I drove by the old high school the other day. The first day that it was really nice and warm. The kind of warm where you finally can stop wearing your winter coat. Anyway there were a bunch of high/middle schoolers out in front of the Auditorium skate boarding and doing tricks on the steps. It made me happy. It felt like a scene out of a movie. I wish I'd had a camera

People used to always get in trouble for that and I wouldn't be surprised if they eventually got chased away. Why? I love that those kids were OUTSIDE doing something. Maybe the cement will get a little more worn, but who cares? They probably aren't going to be smoking crack all out in the open like that, so encourage them to do something active.
Julie @ 9:22 PM Permalink |

I spent way too much money at Target today. But it may have been that I was over charged for a few things that said they were on sale, or were misleading.

Why can't I finish my journal/assignment/writeup and just go home (I'm currently in the lab)? Is it because there is not a damn thing of interest to write about this assignment besides the fact that it took forever to format. Or that I had a good time annoying the boys in the CS lab with my showtunes from West Side Story?

On the up side, this may have been the first program I have ever written where it worked the FIRST time.

I've been up for too long today. Seems like my tiredness or anticipated tiredness should push me to finish. But, I'm not tired.
Julie @ 9:09 PM Permalink |

God is Light, in whom there is no darkness at all.
Jesus Christ is the light of the world.
And this is the judgement, that the light has come into the world,
and we loved darkness rather than light.
God pours out into the universe with life-giving light, with love.
Experience the love, feel the warmth. Choose Life.
Choose Life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose good health, low cholesterol, and dental insurance. Choose your friends. Choose wondering who the fuck you are on a Sunday morning. Choose your future. Choose life...

Tonight's worship greeting spliced with a quote from the Prayer Path and of course then the Trainspotting reference. These are just a few of the things on my mind right now.

We're just ordinary people, we don't know which way to go. Cause we're ordinary people. Maybe we should take it slow. This time we'll take it slow
- John Legend

Anger he smiles, towering in shiny metallic purple armour. Queen jealousy, envy waits behind him. Her fiery green gown sneers at the grassy ground. Blue are the life-giving waters taken for granted, they quietly understand. Once happy turquoise armies lay opposite ready, but wonder why the fight is on

They’re bold as love, yes, they’re all bold as love. Yeah, they’re all bold as love. Just ask the axis

My red is so confident that he flashes trophies of war and ribbons of euphoria. Orange is young, full of daring, but very unsteady for the first go round. My yellow in this case is not so mellow. In fact I’m trying to say it’s frigthened like me. And all these emotions of mine keep holding me from giving my life to a rainbow like you.

But, I’m bold as love. I’m bold, bold as love. I’m bold as love. Just ask the axis
- Jimi Hendrix
Julie @ 6:04 PM Permalink |

If the resurrection of Jesus is a symbol of hope for the Christian world, our challenge, it seems to me, is to extend that hope to all these young men who have come to love death more than life. We need to find a way to save them in order to save ourselves.

Louise's Blog
Julie @ 7:23 AM Permalink |

Julie @ 10:18 PM Permalink |

Mother, sing them a song
That will ease their pain,
Mend broken bones,
Bring wholeness again.
Catch their babies
When they are born,
Sing their death song,
Teach them how to mourn.

Show them the Medicine
Of the healing herbs,
The value of spirit,
The way they can serve.

Mother, heal their hearts
So that they can see
The gifts of yours
That can live through them.
Julie @ 4:30 PM Permalink |

This is too much. I can't believe it is happening here. I just want to cry. I am so worried about Amy. When will it stop? When can this community start coming together?
Julie @ 6:03 PM Permalink |

Wednesday I left town at 5:15AM to make a run to the capital. The roads were empty, I met up with Jessica in Big Lake and we arrived an hour early. We putzed around and then had a nice chat with Frank and Brita. The mayor crashed our party, but we were pretty much done anyway. I regret not asking about the status of the bonding bill (duh). We also sat in on the 15 minute floor session.

My highlight was seeing the Kerry Campaign worker. He was really happy to see me. I got a hug, conversation and the news that he is moving to DC this summer. This is good in that it's what he wanted and now if I ever go there I have someone I know. This is bad in that I might never see him again, but its not like I see him a lot now or anything.

I love being in the cities. Especially at the capital. I love the drive down. I love the gradual increase in speed limits.

Being there is intoxicating. It makes this up north girl feel like she the cool city girl she has always longed to be. I love the hustle bustle, I love the big buildings. Jess took me to an awesome little healthy fast food joint where they make you exotic noodles and bring them to your table. Then we did a little shopping and sadly I had to make the trek back home.

Driving past the Bascilica in Minneapolis, I really wanted to stop and just look around. But I just kept going. I made a promise to myself that the next time I am in the cities, I will spend time on experiences and NOT shopping. Then I stopped in Albertville at the Old Navy outlet. Damn my love of good deals (cheap foreign made clothes).

The drive home is SO depressing. The roads gradually get worse. Cell phone coverage disappears. And then there is the fight to stay awake.

I decided to drop in on Angi at work. Work was sucking for her, so I gave her my chocolate. Everyone deserves to be suprised at work. I also scored a pair of $90 boots for $9.99. Woohoo. Thank you will power and poverty that I waited:)
Julie @ 8:31 AM Permalink |

I haven't been inspired/interested enough to turn my computer on since Tuesday. I gave myself the permission to not check my email for the rest of break. But now I'm back on campus in the CS Lab and the computers are already on and everything, so it makes it very easy.
Julie @ 8:12 AM Permalink |

I was asked today how I was getting along. “I am so wonderful right now – it's SPRING BREAK. I’ve wasted more time in the last 3 days than I did all last week.” Thank you professors who didn’t make anything due a week from tomorrow.
Julie @ 7:56 PM Permalink |

Communion is such a climax for me. It’s completely sensuous in the ceremony, the words said, songs sung, actions done. I get so excited to eat the bread and drink the juice, my mouth salivates and my throat becomes dry. When I finally get to eat, it is so much more fulfilling than just plain chewing and swallowing. It is definitely soul food. And it continues when we sing beautiful songs. Ahh, the Spirit of God has a wonderful, fulfilling, peaceful, invigorating way on me.

We do it to remember. We do the action to make Jesus real, to make God real, to increase the bond between each other and God.

In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity;
In our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity,
In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

Our God comes, breathing wholeness for all whose lives are scattered. Loving God, breathe your Spirit into us and make us new.

Come, let us worship the God whose every breath is resurrection, new life, new hope!
Amen.
Julie @ 7:54 PM Permalink |

Julie G. and Laura and I are sitting around singing and playing guitar using our laptops for lyrics and tabs - digital music stands and books.

Poverty stole your golden shoes
It didn't steal your laughter
And heartache came to visit me
But I knew it wasn't ever after
We'll fight, not out of spite
For someone must stand up for what's right
'Cause where there's a man who has no voice
There ours shall go singing
...
And it's one more day up in the canyons
...
She parks her car outside of my house
Takes her clothes off
Says she’s close to understanding jesus
She knows she’s more than just a little misunderstood
She has trouble acting normal when she’s nervous

Julie @ 7:13 PM Permalink |