Well, At Least Sunday Went Well

With the exception of Sunday, this week has been bad. Really bad.

First, I think the computer is finally dying. Yes, it's over 5 and a half years old, but I am not looking forward to spending the money for a new one. The computer has gotten slower and slower and Internet Explorer has balked at opening Facebook. Looks like I may be going to the campus computer store next week to purchase a new computer, probably a Mac.

Second, it's back to the drawing board for something. And I have no idea where to begin.

Add that to the fact that I have yet to catch up on the sleep I lost last weekend, and, well, yeah.

Here's to hoping next week is better. But with Singles' Appreciation Day at the end of it, I'm not holding much hope.

One More Checkmark

Today was the day of the sermon. And I survived. Thank you to all those who have given me any kind of support through this. It was really nice to have several of you in the congregation this morning (and many of you commented that members of the church felt the same way). Overall, I think it went well. Everyone said that they enjoyed the sermon, although I don't think anyone would have told me I did a terrible job even if I did so. In fact, while we were getting ready to select an extra hymn since the children were running late, one of the choir members decided to make his feelings known to the congregation and thanked me for what he said was a job well done. I can't say that the possibility of someone in the church doing something like that had not crossed my mind, but I still couldn't help feeling that my face was becoming red.

In fact, I can only think of one potential downside to this, one I had not considered until this past week. If everyone thinks I did a good job, I may be put on call as a backup for the actual pastor when she is away. Translation: substitute preaching becomes my job until death.

Well, back to grad school things.

I Have Some Interesting Friends

I've known this for quite some time, now, but after tonight's conversations, it went to a whole new level. And Laura, I'm working on that proof.

Time for Some Go/No-Go Decisions

Well, with four days until the start of the new semester, and ten days until that church service I'm leading, it's time to see whether launch is a go.

1. Doctor's Appointments: I've had a physical and a dental exam in the past two weeks. All seems to be okay except my LDL is slightly above normal, and yet I am technically underweight by BMI standards. I guess it's more Cheerios for breakfast for me. The dental exam was routine (no cavities), except for listening to the inauguration during the cleaning (more on this later).
2. Textbooks: They have been purchased and have begun to be read. In front of Law and Order.
3. Teaching Assignment: I get to teach Math 112 this semester, as the actual instructor. May heaven have mercy on those students, because I won't (okay, that's a bit of a stretch).
4. Parking: Aparently the parking situation at the apartment complex is being put under the university's transportation department, although we've officially been told nothing. It appears that procedures will pretty much stay the same, except that we may get new permits (and hopefully not be charged for them).
5. Sermon: The rough draft is finished, and I've received feedback from three people so far. Now I need to figure out how to trim the sermon down after revising it.
6. Rest of the Church Service: One of the Sunday School teachers has been tapped to lead the children's portion of the service. I have received the order of worship and some prayers to use throughout.
7. Travel Plans: These are still to be determined. I will get directions out to people sometime next week (one set from Frederick, as I think Adam can find his way there, and one from Baltimore).
8. Weather: Still to early to tell. And hopefully for the last time, I have no control over this.

Conclusion: all signs point to a go for launch, at least for the semester. The weather will determine the church service.
Oh, the comments on the inauguration. Let it be a lesson to us all to have a set of notes with us. Chief Justice Roberts botched the oath of office on Tuesday. This of course led to some people saying Obama was not legally president since the oath wasn't correct, and others to accuse Roberts of purposely messing up the ceremony. Both of these are absolutely ridiculous claims. The twentieth amendment makes it clear that Obama was president effective at noon on January 20, oath or no oath. Second, does anyone really think Roberts purposely made a fool of himself in front of the entire world to serve some political agenda? The man made a mistake. There is no "vast right-wing conspiracy" here. Fortunately, Roberts was gracious enough to go to the White House last night and administer the oath with the correct wording. So it kind of makes both ridiculous ideas moot.
Oh, and thank you to those who have reviewed the sermon and given me feedback. I sincerely appreciate it.

Two Week Warning

In a little under two weeks, I will be leading a church service, sermon included. It became a little more official this morning since the preacher at my church put in the bulletin for today's service that I will be leading the next one. (Remember, my church has two denominations that alternate which Sundays they worship.) So, uh, *gulp*.

At least the rough draft is finished. Those of you who volunteered to read over it and give input should receive it via email soon, if you have not already. And thank you in advance. I will try to get the sermon pretty well finished by the end of the week, as next week the new semester begins. This of course means that I need to buy textbooks sometime in there.

Fortunately, I get out of the immediate DC area Monday night to go back to Frederick County for a dentist appointment and lab work from last week's physical (the forms did not get here until after the physical). So I will return to College Park on Wednesday afternoon to avoid the inauguration traffic. And a couple of days after that, I should be getting my teaching assignment for next semester. See now why the sermon needs to be finished by the end of this week?

I would be remiss in not wishing luck to the soon-to-be President of the United States. Also, a very well done to the pilots and crew of the commuter jet that crash-landed in the Hudson on Thursday. That story could easily have had a very different ending. They deserve all the honors they receive.

Done!

The qualifying exam is over. I did a lot better on it than I expected (still not well enough to pass, though). Now on to that sermon thing. And number one on the previous list. It should be an interesting couple of weeks off.

And here's hoping the doctor doesn't find anything incredibly wrong during my physical on Monday.

2009: An Interesting Beginning

It is official: the new council for my church has been installed. As such, my term is concluded. My parents should have taken the blue president's bag into church this morning, so that part is also finished. However, I still have that sermon thing (right now I know of three people who have said they'll be there, four others who are maybes, and one other person I may also want to invite, but should probably do so in person). Sometime this week, I should be getting a bunch of materials in the mail to aid in the process, which will start in earnest after Friday. If anyone wants to read over it after I write it and before I give it so that I can get some feedback, I would appreciate it.

I was also hit with a bit of unexpected news. On Thursday, I got a call from my parents that my grandmother had set a date to get remarried. It was the next day at 4 p.m. (thus I had less than 24-hours' notice). Needless to say I did not go, but I was surprised that my grandmother did not see fit to inform my parents beforehand. Add that to the number of weddings and engagements impacting my life recently, which only serve to remind me I'm still single. And on that note, here is my list of things to do this year (as promised)

1. Figure out what research I want to do. I am leaning toward fluid dynamics, but I have recently been bitten by the atmospheric sciences bug again. Maybe things are coming full circle.
2. Get a physical for the first time in five and a half years. This will be taken care of on the 12th.

Oh, I have that nice qualifying exam on Friday. The one that is probably going to have its way with me. But I will get a glimpse as to how these things are scored before I actually need to start passing them. And it gives me an excuse to spend time with people this week.
Here's to 2009...