Ode to My New Office

You are right downtown, smack dab in the middle of Barrington St. A location like that just can't be beat.

You are old and cool with large oak doors and I work on your 5th and highest floor

You ceiling drain pipe is a noisy creature but I choose to see it as my "water feature"

Your previous tenant always makes me grin, what a weird spot to have the offices of a lesbian sex toy shop in.

Your selection of bars just can't be beat, there are 11 on the block across the street.

But if in the mood for more Wesleyan fare there is a Tim Horton's just over there.
Greco, Captain Sub, Sushi, and Just Us too, and that's all within 400ft of you.

You are 3 blocks from the public transit Metro Link making the drive home shorter and cheaper than by car, I think.

My mental health it has improved and I'm generally in a more cheery mood

"Grand Parade" park within a block is found, and St Paul's, my second favorite church downtown.

And on and on could I go about you but I'm at you to work so work I should do. (but you are great)

Christmas

note: I have been rather slack in my blogging lately but it's not for lack of things to talk about. In fact i have had tons of stuff to think through and process but little time and mental energy to dump it here. We will see what the next little while holds. Maybe the christmas break will yield church related posts about insurance, office space, staffing strategies, and facility issues and approaches. But for now...


The malls have decided it's christmas so i figured a Christmas post would be in order. It's no secret that I'm not fond of Christmas. At best you could say I'm not into it. On my worst days it's a pretty active dislike. Lots of reasons but I don't want to enumerate them here. Today I'll be positive and talk about what I do like about Christmas.

Music: I don't like most christmas music. When i was a worship leader I hated having to do carols. But I absolutely love Bing Crosby's Christmas stuff (praticularly "Mele Kalikimaka", "It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas", and "Christmas Is a' Coming") and my all time favorite Christmas song, Tom Pettey's "Christmas All Over Again"

Lights: I like christmas lights, I like sitting in the low light of them inside and driving around and seeing them on peoples houses. They make me happy.

Santa: I like Santa. He's a nice guy. We have seriously considered putting our presents under a giant Santa instead of a tree. Santa is awesome.

The Break: I love the mellowness and downtime of Christmas. We intentionally make Christmas as low key as possible around our house. It's just great to stay home, wear warm comfy clothes, take naps, watch movies and TV, and hang out with family.

Egg Nogg: Particularly Baxter's Light Egg Nog. I can down a litre of that sweet goodness in about 5 min. I wonder when the Grocery store will decide it's christmas? Mmmmmm nog!

Election Thoughts

McCain lost gracefully

The Republicans at his speech made complete asses of themselves and are a reproach to the nation

The biggest thing McCain lost on this campaign was his honor and I feel sorry for him on that count. I like him and I hope he gets to do something to be remembered by beyond the once great guy who compromised his integrity for the sake of an un-winnable election.

The news media gave being unbiased a reasonable effort (until the winner was declared)

Coolest part of the evening was watching Civil Rights Movement leaders get to see a black man elected president.

Scariest thing about Obama's victory is his support of infanticide, ironic from a man who would have been a prime candidate for abortion himself.

Coolest thing about Obama's victory is that he may very well have the goods to bring America together.

It remains to be seen what Obama will actually do. Most of what I have heard from him are stirring generalities. I think platitudes would be going to far, and he may have an actual plan but I don't think we have heard it yet.

That said I think an America united around a decent plan will go farther than an America divided about a great plan.

Glad it's over, it was getting pretty old.

I thought it was hilarious how often I heard completely unfounded, unsupported, and easily arguable statements to the effect of "only in America could..."

I also thought it was hilarious that CBC covered the election night.