Saturday, January 17, 2009

Cold Hands, Warm House

Yeah, yeah, I know that's not the right quote, but it works for me.

We've had a couple of verrrrryyy cold days here in Your Nation's Capitol. The good news is that it will be warmer for Tuesday's Big Event. Right, now, though, it's still pretty cold (up to a balmy 23 degrees after several days in the teens and below). I went out for a total of four minutes today, to drop the Netflix movie in the mailbox at the end of the street. That was enough. I just wanted to stay in the warm house and go nowhere else.

I made soup, did laundry, read a novel. Bliss. Ate way too many little nibbles, but it was that kind of day.

Tomorrow will be back on the treadmill. I'm going to do some field work for the big research project instead of going to Saint Middle School - an odd sensation, because since the vicar left SMS, I'm the "continuing pastoral presence" and I feel I am supposed to be there. But it's fun to go do the field work, to hear someone whose sermons I really enjoy, to see some folks at that church whom I hold in high regard, to exercise a different part of my brain and my spirit.

This coming week will be busy. I really have to get some serious writing done on the other research project, before Friday, when I go off to Diocesan Council to flaunt my brilliance (or something masquerading as brilliance) and start conversations about job possibilities with several potential employers. The Bishop will introduce us senior seminarians and parade us out in front of the assembled masses like so many prize heifers. I've got three people with whom I'll have preliminary conversations. I'm also expecting to have a conversation in a week or so with the rector of a big-name church in DC that will be central to some of the coming week's festivities...not sure if I want to work there, but it would be an interesting interview nonetheless.

The challenge is to find a place that feels like a "warm house" to me, and a boss that feels like a mentor, but will treat me as a colleague with skills to offer. We'll see what the week brings. And I'm trying not to be neurotic about what to wear. Really. Well...

3 comments:

  1. Wow, busy! Praying for you in all that comes your way.

    Sounds like you are doing well, health wise. I hope and pray that too!

    Blessings and STAY WARM...

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  2. Wow....I'm constantly startled by the differences in the way that our two churches do things! Post theological college, we are ONLY allowed to be in conversation with one parish at a time, and they are only allowed to consider one potential curate. Only if you have reached the end of the road with them can you look at any other vacancies...and the whole thing is very much masterminded by the Diocesan Director of Ordinands. Does such an animal exist in ECUSA?
    The advice that I was given was to pay maximum attention to how you click with the potential training incumbent and sit light to the foibles of the church...better a mismatch of churchmanship than a colleague/mentor with whom you are at logger-heads. I went with that approach, found WonderfulVicar first off, and never ever wished I'd considered another curacy.
    Prayers for you this week x

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  3. A boss who treats you like a colleague but also feeks like a mentor sounds ideal! Hope that works out.

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