NOT TONIGHT, DARLING

The cartoon is naughty English humor, and I take no responsibility for it. The cartoon passed my LOL test, so what could I do? Don't blame me. Blame MadPriest.

I'd guess the cartoon works as a stand-alone, but if not, then click the link above for the story.

NOS AMIS DE PARIS

 

Yesterday, our friends from Paris visited. In truth, our friends live in the burbs of Paris, but "friends from Paris" has a nicer ring to it, don't you think? Le Papa, in the rear center of the picture, worked with Grandpère for a number of years at Nicholls State University. Then he married his lovely French wife, on the right in the photo, and they moved to France and had two good-looking half-French and half-American children. Both youngsters speak very good English.

 

There we are, all together, in the Chinese restaurant here in Thibodaux, where we had lunch before our friends left town. A good time was had by all.

Le Papa says he reads my blog about once a week, but he doesn't read, as he put it, "all the religious stuff". Perhaps, he chooses the better part.

OVER 50 AND LAUGHING OUT LOUD

FOR A GOOD LAUGH......This is for the over 50 generation:

I thought about the 30 year business I ran with 1800 employees, all without a Blackberry that played music, took videos, pictures and communicated with Facebook and Twitter.

I signed up under duress for Twitter and Facebook, so my seven kids, their spouses, 13 grandkids and 2 great grand kids could communicate with me in the modern way. I figured I could handle something as simple as Twitter with only 140 characters of space.

That was before one of my grandkids hooked me up for Tweeter, Tweetree, Twhirl, Twitterfon, Tweetie and Twittererific Tweetdeck, Twitpix and something that sends every message to my cell phone and every other program within the texting world.

My phone was beeping every three minutes with the details of everything except the bowel movements of the entire next generation. I am not ready to live like this. I keep my cell phone in the garage in my golf bag.

The kids bought me a GPS for my last birthday because they say I get lost every now and then going over to the grocery store or library. I keep that in a box under my tool bench with the Blue tooth [it's red] phone I am supposed to use when I drive. I wore it once and was standing in line at Barnes and Noble talking to my wife as everyone in the nearest 50 yards was glaring at me. Seems I have to take my hearing aid out to use it, and I got a little loud.

I mean the GPS looked pretty smart on my dash board, but the lady inside was the most annoying, rudest person I had run into in a long time. Every 10 minutes, she would sarcastically say, "Re-calc-ul-ating". You would think that she could be nicer. It was like she could barely tolerate me. She would let go with a deep sigh and then tell me to make a U-turn at the next light. Then when I would make a right turn instead, it was not good.

When I get really lost now, I call my wife and tell her the name of the cross streets and while she is starting to develop the same tone as Gypsy, the GPS lady, at least she loves me.

To be perfectly frank, I am still trying to learn how to use the cordless phones in our house. We have had them for 4 years, but I still haven't figured out how I can lose three phones all at once and have to run around digging under chair cushions and checking bathrooms and the dirty laundry baskets when the phone rings.

The world is just getting too complex for me. They even mess me up every time I go to the grocery store. You would think they could settle on something themselves but this sudden "Paper or Plastic?" every time I check out just knocks me for a loop. I bought some of those cloth reusable bags to avoid looking confused, but I never remember to take them in with me.

Now I toss it back to them. When they ask me, "Paper or Plastic?" I just say, "Doesn't matter to me. I am bi-sacksual." Then it's their turn to stare at me with a blank look.

I was recently asked if I tweet. I answered, No, but I do toot a lot."

Thanks to Suzanne

SAME SEX BLESSINGS TO BE OFFERED IN THE DIOCESE OF SAN DIEGO

From IT at The Friends of Jake:

But the pinnacle of the weekend was an announcement during the Rev. Canon Allisyn Thomas's sermon on Sunday. She informed us that Bishop James Mathes has given St Paul's permission to offer same sex blessings. There were many tears of joy in the congregation, as long-time couples realized that they, at last, can fully belong. (BP was singing in the summer choir, so I had to wait for the Peace to be able to sneak into the choir to hug her tight!)

What wonderful news! Read the details at TFOJ.

The link to The Rev. Canon Allisyn Thomas' sermon is at the website of St. Paul's Cathedral.

We are created to love God and to love each other. And it is often in our most intimate relationships—intimate in body, mind, and soul, we see the image of the invisible God and begin to understand the depth of God’s all encompassing passion and love for us.

This Cathedral community has been abundantly blessed, and continues to be blessed, with many couples who are in loving, committed long term, Christ-filled relationships. Their presence is an amazing witness of what the better part looks like.

But, we have not been able to formally bless the relationships of our LGBT members—a situation which has caused great pain for many here and diminished the ability of all of us to find and proclaim the image of the invisible God, an image often found in the relationships of our LGBT members and friends because they know some things about fidelity and steadfastness in the face of hardship those of us who are straight cannot fully appreciate.
....

Approximately two weeks ago, Bishop Mathes sent a letter to all clergy in the Diocese saying he will permit the blessing of same gender relationships in churches in this Diocese, under certain conditions.

Canon Thomas' entire sermon is well worth reading.

PACO - MY DAUGHTER'S NEWEST PET

When we visited on Sunday, there was a crowd, and Paco could not be on the floor much, for fear of him getting stepped on.



Adorable, no?

 

He's so sweet.

 

Paco is tiny.

 

Gino, Paco's playmate



My daughter's yard banner - Good advice

PLEASE PRAY - FROM DAVID@MONTREAL

Beloved Giants of prayer and practice

I've had two calls this afternoon for prayers for Rosemary, our little Armenian bird, who last Thursday was rushed back into hospital with severe breathing difficulties- one call from Dave, Rosemary's wonderful husband, the other from my baby sister Jenny who is Rosemary's friend and chief caregiver when Dave is obliged to work in Ottawa during most weeks. As you might remember from earlier prayer calls, this is Rosemary's second bout with cancer and her determination to get through this is incredible. Dave and Rosemary have two young sons.
So prayers for Rosemary and Dave please, their sons, and my baby sister Jenny please.

Prayer's for dear Kirstin please- undergoing her second round in the school of cancer also. Kirstin has just begun a very aggressive course of teatments which will be taking over the forseeable future. Last I heard she has been released from hospital from the first round and is currently at Bishop's Ranch in California.

Another cherished sister in faith, Fran has been having a really rough time recovering from a gall bladder operation, and has been on a medical fast. Fran, her Beloved, and her step-daughter are due to leave for holidays any day now, and she's still struggling with the first steps towards healing.

Prayers please for my former colleague Louyse who underwent brain surgery late last week. The tumor was only discovered after her throid had been irradiated, and she was experiencing balance, perception and speech defecits. Louyse will have a long path of healing ahead of her.

Prayers please for a fiesty friend who manages a life with some pretty incredible challenges and demands made on her. She is currently travelling overseas for her work, and her two children are currently, of legal necessity, in the care of her ex-spouse, their father, who at the best of times is not a desireable influence. Happily this friend is able to share her parenting with her gracious and gentle secondt spouse, who loves these children as his own. Prayer for all involved- for the children, for the pressure and multiple demands my friend tries to balance.

And speaking of fiesty- one beloved sister who might occasionally admit to certain mother bear-like qualities; she, her husband, and their chosen son have been undergoing some horrendous trials in the last days- the system at it's near-worst. This sister is one of the most articulate, passionate, spirit-filled priests I know, so prayers for all three- that grace and strength, insight and peace will be given sufficient to the path ahead and that generous, life-giving justice will prevail.

News of Frank- he and his latest round of cancer appear to be at a standstill. The effects of the ongoing treatments are mild compared to what he as previously been through, and his attitude is incredible. With restrictions, he and Carol are having a simple summer, surrounded by their three wonderful daughters, their spouses & the grandchildren out in BC. He called Mam the other day to see how she is doing with her situation and three times sent along his thanks to 'David's Giants' who have 'made all the difference'

And speaking of Mam, even if she is my Mam, I have to say she's incredible! No complaints, no despair, she's the first one to tell you just how lucky she is that she's still got her arm, that it wasn't her hip, that she's got family to look after her, and that they're doing it so wonderfully. The whole experience has visibly aged her, and yet though there is still occasionally some confusion with individual words, her attitude is always grateful and positive. Mam saw the surgeon late last week, and will begin physiotherapy next Wednesday. She's still unable to live on her own as long as she has the cast, soshe is staying with my sister Joanne and her husband Ken. Today, for the first time since the accident she actually made it to Church with my sister Jenny.

So much to be grateful for, but even more to offer up, and like Frank says you guys really do 'make all the difference.'

love always- always Love

David@Montreal

JESUS AND MO - MOSES IS BACK

author says:

Moses is back! Where has he been? Nobody knows where he goes when he goes a wanderin'.


Peace and blessings,

J&M

From Jesus and Mo.

MAPLE STREET CAFÉ

Yesterday, Grandpère and I drove to New Orleans to have lunch at the Maple Street Café. Although we had dined at the restaurant some years ago, we had a little trouble finding it, and we ended up about two blocks away. GP went into the building which we'd thought might be the restaurant, but it was a gym. Anyway, he asked directions and was told it was two blocks up the street. We decided to leave the car where it was, since parking is scarce in the area, and walk to the Café. The sidewalks are badly uneven and even broken in some spots because of oak tree roots, and GP kept hurrrying me along on the uneven sidewalks, until I finally told him, "I'm doing the best I can! Stop it, or I will make a scene in the street!" And I would have, but he stopped. Men!

The interior of the restaurant, which is no more than une petite boîte, is attractively decorated. The Google Earth view of the exterior is pictured above. I wanted to take my own pictures but the battery on my camera was dead, after taking pictures of my daughter's newest pet, a black kitten named Paco. The Virtual Tourist has a much better photo, along with all sorts of dire warnings about copyright infringement, so I can only link.

As the first course, GP had the spring mix salad, and I had creamed soup with portobello mushrooms and cherry tomatoes. For an entrée, GP ordered Angel Hair Ziad - Fresh Gulf shrimp sautéed with wild mushrooms and sun dried tomatoes in a light olive oil and garlic sauce, which he said was delicious. I chose Duck Jameel - Pan seared boneless pepper crusted duck breast served with a blueberry sauce, along with a vegetable selection of red cabbage, sliced turnips, and broccoli, and new potatoes. The duck with blueberry sauce was to die for, along with the cabbage, and even the turnips were tasty, and turnips are not, by any means, my favorite vegetable.

To top the meal off, although we'd both had our fill, we sinfully ordered dessert, and I had coffee. Tom ordered the pie of all pies, for him, Key lime, and I had bread pudding with a white chocolate sauce. You should know that I am a white chocolate junkie.

A fine meal and well worth the trip. We'll definitely go there again.

BATHING CATS

 

BUT YOU SAID YOU LOVED ME!

 

AS GOD IS MY WITNESS, I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!

 

I DON'T THINK I LOVE YOU ANY MORE

 

N-O-O-O-O! N-O-O-O-O!

AREA 51

You've all heard of the Air Force's ultra-high-security, super-secret base in Nevada, known simply as "Area 51"?

Well, late one afternoon, the Air Force folks out at Area 51 were very surprised to see a Cessna landing at their "secret" base. They immediately impounded the aircraft and hauled the pilot into an interrogation room.

The pilot's story was that he had taken off from Las Vegas, got lost, and spotted the base's runway just as he was about to run out of fuel. The Air Force started a full FBI background check on the pilot and held him overnight during the investigation.

By the next day, they were finally convinced that the pilot really had been lost and really wasn't a spy. They gassed up his airplane, gave him a terrifying "you-did-not-see-a-base" briefing, complete with threats of spending the rest of his life in prison, told him Vegas was that-a-way on such-and-such a heading, and sent him on his way.

The next day, to the total disbelief of the Air Force, the same Cessna showed up again. Once again, the MPs surrounded the plane as it pulled to a stop...only this time there were two people in the plane.

The same pilot jumped out and said, "Do anything you want to me, but that's my wife in the plane, and you have to tell her where I was last night."

The baseless fear of WOMAN as black widow spider.

Don't blame me. Blame Paul (A.). And his wife is a lovely woman.