Karmic Koala, etc.

Last week was the big release of Karmic Koala, Ubuntu's version 9.10. I had planned to wait a week or so, but when my computer popped up ready to update - well, I just couldn't resist. My computer is all full of Karma and it's great. The program is faster and cleaner and there are some neat new bells and whistles. I got an Asus netbook when my laptop died, and it required a few patches to run the last version of linux, but with the new version it's up and running out of the box.
In other Linux news, I've found a great podcast: Going Linux. It has interesting tips and news items. I'm learning more and more how to "use linux to get things done," so goes the program's tag line.
Hard to believe something came before my thesis in the Blog. So the thesis is coming along. I have two chapters completed - they are both out to readers (friends). I have yet to submit one to my advisor - but I will get that out this week, even if I don't have anything from a reader. I've started the "juridical" chapter which is really the last chapter. I'll go back and fill in the Theology chapter - I think that will be more fun to write, so I'm saving it till last.
I went to another national meeting October 20-23. It went really well, connect with a lot of folks that I've worked with in the past, and met new people as well. The Apostolic Visitation is a big stir and topic of conversation. It is a serious issue and there are a lot of unknowns. Prayers are needed for the women under investigation, and for the investigators as well - euphemistically called the Visitator. There are lots of legal problems with the current phase, but I think folks are taking the time to get good advise and the help they need to decide how to respond. I have to say this has really made me see the wisdom of doing the canon law program. Who would have known, but it puts me in a position of being able to help lots of folks. So as soon as I finish my program, there should be plenty of work to do.
At the October meeting, I also made it to the Atlanta Aquarium - which was incredibly beautiful. We had an hour after the general public had already left to go around and see the fishes - very peaceful and really beautiful. It was just amazing to see all the little guys swimming around and the big ones as well. They had a few of the staff people who could explain about the fish and their habits and where they all came from. That was also nice. But mainly it was just so neat to see them all swimming around - just amazing.
Beautiful autumn weather here too - the trees are absolutely gorgeous - they will probably be bear soon, so it the last chance to enjoy them.
Peace,
Amy

Louisville, KY

Reporting live from Louisville KY! I'm at the Canon Law Society meeting. I made it through the opening session and the reception. I connected with a few people that I knew and met a few more people. I did manage to stick my foot in my mouth once - oh well.... recovered now. I'm staying at the 'cheap' hotel down the road (1/2 the price of the convention discount at the other place). Tomorrow will be input sessions. And I want to connect with a few more people. Some people I was hoping to connect with aren't here.
I drove over - just over 4 hours to get here - lots of construction zones, but not much construction going on. I came mid day, so there were no jams. But the fall colors were SPECTACULAR!!! Round every bend was better than the last. I'm hoping for good weather on the way back too, it should be even better. Most places were still somewhat shy of peak colors. But BEAUTIFUL!!! It was definitely better to drive than the two or three hop flight.
I listened to a few more linux podcasts on the way over, and just enjoyed the view. It's really a little short to do a book on tape - well, I could get started. I did download a few extra podcasts, just in case.
Thesis is a little on hold. I actually found a few more articles that I can read while I'm here. Then I might get a little written when I get home. I leave here around noon on Thursday.
All the best - make sure you get out and enjoy the leaves when you can!!!
Amy

Okay, so it's not about word count.....

Granted there's a lot to writing a good thesis, it's not just word count. But that's my current thermometer for seeing how far along I am in the project. I've completed one chapter and it's out with a proofreader - actually with two of them, because the first was incapacitated. That was the chapter that analyzed the survey information on transfers. Really interesting stuff. I enjoyed working with the material and writing up the results. Hopefully that will come across in the writing.
Currently I'm working on the section on history. I had a head start on that because I did some work on the topic last semester. But I'm filling it out and giving some more up-to-date information. The previous work focused on the middle ages.
I'm pretty well settled into Magnolia and I even have a sort of 'schedule'. I'm in my office at Carondelet Mondays and Thursday, and working from home the other days, like today. In fact, someone called today, expecting me to be at Carondelet - so I'm already predictable.... But I'm actually working from home because transportation will work better tomorrow - so much for predictibility. The critter at the left is a neighbor. We have a pair of great horned owls who have taken a liking to our house and can often be found in the trees near the house and can often be heard singing back and forth - it's really cool. I've only actually seen them once - sitting side by side on a branch. We have lots of folks who come around with binoculars looking at the trees around our house. It takes some getting used to.
Fall colors are just starting - I went up for my first plane ride this year on Sunday with my dad. Didn't see a whole lot but I did sort of try a few landings. The leaves should be better in a few weeks. I'll definitely have to get up in the air again.
I'm still getting around on my bike - either joy riding or getting around town. St. Louis is a little bigger than Leuven, but I can do some meaningful travel on a bike. For the rest, I ride with someone or borrow a car or take the bus. Actually bus/bike is also an option because most busses have bike racks. I'm not terrible graceful about getting my bike on and off, but I manage to get it done. And it really extends the places I can go.
Okay, back to a book I'm reading for my thesis - I still have several that are more background material. And continue to find an article here and there that I need to go through.
Peace,'
Amy

It's All About Word Count

Okay so I'm writing my thesis and my life now is all about word count. I need 50,000 words. I'm just over 13,000. The great thing is that I wrote almost 8,000 this week!!! I'm really happy about that.

I'm writing about transferring to another religious institute. I did an online survey and that got great results. This week I've written most of the survey up; really interesting results. Then I've have lots of good ideas for my next chapter which will be on the theology / spirituality of transfer. It will be based on first what is vocation, then what is religious vocation. These are pretty simple questions, but it is not really easy to answer either question. But I have some good ideas and some good authors. I've been talking through my ideas with some friends. I have just a little to polish off on the survey. I'll do that early next week, then probably do some more writing, then pick up the theology / spirituality chapter the following week. I'll put the survey chapter out to readers, then get a social science researcher to read and comment as well.

I'm pretty well settled into a routine of working 2 days at Carondelet - generally Monday and Thursday. Then working the rest of the week from home. That is working well for me. On Monday I rode my bike over to the bus - loaded it on the bus and rode up to Tower Grove, then rode my bike over to the house. That worked out pretty well. Other times I ride back and forth with Barb or Mary Louise, my housemates. I took a short ride around the park today.

---oops - sorry for mistakes....

Amy

New from the IRS

1. Exemption Application User Fees to Change in 2010 User fees will increase for all EO applications for exemption (Forms 1023, 1024, and 1028), postmarked after January 3, 2010. Cyber Assistant, a Web-based software program designed to help 501(c)(3) applicants prepare a complete and accurate Form 1023 application, will become available during 2010. Once Cyber Assistant is made available, user fees for Form 1023 will change again.

2. New Process for Supporting Organizations to Change Public Charity Classification The IRS has modified the procedures for reclassifying section 509(a)(3) supporting organizations as public charities. Announcement 2009-62 updates procedures for such requests to be consistent with new regulations eliminating the advance ruling process.

3. Register Now for Fall Workshops for Small and Mid-Sized 501(c)(3) Organizations These introductory one-day workshops, designed for administrators or volunteers responsible for an organization's tax compliance, will be held in Philadelphia, PA on October 6, 7, and 8, 2009. Get more information and register online.

oops, posted this to the wrong blog ---- it should be on my nonprofit blog: ahereford.blogspot.com

Crock Pot Yogurt

I don't think of myself as the cooking type. I pretty much cook the same few things all the time and try to vary one or two ingredients or seasonings each time so I cover up my laziness. However, I do like to get into making candies at Christmas time - great for gifts - ensures a welcome at parties.
I addition to this, I've had a hankering to try yogurt. I've been told by those who have done it that it's easy, but when they explain it, I sour on the idea, and never give it a try. But recently I've decided to search it out on the internet and give it a try. This weekend is the big experiment. The recipe is found here: Crock Pot Yogurt. I'll let you know how it turns out.
I had my first major law job - well, major for me anyway. I went to Phili to meet with a client for two days (including travel). It was interesting and went well. I like the client and like what they're about. So I got to be the big shot out of town expert for a few days. Now I'm back home and surprised to find it's Thursday and I have done almost nothing this week on my thesis. However, I've done a good bit on moving both home and office, so that's good.
I'm working through lots of documents, books and articles, taking notes and poking away at ideas for outline on the thesis itself. My computer is in the capable hands of Dad and Tom, so I can't really write till I get it back. But reading and pondering is keeping me busy at this point. I've got a direction for the section on Theology / Spirituality of Transfer that I talked about last week. It relies on two theories that I found in the congress materials. I think it should at least be a way of thinking about the reality - I may write more when I get it a little more concretized myself. Till then, I'll just say I'm making progress.
Okay, so next week, I'll give a report on the yogurt making....
Peace,
Amy

Reading and more reading....

I've managed get the law practice more or less 'open for business.' I've restarted my newsletters and I have webcasts scheduled for the year. View the newsletter, and/or subscribe to it. It's mainly for on legal topics for religious and nonprofits. Not exactly a general interest publication, but it has its audience. I've also gotten my license and insurance up to date and I've registered for some conferences that will be educational and also will put me in contact with lots of potential clients. So that's about all I can do on that score.
I'm staying at Magnolia, my new house, once or twice a week, bringing somethings over each time I come. So that is 'moving' along.
So now it's down to business on my thesis. I visited some local libraries that have some good resources. I'm also starting to read everything I gathered from Leuven before I left. And all the other resources that I have found online.
While I visited Rome, I connected with the UISG, the union of superior's general - the nun's world-wide trade union. They have a website where they posted all the talks and some of the responses to an international congress on religious life in 2004. Some of the talks there were FANTASTIC. They focus on two 'icons' as the discussion starters: the Samaritan woman at the well, and the good Samaritan. I just finished reading a paper by Dolores Aleixandre that is really great. I highly recommend it. I'm actually looking for material to answer three questions for my thesis:

1. What is vocation?
2. What is religious vocation?
3. What is transfer within the context of religious vocation?

The questions are pretty simple, but coming up with an answer is a little more difficult. But the reading for it is interesting, and I think it will be useful to become more conversant in the ideas that are floating around on the topic.
The survey results are slowing down, but I have great results and did some statistical analysis on what I have so far. I will take the time to read the open ended questions as well. I looked briefly at them just to make sure the responses were what I was looking for. But I want to set aside some time when I can read them as a group to get a feel for them as a group, then analyze and categorize, etc. So I will need a solid block of a few days for that.
Next week I go to Pennsylvania for two days to see a client. That will be a nice break, and should be an interesting job. After that, I can turn to the survey results.
Peace,
Amy