PeaceBang

One More Paper

It’s hard to believe I only have one more class (maybe two?) to go in my doctoral program. After that comes the sabbatical (I hope) and my project. Whoo. In this semester, I have one more paper to write and I really need to get it done tomorrow.

It’s one of those papers that would be really enjoyable as a seminar discussion but that’s going to feel like pulling teeth to write in an academically appropriate manner.

I’ve been reading lots of books on the subject but a lot of what I’m learning from them falls under the category of “yeah, I knew that, but you’re saying it in a fancy, organized way so I guess you’re the big expert.”

The thing is, I just don’t like theory. I kind of hate it, in fact. I hated it when I was in college studying to be a high school teacher and we had to study pedagogy and administrative theory and that sort of thing, and I just wanted to stick pins in my eyes. To me, there is nothing interesting or even very useful about studying how to do something that you’ve just got to get in there and DO and then go back and talk about and dissect. Case studies in books bore me to tears. Case studies presented by people I KNOW — well, that’s an entirely different story. When it’s real, I’m very invested. When it’s hypothetical, it’s so hard to engage.

Also, I’m just plain into content. I’m not so inspired by books about the best way to train ministers. I’m very inspired, however, by books by ministers that say, “Here’s what I know and here’s how I learned it.” I’m even more inspired by groups of ministers sitting around hashing through issues together, and I’ve loved my seminar this semester for that reason. The best thing about this degree program is getting to think about what ministry is as I’m doing it. I can’t say that I feel like I’m becoming some great high-level scholar of ministry, though. If anyone calls me “The Rev. Dr.” when this is all over I’m going to have to pinch them. It seems so ridiculous. Maybe after I sweat it out through my project I’ll feel differently and go walking around saying, “Please… it’s The Reverend DOCTOR Weinstein.” And then you can pinch me.

Well anyway, I’ll muddle through. I feel like the Holy Spirit finally, finally bopped me on the head this morning and gave me a hook, and I’m grateful as anything for that, because man, was I at a loss for a subject for a long time.

The question is, what do I do after I’m done with the doctoral program? Because I’m basically addicted to taking classes and feel very shriveled up and dry when I don’t engage in some kind of organized study on a regular basis. Also, I’m terrible at researching and studying on my own in any systematic fashion, so there’s no hope there. At any given time, I have six books going on completely different subjects, and I have terrible retention of material. Hopeless.

Learning Curve

Mi gente,
Wow.
I’ve been blogging for two years, and it’s amazing how hard it is to navigate new systems. My brain just shuts down when certain things come up, like “how do I close this window?” and “Gee, without my blogger bookmarks to click right to, how do I even get to my own site?”
I have no idea how to post photos yet, and I’m totally overwhelmed by Gmail’s helpful archiving of conversations that appear in light font up above the incoming mail. It’s hard to tell what’s going in and what’s going out, and I’m scared to delete things yet, as I seem to be deleting entire strings of conversations with one press of a button, rather than single e-mail messages.

I will be moderating comments for both blogs now (a practice I may or may not continue), and I’m still working with three MSN e-mail accounts and a verizon account (where I send most of my junk).

My plan is to ease out of MSN altogether (what a buggy and terrible browser!), start re-setting all my online business transactions through my verizon.net address, and gradually morph over to using Gmail exclusively.

However, I did float into the Apple store today in my nearby swanky mall and salivate over the i-books. My heart yearns to rejoin the world of Mac, and I may do so and sign up for a mac e-mail address. I like the fact that Mac’s software is all integrated, unlike my Dell, which is a mess of glitches and incompatability quirks, and frustrating techo-support.

Does anyone have an opinion of dot-mac?

What’s funny — or maybe not — is that the new Macs have a Blog feature that is entirely template-based and doesn’t require html knowledge. Currently, Scott Wells is busting his bachongas on my behalf getting both of my blogs onto Wordpress. Scott, my butter lamb, be assured that I won’t switch to Mac application when and if I DO return to the land of Apple, and I won’t beg you to help me if I eventually do. I’m thrilled to be starting with WordPress (Hey! I can BLOG without 17 error messages!), but that doesn’t stop me from lusting after a new Mac.

Looking at this all from the perspective of neurological wiring, it’s pretty fascinating stuff.

Agita!

Dear readers,
Thanks to the eternal patience of my dear friend Scott Wells, I can post this after about 1,000 techno misunderstandings from Clueless Moi to tell you that we’ll be up and blogging again soon.

xoxo PB

PeaceBang The Blog Is Moving!

Hi everyone,

PeaceBang the Blog is in FLUX.

With the help of my dear friend BoyInTheBands, we are moving to WordPress.

My learning curve on this stuff is as steep as it gets, so bear with me.

Sweet the Sound Concert Tomorrow!

Sweet the Sound Concert Tomorrow!
Originally uploaded by Peacebang.

Sweet the Sound will have a concert tomorrow, April 14, at 3pm at the First United Methodist Church in Melrose, MA.

The church is at 645 Main Street

This probably concludes PeaceBang’s blogging until such time as she has many hours to devote to the problem of signing into Blogger. She has cleared her cache, chosen new passwords for Google accounts, messed with three different browsers, deleted an interfering Gmail account, signed in and out of her three MSN e-mail addresses and enabled her cookies. She is at wit’s end and can’t devote any more time to the issue for the next several days.

In the meantime, and until I can transfer to WordPress — a transition for which I’ve been preparing for some weeks now — PeaceBang blows you kisses and wishes you all well.

Techno Difficulties

Hey PeaceBangers,

I haven’t been able to post due to technical difficulties, and it’s killing me! Because as you can imagine, I have a few things to say about Imus.

But until I can figure out why Blogger won’t let me post from home, ta for now.

The Wired Word

Does anyone have experience with this Bible study curriculum?

A Methodist pastor friend is using it and likes it a lot.

http://www.thewiredword.com/

I would welcome your thoughts and comments.

One More Day To Vote

winged victory
Originally uploaded by Peacebang.

OOh, so close!

As I said the other day,
“I’m up for Best Religious Writing, Best Anecdote or Narrative, Best UU Themed Blog, Best Minister’s Blog and something else.”

You can vote here:
http://uupdates.net/uublogawards/

Thanks for your support. You’re warming ye cockles of my heart.

Shamelessly Pimping Your Vote

Gee, folks, thanks to whoever it was that nominated this blog for all those awards!

I’m up for Best Religious Writing, Best Anecdote or Narrative, Best UU Themed Blog, Best Minister’s Blog and something else.

You can vote here:
http://uupdates.net/uublogawards/

If I win Best Religious Writing (which would be particularly meaningful to me, I must admit), do you think I can raise my fees?

If you read this blog and don’t read many — or any — others, it’s okay to just vote in a few categories. I don’t feel qualified enough to vote, either, as I didn’t/don’t read all of the nominated entries and blogs, but I voted anyway.

This all reminds me of 1996, when I appeared as Chloe Haddock in “Lips Together, Teeth Apart” for a community theatre in Rochester, NY. I was horrified to find out that the theatre had a competition for best actor/actress and best supporting actor/actress that went on all season, asking audience members to rate the performances and drop the ballot in a box at the end of the show. I said that acting was not a competitive sport and that I wished not to be included in the competition. Too late; my name was already on the ballot. And then I felt like a fool when I was got all excited when I found out later that I won. I still have the plaque somewhere– a reminder against false modesty. Now I’m like Joan Crawford, gripping the cat and shaking her, “MOMMY HAS TO WIN, BABY!! MOMMY HAS TO WIN!”

She is, by the way, doing *very* well. The cat, that is. And so far she shows no signs of wear and tear from all the kissing and hugging she’s getting.

Merry Christmas, Friends

christmas morning
Originally uploaded by Peacebang.