Nate, I’m going to tell you something that somebody once told me. You had better learn to write good fiction, because otherwise you’re going to become a huge liar.

(Click to play.)

Discovery Park, in fact.

(yes… you can click the pictues… there’s more where those came from.)

As it appears, legislators in Michigan can’t agree on the budget which is due October 1st. As a result, parts of the state’s government will be shut down. Jennifer Granholm, Governor, has said that 35,000 of the state’s 53,000 employees are not to come to work on Monday if the shutdown occurs.

(what happens when a state shuts down? has this ever happened before?)

In other news, I went to a booksale today hosted by Friends of the Seattle Public Library, and found some treasures. Accordingly, I am well into the first chaper of Walking The Bible: A Journey By Land Through The Five Books of Moses. It’s pretty snazzy so far. Written by Bruce Feiler (NY Times, NPR’s All Things Considered) and very catchy.

But… Church is early in la manana.

Accordingly,

[joy fits.]

It’s been a few months since Lisa and I parted ways for the second–and last–time. One of the last things she said to me is that I should begin journaling again. (She even gave me a very nice journal she made by hand.) It struck me as perhaps her final suggestion that I find myself somehow. That was thoughtful of her.

Seattle has met my expectations in the 8 days that I’ve been here. It hasn’t yet exceeded them, but there’ll be plenty of time for that, I trust. There are all manner of cool neighborhoods and boroughs that I have been exploring, and that has kept me occupied between studies.

Speaking of studies… It has been somewhat of a shock confronting the reality that I am now attending a real university. I have been forced to study more in this week than I think I may have in a whole Boston semester. (And perhaps forced isn’t even the right word… I find every one of my four classes to be thoroughly engaging and worthwhile.)

8:00a–Christian Scriptures (MWF)
11:00a–Foundations of Educational Ministry (MWF)
1:30a–Arts & Christian Community (MWF)
6:30p–World Religions (M)

I am taking two classes in the school of theology and two from the university core curriculum. The theology classes have completely confirmed my interest and passion for ministry and the related arts.

Onto other things… I am getting more sleep that I ever did in Boston. Every day of this past week, I’ve been out of bed before 7:00a, and back in bed before midnight. Not too shabby. (I expect this to change, given my past habits.)

On the job front, I am now employed by three entities. I was hired yesterday by The Basketball Club of Seattle (who owns NBA Sonics and WNBA Storm) as a visitor services/ticket operations associate. More or less, this means I’ll be working in the Box office at Key Arena for all home Seattle Sonics games. This is pretty cool. (Each shift is paid at a 4-hour minimum, and usual shift only takes 2.5 hours.) This is 2 or 3 nights a week, beginning in late October. (The guys who interviewed me also said that they’ve been looking to fill a position in the video production department that my past experience qualifies me for, and that they’d pass my resume on to the right people. That’s pretty cool.) I also was hired by Seattle Pacific’s Office of Annual Giving where I’ll be making fundraising calls. Today I interviewed for a third job with SPU’s Office of Admission, and I am almost completely positive that I have that job as well. It’s a little tricky because all three jobs are in the evening, and I could really use some employment on Tuesdays/Thursdays during the day. (Perhaps this makes an ideal window for my studies… Who knows.)

At any rate… Given my newfound resolution to write more often, I’m certain I’ll be back here soon.

And for old time’s sake…

[Joy Fits.]