HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NICK!!!!

If only ...

you'd all practiced that Ocarina I bought at MACHE all those years ago, you might be this good!

Evangelization or just a weird conversation?

Today at the post office:

Her: Would you like anything else?
Me: Yes, I need some Christmas stamps. The religious ones, please.
Her: Do you have a sense of humor? There's one thing I don't like about these stamps. That guy on the left - he's supposed to be John the Baptist, but I KNOW John is the same age is Jesus.
Me(reading the fine print): Who's the artist? Botticelli.
Her: Is he good?
Me: Well, he's no schlep. I'm guessing that he wasn't trying to paint a realistic scene, but he made John older to point out that John came before Jesus, you know, to announce His coming. By making him obviously older, the fact that he came before Christ is also more obvious.
Her: Oh, thanks. I'm glad you knew that. I like this stamp better now.

That Botticelli, he's no schlep. :-)

Dad thought you'd like to know...

Abby is ill.

The people in darkness have seen a great light;

A few images to brighten your first week of Advent.

A very not-tacky wreath suspended over the holy water font.

Dad and Michael Kostick trying to light the first candle.
Upon closer inspection, Dad found that the candles were battery operated. Whoops.

And this is one of the new additions to the songbook.

A bit of wisdom from Norah Jones....

"My Dear Country"
by Norah Jones
'Twas Halloween and the ghosts were out,
And everywhere they'd go, they shout,
And though I covered my eyes I knew,
They'd go away.

But fear's the only thing I saw,
And three days later 'twas clear to all,
That nothing is as scary as election day.

But the day after is darker,
And darker and darker it goes,
Who knows, maybe the plans will change,
Who knows, maybe he's not deranged.

The news men know what they know, but they,
Know even less than what they say,
And I don't know who I can trust,
For they come what may.

'cause we believed in our candidate,
But even more it's the one we hate,
I needed someone I could shake,
On election day.

But the day after is darker,
And deeper and deeper we go,
Who knows, maybe it's all a dream,
Who knows if I'll wake up and scream.

I love the things that you've given me,
I cherish you my dear country,
But sometimes I don't understand,
The way we play.

I love the things that you've given me,
And most of all that I am free,
To have a song that I can sing,
On election day.

A cute little song, and quite true. Give it a listen if you get a chance.

A little Thanksgiving entertainment

For the benefit of those of you who weren't here...
(Unfortunately, these are in no particular order because adding photos is a random, wonky mystery to me.)

We had room for a few more.



















Katie, looking for another glass of wine.




















The mashed potatoes REALLY were so creamy! (Yukon Golds)




















Taking care of their Christmas shopping at Sears...



















Grandma: "Well, I didn't vote for Obama, but Johnny's people must be so proud of the first black president."




















Grandma telling a classic story of someone from Wadena, who none of knew who'd died recently. From there, we heard debate about the person's name and the reasons why Grandpa would never buy tires from this person again. Really - classic!




















Just before Nick stabbed Jen with his fork.




















Dad in a really special birthday shirt. He'll probably need to save it for an equally special occasion (like Christmas at Grandma's house).

























Grandpa, kicking butt in farkle (farcle? farckle? farckel?)




















Due to unforeseen circumstances our banjo player couldn't come.
We found another way to have him present.



















Jen in her cute apron


























Nick sharing his mad kitchen skillz.




















Grandpa, doing what he does best.



















The much-needed annual knife sharpening and in an unrelated photo, your annual serving of cranberry sauce.

A Reason to be Thankful

Coleman Leads Franken by 292 Votes

Something therapeutic to do during the BC game

And, the new open, airy view.

And so it begins ...

$69 flights to Midway!

Southwest announced its Minneapolis to Chicago fares and schedule Thursday at the Mall of America. Service will start March 8, 2009 with 8 flights each day.

Like finding a Crunch Bar in your stocking...

Winner	Candidate	Votes
X	NORM COLEMAN (i) (R)	1,211,628	42%
	AL FRANKEN (D)	1,210,901	41%
	DEAN BARKLEY (IP)	437,308	15%
	CHARLES ALDRICH	13,908	1%
	JAMES NIEMACKL	8,893	1%

Yes, I was safely sitting at a red light while taking this photo

Welcome Trick-or-Treaters!

Hmmm ...

(Alternate Title: This is Why I Carry a Camera)

It's hard to imagine who these enormous footy-pajamas with glow-in-the-dark dinosaurs were made for, but the inside-out sleeve is evidence that someone tried them on. Really, the feet are mostly flat on the ground but it's still way above Jen's head!

election mail run amok

Along with the other 13 pieces of election-related mail received today was one from the Political Action Committee of the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons encouraging us to vote for Norm Coleman.

I'm not sure how he's related to the group. The surgeons seem to support Norm's work to increase Pell Grants and Perkins Loans, and his vote to increase the child tax credit.

Day One of the Novena to Our Lady of Victory

Lord, have mercy on us,
Christ, have mercy on us,
Christ, hear us,
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Spirit, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, Have mercy on us.

Our Lady of Victory, (Pray for us)
Victorious daughter of the Father, (Pray for us)
Victorious Mother of the Son, (Pray for us)
Victorious Spouse of the Holy Spirit, (Pray for us)
Victorious servant of the Holy Trinity, (Pray for us)
Victorious in your Immaculate Conception, (Pray for us)
Victorious in crushing the serpent's head, (Pray for us)
Victorious over all the children of Adam, (Pray for us)
Victorious over all enemies, (Pray for us)
Victorious in your response to the Angel Gabriel, (Pray for us)
Victorious in your wedding to St. Joseph, (Pray for us)
Victorious in the birth of Christ, (Pray for us)
Victorious in the flight to Egypt, (Pray for us)
Victorious in your exile, (Pray for us)
Victorious in your home at Nazareth, (Pray for us)
Victorious in finding Christ in the temple, (Pray for us)
Victorious in the mission of your Son, (Pray for us)
Victorious in His passion and death, (Pray for us)
Victorious in His Resurrection and Ascension, (Pray for us)
Victorious in the Coming of the Holy Spirit, (Pray for us)
Victorious in your sorrows and joys, (Pray for us)
Victorious in your glorious Assumption, (Pray for us)
Victorious in the angels who remained faithful, (Pray for us)
Victorious in the happiness of the saints, (Pray for us)
Victorious in the message of the prophets, (Pray for us)
Victorious in the testimony of the patriarchs, (Pray for us)
Victorious in the zeal of the apostles, (Pray for us)
Victorious in the witness of the evangelists, (Pray for us)
Victorious in the wisdom of the doctors, (Pray for us)
Victorious in the deeds of the confessors, (Pray for us)
Victorious in the triumph of all holy women, (Pray for us)
Victorious in the faithfulness of the martyrs, (Pray for us)
Victorious in your powerful intercession, (Pray for us)
Victorious under your many titles, (Pray for us)
Victorious at the moment of death, (Pray for us)
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, Spare us, Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, Hear us, Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, Have mercy, Lord.
Pray for us, blessed Lady of Victory.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.


Let us pray:
Our Lady of Victory, we have unshaken confidence in your influence with your
Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. Humbly we ask your intercession for all of us
associated under your title, Our Lady of Victory.
We beg your powerful assistance also for our own personal needs. (Please
mention here your special intention in you own words.) In your maternal
kindness please ask Jesus to forgive all our sins and failings, and to
secure His blessings for us and for all the works of charity dedicated to
your name. We implore you to obtain for us the grace of sharing Christ's
victory and your forever in the life that knows no ending. May we join you
there to praise forever the Father, His Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy
Spirit, on God, for all the ages to come. Amen.

Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope.
To Thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To Thee do we send up our
sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn, then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us.
And after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of Thy womb,
Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary,
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God:
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that any one
who fled to Thy protection, implored Thy help, and sought Thy intercession,
was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto Thee, O Virgin
of virgins, my Mother. To Thee I come; before Thee I stand, sinful and
sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate! despise not my petitions, but in
Thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

All this we ask of The Father in the name of Mary's Son, Our Lord Jesus
Christ who lives and reigns with Him and the Holy Spirit forever and ever.
Amen.

Father Corapi's Rosary Novena for the Election

I've received this reminder to pray for the election outcome as an email forward from quite a few sources and will try to remember to update the reminders each day. Lord, please have mercy on our country!

From Father Corapi's Call For A Rosary Novena:

I strongly urge every one of you to make a Novena and pray the Rosary to Our Lady of Victory between October 27th and Election Day, November 4th. Pray that God's will be done and the most innocent and utterly vulnerable of our brothers and sisters will be protected from this barbaric and grossly sinful blight on society that is abortion. No woman, and no man has the right to choose to murder an innocent human being. May God grant us the wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and counsel to form our consciences in accordance with authentic Catholic teaching, and then vote that well-formed Catholic conscience.

Update: I'll blog the reminders at the Church Lady site.

This could turn into something good!

Southwest Airlines to enter Minneapolis market

Southwest Airlines Co. plans to begin service next March to Minneapolis, its first new city in more than a year, even as the airline faces a "very significant risk of slowing demand" due to an economic slowdown, Chief Executive Gary Kelly said Wednesday.

The Minneapolis service will initially be limited to flights to and from Chicago.

Since Air Tran left last spring, Northwest has no competition allowing them to charge over $600 for some flights to and from Chicago!

And from the Strib:

Tickets on the Twin Cities-Chicago route currently are "very high priced," Kelly said in a Wednesday interview. "We love it when we find city-pair markets that are overpriced and underserved."

Tom Parsons, CEO of www.bestfares.com, said the Southwest development is huge. Southwest "saw high prices where they could come in and drop your prices like a rock," Parsons said. He added that Southwest also will appeal to consumers because it doesn't charge any fees for the first two checked bags. Northwest and many other big carriers now levy bag fees, such as $15 for the first bag on Northwest.

"You probably have 100 U.S. cities who are envious of Minneapolis, because they want Southwest," Parsons said.

I'm pretty sure you can get this for Dad once it's released on DVD

Seizing the opportunity

This (along with clear direction on when/where to bow and genuflect) from the Pastor's Corner of our bulletin regarding some practical things to keep in mind when the tabernacle is moved:

The main church should be a place of prayer and adoration. While conversations with each other before and after Mass are very welcome in the lobby area and in the activity center, they should not be taking place in the main church where the tabernacle is present. It will take some practice for us to remember this, but it is important to keep in mind.

As we introduce changes such as this, it is very important to be patient and charitable with one another. Some people are excited by the changes, others struggle with them ...

So this is me - passing on the news in a charitable way.

I can live with that

Your result for The Who Would You Be in 1400 AD Test...

The Prioress

You scored 8% Cardinal, 62% Monk, 65% Lady, and 35% Knight!

You are a moral person and are also highly intellectual. You like your solitude but are also kind and helpful to those around you. Guided by a belief in the goodness of mankind you will likely be christened a saint after your life is over.

You scored high as both the Lady and the Monk. You can try again to get a more precise description of either the Monk or the lady, or you can be happy that you're an individual.

Take The Who Would You Be in 1400 AD Test at HelloQuizzy

Happy 50th Birthday, 64!

Since its debut in 1958 on “Captain Kangaroo,” more than 200 million Crayola 64 boxes, holding 12.8 billion crayons, have been sold. All those crayons would circle the earth 24 times!

Just how close a friend are you? Try this interactive quiz to find out!

And for those of you curmudgeonly old-schoolers? Don't bother to check out this page which lists the new color names:

Awesome, Giving Tree, Famous, Fun in the Sun, Best Friends, Super Happy, Happy Ever After, and Bear Hug have replaced those basic colors of yellow, green, red, black, blue, purple, orange and pink. Can you match which is which?

(grumbles in disgust, "No wonder the educational system is going to heck...")

It's "interesting" to be a midwesterner ...

An entry from our local Community Education bulletin, filed under General Interest:

Deer Processing
This class will teach you the basic skills to cut your own deer. We will show you the proper care of the deer from field dressing to skinning and cleaning of the carcass. We will show you how to cut your deer from pulling the back straps for chops, tip for roast or steaks, and trim for ground venison or sausage. We will also seam the rounds to show you how to cut it for jerky, steak, or roasts. This class will use a road kill deer for hands-on experience. You will receive a basic step-by-step book for quick reference. $39

Can Music Save Your Mortal Soul?

Interesting article from Memoria Press

There are two mistakes that can be made about music: the Rationalist Mistake and the Romantic Mistake. One we can associate with Milton, the other with Nietszche. The Rationalist Mistake is to think that the form of the music doesn't matter, only the lyrics. The Romantic Mistake is to think that only the music matters, not the lyrics.

In the popular music of my generation, the primary themes were sexual. It followed the music of the 1960s which at least had some idealism, however misguided. It was the era of disco. People were too busy shaking their booty or getting down to worry too much about the social concerns of their forbears in the previous decade. Their concerns were also in stark contrast to the dark nihilism of the generation that came after—and that still seems to be with us.

But, whether the music contains sexual themes or themes of suicide and depression, the response of children when their parents ask them about the lyrics of the music they listen to is invariable. In fact, their answer is almost always the same: “Mom!" This response is usually followed by some explanation about how what the singers are actually saying in the song doesn't really matter. This is the Nietszchian response, and it is made primarily by children.

The Miltonic response is made primarily by adults. It is the belief that the music doesn't really matter, only the lyrics. This is a common mistake made in discussions over music in church, where it is often argued that we can take the same musical patterns that have been in the service of secular objectives, and, by putting new words to these tunes, we automatically transform them into worship songs.

Of these two mistakes, the second is easily the worse. At least the Romantic Mistake acknowledges the truth that it is not the rationalistic but the purely musical aspect of music that is it's most significant aspect. The Rationalist Mistake misses the point altogether.

Music is indeed important, but one wonders if those of us who seem so obsessed with it—young or old—understand exactly how important it really is. We play with music as with a toy, when in fact we are really playing with fire. And fire, as everyone knows, is the Devil's only friend.

Funny metaphors used in high school essays

Just in case you need some writing inspiration. Every year, English teachers from across the USA can submit their collections of actual analogies and metaphors found in high school essays. These excerpts are published each year to the amusement of teachers across the country.

My favorites:

6. Her vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever.

8. The revelation that his marriage of 30 years had disintegrated because of his wife’s infidelity came as a rude shock, like a surcharge at a formerly surcharge-free ATM machine.

11. From the attic came an unearthly howl. The whole scene had an eerie, surreal quality, like when you’re on vacation in another city and Jeopardy comes on at 7:00 p.m. instead of 7:30.

16. John and Mary had never met. They were like two hummingbirds who had also never met.

20. The plan was simple, like my brother-in-law Phil. But unlike Phil, this plan just might work.

22. He was as lame as a duck. Not the metaphorical lame duck, either, but a real duck that was actually lame, maybe from stepping on a land mine or something.

23. The ballerina rose gracefully en Pointe and extended one slender leg behind her, like a dog at a fire hydrant.

25. He was deeply in love. When she spoke, he thought he heard bells, as if she were a garbage truck backing up.

Field Trip!

It's no accident that these four things can all happen the same week. Anyone up for a little Midwest road-tripping?

Not that this sounds familiar or anything...

Because I can

and it makes me smile.

(There is another, more notorious than this Lenten version. I'll have to look around for a photo. ;-)

New! Photographic Evidence of Awesomeness

Just recieved: candid wedding photography from a friend, including some behind-the-scenes stuff.

A pious sacristy crew? Perhaps, but have a closer look...

Top 10 Non-Theological Bible Verses

From this month's Envoy:
10. Do not eat anything you find already dead (Deut. 14:21).
9. Give beer to those who are perishing, and wine to those in anguish (Prov. 31:6).
8. Some small boys came out of the city and jeered at [Elisha] saying, "Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!" And he turned around, and when he saw them, he cursed them in the name of the Lord. And two she-bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys (2 Kings 2:23).
7. "Dorcas" (Acts 9:36).
6. Spend the money for whatever you desire ... wine or strong drink, or anything else you would enjoy, and there before the Lord, your God, you shall partake of it and make merry with your family (Deut. 14:26).
5. I will accept no bull from your house (Psalm 50:9).
4. A fool's lips bring strife, and his mouth invites a beating. (Proverbs 18:6).
3. The sluggard buries his hand in the dish, [but] it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth (Proverbs 26:5).
2. Behold, you are beautiful, my love! ... Your hair is like a flock of goats ... your belly is a heap of wheat ... your nose is like a tower of Lebanon overlooking Damascus (Song of Solomon 4:1, 7:2, 4).
1. There is an outcry in the streets for lack of wine (Isaiah 24:11).

(My favorite? Number 7, of course!)

Look for prescription prices to drop next year

For the first time since 2002, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America updated its voluntary Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals, establishing several new guidelines, including a crackdown on gifts to physicians.

The revised code, which goes into effect in January 2009, prohibits distribution of noneducational items to healthcare professionals. This even includes small gifts, such as pens, notepads, mugs, and similar “reminder items” with company or product logos on them, even if they are practice-related.

The other change is that companies are not permitted to directly pay for meals...

No more Viagra pens, no Nexium matching stapler/tape dispensers, no waiting list for reps bringing free lunches! I'll bet the Clinic ladies have something to say about this!

Once again, we're on the edge of trendy ;-)

Think you can handle a shot of the hard stuff? Better mosey up to the bar with your toothbrush.

The bake shop boom that has fueled the oh-so-retro love affair with cupcakes has spawned a new — albeit micro — trend that has Saturday-night hipsters doing a style of shot that won't burn your gullet like 150 proof.

Frosting shots. And yes, it's exactly what you think it is.

...

Now a staple, BabyCakes' $1.50 frosting shots are served in vintage shot glasses. And with the shop situated in the bar-heavy Lower East Side, nights bring heavy demand. Customers already in a party mood see it as a quirky way to add to the festivities, McKenna says.

At Back in the Day Bakery in Savannah, Ga., owner Cheryl Day has piped 75-cent frosting sides for her Friday-night "cupcake happy hour" for the past three years. At a happy hour in February, she sold about 100 shots. She thought using a bar conceit would draw locals as well as college students.

Article Credit: St. Paul Pioneer Press

Photo Credit: AP Photo/Larry Crowe

Today's 4-H Update

The bike actually has nothing to do with us. I just thought it was cute.

We shall overcome!

Most of us are familiar with the idea of segregated drinking fountains, benches, and bus seats--but you thought that was history.
So did I.

So imagine my surprise and disgust when I was faced with this sight at the library.
That's right---it's a white only recycling bin. Please send a letter to your local library telling them that you will not stand for such blatant discrimination.

;-)

Babies!

For those of you missing out on the latest babies -

Anselm Augustine Brostrom and Catherine Amelia Kostick

and with mothers brave enough to be shot in profile

Obviously, a Kostick

And, of course, one with my Godson!