Sabbath Blogger

Being a full-time working gal is great. But certainly curtails the time for this pasttime as I head off for an early train and wander home in the dark even on a summer evening.

Even emails are a hurried matter early in the morning or late at night = scanning for the urgent and leaving 112 unopened in the inbox.

So do I desert the blogosphere and decide it filled but an interlude 'between jobs' (as they say)?

Or do I continue to feel anxiously guilty about my neglect of the domain and feel paralysed: unable to return with confidence to cyberfriends I neglect?

No No. (I would like to say No No No but I can't think of a third unacceptable option)

I will be a Sabbath blogger

Sunday will be my day for visiting and reflecting on my week

For some of my cyberfriends my Sunday is their Saturday - so this is Sabbath in the original and the Christian tradition

And now off to a farewell lunch for family member heading to the freezing climes of Oklahoma for a year of cultural exchange. A change from 43 degrees Celsius here last week!

We're back

And in the past few weeks have:

• Driven from Sydney to Melbourne via the coast
• Seen kangaroos up so close at Durras North
• Camped within two metres of a goanna and a black snake
• Bought beautiful pottery at Cobargo
• Found new relationships with family and friends
• Had a welcome reminder of 'home' with the story of Pelorus Jack retold at Eden whale museum
• Celebrated a birthday with a harbour cruise and extravagant meal in Merimbula
• Paddle-boated around the estuary at Lakes Entrance (and disobeyed the rules by going just outside the marker buoy
• Walked through bush, along beaches, and through amazing mazes
• Tasted and bought wine at Foxeys hangout
• Watched New Year fireworks in Melbourne (from a distance)
• Traveled home by train (2 1/2 hours late!)
• Packed away all the Christmas decorations
  
• Heard Shane Claiborn in person
  
• Swum on the Gold Coast
  
• And finished an academic paper for publication. worked hard on course books for the new year, started lecture notes (again for the new year), pulled a thigh muscle, moved into a new office (at same workplace), started the knitting of a warm winter jumper (sweater/ jersey) (for the Oklahoma-bound family member, loved, laughed, planned faith formation development day.
• Known joy

We're all going on a Summer Holiday

The tent has been tried out in the back yard - hole patched, poles repaired, pegs straightened. And then everything packed back down again before the grass was suffocated. The supplies are being assembled. The itinerary is planned and the camp sites (and weekend motel) booked. I'll be away from the blogosphere for a couple of weeks enjoying family and exploring more of this great country. And knitting a 12-ply jersey (jumper/sweater) for family member who heads to Oklahoma on a Rotary student exchange in exactly one month!!! Mother panics at the thought of how close it is :-) And rejoices at the anticipation of great times between now and then. I'll be back after New Year.

Christmas Jam

Just saw this great contribution from Brian McLaren that reminds me that Christmas is just the start of an amazing life

Counting down

Songbird is up early (or late - I'm not sure) and posted a Friday Five on a Christmas theme. Very simple. After a day spent writing and posting cards to family and family friends I feel ready for this one. Songbird writes:

It's true.

There are only five full days before Christmas Day, and whether you use them for shopping, wrapping, preaching, worshiping, singing or traveling or even wishing the whole darn thing were over last Tuesday, there's a good chance they will be busy ones.

So let's make this easy, if we can: tell us five things you need to accomplish before Christmas Eve.

1. Write prayer-for-others and prepare reflective powerpoint for Sunday morning worship
2. Complete the final drafts of Year 1 and Year 2 tutor handbooks for 2009
3. Read The Christmas Mystery (an annual tradition)
4. Send working-away-from-home-all-summer family member a special package
5. Check the tent, cook the chicken, prepare the picnic and anticipate the holiday
   

Christmas Meme

From Ruth - who got it from Jan and decided to play.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Definitely paper
2. Real tree or Artificial?
Artificial. So I can put it up for All Saints and keep it 'til Epiphany (or even 'til Candlemas as I did this year)
3. When do you put up the tree?
Oh I already answered that. I aim for All Saints. But this year it was well into December.
4. When do you take the tree down?
12th night - and if not then it stays up until Candlemas in February.
5. Do you like eggnog?
Yes, great winter treat.
6. Favorite gift received as a child?
One year our Aunt made bride outfits for our dolls. All different. They were so gorgeous.
7. Hardest person to buy for?
Well - I try not to buy (Advent Conspiracy fits well with my philosophy) but I do seem to have difficulty 'getting it right' for my immediate family
8. Easiest person to buy for?
Above notwithstanding, I don't mind buying for the family member who is always appreciative of an annual undie restock.
9. Do you have a nativity scene?
Several. This one set up at home, and holy family at work on my bookshelf. Plus smaller ones about the place.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Bit of both but I do prefer the tactile involvement of writing in 'real' cards.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
With a birthday just a few days later, I always felt short changed when well meaning rellies said "we got you a bigger Christmas present that will be for your birthday as well"
12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Joyeux Noel, Santa Clause, I haven;t seen The Nativity yet.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
No special time
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Yes
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Almond biscuits. With lemon or ginger.
16. Lights on the tree?
None this year, They died last year and I haven't replaced them.
17. Favorite Christmas song?
One???? Five CDs on the player are my faves - Blind Boys of Alabama; Jamoa Jam (I'm dreaming of an Island Christmas); Old Fashioned Christmas (from a bargain bin - has some wonderful really old stuff I'd never heard of); Carol our Christmas; Joy to the World - Scottish Festival Singers.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
A mix. We have almost always been too far from family to even attempt to visit. Last year we were at home and all the children returned to us. This year we are driving on the first 'leg' of our summer camping trip around the NSW south coast.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's?
No
20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Angel
21. Open presents Christmas Eve or morning?
After church on Christmas Day
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
Needless spending
23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
Our tree declares I am an angel girl, and I also have boxes of bells (ring out good news) birds, stars, balls (to represent the world/globe) etc etc. I also love using indigenous flora of this country e.g. the Advent wreath on our table.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
Picnic at the beach with chicken, salad, christmas cake and cherries (or any stone fruit really) a bottle of lemon lime and bitters and other tasty treats
25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
Justice and Joy
26. What do you like most about Christmas?
Anticipation of Advent, joy of Christmas, wonder of Epiphany. And wearing my Christmas earings.

If you want to play, leave a comment here. It will be fun to read other answers.

A good life

Meme found at Black Pete's and fun to try. I still have quite a few to do!

99 Meme - 111 Meme

Nicked from Marja-Leena

The rules are simple: bold the things you've done. Explanations are optional. Fun is guaranteed.
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (depends what you mean by ill though)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice (too expensive - did manage the water taxi)
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise (for a day)
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout/Guide Cookies/Biscuits
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason (there's always a reason - someone sent them!)
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a cheque
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt (very small)
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book (as in managed the publication process)
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

With all respect, to balance the American references, Pete offered the following addenda, to modify the meme:

100. Climbed a Toltec pyramid in Mexico
101. Attended a church service in Cuba
102.Visited the Nagasaki Peace Park
103.Lived in the vicinity of some of the oldest landscape on the planet (depends definition of vicinity - but some of South Australia is very very old - and a long way from Sydney I concede)
104.Visited 3 historical sites in my own country: Waitangi and Parihaka in NZ, Darwin in Australia)
105. Been within 100 metres of an active volcano

With equal respect, to balance the euro-american references, and to add to the fun, I offer the following addenda:
106. Baked a pavlova
107. Seen Uluru in person.
108. Seen the Lady Knox geyser erupt in person
109. Swum in Waikeremoana
110. Not taken a sick day when you were ill
111. Walked across the harbour bridge (Auckland or Sydney)