PeaceBang

You Can Quote Me

I was talking with some non Unitarian Universalists the other day when they asked me why UUs, who have such a proud heritage in the liberal Christian tradition in America, seem so eager to jettison their Christian identity.

PeaceBang responded:

“We sold our birthright for a mess of potlucks.”

Christian Voices In UUism

Christian Voices
Originally uploaded by Peacebang.

I can’t wait to read this. I just bought my copy for $14 from the UUA Bookstore online.

I’m so glad they didn’t do a gooey Jesus cover, or something with people with their hands together in prayer looking skyward like they left their brains on the ceiling.

Teck & Tonka

I bought this incense at a fabulous store in Barcelona and fell so in love with it that I was bereft when I couldn’t find it in the states.
I finally located it through Google, and ordered some more.

If you’re an incense nut, I have to say that this is the most sophisicated, earthy, delicious, sweet tobacco-ish, chocolatey, sexy stuff you’ve ever smelled. It doesn’t really “go” with my sweet little 18th century farmhouse but I still love it. That is, when I’m not burning some kind of floral or herby Aveda type fragrance oil.

http://synergiespainc.stores.yahoo.net/tectonbamins.html

From the description:
“The aroma of Teck and Tonka is a wave of the world’s most precious spices, nutmeg, Madagascar cinnamon, coriander, Zanzibar clove. Flowing in from the depths of patchouli, cedar and sandalwood. Leaving in its wake the intense aromas of ambergris and musk, softened by the Tonka Bean.”

What do you mean, I’m procrastinating?
Don’t worry, I stayed up late doing a whole boatload of work last night. It’s too warm to work right now. I have senioritis.

A Sense of Home

Since 1984, when I graduated high school, I have lived in the following locations:

Evanston, IL (4 different dwellings in five years)
Oak Park, IL (one apt. for two years)
Minneapolis, Minnesota (one apartment for a few months)
St. Paul, Minnesota (two different apartments in 1.5 years)
Rochester, NY (one house for one year)
Somerville, MA (one house for three years)
Berwyn, PA (one apartment for two years)
Ellicott City, MD (one apartment for one year)
Columbia, MD (one condo for one year)

You can’t imagine how much it means to me to go into my fifth summer here in Boston-ish, New England. I have worked with the same staff for four wonderful years, the same congregation, and lived in the same house.
I know my neighbors and am friendly with all the people who work in our tiny town center (especially the bank tellers who are total buddies by now). I know when the lilac bush comes into bloom, and when my neighbor Jackie’s amazing bright orange flowers flare into sight. I have walked the cemetery many times. I know the local festivals and traditions, and when to put up my Christmas lights. I have great pals in ministry and in theatre, and I know my way to their houses without looking at directions. I get to see their children grow up.
This is the fourth time I have dragged my “new” gas grill out of the garage with trepidation, wondering what critters may have nested under the cover over the past winter (this year: mice).
I have had the same hairdresser and colorist and manicurist for at least four years. I have had the same massage therapist, spiritual director, and health club. They are all part of my self-care team.

I know the smells and the seasons of this place. This is home.
It is the first real home I have had since I left my childhood home at the age of 18. As many ministers do, I keep my resume updated and my boxes ready to pack, because I know how volatile ministries can be. I don’t worry about it, I just keep my feet on the ground. But still, this is home. For now, this is home.

And now, your moment of Zen from someone who always lives in the moment:

BANJO!

BANJO!
Originally uploaded by Peacebang.

As you know, I took up the BANJO a few months ago. The idea was that I would give my brain a new challenge at the age of 40, fulfill my dream of strumming along with a Dixieland band, and just be stupid with my BANJO.

When I went in to buy a 4-string, tenor banjo, I thought the nice kid at the best music store in the area sold me one, but when I got home I counted five strings, not four. I figured this must be some esoteric BANJO thing I didn’t understand, but as it turns out, I can count to five just fine. He had sold me a regular bluegrass five-string.

The owner of the store, one of the sweetest and coolest guys around (he goes to my church sometimes, and he plays with Jimmy Buffet, so he’s 11 on the 1-10 coolness scale), explained to me that tenor banjos are really rare and he hadn’t seen one for at least a decade. He was sorry for the misunderstanding.
I was a little crushed but figured hey, my cute instructor can make my new five-string sound like a Dixieland banjo by teaching me to play it in plectrum tuning (a little BANJO LINGO for you musicians out there).

A few weeks after I started my lessons, the store owner greeted me with a special smile when I came in one afternoon. “Wait ’til I show you this.” As it turns out, a man from a neighboring town had just that week brought in a beautiful honey of an antique tenor banjo that had been in his family for probably about 80 years. It needed some restoration, but as soon as I held it in my tiny hands I knew it was MY honey for all time. I love music people: as I held my little BANJO, all the guys who work at the store stood around and grinned like fools. We all grinned like fools.

So today I got to play my restored antique Orpheum BANJO for the first time. It sounds just right: all twangy and Dixieland and it feels just right on my lap. There she is. Isn’t she beautiful? Did you see the mother-of-pearl inlays?

You can say “mazel tov” if you want.

Have You Been To Beauty Tips Lately?

This week in Beauty Tips for Ministers:

caftans and muumuus!
summer preaching garb!
summer pantyhose!
scarf abuse!
Lisa Welchel!
side-swept bangs!
more frumpy shoes!
why suits rock!
the perils of self-tanner!
men in color!

Come on by!

http://www.beautytipsforministers.blogspot.com

Friday Cat Blogging

the sentinel
Originally uploaded by Peacebang.

She fell asleep on the modem, I fell asleep on the love seat in the parlor.

Could someone maybe take a big gun and SHOOT this pollen out of my head? Please?

And have you EVER SEEN such cute nibbly popcorn toes?

Geography Quiz

Well, I failed this miserably. How did you do?

http://www.pibmug.com/files/map_test.swf

Reservations at Mirasol, St. Louis

PeaceBangers, Friends, Countrymen,

I have made a reservation for 25 at Mirasol tapas restaurant for 5:30 p.m., Friday, June 23rd. We have five tables in our own room in the back.
Thus far, I have the following people as confirmed:

CK (1)
Ron Robinson (and family?)
ChaliceChick and Linguist Friend (2)
Philocrites (1)
Rev Thom (1)
Bret, Errant Frog (1)
Clyde G (tentative)
PeaceBang (1)

Those above, please let me know pronto if my numbers are right on your reservation. Others, there’s a 25 person limit, so let me know now if you want on the most exclusive and glamorous guest list at GA!

Mr. Malaprop

David Lee Roth quoted in the Boston Globe:

“It’s not rocket surgery, people.”

Snort!