Finding a Solution in the Hyphenate-Debate

We've finally figured out what we're going to do about our names after the wedding. We've both lived and worked long enough with our own names that we don't want to lose that part of how people know us. But we also both want to take each others' names. (This might be helpful, too, given how many people I'm still finding that didn't realize we were getting married). And there are other factors, too, like racial justice, that go into names. Jorge, for example, would like an Anglo name, which may help to alleiviate some of the discrimination he faces.

I've come to really like the Salvadorean method of taking a husband's name, which may happen in other countries also. I could be 'Le Anne Clausen de Montes,' which sounds nicer than a simple hyphenated 'Clausen-Montes.' And it allows for Jorge to be a Montes Clausen, with his name first. We haven't figured out the children's names yet, though I think Montes Clausen would work well.

Incidentally, we have worked through our earlier dilemma, that we will probably solve the age difficulty by having our first sooner, and our second later, and foster or adopt any others.This past weekend at the SOA rally and vigil, I heard a lot of beautiful first names, like Dominga and Salvadore'. And something like Susanna Theresa would cover three parental names in one.

So--the search for stable incomes (hopefully continuing meaningful work) proceeds full force for us both; and we'll probably start working on a family as soon as we can afford it.

That's all for now. Back to the books.

A Month of My Life in Facebook: November, 2008

If I can be accused of not writing enough in my blog these days, Facebook is probably to blame.

It is too easy to condense all that is going on in my life to a one-line, hopefully witty, headline.

This could be the ‘CNN-ization’ of our world, in which all we see or expect anymore are the headlines, without time to stop for details. (Of course, for this reason, be grateful I am not on Twitter. That blips by even more quickly. I don’t think I could handle it).

So I thought I’d go back over this month to see if my life could be reasonably constructed from my Facebook updates. Here’s about a month’s worth of posts. You tell me if the pieces come together. Help me fill in the blanks, if you like. I might try doing this every now and then:

(From November 19 backwards to October 17)

LeAnne takes moment to breathe between ordination paperwork and her chapter on 'Sin and Evil'.
LeAnne is finding that watching 'Supernanny' is a curiously good way to learn to interact better with co-op mates.
LeAnne is rockin’ the candidacy paperwork and constructive theology...
LeAnne feels bad she will need to be a workaholic for the next few days...
LeAnne is typing up notes from jail for the next book. Who knew it could take so long?
LeAnne splurged on books at AAR; scrimped on wedding stationery; thought it was a good trade. :)
LeAnne is fighting hard against the instinct to hibernate. Jorge has already succumbed.
LeAnne would like to shave her head again, but the wedding's six weeks away.
LeAnne is prepping CTS photos for the Ministerial Institute brochure
LeAnne is considering quitting any organization that requires more than one three-hour evening meeting per year.
LeAnne is addressing envelopes and realizes how out of date her snail-mail address book is.
LeAnne and Jorge are using Babelfish to make their wedding invitations bilingual/ están utilizando Babelfish para hacer a su invitaciones: http://babelfish.yahoo.com/translate_txt.
LeAnne is working on (paper) wedding invites and wanting to nap on a gray day.
LeAnne woke up this morning to the kitties fighting, like teenagers, over the litterbox.
LeAnne is planning her literary career and wondering if she should take seriously the advice to get an agent.
LeAnne had a good time at AAR, she forgot to say earlier. Decent presentation, met lots of fun publishers, and temporarily irritated some famous people.
LeAnne feels a little conflicted, but mostly good, about ripping into a rather arrogant self-professed radical um, jerk, today.
LeAnne feels like it's Christmas, Easter, and Halloween combined [November 4].
LeAnne is so beyond happy right now after a contagiously joyful evening in downtown Chicago!
LeAnne is home from one big happy seminary party--and preparing like mad for the AAR (American Academy of Religion) conference!
LeAnne is writing in between cleaning. Or cleaning in between writing...
LeAnne is playing beauty parlor at the co-op. One cat washed and one to go; one fiance shorn, perhaps a little too short...
LeAnne is sad things have been so difficult lately at the GlobalServe Motherhouse. When her friends hurt, she hurts.
LeAnne and Jorge are going to see Archbishop Desmond Tutu tomorrow...soooo....coooool.....
LeAnne is happy it's 'Reading Week,' though more like writing week for her!
LeAnne is astounded at how affectionate the cat has become...Jorge says he's almost jealous...
LeAnne is writing her Ph.D. essays today. Really. Not procrastinating at all in any way I can find...
LeAnne fell down some stairs at school, while carrying three trays of dessert. The desserts all landed upright and didn't spill; and I'm self-medicating :).
(Oct 17)

On Sabbatical

I think it's well past official by now, that I am on a sabbatical of sorts. The Chicago Seminarian newspaper, the SeminaryAction project, and the Interfaith Peace Teams are all on hold for at least a semester. At GlobalServe, we're taking time to get settled--all 45 of us--and continually get to know each other.

Personally, it's been a time of much transition. Jorge and I are merging households to prepare for the marriage, and each weekend we get a little more done on simplifying and reducing our material possessions. We also try to spend 'Preacher's Sabbaths' (Fridays and Mondays) together, since we often work or have other commitments on the weekends. We've also been trying not to schedule meetings before 10am, so that we can spend a little time with each other before the busy days.

I just passed my last written ordination exams, and will turn in my preparatory paperwork for the final ordination interviews with my committee next week. I need to prepare a worship service, sermon, and sermon exegesis; along with an updated statement of faith. I'm less worried about preparing the statement of faith, than the sermon and exegesis. Usually I like to speak to current events, but this is going to be turned in a month ahead of time. But if all goes well, I'll be able to begin searching for calls just before Christmas. I still hope to do new church development, church transformation, or a combined parish/non-profit leadership call.

I turned in my Ph.D. application to CTS, and we'll simply see what happens. I finish my constructive theology in January; I would start the doctorate, if allowed, in February. There's a question as to whether I can start if my oral defense of the theology won't be until March. It's just half an hour I've been told, but some of the faculty could insist I not start until the fall. Hopefully the MA I already have lends weight to my being able to start sooner. I have also thought of going over to CTU, for their Doctor of Ministry in interfaith peacebuilding, and also for spiritual direction. It all depends on which doors open.

As for the writing projects, they continue on. After giving a presentation on the results of the Center for Faith and Peacemaking these past few years at the AAR (American Academy of Religion) conference, I also got the opportunity to meet some new prospective publishers. I will post a list of my projects soon. As one editor said, "well, we know you'll be prolific."