Mike and I are in the middle of a debate...well, actually it's not a debate so much as he is angry because I am lumping all churches together by saying I don't like church and it's boring.
Granted, every church is different but I'm just not going to spend years visiting every church in the area (multiple times, too, because you can't judge them by one Sunday *rolls eyes*) to try and find a good fit. I just won't. No.
I've been to a gazillion churches in my childhood and not one was both doctrinally sound and interesting. I've seen pretty much every denomination (and nondenomination). I've even toyed with the emerging church and house churches.
I mean, what is church anyway?
You worship God with music. So do I. Just not in a big distracting group with songs that I can sing without thinking about the lyrics because we sing them EVERY WEEK or on a rotating basis. I prefer Steven Curtis Chapman, Jeremy Camp, Switchfoot, Brandon Heath, and Todd Agnew to hymns. There's nothing wrong with that, but any church that uses them gives me stimulation overload with their messages. They're so dramatic I lose focus on the message.
Which brings me to...
You get a lesson. If you're lucky it's one you haven't heard 6 times before. I listen to chapel online, or read CS Lewis or the Eldridges. Or any number of Christian speakers. There's no difference between reading a sermon or hearing it online or in person. But I'd have to travel a little far to attend the churches where most of them are (in some cases, a time machine would be necessary).
You get "fellowship." Which I put in quotes because all churches pride their fellowship but so often it is just gossip. Gossip about your husband and what a trial he is, or about your neighbor who was in that awful car accident. Ever notice that prayer request time turns into "OH! I've got a story!" time? First off, I am not a people person. I don't need a lot of people, especially people I don't know, to help build me up or direct me. I have parents and a roommate who do that. I have dead people (Lewis) who do that. I have fictional characters (Kreacher, Thomas Hunter, Jan Jovic, and Elwin Ransom) who do that. It may not work for you, but it does for me.
I am far more easily encouraged and convicted by the written word than the spoken one. I like to mull over deep thought and quotes that took people days to perfect. I like to have the Truth slammed in my face once in a while. Just not by people who are literally in my face. I want people far far away when I get convicted. Otherwise I'll just get pissed and defensive and the whole point will be lost on me.
You also get a home base for ministry (hopefully) from a church. Well, I give money to WorldVision and other organizations. I save kid's lives for a living. I defend the faith on Xanga.
And that's good enough for me.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
First 5K Results
The website says I ran a 29:00 flat. But I know this to be incorrect because my watch was around 28 by the time I looked at it (after I was hanging over a trashcan, nauseous). It also says that the couple that I passed at the end of the race finished 1 second behind me...even though they cross the starting line before me and I passed them over 100m before the finish. Yeah.
Anyway, even with the poor timing I was 13th out of the 66 women in my age group (not counting walkers) and 59th out of 269 women total. So not great, but not bad either.
Anyway, even with the poor timing I was 13th out of the 66 women in my age group (not counting walkers) and 59th out of 269 women total. So not great, but not bad either.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Things learned at my first race
1. Keep track of your own time: There was no clock at the end of the race and they are being slow to put up our finishing times. *rolls eyes*
2. Bring your iPod: It helps pace you.
3. Do not plan anything for after a race: I was so exhausted. It didn't help that I couldn't sleep last night thanks to the allergy medicine I'd had to take.
4. Practice drinking Gatorade before you drink it in a race: I wasn't planning on drinking anything during the race at all because I never do, but it was sooooooooo hot and humid I needed something and all they had at the hydration station was Gatorade. I felt so nauseous as I crossed the finish line.
5. Don't participate in an inaugural run: This was the first King's Island 5K/10K and they had no idea what they were doing. Some of it was beneficial, like how they didn't have a parking attendant so none of us paid for parking. But most of it was not. They didn't get all the t-shirt sizes they promised. We started over 30 minutes late (therefore it was warmer than I was planning on, and I was still wearing a shirt). The course was so poorly marked/manned that many people actually got lost! There was no clock at the end, as I mentioned. There was no "amazing after party!" all it was was music over loudspeakers and free vitamin water (sorry, but I need actual carbs and protein after a run!). They promised finisher's medals but I saw a whopping 6 people with medals all day.
It was so incredibly poorly done. :(
2. Bring your iPod: It helps pace you.
3. Do not plan anything for after a race: I was so exhausted. It didn't help that I couldn't sleep last night thanks to the allergy medicine I'd had to take.
4. Practice drinking Gatorade before you drink it in a race: I wasn't planning on drinking anything during the race at all because I never do, but it was sooooooooo hot and humid I needed something and all they had at the hydration station was Gatorade. I felt so nauseous as I crossed the finish line.
5. Don't participate in an inaugural run: This was the first King's Island 5K/10K and they had no idea what they were doing. Some of it was beneficial, like how they didn't have a parking attendant so none of us paid for parking. But most of it was not. They didn't get all the t-shirt sizes they promised. We started over 30 minutes late (therefore it was warmer than I was planning on, and I was still wearing a shirt). The course was so poorly marked/manned that many people actually got lost! There was no clock at the end, as I mentioned. There was no "amazing after party!" all it was was music over loudspeakers and free vitamin water (sorry, but I need actual carbs and protein after a run!). They promised finisher's medals but I saw a whopping 6 people with medals all day.
It was so incredibly poorly done. :(
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Hello Ohio, meet your newest official resident!
I got my driver's license changed today. I finally no longer have the hideous fat picture from Florida. YAY!!!! I look slightly "deer in the headlights" in the new one, but at least my face doesn't look twice it's actual size.
As I was waiting in line I realized that, although I am almost 24, I have never had to renew my license. And won't until I'm at least 27. I then considered the possibility that I may have moved out of state again by that point. Not that I'm planning on it, but there's the very real possibility.
Also interesting is that they gave me my old license number from 5 years ago, which means I never have to dig through my purse to copy down my license number ever again!! (I memorized it when it was put on my permit at 15 because it was so easy)
My new license is also pink. Which is awesome. And has the cute little organ donor heart that I've wanted since I was a child. I think organ donors should get special priviledges, like we should get to pick the background color of our license, and "ok" our picture before it gets slapped on there, and one free speeding ticket of 10 mph or under. Maybe then we'd get more donors. (But then, maybe we wouldn't. *shrug*) If we can't make organ donation on death mandatory, we should at least give rewards to the people who volunteer. I'm just saying.
As I was waiting in line I realized that, although I am almost 24, I have never had to renew my license. And won't until I'm at least 27. I then considered the possibility that I may have moved out of state again by that point. Not that I'm planning on it, but there's the very real possibility.
Also interesting is that they gave me my old license number from 5 years ago, which means I never have to dig through my purse to copy down my license number ever again!! (I memorized it when it was put on my permit at 15 because it was so easy)
My new license is also pink. Which is awesome. And has the cute little organ donor heart that I've wanted since I was a child. I think organ donors should get special priviledges, like we should get to pick the background color of our license, and "ok" our picture before it gets slapped on there, and one free speeding ticket of 10 mph or under. Maybe then we'd get more donors. (But then, maybe we wouldn't. *shrug*) If we can't make organ donation on death mandatory, we should at least give rewards to the people who volunteer. I'm just saying.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Adventures with the Bebe Seester
The bebe seester came to visit for a few days and I think we had a really good time. Mostly we sat around and watched movies and 24 but I had fun. In the process we began what has turned into "The 24 Rules about 24" or "How to survive 24 hours of terrorism." Here are the ones we have so far.
1. If you know something that no one else does, don't tell anyone except Jack or the president (in the case that the president is actually a good guy). Exception: the bad guys also know, in which case tell absolutely everyone.
2. Do not underestimate Jack. Not only is he death proof, but also a master hair stylist (see season 6).
3. Women are evil/stupid. Do not trust them. Exception: Chloe O'Bryon who has made it through more seasons of 24 than anyone other than Jack and Wayne Palmer.
4. Never ever ever do what a terrorist wants you to do, especially if you don't understand it. Exception: You are Jack Bauer. Exception to the exception: They are using Audrey as leverage.
5. Don't date anyone. Otherwise one of you will wind up being a terrorist or unwillingly/unwittingly helping the terrorist.
6. If you must break rule 5, do not under any circumstances have children who will invariably be used as hostages to manipulate you into helping the terrorists, thereby fulfilling number 5.
7. Any tack team without Jack will fail. If you think you have succeeded, run, as there is a 100% chance that there is a bomb about to explode nearby.
8. CTU is not safe.
8a: They will lose a big chunk of their personnel every season from direct attacks on the building.
8b: If you are a main character, you are more likely to die inside CTU, than outside of it.
9. Do not trust anyone, especially best friends and family members, between the 55th and 60th minute of every hour. This is when you are most likely to die.
10. If you are under 18 and have a name, you cannot die, regardless of who takes you hostage or what they want in exchange. This even applies in minutes 55-60. You are basically mini-Jack.
11. Do not discuss killing your hostage when the hostage is in the other room, especially if the hostage is so far unaware that they are a hostage.
12. Killing half a dozen innocent people in the attempt to kill one politician you don't agree with, does not make you a murderer. But killing one person you work with, does.
13. Any family emergency is a trap. Your brother is not in the hospital. Your sister is not in desperate need of money. Your father is not dead. Your wife (see number 5) is not being held by the terrorists.
14. If something goes missing, REPORT IT! This applies to everything from keycards you are sure your sister's boyfriend pilfered to nuclear weapons, which, let's face it, are definitely not with any innocent person.
15. Don't live in LA. It is more important to the terrorists than NYC, DC, or any other acronymed city in the US.
1. If you know something that no one else does, don't tell anyone except Jack or the president (in the case that the president is actually a good guy). Exception: the bad guys also know, in which case tell absolutely everyone.
2. Do not underestimate Jack. Not only is he death proof, but also a master hair stylist (see season 6).
3. Women are evil/stupid. Do not trust them. Exception: Chloe O'Bryon who has made it through more seasons of 24 than anyone other than Jack and Wayne Palmer.
4. Never ever ever do what a terrorist wants you to do, especially if you don't understand it. Exception: You are Jack Bauer. Exception to the exception: They are using Audrey as leverage.
5. Don't date anyone. Otherwise one of you will wind up being a terrorist or unwillingly/unwittingly helping the terrorist.
6. If you must break rule 5, do not under any circumstances have children who will invariably be used as hostages to manipulate you into helping the terrorists, thereby fulfilling number 5.
7. Any tack team without Jack will fail. If you think you have succeeded, run, as there is a 100% chance that there is a bomb about to explode nearby.
8. CTU is not safe.
8a: They will lose a big chunk of their personnel every season from direct attacks on the building.
8b: If you are a main character, you are more likely to die inside CTU, than outside of it.
9. Do not trust anyone, especially best friends and family members, between the 55th and 60th minute of every hour. This is when you are most likely to die.
10. If you are under 18 and have a name, you cannot die, regardless of who takes you hostage or what they want in exchange. This even applies in minutes 55-60. You are basically mini-Jack.
11. Do not discuss killing your hostage when the hostage is in the other room, especially if the hostage is so far unaware that they are a hostage.
12. Killing half a dozen innocent people in the attempt to kill one politician you don't agree with, does not make you a murderer. But killing one person you work with, does.
13. Any family emergency is a trap. Your brother is not in the hospital. Your sister is not in desperate need of money. Your father is not dead. Your wife (see number 5) is not being held by the terrorists.
14. If something goes missing, REPORT IT! This applies to everything from keycards you are sure your sister's boyfriend pilfered to nuclear weapons, which, let's face it, are definitely not with any innocent person.
15. Don't live in LA. It is more important to the terrorists than NYC, DC, or any other acronymed city in the US.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Running makes you stupid
The last two long runs I've done, I realized I got chills, despite the warm weather, around miles 6-7. I would then have to stop at 8-9 because I was tired, nauseous, and craving water.
This is where I decided running makes you stupid. Because I am a nurse, an experienced EMT (who ran stand-by at athletic events for crying out loud), and an athlete on and off for 8 years and yet I missed the signs of beginning heat stroke o.O (Before my mom freaks out, let me add that I was nowhere near actual heat stroke. I'm smart enough to listen to my body when it starts doing funny things.)
Again, running makes you stupid. Well, not running specifically, anything that takes a great deal of concentration on simply finishing can distract you from the things you should notice. And to be fair, I did notice. I came home and googled them and then smacked my forehead. Of course!
So now I am researching camelbaks. Because I refuse to decrease my mileage and I hate carrying a waterbottle. It's bad enough I have to carry my iPod.
And I'm picking up some Gatorade at Kroger today.
Stupid stupid runner.
This is where I decided running makes you stupid. Because I am a nurse, an experienced EMT (who ran stand-by at athletic events for crying out loud), and an athlete on and off for 8 years and yet I missed the signs of beginning heat stroke o.O (Before my mom freaks out, let me add that I was nowhere near actual heat stroke. I'm smart enough to listen to my body when it starts doing funny things.)
Again, running makes you stupid. Well, not running specifically, anything that takes a great deal of concentration on simply finishing can distract you from the things you should notice. And to be fair, I did notice. I came home and googled them and then smacked my forehead. Of course!
So now I am researching camelbaks. Because I refuse to decrease my mileage and I hate carrying a waterbottle. It's bad enough I have to carry my iPod.
And I'm picking up some Gatorade at Kroger today.
Stupid stupid runner.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Oh yes, I forgot: Dog attacks!
As I was running today I saw this lady walking her dog about a quarter mile ahead of me. No big. I see tons of people out walking dogs....and I usually want to chuck a copy of Dog Whisperer at their heads.
Anyway, the problem was that there was another dog running loose. It was kind of antagonizing the woman walking her dog, running back and forth across the street into yards on both sides. I was pissed. It was a husky mix, so good size dog. I was encouraged that it wasn't trying to attack her or her dog, but still annoyed. She didn't seem to mind so I thought maybe it happened a lot or she knew it or whatev, so I wasn't scared.
I catch up and I'm watching it warily, but it seems to only want to play with her and her dog so I say "Stay!" as I pass it.
....and then it starts to follow me. Not really chase, but still, I'm too tired to outrun it or climb a tree or even project "calm assertive energy." And then they lady yells (in a voice that clearly is not often used at loud volumes or to command anyone to do anything) "BoBo (or whatever it's name is...), no."
Ok, now I am pissed. I hadn't realized it was her dog!!!! WTH lady?!?!
I turn at the dog and shout "NO!!!" very loudly (which startles him so much he actually sits down. Comical.) then glance behind me, and with quite a bit more venom than I intended, snark "Put him on a leash!"
"He was!" She replies indignantly (I'm sorry, you have no reason to be indignant, lazy woman). "He got off it. I'm trying to catch him."
"Well, you certainly aren't trying very hard." I quip, and then run off into the sunset.
The whole time I was behind her she had never called the dog, never walked after it, never paid it any attention. She had just walked along calmly with her other dog at her side. Even after I yelled at her, I didn't hear her call to it to try and get a leash on it. I swear. People. She's lucky I didn't aim a good kick at it (and the only reason I didn't was that it wasn't scaring me.)
Yes, it looked happy running around, and had a friendly disposition (except that it's eyes were completely black. Like a vampire dog or something.) But there is no reason I should have to even wonder if some dog is going to bite me (which happens about 3 times a day. Wondering, not biting.) No reason I should have to carry mace or an airhorn. People should be responsible. But they aren't. And so I have no reason kicking your dog in the face (regardless of how small it is) or smashing my iPod on top of it's head if it gets too close to me.
Dogs bite. Are you stupid?
Anyway, the problem was that there was another dog running loose. It was kind of antagonizing the woman walking her dog, running back and forth across the street into yards on both sides. I was pissed. It was a husky mix, so good size dog. I was encouraged that it wasn't trying to attack her or her dog, but still annoyed. She didn't seem to mind so I thought maybe it happened a lot or she knew it or whatev, so I wasn't scared.
I catch up and I'm watching it warily, but it seems to only want to play with her and her dog so I say "Stay!" as I pass it.
....and then it starts to follow me. Not really chase, but still, I'm too tired to outrun it or climb a tree or even project "calm assertive energy." And then they lady yells (in a voice that clearly is not often used at loud volumes or to command anyone to do anything) "BoBo (or whatever it's name is...), no."
Ok, now I am pissed. I hadn't realized it was her dog!!!! WTH lady?!?!
I turn at the dog and shout "NO!!!" very loudly (which startles him so much he actually sits down. Comical.) then glance behind me, and with quite a bit more venom than I intended, snark "Put him on a leash!"
"He was!" She replies indignantly (I'm sorry, you have no reason to be indignant, lazy woman). "He got off it. I'm trying to catch him."
"Well, you certainly aren't trying very hard." I quip, and then run off into the sunset.
The whole time I was behind her she had never called the dog, never walked after it, never paid it any attention. She had just walked along calmly with her other dog at her side. Even after I yelled at her, I didn't hear her call to it to try and get a leash on it. I swear. People. She's lucky I didn't aim a good kick at it (and the only reason I didn't was that it wasn't scaring me.)
Yes, it looked happy running around, and had a friendly disposition (except that it's eyes were completely black. Like a vampire dog or something.) But there is no reason I should have to even wonder if some dog is going to bite me (which happens about 3 times a day. Wondering, not biting.) No reason I should have to carry mace or an airhorn. People should be responsible. But they aren't. And so I have no reason kicking your dog in the face (regardless of how small it is) or smashing my iPod on top of it's head if it gets too close to me.
Dogs bite. Are you stupid?
So there's this thing called the Flying Pig...
...and I really want to run it. Only problem is that it's 26.2 miles long. That's right. It's a marathon. (But it has a sweet sounding name, no?)
So I ran for almost an hour and a half today and covered 6.84 miles. 8-12 min miles. (You have to run at least 16 min miles not to kicked off the Flying Pig trail, which I think equals out to about 7 hours.) It wasn't bad actually. I've found in the last couple days (Saturday I ran 5 miles) that after I get past 3 miles it gets a lot easier. I'm also a lot faster if I let myself walk a few hundred yards when I start bouncing up and down more than actually running.
So the wishful layout goes something like this:
August 16: 5K
September 6: 5K
September 28: Half marathon
October 30: 5K
November 26: 10K
December 5: 5 K
Spring: Sprint Triathalon
May 10: Flying Pig Marathon
I need to mix in some more 10Ks and half marathons but I have to find them first!
So I ran for almost an hour and a half today and covered 6.84 miles. 8-12 min miles. (You have to run at least 16 min miles not to kicked off the Flying Pig trail, which I think equals out to about 7 hours.) It wasn't bad actually. I've found in the last couple days (Saturday I ran 5 miles) that after I get past 3 miles it gets a lot easier. I'm also a lot faster if I let myself walk a few hundred yards when I start bouncing up and down more than actually running.
So the wishful layout goes something like this:
August 16: 5K
September 6: 5K
September 28: Half marathon
October 30: 5K
November 26: 10K
December 5: 5 K
Spring: Sprint Triathalon
May 10: Flying Pig Marathon
I need to mix in some more 10Ks and half marathons but I have to find them first!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Today I...
...used the stationary bike because my twisted ankle worried me too much to run on it. Not with less than 2 weeks until the race.
...watched CNN go from slightly entertaining to mind-numbingly dull to irritating. In less than 45 minutes. I changed the channel right before we ventured into "infuriating."
...sat in Barnes & Noble reading Cosmo and Women's Running.
...really really really wanted to go for like a 10 mile run (or at least attempt it). Damned ankle.
...made salmon (since Sarah was not here to be assaulted by the scent of it). And it was goooooood.
...tried to pick a fight on facebook with one of the bebe seester's more easily provoked ex-classmates.
...missed Cedarville. :(
And now I'm going to spend some time with the two most delicious men ever! (Aka. Ben & Jerry. Awkward statements FTW!)
...watched CNN go from slightly entertaining to mind-numbingly dull to irritating. In less than 45 minutes. I changed the channel right before we ventured into "infuriating."
...sat in Barnes & Noble reading Cosmo and Women's Running.
...really really really wanted to go for like a 10 mile run (or at least attempt it). Damned ankle.
...made salmon (since Sarah was not here to be assaulted by the scent of it). And it was goooooood.
...tried to pick a fight on facebook with one of the bebe seester's more easily provoked ex-classmates.
...missed Cedarville. :(
And now I'm going to spend some time with the two most delicious men ever! (Aka. Ben & Jerry. Awkward statements FTW!)
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