Room With a View (of the post office)

I have a place to live! I talked to my new landlady today, and I got the apartment I wanted. It's a small one bedroom apartment in a big old house downtown. It's on the 2nd floor, with a big bay window in the living room, and cool tiling on the wall in the kitchen. There is almost no counter space, no dishwasher, no washer and dryer (laundromat here I come), and no air conditioning, but I love it! The landlady seems really nice and careful about who she rents to, which is encouraging. It's also within walking distance of work and near the bike/running path. Walking distance is really good, as gas is getting really expensive, and it will help me stay active, despite having a desk job. I'm a bit worried about the no air conditioning, but the current tenant says that there's a good cross breeze, which is good, and I can get fans too. One less thing to worry about! God is good!

God Loves Broken People

That seems crazy. And I don't know why He loves us, but He does. I think that God cares not about our issues but how we are seeking Him through our issues. How we react to Him within our issues. Whatever they are. Whether it be mental illness or heartache or loneliness or addiction or pride or whatever. How in tune with Him are we? How much do we want to serve and know Him? That's all that matters. God loves broken people.

EDIT: (Reflections from an interaction in a coffee shop.)

Transitioning

I have a few minutes to kill before I head out for the bus. I came on campus to be productive, but that did not happen. I have a meeting with a professor about a paper tomorrow, and then a lunch date with a girl friend. Then class, then home. I am almost done, and it is very difficult to focus on school type things. I'm very over it right now. I really dislike transitions, and I am caught in one right now. I am trying to find a place to live right now, and I'm hoping that this next trip yields something possible, as it will be difficult to go up a third time. I have some better leads this time, I think, though 1 is completely out of my price range. I can't wait until classes are over and my work is done. Then I can focus on moving to the dale. I'm going to miss my friends here, and it's hard to transition from the people here to thinking about connecting and reconnecting with people up there. It will take time. It's been 2 years. Things change. People change. I've changed. But it will be ok. I really feel like God is directing me back there, so it will all work out. We'll see what's ahead.

We're dealing with two devils who both want to rule hell.

Title quote from Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys (about Hitler and Stalin)

I am taking a "materials for youth" class, which is about literature and materials for children and young adults, and the most recent project we finished was on nonfiction sources for children/students. I read books and online sites about resistance during WWII, which is a topic I know something about and find interesting. This time around, however, I was struck by how much WWII was also very much a fight between the communists and the fascists. Most of the resistance organizations were politically or ideologically driven, and many of them were communist or socialist organizations. It is slightly disconcerting, especially as I know a bit about how bad the communists and Stalin were. People in the east especially were caught between two evils: Hitler or Stalin. There was no good choice. Most people, however, do not realize how big a player the Soviets and communists were in the war. We allied ourselves with them, and it can be hard to admit that one of our allies was, I believe, worse than Hitler. Also, most people don't know about the Great Purge or of Stalin's atrocities. He was responsible for millions more deaths than Hitler. With all the atrocities and genocide that has happened and is still happening, it is sad that most people only know about Hitler. Hitler is the ultimate bad guy, and the other bad guys get a pass. What about Stalin or Pol Pot or what's happening in the Sudan or Libya or Burma? Maybe it's because we can only handle so much bad stuff at once. We are not God. We can't handle it all. Frankly, I'm not sure how God stands it. He sees everything. All the good, but also all the bad.

Just some thoughts.

I have to finish a big paper this week. I'd really appreciate prayers, as I'm really struggling with getting going on it.

Apartment Hunting

I just got back from the dale. Dad and I went up to look for apartments, and though I found one maybe, I'm still going to keep looking. Sigh. I was really hoping to find something when I went up today. I don't really have time to go back up. Oh well, it will all work out, but I would appreciate prayers.

I have a lot to accomplish this week/month. I really need to kick into gear. Final push and then I'm done! Cannot wait!

The reality of going back to the dale is setting in. I am going to miss B-town, even though I didn't think I would. I'm going to miss my friends and the ethnic restaurants and the public library. I am looking forward to being a part of HFMC again, my new job, and finally being able to invest in the community. It's just weird that I will finally have a "real" job and be established and settled. Even though I know the community and people there, it will still be hard to adjust back. It will be good, but it will be hard. I'm going to try to have a plan to survive the winter and beat the blues. :-)

Life

I had a wonderful time with library school friends last night. We went out for pizza and then saw Tangled. Tangled was cute, and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Pizza was the best part though. Laughter is good for the soul.

I have a lot to accomplish today. I am going on a run, and then I need to do my labels for my exhibit, as I am installing it on Monday. I'll be glad to have that done with and be able to focus on other things.

I am trying to find an apartment in the dale, which is a bit stressful. I am hoping to go up next week and look at places, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to go due to work, as the Monday night crew is sparse.

Going to run. TTFN

A Weekend of Good Movies

It is the first weekend of spring break, and I have been taking it easy. I really need to buckle down during the week and figure out my exhibit, which I'm still feeling horribly lost on, but it will get done. I have watched three movies this weekend, and they have all been very good. The Picture Bride, Inn of the Sixth Happiness, and The Chorus (Le Choriste). I never seen The Picture Bride before, and it is excellent. It is a slower paced, beautiful portrait of picture brides or mail order prides in the early part of the 20th century in Hawaii. From about 1907-1924, thousands of Japanese women went to Hawaii to marry men they had only seen in pictures and corresponded briefly with through letters. The main character goes to Hawaii to marry and to escape the stigma of her past. The movie comes across very real. It has essential elements, but it allows the plot to form naturally, without forcing the characters. The young woman slowly becomes used to her environment and develops into a strong woman. I highly recommend the movie. It is slower paced, but beautiful, though there is some sensuality.

I watched the Inn of the Sixth Happiness today, which is about Gladys Aylward. It is a very good movie as well, and the scenes of the children crossing the mountains are very moving. I love the character of Ms. Aylward. She was strong and determined and loved God. I would like to know more about her, apart from the movie adaptation. I'd like to read a bio of her when I have the time.

Lastly, I watched my favorite foreign film, The Chorus. It is a French movie set in 1949 about a man who becomes a prefect at a boys reform school. He reaches the boys through music, and it is a wonderful, poignant story. The boys are endearing, and the characters are great. Though there is slight bawdy humor, it is very clean, especially for a French movie.

In an unrelated note, we went on a long hike/trek today. I think we walked about 6 miles out at a state park. It was a lovely day, but chilly, and I didn't prepare as well for it as I should have. Ah well, it was good exercise. I really need to be training in earnest, as the mini marathon is less than 2 months away.