Curling

It's time for the Winter Olympics and that means many people are starring at their televisions trying to understand curling. Sadly, all the curling is on cable. However, thanks be to my mother, I am able to watch it online by using her password for DirecTV. Ha-ha. It's better online, too. Hardly any commercials, and sometimes there is no commentary. I watched the men this afternoon at the gym and it seemed after every shot there was a commercial. It was pretty annoying. Plus I can watch other teams other then the US, such as Canada. Canada is fun to watch Curl. The crowd is so into it. You can be a professional curler in Canada. I am in no way ever going to be a professional Curler, but I sometimes dream of living in a little dinky northern town with a two-sheet club.

It's fun being part of a strange sport that nobody understands. I get lots of questions. My mom called and asked how many ends they play (10). People always ask what's the deal with sweeping. (Physics my friend, physics....sweeping creates friction melting the ice and moving the rock faster and also keeping it from curling, hence, keeping it on the line). And scoring...well the stone closest to the button scores...like Bocci ball.

In curling there are no umpires. You have to be honest. It's a game of etiquette. You shake hands before and after the game. You compliment the opponents good rocks. Afterwards you sit down and have a drink with the opposing team. I love this at the Green Bay Curling Club, because we have a meal Thursday nights. We sit down and drink some Spotted Cow and usually eat something delicious. I am getting to know more people in Green Bay because of this, plus I get to hear all the inside gossip on the Olympic Curling Team (we share ice with the Women).

The other thing I absolutely love about curling is the endless opportunities to say "that's what she said." For example, here are the many things said in curling: "Hard! Hard! Hard!" "Yes! Yes!" "Whoah! Whoah!" "Get it right on the button." "Hurry! Hurry!" "Nice Rocks!"

After the Olympics (the first week in March) many of the Curling Clubs have an open house week. So if you are interested in curling, call up your local club (or google). I took a few people from church curling and they seemed to enjoy it. It's a nice challenge that doesn't require a lot of physical athletic ability. It's more about patience, reading the ice, and strategy.

I am done plugging curling. Time to return to watching the USA play Great Britain.

It's 8:30am Thursday morning and I'm trying to decide if I want to go into work tomorrow. I'm pretty good at showing up Monday-Wednesday, but once all my hours are pretty much blown, I get kind of lazy. It's not that I don't love my job, it's more that my church is not the busiest and it's pretty lonely sitting in an office all day. Plus it's beautiful outside. It's sunny and we are expected a high of 35. I know, I said 35 and high in the same sentence with lots of excitement.

I'm thinking today might be a good day to do some research at Barnes and Noble, library, and the Christian Book Store. I've decided to lead a Bible Study on Heaven and Hell for "younger" adults. We'll see who shows up. It's an interesting topic in itself.

I have tonight off from curling. I curl on a team of 5, which is nice because if I'm busy it's easy to find a sub. So tonight Doris asked me if I wanted it off so one of the other women can curl. I said yes. I really need to do laundry. All my work out clothes and dress pants are dirty.

So far I've lost at least 6 pounds working out. I just have 6 more to go. I probably would have done it by now if I didn't eat so much candy and junk food. Oh well, I would be miserable without my pizza and chocolate.

Running with Jesus

I survived my 10 mile run outside. I couldn't get myself out of bed to go run at 8am. Seriously, it was cold out. So instead I went at 11. Three hours really makes a difference. I figured out that to run down to Erik's church and back is 5 miles, so I ran a little loop circling Lambeau Field and dodging all the little girls who went to see Disney on Ice. ( I resisted all urges to yell at the parents for supporting Disney).

Yesterday I tried Yoga for the first time. It was interesting and I like it. I got to pretend to be a cow, dog, cat, cobra, dolphin, pigeon, eagle, and tree! I'm actually pretty flexible and I think Yoga is really going to help with my balance.

Work has been busy, especially since I work more hours. I really need to crack down this week and just pick an adult Bible Study. I'm going to head the Christian book store this afternoon/evening to get some ideas. Confirmation continues to go well, and I'm also working on planning the New York trip. It's great having a job where I get to try new things and can grow as a person. And the best part is I get to talk about scripture and get paid for it :)

Last night I took a group from church curling at the club. I had a good time. I didn't really get to curl much, because I spent most of the time helping people. The ice was also really fast, so people kept throwing it through the house.

Well, time to soak these sore muscles in a cold bath.

My Kick Butt Week

I'm getting pumped up to give blood tomorrow by listening to Elton John's "Some Saved my Life Tonight," because tomorrow I'm going to go save some lives.

This week was pretty awesome. Tuesday the church council voted to hire me for 3/4 time with benefits and a pension! I did my taxes and I'm getting a huge sum back. On Wednesday I ran 4.0 at a sub 10 minute pace. I'm excited about my new role in the church. I'm also nervous about failing, but as Dylan says, there is no success like failure.

So it's been a busy week and my life is about to get busier, but tomorrow is pay day and I have the day off!! I'm going to take myself to Culver's for that butter burger I promised myself a month ago. I think I might also take myself to a movie.

Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk

I onced watched a movie called Always Greener. It was some independ film a bunch of kids in Fairfield, Iowa made. The movie was about some seniors in high school gearing up for a big party in Iowa City along with the "lady in red" who worked at the local gas station and the principal that gets addicted to Nintendo 64. In one scene they have a chocolate milk chugging contest and whoever wins gets a snowboard. Well, as you might know, you can't drink a gallon of chocolate milk without throwing up. Your stomach can not take that much lactose.

So that is why I am drinking a Quart, and not a gallon.

It's been taking some effort, some kicking and screaming, but I'm getting my (now more firm) ass to the gym. Monday I ran 4.0 Miles, Tuesday I attempted to swim (I am a horrible swimmer), and today I went for another 4.0 Miles. The important part of training is the rewards you reap. I still owe myself a butter buger and fries from Culvers for my 6 mile run last week. This week if I do 7 I might take myself to a movie.

But the good part, is that today I finally felt like all this running is paying off. All this lifting weights is starting to do some good. I haven't really lost any weight, but I am starting to tone down. Hurray for me!

Agenda

I'm spending a good portion of my week in the Twin Cities (that's Minneapolis/St. Paul). I'm attending Luther Seminary's Winter Convocation. It's been pretty good so far. I've remembered my love for scripture and why I went to Seminary. I feel more confident about what I'm doing at work. I'm excited to try some new things.

But then I'm also kind of "blah." It's kind of weird to be on campus. I spent three years here, and my close friends (or some of them) are not here, but spread through out the lower 48 and some of Europe. Still, it's good to see people and catch up. But it's a constant reminder of how fast life can change and how we must appreciate the short time we have together.

It's also a good reminder that I am done with school for awhile. Yeah, I've been thinking of going back and becoming a pastor, but maybe Luther is not right for me. All my favorite professors are retiring or leaving.

Of course this got me thinking about God's plans. Does God's plan mean the future or the here and now? It's probably both, but why is it when something horrible happens we always try to comfort people by saying "it's part of God's plan" or "God has something better in mind for you." Yeah, he had a different plan and something better in mind for his creation, but they mucked that up good and sound. But maybe this is. Maybe being in Green Bay and teaching people scripture is part of some grand plan in my life. Maybe it fulfills God's plan for creation. Maybe it helps restore the kingdom.

I do not know. I just know that someone once said "life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." And well, God created life, so maybe plans are just human things we created to make ourselves feel better for screwing God's plan up. I don't know, this is becoming a bit of a ramble of uncensored thought.

Needless to say, I hope I'm on the right track for something.

Oh so Sore!

My body just aches. My arms are sore from lifting and then curling. You can laugh all you want, you try sweeping for two hours. I also shoveled Erik's driveway. My legs are sore from running and I whacked my hand on the treadmill so it's got this nasty bruise.

I have curling again tonight. I'm going to have to soak in the tub.

Life is pretty busy with work, curling, bible study, and running. Thank goodness! I was so bored. Next week I'm heading to the Twin Cities for Winter Convocation at Luther Seminary. I'm excited for a week in the "City." This small town stuff is getting to me.