I discovered not too long ago this thing called a…library.
Look at all the great fluffy bunny fru-fru books that I managed to check out!
Exactly what I need when I don’t want to think too much! 🙂
Category Archives: Neat Things I Didn’t Author
Linky Fun
Apparently, despite the “embed” button, this blog doesn’t like to actually embed video. So, I’ve linked this hilarious clip for your viewing pleasure:
And also for you is this great photo from National Geographic:
Think of Yourself As a Healer, Not As a Victim
[–from my “Uplifting Thoughts for Every Day” book]
Scripture: 2 Cor 1:3-4 — The God of all consolation…consoles us in all our afflictions and thereby enables us to console others in their tribulations.
Reflection: Self-pity is the cancer of the soul. You are called to be a healer, not a complainer. Be like Jesus. Think of others. This is the month of our Savior’s birth. Start pondering your mission in life. Call upon the Lord to make you a healer. Begin by canceling any thoughts you have about being a victim. Snap out of it.
Prayer: Holy Spirit, soul of my soul, brace me up when I drift into self-pity.
Ouch! That’s a little harsh! But, I suppose that we can all use a little bit of harsh now and again. And it is true — self-pity is not going to help anything, but prayer is always efficacious.
For Sarah…
From an e-mail forward, so not my own work…. 🙂 Obviously, way too cute to keep to myself! Enjoy!
Dachshund & Pink the Pig
This Dachshund is fostering this little guy for another mom who couldn’t take care of him.
He had his eyes closed, but now they are open. He is just a little bigger than her other pups.
She loves this little guy as much as the other puppies and she is nursing him back to health.
He is the cleanest pig-uppy ever because she licks him all the time.
HIS NAME IS PINK….
Catholicentric??
Catholicentric — definition per Urban Dictionary (at the site of the same name plus the dot com, I won’t actually link it because most of the contents are morally filthy and I wouldn’t want to go shopping for my millstone, thanks)
(adj.)
1. Relating to, measured from, or with respect to the Catholic Church and it’s teachings.
2. Having the Catholic faith as a center.
(n.) One who bases his or her political ideals on the prospects of the Catholic Church (i.e. Super-conservative no-church-and-state homophobes); One who believes Catholicism to be the center of their universe.
Hmm…. Do I fit the definition today? On one hand, I didn’t go to Mass today. On the other hand, I did make sure that I got to Bible study with Fr. JJ. I also purchased at the local Catholic bookstore, Faith@Work, Beginning Apologetics Course #8 on the End Times (so that I can refute the Rapture for Sandra), Life of Christ by Fulton Sheen, and 2 copies of The Magnificat Advent Companion (Lindsay, one’s for you!!). Then, I went to the Troy Public Library, to which I have not been in over 2 years and still owed them $3.75 from my overdue fines from when I checked out Harry Potter #6 and failed to return it in a timely manner. I never remember to return my library books on time. I am the library book fine queen. In fact, I think I still have a library book that was checked out from the parish library 6 months ago…. And it was due 3 weeks after I took it…. Maybe I should bring that up in confession…. I’m still only 1/4 way through that book — it’s very heavily philosophical. I read about 10 different books at once. Anyway, I digress. At the library, I borrowed 2 books-on-CD: John Paul the Great by Peggy Noonan, and The Pontiff in Winter by John Cornwell. I also borrowed the following books: Let God’s Light Shine Forth (The Spiritual Vision of Pope Benedict XVI) by Robert Moynihan, Gift and Mystery by Pope John Paul II, Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis, The Rise of Benedict XVI by John Allen Jr., and Our Fathers by David France.
This last one sounds like it will be complete trash-talking about the Catholic Church and our priests. I’m sure that book will lead me to no end of irritation, but that can be a good thing.
They are all due in 3 weeks on December 9. Please remind me to bring them in! 🙂
Later tonight, I will be going to RCIA. Tomorrow is a Gospel of Life talk with Pat McDonald — which everyone should attend, even if you have to fly in to hear it. Thursday is Theology on Tap with Fr. Ken Kaucheck. Friday, our Adventures in Matthew Bible study group will go to a local Synagogue to learn more about the Jewish faith.
Catholicentric? Nah. I think I’m normal. 🙂
…of the Day
Photo:
I didn’t take the picture today, but I did upload it to my Flickr today; and it just made me grin. 🙂
Question:
Matthew 8:28-34
Could the demoniacs be a type or foreshadowing of Judas, in that when their badness is confronted by Christ, they choose to leave His presence and effect their own self-destruction?
Book Review:
“Church Fathers” by Pope Benedict XVI — I loved this! I just got it a couple of days ago, and despite my perpetual busyness, I have already finished! As always, the Pope write clearly, and in a very engaging manner. The book consists of a series of Wednesday audiences (not unlike Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body talks), each dedicated to a particular church father. He really is able to make them come alive for me and gives me a desire to read their works and dive deeper into the faith, which is revealed as the true faith which has always been held. I came away from the book with a greater sense and realization of the truth and catholicity of our faith and a hunger for further knowledge. Obviously, I highly recommend it — particularly to those who want an overview of the church fathers before making a decision as to who to read first! 🙂 After reading this book, you won’t think of them (as I kind of did) as anonymous, old men who died a long time ago and don’t have anything to say to me, now. Ha! As the Pope mentions for almost every Father, their advice is always “timely,” especially in the culture of our day, today.
Prayer:
Lord, I am not worthy of you, but only say the word and I shall be healed in heart, mind and body. Please give me understanding, strength and desire to conform my will to yours. Amen.
Quote:
“Call me a crazy lady…one more time….” from Hancock, seen with Terry this weekend.
Movie Review:
Hancock — I thought at first that this was simply going to be another “comic book” movie. I was wrong. Either that or there’s more to comic book stories than I generally get from them. This particular movie I quite enjoyed. Outside of the profanity (which, really, just made me giggle), it was a story of the redemption of man. It took the main character from his sinful, slovenly, selfish ways and transformed him into a man who truly cared for his neighbor and sacrificed on behalf of others. It highlighted the importance of family ties, working for the good of the poor and needy, and of being a good example. It was also a great portrayal of the quote, “To whom much is given, much will be expected.” It was emotionally well-crafted, and you had real empathy for all the characters. The acting I respected. Of course, I’m always a fan of Will Smith, too, so that helped. 🙂 The ending of the film was a little unexpected, but completely fit and was very well done. It would be a great movie to watch again, knowing the ending now to see what foreshadowing there is, because I know that there is a bunch. I could probably keep going on about this movie and the deep meaning that I got from it, but for now I will just encourage you to go out and see it, if you have not done so already. 🙂
Announcement:
I have (finally) posted ALL of my World Youth Day photos!!! Whoo-hoo! Be sure to check out all 2,665 images and videos here.
Reflection for the Day
“If you were going to die tomorrow and had only one phone call to make, whom would you call? What would you say?
Would you start talking about your sadness, or would you be grateful for all the gifts you received in life?”
— From “Uplifting Thoughts for Every Day”
I would have thought that this would be a hard question for me to answer. But, surprisingly, it wasn’t. I would call one of the people that I really feel that God has specifically given to me. I can only hope that I would not make the phone call about my fears or sadness or anything like that. I would hope that I would be able in that phone call to be able to express to the person how much he or she is loved by me, and how I am always praying for him or her, and how I will continue to do so.
Reading Already!
This is how I spent my evening yesterday after work. I met up with Sandra and Kylie at Barnes and Noble. After chasing Kylie around the store (with Sandra yelling at her not to run, while I egged her on), spent hours in the Religion section trying, and failing, not to buy another book when I already have too many to read, we sat down in the children’s section, where Ky proceeded to sit in the “teacher’s chair” and read to me.
I’m so glad she’s a book lover! 🙂
What was the book that I couldn’t leave the store without? (Because I know you are dying to know….)
“The Story of a Soul,” by St. Thérèse of Lisieux.
Bought by the recommendation of Fr. Mark. (Well, okay, he said something about St. Thérèse, and there were tons of books about her, so I hope I picked the right one.)
Since I am the Master of the Unfinished Book (I have like 15 books that I am “in the middle of”), I proceeded to ignore the 3 books staring at me with their bookmarks, and left them to sulk while I dove into this latest acquisition. I made it to page 56 before going to bed.
This morning, I had to make the difficult decision of what to bring with me to work. After work today, I am going to do a bit of consulting, so I will not be home until fairly late. My tote bag is already nearly busting at the seams with my Bible, catechism, Adventures of Matthew binder, colored pencils, and TOBBOTD (Theology of the Body Book of the Day), and I made the sacrifice of not taking my newest treasure with me, in the interests of (1) keeping it safe, (2) actually working on finishing the TOBBOTD, which happens to be a GROSSLY overdue library book from the parish library, and (3) keeping my bag from bursting.
Oh, St. Thérèse book, I miss you! I will see you when I get home tonight! 🙂
I Got the Mad Skillz!
Sarah from PoshDeluxe has inspired me to upload some vintage pics to my Flickr. And, since my narcissism runs deep, there’s gotta be tons of me! 🙂Â
As you can see, from a very young age, I always had the mad skillz. Which may be why I get into trouble like this so often….
On a side note, check out Sarah’s blog. She’s hilarious! I love her! Oh! And she posted a link to this story, which you must, must read — so cute, I nearly died.
Starbucks Wisdom of the Day #27
“Do not kiss your children so they will kiss you back, but so they will kiss their children and their children’s children.” — Noah benShea
In an aside, the days of double-fisted coffee drinking have begun again! Pumpkin spice lattes are back at Starbucks! 🙂 And after this weekend…I need it!!!
Paroxysm of Giggles / Critical Mass 
