A photographer contacted me sometime last year, saying he wanted to do a series of portraits on 'people who are making a difference.' Little did I know that the portrait he took would end up in the new Soul of Athens.
Some of my pals (and fellow/former VISTAs) are also featured this year in stories about co-op living, community gardening, and courthouse weddings.
Despite the awkward holding-a-telephone-in-a-belltower shot, I must say, being identified as one of the featured "Rural Progressives" and included with a great bunch of awesome folks is pretty cool. The new site is excellent and really captures the many essences of this wonderful community - I'm sure I'll soon be nostalgically perusing its pages from the Philippines to get my Athens fix.
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Uh, it's official?
This isn't going to sink in for quite some time -- maybe three years from now I'll wake up and be all, "What the hell just happened?" But for now, I'm trying to wrap my brain around the phone call on Friday: we are now Peace Corps invitees. after 18 months of applying/stressing, we're actually leaving in August for the Philippines.
Because I process things best when I work from lists, I'm starting with the very concrete - how about a packing list? That'll keep me busy for awhile. In a few weeks I'm planning on taking a much needed spiritual retreat - to reset and welcome in the new. to meditate, prepare, give thanks, and whatever else comes along.
Until then, though, let's start with what I do best. I don't want to fall into the common PC trainee trap of preparing for a two-year hiking trip with all the high tech gear (this is definitely Brandon's natural tendency - as in, would YOU spend $80 on a tricked-out headlamp when you're moving to a country that's pretty much completely electrified?...), although I know no matter what I do, we'll still be the uber-rich whities lugging around all the stuff.
To curb this tendency, I'm going to make a list, for the next seven days, of all the things I use. After all, PC volunteers are supposed to live at the level of the communities in which we serve? In reality, this won't happen - we'll have the ability to jet off on vacay every few months to bask in the air conditioning just like the rest - but at least I can be mindful of the things I really need day to day.
This will be a fun experiment - feels like a homework assignment from middle school or something... My hypothesis: "We use a small amount of items day to day; most items I would want to drag along are completely unnecessary."
Because I process things best when I work from lists, I'm starting with the very concrete - how about a packing list? That'll keep me busy for awhile. In a few weeks I'm planning on taking a much needed spiritual retreat - to reset and welcome in the new. to meditate, prepare, give thanks, and whatever else comes along.
Until then, though, let's start with what I do best. I don't want to fall into the common PC trainee trap of preparing for a two-year hiking trip with all the high tech gear (this is definitely Brandon's natural tendency - as in, would YOU spend $80 on a tricked-out headlamp when you're moving to a country that's pretty much completely electrified?...), although I know no matter what I do, we'll still be the uber-rich whities lugging around all the stuff.
To curb this tendency, I'm going to make a list, for the next seven days, of all the things I use. After all, PC volunteers are supposed to live at the level of the communities in which we serve? In reality, this won't happen - we'll have the ability to jet off on vacay every few months to bask in the air conditioning just like the rest - but at least I can be mindful of the things I really need day to day.
This will be a fun experiment - feels like a homework assignment from middle school or something... My hypothesis: "We use a small amount of items day to day; most items I would want to drag along are completely unnecessary."
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Like a Rock
We were watching a dvd for one of Brandon’s scuba courses when the narrator very matter of factly stated, “Most people float.” She didn't clarify, so I turned to Brandon, puzzled, "What does she mean – most people float. Everyone floats. You just lie on your back and glide along. Duh.” “I don’t float,” he answered. “Sure you do, you’re just probably not the best swimmer…”
When he went to scuba class the next day, though, the instructor verified this: he is, apparently, “negatively buoyant.” That’s right, he has such little body mass that he just sinks to the bottom like a solid rock. Most people can easily bob along, but when measured for a scuba weight belt, Brandon literally required no weights to hold him beneath the surface. (Of course he’s now using this an excuse to eat an entire pan of texas sheet cake: “Don’t be hatin - I need me some fat cells to float!”)
When he went to scuba class the next day, though, the instructor verified this: he is, apparently, “negatively buoyant.” That’s right, he has such little body mass that he just sinks to the bottom like a solid rock. Most people can easily bob along, but when measured for a scuba weight belt, Brandon literally required no weights to hold him beneath the surface. (Of course he’s now using this an excuse to eat an entire pan of texas sheet cake: “Don’t be hatin - I need me some fat cells to float!”)
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Identity Crisis Averted: T-Pat Steves Lives!
I changed my name today; it only took me two and a half years (and several identity conflicts) to get around to it. And, with some bureaucratic finagling, it was a lot less complicated than originally thought. No court hearing required! My new, official name will arrive in the mail in about ten business days.
I was really happy about this - not sure why. Maybe it's because I'm about to start a new, adventurous chapter in life and it feels good to have a new alias to go along with it... Although it was a little creepy to hear the SS clerk call me "Mrs." (He got an awkward, guilty-feminist half-smile in return). This only lasted a minute though, and I threw down the sweet new signature: I am the new Michael J. Fox.
To celebrate, B and I are having dinner tonight at Stephens, get it? Then we're going to see David Sedaris! We've been looking forward to this for MONTHS.
I was really happy about this - not sure why. Maybe it's because I'm about to start a new, adventurous chapter in life and it feels good to have a new alias to go along with it... Although it was a little creepy to hear the SS clerk call me "Mrs." (He got an awkward, guilty-feminist half-smile in return). This only lasted a minute though, and I threw down the sweet new signature: I am the new Michael J. Fox.
To celebrate, B and I are having dinner tonight at Stephens, get it? Then we're going to see David Sedaris! We've been looking forward to this for MONTHS.
Monday, March 09, 2009
Update
Apparently I'm not alone in my love of 3.3.09, since it was declared Square Root Day - mathletes rejoice!
This must stem from all that Square One/Mathnet watching as a child. "My name's Monday, and I'm a mathematician..."
This must stem from all that Square One/Mathnet watching as a child. "My name's Monday, and I'm a mathematician..."
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
I am Rain Man
Add this to my list of idiosyncrasies: I love when I write out a date and it makes arithmetical sense to me; when there's some random harmony to the digits. For example, today: I wrote 3.3.09 = 3x3=9 OR my wedding date 11.4.06 = 1+1+4 = 6. There's just something soothing about this for me. Something good should happen on these days. More often than not, they're totally forgettable, but here's to hoping!
Monday, February 02, 2009
Mail Love
The universe is trying to tell me something. Four things point to this:
1. I start reading a cute little book, Just Write: The Art of Personal Correspondence. Nothing special, just for fun. But it makes me consider the dying art of letters.
2. I receive TWO sweet things by 'snail' mail: a letter from TX, written in pencil, on sweet puffin stationery, and a manila envelope from my hometown. The envelope contains pages from a magazine from 2005, telling stories from returned PC volunteers in their own words. A kind friend from high school thought we'd enjoy them. [Brandon and I take turns reading them aloud to each other and get goosebumps. Possibly t-minus 7 months].
3. I see on tv that USPS is considering eliminating mail service one day a week (probably Tuesdays), due to decreased letter volume and budget concerns. This is good for the global meltdown (less fossil-fuel-cranking mail trucks and more peeps using electronic billing), but bad for my love of opening my mailbox every day when I get home, 'cept Sunday. God and the mailpeople must rest on this day. I get it.
It's a slippery slope though - email's taken over and I am, we are, forgetting the value of sitting down to put pen to paper. There really is nothing better than the excitement of finding a non-bill envelope in the box or the satisfaction of reading something with all the handwritten loops and lines sent from some distant place.
4. Yesterday's sermon highlighted the distinct differences between things that are important and things that are urgent. Many things are important, but not urgent, and they get pushed to the end of the list, while urgent (yet otherwise unimportant) things consume our time. People are important. Most of my work-related tasks are urgent, but won't have significant impacts beyond this week.
I'm taking my stand this year by sending more packages, writing more letters, mailing more postcards - to show my people I care, that I'm thinking about them all the time, and that I'm making time for the truly essential.
1. I start reading a cute little book, Just Write: The Art of Personal Correspondence. Nothing special, just for fun. But it makes me consider the dying art of letters.
2. I receive TWO sweet things by 'snail' mail: a letter from TX, written in pencil, on sweet puffin stationery, and a manila envelope from my hometown. The envelope contains pages from a magazine from 2005, telling stories from returned PC volunteers in their own words. A kind friend from high school thought we'd enjoy them. [Brandon and I take turns reading them aloud to each other and get goosebumps. Possibly t-minus 7 months].
3. I see on tv that USPS is considering eliminating mail service one day a week (probably Tuesdays), due to decreased letter volume and budget concerns. This is good for the global meltdown (less fossil-fuel-cranking mail trucks and more peeps using electronic billing), but bad for my love of opening my mailbox every day when I get home, 'cept Sunday. God and the mailpeople must rest on this day. I get it.
It's a slippery slope though - email's taken over and I am, we are, forgetting the value of sitting down to put pen to paper. There really is nothing better than the excitement of finding a non-bill envelope in the box or the satisfaction of reading something with all the handwritten loops and lines sent from some distant place.
4. Yesterday's sermon highlighted the distinct differences between things that are important and things that are urgent. Many things are important, but not urgent, and they get pushed to the end of the list, while urgent (yet otherwise unimportant) things consume our time. People are important. Most of my work-related tasks are urgent, but won't have significant impacts beyond this week.
I'm taking my stand this year by sending more packages, writing more letters, mailing more postcards - to show my people I care, that I'm thinking about them all the time, and that I'm making time for the truly essential.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Undead
This blog isn't dead, just derailed for awhile. Causes for derailment include:
1) family crisis, which spawned a second family crisis. both now relatively under control; we could fill 10 dumpsters with video tapes...
2) a busy yet awesome holiday break from work for both b & me. a super sweet road trip including: a trip to an IN wind farm (brandon's nerd detour, but i seriously could've stayed there all day in the middle of the field, hypnotized); a drive up to Chicago to see my long lost bff (and be touristy together = philippine coral reef exhibit at the Shedd!); + a great stopover in Pburg to see the Davises. They are great people who we should see more often; plus, their dogs are precious.
3) a couple ecoprojects to earn me old-peep brownie points
4) six months of work culminating in a renewed volunteer system unleashed THIS WEEK.
5) PC medical packet, oh boy.
1) family crisis, which spawned a second family crisis. both now relatively under control; we could fill 10 dumpsters with video tapes...
2) a busy yet awesome holiday break from work for both b & me. a super sweet road trip including: a trip to an IN wind farm (brandon's nerd detour, but i seriously could've stayed there all day in the middle of the field, hypnotized); a drive up to Chicago to see my long lost bff (and be touristy together = philippine coral reef exhibit at the Shedd!); + a great stopover in Pburg to see the Davises. They are great people who we should see more often; plus, their dogs are precious.
3) a couple ecoprojects to earn me old-peep brownie points
4) six months of work culminating in a renewed volunteer system unleashed THIS WEEK.
5) PC medical packet, oh boy.
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