Reliving Sabbatical

What a choice... clean my house or get to work printing out sabbatical photos. It was a hard decision, but I chose the photos. I actually started printing some out a few months ago, but it's time to finish the project. The photo album that Jan gave me has been patiently waiting to be filled. So today I printed out the photos from Gettysburg and New Jersey, along with a few odd miscellaneous ones.

Last year at this time I was getting ready to leave on my journey, so it was appropriate that I relive a little of it today. Just to set the mood, I put a Bon Jovi CD in while going through New Jersey. I think it freaked Max out a little bit though - must have brought back memories for him of cruising down the highway with me singing "Who says you can't go home" at the top of my lungs. Maybe he was afraid we were hitting the road again, because he started tearing around in his neurotic mood. Or maybe he just doesn't like Bon Jovi as much as I do.

My own mind took me back to all those roads we traveled in Pennsylvania and New Jersey less than a year ago now. It was a very good way to spend the day - way better than cleaning. I still have many photos to print out - Niagara Falls, Cherokee, and St. Louis. I also want to print my pics from January's Puerto Rico trip. But I'll have to get more photo paper first.

Since I can't go back on the road this year, I guess I'll have to settle for paging through the Road Trip book....

Play Ball!

For some reason, baseball is on the brain lately. I'm really just an average fan, but I'm just itchin' for the season this year. It's been making me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, and I don't know why.

Take this week here in Milwaukee. The Cleveland Indians came to use Miller Park as their home turf for a series against the LA Dodgers, since Jacobs Field has been covered with snow. Aww..... how warm and fuzzy is that? I think it's cool that we got to share our Park! It's especially cool that it was with Cleveland, which was almost home for me during the 1st two years of ministry. I may not have liked some things about living in Ohio, but there were many things I did enjoy. I liked the Lake Erie shore and Put-in-Bay on its serene island. I liked the festivals that made Toledo seem like a mini-Milwaukee. And I liked Cleveland Indians baseball and the fans in Ohio. My only regret about leaving Ohio is that I didn't get a chance to go to a game at the brand new Jacobs Field before I moved.

It really is saying a lot to praise those Ohio fans though - because not every place has good fans. My three years in Minnesota during seminary made me lose whatever respect I did have for the fans of Vikings Football, and to some extent Twins baseball too (although baseball fans in general are much more loyal souls than football fans who tend to turn on a dime.) But basically, the Minnesota media machines just turned me off and gave me extremely poor tastes of Minnesota fan-ship. (Is that a word?) And those FIBS in Chicago? Don't get me started on them.

But Ohio fans are solid. They're loyal. They're real stand-by-your-man kinds of people. The Iowa sports fans I met on internship were the same way. There's something to be said for that kind of allegiance and love that is harbored for their teams no matter what. It really speaks to the character of the people. So it did my heart good to see us open our stadium to the many Ohio folks who drove all this way to follow their team.

Here in Wisconsin, I think we fall somewhere in between. I do believe that most fans of the Brewers and Packers are faithful and true no matter what. They will live & die by their teams. But sadly, there has been some slight influence of the Minnesota & Illinois brand of fans on a grumbling few here. They are the "bandwagon" fans who will be loud in their support as long as the team is winning. But then they are just as loud in their disgust when the bottom drops out. Thankfully, they are still the minority of the fans.... but we best beware (and I include myself in this,) or we may become Minnesota Junior.

The Winter that had No End!

It sure is pretty to look outside my office and see all the fresh white snow. The bright yellow daffodils are such a striking contrast, bowing down under the weight of this heavy snowfall. But, damn.... I'm sick of all this "prettiness." It's April 12, fer pete's sake! I want to put away my winter clothes and start wearing shorts & sandals again. I want to get out walking so I can try to work off my hibernation weight gain. I want to open my windows and let my cats sniff the fresh air all day.

The timing on all this extended winter crap really sucks too. Of course it has to come when I'm driving long distances. I spent Monday driving north to visit the folks, with a couple of campground visits on the way. (I'm trying to find a place to park the Beast for the summer season.) So I'm truckin' around the campground in the snow and mud, imagining what it looks like when things are green and sunny. Good thing I have a good imagination. But even that wasn't as bad as the drive back to Milwaukee yesterday.

I left Edgar thinking, "Hey April winter storms can't be as bad to drive in as January winter storms." Well it wasn't .... but it was bad enough that I had to stop in Westfield to knock the chunks of ice off my windshield wipers and headlights. It was bad enough that you couldn't tell if the road was getting slick or just full of choppy snow/ice mix. It just made for a really irritating drive home. And it made me more determined than ever that my next move will be to a southern climate.

My spring fever is worse than ever.... I just wish it was really spring!

Post Holiday Reflections

I've sadly neglected writing any additions here as we entered the marathon also known as Holy Week (aka Hell Week). Even now I'm not in a terribly creative place, but I do want to reflect a little on this past week.

A few observations on Holy Week this year.... first, I was far less stressed than I think I ever have been. I'm not sure if it was because I'm finally hitting my stride, or if it was some little bit of complacency entering in, or if I just finally have it all figured out. Either way, I was able to enjoy it more than usual. And we did a damn good job! Everything came together beautifully.

I do like it when Holy Week can actually be a time for me to get something out of it too. Good Friday worked amazingly well for that. And Easter? Fabulous! Good crowds, great kids in their adorable Easter outfits, loads of yummy egg bakes at our Easter breakfast (which alone makes everything worthwhile...), good music, and I think I had a pretty decent sermon too.

But now I do need to get a little rest. I really do put out a lot of energy with every service, every sermon. Last year at this time I didn't have a whole lot of rest time since I kicked into high gear preparing for my sabbatical. But this year? I'm kickin' back for a while.

Speaking of.... I'm going home to see the folks for a few days. So the writing will again have to wait until I get back.