I have been finding work pretty hard for the last couple of weeks. Not feeling all that inspired by the job to be totally honest and finding it so hard to get anything done. Every task seem to be constantly interrupted by another task that ends up taking a lot longer than I thought for less results than I hoped. And everyone keeps cancelling or rescheduling their meetings or ringing me to complain about something.

However, today was a good day. I had two emails from volunteers filled with thanks and praise for the organisation and the support and care they get. That on top of a good meeting was just what I needed cause I also managed to finish some things that have been in the in-tray for weeks. Not to mention book myslef two speaking engagements that I have been trying to organise for awhile.

It feels good. Hopefully the start of some more good days….

Martin has been watching a fair bit of Olympics so I have found myself watching a little bit too. I think the diving and the gym is okay and some swimming but it is a cruel world really. In the diving the other day someone did a dive. It was really pretty incredible but apparently the diver was a bit close to the board and the commentators just kept going on and on about that. They then replayed it so we too could all see it was a bit close.

And to be honest I find it hard to care much. And I don’t think that most people care that much either. I was at a church the other day checking out a minister and he projected four names on to the screen and asked the congregation if anyone knew who they were. Some people made some guesses but nobody got it. It turns out that they were all people who won gold in the last Olympics. I guess at the time it is all big news but four years down the track most of us don’t know the names of most of the winners. Perhaps some of the really big names we’ll remember for a bit longer but I reckon once someone beats their records we stop caring about them either.

I have to say also that TV commercials are disgusting. I think because I don’t watch enough TV to become immune to it, it really affects me. The other day I saw one for some kind of TV or something like that. In the ad there was some guy going on about how he wants something and he wants it now and he’s going to get it now. He was saying it was a revolution. I don’t know maybe I have the wrong definition of revolution but in my definition revolutions change things, they’re counter cultural. This attitude doesn’t seem counter cultural to me. In fact it seems very much in keeping with today’s culture.

I think the title says it all. It is very beautiful (I can not really believe I am using that word to describe a computer). And this is my first post from it. Yay.

I was just reading an article about second hand clothing. The good news is that new clothing sales are down by 3.8% and the sales at Vinnies and the Salvos are up by 11% (especially good news for me as that it what pays my salary). The article attributes this to the rising cost of living as well as the green movement. Compactors gets a mention as well.

However, the article also mentions that the average Australian woman under 30 buys 102 new items of clothing a year. 102!!! I couldn’t believe it. I don’t think I would even get over 20 and I am not compacting or anything like that. I do very intentionally try not to buy much but I didn’t think I was trying that much harder than other people. Maybe I am.

Last night I had a dream about magnums. In it I ate two and I felt really sick. I am not sure why I dreamed this as I have not had a magnum in years. Anyway just now I ducked out to buy a coffee and I saw an ad for magnums and it made me feel really queasy. In fact I still feel a bit grose. I didn’t realise dreams could affect life so physically like that.

After all these years Tracy Chapman still makes me so happy.

I thought by the time I got to this post many others would have already written about the TEAR conference but it seems that no. So that’s good I will be being original. Although it also means that I can not just refer to other blogs for more info.

I enjoyed the conference very much. In my role as nominator I have been hearing sermons from different ministers around the place and some (one in particular) have been absoloutely appaling so I was feeling somewhat starved of inspiration. There was plenty at TEAR though. It was really good to connect with all the people who remind me that there is hope for a better world. People who show me (by the lives they live) that God is in the world and that he does hear the cries of the poor and will answer them.

One of my favourite times. I am nicely tired from a relatively productive week and I know I don’t have to return for three days. I also have a good weekend planned. Movie tonight and then Belvoir tomorrow night. Jess is coming down too and I always enjoy catching up with her. Martin has also promised ceviche for lunch on Sunday whish is yum, yum, yum. There will be plenty of sitting around and relaxing too as I don’t really have any housework to do. Last weekend Martin, Alexis and I scrubbed the house from top to bottom so this weekend doesn’t need much at all. Yay. I just have to catch the train home. Lucky I have a good book and who know there may be some friendly pilgrims to talk to.

On Tuesday and today I drove to work, that is I drove from Glebe (pretty close to the Sydney CBD) to Chatswood. I had two of the easiest trips I have ever had (got to work in less than 30 mins).

Yesterday in the morning I caught a bus from Newtown (after dropping the car at the mechanic) to Central and then a train from Central to Chatswood. No dramas there either, I even got a seat on the bus.

Then last night I caught a train from Chatswood at about 8.30pm back to Central. Again no dramas (in fact we didn’t have to wait for a train at all). There was also a really excited vibe around the place. Lots of pilgrims singing and smiling and saying hi. We chatted to a young guy who is in the seminary (training to be a priest). It was a very interesting conversation and he too is having a good time.

I guess there must be a number of Sydney-siders who are being put out by WYD (I keep hearing them winge on and on and on) but not me and I am travelling pretty near to the centre. In fact my travel has been advataged by the whole event. So there is another point of view.

Ryan and Tom and Andrew have all already written about this film so perhaps it is getting a bit repititive but I also absolutley loved it. Lately (as in the last two years) I have found it hard to find films I like. I am not that into violent, suspense or horror films. I think most romantic comedies are of the devil and I don’t really cope with anything too real life and intense. I think I overdid that and have now decided I don’t necessarily need to go to the extremes of my emotions everytime I want some entertainment. As you are realising it does not leave much. Happy Go Lucky however was perfect. It was funny (I actually laughed out loud), moving and real. Not a lot happened but it wasn’t boring. Poppy, the main character was just that most kind, gentle and thoughtful person and the other charcters were also pretty well thought out. It was not cliche or soppy but had a nice ending and you left feeling better about the world and humanity. I danced some of the way home. It was also really fun to see it with Tom, Ryan and Martin, all people I love a lot.