The Methodists have some of the best hymns ever. Excellent training for a singer.

Learned my harmony in church. Musical harmony, anyway. And singing different melodies at the same time, which can be tricky if you've never done it. I can still sing the descant to Silent Night, which is a whole different song, thanks to church.

Grew up Southern Baptist, have over the years been Methodist (partly because my high school crush was in their youth group...), Presbyterian of both Presbyterian Church in America (conservative/evangelical) and PC-USA (mainline) variety (though I always loathed the doctrine of predestination, to the point of cutting church on weeks I could tell a sermon series was about to hit a Calvinistic proof text) and am now, as of a year and a half ago, confirmed as an Episcopalian.

I'm happy in the Episcopal Church because through all my years as an evangelical and even as a mainline Presbyterian, my faith was almost an intellectual exercise, trying to believe the right things and manufacture the right reactions and emotions. Not that I wasn't sincere the vast majority of the time, but there was still a performance aspect to it. I knew what was expected of me, and I tried to be that person. Now at Saint Andrew's, it feels like I'm stepping into something bigger than I am, that regardless of what I bring to any given service, the Word, liturgy, and Eucharist stand on their own merits and are there to meet me.

But I really don't know what I believe right now. I call myself an agnostic who practices Christianity. I hope there's something more than just this life--very specifically that my parents and my best friend from college who died suddenly four years ago are still there somehow and someday in some form I'll see them again--but I certainly don't KNOW that there is, and many days it seems horribly likely that the whole thing was made up by people like me who just can't get comfortable with their own mortality. Still, it means something to me to count myself a Christian, and to have some connection to the story I grew up on. I don't even go to church every week anymore, but that in its own way feels like taking ownership of my faith--like, it's not about duty and expectations, and it's OK if some weeks I'm not feeling it or if I just need some more introvert time that weekend.

Totally forgot it was run off election day in Chicago, so rather than nap, I just voted. Good thing I left early.

My (devout atheist) father learned the Hail Mary because apparently the ability to recite it got you into Catholic School dances in Cincinnati in the early 60s.

Super smart!

I'm a great-aunt again! (For the seventh time. I was a great-aunt before I was a mom.) Little Elizabeth Marie, to be called Ellie, was born about 45 minutes ago.

Construction crew in front of my office broke our water pipe so water is shut off. Boss knew, 2 people beside his office knew, DID THEY TELL THE REST OF US?!? I just went the bathroom. Glad I didn't take a dump. What inconsiderate assholes, seriously. Who does that? There are a total of 6 of us who work in this building. 6!!!

Did you put psychic powers on your resume when you applied for this job, msbelle? That may have been a bad move.

This day is quickly spiraling into I hate everyone. And I need to try and have a calm discussion with Mac about school. Why are the gods trying me?

Welcome to the world, Ellie!