Show And Tell

So you want to know if I received flowers yesterday. Or perhaps, you don't want to know if I received flowers yesterday. Here's a show and tell anyway.

The flowers pictured above are camelias from our garden, and the half-dozen roses came from Grandpère, who wanted to show his great love for me. I like a half-dozen roses, or even a single rose, for a dozen roses can be a little overwhelming.

The picture is a result of a great struggle with my new digital camera, and another great struggle to upload the photo onto my computer. Technology is aging me at a rapid rate.

The picture below is of the tulips sent me by my daughter - from Martha Stewart - selected and arranged by the great lady herself, I'm sure. No doubt, they cost the earth, but they are gorgeous and will last a long time.

Now you know what you've been dying to know. I hope that you're happy.

True Friendship

From my lovely daughter:

Are you tired of those sissy 'friendship' poems that always sound good,

But never actually come close to reality?

Well, here is a series of promises that actually speak of true friendship.

You will see no cutesy little smiley faces on this card-

Just the stone cold truth of our great friendship.


1. When you are sad -- I will jump on the person who made you sad
like a spider monkey.

2. When you are blue -- I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.

3. When you smile -- I will know you are plotting something that I must be involved in..

4. When you are scared -- I will rag on you about it every chance I get.

5. When you are worried -- I will tell you horrible stories about how much Worse it could be until you quit whining.

6. When you are confused -- I will use little words.

7. When you are sick -- Stay away from me until you are well
Again. I don't want whatever you have.

8. When you fall -- I will point and laugh at your clumsiness.

9. This is my oath.... I pledge it to the end. 'Why?' you may ask;
'because you are my friend'.


Friendship is like peeing your pants,

everyone can see it,

But only you can feel the true warmth.


Send this to 10 of your closest friends,

Then get depressed because you can only think

of 4.

A Very Special Valentine

From Americans United for Change:

Unfortunately, John McCain and President Bush's relationship goes beyond cards and heartfelt embraces. From tax cuts for the rich to the war in Iraq, George and John count on one another in the public arena, too.

Just yesterday Senator McCain went back on his long-held opposition to torture methods like waterboarding. He voted "no" on a bill that would have required all government agencies - including the CIA - to comply with the Army Field Manual's prohibition on torture.

Why would he do such a thing? For love.

President Bush has threatened to veto this legislation if it crosses his desk. His "partner in crime" John McCain wanted to prevent the bill from ever getting there - even at the expense of his long-standing principles.

If John McCain would go back on his opposition to torture, what else would he do at the request of his Valentine, George Bush?

Too Good For The Comments

And another thing about Valentine's Day, the day of the mating of the birdies:

Blogger Lapinbizarre said...

Got an email message two days ago from a college buddy from whom I have not heard in many years. This reminded me that 43 years ago today (how's that for precision?), he, I and three other friends walked to the Sunday morning service ("mass" - it was a bells and smells church) at a parish church a couple of miles from the campus. About half way there we were distracted by two sparrows having frantic, furious sex in the middle of the street. Dust everywhere (it was a back road) and totally engrossed in what they were doing - we could have picked them up or stamped on them without their noticing. Being a town boy, I had never before actually witnessed the mechanics of bird sex, so I was extremely impressed.

At the church, the priest broke off about a third the way into the service to do the "kiddy homily" thing. He comes down to the children in the front pews and asks "Do you know what day it is today, children?" Lots of muttering and many "No, Father's", until finally a kid yells "It's St. Valentine's Day", at which point Fr. Sparks said "That's right, children, it's St. Valentine's Day - when the little birdies take a mate"!

Our pew disolved into screams of uncontrolled laughter and damn near had to be carried out, handkerchiefs stuffed in mouths. To this day, when I hear the words St. Valentine's Day, I always think of those two sparrows.

Excellent, you cwazy wabbit!

When you leave here, pop over to visit Elizabeth at Telling Secrets to watch a video which will leave your jaw on your keyboard.

Happy Valentine's Day!

My funny valentine
Sweet comic valentine
You make me smile with my heart
Your looks are laughable
Unphotographable
Yet youre my favourite work of art

Is your figure less than greek
Is your mouth a little weak
When you open it to speak
Are you smart?

But don't change a hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay little valentine stay
Each day is valentines day

Virtual hugs and kisses all around. Mwah, Mwah, Mwah!


UPDATE: Today is truly a saints' day. St. Valentine has been dropped from the calendar of saints, nevertheless, Paul has a lovely icon and prayer in honor of Valentine. Whoever he was, or whether he ever was, he has left his mark.

And, of course, our master biographer of the early saints, Padre Mickey. has a wonderful post on Sts. Cyril and Methodius, whose official feast we celebrate today in the Episcopal Church.

UPDATE 2: The prayer for today's celebration of the feast of Cyril and Methodius is quite timely and appropriate:

PRAYER

Almighty and everlasting God, who by the power of the Holy Spirit moved your servant Cyril and his brother Methodius to bring the light of the Gospel to a hostile and divided people: Overcome all bitterness and strife among us by the love of Christ, and make us one united family under the banner of the Prince of Peace; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

UPDATE 3: Oh, my goodness, yes! Another update. Here's a wonderful bit of history of the celebration from Rmj at Adventus. How fortunate I am to have such scholars for blog friends.

Balloon Crucifix - What next?

According to the person who posted the photo, the balloon crucifix was made for a skit in a Baptist church. My faithful correspondent, Lapin, sent me a better picture, but I was not able to lift it.

Image from One Bread One Body.

Feast Day Of Absalom Jones

Early bird, Padre Mickey, beat me to a post on Absalom Jones, a former slave, and the first person of African heritage to be ordained to the priesthood in the Episcopal Church. I am so pleased that Padre Mickey was first, because his post is so much better than mine would have been. Check it out.

Readings:

Psalm 137:1-6 or 126
Isaiah 61:1-4 or 42:5-9
John 15:12-15

PRAYER

Set us free, heavenly Father, from every bond of prejudice and fear: that, honoring the steadfast courage of your servants Absalom Jones and Richard Allen, we may show forth in our lives the reconciling love and true freedom of the children of God, which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Image from Wiki.

Adventus On Justice At Guantanamo

Rmj at Adventus posted on the plans by the Pentagon to seek the death penalty for six Guantanamo prisoners, who allegedly played a role in the 9/11 attacks. The prisoners will be charged with war crimes, with the trials conducted by military tribunal.

The posts are here, here, and here.

In a comment there, I said that our system of justice seems to have moved into a realm beyond even the Bizarro World, where up is down and black is white. Read them and weep.

The trials will not be concluded before Bush leaves office. They will be part of the legacy for the next president.

Obama Wins Maryland, Virginia, and DC

From the AP via Talking Points Memo:

Sen. Barack Obama won primaries in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia with ease Tuesday night in a determined drive to erase Hillary Rodham Clinton's delegate lead in the Democratic presidential race.

"Tonight we're on our way," he told cheering supporters in Madison, Wis. "But we know how much further we have to go on," Obama added, as he celebrated eight straight victories over Clinton, the former first lady now struggling in a race she once commanded.

And two more Clinton staff members have been fired.

Can we now say Obama has momentum? Wait. There are those who say that it's really about Texas and Ohio. We shall see. I think it's great that we have a contest going here. It's exciting.

Oh yes. McCain took all three states, too.

Wagging Her Puppies

From Reuters.

Dolly Parton will cancel her North American tour, because she is suffering from back trouble. I'm sorry to hear that she is hurting. I love Dolly as a singer and as a person. May God bring her healing.

Dolly's comment:

"Hey, you try wagging these puppies around a while and see if you don't have back problems," the folksy singer-songwriter said in a statement.

Enough said.

Thanks to KJ in the comments at OCICBW for calling this to my attention.