puttting the hump back in humpday

my story in 3 parts: as in the days that have led me to the hump.

part one: monday.
my day off. a gathering with my clergy colleagues on the occasion of christian unity prayer week-month-decade....something of that nature. we did potluck lunch at the Catholic church. i took canned biscuits, steamed broccoli & lima beans--because in fact i can boil water.
it was a most interesting conversation: two baptist men, one methodist woman, one catholic man, one a very bright disciple. in an unrelated story, i met a friend for happy hour at our local mexican place...in the next town over. thanks be to God for single friends who can gather at the spur of the moment for much needed margaritas, laughs and commiserating.
part two: tuesday.
i should have left town. i have not been to the city in weeks due to the calendar and weather. i need it badly. however, when the phone rang at 6:30 a.m. i had the notion to say "yes" -- yes to subbing at the local high school. in a nut shell: we have some serious problems in mayberry.
these kids are rude, obnoxious, and headed for a rude awakening out in the real world. i have never been so insulted by senior girls in all my life. yes the boys have their moments, but they are mostly silly, goofy, clown-esque. we are not at kirkwood high school anymore!
and i then realized why i put so much time into our ecumenical youth group. they are great kids and need a place of positive interaction, growth and modeling in their lives! somehow they will be spared from becoming what many of our kids here have become. it is a most grave situation. each time i sub, at any grade level, i cannot begin to give enough credit to our teachers for all that they put up with.
part two/b: we had a WINTER RIVER FESTIVAL, of which i serve as chairperson, meeting in the early evening--3 days prior to said festival--to do the usual tieing up of loose ends...
to find out that a major venue, a local nightclub--which was for our daytime wine tasting, evening karaoke contest--decided not to host. what the heck. now what are we supposed to do for a large building, with setups, liquor license etc....ahhhhhh....these people drive me nuts!
we reconfigured.
part three: wednesday---the hump day.
o early 7 a.m. the youth groupers gathered for breakfast at the parsonage. all boys today. they are hilarious in the morning....semi-comatose, interesting hair, etc. some flipping between sponge-bob and CMT videos and others finishing chemistry homework.
then after some morning church work, lunch at the senior center... picking in fact tuna casserole day. ugh. following lunch, i convened a board meeting at said center and found yet a few more difficult people. i am in fact wearing thin.
i have led or been a part of 4 meetings this week that have all been tedious. wearing thin i say, wearing thin.
after a pick me up piece of apple pie, with a church lady, i was off to prep for the 2 people who showed for bible study. what has often been 10 people, has been 2 the last two weeks. again, wearing thin. but it was all everyone else's loss....it is amazing to me how bible study works in people's life, when they commence to doing it.
then after a quick clothes change, youth group commenced. 10 youth tonight. one girl...and a brave one at that! what a good group.

and finally, can i say i am tired of the cold weather. wearing thin. ...or have a said that before?

and now, by writing this LONG blog i have successfully put off the funeral that needs to be written for tomorrow, when at last i will be over the hump.