Nanny Marti June 25, 2008

Since my brother, father and five other pastors left their church they’ve all had to go out and find other employment. Many of them are taking a break from the ministry to see where God leads.

My brother took a job at the post office. Since his wife works first shift he opted for third so that someone would be home with the kiddos at all times. But since its summer and they’re home all day I come over during the day to help take care of them - mainly just to make sure no one burns anything down.

Since they’re 7 and 10 they entertain themselves. I work a couple of hours on my freelance projects and we spend the rest of the time playing Wii, PS2, beach baseball in the backyard, cards, and board games.

Mikey is at camp this week. His first time away from home and he still went even though his friends bailed at the last minute. He didn’t know anyone that was going to be there. I’m so proud of him for sticking it out. I would have cancelled. But he’s a braver soul than I.

So Jordy and I are doing lots of fun things together. Yesterday we went to the zoo. He was hilarious. We call him our shiny boy since everything shiny attracts his attention. He was bouncing all over the place. He wore me out. But we saw lemurs, penguins, tigers, lions, bats, jellyfish and bears. He was most fascinated by the disco ball at the entrance to the jellyfish. He stood there for 10 minutes just twirling around. It was funny. We were both exhausted at the end of the day.

Finally, some purpose as to why I’m in Ohio. I get six hours of uninterrupted time with my nephews. What’s not to love? They are deliciously exhausting. I just love to talk to them. You never know what they’re going to say. Sometimes I’m surprised by what comes out of their mouth. It can be rather profound and observant.

Today I’m going to get them signed up for swim lessons and then Jordy and I are off to rent a new game for the Wii. It will probably be Guitar Hero.

The Trinity loves sports June 20, 2008

In the past week my nephews have spent countless hours playing their new Wii. But the part Mikey has loved most is setting up his Mii’s. He has created a village of people to play including God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Slightly sacreligious but quite funny. Jesus plays great baseball. God like bowling and the Holy Spirit is a humdinger in tennis. Who knew.

Religiosity in Action June 18, 2008

St. Augustine say that the church is a whore but that whore is still his mother.

Brutal truth about an institution that I wonder if is more harmful than helpful. It sets itself up in judgement of many, setting standards for all, and can feel more like a social club than a sacred place of any sort of worship. I realize my own opinion of church is jaded by a lifetime of participation and 21 years in and near church leadership. I’ve seen the underbelly of both the congregation and those in power.

I go through waves of enchantment and disillusion with this institution that Christ died to redeem with his love. Yet I often find it to be the last place to experience any sort of love or acceptance. I won’t even begin to rant about the church and women. I will just say that the church as it stands today often feels misaligned with what God wants to do in the world. It seems devisive, out of touch and driven by personal agenda and politics.

But I digress. I don’t normally dwell on these things. I usually accept the church as a broken institution run by needy, broken people. We all make mistakes and occassionally get misguided. My cynicism is generally balanced in my heart with some of the amazing experiences I’ve had in its warm maternal embrace. So my opinion is generally tempered by the genuine, compassionate people I’ve met that have made my life richer and better. In the midst of the pain and angst I am reminded of the good to be found there. I can’t throw the baby out with the bathwater but must be faithful to the whore, who is my mother.

The angst of my church fire was recently stoked vicariously through my father’s experience. He was one of the pastors at a church here in Ohio. A couple of disgruntled church staff and their friends got together last summer, when the pastor was on vacation, to stab him in the back, spread ugly rumors and basically slander him and anyone associated with him. It was started with insidious little lies that erroded confidence in him and called his integrity into question. They acted maliciously disguised with a furrowed brow of concern convincing themselves that they were doing God’s work. It’s sad really the things we say that we do in the name of God. I suppose that’s why Jesus said many will claim do to things in his name and he will say depart from me I knew you not.

Last night we heard a fresh round of rumors of things my dad supposedly did, didn’t do and should have done that were just silly. We also heard some of the just downright mean things they’re saying about him as a chaser to the other rumors. In the midst of being tired, worn out and weary my dad shrugs most of it off. As his daughter it makes me angry. I want to go punch the righteous indignation right off their faces. I want to beat them til they repent. I want to be the vehicle of vengence that God uses to exact his wrath and justice. Not exactly a holy response of love either.

But in his gentle spirit my dad says it doesn’t matter what they say, he knows what’s true. He also reminds me that the innocent don’t need to defend themselves. He will continue to stay to the course God has given to him. My dad is much better at turning the proverbial cheek than I am. But I know he’s right. If someone has decided to hate you, disapprove of you or otherwise there is nothing you can do. And at the end of the day it doesn’t matter what they think. I can’t stand in place of judgement against them, that isn’t my job. I just have to watch my own integrity. It’s hard because I feel like my dad has been wronged.

But I suppose it isn’t about who is right or wrong it’s about the attitude and motivation of the heart. This is when we show true love to the unlovely and our enemies. UGH. Hard.

I need to keep growing and learning how to love, because I still wanna street fight.

Riverfront Irish Festival in Akron June 15, 2008

DSC00213, originally uploaded by greenbeangirl74.

On Saturday we went to the Riverfront Irish Festival, in Akron, which boasts is the largest free Irish Festival in the midwest. Ok. Not sure that particular claim to fame is what drove us there but it was a nice perk.

A couple of years ago I went to an Irish Festival in Irvine, Ca that had sheephearing, celtic games, Irish food, clothes and plays. It was a lot of fun. They played to the history, tradition and Irish culture.

The Riverfront Irish festival, presented by the St. Brendan Division Of the Ancient Order of
Hibernians was a middle-aged drunk fest. It played to the Irish stereotype. Everyone had a guiness and the band on stage was playing Neil Diamond. Not sure if he’s Irish but the over 40 crowd ranted and raved like it was 1974 all over again belting out Sweet Caroline. It was excellent people watching.

The one highlight was a band called Rathkelthair. It was a rock band centered around a bag pipe. This band actually had someone from Ireland in it (the drummer.). But the star was the bagpipe player, Neil Anderson, who just returned from active duty in Iraq. He played at least five different instruments and two of the flutes at once. It was incredible.

After their set we decided to leave. The drunk boomers and families left and the drunk college frat boys were rolling in. It was a good time to jet.

Still a fun night. We sampled some fine Irish cuisine, heard a rockin’ bag pipe and found our families coat of arms.

Happy 10th Birthday Mikey June 13, 2008

Today my beautiful, first-born, nephew turns 10.

It is amazing to watch him grow, discover, explore and learn. He is inquisitive and curious. At the end of this school year (4th grade) he was accepted to the gifted arts program for the 5th grade. That means he will be in middle school a year early to participate. What he’s excited about is the long ago promise his dad that to provide a cell phone once he hit middle school. He’s thrilled.

One thing I’m amazed at with him is what a tender, sweet soul he is. I always feel overwhelmingly loved when he comes to cuddle with me. It isn’t every time I see him. He’s way to cool for that. It happens in completely random moments and oh so great when it does.

A relationship with Mikey is a fulfilling one. He is learning how to give and receive. One of my favorite things about him is his imagination. He is constantly inventing things to make life easier. Once he gets to know you and your needs he will start to look for things that will solve those needs. He knows my dad and I are diabetic. So one day he watched a 60 minute infomercial on these new glucometers that draw less blood and provide reports you can download to your computer. After watching all of it he wrote down the phone number and web site and gave it to me to investigate.

He is a wonderful young man, no longer a boy, he informed us today. He’s leaving next Sunday for church camp, his first week away from home. It’s already starting - the pulling away from family. Soon his cries of - come be with me - will change to - get away from me. I can’t bear the thought. I want him to stay little FOREVER.

It’s amazing how much I love and worry about him. I worry about a 10 year old in middle school. I worry about the influence of 8th graders on him. I worry he’ll be exposed to things beyond his maturity level. And I’m just the aunt, I can’t imagine being a mother. I’d never go to sleep. I think of way to many worse case scenarios.

Instead I pray that the foundation he’s been given of love, security, and strength will withstand all of the new things thrown at him. I pray for courage, wisdom, and joy. I pray that he learn how to dream big dreams and always have confidence that he’s capable of achieving them.

Cancelled Shows June 12, 2008

There has been a fresh ax of shows across the board in the last week. Among shows not renewed: Men in Trees, October Road, Las Vegas, Dirt, and The Dead Zone.

It’s interesting that in a shortened season, due to the writer’s strike, that networks would cite poor ratings as the reason they were pulled. No one had any idea when these shows were airing, when they were new and there was little to no time to invest into characters.

I really don’t care about most of the shows, but I am sad to see Men in Trees go. It was a cute, quirky show that filled the void that Gilmore Girls left. But it changed time slots six times and went on two VERY long hiatuses. While I think Anne Heche is a loon, this show just worked for me. I mean how can you not like a show that features a recovering prostitute, a hot man that lives in the woods, and a self-help guru who moves to Alaska from NY. It has the makings of a cult-classic. ABC never gave it a chance.

I tell ya in the world of scripted tv nothing makes sense. Why in the world is the Ghost Whisperer still on CBS (4 years)? Why is David Caruso, a no talent hack, still employed? Do we need 18 CSI’s?

One more reason to love non-scripted tv. Go Bravo, TLC, and HGTV.

For the love of Wii June 8, 2008

This Friday my nephew Mikey turns 10. What the heck?! That is so hard to believe, but I say that every year so I’ll quietly bemoan the fact that he is growing up.

All he wants this year is a Wii. Well that’s the biggest thing he wants. He also wants a skateboard, x-box games, party at laser quest and a trip to Camp Gideon. But that is besides the point.

Wii mania is relatively new to this area. I remember two Christmas’ ago when there were none in CA there were tons in the stores here. But now that Mikey wants one there are none to be found. Mike heard that Toys R Us was getting a shipment last night but you had to get in line at the store to get a ticket to buy one.

Mike had to be at church this morning so it fell to me to get in line. I arrived at 8:15 a.m. (they opened at 10 a.m.) and got my number. I was #2 in line and was in and out of the store in about 3 minutes. Compared to a lot of black Friday shopping waiting 1 hour and 45 minutes not bad. At least it wasn’t the heat of the day.

All that matters is that Mikey got his Wii.

Competitive Streak June 7, 2008

I used to shake my head in disgust at those parents you hear about on the news that would punch other parents at their kid’s sporting events. My disdain also extended to the ones that screamed a bit too much, yelled louder than the coach and took every game a little too seriously.

Well this spring was my first foray into children’s sporting events. Both Mikey and Jordy played soccer every Saturday morning. I don’t generally like soccer, but I love my nephews so there I was cheering them on every week. The first couple of weeks I just cheered for them. The next couple of weeks as I began to learn the game I was cheering for their team. Today at the last game I was ready to coach. I still don’t know much about the rules of the game but I was convinced I could do a better job than the guy who put in the scrawny kid, who is afraid of the ball, as goalie? He lost the game for us. We were ahead 4-1 and the game ended tied 4-4. After two years of undefeated seasons we ended this season with a tie. It’s just tragic.

I have to admit I was getting excited about this game of 10-year olds playing soccer. I didn’t realize I was so competitive. I’m not one to engage in sporting activities, not really my thing. But I’m beginning to realize its probably a good thing, I get way to into it.

Watching Jordy play is a good way to balance out the feelings that surface watching Mikey play. On Jordy’s team there is no expectation. While out in the middle of the field he forgets he’s playing soccer and just starts dancing. He’ll talk to other players. He’ll pick his nose. While playing goalie he’ll decide to climb the net or see what he can see through his shirt that he put up over his head. It’s also hilarious to watch them warm up. The coach is trying to stretch their little muscles and every time they bend a leg behind them to stretch their quad muscle one or more of them falls over. You hate to laugh but you just gotta.

This season Jordy’s team won two games, which was quite the accomplishment since it was the only times they’ve won in two years. Yea. Progress.

Next year I’ll be ready for the pressure and expectation and be more level-headed. Although it might be hard since Mikey is switching to a travel team. He got tired of playing in the parks and rec division because he said everyone gets a trophy and no one is a real winner. LOL. So there ya go. We’ll see how deep his love for soccer really is next year.

Important Lawn Care Lessons June 4, 2008

In California people care about cars, in Ohio it’s all about your lawn. People spends hours a day weeding, mowing, manicuring, mulching, fertilizing and protecting their lawns from vermin. The song of summer is the hum of the lawn mower. Because most houses sit on at least a 1/2 acre of land it’s a constant, never-ending, larger-than-life job.

Since my dad’s back surgery in January mom and I have taken over lawn care duties in our home. I’ve learned that watching grass grow isn’t a slow process. Instead after a good rain your grass can grow inches overnight. I kid you not. If we get rain several times a week it can require multiple mows per week. Your neighbors give you dirty looks if you don’t. I’m sure there are meetings about it on how to shame you into mowing more often to maintain a proper neighborhood appearance. In fact there was an article in the paper this week about how not mowing your grass could get you sent to jail. This is serious business we’re talking about.

The type of mower you have is also a source of familial pride. There are some seriously fancy riders out there. Just as a giant monster struck is a sign of manhood so is the size of your mower deck. I have actually heard men discussing their varies sizes and how it performs on various surfaces and kinds of grass. [Insert Tim Allen man grunt here.]

Your rider also helps you craft the perfect lawn pattern. That’s right the pattern carved into the lawn is almost as important as the mow itself. Maybe at these meeting neighborhood patterns are discussed to ensure compliance. There is the traditional straight-line mow, the basket-weaving criss-cross pattern, or a diagonal approach. Our neighbor up the hill varies his just to keep it interesting. I wonder if they offer classes or perhaps there is a youtube tutorial.

However, the lesson I learned today was less about status, image or keeping up with the Joneses. It was about the importance of proper disposal of grass clippings. We got a late start last night on the lawn and it got dark before we could take the grass clippings to the place where grass clippings go. I have yet to make this journey but after today I realize it is an urgent necessity to know where. After a day of rain our bags of grass clippings have filled our driveway, garage and family room with the wafting aroma of spoiled milk. Yes, mountains of grass clippings stink to high heaven. Everytime I go to watch tv I gag. It is not a good thing.

Sex and The City [2008] June 2, 2008

After much ado, the moment all SITC fans have been waiting for has arrived, the premiere of the movie. We finally get to catch up with Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda.

The series ended on a perfect note, I wasn’t sure how the movie could really expand on that. Each character had such a complete emotional journey where we saw them grow, develop and mature into their true selves.

I mean I was excited about the film I wasn’t sure I really wanted to watch reality hit them in the face. Carrie finally had Big, Miranda softened in her new life as wife and mother, Charlotte found true love, and Samantha became more than a walking vagina. There was a note of redemption to their characters. At the end of the series they seemed to be about a bit more than clothes, shoes, clubs, and sex. While sad the ride had come to an end I was satisfied with it.

But like the devoted follower I am I went to the see the movie opening weekend. I was disappointed I couldn’t go with my friends in CA, but Lisa and Kristen were kind enough to indulge my small obsession with these fashionistas for 2.5 hours. Seeing them larger than life on the big screen was like catching up with old friends. There were still funny, beautiful and outrageous.

But unlike the show after the movie ride ended I was a tad sick. It really took Carrie’s speech from the end of the show and blew it up. She said: “I’m looking for love, real love, ridiculous, inconvenient, consuming, can’t-live-without-each-other love. And I don’t think that love is here in this expensive suite in this lovely hotel in Paris.” So the entire movie is her quest to determine if that love is enough.

Sarah Jessica Parker said in various interviews that the movie compares and contransts the angst of your 20s with the angst of your 40s. The 20s version of herself is representated by Jennifer Hudson in the form of her assistant, Louise. She’s naive, wholesome, determined and lovesick. I would say that accurately represents your 20s. But she is faced with a million possiblities and in contrast Carrie has boiled her life down to one. Is that what age brings you - one last ditch hope and effort for true love and happiness?

The entire movie is really asking if love lasts. Each girl represents a slice of what that feels like for women today. Each comes to grips and expresses her own personal truth and in the the end must remain true to who she is.

It felt shallow, somewhat unsatisfying, a tad long and a bit overindulgent. There were some genuine laughs and real tears but rather than a movie that stood on its own it was just a reunion show that could have been a tv movie of the week. As the devoted fan, who got HBO just to watch the show for its outrageously frank, controversial discussions of life, sex and love it was fun to catch up. But now I don’t really feel the need to see those friends again.