Tonight we are hosting our first party at our new home. Josh and I love hosting dinners. The only problem is that as "cool" as I want to be, I am always incredibly anxious about having people over, lest my house not be perfectly spotless.
We all say we will NEVER grow up to be our mothers, and yet there comes that moment when we realize, like it or not, we are in fact very much the same. My mother dreaded having company. She was terrified of the judgment of her friends on her home, always ashamed and fearful that things would not be perfect. I vowed NEVER to be like that. I wanted to have an open house where everyone felt welcome and folks could drop by unexpected with no problem. Yet, hard as I try, the ghost of my mother's anxiety will not let me go.
I have tried to pretend to be casual and relaxed about having people over, yet time and time again, my anxiety takes over and runs amok...Usually ending in some outburst of despair or anger aimed towards the closest available object of angst.
All this said, today I am doing my best to be okay with the imperfections of our apartment and am determined to enjoy this party no matter what!! As I write this I realize we have not "arranged" the patio furniture and time is running out....I have to go!!
Friday, July 28, 2006
Monday, July 24, 2006
Never Leaving
I am never leaving the city! I have become an urban convert.
Today I was able to walk to the RMV, register my vehicle, pay my cable bill at their local office, buy stamps at the postoffice, go grocery shopping and have a refreshing smoothie...all in less than an hour and within 1 mile of my house. Excellent!
Suburban style this trip would have taken hours and required miles of driving around, parking and waiting in lines. And, if convenience were not enough, I have found local grocers whose prices beat the big agro-grocer conglomerates and who provide me with even fresher products. Who knew city living could be this good?!?!
The extra added bonus is that I now walk so much in the course of a day, I need never set foot in a crowded, sweaty gym again!
Today I was able to walk to the RMV, register my vehicle, pay my cable bill at their local office, buy stamps at the postoffice, go grocery shopping and have a refreshing smoothie...all in less than an hour and within 1 mile of my house. Excellent!
Suburban style this trip would have taken hours and required miles of driving around, parking and waiting in lines. And, if convenience were not enough, I have found local grocers whose prices beat the big agro-grocer conglomerates and who provide me with even fresher products. Who knew city living could be this good?!?!
The extra added bonus is that I now walk so much in the course of a day, I need never set foot in a crowded, sweaty gym again!
Promised Pictures
Here are some of the photos I promised of our new home. We live in the first floor and have a great side porch as well, hidden behind the trees.
Below is our smelly kitchen....we have yet to replace the cat infested cabinets. The trustees only gave us permission to do so this week. It is amazing that anyone would think that kitchen cabinets are a suitable place to keep the litter box!!
This is our living room, doggy protected for those excited, wet, muddy moments!
Here is our "Reading Room." It is a huge hallway that we converted into a mini-library of sorts. On the opposite wall is a comfy recliner and reading lamp.
Here is our very crowded office...it is actually quite cozy from each of our respective desks...mine is on the right, J's on the left.
This is our bedroom, actually the roomiest of all as it contains the least amount of furniture.
Below is our smelly kitchen....we have yet to replace the cat infested cabinets. The trustees only gave us permission to do so this week. It is amazing that anyone would think that kitchen cabinets are a suitable place to keep the litter box!!
This is our living room, doggy protected for those excited, wet, muddy moments!
Here is our "Reading Room." It is a huge hallway that we converted into a mini-library of sorts. On the opposite wall is a comfy recliner and reading lamp.
Here is our very crowded office...it is actually quite cozy from each of our respective desks...mine is on the right, J's on the left.
This is our bedroom, actually the roomiest of all as it contains the least amount of furniture.
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Josh Is Already Way West of Jesus
Okay, so what I thought was a new, fascinating factoid about pinpoint consciousness as described by Kotler in West of Jesus is, in fact, old hat to Josh.
His reply to my excitement was, "You didn't already know that?!?"
Ah, the joy of living with the man who knows everything!
His reply to my excitement was, "You didn't already know that?!?"
Ah, the joy of living with the man who knows everything!
West of Jesus
This morning as I groggily awoke to the sound of NPR, I became enthralled with an early morning interview with author, Steven Kotler, on his new book, West of Jesus. The title alone is catchy, but what I marveled most at was his explanation of the phenomenon many of us experience during intensely stressful moments...the feeling that time has slowed and the world has become silent.
I found myself describing just such a scene yesterday at my Wild Women retreat. During my ordination it was as if the world narrowed, slowed and became silent. When it was over, I felt as if the world went back to full speed and I emerged from a time warp of sorts. Freaky...and not something I talk about often...but I chalked it up to my own need to make meaning and a "metaphor" of sorts for understanding the experience.
But, what I discovered this morning is many people have similar experiences and that they have a real physiological explanation! Apparently, during fight or flight moments, the body in preparation for disaster, begins to shut down all non-essential organs...blood flows away from organs, like the ears, for instance, and the processing speed of the brain slows to make time appear to be slowing itself. Apparently police officers and military personnel report this experience during intense gun battles. Fascinating!!!
I am excited to read this book (even though it has nothing to do with my dissertation) and discover more about the anatomy of belief.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Nearly There
This morning is the first day I opened the bedroom doors to an EMPTY hallway!!! Almost all the boxes have now been unpacked and stored. There are, of course, still those million and one last details to take care of...some of which I am sure will go left undone until we move again. Yet, for the most part, it is really beginning to look like home and I am beginning to feel like I can actually study in this space.
We'll post some pictures later.
The timing is perfect to be finished, not just b/c Boston, along with the rest of the country, is in a unbelievably HOT heat wave, but b/c our friend Sue is coming to visit today.
We love Sue!!! Sue works for Reconciling Ministries Network and is the world's greatest pastor, cheerleader, coach, teacher and friend to both me and Josh. We are both very excited for her visit and have spent much time debating which restaurant to take her to tonight. Not that she, living in Chicago, is ever far from great restaurants! (Quite frankly, we think Chicago is a better food town than Boston!!)
We'll post some pictures later.
The timing is perfect to be finished, not just b/c Boston, along with the rest of the country, is in a unbelievably HOT heat wave, but b/c our friend Sue is coming to visit today.
We love Sue!!! Sue works for Reconciling Ministries Network and is the world's greatest pastor, cheerleader, coach, teacher and friend to both me and Josh. We are both very excited for her visit and have spent much time debating which restaurant to take her to tonight. Not that she, living in Chicago, is ever far from great restaurants! (Quite frankly, we think Chicago is a better food town than Boston!!)
Friday, July 14, 2006
LOL
In Boston, commuting is a sport and an individual one at that. As people wait on the platform for the T, they jostle for position all while studiously reading their book or paper; eyes down yet ever ready to make the mad dash for a seat on the train when it arrives.
The rules are fairly simple:
1. Avoid eye contact at all costs.
2. Reading material is a must; book preferable, paper will do.
3. No talking.
4. No touching or getting too close to others on the train.
5. Everyone for themselves.
These rules are generally observed by all urbanites without a second thought. However, when the commuter's code of conduct is broken, everyone notices. Usually this happens by some unsuspecting midwestern family on vacation. As they enter the T chattering on nervously and obsessively checking for their stop, they soon learn this behavior is not appropriate from the angry, condescending scowls of the citified commuters.
Only once have I seen this code broken with joy and laughter.
Yesterday as I boarded the redline for downtown, there was a group of Down's Syndrome adults taking an outing on the same train. Their chaperones were careful to keep the group's chatter and comments to a minimum, hushing and shushing them when it seemed others began to notice. They managed to wrangle the group all in one section of the train and chastised some who sat "too close" to people NOT in their group. All was going well, quiet conversation kept within the bounds of the code of conduct and no one touching ot talking to strangers.
But suddenly, as the train emerged from underground and began to cross the river, the entire group burst into laughter, oohing and ahhing at the beauty of the scene before them. Marveling at the colorful boats and lush green foliage of the esplande, the group was ecstatic. "This is the most beuatiful thing I have ever seen!" exclaimed one woman.
At first, the other commuters tried to keep their heads down and ignore this disruption in their otherwise tranquil commute. But the laughter and smiles and overwhelming joy was contagious. Gradually everyone around me was staring out the window, admiring the beauty of a city we so often forget to see in the midst of our rushed commutes.
As I looked out across the river, I saw that it was indeed beautiful and I too began to laugh out loud!
The rules are fairly simple:
1. Avoid eye contact at all costs.
2. Reading material is a must; book preferable, paper will do.
3. No talking.
4. No touching or getting too close to others on the train.
5. Everyone for themselves.
These rules are generally observed by all urbanites without a second thought. However, when the commuter's code of conduct is broken, everyone notices. Usually this happens by some unsuspecting midwestern family on vacation. As they enter the T chattering on nervously and obsessively checking for their stop, they soon learn this behavior is not appropriate from the angry, condescending scowls of the citified commuters.
Only once have I seen this code broken with joy and laughter.
Yesterday as I boarded the redline for downtown, there was a group of Down's Syndrome adults taking an outing on the same train. Their chaperones were careful to keep the group's chatter and comments to a minimum, hushing and shushing them when it seemed others began to notice. They managed to wrangle the group all in one section of the train and chastised some who sat "too close" to people NOT in their group. All was going well, quiet conversation kept within the bounds of the code of conduct and no one touching ot talking to strangers.
But suddenly, as the train emerged from underground and began to cross the river, the entire group burst into laughter, oohing and ahhing at the beauty of the scene before them. Marveling at the colorful boats and lush green foliage of the esplande, the group was ecstatic. "This is the most beuatiful thing I have ever seen!" exclaimed one woman.
At first, the other commuters tried to keep their heads down and ignore this disruption in their otherwise tranquil commute. But the laughter and smiles and overwhelming joy was contagious. Gradually everyone around me was staring out the window, admiring the beauty of a city we so often forget to see in the midst of our rushed commutes.
As I looked out across the river, I saw that it was indeed beautiful and I too began to laugh out loud!
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Davis Square
We have officially lived in Davis Square a week today and are loving being urbanites once again. There is something so nice about being able to walk or take public transportation anywhere you need to go!! We love the diversity and liveliness of our neighborhood. It is quite a difference from the sleepy bedroom suburb in which we used to live!
Here are a few reasons why we love Davis Square:
1. Restaurants! Restaurants! Restaurants!!!
Never another night of choosing the lesser of two dining out evils. Now we are right smack dab in the middle of gourmand haven. Here are a few we like:
- The Blue Shirt Cafe - Gourmet Wraps; think veggies, goat cheese, jasmine rice, black beans and tofu...YUMMY!
- Tu y Yo - The BEST Mexican I have found north of the DF. It is all homemade, slow cooked recipes from Mexico's heartland.
- Redbones - An "okay" barbeque joint within walking distance...so, it's not Dreamland, but it's southern food fast...sweet tea, greens, corn bread, biscuits, not to mention the ribs and pulled pork!
- Toscanini's - A great ice cream and coffee joint...fresh made ice cream only second in the Boston area to White Mountain Creamery and, of course, second to Cincinnati's favorite ice cream...Graeter's.
2. Dog Friendly!
What a great place to walk the dogs and meet other dog owners! Somerville even has a dog owners association..SomDog. This morning we hiked the two and half miles from our house to the dog park for a play date! The dogs are happily sleeping while I "unpack."
3. Public Transportation!
We are now only three blocks from the Redline...no more parking nightmares, tickets or high fees when we want to hang out in Boston...all we have to do is hop on the T!
4. One Block from our CSA
Last year I drove 45 minutes each way to pick up our produce from our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), Waltham Community Farms. Now, I walk one block to a pick up station and get all my fresh veggies without the long drive!
5. No one knows my secret identity
Here no one knows I am a pastor...I get to be a regular person, a neighbor, a friend!
Here are a few reasons why we love Davis Square:
1. Restaurants! Restaurants! Restaurants!!!
Never another night of choosing the lesser of two dining out evils. Now we are right smack dab in the middle of gourmand haven. Here are a few we like:
- The Blue Shirt Cafe - Gourmet Wraps; think veggies, goat cheese, jasmine rice, black beans and tofu...YUMMY!
- Tu y Yo - The BEST Mexican I have found north of the DF. It is all homemade, slow cooked recipes from Mexico's heartland.
- Redbones - An "okay" barbeque joint within walking distance...so, it's not Dreamland, but it's southern food fast...sweet tea, greens, corn bread, biscuits, not to mention the ribs and pulled pork!
- Toscanini's - A great ice cream and coffee joint...fresh made ice cream only second in the Boston area to White Mountain Creamery and, of course, second to Cincinnati's favorite ice cream...Graeter's.
2. Dog Friendly!
What a great place to walk the dogs and meet other dog owners! Somerville even has a dog owners association..SomDog. This morning we hiked the two and half miles from our house to the dog park for a play date! The dogs are happily sleeping while I "unpack."
3. Public Transportation!
We are now only three blocks from the Redline...no more parking nightmares, tickets or high fees when we want to hang out in Boston...all we have to do is hop on the T!
4. One Block from our CSA
Last year I drove 45 minutes each way to pick up our produce from our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), Waltham Community Farms. Now, I walk one block to a pick up station and get all my fresh veggies without the long drive!
5. No one knows my secret identity
Here no one knows I am a pastor...I get to be a regular person, a neighbor, a friend!
Catching Our Breath
Phew! Moving has been insane! We have spent the last three weeks working from 6 am to midnight pretty much every day...first the packing, then the moving (spread over two full days!!) and now the slow, never-ending unpacking and re-packing that comes with downsizing.
Unlike our last move where we had more space than we knew what to do with, this time we have no space. Going from a ten room parsonage to a three room apartment is a challenge. It makes us realize how much crap we have accumulated in just three years!!! Of course, this realization has not stopped us from re-packing and storing all the things we marvel at having kept. I suppose we are both sentimental about memorabilia...gifts, knick knacks, papers, letters, cards, rocks from trips and books with which we just can't part. So, they get packed, unpacked and repacked.
The basement is FILLED with boxes of our stuff...once we finally get the apartment in order, the basement will be the next task. Lest you think I exaggerate, check out the photo...it is a 6' deep x 12' wide x 8' high space...and that does not include the room of boxes or the two walls of shelves jam packed with all our stuff!
All of this moving has left us exhausted...especially our poor pooches who just can't figure out when we get to go back "home" again.
Unlike our last move where we had more space than we knew what to do with, this time we have no space. Going from a ten room parsonage to a three room apartment is a challenge. It makes us realize how much crap we have accumulated in just three years!!! Of course, this realization has not stopped us from re-packing and storing all the things we marvel at having kept. I suppose we are both sentimental about memorabilia...gifts, knick knacks, papers, letters, cards, rocks from trips and books with which we just can't part. So, they get packed, unpacked and repacked.
The basement is FILLED with boxes of our stuff...once we finally get the apartment in order, the basement will be the next task. Lest you think I exaggerate, check out the photo...it is a 6' deep x 12' wide x 8' high space...and that does not include the room of boxes or the two walls of shelves jam packed with all our stuff!
All of this moving has left us exhausted...especially our poor pooches who just can't figure out when we get to go back "home" again.
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