Thoughts From The Duck

So, every couple of months, a listicle from varying authors appears on my Facebook news feed. Most recently it appeared as this one . Many times this listicle speaks from the perspective as someone who is ordained/clergy. I have worked in churches or parachurch organizations for the past 16 years, and I am not clergy. There is a lot of crossover, but there are also differences as well. I thought about it, and I wrote my own listicle.  (Fun Fact: Spell Check recognizes listicle as a real word.)  1. Yes, this is my real job, and no, I am not called to be a pastor.  There are many folks who work in youth ministry as lay staff, who go on to seminary to become pastors. There are also many of us who are called to being a lay minister. I am not called to ordained ministry. I do see my position as a Youth Minister as a calling. I went to seminary with no intention of ever being a pastor.   2. The church is changing.  Just like every field, the church has chan...

So, Julie and I had a brief conversation about what is in my "go to" bag.  Well, here it is!  Sometimes I feel like it's excessive.  Then again, rarely have I found myself in a situation when I didn't have what I needed. So the Kermit bag (and some accompanying things) comes with me when I travel or when I know I am going to present somewhere.  I've got Lightning cords, 30 pin cords, mini-USB cords, a plug, a mini jack to stereo jack adapter, headphones, extra speakers, audio cords of varying types, headphones (apparently 2 sets), and two styli. This is the Kermit bag. I may go a little overboard on the audio cords, but then again, sometimes overboard can be helpful. I've been able to plug my computer into flat-screen tvs with an HDMI cable (left).  The one in the middle is a mini jack to RCA cables.  This is the cord that plugs into sound systems (PA or theatre). The one on the right is a standard mini jack audio cable.   A close up of...

So, I'm going through some serious transition times.  Yes, it hasn't and won't be easy. I am thankful that I have awesome friends who are super supportive.  And I am going to need some support along the way.  I want to get back into running.  I just did the Color Run .  (I highly suggest that you do this sometime in your life.)  My friend Laura Kay did this with me, and we did it in 53 minutes, which is a really good time for me.  I just figured out the start to a book that a professor suggested I write.  I want to get back to writing.   So, what am I asking for?  I'm asking for cheerleaders once again.  It doesn't matter where you live.  I just need folks to cheer me on and keep me on track.  I need to remember that I have support from all over the world.   So here's the job description...Weeks begin November 4.  The last week begins December 30.  So, friends, pick a week, and let's do this.   ...

So this spring, I attempted to set myself up for success.  I realized what I was missing here out in the woods was a community of folks to cheer me on.  So I asked friends to sign up for a week to be my check in person.  Their job was to make sure that I was working out and eating.  This was a humbling experience as many folks came forward to take the job for a week at a time.  The cheerleader part of this plan worked splendidly.  I did not. A few weeks in, I caught a cold and/or had some serious allergies, so that put me out for over a week.  Around the same time, the crazy pace of camp came back, which made running more of a challenge.  The nail in the coffin was some rain.  I run on trails, by myself, and I slip when there is no mud.  I didn't want to hurt myself, and have to get myself home. So, what did I learn this time around? 1. I have pretty awesome friends who send me food (literally) and play lists, and support me when I n...

Spring is springing here at camp!  It's beautiful.  Everything is becoming green again.  It's been raining a lot, which has been desperately needed. Apparently, this spring, I am obsessed with birds hatching.  I have watched the Decorah Eagle Cam at least once a day, to see how the eaglets are doing. BUT, close to home, there is goose nest down at the lake.  Mom and Dad are both at the nest.  At last check there were three eggs in the nest.  (My estimation: The eggs should hatch at the end of April.)  It's super stressful to be watching this whole process.  A couple nights ago, around 10 pm, I was walking Jack before bed, and I heard the geese honking up a storm.  I got super worried.  I tried to get Jack to bark, but he wouldn't cooperate. I wish I could put a webcam up similar to the Eagle cam.  I also learned that geese lose their flight feathers when they nest, so they can't escape a predator.  I hav...

So here's the job description for the week for my cheerleaders.  I still need a couple more. Job Title: Anita’s Cheerleader Classification: Seasonal Purpose: To make sure that Anita trains between now and Memorial Day, 2011 Essential Job Functions: 1. Be aware of Anita’s goals and keep her accountable to her training goals for the week. 2. From afar (or a-close, depending on where you live), cheer for her in whatever way you know how (e.g.:Facebook messages, e-mails, postcards, etc.) 3. Suggest a playlist for the week for her to listen to while she runs. Qualifications: 1. The ability to use the phone, computer, pen and paper 2. The ability to encourage Compensation Anita will equally cheer you on for whatever is going on that week. Postcards. Definitely postcards.

This past weekend, I was talking to my friend Lauren and LK. I was telling stories about living in the woods. Lauren suggested that I blog some of the funny/interesting things that happen to me while living in the woods. It's quite different living out here. For example: When I was in the city this past weekend, the first thing I heard when I got out of the car was police sirens. That scared me, as it's been weeks since I've heard sirens. With that being said, here's a story from a couple weeks ago: Jack and I set out on our morning walk. Soon, we heard this shriek, and Jack let out this echoing bark. I turned to look in the field, and there were two tom turkeys fighting for dominance. Around the toms were a circle of hens, watching the fight. It was turkey fight club. The fighting stopped, and the toms and hens looked at Jack for a second, and (in my head) said meh, and resumed fighting/watching. Jack kept sniffing in their general direction, and after de...

So, I realized that it's been 9 months since I last updated my blog. Life is much different than it was 9 months ago, in a very good way. I decided that one of my goals for 2011 was going to be running 4 5K races, a pretty attainable goal. I signed up for one for March 2011. I would like to run another one in May, October and December. With that being said..... My training for my first race has been really bad. It hasn't been consistent. I haven't fallen into a good pattern. Over this weekend, I've been thinking about what set me up for success last year, and what I can repeat for this year. This year, geographically, I'm isolated, and the closest training groups that I can find are an hour away. Last year, I had cheerleaders. I had a training group who kept tabs on me over the course of a week. I won't be able to join a training group, but I can still have cheerleaders. I know that many of you have running goals that you have set up for yourself...

So I've been debating on how to tell the race day story.  So I decided to tell the story in context of some of my playlist.  Because, it's all about the playlist.  Pre-story: Tuesday before the race, I was in a car accident.  Someone got their pedals confused, and slammed into the side of my car.  My back was not happy for a few days, so I didn't train at all last week.  The week I cut my hand, I didn't train at all, because I didn't want to screw up the stitches.   Race Day: At 4:30 am, I woke up with extreme race anxiety, to the point where I wanted to pack up and go home.  Dana had a moment where she had to convince me to stay.  So I ate some breakfast, we packed up, and got there early.  We had our moment with the paparazzi (otherwise known as Dana's parents).  We got to the corral and then tried to stay warm. While standing there I received many compliments on the shirt .  I love the shirt.  My apologies to Charm...

Laura said these words to me after my left hand was stitched up after I sliced it with a box cutter. I have 7 stitches on the back of my left hand.  I will spare the gory details, but I will say this.....Safety First using box cutters and trying to open Lenten Banks. I cut myself on the top of the hand in the meaty part between my thumb and index finger.  I have been wearing this brace that the doctor gave me to immobilize my thumb, so I don't split the sutures.   So, I really can't use my left hand.  So this week, I have to be really careful on the whole running thing. I might try to bike this week at the gym....at least get my heart rate going...

So it's been a month since I last posted.  And so much has happened in that past month. So, running.  About that.  I took a break.  I needed to do that.  Allergies, some rain, and some slight ankle/knee pain necessitated a break. I registered for the Philadelphia Race for the Cure on May 9.  I'll be running with Dana....Well, she will run ahead of me because she is faster than me.  In fact, my race shirt is already in my t-shirt drawer, and my race number and race chip are attached to the back of my front door.  (Shameless Plug: I'm only $200 away from my fundraising goal!  Wanna donate?  Click here .)  I refuse to wear the shirt until the day after the race.  As my coach Juda said, (and taking a page from the movie PCU ) "Do not wear the shirt of the race that you are running in." Juda added "I will pretend that I don't know you."   I can't wear the shirt until after the race is over.  It's similar to my "I can't...

I didn't get to run in the race.   I got stuck in a traffic jam on the way to the race, and because I don't know that part of the city well, I didn't know what I could do to get out of the traffic jam.  The race had long started by the time I got to the starting line.  I cut through and went to the finish line to find the aforementioned coach Juda.  I hugged her, and the rest of the folks from the group that I could find, and then I went home.   All day today, I've been upset with myself.  I worked so hard, and missed the race because of a traffic jam.  I let myself down, and I feel like I let my friends down too.  All of you have been cheering me on, and I didn't run.  (I've had cheerleaders from many states and Germany and Korea!)  I realize that I'm not a failure, but I feel like I failed on this one.  I was reading some of the comments from you guys saying, "you will do this," yada yada yada, and, I didn't. However, if I d...

I just realized that it's been weeks since I posted anything!   Due to Snowmageddon II and III, I lost a week of February.  The sidewalk to the gym wasn't plowed, and I'm pretty sure it was closed for all of Snowmageddon.  I did some cross training, and I shoveled my car out twice, so I was being active, but not running.   It's getting warmer in Baltimore, so I don't have to bundle up to run, which has been wonderful.  There were some nights where I was wearing my mask that I bought for ice fishing.  For awhile, the wind was pretty bad.   I'm doing really well with the training group from Charm City Run .  Juda, the trainer, is a saint beyond all words. She is incredibly patient with me.  I am always the last one to finish, and she's always waiting for me in the parking lot, cheering me on.  I've never felt like a burden, even though I probably am.   Today, if my math is right, I did a mile at 18:35, which for me is a...

So, I had my first training group meetings this week.  I am by far the slowest and the least in shape person of the group.  I had a feeling that was going to be the case.  I don't like the attention that this fact creates.  Folks in the group keep thinking that I'm injured or something like that.  I finish last, and as I'm finishing, every person in the group asks me if I'm okay or cheers really loud for me.  I'm fine, I'm just slow!  I'm doing a little better on not pushing myself too hard. On a different note, I did 1.6 miles in 31:50 which for me is pretty awesome!

...with herself.  Patience with others?  I'm pretty patient with others.  With myself?  not so much. Shin Splints.  Shin Splints.  Shin Splints.  I hate them.  I loathe them. So, last night, I joined a training group at Charm City Run .  I'm excited about it.  I'm excited about not being in isolation when I'm running.  The trainer, Juda, has an extreme amount of faith in all of us.  She seems to think that all of us will finish in about 45 minutes.  The plan that she is putting us on is very similar to the plan that I was already on, which is nice.  It's good to know that I was and am on the right track. I've had marked improvement.  When I first started, I was doing 1.25ish miles in about 30ish minutes.  I'm up to 1.3ish in 30ish minutes.  That seems small, but hey, that's improvement.  I'll take improvement any day! I've been realizing something as I've been going through this whole proce...

So Running.  Yeah, about that. I'm still working on getting into a routine.  Last weekend was complete craziness (in a really good way), so I didn't get any treadmill time in.  This week, I pushed myself a smidge too hard and had some killer shin splints.  Also, I realize that I need to change my eating habits, which has been a lot of prep work.  The flip side is that I've had some good brain storming sessions while running, which is awesome!  When I've made it to the gym, I have done at least a mile, usually 1.25 miles. So this week, I'm working on continuing to change my eating habits, and learning how to stretch to keep the shin splints at bay. A 5K has been chosen....the Shamrock 5K in Baltimore in March!  I really hope that I haven't picked one that is happening too soon, but we shall see.  I think I can do it.

"When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead. True story."  Barney Stinson, How I Met Your Mother I have been saying for a couple years that I wanted to start running, and actually run a 5K.  Because of what has been going on, now seems like a good time to start training for it.  So, guess what...2010 is the year!  Training for a 5K doesn't allow me to keep some of the really bad habits I've picked up since arriving in Baltimore.  It gets me up and moving.  So, what does this mean for you dear reader...I need you to keep me honest.  I'm going to need words of support when I don't want to keep going.  Many of you are runners as well, and know more than I do, so I will need questions answered when they arise.  And in general, I need you to be awesome.  Because, well, you are.  Honestly, I need me to be awesome, too.   The last time I saw the inside of a gym was while I was still in Minnesota!  So, the plan I ...

Greetings Dear Reader! So, Baltimore has not been what I expected it to be (is it ever?).  What has surprised me is what I have learned through this whole experience. 1. I can actually cook, if it involves a crock pot.  I need to perfect chicken and dumplings (not Tara's recipe, even though THAT recipe is delicious).  This week, I've made chicken and dumplings, mac & cheese, and chili.   2. I really want to run a 5K.  As in really, really.  So, who's with me?  3. Jack misses dog parks.  There is one "legal" dog park in Baltimore County.  The "not legal" parks aren't fenced.  Blind Dog + No Fence = Bad Idea. 4. Postcard Day may in fact be the greatest day I've ever invented...and yes I have invented other days (cf. Kermie day).  5. I really am smart and talented and gifted.  I just may not believe that all the time.  6. FACT:  I have the greatest friends.  Period.  My friends may not be geog...

Yesterday, one of my heroes passed away. Mary Travers died at the age of 72, due to complications of chemotherapy when she had Leukemia. I grew up having the privilege of seeing Peter, Paul and Mary ever summer in concert at Wolf Trap, since I was 10 years old. The only summers we did not see them were summers they canceled, one summer I was at camp, and one summer my mom forgot to get tickets, and they were sold out by the time my mom tried to get them. This past summer, less than a month ago, I got to see Peter, Paul sans Mary. The concert was billed as “A Tribute to Mary Travers.” I was sitting in the second row. Peter and Paul waved and smiled at me. Both of them were crying through most of the concert, knowing that their friend was much sicker than they were letting on. Before the concert that night, there was the largest rainbow that I have ever seen. I kid you not, the rainbow went over the Filene center….The WHOLE thing. I still hold that the rainbow was Mary’s rainbow (and m...

Discussions of professionalism always happen when youth workers gather. It's an inevitability. As I was reading my blogs this morning, I came across a blog from Ian, a British youth minister. In a forum he was reading, someone posted the definition of profession. So good, I'm re-posting here. Looking at the 'roots' of such things ... from the Merriam-Webster on-line dictionary, we find: Main Entry: pro·fes·sion Pronunciation: \prə-ˈfe-shən\ Function: noun Etymology: Middle English professioun, from Anglo-French profession, from Late Latin & Latin; Late Latin profession-, professio, from Latin, public declaration, from profitēri Date: 13th century 1: the act of taking the vows of a religious community 2: an act of openly declaring or publicly claiming a belief, faith, or opinion : protestation 3: an avowed religious faith 4 a: a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation b: a principal calling, vocation, or employm...