Mission: Philly Cheese Steak

So we are in Philadelphia. According to the locals, it is a requirement that one must eat a Philly cheese steak while on a visit here. Since this is apparently an absolute, Carly, Lynn and I headed downtown to find “Pat’s.” We had no idea of the adventures that awaited us.



2:45 Depart hotel. Mike, our shuttle driver takes us to the train stop

2:55 Arrive at train stop. We are alone with the exception of a foreign woman. Still optimistic about our adventure.

3:10 Homeless man #1 stumbles in to train stop shelter. Carly makes that observation that he resembles a “John Neuenswander gone crazy.” We watch him rummage through trash- he seems harmless.

3:15 Homeless man #2 strolls up. Proceeds to join in on our conversation about Denver weather. Carly begins to exchange counseling advice with his life experiences.

3:40ish Homeless man #1 (who had been sleeping on the bench) starts laughing sinisterly and then proceeds to start shouting nonsense in Carly’s direction. With a great relief we heard our train whistle.

3:42 Board train. Giggle about our uncomfortable experience

4:00 Carly checks train map and finds out we are on the wrong train

Polly’s stress level begins to surface through silent demeanor

Turns out- wrong train got us to the right spot. (Miracle #1)

4:30 We befriended a Philly local (Miracle #2) and she leads us around trying to find close landmarks: City Hall, Giant Clothespin, _____ Park

4:45 Led into the middle of a gay rights demonstration. Philly friend asks a group of the “demonstrators” where the Liberty Bell is located. After receiving directions, we are told to “put another crack in the bell for the gays”

For her sanity’s sake, Polly confirms directions on her iphone

4:50 Souvenir shop stop

5:00 On our quest to find the Liberty Bell, the rain starts

5:15 We see Liberty Bell (Miracle #3) but the exhibit is closed. So we wave at it from 40 feet away. Rain increases into a downpour. We got wet. Very wet.

5:30 Flag down taxi. “We want a Philly cheese steak from Pat’s”

5:45 Arrive at Pat’s. Wait in line for 15 minutes. Consume the deliciousness quickly. (Miracle #4)

6:05 Deliberate on how to get back to hotel. Walked 5 blocks through little Mexico. Polly and Lynn’s nervousness begins to surface again. Carly remains confident and wants to walk. Without words or hesitation, Lynn flags down taxi

6:15 Arrived at train station (Miracle #5) Encounter a lot of homeless people. Lynn buys one coffee. After her offer, he orders, “Get me cream and suger…lots of sugar.”

6:45 Board train home. Thankfully this was uneventful.

7:30 Mike the shuttle driver is waiting for our arrival at train stop (Miracle #6)

Homeless man #1 still sleeping in station where we left him.

7:45 Arrive at hotel. (Miracle #7) Lynn begins to sing the hymn, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow…”

Counseling Conference

I'm at a counseling conference in Philadelphia. There are a lot of kind-eyed, smiley, happy, conversational people around me.

I shouldn't make fun of that because I probably fit that description.

When I googled counseling images, this one came up. It gave me a good chuckle.

High of the day: Sitting next to two men who spoke French. It was beautiful.

Low of the day: Not knowing the taxi would cost $70 from the airport to the hotel. See ya petty cash.

Chicago by the Numbers

7 Great girls
14 total hours in the car
10+ times listening to "This Breaks my Heart of Stone"
2 Airbeds+ 3 girls on them
2 Times necessary to wake Emily up from snoring at night
2 bathrooms for 9 people
20+ pancakes consumed
1 Stroll down Michigan Avenue
1 Accidental moment of leaving Jeanna behind in the Hersheys store
7 Purchases at Gap...and maybe Starbucks too
9 Rolls of sushi
6 Gourmet desserts to follow
7 Greats seats to Screwtape Letters
1 More night on the airbeds
Countless: Laughs, Memories, and Fun

I Heart Music

I LOVE "Enter the Worship Circle." I love them.
Discovering that they have come out with a "Fourth Circle" was pretty much the best news I could find out.
Since last night, I have have become somewhat obsessed with a song called, "Too Proud." Here are the lyrics.


I'm too proud to ask
Too broke to eat
Too weak to bow
Too strong to bleed

Can you sing over me words of comfort
Can you satisfy me sweet honey
Can you break through me with your strong hands
Can you undo me enough to heal me

You take the weight from my shoulders
My hands were clenched, Now they're open
I'll take your goodness poured from the sky
Food from the ravens, water from the dry

It's powerful. Beautiful.

Best Man Blues

Note to self:
Don't have wedding around water. There are just too many things that can go wrong.

http://video.yahoo.com/network/100284668?v=3710199&l=4418225

Fun Fact of the Day

"The youngest parents in the world were aged 8 and 9 in China in the year 1910. "

I just have so many questions about this...

"Father"

"To be a child is not necessarily to be a son or daughter. The childship is the lower condition of the upward process towards the sonship...God can no more than an earthly parent be content to have only children: he must have sons and daughters- children of his soul, of his spirit, of his love- not merely in the sense that he loves them, or even that they love him, but in the sense that they love like him, love as he loves. For this he does not adopt them; he dies to give them to himself and into himself- for he is the one and the all. His children are not his real, true sons and daughters until they think like him, feel with him, judge as he judges, are at home with him, and without fear before him because he and they mean the same thing, love the same things, seek the same ends. For this are we created; it is the one end of our being..." -George MacDonald

Lord, I want this.
To move from being a child to a daughter of yours.
Help me to think like you, feel like you, judge like you, be at home with you, love the same things as you, want the same things you want.
Shape me into a daughter of yours.

There was a time...

...when I liked living alone.

Tonight my roommates are out of town. I came home to a dark, quiet house. I was looking forward to having some quiet time but now that I have gotten it, I am bored. 

It's weird that I went a whole year living alone.  Every night I came home to a dark, quiet house. Now, I'd be sad if this was always the case. 

I like people.

I like hearing the muffled music from their rooms. 

I like the smell of something cooking in the kitchen.

I like when they bring people into our house that I would never meet outside of this setting. 

I like having someone know where I am at during the day. 

I like having people to squeal with when there is a mouse. 

I like watching mindless TV with people.

What was I thinking wanting to live alone? I think it was a ploy to prove my independence to myself. Almost a test. Did I pass? Probably. Would I do it again. Nope. At least I hope not. Who knows though. There is somewhat of a pride issue lingering. Like, I don't want to be the 26 year old lady living with the youngsters. When is the time to move on? Is there a time to move on? How long will I live in this house? Who will be my next roommates?

Cool Pics

For the photography lovers in my life...

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/10/earth_from_above_comes_to_nyc.html


These are pretty much the coolest pictures I have seen in a long time.

Life Lesson....

When you set a mouse trap, don't forget to periodically check it.

Or else you get an unexplainable fruit fly population as well as a funky smell in your house.

Sick. Nasty. Gross. Gag.