Quotes that seem to go together . . .

"It is even harder for the average ape to believe that he has descended from man."
-- H. L. Mencken

"When they call the roll in the Senate, the Senators do not know whether to answer 'Present' or 'Not guilty.'"
-- Theodore Roosevelt

Huh?

I know of a woman who has taken upon herself the job of being an extraordinary minister at Mass sans the required training. This is evident in the way she performs the task. Many of us tend to cringe when we approach Communion time and this wannabe minister starts looking around for help using elaborate hand signs, trying to draft other untrained people, and clumping up and down the aisle.

While I'm not in favor of the laity trampling all over the sanctuary space, a well-trained, devout, reverent extraordinary minister is sometimes a necessity but should be an unobtrusive necessity. This particular person is hardly any of the above and often detracts from the sacred moment.

Since she is the first to rush up to perform as an extraordinary minister, I was shocked and amused today at morning Mass. She wasn't in the ministering line up and when we started going up for Communion, she headed out the opposite way, up the aisle and over into the other Communion line - the line where the priest was distributing Communion rather than to the gentlemen extraordinary minister in the closer line. It was almost laughable that SHE feels herself uplifted to distribute Communion but goes out of her way to avoid another extraordinary minister.

Sure keeps life interesting but not a distraction we need played out during Mass!

My favorites of the day . . .

"Today's scientists have substituted mathematics for experiments, and they wander off through equation after equation, and eventually build a structure which has no relation to reality."
-- Nikola Tesla

"One man alone can be pretty dumb sometimes, but for real bona fide stupidity, there ain't nothin' can beat teamwork."
-- Edward Abbey

"If you aren't fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired with enthusiasm."
-- Vince Lombardi

A break from quilting . . .

I figured that having three quilts finished, I deserved a treat. Afterall, wouldn't you say that sewing burns off more calories than, say, jogging? Okay, leave me with my wishful thinking!

Anyway, for my husband's birthday weekend, we indulged in a favorite recipe we haven't had in years - Rice Waffles! Although this might sound odd, the addition of cooked rice to the waffle batter makes for a great, filling, waffle . . . and the melting butter and real maple syrup didn't hurt, either!

It is a simple recipe. You make your favorite waffle batter and add a half cup of cooked rice to the batter and proceed as usual. Although most any rice works well, we discovered that Jasmine Rice, with it's aromatic smell and taste, works the best.

We had a few days of rainy, cool weather in sunny California so it was fun to have a cozy breakfast without breaking a sweat!

How come . . .?

Now, I believe in being tolerant but it seems that in today's world, tolerance is becoming a one-sided agenda. Our freedom of speech has become 'believe what WE believe and don't contradict otherwise you are exhibiting hate speech.' The scary part is that the government is intervening and trying to pass a bill to counteract acts of hate. This is confusing as we already have a law in effect to punish people who deliberately, physically hurt people or incite acts of violence. What is with this new bill? Are they trying to govern even our feelings and thoughts now?

A worry is that it will most likely invade the way we worship. There are some factions that don't believe the Bible is very 'Christian' so if our pastors preach on certain passages from the Bible within the confines of our churches, will we be punished for hate speech? What happened to separation of church and state?

I've been listening to a lot of talk show radio and it is amazing how so many people not only want to be what they want to be or do but it isn't enough that they are allowed this freedom, they insist, seemingly so, that we have to believe it, too. Our tolerance is insisted upon yet it doesn't have to be reciprocated. Certainly makes for an anxious future and not one envisioned by our founding fathers.

explains a lot . . .!

"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us."
-- Bill Watterson

Truth in quotes . . .

"If all economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a conclusion."
-- George Bernard Shaw

"Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest."
-- Mark Twain