Working Title

Merry Stinkin' Christmas

Don't get me wrong. I love church, family, quality time with loved ones, and Hallmark cards. But, I don't like Christmas, and I haven't for years.

I am celebrating my 33rd Christmas this year. And, I enjoyed many of them. I remember not being fond of Christmas for the first time at the early age of 8. Christmas worried me that year, because my dad had lost his job, my mom was pregnant with my brother, and we were losing our rental home. My mom cried A LOT, and I have no idea if it was from the worry or the hormones. But one thing stuck in my head, Christmas is more hype and hooplah then reality.

As I grew older, and morphed into a bitter teenager and university student, I told myself that we were fighting the corporate take over of a religious holiday by not gift-giving. My mom would regularly tell me that I was becoming bitter. I responded by throwing myself into community service and giving to kids who didn't have anything.

Christmas now is a burden. I am single, and my "kid" (baby brother) is now 24. We traveled last year at Christmas after a very long and hard year. It was amazing. This year, we decided to travel at Thanksgiving and to stay home for Christmas. And, I am again seeing why the holiday is so hard.

Christmas is for children. And, in recent years, it is for couples. Is it possible that there is a new market here for singles?

Either way, I am going to try not to be such a scrooge about the holidays. So Merry Stinkin' Christmas everyone!

Why is the Hangover movie so funny? My friend Allison took me to see it the first time. I had no idea what I was walking into... I laughed so hard I cried. Tonight, I am watching it because it appears to be the only non-holiday movie on TV. That's right, I am not ready to face the holidays.

Where Have You Been?

Sometimes I get lost.

Sometimes I get caught in the business of daily life. And, I forget how great it is to catch up with you.

At this time of the year, more than any other, I find myself reflecting on what was...

The last year has been full of once in a lifetime moments - Paris, London, Belfast. It has also had heartache - losing Aunt G, Uncle L. It has had challenges - Job changes, work, dating.

The question now is not so much about where have I been, but where am I headed?

As we head into the holiday season, my biggest question is what will you give and what will you receive in the next year?

Something to Consider

http://m.hollandsentinel.com/holland/pm_29442/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=zBVyjA7P

Writing it all down

I often sit here, with my hand levitating above the keyboard, in hesitation of how to start a new post. I think there are a multitude if things going on right now that require documenting. I worry about the ability to protect my country, my students, etc. I worry about the rights that are quickly drifting out of the finger tips of the American. I am clearly in need of some time and space to process, and come back with more to share.

How Do I Get There From Here?

There is a country song by Deanna Carter with the same title of this post. Frankly, I find myself humming it a lot lately.

I haven't posted for quite a bit of the last year, and a lot has gone on in the meantime.

Let me try to catch up the last six weeks....

After working human resources for more than three years, I have returned to education. I am working as a reading intervention tutor and completing my guidance internship.

I don't regret the decision, but I also never imagined being thirty and interning....again.

I lost a great friend and granparent four weeks ago. Pap is in a better place, I know...but, I still refer to him periodically in the present. I never imagined that I would be reconsidering who to talk to on Wednesday nights. But, I try to remember that when the Lord closes a door...He apparently opens a window. I am still looking for the window.

I am moving... and yes, I don't want to hear it. I am aware that I have some serious committment issues and I am doing my best to work on it. I never imagined that I would be facing yet another move and no house.

I have lived at work and school this last year. I finished all of my coursework for my masters except the thesis and research class. I am taking them this year and apparently it is a big deal that I have finished two years of coursework in one year...while working.

I never imagined that being busy would allow me to discover that I am stronger than I thought I was.

I never imagined that being busy would open up outlets and opportunities that I thought were closed.

I never imagined that things would be in somewhat of a disarray, and that I would be completely happy with that issue.            

I know that at this point the easy thing would be to focus on the negative. But honestly, I am more focused on what lies ahead.

Apparently, I am a minor

Weirdest thing EVER. I went to post the new photo in the blog and on a public networking site..when I received the following email.

Dear A Duffy,

Thank you for your recent request to post a personal profile picture. Unfortunately, we at XXXXXXX are unable to post your photo. XXXXXXX website and its affiliates have a strict policy of not posting photos of minors. We believe that this policy is ethically responsible and reflects the values of our organization. If you would like to submit another photo for consideration, please select the link below.

Thank you,

XXXXXX

I was BLOWN away. The photo was taken on my 30th birthday. I took the photo of myself with the laptop camera. So either, A. I have great genes to look so young or B. people are blind.

Here's looking at you kid,

A

Fake Therapy and A One-Armed Paper Hanger

Wow! Can I just say WOW?

In the last four weeks, my life has taken a total shift. I feel like a lot has been rebirthed in me and I am so excited to get things started. I want to fill you in, but I kind of need to take you back a few weeks.

I finished Winter Semester the first week of May. I got out alive, and no worse for the wear. I am down to my last 21 hours. I will have 17 of them done by the end of the summer. The end is in sight, and it makes me want to run faster.

With the advent of a long and hard semester under my belt, sweet mom wanted to give me a change of pace. For those of you who know me, this means that I need to do something different, change the scenery. It doesn't always mean taking a nap.

We had a great time galloping through the wilderness of Hocking Hills. I love being outside at this time of the year, and I think nature does something good for the soul.

The following weekend, I took off to some old stomping grounds in Kentucky. What a weekend! I got to reconnect with Creech, whom I haven't seen in nine years. We took a road trip to Lousiville on Saturday, and had a great time. For some reason, new experiences always charge me up... I guess it's the explorer in me.

After all of this, I got a little time to process all the messages and interests that resurfaced.

So, I am paying off my student loans in a big hurry, saving capital, and planning.

First on my list is the bed and breakfast. This has been a long term dream from high school. I would like to use it as a family business that is not my primary job. This will allow me to either continue to see clients, or work in a school while running the business. AKA my one-armed paper hanger plan.

Speaking of school, we are busy doing fake therapy sessions. Enlightening, educational and awkward. It's awkward to take someone seriously when there are 50 people sitting around watching. It's difficult to have a conversation with someone, something that comes naturally, when everything about you and the cient is being observed and scrutinized. However awkward, I think there is wisdom is subjecting oneself to scrutiny. Although, I prefer to do that with people I trust, not the random shmoe in class.

But, such is life. And so, I will go through several more sessions, as both counselor and client, to prove my worth and effectiveness. I am looking forward to completing this as quickly and as efficiently as possible. It's time to move on to the next phase.

I am going full-tilt right now. I know that there is a lot of great things in front of me, and that there is a time to prepare. But oh, how I want to run full force at it.

Prayers for wisdom as things start to come together.

A

My Old Kentucky Home

I had a chance last weekend to make up for some lost time. Nine years to cover and makeup for  in just 40 hours. So, I started by taking a drive that I can almost do in my sleep... 71 to 275 to 75 to 68....Lexington bound.

The whole way down, I was thinking about how God has a funny sense of timing. I haven't been back to Lexington in 9 years, and I have certainly lost touch with everyone over the years. But, then the magic of Facebook happened... and I started reconnecting with people. God's timing? Oh yeah.

This weekend, I was headed to see Creech for her birthday. I think that might have been the original plan, but God reconnected us for the sake of encouraging each other through the places we are at right now. And, in a moment of clarity... I see that God has some big things in front of me in the next few years.

I am excited about it. I want to jump right in and get going, but timing is everything. So, if I can ask for some serious prayer for the next few months- I would really appreciate it. God is busy making things happen... and I am ready for whatever comes next.

Enough

"Take it to the limit, one more time." -Eagles Enough. A word in our language that either questions or criticizes. As in, "Did I do enough?" and , "If only you were smart enough." Enough. A word that is used intrapersonally and interpersonally. I have been struggling a lot with the word enough recently. And, as I begin to shift life tracks, this time I am praying to daily realize that God makes me just the right amount.