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Friday, March 11, 2011
New Plates and Springtime...
Hello again!
Apologies for being so woefully negligent in letting you know what I'm up to, I only just now discovered which libraries are open on what days and therefore where I can get internet access :)
I've been having a lot of fun here in Austin. Aside from the traffic mess from South by SouthWest, the music fest, right now downtown, this is a lovely and really fun city. My roommate, another VIDES who is originally from El Salvador (!), has been here since the fall so she already knows a lot about the city and how to get around, which has been wonderful. I felt at home right away and for the first time in...ever? I feel like I want to stick around for awhile...it's a good feeling. Actually, the sunshine isn't bothering me as much as I thought either ;) For the last month it's been about 70 degrees and sunny every day, which at first was weird and prompted the immediate abandonment of my wool sweater knitting, but there's a funny thing about sunshine: people stay outside and do stuff. Which is awesome. Also, the copious amount of hipsters and Latinos makes me feel right at home. I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop and the summer heat to drive me mad, but for the moment, I love this place very much.
Speaking of the weather, springtime is here in full force! I currently have dirt under my fingernails, and the sweet smell of ripe soil in my recent memory: I talked the sisters into planting a garden and bought seeds the same day. Every morning I come early to the convent to water the baby plants in their newspaper pots, mix up new potting soil, cultivate, prepare, plant, sing and bless the garden space. I have also started composting with the convent's food scraps; there was some resistance at first, but now that they trust I will follow through and no "friends" will visit our piles, they say things like "Everybody should do this!" Exciting compost story!: Yesterday one of the sisters was putting something in the trash and she saw a banana peel further down. What did she do? She exclaimed about its inappropriate presence and dug it out! And then she dug more food out! Go ahead, compost lovers: give a little shout! These sisters are compost converts!
In the spirit of enjoying Texas, I got Texas license plates. Not my choice but my tabs were expired and so I had to go through the whole ritual of getting my insurance switched over, my car inspected to make sure it's good enough for Texas, new tabs purchased, title surrendered, new plates handed over. Actually, they just grabbed the plates out of a box under the desk...I always wondered about that. Apparently they buy them in bulk and then the one you get is whatever they pull out of the box first.
I am really enjoying my work and the sisters and life...I went to Gratitude day last weekend (a celebration for the Provincial to say, you guessed it, thanks), and it was really fun to see all of the sisters from the western US gathered in one room, laughing at silly skits and songs, outrageous costumes and vibrant energy. Our community sang a song about shining like the sun and someone took my suggestion to do interpretive dance very seriously. So there was also dancing. To my surprise though, we were one of the tamest acts. The Province website has pics that are not to miss: http://suoprovince.weebly.com/
May God bless you and yours and happy Lent!
Mary
Apologies for being so woefully negligent in letting you know what I'm up to, I only just now discovered which libraries are open on what days and therefore where I can get internet access :)
I've been having a lot of fun here in Austin. Aside from the traffic mess from South by SouthWest, the music fest, right now downtown, this is a lovely and really fun city. My roommate, another VIDES who is originally from El Salvador (!), has been here since the fall so she already knows a lot about the city and how to get around, which has been wonderful. I felt at home right away and for the first time in...ever? I feel like I want to stick around for awhile...it's a good feeling. Actually, the sunshine isn't bothering me as much as I thought either ;) For the last month it's been about 70 degrees and sunny every day, which at first was weird and prompted the immediate abandonment of my wool sweater knitting, but there's a funny thing about sunshine: people stay outside and do stuff. Which is awesome. Also, the copious amount of hipsters and Latinos makes me feel right at home. I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop and the summer heat to drive me mad, but for the moment, I love this place very much.
Speaking of the weather, springtime is here in full force! I currently have dirt under my fingernails, and the sweet smell of ripe soil in my recent memory: I talked the sisters into planting a garden and bought seeds the same day. Every morning I come early to the convent to water the baby plants in their newspaper pots, mix up new potting soil, cultivate, prepare, plant, sing and bless the garden space. I have also started composting with the convent's food scraps; there was some resistance at first, but now that they trust I will follow through and no "friends" will visit our piles, they say things like "Everybody should do this!" Exciting compost story!: Yesterday one of the sisters was putting something in the trash and she saw a banana peel further down. What did she do? She exclaimed about its inappropriate presence and dug it out! And then she dug more food out! Go ahead, compost lovers: give a little shout! These sisters are compost converts!
In the spirit of enjoying Texas, I got Texas license plates. Not my choice but my tabs were expired and so I had to go through the whole ritual of getting my insurance switched over, my car inspected to make sure it's good enough for Texas, new tabs purchased, title surrendered, new plates handed over. Actually, they just grabbed the plates out of a box under the desk...I always wondered about that. Apparently they buy them in bulk and then the one you get is whatever they pull out of the box first.
I am really enjoying my work and the sisters and life...I went to Gratitude day last weekend (a celebration for the Provincial to say, you guessed it, thanks), and it was really fun to see all of the sisters from the western US gathered in one room, laughing at silly skits and songs, outrageous costumes and vibrant energy. Our community sang a song about shining like the sun and someone took my suggestion to do interpretive dance very seriously. So there was also dancing. To my surprise though, we were one of the tamest acts. The Province website has pics that are not to miss: http://suoprovince.weebly.com/
May God bless you and yours and happy Lent!
Mary
Thursday, February 24, 2011
VIDES VIDES VIDES
If you repeat things sometimes it sounds like you actually have more to say...
Well folks, I have been as busy as a little bee since I got to Austin but I am having SO much fun! If you want to see a little taste of what I've been up to, check out http://gravatar.com/videsusa. I've finally been putting those photoshop skills to good use! Thanks WSULA! Also, feel free to friend me on any of the sites you stumble across if you click the above link, because it makes me feel good and like all my hard work hasn't been in vain :P Also because VIDES is a fabulous organization.
Love!
Well folks, I have been as busy as a little bee since I got to Austin but I am having SO much fun! If you want to see a little taste of what I've been up to, check out http://gravatar.com/videsusa. I've finally been putting those photoshop skills to good use! Thanks WSULA! Also, feel free to friend me on any of the sites you stumble across if you click the above link, because it makes me feel good and like all my hard work hasn't been in vain :P Also because VIDES is a fabulous organization.
Love!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Austin, Here We Come!
Hey yo,
So on Monday I will be heading north. My "sister" has a doctor's appointment in Austin and she decided that she feels strong enough to stay up there afterwards so we will be making the one-way trip on Valentine's Day. Once there, I will be working more intensively with development issues for VIDES and helping out with the Oratory at the parish, among other things I'm sure.
Most of the sisters are heading out for a retreat for religious this afternoon, so I have some quiet time to myself which I plan to use for packing and sharing a few more stories of these delightful ladies with you all.
Last night there was a Spurs game on and, not being a big basketball fan, enthusiastic nuns aside, I decided to go see what was going down in the other room. One of the sisters and I had started this tradition of meeting up in the activity room after the "good-night" and watching a movie together while doing quaint domestic tasks like needle-work and mending. We watched "The Waltz King" about the Strauss family, a movie about Mary appearing in Syria, nice, wholesome gems. She always turns the volume waaay up and then asks "Is this good for you? I have a hearing aid so I am fine but if you need it louder you can turn it up." :) So last night I went in there and sure enough she was getting her stuff set up and she had the newspaper with her. She said we could watch a movie or there was something that she had seen in the paper, "a premiere" which we could watch too. We scanned the page for awhile until she found it again..."Ah, the 40 year old virgin, look, three stars!" "Look, rate at R" I yelled. "Huh?"
Fortunately she is sweet-natured and accommodating so when I pulled out another movie she was willing to acquiesce. ...And then I realized just how much swearing is in "Return to Me." Oh well, she liked the cute animals.
Yesterday at breakfast one of the sisters told us this story about when she had to sub in a classroom for another teacher. They were talking about Epiphany and how the three wise men came to see baby Jesus because he was going to be the king of the Jews, and how Herod stopped and questioned them on their way because, you see, he was also the king of the Jews and was nervous about there being another king. One of the kids interrupted and asked "What kind of Jews, apple jews or orange jews...?"
Well, that's all for now. It's been beautiful and lovely and I love the sisters so much but I feel ready to go. Another sister came up to me this morning while I was drying the dishes in the kitchen and singing "Remember When It Rained" at full volume and said "Don't make me cry. You are leaving us?" "Yes." "Why you want to leave us?" "It's time. I will miss you, I love you all so much, but we'll see each other again." "Okay." "Okay."
Hugs and love,
Mary
So on Monday I will be heading north. My "sister" has a doctor's appointment in Austin and she decided that she feels strong enough to stay up there afterwards so we will be making the one-way trip on Valentine's Day. Once there, I will be working more intensively with development issues for VIDES and helping out with the Oratory at the parish, among other things I'm sure.
Most of the sisters are heading out for a retreat for religious this afternoon, so I have some quiet time to myself which I plan to use for packing and sharing a few more stories of these delightful ladies with you all.
Last night there was a Spurs game on and, not being a big basketball fan, enthusiastic nuns aside, I decided to go see what was going down in the other room. One of the sisters and I had started this tradition of meeting up in the activity room after the "good-night" and watching a movie together while doing quaint domestic tasks like needle-work and mending. We watched "The Waltz King" about the Strauss family, a movie about Mary appearing in Syria, nice, wholesome gems. She always turns the volume waaay up and then asks "Is this good for you? I have a hearing aid so I am fine but if you need it louder you can turn it up." :) So last night I went in there and sure enough she was getting her stuff set up and she had the newspaper with her. She said we could watch a movie or there was something that she had seen in the paper, "a premiere" which we could watch too. We scanned the page for awhile until she found it again..."Ah, the 40 year old virgin, look, three stars!" "Look, rate at R" I yelled. "Huh?"
Fortunately she is sweet-natured and accommodating so when I pulled out another movie she was willing to acquiesce. ...And then I realized just how much swearing is in "Return to Me." Oh well, she liked the cute animals.
Yesterday at breakfast one of the sisters told us this story about when she had to sub in a classroom for another teacher. They were talking about Epiphany and how the three wise men came to see baby Jesus because he was going to be the king of the Jews, and how Herod stopped and questioned them on their way because, you see, he was also the king of the Jews and was nervous about there being another king. One of the kids interrupted and asked "What kind of Jews, apple jews or orange jews...?"
Well, that's all for now. It's been beautiful and lovely and I love the sisters so much but I feel ready to go. Another sister came up to me this morning while I was drying the dishes in the kitchen and singing "Remember When It Rained" at full volume and said "Don't make me cry. You are leaving us?" "Yes." "Why you want to leave us?" "It's time. I will miss you, I love you all so much, but we'll see each other again." "Okay." "Okay."
Hugs and love,
Mary
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