Zookeepers' Meeting

That's what it was tonight. I am in charge of the African rainforest goulash monkey. These monkeys eat cicadas. We are supposed to come up with a mission statement for the next meeting.

Mission Statement:

The mission is to procreate and multiply African rainforest goulash monkeys, just like the Bible says.

I keep the African rainforest goulash monkey happy by cutting up his fruit, cleaning his cage and making sure he is mentally stimulated. Special treats are live cicadas. I sit in front of the cage and purse my lips and say things like: "goooh" and "vooh." End of duty, end of mission.

The trip to Blind and Deaf

Ten people on a bus and no fuss because we are blind, because we are deaf.

Phone calls and Teddy

It funny how I am in the mood to make phone calls or not. I sometimes don't listen to my messages for several days. Then I make all my phone calls and think it wasn't so bad. Today I made many phone calls. Had to. The Pink Ladies are going for their annual trip and I am in charge. We all carry a pink teddy bear. Teddy likes to go for a trip here and there. My friend Soho hasn't e-mailed for a few days. Oh she has a biting sense of humor. I love it.

Is a bad day really a bad day?

The stock market dropped again today. Interesting how this shades my outlook for the whole day. I have to be so grateful for everything I got. Nevertheless, it looks as if I have to tighten my belt which my wasteline certainly could use. Fr. Anthony lost his only niece due to cancer. How much more terrible is such a thing than a drop in the stock market.

Christ the Emperor Sunday

Back to Falltown again to pick up Fr. Fred. The nun bought a coat for him today at the Splinter Coat Factory. Very nice. He looks great in it.

Home, reading the paper, ready for a nap and reading a brown-redish book about the early lives of the Christians.

It is getting dark outside.

Cleaning up....the mail

Today I am cleaning up. No, not the turkey or the pie or the stuff that fell on the carpet. It is paper-cleaning-up time. The post office sent me a survey addressed to Michael Himmelfarb. The problem with us Himmelfarbs is that we never had a Michael in this house and have no near or far relatives who are called Michael. Now how should I rate the post office? If I were to return the questionnaire I would pose as Michael. That's no good. If the post office is keeping tabs on these questionnaires, they have to figure that they were inefficient and never reached Michael and that is the truth.

Red and Yellow

I saw the most beautiful contrast in two trees today. One was blazing red, the other bright yellow. They stood next to each other. A lot of the trees are bare now but surprisingly many still have leaves. The reds have come to the forefront.

Lovely prayer time in the chapel in Falltown. Fr. Fred gave me his usual blessing at the end. What Wisdom in Catholic theology and teaching.

Thanksgiving Day

I feel so blessed on this day, surrounded by an overabundance of food. Tried many, many dishes. What a treat. Time for the dogs and me to go to bed and be especially grateful to God for this day. Hmm....yes, the turkey was delicious. Thank you God.

Flyer, Flyer

The friends and I put the last touches on a flyer tonight that is going to all the people who have some deformity. We do painless laser surgery. We put the soul back together without any scars. Now I can concentrate on the turkey. He is a roaster, not a flyer.

New Evangelization

I bought a book today about the New Evangelization. I promptly lost it at Vespers. Anyway my own effort - with a lot of help of many volunteers - is finished. Everyone in Greensville will receive our Advent and Christmas schedule. Fr. Capuchin called tonight. I almost dropped him as a friend a few weeks ago. Others told me I was overreacting. Probably so but in Greece next year I will sit in the last pew!

Dominican Vespers

I am writing this as a religious hick from the sticks. Dominican Vespers are awesome. I had never been to one of their Vespers. Lots of bowing, Rosary, Liturgy of the Hours, some Latin singing at the end. Heaven on earth.

Easy

I had to go grocery shopping today. All the aisles are filled with magazines advertsing EASY one week before Thanksgiving: Easy Turkey, easy meals, easy deserts, easy upset stomachs. The magazines that cater to deserts have a foot note "low calorie." When you look at the pictures you realize they are putting you on. Can't be. They are transcending from food to magic and I don't like to eat magic.
I fell for oxtail bones and bought them. It will be very easy to prepare them: stick them in the oven for a while and feed them to the dogs as a treat. Easy, easy, easy.

Meeting, meetings

I have evening meetings every night this week. Bee meetings, corkscrew meetings, egg meetings, lavender meetings. Mr. Finkelstein's boss is also coming to town. Oy-vey. I will make a big detour around him. I am not a big fan of Mr. Finkelstein's boss.

The Bees

Last night I read a book - not about bees - but it referred to a research study about in vitro fertilization in bees and I just about died laughing because I had written a blog a little earlier about a beeish meeting. I do believe in honey but not in the study. Enough said.

Beekeepers' meeting

I went to a beekeepers' meeting today. A refresher course how to keep the queen bee happy and all the worker bees. I like beekeeping. I don't care for these meetings too much but I understand they are necessary. I am getting depressed about my flyer. A lot of work to get carpal tunnel syndrome.

And the rest of the week......

Our office had a Women's Breakfast yesterday. The speaker, an orthodontist, was very good. Told us how to keep our teeth in shape for body and soul. I started a research blog in the afternoon and I am realy excited about it. This may touch a lot of people.

It's Friday

Krebs was here this morning and we had a good time looking through old magazines.

I offered to do a special job for Mr. Finkelstein at work and it is more time consuming than I thought. Live and learn but it is still good. Tonight the nun and I went to Squizzerinoes for pizza. I park at a spot where the police recently parked. It is actually not a parking spot but one can use it as one. Clever police, clever Lara or is it monkey see, monkey do?

The end is near for this week.

Who would have expected that?

http://deacbench.blogspot.com/2007/11/ewtn-priest-steps-down-over.html

My Sister

My sister at times thinks if married life would appeal to her again. She is a widow. The guy would have to be phenomenal rich so that she could give all his money away to the poor and the Capuchins and the Dominicans. She is social but also likes to be by herself. Right now she has two dogs and that is enough company.

What has the pumpkin in this picture have to do with anything? Nothing at all. Just a nice picture.

Philadelphia

I took Arnold to Philadelphia on Sunday to look up some special dog breeders. I thought I had never been to Philadelphia before but then I remembered that when mother was still alive we took the train to the Philadelphia flower show. I had never been down town. It is a delightful city - the little I saw. We spent two days with dog breeders and Arnold found just the right dog today and was happy. I am dead tired. The dog will be shipped to Texas and will need a lot of training but that will be Arnold's problem.

Riverview Church

Fr. Sebastian gave the homily tonight. As usual it was outstanding. Afterwards, the nun and I took him to dinner. I hope he enjoyed it as much as we did. So we feasted twice tonight.

Tomorrow I will be travelling to Philadelphia so that a friend of mine can get a second opinion about his headache. It has been a busy week. I am tired but I am also pretty happy.

Nighthawk

I went to adoration at 3 a.m. and from there directly to Emma's for breakfast. The usually busy streets looked like an Edward Hopper painting. Streetlights that direct no traffic, glaring construction lights, rear lights from a few automobiles. Emma's neon signs advertising that she was open. All this framed by a beautiful night sky.