September is on Fire!

Is it really September? I've been used to changing leaves, switching to long sleeves, tourism season turning to "newly wed and nearly dead" population.  But it is September here in Tucson, and I am enjoying it even though I don't feel typical "autumn signs."

I thought I would keep this simple tonight and just write a few things I'm into lately.

1.  Working! I completed my first full week with Arts for All (AmeriCorps) and started working for a woman 3.5 miles away from me, which makes for a nice bicycle ride on the weekends.  There is so much I'm learning at Arts for All, and today it was nice to dig my hands in the dirt again.  I haven't done that in awhile.  It is also an opportunity for me to discover more of Tucson through the ride- I found my bank, Sonic!, Eegees, Waffle House, and another grocery store.  My bike ride was hot, of course, but I love biking! I saw my first snake in the road today.  Normally I will be working this second job on Saturdays, but I trained and worked a few hours today.  This is good, because I want to be able to go to church.  I miss it so much. 

2.  Redecorating! The guys across the street gave me a television with an old VHS player inside of it, so I've been enjoying watching old movies.  Right now I'm watching Air Force One as I write.  What can I say? I'm a child of the 80's.  I like television.  And I did some redecorating.  I put my television in the corner, brought in my rug from the kitchen, moved my lazy boy and desk.  Mind you, this isn't just any lazy boy... it's a VIBRATING chair, and it's awesome. 

 

 

 

 

3.  I made my first roast chicken tonight! I found a roasting pan and decided to give it a try.  I don't know why I've never roasted before, but it is really easy and smelled the house up nicely.  Tonight I ate a leg with the roasted carrots and onion and then boiled some broccoli to go with it.  I roasted the chicken, though, with lemon, salt, pepper, thyme, carrots, and onions.  I think it turned out well.  I'll use the leftovers up, most likely, in salads this week. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.  Joan Rivers.  I never paid that much attention to her while she was alive, although I thought she was funny.  I have heard so many interesting things about her since her death, and it made me want to watch a documentary about her life.  Joan: A Piece of Work.  I did not know, for example, that Joan was a proud Jewish woman that offered a great deal of support to Israel.  I did not realize that her husband committed suicide and that no man ever called her beautiful.  She said they called her "great" and that she "looked nice" but never beautiful.  I also learned that she felt people almost expected certain jokes from her- about plastic surgery and age.  I learned that she wanted to be an actress and she had fragile feelings towards criticism of her acting.  She gave to others less fortunate, loved Thanksgiving and lived grandly.  She's the kind of lady I wish I had known. 


5.  My Utmost for His Highest.  I found a cheap copy at the thrift store, and along with Jesus Calling, I try to read it daily.  From today,

"It is not a blessing that you pass on, or an experience that you share with others, but a river that continually flows through you.  Stay at the Source, closely guarding your faith in Jesus Christ and your relationship to Him, and there will be a steady flow into the lives of others with no dryness or deadness whatsoever."