They had me at "The Prisoner" ...

... and then I heard Jim Caviezel is Number 6. Late to the party, since this news has been out for a while, but that's ok.

My only problem will be that we don't have cable so I'll have to wait for the series to get to season two to get my hands on the dvds of season one. An excellent way to cultivate patience. And, don't worry, I can wait ...

(See, this kind of thing is why I have to shake my head when Merton indulges in wholesale bashing of television in The New Seeds of Contemplation. It's a good book but not perfect.)

God's Love Shown Us Through Others

If left to myself I'd probably become a hermit. However, since I met Him, God has been dragging me not only out of my shell but out of the house into many communities. Lately I have been very aware of how blessed I am to have so many brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ to share joys and sorrows with. It is a special bond.

It doesn't hurt that our Catholic women's book club is reading The New Seeds of Contemplation by Thomas Merton. It is a series of essays, several of which dwell in particular upon different aspects of community. This bit in particular is a good "sound byte" of what has really hit me lately.

When the Love of God is in me, God is able to love you through me and you are able to love God through me. If my soul were closed to that love, God's love for you and your love for God and God's love for himself in you and in me, would be denied the particular expression which it finds through me and through no other.

Because God's love is in me, it can come to you from a different and special direction that would be closed if He did not live in me, and because His love is in you, it can come to me from a quarter from which it would not otherwise come. And because it is in both of us, God has greater glory. His love is expressed in two more ways in which it would not otherwise be expressed; that is, in two more joys that could not exist without Him.

Earth

An incredible looking trailer. No one raised in our family could ever not appreciate nature in all its myriad forms. Which might explain why my mother's love of nature has culminated in Hannah's love of all life (yes, even in cockroaches as she tells me, though she draws the line at actually stopping them from being killed ... she is also a Texan after all). We don't have cable or I would definitely watch Planet Earth, the show that this is based on.

According to a press release I received:

We are working with Disney on their new Nature Division, and they are releasing their first movie this April (April 20th), called “Earth”, which is based off Discovery’s award-winning series “Planet Earth”. The movie is 90 minutes, narrated by James Earl Jones, and the footage is the best of Planet Earth. I watched it in NY last week and there are “no” hints of evolution or policy debate – it’s not an agenda film. The film is pretty intense, like the series, and is INCREDIBLE. It really demonstrates the beauty and magnificence of God's creation.

I am a big fan of the Earth, though not such a fan of Earth Day as it tends to become a religious observance for avid environmentalists. However as a day to recognize God's glorious creation and His expression of diversity, the likes of which we would be unlikely to imagine much less attempt ourselves, I can support it entirely.

I see no reason why this movie shouldn't live up to this trailer and eagerly await it.

First Communion Dresses and Veils

Lots of style available at The Catholic Company ... they've got every sort from frills to sleek (which is what I'd choose) and in between ... with, of course, veils too.

In Which I Gush Over Lamentation by Ken Scholes ...

... at SFFaudio's podcast and we discuss lending books to friends, giving books to libraries, old versus new space opera and much, much more.

My actual book review of Lamentation will be submitted soon to SFFaudio and then you can simply read it if you prefer.

Happy Pi Day!

Just don't make that a meat pie, since it's Lent.

Many interesting and amusing facts about pi may be found at Mental Floss whence came the above photo. Or you may want to visit the official site for Pi Day.

Personally, I prefer to eat pi rather than read about it. I share that trait with monkey who is celebrating with a sour cream lemon pie.

Look, Hannah! This Blog's for You! (All About St. Gemma)

Hannah's patron saint is St. Gemma, chosen because she was ill quite a lot at that time in her life and so was St. Gemma. As if often the case, our patrons sneak up on us with the most obvious of reasons. We then later discover that the connection goes more than skin deep (as with St. Martha and me).

Hannah was mentioning St. Gemma to me just the other day and I know that she is going to be delighted to peruse St. Gemma Galgani which has much to teach us about "The Gem of Christ."

Glenn, whose blog it is, has done a wonderful job and tells us:

In it I have numerous excerpts from her writings, including her entire autobiography (published with approval from the Postulator General of the Passionists), and many tracts from her diary and letters. Also I have a extensive photo gallery with numerous pictures pertaining to her holy life.

• The blog is strictly for devotional purposes ...
• As stated on the website, I endeavor always to be in union with the Pope and the teachings of the Magisterium of the Church.
• My blog has been reviewed by Catholic Culture (Petersnet) and has earned the Catholic Culture Fidelity award for excellence in Catholic fidelity. Read their review here.
  

So on the whole daily Mass thing ...

... it is amazing to me how very easily my life has taken on this morning visit to the Church, the half hour Mass, the bit of time to truly focus on God and what is True before plunging into the busy day.

It is equally amazing to me that it is not ... amazing.

It is not that I might not have inspired insights or realizations, because in front of the tabernacle is the place where I am going to have those things if I have them at all and I assuredly still do. What is amazing is that this is something that I feel so comfortable with, so much that this is how it is supposed to be for me. Like slipping on an old glove.

I look back at my scurrying and hedging and excuse making.

What was I worrying about? This is easy. It is right.

I was so silly.

This Just In and Going Straight by the Bedside

Angels and Their Mission by Cardinal Jean Daniélou

All it took was reading the introduction, so readable, so logical (you know that grabs me!) to make this the next theology book for my spare time.

Here's the description ... I am really looking forward to reading this.

From St. Augustine to John Henry Newman, the greatest among the saints and men of God have lived on familiar terms with the angels; and the Church has always accorded them a very large place in her theology.

Recent theologians have dwelt on dry questions about the nature of the angels, but the early Fathers of the Church, with the memory of Jesus fresh in their minds (and of the angels of whom He spoke often) were fascinated with the energetic action of the angels among men and the ways in which the angels have carried out that mission from the instant of Creation through the time of Jesus; and how they will continue their work even unto the end of time.

From the works of these early Fathers of the Church, the late French Cardinal Jean Daniélou has drawn forth threads of knowledge and wisdom which he has here woven into a lucid and bright tapestry that shows us who the ministering angels really are, and how—in every instant and in every way—they are working for your salvation and mine.

Here you’ll find no sentimental cherubs: the Fathers knew that majesty and power cloak actual angels, which is why God gave them the formidable tasks of shepherding not only souls, but entire nations, and the motions of the entire material universe itself.

Open these pages to meet the glorious angels as they were known by the Church’s greatest saints and theologians: Origen and Eusebius, and Sts. Basil, Ambrose, Methodius, Gregory of Nyssa, Clement of Alexandria, and John Chrysostom (among others).

Up

Forgiveness, Angels, and Fasting

Various requests or email conversations have popped up lately which prompt me to offer a variety of links to items of interest:

Forgiveness

The key quote from St. Augustine (my first saint friend) that made me look at forgiveness as something I could actually desire for someone I disliked. I can't ever thank him enough for sharing his thoughts on the subject. Read it here.

Angels

Shylock asks for more about my connection to my guardian angel. Hey, y'all, he asked! So....

• Here is a link to some basic facts about angels
• Here is something about my awareness of my guardian angel
• Here is where I tell about the time I think that I met my guardian angel
• Finally, this is the link to the angel label on the blog so you can look through lots of other great stories and links.
  

Fasting

Patina who will be joining the Church at Easter (welcome Patina!) asks, "But I don't understand fasting for an end to abortion, or fasting for any other reason...any chance you could point me in the right direction?"

The main idea is that of joining our sufferings to the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. You can offer up involuntary suffering, such as illness, or purposefully embrace suffering in acts of penance, such as fasting. And believe me ... I suffer.

Here are a couple of good links:

• Intro to Lent II: Fasting by Mike Aquilina. This is a wonderful overall piece about fasting and I reread it every so often to bolster my own determination.
  
  
• Salvifici Doloris encyclical (on the Christian meaning of human suffering) by Pope John Paul II. Lest you quail at the idea of reading an encyclical, though I have found them to usually be easy to read depending on the subject, here is the key point:

  In the Cross of Christ not only is the Redemption accomplished through suffering, but also human suffering itself has been redeemed...Every man has his own share in the Redemption. Each one is also called to share in that suffering through which the Redemption was accomplished...In bringing about the Redemption through suffering, Christ has also raised human suffering to the level of the Redemption. Thus each man, in his suffering, can also become a sharer in the redemptive suffering of Christ...The sufferings of Christ created the good of the world's redemption. This good in itself is inexhaustible and infinite. No man can add anything to it. But at the same time, in the mystery of the Church as his Body, Christ has in a sense opened his own redemptive suffering to all human suffering (Salvifici Doloris 19; 24).

What's New in My Fridge?

Well, since you asked ... just pop over to Meanwhile, Back in the Kitchen to find out.

The story of a renegade deer, a flat tire, a dying beagle, a glowing dime, a mysterious stranger, and a white garage bag brought an atheist to Jesus

Wow.

Do. not. miss. this. story.

Much thanks to Enbrethiliel for bringing it to my notice.

Coming Soon ... Justice, Inc.

One of my favorite narrators sends word of a great sounding new old book he'll be beginning:

This week Uvula Audio premieres Justice, Inc. by Paul Ernst. This is the introductory book in the 1940's pulp serial about Richard Benson the Avenger. Benson was a globe-trotting adventurer who made millions all over the world in risky and dangerous ventures. When he finally decides to settle down and retire, he loses his wife and daughter in a mysterious tragedy aboard an airliner where they disappear mid-flight. Benson goes mad and ends up in an institution. When he is released he has undergone several physical changes from the shock including his hair turning white and his face becoming an equally deathly pallor. From that day forward Benson vows vengeance upon the people who caused his tragic loss. This is a dark heroic story which reminds you of Doc Savage and yet is much more sober in tone. Some people have suggested that if Doc Savage was the basis of Superman, then Benson is very probably the basis of Batman and his vigilante justice. It was always made clear that Doc worked with the police-- although Benson respects the police, it is always made clear that he does not feel they can do the job of justice as well as he can because their hands are tied by the system . . . sound familiar?

Links for the story-- which is already posted for the week-- can be found at here or the podcast can be “caught” using this address:
http://www.uvulaaudio.com/Books/Books.xml

Worth A Thousand Words

Gas Masks
from Old Picture of the Day

Does anyone else notice the resemblance here to the sand people from Star Wars? I wonder if George Lucas had been looking through old photos ...

Which makes it darned near irresistible to watch George Lucas in Love again ... so let's give in and do it!

And now, for something more cheerful ... I present The Periodic Table of Awesomements

If seeing that number 1 is Bacon and number 2 is Ninja doesn't make you smile ... well then, I'm stumped. Click on it to see a larger version or, better yet, go visit John C. Wright's place which is where I picked this baby up.

Catholic Church to Be Regulated by Connecticut?

Although from what I've read there is no need for that question mark. If so, I am appalled both as an American and as a Catholic.

Ed Morrisey reports:

According to the First Amendment and the Establishment Clause, the government has no business dictating to religious organizations how they should structure themselves. In Connecticut, though, some lawmakers seem to have skipped over the Constitution. A new bill will require Catholic parishes and dioceses — and only Catholics — to organize their parish leadership in a way that pleases the Connecticut legislature (via The Corner)...

American Papist has more:

On top of it being an outrageous violation of the First Amendment it is also particularly anti-Catholic, and the politicians who have introduced and supported this bill should be strongly rebuked not just by Catholics, but by all Americans who hate religious discrimination and "hate legislation."

One particularly-offensive line in the bill (emphasis mine):

"The corporation shall have a board of directors consisting of not less than seven nor more than thirteen lay members. The archbishop or bishop of the diocese or his designee shall serve as an ex-officio member of the board of directors without the right to vote."

That's right - archbishops and bishops under this bill would be stripped of their power to govern.

Both sources will have updates, as I am sure that many more will also. Much thanks to The Anchoress for the heads up on this.

Update
Get Religion wonders why the media is ignoring the story altogether.

Further Update
From The Anchoress who wrote a stunningly good and thoughtful post on the whole thing:

UPDATE: Well, a reprieve of sorts. Seems

“The bill is dead for the rest of the legislative session. As soon as word spread about the bill, the Legislative Office Building was flooded with telephone calls and e-mails on Monday. The bill, virtually overnight, became the hottest issue at the state Capitol.”.

(H/T Ace) That’s good. But it’s still on the way - next year, year after that. This battle is going to happen. Bank on it.

Where Do We Draw the Line with God?

This was the theme that our priest returned to again and again as he talked about the story of Abraham taking Isaac up the mountain, thinking that God would have him slay his son as a sacrifice. Neither Abraham nor Isaac protested or put up any opposition to God's orders. They exhibited completely willingness and trust in God no matter how terrible and abhorrent his plans seemed.

This made me think of Mary's "yes" to God, her similar complete willingness and trust.

I also thought of what I had read that morning in Thomas Merton's New Seeds of Contemplation.

We must learn to realize that the love of God seeks us in every situation, and seeks our good. His inscrutable love seeks our awakening. True, since this awakening implies a kind of death to our exterior self, we will dread His coming in proportion as we are identified with this exterior self and attached to it. But when we understand the dialectic of life and death we will learn to take the risks implied by faith, to make the choices that deliver us from our routine self and open to us the door of a new being, a new reality.

The mind that is the prisoner of conventional ideas, and the will that is the captive of its own desire cannot accept the seeds of an unfamiliar truth and a supernatural desire. For how can I receive the seeds of freedom if I am in love with slavery and how can I cherish the desire of God if I am filled with another and an opposite desire? God cannot plant His liberty in me because I am a prisoner and I do not even desire to be free. I love my captivity and I imprison myself in the desire for the things that I hate, and I have hardened my heart against true love. I must learn therefore to let go of the familiar and the usual and consent to what is new and unknown to me. I must learn to "leave myself in order to find myself by yielding to the love of God. If I were looking for God, every event and every moment would sow, in my will, grains of His life that would spring up one day in a tremendous harvest.

I thought of a couple of occasions when I have seen people who knew what was right but who so clearly desired to do what they wanted instead. How they went from friend to friend asking for an opinion. When it never was the answer they wanted, these seekers having honest friends, they kept searching almost frantically for someone who would affirm their wishes instead of the larger truth. In each case, their friends' hearts ached for them during the search.

Then I thought of myself. How easy it is to identify when someone else is turning from obedience. Yet, as I had just been telling Tom that morning, I had been feeling nudges from many sources to begin attending daily Mass. No one was saying that most deadly of arguments to me, "It's so wonderful. So inspirational." I'd heard that before. It merely left me thinking I didn't feel that "call."

No, the comments that nudged would always be about something else entirely. I can't really recall they were now, for the most part (except for yours, Rita, that one I remember). To get my attention to that level, however, they had been coming for some time and from many sources. Even at a party on Saturday when a friend was telling of her own Lenten addition of Wednesday morning Mass, my antennae perked up. That "I ought to ..." feeling was there.

I could not even argue that it would disrupt my morning schedule. I would merely have to put aside my own activities for an hour before getting to work ... and I can't even tell you what activities would be disrupted, that is how unimportant they are.

I was beginning to feel annoyed and hunted. Until I realized during that homily just where I was drawing the line. At giving God one hour in the morning. An hour which He fully is intending for my own joy and good and benefit ... and freedom. If I am reading the "nudges" aright.

In response, here I was kicking and screaming. Not trusting and wondering and looking forward to what might come that I cannot possibly foresee.

It was a shaming moment.

But afterward, when I had apologized and said a wholehearted, "Yes" ... I had complete peace. No annoyance over the schedule, over the daily obligation. Simply peace. That is the clearest sign of all.

My only mulling over then was wondering what time, if some of the daily Masses were held at the lower school instead of the church and so on. At which point I spared my guardian angel a thought. He had just been waiting, evidently, to whack me on the head and say, "Just go, knucklehead! Don't sweat the details."

Got it.

I went home afterwards and finished reading the essay.

My chief care should not be to find pleasure or success, health or life or money or rest or even things like virtue and wisdom--still less their opposites, pain, failure, sickness, death. But in all that happens, my one desire and my one joy should be to know: "Here is the thing that God has willed for me. In this His love is found, and in accepting this I can give back His love to Him and give myself with it to Him. For in giving myself I shall find Him and He is life everlasting.

By consenting to His will with joy and doing it with gladness I have His love in my heart, because my will is now the same as His love and I am on the way to becoming what He is, Who is Love. And by accepting all things from Him I receive His joy into my soul, not because things are what they are but because God is Who He is, and His love has willed my joy in them all.

Indeed.

And if not joy yet, certainly peace.

No measurable good may come of daily Mass attendance that I will ever be able to report (though I don't really believe that). However, even if the sole good comes from my realization of my stubborn struggle and my change of heart to a willing "yes" ... then that is enough.

Update: Ironically, this morning at my first daily Mass I realized that this actually may be God's way of economically answering my own prayers and using them for something which I had not intended. I'd been having so much trouble getting my time use under control that I'd been praying for help with focusing. Mass waiteth for no man (to paraphrase that famous saying). Except for the priest, one supposes. I've gotta hustle and focus to get there on time. Hoist on my own petard!

Prayer, Penance & Pain

The Anchoress has an excellent, personal piece about offering up one's own pain for others. Here's a bit, then go read it all, including her links to others' pieces.

But I realized that just laying about in pain was silly and wasteful; it went against everything the good nuns and my own mother and granny had ever taught me about pain and suffering. In my head I heard Sr. Mary Gemma telling us children, “when you are in pain, when you are disappointed, when your feelings have been hurt, offer these things up to the Lord and ask him to use your pain - that He join it to His own pain on the cross, for the good of others. Offer it as penance for your own sins, or the sins of those who cannot or will not do penance for themselves.” ...

I asked Him to take the pain in my feet and use it to bless those essential, undernoticed people who spent so much time on their feet serving others - cops, nurses, food workers, teachers. I asked Him to take the pain in my ankles and use it to bless the men and women who stand a watch at home and abroad, the people they protect and the people they guard.

My knees - sometimes the knees wake me up in the middle of the night from pain - I offered the pain in my knees for those who suffer through long nights, either from insomnia, loneliness, social or family affliction; for “the night people” on the streets who live their lives in the bleakest hours, because they perhaps feel like they have no better choices, or because they do not feel like they “belong” to the day.

How Do You Know You Have the Best Husband in the World?

When he walks up with a Barnes and Noble Christmas gift card that still has $56 on it ... and hands it over.

Now there's a nice surprise!

Tom is much more into music and BN has been phasing it out since before Christmas. Lucky, lucky me!

100 Enlightening Bible Study Blogs

Still digging out on emails that piled up while I was gone ... here's an interesting resource with blogs categorized by such things as Scripture, Inspiration and Enlightenment, Community, and more.

Oh, and look way down the list ... keep scrolling ... that's it, number 57. Surprise! You are already reading one of the recommended blogs!

What Rose Has Been Up To

Catch a couple of her first semester projects here. She's still fixing thumbnails, etc. since they just set these pages up earlier this week.

The first "black" one is a group project.

The second is Rose's project a la Billy Wilder (they had to choose a director to emulate).

The third, which looks as if it has some sort of upload problem at the moment, is an experimental film done by a fellow pilot program group member. It is fascinating to watch and then to hear Rose talk about how she achieved the special effects bubbles. This was to tie in with Rose's Billy Wilder project, which makes more sense if you know that Rose was forced by her teacher to give her film a happy ending instead of the bleak one she desired.

A Short Realization About Death

This is going to be a "duh" moment for many.

Seeing all the comments and sympathy and reaching out to Amy Welborn after Michael's tragic death has made all of us probably think about death more. I know I was quite surprised to read that Amy has had a fear of death. I was surprised when people commented that their deepest fear was that their husband might suddenly die.

This is only reflective of the fact that I just don't think about death, even when it is right in front of me, so to speak. I think of where we're going after death. I know intellectually that if one of my loved ones died suddenly I would be devastated, just like anyone would. However, as I said, I know that intellectually. I don't think about how it would feel.

I remember once, years ago, Rose asked me if I were afraid of dying. I thought for a second. "I'm not afraid of death. I'm not looking forward to the process of dying, but I'm not afraid of death because I figure Heaven will be so interesting."

Over confident. Yes, I am surely that. But I hope and trust that my honest efforts to get to Heaven will be supplemented by a generous supply of Christ's grace and I'll scrape my way into Purgatory and get to Heaven eventually.

Anyway, driving back from Springfield, I wound up thinking about Amy and that haunted hotel room and all those cars whizzing around me that could make a wrong move and wipe me out. I realized that I had never thought about that moment of death. You know. The process of death. When you move from one world into another. I never thought about what that would be like. For me myself as a person to experience that shift.

Scary.

Very scary.

In my mind's eye it was like trying to squeeze through a teeny, tiny hole into ... what?

That was when I realized, really felt it to my core, the sheer helplessness of death. The sheer need to fall into Christ's arms because He'd be the only constant, the only person I could trust in that moment to be there the whole time, helping me, loving me, taking care of me ...

Yes it is a helpless feeling, a thing that is scary to think about. But I like that it made me realize just how fully I do place my trust in Jesus ... and how much I need and utterly depend upon Him. There's a rightness about that. I like it.

Cracker Cooking

My review of The Cracker Kitchen: A Cookbook in Celebration of Cornbread-Fed, Down Home Family Stories and Cuisine is up at Meanwhile, Back in the Kitchen

Well Said

From my quote journal. Note: I do not always agree with the 3 Minute Theologian, however, he is usually inspirational and always thought provoking. I recommend that you try out a few of his podcast episodes.

We now seem to believe that realism is one part cynicism and two parts disappointment, and to drink deeply and despondently of such a potion is the sign of the “realist”. The world will eventually disappoint you, and your leaders will inevitably let you down. To be cynical merely means getting your disappointment in first. ...

Even so, the opposite of optimism is not realism: it is pessimism. Pessimism is the sense that nothing will make any difference; our destiny is to go to hell in a handbasket (The Duke of Wellington’s comment, “Reform, sir! Reform! aren’t things bad enough already?” is the peak of pessimism). The handmaid of pessimism is cynicism, the belief that things will go bad because of stupidity, greed and deliberate malfeasance. Optimism, on the other hand, is the belief that there is more good than evil in the universe, and that good will ultimately win out. This belief does not, should not, exist as a wide-eyed and unworldly Pollyanna-ism. After all, optimism’s first principle is that evil exists and bad things happen. Rather, optimism’s handmaid is a clear-sighted realism: being able to look at the world as it truly is, and see where the forces of good are at work and where they need to be strengthened.

And the personification of the optimistic realist (or realistic optimist) is Jesus. After all, it was he who sent his disciples out with this hopeful piece of advice: “‘See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” (Matthew 10:16).

3 Minute Theologian: Words about God for the Attention Deficit Generation

God's Answers to Your Problems

Thanks to Father Joe for this! It strikes me that this would be good to print out and then go through reading each verse ... as a contemplation aid.

• You say: 'It's impossible'
  God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)
  
  
• You say: 'I'm too tired'
  God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)
  
  
• You say: 'Nobody really loves me'
  God says: I love you (John 3:1 6 & John 3:34)
  
  
• You say: 'I can't go on'
  God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)
  
  
• You say: 'I can't figure things out'
  God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5- 6)
  
  
• You say: 'I can't do it'
  God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)
  
  
• You say: 'I'm not able'
  God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)
  
  
• You say: 'It's not worth it'
  God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28 )
  
  
• You say: 'I can't forgive myself'
  God says: I Forgive you (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
  
  
• You say: 'I can't manage'
  God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)
  
  
• You say: 'I'm afraid'
  God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7)
  
  
• You say: 'I'm always worried and frustrated'
  God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7)
  
  
• You say: 'I'm not smart enough'
  God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)
  
  
• You say: 'I feel all alone'
  God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)

January Dancer: audiobook review

My review of The January Dancer by Michael Flynn can be found over at SFFaudio. It also contains a brief commentary about the state of space opera writing in modern times.

A Few New Favorite Things

Discovered on my trip to Springfield ...

• McDonald's McCafe Latte ... in the large drive-through size. It hit the spot and I didn't want a cola. Mmmm, latte ...
• Mrs. Appleyard's Kitchen ... an absolutely delightful "forgotten classic" that I discovered in my parent's basement. Hilarious and intentionally so ... Mom and I kept picking it up and reading each other snippets all day ... and laughing our heads off. I'll be reading some of this at Forgotten Classics for the next episode.
• Lamentation (The Psalms of Isaak) by Ken Scholes ... listened to this on the way home for six solid hours. Yes, it is that good and fascinating. After CD3 I already was making a mental list of who I'd be buying this book for on upcoming birthdays. More to come in the review which will be for SFFaudio but it is an epic that is character driven by four main people and doesn't feel like an epic. It is a unique worldview that combines something like Robin Hood, a future in which ancient technology from before the time of Laughing Madness is sought after, and medieval governments of trading houses and the Church (complete with Pope). I can't do it justice in this little bit but find this book. Read it. I'll let y'all know when I'm done and the review comes out.
• Delonghi Coffee Maker. It is sad when you come home to find the coffeepot carafe cracked while doing dishes. Even sadder when you read the scathing reviews of most standard coffee makers at Amazon. This one not only had raves but also was available at the nearby Target. Excellent coffee was enjoyed this morning ... as we would hope from the snazzy Italian design!
  

Also discovered, but not so welcome ... is that I might have been staying in a haunted hotel room (or a gigantic spiritual attack). Which became a distinct possibility after my last night there. Not at all a nice experience if so. If not so, which I am perfectly willing to concede, then I was experiencing the mother of all paranoid delusions ... I am going to write to the hotel and see if they have had anyone else bothered by staying in that particular room. Not going into the details but I figure if I'm sharing the delightful strangeness of connecting with God here, then I'll also mention if I might experience the other. Because we know if there's one then there's the other. Right?

Update from Missouri

Just a reminder that I'm in Springfield helping my Dad move into assisted living. The plan is for my mother to join him there in a few weeks (tedious details that I will not bore everyone with.)

My brother has already spent two weeks doing the heavy lifting. I already appreciated it but after just a couple of days here to overlap I COMPLETELY appreciate it!

Here's the fantastic thing y'all. I am getting to see just how much God loves and cares for my parents in the particulars of so much in this whole situation. Without going into details, every set-back is actually a detour so God can give them something better than they wanted ... in fact, to give them just what they needed, with ample adjustment time built in.

But wait there's more!

I am used to being able to talk about seeing God's plan and providence unfold with Tom and the girls, with my close Christian friends. But to be able to have my brother say what I am thinking before I get a chance to say it, to point out how God is working things out on this whole move ... well, that's a whole new bond in our relationship. I already love and respect my brother so much. To have this experience with him as we see God using every means possible to work His plan is humbling and amazing. (For those who don't know, my parents are atheists and we grew up with no faith in our household.)

So it's tiring but a good kind of tiring.

The practical effect on y'all is that I was able to get the Ash Wednesday/Lent posts ready ahead of time but posting will be much less frequent for a few more days.

Clearing Out the Static ... a.k.a. What I'm Giving Up

I am giving up reading so many blogs.

That sounds so easy.

Until one goes into the RSS feed and has to chop (yes, that's how it felt ... CHOP) all but five blogs from the "Daily" folder and all but five from the folders I have for each day of the week.

Which I can check once a day.

For no longer than half an hour.

I already am seeing what a time sink has been getting between me and God. Oy.

My word this has been brutal. I am much too fond of so very many blogs ... it hurts and then is when I know that "detachment" is the thing wherein we will catch the conscience of Happy Catholic. (This also will be applying to podcasts ... but that will have to wait until I return home. In the meantime, I am on an enforced podcast fast ... just what I brung with me!)

It is not all about clearing away, of course. With that cleared away space, what does one do?

In my case, more practicing my vocation of taking care of home and hearth ... and of prayer, with an emphasis on listening. Still figuring this part out ... hey, I've got an hour or so!

P.S.
I realize this is very similar to the group that is giving up Facebook for Lent (complete with a Facebook group! ha!) But when I asked God what needed to be cleared from between us, this is all I got back.

I see that The Curt Jester is chiming in on this too, with predictably funny results. Yes, I laughed out loud. (And, no, I'm not giving up The Curt Jester ... he made the cut.)

Unexpectedly Called Away ...

... not for anything bad. In fact, this is good stuff, but some family things came up that I must help with in person. So I'll be in Springfield (Mo.).

I'll be out of town for about a week but Tom has fixed me up with a nifty thing on Rose's old laptop (hereafter to be known as MY laptop) so I can hook onto our phone system's account and blog.

However, as I will be in and out rather erratically, I thought I'd get the Lenten background up.

A little early, but that's ok, right?

More soon ... including book ideas for Lent.

Mailbag ...

Jean at Catholic Fire writes:

A Great Lenten Project

Are you married? Are you Catholic? Do you have a devotion to the saints? Have you and your spouse or a family member experienced hope and healing as a result of prayer to a saint or saint(s)?

This is your chance to evangelize and it makes for a wonderful Lenten project as well.

I am looking for dramatic conversion stories as well as stories of trials and tribulations (for example, financial difficulties, addictions, the birth of a child with a medical problem) overcome through the intercession of a saint or saints and the grace of God to publish in a new book meant to inspire and encourage married couples.

In order to be published:

Your story must name a saint or saints.

It must be at least 1800 words, but not more than 2000 words.

Email your submission to me no later than March 15, 2009.

Stefan from St. Michael's Abbey says,

After last week's successful album launch party for "Anthology: Chants and Polyphony from St. Michael's Abbey", we have created short video clips.

Here is one to get you started and then you can look down the YouTube sidebar for more.

Reviewing The School of Essential Ingredients

You can find it over at Meanwhile, Back in the Kitchen.

"I don't want to miss a thing" ... Are These People Serious?

Did anyone else see the television ad marketing Essure, a permanent birth control procedure, at the average American mother? (Tom remembered the name.)

The scenario is the family at the park with two or three children, the father, and the mother all having a great time. In a moment alone, the mother furrows her brow and wonders, "What if I'm pregnant? Can we afford it?" and some other more generic worries. As she continues to think worriedly about the changes that a child would make to their lives, it was chilling to see adorable children come up to their mother. As she lovingly caressed them or bent over to speak to them, I kept thinking, "Right, who would want another adorable child like that one right in front of you?"

Speaking purely as an advertising professional, what were these people thinking? These are some of the feeblest, most selfish excuses I've ever heard for not having children. This family was clearly not suffering financially, the father was right there, the children were all those we would consider the American ideal ... and as the ad finishes, the woman turns around and smilingly calls to the camera, "Because I don't want to miss a thing!"

Except any more children. Because it's all about her of course.

Hope those children the advertisement mom already has don't get drift of it. Because clearly their worth is in enhancing this woman's life, as is her husband.

I know several mothers who have five or six children and their pregnancies didn't stop them from going to the park, school plays, or their book club (depending on what this woman is dreading missing, of course).

Probably the worst logic I've ever seen, however, it probably will appeal to anyone who is clutching at the slightest excuse to overcome any moral objections.

That is my advertising take.

The reason I don't remember more details is that we were both stunned at the subject matter showing up in an ad on the evening news and at the fatuousness of the approach. The only thing that one can hope is that those more serious-minded folks who are mulling over the issue will see the weakness of this logic.

If our society would stop looking at children as an item on our financial reports or that would make us stop focusing on ourselves we'd be so much better off in so many ways. There's a reason that Tom and I look at our friends who chose to remain childless with pity. They will never know the riches that they are passing by for the sake of comforts that are much less precious and ultimately will fail them in the end. This is just as true for those who are choosing family size. Who knows what unique joy could be theirs but that they will never know because it would be given by the very person that they refuse to bring into the world?

UPDATE
This article by someone who works in women's health care shows that not only the advertising is weak.

Well Said

From my quote journal.

The turbulent have to be corrected, the faint-hearted cheered up, the weak supported; the Gospel's opponents need to be refuted, its insidious enemies guarded against; the unlearned need to be taught, the indolent stirred up, the argumentative checked; the proud must be put in their place, the desperate set on their feet, those engaged in quarrels reconciled; the needy have to be helped, the oppressed to be liberated, the good to be encouraged, the bad to be tolerated; all must be loved.

St. Augustine, describing his daily life

I LIke a TV Show That Isn't Afraid to Take a Stand About Faith

It was one of those where i thought I knew where it was going to go, and then it did, and then... well...

Elizabeth Anne

Me too. And it did go there ...

SPOILERS WARNING

This week's House, titled Unfaithful, was one that would have Christians and especially Catholics involved from the beginning. We've seen religious discussion on House done better I think, but this was still interesting and went a lot further than I've seen any prime time TV show do since I can remember. Certainly not by a show with edge. (I'm discounting things like Touched by an Angel.)

A disheveled young priest checks himself into the hospital for a "hallucination" after seeing a very vivid apparition of Jesus. Which we see also.

The priest, Daniel, has lost his faith. “It’s just a job now. The fairy tale ended a long time ago.” Every reason Daniel gives for this is rather worn out and any Catholic worth his (or her) salt knows the obvious answer. In fact, Kutner very knowledgeably brings up free will and is able to easily engage in dialogue on this level (interesting).

Unfaithfulness is examined on every subplot as well but the most interesting is that moment that we are urging Dr. House to realize. The light bulb goes on, as always, spurred by someone's seemingly random comment. "Even if an absolute truth exists we can’t know all of it ..." says Dr. Wilson to House. Who then realizes that the "hallucination" is not a symptom (which is as far as he's going to go in saying it might be real.

I especially liked the concept of House linking absolute truth with the "hallucination" and goes forward to diagnose the patient. While steadfastly not committing to anything but "coincidence." In case we don't get it, at another point Dr. Cuddy is marveling at the chain of coincidences that led to House saving yet another life when all he started out to do was manipulate his employees.

(Note: some of this is pieced together and some is from my, admittedly faulty, memory but it captures the gist well enough.)

Daniel: It was a coincidence?

House: Coincidences do happen.

Daniel: It was a coincidence that brought me to you.

House: You promised you wouldn’t go there.

Daniel: Einstein said "Coincidences are God’s way of remaining anonymous.’

House: A woman in Florida said, "Look, Jesus is on my cheese sandwich."

Daniel: I'm just thinking about how my life completely turned around in a single day.

House: Everything that happened can be rationally explained.

Daniel: I know. But that's a lot of coincidences.

Which I will add, for the record, I don't believe in. Coincidences, that is.

One of the most moving scenes was when the boy who accused Daniel of inappropriate contact learns that the priest might be dying. His coming forward for forgiveness of his lie was moving. It also was an interesting and brave move from the writers who provided that as the counterpoint to practically everyone's immediate acceptance of the priest as a pedophile as soon as they heard of the past accusations.

It was an episode I enjoyed. Although perhaps not the best writing they've ever done, it was definitely counter-cultural in admitting the possibility that faith and apparitions are true and that not every priest accused of "inappropriate behavior" is guilty.

Dear President Obama ... We Want to Dance!

... Like millions of other Americans of both parties, I watched your inauguration and its accompanying festivities with great interest. I must admit, however, that I was more than a little disappointed by your performance, as well as Michelle’s, during the round of inaugural balls you attended. What you displayed for us at those events was, admittedly, movement of some kind, but in my estimation, it hardly qualifies as dance. From a couple such as you and Michelle, celebrated as you are as the typifying of youth, class, and sophistication, I would have expected something as graceful and elegant as the foxtrot or waltz, as romantic as the bolero, as sensual as the Argentine tango, or perhaps as lively and invigorating as the cha-cha, quickstep, or jive. But surely we all deserved something better than the 20 seconds or so of lifeless, perfunctory sashaying that we saw repeated several times that night. ...

... you – and by extension, your wife – have a responsibility to set a good example for all of us, including with respect to the cultivation and development of good dance-floor skills. This brings up my second point, which is that in order to avoid a general breakdown in the social order and to revive our collective sense of self-confidence during this time of major crisis, I recommend that the recently-enacted economic stimulus package – which, quite frankly, sucks – be revamped, and that its new and improved version emphasize and promote the benefits of ballroom and Latin dancing, which all Americans would be encouraged to learn and pursue as a lifetime activity.

I believe that instead of the current $787-billion monstrosity, a more modest package of, say, $40 to $50 billion should be enacted immediately, and the funds thus appropriated divvied out to dance studios all over the country. ... The current economic upheavals we all face amount to a crisis of confidence as much as anything else, and I know from my own experience that ballroom dancing can do wonders for one’s sense of self-assurance. Imagine the effect of an entire nation indulging regularly in this difficult, challenging, but joyous activity! ...

A bit of my friend Garry's letter to President Obama, which is funny (as we know) because it's true! Go read it all.

Nature Red in Tooth and Claw

Hannah sent me the link to this nature video of lions hunting buffalo saying,

This is amazing. You have to watch it. Also, it's a lot better without sound because it's just dumb people saying, "Oh, the lions are crouching," and stuff like that. We watched it in our wildlife seminar yesterday.

It is amazing. I must say those baby buffalo are much hardier than one would give them credit for. The only thing missing is the Western "show down" music at the end.

Could I Resist This?

Of course not!

Via Jane who has the same sense of humor that I do.

More About Henry Poole is Here

First of all, let me say that it makes me very nervous when someone reads one of my reviews and then runs out to buy the movie based on that alone! Luckily it stood up under scrutiny! (Whew!)

Kate and Mark W. both make excellent points in the comments boxes. Mark's points are here where I point to Scott Nehring's excellent review. Kate's are at my original review here. Also follow my link there to Kate's good meditation upon a key point of the movie ... note, it contains a HUGE spoiler so don't read it if you want to catch the movie "fresh." Wait until afterward.

Movie poll of Catholics launched ahead of Oscars®

From Mark at Soul Food Cinema comes the following poll. I like it, I like it a lot ...

With just days to go until the 81st Annual Academy Awards, three UK-based Catholic media partners have launched a poll to find the Catholic community’s all-time top-100 favourite films.

The weekly newspaper The Catholic Herald, on-line movie review magazine Soul Food Cinema and Catholic media retailer St Anthony Communications, have joined forces to discover those films that Catholics value most highly; both in terms of their technical and artistic merits as well as their moral and spiritual merits.

Speaking about the upcoming awards ceremony, Soul Food Cinema Editor Mark Banks comments “Once again we have a morally-diverse group of films nominated for this year’s Oscars®. On the one hand there is The Visitor, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Slumdog Millionaire, WALL-E and Happy-Go-Lucky: all of which have been nominated for one or more of the most-prestigious Oscar® categories (Best Leading Actor, Best leading Actress, Best Directing, Best Picture and Best Screenplay), and all of which also feature on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Top-10 films list of 2008. And on the other hand there is Milk, The Reader, Revolutionary Road and Tropic of Thunder: all of which have also been nominated for one or more of the most-prestigious Oscars® categories, and all of which have either been deemed by the USCCB to contain ‘problematic content many adults would find troubling’ or simply as ‘morally offensive’”.

The three UK-based Catholic media partners that have organised the Top-100 poll hope it will help Catholics to identify and embrace those films, both past and present, which are in accordance with Catholic-Christian principles.

The poll can be accessed on-line here.

Voting closes on Friday March 6th.

More Praise for Henry Poole is Here

Scott at Good News Film Reviews also likes Henry Poole is Here. As Scott notes, he and I often disagree, though not for the reasons he says. His stubbornness in admitting my correct evaluations is something that he prefers to ignore, so we'll say no more about that!

At any rate, when we fully agree about a movie being good, then you know it is worth seeing. I especially like Scott's insight based on his own brush with death. Be sure to read his review (my review is here) and let's all say a prayer for his continued good health while we're at it ...

Pittsburgh Pilgrimage ... a little more info

I'm still getting this together, but so far, here's what we've got

DATES

Beginning with dinner Wednesday, June 3, and leaving after Mass on Sunday, June 7.

HIGHLIGHT
Mike Aquilina and Chris Bailey Talk

Mike Aquilina and Chris Bailey (more about them can be found here) will give a talk for us on popular devotion that ranges from the Psalms to the Grail and refers to many of the sights and artworks we'll be seeing in Pittsburgh. Woohoo! Exciting, right?

Mike says,

"We can do it together, which is always more better for comedic effect, since alone we tend to be very earnest and homiletic."

See? He's already being funny!

I also will give a talk after our arrival dinner which will be less interesting to those who know me well (of which I have at least one travel commitment) than those who don't. However, I will try to have a little something for everyone in there.

HOTEL

We need to book 10 rooms in order to make this work (costs coming later but it's looking good to me). We'll be staying at the Wyndham Pittsburgh University Place. Right in the heart of Oakland and convenient to so many things we'll want to do!

WEEKEND EXTRA

The Three Rivers Art Festival is that weekend and will be easy to get to from where we're staying.

WHERE WE'LL SEE THE SIGHTS

I am filling in the blanks right now ... a tough job because there is so much I want to see and do. Here's the rough schedule. More to come, obviously!

• Wednesday: Dinner and the view from Mount Washington by night.
• Thursday: Downtown and North Side.
• Friday: Oakland.
• Saturday: The Strip in the morning, something else (I'm still thinking) in the afternoon.
• Sunday: Mass, perhaps at an interesting ethnic church.

What is there to do in those places? Here is a sampling to get your imaginations going.

HOW WE'LL GET AROUND

This map which shows just how much fun you can have using rapid transport in Pittsburgh is courtesy of Father Pitt. If you visit him you can download this as a pdf to print out and study.

Immaculate Heart of Mary
Polish Hill

I want to see both Polish Hill and Immaculate Heart of Mary!

AND the Holy Stairs!

Oh, decisions, decisions ...

FDA Prepares Nation For Switch To Digital Food Format

WASHINGTON—Urging the estimated 60 million Americans who have not yet made the transition to the more advanced form of sustenance to do so as soon as possible, acting FDA commissioner Frank Torti announced Wednesday that the nationwide conversion to Digital Food (DF) will take place on Apr.17, 2009. "The only thing consumers who currently rely on analog foods will need is a digital converter box, which you can purchase at any grocery store," Torti said at a press conference, adding that every American household is eligible for a $40 coupon to digitize its current pantry. "DF offers higher texture quality and better taste, as well as multiple spice choices and interactive capabilities. I must stress, however, that after the deadline you will no longer be able to eat your current food." On the heels of the announcement, President Obama has begun pressuring the Senate to pass legislation that would require all food to be completely wireless by 2015.

Inspired insanity from The Onion. (Warning: explicit content may be found on the site.)

Review: Amazing Grace for Survivors

Amazing Grace for Survivors

I absolutely loved this book. It is a series of personal stories from people in all situations and from all walks of life who have faced great pain and hardship. Their struggles have one thing in common. Each experienced Christ's grace on their journey and flourished despite the hardships.

There are so many different stories it is hard to give a good overview ... but I'll list a few of those that I found unforgettable:

• The man who scoffed at Rome's homeless only to find himself in that very state within 24 hours.
• The family who visited their niece at work only to find themselves determined to adopt an orphan who seems to old to be "adoptable."
• Immaculee Ilibagiza's story of facing the man who killed her family and forgiving him.
• The woman who was raped and decided to have the baby that resulted from that act of violence

As I said these are just a few. I could list every story, frankly. Each had something unique to offer. Also, not every story was of a dramatic problem. Sometimes they were of everyday, smaller issues that are struggles at the time but that each of us have suffered through. Such is Mark Shea's story of being an outsider in high school, that age when it is so vitally important to fit in. I liked that the editors included all sorts of problems like that. Everyone hasn't suffered through the sorts of terrible times that are chronicled in many of the stories here. However, we all can relate to those more mundane, if you will, of the struggles contained therein.

Highly recommended. (And bring a hankie. You'll need it.)

This review was written as part of The Catholic Company product reviewer program. Visit The Catholic Company to order or find more information about Amazing Grace for Survivors.

Other Catholic Company reviews may be found here.

It's All Downhill From Here

A little midweek humor, courtesy of Dr. Boli's Celebrated Magazine.

An Articulate and Logical Speech ...

... from a 12 year old. One that I would be proud to know.



Found via The Raving Theist.

Lent: The Mega Post

Oh no, not from me. Y'all know I am not one of those who wants to get ready before Lent before it gets here (which will be Ash Wesdnesday, Feb. 25, by the way).

However, Marcel at Mary's Aggies is on the ball and has tons of excellent info beginning with a Lent FAQ. Check it out.

Thank You for Your Prayers

The Beyond Cana retreat was sensational. 14 couples went away glowing like lit candles, with renewed love and their plans for improved marriages. As well, our retreat team ... well, it is hard to imagine how close we are. Anyone who has participated in giving retreats knows this, of course. However, having a team that continues forward and gives several retreats together grows in a way that can be hard to describe. Watching our friends' marriages grow and blossom is a real gift. And it keeps Tom and me grounded as well. The whole thing is a gift.

Many thanks to all who supported us in prayer. That support is essential and we appreciate it so much!

Gone Retreatin' ...

Tom and I are now officially out of here for this weekend's Beyond Cana marriage enrichment retreat which begins this morning. All email will be answered next week, likewise for any memes or announcements. I'll try to pop in every so often to the comments boxes.

Please keep the attending couples and those of us presenting the retreat in your prayers. May the Holy Spirit flow over all of us this weekend.

Later, y'all!

A Little Something from Etta James for Valentine's Day

One that I have known and loved for some time ... not the one song everyone always plays from Etta James. (Not that I don't love "At Last" ... I do.)



Note: the video is not available but the audio is! Enjoy!

Recommended Valentine's Song: I'll come running (to tie your shoe)

Not new, but new to me and the sentiment of practical chivalry ... is one that speaks to me.

I'll find a place somewhere in the corner
I'm gonna waste the rest of my days
Just watching patiently from the window
Just waiting seasons change, some day
Oh, oh, my dreams will pull you through that garden gate.

I want to be the wandering sailor
We're silhouettes by the light of the moon
I sit playing solitaire by the window
Just waiting seasons change, ah, ah
You'll see, one day, these dreams will pull you through my door
And I'll come running to tie your shoe
And I'll come running to tie your shoe.

Brian Eno

Heard on NPRs All Songs Considered's Lesser Known Love Songs episode (which also has some break-up songs).

Mmmmm ... Crunchy Cornmeal Waffles ...

... at Meanwhile, Back in the Kitchen. Get 'em while they're hot!

It's All Downhill from Here

A little midweek humor from Dr. Boli's Celebrated Magazine.

Advertisement.

ARE YOU DEAD? You may be eligible to participate in a study being conducted by the Monongahela Valley Society for Psychical Research. Weekly seances are conducted at the Society’s offices on Eighth Avenue in Munhall above Ferd’s Pizza. Three raps on our round table will be considered an expression of interest. Please rap distinctly, so as to distinguish your communication from the ordinary commercial activities of Ferd. A small stipend will be paid to your estate on completion of the study. Monongahela Valley Society for Psychical Research, Munhall.

"We are conceived to conceive again in an endless and infinite way ..."

When does the fetus become human?

[...]

That such a question is raised with any seriousness is evidence of a profound denial — the denial required to end an unborn child’s life in the womb. ... we call it a “potential human”, as if at some magic point a switch is thrown to turn on its humanity — while never stopping to define what that humanity is, or why there is no humanity in the split second before our chosen transition time. We draw false and foolish analogies: the fetus is no different than a skin cell, or a “sacred sperm”, or a tumor — thus denying the extraordinary creation which occurs when the genetic map of two parents fuses into a new life, with an infinite capacity for uniqueness, change, experience, and creativity of its own. For we are created to create; we are engendered to engender; we are conceived to conceive again in an endless and infinite way: to conceive new ideas, new works, new accomplishments, new relationships, new failures and successes, and new life itself, in the generation which we ourselves engender.

Dr. Bob hits one out of the park in when considering the redefinition of humanity. I think what hit me between the eyes on this one is his consideration of creativity and conception in every facet of our lives from the very moment we ourselves are conceived. In which case, why would we consider that everything we do, including sexual intercourse, would not also lead to creation and conception?

Just a bit more because I can't resist. Then go read it all.

From the moment of its conception, that which we so dismissively call a “fetus” begins a journey extraordinary beyond imagination. Using the inscrutable road map of its unique DNA, the developing human undergoes constant change and growth — a process which ends not at birth but some 25 years later when its full physical maturity is reached. Organs form; primitive cells differentiate into complex systems dedicated to tasks both present and future. Before its mother knows of the pregnancy, at 6 weeks, the heart and circulatory system is formed, and the heart is beating; the primitive cells forming the brain and spinal cord are in place and developing; facial features, including eyes, ears, mouth and nose are evident. By 8 weeks, fingers, toes and fingernails are present, as is the digestive system. By 12 weeks, virtually every organ system is formed and differentiated; the rest of the pregnancy is almost entirely about growth and the maturing of these intact systems. The information map for this extraordinary yet orderly complexity — and for far more, including intellect, personality, gifts and skills, — and yes, liabilities — is contained in the fertilized egg in its entirety. We are what we will be, from the the instant of our conception.

This 'N' That

To be added to throughout the day as I get time ...

• Extremely stressed right now. I don't know why I consistently forget that the week before a retreat is so busy, so active, so full of little things that have to be done. Perhaps for the same reason that we forget about childbirth pains after the baby is born. The actual retreat (or baby!) is so wonderful and such a gift that the hard work beforehand is not a factor in the overall equation.
  
  
• When stressed ... watch Firefly. Always sure to take my mind off my to-do list. Not sure why. But when you consider that Aliens is my other "go to" in times of stress then I guess Firefly is positively light weight!
  
  
• When watching Firefly it may take a while to notice that the tornado sirens are sounding. Of course, this also may stem from the fact that the Lakewood neighborhood tornado siren sounders are a bunch of wimps if you grew up in Kansas. Some rain and high winds do not a tornado make. They do not even an Official Tornado Warning make as I found out when I turned on the news. Although you know how you grab what matters most when it is an emergency? I would have been hiding from the tornado in a closet with ... wait for it ... my iPod and earbuds. I'd have been entertained to the end if nothing else!
  
  
• AND I'd have had a light source, as I discovered when I was going around turning off computers and the lights went out. My handy, dandy, all-purpose Nano has one heckuva powerful light. You can use it to walk by, thereby avoiding the cat and dog, who are huddling around your feet to tell you that they do not like this bad weather and would you please turn it off!
  
  
• Love this comment that Penni makes about what a difference blogging friends make in one's life:
  
  Blogging has had such an impact on my life these past 4 years that it is really a difficult task to describe how much these people (some of whom I have had the distinct pleasure of meeting in person) have meant to me during some very trying periods of my life. They reached out through cyberspace and helped to comfort me in my world and allowed me to enter into theirs. They have added an incredible life experience which is again, impossible to describe to those who don’t blog. But it is real and I would love to have an hour, at least, not simply five minutes.
  
  Absolutely. She has hit the nail on the head and she would be on my list without question.
  
  
• It warms a mother's heart to read #7 from Hannah's "25 Things About Me" list ...
  
  I love being with my family. They’re awesome. And that is not just me. My friends can attest to the fact that they rock. ...
  
  Whew! So far, so good ...
  
  
• It also warms my heart that my mother was annoyed that retreat prep kept us from going to Austin to join in with the bloggin' bunch hosted by Darwin Catholic. No matter how old you are it is wonderful to know that your mommy's still lookin' out for you. Even if it is simply in being annoyed.
  
  
• I can forgive Laura for not loving Nutella when she tells the story as entertainingly as this ... here's a little, go read it ...
  

  So after a long trip to the grocery store (I have a really hard time asking for help... and I had a hard time finding the stuff...), I returned home with my jar of Nutella. I quickly derobed and got into my best Nutella-eating outfit. I couldn't wait to have my first Nutella experience.
  
  Removing the lid and peeling back the seal, I dove in. "Oh my goodness," I thought to myself. "I am SO excited. This is going to be great! Oh, Nutella, my love! We meet at last!"



• The Kindle ... not having the space or travel situations which would make a Kindle attractive, I find the idea of spending $360 for a device that then requires $10 per book additionally ... to be more than a bit of a waste of money for me. I mean to say, I rarely even buy a book that costs as much as $10. And I don't have to recharge the battery on my regular books.

I love it that ...

... Hannah told me that reading Rose's 25 random things about herself on Facebook just makes her love Rose more because it is so funny and so true and ... so Rose. (Finally something compelling enough to make me go read something on Facebook ...)

Hannah's right. About all of it.

I also love this photo of Rose ... from the Christmas break camping trip. You can clearly see she is in "Red Baron" mode.

I equally like Hannah's 25 things about herself. AHA! Finally an admission that her skirts are too short! Not that she wears them for rock climbing ...



Update
I don't know who started the 25 Things About Me list. Apparently no one does. However, I'm glad that Hannah and Rose did them. But, then, I'm their mom.

On Getting Married in a Nightgown

Times may be trying our bindings
Hard days may steal half our smile
This world goes by in a hurry
Kind words are farther and few

Sometimes the going gets rocky
Somewhere in memories we share
There's still a sweet place I never will forget
I made a promise to you ...

All My Love, Tish Hinojosa

I made my promise to Tom wearing a nightgown (which came up in our discussion of

our society's ceaseless, unrealistic quest for perfection).

No one knew.

Except for Tom and my friend Michelle.

Here's how it happened.

I was 27. Tom was 30. We were both in advertising and had planned events. Therefore we planned our wedding ourselves which Tom paid for

• Checked out Lover's Lane Methodist Church and booked the chapel. (I was agnostic, Tom was a nonpracticing Catholic, and his devoutly Catholic mother didn't murmur a word ... which is how I figured out later that she liked me, after I became Catholic myself.)
  
• Tried the tasting menu at Mariano's (back when it was in Old Town), pronounced it excellent, and booked the back room for late Saturday morning. Seafood nachos and fajitas for all! Back then fajitas were an up and coming trendy item.
  
• Eschewed traditional wedding cake and ordered a delicious sponge cake from the Black Forest Bakery covered with whipped cream, featuring nuts on the sides and prettily arranged fruit on top. (Also got a birthday cake for my sis there, as she generously agreed to share her birthday by being my bridesmaid.)
  
• Tom planned and booked a honeymoon at Banff and Lake Louise in Canada (don't do it in May, everything is frozen, but being in Texas we didn't know that ...).
• Ordered flowers from the latest chic place that our marketing department used (I worked at The Dallas Market Center's advertising department at that time). As I didn't want a veil, they said they'd work out a nice headpiece ... and they did. I told them the colors, trusted them with the flower selection and they did a fantastic job.
• Tom took care of tux ordering although I think we both went to see what was there.
• My hair was permed by a friend who had been a hairdresser before her retirement.
  
• An artist friend designed our invitations and a printer friend threw them on the tail end of a print job (I bought all the DMC's promotional printing back then which was close to a million dollar budget ... handy, eh?)
  

And then the dress...
Not knowing a thing, I went to the neighborhood wedding dress store a couple of months before the wedding. I was literally laughed out of the store. Literally. Laughed. Out. Of. The. Store.

Not knowing what to do but knowing that I HAD TO HAVE A DRESS I went to my good friend Michelle. She said, "I'm going to tell you the secret of the women in my family. Whenever there is an event we have to buy a special dress for we go to Neiman Marcus's lingerie store."

This didn't sound right but I had nowhere else to turn so off we went. After perusing the nightgowns I was feeling desperate but Michelle chased down a sales woman. Upon hearing the problem the woman said delightedly, "You won't believe this but just yesterday a salesman was showing us a line of nightgowns designed to be worn for evening wear as well."

Well, bring it on!

It was an absolutely ugly nightgown.

However, with the thick ivory colored fabric draping down to midcalf, the sleeves pushed up to bell around the elbows, and the neckline worn around the shoulders ... it was simple and beautiful. The sales woman ran to the shoe department and brought back ivory lace high heels and sheer hosiery, both of which matched the gown fabric exactly. I stopped by a fabric store later and picked up some satiny ribbon which matched and wore it around my waist as a belt which tied in the back. I think the nightgown was $250 which was outrageous for a nightgown but unbelievable for a lovely wedding gown.

A miracle, had I believed in them. Never was I so relieved. Another friend talked the jewelry store owner where we bought our wedding rings into letting me borrow a twisted rope of pearls to wear. Tom bought me the matching earrings as a wedding gift.

The entire thing, including rings and honeymoon, was $5,000. Which bought more then than it does now, naturally, but which was still a complete bargain. We got by with a little help from our friends

Michelle and I lost touch when she and her husband moved back to New York but I still think of her fondly. In fact, here they are in this photo where you can see more of the flowers in my hair and the earrings Tom gave me. My mother said that I looked as if I stepped off a Greek urn and I think she was right. No one ever knew about the nightgown ... thank you Michelle, where ever you are!

Weekend Joke

From Coffee Klatch.

So this guy was crossing a road one day when a frog called out to him and said, “If you kiss me, I’ll turn into a beautiful princess.”

He bent over and picked up the frog, and put it in his pocket.

The frog spoke up again and said, “If you kiss me, I will turn back into a beautiful princess and then I will tell everyone how smart and brave you are and how you are my hero.”

The man took the frog out of his pocket, smiled at it, and returned it to his pocket.

The frog piped up again and saying, “Hey, if you kiss me and turn me back into a beautiful princess, I will be your loving companion for an entire week.”

The man took the frog out of his pocket, smiled at it, and returned it once again to his pocket.

The frog then cried out, “If you kiss me and turn me back into a princess, I’ll stay with you for a year and do ANYTHING you want.”

Again the man took the frog out, smiled at it, and put it back into his pocket.

Finally the frog asked, “What is the matter? I’ve told you I’m a beautiful princess, that I’ll stay with you for a year and do anything you want. Come on… Why won’t you kiss me?”

The man said, “Look, I work for a software company. I don’t really have time for a girlfriend, but a talking frog is way cool.”