The last few weeks have been eventful and interesting and when I stop to consider everything I'm involved with I get a little overwhelmed.  I realize I have trouble saying no, but I also don't want to miss out on an opportunity to learn or experience something new, so for now I continue to add to my list of "things that keep me out of trouble" and look forward to October when things will begin to calm down*... 

Probably the newest development is my Indiana certification to be an HIV test counselor.  I completed my training today and now I'm just waiting for the certificate and counselor number to arrive in the mail during the next week or so.  This isn't the the first time I've had this privilege - I was also certified to test in Pennsylvania.  When I was there, I tested on a very regular basis but we used a test that required we wait two weeks for the results - now I'm not sure how often I'll be testing but I'll be using a 20-minute test... this means that in less than half an hour I may meet somebody and inform them that they're HIV positive**.  I don't look forward to that, but I think testing is important and I'm glad to help facilitate the smoothest transition possible when people get the news.  This certification will go right along with my recent national certification to teach HIV 101.  Now I just need to find opportunities to apply my new knowledge.

Other big news is that I've been hired on as an adjunct instructor at the Art Institute.  I will be teaching Typography*** for the summer quarter, and if all goes well I may continue teaching beyond that.  I think it'll be a fun opportunity and though I'm a little nervous (I've never actually taught at a college level), I think I'll do a pretty good job.  At least I'm preparing the best I can.  My class starts next Tuesday and runs for eleven weeks.  The orientation is this weekend and I'm still working on putting together a syllabus and lesson plans... but I'm off to a good start and if I can get the first couple of weeks done that should buy me enough time to get the rest done before I need them.

I'm still working my "day job" at the Athenaeum where my boss has been gracious enough to afford me the time to pursue these other opportunities.  I guess I'll have to work extra hard this next week to make up for missed time, but I'm very grateful for the flexibility and I look forward to the exciting things we have coming up!  Maybe I'll post more about that later.

I'm also still volunteering at The Damien Center (I'm trying to be there one and a half days a week), and through that involvement I've gotten on the planning committee for The Indianapolis AIDSWalk.  My role there is still pretty small, but as I watch and learn I'm confident I'll find places to engage and I'm excited to get to participate in October!

There are other things I could post about - my involvement at the Salvation Army and with the Jaycees - but I aforementioned fatigue is getting the better of me and I'm not sure how much longer I'll be able to hang out here.  Needless to say, I'm feeling overextended but I'm grateful to God for the opportunities He's bringing my way.  I've I'm not great about being connected, please forgive me and I'll try to do my best to remember where my priorities really belong.