Baby it's cold outside

Yep, another day of single-digit highs and negative lows in Western PA. Right now it's 1 degree -- but it's sunny (well, sunny for Western PA)! Yay! Honestly, I really don't mind this weather. I still walked around town a bit for some errands yesterday, and since I have an awesome coat, I didn't really feel that cold. I'd take this weather over 40 and rainy any day -- yuck!

Obviously, it's been awhile since I've really sat down to blog about my life. That's because things have been really busy lately. As soon as the holidays were over, I became swamped at work with all the things I put off through Advent. I kept saying, "I'll do that after the holidays" to everything not pertaining to the holidays. Thus, I'm really busy right now. I also have a couple members in the hospital, eating up more time. Things at home have been neglected -- our Christmas decorations are mostly down, but they're not packed yet. The lights outside are still up, because I haven't had a chance to take them down until today. Needless to say, I'm not digging lights and extension cords out of the snow in 1 degree weather today.

Tomorrow is supposed to be warmer: high of 27! Tomorrow is also the day the Steelers and Ravens will face off in the AFC title game. I'm getting really excited about it. You know, after 7 years of living away from the Burgh, I had forgotten just how ridiculous the playoff hype is in town. We have a mayor taking the "Raven" out of his name, we have Friday pep rallies at the courthouse, there are always new Steeler songs being sung on the radio, and Thursday's newspaper had no less than half of its pages devoted to this Sunday's NFL games. It's so much fun! Away from Pittsburgh, I always feel like I'm too obsessed with the Steelers. Around here, I feel like a casual fan -- like I'm not enough of a fan.

We're also getting excited for a weekend away next weekend. We're taking a long weekend to go skiing in West Virginia, starting next Friday. It'll be the first Sunday off since the first Sunday in September, and I'm ready.

In March, we're heading to Atlanta for some nerdy engineering conference that Lisa's presenting at. Then, we're continuing on to Florida for a couple days as a winter break, taking in warm weather and Pirate spring training games while visiting with my grandmother. I don't see her that often since she lives south of Tampa, so it'll be nice to spend some time with her.

Everything else is going well here. We're still enjoying life, enjoying our jobs, enjoying our town and our church. Until next time, HERE WE GO STEELERS, HERE WE GO!!!

Happy BOD-day!!!

It's the start of 2009. The new United Methodist Book of Discipline is published (not to mention the Book of Resolutions as well). Our church's Cokesbury order came in this morning in the middle of our History of Methodism study. I could barely wait to finish class so I could open them and get my hands on the new, fresh BOD and BOR.

And yes, I started a History of Methodism study at my church, taught by me, the Metho-dork pastor. This is the first week -- 2 meeting times, Tuesday evenings and Wednesday mornings. This means I get to spend 2 hours a week talking about Wesley and Methodism -- to other living souls!

Yes, this is the day that the Lord has made. And I am rejoicing and being glad in it.

I love the smell of fresh polity in the morning.