We say goodbye to Trainer Kate for now - it's her last day of subbing for Trainer Dyan. You will be sorely missed, Trainer Kate. Your sarcasm was refreshing! We hope to bump into you when we go to Production (the production floor). I got 95% on my assessment today - a five-percent bump from the last assessment. Looks like we're doing something right - thanks. Good luck with your "complicated" relationship. Despite my fervent attempts to make jokes and disrupt the class and accurately describe you as "sarcastic", you still tag me as "too serious." I give up.
I learned how to dance today! It reminded me of my COCC days, when a female officer ORDERED me to slow-dance with her, just to get me to learn the steps. I enjoyed it, though... we talked about how "unethical" her boyfriend was while the DJ played the track and lowered the lights. Today was not as romantic - my friend Maggie played "Give It To Me" on her cellphone and I was "picking up what she was putting down," as CSI's Warwick Brown would say. A fellow trainee later confessed that he recorded the scene on video using his phone, and I have to say I still dance horribly.
Speaking of CSI, my soon-to-be-CEO friend AA was excited to watch the CSI episode after shift today. If she had a DVD player, I would have lent her my CSI Season 5 DVD collection. Maybe I can save enough money by her next birthday to give her a DVD player. Anyway, we shared a pet peeve today: slowly becoming obligated to provide for immediate family members. Even though we both like to give to our parents and siblings, we would like to remind anyone who cares that we're not responsible for them.
I got my work ID AND my social security ID today! I am totally institutionalized now. Ha! My fellow trainee Gene (who is actually a trainer reassigned to our account) tells me that I don't match the exact profile of a priest, anyway - even though I communicate well. Thanks, Gene. You're the first person I know who DID NOT agree that I should be in the Lord's service. You're also one of the few friends who combine truthfulness and bluntness in a fetching package. Thanks for the encouragement that "there is a future for me waiting once I go in Production." I'll keep that in mind. And yes, the Apostle Paul reminds us that there are many troubles in marriage, and he wants to spare us from this (1 Corinthians 7:28). And Jesus said marriage is only for people on Earth. That's why we say, "'Til death do us part" (Luke 20:34). 1 Corinthians Chapter 7 contains Paul's "suggestions" on marriage based on God-given wisdom.
I made a toast (with a can of Coke) to the successes and failures of the past few weeks of training. I celebrated with a half-eaten packet of cornick and a few bites of a granola bar. Even though it doesn't take a lot to make me happy - I actually enjoy small snack celebrations like this - I don't know why, but I feel like crap. Something tells me it has something to do with the unwritten rule pervading throughout the day. I resist the cliche' of walking home in the rain, but I had to buy stuff at 7-11 - where the last lyrics of an alt-rock love song played in the background. I listen to it and I remember my theory of infatuation (formulated during my informal "case study" with my "partner" during high school): Listen to enough love songs, and you'll feel like you're in love with someone - all it takes is finding that "rare breed," according to Bill Cosby - "the one who will understand you." I dismiss the theory. I go to my room and brood better than Horatio Caine in CSI:Miami. If I ever met the girl who would understand me, she and I would agree that she deserves a lot better than a brooding priest.
Next week on The Royal Priesthood Blog: God only knows.
