10 Things New With Me

This post is for those of you who I haven't talked to in a while. I feel bad that you're not up to date with my life.

1. I added a major. Despite what Dr. Huckins thinks, our journalism program lacks good writing courses ... so I added a writing double major. It's only 30 hours, so it's not much extra work. Because of this I changed my minor from writing to media comm.

2. I am obsessed with Christmas. I always loved Christmas - don't get me wrong - but usually I celebrate the holiday for only one month. Not this year. Lindsey and I have been playing Christmas music pretty much all semester. Our room is already decorated.

3. I lost weight. Thanks, Wii Fit!

4. I like a boy. And he acts like he likes me. He has a beard.

5. I stopped going to church - at school anyway. I get my fair share of preaching, worship and fellowship on campus, so what's the point of attending church I don't like anyway? I feel so rebellious; I'm not trying to be rebellious. I just like doing devotions at Starbucks more.

6. My mom had surgery on Thursday. BUT SHE'S OKAY! For those of you who knew this, thanks for praying!

7. The Sojourn's going to 8 pages! Right now it's 6 which means my section is only in the paper every other week. Now it'll be in every issue. And designer-willing, in color as well.

8. I've been really busy, which is why you haven't heard from me much. School + work + social life = BUSYNESS! But I love it. ;-)

9. I miss my sister so much! She's in Italy right now, studying abroad. I've had the urge to text her so many times, she has no idea.

10. Anyone can read the work I've done on the Sojourn at www.iwusojourn.com. (Ha, shameless plug.)

with love and squalor,

Lauren Deidra

Lauren+Reading too much=Random Blogs

A freelancer (as I am, www.meatloafdesign.com) is a lot like a Geisha. Now, I don't mean that freelancers entertain Japanese businessmen or give away their mizuage to the highest bidder (thank the Lord for that one), BUT we have other similar qualities. And, in light of rereading Memoirs of a Geisha (again) and loving it just as much as before (would the Chairman care for more sake?) I will entertain you with my comparisons. Enjoy.



1. Freelancers, like Geisha, must make friends wherever they go. A geisha is to be polite and courteous wherever she entertains because a favor may be needed by a tea house mistress or... of course, you want to make a good impression on a man. Men=gold for geisha. Anyway, freelancers must make friends wherever they go as well (turns out people=gold for freelancers. If you don't have any clients you remain broke.)

2. Freelancers must dress for success. Geisha's have really elaborate outfits: a decorative kimono, obi, perhaps hairpins and ribbon. Freelancers must dress professional for their clients as well. Sure there is no "dress code" for a freelancer (because their jobs are rather nomadic) but it's always nice to make a good impression. As mentioned in number 1.

3. Freelancers must always honor their clients as kings and queens. A geisha must always bow and show interest to her client. It's her job, really. A freelancer must do the same. When their client asks for a hideous font to grace their website, the freelancer must use it. (Dang it, I know.)



I probably could continue, but this is just making me want to read the dang book again. Gosh, I need to get a life. OR rent the movie.





Lauren-san

Gifts n' all that.

Yesterday I learned that my spiritual gift is writing.

I had to take one of those spiritual gifts inventories for Jacque and Ricky's Bible study (I mean, they put a gun to my head and everything) and the one I took, all 140 questions, told me I have a gift for writing.

Well, I that like writing and that I think I'm good at it: that's all that means. Which to me is just fine.

One might question the difference between a spiritual gift and a regular secular gift. I think I'd like writing if I weren't a Christian, so does that make this concept of Spiritual gifts a fraud?

I mean, I'd probably even have a broader range of things to talk about as a secular writer because I have a tendancy to talk just about God in blogs and essays and such.

I do like what I learned about spiritual gifts though, that's kind of my point. (I'm a little woozy from the McDonald's I ate so I'm not writing as fluently as I should. I should not have eaten those burgers. Ugh, the memories of reading Fast Food Nation pour in.)

What I learned is more or less two-fold. Or three-fold... I just wanted to say "two-fold" really bad. What time is it?

1. Spiritual Gifts are different than regular run-of-the-mill heathen gifts because they are obtained AND/OR utilized after a person receives the Holy Spirit (upon conversion). For example, you cannot heal the sick, raise the dead, speak in tongues, or prophesy until you have Christ in your life.

But, you may ask, what about those other gifts like serving, teaching, and writing? Don't nonChristians have those gifts too?

Yes.

2. Spiritual Gifts are not in "full bloom" until a person receives the Holy Spirit BUT that does not mean the gift is not still there, but the impetus is not. Example: A person has the gift of helps and likes to give money to those in need but they aren't a spirit-filled vessel (ah, fancy church wordage!) that does NOT mean they aren't committed to helping people. This just means that the core of their reasoning for doing such an act is not clear. They do it to be nice. A Christian would do it to be nice BECAUSE Christ has called us to do so.

3. Spiritual Gifts Change. Today my gift may be writing and pastoring, but tomorrow it may be celibacy. Just kidding. But really, times change and so do we. At one point in my life it may be good that I am all about serving and doing behind-the-scenes work, but maybe when I'm older (and wiser) God will call me to speak to large crowds--who knows. We weren't all born (or re-born... heh heh) with the same gift we have later in life. I guess we could, but usually not. Our gifts change with our seasons.

* * *

I'm just contemplating today. I don't have a conclusion (it's like AP English all over again. No, Mrs. Pickett I don't have a strong conclusion DEAL with IT!)

Just... learn your gifts and use them. There, I gave this blog some warrant.

Merry Christmas '98!

So I found this story I had written in third grade. It was a pretty good concept had I not rushed through it. Maybe, oh yes maybe, I'll revist this storyline.... (not.)

[Disclaimer: I couldn't spell words like "coffee" and "pole" back in third grade so I corrected the grammar so no one would get confused.]

One Christmas Eve Santa was lost! Allow me to introduce myself, I'm Cupid. No, I don't make people fall in love. I'm the reindeer. Yes, there is Dasher, Donner, Prancer too, but they're on a coffee break and I'm gong to tell the story.

In 1986, Santa was lost.

"Ho Ho Ho!" Santa said to Mrs. Claus. "Is my coat ready?"

"Yes, Santa. I'll be right there!" Mrs. Claus said to Santa.

"Ma, I'm going to be laaate!"

And right then Santa disappeared.

Yes, you are probably wondering what happened to Santa, but my reading turns over, here is Comet.

Hi, I'm Comet. Ok, now Santa woke up and he was in the land of Oz!

"We're off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz," Santa heard. Santa talked to the strange people. And a few seconds later he was going to the Wizard of Oz too. When he got there, he wished to go back to the North Pole and he did.

Well, that's the end of the story, bye!

Honestly, can you get a better story than that? come'on.