chasing the sun

four things of which I never tire:
1. watching people on the “L”
2. rain
3. Tex-Mexican food
4. my iPod

four places I love to go:
1. the movies
2. London
3. Chipotle
4. South Africa

four countries I can’t wait to visit:
1. Albania
2. Zambia
3. Italy
4. New Zealand

four books I have read more than twice:
1. Blue Like Jazz
2. the Bible
3. Harry Potter
4. Pride and Prejudice

four things I kind of miss:
1. New Kids on the Block
2. cassette tapes
3. church choir
4. Apple Slice

four things I want to do before I die:
1. end poverty
2. get married
3. visit the Louvre
4. learn to scuba dive

four of my favorite foods:
1. kettle corn
2. guacamole
3. a medium-cooked steak
4. basmati rice (new favorite)

four songs I can always listen to:
1. seasons of love - the original cast of RENT
2. the scientist - coldplay
3. wonderwall - ryan adams version
4. worn me down - rachel yamagata

four things I could do without:
1. zoned parking
2. TV evangelists
3. beets
4. the blue-collar comedy tour

four things that scare me:
1. being in debt
2. my mother
3. politicians
4. my roommate’s cooking (I hope she doesn’t read this – good thing I have 2 roommates)

four things I do that are kind of nerdy:
1. love Star Wars
2. crossword puzzles
3. separate my M&M’s by color before I eat them (this may be more OCD than nerdy)
4. watch the history channel

I wore dangly earrings today and my shirt has some little iridescent sparklies on it. Though I work in an office where slacks and solid-colored sweaters are the norm, I decided that I am still young enough to show a little flair in my dress…a sparkle here, a little lace there…and not be inappropriate. Besides, it’s cloudy, gloomy weather outside and the sound my earrings make when I turn my head makes me giggle.

And I am falling in love with this blog again. I’ve been reading through some of my older posts. It’s like reading my journal from the past two years. I am always surprised at what I find there and to find that, in most cases, I am still asking the same questions. Though, I have to say, that I think I was smarter when I was in grad school. Now that I’ve graduated, my thoughts are whinier and less theological.

On a heavier note, the employees of the non profit of which I am a part (www.africarevolution.org) had a long ass meeting last night. We really got in each other’s faces about some things, which is good, but always hard. Thankfully, we are friends first. But I am in a quandary now, not about the non profit, but about what to do about the fact that we have no money and that it really is starting to seem like people just don’t care about AIDS, poverty or Africa. No, I take that back, not “people”…I should say “Christians.”

For many of you who will read this, you are the proverbial choir and are well educated about these issues. But Africa is so trendy now, you know? For all the Madonna’s, Oprah’s, and Brangelina’s out there, this is just another cause they can add to their lists of philanthropic good deeds that will secure their place in the Pop Culture History Books, but not much else. Still, I’m glad these movie and music and Microsoft stars are using their fame for good. At least they’re doing something.

Maybe it is that the problem is so big and impersonal that Christians can’t get their brains or pocket books around it. Maybe it is that Africa and South East Asia are so foreign and far removed from our day-to-day.

What discourages me most is that American Christians, by and large, don’t tend to see the relevance and importance of acting NOW, with vigor and passion, to respond to these problems. God has given us an amazing opportunity, particularly in Africa, to make a difference. We can’t ignore how small the world is getting and how many people need our help.

We can’t just stand around waiting.

Can we?

Someone at work told me that I looked like I was far away today. It could be the burgeoning head cold now hammering the inside of my forehead. It could also be the 5000mg of Vitamin C I took this morning. Though, I do admit to feeling a bit spacey. So, it’s probably better if I don’t talk too much about anything deep. Instead, I want to share my new coworkers with you because I think they are the most interesting group of people I’ve met in a while.

There are nine attorneys, the Rapid Response Team, a paralegal, another legal secretary, an intern and myself in this little department.

The big boss is a very confident and take-charge kind of guy. He is cordial, but not overly personal, which I think means he has good boundaries. He is quick to be appreciative and is not afraid to find ridiculous things ridiculous rather than waving the company flag at every opportunity. It is refreshing.

In the office next to his is the office charmer. He is energetic and inquisitive and has a good sense of humor. He gives me lots of work to do, mostly copying. He kills lots of trees. His office is plastered with photos of his family, and he often gives the impression of someone who tries too hard. Still, he did give me a cigar.

Staff Attorney #2 is the guy who does his work faithfully and follows the beat of his own drummer. He is very funny, but his humor is understated and dry, which I like very much. He is a genuinely kind, but realistic person. I like his office the most because it is the most cluttered and reminds me of the office of my favorite grad school professor.

Then there’s the actor/lawyer. Seriously, this guy was actually in a KFC commercial and he acts in community theater. You can tell he is an actor because his delivery is polished and his timing is virtually flawless. He’s very funny and playful, but I have the feeling he’s not someone I’d ever want to cross in a courtroom. He wears round glasses like Harry Potter, but I’m betting he had his first.

The stress case inhabits the next office down. He’s got two cases on their way to formal litigation and I hardly see or hear anything from him unless he needs help with a document or copies made. But he is very nice and sarcastic like the rest of them.

[That’s something about lawyers – they’re all such smart asses…I love it!]

The woman I want one of my friends to marry is one of two female attorneys in our department. She is a health nut and takes about 50 kinds of vitamins a day. She also drinks something called Green Meal for breakfast…it looks exactly like it sounds. She’s a Christian and beautiful and smart. I like her because she’s close to my age and we have a bit in common.

The other female attorney is a very deliberate person, I would say. She puts a great deal of time and thought into the things that she says and she asks lots of questions. She was one of the people who interviewed me for this job and we have since had fairly open and honest communication about how things are going. She is frank, without being a gossip and I need to learn to be more like that.

The youngest attorney is an extremely hard worker, which I think you have to be if you’re the youngest. He’s very nice and he eats a lot. He works out religiously, which requires a good amount of discipline. He has an adorable little family and absolutely no interest in politics, which is rare around here.

The newlywed intern comes in about two or three days a week. Since I started working here, he’s been relegated to working from one of the team rooms on the other end of the hall from us. He is also very pleasant and cute too. He and his wife are one of those Ken and Barbie couples, I think and he seems remarkably well adjusted for a 24-year old American male. Props to him for ironing his own damn shirts!

Our so-named Rapid Response Team (RRT) is a lot of fun. The three of them share a quadrangle of cubicles, affectionately dubbed “Quadistan.” Is this as hilarious to you as it is to me? They’ve gone so far as to elect officials in Quadistan and they have a national song, motto, and flag (which is an architectural drawing of their quad on a blue background). I can barely keep a straight face.

Their fearless leader is a true South side Chicagoan who I’m pretty sure thinks I am young and ridiculous. But he is still very pleasant and somewhat chatty with me. I really like him. Across the quad from him is the RRT attorney, who is really the catalyst behind much of what transpires in Quadistan. He has total ADHD and it makes me feel normal to talk to him. Behind them is the only female member of the RRT, who is awesome and originally from Boston. Her boyfriend works at Home Depot, which is also awesome (discounted Christmas Trees!!) and they live in the South Loop. Across from her in the quad is the paralegal, who is my reference for all things legal and confusing. She’s older and single, but has traveled the world and used to be an editor at Playboy magazine. I learn something crazy about her every day, which is so cool to say about someone you only work with.

Last, but not least is the legal secretary with whom I share a set of cubicles. It is a close working space, I admit, and I don’t always like having to listen to Days of Our Lives streaming on the internet, but she puts up with my playing and replaying of Coldplay and Mat Kearney, so I digress. She has been here twenty years, last month and for her anniversary, received a freakin’ awesome Coach bag. She has a Dachshund, which she calls “a sausage dog”, named Heidi who apparently would eat her own tail if you cut it off and put some gravy on it. I’ve got to see this dog!

Well, in a nutshell, these are the folks I work with every day. I like them so much more than I thought I would, to be honest. All my ill-conceived stereotypes of corporate America are shot to hell because of these fine people. I’m glad of that.

I really hope you stayed for this whole blog.

[i don't typically write stuff like this because i don't like to be dreamy too often and i'm uncomfortable with some of my own longings. But the future and some of these thoughts have been in my heart lately and so I wrote this...(can you tell that I'm listening to Parachutes today]


Will you write a song for me?
Will you let me rest my head on your shoulder when I’m not sleepy?
Will you be calm, collected, and creative when I’m a wreck?
Will you go two miles with me if I ask you to go one?
Will you put the dishes away if I wash them?
Will you be bold when I can’t be?
Will you support me without being patronizing?
Will you stay with me even after you’ve met my family?
Will you tell me when I’ve had too much to drink?
Will you let me do the crossword puzzles in your newspaper?
Will you seek to please God before you seek to please me?
Will you challenge me emotionally and intellectually?
Will you travel the world with me?
Will you ask me to dance when it’s just the two of us?
Will you not make promises you can’t keep?
Will you make me laugh?
Will you remember how I take my coffee?
Will you tell me what’s on your mind and in your heart?
Will you walk in the rain with me?
Will you ask if sometimes you don’t understand me?
Will you let me be ridiculous?
Will you love justice and mercy and try to practice both?
Will you let me need you subtly?