this to his wife as he picked up the Saw "Trilogy" DVD:

"Does this contain all three movies"

I muttered something akin to:

"That trilogy part doesn't give that away"

It amazes me the weird/dumb things people say in public....

On the bus writing

I have been stressed a lot lately; to the point of shutting down. Its that time in the DOOR year that I need a vacation but can’t take one for another couple weeks. However, while on the megabus to St. Louis - I am thinking of how good my life is.

No matter how stressed I am about it; I am honored to be in the line of work I am. I appreciate the people I work with and for – and when I get stressed about it, it is only because the passion I feel for my work is the tiring and yet energizing.

I get to meet new people all the time – whether they are doing great work in the city or coming to work alongside those in the city or even considering urban ministry as an option. I am able to be apart of the journey, and that is exciting.

I have good people, you know, good people. The folks who are there for me; and notice when I am not all there – that there good people. Especially in the last week I have noticed this while stressed – a sister to vent to, other sisters to hug me and make me feel loved, parents who aren’t on speeddial but should really be, and my niece who loves me so much that when I got up to sing with the choir in church she shouts in her best 2 year old scream – Krista, Krista, that’s Krista. (Thanks Joslyn, you made me feel like a million bucks!) A husband who loves me through my stress – and often picks up on it before I do.

I am so blessed to be where I am. God is so good. God is so good.