Finally, We Meet!

Yesterday, a friend and I planned to have lunch together. We met at church some years ago, and we get along well, like the same books, and mean to get together more often than we do, but we manage only about one meeting a year, with the exception of our meetings at church.

We decided that we'd try the new Mexican restaurant, El Paso, rather than the old Mexican restaurant, La Casa. My friend and I are about the same age, and we're both somewhat "head-in-the clouds" types, not much given to nailing down the details. I had only a vague idea of where El Paso was, didn't know the name at the time to give to my friend, and when I tried to find it, I could not. I rode around in the vicinity for about 10 or 15 minutes with no success. I passed La Casa and thought about stopping there to see if my friend was there, but I decided against it and returned home.

Why didn't we exchange cell phone numbers? Why didn't I tell her to meet me at my house, which is near the restaurant? Grandpère shook his head, when I came back home. I called my friend's house, but, of course, no answer. GP told me again where El Paso was, and I took off and found it with a sign saying "El Paso coming soon!", but the building was still being renovated, and the restaurant was surely not open. I went back home and thought about what to do. Now I am quite late for lunch. I didn't even look at the clock to see how late, because I didn't want to know. La Casa had moved to a new location several months ago, and as a last resort to try to save our date, I called La Casa to see if my friend was there, and indeed she was! I told the staff person to tell her that I was on my way and would be there in a few minutes.

My friend had ordered and was eating her lunch, which consoled me a little. I apologized profusely, and she said that it was really her fault, because she did not know that the new La Casa was the old restaurant in a new location. I ordered a glass of wine (to be brought quickly) and my lunch and we did the Alphonse and Gaston (link for the youngsters) routine for a while and then settled in to enjoy lunch and conversation, which we very much did, and then pledged to get together before a year passed for another misadventure. It was really all my fault, and I'm a bit surprised that my friend wants to try again, but she is a lovely and forgiving person.

Image from Wiki.

I've Done It More Than Once

Click on the picture to enlarge.


We're a small church, but, when folks who regularly attend one Sunday service, show up at the other service, I've done that very thing. Now when I meet someone whom I think may be a newcomer, I've learned to put my hand out and say, "Hi, I'm June," and stop there.

With thanks to ASBO Jesus.

Oyster Is Wicked, Wicked, Wicked

The immature man (by his own admission) who writes at Your Right Hand Thief has outdone himself. Not only has he thought bad thoughts about an innocent post of mine (and during Lent, too!), and committed a string of other sins in a single post, he tells a story about defective flushable wipes.

That reminds me: I recently purchased a box of defective flushable wipes. In what way were they defective? Well... how can I put this? The concentration of "cleansers and emollients" on the wipes exceeded any conceivable household or industrial standard.

That's all I'll quote from the story. You are forewarned. If you're squeamish about stories of (perfectly natural) bodily functions and minor, though painful, maladies, then you may not want to follow the link and read the rest. On the other hand, if you enjoy the occasional laugh at the misfortune of another, then....

Oyster is a New Orleanian by adoption only. Natives of the city are not nearly so wicked.

Jindal Won't/Will Take The Federal Money

From the News Star in Monroe, Louisiana:

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal brought most of his Cabinet here Monday afternoon to offer moral and tangible support to a group of 500 desperate Pilgrim's Pride contract growers and employees whose livelihoods are at risk following the company's decision to idle its northeastern Louisiana and southern Arkansas operations.
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Pilgrim's Pride announced its decision on Friday, saying it will eliminate 1,300 jobs in Union and the surrounding parishes and 800 jobs in El Dorado, Ark., within 75 days. Almost 300 independent growers will also likely be ruined by the closures.
....

Jindal said that the state would apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance from the federal government, which would expand unemployment benefits to employees and provide benefits to growers who aren't eligible for unemployment benefits. The state was recently granted Trade Adjustment Assistance for International Paper workers who lost their jobs when IP closed its Bastrop paper mill late last year.

From Politico just a couple of weeks ago:

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal announced Friday that he will decline stimulus money specifically targeted at expanding state unemployment insurance coverage, becoming the first state executive to officially refuse any part of the federal government’s payout to states.

Different federal money? Not stimulus money? Still federal money. Still running up the deficit. What's the deal, Guv?

And the latest in the saga of Governor Jindal's wide-ranging travels from the Times-Picayune:

Gov. Bobby Jindal's string of out-of-state fundraising visits continues this week with a California trip that will include four stops to raise money for his 2011 re-election campaign.

Jindal traveled to Malibu, Calif., for a Tuesday evening fundraiser in a private residence, according to the governor's press office. Today, the governor is scheduled to raise money in San Diego, Fairfield and Palo Alto before heading back to Baton Rouge.

Since the start of the year the governor has visited Mississippi, Arkansas, North Carolina and Florida to meet donors and raise campaign cash. Jindal raised $3.5 million in 2008 for his 2011 campaign despite having no challengers in sight.

Some might say that Governor Jindal should spend a tad, just a tad, more time minding the store in the state which elected him governor.

The Latest And Final(?) Word On The ABS Listings

Regarding the missing listings for the Episcopal Church at the American Bible Society's website, here's Tobias in the comments:

Blogger Tobias Stanislas Haller said...

As it now stands, TEC shows up on the Find a Church directory as a Specific Denomination under "Anglican" chosen as the General Denomination. This was my initial concern, and it has now been fixed. At some point the Episcopal Church, which had been in the list of denominations, was removed. It's now back, and categorized properly as Anglican.

However, on the screen where a parish enters its own information for the directory display, the two drop-down data entry boxes refer to "primary denomination" and "secondary denomination." There is no listing for just plain "Anglican" on either of these ( they appear to be identical). So an Episcopal parish should you just choose "Episcopal Church" as the primary denomination. There is no way, using these fields, to indicate any connection with the Anglican Communion. (My suggestion to the ABS would be to add "Anglican Communion" to the denominational list.)

If an Episcopal parish wants to indicate that it is Anglican on its directory display, the answer is to add the word Anglican to the parish description. Making reference to the Anglican Communion in descriptions of Episcopal parishes was commended by general convention, if I'm not mistaken in 2006. I have done this for my parish using the tagline "The Anglican presence in Fordham since 1853."

That seems to be the state of things; my primary concern has been addressed; and as to who it was removed the Episcopal Church from the listings in the first place (if this was an intentional act)... well, truly they have their reward. (my emphasis)

Other WB posts on the missing listings are here and here.

Into The Spam Box Labeled "Troll"

And I didn't lift a finger. Thank you, GMAIL!

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A Word From Roseann

Well, things are up and down as usual. UAMS called me at 8:30 last night and said they would not put me on the transplant list. Apparently I have too many other health issues to resolve before they will put me on the list. So, I will just keep moving forward step by step. First up is the cervical biopsy and I'm having that Tuesday. Next will be the breast biopsy and I'm really not worried about that.

Emotionally I am okay at the moment. I was a wreck after getting the phone call but Gary talked to Dr Kimball and we're just going to keep moving.

THE GOOD NEWS is my donor is compatible so far. He is still willing and will wait this out with me.

Please continue to pray for Roseann and her husband, Gary. She added:

Mimi, thanks for the encouraging note. I appreciate your posts for and about me. It helps me feel the prayers. Love & peace, Roseann

Please Pray...

for Paul, the BB

I already told you about my suspected bronchitis. For that I made an appointment tomorrow. But something else was going on with my body yesterday afternoon and I saw the doc today. My laryngitis is chump change (though I do sound awful).

I have phlebitis.

I got shot in the hip to knock out nasty infections and tomorrow I will have a Doppler done to see if there is a clot or not. Then blood tests and any future action.

With age I have a number of greater and lesser health concerns and there will be upcoming things (not huge, just needful) to pursue. As a simple example, I have a knee that ain't what it used to be. Who doesn't sooner or later?

I know I don't even have to ask this crowd for prayers but thought you'd like to know.

UPDATE: From Paul - An update for y'all: NO BLOOD CLOT. The ultrasound showed my veins doing just fine. This is wonderful news and a huge relief. I do have an ugly infection but it is already being battled into submission. I am very grateful for the love and prayers that have come my way. See Paul, the BB's post.

and for Fran's friend, the lurker.

Enough about me, I'm fine and not so freaking important that my busy-ness matters one iota.

There is something way more important and I should not even be making small talk I am asking for prayers please. I have a friend who is a big lurker on these pages. She has come to know and read many of you, especially those in the cyber church
crowd, although I know she is also quite fond of at least one non-churchy type. I've barely linked to all the blog she reads - she is a much better blog friend than I am, so keep that in mind.

You just don't know her yet, but you will love her.

In any case, my friend and our lurker has some medical stuff going on and has a doctor's appointment on Friday. This appointment is very anxiety provoking for her... If you could send some prayers her way, that would be most welcome and most appreciated.

Thanks kids.

Mwah-mwah-mwah, kisses all around.

Yes, of course we will pray for you, dear Paul, for healing, and for you, dear lurker, for a good report from your medical test.

Blessings and love to you both.

"St. Augustine Parish Counts Its Blessings"

 

From the Times-Picayune:

Three years after they launched a desperate effort to save their Catholic parish from closure, members of historic St. Augustine Parish in Treme got official word Sunday: They are off probation and back on solid ground.

The Rev. Quentin Moody made the announcement at the conclusion of 10 a.m. Mass to a crowd of worshippers who interrupted his announcement with shouts and applause.

Among them were lay leaders who three years ago dug in their heels and resisted Archbishop Alfred Hughes' decision to close the wounded 168-year-old parish in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
....

The old congregation in one of New Orleans' most historic neighborhoods is a cultural jewel. In its earliest days, white merchants, free black artisans and slaves worshipped there together. It was home to civil rights heroes Homer Plessy and A.P. Tureaud and pioneer jazz clarinetist Sidney Bechet.
....

The news was greeted by a typical St. Augustine crowd -- racially mixed, with a blend of white and black New Orleanians and out-of-town visitors. Sunday, a few dozen young hurricane relief volunteers absorbed the jubilant worship among white and black New Orleanians who swayed and clapped through a Mass infused with up-tempo gospel and African-American spirituals, despite the solemn Lenten season.

St. Augustine is the oldest African-American Roman Catholic parish in the United States. May God bless the priest and parishioners of St. Augustine, and may they continue to grow and prosper in the work of the Lord.

Unfortunately, two other historic parishes, St. Henry and Our Lady of Good Counsel, which had also met the benchmarks for financial stability to continue as parish churches, were not given reprieves by the diocese.

Louisiana's Pink Dolphin

From the Telegraph:

Charter boat captain Erik Rue, 42, photographed the animal, which is actually an albino, when he began studying it after the mammal first surfaced in Lake Calcasieu, an inland saltwater estuary, north of the Gulf of Mexico in southwestern USA.

Capt Rue originally saw the dolphin, which also has reddish eyes, swimming with a pod of four other dolphins, with one appearing to be its mother which never left its side.

What a lovely creature. I hope and pray that the folks in the area respect their boundaries and don't harass the little dolphin and the mother.

It is apparently unclear whether dolphins distinguish color or not. I wondered what the mother made of the little one's color if she could see the bright pink.