Wedding Pic Preview!

Deidre Lynn has posted some of our preview images on her blog (see link at right)! She is amazing!

coincidence?

Any one else find it ironic that on the same day that "The Dark Knight" comes out on video, our super-corrupt governor is arrested in the same city in whch the movie was filmed?

Maybe now we need Batman more than ever...

married

for 5 whole days now.

wow.

What amazes me the most at this point is the thought that months of meetings, planning, and details all culminate in a number of hours on a single day. and then it's over (at least the party is).

But the day could not have gone any more smoothly or have been any more perfect. It was exactly as we hoped and prayed it could be. The sun was shining, the sky was blue, and it was nearly 50F at the end of November! We quickly realized how amazing that was as we were driving home from Chicago two days later on icy roads in blowing snow.

I started the day (Friday) with a morning workout with my old high school friend, Jeff. After the rehearsal dinner the night before, he decided it might be a good idea to try his tux on. good thing. The jacket sleeves were about 5" too short.
So, we cut the workout short and managed to get in and out of the tux place in 12 minutes-and ended up getting the the church about 15 minutes ahead of schedule. Joe made us a beautiful and elaborate wedding arbor to set in front of the altar, which he put the finishing touches on hours before the ceremony started. He's amazing.

Then I got to see Gina.
I could hear the fabric of her dress brushing softly against the carpeting of the center aisle of the church as she made her way to the altar, my back turned to her until I was given permission to turn around. She was stunning. Everyone says that, but she REALLY was. I can't wait to see the pictures. I think I was speechless. Or maybe it was just because time seemed to stop. I don't know. But I will never forget that moment.

And then the photo session began.
Gina's brother, Wes, had rented a limo for the afternoon. The bridal party piled in and we headed to Bradley U. The guys were warm in their jackets, but it was a bit brisk for the girls in their dresses. Our photographer, Deidre, was giddy with how the images were appearing in her viewfinder. The light was perfect. The slight breeze was lifting Gina's long and flowing veil into the air like some fairytale painting of a princess. seriously. it was that good.



And before we knew it, we were off to the church.

Nerves were calm, until Wagner's bridal march began. The doors swung open. And there she was.



Charlie performed an absolutely beautiful ceremony that was both powerful and personal (while I may be a bit biased, my opinion was echoed by many of our guests). We had taken all the photos before the ceremony, so as soon as we had dismissed the last pews of guests, we were right out to the limo and downtown to the reception at the Packard Plaza. We strongly despise waiting an extended period of time for the bride and groom to arrive while waiting at the reception hall, so we made it a point not to keep our guests waiting. We made our grand entrance five minutes after the last guests arrived, followed by toasts, a highly entertaining video of Gina lip synching to "Supremes" as a kid, and a wonderful dinner-catered by One World.



After dinner was the traditional cake cutting (I was kind) and the first dance, mother-son/father-daughter dances. The rest of the night was spent socializing and before we knew it, it was 11:00PM. I think we may have only danced to one other song. My only regret is that there wasn't more time to visit with everyone.



From there, we departed for Frankfort, IL, where we spent the weekend. I think I was asleep more than awake while we were there. It was a much needed and deserved escape. We came home Sunday evening and decided to open all the gifts and cards, which left the living room and dining room looking like the scene of tornadic aftermath. I think we had six or seven garbage bags of cardboard and wrapping paper when we were done (don't worry, they were all recycled)! We were overwhelmed by the generosity and kind words of our friends and family. We are truly blessed by the community we are surrounded by.

We both took Monday off, which ended up being a snow day for Gina anyway, to get the house situated and run errands. The highlight of our endeavors was the purchase of a new Playstation 3, which I've been ceaselessly bugging Gina about since we began our wedding registry several months ago. It truly is an amazing machine and MUCH more than a video game system. i'm sure she'd agree wholeheartedly.
However, I was not allowed to even open the box until everything (of mine) had been removed from all kitchen cabinets, the cabinets had been cleaned, all new kitchen items had been put into place and all boxes of Gina's things had been opens and gone through to determine what stayed and what went to Goodwill or "Good Chris". Mr. Evans is building a nest for his soon-to-be-wife and is the beneficiary of all things disposed of. That little task ended up taking 5 hours. fun, fun, fun.

So, anyway, that's the story of my married life to date. It's incredibly good (five days).

Less than three weeks to the Riviera Maya honeymoon!

stay tuned for photos....

Imago Dei

The Image of God (often appearing in Latin as Imago Dei) is a concept and theological doctrine that asserts that human beings are created in God's image and therefore have inherent value independent of their utility or function. This understanding is taken from Genesis 1:26-27 from the Bible. (Thank you, wikipedia.)

It's not "I'm a God, ey" or "I'm a dago" or "Imago..wha?".

the image of god.

And now it's a community of people right here in the heart of our city. A community that loves its members. Lots of churches do that. But this love flows out of the upper chambers of the Gateway Building and spreads across the bricks beneath, where the homeless gather. And across the open field beneath the Bob Micheal bridge to Taft Homes to feed those that are hungry. It's only been seven months since its inception, but something is alive in this place.
It may just be a small ripple in what can seem like a sea of endless need, but it is movement. And like a stone dropped into the water, it's influence will radiate.

This weekend, a few members of Imago Dei opened its hearts to one of the city's homeless. They put her in an apartment of her own, they furnished it, they got her a job, and they welcomed her into their lives. One life touched. One small ripple.

Let it radiate...

catch up

It’s hard to believe. 30 days from now, I will no longer be single. Lately the weeks seem to be over before they start and I often have to check the calendar just to see what day of the week it is. All the little details of the upcoming event are swirling in our heads. People have said that once the day finally arrives, and passes quicker than the photographer’s shutter, it’s a bit of a let down. All the anticipation and effort exerted to make this the most memorable day in your short history is exhausted. But I’m ready. Let’s do this.

Gina has had six bridal showers (which should be some kind of record), which has resulted in the transformation of my dining room into a Bed, Bath, and Beyond warehouse of sorts. There are piles of foreign objects, which I assume are for cooking, and enough sets of Fiesta Ware to serve a polygamist family. Just imagine if all that was power tools…..
Just doesn’t seem fair.

Work has been good. Despite the economic fallout, I still have a job. It was announced last Friday that the program I’m in is getting reduced to 10% next year. My supervisor is currently shifting through 100 resumes and will likely only be able to hire one person. Guess the timing of getting in here when I did was a little more than lucky! I was supposed to find out where my next rotation location was in September, then was told I’d find out in October, and now it’s almost November. The good news is that it will most likely be a local placement. It would not have been fun to spend the first six months of marriage 100’s of miles apart!

Not much else is new around here. I’ve just been cleaning and organizing the house to try and make room for my future wife’s belongings. We’re going to try and cram two housefuls of stuff into one little home and whatever’s left on the lawn is up for grabs (or maybe we’ll just say it’s lawn furniture. That’s what they do in Pekin, anyways).

p.s. The rotator cuff is as good as new. Only took about 8 weeks to heal. I’ve also gained 18 pounds in the past 3-4 months, and I’m darn proud of it. I’ve struggled my whole life with weight-can’t seem to get enough of it!

30 days…

images

Some of our engagment pictures have been posted on our photographer's blog. Check them out here: http://www.deidrelynn.com.

wow.

it's been almost a month since I've posted an entry.
time passes so quickly.

So what's new?
It's been the same response for the past couple of months-working & wedding planning.
But the planning is nearly finished (or at least that's what I've convinced myself of in order to preserve what's left of my sanity). And besides being shot down by 15 churches for use of their sanctuaries, and having our cake lady back out last weekend, it's been relatively painless. I give Gina and her mom most of the credit.

Despite cutting back in the service arena, I still don't feel like I have any more free time. I'm still eating dinner at 8 or 9pm, and constantly running from one place to another. time passes so quickly.
Maybe it will slow down soon...

In other news, I was contacted by a video production company that is making a 3-part series for the Discovery Channel, called "Animals of Unusual Size." One episode focuses on wild boar, and I just so happened to have some footage up on youtube! As of this afternoon, they are slated to use 76 seconds of my footage in the show. We are negotiating payment at the moment. I'll post when it will be aired as soon as I hear.

It's been hard to get excited about all the good that's going on with what seems to be a constant barrage of loss and illnesses in our friends and families. The only saving grace is knowing that when the flood waters rise (just look out the window), we have a rescuer on the shore, waiting for us to grab the liferope...

the j.o.b.

I'm 3 weeks in.
To say that I'm swimming in information would be a dramatic understatement. I've gone from a county government office with about 15 employees in it to a global corporation with 100,000 employees. Bit of a culture shock. But it's good.
So far, my days have consisted of online learning classes on subjects as diverse as insider-trading, office ergonomics, hand safety, forklift operation, information security, and coordinated fire attack procedures. Interesting to say the least. In all, I've completed 58 classes. One more to go.
I've also been assigned to four project teams. One is working on a global water useage strategy and another will examine renewable energy sources. Right up my alley! It's pretty cool that they throw you right in where the action is right off the bat.
Yesterday I had the privalege of touring the Mossville engine plant and several of the buildings in East Peoria where the big track-type trackers (bulldozers) are manufactured. It is impressive! It was also good to get out of the office. I'm really hoping that the next part of my rotation will be there in E.P. The environmental crew there is great and they have a lot of opportunities available.

Other than that, the wedding plans are coming along. We've met with a photographer or church/building people every night this week (except thursday). I think we've agreed on a photographer, but are still having trouble finding a church that will allow us to use the building. It seems you have to be a member at most of them (who knew). We also have to decide on a dj, but the other major things are taken care of.
In other news, today is my last official day at Northwoods. The student ministries took over the main services last weekend and it was awesome. The band did an amazing job. Serving in the high school ministry has been an incredible blessing over the past few years, but I had to make the tough decision to put that plate back on the shelf. I can already feel my sanity returning (at least the little that left of it). I've started to get some things accomplished around the house that have been sitting there for months. I'm getting to rest. I think this is a good thing. At least for now...

Aerial Bowfishing.

What it is:
Kind of like fishing.
Kind of like hunting.
Kind of like skeet shooting.
An insane amount of fun.

What it is not:
For the faint of heart.
A spectator sport.
A relaxing day on the river.
Without inherent danger.



It's probably an accurate statement that we ended up with more Asian carp jumping into the boat than we actually shot, but they all count, right? I only made it for the afternoon and I'd estimate there were 25 or so fish arrowed between the six of us. I ended up sticking 6.



Normally, accuracy counts, especially in bowhunting. But this is a completely different animal! The boat is traveling about 10mph, the fish are jumping along with the both, away from the boat, at the boat, horizontally, vertically, diagonally, and every other possible direction! And you have about 2 seconds from the time they emerge until the time they slip back into the murky depths to raise, draw, and fire your bow. Aiming is an afterthought. It's purely instinctive.



My favorite moment from the day was when two 15-pounders attacked the boat captain simulateously from over the side. He jumped up from his seat behind the console as one thrashed around on the dashboard, hitting the throttle. The other was slapping him in the feet. The first fish then flopped into a net that was hanging over the edge of the boat, sending it and it's slimy contents into the river. By the time anyone realized what had happened, the net was 20 yards behind the boat, sinking in it's wake. I grabbed my bow and fired at the last spot I had seen the shaft of the net before it disappeared as a last ditch effort. And incredibly, when I started to reel the arrow back in, I felt a tug at the end of the line. I got it! The fish somehow managed to escape, however.



I'm sure we will return again next year for another adventure, just as soon as our carp-inflicted wounds heal.

Lemons (part 2)

This is for you, Randy!!

I recieved this email notification about lemon slices in drinks a couple of weeks ago, but forgot about it until now. Enjoy!

FROM: Connie Austin, M.P.H., D.V.M., Infectious Disease Epidemiologist
Karen McMahon, Chief Immunization Section

DATE: July 16, 2008

SUBJECT: Hepatitis A Exposure in Iowa _____

Hepatitis A infection was diagnosed in a food service worker employed by Whitey's Bar and Billiards in Burlington, Iowa. This is reported to be a popular restaurant and is located in Iowa across the river from Gulf Port, Illinois in Henderson County. It is reported an employee worked with diarrhea during their infectious period. Any patrons consuming drinks with ice or a lemon slice, or any item from the salad bar, during July 2 through July 13, 2008, should receive either hepatitis A vaccine or immunoglobulin. Some patrons were potentially exposed during June 25 through July 1 but too much time has passed for post exposure prophylaxis to be effective for these individuals.

Remember, friends don't let friends get drinks with lemons!

Plates

It's almost 11am. My final day at TCHD. I thought I'd be ecstatic.
But it's bittersweet. Actually, I'm almost sad.
Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled to start my new career with CAT on Monday, but the people here have a special place in my heart. They've been a great crew to work beside. People don't work in public health to get rich. They do it because they care. It's largely a thankless job. It's a dirty job. It's usually not fun. But they do it anyway. And the past year and a half in the trenches have taught me a lot. And once again, I have logged another chapter of crazy and sometimes unbelievable stories in the book of my professional life.
So long and farewell, my brave and intrepid colleagues! I will never forget you.



Life seems to have gone from 100mph to mach 4 in the past week. It's all become a blur with all the major life changes that have occurred.
Bill Alison gave a message a few weeks ago at Nwoods about priorities that hit me directly between the eyes. He likened the hectic lifestyles we lead to the art of spinning plates. You know, taking a dinner plate, placing it on top of a wooden rod, and spinning it. Then adding more and more plates on more and more poles, all the while running back and forth to keep each of them in balance.
Each plate represents something in our life that we invest our time, money, or energy in. We can have plates for God (hopefully), family, friends, baseball, food, cars, service, jobs, partying, yard work, etc. The more plates we spin, the less we can invest in each individual plate.
Even if all of your plates represent good and fruitful things, the results of exceeding your capability to mind each one can get messy. The plates begin to wobble, begin to fall. This is where it spoke to me.

I have burdened myself with so many plates that some are barely hanging in there. And while still straining to keep them all from succumbing to gravity, the other, more important relational plates have suffered as well. I haven't seen some of my best friends in nearly a year because I've committed myself to something else here nearly every weekend. Or if I do happen to have an opening on the calendar, all I want to do is shut out everything else and sleep for a day.
It's not good or healthy for the body or the soul.
In response, I have made the difficult decision to take some of those plates from their poles and put them back on the shelf. These plates have been a big part of my life and I will miss them. But I know they will be better served with someone else spinning them.

So for now I will focus on my top priorities: my relationships with Our Father, my friends & family, and the upcoming changes in my career and marital status. I feel more at ease already!

Are there any plates in your life you can put away?

Departing gift.

This is the video my co-workers put together for my going-away gift. Priceless.
(I had to break it into two parts and the quality isn't the greatest, but it's pretty good).

Down the Drain...

So today was probably the most odd day I've had at the health department. This morning, we received a phone call that there was a fire at a bar yesterday afternoon. We are required to go inspect the damage whenever a facility has any kind of fire damage or sprinkler discharge to ensure all the food products are safe and the coolers/equipment are functioning properly. And while this local watering hole only served pizza, contaminated alcohol was the main concern of the investigation.
Three inspectors left first thing this morning to go check things out. Then at 11:00, my boss (the same one I scared half-to-death yesterday) came back and asked if I could head down to the location with one of the interns. Two others were also to be on their way. It sounded serious.
We had to wait for the state liquor commissioner to arrive and for the insurance adjusters and fire investigator to clear out before we could get to work. Then we were assigned the task of destroying any and all bottles of liquor and beer, as the grooved caps prevent the surface from being easily cleaned and sanitized.
So much to all of our dismay, we spent three hours emptying over 100 brand new bottles of liquor (many top-shelf and hard-to-find labels), and over 100 CASES of beer bottles. Each bottle cap had to be removed by hand. THAT'S OVER 2,500 BOTTLES down the drain. I'm sure your kids could sing that old familiar tune from here to Oklahoma with that many bottles on the wall.



I should also mention that there was no air flow through the bar while we were working and everything was covered in ash. By the time we were finished, all of us had soot-smeared faces, beer-soaked britches, and shirts that were more wet than dry. Only one more day of this. I guess they figure they need to get all the work out of me they can before I hang up my thermometers, rubber boots, and septic sampling stick!



P.S. When I got in my car after softball tonight, it still smelled like stale booze. gross.

Shananigans

Yesterday, the health department threw a potluck for me and two other employees who are also finishing their last week of employment here. It has become a tradition in the Environmental Health division to create a crazy video for the departing coworker to have as a keepsake. I'd hate to think about how many taxpayer hours were spent on mine! It was genius. They filmed it as an episode of the "Twilight Zone," with the cameraman playing me, so it was a first-person view. It began by each employee was trying to convince me to stay here, but when I refused all of their offers, they devised a plot to "off" me. The climax was "me" walking into an office where several of them had gathered at which time they captured me with a garbage bag and wrapped me in duct tape. Then several of them carried the "body" out of the office and put it in my boss's trunk. When they were spotted by the director of the health department and questioned as to what they were doing, the narrator stated my boss was going to have to "dig another hole." It was hilarious. I'll post it on youtube when I get the dvd tomorrow.

Anyway, the "body" they used was one of our yellow plastic biohazard suits, which they put inside the garbage bags. It really did look authentic. And creepy.
So today I devised a plan to get my boss back.
I had one of the secretaries call the front office so he'd have to go to the other building for a few minutes. Then I got into the biohazard suit (which was still inside the garbage bags in our break room) and had the secretary slip the bags, secured with duct tape, over my head. I DID leave a hole to breath through. I laid on the floor behind my boss's desk and waited for him to return, while several coworkers lurked in the room outside the door. When Ray came in, he walked over to a file cabinet for a few seconds, then turned to come over to his desk. When he was a few steps away, I jumped up and came at him. He leapt back with his arms up like a little girl! The look on his face was absolutely priceless. I keep bursting out laughing just thinking about it.

I'm going to miss things like this.
But that's about it.

It's Official! (take 2)

So, the cat's out of the bag (actually he was never in it (it's hard to get him in any confined space)). Gina and I are engaged! It went down last Wednesday on Grandview Dr. in Peoria. And we're pretty excited about it!

Gina has wanted to go on a picnic ever since we started dating. And we just hadn't done it. So I thought it was fitting (and she wouldn't suspect anything) if we had a little dining out of doors a couple of nights before she left for vacation on Cape Cod. She was very excited and I hoped she hadn't figured anything out since I had made a 3-hour pilgrimage (one-way) to a jewelry store in Indiana with two of her friends on the Friday before to buy the ring.

So the evening started out absolutely lovely. The weather was perfect, the sun was shining, there were sailboats on the river and we had a perfect view from the bluff. I had packed a TON of food, so we ate and made casual conversation (and all the while the ring sat a foot away, tucked into a pocket of the cooler bag, like the pounding heart under the floorboards in some Edgar Allen Poe story). After dinner, we sat for awhile, exchanging sweet nothings while joggers and a stray cat passed by. Then I told her I had made something for her and pulled out a piece of paper with notes of how much she meant to me and how I knew she was the only one for me, etc. Gushy stuff.
And then I pretended like that was the grand finale. I gazed at the surroundings. Enjoyed the silence.
Everything calmed.
And then I said there was one last surprise, but it probably wasn't what she was anticipating. The ring came in a very large box, so again, she wouldn't suspect anything. (She later remarked she thought I had gotten her a dog charm or something stupid). I got on one knee, at which time she figured she should stand up, and asked her the million dollar question. And she said yes!

So we spent the next several minutes swooning. It was a moment that was instantly burned into my soul and I will never forget (like one of those flashback moments from a sappy movie where the 98 year-old guy is in the nursing home with his wife, etc.). It was magical.

Then we spent 3 hours on the phone calling relatives and friends and oogling over the sparkliness of her new hand ornament.

Life is good.

And the planning is now in full-swing! Which is insane.
We're shooting for a November nuptial date (yes, of this year).
Woohoo!

weird day.

13 days left at the health department. Today gave me several reasons to be thankful for my pending departure.
1. Started the morning with the resampling of a septic system that had previously failed. Rang the doorbell...no answer. Again...no answer. No one home. Thanks for making the appointment. I called the homeowner. He was sorry his wife was not home. "I don't know where else she could be." I think what we have here is a failure to communicate.
2. Second stop. Owner was home but forgot to run the water 45 minutes prior to my arrival. I had to crouch in the weeds and the mud, holding a bottle under the outlet pipe to collect drop by drop until the bottle was full. And all the while, swat sparrow-sized mosquitoes.
3. Geothermal inspection at 3:30 in the afternoon in humid 90 degree weather. Mud and grout ankle deep. Sweat dripping from my face onto my clipboard, erasing the grid lines from my graph paper.

On a lighter note, the afternoon brought a touch of humor.
One of our inspectors was going to East Peoria to post a shack as unfit for human habitation. A guy had been living in a shanty without plumbing or sewer since 1997. One of the interns (a 40-ish, former military woman) was to go with the inspector for safety reasons. The inspector was parked behind the office, as was I. The intern was parked out front. The inspector drives a reddish Ford Taurus. I drive a reddish Grand Am. The intern went out the front door to pull around back and wait for the inspector to leave. I left out the back door, apparently at the same time. So, she assumed that I was the inspector, even though our cars are drastically different in shape (as are myself and the other inspector), and proceeded to speed down the road to catch up with me.
Now, this probably isn't the most professional thing to do, but after all she's an intern (and has not returned a "hi" or "good morning" a single time since she started). So I continued on my merry way to complete a geothermal inspection 7 miles south of the office. Remember, she was supposed to be going to East Peoria, about 10 miles NORTH of the office. This didn't phase her. She followed me down winding country roads, further and further south and twice pulled up directly behind me while I was stopped to check mailboxes for the address. Still, she didn't realize that I was not the other inspector, who is heavier, about 5'5", and a female with long blond hair. wow. So on I went, pulling into a driveway and up a steep hill to a brand new house, still under construction (she was going to a shack in the woods). STILL, she followed. It didn't occur to her that she had made a mistake until I stepped out of the car.
I would have loved to have a picture of her face at that moment. Maybe I'm just cruel. But at least she finally spoke to me. I think she was a little embarrassed as she backed her car out of the driveway and sped away back to the health department.

13 more days.

In case you haven't heard...

After two phone interviews, three "targeted selection" interviews, and a "technical" interview over the past 6 months, I officially received a job offer from Caterpillar, Inc. today as an Environmental, Health & Safety Associate. That in itself is cause for celebration. It is a position in which I believe I will be challenged and allowed to be creative and innovative. And for the first time in my professional life, there are opportunities for growth and a ladder that is vertical instead of horizontal.
and as far as I know, the job has nothing to do with poop, something which I've become ALL too familiar with in the past three jobs (and a grad school career)!
When I think back over the past year, so much has happened. So much good. And just as many financial burdens, stresses, and "how am I ever going to be able to pay this" 's. I know that so many of you have prayed that not only CAT would offer me this position, but that it would be financially freeing. From what a former Bradley classmate who is also working in the same division told me, I expected a 50-60% raise, which had me very excited. I could start chipping away at my accumulated debt and breath easier when the CILCO bill came.

So when I opened the job offer this afternoon, I nearly fell off my chair.

The salary I am starting at is a 125% raise from my current pay at the health department.
I had to read it five times to make sure it was right.
Then I called Gina, who suggested I read it once more-just to make sure.

I know money isn't all that matters. It is an evil thing when people make it their god. But it just such a wonderful feeling of a burden lifted. That the pile of bills on the office desk won't be the loudest thing I hear when I go to bed at night.
Thank you all so much for your prayers, thoughts, crossed fingers, words of wisdom and support (and loans). I love you all so much! I am so excited to see where this next chapter in life leads. I am so thankful that you are all a part of it.

It's Official!

what did you think i meant?

Cougar Quiz

Let's see how much you know about the coolest cat ever birthed.
1) Which is not one of Cougar's favorite foods?
a. String Cheese
b. French Bread
c. Green Olives
d. Cheetos
2) What is Cougar's middle name?
a. Frank
b. Bear
c. Jones
d. Ringo
3) In what year did Cougar adopt me?
a. 2002
b. 2003
c. 2004
d. 2005
4) In what famous 80's movie did Cougar's double star?
5) Cougar hates:
a. Shadows
b. Cats
c. Dogs
d. Children
6) At one evening meal, Chris Evans fed Cougar an entire:
a. Chocolate Bunny
b. Chicken Breast
c. Can of Baked Beans
d. Donkey
7. How many distinct dialects does Cougar communicate in?
a. 4
b. 6
c. 12
d. I don't know, as I am not fluent in Catenese.

Good things.

The interview only took 20 minutes! I met with the environmental manager to go over what the job entails and what experience I have. At the end he said I possess all the qualifications they are looking for and I'd make a great candidate. So, I'd say it went "well" to "extremely well." He said he'd call my potential supervisor and let her know of his thoughts.
Now I just have to wait to her from her!
Thanks for your thoughts and prayers!
j

(Not) back in the saddle.

I visited the chiropractor this evening for the back problem. I had never been to a chiro before, so they put me through the whole 9 yards with the measurements and the x-rays and such. The x-rays revealed two swollen discs with a compressed one between them. Also, the channels in the spine that the nerves run through (which are supposed to be round) are all shaped like kidney beans and have even started branching away from the spine. He said this was due to a prior injury and that the problem has existed for quite some time. hmm...
Sooo...for now, no lifting or bending. More ice. Another adjustment on friday. It actually hurts worse now than before I went in, but hopefully that's just due to the strong massage at the end.

In other, better news, I have another interview at CAT tomorrow afternoon at 3:30 in East Peoria!! Hopefully this will be the last one before they make a decision. Please pray that it goes well and I have all the qualifications required for the position!

And finally, thank you sooooo much to my dear sweet Nurse Gina who has taken such wonderful care of me through all of this nonsense! I honestly don't know what I'd do without her (probably go to work without socks on and my shoes untied-hard to reach when you can't bend!).

DL

Somehow I managed to injure myself while dead lifting on Friday. I wasn't trying an extreme amount of weight or anything, but on my last set something went terribly wrong. As soon as I put the weights down, I had shooting pain in my lower back, just below my weight belt. Thus ended my workout.

I went to work and my boss sent me home (thanks). I spent the next 10 hours icing it, which was recommended by a chiropractic friend. It's now Sunday morning and my condition is about the same. I can walk (carefully), but I feel decrepit. If it's not any better by Wednesday, I think I'll go to a doctor. Until then I'll just hobble and complain.

Happy Father's Day to all you procreators!

waiting...

My lovely and wonderful parents came down on Wednesday eve' and picked up my dead car on a trailer. They also left me a spare car that was out at the shop where my dad works. So, thankfully I have had a mode of transport. The old car is getting a new engine.

Still awaiting news from CAT. I was told I may be having an additional interview with a facility manager to go over the technical aspects of the job. My potential supervisor also said she has to talk with some people to address CAT's need right now. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing, although I don't know why they'd be interviewing people if they didn't have a job for them. So that's where I'm at. Hopefully I'll find out more this week. On eggshells until then.

in the meantime, life is good.

Nothing is sound.

Well folks, this is to be yet another blog in the long line of blogs involving my once beloved (now despised) Grand Am.
I've fought this thing since I got it back in '04. First it was small things like fuel injectors, fuel filters, then the usual things that wear out and need to be replaced as soon as you get it paid off-tires, brakes, headlights, etc.
But yesterday, as I was driving to Joe's apartment, it began ticking. Not "ticking" as in an adorable cuckoo clock on grandmother's wall. An ominous, metallic ticking reverberating from under the hood. It was soon joined by a louder tapping, both in rapid succession. When we got it back to Joe's, he took a listen under the hood. Rod knock.
not good.
The prospects for longevity of the engine were bleak, but it should've held up for at least awhile.
Then today on the way home from work, the little 4-cylinder transformed into a machine gun mimic. People on the sidewalk were diving for cover and drivers in adjacent vehicles sped up to avoid becoming a victim if the thing blew up. and you think i'm kidding. I'm 98.543% sure I now have a spun rod. I made it home (doing 25mph) and the piece of....pleasantry...is parked in the driveway.

not sure what I'm going to do now.

sure would be nice to hear back from Caterpillar in my hour of greatest financial dire straits...

Hooray Hoorah.

Well.
The day at CAT was great! Everyone I met and spoke with seemed to really enjoy what they do. And the conclusion was that CAT takes care of its people and they, in turn, take care of CAT.
what a concept.

I had three interviews and met with a few others that are currently in the rotation program over lunch. The entire experience was positive and affirming. It would be a HUGE blessing to work in the environmental, health and safety department. The steps that CAT is taking to remain the world leader in sustainable development and to reduce the environmental impact from their facilities is greatly encouraging. I would love to be a part of that change!

So, the three interviewers are having a meeting on Monday to discuss their thoughts and I will know if I will be offered the job by midweek!
Thank you again to all who have been praying! Your prayers have been heard!
Go Big Yellow!

'Twas the night before...

In approximately 9 hours I will be sitting in the lobby at CAT h.q. downtown, preparing to interview for a position that could bring great change to my life. I've been chatting with a friend from Bradley who has held the same position for about 3 years and she loves it. The more I hear about it, the more excited I get about the potential future. It's not just about the financial stability it would provide (although that is something I'd gladly welcome), but the thought of being in a career where innovation and creativity are acknowledged and rewarded would be uplifting. I don't think I was made to check off numbers on a page or to maintain databases, or to sample poo water, and I certainly was not created to be an 8-hour cube dweller. I am passionate about people and our environment. If those two things can be brought together in an innovative atmosphere, I'd be proud to be on the team.

thank you to all who have been praying, fasting, thinking good thoughts, crossing fingers, or whatever you do. The Ultimate Employeer sees and hears them all!

I'll let you know how it went when I get home tomorrow night!
-j

Blessed.

The weekend was great. Just what a weary soul needed.

My ole' buddy, Jeff, from high school came down Friday night. We went to One World and then spent a few hours catching up. It had poured all day, but we still planned on getting up early (fairly) and hitting the trails at Jubilee. We used to go riding almost every weekend when we both were attending Bradley, but I've only ridden there once or twice since. So after putting the rack on the car, strapping down the bikes and loading up the rest of our gear, we headed to the park. We decided to park on the back side and ride in since we figured there would be big crowds there for the holiday weekend. We found a deer trail and cut into the woods. I learned a lot that morning. Hooves are better for ascending and descending steep slopes than knobby tires and wet brakes. And stinging nettles EARNED that name. I also learned that you should call the park's phone number before setting out. When we finally found a road 1.5 hours later, there was a sign stating the trails were closed for the day due to the rain. A park employee also stopped his truck to inform us of our error. There was no denying where we had been...covered in mud from the shoulders down. it was a good morning.

Saturday evening Gina and I were to go to the Sletten's for dinner. or so she would have had me believe.
First, she led me astray by having me look down the side streets of the subdivision for the house that the Sletten's were going to buy to be used for Young Life activities. total farce.
Then she was very insistent on carrying the gigantic pan of cheesy potatoes. my gentlemanly manners would not allow it. nor did i question why she made such a ridiculous amount of potatoes for 4 people and a baby.
When I rounded the corner of the house to go through the back gate (also strange, but I didn't think twice about it), there was a large group of people gathered on the deck.
My first thought: oh, this was a cookout? i thought it was just us and the slettens.

Then I saw my family and Gina's family.
Everyone shouted something in unison. I heard "surprise!," and thought, "what in the world is this for?"
I was later told, they shouted "happy graduation," which totally makes sense now.

Anyway, it was the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me. That my friends and family all took time out of their lives to come down and hang out was a humbling and blessing experience. Gina is the best. And Summer is close behind.

Thank you everyone who came out and everyone else who offered words of encouragement over the years! I love you all!

Sometimes you end up a streak on the pavement.

I'll just say upfront that context of this entry is going to be weird.
but that's me. sorry.

For some reason, the county or the state has cut off funding for the highway department to pick up roadkill until June because of high gas prices. Needless to say, the shoulders are littered with bloated and half-scavenged carcasses of deer, raccoons, possums, and other things splattered beyond recognition.

It's made me realize a few things.
1) The guys that pick up roadkill have an important job. and one that I would not want (except it would be free groceries).
2) Our politicians are not smart.
3) A freaking lot of animals die on our locals highways and byways everyday (I saw no fewer than 4 dead deer just today).

But it's that third point I'll focus on.
Sunday night I narrowly missed a raccoon as it darted across the road between myself and an oncoming SUV.

Yesterday, while cruising the fine streets of Pekin, a Jack Russell terrier bolted across the path of an oncoming truck and I hit the gas to avoid it going under my back tires. It's owner, a young boy on a bike, watched horrified as his best friend was nearly flattened before his eyes. I could see him crying out across the street in my rearview mirror. As traffic cleared the intersection, he pedaled as fast as he could down the adjacent street to catch the frightened pup.

I couldn't help but think of the pain it would have caused the boy if his dog, his friend, would have been lost while just doing what dogs do. Seeking what was across the next street with reckless abandon. What's over that next hill or around the corner? Dogs don't think about the consequences. They don't count the cost of their wandering.
are we so different?

Our own Master calls out to us daily, trying to keep up from becoming a streak on the pavement. The world bowls us over, spins us around, tramples us, and kicks us into the ditch. The world keeps going. People are left to rot while the world drives by, focused on the own road ahead.

But we can keep them from becoming food for the birds and wild animals by walking with them. While we can't take the cars of the road, we can amplify the Master's call. While not choking them with a chain of rules, regulations, and religion, we can take them by the hand and show them a better way to navigate life here.

and one day they will safely reach their destination.

Tardiness is next to...(oh that's something else)

Allow me to start by saying the season finale of The Office was outlandish. Loved every akwardly hilarious moment.

Michael: "Toby has been cruisin' for a brusin' for twelve years. Today I am his cruise director and my name is Captain Bruisin."

Michael: "I'm pretty sure she's baked on a professional level."

where do the days go?

Hey, I'm still alive.
just busier (i thought things would slow down after the thesis was done).

Last week was a whirlwind of working both jobs, completing a video project for my sister's graduating students, and a few hours of sleep.

The only real news is that after a second phone interview with CAT on tuesday (the first was waaaay back in January), I was given an invitation for a formal interview. It will be on May 29th from 7am-4pmish. The position is with the Environmental, Heath & Safety department. CAT has some really exciting things going on in the reduction of waste, energy consumption, green house gas emmissions, and green building. I think this could be the beginning of a lifetime career. So please feel free to pray for the interview and that if I do get the job, there would be no relocation after the first 6 months (it's not too soon to start now).

It feels like doors may be starting to open after all those years of academic strife. I have also become more frustrated with my current job. It has become mundane and administrative. I was told at my first interview at TCHD that the position was a "stepping stone". I've learned a lot, but it's time to set my ladder on that foundation and climb.

On Tuesday May 6th, 2008 at 11:35am, Scott Massie left this world.
He was an inspector here at the health department and he loved his job.
The last time I saw him was at the benefit held here a few short weeks ago. His hair was gone and he was in a wheelchair, but he was still the same old Scott, asking about the geothermal program and if I had received the plans from a big job he had worked on. As his wife Paula was getting him ready to leave the office for the last time, he said in a shaky voice, "I hope you guys know how much I want to be here."

Today I had the honor of bearing his casket. And as we trudged across the cemetery lawn from the hearse to the tomb, the weight in my left hand was extreme. Even with seven grown men carrying the coffin, it was heavy. I was reminded in that moment that Scott no longer has a load to bear. All the weight of this world is gone from him. He is free.

The pastor of Calvary Baptist delivered a beautiful message of hope for all who believe. He spoke of the death of Jesus' close friend, Lazarus. When word reached Jesus that his friend had died, he went to him to the town of Bethany to comfort those who were mourning. Jesus arrived three days after Lazarus’ death and people were still weeping with Mary, his sister. Luke 11:33 says, "When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34"Where have you laid him?" he asked. "Come and see, Lord," they replied.
35Jesus wept.

Jesus wept. The Jesus who knew that Lazarus was with his Father and that the pains of this world had left him…wept.
Was it because He was grieved at the worldly loss of his friend? I don't think so. I think it was because Jesus was moved by the love that these people had for Lazarus and for Mary. He felt their pain.
The pastor suggested that if Scott had the choice of returning to earth, he would do so only to relieve the grief of his family.

I hadn't been to a funeral in a few years.
And I see death differently now.
It's still not easy to lose someone, but "death has lost its sting."
At least for those who believe.

As we stood around the open grave, the sun began to break through the clouds. You can cast away the empty shell, ravaged and broken by sicknesses that this fallen creation succumbs to. You can bury it in a deep, dark hole and cover it with a stone.
But the beloved is not there.
They've changed their address.
Now they reside the nice part of town.

Scott is now in the place where light comes from.
And where life comes from.

Job Fair

Michael Scott: "We're going to get some young blood in here. We're going to youth-anize this place."


also, it's great to know that Pam was a "Cougar" in high school!

Passing the Torch

I'll admit this is a little late, but my computer at work wouldn't let me access my blog and then we were out of town for the weekend.
Anywho, Mr. Charlie Dean has handed me the torch for posting new quotes from each week's episode of The Office. So here goes:

Dwight (to Andy in response to his Xterra's "For Sale" poster): "The way I see it, you have four options: 1. Sell it for parts, 2. Push it off a cliff, 3. Donate it to someone you want to see die in a car accident, or 4. Sell it to me for next to nothing."

lost in bloggerdom

Well, when we left off, I had just had the night of a lifetime, meeting with Mr. Corwin. Last week was just as hectic as any. I got the final revisions back from my committee on Monday and worked into the late hours of the night Tuesday, editing, cutting, and pasting until the two separate papers became one, 52-page beast. With all the required paperwork signed, I turned in the final product Friday to the grad school for binding. So, (sigh) it's all said and done now. I don't think the realization of it all will finally come until I have the diploma in hand.

Gina and I spent a wonderful weekend in St. Louis with her bro, Wes. We went to the zoo on Saturday. It's a great place and it's FREE!! double awesome. We didn't do anything else of note, except eat and relax (two of my favorite things).

Sunday was beautiful. We drove back in time for church at Imago and then split the afternoon between two cookouts with wonderful friends. Could not have been better!

Greatest Night EVER.

What better way to celebrate the conclusion of my graduate career than to meet my environmental idol?
Tuesday, my former boss from Wildlife Prairie Park called to see if I would be interested in attending the 30th anniversary celebration. Gina and I had wanted to go originally, but couldn't afford the $150 tickets. Linda said she had a table donated and we could go for $30. So, of course, we jumped all over it.

As the program was about to begin, one of my former coworkers walked by. She said she was going to go get Jeff and asked if I wanted to go with her. Are you freaking kidding me?!



So we walked from the exhibit halls, through the new Civic Center addition, and up the escalators to the green room. Mr. Corwin was admiring the view of Peoria from the giant windows when we arrived. It was surreal.
So we walked back downstairs and chatted. amazing. unreal. Here is one of the world's foremost conservationists, television personalities (an Emmy winner), and I'm making smalltalk about the Park and wildlife.



Jeff gave an inspiring keynote address on how he came to be a naturalist and conservationist, the importance of protecting our environment and all species, and how all of us can make a difference in our own homes.

What a perfect end to a great day!

it is finished. nearly.

Wow, I never thought this day would come. honestly.
It has been such a struggle.
I realized a few minutes before the presentation was to begin that I have been a Bradley University student 1/3 of my life. 9 years!
I should have been a doctor.
Anyway, the presentation went pretty smoothly. There were probably 12 professors in attendance, including the dean of the grad school. The questions following were pretty grueling, but my advisor said that it was the most responsive audience they'd ever had for a thesis, which meant they understood what I was talking about. that's a good thing when it comes to endocrinology (hormones) and ethology (animal behavior).
Then I spent another hour in a room with my committee. They were surprisingly gentle this time. I think they asked 10 questions or so. Then they went into the office and talked for awhile. My advisor came back out and called me in. "Congratulations."
I could have cried, but I was too happy.
They have the weekend to make final revisions on the thesis, then I have until Friday to get everything polished and turned in to the grad school to have it bound. Half of it will be sent to the Journal for Wildlife Diseases for publication. sweet.

Thank you for your prayers and thoughts during the past week. It's been hard and stressful, but you all have made it much MUCH easier! I don't know what I'd do without such amazing friends and family!

not too late!

The wonderful Gina and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary on Friday, the 18th! It's hard to believe it's already been a year. I can vividly remember the first moment I saw her from across the room. Leslie would introduce us an hour or so later. The rest is history, folks. And we've only yet begun to write the book. Thank you all for being a part of our story. I have never felt so blessed as to be loved by Gina. And the friends that we share are the greatest I've ever known. I am so thankful for where I am in this life. It is hard at times. But I wouldn't trade the experiences I've gained for the world.
I love you, Gina Bean!

Ketchup

Ah.
It's 10:41pm. I should be sleeping. I wish I could say I was feeling relieved that I just emailed both revised (for the 3rd time) chapters of my thesis to the 3 professors that hold my graduate degree fate in their hands. But I still have to finish the powerpoint presentation, and commit to my cloudy memory all the ins and outs of endocrinology, steroid synthesis, stress physiology, and a deluge of statistical analyses that make my head spin.
Friday at high noon is judgement time. I first present the thesis to the biology department and anyone else who shows up. Then I am escorted to a small room and seated at a long table across from "The Three" (ala "The Apprentice"). They can drill me on any of the aforementioned topics for an hour, after which they give me a thumbs up or a thumbs down. If all ends well, I am a grad school graduate. If not....well, we won't go there.
It's been a long (5 years), hard road that I could have just as easily walked away from years ago.
But I can't just give up on something.
I will see it through.
And then....
i will sleep.

changes

Often when we go out to a property with an old septic system, everything is buried. The only way to find anything is with the drawing that the inspector made when the system was installed. More often than not, the drawing on the right is what we have to go off. This was done in 1976, scratched on the back of another sheet of paper. Sometimes there are not any directions, distances, labels, etc. The drawing on the left is the one I made for the replacement system at the same address (the original system is in the upper left-hand corner). a bit more detail. It's scary to think what may be out there underground (abandoned septic tanks, cess pools, hand-dug wells...
Maybe in your own backyard!

the details.

My brain has been swimming for the past week. The first half, however, was from a multitude of cold medicines to turn off my faucet-like nose and numb my sandpaper-esque throat. The latter half has been from the stimulating reading and conversations of the weekend.

When I was growing up, the Bible was a storybook. There were some interesting and believable characters in it. And then there were fanciful tales that only a child’s mind could illustrate. Or so I thought.
Then I grew up and was taught that what was written was indeed literal (mostly). If you were facing a challenge in life, whip out your trusty NIV and find the 4 easy steps to solve the problem. I learned that an apologist wasn’t someone who went around telling people they were sorry about being Christians. They had the answers. For EVERYTHING. I wanted to be one. I wanted to shut up my fancy-pants college professors who arrogantly stood at the head of the lecture hall and preached that while evolution was only a “theory,” that it and only it was based on science. You could NOT give any physical support to “creation” because it was based solely on faith (literally said to me as a grad student). Apologists could explain and defend any biblical premise and position.

But recently, I’ve come to the realization that the details that many Christians have disputed, defended, resisted, and talked themselves blue in the face over are not all that critical. Would it be that tragic if the world wasn’t created in six literal days?
Does that change the fact that God created it?

Will anyone care if at the end of time hell isn’t a literal furnace and the devil isn’t a furry guy with ram’s legs and a spiked tail? (ok, I think that last part is from Disney or something). All that matters is that you don’t want to be there! It is eternal separation from God. It matters not if you are on fire or tormented or made to tirelessly eat stacks of unending donuts while you are there.

Are dancing, playing cards, listening to rock music, drinking alcohol, etc. activities that ultimately sinful? Or does each individual have to make the distinction between what is good or not good for themselves. To what extent is this a stumbling block to me? At what point does this activity turn me away from HIM?

I think that there are infallible, undeniable, and unwavering TRUTHs in the bible. There are laws that God handed down in the Old Testament that did not change when the New Covenant of Jesus was instilled and the concrete is still hardening today. The pillars of Christianity have not crumbled and have not been altered to fit today’s changing culture. I GET THAT. But TRUTH in other matters can be true in different ways to different people. We have 136 different “Christian” churches in Peoria alone! There is a reason.

So with all the recent discussion and some hostility towards “emergent,” “emerging,” “postmodern” churches or their leaders, I don’t understand all the hubbub. If you take one path and someone takes another and you both end up at the same destination, what’s wrong with their path?
It’s not that one church is right or another is wrong. Maybe they’re both wrong. Maybe they’re both right. Maybe it doesn’t even matter.

What does matter is Jesus and the way he lived. Let's just do that.

LOWER YOUR ENERGY BILL-grab a shovel.

Over 70% of the energy consumed by a typical house is used to meet heating and cooling needs. In the U.S., heating and cooling buildings accounts for 43% of the carbon emissions, 39% of the energy consumption, and 53% of the natural gas usage. Why do we only consider cars and trucks when talking about conserving energy, oil, etc?!

Currently less than 1% of Illinois’ energy comes from renewable sources (readily replenished). There is a mandate in our state that by 2025, 25% of our energy MUST come from renewable sources. Got any ideas?

47% of solar energy is absorbed by the earth’s surface and is stored below the frost line. In Illinois, the ground temperature stays 52-57ºF year-round. Wind and solar energy are good sources of renewable energy, BUT they don’t do anything to decrease our dependence on energy. They just create more, so the power companies are still happy. Geothermal systems are more efficient, reducing energy requirements and your monthly power bill.

Ground Source Heat Exchange systems MOVE energy, they don’t create it. A heat pump (replaces the furnace) runs water through a sealed or open loops in underground piping where it is naturally heated or cooled by the ground. The heat pump elevates low-grade heat to high-grade heat by compression and reverses for cooling.

GSHE systems are 50-70% more efficient for heating and 20-40% more efficient for cooling than traditional forced air systems. The current systems in place are already saving the U.S. 14 million barrels of crude oil per year. Illinois had around 3,000 homes and buildings using geothermal systems in 2006.

On average, a 2000 sq. ft. home requires $2,100 of fossil fuel to heat and cool it each year. The same home on a geothermal system requires $700 of fossil fuel! Currently, only 1 in 70 new homes utilizes this technology. Why? Cost. It costs approximately $10K more to install one of these systems as opposed to traditional. This is because well drillers have to drill several (3-8) bore holes 150-175’ deep to run the pipes. However, if you are on a 30-year mortgage, it only adds $59/month or $708/year. And remember you are saving $1,400 on heating/cooling costs!!! That’s at today’s prices. Who knows how far this “energy crisis” will go and how much we will be paying a few years down the road?!

Other benefits: quiet operation, low maintenance, no machinery at ground surface or outside the home (it’s virtually invisible once installed), free hot water (by-product of heat pump), environmentally friendly.

To me, it’s a no-brainer. If you’re building a new home, put one of these in. If you are replacing your current system, the return on investment is 8-10 years. But it’s worth it. You are making a difference.

Hanging in there.

Last night Joe taught me the sacred art of hanging and mudding drywall. Mudding truly is an art (so I watched).
With the last tenant to move in on the 15th, time is precious. The walls in the main room still need drywall over the ancient plastered brick, 5 windows have to be replaced, a new steel front door has to be hung, walls and ceilings need to be primed and painted, the bathroom ceiling has to be replaced, and laminant floors need to be laid throughout. Wow. 7 days.

Irresistible.

I must preface this tale by saying that we receive calls from people every day that are bizarre, creepy, and sometimes, downright insane.

So yesterday, out of the sheer boredom that comes with watching 3 men dig a trench, I decided to mess with my co-workers.

I called the office (we don't have caller-I.D.) and one of the secretaries answered. In my most distinguished Pekin-esque, "carnie" accent (sorry), I told the unsuspecting administrative assistant that I had a pet chimpanzee and would like to know if there were any required permits for possessing said simian. She paused, and nervously answered that she would have to transfer me to someone else. Before she could do so, I revealed my true identity. She laughed in relief and then suggested giving my cell number with my monkey request to our supervisor, Ray. Brilliant!

Ray is quiet, professional, and serious. So he was the PERFECT target for our scheme.

15 minutes later my phone rang. I answered with a big "Hee-haw" hello. Ray introduced himself and asked if I had a question about a pet. I informed him that I had a chimpanzee. He then stated I would need to contact Animal Control with my inquiry. I boldly exclaimed (with slack-jaw) that I did not require animal control because I had already got the chimp under control. I continued that he used to go after small children, but he had calmed down now and there was no need for Animal Control.
silence on the other end of the phone line.
"Sir, I'm going to transfer you to animal control."
I then burst forth with the notion of bringing the ape into a food establishment, such as bringing him to baseball games to sell peanuts.
again, silence.
"Sir, I'm going to have to transfer you to our food program supervisor."

At that, I lost it! I broke character and revealed my true identity.
Ray cursed loudly into the phone and slammed down the receiver.

When I called the secretary a couple of minutes later, all I could hear was tumultuous laughter from the office staff. They had all been listening outside his office door.

nailed it.

the good stuff

It's been a good weekend. I'm sitting on the back porch soaking up the sun and despite the neighbor kids pestering each other on the opposite side of the fence, it's a perfect afternoon.
I got to spend a full day working at Nwoods on Friday since I was gone all day to the geothermal conference in Chicago on Wednesday. I got a lot accomplished but it didn't feel at all like work. I enjoyed it. It was fun. It was just a taste of what working in an enjoyable career would be like.

Saturday was equally as beautiful as today. After hauling "26 sheets of drywall!" in Joe's $400, 1980-somthin' F250 (which boasts an enormous 460 engine) to the apartment building, Gina and I took a leisurely stroll through the neighborhood and then spent a couple of hours lounging and reading on the back porch. We then drove to Canton for her cousin's wedding reception. It was fun, but I think I was asleep before we left the city limits on the way home (probably 10:15ish).

This morning's service at Imago Dei was inspirational, as Charlie taught about embracing and becoming salt and light. The place is full of life. We visited with friends afterward and a bunch of us went to Old Chicago for lunch. Good times, great people.

We also got great news yesterday that Cougar's liver enzyme levels have returned to normal! Only one more day of fighting him to take his meds. He usually is at the bottom of the stairs by the time I get out of the bedroom in the morning, howling for his breakfast. But he has to have a pill one hour before eating, which he has learning, and today he wouldn't even leave the bed. He's been a furry little trooper.

So I'll keep working on my tan (and thesis presentation) until it's time to take a walk to Emo's with the Potters and then head out to the Dean's for small group tonight. I wish days like this could last forever (or at least replace the monday-friday workweek).

1 Corinthians 2
1When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.


CRAV this weekend spoke volumes to these words of Paul's. You don't have to be eloquent or a biblical scholar to spread the gospel. You don't need to be a pastor or even be old enough to drive. When you are LIVING in a way that shows you SERVE the MASTER of ALL, you speak louder than any bullhorn preacher, and reach deeper than any international televangelist.

Live out the words...

at last?

April 24, 2008.
I finally have acquired positive responses from all three committee members that Thursday at 12:00pm will work for a thesis defense. So that's a good thing.

The bad? They've had my papers for going on 7 weeks now. And it seems they haven't found an hour in all those days and weeks to read them. And I can't get a straight answer of when I can expect them back for revision. I've spent a couple of hours working on my presentation this afternoon at the office.

This morning, we had a biscuits and gravy benefit for one of our co-workers who has been fighting cancer for about 6 months. For the occasion, I decided it would be a good idea to eat 5 biscuits and 3 full cups of mouth-watering sausage gravy. Needless to say, I skipped lunch. and dinner won't be necessary either.
On a lighter note, we raised over $1,500 for Scott and his family.

Tomorrow I have the pleasure of attending a geo-thermal conference in Naperville from 8-5. I can hardly freaking wait!!!

weekend update

Thank you all who have asked how our little Cougar has been doing. Gina and I picked him up Saturday morning from Demanes. The doctors and staff there are great. I think Cou was happy to see us! All his levels were normal except the liver enzymes. They are normally 100 and his were 700 and 800. They said this means he either ate something toxic or has a virus. Either way, he looked 100% better after getting rehydrated. He's now on a liver pill and antibiotics, which he despises. He spit the liver pill out 4 times this morning and the baytril makes him foam at the mouth. it's exciting.

I spent my weekend at Nwoods, singing for the main service and the middle school service directly after exiting the main stage, which meant doing the set 6 times (not counting rehearsals). Then a bunch of our awesome Reality kids helped set up the high school room for CRAV (our 2-hour worship experience). We rehearsed from 2-4 and then followed Reachout's set with ours. It was an amazing weekend. I'm not even tired today, which is incredible. my abs are a little sore though...

so today it's back to real life. sampling the disgusting lagoon. in the rain. sorting through piles of paperwork. yeah.

well...

this has been an intense week. work has been chaotic.
i haven't been home before 8pm since Sunday.
And to top it all off, i was awoken this morning to the sound of Cougar vomiting. This isn't totally out of the ordinary, but he hadn't done it in the last 3 months or so. But it didn't stop. First in my room, then the hall, then on the stairs, in the dining room, living room, kitchen, basement stairway, and in the basement. The poor little guy hurled at least 10 times between 4am and 5:30am (that I've discovered thus far). I thought maybe he had just eaten something that didn't agree with him and went back to bed at 4:15. When I got up to go to the gym at 5:30 I looked all over the house and couldn't find him. Normally, he's pawing my face at 5:00 because he's "starving." I finally found him, curled up on my chair in the living room. He would barely lift his head and couldn't stand up. In a panic, I called Gina (who else do you call for a 5:30am cat emergency?). She raced over (because she's an angel and I needed her). After a call to the emergency hospital, we decided to wait until 7:30 to take him to the regular animal hospital, two blocks away. The doc said he had a fever of 104 and was dehydrated (obviously from all that covered my floor). They were giving him an IV, antibiotics, doing blood work and possibly x-rays, all to the tune of $434-475. ouch.
I don't think he's covered by my insurance, even though he is treated as a child. He was crying in the back room as we left the office. very sad. Hopefully he'll bounce right back after his stay and be up to his old shenanigans by tomorrow night.
I miss my Cougar already.