My diocese is training everyone and anyone who is willing to come to information seminars on how to spot potential sex abusers among clergy. On 2/20, 500 hundred people showed up and learned to watch out for signs such as "people who are willing to work with youth,".
Is this true precautionary measures or are we lighting the villagers torches?
Meet the Parents...
I think I would like to introduce you to my family little by little because I think there is a lot of material to blog about there. Much of it humorous, much of it frustrating.
My husband called my father-in-law like he always does approximately every other week or so. It is amazing how much he has no idea who my husband is. My husband's parents divorced-well seperated while my husband was very small. Neither one was forced to take responsibilty for their child because whenever it became inconvenient to have a son, they were able to send him off to the other parent or a relative-which happened often. Neither of my husband's parents see anything wrong with this philosophy of child rearing.
So here we are, 29 years later,my husband a practicing "traditional Catholic" if you will, pro-life, pro-family, pro-morals etc. His parents are dumbfounded why he has not embraced the values they tried so hard to instill him with in between their partying breaks-being pro-abortion, pro-cohabitating and most importantly making sure that everyone you will happen to meet knows you are Puerto Rican.
So, my husband calls up my father-in-law to shoot the breeze and afterwards leaves my husband with a sick feeling. To make up for time lost not being a father (or at least that is my best guess), my father-in-law tries to step in while my husband is grown to tell him what he is doing wrong in his life:
It is so frustrating because he just shoots off critiques without ever asking "why did you choose to do that?"
How many of us Gen X Reverts have people from that Baby Boomer generation in our families that it is impossible to communicate with?
Peony's Friday Five
1. What is your favorite type of literature to read (magazine, newspaper, novels, nonfiction, poetry, etc.)?
My special favorites are novels and essays, but I'll read almost anything.
2. What is your favorite novel?
Emma, by Jane Austen
3. Do you have a favorite poem? (Share it!)
I haven't read a lot of poetry lately. I enjoy light verse.
Here's a link to G.K. Chesterton's Variations on Old King Cole.
4. What is one thing you've always wanted to read, or wish you had more time to read?
Thomas Aquinas, or at least a good beginner's guide.
5. What are you currently reading?
Friends of God by St Josemaria Escriva
Death of the West by Patrick Buchanan
Kids, Parents, and Power Struggles by Mary Kurcinka
thanks to Davey's mommy for the link
I, too, wish I could write as well as Lileks...
BOOMERANG....TOOMERANG....SOOMERANG!
I see I may have to start a chapter of the Society for the Appreciation of Lady Elaine Fairchilde. I thought she was the best!
From Mr. Roger's own website:
Lady Elaine is the curator of the Museum-Go-Round, a revolving building containing collections of everything from A - Z. This mischief-making impish woman is always getting into one thing or another, but that's often because she worries that she's not very lovable and needs attention. As an outspoken, opinionated character, she is generally the only one in Make-Believe who stands up to the King whenever he has made an unreasonable demand. And she often brings a lot of humor to Make-Believe.
She's organized. She's erudite. She's vulnerable, yet she stands up to tyrants. She speaks her own mind. She's witty. What's not to love?
If my nom de blog weren't Peony Moss, perhaps I'd want to be Lady Elaine....
Peony, about Mr. Rogers
I have a lot of respect for Mr Rogers. Sure, the show is slow, but it's meant for very little children.
I always thought he was slow on purpose. He always came on after shows like Sesame Street and Electric Company (when I was little) and then Mr. Rogers came on which was much more soothing and not quite as overly stimulating than the previous shows. At least that is what I thought. He will be missed.
I used to enjoy watching him as a child. I just didn't like Lady Elaine, she was scary...
Read his biography here.
I have a lot of respect for Mr Rogers. Sure, the show is slow, but it's meant for very little children. Mr Rogers thought about very little children -- what their needs were, what they were thinking about -- and took them seriously.
My favorite Mr. Rogers story: ever notice that, when he feeds the fish, he always says "feed the fish!" or something like that? He does that because of a letter he received from a father that roughly ran, Dear Mr. Rogers, please help me. My little daughter loves your show. She is blind, so if you don't say that you're feeding the fish, she doesn't know you're doing it, and she is afraid they'll starve.
I also get a chuckle when I see the show because the neighborhood (the "real" one, not King Friday's domain) is based on the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Shadyside, near where my husband went to school. (That's why it's so hilly.)
Here are the lyrics to one of my favorite Mr Rogers songs.
When Hambet sees the show ending, he always waves and says "Bye bye Wogers! Bye bye!" Bye bye, Mr. Rogers.
Nice little editorial about Mercy H.S.
Thank you Mr.Popcak from HMS Borg for the link. Another reason why many choosy Catholic mothers choose Jiff and homeschooling-except we don't eat Jiff...
New to our links:
Pansy's reference to the Domestic Church reminded me of Catherine and Peter Fournier's website Domestic-Church.com . It's packed with articles, essays, ideas for rearing your little darlings and instructing them in the Faith, fun activities tied to the liturgical year, a section on stewardship (i.e., housekeeping)....
UPDATE: Added a link to Pro-life guy's blog. Also, the Supreme Court ruled today that RICO can't be used against pro-life clinic protesters! Woo hoo!
Thanks, Pansy, I needed that too.
Going to Mass with our two-year-old has been nothing but painful for months now. He simply cannot stay in the pew -- he can usually last through the Gospel, but once the homily starts it's all over and he wants to roam in the aisles and disassemble the poor boxes. (It's not the money he wants, it's the shiny brass knob.) Or he is commenting on the candles at the top of his lungs: "CANDLES! CANDLES! HOT!"
We've tried the saintly picture books and the kiddie rosary; they are flung aside. We've tried pointing out the statues of Jesus and Mary; he likes them at home, but at Mass they don't catch his attention. Our whispered play-by-play of the Mass ("look! look at Father! see, he's getting ready to read to us about Jesus!") is equally uninteresting
Our parish does not have a cry room, and it doesn't have much of a vestibule, either; only a small unheated space to wipe your shoes and shake out your umbrella. So even removing him is not a good option.
So we've been attending Mass in shifts and bringing Hambet less frequently. It's not our ideal solution, but it's the best we can come up with until he's a bit older and able to sit still longer.
I share your disdain for cry rooms, by the way. The last one we went to was dark and smelly. I usually see four- and five-year-old children running wild, while their parents sit around (or even chat with friends) as if they are luxury-box spectators at a sports arena. The infants are usually the best-behaved Christians in the room.
From the comment box
Would you be so kind as to discuss how you have taught very young children how to participate in the Mass without disrupting others or your own participation? We have two kids -- a boy 3.5 and a baby girl, and most of the time, I leave Mass feeling like I haven't been there yet, and my husband feels the same way. If he's not running our newly toilet-using son to the bathroom (who eliminated before we left home but still needs to go again before Mass is over), I'm out changing the baby's diaper. The "cry room" is packed with noisy children and their parents, who can neither see nor hear the Mass. And it seems like a counter-productive thing to do anyway, when we would prefer our children to participate in the Mass, at least at their level.
I have a ton of comments on this topic. I was at a Parish Council meeting about a year ago where they said they can understand parents with small children not attending Mass because they get nothing out of Mass. Huh?
First let me say, even when it seems like we are not participating at all in Mass or receiving graces, due to distrating toddlers, we are. My family attends the Traditional Latin Mass, where no one responds or replies, and the prayer is more internal. Even though we are not outwardly participating, graces are still received and participation is still mandatory. We never know exactly how God works on our souls in the Mass. So in my opinion, even though it may seem we are not attending Mass, we still are.
Second, teaching children to respect what goes on in Church starts at home in the Domestic Church. We all know tons of families that leave Church in Church, and never bring the faith to the home. Keep images of the Blessed Mother and Jesus around-I like those laminated prayer cards to show to kids. Say the rosary at some time in the day as a family if possible. With small children try 3 Three's-three decades of three Hail Mary's. My three year old runs around like a fool when we say the rosary, but one magical day, they are asking to lead a decade or in the Angelus. When they know that Jesus is to be shown respect all times, they will eventually know that the culmination of this is at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
Expect age appropriate behaviour from the little ones. 3 year olds cannot sit still. I remember being that little and having no self control whatsoever. I remember one day not having any self control, and then one day saying "hey, I can sit still through Church". That was around Kindergarten I think. I am not a big fan of cry rooms, never have been. They are like prisons and give kids the excuse for a place to misbehave. When a child is disruptive, they should be removed so as not to disturb others, and to be taken out of the situation. But not taken out to be given license to misbehave. In other words attempts should be made to have them back in with the family whenever possible. My Fastolph will be 4 on April 22, and I am with you Sister, it is hard. We have spent Sundays where we were in the Vestibule about 95% of the Mass-LOL! It is espacially hard when the oldest is only 3...
Also, do not try to distract children away from the Mass, but distract them towards. Like do not sit there with toys (hard toys dropped distract others as well) and play with them or read books to them unless they are Catholic in nature some how (I do not read to them during Mass, but will flip through picture books). I try to bring things like religious picture books, wooden rosaries for babies, someone told me they have a small photo album filled with prayer cards. If they must bring a "secular" toy, it should be small, and preferably soft as not to make giant "thunks" when dropped during Mass.
Lastly, some practical tips. Do not take hungry children to Mass. Do not take children to Mass during nap times (unless of course you think they may sleep). Everyone must go potty before Mass. Teach children as early as possible not to cross in front of the Altar without genuflecting, to bless themselves with Holy Water, to genuflect before entering the pews-these things will stick with them, make them feel like they are participating (which they are), and teach respect for the True Presence. Dress nice for Mass. You do not have to go broke purchasing special Sunday clothes, but have "nice" clothes to show respect and to teach the little ones that they are in a place that deserves respect. Also, sometimes my husband will sit apart from us with the boys. Dad can have a very sobering effect on little boys while little girls like imitating Mom.
Know that this stage too will pass...FWIW, my kids have jumped over pews, crawled under them, have cried through Mass, almost knocked down Holy Water fonts-you name it! Knowing you are not the only one sometimes can be the biggest help-LOL!
UPDATE:I also forgot to add that Mass time makes a huge difference. When we attended the Novus Ordo Mass, we had the best success at the 7.30 AM Mass believe it or not. Why? The little ones were still groggy enough to not be in the mood to run around or to notice they are hungry yet, that Mass is usually the quickest, it is the smallest-not too many people to bother and less children to incite your children. That was just my experience anyway...Nunc et in hora nostrae
Carol Kennedy writes on the hour of death in Sixty Seconds of Fear.
I first thought seriously about this a couple of years ago, when I saw The Perfect Storm. I couldn't get the last scenes of the crew out of my head, showing the Andrea Gail flipped and flooding, and the fishermen standing chin-deep in water, knowing they were about to die. After September 11th, when we all learned about the last phone calls of the victims, I was thinking about it again.
How would I react in that situation -- knowing that my death was not to be in the hazy, far-off future, but was to be in the next sixty seconds? Would I be frozen with fear?
In The Spiritual Combat, Dom Scupoli warns of the temptations to despair that can come at the hour of death. Would I have the presence of mind to make a final act of contrition and to trust in the Divine Mercy?
Virtual Adoration? uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.....
There's a very good discussion of the pros -- and serious cons -- of "virtual Adoration" over at Envoy Encore. (Click "Current Encores" to catch up with the comment box.)
I'm not crazy about this idea at all. To me it seems well-intentioned, but a bit on the gimmicky side. If you are homebound or otherwise prevented from attending Adoration, there is nothing stopping you from making an act of Faith and a Spiritual Communion, using a photograph of a Monstrance as a reminder if you wish -- and you don't need a computer.
Don't miss...
Father Sibley's pithy reflection on the contraceptive mentality.
Wondering, are we not open to Jesus Christ because we are not open to children? or are we not open to children because we are not open to Jesus?
thanks to Davey's Daddy for the heads-up.
My Weather Pixie seems to be pretty accurate!
I see the snowflakes falling in my Pixie's box just like the ones falling outside. Apparently the roads are very icy, so I have scrapped all my planned errands for the morning.
Yesterday when I was out, I was thinking about skipping the grocery store and just heading home, but I heard that "little voice inside my head" saying, "No. Go this afternoon. Don't put it off. Go now." I'm glad I listened.
Online Adoration
Well, I do not want to knock it --that is, online Adoration at savior.org. I think it can be useful for the homebound, and JPII did recently say that the Internet can be used for Evangelisation... Well, it's just not the same... I mean, I feel kind of silly staring at the Monstrance on the computer screen.
I wonder if some theologian can tell us if we get the same graces as we do if we go to Adoration in person. I wonder if there is a difference equivalent to the difference between chatting with a friend on instant messenger and visiting them in real life...
Choices in School
In the past couple of days, I have been confronted with some very pro-public school perspectives. On Sunday, a woman who is a retired public school teacher told me I should go to the open houses at the magnet schools and consider sending my children. I just smiled and said "I do not know." (Although I feel incredibly strong about my decision to homeschool, I do not look for debates on the issue.) Her reply was "well, pretty soon you are going to find yourself teaching chemistry."
Even though I did not reply, I was thinking "over my dead body,". I do feel very strongly about homeschooling. Lately, I feel I have to apologise for choosing to homeschool. I have heard people say the homeschooling is just the "Catholic thing to do", or that the Church does not state that one must homeschool...I certainly believe all this and try to weigh in the options so I can stay "centered". Yet the more I mull over our choice, the stronger I am in my resolve. So here are some of my cons for not sending my children to school:
I cannot send my children to a school that is not only void of religion, but where being religious is worse than having the plague. They should not only be allowed to say the Angelus at noon and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 3, it should be encouraged. Or in the very least feel comfortable enough to do so.
I cannot send my children to a school that teaches sex ed. I will not send my children to an institution that teaches that birth control is OK, and refers to it as "protection". I will not send them to a school that teaches them that premarital sex is just fine as long as precautions are taken to avoid pregnancy. This is Ass Backwards logic. Sex is for procreation. Besides the moral implications and that is is a mortal sin, if I allow my children to be taught that logic is only based on what you want to do, how can I expect them to reason out the most basic of logical problems, like a mathematics problem, for example?
I cannot send my children to a Catholic school where the faith is so watered down that it barely resembles Catholicism. I think this may be even more dangerous than sending my children to let's say a Protestant school because as Catholic parents I can always say "well, we are Catholic, we do not believe that..." What happens when a nun tells my children that the Eucharist is just symbolic and my children think "well, that is a nun saying it..."
I cannot send my children to a school that values diversity over true history. Where teachers and classmates feel the need to make sure my children know they are black, white, Hispanic etc-that they have to fall into some "group". The predominant culture in our household is Catholic American. They should not have to choose being "black" for example over being Catholic. For myself, being in a public school as a bi-racial student, I had to choose when I was going to be around my white friends or black friends. I had to choose a racial identity at school, while at home I was just Pansy.Not to mention I was teased often for being a black Catholic as opposed to being Muslim or Baptist. I will pass on exposing my children to that for now.
I cannot send my daughter to a school where her peers are dressed in some of the immoral atrocities that are the "current trends".
My children should not be afraid to be pro-life.
My daughter reads at a seventh grade reading level.
Many people say that I should expose my children to different types of thinking, and perhaps there is some truth to that, but I do not believe my children should be exposed in an environment that is so contrary to Catholic philosophy, 6 hours a day, 5 days a week. Children are in the process of formation, and special care must be taken that they are formed correctly.
I worry often that my daughter does not have enough little girlfriends she sees on a daily basis, but when I see the little girls at the public schools, I do not want my daughter around those types of peers.
The only pro I can think of is access to more programs, but what is the good of having more computer classes at the expense of their souls?
As long as I'm making a list....
if there's anything you'd like us to blog on, or blog more often on, please drop us a note.
I need to sit down and 1. make a list make coffee. 2. Make a list of the lists I need to make: things to do, places to go (Confession, Target, bookstore, grocery store), things to buy at those stores. 3. Make a list of my backlogged books (booklog?) and read them before I allow any more books into the house.
I am attending a wedding this weekend and I need to choose a present. I might go with a pizza stone; that seems to have been well-received at other weddings... maybe a recipe binder to go with....
Don't drink the water...
Birth control pills, estrogen replacement drugs, ibuprofen, bug spray, sunscreen, mouthwash and antibacterial soap: all of these products could turn up in your next glass of tap water, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). more...
Technical difficulty
For some reason, Blogger doesn't seem to be posting our user names. I've checked our template and the field is still where it's supposed to be. I don't know how to fix it. I am perplexed.
I'm sorry for the inconvenience. Maybe our readers could look at this as a fun guessing game, until Blogger's working properly again?
--Peony
Two Sleepy Mommies Two HMS Blog Vichy Fan-girls
I see over at Heart, Mind, Strength, etc, they are welcoming a new contributor today and expecting two more to join next week.
Pretty soon, we'll be the only people who won't be blogging for them.
But then again, we link to them so often, are we de facto colloborators?
How do you say "let's get a grip" in French?
I am not really feeling personally offended or marginalized by this "boycott France" fad, although if someone still wants to send me a big pile of money, that would be okay.
That being said, I don't like it. During the First World War, some Americans really did attack other Americans of German descent, and there really were absurd excesses of "patriotism" that brought us "liberty cabbage" as the new patriotic way to say "sauerkraut." And we all know what happened to Americans of Japanese descent the second time around.
Right now, the "boycott France" idea seems to be closely associated with radio stations and talk-show hosts, who will toss any idea around -- no matter how inane or irresponsible -- to get people worked up, tuning in, calling in, and driving up ratings. What annoys me is the assumption that if a nation's government doesn't agree with ours, we should get back at them: "Nanny nanny boo boo! I won't buy my wine from you!"
Let's save it for when if we uncover other, less... noble reasons for France and Germany's oppostion to military intervention in Iraq.
Polo and Pansy Moss
This is me and my hubby. Actually Gorbulas is there too, but we didn't know it yet.;)
It is an older picture taken May 2001. I want to show it off before it is obsolete and I am saying "oh, yes that is me back in the day". Also, pictures with me in them are very rare because I am always taking them as opposed to posing for them.
Anyway, I haven't aged that much in nearly two years, but my hair is about a foot longer... (hence why I am the "peach" in the Veggie Tales quiz).
New to our blogroll
Someday I hope to read more of the writings of the great Saints of Carmel. But I have the feeling St Teresa would say something like, "Little daughter, imitate Therese and get the darn laundry done!"
UPDATE: Today Mr. Riddle posts St Josemaria's Seventeen Evidences of a Lack of Humility.
Now, back to the laundry.
On the tarot quiz
Shelly notes that there's nothing inherently sinful about the tarot quiz. I know I mentioned over at Karen's that I was going to sit this quiz out, but I just want to clarify a little bit.
Drinking coffee is licit, and some people are able to drink coffee without any problems. When I was younger, though, I drank waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much coffee and I developed a caffeine habit. I've since kicked that habit and switched to decaf. But if I drink "regular" coffee -- even in moderate amounts -- for more than two or three mornings in a row, I start getting headaches and jitters if I'm late getting the joe.
Same thing with the tarot quiz. When I was a fallen-away teenager, a friend of mine and I dabbled with horoscopes and tarot cards. I may never know in this life just how much damage I did to my soul. But I'm not going to risk making that damage even worse.
I don't think that the people who did take the quiz are on Screwtape's payroll, and I'm not scandalized by their having some fun with a silly internet quiz.
I appreciate the consideration of those who did not take the quiz because they wished to avoid giving scandal.
I am a victim.
As the descendant of German-speaking immigrants, I am personally offended by the rise in France-bashing. This intolerant attack on all things French is reminiscent of the national hysteria over all things German during the First World War, when frankfurters were renamed "liberty dogs," places with German-derived names got new, more "patriotic" names (for example, Saratoga Street in Baltimore used to be named German Street), and Americans who were German-speaking or even had German surnames were maligned as spies or even attacked.
Because today's France-bashing, or frog-ism, reminds me of our country's past German-bashing, or kraut-ism sentiment of the past, I feel personally marginalized.
I am therefore entitled to a public apology and a big pile of money.
Back to the routine
Weekends should be longer, especially birthday weekends.
The birthday on Saturday was pretty quiet. I had hoped we could go to the zoo, but the weather was cold, rainy and nasty, so we just went to Home Depot. But that was a still a thrill for Hambet -- he likes "riding" the lawn tractors, watching the ceiling fans, and looking at all the loaders and ladders.
I did make a cake with a picture of the Count -- I finished it Saturday afternoon -- and I'm pleased with it for several reasons:
Hambet did manage to get a peek at the cake, and commented, "Painting of Count." (Where did he learn about paintings, I wonder?) I hope to have a picture up by the end of the week.
The ultimate sign of the cake's success was the big grin on Hambet's face when we brought in the cake, both candles ablaze.
Hambet's favorite presents are probably the Fisher Price Little People cement mixer and truck his grandmas sent him. He did like the musical instruments, although we will probably supervise him for a few more months so he does not poke a hole in the tambourine.
Is it just me (like that Michael Jackson thing)...
But does anyone else think there is some inconsistencies with their "Victim of Violence" and martyr image?.
BTW, I am not condoning any type of abortion clinic violence (as I am sure you all know-but just in case...)
French-bashing is on the rise as U.S. faces off with longtime ally over Iraq
PHILADELPHIA (AP) Mon dieu, how some Americans are bashing the French these days!
Americans galled by France's reluctance to endorse an invasion of Iraq are boycotting French wine and french fries and trading jokes and insults about all things Gallic.
A Las Vegas radio station Tuesday used an armored vehicle to crush photographs of French President Jacques Chirac, photocopies of the French flag, a Paris travel guide, bottles of wine and a loaf of French bread. more...
Jesica Santillan didn't make it.Poor baby. May her soul and the souls of the faithfully departed have mercy from God and rest in peace.
New to our links:
Davey's daddy has a blog too!
Catholic Light
Dinka
Karen Hall of Disordered Affection has a new blog on writing
Okay, back to mixing icing.
The number of the day is.......TWO.
Hambet is two today. He has no idea of the momentous occasion, but he'll like the part about the presents and cake. No special plans. At first I was thinking about the zoo, but the weather outside is really sloppy, so no zoo today. Having Daddy home is a huge treat in itself -- they can play "tent", "chase", and "cars" as much as they like. I'll make a special birthday hat.
I ended up choosing marching band instruments for him, by the way (tamborine, jingle sticks, rhythm sticks, maracas, and a triangle, which he will love: "Twiangle!") He knows there is a cake involved; I baked it last night and he has been after it ever since. I still need to decorate it -- I am planning to try a picture of the Count, from Sesame Street. (Hambet loves the Count's daily segment.)
Happy birthday, Hambet!
Why Am I Up?
I am awake. I am hungry. I am hungry and awake. Uh, that's not good. So let's talk about being hungry because I cannot think of anything interesting about being awake. I am always hungry. I hate it. I am sure it has to do with the fact that I am nursing-nursing two children, not one at that. Dieting while nursing is the hardest thing because I am a freakin' bottomless pit when it comes to food.
Once upon a time I was a personal trainer. I received secret pleasure from being that annoying chick in my group of friends, you know, when you go out to eat or get drinks, the one friend who always says "I can't eat that-it's too fattening". Actually, I never got pleasure from that to be honest with you, it made me feel self-conscious, like I was condemning people's life styles, but I wasn't about to throw away all the previous dieting and work-outs for a night of fun,know what I mean?
I am not that annoying person anymore. I am the one ordering buffalo wings while my mother is like skinnier than I am. Aaaaaghhh! And I am just hungry, hungry, hungry! I get annoyed that there are only three meals a day! How dare those meal making people limit me to three!
My husband is up now doing some weirdness, I don't know what. Moving stuff from his collection up to the attic. I am going to go bother him because I want food, give him my puppy dog eyes and say "I'm hungry" he's going to say "Woman..." (he calls me that-how affectionate) "Woman, you're hungry? What else is new!"
This whole story about Jesica Santillan, the girl who received the botched transplant breaks my heart. I keep thinking she must be in so much pain being so sick. And her poor parents, watching their little girl go through these major surgeries to no avail. My heart and prayers go out to these people...
Aah, my favourite Saint...
| "God will not suffer man to have the knowledge of things to come; for if he had prescience of his prosperity he would be careless; and understanding of his adversity he would be senseless." |
| You are Augustine! You love to study tough issues and don't mind it if you lose sleep over them. Everyone loves you and wants to talk to you and hear your views, you even get things like "nice debating with you." Yep, you are super smart, even if you are still trying to figure it all out. You're also very honest, something people admire, even when you do stupid things. |
Thank you, Karen from Disordered Affections for the link!.
You are too funny Peony!
Peony asked:
How much wine did you say your husband gave you?
LOL! My husband and I are not accomplished drinkers. My husband doesn't drink at all as a matter of fact. He handed me this like 12 oz (you know large enough to hold a can of soda) glass of Chardonnay (the bottle he bought me for Valentine's Day). I looked at it and said "I think that is a bit much..." He said "no, it's just one glass!" I know, where are the wine glasses? On the top shelf where they do not get broken. Let's just be happy I got my wine in a glass instead of a plastic Trenton Thunder cup.
Like a DoDo, I am sipping away at this huge glass of wine. I remember getting the glass, and I remember finishing it and attempting to watch Dune, but having a hard time beause of the two TV screens...
An illustrated guide to Fast and Abstinence
Disputations has helped us all with these illustrated guides:
Get Ready for Lent: Fasting
Get Ready for Lent: Abstinence
Thanks for the link, Kathy!
Tech help needed
I am looking for a way to host pictures so we can post them on our blog.
I've been trying to use the web space provided by my ISP. They offer no support. I know I have to use FTP, but I don't know how to set up my files so that when I drag them over to the server side, my URL reveals a web page instead of a directory list.
Also, is there a way to set up the img src code so that posted pictures cannot be copied or linked?
*sigh* blogging really is like crack.
Pansy, it's just you.
You are the only person who thinks that Michael Jackson is looking weird these days. I bet you think that he is not telling the truth when he says he only had two plastic surgeries. And I'll even bet that you think his family situation is weird too, with those surrogate mothers and the kids with the veils over their heads.
How much wine did you say your husband gave you?
Is it me...
Or is Michael Jackson lookin' really weird?
Gosh, I remember back in the day, 6th grade, 1984, he was da bomb! Now he's like, really odd...
This is why everyone needs a Peony Moss friend!
She has all the answers!She is exaggerating a bit though, we have 94 inches of snow, not 200. My mother told me "just take the kids outside". I can't, I may lose a couple in the snow!We'd have to wait until like the spring thaw to find them. Then I'll have the Albany County Health Department teaching me about managing multiple kids in snow drifts...
My husband came home a little while ago and took one look at me, and poured me that glass of wine I was talking about.I looked at him and stomped off to the shower. When I got out he was holding a glass of wine and said "Here, drink this!" What a guy!
Below on my post about Good Racism and Baked Goods, Peony pointed out that I was mistaken by the purpose of the bakesale and who hosted it. Actually, I really was not trying to say who hosted it as opposed to where it was, and I didn't do very well.
So sorry. I am having an extremely bad week, culminated by a worse day and tons of stress. I think I will stop trying to think and type for a bit and drown myself in some wine and Star Wars novel.
But before I do, let me share a story that this event truly reminded me of and this is why I was a bit animated. A year ago when I came home from the hospital after having Gorbulas, I received a phone call. The county health department wanted to send a representative over to teach me parenting skills, how to learn to do things like manage to properly care for more than one child, proper nutrition for children etc. I asked them point blank "how did you get my name?"(I have a rather ethnic Hispanic sounding name). Their reply was they send people out to everyone in my area who has new babies. "Everyone?" I asked.
"Yes"
I turned them down. Having visitors I did not know, especially right after bringing new baby home, did not sound like fun action to me.I was also suspicious, and as I mentioned before, am a bit paranoid about our privacy.
I received a pamphlet in the mail in case I changed my mind. It said their rep will answer questions like:
"What do I do when all these kids make me stressed, and I have a baby"
"Proper baby care and nutrition"
"Changing and feeding a baby"
Ugh.
In November, my neighbor (same area) had a baby. Now she is also bi-racial (she is half Irish, half black), but her adopted mother is Irish and she has a very Irish sounding name. I will not give it over the Internet, but it may as well be something like Maureen O'Hara. Anyway, social services, or the health department or whoever it was never came to offer her their assitance.
Now, I cannot say "why" because my head is seriously spinning from cabin fever induced stress today, why that article had me brooding all day about this incident.I really only thought of it briefly in the past year until today. Peony is much smarter than I, maybe she can explain why I am so frustrated...LOL
Why we fight
Over at HMS Blog, Woodene is encouraging prayer and fasting tomorrow for a peaceful resolution to the current crisis.
More on Friday abstinence
I posted earlier on our obligation (in the Latin Rite) to abstain from meat (or, in the U.S., perform another penitential or charitable act) on Fridays not only during Lent but all through the year.
Richard Chonak graced our blog with a visit and noted,
...that Ordinaries have the authority to dispense from the Friday obligation. In Boston this is done if St. Patrick's day (one of the patronal days of the archdiocese) should fall on a Friday. This allows his devotees to eat corned beef and cabbage.
Do you have to prove your ethnicity to get the minority discount?
Pansy, the students hosting the bake sale did it to point out the absurdities of the University of Michigan's affirmative action policy. The bake sale was not put on by the University itself, but by students of The Michigan Review (which I would bet is an independent student newspaper.)
Don't try to hide behind that First Amendment stuff! Think of the children!
I just opened today's issue of our diocese newspaper, which is usually a quick read: a cute or touching picture on the front page, usually of a schoolchild or of the congregation at a big Mass... Cardinal McCarrick's column... Georgetown parish or University hosting heterodox well-known author... Catholic Information Center hosting booksigning by famous best-selling author... local students complete service project... letters to the editor... Events Around the Archdiocese... Senior pages... Knight of Columbus plan spaghetti feast... obituaries...
I sure got a jolt today, though, when I read His Eminence's column. He starts off by briefly alluding to the sexual abuse crimes committed by priests, and the Archdiocesan policies on sexual abuse; part of the reason we trust our priests is because we have confidence in the Seal of the confessional...BUT (emphasis added):
Unfortunately I must tell you that bills have been introduced in the legislature of the State of Maryland that would make it a crime for a priest to be faithful to that solemn sacramental obligation. These bills would require a priest by law to report what he heard in Confession if any kind of abuse of a child is mentioned. I am not condemning the legislators who are promoting this bill. I am presuming that they are only interested in helping children and not in attacking the Catholic Church and any other religious body which would have such protection for spiritual conversations. However what they are proposing is a grave violation of our Church's Canon Law, and I must oppose it with whatever authority I have, and you, dear friends, need to know this.If this bill were to pass, I shall instruct all the priests in the Archdiocese of Washington who serve in Maryland to ignore it and to indicate they are acting on direct orders from me as their archbishop and religious superior. On this issue, I will gladly plead civil disobedience and willingly - if not gladly - go to jail. Please understand that I write this to you as your servant and your friend and as one, who however unworthy, in the mystery of God's providence, is called to be your bishop. I cannot allow three state senators and eight members of the House of Delegates who are the proposers of this legislation to force our priests to violate the sacramental seal of Confession. If there is a gauntlet involved in this process, then I throw it down now.
While there is still time to prevent this attack on the sacramental seal of Confession, I ask you to write or phone your own state legislators in Annapolis and tell them how you feel about the proposed law and how it affects your rights as a Catholic American and a citizen of this state of Maryland. If in spite of all you do, it gets into law, I'm happy to assure you that, even behind bars, I'll be thinking of you.
Maryland is the birthplace of Catholicism in the English-speaking colonies. How can they do this?!
Political grandstanding, that's how. Never mind your constituents' First Amendment rights!
The Standard gives the bill numbers as SB 412 and HB 823, designated as "Family Law -- Child Abuse and Neglect -- Reporting by Members of the Clergy." The Maryland Catholic Conference website has information on finding and contacting state legislators, and links to the Maryland General Assembly.
Go, Cardinal McCarrick! GO!
Good Racism and Baked Goods
Thank you Saintly Salmagundi for the link to an article about a pro-affirmative action bake sale. Yes, you heard correctly. University of Michigan had a bake sale where they charged white students and all minorities $1 for a baked good and blacks, Hispanics and Native Americans .80 cents as some type of lesson about the necessity of affirmative action.
Is anyone else here lost? I am, first of all, I know if it were me and my attitude, I would say "here, take the whole dollar, I am capable of paying in full for my bagel, thank you very much!"
Gosh, why does every attempt at some function to teach people about diversity, or to help minorities mean treating minorities like second rate morons who will only succeed with a hand out as opposed to their own merit?
TO MY SON, AGED THREE YEARS AND FIVE MONTHS
Thomas Hood
Thou happy, happy elf!
(But stop,-first let me kiss that tear)-
Thou tiny image of myself!
(My love, he's poking peas into his ear!)
Thou merry laughing sprite!
With spirits feather light,
Untouched by sorrow and unsoiled by sin-
(Good Heavens! the child is swallowing a pin!)
Thou little tricksey Puck!
With antic toys so funnily bestuck!
Light as the singing bird that wings the air-
(The door! The door! he'll tumble down the stair!)
Thou darling of thy sire!
(Why Jane, he'll set his pinafore afire!)
Thou imp of mirth and joy!
In love's dear chain, so strong and bright a link,
Thou idol of thy parents-(Drat the boy!
There goes my ink!)
Thy father's pride and hope!
(he'll break the mirror with that skipping rope!)
With pure heart newly stamped with Nature's mint-
(Where did her learn that squint?)
Thou young domestic dove!
(He'll have that jug off with another shove!)
Dear nursling of the Ilymeneal nest!
(Are those torn clothes his best?)
Little epitome of a man!
(He'll climb upon the table,that's his plan!)
Touched with th beauteous hints of dawning life
(He's got a knife!)
Thou pretty opening rose!
(Go to your mother, child, and wipe your nose!)
Balmy and breathing music like the South,
(He really brings my heart into my mouth!)
Fresh as the morn, brilliant as it's star,-
(I wish that window had an iron bar!)
Bold as the hawk, yet gentle as the dove,-
(I'll tell you what my love,
I cannot write unless he's sent above!)
Ideas needed. FAST
I have all kinds of things I want to blog on, including discussions of three or four books, but I am looking over the calendar and realizing that we have a major family holiday on Saturday -- little Hambet is turning two -- and it's Thursday.
So, gentle readers, any ideas for presents that might please a two-year-old?
I am so bad about planning for holidays. For example, I have noticed that, every year, Christmas falls on December 25 . The only way that I can make sure that I get presents shipped on time -- and have something to put under our own tree -- is to sit down with the calendar in July and start marking off reminders, starting with October: "Start shopping for presents." "Check to make sure there's enough tape and gift wrap." "Wrap presents." "Do you have enough packing material?" "Pack presents." Call UPS."
I need to do this with every holiday. For example, February 12 is probably too late to buy Valentines if they need to be mailed. And I need to build in plenty of lead time for things like snow, sick children, etc.
A beautiful image of the Earth.
This was taken last November from the Space Station.
"Good Racism"
I am coining a new term: "good racism". (Actually, The Mighty Barrister coined it in a comment box on Kevin Miller's blog on Al Sharpton). But I am going to start to use it.
What is "good racism" you ask? I am not very good at putting ideas to paper as some of my other fellow parishioners at St. Blog's, so I will give you examples.
An example of good racism is when you have an inner city, predominately black parish. Not the fact that it serves a mostly black area or has mostly black parishioners is the problem, but when they become so afrocentric, that this becomes the main focus over the Eucharist. That liturgical abuses are allowed and overlooked in abundance simply because they are "cultural" in nature.
Good racism is the notion that black people have to have things translated into ebonics so they may understand them better.
Good racism is when we receive advertisements in the mail for Huggies diapers in Spanish because they know that since our last name is Spanish, we must not speak English.
Good racism is lowering academic standards in inner city schools because, um, I don't even know why...I guess because the work is too hard for minorities?
The problem is not seeing a person as a person but identifying them and their needs by their race or ethnicity. A Hispanic immigrant, let's say, who comes to this country and has language barriers should always be helped with compassion. But while the old fashioned Archie Bunker styled racist would say they do not need special attention, the "good racist"(Meathead) would send those children off to a public school with other Hispanic children and substitute teaching times tables with videos of Happily Ever After:Fairy Tales for Every Child.
Where's a strong Bishop when I need him?
Thank you again Greg Popcak for the link to this article on the lack of leadership in our Church .
What is up with this whole "Cardinal Maida allowing Jennifer Granholm to be a prize for winning an auction at a Catholic school thing" anyway? I do not want to be Bishop bashing, and am fully willing that I do not understand the "whys" of the decisions of these Bishops, but I can say it makes no sense from where I am standing.
I understand choosing your battles, OK, sure. But I think the American Church has chosen to back down from too many battles. Seriously. Many of us know tons of non-practicing Catholics, and many of us here would agree that "if only my local parish practiced True Catholicism, the pews would be full..." Am I wrong? How many of us are reverts and reverted when we found out that all those lessons we learned in Religious Ed in our youth about Jesus having siblings, about the transubstantiation being just symbolic, that the Church was just a place to condemn women, that Hell is only a state of mind, that religion is just a feeling of being happy WERE ALL WRONG?
I am going to take this a step further. It is my personal belief that the Church can set the climate for the moral norms of our American culture, not just among Catholics, but non-Catholics as well. Do not ask me why or how, but I do believe that. Trends spread like wildfire. Just about everyone knows a Catholic somewhere. What of all those Catholics were not Catholic in name only, but practicing, anti-abortion, non-contracepting, rosary saying Catholics? How would that set the tone for the morals in this country? I can honestly say, I don't think abortion would be legal. I am willing to admit I am wrong, but I would bet money on it.
This is one of the many reasons why Al Sharpton should not be allowed to homilise in a Catholic parish. This is one reason why Jennifer "I'm Catholic except when it comes to freeing the world of the Tyranny of Evil Stray Babies" Granholm should not be sponsored by a Catholic institution. Of course there are other more obvious reasons, but this is the rant I am on right now...
Why Young Catholics Leave the Church and How to Bring Them Back
thanks to the Accidental Choir Director for the link. I just noticed that he is only 27! How I mourn my wasted youth!
More HMS Blog recaps.
Catholic talk show host Al Kresta is seriously ill and needs prayers. HMS Blog is putting together a spiritual bouquet for him.
I was going to comment in my previous post that it was the perceived hypocrisy of the Church -- "nobody really believes this, they're all just going through the motions" -- that drove me to reject the church in my high school and early college years. It was the reality of the Mystical Body of Christ -- of our ability to help each other through our prayers and sacrifices -- that helped bring me back.
Time to go offer up the ironing for Mr Kresta.
For those who are just now emerging from their duct-taped, plastic-sheeted basements...
A quick recap (and, in the spirit of G.K. Chesterton, a little short on details...) Sisters of Mercy, running a high school in Michigan someplace, have a charity auction to benefit the school. One of the prizes was lunch with Governor Jennifer "I'm a good Catholic who thinks it's immoral to force my views on abortion on others, thereby allowing others to force their views on everyone else" Granholm. Under pressure, the Sisters nixed the award. Now it's back on again. HMS Blog is coordinating an effort to let the Sisters (and Cardinal Maida, who has declined to intervene) know how ...distasteful ... this "prize" is.
Greg Popcak also links to this scathing reflection on episcopal passivity.
Oh, and it snowed last weekend in some parts of the country.
Do not eat or drink while reading this latest offering from The Curt Jester..
good morning
My Jesus, I offer this day to you-all my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings-and through you, I make this offering to Our Father in Heaven. Be with me through this day in all it's particulars, and assist me that it may become a worthy offering in every way.
Be close to me in all I think and say and do. Direct your spirit to speak to me and guide me-and help me to listen attentively when he does speak...so that, in my response, your thoughts may become more surely my thoughts, and your ways may become my ways; so that my judgements may accord with your judgements, and that the sentiments of my heart may be most like your very own; so that my conversation with others may be conversation I may ask you to share with us, and that my works may be works that I ask you to approve.
Help me to have the practical Wisdom to look to your Mother from time to time, as I go about the duties of my day, in an effort to find the grace of a better way in motherhood; for she is the perfect example of all virtues and is your loving gift to us as a perfect model of all motherhood.
May I know the continued grace to do work with you in all I do, and not merely for you...so that my day may become a perfect offering-lived with you, in you and through you-to be presented to our Father in joy and love.
Taken from Mothers' Manual by A. Francis Coomes, S.J.
Family Size and Neglect
I have been thinking about the article from Crisis magazine about large family size and neglect. I know this article has been commented on ad nauseam in St. Blog's, but some things I have seen in real life lately had me thinking about it.
For whatever reason people are willing to believe it is easy to forget a child when you have to keep track of a number of children. I suppose this can be true. I have also seen people lose track of a child very quickly with only two. Children tend to wander off. I am inclined to say discipline comes into play here, but I will share a couple of stories.
My husband and I are very paranoid about people getting into our business in regard to our family life. We homeschool, we are very selective about vaccinating, we are minorities. we have a few more (and probably will end up with) children than the norm, and of we did get into any kind of trouble with child services, we certainly do not have the money to hire expensive attorneys. Now, I am fully willing to admit that it may just be paranoia on our part, but regardless, the result is we are pretty OCD about knowing where are children are at all times. We fall short of making the kids hold on to a long string to stay together when we go out in public-LOL. With all this paranoia, I can think of two times when a little one got away.
The first time, Rosey Posey was 4 years old, Posco was a baby.My husband, the two little ones and two of my younger brothers decided to make a day trip to the NJ shore. I was sitting on the beach keeping the baby from eating sand, and Rosey Posey was enjoying the water with her father and uncles. At one point she got turned around on her way to the water with her uncles, and instantly found a lifeguard for help. The second we realised she was missing, we heard her name being called over the intercom for her parents.
The second time was simply Fastolph, who I thought was unable to unlock the locked front door, was looking out the door waiting for his father to return home from work, escaped. A neighbor returned him.
We have also returned stray children-it happens.
If there is a prejudice against larger families, I think it has more to do with economics rather than family size (although to say large family discrimination does not exist is not true either). Child neglect in the form of daycare, after school programs etc. is very commonplace, the difference is it's expensive neglect-therefore acceptable. People do not understand the notion of having more children when it would mean the children you have will have to go without Gap Kids.
But the fact is, when it comes to family size, and particularly to Catholics who are supposed to be open for life, I think the focus on whether or not children are neglected, lately the bottom line is "how many" children there are in a family. I think this is arbitrary. Neglect is neglect and if you are "burdened" with only one, or twenty, the problem isn't the number of children, but parental responsibilty.
I tire of everything being an excuse for people to stop having children, when it seems to me having more or less children is not what constitutes good parenting-good parenting does.
Baby Steps!
No less than three times did Gorbulas walk across the living room floor today on his own. Yay! It is so cute when they take their first steps because it just doesn't look right.
I don't care if you have twenty kids, these little milestones are such a joy no matter how many times you go through them.
I don't get it
I skimmed through the PASS (post abortive stress syndrome) website linked to The After Abortion Blog. There are a few pages of women's personal testimonials. I read the first page and could not read an further. What amazes me is not only how negatively abortion affects the women, but how it affects others involved, the doctors and nurses, the boyfriends. Everyone seems to be affected by how evil this is, yet no one stands up and says "this is so wrong". They all just internalise and go on. Here are some quotes:
I do not understand the concept of something being so good for everyone causing this much trauma. A good action should have positive consequences. When someone does something right, the end results are high self esteem, happiness, the ability to look in the mirror each day. We are ignoring basic logic so women can have the right to kill their children.
Oh Nice!
Chicago Club was Told To Close Second Floor
Thank goodness there was not a fire!
Comments: a haiku
(in the style of Kathy the Carmelite)
Wow! More comments --
but no, Enetation's down.
I knew this'd happen!
allergy stuff
I have to rethink the way I feed my family. My boys seem to suffer from allergies, but I am at a loss. Last June, I went on this major crusade to cut out all foods that could cause allergic reactions, which meant basically an Ezekial bread wrap with some veggies. No, that will not do.
My 7 year old has nasty eczema in the winter. My one year old has asthma. I am not feeling like a good Mommy because there must be something triggering it, but I am not sure what, and the fact it, if there is a trigger in this house, then I am doing something to cause there reactions.
In the meantime I will do what I can on the physical front. I was flipping through a catalog my insurance sent me on Allergy Control Products. The catalog explained that dust mites are the leading cause of allergies, hence asthma attacks, and you can be fastidious about your housecleaning, but only their special and quite expensive, pillow, mattress and bedding encasings will control dust mites-and their line of household cleansers.
Back to the food stuff, I think wheat is one of our families biggest offenders, but I have very unsuccesfully tried many times to cut wheat out of our diet. It is hard because I have found that in order to feed my family economically (I spend about $75 a week on groceries-give or take), I make a great deal from scratch. Like most children, mine are hungry often and I find keeping fresh baked goods, fresh fruit and veggies around helps fill their snacking needs while being nutritious and economical. I have yet to meet someone who has cut wheat out, and has done it practically...
Lastly, we have a cat, Chun Li. She is old-older that Posco. She may have to go, my husband said "no" but it may come to that...
Just when I thought my husband could not get any geekier
he is sitting on the bed with this gigantic rectangular white box, and I am of course ignoring him because I know he is organising another one of his collections. He yells over at me "hey, look how young he looks here" and shows me a picture of Colin Powell encased in plastic next to a picture of Margaret Thatcher and another picture of Saddam Hussein.
"What are those?!?"
"They're my Operation Desert Storm collector's cards! They went up in value!"
The Bilingual Ghetto
Here is the article Patty referred us to in the comment box below my post about Pat Buchanan. It is a year old. so I could not find it in it's entirety.
Here is an excerpt:
Indeed, at the 1996 opening of Newcomers High School in Queens, all the pols in attendance spelled out how "special" and "different" from previous immigrants are children from Vietnam, China, the Ukraine, India, Poland, Africa and South America.
The Siiiiiiiimp-sooooooooooooons................
Victor links to this article on The Simpsons. Everybody seems to agree that the show has lost its touch, but somebody must be watching it....
I was a sophomore in college when The Simpsons got a regular spot on Fox. I was living in an off-campus dormitory (next door to a mental hospital.) Sunday nights were pretty grim -- all these carless sophomores who'd drawn terrible room lottery numbers, sitting around looking at each other because the bus didn't run to campus on Sunday nights and, no matter what they promised, your friends were never coming to visit you.
At 7:55 PM on Sundays, one of the guys on the first floor would climb on top of a table and start twiddling with the rabbit ears on the hall TV. A couple of other guys would stand in the stairwells and bellow SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMPSOOOOOOOOONS!. The doors would start opening and slamming shut as dozens of sophomores scurried down to the first-floor lounge toting popcorn or whatever else they could come up with in the way of snacks. I must sound like I'm about a hundred years old: hall TVs...rabbit ears...TV lounges.... Anyway, the show seemed fresh and daring then, especially to a bunch of sophomores, and watching it with forty other people was a treat in itself.
So now I'm an old married lady. My husband and I had been complaining about the decline in The Simpsons since around 1998 or so, but kept watching it out of loyalty, until the infamous Frank Grimes episode. I thought it had finally hit its low point, until they killed off Maude Flanders.
We did catch the 300th episode last night. It was a "guest voice" episode, where they shoehorned Tony Hawk into a plot involving a skateboard competition. *yawn* The next episode was sharper -- I particularly liked the Seven Sisters dream sequence, although the Sapphic joke could perhaps have been omitted (there are people who allow their children to watch the show.)
My favorite episodes are "Twenty-two Short Films about Springfield" and "Homer Goes to Clown College."
Digging out
Well, we got about two feet total, and that is a lot for us. My husband and I have been taking turns shoveling out. He went out twice yesterday during the day; during the evening we threw some business to the kid next door. Today I took a turn and was able to clear the sidewalks and about half the driveway. Our biggest challenge will be dealing with the snow mountains that the county's plows left at the base of the driveway. They are about four feet high, and too close together to let our car back out.
Tomorrow I might take Hambet outside and let him chip away at the snowbanks with his little shovel and pail. So far he seems unimpressed by the mounds of snow.
21 Killed in Chicago Nightclub Stampede
So sad. This has got to be one of my worst nightmares.
I think I am missing something
I am unfamiliar with Pat Buchanan's politics, but I know he is Catholic. I heard him speak a few times, and I thought he made some sense. My personal favourite Catholic presidential hopeful was Alan Keyes, however.
The other day I got the Roman Catholic Books catalog in the mail. I usually enjoy flipping through it. I stopped short at an advertisement for Pat Buchanan's book Death of the West. I have not read the book, so I am not offering a critique. The ad did scare me a bit. Am I overreacting, or missing something?
Collapsing birth rates and native populations... out-of-control immigration... a process of “de-Christianization”
With electrifying prose and massive documentation, Buchanan reveals:
* How collapsing birth rates in Western nations, coupled with skyrocketing birth rates among Muslims, Asians and other Third World peoples will soon cause cataclysmic shifts in world power
* How uncontrolled immigration is changing the composition of the U.S. and European nations in ways that threaten their survival
* How our cultural institutions have been deliberately and systematically undermining the foundation beliefs and traditions of American and Western civilization for years
* Why aging populations will force developed nations to choose between mass immigration and mass euthanasia
* Why the Christian majority in America was routed -- with help from its own clergy
* Why young women are not having children in America and Europe
* Empty churches, full mosques: the long-term implications for the post-Christian West
* Why immigrants from Mexico will never assimilate
* Why the GOP may be history by 2010
* Six terrible consequences of the overthrow of the moral order
* Five ways you can enlist now in the battle to preserve Christian America
* The single most important cause for 21st-century conservatives
* The “absolute correlation” between religious faith and large families -- and between loss of faith and population decline
* Empty doomsaying? “The Death of the West is not a prediction of what is going to happen,” Buchanan clarifies, “it is a depiction of what is happening now. First World Nations are dying. They face a mortal crisis, not because of something happening in the Third World, but because of what is not happening at home and in the homes of the First World.”
Emphasis added.Now, I understand how there are problems that are the decline of Christianity, such as birth control, but what's this whole native populations deal? Isn't Christianity for all? I am lost here, or am I being overly liberal/sensitive. I personally think that the decline of Christianity has more to do with bad formation then immigrants, but that is just my opinion.
AP Mommy
Time to renew my subscription to The Compleat Mother.
The AP people would think I am a good AP Mommy because I am still happily nursing Fastolph (who will be four 4/22). I have been keeping his nursing down to once a day, but alas, I think Fastolph needs a 12 Step program. Here is an exchange we had today in the car, while waiting for Daddy to do some post officy business in the post office.
Fastolph:"Can I have Mommyjuice?"
Me:"No, not now."
Fastolph:"But why? I yike it."
Me:"Now is not a very good time, while we are waiting in the car."
Fastolph:"But I'm big."
Me:thinking to self "uh, yeah"
Fastolph:"Pweeeeze, it's good for me."
Me:"No, not now. You do not need Mommyjuice all the time."
Fastolph:sucks teeth and says "Oh!"
NACHE 2003
Hubby and I are considering going to the 2003 NACHE Conference. We usually go every other year, and we went last June. I kind of like the whole "getting away" idea however.
Are there any other blog mistresses who plan on attending?
Fast and abstinence outside of Lent
Those helpful folks at EWTN laid it all out for me. (Follow the link to "General Questions", then "Fast and Abstinence.") I should have consulted them before I thawed out those steaks on Valentine's Day (emphasis added):
Canon 1250 All Fridays through the year and the time of Lent are penitential days and times throughout the entire Church.Canon 1251 Abstinence from eating meat or another food according to the prescriptions of the conference of bishops is to be observed on Fridays throughout the year unless (nisi) they are solemnities; abstinence and fast are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and on the Friday of the Passion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
...On the Fridays outside of Lent the U.S. bishops conference obtained the permission of the Holy See for Catholics in the US to substitute a penitential, or even a charitable, practice of their own choosing. They must do some penitential/charitable practice on these Fridays. For most people the easiest practice to consistently fulfill will be the traditional one, to abstain from meat on all Fridays of the year. During Lent abstinence from meat on Fridays is obligatory in the United States as elsewhere.
Now I know.
how embarrassing
Today is Septugesima Sunday according to our pastor's homily. In the Tridentine Rite, the liturgical colour is now purple-we are penitent a little earlier I guess.
My Church offers confession all day Sunday (well, while the Church is open until the end of the last Mass). I went to confession, and my dd decided to go (God bless her she goes every Sunday). She was in line behind me two people down.
The priest who hears confession is very old and does not hear so well. I am deaf in one ear and do not hear so well. I attempted to whisper my confession, but the priest could not hear, so I spoke up. With my bad hearing, I am a bad judge of appropriate "louder" at times.
When I left the confessional, my dd signaled for me to come to her so she could tell me something. I went over and she said "Mom, next time be a little quieter." Yikes!
My Bloginality is ISFJ!!!
women's health
Peony said:
Ashli's story infuriates me. There is so much that is unknown about women's reproductive health, yet when self-styled women's advocacy groups talk about "women's health," all they're talking about is contraception and abortion.
winter woes
Well, it is actually not snowing here for once, but I am soooo sick of winter. It is -4 here today and has been like this all winter. My husband said we got 80 inches of snow.
The hardest part about winter? Trying to keep track of everyone's hats and gloves. No matter how many times you tell them to stick them in their sleeves, or tie them up, someone goes out sans like 1 glove. Sigh.
To leave the house we have to do this assembly line coat, boot, hat putting on routine. By the time I am done, I am tired and have no desire to leave the house anymore-LOL.
Bloginality
My Bloginality is INTJ. This lines up with when I took the full Myers-Briggs at work.
Thanks to Alicia for the link.
WHOA.
We have about six inches of snow this morning and it's still snowing hard. (On a whim, my husband went out to look for the newspaper -- it had actually come! Good thing he went out when he did, or we might not have found it until spring.) Cardinal McCarrick and Bishop Loverde have a joint reminder that Sunday Mass is not obligatory in cases of grave inconvenience.
The birthday party last night was a lot of fun. The hosts (the children of the birthday lady) had rented the parish school's cafeteria for desserts and dancing. They were very pleased to see Hambet. The hosts had a clown there to help keep the children entertained. Hambet was very interested in her, and she was so good with him -- she allowed Hambet to approach her instead of falling on him with a "WELL HELLO THERE LITTLE BOY!" or something like that.
Last night Hambet did something new and very interesting. He likes playing with the remote control -- nothing new there, except that when he's done playing with it he doesn't always leave it in an obvious location. Last time he hid it, it was gone for four months.
So when we noticed the remote was missing again, we started looking in all the usual places -- sofa cushions, under the chairs, under the TV stand. Hambet watched with interest as we asked him, "Where's the clicker? Where did you put the clicker?"
Finally he announced, "Clicker" and pointed to the VCR. Posco reached inside the slot and sure enough, there it was. So should we be exasperated that Hambet fed the clicker to the VCR, or be relieved that he could finally remember where he put it and tell us about it?
Peony, Veggie Tales Rocks!
I love Veggie Tales. I often find myself asking the kids if we could watch it because it just cracks me up! I was skeptical at first, I mean vegetables talking about God, yeah-alrighty then. But they are hilarious. Trust me, you will like them. I recommend "King George and The Ducky" for starters.
I was the peach, I know, because of the hair...
We had a lazy daisy Saturday. We purchased a new high chair. We used to have a booster seat, but we ran out of space at our little table (we plan to purchased a bigger and better dining room set within a year). We bought a pretty wooden high chair. Polo tried it out by sitting Gorbulas in it and right away he started to giggle. Polo asked, "do you like that?" and he nodded his head "yes".
We then went to the Chinese Buffet which is a near occasion of overindulgence for me. I try to fill my plate up with veggies, but my kids eat soooo slow, and I find myself refilling while they eat and talk.
My husband finally got a course catalog for the school he was looking into today. He plans on returning in fall for computer graphics and advertising. I am very excited for him.
just wanted to add...
that I did not mean to offend anyone about my post about the souls of aborted babies as much as I wanted to stop and say how I never thought about what may happen to aborted children's souls before, and that made me stop and think about it. I would like to add what the Catechism says about it:
1261 As regards children who have died without Baptism, the Church can only entrust them to the mercy of God, as she does in her funeral rites for them. Indeed, the great mercy of God who desires that all men should be saved, and Jesus' tenderness toward children which caused him to say: "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them,"[63] allow us to hope that there is a way of salvation for children who have died without Baptism. All the more urgent is the Church's call not to prevent little children coming to Christ through the gift of holy Baptism.
Updates
I added a blurb with an email policy (Welborn protocol.) We're so gratified that people have taken the time to write in -- thank you so much!
Also added permalinks to blogs After abortion and The SICLE cell. They're in their own little section above the St Blog's links.
Ashli's story infuriates me. There is so much that is unknown about women's reproductive health, yet when self-styled women's advocacy groups talk about "women's health," all they're talking about is contraception and abortion.
I have polycystic ovary syndrome and consulted three or four doctors before I finally got a diagnosis (not counting my husband's correct diagnosis -- which he made by comparing my symptoms to the ones listed in a newspaper article.) Last year I consulted a "conventional" reproductive endocrinologist about treatment. He offered a great deal of eye-rolling when I proffered my NaPro charts, and went on to discuss the various Pill options (yuk), Clomid (morally acceptable, but it makes me queasy), and IVF (double yuk). Some choice! He then went on to tell me that there wasn't anything he could do for me while I was breastfeeding, so I should come back after Hambet weaned.
A Snowy Saturday
We have about three or four inches of snow, and the weather frogs are predicting more for tomorrow. We've spent the day puttering around the house. My husband has the driveway nice and clean (the sidewalks too -- thank you sweetheart); I finally finished filing the backlog of filing on top of the file cabinet. Next time I'm tempted to plop a paper on top of the cabinet "for later", I will have to remember what an odious chore it is to file through a six-inch-high stack of paper.
We are invited to a birthday party this evening. I checked in with the hosts earlier today, and they said it was on, but it's snowing again so I'm not sure what we're going to do. The party is for a lady we know from our previous parish -- she is turning 80 -- and I suspect she would be tickled if Hambet attended. She has informed me on several occasions that I need to get out more -- and of course, leave Hambet with her!
I don't get it.
Take the test, by Emily.
I have never seen Veggie Tales! but I suppose that won't last too much longer.
Tough Aspects of Our Faith
I was reading This is The Faith by Canon Francis Ripley. On page 82, in regard to the Fifth Commandment, it says:
Abortion,which is willful murder committed before a child's birth. Often disguised as "termination of pregnancy,"it deprives a child of heaven forever.(emphasis added) It is punished by the Church by excommunication.
Before I go on, let me add this disclosure, the purpose of this little blog isn't to dispute whether or not unbaptised babies do or don't get to heaven(EENS). Just to say I read this and thought "whoa".
When I read this to my husband and later to my brother, they were both aghast. "I do not think God would deny little babies heaven when it is not their fault..." I am wondering if it may be dangerous to say otherwise. I mean we cannot begin to understand how far reaching the consequences of abortion is (or any sin for that matter). I think the point is it is prudent to weigh all the consequences of one's actions before they take place, and to teach that this could be a very real consequence-not just the obvious consequence of death.
Well, my husband worked today, but came home at supper time which is unusual-we are blessed. He came home armed with Spongebob Valentine chocolate bars for the kids, a card, a bottle of chardonnay and J.R.R Tolkein's The Book of Lost Tales 1 as a surprise.
I made marinated grilled salmon, baked potatoes and brussel sprouts (and chardonnay). I also made the easiet, yummiest chocolate pie.
On Saturday mornings, I make waffles, Peony. I thought it was funny that you made them for your pseudo-Saturday.
Now, I am going to go watch some rented movie.
Thank you Alison for the recipe!
Hot Fudge Pie Melt one stick of butter in a pan. Remove from heat. Add a beaten egg and one cup of sugar. Then add 1/4 cup of flour and 1/4 cup of cocoa. Then add 1 teaspoon of vanilla. I buy the Pillsbury pie crust (from the refrigerator section)that you fold out. When you put it in the pan, take a fork and punch holes about two inches apart. Pour in the mixture and bake at 350 degrees for one half hour. The pie is good hot or cold. It is great with either whipped cream or icecream. It takes only about 5 minutes to make if you by the pre-made pie crust.
My husband stayed home today (previously planned, just for a break) so we had a nice family day together. Slept late; made waffles for breakfast. First time I've ever made them, so I was pleased when they came out edible. Hambet seemed to like them, even though he called them "awfuls."
Took Hambet to his "tiny tots" class; tears through the first half of the Hello Song, and clinging through the second song, but afterwards cheerful participation. He seems to be growing to like the class. Lunch, and then a trip to the grocery store, where the sample lady was cheerfully offering bites of chocolate cake while the pre-snow panic swirled around her. Back home. Puttered around the house. A nice dinner (steak, twice-baked potatoes, sorbet for dessert.)
Hambet came out with a couple of sentences today, his longest ones yet. When he woke up this morning, I had already gone downstairs, so he asked his daddy, "Show me Mommy?" Later, he told us, "I want draw picture." "I want juice." At dinner, when daddy asked him what he did in class, Hambet was able to tell him, "Kids! Trudi [the teacher]. Songs." This is the first time he's had an answer to "tell daddy about class" (or about whatever we did that day.)
Hambet's first word was exactly one year ago today: "Daddy."
Brutal.
This vocabulary test made my brain hurt. Ouch.
Link thanks to Pdawwg, who did not post her score. (Mine was 177.)
Reality Checks
Thank you for the reality check on weapons of mass destruction (thank you Woodeene). The stuff in the media has been scaring the heck out of me.
Also, thank you for the Intervention/reality check on Blogger Addiction Disorder. I am so ashamed, but at least there is help out there! Maybe I should call 1-800-GET-A...
A must-read:
A reality check on surviving Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological attacks posted by Woodene Koenig-Bricker at HMS Blog.
Tried again to buy bottled water today; out of luck. We are expecting a winter storm tonight, too, so that just added to the mayhem at the grocery store.
The Curt Jester warns us about Blogger Addiction Disorder
Of course, I only post this as a public service, not because I am afflicted with this disorder. I can stop any time I want to.
Got this from Mothering With Grace.
It's 80's TV Trivia Questions for fun. I failed miserably except for the Transformers questions-er, that one.
A friend of mine sent this story about St. Valentine, which I was soooo grateful because Rosey Posey was driving me crazy looking for the "true Valentine's Day story" and "what does a martyr have to do with hearts anyway?"
The story of Valentine's Day begins in the third century with an oppressive Roman emperor and a humble Christian martyr. The emperor was Claudius II Gothicus. The Christian was Valentinus.Claudius had ordered all Romans to worship state religion's idols, and he had made it a crime punishable by death to associate with Christians. But Valentinus was dedicated to the ideals of Christ, and not even the threat of death could keep him from practicing his beliefs.
During the last weeks of Valentinus's life a remarkable thing happened. One day a jailer for the Emperor of Rome knocked at Valentinus's door clutching his blind daughter in his arms. He had learned of Valentinus's medical and spiritual healing abilities, and appealed to Valentinus to treat his daughter's blindness. She had been blind since birth. Valentinus knew that her condition would be difficult to treat but he gave the man his word he would do his best. The little girl was examined, given an ointment for her eyes and a series of re-visits were scheduled.
Seeing that he was a man of learning, the jailer asked whether his daughter, Julia, might also be brought to Valentinus for lessons.
Julia was a pretty young girl with a quick mind. Valentinus read stories of Rome's history to her. He described the world of nature to her. He taught her arithmetic and told her about God. She saw the world through his eyes, trusted in his wisdom, and found comfort in his quiet strength."Valentinus, does God really hear our prayers?" Julia said one day. "Yes, my child, He hears each one, "he replied. "Do you know what I pray for every morning and every night? I pray that I might see. I want so much to see everything you've told me about!"
"God does what is best for us if we will believe in Him," Valentinus said.
"Oh, Valentinus, I do believe," Julia said intensely. "I do." She knelt and grasped his hand. They sat quietly together, each praying. Several weeks passed and the girl's sight was not restored. Yet the man and his daughter never wavered in their faith and returned each week.Then one day, Valentinus received a visit from Roman soldiers who arrested him, destroyed his medicines and advised him against his religious beliefs. When the little girl's father learned of his arrest and imprisonment, he wanted to intervene but there was nothing he could do.
On the eve of his death, Valentinus wrote a last note to Julia - knowing his execution was imminent. Valentinus asked the jailer for a paper, pen and ink. He quickly jotted a farewell note and handed it to the jailer to give to his blind daughter. He urged her to stay close to God, and he signed it
From Your Valentine.
His sentence was carried out the next day, February 14, 270 A.D., near a gate that was later named Porta Valentini in his memory.When the jailer went home, he was greeted by his little girl. The little girl opened the note and discovered a yellow crocus inside. The message said,
From your Valentine.
As the little girl looked down upon the crocus that spilled into her palm she saw brilliant colors for the first time in her life! The girl's eyesight was restored!
A miracle!He was buried at what is now the Church of Praxedes in Rome. It is said that Julia herself planted a pink-blossomed almond tree near his grave. Today, the almond tree remains a symbol of abiding love and friendship. In 496 Pope Gelasius named February 14 as
Saint Valentine's Day.
On each Valentine's Day, messages of affection, love and devotion are still exchanged around the world.
wow, Paisleys in the news...
Thank you Michelle
from And Then... for the
story about the town of Paisley, Scotland taking a Japanese company to court over the patent of the Paisley design.
The story itself left me with an "Oh, OK" feeling; I thought it was personally interesting. Why? Because my mother's maiden name is Paisley and her father's family hails from Paisley, Scotland (they went to Ulster County, N.Ireland, and then on to Jamaica...).
chuckle
My children are watching Star Wars Episode II:Attack of the Clones right now. When Anakin walks in they started saying "Oh no, here comes Darth Cry-A-Lot".
Ah, music of the 70's
Davey's Mommy and Kathy the Carmelite have blogged their top ten favourite 70's songs. I know everyone is just dying to see my list (hear crickets chirping in the background) so here it goes.
*"No Woman Don't Cry" Bob Marley and the WailersHousewife stuff: Peony's turn
Got the car seat cleaned, reassembled, and reinstalled, but that was the only thing I got done before we left this morning. I still forget sometimes to tack on an extra 20 minutes to capture Hambet, change his diaper, make sure the diaper bag is stocked, capture Hambet again, etc.... Happily, traffic was light and we were on time to our friend's house at ten.
By happy coincidence, a local car dealer's car seat check was today (you just drive up and get your seat checked. Convenient, and free. He's got my business for life!) So we drove over and let the technicians reinstall the car seat. I didn't feel so bad about my poor job when I saw these two big guys struggling to install the stupid thing (one of them was practically sitting in it.)
Back home. Read the mail. Made some mac and cheese for lunch. Sorted the laundry and started a load. Pending: loading and running the dishwasher, and making supper. Still want to make cookies some time this week.
I still have some outstanding items on my grocery list, but I think I'll go to the store tomorrow. I went last night, leaving Hambet home to play with Daddy. Apples -- check. Evaporated milk -- check. Raspberry-flavored coffee (quick, write it on the list so I can check it off.) Yogurt -- check. Bottled water...bottled water... uh-oh. Nothing on the shelf except for a few bottles of San Pellegrino.
That was so depressing I forgot about the vinegar and checked out. As soon as I stepped in the door, I heard Hambet's voice singing "Mommeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" He had been playing happily with Daddy, but he still flung himself at me as if I'd been gone for thirty-two days instead of thirty-two minutes.
Like Pansy, I don't understand people who despise motherhood and its little pleasures.
Housewife Stuff
I rejoined FLYlady. I was on the FLYlady list three years ago (I counted) before it had it's own website and was so large. It seems more organised now than it was then. The emails are shorter and to the point. Back then I remember the owner had emails of testimonials and stories about what she did with her day-basically like and email blog.While I think the owner is fantastic for what she does, I really could care less about her thoughts on life in other aspects. I was quite happy with the system then, but after I had my routines down pat, the reminders became unnecessary,and the email became redundant. I unsubbed because I felt I did not need an inbox full of emails to read keeping me from my daily duties. Since I had Gorbulas, my old routines I have found are no longer adequate because of the extra person and especially because of the extra attention my second youngest toddler seemed to need. So here I am back to being a "FLYbaby". I do wholeheartedly recommend the system.
In other news, I have a cute story. Rosey Posey was doing an assignment about the 1st Amendment of the Constitution and how it pertained to newspapers, Posco was doing his math work Fastolph was listening to Pure Disco 2 or Radio Disney on the headphones and Gorbulas was in baby heaven knocking board books off the shelf, and looking at them. I took the opportunity to go make the boy's beds. After a few minutes, Gorbulas realised I was out of eyeshot and began to get hysterical. I heard him crawling down the hallway looking for me, all panicked. I ran out of the boys bedroom scooped him up, Poor Baby. Instantly he threw his chubby little arms around me and quieted down.
I know you should not have children for some pathetic sense of self aggrandizement, but to have someone feel about you like that sure is an ego booster. I often think I am so blessed to have someone who feels that way about me. I do not understand this part of the birth control/abortion movement-how is it people don't always want babies around?
I suppose I am not sounding very down to earth. To even out the "oh, life is so wonderful being a mother"ness of this blog, while I was nursing Gorbulas to sleep, Fastolph treated himself to a hunk of chocolate cake and left a trail of chocolate cake crumbs leading to the living room-I guess in case he needed to find his way home...
a busy morning
This morning I need to be out of the house by 9:30. Before we leave I need to (in no particular order) reassemble and install Hambet's car seat, assemble and dress Hambet, have some breakfast myself. I would also like to assemble three Valentines for mailing (they are already late) and read for fifteen minutes. Can I do this? Probably not and blog too.
As I was thinking about my to-do list this morning in the shower I asked Hambet's guardian angel to help him sleep very, very late. I opened the door of the bath to find a sleepy headed toddler standing in front of me, rapidly waking up and ready for breakfast.
Oh well.
I am making eggplant parmagiana for dinner tonight (Wednesday-no meat). I make it by baking the eggplant after I bread it with eggs and bread crumbs. My grandmother makes it really yummy by breading it first, then dipping it in the egg and frying it with lots of olive oil. I am not an accomplished cook when it comes to frying.
I think I will send my dh tonight to buy the bread from Prinzo's-the around the corner Italian bread bakery-because I do not feel like making it tonight.
I find Italian so easy to make. Once about every two months, I make a large pot of gravy, a regional Italian-American word for tomato sauce, and can it in about 8 pint sized Ball jars and store them in the cupboard. I always have gravy around this way.
Maybe I will send hubby for some wine too...
A quibble -- the assumption underlying "urban voice". What about all the black people who make their homes in the burbs and in rural areas?
Groan
Pro-Life Groups Object to Sharpton Speech at Catholic Church
Initially, Pfleger's introduction of Sharpton centered on the protestors outside."Let me say first to all those protesting outside," said Pfleger, "Welcome. I'd love to have them come in and hear Rev. Sharpton." With parishoners applauding, Pfleger then asked ushers to go outside and invite the protestors in. None accepted the invitation.
Pfleger also referred to "hundreds" of e-mails and calls he received "of hate and threats" but said he loved those people anyway, adding that those who sent the messages "are going to have to answer for that some day.
"I also know that if Martin Luther King was alive today and going to speak," said Pfleger, "they would oppose him, too." Pro-life groups disagreed, citing MLK's pro-life views on abortion.
Of course, people protesting Al Sharpton speaking at a Catholic Church is really because they are anti-black, not pro-life. He sees right through us (I wasn't there to protest, but I did protest by sending an email to the diocese and whined a lot via this blog) we are not outraged by the slaughter of innocent babies, we are all white racists (even those of us who are black).
Even the comment about MLK, can we please have some perspective here? Now poor MLK, is not alive now to defend himself, and I do not want to overshadow his positive views on integration, but he would not have been appropriate to homilise at a Catholic Church either-he was a Protestant minister, an adulterer and he spoke at Margaret Sanger's funeral. If his life continued the same trend, I may have written a letter to the diocese about allowing MLK to homilise at a Catholic Church also-who knows?
According to the article, the planned network is going to be called, "MBC News: The Urban Voice."
(A quibble -- the assumption underlying "urban voice". What about all the black people who make their homes in the burbs and in rural areas?)
New link:
Added a link to the article Human Devlopment and Morality, by Pansy's dad, Deacon Gerald DeMauro. It's also permalinked there on the left.
Star Wars/Buffy Connection
Number 1:Slither Act
Episode: 6.21
Air Date: May 21, 2001
Title: "Two To Go"
Screenplay: Douglas Petrie
In the Magic Box, Xander tries to calm Andrew and Jonathan, who rightfully fear the wrath of Willow (Alyson Hannigan) after the death of her girlfriend (Pansy's "eww" factor is high). Andrew is unimpressed with the offer of help.
Andrew: "And we've got maybe seconds before Darth Rosenberg grinds everybody into Jawa burgers, and not one of your bunch has the midi-chlorians to stop her!"
hee hee
More on parenting and the capacity to respond to God
One of Mark Shea's commenters suggested this article, The Psychology of Atheism.
Ack! The only people I know who eat Kashi are my parents who are skinny people and do not eat any real food. I mean I have seen people put it in their carts, but never met someone who says "hey, I eat Kashi" until now. My parents are different-they don't eat.
I usually eat 2 tablespoons of granola on top of 1 cup of Stonyfield
Banilla. But lately I haven't been up to eating in the morning-too much of a sleepy mommy, so I have been "settling" for a slice of homeade panettone and a cup of coffee.
I do wear Birks, btw. They are my sensible shoes, when I am being Sensible Pansy.
Peony's granolacon credentials
At present I do not own a pair of Birkenstocks; when I'm carting around a little person I am afraid of tripping on the sandals or having the clogs fall off. When I was doing direct patient care in the hospital (I am a nurse) I wore white Birk clogs. The last pair did not fit well, so that put me off them for a while. Right now I wear cheap shoes from Target. My next pair of shoes may be Birks or an equivalent.
For breakfast I usually eat Kashi Good Friends cereal, which makes granola look like Cookie Crisps, or store-brand Cheerios.
Let's pray for Martha Stewart too, while we're at it.
After I wrote the last piece I poked around in Rod Dreher's archives and found a nice one on poor Martha. In my list of "Five Guilty Pleasures" I did not include "leafing through the latest issue of Martha Stewart Living" because I don't feel guilty about it.
I also liked his article on Granola Conservatism, by the way.
Pray for Ted Turner
Sometimes after dinner, as I enjoy a glass of wine with my husband, taking in the evening news as our little son attempts to scale the television set and adjust the antenna plays at our feet, I see a news item that prompts me to speculate how I would address a problem or deal with a nettlesome celebrity, were I running the proverbial joint. (This usually involves me being a dictator of some kind and handing down a sentence of time in the stocks, public flogging, deportation, etc..) And a sure way to get me thinking along these lines is a news story on the lastest theological reflections of Mr. Ted "Christianity is a religion for losers" Turner.
But I was very moved by Rod Dreher's column this morning on Ted Turner and faith. (Thanks to Father Tucker for the link.) Although the column mostly dwells on the young Turner's loss of faith as stemming from despair over his sister's fatal illness, Dreher also notes Turner's father's "emotional abuse."
That reference to abuse really caught my attention. I almost become frightened when I reflect on how strongly our relationships with our parents can affect our ability to have a relationship with God. It's not just parents modelling good habits of virtue and piety, though of course that's important. It's the basic psychic groundwork of little children knowing they can really count on their parents -- associating the words "mother" and especially "father" with warmth and love instead of ambivalence or even fear. Saint Therese of Liseux had a terrific relationship with her parents, and I wonder if that didn't give her the ability to express so beautifully the idea of spiritual childhood and trust in God the Father. So many little children grow up begging for bread and getting rocks instead (maybe expensive stones , but still just stones) -- are they going to even know that bread is out there, and that they're not fools for wanting it? Will they trust the One who offers it?
As far as "how can a good God permit suffering and evil", that is a serious question that I freely admit I can't answer. But it's also one that, when I was younger and flirting with atheism, I never really asked. I had the impression that if God existed, He certainly didn't owe me anything.
Rod Dreher closes his article with a saying I want to tape to the fridge, a saying attributed to the Jewish philosopher Philo of Alexandria:
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle."
am I allowed to make a prayer request?
Gorbulas (1 year old) was diagnosed with asthma January 2. He had a nasty asthma attack and had to be hospitalised. He never showed any previous signs of asthma, but it should not be surprising because Posco had asthma, and outgrew it and Fastolph still has asthma, but not constatntly. The problem with Gorbulas is it will not go away, he wheezes constantly. Yesterday he was wheezing so much he needed the nebuliser every two hours just about. I gave it to him at 5 this morning, and just finished giving it to him now.
I have read all the conventional info on asthma, and am doing what I can. Someone recommended
Is This Your Child? by Doris Rapp which I plan on reading. In the meantime, a prayer would really help.
De festae amoris et dieibus poenitentiae
well, not really. This is kind of a quibble post that I could turn into an eloquent meditation on being a Christian living in the world, obeying the laws of the Church without being priggish, noting how our earthly pilgrimage is both feasting and fasting, etc, but my toddler is swarming all over my lap. And he's got a pencil.
My entire childhood catechesis can be summed up in two phrases: "The Church is a family!" and "The seven sacraments are Baptism, Reconciliation.... etc." So it wasn't until in the last couple of years that I learned that we are still supposed to be abstaining from meat on Fridays -- and even then I don't know what the letter of the law is. (Is it a recommended option -- "you don't have to abstain, but it's a really good idea?" Is it in canon law? Can we freely substitute a different mortification -- for example, giving up coffee or chocolate?)
And what to do when a day of fast conflicts with a day of feast? Which one trumps? Specifically, Valentine's Day falls on Friday this year. Let's say that nothing says "love" to my Valentine like a nice steak. Should I fix lobster instead? well, lobster isn't exactly penitential....seems like that's adhering to the letter of the law and not to the spirit. Should good little Catholic boys and girls sit out the school Valentine's Day party this year?
The general principle, of course, is that the Church calendar comes first -- for example, when planning New Year's Day celebrations, Mass is the first consideration.
What this all boils down to, of course, is that I want to licitly cook a Valentine-pleasing meal on Friday without "cheating." I do want it both ways! Is cooking "fancy" fish an authentically Catholic way of rendering to Our Lord what is due Our Lord, and to Cupid what is Cupid's? (Kind of like the Italian tradition of the Christmas Eve fish extravaganza?)
P.S. Yes, yes, yes, 99.99% of the celebration of Valentine's Day is secular and has nothing to do with the holy bishop and martyr. But we don't have to reject secular fun merely for being secular. Reject it for being immoral or whatever, but not merely for being secular.
Today was a slow moving day. No matter what though, I always feel successful after we say our evening family rosary. One of our many intentions is world peace, I hope our prayers have an effect on the current situation.
My daughter is looking through my make-up case dying to put all my make-up on.
Posco (again, my 7 year old, not Peony's Posco) is preparing to make his First Holy Communion. I am so very, very proud. He has the cutest little CCD teacher that he really adores, and the feeling seems mutual. She tells me each Sunday "he is a bright young man..." She sends home little lessons-here's this Sunday's example:
1.Say the 7 Sacraments in order
2.Know which 2 you can't receive both of (answer-Holy Orders-Matrimony)
3.Think about receiving Communion. We do not chew the Host. Just loosen with your tongue if necessary.
4.After Communion drink water first before eating in case a portion of the Host may be remaining in your mouth. This is a respectful custom.
5.Next week, we will be learning more about Confession.
I just love reading his weekly lessons because his teacher is very thorough. I remember how excited I was to be preparing for my FHC at this age. We are also excited because after his FHC, he is going to become an Altar Boy. This Mommy stuff seriously rocks sometimes-sleepiness and all.
I'd like to give a shout out to Fructus Ventris for the link to the article on increasing the number of blacks homeschooling. I wonder why when blacks decide to take a more conservative route instead of the way to self destruction (i.e.choosing substandard public schools), it is "whoa, there's is a surprise!" I remember "mentoring" elementary school children while I was in college in "urban" (predominately black) neighborhoods. It was a fifth grade class (in NJ) and the children did not know how to construct complete sentences or even how to read. That is some scary stuff. Where is a person going to go without the ability to read? What does that say about the future generation of adults? The kicker is they did not know how to read, but they did know A.) the facts of the birds and the bees and B.) they knew to be black and proud. Is the problem that reading is secondary to other subjects?
Which brings me to another point. During last week's whole Al Sharpton fiasco, I noted that on Saint Sabina's website, there was a page for their parish school (emphases added):
St. Sabina Academy is a grade school serving students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. The faculty and administration believe that God has a purpose for every child's life. By incorporating the gospel of Jesus Christ and African values, the faculty is committed to teaching and guiding children as they discover their place in the body of Christ. Through collective work and responsibility, the faculty and administration strive to provide a safe, stable, secure and nurturing environment in which children can achieve academic excellence.
St. Sabina Academy is committed to:
• Welcoming children of all faiths.
• Teaching our students about the Catholic faith as they participate in religion classes, services and activities.
• Responding to the needs of others by the words we proclaim and by the daily actions of the clergy, school board, administration, faculty, staff and students.
• Using our God-given talents for the benefit of the all-embracing community of God• Organizing instruction to assure that students are continuously made aware of their African-American heritage.
• Preparing students to be positive, productive, independent thinking members in a global, diverse and technological society.
• Teaching our students to apply Christian values in the resolution of conflicts to create peace in our school and communities.
When my husband were looking into school options for our daughter before she was in Kindergarten, the first decision we made was that public school was not an option. (I described a bit about what public school was like for me before.) My husband also did not want her subjected to immoral peer pressure. Next options were the local Catholic school and an Afrikan (with a 'k') children's school which bragged academic excellence. My husband had been to the Catholic schools, and the moral climate was no better and as we were reverting back to our faith-were basically faith-less. The Afrikan with a 'k' school was just racist, period.
People want better for their children, black people white people, and families that fall in between. As long as education choices continue to be ,well, limited, and parents continue to desire excellence for their children, homeschooling will grow beyond a great deal of boundaries.
In quizzibus veritas
I see that Kathy the Carmelite is both "a Grasshopper cocktail" and "heroic couplets." Obviously a woman of taste and erudition.
And yes, I know that quizzibus is not even pig Latin, but I don't have my Latin dictionary handy. I read once that there is a Latinist at the Vatican whose job is to define how newly coined words (computer, fax machine, blog) shall be rendered in Latin. I would love to be on his mailing list.
Peony, OK, I am happy then (see Pansy smiling). But you didn't say anything about being Russian...j/k, j/k, nothing against being Russian at all.
Turning 30
This past Feast of St. Nicholas I had the priviledge of turning 30 for the first and last time of my life. I am kind of wigged because I feel so old. I do not feel old chronologically, on the contrary I still feel quite young. But that is what bugs me. I mean I feel like I am too old to enjoy some of the things I do like my little sci fi and pop culture perks-I am way to old to get things like Scooby Doo checks even though this is what my heart desires. Not to worry people, blue safety all the way. Another example: about a year and a half ago, I said to my oldest teenage brother something was "off the hook" and he stopped and said I was too old to say that. Yikes! I took it with a grain of salt because he is a nerd anyway.
This is all so weird because my husband and I got married nearly a decade ago and have been parents since. I have spent my entire 20's wondering when I am going to officially feel "grown up" even though I was married with adult repsonsibilities.
To be honest, something magical did happen when I hit the big three-O. In my twenties, people always felt the need to offer some type of criticism for the choices I made (they still do and always will-human nature). I took these observations very personally and second guessed everything I did. Now I am quite content to say, "nope, I don't agree"-well, maybe not to their faces, but in my head. I guess being able to say that to their faces will happen when I turn 40?
I love the Shrine. When I was working nearby, it was practically my home away from home. I am trying to figure out where in the Crypt this oratory is going to go. To me, it looks like it's full, but they keep on producing new little nooks and crannies for new oratories, chapels, and mosaics. I wonder what this is going to look like when it's all done? I have to admit, the image shown in the link doesn't do much for me. Is it just me, or does it look a little dated? Some of the new oratories and mosaics at the Shrine are lovely, but some of the other new installations are really weird looking not really to my taste.
Queen of Peace, Our Lady of Ephesus, pray for us!
We had a friend over for dinner last night and we all had a good time. I was so grateful that he was understanding of my being a sleepy mommy hostess and Hambet's being a fussy, busy toddler.
Dinner turned out well. We had spaghetti carbonara, salad, and a nice Chardonnay (Columbia Crest 2000.) (pause to let serious wine drinkers stop guffawing) Mango sorbet for dessert.
I have been making spaghetti carbonara since around 1989; it's been a big favorite all through college (Episodes I and II) and the years after. My company always seems to like it. I tried a new recipe for it last night and I was very pleased -- even though I didn't follow it down to the last detail (Last night I finished the spaghetti too quickly and it was just sitting there waiting for the other things to get done. Then I just drained the bacon and scattered it over the spaghetti. Note to self: next time, cook the bacon first, use less oil, and pour the mixture over the pasta like the recipe calls for.)
Peony,
You said: "I am always out of the loop, the last tendril on the grapevine. And my posts seem to reflect that." I can very much relate. You are not alone.
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I'm a what (never really been into poetry)? First I'm Russian, now I'm a terza rima. BTW, my number two is a sonnet.
Back to the routine: Monday musings
A grey Monday morning. Snow falling outside. The "drip drip drip" of our leaky shower can be heard through most of the house, like some kind of Poe story involving a plumber.
Little Hambet has had no more problems since last Saturday night, so I am hoping, hoping, hoping that the worst of the tummy bug predicted by the pediatrician has passed us by.
Anytime I take one of those personality tests (the serious ones, not the ones involving movies or cocktails) I always get to that question about introversion -- the one that runs something like "Are you always the first one in your circle to hear news, or are you the last one to find out about something?" -- and I laugh and mark "STRONGLY AGREE" to "last to hear about anything." I am always out of the loop, the last tendril on the grapevine. And my posts seem to reflect that.
Hurray!
A Saintly Salmagundi is back!
More quiz results:
I took the "which poetry form are you" quiz (thanks to Victor for the link)
My number one result was the sonnet:
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I was also pleased to see that my number two result was the heroic couplet:
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I am tickled by these results because back when I was a high school senior dreaming of literary glory, I always tried to write sonnets but never quite made it. I did do a bit better with heroic couplets.
Can I just offer Mondays up as Penance? I mean all Mondays past, present and future? I betcha that will cut down on some serious Purgatory time. I betcha they don't even have Mondays in heaven-skips straight to Tuesday nights. Yeah, yeah, I'm kidding, I know there is no "time" in heaven. Thank goodness.
Back to the weekday grind. My Posco (7 year old secind grader) will be the first to get up any minute and he will attempt to talk me out of doing school by first asking "do we do school today?" I get this question every weekday morning. Oh no, someone is knocking on my bedroom door...
toddler update
more sickies last night, but he seems perky again this morning. Tried offering him some medicine, but it comes in a brown bottle like the hated baby vitamins (note to self: find some good tasting ones) so (music cue: "Hoe-Down" from Rodeo) we had a chase scene this morning.
No, No, NO! (See Pansy stomping her foot and turning all red-very mature).
Greg Popcak at HMS could not have said it better ("Chicken George" snicker). In the meantime I am going to return to my very mature foot stomping, breath holding and bubble blowing. I will comment more later.
In case you are wondering what this is all about, btw, Cardinal George of the Archdiocese of Chicago did nothing.
I've been feeling rather funky the past couple of days. Tired, stressed, sleepy. I am probably seriously overdue for confession or sumthin'.
I went to the Health Food store and my dh was eyeing full spectrum bulbs. I have no idea why I didn't just say "Honey, put that in the cart please." February always does this to me.
Also, this whole abortion/Al Sharpton thing really upset me. I am not very thick skinned, and when I am offended by something it sticks for a couple of days.
Well, I forgot to post number 2 yesterday of our Star Wars/Buffy connection from this month's issue of Star Wars Insider Magazine, so here it is:
Number 2: Mint Condition
Episode: 6.9
Air Date: November 20, 2001
Title: "Smashed"
Screenplay: Drew Z. Greenburg
When Spike needs answers about the chip in his head that prevents him from hurting humans, he goes to the nerds for answers. They balk until Spike snatches up a Boba Fett action figure.
Spike: "Examine my chip, or else Mister...[examines label on the base]...Fett here is the first to die."
Andrew: "That's a limited edition 1979 mint-condition Boba Fett!"
Warren: "You don't want to hurt the Fett, 'cause man, you're not coming back from that. You know you don't do tha and walk away."
Five guilty pleasures
5. Maintaining a secret stash of chocolate.
4. Catalogs for luxury goods you'll never buy
3. '80's music
2. The Fox Sunday night lineup is one of my guilty pleasures, too
1. Blogging
a nod to Oblique House
Hoist the yellow flag
...of quarantine, that is. Poor little Hambet is poorly this morning. I called the pediatrician and she suspects a stomach flu that's going around. If she is right, the next few days sound like they're going to be really unhappy. I have a good stock laid in of diapers and zinc oxide; I may need it.
OK Auctionholics
What to get for that person who has everything?
misc
Twiddling with the template. Added Karen Hall's rockin' good blog Disordered Affections to our permalinks. I am eyeing that box on the right, where currently our archives link and Blogger button reside. I would love to move that box to the bottom of the left-hand column and widen the box where the posts go, but since I'm a total novice to HTML, I'm a little nervous about attempting it.
Little Hambet loves to climb. Up to now I was able to use a playpen as an island of safety but today he learned how to vault over the side (it's incredible, he is so flexible he can get his foot up almost to the level of his head.) Today he also dragged the cute little baby sized rocking chair I got at the secondhand store from his room into ours, the better to climb up to our dresser and start examining our things. Great.
This Saint Sabina's blurb sounds weird.
St. Sabina is a Word-based, Bible teaching church that believes in the power of praise and worship. We are a spiritual hospital where all are welcome and invited to “taste and see the goodness of the Lord.” Our purpose is to nurture and develop spiritually mature Christians who are not confined by the walls of the sanctuary, but can penetrate the world in order to present God’s way of living as a divine option.
Doesn't that sound more like one of those mega-churches in the suburbs? If you belong to Life and Light Faith Bible Church, you kind of have to make a little paragraph explaining who you are and what you do (since there are no other Life and Light Faith Bible Churches around.)
I poked around a little more on the website. Plenty of "worship services", but when is Mass? When is Confession? The only place the pastor is referred to as "Father" Pfleger instead of "Pastor" Pfleger is on his biography page. For that matter, I only found the word "Catholic" twice (once on the pastor's bio page and once on the parish history page.
Does this parish really identify with the global Catholic Church, or just with their St Sabina's identity?
Snow day!
I think part of the reason the Washington area falls apart when there's snow is simply because we are grabbing at an excuse to kick off the usual routine. We've had enough snow this winter, though, that people seemed to know what to do with the 6-9 inches we got last night.
But it was enough to close the schools and make everyone late to work. The whole family got to sleep in late, so I am a seriously perkier mommy today. My husband was able to shovel the driveway (and the sidewalks too -- thank you, dear) and is catching Seven Little Monsters with the baby before he heads to work.
Unfortunately, since the schools are closed, so is the tiny tots class Hambet is taking through the county. This would have been his third class. During the first two classes, he cried all the way through the Hello Song, but last week his little tears dried much more quickly, and he was talking about class during the week. So I was hoping he was growing accustomed to it.
The class is a manageable size -- around ten toddlers with their grown-ups -- but even so, ten toddlers make a lot of noise, and after forty-five minutes I think everyone is ready to sing the Good-Bye song before the ten toddlers all disintegrate. If I were a toddler in day care, listening to that constant commotion all day long, I think I would go mad.
Last night, dh and I took Greg Popcak's Exceptional Marriage Quiz. I am not sure how to scale it because I do not know if the 420 score he mentioned was the highest possible, or a high score. If it is the highest, dh and I got a 93.8%. Not bad. I am quite happy because we have come a long, long way.
The quiz is neat though (if not a bit uncomfortable) because right there and then it shows you doable ways you could improve your marriage right away.
There was one question I thought was so telling of marriage break ups of my generation (X). Love is either there or it isn't. Good relationships shouldn't ever feel like work. I know way too many people who cheated or left their spouses because "I just don't feel the same way about him anymore."
I feel sick...
OK, so we all know and are outraged about pro-abortion "Reverand" Al Sharpton being a guest homilist at a Catholic Church in Chicago. I had the stupid idea to look the parish, Saint Sabina's up on the Internet. If anyone was not clear what I meant on my previous post on Black "Catholic" Churches, Saint Sabina's looks like a perfect example.
St. Sabina is a Word-based, Bible teaching church that believes in the power of praise and worship. We are a spiritual hospital where all are welcome and invited to “taste and see the goodness of the Lord.”
Our purpose is to nurture and develop spiritually mature Christians who are not confined by the walls of the sanctuary, but can penetrate the world in order to present God’s way of living as a divine option.
There is also more written on the page about Martin Luther King Day then there is written about Candlemas or any other Catholic Liturgical Feast Day. Now please, can someone explain to me, that why as a Catholic, do people want to attend a Church that takes Church out of Church and replaces it with the wonderful notion that African Americans are nothing more than stereotypical charicatures?
I owe you all an apology, I honestly do not sound off on the race issue as much as I have on this board, but there have been lots of neat articles and incidents as of late.
Poor Peony
I had the flu last week, and the lethargic feeling is still lingering...blah
Star Wars/Buffy con't
Number 3: Death Star Technicians
Episode: 6.5
Air Date: October 23, 2001
Title: "Life Serial"
Screenplay: David Fury & Jane Espensen
In the opening scenes of this episode, the geek troika check out their new high-tech van and find Andrew painting a giant Death Star on the side of what is supposed to be an inconspicuous vehicle. Warren flips yelling, "W-what the hell is that?"
Andrew: "Death Star, dude! Wicked, huh?"
Jonathan: (scornfully) "Uh, thermal exhaust port's above the main port, numb-nuts."
Andrew: "For your information, I'm using the Empire's revised designs from Return of the Jedi."
Jonathan: "That's a flawed design!"
Later in the same episode, as the geeks are spying on Buffy from the shelter of the van, they fight over a pair of binoculars and set off the car horn-programmed with the Star Wars fanfare.
seriously sleepy mommy today
I have some kind of flu-like affliction. I hurt from head to foot, so much I had to use a jar opener to get into the bottled water. And of course, my toddler is feeling just fine and is full of energy.
and they're expecting snow tonight. ugggggggggggggghhhhhhhhh. At least I am well stocked with milk, bread, and TP....
Comfort and joy in the holy city
Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad with her, all you who love her;
rejoice with her, rejoice, all you who mourned for her.
Suck and be filled at the breast of her consolation;
draw on the nipples of her glory, and overflow with delights.
For the Lord says this:
Behold, I will bring her peace as if it were a river;
like an overflowing torrent, the glory of the Gentiles.
You will suck, be borne on her hips,
and they will caress you as you lie in her lap.
As a mother comforts its child, so shall I comfort you:
you will be comforted in Jerusalem.
You will see, and your heart will rejoice,
and your bones will flourish like living grass.
Peony,
I give you a standing ovation on De Bello. I avoid this topic like the plague because I do not feel there is a right answer, at least one in which I have any say except prayer. I do not believe there truly is Just War in an abortive society. On the other hand, I am glad I am not the president and am making these choices, and I think the steps that are being taken are quite logical. Kind of a paradox, eh? What to do, what to do, just pray, pray, pray.
De bello
A friend of mind has a brother-in-law who is stationed in the Middle East. I recently spent a long time on the phone with her as she poured out her fears for his safety -- "He could return home a vegetable, and for what? What do you think of all this, anyway?"
I didn't know what to say. At the time I suggested that she immediately turn off the 24-hour a day news networks that she was listening to, and to carefully consider the motives of any commentator. (It seemed like dumb advice at the time, but she said it helped her....)
But I still don't know what to think. On the one hand, I have found some of the anti-war sentiment illogical and distasteful. "Hell no, we won't go!" (Did we ask you to? Last time we checked, we still had an all-volunteer force.) "No blood for oil! (Even if this were only about oil, would you really be okay with watching our economy go down the tubes if the price of oil were to double or triple? Your organic hummus puffs probably come to the store in a truck, don't they?) "Bush doesn't care about innocent lives!" (Oh, please.)
More serious objections: "We should try sanctions." (We did, and what have they done besides punish innocent Iraqis? and why are we so enamored of sanctions anyway? they've been sooooooo effective in driving out Castro....) "The inspectors need more time." (For what? Iraq is not submitting to the inspections in good faith and has been shown to be in material breach.) "Iraq has not been shown to be tied to Al Quaeda." (So the other terrorists are okey-dokey?) "We need another resolution." (What for?!) It seems to me that if the UN is going to make resolutions they had better be prepared to carry them out, promptly. Otherwise, they are as effective as those model UNs in high school (the ones where your geeky political junkie friends got to dress up and get out of class for a day) or those parents who threaten "NO TV FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE EVER I REALLY MEAN IT THIS TIME SO HELP ME etc"
Ok, so the UN's not going to back up its resolutions. How about we just blow off the existing UN resolutions and rely on containment and good ol' Mutual Assured Deterrence?
Well, we could. But on the other hand.... last night my husband and I were watching Frontline's show on Gulf War One, and we found ourselves stumped trying to decribe Saddam Hussein. He's not crazy, but he seems like he might have a swirl of dangerous romanticism in there ("Technology will never win a war!, etc") He's not stupid, but is he reckless and impulsive? a poor judge of others' resolve? He's not operating from some Grand Obsession like Hitler (unless you count the personal aggrandizement and enrichment of Saddam Hussein as his Grand Obsession). He is an aggressive and unpredictable enemy. Can we count on him to even care if Iraq is threatened with a retaliatory attack? Another consideration -- for many countries, the "mutual" is missing from this equation. Should we just blow them off?
And are we REALLY WILLING to accept that Saddam might strike first? What if the Administration is correct -- that Saddam has a weapon of mass destruction, and that his long-range delivery system is Al Quaeda? What if they get a dirty bomb into the US? Is that an acceptable risk?
I wish I were an Aquinas scholar and that a little of the Angelic Doctor's precision of thought could rub off a little. Meanwhile, I look in my copy of The One-Minute Philosopher and find, on one page,
"Patience: The willingness to wait for what is good...Anything difficult in our lives requires patience...patience also requires courage."
versus, on the facing page,
"Passivity: The unwillingness to act for what is good...passivity is close to despair. Snce I am indifferent about the value of anything, I conclude there is nothing worth doing...passivity lacks hope and may also involve cowardice....Common enterprises will fail if their member are passive."
Buffy/Star Wars con't
Number 4: These Aren't the Nerds You're Looking For
Episode: 6:4
Air Date: October 16, 2001
Title: "Flooded"
Screenplay: Jane Epensen & Douglas Petrie
An angry demon confronts Warren, Jonathan, and Andrew in their basement lair and demands the Slayer's death. At first the boys refuse, but when the demon threatens their lives, Warren says, "Whoa, big guy, let's back thing up a parsec." Even after the trio vote not to give up the Slayer, Warren slips the demon Buffy's address while pretending to give him the bad news. Jonathan and Andrew are impressed.
Jonathan: "How'd you make him do that?"
Andrew: "Yeah, what are you, some kind of Jedi?"
Warren: (shrugs)"The Force can sometimes have power on the weak-minded."
stay tuned...
Andrew and Jonathan nod and go "Hmm" in awe.
Ars gratia artis
My husband just wandered up to the kitchen and told me about tonight's Law and Order episode: "A vigilante priest kills a notorious drug dealer in the name of God."
He observed that usually they take their stories from the news, but this was the first time he could remember that they had turned for inspiration to King of the Hill.
Racism breeds denial breeds racism
An interesting article on Catholic Exchange on Why Jews and Blacks vote Democrat. I am glad the author, Dennis Prager, has an answer for the question because I can't figure out how two groups of people who carry not so distant memories of the Holocaust and slavery would vote pro-choice for the life of me.
I think this point is very interesting (emphases added):
The black memory in question is of white racism. It seems obvious that many African-Americans carry a residual anger against whites and against America as a result of centuries of slavery and racism. They therefore vote for the party most associated with policies (such as affirmative action) ostensibly designed to fight racism (meaning, always, white racism), and which frequently condemns alleged ongoing white racism. And blacks vote against the party they perceive as denying that America continues to be racist, the party that opposes race-based policies, and the party that celebrates America as if it isn't a racist country.
The problem with these memories is not that they are inaccurate; it is that they are no longer accurate. And they therefore paralyze the two groups who hold onto these memories — Jews and blacks.
Now, in all fairness this article is only part one, part two due next Wednesday (pooh). I am curious as to what he means by "no longer accurate.”
The problem with the liberal agenda regarding racism is that it takes the attention away from true acts of racism and to be honest, creates them. A white person who never gave a hoot as to who is what ethnicity I am, sure must get really upset at the notion that all whites hate blacks, and therefore we must put safeguards in place in our school systems, jobs etc. to insure blacks aren't victimised by acts of racism. I would. Now you have a bigger rift between blacks and whites. The flip side of that is racism does exist in this country. I have had swastikas drawn on my front door, people do look at us and grab their children or their purse when we walk by, we have been refused seating at a restaurant, refused rental to an apartment after we were promised over the phone, I have been told when I asked a sales person for help "well, that is expensive..." So I am looking forward to seeing what Mr. Prager means by "no longer accurate.”
Grrrr
OK, I am getting really annoyed lately. My organisational skills are really, really bad as of late, and my place is a mess! I am seriously stressed over it. It is not that I do not see what needs to be done (well at least some of it), I cannot get to it. The only reason I am online now is I am giving Gorbulas his nebuliser. We have nifty little labled drawers to store all of our little toy animals and action figures, but no matter how much screaming, yelling, begging, bribing, asking nicely I do, they never end up back in their place. Sigh.
I think we are going to invest in one of these homeschooling organiser-storage units and if I can find one much cheaper somewhere than seventy bucks, a wooden puzzle storage rack. The chief offenders are puzzle pieces and cards. I hate cards. They are great for lessons, but they cannot stay together-flash cards, English From the Roots Up cards, Friendly Defender cards. There is always a stray card somewhere-aaaahhhh!
We have this little alcove off of our living room where we keep stacks of drawers for their toys. My dh wants to move that to our enclosed back porch so it would be like "who cares of they make a mess, no one sees it" and set up like a little kid-friendly computer room there. Right now it is my dh's "room". The place where he stores all his collectables, action figures, imported from Japan Dragonball z collection. I should take a picture of this room, it is funny.
Pretty cool microscopic images.
I was bored, so I put my father's name in the search engine. He said there is a great deal of bad press with him on the Internet. There is. This came up though from the Catholic League's website:
REGENTS REVISIONS
High school students in New York State have long taken Regents exams; they are standardized aptitude tests that are given in all the traditional subjects. Exam questions from previous years usually appear in the test-preparatory volumes used by Barron’s books. When going over the 1998 Regents exam in Global Studies, Father Fred Marano of Cathedral Preparatory Seminary in Queens was troubled. There was a question he objected to and asked the Catholic League to take a look at it. We were troubled, too.
Students were asked, "Which statement best illustrates the contradictory actions of the Catholic Church in colonial Latin America?" They were then given four choices, all of which were negatively framed to make the Church look bad.
William Donohue wrote to Dr. Gerald DeMauro, Coordinator of Assessment in the New York State Education Department, explaining his concerns. "The question that was posed," he said, "is problematic for two reasons: a) the ‘right’ answer is historically debatable and b) the tenor of the question is itself contentious."
The "right" answer to the question—which dealt with the Catholicism and slavery—was contested by Donohue. He also said that "It is distressing to learn that a question that is so front-loaded with a political agenda was accepted for inclusion in a Regents exam." In the early 1990s, Donohue devised exam questions for the Foreign Service Exam, and so he knows how the process of question adoption is done.
Dr. DeMauro’s response was quick and positive. He called Donohue to say that he completely agrees with his complaint and the question will not reappear. He further extended to the Catholic League the opportunity to serve as a "sensitivity reviewer" of future exam questions. On June 29, Catholic League staffer Dennis Nilsen went to Albany representing the league.
The outcome was gratifying. But no sooner had Dr. DeMauro contacted us when we heard from Father Philip Eichner, the league’s chairman of the board. He was calling to complain about a question in this year’s English Regents Exam. And then Father Fred called about another question. Looks like they’ll drive us to be the toughest sensitivity police on the beat. So be it.
My father is Dr.DeMauro, BTW.
Looking through my Favourite Places link and I found this link I thought I would share:The Church and Racism
I am not sure why, but racism in today's American Church(or American culture) is addressed in two different campgrounds(if at all). The first one is the politically correct opinion "celebrate diversity, let us have more people or colour" camp, and the camp that racism is the figment of the imagination of those minorities who want nothing more than self pity. I once saw Alice von Hildebrand on Mother Angelica Live say her husband, Deitrich used to say the truth does not lie in the middle of two extremes, but it is something above it. This is quite true in this situation.
When I first reverted back to my faith, I was very heartbroken to see racism still existed in my Church. I knew it was out in the world, workplace, school systems etc., but I had hoped to find respite among my fellow Catholics. I think the first slap in the face to this was when my dh and I browsed at a Catholic supply/ Ethnic Irish goods store and were followed the whole time we were in the store. Here and there we have seen things, like people refusing to shake our hand during the sign of peace and other little things.
I think one of the most flagrant forms of racism though is the Black Catholic Church. Now, not in all dioceses, some do it very well. I attended Xavier University of La, and frankly, as long as we are going to have historically black colleges, I think there should be a Catholic one too. In some dioceses it is a place to find more "afrocentric" Catholic art etc. Here we have a "Church" that is literally called "Black Catholic Apostolate". I feel like the ministry is like the handicap entrance at a store-"you go there!" The emphasis is more on wearing kente cloth and on "culture" then on the sacrifice of the Mass. There is also a Hispanic Catholic parish. People are always trying to convince us that we need to go to one of these two parishes (I am half black, my dh is Puerto Rican). Why is there a need to herd the minorities off to their own little parishes? I don't know, maybe it is one of those things I do not understand about this diocese.
I would like to thank St Anthony, my Guardian Angel, and any other involved intercessors for an enormous favor this afternoon: preserving my purse from disappearing when I stupidly left it behind in a shopping cart in the parking garage of the Big Bullseye Box Store.
I discovered it missing when I pulled into the parking lot of my next errand, so I turned around and went back (muttering pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease under my breath.) Hooray! It was exactly where I left it, untouched.
Woo hoo!
Maybe we should permalink this.
Rubbermaid Sippy Bottles Replacement Straws
Peony, I definately am interested in reading the Patrick O'Brian series. Looks like fun (or at least my idea of fun-a good book).
What you said about "human skills atrophying", I think this is true, not just in regard to some of the leisure skills you mention, but in all walks of life.
I have found the need to teach myself things, in order to be a well rounded housewife and mother skills no one knows how to do such as canning, baking bread, sewing (still learning there).
Things such as "dabbling in poetry", I think were things people did for entertainment prior to television. Can you imagine such a world?Star Wars/Buffy con't
Number 5: You Sir, Are Not Yoda
Episode: 4.1
Air Date: October 5, 1999
Title: "Freshmen"
Screenplay: Joss Whedon
In the season four-opener, Xander tries giving Buffy a Jedi pep talk, but ends up trapped in his own recursive loop. He might have the right idea, but he is not ready to cut his Padawan braid just yet.
Xander:"Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to...No, wait...Fear leads to hate, hate leads to the dark side...Hold on..."
...stay tuned...
The Ballade of Liquid Refreshment (by E.C. Bentley)
Last night we started with some dry vermouth;
Some ancient sherry with a golden glow;
Then many flagons of the soul of fruit
Such as Burgundian vineyards only grow;
A bottle each of port was not de trop;
And then old brandy till the east was pink
- But talking makes me hoarse as any crow,
Excuse me while I go and have a drink.
Some talk of Alexander; some impute
Absorbency to Mirabeau-Tonneau;
Some say that General Grant and King Canute,
Falstaff and Pitt and Edgar Allan Poe,
Prince Charlie, Carteret, Hans Breitmann - so
The list goes on - they say that these could clink
The can, and take their liquor - A propos!
Excuse while I go and have a drink.
Spirit of all that lives, from God to brute,
Spirit of love and life, of sun and snow,
Spirit of leaf and limb, of race and root,
How wonderfully art thou prison'd! Lo!
I quaff the cup, I feel the magic flow,
And Superman succeeds to Missing Link,
(I say, 'I quaff'; but am I quaffing? No!
Excuse while I go and have a drink.)
Envoi
Hullo there, Prince! Is that you down below
Kicking and frying by the brimstone brink?
Well, well! It had to come some time, you know,
Excuse me while I go and have a drink.
More on the Patrick O'Brian books... I think one of the saddest things about our society is how many human skills seem to be atrophying. We see the men and women of the nineteenth century driving horses, playing music, writing letters, putting on impromptu plays and dabbling in poetry, keeping journals about the wildlife in their back yards.... now, yes, yes, I know, it was the leisure class that was doing all this, not the poor people toiling in the factories. But we have so much leisure now, and what do we have to show for it?
...a grand work of literary companionship, a savvy guide that nudged me to look in all sorts of unlikely directions. Over and over, the novels seemed to chide me gently for my timidity, my lack of civility and my inability to sometimes look more closely at the meaning of things....
A nice essay on the Aubrey/ Maturin novels in Sunday's WaPo. I am about a third of the way through the series myself (most recently: The Ionian Mission; favorite: The Mauritius Command.) There's something very consoling about these books. Perhaps it's being in the company of characters who are so human: who love, who hate, who have interests and skills and little fads, virtues and vices; whose intellect, strength, and courage were daily put to the test.
Sometimes I think Patrick O'Brian would have made a great deathbed convert. Perhaps someday we'll be pleasantly surprised.
Tomorrow New Jedi Order Book #15 comes out. I am very psyched.
I spend months waiting for a new book, I read it in two days and wait another 4 months. To be honest, I don't even remember what happened at the end of the last book, just that Jacen Solo returned from the Yuuzhan Vong with Vergere. My memory will be refreshed when I start reading.
Our diocese is planning a series of meetings with reps from each parish to see what will happen in the future of this diocese because of less priests, less Catholics in attendance, empty churches etc.
An excerpt from the article:Changes ahead
One of the "new realities" the chancellor said the regional meetings will address is changing the number of liturgies in parishes. She gave the example of one Albany County parish where just 50 people regularly attend each of two Masses in a church that could seat 350. Parishes, she said, need to develop criteria for the minimum number of attendees that make a second Mass feasible.
I may go as a rep for my parish, I am not sure yet. Two fellow parishioners came up to me yesterday and asked that I represent our parish because I am "articulate". I said "you mean I have a big mouth?" Some of the parishioners are afraid this will give the diocese an excuse to close our Mass. Our Parish is the only
Tridentine parish in this diocese, and the people who attend really enjoy it.
I
can see their worry though because we are clustered into like three parishes, but maybe since we are so consolidated, they will let us be. Here's hoping;)
Feel Good Recipe
3 Cups of baby's giggles 2 1/2 Cups of sunshine 1 Cup of kissies 1 Cup of huggies 1/2 Cup of happiness Put ingredients into a tiny bottle, shake it up, done! For sick days, grouchiness, rainy days and much more!
Speaking of recipes, I attempted to make pizza dough, and the same smooshy thing happened to it again. What's the deal. Oh well, dh and the kids will just have to settle for roast beef with Yorkshire pudding, brown gravy and green beans.
Star Wars/Buffy con't
Number 6:Short People
Episode:5.17
Air Date:April 17, 2001
Title:"Forever"
Screenplay:Marti Nixon
Ben (Charlie Webber) is the human host to Glory (clare Kramer), and evil god bent on regaining her full powers. Since only one of them can be in their body at one time, Glory's short, burnoosed minions act as messengers with a striking similarity to some ubiquitous Tatooine scavengers.
Ben:(exasperated)"Tell my sister I'm sick of running into her Jawa rejects."
Back to the routine
Weekends should be longer. We mostly spent ours celebrating my dear husband's birthday. My husband loves driving around aimlessly in the country, so we did just that. Passed through New Market, Maryland, which bills itself as Maryland's antiques capital. He had a used bookstore in mind, but it was closed, so we just walked around. Browsing around in antiques stores when you're penniless can be fun, but browsing around in antique stores when you're penniless and carting around an inquisitive 23-month-old is penitential. On the way home we stopped by a different used bookstore that we'd never visited before. We'll definitely be back. I had a good take: Green Eggs and Ham, a blue Nancy, Karl Keating's Fundamentalism and Catholicism, and -- the big find -- Illustrissimi by Pope John Paul I.
When I came out with my full bag, my birthday husband asked, "Oh, did you buy me a present?" "Uhhh, sure, dear, of course! Happy Birthday!"
Our parish did the blessing of throats after Mass. Baby Hambet, who is obsessed with candles, was speechless with delight. Our deacon gave the blessing in English and the Sign of the Cross in Latin; thought that was pretty cool.
The birthday cake was a Black Forest cake. This wasn't too difficult to make, but next year -- note to self -- start calling around early to look for Kirsch for the filling. Make the filling a day early so it has time to set. Oh, and cook it longer so it's not runny.
Pansy, apparently you weren't the first to be taken in by that deceitful kangaroo; on Friday I was hearing on the radio that there have been many other complaints from parents suckered in in exactly the same way. Apparently the makers of this digitally animated bait-and-switch scam tweaked and snipped and twiddled until they got that PG rating. The MPAA ratings are such a joke.
Star Wars/Buffy con't
Number 7:Yoda Man
Episode:2.33
Air Date:September 29, 1997
Title:"School Hard"
Screenplay:David Greenwalt (Story by Greenwalt and Joss Whedon)
In the first episode, smooth British vampire, Spike (James Marsters) crashes Buffy's parent-teacher night and confronts Angel (David Boreanaz). Here he seems to know at least a little something about Star Wars, but later we discover that he's not a true fan (see #2).
When we point out this seeming discrepancy, Drew Greenburg responds, "Yoda's the classic icon. And [Spike] is 180 years old. He's got a lot in that little brain of his. He can't have access to everything at every moment. He's going to forget somethings from time to time."
Sounds like he's telling it from a certain point of view..."
Spike(to Angel):"You were my sire man...You were my Yoda!"
stay tuned...
Weekends should be longer. We left here at 11.30 this morning and just got home. We went to my parents to celebrate Gorbulas' b'day(1.29) after Church. We had a blessed candle lighting ceremony and procession. Mass lasted 2 hours and was quite lovely. Fastolph was quite cheeky though...
Yesterday, I made the grave mistake of going to see Kangaroo Jack without looking it up on Decent Films first-big mistake. It was my fault, for some strange reason I thought the movie was about a nifty, funny, computer animated kangaroo. Also, one of my favourite winter weekend recreations is take the kids to a fun kid flick, have lunch before hand. My dh planned the day, so I was kind of psyched. I do not have to go into the movie because decent films review was my exact reaction watching it. I feel like I lost points on my Good-Mommy-O-Meter.I guess the idea of a movie about a neat kangaroo would only appeal to me anyway?
Thank you Davey's Mommy for the link to Stupid Black Parents
I have to say, this article put into written words what it was like attending public school as an African American student in the NJ public school system. Besides my belief that education should include Catholicism, this is why I will never send my children to a public school ever! I remember sitting in my guidance counselors office each year requesting to be put in the college bound courses. My guidance counselor would say to me "Are you sure you want to take Shakespeare, it may be kind of hard," This was each semester.
Children live up or down to your expectations...oh, sigh...
Buffy/Star Wars con't
Number 8
While Oz (Seth Green), the most zen-like of the gang, checks out his sound equipment and finds something he doesn't like, Xander (Nicholas Brendan) asks him what is wrong.
Xander:"Sensing a disturbance in the Force, Master?"
stay tuned...
Over at HMS blog, Duncan Maxwell Anderson explains Candlemas customs --which include Groundhog Day! Who knew?
So, why does Candlemas fall on Groundhog Day? Groundhog Day comes from it. In Catholic Europe, they say that if Candlemas is clear and bright, there will be six more weeks of winter. In Germany, this idea became, "If the bear comes out and sees his shadow, he will grumpily go back into his cave, and winter will last another six weeks." Then this feat of prediction was ascribed to German badgers. And since badgers are not found in the eastern U.S., German immigrants to this country were obliged to depend for meteorological guidance on a species of marmot called by the Indians "weejak" or woodchuck, also called…the groundhog. This Sunday, if Punxatawney Phil sticks his nose out, you tell me if he isn't carrying a candle-holder. He's Catholic, you know.
Go read the whole thing, it's really interesting.
Pansy's Bishop's statement on those living with AIDS
I would be interested in seeing more details about some of those statistics. For example, Hispanic men aged 35-44 -- that doesn't seem like a big age bracket. What's first, car accidents/ trauma?
I am certainly not trying to shrug off the suffering of those who have HIV/ AIDS.
But the little I know about statistics makes me a little suspicious when numbers start flying around.
communities of color are particularly at risk for HIV/AIDS.
Um, doesn't being at risk for HIV/AIDS involves a bit more than merely being a member of "a community of color?"
Pansy and Peony: The Two Sleepy Mommies
