The "to blog" folder is stuffed, and it's behind the "to answer" and "to ask" folders, which are looming behind the not-insubstantial "honor your existing commitments and connections, you ninny" folder.

So I'm mentally re-defining this space to fit the current level of mayhem: this is where I stash things I want to remember that y'all might happen to find sparkly or amusing or useful as well. If I happen to bear witness or wax lyrical now and then, great, but yeah, this me reminding myself that it's my blog, I can be as random and non-comprehensive as I want.

*waggles tongue at the Insane Self-Inflicted Expectations Fairy*

Ahem. So, on with the random and non-comprehensive - three things that have made me smile today:

(1) Scanning the list of donations so far to this year's auction at my church. Among the many yummy and nifty things, there is an offer of chemistry/biology tutoring from Stanley Cohen -- a gentleman who won a Nobel Prize in 1986.

I sometimes find myself envying the kids at my church for having each other and so many cool adults around 'em. This would be one of those times ... although I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have made the most of such an opportunity 25 years ago, so I'm talking out of my hat. (I did like chemistry - enough to do some extracurricular experimenting with crystals - but I was far, far more interested in boys and music. And while I've flirted with the idea of taking a chemistry class for fun in the sorta-near future, that's even further behind the aforementioned folders at the start of this post. (Plus, let's be honest: still far more interested in men and music. *grin*)

Then again, there was a morning about a month ago where I overheard a conversation between a kid and another adult that ranged from hockey culture in various cities to how the kid had made a point of researching McCain's voting history in order to decide for himself who (not) to support for president.

I sat in the empty conference room listening to them chat, and I remember the pleasure of thinking, I am so lucky that I get to witness beautiful things like this.

(2) There was lots to enjoy about Sunday's installation service for Jason (he's now First UU's Associate Minister for Music), which made me glad I made the effort to attend, unwellness notwithstanding (*). Its highlights included Gini Courter (UUA Moderator) giving a barn-burner of a sermon and Rabbi Rami Shapiro bellowing loud "Amens" and invoking Star Trek as well as Judaism while leading the installation prayer.

(*) As I told a friend this morning, I attended four services this past weekend; stamina-wise, it felt like 3.5 services too many, in spite of compelling personal reasons to be present and even with me sitting out all the rehearsals and singing. But I'm told I looked "elegant" in spite of feeling grotty, and it was fantastic getting to touch base with old colleagues and to get some good conversation time with some folks I want to get to know better, as well as being able to offer small kindnesses and general support to people who matter so very much to me. I've been feeling so damned tired and crunched through much of this year that I'd forgotten how much church can energize me when I manage to get myself to get there. (Yeah, I keep having to relearn this with exercise and with rehearsal too. Newton's First Law, that's me all right...)

(3) Melted butter + balsamic vinegar = good quickie sauce for fish and spinach.