"The Iraqis are strong people. I met an Iraqi man who had been in and out of prison under Saddam's regime. Now he was in his 50s and finally starting a family. I said to him, "You've led a difficult life." But he just looked back in surprise and said, "My life is no different from that of any other here." He saw that this surprised me, and he said something very profound. He said, "You don't know us, and we don't know you." "
***
I figured I'd start out with something dramatic. That statement stuck out to me from what one of the witnesses said in a hearing about Iraqi Christian minorities before the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom on Wednesday. That was the big event I covered this week; you can read the story I wrote @ http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0704276.htm
That statement from the Iraqi man also has to do with what I think I want to do with my writing. I've been figuring out that I think I want to use my writing as a tool so that people can know each other better -- people from different cultures and nations who think their way of seeing the world is the only way people see it. Maybe that's the whole point of writing anyway -- to build bridges of commonality between people -- but it's been a personal realization these last few days. So I'm keeping that in mind, and we'll see where it takes me.
Some of you noticed, this week I started spending a couple minutes every evening learning Chinese. Yeah, apparently the free courses online aren't that bad. I know 6 words/phrases now with more to come! (although I haven't tried crosschecking what I've learned with someone who actually speaks the language...). Don't ask me to write it, because I'm focusing on speaking so far, and pronunciation is crazy, with 'q' sounding like 'ch' and 'x' sounding like 'sh.'
But it's something to keep me sharp.
Today I was praying at the Franciscan Monastery up the street, and as I was leaving, another man who was in the chapel asked me what time it was, then introduced himself. Turns out he's a lay Dominican who works in Catholic media: internet radio for about the last year, and television for 15 years before that. Quite a fortuitous meeting considering I'll be working for a Catholic radio station in a couple of months. So we swapped contact info, and who knows what God has in mind with that.
Then I went to the American History and Portrait Museum downtown and met a homeless guy named Howard in a wheelchair. I think I like going to museums alone because I can just walk past the things I'm not interested in, whole rooms even, and then just spend 5 minutes at one image if it catches me. America has some dynamic characters in her history, and there was some excellent photography. The photos made me really wish the journalism museum here ("Newseum") was open. I guess that means I'll have to come back to DC eventually...
I started growing a goatee again two weeks ago, just in case anyone was wondering what I look like nowadays. I still don't have a cord to download photos from my camera, so you'll see them when I get back to WA.
Before I forget, here are links to all the stories I've written so far that are available online. Yes, I am actually working here in the national's capitol:
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0704276.htm
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0704216.htm
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0703798.htm
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0703944.htm
Hmm... What else is going on? ... Well, I guess last night I dreamed I was attacked by a bear. Yeah, me and Neil and a couple other people! Sorry Neil, you didn't make it buddy, but I avenged you! We ended up killing the bear and I saved everyone else ... I think you were the distraction so we could get away. But I digress...
"Life and Holiness" by JPII is seriously amazing, in case you didn't get that from my last blog entry. Read it.
That is all. Take care everyone and God bless. Be great.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Christian Bale ate raw flesh in "Rescue Dawn," by the way...
"Nunca sabes lo que tienes, hasta que lo pierdes." -- Juanez
Well, I'm trying to get to know that I have here in DC before I lose it. Less than one month before I head back to Washington state and then on Sept. 20 I'm headed to Alaska. Apparently -- for all of you who have awaited my trip to the land of the "Eskimos" in Alaska -- our stylebook here at Catholic News Service reminds me that "Eskimo" is considered a derogatory term by some because it comes from an Ojibwa word meaning "eaters of raw flesh."
I think it sounds more exotic that way anyway, so maybe I'll adopt the term. "The land of the eaters of raw flesh."
This week I've been looking into a story about a guy from New Mexico who graduated from college and is volunteering in Chile and Ecuador for 2 years. He's keeping a blog to help "demystify" the volunteer experience for people who are thinking about doing it. So I'm getting paid to read about a guy who's doing something I would love and have thought about doing. Pretty sweet. Next week I get paid to talk to him about it.
And in case that didn't make work enjoyable enough, this week at work, we instituted "15 minutes of fun" in the office every afternoon. You know, something to get us through that period between lunch and... well, the end of the day... So far we've had popsicles, root beer floats, bubble blowing, sundaes, soda and 'pin the crown on the princess' Disney style...
On Sunday I went with Andrea, one of the other interns, to the National Archives and saw the original Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights. Then we were feeling adventurous so we went to Chinatown and got some pretty good traditional food. I pretty much just pointed to something on the menu and hoped it was good -- shrimp and noodles, turns out. And "Bubble Soda" really means Mango nectar with purple tapioca balls in the bottom...
Thanks to everybody who sent condolences for BP. He was ready to go, and I just needed to write to get it all out there. This weekend, the guy who owns the house I'm in is out of town, so I'm watching his dog, Noya, until Monday. She's a really sweet dog that was abused by her former owner. It took a while for her to get warmed up to me because she's still nervous around men at first, but now she follows me around and licks me whenever she can. "Noya" is Arabic for "beautiful." So I'm enjoying having her around this weekend.
Earlier this week, on my third attempt, I finally made it out to do something spontaneous, kind of. I went to see "Rescue Dawn" (not too bad; Christian Bale plays a Vietnam War pilot shot down and imprisoned in Laos) on Thursday night, but I had to plan it out the night before, and even then I almost talked myself out of it, but I did it! That's my inspirational moment for the week.
JPII's "Love and Responsibility" is excellent. I can't get enough. And I've also been reading a good biography of St. Francis of Assisi. It's almost more like historical fiction, but all the stories are true. It was written by a Franciscan who just has excellent insight into what St. Francis might have been thinking and feeling throughout the events of his life. I got it from the Franciscan vocation director a couple years ago but never got around to reading it until now.
Other than that, things have been quiet. I haven't been mugged yet, but I've been thinking about it; stay tuned, I'll let you know what I decide.
Es todo. Vaya con Dios!
Well, I'm trying to get to know that I have here in DC before I lose it. Less than one month before I head back to Washington state and then on Sept. 20 I'm headed to Alaska. Apparently -- for all of you who have awaited my trip to the land of the "Eskimos" in Alaska -- our stylebook here at Catholic News Service reminds me that "Eskimo" is considered a derogatory term by some because it comes from an Ojibwa word meaning "eaters of raw flesh."
I think it sounds more exotic that way anyway, so maybe I'll adopt the term. "The land of the eaters of raw flesh."
This week I've been looking into a story about a guy from New Mexico who graduated from college and is volunteering in Chile and Ecuador for 2 years. He's keeping a blog to help "demystify" the volunteer experience for people who are thinking about doing it. So I'm getting paid to read about a guy who's doing something I would love and have thought about doing. Pretty sweet. Next week I get paid to talk to him about it.
And in case that didn't make work enjoyable enough, this week at work, we instituted "15 minutes of fun" in the office every afternoon. You know, something to get us through that period between lunch and... well, the end of the day... So far we've had popsicles, root beer floats, bubble blowing, sundaes, soda and 'pin the crown on the princess' Disney style...
On Sunday I went with Andrea, one of the other interns, to the National Archives and saw the original Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights. Then we were feeling adventurous so we went to Chinatown and got some pretty good traditional food. I pretty much just pointed to something on the menu and hoped it was good -- shrimp and noodles, turns out. And "Bubble Soda" really means Mango nectar with purple tapioca balls in the bottom...
Thanks to everybody who sent condolences for BP. He was ready to go, and I just needed to write to get it all out there. This weekend, the guy who owns the house I'm in is out of town, so I'm watching his dog, Noya, until Monday. She's a really sweet dog that was abused by her former owner. It took a while for her to get warmed up to me because she's still nervous around men at first, but now she follows me around and licks me whenever she can. "Noya" is Arabic for "beautiful." So I'm enjoying having her around this weekend.
Earlier this week, on my third attempt, I finally made it out to do something spontaneous, kind of. I went to see "Rescue Dawn" (not too bad; Christian Bale plays a Vietnam War pilot shot down and imprisoned in Laos) on Thursday night, but I had to plan it out the night before, and even then I almost talked myself out of it, but I did it! That's my inspirational moment for the week.
JPII's "Love and Responsibility" is excellent. I can't get enough. And I've also been reading a good biography of St. Francis of Assisi. It's almost more like historical fiction, but all the stories are true. It was written by a Franciscan who just has excellent insight into what St. Francis might have been thinking and feeling throughout the events of his life. I got it from the Franciscan vocation director a couple years ago but never got around to reading it until now.
Other than that, things have been quiet. I haven't been mugged yet, but I've been thinking about it; stay tuned, I'll let you know what I decide.
Es todo. Vaya con Dios!
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Boys and their dogs: Goodbye, BP
Well, my sister called me about a half-hour ago to let me know that she was riding with our dog, BP, to the vet to have him put down. I don't know what else to do, so I figured I'd remember him here.
We've had BP for 11 years or so now, and I guess his health has been getting worse since I left the state. My mom called earlier in the week to say that he might not make it through the summer, but I was still hoping I'd see him again in August. Looks like I let him down.
When we got BP, I was in the fifth grade, and it was always my job to take care of him and feed him. He loved to bark and wrestle. We were pretty close, and --- just like every other boy with a dog --- he was the one I told everything to. He was the first to hear about the first crush I ever had, and the only one to hear about a few that followed. He's been there with me since before puberty, and I cried for a good 45 minutes about leaving him when I left to go to Oregon for my year of seminary.
It's kind of silly, because I know he's not a person. He's a dog. I thought I would be fine with him passing because I've accepted that he's an animal, a dog. And he does what dogs do. But somehow that makes his going a little bit harder. He's not even really passing on, because he has no where to pass on to. He's just going. When dogs die, that's it, they're gone. I wish I could pray for him or believe I'd see him again, but I won't. It's over. His lungs started giving out on him over the last few weeks, and the kindest thing to do for him was end his life permanently. I couldn't even be there for my old friend, and I can't help thinking that he would have been there for me. For sure. Where else would he have been?
BP used to eat things. All kinds of things, like coffee and lawnmower parts and Coke and sticks. He loved eating, but he loved barking even more. He would bark at anything or nothing, or if it was too dark out. Or if it was light. Or if he saw something. Or if he didn't see anything at all. Of course he'd bark whenever he saw me, and I'd always say, "Hush. Good dog, BP. Just hush."
We even had to buy a shock collar because the neighbors were complaining that he barked so much, but he found a way to take it off --- then he ate it. And when we snipped his vocal chords in our last attempt to keep him quiet, he kept working them until they grew back. I guess he ended up barking him lungs out. That's what the vet said was wrong. They told me this week he wasn't eating anything. He wasn't barking either. Those were his two favorites, so he must have been ready.
Now my sister just texted me to let me know, "He's gone." I did get to say something to him on the phone as they were driving. Sarah put the phone to his ear, and I said something stupid that I figured he might find comforting. I don't even remember. I probably told him I'd see him later. I hope he was able to recognize my voice. He deserved to recognize something familiar at the end. Something comfortable.
This is the dumbest thing I've ever written. BP was a dog. He was a damn good dog, from my point of view, but that's how boys are supposed to feel about their dogs. And I guess this is how much boys are supposed to hurt when their dogs die.
Too many BP stories come to mind for me to tell, and dogs don't merit as many tears as a lot of other thing, even this dog, but I'm spending these anyway. Maybe I'm just going to miss his familiar face, or the way he pulled my arm whenever we'd walk (like he would die if we didn't get there soon), or I'll miss the one who ran with me through snow in winter and heat in summer when I trained for wrestling in high school and who always tried to stay ahead of me, no matter how tired he was or whether or not he could see straight in the snow coming down. That crazy mutt. I'll miss him more than I probably should.
Well, that's all there is. Everything I can think to say is about him is a horrible cliche, and that's a shame. He should have had something better said about him just once. Now gone forever.
Good bye, BP. Good dog. Just hush.
We've had BP for 11 years or so now, and I guess his health has been getting worse since I left the state. My mom called earlier in the week to say that he might not make it through the summer, but I was still hoping I'd see him again in August. Looks like I let him down.
When we got BP, I was in the fifth grade, and it was always my job to take care of him and feed him. He loved to bark and wrestle. We were pretty close, and --- just like every other boy with a dog --- he was the one I told everything to. He was the first to hear about the first crush I ever had, and the only one to hear about a few that followed. He's been there with me since before puberty, and I cried for a good 45 minutes about leaving him when I left to go to Oregon for my year of seminary.
It's kind of silly, because I know he's not a person. He's a dog. I thought I would be fine with him passing because I've accepted that he's an animal, a dog. And he does what dogs do. But somehow that makes his going a little bit harder. He's not even really passing on, because he has no where to pass on to. He's just going. When dogs die, that's it, they're gone. I wish I could pray for him or believe I'd see him again, but I won't. It's over. His lungs started giving out on him over the last few weeks, and the kindest thing to do for him was end his life permanently. I couldn't even be there for my old friend, and I can't help thinking that he would have been there for me. For sure. Where else would he have been?
BP used to eat things. All kinds of things, like coffee and lawnmower parts and Coke and sticks. He loved eating, but he loved barking even more. He would bark at anything or nothing, or if it was too dark out. Or if it was light. Or if he saw something. Or if he didn't see anything at all. Of course he'd bark whenever he saw me, and I'd always say, "Hush. Good dog, BP. Just hush."
We even had to buy a shock collar because the neighbors were complaining that he barked so much, but he found a way to take it off --- then he ate it. And when we snipped his vocal chords in our last attempt to keep him quiet, he kept working them until they grew back. I guess he ended up barking him lungs out. That's what the vet said was wrong. They told me this week he wasn't eating anything. He wasn't barking either. Those were his two favorites, so he must have been ready.
Now my sister just texted me to let me know, "He's gone." I did get to say something to him on the phone as they were driving. Sarah put the phone to his ear, and I said something stupid that I figured he might find comforting. I don't even remember. I probably told him I'd see him later. I hope he was able to recognize my voice. He deserved to recognize something familiar at the end. Something comfortable.
This is the dumbest thing I've ever written. BP was a dog. He was a damn good dog, from my point of view, but that's how boys are supposed to feel about their dogs. And I guess this is how much boys are supposed to hurt when their dogs die.
Too many BP stories come to mind for me to tell, and dogs don't merit as many tears as a lot of other thing, even this dog, but I'm spending these anyway. Maybe I'm just going to miss his familiar face, or the way he pulled my arm whenever we'd walk (like he would die if we didn't get there soon), or I'll miss the one who ran with me through snow in winter and heat in summer when I trained for wrestling in high school and who always tried to stay ahead of me, no matter how tired he was or whether or not he could see straight in the snow coming down. That crazy mutt. I'll miss him more than I probably should.
Well, that's all there is. Everything I can think to say is about him is a horrible cliche, and that's a shame. He should have had something better said about him just once. Now gone forever.
Good bye, BP. Good dog. Just hush.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Sirens, martinis, dogs and Adam Frisch
Howdy folks!
Well, I have successfully (more of less) completed my third week of work for Catholic News Service in the USCCB. Thank you all for your birthday wishes, it's nice to know that you still care (or that you at least still check your notices on facebook)! Seriously, thanks. :)
On Monday I went to a conference on religious freedom worldwide, and my story was featured on the CNS homepage on Tuesday evening. You can search my name on the Web site if you're interested in reading one of the stories I've written. There are more to come!
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0703944.htm
I'm getting pretty well acclimated, not just to the weather, but to the rest of what makes up the climate around this place (one of the local interns, Josh, calls it "the Magic of DC"). So I'm pretty much comfortable now, although Josh still laughs and says it's obvious that I'm from out of town and I stick out. I think the next four-and-a-half weeks are going to fly by. It's hard to believe I have only one month left here.
In the mornings on my way to work, I go over the Michigan Ave. overpass that crosses the metro, and it does some serious shaking whenever a train goes under. Kind of makes me wobble around, but there are five lanes of traffic going over it too, so I figure I'll be fine.
Do people commit crimes early in the morning back home? I can't remember, but I'm always so tired in the mornings, and then cop cars go by me with their sirens blaring over that overpass at 7:30 am. I'm thinking, "Dudes, how can you be committing crimes at this hour? You shouldn't even be out of bed if you don't have to be, let alone engaging in adrenaline-filled activities like law-breaking and running from the cops... Go back to bed. It's too early for this, and you've got the whole day ahead of you to violate any number of laws, just not this early, please, I'm begging you." But I guess criminals have jobs and quotas and deadlines like everyone else...
Joe, the guy who owns the house I'm staying in, has a dog named Noya that was abused, so she gets nervous around men, and she finally warmed up to be last week. And then early this morning, I warmed up to her. No, I'm just kidding, she's a beautiful dog that's really eager to please, and she's a licker (and she's kind of wandering around the room while I write this, ignoring her food, so that's how this paragraph got in here without being the most gripping piece of literature you've ever perused, in case you were wondering...).
On Wednesday I ALMOST did my second fun/spontaneous thing (the first was almost going to a movie, then turning around half-way there because I was tired). One of the guys who lives here is in a band and they were playing at a club, DC Nine, starting at 11:30 pm, so I told him I was thinking about going, but then at 8:30 I was tired and decided to go to bed instead (turns out the show was sold-out anyway, so no harm done, but I still felt like an old man).
Daily Mass has had Jacob in the first reading all week. It's pretty sweet, but by the end of the week we got to the readings where Jacob is an old man, and God predicts his death, so that was a little forboding, but even as an old man, Jacob is basically the coolest OT character in the Bible, you have to admit. He would have made a good Catholic too, what with his 12 sons and all.
Psalm 90: 2-10
Before the mountains were born, the earth and the world brought forth, from eternity to eternity you are God.
A thousand years in your eyes are merely a yesterday,
But humans you return to dust, saying, "Return, you mortals!"
Before a watch passes in the night,
you have brought them to their end; They disappear like sleep at dawn; they are like grass that dies.
It sprouts green in the morning; by evening it is dry and withered.
Truly we are consumed by your anger, filled with terror by your wrath.
You have kept our faults before you, our hidden sins exposed to your sight.
Our life ebbs away under your wrath; our years end like a sigh.
Seventy is the sum of our years, or eighty, if we are strong; Most of them are sorrow and toil; they pass quickly, we are all but gone.
For my 22nd birthday on Thursday, I went down to Chinatown and walked around, then walked over to see the Capitol Building up close. Then I had three beers and Chinese takeout back at my place while channel flipping from American History X to Batman Begins between commercials. It was pretty sweet, to say the least. Thanks again to everyone who called and messaged to wish me a happy day.
Last night some of the editors, myself and a couple interns went out to the press club happy hour and free-taco Friday. I tried a few drinks I'd never had before: some brandy and a couple different martinis, but I didn't embarrass myself TOO badly... then I went to a going away get-together for someone from a different office here, with some of the ounger USCCB employees that I usually have lunch with. It turns out she and her fiance and a couple other people there know Adam Frisch from when they were at Notre Dame together! (I swear, everybody knows that guy!) So I heard a few stories and we marveled at both how small the world is and the popularity of the man named Adam Frisch.
Today, I'm looking at Mass, rosary, vespers with the Franciscans, Confession and a free concert down at Rock Creek Park this evening. That is all.
Oh, and if you only have time to read one blog this summer, you really shouldn't be reading this one at all -- you should be reading the blog of my man, Tuan, who's serving in Calcutta and doing some amazing work with the Missionaries of Charity there. A standup guy, a picture of holiness and an example for all who seek to serve God in their brothers and sisters around the world. He's been posting every day, and I'm amazed at the adventures he's finding himself in. It's all I can do to keep myself from hopping the next flight out of DC to go do some REAL work! Check it out:
http://kolkata2007mc.blogspot.com/
Take care, friends. If I haven't returned your messages, I will when I get a chance! Your prayers continue to support me here and keep me from spiritual ruin. :)
God bless and be good.
Jacob
Psalm 88: 14-19
But I cry out to you, LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
Why do you reject me, LORD? Why hide your face from me?
I am mortally afflicted since youth; lifeless, I suffer your terrible blows.
Your wrath has swept over me; your terrors have reduced me to silence.
All the day they surge round like a flood; from every side they close in on me.
Because of you companions shun me; my only friend is darkness.
Well, I have successfully (more of less) completed my third week of work for Catholic News Service in the USCCB. Thank you all for your birthday wishes, it's nice to know that you still care (or that you at least still check your notices on facebook)! Seriously, thanks. :)
On Monday I went to a conference on religious freedom worldwide, and my story was featured on the CNS homepage on Tuesday evening. You can search my name on the Web site if you're interested in reading one of the stories I've written. There are more to come!
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0703944.htm
I'm getting pretty well acclimated, not just to the weather, but to the rest of what makes up the climate around this place (one of the local interns, Josh, calls it "the Magic of DC"). So I'm pretty much comfortable now, although Josh still laughs and says it's obvious that I'm from out of town and I stick out. I think the next four-and-a-half weeks are going to fly by. It's hard to believe I have only one month left here.
In the mornings on my way to work, I go over the Michigan Ave. overpass that crosses the metro, and it does some serious shaking whenever a train goes under. Kind of makes me wobble around, but there are five lanes of traffic going over it too, so I figure I'll be fine.
Do people commit crimes early in the morning back home? I can't remember, but I'm always so tired in the mornings, and then cop cars go by me with their sirens blaring over that overpass at 7:30 am. I'm thinking, "Dudes, how can you be committing crimes at this hour? You shouldn't even be out of bed if you don't have to be, let alone engaging in adrenaline-filled activities like law-breaking and running from the cops... Go back to bed. It's too early for this, and you've got the whole day ahead of you to violate any number of laws, just not this early, please, I'm begging you." But I guess criminals have jobs and quotas and deadlines like everyone else...
Joe, the guy who owns the house I'm staying in, has a dog named Noya that was abused, so she gets nervous around men, and she finally warmed up to be last week. And then early this morning, I warmed up to her. No, I'm just kidding, she's a beautiful dog that's really eager to please, and she's a licker (and she's kind of wandering around the room while I write this, ignoring her food, so that's how this paragraph got in here without being the most gripping piece of literature you've ever perused, in case you were wondering...).
On Wednesday I ALMOST did my second fun/spontaneous thing (the first was almost going to a movie, then turning around half-way there because I was tired). One of the guys who lives here is in a band and they were playing at a club, DC Nine, starting at 11:30 pm, so I told him I was thinking about going, but then at 8:30 I was tired and decided to go to bed instead (turns out the show was sold-out anyway, so no harm done, but I still felt like an old man).
Daily Mass has had Jacob in the first reading all week. It's pretty sweet, but by the end of the week we got to the readings where Jacob is an old man, and God predicts his death, so that was a little forboding, but even as an old man, Jacob is basically the coolest OT character in the Bible, you have to admit. He would have made a good Catholic too, what with his 12 sons and all.
Psalm 90: 2-10
Before the mountains were born, the earth and the world brought forth, from eternity to eternity you are God.
A thousand years in your eyes are merely a yesterday,
But humans you return to dust, saying, "Return, you mortals!"
Before a watch passes in the night,
you have brought them to their end; They disappear like sleep at dawn; they are like grass that dies.
It sprouts green in the morning; by evening it is dry and withered.
Truly we are consumed by your anger, filled with terror by your wrath.
You have kept our faults before you, our hidden sins exposed to your sight.
Our life ebbs away under your wrath; our years end like a sigh.
Seventy is the sum of our years, or eighty, if we are strong; Most of them are sorrow and toil; they pass quickly, we are all but gone.
For my 22nd birthday on Thursday, I went down to Chinatown and walked around, then walked over to see the Capitol Building up close. Then I had three beers and Chinese takeout back at my place while channel flipping from American History X to Batman Begins between commercials. It was pretty sweet, to say the least. Thanks again to everyone who called and messaged to wish me a happy day.
Last night some of the editors, myself and a couple interns went out to the press club happy hour and free-taco Friday. I tried a few drinks I'd never had before: some brandy and a couple different martinis, but I didn't embarrass myself TOO badly... then I went to a going away get-together for someone from a different office here, with some of the ounger USCCB employees that I usually have lunch with. It turns out she and her fiance and a couple other people there know Adam Frisch from when they were at Notre Dame together! (I swear, everybody knows that guy!) So I heard a few stories and we marveled at both how small the world is and the popularity of the man named Adam Frisch.
Today, I'm looking at Mass, rosary, vespers with the Franciscans, Confession and a free concert down at Rock Creek Park this evening. That is all.
Oh, and if you only have time to read one blog this summer, you really shouldn't be reading this one at all -- you should be reading the blog of my man, Tuan, who's serving in Calcutta and doing some amazing work with the Missionaries of Charity there. A standup guy, a picture of holiness and an example for all who seek to serve God in their brothers and sisters around the world. He's been posting every day, and I'm amazed at the adventures he's finding himself in. It's all I can do to keep myself from hopping the next flight out of DC to go do some REAL work! Check it out:
http://kolkata2007mc.blogspot.com/
Take care, friends. If I haven't returned your messages, I will when I get a chance! Your prayers continue to support me here and keep me from spiritual ruin. :)
God bless and be good.
Jacob
Psalm 88: 14-19
But I cry out to you, LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
Why do you reject me, LORD? Why hide your face from me?
I am mortally afflicted since youth; lifeless, I suffer your terrible blows.
Your wrath has swept over me; your terrors have reduced me to silence.
All the day they surge round like a flood; from every side they close in on me.
Because of you companions shun me; my only friend is darkness.
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Dry grass and broken glass
Well guys,
Week number two has come to a close. I didn't do much at work this week; it was kind of a transition week with some busywork, but not much else.
On the Fourth I spent the day traveling around DC. I went to the parade downtown with Andrea, another intern here at CNS. We had some spare time, so we went to an art museum for a few minutes before going to Arlington National Cemetery. We saw the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which I didn't really understand when I heard about it, but I was pretty impressed once I saw it.
The fireworks at the Mall were decent. We were sitting back quite a ways near the Capitol Building, and the fireworks were at the Washington Monument. It was amazing though just to see how many people came out to watch the show. Then after 20 minutes of fireworks everyone crowded down the street to the metro stop! Good times.
I finished reading "A long way gone: memoirs of a boy soldier" (which is really good) about the ongoing conflicts in Africa, and now I'm reading "Dispatches" by Michael Herr about Vietnam and "Love and Responsibility" by JPII. Both are pretty sweet.
Yesterday I spent wandering around DC hoping in vain to see a familiar face, but there was none to be found. :( I checked out the Folklife Festival at the Mall, and they had some interesting displays and workshops about the culture of Virginia and this area from around a century or two ago. I did some reading at a big round fountain downtown that you can put your feet in. I guess it becomes a skating rink in the winter (this fountain was constructed by professionals and does not tilt to one side, unlike Fisher Fountain in Red Square at Western).
I've been looking for a place to get a haircut for the last couple weeks, and I finally got one yesterday afternoon. They have Supercuts here, so I actually went to a barber to get a haircut for the first time since I was five, I think. I had quite the experience at a barber shop on Thursday. It's a little too embarrassing to put on here, though, so you'll have to ask me...
Today I went to 7:30 am Mass in the basilica, then prayed a rosary at the Franciscan Monastery and took a walk around the neighborhood up to Fort Totten Park. It was a bad idea though, because there's nothing much up that way except for broken glass and spent fireworks in dry grass. The heat is coming back, but I think I'm getting used to it. Today is day number eight since I last turned the AC on (I've just been sweating profusely instead of giving in to the climate's demands...). So I'm reading more this afternoon.
Oh, and if you bank at Washington Mutual and plan on working in DC, you should know that the "Washington" in "Washington Mutual" definitely refers to the state. They don't have any branches in DC.
That's about all that's happening on my end. I bought my return ticket tonight for August 16, since my lease here is up on the 15th, so I'll see everyone in Bellingham soon enough.
Thanks for all your prayers. Take care and God bless.
Jacob
Week number two has come to a close. I didn't do much at work this week; it was kind of a transition week with some busywork, but not much else.
On the Fourth I spent the day traveling around DC. I went to the parade downtown with Andrea, another intern here at CNS. We had some spare time, so we went to an art museum for a few minutes before going to Arlington National Cemetery. We saw the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which I didn't really understand when I heard about it, but I was pretty impressed once I saw it.
The fireworks at the Mall were decent. We were sitting back quite a ways near the Capitol Building, and the fireworks were at the Washington Monument. It was amazing though just to see how many people came out to watch the show. Then after 20 minutes of fireworks everyone crowded down the street to the metro stop! Good times.
I finished reading "A long way gone: memoirs of a boy soldier" (which is really good) about the ongoing conflicts in Africa, and now I'm reading "Dispatches" by Michael Herr about Vietnam and "Love and Responsibility" by JPII. Both are pretty sweet.
Yesterday I spent wandering around DC hoping in vain to see a familiar face, but there was none to be found. :( I checked out the Folklife Festival at the Mall, and they had some interesting displays and workshops about the culture of Virginia and this area from around a century or two ago. I did some reading at a big round fountain downtown that you can put your feet in. I guess it becomes a skating rink in the winter (this fountain was constructed by professionals and does not tilt to one side, unlike Fisher Fountain in Red Square at Western).
I've been looking for a place to get a haircut for the last couple weeks, and I finally got one yesterday afternoon. They have Supercuts here, so I actually went to a barber to get a haircut for the first time since I was five, I think. I had quite the experience at a barber shop on Thursday. It's a little too embarrassing to put on here, though, so you'll have to ask me...
Today I went to 7:30 am Mass in the basilica, then prayed a rosary at the Franciscan Monastery and took a walk around the neighborhood up to Fort Totten Park. It was a bad idea though, because there's nothing much up that way except for broken glass and spent fireworks in dry grass. The heat is coming back, but I think I'm getting used to it. Today is day number eight since I last turned the AC on (I've just been sweating profusely instead of giving in to the climate's demands...). So I'm reading more this afternoon.
Oh, and if you bank at Washington Mutual and plan on working in DC, you should know that the "Washington" in "Washington Mutual" definitely refers to the state. They don't have any branches in DC.
That's about all that's happening on my end. I bought my return ticket tonight for August 16, since my lease here is up on the 15th, so I'll see everyone in Bellingham soon enough.
Thanks for all your prayers. Take care and God bless.
Jacob
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