Proud to be a Buckeye - It is True!

• It is true that the late Ohio State coach Woody Hayes, who did more to pump up the negative feelings in the rivalry than any man, refused to fill up his car in the state of Michigan.
"I'll tell you why we don't," Hayes said, according to the seminal book, "Woody Hayes and the 100-Yard War." "It's because I don't buy one goddam drop of gas in the state of Michigan. We'll coast and push this goddam car to the Ohio line before I give this state a nickel of my money!"
• It is true that Michigan, leading 55-0 late in the 1946 game, lined up and kicked a field goal.
• It is true that in 1950, the teams played through a blizzard with 29 inches of snow and more than 50,000 fans sat through it. Michigan's Chuck Ortmann punted 24 times, and the Wolverines won 9-3, despite failing to make a first down. Buckeyes coach Wes Fesler quit a few days later. Ohio State hired the little-known Hayes away from Miami (Ohio).
• It is true that in 1970, a local judge in Columbus dismissed a charge of obscenity against a defendant arrested for wearing a T-shirt that said, "F--- Michigan" because the message "accurately expressed" local feelings about the university and the state.
• It is true that Hayes sometimes bunked his team in Toledo on the night before a game in Ann Arbor so the Buckeyes could sleep on Ohio ground.
• It is true that, by state law, the Franklin County (Ohio) Board of Elections is supposed to begin counting the provisional ballots cast in this month's 15th Congressional District race on Nov. 18. Rep. Deborah Pryce leads challenger Mary Jo Kilroy by 3,536 votes. However, the board will not begin to count the votes until Nov. 19 so that the counters may watch the Ohio State-Michigan game.
• It is true that the lowest-priced ticket available on StubHub on Thursday, for a seat on the corner of the end zone, on the 41st row of the upper deck, would have set you back $530. Binoculars extra.
Souce - ESPN.com

Bo, Bo Who?

Bo Schembechler, former coach of the team up north, died today. Here in South Dakota, it’s not Bo Schembeckler of the Ten Year War it’s “Bo who?” The Ten Year War is remembered here as the first of three wars that Cuba fought against Spain for its freedom not the ten years that Bo and the team up north played against Woody and the Buckeyes. It’s all just as well, I’m sure most South Dakotans don’t know who Woody is either. Today my body is in South Dakota, but my heart is in Columbus singing....

Fight the team across the field
Show them Ohio's here,
Set the earth reverberating
With a mighty cheer
Rah! Rah! Rah!
Hit them hard and see how they fall,
Never let that team get the ball,
Hail! Hail! the gang's all here,
So let's win that old conference now.

I’ll Be Home for Reformation

This weekend I was suppose to lead a Service Learning Trip to the cities. Unfortunately, not enough students signed up to make the trip economically feasible. So, that leaves me with 4 days off over Fall Break. What’s a girl to do? Call Grandma and ask if she’ll pay half on my ticket home. During my lunch hour, I bought a ticket to Ohio for this weekend for only 250! That’s an extremely cheap flight from Sioux Falls to Ohio. Homesickness cured. Not only do I get to go to Ohio for the weekend, but also it’s Reformation Sunday. What an awesome festival to go home for!

Shocking Election Campaigning

On South Dakota’s November 7th ballot is a law that would ban abortion. If passed, the only exception is for the mother’s life, no exception for rape, incest, etc. It’s not surprising that Sioux Falls, the largest city in SD is going crazy with campaigning. Aaron and I frequently drive down a street where over 800 pink and blue crosses represent the children aborted in SD last year. I get the point, but tonight during a US House debate I heard the most shocking statement that made me laugh and want to scream all at the same time. The republican candidate was asked about social security. He talked about privatization then he went on to talk about how the number of workers supporting each SS recipient is not where it once was. He went on to say that the ratio would be better if the 40 million aborted fetuses weren’t aborted. Whalen claimed that social security would be better off if the 40 million fetuses were around to pay SS. So, his two solutions for solvency of SS were private accounts and banning abortion. And if I had a nickel for every time he talked about being a pro-life family values guy from SD I’d be drinking Moet & Chandon instead of blogging. There’s hope Whalen’s opponent is favored by over 30 points and Aaron just handed me a check to mail for SD Coalition for Healthy Families (aka the pro-choice patriots).

Feeling Better

My most recent post ‘Homesickness’ is a very real reminder of how blogs are not helpful. Yes, when I wrote it I was extremely upset, but that only lasts for a while. After I blogged, I was able to sleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. Yesterday was a long day with a 6 hour drive and 6 hours of meetings, but Aaron and I stayed in last night, watched Fahrenheit 9/11 and slept for 10 hours. Today life is better, it’s Friday! This morning I realized I didn’t have any afternoon appointments so I grabbed my laptop and bible then headed for Panera. What I need to accomplish this afternoon is doable here. I had a wonderful chicken noodle soup for lunch and now I’m working out of the office working with free Wi-Fi. This morning I found out that I’ve lost 14 pounds in 7 weeks, and 100 days from today is January 29th, the day we leave for Jamaica. While I’m still missing Ohio, Sioux Falls is treating me well.

Homesickness

Tonight I got an email from my cousin Raven announcing a tentative girls weekend in Ohio. It doesn’t help that I’m already a bit homesick. The email was in response to an earlier inquiry about getting together all the women of my mom’s mom’s mom (or the girls descending from my great-grandma, Mamaw). It appears that the weekend suggested is the one that marks the third anniversary of Mamaw’s death.

I remember sitting in Mamaw’s room the night she died. The women folk of the family were looking though photos and sharing stories. We decided that we needed to have a girl’s weekend. Finally, three years later one is being planned.

Problem: I’m on internship in South Dakota, and there’s no way I can get the time off.
Result: Increased homesickness.

Tomorrow Aaron and I have to travel to St. Peter, Minnesota for a meeting. We have to get up at 5:30a to get there on time. I can’t sleep. After I got Raven’s email I lost it. It’s great that the girl’s weekend is finally going to become a reality, but I can’t be there! While thinking about missing the weekend I began to think about when I’ll be in Ohio. Well, we’ll be in Ohio in December but then we’re away until May. That means 6 months without going to Ohio. I’ve done that before, but I’ve never lasted 6 months without seeing my mom and grandma. While I was in Milwaukee I was away for 6 months but Shannon, Mom, Grandma and Mel came at various times to break things up a bit. Specifically, Mom and Mel came the weekend after Easter, my first holiday away.

Now what. I know I’ll make it through, but it hurts (literally, my eyes are swollen and my head is pounding from crying so much). Somehow I’m reminded of my supervising pastor’s famous question that I’ve never had a real answer for until tonight, “do you still want to be a pastor?” For the first time I think I have an answer. If being away from my family of origin for extended periods of time is part of the package, no I don’t want to be a pastor.

I even came down hard on Aaron tonight. He was trying to make me feel better and I said, “if I lived as close as you do to your family I’d see my mom and grandma at least once a week.” Yes, families are different, but it’s hard to realize how physically close we are to his family, but we don’t see them with any greater frequency than if we lived in the cities. Right now, I’m jealous. I want to get in the car in the morning and drive until we reach Columbus. Better yet, I want a plane ticket to Ohio on February 23.

Mass

The first Tuesday of every month is Roman Catholic Mass in the Chapel of the Reconciliation at Augie. Today is the first Tuesday.

Any Catholics out there or enlightened catholics help! Every time I go to mass I feel alienated. Words like ‘those who are worthy’ are spoken meaning ‘you, Lutheran, are NOT worthy!’ An institution is separating me from Jesus’ command - “do this in remembrance of me.” I am rejected by the words and elements that give me the benefits of Christ.

So, why did I go today? Because Mass at Augie is for Catholics and those who are ‘Catholic friendly’. I consider myself Catholic friendly, but I found out today that I need to be Catholic friendly without going to Mass.

I feel wounded, and I want to crawl under my desk and cry. The last time I was at Mass was Christmas Eve of all times. I cried through the entire Mass. Then I thought it was that I was in SD and not Ohio, but I now realize it’s also because I was rejected and not welcome at my Lord’s table. I can’t subject myself to this. I need to be writing a bible study for tonight, returning phone calls and emails, but I am rejected.

Phone Call from the Principal!

At least twice a week I use my lunch hour to talk with Mom. Today while we were talking the elementary school principal called. Apparently Katelynn (a kindergartner!) was the reason for this call. This morning Mom reports Katelynn had a really good morning, but once on the bus she preceded to beat another kid with her backpack. Mom says this is the first of her kids to get phone calls from the principal during kindergarten. Oh, Katelynn.

A Sermon

Today something odd happened in chapel. During any given month Paul and I each preach 2 times. That leaves roughly 12 worships to be filled with faculty and pastors from around Sioux Falls. Today a Presbyterian Chaplin preached on Revelation 21: 1-4 (the new heaven and the new earth). I thought, Revelation, interesting choice, but let’s see where it goes. She used two examples one was about suffering in an orphanage in China and the other was a Pastor and his wife who had an abortion because the fetus had a rare disorder where its organs were forming outside its body. She specifically mentioned that SD’s Vote on Referred Law 6 (an abortion ban that has no exceptions). She talked about the power of grace in each situation and waiting for the new heaven and the new earth. Usually I’d love this type of sermon. It was powerful and I heard lots of law AND gospel. The concern I have is for the congregation. Many students are voting for the abortion ban. I worried that they’d feel this outsider came into their chapel and used the pulpit as a soapbox. This is an issue that has many people of faith on both sides. I worry about how the message was received in a different way than I normally do just as much as I thought, right on! Is this part of becoming a pastor? Only time will tell.

God

Tonight Aaron and Mike are working on some songs for a Saturday night youth gathering. While they were playing I said, "what about a few 'fun' songs"? Aaron, "how about some Pat McCurdy?" Well, I found some awesome guitar stuff on his site, but unfortunately, none are youth appropriate. Here's the lyrics to one of his many great songs.
________________________________________
God loves capitalists more than communists
God loves fundamentalists more than Methodists
God loves Americans more than Canadians
God loves nuclear power

God loves the stars and stripes
God loves Handi-Wipes
Thinks they're so convenient
God knows where the yellow went

God has a VCR
John Wayne is the biggest star
Up in the Ivory Tower

God doesn't love the Pope
God likes Pepsi more than Coke
He won't drive a Subaru or a BMW

God packs a magnum
For protection not for fun
God says make my day

God votes Republican
The only way to get things done
God loves makin' dough
Don't like payin' taxes though

God loves Disneyland
Loves a man to be a man
God loves the USA

God loves democracy more than aristocracy
God hates Iraqians, Russians, Jews and Libyans
(And anyone else who isn't a white Anglo-Saxon Protestant)

God is good, God is great
God don't like the welfare state
(He hates Sweden)
God drives a Chevrolet

God made petroleum to make my Winnebago run
God made plants and trees
We can waste them as we please
God loves the strong and tall
God loves white folks most of all
God loves the USA

God loves the USA
God loves the USA. He told me personally, and
I know what God likes

Pat is one of our favorite musicians. He plays at cool cities like St. Paul and Milwaukee. The pic is in Milwaukee on St. Pat's Day.

Gray Hair

Today after lunch I was brushing my hair before returning to work. I noticed a hair that didn’t look like the others. At first I thought it was the sun coming in the bathroom window, and then I realized it was a gray hair. I searched the right side of my head until I could pull it out (yes, I know two will take its place, but I had to know for sure) and examine - it was a bona fide gray hair. I needed to get back to the office so I did a quick 2 minute search of my head and found this hair to be an anomaly, yet this hair wasn’t the first of it’s kind in my head, two years ago my stylist found one. I’m too young for color that’s functional. I should only be thinking of fun colors, not ones to cover gray!

Shannon’s Wedding, Calorie Counting, and Jamaica – Oh My!

I feel like I'’m always just updating here anymore, but here I go again. So, Shannon is engaged to Tim and I'm getting ready for a wedding. Big huge news - congrats!

On Labor Day I decided I'm tired of my extra weight and it'’s time to count calories. I'm going public with this now, because I want to be embarrassed if I fail - that'’s a big motivator. Goal: 60 pounds by June 16th, Audra and Jake'’s wedding day. So far so good, but it's only day 6. Aaron decided to join me in the goal. Now it's not just about loosing the weight that I'’ve been putting off forever, but we're both to stubborn to quit until the other one doesn't. Our stubborn sides finally show themselves as strengths. Wish us luck!

And now to Jamaica. Well, we got two free flights within the 48 contiguous states, but that doesn't get us to Jamaica. This past week we were kicking around flying to a Royal Caribbean port of call and cruising to a tropical destination, but I thought that we could do better. Saturday morning I got a plan. I'll use the Delta Skymiles I was going to use to get to Ohio in December to get one of us to the Caribbean and just buy one ticket. The flight vouchers are transferable and so we'll sell one to get some cash to offset the cost of the purchased ticket and the other will get me to Ohio. Then I was left with finding an all-inclusive resort for a good price. I started with what I know, Sandals, but they've got stuff we don'’t need and they'’re very large. So I kept looking. Then I found a resort that I swear I would've built if we had enough money to build a resort in Jamaica. It's called Sunset at the Palms. A few awesome features are private treetop homes in a jungle preservation area; the resort is made of native wood and was the first 'green' resort in Jamaica and possibly the Caribbean. Aaron gets to see the ocean for the first time and he gets out of the US; I get my swim up bar (see photo).From what I can tell it'’s a more laid back place than the normal resort -– trading high intensity for natural beauty and sophistication. Oh, and we're on the western tip of the island which means breathtaking sunsets. Tomorrow we'’re off to get passports for our late January getaway.

4

Lori sent an 'about me' thing I had to fill out. Here goes...

Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. Program Director at Outlaw Ranch
2. Nanny for James and Ellen
3. Program Assistant – All Peoples Chruch
4. Front Desk Clerk – Holiday Inn

Four movies I would watch over and over again:
1. Love Actually
2. Independence Day
3. Phantom of the Opera
4. Twister

Four places I have lived:
1. Presho, SD
2. St. Paul, MN
3. Milwaukee, WI
4. Grove City, OH

Four TV shows I love to watch:
1. ER
2. Judging Amy
3. The Simpsons
4. A Baby Story

Four places I've been on vacation:
1. NYC and Niagara Falls
2. Daytona Beach, FL
3. Phoenix, AZ
4. Gatlinburg, TN

Web sites I visit daily or weekly
1. Luther Seminary and Augustana Webmail
2. BBC/CNN/NPR
3. Intellicast
4. Google/Wikipedia/Dictionary.com

Four of my favorite foods:
1. Q’Doba
2. Country Vegetable Soup by Healthy Choice
3. McDonalds ice cream cones
4. Bratwurst with sauerkraut

Four places I'd rather be right now:
1. With Aaron
2. Grove City
3. In a swimming pool with a swim up bar in the Caribbean
4. Los Heroes, El Salvador

Busy

Here's a quick update...

Internship is in full swing. The Augie students are awesome! Sioux Falls living is pretty fun - there isn't a place in the city I can't get to in less than 15 minutes or less.

Latest news:
-My bro is married as of 8/29
-On our flight to TN for my bro's wedding Aaron and I took a bump and got two free round trip anywhere in the continental US - going to FL or CA in January!
-I'll be leading a Service/Learning trip to the Twin Cities in Oct.
-I'll be leading a Service/Learning trip to New Orleans over spring break
-While moving to Sioux Falls I decided to put together another bloggish website instead of unpacking. Much of what I post here is there and vice versa, but it's format is a lil different. Check it out at myspace.com/matson

Okay, one funny story. So, Aaron and I went through the Cincy airport on our way to Knoxville, TN instead of Chicago-O'Hare. Anyone who flies the Midwest knows the headaches of O'Hare. Aaron and I took the bump and ended up with a 2-hour layover. We got off the plane to find out there wasn't even a terminal change involved in getting on our next flight. We had what Aaron swears is the second best hamburger he's ever had at a place called 'The Pub'. It was an English themed pub where he had two Smithwicks and an 8-days a Week Martini (think the Beatles). Anyway, we paid the tab and went to the restrooms before boarding. On the way to the gate I bought bottles of water for us to chug (dehydrations important) and some Swedish Fish (think gummy worms). We’re getting up to board the plane and he asks, “Are Swedish Fish considered gels?” I died laughing at him before shoving them in my backpack before the gate attendant saw them: )

Note: All photos are in TN cabins. The window and mountain photos are from our cabin. The remaining photos were at Todd and LA's wedding cabin.

TN

Tomorrow Aaron and I are headed to Gatlinburg TN for Todd and Lori-Ann's wedding. I'm psyched - we have an awesome cabin we're sharing with my folks A Secret Waterfall. More pics and stories later:)

Aaron's 26th Birthday

This year Aaron decided to go to Gigglebee's for his birthday. It was a blast!

Regression

Internship is going well.
Aaron is in the cities with friends for a Vikings preseason game (b-day present from my folks).
I’m home alone. I started by reading Gilead and then I progressed to the West Wing. I turned that off to watch the local news but then I found Sex and the City. After watching Sex and the City on network I went to Blockbuster (.4 miles) to get two discs from season 4. I admit I have regressed to my LVC year of living on Sex. Gotta get back to watching Sex! Who knows maybe I'll see my aunt somewhere - she was an extra many times:)

Travel SD

Mom, Grandma and Katelynn flew home with me. Here’s what we’ve been up to…



1. We visited an 1880’s Town featuring hundreds of Dances With Wolves props. Here Katelynn was left on the tracks as a train came for her.
2. Mom gives me a sign as she sips wine on our back porch.
3. Last night’s moon
4. It’s a bird, a plane, no it’s Katelynn and Aaron at Mt. Rushmore
5. Mt. Rushmore
6. We took an 1880’s train from Hill City to Keystone and back.
7. Katelynn asleep on Momaw Pat’s lap
8. Inspiration Point at Outlaw Ranch
9. Momaw Pat taking Katelynn’s picture at Inspiration Point
10. Mom gathering Mica for the 4th and 5th grade science teacher
11. Filling our new car
12. The Badlands
13. Teresa and Katelynn outside ‘The Depot’. We meet Teresa and Lauren in Mitchell for lunch
14. Mom on the porch again
15. 1880’s butt wiping procedure
16. More porch time

Luis

I received an email today that I need to share. On my first trip to El Salvadow I stayed with the Santos Ramirez family. If you’ve been to our apartment you’ve seen some of Luis Ramirez Zelada's art. Luis has been trying to get into the US by paying a coyote. He went missing after failing to cross the border twice. Below is the translated message from Pastor Santiago – a Salvadoran and a great friend.

Santiago writes…

SIENDO LA TIERRA CREACION DE DIOS
NADIE DEBERIA SER ILEGAL
EN NINGUNA PARTE DEL MUNDO

GIVEN THAT THE EARTH IS THE CREATION OF GOD,
NO ONE SHOULD BE ILLEGAL
ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

Este dia se realizo en la casa concordia un encuentro juvenil denominado : " Migracion , Pobreza y Esperanza".

Today in the Casa Concordia we had a youth meeting entitled: "Migration, Poverty and Hope."

Dentro del cual la familia de Luis, su madrecita Angelita Santos Ramirez, sus hermanas Maria, Marta, su sobrinita Vanesa hija de Guadalupe y Marcelino Hijo su cuñado y yo presentamos el caso de la migracion de Luis de la comunidad y la Iglesia Luterana "Los heroes".

During this meeting the family of Luis, his mother Angelita Santos Ramirez, his sisters Maria, Marta, his niece Vanessa, daughter of Guadalupe, and his brother-in-law Marcelino Jr. and I presented the case of the migration of Luis from the community and Lutheran Church Los Heroes.

El se fue de El Salvador la ultima vez el 24 de mayo 2006 y ha enviado una carta con fecha 26 de junio, informando que esta preso en el Centro Correccional de Texas, va pasar ahi 4 meses y luego sera trasladado.

He left from El Salvador the last time on May 24, 2006, and has sent a letter dated June 26th, informing us that he is in the Correctional Center of Texas. He will be there 4 months and then be moved.

Por ahora lo mas urgente es que el reciba cartas de sus familiares, amigos, hermanos y hermanas de El Salvador y de nuestras hermandades.

For now the most urgent thing is that he receives letters from family members, friends, brothers and sisters from El Salvador and from our partnerships.

Este dia el Departamento de Derechos Humanos de la Iglesia Luterana ha tomado el caso con mucha fuerza, les pido en nombre de Luis y de su familia sus oraciones y sus cartas.

On this day the Department of Human Rights of the Lutheran Church has taken this case very seriously and asks you, in the name of Luis and his family, for your prayers and your letters.

El necesita mucha ayuda espiritual, el esta leyendo la biblia y pide que le le enviemos revistas de la Iglesia, en su carta dice que no hay ningun problema escribirle o dejarle recados por telefono.

He needs much spiritual help. He is reading the Bible and asks for writings from the Church. In his letter he says that there is no problem writing him or leaving messages by phone.

Lo importante es comunicarse con el y que sienta nuestra hermandad y solidaridad. Por favor hermanas Linda, Vonda, Rafael compartan esta noticia y escriban a Luis les aseguro que le haremos un gran favor.

The most important thing is to communicate with him so that he feels our partnership and solidarity. Please share this news and write to Luis. I assure you that we are doing a great favor.

Les envio la direccion y el numero de telefono del lugar donde se encuentra:

I send you the address and the telephone number of the place where he is found:

Luis Alonso Ramirez Zelada
C. C. C. C.
6901 N.HWY.83
Cristal City
Texas C.P. 78839
Telephone: (830) 374-3447

Que Dios les bendiga y gracias por atender mis ruegos.

May God bless you and thank you for attending to my pleas.

Su hermano en Cristo.

Pastor Santiago Rodriguez.
________________________________________
Photos of the community Luis can be found HERE.

Quick Update

This past week was a busy one. I was in Rapid City leading a Day Camp of 80 campers (1st – 6th grades) at the same time the church held it’s VBS for 70 3-5 year olds. That’s 150 kids in one church! It was exhausting but it went really well.

Exciting and sad family stuff is going on. I’m going to Ohio for Grandma Wernicke’s 90th birthday at the end of July. When I called her today Todd was there and told me she broke her ankle on Friday. She sounds good, but she’s saying how stupid she is for falling. Also this week, Mom, Grandma Miller and Katelynn got tickets to come to South Dakota. We’re planning to go to the Twin Cities, Sioux Falls, Presho, Pierre and the Black Hills.

This week I’m off until Wednesday. Aaron and I are heading to Mike’s in Sioux Falls tomorrow for a 4th of July cookout. Fun times!