first snow

Snow makes whiteness where it falls,
The bushes look like popcorn balls.
The places where I always play,
Look like somewhere else today.

Author: Mary Louise Allen

So our first snowfall came and went and now everything is absolutely covered in snow here. It's so amazing how different a place can look when covered in snow, even as you look at it every day. As I wade thru piles of snow and scrape my windshield with a plastic cup from Jimmy Johns, I'm still amazed at how fast the roads can be cleared and still struck by the magic of snow. I feel like a child these days (in all the best ways) and I may or may not have been seen multiple times around town standing out in the snow with my head tilted back cathcing snowflakes on my tongue.

My friend Tom often shakes his head at me and utters, "oh you are so southern." Oh and no one here knows about snow cream. WHAT?!

So I owe you an update on my fall commitments that we discussed over caramel apple and coffee:

Short and sweet: I'm feeling good. I loved fall and I'm living and loving winter (as evidenced above). You can still find me on Thursdays drinking beer and covered in clay. I've still got a long way to go. I'm almost there, but I'm still here.

INTERACT: How are you? Have I told you lately that I miss you?

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving”-Albert Einstein

I love moving. Not the actual physical act of moving- I hate that. Watching people move your stuff//realizing that I have too. much. crap.//tapping into my control freak tendencies//"oh no, don't..drop..that thing that to you is nothing, but to me is...EVERYTHING" No I do NOT love that.

But I love the way moving make me FEEL things. Sentimental about leaving behind a place and the memories that it contains...Hopeful about the new empty place just waiting to store all. that. crap. and new stories laughs and experiences. Everyday is a great day for a fresh start and moving is a helpful reminder of the ability to make a fresh start and the importance of a clean slate.

The past few weeks I've been moving my office from one side of our suite to the complete opposite side. The office is a bit bigger, and in a more strategic location for purposeful student interaction, so I couldn't turn down the possibility. It's my good friend, CR's old office and I have to admit, it feels a little weird to be moving into her space- but it reminds me of all the laughs we had in there. (miss her!) My friend, Tiff, told me once that "all changes carry with them a grieving process," and even though I'm merely shifting my items a few feet away, I am leaving A LOT behind...like the temporary feeling you get when you're a VISTA, being able to holler out to students, "come on back!" and my very. first. 40/wk. nameplate bearing. office. That's a lot.

my old office

I was meeting with one of my students last week and when I told her that I was moving she asked if I was excited. I told her that I thought it was a good decision, but that I didn't really like change sometimes. She laughed and said, "that's ironic, because your whole job is about change."

I'm glad to have moments that forced me to physically interact with my things and my work and to really reflect on the going ons in my space and the positive change that took place. I'm hopeful and eager to see what stories my new space will live to tell.

my new space just waiting for you to come in and help me put all. my. crap. away.

INTERACT: How do you feel about moving?

Its rained here a lot lately.

Cristina says my umbrella is so large she can't hear her voice echo when she holds it. I just say the Cristina is one of my favorite new co-workers. Thanks for welcoming me into the TCU community, Coordinator for Inlcusiveness and Intercultural Services. Your laugh is infectious and your zeal is admirable.

INTERACT: How are you welcoming someone new into YOUR life?

Presidential hip check...or butt bump if you will

I knew our President was a super fun guy, but this video clip DEFINITELY confirms it. While watching the Inauguration Balls, I thought I saw President Obama hip check a citizen while dancing. Those in the room with me swore that it was his wife. However, I was correct and here's the video to prove it.



On another positive note, an Executive Order against torture was made today. Read it by clicking here This pleases me because I feel that my faith implores me to be against any act of torture. It is the government's ethical responsibilty to protect human dignity of friend or foe. I am interested to see how this order and the pending Gitmo closing play out.

Executive Orders can however be overturned by future Presidents, so I am hopeful that laws will be passed according to these ideals and steps be taken to ensure that we treat those in our custody in ways that we would expect others to treat our own citizens while in their custody.

LEARN MORE: Visit the following websites to learn more about the fight to ban torture:
Campaign to Ban Torture

National Religious Campaign Against Torture
Evangelicals for Human Rights

INTERACT: What are your thoughts on these things- from the Hip Check to the Executive Order?

Welcome, Mr. President

I woke up earlier than usual today to make sure I could caught the inauguration of our President, Barack Obama. What a significant day in the history of the free world. I will mot bore you with my thoughts and musings about the inauguration ceremony and speeches, but I will tell you this: the benediction was my favorite part. I also really liked watching Malia take pictures with her digital camera.

Celebrate the inauguration by making your own Obamicon like the one I made today above! Do it here.

Lyndon B. Johnson claimed, "A president's hardest task is not to do what's right, but to know what's right." May you, along with our President, know what's right and do it.

INTERACT: Did you watch the inauguration? What were your thoughts? Were you as unimpressed as I was with CNN's "long anticipated" synth photo of the "moment?" Leave comments below.

Sweet dreams of...well, not you.

So, I've been gone a while. But let's be honest, you left first. Anyway, I've been stuck -still without a job- thinking about Christmas sneaking up on me and the New Year fast approaching, and dreaming.

It an effort to remember some of my dreams, here are a few things that I want to do in my life-

1. Own a coffee shop
2. Get Christmas cards from people, so I can finally recycle them in crafts that blogs and Martha Stewart always cite
3. Move to a city with a subway
4. Lose 100 pounds
5. Earn my PhD
6. Refused to be called, 'Dr' -in most cases-
7. Be married and live with another married couple
8. Learn to play all the string instruments
9. Make art
10. Dream for a living
11. Sell my crafts and be legit
12. Integrate the word 'jive' into my vocabulary



I really want to be part of something bigger than me, which isn't so hard these days since I feel so small. I really need a job.

Election Day: highs & lows

Election Day brought with it many celebratory moments and many sad moments for me. I have been debating whether of not I should hash any of these things out in this forum. I have decided to list a few of my highs and lows- so that you can be let in to this semi-private part of my life.

This was the first time I have voted in a presidential election(high). I never cared before, because I am a fairly cynical person. However, the last few years of my life, I have become even more civically engaged and I have been very involved in being informed about this year's election. Since I was not anticipating being in Texas at the time of the election, I voted absentee. Since my ballot came a little late, I had to attempt to overnight it. The post office said it would cost $18 and they could not assure me that it would get there in time to be counted (low). I cried in my car, and I sent it in anyway.

I had the choice of tracking it and after a lot of consideration I looked it up online and...

MY VOTE COUNTED!!!!!!! (high)

This was very important to me because I really thought hard about my choices.

I was/am a major Obama supporter. There, I said it. I am a Christian who voted for Obama...and I didn't vote for him despite my Christianity. I voted for him BECAUSE of my beliefs.

It was a great night when we found out he won. Tears of joy and relief were shed as we realized that we were experiencing history. I was so happy to be in a safe space while watching the election returns, so that I could soak in a great moment (high).

I am very excited about our new president and I hope that iindiviual citizens continue to stay as involved in democracy as they have been in the elections.

I will say this: I was very hurt on Tuesday by many of my "friends" implying that I was not a good Christian (or a Christian at all) because I voted for Obama (low). It really disturbs me when "Christians" feel obligated to attack someone's character based on the choices they make that differ from their own. I was embarrassed last week by many dear friends that I know and I regret that there is no time or opportunity to sit down with them individually to discuss how they have wounded me and to hear them out as well.

Let me say this though: As long as you are comfortable with me being me, I am comfortable with you being you. I am not going to let our differences spur me to lash out at you and I will try to keep the ad hominem arguments to a minimum.

Thoughts on Poverty

I live in the 16th poorest city in the United States. 1 in 3 Wacoans live in poverty. I see many of these Wacoans on a regular basis as a go to the store, to church, to coffee, and just about everywhere my life takes me. If you read my blog regularly, you have heard me talk about local and global poverty before, as this is an issue that is constantly on my mind. I am often reminded of the three basic rights I learned in class growing up: food, clothing, and shelter. (This was probably the first required memorized piece of information I can remember.)

Around 923 million people in the world go hungry.

In the U.S., one in ten housholds are living with hunger or are at risk of being hungry. Children are forced to skip meals in order for their families to get through the week.

We have the means to end hunger. Americans spend more on pet food each year than the cost it would take to end world hunger. We just need a change in priorities.

My friend Erin (in Nashville) and I were talking one day about "the issues" and she told me something that stuck with me. She said something like, "Things can be done to make things right, but WE need to be willing to make the sacrifices needed in order for that to happen."

This is so true and eloquently put, so I decided that I would dedicate this post to 5 sacrifces WE can make in order to make a difference (as individuals and collectively) in the area of poverty. **NOTE: One thing that I am sacrificing that is not my my list is convienience. I do making banking with strictly credit unions (see below why I do not enjoy banks) which don't have national locations, but the sacrifice is meaningful to me and worth it.**


1. Sacrifice your time by educating yourself about the issues of local, national, and international poverty. Being aware is great, but being EDUCATED is even more important. This is the fodder for making better decisions. You are now a grown up. You need to start making your own INFORMED decisions. Remember when you found out that you don't like your steaks medium well, (even though your parents do) but rather medium? Well, its the same with things that actually MATTER.

How?
Start by watching "The Story of Stuff" video by clicking here.
Check out Bread for the World for loads of information by clicking here.
If you are in Waco, attend Baylor's Poverty Summit in November. (click to learn more)

2. Sacrifice your reputation by talking to those around you and informing others. Did you know that pay day loan places (you know the ones that prey on the poor and charge RIDICULOUS unregulated interest) are owned by many national bank branches as a way to circumvent government restrcitions and make more money? Now you do...because I told you. Don't you want your friends to make more informed decisions? If you won't talk to them about your newfound enlightenment, who will?

How?
Use your facebook, myspace, blog, telephone, or just yell over the fence at your neighbor. I mean, do I really need to tell you how to talk to people?

3. Sacrifice your money by donating and microfinancing. There are many organizations that would welcome your money and put it to great use towards the cause. Don't have much money to give? Think about microfinancing - small loans given to entrepreneurs in developing areas to help them life themselves and their communities out of poverty. You will get back your small loan and be able to turn it around to change another life.

How?
Microfinance someone's small business with Kiva by clicking here.
Support the World Hunger Farm by clicking here.

4. Sacrifice your skills by getting your hands dirty and working FOR the poor. This can be done on so many levels, so be creative. Think about voluntering with local and national agencies fighting against poverty. It is also important to think about how you can be a change agent for the cause. Think creatively about how you can involve your business in pro poor work.

How?
Find local and national agencies online or in the phone book and network FOR the poor not just for yourself.

5. Sacrifice your comfort zone by continually being in relationships with people that are different than you. This should definitely include both the rich AND the poor. This is probably the most important sacrifce because if you are in relationship with those that are effected by your work, you will consistently be motivated to continue the fight to end poverty.

How?
Easy. Be where people are and meet them.


I appreciate any additional items you would like to add in the comments and.or your thoughts on poverty and our role in complicating ourselves in order to eliminate the deprivation of a basic human right.

Squint your eyes and look closer.

Last Friday night, I traveled up to Denton, TX to meet B. (in the pic above). We went to Dallas for a rockin Ani Difranco concert. It was a good night. Ani is a favorite of mine and it was my first time to see her live. If you are familiar with Ani, you know that she is VERY liberal and FAR FAR left. As a result she has a large lesbian following, so you can imagine how different an Ani Difranco concert is from a John McCain political rally.

B. and I were remarking about how the people around us would react if they knew that we loved Jesus and B. seemed to be the only one in the room that did not applaud when Ani asserted that she would be voting for Obama (I did clap, because I will- in fact- be vboting for Obama). We had the best time and were very comfortable being around so many respectful and kind women. Usually at concerts, it is important to be very cautious of some of the creepy men around and utilize the buddy system.

As I looked around during Ani's song, 32 Flavors, this neat feeling of thankfulness passed over me. Regardless of my personal decisions and stances on sexual orientation, I am greatful for places like this concert for making ME the minority and giving these women a safe space where they can just BE. Our world (and sometimes especially the evangelical world) seems to be intent on dehumanizing these very women while they are beautiful and worth being loved by the same Creator with whom I am in relationship.

Before we can speak to anyone on ANY level about their decisions, we have to learn how to love them. MAy I find myself in many more situations where I am indeed the other, and may I have the oportunity to find space to just be while making that space available to others through relationships.

Blog Action Day is October 15

Blog Action Day 2008 Poverty from Blog Action Day on Vimeo.

Blog Action Day is an annual nonprofit event that aims to unite the world’s bloggers, podcasters and videocasters, to post about the same issue on the same day. The aim is to raise awareness and trigger a global discussion. The 2008 issue is poverty. I will be participating and posting. Will you?

Learn more Here

Familiar stranger

Since I don't have a job I get to sit in a coffee shop and listen to Patty Griffin as I edit and reedit my cover letter for potential employment opportunities. I watch you each day, wandering around the burnt colored couches and java-inhaling students on their laptops, looking for a place to sit yourself and your fanny pack. You never approach the register, yet you usually have a beverage.

I wonder, what goes on in that head of yours placed so neatly under that baseball cap with the John Deere insignia. We have shared a couch often, so I know you are a people watcher like myself, though you only talk to those who call you by name first. I do not know your name so you don't talk to me. You just sit and listen to music on a portable CD player- a throwback to times of old.

I like to think that you are listening to the ocean- sort of a battery operated sea shell, revealing to you the sounds of places afar- and then you close your eyes and you are in a child's drawing of the beach, walking in the yellow sand as the bright blue waves crash against the crayon blue shore. A little water splashes on your acid washed jeans, so you bend down to roll them up. I imagine you are very particular.

You point at the purple birds as they fly by and maybe you laugh so joyfully that some passersbys can't help but to stare. You look down and some turquoise and tangerine fish catch your eye as they slide from the water to the sand. As you grasp felt covered fish, rear your arm behind your head and release them into the waves you think, "This must be heaven."

You pick up a seashell placing it to your ear and you hear the sounds of an espresso machine, cash registers ringing, and people typing.