Yes, I know it's been a while since I have said anything substantial. I've been busy, OK? Here are some further thoughts I want to share with you.

• Saint Augustine said a lot of really interesting things. Why did he seem so boring in my theology and philosophy classes?
• I've decided there isn't much I can do about the lack of spritual development and adult education opportunities in my congregation. There is the Adult Forum, but that is at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday. If I physically can't get up to make it to 11 a.m. services, there is no way I can do that. There is also a book study on Tuesday evenings, but I can't commit to anything then, as so many proposals we work on have a Wednesday due date. And we are such a small and highly scattered congregation (about 300 members (175 active) and a radius of about 30 miles) that more "stuff" is a difficult thing to contemplate. So, if spiritual growth won't come to Sheryl, Sheryl will go to spiritual growth. Or something like that. An Episcopal church and a Methodist church in the area are combining to conduct a workshop on Taize prayer next week (If you click the link, ignore the first thing in the article - I have no idea what spiritual molestation is, and I'm pretty sure I don't want to know). I'm registering for it because I've always appreciated Taize, and I may gain some knowledge I can bring back to my congregation.
• My bracket for the NCAA tournament is totally screwed up, though my final four is still alive.
• I've decided that an anonymous benefactor is going to give me a million dollars (Of course I don't know who - he or she wouldn't be anonymous then would he or she?). I am then going to buy either an overpriced condo or an overpriced cottage in a retirement community, a really cool car, and a dog with floppy ears who I will name Harvey, Jr. Then Harvey and I will travel around the country writing about all the colorful people and things we encounter. I will be declared the Jack Kerouac of my generation, and then I will go live in my condo or retirement community with my faithful Harvey Jr. by my side. It's good to have a plan, no?
• Sonic's Vanilla Coke is a gift from God.
• As is dried pineapple from Whole Foods.
• Oh, and any vanilla ice cream.
• I had a very productive day today. I bought new car insurance (don't tell LADOTD, but I've been without it for a while), opened a new bank account (Money Market account for my student loan, that has no minimum balance and no fees and 5% interest rate), picked up a prescription, and wrote a note to someone that I'm not ready to talk about yet. Oh, and I did some work, too.
• I'm waiting to decide that I can go on vacation until I know for sure if I need to have surgery this summer (should know in April). But I really, really want to book it now and know that I can go away. I need to take time that is my own and reconnect with the part of myself that is still there, just floating around in the stratosphere lately. I've told y'all before that I'm planning to go to Holden Village and I still am. I think I've figured out how to finagle all the expenses that I'll be able to manage it.
• The only things I miss about cable are Comedy Central, TV Land, Animal Planet, and the Food Network. I think cable companies should have a way that you can only purchase the channels you want, and you bill is prorated for those channels.
• I shall share more stuff later this week, perhaps.