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What a pleasant bit of morning internet interactions! When i was at the She's Geeky conference, i received an invitation to the "official" Diaspora seed. Diaspora is a privacy aware social networking platform that is being developed to challenge Facebook. The neat thing about being an early adopter in this bit of stuff is that i met one of the developers and she met me, and so when i complain or critique, i she listens. I'm getting more involved with bug filing and interaction design.

It's a type of professional development i welcome.

On the other hand, it seems everyone is playing with Diaspora this morning -- and i need to get to a committee meeting!

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Rango was delightful, surreal, and existential. There were some aspects of the film i pick at as if they were scabs: there's part of the characterization of the leading lady that bugs me as problematic on many levels, and the stereotypical native American portrayal was -- i think -- intentionally stereotypical with a nod to the inappropriateness. Once i get past these issues (which are such common issues that i'm only just learning to see them as issues), i loved the film. I just read about Carlos Castaneda at Wikipedia: i read The Teachings of Don Juan in high school and only have the fuzziest memory of the book. I joked last night that Castaneda should have a writing credit on Rango, but the mysticism in Rango does not seem to be the mysticism of Castaneda. Instead the questions of perception and reality are quite concrete: who are you?

* http://www.diamondbackonline.com/diversions/existentialism-for-kids-1.2044243
* http://io9.com/#!5765694/captain-jack-sparrow-becomes-a-lizard-with-an-existential-crisis-in-rango

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Osem Mini Crouton soup "mandel" rings are bloody addictive. Salty, savory, crunchy, kosher for Passover and gluten free. I wasn't entirely sure what the use case for them was: were they to soak in soup before eating? Were they like pasta? So i nibbled on a few, which became half the bag. I have a suspicion that i'm not the first to nibble through that many.

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Yesterday flew by. In the morning were Library committee, greeting for meeting, and chatting with more than a few folks after meeting. I gave ministry in Worship, the first time in absolute ages. I admit it was movie inspired, and i was very wary being that person speaking about "I just watched" or "just read" or "heard on NPR this morning." I had been thinking about the movie Rango, ( microspoiler )

This presentation of the community shattering event that propels the protagonist on an adventure of self discovery was such a LITERAL presentation of a narrative trope that common to so many heros' narratives: it made me reflect on the events that really propel us as complicated over-connected individuals on our own journeys of self discovery. My ministry began with the observation of the narrative element, that so many stories have the clear moment when the protagonist is set on the journey of answering the question, "Who am i and why am i here?" I reflected on how narratives simplify and make obvious the connections, present a linear arc to engage us and help us understand. In contrast, i asserted, our lives as lived are complicated and far less clear, I believe that the moments that can propel us on self discovery and transformation are happening around us all the time, that part of our waiting and listening in worship is so that we can discern these opportunities for transformation.

For me, the opportunity i became aware of was the clarity of a message during worship that wasn't just for me. I know i gave ministry last fall sometime, when i was so overwhelmed both by the dysfunction of work and my body, and my memory is simply of being exposed with no memory of what i spoke then. This time i wasn't emotionally caught up, whether in the message or in struggling to discern if i was to speak. I feel my voice came from me free and audible and clear, and, from what others said later, the message spoke to others' condition.

I didn't tie the message to Spring, but perhaps it's the season that helped inspire such passion in me to exhort others to be open to constant transformation and change. I didn't reference the literal paradigm shattering of in the movie, but i felt caught up in the constant and consistent opportunity that there is opportunity for change and transformation all the time.

As i type that, i think back to several years in college when i kept drawing the rune Isa, ice. My interpretation then was essentially to wait, not change. In retrospect, though, i think this illustrates the truth that transformation and change do not always come with dramatic "shattering" moments, but are sometimes indistinguishable from staying frozen still. Undergraduate me wanted a dramatic shattering and change, but felt advised in reflections that it wasn't the time for it. Retrospectively, though, i was speeding through change and growth. I didn't have any special landmarks or milestones, no dramatic incidents to point to in my personal narrative, but i was actually healing and becoming engaged with the world.

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Well, i'll stop there. Home from Meeting, i crocheted and ate a light lunch. Then Christine and i planned grocery shopping, and i left for the hunt through Costco, the hardware store, and the grocery. Christine stayed home to freshen the apartment: she had a client/friend coming over at 4 pm for tutoring on Flash and then staying for dinner. The discovery of the afternoon: I had no idea there were so many options in toilet seats! I found discerning quality differences between the $10 to $30 range to be challenging. I think the distinguishing feature was the construction of the hinge. I looked for tops Christine might wear in the hospital and DVDs she might watch, but nothing seemed more appropriate than what we already have at hand. I did buy bundles of daffodils for the dining area.

Too much to carry in with Christine's tutoring going on, i simply brought in the cold things and what else one trundle could manage. Then, as Christine fixed dinner, i swept in and removed the red and white tablecloth and decorations that have been our cheer in January and February, and laid out the spring green tablecloth and the striped napkins that we use through the spring and summer, and arranged the daffodils. Hurrah for spring!

We had a simple but pleasant meal with JAF and a pleasant long conversation.

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As usual, i don't feel ready for the week. I think i have a conference call shortly. Better get going.