Quick Takes Friday: Nunsense

Is it Friday already?

It seems as though it was just yesterday I was going back to work...
(oh wait, it was...)

A four-day weekend plus another day home with tiny chicken's disease (head cold) makes one very short work week.

This week's QTs (like my work week) will be short as, well, I'll explain in just a moment.




--1--

I'm really trying to not make this week's Quick Takes about me getting frustrated. First, the family that was to arrive next month for a visit... will be here within 24 hours (hence, my need to siphon any and all spare time and use it to clean house). Then, there was my random "I'm going to be a hermit!" moment that I'd like to blame on my use of cold/flu meds, but it was my frustration escaping. And lately...

I realized two things:
First, I have unhealthy...something (something something... pretty much, SOMETHING has to be wrong.) I've had two opportunities to go to confession (before my normal parish confession time) and I stood around, scrupulously going though my wallet-card 'Confession Guide', trying to find SOMETHING I did wrong that I could confess. Yes, I'm pretty sure that if I ask God to search my heart and remind me of the things I need to repent of, it will come to mind. But there is just something wrong with the thought process of "Hey! I just-so-happen to have the next three hour free and can drive to the next town for confession...Let me wrack my brain and come up with SOMETHING to confess!"

And secondly, this frustration over feeling 'stuck' between a religious vocation and marriage could be a symptom of something else...some blindness toward God's gentle leading and my wanting to be in control. In dance, this would be a connection issue, or an issue of the follow trying to lead. The follow would try to force a move or do their own thing...or be a few counts off trying to visually figure out what the lead is trying to do...all because the follow isn't listening. They're not connecting with their partner and allowing the lead to guide her in the dance.  And maybe, just maybe, I haven't been looking where I should. Instead of looking toward my lead, I'm looking at my feet (my limitations) and if I were to keep my focus on my lead and the connection, I'll be ready for when he throws in some fancy advanced stuff. Maybe, by looking at my feet (marriage vs. religious life), I'm not letting my lead (God) maneuver me into some tricky footwork that looks amazing (single life?). ...maybe.


--2--

Charlie (the family cat dog) had to be taken to the vet not once but TWICE in 18 hours.
I'm not going to go into details (because some were a bit disgusting for most people) but he's home with a sore back, lapping up all the attention... and I get to make butt jokes.


--3--

The other week, I had a Father Brown anthology up at a potential prize.
...has anyone else checked out the new BBC rendition of Father Brown?
:D
The first one I watched was "The Wrong Shape" (episode 3) but loved Sister Boniface (she's smart, lively...sense of humor and AWESOME glasses!)

--4--

Speaking of Sisters...

I was asked about a nun costume a few weeks back. Technically, I have a cheap halloween costume which has a piece that is in need of replacement, but the costume I'm putting together looks more like.... this
(the one on the left)

I haven't heard much about the script, but from what I've heard,
I'm hopeful.

The last thing I'd want is to make something that took away from the beauty of the religious vocation. It's one thing to create a character (even a Sister) that is well-rounded, has an unusual past or interests...even one that questions her vocation. I understand there are Sisters, Nuns and postulants out there that would fit that loose description I just created...

But it's another to intentionally put-down a group of people, or worse, to intentionally make them into something evil. I don't think this skit will do that, but I've been wanting to just get it out there for the last few weeks now.


--5--

One thing I've been wanting to do (and have sat on for months) is to be able to purchase a Kindle for my mom. Actually, I've wanted to send Fr. Z an Amazon gift card too, but mom first. Especially now, when I hear that a family member made some comments that came across as rude and kinda snobbish, actually.

My mom does enjoy reading, and with the Kindle, I can loan her my e-books to read.

I know I sometimes get flack from others who know that I sell my books (and sometimes cds and dvds) to online buy back programs. Well, Amazon is one of them. I've been trying to save my gift cards (from selling my books to Amazon) and I hope to have a Kindle sent to mom by Mothers Day.

...this might mean I skip the San Luis Obispo Lindy Exchange.


--6--

I've been thinking about not going to the SLOX (San Luis Obispo Lindy Exchange) this year. It's a dance event built by and for an amazing dance community. And why would I skip it? (aside from cost, and we both know I'd try and make it work somehow)

...Because I know that if I go, I'm not going to for the dance.

I'd be going for my best friend.

I need to stop doing that because (as much as I may like to dance) this isn't healthy for me.
In fact, as silly as it sounds, I was reading the latest chapter in a Sherlock/Molly Hooper fanfic today when the whole "wake up you silly girl!" argument ensued and I saw myself in Molly's shoes, hearing (in my case, reading) those words...knowing they were true.

And as much as it hurts to allow it to sit there like cement in my soul, it's an unavoidable truth: No amount of praying will change the situation; just the perspective.

So if it means sitting out from an event, a class, a whatever... and giving me a bit of distance until I force myself to accept things as they are (and not as they could be, or as I'd hope them to be) then know I'm doing it for good reason.

I'm doing this for my best friend.


--7--

Have I mentioned my fox hat lately?

No?

I can't repeat the line verbatim that references the hat, but know it comes from John Green's "Looking for Alaska". ("No one can catch the [unrepeatable word] fox!")

I mentioned my hats to a local shop owner, and in particular, gushed about this one. It's my favorite, and so whimsical. (yes, the nose and tail squeak) Well, this week I ran into the owner again and was able to finally show her in person. Not only the owner, but the man who has a workshop in the back of her store as well! I say "he bedazzles the hats" but what he does is make wearable art with ball caps and crystals. He and I bounced a few ideas back and forth and I walked away with some good feed back (and a way to make my seasonal teacher hat without having to make so many different pieces).