Yes, We Can!

Ormonde Plater has left a new comment on your post "Louisiana Folks, Please Go vote":

Mimi, Kay and I voted for Obama. Our daughter and her husband voted for Hillary and are shocked at us. (I'm shocked at them.) Yesterday I was teaching new deacons to sing the Exsultet and got them to sing "Yes, we can!" to the opening melody.

Ormonde, my friend, thank you.

Yes, we can!

UPDATE: The first estimate on voter turnout in Louisiana was 15%, which is pitiful. The corrected number is 25%, which is still pitiful, but it's better than the smaller number. I believe that part of the reason for the low turnout in the primaries is because we are habituated to the parties having settled on the candidates before we even get to vote.

Louisiana Folks, Please Go vote

Today is primary day in Louisiana. Usually, all is decided by the time of the Louisiana primaries, but today we have a chance to make a difference in the choice of the Democratic Party. McCain seems to have a wrap on the Republican nomination.

I just received a call from MoveOn.org reminding me to vote. The woman asked for whom I would vote. I said Obama. She said, "That's great! I'm surprised at how many Louisiana people are for Obama." I'm pleased to hear that, too. I will vote for the Democratic nominee in the election, but I prefer that Obama be the choice.

Vote for whomever you choose, but vote. It's important.

Image from Wiki.

UPDATE: Results for the Democrats statewide in Louisiana - Obama - 57%; Clinton - 43%

UPDATE 2: I suppose I should put the Republican results up, too - Huckabee - 44%; McCain - 42%

Am I More Dog Than Cat?

You Are: 50% Dog, 50% Cat

You are a nice blend of cat and dog. You're playful but not too needy. And you're friendly but careful. And while you have your moody moments, you're too happy to stay upset for long.

Are You More Cat or Dog?

That's about right. I have had both cats and dogs as pets, but I believe that I want a cat for my next pet.

Thanks for the link to Scout the Dog's blog Scout's Food For Thought.

"New Orleans Citizens' Prayer"

Shamelessly nicked from Michael Homan's blog:

Our mayor, who art in Dallas
Hollow be thy fame...
Thy flyer miles, thy quips and smiles
In the Ninth, as it is in Lakeview.

Give us this day our faces red
And forgive us our embarrassment, as we forgive
those who embarrass us.
Lead us not into demolition
But deliver us from developers.

For thine is the Superdome, and the Market Force
and the RSD
Forever and never,
Amen

Michael says, "This was just forwarded to me from Jennifer. I didn't write it, don't know who did, but wish I did."

The prayer is so very right for the seldom seen around town mayor of New Orleans, Ray Nagin, who is not known for breaking his back doing good deeds for the benefit of the citizens of his city.

Thanks to Oyster for the tip.

Another New Car

Hoookay. We have spent part of three days at the car dealership, unloading our leaking car (Yes,they took it back. I was not having the leaker.) and finding and arranging financing for the new vehicle. We now have pretty much the same car, but in the 2008 model which was not eligible for 0% financing. I'll say that although the whole process was a hassle, we came away satisfied, except for the lost time talking and waiting around the car dealership.

Grandpère lost his temper with the folks at the dealership when he first heard about the seriousness of the leak, but, after all, the fault lies with the factory and not with the folks who sell the cars. I had to calm him down, (he's a pistol, he is) but I was firm about not wanting to keep the car we had owned for a week. I believe that by remaining calm, I scored points with the manager, who, when all is said and done, was quite nice and obliging.

The manager's challenge was to get us in later model car with the same monthly note as the leaker, for the same loan period. He did it and took a hit on his price for the sake of retaining our good will. He said that he appreciated our patience. By giving him time, he was able to work things out so that the factory took the hit, rather than the dealer - which is where the hit should go. I surprised the hell out of him when I leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek after he told us what good customers we were. I believe that I embarrassed him just a little.

So. Car problem solved. Exhaustion gone after a couple of nights in my own bed. Family drama calmer - for the moment - home sweet home.

It's amazing to me that we can walk away with a new car without one dollar changing hands, with a five year loan at our advanced age. We will probably not take that long to pay the car off, but still....

Don't Thank Me, Thank Doug

Two bees met in a field. One said to the other, "How are things going?"

"Really bad," said the second bee. "The weather has been cold, wet and damp, and there aren't any flowers, so I can't make honey."

"No problem," said the first bee. "Just fly down five blocks and turn left. Keep going until you see all the cars. There's a Bar Mitzvah going on and there are all kinds of fresh flowers and fresh fruit."

"Thanks for the tip," said the second bee, and flew away.

A few hours later the two bees ran into each other again. The first bee asked, "How'd it go?"

"Great!" said the second bee. "It was everything you said it would be. There was plenty of fruit and, oh, such huge floral arrangements on every table."

"Uh, what's that thing on your head?" asked the first bee.

"That's my yarmulke," said the second bee. "I didn't want them to think I was a wasp."

I thank you, Doug. This was just what I needed tonight.

A Word For The Day

Though the fig tree does not blossom,
and no fruit is on the vines;
though the produce of the olive fails
and the fields yield no food;
though the flock is cut off from the fold
and there is no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
I will exult in the God of my salvation.

Habakkuk 3:17-18

Habakkuk gives a good reminder today, on the Thursday after Ash Wednesday, that God is still Emmanuel, no matter what. My distress is not mainly about the car, or the near-missed plane, or the delayed suitcases, or exhaustion. It's about things I can't talk about in a public venue such as a blog. None of it is life-threatening, and the problems, too, shall pass, but a few prayers for the matters of which I cannot speak would not be at all unwelcome, my good readers. Thank you.

We're Home!

We're home. I am exhausted. The children had a wonderful time. Our lodgings were lovely, and we ate some great meals.

Before we left, we had a family drama, which I will not go into. We had a hair-raising departure, barely making it on the plane before it took off, and then finding that two of our suitcases had not arrived at our destination with us.

Padre Mickey left a comment saying that he hoped we were not still at Disney having fun because Lent had started. Well, I missed my ashes today, but my Lent has started.

Our brand new car has a leak in the back window that has been leaking for a long time sitting on the lot, and it messed up the trunk and other parts of the car, leaving them rusted and mildewed. The dealer is going to take it back, but now we have to pick out another car, renegotiate for a good price and redo the financing, because we cannot find a 2007 model of the car I want. The 2007 models have 0% financing.

As I left Disney, I said, "Adios", not "Hasta la vista"; "Adieu", not "Au revoir"; and "Addio", not "Arrivederci". I loved seeing the children enjoy themselves, but next time, it will be without me.

Sorry that this first post is such a downer. I guess it's due to exhaustion.

Off To The Magic Kingdom

Yes, peeps, tomorrow Grandpère and I are off to Walt Disney World with eight other family members. Don't laugh. It's a sacrificial trip for GP and me. My very own son would not take his children to Orlando without us. Since my daughter and her family were going, my son's two children wanted to go, too. Five cousins will be together. They're close in age, (two age groups) and they enjoy each other's company enormously. Whatever you think about the old folks going, it's a magical place for the children, and that's why we're doing it.

Actually the last time we were there, we had a pretty good time. We relaxed, ate well, sat by the pool, and generally enjoyed ourselves in a mild sort of way.

Before I leave, I'm turning on comments moderation until I get back, so no comments may appear until then. If I have the use of my son-in-law's laptop, comments may appear, and I may put in a word or two. We shall see.

We will have someone stay in our house while we are gone.

UPDATE: Au revoir, mes amis. Que Dieu vous benisse! Attendez! Soyez bon!

Wise Words From Adventus - Ecce Homo

From Rmj:

It isn't war that is hell. It's our acceptance of war. It isn't war that is brutal. It is people who are brutal; and our acceptance of war as a condition of our existence; the same way we accept poverty, and hunger, and homelessness. It doesn't have to be this way. That we let it be this way, is what is brutal.

"We have met the enemy, and he is us."

Read the whole post and look at the picture.