My connection was finally restored today.

And my Anglican Breviary arrived today too… :-D

In doing some internet searching for class prep I ran across a handy outline for the Rite II offices. I posted this over on OTOL so I’ll direct you there.

…what I heard when I tried to check email before bedtime. Did I mention one of the inevitable facts of life in Dixie? Roaches. Big ones, little ones, fast ones, slow ones, ones that sit there in the middle of the floor and dare you to look at them cross-eyed…

They may be able to survive a nuclear apocalypse but they’re no match for a size eleven Teva.

M and I were forcibly ejected from bed early this morning. Why? Because Hello Kitty needed to sleep there. Yes, Anastasia, it was American Idol Hello Kitty to whom I had to surrender my bed…

Finally–modem access! Still hip-deep in boxes and in appliances that don’t work in the new pad… Too, our oldest daughter–who’s been with the in-laws–arrives today. I’ll be around but sporadically perhaps till everything gets stable.

Yeah, the time stamp is accurate. The movers will be here with their truck in another five hours and we’ll be more or less ready when they arrive. We’re not doing too bad–after all, we’ve gotten a whole seven hours of sleep since Saturday morning. Coffee and Twizzlers: the breakfast, lunch and dinner of champions… Well, 136 boxes and counting; the computer’s due to be packed up real soon so you’ll hear from me next from the South.

The power just came on after being out for several days due to storms; we’re about ready to walk out the door for a week on the beach sans connectivity. The ordination was wonderful–more on that later.

Have a great week!

The family and I had a great time hanging out with Lutheran Zephyr and his family last night. Things went well, everybody was quite comfortable with everybody to the degree that Lil’ G ending the evening with a spectacular meltdown that would have made 3-Mile Island feel inadequate. She normally only performs those in front of family so it’s a huge compliment…in a loud screaming kind of way…

For those of you who don’t know, we go way back–LZ was the crucifer at our wedding and was one of M’s best friends in middle school. Get-togethers–though infrequent–are always great fun with much great liturgy discussions to be had. All in all, a fabulous time.

Now back to box-packing hell…

Check this resource out, submitted anonymously over at OTOL. I’d never heard of this bunch before but their book and table of contents look fascinating. If there were more Lutherans like these around, I’d might still be one… LP, LZ, LC, (and the rest of y’all, of course) be sure and check it out!

Update: I seem to have a pattern going… A couple times now I’ve linked to a great resource I’ve discovered–only to find that bls has beat me to it… (mea culpa! I do have a good excuse–it was right after Lil’ H was born)

Today’s my last day working in NYC. No more daily 7.5 hour commute!! I’ve got a lot of dissertation time and reading time in but have really missed my family. It sucked but it had to be done–but now it’s over.

Packing will now be shifting into high gear and we’ll be running like madmen all over the eastern seaboard for a while. Naturally, this means that blogging will be substantially lighter (especially once the computer gets packed up…). Things should pick up once I’m firmly ensconced in the Southlands.

So, if I’m not around…it’s not you–it’s me. Thoughts and prayers are appreciated and in that vein, here’s one of my favorite of the Old English charms, the Journey Charm (h/t Northvegr):

I circle myself with this rod trust to God’s grace,
Against the sore stitch, against the sore bite,
Against the grim dread,
Against the great horror that is hateful to all,
And all evil that enters this land.
A victory charm I sing, a victory rod I bear,
Victory of words, victory of works. May they assist me;
So no lake hinder me, nor loathed foe oppress me,
Nor my life be fraught with fear,
But keep me hale, Almighty, Son and Holy Ghost,
Worthy Lord of all wonder,
So I have heard, heaven’s creator.
Abraham and Isaac
And such men, Moses and Jacob,
And David and Joseph,
And Eve and Anna and Elizabeth,
Sarah and also Mary, mother of Christ,
And also the brothers, Peter and Paul,
And also thousands of your angels,
I call on to defend me against all foes.
May they guide me and guard me and safeguard my path,
Maintain me entirely and administer me,
Directing my works; may the host of holy ones
Be the hope of glory, the hand over head,
The host of triumphant, true-hearted angels.
I bid them all, in blithe mood,
That Matthew be my helmet; Mark my byrnie,
Light, life’s strength, Luke my sword,
Sharp and sheer-edged; John my shield,
Gloriously adorned, angel of the track-way.
I fare forth; I shall meet friends,
All glory of angels, the lore of the good.
I pray now to the God of victory, for God’s mercy,
For a good passage, a peaceful and light
Wind from these shores. Of storms I have heard
That wake swirling waters. Always secure
Against all foes. May I meet with friends,
So I may dwell in the Almighty’s peace,
Protected from the loathed one seeking my life,
Established in the majesty of angels,
And in the holy hand of heaven’s ruler,
For the span that I stay in this life.
Amen.