From Kathy and Alex

Both of my buddies have posted similar lists on their blogs. They have inspired me.

Things that were true of me five years ago that are no longer true:
1. I was 22 and had been a college graduate for one week.
2. I was living in Minnesota through the end of summer but expected to spend 2003-2004 as a missionary to orphans in Guatemala.
3. I had deferred grad school for Guatemala and expected to begin at NU on June 11, 2004. (As it happened, God would gently but persisently tell me not to go to Guatemala but to start at Medill-Northwestern in June 2002. I graduated with my M.S.J. in June 2003).
4. I was a server at Baker's Square.
5. I didn't really understand the workings of the Holy Spirit.
6. I had never seen a person be physically healed.
7. I thought it somehow "unfaithful" to desire to a physical experience of God's presence.
8. I did not have a group of peers within my church community.
9. I lived two miles from my grandparents and within minutes of a drove of aunts, uncles and cousins.
10. I drove Emily, a 1984 brown Chevy cavalier station wagon.
11. I did not know how to drive a stick.
12. I had no paid journalism experience.
13. I had never been to Oregon or North Carolina.
14. I didn't know I had an older half-brother named Shane.
15. I didn't have a cell phone and certainly didn't talk to my mom everyday.
16. I lived in an on-campus apartment and wasn't allowed to burn candles at home. (But I did it anyway).
17. I owned no furniture.

This is kind of a boring list compared to the others. I suppose all that God has done in me and through me can't be easily quantified in a list. That's all right, though. I'm a writer, not a list maker, and I will save those stories for another day.

The Dress!!!

Long ago, back during the hot summer months, I featured a pic of the lovely bridesmaid dress I would wear at my brother Peter's wedding. And here I am wearing the dress! The wedding was on February 18. It was lovely to bare my shoulders to the Tucson sun while my unfortunate friends back in Chicago were shivering in sub-zero temperatures.

Crack Corn and Procrastination

Why is it that when we have something to do, even something we like to do, even something that will make us a lot of money with very little effort, we can't do it?

For example, I have to write a press release tonight. Easy peasy. 100 smackeroos (well, after I send it out). But here I sit listening to my roommates cheer as they watch the Stanley Cup semifinals and eating crack corn.

Crack corn: A sweet treat that resembles Cap'n Crunch cereal covered with caramel. Called "sweet corn puffs" or something along those lines and made by the Arizona Snack Co. Renamed "Crack Corn" by family friends because it's really hard to quit eating it once you start.

Obviously, crack corn is only available in AZ. So when I was home last weekend to meet my newly discovered older-brother Shane (who was also visiting AZ since he lives in Minneapolis) we had lots of family time that involved board games, card games and crack corn. As Grandma and Grandpa were taking us to the airport, Shane had the brilliant idea of stopping at the store to stock up on crack corn. Yet we didn't know the real name for it, so you can imagine us asking the clerk, "Uh, do you have crack corn?" But we found it and I bought two bags. I also got my other favorite AZ product: Poore Brothers Salt & Vinegar chips. Yumm.....I had the chips at dinner. (But in the last two days I played--and helped win--an entire soccer game without any sub, went on a bike ride and played two sets of tennis. Nothing wrong with a little junk food reward).

The other exciting thing about tonight is that my roomies are watching hockey on CABLE! Our apartment supposedly came with cable but it's never worked and we never bothered about it. Tonight, though, Trudy was flipping channels when she started screeching, "ESPN! Animal Planet! TBS!"

Sara and I jumped on the couch with her and soon the air was redolent with cries of, "Comedy Central! We can watch the Daily Show!" and "No way! VH1!" and "Yes! Cartoon Network!" and, all three of us exclaiming together, "The Weather Channel!!!!!"

I'm not a TV person, but I have to admit there's something cozy about me sitting in my little reading corner and hearing the hum of the TV and contented housemates behind me. I am happy.

And now, off to the press release.