A Wild Ride!

Since Georgianne Nienaber's article on me appeared in The Huffington Post, I've had one wild ride. Elizabeth started the whole affair, when she sent me over to Jon's blog to view the Zydeco for Obama video titled "Oui, on peut!". I immediately stole it from Jon, giving him credit, of course, and posted it here. The video caught Georgianne's eye, and she emailed me, and the ride began. I've had more visits yesterday and today than I've ever had in the history of this blog

Thanks to all my blog friends and those whom I don't even know who have linked to the article. Thanks to all my friends and to all the first-time visitors who have come, those who have left a comment and those who have not. I've received a few emails in response to the piece which were quite moving, and which I answered quickly. The response here at the blog and in the emails make me believe that what I do here may make some small difference.

My usual practice is to answer each comment, because I think that if someone takes the time to comment, I should respond. In this instance, I have not always been able to do that because of the overwhelming response, but I assure you that I do read each comment.

Usually, I try to answer emails in a reasonable period of time, but due to increased numbers, I have fallen behind in that, too. If my response takes a while or if your email falls through the cracks and does not get an answer, I apologize in advance. If it's something important that I need to know, please try again.

Thank you all for the kind words. I am moved beyond what I can express by the response to the article. Thanks to Georgianne who writes so well and who captured my personality after such a short time together. I feel as though I've made a new friend.

New Orleans TP - Obama For President!

The New Orleans Times-Picayune endorses Barack Obama for president.

Over the past century, there have been moments when the world held its breath and looked to America for the next move: Our rescue of a broken Europe after World War II; the Cuban missile crisis; the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

We are again at a critical juncture in history. Global markets are imploding. People's life savings are dwindling. Energy needs and climate change call the very foundations of modern society into question. Rogue nations and terrorist organizations have heightened the danger of nuclear proliferation. These problems transcend national boundaries.

Here in the New Orleans area, a cataclysmic man-made flood turned our world upside down and revealed a profound national neglect of our infrastructure. Our vulnerability and the government's unpreparedness were emblematic of other disasters waiting to happen elsewhere in this country.

America is poised on the cusp of new leadership, and once again the world, transfixed, is watching. Who is equal to these challenges? Who will lead the nation that leads the free world?

Our choice: Barack Obama.

YES!!!!

UPDATE: I should have included this quote from the editorial also:

He knows cities -- historic cities, gritty cities. He came by his knowledge pounding the streets of Chicago's South Side as an organizer, grappling with the needs of poor people. For our own great and complex city, we could use a national leader who appreciates that we are more than a sentimental memory of a college romp on Bourbon Street; that we are a culturally rich American treasure, filled with resilient citizens and worth protecting from the encroaching forces of nature.

Not For Me - For Obama And For Louisiana

Yesterday morning, Georgianne Nienaber, who writes at Huffington Post, interviewed me for the post titled "Gumbo Granny Blogs From The Bayou For Obama Louisiana", which is now online at their website. Georgianne loves Louisiana and is presently based in Morgan City, which is not far from Thibodaux, as she researches and writes about Louisiana.

I link to her post not to blow my own horn, (truly, I'm somewhat embarrassed to do it) but for the sake of helping Obama's candidacy and with the hope that, when he is elected, he will realize the importance of Louisiana to the rest of the country and pay attention.

Georgianne and I hit it off right away. How can I not love someone who loves Louisiana? I was a little concerned about the interview, because, once I get to talking, I don't self-censor well, as some of you well know. But the interview went well, and I like very much what she wrote. It's a bit too flattering, but I believe that anyone who knows me will recognize the person Georgianne writes about. And that's the highest praise for writing, isn't it? She got it right, and she wrote it well.

Harry - A Tale Of A Good Dog

For several days, I've been sitting on this bittersweet tale of a good dog, written by Sheila Stroup in the Times-Picayune, because it makes me sad. Sheila writes beautifully about her menagerie, which has even included donkeys:

I worry about my little dog Harry. He is slowing down.

His muzzle is completely gray now, and he no longer comes running when I call him.

He is getting deaf. The one good thing about it is he isn't as terrified of thunder as he used to be. Sometimes, he'll sleep right through a storm instead of leaning his head against me and shaking while I pet him and say softly, "It's OK. It's OK."

Harry took up residence at Sheila's house when he followed her home one day, as she was walking her other dogs. Sometimes that's reason enough to accept a new member into the family. When one says in doggie talk, "Your house is my house," what can you do?

Later, when he needed an X-ray, we found out Harry was full of buckshot.

"No wonder he's afraid of loud noises," I said.

He'll be 14 in a few months, and I hope by now he has forgotten the first year of his life, when he was chased with brooms and shot at, unwanted and alone.

He has been a good dog. He has never bitten anyone, and the only thing he ever chewed up was my book of synonyms -- but only the words that start with w, x, y and z, and who really needs them?

Roger's (aka Lapinbizarre) rescue dog Becky was found to be full of buckshot, too. My Diana was rescued with an arrow in her leg. The cruelty of certain members of the human race toward God's other creatures amazes me still. I sent this story to Roger some days ago, but I haven't had the heart to post it until today.

I'm thankful that Harry, Becky, and Diana were rescued and welcomed into loving homes. Harry and Diana have had good, long lives with their humans. Becky, unfortunately, was diagnosed with lung cancer, but, as Roger says, she will spend what time she has left in a loving and caring home.

At least, thunder doesn't scare Harry so any longer.

Fran, The Minister

One of Fran's ministries in her parish is to prepare the arrangements for funerals. We have talked about this beautiful ministry, and I have expressed my admiration that she serves her spiritual community in this manner. Fran told me that she loves doing this work. She's written a must-read post about one of the funerals. I won't write more about her story, except to say that you won't regret it, if you take the time to read it.

"Wassup?????"

Stick with it, peeps. Watch until the end.

Thanks, Doug.

Late Breaking News

Genghis at TPM:

In a surprise move, the McCain campaign has announced that it has fired the public face of the campaign, Senator John McCain. Campaign spokesperson, Nancy Pfotenhauer, announced the decision to dumbstruck reporters at a hastily arranged press conference on Thursday:

"As of this morning, Senator John McCain has been placed on indefinite administrative leave. John and the campaign leadership have agreed that he is not a good fit for the campaign right now. The parting was amicable, and we wish him well in all his future endeavors."

The rest is over there.

What Did She Look Like Before?

Sarah Palin in the governor's office in Alaska.

In addition to the $150,000 for clothes and accessories for Sarah Palin and her family, the McCain campaign paid out $22,800 to makeup artist Amy Strozzi and $10,000 to hair stylist Angela Lew, within two weeks, for Palin's appearances on the campaign trail.

Below is a recent picture.


Was it worth it?

Tobias' Icon Of St. James Of Jerusalem

"The Mother of God" - Tobias Haller

Tobias Haller and others will come to think of me as one of his groupies, if I continue to highlight his words and his work on my wee blog. I wonder how he feels about an elderly lady groupie. If you have not done so, you must visit his blog to view the most recent example of his iconography. It is exquisite. I did not post it here, because I want you to go to his website to see it and read his account of writing the icon.

Obviously, that's not St. James pictured above. That's another of his icons, "The Mother of God". If you click on "icons", you will find his other works, all of which are very fine. Tobias says that we are not to look upon an icon as a work of art, but as a reflection of the very presence of God. And I do. I do! But I can't help but admire the face of La Madonna and the beautiful colors and drape of the fabric and the gold leaf in the halo and the manner in which all of it comes together.

The web page links to an article by Tobias titled "How Icons Are Written", and to his sermon on icons titled "Image and Likeness". From the sermon:

So the simple four-letter word icon carries a lot of weight! In the orthodox tradition, an icon is not simply a religious picture intended to remind you of some saint or other. Any more than the Eucharist is simply a memorial celebration for our dear departed friend and teacher Jesus. For just as the Eucharist makes Christ present to us in a very real way, in bread and wine and in our hearts as sisters and brothers gathered in his name, where he has promised he would be in our midst; so too the icon does not simply provoke a memory, but invokes a presence, for the icon is a window into heaven.

Please. Read the whole sermon.

I finish with words from JCF, which I copied from the comments at Tobias' blog:

Once again, Tobias, I stand in awe: actor, composer, iconographer, first-rate Biblical scholar. That you couldn't play Center in the NBA is only fair! ;-) JCF

We Pray And We Vote

After my rather dispirited post on voting and my anxious mood about the coming election, Margaret reminded me in the comments of the following from the Book of Common Prayer:

Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers and privileges: Guide the people of the United States in the election of officials and representatives, that, by faithful administration and wise laws, the rights of all may be protected and our nation be enabled to fulfill your purposes: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

I thank Margaret for the prayer for guidance for us all, which I find quite comforting.

Lord, guide us to Obama. Well, don't you think that it's obvious to God who should be elected? Or am straying into Pat Robertson territory?

All joking aside, it's a fine prayer. It's No. 24 on page 822. She suggest prayers Nos. 27 and 28 on pages 823 and 824, also.