New jobie

Hi all. I'm officially applying the defibrillator on this blog. Before now, I was broken on whether or not to blog. I believe in blogs that are useful and timely to read. I do not believe in reading/writing blogs when they fail to serve a purpose that is relevant to me. (Sounds egocentric.) But seriously, when I thought, "Hey, I should blog" what would really happen would be me thinking about what to blog about, then realizing that my life does not have an x factor that would warrant blogging about, then wallowing in self-pity for leading an average lifestyle.

Well, that has changed in the past week. Monday was my first day working at the City Rescue Mission in downtown Oklahoma City. I'd love to tell you what my job title is, but the honest truth is that I don't even know what it is. My supervisors do not know what it is, either. What I can tell you with certainty is that I will be working with a federally-funded grant called Access to Recovery (ATR). The City Rescue Mission (or CRM) has never before received any sort of state or federal money before now. I will be overseeing the execution of the grant, and interview literally every client that walks though the doors at CRM and determine if they qualify for federal vouchers. CRM will qualify for these vouchers too, based on the services that they offer the clients. The hope is that my position will be funded by the billing that we turn in to the ATR offices for the services that the Mission offers.

With the new job, I will be talking to lots of homeless, marginalized, addicts, and others. I figure I should take a page from Josh's fun in the ER and keep my blog up to date with stories from work.

What's crapnin'

Life has been busy. But what's new? Who isn't busy? No excuses.

I'm finishing my last semester (kinda) of my BS degree. That would be Bachelor of Science, not the other one. I'm graduating only kinda because I will "walk" still needing two classes before I am awarded an actual degree. I'm short my science credit and a general education business class credit. It's no problem, I'll be able to take these two classes in the fall of 2009 and get the degree in the bag. I've been thinking a lot more about NTS and their in-service program. I think I may take a few classes and try it out... make sure it is something that I'd like to do before some other greater action is taken.

I'm coming close to that magical time that I am lame-ducked in my position with SGA. Elections for the year of 09/10 happen the first week of March. NSLC is here on campus the first week of April, too. I'm excited for it, despite not getting to travel to another school. I've had my time at Olivet, and my time at Point Loma twice, so I guess it is only fair that the group gets to come to us once.

Before you ask, no, I haven't found a job yet. I'm pretty sure that as soon as I graduate I will just be an indentured servant to Marty and his garden. However, I have foiled an eveil plan set in place by Marty and Robyn to keep Cher and I here in OKC. They keep lending us appliances and services! They lend these to us so often that I believe that we have become co-dependant on them. I can just imagine this conversation:

Me: "Hey Cher, let's move to Kansas City."
Cheryl: "Okay. But what are we going to use to keep our food cool? And how are we going to keep our clothes clean? And what if I have the car, but you need to use a car?"
Me: "Crap."

See? Before we can move anywhere, we need to either buy a fridge, or get some money for a fridge, find a good place to do laundry, and move someplace where I can bum cars from people. Plus, this summer, I have a feeling that Cheryl and I are going to become dependant on the garden that is going to flourish in the backyard of M2R2 Properties LLC. See? Our hands are tied!

In other news, we are going through Financial Peace right now, too. Dave Ramsey is smart. He is smart because he is now a multi-millionaire telling people what common-sense decisions to make. We are working our way through the baby steps, and doing pretty well at it. We definitely are not as bad off as others in the class/on the videos in the way of debt and other bills. Of course, I am not saying that in a way that is "above" them, just in a way that is hopeful for our financial situation.

Lastly, I am excited that Andy and Cesiley are moving in exactly one block away from us! That means the Whitesides, Zochs, Morschs, Bousemans, and Michelsons are all within three blocks from us! It's like the dorm, but better.

If you want to keep up with me in 140 characters or less, follow me here: http://www.twitter.com/svandervort

woopsie

*blows settled dust off of the blog*

Another video

Okay, okay, I hear you. All I do is post videos now. Well take what you can get and watch this:




Obama '08 - Vote For Hope from MC Yogi on Vimeo.

Good video

Excuse the little bit of colorful language in the video, but it is good:

I'm worn out

Wow, a month recess. Sorry 'bout that, didn't mean to leave my loyal followers out to dry.

So since I blogged last, none of the 'beginning of the year' stuff had happened. Well, just wanted to let you know that it has since happened. There, don't you feel like you were actually there? Thought so.

I'd much rather talk about other things that are happening, not necessarily having to do with just me. I do feel like I should give you an update on my previous iPhone envy post...it is no longer envy, it is a reality, in my pocket right now. Yeah, sugar momma Cheryl and I went out and got iPhone'd. Folks, these things are great. Right now, I use email more than anything. My gmail inbox has gone from 20 emails each time I check it on a computer during the day to not even needing to get on a computer to check it. Right now my inbox has a whopping THREE emails in it. Glorious. One thing I do need to get up and running is my schedule. I am hesitating using the phone as my COMPLETE calendar, since I would like to keep my planner still. But I am anticipating working in the Calendar on the iPhone to my habits.

The OKC 1st college group is now meeting over at the house on Wednesday nights. The first night of them coming over was last night, and we had a good time. There was pizza and drinks, and we got to talk with Brandon, the new college pastor. I enjoyed myself, and am looking forward to next week.

Okay, here's what you really came here to read:
This week, I've been so sick of this Country First theme that the GOP has been harping. Unfortunately, the theme is no stranger to the Church. A readerboard down the road from school states the following: "Love God, Love America, Vote the Bible." Okay, if I have learned anything in my theology classes over four years, it's this: you will be hard-pressed to find any universal truths in the Bible (aside from the resurrection of Jesus, of course.) What then is this sign telling me to do? Vote "Bible" under the write-in candidate line for President? Truth: Jesus does not like America any more than any other country in the world. Please don't attach your patriotism to Jesus' holiness... they do not belong hand-in-hand.

Folks, one of the first things I liked about Senator Obama is that he is a Christian (but also, just a person) with his head on straight! Thankfully, the American propaganda machine hasn't been able to get to him, unlike Palin. Now, I'm sure there is pandering by the candidates on both sides going on, and I'm not dumb enough to think that this is a black and white issue. But what I don't understand is this: why is the craze over Palin stil there after she called the war in Iraq "God's task?" It all comes back to the point I try to tell people all the time: Christians need to re-focus their "values" by which they vote by. Abortion is almost certainly at the top of this list. Whenever I am talking to someone who is a self-described "member of the religious right" I can always count on abortion coming to the conversation. Please, folks, can we talk about abortion, plus other issues like global warming, genocide around the world, and global poverty as well? It is hard to find a "member of the religious right" who is quick to mention any of those issues.

Anyways, excuse me for seeming high and mighty, but how does a person not laugh when reading (or listening) the following?

In the address at the Assembly of God Church here, Ms. Palin’s ease in talking about the intersection of faith and public life was clear. Among other things, she encouraged the group of young church leaders to pray that “God’s will” be done in bringing about the construction of a big pipeline in the state, and suggested her work as governor would be hampered “if the people of Alaska’s heart isn’t right with God.”

She also told the group that her eldest child, Track, would soon be deployed by the Army to Iraq, and that they should pray “that our national leaders are sending them out on a task that is from God, that’s what we have to make sure we are praying for, that there is a plan, and that plan is God’s plan.” [1]

I am befuddled that someone claiming that the war in Iraq is in "God's will" and that constructing a pipeline to haul a chemical that is killing our planet faster than we think is also in "God's will." Now please do not get me wrong, I have absolutely nothing against following the will of God. In fact, I happen to think that following what is best for you and the people around you in the community probably isn't against the will of God for your life. But doesn't this language sound familiar to anyone? Think back about eight years ago... any familiar bells ringing? Now please look at our current situation.

Why do we want to do this to ourselves again?

We already shot ourselves in one foot... please America... don't shoot the other one too.

P.S. With my fun-money I have for the month, I bought this book. Haven't started it yet, but i can't wait to!

UPDATE: Looks like Matt Damon says it better than I can:

Last day of structure

So as I pull into the last 30 minutes of 8am-5pm work that I will be doing in at least eight months, I am finally getting really excited to start crazy hours at school. Probably one factor that is influencing my happiness is that I found out that I only have one MWF class at 11am. Helloooo sleep. Plus that is extra time to spend in the SGA office on Friday's before the meetings.

Overall this summer, I would like to think that Cheryl and I did an alright job of keeping up with our friends considering how much we were out of town. I'm glad that we didn't fall off the face of the earth to anyone. (Well, hopefully we didn't.)

Also, I am feeling much more PLANNED today, as I am toting around my new PLANNER from b&n. Feeling much better. Thanks for your concern.

Olympic opening ceremony tonight! I am dressing in a Speedo in support of male swimmers.