For Doxy

From Smiley Anders column in The Advocate:

The economy is so bad that some people must get out their Greenspan and cook poke sallet.

More Good News On Roseann

Dear Mimi,

I've just spoken with Roseann, and to my relief she sounds so much better, we were even sharing a laugh. She is still being treated for the original infection, but she felt so much better after the dialysis today. The nuclear medicine scan that was done showed a deep contusion of the bone. No Break. She is still receiving pain medicine, and that will probably be for a short while longer.

I can't begin to tell you how relieved I am for her.. Pass this on to Maddy please, and again I thank you so much for being willing to help pass on these notes.
Blessings,

Sue

Sue, I'm honored to pass the word on to our blogging community and especially pleased when the news is good. Thank you for keeping us informed.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4-7

Jindal Is The New Bill Clinton

How the mighty have fallen. And newspapers wonder why they are losing readers. I know, I know. I'm beating this subject to death, but it's not every day that our guy fails so spectacularly. Sadly, it's getting to be a regular thing for the Washington Post writers to get it very wrong.

From Michael Gerson at the Washington Post:

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal -- selected to deliver the Republicans' Fat Tuesday response to President Obama -- might also be voted the man least likely to let the good times roll. Slight, earnest, deeply religious and supremely wonkish, Jindal resembles neither his flamboyant predecessors as governor nor his reveling, 30-something contemporaries on Bourbon Street.

You can say that again. But wait!

Some have compared Jindal to Obama, but the new president has always been more attracted to platitudes than to policy. Rush Limbaugh has anointed Jindal "the next Ronald Reagan." But Reagan enjoyed painting on a large ideological canvas. In person, Jindal's manner more closely resembles another recent president: Bill Clinton. Like Clinton (a fellow Rhodes scholar), Jindal has the ability to overwhelm any topic with facts and thoughtful arguments -- displaying a mastery of detail that encourages confidence. Both speak of complex policy issues with the world-changing intensity of a late-night dorm room discussion.
....

At this point in the election cycle, no Republican can be considered more than the flavor of the month. But this is an appealing one.

I'd wager Gerson didn't watch the speech before he wrote his column. What's missing from the comparison is the total lack of charisma on Jindal's part. Clinton engaged as he policy-wonked.

A late-night dorm discussion? Does Gerson have the right stuff to be a columnist for a major newspaper?

And yes, I do know that President Obama gave a fine State of the Union speech last night.

Faux News Didn't Like Jindal's Speech

From Think Progress:

BRIT HUME: “The speech read a lot better than it sounded. This was not Bobby Jindal’s greatest oratorical moment.”

NINA EASTON: “The delivery was not exactly terrific.”

CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER: “Jindal didn’t have a chance. He follows Obama, who in making speeches, is in a league of his own. He’s in a Reagan-esque league. … [Jindal] tried the best he could.”

JUAN WILLIAMS: “It came off as amateurish, and even the tempo in which he spoke was sing-songy. He was telling stories that seemed very simplistic and almost childish.”

When you're a Republican, and you've lost the members of the panel at Faux News, you're in deep doodoo.

Think Progress has a compilation of the "lowlights" of Jindal's speech on video at the link above.

"...You Are Dust...."

...We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, which we from time to time most grievously have committed, by thought, word, and deed....
(Book of Common Prayer, p. 331)

We didn't pray the "Confession of Sin" from the Rite One Eucharist, but it would have been fine with me if we had. I like the old prayers from time to time. My sins and wickedness are surely manifold, and it's a good thing for me to occasionally acknowledge that to be so. I'm feeling sorry and determined to do better, and clean and shriven, at least for the moment.

As I left church today, I told the rector that I was rid of my manifold sins and wickedness, and he laughed and said, "Yeah, for 5 minutes". I think he's on to me.

Update On Sunny - "Life Is Uncertain"

Sunny received a heart transplant a few days ago.

Sunny update:

Mom reports that Sunny opened her eyes and Mom told her she had her new heart for 36 hours. Her eyes got really big and Mom asked "are you happy?" and Sunny nodded "yes."

If all goes well, assist pump comes out of the aorta today and perhaps Sunny comes off ventilator as well. Prayers must be working.

GN

Thanks be to God and all who prayed or sent good wishes.

Ash Wednesday - "God Be Merciful...."

"Ash Wednesday" - Carl Spitzweg

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector. 11The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.” But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.’

Luke 18:9-14

Almighty God, you have created us out of the dust of the earth: Grant that these ashes may be to us a sign of our mortality and penitence, that we may remember that it is only by your gracious gift that we are given everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

Imposition of ashes:

Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.

Break A Leg, Governor Jindal!

Piyush (Bobby) Jindal

Dear Governor Jindal,

I saw you on the TV when you said that you will take all but 1% (give or take a percentage or two) of Louisiana's portion of the stimulus package, because you stand on the principle that the federal government is spending too much money. Some might say that a principled stand would be to refuse the entire amount. Some might say that if you take any of the money and continue to criticize the stimulus bill, then you are a hypocrite. I would never say that.

I am sooo looking forward to your eloquent words which will follow the SOTU speech. I've heard you speak live, and I'd only urge you to slow down a bit and not include a litany of facts and figures that will send most viewers reeling.

Remember, too, that many of your constituents may be drunk or sleeping off their Mardi Gras revels by the time you get your TV time. Have you forgotten your constituents? You're a traveling man now, raising money for "your next term as governor", but we're still here waiting for you to remember that you are governor of our state, which is in dire need of leadership, what with the budget deficit and all. We make allowances for you now that you are a star on the national stage, but a little TLC from time to time would be greatly appreciated by the folks back home in Louisiana.

Respectfully,

Louisiana Citizen Mimi

UPDATE: Louisiana Sen. David Vitter, of consorting-with-prostitutes fame, another brilliant Rhodes scholar, comments on Jindal's speech:

Bobby offered a compelling positive alternative to empower people and does not simply grow the government.

Yes, senator, and up is down, and black is white, etc., etc., etc.

Watch Out For The Baby!

When I posted about the king cake tradition in south Louisiana, someone in the comments asked about the danger of swallowing the baby that was tucked into the king cake by the buyer.

The funniest thing I've read today comes from Blondius Maximus, who works at a bakery in New Orleans that makes king cakes. The words are a tad more x-rated than most of what I post here, or I'd just copy and give credit. If you want a laugh and a real taste of New Orleans style talk, go read Blondius Maximus at Live Journal.

H/T to Athenae at First Draft.

PS: After today, no more king cake for you!

Very Sad News From Roseann - Please Pray

from Roseann

I am back in the hospital. Last night I started running a temp of 102 and I can't move my left leg at all. It can bare no weight and any position other than supine is beyond painful. I didn't go to dialysis yesterday because I couldn't move. When my temp spiked I called Gary and he came home to take me to the ER. He couldn't move me so he had to call the ambulance. Long story short, the nephrologist said if I hadn't come in I probably wouldn't have lived through the night. My potassium level was so high my heart was about to shut down. They put me right on dialysis at midnight and kept me on until 4:30. Also, my ob/gyn called yesterday and is concerned about a possible relapse of the cervical cancer.

If you look up "snake bit" in the dictionary it has my picture.

I'm back at St. Vinnie's.... My very favorite aide works on this wing. She sat and cried with me last night until I got it out of my system.

Not trying to be dramatic here but I don't think I have much time left on this earth. Please pray for Gary.

Love, Roseann

Please pray for Roseann and Gary.

UPDATE: Mimi, roseann is going to have a bone scan which will show up a hair line fracture if it is in the hip. she sounded better this afternoon.

Thanks for the update, Sue. A bit of better news, thanks be to God and all you pray-ers and senders of good thoughts and good wishes.