tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209944372024-03-07T19:03:39.420-08:00Harken the MuseIt's so confusing to have so many little voices screaming for my attention. The artistic me. The organized, responsible me. The impulsive, passionate me. The servant, the schemer, the devout, the rebellious, the theologian, the dog trainer, the musician, the poet. This is my attempt to listen to her. And set her free.Christy Randalllhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05380962860586213766noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20994437.post-86041148933106328922009-03-16T17:23:00.000-07:002009-03-16T17:36:00.146-07:00Not-so-extreme budget home makeoverAfter almost 20 months of living in my house on the hill, I finally purchased curtains for the living/dining room and bought a couple of paintings. Here's the before and 2 afters.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdHU5Iwy71uqvpf7ZhKXgyFWGf6sgFCfNlFS_8VQHsv-sl0kE-xRwBduSNK6dGw2vWh3uQcfxIWTde3Ab2JJl6uT9zufNVHAaVnjEaOYzEGjBYI7jmsjZQVjV49r5-gcfJu_Mi/s1600-h/IMG_6551.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdHU5Iwy71uqvpf7ZhKXgyFWGf6sgFCfNlFS_8VQHsv-sl0kE-xRwBduSNK6dGw2vWh3uQcfxIWTde3Ab2JJl6uT9zufNVHAaVnjEaOYzEGjBYI7jmsjZQVjV49r5-gcfJu_Mi/s400/IMG_6551.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313947966780630322" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5O3ELqCYOk8xa55EYqPVE5wCgGy55HAwdiRHdVWlKCFbWU3fP5_Kx8LPq6FWvjNCXys5t0xCD4L1URx0ldqhusNz203otNk95zYuxKM18tw9F_wCUS1j5p2B5ONfIx9xl9X9/s1600-h/IMG_6554.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5O3ELqCYOk8xa55EYqPVE5wCgGy55HAwdiRHdVWlKCFbWU3fP5_Kx8LPq6FWvjNCXys5t0xCD4L1URx0ldqhusNz203otNk95zYuxKM18tw9F_wCUS1j5p2B5ONfIx9xl9X9/s400/IMG_6554.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313947976867966178" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZsZQueYBe0EO0oN4B1k7vB9TGtMY_kQMwtUzhDn__wcmHFG4mcohCCewwiFlKlAl20idjBNm9IPz39dZYBdtccvwvtrfjaJbHkLGH825rDkhID0wfBQI1zucqgNnWtBFiSae/s1600-h/IMG_6562.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZsZQueYBe0EO0oN4B1k7vB9TGtMY_kQMwtUzhDn__wcmHFG4mcohCCewwiFlKlAl20idjBNm9IPz39dZYBdtccvwvtrfjaJbHkLGH825rDkhID0wfBQI1zucqgNnWtBFiSae/s400/IMG_6562.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313947979211814082" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />I've been shopping the end-of-season clearances like a hawk and got these dual roman shades for $27.99 per window. If you've ever shopped for roman shades, you will appreciate this deal!! Even though you can't see them here, there's a light sheer pulled down (didn't come out quite as I was hoping in the photo). The paintings showed up at Kohl's 40% off. Not normally enough to tempt me, but as a Kohl's charge owner I got an additional 30% off that price during the 5 days of the sale. Now THAT'S waiting for the opportune moment!!Christy Randalllhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05380962860586213766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20994437.post-11658423898321029482009-02-04T20:05:00.000-08:002009-02-04T20:20:24.229-08:00String EnsembleSo, one of the things I'm doing to keep centered is playing violin. Since I'm not really wired for improv, I've not had much opportunity to play in church. Occassionally, I get my Irish fiddle book out and start learning that jig, but I inevitably lose momentum and my instrument again collects dust.<br /><br />Since at one time I was a halfway decent violinist, I figured I can step into most any orchestra and play 2nd violin without too much practice. SAU has a little string ensemble that I played in before I started in the MSFL, so I decided to start there. Last night was the first rehearsal.<br /><br />Wow. I haven't played classical in a group in several years. And it's been several months since I played my violin at all. I pulled out my instrument and EVERY string was slack, and literally tuned EVERY TIME WE STOPPED. I was horribly short of rosin. My bow hand had a distracting ache in one of the primary working ligaments and my fingering hand was all...um, thumbs! To top it off, I was placed with a 2nd who probably hasn't played violin for more than 2 years, and the music was well beyond her ability level.<br /><br />Yet, with all those cards stacked against me I still had a good time. I hit more notes than I missed (barely). I remembered what a beautiful instrument I have. I heard great words that I never hear in my every day life like: <span style="font-style: italic;">legato</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">spiccato </span>and <span style="font-style: italic;">accelerando!</span> I played Mozart and Williams and Tchaikovsky and Copland. And I get to go back and do it all over again next week - with a little scale work and fine tuning and spiccato in between.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Bravissimo!</span>Christy Randalllhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05380962860586213766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20994437.post-44314325243702496432009-01-24T12:24:00.003-08:002009-01-24T12:28:45.184-08:00Fall splendor<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2lVB5iD8tB1WqN8DM0oRothK2dB4EPY2uw6MhpJ1SWx89XuyDkSnstbQx9742GXMYd3_1Q8a_wvPYa0gy4jnLjcqHWoNRNDVkWOIcABwQiu3v5jtuCJgNHryNanHjmNlKkuAX/s1600-h/Upward-Tree.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2lVB5iD8tB1WqN8DM0oRothK2dB4EPY2uw6MhpJ1SWx89XuyDkSnstbQx9742GXMYd3_1Q8a_wvPYa0gy4jnLjcqHWoNRNDVkWOIcABwQiu3v5jtuCJgNHryNanHjmNlKkuAX/s400/Upward-Tree.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294959783888687042" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtE9kDjP0vGIGWfMAWoGudINUHuh9fLqDhAmObgn9qjbzP5S5j8Q6Bwc1jKuFwIwzISoS2D02N7XU0CJbclnZZR6BftItlAHsrBNVYKlZkp-NTcinOcfJU_V3NjCflDjXW4DFE/s1600-h/Towards-the-light.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtE9kDjP0vGIGWfMAWoGudINUHuh9fLqDhAmObgn9qjbzP5S5j8Q6Bwc1jKuFwIwzISoS2D02N7XU0CJbclnZZR6BftItlAHsrBNVYKlZkp-NTcinOcfJU_V3NjCflDjXW4DFE/s400/Towards-the-light.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294959777305168418" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAdP_KsH-eUBGatuyLrwh3G8TaGbbkKSiMKw93SifxVdkMjLcM2hd0QER-SPm7QbZgid8K7Vd-ZnCsbQp9XN3YYiq-_z4KMCLToYlQtJkRiJ5HKhxnhID17YcjvhHrzQG96q6h/s1600-h/Shaded-path.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAdP_KsH-eUBGatuyLrwh3G8TaGbbkKSiMKw93SifxVdkMjLcM2hd0QER-SPm7QbZgid8K7Vd-ZnCsbQp9XN3YYiq-_z4KMCLToYlQtJkRiJ5HKhxnhID17YcjvhHrzQG96q6h/s400/Shaded-path.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294959772534273874" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTFeRte6nhJrRMkH77KzoNI7hg3AS9o2I1PDolLojEKsfZzcBaRY8doZ1mBrVcEr1vH5Rd26fxz-GwzJxXueJWdlopuwY2vcDlmrdc6l0AMsvAD15iDldL_qqyshKPgwAUKa5/s1600-h/Golden-Maple-2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 292px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTFeRte6nhJrRMkH77KzoNI7hg3AS9o2I1PDolLojEKsfZzcBaRY8doZ1mBrVcEr1vH5Rd26fxz-GwzJxXueJWdlopuwY2vcDlmrdc6l0AMsvAD15iDldL_qqyshKPgwAUKa5/s400/Golden-Maple-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294959770854185826" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_P6sZCZrw0sYCm8uEof3yN5GYB_e5fPhUmEtit2P61a8L3isbD51b9mlc28cncmP1yk8WRvpxUk_Ztg5KFzHArG0nhbi0XeL6hcDM1OoP1XAeDsyaERpptNQM_iNZnJlQQA94/s1600-h/Golden-Maple-1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_P6sZCZrw0sYCm8uEof3yN5GYB_e5fPhUmEtit2P61a8L3isbD51b9mlc28cncmP1yk8WRvpxUk_Ztg5KFzHArG0nhbi0XeL6hcDM1OoP1XAeDsyaERpptNQM_iNZnJlQQA94/s400/Golden-Maple-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294959310027183426" border="0" /></a><br />I took a lunch hour in October to capture the splendor of fall's colors. I finally took about an hour to tweak the images. Here's the good ones. Or, at least the above average ones. Or - okay, the ones I like anyway.Christy Randalllhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05380962860586213766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20994437.post-3210690878249477832009-01-22T19:43:00.000-08:002009-01-22T19:55:33.859-08:00Calaphon: Responsible stewardship or irresponsible consumerism?So, Nathan and I ended up at Kohl's tonight because he managed to destroy both remaining pairs of jeans last weekend. After a flurry of picking and trying on and picking and trying on, we wandered down to the kitchen section.<br /><br />Enter temptation in the form of a Calaphon 10-piece cookware set. Suddenly images of my mangled kettle and my flaking sauteƩ pan float through my mind. The set we received for Christmas last year did NOT wear well, and I was hoping to at least find replacements for at least these two pieces.<br /><br />Yet, here is the kitchen set of my dreams - $50 off and with a free 4-quart dutch oven to boot. Glass top, anodized aluminum, indestructible non-stick, and on a really good sale.<br /><br />I walked away, thinking about the poor people in the world. If I buy a $300 cookware set, that is money I cannot use for a much better purpose. I think I represent the rich young ruler who is too married to her wealth to enter the Kingdom. I think I'm a spoiled American consumer who only sees what she wants in front of her face.<br /><br />On the other hand, if I have to spend $100 every two years on a cheap set, I'm really not being responsible with my resources at all. If I continue to cook with my broken pieces, I am putting nasty chemicals into my system. If I buy something quality now, I will probably spend less in the long run. The set I'm eyeing is not the most expensive one in the store, and really is on a killer sale. And I really DON'T have a pot for making soup since I crushed mine in the cider press (ha, good story!).<br /><br />Nathan and I wandered around for several more minutes to let it simmer (pun intended), and we decided if the stuff lives up to its reputation and we don't have to buy another set for 20 years, it's good stewardship.<br /><br />But I'm still not sure if it wasn't irresponsible consumerism. I guess only time will tell.Christy Randalllhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05380962860586213766noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20994437.post-24311117796610663082009-01-21T17:02:00.000-08:002009-01-21T17:04:18.976-08:00I'm backAfter self-hosting our blogs for a long while and then going without for a long while because of hardware failure, I'm back to blogspot. This blog is part of my commitment to Mike Hauser to be true to my artistic self - so watch for creativity coming here soon!Christy Randalllhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05380962860586213766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20994437.post-1140929480072791922006-02-25T20:50:00.000-08:002006-02-25T20:51:20.190-08:00I've moved!Come visit me at http://christy.cottonwoodcreek.net for a new theme, new posts, and a new attitude.Christy Randalllhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05380962860586213766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20994437.post-1140372123792489142006-02-19T09:33:00.000-08:002006-02-19T10:38:55.443-08:00The Blog in Spiritual FormationSpirituality books have comprised a large percentage of my reading of late. Don't get me wrong, I've spent time in fantasy with <span style="font-style: italic;">Temple of the Winds</span>, social commentary with <span style="font-style: italic;">What our Mother's Didn't Tell Us</span>, and even travel with <span style="font-style: italic;">Ireland: an Island Revealed.</span> But I have many more titles like <span style="font-style: italic;">In the Name of Jesus, God's Original Intent for the Church, Awakening to Prayer, </span>and <span style="font-style: italic;">The Ignatian Workout</span> in the stack. Recently Spiritual Formation has held increasing sway in my literary pursuits. There's something feels so right about spending the best of myself pursuing God.<br /><br />My spirtuality librarian, Reed Sheard, (recommends books, talks with me about them, but is not not quite a mentor) gave me a copy of the lesson he presented to the FM Sunday School class. I read it just as the Ambien kicked in one night this week, which means I had to read it again yesterday. The lesson was an introduction to the Spiritual Disciplines (enter Richard Foster stage right) and then a focus on journaling. Which brings me (finally!!) to my point. Can a blog be a journal?<br /><br />There are certainly ways a blog is a completely valid journal. It allows the blogger to confront life issues and wrestle with spiritual realities. It opens the blogger to the community of believers who can assist in the confronting and wrestling. It's a very "stream of consciousness" expression, allowing the blogger to participate in his or her immediate feelings in a cathartic way.<br /><br />But there are ways a blog is not a valid journal. I still keep a separate journal. When I was pleading with God for guidance on how to deal with a frustrating situation at work, I would not even consider posting that personal dialog on a blog. (See? I talk around it even when not hitting it head on!) On some issues I will in dive head first (see the <a href="http://christyrandall.blogspot.com/2006/02/sabbath-attempt-4.html">Sabbath Attempt #4</a>). Some issues I will not touch online with a 10-foot pole. Maybe that's just me, maybe it's my fear of rejection, my fear of failure, or my introverted side coming out. But maybe it's my respect for myself, respect for the intimate nature of my relationship with God, and respect for all of you out there who don't want to know details that gory.<br /><br />So I guess the answer is both yes and no. (Let's give a hand for the Kevin Fayborg "Why can't it be both?" theory!) The public nature of the blog as a journal is both the blog's strength and weakness. Will I journal on my blog? You bet. Will I journal on paper where only God and I know the contents? I think I'll do that too. The blog's place in Spiritual Formation lies in the context of community of believers. Nouwen and Ignatias didn't have blogs, but I think they would have approved the spiritual thinking and community they foster. And I believe the Lord God looks on us disciples with love and pride whether we seek the Divine on paper, online, in the classroom, or over coffee. Long live the blog!<br /><br />So, community...what do you think?Christy Randalllhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05380962860586213766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20994437.post-1140316012742587442006-02-18T18:12:00.000-08:002006-02-18T18:26:52.756-08:00MySAU and other parts of lifeSo I know I tend to be a bit of a workaholic. I can't help it. Nature vs. nurture? I have them both. I love to get on board with a great goal and work until I accomplish it. I do it all the time. The last couple of weeks it's been the MySAU 2.0 rollout. Nevermind I'm a month behind on other duties, this is the one on which I'll ride. Long days, after-hours in the office, even more after-hours on email (although the night I was working at 1:30 I just couldn't fall asleep and needed something to occupy my brain). Up until the last minute I worked. 4:55 for a 5:00 rollout. But I did my part. Because of extraordinary efforts on behalf of my teammates, 2.0 is live. I left work at 6...and by 8 the sore throat began. By 10, swallowing was...well, you've all been there. Today I've spent the whole day between the couch and the bed. (No, that's NOT my idea of a good time!!) Mostly I've been lying awake thinking. Too tired to move. Not tired enough to sleep. I tried to blame Doug for coming to work sick and passing it along to me. But that just didn't last. If I'd taken it a bit easier, my immune system could have handled it. But my drive kept me going past 5:30, past dinner, and into the quiet hours. I know better than to push myself. I know I have fibromyalgia. I know I can't get away with 5 hours of sleep. But there I was this week. Pushing, pushing, pushing. And what was my reward? A live portal and a dead body.Christy Randalllhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05380962860586213766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20994437.post-1139976253622045112006-02-14T19:58:00.000-08:002006-02-14T20:04:13.656-08:00ValentinesNathan made me a paper rose for Valentine's Day. I had the most lovely handmade card with original poetry, a meal I'd never had before, and Olive Garden's Chocolate Tie Cheesecake for dessert. (For the coffee snobs of my blog-readers, skip their cappucino. It's brewed Folgers in lukewarm milk.) I can't publish on the internet the other great parts of this Valentine's Day. I must be the most blessed woman in the world.Christy Randalllhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05380962860586213766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20994437.post-1139720976440478232006-02-11T20:41:00.000-08:002006-02-11T21:09:36.490-08:00Sabbath Attempt 4Twitching, fretting, and nervous from work, I could not enter Sabbath. Could not rest. I planned to pass the evening at Nomad double- and triple-dipping in the delicious written word. I planned to let my spirit simmer in the warmth of close conversation. But as I walked through the door, only my worries and unfinished business held sway. The books played only at the edges of my vision, my cares took center stage. Only by narrowing my focus to that which I could see through my camera's viewfinder did my life's inconsistencies lose their foothold. By seeking to capture this present instant in a tiny frame, I finally let go of the past and the future's distracting complexity.<br /><br />Morning brought its own challenges. From an overflowing coffee pot to failure in expressing my spiritual fears, my nervous mind replayed its patterns. Without the context of SAU, I invented new items to worry about. To twitch and fret over. I ended in a stalemate trip to Ann Arbor, returning with a car full of food but still empty of peace. <br /><br />The evening's highs and lows seemed appropriate. With new house ideas in my mind and the skillful sounds of marimba and strings in my ears, I hoped to finally find Sabbath. Yet still elusive, the notes which resonated with my soul brought with them sounds of doubt and discord. Was I born for such a life as I now live? Should I have turned left at LaDue Hall, walking down the path of music? I turned right into Marston, walking into Psychology...then technology...and now organization. I feel most like my God-image self when I'm creative, when in nurturing relationship, when dancing on horseback. Should I have turned left at LaDue?Christy Randalllhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05380962860586213766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20994437.post-1139544238774653542006-02-09T19:57:00.000-08:002006-02-09T20:03:58.786-08:00Kiai!My T'ai Chi practice has done me some good and some ill in my Karate learning. For instance, I understand how to move my Chi (life force in Chinese) in T'ai Chi. But moving your Ki (life force in Japanese) is nothing like it. I've been trying to apply my T'ai Chi principles in this way. There are times in Karate when you put your whole Ki into a punch or a kick; when you do, you yell "Kiai!" Tonight Sensei Bice was explaining how to use Ki in the punching techniques, and I was able to connect the two disciplines for the first time. Punching and kicking just took on a whole new level. Bring it on.Christy Randalllhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05380962860586213766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20994437.post-1139199448508945712006-02-05T20:07:00.000-08:002006-02-05T20:17:28.523-08:00WinterThe snow falls...flitting in swirls.<br />Across the bleak landscape.<br />Blows in backflips.<br /><br />So goes my spirit...falling in whirls.<br />In the sunless silence.<br />Blows in backflips.<br /><br />Do I land quietly to be covered in the bleak mid-winter?Christy Randalllhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05380962860586213766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20994437.post-1138937285151625082006-02-02T19:15:00.000-08:002006-02-02T19:28:05.160-08:00To sleep or not to sleep?The minutes tick by...silent...stealthy.<br /><br />My mind ticks on...raucous...rude.<br /><br />Breath rises and falls. Thoughts buck and toss. Frustration seethes.<br /><br />Sleep! Rest! Breath oozes, catches like sticky honey in the cold. Sleep! Forget! Can you not even do this simple task? Do you not know the suffering caused by this madness? Did you not miss work even today for this? Sleep!<br /><br />The minutes tick by...silent.<br /><br />My mind ticks on...raucous.<br /><br />Breath sticks. Should I just leave this wretched bed? Abandon effort and submit to the activity of my mind? No. I will not encourage my mind's romp through conversations long past, problems not my own, and failures I'll never see. Submit, you restless soul! Does God not love you?<br /><br />The minutes tick by...<br /><br />My mind ticks on...Christy Randalllhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05380962860586213766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20994437.post-1138585321240485282006-01-29T17:36:00.000-08:002006-01-29T17:42:01.256-08:00Human WeathervaneSometimes a bit weird being a fibromyalgic. I was practicing my violin today when I felt my muscles start to tighten up. I stopped, checked my position, stretched and continued practicing. After several such routines, I decided it was time to put Dvorak to bed. My subsequent activities followed similar patterns, however, and I said to Nathan, "There's a weather change going to hit in the next 24 hours." I just checked the weather and, sure enough, by this time tomorrow we'll be 10 degrees cooler and and have snow instead of rain. (Yes, that's considered a weather change here in Michigan.) Weird, huh? Too bad I couldn't get charged with super powers by weather changes instead of charged with muscle spasms. Hmm, maybe there's comic book character in this crazy plotline somewhere.Christy Randalllhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05380962860586213766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20994437.post-1138248720850319292006-01-25T20:00:00.000-08:002006-01-25T20:12:00.860-08:00Organization vs. InspirationI need a bigger corpus callosum. It the large band of connective tissue right smack in the middle of the brain that has most of the left-side, right-side connectors. Most of my life in technology and administration I live on the left side. My organized, sequential, predictably deliverable personality is a major contributor to job success. I need it.<br /><br />But I love the right side. The muse side. The poetry and art and music and spontaneous and unpredictable side. It feels like the last 10 years of my life have been an ebb-and-flow acceptance of my right side. I want more of the inspiration. But when I deal with to-do lists and political wordsmithing and nuancing the color orange (!) all day it's tough to make the switch. So bring on those corpus callosum stimulants, because I need the switch.Christy Randalllhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05380962860586213766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20994437.post-1138070674316996122006-01-23T18:40:00.000-08:002006-01-23T18:44:34.316-08:00Domo ArigatosSo Nathan and I attended our first karate class tonight. Before any of my wonderful family panics, know that I dutifully wore my knee brace and made it through the night pretty much pain free. It was a workout, it was fun, it was challenging. I actually <span style="font-style: italic;">didn't</span> feel like a blundering idiot through most of the night...my Tai Chi has done well by me. I was tired and feeling good at the end and ready for the next class. By the intelligence level of this post, I guess you could say I'm mostly tired. :)Christy Randalllhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05380962860586213766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20994437.post-1137985152788715192006-01-22T18:42:00.000-08:002006-01-22T18:59:12.796-08:00The Muse Whispers<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Money.<br /><br /><br />Good.<br />Evil?<br /><br />Am I the rich young ruler?<br /><br /><br />Grinding, hoping, fighting, stressing, wanting, needing, gloating, wondering I search for answers.<br /><br />Am I the rich young ruler?<br /><br /><br />Ganson. Big Timber. Morrow Point. Chapel. Giles.<br /><br /><br />Good.<br />Evil?<br /><br />Can I be both selfish and be used by God?<br /><br /><br />Timber frame dreams. Equestrian dreams. Dishwasher dreams. Where does my god-image end and my fallen state begin?<br /><br /><br />Behold, I bow down to the god of security. Behold, I bow down to the god of stuff. Behold, I bow down to the god of self. Behold....<br /><br /><br />Good.<br />Evil?<br /><br />Am I the rich young ruler?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span>Christy Randalllhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05380962860586213766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20994437.post-1137984126038866802006-01-22T18:28:00.000-08:002006-01-22T18:42:06.050-08:00Dollars and SenseMoney is so empowering and so limiting. Nathan and I finally finished analyzing our spending for last year, and everything we budgeted was right on. Wooohoooo! Since we haven't really tracked as closely as we should have, this was a great confirmation. Of course, the budget we laid out didn't have all the categories it should have, but those things outside the categories we felt comfortable with too. Woohooo again! So now we look to the year ahead in light of all the mass of sticky-note data. Timber frame dreaming, trips to visit family, that comprehensive auto insurance that saps $75/month, new pots and pans, and a dozen more are all up for grabs. A horse is not even on the goals list for this year. Even having crossed out several items, there are still more ideas than funds.<br /><br />Here's where the rubber meets the road. The numbers are crunched, the bills are paid, what's left is the gift. The money I spend on electricity and groceries is so easy...but that portion left over gets fretted over and stressed about. Why is it that what's undeserved is the hardest to give up?Christy Randalllhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05380962860586213766noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20994437.post-1137900545609396342006-01-21T19:22:00.000-08:002006-01-21T19:29:05.610-08:00Muse come hitherMy whole life my pencil has been my companion. Portraits. Horses. Trees. Life. Where is my pencil now? She has been replaced by pens. Ball point, ink fountain, skinny, fat. They're so silent, these new companions. So final. No happy noises, no gum eraser, no second chances. I retrieved a pencil this week and sat down with my sketchbook. But the pages stayed empty. Have I drifted so far? Is there no muse left to tame? Maybe she is waiting with my someday dreams. She is riding the someday horse on the someday 20 watching the someday sunset. Ride to me muse. Tarry not for someday.Christy Randalllhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05380962860586213766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20994437.post-1137900119979833912006-01-21T19:11:00.000-08:002006-01-21T19:21:59.986-08:00Workin' for a livingSo one of Reed's mantras is this: "We (Technology Services) worked really hard to become strategic to the University. The great news is, we succeeded and are strategic to the success of the University. The bad news is, we succeeded and are strategic to the success of the University. Now we have to deliver."<br /><br />I feel a bit like that's my own life right now. I've worked hard in the last 6 months to become strategic to the success of Technology Services. The great news is, I succeeded. I'm helping manage the biggest technology rollout since I started in June. I'm playing a meaningful role (not just taking notes) in BPR Round 2 Design. And I actually got Reed to turn on an Out of Office message for his email while he's on vacation. I'm enjoying the work and my interactions with co-workers both in Tech Services and across the University. The bad news is, I succeeded. I put in close to 50 hours last week. My fibromyalgia was very unhappy with me for the long hours in my office chair. If I don't deliver on my BPR and MySAU 2.0 commitments, the ripples will be felt far outside my team of two. So far, I'm delivering but when I consider my pain levels on Thursday night and my complete mental and emotional fatigue on Friday, I wonder if it's worth it? Check back in 3 weeks, I guess we'll know then.Christy Randalllhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05380962860586213766noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20994437.post-1137899499758420492006-01-21T19:09:00.000-08:002006-01-21T19:11:39.766-08:00Sabbath, Attempt #2So I didn't think we could accomplish Sabbath two weeks in a row. Especially given the number of items on our to-do lists. I was wrong. I watched Mr. and Mrs. Smith last night (best comedy I've seen in a while), I went to bed early, I read and walked this morning, slept again this afternoon, and left all the dishes in the sink. Life is good.Christy Randalllhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05380962860586213766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20994437.post-1137468804518556522006-01-16T19:15:00.000-08:002006-01-16T19:33:24.550-08:00Priority Insanity<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1094/2119/1600/IMG_1682.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1094/2119/320/IMG_1682.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />So Nathan and I have been working on setting some priorities for the year...not resolutions per-se, but attempting to live intentionally. The giant post-it notes on the kitchen wall are the evidence (my apologies and thanks to Tim Fallon for the idea and the media). It's been a rigorous, enlightening and paranoia-creating exercise. Rigorous because, well, check out the photo. Enlightening because we've realized how many things we really want to do. Paranoia-creating because now I second-guess every activity throughout the day wondering if I wrote down that idea and if it's really important! Leave it to me to over-analyze. But the work has been so fruitful and I'm looking forward to my best year ever!Christy Randalllhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05380962860586213766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20994437.post-1137364969356198192006-01-15T14:34:00.000-08:002006-01-15T14:42:49.356-08:00Attempting SabbathSo yesterday Nathan and I made our first halting attempt at Sabbath. From leaving work Friday night (which for me was a bit late!) to dinnertime Saturday we tried to rest. Hmm, it almost worked. I enjoyed not doing dishes. I enjoyed reading <span style="font-style: italic;">The Ignatian Workout</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Awakening to Prayer.</span> I enjoyed taking a break from the constant music which normally fills our little home. Did I really manage to not work? Almost! Nathan and I ended up cleaning out our closet of the clothes we don't wear, don't need, and don't fit. The pile on the bed at the end was a bit disturbing. And there were still plenty of clothes in the closet! It was definitely work, but it felt more like a spiritual exercise than physical work. I kept remembering that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. Future Sabbath attempts will definitely continue to define work: how do we rest without becoming legalistic? Is it work if I work up a sweat but it's lots of fun? Can I read my project management book? All questions to come, to wrestle with, to enjoy.Christy Randalllhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05380962860586213766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20994437.post-1137292557252645092006-01-14T18:22:00.000-08:002006-01-14T18:35:57.263-08:00The PlungeOk, this is it. I succumb. Kicking and screaming! I love pencils. I love listening to the sound of graphite as it scratches and scrapes across paper. I love paper...sketching paper, print paper, yellow legal pads, pink stickies. I like my handwriting. The sound of my fingers clicking away on a keyboard brings me spiraling down to our digital "connectedness." Our advanced society where you can't know someone's thoughts until you see them on public display on the internet. A friend of mine recently spoke on how technology brings us together. I'm sure it was a great lecture, but sitting here now by myself at my kitchen table with the cold hum of my iBook as my only companion (except for Bijou, she's loyal), I'm not feeling the love. There's no face to smile at me. No voice to sing to my soul. Not even an IM smiley as a response. Just the invisible face of 802.11b (yes, B!) wireless , the voice of TCP/IP to translate my thoughts into packets, and the thousands of miles of fiber connecting me and you.<br /><br />Thus begins the blog. The great brain dump of our time...our disconnected, post-modern way of connecting. So with the beginning of a new era comes the fury and anguish of the death of a beautiful thing: relationship.Christy Randalllhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05380962860586213766noreply@blogger.com3