Doing the reading for the country....

A co-worker shared this interesting article regarding the media habits of folks in various countries. Not surprisingly, the US folks are TV junkies and not much for reading. You wouldn't know that from our house, which has no TV (DVDs on the computer), and books galore. In keeping with Murphy's Law, a large number of my library holds came in all at once, so there are books scattered throughout the house.

It's Coming

Gas is $2.70 at the cheap franchise (still sourced by the Saudis). Seeing this happening, along with reading The Long Emergency: Surviving the End of the Oil Age, Climate Change, and Other Converging Catastrophes of the Twenty-first Century, is prompting me to think about a short-term plan for the fossil-fuel shortages. How does one gradually prepare for going off the grid while still being in the grid?

Parenting Milestones

I am now the mother of a 3-year old. And, we got him to start falling asleep in his bed, rather than with me, so I can actually start to have some adult reading time before I fall asleep. This is huge.

Very busy work week ahead, with a deadline of wrapping up staff evaluations and some unavoidable meetings that will chew up time.

Birthday Cleanse

Last birthday found me overcome by the grace of the Lord, and taking a recommitting dunk in the American River. My 36th is coming up in a month, and I think the cleansing theme continues, although last year will be very hard to top. The cleansing ritual being considered for this year breaks beyond the comfort zone, but I think might set a good foundation for corporeal health, as last year's did for spiritual health. Check back in a month for the full report! I promise I won't be too graphic about it!

Re-entry

Today is the first day back to work after a refreshing, recentering, and re-energizing vacation to Portland and Seattle. Unfortunately the energy was more about other life decisions than work, so it's a bit of a sloggy and fitful workday. The trip included reconnecting with friends that are too difficult to communicate with via email and other modes (it's not the difficulty really, it's the lack of texture vs. face-to-face). Beginning with a flight into Portland, staying with friends who have guided us in the most important parts of our journey, watching our son interact with their five children (holding his own but also exhibiting some of his only-child-ness).

The Seattle leg entailed a visit with our pastor and his family (All Saints now has a great new web site), a trek to the new Library (doing Library right), and good conversations with friends. We also brought home a bit of the best coffee ever. I should say that all of the independent coffee jaunts cured us of the few times we were forced (for lack of coffee places in some areas) to patronize the ubiquitous green-logoed coffee purveyor.

Re-entry has us looking at the elements in our lives, where we're going next, and other big-picture things. Our faithwalk got some good fuel over the trip as well, and I'm excited to see where that takes us.

Apologies to all of those we were unable to see. The trip was way too short, but hopefully there's a next time in the near future.