hope & joy


Oh, come, Lord, Jesus, quickly come,
and loose the chains of guilt and fear.
Our souls are bound by sin so great
and yearn your drawing near.
We look for hope.
We pray for peace of mind and troubled heart.
Salvation comes from you alone,
and we deserving not.

(Martin Jean, "Advent Hymn")



It's really amazing to hear that song sung by the Valparaiso University concert choir, especially in the acoustic-friendly university chapel. It sounds like a great big sigh sent out from the dying world.

This time of year I always miss Valpo (I did my undergrad there) -- okay, not the desolate landscape or final exams or the crowded Wal-Mart, but I do miss Advent Vespers and different concerts, the Christ College Christmas Symposium, and all that (Lutheran) goodness.

Not that Toronto isn't chock full of holiday events. On Sunday I went to the Constance Margaret Charity Ball, which is organized by kick-ass musician Tory Cassis in memory of his mom, and features a whole whack of Toronto Swing/Jazz peeps. This year I really had a good time, too, as opposed to last year, where I had broken my toe and was in screaming pain most of the time because I decided to dance anyways. I don't know why, but this year I felt totally "on", like, the whole time. My dancing was good, my outfit was good, and people kept laughing at the things I said. The best part was that I got to dance with possibly the best swing dancer in Toronto, and probably one of the best in the world. This guy's thing is that he can just make up moves as he goes along, and he leads them so well that you can totally follow it and look (almost) as cool as he looks. So, we were dancing, and I was all "whee!" and he goes, "Can I lift you off your weight?"
Since, of course, I immediately interpreted that as there being something wrong with my weight (as in, the girth of my ass), I was like, "whaaa? eh, ...okay?" so then he was like, "I will take that as a yes." Next thing I know, he sweeps my feet out from under me and whips me into the air in this crazy-ass arial-type thing, and for a split second I get to look like a superstar, and then I land safely back on my feet, right on the rhythm. Holy cwap... I couldn't get the grin off my face after that, I tell you.


Knitting has been marginal, but I'm quite pleased with how my mom's Christmas scarf is turning out:


Although I'm thinking now that this really isn't Mom's style. It's much more my style. Hm. So I'm actually considering casting on another scarf, which would bring me to --oh, I dunno-- like, 8 thousand unfinished works in progress. Hmmmm.

Posted: Tue - December 14, 2004 at 09:23 AM        

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