Those darn life applications...

There is a lesson here somewhere....

I must first explain my absence (yet again)... My lovely Sony Vaio has again failed me. Rather, as I have recently learned, I failed it. I know, I know, I can access blogger via this crazy thing called the world wide web. BUT, there is just something about curling up with that lovely little computer in my lap that just makes blogging seem so very right.

So for a little story...

Mr. Geek Squad: Good Afternoon, How can I help you? Wait... have you been in here before? You look really familiar.

Me (in my head): No, I haven't been here. You just used the lamest pick up line in the book.

Me (in real life): No, but I need help!

Mr. GS: What's the problem? (I set my laptop on the counter.) Ooooh- It's so pretty. Did you get it here, I have never seen one like this?

Me: It may be pretty, but it sure doesn't work. And yes, I bought it here. Well, not this actual store...but another Best Buy. You get the point.

Mr. GS then tries his bag of tricks to get my lovely laptop to power on. You guessed it, nothing worked. At which point, he began fiddling with a piece that was moderately loose. So, here comes the shaming question... (much like the Sprint guy asking if your phone has water damage-- yes, dropping it in the toilet is classified as water damage-- but that is another story.)

Cue shaming.

Mr. GS: Did you drop it?

Me: Um...well... yeah...probably....I am moderately clumsy

Mr. GS: Well, it appears that the problem is somewhere between the connection and the motherboard. You will have to take it to Sony to have it repaired. And let's be real, that will cost you more than a laptop.

Me: no words. just sad face.

Mr. GS: (with really sad face) What a shame, this is a really pretty laptop.

Me: I know. I know.

So, as I was walking to my car with my very sad news, I couldn't help but think.... Something can be so pretty and alluring, that people are immediately attracted to it. But if it isn't living up to its potential, or purpose, it doesn't really do us much good.

Life application: I can spend all the time, money and effort in the world trying to look a certain way. But if I fail to sharpen my insides- my thoughts, my speech, my consideration, my sharing my heart , how much have I really contributed? Who is able to benefit from me then. Answer, not many. After all, charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting.

I have power!

(alternate title: A black girl, a white girl and a man in a Kimono walk into a bar...)

Most of you didn't even notice that I was gone. Indeed, I was. The adapter on my laptop decided on March 2nd that it no longer wanted to perform its God-given function. It probably needs to read something by Rick Warren. But who actually reads all that? Well, thanks to eBay- I have a new AC adapter and I am back in business.

Here is one of many things that happened while I was unable to power my lovely little Sony Vaio with its chocolate reptile cover. (Like you doubted that my laptop would have a chocolate reptile cover...)

I can't make this stuff up. It is like the making of a good joke. Or bad one. This guy. Dressed in this costume. Was out and about in midtown the other weekend. Vita and I were just minding our own business, when hello, look who sits down next to us. I mean, really? Really? Did that just happen. It did. And Whitney had my camera ready.

Who dat?

Well, I just can't seem to stay in the same time zone for long. So, I headed west to yet another city that I had never been to before. All because a year ago, when Jessica moved to New Orleans (something about wanting to live with her husband), the cheetahs decided to run the Mardis Gras 1/2 marathon.

Presenting #4 of 20. Visit New Orleans.

Things we did. In no particular order. Dressed up like Elvis. Got interviewed by a pseudo reporter. Ate crab cake po'boys. Ate sweet potato fries. Walked through the French Quarter. Peeked at Bourbon Street. Ate doughnuts. Ate bagels. Ate lettuce wraps. Went to a delightful chocolate shop. Ate chocolate. Ran 13.1 miles. Beat the mayor of New Orleans. Laughed. Sang. Added medals to the collection.

Some photographic evidence.

When the cat's away...

The mice will play...

Yes. Those are my sisters. They make me proud.

All in a day's work...

For the past 7 days, I have been busy at work on my 20 of 2010. Oh, the lengths (and distances) I will go for this little project. I actually rose above my challenge of visiting a new city and visited a city that I had never been to before, in a country that I had never been to before, in a continent that I had never been to before. Compliments of my new job (oh yeah, I got a new job), I spent last week in Europe for our spring director's meeting.

So, here is #3 of 20: I visited Valencia, Spain.

I could have completed my entire list of 20 new things just on this trip. And since doing that would make for a boring year, I decided that I would document 20 things that I have never done before just on this trip.

#1 Visit Europe

#2 Visit Paris (for a 7 hour layover) and use a French Keyboard

#3 Hang out in the SkyMiles lounge (those International Programs peeps sure rack up some FF miles.)

#4 Visit Spain
#5 Eat paella at Maria's house. She is awesome. Her paella is to die for.
#6 Drink Cafe con Leche everyday

#7 Stay in a building that has a 15th century Roman wall

#8 See a bull ring

#9 Tour Valencia's City Hall

#10 Climb to the top of the Serrano Tours

#11 Attend a private party. In Spain.

#12 Eat my weight in tapas

#13 Hang out with an Italian Man (Don't get the wrong idea, he is my friend Kelly's husband.)

#14 Find Hannah Montana on a menu

#15 Watch the Valencia Marathon
#16 Participate in an international paper airplane competition #17 Go to an Irish bar in Spain with friends from London and Florence #18 Run in a river bed

#19 See the City of Arts and Sciences #20 Have a dance party with co-workers

It is official. I love Valencia. I really do. I may move there. Dare me.

Come on in...the water is fine...

Have you ever put something off for nearly a decade? Well, let me tell you. It is such a great feeling when you finally do it. And what a great year to make it happen. Because now it is in the official 20 of 2010.

My Next Step is... from fbctlh on Vimeo.

#2 of 20: Join the church AND get baptized.

Yes, you read and heard that correctly. You do not need to adjust your screen. I, Meghan Greene, was not a member at First Baptist Church. Cue jokes about commitment issues. Well, no more! It was time to make it official. So, on Sunday, I was baptized along with my sisters and my future brother-in-law.

Because inquiring minds want to know... here are the answers to the questions that you are asking:

Have you really NEVER been baptized?

Well, I actually have been baptized. In 1981. As an infant. With a lovely little sprinkle on my head. My family attended Methodist church at the time and that was the practice of the church. I certainly do not take that baptism lightly. I am very grateful that my parents made a public commitment to raise me in the church and place an intentional emphasis on my personal spiritual development.

So, if you have been baptized, was it necessary to do it again?

If by necessary, you mean "to get past the pearly gates", I would say no. Salvation is through grace alone. But here is why I believe it to be important. It was about me, as an adult, making a public profession of my faith. It was also important for me to recognize and honor the heritage and tradition of the baptist church. Thus, I wanted to be baptized by immersion.

So, why did you wait until you were 2_ years old?

Honestly, this is something that has been on my heart and mind for a while. And there are two reasons for the procrastination. 1) There were parts of me that just felt like it was a hoop to jump through. That it wasn't necessary. It wasn't a requirement. So, why do it? 2) I was afraid. I was afraid of what people would think. I feared the reaction would be ::gasp:: Meghan Greene has never been baptized! Did she just become a Christian?! Wait... she was on staff at our church!?

The reality is that reason #1 was just an excuse to validate reason #2.

So, how did people react?

Well, from what I hear, there was a bit of a stir in the pastoral staff meeting when they read my "next step" card. Then I had a flock of church staff members eager to book the date. (the very next Sunday, as it turns out.) And then a flowing of support and encouragement. Very clearly demonstrating that the above mentioned reason #2 was all in my head and not one bit in God's plan. Other reactions...well, I saw lots of cameras clicking away on Sunday morning, got lots of hugs, and my parents came. They were excited. (Well, once I convinced them that we weren't joining a cult. I kid.)

Did you do a cannon ball into the baptismal?

No. But I wanted to. And I wanted to wear floaties on my arms. Safety first.

Got any almond paste?

Well, I know that many of you have either (a) assumed that I have forgotten my year commitment to the 20 of 2010 or (b) forgotten yourself that I ever made a claim to do 20 things that I have never done before. Well friends, rest assured. I have not forgotten. In fact, I have been busy at work developing my list and scheming its execution.

So, without further ado, I present #1 of 20.

I learned to make Petit Fours. Yes, I took an official baking class. Complete with made for tv style demonstrations, the distracting banter between our chef/teacher and the store owner, a water outage, and the lovelies. That's right Julia and Angie. And Matt was there too. He took the picture, how could we forget him.

After seeing what an involved and time intensive project making Petit Fours is. I doubt I will ever actually make them myself. I will just order them from the lovely folks at Piece of Cake Tallahassee.