December 2006 Archives

Note to self

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Track Santa

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This is a really interesting article.

Modern specialists in the science of heraldry suspect, however, that this blazon (coat of arms) of the blackamoor is instead the very opposite of a negative symbol. In the last decade or two it has been pointed out that the moor's head quite possibly could have referred to St. Maurice, the black patron saint of the Holy Roman Empire from the beginning of the 10th century.

Because of his name and native land, St. Maurice had been portrayed as black ever since the 12th century. The insignia of the black head, in a great many instances, was probably meant to represent this soldier saint since a majority of the arms awarded were knightly or military. With 6,666 of his African compatriots, St. Maurice had chosen martyrdom rather than deny his allegiance to his Lord and Saviour, thereby creating for the Christian world an image of the Church Militant that was as impressive numerically as it was colourwise.

Here, no doubt, is a major reason why St. Maurice would become the champion of the old Roman church and an opposition symbol to the growing influence of Luther and Calvin. The fact that he was of the same race as the Ethiopian baptized by St. Philip in Acts of the Apostles was undoubtedly an important element to his significance as well. Since this figure from the New Testament was read as a personification of the Gentile world in its entirety, the complexion of St. Maurice and his Theban Legion (the number of which signified an infinite contingent) was also understood as a representation of the Church's universality - a dogmatic ideal no longer tolerated by the Reformation's nationalism. Furthermore, it cannot be coincidental that the most powerful of the German princes to remain within the Catholic fold, the archbishop Albrecht von Brandenburg, not only dedicated practically all the major institutions under his jurisdiction to St. Maurice but in what is today one of the most important paintings of the Renaissance, had himself portrayed in Sacred Conversation with him....

...it is likely that St. Maurice and his Theban Legion became associated with Prester John as the ideal soldiers for the ideal state. It should be pointed out, furthermore, that, heraldically, since he was the only monarch who could claim the 'Sang Real' or the 'Royal Blood' of Christ because of his descent from Solomon, Prester John was the only individual deemed worthy of the right to bear as arms the image of the Crucifix. Even the earring traditionally worn by the blackamoor is a reference to this sacred privilege.

I believe a little of this came up after the election of Pope Benedict XVI.

aka Book 7, the title of which has been revealed to be Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

I have no idea what that means.

An Update for L

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Nana, Matthew, and Felicity
Nana, Gorbulas, and Berylla

Little Berylla (Hobbit name) is doing OK. I have not been taking many pictures the past week because I have had the worse case of mastitis I have ever had. It is still lingering a week later despite attempts at rest and antibiotics. I am so demotivated, frustrated, and sick of feeling sick.

Anyhow, little Berylla has not bee too happy because the antibiotics seem to make her tummy hurt.

Here is ine shot I managed to get of her on Sunday with my mother and Matthew when my family came to visit.

She is quite yellow here from jaundice, but still cute.

I will take some more now that I am starting to feel more like myself.

Hang my Head Down and Sigh

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Happy Birthday....

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Jane Austen!

I came across this Friday special today when I was trolling around Amazon:

This looked like a pretty good deal to me. Today's the last day to get the free shipping and still have it arrive by Christmas.

I was also pleased to see one of Hambet's favorite library books at a pretty good price:

Having read this book around two hundred times, I can vouch for the beauty and detail of the illustrations and the drama of Pteranodon's life. And yes, T. rex does make an appearance.

(yes, we're affiliates. Shop through our link -- keep baby Felicity in frilly pink dresses!)

The Latest...

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Christmas craze...The Nintendo Wii. I have no idea or care in the world about this thing, but being from a Geek family, there was a small rush about a month ago to go to extreme measures to purchase one, hide it under my bed (still hiding) so it can be a huge surprise. It was not my rush, it was my husband's. I actually had no idea what the thing looked like until I started seeing Wii commercials on TV. Prior to that, I just kept hearing "Wii, Wii" over and over and thought either my kids are learning French or have to go potty. I am only a teeny tiny bit more impressed since seeing the commercials, but again, if it were up to me and not the Geeks, it would not draw my attention.

Frankly, I think my kids deserve coal this year. They are lucky they have two parents because if it were up to me, they would get candy coal. This was a big deal to my husband, so it got thrown into the "choose your battles" pile.

So that is the background about my association with this system. My daughter stumbled upon the The Wii Use Safety Manual in Japanese yesterday, which I have to admit, is funny...

Felicity's Birth Story

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On Wednesday, Dec. 6, it was my birthday. Although my dh asked where I wanted to go for dinner, and I picked an Italian place, when I got there, I really was not very hungry. I had also been finding it progressively harder and harder to walk. My hip joints were very relaxed and causing me a great, deal of pain as was my sciatica. I had to lean on furniture or whatever to get from Point A to Point B. I decided this pregnancy to not invest too much energy it “labor markers” because once you are 38 weeks, everything is an indication that labor will start soon. You can only possibly be pregnant for another week or two, and obsessing on that will make you crazy.

Thursday came and went, just with the added difficulty of walking and appetite loss. I feel asleep at the beginning of CSI. At around 11 PM, I woke up to a contraction. I had been feeling some Braxton-Hicks in my sleep, but even in my sleep, I knew these felt a bit different, more pushing downwards than outwards. At 11, I decided to get up, take a shower to see if that made the contractions change a bit and busy myself a bit. I would get one contraction here, one there, but they were definitely sporadic although they felt real.

I called Jennifer, my midwife and told her this was it. She asked if she should come over and I told her that the contractions were not coming regularly, but it was normal for my labors to have one contraction, be dilated 2 cm, and 1 hour later be nearly, fully dilated. She said she would call Heidi (my other midwife) and they would head on over.

In the meantime, Josh asked if we should pack the kids up and take them to my parents’ house. My daughter had already announced that if we had a homebirth, she would sleep in the car rather that be in the house. So Josh looked out the window and there was a ton of horizontal snow. Um, nevermind.

The midwives arrived and we chatted. My contractions were still irregular, so the midwives told me to get some rest. Josh stayed with the boys and I went to my room. I snuggled up with Dominic and went to sleep. It was hard to sleep because I was so excited. However, being home in the dark all warm and cozy in my own bed made the contractions so much more bearable Around 5 am, they started to become more regular, painful, but not unbearable.

I figured since they were regular, maybe things would move along, so my husband filled up the tub. To our surprise, there was not much to filling it, and the hot water did not run out. Then everything stopped for a while.

We waited I guess about an hour, and Heidi said that from my labor pattern, it looked like there was a baby’s hand or arm in the way and perhaps I should rock, or stand to get things moving. I kind of knew instinctively I should do that, but I was so comfortable and cozy doing what I was doing. They checked me and I was only dilated 3-4 cm. So they said they would go to breakfast, be back in an hour or two, and see how things advanced. Josh said maybe he would bring the kids to my parents’ house.

I stood up as they were leaving and a strong contraction. Then they left, another strong contraction that Josh had to rub my back through. Josh started getting the kids ready to go and I went to the bathroom, As I was sitting there “WHOOMP” a very strong contraction. I jumped put of the bathroom onto the floor whining “Joooossshhhh, you can’t leave me-you need to rub my back!” Then I felt the contractions start to change from just painful to needing to push. I told him to forget the kids, call the midwives back, and fill the tub back up.

I got into the tub and felt like I regained some composure and a bit of control. The midwives walked in and saw me in the tub. I felt so bad they didn't get to eat. One went to call home and the other was setting up her midwife stuff. From their perspective, I am not sure what happened next from their perspective, but from mine, I felt the contractions change, I pushed her head out and the midwife said “baby’s crowning” and I pushed the rest of her out. I think the midwife pushed her under the water (I was on my hands and knees). I grabbed her from the water and she opened her eyes right up and looked at me. I couldn’t believe how alert and calm she was. She looked so familiar!

She scored 9 and then 10 on her Apgar.

About the name Felicity: On Thanksgiving morning when I was just waking up, but not quite awake, the name Felicity popped into my head. I remember when I was a girl thinking I liked the name. I figured I would look up St. Felicity and it turned out Nov 23 (that day) is her feast day. I took it as a sign and kept the name. We added, “Rose” for the Blessed Mother (I needed something with one syllable).

Caring for your Introvert

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Are introverts oppressed?

Introverts may be common, but they are also among the most misunderstood and aggrieved groups in America, possibly the world.

I know.... I am an introvert.

Oh, for years I denied it. After all, I have good social skills. I am not morose or misanthropic. Usually. I am far from shy. I love long conversations that explore intimate thoughts or passionate interests. But at last I have self-identified and come out to my friends and colleagues. In doing so, I have found myself liberated from any number of damaging misconceptions and stereotypes. Now I am here to tell you what you need to know in order to respond sensitively and supportively to your own introverted family members, friends, and colleagues. Remember, someone you know, respect, and interact with every day is an introvert, and you are probably driving this person nuts.


Jeane Kirkpatrick 1926 – 2006

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Jeane Kirkpatrick died on December 7. I have her 1984 speech to the Republican National Convention in 1984 in the Extended Entry. I'll never forget hearing it -- I think that was the first Presidential election where I was paying attention and was conscious of the issues.

It's a Girl!

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Felicity Rose
b. December 8, 2006 @ 8 AM
8 LB 19 3/4 "
Baby Girl

Details later.

but they were ON MY DESK

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Dear, dear Saint Anthony, PLEASE help me find Paul's school pictures!

Your faithful correspondent,
Peony

And how do I get it out?!

You Are 34% New Jersey!

You've got a little Jersey in you. Not too bad, however you could have done a lot better. Based on this score, you may not actually be from New Jersey. You're missing out!

How New Jersey Are You?
Make Your Own Quiz

Memed! the birthday edition

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I was tagged by the dyspeptic one. Here are the rules:

1) Go to Wikipedia.
2) In the search box, type your birth month and day but not the year.
3) List three events that happened on your birthday.
4) List two important birthdays and one death.
5) One holiday or observance (if any).


Three events:

-- 1152: Henry II marries Eleanor of Aquitaine.
-- 1268 - The Principality of Antioch, a crusader state, falls to the Mamluk Sultan Baibars in the Battle of Antioch; Baibars' destruction of the city of Antioch was so great as to permanently negate the city's importance.
-- 1863 - American Civil War: The Siege of Vicksburg begins, ending on July 4.

Two important birthdays...

-- Karol Józef Wojtyła
-- Chow Yun-Fat

...and one death:

-- Leroy Anderson, American composer

One holiday or observance:

-- Festival of the god Pan in Ancient Greece
-- feast of Pope St John I

TAG:

The Summas, Coucoumelle, and anyone else who wants to participate.

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You Are 66% New Jersey!

You've definitely got some Jersey in you. Congratulations, it's a great thing to be. However you're score could certainly be a lot higher!

How New Jersey Are You?
Make Your Own Quiz

I Just Woke Up from a Dream

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I was dreaming I was in one of those cop shows I like, such as CSI or Law and Order. It was the part at the end where the present all the evidence, corner the perpetrator, and as a result, the guy gives up the whole story and admits to his crime.

In my dream, the suspect was a cop and he was saying "OK, it was me, I admit it. I was the one dealing on the street. I get boxes of little, white resin Christmas ornaments in bulk from some dude in Chinatown. I take them home and paint them all festive-like, tie ribbons to them, and turn then over for a street price of a dollar fitty each..."

I am so giddy!

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Thank you Peony for lovely "Happy Birthday!"

I just got back from an ultrasound and it's a girl!

Happy Birthday Pansy!

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Ah, birthdays. A chance to look back over your life and savor the memories of the good times, whether those good times actually happened or not.

So let's honor Pansy with the "This is Your Life" meme! Via Mrs Darwin (who herself just celebrated a birthday):


If you read this, if your eyes are passing over this right now, even if we don't speak often, please post a comment with a COMPLETELY MADE UP AND FICTIONAL MEMORY OF YOU AND PANSY MOSS.

It can be anything you want--good or bad--BUT IT HAS TO BE FAKE.

When you're finished, post this paragraph on your blog and be surprised (or mortified) about what people DON'T ACTUALLY remember about you.

Suggestions, please

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Hambet is five (six in February -- !). For Christmas, he deserves a big, shiny, solitary lump of coal. But Santa is a softie and wants to leave a little bit more than that.

My question is -- what? Hambet doesn't seem to have a particular wish this year, and he seems to be at kind of a transition period -- beginning to outgrow some of his preschool toys, but not quite ready for the Big Kid toys.

I know he likes building toys, and I was thinking about a marble run, but Grandma's got the Tinkertoys covered this year.

What about Playmobil -- how long do little boys play with those?

Whatever it is, I'd like it to be something that promotes healthy play and that is not an ugly robot.

Your Christmas is Most Like: A Very Brady Christmas
For you, it's all about sharing times with family.
Even if you all get a bit cheesy at times.

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Your Christmas is Most Like: A Very Brady Christmas
For you, it's all about sharing times with family.
Even if you all get a bit cheesy at times.

HT: Happy Catholic

Slowly and Surely

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I never realized how much prep was involved in a homebirth. Actually it is not that much, but for the first time I seem to have shed my New York City pace, and just simply do something and sit down, do something, and sit down...So in terms of buying supplies and whatnot, I get something, and take a break, get something...That is why I was hoping not to go into labor until all is ready.

This Saturday, we picked up the birth tub.
The Birthing Tub
That is a 150 gallon horse trough at the foot of my bed. It makes it difficult to make my bed with that thing there. It is on loan to us from another family about 1/2 an hour away from here. They had 5 children as well, and decided a baby or so ago they might as well purchase a tub of their own. The mother said she discovered water 2 babies ago and never wants to deliver without it. I feel exactly the same way. This will be waterbirth number 3.

They were really the nicest couple and I hope we can cultivate a friendship with them. My husband described them as "people who love life". If you knew my husband, that seems just a tad bit poetic for him, but that is truly how this couple struck us.

Now I have to get a few more odds and ends on my list. I need some black garbage bags because the garbage left over from the delivery would look kind of suspicious in clear ones. The thought makes me chuckle.

I need to get some more towels-I think I can find some at the dollar store. Oddly, we moved around for years with a linen closet full of towels, but I think we got rid of many of them last time we moved. When we got married, my grandmother seemed to think that newleyweds need lots and lots of bath towels to start a household. We only used a few and the rest took up a whole closet. Now I need them. I need a hose for the tub, and perhaps an adaptor.

We were discussing the Christmas tree, and the usual attempt to get as close to Christmas as possible before putting it up. There is no way we could put up a tree in this house anyway with a 150 gallon horse trough in my bedroom. So perhaps we will be good Catholics this year, and have a tree from Christmas to the Epiphany.

How Do They Know?

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Last night on Discovery Health Channel, I was watching this forensics show called Skeleton Stories. The show chronicles how forensic anthropologists are able to solve cases by looking at the bones of victims. It appeals to my love of forensic shows, anthropology, and mysteries. Last night, they found the skull of a young woman and were able to locate the suspect, who in turn was a crazy, guy intent on going after prostitutes. However, when he was first named, the narrator made a point to show that the suspect's exterior life was quite a paradox to his serial killing intentions. He was middle class, a father of two small children, and "he was a devout Catholic" (the screen then flashes the image of a dangling Rosary). The next clip is of the prosecutor stating, "he read scripture at Church every week." Later a few other comments are made about how the guy felt the need to rid the world of prostitutes as a message from God, and how when they asked him to locate the rest of the woman's remains, he stopped and looked up at the sky and asked God to help him. Yeah, OK, whatever.

Here is what I don't understand: how do they know this guy is a devout Catholic based on Church attendance? Obviously, he isn't if he is going around soliciting prostitutes and killing them. This type of rhetoric is not limited to last night's Skeleton Stories, I hear it all the time. I *think* the point is to make an example of either "see how religion can make people horrible" or "here's another example of how hypocritical Christians are" or whatever. I remember the same terminology was used a great deal to describe Mary Kay Letourneau and her father. They were "devout" Catholics because of some obscure outward behavior, like attending Mass.

I often find these assumptions odd because it is hard to determine how devout someone is in their heart. It is a judgment I am rarely able to make. "Practicing" Catholic is usually a better description of a person's religious life that you do not know.

The other media stereotype I see used as a template for reality is the idea that adhering to a religion, particularly a Christian one means you just know you have it all right. You sit on your High Horse looking down at people who all get it wrong and shaking your head in dismay at them. We all have voices like Glinda, The Good Witch saying nothing besides "oh yes my Sister, praise be to God". Since we have opinions on moral issues (which is ridiculous because moral issues never affect us on our high horses), we can never stray into Human World, or else we are hypocrites.

I am lost about this stereotype. Following a Christian religion doesn't mean, "cease to be human", it means trying to find your way by following Jesus as a guide. I am often baffled why this is such a hard concept to grasp.

I am thinking of my mother-in-law. My husband had a few locked up bins in her basement of collectibles and comic books he had been collecting since childhood. Personally, I would not have left them there, but he trusted his mother. Her live in boyfriend stole them to sell for drug money. The amount he stole, we counted the value up to close to $7000 before we stopped counting. When my husband demonstrated he was angry and upset, and wanted to press charges, my mother-in-law gave my husband a lecture about what a hypocrite he was because he claims to be a Christian, which means he shouldn't get angry, but should only forgive the guy. Where do people get this stuff?

If you are a Christian and are an offender of some sort, you are a horrible, but true example of what Christianity does to people, and how hypocritical Christians are. If you are on the side of having been hurt in some way, and your response is not "Oh, how tragic, but I will turn the other cheek, and never notice you offended me”(in the Glinda Good Witch voice), (in the Glinda Good Witch voice), you are a hypocrite as well. You can't win.


Di Fattura Caslinga: Pansy's Etsy Shop
The Sleepy Mommy Shoppe: Stuff we Like
(Disclaimer: We aren't being compensated to like this stuff.
Any loose change in referral fees goes to the Feed Pansy's Ravenous Teens Fund.)


Pansy and Peony: The Two Sleepy Mommies



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