New Home

Hey Friends!
My new place is over here.

It's still going through changes but I've got too much to say to wait for it to be perfect. As we know, there's no such thing as perfect on this side of eternity.

I hope you enjoy my new digs.

See you there!
L

Stay tuned....

I know it's been a while since I've written, but I'm working on new things. You will love it! Be patient.

Hope your summers went well!

She says what I think

I'm going to let Barbara Nicolosi say what I've been trying to say all along because I can't really say it better myself. For a complete transcript of this interview check out her blog Church of the Masses


HG: (Heather Goodman, for her eZine "Glimpses")How can Christians get beyond curse word counting and overtly pious themes to determine if the message of a movie is Christian or not?

Barbara Nicolosi: Christians need to view movies and television with a sense of context. That is, when considering a movie or television show, the questions need to be who is this show for, and what here is true? And then, what is there in this show that is a sign of the times that I can use as a means to talk to people about the Gospel? Too many Christians are not even reading the signs of the times. We are so engaged in ducking and running, and wishing we lived back in the 1830s. No, this is our time. This moment with its post-modern confusion, with its 24 hour chattering news cycle, its post-Sexual Revolution cynicism and vulgarity, and with the incipient sloth which is the ultimate gift of all our modern conveniences.

Christians need to grow up and understand that this is a very dark world which is locked in a high stakes struggle. What I mean by that is, we have people on one side thinking homosexuals can make a marriage, and scientists over there are experimenting on baby humans, and folks over there are wanting to euthanize grandma. This is not a moment in which a Precious Moments style message and apostolic approach is going to help anything. Christians should be the ultimate realists who are not shocked by the ravages of sin. An old nun once said to me, "Only fools are scandalized." The Scriptures say that Jesus knew what was in the heart of man, and so must we if we are going to tell stories that will lead people to compunction, and then grace.

Why would I want that look?

JCPenny's marketing strategy confuses me. I'm surfing the web and listening to the TV when I hear Don't You (Forget About Me) by the Simple Minds. So all these kids dressed in modern casual clothes are jumping out of cars and going into a high school library (complete with weird sculpture)and dancing, a la Molly Ringwald and Ally Sheedy circa 1985.


Now, I happen to be old enough to have kids going back to school. And I think I've seen The Breakfast Club about 25 times. (I stopped counting at 20 and I know I've seen it a bunch of times since....my math may be off...but it's not that off.) I think I could tell you what everyone wore in that movie without stopping to think about it. But I'm not sure kids going back to school really want to dress like the people in a movie that their mom watched and thought was cool.

Who is Jacque Penne targeting with this commercial, I wonder? Could it be the mom who spent hours watching and reciting the lines of this cult classic? Would a mom really be interested in dressing her kids like a brain, a basket case, an athlete, a princess or a criminal?

Here...have a look

Election? What election?

I stumbled on this and thought I'd share.
Be sure to read the marquee.




Today Now!: How To Pretend You Give A Shit About The Election

Bad flashback to a bummer trip

I'm studying for my foundations of Catholicism final tomorrow. Give a shout-out to heaven on my behalf please!

I'm specifically looking at scripture references to our fine apostolic succession.

Please tell me I'm not the only one who has hand gestures (including jazz hands) to Mt 16: 17 & 18.

Please let me know I'm not alone. Please.

I found...

... a new website.
You must check it out. Especially if you need a laugh.

References

I wanted to drop by and give a shout-out to Anne and May who had the great Sex and the City post which inspired my post yesterday. They link to a review of the SatC movie by Today's Christian Woman. And oohh! the heat! That poor writer got her some hate mail! She gave Sex and the City a 3.0 and Prince Caspian only 2.5. Yikes, that's like giving promiscuous sex a 3.0 and Jesus a 2.5.

(I dunno...can you hear the sarcasm through the screen?)

I.M.H.O

I have a new guilty pleasure. On my break between semesters my fabulous friend Tim and I spent several hours on the couch watching Sex and the City DVDs and now I can't go more than 48 hours without checking into my DVR for my TBS censored version of Carrie Bradshaw and her urban antics. Not that I don't covet the DVD version f-bombs and all. But alas, my fixed income doesn't allow it.

I understand this is, for many, a counter-Christian activity. But I say the show is brilliant. I dare any Christian to watch it critically. Not as in, critical...like, "oh they're always fornicating...shame on them." But watch it with an eye out for Truth. Carrie Bradshaw, a sex columnist, narrates through the disasters that ensue after she and her friends try to figure out what it means to love, be loved, be selfish, be compassionate, be independent and so on. Carrie's writing style is mostly in the form of asking her readers rhetorical questions. I find that they are all the right questions. I strongly disagree with their methods for finding answers, I disagree with the answers she comes up with more often than not. BUT...sometimes her answers scratch the surface of Truth. And Truth, remember, with a capital T is God's Truth.

I'm certainly not condoning the behavior of these fictitious women. There are plenty of ways to go about asking the right questions and searching for answers that don't involve sex on the first date and handing entire paychecks to Monolo Blanik. But asking the right questions is a first step.

So when we run into the real life version of these characters maybe our jobs as Christians is to love them enough to keep our mouths shut about their sinful lifestyles and listen for the questions. If we love them, truly love them where they're at, maybe they'll trust us enough to listen for the right answers.

Decompressing

I had exams in both my classes today. I added up the total number of hours I spent studying and got a whopping 13.5 hrs. This human embryology class is hard. I'm a good memorize-er so I think that saves me. Foundations of Catholicism is not so bad because I've been studying Catholicism for several years now and it's not so unfamiliar. Science is just not my bag, baby.

Since I've been focused on sex organs and the Church for 3 days my house is in disarray. This is common when I've got school stuff to work on. But my sink-full of dishes is still not clean as I have been pleasantly distracted by the blogosphere.

I've found a particular literary agent (whew...haven't href -ed in a while...scary) who dispenses the wisdom of the publishing world in the manner of Dave Barry. His post today (see link) was about the single greatest writer-ish problem. Plot. I posted a comment because I seriously think that's my biggest issue. I have all the deeper meanings and messages of all the books I want to write but no plot. This is not workin' for me. Must develop plot.

So anyway, in my obsessive refreshing of the comments page (maybe this literary agent will comment on my comment directly!) I found another blogger who commented. She is published and writes...wait for it...Cool/real/Christian Chic-Lit. I commented on her blog too.

And the networking begins!

Dumbfounded by Extravegance and Greed

I have always felt that it is a person's right to accumulate wealth. It is what one does with that wealth that falls under the morality umbrella. Let's say a person is a gazillionaire and donates millions of dollars to causes that protect human dignity throughout the world. (that's more than I've ever given!) Can I begrudge them a nice house and maybe a Jaguar? I don't think so.

Excess is a relative term anyway. If I remember the numbers correctly, the average American 10-year-old paper boy is in the upper 6% of the world's income. That's crazy. Is it wrong for him to buy baseball cards when 94% of the rest of the world is starving? Of course it's not wrong.

But I did come across something that made me rethink this just a little.

As many of you know I'm a big fan of What Not To Wear. I really like the way Nick Arrojo does hair and I've been frustrated with my own lately because it's in that awkward growing-out stage. So I'm watching the show while I'm eating lunch and decide to Google Nick to see if he has a salon or whatever. Sure enough there's his salon. His website has a list of service and prices.

If I want to get my hair cut (just a cut...no color), by Nick himself, which will last in it's original state for about 2 weeks and then enter the growing-out stage in no more than 2 week after that, I would have to shell out wait for it....
.....
.....
.....
$500.

I don't care how much money you have or how much you and your gazillions protect human dignity. If you spend $500 on a haircut you should be shot.

First Session

I have two classes everyday for the next five weeks. Foundations of Catholicism is going to be great. It's my first theology class ever and I can't wait to get into it. The professor is a young man
(probably younger than me) with a wonderful dry wit. He had some artwork displayed while he lectured today and one of the images was the God/Adam Sistine Chapel fresco. He talked about how man was created out of the divine mind of God...blah blah blah. Then he said that he just showed that picture because if word got out that he showed pictures of naked people in class, it might be more popular. Which is interesting because...

I learned all about the male reproductive system in my human embryology class right before Foundations.

My day came full circle. Very nice.

I called Steubenvill "Home" the Other Day...It Scared Me

OK kids, I'm back. I promise to be a better blogger for all 5 of my regular readers. I love my fans. Hahahaha!

No seriously...I was so fried by the end of the semester that I couldn't put two words together. But my little vacay and time away from the books has refreshed my brain. I'm ready to study and I'm ready to write super duper intelligent stuff here on my blog. (hehe)

So get ready for some mind expanding B.S.

It is finished !

With the dreaded Spanish final behind me, I have now completed my first year back to school.
Now for summer school.
Yay

2 Week From Right Now ...

... I might be on my way to my Sweet Home Chicago!! I say "might" because it all depends on how efficient I am about getting myself packed.

I'm sending this out to anyone who can help me. I want to got to the Cub's game on Friday the 9th. Anyone want to come with?

I'd love to be in the bleachers but it seems they are not the trendy place to go "slumming" that they once were. I'd love to get my hands on some cheap tickets if anyone has heard of anything floating around that would be great!

Spring Fever

I have four weeks till my one and only final but my brain just wants to grill meat and eat picnic food. This is not good.

The Vigil

There are so many things I love about the Easter Vigil I don't know where to start. But let me begin by saying it wasn't 7 hrs long. It was about 3 1/2. I, with my short little legs swinging in discomfort, would have gladly stayed for another 3 1/2 hours. Yeah...it was that awesome.

The vigil begins in total darkness with all the priests outside. At Franciscan that's about 30. The celebrant takes the palms from Palm Sunday and burns them in a fire pit and it is with that flame that he lights the Easter Candle.

We had the giggles, I'm not gonna lie. We'd been sitting in the dark for 15 minutes when the vigil cam came on and we could see them all outside. One of our beloved friars almost caught on fire. We laughed that painful suppressed laughter. It hurt.

So the procession enters and we're all holding little taper candles. The Easter candle lights the ones on the aisles and the room fills with candlelight. It is the light of Christ dispelling the darkness. And we stopped giggling.

Then the priest prays a long chanted prayer called the exultet.
My favorite line:

"O happy fault,
O necessary sin of Adam,
which gained for us so great a Redeemer!"

Most Catholic Masses have three readings. The first from the Old Testament the second from the Epistles and the third is from the Gospels. BUT there are 10 readings at the vigil...and they aren't short. It's wonderful though because you get to see all of salvation history starting with the creation story and going through the significant stories that lead to our redemption: Abraham and Isaac; Moses and the Passover; and all those fabulous prophesies of Isaiah, Baruch, and Ezekiel.

The baptisms and confirmations come next. Unlike some non-Catholic denominations the Catholic Church acknowledges all Christian baptisms. So if an adult is being baptized at the vigil then it means they've never been baptized ever. There were three baptisms last night and they got into this kiddie pool of holy water and were dunked three times as the priest said, "I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

I have never in my life, at any baptism I've attended, witness a reaction like I did last night. After person #1 came up out of the water for the last time, the entire room erupted into thunderous cheers and clapping. Franciscan really knows how to welcome new members the family of God. It was so moving. And I thought the cheers would lessen as the other two came into the Church - but no. We hooted and hollered for 10 minutes straight I think. Truly awesome.

The the rest of the Mass is celebrated and we get to go to the all-night resurrection party. There was live music performed by students...each band would take turns. The first one was awesome and played a little of everything. The next was a girl band that I couldn't hear very well. It was fun till I started to feel old. Then a friend and I went to WallMart at 2am. (there was a party tomorrow/today and we had to get the fixin's we promised to bring) and there was this big black guy wandering around saying Happy Easter to everyone. I thought he might be a homeless guy (although I don't see many of them around here, come to think of it) since he didn't look like he was shopping and stopped to talk to all the stock boys who seemed to know who he was. Then this woman in orange hose and a black and orange dress walked by him with a full cart and said, "let's go." I almost burst out laughing right in front of them. I was slap happy again. When we were done, Jill and I went back to campus to see what the party was doing...it was only 3am and people were clearing out. What part of "ALL-NIGHT" did they not understand?!

Anyway,

All in all, Franciscan University of Steubenville earned every bit of Holy Week hype. That said, I attribute it mostly to my Lent, and to the things that God is doing in my own life. He is healing me...slowly. I have spent these 40 days recognizing my shortcomings and my powerlessness over the circumstances that created them. I am learning patience as well. I would very much like God to snap his fingers and heal me...right now. But what good would that do me? How can I unite myself to Christ's suffering if I'm not willing to feel pain in the refining process? He doesn't always take away the pain ... he just makes it worth it...because after this death...

is resurrection.

Alleluia

BTW...

The time stamp on the post below says 12:28. It is in fact 3:45am. I tried to last till the sun came up but all the undergrads were going home. WEENIES!!!

HE IS RISEN!

ALLELUIA !! and goodnight.

Good Friday

I wrote a feature story for the paper about the student-run liturgy committee. The student head of liturgy says she got like 3 hours of sleep during the Triduum last year. That's intense. And basically what I tried to do was let people know the committee exists without shining a spotlight on them. They see it as a ministry and they do it out of love for God. The members that I interviewed were humble servant types, not inclined to pat themselves on the back. So I tried to write a story that respected their man-behind-the-curtain presence. One of those people is my friend Anne. She is in charge of art and environment. Basically she and her partner do their best to make the field house (a place where sweaty guys bounce a ball back and forth) look like a place of worship. It is no easy feat.

But when I walked into the Good Friday Liturgy I was dumbstruck. Nothing but the stage/altar was decorated. If I were to look at it critically I would acknowledge that the fieldhouse ambiance was still there and even the faint smell of rubber and sweat still hung in the air. But I was there to meditate on the death of Christ. So all those things faded and I saw the stage piled with bricks and stones. These natural textures and colors gave the appearance of half walled city and half rocky hillside. My favorite part of the display was the broken pots on pedestals. There wasn't a crucifix with a bloody Jesus...just huge broken vessels of clay next to a big wooden cross. It was simple and yet it communicated clearly.

The veneration of the cross during the Good Friday service is something that my previously evangelical self couldn't wrap my brain around. Why do people kiss this piece of wood that isn't really the cross? Jesus died for my sin and it's done, why do people get in line like cattle to kiss this thing. It seemed meaningless to me.

But last night I had a bit of an epiphany...

One thing I remember about being away from the Church is the spirituality of evangelicalism. It always seemed an intangible thing, my salvation. I would pray and believe that God heard me because the bible said He did. I would pray and listen for The Voice, which rarely came. I would wait for the stirring of my spirit/emotions and when they remained unmoved, I would feel defeated and incapable of these basic practices of spirituality.

I'm a sensual person and being someone who's love language is physical touch, I have often railed at God for not giving me the husband I thought I should have. I've often cried about being lonely and not having a physical person to love me. I know we're supposed to fall in love with Jesus and all that, but Jesus can't curl up on the couch with you, ya know? "It's just not the same," I'd say, shaking my fist at the ceiling.

I realized last night that this Church of mine has provided a way for me to experience God with my body. I understood this in theory but last night the understanding made a free-fall into my heart. As I stood in line (like cattle) I realized that I couldn't wait to use this body of mine to bend and venerate the cross. To feel the wood on my lips for a fraction of a second. To kneel and feel the hard gym floor on my knees. To bow as the Blessed Sacrament was brought in. To smell the incense and to see the smoke of our prayers rising to heaven. To let the physical motions of my body become acts of worship in and of themselves.

Whew...it's amazing because then my emotions come -- in their proper order -- as a by product of worship. I do not worship because I am emotionally moved to do so, I worship because God is God.

Tonight is the vigil. It is one of my favorite celebrations of the whole year. From what I've heard it's 7 hours long. It is followed by an all-night resurrection party. If I can make it, I'm brining my camera to take a picture of the sun coming up on Easter morning....

But I'm not making any promises.

We Inerrupt This Triduum With a Special Report

Bandolino Jeans are the BEST jeans ever. Before last fall I thought Bandolino only made shoes...beautiful shoes that I've always wanted to own. But I was in Macy's last fall and found that they made jeans too. And they are the best jeans ever! They fit curvy women like me without being big in the waist! That's a freakin' miracle.

Holy Thursday and the Mass of the Lord's Supper

I came home after benediction last night and my roommate was watching EWTN (bad Catholic TV.) Pope Benedict the XVI was washing feet

I never thought, after all those years dabbling in evangelicalism, that I would love liturgy. At one time these rituals of Catholicism seemed rigid and void of genuine, spontaneous worship. I have found that spontaneity is highly overrated and that the lack of it does not hinder genuine worship. In fact quite the opposite is true.

The liturgy, quite simply, is. The worship is. Neither is dependent on the abilities of the musicians or the mood lighting or the drums. It doesn't matter how "in tune with the Spirit" the worship leader is. Even my own disposition is not a factor. God is worshiped regardless. I can participate, or I can just show up and be present. What makes it different from our praise and worship nights is that the pressure is off. I don't have to worry about "getting into it" because "it" does not require "getting into." It is enjoyed more fully the more actively and consciously I participate, surely, but "it" doesn't require it.

Also, when each movement of music, or the body happens, it is for a reason. People who don't understand laugh about the standing/sitting/kneeling/sitting/kneeling. But they are each done for reasons that one can choose to remember, or not. I will never not kneel during the consecration again. (Fieldhouse liturgies being the only exception as there is barely enough room to stand sometimes.) If the parish I'm at doesn't have kneelers I will kneel on the ground. Not because I'm holy or anything but because the One who is Holy is present. At that moment I am transported in time to the foot of the cross.

Holy CRAP that is awesome!

Don't get me wrong, I'm all about some rowdy praise and worship (I am still part charismatic after all) but these days of solemn joy are not the same without the rich tradition of our rituals and their deep meaning.

After Mass was a candlelight procession that followed the Blessed Sacrament to the chapel for adoration...and then Benediction. After that, all the tabernacles in the world are empty and Good Friday begins.

Wednesday Night

Lent comes to a close with the celebration of Tenebrae, a solemn night-time prayer service. It is chanted partially in Latin and ends in darkness. I have no idea what anything means but it is beautiful. The deepest meaning and mystery of The Passion is ultimately beyond my understanding anyway. I sit and allow the beauty of the music and the smell of the incense to turn my gaze to Christ. After each song is chanted, one of the many candles is extinguished until we are in darkness.

It is the beginning of the Holy Triduum, (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday) the highest holy days of Christianity.

The Adventures of Holy Week, Franciscan Style

Happy Holy Week Kids!

We are now entering the highest holy days of Christianity. I have heard the rumors of Holy Week at Franciscan University. I have heard that "you haven't experienced holy week until you've celebrated it at FUS." That's quite a promise. I've been excited...though it's been cautious excitement because frankly, the claims are bordering on mythical. We shall see.
So far, Palm Sunday was awesome. And right now I'm on my way to the all campus confession. Not to be confused with general absolution (I think that's what it's called ) where the priest absolves everyone in the room. A quick sign of the cross and BAM! we're absolved. But not tonight...tonight we all stand in line till there's a priest open. I sort of feel like I should have gotten in line this morning with a sleeping bag and a lawn chair. I told one of my friends that we should bring a cooler. How cool would that be...and we'd leave with no sin on our soul which is often different from other situations that involve sleeping bags, lawn chairs and coolers.

I'll let everyone know how it goes!
May your week be holy

Lost: A New Addiction

I was with some friends while they were discussing Lost season 4. Long story short, I was informed that I could watch Lost from the very beginning on ABC.com? And like a kid in the school yard I said "sure I'll try some'a that." And it's all over. I am a junkie. I have no idea what happened in what season because they're all running together. But I do know my favorite Sawyer nicknames. (and I was very upset with Sun when she told him he had to stop the nicknames for a week.)
For a long time my favorite was Captain Falafel until he called Charlie "the Munchkin."

Look what I found!

On a Happy Note

I had a snow day yesterday! And I did what every responsible college student does on a snow day.

I went SLEDDING!!!

Eternal Rest Grant Unto Her Oh Lord ...

There was an article in our school paper last week about the flu epidemic on our campus. It was somewhat tongue-n-cheek and mentioned how many classes were half empty and the Kroger decongestant shelf was completely empty. The pharmacist even said that FUS students bought them plum out of meds.

Amanda Pudvah, a senior was planning to attend a retreat this weekend but said in her Facebook status update that she wasn't going because her back and ribs were sore and she had a terrible cough...would we please pray for a speedy recovery. Sunday she woke up vomiting blood and died from complications due to pneumonia later that afternoon.

She is now more fully recovered than if she had returned to her dorm. As believers we have that hope and so we do not despair. We are consoled.

But...

death is still so wrong.

Please pray for Amanda and for the consolation of her family and friends. (even you non-Catholics)

...and let perpetual light shine upon her.

In the world

In my first media & society class my prof explained the Catholic World View (CWV) as being the 360 degree window in a revolving restaurant. That the CWV encompasses everything we face in the world. Media specifically. He explained that Catholicism sees the world from different angles; that truth is truth, no matter where it's found. And that that truth is God's truth.
I have always had a distaste for the us-and-them attitude some Christians have toward the world. I know it can be a big bad ugly world out there. I know that God's goodness is hard to find sometimes. But rather than throw in the towel and declare the world nonredeemable, and proceed to hide in whatever safe, Christian environment we have chosen for ourselves, why can't we find (seek out/hunt down/pursue) the goodness of God out in that ugly world and make it grow.
It seems Christians all over the place, Evangelical and Catholic alike, say they accept people where they're at. But there's always that caveat that says, as long as "where you're at" is within the walls of this church where we have the control...as long as someone brought you to youth group/church/Sunday school...because hell if I'm going out there to the bars/nightclubs/dungeons where you live and be exposed to your icky sinful lifestyle. Blech!
Would those Christians be the ones yelling at Jesus for speaking to tax collectors and prostitutes?
I prefer to see the true, good and beautiful wherever I can find it. I prefer to press into that line between "in" and "of" and see good things where the people, who are supposed to be salt and light, have stopped looking.

Mis Clases

So far I like my classes. But just like last semester, I'm afraid of a couple. This semester my big fear would be Spanish. Now, I got an A in Spanish last semester. Yay me, right? Well, I swear I had to go over everything I learned because I didn't remember a thing. Plus this new prof talks to us in Spanish and then expects us to respond. I'm nauseous before every class like it's my first day of kindergarten.

Then there are the writing classes that I'm happy about. Although, public affairs reporting gives me hives a bit. I've never been interested in the news. I mean, I'd like to be updated about current events in some way other than reading dry news stories. And I certainly don't want to write dry news stories. But of course this is one of those dreaded required courses associated with my area of study. I can pretty much deal. And any writing is good practice.

But the class I'm MOST excited about is my Media and Society class. At an orthodox Catholic university we get to apply the Catholic world view to every issue in the media today. I'm learning new and exciting things in my class about Catholicism and how all my doubts about coming to a place where the super-holy live were unfounded. According to my prof's lectures my ideas about interacting with the world are in line with what the Church teaches. There are so many things the prof has said that have given me goosebumps. I've bounced in my chair and pumped my fist and exclaimed, "yeeahh!" more times than I can count.

This makes me excited about being Catholic.

Plays Well With Others

After 4 years of living alone I now am sharing my living space with a roommate. I met her at the very beginning of last semester when I didn't know anyone. She and I became friends quickly and then had to say goodbye when she left for her semester in Rome. She and I kept in touch while she was there and so I knew that she hadn't figured out where to live when she got back. I, of course, need to not spend so much. Having someone share the rent while I cut back in other ways will assure that I won't starve before next year's loan arrives. This is good.

On the other hand, I will have to relearn patience with the living habits of another person. I don't anticipate any problems because Jessica is great...but she is another person who will be inhabiting what used to be My Apartment. I'm sure this will take some getting used to for both of us.

Other than the financial benefits, I will also have someone to talk to, and more importantly, I will have someone to listen to. When living alone, one tends to be much more focused on one's self. There's really no need to think about anyone else. My mess is my mess. The dishes aren't done? It's because I didn't do them. Also, when I'm alone I think about me and all my "problems," which is not even slightly productive. I'm looking forward to the distraction, actually. My problems are all consuming sometimes...but really...they're mostly just boring.

So I'm cautiously looking forward to my semester with a roommate. I think we will both grow from it and that is always a good thing.

I did it.

Dirty Dancing is On Demand. And I pushed play.
Oh yes I did.

Naps: And How They Are Beautiful

I came home from my morning class. By morning I mean 10 a.m. which isn't that bad. But I'm soooo tired right now and my next class isn't till 2:30. So I'm just gonna curl up under my blankie and snooze for a bit....why? BECAUSE I CAN! Yeah.

I've Made a List !!

And I'm actually getting stuff done! Yay me.

I must tell you that I have three (3)....count 'em three (3) writing classes this semester. Creative writing, feature writing, and public affairs reporting. I might not be writing many blog posts till May. I'll try keeping you posted on the important stuff...but seriously...I'll be writing till my fingers bleed I think. Cut me some slack, would ya?

Love you all!

I Clearly Need My Head Checked

Monday night was my last night of work before going back to school. I had 10 (now 6) glorious days of nothing-to-do. Ten days in which I would solve all the world's problems (after solving all my own,) 10 days of writing and goal-setting and blah blah blah. I don't do well with nothing-to-do. I mentioned to a friend that I hate having demands on my schedule. For instance, if I had 4 weeks of freedom to go into work when I felt like it, or not if I didn't, I'd be a happy camper. The second I see my name on what is called a "schedule" I get all resentful and mad that I have to go into work. So I've been house/dog sitting for a friend and it's been pretty fun...except that I've gotten NOTHING accomplished. I seriously want to go into work because I'm sooo bored. But there are plenty of things that aren't Crabhouse related that I wanted to do. I wanted to write...I wanted to go over the Spanish I learned so I'm prepared for next semester...I wanted to improve my prayer life...HA! I've done none of these things. So apparently I need a schedule...and apparently there has to be a threat of disciplinary action in order for me to follow it...and apparently I'm not good at disciplining myself.

So I guess my dreams of working for myself need to be adjusted a little. (or I need to be adjusted a little)

One New Year's Resolution: Learn to be disciplined. Ugggh....that's gonna hurt.

As we say goodbye to "The Holidays"

I was just reading a quick Christmas post from Meegs and she had a line from a familiar carol.

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
with peace on earth good will to men.”

And I was thinking how so many carols are overlooked as cultural attachments to a "holiday season." There are Christmas carols and Hanukkah songs and I dunno, maybe there are Kwanzaa songs. So we know them as the songs we hear playing at Macy's once the 4th of July products are put away. I think we see them as part of the commercialization of Christmas. I hear "Yay! no more Christmas carols!" this time of year, every year and sometimes it's from my own mouth. But I was just thinking about how I really love certain lines from some of those songs ... lines that contain some pretty serious theology. I'm talking deep stuff, the likes of which the Barenaked Ladies have never dreamed. Let me give some examples...starting with one of my favorite Christmas medleys by the Ladies themselves with guest appearance by Sarah McLachlan.

Glorious now behold Him arise
King, and God, and Sacrifice
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Worship Him, God most high

Sacrifice is not something we like to think about when discussing Baby Jesus. Nor is it something the Barenaked Ladies typically sing about. And yet, they do so without apology. Here's another favorite of mine. I'm using the original words not the new ones that people use because they don’t understand the original. I’ll explain later.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till he appeared and the soul felt it's worth

That’s the most profound thing I’ve ever heard in a song. And it's right in the Cathechism of the Catholic Church. I'll explain by saying first that the way the words have been changed – “the soul felt HIS worth” – destroys the meaning and depth completely. The CCC says: “Christ, the final Adam, by the revelation of the mystery of the Father and His love, fully reveals man to himself and makes his supreme calling clear” It is Christ who reveals to us, our own worth. And you’ve probably heard it a million times in the last month. But wait there’s more from that song:

Chains shall he break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease.

Or this song:

Mild he lay his glory by
Born that men no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth

There’s some heavy meaning in some of those over-played songs. Maybe we should consider the catechesis that occurs subliminally during Christmas shopping before we bash the capitalistic system that has taken Christ out of XMas. Maybe he's not that far away.

Maybe I should have thought to post this a month ago. I'd hate for you to drag out your Andy Williams Christmas album when you just put it away.

May you all have a Happy New Year!