Saturday (because I didn’t get around to writing anything) held out the long awaited – by some: ‘The Office Party’ with Jess W as host and the mastermind behind the all day fest.

The Office is a BBC Comedy (The UK version I hear is the only one worth watching). Which if you are entirely interested, can find more about here.

So a 12pm start dragged all the way through to 11:30ish. I say dragged, but it was quite fun – although I don’t really want to see any more of the show for a good few years. Two whole seasons worth and two longer Christmas Specials.

The aim of the day, despite being social (yits and young adults and other crew there) was to raise money for TEAR Australia. I’m not sure how much was made in the end, but a goodly amount.

There was a lot of food – including some rather good brownies, if I can say so myself, that I made to prove a point. Good thing they did turn out – saved my face. It’s a sorry thing when you get a reputation for not being able to cook when you’ve make a few mistakes in the past.

We also played some game to do with TEAR stuff. Jessmyn and I had a miserable run of it. Dad used to run a slightly similar game (in principle) when we did the ‘missionary’ travel around and visit churches thing. Ugh.

It was quite a brilliant day, if only for all the people there. Jess did a marvellous job hosting it all.

Do you know how flipping annoying it is sometimes to be totally abnormal/contrary to the rest of the population in how you view particular things – how you respond etc. Wow the head has perfect control – too much control. Live a little Rebecca?

YITS people caught up tonight. At Jess’s place again. Poor girl was sorethroated and not even awake when Sam and I got there. Dave rocked up followed pretty shortly by Luskie, Clacy, Elyce, Darryn and Iain. That was it for the night. A good crew.

Some amusing banter – around my current circumstance and other such happenings. Jess was ‘mock’ (or really) cross with me for a short while and then got over it. Sam got a phone call and left the room. Elyce caught my eye and I moved across. She asked me some pretty straight out questions and we had a brilliant conversation. The others moved rooms and we stayed chatting for ages. Really helpful, really encouraged and better still she prayed for me at the end of it. How much I value her advice and her love, her ear and her willingness to bring whoever it is before God, in this case – me!

Had interesting conversations the rest of the night from, ‘Gay marriage’ to some funny animal theory Elyce had (not as bad as it sounds!). Got a superb massage from Jess and a good scarce compliment from Mr. Lusk which I fully appreciated.

Fantastic day!

Oh… and I managed to watch “Tuesday’s with Morrie“. Very interesting movie! Much to think about in there – I’ll really have to get hold of the book. Bring on philosophy, poetics and the nuances of life anyday! There’s a poem read out in the middle of it – I really want to get my hands on it…

I don’t know if you have seen the movie Crash (2004/5, Don Cheadle, Sandra Bullock) if you haven’t it is well worth making the effort.

The feeling was not disimilar to what I felt after Hotel Rwanda. Less angry, still total frustration at the human race. It is very much based around racial discriminaton not just black vs. white Americans, and the plot is spectacularly woven together from multiple stories. Quite moving, disturbing in the same way that you feel powerless to do anything to stop the world walking its jaunty twisted way.

I was going to go to the young adults group thing tonight, that didn’t happen. I was at Jess’s, Ana was unsure if she was going, my head was choked after the movie, I am unsure whether to tag along at the end of the year or just wait until next year.

Choices. Funny how we think about things and still decide to do them even if they are fruitless, pointless, time wasting and relatively, well, just not the worlds greatest idea.

We went to Chadstone. Hello materialistic capitol of Melbourne. Some ‘mega’ sale on store (ie: all) wide. It wasn’t that great. Traffic was horrendous getting in, we parked smartly in a side street. (Bought David, Jess’ brother along with us) The place was packed. Said hello to Alice in CottonOn. Tried to shop. Didn’t get much. I found the Les Miserables dvd in Borders cheap, which I’ve been after for ages so I got that and a top.

Jess and I had a really good talk in the car on the way there about church and ideas around that and what to do about various friendship circles. Good to challenge her on some stuff and in turn be a bit challenged.

We discussed materialism on the way home. Jess’s, “I’m starting to really get it”. Which is all very well. But actions and words have to match, we did visit a place where it was pretty much rampant with it and although we didn’t buy into much (quite literally) we still entertained the should be now less welcome stranger.

I am quite simply a bit annoyed at myself for bothering to go shopping this evening. I was at the shops earlier today anyway after dropping the silly dvd back and looking for Christmas presents (entirely not very successful) until Jess picked me up.

Such are choices, actions follow them and regrets chase after them like the wind.