unto texas i go

unto texas i go. i go to texas because the general assembly of my church is there this week. i go because i need a break. i go because my good friends go. i go because i need good worship. i go because i need the 2 yr renewal of my covenant with my church-denomination. i go because i need to hear again why i do what i do. i go to be with others who are ask the same questions and also need a break and will challenge me in this ministry. i go because i have always gone. i go because i look forward to it for 24 months. i go because if there ever was a place where i feel my life and vocation are at one --at home, it is among them.

so i go, remembering all the great times of assemblies past, the hilarious roommates, the late nights and early mornings, the banter, the avoiding people we didn't want to see, the hauling around of free stuff, and of course the being with my best friends. there will be some really great friends that are doing the family thing in these years and are not able to go. i will miss them. so, to them i will offer a toast at a dinner gathering... and of course make sure to take their share of the free pens.

ps: as i am writing this, ironically enough, my good friend Lee called. she and i have always shared & loved the hilarious and varied journey of the assembly. she is about to birth and cannot go. i will miss her. until indy in '09, Lee...

LBJ has died.

LBJ. Interesting that her initials were the same. Lady Bird Johnson seemed to out last them all. She was 94. I watched some video clips on my yahoo page about her... not having known much. What I found was a graceful woman with a great old-time Texas accent. We don't see or hear them like that anymore, and surely not from the White House.

vacation & the ass

it is difficult vacationing as a single person. one has to find friends to go with, that are fun & easy travel companions, or travel with one's parents, or travel alone, or not at all. so in this vein i traveled with a new friend.

note to self: when going on vacation, only go with those individuals you have been in relationship/known for over 5 years. make sure they are hilarious...very hilarious, easy going, low on control issues, good drivers, lack road rage, are not passive aggressive, and generally go-with-the-flow types.

i vacationed last week with what was becoming a "significant other" only to find out that this person did not have any of the above "vacation worthy" qualities. ie: an ass. and now the only things of "significance is that 'it' is over!" thanks be to GOD!

however, i highly recomend the shore of lake michigan. the beaches, towns, restaurants, inns, art, shopping, entertainment, weather... all perfect. it is wonderful in so many ways, one just needs to be with the right people.

so, if anyone reading this falls into a worthy vacation friend status i am always ready to go!

and in a related matter... (be ready the following vent uses "ass" rather liberally)

well it is ass hot outside. just standing in the afternoon sun makes my inner t-shirt soaked in about 5 minutes... and after 10 minutes, sweat begins running down my ass. nice.

the parsonage a/c is running its ass off. i hope it doesn't crap on me this week......it must be more than 35 years old. at least. well i mean least is looks older than me, if that means anything. Ha! i am sure it was the first a/c put into thisorginial to this 50s ranch. every morning i go out and have little talk with it. a pep talk really. sometimes, like today, i even offer a little prayer.

okay. so we are in the throws of summer. the mississippi is the only think that is cooling off this preacher this week. so i am hold up in the parsonage... waiting for the evening when people get out again. tonight is happy hour poolside with my friend mary. perfect...