Shomer Shabbos

I'm thinking about teaching CYM again (Catholic Youth Ministry). I used to go to church every Sunday, before I met my ex, and it's nice to get back into the life I had. I like the peace of mind that attending mass affords me during the week. I liken it to exercising each day, because when you've been "good" for a while and a coworker brings in treats, you feel that you can partake of at least half a serving, b/c you've being good. Saving up that church karma to spend at a later date just makes me feel better about my world in general. Yes, I realize that trying to make an analogy using a "karma bank" to explain any portion of Catholicism is breaking the commandment of worshiping no gods before Him, thereby committing a sin. Good think I went to church this Sunday; I'm all in the clear!! (See how well that works for me?)

Sometimes the whole ex thing seems like a shady dream-Dip Van Winkle here- and it's exciting to get my life back. Very scary that I got so far off the beaten path, but nice to find myself again. The past weekend is a perfect example. I helped my dad clear a fallen tree off his property on Saturday during the day, my uncle came over and I heard lots of boyhood stories, which I thoroughly enjoy. Later that evening I had a nice dinner with my parents, my brother, his wife, and my nephews (rotini w/Bolognese sauce, and a robust but mellow cabernet). On Sunday I went to church, went back to my folks' house to play w/my nephews (I am Aunt Ami-dala, though I usually turn into a warrior princess who defeats Darth Jacob, amidst shouts of protest, of course), helped my mom make breakfast, and later on I took my 16-yr-old cousin out for dinner b/c she's currently dealing with normal teenage/mom problems, so we got to hang out and talk a bit. Nice. I mean, really really nice. The kind of nice I've been missing for the past 5 years, and feel very foolish for doing so. 'Tis but a blip, one I cannot strip, as my past is in it's grip, so this sorrow I shall nip.

On the job news, I did get the job I interviewed for but my letter of resignation was met with an offer of time to go back to school, and a possible opportunity for promotion within the next year. I'd have to earn it, but I like to learn new things, and lately I have felt very stagnant within my profession. (Ha ha! What an arrogant ass! "..within my profession" But you know what I mean) I really enjoy the people that I work with, and I've probably been blaming the comfort of my job with my lack of ambition to get off my duff and enroll in courses. Working full time and going to school is never going to be easy, but it's certainly within my range of ability. I'm just too spoiled, and I had this fantasy of going back to school full-time; a bit of Peter Pan Syndrome on my part. I've realized the house, most notably the mortgage, makes the notion an impossibility, so it's time to grow up and git 'er done. Uh, starting next spring. For real, though, school starts next Wednesday, and all of the admissions deadlines are long gone. Sigh... But in the meantime, CYM will help me better structure my time. Definitely a step in the right direction.