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"He descended into Hell" and more on iPads

Huh????

Seriously! That was the Zenit headline today.

"He Descended Into Hell"
And More on iPads

If you like me have been eyeing an iPad, you might think 'getting to hell is actually a relatively  easy path to walk. Hmmm, might not be such a bad place if they have iPads in stock for all the inhabitants.'


Seriously, Zenit! This is how you're saving souls?

Actually it was just an unfortunate news title. It was a question/answer section on question on the profession of faith and a follow-up about a previous question about the use of iPads in liturgical settings. It was an insightful piece reminding us that we set aside things to be used in liturgical practice because it's that special.

When we use something for a holy purpose and then also check email on it does it make it less holy? Not necessarily but it can lull us into drawing things down into the ordinary instead of lifting them up to the extra-ordinary. A wedding gown is worn on a special occasion. That being said, when traveling with wedding attire, it helps to pack light and that is where an iPad comes in handy.

I suppose I have grown a bit adjusted to using my iBrevary when I could easily use my Divine Office prayer books. Hmmm, food for thought.

Sound biblical advice on dating

Monkeyboy can't stand tomatoes. Some people can't stand LeBron.

I can't get the boy to eat tomatoes. He gags. He just doesn't like them. No amount of cooking, flavoring, grilling, or varying presentations changes that. So do I make him choke them down?


This is essentially what these IDIOTIC sports commentators are insisting everyone do with LeBron James. Dan Gilbert (Cav's owner) didn't outright congratulate LbJ on his ring. Why should he? Did any other NBA owner/team do so?


The media has made this a story and THEY want closure. Others might be more inclined to think LbJ is a douche-bag with a ring but in their opinion he will always be a douche-bag unless he does something to prove he's not. Proving he's not does not mean getting a ring. 


Mike and stand-in Ike this morning commented (in the 10 seconds I listened to them before switching them off) something like "people can't complain anymore that he's not a clutch player". Perhaps but you idiot it was never about his clutch play! That was an outlet to the underlying, "we can't stomach the guy". So take your ring and your tie tack and have a nice day.


To be completely honest, I am not a LbJ hater, never have been. I'm impressed with his talent but the sports commentators and media has made this such a huge issue that it's convincing me I need to not like the guy. If some people have hard feelings about LbJ, rubbing their noses in the fact that he has a ring isn't going to change their opinion.


Forgiveness doesn't mean you forget the douchey things someone's done. It doesn't mean you have to like someone. It doesn't mean you have to congratulate them. It may mean you have to battle through your own feelings to refrain from saying anything uncharitable. Is this what Dan Gilbert did in his tweet? I don't know as I can't read his mind or heart but I do know that he graciously thanked both teams for their finals performance and he refrained from saying anything uncharitable. Sometimes that's is all we are capable of stomaching.

I lost my wallet!

Seriously, I lose things on a continual basis. This is why I have house elves to fetch me my things that I leave just about anywhere. This morning I lost my wallet. Yep, for two days I lost my wallet but only realized it 2 days later. So I texted my friends because I was about to flip out and they prayed for me.

So if you too are in need of a prayer to St. Anthony:
Tony, Tony look around, something's lost that can't be found.

I was informed that I should have a permanent personal novena to St. Anthony.

Can you just shut up?

Oh, nevermind. I found the remote.

I'm a sports fan, not a fanatic, a fan. I'm not necessarily an NBA fan but I have watched with bemusement at OKC's run in the finals and they have been impressive. I've said all along to my friends and co-workers who can't stand LeBron James that I'm sorry, he's just a talented guy with talent on loan from God. I left out the part that I thought he'd be winning a title this year. No need to rub salt in the wound. I'm not an LBJ fan, I just call them like I see them.

These OKC/Heat games and announcers/ media are driving me crazy - short trip! I love watching/listening to Mike and Ike in the morning(ok it's mike and mike but ike is way cooler) but they are driving me to shut them off until they get off of their "NBA finals" rants cause I just can't stand it any longer.

Here's why:
1. The officiating, has been just a tad blatantly slanted towards LBJ. Seriously when your that talented do you want to even have the "appearance" of impropriety? It'll draw back from the talent that is already there. And yes, the officiating has been good for the most part but when the officials get told "No one's paying to see Kevin Durant on the sidelines", you think that's a helpful statement for the game. Then the blatant calls on anyone BUT Durant when fouling LBJ is just an embarrassment. What does the media say "yeah the Heat are getting a few calls their way but that doesn't change the outcome of a series" - Dude when the teams are that evenly matched, a few calls is all it takes to tip the balance.

2. LBJ will win 1 and then please can everyone just shut it! After A-ROiD finally won the series with the Yanks, yes everyone finally shut up and it became a non story so that everyone could get back to hating the Yankees. Seriously, does anyone really like that team outside of NY? (I have friends from other states congratulating me when my teams beat them!) We are united in our utter contempt of the Yanks and I'm sure it will be the same with LBJ. He can win, but that won't change the fact that most people think he's a douche-bag.

3. End the drama. Guys think they don't have drama. Puh-leeeese. Spare me. You guys are so freakin' dramatic. It's just not how girls are dramatic. Guys have their drama. Mike and Ike have been drama. Magic Johnson's comments, please dude stop, just stop. Take off your Richard Simmons spandex leotard and just stop. "I want to see him win." "It'll be good for him to finally get the win." "They're going to pull it out and get the win and then King James will finally get that prize!" What I tend to like about guys is that they can be clear thinking, factual and not get caught up in the emotive drama that chicks get drawn into but man, put a ball in play or boobs in the vicinity and they get all irrational.


My final take is that the Heat may win one, but OKC which is the real story here will win several. They have talent in a bottle, on a budget, working like a well oiled machine. Perhaps they lack the wisdom experience brings when playing in the finals but who on earth ever ever expected to see them in the Finals? The Heat (not LBJ, he's part of the team folks and he's finally playing like he's part of a team) might get the win but in the end it's the Thunder that steals the show. If they keep that team together, we will be seeing a whole lot more of them for years to come.

Has Hell frozen over?

News Flash: "In a surprise move Sister Carol Keehan, DC, president of the Catholic Health Association (CHA), has come out saying the association cannot accept the changes to the Health and Human Services (HHS) rules that require Catholic organizations to fund contraceptives and abortifacients."


What the, huh? Really?


Read it on Zenit

Hello Jesus

We held Eucharistic adoration for one of our groups who sacrifice their time and energy to minister to others.

I helped arrange this prayer time. I had no idea who would show up to this prayer session. I sent the invitations, I prayed and then I just let it go and hoped people would come and pray. Come and pray they did. What was most surprising to me was that the men of the group showed up. None of the ladies showed, except me but as I was organizing I don't suppose I count. I was perfectly ok being the lone lady as I relate better to guys than dolls anyway. It was amazing.

It was communion of heart and mind. Knowing that we minister to others perhaps not seeing the fruits of our labors for years or not at all takes a great deal of faith and commitment. Opening ourselves to being ministered to as part of our ministry takes humility but it is necessary. Ministry is not what you do. It's what you allow to happen. It happens in communion, not in isolation. This is a key difference between Christian service and community service. Community service is an activity that is done, a service. Christians exist to serve and to be served. Catholicism is a "both and" mentality and so many people don't get that. Jesus is both son and God. It's very easy to serve, to minister to others, but to be humble and allow someone to minister to you, to acknowledge that there is something incomplete, or in need of healing in ourselves takes humility and a certain amount of vulnerability.

As I informed the priest afterward, "You sucked, but Jesus was totally awesome!", it occurred to me that the whole humility thing... yeah well I need some work on that

Suits - "If he goes I go!"

Anybody a Suits fan? This is a great show and it's on Thursday nights on USA. The language as far as damning everything in sight is a bit dubious and gets tiresome. However, it is a great show with deep characters.

In an age when no one has morals or scruples, Harry Specter the lead attorney and closer may still not have them but he's a fascinating character. At the end of the last episode he stuck his neck out for Mike, his associate who lacks a very key component in being a lawyer, a law degree. One can argue that Harry doesn't make a move that's not calculated and where he's not assured of the outcome but still, it was admirable and maybe for all the wrong reasons but it was still admirable.

Top ten reasons not to say "Jesus, suck it!"

Here are the top 10 reasons why I should never be angry with God:

1. He's never wrong.

This makes me quite irritable at times. In fact it makes me even more cranky really but I have to stand in awe of his stats!

2. He just might decide to play fair.

I don't even want to consider what I would fairly deserve for all of my actions over my lifetime if he suddenly decided to play fair and grant me what fairness would dictate I should have. I'll take his mercy, every day. Thank God I can't exhaust his mercy, but I'm trying!

3. You will live to regret it.

Argue with him and you WILL grow in ways you never imagined. That being said, there are less painful ways to grow but sadly many of us need the holy 2x4 to whack us upside the head.

4. He makes the rules.

Which is why he has phenomenal stats. See #1.

5. He'll let you be angry with him.

It really doesn't bother him at all if I'm angry with him. It bothers me and that bothers me!

6. There's no excuse you can make to justify yourself

 other than mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa

7. He gives. He takes away.

Get over it or lump it.

8. You will always end up needing to apologize

This is because of #1.

9. When you get to #8, trust me there isn't even the possibility of make-up sex.

Which brings me to visit my confessor. In full disclosure however I don't do make-up sex. It's really rather mundane. I much prefer full on holy sex. It still falls short of heaven but eh.

and finally why I should never be angry with God:

10. Jesus never did it.

Be a loser like me!

The Peach pit has been singing this tune so blame her for the post.

What really motivates?

Fascinating!

Nun Run!

I always thought a nun run was what you did when you saw a nun. I have always had a particular aversion to nuns, not because I had a mean nun as a teacher but because of the wacky ones that I seem to run across. The doctrinal assessment conducted by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) has brought to light the wackiness. In fact Bishop Blair who recently conducted the assessment of the women religious commented about the assessment: "  What the CDF is concerned about, as I indicated, is the particular organization known as the LCWR. Its function, responsibilities and statutes were all originally approved by the Holy See, to which it remains accountable....What are the Church’s pastors to make of the fact that the LCWR constantly provides a one-sided platform — without challenge or any opposing view — to speakers who take a negative and critical position vis-a-vis Church doctrine and discipline and the Church’s teaching office?"

What kind of doctrinal positions do they take? These are the nuns who have "moved beyond Jesus and moved beyond the church" - what?? If Jesus is the mark and the standard, anything beyond is by definition off the mark and well off course. These ladies tend to get their panties in a wad about feminism. I don't think they have a clue what feminism is. It is not masculinity. It is not license to do what you want with your body. It is not rebellion.

It wasn't until I ran into some seriously dedicated and obedient nuns that I stood in awe of what a woman actually is. They were strong, happy, joyful and unmistakably feminine. They radiated what it is to be woman. They weren't weak. It's tough to be obedient. It's tough to be meek. Have you ever tried it? Some people think that obedience means you don't disagree and that you just follow without question and blindly. Untrue.

Obedience is stating your objections and reservations openly and honestly and then acting in accordance to what obedience demands. This at times takes heroic virtue and will. It's tough!

"Wives, be obedient to your husbands" - that line prickles doesn't it? It does if you don't understand what obedience is. I have to be obedient to husband. Does that mean I defer to him at all times? Does it mean that I have no mind of my own? Does it mean that I agree with all that he says or does? Does it mean that because I am the wage-earner and he is not that I'm the decision maker or that my place is higher than his? My place is next to him but he sees fit to elevate me. Humble yourselves and you shall be exalted.

I was at an ordination last month and one of the most amazing things was when the ordinati took his vow of obedience to the Bishop and his successor. I wondered about the ladies outside who were protesting the male only priesthood and I thought to myself, "Would any of the women ordination lot be able to take a vow of obedience?" The thing is they honestly think they are doing the right thing, standing outside of the cathedral protesting the ordination as the ordinati process into the cathedral on the most special day of their lives. Would any of them protest a wedding? A funeral? A hospital during the annointing of the sick? Second graders as they first take their Sacrament of the Eucharist? Baptisms? Why take the most special day for these ordinati and think that it's ok for them to try to ruin it by objecting to it? Did they ever once consider the individual or just themselves?

Honestly, I pray for these people and am very sad for them because they just don't get it. I hope they move beyond themselves and toward Jesus because he's the answer. He is always the answer.

Busted!

I recall I posted something about my lack of modesty around the house. When the boy caught me changing with the door open he said something like, "Really??? Is it that hard to do this?" and he shuts the door. So I agreed to pay him everytime he caught me undressed as an incentive to myself to remember to close doors when I change or go somewhere private instead of, oh say the kitchen where my workout clothes are because I left them there (and oh, btw is SO convenient just to whip off my shirt and change it. Seriously! What's the big deal?)

Today husband picked me up on the way to the gym and brought my gym clothes with him and Monkeyboy. As he was dropping me off at the park on his way, I conveniently changed in the car. I was out of my business suit and into my shorts, socks, and shoes. When I whipped off my shirt to donn my sportsbra, I hear from the back seat, "BUSTED! You owe me, papa and everyone who's seen you!"

Ok buddy, for the record, I do NOT pay papa for seeing me naked!

Bingo!

The kids were playing a car game. You know the one where they somehow keep themselves occupied by counting something or other. Well, I was completely oblivious to this game. All I understood was they were screeching out BINGO and then saying:

-no that doesn't count, that's not street legal

(What??? I thought to myself. What child says "street legal"??? I ask you)

So just for fun as I sat there I joined in and said, "BINGO" and the exchange went like this:

-"Aww, mom got one. That's 2 for me and 1 for you and one for mama."

So again I said "BINGO". 

-"Aww, mom got another one. That's 2 for me and 1 for you and 2 for mama. Mama and I are tied."

So again I said "BINGO". 

-"Mom got another one! That's 2 for me and 1 for you and 3 for mama. Mama's winning."

So again I said "BINGO". 

-"No way! That's 2 for me and 1 for you and 4 for mama."

So again I said "BINGO" and this time Peach says, "Oh, I see it too, BINGO."

To which I started just laughing because I didn't have a clue what they were counting. Of course Papa knew so he was laughing too. So then Monkeyboy catches me at it and says "Mama! You don't even know what we're counting. You didn't even see a yellow car, did you?"

"No, I didn't" to which Peach protested, "No, I saw it too that time."

No, honey you really didn't!

Clever Wireless network names

NCC74656

Yes, indeed. Someone named their wireless network after Star Trek Voyager.

I was amused.

Ray Bradbury died. Who?

My best friend texted me this bit of news and she was less than impressed with my quizzical reply
"Seriously? Did you really just ask me that?" was her reply.

If you too are one of the only people on the planet like me who has no idea who Ray Bradbury is, he is considered one of the pioneers of modern science fiction. In honor of him and due to the mocking and abuse I took from being so uninformed I composed a little poem:

Now I'll make sure to read about Ray Bradbury
while surfing the internet on my blackberry
as I scarf up delightful and delicious Cadbury
afterward I'm sure to watch something by Gene Roddenberry

The stars at night are big and bright

Deep in the heart of Fort Worth.

Downtown Fort Worth with it's cobblestone streets is just a beautiful sight.

You can take in a show at the Bass performance hall

If you look closely you can see the rooftop terrarium which is a nice little night club.

Or you can visit the Jazz club

And stay in a nearby motel or hotels. This one had it's one rooftop barbeque grill for the guests, only in Texas.

It's one of my favorite places to visit.