Maybe Obama Should Stay Away From Camp David For a While?

Well, a storm is brewing in Thurmont politics. Three of the five town commissioners want the mayor to resign, all because he had the audacity to call one of the commissioners out on giving the local newspaper the names of residents delinquent on their electric bills.

A note of explanation: the town of Thurmont used to provide electricity to town residents. Now, they contract out to the local power company, so residents pay their electric bills to the town, which then pays the utility company. So residents not paying their bills would create a problem.

Now, there is no clear evidence, at least not publicly available, that one of the commissioners is actually the person who provided the paper with the list (I think it's more likely than not, though). But this is not something for the mayor to resign over. If he's wrong, he should apologize, but resign? It's a bit much, especially considering that there is an election soon.

Oh, small town politics. How I am glad Rocky Ridge doesn't have a town government. Church politics there are enough.

Also, on a completely unrelated note, apparently I am going clothes shopping this weekend. Jon and Jess have decided that my wardrobe needs some work (and I admit, I do need a new pair of pants). Any suggestions from the peanut gallery?

The Bleeding Has Stopped

When we last left off, your mortal author was observing several pieces of his life unraveling quickly. However, things are starting to look up a little bit. First, the computer has started behaving itself again. So I can put off the purchase of a new laptop for a while at least. Second, the microwave has also gone back to normal (although I'm still not ready to leave it plugged in while I am not here).

But, I am still single (no surprise there), with no prospects in sight.

On a happier note, those of you who signed the guest book at the church should be getting some sort of card/note in the next few days. According to my preacher, six of you signed the book, which leads me to wonder who the three who didn't sign are, not that it matters all that much.

And to the couples out there, happy Valentine's Day. To the rest of us, happy Singles' Appreciation Day.

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.