Musings on an Assortment of Subjects

Wow, it has been a long time since I posted anything. The summer charges ahead, filled with lots of good things including bike rides, cookouts, game nights, hymn sings, bowling, and even a bit of working. I am getting to the point where going to work all day every day is starting to make me a little antsy, so I’m glad that I have various changes of pace to look forward to: a camping trip next weekend, a family reunion at the beginning of August, various extended family visiting during the next month, and eventually heading to Seattle. (Of course, Seattle will not mean the end of full work days, but at least I will have a new place to explore, which will hopefully stave off the boredom of routine for some time.)

In an attempt to jump-start my re-entry into blogdom, I thought I’d post a list of “goals for the next year or so” that I jotted down on May 17 while I was in Europe:

• become more fluent in German, French
• learn to cook well
• read classic literature
• practice hammered dulcimer, piano
• regular exercise: running, biking, and/or working out
• keep in touch with friends
• research genealogy
• learn to juggle
• learn to play chess*
• stop biting my nails and start brushing my teeth**
• learn Python, Ruby***
• become more familiar with music and art history****
• read the Bible more and be prepared to explain Christianity to someone who’s interested
• go camping and hiking a lot
• attend workshops on sustainable building
• tithe regularly
• get contacts
• record my grandparents’ stories
• design a lifestyle that gives me freedom to travel while also treating the Earth with care
• get to know the lore and culture of Washington / Seattle

There’s obviously a fair range in how much time and effort these will take. And I notice that it is predominantly a list of new things to learn…and not so much about big life-determining decisions. But I always find it helpful to review which of these little things I want to be working toward, as well. After all, most of them are things that will make life more enjoyable no matter what I end up doing. (On the other hand, maybe I just like making lists…)

*Yeah, I know, everyone’s always amazed when they find out I never played chess. I mean, I know how the pieces move, but that’s about it.
**Yeah, I know that’s gross. I did think twice before posting this one on my blog. But there it is.
***These are programming languages, for the less geeky technology-challenged among you.
****Humanities, you have failed me. (Okay, not literally.)

The fact that I name each one of these ‘on ______’ tends to encourage thoughtful introspection, which in turn makes me never get around to blogging. But it’s about time that I make sure you all know about my summer.

I’ve been working since I got back from Europe a couple weeks ago, and am thoroughly enjoying both of my two jobs. I’m continuing about two-thirds time at Mennonite.net where I have been working for a few years; there I work on software development for the Caravel content management system, an open-source project. My second job is for The Red Post, a digital signage company recently started by Eric Kanagy. There I make Linux do its thing on the computerized screens we sell, and I’ll also be helping get a web-based application for managing said screens off the ground. I’ve been reminded of how much I like programming when it’s a project that involves experimentation to find the best (most efficient, elegant, and user-friendly) way of doing things. Of course, when your boss buys a MacBook Pro for you to use for the summer, it doesn’t hurt. (!)

I didn’t show up for the summer to work though. There are a great many awesome people in Goshen for this summer, and I’ve also been enjoying lazy evenings playing cards or just sitting and chatting. Hopefully I will get in some camping and/or biking trips as well. Come September I’m (now for sure–I have the plane ticket) heading to Seattle to begin a year-long position with ONE/Northwest through Mennonite Voluntary Service. (Excitement! But, it does provide an extra incentive to get the most out of Goshen this summer.)

This past weekend was full of excitement. Aside from the requisite playing with the Macbook (and forcing myself to learn to type Dvorak), two of my best friends from high school got married yesterday (shout out to Becca and Aaron!). I was one of the groomsmen, and it was a really wonderful service with both happy and poignant moments–more traditional than mine* will be, but it suited them well. There is one element that I highly recommend to anybody: the Chief makes a particularly good spot for the wedding party to kill time in between leaving the ceremony and arriving at the reception. Then today was spent helping Uncle Rich and Aunt Judy move into their new house on the millrace. (It’s the one with the gazebo on the water!)

*hypothetical at this point, I hope you realize