The Beauty and the Mess

New icon. One of several.

It is finished! The file room project, that is. I just printed off the last sheet of tags for the file drawers. My co-workers will not be told about this, lest I get slapped immediately with some other two-month-long project. I need a little time to enjoy the accomplishment. :) All this peon labor has not been in vain. Earlier I was thinking that I know that file room better than anyone else here, because I personally moved, identified, boxed, and labeled all 1000+ of the files. I have a right to decide how things should go in there, because I made it. Then it hit me, isn't that like God? He made me, and He's the one who should decide how my life goes, because He knows me. I love cheesy file-room sermon illustrations. :)

Today must be a day of revelations, because I had another one about friendship. I realized that for a close friendship to really work, both people should need each other. Not in a creepy codependent way- in a normal way, like wanting each other's company and valuing each other's opinion. When one friend never sees another and doesn't feel a loss, I'm not sure how real their friendship is. Maybe this is obvious to most people...it's new to me. I see that the friends I spend the most time with, now, make me feel good and valued. They make time for me and seek out my thoughts on various things. When I get upset, they comfort me and don't think I'm dumb. That's what friendship is. I'm blessed to have such people in my life, both in real life and here on LJ. Thanks. :)

Tuesday has become my favorite weekday, other than Friday. I can look forward to McAlisting with Ryan, and then Evan comes over and we all watch American Idol together. I usually do some scrapbooking, too, until Ryan leaves. I like my little routines. :) A routine becomes a rut only when you don't want to do it anymore.

I'm feeling good about my weight situation, for once. I recently weighed myself and have lost those stubborn few pounds. Though I have done my best to gain it back since, :P I think I'm okay since I'm exercising more. Debra has my beloved 29 Minute Workout tape, so I ordered another one for myself and did it last night, for the first time in about a year. It's a lot easier than before. I'm definitely more flexible now, and the formerly torturous ab section hardly fazed me. Yay for Pilates! (I highly recommend the 29 Minute Workout. If you can get past the hilarious 80s outfits and music, it's excellent and works all your muscle groups.)

Okay, now I have to do work.

Okay, apparently Lawson didn't think this was funny enough to share, but I do. And now you won't think it's funny and I'll look like a dork. :) The other day at lunch I was saying how Memphis was mentioned in the Bible. Lawson looked it up on his PalmPilot and we all had a good laugh. I know it's not the same Memphis, but it looks like God has it in for our fair city:

The officials of Zoan have become fools, the leaders of Memphis are deceived - Isaiah 19:13a

Announce this in Egypt, and proclaim it in Migdol; proclaim it also in Memphis and Tahpanhes: 'Take your positions and get ready, for the sword devours those around you.' - Jeremiah 46:14

Pack your belongings for exile, you who live in Egypt, for Memphis will be laid waste and lie in ruins without inhabitant. - Jeremiah 46:19

This is what the Sovereign LORD says: "I will destroy the idols and put an end to the images in Memphis. No longer will there be a prince in Egypt, and I will spread fear throughout the land." - Ezekiel 30:13

I will set fire to Egypt; Pelusium will writhe in agony. Thebes will be taken by storm; Memphis will be in constant distress. - Ezekiel 30:16

Even if they escape from destruction, Egypt will gather them, and Memphis will bury them. - Hosea 9:6a

Cheery, huh? I better pack my belongings for exile when I get home. LOL.

The other night I had an epiphany. I realized I love Memphis. Really. I've always thought of myself as a pilgrim from Miami waiting for the day when she can go home. But finally, this is my home. I've felt it increasingly this past year. I am glad to live here. I'm proud of my city. I love seeing the Clark Tower every morning when I drive to work. I love the barbecue. I love the "Memphis sound" in the local music. I love Shelby Farms. I love Dave Brown, our most popular weatherman, and his consistently incorrect forecasts. I love the Memphis Flyer. I love the way the city completely shuts down when one snowflake falls. I love the Peabody ducks. I don't love the southern accents, Loose Slot Louie, or the Byhalia Tire and Battery commercials, but that will never change. The important thing is that after fifteen years, Memphis, I love you. Mwah.