Ruling in VA ?

We may be hearing a decision from the courts in Virginia tomorrow:

http://www.fcnp.com/news_stories/judge_vows_episcopal_property_ruling_friday_20080402.html

Another step in my process

Thankfully I am back to 100% this week (I think anyway).

I met with my spiritual director today and it was one of the best meetings we've had. I have to say though she informed me she is moving very soon so we are only going to be able to meet one more one time.

I am more than a little bummed. Although this fits in with the whole scheme of things as they're going and it all seems to fit into a plan laid out by God, I am going to dearly miss her. She is so compassionate, funny and easy to get along with. Our senses of humor seemed to click really well also and that is always important to me in any type of relationship.

She is going back to serve an important role in her community (she is a Roman Catholic nun) and I can't be happier and more excited for her. I will certainly miss her and our meetings though.

Tamiflu sucks

The folks came up to visit and take me out to dinner this past Monday. It was great to see them and have a good meal down at Suggins. The next morning though, I woke up around 2 am vomiting, I barely made it into the bathroom. I spent the next few hours being sick and debating whether or not to go into work. Around 8 am, after having showered and gotten ready I finally realized there wasn't a chance I was going to make it to work. I called in sick, although I made it in that afternoon for a little bit. I was off Wednesday as well and although I went in Thursday, I was worthless.
Friday I felt better but nowhere near 100%. I went to my doctor on Thursday, he didn't think I had anything major. He offered to prescribe me Tamiflu just in case. I said sure, thinking I would take anything to be well once and for all.
Come to find out Tamiflu has major side effects. Nauseua, dizziness, vertigo etc. The upside is Tamiflu can cut short the flu by *one* day. Are all of those side effects worth the freakin *one* day? I don't really think so. Tamiflu made me feel awful so I quit taking it.
Since then I have felt better and better. Who thought Tamiflu was a good idea?

Recovering from this week

I've been suffering through a stomach bug or possibly even the flu for the last few days. It's been one of the worst illnesses I've been through in a while and yet not nearly as bad as what some of my co-workers have gone through.

Still though, it was bad enough for me.

Today is the first today I have felt close to normal. Not 100%, just close to normal. Thankfully in time for the weekend also.

So I'm enjoying my partner's company (after he had been gone all the previous week).

Right now the dogs are playing, I think the male dog has reconsidered his de facto sister as a possible girlfriend.

I guess being dogs, it doesn't strike me as weird as it were if they were actual children.

This past week

What a time I have had since last Monday! My partner has been in Aruba since last Monday. I had the chance to go but didn't because of several reasons: I am not a beach person by any stretch of the imagination, I went last year so I've seen Aruba - it's nice, just don't feel the need to see it again right away, I would like to save my money and vacation time for somewhere I really want to go to, plus this past week was Holy Week and then Easter. Also, I had to take care of both dogs this past week, which has put a cramp on anything I wish to do, I've had to adjust my work schedule to make sure I can get home to let them out. Normally not a big deal. But this week at work has been perhaps one of the busiest weeks we've had in a long time. And add on top of that it was Holy Week. I attended some form of service every day of the week from Palm Sunday up to Easter. So, I had a busy week, but it's all coming to an end. My partner returns tomorrow night. This week at work shouldn't be nearly as busy. But even as much as I was dreading this past week (as I saw everything building up towards a really busy week) I came through it fine, like I always do and as I suspect most people do through situations they first imagine are going to be awful. Maybe by the time this coming weekend arrives I will have some time to catch my breath.

Resurrection!

Christ is risen!

May we all rejoice!

The Great Vigil of Easter

I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical heading into tonight's service. My first experience with the Great Vigil of Easter didn't live up to the billing. I was told it was the biggest service in the church year, it would be packed, would last for two hours etc etc. That was also when I was baptized and confirmed.
Well that service was spectacular for me for the simple reason I was baptized, that was such a huge transformation for me, I am still trying to comprehend it all two years later. But I still remember the service itself not living up to the billing.
Last year I was running the sound so any meaning attached to the service was lost on me completely.

This year, because of everything I've been going through spiritually, I have hoped every service I have attended has some meaning. Like I said at the beginning, I wasn't quite sure about this one, even skeptical.

As it began and continued I was ok, but still not moved. We sat in darkness with our candles, listening to the Old Testament readings. Then the lights came on and everything was supposed to be glorious.

I did find my glory though. As we moved from darkness into light I realized the bonds, the weight, the cross even, that we were all supposed to bear for the last 40 days, were gone now. We were free, we could be happy, even rejoice in church and not have to kneel and grovel and ask for forgiveness.

When I realized that, I could barely keep myself from smiling and indeed almost laughing out loud at the joy I felt.

Thank God it's Easter!