The Oscars, The Semester, and My Grandma

I seem to have failed in my determination to continue updating throughout the month of the Oscar challenge. For those who are curious, I did see all 10 of the Best Picture nominees. I enjoyed them as a group more than the 10 from last year. I didn't cry at Toy Story 3 (we can talk later about my lack of inner child); I did cover my eyes during Black Swan. My pic for best? The Fighter.

Not the popular choice, for sure; nor the actual winner (congrats to Colin Firth and the brilliant film The King's Speech). But: I.just.loved.it. Maybe you can chalk it up to my strange obsession with sports movies (blame my mom for making me watch Hoosiers regularly, starting at a young age). Or maybe I still secretly love Marky Mark (even if that same mother tried to steer me away from NKOTB). Anyway you turn it: this is a great movie. And you should go see it if you haven't yet.

Instead of keeping you "all" (hey, Mom) updated with my Oscar-watching game, I decided to keep up with my homework and class-going requirements for the semester. Luckily, I actually really enjoy one class. And, just as luckily, the other one is nearly over! Thank goodness for quad classes in grad school.

I've also been devoting a good amount of time to thinking about my grandmother. She has recently been diagnosed with a terminal disease, and is deteriorating rapidly. While this is incredibly sad, and my heart breaks for my grandfather (they celebrated 55 years of marriage in December), I am so grateful for the many years I had to get to know her. She has been a constant presence in my family life for as long as I can remember. Many family vacations and holidays were spent at Grandma & Grandpa's house (and one summer when my parents just shipped me off to them... I was a difficult child, I think).

Both of my grandparents have been constant examples of a deep and pervading faith; every experience could be turned into a lesson of God's faithful love and guidance in our lives. I credit Grandma with my extensive knowledge of pretty much every hymn ever written.

This past Christmas I had the opportunity to spend a day alone with my grandparents; they (Grandma, mostly) regaled me with tales of my mom while she was growing up, and some great family history. We've always shared a love of reading, and in the last few years I have never left their house with fewer than an extra 3 or 4 books packed to take home. (I think it was more like 14 this Christmas.)

While my relationship with my Grandma has not always been easy, and while we will never agree on many things in the world of politics, social policy, and even some theology, I have never doubted that she loves me (and our whole big family) very much. The greatest joy in her life has been to see her family grow and discover what God is calling us all to. I can only hope to become a woman with half the faith and might of Grandma Margaret.

A New Year

Well, friends. It seems that I've been semi-regularly blogging for a few years now, and that 2010 was not a stellar world in my blogging habits. I'm not sure that it's what I want to be doing with my time, honestly, or that I really have anything to say that just neeeeeeeds to be put out there on The Internets. But I hesitate to give up The Mixed-Up Files. I do not like change. And, you never know, maybe I'll be inspired by something that I just have to say.

So, welcome to 2011. Strange to say, but doesn't really feel that different from 2010.

What am I looking forward to about this year? Well, coming up soon will be the nominations for the Oscars. We'll see if I feel compelled to see all the Best Picture nominees again. Dreary Chicago winters are good times to sit in movie theaters.
Classes start in two weeks. I will definitely have my hands (and any imaginary free time) full of reading and projects.
I'm on a cooking kick, more than a baking one, right now. I only wish I lived in a fairer climate, where some variety of produce could be fresh and local all year long.

And, most immediately, I am looking forward to my brother's wedding in only 11 days! I can't believe my big brother is getting married. Crazy, crazy, crazy. Here he is, my brother John, with our nephew and me at our younger brother's wedding last summer:

The Summer in Many Parts

First there was the part where I was really busy getting ready for Annual Meeting, and then actually going to Annual Meeting. (See previous post re: the fun and excitement that awaited me in St. Paul!)

The next part was a bit more relaxing, and a different kind of fun.

My roommate accompanied me on a trip across the Midwest to see my family in Kansas. We hung out in Lawrence for a long weekend with my sister and her family, including my two-and-a-half year old nephew. This adventure included a petting zoo where K got to feed some baby goats...

...and lots of moments of him just being super cute:

The next part found me back in Chicago with an extra day off work, in which I exercised my love of vegetables and support local producers at the Lincoln Square Farmer's Market. Those mushrooms are DELICIOUS.

I do seriously love eating food produced by people I can actually meet and talk with about how they farm their land. Makes for tasty meals, too!

This next part is not really about me... but it's the part where my friend and co-worker, Liz, found herself being side-hugged by Illinois' ousted governor, the infamous Blago, photographed, and published in the RedEye:

I find that part pretty hilarious, given who Liz is, and that Blago just randomly grabbed her out of a crowd to pose with.

The next part was extremely excellent:

a short, but sweet, visit from Emily, Fred, and little Dean Betcher. They rolled into town late last Friday, on their way to Michigan from visiting our other Emily in Minnesota. We stayed up too late, then got up early to a breakfast of biscuits and grave with good friends. Saturday morning I headed down to the John G. Shedd Aquarium with the Betchers, to take in all the aquatic life therein. I hadn't been to the Shedd in quite a long time, and thoroughly enjoyed myself in the company of good friends (and thousands of other Chicagoans).

Then there was the part with more good friends at Ravinia for a Chicago Symphony Orchestra tribute to Bernstein, Copeland and Gershwin:

(the company of great friends, like Christin, makes adventures worth it)

(Jon was there, as well. He's pretty serious about his Hostess Cupcakes.)

(with the always-lovely Ann-Marie)

Many more parts of the summer to come yet, I'm sure, including a second Ravinia visit, a trip to see family, and a brother's wedding. But so far, the parts are adding up to a great summer!

On Being in a Family of Nerds

One thing I love about visiting my family is that I am always inspired to read. We give each other books, we talk about books, we read the classics, mystery novels, great works of literature, and the newest vampire novels. We play board games and video games. We study literature, theology, history, classical languages, law, journalism, computers. We are, as you have guessed, quite happy nerds.

While traveling and then snowed-in in the great state of Kansas over the Christmas holiday there was a great amount of reading to be had. As I traveled, I was delighted to have a loaner book from my friend Jen: HATE LIST, by Jennifer Brown. This young adult lit book is great! Seriously, you should read it. All of you. It's a quick read, but completely engaging, dealing beautifully with a tragic situation.

I also read I AM NOT SIDNEY POITIER, by Percival Everett. Very strange. A bit like watching a crazy movie that you kind of like, but aren't quite sure about.

My "currently reading" list includes an audio book, THE HISTORIAN, by Elizabeth Kostova, FOOD MATTERS, by Mark Bittman, and WHERE MEN WIN GLORY: THE ODDYSSEY OF PAT TILLMAN, by Jon Krakauer.

States as Puzzle Pieces

If the states in the United States were puzzle pieces, I would lose the ones that are between Illinois and Kansas. Or I would cut Chicago off of the corner of Illinois and put it in the middle of Missouri.

Alas, the states are not puzzle pieces, and I remain hundreds of miles from this little face.

In better news, spring may actually be here! This was a great weekend in the city, with a surprise visit from my aunt (and great friend ) Stephanie. And, Becca had her baby out in Washington! Many exciting things!

An Entertaining Month

The past month has been one without obligations for school. Ideally, this would mean that I had caught up on my ever-lengthening reading list, caught up with all my long-distance friends, and finished at least a couple of the many projects I have started over the last year. What actually happened was more along the lines of adding more books to the reading list (though reading a few), and unsuccessfully catching up with people or projects as I found myself sucked into the world of entertainment. I watched several movies, both in theaters and via the wonders of Digital Video Disc, played a decent amount of Nintendo Wii, and kept up with all the online news about our economic and political climates.

Most notably, I think, and also what will leave a large void in my life (at least temporarily, while I get used to it) is that I completed watching all 7 seasons of The West Wing. Rest assured, I DID NOT watch all 7 seasons in the past month (more like over the past 9 months), but I did knock out a large chunk of them. And just this afternoon I put in the final disc of season 7, traveling nostalgically through the memories over the 8 years of the Bartlett White House along with CJ Cregg, Josh Lyman, Toby Zeigler, and President Josiah Bartlett. I am a little sad that I missed the West Wing boat when the show was actually on television, but I truly enjoyed all the hours I devoted to Netflix-ing the series. I even cried a few times, particularly in the incredibly sad final episodes after John Spencer passed away in real life, and so had to be written off the show.

Other notable entertainment pursuits included seeing Slumdog Millionaire (fantastic!) and Seven Pounds (meh) in theaters, and watching Beetlejuice for the very first time. It is true; my roommate was astounded that I had never seen it. Especially seeing as that she has owned the movie for most of the 8 years I have known her.

And, finally, over the 2nd weekend of January I traveled to my sister's home in Kansas to celebrate my nephew's first birthday, and the addition of a puppy to their family. It was a good weekend, and I can hardly believe that K is already a year old! (Or that they decided a puppy was a good idea, frankly, but that's another topic all together.) So, as everyone thinks pictures of babies are a good idea, I will leave you with a couple from K's 12th month of life:

1 Year In

This week marked the end of my first year of employment at the main offices of the Evangelical Covenant Church. It is semi-baffling that I have been here a whole year already. Much has happened...

• I have learned a completely new position in a brand-new work environment, with great colleagues who have become good friends
  
• I have traveled to work events in Wisconsin, Michigan, and the outer-regions of Illinois (with a trip to Atlanta coming up shortly)
  
• I have (almost) completed 10 more semester hours of graduate work at NPTS
• My nephew was born 11 months ago (wowzers!)
• I have been to 5 weddings of my good friends
  
• I have moved out of the basement apartment
• I have met and mingled with more Covenant pastors than I thought was ever possible
• I have eaten, with my colleagues, at Tapas Barcelona (twice), The Cheesecake Factory, Semiramis, Tre Kroner (on several occasions), Subway (quite regularly), The Pit (until I stopped eating meat), and a variety of catered meals of everything from Chicago-style pizza to ARA wraps
• I have encountered some great new friends and joined a new church
• I have baked more loaves of bread, cookies, muffins, brownies, and other manners of sugary goodness than I can possibly count.
  

While this may not seem like a long enough list, it sure has occupied my time over the last 12 months. A few of my favorite photos, as well:

March Madness:

Enough said.

And a child is born in Lawrence, Kansas

This morning, at 6:48, my sister gave birth to Kiernan David.

By all accounts he is beautiful and perfect. I, being in Chicago, have yet to lay my eyes on the newest member of my family, but that doesn't keep me from knowing it must be true! He was a healthy 6 lbs., 5 oz., and is so very welcomed and loved after a week of pretending he might be on the way (see last post). I am anxiously awaiting photos to come this afternoon (why do I have the only family without camera phones???), and trying to figure out the soonest I can get to Kansas.

This post cannot do justice to the excitement and joy that is keeping a permanent smile on my face today. :)

~~~~~~~~~~~
Later today:

Kiernan, being held by my older brother John Mark.

Update: still waiting

I apologize for having spoken too soon...

After 3 and a half days of nearly constant contractions, my sister has still not given birth. What she is experiencing is prodromal labor, which the doctors say can go on for a few days before progressing into actual labor. I feel awful for my sister; she is exhausted from the contractions and anxious for her son to arrive.

Anxiously Awaiting

At 8:05 this New Year's evening, having just arrived back to Chicago from Christmas-break travels, I received a phone call that I have been anxiously awaiting: my one and only sister was headed to the hospital, have been in labor for a good portion of the afternoon, to give birth to my very first nephew!

Julia and Mike (my brother-in-law) have been excitedly preparing for the arrival of Baby Gaughan (pronounced "gone"), whose name is yet a mystery to friends and family, for the past 9 months. Having just been with them to celebrate Christmas, it was obvious that Julia was ready to be a mom - she couldn't refrain from nesting and doing the "mom hover" over all her younger siblings. (She is the oldest of 6; I am third, and we have 4 brothers.)

I am terribly excited to meet the little man, and so proud of my big sister!

~sisters~

A Family Affair

A few weekends ago I traveled (for the first time in nearly 2 months!) to see my aunt, uncle, and cousins in Jacksonville, Illinois. Having moved there this summer from Kenosha, Wisconsin, they have been getting adjusted to the new environment - and I have been adjusting to not having them 45 minutes away.


This weekend was also a bit of family party. My sister, Julia, is just over 7 months pregnant with my first nephew. This baby will be my parents' first grandchild, my grandparents' first great-grandchild, and the first newborn in the family in 6 years. Needless to say, we are all pretty excited! My mom and sister drove over from Lawrence, Kansas, and my grandparents came from the Peoria area, and we bestowed many diapers and other baby things on the mother-to-be. My young cousins, Aidan and Isaiah, were quite excited to help her unpack all the gifts.



Isaiah was also quite taken with the idea that there is a baby in Julia's tummy. There was hardly a moment during the weekend when he was not faithfully by her side, asking her about the baby, trying to feel him moving around, and talking to his new buddy "Jack".

I am quite excited, myself, for the impending newborn. It really is pretty much all I talk about...

Confessions, Part 2

Two posts in one can only warrant some fantastic in Megan-world... no, not another wedding I forgot to mention (though have I TOLD anyone I'm going to be an aunt this winter!?!?). It's.... my mom! She is being published in this cool little anthology of short stories called "Coach's Midnight Diner." Check out a preview here: http://www.reliefjournal.com/SampleSizeCDiner.pdf. Her story is the last one in the anthology. Not only can I be a professional wedding guest, I can be a proud daughter! Congratulations, Mom!

And to prove how proud I am, here's a picture so you can visualize the author while you read!