clinically speaking

Once upon a time....I was not tired. I'm always tired. I can't even fathom exerting energy, on anything. Dr. Drew calls this clinical exhaustion. Thanks, Doc. Now I have a fancy term that I can throw around to evoke needed pity for my pathetic drudgery. I claim to have Mono. However, this could not be the case for several reasons: 1) Mono is "The Kissing Disease." Ha. no such luck. 2) You usually have fever with Mono. I do not, as far as my inner-thermometer can tell. 3) Wouldn't I be dead by now? Whatever the case, my roomie has respectfully removed her toothbrush from our shared toothbrush holder, and relocated it to the other side of the sink.

So, here's the prognosis: sleep more.

I tried that, unintentionally, actually. Last Wednesday, I fell asleep at 7pm. I awoke at 8am...the next morning. Ooops. Those were 13 hours in which I fell even more behind. Needless to say, my body needs sleep, but isn't so lucky to find it (except that fateful night).

On another note, I just looked across the street (from my dad's house) and saw a Christmas tree, glistening in the bay window of our neighbor's house. I threw up a little in my mouth. What are they thinking? We still have a week before Thanksgiving, c'mon! According to all the sources I've ever read, one is NOT permitted to decorate for Christmas until AFTER Thanksgiving. Ugh. Yes, I'm being Grinchy, with due cause. Then again, a pastor and his wife live in the Christmas tree house. Maybe they know more about that stuff than I do....

Hip-hip-hooray (3x) for warm, clean, towels! My 5th load of laundry is rumbling its way to a static-clingy-ness of perfection. I haven't done laundry in almost a month. My wardrobe was beyond pathetic. One day this week, I resorted to a t-shirt from Jr.High, dirty socks, and the jeans which were going on their 20th day of wear, sans soap. Gross. That smell I kept blaming on the stinky kid behind me might actually have been me.

I don't know a clever way to end this post.

blahhhhhh-blahhhh-blahhhhhhhhhh.

today is normal?

I feel like a cowgirl today. This could have stemmed from a number of sources:
1. I am wearing a brown belt.
2. I recently saw the play Oklahoma! at the Walton Arts Center.
3. I live in Siloam Springs, AR.
4. I participated full-heartedly in a bluegrass sing-along at a nursing home last night.
(There's pow'r, pow'r, wonder-workin pow'r. There's pow'r in the blood of the Lamb.)

Speaking of which, 'What a friend we do have in Jesus.' He is the 'Rock of Ages.' I am today, just as every day, 'Amaz[ed] by Grace.'

I've made the library on campus my home-away-from-home. I like the smell of old periodicles. I suffer from an unstoppable urge to check out as many books as are allowed. (that's 15, by the way). Did you know that Teddy Roosevelt and his brother Kermit went on an expedition through Tibet? I didn't either, until I checked out East of the Sun and West of the Moon. It was in the row of books right by the bathroom. I also checked out a couple others simply because I like their covers. I ended up liking their guts, too. Longfellow, Ruskin, Milton. Interesting collection. Maybe the only thing they have in common istheir last check-out date, before me: the 1960's.

I had a dream that I inherited a mission agency. Is that even possible? In my dream I arrived on the scene where a family had just learned of the death of the founders of the agency. I guess you'd call it good timing, but they decided I was who they had prayed would come and take over. I thought this would leave a pleasant aftertaste when I awoke, but today I've felt even more overwhelmed....about choosing the right agency, about my where to serve, about time committments, about the "real world."

I read about the martyr Nicholas Ridley in preparation for a paper and presentation in a ministry class. He was burned at the stake under Queen Mary, but his body would not burn. He literally had to lean into the fire to finally die.

Bring then, Lord, the fire.
I promise to lean into the flame.

ps: my hair is dark chestnut now. I went to the store for cough drops and came out with a box of #62, Herbal Essence hair dye. Much thanks to Flora. She was right, it did make me feel better than Hall's Mentho-lyptus, cherry flavored. Now, I'm more chestnut flavored.

Partly Cloudy with a Change of Rain