Category Archives: Photography

So, What Did You Do for New Year’s Eve?

Jennspeak, Photography, Tales of My Amazing Priests

Originally uploaded by CadyLy

I went out to the store needing mundane items like, oh, deodorant, so I wouldn’t stink, and ended up buying hair stuff that supposed to eliminate frizz, make my hair soft, act as a weak hairspray, take 5 pounds off me and give me an instant face lift — or something like that. And for $20 — it had better live up to it! 🙂

I also got some new make-up, since the stuff I have laying around the house is over a decade old (gasp!). Ended up finding the best eyeliner ever! Ever! Now, don’t judge by these pictures, since my skill in applying said eyeliner is LACKING, but it really is good stuff. And new foundation in Natural Ivory. Hmm. Me. Ivory. You wouldn’t think with as dark of eyes and hair (well, normally), but yes, I am very Snow White like that. And new lip gloss.

Well, I have to be girly SOMETIME, give me a break! 🙂

After my fit of narcissism, where I playfully took about a billion pictures of myself and my new make-up, Terry came over and we went out to dinner at Shield’s and then saw “Seven Pounds” with Will Smith at the theatre. It was a really good movie. A little slow, very dramatic, very emotive. It didn’t have any real surprises to it — you could figure out what was going to happen the entire way through — but it was very well done. Go Will! You are one of my favorite actors. 🙂

After Terry dropped me back off home, I danced around the living room for a short while, then got ready to go to Mass.

Oh yeah. Did I tell you? There’s a MIDNIGHT MASS for Mary! I’d never heard of that before, only midnight Mass for Christmas. I was so excited! 🙂 For weeks, I was dancing in anticipation of going to this Midnight Mass. I mean, what was the alternative? I could go to some parties with some friends — and don’t get me wrong, I love my friends — but I’m not really the drinking type and bar scenes are not really for me, and I am allergic to cigarette smoke and this was FAR COOLER! (Sorry guys, I am just that kind of Catholidork.)

So, I drove out about half an hour to Plymouth to Our Lady of Good Counsel. Since I had gotten up way early to go to work in the morning, I was yawning on my way in. I got there about 11:15 pm and everyone was gathered in the Day Chapel, praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament. I prayed for many things in that 45 minutes, but one of them was, “Please, Lord, help me stay awake for Mass.”

I did manage to stay awake through Mass, and it was lovely. I do have to admit to fantasizing about sleeping in front of the tabernacle, since I wasn’t sure that I would be awake enough to drive home. But God provided for me by having a little reception in the Social Hall after Mass, where I could load up on sugar — at least enough to get me home. I met a woman named Delphine, and a boy named Mark came up to me and chatted for a little while.

Fr. Lee came up to me when I was talking with Mark. After he met Mark, he turned to me and said, “Oh. I’ve met you before.”

What and that once was enough? Sheesh. Between you and Fr. Mark, I’m beginning to get suspicious of your entire ordination class. 🙂 But, giving Fr. Lee the benefit of the doubt, I will edit that phrase in my mind (and yours now too) to read: “Oh! Nice to see you again!”

There. Isn’t that better? 🙂

May you have a happy New Year filled with peace and love! 🙂
Hugs and Kisses,
— Jaibee

Clint Opening Hanukkah Presents

Holidays, Photography

Here’s the beginning of the present-opening extravaganza — trying to make up for my previous years’ lack of trying. I’m sorry, I am laughing so hard I’m crying (but trying not to) for the duration of the video.

And here is the conclusion, with Clint unwrapping his presents.  I am such a unique gift-giver, aren’t I?  🙂

Evidently, my embedding isn’t working.  😦  So I will link instead to my YouTube site, where you can watch to your heart’s content!  🙂

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

Of Trials Opportunities and Gifts, Photography

Subtle, eh?  🙂

Candles

Here are some of the goodies of the day:
Earthquake Cake
This cake was amazing! Walnuts and coconut, covered in chocolate cake, and the white stuff is cream cheese, butter and sugar! A quadzillion calories, but SOOOO good!!! Dr. Knol made it for me. 🙂

Latest News on Andy

Photography, Prayer/Prayer Requests

DSCN8149

The news is rather sad. After the biopsy the vet determined that there is nothing that can be done for Andy. They estimate he has about 2 weeks left. Fr. J.J. is as you would guess pretty devastated. He is fine but it is very hard. I wish I knew something to tell you to do, that would mean that I could do something myself. Just be there, pray he knows when the time is here and that he accepts it with the grace and faith we know he has.

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Please pray for Andy, that this beloved dog will be comfortable and happy in his final days. Please, also, pray for Fr. JJ, for consolation, support, strength and love.

Hugs for you both!!

Please Pray for Andy

Photography, Prayer/Prayer Requests, Tales of My Amazing Priests

Please pray for Fr. JJ’s black lab, Andy.  He has gotten bad news from the vet and may be undergoing surgery tomorrow morning.  Please also pray for Fr. JJ.  He will need lots of love, support and comfort in this time of worry and uncertainty.

This is the message we received tonight:

This seems rather cold, but I need to get the information out to everyone quickly so I’m going for it.
Fr. J.J. returned from his brother’s (the vet) this evening with sad news. Andy is filled with cancerous tumors. There is one on the spleen that weighs 7.5 pounds and another in the prostate the size of a grapefruit. Father has to make some decisions tonight but is leaning toward the recommendation of his brother and a veterinary oncologist for Andy to have surgery in the morning to remove the spleen. There is a chance that Andy will not make it through the surgery but there is a good chance he will. Once the spleen is removed biopsies can be done and a course of treatment determined. Best case scenario is that Andy could live comfortably for another year; worse case is he only has hours left.

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We love you, puppy! Be brave! We are praying for you!

For Sarah…

Neat Things I Didn't Author, Photography

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….
Pig 1
Pig 2
Pig 3
Pig 4
Pig 5
Pig 6
Pig 7
Pig 8

…of the Day

Bible Study, Neat Things I Didn't Author, Photography, Pop Culture, Prayer/Prayer Requests, Question of the Day

Photo:
DSCN4149
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.

Just in Case You Needed a Suggestion…

Of Trials Opportunities and Gifts, Photography

I know all of you are agonizing what to get me for Veteran’s Day.  I thought that I would give a suggestion, so you won’t have to wander the store for hours in indecision.  🙂

A new monitor for my computer.  I find myself stuck.  I want to post the rest of my World Youth Day photos, but I need to color correct the majority of them.  However, my current — and really old — CRT monitor is already cranked up to 100% brightness and 100% contrast, and it still shows everything as really dark.  So when I go to correct my photos at home, any person looking at them on another computer gets blinded and wonders why this girl always takes high-key, blown out pics.  And I am so anal, that this really disturbs me.  So, I don’t want to correct while it is all messed up.  Yet, alas, I do not have the funds to get a new monitor right now.  You see my dilemma.

Just in case you needed a Veteran’s Day present suggestion….  A new LCD monitor would be great.  🙂

Go Navy!!

All Souls Day

Photography, Prayer/Prayer Requests

My brother called me a day or so ago and expressed an interest in going to Mass with me and then visiting our paternal grandfather’s grave. I hadn’t been there since his funeral in 2000, and I don’t think my brother had either, but I was glad to share this with him today.

He didn’t end up going to Mass with me, but I headed out to the cemetery after lunching with some friends. I had to call my mom to find out what part of the cemetery the grave was, and eventually found it. It had become a little overgrown with grass and weeds:
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So, I cleared it off:
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It was near the memorial of The Lord’s Supper:
The Lord's Supper -- DSCN5127
Which had some great marble work, an example of which is this photo of the detail of Our Lord:
Jesus Detail #3 -- DSCN5143
Then, my brother arrived, and he brought a flower:
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We sat and prayed and remembered our Grandaddy, and told him that we loved him and we missed him. I think it was a hard, sad thing for my brother. But I was filled with peace and joy. I felt comforted, knowing that he was in the hands of God.
Here’s a close-up of his pretty rose, with The Lord’s Supper in the background:
A Rose at The Lord's Supper -- DSCN5156
After some time, we left, but as I was leaving, I felt compelled to go inside the chapel. There was a service going on, which I did not attend, but instead wandered around looking at things. I was, as a nuke, delighted to find these signs all over the building:
Nuclear Fallout Shelter -- DSCN5167
and was quite taken by some of the stained glass windows:
Blessed Virgin Mary -- DSCN5195

Before I left, I came upon a woman, who was visiting her mother who had passed nearly two years ago.  I shared my faith with her, and I can only pray that it brought her some consolation and the same sense of peace and joy that I have found in Him.

Wisdom 1:13-14a, 15 [from Office for the Dead]
God did not make death,
nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living.
For he fashioned all things that they might have being;
for justice is undying.