Spring is in the air (doo doo doo)

I have been haunting Central Park for weeks waiting for my favourite tree to bloom. Well yesterday was my day!

Here are some of the pics from my adventure in the park--flowers, trees, and wild life (especially the last one!).




























































Pathway to my Beauty...














is she not glorious!

Because all Canadians live in igloos, right?

This is for Prof Tina who needs her day of sunshine!

Now that Vancouver has won the chance to host the 2010 Winter Olympics, these are some questions people from all over the world are asking. Believe it or not these questions about Canada were posted on an International Tourism Website. Obviously the answers are a joke; but the questions were really asked!

Q:I have never seen it warm on Canadian TV, so how do the plants grow (England)
A. We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around and watch them die.

Q:Will I be able to see Polar Bears in the street? (USA)
A: Depends on how much you've been drinking.

Q:I want to walk from Vancouver to Toronto -can I follow the Railroad tracks? (Sweden)
A: Sure, it's only Four thousand miles, take lots of water.

Q:Is it safe to run around in the bushes in Canada ? (Sweden)
A: So it's true what they say about Swedes.

Q: Are there any ATM's (cash machines) in Canada ? Can you send me a list of them in Toronto , Vancouver , Edmonton and Halifax ? (England)
A: What, did your last slave die?

Q:Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Canada ? (USA)
A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe . Ca-na-da is that big country to your North...oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in
Calgary. Come naked.

Q:Which direction is North in Canada ? (USA)
A: Face south and then turn 180 degrees Contact us when you get here and we'll send the rest of the directions.

Q: Can I bring cutlery into Canada ? (England)
A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do.

Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule? (USA)
A : Aus-t ri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which is...oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Vancouver and in Calgary ,
straight after the hippo races. Come naked.

Q: Do you have perfume in Canada ? (Germany)
A: No, WE don't stink.

Q: I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth. Where can I sell it in Canada ? (USA)
A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather.

Q: Can you tell me the regions in British Columbia where the female population is smaller than the male population? (Italy)
A: Yes, gay nightclubs.

Q: Do you celebrate Thanksgiving in Canada ? (USA)
A: Only at Thanksgiving.

Q: Are there supermarkets in Toronto and is milk available all year round? (Germany)
A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of Vegan hunter/gatherers. Milk is illegal.

Q: I have a question about a famous animal in Canada , but I forget its name. It's a kind of big horse with horns. (USA)
A: It's called a Moose. They are tall and very violent, eating the brains of anyone walking close to them. You can scare them off by spraying yourself with human urine
before you go out walking.

Q: Will I be able to speak English most places I go? (USA)
A: Yes, but you will have to learn it first.

(This brilliant example of smartassery brought a tear to my eye! So very proud I am of being Canadian!)

Yes I am a geek

just needed a little confidence builder ;)

You know the Bible 100%!

Wow! You are awesome! You are a true Biblical scholar, not just a hearer but a personal reader! The books, the characters, the events, the verses - you know it all! You are fantastic!

Ultimate Bible Quiz
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Obedience, inspiration, joy, and hope

Once again I have been ordered out of my quiet solitude by Miss Bossy Sassy Femme. Actually, I’m quite moved that she noticed. Reminds me of the conversation in which I told my stepmother that I had a blog (and then had to explain what a blog was) and she asked me, “Why would anyone care?” Well, it seems that somebody does and it’s one of the many reasons that I so value my friend.

Sometimes there’s just too much to write about, so I write nothing. It’s all I can do to keep the whirring in my head down to a semi-deafening roar. Still, since Sassy’s summoning I will endeavor to give some of the highlights since Easter.

Last week I happened to see a notice for a lecture as I walked by a church near work. The speaker was someone that I had heard of in the past but wasn’t very familiar with. The reason it caught my attention was that I had just spent the last couple of days on one of my favorite “Episcopal happenings” site (my term) and had noticed that quite a few of the commenters referenced James Alison. Well it turned out that he was speaking the next night at this church and on one of my favorite themes—“How can I be gay and Catholic?” (read Christian) I was stunned by the man’s intellect but even more so by the spirit of the man. There was such peace and lack of resentment, anger, or bitterness. I walked away in awe, inspired and filled with hope. I am working my way through one of his books and must say it’s like learning how to read again. I think that I’m probably only getting a fraction of what he’s saying but I keep seeing his gentle humble face and am moved to go a little deeper.

The next day I was on a plane to Vermont to attend my friends’ wedding aka holy union blessing. What an incredible honor and privilege it was to see these 2 men, one of whom is a priest, who have loved, honored, and supported each other for almost 17 years make a public commitment before God, family, and friends. It was such an inspiration and so incredibly normal and right. I honestly don’t have words to express the profound hope and joy I felt all last weekend.

Then of course there has been the heartbreak of this week, for which I truly have no words. Some things are simply impossible to understand. Please remember the students, families, and community of Virginia Tech in your prayers.

Those were some of the highlights. There is much more but I think this should be sufficient for now—ok Miss Sassy? If I’m more quiet than usual, it’s simply because I’m trying to get organized with regard to financial aid applications and trying to navigate the logistics of completely uprooting my whole life. Prayers would be much appreciated!

Happy Easter

Glorious Mystery

darkness dispersed by Light

death swallowed up by Life

despair banished by Hope

dread evicted by Joyous Expection

Wondrous Glorious Mystery

Resurrect our love, compassion, and kindness

Consume our fear, cruelty, and pride

May that which made empty the tomb

Ignite our lives and transform us for good

for glory

forever.

Journey during Holy Week

Holy Week began for me with a celebration. My dear friend of the heart, otherwise known as "Soul Sister," made her life profession as an episcopal nun last Saturday. I don't know when I have been so moved. Knowing all that she's been through, seeing where she's been and who she is made me feel so proud and humbled at the same time.

I'm sure she has no idea about the lessons she has taught me over the years through her ups and downs, struggles and joys. It takes real courage to be fully human. What do I mean by "fully human"? I mean being courageously truthful about all that you are, all that you think and feel--not hiding anything from yourself or the One from whom nothing is hid.

If becoming fully human can be compared to the act of giving birth, I can witness to the bloodiness and mess of it. I can also witness to the miracle of freedom and fullness at the end of it.

By the time Palm Sunday arrived I was worn out with joy.

Now I am feeling simpy quiet.
Waiting.
Hoping.
Humbled.

Let me share from one of the prayers on Saturday:

O God, we humbly ask that as we go out from here today,
warm with the love of one another and of You,
we carry to a world in need the gifts of your Holy Spirit.
Grant us wisdom, understanding, counsel, knowledge,
ghostly strength, true godliness and holy fear.
Give us grace to place our trust in You,
to abandon oursleves to your loving service
and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Give us eyes to see and ears to hear oppression,
deceit, anger and fear and meet them
with hope and love and truth and freedom.
Give us hearts that break then mend them
with the knowledge that it is the love we love with
that is the healing love.