It's Been A Glorious Six Months

Welcome back. As my title says, "It's been a glorious six months." It really has. A lot has changed:

1. I'm no longer living at the Catholic Worker. However, that can't stop me from living like a Catholic Worker. I perhaps can't use the name anymore, but I've still got the love.

2. I got a(n almost) full-time job. I'm teaching Spanish at two of Des Moines' many Catholic elementary schools, St. Pius X and St. Augustin.

3. I moved to a lovely little home in Beaverdale with three friends of mine. I love the house, I love the friends, I miss the people at the Worker.

And yet, a lot stays the same:

1. I'm still involved at the Catholic Worker. When I can (sometimes force myself to) get up in time for a 7:00 am meeting, I attend one once a week at the DMCW, still helping create the type of community we've always envisioned there. I no longer get to be a part of the day-to-day operations, but my heart is still in it, and I still miss the people, community members and guests alike.

2. I'm still involved with the Catholic Church, although, like always, I'm still not Catholic.

3. I'm still dating the same person :)

4. I still don't know what I want to do with my life.What I'm doing right now is really good for me. I like the work, I love the other staff I work with, the location is great, I'm using the degree I never thought I'd use, and I'm still wishing I could use my math more than I do.

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Now, for the real purpose of this entry. As I was driving to work (which I wish I wouldn't have, because I live very, very close and it would be almost as fast to bike as to drive), I noticed this electronic bulletin board near the mall, that flashes various photos of nature scenes on it. It will go from a beautiful sunset on a lake, to a zoomed in photo of a flower, to a picture of a dog and a cat snuggling.

What?! Mind you, there's nothing wrong with these photos. But here's the thing--there's no brand name along with them. Clear Channel does have their name on the bottom of the billboard, though. Do they own the billboard, or are they trying to advertise nature to us? Or both? What's the point?

What have we come to, that we have to put pictures of nature up on billboards so we can experience it?

Why don't they put up pictures of things people seem to want? Like money, or big cars, or something like that?

You know why? That stresses people out.

Having a picture of people stuck in traffic or cajoling for some more dough would only make people more angry that their stoplight is taking forever to turn green. Nature scenes are soothing, relaxing, peaceful.

Perhaps we should just get out of the traffic and go sit in nature. Real nature.

Just an idea.