Tough afternoon

This was not a good afternoon. It helped chatting with my sister and mom. And getting a hot fudge brownie blast at Sonic. Apparently you're not supposed to eat right before bed for health reasons, but it sure makes it easier to fall asleep.

Loaves and fishes

Today's sermon was about the loaves and the fishes, about being fed and feeding others. I guess I'm in a pretty selfish stage right now, mostly receiving, seeking nourishment in the form of getting established in my new job, new place to live, a new church of a faith of which I'm not even really formally a member, trying to keep and make friends, figure out how to live here in Chandler. I try to think of ways that I've spiritually fed anyone else lately, and I'm not thinking of many. Which I guess is the point of a sermon (should I call them "homilies"?) to remind to reach beyond.

Shepherd me oh Lord,
beyond my wants, beyond my needs,
from death into life.

Rhapsody in Gershwin

I went to the Chandler Center for the Arts this evening to take in Rhapsody in Gershwin. The Rhapsody was the portion before the intermission - I headed home at intermission to avoid the larger traffic outflow and to get some rest before tomorrow morning's run.

It was pretty good. Some novelty.

Neat that there's a free concert series. The August 26th Brid Dower Band performance looks good.

I had planned to head to the Desert Botanical Gardens for the last flashlight evening walk of the year, but the Rhapsody seemed to have more novelty.

Waterpark day

I spent a good chunk of today at Big Surf waterpark in Tempe. It was kind of fun, a couple good slides. The surfing/wave pool was no fun at all without a rented raft, I didn't try it with.

Basically it was fun from the perspective of reminscing about myself six years or so ago, and it was fun to be around a bunch of children having fun, but mostly it just felt too small.

I'll have to find new amusements.

Chill out

I don't buy Shaunti Feldhahn's opinion that breast feeding in public is wrong.

Would it be rude and creepy to stare at a woman feeding her child? Of course. But then again, it would be rude and creepy to stare anyway, right?

Let's ease off on the trying to regulate every aspect of life so fully. What is to be gained by this, versus what do we stand to lose by failing to acknowledge people as they are? Focus on how to structure situations to support women who support children, rather than trying to hide them under a rug.

Thunderstorm

A tremendous and beautiful thunderstorm this evening, complete with rain. I ran outside into it and was drenched pleasantly.

We don't get much rain here in Phoenix, but when we get it, we get it in style.

Less cool is the water leaking through my bedroom ceiling and dripping down onto the bed. No fun. Dragged out the sleeping bag and will report the problem to the super in the morning.

On Being an Apostle

This morning's sermon reminded of the obligation to act as an apostle in the world. It reminded me a bit of the subway "See something? Say something." campaign.

Ian Anderson w/ Orchestra

I got to hear Ian Anderson play the flute and sing at Interlochen this evening. The music was awesome.

Also performing was Lucia Micarelli on violin. I think it's fair to say she was the star of the performance.

Chandler Museum

I visited the Chandler Museum today. I didn't know much about the local history so it was kind of fun to catch up on the adventures of Dr. A. J. Chandler.

On defining marriage

It looks like on this fall's ballot here in Arizona there will be an item about narrowly defining marriage in order to hedge out same-sex marriages.

I couldn't agree more with Sandi Glauser's commentary in the Tribune:

Our national charter was intended to grant freedoms, not to narrow the scope of those under its umbrella.

Indpendence Day Fireworks in Gilbert

Beautiful Independence Day fireworks in Gilbert, AZ.