Heavens to Betsy ... Thank You Anchoress!

Her link sent over 600 people my way yesterday. If you're new 'round here, then welcome and take a look around. We get into Catholic stuff, naturally with a name like this blog's, but also delve into ... well ... practically everything!

"What is the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? Lipstick."

Aye Carumba!

I generally avoid political convention coverage like the plague. In my mind it is like unto two groups of cavemen who are taking turns beating their chests and hooting at each other before engaging in real battle.

However, I must admit that I was intensely curious about Sarah Palin. So when Tom was flipping channels and we came across the end of Rudy Giuliani's speech (oh brother does he need different writers ...), we hung on for a bit to see what Palin's speech was like. I admit, I was hooked into it and watched the whole darned thing. I liked her sparkle. I did not like the occasional low blows dealt at their political opponents, which is why I generally eschew political speeches in the first place. Some of the comments were delivered in a straight foreward fashion and I have no problem with that ... but the other stuff. No thanks.

Anyway, I liked her spirit. I also never watch the debates. However, I am now intensely curious as to how this particular pit bull will show in the debate with Joe Biden.

Post Script
I must admit that I completely lost my heart to Piper last night. Adorable and never more so than in this clip which I saw at The Anchoress.



Post Post Script
I have heard that some people are mystified by women's support of Sarah Palin. I can tell them that anyone who is pro-life has to admire the way that she lives her convictions. This column from First Things sums it up nicely. This is just a bit so do go read it all. (Thanks to David Scott for calling it to my attention!)

[...]

I will vote for Sarah Palin because she has guts. We’ve never met, but I suspect I know something about her life, and so do a great many other women. I know what it means to have a son with Down syndrome. I know what it means to talk a good line about religious faith and then be asked to prove it. I know what it means to have a daughter pregnant and unmarried.

In fact, while we’re on the subject, I also know what it means to have two grandchildren born out of wedlock, a son struggling with alcohol, two grandchildren with serious disabilities, putting myself through graduate school while simultaneously caring for a husband and children and teaching full time—and a whole lot more. This is the stuff of real human love; this is the raw material of family life. And those who think that Palin’s beliefs and family struggles are funny or worth jeering at, simply reveal the venality of their own hearts.

I will vote for Sarah Palin because she is intelligent, tenacious and talented. Nobody made her rise easy, and no one is making it easy now. And—is it only moms who notice this?—unlike Senator Biden, she does seem to act consistently on her beliefs about the sanctity of life, at considerable personal cost.

[...]

The Value of Service

Via my brother, who knows a thing or two about military service ... comes this inspirational story and a look at the President as a man. Here's a bit, then go read the whole thing.

[...]

A short time later, the Secret Service opened the door and President Bush walked in. I thought we might get to shake his hand as he went through. But instead, he walked up to my wife with his arms wide, pulled her in for a hug and a kiss, and said, "I wish I could heal the hole in your heart." He then grabbed me for a hug, as well as each of our sons. Then he turned and said, "Everybody out."

A few seconds later, the four of us were completely alone behind closed doors with the President of the United States and not a Secret Service agent in sight.

He said, "Come on, let's sit down and talk." He pulled up a chair at the side of the room, and we sat down next to him. He looked a little tired from his trip, and he noticed that his shoes were scuffed up from leaning over concrete barriers to shake hands and pose for photos. He slumped down the chair, completely relaxed, smiled, and suddenly was no longer the President - he was just a guy with a job, sitting around talking with us like a family member at a barbeque.

[...]

U.S. Bishops Exhibit Backbones in Face of Politicians' Misrepresentations of the Faith

It took Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden publicly proclaiming both their Catholic faith and then misrepresenting Church teachings to get the bishops to point these things out emphatically ... but there are now some very good resources on hand to set things straight.

• Respect for Unborn Human Life: The Church’s Constant Teaching: a fact sheet with a pdf available.
• Statement on Responsibilities of Catholics in Public Life
• “Happy Are Those Who Are Called to His Supper”: On Preparing to Receive Christ Worthily in the Eucharist

As well, there is a novena which the bishops have asked American Catholics to pray before the elections ... as many times as one feels moved to do so. I like to see this emphasis on prayer as well as on proper understanding of Catholic responsibilities when voting and prayerful consideration.

• Novena for Faithful Citizenship: this is available in pdf, text, or podcast formats.

A Great Way to Engage Children in the Mass: Hear My Voice

Obviously, with two kids in college I am way past the age where I'd need this book. However, I still remember vividly how difficult it was for little ones to get through that hour sometimes.

Hear My Voice strikes me as a very good way to help children begin to have an understanding of what the adults are talking about in the Gospel readings and homilies that follow. I received a galley to read and can vouch for exactly what the publisher describes:

These passages are suggested for parents to read with children the evening before mass. As the hectic schedule of our Saturdays winds down, take time to shift gears for the time we put aside for worship, reflection and communion. Including your children in the message of the mass with a reading and discussion of the week's gospel will make the mass a shared experience of hearing God's word for both parent and child. These translations are also an extraordinary teacher's aid for Sunday school and children's bible study. Each passage is translated in large text that is inviting to the beginning reader, and is printed side-by-side with the adult text for comparison, explanation and parents' review.

These pages are not fictionalized children's stories, they are translations of Jesus' story, true to His message. They are not sugar-coated or watered-down; children can understand the truth in God's word when it is simply written for their reading level, offered in their cadence and vocabulary. Even educated adults often find the language of the Gospels difficult to fully understand, and often turn to study guides and footnotes to wring more understanding out of words written in an old English voice so far removed from our own daily language. The voice of these stories is not changed to be hip or to use today's slang. The gravity and holiness of God's word demands better than that. But there is no reason for outdated and too-advanced language to stand between our children and Jesus' message. Adults as well, have gained insights into the passages through the shared process of bringing the word to children.

This is a really wonderful resource not only in helping children understand the Gospel but in relating it to their own lives. I also really liked that the reading as it would be heard in the church was printed alongside the children's version ... and that the pages are labeled by their place in the liturgical calendar. This not only helps prepare the family for mass but gives them something to discuss later. I could envision remembering a key point of the homily that might relate to the reading done with children the night before for conversations on the way home. Thus one sets the pattern for the entire family of thoughtful participation in the Mass.

You don't have to take my word for it though. Four sample spreads are available to read in pdf format ... just go here and click on any picture you like to see the whole spread.

Hear My Voice will be published in October in preparation for the new liturgical year. Click through on the image below to buy a copy from the publisher.

Highly recommended.

Worth a Thousand Words

How to Tie a Bow Tie by Edward B. Gordon

Not only do I love this painter's style, but I love the fact that he captures everyday people in ordinary activities. That is something we don't see often in modern art, or so it seems to me. Click through on the link above for more art from life all around us.

Effortless ... and Brilliant

Via Deacon Greg who also loves good advertising.

Listening Notes

A little of this 'n' that about SFFaudio's new podcast, the Martian Chronicles, Principally Catholic, and Two Edge Talk ... all over at Forgotten Classics.

Ah, Someone Who Appreciates Book Design!

Upon opening the book, however, one is truly treated to an example of very fine book design. The font is delicate (so may not make ideal unaided reading for those readers with vision problems) and all the text and illustrations are in a brown ink, rather than black, on a creamy matte paper. The font is really very nice, indeed. ...

Biblicalia actually noticed the design in their review of Mike Aquilina's newest book Signs and Mysteries. I find that quite gratifying as I did the interior design. The publisher actually chose the brown ink which I'd have either done in a deeper color as that font is quite delicate ... or, if I'd have known, I'd have chosen a stronger version of the face for easier reading. That's all water under the bridge, however ...

The review is quite thorough as you can imagine and very positive overall. Here's a bit but do go read the rest.

... It is not intimidating scholarship, not overpowering and jargon-laden, and is thus perfect for those who know nothing about the subject of early Christian art and the symbols employed therein. Those who will appreciate learning what their ancestors in the Faith were up to with all these anchors, ankhs, and alphas will be well repaid for their time spent within the pages of this truly lovely little book. ...

I am reading a chapter each morning with breakfast and will begin sharing some tidbits with y'all soon. The reviewer is quite right ... this book is a delight that many will both enjoy and profit from.

Chicago a la Rose

Rose at home with her living room view ...
Columbia College's student lodgings sure aren't what I experienced back in the day at K.U.

Daybook for Labor Day 2008

I am wondering... about a new project that has occurred to me. Just mulling it over at the moment. Letting it marinate. (Because I need more things to do, right? ha!)

I am thankful for... this long weekend in which to recover from all the traveling last week.

From the kitchen... yesterday I made Potato Rolls and a Turkey Stew from Piedmont and today will be trying out a recipe for Creamy Horseradish Potato Salad. Somehow I am a cooking fiend lately.

I am creating... a new podcast for this week.

I am reading... The Duchess Who Wouldn't Sit Down: An Informal History of Hospitality ... a backwards trip through history via different characters who the author uses to illustrate his points about how hospitality illustrates our relationships to each other. Very interesting. For instance, I never thought of how Hitler entertained during the weekend ...

I am hoping... to be very productive next week. Also, to talk to Hannah today. Can you believe they have school today at A&M? Taking Labor Day off is for sissies, evidently. So I'm trying to gauge when she'll be out of class...

I am hearing... the sound of silence. And it's a beautiful thing.

One of my favorite things... is having this long, lazy day off of work.

Blog Stories I'm Saving to Read Later
The "read more" link takes you to a spot where these stories and more are collected. Clicking through on each headline takes you to the story on each individual blog.

Little Known facts About Sarah Palin

I am dying laughing ... these are great ... here are a few to whet your appetite, then click through for many, many more.

Little known fact: Sarah Palin makes Andrew Sullivan regret some key life choices.

Little Known Fact: Sarah Palin is the only woman who can make Tony Romo WIN a playoff.

Little Known Fact: Sarah Palin knows how old the Chinese gymnasts are.

Little Known Fact: Sarah Palin wears glasses lest her uncontrollable optic blasts slaughter everyone.

Little Known Fact: Sarah Palin doesn’t need a gun to hunt. She has been known to throw a bullet through an adult bull elk.

Little known fact: Sarah Palin is on loan from the Justice League.

Little known fact: If placed into Schroedinger’s experiment, both Sarah Palins remain alive.

Much thanks to Scott Nehring for these ... I'm tellin' ya, that guy knows just what I like (which is somewhat of a mystery considering just how often we disagree about movies)!

Worth a Thousand Words

Sparrow by my favorite "heartland" photographer, Hey Jules!

Life Without the Kids Around

We really don't like that "empty nester" label so we are not going to use it here.

Do we miss them and love the kids? Of course! We enjoy each and every phone call or email. We still discuss them all the time.

We find that having the pets back home provides a needed transition of having someone to do something for. Which need is rapidly diminishing ... especially as the cat decided to express her displeasure with my timing adjustment of her early-morning routine by squatting on the carpet in front of us. She then discovered just how accurately Tom can throw his glasses (thank heavens the coffee cup wasn't the closest thing to him!). We later saw her peering around the corner from Rose's door and even her much-loved canned cat food isn't luring her out.

I also have discovered that when I clean off the hearth or table in the back room ... it stays cleaned off! It's like magic!

It is a funny thing to feel that one has so much more free time because the kids are largely self-sufficient when at home. They drive themselves places, do their own errands (for the most part), and such like.

I will say that, at least in these first few days, it's like a second honeymoon. Quite wonderful to have all this time with one's spouse ...

Off the Map: There's a Couple of Hours I'll Never Get Back

Why take one hour to say what you could say in two, especially when one has so many gorgeous shots of New Mexico to scatter around?

For that matter, why say much at all? Why not just generously scatter some very quirky characters around, being sure not to add much depth to them, and then get some very talented actors to portray them?

I am not sure where I read the review that led to me putting Off the Map on my movie list but they've got some 'splainin' to do.

At least Schultze Gets the Blues and .... oh, that terribly depressing movie about the nursing home ... were rented on the strength of their trailers.

Recommendation: if you want to go to Taos and be wooed by the scenery, rent this movie. Otherwise, avoid at all costs.

Yes, Virginia, There Is a Happy Catholic

That is what flashed through my mind when reading Sister Julie's comment of our meeting earlier this week. (I'm talking about #3 in this post.) She cracks me up!

Worth a Thousand Words

PB&J No.12 by Duane Keiser

How does he do that? I mean, you could pick that sandwich up and take a big bite, couldn't you? For more fantastic paintings, click through the link above.

'Tis the Season for ... Bipartisan Truths

You Know You're a Republican If ...
Your father warned you about marrying a gold digging babe...unless she signs a prenuptial agreement.

You Know You're a Democrat If ...
Your mother warned you against marrying a man who is so focused on his career and making money he has no time for soul-searching conversations.

You Know You're a Republican/Democrat If...

Sarah Palin ... Where Have I Heard That Name Before?

I see that John McCain has picked Alaska governor Sarah Palin to be his running mate.

Alaska governor ... Palin ... that rings a bell ... oh, right! The Palins earned my respect and admiration with their reaction to learning that their baby might have Down Syndrome when born.

Once her husband got the news, he told her: "We shouldn't be asking, 'Why us?' We should be saying, 'Well, why not us?'"

There was never any doubt the Palins would have the child, and on April 18 she gave birth to Trig Paxon Van Palin.

I see that the original AP story link isn't active any more so here is the link to what I featured at the time.

Worth a Thousand Words

A Penguin Bento* Box
from Cooking Cute, via SlashFood.

Who wouldn't love to open their lunch box and see this? (*Bento is a single-portion takeout or home-packed meal often used in Japan.)