Infant lowly, Infant holy,

....  For His bed a cattle stall;
Oxen lowing, little knowing....  oh, LITTLE did they know....

Disclaimer:  This entry is in no way intended to be sacrilegious; this is just yet another in a series of unfortunate events that is my life.

I was in rehearsal this morning; I play “Cammie” in the Kidstown ministry at Apex.  The majority of the details in this story are irrelevant, except for this:  I did what the script told me to.  In the sketch, “Cammie” and “Gordo” are supposed to hide behind the manger.  The nativity set, you need to know, is a BEAUTIFUL fiberglass set of figurines; Joseph stands about my height.  Continuing on, we decided that Gordo was a little too big to hide in the nativity, so I was going to just jump behind the Mary & Joseph figurines and hide.  So the dialogue goes, “Hide!”  “Where?”  “Behind the manger!”  So I did.  At least that’s what I was in the process of doing…. in my panicked state (also dictated by the script), I leaped over the manger and child to hide behind Mary; let me once again emphasize that I was in a panicked state (dictated by the script)…. as I was leaping over the Christ child my foot, dressed in my new very hearty moccasins, caught the leg of the infant and made a rather UNCLEAN break of the leg…. and fingers… and toes.  I literally shattered the child!  I stood there shocked, teetering between laughter and open weeping; the carnage of this very detailed rendition of the manger scene in pieces at my feet!!  We tried to piece him back together but to no avail!  The trauma was unfathomable! As I stood there holding the infant's big toe, the realization swept over me, "I broke the baby Jesus!!!!" 

What do you do after that, really? 

To finish the story… we reblocked the scene; I hid behind the couch with Gordo; I wasn’t allowed to go back near the manger scene.  The rest of the group thought it rather amusing; and I don’t think they will be letting me forget it for a while.  Just before I went on later that morning, one of my fellow cast members commented, “Hey Jodi- break a leg; just don’t break baby Jesus!”  Thanks team…. 

I hope this will remind us all once again of the true meaning of Christmas and how easily it can be…. broken….

A problem of epic PROPORTIONS

I’ll get straight to the point: I’m a horrible measurer.  Anything and everything in life that involves estimating the size, weight, height, quantity, or volume of any person, place, or thing- I can almost guarantee (but not with 100% certainty, because again- I’m horrible at it) I will get it wrong.  I don’t know why.  I just know its true.  Take height for instance: I realize I’m short.  However, when I’m out in the world, living my life, I don’t feel any shorter than the people around me; I feel normal.  So when people make comments about how short I am (like I’m this miniscule thing that you need a magnifying glass to see); I just stand in wonder, why do they even notice my height?  I don’t notice their height.  If you turn it around the other way- I think everyone around me is 5’10.”  It doesn’t matter whether you’re a guy or girl, young or old, cool or uncool, if I’m looking at you- you’re 5’10.”  Period.  If I had to be one of those people at Kings Island that guesses people’s age, I would strike out every time.   Next example: cooking.  Apparently there are two types of cooks in the world:  those that follow the recipe and those that “eye it.”  For the record, I hate the phrase “just eye it.”  People don’t realize what a paralyzing statement that can be to those of us that have ZERO ability to “eye” ANYthing.  In college, whenever I would make easymac, I would have to get out my measuring cup, pour the water into the 2/3 measuring cup, and then stir it into the easymac.  My roommate thought I was over-reacting; but I guarantee that it was an absolute necessity.  If I did not measure, I would have either turned out easymac that was CRUNCHY or REALLY RUNNY (I’ve had both; equally unpleasant). 

The reason I’m ranting about this is because I have realized that this is a job hazard for me.  I’m an event planner.  If I estimate wrong- the whole thing could go up in flames.  Of course, realistically, I shouldn’t have to guess at anything, because people should turn in their reply cards by the date listed on the invitation, and I should have a clear count of exactly how many individuals will be attending, and thus know how to plan. But as I’ve preached before, the art of the RSVP is lost (no need to go into that now….).  So you see- since people DON’T respond like they are supposed to, I am left to guess.  Its like playing darts in pitch black!  And usually, I don't even hit the board.  If I guess 40, thinking 2 will cancel the day of- I promise, 4 people will show up unexpectedly.  If I plan for 200, I can walk in and find 3 tables completely empty (that’s 24 people)- true story, by the way.  I just can’t hit the mark to save my life!  So what do you do in a situation like that?  Throw in the towel?  Consider it a vocational handicap and use it to my advantage?  I have no idea.  But I guess…. Oh wait-  I’m horrible at it!!  Nevermind.  Such is life.  I could consider it an insight into my personal growth- that I have now come to realize and accept this about myself.  The sad thing about that is, I’m finding the more I discover about myself, the worse I realize I am.   That’s unfortunate.   Can’t wait to wake up tomorrow and discover what else I’m not good at.  

“Oh, I’m sorry- I made you uncomfortable.”

Meet Dunder

 Once upon a time there were two homecoming princesses named Jodi and Sarah.  They worked many magical hours in the kingdom of Cedarville to make sure that Homecoming was a success!  One night as they were driving all over campus... counting tables and chairs because the delivery from the rental company was an absolute nightmare.... sorry- one night as they were driving through the kingdom sprinkling their magic event planning dust, a tiny little pup crossed their path, so much so that they nearly ran him over.  Being the princesses that they were, they could not allow the tiny little dog to remain out in the cold and rain.  They took the dog to their Big Yellow servant's quarters and cleaned him and pulled all of the burrs out of his precious little fur.  He amused them and made them forget all of the stress, er magic, of Homecoming.  They decided to call him Dunder (in honor, of course, of Jim and Pam and all of their other friends in the Office Kingdom).  Princess Jodi and Princess Sarah unanimously concluded that Dunder was not merely a dog, but a magical fairy dog, sent to make them smile.

    Isn't he just precious?? 

NO, we weren't able to keep him.  But we were elated to discover the next morning when we took him to the animal shelter that his owners had already called looking for him. 

Crazy... sometimes God uses the most unexpected things to lighten your load or change your outlook; things even better than what we read in fairy tales. 

Experiencing Technical Difficulty

This past weekend, in anticipation of celebrating the Day of Labor, as many made their way to the fabulous village of Cedarville, “Birthplace of Labor Day,” I made my way in the opposite direction…. to the place of MY birth, Pittsboro, IN!  I went home with simple goals: relax, sleep in, catch up with my family, and of course, catch the annual extravaganza, SKY CONCERT! 

You have to understand something about me and sky concert: I LOVE it!  Whoever came up with this idea should be given their OWN holiday!  I know that other cities and states have their own versions of sky concert, but Indy’s is the best…. well, Indy’s was the best.  A sky concert, as we all know, is quite simply- a concert in the sky: timeless, majestic music resonating through the night skies against a backdrop of beautiful, brilliant, bursting fireworks!  Every year as far back as I can remember (which would be about Jr. High), sky concert has been put on by local Indianapolis radio station 97.1, WENS… until this year.  Upon arriving home, my sister informed me that 97.1 had been taken over by new management- but not to worry, we were still having sky concert.  Whew!  One of the many things I love about sky concert is the fact that its put on by a radio station- because what happens is everyone gathers down by the White River with their radios and coolers of beer (I opted out of the beer), and when the concert begins, we all crank up 97.1, creating the “concert” effect- its like a big family!  Walls are broken down when you park your blanket on the grass next to another group and make easy conversation about nothing of importance; the playing field is leveled when its just you, a couple thousand people you don’t know, and the air waves.

So Saturday night, I coaxed my family down to the White River in eager anticipation! At approximately 9:30pm, the fireworks kicked off!  Approximately 3 minutes into the concert, I began to notice that the fireworks were not in sync with the music as much as they had been in previous years.  Approximately 5 minutes into the concert, I was suddenly offended when a DJ began talking over the music, giving a plug for the radio station… approximately 10 minutes into the concert, I became severely annoyed when I realized they really weren’t even trying to sync the fireworks with the music, nor were they even playing entire songs- just random cuts of selected tracks!!   The final blow came at approximately 12 minutes into the concert when the fireworks stopped altogether and the DJ came onto the air again to say, “I’m sorry folks, but we seem to be experiencing some technical difficulty.  Please keep listening and we’ll get Sky Concert 2006 back underway in just a few minutes.”   WHAT???   What did you do???  Stinking new 97.1 management just ruined MY LABOR DAY EXTRAVAGANZA!!  They ruined MY SKY CONCERT!!!   We proceeded to sit there for about 10 minutes… waiting; during which time, I called my sister and brother-in-law to see if they were saying anything about it on TV.  They starting laughing and replied that the news announcers on a local tv station, in an attempt to lighten the mood (and certainly fill dead air, or sky…) were joking about what the technical difficulty might be, repeating over and over, “Control, Alt, Delete!   Control, Alt, Delete!”  Very funny, WISH-TV Channel 6!  My sky concert is ruined and you’re making jokes!  Eventually the fireworks were back up and running, and we endured the rest of the out-of-sync, gimpy, sky concert. 

I returned home that evening contemplating how, once AGAIN, the events that play out in my life seem strikingly appropriate for the stage of life that I am currently experiencing. 

On a lighter note, I did make it back to Cedarville just in time to experience their fireworks on Monday night.  And I have to say, “Cedarville- your call you DID fulfill this Labor Day weekend…. Indianapolis has nothing on you.”    

I think I've come to the end of my first official summer as an adult.  Technically, last summer was my first summer as an adult, but last summer stunk and I didn't have a clue what I was doing with my life, so it doesn't count.  As I was saying....

My first official summer as an adult wasn't half bad.  I feel like it had several key elements that made it a success: 

1. An evening gown: I went to a fantastic, black tie gala for the National Aviation Hall of Fame.  I, unlike many, really enjoy donning the occasional evening gown, even if the shoes do kill.  The formality, the ambience, the food- all against a summer backdrop.  Fabulous.

2: A beach: One week to do absolutely nothing but sleep, lay on a beach, eat, lay on the beach some more, eat, walk on the beach, and go back to sleep.  Also fabulous because I spent it with SLK.  **Travel tip: I recommend Hilton Head Island to anyone; I also recommend nerf footballs and bicycles to ensure a good time.

3.  A light workload:  Although there were some days that 8 hours felt like about 12 because they passed so slowly, it was nice to have a relaxed schedule at work.  Oh don't worry, I will more than pay for it this fall... but in the spirit of summertime, it was nice to kick off my suit and gold name badge for a moment. 

4.  A broadway musical: I FINALLY saw WICKED!!!  Dreams do come true!  Absolutely A-Maz-Ing!  I nearly wept all over my playbill.  Not only that, but I saw it IN Chicago WITH four people that I love most in this world.  I defy (well, gravity of course) anyone who can tell me what's better than that. 

So, now that summer's ending... and I know its ending because I live in Cedarville, the birthplace of Labor Day, and we've got the signs up for CedarFest... what have we learned?  I will tell you. 

Musical + Light workload + Beach + Gown = Jodi's 1st Successful Summer... as an adult. 

Okay, that's not much, but its all I've got.  Take heed.  I don't even know why we have three other seasons...