The grapevine

Rabbi Seligmann claims he knows nothing about new about the Big Herod but he must know but probably feels he can't say anything. Well, the latest news may be good news but does not change much for me. The Big Herod's church feels alien now and it is no longer home. Right now I am staying put although we have our own problems.

Tonight

I went to the Big Herod's place tonight because I subbed for somebody. First time. I hated it. Hate the whole place. I will make myself scarce subbing. The whole place is painted white but the door and door frame is dark blue. Makes your eyes wonder off to the left constantly. No decent light for the picture. If you don't sit directly in front of it, you only get glare. The kind of picture the Big Herod loves: a sad, sorrowful Jesus.

Immaculate Conception

And so it will end at the Immaculate Conception Church in Canada.

Fr. Naugahyde

Fr. Naugahyde is a full Indian. Tall, big, eighty 88 years old and hard of hearing. So we are at the Ballet and it is pitch dark and he bellows: "I just dropped my hearing aid!" Then he got one of his leg cramps and he slapped his leg. He could not hear it but YOU slap your leg hard and see how far that carries even in the day, much less in a dark, quiet theatre built for superior acoustics. Then is throat dried up and he made these sucking noises. Pfthift, pfthift. LOUD. I was a wreck by the time I got home but he had had a good time.  I forgot to mention that his cane broke. He handed it to me and thought that I might be able to fix it in my spare time. Yeah. It think it will be a while. Oh, he is sweet and I do enjoy airing him out.

Birthday

The nun invited me for a birthday dinner and one of the brown hood fathers as well. He in turn told us that sometime in April he will fill in at the Big Herod's place. The Big Herod must be on one of his big vacations. I was disappointed but did not let it show. It ruined the birthday somewhat.

Fr. Zee

Fr. Zee has been discharged and it is good and I am getting a break. I was nice taking care of him but it also took a lot out of me. I had to constantly worry about the traffic and snow. So tonight the nun and I are going to the movies and afterwards perhaps have a fish sandwich at McDonalds. After all it is Lent. All my non-religious friends feasted on bacon this morning while we Catholics and Gree Orthodox had to do without. I am having a harder time not playing video games. I gave it up for Lent.

The branch

Our branch is a mess. 1) Miss Hitchley went to the doctor because she has chest pains. 2)The rumor has it again that we will be closed in April. 3)The secretary is making a serious attempt again to find another job. Who can fault her? We are spending an ungodly amount of money on Miss Hitchley's car for repairs which is eating up our meager collections right now. More and more I come to the conclusion that Miss Hitchley should retire. The idea that she could spend 10 more years with us is difficult to swallow.

Back to the secretary who really is the office manager who really runs the office right now: if we lose her we are sunk.

Oh heck!

I have been working my little back off for Fr. Zee. Today I went and bought extra towels among a multitude of other things but Fr. Zee does want the towels. He thinks his guardian might be insulted if he comes with towels. Never mind that I provided the towels and not he and that it was a gift. I can't imagine that the guardian could or would be insulted. I am sort of ticked and should not be. Well, tomorrow Fr. Zee will be discharged from rehab and will move into his community and I will step back and will pick up my routine here.

White Manure

This is the fourth snow storm since early December. I can't tell if it has stopped snowing or is still snowing because of the high wind. Certainly number three and number four are for the record books. First I had Hummer envy, now however, I wished a Hummer would drive over me and finish me off and I would not have to deal with it any longer. Just kidding folks. Compared to the Big Herod this is just a mild depression. My friend the nun and I went to the movies the other night. She drove. We saw Up in the Air. Very good but the nun complained that it did not have a Happy End. She is soooooo American. I am from Khazakstan where there is never a Happy End in the movies.
I have two priestly sons now. They become sons when they get to be over eighty and sick. One had back surgery last week. That was Fr. Zee. I spent the first day post-op with him feeding him ice cubes. He is now in rehab. Fr. Val-de-da was in another hospital at the same time. I did not know it until today but guessed that he must have been hospitalized. He is almost 90 and caught a cold and got dehydrated. Typical case. He called today and is back in his house. We have a date on my birthday. I will take him to a show IF we are finished with this snow business.