What a week!

I've been kind of spinning, but in a good way.  It was a busy week that kept me thinking and learning.

On Monday, I went to another monthly meeting of the Toronto branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society.  It was only my second meeting, but was another excellent talk on using military records and memorabilia to trace your ancestors.  The presenter gave four case studies from his own research, and he was very entertaining as well as informative.

The Toronto branch is hosting the annual province-wide meeting of the OGS, and requests went out for volunteers. I signed up to help with registration and/or introducing/thanking speakers.  I also registered for a course called Introduction to Family History Writing to be held in April.

On Tuesday, Wilson went to the groomers in the morning and got a really short cut (a shave really).  Now this 5 year old terrier mix looks like a golden retriever puppy!  But it's a great cut for him and keeps his light hair off the furniture (on those rare occasions he's allowed up.)   I also saw my optomestrist and ordered contact lenses and new lenses for my glasses.  The new ones will be a slightly different shape (I have a Silhouette rimless style) and have the transitions coating to provide sun protection.  This will (hopefully) mean that I dont' have to be constantly swapping specs when I'm outside.

Tuesday night, Z, Michael and I headed down to U of T's OISE Auditorium to hear The Great Time Debate, a discussion moderated by Dan Falk with speakers Richard Bond (U of T - Cosmologist),  James Robert Brown (U of T Philosophy),  and Lee Smolin (Perimeter Institute - Physicist).  The place was packed, and they had to turn away a couple of hundred people.  Very interesting concepts, and in particular, Smolin talked about the laws of nature as being a result of evolution:  that there is some kind cosmological natural selection where black holes give ruse to new universes ("births").  Kind of mind-blowing.

I had a hair appointment on Thursday and discussed the possibility of gradually growing out my grey using a combination of high lights and lowlights, rather than doing my usual all-over colour.  I'm pretty grey at the front and sides, and less so at the back, so we did partial highlights and I'm pretty happy about it.  It makes the demarcation line along my part much less noticeable, and I"ll be able to go for longer between appointments which is great.

Over Christmas when my mother-in-law was in town, Z took her to the Syrian Catholic Church for mass one Sunday.  It's pretty far west from us and everything is in Arabic/Syriac so we don't go there as a family.  But while they were there, my MIL told the priest that he should have visited us and blessed our house.  So we invited him for dinner Friday night.  When he arrived, I was surprised to see a man in a bishops cassock, red trim on black with a big cross and ring.  He had been elevated since the invite went out, and so we had our house blessed by a bishop!  The short liturgy was mostly in Syriac and Arabic, but we prayed the Our Father in English, and he blessed the food in English as well.  He also came with one of Z's cousins and a priest visiting from Lebanon.  We had a nice meal together with lots of conversation and laughter, and then they headed off.

Yesterday was a birthday party for my brother.  I brought over a squash and goat cheese lasagne and they had salad and bread and a birthday cake.  My aunts were there as well, and we had a nice visit.  The children were great to hang with and my five month old niece changes every time I see her!

What a week!

I've been kind of spinning, but in a good way.  It was a busy week that kept me thinking and learning.

On Monday, I went to another monthly meeting of the Toronto branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society.  It was only my second meeting, but was another excellent talk on using military records and memorabilia to trace your ancestors.  The presenter gave four case studies from his own research, and he was very entertaining as well as informative.

The Toronto branch is hosting the annual province-wide meeting of the OGS, and requests went out for volunteers. I signed up to help with registration and/or introducing/thanking speakers.  I also registered for a course called Introduction to Family History Writing to be held in April.

On Tuesday, Wilson went to the groomers in the morning and got a really short cut (a shave really).  Now this 5 year old terrier mix looks like a golden retriever puppy!  But it's a great cut for him and keeps his light hair off the furniture (on those rare occasions he's allowed up.)   I also saw my optomestrist and ordered contact lenses and new lenses for my glasses.  The new ones will be a slightly different shape (I have a Silhouette rimless style) and have the transitions coating to provide sun protection.  This will (hopefully) mean that I dont' have to be constantly swapping specs when I'm outside.

Tuesday night, Z, Michael and I headed down to U of T's OISE Auditorium to hear The Great Time Debate, a discussion moderated by Dan Falk with speakers Richard Bond (U of T - Cosmologist),  James Robert Brown (U of T Philosophy),  and Lee Smolin (Perimeter Institute - Physicist).  The place was packed, and they had to turn away a couple of hundred people.  Very interesting concepts, and in particular, Smolin talked about the laws of nature as being a result of evolution:  that there is some kind cosmological natural selection where black holes give ruse to new universes ("births").  Kind of mind-blowing.

I had a hair appointment on Thursday and discussed the possibility of gradually growing out my grey using a combination of high lights and lowlights, rather than doing my usual all-over colour.  I'm pretty grey at the front and sides, and less so at the back, so we did partial highlights and I'm pretty happy about it.  It makes the demarcation line along my part much less noticeable, and I"ll be able to go for longer between appointments which is great.

Over Christmas when my mother-in-law was in town, Z took her to the Syrian Catholic Church for mass one Sunday.  It's pretty far west from us and everything is in Arabic/Syriac so we don't go there as a family.  But while they were there, my MIL told the priest that he should have visited us and blessed our house.  So we invited him for dinner Friday night.  When he arrived, I was surprised to see a man in a bishops cassock, red trim on black with a big cross and ring.  He had been elevated since the invite went out, and so we had our house blessed by a bishop!  The short liturgy was mostly in Syriac and Arabic, but we prayed the Our Father in English, and he blessed the food in English as well.  He also came with one of Z's cousins and a priest visiting from Lebanon.  We had a nice meal together with lots of conversation and laughter, and then they headed off.

Yesterday was a birthday party for my brother.  I brought over a squash and goat cheese lasagne and they had salad and bread and a birthday cake.  My aunts were there as well, and we had a nice visit.  The children were great to hang with and my five month old niece changes every time I see her!

National Broadcast Orchestra!

Spread the word!  The National Broadcast Orchestra has risen out the the ashes of the CBC Radio Orchestra.  Watch this preview/intro to this wonderful new Canadian gem.

National Broadcast Orchestra!

Spread the word!  The National Broadcast Orchestra has risen out the the ashes of the CBC Radio Orchestra.  Watch this preview/intro to this wonderful new Canadian gem.

It's hard to be hip and be taken seriously...

A link to this blog arrived in my twitter feed and it's just priceless.  It appears to be photos taken from Dwell ("At Home in the Modern World") with humorous captions appended:  The most recent post includes this photo....

....with the caption "You can come out when you can properly explain the differences between Modernist architecture and postmodern ornamentation."

Go see the rest at Unhappy Hipsters!

It's hard to be hip and be taken seriously...

A link to this blog arrived in my twitter feed and it's just priceless.  It appears to be photos taken from Dwell ("At Home in the Modern World") with humorous captions appended:  The most recent post includes this photo....

....with the caption "You can come out when you can properly explain the differences between Modernist architecture and postmodern ornamentation."

Go see the rest at Unhappy Hipsters!

Review: Jesus Lives by Sarah Young

This book of devotions is designed as a gift book, with glossy pages, a padded cover, ribbon book mark, and a presentation page following the flyleaf.  Each of the 180 devotions corresponds to an emotion, virtue or concern.  For example, there are meditations on "Joy", "Fear", "Emptiness", and "Right Living" among many others.  There is no discernible order for the devotions, but there is an alphabetical index at the front that directs you to all devotions on a particular topic.  Each devotion covers a two-page spread, with the left page containing the meditation, which is written as if in the voice of Jesus, with scripture passages presented on the right page.

The tone of the meditations is very soothing and pleasant, although I found it difficult to engage with the voice of Jesus in this book.  This is Ms Young's style, and it may be very helpful to some, but I found it distracting.  Catholics will find some of the theology off, but other passages will have alternative uses to those that the author intended.  The meditations on being in the Presence of Jesus could work very well at Eucharistic Adoration, not at all what the author intended, but beautiful nonetheless.  For example, one of the meditations on the topic "His Presence" begins:  "I want you to spend time with Me for the pure pleasure of being in My company. When you take delight in My Presence, you experience a foretaste of the eternal pleasures I have prepared for you...".

A lovely little book, although probably not suitable for an orthodox Catholic.

...

This book was provided for review free-of-charge through the Thomas Nelson Book Sneeze program.

Review: Jesus Lives by Sarah Young

This book of devotions is designed as a gift book, with glossy pages, a padded cover, ribbon book mark, and a presentation page following the flyleaf.  Each of the 180 devotions corresponds to an emotion, virtue or concern.  For example, there are meditations on "Joy", "Fear", "Emptiness", and "Right Living" among many others.  There is no discernible order for the devotions, but there is an alphabetical index at the front that directs you to all devotions on a particular topic.  Each devotion covers a two-page spread, with the left page containing the meditation, which is written as if in the voice of Jesus, with scripture passages presented on the right page.

The tone of the meditations is very soothing and pleasant, although I found it difficult to engage with the voice of Jesus in this book.  This is Ms Young's style, and it may be very helpful to some, but I found it distracting.  Catholics will find some of the theology off, but other passages will have alternative uses to those that the author intended.  The meditations on being in the Presence of Jesus could work very well at Eucharistic Adoration, not at all what the author intended, but beautiful nonetheless.  For example, one of the meditations on the topic "His Presence" begins:  "I want you to spend time with Me for the pure pleasure of being in My company. When you take delight in My Presence, you experience a foretaste of the eternal pleasures I have prepared for you...".

A lovely little book, although probably not suitable for an orthodox Catholic.

...

This book was provided for review free-of-charge through the Thomas Nelson Book Sneeze program.

A Simple Post on Simplifying

I rarely print out content from blogs or websites, but yesterday's guest post at Zen Family Habits had me hitting the print button.  Called 43 Simple Ways to Simplify Your Life, it was a list of great ideas that are short and sweet.  A list of some things that I'd already implemented and some things I need to get a handle on.  The tips range from keeping a gratitude journal to keeping spare garbage bin liners in the bottom of the bin.  I could benefit from both.

Zen Family Habits is a sister site to Zen Habits, another inhabitant of my feedreader, and full of sane advice about keeping it simple and real.  For example, it reminded me to get to bed early, one of my resolutions and something that I've fallen out of doing so soon into the new year.  Same with weekly meal planning;  I need to get back on that bandwagon.

For the next 30 days, Leo over at Zen Habits is giving every penny of sales from three of his ebooks to Doctors without Borders, so if you're interested in this kind of lifestyle, head over there and get one.  They're all under $10.

A Simple Post on Simplifying

I rarely print out content from blogs or websites, but yesterday's guest post at Zen Family Habits had me hitting the print button.  Called 43 Simple Ways to Simplify Your Life, it was a list of great ideas that are short and sweet.  A list of some things that I'd already implemented and some things I need to get a handle on.  The tips range from keeping a gratitude journal to keeping spare garbage bin liners in the bottom of the bin.  I could benefit from both.

Zen Family Habits is a sister site to Zen Habits, another inhabitant of my feedreader, and full of sane advice about keeping it simple and real.  For example, it reminded me to get to bed early, one of my resolutions and something that I've fallen out of doing so soon into the new year.  Same with weekly meal planning;  I need to get back on that bandwagon.

For the next 30 days, Leo over at Zen Habits is giving every penny of sales from three of his ebooks to Doctors without Borders, so if you're interested in this kind of lifestyle, head over there and get one.  They're all under $10.

Hope for Haiti Now

What a great collection! Get it now at iTunes or amazon.com.

This has got to be one of the best music deals going right now, with 20 tracks from some terrific musicians for $7.99.

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY

January 25, 2010...

Outside my window....it's wet and warm.  6C (about 43F) which is wacky in this big Canadian city.  The local liquor store has blue and white banners reading "Winter Romance" outside, which look silly considering the grime, water, and greyness of the neighborhood.
I am thinking...about the recent airlift by Air Canada employees of supplies into, and children out of Haiti.  Read more from my favorite priest/writer Raymond De Souza.
I am thankful for... lunch out with all three of my men yesterday.  It was great having Alex home from Queen's this weekend.
I am learning... to let go of my stuff.  This decluttering process can be painful, but ultimately brings peace.
From the kitchen...I haven't got a clue right now.  But I still have frozen black bananas to be used up so I"m likely going to bake this afternoon.  There are also some apples ready to be milled for applesauce.
I am wearing...v-neck striped tee, black (really grey at this point) jeans, black socks.
I am creating... a mental list of crafts to start working on for an Advent craft/bake sale the Catholic Women's League is planning.  I'm trying to think of relatively inexpensive crafts that are marketable to a wide range of women.  I'm thinking knitted mitts and wrist-warmers, sets of 4 quilted coasters (great stash-buster), embroidered tea-towels (maybe using some of these patterns)...
I am going...to my second meeting of the Toronto Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society tonight.
I am reading...  Last Night in Twisted River by John Irving.
I am hoping... that Alex is ready to turn off the distractions and get down to work.
I am hearing...far too much about Brangelina.  I mean, really...who cares???
Around the house...I"m full steam ahead on decluttering our living room, and am almost finished the bookcases.  Next up is a TV armoire that we want to sell, but I have to empty it of all the linens, candles, knitting supplies, and other stuff first.
One of my favorite things...is my iPhone.  Seriously, I know it's pathetic, but how much can a person be in love with an electronic device?
A few plans for the rest of the week: OGS meeting tonight, optometrist appt tomorrow morning, Wilson to the groomers, and then an interesting-looking debate on the nature of time tomorrow at 7pm (we're all going). Thursday is my cut and colour where I broach the subject of growing out my grey via creative use of highlights and lowlight with my stylist, and then Saturday night is (I think) a birthday party for my brother.  Note to self:  get a gift.
Here is picture for thought I am sharing... Would you not love some retro-atomic kitty cats on tea towels gracing your kitchen?  Pattern from Sublime Stitching's Cat-a-Rama collection.

Or what about this cute java-jacket from Coyote Craft featuring a caffeine molecule?

Head on over to The Simple Woman's Daybook to read other participants thoughts!

Hope for Haiti Now

What a great collection! Get it now at iTunes or amazon.com.

This has got to be one of the best music deals going right now, with 20 tracks from some terrific musicians for $7.99.

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY

January 25, 2010...

Outside my window....it's wet and warm.  6C (about 43F) which is wacky in this big Canadian city.  The local liquor store has blue and white banners reading "Winter Romance" outside, which look silly considering the grime, water, and greyness of the neighborhood.
I am thinking...about the recent airlift by Air Canada employees of supplies into, and children out of Haiti.  Read more from my favorite priest/writer Raymond De Souza.
I am thankful for... lunch out with all three of my men yesterday.  It was great having Alex home from Queen's this weekend.
I am learning... to let go of my stuff.  This decluttering process can be painful, but ultimately brings peace.
From the kitchen...I haven't got a clue right now.  But I still have frozen black bananas to be used up so I"m likely going to bake this afternoon.  There are also some apples ready to be milled for applesauce.
I am wearing...v-neck striped tee, black (really grey at this point) jeans, black socks.
I am creating... a mental list of crafts to start working on for an Advent craft/bake sale the Catholic Women's League is planning.  I'm trying to think of relatively inexpensive crafts that are marketable to a wide range of women.  I'm thinking knitted mitts and wrist-warmers, sets of 4 quilted coasters (great stash-buster), embroidered tea-towels (maybe using some of these patterns)...
I am going...to my second meeting of the Toronto Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society tonight.
I am reading...  Last Night in Twisted River

 by John Irving.
I am hoping... that Alex is ready to turn off the distractions and get down to work.
I am hearing...far too much about Brangelina.  I mean, really...who cares???
Around the house...I"m full steam ahead on decluttering our living room, and am almost finished the bookcases.  Next up is a TV armoire that we want to sell, but I have to empty it of all the linens, candles, knitting supplies, and other stuff first.
One of my favorite things...is my iPhone.  Seriously, I know it's pathetic, but how much can a person be in love with an electronic device?
A few plans for the rest of the week: OGS meeting tonight, optometrist appt tomorrow morning, Wilson to the groomers, and then an interesting-looking debate on the nature of time tomorrow at 7pm (we're all going). Thursday is my cut and colour where I broach the subject of growing out my grey via creative use of highlights and lowlight with my stylist, and then Saturday night is (I think) a birthday party for my brother.  Note to self:  get a gift.
Here is picture for thought I am sharing... Would you not love some retro-atomic kitty cats on tea towels gracing your kitchen?  Pattern from Sublime Stitching's Cat-a-Rama collection.

Or what about this cute java-jacket from Coyote Craft featuring a caffeine molecule?

Head on over to The Simple Woman's Daybook to read other participants thoughts!

Weekend Report

Alex was home for the weekend from Queen's and it was great to see him.  Z arrived home on the red-eye early Friday morning from Santa Clara, bearing gifts...Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate Upgrade, LOL!  I received Windows 7 Home Premium for Christmas, so I passed that on to Alex and kept the new one.

On Saturday evening we had tickets for the TSO, and innovative program called Beyond the Score, developed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.  It mixes multimedia and live narration with the orchestra and soloist to deliver an entertaining and educational experience around a piece of music.  Saturday night we heard Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 27 with pianist/conductor Ignat Solzhenitsyn (who was fabulous), narrator Peter Oundjian (the TSO's Music Director and Principal Conductor) and actor Paul Gross who voiced the various roles.  The first half of the program was the multimedia program (you can download the Chicago Symphony program here) and then after intermission, we heard the Concerto straight through.  It was a wonderful performance, and a great learning experience.

Before the concert we checked out a French restaurant down the street called Le Saint Tropez. It was quite nice, with very good service.  We shared fish cakes and mussels to start and then Z had lamb shanks and I had tiger shrimp in Pernod.  It wasn't mind-blowing, but a pleasant meal out nonetheless.

Today, was nice and slow.  Choir and mass this morning,  Japanese food at Seoul House with the boys, and then home to push Michael through a science project, which he is still working on.  Alex is gone, and everything has quieted down.

Weekend Report

Alex was home for the weekend from Queen's and it was great to see him.  Z arrived home on the red-eye early Friday morning from Santa Clara, bearing gifts...Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate Upgrade

, LOL!  I received Windows 7 Home Premium for Christmas, so I passed that on to Alex and kept the new one.

On Saturday evening we had tickets for the TSO, and innovative program called Beyond the Score, developed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.  It mixes multimedia and live narration with the orchestra and soloist to deliver an entertaining and educational experience around a piece of music.  Saturday night we heard Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 27 with pianist/conductor Ignat Solzhenitsyn (who was fabulous), narrator Peter Oundjian (the TSO's Music Director and Principal Conductor) and actor Paul Gross who voiced the various roles.  The first half of the program was the multimedia program (you can download the Chicago Symphony program here) and then after intermission, we heard the Concerto straight through.  It was a wonderful performance, and a great learning experience.

Before the concert we checked out a French restaurant down the street called Le Saint Tropez. It was quite nice, with very good service.  We shared fish cakes and mussels to start and then Z had lamb shanks and I had tiger shrimp in Pernod.  It wasn't mind-blowing, but a pleasant meal out nonetheless.

Today, was nice and slow.  Choir and mass this morning,  Japanese food at Seoul House with the boys, and then home to push Michael through a science project, which he is still working on.  Alex is gone, and everything has quieted down.

Seven Quick Takes Friday

--1--

For the past week, I have been trying the so-called "no-poo" method of hair management.  This involves ditching shampoo and using a baking soda paste to "wash" and some apple cider (or other) vinegar as a rinse/conditioner.  I have to say, it's working remarkably well!  I don't have before and after pics, but my hair is much smoother and less frizzy than normal.  I can also go an extra day (or two) between washes, which is a good thing with my coarse mop.  The second time I did it, I forgot to get some vinegar so I just skipped that step and it was still fine!  I'm using my regular styling products plus a new tool....

--2--

Ever since I've started growing my hair out, I have bemoaned the fact that I can't get it to lie flat like my stylist can, with just a hair dryer and a round brush.  I can't seem to put the hair tight enough to dry it flat, and let's just forget about the back side of my head.  I had been contemplating getting a flat iron for some time, and I picked one up at Winners earlier this week.  Can I just say that I lurve it.  Seriously.  I am not a hair freak in any way, nor do I pay very much attention to my appearance in general, but this little (zebra-striped) baby is fabulous!  I'm probably frying my hair or something, but it gets it nice and straight and kind of soft.  I'm a convert.

--3--

While we're on the subject of hair, I am considering letting my grey grow out.  I estimate that I'm over 50% grey, at least at the front.  After perusing Going Gray Looking Great and requesting the book at the library, I'm going to talk to my stylist and see if she can do some magic with a combination of low-lights and highlights to let my grey come in without looking like a skunk.

--4--

Okay, enough about my hair.  (And I said that I didn't really care about it....)  The Declutter Club started on Monday with an online chat for an hour, which was great.  There were over a dozen of us online, plus some who couldn't make it.  I've been working hard on getting my living room bookshelves into shape, purging books, listing some to sell, giving some away, and generally sorting through all kinds of papers and junk that I had stuffed in various places.  Next week, I will start working on a large former TV cabinet that I'm now using for linen and candle storage.  I want to get this unit out of my house, so I've got to find a home for all the stuff inside it.

--5--

The print editions of the National Post and The Star reported that Target is considering coming to Canada in the next 3-5 years.  Target, along with Trader Joes, were the big losses when we left the US 2-1/2 years ago.    Oh, and real barbeque.  Heavenly days!

--6--

Alex is coming home from Queen's for the weekend.  Apparently, a lot of people are going skiing this weekend and he'll find it hard to study.  Yes, you read that right.  We'll see how much studying gets done at home.  And I need to remind him to turn off his file-sharing software on his computer....luckily for us Bell caps internet overusage at $30 per month.  We could have been hit by an extra $300 last month for whatever it is that he does.

--7--

I requested and received reservations for two papal masses when we're in Rome over Easter.  We'll be able to attend the Holy Thursday mass at St. John Lateran (cool VR tour) and the Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter's.  Those letters are my favorite faxes of all time!  Now I need to book a tour of the Vatican Museum.

Seven Quick Takes Friday

--1--

For the past week, I have been trying the so-called "no-poo" method of hair management.  This involves ditching shampoo and using a baking soda paste to "wash" and some apple cider (or other) vinegar as a rinse/conditioner.  I have to say, it's working remarkably well!  I don't have before and after pics, but my hair is much smoother and less frizzy than normal.  I can also go an extra day (or two) between washes, which is a good thing with my coarse mop.  The second time I did it, I forgot to get some vinegar so I just skipped that step and it was still fine!  I'm using my regular styling products plus a new tool....

--2--

Ever since I've started growing my hair out, I have bemoaned the fact that I can't get it to lie flat like my stylist can, with just a hair dryer and a round brush.  I can't seem to put the hair tight enough to dry it flat, and let's just forget about the back side of my head.  I had been contemplating getting a flat iron for some time, and I picked one up at Winners earlier this week.  Can I just say that I lurve it.  Seriously.  I am not a hair freak in any way, nor do I pay very much attention to my appearance in general, but this little (zebra-striped) baby is fabulous!  I'm probably frying my hair or something, but it gets it nice and straight and kind of soft.  I'm a convert.

--3--

While we're on the subject of hair, I am considering letting my grey grow out.  I estimate that I'm over 50% grey, at least at the front.  After perusing Going Gray Looking Great and requesting the book at the library, I'm going to talk to my stylist and see if she can do some magic with a combination of low-lights and highlights to let my grey come in without looking like a skunk.

--4--

Okay, enough about my hair.  (And I said that I didn't really care about it....)  The Declutter Club started on Monday with an online chat for an hour, which was great.  There were over a dozen of us online, plus some who couldn't make it.  I've been working hard on getting my living room bookshelves into shape, purging books, listing some to sell, giving some away, and generally sorting through all kinds of papers and junk that I had stuffed in various places.  Next week, I will start working on a large former TV cabinet that I'm now using for linen and candle storage.  I want to get this unit out of my house, so I've got to find a home for all the stuff inside it.

--5--

The print editions of the National Post and The Star reported that Target is considering coming to Canada in the next 3-5 years.  Target, along with Trader Joes, were the big losses when we left the US 2-1/2 years ago.    Oh, and real barbeque.  Heavenly days!

--6--

Alex is coming home from Queen's for the weekend.  Apparently, a lot of people are going skiing this weekend and he'll find it hard to study.  Yes, you read that right.  We'll see how much studying gets done at home.  And I need to remind him to turn off his file-sharing software on his computer....luckily for us Bell caps internet overusage at $30 per month.  We could have been hit by an extra $300 last month for whatever it is that he does.

--7--

I requested and received reservations for two papal masses when we're in Rome over Easter.  We'll be able to attend the Holy Thursday mass at St. John Lateran (cool VR tour) and the Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter's.  Those letters are my favorite faxes of all time!  Now I need to book a tour of the Vatican Museum.

Prayers of the People

I try to keep a positive attitude at mass, and I'm pretty much able to do that.  The only exception, at least in my current parish, is the petitions or "prayers of the people".

Too often they turn into either little exhortations on the issue of the day, or a kind of substitute announcement.  An example of both of these rolled into one petition(!) would be:  "For all those suffering due to abusive practices of mining companies, who pollute the ground waters in [country x] with illegal dumping of [chemical y], for which there will be a meeting of the parish's development and peace group on Monday at 7 pm, we pray to the Lord."

Sigh.

First of all, the Lord knows when the meeting is.  We don't need to include it in the prayer.  And the Lord knows about company x and chemical y.  Can we not just pray for the suffering of the world?

George Weigel has an excellent column in the Denver Catholic Register, suggesting that at least at some masses, the petitions be routinized.  His formula goes like this:

For the holy Church of God throughout the world, let us pray to the Lord.

For Benedict, Bishop of Rome, and the bishops in communion with him, let us pray to the Lord.

For this local Church of [name of diocese], for [name of bishop], its chief shepherd, and for the priests and deacons of [name of diocese], let us pray to the Lord.

For this parish of [patron of other name], its pastors and its people, let us pray to the Lord.

For an abundance of vocations to the priesthood and the consecrated life, let us pray to the Lord.

For the unity of all Christians, for the relief of those suffering persecution for their Christian faith, and for the conversion of their persecutors, let us pray to the Lord.

For the civil authorities, that we may be governed in justice and truth, let us pray to the Lord.

For those who are sick, and for all those with special needs, let us pray to the Lord.

For our beloved dead, let us pray to the Lord.

That, I suggest, covers the most important bases. Such a scheme also locates the local parish within the broader Christian community of the diocese, and locates the diocese within the ambit of the universal Church: facts about which Catholics in America often need reminding. And such a formulaic schema avoids politics while making clear that we should pray regularly that the politicos recognize both the responsibilities and limits of their power.

We pray to the Lord.

Prayers of the People

I try to keep a positive attitude at mass, and I'm pretty much able to do that.  The only exception, at least in my current parish, is the petitions or "prayers of the people".

Too often they turn into either little exhortations on the issue of the day, or a kind of substitute announcement.  An example of both of these rolled into one petition(!) would be:  "For all those suffering due to abusive practices of mining companies, who pollute the ground waters in [country x] with illegal dumping of [chemical y], for which there will be a meeting of the parish's development and peace group on Monday at 7 pm, we pray to the Lord."

Sigh.

First of all, the Lord knows when the meeting is.  We don't need to include it in the prayer.  And the Lord knows about company x and chemical y.  Can we not just pray for the suffering of the world?

George Weigel has an excellent column in the Denver Catholic Register, suggesting that at least at some masses, the petitions be routinized.  His formula goes like this:

For the holy Church of God throughout the world, let us pray to the Lord.

For Benedict, Bishop of Rome, and the bishops in communion with him, let us pray to the Lord.

For this local Church of [name of diocese], for [name of bishop], its chief shepherd, and for the priests and deacons of [name of diocese], let us pray to the Lord.

For this parish of [patron of other name], its pastors and its people, let us pray to the Lord.

For an abundance of vocations to the priesthood and the consecrated life, let us pray to the Lord.

For the unity of all Christians, for the relief of those suffering persecution for their Christian faith, and for the conversion of their persecutors, let us pray to the Lord.

For the civil authorities, that we may be governed in justice and truth, let us pray to the Lord.

For those who are sick, and for all those with special needs, let us pray to the Lord.

For our beloved dead, let us pray to the Lord.

That, I suggest, covers the most important bases. Such a scheme also locates the local parish within the broader Christian community of the diocese, and locates the diocese within the ambit of the universal Church: facts about which Catholics in America often need reminding. And such a formulaic schema avoids politics while making clear that we should pray regularly that the politicos recognize both the responsibilities and limits of their power.

We pray to the Lord.

RIP: Kate McGarrigle

I was very sad to read of the death of Kate McGarrigle.  She and her sister are huge in my musical memory.  There is something about their "blood harmony", that incredible sound of two sisters singing together, that is unforgettable.

I listened to their first two records over and over again.  Kate & Anna McGarrigle and Dancer with Bruised Knees.

Kate's death is a great loss.

RIP: Kate McGarrigle

I was very sad to read of the death of Kate McGarrigle.  She and her sister are huge in my musical memory.  There is something about their "blood harmony", that incredible sound of two sisters singing together, that is unforgettable.

I listened to their first two records over and over again.  Kate & Anna McGarrigle

 and Dancer with Bruised Knees

.

Kate's death is a great loss.

Jesus wept....

...and it wasn't about climate change.

Unbelievable tripe in the National Post today.  I'm embarrassed to say that I attended the United Church for a few years.

Mardi Tindal, the newly elected moderator of the United Church of Canada, returned from last month’s climate change summit in Copenhagen with a deep malaise. Not a true clinical depression, but an anxious despair that reduced her to weeping.

“The difference between depression and what I was experiencing is that I wasn’t suppressing or finding myself in a place of isolation,” she said in an interview about her “lament,” and how it helped her to see “the truth about the condition of my own soul.”

She was so disappointed by the meeting’s failure to reach a binding deal that she broke down in the car one day as her husband drove toward their home church in Brantford, Ont.

“I simply wept. My tears were quiet, but I spoke through them, and I was being listened to. My husband said, ‘There is great power in what you have just said, and it is a powerful message that makes clear why you are weeping.’”

“And I said, ‘Doug, I’m weeping for the millions of lives that have been lost as a result of what did and did not happen in Copenhagen,” Ms. Tindal said. “My experience was that I had a place to go with my tears and my lament.... It’s an expression of pain for the world’s suffering.”

Don't bother reading the rest.

Jesus wept....

...and it wasn't about climate change.

Unbelievable tripe in the National Post today.  I'm embarrassed to say that I attended the United Church for a few years.

Mardi Tindal, the newly elected moderator of the United Church of Canada, returned from last month’s climate change summit in Copenhagen with a deep malaise. Not a true clinical depression, but an anxious despair that reduced her to weeping.

“The difference between depression and what I was experiencing is that I wasn’t suppressing or finding myself in a place of isolation,” she said in an interview about her “lament,” and how it helped her to see “the truth about the condition of my own soul.”

She was so disappointed by the meeting’s failure to reach a binding deal that she broke down in the car one day as her husband drove toward their home church in Brantford, Ont.

“I simply wept. My tears were quiet, but I spoke through them, and I was being listened to. My husband said, ‘There is great power in what you have just said, and it is a powerful message that makes clear why you are weeping.’”

“And I said, ‘Doug, I’m weeping for the millions of lives that have been lost as a result of what did and did not happen in Copenhagen,” Ms. Tindal said. “My experience was that I had a place to go with my tears and my lament.... It’s an expression of pain for the world’s suffering.”

Don't bother reading the rest.

FOR TODAY

January 18, 2010...

Outside my window....it's grey, mild, and damp.  Must remember to put Wilson's coat on for our walk as his pale beige coat will get filthy!
I am thinking...about the fun afternoon and evening I spent with my brother and his children yesterday; a trip to the ROM, dinner, and bedtime.
I am thankful for... a great evening out with new friends on Friday night.
I am learning... that with the right motivation, I can be very disciplined with diet and exercise. It would have been better to start that before the motivation kicked in, but whatever!
From the kitchen...it's just Michael and me this week, so I'll be preparing some tasty but simple meals for two.
I am wearing...black light-weight trousers, striped cotton sweater.  Bare feet.
I am creating... a peaceful master bedroom.  Still a work in progress.
I am going...to attend the first online chat tonight with the declutter group I'm joining!
I am reading...Logicomix: An Epic Search for Truth by Apostolos Doxiadis and Christos Papadimitriou and  Last Night in Twisted River by John Irving.
I am hoping...for a good turnout at our first general meeting of the parish Catholic Women's League on Wednesday night.
I am hearing...Z typing upstairs in his office. Oh...the fax is going off....it's a fax from the Vatican!  Saying that we have tickets for the Holy Thursday mass at St. John Lateran!  Seriously, folks.  A fax from Prefettura Della Casa Pontificia.  You're the first to know.
Around the house...I'm backed up in the laundry department and need to take a load of stuff to Goodwill.  I have "sign-off" on the duvet cover for our room, so I hope to either pick it up this week or at least order it.
One of my favorite things...is the pink wool wrap/shawl that my MIL gave me a couple of years ago. It's a little wacky, with bright pink pompoms along the bottom edge, so it's not really something I wear outside the house, but it's very cozy!
A few plans for the rest of the week: declutter chat tonight, babysitting and feeding my nephews and neice on Tuesday evening, Catholic Women's League  general meeting on Wednesday, and a TSO Concert ("Beyond the Score" Mozart Piano Concerto 27 with narration by Paul Gross) on Saturday night!
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

Here's my dog Wilson having a snooze in his kitchen bed.  Perhaps he needs a bigger one, LOL!

Head on over to The Simple Woman's Daybook to read other participants thoughts!

Untitled

FOR TODAY

January 18, 2010...

Outside my window....it's grey, mild, and damp.  Must remember to put Wilson's coat on for our walk as his pale beige coat will get filthy!
I am thinking...about the fun afternoon and evening I spent with my brother and his children yesterday; a trip to the ROM, dinner, and bedtime.
I am thankful for... a great evening out with new friends on Friday night.
I am learning... that with the right motivation, I can be very disciplined with diet and exercise. It would have been better to start that before the motivation kicked in, but whatever!
From the kitchen...it's just Michael and me this week, so I'll be preparing some tasty but simple meals for two.
I am wearing...black light-weight trousers, striped cotton sweater.  Bare feet.
I am creating... a peaceful master bedroom.  Still a work in progress.
I am going...to attend the first online chat tonight with the declutter group I'm joining!
I am reading...Logicomix: An Epic Search for Truth

by Apostolos Doxiadis and Christos Papadimitriou and  Last Night in Twisted River

by John Irving.
I am hoping...for a good turnout at our first general meeting of the parish Catholic Women's League on Wednesday night.
I am hearing...Z typing upstairs in his office. Oh...the fax is going off....it's a fax from the Vatican!  Saying that we have tickets for the Holy Thursday mass at St. John Lateran!  Seriously, folks.  A fax from Prefettura Della Casa Pontificia.  You're the first to know.
Around the house...I'm backed up in the laundry department and need to take a load of stuff to Goodwill.  I have "sign-off" on the duvet cover for our room, so I hope to either pick it up this week or at least order it.
One of my favorite things...is the pink wool wrap/shawl that my MIL gave me a couple of years ago. It's a little wacky, with bright pink pompoms along the bottom edge, so it's not really something I wear outside the house, but it's very cozy!
A few plans for the rest of the week: declutter chat tonight, babysitting and feeding my nephews and neice on Tuesday evening, Catholic Women's League  general meeting on Wednesday, and a TSO Concert ("Beyond the Score" Mozart Piano Concerto 27 with narration by Paul Gross) on Saturday night!
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

Here's my dog Wilson having a snooze in his kitchen bed.  Perhaps he needs a bigger one, LOL!

Head on over to The Simple Woman's Daybook to read other participants thoughts!

Seven Quick Takes Friday

Welcome all Company Girls!

--1--

The last couple of days have been rather nerve-wracking, health-wise.  The night before last, I woke up at 3 am with stomach pains that wouldn't go away.  They continued all day yesterday and pretty much prevented me from doing anything....I only managed to take Wilson around the block, and I drove to the library to drop off and pick up books.  My blood pressure was also up. Quite a bit.

I kept reading these websites about how heart attacks in women can mimic indigestion, etc, and was getting a bit freaked out. We didn't have anything in the house for stomach ailments, and I didn't really feel like eating.  I forced down some plain yogurt and a couple of bananas over the day (and a cookie)  and basically lay on the sofa with a book.

My stomach was still bothering me last night when I went to bed, but it's all better this morning.  I have a headache, and my bp is still up, but hopefully it will subside as I start to feel better.  At least I'm up for errands and housework today.  And dinner out with friends tonight.

--2--

One of the "benefits" of being under the weather is getting some reading done.  Yesterday, I read the Philip Roth novella The Humbling.  Very dark and intense story of a successful, aging actor who can no longer work.

--3--

I also got NutureShock: New Thinking About Children: by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman from the library (again).  This is the third time I've checked it out but I've never been able to get it read before having to return it.  I"m halfway through and it's a book that I wish I'd had when my kids were young.  So many important insights, but mainly it's a debunking of many of the prevailing child-rearing tenets.  Like praise.  Like talking about race.  Like gifted testing in the early years. Like TV makes you fat.   Highly recommended reading for all parents of all ages.

--4--

I have a couple of resolutions from the book above regarding Michael.  First, it is imperative that he gets more sleep every night.  To that end, the laptop, iPod, and phone will be turned off at 10 and  left outside his room at night.  Second, he needs to understand that his brain is like a muscle, and the more he uses it, the more it grows.  He needs to start doing more work at school, more than is required by his teachers, if he is to keep it growing.   He has decided to drop Japanese for the rest of the year....he was quite far behind and unable to catch up, so we have let him stop going.  In it's place, we've registered him in the Saturday Science and Engineering Academy at University of Toronto.  Their spring program is ten weeks, starting next month, and he'll be taking the Math and Physics for Engineering program for students in Grade 9 and 10.

--5--

There are a couple of new TV shows that we're enjoying.  The Republic of Doyle is a charming hour-long detective show set in St. John's, Newfoundland.  The main characters are a father and son, who share a house with the father's lady-friend and the son's daughter.  The son is going through a divorce and his soon-to-be-ex-wife is also featured prominently.  The dialogue is fast and funny, and the scenery is gorgeous. The show has a retro buzz about it and is thoroughly engaging.

We also watched the first episode of the HBO production of Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures, an adaptation of the Giller award winning book of the same name by Vincent Lam.  The show really pulled us in, and is complex with flashbacks, fantasy scenes, and unanswered questions about why certain things are happening.  Another one for the PVR.

--6--

This Saturday, Z, Michael and I are heading to Koerner Hall to see Quartetto Gelato and Ethel.  Should be a high energy evening!  Check them out:

Ethel

--7--

The online Declutter Group I've joined starts on Monday!  I"m looking forward to having a focussed approach to getting the house in order as well as the accountability of doing it in a group.  There are still spots, if anyone's interested in joining me!

That's all for today!  I"m off to get my house in order and run some errands.

Seven Quick Takes Friday

Welcome all Company Girls!

--1--

The last couple of days have been rather nerve-wracking, health-wise.  The night before last, I woke up at 3 am with stomach pains that wouldn't go away.  They continued all day yesterday and pretty much prevented me from doing anything....I only managed to take Wilson around the block, and I drove to the library to drop off and pick up books.  My blood pressure was also up. Quite a bit.

I kept reading these websites about how heart attacks in women can mimic indigestion, etc, and was getting a bit freaked out. We didn't have anything in the house for stomach ailments, and I didn't really feel like eating.  I forced down some plain yogurt and a couple of bananas over the day (and a cookie)  and basically lay on the sofa with a book.

My stomach was still bothering me last night when I went to bed, but it's all better this morning.  I have a headache, and my bp is still up, but hopefully it will subside as I start to feel better.  At least I'm up for errands and housework today.  And dinner out with friends tonight.

--2--

One of the "benefits" of being under the weather is getting some reading done.  Yesterday, I read the Philip Roth novella The Humbling

.  Very dark and intense story of a successful, aging actor who can no longer work.

--3--

I also got NutureShock: New Thinking About Children:

by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman from the library (again).  This is the third time I've checked it out but I've never been able to get it read before having to return it.  I"m halfway through and it's a book that I wish I'd had when my kids were young.  So many important insights, but mainly it's a debunking of many of the prevailing child-rearing tenets.  Like praise.  Like talking about race.  Like gifted testing in the early years. Like TV makes you fat.   Highly recommended reading for all parents of all ages.

--4--

I have a couple of resolutions from the book above regarding Michael.  First, it is imperative that he gets more sleep every night.  To that end, the laptop, iPod, and phone will be turned off at 10 and  left outside his room at night.  Second, he needs to understand that his brain is like a muscle, and the more he uses it, the more it grows.  He needs to start doing more work at school, more than is required by his teachers, if he is to keep it growing.   He has decided to drop Japanese for the rest of the year....he was quite far behind and unable to catch up, so we have let him stop going.  In it's place, we've registered him in the Saturday Science and Engineering Academy at University of Toronto.  Their spring program is ten weeks, starting next month, and he'll be taking the Math and Physics for Engineering program for students in Grade 9 and 10.

--5--

There are a couple of new TV shows that we're enjoying.  The Republic of Doyle is a charming hour-long detective show set in St. John's, Newfoundland.  The main characters are a father and son, who share a house with the father's lady-friend and the son's daughter.  The son is going through a divorce and his soon-to-be-ex-wife is also featured prominently.  The dialogue is fast and funny, and the scenery is gorgeous. The show has a retro buzz about it and is thoroughly engaging.

We also watched the first episode of the HBO production of Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures, an adaptation of the Giller award winning book

of the same name by Vincent Lam.  The show really pulled us in, and is complex with flashbacks, fantasy scenes, and unanswered questions about why certain things are happening.  Another one for the PVR.

--6--

This Saturday, Z, Michael and I are heading to Koerner Hall to see Quartetto Gelato and Ethel.  Should be a high energy evening!  Check them out:

Ethel

--7--

The online Declutter Group I've joined starts on Monday!  I"m looking forward to having a focussed approach to getting the house in order as well as the accountability of doing it in a group.  There are still spots, if anyone's interested in joining me!

That's all for today!  I"m off to get my house in order and run some errands.