Blatherskite

I've arrived home mid-morning, 4-5 days ahead of Izzy's expected arrival. I took today to catch up on sleep, laundry, yard work, and those bits of the interweb that one can't easily access (1) without a laptop or (2) on the Mom-in-law's dial-up connection.

One of the funniest authentic letters I've ever read is posted on Waldie's blog. It was found in books that came into her family's possession from a former priest.

A couple of snippets from a letter beginning "Dear Cousin":

You have gone high places in America. God bless you. I hope you'll not be putting on airs and forgetting our native land.

Your Cousin, Hughie O'Toole, was hung in Londonderry last week for killing a policeman. God rest his soul. And may God's Curse be on Jimmy Rodgers, the informer, and may he burn in Hell. God forgive me. ...

We had a grand time at Pat Muldoon's wake. He was an old blatherskite and it looked good to see him stretched out with his big mouth closed. He is better off dead and he'll burn till the damned place freezes over. He had too many friends among the Orangemen. God curse the lot of them. ...

Read the whole thing, then imagine Frank McCourt's voice-over.

Anniversary Trip

I'm taking a couple minutes on Izzy's mac-book to do a quick post.  It's been a whirlwind since he picked me up at Sea-Tac at 2:30 in the AM early Tuesday morning. (it's now a little after 3:30 PM here in Oregon.)

I've been microblogging via Twitter to blogspot, so anyone who cares to can follow at least my part of the trip.  see the right column for all you need to know...

We rode down Tuesday to Astoria, OR, where we are staying in a lovely B&B.  We wandered all over the riverwalk yesterday (Wednesday), and toured an old house.  (links later)  Dinner at a new-American restaurant, where the staff all had been told it was our anniversary.  We had great food, good service, pictures taken under the bridge, and dessert was brought on a plate with "Happy Anniversary" written in belgian chocolate.

Today, we hiked a (1.5 mile) meandering route (uphill!) through lots of neighborhood streets to reach the fabled Astoria column, which depicts the exploits of Lewis & Clark.  From the column's base (top was closed for repairs) we got great shots of the forests, mountains, rivers, and flora of God's creation out here.  We hiked down the mountain through the woods (1.5 miles) and walked another mile or so to the Rogue Ale House.  We're now back at the B&B, where showers and naps are in order, then deciding where to eat this evening.

Tomorrow, we'll pack up and head down to Casa Mama O'Cayce.  

Thanks to all who've shared good wishes and congratulations on this anniversary.  We're almost a bit surprised to see that the time has gone by so fast (and that we still feel so relatively young at this point.)  We eagerly look forward to seeing what all God has in store for us in the next 25 years.

Latin content for Izzy

For those not following his trip on Twitter, Izzy is now in the San Juan Islands , at the Woodsong Arts & Music Festival. (Great line-up, which you can't see since their server is down. The family who run the festival lost their house in a July 4 weekend fire.)

Of course, he's met up with friends of ours from all over the US, including a friend who was in our small group Bible study for several years.

Trip pics are going up at Flickr as he has time and decent wifi access.

I wanted to make sure he didn't miss today's Bizarro. I'm sure it will go up in his classroom eventually.

1st bank spam - finally! ;-p

Sometimes, were I prone to do so, I might feel left out since I receive so few of the big, popular spams. It's been months since I've had the opportunity to help save the fortunes of a deceased African businessman from his greedy, noncharitiable, non-Christian relatives. I don't get as many chain letters or opportunities to sign petitions as I used to. Makes a person feel lonely....

So, imagine my excitement when I received a message from Bank of America today offering to help me safeguard my info and protect my accounts.

Dear Valued Customer :

We recently have determined that different computers have logged in your Bank of America Online Banking account, and multiple password failures were present before the logons. We now need you to re-confirm your account information to us. If this is not completed by April 11, 2007, we will be forced to suspend your account indefinitely, as it may have been used for fraudulent purposes. We thank you for your cooperation in this manner. In order to confirm your Online Bank records, we may require some specific information from you.

To restore your account, please Sign in to Online Banking.

thank you for using Bank Of America Online Service.

Your account might be place on restricted status. Restricted accounts continue to receive payments, but they are limited in their ability to send or withdraw funds. To lift up this restriction, you need to login into your account (with your username or SSN and your password), then you have to complete our verification process. You must confirm your credit card details and your billing information as well. All restricted accounts have their billing information unconfirmed, meaning that you may no longer send money from your account until you have reactive your billing information on file. Sign in to Online Banking.

Thank You.

Please do not reply to this message. If you have any questions about the information in this e-Bill, please contact your biller. For all other questions, call us at 800-887-5749.

(One of the "Sign on to Online banking links go:
http://parenting-network.com/userprofile/bankofamerica/signon.php?
The other goes to:
http://muzzlemixer.com/social_mem_song/bankofamerica/signon.php?)

Oh, no's:
1. Oh, no! I've missed the April 11, 2007 deadline! I'm probably in danger of losing my accounts!
2. Oh, no! I don't have a Bank of America account. Whatever info will I given them?

Just a bit of levity for a Saturday afternoon.

Peaches to Zion

I'm freezing the peaches
Freezing the fresh S-C peaches,
My brother-in-law gave me peeeeeea-che-es,
that grew on his Pacolet farm.



All the Baptists (current or former) know the tune?

Sunday night mindlessness

I'm downloading, sorting, labeling and uploading photos -- and have the TV on so I can keep track of time.

I turned to Prime Minister's Questions, which I always enjoy on C-SPAN. So far, so good.

But now, I realize that I've had in the background Bob Barr, the Libertarian Party Candidate. One of my brother's is a big fan -- I don't see the point of 3rd parties at this time.

I started paying attention (and this is why I had to start this blog post) as they started broadcasting a speech by Rosa Clemente, VP nominee of the Green Party (Cynthia McKinney of GA is the pres. nominee.) Clemente is talking about hip-hop and describing how people are always "axing" her why she is running. Green party values match those in hip-hop. Lots of lyrics quoted.

The best bit so far is where she said she was ready to run for VP: "Dick Cheney, bring it on."

Now she's reading more hip-hop lyrics. Dissing "yes we can." Why to not vote for Obama: "We don't vote for him because he's already bought and sold." More interesting than Barr... She was born in 1972. I remember 1972. Gosh I feel old.

I'll post now, and possibly update as I continue the uploads.

Update @ 10:26 PM: the supporter standing directly behind Cynthia McKinney, who is now speaking, finally turned his Power to the People sign right side up.

Random Thoughts & Izzy Update

Heard from my dearest just a few minutes ago. He's in South Dakota, having ridden through the Black Hills/Badlands today after leaving middle Iowa.

He described a scene he'd passed and not been able to photograph. Just past an 1880's village on I-90, there was a sculpture of a T-rex being taken for a walk. Whilst on the phone, we were able to both look it up on Google Images and thus see it at the same time. Cool.


(Photo from Neatocoolville)

Tomorrow for him: Mount Rushmore.
Tomorrow for me: Shipping motorcycle gear to Seattle. Working on policies. Randy Stonehill Concert @ the coffee shop (yay!)

Got the lawnmower re-started and got over half of the back yard done tonight, stopping when I saw the first bit of lightning before the evening deluge started.

I'd done the front yard last night, stopping when it got too dark to mow safely, despite the mower's aversion to stopping. It didn't even want to stop in tall think grass -- refused to stall out -- or while I talked to Mom for 20 minutes. I pulled open the top and did a bit of monkeying it with the springy-thingy that's is supposed to stop the motor when you release the handle or pull out the orange key thingy, and it finally stopped. The 12 year old mower is battery-operated, so you can't mess with carburetors or spark plugs to turn it off. So, I'm feeling like a problem-solving girl, which is often more than I accomplish in a day of work.

Lots of random thoughts as I pushed the mower through the thick tall grass (when it rains nearly every day, it's hard to do the mowing frequently.)

1. I wondered whether the mosquitoes attacking me were more likely to carry West Nile Virus or dengue fever.
2. I'm reticent to admit that I've now heard the Kid Rock song "All Summer Long" and am surprised to find I really like it. It's the one that combines the basic content of "Night Moves" with the tunes of "Werewolves of London" and "Sweet Home Alabama." Clever musical staging.
3. There's no sense to quietly humming songs that are stuck in your head while you mow the lawn -- might as well belt them out.
4. I'm not a fan of pine cones.
5. Goes without saying, but I'm missing the Iz-man.

Cute kids

DSC_6521
Originally uploaded by Steliz

Pics of a couple of my nieces are on the Flickr site. Taken on the fourth of July. This one was my favorite of the set of the two of these guys together.

Saturday Thoughts & Observations

1. Celebrating the Fourth.
Driving down the street this afternoon, I saw, in front of the little park, large piles of spent fireworks, shells and casings. This means that, despite at least one of the organizers having moved away and the cancellation of last year's show, there must have been some sort of neighborhood fireworks show last night.
Mixed reactions -- it would have been fun to see the display -- previous ones were amazing -- but I wouldn't give up the delightful food, friends and conversation at Chez Dell last evening for anything. Thanks so much to the Dell's for a great evening!

2. Photo Op
Gotta remember to shoot the sign on the church around the corner: "Stop, Drop & Roll won't work in Hell."

3. The poor cat
She's been quite insistent on putting me to bed at night during Izzy's absence. Also asking for scritchies at night -- though scarce in the mornings.
At one point earlier today, she wouldn't stop yowling and acting upset -- and she wasn't interested in anything I offered her (brush, going outside, laptime.) Turns out, the box fan (plugged in and running) had fallen over in the back bedroom. I think this was Callie's first "Timmy's in trouble" moment. I'm proud of her.
I haven't seen her since I got back this evening. There have been fireworks off and on for the past hour or so, and we had a thunderstorm just before that. I'm going to assume that she is behind the couch -- I'll expect to see her around 11 asking for her dinner.

4. Fun movie dialogue.
I'm watching "Bertie and Elizabeth" whilst listening to more neighborhood fireworks. There is a great bit of dialogue as Queen Mary (consort of George V) and one of her ladies in waiting (I think Mabel Olgilvy, Countess of Airlie -- a member of the aristocracy) watch the romance blossom between Bertie (later George VI) and Elizabeth Bowes Lyons (daughter of the Scottish Earl of Strathmore, later Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.)

QM: I think my son is rather keen on the Strathmore girl.
Countess: I've formed that impression, too.
QM: Well, we could do worse than marry Bertie to a member of the British aristocracy. I mean, some of them are quite respectable. Well, yourself, for example.
Countess: [laughs] Has it ever been done? Isn't royal blood supposed to be a unique asset? Surely, she'd be the first commoner to marry into the Royal Family, since, um, ...
QM: Anne Boleyn.
Countess:Well, though didn't work out, did it?
QM: Oh, my understanding is that until he had her beheaded, the whole thing was a resounding success.

Commenting on American newspaper coverage of the possibly impending marriage between Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson (pre-abdication)

Courtier: Some of these [newspapers] may have been read by Canadians.
Duchess of York: So far from God and so close to America.

5. Liturgical Tourism
Went to Saturday evening Mass to see a couple of the musicians who will be moving away in August. Dinner afterwards -- nice conversation, but my food choices (Indian veggies)were apparently too carb heavy (alas...).
I think I resisted the urges towards liturgical tourism (i.e., watching, rather than worshipping.) I saw things that went well, and things that could have gone better; I saw things that I thought our Mass does better, and some things I wish happened better at our Mass. Overall, it was good to be able to listen and worship and anticipate the Eucharist without having to think about what bit of music comes next.
Assuming tomorrow goes as I plan, in Izzy's honor I plan to go to a Tridentine Latin Mass tomorrow at 1 PM. I think I'll be able to find Izzy's Latin Missal and a lacy head covering.

6. Speaking of Latin...
I'm getting much better at reading Izzy's Latin text messages and have even sent a few of my own. I'm sure that there were plenty of grammar mistakes, but I was apparently clear enough that he understood what I had to say (based on the replies I got.) Of course, he has over a decade's worth of experience translating student Latin -- I'm at least at their level.

7. Back to the cat.
10:50 PM and the fireworks, having mostly stopped, the cat has come out to express her opinions. Time to feed her and start winding down, so I'll be ready to sing tomorrow morning at 8 AM.

Happy Bday to Pritcher

For him, and anyone else turning 30, esp those with "little baby daughters"...



Lyrics.

I remember hearing this song when it was new, and I've gotten to see Uncle Randy do it several times since. This is from a 1990 performance -- gotta love the hair and shirt.

For everyone else, not just Pritcher:

Randy Stonehill will be in town (on the 12th?) at the coffee shop -- I'll be down front with the tripod -- let me know if anyone in the vicinity of the Congaree would like to join me.

If you're at all curious what the early days of Jesus music were like, check out Randy's Myspace and listen to "We were all so young." Izzy and I have seen nearly all of these guys and gals, and seen their lives give evidence to their deep faith.

Izzy's Trip: Day 1

If you know Izzy, you can check his Facebook status updates from time to time to follow his progress on the Latin speaking, filial piety, 25th anniversary summer tour. (Maybe we should get tour t-shirts made.) If you're not on Facebook, but we know each other, email me via the profile link and I'll clue you into a couple other ways to follow his travels.



I got up early this AM and took a few shots of his final preparations.


Everything he needs for five weeks on the road.



A description of this week from a Pacfic Coast blogger:

Nor is this pleasure [of Latin immersion] limited to electronic realms. This summer I will travel, in the corporeal world, to Rusticatio Virginiana, a week-long retreat at a villa formerly in the Washington family, where one speaks only Latin. Doing everything from trail-tromping to wine-tasting, from disputing Ovid and Catullus in many-hour sessions to sitting on the porch shooting the West Virginia breeze, we will be using only that ancient harp-song, Latin—and having the time of our lives doing it! The chef, by the way, one Andrew Gollan, is a Latin teacher at Santa Monica High School. (Even the carrots are cooked Latine modo.) What’s more, Rusticatio Virginiana is but one of many such shindigs across the country, and far more across the world, some of which last as many as eight weeks, and many of which are difficult to get into because the demand is so immense.

This evening, I tried to keep in the spirit of his Latin-only experience at the Rusticatio, and sent Izzy some sort of latinate text message. Be nice, now...

Quomodo vales ad locum Virginia Occidentia? Te ego et Caligula amamus.

Just to be sure that he got my drift, I send the 2nd in porcine proto-Italian.

Opehay ouyay avehay away oodgay imetay.

His replies (Latin, of course) told me he was in a room with (surrounded by?) four (other?) Catholic students and one leader who is an Anglican priest. He was tired and ready to sleep. He loves me.

As his trip progresses, I'll post links to any pics he sends or uploads (likely AFTER the 6th, when he gets to use English again, and gets Internet access.)


St, Isidore of Seville, pray for us.
For traveling mercies, Our Lady of Safe Travel and St. Brendan the navigator, pray for us (ora pro nobis)

Riverwalking

We headed out Sunday evening for a stroll along the river. The next walk we'll take like this will be along the mighty Columbia River ( not the Congaree River where you could almost walk unshod and dry to Columbia.)



As we started out, we saw a group of folks digging in the bushes -- turns out, they were harvesting blackberries. We ate a couple berries each, but most of what was availalbe wasn't quite ripe. I exercised forbearance and didn't photograph the harvester's shorts with 85% of the back ripped away, exposing multicolored underpants/shorts. Just seemed wrong.



Enjoyed the walk, the sights, and the company.


Reflections in the shallow riverbed


Cammo fisherman maches the rocks


See here for Izzy's suggested revisions to the sign (think back to the community's reaction to the Somali refugees...)