Welcome home to Iowa

Well it is official. After living in the 7th circle of hell for a year, and now in Indiana, I have become a lightweight. It is dang cold here. In my defense it has not gotten above 0 since I have been home, but man does it sting.

Saturday's flight was reality uneventful. I did have a 1/2 delay in Chicago but got into Des Monies with out to many problems. After meeting up with the family, pregamming it at the free bar in the hotel and a quick supper, we headed off to the Tonic Sol-Fa Concert. We had great seats and they were filming the concert for use in a PBS special, so that was cool. They called out the guy sitting right in front of me and talked to him throughout the concert which was pretty funny until the second half of the concert.

They said they needed three people up on stage for a contest and it just so happens that there were three bearded guys in one row. Yep, that's right, Dad, a guy named Marty, and I got called up on stage to have a Deck the Halls sing off contest.

Well as they were getting to know us all a little bit better it turns out that Marty is really Fr. Marty and is a Roman Catholic Priest. Of course they loved this and made a big deal about it. They the found out that I worked for a Catholic camp and thought God was sending them a message. When they found out dad was a Deacon they were speechless.

The details of the singing are not really that important. I will say that Fr. really knows how to rock out and I think dad has a bit of a clubbing past that I don't know about. In the end they gave us all free CDs and let us sit down.

What is going on in this picture? Well sheep are being sheared. What does this have to do with me? Well my sister and mother ganged up on me like Al Capone and Bugs Moran. I was just an innocent non-corrupt citizen of Chicago and got both my beard cur and my hair. I was forced to break my over half a decade record of not paying for a haircut. All I am saying is this: do the sheep look happy?

Keep up the fight and have a Happy Advent

A Toast

I am thinking this will probably be my last post from Indiana for awhile. Don't worry I plan to take the computer home so I will still be able to post in Iowa and keep you all updated.

Speaking of keep you all updated, I often wonder how many people actually read my blog. I have yet to find a way to track hits on the site, so if you know how let me know. It is not uncommon for me to call someone who I have not talked to in awhile and have them tell me they feel so up to date on my life because they read my blog.

So, this post is a toast to you, the followers of A Cage of Words. From all of my family in Iowa, peeps from up in WI, college friends from who knows where you are at, and then there is Ryan, my most favoritist friend in the entire world who taught me how to blog. It has been a fun run so far these last 4-5 months and I am looking forward to many more writing many more post.

Keep up the fight, and Happy Advent!

Welcome Andrew

I received word today that baby Hoeben has entered the world. Andrew Hoeben. All of us here at A Cage of Words wish to congratulate Jeff and Rebecca on this wonderful day.

Keep up the fight, Happy Advent, and Welcome Andrew

Touchdown

I have a case of the Mondays. It was a long weekend packed full of many events. I think I am going to have to take a nap this afternoon. Maybe I should get a Murphy bed for my office.

It all started way back on Friday morning. We all headed up to the OPC (big dinning hall) to decorate for Christmas. Now I am sure many of you are wondering why I was invited to decorate anything, that is a valid point and I am sure it was just a common courtesy. A few days later would show that all the decorations I put up either fell down, or where mocked. Sorry mom, I just never picked up your talent for decorating.

Why were we decorating the OPC? Well it was the summer staff party. About 30 staff came back and spent the night playing games, making bookmarks for an exchange, and feasting on all of Ruth's great cooking. We also broke up the ice on the pond and had a polar plunge on Saturday morning. Yes, I did plunge. No, it was not in my speedo.

As if that was not enough to tire me out for a week I also went to the Colts vs Lions game on Sunday up in Indy. Our Ex. Dir. here at CYO is one of the guys who runs the chain gang on the sidelines and he got camp about 15 free tickets. The program staff, Molly, some other staff and their families, and I all went up to enjoy the game. It was a good time and in the end the Colts won a much closer game then was predicted.

After the game we went to a place called Jillians. The 1st floor is a restaurant, the 2nd is an arcade, and the top floor is a bowling alley/pool hall. It was a neat place and after a certain time it closes to kids so it becomes a giant adult playground.

Well I am back to my little corner of the world here in Nashville. I am looking forward to Theology on Tap tonight, and I think we have some festive Holiday events going on around here this week also.

Keep up the fight, and Happy Advent.

Advent Rant???

So I have been spending some time reflecting on Advent, and how often times it is over looked in favor of Christmas. For years I have fought this with the best of my sarcastic and passive aggressive skills. Maybe I just read to many articles that are talking about "The real Christmas" and the "Secular Christmas," but I think I now have a new approach to the season.

Distractions. They come in many forms. Some are welcomed and some are not. Others are looked for, and some seem to find us when we are not expecting them. They may come in different shapes and size but they all in some way prevent us from what we were doing.

Tests. They also come in many forms. Some are standardized, some our multiple choice, they can be mind games, or true or false questions. A test can measure many different things. Knowledge is often tested, so it loyalty, purity, devotion, and all matters of virtue are tested often.

Distractions can be tests. Weather we pass or fail the test can be determined based on how we respond to distraction.

(Fair warning, I am about to go a little "crazy" here.) The devil has filled this world with distractions, and there is no greater time that he rejoices in all he has done that at Christmas. He has changed the humble beginnings of our Lord into a greedy, self serving, over stimulated mess. Or has he?

It is easy to look and say that he has, but has he taken over Christmas in your heart? Is Christmas for you about buying the best gift or having the best party for your friends at work? I know that for me it is not. It is about my family. Flying home from what ever state I am in and visiting friends, and spending time with relatives. It is about the joy of welcoming Christ into my heart once again, because I am such a mess that over the course of a year I lose Him. It is about charity and justice. This Christ child came to us in a feed box in a barn. Not in a fancy cradle on his parents Hummer. It is about the fulfillment of the Advent promise.

So it is in the anticipation of this promise that I have joy in my heart this Advent. I say bring on all the distractions. They will only make my resolve to remember why I celebrate Christmas stronger. On Christmas day when the Christ child arrives in my heart, the pain felt by the devil in his failure do distract me will be that much greater.

The more he fights to distract me, the closer I will become to God. This is my prayer for Advent, and it is the same prayer I will offer of you.

Keep up the fight, and Happy Advent

R&R W/ M&M's

So I might of only left my apartment 3 times this past weekend. Once for mass, once to go to the library, and once to come to work for a meeting. So what did I do the rest of the time? Well that's a great question.

Last Friday night I had a birthday party for my dad. No, he was not here, but in his defense I only told him about it half an hour before the guest started to come, otherwise I am sure he would of been here. The Program Staff and Molly came over and we had a great time kicking back and relaxing with some good conversation. We had planed to play cards, but I think only one person got in a game of solitaire, o well.

For the party I had gotten plain, peanut, and peanut butter M&M's. Since the ps didn't eat them all I wanted to make sure they didn't go bad. I am not sure if you all know this or not but M&M's are a lot like alcohol in that once you have opened them, they go bad very soon if they are not all consumed. So, no I have eaten them all yet, but let me tell you that peanut butter M&M pancakes make an amazing 9:30 breakfast.

Other than that not a lot to report from Indy. It was nice to enjoy a quite weekend after a month of crazy ones. I might be one of the very few people who have a quite first part of December.

Keep up the fight, and happy Advent

Water and Heat

I am going to be on my Eco soap box for much of this post so if you have heard enough of my rants (which most people have) you can skip this post and save yourself some time.

So I got my water and sewage bill a few days ago. It is the second one I got and it was $40.02. This was the same price as my first one, but I didn't think to much of my first one because I figured it was for 1.5 months. I thought this rate was a bit high so I decided to go into my local water utility and ask for clarification on my bill. I found out that there is a 2000 gallon minimum charge, and that sewer is based off a percentage of that usage. So if you only use, I don't know let's say, 600 gallons then you are still charged for 2000. "Well at least you get a break in sewage," you might say. No, no, no, my friend you are still charges sewage based on that 2000 minimum.

Now I don't really care all that much about the cost. I can't make water by myself and I am happy for the service. It is worth $40.02 for me turn on my faucet or flush the toilet and have it just work. So, why is he complaining? Well I am complaining that as a conservationist, I don't get any reward for trying to save the world. (Yes, I realize that is being a bit dramatic.) It is a bit frustrating when you try to care about the environment and you are treated the same way the person who lets their hot water run over the over spill in their bathtub to make the room more like a sauna.

So is there also a maximum amount you could be charged for water usage? Right you laughing just like me aren't you. Heck no, you will get charged for every drop of water you use, and apparently even the 1400 gallons of drops you don't use.

I also wanted to let you know that I finally broke down and turned on my heat last Monday. Yes, I did make it to December without heat, but you better believe that I shut all the vents and doors to the rooms I don't use, and put towels at the base of their doors. And yes, I do pay a $11.87 to have gas turned on even when I don't use it.

Keep up the fight, and Happy Advent

It's been long time

One faithful follower of A Cage Of Words told me they cried today because I had not updated my blog in over a week. I am about 99% sure that person was not joking so this is a late night, from the library, update because it has been a busy time at work the last few days.

I want to thank all of my peeps up at CG for a great stay. Some of the highlights:

• Video Games with Pat
• Pizza with Pat and Chris
  
• Helping Jeff with all the deer, both running into town and cleaning
• Walking around the old camp
• Throwing a snow ball
• And best for last, Tricia's cooking and hospitality - I miss Uno

I also owe a large thank you to all who transported me around the state and who opened their houses to me. You know who you are and I enjoyed all the good time in the car and living room.

But I am sure you are all on Pins and Needles wondering how the big meal was. It was amazing. The Torres family sure does know how to host a great feast. All of my favorites were on the table and I am sorry to say this Mr. Stove Top, but it was the best stuffing of my life. Top it all off with some good Wisconsin beer and I was in heaven. (I did miss your homemade rolls though grandma, even when Steve and I squish them, they are still the best!!)

After such a great week I was concerned it would be hard to get back to life in Indiana, but that was not the case. I have been busy with a meeting in Indy yesterday (hence no Monday post) and working on finishing up a project that I have been working on for far to long.

I also am working in my 2009 calendar. I know this is a rather ambitious project for me to be doing during 2008, but I am trying something new so lets just go with it. If you have any dates you would like me to remember let me know. I am going to tell you if I actually put them on the calendar, but you never know if you don't try.

Keep up the fight, and happy Advent