Here's the thing about the Stuff Stand-off: it inspires me to simplify. Now that we've started to limit our stuff intake, we've found ourselves wanting to downsize, downgrade, or just plain get rid of all kinds of things around us. We've pored through our wardrobes getting rid of clothes we no longer wear. We've decided to donate our desktop computer (more on that in another post) and the desk it sits on because the laptop at the dining room table suffices. We've canceled our land line and are getting rid of that phone. We've given away furniture and various other items from around the house. And, my most recent decision, I've technologically regressed and decided to change the nature of my relationships with my iphone and go back to an old-fashioned flip phone. That's right, the kind that makes calls and sends text messages, and that's about it (ok, it has an alarm, but my iphone could practically do my laundry, so an alarm is nothing).
A month or so ago I started thinking about getting rid of my iphone in part because of a meditation my rector led at a vestry meeting. We talked about how messed up we are getting because of our constant technological stimulation, and how our ability to focus was waning because of how often we have our head in our phone, computer, whatever. I immediately related to this, as I have an unhealthy relationship with the iphone to be sure. My husband jokes that it's the third party in our relationship. Haha. But seriously? He's kind of right. I mean, this device can do ANYTHING! How can I not love it? How can I leave it behind when we go out for dinner? What if I want to show him a picture I took that day? What if we wanted to email that picture to his parents so they could see? What if we wanted to go to a movie - how would we know the show times without the phone? What if something significant had happened in the news that day and I needed to see the New York Times? What if we got lost on the way to the restaurant and needed my GPS? I mean, think of all the things that can go wrong without the iphone!...
...so you see what I mean. It was getting to be a little much. And I decided that I wasn't nearly as important as my iphone makes me think I am. I get work emails, sure, but they are mostly about scheduling outreach meetings or pool party RSVPs. When someone really needs me, they can call me. On my flip phone.
To be fair though, there was something else that went into the decision to downgrade. While I was going back and forth about getting rid of the thing, and starting to lean towards keeping it (loving it, writing a song about it, dancing with it in the kitchen), this other thing happened. I went away to a conference and left my charger there. Oops.
Now I still have a cord at work that connects the phone to the computer to sync and charges it simultaneously. And I have a car charger, which I thought would be enough. But as it turns out, I'm not in my car or at my desk for long enough periods of time to charge the thing. The battery starting showing as dangerously low all the time. After a week of driving around town in my car just to charge the battery I decided that the universe was telling me something.
Back when I had first had the idea to downgrade I had made a plea on Facebook for an old AT&T phone because of course, I couldn't buy one. No one responded, which is when I elatedly decided to stick with what I had. Then a few days ago one of my parishioners showed up at church with a couple of options for me. So I was kind of out of excuses. I also realized that I could still use my iphone for some of it's fun features - as an ipod, to play movies, and for my little friend Emma to play piano and bubbles. But it wouldn't function as a phone. Basically, that means not being able to check my email, or the news, or You Tube, or whatever at any hour of the day from any location. Which in the long run, might just be better for me and my pscyche.
In the end, it's not just the phone I'm downgrading, but my sense of importance. The world will not fall apart if I can't check my email every hour. I can find other ways to get movie show times. And the best part? If people want to schedule something with me they'll have to email me at the office. And maybe, just maybe, I'll be more careful about how I schedule my time.
We'll see how this works. I feel a little funny with this regular little phone, and I can't send a text message in under ten minutes to save my life. But I'm confident I'll get better. There is something remarkably freeing about it all. My husband comes home from a mission trip tonight, and I can't wait to tell him there's only two of us in the marriage again...
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Michael's Framing Sale
Before I dive into this blog entry, I have to say... May 20th??? That was seriously the last time I wrote? I've got to be the world's worst blogger. I'm in awe of those folks out there who can work a full time job and keep up with the blog scene. Me, I've been storing up blog entries for weeks in my head, and of course now that I'm sitting in front of the computer with a little bit of free time (shh! don't tell anyone!) I can't remember most of them!
I'll dive into one of the topics I do remember though, as this particular item is something I have the pleasure of seeing every day!
When you get ordained, you get a fancy-schmancy ordination certificate. It's got nice calligraphy, a diocesan seal on it, and maybe a ribbon. They are pretty. And even though it's just a piece of paper, when you spend six years waiting to get ordained, said paper feels pretty good. One of the bonuses of being Episcopalian is that you have two ordinations - diaconate and priestly - and consequently two fancy-schmancy certificates. I've been admiring my friend's certificates for years now - it has been three years since we were all ordained. But I have been unable to admire my own because... well I didn't have it.
Evidently the diocese was in a time of transition right about when I got ordained. The person who had always done the calligraphy for the certificates could no longer do it, and they had yet to find someone new. When they finally did get someone new, my ordinations had long since passed. My certificates were finished, but then, as far as I know, waited in a draw for the Bishop's seal and signature. Then after they had the neccessary seals and signings, they sat in a drawer waiting to be mailed.
Now in fairness to everyone involved, we church folk are pretty busy, and I can see why a certificate would not be high on anyone's priority list. I don't blame the Bishop's secretary for losiong track of them, and I hadn't called myself. But I did wonder about them sporadically. A few months ago I finally remembered to call during business hours to check on them and see if there was any chance they could grace my walls all these years later. In less than a week a tube with the certificates showed up at my office in North Carolina. I admit, I was thrilled to have them.
No sooner had I opened and admired them that I realized they would have to go BACK into the tube until 2011 when I could finally have them framed. Bummer. But I figured, what's a few more months at this point? And that was that. I showed them to my husband so he could see, and then prepared myself to forget about them.
Then I went away for a week in early June to see a friend. And when I returned, Jonathan had a surprise for me: he had made a frame for one of my certificates! I was super excited. The best part of this is that the frame he made is gorgeous - mahogany and cherry (or is it curly maple? shoot... one or the other), and it's custom made for my print, leaving space for the seal and ribbon. It is beautiful. And if I had had a custom frame like that made for me it would have cost us an arm and a leg! Here I was just going to hit one of the sales at Michael's, and still pay a bunch of money! But instead, I have this wonderful custom frame, made with all supplies from our house. We simply took the glass out of an old frame we don't use anymore for the new frame. How cool is that?
Everytime I look at the thing now (and it hangs directly above my desk, so I look at it often) I'm overwhelmed with gratitude towards my thoughtful and talented husband, and towards our little Stand-off, which has now offered me something I never might have had otherwise. Let's hear it for creativity being born out of necessity!
I'll dive into one of the topics I do remember though, as this particular item is something I have the pleasure of seeing every day!
When you get ordained, you get a fancy-schmancy ordination certificate. It's got nice calligraphy, a diocesan seal on it, and maybe a ribbon. They are pretty. And even though it's just a piece of paper, when you spend six years waiting to get ordained, said paper feels pretty good. One of the bonuses of being Episcopalian is that you have two ordinations - diaconate and priestly - and consequently two fancy-schmancy certificates. I've been admiring my friend's certificates for years now - it has been three years since we were all ordained. But I have been unable to admire my own because... well I didn't have it.
Evidently the diocese was in a time of transition right about when I got ordained. The person who had always done the calligraphy for the certificates could no longer do it, and they had yet to find someone new. When they finally did get someone new, my ordinations had long since passed. My certificates were finished, but then, as far as I know, waited in a draw for the Bishop's seal and signature. Then after they had the neccessary seals and signings, they sat in a drawer waiting to be mailed.
Now in fairness to everyone involved, we church folk are pretty busy, and I can see why a certificate would not be high on anyone's priority list. I don't blame the Bishop's secretary for losiong track of them, and I hadn't called myself. But I did wonder about them sporadically. A few months ago I finally remembered to call during business hours to check on them and see if there was any chance they could grace my walls all these years later. In less than a week a tube with the certificates showed up at my office in North Carolina. I admit, I was thrilled to have them.
No sooner had I opened and admired them that I realized they would have to go BACK into the tube until 2011 when I could finally have them framed. Bummer. But I figured, what's a few more months at this point? And that was that. I showed them to my husband so he could see, and then prepared myself to forget about them.
Then I went away for a week in early June to see a friend. And when I returned, Jonathan had a surprise for me: he had made a frame for one of my certificates! I was super excited. The best part of this is that the frame he made is gorgeous - mahogany and cherry (or is it curly maple? shoot... one or the other), and it's custom made for my print, leaving space for the seal and ribbon. It is beautiful. And if I had had a custom frame like that made for me it would have cost us an arm and a leg! Here I was just going to hit one of the sales at Michael's, and still pay a bunch of money! But instead, I have this wonderful custom frame, made with all supplies from our house. We simply took the glass out of an old frame we don't use anymore for the new frame. How cool is that?
Everytime I look at the thing now (and it hangs directly above my desk, so I look at it often) I'm overwhelmed with gratitude towards my thoughtful and talented husband, and towards our little Stand-off, which has now offered me something I never might have had otherwise. Let's hear it for creativity being born out of necessity!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
