Summa Mamas

the summa mamas

2008-09-08T16:54:00.000-07:00

the summa mamas are still active and may be found alive and well, blogging here.

BIG BIG BIG NEWS FOR THE MAMAS!

2004-01-13T12:19:00.000-08:00

The Mamas are moving! No, we're not having a garage sale, at least not yet!

We're moving over to St. Blog's.org!

Here's the link to take you to our new digs.

Please come see us. We don't look so very different yet, and it'll take a while before this old brain wraps itself around how to make things look different. Bear with us while I figure out how to transfer the links over to the new place.

We don't think we'll bother transferring our archives--nothing we've written is any more substantial than dust in the wind. And we won't kill off this old blog 'til all our readers (all 5 of them!) figure out where we are now.

We'd like to ask you all to update your bookmarks to the new place, and change our address if you've got us in your list of links. Sorry to be trouble, but we love the new place. It feels like home already!

Come on over to the new place. Later we'll get it all spruced up and purty.

Cheap toy for the older child....

2004-01-13T05:20:00.000-08:00

....to add to the list of Kleenex, Scotch tape, bubble wrap and packing peanuts. RUBBER BANDS. McBaby, who is old enough to know not to put them in her mouth, has played for HOURS (really!) with my sack of brightly colored rubber bands. They are BEAUTIFUL bracelets, they fit into almost every stacking thing we have, and they can be endlessly sorted and put back into the bag that held them.

Who knew that a dollar's worth of rubber bands could be so interesting? Why have I spent money on toys, when office supplies would do?

P.S. Don't do rubber bands if you have a crawler putting things in her mouth! This is your standard warning of danger!

And here is a link

2004-01-13T05:11:00.000-08:00

to the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal home page, where they will be posting updates on Fr. Groeschel's condition. Nothing new as of this moment.

Hey TSO and other Flannery O'Connor lovers

2004-01-13T04:57:00.000-08:00

Here is a review on Christianity Today of a new book discussing O'Connors works.

The book is titled Return to Good and Evil: Flannery O'Connor's Response to Nihilism
by Henry T. Edmondson III
Lexington Books,
180 pp.; $24.95

Here's a paragraph from the review:

For the newcomer, Edmondson's book offers a primer on O'Connor's wit and wisdom. For the seasoned reader, Return to Good and Evil offers a highly readable exposition of the philosophical and theological engagement of her stories. O'Connor once wrote that "more than ever now it seems that the kingdom of heaven has to be taken by violence, or not at all. You have to push as hard as the age that pushes against you." Return to Good and Evil returns us to O'Connor's stories with a heightened awareness of the stakes for which we mortals are playing in a world increasingly given to moral relativism. As the title of one of her best stories put it, "The life you save may be your own."

Sounds interesting.

Mad and Well-Beloved? Sounds about right.

2004-01-12T18:13:00.000-08:00

Which Historical Lunatic Are You?
From the fecund loins of Rum and Monkey.

Thanks to our dear Mrs. vonHuben at Oblique House for the link.

Update on Fr. Groeschel

2004-01-12T15:19:00.000-08:00

I received this this evening, it does not look good. Please keep praying.

K

We spoke with Fr. Groeschel's assistant this morning who confirmed the news,
saying that the situation didn't look good. "We need nothing short of a
miracle," she said.

At this point, the most important thing we can do is pray. The Eternal Word
Television Network (EWTN) is broadcasting a Holy Hour for him this morning,
and Fr. Groeschel's assistant requested that we ask for prayers from St.
Francis, the founder of the order, and St.

Augustine, who has been Fr. Groeschel's favorite all his life.

Father Groeschel is one of the most powerful voices for the Church in this
country and around the world. Not only that, but he's been absolutely
selfless in his generosity to numerous Catholic apostolates, including this
one. I know you don't need any encouragement from me to pray for this truly
holy man.

I'm very sorry for the bad news, but I knew you'd want to be kept informed.
I'll let you know as soon as we learn anything new.

Best,

Deal

Observation # 1

2004-01-12T15:12:00.000-08:00

The "Clapper" and kids don't mix.

The advertising on this one is a gem. I don't remember seeing anyone under the age of 50 clapping their lights out. It was a Vegas holiday this year as DH decided it would be a good idea to use the device for the tree illumination.

Definitely not for the already over stimulated.

No, no, say it isn't so!

2004-01-12T11:56:00.000-08:00

Barbie and Ken as Arwen and Aragorn.

Yes, it is. See it here.

And no, the Curt Jester didn't make it up.

Thanks to Kat Lively of Come On, Get Lively for the link.

Here's our Scrabble score...

2004-01-12T11:39:00.000-08:00

.....

Pholph's Scrabble Generator

My Scrabble© Score is: 18.
What is your score? Get it here.

I, of course, would have made sure that we covered a Triple Word Score square....

SUFFER THE ADULTS? Children at Mass (She's Back, part two)

2004-01-12T11:33:00.000-08:00

It has been said that most people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited -- until you try to sit in their pews. And, if you try to sit in their pews with your children, things can get downright nasty. Suddenly that sweet little old lady morphs into Gollum coughing a hairball at your toddler and stabbing you with a look that tells you she'd rather sit in vomit than share the pew with you and yours. What is it with these people?

Before I lambast the snooty so-and-so with the pinched face who feels oh-so put out having to sit next to my children, I must admit to being the snooty so-and-so before I had children of my own. I think that the majority of people who have a problem with the wee ones at Mass have never had to deal with children themselves, or that they're too old to remember what it was like. With that, they should be humored because either they're missing out on the joys of parenthood or they aren't long for this earth.

I am ashamed to admit that a good deal of my angst stemmed from a false sense of piety: I would see Christ, sir, not some bothersome little rugrat. How's that for Christian charity? At least I was in good company. The disciples themselves tried to shoo away the littlest followers of Christ before He gave them a good scolding, which is what they deserved. And, when his congregation begins to wail and bemoan a similar fate, a good and supportive priest will imitate Christ and scold those would-be shoo-ers, reminding them of Matthew 19:14 which admonishes, "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." The Summa Mamas are exceptionally blessed with a priest who makes regular mention of Christ's words as a reminder that everyone belongs at table -- that there are no bastards at this family reunion.

Of course, some translations of Matthew 19 read "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me..." They don't say anything about the adults having to suffer. This is what I imagine our poor Mrs. Dashwood was thinking when she posted her concerns about parents who try to reason with their children at Mass.* We've all had to overlook a crying baby, but we should never have to suffer through a full blown temper tantrum. If your child is being more disruptive than merely annoying, kindly take him out to the narthex. Not only is that common sense, it's common courtesy. Mere annoyance can be offered up. Outright defiance needs to be nipped in the butt, er bud.

Remember, I agree with Mrs. Dashwood that you cannot reason with little ones. And, while I appreciate parents who think bad behavior should be redirected, I should never have to hear "I understand you want to make farting noises in your arm pit, Johnny, and I admire your ingenuity. But, might we pause a moment to reflect about how it makes our neighbors around us feel?" It's most likely Johnny could care less how his neighbors feel and it's uncharitable and rude on the part of the parent to subject other parishioners to unnecessary vexation. Truth be told, there have been times I wanted to not only slap the kid but also the parent. Thumbwrestling with your tween during the Transubstantiation or playing video games on your cell phone with your teenager during the homily are not acceptable behavior.

Which brings up an important point several commentaries to part one (Who's in Charge?) brought up: children often mimic the behavior their parents model. If you have little regard for the reverence of the Sacrifice, it's highly unlikely your children will be any better. In fact, these are the parents who give parents a bad name. But even the most reverent parents are going to have little children who will act like children. We need to continue to model good behavior and remind the tots that bad behavior will not be tolerated during the Mass. Period. No room for argument.

And, if I may...I'm going to brag. Yesterday my five year old daughter (G1) and my seven year old son (D) went to Mass with Daddy who had to serve. So, what did they do? They sat in the front pew by themselves, and they behaved so well that several people remarked on how surprised they were and how proud we should be. [Thank you, MamaT, for the kind email!] So, children can behave at Mass. By the grace of God, it can be done. So, hey, lighten up! Let the littl'uns come on down. Heaven belongs to them, don'tcha know?

*see She's Back part one, original post 01-06-04

These could be the stupidest sentences I've read

2004-01-12T11:14:00.000-08:00

In my hometown newspaper, there is a column once a week in the Family section called Chris and Catherine's Culture Club. They usually review a book, or compare the book and film versions of a story--something like that.

Today's topic? The DaVinci Code. Christopher Kelley LOVED the book, and went on and on about how he was "dazzled by the breadth of his research and how he wove all of it into a gripping thriller plot." Well, we've already read about the "research" and how faulty it was. I'll probably just send him a link the Sandra Meisel's article about the book. (Not that I think that he would actually READ the article, but at least he would know there was different information out there.)

But that wasn't the bad part. Catherine (the other half of the duo) brings up the point that many people have disputed the research and the "facts" that Dan Brown uses.

Here's the screamingly stupid part:

"I don't care if Brown's 'facts' are a heap of nonsense; the point for me, is that it all sounds like the truth. If I wanted a history lecture, I would have gone to Princeton. But this book is persuasive and entertaining, and that's good enough by me (especially when I'm on vacation)."

Well, it is possible that he means in a literary sense it all hangs together--makes sense in some fictional world way. But that certainly isn't clear from the column. Where was his editor--clarifying what was said?

Can he just start making up stories now for the newspaper? After all, it doesn't matter if it's TRUE, it just has to "sound" true.

What a world. I think it SOUNDS true that Terry is the Empress of the Universe and all will kowtow to her intellectual superiority and do exactly what she says at all times.

You may all start referring to me as Your Highness.

Yeah, that sounds true.

From EWTN website

2004-01-12T07:09:00.000-08:00

Fr. Groeschel Critically Injured in Car Accident
in Florida

EWTNews-Fr. Benedict Groeschel, CFR, well known to EWTN viewers for his numerous series and appearances on the network, is in critical but stable condition at Orlando Regional Medical Center after being struck by a car near Orlando International Airport in Florida. The incident occurred Sunday evening. Details are sketchy but sources say the priest was walking to a restaurant for a meal when he was hit. EWTNews will keep you informed of this situation as it develops.

Please keep Fr. Groeschel in your prayers.

My semi-seasonal post

2004-01-12T05:35:00.000-08:00

Lately, I haven't had much to say. We are now at 32 weeks and in the final stretch...Although I should really tack on a couple extra weeks as it seems the bambinos like to arrive fashionably late.

I did find this neato keen test this morning in my box, courtesy my
cineandmedia group. I'll post the answers below.

Greetings to all...

Special K

FINDING GOD IN THE RINGS

David Buckna
For the Calgary Herald

"God is the Lord of angels, and of men -- and of elves."
-- J.R.R. Tolkien, in The Tolkien Reader (1966).

"The Lord of the Rings is not, as some have suggested, a covert allegory of
the gospel. Tolkien clearly denied that . . . Tolkien was telling a story,
not proclaiming a message. His Christian world view pushed itself up of its
own accord."
-- Kurt Bruner, in Finding God in The Lord of the Rings (2001)

Director Peter Jackson's third installment in The Lord of the Rings
trilogy, Return of the King, opened in theatres Dec. 17.

1 Just as the Bible is monotheistic, so is there one God of Middle-earth. Who?

2 Gandalf says to Frodo: "All we have to decide is what to do with the time
that is given us." (I.60). To whom did Paul write: "Look carefully then how
you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of the time,
because the days are evil" -- the Corinthians, Ephesians or Thessalonians?

3 Frodo Baggins' loyal companion is Sam Gamgee, who's known Frodo since
childhood. Who wrote: "Two are better than one, because they have a good
return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But
pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!" -- Amos, Job, or
Solomon?

4 Anticipating Frodo's initial encounter with Strider (Aragorn), Gandalf
turns the old proverb, "All that glitters is not gold," on its head,
writing, "All that is gold does not glitter." To what prophet did God say:
"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the
outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" -- Jeremiah, Micah, or
Samuel?

5 Gandalf describes Gollum: "He was altogether wretched. He hated the dark,
and he hated light more; he hated everything, and the Ring most of all . .
. He hated it and loved it, as he hated and loved himself" (I:64). In the
New Testament, who wrote: "I do not understand what I do. For what I want
to do I do
not do, but what I hate I do" -- James, Matthew or Paul?

6 Wheaton College professor Clyde S. Kilby writes in his 1970 paper, Mythic
and Christian Elements in Tolkien, that after Gandalf's return from his
fight with the Balrog, "the Fellowship gazed on him with something of the
same astonished joy that" -- someone -- "found at the tomb of Christ." Who
first saw
the resurrected Christ?

7 In the darkness of the Tower of Cirith Ungol, Sam begins to sing. In the
Book of Acts, who were singing hymns to God around midnight in the darkness
of prison?

8 Gollum and the Ring are both destroyed, consumed in the flames of the
Cracks of Doom. At the end of time, who will be thrown into the lake of
burning sulphur?

9 Upon his return to Hobbiton, Frodo says of this person: "Do not believe
him! He has lost all power, save his voice that can still daunt you and
deceive you, if you let it." Who?

10 In a letter written near the end of his life, what did Tolkien say was
the chief purpose of life?

The Calgary Herald

January 3, 2004 Saturday Final Edition

Observer/Faith & Reason; The Pop Gospel; Pg. OS11

Answers

2004-01-12T05:34:00.000-08:00

1 Iluvatar, whose story is told in the opening pages of Tolkien's The
Silmarillion (1977). Ralph C. Wood writes in The Gospel According to
Tolkien (2003): "Iluvatar employs his valar as ancillaries in the act of
creation. Nothing even polytheistic is suggested here. The valar are not
divinities but subordinate beings who Iluvatar has created with the Flame
Imperishable of his own Spirit." (Wood's July 14, 2003 Tolkien lecture at
Vancouver's Regent College is available on CD.)

2 The Ephesians (Ephes 5:15-16).

3 Solomon, in Ecclesiates 4:9-10.

4 Samuel, in 1 Samuel 16:7. When God instructs Samuel to anoint one of
Jesse's sons to be the next king, God rejects the impressive Eliab, in
favour of David, the smallest and youngest son.

5 Paul (Romans 7:15). He continues: "What a wretched man I am! Who will
rescue me from this body of death?" (Romans 7: 24-25),

6 Mary Magdalene, John 20:16.

Kilby continues: "Gandalf's hair, we are told, was 'white as snow in the
sunshine; and gleaming white was his robe; the eyes under his deep brows
were bright, piercing as the rays of the sun; power was in his hand' (II,
98)."

"Gimli the dwarf sank to his knees and shaded his eyes from Gandalf's
brightness. Later we learn that Gandalf is 'filled with light,' his head is
'now sacred' (II,107), he is a healer, does not require armour in battle,
etc."

Revelation 1:16: "His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance."

7 Paul and Silas (Acts 16:25).

"Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the
prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone's
chains came loose" (Acts 16:26).

In the same way, a song came to Sam when he needed it most: "Though here at
journey's end I lie/ in darkness buried deep,/ beyond all towers strong and
high,/ beyond all mountains steep,/ above all shadows rides the Sun/ and
Stars for ever dwell:/ I will not say the Day is done,/ nor bid the Stars
farewell."

An old Quaker hymn echoes the same thought in different words: "What though
the tempest round me roars?/ I know the Truth, it liveth;/ What though the
darkness round me blows?/Songs in the night it giveth."

8 "And the Devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning
sulphur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will
be tormented day and night for ever and ever" (Revelation 20:10).

9 Sharkey/Saruman, who is like the devil: "The great dragon was hurled down
-- that ancient serpent called the devil or Satan, who leads the whole
world astray" (Rev 12:9). The names of renegade wizard Saruman and Dark
Lord Sauron suggest "saurian" or "reptilian" -- reminiscent of the biblical
"dragon."

10 " . . . So it may be said that the chief purpose of life, for any one of
us, is to increase according to our capacity our knowledge of God by all
the means we have, and to be moved by it to praise and thanks."

See: www.leaderu.com/focus/ tolkien.html or
www.hollywoodjesus.com/lord_of_the_rings.htm
or www.christianitytoday.com/history/special/tolkien.html

Scoring:

1-3 Fair

4-7 Good

8-9 Excellent

10 As wise as Solomon

GRAPHIC: Photo: Pierre Vinet, Calgary Herald Archive; Ian McKellan as
Gandalf, "filled with light,' his head 'now sacred,' he is a healer, does
not require armour . . .

For comments or questions, e-mail solomann@look.ca

Copyright 2003 by David Buckna. David Buckna is the author of "The Pop
Gospel", a regular quiz feature in the Observer/Faith & Reason section of
the Calgary Herald. Buckna reads email at
Editors: To obtain permission to publish in _any_ print or online format,
contact David Buckna at (dabuckna@direct.ca) or (solomann@look.ca)
===
See also: http://individual.utoronto.ca/johnbowen/dare/lotr.html and
http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=17312

Today's great hymn

2004-01-11T20:01:00.000-08:00

You have to understand. Almost every week, my husband and son just shake their heads at me, when I am overcome by some phrase in a hymn that we sing. They're used to it. New people at church probably just assume that I'm some kind of a nut. For a relatively unmusical person like me, it is amazing to me that I am always smacked between the eyes by the music.

Smockmomma can tell you. I gave a talk to a group we are in about the hymns/gospel songs that have traced the pattern of my life. And I bawled my way through the talk. Not a pretty sight, as I don't cry like those sweet little things on the soap operas (you know, with the one delicate tear trickling down my cheek). Oh no, not me! My nose gets red and I get all blubbery.

Anyway, it happened again today with this hymn. Read it and weep, if you're so inclined. In our parish sung to the French tune Deus Tuorum Militum. Most sources give no author's name, just "Latin text." But one source says it was originally composed by Thomas A Kempis. I knew I liked that guy!

O Love, how deep, how broad, how high,
how passing thought and fantasy,
that God, the Son of God should take
our mortal form for mortals' sake.

For us baptized, for us he bore
his holy fast and hungered sore.
For us temptations sharp he knew,
for us the tempter overthrew.

For us he prayed, for us he taught,
for us his daily works he wrought,
by words and signs and actions,
thus still seeking not himself but us.

For us to evil pow'r betrayed,
scourged, mocked, in purple robe arrayed.
He bore the shameful cross and death,
for us gave up his dying breath.

For us he rose from death again;
for us he went on high to reign;
for use he sent his Spirit here
to guide, to comfort and to cheer.

All glory to our Lord and God
for love so deep, so high, so broad;
the Trinity whom we adore
forever and forevermore!

Can some one give me some advice?

2004-01-11T19:45:00.000-08:00

I am considering moving the Summa Mamas from Blogger to something with a little more flexibility. However, I am a MAJOR idiot when it comes to computer stuff, so I need something that is WAY EASY to do.

We would love to be able to put some images on our site--not just the links to the quiz results type stuff. We obviously have to be able to host three authors on one blog. And remember, it has to be EASY, EASY, EASY. I am one step above a kindergarten student. Maybe not even that.

If you use something else and like it, let me know.

But remember, it has to be EASY.

Oh, and did I say it had to be EASY?

i HATE laundry

2004-01-10T19:14:00.000-08:00

It is the bane of my existence. It haunts me day and night. Terry claims that purgatory is an endless stay of sorting mismatched socks. I contend that hell itself consists of doing laundry. Foul and loathsome laundry. Period. Why? It never ends. I've a fast rule that any monies left in pockets become the sole property of the laundress, but I can't even be happy when I find a tidy sum of three or four dollars anymore. Why, today's laundry produced a whopping six dollars and thirty two cents and I didn't even grin. I really hate laundry.

boy howdy

2004-01-10T11:35:00.000-08:00

i keep finding really great blogsites out there~here's a great item about Bishop Burke at Clayton's place, The Weight of Glory. Thank God for Bishop Burke. I pray for more such bishops!

Sparki's baby on the way!

2004-01-10T04:53:00.000-08:00

Check the posts here.

Well, this stinks bigtime...

2004-01-09T22:34:00.000-08:00

...our beloved Mr. Luse has bid farewell for the time being. Please keep him and his family in your prayers.

THIS MOVIE IS DELICIOUSLY PRO BIG FAMILY!

2004-01-09T21:58:00.000-08:00

If you haven't seen CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN yet, there's still time. support beautiful bonnie hunt. support Catholic actors. support pro-family films. see it. see it now. see it twice.

One of the most note-worthy things about this movie, aside from it's (UNHEARD of from Hollywood) positive pro-big family leaning, is the way it shows how utterly insulting and prejudiced people can be towards big families, and Steve and Bonnie's characters are actually allowed to handle it with wit and tact. It's also wonderful to see a functioning two-parent intact family on the big screen!

There was no new Friday Five today...

2004-01-09T13:54:00.000-08:00

....so we'll use the one for the date closest to today in 2002. I'll answer in the comments boxes with the rest of you!

1. What was your first job?

2. How old were you when you had your first kiss?

3. What was your first car? What happened to it?

4. What was your first concert?

5. How do you plan to spend your weekend?

A Man After My Own Heart

2004-01-09T11:52:00.000-08:00

Tom is in REALLY GoodForm:

TithingSirach 35: 8-11
Glorify the Lord generously,
and do not stint the first fruits of your hands.
With every gift show a cheerful face,
and dedicate your tithe with gladness.
Give to the Most High as he has given,
and as generously as your hand has found.
For the Lord is the one who repays,
and he will repay you sevenfold.

Tom must be a fellow convert. I guess that's unfair to assume, but if there is one gripe I have with my Holy Mother Church its her unwillingness to teach her children to do God's Will and support her! I love your time and talents, Sweetpea, but they don't pay the electric bill.

Terri Schiavo Update

2004-01-09T11:32:00.000-08:00

Found this at Bettnet:

Fr. Rob has an update on Terri Schiavo's case, this time examining the abuse of power by judges and how their siding with Michael Schiavo against Terri's parents and Gov. Bush has become a necessity in order to prevent the evidence of their bias and usupration of power from becoming apparent to all.

It is interesting how, once again, the problem comes back to judicial activism, like so many other issues of our day. Whether it's abortion, free speech, freedom of religion, protection of marriage, and so on, we always seem to come back to judges who cloak their naked grabbing of power in their constitutional powers, when it is obvious that what they are doing goes way beyond the constitution. It seems that one day we woke up and we were no longer a democratic republic, but an oligarchy. We are no longer citizens, but subjects of the ruling elite, who live and die-- literally in Terri's case and that of every aborted unborn child-- at their whim.

This is not so nice....

2004-01-08T20:10:00.000-08:00

.....as the hobbit name generator that you can find the link to on Pansy and Peony's site. But it generates all kinds of names: hobbit, elf, dwarf AND orc.

Given the kind of day I had today, I am thinking of changing my name and using my orkan name from now on. Hereafter, please refer to me as:

GRUBDUG THE STRANGLER

Or not.

It MUST be said upfront...

2004-01-08T19:47:00.000-08:00

....I have never called CAS "pookie" anything or "snookums."

What romance movie are YOU?

Thanks to (of all people) Cacciaguida for the link. (Link to his blog on the right.)

I'm sure it's no big surprise to you that your
romance is The Princess Bride. A heartwarming
tale of "Twue Wuve" that has giants,
Spainards and swashbuckling. You really do
think that love can overcome anything. You may
be a touch naive but your heart is certainly in
the right place. You've probably got one of
those relationships where proper nouns have
been replaced with "Snookums" and
"Pookie Pie". Eww. Beware a cuteness
overload.

What Romance Movie Best Represents Your Love Life?
brought to you by Quizilla

This is an important article ....

2004-01-08T07:30:00.000-08:00

...... on end of life issues and Living Wills and such like from Planet Envoy. A friend sent it to me.

These paragraphs contain much truth:

Other "Tools" are presented in a more subtle fashion, asking you to identify your personal priorities and fears. Do you most love to be outdoors? Would you want to be sedated to control pain if it made you sleep too much? How would you like to plan the last week of your life? The implication of these "Tools" is that death might be preferable to any reduction in our current quality of life.

The problem with asking these questions of presumably healthy people is that we really don’t know the answers. In the hubris of youth or good health, we can’t imagine living in a nursing home. We can’t imagine wanting to be confined to a wheelchair. We can’t imagine losing our cognitive abilities, or breathing with a ventilator, or being fed through a tube. We think we wouldn’t want to live "like that."

But when we’re healthy, we can’t really know how we’ll feel when we’re "less than perfect." It is arrogant to even use such a phrase, for none of us is perfect, and all of us are less "perfect" than we were. To jump us into a far less "perfect" future and ask us what we’d want is to ask us to sign away lives we can’t begin to imagine.

Those of you who know me or who have read this blog for very long, know that my mother has chronic lung disease. She is on oxygen 24/7. Had you asked her 10 years ago, "Would you want to live like that?" she probably would have given you an emphatic NO. But the answer today is an emphatic YES. We don't know--in the fullest bloom of health, at a young age--what life really means, what it is really worth. What we would do to be with our children, grandchildren, friends and family.

It's not a decision to be made rashly. And it's a decision that needs to be made with a presumption toward life, not death.

Read the article. The author is a better explainer than I!

I love it when George Will writes about baseball!

2004-01-08T07:01:00.000-08:00

Here is his column Just Say No to Pete Rose.

Two magazine articles I'm dying to read...

2004-01-07T20:58:00.000-08:00

1. My Touchstone magazine came today, with the article by our own very own heart-throb Mr. Luse! I felt light-headed just looking at the name in print of someone that I "knew", even if only on line. I was planning on reading it this evening, but it looks like it will have to wait until tomorrow. Unlike the Smockmomma, and Mr. Luse himself, I am most definitely NOT a night person.

2. This month's First Things contains an article that puts me in mind of Mrs. Dashwood over at Mommentary and her love of all things Austen. The article, by Peter J. Leithart, Senior Fellow of Theology and Literature at New St. Andrews College, Moscow, Idaho, is titled Jane Austen, Public Theologian. It is adapted from his book Miniatures and Morals: The Christian Novels of Jane Austen, which will be published soon by Canon Press. I've not read the article yet, because I have not had 5 minutes of uninterrupted quiet time today. They phone rung off the wall, McBaby was in and out of the refrigerator continually (and believe me, GRAPES EVERYWHERE is a hideous game to play), and Zteen groused continually about Socrates and the last assignment to finish his Greek literature class. Aarrgghh!

I like this article by Mark Shea

2004-01-07T05:10:00.000-08:00

...on Catholic Exchange today. Read it here.

I especially like this paragraph:

....the world is constantly trying to tell us Christians we have a funny name. Worse still, it is constantly laboring to tell our children the same. Children, say the worldly, should be called "Madonna" or "Beavis" or "Dennis Rodman" or "Bart Simpson" or "Trent Reznor" or "Ted Turner." They should be victims who can only be helped by the State or consumers who exist to service the machine of commerce. They should be so wealthy they need nobody or they should be so obsessed with equality that they are envious of everybody. They should be Imperial Autonomous Selves accountable to none or they should be wards of the State dependent upon all. They should be Rugged Individuals or Workers in the Hive. They should join the herd of independent minds and accept the fact that the basis of society is the State... or the Corporation... or the Individual (we're not sure yet) and get with the program of building the secular Tower of Babel. But they should not be Christians. Christians are strange. Christians have a funny name.

Go read the whole article--it's worth your time!

As I was cruising through my email....

2004-01-06T18:58:00.000-08:00

.....I saw that I got my notification from my VISA account folks that my online bill was ready to pay.....

The title of the email?

YOU'VE GOT BILLS.

To which I said: Duh!

Sheeee's Baaaack! (Part One: Who's In Charge Here?)

2004-01-06T15:04:00.000-08:00

Yes, Mrs. Dashwood is back, complete with all the distinctive brass that makes her so wonderfully endearing. This time her beef is with a seemingly spineless enlisted man (thank goodness he wasn't a Marine) who failed to discipline his children during Mass; more specifically, Dad failed to (what my people would call) take 'em out back 'n swat their keesters.

Now, I know we have many neighbors at St. Blog's who are dead set agin it, including most of my friends here and in the "real world," and goodness knows I do not want to get embroiled in a heated debate a la public breastfeeding. However, I happen to be on Mrs. Dashwood's side of the fence on this issue and I subscribe to "Attachment Parenting," believe it or not. Rather than the contrary, I believe AP makes corporal discipline practically a non-issue -- which is how I can subscribe to both and get away with it. That said, I am writing to actually defend, in part, the dad in question. When all is said and done, I hope to touch on three things: discipline; children at Mass; popular culture vs. parenting.

As I read it, "Dad" kept trying to reason with his wee ones (circa 3 and 5) who were essentially ignoring the poor shmo, making complete nuisances of themselves and making misery for the people in the pews around them. Who hasn't witnessed this very scenario? Who cannot identify with poor Mrs. Dashwood? Indeed, who can't identify with the poor shmo, er Dad?

Mrs. Dashwood's gripe was not with children at Mass. Rather, it is with parents who do not know how to control their unruly offspring. The whole idea that Dad was trying to reason with the babes bickering in the pew next to him seems to her (and me) complete poppycock. Why, you ask? Continues Mrs. Dashwood:

"a) you can't reason with a toddler, in fact, you can't generally reason with anyone younger than twelve or so, although an exceptionally intelligent and mature child can see reason a little at eight and a bit more at nine and ten; b) the child doesn't give a damn what Daddy or Mommy wants, at least not to the extent of giving up what he wants; and c) if the child knows you insist on instant obedience and you're willing to administer a prompt smack on the bottom if it isn't forthcoming, you will get instant obedience nearly all the time, without actually having to spank more than once in a great while. "

I simply couldn't have said it better myself. . .only I take small exception with point (a) in that, I have found in my own home, using AP for the first three years of my children's lives, I am able to credibly reason with my own children by the time they are FIVE years old. Some might argue that it isn't reasoning that does the trick if corporal discipline has been added into the mix, but I think they're mistaken.

Discipline is such a hot button topic in the first place, it's very hard to have serious discussion without someone's head exploding, but humor me, please. At the risk of sounding full of ca-ca and hyper-proud of my chitlins (and mind you I attend Mass with both other Summa Mamas so they'd know and could call me down iffin I was pullin' wool), I've had many different people tell me how well behaved my children are at Mass (8, 10:30 and 6 o'clock Masses included). Mind you, I don't even think my children behave that well; but even on what I consider a good Sunday, I don't think they're being anything but how they ought to be. On the other hand, I know people, who are firmly against spanking, who have on more than one occasion said to me, "I just can't believe you don't have problems with your children at Mass like I do. My kids are a constant struggle!" I've even had a friend tell me, "I'd love to come to your church, but you don't have a cry room. It would be too frustrating to bring [my child]. I'd be so embarrassed. He doesn't know how to behave at Mass." Why not?

*EVERY SINGLE SMOCKCHILD has made a break for it and run down the aisle towards the Communion rail, especially when Smockhubby is serving at the Mass. "Daddydaddydaddy" is yelled with glee whenever the youngest one notices him up there. This only happens when they are very young because they eventually get used to seeing Daddy up there by the altar and they stop getting excited about it.

Oh my!

2004-01-06T14:25:00.000-08:00

Just finished Trollope's The Warden. I found the first few chapters very slow going, but by the middle of the book I was flying through it. What a wonderful book! Why had I never read anything by Trollope before???? I happened to come across the books at 1/2 Price Books, and bought both The Warden and the next book in the series, Barchester Towers. I can't wait to start it!

And what amazes me, as it always does, is the relevance of this book. While the university today in many cases would have you read more current works--deemed to be more relevant to today's issues--there could not be a novel with a more scathing indictment of today's media than this one.

Just read this:

++++++++++++

Who has not heard of Mount Olympus,--that high abode of all the powers of type, that favoured seat of the great goddess Pica, that wondrous habitation of gods and devils, from whence, with ceaseless hum of steam and never-ending flow of Catalian ink, issue forth eighty thousand nightly edicts for the governance of a subject nation?

...From here issue the only known infallible bulls for the guidance of British souls and bodies. This little court is the Vatican of England. Here reigns a pope, self-nominated, self-consecrated--ay, and much stranger too--self-believing!--a pope whom, if you cannot obey him, I would advise you to disobey as silently as possible; a pope hitherto afraid of no Luther; a pope who manages his own inquisition, who punishes unbelievers as no most skilful inquisitor of Spain ever dreamt of doing--one who can excommunicate thoroughly, fearully, radically; put you beyond the pale of men's charity; make you odious to your dearest friends, and turn you into a monster to be pointed at by the finger!

...It is a fact amazing to ordinary mortals that the Jupiter [the newspaper in question] is never wrong. With what endless care, with what unsparing labour, do we not strive to get together for our great national council the men most fitting to compose it. And how we fail! Parliament is always wrong: look at the Jupiter, and see how futile are their meetings, how vain their council, how needless all their trouble!.....

Were it not well for us in our ignorance that we confided all things to the Jupiter? Would it not be wise in us to abandon useless talking, idle thinking, and profitless labour? Away with majorities in the House of Commons, with verdicts from judicial bench given after much delay, with doubtful laws, and the fallible attempts of humanity! Does not the Jupiter, coming forth daily with eighty thousand impressions full of unerring decision on every mortal subject, set all matters sufficiently at rest?

...Such is Mount Olympus, the mouthpiece of all the wisdom of this great country. It may probably be said that no place in this 19th century is more worthy of notice. No treasury mandate armed with the signatures of all the government has half the power of one of those broad sheets, which fly forth from hence so abundantly, armed with no signature at all.

+++++++++

Could anything be more timely? Could we not just change 19th century to 21st, and the Jupiter to the New York Times, the Washington Post, or the Fort Worth Star Telegram?

It lacks a brain of very small imagination to see that no one has written anything 1/2 so damning of the media today as what has already been said 150 years ago.

Get the book. Read it. It's worth the time.

Do I Wuv Dat Wascally Wabbit or Do I Hate That Rabbit?

2004-01-03T20:55:00.000-08:00

Smockhub bought the most coolmoe collection of DVDs I think I have ever seen! It's the LOONEY TOONS, Golden Collection. It is totally coolmoe and sooo much better than Boomerang cuz you get all the awesome shows without all the lousy commercials!

I can't decide if I prefer Bugs with Yosemite Sam or Elmer Fudd. Yosemite is so dear to my heart -- for a veritable plethora of reasons! Not only am I still a Texas Tech Red Raider ("GUNS UP!") at heart, but I just looooove red mustachioed short Suthren Gentlemen. Don't get me wrong, Mr. Fudd is a delightful adversary, but Sam...sigh...

Regardless of my ongoing inner debate, my two favorite episodes are:

BUNKER HILL BUNNY: "Who am I? I'm Sam Von Schamm the Hessian, that's who I am! ... Ya better say yer prayers, ya flea-bitten varmaint, I'm a-gonna blow ya to smithereenies!"

RABBIT OF SEVILLE: "Whaaaat would you want with a wabbit? Caaaan't you see that I'm much sweeter? Eeeeeye'm your wittle sen-yore-eeter! ... Yes! You're next. Yoooooore so next!"

The "C" Word? (good food for thought)

2004-01-03T17:59:00.000-08:00

I stumbled into Otto-da-fe via Dyspeptic Mutterings and read an interesting article, written by a rabbi, about religious freedom at Toward Tradition.

On the other hand...

2004-01-03T11:20:00.000-08:00

How exactly does one go from being Il Padrino to this?

What Famous Leader Are You?

These are kind of weird, but...

2004-01-02T17:27:00.000-08:00

.....here's the Friday Five, Mamas and readers!

What one thing are you most looking forward to . . .

1. ...today?

2. ...over the next week?

3. ...this year?

4. ...over the next five years?

5. ...for the rest of your life?

Well, this explains EVERYTHING!

2004-01-02T15:59:00.000-08:00

What Classic Movie Are You?

Nod to Mrs. vonHuben for the link.

WHY?

2004-01-02T15:54:00.000-08:00

I took the G's to Chick-A-Lay (as it's pronounced in the Smock Maison) for lunch this afternoon. Sitting across from us was the most beautiful little girl with the thickest head of ringlets I've ever seen. There she was sitting in her highchair, chomping down her yummy waffle fries; as I was just about to mention what a lovely girl she was (and she was a girl of course, as evidenced by the gold earring glinting at me through her ringlets) her older sister (babysitter? cousin?) called out, "You likin' those fries, Romeo?"

This is not a gap, folks, it's a chasm.

Help, help, help!

2004-01-02T07:45:00.000-08:00

The book club that I am in is having our "set the reading list for the year" meeting early this month.

We've been at this for 4 years now and this is the first time that I cannot think of a single book to recommend. Not that there aren't a million good books out there--it's just that I am dithering.

We just finished a year of Catholic authors/subjects. We need a break from that I think. I am considering The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolving. I just picked it up, and the first few chapters are interesting. I may also suggest The Violent Bear it Away, but that may be pretty rough going for the ladies of the club.

Our rules are simple: We don't read Oprah book club books. We also, in general, do not read the type of books we read for spiritual growth.

We've read Mauriac, Bernanos, Hassler, Greene, Powers, Welty, Waugh, Galsworthy, Allende, Mosher, Collette, Giradoux, Spark, Callaghan, Endo..... to name a few and give you an idea of the authors we've loved. So it's not the latest best seller type of club, either.

So, any suggestions anyone could make so that I don't look like an idiot at the next meeting would be greatly appreciated!

OK, everyone else is doing it....

2004-01-02T07:36:00.000-08:00

....so the Mamas will do it as well. (Wait, am I having a flashback? Hearing my mama say "if everyone else jumped off a cliff would you jump too?")

Time for year in review!

1. Best movie or video you saw this year.

2. Best CD or album you listened to this year.

3. Best book (don't say the Bible--we all know it is always the best) you read this year.

4. Best activity you participated in (non church related) this year.

I'll answer in the comments boxes with everyone else.

THIS is what is wrong with my Christmas spirit!

2004-01-02T07:32:00.000-08:00

Today's high is supposed to be 79 degrees! My husband just left to run errands wearing a pair of SHORTS!

Look, if I had CHOSEN to live in Florida or So. California, that would be one thing. But usually there is at least a tinge of coolness in the air around here this time of year! I am not usually having to debate whether or not to turn the stupid air-conditioning on!!!!

Ahem.

I'll go fan myself awhile. Maybe then I can collect my thoughts.

Why hush my mouth an' call me a cornpone!

2003-12-28T22:58:00.000-08:00

And, I've always fancied myself as Melanie.

You are Scarlett O'Hara. You are beautiful,
stubborn and despise the silly rules of
society. When times get rough, you are strong
enough to survive, although you would rather
save yourself than anyone else.

Which Character from 'Gone With The Wind' are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Thank you, Mrs. Hamilton, er, Mrs. vonHuben for the link.

"Gone Missin"

2003-12-28T18:40:00.000-08:00

Following the Sleepy Mommies' lead concerning items that have disappeared, I'm sharing my "gone missin" list. Like Peony, I find that most of my things get lost (haha) because I put them someplace "just for a moment" and then forget all about them:

my Bible Study Binder (and this is a big sucker, too. MamaT printed out all umpteen lessons and got 'em all nice n' neat in a big ol three ring binder. there's no way this is under my nose; you simply can't miss it.)

an Entire Box of Wet Wipes (a complete head shakin go figure.)

one red house slipper and one navy blue dress shoe that I discovered missing this morning just as I was trying to leave on time for 8 o'clock Mass (all three Gs have taken to walking out of my closet in my shoes. BabyG, only fourteen months old, has learned from BigG and LittleG how to slip her tiny feet into my shoes and now loves to clunk round about the house in them, too. and, why is it only ONE shoe goes missing? would it be a sign of paranoia to think it's just to tease me?)

my "one fourth" measuring cup (now this is too wierd because i don't even like to cook real food. but I cooked three, count 'em, three delectables in the past five days - almond poppy seed muffins, a birthday cake for Jesus and the best roastbeast anyone has ever had melt in their mouth - and I had to improvise anything that called for 1/4th of anything.)

Aragorn's little sword (the one his eleven-inch action figure wears behind its back - alas, this is BigD's problem unless ChiChi, my trusty chihuahua, has eaten it, at which point it just might become Dr. Bob my trusty veterinarian's problem.)

*Moral Question Xing*

a bottle of blue Barbie nail polish some muttonhead gave LittleG for Christmas (this one hasn't actually gone missin, it's actually gone into the recess of mommy's closet. now, is this wrong of me or just plain smart?)

UPDATE
The box of wet wipes, the blue dress shoe and the Bible Study binder have all since been found. The big ol' binder, turns out, WAS right under my nose. 'Twas in the little cubby under my desk. heavy sigh.

Since it is still Christmas 'round here for us.....

2003-12-27T16:09:00.000-08:00

.....thought I'd share another Christmas poem with ya'll:

BC:AD

This was the moment when Before
Turned into After, and the future's
Uninvented timekeepers presented arms.

This was the moment when nothing
Happened. Only dull peace
Sprawled boringly over the earth.

This was the moment when even
Energetic Romans
Could find nothing better to do
Than counting heads in remote provinces.

And this was the moment
When a few farm workers and three
Members of an obscure Persian sect
Walked haphazard by starlight straight
Into the kingdom of heaven

U.A. Fanthorpe

Y'all Share Your Friday Five

2003-12-26T20:27:00.000-08:00

1. What was your biggest accomplishment this year?

2. What was your biggest disappointment?

3. What do you hope the new year brings?

4. Will you be making any New Year's resolutions? If yes, what will they be?

5. What are your plans for New Year's Eve?

A Total "Bless Their Hearts" Moment

2003-12-26T16:25:00.000-08:00

The following is a prime example of what MamaT and I mean by "Bless Their Heart." The true "bless ____ heart" is almost always followed by an error of some sort. It's how we Texans buffer our insults. For example, "Bless their hearts, the owners of the Christian Dollar Store mean well."

Please don't ask me what I was searching for when I stumbled across this ... this ... well, words fail me. I'm tempted to call it blasphemy, but can the shopkeepers be accused of something as grave as that when it's obvious they're serious? Well, as serious as a sight that sells "That's not a cobweb in the corner -- that's angel hair!" signs can be serious. Here is the definition of the item in question:
Use this decoration for your table center piece for this year's Christmas dinner or to top your Christmas tree. This Jesus Decoration is truely (sic) beautiful. Top quality, real silk gown, made of resin, nail prints in hands, and 12" tall. Lights up when plugged in. King of Glory.

Now, if the fact that this Jesus decoration "lights up when plugged in" doesn't stop you, then you may view this piece of work here.

Well, I'm inclined to agree...

2003-12-26T08:42:00.000-08:00

Congratulations! You're Elrond!

Which Lord of the Rings character and personality problem are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Thanks to M'Lynn, AKA the responsibility-shirking Gandalf, over at Scattershot for the link.

A Christmas Poem

2003-12-24T10:20:00.000-08:00

.....by G. K. Chesterton:

There fared a mother driven forth
Out of an inn to roam;
In the place where she was homeless
All men are at home.
The crazy stable close at hand,
With shaking timber and shifting sand,
Grew a stronger thing to abide and stand
Than the square stones of Rome.

For men are homesick in their homes,
And strangers under the sun,
And they lay their heads in a foreign land
Whenever the day is done.

Here we have battle and blazing eyes,
And chance and honor and high surprise,
But our homes are under miraculous skies
Where the yule tale was begun.

A child in a foul stable,
Where the beasts feed and foam;
Only where He was homeless
Are you and I at home;
We have hands that fashion and heads that know,
But our hearts we lost---how long ago!
In a place no chart nor ship can show
Under the sky's dome.

This world is wild as an old wife's tale,
And strange the plain things are,
The earth is enough and the air is enough
For our wonder and our war;
But our rest is as far as the fire-drake swings
And our peace is put in impossible things
Where clashed and thundered unthinkable wings
Round an incredible star.

To an open house in the evening
Home shall all men come,
To an older place than Eden
And a taller town than Rome.
To the end of the way of the wandering star,
To the things that cannot be and that are,
To the place where God was homeless
And all men are at home.

CB is one Yummy Actress

2003-12-23T20:53:00.000-08:00

if I may say so myself. I'm still convinced we're related and I'm happy to report that

Galadriel

if I were a character in The Lord of the Rings, I would be Galadriel, Elf, Queen of Lothlorien, wife of Celeborn and grandmother of Arwen.

In the movie, I am played by Cate Blanchett.

Who would you be?
Zovakware Lord of the Rings Test with Perseus Web Survey Software

Thanks to Chris at Maine Catholic and Beyond for the link. Oh! Go to his site and nominate the "2003 Catholic of the Year." Only serious nominations are considered, which completely leaves me out!

I Do Believe in Happy Endings! (Scrooge, Part 3)

2003-12-23T12:47:00.000-08:00

You'll never believe this. After getting the bad news from USPS about my (apparently stolen) shipment, I called the owner of the shop that sent Terry and Kirsten's gifts to fill her in on the situation. Well, it's Christmas and this woman's in the middle of a move, so I had to leave a message, but she called back. LONG story short...
This incredible woman -- a New Yorker, no less! -- offered to send me a replacement for Kirsten's gift! WHAT? Yes, you read correctly. I'm still out Terry's gift, but that's only because they're out of stock on the item. And, thanks to Maria (apt name, no?) I'm only out half, but she is out the cost of the extra item! Who on earth would willingly take a loss like that? The proprietress of RETRO JUNCTION, that's who! Who? Whom? WHOM CARES? If you're into retro, GO VISIT HER SITE AND GIVE THIS INCREDIBLE WOMAN YOUR BUSINESS! Be sure to tell her the lady from Texas sentchya.

Malevolence may be contagious, but so is benevolence! Thanks be to God.
I tell you, it restores my faith in humanity.

[FYI-If you missed Scrooge, Part 2, it's in the comment section of "Scrooge You."]

An early Merry Christmas to you all!

2003-12-23T06:32:00.000-08:00

Today and tomorrow will be screamingly busy for me. Today with preparing our church for the festivities (I am the Altar Guild Directress) and tomorrow preparing our family's celebration. It is unlikely that I will be able to post much.

So, let me take a minute to wish you all the merriest of Christmases and true joy in the coming of our King!

And in the era of ever more materialistic spins on Christmas, here's a thought from Mother Teresa:

Unhappiness does not necessarily come from not having this or that. If we have each other, we have everything.

Micki and Kirsten, and all you readers of St. Blog's: Thank you for being part of my everything.

Blessings!

Scrooge You

2003-12-22T21:26:00.000-08:00

What is it about the "holiday season" that makes people so rude and obnoxious? Whatever happened to folks telling you to be of good cheer?
I normally avoid large shopping centers, even amid the OFF season, so you can imagine that I'd rather put out a cigarette in my eye than venture into the mall during Advent.
I did roughly eighty percent of my shopping online this year. I had only one shipment get lost in the mail. It was MamaT and SpecialK's gifts, I kid you not. I have a printed receipt from the company and one from my bank to prove the order bought and paid for, but the website owner tells me customer service at the good ol' USPS tracked the package as "delivered" to my doorstep on Dec. 2nd. When I visited the USPS website their tracking feature showed the package at my doorstep on November 28th. Heavy sigh. I need to call them, but I absolutely DREAD it. I've had so many sales people and "regular" people being mean to me that I just can't take it any more.
I typically could give a rat's you-know-what about what people think of me. (Make that, what strangers think of me.) If a stranger is rude I usually do this "you're a complete idiot" lip thing (it's a visual; there's absolutely no way to explain it) and blow them off. On occasion I've had to actually verbally reprimand the assailant; but again, I am then able to blow them off. I'm not exactly prone to harsh tongue scoldings, but I've delivered more than my fair share. Not that I'm proud of my utter lack of charity and weird ability to be a complete vulgarian on demand, but I share this only to point out the freakishness I'm suddenly experiencing. I don't understand why I'm suddenly all wimpy-whiny and teary-eyed about holiday bullies.
I think I'll say a prayer before I call the post office tomorrow. Is there a patron for people coming up against the United States Postal Service?
Wish me luck.

Or, if you don't want to do ornaments....

2003-12-22T11:03:00.000-08:00

....how about reindeer?

Here's me:

You are Heather, also known as Cupid! Everyone
comes to you for comfort and advice, and you
hardly ever have a bad word to say about
anyone. You are the sister of Twilight, and you
two share a calming effect on all the other
reindeer.

Which of Santa's eight reindeer are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Again, thanks to Michelle of And Then? for the link.

What Christmas ornatment are YOU?

2003-12-22T10:54:00.000-08:00

Here's my result:

You are the Christmas Angel.

What Christmas Ornament are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Yikes! I'm having a flashback to all those Christmas pageants I was in as a child where I had to part of the angel chorus, standing on risers with gold cardboard wings.

Thanks to Michelle of And Then? for the link.

Great hymn today

2003-12-21T15:17:00.000-08:00

Lots of great music today, including O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (all the verses, of course!). But we ended with this one. It has a soft place in my heart because it is the exception to my usual ranting about "nothing good written since after 1900 or so." I'm so glad to be proven wrong!

People, Look East!

1. People, look east. The time is near
Of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able,
Trim the hearth and set the table.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the guest, is on the way.

2. Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare,
One more seed is planted there:
Give up your strength the seed to nourish,
That in course the flower may flourish.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the rose, is on the way.

3. Birds, though you long have ceased to build,
Guard the nest that must be filled.
Even the hour when wings are frozen
God for fledging time has chosen.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the bird, is on the way.

4. Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim
One more light the bowl shall brim,
Shining beyond the frosty weather,
Bright as sun and moon together.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the star, is on the way.

5. Angels, announce with shouts of mirth
Christ who brings new life to earth.
Set every peak and valley humming
With the word, the Lord is coming.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the Lord, is on the way.

Go here to read about the author and hear the MIDI of the tune.

I think this is so obviously written by a woman! And I really needed the injunction to make my house as "fair as [I] am able" today, because I was close to throwing in the towel on decorating for Christmas. But you know? I think it would be wrong NOT to decorate--for it is a great feast, no matter how stressed out I am.

Great interview

2003-12-21T08:55:00.000-08:00

I agree with about 97% of what Barbara Nicolosi says in this interview on Godspy. Click on the big, white box entitled, "Christians at the Gate." The 3% that I can't assent to stems from my faith in the illogical factor of God and in His ability to move the "little" people without a game plan. From what I understand this is the same reason EWTN has never had an operating budget. That said, this is a great reflection on Christians in the media.

As Smockmomma would say . . .

2003-12-19T09:11:00.000-08:00

Just so you know,

I am going to work hard to change my default from "I've got you pegged" to seeing people more as the mysteries they really are.

The less I'm involved in the equation, the better the human race looks.

Friday Five, Mamas!

2003-12-19T04:44:00.000-08:00

After paying the plumber, I need something light to distract myself! Here are the questions. I'll answer in the comments boxes with ya'll.

1. List your five favorite beverages.

2. List your five favorite websites.

3. List your five favorite snack foods.

4. List your five favorite board and/or card games.

5. List your five favorite computer and/or game system games.

TSO said....

2003-12-18T21:15:00.000-08:00

....he was going to quote from Flannery O'Connor tomorrow, so I must beat him to the point and write a little bit about The Violent Bear It Away, as I promised I would.

I can't get my thoughts clear about the ending of the book yet, but the part where I had to put the book down for the second time was in a section that was dealing with Rayber (the schoolteacher) and his son Bishop. Bishop is, in the words of the book, an idiot.

Rayber's wife has left him and her son, leaving the two of them to live together. Rayber seems very callous toward the boy.

These are probably the most powerful words on love that I have ever read:

++++++++++

For the most part Rayber lived with him without being painfully aware of his presence but the moments would still come when, rushing from some inexplicable part of himself, he would experience a love for the child so outrageous that he would be left shocked and depressed for days, and trembling for his sanity. It was only a touch of the curse that lay in his blood......

...The little boy was part of a simple equation that required no further solution, except at the moments when with little or no warning he would feel himself overwhelmed by the horrifying love.... If, without thinking, he lent himself to it, he would feel suddenly a morbid surge of the love that terrified him--powerful enough to throw him to the ground in an act of idiot praise. It was completely irrational and abnormal.....

....The love that would overcome him was of a different order entirely. It was not the kind that could be used for the child's improvement or his own. It was love without reason, love for something futureless, love that appeared to exist only to be itself, imperious and all demanding, the kind that would cause him to make a fool of himself in an instant.

+++++++++++++

To Rayber, the picture of the modern, rational man, such love is madness. It's inconceivable. It's absurd. It's just not USEFUL.

And as I read those passages over and over and over I realized: THAT'S what the saints have that I don't have. That violent, inconceivable, absurd, non-utilitarian love of God. They have given themselves over to it, let themselves be swept up in it. Just for the love of Him. Just because. They aren't worried about appearing foolish. They just love.

The tragedy of The Violent Bear It Away is that Rayber disconnects himself from this love. He relies on himself and his abilities. He is his own "redemption." Only that which can be tested and quantified and written down is true, worthy, valid. All else is a lie. Or worse than a lie--a madness.

He never sees that it is HE who is truly mad. HE who has locked himself into an ascetical little world tilting toward emptiness and despair.

It's just all too familiar.

WoooHooo

2003-12-18T12:04:00.000-08:00

Christmas just arrived early for smockmomma. Just ask why I'm so pumped! Well, I'll tell y'all.

I opened my mailbox and what should I see
but my A is for Apologia tee starin' at me.

And, if I may say so muh'sef it looks Goohood!
Props to Peony! You done real good, Girlfrien. Fo shizzle!

Just call me SchismaMomma

2003-12-18T05:27:00.000-08:00

According to MSNBC this morning, "Dissenters of the Episcopalian church have set themselves up as rivals of openly gay bishops."

Common synonyms for the word dissenter: HERETIC, dissident, misbeliever, nonconformist, schismatic, schismatist, sectary, separatist

So, we're the heretics now? Coolmoe. I love a good rebellion!

It is to laugh (to keep from crying)...

2003-12-17T20:02:00.000-08:00

....we live in a house that is more than 40 years old. Not antique, but with its share of "things that need to be done someday."

Well, we've been noticing a.....how shall I say this delicately.......NASTY odor in the house lately. Now, our house is pier and beam, rather than slab foundation, so it is always possible that something has gotten under the house and ummmmm......met its Maker.

So, we waited a couple of days (I can vouch for some good soy candles). Still no improvement. Yesterday I called the plumber.

This morning Doug the plumber comes out and climbs under my house (bless his heart). PROBLEMS. BIG, HUGE, ENORMOUS PROBLEMS. Problems like the more than 40 year old cast iron pipe that runs from both my laundry and the kitchen are ROTTED THROUGH!!!!!

First estimate--$200 less than our emergency savings fund. Second estimate (after further digging, trying to find good pipe to cut up to to join new pipe, finding out there isn't any, and that all the kitchen piping will have to be replaced)--Well, suffice it to say that it made me gasp and that it is HELLO VISA CARD time for us.

Darn. And I really wanted to get something for DH for Christmas that WASN'T a PVC pipe......

Oh well. I've tried for a long time now to never cry over anything that can't cry over me. But after a whole day of banging and mud tracking and baby no sleeping, to be followed tomorrow by TWO plumbers banging and tracking and probably no baby sleeping again, I'm not as cheerful as I normally am.

Bleah.

I think I'll have a glass of Limoncello and put my feet up. Ya'll say a quick prayer that the plumbers actually get finished tomorrow. Three days of plumbers might be beyond my limit.

Just so you know

2003-12-17T14:47:00.000-08:00

I hate shots. Any and all kinds of shots.

Sexual politics heightened

2003-12-17T13:03:00.000-08:00

FDA just approved 24-7 in favor of the over-the-counter use of the morning after pill.

Soooo if your lil' independent purchase at Condom Sense doesn't do the trick, just traipse over to the Eckard and take care of biznis there.

Remember that guy on Saturday Night Live...

2003-12-16T20:38:00.000-08:00

...who looked into the mirror and affirmed himself? (Stuart Smalley or something like that?)

Well, this is my mirror:

How Wonderful Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Just ya'll remember that, when I'm driving you crazy with my pontificating.

Thanks to Disputations for the link. And I need to get Disputations listed on our site, don't I?

The end of the world

2003-12-16T11:40:00.000-08:00

....may be upon us. I nearly stopped my car dead in the middle of the road on a really busy street this morning. The McBaby and I were out running one billion errands. I had the radio cranked WAY up and was singing along to the C&W music--with McBaby squealing the harmony.

As we pass the newest little strip mall up by the closed and abandoned KMart building, I notice a new store. NO THAT CAN'T BE THE NAME, TERRY, YOU MUST HAVE MISREAD THE SIGN. So, I made a turn around the block and came back the other way.

NO I DID NOT MISREAD THE SIGN. For your shopping experience today, Arlington now has a new boutique open for business:

CONDOM SENSE.

Yes, you read it right. A store specializing in condoms. Now, all you mothers driving to the Payless just down the way will get to explain what that is to your young readers. Courtesy of some yahoo who could afford a neon sign spelling it out.

I am furious. I am aghast. I am appalled. I am sad.

AND I nearly got run over to boot!

Hey, TSO!

2003-12-16T04:56:00.000-08:00

I finished The Violent Bear It Away last night. Whoa! Not what I expected. (Of course, how could you expect anything BUT the unexpected in an O'Connor work?) I'll have to think about it for awhile today before I can comment on it.

Link to store is fixed

2003-12-16T04:34:00.000-08:00

I hope. Stupid me, to not SAVE THE CHANGES before I republished. Technical genius I am not.

Anyway, shop away, friends. And remember only 58 shopping days until my birthday!

My Big Ol' Girl Crush on a Fellow Blogger*

2003-12-15T22:37:00.000-08:00

and the result of the "What Poetry Form Are You?" quiz I took earlier (apparently I'm the limerick) compelled me to pen the following:

Yes, she’s Mother Wit personified.
And she’s never vain or glorified.
So, she speaks her mind.
She’s not too unkind
Unless you’re a fen-sucked maggot-pie.

*not a fellow summa, although i'd marry 'em both iffin i could.

BATTLEGROUND GOD: smock pats her own back

2003-12-15T21:08:00.000-08:00

'Just fought my way through the battleground over at The Philosopher's Magazine on the net & I’m strangely giddy about my results. They ask "Reckon you're logical enough?" I liked that tag line, so I took a look.
The QUESTION is: Can your beliefs about religion make it across our intellectual battleground?
My Battleground Analysis:
Congratulations!
You have been awarded the TPM medal of distinction! This is our second highest award for outstanding service on the intellectual battleground.
The fact that you progressed through this activity without being hit and biting only one bullet suggests that your beliefs about God are internally consistent and well thought out.
A direct hit would have occurred had you answered in a way that implied a logical contradiction. The bitten bullet occurred because you responded in a way that required that you held a view that most people would have found strange, incredible or unpalatable. However, because you bit only one bullet and avoided direct hits completely you still qualify for our second highest award. A good achievement!

Mom said it was OK to tell this!

2003-12-15T20:45:00.000-08:00

I had sent my mom the link to our little blog, telling her to check it out if she got time. When I was over at her house, I even put it in her "favorite places" folder.

Today I made some flip comment about the "Summa Mamas."

Mom said, "Summa Mamas? That's the name of your web page?"

"Yep," I said.

She started laughing. "I deleted it from my favorite places--I thought it was some porn site that got downloaded accidentally! I thought it was probably nude photos of Sumo wrestlers' girlfriends!"

Bwaaa haaaa haaaaa haaaaa haaaa!

Wonder how many Google hits we'll get from THAT!

I've created a permanent link......

2003-12-15T20:32:00.000-08:00

......to the store on our sidebar so that no one will have to look up our archives when they're searching for that perfect something for Christmas, Epiphany, Craig's birthday, President's Day, MY Birthday, Ash Wednesday, Lent, Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday......

You get the picture.

Merry Christmas, Mr. Luse

2003-12-15T11:19:00.000-08:00

A is for Apparel is officially open for business. Mind you, it's amateur hour at the shop, but lots of love went into the making. It is the thought that counts, right? Many thanks to Peony for sending me graphic after graphic after graphic... I think we finally got it right. Enjoy!

Is it just me?

2003-12-15T07:07:00.000-08:00

I passed the frustration point last year. Perhaps, it is because I am selfish and young that I still get frustrated. As if I am DUE good health. Maybe that's just stubborn immaturity that is hanging on to me. I am just sick of being sick. I am tired of having someone in my family "down" with something. I actually am the healthiest of my crew this year. Last year we all had mono over the holidays and I remember what a relief it was to get validation that we weren't just all crazy. That was a long, drawn out illness. The year before we had mold in our house and were all sick with upper respiratory illnesses and relocated to a hotel. This year it is 24 hour bouts of vomiting (Apology in advance for any of you having a meal) and sinus problems. In Chicago I was pretty used to going through an entire season, heck a whole year -- without a sniffle. The bus fumes got to me, but I felt grimy, dirty, not sick. Is is Texas? Because I am 34 and not 24 anymore? Because I have more children? Is it because I have not been as careful as I once was with what we eat? All the above?

Has anyone else experienced more illness in recent years? Or perhaps if not more, maybe more aggressive? Or are my alarmist buttons being triggered? I do enjoy a good conspiracy.

Perhaps, perhaps

2003-12-14T20:56:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Cacciaguida (link to the right) for this one:

I am heroic couplets; most precise
And fond of order. Planned and structured. Nice.
I know, of course, just what I want; I know,
As well, what I will do to make it so.
This doesn't mean that I attempt to shun
Excitement, entertainment, pleasure, fun;
But they must keep their place, like all the rest;
They might be good, but ordered life is best.

What Poetry Form Are You?

An important lesson learned....

2003-12-14T20:27:00.000-08:00

....this weekend. When you've got some 48 hour bug, and you can't sleep--DON'T, I repeat DON'T, turn to a Flannery O'Connor novel to help pass the time. When you do finally fall into that weird dreamy "sick sleep" her characters will come out in full force to haunt you.

So, while I thought I would be finished with The Violent Bear It Away this weekend, I am not. I had to put it away and pick up Sports Illustrated for fear that I would never sleep again--at least until the "bug" broke.

It has, so I'm off to read some more. But don't you just love this line? "Boy, your brain is as slick as your eyeballs." Wow.

Next time I'm arguing with the Sprint PCS people, I'm going to be THINKING that, even if I don't actually SAY it.

A Mighty Wind

2003-12-14T19:32:00.000-08:00

Zteen and I watched A Mighty Wind tonight on DVD. Though the folkie scene was a little before my time--my high school years were not until the early 70's, I definitely heard a lot of it around my house.

What a funny movie! We both enjoyed it a lot. Which surprised me, because I don't know that Zteen has ever really heard much "real" folk music. Time to head over to the library to see if I can hunt down some old folk music for him to hear the originals.

And here's a link to what Steven Greydanus' Decent Film Guide thought about the movie.

The Last Smockurai

2003-12-12T23:05:00.000-08:00

I don't know what's happened to me over the past few years, but I must admit that I'm starting to really dig movies that make my muscles ache (from tensing up and trying to "help" the protagonists in battle). Tonight, watching "The Last Samurai" with smockhubby, I was literally sitting on the edge of my seat -- leaning over the chairs in front of me. At one point Hubby asked, "Are you okay?" Mind you, I'm all for viewer involvement when it comes to good movies. Ask MamaT. But tonight, if the theatre had been more crowded, I might have embarrassed myself. . .and that's hard to do. Heaven help me, I hooted. Yes. I really did. Out loud, too. The operative word being "loud." In the final battle scene I cried. I then hollered "YESsss!" I even did a little victory jig -- in my seat, mind you. But, barely. I don't want to be a complete spoiler, so I'll stop there.
Obviously I found "The Last Samurai" to be totally coolmoe. The kusojijis who are calling it "Dances with Wasabe" must be hitting some serious saki because this movie is fantabulous. Perhaps they're miffed because there is no foul language, no gratuitous nudity or sex, and not even yucky gore. Yes, there is a lot of violence. Strong violence. Hello? It's about samurai. But, there is less gore than you'll find on the WB (that's a network, as opposed to cable, channel). Civil War professors may need to check their Ph.D. at the concession stand and Japanese history buffs probably need not apply because I doubt there's a whole heckuvalotuv historical merit to the film. Lucky for me, I don't see films for a history lesson. I hit flicks for fun.
Be that as it may, the entire movie is about HONOR and the importance of tradition and spirituality; and just so you know, the cinematography alone is worth the price of admission.
IMDB summary says: In Japan, Civil War veteran Captain Nathan Algren trains the Emperor's troops to use modern weapons as they prepare to defeat the last of the country's samurais (sic). But, Algren's passion is swayed when he is captured by the samurai and learns about their traditions and code of honor.
smockmomma says: 2 smocks up and several hoots n' hollers t'boot

Reading Flannery O'Connor last night....

2003-12-10T22:11:00.000-08:00

I came to a screeching halt when I got to this passage. In The Violent Bear It Away, Tarwater, who is 14, is digging a grave for his great uncle when "the stranger" begins to be in his thoughts, and to talk about Tarwater's uncle who thought he was (or maybe really was?) a prophet:

++++++++
The truth is, he said after a minute, the truth is that you're just as smart, if you ain't actually smarter than the schoolteacher. Because he had somebody--his daddy and his mother--to tell him the old man was crazy, whereas you ain't had anybody and yet you've figured it out for yourself. Of course, it's taken you longer, but you've come to the right conclusion: you know he was a crazy man even when he wasn't in the asylum, even those last years.

Or if he wasn't actually crazy, he was the same thing in a different way: he didn't have but one thing on his mind. He was a one-notion man. Jesus. Jesus this and Jesus that. Ain't you in all your fourteen years of supporting his foolishness fed up and sick to the roof of your mouth with Jesus? My Lord and Saviour, the stranger sighed, I am if you ain't.

After a pause he continued. The way I see it, he said, you can do one of two things. One of them, not both. Nobody can do both of two things without straining themselves. You can do one thing or you can do the opposite.

Jesus or the devil, the boy said.

No no no, the stranger said, there ain't no such thing as a devil. I can tell you that from my own self-experience. I know that for a fact. It ain't Jesus or the devil. It's Jesus or you.

+++++++++

In all my years of reading, I cannot remember ever having read a passage that made me put down the book and think the way that one did. It is the truest image of my real life temptations that I have ever come across in any sort of book.

And isn't it just what Satan wants us to think? That in giving ourselves to Christ we would somehow be becoming some mindless, one note, crazy, Stepford Wife, robotic, unthinking goofballs?

The myriad of saints speak against this. They are a varied as creation--not a one of them like the other. They are not robots or Stepford saints. But that sly voice still whispers--if you abandon yourself, you'll be nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Choose YOU. Choose yourself and YOUR will.

That's the dangerous choice. Faced with Jesus and the Devil, most, if not all, folks would easily choose Jesus. But faced with the false choice--Jesus vs. self? Well, then that's a more difficult decision. And one I get wrong all the time.

OK, I have to post this blog entry in toto!

2003-12-09T18:32:00.000-08:00

This is today's entry for snort diet coke out of my nose and onto the computer screen. It's from John at The Inn at the End of the World (link to the right, of course):

De Senectute

I was in a shop over the weekend and for the first time ever the assistant , the fair, young assistant, I may say - unasked and unsolicited - offered me. . . .the senior's discount. It had to happen one day but I confess to being unprepared. I tottered home to contemplate my new-found antiquity, although I probably should have stopped off to buy some Geritol (do they still make that stuff?)

So far, old age isn't too bad. I'm kind of looking forward to calling someone a whippersnapper.

The two people I've mentioned this to so far have both wanted to know if I actually took the discount. Of course, I took it. It's a discount. I'm even cheaper than I am old and broker than I am proud. If they'd offered a fat-and-ugly discount I would've taken that, too.

If that last line doesn't make TS O'Ramas Global roundup for the week, there is no justice in the world.

Now, I'm off to watch Candace Olson's Divine Design on HGTV. I have, as the Smockmomma would say, "a big ole girl crush on her."

Today is hard....

2003-12-09T18:02:00.000-08:00

.....because I am SO TIRED from the vigil last night. Got in around 1:35, to bed by 2:00, up (very grudgingly) with the alarm at 6:15. Probably, truth be told, to my alarm and my guardian angel shoving my shoulder as hard as he could!

Chasing the McBaby was more difficult than usual today, because I found that I woke with sore leg muscles this morning. Oh, no! Am I coming down with the dreaded, never-ending cold that the McBaby and Zteen have shared? Nope. IT'S FROM KNEELING! Now how pitiful is that??????? And do postulant nuns have to go into basic training to be able to kneel for long periods of time?

Anyway, it was a blessed, blessed time for me. And I made it through my decades of the rosary without dropping my rosary and forgetting which Hail Mary I was on! Woo Hoo!

I took my Saint Benedict's Prayer Book with me--it's a great all purpose resource for longer than average prayer times--and I was particularly taken with the following prayer, from one of my very favorite saints, St. Thomas More:

Give us, Lord, a humble, quiet, peaceable, patient, tender and charitable mind, and in all our thoughts, words and deeds a taste of the Holy Spirit. Give us, Lord, a lively faith, a firm hope, a fervent charity, a love of you. Take from us all lukewarmness in meditation, dullness in prayer. Give us fervour and delight in thinking of you and your grace, your tender compassion towards us. The things that we pray for, good Lord, give us grace to labour for; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

It is especially that last line that caught me up: The things that we pray for, good Lord, give us grace to labour for.... Pray. Pray hard. Pray some more. Then get up and go to it.

Tonight after mass....

2003-12-08T16:36:00.000-08:00

.....our parish will take part in the National Night of Prayer for Life. Beginning at 9 p.m. with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, and ending at 1 a.m. with Benediction, we will have a prayer vigil for life. The whole rosary will be prayed (I have to lead some of the luminous mysteries--if any of you are up in the 12-1 a.m. hour, a quick prayer that I won't forget them would be appreciated!), numerous litanies will be recited, hymns will be sung and reflections will be read.

Every year, save last year, that I have been Catholic I have stayed for the whole vigil. It is my small act of mortification for the many years that I was rabidly pro-choice and voiced my convictions to any and all that would hear them and listen to me. What a fool I was! Confession being efficacious, I no longer carry the guilt over my stupidity and refusal (yes, refusal--willful refusal) to see the truth. But I still carry a small hurting place for what I said and believed. For the acquaintances I convinced with my "logic" and my words. For the dormmates I took to the Planned Parenthood Clinic. I suppose that I will carry that little stab of pain with me always.

Perhaps I see the vigil as a small act of reparation. A way of giving back chunks of time that I spent foolishly before.

Pray for me, my friends, as I will be praying for you.

Going to the movies

2003-12-07T22:05:00.000-08:00

Saturday, Smockmomma and I went to the movies. It's fun to go to the movies with Micki. We spend about 3 times more at the concession stand for snacks than we do on the tickets to get in. We try to get matinee ticket prices. Why? Because that way we can have a hot dog AND popcorn when we get in. I had the best $6 hot dog I've had in a long time [wink, wink].

We went to see Elf, with Will Farrell. What a sweet movie! We both liked it. It is ALMOST totally innocent. Overall, nothing I would be afraid to take my niece and nephew to see. And, in fact, I think I'll do that sometime soon.

The weird thing about the movie was that there was very little "edge" to it at all. No "nudge, nudge, wink, wink" aimed at the parents while sailing over the heads of children. It is just what it purports to be--a movie about Christmas spirit. In some ways, it seemed almost too obvious to me. But when I look around at other children's movies, perhaps not--they have been bombarded with entertainment with a veneer of sophistication. There isn't one shred of that in Elf. Not one.

But we did see a trailer for the new movie Shrek 2. I really liked the original Shrek, but I went to see it with 2 teenaged boys (who roared all the way through it). I wondered if it were not geared too much to adults. If kids would actually GET the movie.

I must say, the trailer looked pretty good. Eddie Murphy as the donkey is back in high form, telling some animal that they meet: "Hey, back off, the role of annoying animal sidekick is already taken!" What a hoot.

My latest head banging moment

2003-12-07T21:42:00.000-08:00

Driving to see Smockmomma on Saturday, I was listening and singing along to the car radio. A commercial came on for Foley's department store. Usually I can zone out through commercials (or better yet, let my testosterone peek through and flip through channels) but I happened to actually be paying attention to the commercial.

AAARRRGGGHHH!

Apparently Foley's has a series of 3 bears that they are selling this "holiday season." Three bears named: HOPE, LOVE and..............

Well, you'd think it would be FAITH, wouldn't you? Surprise! It's not! The three bears are named Hope, Love and COURAGE.

Yick. Can't have any of that nasty Faith stuff now can we--even if we're not telling people what faith to have! Even the WORD is apparently dangerous.

Weasels.

The computer works again!

2003-12-07T21:37:00.000-08:00

Dearest husband has brought our computer back from the seemingly dead. Hurray! It only took hours upon hours upon hours of dedicated work, with me coming in periodically, wringing my hands and saying, "How does it look?" (You can tell I'm a lot of help in these instances.)

Who knows what happened? We have the latest virus protectors, spyware killers, etc, etc, etc running. It was still looking like it would be a boat anchor.

I had visions of all the parish financial records being locked in a gray box, and me jumping up and down screaming perpetually in frustration at having to recreate all my reports and schedules. Certainly my idea of a hideous time in Purgatory.

Today's great hymn

2003-12-07T21:30:00.000-08:00

......was Watchman, Tell Us of the Night, sung in our parish to the Aberystwyth tune.

Watchman, tell us of the night,
What its signs of promise are.
Traveler, o’er yon mountain’s height,
See that glory beaming star.
Watchman, does its beauteous ray
Aught of joy or hope foretell?
Traveler, yes—it brings the day,
Promised day of Israel.

Watchman, tell us of the night;
Higher yet that star ascends.
Traveler, blessedness and light,
Peace and truth its course portends.
Watchman, will its beams alone
Gild the spot that gave them birth?
Traveler, ages are its own;
See, it bursts o’er all the earth.

Watchman, tell us of the night,
For the morning seems to dawn.
Traveler, darkness takes its flight,
Doubt and terror are withdrawn.
Watchman, let thy wanderings cease;
Hie thee to thy quiet home.
Traveler, lo! the Prince of Peace,
Lo! the Son of God is come!

"nonny june"

2003-12-06T20:31:00.000-08:00

if you recall, our parish Father had us, his flock, reflect on death (as the first of the "last four things") this week (re: my Nov 30 post). well, i must admit that i thought about it quite a bit on sunday, but i actually managed to think nothing of it the rest of the week ... until this morning when my mom called to tell me that my nonny june had just died.

my immediate family and i were going to go see nonny the week after next, the week Father would have us reflect on heaven. my first memory of the subject involves my nonny. i was about six or seven and nonny and papa's alaskan huskey, named fury, had died. i asked nonny, "will fury go to heaven?" after some reflection, nonny said to me, "well, sweetie, the bible tells us that heaven is the land flowing with milk and honey, so there must be cows and bees in heaven. and, if God allows cows and bees up there, i don't see why He wouldn't let dogs in, too." i don't remember my response, but i remember what nonny said next. she pulled me close and sighed, "the land flowing with milk and honey. doesn't that sound like a wonderful place to be?"
yes, nonny, it sounds like a wonderful place to be.

i love my nonny. please pray for her beautiful soul and for my papa who survives her.

Naw...

2003-12-05T22:17:00.000-08:00

Sounds like a backhanded complement to me.

you are saddlebrown
#8B4513

Your dominant hues are red and yellow... most of what you do is motivated by your need to change things and have a good time, but you've been known to settle down and think out a situation, too. You tend to surprise people just when they're starting to feel like they've got you down.

Your saturation level is high - you get into life and have a strong personality. Everyone you meet will either love you or hate you - either way, your goal is to get them to change the world with you. You are very hard working and don't have much patience for people without your initiative.

Your outlook on life can be bright or dark, depending on the situation. You are flexible and see things objectively.

the spacefem.com html color quiz

Many thanks to the violet alicia for the link.

Social Justice AND Advent Crafts!!!!!!

2003-12-05T15:05:00.000-08:00

I visit Domestic Church regularly. I love the articles, the “fridge art” and the essays – especially Catherine Fournier’s reprinting of Catherine Doherty’s writings. I say "social justice", which is a loaded term, she really just lived the Gospel.

I appreciate what SummaT wrote about the Advent / Christmas tension. I found "fun" ideas that we use in our own family to celebrate liturgically. One tidbit I found there was a plan to make your own holy water sprinklers. We are making holy water fonts for presents this year and my son is carving the sprinklers using the plans on her site.

By-the-by, I had the chance to meet Mrs. Fornier last spring and she was just as intriguing as her site.

You KNOW we had to post this one!

2003-12-03T05:24:00.000-08:00

A link to Bill Murchison's column about the Natl Geographic Society helping researchers learn about the Texas twang. Go out and read, and you'll get a good idea of how 2 of the 3 Summas sound.

Me personally? I don't, and never have, said "I swan" instead of "I swear." But both my grandmothers did. All the rest I cop to joyfully. I tried to rid myself of my accent in college in some foolish rebellion against my Abilene Texas childhood. But now I glory in my twang--and let folk from elsewhere think I'm a dumb hick. They'll figure out soon enough, if they need to, that that perception is at least slightly wrong.

The one thing I would add to his story is that ya'll can also be something in between a singular and plural word. The true plural is "All ya'll."

All ya'll go out and have a real nice Wednesday. I'm fixin' to go clean house.

Reading history

2003-12-02T10:37:00.000-08:00

Dan asks a good question in the comments box of the "What's in your stack" post below. He hated history in school (as, unfortunately, many of us did), but wants to read some history now.

What's a good starting point? Who are good authors to read? Where do you start? At the beginning? Or somewhere that interests you and then read forward and back (which tends to be MY approach).

I'll start with one option:

Never underestimate starting with something written for kids! That sounds dumb, but I really enjoyed Joy Hakim's The History of US It's a 10 volume series on American history, but each volume is relatively short. Lots and lots of period illustrations. Lots and lots of source material. And she is a great storyteller.

Her books are used by homeschoolers on all points of the spectrum, Christian to secular, rigid to unschoolers.

She has also written a one volume book for adults that was a companion volume to a PBS special. I've not seen that one, though.

I have the Warren Carroll Christendom series (Founding, Building, Glory, Cleaving), but I've not read them yet. I used them as research material starts in an on line medieval literature class I audited.

There are also some books I've noticed by Boorstin (?)--The Explorers, The Discoverers, something like that. Can anyone comment on those?

Well, how 'bout that!

2003-12-01T16:32:00.000-08:00

Natl Review online reports here that Abercrombie and Fitch have stopped selling their nasty "Field Guide" in their stores.

Will wonders never cease?

My reading stack

2003-12-01T11:33:00.000-08:00

Any one who knows me knows that I have a stack of books by the side of my bed that I am either currently reading or that are on the "next to read" pile. I am a relatively eclectic reader--I try to read some current fiction, some classic stuff, some good and holy stuff for my soul, some history.

But I've reached a new high (or maybe it's a low) in eclecticism. The two books I'm alternating are Flannery O'Connor's The Violent Bear It Away and E. F. Benson's Queen Lucia. How can I be so rabidly different from day to day?

Anyway, my reading stack includes the two books listed above, followed by:

Self Abandonment to the Divine Providence by somebody and I'm not going to wake up the baby to go in and find out
Mariette in Ecstasy by Ron Hansen
The Founding of Christendom by Warren Carroll
Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian
and
The Warden by Trollope

What's on YOUR stack?

Sometimes you just gotta laugh

2003-12-01T11:13:00.000-08:00

I was reading Dale's newest entries over at Dyspeptic Mutterings (link to the right, as usual) about the tragedy over at Blessed Sacrament in Dallas. You should go there and read up.

But that's NOT what's funny. Running in the ad space for Blogspot at the top of his blog was an advertisement for "Bishop" Shelby Spong's weekly newsletter--"A New Christianity for a New World."

Now there's an advertising match that just doesn't work! Dale and Bishop Spong!

Advent and me

2003-12-01T04:12:00.000-08:00

Advent is a VERY BIG DEAL to our priest. He believes in keeping it. (Big surprise, huh?) We have NO "Christmas" parties at Church until actual Christmas time. His big fight with the old KofC group was that they wouldn't listen to him and continued to schedule a "Christmas" party on December 10th each year. He is incensed by the fact that we have a "Parishes of Arlington Christmas luncheon" on December 15th ("Can't they read the calendar, it's ADVENT!" Fr A fumes at me in person and via email). Fr A thunders at us every year--"We are called to be Christians! Follow the Church's calendar. Christmas STARTS on Christmas and runs through Epiphany! Don't decorate your tree! Don't put up your outside lights! Don't give in the the secular conception of the holiday!" And on, and on, and on.

So, we work hard at keeping a good Advent around here. But I have a sneaking suspiscion that it is sometimes easier for my sweet husband to do that than it is for me. He continues to go to work as usual. But my workload increases--because it is I who am responsible for most of the holiday planning around our house, AND I am the Altar Guild directress at my parish. All those things that make Christmas beautiful and lovely and traditional and all that--all the things that people expect and want and NEED (no bare church for us, thank you very much) all come at the price of SOMEONE having to prepare for them. I have plenty of help in the actual decorating, when it comes down to that. But there is a lot of OTHER preparation that has to be done. It's all that behind the scenes stuff--necessary but not thought of by others that tries to distract me from Advent.

When I am surrounded by the things of CHRISTMAS, and bombarded by Christmas music in the grocery store and the drug store and have to wheel McBaby's baby stroller past innumerable blow up Santas at Wally world, it is really HARD to keep my mind on Advent. I feel myself slipping into the giant secular Christmas whirlpool. What am I to do? Walk around muttering under my breath as I search for gifts for my nieces and nephews, "Terry, remember the four last things: Death, Judgement, Heaven and Hell" over and over and over? Would that get me kicked out of Target?

You're Gonna Die!

2003-11-30T18:58:00.000-08:00

Lovely homily today. Father emplored us spend our Advent considering The Four Last Things. This week I plan to think about something I typically avoid thinking about at all costs. Smockhub thinks it'll be a good exercise for me. When we met fourteen years ago, my mantra had been "No one I love will ever die. We'll all just meet Christ in the Eastern sky." Of course, Catholicism put a damper on my Rapture plans. I still pray that no one I love will ever die, but it's getting harder to fool myself.
Death. What an ugly little word.

Hmmmm......

2003-11-30T12:18:00.000-08:00

The GashlyCrumb Tinies - You have a terribly wicked
sense of humour and people are drawn to your
wit. Children beware of the thin, pale man
with the black umbrella!

Which Edward Gorey Book Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Thanks to Ellyn at Oblique House for the link. Her link is to the right, of course!

And the OTHER great hymn today:

2003-11-30T12:10:00.000-08:00

"Sleepers, wake!" A voice astounds us,
the shout of rampart-guards surrounds us:
"Awake, Jerusalem, arise!"
Midnight's peace their cry has broken,
their urgent summons clearly spoken:
"The time has come, O maidens wise!
Rise up, and give us light;
the Bridegroom is in sight.
Alleluia!
Your lamps prepare and hasten there,
that you the wedding feast may share."

Zion hears the watchman singing;
her heart with joyful hope is springing,
she wakes and hurries through the night.
Forth he comes, her bridegroom glorious
in strength of grace, in truth victorious:
her star is risen, her light grows bright.
Now come, most worthy Lord,
God's Son, Incarnate Word,
Alleluia!
We follow all and heed your call
to come into the banquet hall.

Lamb of God, the heavens adore you;
let saints and angels sing before you,
as harps and cymbals swell the sound.
Twelve great pearls, the city's portals:
through them we stream to join the immortals
as we with joy your throne surround.
No eye has known the sight,
no ear has heard such delight:
Alleluia!
Therefore we sing to greet our King;
for ever let our praises ring.