entitlement

I'm having one of those days where I am amazed at how entitled people seem to feel. Nothing in particular happened today, it is just kind of a general annoyance to me. People seem to feel like they are more important, more worthy, more in a hurry, more deserving. Whether it be at a Caribou where they should order first, talk louder, deserve the comfy chair, or get their drink faster, or at a restaurant where the server should make everything perfect (which yes, would be great, but it is not ususally the servers fault! they aren't cooking your food), they can spread out and take up lots of room, or they can sit for hours and cause the server to lose a tip from others that could have been sat.

Why is it that people feel so entitled? Is it a new way that we are raising our children? Is it something that schools are teaching? Or parents aren't teaching?

Or are people just getting meaner and more self important? Maybe the whole self esteem push just went a little too far.

I have to say that the blinker thing is my biggest pet peeve while driving. Putting your blinker on means you would like move over...it doesn't mean that I have to let you in or that you can just move over. It is showing an intention to move, a desire. It is not a right! This is what the MN DMV says about signaling:

Signaling
When you wish to change lanes or make a turn, signal with an approved
signal device to inform other motorists of your intention. Signals are
to be activated at least 100 feet before you make the turn. Continue
signaling until you have completed the turn or lane change.

okay, that is enough of that rant for the day! off to the in-laws to re-do Christmas since Mike was sick!

More on The Golden Compass

Here is a great interview from NBC...

I am wondering what kind of an opening weekend it will have. I'm hoping for a great one!

The Golden Compass

Perhaps I have written about this before, but I am amazed at people's intolerance. I'm not even able to type very well right now, as I am dissapointed and upset. There is a movie coming out on Friday that I am extremely looking forward to titled The Golden Compass. The Golden Compass is part of a trilogy of books called His Dark Materials. The books are a coming of age story, an adventure story, and a fantasy story.
There is currently rounds of emails going around calling for a Christian boycot of the movie because it is anti-Christianity. The author is atheist. The two main characters of the trilogy represent Adam and Eve, and yes, they kill "god" at the end. What the emails don't touch on is why the author is atheist:

Some of the articles and talks I've written are to do with the subject of religion, which I think is a very interesting one. The religious impulse – which includes the sense of awe and mystery we feel when we look at the universe, the urge to find a meaning and a purpose in our lives, our sense of moral kinship with other human beings – is part of being human, and I value it. I'd be a damn fool not to.
But organised religion is quite another thing. The trouble is that all too often in human history, churches and priesthoods have set themselves up to rule people's lives in the name of some invisible god (and they're all invisible, because they don't exist) – and done terrible damage. In the name of their god, they have burned, hanged, tortured, maimed, robbed, violated, and enslaved millions of their fellow-creatures, and done so with the happy conviction that they were doing the will of God, and they would go to Heaven for it.
That is the religion I hate, and I'm happy to be known as its enemy.

hmm, hating organzied religion - especially the catholic church. Wait now, isn't that how Martin Luther felt when he rebelled and posted the 95 Thesis? And how many of us look at other religions, especially islam, and have huge issues with that? This is an actual post from a Christian on Godtube in response to a video from Fox News:

I think we need somebody like Pullman more in the Islamic world than in the West. A wave of atheism through the kids in today's Musllim countries would put a stop to this nonsense about killing the infidels and blowing yourself up or crashing planes into buildings to get your 72 virgins in heaven.

umm, so atheism is okay for islamics but not for christians? and please tell me that this person was being sarcastic:

People like this make me mad, how DARE they think they have any right to teach our kids what THEY want them to believe. Kids are very Open to ideas at that age and no one has the right to try to teach them to follow there religious outlook on life (and like it or not, this IS a moive aimed at kids) You don't see Catholics or Christians trying to teach kids to believe that there way is the right, Before there old enough to pick for themselves, like this!

wow. I'm not sure how people get so caught that they don't even think before they post stuff like this.

and as for lyra "killing god" that all happens after they open hell up so that the spirits can be freed, then they free god so that he can join everyone.

anyway, i'm going to see the movie on friday and we'll see if my opinion changes before that.

Friday night at 8:30 pm

Yup, Friday night at 8:30 pm and I am at work. Drinking caffeine like water, getting ready to stay up all night. I'm having a lock in tonight, and I'm not crazy! I have 26 registered sr high kids coming at 10 pm. About 15 more that i have talked to or have texted me that might be coming. 5 adults coming from 10 pm till 2 am or so, 1 other adult staying over night, and one coming at 6 am to help get through the morning. I have some fun stuff planned, so it should be a lot of fun.

My concern - I can't remember the last time I stayed up all night! And i have to!

Once this summer I was up until 4:30 am and then up again at 6:30, but that wasn't all night. I'm a little nervous about that!

I'll let you know how it goes!

Long time..

So it has been over a month since I last posted! Not totally sure how that happened, but I guess it does show that time flies. I could blame our home computer not letting me access blogger, then my laptop crashing and my motherboard dying, but really, it has just been busy. I was sick, Mike was sick, and we are busy. But life is good!

Here are some shots from Thanksgiving...

Friday!

I am amazed that it is Friday already! This week off went sooo fast. I'm finishing it up by scrapbooking (still) and watching rent. Mike and I are heading to his parents for dinner tonight (pizza) and then back home to watch the Bourne Supremacy (we watched Identity last night) and then to bed. Tomorrow we are up for brunch for LaVerle at Ken and Linda's then I am taking a cooking class with mom and megan. Then we are going to watch see Boune Ultimatum in the theaters!

Okay, I want to get through Ann's wedding and the pictures that I have before 5 pm.

vacation?

So I am on vacation this week. From Friday the 12th at around 4 pm through Sunday the 21 at around 4 pm, I am off completely. I am trying to take it easy and relax. How is that going you may wonder? If you know me, you know not well.
Thus far I have:
done serious laundry.
attended 5 year reunion party at the Local.
attended 5 year homecoming football game at Gustavus.
attended post party at Patricks, caught up with old boss Jesse.
went to church at TLC.
went to brunch with Mom, Dad, Mike, Megan, and Taylor.
spent Mike's money at Baker.
made cookies.
scrapbooked (really).
worked on contracts for extrava.
cleaned out file drawer.
cleaned out refridgerator (ick),
went to the brand new Target. may have to consider switching target allegience.
read 3 books.
watched Phantom of the Opera. am stunned that phantom is also lead guy in 300.
scrapbooked some more (yup, still on the trip to DC. I'm slow. And kinda plain.)
sent birthday card to Holly.
washed sheets, mattress pad. added electric blanket to bed (yippee).
attended Mike's basketball game.

and now, tonight, going out for Holly's birthday, going to association meeting, going to wayzata - edina football game.
tomorrow all day with Taylor. Meeting Christina and Ella, meeting mom, G and G, shopping with Mom and Taylor.
Friday having lunch with Angie and hanging out with Tiffany and the boys
Saturday brunch with Wilkens, cooking class with Mom and Megan.
Sunday back to work.

I am feeling relaxed, but also really wanting to go somewhere. Really anywhere would be fine!

Irish Soda Bread

2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 cup raisins
1 large egg
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
1/4 cup sour cream

Preheat oven to 350. Butter a 9 inch round cake pan. Sift together the dry ingredients. Using a food processor with the steel blade or a pastry cutter, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles small peas. Blen in the raisins. Beat the egg, buttermilk, and sour cream togetheri until blended. Stir the egg mixture into the dry mixture until just blended. Transfer the batter to the pan and bake for about 50-55 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

From The Cereal Murders

The Religion

I just finished a great book titled The Religion by Tim Willocks. It was an intense, violent, romantic, sweeping book, a historical fiction journey through the siege of Malta in the 1580s.

A much better book than I had expected. By the first chapter I was hooked.

Supposedly it is part of a trilogy, which would excited me!

Taco Bell

So I have been craving Taco Bell for about 3 weeks now, it just never fit into my schedule/plans to grab some. I thought I was going to a networking lunch today but am just not in the mood to spend $8 of my own money (for a work function nonetheless) for a tasteless pizza buffet. So I am killing a little time at the library, then heading to the bank, and then I'm going to Taco Bell on my way to work. Kind of sad that I am killing time just for a meal, but I am really excited about it.

What can I say, you can't beat lunch for under $3.


Speaking of the library, have I mentioned how much I enjoy the library? We get all of our movies from the library for free, I read a ton of great books, plus they have museum passes where you and up to 3 other get in for free! Taylor, Deb and I are going to the Russian Museum tomorrow, of which I know nothing about. We'll have to see how that goes, if Taylor will stay in her stroller or want to run around, etc. I'm hoping to take her to a museum at least every other week, so this is the test run.

There are a ton of kids here right now! I love to see it busy.

Okay, perhaps I have killed enough time so that it is closer to lunch than breakfast!

facebook really is a time sucker...

So now that I am on facebook, I realize that it really is a time sucker. I'm trying to just log in twice a day, but those darn update emails get me every time.

Well, I guess it kind of counts as work, and personal, so it's not a huge waste of time!

Got-A-Hot-Date Bars

These are yummy, from Diane Mott Davidson's book Sweet Revenge

1/2 cup chopped dates
1/2 cup raisins
2 tablespoons buttermilk
2 cups flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 sticks butter, room temperature
2 cups of brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup Heath Toffee Chips

preheat oven to 325. Butter a 9x13 pan.

In a small saucepan, place the dates, raisins, and buttermilk. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then romce and put mixture into shallow bowl to cool.

Beat butter till creamy, add brown sugar and beat for 3 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, then add vanilla. Mix in flour mixture, date mixture, chocolate chips, and heath chips with spatula. Place into buttered pan and smooth over.

Bake at 325 for 40 minutes. Cool and cut.

Peg's Corn Pudding

Mix together: 1 15 oz can corn, 1 15 oz can creamed corn, 1 beaten egg, 1/4 c. of margarine or butter, melted, 1 box of the "jiffy" corn bread mix, and 1 8 oz carton of plain non-fat yogurt.

Cook in a casserole or 9 in. pan coated with cooking spray at 350.... I did it for 1 hour, even though it said 45 min., since i used more corn.

The return of taylor!

Support Tim

Please help support our friend Tim who is walking for PFD.
Click here to go to his website.

Children of Men

Just watched Children of Men, interesting movie. A little violent for my taste, but an interesting story. Sometimes I worry what will happen in the future and have to stop and think about why we want to bring children into this world (not that that is happening anytime soon, sheesh). Still, I do fear for the future.

catching up again...

still trying to catch up on old stuff. here are the notes from one of the hour long things at the NPG.

Why does there even have to be a women's day?
because women are inferior to men (j)
maybe we are superior and that is why we get a day and men don't

what percentage bring suitcases to class with them? (j)

How can I personally as well as the YM network forge better relationship with Lutheran colleges including church relations, admissions, and campus pastors?
Are campus pastors actively doing youth ministry? If so, how can I help? If not, why not?
What can i do to make life better for the young women in my congregation?
How do I best talk about God?
How do we encourage young women to enter ministry and speak boldly about the word?
Nearer the promises of God...what are the promises?
That women will be senior pastors? (j)

are transgendered people represented by the rainbow as well?
do you know Jaime at Luther? (j)
our age? how does "the church" feel about that?

are there models of family and gender roles?
do we fit the mold?

overspiritualized the gospel - to take out the politics

how do we teach/model active gospel?

is the scriptual agenda the same as the liberal agenda?

God images as female images - is God gender neutral? how about Jesus? and the trinity?

Why can't you use the trinity with female images?

How does Sophia fit into all of this?

Gathering as a mother hen -

How does the grace of God as evident through Jesus not be gender specific?

Is it a positive male image with God?

REDEMPTION

How does your spouse fit into your call?
Do other jobs find childcare for conferences? Is that not part of real life?

So I cocktailed and bartended for more than three years. I know sexual harrasement and discrimination. What I learned is that it only happens if you let it happen. I believe that women are strong enough and intelligent enough to stand up for themselves. If not, maybe they shouldn't be leading a church. Scandalous, huh?

Do we still even have a traditional family?
I am a feminist in that i believe that women can do anything, but they have to want it bad enough.
Is there a healthy family modle in the entire Bible?

3rd grade rules!(j)
Isn't there a draft for a reason? So that all of God's people have equal chance for a good pastor.

I love that the bishop came in just after that comment that the draft is fucked up.
Do you think she goes to Augsburg for free.
"Continue to ask and ponder provacative questions"

What does negativity solve?

Can we raise a generation that wants to work with Jesus?

Do attractive people become pastors?

Would it be cool if I just chucked my apple at her at top speed? (j)

Often times our breathing gets us in trouble.



So you can tell that it was an interesting 4 days, if just one of the hours spawned all that.

Managing Sideways

So I'm attempting to get caught up on life - including laundry, grocery shopping, reading, and all that good stuff. I'm also trying to get caught up at work, with reading and the like. I'm plowing through Managing Sideways by Price Pritchett. I thought I might as well blog as I read, so that I can get it all down that I want to remember. I'm trying to think of how this will apply to work for me as I'm reading it. So here are the important parts I have picked up on:

Change is 30 percent logical, but it is 70 percent emotional.

It is reported that customers are five times more likely to leave because our business processes are poor than because we have poor products. (I think our processes are pretty poor)

As Kenneth Blanchard puts it, "Feedback is the breakfast of campions." ( I like feedback, I need more of it. Are we getting good and accurate feedback on the programs from the kids?? What if we did a followup survey 5 years later on how AWOL really affected their life?).

Okay, here is a chapter that is tricky in the current situation. It says,
"Instead of supervising people, manage the white space. keep your focus on...results. ... Here we are looking for horizontal management, and that means you don't want people raising issues through the chain of command. You want them to resolve the problems at their level. You want them to be self directed, finding solutions on their own, operation with a high degree of personal autonomy."
I think that applies to issues with a process or product, but can it apply to issues with co-workers? or ethics??

Communication is the oxygen that change needs to survive.

interesting quick read. i'm curious as to if we ar going to use this as a youth staff.

Cabin

We spent last weekend at Holly's cabin with Holly, Joe, Angie, Shawn, and Ashley. It was lovely and rainy. So we stayed in most of the time and played mexican train and phase 10. Great to get away for weekend without high school youth!

Mike's Birthday Dinner!

the big 28!

Still not done with the slideshow

So I'm almost done, but we are heading out to dinner for Mike's birthday. Anyway, wanted to post this where I would remember it. It is from the first church we stayed in our on way to Charleston and I really like it.

Thank God for today
This is the beginning of a new day.
I can waste it or use it for good.
What I do today is important because I am exchanging a day of my life for it.
When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever-leaving in its place something I have traded for it.
I want it to be gain, not loss; good, not evil; success, not failure; in order that I shall not regret the price I paid for today.

Chicago

Here are some photos from Chicago. I didn't bring my good camera, so they are a little fuzzy. The first is the view from my hotel room. Not too bad! These are from the walk home from Gino's East for pizza. Notice the snazzy bright green shirt! Auggh.

The rest are all from the night we went out a boat cruise. I'm bummed that you can't see the skyline in the background. Anyway, this is me with Susan, then Nathan, then Leslie.

Off the boat now with Susan, John and Beht (another AIM!)

With Jason, my travel buddy and deep conversationalist. Tell me again why I can't serve communion?
Lastly, with Colleen and John, from my discipleship group at Sem.

Bridge Collapse

What a shock this was. Here are some pictures that I was emailed. Check out the pictures here.

I feel like I have a ton of stuff to write about since I have been traveling for the past 4 weeks. I'll try and get some stuff down about the Navy Pier Gathering tomorrow or when I finish the Charleston slideshow.

traveling...

So I have been traveling a ton for work. I was in the South Carolina July 13-24, now I am in Iowa July 29 through August 5. I leave for Chicago August 6 and return on August 9. Up to the cabin on the 10th for one night, than Saints game on Saturday the 11th.

So I am busy...but I do have a ton to post about eventually.

One of the kiddos took this picture with my camera. It is a good summary of how I am starting to feel.

But really, I have been working. I taught some gals how to use a saw.

Anyway, for more photos and updates you can check out www.lordoflifeyouth.org

AWOL

Taylor at the lake

In Charlottesville, VA

aaron, erin and erin

Linda's Party Potatoes

Party Potatoes

2 lbs. frozen shredded hash browns, thawed
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 c. sour cream
1/2 c. butter, melted
8 oz. shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 t. seasoned salt
Paprika

Combine everything. Spread in a greased 9x13 baking dish. Sprinkle with paprika. Bake uncovered about 1 hour at 375. Can be assembled and refrigerated overnight before baking. Sometimes I add sauteed chopped onion. Serves 12

Twins Game!

We went to the Twins game after the Holloway reunion. Guess which was more fun!

Taylor's First Birthday Party!

baccalaureate picture

Charleston Day 5

Today we woke up at 3 am east coast time, left the hotel at 4 am, got to the airport before almost anyone else. Checked in at 4:45 am, went through security (I was the first one in the whole airport to go through security), and waited for our flight. Flew out at 6 am to Atlanta, caught our connection to home, and arrived home at 10 am central time. At 10 am we had already been up for 8 hours. Mike picked us up, drove home, and I crashed out for while.
It was a great trip, can't wait to take kids there this summer.

Charleston Day 4

Today we went to church! it was a great service, with a nice short sermon. Very welcoming, very friendly, very clean. The kids will be great here! Also, they invited us to help out with VBS, so we will get to serve a little here as well. A couple of pictures:

We drove around for awhile, found the laundromat, grocery store, target, etc. I bought two new swimsuits, then we had ice cream. Drove through downtown for a little while as well.

Back to the hotel, down to the pool for abit. Returned the rental car, took the shuttle back to the hotel. Killing some time before crashing out for our early flight tomorrow morning.

Charleston Day 3

Today we slept in a little bit! We rolled out of the hotel around 9 am this morning and headed to Chik-Fil-A for breakfast. Two yummy sausage, egg, and cheese biscuits later and we were off. Today we drove up to our campsite for the weekend. We are hoping to camp at Huntington Beach State Park. The park is about a two hour drive north of Charleston. Our drive was uneventful, except there were a ton of motorcycles and police cars out and about. The only reason we could think of is that last week was Myrtle Beach Bike Week and maybe the people just stuck around for an extra week!

Anyway, we got the park and talked with the camping people. We can't make a reservation for the group, so we need to either book somewhere else or maybe get to campsite Friday night. I'll have to figure that out later!

We decided to spend an hour or two on the beach. It was lovely and sunny and perfect. We went in the water a little bit, but mainly just relaxed and enjoyed the sunshine. What a treat to be in the ocean in may! Here are some pictures from the beach.

It will be the perfect way to spend the weekend after a long hot week of work.

We drove down to check out the primative camping area. There was only one group there and it looked like there was tons of room. They said it holds up to 300 people. It looks an awful lot like Minnesota.

We got back into the car to drive out. Also, we saw alligators on the side of the road on the drive into and out of the park. Sweet! We thought we would head up to Myrtle Beach to check it out and got to the city limits before we saw the traffic completely stop. A quick left and some meandering later, we got back to our friend Hwy 17. We were getting hungry and decided to go to dinner at my favorite southern restaurant, CiCi's Pizza. So we drove the two hours back to Charleston and headed right for the pizza buffet. It was completely delicious. It totally lived up to the hype for mom.

Back to the hotel, relaxed for a little bit, quick workout, now ready to climb into bed and read for a little while. It is the weekend after all!

Charleston Day 2

We decided to do a boat tour of the harbor after I met with the Habitat folks. We were for the double deal and did the boat cruise and then the hourse drawn carriage. As we were waiting to buy tickets I took some picture of this sign. Just thought it was cool to see how far away we were from some places and how close we were to others!

I took a couple picture from the dock and from the boat of the Port of Charleston stuff for Mike. Look honey, intermodal containers!

Here is a picture from the boat of another cool boat that looks like a pirate ship. We heard alot about the different pirates that were around the Charleston area...Blackbeard and the Gentleman Pirate. Here is where we had dinner last night! It was cool to see it from the water. On the boat, trying to keep the hair under control!Some of the cool homes on the harbor.
I took a bunch of pictures of the pelicans. This was one of the better ones.
Here is Fort Sumter. Apparently a whole bunch of historical stuff happened here. I guess google it to read more.

Here is a carrier, the Yorktown. There a bunch of pictures or planes for you Mike.

Here is a fishing boat in the background and a pelican that just dove into the water in the foreground. My timing was just a bit off!

The day that we arrived in Charleston an old WWII biplane crashed into the harbor and two people were killed. We saw them hauling the wreckage on the plane away. My new favorite bridge.
Here is Poogan's Porch. It is a restuarant, supposed to be really, good, also very haunted!Here are two cool things. The first is earthquake bolts. The put in two poles, connect them in the middle, and slowly tighten them to keep old homes standing. The second is a fire things from the 1800's. You would buy fire insurance and they would mark your home. Then, if you had a fire, all the fire insurance people would come (aka firemen) but they would only fight the fire if there logo was on your house. Otherwise, tought luck!This is the second oldest house in Charleston.The old jail. Haunted tours are offered at night. Obviously, we will not be partaking in that!We had dinner at the Noisy Oyster in Charleston. We had fried green tomatos for an appetizer and then shared a shrimp po boy for dinner. It was really tasty! The picture is of the tomatos for my grandma. After dinner we were beat, so decided to walk back to the car and head to the hotel. Of course, we had to stop at the outlet mall and check out ann taylor and gap. Well that led into more shopping, so we spent another hour wandering around there. After a quick stop for milk at the Chik-fil-a we are back! Trying to upload the photos and then climbing into bed to read.

It was a busy but good day! Tomorrow we are off the beach.