Vikings, Napping, and Trading Wisconsin for Massachusetts

Well, I have to say, that Vikings game was pretty amazing. To be on the winning side of a 4th quarter comeback, especially after blowing the lead with under a half minute to play, was a new and pleasant experience. Not a bad first day for Blair Walsh. Right, Walshy?

Look at the little guy celebrate (when I say little, I realize he's probably taller than me, but look at him next to those linemen!). Also, I went down to a place called Tavern on the Square and watched the game with 40 other Vikings fans. And while I don't think all Minnesotans are inherently nice, I have to say this was a pretty great group of people who did Minnesota proud. Eighteen more wins to go until we're Super Bowl champs!

Although, if I am honest, there were moments in the second half when I was going back and forth about whether watching the rest of the game was a better choice than going home and taking a nap. Usually a Sunday service with coffee hour afterward uses up all of my social energy, so tacking on a room full of cheering people emptied the reserves too, but I think it was worth it. Granted, I'm writing this from a small basement closet where I've been practicing sensory deprivation. It's like centering prayer without the centering or prayer.

So, today I'm looking at another apartment. I am confident it will have to be better than my last experience because, as John Lennon chimed in during "It's Getting Better All the Time," "...can't get no worse." I'm also having lunch with the incomparable Christina Tinglof, so it should be a good day overall. Granted, I will also be starting my "Reading German" class, so that may take some of the wind out of my sails. I guess we shall see tomorrow.

One of the things I'm really worried about since I left Chicago is how ResCov is going to make it financially now that they no longer have my tithe to count on. Hopefully the Lord will provide. Jehovah Jireh, as I like to say.

I saw Carol Wild's status wishing that Chicago and Massachusetts were closer, and I came up with a great idea. Let's replace Wisconsin with Massachusetts. This works on so many levels. Let me count the ways:
1. I would be close to Chicago while going to grad school.
2. Wisconsin would be gone, or at least further away if it was a straight up trade. (sorry New England)
3. Ditto the Packers.
4. Ditto Superior.
5. My drive to Duluth would be that much shorter and way nicer.
6. Seafood in the Midwest!

And the humidity has broken in Massachusetts! I awoke on Sunday morning, went outside, and spontaneously began crying tears of joy (and since it had been so humid, I think it was easier to tear up) at the coolness of the weather. There's a lot of people talking up fall in New England, so it better bring its A-game. It always reminds me of this Cheryl Wheeler song (for obvious reasons):



Okay, time to go work. I made a list of things I need to accomplish this week, and it's not a very small one. Let's do this!

Apartment Hunt Fails, Catholic Church, and Big Sisters

I think I'm blogging more lately because it makes me feel connected to people far away. So, feel free to talk back!

Well, I visited my first potential apartment on Friday afternoon. Not good. The place was clean as promised, but I realized that it was clean because there was barely anything in the whole place. Empty apartments are undeniably easier to keep clean. Next, it was apparent that there was a lot of pot smoking going on in the apartment, a claim that was verified by one of the roommates telling me that the other two (one in his 50s) occasionally smoked pot on the couch while watching TV. I could tell that living there would be like living in (metaphorically) a dementor's kiss, my soul slowly fading away like smoke dissipating in the air (pun intended). So, Monday I have another interview to live in a mother-in-law apartment, which seems like it could be just what the doctor ordered. I'll let you know either way.

Tonight I was working on my sermon and decided to take a break by going to the local Catholic Church for their 4 o'clock Saturday mass. When I got to the church, I entered in a side door by the parking lot, only to find that I had entered into the sanctuary between the cantor and the altar as the priest was processing in. I tried to just sit in the front row there, but I think I had 200 pairs of eyes on me, so I slowly moonwalked out and, fighting the urge to just leave, came in through the back door. A general trend I've noticed in my sporadic visits to Catholic churches is that they pray prayers too fast and sing hymns too slow. "Faith of our Fathers" and "Holy God We Praise Thy Name" each could have been sung almost twice as fast, and the Nicene Creed was recited at a speed only comfortable for an auctioneer. Also, whenever I go up for communion and cross my arms over my chest so they don't serve me communion, you can always sense that second of confusion on the part of (usually) the priest before he figures out what I'm doing.

Both of my sisters have been putting on some serious poundage...

Almost time for an intervention. (I can only be happy for my sisters backhandedly, apparently).

So, I haven't had cable in about five years, so my current house (the Bouris's) does, and I've noticed a few things:
1. I do enjoy going to bed watching SportsCenter. There's something about hearing those groupings of three notes (do-do-do; do-do-do) that just seems right. If only I was in Minnesota to watch some Twins/Wild games.
2. DVR is amazing. I know, I know, welcome to 2007, but it's the first time I've really experienced it for myself.
3."Big Bang Theory" is my new favorite sitcom (again, 2007). It's never been on Netflix streaming or Hulu, so this is my first time really watching it.
4. There still isn't much that is worth watching.

This makes me sound like I haven't done anything but watch TV, but I've read two books, 10 articles, and written a rough draft of a sermon. So don't worry; I'm not slacking.

Anyway, tomorrow is my first Sunday participating in worship at Trinity, so I'm looking forward to that. Plus, they're having a potluck brunch for rally Sunday! They must have known I was coming! Next week is my first sermon, so you should come. Now, to enjoy the rest of my Saturday evening. I'm thinking of doing a Saturday evening-Sunday evening sabbath during school here. We'll see how it shapes up.

Bus Fails, Convention Coverage, and BC

So, I wonder if bus drivers feel like they've failed when they're running back-to-back with another bus on the same route. This occurred today, except we were sandwiched between two busses of the same route. This is the worship pastor equivalent of realizing you have written "the risen lie of Christ" instead of the "the risen life of Christ" (which happened in our Easter Vigil bulletins and resulted in some furious edits with a fine-tip pen. Speaking of which, how does anyone write with anything besides the Precise V5? Anything else feels like I'm writing with a blunt object dipped in a puddle of ink. Am I right, Jeff? (even though you always accused me of stealing yours).

One thing that amuses me is how everyone who speaks at these conventions seems to want to prove that they had it rough growing up. "I was raised a feral child by a pack of rabid wolves, eating nothing but grub worms until 14. My first job was at 7 years-old as a chimney sweep. I was the broom wrapped in cotton and feathers and shoved in the dirty chimney. And as I slid between the grimy bricks, I knew that I would spend the rest of my life working for the public good. So, walking barefoot in the middle winter to DC, I came to the capital committed to change this country. My first few years I lived off of old newspapers and cigarette butts living in various dumpsters, but I worked my way up to the senate and am here today to change the way politics is done in the United States!"

I just have to say, Biden brought it last night. He was made for sticking to a teleprompter and letting his emotions go (in that order). However, I think the rah-rah USA stuff gets a little overboard, especially when talking about killing people. Also, I might have a policy crush on Elizabeth Warren. She seems to have the kind of fan base of a Paul Wellstone type. I spent the rest of the evening watching Obama's speech (who also brought it) and reading Hittite, Egyptian, and Babylonian prayers/songs/psalms. Jealous?

I also had my first class at Boston College today (Jewish liturgy). My impression of the campus: large, ornate, hilly (my calves were burning from all those stairs! If the staircase had started moving, I would have sworn I was at Hogwarts), and rich...really rich. Thursdays are my busy day with Psalms in the morning and Jewish Liturgy in the afternoon. By the time I was on my way home, I wasn't sure whether I was going to fall asleep or burst into tears on the bus. I was just so sick of being around people and roaming around places I didn't know. They should make a sound-proof cocoon that you can bring on public transit. Granted, this may make one look like Hannibal Lecter or at least the bus driver giving you a referral to a local psychiatrist.

Today I'm hopefully checking out my first possible apartments and the two roommates that live there. Fingers crossed they're not crazy!

First Few Days of School

Well, I've had my first day of classes (Tuesday), and I think it went pretty well. For example, after I got home, I did not go home and rock in the fetal position singing "Jesus Love Me." Tomorrow will be the real test because after 4 p.m., I will have had all my classes and will be experiencing the most acute syllabi shock. I might take a preemptive xanax to smooth it all out (joke). My class on Tuesday was the Trinity and the hymnody with Karen Westerfield Tucker and Carl Daw (whose hymn "As We Gather at Your Table," we sang on Sunday at Trinity). It's a pretty great class already. I found out that in past classes they used the Covenant blue hymnal as their neutral hymnal of choice (mostly methodists in the seminary/class).

In related news, to prove that I'm entirely nerdy, I purchased as leather soft-cover brown hymnal on ebay this past week. I better keep a low profile about it, or I'll have to (figuratively) beat the women off with a stick.

So, I have to say I'm pretty excited about the beginning of the football season (which I am watching as I type). Sunday I will be joining other Vikings fans at 1 p.m. (a great time for pastors; how many first quarters was I deprived of as a child waiting for my dad to stop glad-handing and gabbing and do his fatherly duty by driving us expeditiously home?) at a local Cambridge bar to watch the game with others in style. It reminds me of the Minnesota bar that Marshall goes to on "How I Met Your Mother." Hopefully it will be as folksy and friendly. I'm hoping for 5 wins, but maybe that's too optimistic.

Well, Colbert's new opening montage is pretty great:

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I have sent out about 25 emails for Craigslist apartments/rooms and have gotten about 10 responses back: 2 to tell me they're filled, 2 legitimate, and 6 from missionaries in various parts of the world who just need me to send them the money first because they're too busy serving Jesus to find a realtor. To them, I shake the dust off of my feet and wish I was better with computers to send them a Christian-themed virus. It wouldn't install 7 viruses, but 70 times 7 viruses giving the viruses abundant life. If you know any legitimate people in Boston who are renting, let me know!

Also, David Bjorlin - 1, Boston Transit - 0. I owned it on Tuesday. One hour bus trip there and back (dropping me off and picking me up right outside the Boston University School of Theology) and only $3 to do it! Not to mention I can read away to my heart's content on the way in and out. So, thinks are looking pretty good for the next few weeks. If I can get through tomorrow without obsessively washing my hands while singing Lina Sandell hymns, we'll call it a success! Later!

Trip to New Hampshire!

Well, this weekend was of firsts. On Friday, while I was skipping the aforementioned day of service at BU, I headed up to New Hampshire for the first time to visit Amy and Andrew Daigle for a much-needed vacation after approximately 48 hours in Boston (sarcasm). I went straight to Manchester (first) to Republic, the restaurant that Andrew currently works at. It served great local food, and he was almost done with his shift, so I hung around looking shifty and complaining to the manager about Andrew's service.

After we were done, we decided to grab a drink before we went back to the house. So, we drove my car to a local bar (about a minute away) with the understanding that we would pick up his jeep after and head back to his house. So, when we were done, we got in the car, and he started directing me. After driving about 7-8 minutes, I began wondering how far away he parked from where he worked. Was there some kind of park-and-ride or shuttle service going in to downtown Manchester? Finally, I made mention of it: "Do you park this far away from work?" Nope. So, we turned around to get the jeep.

They live in a wooded paradise (maybe I'm looking at it through rose-colored glasses or city-smeared glasses) in Auburn, New Hampshire, and it was there we headed. That evening, we headed over to Amy's parents' house for my first true lobster experience (with a mussel opener). I have to say, it was pretty delicious and educational. I think I could now eat lobster without looking like a total idiot.

Saturday we got up late and ate a lazy breakfast (I think we actually ate after noon; it was a few hour process) of delicious salmon cake eggs benedict (also, should there be an eggs benedict arnold?) and solved most of the world's/church's problems over the next few hours. That afternoon we went to Portsmouth via Exeter stopping at Phillips Exeter Academy, the most prestigious private high school in the nation that has been the breeding ground of presidents, senators, and big-wigs in many different fields. You can send your child there for one simple payment of $45,000 a year. I'm one day hoping to make that much money in a single year. In Portsmouth, we sauntered around the area, checked out a brewery, and ended the night by eating at a Mexican restaurant in the area.

We had driven the jeep there sans doors, which was awesome. However, it cooled off nicely throughout the evening leaving us with a sizable and chilly drive on the way home. About halfway through the drive, I started nodding off, but thought I better stay alert in case this was the first signs of hypothermia setting in. However, we made it. I am so glad/blessed/excited that these two are in my area and give me some continuity. I think continuity in transition is like manna in the wilderness.

I headed home on Saturday to attend my first Sunday at Trinity Covenant Church, which was great, by the way! It's good to finally worship with the church you will be serving. After lunch, I came home and took a lovely, monster Sunday nap.

Also, good news, I only have classes on Tuesday/Thursday! I ended up rounding off my schedule with class called Jewish Liturgy taught by a rabbi at Boston College, so I'm excited about that! Classes start Tuesday. I feel like I'm in this scene with Gandalf and Pippin:



Granted, I don't think the program is equivalent to an attack from Mordor, but you get the idea. Okay, I'm going for an evening run to make up for my ravenous eating patterns this weekend.

My First Day of (dis)Orientation!

Well, today was a full day of (dis)orientation at BU. It involved a breakfast (read awkward conversation over pastries and orange juice), financial aid seminar, a BU student life overview, a Ph.D./Th.D. luncheon, and a meeting with my advisor all finished up with a reception at a swanky hotel nearby. The day was a bit frustrating as I kept finding myself turning into registration dead ends. I couldn't get a BU student ID until I registered; I couldn't register for class until I met with my advisor; I couldn't check out a book from the library until I had a BU student ID. It was cyclical frustration. I could tell I was starting to go downhill when I had the almost irresistible urge to stand up and yell, "Shut up!" to the girl who kept asking questions only pertaining to her during one of the last workshops. It turns out a financial aid workshop can really get my blood boiling.

Also, in between these meetings I had to drop my dad off at the airport. This was fine until I headed to the hotel for the reception and found that there was no parking. So, I had to drop $20 for valet parking at the hotel in order to go to the reception. Let's just say I was determined to eat $20 worth of prosciutto, grilled vegetables, and fried goat cheese balls to make the evening worthwhile. I think this gave me that extra touch of class that I needed for the evening. ("Oh, so you're from Maine? Cool. Would you excuse me while I pile large portions of meat on my very small plate?")  Also, I thought when I got to mainline seminaries/universities they would begin serving alcohol at receptions. Apparently I need to keep going to the episcopalians or Catholics in order to get booze.

So, I did end up registering for classes today. I know you're all dying to hear what I'm taking, so I'll just tell you: liturgical methodologies, the Psalter, Sung Faith (on hymnody and the Trinity which is like a dream course they designed for me), and either American Evangelicalism from Jonathan Edwards to Jerry Falwell or the History of Sacred Music at Harvard (you better believe I'm getting a sweatshirt and telling people that I did some doctoral work at Harvard for the rest of my life).

Tomorrow I am opting out of another day of orientation (which includes an afternoon of service, officially making me a bad person) and sleeping in before heading up to New Hampshire to visit Amy and Andrew Daigle for the weekend! I can't tell you how excited I am to catch up with these former ResCovers/Chicagoans!

Now, I just finished watching the Republican National Convention and decided it would be better for my blood pressure if I just shut it off. This occurred after the U.S. Olympians implied that Romney saved the US by helping get the Olympics back on track. So, I'm going to try and get some serious sleep tonight. Later!

Beantown or Bust!

So, my first full day in Boston has come to an end, but I want to take you back over the last couple days because it's been quite a trip.

Sunday. A beautiful service at ResCov with a sermon that ran a little long as I kept deciding to say everything I was thinking...sometimes more effectively than others. And yes, the last half of the service was pretty much spent on the verge of tears or full-fledged crying...especially the liturgy of sending at the end. Then, the ResCovers exceeded my expectations with their hotdish potluck. I have to say, ResCov in general knows how to have a potluck. They had very kind words to say, and it was both meaningful and difficult to say goodbye. I love this picture (credit: Natalie Mendez):

After my red-eyed nap, I picked up a Uhaul and packed it in the rain all Sunday afternoon, which did wonders for my general melancholy spirit. Next, my dad got in and we did some more packing in the rain. Monday we drove 14 hours; 14 of these hours were in the rain - some drizzling, some downpour. Again, this does wonders for the mood. The night was capped off by a stay in Binghamton, which, I apologize if you're from there, was one of the more depressing towns I've been to. The hotel was sketchtastic. The sheets were less than ideal, the TV was an ancient Apex that I basically had to kickstart to get going, and the continental breakfast should have been in quotes. If that's a continental breakfast, I do not want to live on that continent nor break my fast.

Anyway, the next day went well. We dropped off all the stuff at a Uhaul storage, my dad lost his glasses, and then we had to conveniently drop the trailer off at a different Uhaul because this one already had too many trailers. This trip affirmed everyone's warning about driving in Boston, but it got finished.

Finally, we got to the Bouris household, which has been absolutely wonderful. It is very nice to be in a town and feel like you have people to help you get your bearings, point you in the right direction, and teach you how to say the names of all of these unphonetic Boston suburbs.

Anyway, today was also an adventure. We went down to BU, talked to my former NPTS professor (and now BU professor) Phillis (Woo!), and then decided to walk the Freedom Trail. This morning I went for a run that was basically all uphill, and I began to notice that the top of my foot/ankle was sore. By the time we were halfway through the walk, I couldn't do it anymore it was hurting so bad. So, my dad continued the walk (I think more because he wanted to get a cannoli at Mike's Pastries) and I took the T back to Boston Common. By the time I got home, I had to borrow a cane to go out for dinner because I literally couldn't put weight on it. I felt like quite the cool cat and thought of adding a top hat and a long cigarette with a cigarette holder so I could embrace the eccentricity and become the "weird kid" at orientation. Anyway, now it is late, and I need to sleep (and ice my ankle). Tomorrow is orientation, which includes a walking tour...just to stick it to me. It still feels like vacation, so I'm doing fine emotionally. I think when I get my syllabi and start the grind I'll begin my cryptic facebook cries for help. Something to look forward to!