The Marriage

Went to the movies tonight. Six of us. We heard the grass grow. It was not bad but was not good either. However, Catholic Movie Night is a success. We are having fun.
My trip is coming up soon. It will be nice to be away again. Malta, Assisi and Rome....I am gathering lots of different impressions from people about Divine Mercy. Most lay people like it, however, pastors often don't. There are various reasons. Someone came to our factory this morning and talked about Divine Mercy. The poor woman was totally confused. She always thought purgatory was a place where one decided if you wanted to go to heaven or hell. Ouch!

The Picnic

The Church of the Six Flags and the Church of Perpetual Help will have a joint picnic this year. I will go - it will be on the Perpetual Help ground - and wear a t-shirt that says: And peace be with you. Actually I should wear one that says: The Lord says: repent, not repress.

News from the Factory

The factory sent greetings and passed on a message that Mr. Finkelstein cannot keep up with the e-mails. I figured something like that. I hope he is cleaning out some of his attick. Perhaps it his bird that keeps him busy. I can just see him swing from the rope of the biggest bell. OK Mr. Finkelstein. Take a deep breath. Now, another swing with the rope. Don't you feel better already.

The Cactus

My neighbor planted a huge cactus in his front yard. I guess he wants to kill it. Yes, we do have hot weather here but cactuses like a dry climate and that we do not have. Even if it does not rain, we have high humidity. It kills any cactus. I am going to enjoy watching the progress of this.

Grandchildren's Day

Dead tired. Do I need to say more?

Who ate the blogs?

Looks like some gremlin ate my blogs that I posted during the last few days. Monday and Tuesday are gone. Sorry folks. Drove several hundred miles and visited a Basilica. I love the various Marian altars but the main altar does not do much for me. It is a huge big picture of Jesus in an orange robe. A cross between a Sumo wrestler and a Buddhist monk. I lit some candles for my dearest and nearest. A wonderful day overall. I need to continue with my Divine Mercy Novena tonight. It slightly bugs me that Mr. Finkelstein is doing nothing at headquarters for Divine Mercy Sunday. Just slightly. He is a nice guy otherwise.

Needy woman's syndrome

I thought about the "needy woman's syndrome" and how it plays out in the parishes. These women put enormous pressures on the pastor. They find out quickly what the emotional cords are that bind and run with it. Don't get in the way. They will steam roll you into the ground. Pastors often don't see it, because, well, it feels so good. I wonder if they bring up this subject in the seminary. If they don't they should.

Miss Pettigrew lives for a day

Saw the movie tonight with several friends. A lighthearted, cute flick, playing out in London. Joe has a conversion. Not only is he proposing to Miss Pettigrew in the end but also going from ladies' lingerie to men's socks as sales man. We all liked it.

In whose image?

I watched a movie last night wherein the main character ages and at the end of her life is unbelievable ugly. Then I wondered about the phrase 'made in the image of God'. Why, as we age, do we become so ugly? I look at my own hands wrinkle up and know God's hands do not have wrinkles. So does God's divine image shine through me sufficiently for others to see? No mirror captures that.

Easter Sunday

Accepted an Easter dinner invitation from dear friends. I almost cried when I left. They are very sweet and make me feel so at home. Ate lamb for the first time. I always thought I hated lamb but they had a chef who fixed the dinner and it was outstanding. Too many sweets for desert. There were three sisters and they remind me of my mother's family.
Came home and fed the dogs, recited the Divine Mercy Novena. Time for a movie and then bed.

THE Wedding

I love reading the wedding announcements on Sunday morning. This one is real from this morning's paper, I am only repeateding part of it:

"On Saturday, September 1, 2007, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, in the 12th century Anglican Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Steeple Bumpstead, Suffolk, England, Wallis Jennings de Pantulf de Bary Macsherry Lord was wed to Andrew Richard Hart.....The bride is descended from Guarin de Metz and Fulque FitzWarin, the central figures in the 13th century French manuscript, Le Romans de Fulque FitzWarin, who was one of the Barons at Magna Carta....."

This is about 1/8 of the total announcement. I am sorry I was not invited.

It does not get any better

I love the Easter Vigil. It is the highlight of the year. We are celebrating an event that nobody saw: Jesus coming out of the tomb. All we know is that the tomb is empty by Sunday morning. The most private moment between Father, Son and the Spirit. A glorious reunion. Humans have seen the Son from birth, walked with him, saw him die. Humans will see him ascend to heaven. But they don't see him now, not this moment, not the moment when he walks out of the tomb. His life now takes on a new dimension. He will soon sit at the right hand of the Father. As the firstborn he will give us the the double portion of his inheritance. The Spirit from the Son and from the Father. How could the Father deny him now?

Holy Saturday

A strange day. The Blessed Mother holds things up today for us. She unites her children under her mantle today. Otherwise we would be doomed. She consoles, she gives hope. "It will get better." "You watch!" "You will see!" And of course she is right. Tonight she will be celebrated as the Queen Mother for the first time. Her son is with us for all eternity, redeemed us from sheol, paid the ransom with his life. Now we have a King. "Long live the people!"

Re-designing

Headquarters sent us a filler at the factory for the Tridium. He has a desk job. He is very nice. Gave a nice address yesterday. Today the married specialist took over and gave us the address. He still has problems. He cannot excite. The secretary got rejected as being overqualified for the job she applied for. Good for us as we would be doomed. Mrs. Fritchley in very good mood most of the time because she is running things. Miss Hitchley who is in charge, a bit uptight because of the work load. Does not or cannot delegate sufficiently. However, she authorized the purchase of new computers for which everyone is most grateful for. It is scandalous the junk I have to work with in my office.

Thirty-six years

My holiness waxes and wanes. Went to the Stations of the Cross at our church today. Got annoyed about something. Lost my concentration. Tonight I went with the nun to the Lord's Passion service. Afterwards we had a bowl of soup at the Diner. Matzo ball soup, no less. Ran into some out of town Jewish friends - today of all days! They joined us and we had a lively conversation. Thirty-six years ago, the parents of these friends and me and mother were mugged together on St. Thomas. At gun point. If you get mugged together you stay together. I watched the kids grow up, get married, get divorced, get remarried, start families. Thirty-six years is a long time. In a very peculiar way, it was a Jewish day through and through.

Good Friday

What's good about it? Nothing and everything. I cannot fathom the pain that Christ experienced as he died on the cross. I cannot fathom the love he had for me to die for me. I am everything today. The bad thief, the good thief, the Roman soldiers who nailed him to the cross, the people who mocked him, the disciples who ran away, the women who stood under the cross and watched weeping, the centurion who made the living water flow from his side and had an instantaneous conversion. I want to be there today when they take him down from the cross and clean his wounds, wash his body and lay him to rest. No more pain, just hope. Jesus, convert me every day, please.....

Pruning

My apple trees got pruned today. It was a good, sunny day for it. I had one pruned about 20 years ago by a hick who thought pruning meant leaving a stump. The tree never recovered completely but it lived. Today I had it pruned again. A better pruning job. Time to prune myself up and take a shower for the footwashing tonight. Rosary before I leave. There is just time......

Running downhill

The nephew of the nun keeps running away lately. I guess at this rate he will end up on the street. The nephew ran away to Toronto with a classmate. The nun talked this morning with the other kid's father who seems to be a complete idiot according to the nun which means even if they are found again they will also keep running again. The nun would like to go up there and beat the daylights out of her nephew. Can't blame her. For the nun to come up with this kind of a solution means that everything else has been tried and failed and it has. On top of this one of the Big Herod's favorites called her and suggested to her to call the Big Herod for an exorcism. Typical, typical. The Big Herod would love that. The nun never responded to the call. She knows her nephew is a troubled kid but not possessed. You advance a 100 points if you find a suitable victim for an exorcism for the Big Herod.

Holy Thursday

A few years back friend of mine and I ran into a woman who had been elected to receive a foot washing that evening by the pastor. It was a warm spring day and she wore sandals. She happily showed us her feet, redpainted toenails and all, and told us that she had come from a pedicure in preparation for the footwashing that night. We looked at her freshly painted toenails and I will never forget how much I had to control myself not to laugh out loud. My friend and I stood there and went: "Hmmmm." What else was there to do? In my current church all feet get washed. It is a beautiful ceremony.

Morning news

Acme Markets is issuing a voluntary recall on all codes of Acme label 4-pack cinnamon rolls with icing due to the undeclared milk ingredient. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product. The recall affects all Acme locations in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland. This is a recall notice by the FDA. I just had my coffee this morning - no Acme 4-pack cinnamon rolls in my house. I checked. I prefer bread and cheese anyway.

The books

I love reading my religious books. I have a ton of them. Satan coming in with book lust. It takes very little for me to go overboard. He has has to blow a little and I fall over and I buy another book. I am reading how many of our saints so valiantly resisted Satan. I often don't know he has appeared until I am flat on the ground, streamrolled into sin. It is difficult to get up. I know the guardian angels are stronger but I keep forgetting them. Well, not quite but I don't turn to them as often as I should. I have three. One goes by the name of George, one goes by the name of Helena, and one does not have a name and I call him "the strong one." He has been assigned to me that I don't fall backwards and out of the Catholic Church. George fights for me against the evil demons and Helena makes me generous. One of my favorite angels is the archangel Gabriel. I often talk to him. No, he does not talk back. It is just me asking him to intercede for me. I love it.

A Catholic Devotion worth cherishing.

Our bulletin for next weekend has the words "Divine Mercy Sunday" very prominently displayed. Apparently it was a verboten phrase last year and the natives are getting even this year. It is a beautiful devotion and it takes so little to make it truly a Divine Mercy Sunday. We are not doing anything at our church which is too bad. How difficult is it to display a picture of Divine Mercy and recite the chaplet? Not even 15 minutes. Besides it takes no pastor to lead it although it is special if he does. There are tons of flyers and pamphlets available for the faithful. I will start the Novena on Good Friday. It is beautiful. Wisdom for the Day: Don't deny the faithful a popular devotion - especially if they are willing to lead it themselves.

Filler, filler

I had to go to the school board meeting of the midgets tonight. We started out with the Stations of the Cross, performed by the midgets. It was very nice. The music was a hoot. The kids were obviously permitted to select the music. I am still on the board. The pastor who appointed me now has a replacement but realized he needs two people on the board so he wants me to continue. However, now I am replaced from filler number 1 to filler number 2. I don't mind that much any more. There is not much to do as filler number 2. It is his loss. Started a letter to my friend Alex in Florida. That is to cheer him up......Need to pay my bills tomorrow. My factory department and I will meet at the bread factory in the morning. No communion service. Too bad. Rumor has it that we are supposed to get a new pastor on July 1. I wonder in what basement trap door I will end up. Bought myself an Easter present: a book of course: A Jewish Study Bible.

God bless the Irish

Dear Mother:

You were Irish through and through. I miss you today. You eyes, your smile, your wit. I will be going out tonight with friends. We will think of you.

Stress and Holiness

I went this morning to Mass to an out of the way area church. We don't even have communion service this week. The nun can't delegate and is overworked and the secretary is looking for another job and we should be praying more and with all the work, we are praying less. I offered last week to do communion service for the seniors - did not even get an answer.
My friend Axel in Florida lost his voice and I have left messages on his answering machine to cheer him up. Today he actually answered the phone. His voice was a little bit weak but he sounded normal. I actually like the idea of being able to speak to a man who cannot not talk back. If in a marriage only the woman could talk and the men could not, there would be zero divorce. Hear, hear Catholic church: castration of the voices for the men! Another way to attain holiness.

Politics

The nun went with me today to the MandM church. I thought I was getting hard of hearing but without me saying anything, she mentioned that she had a hard time understanding Fr. X. The sound system! However, if I were to say something, I would be told immediately, that it does not belong to us. In the car, to my everlasting regret, I brought up politics. She thinks business men should run the country. I did not have the heart to tell her that business men brought about the recent mortgage collapse. She is a Republican at heart and I am a Democrat. George Bush and George III have had one thing in common: they were/are insane. She listens to convervative shows on TV and thinks that it is better to have a war overseas in Iraq than at home. There was no reason to start a war overseas and after 9/11 we increased our security at home to the point where only drug smugglers can enter the country. Oy vey......

Reading

Today was the weird reading about the ass and the colt and Jesus sitting on both. How? Is there an explanation? Did someone have double vision? Did Jesus sit first on one and then switch to the other? Bad translation? If they were not of the same height, we are really in trouble. Jesus may have looked at the beasts and decided to walk after all. And what happened to the beasts later on? Italian salami?

Bonsai

Bought a bonsai tree a fee weeks back and recently got a book how to take care of them. Should have gotten the book first. Looks like I got a Wal-mart bonsai - Mr. Wal-mart forgive me - but it seems to have a lot of deficiencies. Ungainly in any pot. Well, it needs a home and I will keep it. It does look cute as a center piece on the dining room table, flaws and all.

Stuff that needs to be done

The nun's car broke down this morning. She was with her husband at the post office when it happened. So I rescued them and loaned them the big car. Went on to buy a few groceries and got a hair cut. As soon as my hair grows, it looks as if I have permanent hat hair. One side sticks out and the other side lies flat to my head. No comb will undo it but if it is really short, the difference is not that noticeable. Fr. Meniskus is coming out today. I have my routine worked out so that I can go to weekly confession on Saturdays and have found two really nice confessors out here. It is a tremendous grace. If I don't go, I feel as if I had won the lottery but was too lazy to cash in the ticket.

What to give Mother?

What to give mother for Mother's day? A bottle of calcium supplements with vitamin D. Recommended daily intake is 1200 mg of calcium and 800 IU of vitamin D. What for? It reduces bone loss. This recommendation is made in the Internal Medicine Alert letter of February 29, 2008. Oh yea, I almost forgot to mention it, Mom must be compliant to be effective.

New Pills

I have gotten new pills. The dog has gotten new pills. Twice I have opened the wrong bottle and almost swallowed the dog's medicine. I wonder if my fur would grow. I would not mind on my head....

Fine tuning

What is the answer to stay away from the hierarchical tyranny in the Catholic Church? It think for me it is that I must pray more. If you grow up with nothing, you somehow become a fighter to survive. It is not necessary any longer and I am not out for the kill but I have a hard time not responding when I feel I am being used as a doormat. Mother once observed that if you give me an entry, I have a tendency to run with it. So, if you give me an entry and show me how stupid you are, I will respond quickly. Most likely, way too quickly. A lot of times I see disaster coming and I can avoid a collision. What happens if a fender bender turns ultimately into a train wreck? I was not prepared for this. Breath deeply, pray more, enjoy the wonderful life God gave you and don't look back or you will fossilize like Lot's wife.

Nice Afternoon

Walked the dogs. The winter honeysuckle is blooming. Heavenly fragrance. The frogs are mature now and make mature sounds. It is just a little dirt pond that tries to survive among people who throw tons of pesticide on the grass to keep it green.

The end of Merton

I am almost finished with the Merton book. It is strange to read the diary about a man who will be dead in a few days and does not know it. His love affair with M was also a strange interlude in his priestly career. It ends and a few years later he realizes how ridiculous it was but while he is in it he sees absolutely nothing wrong. He does not justify himself. He sees nothing wrong. That is so strange. Love is blind, no question.

Odds and ends

Today breakfast with the early risers. Fun as usual. Then meeting with Krebs. We are working through the book: "All generations shall call me blessed," by Fr. Stefano M. Manelli, FI. We are both wondering what the FI stands for. Krebs is trying to interpret an old dream of mine. Hilarious how differently she sees it but I love listening to her. There was an incredible brute of a dog in that dream which frightened me to death and Krebs thinks he was my protector. Anyway, I don't dream often so it is memorable when I remember something. Drove along a street in a valley - in real life this morning and not in the dream - and was amazed how many dead beech tree leaves are still clinging to the beech trees. Same with a certain type of oaks. I thought even if we are dead, we still hang on to the stump of Jesse, or rather the stump of Jesse still hangs on to us. Lunch at the pizza place by myself. Always the same: a slice of cheese pizza, a small salad, a capuchino and a diet coke.Got there just in time; a few minutes later the place was packed.

Play it safe, Sam

I thought about my Catholic religion again tonight. I love it. At the same time I am sick and tired of the hierarchical tyranny. It is alive and well. I need to keep a safe distance from it. I need to be involved but not be involved. I like to teach and evangelize and will do so in my own church but I will have to have my antenna up and watch out for the bureaucracy. I will support the Capuchins and the Dominicans financially. I like them and they like me and they are grateful for the support I give them. I will take care of the homeless. No middle man needed. I am already connecting with them on my own.

Monsieur

Monsieur Cardinal - may I suggest the turtle soup to you today? Followed by the braised mushrooms, freshly plugged in the cellar. A bottle of Lafite Rothschild 1801 left by the original architect and discovered in the renovations. Ou la la and for desert the little sugared bats from the belfry. No, no, monsieur, I am not your server for the day. I am the fairy who sprinkles pixie dust from heaven. A little stroll in your prayer garden for the digestion?

The inquiry of all inquiries

We got an inquiry at our MandM church if we wanted another cluster meeting session. Everyone sort of responded "What for?" Why waste a nice evening with something like that. Someone suggested we should show our support by giving generously to the Lenten appeal. I did not touch that one. The Lenten appeal is wonderful but one gives where one is appreciated.

The headlines

Mr. Finkelstein was on the front page of our newspaper today. There was a nice article what he is doing already at the new factory. They are lucky to have him. I would not mind working for Mr. Finkelstein again, organizing lunch breaks. I am very good at that.

What watch is it?

I looked at my atomic clock today. A big wall clock. It still is in standard mode and not did not advance to the "saving time" mode. What time would be saved by moving the handles of a clock around has always escaped me plus it puts me in a foul mood until October when this thing is righted again. This thing is atomic. I am sort of clueless what to do. Are there any atomic clockmakers around? I know Mr. Finkelstein only deals with cuckoo clocks so there no help from that quarter. I am too advanced for my own good. It had cost just enough that one does not want to throw it in the trash and buy a new one. I guess I will wait a while and see when the atom kicks in. Perhaps when they light the Easter fire on Holy Saturday.

Thomas Merton

I read Thomas Merton until midnight last night. I am reading his diary. A fascinating combination of spirituality and at times naivete. I scanned the pages in the middle of the book and started reading about his love affair with "M." Strange. He admits being madly in love, yet claims to be celibate while loving each other to "ecstasy" whatever that means under the circumstances. One wonders if the "celibate" phrases where somehow added later. The nun wanted to know if it is an easy read. She wants to read it when I am done. Part of the book could be retitled: Sex among the Trappists, or just Sex Traps. Now there is good Valentine literature for the masses.

Getting ready

I always like it when I have a day where there are no appointments. I had one today and I canceled it. Now I feel free. I need to get a lot of paperwork done. I am trying to get a European Credit Card for my trip with Fr. Wolfgang which is coming up next month. It may just work. I was rather lazy it getting the process started but it might still be doable. If not, it will be ready for the next trip home.

Full steam ahead

I took the adults tonight through the Easter Vigil. I am not a learned theologian but my passion comes through. I thank the Lord for this gift. I know they enjoyed it and a few came up afterwards and told me just that - the passion added so much to the experience of hearing about the cosmic event we call the Easter Vigil.

The Blind will See

The Governor of New York got caught in DC, the city of sin. The Lt. Governor is legally blind. When he becomes Governor, New York will see.

Ahhhh....it feels good.

Feeling a little bit better. The stock market is up today. I have so many requests for help right now from so many people and this has been a tough year so far. My pasta group was here this afternoon and I gave them a version of my speech which I will give tomorrow night at my MandM Church. The emphasis is on the Easter Vigil. I think they enjoyed it and I think it will go well tomorrow. I just like to bring my love of history and theology into presenting, with a fresh look, Catholic teachings and, in this case, our liturgy. Sometimes I wonder where it is coming from. Yes, I read a lot but that does not explain how it comes together. I know it is a gift and grace from God. It is just there. It comes out. It bubbles out.

na-nun-zi again

I have come to the conclusion that the na-nun-zi is the unvarnished mouthpiece of the Big Herod. It is sad but there is nothing I can do about it. Imagine I were to invite myself to the Big Herod's office, have lunch there and proceed to give my opinion about the Big Herod to one of his employees! However since this incident happened in our church and the opinion is expressed about me by one of the Big Herod's current favorites, all is just fine and beautiful. The Big Herod is also taking advantage of me knowing I don't have a priest to protect me. I think I will see his downfall one of these days. The na-nun-zi wanted to know what I wanted Chucky to do about it. Dear Chucky - you are a real insensitive slob when it comes to certain things. You were that with mother when she died and now you are again insensitive. Send the Big Herod to an Etiquette School, followed by a Decent Conduct School, followed by How To Live Without Points School. As far as the na-nun-zi is concerned she seems to be one of those "I am in love with the Big Herod" types. Dear na-nun-zi, you are not the only one. There are tons of them. Just remember, not everything that glitters is gold.

Na-nun-zi

I got the dumbest, idiotic reply to a complaint from the na-nun-zi, who is Chucky's assistant. Lord help me if I ever send another penny to this organization. When it comes to them, Lord give me fortitude to practice checkbook paralysis. I know they only see the Big Herod's side of any issues but that they can't even be diplomatic in their replies is mind boggling.

The graduation

I will finally graduate with a zigamagic certificate degree. The are like Swiss knives. They come in handy if you don't leave home without them. I should get an advanced degree in "knife throwing" now. I would have but one aim.

Do you hear?

I spoke to the Holy Spirit tonight. I told him He had to speak English to me. Today He sounded more like any of the Verizon crew when they lay cable in the front yard. I did not understand Him. If He spoke back tonight and answered me I don't know. I did not understand anything. I think I made my point. SPEAK ENGLISH.

How does the Holy Spirit Speak?

Mr. Finkelstein thought the Holy Spirit brought us to the place where his party was. I would say it was more my friend Snucks who grabbed the first door that opened to get out of the cold. It's o.k. Mr. Finkelstein. I would have mingled had I known. I kept thinking what in the world must they think that I showed up at a party where I was not invited? Perhaps somebody will come momentarily and shove me out the door and what would Chucky have done then? And the Big Herod? He would have had a field day. "See" I told you so, "she is passive aggressive, demented and oh yes rude, rude, rude." The end result is/was that is was a beautiful day and this little glitch will just make me tease Mr. Finkelstein more. Stay way from hiring the Holy Spirit as a party organizer Mr. Finkelstein. Use your secretary.

Order of the Garter

Mr. Finkelstein got the Order of the Garter conferred today. It was a gorgeous ceremony. All the knights and ladies and horses showed up. Mr. Finkelstein wore purple for the occasion. He came with his falcon and his cardinal. My friends had gone and distributed free whiskey among the crowds beforehand so everyone was in a jolly mood. Afterwards my friends wanted a bite to eat and by sheer accident walked into a party for Mr. Finkelstein. I had not been invited which was somewhat embarrassing. I did not want to look like a party crasher. We saw Mr. Finkelstein again coming through to join his party. He looks good and I really want to pray for him a lot.

If Jesus would have gotten a death sentence today?

How would Jesus have been killed today if he had been sentenced to die? Electric chair, lethal injection, firing squad, beheading, or perhaps become an organ donor as it is sometimes done in China? In a way Jesus became an organ donor, he gave us his heart and soul.

Catching up

The Church of the Crucified - also known as Cruxified - has been without pastor since last summer. The pastor from a near by church does not seem to be able to deal with both churches yet. There was no Ordinary Time this year. The Church of the Crucified went from Christmas to Lent. That is, they changed the altar cloth at Lent but today they added on. The crucifix and various statues and icons had a purple cloth draped around them. This is the 5th Sunday of Lent. Better late than never.
Tomorrow we will visit Mr. Finkelstein. Some of my friends got sick or they would have come along. The nun has a herniated disk. Others got relapses of colds that do not seem to go away.

Flower Show

Two friends and I travelled to this huge flower show yesterday in the next country. We had a ball. Purchased 25 long stemmed roses for $6.00 and wonderful corkscrew willow. I had only seen corkscrew willow in green and they had it in red. Brought some home and I hope it will root. Late in the day we had dinner at this supposedly famous restaurant where Lincoln slept or snoozed. The prices woke you up but we had fun.

Picture Adam and Eve.

Went shopping today to the new super store in the area. I recently read that 99 percent of our shoes are imported. I looked at one pair, a knock off from some other popular model. The original and knock off, both, come from China. If China stops all her imports we will go shoeless and naked and be without medicine. Most of the ingredients for our drugs also come from China. Nice thought. I wonder if at the Second Coming the trumpets will be from China. How does one say: Praise the Lord in Chinese? May be I should practice.

The Frogs

We have a little pond in the area and the frogs were alive tonight. I love their sound. Spring is here. I stopped the car, rolled down the window and listened for a while. It is wonderful how the good Lord created all.
Time to give New Jerusalem her English lesson.

Get going God....

My friends in California have had a rotten deal out there ever since they moved. All the money is used up because of illnesses and the illnesses don't stop. The husband was diagnosed with a serious skin cancer in the face. That is just the lastest of one cancer story after another. They had a restaurant here and were wealthy. They sold everything to take care of her elderly parents and moved. He got sick, she got sick, the elderly parents, of course, are sick all the time. Listen God, they are nice, Catholic, DO something and help them. What is your problem that they need to suffer so much?

How much stress is enough?

My doctor tells me I have esophageal spasms. They hurt. However, I am still in the "rule out" stage. So I will undergo a nuclear stress test to make sure I did not have a heart attack. And I thought I was under enough stress already. A nice priest told me my situation with the Big Herod is like an ugly divorce. He got the house and you got the dogs and he wants all the friends, too.

The Book Store

Walked through the book store today. Needed to find a book on Macs and made a detour through every isle to get there. Found a lovely bible book with pictures. Got home and read: Jesus had seven brothers. Oh, well, the pictures are nice. I hope the Mac book does not say it was written by Jesus. Found a little reflection book on the Archangel Michael. The reflections are nice but one is about divorce and remarriage. No reason to judge hastily. I am SURE they stayed celibate in the second marriage. One marriage will scar you for life. Tons of Dummies book. I am looking for the Dummies for Dummies book. There is a Dummies book for just about every subject and profession. I was looking for a Dummies for Chucky or Dummies for the Big Herod. I have got to write those myself.

My Angels

My angels showed up at the factory this morning. I am delighted every time I see them. How much trust they have to have in strangers! How vulnerable they are! The two who showed up looked really sharp in their Sunday outfits and I told them so. It is nice to see them smile.

Bad Hair Day

Went to the staff meeting at the factory. Gave my little report and right after was hit with chest pain from hell. Was happy that I was sitting down. Had to rest all afternoon. Looked on my calendar and saw that I have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow. Every time before, it turned out to be muscle spasm. Hope it's muscle spasms again. Too much excitement in my life lately and signs of getting elderly. I am at an age where I could use a hair transplant on my head and use the hair from my chin. Funny, how hormones realign hair as one ages.

This and that

One of the hoods was here tonight. Gave a superb homily on taste and waste. Then dinner with the hood and the nun. Talked about the Big Herod at the other church. We had a good time. I want peace, peace, peace. I hope I crushed his head. That would do it. Tomorrow I will go to my own church. Then staff meeting at the factory.

Krebs and I are discussing the perpetual virginity of the Blessed Mother. Neither one of us has a hang-up on this. If you believe in a resurrected Christ, then the miraculous birth seems to be small potatoes in comparison. The perpetual virginity makes sense because the Isrealites could not touch the tabernacle or they would die. Here is the new tabernacle - hands off.

The store renovation

I ran out of milk today. Actually I don't run out. It just goes bad on me because I don't use that much. The local grocery store is undergoing a major renovation. The things that were at the front are now in the back and what used to be on the top shelf is now on the bottom shelf. I could have used a map or GPS system to navigate today. It would have been so much easier just to switch the entrance and exit doors around, glue everything in place and tip the shelves upside down. How's that for economic shopping? These people have no imagination.

Tall story

The na-nun-zi talked with my friend "Zebedee" on Friday. Zebedee had distributed doughnuts on the Big Herod's territory. The Big Herod foamed at the mouth again because he thought I had distributed the doughnuts. So it worked itself upwards into the land where they make cuckoo clocks and the na-nun-zi, assistant to the Master cuckoo clock maker called my friend Zebedee. The two of them discussed affairs down here in general and Zebedee told her that many people were upset the way mother was treated before she died. Na-nun-zi told Zebedee how the Big Herod had offered to see mother when she was dying and how he had offered to celebrate the Mass. If I could have vomited on command, I would have. Wrote a nice e-mail to the na-nun-zi in the middle of the night and told her, please, do not rewrite history. There was NO help from the Big Herod. Nada. Nothing. My boss at the time, the Rev. Finkelstein, who is now in a retirement home, jumped in and did everything for mother.