Morning.

What I would have really liked to have for breakfast this morning was Mcdonald's.  A sausage and cheese mcgriddles, hold the egg, to be exact.  What I'm actually eating is a bowl of instant oatmeal.  There was no Mcdonalds in easy walking distance.

Today is the crazy final preparations for the conference.

I head to Edmonton late this afternoon, and tomorrow I welcome 300 Mennonites to a 5 Star hotel.  This is the fourth time I've done this, but the first time that I've been mostly in charge, and the first time we've done it in an urban setting - it's always been at a mountain resort in the years I've been doing it.  300 Mennonites, ranging in age from infant to probably well into their eighties, and ranging in practice from Old Colony to very modern city mennonite.

It's always a unique weekend.

And, I've been so busy this week that I haven't managed to schedule posts for the next several days, and likely won't get to it today.

So, it'll probably be quiet around here.  If I have internet access at the hotel, I'll try to log in with the daily 5 posts, but even those may have to wait.

I'm back later on Saturday evening.  I'll either see you then, or sometime on Sunday if I don't manage to check in before that!

In Between Thoughts

I'm home for half an hour or so, in between work and a dinner engagement with a long-time friend. We try to see each other every month or two, for dinner. Lots of laughter, and sarcasm are always included. And usually some shopping. Tonight is cheap pasta night ($7.99 Entree's baby!) at a really good local restaurant, so we're going to go and eat and laugh and catch up.

I slept terribly last night. And by slept, I mean, despite taking the appropriate amounts of supplements, I was mostly awake. Or tossing my way in and out of moments of dreaming.

Today at work was full. I like full days that seem to just fly by. And in most ways, I'm loving my new job. I like having the ability to take initiative, and see my suggestions acted upon. I love the planning aspects for future events. I love the varied nature of it. And I love having an office with a window. Today I did everything from putting postage on envelopes, to filing, to answering phones, to making advertising inquiries, to ordering promotional items, to requesting proposals from a variety of facilities for a conference we're hosting next year. Oh, and I explained how central food is to any Mennonite event to someone who wasn't familiar with this idiosyncrasy.

I also managed to likely ruin the brand new white bohemian blouse I was so excited about on the weekend by getting red ink from the postage machine all over the front of it. Tide to go, spray and wash, and the laundry will tell the story, but it's looking like I'll be purchasing a new, new white bohemian blouse. Ah well, that way if the laundering works, I'll have two, and they'll last a while.

I'm thankful for a day that was filled with less heart-hurting conversations than yesterday. I don't know if I could have taken two days in a row like that right now.

I'm thinking about the difference between choosing to disagree about something while still showing respect versus disagreeing about something and treating the other individual like they are less valuable, or less intelligent if they fail to agree with you.

I walked out of the office to discover that it was raining. Not very much, but just enough that the air smelled clean and fresh. I love the smell of rain.

And with that, I think I'll go check on the progress of my blouse in the laundry, and finish getting ready to head out the door!