Just Push Publish!

Well, it was the usual success! Lots of fun and lots of friends old (Danny Page) and new (Breea). Michelle enjoyed her birthday. The place looked great. No cops came. No major dramas. I, of course, over did it slightly, but not as much as usual, so that was good. Financial restraints kept me reeled in. Thus I'm only $150 in the hole. But I'm working tonight and I have temporary part time work set up for October. And a permanant part time gig set up for November... yep, the pimp job. The details... mom is a police officer and dad is a firefighter. And together they have the most wacked out schedule that results in 12 hour days, but only for about 8 days a month. I'd rather work 8 long days than 24 short days. This gives me so many days off for ministry or working on my new big vision or sitting in my chair all day in my pajamas like I do now. Or maybe going on field trips. I went on a great field trip on Monday. I went up to Oakland with Nate because he had a rehearsal up there. While he did his thing I took a little detour to Lake Merritt, where the goal was to experiment with the art form of pastels. I'm a perfectionist so I often get very frustrated with paint. And I love to draw. Pencils are a very forgiving medium so I was trying to find something in the middle. But when I got there what I did instead was spend an hour doing photography. I found this interesting because I was going for the immediate gratification and staying clear of the new uncomfortable setting. I realized the parallel that existed between my pursuit of art and my pursuit of ministry. Frustrated with my own patheticness in how far my neurosis really do extend, I put the camera away and forced myself to sit down and create. This is what I came up with.

I'll try again another time. I need more colors. Then Nate and I had lunch in Jack London Square and then headed up to San Francisco and hit up Golden Gate Park. The playground was taken over by a film crew shooting a movie called The Pursuit of Happiness featuring Will Smith who was spotted here. We followed it up with grabbing some chowder down at the wharf. An overall fabulous field trip.

Soliton

soliton92005-0311
Originally uploaded by robspain.

I don't know how managed to not write about this yet. Overall, it was a good experience that I would do again. But here's the breakdown... from the pictures of years past it seemed to be more interactive mind stretching participatory symbolic types of activities, which is what really intrigued me because that is completely my style. And I hear there use to be just a ton of worship. But this year no worship (at least not the musical kind). And it was almost all talk and lecture and conversations... a learning style that really just doesn't fit me. The other thing I encountered was that they use a vocabulary I am unfamiliar with because I do not go to an Emergent Church. I wasn't even sure what an "Emergent Church" was. I got a better understanding when I got home and found this definition online. There was no explanation or purpose or goal stated for the conference. It was like walking into a conversation and trying to catch up on what we are talking about.

What made it worth while was the opportunity to meet and bond with other Christians (including those I went with from my church). It was great to see what kind of causes people were drawn to and how they were working for these causes... an outreach to the brothel workers in Sao Paulo, working against the fear and segregation between protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland, a worldwide crusade against human trafficking. I also really did enjoy opportunities like the bloggers lunch meeting where the topic turned to the theology of sex and marriage. And nights gathered round the fire pit at Jared's was an amazing part of it. And thank God Jared & Regina let us stay with him despite their impending baby due date (which came last night!!), otherwise we would have been left out of what I consider to be the best part of the soliton experience. My favorite Roxy flipflops were sacrificed in my need to be close to the flames. You can tell the impact the fire nights made on me by checking out my soliton photo set. Rob has good pics too.

And what made Soliton really a significant event in my life was how the Lord worked through me and inspired me with a whole new vision. In the last hour and a half of the conference I sat away from the group in a corner listening and praying and receiving from God a quite detailed impression of how I can contribute, what needs to be created, and how to do it. I'm really excited. And everyone wants to know what it is, but honestly it's a bit to complex to just say. It takes a 1/2 hour conversation. So I won't be writing about it anytime soon. But let me apologize to my fan base now. You'll be very sad to hear that it has virtually nothing at all to do with crepes. I will still of course make crepes on frequent occasion for my friends. And I may still distribute out crepes for a very interested chef to use. But for now await the big vision.

But I'll leave you with a poem that was written at soliton on a walk to seek out God in the city.

The Mission
Pray with me it beckons
but just one kneels and prays
but for what

Green conservatism with hair pulled back
housing inner angst of fear, pain, sorrow, needs
and does this building provide for the $1 admission cost

The church theme is a need for light.
There is darkness inside,
just a few windows, a few candles lit.
And there are candelabras, tall pillar candles, chandeliers even.
Still this is the Lord's house.

But if it was all lit, if it could be maximized and filled with light,
a holy light, an angel light, a heavenly light
that would pour down and drench the dark and dreary
and bring the light of hope.

Dear Abby

Happy Monday.
Dear Abby:
My husband is a liar and a cheat. He has cheated on me from the beginning,and when I confront him, he denies everything. What's worse, everyone knows he cheats on me. It is so humiliating. Also, since he lost his job four years ago he hasn't even looked for a new one. All he does is buy big cigars and cruise around and shoots the breeze with his pals, while I have to work to pay the bills. Since our daughter went away to college he doesn't even pretend to like me and hints that I am a lesbian. What should I do?
Signed,
Clueless

Dear Clueless:
Grow up and dump him. For Pete's sake, you don't need him anymore.You're a United States Senator from New York. Act like one.

Off to Soliton

I will do my best to not come back with a fabulous tatoo. I think my lack of funds will help. I am taking off in about an hour and I'll be back whenever. Maybe Saturday night. Maybe Sunday night. Maybe Monday. I'll just see how it goes.... see what opportunities present themselves.

Labor Day Lounging

Nothing big this weekend. Somehow KAK left me out of their plans to go to Newport this weekend, so o-well. I had girls night out on Friday.... dinner and cosmos at my house before heading to downtown san jose to go bar hopping. The bars were subpar as usual. I'm not a fan of the downtown scene. I did see some friends while I was out and that's always pleasant. And then Saturday was the Byrne Housewarming Party which was great. Wow! Their house looks great now that it has furniture. And their love sak... oooohh... am I ever so jealous. And it was great to finally catch up with Kelly. Then on Sunday was the normal church morning with me teaching sunday school. We had a church food fest afterwards that was great. It was a better turnout than I would have expected for a labor day weekend. Then I gave Karis driving lessons. The girl needs to learn how to drive stick shift. I always want her to drive so I can do my makeup in the car, but no go. So we are working on this now. Then we headed over to Tapestry and Talent downtown. I bought some big moviestar sunglasses. And I bought a customized purse that I should get next week. Eversince I got my neighborhoodie, I try and customize absolutely everything. Why not? It's always worth a try. Then I went out to see Four Brothers, but was it a date? Just because it's consistent does mean it's commitment. And on Labor Day, I used this day off of unemployment to splurge on gas and take a long drive up to Big Basin for a little hike and then over to Capitola for some beaching and then back into town for some bbq and monopoly at the Skarbeks. So let me tell everybody that Pete Byrne is my absolute hero. I adore him. In less than a minute he had fixed my camera! God bless him! I was so excited. Thank you, Pete! So thanks to him I was able to take this great pic of Michelle and Jason. Can't you just feel the love?

Happy Blog Birthday!

Today is my blog's 2 year birthday. Thank you, Bean, for getting me hooked. So here are some of my more memorable and special posts from the last year....
*sexual battery incident
*the liz whiz quiz
*caribbean cruise highlights
*northstar trip and New Years Resolutions (doing very bad at these).
*the passing of Ming Quong
*Seeking a New Best Friend.... a must read!!
*Richalizapalooza
Thanks for reading my life, hearing my views, sharing in my troubles and my triumphs. I love the support so never be shy to acknowledge that you read. Oh, and go check out my first post which explains why this is considered "My Superficial Outlook on the World and Counter View on the Blogs of East Coast Radicalists".

I did this self portrait back in high school. My face shape is off and I skipped the plethora of freckles that populate my face. But other than that, I think it's not bad. I found this amongst other goodies as I sort through boxes full of old papers in hopes of finding my resume. I lost my resume when my computer crashed last year. I have my business resume, but not my childcare resume. And Saturday I have an interview for a job that I'll most likely get with or without a resume. But seeing that it's a $3/hr raise, I see it worth it to produce a resume of sorts for them. But you all can pray for me to get it anyhow. I'll fill you in on all the good details once it's for sure.

This weekend I sorted through the mounds of boxes to make some walking room in the garage. Now I just have 6 miscellaneous boxes of papers and junk to sort through and get rid of, then the garage is dance floor ready for the upcoming parties. I've called my dj to arrange to pick up the turntables. It's all in motion. He offered to sell them to me. I should seriously contemplate this for as much as I borrow them although I can't for the life of me learn how to spin myself. So we'll see.

I DON'T MAKE FIRST MOVES

I almost forgot to tell you! My first neighborhoodie came! I was so excited. I sported it last night to the downtown open air cinema, but I can't wait to wear it out to the bar. I may live in it for a few days. The note that accompanied it said...
"Elizabeth:
How do you ever get anywhere, Girl?
-The Love Capt."
I know. I know. I think that was partially the point of the shirt. So it can give the hints for me when I'm to wimp to do it myself. My first paycheck of new job will buy the next shirt.... Inhibition Overload. What will The Love Captain have to say to that? Thank you Neighborhoodies!