Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love." Jeremiah 31:3
A Franciscan Blessing (from an anonymous Friar)
May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart,
May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.
May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.
Bonne et heureuse année 2010!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Great Big Thank You
Photographs by musician, composer film maker, and Foundation Director, Dennis Sobin, Director of the Safe Streets Foundation, Washington, DC [ www.prisonsfoundation.org ]To the Choir Director at St. Matts at Midnight Mass.
And all Choir Directors everywhere.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Missing the Message Maybe
And Roosting Karma
Everyone is abuzz about the Pope getting jumped and tackled by a woman inside Saint Peter's. A cardinal is waiting surgery for a broken hip. Not nice- in fact criminal to assault anyone. Particularly upsetting at Christmas, even more upsetting during a church service.
But is it too easy to dismiss as the demonic derangement of a woman off her meds? A couple people (admittedly not Catholic) I know actually said "he deserved it but that's not nice at Christmastime."
At the Christmas church service I attended, a high up catholic clerical type in the pinnacle of his homily repeated that the pinnacle virtue is the Eucharist. This is of course, not correct. The pinnacle virtue is LOVE- the Eucharist is not a virtue, it is food for the journey and it is the 'real presence' of Christ with us, which means that it is a focal point of heaven touching earth- just as wherever and whenever, just as forcefully, real Love is present it is a focal point of heaven touching earth. God is Love. It's in the bible, read it.
Faith, Hope and Love, and the greatest of these is LOVE.
Why this "the greatest of these is the Eucharist" is such a dangerous mis-statement of the Heart of Jesus is because anything can be justified in the name of the Eucharist, giving far too much justifying power to do anything in the name of the Eucharist to protect the institutional organization that provides it- and even evil can be done in the name of the Eucharist and the Priests who serve it.
The Priests who serve it are all men. Single men. Men who have had the desire for intimate relations with women beaten out of them either by their own "immolations" or castigations from an emotionally castrating institution-all in the name of Holiness, virtue and the greatest virtue- ostensibly "the Eucharist." It thus creates a milieu ripe for abuse against women. An institutional discrimination against women persists in the misunderstanding that Jesus only wanted celibate priests to serve him- when he picked on purpose Peter, a married man, and the Holy spirit inspired scripture makes sure everyone knows that the man had a mother in law that he took care of. Emotionally and physically healthy women naturally understand Love in all its dimensions and manifestations, culminating in the supreme pinnacle of Love- incarnation. New Life. Childbirth. Like that in the manger you see in paper mache, plastic and plaster painted relief, rather than in the burping, smiling, cooing, suckling nursing flesh and blood of an infant child. Paper, plastic or flesh and blood- you choose.
Article after article is written about the issue of the abuse against minors, two billion dollars has been paid in the US alone in secret and not so secret settlements in the name of the highest pinnacle of virtue; the Eucharist. And the issue of abuse against women, when reported at all, is deemed such a litigation threat to even mention that archdiocese insurance dogs everywhere gnash their teeth at any woman people find too attractive for her choir robe.
So is it shocking or surprising that this confluence of arrogant institutional pride/conceit, theology off the rails, and brutal insensitivity has landed the Pope on the floor of the Vatican by an angry woman? No, it's surprising it hasn't happened sooner, and frankly, more often. Were I her criminal defense counsel I would argue "provocation in the heat of passion for the Love Of Christ."
Everyone is abuzz about the Pope getting jumped and tackled by a woman inside Saint Peter's. A cardinal is waiting surgery for a broken hip. Not nice- in fact criminal to assault anyone. Particularly upsetting at Christmas, even more upsetting during a church service.
But is it too easy to dismiss as the demonic derangement of a woman off her meds? A couple people (admittedly not Catholic) I know actually said "he deserved it but that's not nice at Christmastime."
At the Christmas church service I attended, a high up catholic clerical type in the pinnacle of his homily repeated that the pinnacle virtue is the Eucharist. This is of course, not correct. The pinnacle virtue is LOVE- the Eucharist is not a virtue, it is food for the journey and it is the 'real presence' of Christ with us, which means that it is a focal point of heaven touching earth- just as wherever and whenever, just as forcefully, real Love is present it is a focal point of heaven touching earth. God is Love. It's in the bible, read it.
Faith, Hope and Love, and the greatest of these is LOVE.
Why this "the greatest of these is the Eucharist" is such a dangerous mis-statement of the Heart of Jesus is because anything can be justified in the name of the Eucharist, giving far too much justifying power to do anything in the name of the Eucharist to protect the institutional organization that provides it- and even evil can be done in the name of the Eucharist and the Priests who serve it.
The Priests who serve it are all men. Single men. Men who have had the desire for intimate relations with women beaten out of them either by their own "immolations" or castigations from an emotionally castrating institution-all in the name of Holiness, virtue and the greatest virtue- ostensibly "the Eucharist." It thus creates a milieu ripe for abuse against women. An institutional discrimination against women persists in the misunderstanding that Jesus only wanted celibate priests to serve him- when he picked on purpose Peter, a married man, and the Holy spirit inspired scripture makes sure everyone knows that the man had a mother in law that he took care of. Emotionally and physically healthy women naturally understand Love in all its dimensions and manifestations, culminating in the supreme pinnacle of Love- incarnation. New Life. Childbirth. Like that in the manger you see in paper mache, plastic and plaster painted relief, rather than in the burping, smiling, cooing, suckling nursing flesh and blood of an infant child. Paper, plastic or flesh and blood- you choose.
Article after article is written about the issue of the abuse against minors, two billion dollars has been paid in the US alone in secret and not so secret settlements in the name of the highest pinnacle of virtue; the Eucharist. And the issue of abuse against women, when reported at all, is deemed such a litigation threat to even mention that archdiocese insurance dogs everywhere gnash their teeth at any woman people find too attractive for her choir robe.
So is it shocking or surprising that this confluence of arrogant institutional pride/conceit, theology off the rails, and brutal insensitivity has landed the Pope on the floor of the Vatican by an angry woman? No, it's surprising it hasn't happened sooner, and frankly, more often. Were I her criminal defense counsel I would argue "provocation in the heat of passion for the Love Of Christ."
The Message of Christmas is INCARNATION-
Love of God that was so fierce, so real, so true, so powerful it was INCARNATED in human flesh
so he could save humanity and reach it where it lived.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Ciao Benny
Send the Pope an E-Christmas Card-
he's not afriad of email e-discovery (like who in their right mind listens to litigators about love).
www.Pope2You.net
You can even upload pictures (your kids, your dog, yourself) with a cheery Merry Christmas message. I wonder if he writes back. Let me know. When is the Vatican running the 'cutest kid on the planet' contest because I want to enter my three year old miracle baby boy nephew Jack.
This is actually real- the Vatican is more techy-savvy than your local computer geek- the Pope is on the i-phone, i-tunes, Facebook and has his own YouTube Channel. Get with the program people!
he's not afriad of email e-discovery (like who in their right mind listens to litigators about love).
www.Pope2You.net
You can even upload pictures (your kids, your dog, yourself) with a cheery Merry Christmas message. I wonder if he writes back. Let me know. When is the Vatican running the 'cutest kid on the planet' contest because I want to enter my three year old miracle baby boy nephew Jack.
This is actually real- the Vatican is more techy-savvy than your local computer geek- the Pope is on the i-phone, i-tunes, Facebook and has his own YouTube Channel. Get with the program people!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Lets Play Jeopardy
He Believed His Dreams Over the Maddening Crowds
Question: Why did God pick Joseph to be Jesus ' earthly stepdad?
Mary was pregnant. It wasn't his. That is all he knew 'in the natural.' It looks pretty darn grim in the natural sometimes. Looks like the person you love and wanted to marry is so evil she should be buried alive which is what they wanted to do to her- it was a stonable offense. Too bad to entertain the thought- they are going to just kill her off.
But God talked to Joseph by sending Gabriel in a dream to let him know- it's OK- it's not what it looks like. Looks pretty bad, I know- but don't be afraid. It's all part of the plan. It's all going to be so awesome you can't even imagine it now.
He didn't see it in the natural. Didn't make sense. Plus he had to drag her all the way to Bethlehem to register for the census where he was born- on a donkey. How fun was that?
It looks like not only a curse but a burden. And how was he supposed to pay for the two of them when he got there?
Things often look grim. That is what Faith is for.
There is a sign on top of Macy's this year. It says simply "BELIEVE"
BELIEVE in your dreams. They are real.
Question: Why did God pick Joseph to be Jesus ' earthly stepdad?
Mary was pregnant. It wasn't his. That is all he knew 'in the natural.' It looks pretty darn grim in the natural sometimes. Looks like the person you love and wanted to marry is so evil she should be buried alive which is what they wanted to do to her- it was a stonable offense. Too bad to entertain the thought- they are going to just kill her off.
But God talked to Joseph by sending Gabriel in a dream to let him know- it's OK- it's not what it looks like. Looks pretty bad, I know- but don't be afraid. It's all part of the plan. It's all going to be so awesome you can't even imagine it now.
He didn't see it in the natural. Didn't make sense. Plus he had to drag her all the way to Bethlehem to register for the census where he was born- on a donkey. How fun was that?
It looks like not only a curse but a burden. And how was he supposed to pay for the two of them when he got there?
Things often look grim. That is what Faith is for.
There is a sign on top of Macy's this year. It says simply "BELIEVE"
BELIEVE in your dreams. They are real.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Bite Me
Eat Me, No Really.
Did you know that the French word in the infinitive for eat is "manger" pronounced "monjay." It's similar to the Italian "mange." The Old English, which borrowed from the Norman French pronounced it differently- it's where we get the word Manger, as in the Creche scene. The manger was actually believed to be a feeding trough for animals in a barn. It was full of hay because that is what cows and horses chomped on. It's possible that the donkey cleaned it out first before laying Jesus in it-he would have been rather hungry carting a pregnant woman all that way all day and night. It is also possible that the French word for it travelled to England because Mary Magdalene and/or other disciples (possibly Mary) landed at some point in France- as is rumored throughout the South of France. Hence the name of La Magdalene Cathedral in France and their fondness for Mary Magdalene. This is my body which is broken for you. When he was born they actually laid his head in a feeding trough.
(No, Dan Brown didn't tell me that-it's possible the Holy Spirit did.)
Did you know that the French word in the infinitive for eat is "manger" pronounced "monjay." It's similar to the Italian "mange." The Old English, which borrowed from the Norman French pronounced it differently- it's where we get the word Manger, as in the Creche scene. The manger was actually believed to be a feeding trough for animals in a barn. It was full of hay because that is what cows and horses chomped on. It's possible that the donkey cleaned it out first before laying Jesus in it-he would have been rather hungry carting a pregnant woman all that way all day and night. It is also possible that the French word for it travelled to England because Mary Magdalene and/or other disciples (possibly Mary) landed at some point in France- as is rumored throughout the South of France. Hence the name of La Magdalene Cathedral in France and their fondness for Mary Magdalene. This is my body which is broken for you. When he was born they actually laid his head in a feeding trough.
(No, Dan Brown didn't tell me that-it's possible the Holy Spirit did.)
Reconciliation Starts
In The Home
How not to be full of beans:
http://www.h2onews.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=224499
How not to be full of beans:
http://www.h2onews.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=224499
Last Year At Christmas
I Gave Someone A Book
of sayings of JPII. Now Pope JPII has just been beatified "Venerable"....and we only need one more miracle to make him a Saint. I'm believing for a Miracle. I'll let you know.
http://www.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=18408
.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=18408
BACK AT YOU PADRE.
[did i ever tell you about the time i was as close to him as the length of a rosary once at a special Mass at Saint Peter's ...]
[
of sayings of JPII. Now Pope JPII has just been beatified "Venerable"....and we only need one more miracle to make him a Saint. I'm believing for a Miracle. I'll let you know.
http://www.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=18408
.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=18408BACK AT YOU PADRE.
[did i ever tell you about the time i was as close to him as the length of a rosary once at a special Mass at Saint Peter's ...]
[
No Room At The Inn
And the hovels in Nazareth didn't look like much fun either 2,000 years ago.
Think you have it bad? Try being pregnant with no fosset running water, toilets, microwaves, electric stoves or electric blankets or baby bottle warmers. Nazareth wasn't much bigger than
Bethesda with a few caves and hovels and stone houses- one with a "grotto" to hide from the Romans that Franciscans were led to discover. Now do you know why Mary appeared at a "Grotto" in Lourdes, France?
Remember: They "reclined" at table because they didn't have chairs.
http://www.sphere.com/world/article/first-jesus-era-house-uncovered-in-nazareth-israel/19289213
So if they made it work with nothing and a donkey for transport.....
postscript: actually Mary and Jo might have had a bit of runnning water even out of a sort of spicket/fosset; one thing Romans were really crafty at was building Aqueducts and Nazareth was under Roman rule- they had huge water systems and "bath" houses- remember the English town "Bath"- aptly named. Running water into the barn out back where Mary delivered was likely a different story. Get the "NATIVITY STORY" and watch it this year on DVD.
Think you have it bad? Try being pregnant with no fosset running water, toilets, microwaves, electric stoves or electric blankets or baby bottle warmers. Nazareth wasn't much bigger than
Bethesda with a few caves and hovels and stone houses- one with a "grotto" to hide from the Romans that Franciscans were led to discover. Now do you know why Mary appeared at a "Grotto" in Lourdes, France?
Remember: They "reclined" at table because they didn't have chairs.
http://www.sphere.com/world/article/first-jesus-era-house-uncovered-in-nazareth-israel/19289213
So if they made it work with nothing and a donkey for transport.....
postscript: actually Mary and Jo might have had a bit of runnning water even out of a sort of spicket/fosset; one thing Romans were really crafty at was building Aqueducts and Nazareth was under Roman rule- they had huge water systems and "bath" houses- remember the English town "Bath"- aptly named. Running water into the barn out back where Mary delivered was likely a different story. Get the "NATIVITY STORY" and watch it this year on DVD.
Wasn't ever trying to use you
Never needed your help to survive
Just wanted your heart's inspiration
and the song of your voice to make me feel alive
Just wanted to give back
a life inside you created
by manifesting your hope and devotion consecrated
by a faith that pierced the madness of oppressions
imposed upon you from all those needy souls.
Just wanted to hold you.
MERRY CHRIST MASS
Never needed your help to survive
Just wanted your heart's inspiration
and the song of your voice to make me feel alive
Just wanted to give back
a life inside you created
by manifesting your hope and devotion consecrated
by a faith that pierced the madness of oppressions
imposed upon you from all those needy souls.
Just wanted to hold you.
MERRY CHRIST MASS
Bearing Gifts From Afar
Want To Help?
I know that you have more people to shop for than bucks in the bank this holiday with market meltdown. But you still can do something phenomenal this Christmas if you are in DC this year. Holy Trinity, the Jesuit Parish in Georgetown is hosting ON CHRISTMAS DAY ten homeless people from the "rotating shelter" who are sleeping for the holiday in a converted room of the church building complex right in Georgetown. Typically in shelters people are kicked out at 7:00 and get to return in the evening- but not on Christmas Day. They get to spend the entire day in the church.
At 3:30 we are cooking and serving them a beautiful Christmas dinner. Nothing too fancy but something warm and delicious. If you want to help you can drop off your favorite caserole, pies, extra Christmas cookies, that fruitcake aunt Sally sent that you don't have a heart to send back! or anything you want to treat these folks to- because it is Christmas.
Just drop it off at the church reception upstairs with a note that it's for the Christmas homeless shelter. You will be rewarded a hundred times over.
www.TRINITY.org
I know that you have more people to shop for than bucks in the bank this holiday with market meltdown. But you still can do something phenomenal this Christmas if you are in DC this year. Holy Trinity, the Jesuit Parish in Georgetown is hosting ON CHRISTMAS DAY ten homeless people from the "rotating shelter" who are sleeping for the holiday in a converted room of the church building complex right in Georgetown. Typically in shelters people are kicked out at 7:00 and get to return in the evening- but not on Christmas Day. They get to spend the entire day in the church.
At 3:30 we are cooking and serving them a beautiful Christmas dinner. Nothing too fancy but something warm and delicious. If you want to help you can drop off your favorite caserole, pies, extra Christmas cookies, that fruitcake aunt Sally sent that you don't have a heart to send back! or anything you want to treat these folks to- because it is Christmas.
Just drop it off at the church reception upstairs with a note that it's for the Christmas homeless shelter. You will be rewarded a hundred times over.
www.TRINITY.org
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Witness
To the Prosecution.
Jesus died the death of a humiliated criminal to tell you: All You Ever Needed Was Love.
Best Ad For Traditional Marriage: If You Like It....
Put A Ring On It
(Beyonce's For All The Single Ladies: viral videos tell it like it is.)
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Twisting the Warped into Twisted Warpdom-turning Sausage Into Scrapple called the Health Care Bill.
Let Me Get This Straight (and see if I can't stop rolling my eyes).
The Health Bill we are considering now has done away with the Private Option (Ted Kennedy's baby) and done away with the early age Medicare Buy-In (that even Lieberman campaigned on) all to save the mandatory universal elective Abortion coverage that Obama explicitly stated in his address to the nation on health care he would keep out?
Since when does Planned Parenthood, NARAL and the old generation of other "liberal" women
hold hostage the entire Health Care Reform Agenda of the entire Democratic Party? Since WHEN is the more or less mortal sin of nuking your children in-utero with minor exception if any, something that we as a country are required to cater to by paying for it?
No, Senator Casey- (who is apparently in the hot seat now to craft a compromise to allow paying people to commit mortal sin- that is, land you square in the pit of fiery hell sin without escape for eternity when unrepented, if you were wondering) please don't do it. Prove you have the same cahoonas as your father and tell them where to go now. The nerve of them.
TAKE THE ELECTIVE ABORTION COVERAGE OUT OF THE BILL YOU MORONS.
There is no way to be diplomatic about it. You are going to blow it all for this insanity.
The Health Bill we are considering now has done away with the Private Option (Ted Kennedy's baby) and done away with the early age Medicare Buy-In (that even Lieberman campaigned on) all to save the mandatory universal elective Abortion coverage that Obama explicitly stated in his address to the nation on health care he would keep out?
Since when does Planned Parenthood, NARAL and the old generation of other "liberal" women
hold hostage the entire Health Care Reform Agenda of the entire Democratic Party? Since WHEN is the more or less mortal sin of nuking your children in-utero with minor exception if any, something that we as a country are required to cater to by paying for it?
No, Senator Casey- (who is apparently in the hot seat now to craft a compromise to allow paying people to commit mortal sin- that is, land you square in the pit of fiery hell sin without escape for eternity when unrepented, if you were wondering) please don't do it. Prove you have the same cahoonas as your father and tell them where to go now. The nerve of them.
TAKE THE ELECTIVE ABORTION COVERAGE OUT OF THE BILL YOU MORONS.
There is no way to be diplomatic about it. You are going to blow it all for this insanity.
Bundle Up
Baby It's Cold Outside
Take it Seriously this year. The more or less solid year of on again off again rain in the DC area followed by occasional bone chilling cold has created more sniffly noses than Rudolf has reigndeer friends. I just learned that it has caused the death of a 56 year old woman who goes to Mass regularly at St. Matthews in DC. 56 is rather young to kick it from the Flu or anything naturally floating in the bacteriosphere. There have been reported over 10,000 deaths from the Swine (H1N1) Flu so far and counting in the US alone.
Friends don't let friends go without a hat and gloves now. Pretty Scarves are as plentiful on the streets of DC as bags of Doritos flapping in the wind from vendor carts and make great early Christmas/Channukah presents. Seriously, I don't want to see any of my crazy clients or friends playing Decalced Carmelite sporting sandals in this weather (you know who you are angel!)- even with brown socks! It's never been cheaper with market meltdown to buy a pair of shoes.
Take it Seriously this year. The more or less solid year of on again off again rain in the DC area followed by occasional bone chilling cold has created more sniffly noses than Rudolf has reigndeer friends. I just learned that it has caused the death of a 56 year old woman who goes to Mass regularly at St. Matthews in DC. 56 is rather young to kick it from the Flu or anything naturally floating in the bacteriosphere. There have been reported over 10,000 deaths from the Swine (H1N1) Flu so far and counting in the US alone.
Friends don't let friends go without a hat and gloves now. Pretty Scarves are as plentiful on the streets of DC as bags of Doritos flapping in the wind from vendor carts and make great early Christmas/Channukah presents. Seriously, I don't want to see any of my crazy clients or friends playing Decalced Carmelite sporting sandals in this weather (you know who you are angel!)- even with brown socks! It's never been cheaper with market meltdown to buy a pair of shoes.
CIAO TUTTI. VAPIANOS. DEC. 22. Be There Or Be Square
Free Pizza And We Aren't Kidding.
So I read the below official announcement and it sounded to me like we were inviting people to come pay for their food at a holiday party (TACKEEEEE).
The Director then insisted that a huge number of Pizzas have been already ordered (best Pizza in DC by miles) and first come first serve until they run out everyone gets free Pizza for showing up and saying that they are with CSI.
So come one come all and meet and greet us. We won't let you leave hungry. Trust Me.
So I read the below official announcement and it sounded to me like we were inviting people to come pay for their food at a holiday party (TACKEEEEE).
The Director then insisted that a huge number of Pizzas have been already ordered (best Pizza in DC by miles) and first come first serve until they run out everyone gets free Pizza for showing up and saying that they are with CSI.
So come one come all and meet and greet us. We won't let you leave hungry. Trust Me.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
ANOTHER HOLIDAY GATHERING TO PUT ON YOUR LIST
CONFLICT SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL
1629 K St., N.W., Suite 300
Washington, D.C. 20006
202-349-3972
http://www.csiorg.org/
Email: info@csiorg.org
Conflict Solutions International is pleased to present:
A Holiday Happy Hour at Vapiano's!
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22ND 2009, 6:30 to 9:00 PM
Event:
Please join CSI for a "festive happy hour with a purpose". If you haven't yet met the CSI community at play, you're in for a treat. We're sending the invite to our entire mailing list so it's going to be a fun evening. You will meet the classic CSI crowd of intellectuals, literati, international women and spies. And well, yes, some government agents as well. As Andy of the Meetup often says, "I'm with the government and I'm here to help....".
Address:
Vapiano's is located at 1800 M St. NW, Washington D.C. Two blocks from Farragut North, (Red line) Farragut West (orange/blue line) and Dupont Circle (Red line) metro stations.
Cost
FREE admission and CSI members [correction; AND FRIENDS!] will get FREE pizzas from Vapiano's. The restaurant has a good selection of inexpensive pasta dishes, pizza and dessert. Good quality food cooked in front of you. The bar features excellent wines and beer.
For more information on the foundation please visit our website at:
WWW.CSIORG.ORG
**RSVP by SATURDAY DECEMBER 19th to:
csieventsdc@gmail.com
With your full name, number of guests, phone number and email
Your RSVP is necessary to notify you in the event of event change or cancellation!**
SEASONS GREETINGS
I'm going-see you there.
1629 K St., N.W., Suite 300
Washington, D.C. 20006
202-349-3972
http://www.csiorg.org/
Email: info@csiorg.org
Conflict Solutions International is pleased to present:
A Holiday Happy Hour at Vapiano's!
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22ND 2009, 6:30 to 9:00 PM
Event:
Please join CSI for a "festive happy hour with a purpose". If you haven't yet met the CSI community at play, you're in for a treat. We're sending the invite to our entire mailing list so it's going to be a fun evening. You will meet the classic CSI crowd of intellectuals, literati, international women and spies. And well, yes, some government agents as well. As Andy of the Meetup often says, "I'm with the government and I'm here to help....".
Address:
Vapiano's is located at 1800 M St. NW, Washington D.C. Two blocks from Farragut North, (Red line) Farragut West (orange/blue line) and Dupont Circle (Red line) metro stations.
Cost
FREE admission and CSI members [correction; AND FRIENDS!] will get FREE pizzas from Vapiano's. The restaurant has a good selection of inexpensive pasta dishes, pizza and dessert. Good quality food cooked in front of you. The bar features excellent wines and beer.
For more information on the foundation please visit our website at:
WWW.CSIORG.ORG
**RSVP by SATURDAY DECEMBER 19th to:
csieventsdc@gmail.com
With your full name, number of guests, phone number and email
Your RSVP is necessary to notify you in the event of event change or cancellation!**
SEASONS GREETINGS
I'm going-see you there.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Turn up the Volume
Turn Up the Volume and
Kick Back Your Chair
Fly Your Leg Tapping and
Let Down Your Hair
Twirl in the big skirt
Hang On To His Arm
And Twirl and Twirl and Tap
Sing Along
Soul Cake Soul Cake
Christmas Came Again this Year
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Hormone Therapy
To Combat Whatever Is In the Water.
Last night on Rachael Maddow there was a testy interview between Rachael, a self-professed Gay person in active sexual relationship with another woman, and a guy whose last name is COHEN who believes Gay-ness is reversible or recoverable. He was gay, and now is the proud married (to a woman) father of three kids. He describes his gay experience as "unwanted." In other words, it was a reaction of his autonomous bodily impulses and arousals that he didn't like or invite and didn't want to stay that way. He had a sense of being "off."
If you speak to gay people, they often tell you the same thing- they don't have a choice- they just get automatically aroused by the same gender. It's not something they choose or invite- it's an auto-reaction of their physique. In Cohen's case it was something he overcame. Now he is aroused appropriately by his wife. The debate was testy because the fact that some people "come out" of gayness or turn straight (and that there are huge ministries touting success in this regard), has the Ugandans believing, after being prodded by evangelical American Christians who are part of "The Family" movement, that they should have zero tolerance for gayness, which prompted them to author a bill actually authorizing death to gays- just kill them all. Cohen was horrified his logic resulted in death sentences. The zero tolerance actually advocated and preached by leaders of "The Family" was for those who knew that they had AIDS after homosexual liaisons then transmitting it to unwitting wives who then contracted the deadly disease.
Here's my theory- who knows what causes this gayness-or whether it is the same cause in every case. That is rather beside the point because acting out any impulses is within every one's control. My suspicion is that hormones could play some part in some people's auto-reactions. If hormone therapy is used in transgender people to
facilitate growth of breasts for example in men turning them more effeminate, and grows hair on the chest of women given progesterone, this suggests that possibly appropriate hormonal treatment be used to balance out people in a healthy way back to their gender's healthiest hormonal balance. Everyone has male and female hormones and fluctuating quantities of both. God, you recall made them male and female and they both originally occupied the one person called "Adam" until Eve was extracted from his rib. After women undergo menopause they undergo a hormonal adjustment and sometimes take synthetic hormones to regain the balance. These natural life cycles can be disrupted chemically.
So my question is what would Rachael look like if she were given a heavy dose of natural oestrogen reorientation. Would she start sporting long curls and look furtively at men? Would she get excited to be around men or still long for the embrace of her girlfriend? Can aggressive hormone therapy readjust sexual orientation?
http://www.hallgold.com/neways_training_oestrogen_versus_progesterone.htm
If that is the case and if the statistics are true that gayness or physical response and arousal is something that can be and is reoriented in large statistical amounts, then classifying things like Gay Rights under the Civil Rights rubric is really misplaced. There is no civil right or constitutional right to be "off" your gender. If it is a state of slightly unhealthiness, we don't need to label it sin to debunk it of civil rights status for equal protection purposes. It needs then just "treatment" of a psycho-social emotional hormonal dimension.
Just a theory- don't shoot the messenger. And don't knock it Rachael till you tried it.
Last night on Rachael Maddow there was a testy interview between Rachael, a self-professed Gay person in active sexual relationship with another woman, and a guy whose last name is COHEN who believes Gay-ness is reversible or recoverable. He was gay, and now is the proud married (to a woman) father of three kids. He describes his gay experience as "unwanted." In other words, it was a reaction of his autonomous bodily impulses and arousals that he didn't like or invite and didn't want to stay that way. He had a sense of being "off."
If you speak to gay people, they often tell you the same thing- they don't have a choice- they just get automatically aroused by the same gender. It's not something they choose or invite- it's an auto-reaction of their physique. In Cohen's case it was something he overcame. Now he is aroused appropriately by his wife. The debate was testy because the fact that some people "come out" of gayness or turn straight (and that there are huge ministries touting success in this regard), has the Ugandans believing, after being prodded by evangelical American Christians who are part of "The Family" movement, that they should have zero tolerance for gayness, which prompted them to author a bill actually authorizing death to gays- just kill them all. Cohen was horrified his logic resulted in death sentences. The zero tolerance actually advocated and preached by leaders of "The Family" was for those who knew that they had AIDS after homosexual liaisons then transmitting it to unwitting wives who then contracted the deadly disease.
Here's my theory- who knows what causes this gayness-or whether it is the same cause in every case. That is rather beside the point because acting out any impulses is within every one's control. My suspicion is that hormones could play some part in some people's auto-reactions. If hormone therapy is used in transgender people to
facilitate growth of breasts for example in men turning them more effeminate, and grows hair on the chest of women given progesterone, this suggests that possibly appropriate hormonal treatment be used to balance out people in a healthy way back to their gender's healthiest hormonal balance. Everyone has male and female hormones and fluctuating quantities of both. God, you recall made them male and female and they both originally occupied the one person called "Adam" until Eve was extracted from his rib. After women undergo menopause they undergo a hormonal adjustment and sometimes take synthetic hormones to regain the balance. These natural life cycles can be disrupted chemically.
So my question is what would Rachael look like if she were given a heavy dose of natural oestrogen reorientation. Would she start sporting long curls and look furtively at men? Would she get excited to be around men or still long for the embrace of her girlfriend? Can aggressive hormone therapy readjust sexual orientation?
http://www.hallgold.com/neways_training_oestrogen_versus_progesterone.htm
If that is the case and if the statistics are true that gayness or physical response and arousal is something that can be and is reoriented in large statistical amounts, then classifying things like Gay Rights under the Civil Rights rubric is really misplaced. There is no civil right or constitutional right to be "off" your gender. If it is a state of slightly unhealthiness, we don't need to label it sin to debunk it of civil rights status for equal protection purposes. It needs then just "treatment" of a psycho-social emotional hormonal dimension.
Just a theory- don't shoot the messenger. And don't knock it Rachael till you tried it.
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
The AARP-aged Ladies Who Lost Their Minds-SCARY SENATORIAL SENIOR MOMENTS
And Gave Out Licenses to Screw Us All Over
Normally, as you may know if you read this blog, I am rather fiercely progressive. Actually far more liberal than Blue Dogs and down right proudly conspiratorial in believing most of the War we are waging is based on myth, hyperbole and fabrications to serve nefarious interests and line the pockets of a few at the expense of life and limbs of many American servicepersons and millions of civilian Iraqis and Afghans.
I have been proud of Hillary for crashing glass ceilings, Barbara Boxer for understanding if not championing election reform, and God Bless Diane Feinstein for too many things to here list.
But Ladies- Have you lost your minds? It is one thing to think that government should be out of the bedroom and out of decisions regarding a woman's reproductive health but totally another to insist government be forceably in the business of bankrolling whatever reproductive "health" procedures a woman wants- whatever the moral consideration-whatever the health of the Fetus.
This is just a license to get screwed over- and more coercion from idiot men who are going to insist women get abortions because there is no excuse if the government is paying for it. Do you want to completely take away all accountability for making a wrong choice with regard to sexual behavior (like women are dogs and don't know better or can't make wise decisions or control themselves?) by not even requiring that they pay for their own abortions? Insane.
Seriously. You have all lost your minds and you are pushing intelligent women like myself to the edge. Unrestrained sexual behavior without natural consequence is not a natural right or a constitutional one. It just isn''t. GET A GRIP there in the Senate. I am starting to think it's time for you ladies to retire and write your autobiographies now. These are really scary Senatorial Senior Moments. Barbara, don't make me move to LA to run against you. It's too much fun taking pot-shots from obscurity hoping someone has half a brain to pay attention.
Normally, as you may know if you read this blog, I am rather fiercely progressive. Actually far more liberal than Blue Dogs and down right proudly conspiratorial in believing most of the War we are waging is based on myth, hyperbole and fabrications to serve nefarious interests and line the pockets of a few at the expense of life and limbs of many American servicepersons and millions of civilian Iraqis and Afghans.
I have been proud of Hillary for crashing glass ceilings, Barbara Boxer for understanding if not championing election reform, and God Bless Diane Feinstein for too many things to here list.
But Ladies- Have you lost your minds? It is one thing to think that government should be out of the bedroom and out of decisions regarding a woman's reproductive health but totally another to insist government be forceably in the business of bankrolling whatever reproductive "health" procedures a woman wants- whatever the moral consideration-whatever the health of the Fetus.
This is just a license to get screwed over- and more coercion from idiot men who are going to insist women get abortions because there is no excuse if the government is paying for it. Do you want to completely take away all accountability for making a wrong choice with regard to sexual behavior (like women are dogs and don't know better or can't make wise decisions or control themselves?) by not even requiring that they pay for their own abortions? Insane.
Seriously. You have all lost your minds and you are pushing intelligent women like myself to the edge. Unrestrained sexual behavior without natural consequence is not a natural right or a constitutional one. It just isn''t. GET A GRIP there in the Senate. I am starting to think it's time for you ladies to retire and write your autobiographies now. These are really scary Senatorial Senior Moments. Barbara, don't make me move to LA to run against you. It's too much fun taking pot-shots from obscurity hoping someone has half a brain to pay attention.
Brilliant Daaaling
My Click My Heels 3 Times And Say....
4th wish is to SING with STING. (now, aren't you wondering what No.1 and 2 are?)
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
As If I Needed
Another Reason to Love Italians
The Italian legislature is proposing a bill to recognize rights of the unborn and phrasing it in the context of the Universal Declaration for Human Rights of the Child. (Thanks Zenit)
http://www.zenit.org/rssenglish-27772
The Italian legislature is proposing a bill to recognize rights of the unborn and phrasing it in the context of the Universal Declaration for Human Rights of the Child. (Thanks Zenit)
http://www.zenit.org/rssenglish-27772
Sweetest Souls In The City
And Things That Make Me Go "Wow!"
Miss Mary. I don't know her last name-everyone just calls her Mary. Like the Madonna.
She is a gracefully aged woman, like fine cheese, with white hair tied prettily back with a pin or two. Her brother lives in Potomac and she has the gentility and grace of a woman who has seen more than her share of the high life in high style in her day. Here she sits, every other Monday morning behind a table in a basement conference room at Saint Matthews Cathedral in DC with a smile indefatigable meeting grumpiness of the morning, a table
on which her famous warm homemade caseroles are dished out to the homeless men and women who come as they are, in moldly smelling duffel coats and fleece in Washington, DC . Bright eyed volunteers ladle and spoon out the caseroles asking "risotto with brocolli or rice and chicken?"
Mary gets up every other Monday at 4:30-5:00 am or earlier to put together things like her famous pot roast "I don't use red wine marinade like usual because you never know what they are dealing with" she told me. It looked like a pot roast my grandmother would make with peas, carrots, baby potatos and roast beef all simmering in the juices. Then there is her bow-tie cheezy pasta with bacon, and don't forget her risotto with cheese and broccolli. Mary doesn't just throw down some Mac 'n Cheese- Miss Mary puts on the Ritz for these people- who get a full course meal in the morning to last them all day. Beats a baloney sandwhich by miles.
For the last ten years, every other Monday, Miss Mary has been waking up at 4:30-5:00am or earlier, and making a feast for 50-100 people-on her. For free to them. People who you wouldn't in a million years invite anywhere- people who smell a bit off, people who live in shelters or even outside, people you probably have seen outside peddling "Street Sense" the homeless rag, people whose belongings trail them in ripped tattered plastic black bags or who wheel their lives around in old dirty torn 'round the edges suitcases on wheels. Miss Mary loves them all. She knows them by name, most of them. They all greet her with a hearty "Thank you Mary!" "God Love You Mary!"
After the meal time, followed by a scripture reflection and clothing dissemination to those in need of another pair of jeans, hats, gloves and a bag of underwear and toiletries, Mary rinses off and packs up her caserole dishes and puts them in a metal cart with wheels that she wheels back to her apartment on 17th street-like she has done for a decade. It's a metal cart like you see women dragging to the grocery store- Mary has one that she stacks chock 'o block full of caseroles every other Monday.
Mary is getting a bit up there and she worries about who will take over the mantle if she can't do it. "Do you see that refrigerator!" she points to the frigidaire that looks like it was made around WWII. "Doesn't even have permafrost it's so old!" She bemoans the fact that in none of the conference rooms kitchens in the Cathedral is there a working stove. "We need a kitchen remodel" she says- and I think- OPRAH!
Yes, the downtown Washington, DC Cathedral is so old that it underwent a major renovation upstairs, where there are spectacular mosaics, sculptures, ceilings, paintings, frescos, etc. But there needs to be a remodel for a good working kitchen with a good working stove in one of the conference rooms- because this folks out on the streets problem is only getting scarier.
If a Cathedral doesn't qualify for funding for church-state reasons, or because DC is mad at the Archbishop for his stand on Gay Marriage, perhaps that EXTREME HOME MAKE-OVER guy can come build us all a good working kitchen in the Cathdral so Miss Mary can heat up dishes she makes the night before in the Cathedral and doesn't have to get up at 4:30-5:00 am. Because one day she may not be able to do that.
So here is the throw down- I challenge OPRAH and the EXTREME HOME MAKE-OVER guy to see who can come up with the better plan to remodel the basement of the Cathedral to install a new kitchen without demolishing any part of the historic property to do it!
Miss Mary. I don't know her last name-everyone just calls her Mary. Like the Madonna.
She is a gracefully aged woman, like fine cheese, with white hair tied prettily back with a pin or two. Her brother lives in Potomac and she has the gentility and grace of a woman who has seen more than her share of the high life in high style in her day. Here she sits, every other Monday morning behind a table in a basement conference room at Saint Matthews Cathedral in DC with a smile indefatigable meeting grumpiness of the morning, a table
on which her famous warm homemade caseroles are dished out to the homeless men and women who come as they are, in moldly smelling duffel coats and fleece in Washington, DC . Bright eyed volunteers ladle and spoon out the caseroles asking "risotto with brocolli or rice and chicken?"
Mary gets up every other Monday at 4:30-5:00 am or earlier to put together things like her famous pot roast "I don't use red wine marinade like usual because you never know what they are dealing with" she told me. It looked like a pot roast my grandmother would make with peas, carrots, baby potatos and roast beef all simmering in the juices. Then there is her bow-tie cheezy pasta with bacon, and don't forget her risotto with cheese and broccolli. Mary doesn't just throw down some Mac 'n Cheese- Miss Mary puts on the Ritz for these people- who get a full course meal in the morning to last them all day. Beats a baloney sandwhich by miles.
For the last ten years, every other Monday, Miss Mary has been waking up at 4:30-5:00am or earlier, and making a feast for 50-100 people-on her. For free to them. People who you wouldn't in a million years invite anywhere- people who smell a bit off, people who live in shelters or even outside, people you probably have seen outside peddling "Street Sense" the homeless rag, people whose belongings trail them in ripped tattered plastic black bags or who wheel their lives around in old dirty torn 'round the edges suitcases on wheels. Miss Mary loves them all. She knows them by name, most of them. They all greet her with a hearty "Thank you Mary!" "God Love You Mary!"
After the meal time, followed by a scripture reflection and clothing dissemination to those in need of another pair of jeans, hats, gloves and a bag of underwear and toiletries, Mary rinses off and packs up her caserole dishes and puts them in a metal cart with wheels that she wheels back to her apartment on 17th street-like she has done for a decade. It's a metal cart like you see women dragging to the grocery store- Mary has one that she stacks chock 'o block full of caseroles every other Monday.
Mary is getting a bit up there and she worries about who will take over the mantle if she can't do it. "Do you see that refrigerator!" she points to the frigidaire that looks like it was made around WWII. "Doesn't even have permafrost it's so old!" She bemoans the fact that in none of the conference rooms kitchens in the Cathedral is there a working stove. "We need a kitchen remodel" she says- and I think- OPRAH!
Yes, the downtown Washington, DC Cathedral is so old that it underwent a major renovation upstairs, where there are spectacular mosaics, sculptures, ceilings, paintings, frescos, etc. But there needs to be a remodel for a good working kitchen with a good working stove in one of the conference rooms- because this folks out on the streets problem is only getting scarier.
If a Cathedral doesn't qualify for funding for church-state reasons, or because DC is mad at the Archbishop for his stand on Gay Marriage, perhaps that EXTREME HOME MAKE-OVER guy can come build us all a good working kitchen in the Cathdral so Miss Mary can heat up dishes she makes the night before in the Cathedral and doesn't have to get up at 4:30-5:00 am. Because one day she may not be able to do that.
So here is the throw down- I challenge OPRAH and the EXTREME HOME MAKE-OVER guy to see who can come up with the better plan to remodel the basement of the Cathedral to install a new kitchen without demolishing any part of the historic property to do it!
Monday, December 07, 2009
Could Be Worse:
You Could Be In Jail.
Like about 2-3 Million Americans. Like about every fourth African American male in this country at one point in their life. Like Dennis Sobin, who once got himself locked up for filming a French Artsy Avant Guard film that might have received some Palm D'Or award or something in France (where all the women run around on the beaches topless), for shooting film in a nudist colony in Florida where there happened to be entire families with children partaking of the sport of nudery- which earned him a "child performance" porn Federal charge and forever a federal record. Shocking you say? Porn artist he isn't- Artsy Fartsy Filmy guy from New York he is- and he found himself locked up. So what does someone with an indefatigable Joie De Vivre do in that situation? Eventually Dennis started a Foundation where he encouraged artistic talents of people in Jail. White guy from Queens, developing talents of all colors, creeds and sexual orientation- because God is Good-all the time- to everyone who loves him.
You would be amazed at what prisoners can do with all that time on their hands. Some of them have prior formal art training. Some of them should be in a museum- and some of them are- they are in the Safe Streets Foundation Gallery a few blocks from the White House that Sobin runs. www.PrisonsFoundation.org
You can see Dennis on nice days not sub-below weather around Dupont Circle displaying his art open air style. He has a program where he gets volunteers from everywhere to send Christmas cards to inmates everywhere. America has the highest per capita incarceration rate in the world. Many of these people are forgotten or cursed at Christmas time for all the trauma and drama they put their families through.
Today, Dennis Sobin plugged in an electric amp to his guitar and played beautiful Christmas music in the basement conference room of Saint Matthews Cathedral in downtown Washington, DC to an audience of about 60 cold, hungry, homeless men and women who ate the hot dishes Miss Mary (canonization soon to follow) cooked at 5:00 am where after they helped themselves to a bag of underwear and toiletries for the week. Dennis got rousing applause and standing ovations from those who were not too tuckered out from the sleepless night in a grim shelter to rise in gratitude.
There are truly amazingly good people in the World who have seen Hell and came back victorious over bitterness- and contribute something that brings such Joy to so many people-
Keith Olberman should give this guy a "Best Person of the Week" award. Oprah should fund the permenant gallery. If you are looking for year end charitable contributions, put the Safe Streets Foundation on your Christmas List. More people will appreciate it than you can imagine.
Like about 2-3 Million Americans. Like about every fourth African American male in this country at one point in their life. Like Dennis Sobin, who once got himself locked up for filming a French Artsy Avant Guard film that might have received some Palm D'Or award or something in France (where all the women run around on the beaches topless), for shooting film in a nudist colony in Florida where there happened to be entire families with children partaking of the sport of nudery- which earned him a "child performance" porn Federal charge and forever a federal record. Shocking you say? Porn artist he isn't- Artsy Fartsy Filmy guy from New York he is- and he found himself locked up. So what does someone with an indefatigable Joie De Vivre do in that situation? Eventually Dennis started a Foundation where he encouraged artistic talents of people in Jail. White guy from Queens, developing talents of all colors, creeds and sexual orientation- because God is Good-all the time- to everyone who loves him.
You would be amazed at what prisoners can do with all that time on their hands. Some of them have prior formal art training. Some of them should be in a museum- and some of them are- they are in the Safe Streets Foundation Gallery a few blocks from the White House that Sobin runs. www.PrisonsFoundation.org
You can see Dennis on nice days not sub-below weather around Dupont Circle displaying his art open air style. He has a program where he gets volunteers from everywhere to send Christmas cards to inmates everywhere. America has the highest per capita incarceration rate in the world. Many of these people are forgotten or cursed at Christmas time for all the trauma and drama they put their families through.
Today, Dennis Sobin plugged in an electric amp to his guitar and played beautiful Christmas music in the basement conference room of Saint Matthews Cathedral in downtown Washington, DC to an audience of about 60 cold, hungry, homeless men and women who ate the hot dishes Miss Mary (canonization soon to follow) cooked at 5:00 am where after they helped themselves to a bag of underwear and toiletries for the week. Dennis got rousing applause and standing ovations from those who were not too tuckered out from the sleepless night in a grim shelter to rise in gratitude.
There are truly amazingly good people in the World who have seen Hell and came back victorious over bitterness- and contribute something that brings such Joy to so many people-
Keith Olberman should give this guy a "Best Person of the Week" award. Oprah should fund the permenant gallery. If you are looking for year end charitable contributions, put the Safe Streets Foundation on your Christmas List. More people will appreciate it than you can imagine.
Bonfire of the Vanities; Is Elective Everything Covered?
Doesn't Elective Mean "Optional" - Vanity of Vanities
Isn't that another word for "Cosmetic?" As in, cosmetic surgery, nose jobs, boob jobs, butt lifts, tummy tucks, collagen lip enhancements, and liposuction? Is that all covered in the health care and/or public option such that all Americans- even the struggling ones who can barely afford to pay for any insurance so get stuck buying the government insurance, have to pay for someone else's cosmetic surgeries? Clearly that just seems unjust.
"Elective" abortions are just that- "elective:- Optional. Not Mandatory by virtue of medical necessity. "Elective." Like "elective War."
Only this Election is something far more insidious than just a nose job, sucking fat out of your thighs, whacking off and reshaping your butt or injecting your brows and lips with collagen or botox. This is "electively" stopping a beating heart. A separate beating heart. A different autonomous little beating heart. A real Hit Job on an innocent swimming in utero who doesn't know what hit him or her and can't defend himself or herself. Is that "elective" procedure covered? Does everyone in the country have to pay for that for anyone who wants to do it?
What is the Moral Defense of such a paradigm?
I don't want to have to pay for someone else's boob job- why should I have to pay for someone's abortion? I don't want to pay for someone shooting puppies by the side of the road either.
Isn't that another word for "Cosmetic?" As in, cosmetic surgery, nose jobs, boob jobs, butt lifts, tummy tucks, collagen lip enhancements, and liposuction? Is that all covered in the health care and/or public option such that all Americans- even the struggling ones who can barely afford to pay for any insurance so get stuck buying the government insurance, have to pay for someone else's cosmetic surgeries? Clearly that just seems unjust.
"Elective" abortions are just that- "elective:- Optional. Not Mandatory by virtue of medical necessity. "Elective." Like "elective War."
Only this Election is something far more insidious than just a nose job, sucking fat out of your thighs, whacking off and reshaping your butt or injecting your brows and lips with collagen or botox. This is "electively" stopping a beating heart. A separate beating heart. A different autonomous little beating heart. A real Hit Job on an innocent swimming in utero who doesn't know what hit him or her and can't defend himself or herself. Is that "elective" procedure covered? Does everyone in the country have to pay for that for anyone who wants to do it?
What is the Moral Defense of such a paradigm?
I don't want to have to pay for someone else's boob job- why should I have to pay for someone's abortion? I don't want to pay for someone shooting puppies by the side of the road either.
Saturday, December 05, 2009
My Click My Heels Three Times And Say
3rd Wish Is....
To Sing with Andrea Bocelli.
http://www.shoppbs.org/product/index.jsp?productId=3914563
Here is his new Christmas CD- off the hook- get it. PBS special- they will send you a DVD and CD if you send them a big enough donation. If any of my priest friends knows him and hooks that up I will put you in the will:-)
To Sing with Andrea Bocelli.
http://www.shoppbs.org/product/index.jsp?productId=3914563
Here is his new Christmas CD- off the hook- get it. PBS special- they will send you a DVD and CD if you send them a big enough donation. If any of my priest friends knows him and hooks that up I will put you in the will:-)
A New Song
Sing To The Lord
-It's praying twice-
I fulfilled in a friar minor way my Susan Boyle fantasy by auditioning for the local Cathedral's Festival Choir for Midnight Christmas Mass and am happy to report that the Cathedral's much nicer equivalent of Simon Cowell gave me the thumbs up (minus the ticket to vegas.) I can't read music much for beans but I have decent pitch and carry the tune in two or three parts once I hear it through.
I say this not to brag, because truth be told, it was an ever so kind Pastor out of the magnanimity of his heart and dearth of mezzo-second sopranos who ever gave me a consecrated blessing as a musical sacristan of sorts- "good enough for government work" is rather how I classify my undeveloped singing talents. I say this instead to put in a pitch for the local Cathedral of Saint Matthew of the Apostle for folks to support their music ministry- because on the whole it is off the charts spectacular and one of the real treats of being close enough to monuments in DC to get a taste of something you otherwise would have to travel to Vienna, Austria to hear.
The regular choir is verily so professional they should cut CDs-and guess what- THEY DO! You can buy them in the Rectory. So I urge you get a few- in fact the number is listed to the right of this blog on the listings of churches in the area. It might have you humming a few bars.
-It's praying twice-
I fulfilled in a friar minor way my Susan Boyle fantasy by auditioning for the local Cathedral's Festival Choir for Midnight Christmas Mass and am happy to report that the Cathedral's much nicer equivalent of Simon Cowell gave me the thumbs up (minus the ticket to vegas.) I can't read music much for beans but I have decent pitch and carry the tune in two or three parts once I hear it through.
I say this not to brag, because truth be told, it was an ever so kind Pastor out of the magnanimity of his heart and dearth of mezzo-second sopranos who ever gave me a consecrated blessing as a musical sacristan of sorts- "good enough for government work" is rather how I classify my undeveloped singing talents. I say this instead to put in a pitch for the local Cathedral of Saint Matthew of the Apostle for folks to support their music ministry- because on the whole it is off the charts spectacular and one of the real treats of being close enough to monuments in DC to get a taste of something you otherwise would have to travel to Vienna, Austria to hear.
The regular choir is verily so professional they should cut CDs-and guess what- THEY DO! You can buy them in the Rectory. So I urge you get a few- in fact the number is listed to the right of this blog on the listings of churches in the area. It might have you humming a few bars.
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Gay Marriage Passed in DC
And I Still Don't Want To Turn Gay.
I still, as a female, want to marry a man. Go Figure. Possibly an emotionally crippled unavailable one, possibly one who doesn't have the first clue about male honor or respect for women, possibly one who will dump me for the nearest secretary with a smaller waist and higher heels and bigger dowry with a condo in Palm Springs. But I don't care. I am sticking to them- men that is. Gayness in the World doesn't affect me a hoot or holler- I am not going to marry a woman now because DC passed Gay Marriage.
Think about it.
I still, as a female, want to marry a man. Go Figure. Possibly an emotionally crippled unavailable one, possibly one who doesn't have the first clue about male honor or respect for women, possibly one who will dump me for the nearest secretary with a smaller waist and higher heels and bigger dowry with a condo in Palm Springs. But I don't care. I am sticking to them- men that is. Gayness in the World doesn't affect me a hoot or holler- I am not going to marry a woman now because DC passed Gay Marriage.
Think about it.
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