Happy half-birthday Jenni

This one's for you.

Even if I could make this stuff up, I wouldn't

All About Dung
Monday on the History Channel.
Join host Monty Halls as he investigates the historical, medical, scientific and evolutionary importance of poop on an excremental safari guaranteed to fascinate even the most squeamish of viewers.

Lowlights include:

• climb a 100-foot mountain of bat guano
• view housewarming rituals using sacred cow dung
• drink coffee made from poop

I didn't think it was possible, but I now like TV even less than before.

(and I wouldn't be surprised to see "someone" post a review on the Shrine sometime later Monday or early Tuesday morning.)

The view out my window

I thought it might turn into something like this,
(see the resemblance?)
but instead we got this!

I don't know if this is the variety of poppy that grows in Flanders Field, but if so, the contrasts must certainly give us reason to pause. Perhaps I would consider the ugliness of war versus the beauty of self sacrifice. Perhaps, something about how God can make all things work together for good, or His knack for the unexpected. Maybe I'd be struck with how Solomon in all his splendor couldn't come up with anything close.

Either way, the view out my window is pretty spectacular this summer.

Time for Shopping!

These are two of many items that will be for sale at Koop's garage sale this week! Please note this is a life-sized karaoke Santa (accept no substitutes) and the description from a web site selling the Daddle says it's "available at cashelcompany.com, but it's a little more demeaning to get it from PetSmart.com." If you all want anything, I'm sure an advance sale can be arranged.

Maybe I'll rewatch The Sixth Sense instead

Perhaps this Happens to be a good time to save a few bucks.

"But the storyline ultimately feels sparse and unconvincing. It's like a Twilight Zone episode that has been unnecessarily stretched to 91 minutes. In place of surprise plot twists, the movie is littered with the aforementioned environmental warnings, scenes of people running away and macabre images of self-mutilation that further detract from the already paper-thin drama.

In the end, The Happening posits a brutal premise in an attempt to deliver a heavy-handed sermon about our place on the planet. The result is a misguided message-movie mishmash that just doesn't work ... and one that assaults Shyamalan aficionados with an unprecedented amount of carnage along the way."

GAH!

I enjoyed the movie "The Trouble with Angels." The story of 2 trouble-making girls who, after 3 years of attending St. Francis boarding school, are drawn to the religious life. A very nice movie.

So, I thought we should try watching the sequel "Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows." Oi vey! One of the worst movies I have seen in a long time. Set in '69, it was about a new nun at St. Francis who tries her best to convince the sisters to embrace the change that's happening in the world. (The beginning scene is this nun marching at a peace rally.) The main story is the girls traveling to a inter-faith rally. Eventually, the hippie sister convinces even the "old-fashioned" mother superior, and the last scene shows the sisters' new habits which consist of shorter skirts, better-fitting tops, and shorter veils which allow them to reveal their newly dyed red, curly hair. Lovely. The habits looked like something Hillary Clinton might wear.

GAH!

What She Said

One of the most well written arguments for home education that I've ever read.

Latin Joke

If you've ever translated something by Cicero, you might appreciate this:

Cicero was giving a speech in the Forum. Marcus was running late, and missed the first 20 minutes. He asked the man next to him, "Did I miss much?" The man answered, "No, he hasn't gotten to the verb yet."

Quisque comoedus est. :-)

More Musical Fun

In contrast to my last musical find, there were more interesting options at this weekend's Conference. First, I found We Sing of Our Land (level 7 of the Music Series for Catholic Schools, published by Ginn in 1960). The first clues of the fun therein begin on the contents page which is arranged liturgically in sections labeled After Pentecost, Advent, Christmastide and After, Lent and Passiontide, Eastertide, and of course, back to Pentecost. The first song - To Jesus Christ, Our Sovereign King and the last page - Chart of Neums and Modes. Most pages are illustrated with those charming line drawings I remember from my own elementary school days. And for a hardcover in good condition for only $2 - I was powerless to resist. (Thanks to Mary's Books for rescuing used books like these and finding them good homes. It's like the Humane Society, only better.)

Of course, I wouldn't have seen this particular illustration at Grover Cleveland Elementary School, but I thought you all might enjoy it. ;-)

The other thing I purchased is a collection of Advent Hymns from Alan Jemison arranged for play on the piano. You may have heard me mention a time or two my pet peeves about the celebration of Advent (or lack thereof), and I hope Jen will be able to fill the house with reflections proper to the season such as The World is Very Evil. (and if she's busy with school or whatever, I can listen to the two accompanying CDs.)