How to support the Pope

This is what one of the results you get when you look up "Bad Ass Catholic" on Google... truly funny.

... I don’t care if he just broke into your house yesterday and stole all your DVD’s; you somehow deserved it. If the pope is currently robbing a liquor store, you can be sure I’m outside keeping the engine running in the getaway car. Hey, I have a religion I ain’t going to half-ass it...

Source: http://www.imao.us/

Sparks a'flyin' at the Border

This Dallas Morning News article requires subscription, but it may be worth it in this case.

Our border with Mexico is porous, folks. Has been forever. But suddenly, well... Suffice it to say, I don't like the steady upbeat tempo of the war drums being pounded. Talk of tightening the border has infuriated Vincente Fox, I hear...

I recall back in my teenage years working with a guy who was Iranian-American. He said people often confused him as a Mexican. Which baffled me.

However, whenever people talk about the possibility of Muslims easily crossing over through Mexico, I am reminded of the conversation.

Read the article if you can, and tell me what you think.

Also read today that Bush is calling his immigration reform a "Guest Worker Program." Puh-leeze! Can't he see how well that's served Europe? It's insulting to intelligent Americans. Guess it sounds good to somebody.

The latest goings on are about drugs coming in, but they have prompted calls such as this:

U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., a frequent critic of the administration's border security efforts, called Tuesday for the federal government and the governments of southern border states to immediately deploy troops to the U.S.-Mexico border in light of what he termed "recent armed assistance Mexico's military has given to drug smugglers."

"Our border has literally turned into a war zone with foreign military personnel challenging our laws and our sovereignty," Mr. Tancredo said.

"The only way to deal with this dangerous situation is to tap the resources of our own military," Mr. Tancredo said. "I call on President Bush and the governors of border states to immediately deploy military personnel to defend our borders against the Mexican military."

U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security, called on Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice to initiate a formal investigation on the reported border crossings and to begin a dialogue with Mexican officials to prevent further occurrences.

"These illegal incursions are a violation of our sovereignty and pose a significant danger to U.S. law enforcement officials and citizens near the border – especially if all parties involved are armed. The potential for violence is significant.

Mr. Kyl noted that the Department of Homeland Security released figures that indicate that there have been 231 documented incursions along the 2,000-mile border with Mexico since 1996.

Whither Traditions??

A post at the LQ's place got me going, and rather than post this lengthy query there, here it shall reside:

You know there are a couple of things I'm interested in from a fellow mutt perspective. Perhaps you, or someone reading this, can direct me to some resources on these subjects.

The first thing I am somewhat concerned about it diet. Every culture seems to have fine tuned its diet based on several factors. There was a lot of healing wisdom throw in with the day to day task of preparing meals. In our "culture" there is little such wisdom passed down with the Betty Crocker Cookbook. This is one reason I *love* the bunny's blog :)

The second thing I find interesting is that child birth and rearing was a much more communal undertaking than our present system of 3 days in the hospital, you're on your own. (caveat, if you're really lucky, Grandma can come help or friends bring meals and help with babysitting for a while, which is *lovely*.)

In Japan, I think it is, mothers are given quiet solitude to bond with their bambinos for many weeks. Hebrews had fascinating rituals that allowed for bonding and healing.

In any case, I am very interested in learning more about traditional cultural practices in the kitchen and during the early childbearing years.

One of the problems with being a mutt is, what is the best thing to do? How do we accomplish that in this day and age?

Many of us come from families that were separated from a traditional approach, and just muddled through. I thought this was a recent phenomenon until I found a book by Better Homes and Gardens from the 1930s on how to handle babies.

Enough... just curious and looking for info.

Talk about convivial

There's just something about a farmhouse table that says comfort. It's convivial in the truest sense. It looks lovely, solid, warm, charming.

Mr. D. gave me one for my birthday. Seats 8 comfortably, 10 snuggly. What a wonderful gift! I look forward to years of meals and morning coffees around our new table.

Thank you!!!

On yer mark, get set...

GO

35 and still alive, or, choices

As I approach my birthday this week, I am so grateful to just be here, period. It has been an uphill battle for the past 18 or so months. But this week, having been diagnosed with a far less horrible illness than anticipated, I've made up for lost time.

On Sundays, I get worn out pretty easily after participating in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. I love a good nap afterwards. But today, I tried something different... I cooked meals for the entire week.

It ain't easy being the Mom of 5, 'specially if you're used to flying by the seat of your pants. Having done that for over 15 years, it is indeed refreshing to get it together and try to keep it that way. A new Frigidaire washer (made in the USA!!) and a little story on NPR about Super Suppers helped get the energy going.

It's not so much that I'm lazy as it is that I am very easily overwhelmed. We plumbed the depths of that twice in the past year, and although I considered myself extremely easygoin', the truth is, I am a rabid stress puppy.

And so, with a great amount of joy, we have made life a whole lot more organized in the past week. I have been storming heaven for the energy I need to be the person I'd like to become. It's been exhausting, but it is thrilling in the end to have acheived so much in a short period of time.

Here's the short list:
fixed walls in the house
caught up on laundry with the help of an *awesome* new washer
homeschooled completely and successfully every day
reorganized the shed so Mr. Conviviality could find tools to improve the ranch
cooked meals for a week in one felled swoop
reorganized kids' rooms (esp. closets)

There's more piddly, mundane day to day stuff that was accomplished. But the jist of this all is, I might actually become the woman I have always wanted to be in my 35th year. I am not 19 anymore (THANK YOU, GOD!!) I can finally look forward to growing old rather than attempting to stay young. (Nearly dyin' will do that to a person.)

Our Pope calls it "perpetual adolescence." I'm finally moving beyond it.

I thank God for my health, my husband, and my babies.

And I am eternally grateful for my friends, without whom this past year would have been impossible to survive. You are blessings. Thank you.

Mrs. Convivial Dingo

Thank you to Mr. Convivial Dingo for setting me up to blog here, in the realm of organic happiness. :)

Things are well here in the country. We've brought our shining son home for school, and it has been lovely. He is doing very. very well.

Our eldest remains in school. She will complete the year so she can stay with friends, serve on student council, and enjoy Girl Scouts. At the awards ceremony this week, she acquired 9 new awards. Three were for UIL competions, where she placed 1st in spelling, story telling, and team spelling. Shiny medals are just too cool.

Our little Christmas present is learning the importance of Brotherhood. It's sooo cute to see him defend his big brother. Sympathetic lil' guy.

The twins are sitting up on their own and pulling up on everything they can reach. Crawling is surely just around the corner. (YIKES!)

Hope you enjoying life, too!