Saturday, September 22, 2007

A "Reporter" In New Orleans

From Matt Kennedy, September 19, 2007:

It's 9:00pm in New Orleans. I'm sitting in the Intercontinental Hotel bar not drinking. I was hoping by chance to see some fellow "reporters" here, possibly some bishops. No one. Nice atmosphere though...a sort of modish imperial India theme---dark, lots of candles, heavy velvet burgandy (sic) and white fabric. If nothing else 815 has exquisite taste.

I'm thankful that at least one "reporter" covering the House of Bishops meeting in New Orleans does not write stories while "in his cups".

Apparently, the bishops and "invited guests" enjoyed a dinner together this evening at 6:30pm. Stand Firm was not invited. We do, however, hope to have some solid news soon.

We can only hope, for Matt's sake, that the bishops have another look at their list of "invited guests" and find a place for Stand Firm at the next dinner. Matt sounds a little forlorn.

We hope to fill in various details tomorrow and the next day. Until then remember that, to a greater or lesser degree, these reports are somewhat speculative.

I dare say.

28 comments:

  1. Maybe Fr. Matt should start drinking.

    I don't normally comment on the doings of the Anglican Communion and all its factions, because I don't think it's my place to do so. But I've made a couple of visits to the Viagra Blog in the last couple of days, and I haven't been able to pick my chin up off the floor ever since. The hatred in some of their comments was truly scary.

    "Be loving in everything you do." Right.

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  2. Dear Grandmere: I cannot quite imagine what the energy would be like if I were in near proximity to these doings. I am holding you in my heart.

    May the vitriol quotient be as small as possible -- or as small as can be, consistent with truth and justice.

    We never quite know the balance, but bumble on.

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  3. PJ, I agree. Matt should have had a few drinks.

    Jan, I'm not there full time. I'm back home, but I will return tomorrow for the service at Christ Church Cathedral, where Bishop Katharine will preach.

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  4. I so wish you would have the opportunity to talk to ++Katharine! And tell her you are the person who asked about dresses. If you think she is impressive in procession, you need to meet her in person.

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  5. I know this isn't nice, but perhaps they didn't invite Stand Firm as they wanted to enjoy dinner and avoid a food fight.
    OCICBW...

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  6. Piskie, I will try to have a word with her, but I'm not hopeful. It appears that arrangements work to keep folks like me away from the high and the mighty. Not that this is Bishop Katharine's wish. I don't believe that. It's the locals.

    I know this isn't nice

    All I know, Padre, is that you're always nice to me.

    OCYCBR, too.

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  7. Perhaps he just needs to get home to his spouse and children -- three, soon to be four.

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  8. I love it when you get snarky, Mimi...

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  9. Well, we've all helpfully gotten sick, since Matt is gone. Actually grateful he left in time to escape it or he would be having a miserable week.

    Jane, I confess that Anne's got a bigger heart than I do. I'd likely have been thinking, "Why the hell isn't my husband here with me to help me cope, instead of lounging in bars in New Orleans - even if he's not drinking?"

    Mea culpa!

    Doxy, snark? Surely not.

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  10. Mimi, that's one of the few prerogatives for women as they age, I've found---we are allowed to be snarky. And everyone is secretly very amused and grateful that we've said out loud what they were thinking but didn't have the guts to say...

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  11. Doxy's right about snarky older women. You should hear the women of West Indian heritage in my parish; I'm learning about snarkiness from them.

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  12. I just got back from following the link there: mercy! "Like a bath in ink." A somber little Gulag indeed. What a vision of life to proclaim!

    Thank God children are resilient, and survive all kinds of upbringings their parents give them without much harm.

    Self-inflicted wounds are the worst.

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  13. I'm always in trouble for saying what's on my mind. But I feel that is a privilege that goes with getting Social Security. There are few perks left but that's a great one.

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  14. By now snark must have become such an ingrained habit that I don't even know when I'm doing it - a way of life, you could say.

    Thank God children are resilient,

    Amen.

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  15. Fr Matt does seem to be on the road quite a bit. It must be nice to have that much paid vacation time.

    Every time there is one of the shindigs he seems to be there.

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  16. You know, Mimi, he probably is missing his wife and all the upchuck that could be going on.....

    Oh, do you suppose they have a son named Danny?

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  17. Dennis, he seems to get around, even though it's just three weeks before their baby's due. I'd have wanted my man around. Just sayin'.

    Susan, this is probably very uncool, but I'm missing the Danny reference. I get the upchuck part.

    They'll surely have to start calling Baby something else, right?

    She couldn't get the dog's leash off. If I start to write stuff like that, someone put me out of my misery.

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  18. You said
    "I'm missing the Danny reference"

    How soon we forget!

    You wrote the following words at MadPriests after listening to the lovely song about Danny's Mom, didn't you? Or was it someone else's mom? I forget.;-)

    "Sometimes I believe he despises us, his visitors, the ones who keep this place going."

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  19. Susan, I did. I tried to blot that memory out as quickly as possible, and - see! - it worked.

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  20. "Besides, I grow old."

    Well, you've got to stop saying that. I don't think anyone believes you!

    I have to say again that I really do love your blog.
    I am fortunate to be one of your minions.

    And the Episcopal Cafe Kudos!

    Just think, when you started this blog is was just be able to comment.

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  21. Susan, thanks. You're right. I started the blog just to comment, and I haven't shut up since.

    There was that blank page...

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  22. Re. snarkiness:

    I have always been snarky. As a lowly graduate student, I was known for snide one liners, such that my name because a code word for snarky comment, and the others in the lab would occassionally say, "And then I did an [IT], and said...."

    My mother who is 80 is nothing but snarky. It's like a rheostat in her brain that would normally control her snark is now stuck in the full-on position.

    As for conservatives and their children, I think that there must be a symbiosis between psychologists and conservatives; the kids are going to need a lot of therapy when they grow up. Especially if they are gay.

    The thing that never ceases to amaze me is the number of conservatives who think of themselves as such "good christians" who bitterly reject their gay children. Fortunately for me, I guess, my family aren't very good Christians (at least in those terms), and love me regardless.

    IT

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  23. IT, my snarkiness has increased with age - I'm sure of that - but the seeds were always there.

    Am I the only one who sees a humor deficit in many on the conservative side?

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  24. Fundamentally, Mimi, humor requires the ability to see another's point of view.

    They are singularly humorless because they are singularly unable to see this.

    So you are (as always) quite correct.
    IT

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  25. Johnieb, surely you jest. As IT says, I'm always right.

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