Green Underground

Ok, you can see I am still as undermotivated in the blogosphere as ever.  I can simply not believe that it is now August and that in just two weeks I will be starting my 7th year of post-secondary education since I graduated from College… 

Well, I’m kinda eager to see what will come of my life pipeline.  The education class, which is at Joliet Junior College, will be the last class that I will take at good ‘ole JUCO.  Seriously, this experience has been mixed.  My intro to education professor was, well, interesting and the Special Ed teacher was well special (in her 50’s and never had tenure? - you get the picture).  So, the education is hit or miss.  Now, the Calc I prof (who incidentally was the only full-time staff member I had) was ok.  But the Calc II prof was phenomenal.  She was one of the best educators I have ever had (she teaches at a local HS)!  The only problem is that it’s hard to think after leaving for work at 5:30 in the AM, getting to school just in time for the 5:30 start of the class which ran to 10:00 p.m.  (and this was the day after my jumbo night class in Special Ed) Seriously, which inelegant college administrator thought that a four-hour Calculus class was smart.  It was a pain the butt, but the prof was very willing to assist -and I learned allot.  So, good deal.

Well, I look forward to the fall when I have a relatively new professor (and I better like her) to teach Calc IV this Fall and then I’ll have her for Differential Equations in the Winter.  Should be fun.  It should be good. 

Work has been quite interesting.  I am enjoying Starbucks, though by no means is it the same as teaching.  I get to learn about coffee, make people happy, and see the dark side of people (I.e. b4 caffeine!)  Quite interesting.  But the best part is that I really like my Partners and my manager is one of the best I’ve ever had.  (Though, this is the first job I’ve had where all of my managers are younger than I).

Most assuredly, the best part of this summer is the fact that I have implemented a host of new technology solutions at my church.  Of course, the first being the new website.  Though, it is so very easy to maintain now that it is database driven.  I also have been on a spending spree - I bought a wonderful new router for the church that offers VPN and WiFi!  That is good, now that we have four staff members with laptops and with the VPN they are able to access the church network drive from, well, wherever!  (And, for once I am glad that Pastor didn’t listen to my suggestion to obtain Vista!) 

Coming up is my eldest nieces fourth birthday.  By golly, how do they grow so fast!  Though, if you are on my Facebook, you can see what my nieces did to me at my youngest nieces 2nd birthday party!

Anyway, that’s all for now.  That is my story and I’m sticking to it.!

Well, it’s been almost a month since I started at Starbucks.  It is quite the interesting place.  I have already learned a lot and have been performing a number of experiments as I complete my required "hw"…

Starbucks sure does take their training seriously.  I have had over two weeks of training to become a part-time barista.  I have learned what makes a good shot and had to taste a bad shot (it’s pretty bad - sorry espresso drinkers…)  I’ve learned the proper way to steam milk and the difference between a wet and a dry cappuccino.  But what I’ve learned even more of is just how much there is to just plain ole coffee.  You may say that I’m becoming a coffee snob, but there is truly a big difference between good coffee and the stuff in the can.

I’ll admit, I never much liked the House Blend.  But then again, I realize that I like my coffee like I like my beer - the blacker the better.  So, the medium House Blend is out…  And, truthfully, Pikes Place is about the closest I’ll get to a medium…

Perhaps as I travel along my coffee journey, I’ll share things here and there…  So I’ll start with this tidbit…

BODUM, the largest maker of french presses in the world is actually a Denmark company and the French don’t brew coffee with a french press any more than other countries.  So, I ask, why do we call it a French Press?

And BODUM has the answer

THE ORIGINAL
The coffee press system was first developed by the Italian, Calimani, in 1933, but it’s breakthrough and wide distribution came after the war in France. The Original Chambord [A French Press design] was developed by a company in Ile-de-France called Martin S.A.. Martin S.A. has been associated with BODUM® for over 30 years and has been owned by BODUM® for more than 20 years. And still today, the Chambord is partly manufactured in Portugal by skilled craftsmen and with the highest environmentally-friendly standards. The Chambord’s success came quickly – in the fifties it was the ubiquitous coffee maker of choice in French cafés, where it was placed on the table for the guests to pour their own coffee.

P.S.  I have the 12 oz Shin Bistro.  Perfect for me, and it’s available at your local Starbucks for under 20 bucks!

* The BODUM answer is contained in their 2008-2009 catalog.  Learn more about Bodum at their website, www.bodum.com.

http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2008/06/why-im-lutheran.html

Ok, so I saw this post on Father Fisk’s website.  I don’t know if Father Bischof has a blog (if he does, I haven’t a clue where it is!), but he is a phenominal theologian.

Having tried to escape Lutheranism back in my pre-College degree days, I experienced the sentiments that Pastor Bischof has.  It seems I can figure out enough reasons to stay away from the other Churches, and it all was because, well, they were not Lutheran.

So, check out this blog posting!

There is an old joke that Pastor’s only work one day a week (and only a few hours at that!), but the truth is far from what we see.  Have you ever had a meeting with your Pastor late at night?  When you hit a crisis, do you seek guidance from your Pastor?  How about visiting the homebound?  Writing and researching the sermon?  Preparing the service?  Sounds like a little more than just a few hours on Sunday…  It’s not an easy job, considering that the Pastor is responsible for the spiritual well-being of his flock.  At your job, does whether or not you provide "good service" make an eternal difference?  Let’s think of it this way…  remember the last time you were at our famous burger chain (which we will call McDowell’s)…  How often to you approach the counter to be greeted with a grunt (if your lucky) and have to repeat the order to the clerk, who in the end mixes it up…  Yes, it has happened.  (Of course, even at other places than McDowell’s)  Perhaps you will be so upset that you will never return to the business, whether simply this location or the whole company.

Now, let’s juxtapose the "good service" scenario onto a Pastor.  Let’s look at the fictional Pastor Ingqvist.  Of course, being from Lake Wobegon this would never happen…  It is Friday, Pastor Ingqvists’ normal day off.  This week has been so busy, with a funeral, a few heavy counseling sessions, and not to mention the fact that Lake Wobegon overflowed its banks and flooded Wobegon Acres.  Well, needless to say, the Greek lexicon, Book of Concord, and computer with this weeks sermon sit on the desk of the study, unopened and (at least the computer screen) blank.    Tomorrow is the wedding of Sven and Hilda, two perfectionists who have been fussing over their wedding so much that Pastor Ingqvist went from a full head of hair to nearly bald!  He just has to finish the sermon today!

Well, soon afternoon arrives, Pastor Inqvist has been interrupted with many phone calls and has been helping people sort out why God allowed Lake Wobegon to overflow.  Matter of fact, he realized that he’s only had a couple of hours of sleep in the past few days.  Well, the town’s most reputable prostitute has arrived at the parish.  We’ll call her Magdalena Jorgensen (what a good Norwegian name, don’t ya think?)  Anyway, Magdalena’s reputation makes Al Capone look more like a saint than Mother Teresa!  We’ll, Magdalena has realized that her life is out of control and, thanks to the wonderful assistance from the Lutheran Church when her son, Rafael was ill, Magdalena has been exploring changing her ways.  The only sticking point is why would God want her, such a despicable woman!

At about 3:00, she strolls into the church, just as the secretary, Svana, was leaving for the week.  Well, Svana walked out of the door nearly knocking Magdalena down.  Pastor Ingqvist sat at his study desk, wishing that Svana had left a few minutes earlier and locked that blasted church door.  He didn’t have time to sit and chat if he expected his sermon to get done - and it had to, how could he conduct church on Sunday without a Sermon!

Anyway, Pastor Inqvist abruptly, and begrudgingly, greeted Magdalena.  Clearly his mind was on something else and Magdalena was an interruption that he didn’t want.  Magdalena asked Pastor Inqvist a number of theological questions.  With abrupt, brief, and almost snippy answers Pastor Inqvist replied - while constantly watching his clock.  After almost an hour, Magdalena had ran the gamut of theological questions that would make one wonder if she had read the Large Catechism prior to coming and was checking to see if Pastor Inqvist knew what he was talking about (of course Magdalena only read a tattered Gideon’s Bible she acquired from the motor inn where she went about her previous business)  Anyway, Magdalena asked one last question, "Why would God forgive someone like me?"  She was in tears, and spoke so softly that Pastor Inqvist wanted so badly to comfort her…but his sermon was waiting.  Abrutly, and without thinking he blurts out, "He wouldn’t."  Magdalena, hearing this, ran out in tears - vowing never to return to a church - ever.  Pastor Inqvist, knowing the mistake he made, ran after her.  You see, Pastor Inqvist wasn’t really listening to her, mostly due to exhaustion, and didn’t realize what he was answering too (he was still a couple questions behind).  Being the caring Pastor he is, he tried to comfort her and apologize.  But Magdalena had her mind made up and, to this day, has never returned to the Church.  Who really knows what happened to Magdalena, since after that day she left the little paradise known as Lake Wobegon.

As you can see, a mistake made by someone in the secular world may not have an eternal impact.  I doubt that poor service at McDowell’s has ever resulted in someone’s eternal damnation, but a mistake by a Pastor can mean eternal damnation - even if the Pastor isn’t aware of the way someone is interpreting what he is saying.  Pretty hefty responsibility, isn’t it?

Anyway, my story is fictional, and a Pastor’s mistakes may not be as evident to anyone as this story.  Remember, your Pastor has to be at top game all the time, round the clock, and any mistake, no matter how insignificant or silly, may drive someone from the loving arms of Christ.

So, I refer to a post, one on Father Juhl’s webblog.  A reminder, to pray for our Pastors….

http://fatherdmj.livejournal.com/336954.html

Ok, if you haven’t used the CTA, you are missing out on alot.  I was skeptical several years ago when I decided to take a bus and the "L" rather than drive, but was pleasantly suprised.  It is cheaper than driving, more environmentally friendly, and traffic really doesn’t matter (after all have you seen how the bus drivers drive!).

Well, the CTA recently made a Bus Tracker application so you can see when the busses arrive.  Although it does not have one of the routes that I use, about 1/3 of the routes will be live on Monday.  It is a fantastic service allowing you to determine when the next bus is due in!    More will arrive in July.  Works from the mobile phone as well…

Check it out:  http://www.ctabustracker.com/

And also checkout the CTA’s website at: http://www.transitchicago.com/ 

If Ron Hubermann and the CTA can keep this up, and the RTA board can get more service in the ‘burbs, we might just get the Olympic games.