In other news, our Christmas tree is ticking. It seriously sounds like someone is snapping a branch off of it every couple of minutes. I hope it’s just the tree drying out, and not an infestation of some kind. Maybe it was damaged when the cat knocked it over, and the ticking is its way of recovering. Who knows.

Work at the school has been greatly…challenging and rewarding. I think I’m steadily getting the feel for what’s happening and what’s expected of me. It’s a good feeling to not panic at the slightest thought of planning an event. It’s more of a swallow hard, take a deep breath and enjoy the ride, type of feeling now :). The students are wonderful, the teachers and staff are great co-workers, and my boss is pretty cool as well.  What was really fun was when one of the teachers needed a test on “The Hobbit” typed up. It was so sweet to be working on names like Smaug, Thorin, and Gandalf. Now that was a rewarding project.  All in all I’m quite content.

 ”Look how curious the puppy is!” This is our spoiled rotten dog, Jett. She thinks she is human, silly dog.

October

October and the trees are stripped bare
Of all they wear.
What do I care?

October and kingdoms rise
And kingdoms fall
But you go on
And on

I’m excited about their new album slated for early 2009. They’ve been working on it for awhile, spending a lot of time in the studio combining their creative genius. I can’t wait to hear how they’ve evolved yet again. 

I wasn’t able to watch the debate last night, but I’m catching up on it on Youtube as I write this. So far, I like Sarah. Big surprise. She’s got guts and spunk. Biden seems like a nice guy, but…I can’t trust him. Some of what he says sounds nice, but I don’t think so. “Same sex marriage,” there is no such thing. Marriage is one man, one woman.  I’m glad they actually agreed on that…in words anyway.

Tonight, we’re watching Ironman with some good friends. I’m so looking forward to it after a long week. Today, I actually was finished with work at 3:30, yay! It’s been awhile since I’ve been able to get everything finished by then.

A couple of us stayed after work to pray for our church and the convention tomorrow. Please join us in prayer for the diocese of Pittsburgh’s convention tomorrow. They are voting on re-alignment. In other words, they are voting to leave the Episcopal Church USA, and voting on re-aligning with the “Southern Cone.” Also, Grace Anglican Churchis seeking to join the diocese as a Parish church. That vote will be tomorrow as well. Praise the Lord that there are people bold enough to stand up against blasphemy and heresy, and are willing to face the very real possibility of losing so much. Pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to empower them to faithfully preach His Word.  

Good authors are often hard to come by, but as I mentioned in my last post Stephenie Meyer has very convincingly become one of my top favorites. It’s rather strange, I do not have very many favorite female authors, just like I have few (if any) favorite female singers. I don’t know why this is. Maybe in my mind the singers all sound the same, and contemporary writer’s characters lack quality. Most but not all have struck me this way. I know there are many female authors whose works I have not read, and singers whose voices and songs I have not heard, but with my selective interests it is often painfully hard to find what I’m lookin’ for. Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight Saga is an exception. Pure intrigue and stylish writing almost immediately silenced my usual less-than-positive response. These books may not be for everyone, but if you’ll pardon the expression, they were like a breathe of fresh air in a stagnant room. 

 Last night we got hit with the aftermath of Ike as it reached lake Erie. High winds took out a few trees near us and knocked out the power for a couple hours. It sucked because we were watching the game but since the Steelers won anyway it’s all good. One of the roads has been partially blocked all day because they’ve been cleaning the trees and phone poles out of the way. Apparently those things are obstacles when they are lying in the road. And live wires aren’t the safest thing either. Go figure.

 School started at the beginning of this month, so work has picked up a little. There is so much to get done that there don’t seem to be enough work hours in the day. It’s fun though, and I’ve learned a lot. Mainly how to not freak out when there are a bazillion things to get done. Well, I haven’t really learned not to freak out, but I’ve learned that it doesn’t help. At all.

 I’ve gotten hooked on the Twilight series the last couple of weeks. It’s consumed a lot of my time. They are very well written, very intriguing novels, and I highly recommend them. Stephenie Meyer is a genius.  

And that’s all I have to say, for now. Except to say that I am very happy with McCain’s choice in Sarah Palin.

 This has been an incredible encouragement to me when I’m ready to throw in the towel and I’m sick of failing. It’s not me working any sort of change (b/c I’ll always fail miserably), it’s the Holy Spirit. God is the one who gives us everything we need (Matt. 6) and ”If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all with out finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). It is the Holy Spirit who empowers us to follow Christ. It’s not my righteousness (or lack thereof) but Christ’s freely given that the Father sees. I still not comprehend why this is, but our God truly is an awesome God. Now if only this would work it’s way into permanence in my heart…

 2 Pet 1:3 For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by {and} to His own glory and excellence (virtue)

 Plus, Arthur and I had an awesome time playing games and watching movies with our good friends, Heather and Dave. It was a blessing to eat pizza, have some good talks, play some Apples to Apples and Valley of the Pharoh’s (while watching the Mummy) and drink root beer floats. Good times

Yesterday I got to enjoy my first Pirate game of the year. We had amazing free tickets, thanks to the Bucs. Zach Duke pitched a great game. It was so fun watch them play.

Our landscape at our house is slowly changing, thanks to this guy. His (the tree) name is Frodo, and he’s awesome. He’s a Japanese Red Maple of the Crimson Queen variety. Yeah, I know. He’ll probably have an identity crisis some day :). The squirrel doesn’t have a name yet, but I’m working on it. We also have some ferns, bleeding heart, and some other pretty plants which I can never remember their actual names. But they make the house look so much better and they give me something to do outside other than getting the feeling like I’m in a fishbowl every time I step out.

Well, my pumpkin bread is near done, so I need to go take care of that. Oh it is so delicious!