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

How Time Flies....

Yes, I know it's trite, but what can I say... it's true! Thankfully I'm getting my TODO list under control.
I've been back a month now, and have mainly gotten my law practice kick started. That consisted of updating my website. And writing a newsletter on a canonical topic. That will be followed up by a webcast on the same topic in November. I also had to 're-up' my license and insurance, and start moving into an office at the Motherhouse - the same office I had before. I also have 3 or 4 open cases that need occasional tending. I'll be headed to Phili for a meeting with one group next week.
Next, I had to settle my residence. I'm not moved yet, but I'll be going back to Magnolia where I had been living when I first returned to St. Louis. It is a community of 4 other sisters in a lovely house with lots of green space: Tower Grove Park and Shaw's Botanical Garden. I can bike or ride share to my new office. I'm not moved there yet, a flare up in my shoulder injury has put that somewhat on hold. But I'm bringing a few things at a time; I hope to be settled there in a month or so.
Then, I'm moving ahead on my thesis. It's on transfer to another religious institute. There's an online survey for that. The survey is going spectacularly well!!! I have responses from well over 10% of the target population. I'm not doing quite so well with congregational responses, but still there are good responses. I'll get down to business on the thesis this coming week. I'm not sure which section to tackle first, but probably History or Sociology. The other two sections are Theology and Jurisprudence. I still have lots of reading to do for this. I collected resources in Leuven that I still have to read. Then this past week I visited the libraries at the Seminary and Chancery Office to see what they have on hand. Not like Leuven, but they have some things that may help.
Finally, a few sisters and I have gotten an idea for a CSJ project across the federation that is kind of exciting. So I've been doing some work for that, and for another community project that I'm a part of.
Whew! So there is plenty to keep me busy. Thankfully, I should be able to settle down now and focus on the Thesis.