Flying Leap

Do you ever read someone’s blog (we’ll call him That Person) but, then just have to stop because he/she is so d%$&@^ sure he/she knows what he/she’s talking about … but said person is painfully clueless — worse — he/she’s got a sizeable audience looking on … so really, when you should be getting politely into it in the comments section, or just leaving a few illuminating thoughts on your own slice of blogdom … you’d far rather leap off a particularly dramatic-looking overpass into some random swamp and forget the whole thing? Do you? Huh? Well, that’s me right now. That’s me a lot of the time, actually. Do I flatter myself? … Yeah, that’s me, too.

Gotta work on that.

Right now, I’ve gotta get to Pick’n Save, though. Food for Chut, food for tomorrow … Aaaaah, tomorrow! I’ll blog on that next.

Bye, loves

Oh, but in case you missed it, Check out my pastor’s wife’s blog when you get a minute. It started out political, but it’ll branch out from there … and you’ll llllllllLLLLLLLOVE IT!!

And then you’ll call your mama for money the way you always do.

Head in the Clouds

My head’s in the clouds … and that’s to say nothing of where the rest of me is. Yes, and I’m afraid that’s the closest to earth you’re gonna get me for a while. I am in love.

All a’flutter, all a’twitter, all my spare time and thoughts being gathered up and filled to over-flowing with B. And I’m SO HAPPY! I can’t tell you. And if I were to even start, you’d all leave. So I probably won’t. … At least … I won’t say toooooooo terribly much. I might want to actually blog some time, after all … You know … and not be writing pointlessly into the proverbial void.

Which leads me to the question you yourself have asked time and time again: “If someone blogs alone in a forest, and no one’s around to read it … does the tree he hangs himself from in utter despair even bother to make a sound?”

What’s with me and voids, lately? It must be the word of the week.

This love thing has my head in a void, though. Perhaps that’s what keeps bringing the word back to the forefront. And when I say my mind’s a void, I mean I am a complete air head of late! That’s not an over-statement, trust me. For instance — I would be the one who put a dollar into the soda machine, grabbed my change, and walked halfway back to the office before I realized I had forgotten my Diet Coke in said machine. That would be me. I’m also the one who put the bus money into the time clock on my way out of work. I have put milk in the microwave, knives in the toaster, and walked out the door with mismatched shoes … all in the midst of my twittering/fluttering VOID over B!

Ooh. Did I write B? Wow. Haven’t thought about him in a long time. Must be nearly five minutes since I just sat and truly contemplated the incredible significance of … *sigh* my very own B!

Good night, loves.

I do believe in blogs

I do believe in blogs. I DO believe in blogs. I do I do I do I do I DO believe in blogs.

*Closes eyes very tightly. Squinches up face. Imagines clean, blank blogging area where thoughts can flow. Like milk and honey, they can flow flow flow.*

Like I said before, I will not apologize. I’m not going to promise to update regularly or anything rash (and utterly ridiculous) like that. I can’t. Blogs are supposed to be a fun thing. And believe me — ain’t too much of anything less fun than coming home after 8 hours at a computer screen, with only 4 hours left till you have to go back to sleep, than to sit down in front of a computer screen. Again. And try to think happy thoughts to write about.

Well, I do have some happy thoughts tonight.

First off, I have experienced an immeasurable lightening of spirit ever since Betty and the other Babes came over to help me clean/de-dog-hair/air-out my apartment. We packed the remainder of Steve’s stuff in boxes, vacuumed all rugs and furniture, cleaned windows, threw stuff out, reorganized, redecorated … It was amazing! I never would have been able to do it all alone! Seriously … no matter how well you know how to clean as a blind person, there’s just gonna be some stuff you over look, you know? There just is. And, then this guy, Scodd (only because Betty can’t remember his real name, Todd, and ends up calling him Scodd instead) was apprised that my garbage disposal wasn’t working right. He came forthwith, with his mother en tow (which I thought was really beyond cool because she’s not out and about too much these days). She folded laundry and offered to do mending if I had any. Scodd meanwhile fixed said garbage disposal, fixed windows, fixed the smoke alarm (which was hanging by a cord from when some unnamed someone yanked it out of the ceiling), fixed some stuff going on with my furnace, and offered to fix my vacuum cleaner (which had just croaked halfway through vacuum-o-rama 2006). Hasn’t called me on that yet, though. We’ll see.

Work is going well: Nothing much new to report on that front except for the tons of time I am spending with someone we’ll refer to as B from here on. B is someone you’ll recognize from this earlier post … and I still get a kick out of knowing I blogged about the way we met without understanding the significance of said meeting.

Little did I know that those awkward few minutes sweating over whether or not I should page Chuck would be the first few of many minutes spent with B. We enjoy each other’s company immensely and we talk a lot on the phone. That’s about it (sorry, no blazing romance to report) but if that’s going to happen, now is not the time. We both realize that. But, as I told him yesterday, that realization is kind of boring, so I’m not going to let it ruin what we have now, which is just fun. No jumping ahead irresponsibly, but, at the same time, no “I’m sorry. I can’t play Scrabble with you alone in my house because you’re a guy … and guys date girls … and we’re not dating or anything” … which can get ridiculous.

And I can get ridiculous both ways. So pray for both of us, OK? Thanks.

Thanksgiving was fun. My fam (minus Kristin who went to Basically-Canada-Land Northern Ninnesota) came to my house along with my aunt Judy and cousin Jeremy. … Oh, and their unannounced little dog, Bambie, who pooped on my bed. We had all the regular Thanksgiving fare (turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cinnamon butternut squash, green bean casserole, corn, rolls, pickles, olives, salad, and cranberry juice with ginger ale). After dinner came a general snoozing/watching TV interval brought on by having eaten so much (plus the appetizers earlier of chips with taco dip, cheese and crackers, and cookies). Yeah … we were just a little full.

Then came Steve and Laurie, meaning the Scrabble tournament was on. Out came the two Braille Scrabble boards. Dad, Steve, Mike and Jeremy were at one table, while we girls (Mom, Laurie, Anna and I) took the other. Mom and Steve won their respective games, so they had a play-off and Steve won.

Oh yeah … Along with their Braille Scrabble, their killer home-made bread, and their even killing-er home-made mint fudge brownies with nuts, Steve and Laurie brought the newly-developed wedding pictures, which you can see HERE (password = heesen2006). You can see all 535 of them there. I’ve asked Laurie if she’ll do a general descriptive run-down for those of us who can’t see them, and she’s agreed, so that’s coming! She’ll have to keep on me to get that done though, because I tend to just … not do things sometimes.

And then Laurie spilled her water directly into my lap. That was precious.

Things are going well with Baby Church (now more resembling Toddler Church — only potty-trained and eating only solid spiritual food). I was made the first non-charter member October 15th at Jim and Betty’s home and officially welcomed into fellowship during the morning service the following week. I was at Jim and Betty’s for a meeting with the elders during which I gave my salvation testimony and all of us asked questions of each other affirming that this church and I were a good fit and that I agreed with the constitution and bylaws. And I do believe we are a very good fit indeed! So after putting my “yea” in the book next to my name, Betty and the elders’ wives decided all this called for a little pageantry. They got up right there and did a little song and dance! It was so hilarious! It started all right, like a real song with words like, “Congratulations. We want to welcome you as a member” or something that they all sang and swayed to in unison. But, that lasted five seconds and they were just singing whatever came into their heads at the top of their lungs — stuff like “We hope you like it here, because we like you, too” … “We like your flute and your dog, and we want you to staaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAY!”

Well, I’m sure I can think of something else to write eventually, but for now, I’ll just leave it here. You’ve got the essentials, yes? I do love you all! Talk later. Bye bye!

No Apologies – Just Confusion

Hello there.

Why apologize for the way I am? I won’t do it. You’ll just have to live with my being the kind of person who doesn’t update her blog regularly. That’s who I am, I guess. Although I do feel guilty, I won’t apologize. I could make up an excuse, but the truth is, I just didn’t feel like writing: ya savvy? LOL So that’s weird, and a relatively new phenomenon (about a year old, actually). I’m not comfortable with not liking to write. That used to be me: Sarah, the would-be may-be, someday, published novel writer who just writes in her blog in the mean time because she enjoys it so much. Well, that isn’t me anymore. I don’t sit in a little cafe with my Braille Note writing about Charlotte, I don’t troll the online writing forums for tips and plot-thinners, I can’t even make myself blog anymore, and most of all, I don’t know why. I’m still quite surprised, even after a year of it. And I feel it’s a little unfair, because when you’ve got something that purposeful and consuming, and gradually that something goes, the usual protocol is for something else — something just as enjoyable and preferably more constructive to slide obligingly into the void left by your former vice. Yeah … that’s my understanding anyway. … Something else should be sliding in … right about now, to give my creativity some purpose.

…

…

That’s what they tell me anyway … … …

…

Ah-hhem … Anytime now …

…

Right about now … … … ah … Would be good …

Yeeeeeesh

Cool, Clear Stream of Consciousness

See right there I thought I was writing a title, forgetting I’d already written ‘Yeeeeesh’ as a title. Take this gesture as it is meant: a tongue sticking out in the face of my normal lucidity while writing stuff. And am I lucid even? Ever? I can’t remember.

The following text is the text that follows this statement:

I’m going to have to start using passworded posts, so if you should ever out of curiosity want to read one, please email me and I’ll give you the key. Chances are you’ll have to either be a really good friend or a complete stranger to get the correct key though. Or maybe just someone I trust or from whom I wouldn’t mind a little advice. Then again, I kind of think the whole idea of passworded posts is a little off-putting. So maybe I won’t even go that route. Who knows? I’m a woman: I can change my mind to match my socks, whenever I please. But it is good to know that I in fact have the option to password the whole thing, so no one sees my socks when I don’t want them to.

I don’t wear socks much lately.

Sssssssssssssh. *giggle giggle*

I want to do Caroline’s survey. You know, the one with 90 questions. Shall I? Shall I right now?

No. Give it 15 minutes or so. Then I’ll change my mind and go to bed.

Stephen broke his Windows Media Player, and he’s using my Book Port. I’m stuck loading mp3’s into the Studio Recorder beta I downloaded.

Right now, I’m listening to Thursday’s general session of ACB-ness. Frank Curt Sylke is dancing hotly on the WebBraille shut-down issue. HA! He’s got quite an interesting amalgamation of dialects under-lying his New England accent. He completely drops the middle ‘t out of the word ‘titles.’ … I wonder where he grew up? Kind of a North-Brit sound — but just on that one word. Hmmmm.

Man, what a pain not to have WMP! And his compy won’t even let me think about downloading Winamp.

Frank Curt Sylke’s computer of course … not Steve’s.

I’m not drinking tonight at all. I promise.

It was almost like Christmas in July when I checked into Audible to renew my subscription now that funds are sufficient. I had 8 credits to my name! How could I not notice I’d never turned off my subscription in the first place? 8 creds! What to read … what to read! … (when I get Booker P back, that is.

I’ve been catching lots of television! Oh yes … I have. I like 24 and West Wing just as much as anticipated. I catch Glenn Beck at 6:00 every night while I eat supper. If you don’t catch Glenn … it’s entirely OK. He’s not nearly as good at the TV thing as he is at the radio. On radio … he rules the waves in Rush’s wake.

What do you guys think about Rush’s viagra thing? I don’t know much about it at all. All I do know is that I’m not surprised. To tell the truth, nothing he could do would surprise me. He’s an Addict with a capital ADD. (Wait … Glenn’s the ADD reference, really) … but anyway. Rush, we’ve always known what you are. Just … please … keep broadcasting from prison when the day comes, all right?

When it’s someone like Rush, I’m not surprised. When it’s someone like a pastor, I’m still not surprised. One thing Rush and even the most devout of the clergy have in common is their humanity. They are men. Their natural instinct is to seek pleasure and sex and widen their respective circles of influence, right? Anything beyond the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not natural … as in supernatural … as in of the grace of God. Are we any different? No. If you are a Christian, you know it’s a struggle to always put off the old man in favor of the new. Paul wouldn’t have to remind us to do it if it weren’t a struggle at times.

I’m not excusing sexual infidelity for the Church, OK? I think it’s devastating! A pastor caught in adultery should be dismissed at once. He has just ruined his ministry. The Bible is clear on that. But I also know we can go to extremes sometimes to dole out the punishment that is God’s and not ours to give. Rachael and I were discussing this last night. And I’ve just been thinking about what cows Christians can be sometimes. We really need to be on our knees more. And not in public, blithely declaring the depthless depravity of those fallen brothers and sisters we must ‘brush away with the other filth on our feet’ but in private, when there’s only God to weep with us. And I have wept over this very thing. I’ve seen how the righteous can come to ruins. Moreover, I’ve seen how their families suffer and break.

There is so much to say on this subject. We need to start saying it instead of brushing it under our white-washed rugs while the world watches with gleeful … ummmm

gleeful …

Wow. there’s a word for obvious perverted enjoyment, but I don’t have it now. Something else then …

Finally, I’m starting to get tired. What to do — what to do …

YOUR NAME

(1) The singular boring question: What is your name?

Sarah

(2) If you had been born a member of the opposite sex, what would your name have been?

Jonathan. In fact, Steve was supposed to be a Jonathan, so I would have certainly gotten it.

(3) Would you name a child of yours after you?

No

(4) If you had to switch first names with a friend of yours, who would you switch with?

I always thought Meredith was a pretty name.

(5) What’s the way people most often mispronounce any part of your name?

They say Hessen for my last name. Really. This has to stop. It’s pretty much constant. In fact, all my return emails my first few weeks of work were routed to Sarah.Hessen@basesupply.com. Meanwhile, I was only receiving the ones from people who knew how to spell my last name. So if you wrote a new message and manually entered my address, it probably got to me. But if you replied to something I wrote … no … I never got it! This kerfuffle only came to people’s notice when I was found not to have been doing any of the work assigned to me via email. It wasn’t getting done because people sent it all to sarah.hessen!!!!

(6) If you were to become famous, would you drop your last name (like Madonna, Cher, Roseanne)?

No

(7) How easy is it to make you laugh?

Very.

(8) What person you know makes you laugh the most?

My sister Kristin, hands-down!

(9) Do you laugh at jokes you know you shouldn’t?

Yes

(10) Do you tell jokes you know you shouldn’t?

At times. I’m not exactly known for it though.

(11) What words instantly make you laugh or at least smile?

Biscuit. Gobbet. Glom. Pustule. Sprout. … many many others.

(12) What do you think is the funniest thing you’ve ever said or written?

That’s tough. People think I’m being funny when I’m dead serious.

(13) Do you ever dance to music when nobody’s watching?

Yes.

(14) What is/are the worst song(s) you have ever heard?

Unfortunately, it’s a Gospel song. It should be erased at once from all hymnals … and indeed, from Church history as a whole. It’s called “Let Him Have His Way With Thee.” SLKGSLGSIWIOVOSOO> THAT is beyond disturbing!

(15) What song(s) do you wish you could understand a little better?

The beautiful arias in other languages.

(16) What song(s) are constantly in your head?

Gloria. Ezekiel Saw the Wheel. Star dust (Benny Goodman’s first one). Popular (from Wicked the musical. Fit (The Streets). Eleanor Rigby (the Beatles).

(17) What song(s) do you think describe your personality best?

Lately it’s ‘On My Own’ from Les Mis. But only five minutes ago it was Smile (And no, not Sarah Smile).

(18)If you were to serenade the object of your affections, which song(s)would you use?

I Will (Beatles)

(19)If the object of your affections were to serenade you, what song(s)would you hope he or she used?

I’d be floored by just about anything. Not Easy Being Green (Kermit’s smash hit)? A gregorian chant? Well, I’d melt through that floor if he played an instrument simultaneously. Some lush jazz standard with lots of improv on the piano. A Spanish love song on guitar. But that’s daydreamin’. In real life, I nearly flatlined from sheer blis when a MaryMartha choir boy got on one knee in front of me and sang You are my Sunshine ala Boys 2 Men. He was practicing for one of his day school performances, but I so wanted to reel him in by that sharp little neck tie and do a little practicing of my own.

(20) When eating, are you more concerned with taste or healthiness?

Depends on the time of day and how fat I’m feeling

(21) What’s your favorite kind of cheese?

Smoked Cheddar.

(22) What do you think your answer to the previous question reveals about your personality?

No. No … that would be the crackers question you completely overlooked.

(23) If you knew exactly what went into Chinese food, hamburger meat, etc., would you still eat it?

Ignorance is blis.

(24) Do you ever feel guilty eating meat?

Yes.

COMPUTERS

(25) Mac or PC?

PC. At least until Mac gets its accessibility act together.

(26) How much do you actually care about the inner workings of your computer, as long as it works?

I care enough not to touch them.

(27) Do you ever begin preferring IMs to other forms of conversation?

No. I’m a relatively slow typist.

(28) Do you find you’re different talking through IMs than face-to-face or on the telephone?

Yes. For one thing, many people like to save their IMs for future perusal, or just to have a record. I’m more guarded on IMs.

(29) Have you ever ended bid on something on eBay and regretted it later?

No.

THE BATTLE OF THE SEXES

(30) Have you ever wished you could experience being the other gender?

Oh yeah. About once every month!

(31) What do you love most about the other gender?

That they like us.

(32) What do you dislike most about the other gender?

They’re becoming less and less assertive every day. They don’t charge anywhere on a white horse anymore. The women are mowing them down and leaving lots of carnage

(33) What do you understand least about the other gender?

I get them pretty well. I had two older brothers, and I get that ‘guy humor’ thing. They’re pretty straight forward, even when they think they’re hiding something. It’s us women who are hard to get.

NUMBERS

(34) Do you laugh when you hear or read the number 69?

No. I’d have to be a) a guy, and b) about 12 to laugh at the 69 thing..

(35) Were you lying about your answer to the previous question?

No

(36) Do you actually know your Social Security Number?

Yes, and I think it’s important that everyone know their SS number

(37) Do you actually know your IP address?

No, but I know where I can find it if I need it

(38) Do you know what an IP address is?

Yes

(39) Ever thought there were too many numbers floating around in our lives?

LOL … I work in e-commerce … Invoices, order numbers, account numbers, item numbers, ATRs, dimensions, and phone numbers phone numbers phone numbers to dial about them!

(40) Does your head begin to hurt when you think of infinity, imaginary numbers, irrational numbers, etc.?

No. It makes me smile and think of how awesome God is to keep it all so beautifully in balance as he has. And then to share some of his reasoning with us … I love that about Him.

LOVE, SEX AND ALL THAT

(41) Did you get a little frightened or uncomfortable seeing this as a section title?

No

(42) If someone you had no interest in dating expressed interest in dating you, how would you feel?

Umm … Probably just like I do when someone I have no interest in dating shows interest in me. That’s just a guess.

(43) Do you prefer getting to know someone first before dating them or going in “blind”?

I’d like to know them first, but I wouldn’t be opposed to blinding it with someone on the recommendation of someone who knows us well.

(44) Could you carry on a relationship with someone with the same first name as a family member?

I’d probably draw the line at Anna.

(45) Have you ever wished it was more “socially acceptable” for a girl to ask a guy out?

Sure.

(46) What’s your opinion on sex without emotional commitment?

LOL … How ridiculous of a question. What if I’m emotionally committed to having sex, how ’bout? Or ‘You make me emote: Let’s get it on!’ Now sex with rings on … That’s what I think of as commitment.

(47) Have you ever been romantically attracted to someone physically unattractive?

Yes.

(48) Do you think the opposite sex finds you good-looking?

Yes.

(49) Would you be willing to give up sex in exchange for an emotional commitment you knew would last?

You. Are Odd. What, like when I marry a gay quadriplegic or something?

(50) What do you think about homosexuality?

I don’t get it. I don’t think God made people who could only find sexual pleasure in someone of the same sex. I do have some pretty good gay friends. That aside, I think there’s probably a girl somewhere a ‘gay’ guy could fall in love with, because he’s got the wiring somewhere! I’m straight, but who knows what I’d decide about my preferences if I thought we were all a product of chance and I could love who I wanted how I wanted.

POSSESSIONS

(51) What is your favorite possession?

my Book Port

(52) What physical, tangible possession do you want most?

Some new skirts.

(53) How badly do you want it?

I’ll live either way.

(54) Have you ever seen ‘The Exorcist’?

No

THREE TRULY RANDOM QUESTIONS

(55) Would you like to be cloned?

Sure.

(56) Do you wish you could be alive when the world was ending, just to experience it?

I probably will be.

(57) Scaramouche, scaramouche, will you do the fandango?

Only on Thursdays.

THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

(58) When was the last time you let the people you love know you love them?

Today.

(59) What do you want the people who are reading this survey to know?

John, the disciple Jesus loved above all others was convinced that Jesus was God. He knew it, and he wrote a book in the Bible about it. I feel slightly sacreligious saying this, but it’s one of my favorite books in Scripture (along with Hebrews and Isaiah, and Romans, and Job, and Genesis, I mean), because John was Jesus’ top peep. Who better to know how it really went down? It starts out like this. Please read the whole thing sometime and tell me what you think.

HAVE YOU EVER

(60) Drank Alcohol:

Yip

(61) Gotten Drunk:

Nope. Never will, either. And from the amount of straight brandy I consumed without feeling the effects, I think it would take quite a lot to get me there anyway. Not that I’ll try.

(62) Had Sex:

Somehow, I get the feeling this whole survey was leading up to this question. But, no. I haven’t.

(63) Dyed Your Hair:

I sprayed it orange once for a spirit week function at college.

(64) Kissed the Same Sex:

My sisters. Little air/cheek kisses to girlfriends.

(65) Thought about Killing yourself:

No

(66)Hated Yourself:

Nope.

(68) Liked someone way older than you:

Yes. Nearly twice my age at 18. Dated him too.

(69) Liked someone way younger than you:

Not way way younger, but yes. Dated him too.

(70) Broken a Bone:

Yes. My brother would lay on his back on the livingroom floor and have me sit on his feet so he could launch me across the room. Once I landed on my right hand between the piano bench and the piano. We found out the next day that I’d broken my wrist.

(71)Had Surgery:

Yes.

(72) Talked to Strangers:

Isn’t everyone a stranger till you get to know them?

(73) Ran Away From Home:

No. Well … I kind of did when I packed up and flew the coop after college.

(74)Did the opposite your parents told you to do/not to do:

Of course.

(75)Sang in public:

yes

(76) Worn a Dress:

I’m most comfortable in a skirt.

(77) Worn a Tie:

No

(78) Worn a Suit:

A swim suit maybe …

(79) Gotten in to a physical fight:

yes, a couple of times I think

(80) Hurt someone emotionally:

MMMM-hmmm.

(81) Hurt someone physically:

Not seriously

(82) Made someone cry:

Oh come on. Of course!

(83) Said you loved someone:

Yes. Man, we’re really scraping the barrel, aren’t we?

(84)Said you hated someone:

Maybe when I was younger.

(85) Talked to a stuffed animal:

I don’t remember

(86) Talked to yourself:

Yes. Some of the most stimulating conversations I’ve ever had were among me, myself, and I.

(87) Danced in public:

Of course.

(88)Done pole dancing:

Haven’t you learned anything about me? Good glory

(89)Done Drugs:

No.

(90)Had any piercings in ears or weird places:

ears

(91)Interesting Facts About You:

I think if you’re a regular reader of my entries you probably all ready know quite a bit.

Weekend to end all weekends

The weekend to end all weekends is behind me. Not only was it Father’s Day weekend, but also, it was both the weekend of the 37th triennial WSVH Alumni reunion, and the weekend of Kristin’s high school graduation party! I was all over the place this weekend!

You can read the basics of the alumni bash at Caroline’s, so I won’t get too deeply into it. I will add, however, that by some strange turn of the wind, I was elected with two other people to represent WSVH Alumni on the Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired. As well, they voted me to serve on the board of alumni directors for the next 9 years. This was quite a surprise. I can’t say what it is that people know of me that would make them choose me over the Braille Note guy with the pages-long bio, for instance (who came in dead last in both races). I hope it’s not just my mom’s name (she’s been active in the blind community for years), but if it is, I’m looking forward to finding some sort of unique contributional outlet. And thanks to those of you who voted for me. Please expect to be asked lots and lots of questions about how this all works!

I had loads of fun this weekend! I thought I’d only be depressed meeting up with people who are either doing nothing with their post-grad lives or are so super-accomplished and fulfilled that I’d feel like a beggar in comparison. Well, there wasn’t time for either of those feelings. I was too busy practicing for the concert on Sunday or running errands for people, or practicing for the concert on Sunday, or sitting worshipfully outside the radio station while Dennis and Chris did their thing, or practicing for the memorial service when I finally found out the concert wasn’t my only gig on Sunday.

I stank in the concert on Sunday, btw.

Kristin’s grad party went well. We rented out Mocha Moment for the occasion. I think everyone enjoyed themselves. I only know there was a lot of inter-mingling of people among each varied circle of Kristin’s acquaintances. It wasn’t quite as crowded as expected, which might have had something to do with the fact that it was pouring and the tornado sirens were going off for a while there. LOL [favorite line of the day: Laurie {as we get more comfortable on the leather couches} - "Hmmmmm. The radio just said 'Take shelter immediately.' That might indicate a serious situation."]

As for Father’s Day, I think we’re celebrating that later. We must be, because nothing was done for Dad!! And he’s the one who made this weekend (and many many others) so successful for the Heesen clan and all their undertakings. THE SHAME! THE INDECENCY! I have an idea about salvaging Father’s Day, but Dad reads this, so …

Life Begins in West Allis

Yesterday was terrible. it took me half the day just to wake up, and the other half to realize I wasn’t gonna get a nap anytime soon. Luckily, after a quick word with the anti-Christ, I was able to convince him to alter his schedule so that 06-06-06 could go by uneventfully so I could at least sleep last night instead of reading/blogging endlessly on the mind-numbing fall-out of a potential apocalyptic development. So it’s more superfluity on the blog today … and tomorrow … and for as long as I can not feel guilty about it.

I really shouldn’t though. My life is actually getting more interesting. We’ll call those stories more fodder for my next podcast, though, because I’d rather talk about them and do a few sound-scenes than try to cover all the bases in letters. Besides, I’ve got a lot of good stuff on my Eddy that’s due to get published sometime. All I need to do is figure out with Steve where to set up my computer. That’s where Studio Recorder is, along with all my pod-safe music and such. So, there will be a 2nd podcast. I want to get it done before work starts on the 19th. As always, I do appreciate the continued saintly forbearance on your part.

These days running up to my job have been relaxing. I’ve been slowly unpacking my stuff and putting it all in place. I’ve been chillin’ with Steve while Laurie was in Utah learning the ropes in her new position as head of states and states full of deaf-people phone stuff. We went for Chinese with Laurie’s parents. I did lots of laundry. Today, I finally did some dishes. I also spent the better part of an hour reconfiguring the cord tangle draped tackily around the entertainment center. Thank you, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, for not bothering to feed the wires through the back of the cabinet when you hooked up my TV. It was great fun disconnecting, feeding through, and reconnecting each individual four-foot cord in and out amongst the digital box, the television, the DVD player and so on so they weren’t all hanging out the front.

Now you know who my real friends are, don’t you? I’ve referenced both the Anti-Christ himself, and You-Know-Who, and I’m not even done with this post.

The most enjoyable aspect of life here so far has been Risen Savior Bible Church. They began as a Bible study out of a local Evangelical-Free church. Not happy with the recent trend toward a Purpose-Driven Church mentality and a growing deemphasis of the Bible taking place in the congregation, — and unable to affect change after months of trying — this group began a Bible study on Sunday nights which is now in the process of becoming a new congregation of its own. I’ve never had the privilege of observing the birth of a new body of believers. It’s a little like walking into an elevator with a bunch of long-lost family members and finding out that you’re all getting off on the same floor, but you don’t know where you’re going after that. So you pray, you read Scripture, you have some refreshments, and you take a vote.

Steve was elected as a deacon, btw, as well as head of the committee to find us a permanent building. Some of the people in the elevator must really have a lot of faith.

I think we’re still technically a Bible study for the next few weeks, although we did get our first piece of church mail this last Sunday. We meet Sunday and Tuesday nights either in someone’s home or in a Baptist church that’s been loaned to us for $50 a month. Right now, it’s quite informal: there’s no written order of service, people speak right out during the message, and there’s plenty of eating and drinking through-out.

The people I’ve met in this baby church have been some of the most gracious, truly genuine Christians I’ve ever met. I knew this right off the first night, when I realized I’d been talking happily with 20 people, and I hadn’t felt one … not even one slight instance of blind burden syndrome or the all-too-common complete invisibility phenomenon. More on the people later, though. I’m still getting to know and love them all.

I guess that’s it for this post. I could write much more, but I’d rather try to fix the TV just now. I kind of sat on the remote and got into a menu or something that’s got it muted. It’s not the mute button though. Could be that it’s just not on speaking terms today. Hmmmmm.

What’s this box with pictures on?

Ladies and gents, Sarah has digital cable! One question: What do I watch?

Coming from someone who hasn’t watched more than one regular TV series since life BC (before college) I guess the phrase ‘I’m clueless here is the ultimate under-statement.

Trying to think here … the last time I took in more than two successive episodes of a single series was two summers ago and it was Star Trek, which doesn’t really count. Before that, we’re talkin’ maybe the summer reruns of 2000. I guess there’ve been a few Seventh Heaven episodes since then … and the Nanny whenever I could catch her. And the odd Jeopardy sprinkled here and there throughout because my mom’s an Alex/trivia fiend — but that was only when I was at home, it was on, and I was making an effort. I never had cable in my old apartment, and we didn’t watch TV at Maranatha (you had to go home for it on the weekend or slip out to a laundry mat to watch Idol. )

So, where from here?

I’ve got ny onto a zillion channels now. Pretty standard nowadays, right? Which one’s good and when?

Dude … there’s a book channel? Sweet!

And a beauty and fashion network?

I think I’ll naturally gravitate to the sci-fi channel because I like it as a genre. And I want to see desperate Housewives to see what’s addicted so many. I know I’d like Lost and 24 … drama-thriller stuff like that. So what else? I’d be interested in checking out a newer series or two. Any suggestions and showtimes would be very much appreciated! Thanks!

Pass the remote!

Car Talk

Not as in Click and Clack, but as in Sarah and Dad in the car this morning. This morning and every Saturday morning with Dad. Today it went as follows:

Sarah: “I couldn’t get myself to really care about David Blaine or how long he could or couldn’t hold his breath.”

Dad: “He said it was a big mistake to bring the chains in there with him.”

S: “How ridiculous. ‘Not only will I be suspended in a giant sphere of water till my skin rots off …’”

D: “I thought the chains added a little excitement, personally.”

S: “… ‘But, I’m going to be chained there …’”

D: “And when he went in, they played Barber’s Adagio for Strings.”

S: “‘And I might as well break the no-breathing record while I’m in there’ … What?”

D: ” They played Barber’s Adagio for Strings.”

S: “Barber has one of those?”

D: “He had the one that mattered.”

S: “All right. How does it go?”

D: “I have it here somewhere …”

S: “You mean you can’t just hum it?”

D: (putting a CD in) “No I can’t just hum it.”

S: “Oh yeah. I recognize this. Yeah.”

D: “And can you hum it?”

S: “Yes.”

D: “All right [turns it off] … Go for it then.”

S: (Hums it.)

D: (turning it on) “Way to go! It almost resembled it slightly even.”

S: “Some envelope-stuffing party at Kathy’s last night, eh?”

D: “Oh man! Quite a shindig!”

S: “What’d you think of Kay’s new dog, Genesis?”

D: “She was great. Hardly noticed she was there.”

S: “Well, she was outside most of the time, wasn’t she?”

D: “You mean Genesis made her Exodus?”

S: “HA! … I LOVE-iticus. For a Numbers of reasons.”

D: So, you know the story behind this song, right?”

S: “I can guess. Someone died.”

D: “No, but it is popular at funerals. But, the good story is that when Barber wrote this, he sent it off to Toscanini to hear what he thought of it. So he sent a copy and waited and waited to hear what Toscanini thought. Come to find out, Toscanini didn’t take time to write him back because he was too busy committing the score to memory.

S: “OK. That’s a little lame, don’t you think? He couldn’t find one hour out of 24 in a day to drop his friend a note to tell him he liked it?”

D: “Yeah, well. Arturo Toscanini always was a little …”

S: Eccentric?”

D: “Ssssssh. There’s a beautiful grand pause in here. He builds and builds and builds up to a wonderful big chord … and then there’s silence.”

S: “Thank you, Dave, for the definition of a grand pause.”

D: “Ssssssh!” … (turns up the silence) … ” … … Beautiful! Wasn’t that just heart-breaking?”

S: (clutches her chest)

D: “The collating and stuffing last night was actually pretty efficient with all those people there. And that Dave L was right on top of things.”

S: He’s such a good guy. So laid back and friendly.”

D: His voice always takes me by surprise.”

S: I know what you mean. Such a low low voice coming from such a short guy!”

D: “he gets lower with his normal voice than I do with a cold.”

S: “I’d love to hear what he sounds like with a cold.”

D: “You could probably hear each vibration as it goes by.”

S: “You could wave to each one.”

D: (turning up the music) “You know who wrote this one, right?”

S: “Yes.”

D: “Who wrote it?”

S: “Tschaikovsky.”

D: “Oh come on. Get a life. That ain’t Tschaicovsky, sister.”

S: “Mmmmmmm. Well, it was one of his friends, then.”

D: “Tschaikovsky didn’t have too many of those, you know.”

S: “No. I know who it was though! It was someone Tschaikovsky was mad at, wasn’t it?”

D: “I’ll help you out. It’s Jean [Frenchish pronunciation ZjjjjjjAW]“

S: “Well, yes. Good old Jean. It’s Jean … ummmm … Jean …”

D: “Like the movie they made about him.”

S: “Right. I loved that movie. The movie … “

D: “The movie JjjjjjjjjjjjAWS!“

S: (completely cracks up!)

D: “You’ll get it now. He was Finnish.”

S: “I’d be finished too if I wrote this stuff.”

D: “ONE … two … three. ONE … two … three. ONE … two … three.”

S: “Thank you, Dave, for the definition of a waltz.”

D: (sighing) “Sibelius! Sibelius! Sibelius!”

S: “Right. That’s him.”

Liberated Woman!

Liberation for this woman came at approximately 10:13 a.m. yesterday morning. It was at this time while listening to a podcast at work that I heard the words I’d been both hoping for and dreading since last December. And, as expected, those three words changed my whole day!

Without recounting the exact trigger words, I can only say that I was at last made aware that the innocent stranger I’d been crushing on all those long, mystery-fogged months has had a significant other for nearly 8 years now!

I paused in my work … I replayed the two-second segment 2 … 3 times over to be sure I’d gotten it. I had indeed gotten it! And I’d gotten her name, too … and I recognized it!

Feelings ensuing were — as always — many and complex. There was an initial moment of shock: What? … After all this time, you’re telling me you have a life? A life and someone who’s been willing to share it with you for 8 years????

Then it was happiness: Hey! She’s a sweetie. And I can certainly see how you complement each other. And she’s a lot smarter than me, too … almost as smart as you, in fact. Glad it’s her.

Lastly, I experienced a bittersweet nostalgia for an era gone by — an era of obsession-driven speculation. I had obsessed so completely, yet with so little information at hand! I knew (and still know) next to nothing about the guy. Not much to learn from tidbits gleaned from his infrequent appearances on podcasts or from Googling his name. Yet it was so much fun! See, even the meagerest findings could become a bonanza after tripping through the daydream-powered data compiler of my otherwise unoccupied mind. I did not know him. So, I embellished. I basically created a new him. … But now …

I too, am free to get myself a life!