My New Year's Resolution

Sent to me from my uncle this evening.

I told him I need to tape it ON THE MONITOR so I won't even boot up LOL

Make sure you read the poem below the bulletin board...



















Cleaning Poem !

I asked the Lord to tell me
Why my house is such a mess.
He asked if I'd been 'computering',
And I had to answer 'yes.'

He told me to get off my fanny
And tidy up the house.
And so I started cleaning up...
The smudges off my mouse.

I wiped and shined the topside.
That really did the trick...
I was just admiring my work..
I didn't mean to 'click.'

But click, I did, and oops I found
A real absorbing site
That I got SO way into.
I was into it all night. Sigh!

Nothing's changed except my mouse
It's very, very shiny.
I guess my house will stay a mess...
While I sit here on my hiney.



So, the problem here is obvious. LOL

2008 is the year we begin renovating the house,
having friends over more,
and getting out and about more.

Lots to look forward to!!!

And last, but not least, I hope to further cultivate a healthy sense of humor



May we accept God's blessings every moment of every day in 2008!

A New House for Christmas!!!

I really have a most magnificent husband. He knows what I really enjoy in life.

That's right... House. Me. Us. :)


Ya gotta love it!

So, the story goes that while I was in the hospital trying to beat a huge systemic infection, some friends suggested CD watch House.

He did, and liked it. A LOT.

So, now (when the season is ripe) we watch House once a week.

I haven't seen the whole 1st season, though, because I was, well, pretty sick.

Now I can see it all! Yippeeeeee!

Thanks, hon! Love you!

I Pray on Christmas

Hey there!

You know I am praying for ya. My friends and family, everybody we love, and the whole wide world are being prayed for at the Altar at St. William's during the Christmas Novena.

Here's a little token of love I hope you will enjoy.

Have a Very Blessed Christmas!!

It's Not Christmas...Without Harry

To say I love Harry Connick, Jr.'s Christmas songs would be a major
u
n
d
e
r
statement.

I mean... before ITunes, if we couldn't locate my copy of "When My Heart Finds Christmas,"

we'd have to >>>>>>>run>>>>>>>> out to buy a new copy.

Thank goodness for iTunes!

And, of course, Harry for the Holidays was a must have, too.

Lastly, the whole Catholics for Christmas parade concept, which won an award in '06 for "Spirit of Christmas"
would never have happened without Harry. For I developed it while doing some deep listening.

So, I thought, I'd check youtube for Christmas videos to post.

This one really lays it out there. It really isn't Christmas without Harry.



:) Gotcha

I hate to admit it, but...

I get Blue October.

I was not surprised when "Hate Me" did well on the charts.
I heard "Into the Ocean" the other day.
Forgetting I had heard it several months ago, I thought, "wow. Another one I get"

This would be the pitch dark blue side of me I try to ignore.

Thanks to the good Doc, my good priest, my family, and my own hard work,
I can't say this is how I feel at the moment.

However, I have had serious moments of this in the past.

Feel free not to watch. It's kind of, well, touchy.

Get ready to grin!

I really love this video about homeschooling

Gaudete!!

I was searching St. Francis of Assisi (Frisco, TX) for the homily from the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.
Unfortunately I couldn't locate it. Whenever I do, I will post it, though.

I found this there. WOW!


I just read this past Sunday's Homily.

I *really* like Fr. Heines' homilies.

Not unlike Fr. Weinberger's homilies, they are thoughtful, insightful, and very informative.

I certainly wish I could take Fr. Heines' Theology class at JPII

Weekly Roundup

What a WEEK!

It all really started Friday, with the local parade. My multiples group took home the Theme Award. The theme was, "There was an old woman who lived in a shoe..." Stop me if you've heard it before, but don't tell me if you think it applies to me personally (grin)

On Saturday, one of our loving Grandmas let the kids spend the day so CD and I could shop.
Shop we did, almost to the point of being DONE.
We had a very nice Hungarian Goulash, bread, pumpkin bread, coffee, grins and giggles with HC and bunny.
The time passed way too fast (always a sign of a great visit.) For we had, at 4 pm, not yet completed said shopping.
Which made me sad, because I sooooo wanted to pop over to LQ's to see the family!

Woe unto us... for traffic around major intersections and shopping centers was HEAVY.

Sunday was a blast... Lil' Joe is now 5. Go ahead... shake your little noggin in amazement. Seems like yesterday I was put in the hospital for a systemic infection on his 2nd birthday.

He wanted to have his bday at Grandma's, so we did. Woo-hoo, we had a blast!

Monday was normal. We've hit a stopping point in school. Eldest is ready to add German (coooool) to her curriculum, S is a VORACIOUS reader and ready to start adding hundreds together, and J has learned to write his name correctly, and finished his pre-K math book. CD is an awesome project coordinator. He headed up a very cool wreath making session.

Tuesday... busy busy busy. Thanks to B, we made Christmas tree ornaments by making crochet chains with beads in them, and paper chains.

Wednesday was quiet.

Thursday was J's friends' party, which actually began when he went to school. He and 4 friends had a great time. Afterward, we went to McDonalds for more fun with even MORE friends. Then, all 12 children came over to our house to play for another couple of hours. Wow... what a way to kick off a wonderful year!

Friday... oh...man. Dental work. 2.5 hours in the chair. At least we're making progress. In case anyone wonders, 2088 is all about me becoming more like... me. Thanks to doctors, dentists, hair stylists, and possibly 10 acre walks in the spring.

After dance class, we headed out for the Multiples Group Pirates & Princesses Christmas party. What a FUN bunch of families. I resolve to be a better group memeber in 2008.

So, everything is well, and next week we bake, bake, bake!

Wishing you a wonderful rosy pink 3rd week of Advent!

Eureka!!!

When you "pray, hope, and don't worry," in combination with discovering an important anxiety trigger, you feel like this:



Then you CAN sleep like a baby,
slowly whittling away at the stake
to be driven into the heart of the Dracul.

The Giving and Receiving Cycle

Christmas Day, every year
Car load of presents
No place to put them

Christmas Day this year
Car Load of presents
Empty shelves and cabinets ready to receive said gifts

To say I hang on to every little scrap of life I can is an understatement
This year, I've decided "Out with the Old" BEFORE in with the new
Which is harder than it sounds, because the criterion seem subjective

So today, I am trying to be objective.
Ouch! That hurts!

Happy Birthday CD

It was a day like any other, except that, well, it ain't

We all let CD know just HOW MUCH WE LOVE HIM AND HOW GLAD WE ARE HE WAS BORN!!!

Happy Birthday, honey!

With Love

An Advent Gift from our Holy Father

Spe Salvi

Enjoy!

Happy Holy Days!

Today begins the season of Advent, which I LOVE.

Saw this on a friend's blog, and thought it humorous enough to post here.



If your mailbox is as overloaded as mine, this will resonate :)

Happy first day of Advent!!!

C'est moi?

Your Score: 6 - the Questioner

Thanks for taking the test !

you chose CY - your Enneagram type is SIX (aka "The Loyalist").

"I am affectionate and skeptical"

Questioners are responsible, trustworthy, and value loyalty to family,
friends, groups, and causes. Their personalities range broadly from reserved
and timid to outspoken and confrontative.

How to Get Along with Me

• Be direct and clear.

Listen to me carefully.

Don't judge me for my anxiety.

Work things through with me.

Reassure me that everything is OK between us.

Laugh and make jokes with me.

Gently push me toward new experiences.

Try not to overreact to my overreacting.

What I Like About Being a SIX

• being committed and faithful to family and friends



• being responsible and hardworking



• being compassionate toward others



• having intellect and wit



• being a nonconformist



• confronting danger bravely



• being direct and assertive

What's Hard About Being a SIX

• the constant push and pull involved in trying to make up my mind



• procrastinating because of fear of failure; having little confidence
  in myself



• fearing being abandoned or taken advantage of



• exhausting myself by worrying and scanning for danger



• wishing I had a rule book at work so I could do everything right



• being too critical of myself when I haven't lived up to my expectations
  

SIXes as Children Often

• are friendly, likable, and dependable, and/or sarcastic, bossy, and
  stubborn



• are anxious and hypervigilant; anticipate danger



• form a team of "us against them" with a best friend or parent
  



• look to groups or authorities to protect them and/or question authority and rebel



• are neglected or abused, come from unpredictable or alcoholic families, and/or take on the fearfulness of an overly anxious parent

SIXes as Parents

• are often loving, nurturing, and have a strong sense of duty



• are sometimes reluctant to give their children independence



• worry more than most that their children will get hurt



• sometimes have trouble saying no and setting boundaries

Renee Baron & Elizabeth Wagele

The Enneagram Made Easy

Discover the 9 Types of People

Harper
SanFrancisco, 1994, 161 pages

Link: The Quick & Painless ENNEAGRAM Test written by felk on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

I LOVE YOUTUBE

because I get to see videos from the Cure and the Cocteau Twins

I didn't have MTV, and didn't want it.

So now it's just
too cool
to see
how some of my favorite songs
played out in video form.

This is a very sweet treasure. (Catch by the Cure)



Also, please enjoy Rilkean Dreams My German teacher taught me of Rainer Marie Rilke. Jetzt versteh ich warum, thanks to this line in Wikipedia:

His haunting images focus on the difficulty of communion with the ineffable in an age of disbelief, solitude, and profound anxiety — themes that tend to position him as a transitional figure between the traditional and the modernist poets.

Does that nail my problem, or WHAT?!!?
Herzlichen Dank, Frau

So, here, 3 worlds collide: German, Music, Self
Ahh... at last a triangulation I can use!!

Cocteau Twins: Rilkean Dream (Half Gift)

COCTEAU TWINS lyrics

COCTEAU TWINS lyrics

It's the most confounding time of the year

Confession: As Advent approaches, I am in the precarious position of being required to keep myself in check. This time of year, I love to linger in the Joyful Mysteries and just let my mind wander in the garden of the Son, and all of the earthly revelry... lights, bells, music...

The end result is a veritable waterfall of attempts at communicating where my mind wanders.

Last year, we caught it, but barely, 'cause it has been "normal" for many years.

And so, I have to watch it. You are my friends. I just wanna say...

THUNK!!!!! Honey, was that the dollar?

Dollar Collapses Against Yen



Lyrics here

Man, I am so glad we're just simple folks leading a straight forward life.
Trying times.
I know ***so*** many people worried
- about job cuts,
- paying the heating bill
- paying for their commute to the Metroplex
- Putting food on the table and clothes on the childrens' backs
or, alternatively,
- moving money around to "protect" against a depression
x that- we only call them "looming recessions" nowadays
-trying to find a tangible investment that won't lose too much value

Thank you God for not letting us get all big headed and foolish
during the many dot com booms
Thank you God for teaching us to love our neighbors and hear their stories
Thank you God for teaching us that being a consumer is so much easier,
but far more costly, than being a producer.

Gobble gobble!

May your turkey be warm, and your gravy not so runny.

This happened in my lifetime

Sehr traurig. I liked Gemany because it used to be, well, German. When i saw McDonald's in Bremen, Pizza Hut in Seeheim, that was a beginning of an end.

Oldest blogger in the world?

I'm often truly amazed by my family... my great uncle is 81 years old. And he has a blog, indeed.

He's a participant in w3c.org, builds Partch drums, and strongly believes in a semantic web. And though we're ideologically very different, I can't help but admire his often quirky yet utopian ideology of humanity.

So just to irk him, I'll have to say "I hope when I'm your age I'm as sharp as you."

The Lord of the Fed?

Is it just me, or does Bernanke look an awful lot like someone else?

I'm not sayin' anything else, heheheh.

An Apple a Day :)

My husband is THE COOLEST man on earth!

For our annual equipment upgrade CD bought me an...IMAC!!!

This is very good for so many reasons, not the least of which I am a very visual/auditory person.

Yes, I can type the financial into any ol' spreadsheet, the way my brain functions, I need all of the WELL THOUGHT OUT visual cues I can get.

Not only does the 24" screen blow my mind, the thing is incredibly bright and resolution is astounding.

My eyes should adjust within the month. ;)

Furthermore (and important for serious architects) this magnificent machine will run MAC OSX, Linux, and Windows

And now, to express my humble appreciation:
THANK YOU MERCI GRACIAS DANKE SEHR

Burn, baby, burn

It was a disco inferno in the burn barrel today. Mother of 5, determined to destroy remnants of the past , filled the barrel to the brim. And then spent the next 2 hours trying to make sure the house would be safe.

Lessons learned:

1) Flying cinder paper is scary
2) Eldest son is phenomenally quick with garden hose.
3) to effectively burn paper, photos, old cloth-bound journals, place them vertically in barrel, rather than horizontally.
4) It's going to be a long night making sure fire stays where it's supposed to
5) Never fill barrel over half-full
6) Burning misery is still good therapy

End of transmission =0)

Feast of Carols

If anyone wants to join us for the Feast of Carols at A&M Commerce - we'll be ordering tickets tomorrow. Tickets are $24 per person. The show is on Saturday, December 1st, 6 - 10 p.m.

Sorry for the short notice - but the first show already sold out! Give us a call if you're coming!

Ol' McDonald had a Farm

Chicken
Egg
Egg
Chicken

Seems this place has one paradox after another.
Ya fix something, and animal (or child) destroys it
An animal or child destroys something, ya fix it.

This month's Q&A:
1)How do we deal with a road that has become a flooded frog habitat?
Concrete... 4500 lbs of concrete. Carried, mixed, set by CD.
Hats off, honey! That was awesome work!

2) How do we keep the animals out from ransacking beneath the house, permanently?
Chicken wire around entire skirting area,
stapled into place by #1 son,
staked into the ground by #2 son
Hopefully this area will be covered with lap siding sooner than later:)

What's really cool is progress.
One step after another in the right direction instead of just trying to "cover up" the many messes this wonderful blank canvas presents.
Woo-hoo!

English drink too much and...

Think Rudy GIULIANI is the most conservative American.

Is this some form of mass hallucination or is Joseph Goebbels back in business? Could they pick a more aggressive, womanizing, cross dressing weirdo?

All Hallows Eve

For the record, yes we let our children dress up and mock evil on All Hallows Eve.

Someone really famous once wrote that to laugh evil in the face is the best retort.

So, we start out by singing the obligatory Hallowe'en song:

Hallowee-ee-een
the witches flying high
have you see-ee-een
their shadows in the sky

O beware!
Don't you dare
to even boast
or a ghost
to your dismay
will hear you say
that you don't care
to say a prayer
and it will come
and pull your hair.

I have no idea of the origin of this little ditty, but I remeber my Mom teaching it to me when I was 3... and we sang it every year as halloween approached.

We also celebrate All Hallows Day (All Saints Day) by letting the kids dress up as their favorite saint.

This year the children have chosen:
Saint Anne with a little Blessed Virgin Mary by her side,
St. George
St Martin of Tours
St. Robert Lawrence

Have fun, y'all!

Round Up

The week was weird. Way weird. But ended up really nicely.

Tonight was The Fall Festival! We had a blast! It is just absolutely wonderful to catch up with friends in early autumn.

This year, for once, I was not playing the paranoid parent. How wonderful that most of my children are now old enough to run amock without catastrophe!

My one regret is I never seem to have enough time to visit with everyone as much as I'd like.

I've been collecting thoughts over the course of the past week.

So... here we go:

One more reason to love RON PAUL

One hefty dose of the Cure required after sorting through boxes full of misery and angst, vintage 1987-1994
Just imagine my spirit singing this to my mind and body,
and you'll hear what went through my head ad nauseum Saturday nite.
and why, yes, yes, I did choose the Berlin concert for a reason.

Music that seemed to providentially play on the radio, in the order listed below,
after round one of slaying my historical dragons

Fergie "Big Girls Don't Cry"
Lyrics
Video **Parents, consider yourselves warned**

John Mayer "Why Georgia?"
Lyrics
Video

Nickelback "Far Away"
Lyrics
Video
Alternative video using clips from The Notebook (a GREAT movie!!)

Went out in tears, came home quite happy from an evening out with the multiples' group.
Mexican food, a funny movie, and coffee until after midnight will do that for a gal.

Songs for NOW
The Cure "Doing the Unstuck"
Lyrics
Video

Ya know, torching misery is most excellent therapy.

On the beauty of foundation breads

Several weeks ago my favorite political guru gave me a foundation bread recipe. To be honest, I have yet to make that recipe, for I fear little hands will get into the mix.

I have used my french bread recipe (from my bread machine) to make pizza dough and cinnamon rolls.

Had never considered that one could use one recipe to do many things. Corny, but true.

Now that I am enlightened, we are enjoying a whole lot more tasty homemade treats.

Thanks!!

Rain, Rain, Go away!

Some days just don't go right. Very busy at work finishing up a 5 month long endeavor, now double-timing a second project, and then it rained.

Some neighbors gave us a couple of beautiful African Pygmy goats - but apparently they are dumb as rocks when it comes to near-freezing rain, such as the kind we received this morning.

After trying to convince said rocks-for-brains that the shelter over there was just as good as the one with 5 goats, and failing - I proceeded to drag, slosh, and curse said goats up to the other shed. When dragging failed, I threw them over the shoulder.

Oh, and then the dog got out of the field. So I dragged him up as well. Threw all the numbskulls into the pen and drug, slushed, and pleaded the "Why me?" back to the house.

Couple of hours later, meathead dog digs out under the gate and proceeds to chase chickens. Mind you, it's still pouring rain - and no, my dears, we ain't singing. So I then go to remove a poor chicken from the jaws of death.

Oy vey.... getting closer to the BBQ pit every day.

IMF economist is blogging...

And he has some interesting things to say. From an "overvalued" US currency, to international capitol management.

A choice quote:

Of more pressing immediate concern is the fact that capital is currently flowing to many countries whether or not they are ready to receive it. There are large current account surpluses among emerging markets (a big change from 1997, when most emerging markets had deficits). Indeed, a number of large oil exporters and Asian exporters of manufacturers will have sizable surpluses for as long as we can forecast. This constitutes capital that has to be invested somewhere. We think capital from these countries is increasingly not flowing so much "uphill" to developed countries (as it did over the past 5 years), but rather "around the hill" to other emerging markets and poorer developing countries. But is everyone really ready to receive such large amounts of capital and to carefully manage its macroeconomic impact?

If I'm right, then the major risk today is not imminent crisis but rather that the capital flows arising from the global boom will not be well managed-leading to the buildup of vulnerabilities. Thus, the danger is that when the party ends - and it is hard to know when this will be - there will a lot of mopping up to do.

Take a gander here...

Round Up

My prayer group is studying the 4 basic temperaments.
We're able to laugh at ourselves and each other a whole lot.
Which is a very good thing.

I heard this song on the radio a couple of weeks ago, and thought, wow, that's nice.

Enjoy!

Another Side of You

(Lyrics here)

I read the Holy Father's new encyclical is to be published soon.


I can't WAIT to read it! I wouldn't have a thing if I didn't have hope.

Speaking of which, here's another country tune for your listening pleasure.

Some People Change Montgomery Gentry

(Lyrics here)

Finally, the Financial Times reports that the IMF considers the dollar "overvalued."

Confirmation 2007

Tonight we had the privilege of witnessing 50 children from St. William receive Confirmation.

Congratulations to all. It was truly lovely!

Sweet Baby!

We were so excited to get to see Baby Daniel tonight!

He is as alert and adorable as pictured at the LQ's blog.

Thanks for letting us in the door and seeing your little miracle!

Oktoberfest and Revisionist HIstory

Wunderschön!!!

Oktoberfest was great fun this year!

After a very full day of sorting through boxes we never unpacked when we moved here 4 years ago, we partied big time with friends at the KC Hall.

Who'da thunk I would ever be able to do both in one day? Yay, us!

While sorting papers into "keepers" and "burn, baby, burn" boxes, I found my transcripts from high school.

I had no idea, until yesterday, that I have been engaging in my own revisionist history.

I asked my Mom, "why have you let me think I was such an awesome student all these years?!"

"Well," said my very sage Mother, "You excelled where you wanted to, and I guess the rest just didn't matter. Forget about it! That was almost 20 years ago!"

20 years ago...the only thing this realization proves is... I have a weird capacity to remember the good, and completely forget the bad, unless the bad was too horrendous to forget. Those things which terrorized my spirit have been pushed to the corners of my consciousness. The good, however, shone forth as a beacon, preserving me from despair in innumerable instances.

These handicaps (or, perhaps, blessings) have served me well on my journey thus far.

I have been afforded, and accepted, opportunities to do everything I had hoped to, in spite of my mediocrity and failings.

Perhaps this is why Karol Wojtyla's assertion resonates profoundly within me,

"The evil of our times consists in the degradation, indeed in a pulverization, of the fundamental uniqueness of each human person." (1968)

For, in retrospect, the things I cherish are those which make me who I am.

Not extraordinary, phenomenal, or even particularly brilliant, just an einzigartig unvergleichlicher Mensch.

I can only look up and say, "Thank God!"

Cue Marley, one more time...

Feast of Carols 2007

2 shows this year! Nov 30 and Dec 1! 6-10 pm

I can hardly wait!!

We so very much enjoyed the music, entertainment, and scrumptious food last year.

Anybody want to come out this way for some real Advent fun?

I can even hire extra sitters, if anyone wants to split the cost. ($1/hr/child---hard to beat!)

The Art of Brainstorming Flipped Upside Down

In an attempt to ramp up our creativity, we were taught to brainstorm.

I personally hated this activity, because I was already a very tangential thinker.

Looking back, I can see that, although I have always been repulsed by brainstorming, the praxis became the norm for me as an adult.

The consequences have been painful, and mostly unfruitful in a day-to-day sense.

My mind races through all possibilities, then succumbs under the weight of the mental diagram.

So, I am trying to give up something which seems ingrained in my thought processes.

This is not easy.

Please pray.

A+ Honor Roll

For the longest time, mi madre has wondered where all my "perfectionism" comes from.

I always argue I'm not a perfectionist, I just want to make sure I've done all I could to effectively communicate.

I think I finally figured it out.

C = AVERAGE, right??

For me, a C would be the equivalent of "Couldn't do it right"

Shamefully silly, eh?

Now that I am the mother of 5, average looks pretty durn good, most days.

Internally, however, it might as well have been an F.

Therein lies a gargantuan problem.

I used to get A's effortlessly. ABSOLUTELY NO serious effort on my part, and I made honor roll.

Repeatedly.

Did "they" set me up for failure in later life, or WHAT?!?!

no, nein, non, no, nyet...

My *perceptions* set me up for an ***average*** life.

Long story short, I don't make the honor roll every day, but I sure am getting better final grades than I thought possible in this wild, weird school of life.

Thank You God!!!

Paying out the nose...

If you're ever seen a cellular commercial - you always see people talking, accessing the internet, sending text messages... and so I thought it would be fun to take apart the costs they charge you.

First, lets talk voice. You're paying a few cents per minute... roughly 2-12¢. A minute of voice calculates out like so: 64 KBits/second * 60 seconds / 8 bits per byte = 480 KBytes. Lets say the average is 6 cents per minute.

Now, lets talk SMS/Text messaging. An average text message is 160 Bytes. For this, you're typically paying a flat rate of 25¢. Wow... pretty expensive?

Now lets talk about Data... IP packets routed over the internet. They charge 10 bucks for 4 MBytes (if you prepay) or 1¢ per KByte (always rounded up).

So, to leverage this all out:
Voice = 81920 bits per cent
SMS = 51 bits per cent
Data = 1024 bits per cent (by the kilobyte)
Data = 419430 bit per cent (prepaid... use it or loose it)

It's all the same to the network. It's simply "multiplexed data" from the phone to the central office. Only there is it separated to the switching network (phone) or internet (sms & data).

I wish I could just buy bits instead of minutes, special packages, add-on offers, et cetera. It would be a lot less smoke and mirrors.

Free College for everyone?

So I was talking with Brian today a bit about College, the cost, and all that - and after lugging The Piano down to his place an idea hit me.

Free college for everyone. Well, sort of. But not really, exactly free - but pretty damn close.

As I thought about my own past, it suddenly occurred to me that the real problem with College costs - and why it's getting more expensive.

See - we hit high school graduates with a proposition, or conflict if you like. And we do it at a time when they're most vulnerable, least experienced, and for many - poorest.

So, knock holes in my theory, PLEASE. Tell me it wouldn't work. I've been in enough start ups to know a bad idea when I see one - but this idea just seems beautiful.

Here we go!

The SELL:

So you want a college education? How about a free one? That's right - free. You get four years in a small private university. You pay your own room and board - which you've got to pay anyway. Also, you buy the books.

The PAYBACK:

So, after those four years, you're gonna pay us 10% of your yearly income for 4 years. For most of you that should total around 3,500 a year. If you don't pay, then you fall back on the remaining balance of 14,000. If we did a good job, then we'll get you a better paying job - so it's in BOTH our interests to make sure your you're successful.

The COSTS:

I figure you need 10 full time teachers, or some combination thereof. Average prof pay would be around 62k. Add a rented building with 10 classrooms, around 50k. A couple of admins, provost, president brings you up to 850k. Average class size would be about 120 students per year, for a total of about 480.

Insurance, benefits, and equipment would round out to 100k total.

That should top out at 900k - 950k a year in operating expenses.

The BENEFITS:

Being a non-profit you pay no taxes as an institution. After 5 years you have 100 students paying in 350k - 20 will be bums (or grad students), right? So that 350,000 per graduating class. After 8 years you've graduated 4 classes for a total income of 1.4 Mil a year thereafter. Eventually those bums will pay up - but just count it as a loss for now.

If you get your guys hired at good places then those numbers go up, substantially.

Okay, I'll just stand next to the wall here while you all shoot me now. :-)

Anybody got 10 million laying around looking for a good purpose?

Gardening take 10000

Well, after many years of frustration, silliness and apathy,
I am returning to the only method of gardening that has ever worked well for me...

CONTAINER GARDENING!

I am doing this because I'm
-Tired of not having time to weed properly
-Tired of tilling this wacky gumbo
-Tired of grass growing so quickly as to completely overtake the garden in 1 rainy week
-I want to dig an irrigation trench (man-made creek) anyway, so the containers will be the destination of the trench soil.

That, and wow did the plants at the coop look great yesterday!
I am ready to grow some onions, garlic, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, tomatoes and cilantro

Now that I realize hobby farming is a matter of convenience, I really enjoy it!
What did I imagine previously? You really don't want to know that, because it was ridiculous.

Molly goat is about ready to visit our friend's buck in a couple of weeks. We're hoping she'll kid more does next time.

The hens started laying eggs last week! Hurray! No more running out to buy a dozen when 2 eggs are called for.

We celebrated the autumnal equinox with coffee, hot chocolate, apple cinnamon tea, B's famous coffee cake, beautiful orange, yellow, red paper chains, and a 7 foot homemade poster.

May the heat of the summer be gone for the remainder of the season!

Long live iTunes... iTunes is dead

Well, not really. But Amazon is releasing the hounds to say the least.

Simple, stupidly easy music tracks for 89 cents. Albums starting at $4.99.

Did I mention plays anywhere? Indeed - all the music is the DRM free, plays on just about anything (phone, iPod, Zune, and probably on your MP3 toaster.)

They're not the first, of course. eMusic, AllOfMp3, even iTinues (sans MP3), and various others have done something along those lines. But it was either light on selection, bad presentation, or barely legal.

I predict Amazon will do great things here - at the very least

Ahmadinejad and hypocrisy

So let me get this straight... why are we getting media-blitzed (yet again) about Ahmadinejad?

The Iranian regime is, at the least, noticeably better when compared to others in the region. For one, they actually get to vote - well, a rigged vote at least. They have a decent oil economy, build universities and academics. Religiously it's not quite like living under the Spanish Inquisition - though it's not a western nation by any meaningful measure either.

In other words - it's a modern Islamic society somewhere in the middle.

For contrast - we've been directly bombed and targeted in Saudi Arabia (Khobar Towers). A majority of the 9/11 terrorist were Saudi. Osama bin Laden is Saudi. Saudi Arabia has absolutely no freedom of the press, is a monarchy that held it's first municipal elections only two years ago!

Perhaps you might say that the difference is that the Iranians are seeking nuclear energy and the Saudis are not. Except that they are, as reported by the Times of London last year.

Essentially - Iran and Saudi Arabia are not great places to live for a lot of the people there. Ahmadinehad is not comparing his country to the American ideal. Iranian life is better than most of the places around there - and he's probably right.

That's not saying a lot - but it is something.

So when you get down to it... at least the dude has the balls to come here and discourse.

Something you'll never see from the murderous regime of China. We're funding his vastly larger nuclear program at the local Wal-Mart. And yet, we give Jintao a Time cover award for being influential.

Hypocrisy? Yeah, we're blind as bats.

CompSci Research interest...

So I made an innovative discovery last month... probably nothing you all are interested in, but I wanted to document it as mine :-). I've never seen this done before and I'm a bit happy about it.

DISCLAIMER: This is probably not interesting to anyone who reads this blog - but it's a curious mental exercise for myself (and you)!

A common problem in multi-threaded design is locking... as in two or more threads/processes/CPU's are sharing access to a common piece of information - be it a structure, block of memory, what have you.

And lately we have been using several mutex locks (mutually exclusive) - meaning one execution task can OWN it for reading and writing. Or perhaps we use semaphores (many shared) which allows several execution tasks to own it.

A more interesting innovation is a read/write lock - which is used when readers outnumber writers (in general). Basically you have many tasks reading this shared data - but only a few writing to it.

There are existing systems for read/write locks in place - specifically in pthreads (unix typically) and ERESOURCES in windows. I was forced recently to write my own due to the inadequacy of the windows kernel to provide a usable lock in DISPATCH/DPC interrupt mode.

Background: The Windows XP kernel uses the same mechanism to lock as it does for pre-emption (executing higher-priority code while in the middle of doing something else). This "feature" means that when a thread wants to lock for something that takes a long while (oh, like say, encryption) that in effect you are killing everything else running on that particular CPU.

So, the solution I propose is to use an atomic read/write lock that does not utilize DISPATCH/DPC mode at all. Where this is tricky though - is that in order to utilize this - you have to atomically compare and store both the read lock and write lock - at the same time.

So, here's the bit of hackery! It turns out there is no "dual operand" compare and store on X86. There was on the 68040 - but it's long dead. But what we DO have is a long long compare and store instruction - essentially a 64 bit CAS (compare and store) called CMPXCHG8B.

We're creating a pair of spin locks here - the read lock allows up to 2^32 readers and the write lock is for a single writer. The writer gets precedence over readers by forcing them to wait until completion.

The hackery comes in play in that we implement the locks in a structure like this - and make it's total length 64 bits like so:


// Packed on 4 byte boundary
__declspec(align(4)) typedef struct {
LONG ro_locks;
LONG rw_gate;
} GATE_LOCK;


Ah HA! So this suddenly becomes a much simpler problem. Now we can operate on both the read/write locks atomically with a single instruction!

So, to create a read lock - we do this:

volatile __int64 c, old;
// c is volatile, should be atomic
c = lock->gateLock.ro_locks;
// We're comparing the entire gate lock with the ro_locks count
// Should block if a read-write lock has been set

while( (old = CAS( ( volatile unsigned __int64 *) & lock->gateLock,
c + 1, c )) != c+1) {
c = old & 0xffffffff;
} // while RO_LOCKS


Notice the 0xffffffff - this is masking (setting to zero) the top bits in the 64 bit integer - thus requiring that the write lock is not in place.

Here's the write lock:

// Set the gate lock, drain out the readers
XCHNG( (volatile LONG *) &lock->gateLock.rw_gate, 1);
// Wait for the readers to empty out
while( (__int64)1<<32 != CAS( (volatile unsigned __int64 *) & lock->gateLock,
(__int64 ) 1 << 32,
(__int64 ) lock->gateLock.rw_gate << 31 ))
} // while RW_GATE


Right now I'm using a basic mutex lock to ensure that writers are only let in one at a time - but I'll update this code to be mutex-free soon. This will involve testing for zero and updating the value to 1 - a basic spin-lock in essence.

Rough Week

Wow, was the past week difficult.

Seems like everything hit at once.

At least I managed to climb out of the quagmire a couple of times.

Hope you had a better week than I did :0)

We did manage to go to the Bash for an hour or so Friday night and a couple of hours Saturday.

It was fun, as always. I sure hope I feel more up to it next year, though.

Now we are looking forward to St. Therese's feast day. I read Story of a Soul at Daddy's bedside when he was battling cancer

I had to put the book down when it came to Louis' death (St. T'herese's Dad)

I never finished the book.

In any case, St. Therese has been a great help to me these past 3 years, so we will celebrate and hope the rose bushes cooperate.

Adios for now

Why ME?!?!? Why NOW?!?!?

Of all of the weekends in my year, why, oh, why, oh, why?!? did I have to come down with a vicious flu-like disease thie weekend?

I spent Friday writing it off as allergies hey... everyone mowed this past week...allergies was an educated guess.

Saturday morning I woke up with a horrendous headache and muscle ache

By my usual 20 minuted power nap time, I was so zonked, I slept for 2 hours, despite CD coming in every 20 minutes, saying "time's up!!!"

and I woke up with a fever.

a FEVER

the worst thing that could've happened Saturday, when some of our very best friends on planet earth were to have a baby shower. Not just any baby... a real Baby Love we have been waiting and waiting to celebrate.

---slam pained stuffed head on wall repeatedly---

Sometimes, life makes absolutely no sense to me.

Maybe, someday, our friends can forgive my shoddy immune system.

I sure hope so, anyway.

The worst thing you can give a woman in her third trimester is a flu-like bug

Not much consolation I know. Some days, like Saturday, are too important to miss.
sigh

Sorry, dear friends. I love you!!

Global Warming

The political forces advocating Global Warming have succeeded in paralyzing rational thought. Once again, many people are rushing to a confused state of distorted common sense whereby we'll be taxed and starved for a perceived threat of global disaster.

Don't get me wrong - I want to believe in Global Warming. I want to believe that our disastrous record of pollution, waste, and carelessness are leading to some wayward, irreversible path to self-distruction.

But the science is there, and it's non-conclusive. And in fact many scientific facts are played down, politicizing and energized by a group of "true believers" who've blinded themselves to anything that contraindicates their belief.

I find arguments that "carbon emissions of all kinds are extremely dangerous" to be a bit laughable. Animals, swamps, and volcanoes are enormous generators of so-called "carbon emissions" and yet the world has so far survived.

Again, Hansen and Schmidt, of the famous NASA report on global warming, have been thoroughly debunked with their incredible oversight of a Y2k bug in their data, and completely ignoring solar radiation in their findings. A layman blogger, Steve McIntyre, was apparently the only person to audit the data produced by NASA and found the resulting mistakes.

NASA has now silently released corrected figures, and the changes are truly astounding. The warmest year on record is now 1934. 1998 (long trumpeted by the media as record-breaking) moves to second place. 1921 takes third. In fact, 5 of the 10 warmest years on record now all occur before World War II.

So much for the scientific process!

So, perhaps we should turn to a more reliable key indicator of Global Warming, Peira or Pirata. The decreasing population of sea-born pirata is ample evidence that we're not merely distorting the scientific record - but completely overlooking valuable trends.



Shocking, isn't it.

The things kids do...

So I'm finally settled down a bit from the trip to the hospital. Since I'm a "regular" there I figure I should start getting a discount... but no dice.

As a parent, I'm fairly used to this... Broken bones, spider bites, stitches, burns, scrapes, colds, shots, and everything in between.

It starts with the oldest child running in and crashing through the door with "So-and-so just..." and you don't even hear the rest of the words - you just jump and go. It's a ritual that you INSTANTLY jump into hero mode, or doctor mode, or whatever you call it.

But not this time...

As I arrived, I couldn't believe my eyes - poor little girl was playing with a bicycle, and got her finger stuck between the chain and the sprocket. As in - all I see is a chain, sprocket, and the tip of her finger sticking out. Her twin brother is screaming and other kids are staring in disbelief. So am I...

Oh my God. This is NOT on the list.

Removing fingers from sprockets is a careful thing to be done - and adrenaline does NOT help in this situation. Thankfully Mom's calm hands removed the finger as I turned the pedal without a yank and off we go to the hospital with a bag of ice.

Being a parent can be hell on the heart. Holding a screaming, hurt baby in the Emergency room is far worse than anything you could imagine. Looking into those tear filled eyes you realize how easy it is to fail, no matter what you do.

And so I pray, and love, and hope - because I know it's all I can do. She sleeps in my arms, clutching her hand with the other. I know the Doc can't do a thing - tiny bones and arteries are beyond medicine. I hold her swollen hand on the cold steel plate as we get X-Rayed. Another tear wells up. My finger is there, on the film with hers.

So now she's sleeping at home - she's going to be fine. Thank you, God.

Long Commentary

This post is a response to subjects found here, here, and here.

Few and Far Bewtween

"Times are far between,
and few I bet,
when we can look upon
our lives without regret.
Of all the things I have done,
you think I'm proud of everyone
without exception?

'Till you make your peace
with yesterday,
you'll never build a future.
I swear by what I say.
Whatever penance you do,
decide what it's worth to you
and then respect it.
However long it will take to
weather your mistakes,
why not accept it?

-10,000 Maniacs


And then, for those who might need to hear this from me:


Artist: 10000 Maniacs
Album: MTV Unplugged
Title: Trouble Me
YouTube Video

Trouble me,
disturb me
with all your cares
and your worries.
Trouble me
on the days
when you feel spent.

Why let your shoulders bend
underneath this burden
when my back is sturdy
and strong?
Trouble me.

Speak to me,
don't mislead me,
the calm I feel
means a storm
is swelling;
there's no telling
where it starts
or how it ends.

Speak to me,
why are you building
this thick brick wall
to defend me
when your silence
is my greatest fear?

Why let your shoulders bend underneath this burden
when my back is sturdy
and strong?
Speak to me.

Let me have a look
inside these eyes
while I'm learning.

Please don't hide them
just because of tears.

Let me
send you off to sleep
with a "There, there, now
stop your turning and tossing."
Let me know
where the hurt is
and how to heal.

Spare me?
Don't spare me
anything troubling.
Trouble me,
disturb me
with all your cares
and you worries.
Speak to me
and let our words build
a shelter from the storm.
Lastly, let me know
what I can mend.

There's more, honestly,
than my sweet friend,
you can see.
Trust is what I'm offering
if you trouble me.

And one more, for good measure, cause we're all human, ya know?
(HUGS!)

"I May Know The Word"
YouTube Video

I may know the word
But not say it
I may know the truth
But not face

I may hear a sound
A whisper, sacred & profound
But turn my head
Indifferent

I may know the word
But not say it
I may love the fruit
But not taste it
I may know the way
To comfort & to soothe
A worried face
But fold my hands
Indifferent

If I'm on my knees
I'm begging now
If I'm on my knees
Groping in the dark
I'd be praying for deliverance
From the night into the day
But it's all gray here
It's all gray to me

I may know the word
But not say it
This may be the time
But I might waste it
This may be the hour
Something move me
Someone prove me wrong
Before night comes
With indifference

If I'm on my knees
I'm begging now
If I'm on my knees
Groping in the dark
I'd be praying for deliverance
From the night into the day
But it's all gray here
But it's all gray to me

I recognize the walls inside
I recognize them all
I've paced between them
Chasing demons down
Until they fall
In fitful sleep
Enough to keep their strength
Enough to crawl
Into my head
With tangled threads
They riddle me to solve

Again & again & again

Great Weekend

What a whirlwind weekend of joy we had! Absolutely fabulous!

The first stop was my m-i-l's for lamb, sauteed potatoes and squash, and great conversation.

After a couple of dips in the pool, learning how to make a yummy crustless quiche, and CD cleaning up Mother's computer, we headed to Irving.

Since the twins and #3 were asleep, CD took #1 and #2 to Lone Star Comics. They used their allowance to buy some truly awesome baseball cards. CD says they have Star Wars cards. Wow! If only my parents hadn't tossed my collection from the 70s... sigh

Next stop: Bunny and happy crow's home... but we thought they were out and about, so we knocked on LQ and Leo's door... surprise! Janus Gate and a friend were visiting, and Leo was making compagnola (sp?) DELICIOUS!

We were able to peek into the serene setting our friends have created for their soon-to-be-born babylove. Very, very beautiful!! Great job! Truly smart to keep a bed in there for Mama and Papa.

I was also imparted the wisdom of Leo's "Great Aunt Sally 3 Penny Loaf." Woah! I might actually get groovin' on the bread making thing again, because with this recipe as a foundation, you can do sooooo many variations on a theme.

The cookies provided were most awesome, as well, with the children begging for more.

To our surprise, lo and behold, bunny and HC had been home the entire time. While we regret not being able to visit with HC, bunny was a most gracious, and fun!, hostess.

We saw wedding pictures!!

Oh, my, goodness... so much love.

So very much love.

Captured on film.

Breathtaking!

We tried the home-roasted coffee noted on bunny's blog.

She's not kidding. There's a HUGE difference. I'm afraid I am now spoilt for life!

The children were in awe of the "Wall of Death." Hope to post pics soon.

We had the most convivial conversations with bunny, and were sad to part company around 7 or so.

On the Road Again, (yes, that Willie Nelson tune) should have been the theme for the weekend. We opted for "I've Been Everywhere, Man" by Brian Burns (Hey! He and I could be related, ya know!)

Upon departing Irving, we headed straight to Mom's, talked, slept, and went to work the next morning.

In the afternoon, we had a wonderful cook-out at Mom's, and met a new neighbor.

We had a blast, but needed to hit the road again, heading eastward to our humble, but friendly, abode.

On our way home, we stopped to visit with some friends in New Hope. I really like the name of that town! We stayed way past our collective bedtimes, but it was a very nice way to end the day.

Hope to see YOU soon!

Funniest political rant in a while...

Posted by: Regina | Sep 6, 2007 6:15:03 PM
Just remember, the "war on terror" is just a bumper-sticker slogan.
Also, we have already lost the war on terror.
Anyone who votes democrat is a maroon!


What the heck is a maroon? Sheesh!

Pooling Community Resources

Well, I'm doing it my way, as you probably imagined.

Finally caving in to the big, big love I feel for the place we live,
I've started a website to pool resources.

This is mostly for my own benefit.

There's so much going on out here, I have a hard time keeping track of it all.

And the language thing? Well, I am a communication junkie LOL If I happen to learn how to say something in a foreign language, it makes me happy.

In fact, the blog name COCJ stands for confessions of a communications junkie.

Shh... it's our funny little secret.

If nothing else, it reminds me to find the humor in my paradigm panorama before writing.

anyway, feel free to check it out and sign the guestbook

My latest letter to TC

Thank you so much for publishing Therese J. Borchard's latest column. I am deeply grateful.

For I am one of the Marys she writes of, feeling my way through the dark corridors of the world that expects us all to be Marthas.

I found it providential Mrs. Borchard wrote of her experiences with the Missionaries of Charity.

I have been studying Mother Teresa and her companions for almost five years. I find her words the most intuitive approach to faith I have ever read.

Blessed Mother Teresa's love for "those in the distressing disquise of the poor," her conviction that a poverty of love was indeed more destructive than monetary poverty, and her affirmative response to Christ's invitation to "Be my Light" has helped me learn my place in this world.

I would like to invite others for whom Therese J. Borchard's article resonated to visit motherteresa.org, to see if they perhaps find their apostolate, or at least a framework for their vocation, as I have.

School, Friends, School, Life

So, today was the day to pack the backpacks and plan the lessons.

Ouch. Double ouch.

But it's done, and school begins as hoped on Monday.

Happycrow and Bunny shuffled out this way for a pleasant visit this evening.

Have I mentioned before how nice it is to have visitors?

Many, many thanks to LQ and hubby for coming out recently, too.

We really enjoy your company!!!

So, yeah, school again. Starts Monday. With a plan. A do-able plan.

Thank God! I finally have my head wrapped around how to do what needs to be done... WELL.

Life is very good at the moment. Loving daydreaming about the future, having a blast in the present, and overcoming the nonsense of the past.

If you haven't read this article, check it out.

Generation X: A Bunch of Biblical Marys
http://texascatholic.com/default.asp?IsDev=False&NodeId=823

Somebody please! Give this woman a hug.

She not only said what's been rattling around in my foggy brain for years, it has been published for the world's consideration.

For all of my "Martha" friends out there, I've been learning from you and knowing you has really helped me tremendously.

I like my "Mary" little self a whole lot better because of you :)

Thank you

If you know what's up with me, with us, then you can appreciate my current fondness for this song...

Thank You

In other news, I found a brand new bike trailer for the twins at a garage sale for less than half of the retail price. GREAT FIND! Far better than the one we had in our old house.

I have rearraged pictures in our home to tell little stories.

School plans are coming together beautifully!

Eldest daughter is now enrolled in ballet and Irish step dance

Eldest son started soccer practice this evening

Middle child can not wait to start school. Loves his new Go! Diego! Go! backpack and all it holds.

The bambinos learned to ride tricycles!! They love ice cream and dancing and singing.

This year is all about home... and the wonderful 7 it contains.

Peace, grace, love
Me

Arg!

Well, I just watched the biggest flop in Movie History - CutThroat Island. And all I can say is....

I liked it!

If you get over some bad acting and just enjoy the story, the gratuitous black power explosions, stuntwork, and cinematography are fantastic. Actually it really deserves a better treatment - it's quite underrated in my opinion.

Heck, you could get a good editor to cut it down and make a fine flick.

Ohh... the good and bad - it stars Geena Davis. I thought she was quite excellent for most of the film. But there are some parts that just ache horrid acting. I don't think many people could pull this off though - you either cut the shot or live with it - and so that's what you get.

Ciao!

More on the global smackdown...

Well, it's official - the world stock market is getting the correction, a heavy smack and a punch in the gut.

From Bloomberg:
Aug. 10 (Bloomberg) -- Central banks in the U.S., Europe, Japan, Australia and Canada added about $136 billion to the banking system in an attempt to avert a crisis of confidence in global credit markets.
The Federal Reserve, in a second day of action in concert with the European Central Bank, provided $38 billion of reserves and pledged more ``as necessary,'' in a statement unprecedented since after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Money market rates rose worldwide the past two days on evidence the subprime crisis is spreading after global investors piled into U.S. securities backed by mortgages. By the end of the day, the central bank actions helped spark a turnaround in American stocks and drive the U.S. overnight bank lending rate below the Fed's target.
``They accomplished their short-term mission to make sure the market stabilized ahead of the weekend,'' said David Resler, chief economist in New York at Nomura Securities International Inc. ``It remains to be seen how much more they'll have to do.''

WOW is all I can say - 136 Billion bucks in two days is huge mojo cash. But don't head to the hills yet. I think this market has a long way to go before we see real danger of an economic crisis. At the worst - you're going to see loan rates rise rapidly.

One Love!!

So, I posted a link to Bob Marley's Natural Mystic in the comment box under Ha!

As I was required to finish my beverage prior to the evening's end, I watched one more Marley video.

Ouch.. that arm twist hurt (LOLOLOLOL)

Very well done. Enjoy!

Ha!

A quiz that worked!!!

Which Saint Are You?

You are Julian of Norwich! It's all about God, to you. You're convinced that the world has a happy ending. Everyone else is convinced that you're a closet hippie, but you love them anyway.
Take this quiz!








Quizilla |
Join

| Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

Mac rocks...

ElPrado was itty bitty small.. fit on a bookshelf, and consumed an average of 40 watts. It was 10x10x6 inches in size. Then it went *POOF* and blew 4 capacitors on the motherboard and took out the PSU.

Now... I am not a mac boy. I didn't have any grudge or anything against them - but until the last two years, there was no good reason to own one. But then Apple did the right thing.. they put Intel chips in their boxes and started reasonably matching performance and price with Dell & HP.

So I got a Mac Mini with a core 2 duo chip. Bought the $15 keyboard and headed home.

And all I can say is... get one. It is the best machine I've ever had. It's the best user environment I've ever seen. It's the quietest machine I've never heard. And the prices are reasonable. And this sucker averages about 25 watts ... about 25 bucks a YEAR in electricity.

I can see clearly now

One of my Dad's favorite songs, in celebration of a really important breakthrough in my treatment.

"Thou shall do the dance!"

:)

The Last Word

on the Holy Father's recent documents. I promise.

I submitted this to our local Catholic newspaper. Comments welcome.

Re: (removed) Letter to the Editor

Although I can belt out a pretty intense Sanctus, I am surprised by Ms. B's assessment of those of us who aren't danicing, shouting, whistling and singing at the top of our lungs at Mass.

She wrote:
That might upset those who insist that the People of God should only obey, pray and pay. That might upset those who say that we have to be quiet in church like some unthinking creature on the lowest order of the human evolutionary scale.

Firstly, there is a tremendous, outrageous need for the virtue of obedience in our society. I can not imagine denegrating such an important requirement of the Church! My 4th grade daughter's vocabulary book defined chaos as "a want of order." How in the world can you have order without obedience??

Furthermore, there is a time for quiet, thoughtful prayer, and a time for prayer in motion.

A quiet Liturgy provides me the opportunity to focus on the Word of God as heard from the primary source.

It allows me the time I need to to internalize the message as a directive for the week.

I am then able make connections interiorly in the hope that I may humbly but enthusiatically carry the Light of Christ to the world throughout the week. As the mother of five, I have plenty of opportunities for raucous rejoicing Monday through Saturday!!!

I have no particular attachment to the extraordinary form of the Liturgy, but I find it intriguing.

As a student of languages, I admit to being quite delighted to read the translations of a Novus Ordo Latin Mass. The language contains a specificity and palpable texture that I appreciate in this nebulous age.

Truth be told, though, we participate in a quiet, reverent English language Mass for the sake of our youngest children. I do believe it is incredibly important for them to hear the Mass in their own language.

In a world saturated with vivid images, tanatilizing aromas, and ceaselss audio, it is equally important that my children participate in a Liturgy which gently elevates their senses rather than one which bombards or flattens their senses.

Incense, candles, statuary, flora, the soothing sounds of Gregorian chant, processions, long lines of altar boys...

In our minds, these things bespeak careful consideration of the word sanctuary, give balm to the battled soul, and are a joy to offer and receive.

In conclusion, it gives one pause to note that , nationally, more than a handfil of 1970 Missal children, now adults,are seeking this convergence of the "old" and the "new." The old lines clearly still exist, but many of the arguments are perceived as an anachronism.

Simply put, if one can accept Life Teen as a valid liturgical practice, why in the world can't the same person accept, indeed rejoice in, the wide availability of the extraordinary (Tridentine) Mass?

Peace and grace,
me
St. William the Confessor Parish

I can only Imagine - Catholic Version

I love this song so much I put it on Sean's First Communion CD.

We both enjoyed this video very much today.

Hope you do, too!

Like_youknow

So, um, the world is having a difficult time accepting, you know, that the Pope writes with precision???? About something he knows "a lot" about??!?!?

(I mean, he's like, German, you know? Precision is kind of, um, inherent in that language, isn't it?)

Love this video posted by the Roman Sacristan.
Also love his post on Organic Liturgy

Everything "Old" is new again?!

No, but it might just feel like it.

The Motu Proprio issued by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI is very interesting.

Our parish priest included the copy of the letter B16 wrote explaining what the document is and is not.

If your parish did not offer this to you, click anywhere on this text to read!!

I am a cradle Catholic. I began backing away from the Church when my all-girls, Catholic High School began including ballerinas dancing the bread and wine up to the altar.

Eventually, I ran from the Church.

Thank God, I returned many years ago, but there was a serious void.

I have been to all varieties of Masses, and can honestly say that I am blessed at my parish. The vernacular Mass is not at all less reverent than the Novus Ordo Latin Mass.

Anyway, I do not care what language the Mass is available in, as long as it bridges the chasm between this valley of tears and the divine. I prefer to contemplate the Sacred Mysteries in near silence, and do not seek to be "revved up" or "entertained" during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

I understand others prefer this, but I don't like it one bit.

There, I said it.

I figure God gave me 5 very energetic children to keep me in high gear all week.

On Sunday, I need some time to "rest in the Lord."

Which I literally do for 15 minutes after receiving Holy Communion.

IF people will ignore the media and actually read what the Holy Father wrote, I truly believe great graces will come from it. We attended the Novus Ordo Mass in Latin regularly from 2000-2002, and reading the translations from Latin to English was a tremendous eye-opener.

Below are 3 videos on the subject, just for grins. I don't intend to insult anyone's sensibilities. I found them amusing reflections on the deformations of the liturgies I had to endure as a post-Vatican II child.

Motu Proprio Deo Gratias!

Hello Moto (Proprio)!

Summorum Pontificum celebration

Muddy Muddy Muddy

Muddy messy muddy messy muddy messy sloggy boggy Muddy messy muddy messy muddy messy sloggy boggy Muddy messy muddy messy muddy messy sloggy boggy Muddy messy muddy messy muddy messy sloggy boggy Muddy messy muddy messy muddy messy sloggy boggy Muddy messy muddy messy muddy messy sloggy boggy Muddy messy muddy messy muddy messy sloggy boggy Muddy messy muddy messy muddy messy sloggy boggy Muddy messy muddy messy muddy messy sloggy boggy Muddy messy muddy messy muddy messy sloggy boggy Muddy messy muddy messy muddy messy sloggy boggy Muddy messy muddy messy muddy messy sloggy boggy Muddy messy muddy messy muddy messy sloggy boggy Muddy messy muddy messy muddy messy sloggy boggy Muddy messy muddy messy muddy messy sloggy boggy Muddy messy muddy messy muddy messy sloggy boggy Muddy messy muddy messy muddy messy sloggy boggy Muddy messy muddy messy

Another What Book Am I Quiz

You're The Guns of August!

by Barbara Tuchman

Though you're interested in war, what you really want to know is what
causes war. You're out to expose imperialism, militarism, and nationalism for what they
really are. Nevertheless, you're always living in the past and have a hard time dealing
with what's going on today. You're also far more focused on Europe than anywhere else in
the world. A fitting motto for you might be "Guns do kill, but so can
diplomats."


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

I guess I should tell you the first time I took the thing, I was Lolita.

That necessitated another try... this book seems to be a much better fit :)

Evan Almighty

Go see it!

Thanks to CD, all 7 of us piled into the theater to watch this show.

I had serious reservations, which proved to be mostly unfounded.

PG ratings universally send a huge flag up for me.

That was until we saw Facing the Giants, which was PG because it was

GET THIS

unabashedly Christian.

Anyway... Evan Almighty was most enjoyable! Have a gander!

What Literary Genre?

You scored as Holy Scripture, You are holy scripture. You are pious and live purely for God. The authors of your literary genre are mysterious and all-knowing! Holy Scripture 80% The 19th Century Romantic Novel 70% Enlightenment Essay 50% 18th Century Play 50% 20th Century Poetry 40% 19th Century Epic 40% Contemporary Mystery/Suspense 40% Modernist Novel 40% Classical Epic 30% Shakespearean Play 20% What literary genre are you! created with QuizFarm.com

Worst Movie Ever?

• Absolute drivel!
• At least Plan 9 From Outer Space had a plot.
• This "film" can be summed up with one word: horrible. It's horrible in every way.
• Sub independent as I call it. Why is it that when this happens, 9 times out of 10 it’s a horror film. Every horror fan thinks they can be a film maker. This film is certainly evidence to the contrary.
• With blow-up dolls as the autopsy victims and the worst "special" effects ever used, this movie rates in the negatives. Save yourself from needless suffering & run.
• I hate giving this movie 1 star- it deserves much much less.
  
• The supposed corpses are obviously just rubber props. They don't even try to make them look real, come on people, when a body receives major trauma they don't look like mannequins with their legs cut off.

Wow... I mean, it's like a rabid gang of flying monkeys have landed on the planet NetFlix. Could this REALLY be the worse movie EVER? The kind that isn't even funny when it's bad? With a topic so horrible that you wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot pole. Eeek!

At least in the old days you could laugh at a movie this horrible - but I'm afraid to even watch this one.

A Perfect 10

My eldest child turns the big 1-oh! tomorrow.

Not too many years ago,
Moms of 10 year olds seemed
soooooo much wiser than I.

Heh.

Double Heh.

Well, it's definitely a live and learn situation
when you have 5 kids and a husband
running rings around you 24/7-365.

Ah, 10, I remember it all so well.

I knew what I wanted when I was 10.

-To speak German fluently
-To work overseas
-To teach
-To live in the countryside
-To marry a very good man
-To be a Mama

I have accomplished all I wanted to when I was 10.

Prayers going up that my eldest will do the same in God's good time.

celogomama

heh... it must be summer

cause summer is for quizzin'

What Monty Python Character are you?

Well, u-- um, can we come up and have a look?
Take this quiz!








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D&D... many moons later

I Am A: Lawful Good Elf Ranger Paladin


Alignment:
Lawful Good characters are the epitome of all that is just and good. They believe in order and governments that work for the benefit of all, and generally do not mind doing direct work to further their beliefs.


Race:
Elves are the eldest of all races, although they are generally a bit smaller than humans. They are generally well-cultured, artistic, easy-going, and because of their long lives, unconcerned with day-to-day activities that other races frequently concern themselves with. Elves are, effectively, immortal, although they can be killed. After a thousand years or so, they simply pass on to the next plane of existance.


Primary Class:
Rangers are the defenders of nature and the elements. They are in tune with the Earth, and work to keep it safe and healthy.


Secondary Class:
Paladins are the Holy Warriors. They have been chosen by a God/dess to be their representative on Earth, and must follow the code of that deity, or risk severe penalties. They tend towards being righteous, but not generally to excess.


Find out What D&D Character You Are, courtesy of Zinious Software corporation




Detailed Results:

Law & Chaos:
Law ----- X X X X X X X X X X X X X X (14)
Neutral - X X X X X X X (7)
Chaos --- X (1)

Good & Evil:
Good ---- X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X (22)
Neutral - X X X (3)
Evil ---- (-3)

Race:
Human ---- (-4)
Half-Elf - X X X X X (5)
Elf ------ X X X X X X X X X X (10)
Halfling - X X X (3)
Dwarf ---- (-6)
Half-Orc - X (1)
Gnome ---- X X X (3)

Class:
Fighter - X (1)
Ranger -- X X X X X X X X X (9)
Paladin - X X X X X X (6)
Cleric -- X X X X X (5)
Mage ---- (0)
Druid --- (-1)
Thief --- (-5)
Bard ---- X X X X X X (6)
Monk ---- X X X X (4)

Reflectivity

Today, on the Feast of Corpus Christi,
our eldest son turns 8...

Way to go, beloved son!!

Some weeks scream: PRAY!!!!!

Please pray for the Bradicich, Lee, and Ehrman families.

Thank you!
S

Update: Also please pray for the Spurgins and Hansons.

Goofy Quizzes

So, being bored on a Thursday, I took a couple of quizzes I saw on friends' blogs.

I really,really thought I'd get Catcher in the Rye. I mean, it was, without a doubt, my favorite book in High School.

Boy was I in for a surprise!

You're Anne of Green Gables!

by L.M. Montgomery

Bright, chipper, vivid, but with the emotional fortitude of cottage
cheese, you make quite an impression on everyone you meet. You're impulsive, rash,
honest, and probably don't have a great relationship with your parents. People hurt
your feelings constantly, but your brazen honestly doesn't exactly treat others with
kid gloves. Ultimately, though, you win the hearts and minds of everyone that matters.
You spell your name with an E and you want everyone to know about it.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Yikes! For the record, I had/have a GREAT relationship with my parents. As for the rest, maybe that's why I don't feel like talking much anymore. Hmmm...

Also, very freaky, this one:

Your Score: The Rationalist

You scored 30% Romantic!

You have a few Romantic characteristics, but not many. You are most likely a Rationalist. You are moderate and restrained. You believe in logic, pragmatism, and tradition. And why not? Those things have worked pretty well so far, unlike a lot of these ridiculous so-called "Romantic" notions. If it were up to the Romantics, you suspect, we'd all still be living in caves. It's people like you who have brought structure, discipline, and stability to the world.

Link: The Romanticism Test written by johnnyampersand on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

Wouldn't have guessed that one in a million years. I must be getting old.