September 2005 Archives

Peony's husband Posco: I had a funny dream last night. I dreamed that Hambet had a little pet lamb.

Peony: That's cute! ...I dreamed you had a blog. Or did I dream that?

Posco: Should I start a blog?

Peony: Heck yes! I'll even set it up for you.

Posco: If I did have a blog I could blog about interesting things, not boring things like the two sleepy mommies blog about.

Peony: (refuses to take the bait.)

Posco: But what would I call it? "Dyspeptic Mutterings" is already taken.

To all the people who've been asking me this month about when I'm going to have my "next" baby:

Stop. Please, just stop. I know you mean well, but it would really, really help me if you would just SHUT UP.

Either that, or don't get offended when I start avoiding you.

Thank you. That is all.

Ever had that experience where you suddenly think of someone out of the blue -- perhaps someone you used to know whom you hadn't thought of in years?

Is there a name for that experience?

And did I dream it, or did C.S. Lewis once write something about this kind of thing?

When your toddler is doing that annoying, inconsolable, whiney thing from either the need for a nap, or more of a nap, don't run away or lock yourself in the closet! Hand them a slice of bread with some Nutella on it. That will bring silence back real quick.

I am finally here...It is nothing like you think it is...The drill instructors are inhuman, and you're like always on the move...It is real tough here because you wake up at three in the morning by Drill instructors yelling in your face and forcing you to yell at then top of your lungs and do drills. Don't worry though, I will make it.

They don't like people being nice here at all, if you are nice, then you get punished.

I am so exhausted and hungry. I had no lunch today because I didn't say "Good Morning" to the Drill Instructor. I didn't finish my dinner because the Drill Instructor said I didn't put my feet at a 45 degree angle, but I will make it as a MARINE!"

Sigh...

Gas prices suck! $75 to fill up the tank every four days? Now that ain't right!

We now resume the TSM/sci fi Original: "Faithbots..."

Today I went out to lunch with my father. Just me and my Dad and no kids. We went to the Voorheesville Diner, which was my youngest brother's place of employment, oh, for the past three years I think. He worked there as a dishwasher right until last week, when he left for basic training. His intention was to get experience for college because he hopes to attend the Culinary Institute someday.
I ordered the chicken parmesan sandwich thinking "I will take some home for later," which I never did-it was too good and I ate it all like s piggy.

Anyway, the people who work asked how my brother is doing and how much they miss him (we have not heard from him yet). His old boss said "I don't know how the Marines can possibly make a better person out of Thomas." What a nice thing to say. I wish he could read this.

Bob the Ape's come up with with the lyrics to the march.

Now all we need is the tune. Am I correct in thinking that a tune with an 8787 meter would work?

Bill O'Reilly usually annoys the heck out of me, but I thought he made some good points on his show Wednesday night. I made my daughter read this transcript.

The government cannot protect us, part two: that is the subject of this evening's "Talking Points Memo". Earlier this week, I debated Newt Gingrich about my thesis that self reliance, not reliance on government, is the key to self protection. If you're poor, you're powerless. That's why the poor got smashed in the hurricane zone. Today, syndicated columnist Liz Smith.

and I find the lyrics appropriate:

...Wish the earth wasn't so apocalyptic,
I try to spread my message to the world the best way I can give it,
We can make it always so optimistic,
If you don't listen gotta live my life the best way I can live it,
I pray for justice when we go to court,
Wish it was all good so the country wouldn't have to go to war,
Why can't we kick it and just get em on,
And in the famous words of Mr. King “Why can't we all just get along�,
Or we can find a better way to shop and please, And I
Hope we find a better way to cop a keys, And I
Wish everybody would just stop and freeze,
And ask way are we fulfillin these downfalls and prophecies,
You can be wrong if it's you doubting,
With the faith of a mustard seed you can move mountains,
And only the heavenly father and ease the hurt,
Just let it go and keep prayin on your knees in church!!
And let's HOPE

CHORUS (Cee-Lo) X 2
Cuz I'm hopeful, yes I am, hopeful for today,
Take this music and use it
Let it take you away,
And be hopeful (hopeful) and he'll make a way
I know it ain't easy but that's okay.
Let's be hopeful!

~Twista

WASHINGTON (Sept. 9) - Laura Bush described as "disgusting" comments by rapper Kanye West and Democratic chairman Howard Dean blaming her husband for the disproportionate number of black hurricane victims.

Good. I am glad she decided to defend her husband.I get tired of seeing democrats cast blame repeatedly while conservatives just take this stupidity. "It's snowing, it's because George Bush has troops in Iraq, there's not enough snow, it's George Bush and his troops in Iraq!" It's so annoying and it worse, it never gets to the root of whatever issue is at hand which whatb needs to be done.

While I am on the topic, what the hell was Kanye thinking anyway?

We already realize a lot of people that could help are at war right now, fighting another way -- and they've given them permission to go down and shoot us!

Good grief! I am so upset with him because I thought much more of Kanye. This makes him sound so stupid, and I thought he was smarter than that.

George Bush doesn't care about black people!

What I don't understood about this line of thinking is all racism falls on Bush, and none falls on the State of Louisiana government. If there is racism involved, it is always a Republican who is racist because democrats are much more enlightened, and never have any kind of "them and us" complex...just when it comes to the unborn.

left on Monday for Marine Basic Training on Parris Island. When he left he said to us "Next time you see me, I'll be a Marine!"

I am very proud of him, but I pray the Lord watches over him.

on Saturday, I was out taking a stroll with dear Mr Moss and little Hambet, and we saw a poster for that DaVinci Code movie.

I had high hopes when I heard that Sir Ian McKellan had been cast for the movie. I was hoping that he would be cast as Silas, the albino Opus Dei monk-assasin and that he would steal the whole movie, the same way Alan Rickman subverted "Prince of Thieves." But alas, it was not to be; Paul Bettany is to play Silas.

So maybe all is not lost. Bettany was cast as Maturin in "Master and Commander" and I didn't think the character they gave him to play had anything to do with the Maturin of the books. So maybe there will be a really clever, subversive screenwriter on the project who will give Silas all the funny lines.

Today's Post has an article in the Metro section (B9) about the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. The article's not online; it's from the Religion News Service, and you can get a taste of it here. ("Traditional Order of Nuns Grows, Defying Trends.")

It's a pretty good article, touching on the rapid growth of the community (seventeen postulants expected this month!)and quoting the sisters on their vocations, their life of prayer, and their apostolates. It mentions that some of the sisters, when discerning their vocations,

"rejected religious orders that revised or moved away from traditional ways, including the habit, after the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s. The council relaxed some of the more strict, traditional rituals in the Catholic Church."

Wow! Intelligent young women embracing traditional religious life! What's not to love? Obviously, we have to be balanced, though, and find the obligatory naysayer quote. Luckily, we don't have to look too hard to find it. The article continues:

Some church observers, however, question what they see as an attempt by small but wealthy and politically powerful groups to turn the faith clock back to a supposed golden age.

'There's always been a rear-guard action among Catholics who don't like Vatican II,' said the Rev. Richard P. McBrien, former chairman of the Department of Theology at the University of Notre Dame and a long-time observer of Catholic life in the United States.

Oh, brother. Let's take another look at this, shall we?

Some church observers, however,

Observers with an "s"? I only see one person quoted.

...question what they see as an attempt by small but wealthy and politically powerful groups

meaning Tom Monaghan? (Monaghan donated a pile of money to the Sisters' building fund, and his foundation built one of the academies where the Sisters teach)

...to turn the faith clock back to a supposed golden age.

Okay, so Tom Monaghan and his legion of faithbots kidnapped and brainwashed 64 women into becoming a legion of reactionary nuns who wear traditional habits, pray a lot, and teach in elementary schools -- and that's "politically powerful"?

"There's always been a rear-guard action among Catholics who don't like Vatican II,"

Rear-guard? The Sisters were founded in 1997. One of the Sisters quoted is 27. Last time I checked, someone who was born in the late 'seventies would have spent all her life in the territory occupied by the Spirit of Vatican II.

...said the Rev. Richard P. McBrien,

Ah.

...former

woohoo!

...chairman of the Department of Theology at the University of Notre Dame and a long-time observer of Catholic life in the United States.

An observer -- as opposed to a participant?

Hey, Father McBrien, after you're done on The DaVinci Code movie, maybe you could see if there are any other movies that need your special expertise. Maybe Spielberg will consider making Jurassic Park IV?

UPDATE: GMTA -- Jeff Miller has something up on this article too.

Out of all the heart wrenching stories and images pertaining to New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina, the images of the mother's begging for food for their babies and trying to take care of their children in this scenario...I am a loss for words
Sitting here reading these stories does not seem enough. Donating the few dollars I can does not seem enough. Like with all disasters our instincts are to go right there and physically help, but that is always more of a hindrance then a help-provided you can even get there.

I have not blogged much on this because I have very little to add to the very up-to-date bloggers and news casts.

I attended school in New Orleans, at Xavier University of Louisiana. I would link to it, but the site is down. It was a good school, the only Catholic Historically Black College founded by St. Katherine Drexel. Two of my bridesmaids were classmates and I pray that they and their families are well.
I have lost touch with them, not out of any conflict, but over the happenings of life. I am so sorry and I hope God forgives me.

Late to post, but I wanted to do my part for the Katrina blogburst. Half a million people who need new homes -- Jesus, have mercy!

I sent my first Katrina contribution to Catholic Charities USA

More hurricane relief agencies:
The Red Cross
Mercy Corps

More on the blogburst, including a big list of relief organizations

The evacuees who sheltered in the Superdome are being moved to the Houston Astrodome. Many of these evacuees are children.
The Houston Society of St Vincent de Paul is organizing children's relief in The Largest Sleepover in Texas. They're getting together new sleeping bags, pillows, PJs and slippers, and crayons and coloring books for these displaced children. (thanks to Amy Welborn for this link)

Imagine that! Happy to oblige!