Esprit de l'escalier

For my career class we were supposed to draw up a timeline of significant events and our plan for the future. I wrote mine up in about 10 minutes…so I haven’t completely honed it yet. It’s a work in progress. But here’s what I have (or rather, what I turned in).

Timeline:

2003 – Began third year of SPU. Pursued writing more and improved. Met new people and made more connections for possible job opportunities.

2004 – Finishing third year of SPU. Applied for editor position at Falcon again…fingers crossed. Met some people from Seattle Times and made more friends.

2005 – Work as intern at ANG Newspapers in California during summer. Go back to SPU and work as news editor for The Falcon.

2006 – Graduate from SPU and take three year internship with Seattle Times.

2007 – Meet man of my dreams (Godly man and world’s finest neurosurgeon of course) and get married. Continue job as writer and reporter for Seattle Times.

2008 – Adopt golden retriever puppy and settle in a nice house in Seattle, close to office. Continue to pursue big stories and apply for editor position.

2009 – Switch sections from news to travel. Travel and write a few freelance articles on the side, exploring other news offices around the country. See the world.

2010 – Have kids! Work as news editor with new experiences of travel under belt.

2015 – Start working on authoring my first book. Continue as news editor and start advice column under pseudo name: Lucinda Casual or Iris (a flower meaning woman of integrity and wisdom, good friend.)

2020 – Famous with advise column and captivating news stories. Win Pulitzer prize. Thank Lord unceasingly.

2025 – Write more books on many subjects.

2030 – Settle down and teach what I’ve learned to coming generations of writers.

So, like I said…it’s in the works. I’m thinking that Seattle can be interchangeable with Bay Area. I could always settle down somewhere in Northern California and work for a good paper there…like The Times or something. I’m still torn about where I want to settle because I’ve come to love Seattle, but my heart remains in the Bay Area.

“We know of only three ways to grow as a writer. First you must read good writing. Then you must write. Then you must spend the rest of your life thinking and talking about good reading and good reading.” -Chip Scalan and Roy Peter Clark

Started off okay…and it was actually fine until the calls started coming.
My friends know I am always there for them…always an open ear. But for pete’s sake why can’t I ever bring myself to vent. Why can’t I ever talk someone’s ear off. #1. I know they could care less about what’s bothering me. #2. I’m never sure I have a right to complain. #3. He just laughs at me.
Yes, it makes things worse when someone laughs at your sadness. My roommate tells me he’s probably just trying to cheer me up. Well, I’m not sure laughing at someone’s discouragement is the best way to cheer them up. Honestly, I couldn’t talk anymore after that.
I can’t wait until the trip to Scotland…to be able to get away and have some silence all for myself. Yes, that’s right…I’m finally doing something for myself. The resident doormat is taking a break. Don’t worry, I’ll be back in two weeks.
There, I’ve complained. I’m done now. *happy face*

I love braiding parties. I was just thinking about this today after my cultural comm class. We were doing presentations and one group was talking about rituals or traditions that little kids do in America. One that I particularly remembered was the braid train. (Girls you know what I’m talking about) It was like a massage train, only…for your head. haha. As I look back on it I realize the intimacy and bonding that was taking place. I remember this one girl that was always the initiator of the braiding sessions during reading time or slumber parties. I remember going over to her house once and I realize now that her parents were not very affectionate. She must have seen the touch involved in braiding parties as such an affirmation of love. Wow, who would’ve known?
Anyways, I miss being a little girl.
(On a philosophical note: technically I still am a little girl…)

When I created the heavens and the earth, I spoke them into being. When I
created man, I formed him and breathed life into his nostrils. But you,
woman, I fashioned after I breathed the breath of life into man because
your nostrils are too delicate.

I allowed a deep sleep to come over him so I could patiently and perfectly
fashion you.

Man was put to sleep so that he could not interfere with the creativity.
From one bone, I fashioned you. I chose the bone that protects man’s life.
I chose the rib, which protects his heart and lungs and supports him, as
you are meant to do. Around this one bone, I shaped you…. I modeled you.
I created you perfectly and beautifully.

Your characteristics are as the rib, strong yet delicate and fragile. You
provide protection for the most delicate organ in man, his heart. His
heart is the center of his being; his lungs hold the breath of life. The
rib cage will allow itself to be broken before it will allow damage to the
heart. Support man as the rib cage supports the body.

You were not taken from his feet, to be under him, nor were you taken from
his head, to be above him. You were taken from his side, to stand beside
him and be held close to his side.

You are my perfect angel…..You are my beautiful little girl. You have
grown to be a splendid woman of excellence, and my eyes fill when I see
the virtues in your heart.

Your eyes……don’t change them. Your lips-how lovely when they part in
prayer. Your nose, so perfect in form. Your hands so gentle to touch I’ve
caressed your face in your deepest sleep. I’ve held your heart close to
mine. Of all that lives and breathes, you are most like me.

Adam walked with me in the cool of the day, yet he was lonely. He could
not see me or touch me. He could only feel me. So everything I wanted Adam
to share and experience with me, I fashioned in you; my holiness, my
strength, my purity, my love, my protection and support. You are special
because you are an extension of me.

Man represents my image, woman my emotions. Together, you represent the
totality of God.

So man……treat women well. Love her, respect her, for she is fragile
but yet strong at the same time.

Send this to all of the wonderful women you know to bless their day. This
is for all the women in your lives. Your sisters, your mothers, your
wives, your daughters, the ladies you work with everyday, even your online
female friends.

Send it to men too, they need to hear it as well.

Send it to everyone.

Remember… “What you permit, you promote.”

First of all…HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOSHERKID!!! You ROCK my world!

Second of all, today was a good day. I got a call from Josh…it was good to talk to him. Do you have any of those friends that you just feel happy and somehow edified after talking to? He’s one of those. I needed a good talk like that.

In career class today, we went over our timelines (lines we put together charting where we hope to be in so many years, etc.) All this did was make me realize how fast time goes. I’m gonna graduate soon! I have so much to do before then! Sure I like to live for the moment as opposed to saying “life starts when you get married”…”I’ll do that after I have kids”…”Real life starts after I graduate” blah blah blah…I’m trying desperately to live it up now…but goodness it’s hard with so much that you’re “supposed” to do now.

I was excited to be able to finish my article early this week. I actually had a bit of time to make dinner when I got back from the office. Oh the joy! Now I’m gonna get cracking on some reading and finish writing some papers. The cycle is never ending.

Shoot and I still have to write my eloquent letter for April. I’m late! Maybe I’ll write April and May at the same time. That’ll work, knock out two birds with one stone.

P.S. Loreanne…I’m gonna call you as soon as my cell phone battery charges. It’s been pretty much dead all week. I kept forgetting to charge it. I’m a dork.

Also, in preparation for my trip to Scotland I asked my friend who writes the Travel Wise column for the Seattle Times for some advice on packing. She recommended this site..it’s pretty cool. Check it out. http://www.travelite.org/index.html

My weekend was nice. I didn’t have to work Saturday so I was able to play tennis!!!!!!!!! Oh the joys of life. Not to mention that the weather was PERFECT! Warm, sunny, with a cool breeze. Of course we had to play on the crummy courts, but at least I got to hit stuff. *sigh*

Now it’s Monday and U-SUK.FM is back in rotation. It’s like it plays constantly in my head, the same way the radio was always playing in the bathroom back when I was living in the dorms.
It’s only after days like Saturday, when something I love squelches the discouraging tunes in my head, that I realize how loud the music really is and how much it sets the rhythmn of my life.

Regardless of whether you listen to the words or not my friends, music does influence the way you live and who you are. Don’t let your mental dial settle for USUK.FM.

April 28, 2004

Dear Sarah,

Greetings from the Office of Campus Ministries!

We are pleased to officially invite you to be a participant on the Summer Iona Discernment Journey. Of the applicants, we felt that you have given thoughtful time and energy to pursue this opportunity and are excited to spend meaningful time on this journey together. Thank you again for your application and interview time spent with us. What an incredible time it was to meet you and see just a bit of what you will bring to this experience. We eagerly anticipate the coming together of this team, the discovery of our gifts and talents and how they will bless one another.

We sincerely believe that God has formed this team with precision and care. With expectation, we anticipate what works the Holy Spirit will bring about through the rest of this quarter, during this journey and beyond. We will meet as a team on Thursdays for the rest of the quarter during the cadre hour (location TBD).

In order to complete the process, you will need to fill out and turn in the attached commitment statement by Friday, May 2 by 5pm with your deposit for the trip of $XXX.00 to Mary DeJong (SUB 201).

Blessings-

Mary and Tami

1.Go into your LJ’s archives.
2.Find your 23rd post (or closest to).
3.Find the fifth sentence (or closest to).
4.Post the text of the sentence in your blog along with these instructions

7-14-2002

“It seemed like they couldn’t talk about anything else.”