Ringing in the New Year

Christmas is a past memory for many of us at this point (but not for me!). I truly hope that everyone had a blessed Christmas. Truthfully—I’ve had an excellent holiday (so excellent in fact that I haven’t really had the time to blog)! More and more “good news” (gospel!) has been piling up sooooo it’s about time that I fire off a blog post before I can’t catch up. Here’s a little recap of the last week or so (it’s been jam packed with good news):

1. I was accepted into Luther’s Master of Theology program (MTH)
2. I got to see Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” with someone special
3. I spent Christmas Eve with my girlfriends family and made off with some mad loot
4. I spent Christmas day with my parents and scored some mad loot
5. I got engaged

I hope everyone had a blessed holiday. Tonight is (of course) New Year’s Eve. It’s a very fun time for a lot of people. Have a happy (but don’t forget “safe”) New Year’s celebration. I know I will (it’s Sonia’s birthday too!).

-Dan

My music playlist 2008

Ahh, it's that time of year again, when the past twelve months gets reviewed and we prepare for the next twelve months. In this time it is important to take stock, to take note of the year. One way I do that is through music. My year was shaped by being on internship and out of normal patterns and wedding planning, which pointed me towards listening to the likes of Bon Jovi, Earth, Wind and Fire, ABBA, Tommy Tutone, the Bee Gees, Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra (Vegas, Baby!), just to name a few.

My top choices of 2008:

Albums
1. Mason Jennings :: In the Ever
2. Coldplay :: Viva la Vida
3. Bon Iver :: For Emma, Forever Ago
Though I haven't yet opened it, Colin gifted me with this:
4. Nina Simone :: To Be Free : The Nina Simone Story

Meh.
1. Ryan Adams & the Cardinals :: Cardinology
2. She & Him :: Volume One
3. Death Cab for Cutie :: Narrow Stairs

Biggest let downs
1. Tapes n' Tapes :: Walk it Off
2. Ben Folds :: Way to Normal
3. Ray LaMontagne :: Gossip in the Grain

Wish I had listened to more (I'm quite behind)
1. Sigur Ros :: Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust
2. Wolf Parade :: At Mount Zoomer
3. The Hold Steady :: Stay Positive
4. Of Montreal :: Skeletal Lamping
5. Okkervil River :: The Stand Ins
6. Blitzen Trapper :: Furr
7. Fleet Foxes :: Fleet Foxes

Songs of the year
1. Never Knew Your Name, Going Back to New Orleans, Soldier Boy & How Deep is that River :: Mason Jennings :: In the Ever
2. Strawberry Swing & Lost! :: Coldplay :: Viva la Vida
3. Flume & Skinny Love :: Bon Iver :: For Emma, Forever Ago
4. Grapevine Fires & Your New Twin Sized Bed :: Death Cab for Cutie
5. Milk Thistle :: Conor Oberst :: Conor Oberst
6. Hang 'Em All :: Tapes n' Tapes :: Walk it Off
7. Meg White :: Ray LaMontagne
8. RoboCop :: KanYe West :: 808s & Heartbreak
9. Furr :: Blitzen Trapper :: Furr

I realize that songs from albums I was most disappointed in made it to my top songs of the year. Songs don't make a great album, but even disappointing albums have good songs.


Looking forward to in 2009:
1. The Decemberists
2. U2
3. Ben Kweller
4. M. Ward
5. Andrew Bird
6. Carl Newman
7. Neko Case
8. The New P...s

Hair Rituals

I recently “opened” my hair to the fresh air and winter breeze of MN. You see, my hair has been in braids since mid last September. These braids have kept the hair protected against extreme temperatures of winter and summer. In preparation for this winter, I braided it and went about the semester with least of care except for the necessary cleaning and scalp treatment. And so, the opening of braids gives me the joy of seeing and feeling my hair again, after almost four months of its "hibernating." Now, a sense of newness and freshness is all over me with my hair all opened up making me feel good. So, I have about five days to comb my hair and style it and wonder at what my Maker means in saying, “But even the hairs of your head are numbered.” The question of numbering my hair may not be as intriguing and mysterious in these techno days as it might have been in the past. Anyhow, the idea of someOne knowing the number of my hair, is still incredible and quite a demand on my limited grasp. Even with these techno-scientific days, it is interesting how a unit of a human person (body in this case) demands great attention of collaborative conversation between disciplines of the academy as with peoples of different faith traditions. And so, the wonder with which I view my hair becomes a simple reminder of my human finitude moving me to seek the infinite. In this posture then, I submit to the Infinite One and hear these words, "But even the hairs of your head are numbered.”

Once again, I will sit for five or so hours to braid my hair in preparation for the J-Term and spring classes. I will braid it to keep it still and tame, to protect it from winter’s cold even as I rest from its daily combing and experiencing its heartbreaking breakages. In the meantime, I enjoy the freedom of my hair and the new look it gives me (no pictures please).

Eating Christmas

I like the idea of 'eating Christmas', as we say in Kisii, Kenya. So I 'ate' my Christmas at LS here in St. Paul, MN. I am still eating it as my fridge is still stuffed with matumbo, wali, Mchicha, samosa and maharage. I even tried various types of popcorn. A friend dropped some at our house and I just ate them. They were yellowish, sugarly, greenish etc etc. I even wondered what in the world I was doing by behaving in this un-melike manner just because I was on holidays! I suppose holidays are there to be enjoyed and celebrated. Holidays seem to have this thing in them that is so irresistible, causing one and all to simply plunge (bloop). And so, I plunged into this river of endless eating. At one time I thought I needed to repent of this behavior. Maybe I really should repent of those omissions and commissions, what then can one do? And so my rationalizing continues. In the meantime, I am becoming aware of the extra pounds I am carrying on certain "regions" of my physical composition. I seem to be surprised but not really. Now what? I don't know for now. But soon, actually next week, on the 5th of January 2009 to be precise, I will begin my J-Term "marathon". You cannot (I, usually do not) go wrong. The collaborative inquiry, the journaling, 1st and 2nd responses that I will need to do will help me in "fleshing" down the said unwelcome matter.Well, well do not try it please, this is only applicable to me and only in the J-Term "Vocation of a Theologian" seminar.

my wicked awesome rad sunglasses

I have the most sensitive eyes in the world. Okay, maybe not. But really, on average, I wear my sunglasses not so much at night, but at the very least right up until night. Even dusk is to bright for my sweet baby blues.

I'm also terribly and irrationally afraid of balloons. I'm pretty sure that every time I am near one (say during a Christmas celebration with the little ones) the balloon will pop and bust my eyes. Ridiculous, yes, but also true.

I'm often found with at least a pair of sunglasses on my person. Big, plastic ones that cover my whole socket...and then some.

Well, today, with coupons in hand and a year or two of planning and wanting, I purchased a pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarer Sunglasses, like the ones Audrey Hepburn wore in Breakfast at Tiffany's.













They're pretty rad.

I wasn't the only one getting new glasses today; Colin bought a killer pair of specs after using the same pair for the last 13 years. They didn't fit his face anymore and they were the wired rimmed ones that were all the rage in the early to mid 1990s. Now, he looks like the Italian and Lutheran Rob Bell and instantaneously 10 years older (but in a good way).

On Becoming a One Car Family

When I got my White Ford Focus while on internship, everyone thought it was cute. It matched Colin's black Ford Focus, right down to the spoiler. Having two cars was important then, with Colin being in Las Vegas and me being in Sierra Vista. We weren't yet married and we weren't yet living on campus where we both work and go to school and live and move and have our being.

We barely leave campus most days and no longer need 2 cars to get around. So on this trip to NW Ohio, we drove two cars and are leaving one behind and will, for a short time, be a one car family.

We've started to organize who gets the car when and how we'll communicate spontaneous outings. We're figuring that it will save us some do-re-me, open up another parking spot at the Sem and lighten our carbon foot print.

Christmas in Ohio

We're cozying up to the third day of Christmas here in NW Ohio and enjoying a balmy 60 degree day. It's a bit of an anomaly, but I'll take it! We're off to Toledo to buy some glasses. Real glasses for Colin and Ray Ban Wayfarers for me. Can't wait!

On the second day of Christmas, aka Boxing Day, we slept in, played video games, watched movies and Colin made yummy spaghetti and meatballs for dinner. Oh, and I got a shot of steroids for an allergic reaction from a wasp sting.

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, the new Nina Simone boxed set! We slept in and enjoyed a great day. We went with Colin's mom to go see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and loved it!

On Christmas Eve, we had a great meal of prime rib, parmasean smashed potatoes, vino and all good things. We went to church as well.

On the day before Christmas Eve, our first full day in Ohio, I got stung by a huge wasp (I know, in December, weird), hung out with Colin's amazing high school friend Ben in Findlay for some last minute Christmas shopping and some amazing Indian Food. We also snuggled in and watched a movie from Cate & Ioan: "Catch a Fire". Ioan and Cate gave Colin and me three South African movies, which is the best gift this girl could ask for!

I'm still on rest mode and plan to be for quite some time. Hope your days are merry and bright and that all your Christmases are white (with snow).

Christmas Sermons

I was just reading some of my fellow bloggers' posts and discovered one of Jeni's recent writings. Well, Jeni when I read "End of the Year Feasting" I could not help but remember my family. That Robert Frost poem is a family favorite. But, I would not have written here about it, except that on Christmas eve I heard several sermons that kept reminding me of one of my favorite Robert Frost poems. You see, I heard these pastors say, "would you leave a gift under the Christmas tree and not unwrap it?" and also "Bring Jesus along too, to all those painful places he intended to go with us when God became flesh." 

And, in both of these cases I thought of Robert Frost's "The Pasture." I believe it is the invitation in this poem that the pastors brought to my mind. We have been invited, we have been given a gift and we should return the favor by inviting Christ into our lives and into all the places we wouldn't want anyone to go, but in which we really need him. The poem's setting is simple, calm, and lovely. Not everywhere that we go is calm and lovely, but just because some places are hard and uninviting does not mean we go alone. The invitation and reminder of God's willingness is simple, "Hey God, You come too."

I'm going out to clean the pasture spring;

I'll only stop to rake the leaves away

(And wait to watch the water clear, I may):

I shan't be gone long - You come too.

I'm going out to fetch the little calf

That's standing by the mother. It's so young,

It totters when she licks it with her tongue.

I shan't be gone long - You come too.

Post Christmas Consumer Post

For those of you still looking for gifts for others or wondering what nice little thing you should pick up for yourself during this ongoing Christmas season, I have 2 recommendations. The first recommendation is an audio CD. Ray La Montagne has put out an interesting and diverse recording of some upbeat and some mysterious/doleful songs that are filled with soul. His recent CD is entitled "Gossip in the Grain." When I bought it I was definitely looking for a more upbeat album as a whole, but I still enjoy his songs, especially on these cold days of winter. Song 01 is the best thing.

My other recommendation is for a book I do not own and I have not actually read at all. So... you may wonder how I could recommend it. Well, it's easy: I type words on the computer and then you read them. The book is entitled Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas. Consider it recommended! Actually I can recommend the book based on an interview I heard with the author on Sean Hannity's program on 100.3 KTLK FM several days ago. 

The author, Ace Collins spoke of the history and tale of songs ranging from that song about ...God rest ye merry gentlemen to Nat King Cole and chestnuts roasting on an open fire. He spoke about the different meanings of words like "merry" in england when the song was written and now in America when we sing it. And, he spoke about songs of Christmas being written in just moments by people sweating their way through the dog days of summer trying to keep cool.

Those are 2 of my recommendations for this time of Christmas. Peace.

News from home

I got news from home today. They said that it was sunny and warm and that my community has a university college now. Everyone is excited ( I am excited too) at the prospects of a high institution of learning with endless opportunities of education, jobs, housing, road network, telecommunication, medical facilities etc etc! I cannot imagine my little village with such a privilege of a university college! At last my community will be saved millions of Shillings ( Kenyan currency) of travel and other financial costs in seeking high education outside of Kisiiland. Although this is national university and everyone is welcome, my town gets to enjoy the privilege of hosting it. Education and favorable climatic conditions are great treasures for Kenyan people.With a good weather, rather, favorable climatic conditions we are assured of food production and security. The 31+ million Kenyans depend on agriculture for their national economy. So, year in year out the same issue, "the harvests." You see, where I come from we depend on the sun and the rain for apples, corn, vegetables. We depend on their natural movement from the sunny to the rainy periods. Of course, the dynamics are not as simple as that, they are intricate given that the rain varies in amount and space. The same could be said of the "amount" of the sun. And so, my people keep adjusting to these climatic conditions to make their lives comfortable. As you might guess, adjusting has its dynamics too. More often than not, they are too complicated for one person to accomplish. That is why for us it takes the whole village to raise a child. On this note then my community is very excited to own for the very first time, a university college not far from my mother's home in Kisii town. Kisii town is on the western part of Kenya, not far from lake Victoria, about 100 miles from Kogelo village, president elect Barack Obama's Father's home. And so, you see the news from home about the weather and school are real and special gifts to be grateful about this season of The Good News of Divine Love that we enjoy with family and friend from far and near. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

end of the year feasting.

Every year, at the very end of the year, I put before my eyes a feast for my heart. Words and reflections that I now commend to you.

1. An end of the year reflection on the song "American Tune" by Andy Whitman of Paste Magazine:

We cross the oceans and send rockets hurtling to the moon, planting our flag on whatever scrap of rock we can find, claiming the land and its allegiance as our own. But it’s not. We’re misfits and strangers here, always voyaging, never able to escape from ourselves or the inevitability of our demise. And there are days when it appears we’ve learned nothing, least of all how to love. Just turn on the news. Or take a look at my heart. I think of the words I’ve spattered this year like bullets, fired willy-nilly out of anger, arrogance, stupidity, even naiveté, always amazed that the gun goes off when I pull the trigger, always slightly stunned when that scent in the air turns out to be gunpowder and not the sweet perfume of the scattered roses in my mind. It’s the shock of recognition, the one clear moment that comes only when all the distractions and entertainment have faded, when there are no more excuses, when the mirror reflects our true image. What can you do? In my case, you pray. And you play the single greatest song of a singularly great American songwriter. You shut up and you listen. Some nights that’s the best thing you can do.

2. A return to the songs "Sons & Daughters" by The Decemberists and [insert shameful plug, here] a reflection I wrote for the Concord a couple of winters ago on the song.

3. This poem by Robert Frost, usually during the hustle and bustle of final papers.

Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening
by Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

4. This NPR recording of Annie Dillard in honor and memory of the Tsunami in December of 2004 (I strongly urge you to listen to the recording). Here is the transcript:

On April 30, 1991--on that one day--138,000 people drowned in Bangladesh. At dinner that night I brought up the catastrophe. My daughter was then seven years old. I said it was hard to imagine 138,000 people drowning.

"No, it's easy," my daughter said. "Lots and lots of dots in blue water."

She was too young then to understand the supreme importance of each individual. Those tsunami victims in Bangladesh years ago and these tsunami victims now on the shores of the Indian Ocean were not dots, sweetheart, they were beloved daughters like you, beloved sons. They were partners in love and fathers and mothers; every adult knows this.

It has been a stunning time for us adults these past six decades since the war. Nothing is new, but it's all as fresh for every new crop of people as this year's winter-killed grass. What is eternally fresh is our grief, what is eternally fresh is our astonishment, what is eternally fresh is our question, "What the Sam Hill is going on here?" And incidentally, is anyone running the show? Does such omnipotence mete out moral justice by hurling hurricanes here or there or pointing tornadoes or terrorists at towns. I think we could not find anyone to make a credible case for such a proposition.

After all, even we mere people hold the individual precious, or does an individual's significance weaken with distance like the force of gravity? Well, would I exchange two Sumatran lives to save my daughter's life? Lord, I probably would. We eat at restaurants while innocent people starve in Haiti. They starve in Haiti and the Sudan too and we reach deep for as much as we can possibly spare and double that to haul humans out of the whirlpool while there is hope.

A newspaper headline said, "Head Spinning Numbers Cause Minds to go Slack." But, surely we agree our minds must not go slack, neither must our hands. We the living now enter the surf to form a human boom like a log boom. We try to encircle and enclose and bring in and burn or save the dots, all the dots: those Indian and Indonesian dots, those dots dropping everywhere in Iraq right now, the starving dots. We do not go slack, we secure the boom, we hold tight to other hands in the water, we save and rescue as many dots as we can whether we can see the people flail in front of us or not.

Qoheleth

Has a biblical narrative ever “clicked” for you? The book of Ecclesiastes resonates well with my life today. In Ecclesiastes, Qoheleth, the “Teacher” – has rhetorically clothed himself as King Solomon. As a Solomonic king he was unmatched in experience and knowledge amongst the Eastern kings. The book portrays him as an aged man who has surveyed all sorts of things that supposedly make life worth living—or give life “meaning” (pleasure, work, wealth, renown, and wisdom). He’s sort of looking back at his life and saying, “Take it from an old man—this is the advice I can give you about life.” What does he conclude after “testing” all of these aspects of life that we all think give our lives meaning? “Meaningless! Everything is meaningless!” Not quite the answer you would expect, eh? This is to say that all of these things that give life meaning are meaningless after you die…and everyone dies. It’s a sad and cruel fact that we all share a common lot: death. In other words: instead of toiling over these things you should eat, drink, and be merry and enjoy the simple things in life (while you have life in you!). This is where I am today. I’m sitting at the edge of my seat waiting to see if I am readmitted to the Master of Theology program. It’s out of my control at this point. There’s no point in toiling over the little things when it will all be washed away as soon as you pass away. I suppose, however, that it’s easier said than done! I’ve chewed my nails down to nubs. Anyhow, I hope everyone has had a blessed end of their semester. Travel safely to your loved ones. Enjoy your Christmas break!

-Dan

Shadowlands

I wanted to get this post up before the weekend, because the weekend is a great time for going to church... and going to plays. If you've been looking for a nice pre-Christmas activity for the family or for you and your beloved other I've got a recommendation for you. My recommendation is Shadowlands. It is currently playing at the Guthrie. I went to it on Wednesday and had a great time laughing, crying, and thinking. If you follow the link to the Guthrie's site you can watch a clip from the play where C.S. Lewis' character develops an intriguing slogan for the birth of Christ and some thoughts on Christmas.

The story follows C.S. Lewis as he falls in love with his wife and far too quickly loses her to cancer.

Also, for people people preaching on Christmas: Sermon Brainwave has a special Christmas update, check it out at WorkingPreacher.org.

done.done.DONE!

With the click of my mouse I just delivered my final assignment of the semester! Ahh, the glorious feeling of being done, done, done! [pause for happy sigh and happier dance]

Today (12/19) is also my husband Colin's birthday. He decided to open his gift right around midnight. We had a bet going all week that I would spill the beans. Every day--no ever hour he would ask, did you get me a... to which I would say no (or if it was ridiculous, like "you didn't get me [something no one would want], did you? To which I replied, "shoot, I did get you [something no one would want].) He did guess that I got him a watch, but I was able to coyly say, nope. For all intents and purposes, I got him a toiletry bag...that happened to have a watch inside of it. No more looking at the ol' cell phone in church to see what time it is!

We leave for NW Ohio on Monday and I'm deciding what to bring. Most likely, the books I didn't quite finish or read close enough. Like Jayber Crow, by Wendell Berry (so excited) and Cadences of Home: Preaching among Exiles (fantastic!) and The Used World by Haven Kimmel (excellent!). I'll have some regular work along too, but that too will be great: Gerhard Forde Sermons. A feast for my eyes and heart and mind, to be sure. Now to finish up with the Christmas shopping...where did my ELCA Good Gifts Catalogue go?

A list of things I can do now without feeling as guilty:
1. Play Dr. Mario on the Wii
2. Sleep in
3. Read something else
4. Learn how to wind ski on snow
5. Dream about Hawaii
6. Do absolutely nothing
7. Build more snow sculptures.

Hope you're as done as I am!

Happy Holiday

Well, it is December 18 and just like every year we're celebrating the holiday. And, the holiday is: International Answer the Telephone like Buddy the Elf Day. 

While the guidelines for this celebration do not require it, we expect one another to do our Elf's best to go above and beyond all expectations and not only answer the telephone like Buddy the Elf, but to say and do things that celebrate his story. 

This morning I'm having my "Buddy Breakfast." If you haven't seen the movie the Buddy Breakfast starts with a base of pasta noodles, then you add in your pound of chocolates such as M&M's, and finally drench with maple syrup and top with crumbled pop tarts to taste. Make it for your parents this morning.

Happy International Answer the Telephone like Buddy the Elf Day. Don't forget to answer the phone like Buddy and have a hearty breakfast.

Winter Musings

Yesterday was my last official day of class at Luther Seminary. I’m praying that I find out about my application to the Master of Theology program. This “gray area” is maddening. I did, however, find out some wonderful news. I was hired as an after school instructor by an organization that promotes non-conventional pedagogical methods. I do plan on teaching college students some day. Teaching 2nd – 8th graders isn’t exactly ideal; however it will at least give me some field experience. There’s a lot of difference between college kids and elementary school kids (well, maybe not college freshmen). Even though I probably won’t be teaching religion classes using “hands on” or non-traditional classroom methods—the experience of developing a teaching philosophy will be priceless. I’m writing my final final right now. It’s a bit rough because I keep getting distracted. We don't like to admit it--but maybe graduate students can be a bit like elementary school kids every once in a while too, eh?

-Dan

The Number Of

My brain functioning is slowly returning after a hopeless fight with illness. Humor came back first, followed by the ability to tell stories....I've now progressed to thinking in numbers:

23 - hours I have slept the past two nights (not counting naps)
8-10 - pages still to be written
8 - days until Christmas begins
7 - teenagers said goodbye to at CPE today
5 - photographs of Michael Phelps taped to the outside of
the package I received in the mail today
3 - camels in the library nativity set
2 - degrees Fahrenheit when I woke up this morning
0 - CPE clinical hours left to do

So, do you think I'm ready for that paper?

*This email is written in the spirit of the aase-numbers-game.*

change o' pace

It's funny how fast things change once the pace and rhythm of classes stops. Granted I'm still abuzz with final papers and projects, it's still different today now that there are no more classes and now that the bells ring and there is no chapel.

And it couldn't have come any sooner. Vacation here we come! Granted, again, that it's the finish line we see but have not yet crossed, it does loom on the horizon and I cannot wait!

In the next month, I'll spend about a week or less in Minnesota. One week we'll be in Ohio and two of the weeks we'll be in Hawaii and California. Sounds just about right.

Until then, I'll be here, finishing up my preaching and hymnody classes. Almost done!

In Thankfulness

Oftentimes our bodies take the brunt of our stress. Often, in college, I would get sick as soon as finals were over. The adrenaline and pressure of final tests, papers, and deadlines seemed to sustain my immune system until those responsibilities were taken care of.

That is not the case this time. Maybe I'm getting older. Maybe working with kids is just tough on an immune system. Maybe my body is just really sick of having to function properly.

I am sick again. This is my second illness in just a couple of weeks. These physical setbacks have come before my school responsibilities are over. So, in the midst of trying to rest and recuperate - I'm still thinking about finishing up with CPE and final assignments for class.

In the midst of this, I am thankful. What a blessing this community at Luther Seminary is! I have had friends take me to the doctor, bring me food, call to check in,and leave me get-well-soon email messages. So many have said, "let us know if you need anything." In the midst of darkness- here is the light of a sustaining community. Thanks be to God and all the saints.

In Thankfulness ~nina

Nose to the Grindstone

So the reality of the end of the semester finally hit me. I’ve got two official remaining classes until my Master of Arts degree is complete. I’ve been chipping away at my final paper for my last “Wisdom Literature” class. Something about knowing that it is possibly the last paper I will have for my professor is making me try to go “above and beyond” what I need to do for it. Isn’t it curious how you actually feel “bad” if you mess up an assignment? The seminary experience is one that allows a student to form real relationships with their instructors. I am praying that I will still be a student at Luther Seminary next semester. I plan on making it count. Right now I’ve got my nose to the grindstone. I hope this week goes swiftly and safely for everyone. Advent blessings upon you!

-Dan

Heretickin'

For the first time in seminary history (or remembered seminary history) the heretics have a winning season! It was close with the record at 4-4-1 (4 wins, 4 losses and one awesome tie), but we'll count it.

We started the game down one, but quickly scored two goals (yay Matt and Nick!) Half time came and went and the second half saw another goal by Nick (woot, woot!) and then the sweetest goal ever by my husband Colin! It was pretty rad. Colin's goal ended up being the game-winner as the next few minutes saw our stand-in goalie blast one right off of defensive guru Jesse into our own goal. What can we say, we're generous.

The goals weren't even the highlight of the game! In the first half Check Mate Cate ran in to sub and right away blocked a kick. It was amazing. She came flying through the air, kung-powed the ball with her knee and it sailed so far that it ricocheted off the wall a couple of times and landed in the bottom of a garbage container. 5 points! She didn't even realize it until we were all cheering; the ball kinda stung.

As always, we ended up at Manning's for food and fellowship. Tune in this January for more Heretickin' Highlights.

I'm pretty sure that the change in record was due in large part to our awesome new red t-shirts with the flame for heretics on the front in back. $15 and available in all sizes and a great Christmas (or Advent) gift. See Colin if you want one! Please!!

Christmas Party

While some of us are scratching away with our final papers for the semester, good things are thrown on our way as foretaste of the Christmas holiday coming soon. If what I experienced at the GMI Christmas party is a prelude, then I must see to it that I get done with final school papers in order to enjoy this holiday. As an international student I got to enjoy the Global Mission Institute, Christmas party this time of the year with food, music, humor and gifts.

Highlights for the Global mission Institute Christmas party 2008 : An international student from faraway Nagarland in India, met with a former missionary kid and they started speaking Hindhi. Toshi felt so much at home, actually felt like he was on the streets of his home country speaking with Dale Howard, who is fluent in Hindhi.
The Stoneback Brass, comprised of a father Ron, and his triplet daughters ( Margie, Sarah and Kristin with Margie being one of Luther's own in Youth, Children family program) treated us to the oldies as they played their trumpets."Come, they told me," "O, when the Saints," sounded great in trumpet.
Music talents were clearly expressed in Norwegian, Kiswahili, Korean and German. And of course, we sang in English too! with a ten year old Everret stealing the show with ," I have the victory in Jesus!" At the end of the evening each of us went away with a Christmas gift from "Father Christmas." This "father" from Roseville Lutheran church actually knows what we all need, awesome!
And so I leave the party Stub hall, to go home (no, actually to the library) thinking to myself, "what a wonderful world, with the wonder of God's love."

What in the world...

So here’s some food for thought. Last night I was lucky enough to watch the Holidazzle parade in downtown Minneapolis. The performance was what it was… a hokey event for kids. Almost every block I would come across people begging for spare change. Meanwhile—I was heading to a heated tent to watch a bunch of people dressed up in Christmas lights. I felt more guilt than pleasure from the whole experience. People were buying those little trinket glow in the dark necklaces for five bucks a pop—but they weren’t sparing change so that someone could eat for the day. What kind of world is this?

-Dan

Blah!

Have you ever felt “blah?” That’s how I feel right now. I’m in this really “in-between” stage right now with school and work. The semester is coming to a screeching halt. I’ll try my best not the let the “senioritis” kick in too badly. I can’t afford to let it happen. I’ve got two papers left and some minor revisions on my thesis. I can’t really complain. The suspense of waiting on several interviews with jobs, having my savings quickly dwindle away, and not knowing whether or not I will be in school come January is truly agonizing. I suppose all seminarians understand this drama. I can’t imagine what it must feel like to know whether or not you will end up where you want to preach. As an outsider to the candidacy process I would say that it is nothing less than an emotional rollercoaster. As my job hunt continues I’m coming across lots of little snags. A lot of places want you to have teaching experience to be able to teach—yet there is rarely an opportunity to teach without a teaching license. I’ll keep fighting the good fight. Hopefully everyone has a wonderful and safe weekend. Christmas is approaching slowly but steadily.

-Dan

It's just about the most wonderful time of the year

It's an incredibly beautiful today. The snow is perfect for packing into balls to throw (near people, not at people). There's no need to bundle up; there is a certain freedom to a day like today. I'm momentarily ignoring the non-freedom of finals week, enjoying a cup of coffee and a tasty Brueggers Bagel. (EW, where are you? We're at your Caribou!) Talk about a restful day!

The list for next week is not too long, not too daunting, but I might just be too tired. It's good to have days like today to regain strength and energy.

Last night was a Christmas party off campus. We had eggnog and the best homemade samosas ever; caroling and Johnny Cash singing, and a fun gift exchange. It is so good to be with your living cloud of witnesses; saints (and sinners) who are given to you as daily bread--not for eating, but for taking in and being with, laughing, joking, sharing the burden and gift of life as life together.

The end of the semester brings not only rest but a definite revealing of grief. The change is coming soon. We'll be sent somewhere soon. We'll leave this place sometime soon. We'll leave our great cloud sometime soon to find another cloud someplace else. There's no more buffer of another semester. We're down towards the end!

And of course that's awesome and great; I can't wait to be a pastor in a parish serving people and not white pages with black ink.

But for now, it's an incredibly beautiful day. Live it up!

The Law

Well, come on now, fair weather friends of THE LAW let's talk about it... in terms of weather.

As I look out my back door, our recent snow fall is slip sliding away. As I try to fall asleep, and embrace my nightly dreaming, I hear it streaming through the gutters of my steep old roof. But, this is an illusion. These are the sounds of spring, but winter is only just beginning.

And I think of all the fields I've known, covered by a frozen white stream. And, as the sun melts this frozen stream, it drips and seeps through its own cracks and seams to find its way, with gravity, toward the barren face of our farmers field.

And I think of my grandma's house on the farm, and I think of my grandma's mother's cupboards all packed with everything pickled, prepared, and jarred. And I remember daily meal times. The white wooden cupboards were cracked to yield the slow and halting harvest, whose memory is folded and kneaded into the crow's feet and calluses they all shared.

The water from the frozen stream feeds the summer soil slowly and the fruits of our labors will feed our family fully.

It is winter and the harvest may be complete for some, but not for us. We have one week left. And, there are only 12 days until we celebrate the source of new life and the comfort we know in that silent night.

something, I'm sure.

So, I'm totally behind, checking things off the list as soon as I can but still not getting to things until the last minute. Take, for example, the blog. My goal is to write 2-4 times a week. It's Thursday and I have not a one this week. And I'm pretty sure I have something to write about and not just the weather. Like, today I was approved. Or, today I got a free lunch but didn't get to eat it because I had to run (literally) to class. Or, that my rating on Wii Tennis is above 2000. Or, that I just finished (for class) a great book: Haven Kimmel's The Used World. So.Good!Read.It! Or, that I'm getting (or will get) a lot of work done while watching Son of Rambow. It's really quite an adorable movie and embraces all things imaginative and tells a neat story to boot.

Now, to the final projects, papers, book reports...Good luck out there. One week left!

Interviews

I had my first real interview today. It was for an afterschool program that caters to students through unconventional learning methods—like teaching science and math through cooking. It sounded pretty rewarding. I’ve spent the last six years as an undergraduate and beyond training for teaching college and graduate students. If I were to be hired for this position it would certainly be a big change of pace. The thing is—every one learns differently. Last January was the first time (save summer) that I actually didn’t take any classes. Throughout the last almost twenty years of school I have witnessed lecture after lecture and class after class with different instructors. I’ve witnessed many teaching methods that “worked” for me. I’ve also seen many that didn’t work. I think that this job opportunity will be fruitful not only for me as a future college professor but as a leader of the Church. We need new and unconventional ways to reach out to people. We certainly aren’t all brought to God in the same way—just like we don’t learn the same way. I’ll find out next week if I still need to “job hunt.” The suspense is killing me!

-Dan

What's it really about?

Theme Song: That Was The Worst Christmas Ever! (Sufjan Stevens) Dedication: Jeni

I was just telling fellow blogger, Jeni, how much Christmas-time frustrates me.

I love Advent.
I love Jesus.
Christmas makes me angry.

Advent prepares my heart for peace and hope to rule the day, not consumerism and senseless waste. My justice bones cry out for wrongs to be righted, not made worse. There seems to be a huge discrepancy between what we, as Christians celebrating the miraculous incarnation of a living God right here (right here!) among us, claim the holy day is about and how we actually practice that holiness.

What are you doing to prepare for Christmas?

Is it the same answer as to the question,
What are you doing to prepare for Jesus?

Nature, Relationships, and God

Reflecting back on the “Perfect Nature” store that I came across earlier this week—I continue my theological musings. Nature in its purest form is uncomfortable. The muck and mire and uncomfortable aspects of life are part of our real relationship with the rest of Creation—at least with the physical elements. We bypass much of this uncomfortable stuff by “perfecting” ourselves with manufactured artifice; clothing, et-cetera. Perhaps the same can be said about relationships with people.

Think about the relationships with the people that you love the most. Are you always happy with these people? Do they challenge you? Do they make you sad, angry, fearful, and joyful? A genuine relationship reveals all of these experiences at one time or another. It isn’t all puppy dogs and ice cream. You aren’t afraid to get angry, sad, or glad in front of someone in a “real” relationship. A real relationship is guttural, raw, and intimate. As religious leaders and teachers our relationships with God are often “clothed” – idealized. We have trouble getting upset, mad, or even with God. These idealized relationships are not genuine—any real relationship has to be honest and open—even down to the nitty gritty emotions. Consider your relationship with God. Is it genuine…or veiled? A casual reading of the book of Job invites interpreters of Scripture to have a real relationship with God. Who would have thought that the store “Perfect Nature” would be useful for something more than fancy bamboo plants and LCD naturescapes. Hah!

-Dan

Lutheran Rome

I am going to be bold and say that Minneapolis/St Paul is like a modern day Lutheran Rome. There are so many churches, people, and Lutheran cultural practices in this place.

There are churches to visit. Congregations of various sizes, styles, traditions, locations, cultures. There are Lutheran denominations I'd never heard of. There are countless Lutherans wandering the streets, serving us coffee, teaching us Hebrew, telling stories on our radio. Lutherans are everywhere.

This Roman empire also has its share of local Lutheran musicians. This week there are two shows to satisfy your Advent desire for music and your deep theological convictions to Lutheranism. (I know, I'll wait for you to stop cheering and clapping).






So the Lutheran musical duo, Tangled Blue is playing an Advent CD release show at The Warren (4400 Osseo Road, Minneapolis MN 55412, 612-703-9609) on Friday, December 12 at 7 PM. Tickets are $10.





The Lutheran musician, Jonathan Rundman is playing a CD release and Christmas concert (full band) at Pilgrim Lutheran Church (1935 St Clair Ave, St Paul, MN 55105, 651-699-6886) on Saturday, December 13 at 6:51 PM. Tickets are $12.


Brave the cold and plan for yourself a little Lutheran musical culture this weekend....I dare you.

Artificial

When I looked out my window this morning I witnessed one of my favorite “simple” graces. Snow completely blotted out the sidewalk around my apartment. The pathway was invisible, revealing no trace of human activity; past or present. The morning was temporarily untouched by the common abuse of man. I was the first to walk over the fresh crunchy snow, tainting it with my shoe prints. I honestly felt a little sad for “ruining” it. Looking down at what I had done made me think of the irony that God must have found in this scene; “Another human leaves his mark on my Creation.” When you study theology you tend to find yourself internalizing the external. Daily encounters are met with theological musings that don’t “shut off.”

I started my Christmas shopping today. As a student, scholar, and teacher I like to give books as gifts. On my way to Borders through the Rosedale Mall I happened across one of those little “trinkety” shops, “Perfect Nature.” Within the shop was an array of stuffed animals, bamboo reeds in expensive vases, and LCD posters with nature scenes of landscapes, waterfalls, and animals. The more I thought about the snow from this morning and how perfect this unscathed “Creation” (to use a theological term) was—free of salt, footprints, and rubbish…the more I realized how artificial the “nature” was that this little shop was trying to peddle. Do we have an ideal for “perfect” Creation? It would certainly seem that this is the case. Certainly this Creation wouldn’t include cold, crisp, mornings that require us to shovel, scrape, and shiver in the dark as we warm up our cars. Certainly this Creation wouldn’t include sticky, humid, "mosquitoey" Minnesota nights – not to mention the arid, dry, summer days that scorch our favorite veggies and flowers in our little idealized pieces of nature: gardens. I left that shop after a few minutes of poking around. I challenge you to find intrinsic value in things that are uncomfortable—things that are raw, visceral, and earthy aspects of Creation. I’ll talk about this again sometime really soon. You’ll see.

-Dan

You Can't Go Back Now

You know there will be days when you're so tired that you can't take another step

Yes, I do. Right now I'm writing my CPE Final Evaluation. Okay, really I'm procrastinating taking a break from writing my CPE Final Evaluation. But I’ll tell you this, it is hard. As CPE was, writing this paper is emotionally intense. I can only handle about an hour at a time and then need to switch gears for awhile.

I’m stuck on a Weepies lyric I shared the first day of CPE when I told my life story.

But in the end, the only steps that matter are the ones you take all by yourself

Is that true? I’m still struggling with that and I’m not sure if I buy it. Maybe it just seems really depressing – that we have to grow all on our own. It seems true though, in the most growth producing (read: suckiest) moments of my life, no one could step forward for me – I had to do it alone. Granted, many people were holding me up (physically, emotionally, in laughter, in prayer, as a faith community) – but did I step out alone? Do we take any steps alone as people of faith?

Somehow, in the midst of writing this final evaluation the answer seems important. I know I didn’t get this far alone, but were those important steps taken by me, all by myself?

Well, listen to this gorgeous song and process for yourself.

Ouch! That smarts!

Last night I totally burned my middle finger. Looks like I wont be “flipping the bird” (hypothetically) for a long time. Before my parents made it into town for the December graduation dinner I wanted to make sure my apartment was looking top notch. As I was emptying my dishwasher I reached for this tupperware lid that had fallen into the bottom of the machine. All I can say is “ouch.” I grazed one of those little burner-coils in the bottom of the washer for no more than a second and my finger immediately turned white and blistered. Who would have known that it was so hot? Anyhow—Monday can be a lazy day. I’m taking the opportunity to make it anything but that (even though I sustained a wound). I’m digging out my thesis again to begin “restructuring” for the May deadline. After rereading my resources I feel like I have a better grip on my thesis than I could have ever had a month ago. I’m also dog sitting my girlfriends friends dog. It’s a handful having two “kids” running around my little apartment. Black and red hair are all over the place. I’m also starting my Christmas shopping today. I might head down “the book route” for several of my family members. No—this isn’t the easy way out. As a student and educator I know how powerful reading can be. Yes… it’s work. At the same time a good book can remove you from our world completely. It is a truly transforming process. Anyhow—I better jet. I’ve got a beaglador and a lab to suit-up for a car ride.
-Dan

Here Comes the Light

I love Advent.

The sneaking cold of the Upper Midwest and the gradual darkening of each day seem to fit too well to be a coincidence. We live Advent in a bit of darkness, with candles and quiet....waiting.

We wait for this cold to leave.
We wait for the semester to be over.
We wait for CPE to be a thing of the past.
We wait to be done with that last paper.
We wait for news.
We wait for jobs.
We wait in darkness.
We wait for a word of hope.
We wait for peace (really).
We wait as the expectant mother of Christ.

In our waiting, we live in hope of the coming Savior. We boldly proclaim Here Comes the Light!

As the dinner bell tolls...

The senior dinner for December graduates took place this evening. Brrrrrrr. Tonight was especially cold. My puppy actually was limping because the ground was freezing his little paws! I was lucky enough to have my family with me tonight. If all goes as planned I will still be at Luther this spring. For the sake of continuing education and loan disbursements I’m banking on it! The chapel service tonight truly resonated with me. The sermon was about being “on the edge” or “in between.” Many of us find ourselves in this position when we are in between school/work. I know I am...and it isn’t a good feeling. It was a little comforting to know that other people are walking down the same road that I am. All will be well. Blessings to everyone as their semesters come to a close.

-Dan

crunch, or another reason to miss the desert, no this is not another weather post.

Well, I survived my first head-on "collision." Granted I was at a near stop and the other driver was heading backwards, it still counts as a head on collision. The new layer of snow caused a slick layer of road on the bypass from 35W to 36 causing a different driver to swerve first left towards the guard rails, second into my lane and third in a 180 degree demi-circle while my Anti-Lock Brakes did there best to keep me and my super passenger Aaron from an accident. Thankfully the cars behind us were able to stop before hitting us, we were able to pull off to the side, exchange numbers and be on our way.

The jury is still out to see if I'll survive the winter. My magic 8-ball says, "Better not tell you now." The countdown has officially begun for the Hawaii/California trip in January. A month from today we'll be on the beach and the sun will be shining and the waves will be rolling all will be well.

Bleep Bleep Bleeeeeeep!

Yikes! Let me start off by saying that I am a relatively computer savvy guy. Every once in a while I “let things slip” and something catastrophic happens that results in me having to reformat Windows. Well…it happened again. Here’s a little story for you. Every time that my laptop “falls asleep” there is an annoying little process that I go through to log back in. I have to click the login field, wait for the computer to “unfreeze,” type in a password, and wait as it slowly fires itself up. Well—I decided on Friday night that I was sick of this little ritual. I went into my administrator setting and disabled what I THOUGHT was the right settle. Lo’ and behold—EVERYTHING on my computer is now disabled. I also cannot back up any of my files because it will not allow me to access the internet, burn a CD, throw things on a floppy or thumb drive, or even print things out. BLEEP BLEEP BLEEEEEEP! How sad! I just about freaked when I realized I might not have had another backup of my THESIS. Luckily, under the instruction of my girlfriend a week earlier—I emailed it to myself (the poor man’s backup plan!). Right now I am reinstalling Windows Vista. I won’t make the same mistake twice. Sometimes it’s good to start from a clean slate. It isn’t going to be fun reinstalling programs, downloading music, and parting ways with old term papers and homework. Sigh. You win some you lose some.

-Dan

Advent Vespers

Warning: liturgical inappropriateness abounds.

Last night I attended Augsburg College's 29th annual Advent Vespers service at Central Lutheran Church. I've made it a habit to attend since I was a student back in 2000. It's a festival of readings, prayers, songs and anthems that begins in Advent and concludes in the promise of Christmas. This year's service was call "At the Name of Jesus" and included readings from Luke, Paul, Henri Nouwen, Dietrich Bonheoffer and Oscar Romero, just to name a few.

The congregation sang great seasonal standbys including O Come, O Come Emmanuel, O Come All Ye Faithful, Silent Night and others. Four different choirs sang Rachmaninoff, Mozart, Handel and a handful of chants, French carols and the like.

As we closed with singing Silent Night I remembered Christmas Eve last year while I was on internship. We too closed our worship with this candlelit song. I remembered closing my eyes in Sierra Vista and dreaming of Advent Vespers. Last night when I closed my eyes I dreamed about being back in the sanctuary singing with the saints in Sierra Vista. I opened my eyes and was thankful for the saints with whom I could sing.

It's fun to talk to friends who attended other Lutheran Colleges in the area who have similar nostalgic needs for the season: St. Olaf, Concordia and Luther students especially. What a witness and beautiful tradition. What a blessing.

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

Sick Daze

It is Friday and I am officially sick. You know you have the official stamp of illness when breathing and speaking are both overwhelmingly difficult activities. I am honestly amazed I lasted 3 months working at the Children's Home without coming down with something. Being sick always gives me some perspective about what is actually important and necessary. Here's a list of the many vital things done so far this day:

1.) Concentrate on breathing
2.) visit the doctor, get a swab shoved up my nose
3.) nap
4.) eat something
5.) laugh (while watching Flight of the Conchords)
6.) Vote for the best albums of 2008 at The Current (a spectacular local radio station)

I think most of those items should be on my list everyday. Unfortunately, concentrated breathing, napping, laughing, and nourishing music rarely get written down and checked off.

Today I am celebrating sleep, Sigur Ros, and simplicity.

A hunting I will go...

Sigh. The last few days have been a little frustrating. I’ve been hunting for a job tutoring, mentoring, or part-time teaching position (mostly afterschool programs) and am stuck in the “waiting stage.” It’s hard to just wait around—especially since students are used to making every minute count. It isn’t that I have been “sitting around” doing nothing: I’ve been reading, working out (woohoo time to burn off the turkey!), chipping away at some extra footnote stuff for when my thesis is published in May, and doing application stuff for further graduate study. The waiting game isn’t a fun game to play! I think that every vocation has some sort of uncertainty about it. We go to school for years and years and it can be a scary thought to realize that a job might not be waiting for you immediately when you finish up with everything. Well—of course our education isn’t “for nothing”…but it is disheartening at times. Hopefully it will be worth the wait.

-Dan

Sweet Potatoes crave

Today I feel like eating sweet potatoes. I do not mean the yams, but the sweet potatoes, themselves.

This is rather strange because I rarely experience this “thing” of wanting so so much to eat something like sweet potatoes. So, I feel like eating these sweet potatoes, but I must work on my class paper before tonight. This means that I might not make it to the store to grab them sweet potatoes. Something else, there are varieties of sweet potatoes, and I will need help to pick the kinda type I might really like. The other thing, it is really cold out there. Which shoes might I wear to keep that chill off my little feet? Lately, my toes have not been too happy with the cold. My efforts to mobilize resources of layers of socks, leggings, T-shirt, Bill's jacket, Bob's sweat shirt, all seem not to help. I even tried stealing on the chill when it was not looking. I opened the door quietly and tip toed outside. I hoped that the cold had travelled, so I might have the day all to myself. Oooh, wait a minute. What did I feel on my fingers? Was I not wearing my lovely red gloves? What’s happening? Ok, I know. The chill had not travelled and so he/she (what gender?) had grabbed on my “thickly laden , thickly described” clothes as if they were light summer cloth. I urge myself on to the library to explore the possibility of some solace and hopefully, warmth in shelved minds. What was I talking about again? Oh yes, the sweet potatoes and how to get them without getting outside. Not the yams, the sweet potatoes themselves!

Motivated by the Spirit?

The drive home from Thanksgiving made me really start thinking about Christmas and all of the extra “stuff” that a lot of people have. I have decided to take on a holiday endeavor with a buddy of mine from seminary. We will hopefully have our idea “up and running” by next Christmas. Have you ever been moved or motivated by the Spirit? We have decided to start a program that solicits gently used Christmas decorations as donations from the Twin Cities community at large. Almost everybody has some extra Christmas “stuff” lying around somewhere: an extra strand of lights, too much wrapping paper, ornaments, or a wreath. Think if you could brighten someone else’s holidays with stuff that you aren’t using anyways? (given it isn't poor quality) Hopefully everyone is having a good week. I’ll flesh out some of the details on the “program” in the next couple weeks. I’m hoping to come up with a catchy name and a website to help me organize it a bit. The big issue is going to be finding space to store donations. If anyone knows a place to start—I’m all ears! Have a good one!

-Dan

The Unofficial History of Comedic Writings at Luther Seminary* Part II

When The Death Mask writers seemed out of hand, I understand there were wise forces with a brilliant idea. What if we, the seminary, supported a similar publication to legitimize the place of humor on our campus? Then students could learn and laugh and not be exposed to anything too off-color or unregulated. Enter Noncord.

And so it continued, in early 2006 seminary students began printing a humor publication called the Noncord with administrative approval. There was a short overlap of the Death Mask and the Noncord for one semester. I can only imagine the funniness of campus with that much sarcasm, wit, and laughter. But then The Death Mask stopped its fun and games, presumably because its inventors got real jobs and left.

The Noncord has continued since then in varying forms and varying lengths as a respite from the humorless bleakness of an unlaughing seminary. It has proved to be an effective recruiting tool in at least one case (believe it or not, I read the Noncord online prior to coming to Luther Seminary). This week, the first Noncord issue of the year came out. May I invite and encourage you to pick up a copy or check it out online.

If you'd like you can also become friends with Death, though no one's heard from her since last spring.

*I invite you, former mastermind of The Death Mask or seminarian of the early 2000's, to correct any of the gossip...I mean, information I have posted here. At the moment, this is the only attempted documentation of this important part of Luther Seminary history. It would be good if some of the information were corrected or confirmed. Thanks, Anonymous, in advance for your post.

walk on the sunny side of the street, seriously.

This blog post comes from my south/east office, the Dunn Bros and Finnish Bistro on Como and Carter.

Walking and abiding the laws for crossing the street, I took my chance and crossed the street back at the Speedy Market (also dubbed speedy mark-up, but only lovingly. I heart the speedy). Anyway, it was like 20 degrees colder; a harsh change to my seemingly nice walk.

I am going to blog about the weather.

Or not.

[six minutes goes by without any thought of anything else to write about...]

But really, it's cold out there. So cold I wish I had snow pants on. I'm already wearing my Sorel snow books, wool hat, thick mittens and super heavy jacket. Really quite adorable. How will I survive when it's actually cold? Or tomorrow with the high forecast at only 17?! Uff da. You intern readers in warmer environs, I'd advise not mocking us; you'll be here next year (and I totally mocked from my perch in the high desert and am totally eating humble pie now). But if you need, mock on; it's even biblical (Job 21:3). We're happy for you, really.

All procrastinatory digression aside, stay warm out there and walk on the sunny side of the street.

The Unofficial History of Comedic Writings at Luther Seminary* Part I

Once upon a time there were seminarians who thought they were funny. They thought they had funny ideas that could be written into stories or graphics that other seminarians and members of the seminary community might find funny too. In a heroic effort to decrease malaise and increase humor on this great campus The Death Mask was born. (Is it just me, or is that a strange phrase?). In the fall of 2002, the Death Mask became a humor website named after Martin Luther's death mask (housed on the 3rd floor of Gullixson). Please do not confuse this with the library blog, Behind the Library Mask, which features similar graphics and shares a namesake. A sneaky "elite" group of Luther Seminary students put together multiple on-line issues of these funny ideas, anonymously advertised the site with fliers on campus and had a rip-roaring time.

There was a problem, however. Sometimes the death people, death maskers, underground funny folk took things a little too far. Maybe some of their jokes, stories, and ideas were found offensive, mean-spirited or just too much. But no one knew who the funny death people were so what could be done?

Stay tuned for more of this thrilling "history" lesson.

*Now, I have to report this post is neither confirmed or researched. It's kind of like a less trustworthy wikipedia entry. This is a short history of comedic writings at Luther Seminary as discovered through gossip, browsing the Internet, and legend passed down from seminarians of old....or at least who've been around before me.

Back from Break, ergh.

I've got a pretty intense case of the Mondays, but I blame it on not being on vacation anymore. It's back to the busy and packed schedule, running hither and yon throughout the days. What's more, it's finals season, which means final projects, final papers and final glimpses of sanity. I'm looking forward to the time when I can say again, "hello pillow, nice to see you again; gee you're soft."

Maybe what's making it so hard to be back is that Thanksgiving and the break that surrounded it was incredibly great. New family and old traditions combined to make good times, great food and fun memories. We spent time with Colin's family out in the burbs, ran around the city's sites and had a blast visiting nostalgia, eating yummy foods and seeing lakes and Christmas decorations lit up in seasonal joy. We played football, we sat through slides from the past (which were actually quite neat) and watched the family's tradition: Holiday Inn (I have to learn the songs). Good times abounded.

And now the countdown to Christmas break begins. I'm making my list and checking it twice, but it's not who's naughty or nice that's at stake, it's the to do list, the check-list, the list that will let me know when I can grab some rest. Since we're all in this boat, God bless us, each and everyone.