I did something unthinkable this morning. Something I should be ashamed of. Something probably unAmerican.
I walked past my local independent coffee shop full of hip people and and went to Starbucks.
And I didn't feel bad. Actually, it might have been feeling bad that sent me there in the first place. See, this morning, I read another article about how Starbucks is closing stores, laying off people, and is down about 378 billion in profits for this quarter. [or something like that] While I doubt that Starbucks is actually going to implode in a cloud of burnt espresso vapor, it did make me reconsider where I spend my money. [never mind that my lactose intolerance has required a switch to pretty much the cheapest thing on the menu - a tall americano]
I don't want my neighborhood Starbucks to close.
Sure, I have only ever seen two cute guys hanging out there in all my years of lurking hopefully with an ipod and journal [see, i am an optimist]. Yeah, it's mostly middleaged sweaty people and cutesy moms with croc-ed/baby gapped toddlers. Of course I get really sick of the Jack Johnson/Feist songs blared just a little too loud. But the baristas are friendly and know regulars, just like at the indie cofee shop.
Why is it so American to hate whoever is on the top? This theory doesn't require proof anymore [see any hipster newspaper or novel by steinbeck or malamud], but it maybe still requires some thought. Why do I fervently hate the mediocre in a cup of coffee, yet settle for almost anything as far as relationships [with god, family, or otherwise]? Why do I look down on the green apron, yet fall for every band t-shirt that walks past? [actually, i think i'm starting to outgrow that. now i mostly fall for nice ties] Should I care more about non-genetically-modified food for myself or anything edible for starving kids around the world?
I think the fact that I even have time and energy to consider these questions reveals a lot about how easy I have it compared to most. So there's my secret: I don't mind Starbucks. Yeah, they're a big corporation: inefficent and impersonal on many levels.
Sometimes I want a great cup of coffee from the local indie cafe. But sometimes the free itunes track, pumpkin bread samples, and comfy chairs suit me fine.
Plus I'm out of cash and found an old Starbucks gift card lying around.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
water...
Since I'm sure I've exhausted every job ad on monster and craigslist this morning, before I turn to my Agatha Christie hour at my local independence coffee shop, I thought I'd pass on some words of wisdom.
Ashamedly, I was unaware of David Foster Wallace before his death on Friday. But after a little research [handed to me on a golden-linked platter] I have resolved to put aside ignorance and every sin that so easily entangles.
I, too, wonder how someone who writes this could do that. But that's probably the wrong question. What am I going to do today to see the water, to get out of my self-pitying unemployed head, to serve others, and just maybe, do something that helps someone else see the importance of everything around us.
I'm not sure how long that article will be up, but I hope you all pause for a moment in your information overloaded lives and read.
Ashamedly, I was unaware of David Foster Wallace before his death on Friday. But after a little research [handed to me on a golden-linked platter] I have resolved to put aside ignorance and every sin that so easily entangles.
I, too, wonder how someone who writes this could do that. But that's probably the wrong question. What am I going to do today to see the water, to get out of my self-pitying unemployed head, to serve others, and just maybe, do something that helps someone else see the importance of everything around us.
I'm not sure how long that article will be up, but I hope you all pause for a moment in your information overloaded lives and read.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
dear fall...
who are you,little i
(five or six years old)
peering from some high
window;at the gold
of november sunset
(and feeling:that if day
has to become night
this is a beautiful way)
[e.e. cummings]
In the middle of last week, [a few days early] it changed from summer to fall. I am cold all the time. Cummings helps. A fire would be more helpful.
(five or six years old)
peering from some high
window;at the gold
of november sunset
(and feeling:that if day
has to become night
this is a beautiful way)
[e.e. cummings]
In the middle of last week, [a few days early] it changed from summer to fall. I am cold all the time. Cummings helps. A fire would be more helpful.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
read, past tense...
Somehow it's easier to clean up computer files than my clothes, which are now scattered in two houses, three different bedrooms, various basement boxes, and my still packed from the summer suitcase. I just found a blog post detailing my summer reading list, and figured it's about time to post it. [at least then i'll feel like i accomplished something today]
Here's my list, which, hopefully, proves that College is only the beginning of Education.
What I've Read Since Graduation [along with snippets of others that i can't actually claim]:
Exiles [ron hansen]
Memoir from Antproof Case [mark helprin]
The Violent Bear it Away [flannery o'connor]
The Beet Queen [louise erdrich]
Twenty-One Stories [graham greene]
The Reason for God [tim keller]
A Handful of Dust [evelyn waugh]
When God Doesn't Answer Your Prayers [jerry sitser]
The Sun Also Rises [ernest hemingway]
The Pursuit of Holiness [aw tozer]
The Silver Chair [cs lewis]
What Jesus Demands from the World [john piper]
Our Man in Havana [graham greene]
The Promise [chaim potok]
Here's my list, which, hopefully, proves that College is only the beginning of Education.
What I've Read Since Graduation [along with snippets of others that i can't actually claim]:
Exiles [ron hansen]
Memoir from Antproof Case [mark helprin]
The Violent Bear it Away [flannery o'connor]
The Beet Queen [louise erdrich]
Twenty-One Stories [graham greene]
The Reason for God [tim keller]
A Handful of Dust [evelyn waugh]
When God Doesn't Answer Your Prayers [jerry sitser]
The Sun Also Rises [ernest hemingway]
The Pursuit of Holiness [aw tozer]
The Silver Chair [cs lewis]
What Jesus Demands from the World [john piper]
Our Man in Havana [graham greene]
The Promise [chaim potok]
methods...
For the first time in my traveling life, [eight plus years] I have no trips planned. I'm not going anywhere. I'm here. In one place. The city where I was born. In a house where I lived all my life.
And yet, I'm getting ready to leave in a different way than any of my travels. I'm moving out on my own. Moving is totally different from moving out. But I think I'll be fine.
This attachment is nearly detached. The beauty of it all is that, while it's a last necessary snap of the thread, it's been coming for so long that I'm prepared. All of my travels have helped the coming home be so much more meaningful. And as I continue on a parallel [but no longer the same] path with those I love the most, I've been thinking a lot about journeys.
I traveled in so many ways this summer: by plane, train, car, boat, bus, subway, and sidewalk.
And yet, I'm getting ready to leave in a different way than any of my travels. I'm moving out on my own. Moving is totally different from moving out. But I think I'll be fine.
This attachment is nearly detached. The beauty of it all is that, while it's a last necessary snap of the thread, it's been coming for so long that I'm prepared. All of my travels have helped the coming home be so much more meaningful. And as I continue on a parallel [but no longer the same] path with those I love the most, I've been thinking a lot about journeys.
I traveled in so many ways this summer: by plane, train, car, boat, bus, subway, and sidewalk.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
fur real...
It's been a wild and fantastic and humbling summer. I'm in the last leg of my adventures on the east coast [which followed my adventures on the west coast] and not-so-secretly looking forward to the next year of being settled. I've committed to a year in Portland, but after that... I'm excited about full-time ministry opportunities and a passionate life of serving God to the fullest.
Right now I'm sitting in a hip tea shop off 5th Avenue in New York City, waiting for Alisa and people watching like there's no tomorrow. A lady just asked which college I go to. I'm not sure if that means I look smart with all these books scattered around me, or just young.
I couldn't even begin to tell you all the stories from this summer. But, I ended up with a bunch of fabulous new friends, a broad direction for my life, a great but fading-too-fast tan, and a full length vintage mink coat. [wait, a what?]
That's right. I [ahem, 'invested'] spent my carefully saved birthday money on a coat that I found at a house sale in Lexington, Mass. Mama V, one fabulous half of our fearless camp directors this summer, is rather addicted to yard sales and the dedicated dozen spent several early Saturday mornings driving around in a mini-van searching for deals. I now know all the secret rules of yard saleing, including spotting, looking-disinterested, and bargaining. At a grand old house in Lexington, where everything left in the house was for sale, a few of us girls jokingly tried on a beautiful vintage fur coat. The guy said he couldn't get ahold of his wife to find out how much she wanted, and so he'd sell it for $50. Okay, I might not ever have a chance to wear it, but I knew that a coat like that was definitely worth more than $50.
So, after much petting and one payment, I now own something almost as useless as that piece of paper. I laugh at myself [i'll take some glamour shots before i sell it, don't worry] and have a great physical memory of the timeless city of Boston.
Sometimes life is an adventure, and sometimes you have to make it an adventure. Bon voyage!
Right now I'm sitting in a hip tea shop off 5th Avenue in New York City, waiting for Alisa and people watching like there's no tomorrow. A lady just asked which college I go to. I'm not sure if that means I look smart with all these books scattered around me, or just young.
I couldn't even begin to tell you all the stories from this summer. But, I ended up with a bunch of fabulous new friends, a broad direction for my life, a great but fading-too-fast tan, and a full length vintage mink coat. [wait, a what?]
That's right. I [ahem, 'invested'] spent my carefully saved birthday money on a coat that I found at a house sale in Lexington, Mass. Mama V, one fabulous half of our fearless camp directors this summer, is rather addicted to yard sales and the dedicated dozen spent several early Saturday mornings driving around in a mini-van searching for deals. I now know all the secret rules of yard saleing, including spotting, looking-disinterested, and bargaining. At a grand old house in Lexington, where everything left in the house was for sale, a few of us girls jokingly tried on a beautiful vintage fur coat. The guy said he couldn't get ahold of his wife to find out how much she wanted, and so he'd sell it for $50. Okay, I might not ever have a chance to wear it, but I knew that a coat like that was definitely worth more than $50.
So, after much petting and one payment, I now own something almost as useless as that piece of paper. I laugh at myself [i'll take some glamour shots before i sell it, don't worry] and have a great physical memory of the timeless city of Boston.
Sometimes life is an adventure, and sometimes you have to make it an adventure. Bon voyage!
Monday, August 04, 2008
first comes love, then comes...
Though I missed many weddings of dear friends this summer,
I was so excited to make a quick trip to LA to attend the nuptials of JohnDavid and Elyse!
I was so excited to make a quick trip to LA to attend the nuptials of JohnDavid and Elyse!
Welcome to the Intern 2004 Family, Elyse!
It was so good to see gracious Allison, who let me sleep on her super comfy couch and shared about "the life after." I'm excited to have her as an example of a woman passionately pursuing God in her post-college adventures!
We wish the rest of you could have joined us to celebrate!
Garrison battled endless early morning LA traffic to get me
back to the ferry on time to make my teaching session on Catalina! Thanks, G. Move out West!
back to the ferry on time to make my teaching session on Catalina! Thanks, G. Move out West!
Monday, June 16, 2008
off again...
I'm headed for Catalina in the early morning, so I'm not going to be blogging until August. I'm sure I'll have tons of sunburn stories to share. I'll miss you all terribly, but probably not as much as I'll miss these people:
In case you were wondering, I'm bringing these books:
what jesus demands from the world [john piper]
twenty-one stories [graham greene]
a handful of dust [evelyn waugh]
the beet queen [louise erdrich]
a farewell to arms [ernest hemingway]
the count of monte cristo [alexander dumas]
My address is on my facebook profile, so don't be shy about sending mail! I promise to write back. Lots of love!
In case you were wondering, I'm bringing these books:twenty-one stories [graham greene]
a handful of dust [evelyn waugh]
the beet queen [louise erdrich]
a farewell to arms [ernest hemingway]
the count of monte cristo [alexander dumas]
My address is on my facebook profile, so don't be shy about sending mail! I promise to write back. Lots of love!
Thursday, June 12, 2008
numbers [and odd capitalization]...
College Degrees Obtained: 1
Weeks of Sitting Around at Home Post Grad: 2
Weeks of Sitting Around Temping Post Grad: 3
Sweet Shows I've Seen: 1
Days til I head South for my Island: 5
Weeks I'll be Gone: 7
Weddings I'm Sad to Miss: 3
Weddings I'm Hoping to Attend: 1
Nights I've Stayed Up Too Late this Week: 3
Mornings I've Gotten Up Early to Run this Week: 0
Job Options for Fall: 0
Great Places I'm Going to Live in the Fall: 1
Great Roommates I'm Going to Have There: 1
Some immediate life decisions made, with still more to make. I already feel more settled.
I'm excited for the promise of spiritual and environmental clarity at camp this summer. I am reassured of the care of my Savior and Provider. I am certain of a really great tan.
Weeks of Sitting Around at Home Post Grad: 2
Weeks of Sitting Around Temping Post Grad: 3
Sweet Shows I've Seen: 1
Days til I head South for my Island: 5
Weeks I'll be Gone: 7
Weddings I'm Sad to Miss: 3
Weddings I'm Hoping to Attend: 1
Nights I've Stayed Up Too Late this Week: 3
Mornings I've Gotten Up Early to Run this Week: 0
Job Options for Fall: 0
Great Places I'm Going to Live in the Fall: 1
Great Roommates I'm Going to Have There: 1
Some immediate life decisions made, with still more to make. I already feel more settled.
I'm excited for the promise of spiritual and environmental clarity at camp this summer. I am reassured of the care of my Savior and Provider. I am certain of a really great tan.
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