Thursday, June 11, 2009
Prayers For Gary's Surgery Tomorrow
Please pray for Roseann's husband, Gary, who will have surgery on his shoulder tomorrow. See her blog for details and for a bit of good news from Roseann.
"The Vortex"!!!
I received the link to this video from my cousin. Embedding is disabled, so you must click the link to watch this POS.
Perhaps I'm out of the loop, but I had never heard of "The Vortex" or Real CatholicTV. In truth, I'd like to be back in my state of ignorance.
Here is the exchange of emails with said cousin:
Me: "This is a joke, right?" (Indeed, I knew that it was no joke, just more damned lies from the religious right.)
Cousin: "I don't know if it is a joke or not and don't consider it funny. I do believe BO is trying very hard to turn the train to the left. Very far to the left."
Me: "And I am distressed with Obama because he's middle of the road, leaning right. But I knew he would be, so I'm not surprised. The country has moved so far to the right that the middle of the road looks like the left."
Cousin: "Obviously you and I have very different definitions of left, middle and right."
Obviously. End of exchange. This cousin and I once had a "discussion" that ended up in a near shouting match - in a restaurant, no less. I believe that we frightened and embarrassed the rest of the party at the table. We don't discuss politics any more. So why did he send me this POS? I don't know. I thought we had agreed to disagree.
I am surrounded by folks like my cousin. Thank God for Grandpère and a few other like-minded folks and for my online community. But for them/you, I'd be barking mad.
Perhaps I'm out of the loop, but I had never heard of "The Vortex" or Real CatholicTV. In truth, I'd like to be back in my state of ignorance.
Here is the exchange of emails with said cousin:
Me: "This is a joke, right?" (Indeed, I knew that it was no joke, just more damned lies from the religious right.)
Cousin: "I don't know if it is a joke or not and don't consider it funny. I do believe BO is trying very hard to turn the train to the left. Very far to the left."
Me: "And I am distressed with Obama because he's middle of the road, leaning right. But I knew he would be, so I'm not surprised. The country has moved so far to the right that the middle of the road looks like the left."
Cousin: "Obviously you and I have very different definitions of left, middle and right."
Obviously. End of exchange. This cousin and I once had a "discussion" that ended up in a near shouting match - in a restaurant, no less. I believe that we frightened and embarrassed the rest of the party at the table. We don't discuss politics any more. So why did he send me this POS? I don't know. I thought we had agreed to disagree.
I am surrounded by folks like my cousin. Thank God for Grandpère and a few other like-minded folks and for my online community. But for them/you, I'd be barking mad.
How Silly Of Me
A few days ago, I decided to look for a new brand of shampoo, one that would tame teh frizzies in my hair. The summer heat and humidity have arrived, along with teh frizzies.
On the shelves in the store I faced a vast array of choices, like the cereals, way too many choices, a bewildering array of choices. After I searched for a spell, I finally found a shampoo guaranteed to get the frizz out. The shampoos and conditioners were standing side by side, both guaranteed to stop teh frizzies. Simple person that I am, I hoped to get by with just the shampoo, without having to complicate my life with the conditioner.
Deep in my heart, I know that nothing short of drastic measures will stop teh frizzies in our kind of weather, but I continue to try. Inside the air-conditioned house, all is good after a shampoo and a work-over with the styling brush, but as soon as I step out the door, shampoos, conditioners, styling brush notwithstanding, all is for nought, because teh frizzies are back.
Back to the shelves and to make an already long story short, I grabbed a large size bottle and checked out. Later that evening, I showered and wet my hair down in preparation for the shampoo. I used the little liquid that was left in an old bottle and added the new "shampoo" to the mix. I noticed that there were not many suds, but I figured that anti-frizz shampoo doesn't produce much in the way of suds.
After I was out of the shower and dry, I put on my glasses and read the label on the "shampoo" bottle, only to discover that it contained conditioner and not shampoo. So my hair may not have been clean, but it was conditioned. And I still have teh frizzies. And I will have teh frizzies forever and ever.
Do I hear an, "Amen"?
On the shelves in the store I faced a vast array of choices, like the cereals, way too many choices, a bewildering array of choices. After I searched for a spell, I finally found a shampoo guaranteed to get the frizz out. The shampoos and conditioners were standing side by side, both guaranteed to stop teh frizzies. Simple person that I am, I hoped to get by with just the shampoo, without having to complicate my life with the conditioner.
Deep in my heart, I know that nothing short of drastic measures will stop teh frizzies in our kind of weather, but I continue to try. Inside the air-conditioned house, all is good after a shampoo and a work-over with the styling brush, but as soon as I step out the door, shampoos, conditioners, styling brush notwithstanding, all is for nought, because teh frizzies are back.
Back to the shelves and to make an already long story short, I grabbed a large size bottle and checked out. Later that evening, I showered and wet my hair down in preparation for the shampoo. I used the little liquid that was left in an old bottle and added the new "shampoo" to the mix. I noticed that there were not many suds, but I figured that anti-frizz shampoo doesn't produce much in the way of suds.
After I was out of the shower and dry, I put on my glasses and read the label on the "shampoo" bottle, only to discover that it contained conditioner and not shampoo. So my hair may not have been clean, but it was conditioned. And I still have teh frizzies. And I will have teh frizzies forever and ever.
Do I hear an, "Amen"?
Why Israel Must Leave The West Bank
Josh Marshall at TPM states clearly why Israel must get out of the West Bank for the sake of its own survival as a democratic country. Although I quote two significant paragraphs, please read the entire article. To me, Marshall makes very good sense.
Let's's be clear what that means: a country that permanently holds territories with residents who lack citizenship, the vote and many of the rights of the citizens of the country in question. You can throw around inflammatory words like 'apartheid' which I don't think is appropriate or apt because of the very different origins of the two situations. But it strikes me as naive to believe that such a situation can be maintained permanently without growing international pressure and isolation that will strangle the country.
What this logic tells me is that getting out of the West Bank isn't a prize to be exchanged for peace if and when you can find a leader on the Palestinian side who you have perfect trust in. Getting out of the West Bank is quite simply necessary to the survival of Israel as a Jewish state. So ideally you get out in exchange for a durable peace. And you try to do it in the smartest and most orderly manner. But you get out regardless. And realizing the necessity of leaving means, at a minimum, as a first step, stopping doing things that make it harder, perhaps nearly impossible, to leave. And the first thing on that list is continuing to build new settlements and infrastructure which creates a growing constituency to stay in the settlements forever.
Let's's be clear what that means: a country that permanently holds territories with residents who lack citizenship, the vote and many of the rights of the citizens of the country in question. You can throw around inflammatory words like 'apartheid' which I don't think is appropriate or apt because of the very different origins of the two situations. But it strikes me as naive to believe that such a situation can be maintained permanently without growing international pressure and isolation that will strangle the country.
What this logic tells me is that getting out of the West Bank isn't a prize to be exchanged for peace if and when you can find a leader on the Palestinian side who you have perfect trust in. Getting out of the West Bank is quite simply necessary to the survival of Israel as a Jewish state. So ideally you get out in exchange for a durable peace. And you try to do it in the smartest and most orderly manner. But you get out regardless. And realizing the necessity of leaving means, at a minimum, as a first step, stopping doing things that make it harder, perhaps nearly impossible, to leave. And the first thing on that list is continuing to build new settlements and infrastructure which creates a growing constituency to stay in the settlements forever.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
More From The Pawty I was Not At
Against the wall are the Lovely Mona, Muthah, and Pseudopiskie. Back of head of unidentified male, Padre Mickey, and Elizabeth in the foreground.
The Lovely Mona and Piskie
The Lovely Mona and sweet young thing, Allie
Paul (A.), Catherine, and Allie against the wall. Backs of heads of two unidentified males in foreground.
And I'm still jealous and cross that I was not there for the pawty.
Thanks to WhiteyCat for the pictures.
Recession Over In UK
According to economists in the UK, the recession is over "over there". Thus reporteth the The Guardian.
One of Britain's leading economic thinktanks has called an end to the recession after industrial output showed its first rise in more than a year in April.
The National Institute for Economic and Social Research said March this year was the trough of the downturn that began in the summer of 2008.
....
"The monthly figures are inevitably erratic but the picture is coherent with the broader picture of stabilisation which has emerged since we first suggested that the output had stopped falling in our GDP release on 13 May", the NIESR said.
The projections seem somewhat premature and over-optimistic to me, but, I know very little about economics, and, of course, I could be wrong.
And, the recession ain't over "over here".
One of Britain's leading economic thinktanks has called an end to the recession after industrial output showed its first rise in more than a year in April.
The National Institute for Economic and Social Research said March this year was the trough of the downturn that began in the summer of 2008.
....
"The monthly figures are inevitably erratic but the picture is coherent with the broader picture of stabilisation which has emerged since we first suggested that the output had stopped falling in our GDP release on 13 May", the NIESR said.
The projections seem somewhat premature and over-optimistic to me, but, I know very little about economics, and, of course, I could be wrong.
And, the recession ain't over "over here".
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Where I Stayed For Doxy's Wedding
The view of the lake from the deck
Kind parishioners from Dear Friend's church offered hospitality to several of the out-of-town guests at Doxy and Dear Friend's wedding. My hosts, whom I shall henceforth call LL, for Lovely Lady, and KG, for Kind Gentleman, were a wonderful couple who have traveled the world. KG has been three times on mission trips to Africa to work with the people of the area to build water wells in villages where there was no source of clean drinking water.
KG and LL were the kindest and most gracious folks that you could image. I had a beautiful bedroom with a bath for my private use. Their house was lovely, with a minimalist look about it, spare, but quite inviting and attractive. It's the look that I'd like to have, but after 26 years, I'd need to get rid of a load of stuff - aka as clutter.
LL and KG dancing at Dear Friend's birthday party. Fran and Doxy are in the background to the left of center.
Saturday was a free day, so LL and I chilled together, ate a wonderful salad on the lower deck, which is down the stairs, right alongside the lake. The picture at the top is the upper deck off the living room and kitchen. Afterwards we walked to town, looked around in the stores, bought some cards, and then strolled back home. During this time, LL and I talked and got to know each other and had an altogether lovely day.
I must tell you the story of LL's dress in the picture. She made the dress years ago, and she had not worn it in 33 years or so, for a very long time. She thought she might wear it to the birthday party. She tried on the dress, and it fit perfectly and looked smashing on her. The colors are gorgeous. The chances are nil that I would fit in a dress 33 years old, probably not even a moo-moo of the day. I can't remember ever wearing moo-moos, anyway.
I talked to Doxy on the phone yesterday, and I told her that my entire time in North Carolina was magical. Seeing old friends again, meeting old virtual friends in person for the first the time, spending time with my friends, my kind hosts and their gracious hospitality, the birthday party, the beautiful wedding, all of it was magical.
UPDATE: The picture below, taken by Fran, is lagniappe added to the post, just because I like the picture. All three of us look good. I hope that the other ladies(?) agree.
Me, Fran, and Doxy having lunch at The Soda Shop after they picked me up at the airport.
"We Prostituted Christianity...."
From David@Montreal:
A thought-provoking extract from Richard Rohr:
"We prostituted Christianity when we told people they had to 'save their souls'. That attitude often affirmed the ego 'spiritually,' which is very dangerous and deceptive. We called it the journey into holiness, but it was often disguised and denied self-interest.
Saving one's soul and falling in love with God are two very different journeys. Because we told our people to save their souls, they got into spiritual consumerism, gathering sacraments, holy works, ascetical practices- all affirming the false self. Now we've got these big Christian egos walking around, who are very self-protective, satisfied and conservative in the wrong way. Conversion is not on their agenda. Every preacher or teacher knows what I'm talking about.
An unhealthy conservatism is incapable of exodus,of risk, of passion, and, therefore, perhaps of the living God."
From Letting Go: A Spirituality of Subtraction
Many thanks to David for sending me this. I can only say, "Amen!"
A thought-provoking extract from Richard Rohr:
"We prostituted Christianity when we told people they had to 'save their souls'. That attitude often affirmed the ego 'spiritually,' which is very dangerous and deceptive. We called it the journey into holiness, but it was often disguised and denied self-interest.
Saving one's soul and falling in love with God are two very different journeys. Because we told our people to save their souls, they got into spiritual consumerism, gathering sacraments, holy works, ascetical practices- all affirming the false self. Now we've got these big Christian egos walking around, who are very self-protective, satisfied and conservative in the wrong way. Conversion is not on their agenda. Every preacher or teacher knows what I'm talking about.
An unhealthy conservatism is incapable of exodus,of risk, of passion, and, therefore, perhaps of the living God."
From Letting Go: A Spirituality of Subtraction
Many thanks to David for sending me this. I can only say, "Amen!"
R. I. P. Miguel Hidalgo
From Nola.com:
Miguel Hidalgo, a goat that was a popular resident of the Audubon Zoo's petting zoo, died Friday.
Spokeswoman Sarah Burnette said the goat, known simply as Miguel to thousands of zoo visitors, apparently died of old age. He was 15.
A registered Nigerian dwarf goat, the animal was born in September 1993 at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas, and arrived at Audubon in January 1994.
Nigerian dwarf goats live an average of 12 to 15 years.
Burnette said Miguel was a favorite of zookeepers and visitors alike.
Well known for his long beard or "goatee," he was "always quick to nibble on shirt tails, radio antennas, keys or school bags," she said.
Even though he was a Texas transplant, he was a good goat and a proud papa, too. He has a daughter named June!
H/T to Oyster.
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