I am not titling this post because I have no idea what it is going to be about. I just feel like writing. I suppose I could update you all on what has been going on with me. I work. I work all the time and I wish I could say I was making a lot of money but that would be less than true. I am making money but it is all going towards bills, food, bills, and I'm saving up for my trip in January to Palestine/Israel with Luther Seminary. I am grateful to my parents for helping me out with some of the expense of the trip, which was completely unexpected, and gladly received. I am still working at both the law office in Minneapolis and The Limited at the Southdale Center. I suppose it keeps me busy and out of trouble. But sometimes I just want to break out of the rut I'm in and do something extremely out of character for myself just for kicks.
I'm realizing I get bored with too much of the same thing if it goes on for too long. I want to escape, be spontaneous and do something very out of the ordinary. This is why I am so glad I am going on the Cross Cultural trip with Luther Seminary in January. It is definitely out of the ordinary and I'll be able to escape the mundane existence that I now find myself living daily.
I really shouldn't complain though. At least I have a job and am paying bills, keeping a roof over my head, mostly on my own with the occasional assistance from the parental units when it gets really tough. But overall, I'm doing it on my own, which is a small comfort. I don't feel like too big of a failure in the "real world".
I find that I have become indifferent to the way my life is going for the most part. Sometimes I get really down on myself for not having done things differently, but most of the time I just go through my day in a haze, mostly because I am working all the time and the only way to keep myself from going insane from dealing with all the stupid people I have to deal with (especially at The Limited) is to phase out. Well actually it is more like going numb and pretending to give a shit, when I really don't. I have become quite to good actress since the end of July.
But with people I actually care about and like, I don't act like that. I actually pay attention to what they are saying and am completely myself, when I actually am able to breath for a minute and spend time with friends and family.
Speaking of family, I had an awesome Thanksgiving. My sister, brother-in-law, and the kiddies came out from New Hampshire and my brother came home from film school in Florida and we all spent Thanksgiving together, which by the way, was also my dad's birthday. My aunt, uncle, and cousin also came down from Burnsville to celebrate with us, which was awesome. On Friday, we all went to the Minnesota Zoo and I have some pictures posted on my facebook page of the fun we all had walking around and looking at all the animals. It was just great to have everyone together for the first time in years.
And one more thing, I have turned in the first of my PhD applications (this one is to Harvard Divinity School) and tomorrow I'll be turning in my PhD application to Luther Seminary, which is exciting and scary at the same time. I only have one more to turn in and then I have to sit and wait to find out whether I have gotten into any of the schools or not. That will be a nerve racking time for me, but then again, with all the working and the amazing trip I'm going on in January, I won't have anytime to sit around and worry.
So that's that. My thoughts on my life lately in a nutshell. Nothing exciting, nothing profound, just the day to day life of someone who is bored and wanting desperately to break out of a rut and do something extraordinary. Thank God that January is only a short time away. And in a few weeks my brother will be home for 2 weeks and we can catch up on all the movies we've been planning to see. Holiday parties will be good breaks from the normal routine and spending time with family and friends will be welcome vacations from the rut of my slow and boring life of work, sleep, eat...not necessarily in that order.

Nothing of Significance

I was intending to write an update of how life has been and realized I have nothing of significance to write about. There are many mundane things I could write about. There are several things I could complain about. But honestly I don't have the energy to do either. Instead I am going to force myself to get off my computer and get some much needed rest and relaxation time in before going to sleep. I'll save the rest for another day...

Dear Friend:

Dear Friend,
It has been a while since we last talked, so I thought I would update you on what's going on in my life. I can sum it up in three words; work, work, work. I have to work extra hard now at both jobs because I charged my trip to Israel/Palestine to my Target Visa Card. It will take me a while to pay it off, but it is totally worth it and I'm sure you'd agree being that you have done your fair share of traveling, going to Egypt and Turkey and all.
And lately I've been thinking a lot about relationships. Relationships with family and friends and romantic relationships as well. Mostly though my family and friends. I've been thinking a lot about you and all the fun that was had on the 4th of July and going to the Stone Arch Bridge to watch the fireworks with Veronica, Joe, and your roommate Matt. A lot has changed since then, but you know this well. You have gone ahead of us to set up for the party that will be had when we arrive to that final destination. I know this and it comforts me when I begin to feel sad that I will not see you anymore. Because that is not true, it is not true at all. You see, we shall meet again my friend, dear Katherine, just not yet, not yet...
Lovingly your friend always,
Megan Louise Pratola

(This blog is dedicated to my friend Katherine Ann Olson who was taken away from this world all too soon, who is partying it up in heaven with the big man himself and who will never be forgotten by those whose lives she touched with her bright smile and crazy red hair.)

I got tagged by Jen

4 Jobs I've Held:

• Sales Associate at The Limited (my previous stint in retail was at the local Fashion Bug in Dundas, MN)
• Telephone Surveyor (gave health care surveys over the phone, it sucked!!!)
• Movie rental clerk
• hotel housekeeping (and I won't even go there)
  

4 Films I could watch again and again:

• Dazed and Confused
• Mansfield Park
  
• Some Like It Hot
  
• Anything Quentin Tarentino
  

4 TV Shows I watch:

• Lost
  
• Heroes
• All of the Law and Orders (especially the reruns on TNT, which I don't get anymore...BOO!!!)
  
• CSI: Las Vegas (but I also watch the NY one too)
  

4 Places I've lived:

• Cedar Knolls, NJ
  
• Northfield, MN
  
• Bemidji, MN
  
• Minneapolis, MN
  

4 Favorite foods:

• Chocolate
• Bread - all kinds
  
• Cheese
• Cereal

4 websites I visit everyday:

• Luthersem
• Facebook
• Blogger (mine and several others!)
• my hotmail account
  

4 favorite colors:

• Blue
  
• Green
  
• Chocolate brown
  
• Black
  

4 places I'd rather be right now:

• Boston, MA
  
• London, England
  
• New York, New York
  
• Madrid, Spain
  

4 names I like but wouldn't or couldn't use myself:

• James
  
• Harry
  
• Clair
• June
  

And my 4 blogging friends that I'm tagging are:

• All the people I would tag have already been tagged so I'm not tagging anyone...so there...haha on that...
  

October 1st in 25 minutes...

It baffles me that it is October already. I feel like it just turned spring two days ago. Anyway, the concept of time is baffling to me period. Sometimes it feels like things are at a stand still and then all of a sudden I feel in a rush. Sometimes I get so bored and sometimes I feel so busy...
Anyway, I'm only going to write a brief blog right now because I am tired and heading to bed but I wanted to share my news with you all.
I have been promoted at both of my jobs. At my law office job, I have gone from a temp. employee to actually working for the firm as their Assistant Law Librarian. Sadly it is only part-time but I really like it and so I took the position. I just have to sign on the dotted line and it's totally official.
At The Limited, I have been promoted to the position of Sales Lead, which is between being big-shot manager and a peon sales associate. Once I've done all the training I will be in charge of shifts and opening and closing the store as a part-time Sales Lead.
And this is where I become baffled by time again. I've only been working at The Limited for 2 months and at the Law Office for a month and a half and I'm being promoted. Of course I am honored that these places think so highly of me to promote me so soon, but I find myself wondering if I am ready. Do I know enough to be in charge after only 2 months? I guess I'll find out because I took the promotion and have no regrets as of late.
As for things outside of work, well there really isn't anything outside of work. Just trying to pay the bills and keep a roof over my head, save some money for my trip in January to the Holy Land with Luther Seminary peeps, and enjoy my downtime by reading up on the Medici and Machiavelli in Florence right before the beginning of the reformation period in history. Oh and of course I spend as much time as I can muster the energy for with friends and family. So there you have it. My life in a nutshell since the last time I blogged. Peace Out!!!

Monotony

I don't really have much to say. Well I always have something to say, but lately life has been pretty dull. I'm either at one job or the other, some days both, I try and hang out with friends when I have the energy and I am broke. Now, I wouldn't mind working as much as I do if I had something to show for it. But I don't. All the money I make goes towards paying bills, keeping a roof over my head and gas to get to where I need to go.
I do have to say one thing though, I am looking forward to the day where I can take the light rail from St. Louis Park into downtown Minneapolis. Right now I drive over to the Lake Street stop because there is a park and ride there and take the light rail into downtown. I save a lot of money that way.
I've been spending most of my nights in lately, watching TV, putzing on the internet, and reading. It is hard to want to go out and spend time with people when I have no money, no energy, and over-all dislike where I am in my life right now. I am no longer transitioning, I am fully immersed in the "real" world and I hate it. It's boring, overrated, full of people just like me, trying to get by in day to day life without going nuts.
Suffocation is the word I will use to describe my new life. I feel like I'm stuck. Like I'm hitting my head up against a wall continuously as though it will change something. I need to get out, away from this mundane existence before I truly go insane. Routine is great, but there has got to be something to spice things up a bit at times. Sometimes I wish I could just leave all this behind and start over again somewhere else. Experience new things, meet new people, live... But for the next 10 months I am here in the "real" world, being bored, anxious, and feeling like I am missing out on something (don't know what) that is truly awe-inspiring, maybe even life changing.
For now I will try and stop hitting my head against the wall and do what everyone else in the "real" world does, try and make it through day after day.

I am the most indecisive person I know...

Ok, here it is. I have yet again found myself questioning my choices for the future. Sometimes it is good to have a plethora of choices to choose from at other times like now it is not so good. Today I received news of a slight road block in my application to start school again in January and it got me thinking a lot about what to do next. Clearly there is a simple solution around this road block, but instead I find myself looking at it, asking myself if it is worth the trouble, and realizing a different answer.
So I called the one person I knew who could talk me through this hiccup, my mom. I told her I had been rethinking why I was applying for a degree in Pastoral Care, not because I don't think I can do it, but more because I feel so strongly that I am not completely done with my studies in history. So she said this to me: "Where do you see yourself in five years?" I could not answer her. But in the end I did answer with this sidebar comment, which didn't mean anything when it came out of my mouth but then seconds later became realized. I said: "I just don't want to go through two more years of school studying pastoral care counseling and realize I really don't want to do that, but going through the four years of a PhD program in historical studies, I know I wouldn't regret because I have loved and will always love history." So there, I answered my own question.
So I have finally bitten the bullet; I can no longer deny it. I am destined for PhD work no matter how hard I have fought against it. I don't have the strength to fight anymore. God has kicked the crap out of me for the last time on this subject; I have given in completely. No more fear of not being smart enough for it. No more fear of all the hard work I will put into it. No more fear. I am powerless to stop what must be done. And therefore I have pulled out of the Pastoral care degree and am instead devoting free time towards researching different seminary's Church history programs and admission requirements. I have not begun filling anything out yet but will have to start that process soon.
The only thing I feel at odds about is the fact that I was so passionate in my resolve to return to Luther Seminary to study pastoral care and work with young adults. Perhaps I jumped the gun a little bit by applying and telling everyone what I was going to do. Maybe I should have kept it to myself, but then again, I really am serious about working with "emerging" adults. But now instead of making a career out of it, I can devote myself to this endeavor in other ways. And instead of putting my love of history on the side line, I will now be able to research and teach my passion for the rest of my life. I can devote myself to two things. One I already do every day anyway. The last two days I have been providing pastoral care to one of my bosses at The Limited. She is going through a transitional period in her life, leaving The Limited to start a new job somewhere else and has a lot of things on her mind. I have been a good listener and every once in a while interject with a comment or two. Pastoral Care is something I can do every day with anyone.
History is something I can do everyday too, and it is something I want to do everyday. It is something I want to study, teach and share with the whole world because it is important even though many people I know don't particularly care for it. History tells us where we have come from, where we are and where we are headed in the future. Without history we wouldn't know half of what we know now. Yes it is a bunch of dates and names but it is so much more than that as well, and that right there is what I want to spend the rest of my life showing the world. History does matter!!! I want to write it, research it, teach it, live it, breath it. It is who I am, what I am meant to do.
So for everyone who I am confusing with my several changes of heart in the past months I apologize. I do not regret any of my decisions, but instead embrace them because they have finally led me to accept and acknowledge my life's work, which God has been trying to tell me all along but I have stubbornly ignored because I didn't want to face the reality for some reason, more than likely out of fear. Fear can keep a person from doing many things, in my case it has weighed me down with doubt which I gave myself over to briefly. Fear of the "real" world, in which I don't fit in (rather I belong in the world of academia) led me to doubt my calling briefly. But I am aware again of my calling to profess the history of our church for future generations and am taking the necessary steps towards being able to accomplish this goal; PhD program research at seminaries across the country and filling out the necessary forms and sending in the necessary data required by the schools I choose to apply to.
I swear, I am seriously the most indecisive person I know... but somehow, someway, I know deep down inside that my new course of action is truly the right one for me and that nothing else would ever make me feel like I am fulfilling my purpose as God has given me to fulfill.