July 19th, 2005 I find myself so often in new places. Is this a drifters life, or am I coming home; only time will tell. The staff at St. Ambrose are good to me and accepting of my passion, and high energy as a good thing. At times like these, when the path is not yet clear and I'm feeling my way, I think about places in my life that were new. What I remember most is how blessed I have been in my travels to meet such fine human beings. "Friends" so full of life and capable of such goodness. It makes me shake my head and wonder how it is our world too often shattered by violence... man's inhumanity to man. But I know we are not lost, that still at the end of the day if I can look in the mirror and say my life is useful, then no matter were my journey takes me I have a chance to make a different. I realize this thinking heard by those who don't know me would be simplistic, too idealistic to be of any use, and I too have echoed these words in time of darkness. There is such deep saddness in my heart when i focus on the darkness, but to stay in that place would be certain death, yeilding a life not worth living. So I embrace the light in the smile of friends and family... we gone on for each other, we believe, if for no other reason that those who love us need us to.

July 4th, 2005 Well it's been six weeks at my new job, here at St. Ambrose Outreach Center. Not unusual, it's a lot of hard work, with little time to think about much else. I'm the supervisor of the pantry, soup kitchen and maintence staff ... sounds impressive, I was given the responsibility by default...IE everyone else is too busy...lol. It's all good and for the most part they've been doing their position so long all they need is for me to encourage them, that what they do is important, that they are appreciated and I'd be lost without them. It's all true. My real job as Community Services Outreach Coordinator is very different, no glory, and so far only small victories, as I try to locate money and services in the community for human beings living in abject poverty, here in the richest country in the world. My experiences over the past year have better equiped me to be the human being I need to be for the people I serve. So I create, and dance, and walk in the woods to reknew my spirit... and sometimes... when it's a holiday, I'll focus my thoughts on my friends, trying to so somthing special to make you smile... or laugh. That's the intention of the quiz ... to share a bit of laughter with my friends!!!