I've had a headache all day long and I also think that I was partially brain-dead. What I wear to work each day is determined, largely, by the number and type of meetings that I have that day. So this morning as I was staring at my closet, I did a mental run-through of my calendar. Nope, no meetings. But for some reason, I still decided to dress a little better than usual. (thank you, God).
I forgot to charge my blackberry, so I left it at home charging. So when I arrive to work, my headache is still there and my assistant asks me if I need anything for my first meeting. Whaaat? So I look at my calendar - I have a 9:00 internal meeting, a 10:00 meeting with people from NYC Health Corps that's been scheduled for a month, then a 1:00 meeting with my largest contractor at their offices. My headache does not go away despite having taken one round of my migraine medication. The second round at 12:00 begins making me a little 'soft' around the edges as it contains a mild muscle relaxer. Nonetheless, I get in my car and drive to my 1:00. The good thing is that the location of that meeting made it impossible to go back to the office and actually get any work done. So here I am at home at 4:00 ready to check my emails and see if I can get any work done before taking Miles for a bike ride.
My head feels "better" - like I have a headache that is being masked by medication.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Happy Easter
Today was such a nice day - a busy day after a busy weekend, but it was good. I had invited my parents, in-laws and Alex's sister and her family over for Easter/Alex's birthday lunch. So I got up early to bake a cake before going to church. I made Shanda's Gooey Cake (so delicious and sweet).
The day just started out right, I listened to Jars of Clay's Redemption Songs while I was cooking. I just had a great time with God there at home by myself (alex was already at church), and then driving in to church. I really felt like God was going to do something great that day.
Today was also the official launch of Christ Fellowship's Downtown Campus. We've been there for months but this is the official launch. Church was great, they started a leader-service at 9:00 - so that we can still hear the sermon although we are serving during the main service at that campus.
Last week, I had spent some time reading the Easter story of Christ's arrest, crucifixion and resurrection. I read one thing that I had never seen before. In John 17, Jesus is praying with his disciples (before the Garden), specifically he is praying FOR them and that they will be strengthened by the spirit after his death. But then the prayer continues to pray for those who WILL believe in him in the future. He is praying for ME and all other believers. It is such a personal prayer, and especially in John 17:24 - Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. I love that - Jesus knows that he is about to die for us, and his prayer to God is that he just wants to be with us in the world as it was meant to be. THAT is exactly why he did what he did.
The day just started out right, I listened to Jars of Clay's Redemption Songs while I was cooking. I just had a great time with God there at home by myself (alex was already at church), and then driving in to church. I really felt like God was going to do something great that day.
Today was also the official launch of Christ Fellowship's Downtown Campus. We've been there for months but this is the official launch. Church was great, they started a leader-service at 9:00 - so that we can still hear the sermon although we are serving during the main service at that campus.
Last week, I had spent some time reading the Easter story of Christ's arrest, crucifixion and resurrection. I read one thing that I had never seen before. In John 17, Jesus is praying with his disciples (before the Garden), specifically he is praying FOR them and that they will be strengthened by the spirit after his death. But then the prayer continues to pray for those who WILL believe in him in the future. He is praying for ME and all other believers. It is such a personal prayer, and especially in John 17:24 - Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. I love that - Jesus knows that he is about to die for us, and his prayer to God is that he just wants to be with us in the world as it was meant to be. THAT is exactly why he did what he did.
Friday, March 21, 2008
shaleen <--- a heel
Yesterday was Alex's birthday. overall it was a really nice day. The teachers at the school had a cake for him as a surprise and had called me several days ago so that I could be there to surprise him. He was, in fact, surprised and the teachers had a lot of fun. I stayed there for a while and then we both left to go home. We watched part of a movie and then went to dinner w/ his parents at an argentinian steak place.
It was all good, we at lot of meat that was paraded in front of us, we had good conversation. And then in the parking lot, we talked about politics with his parents. That's where the problems started. Overall, I think that I was fine in the conversation. Back in our car Alex thought I was too sensitive (as he says is typical when politics is discussed). I disagreed, and I just took it so personally. We argued, I believe that what I FELT about what he said to me was accurate but I am completely lacking in how to argue appropriately. I am sure that I blew it out of proportion. We got over the argument when we got home, but the night was really tainted.
So this morning, I just felt like crap for having a stupid argument on this birthday. I was reminded of a verse in Romans 7:19 - For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.
We don't argue very often, but when we do it may go something like this - I get upset for something he says to me, I blame him for attacking me, I blow it out of proportion, I accuse him of being the one who is really blowing it out of proportion. Alex is a sensitive person, too, so sometimes the tables are turned (my own self-defense).
But why do I do that?
It was all good, we at lot of meat that was paraded in front of us, we had good conversation. And then in the parking lot, we talked about politics with his parents. That's where the problems started. Overall, I think that I was fine in the conversation. Back in our car Alex thought I was too sensitive (as he says is typical when politics is discussed). I disagreed, and I just took it so personally. We argued, I believe that what I FELT about what he said to me was accurate but I am completely lacking in how to argue appropriately. I am sure that I blew it out of proportion. We got over the argument when we got home, but the night was really tainted.
So this morning, I just felt like crap for having a stupid argument on this birthday. I was reminded of a verse in Romans 7:19 - For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.
We don't argue very often, but when we do it may go something like this - I get upset for something he says to me, I blame him for attacking me, I blow it out of proportion, I accuse him of being the one who is really blowing it out of proportion. Alex is a sensitive person, too, so sometimes the tables are turned (my own self-defense).
But why do I do that?
Thursday, March 20, 2008
random blogs
I don't know how broad my readership has gotten, but this is for those of you reading this on any kind of regular basis.
I don't know if you've noticed but at the top of the page blogspot has link that says 'Next Blog'. have you clicked on it (do it after you read this, not before). Anyway, I do it every so often - and people blog about weird things. I've seen folk-jewelry, and a blog that apparently is the formal record of a small town's council meetings (really).
Then there are some like this one. These are fairly random pictures - it looks like it's written in Dutch. I want to know what he is saying about those pictures!
Now you can click on the link and check out some random blog....
I don't know if you've noticed but at the top of the page blogspot has link that says 'Next Blog'. have you clicked on it (do it after you read this, not before). Anyway, I do it every so often - and people blog about weird things. I've seen folk-jewelry, and a blog that apparently is the formal record of a small town's council meetings (really).
Then there are some like this one. These are fairly random pictures - it looks like it's written in Dutch. I want to know what he is saying about those pictures!
Now you can click on the link and check out some random blog....
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
life's simply pleasures
One of the simplest joys that I have in my life is listening to This American Life. If you're lucky, this show is broadcast on your local NPR station. It is just SO cool. The entire premise of the show is to highlight the extraordinary things that normal people do in this world. People are so extremely entertaining. If you have an iPod you can subscribe to the podcast and listen to it free. I listen to it really often on my way home from work. Here are some things that they've talked about:
An american journalist in Iraq who thought it would be a good idea to rent a house and sub-rent the rooms rather than staying in a hotel on the living stipend he received. he ended up over $60K upside down on the deal after some pretty amazing experiences.
Interviews with kids talking about their observations about how poor a job most adults do at talking to kids.
24-hours of interviews with people who visit a 24-hour diner in Chicago --pretty interesting.
Stories about being in the middle of nowhere - like an island in the Pacific, or when you realize that you're in the middle of nowhere even though you seem to be in the middle of it all.
David and Goliath - unlikely stories of 'littles' beating 'bigs'
A whole bunch of stories where the common theme is chickens.
Stories about real-life detectives or people who end up in the middle of their very own unlikely mysteries and have to get to the bottom of it
Stories of people whose reputations end up far different than they expected by accident
You get the idea. Every episode is made up a vignettes or audio essays that are all linked to a common theme but with their own take. It's awesome -- it is one of my FAVORITE things in life.
An american journalist in Iraq who thought it would be a good idea to rent a house and sub-rent the rooms rather than staying in a hotel on the living stipend he received. he ended up over $60K upside down on the deal after some pretty amazing experiences.
Interviews with kids talking about their observations about how poor a job most adults do at talking to kids.
24-hours of interviews with people who visit a 24-hour diner in Chicago --pretty interesting.
Stories about being in the middle of nowhere - like an island in the Pacific, or when you realize that you're in the middle of nowhere even though you seem to be in the middle of it all.
David and Goliath - unlikely stories of 'littles' beating 'bigs'
A whole bunch of stories where the common theme is chickens.
Stories about real-life detectives or people who end up in the middle of their very own unlikely mysteries and have to get to the bottom of it
Stories of people whose reputations end up far different than they expected by accident
You get the idea. Every episode is made up a vignettes or audio essays that are all linked to a common theme but with their own take. It's awesome -- it is one of my FAVORITE things in life.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Happy Underwear Day
When I was in college my friends and I had this thing that if one of us was having a bad day - then we would all go out and each buy her a new pair of panties. Our theory was this: it is fun to get fun, new panties for no reason and they would cheer our friend up. And also, that after that day, you would always be reminded, whenever you would wear one of those pairs of panties that it was a gift from a friend. Plus we always made the presentation of the panties something of a show. For example, our friend Abby broke up with a guy - so we all bought her panties - returned to our dorm and made her sit in a chair while we blasted 'I will survive' and then we each presented her with her new panties as we sang the song. I'm sure those cheered her up for a long time. Whenever we did this, we would call it Happy Underwear Day
Anyway, I wasn't down today for any reason, but I was reminded of this b/c I came home from work today to find a package on my step. I rarely receive packages. It was from my best friend Lourdes as a thank-you for co-hosting her baby shower she bought be 4 new pairs of beautiful panties.
it was a special gift too b/c she wanted to help spice up the Alaskan cruise that Alex and I have coming up in May. This is whole separate post for another day, but Alex and I have been working to overcome an infertility issue. Hopefully it's resolved now but we'll know in the coming months. I know that there will be more posts about that some other time - but if you want to know what's up just email me. We're pretty open about it.
Anyway, I wasn't down today for any reason, but I was reminded of this b/c I came home from work today to find a package on my step. I rarely receive packages. It was from my best friend Lourdes as a thank-you for co-hosting her baby shower she bought be 4 new pairs of beautiful panties.
it was a special gift too b/c she wanted to help spice up the Alaskan cruise that Alex and I have coming up in May. This is whole separate post for another day, but Alex and I have been working to overcome an infertility issue. Hopefully it's resolved now but we'll know in the coming months. I know that there will be more posts about that some other time - but if you want to know what's up just email me. We're pretty open about it.
Friday, March 14, 2008
children see, children do - worth remembering
I won't even add my own comments on this...but let it speak for itself.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
