A LITTLE OF THIS, A LITTLE OF THAT

First, thank you to everyone for offering your thanks (is that weird?? I'm tired) for my getting through the COM and approved for ordination. Now I can focus on helping organize the service, planning the post-ordination party, figuring out where everyone will stay, look for a job and, oh yeah, do some school work.

Second, I preached at home today. It was nice. Nice to see hills out the church windows. Nice to see open field outside the church windows. Nice to see old friends. Nice to be complimented on my sermon.

Third, I drove back to my mom's today. For the geographically challenged, it's about a 4-1/2 hour drive. It was a gorgeous day. It was great seeing the sagebrush starting to come out (it's actually kind of pretty before they all turn into tumbleweeds). It was nice to drive through the mountains on a sunny day. It was nice to come up the hill towards mom's place and have Mt. Rainier fill up the skyline. It was nice to have dinner ready when I got here.

Fourth, I actually managed to complete one assignment while I was on this trip -- Anglican Theology. Speaking of which, I popped over to Jane's blog to see what she had to say (knowing that she usually has something interesting to say about something). Her blogvertisements were about saving Guinea pigs. I KID YOU NOT. I didn't see anything about Guinea pigs on her site -- but it definitely gave me a Twilight Zone feeling.

Fifth, I'm exhausted. I've been on the west coast maintaining central time. I'm going to bed.

Peace

MADE IT

I met with my COM last night at 9 pm PST. For those of you in the know, that meant that I started the meeting at 11 pm body time. It was after midnight my time before we were all done. After a question and answer session, a sequestering during which time they voted on whether or not to recommend me, and hearing the final vote, I was approved for ordination.

Then I met with the Standing Committee this morning at 9:30 am PST -- which means I got to sleep in. They concurred with the COM, so I am officially approved to be ordained.

And everyone said "AMEN!!!!".

The service will be held June 12 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Spokane, WA, at 11 am.

That's one less thing that I can quite worrying about and start looking forward to without wondering if it won't happen.

Next up, a job.

I'M OFF

Not my rocker, but to Seattle and Points Beyond. Arriving tonight, spend some time with mom & dad, and then it's over to Spokaloo tomorrow morning. I'll have a late lunch (normal time for westerners) with my COM shepherd, drop off some paperwork, and generally hang out. I meet with the COM tomorrow night at 8:30 -- did anyone tell them that my body will be starting that meeting at 10:30? Oh well. Then I meet with the Standing Committee Saturday at 9 am. THAT makes up for the late one Friday. Sunday I preach at my home parish; hmmm, should probably finish that sermon. Drive back to Seattle after the service and fly back to Chicagoland Monday.

Mrs. Ref and The Kid are working with Prospective Student Days this weekend (I'll miss it, but I got a cool t-shirt). Mrs. Ref is hosting a dessert for possible newbies and showing off the apartment -- kind of like a Home Show Street of Dreams thing. The Kid will be playing tour guide, getting all of them to the right place, answering questions about what it's like living on the Block as a kid.

So, what are you doing this weekend? Whatever it is, I hope it goes well for you.

Peace

IT'S A BEGINNING

With everything going on with Lazarus (see below), and homework, and getting packed for my trip home, and figuring out what books I need to take, and organizing class binders, the first thing on my mind today wasn't checking messages. But I finally did.

I received one call from one parish in BSC who want to talk with me. That's good news. So, sometime tomorrow in the midst of going to have taxes done, stopping by the doctor's office for all of my test results, hitting the bank, and getting ready for class, I need to call this person and have a conversation. Any of you who have already done this search thing who have helpful hints, I'm all ears.

HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL

No, not me. Peg leg. The pooping Swiffer. The three-legged pig. That little white furry animal The Kid has become so attached to that she wanted to have the leg amputated and nurse it back to health. After all, "It's only five months old, Dad. It DESERVES a life."

One humorous side note to all of this. We found out that Zipporah (yes, The Kid chose Bible names for the little rodent -- the other one is Trinity) is a male. Hmmm, considering that we thought the other one was male and then purchased all of the stuff to keep them separate . . . No, I don't even want to start calculating. Anyway, Zipporah has been renamed 'Lazarus', in honor of the lame beggar who sat outside the rich man's house begging for scraps.

I wanted to rename it Zippy, but the humor was lost on the women of the house. Sigh.

THE SAGA CONTINUES

So, I took the pig to the vet this morning with The Kid. Actually, Zipporah (that's its name), spent the night at the vet. So I took The Kid to the vet to finalize options. She has decided that she wants it treated -- not put down (which would have been my choice).

The leg has to be AMPUTATED!!! It's a Swiffer that poops, and we're going to spend close to $600 on vet fees, pain meds, antibiotics, and amputation! I'm seriously grumpy about this.

The Kid has decided that she needs to ask people for odd jobs to help pay for it. There's no way she's going to come close, but at least she's trying.

Moral of the story: Just say "NO" to free pets.

PET EMERGENCY

The Kid took her Guinea pigs outside to play today. She does this occassionally, thinks the fresh air and wide open spaces does them good. And hey, it doesn't take much space for a Guinea pig to think they are in Big Sky Country.

Anyway, she was out with one of her friends from the block and her pigs. Well, the friend accidentally dropped one. We think its leg is broke. So now, Mrs. Ref and The Kid are on their way to Pet Emergency to spend a $78 cover fee so they can pay more to have X-rays and other things needed to determine how badly this thing is damaged.

You know, bbq season isn't that far away.

IT'S ALL OVER'

I've often said that being a pessimist means never being disappointed. Except for days like today. I had a feeling all day that the Zags would blow it, but I chalked it up to my tendency to expect the worst.

Not only did they lose, but they were absolutely obliterated.

I'm sad.

MORNING NEWS

Woke up to the morning news from the NY Times Online and found two articles from home. The first comes from my home state and has to do with a lesbian United Methodist (UMC) minister from Bothell who is on trial for violating UMC law by living a life "incompatible with Christian teachings."

Two things come imediately to mind (well, maybe three). First, will this trial be followed as closely in the media as our General Convention was last summer?

Second, I will be very interested to see how this story plays out in the UMC. We all know how it's playing out in ECUSA. The UMC has their convention next month in Pittsburgh. It will be interesting to see if this trial has the same effect on their convention as the confirmation of Canon Robinson had on ours, and what that outcome will be.

Third, if she is indeed found guilty of violating UMC law and defrocked (a possibility), how long will it be before an ECUSA bishop allows her to enroll in what seminarians refer to an Anglican Dip course, transfer her allegiance, and assigns her a parish?

I am strangely comforted by knowing that we are not alone.

The second comes from my home town and has to do with my Zags. It's a great article about the GU team, a little history, and a few stats (such as: in his first five years as head coach, Mark Few has a record of 132-31). Check it out, and then watch the game tonight at 9 pm CST between GU and Valpo.

And in a strange twist of fate, if GU wins tonight they will play the winner of MSU-Nevada. Luckily Mother Heather is currently out of the country or there could be a real need for reconciliation and absolution here on the block.

Peace

A LITTLE LEVITY

For an interesting take on the AAC, go check this out. Not only did it make me smile, it made me wonder how far off the mark the parody really is.

RR

BLAH BLAH BLAH

I'm flying home next Thursday. Actually I'm flying into Seattle and then driving over to Spokane. Cheaper that way. I meet with the COM Friday night at 7, then the Standing Committee the next morning at 9:30, and I'm preaching both services at my home parish on Sunday. Then it's back to Seattle and I return to Chicagoland on Monday.

Hoops, hoops and more hoops. And I'm not talking about the Zags. I'm going through all of my stuff trying to make sure that I have everything I need for these meetings. It appears I do, but I can't help feeling like I'm forgetting something. Now if I can just remember to take my binder with me.

I went ahead and sent off my resume and references for that assistants job in BSC. I figure, right now, I need to check everywhere. Who knows. Deep down I know something will turn up, but I keep seeing myself in a collar panhandling on the streets of Chicago. Hmmm . . . while an entertaining visual, I'm not sure Mrs. Ref would understand.

Other than that, just feeling in a little bit of a funk. I've been reading so many great posts that I'm wondering if I have anything important to say. Pity poor me. I've thought about it, but then I've thought, "I really don't want to go to the effort to engage in an intelligent blogversation." (Although, if that's the first time that word has been used, count it towards my contribution to society.) I'm sure that that will change once I get back into classes.

Speaking of which, I picked up two more books for classes; bringing my outstanding required books to 1. I also picked up a free extra large binder so that I can consolidate everything I need to take back to Spokane. So, time to go soothe my desire to be organized.

Later

BUSY DAY

Today was my last day at St. A's in my capacity as field ed seminarian. It was hunger awareness day. I preached. Never Again.

Never again will I let a parishioner dictate what the sermon will be on. If they want to preach on hunger, I'll let 'em. It wasn't necessarily the thing about hunger, but rather the fact that the parishioner didn't/doesn't/refuses to understand the limitations of working with a lectionary. So instead of reading the lessons and letting something come out of the text, I took something and forced it into the text.

It did go well though. One of the people in my sermon review group said, "If you have one weakness in ministry, it's not your preaching." That was nice.

I'm also thinking about applying for an assistant's position in BSC. I heard from the d.o. of that diocese. The turnaround time was too short to set up a meeting, so I'm going to have to wait several weeks. At least we're still talking.

Worked a little on cleaning the house, organizing books for next term (those of you at SWTS need to ask to see my binder for my altar book -- it's the BEST).

I know there was something else I wanted to post about, but I've lost it and it's now time for the NCAA Tournament selection show. So, time to see where GU and EWU end up.

Peace

ROLE MODELS

There's been alot of controversy over role models for awhile. Who are role models? Parents? Presidents? Sports stars? Rock stars? The slim women/girls on magazine covers? Jesus? Osama? I could go on and on and on.

Ever since Charles Barkley said, "I'm not a role model," it seems there has been this "thing." The fact of the matter is that athletes are, for many people (children as well as adults), role models. We watch them on the court or on the field and imitate their actions and behaviors. As a high school football ref I saw this, and I can tell you that the National Federation (the governing body of high school sports) fights this battle to keep sportsmanship in the game.

Well, here's a player who IS a role model. Dominik Hasek has publicly stated that he doesn't deserve to be paid right now. Basically, his injury has kept him off the ice, and he says that he is paid to play, not sit. So until he can play, he's not collecting a check. (Granted, he can probably afford to not take a check, but that's another issue).

As the old saying goes, "It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game." It seems that integrity should play a big part on whether or not someone is a role model; and right now, Dominik is winning this game.

Peace

STRESS RELIEF

Between dealing with the COM, getting psych evaluated, tracking down jobs and/or interviews, and last minute field ed stuff, I found an unexpected pleasure last night.

I came across the Big Sky Championship game, which featured none other that Eastern Washington University. For those of you who don't know, EWU is just outside of Spokane in Cheney. People here might call it a suburb. Anyway, EWU beat up on Northern Arizona to get into the Big Dance.

So, both of my local teams are in. That makes me smile.

QUICK NOTE

I finally got in touch with the d.o. of BSC. Basically I wanted to let her know that I would be in the area and was wondering if we would be able to set up a meeting with any search committees.

She's checking on it.

She did tell me that my bishop gave her bishop the green light to pursue me for any open positions. CHEERS!!! I also gave her the dates of reading week as a good time to go out and interview. I'm hoping to hear from her tomorrow as to whether or not we can swing an early meeting.

Funny thing: During our phone conversation, she asked if I would be available in June to interview with search committees. Trying hard to keep my heartbeat and breathing normal, I said, "I hope to have a job by then." She came back with, "Yeah, that would be ideal, wouldn't it." I think we're on the same page.

Pray hard for all unemployed seniors right now. We need it.

AN INTERESTING CAVEAT

So I'm trying to get all my stuff together for the COM interview coming up the end of this month. I managed to swing a psych appointment for tomorrow (yea), as well as have copies of the previous eval faxed to the office (yea yea) and complete the 150 questionnaire in time so that the new psych person can look at it and tell how psychotic I really am (yea yea yea).

That questionnaire is one of those that asks "have you now or ever" type of questions. Sex with anyone under 18? Drink regularly? How much? How many doctor appointments in the last five years? List every job between now and 18. Any moving violations? Surgeries? Hospitalizations? Drugs? Legal or prescription? Follow doctors orders? Fetishes? Childhood peer groups? Adolescent peer group? Siblings? How many? Married? Employed? And on and on and on and on.

I have two sisters. Both younger. The older one was married for about ten years, then divorced, then remarried. The younger one has been living with another woman in a committed relationship for, oh, about ten years now (on the long side). I found out that they applied for a marriage license in Portland this past month.

Hmmm. I left the question about her marital status blank.

SOMETHING FOR FRANK

I came across this on Jake's blog. I might need to get it for Frank as a Parting Gift.

THE DAY AFTER

So I had my interview with Bp. B of Really Really Really East Diocese. It actually went well. That's kind of frightening. But it was a good discussion, so who knows. I also had a conversation with that "southern" diocese. Not sure about that right now. It's just one of those initial feelings that maybe this somehow isn't right. But I'm still pondering.

I received an e-mail from a member of the COM yesterday. Because of the timing of trying to get evals in and meet with all of the necessary committees, they are allowing the candidates (that would be me) to have an eval with a local diocesan approved psychologist. On the positive side, it was a nice surprise and should help ease the stress for the two of us who need that. On the negative side, I still only have 2-1/2 weeks to get this done. Hopefully this person isn't as busy as the guy in Spokane.

I also need to have a physical done, but that's cake compared to the other thing.

The conference for the Kid went well. She's doing fine, a couple of weak spots, but nothing she can't work on. The vestry meeting was interesting. Most of the discussion revolved around how to get coffee hour taken care of, and there was a suggestion to pay an outsider to come in and serve coffee hour for us. Hmmm.

My Ember Day letter has been sent off, so that's another check off.

And, finally, I believe Mrs. Ref still has a job. She blasted her supervisor and the center manager yesterday. They were upset that the MA's aren't getting all of their paperwork done. She informed them (that's probably a delicate word for what she actually did) that her department doesn't get the same support as other departments, and that the MA's are more concerned with patients than paperwork. She wanted to know what her priorities should be: paperwork or patients. I think knowing that we're only here for 13 more weeks allows her some freedom of expression -- not that she was ever bashful before.

I need to start working on cleaning the house. Have a good weekend.

Peace

SO MUCH FOR SICK DAYS

I don't answer the phone on sick days. I'm grumpy enough without having to do with the "Mr. Young? How are you today?" calls. I'd love to say, "I've got the flying chunk flu, how are you?"

I woke up to the security phone message-ring. The Amazing Liz (2nd from bottom on the right) left a message saying to call Susan (2nd from bottom on the left). I called Susan. There's a bishop coming here tomorrow that wants to talk to me for a job. I should've known something was up when Susan started ticking off all of the positives while deftly avoiding actual locations. I think "rural and hilly" came up quite a bit. So I asked, "Where?" Keeping with my tradition of not naming names until something is finalized, we'll just say it's a really really eastern diocese. "But," she said coyly, "the parish is on the western end!" Hmmm.

I thought it would be a good idea to let Mrs. Ref know about this so she could think about it and we could talk; rather than spring it on her tonight. "Oh, by the way, I'm interviewing for a church in China." Key phrase here: I thought it would be a good idea. She cried. So much for my good ideas.

So I did some research and decided to meet with the bishop. Tomorrow.

And while I was doing research, there were several messages from the COM. The basic gist is that I'm going home the end of this month for my final interview with them and the Standing Committee. I will also have to go home for my final psych eval. And there was a message from that southern diocese requesting a time change on my phone interview tomorrow.

We have a parent/teacher conference tonight, and I have a vestry meeting also.

I'm way too busy to be sick.

SICK AND TIRED

Came down with a sore throat yesterday morning. Was totally sick by the afternoon. Someone once told me that they thought I got sick faster than anyone they knew. I think they are right. Anyway, it's off to bed with lots and lots and lots of liquid. (Yes, Tripp, I follow my own advice)

I'm trying to get passable for a vestry meeting tonight and then the early HE service tomorrow at St. A's. Not to mention sounding reasonably normal for my phone interview with that southern diocese.

Peace

NOT MUCH OF ANYTHING

I offered to preach on "Hunger Awareness Sunday" at St. A's. Oops. It's a case of isogesis -- forcing the text to say what you want, instead of pulling a lesson from the text. Moral of the story -- never let anyone dictate what you preach on.

I mailed a resume to the 360 diocese today. I also notified my bishop (again) that's what I was doing. He responded and told me that this is exactly what I should be doing at this point in time. I hope it all works out somewhere.

I got an e-mail from my COM contact. The meeting that was to happen this past weekend was cancelled. Consequently I still don't have any answers to my questions about new med/psych evals and this obscure Title IV training. I also found out that their next meeting is late March and I might be expected to be at that one. So my shepherd is trying to find out all of these answers since a) the meeting was cancelled and b) nobody from the COM has let me know as of yet.

So, the scorecard looks like this -- Resumes out: 3; Dioceses interested: 0; Questions to the COM: 3; Questions answered: 0.

Something's gotta give.