In line with what's going on today . . .

"When buying and selling are controlled by legislation, the first things to be bought and sold are legislators."
-- P. J. O'Rourke

"Trying to determine what is going on in the world by reading newspapers is like trying to tell the time by watching the second hand of a clock."
-- Ben Hecht

"Pity the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."
-- Don Marquis

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
-- Albert Einstein

Quotable quotes . . .

"The world is governed more by appearances than realities, so that it is fully as necessary to seem to know something as to know it."
-- Daniel Webster

"When I was born I was so surprised I didn't talk for a year and a half."
-- Gracie Allen

"We must believe in luck. For how else can we explain the success of those we don't like?"
-- Jean Cocteau

"Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people."
-- W. C. Fields

Heading for Purgatory . . .

My husband and I disagree on this topic. He likes to push the freeway speed five or six miles over the speed limit 'to keep with the flow' of the traffic. I asked a patrol officer about this and he said that if he perceives someone going over the speed limit, he will stop and ticket them. If there are several speeding, he gets to pick and chose and it is the luck (or misfortune!) of the draw if you win that particular lottery.

I also feel that obeying the traffic laws comes under 'give to Caesar what is Caesar's and what is God's to God'. Seems obeying traffic laws comes under obedience to the Fourth Commandment, too. How we act in any situation is an example to our children.

Anyway, this topic provides travel conversation for myself and my husband and insures my job security . . . as a backseat driver!

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!