Palm Sunday

Happy Palm Sunday!!

May you all have a very Blessed Holy Week.

Happy Valentine's Day

To all my favorite Valentine's:

Jenni, Andy, Benjy, Jessie, Katie, Maggie, Danny, Baby to be named later, Zoe, Kirby, Quigley, Mom S., Dad S., Nana, Mom, Dad, and everyone else out there. Hope your day was all Red, Pink and White and full of love and joy.

I love you all,

Merry Christmas!!

Welcome to my most favorite, and least favorite, day of the year.

It's my most favorite because of all the goodwill toward mankind stuff, and the whole Christmas season that never ends stuff (I mean there were Christmas decorations on sale in September for crying out loud). Then there is my favorite - watching the kids open all their stuff with wide eyes and big smiles, ever so excited that they are getting presents. It's really a great time to be alive, and to have kids.

Then...

You realize that besides college bowl season, and if you are lucky you NFL team will make it into the playoffs (GO BRONCOS!), there really is nothing, I mean NOTHING going for January or February even. Granted, if we lived in a state where we could go skiing every weekend, it might not be so bad. But we do not. In fact, we live in probably one of the flattest states in the entire country, Nope, no skiing there. I'm not complaining, really, I mean we did choose to live here and we all love it, with the exception of January and February (for me).

Then you start looking at the kids, twenty minutes or so, after they opened their gifts, and - you know what happens those of you with children old enough to express it - you hear, "I'm bored." Without fail. It must be the nature of children, I remember doing the same thing, especially if I got nothing but socks and underwear for gifts. I really didn't like Santa much that year, but still like buying socks and underwear for some reason.

Oh and one more thing, cover your eyes there southerners. It gets really COLD. I mean this past week was bad, I'll give you that. But it was only for a couple of days. Here, at least for the past seventeen years that I have lived here, it gets really really cold for one week straight, usually in January but it has been available for our enjoyment in February. We are talking the temperature never, never ever, rises above ZERO. And there is the wind, as well. Maybe I should plan my next trip to Disney for mid-January, it has low crowds (a plus), cheaper rates (a nice incentive), and I believe you need your air conditioning still, and can go swimming as well.

Oh well, that bad stuff hasn't hit yet, and I have taken my 'Happy Pills,' so I should be good.

Just so I don't look like a total jerk of a Father, my oldest turned eighteen, yes that is a one followed by an eight, two days ago. I was going to embarrass him with a really long sappy post, but figured that since he is a man now he might not appreciate it as much. Besides he doesn't even read this. :)

However, in case he does, HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDY!! Keep up the good work and please don't frequent the hookah bars too much, it bothers your mother and I. Just because you can, doesn't mean that you should. We still love you though.

Okay, my eyes are getting heavy and I may soon start to write incoherently - I'm impressed that I spelled that right at three in the morning. Crap, the kids will be up soon, I better get to bed.

Merry Christmas to all, and may God Bless You!

Too Cool For School

All you need is a little bit of time, and this is what you can get...






h/t Deacon Greg

Go Help Feed The Poor!

Hey there!

I have a blog friend that is all about sharing the grub this year, and until a few minutes ago, I didn't realize how I could help and you can too!!

Just go here...

Anglophile Football Fanatic

(UPDATE: For some reason the cool little picture that I had doesn't work, but this link does)

And look around. She's funny and wants to help others, because she's a good Catholic! Well, actually it's because she cares, being Catholic is a bonus. :)

Anyway, go and visit Holly and say Hi! while helping to feed some people that may not be able to help themselves.

Remember we're trying to put the CHRIST back in Christmas!

Big Bad Black Friday

What the heck is wrong with this country and all that goes into this insanity known as Black Friday? I mean people are getting killed...

...The heavy glass and steel sliding doors were literally knocked off their hinges in the shopper-stampede-to-be-first. Then the wave of humanity caved in on defenseless Wal-Mart workers as they opened early -- 5 a.m. -- for the annual bargain hunting ritual that kicks off the morning after Thanksgiving.

"The crowd pushed so forcefully that they crashed the doors down and one of the workers from Wal-Mart was pushed to the floor as the crowd entered the store, many of them running," said Det. Lt. Michael Fleming of the Nassau County Police Department.

Cell phone video obtained by CBS 2 HD shows Jdimytai Damour, a 34-year-old part-time employee hired as a holiday temp. He was crushed in the onslaught and pronounced dead an hour later. As responding Nassau police and paramedics tried to save him, they were also jostled and pushed to the ground. ...

I'm sorry folks, but you all need to go back to your religious education classes - this is not what Christmas is about.

Good night and rest easy - I know that I will try to.

Football, Feast, Flood and Fatigue

What a day!

Thanksgiving 2008 will go down as one of the more memorable Thanksgivings, ever! Really, I mean it. At least until next year's festivities, of course.

First up, we had some parade action. We had some sort of parade (not Macy's) in Chicago, of which all I can remember is that it was sponsored by McDonald's. Then came the Macy's Day parade and extravaganza - always cool, and I love them balloons. Then we can't forget all the lip-syncing celebs, even Andy Williams got into the game. Finally Santa made his appearance, and it was time for some FOOTBALL.

Okay, until Detroit wins at least ten games in a season, for a minimum of five seasons, they should be banned from playing on Thanksgiving. Dude, they suck! Sorry, but it's true. It was so bad, that I can't remember the score (44-10, I think). That's okay though, Detroit was in it at the kickoff. Ugh. At least it ended in time for some FOOD!

Great turkey this year, and there was some awesome corn, cranberries, yams (or sweet potatoes), some carrots made with bourbon (YUM!), stuffing, mashed potatoes and green bean casserole (Double Yum!). The food was great, as always (Thanks Mom!). Having all the cousins(on Jenni's side, at least) together was, LOUD. But the kids don't get to see each other that often with us all living in different states, and all, so it's all worth it.

Then there was more FOOTBALL, another freaking blowout, what the heck is up with that... Then came the FLOOD, and we weren't even at my house! In a freak accident, somehow the hose/piping under the kitchen sink decided it would like to cause a wee bit of havoc. Success! Oy, what a mess, but we all pitched in and got the mess cleaned up, and the pipes all fixed in due time. Apparently it had something to do with the hot water being too hot. All I know is that it added a little bit of excitement while coming down from the food coma.

Finally, more FOOTBALL, okay the game was another snoozer and blowout. Benjy was extremely happy though as his Philadelphia Eagles kicked some Arizona Cardinal butt! Alas, it was another blowout, which brought on the FATIGUE from crappy FOOTBALL, and now I need to go and get myself some sleep, because Jenni wants to see all about some sort of door-busting thingamajig. I have no idea what she is talking about, only that we have to leave here around five in the morning.

Wait a minute, 5 AM!!

What the heck is up with that?!

Anybody else participating in this foolishness?

Gotta go hit the pillow now, good night.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Here's a prayer for your Thanksgiving Day. A little something different.

Though our mouths were full of song as the sea,

and our tongues of exultation as the multitude of its waves,

and our lips of praise as the wide-extended firmament;

though our eyes shone with light like the sun and the moon,

and our hands were spread forth like the eagles of heaven,

and our feet were swift as hinds,

we should still be unable to thank thee and bless thy name,

O Lord our God and God of our fathers,

for one thousandth or one ten thousandth part of the bounties which thou has bestowed upon our fathers and upon us.

- from the Hebrew Prayer Book

And a little something more common, I think.

We Give Thanks
Our Father in Heaven,

We give thanks for the pleasure

Of gathering together for this occasion.

We give thanks for this food Prepared by loving hands.

We give thanks for life,

The freedom to enjoy it all

And all other blessings.

As we partake of this food,

We pray for health and strength

To carry on and try to live as You would have us.

This we ask in the name of Christ,

Our Heavenly Father.

- Harry Jewell

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Pax

Happy Veteran's Day

A prayer for all those brave men and women of our Armed Forces out there; protecting our freedoms and rights as citizens of this great country.

We ask for blessings on all those who have served their country in the armed forces.

We ask for healing for the veterans who have been wounded,

in body and soul, in conflicts around the globe.

We pray especially for the young men and women,

in the thousands,

who are coming home from Iraq with injured bodies and traumatized spirits.

Bring solace to them, O Lord;

may we pray for them when they cannot pray.

We ask for, echoing John Paul II,

an end to wars and the dawning of a new era of peace,

As a way to honor all the veterans of past wars.

Have mercy on all our veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq,

Bring peace to their hearts and peace to the regions they fought in.

Bless all the soldiers who served in non-combative posts;

May their calling to service continue in their lives in many positive ways.

Give us all the creative vision to see a world which,

grown weary with fighting,

Moves to affirming the life of every human being and so moves beyond war.

Hear our prayer,

O Prince of Peace,

hear our prayer.

Amen.

Don't forget to thank a veteran today!

A Touch Of Green (and I'm not Talking the Flu)

Here is my list for today, generously "stolen" from the web. Although I think that these are common knowledge.


FUN FACTS ABOUT ST PATRICK AND HIS DAY

1. St. Patrick’s Day is observed on March 17 because that is the feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It is believed that he died on March 17 in the year 461 AD. It is also a worldwide celebration of Irish culture and history. St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday in Ireland, and a provincial holiday in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

2. In Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day, people traditionally wear a small bunch of shamrocks on their jackets or caps. Children wear orange, white and green badges, and women and girls wear green ribbons in their hair.

3. Many cities have a St. Patrick’s Day parade. Dublin, the capital of Ireland, has a huge St. Patrick’s Day festival from March 15-19, that features a parade, family carnivals, treasure hunt, dance, theatre and more. In North American, parades are often held on the Sunday before March 17. Some paint the yellow street lines green for the day! In Chicago, the Chicago River is dyed green with a special dye that only lasts a few hours. There has been a St. Patrick’s Day parade in Boston, Massachusetts since 1737. Montreal is home to Canada’s longest running St. Patrick’s Day parade, which began in 1824.

4. St. Patrick was born in 385 AD somewhere along the west coast of Britain, possibly in the Welsh town of Banwen. At age 16, he was captured and sold into slavery to a sheep farmer. He escaped when he was 22 and spent the next 12 years in a monastery. In his 30s he returned to Ireland as a Christian missionary. He died at Saul in 461 AD and is buried at Downpatrick.

5. 34 million Americans have Irish ancestry, according to the 2003 US Census. That’s almost nine times the population of Ireland, which has 4.1 million people.

6. The harp is the symbol of Ireland. The color green is also commonly associated with Ireland, also known as “the Emerald Isle.”

7. The name “lephrechaun” has several origins. It could be from the Irish Gaelic word “leipreachan,” which means “a kind of aqueous sprite.” Or, it could be from “leath bhrogan,” which means “shoemaker.”

8. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the highest number of leaves found on a clover is 14!

9. Legend says that each leaf of the clover means something: the first is for hope, the second for faith, the third for love and the fourth for luck.

10. The Irish flag is green, white and orange. The green symbolizes the people of the south, and orange, the people of the north. White represents the peace that brings them together as a nation.

I want to thank Kaboose for allowing me to "borrow" information from their website.

So I hope that everyone enjoys/enjoyed their St Patrick's Day, because remember, everyone has a little Irish in them on March 17.

Good Night and God Bless!

A Day in My Life...

Let me tell you how my day has been going...

Got up at 12:26AM and freaked out! Why? Well not because it was 12:26AM, that's for sure. Rather it was because I didn't know that it was 12:26AM. Does that make sense? No? Then let me explain...

I have Adoration on Thursdays at 3:00AM, so when I woke up at 12:26AM, without knowing what time it actually was, I freaked. Then I got my lazy butt off of the coach and stumbled to bed.

When my alarm went off at 2:30, I promptly hit snooze.


Then it went off at 2:35 --- snooze again.


2:40, snooze; 2:45, I turned off the alarm and started to snooze myself.

At 2:55AM, I decided to freak again, because I had to be at the church in five minutes... Oh yeah, I also had to bathe myself and all that jazz.

3:20AM, I was up front and personal with Jesus. I stayed past four, as well, figured it was worth it.

On the way to work, I got hungry. Yep, hunger pains at 4:25AM does happen. I had no money though, but I did have a need to bring doughnuts in for a shop meeting - problem solved.

Work is, well a PITA and work. Petty whining here, petty whining there, petty whining EVERYWHERE!

Funny thing was that JC was TO'd because he got a crappy raise. (join the club, bub!) And he was giving me crap over this...

In the old days, it was not called the Holiday Season; the Christians called it 'Christmas' and went to church; the Jews called it 'Hanukkah' and went to synagogue; the atheists went to parties and drank. People passing each other on the street would say 'Merry Christmas!' or 'Happy Hanukkah!' or (to the atheists) 'Look out for the wall!' ~Dave Barry


You are cordially invited to attend the PITA Christmas Party

Location: The Warehouse(yes, that great big space outside our lab walls - don't forget your safety glasses)

Date: 21 December 2007

Time: 11:00 - 2:00 (ish)

Menu: Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue and a little something from Augustino's.

When we were children we were grateful to those who filled our stockings at Christmas time. Why are we not grateful to God for filling our stockings with legs? ~G.K. Chesterton

Festivities to include Eating, Caroling (admin volunteered to lead us in song), maybe even a little 'Holiday Trivial Pursuit.'

We cannot forget the gift-giving "big guy" in Jeff's office that we must all visit before we leave the party.

Come one and come all, and dash away, dash away all...



I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. ~Charles Dickens

Anyway, JC thinks that it is quite offensive, to get this, Atheists!!! WTF?!

So he and I, mostly I, share a few F-bombs, because I personally think that he is being ridiculous and I told him to send everyone that complained about it my way. GUess what? No one came by, no one complained and everyone seemed to enjoy it actually.

I don't get this - personal note here by the way - I add the colors to the letter, and now I have to.... ARGGhhh! I have no idea, but this is bothering me to the point of moving on to a part two.

Screw it! Part two coming up!

Happy November!

Welcome to November, everyone!!

Don't have much else to say, so I won't.

Whatever.

I always have something to say!

At least I'm not double-spacing this post. What's that? I am? Oh, sorry about that. It just looks better to me this way. And since this is my blog, I can do whatever I want, correct? So there.

Okay, day one of NaNoWriMo and I have exactly 0 words written. Can you believe that? Me neither, but it is true. My mojo has gone away for some reason, so now all I have is my guilt trip, to myself, via this blog. Now if that isn't a case for psychological help, I don't know one.

truth be told, I run several story ideas through my mind, at all times it seems, and then I critisize the snot out of it, and discourage myself and.... voila, JK Rowling is the richest woman in the world, and I'm working at a job I don't necessarily care about. See how that works? So, I need to read some motivational stuff and write 10,000 words this weekend. That'll make me feel better. What would be even better would be that all 10,000 words help move a story along and ... well I think you know the rest. :-)

Halloween was cool. Nothing like watching the kids go around begging for candy to make my day. Actually, I started feeling better after the lights were turned off and the candy was all passed out. Why? Glad you asked. Because it's now November dummy! That's right November, which has Thanksgiving, and gets us all closer to Christmas. Best time of the year in my book. I love it!

If you don't like Christmas and all that it stands for, then you probably won't like being here for the next two months or so. That's right it's Christmas and holiday happiness abounding throughout the blog! Best part is it goes through the Epiphany in January. Now after that I'll probably go back to my normal depressing self. Cheerful thought, no doubt.

Well, I should head out, gotta family to see and a pillow with my name on it. Maybe, just maybe some words will be typed onto a word processor that will become the beginning of something wonderful!

See ya!