Today

Fall found.

Oh, I Was Afraid of This....

Disclaimer: I claim absolutely no political savvy, no expertise; I just know what I think.

When Harriet Miers was nominated for the Supreme Court, I didn't quite know what to think. I am inherently suspicious of anyone GWB likes, and it smacked of croneyism for him to nominate one of his own counsels. But the fact that the right wingers disliked Miers made me wonder if she was the best we could hope for.

Now she's stepped aside, and Bush has nominated a Real Conservative. Yikes. The glee of the conservatives on news reports today was palpable. There will be a knock-down drag-out fight in the Senate, but I'm not really sure it will make any difference in the long run.

There is a part of me that wonders if this isn't what Bush planned all along...nominate someone he could pass off as a moderate to look conciliatory, knowing she'd never be approved, and then bringing in the kind of candidate he really wants.

Sadly Bush's legacy will remain long after he's back on the ranch. I worry about the world my children and (future) grandchildren will live in. I am ashamed that my generation has moved so far away from the liberal ideals we grew up with.

Friday

Today is supposed to be my day off (well, yesterday was, too, but I had a deanery meeting, so it didn't seem like it). I've never had a job with regular 9-5 hours, nor one where I didn't always have SOMETHING else to do so I'm not that used to having regular days off. But since I started my current job (my first position as clergy) I've tried to really have my days off be "off." Since Saturday and Sunday are work days (we have a service on Saturday at 5pm and we often have meetings during the day), the rector takes Monday and Tuesday off, and I take Thursday and Friday.

It works fine in theory. But I am finding it increasingly hard to have a true day off without feeling totally swamped when Saturday arrives. For better or for worse, I write best at the last minute, and this means that when it is my turn to preach I'll being doing sermon prep on at least one of my days off. Plus I have to prepare for an adult forum each week--and the last minute thing applies here, too. And meetings that I really need to attend seem to be more often scheduled on Thursday and Friday. Sigh.

Then there's that pesky matter of house work......argh........I've never been one who likes to clean. But now I live in the biggest house I've ever lived in (it's the Rectory and it has four bedrooms and 3 1/2 baths + living room, dining room, and kitchen). It's a wonderful house and I am very grateful I get to live here, but I'm never going to be able to keep it clean. And my 13 yo son is a walking disaster area--he leaves a trail of debris behind him. And I confess that I am not the neatest person in the world either, although I try to contain my clutter to my desk and my bedroom.

So today I need to clean at least a little, work on my sermon, work on the adult forum, do some laundry, go down to the church and make sure that I can work the portable mike that I have to use this week, take some clothes to be hemmed, and take the car to be worked on. A little grocery shopping is probably in order, too. Does that sound like a day off ?

And what am I doing about all this? Sitting here blogging. I've always excelled at procrastination.

Looking for Fall

The rain finally stopped, and just after noon the sun timidly peeked out from behind the lingering clouds. The wind is still gusting, but that seems normal for fall. I love fall--it may be my favorite season. I have wonderful memories of walking home from school shuffling through fallen leaves, of collecting bright leaves to press between sheets of waxed paper, of raking up huge piles of leaves and jumping in them.

This is my first fall in this part of New England, so I'm not sure what to expect. Not too many maple trees here so I know I won't get the wonderful reds of Vermont. We've had so much wind and rain that lots of leaves have fallen with not very much color at all. But when the sun peaks out at just the right angle I can see hints of gold and orange in the trees around the pond behind my house.

I've lived all up and down the east coast and I've learned that fall will come eventually, just about everywhere (on the east coast anyway)--you just have to know what to look for. And you have to be patient. In N. Florida the changes are subtle--less vibrant colors, things dying back and bit, and in late November, leaves falling--but more gradually rather than all of a sudden as they do farther north. And the live oaks--those majestic sprawling giants--they lose their leaves gradually over the winter so that they are never bare.

Vermont and Northern New England are the best though. No wonder leaf peepers come from all over. In early September there are hints of color, and then suddenly you wake up and the world is red and gold. There's a briskness in the air that holds the promise of apple picking and ripe pumpkins. The trucks that will eventually bear the plows don their bumper stickers that say "Let it snow". And even though it means getting ready to hunker down for a long winter it feels hopeful somehow.

I'll be ready for spring when March rolls around, but right now I'm looking for fall.

Thanks everyone

For stopping by.

I've signed up for RevGalBlogPals and for Blogging Episcopalians.

This could be addictive....wait, I knew that already. How much time do I spend reading blogs each day?

The good news is that the more time I spend here, the less time I have to spend reading conservative blogs that raise my blood pressure but that I sometimes feel compelled to read to try to understand where they're coming from.

The Cast of Characters

May I introduce, for future reference:

Elder Son: Soccer coach at small Liberal Arts College on East Coast; impoverished and looking for the next gig.

Lovely Daughter #1: Intrepid traveler and political activist; after several years as a labor organizer, she is now in S. Korea teaching English to kids K-12.

Lovely Daughter #2: An admissions counselor at small New England College; engaged to be married next summer (and yes, I will officiate at the wedding!).

Sk8tr Boy: Almost 14, first year in High School. Likes to read, play guitar, spend time on the computer, and skateboard.

Future S-I-L: Works in sports administration at New England State University; loves my daughter and is a good guy (and he cooks!)

Stormy Weather

We're having a nor'easter here. Lots of wind and rain, the perfect day to snuggle under the covers with a good book. Unfortunately, also a work day. I woke up sniffly and coughing today and briefly considered just staying home (oh, it was sooo tempting) but "good girl" that I am I went to work anyway--to find my morning meeting canceled, and not much going on. So I indulged in a verrry long lunch break with a nap. There are definitely some benefits to living right next to where you work.

And soup and grilled cheese for dinner.

Sometimes I forget how much pleasure comes from the simplest things.

The wind is still howling...but tomorrow promises sun.

School Daze

This is the first year in many years (22 to be exact) that my life has not been governed by the academic calendar. And it is a bit strange. In August, I missed the flurry of activity that accompanies getting ready for the "new year"---whether that means preparing syllabi and checking book orders, or buying books and checking class schedules. In September, when classes started, I missed the classroom, the promise of a new semester, new challenges. Now that it is mid-semester, I can't honestly say that I miss writing or taking exams, and I certainly don't miss grading them.

I'm not sorry I left academia; I was called in a new direction. I enjoyed teaching most of the time, and I like research, but I don't think I'm driven enough to maintain a rigorous research program. Truthfully though, I miss being a student more than being a teacher. I loved being in seminary. Yes, I complained just like everyone else about the pressure of papers, reading, exams, too much to do. But truth is, I'm a school geek, and there is a part of me that will always feel most at home in a classroom.

Now I move to the rhythm of the church year instead of the school year. To a certain extent, the fall is still the "new year"; as summer winds down, activity at church picks up. But the real "new year" is coming: Advent, which not only anticipates Christmas, but also marks the beginning of a new liturgical year. So instead of preparing for final papers and exams, I'll be making Advent wreaths, and teaching about Jesse Trees, and preaching on holding on to the anticipation that defines Advent. I'll be planning Christmas pageants and Christmas sermons. And just like any other year, I'll be crazy busy.

Why the Name?

I've done most things in my life out of the "normal sequence" (hence the Robert Frost quote in my title). When I began my undergrad studies in earnest, my children were 2 , 5, and 8. When I started grad school four years later, we joked a lot that they would have to call me "Dr. Mom" if/when I ever finished. (They never did, but some of one daughter's high school friends called me "Doc"). Fast forward through my relatively brief academic career. When I started seminary my kids were 27, 24, 21, and 10 (the fourth one was born while I was in grad school). My daughters especially kidded me about what they would call me when I was ordained, and thus "Rev. Dr. Mom" was born. (Other choices tossed around: "Mother Mom" or "Father Mom", but none of my kids is "high church" enough for that!)

A Work in Progress

This blog, that is...

Despite having a fairly decent web page when I was teaching, I really know nothing about html. (I used FrontPage because that is what the college supported, and even though it wasn't a great program, my pages turned out okay and I didn't have to learn html). So I just spent an hour figuring out how to edit my template to list the blogs I read (and it's just a partial list so far). Some of you have such great looking pages--I know I have a lot to learn.

I'd like to post some pictures next, but which ones to post will be affected by how anonymous I want this to be. When I started reading blogs, I was a bit surprised at the lengths some bloggers go to in order to protect their anonymity. I am a member of an email list where we are quite open about who we are, and it seems to work out well. We've had many F2F meetings (we call them 'listmeets') and it's great fun. After reading blogs for several months, and starting a new job, I have a greater appreciation of the anonymity issue. So for now, I will remain anonymous, and see how it goes. And thus will pick my pictures carefully.

Well, Here I Am

Well, here I am....first blog post, and who knows if anyone will actually read it. I've been reading blogs for months now.....religious blogs, academic blogs, parenting blogs. And leaving comments. I finally signed up for Blogger because I wanted to leave a comment on a blog that didn't allow anonymous comments. And a few other bloggers have suggested to me that I should be blogging myself.

So who am I? Currently a transitional deacon in the Episcopal Church, to be ordained to the priesthood in January. Assistant rector at a medium sized New England parish. Mother of four--three grown (all college graduates and self-supporting) and an almost 14yo son who just started high school. Single. Recent graduate of urban seminary in Great City. Southerner by birth and raising, but would probably not go back there now. Liberal/progressive politically and theologically. Late bloomer (started college at age 30) and former college prof at small Catholic liberal arts school in New England.

Things I love: Chocolate, good books, dogs and cats, walking in the city, coffee shops, bookstores, good preaching, good liturgy, my kids, friends, trees, brisk fall days, snowstorms.

Things I detest: The current political climate in the US, mushrooms, malls, having to drive everywhere, war.

Enough for now.