Jan posted a copy of the picture (instead of work) that was posted at work. Perhaps you need a copy? Within an hour, the following had been added in handwriting to the list:surf the internetwrite on a white boardcatch up... http://www.mennoboy.com/jenjie

It looks like I'm done with blogging. It looks like I'm done, but I'm not.

What's happened is I've been horrifically busy these past three months. Working 12-hour days. Buying and maintaining a car. Planning my future.

More than that, I've been in a writing slump for some time now. I attribute this partially to my ever-rising editorial standards - my posts are generally shorter than they were when I began but take much longer to write, and many never get published. The other difficulty is that I've been coming to some conclusions.

You might think that having decided a few things would make it easier to write, but this seems not to be the case. I've always found it easier express confusion or disagreement than to put forth my own position. When presenting my own views I feel like I should be some kind of expert - if not on the subjects of my opinions, then at least on my opinions themselves. If I think something, I should be able to express it, right? Well, it's hard.

But I think the time is right to try. This blog has always been about my search for a spiritual je ne sais quoi - the god or truth or purpose without which I felt alone or lost or unfulfilled. The loneliness and lostness and unfulfillment has diminished over the past four years, to the point that I am no longer searching in the way that I was then, and so I think it is time to bring this blog to a proper close. Despite the fact that the object of my search remains (and I think will always remain) somewhat unknowable and inexpressible.

I should have said that it's almost time to conclude this blog. Time continues to be a scarcity. I'm rushing off to camp for the remainder of the summer, but I will make a determined effort to return in the fall, and then I will tell you what there is to tell.

I awoke this morning certain of the time for the church service. Perhaps it's because I haven't been in a while, but I was only an hour off. So I went online to find "The Call" as suggested by Atticus.... http://www.mennoboy.com/jenjie

I awoke this morning with full intentions of visiting the local farmers' market; specifically, I wanted fresh raspberries. I departed, picking up some coffee along the way. The farmers' market is located in the heart of downtown, on a blocked... http://www.mennoboy.com/jenjie

Note (July 08): I've updated the links in this post - most of these stories are now in the rlp archives. Just so you know. Also, at this point the Preacher is no longer shipping his books, which is a shame. I trust he'll start again at some point.

I recently read RealLivePreacher.com (the book), by Gordon Atkinson. I finally bought a copy because the Preacher is now selling them personally (there's a story behind that, if you're interested). Each book now comes with a little handwritten note and a couple random objects stuck between the pages.

Nearly all the essays in the book can also be read on his blog, but for some reason it's exciting to have them in tactile form. And as a bonus, I now have a slightly risque free beer token from some pub in Texas, a CD of Mexican music, and a packet of vanilla chai tea.

The book is worth buying, even if you're not an avid reader of the blog. It's kind of a "best of", and it makes a good introduction to the Preacher. Most of my very favorites are there, such as:

The Preacher's Story
George the Middle, Beginning and End
The two about Rabbi Jonah and Robert
The Advent and Passion of Elliot
John the Baptist (still cracks me up)
Bifocals

These are excellent stories. I don't like to throw around the words "must read", but I'm tempted to invoke them here.

And if you want to read more, here are a few good ones that didn't make the book:

The Truth About Snow
The Soft Stories series - Old Man Cedar, Chloe, Looking For Elliot and Main's Folly
The Gospel According To Anna
The Foy Davis series

The Preacher also wrote an excellent dramatic version of the Christmas Story, which is now available as an audiobook. It's beautiful and insightful, and well worth purchasing.

What to do when one wears the cutest new dress to work, leaves one's umbrella in the car and attempts to leave said workplace during a torrential downpour / lightening storm: 1) Find large black garbage bag, preferably unused. Often... http://www.mennoboy.com/jenjie

This morning I awoke with sunshine on my face and a gentle breeze on my skin. It's a good morning.... http://www.mennoboy.com/jenjie

I have been trying to figure a lot of things out lately. Part of it is my ongoing discussion with Atticus on a previous post: understanding God's call. (Or, better put, understanding waiting.) Part of it is having had a... http://www.mennoboy.com/jenjie

I try to recycle. I put my Tim Horton's coffee cups (and lids!) in the recycle bin. I don't get flyers anymore. I try to reduce product packaging. I opt for reusable shopping bags or reuse/recycle the ones I have.... http://www.mennoboy.com/jenjie

I haven't had one of these posts for a while now: Reflections on internet dating relationships. I was going to leave instructions for how to write a basic profile (grammar/spelling, be positive, tell the truth). I have seen a good... http://www.mennoboy.com/jenjie

A friend of mine jokingly refers to my music collection as "that hippie music" ... most notably after I lend it to his wife. He also notes that I stop listening to it when it starts to become popular, i.e.... http://www.mennoboy.com/jenjie

After 700 years of doing what he was built for, he'll discover what he was meant for. Wall•e, PixarI wonder if I get it the other way around, or perhaps not at all. I tend to think I know what... http://www.mennoboy.com/jenjie

I went to see Wall•e yesterday. Pixar rarely disappoints. I think because they are so adept at personifying their characters. Toys, animals, monsters, cars or robots ... they all emote. So, of course, Wall•e and Eve are adorable. Spoiler? (hover)... http://www.mennoboy.com/jenjie

One piece of the puzzle just isn't enough: either vision or preparation alone, without the other, won't get you anywhere. You might be fortunate to bumble along in chaos and frustration.A few months ago, I made a side note about... http://www.mennoboy.com/jenjie

When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”2 Kings... http://www.mennoboy.com/jenjie

I took a gorgeous drive through the countryside this afternoon. People often judge the prairies, especially Saskatchewan, for being too monotonous. I fear it is due to their solitary experience of driving the TransCanada through Regina. Other than a little... http://www.mennoboy.com/jenjie

The concept: 1. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search. 2. Using only the first page of results, and pick one image. 3. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into... http://www.mennoboy.com/jenjie

You can tell, probably, that my first quarter of grad school ended recently...May was a pretty dry month here, but rest assured that lots of writing was happening elsewhere. Almost 20 pages of high-quality academic prose flew from my computer in the 2 weeks before Mother's Day.

Results? Straight A's, for the first time ever. I've always been a decent A/B student, but this was a nice surprise and good validation that I'm in the right place. Lesson learned, though: grad school is not the place to be putting off papers until the end of the quarter. Turns out that at 40, sleeping is so much more important than it used to be.

The summer quarter is underway, and I'm already looking forward to seeing the rest of my cohort in August—it's really weird to start the quarter without seeing your classmates or meeting the instructors, but that just makes for a more joyous reunion/introduction later, I figure.

You can tell, probably, that my first quarter of grad school ended recently...May was a pretty dry month here, but rest assured that lots of writing was happening elsewhere. Almost 20 pages of high-quality academic prose flew from my computer... carol http://www.wanderingmind.org

I received two reactions when people learnt that I would be travelling to Toronto: sheer excitement or mediocre well-wishes. Toronto is fine (for those who love it) but I'm a prairie girl at heart. I love to see the horizon;... http://www.mennoboy.com/jenjie