Good News About William

My daughter reports that William is much better. The swelling has gone down, he's itching much less, and he slept like a rock. Thanks be to God, and thanks to all you beautiful people who sent prayers and good wishes his way and my way. We are most grateful. I am greatly relieved and breathing easier today.

Seattle Sells Toilets - Finally

From USA Today:

City officials have finally gotten rid of five high-tech self-cleaning toilets that cost Seattle $5 million — but sold online for just $12,549.

The city installed the modernistic stand-alone toilets four years ago, hoping they would provide tourists and the homeless a place to do their business while downtown. But the automated loos became better known for drug use and prostitution than for relief.

The reality is that the city of Seattle spent $5 million (minus $12,549) to set up cubicles for the use of prostitutes and their patrons and drug buyers and sellers.

Public toilets work in other cities. I wonder why not in Seattle. They seem nice enough, as public toilets go.

What Did NOLA Do To Deserve This?

From the Times-Picayune:

WASHINGTON -- President Bush is scheduled Wednesday to make his 13th, and probably final, visit as chief executive to the New Orleans area since Hurricanes Katrina slammed into the state almost three years ago.

Gordon Johndroe, a Bush spokesman, said Friday that Bush plans to travel from his Crawford, Texas, ranch to Orlando, Fla., for a convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and then travel to New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast to mark the third anniversary of Katrina, which came ashore Aug. 29, 2005.

Johndroe didn't offer any specifics, but said the president will give a speech in New Orleans talking "about his commitment to rebuilding the Gulf Coast."

The only good news here is that it's "probably final", but let's not get carried away. He still has 156 days, 10 hours, and 21 minutes left in office. Our hopes could be dashed.

Bush has admitted that the initial response to Hurricane Katrina was insufficient, and gave a speech a little more than two weeks after the hurricane in Jackson Square promising that the nation "will do what it takes, we will stay as long as it takes, to help citizens rebuild their communities and their lives."

Oh well, then, forgive me, President Bush. That makes it all OK.

Hot Or Wot?

My personal book of saints does not include presidential candidates. Really. Do you vote for a guy because he looks so damned good? Definitely not! I would never do that. Here is our candidate with his lovely daughter on a foreign beach in Hawaii, when he should have vacationed in Florida like a normal American. Ah well. No one's perfect.

Picture via Athenae at First Draft.

My Guest Post At The World Of Doorman-Priest

Doorman-Priest, who blogs at The World of Doorman-Priest is in Tallin, Estonia, for five weeks as part of his seminary program. He is studying to become a Lutheran priest in Leeds in the UK. During his time in Estonia, several of his blog friends are filling in for him while he is away. I am honored that he trusted me to post at his excellent blog.

For weeks, I've been anxious about posting there, because DP writes well. That my fellow guest writers who preceded me have written fine posts, only made me more anxious. The result is here.

Please Pray For Tim And Fran

Fran O'Gorman's husband, Tim, is ill. His diagnosis is not yet certain. Here's the latest word from Fran:

I guess I should update you on him.. now they're thinking myelofibrosis because when they tried to do the bone marrow biopsy they couldn't because of scarring of the marrow which I guess occurs in this disease. They had to take a sample of bone tissue instead. We're supposed to get results Monday or Tuesday.

For wisdom and guidance for the doctors, for healing for Tim, for peace and comfort for all, Tim, Fran, and their family and friends, as they await the diagnosis,

Lord, hear our prayer.

Obama - McCain And Faith

From MSNBC:

On the eve of tomorrow night's presidential forum at Rick Warren's church in California, a pro-Obama religious group announced today that will air a TV ad during the forum's broadcast that emphasizes Obama's faith, his family, and his marriage.

Believe it or not, I read Rick Warren's "The Purpose-Driven Life" or "The Purpose-Driven Church", one or the other, (I can't remember which) and I did not care for it. We were at cross purposes. In addition, I don't believe a mega-church would be my kind of place, however, Warren does promote social consciousness in his big church, as many of the other mega-church pastors do not.

In the TV ad, which you can watch at MSNBC link, the good Reverend Caldwell makes mention of McCain's offer of his wife as a contestant in a topless contest. Yes, he does. I do not like the focus on the candidates' faith. That should not matter. However, principles and moral character do matter a great deal to me. However, considering the situation in our country today, I'd have to concede that that the TV ad is probably a good thing.

Please Pray For William

Please pray for my grandson. He fell in an ant pile yesterday and has many bites around his ear, neck, head, and back. My daughter just wrote,

"I just called Dr. because his ear is very swollen and almost all the bites have the white heads. He looks awful. His ear has about 25 bites."

Poor, poor baby.

Feast Of St. Mary The Virgin

"St Thomas receiving the Virgin Mary's girdle"

Mary’s Song of Praise

And Mary said,
‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’

Luke 1:46-55

Readings:

Isaiah 61:10-11
Psalm 34 or 34:1-9
Galatians 4:4-7
Luke 1:46-55

PRAYER

O God, who have taken to yourself the blessed Virgin Mary, mother of your incarnate on: Grant that we, who have been redeemed by his blood, may share with her the glory of your eternal kingdom; through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

The Roman Catholic Church, celebrates today as the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary into heaven. Pope Pius XII declared the bodily assumption of Mary into heaven to be a dogma of the church. "The Assumption of Mary into heaven is also taught by the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Oriental and Coptic Orthodox Churches, where it is known as the Dormition of the Theotokos." (Wiki)

Image from Wiki

Oh No!

A successful rancher died and left everything to his devoted wife. She was a very good-looking woman and determined to keep the ranch, but knew very little about ranching, so she decided to place an ad in the newspaper for a ranch hand.

Two cowboys applied for the job. One was gay and the other a drunk. She thought long and hard about it, and when no one else applied she decided to hire the gay guy, figuring it would be safer to have him around the house than the drunk. He proved to be a hard worker who put in long hours every day and knew a lot about ranching. For weeks, the two of them worked, and the ranch was doing very well.

Then one day, the rancher's widow said to the hired hand, 'You have done a really good job, and the ranch looks great. You should go into town and kick up your heels.' The hired hand readily agreed and went into town one Saturday night.

One o'clock came, however, and he didn't return. Two o'clock and no hired hand. Finally he returned around two-thirty, and upon entering the room, he found the rancher's widow sitting by the fireplace with a glass of wine, waiting for him.

She quietly called him over to her. 'Unbutton my blouse and take it off,' she said. Trembling, he did as she directed. 'Now take off my boots.' He did as she asked, ever so slowly. 'Now take off my socks.' He removed each gently and placed them neatly by her boot s. 'Now take off my skirt.' He slowly unbuttoned it, constantly watching her eyes in the fire light. 'Now take off my bra.' Again, with trembling hands, he did as he was told and dropped it to the floor.

Then she looked at him and said, 'If you ever wear my clothes into town again, you're fired.'

Blame it on Doug.