"Anger is the feeling that makes your mouth work faster than your mind."
-- Evan Esar
"The trouble with America is that there are far too many wide-open spaces surrounded by teeth."
-- Charles Luckman
"That is the saving grace of humor, if you fail no one is laughing at you."
-- A. Whitney Brown
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Still quilting . . .
Two tops for scrap quilts completed and just in need of enough fabric to back them. I'm seriously considering a 'set' pattern for the next quilt but, as you can see, I am not near my sewing maching right now. I think I'm procrastinating!
I'm trying to learn Italian and have found that doing hand sewing while I listen to the lessons seems to sink the new language into my brain more easily. Unfortunately, it gives me more reason to increase the quilt population of the world in order to have enough hand sewing to become fluent in Italian. Hey, anything to further my education.
My son, however, feels that since I am working so hard on Italian, he shouldn't have to because we only need one to translate in the event we head to Rome. I am teaching him that this is not the case . . . in my usual, sweet, motherly way: "DO IT NOW!" He has learned the word for 'excuse me' and has managed to incorporate the sarcasm! A step towards fluency? He has also committed 'cosi, cosi' to memory which translates to 'so, so' and uses that to answer most everything.
Speaking of learning languages, I am testing one the library is thinking of buying. It is an on-line program and is really great. It is called Mango Languages and covers just about any language you would need in today's world. It is audio so you get the pronunciation. The words for the language being learned and English, are color coded so you know which is the verb, etc. in the other language. Really helps you learn the word order as it isn't always the same in a foreign language. Not all libraries carry it but if you are interested in learning a language, you should check with your local branch and put in a request.
Speaking of which, I have to go learn Italian!
I'm trying to learn Italian and have found that doing hand sewing while I listen to the lessons seems to sink the new language into my brain more easily. Unfortunately, it gives me more reason to increase the quilt population of the world in order to have enough hand sewing to become fluent in Italian. Hey, anything to further my education.
My son, however, feels that since I am working so hard on Italian, he shouldn't have to because we only need one to translate in the event we head to Rome. I am teaching him that this is not the case . . . in my usual, sweet, motherly way: "DO IT NOW!" He has learned the word for 'excuse me' and has managed to incorporate the sarcasm! A step towards fluency? He has also committed 'cosi, cosi' to memory which translates to 'so, so' and uses that to answer most everything.
Speaking of learning languages, I am testing one the library is thinking of buying. It is an on-line program and is really great. It is called Mango Languages and covers just about any language you would need in today's world. It is audio so you get the pronunciation. The words for the language being learned and English, are color coded so you know which is the verb, etc. in the other language. Really helps you learn the word order as it isn't always the same in a foreign language. Not all libraries carry it but if you are interested in learning a language, you should check with your local branch and put in a request.
Speaking of which, I have to go learn Italian!
Sunday, May 3, 2009
All seem to apply these days . . .
"In archaeology you uncover the unknown. In diplomacy you cover the known."
-- Thomas Pickering
"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody."
-- Bill Cosby
"This country has come to feel the same when Congress is in session as when the baby gets hold of a hammer."
-- Will Rogers
-- Thomas Pickering
"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody."
-- Bill Cosby
"This country has come to feel the same when Congress is in session as when the baby gets hold of a hammer."
-- Will Rogers
Friday, May 1, 2009
A Walk on the Mild Side . . .
This was written by a very good friend of mine. It certainly points out a real problem in our Church today.
*****
The vocation crisis is absent from a few of the 146 Latin Rite Dioceses in the United States. In the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska, Bishop Bruskowitz has no problem keeping his churches staffed with priests and his seminaries full. In the dioceses of Atlanta, Georgia, Omaha, Nebraska, and Peoria, Illinois, the same lack of a problem. They have vocations. They also have a different vocation crisis - the ordained priests are crowding out lay people in many ministries. When Bishop John Myers left the Diocese of Peoria, it had an abundance of vocations. After being appointed Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey, he has sown and now reaps another harvest of vocations. The Diocese of Newark had the largest graduating class of any seminary in the country.
What is the secret of the flourishing diocese? It would seem that the bishop is the key as reflected by the above mentioned. Take the bishop in our diocese, for an example. He is a good man. I believe he is orthodox and holy. He prays. The sermons I have heard were very good. I believe, however, he is, indeed, the problem with our lack of vocations.
What is the problem with this good and orthodox bishop? I believe it is a lack of the virtue of fortitude. Most bishops have too much of the virtue of prudence and not enough of fortitude. They want to please two masters on earth; the Holy Father and the world. They hear from Rome that there cannot be women's ordination and they obey. However, they feel that they must bend the knee to their other master, the world. So, they "explain" or avoid explaining the teaching. They play down the "controversy". Anything that might upset the media, badly catechized laymen, or the elite who donate large sums of money is to be avoided or watered down. This is not because the bishops are heretics but to avoid the dreaded abyss of bad publicity.
Young men on fire for the Lord can give up a biological family to be a spiritual father to a flock but they will seldom do this to be a branch manager with the slight possibility of promotion to VP or CEO.
The bishops and their bureaucracies want smart, efficient, branch managers, who will run their parishes without controversy and crank out sacraments efficiently. A candidate for the seminary who is fired with the Holy Spirit makes them uncomfortable. What might such a priest say during a sermon? What might he tell a parishioner or a newspaper reporter? The bishop would have to try and smooth over the crises; almost certainly not by forthright affirmation of the Faith, but by weasel words, appeals to compromise, and mildness.
Bishops with vocation crises want what can never be: young men who want to dedicate their lives to Jesus who are "reasonable" and not too enthusiastic about the faith. But because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold, nor hot, I will begin to vomit thee out of my mouth. Revelation 3:16.
*****
The vocation crisis is absent from a few of the 146 Latin Rite Dioceses in the United States. In the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska, Bishop Bruskowitz has no problem keeping his churches staffed with priests and his seminaries full. In the dioceses of Atlanta, Georgia, Omaha, Nebraska, and Peoria, Illinois, the same lack of a problem. They have vocations. They also have a different vocation crisis - the ordained priests are crowding out lay people in many ministries. When Bishop John Myers left the Diocese of Peoria, it had an abundance of vocations. After being appointed Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey, he has sown and now reaps another harvest of vocations. The Diocese of Newark had the largest graduating class of any seminary in the country.
What is the secret of the flourishing diocese? It would seem that the bishop is the key as reflected by the above mentioned. Take the bishop in our diocese, for an example. He is a good man. I believe he is orthodox and holy. He prays. The sermons I have heard were very good. I believe, however, he is, indeed, the problem with our lack of vocations.
What is the problem with this good and orthodox bishop? I believe it is a lack of the virtue of fortitude. Most bishops have too much of the virtue of prudence and not enough of fortitude. They want to please two masters on earth; the Holy Father and the world. They hear from Rome that there cannot be women's ordination and they obey. However, they feel that they must bend the knee to their other master, the world. So, they "explain" or avoid explaining the teaching. They play down the "controversy". Anything that might upset the media, badly catechized laymen, or the elite who donate large sums of money is to be avoided or watered down. This is not because the bishops are heretics but to avoid the dreaded abyss of bad publicity.
Young men on fire for the Lord can give up a biological family to be a spiritual father to a flock but they will seldom do this to be a branch manager with the slight possibility of promotion to VP or CEO.
The bishops and their bureaucracies want smart, efficient, branch managers, who will run their parishes without controversy and crank out sacraments efficiently. A candidate for the seminary who is fired with the Holy Spirit makes them uncomfortable. What might such a priest say during a sermon? What might he tell a parishioner or a newspaper reporter? The bishop would have to try and smooth over the crises; almost certainly not by forthright affirmation of the Faith, but by weasel words, appeals to compromise, and mildness.
Bishops with vocation crises want what can never be: young men who want to dedicate their lives to Jesus who are "reasonable" and not too enthusiastic about the faith. But because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold, nor hot, I will begin to vomit thee out of my mouth. Revelation 3:16.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Quotes to Ponder . . .
"We live in a moment of history where change is so speeded up that we begin to see the present only when it is already disappearing."
-- R. D. Laing
"The incompetent with nothing to do can still make a mess of it."
-- Laurence J. Peter
"A lot of fellows nowadays have a B.A., M.D., or Ph.D. Unfortunately, they don't have a J.O.B."
-- Fats Domino
-- R. D. Laing
"The incompetent with nothing to do can still make a mess of it."
-- Laurence J. Peter
"A lot of fellows nowadays have a B.A., M.D., or Ph.D. Unfortunately, they don't have a J.O.B."
-- Fats Domino
Departure from the usual . . .
I took a second look at my recent quilt projects and was amazed to find they are all in pastel colors! I made two baby quilts in the rail fence pattern and used every scrap of pale blue, green, and pink in them. Not my usual choice of colors. I just finished piecing a ribbon quilt pattern in pale green with a pink floral pattern. I completely finished another rail fence patterned baby quilt in pale greens. Perhaps, the onset of Spring has softened my usual color palette choices?
I think I'm back to normal today, however. I hit the scrap box AGAIN and am doing a crazy quilt in every vibrant color in my collection. There isn't any rhyme or reason to it but it feels comforting.
I do feel a pull to the fabric warehouse coming over me and have thoughts of doing a quilt in every size and color of polka dotted fabric I can find. My favorite pattern has become the quick pieced triangle. I love the way you can put it together like a puzzle to come up with your own unique design.
I put away the quilting stuff early today to 'design' a treat for dinner - a cake! I recently acquired "Englightened Cakes' by Camilla Salisbury. The book is filled with old-time favorites with lower-fat ingredients. I made a yellow layered cake filled with lemon/orange curd and covered in a semi-sweet chocolate/orange frosting. Hey, Lent is over!
I think I'm back to normal today, however. I hit the scrap box AGAIN and am doing a crazy quilt in every vibrant color in my collection. There isn't any rhyme or reason to it but it feels comforting.
I do feel a pull to the fabric warehouse coming over me and have thoughts of doing a quilt in every size and color of polka dotted fabric I can find. My favorite pattern has become the quick pieced triangle. I love the way you can put it together like a puzzle to come up with your own unique design.
I put away the quilting stuff early today to 'design' a treat for dinner - a cake! I recently acquired "Englightened Cakes' by Camilla Salisbury. The book is filled with old-time favorites with lower-fat ingredients. I made a yellow layered cake filled with lemon/orange curd and covered in a semi-sweet chocolate/orange frosting. Hey, Lent is over!
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Swine flu in the aftermath of the flu season . . .
The powers that be seem confused about the fact that we might be facing a flu pandemic AFTER the flu season is supposed to be about over. Having a daughter in each of the places where the Swine Flu has turned up, I took time to think about what I could do to keep them healthy. Naturally, nothing will make anyone immune to the flu but you can remind your college students about the need of TRYING to get enough sleep, washing hands often, etc. Also, I read somewhere that some viruses/germs incubate in the digestive track. This immediately put me in mind of Acidolophlus. If you keep the good bacteria going in your system, you help it fight off any bugs that come your way.
We have tried a lot of different types over the years. Recently, we discovered the products carried at www.valuesdrivenfamily.com/. Their Tummy Tune Up and Yeast Assassin do not have any side effects, do not need refrigeration, and really seem to work well. We don't only use them for preventive medicine but for minor stomach upsets and headaches. It sure beats grabbing aspirin or Tylenol.
I just had a bottle sent to each of my children away at college and ordered a couple more to keep on hand at home. Thought I'd share as no one wants the fame of being a Swine Flu victim! Oh, and you cannot catch the Swine Flu from eating pork! This is strictly a person-to-person borne illness.
Just thought I'd share. Hey, if you are sick, you can't read my blog meanderings, right?!
We have tried a lot of different types over the years. Recently, we discovered the products carried at www.valuesdrivenfamily.com/. Their Tummy Tune Up and Yeast Assassin do not have any side effects, do not need refrigeration, and really seem to work well. We don't only use them for preventive medicine but for minor stomach upsets and headaches. It sure beats grabbing aspirin or Tylenol.
I just had a bottle sent to each of my children away at college and ordered a couple more to keep on hand at home. Thought I'd share as no one wants the fame of being a Swine Flu victim! Oh, and you cannot catch the Swine Flu from eating pork! This is strictly a person-to-person borne illness.
Just thought I'd share. Hey, if you are sick, you can't read my blog meanderings, right?!
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