And here's another reason why all Christians should be careful of how they act -- people are watching. There's a guy at work, very reminiscant of a guy I went to high school with. He's very outspoken, always planning bible studies, and he sings praise and worship everywhere. He also got fired from his church worship job for fooling around with a high school girl. Now he works with me. His makes all sorts of comments like "I hear you look hot in a swimsuit." Why is it the last person you want as the ambassador of your Faith is the loudest? And then other groups at work. They're rude to the waiters, condescending to the bussers, and overall demanding, pushy, overbearing and nasty. Then I walk up with a bottle of wine I've decanted for them -- in time to overhear a conversation about the Episcopal Church they attend. When the bill came they demanded a manager to erase their corkcage fees (they'd brought in two bottles), and didn't tip anyone. (I know i'm harping on the tipping thing) And that's the view the average person has of us. No wonder no one wants to go to church.

We have a snake that has made a home in dad's fountain/flower pot arrangement. We think its eating his frog chorus. I found it the other day. It had apparently gone off for an early-afternoon slither around the flower bed, and was returning to its evening abode when I happened to catch it winding its way up the extension cord to the fountain mechanism. It made a beeline to the largest flower pot...I can only assume its been living there for quite some time. That might explain the mysterious dissapearance of several of dad's goldfish. I went inside to tell mother not to go on the patio. She ran outside screaming, found a hose with a spray nozzle, and started deluging the flower pots. The snake beat a hasty retreat, and thirty minutes later I managed to coax the hose out of my mothers death grip. She doesn't like snakes. Not even cute mint green and black striped garden snakes. Not even large worms. After she left, I watched the snake casually slide back over into it's favorite pot. Now my mother yells at the flower pot in her spare time.

My sister and I have moved. To the outbuilding. Mother has decided that we are far to messy to be living in the house while she is trying to show it, so we have been effectively banished. It's not a bad arrangement, if Andrea and I can keep from killing each other for the next 6 weeks. She's a rather verbal morning person -- needless to say I am not; actually I'm a rather verbal night person...15 minutes before I pass out completely. That's the hard part about living alone. I have to talk to myself for 15 minutes before I go to sleep. Or I could just use the fact that I'm already awake and verbal to pray. On second thought however, even though my mouth is working at that point, my brain rarely every is. I think I'll leave off the praying to when I'm more coherent.

Have you ever had one of those days where everything seems off. I worked a split shift today, and both shifts were horrible. My timing was off all night, and I inevitably got to tables 10 seconds after the waitors had decided that I wasn't coming, and took the drink orders for me. Arrgh. On a more interesting side, Juan started wearing cologne to work. And he spends a good deal of time thanking me for my help, even though he's usually the one catching up on my work. And he keeps trying to trip me as I walk past. Can anyone who actually recognises flirting as a form of communication tell me if that's what he's doing? Oh, and when I sang in the bar tonight, he told me "I sing beautiful." Poor grammar, but the accent makes up for it.

Thank you Teri for leaving comments! Makes my day! (hint to the rest of you guys)

Check out Youth Advance! St. Albans Episcopal Youth Group's new weblog -- hosted by Aaron Dowdy!

Just got off work. I say that a lot don't I? Had another wretched table (Aaron, am I misusing wretched too? I've never checked to see if the majority of my big words are in context since no one calls me on it ;-) They asked for a wine list. I left for a couple of minutes since most people don't like having a waiter hovering. I came back a bit later, asked them if they'd chosen a wine, and the man said, Yes a long time ago. It went downhill from there. They mysteriously wanted both bottles opened at once. Then as I poured it, no one would tell me if they wanted any, but would get irate if I poured them wine that they didn't want. Then another lady brought in a bottle of wine and didn't want to pay the corkcage fee, and she wanted me to chill it for her, and she wanted an ice bucket for the table. Needless to say, they also didn't tip. Lovely people. Not everyone is that horrible (I almost wrote aweful, but I caught myself....really trying here....). I had a nice family who's little girl is taking voice. She's probably 13 or 14 and her last two pieces were: "O Mio Babbino Caro" (not too bad--I can sing it fairly easily) and "Un Bel Di" (yikes -- for those of you that know nothing about opera, Marjorie Owens could probably sing it, but I never would -- and if any random people are viewing this who don't know Marjorie -- check out the Houston Grand Opera website). Anyway...I smiled and told her that was "ambitious," which amazingly enough is exactly what VC said when I sang "Rejoice Greatly o Daughter of Zion" for my Baylor audition......hmmmmm....

I went to church this morning. Twice actually. Got the word last night that I was responsible for the anthem at 8:00 service at the Presbyterian church. So I got to sing and accompany myself (and my sister) on "Breathe" which I love, but my youth group never got into... anyway. I got in the car and dashed off to the 10 o clock service at St. Mark's Episcopal. Ahhhhhh....frighteningly enough the Episcopal church felt more like home than the Presbyterian one did. Maybe I should just be confirmed. Seems like a drastic step though -- I haven't covered ALL of the denominations yet. (To date I've been to or been influenced by: Puritan, Lutheran, Nazerene, Presbyterian, Episcopal, and a brief stint as a Pentocaustal, short lived though). I don't think God is denominationally tied, so why should I be? Maybe I'll be quaker next. Doesn't that sound cool? Or menonite and wear the plain dresses and the cunning little bonnets. Hmmm.....

I have no topic for this. I've just had an impromptu gathering at my house, or rather my hot tub. I made the mistake of lamenting to Manuel (one of the chefs) that my feet hurt, and I planned to go home and soak myself. He asked if he could come, and the next thing I know, I've invited half a dozen people to hot tub. 4 show up, plus my sister and myself. The boys brought corona. My mother was not impressed of course, but she didn't mind too much as long as my SISTER DIDN"T HAVE ANY. I didn't let her. You're welcome. (I know you're reading this Dad) I tried one. With lime. Not bad. Made it last and hour and forty five minutes. I'm not a fan of beer in general. Smells funny. It was fun -- probably not a party in the sense that they are used to, but at least I got to know the restaurant staff. Interesting that in a party of servers, cooks, and cocktail waitresses, the cocktail waitress knew the least about alcohol. Well, I would be a teetotaler if it wasn't for strawberry daquiris. Very tasty. Much better than corona -- even with lime. Maybe salt would help. I have the feeling that everyone is going to think I'm a lush now. I'm really not. Too much of a lightweight. We had a wine tasting today for the new house wines, and I had to ask Juan to finish my glasses because I sure as heck couldn't juggle orders with nearly a glass of wine under my belt. I dont' think I could walk with a glass of wine under my belt, much less get any for anyone else. Speaking of which -- let me put in a plea for all of the servers everywhere. Please tip generously. We work really hard, even when things are going slow. That usually means we're busy. We don't work for the wages, we work for the tips. It makes our day. On behalf of waitresses everywhere, goodnight. I have to serve BBQ tomorrow.

I've finally found a movie with Hugh Grant in it that he actually acts. Well, that goes to far. He acts exactly the same as he has in every movie -- but it's palatable this time. Sense and Sensibility. Very Good. Emma Thompson. Alan Rickman. You can't miss!