Hooray for Dollywood

The trip to Dollywood/Gatlinburg was great! The cabin was just as great as the pictures/descriptions and we were right on the edge of a small lake and surrounded by mountains. It rained the first two days we were there but it didn't faze us as the relaxation and down-time were priorities. The Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg was really good (surprisingly) but nothing tops Dollywood. For those that don't know--Dollywood is the theme park created by Ms. Dolly Parton. There are lots of shops, craftsman, rides, and entertainment shows. The park wasn't busy on the day we went so there were no lines for the rides and we would just ride over and over again. Word of caution--don't ride the water rapids more than once because you'll be soaking wet. Danny and I rode three consecutive times and were drenched. It made for a good laugh.
For me the best part of the park was some ride called Dizzy Disks. It was a circular ride with chairs around the edge. Everyone was locked into their seat and you had handle bars in front of you to grip. Then, the ride starts going around and around, as well as sliding way up in the air on the right, sliding down and going way up in the air on the left. Of course, it's spinning this whole time. I cackled the whole way--I couldn't stop laughing. My friend Pat was holding on for dear life and watching her made me laugh even more. Maybe that was the best part of the park---laughing. It's good to laugh.

I highly recommend Dollywood. Go now!

Imagine that!

Have you heard that cats don't like water? Well, I guess it's true. Go figure. Not that I really doubted what I had heard all these years but I thought maybe I should find out for myself. I decided to give my cat a bath tonight. As you can imagine, it didn't go so well. She likes to drink water, but she doesn't like to be IN water. So, at the moment I have a sopping wet cat running around the house. She won't really let me near her to dry her off.
And NO, I am not as cruel as I sound.....She needed a bath. She still needs a bath but I'm sure not going to be the one to give it to her.

Integrity

Today was one of the most challenging and mentally demanding days of my life. I am the chairperson of our Staff-Parish Relations Committee at church, meaning I oversee/assist/mediate the employment, policies, and concerns that come up between the staff and the people who attend church. Kind of a big job. Last night, we met with our District Superintendent (pastor dude who oversees this area of Oklahoma City) and the person who is being assigned as our new pastor. There are a lot of good qualifications and attributes of this woman (the new pastor) but the committee had some concerns that were not resolved. I spent most of today listening to and hashing out those concerns and relaying them to our D.S.
Finally, after talk about this for approximately 8 hours today, I told our D.S. that we would accept the appointment and hope that our concerns can be worked out.
Yeah, I know I'm being ambiguous here but I can't really reveal the details. I just know that I wrestled with myself and with God for a good portion of the day, trying to make sure I was raising questions that would affect our congregation and not just me. I have the church's best interest at heart and only want the best for my congregation.
I just got off the phone with our D.S. and he thanked me for my leadership and integrity in all this. I hadn't thought about the word integrity but I appreciate the compliment because I feel like I stirred up so much chaos in trying to do the right thing.

Sigh. I'm tired. My soul is tired. My heart is tired. My body is tired. I leave for vacation in three days and it can't come at a better time. Pray for me and pray for my church.

peace...........

Kuntry Kitty

Again, another blog post about my cat, Aspasia. I have discovered that she has very unusual musical taste. She doesn't like it when I play the radio and she gets all freaky and skittish when I sing. But, she loves when I play the harmonica! I'm not kidding, she really does like it! I found my harmonica last night and was playing a little and she came running from another part of the house. She climbed up on the arm of the chair and put her mouth up to the harmonica, I guess to try and understand what it was. I had put it up for a while and then got it back out late last night and as soon as I started playing she came over and stretched out and nuzzled me. I guess music really does soothe the savage soul.

Never trust a coin toss

It was a busy weekend in Rachel's world. Early Saturday morning I was up at the church, setting up and opening the free medical clinic. Then, I dashed across town to a union hall for the Oklahoma County Democratic Party convention. The biggest issue at convention was the election of delegates to the congressional and state conventions, which will be held in the next several weeks. All the county delegates divide up into caucuses (such as Progressive, Young Dems, Peace & Justice, Native American, Labor, etc). I decided to go to the Young Dems because I knew it would be smaller. So, we had 4 delegate positions to elect, two male and two female. I was tied with another woman named Amy for that second female slot and after three rounds of ballots we were still dead-locked. The suggestion was made that we flip a coin. Inwardly I groaned because when it comes to luck I have none! But, there didn't seem to be any other quick solution so we tossed and I lost. Actually, it's not a big deal but I just hate to lose. :-) I've been a delegate to state several times and of course I went to Nationals last summer so I guess it won't kill me to give a slot to someone else. Share the wealth, right?

After I left county convention I went BACK to the church to lock up & straighten up the clinic and ended up staying there about an hour and a half.

Sunday was our associate pastor's last day with us and I am going to miss her immensly. She's been a good friend and spiritual leader to me. We had a nice going away reception and I gave her a framed scrapbook page I had constructed.

Spent the afternoon over at Pat & Di's, having a cookout with the gang. What a great way to spend a beautiful afternoon.

This week is pure chaos for me, as I have church meetings 4 nights in a row! On Tuesday we will find out who are new senior pastor is and the anticipation is killing me.

Only 6 more days until vacation. I need it so badly!

I hate my hair

Hair is evil. I often threaten to shave my head and wear a wig and today is a day that I am seriously considering that option. I got my hair cut yesterday and I just don't like it. Now, I get my hair done at a nice, upscale salon. My stylist is really great & I don't blame him for this cut. My hair just has a mind of it's own and this morning it decided to terrorize me. It's like my hair was playing an April Fool's joke on me.

Sigh.

In the small, boring town I went to high school in, my friends & I had a theory: the bigger the hair, the bigger the ho. I'm always petrified that my poofy hair is going to somehow jet me into that philosophy so I try to keep it cut short. But, today I am having Bigger Ho Hair Day.
Oh well, there are worse titles to have..................

Happy weekend everybody.

In memory of a friend

Rest in peace Tonya Parker.

Tonya was an HIV/AIDS colleague, having worked at CarePoint in Oklahoma City for a few years, and for Guiding Right, OKC's leading African-American HIV/AIDS agency. Tonya was so quick witted, cheery, and her laughter was contagious. She was only 37 years old, afflicted with a condition called TTP-HUP, a rare blood disorder.

Sympathies to her family and to her extended family from Guiding Right.

Only the good die young.

Hippity Hoppity

The Easter Bunny came to visit me!! Did you know the EB is named Linda and drives an SUV? Cool! Now if only I can catch the Tooth Fairy.

Went to southwest Oklahoma yesterday to see my step-pappy and the family. My nieces are way adorable and Miss Harper (who's 2) is a champion egg hunter. 24 hours in sw OK is enough for me and I drove back home early this morning. I was in charge of the Easter Egg hunt at church and I admit we went a little overboard this year. We anticipated quite a few kids and of course not all showed. I think we filled about 20 dozen eggs which is a hell of a lot of eggs. Oh, I guess I'm not supposed to say "hell" when talking about Easter eggs. *shrug* It was cold out but the kids had fun and that's what counts. One family has 6 foster kids (six!!) so we made sure each kid got loaded up.

So, when I got home from church there was a message on my answering machine. Yeah, I know--can you believe someone actually called me? Moving along.....so on my outgoing message I say "this is Rachel and Aspasia...." because random callers don't need to know that I'm the only one who lives here & most don't know who Aspasia is. Um, Aspasia is my cat, but hey--she lives here too. So, I listen to my message and it's this voice going meow meow meow meow for a minute or so. My oh-so-funny brother, Rev. Dan, decided to leave the cat a message and translated it into English for me..."this is your brother, happy easter, i love you." Hmmm....I worry about him sometimes. I mean, it's one thing to put your cats name on an answering machine but it's another to LEAVE a message for the cat, in her language no less.

Still waiting on my rejection letter from OU school of social work. I hate being patient.

Do you ever get songs stuck in your head? I have "Popular" from the musical Wicked playing over and over in my head. It's annoying me.

Happy Easter!

The forgotten princess

There was a time when I, Rachel, was the princess, mistress, and controller of my domain. Then, I got a cat. Why is it that cat's think they own everything? Why does a cat think it can sleep, shed, and stretch just anywhere it wants?
I realized tonight that my cat, Aspasia, has very sneakily gained control over me. I should have realized it when she started sleeping on top of my pillow, just above my head. Now, she jumps up on furniture she knows she's not supposed to be on. She walks all over books or papers. She leaves piles of hair (not hairballs) all over clothes, my bed, my shoes, my carpet, wherever....
The worst though---she thinks every glass of water is hers! If I leave a glass of water out she'll knock the damn thing over. I yell, stomp, and threaten to wring her neck but she still does it. And THEN, she has the nerve to bite me when I'm petting her?? There's no pleasing some people.

I want my status as Princess back. I refuse to play ugly stepsister to a cat.

Side note: I just realized that I devoted one whole blog entry to my cat. I've become one of "those" people. I need therapy. Please help.

Congress and Court and Schiavo, Oh My!

It's hard not to follow the news on the case of Terri Schiavo, the Florida woman in a "persistent vegetative state" brought on by heart failure in 1990. I have firm personal beliefs about end of life care and such but no matter what side you're on, this poor woman is being pulled in 50 different directions. Let her go in peace. The Courts and Congress have enough work to do. Peace peace peace peace peace peace peace.

Rumors are....

A: Always true when heard in church
B: Become true when mentioned in several places
C: Best if remembered by the people who started them

Answer: C. Ok, so my friend Trina and I were "wishful thinking" earlier this week about who the new church pastor might be. We've been hearing names here and there, mostly speculations and nothing concrete. We discussed a pastor named Kathy who is currently a District Superintendent (that's Methodist lingo). We would LOVE Kathy at our church. So, Trina and I kept saying that over and over, from our lips to God's ears.

So, Sunday after church another church member says to me, "wow, I hear that Kathy (the pastor we like) has resigned her current position and is available." I was like hmmmm....wouldn't that be great??!!!
I call up Trina and tell her what I've just heard and she laughs and reminds me that she and I were the ones who STARTED that rumor. Oh yeah. I forgot.
Must be time to color my roots again.

Change can be a good thing

Today, Palm Sunday, I stood before our congregation and announced that both our pastors would be leaving. Our associate has been with us for 10 years and she is very well loved. She found a wonderful position doing children's ministry which is really her passion. She will only be with us for 3 more weeks. Then, we received word this week that our senior pastor, David, would be moved in June after Annual Conference (gotta love the Methodist system). Our Staff-Parish Relations Committee agreed that telling the congregation all at once would be better so as chair of that committee I did the deed. When I announced the first move everyone was surprised, when I did the second it seemed everyone was dumbstruck. It was a lot to take in all at once. But, I tried to remind everyone that this is part of our United Methodist heritage and uniqueness and that change is good. We are a strong and growing church and whomever comes along to be our pastor will grow with us.

After church, one person said to me, "wow, if I ever have to drop a bomb I'm going to call you." I think it was a compliment.

Interesting day...............

Take heed

Gonorrhea Lectim
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued a warning about a new virulent strain of sexually transmitted disease. This disease is contracted through dangerous and high-risk behavior. The disease is called Gonorrhea Lectim (pronounced "gonna reelect him"). Many victims have contracted it after having been screwed for the past 4 years, in spite of having taken measures to protect themselves from this especially troublesome disease. Cognitive sequelae of individuals infected with Gonorrhea Lectim include, but are not limited to: Anti-social personality disorder traits; delusions of grandeur with a distinct messianic flavor; chronic mangling of the English language; extreme cognitive dissonance; inability to incorporate new information; pronounced xenophobia; inability to accept responsibility for actions; exceptional cowardice masked by acts of misplaced bravado; uncontrolled primate style facial smirking; ignorance of geography and history; tendencies toward creating evangelical theocracies; and a strong propensity for categorical, all-or nothing behavior. The disease is sweeping Washington. Naturalists and epidemiologists are amazed and baffled that this malignant disease originated only a few years ago in a Texas bush.

(gosh i wish i had seen this e-mail before november....)

Fabulous website

If you want a good laugh and are a bumper sticker/magnet/button freak like me, then check out www.evolvefish.com
Kudos to James for pointing me to this most fabulous website.

One of my favorite buttons:
"You're pro life? That's fine. Now get one and stay out of mine."

When I hit it big on the Tunica slots I'm going shopping on this website. This is exactly the laugh I needed!!

Cursed by the tire gods

I am definitely cursed. Today I had to drive out to Wellston to see a new client. Getting to his home required driving 3.5 miles one way down a gravel & dirt road. When heading home, I decided to take historic Route 66 instead of the toll road. I had been on 66 for no more than 1/2 mile when I felt my car doing something weird. I pulled over and sure enough, my left front tired was flatter than flat. I cursed. Cursed some more. Laughed, then called my co-worker to tell her I was stuck in the middle of nowhere. Thankfully, a very kind schoolteacher/coach (it's spring break) stopped and cheerfully put my spare on for me. It's nice to know there are good Samaritans out there and he didn't try to stab me even once. I creeped into Edmond and found out that the old tire was not fixable, so I had to buy two new ones. There was a 4 inch nail in that tire--I saved it! The nail, not the tire....
I am ALWAYS getting flat tires and nails and whatever. I don't know how I do it. It's not like I'm going off-roading or something. Of course, the stupid agency I work for won't give us cell phones for when we travel to see clients. Thank goodness I have my own and of course I have to foot the bill but I guess my safety isn't that important to my employer. *

(*that was sarcasm in case you didn't catch it)

So Tire Gods, I am sorry to have offended thee but please, stopeth making my tires go flateth. I shall bring you offerings of burnt cat hair and gum wrappers. Hail Tire Gods.

So be it.

Hear the beat of dancin' feet...

Friday night three friends and I went to OCU (my alma mater) to see the American Spirit Dance Company's spring show. This is the student company and they do a couple of major shows each year. I love dance and let me tell you, if you didn't know that these were students you would think they were just in from Broadway (well maybe off-broadway). By the second act the dancers were really warmed up and pumped and you could see the excitement in their faces and in their moves. My favorite piece was a ballet one, called Irish Bitter Suite. It was well choreographed, executed, and passionate. Well done OCU dancers!

When I was in college I was friends with and knew several dance majors. I loved watching their performances, partly because their skill was so honed but also because I knew them personally and was in awe of their talent. I haven't seen many of those people in years but I'm sure they are entertaining and delighting their audiences now. Maybe, just maybe I'll get to see them perform again someday.

I almost went back to the show again tonight! I must make a conscious effort to go to more OCU productions.

No apologies

All of a sudden I'm in a bad mood and I got to thinking--i'm not going to apologize for other people and the idiotic things they do. and while i'm at it, i'm not going to apologize for a boring blog or what i perceive to be a boring blog. i'm too damn nice sometimes.

The L stands for loser

Ah well, I was not successful in my run for House District Chair for the 87th district. Not that big of a deal, but a little. The vote was 12 to 11, if only I had stacked the room a little more. Ha. As a consulation prize they made me vice-chair. I've never met the guy who became chair. He's not been involved in county or state functions though I'm not entirely sure he's bad since he's involved with Dean for America. I think he was recruited to run by John Morgan, who ran for representative out of our district. Mr. Morgan does not seem to like me very much and has said not-so-nice things about me to another political acquiantance. I really do not care what the man thinks but please, if you are going to slander me at least make it interesting. Tonight I was pleasant and actually went up to Mr. Morgan and his wife to say hello. I held out my hand to her and she gingerly shook it, literally turning her head so she wouldn't have to look at me. He did the same thing. Talk about lame--you can't even make eye contact with me??!! If I had known they were going to react that way I would have spit in my hand before I offered it to them. Rachel Cooties.
Anyhoo, I'm good with vice-chair and I'll bring just as much to the table as I had planned as chair. It's the "politics" part that gets me. I should be used to it by now but it still amazes me how childish people can be. You know what Mr. Morgan, if you have a problem with me then it's just that---YOUR problem. Being bitter about losing the race helps no one and only hurts your reputation. So there.

Wish I could remember who sings that "I'm a loser baby" song....it's running through my head right now.

To quote my dear friend Chance, "be bitter, it helps."

peace!

30

I'm not one of those people who believes in lucky numbers or the signifigance of a number appearing over and over. But, today the number "30" has stood out.

30
--my age
--the number of times Dynanners has asked me if I am going to update my blog
--amount of AIDS Drug Assistance Program applications I have to complete
--the number of towels I stole from Salt Lake
--days until my vacation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
--the number of years since the bathroom near our office has been cleaned

Ok, so I didn't steal 30 towels..........

The Salt Lake trip was great. I always enjoy these Young Dems meetings because I get to catch up with friends, stay up late, get up early, and laugh. On Saturday night, 5 of us from Oklahoma had dinner at a Brazillian place. There's a central salad bar then the waiters bring by roasted/grilled meats and you take a few pieces off the skewer and devour. Well, we ate more meat than any 5 humans should eat in one sitting. It got funny at one point and we sat at our table crying because we were laughing so hard. Let me tell you, a vegetarian would not survive in that place.
On Sunday, we took off early for the mountains and enjoyed the snow and skiing that Utah has to offer. I was going to go snowmobiling but turns out it wasn't offered where we had gone. Oh well.

Tonight are the Democratic Party precinct and house district meetings. I'm running for house district chair and hope there's no opposition. I had to choose between Survivor and House District meeting....tough choice, I know, but thankfully I have a VCR so I won't miss out on any of the action. I know, I'm a goober.........

I apologize if I don't blog too much this month. March is our busiest time of the year here in my office so don't get on my case too much!!! Ok Dynanners???!!
Oh, another word of warning....don't believe ANYTHING that The Friendly Bunny says about me. He lies. All the time. Lies lies lies.

Peace people!

Chief Procrastinator

My graduate admission statement is done and mailed! I had started it quite a while ago but never got past a rough draft. I spent several hours in the last few days re-writing, tweaking, and finalizing the stupid thing. If I get in then I get in. If I don't then I'll work for DHS for the rest of my life. Scary.

Heading off to Salt Lake City on Thursday for another Young Democrats of America meeting. My two year term of Vice President of Programs is up in August and I'm pretty much ready to hand over the reigns now. I realize it's a political organization but there's too much politics going on right now. People running for office are constantly calling, want to know what I think of this, what about so & so, who's she supporting, who's the best, blah blah blah. I'm NOT bitter that I have not been asked to run again but now that I'm becoming an outsider I find amusement in all the B.S. that goes on. Politics. Oh yeah, so I'm going to Salt Lake for 4 days. That area of the country is beautiful and I have a bit of free time so I'm going to explore some of the mountains and lakes. Our hotel is right off Temple Square so I'll do the whole tour thing as well. Missionaries love me.

Work is ok at the moment. My co-worker, Happy Gaila, is back after being in a three week training. I refer to her as Happy Gaila because the girl is too damn chipper sometimes. Let me tell you, she will sing cheery songs until you want to throw up. It's actually a good quality but I can't let her know I think so. We need her in the office because she's the buffer and sometimes peace-keeper.

Once again I apologize to all three of my readers for the boring blog. I'll try to be more creative in the coming weeks.