Monday, July 28, 2008

A Stroll through the Park









Jim and I went on a tour of Lincoln Park through the Chicago History Museum, where I have a membership. We saw some memorable points of interest including several in the Lincoln Park Zoo. Here are some of the pictures that Jim can take credit for.

Some pictures of our adventures







I have hit all the DOOR cities in the last month or so. Here are some of my pictures. The above is a quote that I saw in LA. Oh, what about a hot dog at the Chicago History Museum. Some pictures from my trip to Atlanta and my visit to the King Center with my good friend Jackie, who is living in the Atlanta area. I also visited Betsy and Russ but didn't take pictures of any of our adventures.

Cool Quote

Effective passion is not about spikes in blood pressure and raised voices.
Its about being concerned enough to sustain your efforts to be a relevant actor.
Aaron Ausland

– one of the founding members of the Krista foundation,
named after his late wife Krista

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Cool new web thing


Check this out! (thanks Jackie for sharing this web site with me)

This is a word picture of my blog

Travel Log 103

I am on a United Flight last Sunday morning. The flight attendant is folding one of the blankets that they will soon give out. I think to myself "wow, where I have I seen one of those before?" I think about it for a minute or two - it is my tablecloth! I bought our tablecloth at Salvation Army; so it is possible for me to mistake such a thing.

After telling Jim this story, he looks and sure enough there is a United Label on it.

Friday, July 18, 2008

Building a new computer

Since my computer went down I haven't been very productive but as of last night I ordered my new computer...all parts of course cuz I love building my own machine. For the geeks out there I present you with my new parts.


Motherboard:
GIGABYTE GA-M57SLI-S4 AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570

Video Card:
Geforce 9600GT

Processor:
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5800+3.0ghz

Ram:
2gb DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)

Monitor:
Acer X193W+BD Black 19" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor

DVD-RW:
LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA

Already have a case and hard drives so I'm set to go just gotta wait a few days for newegg to get it to me

Another Friday 5

1. So how did you come up with your blogging name? And/or the name of your blog?

Unlike a lot of people, who are smarter than I, I don't have fake identities for myself or folks that I mention - sometimes I don't mention names if I shouldn't - but most are real names.

The name of my blog is actually fairly thought out. The original God, Chicago and Sour Patch Kids was explained in my first blog entry like this:

God - I can only hope that I keep God first...I try most of the time to keep this important piece in my life. While I don't think the only way to experience God is my way, I am sort of in the business of church. I have a degree in religion; a master's of divinity and work in a church rooted ministry; of which I am way to passionate about - it is sort of my life, actually. I am privledged to be able to focus on God for a job - and I give thanks for that almost everyday. I won't be quiet about this God I love.

Chicago - I love my city, the neighborhoods, and the fact that I get the opportunity to live here. I am quite passionate about sharing the joys and the pains of this city with anyone who will listen. I won't be quiet about this place I love.



Sour Patch Kids - This is silly, but I am addicted to these little candies. I can even tell a fresh bag from a bag that has been on the shelf a little too long. I am sure I will post about that soon. I won't be quiet about this candy I love.


If anything - I can promise I am not quiet about the things that I love - so I hope you keep checking for new posts.


Jim had been trying to keep a blog and he asked to join mine - I wasn't feeling it, but decided that would be okay after awhile so he suggested the title to add and a geek. I liked it and it became the name.

2. Are there any code names or secret identities in your blog? Any stories there?

No...I don't think so.

3. What are some blog titles that you just love? For their cleverness, drama, or sheer, crazy fun?
1. polderpooza - a friends take on combining some dutch words and an american tradition
2. Doors open on the left - about the Chicago transit service - the name is good the blog not so much

4. What three blogs are you devoted to? Other than the RevGalBlogPals blog of course!

1. Chicagoist
2. CTA tattler
2. The Paris Project

5. Who introduced you to the world of blogging and why?
My friend Jackie! I liked being able to read about her life and the stuff she was posting just to remember for herself. I blog for myself a lot and I like that part more than blogging for other people.

Monday, July 14, 2008

Job...

I just received word that I've been hired in a permanent position as technical phone support at chase!!...I've been temp for over a year for a project with them and I'm finally perm!

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Travel Log: 7.13.08

Yesterday was Jim’s birthday. Today, I am on a flight to Denver to start two weeks of solid travel. (However, I have nothing on my sister who between her and her husband to be have been on the road for almost a year straight.) I think that I am finally getting the hang of all this flying business. I bought myself a purse/bag the other day that holds a bit more than my normal purse so I can fit all my work that I hope to do on the plane (even though right now I am blogging). It made it better getting through security. My suitcase that I bought a couple of months ago (when I found out I would be traveling this much is much lighter thanks to my new bag. I am flying Southwest which proved to be a easy thing this morning – plus their concourse was filled with electronic outlets and leather seats – it was the frequent flyer place for United (which I can only get in if I am with my boss). I made a note to myself to fly Southwest more….I can get to all the DOOR cities using it except Atlanta. I didn’t go through the expert travel security lane however; leaving that for my next trip – try something new next time.
Southwest doesn’t have assigned seating which paid off for me – as I got an aisle seat in the back. Almost as the door was closing and after I said to the woman in the window seat “we lucked out”, a woman came to our row and wanted to sit in the middle seat. Wanted may not be the term – it was the last seat on the plane other than the middle seat in the row across from us that her husband was taking. This woman looks a lot like my Grandma Beam and from our conversation a bit ago has her same spirit. She obviously likes to travel, likes jewelry, and isn’t afraid of doing silly stuff or looking silly. A little bit ago, she leaned down to get something out of purse (properly placed under the seat) and her head actually went under the seat in front of us. Then she comes up as if for breathe, and dives back under saying something that I am not really listening to so therefore can’t understand. I finally understand that while diving into her purse she has lost her ring. Not clear how she might notice as she still has rings on each finger, but she has lost a ring. She sits for a moment; then catches the attendant who humorous states “Thanks, my husband will be grateful that he doesn’t need to buy me a ring this year.” Then suggest that after we finish our drinks (water for me, Coke for her) we should stand and try to find the ring. So I gulp my water, the Coke goes on the window seat woman’s tray and I stand up and Grandma looking woman gets down on hands and knees looking for her ring. This is so something Grandma B would have done. Grandma would not have asked for me to do it – well maybe – but I have seen Grandma do stuff like this. After me standing in the attendant’s area in the back of the plane for 5 minutes holding the bubbling laughter back, which has nothing really to do with this poor woman but rather remembering the memories of my feisty grandma, the ring was not found. After about 20 minutes, about the time it has taken me to write this – the grandma B look alike asked for me to get up so she could go to the bathroom. I assured her this was ok, as she was “so sorry I was sitting next to an old woman”. While she was gone, the attendant came and looked for the ring and found it. Handed it to the woman’s husband and celebrated. Now, while she was in the restroom I noticed the book that the window woman was reading “Three Cups of Tea” and told her that I heard good things about it. She told me it was for school. We talked about it and then she mentioned that she was going to Alamosa. “Really? I used to work there, 500 feet from the airport.” I said. She is going to the Adams State, the college there, and started asking lots of questions about such things as how to get to the plane in Denver, does she need to recheck luggage, etc. Small world! I shared what I knew from flying from Alamosa to Denver.
This is way more entertaining than last month’s launch of Krista’s laptop through security less scary and no shouting required!

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Check this out!

I really like The Paris Project blog; the author is a female theology professor - and her lessons are often so fitting to my life. This doesn't fit me (I am not a mom) but I often think about how to teach children the Bible without cleaning it up and yet making it understandable. (Not all of us are like a friend of mine that before she was in elementary school asked her dad while reading the Bible - where are the girls in the Bible, or something like that!)

Click here.

Friday, July 11, 2008

Camping with Krista

Here is a Friday 5 from a blog I read: RevGalBlogPals


1. Did you go to sleep away camp, or day camp, as a child? Wish you could? Or sometimes wish you hadn't?

I went to a Methodist Seminary's day camp program when I was little. On dress up day - I went as Moses in the basket in the river. There is a picture. We used an old laundry basket. I don't remember anything from it except that costume and the cool playground, and walking in the waters catching minnows.

-I went to church camp, 4-H camp that was for a week at a time. I loved it!!!!

2. How about camping out? Dream vacation, nightmare, or somewhere in between?

When I was a child and I still do, love camping. I think it is about the neighborhood atmosphere of it. Camping is something my family often joined other families, and if not camping incites talking to those around your campsite more than hotels. It is a group experience and I have always liked that.

3. Have you ever worked as a camp counselor, or been to a camp for your denomination for either work or pleasure?

I was a camp counselor for a confirmation camp once while in college. I really liked it. My seminary had camp days at the beginning of each semester that were always fun. I have attended many retreats with churches that I worked for - always fun.
I once was the camp pastor for a church camp for junior high week of camp. It was the most amazing week - but probably one of my hardest assignments I have ever had. Three 1 hour slots a day to teach church history, bible, and other stuff. It was amazing. Shrek as Moses; a new verison of Romans 8, junior high style and covering Anabaptist history without boring - it was great!

4. Most dramatic memory of camp, or camping out?

My family met another family from home in Disney's camp ground - they got there in the middle of the night and I got woke up to greet them.

5. What is your favorite camp song or songs? Bonus points if you link to a recording or video.

King Jesus
Jesus is a Friend
Going on a Bear Hunt

Monday, July 7, 2008

How do you respond when?

When coming home from Detroit area last week, I stopped at the store that I bought my perfume that I have come to love. I have never really worn perfume before, but I really like it, and Jim thinks it is cute that I actually wear something regularly now.

Me: "Hi, do you have any lemonade spray left? I didn't see it anywhere."
Clerk: "No, we don't - but you know if you want a plug-in type of product, we have refills that are in the scent of lemonade - its the same formula as the room spray."
Me: "Thanks, I will think about it." I walked out of the store thinking about it alright - I have been using room spray for perfume....really had I been that stupid? Got home read the packaging - sure enough, I have been using room spray as perfume!

It is like I forgot I had a blog!

The last couple of weeks have been nuts for me:

1. Hosting reentry for my students from the fall who are now back from Northern Ireland and Columbia. The whole thing warmed my heart.

2. Helping to host a retreat for year long volunteers over a weekend.

3. Spending a couple days with Chris, Jim and my favorite 2 1/2 year old red headed Gabriel.

4. This past weekend Jim and I went to Indiana Beach of the slogan "proving once again there is more than corn in Indiana" on Thursday through Saturday morning. We drove home quite early on Saturday morning, waited in line at the Working Bikes Co-op to get at least one bike (we came home with two bikes, two helmets, and two mega bike locks). I preached on Sunday at church to a holiday weekend congregation of about 12. We biked to Oak Park for a movie - Hancock - really good! Our house is clean thanks to working hard on Saturday and our fridge has fresh veggies for the first time in over a month. Things are good.

In the last week or so, I have realizing how much I need to have Jim time. We are both quality time people - meaning that we receive love by spending time with the other one. (Most women are this love language, most men are not.) However, my schedule for the past several weeks I realized in the last week has been more taxing on me. This weekend we spent so much time together that I am relaxed and energized.
I had been projecting this all on Jim that he was not feeling good - but when I realized it was me - I called a Jim and Krista weekend.