Ahem

  I was introduced to some of their music in Seattle almost a year ago.  hOME, a community in Oxford, has been putting an edgy post-modern spin on some ancient text for their services.  As  a person that really enjoys ambient/electronica/down-tempo, and even had dreams of mixing chant with some low key techno beats a la Enigma, well this is close... sample at will.

tri-miss

Sometimes I really miss the EU.  I miss their trains that run like clockwork.  Those trains ferried me all over

Europe

, and were a source of comfort that something could be a "known" in all the unknowns of new languages and cultures.

I am finding it’s not so easy in a country that makes an assumption that all people own cars.

My adventure in living sans auto has turned a corner as I find myself in a new part of town.  I have been on frustrating journeys of missed connections, lost bus drivers, and discovering that the times on trimet.org do not match the reality of arrival/departures for the actual buses. 

I am sure I am a source of amusement for people driving by as I stare into infinity trying to read the bus stop identification signs.

The signs were obviously placed for people about three feet taller than I.  Looking up and straining to read the bus stop number I had an, "Are you my mother??"  moment this morning.

My first (of three buses) picks me up on time, only to discover that a passenger  is giving the bus driver directions.  (Seriously, you can’t make this stuff up.) Once he exited we were all in for several missed turns while passengers familiar with the neighborhood shouted out “suggestions”.

“Don’t turn there, you will get really lost”

“That last street was Broadway”

“You missed the turn”

Oh yeah, real helpful bunch.

I exited bus number one having missed my next connection for bus number two.  Finally downtown, I called trimet to inquire after the whereabouts of bus number three.  At which time I am informed that bus number three, despite what the print out from trimet.org says, only runs twice in the morning and not again until the afternoon.  *sigh*. *expletive*. *phone call*. 

The upshot is I am beginning to bond with other riders.  Last night, as I waited for the bus home, I swapped stories with other riders who were feeling my pain.  One woman told me about her boyfriend catching a bus @ 4:40am to get to work on time.  Yikes.  That’s where my moaning turns to something else as I nod and smile that I-have-been-there smile.  Solidarity, baby, solidarity.

mini me

So today was my first day at a new practicum placement.  For those of you that don't know, I am in grad school studying speech pathology.  Perhaps it is spending time with adults for much of my free time, but children seem remarkably indefinable in their ability to surprise me.  As is often said you just have no idea what may fly out of their mouths.  I also find it slightly mystifying at how trusting they are.  As long as you don't look too menacing and generally willing to tolerate them, they are smiling shyly at you and treating you like a human jungle gym moments after stepping into the room. 

I have the pleasure (at day one it is still a pleasure) of working with 3 - 5 yr olds for the next 2 1/2 months.  I've no doubt there will be stories.  One of my favorite moments from the day is the calm and precious nature that some children exhibit despite their impaired abilities.  One child I will be working with is such a person.  He smiles, coos, makes eye contact and shares a laugh despite the fact that he will never walk and most likely will not live a long life. Granted those are truths he may be utterly unaware of, and yet there seems to be deeper things in his eyes.  I suppose one of the reasons I am pursuing this field is that I want to know what people are thinking, I am usually endlessly curious about it.  Meanwhile, this child will not be speaking anytime soon, yet he still communicates basic human experiences.  joy, calm, contentedness, surprise, wonder... perhaps the most profound things and seemingly in the most pure ways a person can feel them.   Humbling yes, and a great lesson in learning from those that most of society is scantly aware. 

Sunday SUNday

I am pleased and proud to get to participate in the 20th Annual AIDSWALK06.   It will be a boisterous and joyful event that will celebrate life and the continued search for a cure while supporting those suffering from HIV/AIDS.  If you are not already involved, what are you waiting for, get yourself signed up @  AIDSWALK06.   I am planning to be the one with the huge funky sunglasses and perhaps a feather boa, if I am feeling really sassy.    

eee gads....

On my better days I am not usually a big fat liar and I can do a pretty impressive duck and cover on occasion. *sigh* This weekend has been a deeper journey of being totally honest with myself, can I  just say, I would rather do my usual dance of avoidance then "put it out there". 

Something that is rarely admitted, moving towards freedom is a shimmy shake out onto a wobbly ledge.  I am told that it firms up the more you get used to the new territory, meanwhile, stop bouncing!!

The first time I heard Jim Wallis speak I was astounded by the turn out. I had no idea so many people were engaged with/concerned about the issues he was addressing.  I look forward to another opportunity to hear the Sojo on Thursday night ( 7:30 p.m @ First Baptist Church) as part of the FAITH for the COMMON GOOD Summit.  This will be part of a full day conference on the 16th with some of my favorite local folks (Dan O'Neill, founder of Mercy Corps International, and Dr. Paul Metzger, founder of the Institute for Theology of Culture at the Multnomah Biblical Seminary) leading the day.  It will be an opportunity to  dialog with others about how we can actively engage with poverty, the environment, war and peace, immigration and health care.  I highly encourage participating in any and all parts you can.  More details here.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy; 

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.   

- St. Francis of Assisi

Slo- Mo Home Depot

                                     love the emails that come to me with the catchy line "you would dig this..." 

Good call Jenn, check out Improv Everywhere and the latest of their chaos and joy missions. 

See the YouTube of Slo-Mo here.

Mockingbird

Currently spinning Derek Webb's latest.  It is challenging music with lyrics guaranteed to make you squirm, in the best way possible.  Current Favorite: "A New Law".  Equal parts; preach it brother, and ouch.

freederekwebb

seriously...

I had a surreal experience in the line at the grocery store earlier today...

It never ceases to surprise me to see adults acting like 4 year olds in a public space. Perhaps it shouldn't.

As I stepped up to the 9 items or less line, the line next to me begins to experience "tension". I had not noticed the initial interaction; I looked up because I heard the woman saying something about "you should spend more time in church!!" to the very well dressed man in line in front of her. To which he responded (something I thankfully could not hear), and she responded, "Don't you talk to me like that!!"... An internal *uhoh* goes off in my mind, and I begin to consider my options for exit, intervention, how fast can I duck, you get the idea, as the intensity grows.

Finally the climax: "HE CUT IN FRONT OF ME IN LINE!!" She points to him, as if there is a great mystery as to whom she is talking about, "Miss, he cut in front of me in line." Her lower tone suggesting it is catching up with her how big of an ass she is making of herself.

Discreetly, the guy in line in front of me looks at me and rolls his eyes and I began to laugh a bit. I think we were both a little relieved it was already over; signaled by the arrival of the security guard speaking calmly to the cutter and the cuttee.

A general sense of "let's show the kids how to behave" seemed to permeate our line as we all made efforts to be exceedingly kind to one another. I smiled at the clerk and said "look how nice we are all being", I was completely amused by this point. My favorite comment from the clerk, who must see this kind of silliness on a regular basis, "with all that is happening in the world, there are so much more important things to focus your energy on. Hear, hear.

As I listen to Alexi Murdoch while I write this post, Shine plays and so I will leave you with some wisdom he shares:

So you hide your eyes, you're afraid that the light will make you blind
But its time, time to shine
Yes its time to believe in what you know
Time to believe in what you know
Time to believe in what you know
And you don't need strength to be strong...
Time to believe before you go