Other misc thoughts

Some other misc. things thoughts of late (maybe to expand on later).

Priesthood ordination will occur 5 weeks from yesterday (God willing and people consenting). Been working on the service and getting invites printed.

Need some balance, need to get out and meet some other people here. Right now my friends are scattered all across the country. If I wanted to go see a movie or go to lunch or wander around a bookstore or craft store or go get a coffee I don't really have anyone I could call up right now to do that. I did finally connect with M by phone on Thanksgiving. He was waiting for his parents to show up for brunch. Last year he and I went to the beach for coffee before he had brunch with them. Had a good little chat, but had to cut it short since I was driving and his parents eventually showed up. I wish we were closer so we could hang out more.

Anyway, I'm probably spending far too much time rattling around in my house. However yesterday I was out visiting a parishioner at a hospital near C's parish (friend who I stayed with for about 3 weeks when I first moved to town). It was nearing lunch time and I was hungry so I called and said what are you doing, I'm nearby and hungry. C wasn't doing anything time sensitive and said great. Went to IHOP for pancakes. Nice to find someone else up for breakfast food in the middle of the day - Heh! Waiter noticed we were both wearing collars. So... ummm do both your shirts just happen to have white collars? I think he knew it meant something, but didn't want to get in trouble from the establishment for asking a question he's maybe not supposed to ask. It'd be great if he decided to pop in and attend a service or visit with C.

As far as meeting new people, the guy at the framing shop seemed around my age and pretty cool. But like I said to R the other night when we were talking on the phone, what do you say? (imagine this in a kind of dorky, homely voice) "Do you want to be my friend?" Heh! We both laughed. How do you connect with a new person to see if they'd want to get coffee or something sometime without them thinking you're trying to pick up on them or some freak? Also since you're a customer how do they politely decline if not interested? Although when R mentioned someone she had run into and found self thinking hmmmm dating possibility? I shared with her that I *had* noticed frame-shop guy did not have a ring on. Not that that necessarily means anything. He could be married and not wear a ring, or in a serious relationship, or gay... all of which would make him un-datable... but not out of the friend category. I'm supposed to pick up my things today from the frame shop. I don't know if he will be there. But in about 5 weeks I should have a new document to get framed after my ordination, so another chance to explore if this is someone I'd want to get to know. It was kind of weird that we were both born in the same area of my home city and also he mentioned an uncle who lived in an area - the specific area I have 3 photographs of that I took that I had considered bringing into that shop to get framed.

Been paying for a gym membership for a couple of months now and haven't been in, although I did get the key-ring swipey card thing. Maybe I'll actually make it there this week. I may need to actually calendar it in like an appointment to actually get myself to start going. Also need to start going to bed a little earlier if I'm going to want to try and get up early enough to go to the gym before going into the parish. Gym might be a potential place to meet some new folks and they would probably live in the area.