Welcome to the Midwest

When the pastor held up his parking ticket this morning I knew exactly where he was going. I don't remember exactly what he was illustrating, but I'd seen the ticket before.

After I quit my first job this summer, and was unemployed for a while, I had a lot on my mind. I was running around and doing a lot of work around my house, but always thinking about other things. One hot, sticky July day I decided to go downtown to look for a gift for my nephew's birthday. I ran into the 10,000 villages store for just a few minutes, and by the time I returned I realized I'd forgotten about the parking meters. I was cursing myself as I grabbed the yellow ticket envelope, thinking I really didn't need to be spending 15 or 20 dollars on a parking ticket while I didn't have a job. It turned out the ticket was only 5 dollars, a welcome surprise.

So when my new colleague and I ran overtime at the library, I told her not to worry too much, that the parking ticket was only 5 bucks. But, as she opened it up, it turned out it was free, and included a note that said something like this...Welcome to our city. Since you're a visitor, we extend a cordial welcome, and we're waiving the parking fee. We hope you enjoy your time here...and then on the back there's a list of places to visit here.

And that was the same ticket the pastor had this morning, since he's a recent transplant too. Only in Sioux Falls are we so nice that we encourage visitors to park illegally for a short amount of time. I guess I just changed my plates too quickly.

Do you Netflix? Wanna be my friend?

Christmas Eve 2007

So none of ya'll are online to play Scrabulous with me. I don't blame you--it seems like all over the neighborhood people are partying with the fams. The neighbors across the street even scooped their front walk to set up flickering candles in paper bags, just to make it look more festive.

But my family has never really been one to do anything on the real holidays except get bored with one another. We usually have a Christmas party the week before, and then often take a vacation over the real holiday. This year that vacation will be in January, and the rents are gone, so it's me and the kitty parade for the holiday.

With a whole day and a half off, I've been trying to think about what to do. I feel like I need a project. If I don't have something that I'm doing or accomplishing on a break, I usually waste time on the internet or watching tv or something. I haven't found a project yet for this break, though laundry is sort of a need.

Anyway, lately I've been thinking about trying to write more, so maybe that can be a project. To be honest, I'm not really sure where to start. I really like to write, and some friends have been encouraging me to do it more, but other than this blog I'm not sure how/where to start. My friends who encouraged it would probably say just do it, and don't worry about what it's for. That's tough for me. But if I put myself in teacher mode, just doing it sounds like a good idea. We shall see. I'm not really looking for any results, just maybe enjoyment.

So that's random, but it's Christmas Eve. There's not really anything open, and the only movie I want to see, Juno, is not yet playing here, surprise, surprise. So maybe some reading tonight (I'm getting into the Poisonwood Bible again), maybe some laundry, and if I think of something to do, a project. If I don't think of anything, the project may be finishing off the leftover alcohol from last night. Mmmmm, Christmas Eve.

Bull

I don't buy it. There was an article in the paper this morning about how South Dakotans are having fewer children, and waiting longer to have the ones they do want. In my experience, that's bull. Actually, my experience has been quite the opposite. I can't go anywhere without being surrounded by other people's children. And being asked why I'm not married and don't have babies of my own, as if being 28 and single is spinster city.

I've got nothing against other people having babies. Go for it, reproduce with great happiness. But don't try to tell me that Sioux Falls is a city lacking children. You can't go out for dinner or to a store without some ankle biter (not your child of course, dear readers) pushing you out of their way while they run to pull a dog's tail or something.

There is also an abundance of what I've started to call circus families at church. You know who I mean. It's the family whose children are free to roll around on the pews, smoosh fruit snacks into the padded seats, and generally cause unfettered chaos. Just last week I sat next to one such family whose children had to leave the pew no fewer than four times to get toys, go to the bathroom, and do any number of other things.

So basically, the paper is wrong. There is not a lack of children, only a lack of children on leashes.

PS--To all of my friends who have babies, your children are and always will be perfect, along with my nephews, and I will always love them unconditionally. :)

Saturday Morning

I love Saturday mornings. Here's how it usually goes. Sleep in, make coffee, maybe heat up the oven to make cinnamon rolls, and then watch The Soup. Today's episode was a countdown, the best clips of 2007, and I believe this video of Nathaniel is the best ever.

What!?!?!?!?

If you live in Iowa, and don't go to the caucuses, shame on you. I'm listening to an NPR story right now about how many people actually go to the caucuses, and it's around six or seven percent.

Six or seven percent? And you are the first, and get to really matter in the voting process?????? What's going on?

(Can I go to the caucus for you?)

I take it back...

I have been bitching and moaning to anyone who will listen about how disappointing it is to not be able to vote and make a difference in the primaries, being the last state in the nation to hold primaries. I take it back. It looks like we may be voting on abortion again next year...

I just found these

It's Saturday night, which means...well, nothing, really. It's kind of like any other night for me, but maybe with more wine or gin and tonics. Oh, and more free time which means more blog posting. So if you're spending your Saturday night on the internet too, read on!

I was checking out Dave's photos of Thanksgiving, and came across a couple that made me laugh.In this photo John must have just said something that made me and David laugh so hard our eyes are closed and we're posed in completely symmetrical positions...
And Donna had this look on her face. I'll bet he was talking about Guns and Ammo.

Love ya John and Donna!

Thanks, but who are you?

Is it bad to say that to me all 60ish, white-haired ladies look the same?

This 60ish white-haired lady, driven in a minivan by her husband, just pulled up on the driveway, waved at me through the window, and when I opened the door handed me homemade chocolates and said "Merry Christmas!" I said "Thank you!" and closed the door.

I have no idea who she was.

I kept watching, thinking maybe it was a neighbor from across the street. I just joined the church they belong to, and thought maybe it was a welcome to the fold Christmas gift. I had it all figured out when the van pulled into their driveway.

Then it pulled out again, after probably dropping off a similar present. So, probably she was from church?

sermonless

I went to Covenant last night, a place that gives me such a sense of peace. They've been doing a series of topical worship services, at least the last few times I've been there at night. The last time I was there was agriculture, which I didn't really get into. I've had enough Wendell Berry.

Last night was work. Since I am newly employed, it had me thinking a lot. It wasn't like there was anything new said, but the presentation caught me. There were some thoughts read by congregation members on the topic of business, a slide show of some people and their businesses, and a couple of professors talking about what Christian business is.

Then Pastor Herm got up there, and didn't give a sermon. That's one of the things I appreciate about him--knowing when to be silent. He said he didn't think we needed a sermon, and I agreed.

I'd been thinking about my work a lot lately. Not just in the sense of being busy with it, but somewhat broader. The parent company I work for is a government contractor, probably involved in things I would strongly disagree with. But, the clientele I work with desperately needs someone to believe in them. It's a strange tension for me. But, if I've really heard anything from Pastor Herm, it's that doubt and tension are ok, good even. So I'm okay with it.

'Tis Winter

It is most definitely winter here in South Dakota. I was thrilled to have the grey everything covered by the white, until the white became gray with exhaust and general nastiness.

The picture is of last Saturday's snow storm, the first of the season. I was hunkered down all day, taking notes from the neighbors on how to scoop the driveway.

It seems simple, scooping the driveway. Except if you're mechanically challenged as I am. Anything that involves machines, even simples ones like levers and pullies generally baffles me, warranting a phone call to my mom that starts with "Okay, I've got another dumb question."

I really didn't think snow shoveling would be on this list. The day before the storm in the picture, we had received about 2 inches or so of snow. I was so excited that I wanted to try shoveling the drive. I got out there before work and used my new shovel to make long rows, up and down the driveway. It was easier than I thought, and went relatively quickly.

During Saturday's storm I watched some of the neighbors scoop their drives, even before the storm was over. I realized I'd been doing it all wrong. Instead of scooping up and down the long way, and hauling the snow the whole length of the drive, you're supposed to start in the middle, and shove it to the side. Lesson 1 learned.

A few of the neighbors were shoveling as it snowed, which I found utterly ridiculous. Wouldn't it be more efficient to wait until it was all over? No. Not if you value your back and muscles that won't hate you. I waited until Sunday morning when all was over and there was a thin layer of frozen rain on the top of the snow. Let's just say snow shoveling has been placed on the list of household chores I do not enjoy. Even so, it's still better than cleaning the gutters.

So winter is here, and for a few brief moments when the new snow has fallen and before the chores begin, I love it.