betanarrative

The snow is falling
In that kind of television static way
That makes one wonder

Is snow being hurled angrily
to
the..........................my apartment?
ground................swarming
..................furiously
Or are lice

Here's the latest update from my band's page.

Hey, hey there, all you crazy McFunnigans!

Friday next do you have plans? If your answer is “No,” I suggest you quickly make that a “Heck Yea!”

We’re playing Jenny Lane again! For those tracking our lengthy, illustrious career, you’ll recall that name from our first show way back in the cool-tempered summer of 2009. A kindly mob of near 100 people gathered to experience what many others would experience later on – Poiema!

Since that date, there have been zero reports of negative side-effects from the performance. It did not cause cancer, nor was it proven to be habit-forming.*

We hope you’ll come back out, or out for the first time. We’ll be debuting “Love In,” a hopeful dance-anthem that has the potential to momentarily trouble your little heart before lifting it in a grand crescendo of hope.

Be there, or become an equiangular quadrilateral.

Poiema & David Yaeger Band (davidyaegerband.com)
Feb 12 @ 7pm – FREE!
Jenny Lane Coffeehouse at First Presbyterian Dupage
180 N Webber Rd
Bolingbrook, IL

F.A.Q.

Q: It’s at a church. Is it churchy?
A: No. The fellowship hall, or social space, is used as a concert hall on Friday nights. There is a stage, big speakers, couches, tables, etc. It is not a “religious” event.

Q: How does (I)an rock so hard?
A: He was the first of seven children. It must be a result of his parents rockin so hard.

Q: Can I take Poiema home with me?
A: If you bring a camera or video-camera, you may! Actually, any pictures or video you take would be greatly appreciated! We would love to upload them to the Facebook/MySpace and give appropriate credit.

Q: What’s with (D)an’s hair lately?
A: No one’s said it looks bad yet, so it’s just gonna stay like that until people come clean, or until he’s tired of it.

Q: How do you say your band name?
A: (I)an says, POI-emuh. (D)an says poi-AY-muh. How do you say our band name?

Muchos Smoochos,

(I)(D)an

*Some suggested they later experience mild discomfort, presumably from withdrawal.

It called me, and it frightened me.

Ever seen one of those stores that you're not really sure what it is inside by the name? For instance, I for years thought Tuesday Morning was a breakfast place. You know, breakfast happens in the morning, so why not? Yep. I was wrong. But I did end up finding breakfast.

Red Mango tops my current list of ambiguous store titles. I've seen it tucked over by Jamba Juice and Dunkin' Donuts, but in the strip mall it somehow falls just beyond convenient sight lines, so I never knew what it was. From what I could gather, it's a place where women got their nails done, some sort of salon, or perhaps a fashion boutique.

All of those were wrong.

Red Mango is a frozen yogurt shop. I was right about the fashion, though. It is mighty trendy inside. At least that's what I gathered in the 12-seconds I was in the shop. I was on my way somewhere else, but I had to see what was inside.

What is it that makes us anxious? My first guess is "anxiety." But since I learned in middle school that we can't use the word in the definition, I'm not sure what it is. I was anxious walking into this place, though. Probably because I thought it was a salon, and I totally didn't belong. Regardless, curiosity finally won, and I went in. Awkwardly enough, it was all women. That furthered my females-only suspicion, and I decided I didn't want to hang too long.*

It almost reminded me of Cold Stone. I don't think they were doing any mixing, but I saw frozen yogurt, and toppings of plenty sorts. The on their site I learned that they're really healthy frozen yogurt. And they're kosher. That's cool, I guess. I've never had a jonesin' for frozen yogurt, but if I do I can go there.

I was interested by their probiotic iced teas. Why probiotics? Because they can potentially help your digestive and immune systems. Go fig. And apparently, the antioxidants in tea help prevent against free radicals. Hey, that's what lycopene does!

Now, faithful reader, you know something about Red Mango. If anyone goes, let me know what you think. And if I go, I'll give you an update.

*Wait a second, that's where the women are hiding? Maybe I'll be back sooner than I thought.

There's so much to say!

Rather than trying to put out a massive, all-encompassing dissertation on restaurant life and etiquette, I'm breaking it down into small bits and pieces. That's allegedly how we learn best anyway, right?

First, I'll start with some of VJ's comments.

"Well, the number one rule of being my sever is that I'm funny. If you don't laugh, I instantly feel like you don't care enough."

I totally love laughing at customer's jokes and comments! Having a fun table is actually a way to get your server to serve you better. We try to avoid the ones who put us in a bad mood, so the nicer you are, the more likely you are to be treated with a smile.

But, there are a few things to be aware of:

1. If you're nice, you may not get top-notch, super-fast, blow your socks off service, because they figure you're a little more laid back. And really, you don't mind nice people sitting in your section a little longer.
2. There are times when someone makes a joke, but because of volume, I can't hear what they say. Usually I have to give a courtesy laugh and move on. So, if you're going to joke, make it audible, so they can genuinely appreciate it.
3. Joking is not fun when three other tables behind your server are waiting for stuff. If your server looks like they're trying to cut you off, they probably are. It has nothing to do with you, most likely. The reality is, sometimes a server just has to run around and doesn't have time to talk.

"I heard that leaving change with your tip is rude."

I don't know anyone who thinks it's rude. We just throw it in our pockets and keep going. Here are a few tips on coins, change, slips and tips.

1. Rounding up is always a good measure for bills. You might think, "How important is 50 cents more to a server?" To which they respond, "How important is it for you, if you're not willing to round up to the next dollar?" So, while change isn't obnoxious, it's a kind gesture to simply round up to the next dollar. It makes you look good.

2. It's always appropriate to ask for change for a $10 or $20 if you plan on leaving a better tip. If you really want to be good about it, leave an extra buck as a service charge for your change. It's not necessary, but this isn't about necessary. Oh, and usually servers carry the change on them, so if you take 5 singles and leave them 1, they might have trouble later on in the night. Leave singles if you can.

3. Credit Cards:
a. If you don't sign it, they don't get the tip. So please be sure to leave the right slip, and fill it out entirely. Also, be careful with your math. The tip added and total have to match up, or there could be issues.

b. Biggest server pet peeve: People rounding tips on a credit card without thinking about how much they're actually leaving. If you don't know how to do 15%, do 20% and subtract a dollar. Word on the street is that 18% is the new 15% anyway.

For example: putting "$80" on a "$69.72" check might seem nice, but it's not even 15%. So, 20%-$1= $13. It's 16%, which is much better than 12%.

"I heard that shaking your ice in your glass is the most obnoxious thing you can do. I dunno..."

Most obnoxious? Unlikely. But darn close. How can you avoid the need to make your glass a maraca?

1. Learn your server's name. They'll respond to it. It's better to ask for a refill than to shake your glass.

2. You can make it really easy for both of you by putting the empty glass in a high-visibility spot, like the edge of the table. Your server will get the hint, and even if they aren't around, another one walking by may be able to help you out, because it's an obvious hint.

That last one has far-reaching implications: Make things easy.
If you need plates taken away, stack'em up in an easy-to-reach spot.
If they want to put your food down, move your appetizer plates out of the way.
If they're trying to talk to you, get off your freakin' phone. (Common comment: "If you want to talk on your phone while you eat, stay home or go to McDonald's.")

Call me old-fashioned, but please don't let your kids play video games at the table.

And unless you plan on texting me your order, keep your phone off the table, and out of sight. Have some common courtesy toward the people you're eating with.

More to come. Suggestions on what to address are always helpful!

But did you get served well?

Viewtiful_Justin suggested I write a little about being a restaurant server. It's a job that most every American has seen in action.

But what goes on in the mind of a server?

Are there instant ways you can make your service worse?

Are there simple ways to make it better?

Is it possible to have a true win-win situation?

I'd love to dive into some of this, and I will. But not today. I have a ton to get done and today is a great day to do it all.

However, I want to know, before I begin, what are some of your food-service experiences? Positive, negative, neutral, whatever. Anything memorable? I'm hoping the stories help me hone in my topics and such.

Tell me your serving story.

So much to do.

Groceries.
Bank.
Pay bills.
Dry Cleaners.
Lunch.
Read.
Plan for tomorrow.
Update MySpace.
Laundry.

Who knows what else. I thought I was catching up, then realized when I got to class that I was supposed to have read an entire book and written a 2-page reflection.

Oops.

Then my other prof started talking about the journals we're "keeping". I don't think I was included in that "we."

Oops.

And now I'm blogging?

Oops.

BTW: Anything anyone would like to read a blog about? I know some things about some things, and I'd like to write things people would be interested in reading.

The inbox is waiting. |_________________|

"If I was baptized Catholic, how do I get rid of it?"

Posed by a fellow student in my class a few years ago, the answer to this question gets at the heart of inter-denominationalism. (Man, that's a big word. ID from now on.)

There are many different denominations, or brands, of Christianity. There are even churches who claim to be non-denominational (ND). But I have yet to attend a church that calls itself "inter-denominational."

What's the difference between an ID church and a ND? While NDs usually refrain from liturgy and ritual, shying away from mainline traditions in order to jump straight from the text of the Bible to the 21st century, an ID church owns up to its history, and more importantly, the history of its members.

A church congregation is the sum of its parts. Any ND church has the potential to house Baptists, Lutherans, Methodists, Roman Catholics, and more. They become a unified amalgamation of their parts by disowning their respective traditions in order to create a new culture.

The ID church strives for something a little different. Instead of leaving their respective histories behind, each person or family brings their traditions with them. Perhaps a favorite hymn, the sign of the cross, an Easter Sunday tradition, whatever it may be. It could be a prayer, action, or bit of theology. Granted, mixing small bits of theology can be messy, but there is a reason it can work.

ID churches commit to the truths found in the Nicene creed and greater Christian orthodoxy. They are founded and agree on the primary issues of the faith. (i.e. Jesus was a historical person, who died and rose again.) But on issues of secondary importance, diversity is allowed. (i.e. How is Christ present in the Eucharist? Or, Is baptism for infants or adults?)

In an age where (as we discussed in the last post and related comments) orthodox, practiced Christianity is declining, the church is finding ways to survive. Part of survival mode is waving good-bye to small differences and banding together to preserve the foundational elements of the gospel.

So, what was the answer to the question? How does one get rid of one's "Catholicness?"

It doesn't happen. It will always be a part of that person. And it's a part that can enrich someone who can't disown their history.

I'm a fan of the idea of ID churches.

I just hope they all have kneelers.

My Jan 24 sermon is on the site!

It's in the box on the left-hand side under "Download Sermons." (It streams as well.) As of this morning, it should be the first one that comes up. It's called, "What's Your Story?"

I haven't even listened to it yet, only the very beginning, and I know they cut out a couple preface items I found humorous. Ah well. Maybe on the video.

The snow is falling
In that kind of gentle way
That makes one wonder

Is snow falling gracefully
to
the........................up?
ground................floating
..................gently
Or are bubbles

It is Doppelganger week on Facebook.

Who invents these things? Two weeks ago was "throwback week" or something, so many of us changed our pictures to one from our youth. Por ejemplo:




Yes, I was that cute.

This week we're supposed to change our picture to someone famous we look like.

Since I haven't looked like anyone famous since I was 11 (JTT and I were like twinsies, save for the hair color), I'm not sure who I should be.

For now, I'm Josh Moore.



A friend, and the guy who does all the maintenance on our campus, we have at different times in my 2 1/2 years here been mistaken for the other. People tell him they enjoy his playing guitar in chapel. Others thank me for fixing their hot water issues. We don't bother to correct them. We just respond appropriately and move on.

Who do you look like?