Theology and Leadership Musings

I was accepted into the Gonzaga University Master's of Arts in Theology and Leadership program! It seems impossible that I am typing these words: I am going back to graduate school!

Apparently my mind suppressed all of the earlier negative experiences with graduate school because I am filled with excitement and anticipation.  Like a kitten waiting to claw a new couch made of rainbows and catnip, I am going to own this degree.

Seriously, though- I'm really excited for this new adventure. I've missed the challenge of intellectualism and I've always been fascinated by the field of theology.  People keep asking me- what are you going to do with this degree? The answer is: I don't know! Maybe nothing! Isn't that a wonderful and exciting place to be? I'm blessed with the chance to study something simply because I find it fascinating- without worry for financial investment or practical application. 

The program is online, which means a great deal of journaling and written reflection. I'm going to share those posts here whenever possible. I will tag the entries with MATL and the topics, if you're interested in reading them. 

Personality Quirks

Someone asked me to share something completely unknown and random about my life the other day. My answer?

I sort my colored candies before I eat them. I'm pretty sure other people do this also, but maybe not, because when I shared my answer with this person, they looked at me like, and then told me that I was, crazy.

I guess I should explain. I sort them because I like to know things. Not because I'm OCD- I can scoop up a handful of candies and eat them indiscriminately...but why? Candy is a precious commodoty! It should be nurtured and curated to extend maximize enjoyment.  Also, I get bored easily, and I like to play games with my brains. I like patterns and puzzles. When in doubt, DIY.

Flavored candies are easy- sort by color, and eat all of one color in descending order of flavor love. Poor grape- always the first to go, because no one really likes grape candy. Unless there is banana candy, which gives grape a brief stay of execution.

Uniformly flavored candies though- that is a puzzler. Of course, the first step is the same...sort the candy by color, and then sort each color into sets of two. (One for each side of my mouth, duh.) This,of course, prioritizes what gets eaten first: all the single candies, all the single candies, uh uh oh! (Sing it, Queen B.)

Then, of course, you find the color with the least amount of pairs, and this becomes the control group. All other candies are consumed (in pairs) until each color group has the same number. Then, we rotate using the rainbow. Two red, two orange, two yellow, two green, two brown, repeat. Mmmmm....color coded candy consumption.

So that, folks, is one odd personality quirk from yours truly. Now, are you not glad you read this blog?

The Epitome of Ego

I really love to see how people personalize their offices and work spaces- I think it provides an interesting and, often, unintentional insights into the personalities of their occupants.

In this case, I'm comparing my door to that of my supervisor. We work in a suite setting, so there is a nameplate on our main door with the department's title and each of our names on it. This faces out into the hallways where the general public would be looking for us.  Next to our names, our office identifier (a or c) is listed. Once inside the suite, there are two choices- my door, immediately to the left, or my supervisor's door, immediately to the right.  Each are clearly marked with either an "A" or a "C', as appropriate.

My door (C, if you're wondering!) has a window smack in the middle, with blinds on the inside, and a folder holder mounted just below the window. I tape up whatever the current centerfold from our campus Magazine is in the window, and leave the blinds open to help make the door more welcoming to a visitor.

My supervisor's door, which has no window, is covered in personal items. Christmas cards are currently taped around the perimeter like a frame...but they're all turned so the supervisor's name is displayed, rather than the card itself. There are ribbons and stickers like you see at a children's sporting event taped up too, touting the occupant as variations of "World's Greatest XX". Smack in the center is a foam sign with our logo, and the old name of the department. (Note: The old department name doesn't include my job...so it is as if I don't exist!) Then, just in case you were unsure as to whose office you were staring at, the supervisor has taped an additional name plate over the door. You know the sort...the ones that grace nameplate holders in cubicles.

Ah, Ego- it is nice to know you're never far away!

The Hunt for the Perfect Command Center

One of the "Organized Home" staples is the Family Command Center. You know, the perfectly styled, coordinated, and organized center for all paperwork, scheduling, and planning that comes across a motherly desk? The one-stop shop to prevent paper clutter from entering the home? The Pottery Barn Shrines to Housewifery?

They're just so damn beautiful, in all the magazines and on Pinterest. I want one.

SO I started some research on how to stage a be-yooo-tiful but functional command center for my home.  The problem is...they're tailored for mommies, so they have ideas like "how to store homework" or "what to do with those pesky birthday party invitations" or "lists your husband will actually remember" and all that other garbage. Oh, and they really, really like chalkboards.*

There is no advice on the materials that go in a command center for a stabilized working professional with no spouse or children. Does this mean I don't need a command center? Of course not! It just means there's a niche out there for a person to tell the world how it should be. Ladies and gents, I submit that person is me.

So, this is part one of my Command Center for the Single Professional series! Today, I've made a list of the most common items I've seen in the family command center ideas, and evaluated their usefulness to my world:

1. Mail sorting system. This is a staple for any home organization effort. For us SINK (stable income, no kids) folks, mail is likely the most common form of paper clutter coming into the home.  For me, this should include a way to corral the piles, and easy access to the shredder and the trash. I'd like to get all my mail in one place, too- currently, it ends up in three or four different places.
2. Calendar. I have mixed feelings about this: I'm a digital girl and I do almost all of my scheduling via my phone and computer portals. However, every once in a while, a big date sneaks up on me, so it might be nice to have a monthly overview in my face every day. I'll play with this concept a little.
3. Lists and Menu Planning. The same issue as the calendar applies here- I try to keep my lists in One Note, which means a dedicated list spot is probably not the most useful item. I do menu plan, so I'll probably just develop a menu planning/list spot and call it good.
4. Critical Contacts. What, do I have a babysitter I don't know about?Actually, since I do have pets, I will probably make up one of these bad boys to keep in easy reference.
5. Memo Board: Isn't that what the refrigerator door is for...? KIDDING. (One of the rules to a tidy home: keep counters clear and the fridge door clean. Seriously- try it.) I'll probably add a memo board for all the little loose ends that pop up but don't get entered into the planner immediately.
6. Storage Bins By Family Name: Well that would be the saddest accessory ever. "Cass" and then four empty bins. PASS. Plus, I have a fantastic mud room to handle my coats, gloves, shoes, etc.
7. Writing Utensil Storage: Duh. Pens, pencils, scissors, lighters, tape- it all needs a home. This one stays for sure. Bonus: No little fingers mean I can keep it all in one space in a pretty container, rather than hiding the sharp and/or firestarting objects.
8. Charging Stations:  This one depends on location. It would be convenient to have a charging area for my phone and surface while I'm working if, say, the command center is in the kitchen, but I wouldn't use any charging functionality in the foyer. My phone lives in my nightstand overnight, and my surface lives in my work bag when not in use, so this could be of limited functionality for a SINK...I think I'd rather invest in those nifty wall outlets with USB functionality.
9. Key Hooks: A thousand times, yes. I'm constantly looking for the "right" place to keep my keys. Hopefully this will encourage me to minimize my eternal key storage as well. I"m pretty sure I can let the house key from when I was ten go...but...we'll see.
10. Photos and Art: Weeeellll, I do want it to be pretty. That was part of what started this whole mess, right? Ephemera stays!

Now, how about some of those commanding items that never seem to crop up in working mommy articles? Good idea! Thanks! Let's go!

Goals and Life Plan: I read a study once that said people who write down their goals are less likely to complete them. I don't know who those magic, mystical people are that can complete goals without daily reminders, but I'm not one of them. I want my goals in my face. The only down side here is that they are private, so I might need a way to cover it quickly if guests come over.

Work Surface: Many of the command centers I've seen are just wall-mounted, and only a few of them include dedicated workspace. That is a must for me: I need a place to set things down, even if it just takes a minute. I don't need a whole desk- that will encourage clutter- but a wide shelf capable of holding my coffee, my handbag, and the pile of mail while I sort it is a must.

Clock: I know, I know- a digital girl needs a wall clock, really? But I really miss my clock.

Mirror: This depends on location, again, but mirrors are great decorating tools to increase light and reflect spaces. Also, who doesn't appreciate a quick face-book





* Seriously, I don't get the chalk thing- especially in a house full of kids. I thought the idea was to create less mess, not create a surface that, by its very nature, will add dust to your home and require one special tool to write with, another one to erase the writing, and yet a third to clean the surface. Just saying.

Office Move: Other People's Trash

I'm almost done prepping an office space for a move next week. I'm being moved into a space that measures six feet wide and ten feet long, with a window on one end and a door in the corner of the other. I have no budget, so I've been scrounging through the campus warehouses to find furniture. I have no time, so I'm making this fit in during Christmas Break. I'm unhappy with the move and the location, I'm reluctant to be in constant conflict with my boss, and I'm just generally feeling disrespected right now. I don't even have a chair for my desk.

I came in to find three filing boxes FULL of materials that my boss no longer wants to house in his filing system, but he expects me to keep. I went through the boxes today, and the majority of the materials fit into one of these categories:

1. Samples of products from K-12 institutions (which are nothing like Universities...)
2.  Out of date or rescinded documents and reference materials (seriously- like, pre-9/11 stuff)
3. His hand-written notes, many of which relate to insurance (which I don't do) or hold his personal opinions and thoughts (awkwaaaard!)

There was only a tiny percentage of material that was relevant, current, and not full of personal remarks.  In addition, there was an entire box of books with titles like, "The Bullying Child" and "Security Risks for the 20th Century."  Again, not relevant to my work! I was baffled.  My space is less than half of his space. These materials are overwhelmingly personal and/or irrelevant to my job. Why would he think it was appropriate to dump this stuff on me?

My first instinct was to recycle anything I felt was not useful, both to address the complete lack of space in my office, and to support our initiatives to "be green" at work.  As part of the move, I had expected a handful of files to sort through, scan, and archive...and maybe a planning document or two to keep on the shelves. I hadn't expected to receive piles of his discarded personal property. I felt pretty comfortable recycling the out of date materials with no notes, but many of the documents were copies of work he did in a previous career- and while they don't apply to our current role or institution, they're probably still important to him.  I certainly don't feel empowered to recycle material with his personal notations.  I felt trapped...

...and angry! I'm not his secretary, or his maid, or his assistant. I am his employee, but I was hired to do a job, and nowhere in that job does it include cleaning up his mess. I may be sitting in the storage room of the suite, but I am not his storage facility.

So, went through the materials and I anything that fell into the categories above went back into the boxes. I then stacked them, neatly and out of the way, in his giant office.   I then set up a few drawers in the main room of the suite for general office filing.

My rational is this:

I went through the materials as instructed. I saved anything I thought could be helpful that wasn't also covered in his personal handwriting. Everything else still belongs to Joe. It is not appropriate for me to dispose of the items, and he needs to decide what to do with the material.  If he feels the material is important enough to retain in a department archive but not in his personal files, he can maintain them in the general filing.  If the material is really so vital that I need to maintain it, I find it reasonable to ask for a clean, unmarked copy. I deserve respect as a professional, a colleague, and an employee- my space is important and valid for my own materials, and I am capable of maintaining my own reference files.

We'll see how this conversation goes on Monday. In the meantime, I'm going to put some lotion on these papercuts and get back to work.

Disneyland 2015 Countdown: Day 71

This week, I'm dreaming of Adventureland. On the final day of Week 11, I'm sharing my favorite ride memories of my favorite ride: Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye

So, this is the best ride I’ve ever ridden, ever. Period. Yeah, there’s the punchy puns of Jungle Cruise, the exhilarating magic of Peter Pan, and the zooming about recklessly of Big Thunder, and the stunning scenery of Radiator Springs, but at the end of the day, Indy will always have my heart. Honestly, you have to give props to an attraction where the line is as entertaining as the ride is. This is a good thing, of course, as the line can be oppressively long. It does feature a Single Riders line, though, so that can significantly shorten the wait. The last time I visited Disneyland, I was able to ride through twice in about twenty minutes. Considering the ride itself took up about half that time…not too shabby! Another plus of the single-riders line was seeing the ADA entrance area and elevator, but it caused me to miss some of the details in the regular queue. I would definitely recommend the single rider line for all but the wimpiest of riders. Another plus of the SRL is that you get to sit on the edge. That's not a plus in rides like, oh, Radiator Springs Racers, but for Indy? That is prime seating, folks!

It is difficult to identify any one“thing” that makes this my favorite ride. Certainly, the theme is helpful, because I do love me some Indiana Jones. That theme song! (Bum-da-bum-BUM! Bum-da-bummm! Good luck getting that out of your head now.) The ride itself is thrilling- the perfect combination of speed, banks, and bouncing, but with no heart-lurching drops. The effects are also pretty spectacular…the illusion of the rolling ball hurtling towards the trucks will forever amaze me. Each ride experience is both familiar enough to fulfill expectations and nostalgia, and unique enough to keep the ride interesting and exciting. This is the first real "thrill" ride I ever enjoyed, which definitely adds to the love. Any ride that makes me feel brave and fearless is a plus. This is also the only ride I've ever seen my brother be afraid of* and as the bossy older sister, I must consider that a plus.  I'm pretty sure that if I lived in southern Cali, and had an annual visitor's pass, I would go after work and just ride Indy, over and over again.  Seriously....best...ride...ever.


*I have been asked to clarify. He isn't afraid of the ride, he is afraid of the "giant-ass cobra that tries to eat the person in the last seat on the right, as any rational and reasonable human being would be." So, snakes. Why'd it have to be snakes?

Disneyland 2015 Countdown: Day 72

This week, I'm counting down to Disneyland 2015 with memories and anticipation of Adventureland. Today, we're visiting The Jungle Cruise.

I don't remember the Jungle Cruise from 1997. I do, however, remember our visit in 2007. Here’s a rough approximation of how it went:

(Family boards the boat, named something clever like Candy Cane Connie, because it was Christmas.) Hey folks, welcome to The Jungle Cruise- I’ll be your stripper- I mean skipper- today! So, how many of you are riding the Jungle Cruise for the first time? Great so am I! (Family laughs politely.) Let's take a quick poll here. Raise your hand if you were born on your birthday! (Cassandra laughs audibly in the awkward silence of the other passengers, and the skipper gets an evil glint in his eye.)  Okay, well, great! Now hold on to those hats and glasses folks. Cause this here is the WILDEST RIDE IN THE WILDERNESS! (Wait…that’s a joke! Cassandra laughs harder and the family prepares for the worst.) Over there is what we call the Indiana Jones Adventure and the Temple of the Four-Hour Line. (Truth in advertising! Cassandra collapses against her sister, overcome with laughter. Encouraged, the skipper begins targeting puns directly at Cassandra’s family.)  And now, we're approaching the beautiful Schweitzer Falls, named after that famous African explorer, Dr. Albert Falls. (It’s funny because his last name is Schweitzer! Also, because its a waterfall! Now other people on the boat are staring uncomfortably at Cassandra.) This is the backside of Schweitzer Falls, which is a little something I like to call…O-2-H. (Cassandra laughs so hard she falls out of the boat.) Well folks, that concludes our tour! As we approach, please notice that there's a dock on the left, and a dock on the right.  But don't let it confuse you.  It's a paradox. (Cassandra, now back in the boat, continues to laugh in a sopping wet heap on the floor. Other passengers disembark, thankful to be away from that crazypants.) 

The Jungle Cruise, to me, is the perfect example of how Disneyland rolls with the punches, and keeps being amazing. One of the original attractions present at the Disneyland Grand Opening, the ride was initially intended to be educational and informative. The animatronics were installed after zoologists convinced Walt Disney that real animals were a bad idea. (Too bad they missed that memo for Animal Kingdom, and I right?? Anybody?) Anyway. The ride was quickly outdated and surpassed by other higher-tech rides with more flash and appeal. So, rather than removing one of the staples of the park’s history, Disneyland rolled with the punches, and turned the ride into a pun-infested laugh fest, poking fun at themselves.  The ride is one of the few places where cast members break the wall, and acknowledge events from outside Adventureland and poke fun at the Disney Company itself.  It is on my Top Ten Favorite Rides EVER list and definitely a must-hit for 2015.