I'm happy the weather has been so wonderful the last few days. These are the days that are too few in other states, but plentiful in Colorado. I say that and since I've been writing this entry the skies have opened up, but hey, moisture is moisture.

Lots of news this week, most of it other people's. More information is over at their individual websites: (Kess,BaTRT;aDIR;WscW) so I'll just say I'm excited (and nervous) for the whole crew. Lots of courageous folks making a place in there homes and hearts for the world's children. My biggest beef is that I can't take off from work for a 6 month tour to see everyone.

We've been busy plotting our take over of the suburbs (house-buying) and excavating the strata of memory (digging out the back room). The house-hunting has become a bit depressing. Apparently we are not millionaires. (I know that surprises you) Nor are we upper middle class bourgeoisie. We are kind of like a walmart knock version of bourgeoisie. I realized this when most of the houses in our budget come with warnings like sold as is, 4th foundation wall schedule to be poured, or owner deems property livable. Yikes. We'll keep looking, but I'm now trying to move my mind set from Plan A - fine some place and make it a restful retreat; to Plan B - upgrade our current apt to something more cost effective and less crappy. I guess I always suspected this, but now that we've got more concrete numbers, this is looking more and more likely.

Things I've enjoyed finding today while cleaning:

• sticky note with guru smilie face on it
  
• notes from old room mates and friends
  
• love letters from our godson before he could spell his name
  
• a b/w yahoo maps printed out of pgh from an ink jet, circa 1997
  
• layout of our old apt on graph paper
  
• my acceptance letter to college
  
• a note labeled '6:30am' from my mom-in-law. No idea when it was written. Content is no use. Starts out:"well, time to go to school..."
  

At the end of the week we hope to see DasBirch's. At the beginning of the week I get to see this guy, apparently because I designed something for applebee's. Who knew graphic design could be so perilous. I hope I at least get lunch out of it.

We lost a fish. Yesterday, Bedlam gave up after a few days gasping for breath. He was one of my better fishes. That sounds weird but I was rather fond of him. I now firmly believe that fish do not last long up here, either because of the hard water or the altitude. So I try not to get too attached. I did get a new fish today (lilium) but no pictures until I get him into the tank. Which happens after we finish the back room.

I've also been thinking a bit about church. I was driving to work as I do and passed the little lutheran church. I notice them because they have been changing the color of their cross decor with the appropriate season. For instance, it was red this week because it was Pentecost. It made me ask myself why is it important to me that the colors change. Now I'm a fan of CS Lewis, who allows for creative imagination to walk hand in hand with the message of the gospel. I'm sure he has a very good argument for why changing the color of the seasons are important. But I don't. It's just what I know. It is Proper. I think I better think it out again. /oliver My best guess is that the wrong reasons for going to church have taken dominance since we came out here. This time away has given me an opportunity to observe and clarify. So I think it's back to the basics.

On a last note: I got my phone working.

From Memorial Day ...