A Cup of Coffee and a Random Thought

Can you believe that I moved?

2008-07-02T16:47:00.004-04:00

Me neither! GO HERE!

tired of paying $4 for a cup of Joe?

2008-07-02T12:33:00.002-04:00

It looks like Starbucks is closing 700 stores. Hmmm. Could it be that the sane people have decided to A) go local, intimate and less expensive, or B) brew their own?

The article suggests that the economy is at fault, rather than the obvious, that it's just not good business sense to open a store across the street from an existing one. I mean, what moron thought of THAT plan?

I love Starbucks for introducing the county to the idea of coffee as a treat and social experience. Really. I come from a culture where there is great ceremony in offering coffee to guests (and the subsequent faux pas of refusing), and my two stints in Europe further cemented that drinking coffee is more than just the ingestion of caffeine, but something to be enjoyed, even linger over.

Too bad for Starbucks for missing that part of the equation. Too many drive-thrus have diluted the experience for me. Thank God for places like this.

a little silliness from The Onion

2008-07-01T21:16:00.003-04:00

Today Now!: How To Pretend You Give A Shit About The Election

The Virtual Life

2008-06-30T16:28:00.005-04:00

Saw this in my facebook news feed:

David S. and Allyson S. are now friends. Allyson found David through the People You May Know tool.

David and Allyson are married.

In real life.

An unlikely movie review

2008-06-29T15:33:00.005-04:00

I just watched an Adam Sandler movie. Surprise! It's called Spanglish. The title intrigued me when I saw the trailer for it a hundred years ago, and then, when I saw that it was Adam Sandler, I got a bit deflated. I see Sandler and I think of crass goofy junk that appeals to teenagers with no taste. Except, that I'll watch when I am feeling---oh, I dunno---careless? goofy? daring? stupid? Whatever.

Anyway, Spanglish was very good. It was Sandler playing a regular guy. Not the extreme loser caricature, but a regular husband and father. He has a dysfunctional wife who brings a housekeeper, Flor, into the mix in a rather funny way. The story is narrated by Flor's daughter, by way of a college admission essay, so we understand that the story is less about the family, and more about what Flor's daughter learns, but the lessons are painful and, I think, pretty believable. The plot goes down the path of infidelity and conflicted feelings, but manages to end where it should. And that's what surprised me. The obvious choices were obvious, so it threw me a bit when they didn't all happen as expected. I also wasn't expecting "responsibility" to be brought up. They could have substituted "commitment" for responsibility, but I guess that's semantics.

The conflict that bubbles underneath Tea Leoni's character and her mother surfaces rather surprising between Flor and her young daughter. She challenges her daughter with a very serious question--perhaps the question that as parents we worry about but never want to verbalize. Again, the predictability factor goes out the window because I never expected the question to be asked, let alone answered.

I usually get tired of movies when they become predictable and easy to figure out, yet this one kept me on my toes. Who knew Sandler could do something serious? (he still plays the kind of dazed-surprised-bumbling kind of guy, only it's engaging in this movie).

And by the way, Cloris Leachman for the win. When she tackled Tea Leoni I thought I was going to spew water all over the place.

Lying on the recliner, inhaling vicks vapo-rub

2008-06-29T12:03:00.002-04:00

I've been fighting a bug all week--the insidious kind that sneaks up on you even though you're aware of it peripherally. I knew I was going to be sick because I've been really tired and cranky (ok wise guys, crankier than usual). Anyway, I'm achy and my muscles and joints hurt, and my right ear hurts, and whine whine whine.

Ha. I feel better already.

after the CNMC, now what?

2008-06-27T13:21:00.003-04:00

After a pretty heady week of enjoying all kinds of interesting buzz from the Catholic New Media Celebration in Atlanta, I am slowing down a bit, partly in exhaustion, and partly in the need to get back to the status quo.

The thing is, I think the status quo has changed. I mean, Steve from On the U tweeted yesterday that there's been a crazy friending episode at 4Marks.com. True true true. I've made a lot of friends already, and I know there are many more to come. We just haven't all gotten around to it yet, I imagine.

All kinds of folks, from creators to users, have been posting pictures, videos, you name it, from the celebration. That's just the starting block for new creative endeavors that will follow in the coming weeks. More than a few folks have started brand new podcasts---it's all exciting!

Rob Suarez, creative-type extraordinaire, posted a link to Chris Brogan's site, who has a list of different ways to brand yourself. I figure, spread that love around---it's what we're doing, and definitely what we came off the CNMC intending to do.

If I can use an old tag line from Rob, go create something!

watch out Jimi...um, maybe Eric? Daniel ! ! !

2008-06-27T09:51:00.003-04:00

This kid rocks! ! ! You heard it here first.

"Who loves ya, baby?"

2008-06-26T15:24:00.004-04:00

A sweet dear friend is sporting a new look because of an illness that he's currently kicking in the butt. Pray for him and his wife--it would be a cool thing for you to do.

P.S. He's better looking. Just sayin'.

What a Weekend!

2008-06-25T13:36:00.002-04:00

Celebration was the theme of last weekend’s back-to-back events, the Eucharistic Congress and the Catholic New Media Celebration, and such a grand celebration it turned out to be.

The weekend kicked off on Friday night with the Eucharistic Congress, an opportunity for the faithful to come together and reflect on the values of our faith. Speakers and featured presentations led the way to a weekend of reflection and insight into the most essential elements of our faith, centering around the Source and Summit of that faith, the Eucharist. Adoration and reconciliation was available, and of course Mass.

During breaks in the different tracks, congress-goers had an opportunity to wade through an often crowded vendor hall, where Catholic-themed booths sold anything from t-shirts emblazoned with “I love my German shepherd” to books by well-known and not-so-well-known authors, to beautiful statues and stunning icons.

Rosary Army had its usual presence there, with volunteers handing out free rosaries and teaching the knotting technique to hundreds of curious pilgrims. Boris and Natasha, and Jon H. from the forums led the campaign to show as many people as possible how to make, pray, and give away the all-twine rosaries that have made Rosary Army a popular booth at the Congress. Several thousand rosaries and chaplets were distributed, each with the joyful supplication to grow closer to Jesus Christ through His Blessed Mother.

Sunday’s Catholic New Media Celebration, organized by the Star Quest Production Network, served as an opportunity for fans as well as leaders in Catholic new media to come together and share the wealth of knowledge and opportunities available to take this new evangelization to the next level. A powerhouse collection of well-known bloggers and podcasters from all over the internet and the world, fans, and curious faithful, eager to learn about evangelization using new media, gathered in a giant community-based celebration. Guest speakers and panelists addressed the elementary steps of blogging and podcasting, and the veterans who had seized the opportunity early to use the internet for evangelization brought their wisdom and experience to the audience.

Fans, roadies, stalkers, and the curious, as well as bloggers and podcasters had an opportunity to get to know each other and do a little bit of social networking and celebrating. The big game this weekend was placing Facebook mugshots with real people. I have to admit that I sat next to a facebook “friend” and only realized after the event that I had missed an opportunity for real-life interaction. Hopefully, there’s next year.

Of course, I thought it was very exciting that the second season of That Catholic Show premiered at the event. How cool was that?

The simplest, yet most profound advice came from Mark Shea, who suggested that we blog about what we love. If we try to serve an audience, then no one is satisfied, but in seeking what interests us, we’ll find our own niche. Excellent advice from a guy who is disarmingly funny, and still packs the power of the Truth, even if he does sound like a babbling banana slug.

taken from a twitter link--thanks bob!

2008-06-25T11:17:00.001-04:00

Alas, a brilliant video with some drama attached. Hmm. Back to previous discussions of attribution. The guy is right. The original piece I started to post was edited to only have Darth Vader, but here's the full clip.

It's all relative

2008-06-25T07:39:00.002-04:00

Still not up to writing all my thoughts about the CNMC this past weekend, but I'll get around to it, maybe even later today. I've been up since a little before 6 am trudging through the email accumulation that built up from the days leading up to the eucharistic congress, and then of course, the Sunday celebration.

Once the chore of pitching or filing the emails was done, I was able to enjoy catching up on some blogs (ironic? most of my favorite bloggers were at the celebration!).

Anyway, I have to give a shout out and a request for comment love to go to Wency at slaho.com, who is sharing his fantastic journey to fithood, in all aspects of his life. He is random and profound, and pretty darn funny. And evidently he is getting deeply into some improv. Way to go, um...Slaho.

And then I got around to reading BonBlogs because she is absolutely hilarious. This post, although from last week, was new to me this morning, and it is an absolute must-read for all of you! We all have a Gladys Kravitz in our neighborhoods; interesting how she has become an archetype. Funny funny read.

Win $250 for the cutest First Communion Photo

2008-06-24T19:55:00.001-04:00

Win $250 for the cutest First Communion Photo

Posted using ShareThis

The latest insanity

2008-06-24T08:04:00.002-04:00

I just ran across this article about women with long nails complaining that the iPhone is some misogynistic plan to exclude women from the technology.

Why? Because women (and men for that matter) with long nails have difficulty using the phone.

Um. Cut your nails, stupid.

I admit that several hundred years ago when I was young, getting a weekly manicure was on my list of "things to do. " A manicure. That means having nicely shaped, perhaps painted, definitely neat nails.

It does not mean looking like a circus freak. And yet, circus freak status seems to be the way to go with some folks. I can't count the number of times I've been distracted watching clerks with 2 inch nails try to maneuver a cash register.

Besides slowing the line, it's not even attractive. At. All.

Boris and Natasha Rock!

2008-06-23T08:48:00.002-04:00

This weekend was the Eucharistic Congrss in Atlanta, and while it'll probably take me a couple of days to regroup and post about so many of the cool experiences, I absolutely have to give a shout out to my new friends Boris and Natasha. They rock!

Look Wency!

2008-06-16T13:07:00.002-04:00

I updated here, and here.

By the way, props to Vic, who turned me on to Pandora.com, the music genome project.

That is all. I just realized a failed opportunity to Rickroll y'all.

open response to "desdecuba" blog

2008-06-12T12:05:00.003-04:00

Today's political rant is courtesy of a blog post at desdecuba.com, which spit out my response, no doubt because I got longwinded and psycho:

Leí con mucho interés el análisis de las consecuencias a Cuba de una administración norteamericana dirigida por un presidente Obama.

El primer punto, el de las caricaturas de un presidente negro, esta muy interesante. Les doy toda la razón en temer las consecuencias de caricaturas que caigan mal, pero les pregunto esto: ¿los periodistas deben de tratar a Obama igual que a otros candidatos o políticos? Si no, ¿por que? Si están aplicando otro criterio, entonces no están cumpliendo con sus deberes de periodistas. El que se postula para una posición política también se postula para las consecuencias de estar en la vida publica. Yo propongo que usar otro criterio porque Obama es negro es racismo.

Cuando Martin Luther King. Jr. declaró en su muy famoso discurso que soñaba con un futuro donde la medida del hombre se basaba en su carácter y no su color, muchos pensaron que el cambio vendría rápido.

No ha sido así. Hoy en día experimentamos un problema racial doloroso por varias razones.

Entre los negros hay muchos que han echado p’alante—que se han dedicado a un cambio personal, dedicados a la educación, a la independencia económica, en fin, dedicados al alcance de un sueño protegido por nuestra constitución y establecido en nuestra declaración de independencia en 1776 que declara, entre muchos derechos indispensables a la existencia humana, el derecho humano de vivir en libertad, y tener la oportunidad de llevar al fin la felicidad.Entre los negros también se encuentran aquellos que sufren una herida tan profunda, tan llena de dolor, de complejo, de abuso, que no saben como o no tienen interés en dejar el pasado y proceder con los cambios que si han ocurrido, a pesar de un grupo pequeño pero poderoso que beneficia de esta parálisis social.

También existe entre los blancos un grupo que no tiene interés en ver este cambio. El racismo en este país si existe. Es una triste realidad. Sin embargo, estamos llegando a un punto donde los extremos del racismo (y tenemos que reconocer que existe por ambos lados) no nos gobierna.

El hecho que Barack Obama ha llegado a esta posición en la política norteamericana es una indicación que si han ocurrido cambios en este país.Desafortunadamente, hay personas que votaran por el, no porque entienden sus pólizas o están de acuerdo con su visión para el país, pero por el color de su rostro. Esto es racismo también.

Votar por cambio por el hecho de cambio no es responsable, ni practico.Yo no voy a votar por Obama porque no estoy de acuerdo con su plataforma. La diferencia fundamental entre los demócratas y los republicanos esta en el control y el poder del gobierno. Yo quiero un gobierno con interés en la protección del país, y en la protección de mis derechos. Yo no quiero un gobierno que gobierne mi vida personal. Yo no quiero un gobierno que me quite mi dinero a las malas a través de los impuestos, para desarrollar programas los cuales no estoy de acuerdo.

Es muy bonito ver un candidato joven, representante de un grupo que tradicionalmente no ha tenido una voz en la política de este país. Es peligroso basar una elección en solo este punto.Los viejos fueron engañados por otro joven lleno de idealismo… y mentiras. Que Dios no quiera que una nueva generación caiga víctima a las mismas mentiras, disimuladas como cambio.

Fly on the wall? Not any more!

2008-06-11T10:37:00.006-04:00

After missing weeks of my favorite podcasts because of an internet block at work, I have recently discovered that I can view and listen to the Daily Breakfast via ustream in my office. I've been pretty put out by the block because of mp3 downloads by students, so I understand the policy, but I'm still put out by it.

Anyway, part of this ustream thing is that Father Roderick, host of the Daily Breakfast and podcasting priest supreme, is running an experiment by broadcasting live all day. Weird? I dunno. We are definitely in a voyeuristic society. I can't decide if I tune in to this 21st Century version of the Romans watching the gladiators for entertainment, or if it is really a social experiment with merit.

Who cares, it's entertaining, and has led to some interesting discussions. It is, oddly, a very fascinating way to be available to people who have deep and profound questions of faith. Perhaps, his improvised "Truman Show" or rather, "Roderick Show" can impact someone (many ones).

It's also pretty funny. Today, he was annoyed by a fly, and got the greatest looking fly swatter (it looked like a mini tennis racket) and wandered about his living room in pursuit of the offending fly. I wanted the fly to escape. Really! But we heard the demise of the fly: first the splat, and then his satisfaction in squashing the fly.

What Would St. Francis Say?

Note: It does not escape me that I need a hobby if I am entertained by a priest chasing a fly on the other side of the world. In my defense, I just finished grading research papers and final exams, and needed some mindless entertainment. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

For maximum humiliation

2008-06-09T13:48:00.001-04:00

Jim McKay dead!

2008-06-07T12:29:00.003-04:00

In the wake of the recent dead celebrities and my lack of interest in posting about them, I have decided to put out this brief post.

Why?

Because as a former jock(ette), memories of my childhood and the 70's include an awful lot of time spent in front of the TV on Saturday afternoons watching ABC's Wide World of Sports. I am often consoled in my defeats, and humbled in my victories by the tagline, "The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat." Watching the guy tumble through the air was enough perspective on the whole competition thing.

Anyway, just thought I'd share.

I haven't spewed about Cuba lately

2008-06-07T11:58:00.003-04:00

But this article from Vic has had me laughing for a number of reasons. It appears that the Cuban government will now allow free sex change operations for anyone that qualifies.

This from a government whose human rights violations included the systematic hunting down and execution of homosexuals, and most recently, the imprisonment of HIV positive persons in death colonies where they were removed from society. Hmm. I see. All this blustering about a healthcare sytem that rocks. Ask those poor folks.

Anyway, back to the sex-change news. Further proof that Fidel is not only dead, but has been dead for some time.

In other news...before buying a cell phone or getting a sex change, I think I'd opt for food. And free elections. And a free market.

Just sayin.

what number was I on?

2008-06-05T08:48:00.004-04:00

The great gratitude experiment of '08 seems to be a bust, but I suppose it's never too late for gratitude.

This morning I am grateful for oscillating fans. The AC broke. At a state of the art technical college that specializes in HVAC certification. Ironic much? We're waiting on the outside vendors to come and repair it.

They will be my heroes.

Meanwhile, I lost the pantyhose. C'mon, it's hot as blazes in here. And it's not like my personal thermostat is in any shape to deal with external hot flashes on top of my own very special reserve.

That is all.

Huh? [updated]

2008-06-02T14:40:00.002-04:00

Posted on the fly yesterday and called to task by Vicky for the right attribution. Here's the gist of the text messages:

Vicky: Did you take those pics?

Me: Nope. Stole them off a priest's facebook page.

Vicky: You stole it from a priest?!

Me: Yep.

Does this count as a confession? Just askin...

I just paid $80 to fill my tank.

2008-05-22T13:12:00.003-04:00

The truth is, I stopped pumping when it hit $80. I was nowhere near a full tank, let alone topping it off. Psychologically, I just couldn't add the last gallon or so.

Gratitude post #4: I am grateful for being in a financial situation where this bill annoys me and makes me indignant instead of crippling me. Of course, that includes the gratitude to my parents for teaching me about delayed gratification, the long line of teachers and mentors that helped make me marketable, myself for not giving into temptation and the spendthrift opportunities, my husband for being an excellent money-manager and also coming from a background of delayed gratification, and Aesop for his story "The Ant and the Grasshopper."

I'd also like to thank the Academy....Oh, um, that's something else....

Hot Flashes: Don't Mess with Me

2008-05-21T20:05:00.002-04:00

lunch buffets and bathrooms

2008-05-21T14:43:00.003-04:00

So I'm really concentrating on the things in my life for which I am grateful. I guess I could say an education--I mean, I was gonna write "grateful for" but I didn't because I would have ended my sentence with a preposition, and thankfully (and perhaps gratefully) I have an education.

Wow. That was really random and rambling. It's also not what I am noting in my grateful post today. Nope.

I am grateful for living in a country where I can have goofy posts like the above, and ranting angry posts about things that annoy me, and everything in between. I am grateful that while many view this as a culture of excess, that I was able to not only work hard, but get rewarded for that hard work with a decent job that has adequate wages that enable me to indulge in some excesses sometimes.

Today, I am really really really grateful for indoor plumbing. It's a rather long route to get to that, but thanks to my awesome job (today, it's awesome, check tomorrow for a possible change) a textbook company lauded the staff with a delicious lunch/book fair. Ha! Nobody really looked at the books, but we ate like beasts! Somehow, I drank a whole lot of sweet tea. I don't even like sweet tea, so there's probably a post in that about group behavior.

Anyway, I drank an awful lot of sweet tea.

Post #3 I am grateful for indoor plumbing.

The Gratitude Experiment

2008-05-20T14:22:00.003-04:00

I posted at Rosary Army's Monday Musings my intention to follow through with a project for the next 30 days, to make a daily post about something for which I am grateful. You can read my original post on the topic here.

I got the idea from Bonnie Gillespie's blog, but it seems to be a meme that is making its way around in different forms. For example, Franciscat is twittering a variation on Thursdays, so there you go. What are you grateful for?

Post #2: I am grateful for my family, near and far, and the pains we all take to stay close. I love you all!

Dearest Laura

2008-05-20T13:27:00.002-04:00

Are you baiting me?

I admit to laughing out loud, literally, not in acronyms. You are right, I would definitely have a stroke. My brother, who travels quite a bit, sent me a picture of a similar bar in Singapore. Singapore!

I guess all it takes to get a murderous psycopath on the road to international iconic hero is have a picture taken and published in Life magazine. Woe is me.

Digging Che is kind of like saying Hitler's gas chambers were a humane solution to a "social problem." Ignorance is a dangerous condition.

Let me just say, Al Gore hasn't cornered the market on the phrase "inconvenient truth."

Let's stick with normal folks---haven't forgotten I owe you a coffee at the best coffee house ever.

Baccalaureate

2008-05-18T21:57:00.000-04:00

oh so clever

2008-05-16T17:49:00.001-04:00

First saw it on Father Roderick's blog, and tickled me enough to pass it on.

paper towels and electrical tape

2008-05-15T20:29:00.002-04:00

That's what Jonathan used to close his finger when he fileted it while working in the garage. He didn't want to be bothered with the wound while he was finishing his task. Naturally, his father looked over at it and declared it was just a flesh wound, and they continued with their mission.

Men. I don't get them.

I like them; I just don't get them.

Before you call Family Services, or my mother calls incredulous and worried, all is well. I made him remove the makeshift foolishness, and he cleaned it up and used a more conventional bandage. Three hours later, the wound looks like it is already fusing. Amazing.

Pop comes through again

2008-05-07T15:58:00.004-04:00

Having taken to heart the limitation on the number of emails that I will accept from him before unceremoniously creating a new Pop Spam folder where his stuff automatically dumps, he has recently sent a number (always fewer than three) of most excellent comic commentaries, cartoons, and otherwise entertaining and engaging forwards.

Today he turned me on to a blog from Cuba. In Cuba! And the posts are...well, I'm amazed by their boldness. There's even a poll on what Raul's next move might be...allowing travel outside of Cuba or free internet access (not as in cost-free, as in ALLOWED open internet use). What a country.

If only the world really knew the depths of the oppression and violation of human rights going on a mere 90 miles off the coast of the United States. I tell you, my on-going mission is to rip apart the stupid people I see wearing those damn Che t-shirts glorifying a racist assassin. Dummies.

This nostalgic moment brought to you by...a shower

2008-05-06T09:23:00.003-04:00

Admittedly, showering is a good thing. In fact, I recommend it daily. It's just one of those things that we don't talk about, but better be doing. Of course, since this is my blog, I've decided to share my shower story with you although it isn't necessarily an endorsement for you sharing your shower stories on the net (or in the comments, but hey, we all crave comment love).

Yesterday I got home relatively early from work, and since my schedule was somewhat altered already, decided to take a shower in the late afternoon instead of the usual late at night before bed (TMI? I'm just having a post-modern moment of awareness of discourse--I mean, is it necessary to share my hygiene schedule?).

Anyway, here I am freshly scrubbed and dressed up in my finest jeans and t-shirt, when I decide to go outside. The sun was still pretty bright, there was a soft wind with a hint of honeysuckle in the air, and BAMM, just like that, I was transported to my childhood, circa 1967 or '68.

My mom used to bathe me in the late afternoon and then I was allowed to go outside while she prepared dinner. All I was allowed to do was visit with the other kids because I couldn't get dirty again, but it was okay--I don't imagine that I was outside for very long before I was called back in. Nevertheless, the feeling of being outside in the fresh air, with the sun shining warmly, was oddly comforting, and that's the feeling that came back to me in the afternoon.

Usually it's a smell or taste that brings the blast from the past, but this time the combination of the warm sun and the cool breeze brought back memories of playing in the dirt with my friends.

I hate to admit it, but I had the urge to go make some mud pies.

my state-of-mind is evidently in another state

2008-05-01T12:42:00.003-04:00

I have one of those long lists of things to do that is once again overwhelming me. I can't treat it like the laundry, either, because unlike going out and buying new underwear, there are just some things that must be done. Period. It happens twice a year: at Christmas and end of the school year. There's something about all the activities that pile together, and while I naturally enjoy going to the concerts, and awards, and special productions, the hours spent away from the regular schedule accumulate and I get behind.

So here I am gamely picking my way through things that should have been done and prioritizing according to imminent implosions. I finally have it under control. Sort of.

Okay, well, at least I have a system.

Part of the plan includes jamming the earbuds into my ears and tuning out the world while I slog through papers, submissions, writing, you name it.

Here's the thing. I worked diligently through a pile of stuff, and just realized that I had left the mp3 player on repeat song. I heard the same song by Celia Cruz maybe 40 times!

Hmmm. I don't know what that says about Celia's music, or my powers of observation.

Something to ponder

2008-04-30T15:22:00.003-04:00

According to my sister, I can't work a television remote because I can't do algebra.

Any other theories? Because, you know, it extends beyond the remote....

Watch out Dole

2008-04-29T21:25:00.003-04:00

Evidently my mother is growing pineapples (that means my father is growing pineapples for her).

Is Oprah the anti-christ?

2008-04-21T20:17:00.002-04:00

I know that title sounds a bit incendiary. Maybe I mean it, a little bit. I'm just amazed by the power she wields. Usually, I don't give her too much thought. I don't watch the show. It's not some kind of cool posturing--you know--the kind that when you're young you listen to awful dissonant music because it's the cool thing to do. Not like that. I just don't watch a lot of tv. Unless you count HGTV. Yeah, but that's not real tv.

Anyway, I was saying that Oprah seems to have a lot of power.

I know this because I had a student tell me that she was voting for Obama because Oprah said so. True story.

Anyway, tonight I was reading about how to buy jeans for body types and it had a link. When I fillowed the link, it took me to the Oprah website. Evidently, while I don't watch the show, I am not immune to the information on her website. I was sucked in and quite entertained when all of a sudden, the website was closed down for a LIVE WEB EVENT.

Oooooh.

It turns out that Oprah has some on-line school for improving people's lives. Hmm. Somehow, I just don't get why a celebrity is qualified to mold society. And yet, that seems to be the case.

To think that I thought Church of Oprah was a joke.

Ok fair readers, come one come all to this very cool event

2008-04-21T17:22:00.001-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ATLANTA, GA - April 21, 2008 - During the 42nd World Communications Day, Pope Benedict XVI stated that, "The new media - telecommunications and Internet in particular - are changing the very face of communication; perhaps this is a valuable opportunity to reshape it!"

Following the encouragement of Pope Benedict, as well as Pope John Paul II before him, the first Catholic New Media Celebration will be held in Atlanta, Georgia on June 22, 2008, the day after the Eucharistic Congress that is conducted annually by the Archdiocese of Atlanta.

"Our motto is come for the Eucharistic Congress, stay for the Catholic New Media Celebration," says Greg Willits, COO of the Star Quest Production Network, the host of the event.

Held at the Georgia International Convention Center, the same venue as the Eucharistic Congress, the Catholic New Media Celebration is a day to Learn, Share, and Explore how New Media can help the Catholic Church in the New Evangelization called for by Pope John Paul II.

Anyone interested in New Media is invited to attend. Registration and admission for both the Eucharistic Congress as well as the Catholic New Media Celebration are free. Participants can register online at http://celebration.sqpn.com

Parishes, dioceses, and other Catholic organizations are encouraged to send their technology representatives to learn more about the technologies that can assist both religious and laypeople in evangelization efforts through the use of technology.

"It is amazing how much new media - such as podcasting, blogs, and other technologies - have helped people grow in their faith and grow closer to God," says Willits, who with his wife Jennifer created the popular "That Catholic Show" video series and also co-hosts the award-winning Rosary Army Catholic Podcast. "We want the Catholic New Media Celebration to be exactly that - a celebration of this technology for the people who use it, as well as for those who create it."

The Catholic New Media Celebration is a festive, educational, and spiritual one-day event to help all Catholics live out the "great relaunching" of evangelization called for by Pope John Paul II. In the spirit of the Holy Father's writings regarding the New Evangelization, the CNMC is a day of sharing the latest technologies and techniques used to creatively and effectively invite others to grow in the Catholic faith through new and modern ways, not only in parishes and dioceses, but throughout the whole world.

New media includes podcasts and online video, games and software, websites and blogs, mobile technology and all things interactive. The Catholic New Media Celebration is a gathering of today's new media producers within the Catholic Church, as well as of those who simply enjoy and have a desire to learn more about new media content, to grow as a community in an effort to more effectively create and share powerful and unique content for the benefit of the universal Catholic Church.

The event is hosted by the Star Quest Production Network. SQPN (www.SQPN.com) produces on-demand audio and video programs, also known as podcasts, and offers a portal for a select number of affiliated Catholic podcasters that share the vision and media strategy of SQPN.

Contact: SQPN
http://www.sqpn.com GA, USA
Greg Willits, President +1.206.984.1899
Keywords: SQPN, New Media, Podcast
Category: Catholic resources

****END PRESS RELEASE********

Anti-Prom

2008-04-19T23:53:00.001-04:00

Prom!

2008-04-19T23:22:00.001-04:00

My brain recovered

2008-04-13T11:43:00.003-04:00

Only, it started to implode again from a totally different scenario.

We have mystery holes in the yard. We thought maybe it was a snake issue, but the holes don't go anywhere. They are shallow little pockets scattered all over the place!

It's like some small light-weight prankster has hopped across the yard on a pogo-stick.

Yesterday, I saw a chipmunk scurry across the yard and jump straight into the bushes in my neighbor's yard, and today I researched random holes and discovered that chipmunks make those kinds of holes.

The other culprit could be a pine vole.

Pine vole? At least Chip and Dale are cute. I'm not so sure about a vole.

Of course, I'd really rather entertain the idea of Martians hopping around on pogo-sticks.

My brain imploded

2008-04-10T11:23:00.004-04:00

Every once in a while, I have a bit of an intellectual breakdown. It happens with a somewhat predictable frequency, say, every three months or so. I can see the warning signs--a kind of antsy anxiety looming around. Go ahead and anaylze me--I'm fine. I think it is a natural by-product of my profession.

When I am surrounded by things that don't make sense, and my mind works overdrive to organize and classify and otherwise try to find order in the disorder, the machinery burns out. It's kind of like grinding geers or burning rubber when you spin the tires.

I am depressing myself with the analogies.

Anyway, yesterday was my day of reckoning in this bizarre cycle of mental health. I dealt with a little medical emergency at work--nothing that affected me in any way, but it was unpleasant, certainly for the patient, but for everyone else, too. There really wasn't anything extraordinary about the event (okay, it was dramatic, but it was handled and then life went on for everyone else). That I should be called upon to perform my job in an emergency is not the issue.

The issue came later, when I had a revelation.

I teach Tribbles.

The trouble with Tribbles* is that I am a Klingon.

*I make myself laugh. Perhaps that's part of the pathology. Anyway, either you get this, or you don't. If you don't, try not to implode your brain trying to figure it out. Look at what happened to me.

Hey Vic, for you. Or Danny. Maybe.

2008-04-08T10:46:00.001-04:00

We got cable and I was sucked into the black hole of HGTV

2008-04-02T21:39:00.002-04:00

I've been really entertained in the evenings while waiting for the kiddoes to get home. In addition to HGTV, I admit that I also like the food network. Weird, I know.

Tonight I was watching something...I don't know what. The truth is, most of those HGTV shows are pretty much the same. Anyway, this show was prepping a home for an open house. There was a carpenter named Deus.

Seriously? GOD? The guy's name is God?

for you BSG fans

2008-03-29T08:12:00.001-04:00

it's cold as ... snow?

2008-03-24T20:47:00.003-04:00

I'm not gonna lie, I'm sitting in the living room watching the food channel and contemplating some hot chocolate. I am cold. My nose is cold. I guess I am a healthy dog.

Unbelievably, it snowed today. Weird! I got a text message from John, and moments later from Vicky, and when I went outside, BAM! it was snowing. Go figure.

pretzel dog

2008-03-21T22:17:00.001-04:00

This, by the way, is normal.

evidently my posts have been...weird

2008-03-21T15:04:00.001-04:00

Not wanting to disappoint, I offer this new, random one. While I am not a fan of motorcycles (to ride or pass)I thought it was an interesting statement in general:

The [other] Picard Maneuver

2008-03-19T18:55:00.004-04:00

I spent the ENTIRE day pulling my shirt down in the front. All day. Allll day. It was pretty odious. I felt like Captain Jean-Luc Picard. You can watch him do it here:

I felt so inspired that I came home and brewed some:

Remind you of something? I'm all about product placement.

Some people are so clever. I'm not one.

2008-03-18T20:47:00.000-04:00

Inky Dinky

2008-03-17T20:23:00.006-04:00

I write a lot. All day in fact. Most of the time, it's stuff I'm not particularly excited about. I write evaluations, grade tests, write comments on essays. I write notes to myself, notes to other people, notes that will never be read.

I write elaborate essays that I forget I've started. Sometimes I make lists. I write notes on top of notes. I write rough drafts and final drafts.

I do it using whatever pen or pencil I happen upon when the need arises. Over the years, I've become very partial to two types of pens: the ones that release ink in a similar fashion to the old-style nibs, and gel pens. They both roll onto the paper nicely, and generally give a nice and positive experience with the writing process.

Nevertheless, my favorite pen, the best pen in the universe, happens to be the cheapest. It is the cheapo plastic Bic pen, preferably blue, with a medium point. It also has a second use when you're done with it. The blue cap on the end pops off and you can pull the nib off so that you're left will a hollow tube.

It's perfect for shooting spit balls.

Am I the only one amused by Google?

2008-03-17T14:42:00.001-04:00

I just think it's entertaining and mostly amusing when Google changes the letters to match whatever holiday or event is happening.

Today, it's all full of shamrocks and green. Too cute.

"We have cows"

2008-03-15T16:56:00.005-04:00

and a close up:

Sounds like Sean...Tim?

2008-03-09T20:14:00.002-04:00

Had a bizarre experience at the BBQ restaurant. Went to the "to go" window where the woman proceeded to flirt with John....and Jonathan!

BIZARRE!

That'll teach me to sit in the back seat.

let it snow (reprise)

2008-03-08T09:41:00.004-05:00

After what I thought would be the beginning of spring, we get a snow storm. Understand that in Atlanta, snow storm means it is snowing big fluffy flakes for more than 15 minutes. I never claimed that anything stuck.

Nevertheless, it is lovely to look at, and for a little while, it awakens the child inside of me. In fact, I am sitting in my state-of-the-art classroom with the wrap-around windows enjoying the snowfall (which by the way hasn't let up in 2 hours) and having a delightful time. My students can't say the same, because they are diligently working on a writing assignment. I'll pay the piper later when I have to grade it, but for now I'll just sit here and enjoy Mother Nature's floor show.

there are big flakes, honest, this is just a camera shot

Starbucks vs. Pilon

2008-03-07T19:57:00.004-05:00

My dad sent me a heads up on this cute little video about coffee. I have to give him props for this, since last month we had to have a little "chat" about his RIDICULOUS and OVER THE TOP habit of forwarding every single joke he comes across. Yeah, Pop, there's a very special folder titled "Pop Spam" where all those goofy emails went.

But evidently, you CAN teach an old dog new tricks, and he has very carefully followed my edict that he must be very judicious in his choice of forwards, and that I would allow him 3 per day. He's been very good, and now it is a joy to receive the random forward because it is indeed funny.

This one requires a bit of set up. We all know Starbucks, but few people outside of Miami know the delicious and fantabulous taste of Pilon, a coffee by Cubans for Cubans and the World!-- and evidently, God!

happy b-day to me

2008-03-06T16:08:00.003-05:00

My honey sent me these pretty flowers, and a little honey bunny to keep it company. I'm also looking forward to watching Dexter! Thanks to everyone for sweet greetings throughout the day. It's absolutley delightful to be 29...and holding.

Thanks for all the fish!

opportunity for mockery

2008-03-06T07:42:00.002-05:00

Guess who got a bluetooth device to hang off his ear?

I'm going to sneak a picture just to maximize the full mockery that will follow.

Oh! The humanity!

2008-03-03T15:42:00.004-05:00

It's a beautiful spring day in lovely ATL, which of course means that tomorrow it's guaranteed to be anything else. But I digress. Today was beautiful, and I went outside and did the carpe diem thing. By carpe diem, of course, I mean that I ran all the errands that I should have run on Friday. I guess you could call it seizing the day if you get stuff done. I'm all about getting stuff done.

So, among the day's activities was a trip to the bank. Always a trip to the bank. How come the people in Star Trek never have to use money? Are they socialists? Is the only hope for capitalism to be found among the Ferengi?

I digress again.

I am standing in line at the bank, doing the usual--avoiding eye contact with people so I don't have to make pleasant small talk. We were all rather compliant--facing the tellers like we were standing in an elevator.

The woman in front of me asked me for the time, and in the moment that I changed perspective, I caught sight of, of all people, MENACE!

If you don't know who Menace is, he's a homeless guy that is a menace on the streets. He rides a bike and carries around a lot of bags filled with....I don't know. Cans for recycling?

For years I've been sitting on the fence about him, alternately agitated by his presence on the roads (our fair burg has no sidewalks)and the compassionate desire to respect him on the road. Generally, I do a lot of the former, and little of the latter. The thing is, that most of his weirdest behavior is during twilight hours, or long after dark, when we take a turn and BAMMM, there he is in all his baggy glory.

I don't want to hit him, but he's not helping me, if you know what I mean.

Anyway, here I am in the bank line, with Menace a couple of people in front of me, and I am fascinated. Fascinated! I could reach out and touch him, but I don't. Instead, I just look at him surreptitiously. At one point, he turns around and makes eye-contact with me. Yes, indeed. He has big brown eyes. Honest. Human. I gotta say here, I feel like a heel.

And then, we leave at the same time. He held the door for me once, and then raced ahead a little to open it again.

Believe me when I say that my thank you's were the sincerest ever.

something to ponder

2008-03-03T10:03:00.001-05:00

I found my camera!

2008-03-02T09:49:00.002-05:00

Thanks to St. Anthony.

"May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen."

Now. If I could just find where I put my mind....

Finally played a new board game...

2008-02-29T07:30:00.003-05:00

...and gotta say: it rocked! A while back, I was reading Luis Escobar's blog, a charming guy with a neat blog. Give it a read...if you like the Simpsons you can go stalk him over there (he's one of the animators--how cool is that?).

Anyway, he's also a big board game fan, and ~~reviews~~ plays and analyzes the games in great detail. Also, to my great amusement, he seems to be losing a lot to his wife--I feel your pain, Luis. I am the resident loser in my house. My husband and son seem to be the great strategizers, and barring some lucky night (I do win often enough to think I can do it again) generally, they'll wipe the floor with me.

NOT THIS TIME! Well, okay, actually "yes" this time, but I almost won. I know, almost only counts in horse shoes and nuclear explosions. Anyway, almost won--right up until the last move.

We got Settlers of Catan for Christmas, thanks to a lovely gift card from my uncle. We hadn't been able to play, although genius boy had studied the rules like it was the SAT review. Anyway, we finally just set a play date, and did it.

We loved it! It's all about strategy, with a little luck. A cross between Risk and Monopoly--you're building roads and settlements, but also thinking about blocking and trading, and getting some development cards that carry some bonus opportunities. It took us about 90 minutes to play because we were learning and stuff, but we're excited about playing again this weekend. and I'm going to win because now I know the Boy's weakness. Yeah. He likes sheep.

FTP! But what does it mean?

2008-02-27T18:01:00.003-05:00

click to make bigger for a trip down memory lane

Fire the Panzers!

Fire the President!(a rallying call at work, hmmmm)

Free the Pandas!

Feel the Pain?

Ok, so it's File Transfer something-with-a-P. Whatever. I am astounded by the lengths I go to in order to understand a technology that really means very little to me, but has insidiously injected itself into every corner of my life. C'est la vie.

Props to Danny who gamely held my hand as he talked me through some DOS nightmare on my computer. He was so cute--he actually asked me how much I remembered about DOS. Uh-huh. I remember "c:\" and "a:\" and then it goes down hill fast. Don't ask me what the commands are. I mean really, if it doesn't have a cute little animated button that turns around while cheesy music plays, I don't know how to use it.

Twenty years after the power supply died on the IBM clone with the state-of-the-art matrix printer, causing me to show up at my parents' house crying and holding a floppy disk that really was floppy and contained an early draft of the thesis that was now eternally lost, and I still don't back up my crap, and the boy asks me if I remember DOS.

I'm lucky if I remember my name.

Anyway, mission impossible turned into mission accomplished, thanks to Danny Boy. I'd sing for you, but I like you.

Crackpot? Nah, CROCKPOT!

2008-02-24T09:21:00.003-05:00

I love quiet Sunday mornings, and this Sunday morning is especially quiet. The Boy arrived from Savannah at 2 AM. Thank God for Daddy's that stay up late to rescue kiddoes. I was snoring up a storm, after watching my new favorite movie...twice!!! Anybody seen Stardust? ~~It's kind of like~~ I started to try and mash up all the movies it reminds me of, but I changed my mind. Cute. Sweet. Happy ending. Sarcastic ghosts. Adorable leading man. Witches. Stardust. What's not to love?

So in my quiet alone time this morning I threw a frozen hunk of roast in the crockpot, sprinkled some garlic, salt, and onions in there, and walked away. This afternoon we'll have a lovely early dinner/late lunch, and all it took was the realization that I own a crockpot. Why did I ever snub my nose at it before? Proof that you can indeed teach an old dog new tricks.

Speaking of dogs, my only companion in the stillness is Suki, who is curled up in the hallway where she can see the foyer, and still stare at me randomly when she decides that the furnace is presenting a threat. She's a lousy guard dog. She'll bark madly at the leaves, but not wake up when someone is pounding, POUNDING on the front door. At least she doesn't stand on the kitchen counter and eat the butter.

Today's rambling is brought to you by the fact that I have a translation project to finish today. I love avoidance behavior. I have several more projects that I must complete before I finish said translation.

I just got a brilliant idea. In the future, I will design odious little projects that must be completed, and then I will finish the real projects as avoidance tactics. Hmmm. The concept is brilliant, the execution will no doubt fail.

Let me think about it as I go do some dishes. I'm sure they were all done when I went to bed last night....

Why I Love teh Internets (part 347)

2008-02-23T16:00:00.003-05:00

Because I get headlines like this:

Marlins Want Fat Men Who Can Dance

Go ahead and click on it and read the article. They want a dance team called the Manatees. While I would be the first to be a bit self-deprecating and all that, I'm still wondering why this would be a draw.... How 'bout playing some good ball and...oh...just a guess here...WINNING?

everyone should have a favorite Daniel

2008-02-22T17:22:00.002-05:00

This one is mine:

Happy Birthday, Dude!

Things to do:

2008-02-20T10:36:00.009-05:00

1. ~~post grades~~
2. ~~grade some more~~
3. ~~post those grades~~
4. ~~prepare submission files for literary magazine~~
5. get P.O. number blast, it'll be a few days
6. translate 2 articles one down, one to go
7. record some musings
8. ~~work on a script~~
9. ~~eat lunch (is it still lunch at 4?)~~
10. everything else what was I thinking?

And so it begins... [updated]

2008-02-19T06:30:00.003-05:00

I am profoundly sad that after a hiatus here, I should return with none other than Castro news, and yet, it is momentous enough to drag my butt here and report that the despot has resigned, read preliminary reports here.

What does it all mean?

Hmmmm...my ear will be connected to the audio-streams from Miami all day. Check back later for other celebratory updates.

Listening to Miami talk radio and heard what will probably be my favorite phrase, regarding Raul Castro as the "vice-tyrant." LOL.

Happy V-Day

2008-02-14T20:28:00.003-05:00

Okay, so I got all nostalgic this afternoon thinking about those old school Valentines we used to send out when we were in elementary school. Remember them, they were all generic and lame, and suddenly, somebody figured out that they could market theme cards or tie them in with movies and stuff. To me, it ruined the whole cheese factor of the holiday.

I remember we would make a "mailbox" for our valentines by decorating a shoebox and cutting a mail slot in the top. In those days, the teacher sent home a list of everyone in class, and ideally, everyone got a Valentine. Of course, there was always a mean kid or two that would intentionally exclude some of the weird kids, but really, on that day, even the weird kids could feel popular.

Anyway, there's something to be said for the modern Valentine's. I think this one is cute.

my niece has jell-o in her hair, and other imponderables

2008-02-02T17:02:00.000-05:00

Lucky for me I have plenty of Aussie wine, courtesy of the Famous Smiths of Australia.

It's been one of those weeks where I haven't really had a moment to sit down and relax. It's been moving from one thing to another, and as it happens, they just keep piling on until the week becomes a blur. It's the kind of situation where the saving grace is a good sense of humor because you don't dare ask "what next?"

Today, in a brief but hysterical conversation with Mary Alice, I learned that no matter what woes we've gone through with Jonathan's hair--first watching it grow out into an afro-puff, and then finding the right kind of temporary dye to turn it gray so that it actually looks gray from the audience, regardless of the nastiness one sees up close--it's nothing compared to what Anna sufferes through to get her hair right for synchronized swimming. She applies Knox gelatin to her hair. Evidently it hardens into a hard mass. Yeah, because helmet hair is where it's at. Somehow, though, I can't mock the child--she has a talent for dance. Mom, however, is not off-limits and I am tickled by the thought of Mary Alice sitting at a picnic table sewing sequins onto a bathing suit! I've done my share of weirdness and indignities, but Mary wins, hands down.

We've met the new priest, Father Peter, a nice enough guy, if a bit hard to understand. He has a pretty thick accent (and I am remiss in not remembering if he is Korean or Vietnamese) but anyway, had lunch with him and the seniors, and he made himself very understood when he asked for a hook up of Cuban cigars. I dig him already.

The insane Ragtime musical is back on this weekend in anticipation of next week's production at the state thespian conference. That should be entertaining--John is chaperoning again, bahahaha.

Still reeling from some scary news about a dear friend, and so making light of the world and sneaking it in between funny takes of my week. It certainly added to the anxiety level.

I did the most odious thing in the world and started marketing the mother project in the area. I started with nice people that I know, but that only lasts for a while, eventually I have to break out into the real world of people who could care less. I'll note that I got over the first hurdle of being afraid to share my writing, but have run smack into the wall of now having to market my stuff. Yikes! I'm so much happier sitting in my room in the dark. In fact, what the hell was I thinking when I first signed my name to something I wrote? Alas, too late now.

And finally, have to share a picture of Suki, who knows she's not supposed to sit on the furniture, but does so anyway. I love this picture, taken on Jonathan's phone---but I understand there's an even better one on Christy's camera. I think it captures my mood--I want to just go sit somewhere, maybe with a glass of wine, and just ponder. That's all, just find that solitary moment and enjoy it. Funny, isn't it? I could be a dog for an afternoon.

My Father, the Witch Doctor

2008-01-28T19:49:00.000-05:00

So everybody in the family has the crud. Christy and John just getting over it, thanks to the intervention by Dr. Mike, who prescribed some heavy duty antibiotics (I suspect there might have been an ulterior motive there, as the directive came from his wife, the director of the little production you see in the post below).

By the way, for those of you who totally missed it because of your incredibly weak powers of observation, the midget impersonating Sonny Bono is none other than John. I hope to have some truly mortifying pictures soon. Unfortunately, I was across town at Jonathan's drama production and missed the beginning of the karaoke Killer, but rumor has it there's a full video, and I know there were some cast pictures taken. I just have to get my grubby paws on them.

Anyway, as I was saying, everybody has the crud. Those goobers are sucking down Triaminic and all those over the counter chemicals that don't do anything anymore because they took out all the good drugs due to the meth labs. They are just drinking flavored syrup.

In the spirit of my father, the witch doctor, I opted to get the grossest, nastiest-looking natural remedy available--some orange-flavored zinc tablets that I'm supposed to suck on. Let me just say, it's like sucking on a stick of chalk. Bleh. I can't begin to describe the texture, let alone the awful aftertaste.

Only. Get this. I'm almost over it. I promise the crud lasted three days tops. I shot saline up my nose, and sucked on these brown pellets that look and taste like something unmentionable, and I'm all better.

Hmmmm.

Superman vs. Batman

2008-01-27T10:42:00.000-05:00

Well, it's a Spiderman house around here, but Luis Escobar has a hysterical cartoon with a bickering Superman and Batman. They are snarky and bitchy to each other, and poor Spidey gets it, too.

Check it out: it's a clever little exchange. You might want to read some of his other stuff, too.

karaoke at the Pink Flamingo

2008-01-26T23:40:00.000-05:00

I lost Thursday and I'll never get it back

2008-01-24T19:31:00.000-05:00

So, at first I thought it was Wednesday, except I realized that it couldn't be. And then, I had the feeling it was Friday. Only, tomorrow is Friday. So, Wednesday. Friday.

Friday. Wednesday.

What the heck happened to Thursday. I'll never get it back.

In other news, had an opportunity to pimp the composition book. I need for that to move move move. The instructors I showed it to liked it and took the flyer with the info, but I'll have to follow up with an email.

I hate sales.

I have to work tomorrow. Again.

Happy Birthday Pop!

2008-01-22T10:16:00.000-05:00

It's only fair to say Mom improves the picture! I love you!

Thank me lucky stars

2008-01-20T21:44:00.000-05:00

He makes a rather large leprechaun.

for the record, THIS is snow

2008-01-20T11:43:00.001-05:00

click on the picture to make bigger

I thought this was interesting

2008-01-20T09:58:00.000-05:00

The other day, Vic and I were talking about art, specifically, music and experimental things. Years ago, John gave me season tickets to the New World Symphony. He went to about half of the performances before he finally suggested that I could invite my friends (and let him off the hook for the rest of the season, LOL, I love the big lug). Anyway, I invited my mother-in-law one evening, because she had expressed an interest in music, but also confessed that she didn't have much of a critical ear. Instead of selecting a performance that she would enjoy, we went with the day she had available.

Teehee. Bad call. The first half of the evening was great. She recognized some Mozart...and then...it went into some 20th century dissonant experimental stuff. I could see out of the corner of my eye that she cringed a bit in her seat before playing it off and being all cool about it. She didn't relax until I leaned over and confessed that I thought it was awful. Luckily, we got a cleansing with some lovely Haydn.

Anyway, Vic and I were discussing a piece called 4'33". You should go listen to it now.

All of this backstory is here to illustrate that I enjoy quirky and unusual things. This short film here fits into that category. Enjoy.

Snow. What?

2008-01-19T20:06:00.000-05:00

Yeah, so for the second time in the same week, Atlanta has shut down because of snow. Hey, where's Al Gore now?
Christy took off to document the adventure. Too bad more didn't stick. It snowed, hard, for like 5 hours.

It confused the dog, which was pretty funny. She just watched the snow.

In a totally unrelated event, Vic and I looked at a prom catalog that came in for Christy. This picture doesn't capture the freakishness of the model's toes. Honestly, it looks like a cartoon toe that was hammered and is throbbing. Bonus, the other toe is grotesquely long and hanging off the shoe. Really, we spent an inordinate amount of time obsessing over the feet in the pictures. I feel a need for therapy now.

week in review

2008-01-18T11:42:00.000-05:00

Every time I sit down to make a new post, I get distracted.

Sleep, too, is something that I generally enjoy, so let's just say that in the world of priorities, stroking my ego here was not at the top of the list.

Nevertheless, there were some interesting highlights this week. In no particular order, I bring you for your perusal, my week:

***
On the coldest day this year, some poor schmuck was dressed like the Statue of Liberty in one of those really thin Party City costumes with the foam crown, and he danced on the corner of a very busy and not terribly safe intersection. He shared the corner with some ladies of ill-repute, and inexplicably, he seemed to be holding a light saber. Please. I can't even begin to unravel the mystery, but for once, the long red light didn't annoy me.

***
I have a student who sounds like Betty Boop. At first, I thought she was just pulling my leg, but no one can sustain that unless it is legit. Now, I just avoid calling on her unless I have to. I almost have an automatic response to raise my leg like the cartoon. And she's a very fine student, too.

***
In the world of insane questions asked by students, one guy wanted to know if he had a TWO or THREE week grace period to get the book for the course. I was flabbergasted. We are still on quarters; this is the second week of classes, and the term is only 10 weeks. Um, that puts him past midterms. I smiled and said "No." Any bets that he isn't getting the textbook at all?

***
The dog ate John's wallet. That was the funniest thing in the world. There is a hole in the middle of John's license picture. Ha. Right between the eyes. There is no hole in the dog's head. Yet. But she's on thin ice. This morning she ate all of January right out of Vic's agenda. To date, the other casualties include my computer power cord, a pair of ugly black shoes that really, looked improved after she ate the heel, some socks, and generally, any kind of box left unattended.

***
Cats is under way and Jonathan has opted out of the unitard after all. This, after claims that he is secure in his sexuality. Instead, he is going to be backstage blowing up stuff. It sounds more like him anyway.

***
Christy and John acting in a dinner theater murder mystery. Pics were taken yesterday by the local paper, so hopefully I'll have some pictures up soon for full mockery.

***
Currently editing a literary journal for school. The journalism certificate got squashed. Again. We are proceeding as if we didn't get the bad news. Hopefully, we'll put out something that looks professional and they'll change their minds.

***
Played Texas Hold'Em in some mickeymouse internet game site. Pop organized a tournament, and I came in 297th place! It was impressive (until I reveal only 300 in the field). Mary kicked some booty, and I was suprememly disappointed that I was not at her table, ideally, sitting to her right.

Realism in the movies?

2008-01-15T07:56:00.000-05:00

I was watching the 1952 film, Ivanhoe, a fantastic adventure story set in 12th century England. If you like the Robin Hood type stories, this one is great. Only, read the book.

I couldn't get past the awful costumes. Really. Besides the glaring fact that the clothes worn by these knights are pristine, colorful, pressed, and brand new-looking, they have random patches placed in strange places where it is unlikely that the clothes would require a neatly placed patch.

It has driven me to distraction. That, and the odd choice by the costume designers to place Stars of David all over the beautiful Elizabeth Taylor.

And Wamba is like the Dudley Moore character, Arthur.

Still off the air

2008-01-12T20:03:00.000-05:00

Continued camera probs. Alas, no 12 of 12 again.

Hey! Any writers out there?

2008-01-11T22:22:00.000-05:00

I am putting together an anthology of tributes to mothers to support the local pregnancy center.

I want to send the completed book off to the printer by February, so we can have it back in time for the big launch at the local coffeehouse. I am short about three personal narratives, and invite all of you to consider submitting a tribute to your mother to this endeavor.

I am very excited about this project because of several factors. First of all, I like that it is a charitable project. Sales from the book, less production costs, will go directly to support the educational and other support services provided by the Refuge Pregnancy Center. To that end, all the contributors waive royalties, but retain full rights on their work. In other words, you're not going to get a penny for contributing to the book, but you can turn around and sell your essay to anyone you want and you don't even have to ask. Second, the writers aren't all professional writers. It is regular people writing about their mothers. The stories are filled with love and admiration, as it should be. I am less interested in polish, and more interested in sincerity. I even have an 8 year-old's contribution. Priceless!

So, if you'd like to play along, here are the rules. Shoot me an email at bluemantle[at]mindspring.com so I know you are interested, write an essay about your mom, 1,500-3,000 words (I'll take less, but don't want much more than 3,000), and get it to me as soon as possible (see above need to get it to the printer in February).

I hope you want to play with me. It has been great fun so far!

It's election year! Time to play.

2008-01-09T13:34:00.000-05:00

I think this new ad will replace my former favorite Snickers ad.

Gabriel to the rescue!

2008-01-08T10:11:00.001-05:00

Who said revisionist history is a bad thing?

I just vomited in my mouth a little bit

2008-01-07T14:32:00.000-05:00

The word disingenuous comes to mind when thinking of Hillary Clinton. Read her tearful plea to the voters here. I think she's crying because she didn't get to Oprah first.

It's kind of like when you pass an accident on the freeway. I know you're going to look. I warned you.

I am adopting Fox Mulder's mantra this election year: Trust No One.

when the internet is useful

2008-01-07T12:26:00.000-05:00

You know, besides posting pictures of the kids and playing Scrabulous, the internet is a rather useful little tool when I actually have work to do.

In the glorious community that makes up this wonderland, Lisa, at Franciscan Focus posted a link to LifeHacker's assessment of Google as such a delightful little tool.

I know most of you run circles around my limited googling abilities, but for those of you who are in the same novice boat as I, check out the different ways you can use it, and maximize your googling.

Consider this a PSA. Tomorrow I go back to my regularly scheduled random uselessness.

Special Request

2008-01-05T15:41:00.000-05:00

Unable to say "No" to my little brother who never asks me for anything, I've decided to honor his email request, see below. The kiddoes were cute then, and they are cute now. I just gotta figure out how to use photoshop to fix an obvious error. For the record, that was her school of choice in middle school. Then again, she was going to be a marine biologist, too.

Now this picture MUST go on the blog. Pretty please?
Love that hat... HA!

For Luly

2008-01-05T11:50:00.000-05:00

No haircut in sight. The play is February 5th. Check back on February 8th for an Achi look-alike.

And this is the culprit...

2008-01-03T11:24:00.001-05:00

I gotta admit, if anybody in the family is going to master that thing, it's Daniel. All I gotta say is...look at the kid in the ad, Daniel--he's wearing a helmet.

This Public Service Announcement brought to you by a Proud/Concerned Tia.

My Favorite Daniel

2008-01-03T11:17:00.000-05:00

My. My. My. What were you doing, silly? Are you getting your injuries out of the way early for 2008?

16 degrees

2008-01-03T07:17:00.000-05:00

Did Mother Nature make a mistake?

I'm off to work--the kids are off to school. And it's cold. It's mornings like this I'm thankful for the garage.

And for the record, the dog is a lousy guard dog. For the win!

Happy New Year 2008

2008-01-01T21:24:00.000-05:00

Wow, another year has come and gone! I wish you all many blessings this year. I'm glad to have 2007 behind us, and looking for better things in '08. That's not to say last year totally sucked, but we are ready for some good things to start happening. Soon, I hope. Very soon.

Meanwhile, I was trying to put together a little slide show of the year in review, and my camera/Vista/time issues have evidently continued to plague me. I'm going to give it one more shot, and if it doesn't happen, then the pictures from 2007 will stay where they belong, in the past! LOL.

We've had a very delightful holiday--quiet and uncomplicated, and that's nice every once in a while. Last night we went over to RA/SQPN central for a while and got to participate in the historic marathon. Unbelievable what a nice couple and a dutch priest have been able to create. Together, with a small group of supporting players and outstanding podcasters in their own right, these folks managed to collect an astronomical amount of money. I say astronomical because it's in my little perspective, but actually, the organizations' budgets could easily be 3 0r 4 times that, and still be growing. Anyway, it's a joy to be able to play a small role in the gigantic game.

We made it home in time for the traditional gulping of the grapes (this year without champagne) and enjoyed a midnight movie: To Catch a Thief (Grace Kelly was so beautiful) and then slept in this morning. A little trip to the park with the poochie rounded out our afternoon, and then we settled in for a tasty dinner of pork chops, and Vicky's stories from the Humanitarian Bowl. Generally, no one was there for football, but a great time was had by all.

And now, we are enjoying more movies...and eating oatmeal cookies made by Jonathan. Nice.

I hate scary movies

2007-12-27T22:50:00.000-05:00

I really hate scary movies.

I'll watch Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, any number of science fiction flicks, and even mysteries, but I really really hate scary movies.

So I watched SIGNS.

Did I say I hate scary movies? Yes, I did. And I watched it with Christy, who has never seen a scary movie that she didn't giggle through. What was I thinking? It scared me. And now I'm going to have scary dreams. It's Christy's fault. She knows I don't like scary movies and SHE LET ME WATCH IT.

Daughters don't let their mothers watch scary movies. What was she thinking?

Tomorrow, when I am no longer traumatized, I'll reflect on how meaningful the story is (I saw that cross he removed from the wall, and how even though the cross was physically gone the mark remained--I pay attention). In the meantime, I'm going to pout because it's after 11 pm and I'm not going to go to bed. Ever.

throw us a bone

2007-12-27T00:32:00.000-05:00

With 200 points for the win, Jonathan decided to open a Gizmo. Needless to say, he was unable to close it and Christy and I were able to come back and win the Hand and Foot match.

BAHAHAHAHAHA.

John almost had a stroke. That was even funnier.

We generally lose, so its nice to be able to "stay in the game" with a random win.

Merry Christmas

2007-12-26T11:36:00.000-05:00

Here are some pictures documenting our celebration. Pay close attention to the food. Yeah, John did most of the cooking. Check out the breakfast leftovers--he tackled making cuban bread, which was pretty OK out of the oven, and his coup, pastelitos. Incredible! Tummy yummy yummy. As I write this he is at the grocery store with Christy in search of more ingredients for the next project: croquetas from scratch. Suki is amazed by the all the decorations and especially the tree (that never has enough water--I wonder why?)
We had to keep the presents isolated this year, and only took them out of hiding after mass. Check out the broomstick in front of the sofa. we have discovered that the dog is terrified of brooms and vacuum cleaners--so we have brujerias all over the house with brooms set out strategically. Ha!

Like a kid, she would ratehr play with the packaging...

And finally, Fact or Crap. Interesting. It's second only to Bongo, "the game that is sweeping the nation!"Merry Christmas!

Mistaken for Someone Who Cares

2007-12-22T09:26:00.000-05:00

I love that people think I like animals just because I happen to be holding on to the end of a leash with one attached to the other end. It's like little kids.

I don't like little kids, either. Except, of course, that I adore my not-so-little kids, and could eat up the collection of other little kids in the family, namely, the precious nieces and nephews. And a select few other precocious wonders.

And I like my fish.

And I find Suki tolerable.

I know what you're thinking, with so many exceptions to my rule, time to re-evaluate the rule. Not. Nope. No way, Jose.

Anyway, it's Saturday morning. I'm up. The dog is up. The coffee is brewed. I decide to take me, the coffee, and the dog outside. There's something refreshing about the early morning in winter.

I sat on the flowerbed wall and watched the dog sniff at every leaf and perk her ears at the crackle of the pine trees. It's cold, but not so cold that I'm uncomfortable, so I enjoy the relative silence from humanity, and through the dog, hear every snap, every rustle in surrounding yards. Sound all poetic yet? Don't worry, my communing with nature ended abruptly when some neighbors from across the lake, about 90 years old, inch up the street in their hiuker-mobile moving at maybe 5 miles an hour.

My mood is dampened, as Suki instantly becomes fascinated by this new distraction. The hiukers finally pulled into the inconsiderate neighbors' house, the ones who own the gigantic dogs that are not on leashes even though there is a leash law so consequently they come into our yard and leave gigantic turds. Hmm. Sorry about the run-on. Anyway, they get out of the car and shatter the morning silence by calling for the dogs, who have clearly taken off to who-knows-where. They call loudly, setting off a barking fest of every dog in the area, except theirs. Nice call chief. Meanwhile, Suki is aquiver and forgets that she's out there to do her business, and who should be coming up the road but Reflector Man.

Jackpot. Just then, the hiukers find the dogs, load them up in their car, and take off at the blinding speed of 5 mph again. They pulled up on the side of the road to tell me that they are not stealing the dogs.

Do I care? Did I even notice there was a dog-napping in progress? Nope. Instead, I have to listen politely as they explain their connection to the dog. By then, Reflector Man arrives and continues to make inane small talk. When the hiukers leave, he proceeds to clarify their relationship to the dogs, in case I thought they were stealing them.

I didn't know dog-napping was such a crisis in our neighborhood. Maybe, if they kept the animals on leashes it would stave off the problem. Suki punctuated my thoughts by pooping.

I like that dog. Just don't tell anyone.

Peek-a-Boo

2007-12-20T14:21:00.000-05:00

Well, so I disappeared off the face of the earth. Ok. Well, I'm back, sort of, until I disappear again.

Had a bit of a crazy end of the term. Definitely crazier than usual. In the midst of all the final exams and getting the grades ready, and the compulsory holiday cheer, we also had to move into a new building. Oh yeah, that was great fun. Essentially, we were on standby for the move. Those of us with any sense packed early and then just had to move some boxes.

Please don't ever think that in my personal life I have ever achieved that kind of order, but at work I'm pretty compulsive about records. Nothing would irritate me more than having a student question one of my practices and I couldn't pull out the documentation instantly, so I guess I use up all that energy at work.

Please don't bring up the laundry, 'mkay? I noticed last night that about a month ago I washed all the white socks in bleach and got them all white and shiny, and then dumped them into a hamper to sort later. Meanwhile, John and the kids complaining about never having enough socks. Oops. Now I know why.

So you see, a bit scatter-brained. Anyway, the good news is that I was able to get into my office and move quickly. I've managed to put everything away, and get some serious filing done, and my colleagues are still somewhat running around with an impending deadline that threatens to dump their stuff. The problem with this move is that it had to be quick because there were offices waiting to move into the area we left. Alas.

Well, this doesn't make up for my prolonged absence, but now that I have internet up and relative calm again, I should go back to my old schedule of posting silly things -- peppered, I hope, with the profound.

Unfortunately, I only have the camera on my phone, but this should give you an idea of my work this afternoon. The office is actually much bigger than it looks, but the angle of the shot was rather awkward.

You can see that I have a window! A pathetic little thing to make me happy, but after being in a tomb with the server humming all the time, it's a rather welcome sight to look outside and see the cemetary across the street. It helps me ponder the meaning of my own mortality, especially when the men in blue race by with the sirens blaring. Oh, am I sounding cynical and whiny? Didn't mean it it all. I rather enjoyed the beautiful Atlanta winter today, with its gray overcast and drizzly demeanor. That was not sarcasm. I actually hope to have a raging thunderstorm soon so that I can really enjoy the window.

And, if you're wondering what else has occupied my time, you can maybe make-out some papers by the computer where I was doing some research for my latest crazy endeavor, courtesy of the phenomenal Fr. Roderick of SQPN. Check it out, I am actually co-hosting a talk-show with him. Yeah! It consists of him saying all kinds of brilliant things, and me being totally enthralled and then adding something goofy. I hope you check us out!

And so, after getting back into this blogging thing, I leave you with:

Look who's 40!

2007-12-10T20:26:00.000-05:00

Happy birthday, Tia Melly!

Lies, Lies, and More Lies

2007-12-03T09:27:00.000-05:00

So Chavez lost and claims it is the will of the people.

Yeah, and I have some land to sell in the Everglades. You heard it here folks, this isn't the end of the Chavez-I-Am-A-Communist Show.

How do you spell military coup? Oh yeah, C-A-S-T-R-O.

this is me, enjoying harping about communists because it reminds me of a dear family friend out of control.