The Bantering Bookworm

Busting a Move!

2010-01-18T19:04:00.001-05:00

I have decided to start a new blog, as this one doesn't really seem to suit my purposes anymore. Please visit me at: Life as a Trigonometric Function

Testing 123

2009-12-29T13:52:00.000-05:00

No heat? Fire up the oven!

2009-12-01T16:35:00.002-05:00

Please ignore the mess that is our cook top!

This morning, for the second morning in a row, our heat stopped working. Ish called the front office of our apartment complex and they sent Mr. Maintenance Man out to take a look at it. While we were waiting, the temperature in our apartment continued to drop. As I do not deal well with being cold and I actually had some energy this morning (it’s a first trimester miracle!), I decided to bake some pumpkin spice muffins using a recipe my aunt had given me. Our apartment warmed up to a comfortable 70 degrees by the time Mr. Maintenance Man finished fixing our heat thanks to the oven being on. We also now have about 32 muffins left after eating breakfast. I think we might deliver some to Ish’s parents and one of his sisters.

Menu Plan Monday--11/30-12/6 (Dinner Only!)

2009-11-30T17:54:00.003-05:00

Planning meals is something I’ve never been particularly good at doing on the fly. Thus, I like to plan my meals for the week. Lately the exhaustion and nausea that accompanies early pregnancy has me finding myself really lax in completing this once a week task. Today, I got myself back on track and actually planned a menu! As I told Ish, these plans may not come to fruition; morning sickness isn’t really a predictable thing.

Menu Plan:

Monday- Scrambled eggs and oven fries (the “we just got back from vacation and haven’t grocery shopped yet” dinner)

Tuesday- BBQ chicken, Cheesy broccoli and rice, pineapple

Wednesday- Slow Cooker Thai Peanut Pork, brown rice, cucumber slices

Thursday-Cheesy bean burritos with salsa, carrot sticks, brown rice

Friday- Sweet Potato & Black Bean Chili, tortilla chips, guacamole

Saturday- Pasta, tomato sauce, carrot sticks

Sunday-Manager’s Special (aka Ish’s day to cook)

For more menu plans, head over to I’m an Organizing Junkie.

1000 Gifts- 21-40

2009-10-19T14:13:00.001-04:00

This week has been one of illness here at Chestnut Hollow, but there is still so much to be thankful for.

Thanks be to God for…

21. A delightful visit with my mother-in-law—reading translations of Miltonic sonnets and a hot cup of tea included.

22. Weekly afternoon visits with one of Ish’s sisters and her son.

23. A facebook post from my brother letting me know he made it to the Middle East safely.

24. The many military men and women sacrificing their lives for their country. May God keep them safe.

25. The time spent with Ish’s family on Friday.

26. A cold that made me remember to be thankful for my health.

27. My dear friend Livia.

28. The prayers of friends and family.

29. Steaming hot homemade soups.

30. Amusing e-mails from my mother.

31. Working hot water.

32. Cookies and milk after Mass.

33. Afternoon naps.

34. Our Brita pitcher (Unfiltered Newark water makes me quite nauseous)

35. 3 blissful months of marriage!

36. The beautiful sunset on the way to Mass yesterday.

37. The sweet quiet time spent decorating for Halloween with Ish.

38. The passing of my headache that I had for almost 5 days.

39. Joyful news.

40. My husband who so kindly made me lunch this afternoon

1000 Gifts- 1-20

2009-10-12T18:15:00.003-04:00

I have decided to join the Gratitude Community at Holy Experience in appreciating and recording the many gifts that God has bestowed upon my life. I will be posting 20 gifts I am thankful for each week. Thanks be to God for…

1. My wonderful husband who has been lovingly caring for me while I am sick.

2. My nieces and nephews who never cease to entertain me.

3. Chicken soup and hot chocolate.

4. My mom.

5. Colorful leaves and the brisk fall breeze.

6. Warm sweaters.

7. All the summer veggies preserved in my freezer.

8. The Rosary.

9. Snail mail from friends far away.

10. The squirrels that visit my patio door each day.

11. The beautiful sacrament of marriage.

12. The way my nephew Simon makes these cute little squeaky noises that sound like he is asking a question

13. This past Saturday’s indoor picnic with a couple of dear friends.

14. Homemade pizza on Fridays at Ish’s parents’ home.

15. Having the time I need to rest and recover from being ill.

16. Hand knit/crocheted afghans to keep me warm.

17. Clean laundry.

18. Modest skirts and thick tights.

19. Sunday night stir-fry.

20. Getting to enjoy my morning coffee with my husband

Fall is for freezing!

2009-10-12T12:13:00.001-04:00

Autumn has finally arrived in Delaware; the leaves are changing colors, and the squirrels are burying nuts in the soil in front of Chestnut Hollow. The cooler weather is a welcomed change, but I know that I will soon miss the sunny fresh taste of summer vegetables.

Last week, in order to preserve a tiny bit of summer, Ish and I went to the Farmer’s Market to buy an abundance of fresh vegetables and herbs. I spent several days preparing the vegetables to be frozen. My Tuesday was spent making a double batch of roasted vegetables; admittedly, we ate half the batch in different meals through out the week, but the other half is sealed in a freezer bag ready to be pulled out for a midwinter treat. Wednesday morning I spent making several batches of pesto—some regular and some with basil and mint. I froze the pesto using my muffin tins and some saran wrap; I’m sure glad my mom taught me this trick. Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning, I dedicated myself to chopping a rainbow of bell peppers. I now have about a quart each of red, green, yellow, and orange peppers in the freezer. This is not only more cost effective than buying peppers in the middle of winter (in season vegetables are much less expensive), but summer peppers, even after being frozen and defrosted, taste much better than those found in the grocery store midwinter.

This week I am looking forward to preparing a few more vegetables for freezing as well as making a batch or two of homemade applesauce. What is brewing in your kitchen this week?

Obama's cameo on Dragnet

2009-09-13T11:41:00.001-04:00

My husbands uncle made this video.

Blessing the rain...

2009-09-13T11:31:00.000-04:00

Happy Feast Day!

2009-09-12T10:20:00.002-04:00

Today we celebrate the feast of the Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Most appropriately I stumbled on this quote from the beloved author J.R. R. Tolkien:

"All my own perception of beauty both in majesty and simplicity is founded upon Our Lady."

Happy Feast Day!

Never forget.

2009-09-11T10:44:00.001-04:00

“Now, we have inscribed a new memory alongside those others. It’s a memory of tragedy and shock, of loss and mourning. But not only of loss and mourning. It’s also a memory of bravery and self-sacrifice, and the love that lays down its life for a friend–even a friend whose name it never knew. “
- President George W. Bush

Forays in Fiber!

2009-09-09T11:59:00.002-04:00

Hi all! I just wanted to let everyone know that I am back to posting over at Forays in Fiber, the knitting/crocheting blog that Meg and I started earlier this year. Feel free to stop by and check out my current knitting project.

This blog will be back to regular updates by the end of this month. I am trying to create a more solid vision of what I want The Bantering Bookworm to be.

Notable Quotable

2009-09-03T09:15:00.001-04:00

“If God were to take away all His blessings, health, physical fitness, wealth, intelligence, and leave me but one gift, I would ask for faith – for with faith in Him and His goodness, mercy, love for me, and belief in everlasting life, I believe I could suffer the loss of my other gifts and still be happy – trustful, leaving all to His inscrutable Providence.”

--Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy

The Story of Owen

2009-08-25T12:28:00.001-04:00

I wanted to share the video my mother-in-law made to tell the story of the miraculous healing of my nephew Owen. Please take the time to watch this.

July Reading List

2009-08-08T08:00:00.000-04:00

I have been meaning to start this feature on my blog for some time now. It is inspired by Anna and Miriam over at Maidens of Worth who keep track of what books they read each month and post mini-reviews for each one.

Since the past year and a half or so has been filled with wedding planning and for a chunk of time teaching eight grade mathematics, I have not read nearly as much as I would have like to for quite a while. 3 weeks ago, Ish and I were married, and shortly thereafter I was able to finish 2 books.

My July reading list:

The Air Between Us by Deborah Johnson
This novel takes place in a small town in Mississippi during the height of the civil rights movement. The book was a captivating in-depth character study. It did not have a very driving plot but instead several micro-plots expertly woven together. I would recommend this book for readers over the age of 16 as it deals with some disturbing subject matter that may not be appropriate for younger readers.

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
A mixture of both historical and contemporary fiction, this novel is set in modern day France as well as during WWII. Sarah's Key intertwines the story of Sarah, a young Jewish girl who was part of the Vel d'Hiv roundup in Paris on July 16th, 1942, and the story of Julia, an expatriot journalist writing an article on the 60th anniversary of the horrific Vel d'Hiv. This skillfully crafted novel will bring you to tears--it is by no means a light read. I would not recommend this book to anyone under the age of 16, as it deals with many heavy topics. If you are an adult, this book is a must read. Just don't forget your box of tissues.

Currently Reading:

The Art of Civilized Conversation by Margaret Shephard with Sharon Hogan.

Zinnias and Cucumbers

2009-08-07T12:09:00.002-04:00

Yesterday evening, after helping to move a couch into our apartment, a dear friend of mine and Ish's invited us to visit the farm he and another good friend of ours started this growing season. Having spent the past several days shuttling back and forth between our apartment, Ish's parents' house, and various shops, our friend's invitation was received warmly and with much excitement.

After a short yet scenic drive, we arrived at the farm. Despite vacationing on a farm throughout my childhood, I have never seen anything quite like this. Even with a tough year weather wise, their endeavor is doing quite well. It was a joy to taste and see the fruit of our friends' labor.

They had an abundance of cucumbers in many varieties, some extra lettuce, and parsley. We were blessed to receive portions of them as well as a beautiful bouquet of freshly cut zinnias. Hopefully next summer Ish and I will be able to help them in the field.

An Answered Prayer

2009-08-06T17:25:00.004-04:00

Ish and I recently moved [back] to Delaware with no furniture aside from a few bookcases and a small tray table to our names. As we began our search for furniture, a clear dilemma arose; what were we going to do for a bed? We had managed to secure some nice secondhand furniture in short order, but finding a bed would not be so easy.

As someone with allergies, the chances of finding used mattresses that I won't have a reaction to are very slim, but buying brand new mattresses, even at a discounted price, would not have been a sound financial decision for us. As is very typical of me, I started to get worried about it--What in the world were we going to do? Then, I began to pray,"Lord, please find us a bed that we can afford and won't give me allergy problems."

Over the period of a few days, Ish and I continued to search for a bed via craigslist. We found a bed that was one and a half years old (boxspring and mattress included). Ish promptly e-mailed the seller to inquire about his asking price--it worked with our budget. In a followup e-mail, Ish assesed the allergy situation and found out that the mattress was coming from a pet free home (score!).

Yesterday, Ish went to check out our potential bed. Meanwhile I was at our apartment hoping and praying that this bed would be the answer to our prayers. Ish called me when he was on his way home to let me know that God had delivered. We had a bed!

When Ish came home, the boxspring was still in its original plastic which the previous owner had never removed in the year in a half he had owned it. Ish had then informed me that this bed was clearly sent from God since not only had the boxspring been enclosed in plastic but the top mattress had been encased in a plastic "allergy-proof" cover as well!

Engagement photos

2009-07-14T17:41:00.001-04:00

The photographer for our wedding posted some of our engagement photos on her blog today. Check them out at: http://kellysullivanblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/sine-ish-engagement-session.html

Weathering the storm...

2009-06-22T23:37:00.002-04:00

I know that nobody likes a blog post about weather. I do, however, feel the need to at least comment on the fact that I have not seen the moon in a couple of weeks and most days when I eave my house there is a high likelihood that I will end up getting wet. I hope the sun returns soon.

Oh man... Crossword Calamity

2009-06-22T00:57:00.003-04:00

My Mom is usually pretty good with Biblical crossword clues, but tonight was a bit different. I was a bit amused and somewhat surprised.

Mom: Is there a book in the Bible called Moses?

Me: No, he's in Exodus.

Mom:Well, is there a book of the Bible about a prophet?

Me: About 16 or so...

Mom: Oh...Do any of them start with an M?

Me: Micah

Mom: Thanks

It has begun...

2009-06-22T00:40:00.004-04:00

...the packing that is.

Ish and I will be married in less than a month. It is really hard to believe since we have been engaged for so long (over 19 months). In the moments between the craziness of wedding planning, I have begun to pack (it is no easy feat!). It seems I am bad at informing people of my plans in life (a possible side effect of being introverted).So here it is:

We're moving back to Delaware.

Consider yourself informed. That being said, please pray for us as we prepare for many transitions at once. We are both excited to be moving back. I do have a sort of sadness to be leaving Massachusetts though as I will be moving away from my family. I will also miss several of the advantages that living near Boston has to offer (particularly the amazing public transportation system--DART doesn't even begin to compare).

When is a toothpick not a toothpick? When it's turned into a city.

2009-06-20T21:41:00.002-04:00

Confessions of a mommyblogaholic

2009-06-19T00:14:00.002-04:00

I love mommy-blogs. I seek them out, and I probably add a handful of them to my Google Reader each month. This probably wouldn't be so strange if I were a mom, but I'm not. I am a woman one month away from being married; shouldn't I be obsessing over wedding blogs or something? No, I just love me a good Mom blog.

Good mommy-blogs carry certain characteristics. Being a mom who blogs does not earn you a spot in my blog reading list. If your blog consists of mostly give-aways, there is no way you make the cut. If you have more than two children and you homeschool them your chance of passing my quality control tests are much higher (extra points if you are Catholic and celebrate lots of feast days!) I also enjoy reading the blogs of moms of multiples. Let's face it; being a mom of multiples cannot be easy by any stretch of the imagination, which automatically ups the interest-factor. One of the biggest requirements, however, is that you must be able to write in a way that hooks me.

One might question why I spend so much time reading these blogs. Over the past few months, I have begun to wonder the same thing. I have come to a few conclusions. The first one is probably pretty obvious; kids do amazing things and no one can relay that amazingness better that the people who brought them into this world. Another possibility, and probably the most accurate conclusion, is that I want to be a mom; I pray that God blesses my upcoming marriage that it may be fruitful. I love children and cannot think of a greater blessing than to get to parent one or many with the love of my life by my side. Most other conclusions I have come to pale in comparison to this one so I think I'll leave it at that.

The Mary month of May

2009-05-11T22:42:00.002-04:00

May is the month dedicated to the Most Blessed Mother, and in her honor, I will be posting various Marian hymns throughout the rest of the month.

On this Day, O Beautiful Mother.

On this day, O beautiful Mother,
On this day we give thee our love.
Near the, Madonna, fondly we hover,
Trusting thy gentle care to prove.

On this day we ask to share,
Dearest Mother, thy sweet care;
Aid us ere our feet astray
Waner from thy guiding way.

Queen of angels, deign to hear
Lisping children's humble prayer;
Young hearts gain, O virgin pure,
Sweetly to thyself allure.

Rose of Sharon, Lovely flow'r,
Beauteous bud of eden's bow'r;
Cherished lily of the vale,
Virgin Mother' Queen we hail.

In-vain the flow'rs of love we bring,
In-vain sweet music's note we sing,
If-contrite heart and lowly prayer,
Guide-not our gifts to thy bright sphere.

Fast our days of life we run,
Soon the night of death will come;
Tower of strength in that dread hour,
Come with all thy gentle power.

Twitter?

2009-05-11T13:54:00.002-04:00

Would anyone care to explain the allure of Twitter to me? I have read a few articles about it on CNN and heard about it on the news. I know some people describe it as "micro-blogging" and others describe it as an alternative to updating their facebook status. I just don't understand why I should be interested in the fact that you are brushing your teeth or that you are eating dry Cheerios with chopsticks. Now I can't say that I am totally immune to the allure of micro-blog-esque activities--I do update my facebook status. The thing is that I would never update my facebook status to tell people that I was washing my face or twiddling my thumbs. From what I have read about twitter, people do "tweet" those sorts of activities. Perhaps one day I will be less put off by the realm of Twitter, but for today, I just want someone to explain its draw on the masses.

On writing...

2009-05-11T12:53:00.003-04:00

For someone who fancies herself a writer, I don't get around to writing very often. I think a lot about all the things I could write--the things I should write, and yet I never seem to get around to writing any of them. That inability to push myself from the idea to the actual writing is incredibly constricting. Sometimes I feel like I am stuck in a trunk or a chest, and my ideas are slowly suffocating me. To say the least, it is frustrating.

This past year I have read a few books and articles on writing in hopes that they might inspire me to put my ideas down on paper, but instead of being inspirational and motivating, they have left me with the idea that I still don't know enough about writing to actually write something worthwhile. I still think of myself as a writer, but perhaps in reality I am a coward without enough guts to put into words what I really think and believe for fear of ridicule and rejection.

I suppose this revelation has been good for me. Once one admits to her cowardice, she can take steps to overcome it, and that is what I plan to do. I made a goal for myself today; I have committed to writing something each and every day. It needn't be long, and it needn't be a masterpiece--it just needs to be something. With that said, I don't promise to share everything that I write, but I will leave it open as a possibility.

Hilarious Commercial

2009-05-11T12:05:00.001-04:00

This commercial cracks me up. Especially because Goliath is wearing pinstripes.

Photo of the day

2009-05-05T16:06:00.003-04:00

I took this photo at the National Museum of China. It is amazing how in a country whose policies do not emulate many of the teachings of the Church, a beautiful image such as this can be found in their National Museum. I got chills when I first saw it.

Photo of the day

2009-05-03T22:48:00.004-04:00

Diaper boxes were a great hideout back in the day.

Photo of the day- An oldie but a goodie edition.

2009-05-02T18:58:00.003-04:00

This photo of Andie and me was taken a few years ago on UD's campus. I used to joke with people that I was going to start giving tours of all the bizarre art on campus. I do believe on that night I introduced some people to "Ode to Joy" infront of the library and that awful statue of the boy reading and the girl feeding a squirrel. By the by, the nubian goats featured here are named Chloe and Lucinda.

Photo of the day

2009-05-01T07:00:00.002-04:00

Despite my allergies, flowers are one of my favorite parts of creation. Ish brought me this bouquet a couple weeks ago and I couldn't help but snap a picture of this fantastic daisy; it is just so sun-shiny and beautiful.

Photo of the day

2009-04-30T07:00:00.001-04:00

Snapped on a recent trip to Delaware.

Ish and his nephew Owen in the midst of a soul shake (à la Pete & Pete)

Dear Red Sox...

2009-04-29T23:12:00.003-04:00

Dear Red Sox,

Please stop scaring me like that.

Love

PS-- Jonathan Van Every, thank you for saving your team from another pathetic loss.

Photo of the day

2009-04-29T07:00:00.000-04:00

Taken on a recent trip to Delaware.

Ishmael and his newest nephew Simon.

Marriage preparation...

2009-04-28T15:05:00.002-04:00

I came across this quote today and thought it was a good affirmation to remember as I prepare for marriage. I also thought those who are also preparing for marriage or are already married might benefit from reading this as well.

"I will remember always that marriage, like life, is a journey - not a destination - and that its treasures are found not just at the end but all along the way"--Anonymous

Photo of the day

2009-04-28T09:43:00.004-04:00

Ishmael and I spotted this cute little church on our way back fro Rhode Island last weekend. It was absolutely adorable.

Don't forget to check out the photo of the day contest from yesterday, and make your best guess!

Pysanky

2009-04-27T11:05:00.000-04:00

During the 3 weeks preceding Easter, I took a Ukrainian Egg Decorating class. After 3 weeks of writing pysanky, I in no way consider myself good at this art, but I definitely enjoyed myself and wanted to share the fruits of my labor.

My first attempt--on a bantam egg!

My second attempt--On a chicken egg

My second egg from a different angle.

I made a third egg--a goose egg--but I forgot to take a photo of it before giving it to my sister as a gift.

Photo of the day--contest

2009-04-27T09:19:00.003-04:00

If you are the first person to guess what this photo is of I will knit or crochet you some sort of prize. Leave a comment with your guess.

Photo of the day

2009-04-26T16:50:00.004-04:00

My overweight allergy inducing friend. This is my 15 yearold cat Frisky. The only frisky thing she does anymore is eat carpenter ants after batting them around the floor.

Off to Delaware

2009-04-16T22:40:00.002-04:00

Ish and I are off to Delaware tomorrow. I am very excited for this lovely break and for a visit with so many wonderful people. We will also be celebrating Ish's birthday while we are there, since my sister is getting married on his actual birthday, and that way he will get to celebrate with family and friends back home too.

I hope everyone has a wonderfully relaxing weekend. Ciao.

It is the little things that count...

2009-04-15T20:15:00.002-04:00

Today I woke up with a sore throat and pain in my ears. It was not a pleasant way to wake up to say the least. After a cup of hot tea and a shower I was still feeling pretty gross and kind of down. Then, I signed into my e-mail--usually a haven of a lot of useless advertising mixed with wedding related correspondence--to find a message from my dear friend Andie. It was a short but sweet message that put a smile on my face. Receiving this e-mail reminded me of how much the little things we do can change a person's mood, feelings, and/or outlook.

Want to hear from the women who made my day today? Check out her blog Theophany All Over.

Quote to ponder...

2009-04-15T19:32:00.000-04:00

"Not 100 in the United States hate the Roman Catholic Church, but millions hate what they mistakenly think the Roman Catholic Church is." -- Bishop Fulton J. Sheen

Post-Lenten Reflection 2009

2009-04-15T18:23:00.002-04:00

I decided for Lent in 2009 to not talk about my fast here on blogger until after celebrating Easter. I decided this mostly because posting what ones fast is at the beginning of lent doesn't leave much to say. It is a post that says "I am fasting from this. THE END." Now that we are celebrating Eastertide,I think it is due time for me to discuss my Lenten happenings.

This Lent I gave up pants with the exception of pajama pants in the privacy of my own home. Now, giving up pants may seem like a strange sacrifice, but in the past year and a half I have come to the realization that modesty is a necessary part of a Catholic woman's life;pants are not meant to be women's clothing and when worn by women, they are not modest. Despite having attempted to be pants free for almost a year, I have run into my own human nature on several occasions. I often found myself wearing pants because they were more comfortable or better protection from the cold. I kept coming up with excuses as to why I was wearing pants instead of choosing modesty and feminity. As Ash Wednesday rolled in the Lenten season this year, I was in a pants wearing slump choosing them over modest skirts and dresses most days of the week. God would understand me wearing immodest clothing and being an occasion of sin for others so I wouldn't be so cold waiting for my bus in the morning--that was my rationalization for my sin. Wearing modest clothing as my Lenten sacrifice this year was an obvious choice as I found myself constantly making excuses for my immodesty.

Do I think it was a worthwhile sacrifice? Yes. Not wearing pants was an incredibly difficult choice for me in a harsh New England winter, but each morning as I pulled on my skirt, I felt as though God's call for women to return to feminity in a culture rattled by "feminists" telling us to objectify ourselves before men get the chance became ever clearer. Cold mornings were not easy, but they were a lesson in how following God's will is not always easy. In this case it meant physical discomfort and often pain as having cold legs causes shooting pains in from my ankles up to my shoulders. This pain often led me to long for the warmth and comfort of pants.

This Lent led me on a journey to be pants-free from now on. To anyone reading this who feels led to dig deeper into what it means to dress modestly, I highly recommend Colleen Hammond's book Dressing With Dignity. This book has had a profound impact on my life. May it help you on your path to a more modest existence.

Stephen Colbert on the Divinity of Christ

2009-04-15T12:04:00.001-04:00

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Bart Ehrman

colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor

NASA Name Contest

Quotation to ponder...

2009-04-01T22:19:00.001-04:00

"It is better to be the child of God than king of the whole world. "

-- St. Aloysius Gonzaga

April Showers...

2009-04-01T22:03:00.002-04:00

April has started, and we have rain showers which reminds me of this:

April showers bring May flowers, and Mayflowers bring pilgrims!

Yes, it is ridiculous, but it makes me smile.

just a note...

2009-03-25T13:02:00.002-04:00

I really do not enjoy when people are singing Christmas carols in the middle of Lent. Just thought I'd share.

Spring Cleaning

2009-03-21T11:39:00.002-04:00

It must be something about spring having started, but I have had an intense desire to do housework for the past 2 days. I have been doing laundry,which, as many people know, is one of my least favorite things to do--I'd rather clean toilets. I have been ironing so I don't need to worry about it in the morning during the week. I have also been cleaning my room, which at the moment looks like a bomb went off in it. What a wonderful way to spend a Saturday!

A life lived to the fullest.

2009-03-17T20:42:00.004-04:00

My 99 year old neighbor Jim passed away today. If you were to imagine a 99 year old man, you might think of someone who uses a cane or a wheelchair, perhaps someone with a failing memory, or even some one who is bedridden. Up until this past month none of these depictions would come close to describing Jim. At 99, Jim still went dancing with his eighty-something girlfriend, went for a run most days, and in the summer he would swim a mile on every day that the weather allowed it. Jim never got old; he just got older.

Jim was one of a kind. When he was 93 yearsold, we were both at a benefit for a mutual friend who was battling cancer. Jim asked me to dance. At the time I was attending ballet classes and rehearsals for hours each day--I was unquestionably in shape. Jim, however, managed to wind me. He was an amazing ballroom partner and at 93 had far more stamina than I did as at 17.

Jim brought joy to all who knew him, and showed us all how to get older with out ever getting old. Please as you say your prayers tonight, remember Jim.

Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei . Requiescat in pace. Amen.

Something to be thankful for...

2009-03-10T21:42:00.002-04:00

I got a new prescription for my glasses today. As my lovely astigmatized near-sighted eyes have needed a new prescription for about a year, this is cause for rejoicing for me. My glasses prescription will not be filled until next week, but I also got contact lenses today and despite all the eye poking, I am very glad to have some sort of lenses that match my needs (even if they don't correct my astigmatism). Deo gratia for the ability to see once more.

Just in case you needed a laugh....

2009-02-23T19:27:00.001-05:00

Reasons my students think I am ancient...

2009-02-23T18:03:00.002-05:00

...I remember when computers were not common place in households.

...I have actually used an abacus before

...I remember when the Austin Powers movies came out in theaters

...I can remember 9/11/01

...I remember watching Bill Clinton's 1st inauguration

...I went to high school with other teachers that they think are ancient

...I say things like "thems the berries"

Joy in the little things...

2009-02-22T20:03:00.002-05:00

3 little things that made my day just a little bit better today:

--Helping a little girl find her mother after Mass. Really, it was the huge smile on both faces when they were reunited.

--The new altar boy at church whose feet don't touch the ground when he sits in his chair.

-- Hot chocolate after a trip to the grocery store.

Food for thought.

2009-02-16T21:34:00.004-05:00

Please take the time to watch this incredibly well-spoken 12 year old. Even if you do not agree with her, she is guaranteed to make you think. Thanks to Andie for sharing this video.

Progress

2009-02-06T22:23:00.001-05:00

So I am learning to crochet. My tension is awful, but I am starting to get the hang of it and not going so cross-eyed. I do still prefer knitting, but that is probably because I am better at that.

Snow day for work and class...

2009-01-28T13:42:00.002-05:00

Today the school system I work in had a snow day. We didn't actually get too much snow, but the predictions of a nasty wintry mix were enough for over 500 closings in the state of Massachusetts. My crochet class was also cancelled tonight (thankfully the class will be made up at the end of the course. So what have I done with my snow day? I went to Panera Bread for free coffee day, and otherwise I have given myself permission to relax some. I also registered for a class to learn to make Pysanky [Ukranian Easter Eggs].

What have you done today?

Snow...blech

2009-01-18T16:31:00.002-05:00

I am sure there are plenty of people who love snow, but I am not really one of them. I admit that it is pretty to look at, but I really do not enjoy being out in it. Massachusetts has been really snowy this winter. We have had 1 snow day, 1 early release due to impending storms, and 1 2hr delay for school already--hopefully there will be no need for another. Another, downside to all of this snow is I haven't been able to make it to Tridentine Mass every week. I don't mind the Novus Ordo Mass every now and again, but 2 weeks in a row is a little much.

Feeding my spirit...

2009-01-13T19:26:00.002-05:00

I have come to the conclusion over the past several weeks that living life as a pattern of going to work, coming home, eating dinner , and then crashing is really draining to me. I decided I needed something purely for me that would be both relaxing and challenging. Thus, I registered for a beginning crochet class. My class starts next week, so I will do my best to keep everyone updated on my progress. I think this will be good for both my brain as well as being some food for my spirit.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T19:25:00.001-05:00

I just wanted to take the time to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!

Google-heads

2008-12-13T15:12:00.004-05:00

Thanks to one of Ish's sisters, I have had this song stuck in my head since

Super-Thanksgiving. It is a great children's song.

Impending neglect a possibility

2008-12-11T19:45:00.002-05:00

I have just started a long-term sub position in math. While I get myself settled, I may be neglecting the blogosphere for a bit. We shall see.

Daily, Daily Sing to Mary

2008-12-08T22:05:00.002-05:00

Daily Daily Sing to Mary

Sing my soul her praises due

All her feasts her actions worship

With the heart's devotion true

Lost in wond'ring contemplation

Be her Majesty confess'd

Call her Mother, call her Virgin

Happy Mother Virgin Blest

She is mighty to deliver

Call her trust her lovingly

When the tempest rages round thee

She will calm the troubled sea

Gifts of heaven she has given

Noble Lady to our race

She the Queen who decks her subject

With the light of God's own grace.

I thought that in honor of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, I would share with you the lyrics of one of my favorite Marian hymns. I hope you all had a blessed feast day.

Mary Brigit Poppleton is Writing a Memoir

2008-12-07T10:08:00.002-05:00

Last night I had the opportunity to see CCRI's production of Madeline Walter's Mary Brigit Poppleton is Writing a Memoir. I went to see my cousin Elle perform in the role of Mary Brigit, and was simply excited to get a chance to see her perform. It was a real bonus that the show was written in a way that it was both raw and polished at the same time. The show follows the misadventures of 17 year old Mary Brigit who is both writing a memoir and struggling to get her family to pay even an inkling of attention to her. In a moment of dinner table insanity, Mary Brigit both gets the attention of her family and finds a way to "fictionalize" her life in order to have fodder for her memoir--she tells her family she is pregnant. The turmoil and hilarity that ensues is both side-splitting and gut-wrenching. The cast did a phenomenal job at sucking me into the story in a very real way. The talk-back session after the play was wonderful. We, the audience, got to hear from the actors, the director, and even the playwright. I honestly wish I had seen it earlier this week so that I would have had the chance to see it a few times.

Messiah

2008-12-07T09:55:00.002-05:00

On Friday night, Ishmael and I went to see Handel's Messiah. I had never heard much less seen the entirety of this famous work. I was pleasantly surprised to find just how much I enjoyed it. I was pleased to find that the words were printed out in the program, and the scripture passages they came from were noted at the end of each section. I can only hope that the Word of God transmitted to the audience through music was transformative to all of us watching and listening. Handel's Messiah is unique in that it is a piece of music based in scripture and its lyrics are in English; not only that, but it brings in many non-believing audience members each Advent--I pray it has helped in turning at least one person to God this Advent.

Think about it...

2008-12-04T20:01:00.004-05:00

America is at war overseas, but many Americans still live their day to day lives with no appreciation for what this means. Many men and women from all over the US are serving in the armed forces in order to protect us. Whether you think the war in the Middle-East is right or wrong, truth remains--these men and women are putting their lives on the line for us. How do we choose to thank them? Honestly, most of us don't. Next time you see a marine, a soldier, a sailor or an airman, please thank him or her. Support our troops.

2008-12-03T16:36:00.002-05:00

Anyone have any miracle cures for the common cold? I have been fighting a cold for almost 2 weeks and the symptoms are lingering much stronger and far longer than they usually do (minus that time I had a cold for an entire semester). Blech!

The Wedding Box

2008-12-02T15:38:00.003-05:00

As I mentioned in my previous post, I have created what I have dubbed the wedding box. The wedding box is simply something I have been working on to eliminate some of the craziness that will surround settling into married life. Since Ish and I will be moving to Delaware immediately following our Honeymoon, things are going to be a little bit crazy come early August. One of the things that I tend to hate doing when things are nuts is taking care of necessities. Since clearly I can't avoid grocery shopping, the possibility of knocking that off of the to-do list is out of the question. I can, however, avoid having to purchase a good deal of necessities--with the proper preparations of course! I have been purchasing different necessities (toilet paper, laundry detergent, medications, toothpaste etc.) when they are on sale and putting them in a box. Ideally what ends up in this box will last for the first 1-3 months of marriage helping to eliminate some of the stress that will come with moving, starting new jobs, and of course entering into our new vocation as a married couple. Although having things doesn't equate to any sort of happiness, I am also aware that having certain necessities taken care of can alleviate many everyday burdens. Doing things this way will also save a lot of money as I can stock items when they are on sale as opposed to when I need them right away.

CVS savings

2008-12-02T14:15:00.003-05:00

I like to save money; who doesn't? Lately I have been planning my shopping excursions for necessities or gifts so that sales work for me. CVS has been a great aid in this. I am starting to learn to use Extra Care Bucks (ECBs) to my advantage. I had some major purchases to make this week as I had run out of a lot of hygiene and medical products that I normally use and need. I really hate when I run out of everything at once. I managed to get $120 worth of merchandise for $63. Almost everything I bought was on sale minus more cough drops, but they were a necessity. I am always amazed how much one can save if they try. I was able to stock up on a few things that are too much when not on sale (I refuse to buy body wash, shampoo, conditioner, lotion not on sale). I also was able add to what I am dubbing the "wedding box" (more about that in a future post).

Quick note: Pursuing rain-checks is so totally worth the time.

Of dragons and cave trolls...

2008-11-30T09:54:00.002-05:00

This weekend has been incredibly refreshing thus far, and I have really enjoyed its length as well. My brothers both came home for Thanksgiving which made for a wonderful holiday. For once, dinner went off without a hitch. Everything was ready on time. After dinner we headed over to my grandmothers for dessert and a few rounds of Scrabble.

Friday I spent the afternoon and early evening with Meghan. It was so good to spend time and words over a cup of tea and later a bowl of soup. It just reinforced just how much I missed her over the past few months. Clearly the two of us need to hang out more often (if only schedules would allow).

Yesterday was great. I had a quiet morning working on my knitting and chatting with my mom. I am working on a baby blanket with no intended owner (as of yet). If nobody I know is pregnant by the time I finish, I will probably donate it to a Birthright Center or a women's shelter. Ish and I had lunch together--there is no better lunch than Thanksgiving leftovers. Last night was spent catching up with friends who were home for the weekend. Genevieve, Sara, Sara's boyfriend Luke, Ish and I had a boardgame night. After escaping from dragon's, stealing gold, and mostly failing at Trivial Pursuit, our night came to an end.

This weekend has served to remind me how important staying connected with friends and family truly is.

New word...

2008-11-15T21:55:00.002-05:00

I was singing hymns tonight, and Ish started to fall asleep. When he came to, he coined a new word. I was not singing hymns; apparently, I was singing lullahymns.

lull⋅a⋅hymn (lŭl'ə-hĭm) n.

1. A song of praise or thanksgiving to God used to lull a child to sleep

Origin: [Obsolete lulla, word used in lullabies (from Middle English lullai, from lullen, to lull; see lull) + Middle English imne, from Old French ymne, from Latin hymnus,song of praise, from Greek humnos.]

Another fallen blue hen...

2008-11-12T19:07:00.003-05:00

Every so often I still check the University of Delaware homepage. I like to see what students and faculty are up to at my alma mater. The other day I checked the website and was greatly saddened--another blue hen student has died. Currently the causes of the freshman student's death is unknown, but it is known that alcohol played a part in the events surrounding his death. Officials are awaiting toxicity reports.

If his death was the result of alcohol poisoning, I can only hope that it will serve as a lesson to others on the dangers that alcohol can present when used irresponsibly.

Regardless of the cause of death, please pray for Brett Griffin, his family, and his friends. Also, please pray for the staff and faculty at UD that they may bring Christ's healing light to all of those affected by this tragedy.

"Requiem aeternam dona ei,

Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei .

Requiescat in pace. Amen."

Food for thought

2008-11-12T17:11:00.001-05:00

"The truth is not always the same as the majority decision."

--Pope John Paul II

Democrats for Life of America

2008-11-11T12:27:00.002-05:00

I have been recently introduced to the existence of a group called Democrats for Life of America. Honestly, I like a lot of what I see. It also gives me hope that if the current pro-life democrats break down party lines in the coming months FOCA will not be passed. What a triumph for life that would be.

Welcome to November...

2008-11-06T17:50:00.002-05:00

It has been raining all day. The sidewalks are awash with golden and crimson leaves, and the wind makes my umbrella useless. I don't really mind though. In fact, I like this kind of weather in November for a few reasons, but mostly I like it because it is not snowing. I am thankful that I probably have couple more weeks before I have to worry about snow at all. Of course being in New England, that could be a false hope, but I can live with that. Weather like this also makes me not feel guilty for buying a coffee after work today to enjoy on the bus ride home.

Sainthood pending...

2008-11-05T22:17:00.003-05:00

Incase you were wondering, the little boy this is about is my future nephew and the ringbearer in my wedding. He is incredibly precious, and the fact that he is alive is miraculous. He was born with severe brain damage and wasn't expected to live. He was released from the hospital on hospice--they thought he might die within days. His grandmom asked many friends and her fellow Pauline Cooperators to pray for the intercession of Blessed Fr. Giacuomo Alberione. Today Owen is 2 1/2 and an absolute joy of a toddler. He is also a perfectly normal toddler, well minus the fact that he can throw a frisbee a good 40 feet. His recovery is being looked into as part of Fr. Alberione's cause for sainthood. Earlier this week, a postulator from the Vatican visited the Vatican to investigate and determine whether this is a true miracle. Read the accompanying article here.

Waiting Game

2008-11-04T18:00:00.001-05:00

I voted this afternoon, and now the waiting game commences.

Faith driven voting.

2008-11-02T16:08:00.004-05:00

The next person who tells me that not voting for Obama is racist better be ready for an earful. I am not in any way voting based on race. My vote is one that is faith driven. There is no possible way I could vote for Obama; he does not promote a culture of life. I could not in good conscience vote for him and then present myself to receive the Eucharist. I am not fooled by his choice for VP candidate. Joe Biden is a dissenting Catholic--why would his being on the ballot persuade me? He is right up there with Nancy Pelosi when it comes to theology.

I am sure there are people out there who won't vote for Obama because of his race; I am not one of those people. I am sure there are people who won't vote for McCain because his running-mate is a woman. I think it may just be easier for people to attack me based on false claims than it is for them to debate the real issues at hand.

My blog got a facelift...

2008-10-25T23:28:00.003-04:00

I decided that I was bored with my blog layout, and needed a change. I hunted around a bit and decided to use a free blog background. I am not totally contented yet, but it's a start.

You made a difference award

2008-10-24T00:47:00.002-04:00

The "You Made a Difference Award" is something that Leigh (my HD from my 2nd and 3rd years of RAing) instituted. Each week at our meetings, a staff member would receive this award from the previous weeks recipient. I really enjoyed this process because it made me remember to really appreciate all the little and big things my fellow staff members did for me and for others. It was generally a morale lift for me.

The other day I was thinking of instituting a modified rendition of this award on my blog (no string-bean clip art included--sorry Leigh!). I will be trying to, once a week or thereabouts, acknowledge someone who has made a difference in my life. I by no means intend this as one of those blog meme tagging hurrahs that circulate, I do however encourage recipients to try and thank someone who has made a difference in their life if they wish to do so.

Without further ado, the first You Made A Difference Award(blog edition) goes to Leigh. I decided to give it to Leigh, not only because he introduced me to the You Made A Difference Award (ResLife Edition), but because he made a profound difference in my life on many occasions. As one of his only introverted RAs , I definitely had different needs than some of my staff members. Leigh helped me to find a voice in the often times overwhelming amount of extroverted energy. He also taught me the importance of taking care of myself so that I could be there for residents and co-workers. Leigh was constantly challenging me and my co-workers to reflect on how we thought about a multitude of important issues. Through out my time as one of his RAs, he really helped me to challenge myself and to grow while still respecting my boundaries. He also cared enough to drive me to the emergency room when I stapled my thumb one night. He went from being one of my supervisors to being a friend. So Leigh, if you are reading this, thank you for taking the time to make a difference. You are a rock star!

5 things I love about Fall

2008-10-20T22:53:00.003-04:00

(in no particular order)

1. Foliage- I am a New England girl. Fall foliage hear in MA is a vibrant canvas of colors. It is hard to explain the wonder and amazement this transformation has on me each year.

2. Apples- Apples happen to be 10 gazillion times better in the fall than at any other time of the year. They are so crisp and a perfect balance between tart and sweet. Fall apples also make the best pies and apple crisps.

3. Pumpkin- I have a strange love for foods containing pumpkin. These foods are featured all over the place in the fall. I do not, however, like pumpkin pie.

4. Sweater Tights- Fall is a great time to pull out these warm, soft, thick tights. Since I am generally freezing and I pretty much have made the switch to wearing only skirts and dresses these tights are high on my list of seasonal favorites.

5. Post-season Baseball- Post-season baseball is great. It is baseball at its finest. Too bad the Red Sox didn't win the ALCS this year.

HBTRS?

2008-10-19T01:26:00.002-04:00

And the ALCS will continue...Woot!

If you know what the letters in the title of this post stand for, congratulations.

Word of the day....

2008-10-19T00:59:00.002-04:00

(actually it's 2 words and a very small fraction of the Word)

Jesus wept

--John 11:35

This verse always makes me marvel at the perfect humanity of my Saviour. It also always seems to cause me to ponder what other things Jesus did. Think of the many simple things you do through out a day. You eat. You sleep. Perhaps you talk to your mother or your friends. Jesus did these things too. It's pretty amazing when you think about it. God loves us so much that he became man.* He lived life here on earth. He felt pain, sorrow, joy, and love. He laughed and he cried. Pretty amazing, huh?

*note that God became man. Man cannot become God.

Yea!

2008-10-15T14:03:00.002-04:00

I have kindergarten all day friday. Woohoo!!! :-)

2008-10-14T14:01:00.001-04:00

No circulation
Icy cold fingers and toes
I am turning blue

Feeling accomplished...

2008-10-10T15:14:00.002-04:00

So today has been a productive day. Aside from getting some laundry done, I made an appointment to get my wedding dress; contacted a few florists; and started contacting DJs. It is amazing how getting little bits of work done can really get things moving in the right direction. This makes me feel like I can rest a little going into the weekend. 9 months and 8 days....

When you can't sleep write a haiku!

2008-10-10T02:01:00.003-04:00

I can't get to sleep
Weary eyes refuse to close
Insomnia wins

I was bored...

2008-10-10T00:28:00.002-04:00

...so I found an online quiz on political identity.

What is your inner political identity?

Bible-Thumper

Well, only if Jesus says so...

Click Here to Take This Quiz
Brought to you by YouThink.com quizzes and personality tests.

Psalm 150 for Post 150

2008-10-09T23:42:00.003-04:00

Hallelujah! Praise God in his holy sanctuary; give praise in the mighty dome of heaven.

Give praise for his mighty deeds, praise him for his great majesty.

Give praise with blasts upon the horn, praise him with harp and lyre.

Give praise with tambourines and dance, praise him with flutes and strings.

Give praise with crashing cymbals, praise him with sounding cymbals.

Let everything that has breath give praise to the LORD! Hallelujah!

--Psalm 150 (NAB)

This is my 150th post so I thought I would post the 150th psalm. It is a beautiful song of praise. It has on more than one occasion been a reminder to me to praise God. I am often much better at remembering to praise when things are wonderful, but I often forget to give the Lord the glory and honor He deserves in those times when life brings me to my knees.

Here is a video that includes the song "Let Everything That Has Breath" by Matt Redman. This song seems to be a reflection on Psalm 150; it also seems to be an invitation to join in the praise.

Against the death penalty?

2008-10-09T22:06:00.002-04:00

I have come to find an interesting contradiction. I have started to realize that many people who are against the death penalty are for abortion. I am pro-life from conception until natural death, but I find it interesting that so many people would rather allow an guilty person to live than an innocent child. What is more concerning to me is the claim that said death-row inmate shouldn't be executed because he might actually be innocent. How hypocritical! So many people can't allow the government to execute a man because he might be innocent, and yet it is perfectly okay to continue the genocide against the unborn? Why not simply protest the killing/execution/murder of all human beings? That totally boggles my mind.

Verse of the Day

2008-10-03T15:47:00.002-04:00

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life.--John 3:16

This is potentially the most well known Bible verse. It is one of the few verses I knew before I ever considered memorizing scripture. This verse pretty much sums up why God humbled himself and became man. I find it is a good verse to have written on my mind and heart; it reminds me that I will not and cannot ever achieve eternal life of my own accord.

Stepping up on my soap box...

2008-10-02T21:14:00.002-04:00

Obama and Biden make me sick. They call themselves Christians, heck Biden calls himself a Catholic, yet they support abortion. Anyone else see something wrong with this picture? If America does not start embracing a culture of life, we are going to be in big trouble. I cannot vote for a man who thinks that it is okay to take an innocent and defenseless life. John McCain said he would be a pro-life president. He is ready support and celebrate a culture of life. This election has become an issue of life and death. Which will you choose?

It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish. --Mother Teresa

Verse of the Day

2008-10-02T13:58:00.002-04:00

Bless the LORD, my soul; all my being, bless his holy name!
Bless the LORD, my soul; do not forget all the gifts of God,
Who pardons all your sins, heals all your ills,
Delivers your life from the pit, surrounds you with love and compassion,
Fills your days with good things; your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Psalm 103:1-5

I am running a pretty high fever right now so I don't think i am going to expound on my choice for today.

October is here...

2008-10-02T01:31:00.002-04:00

...which means post-season baseball!

Red Sox won 4-1 against the Angels tonight in Game 1 of the ALDS. My choice for MVP of tonight's game is a toss up between Jason Bay who gave us the lead with his 2 run homer and Jacoby Ellsbury who played well offensively and defensively--multiple hits, 2 stolen bases, and an amazing catch that made me fear that he may have gotten a good mouthful of dirt in the process. Pitching wise, Jon Lester really showed the Angels what he was made of--lots of good pitches and 7 strike outs to boot! Did I mention that the Sox pretty much stunk against LA all season ? They lost 8 out of 9 games against them in the regular season. I believe they can win the ALDS. Go Red Sox!

Random Note: I can't watch a full post-season Red Sox game without knitting. Well I suppose I could, but my anxiety levels might go through the roof. The post-season is a great time to make Christmas gifts. I'm about 1/3 of the way through my first post-season knitting project of this year.

Accessorizing the Verse of the day...

2008-10-01T11:46:00.003-04:00

When I was reflecting on I Samuel 2:2, I remembered this song, particularly the line that says "I'll take a shack on a rock over a castle in the sand". It is just a really good song and a reminder that we aren't here to further our own personal kingdoms, but to further the Kingdom of God.

Verse of the Day

2008-10-01T11:21:00.002-04:00

There is no Holy One like the LORD;

there is no Rock like our God.

I Samuel 2:2 (NAB)

Background

This verse is a portion of Hannah's prayer of praise to the Lord. She was barren for many years and it pretty much made her miserable. She prayed fervently one day at the temple promising to dedicate her child to the Lord if only God would give her a son; her praying was so intense that the priest at the temple thought her to be drunk. She told the priest of her plight and he assures her that God will remember her.

The next time Hannah and her husband Elkanah have relations with each other, Hannah concieves Samuel. When Samuel has been born and subsequently weaned, Hannah brings him to the temple, dedicates him to the Lord, and leaves him to be trained up as a priest. It is during this visit to the temple that Hannah takes the time to thank the Lord for his blessing her with a child and praising him for all that he is.

Personal Relevance

Recently I have realized a depletion in my trust in the Lord. I have been looking to the world and others to help be my stability. Thankfully I have a wonderful fiancé who reminds me that when the going gets tough, I need to take an honest look at my prayer life and adjust as needed. This verse serves as a good reminder to me that God is my rock, and if I want to be on solid ground I should stop relying on things with foundations made of sand. I am not saying a perfect prayer life will eradicate all woes and hardships, but it will make them manageable. Also since Hannah experienced great grief and then through prayer found her relief and found great joy, this verse gives me a measure of hope when I am in doubt. Hannah also dedicates her joy to the Lord by offering up Samuel to his service. It reminds me to be thankful and to offer up my joys and successes for the glory of the Lord.

Verse of the Day...

2008-09-30T23:34:00.002-04:00

For the month of October my running thread is going to be Verse of the Day where I will share a verse from Scripture and possibly reflect on it or something of the sort. I would like to also put in another running thread, but I have yet to figure out what it will be.

2008-09-29T23:57:00.000-04:00

Blessed Michaelmas!

A Mormon Doctor's View of Humanae Vitae

2008-09-28T18:31:00.003-04:00

I found this article about a Mormon Dr.'s view on Humanae Vitae . It is definitely worth reading.

Latin Mass...

2008-09-28T18:03:00.002-04:00

Ishmael and I have been attending Latin Mass most weekends. At first we both had an incredibly difficult time following everything. Today I felt like for the first time I really understood what was going on enough so that I wasn't panicked when I lost my place in the missal.

On a related note, it is so nice to be at Mass with other women who wear chapel veils and dresses/skirts. I am beginning to appreciate modesty at Mass more than ever. Modesty is pretty much the norm at the church we have been attending. It makes it really shocking to return to Novus Ordo Mass where women and girls are dressed in short shorts and spaghetti strap tanks or hooded sweatshirts and ratty jeans now that fall weather has hit.

Pork extravaganza...

2008-09-26T23:37:00.004-04:00

So my brother brought out a pork loin to be defrosted and cooked a couple days ago. As is often the case we got side tracked so had to make a last ditch effort to cook it tonight so we didn't lose six pounds of pork. My mom and I diligently worked to rescue the pork from it's impending doom. The results? 3 separate pork loin dishes. Tonight's dinner of roasted pork with roasted apples and sweet potatoes shaken up with apple cider, cinnamon, and ginger (yum!). A basic mustard rubbed pork loin to be delivered to Nana. Still cooking, there is the pork with green peppers, onions, pineapple chunks, and dried cranberries. I wonder if I will still care for pork at the end of this week.