This Week's Friday Five, brought to you by Sermon Procrastination.

(Before I get started on the Friday Five task, let me highly suggest to all preachers - or anybody who writes regularly - that you read this brilliant reflection on the process of writing a sermon. The next time anyone (anyone with a decent sense of humor) asks me, "how do you write a sermon?" I am going to send them to this post. It also explains to you why my participation in the Friday Five - indeed in any blogging task, no matter how minor - may actually be a thread in the beautiful pattern of sermon preparation.

Ah, denial.)

Anyway. To the calendar-related Friday Five, this week from Songbird:

Here are five things to ponder about dates. I hope you'll play!

1) Datebooks--how do you keep track of your appointments? Electronically? On paper? Month at a glance? Week at a glance?

I've recently switched back to a paper calendar after some sort of totally mysterious glitch completely effed-up my Palm Pilot. And honestly, I like the paper better. It's much more satisfactory to cross things off a paper list than it is to press the little stylo onto the little box on the little screen of "to do's" on the Palm Pilot. Plus I can see the whole week at a quicker glance. And no technical glitches. Except that I do routinely forget the thing on the kitchen counter at home.

2) When was the last time you forgot an important date?

I forgot my dad's birthday last October. First time ever. Woke up at 11:55pm, thought frantically, "it's still his birthday! Technically! I could call!" but decided that was a bit much. Called the next day and my mom said, "well, we were a little worried because you never forget birthdays" and then, of course, I felt HORRIBLE. My mom is not normally a big guilt-inducer, but that was a whopper. This year I Will. Not. Forget.

3) When was the last time you went OUT on a date?

Well, since Beloved and I were living in two different cities for about five months, we did actually do some "dating" when we were in the same place. We stayed at a fancy hotel in New City for a night when he was visiting me, and went out for dinner and walked around town. Very fun.

4) Name one accessory or item of clothing you love even though it is dated.

I suspect the black rayon-y gaucho pants I am currently wearing would cause great gasps of horror from some high fashion people. Mostly I just wear them around the house because they are so comfortable.

I also have a super cool silk bathrobe that belonged to my grandmother in the 1930's, but it is not dated. It is retro. (Right?)

5) Dates--the fruit--can't live with 'em? Or can't live without 'em?

In general, shriveled food = not good. (Exception: chocolate-covered dried cherries from Starbucks.)