Friday cat blogging

It is this kind of day. Tommie and PuddyTat have been cuddled in her box almost all the time since last evening. Sorry the cats have made such a mess on the window. It is almost impossible to clean it without dismantling the cathouse.

Later in the day, Dude came out to eat and met PuddyTat. She said, "Sorry, I'm not interested", and walked away as he watched.

Jellico appeared to eat this morning. Tommie watched from the box but didn't even sing. The furry cat runs when he sees me so I didn't bother him. He hasn't been around lately so he needs to eat.

Already campaigning

Sarah Palin has launched a political action committee - SarahPac. The ABC story is here. Perhaps the comedians won't need a bailout after all.

Feeling guilty

The last time we had this much snow I didn't have a garage or anyone to plow me out and it didn't last this long. I parked my car up at the road and walked to the house with a little plastic sled to carry groceries and other items and to ride occasionally. Now I have a wonderful neighbor who takes good care of me. He plows but I still have to shovel the car out as well as paths to the door and the cathouse for the felines. I usually also keep the spaces under the feeders clear for the ground feeding birds. Not this time. I'm not strong enough to shovel this much wet snow. So I'm feeling guilty. But the birds do have food and water just like the cats.

I want me one of these

Complete with all the bishops. You can get one too. The story is at Padre Mickey's Dance Party.

The world's cutest grandnephew and grandniece

Glad I'm not RC

Pope Benedict XVI has forgiven and reinstated four breakaway bishops. You can read Time Magazine's article here. One of those denies the Holocaust ever happened. It is one thing to forgive. It is another to allow these men to preach their hatred, prejudice, ignorance. Is his church so desperate for clergy that he must resort to this utter lack of conscience?

I don't know where this man is living but it is not in the 21st century. Will someone please tell him that the first world has moved beyond him and the rest of the world will follow eventually making his office irrelevant. Of course, many of us believe that already. How long will it take for most of his flock to agree? Those wheels grind slowly but they do grind.

More Friday cat blogging

Gave PuddyTat a new box and a cleaner area today. The box is somewhat larger than I would like but it is all I could find other than ones that are too small. I fastened a towel around the top so it will sag a bit making the top slightly lower. Of course PT will not allow Tim or Dude to occupy her space but she will cuddle with Tommie. Tim has her foam in the garage so I don't worry much about her. The only thing these two share is orange and PT is more tannish than Tim. They probably have the same father - Tancat. Otherwise they are radically different people. Tim is much larger and has a much heavier coat. PuddyTat is gentle unless she's mad. Tim is feisty. I hold out my hand and Tim moves her head to where she wants scritched. She will bat me if I withdraw too soon. She used to do it with her claws extended but she seems calmer now. She doesn't want petted elsewhere while PT likes me to scritch the length of her body. Tim is a year younger than PT who will be 11 this spring.

Tom must have found a lady as he hasn't been around today. Neither has Jellico. One or both will probably be back with a bloody spot eventually.

Another reason to avoid the label "Christian"

Biblical Battered Wife Syndrome: Christian Women and Domestic Violence

By Kathryn Joyce
January 22, 2009

"What is a good enough reason for divorce? Well, according Rick Warren's Saddleback church, divorce is only permitted in cases of adultery or abandonment—as these are the only cases permitted in the Bible—and never for abuse."

Read the rest of this scary and revealing article at Religion Dispatches.

For the life of me I can't understand how anyone who claims to follow Jesus could abuse anyone, especially someone supposedly loved. But then, it seems to me that many of the people who claim the label "Christian" have no clue about the message of the Gospels. I will share the eucharist with them but I don't want to be grouped with them.

Friday cat blogging

"Warm" and sunny weather lured Tommie out of shelter.

While PuddyTat contemplated joining him.

Friday shuffle

1. Britten: The Succession of Four Sweet Months - Sixteen
2. Living in the Past - Jethro Tull
3. My Guy - Mary Wells
4. Bach: Sonata in C Major - Stephen Preston, flute
5. Barrel of Fun - Country Cooking
6. Little Brown Jug - Glenn Miller
7. Bang a Gong (Get it on) - T.Rex
8. American Woman - Guess Who
9. Satie: Première Pensée Et Sonneries... - Riri Shimada
10. Purcell: Dido and Aeneas, When I am laid in earth - Jennie Blackham

Loss

A college classmate committed suicide. His partner died intestate on a cruise. The parents apparently took control and left my friend out. He never got over it. I wonder if the parents are "good Christian folks".

Sometimes I dislike religion intensely. I find it difficult to respect people who blindly follow the pronouncements of the pope or the Mormon prophet or anybody claiming to have a direct line to whatever god and know all the rules for salvation, whatever that is. Most but not all of God's creation are less interested in one sex than in another. If it isn't rape or abuse, it is normal. If it doesn't produce offspring who will add to the rolls and the coffers, it is not wrong or harmful to God's plan. It is normal.

Sheez. I wish people would learn to value each other, especially people who claim to follow Jesus. They wouldn't have to worry about salvation or much of anything else. The world would be much more peaceful.

Somewhat speechless

I don't seem to be able to put into a coherent message how I feel about our country and the future now that Barack Obama is president and Bush and his administration are gone. Will people maintain the atmosphere of good and evil, right and wrong, black and white that group fostered or will we put that ugliness behind us and get on with life? Will people who call themselves "Christian" maintain the arrogance the previous administration preached - they are right and all others are wrong - or will they read the Gospels and learn the message of loving service Jesus brought?

President Obama. Wow.

The Invocation HBO didn't include

The annual meeting

ECW provided subs and drinks before the annual parish meeting this morning. Four vestry members were elected. A new era begins with a new Senior Warden. And someday soon I will be an Episcopalian.

Why I go thru lotsa bird seed

Yes, that pole leans like that. Someday I need to fix that.

Friday shuffle on Saturday

1. He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother - The Hollies
2. Barber: Violin Concerto, II Andante - Stern, Bernstein
3. Black Mountain Rag - Doc & Merle Watson
4. Just My Imagination - Temptations
5. Elgar: There is Sweet Music - Finzi Singers
6. Summer Wind - Monte Alexander
7. Schoenberg: Friede auf Erden - Westminster Choir
8. Suicide Polka
9. Polka Dots and Moonbeams - Ray Brown Trio
10. What a Difference a Day Makes - Dinah Washington

Friday cat blogging on Saturday

I think Tim is lonely. She is very vocal with the strangest sounds I've ever heard from her. She sat in the cold there for quite awhile. She could get some warmth from one of the holes in the annex that you can see but she won't. She hasn't been in her foam bed since it got really cold so I assume she has been under the neighbors' house. When she is in the garage she will talk to me but she won't let me near her.

I haven't seen Dudie so he may be next door also. Tommie comes and goes. He has been sharing the box with PT all afternoon. She was in her box when I got home last night but had gone by 3 am and didn't return till late this morning. I worry about the cats when the weather is so cold. But they all seem to be surviving and healthy. The worst problem is feeding them. The food freezes so I try to put bits out when they are around. The temperatures are supposed to moderate overnight and tomorrow. I hope. It would be nice to have my furnace working.

Church planting?

There seems to be lots of impetus for planting new Episcopal churches in the US to stem the declining numbers. I suppose there are places where new parishes could grow and be healthy. But what about those of us who already exist and are basically limping along unable to afford clergy? Or find clergy who can work part time? Or find supply priests?

Who pays the people who try to start new Episcopal missions? Are they volunteers? Or "working" priests? Might they be better used to grow an existing parish somewhere rather than start competition?

Is it better/cheaper to start anew without the encumbrance of a building? Should those of us with historic structures be forced to leave the buildings? Seems a peculiar idea since TEC is suing to retain many probably useless buildings which may just be a money drain.

Much of what I read on the blogs and the HoB/D list relates to urban situations. What about the rest of us? We seem to be expendable. Nobody cares about a parish with ASA of 50 or 20 or however many Episcopalians.

The problems with TEC are not how to deal with homosexuality or whose interpretation of scripture is right or wrong or even declining membership. The problems are all these small parishes who carry on the traditions and are now struggling to exist as seminary education creates massive debt for graduates, when students can even be recruited, and clergy salaries and benefits are simply not affordable.

Personally I would prefer seminary trained clergy because they tend to have broader experience and are more interesting. I'd give that up just to have a reliable supply priest who will be there a couple of Sundays a month for the eucharist and take care of weddings and funerals. I'd be happy to have a deacon. I know many find the idea repulsive but perhaps we need to have vocational education for priests for situations like ours?

Weather oddity

I have a barometer which belonged to our parents. It has been amazingly accurate for a decorative item. It has a pointer which I set years ago when the barometric pressure was particularly low. (I wasn't home when the tornado went thru and didn't think to look when I got home several hours later.) Last week, our pressure went below the marker to 29.46. Today it is almost as high as I've seen it at 30.42. I know that doesn't mean much to most people but it is interesting to me.

Reminder to self

Self: You need to add more insulation to the attic and you need to install heat tape to get rid of this ice buildup.

Widgets

I never get tired of feeding the "fish" in the widget on my blog. Scroll down to see it on the right.

I like to lead the penguins around on Sharecropper's blog too.

How mindless can we be?

Why I like to put suet out

A downy

A titmouse

Adam

My sister-in-law sent an update on her nephew Adam who was in a horrible traffic accident before New Years Eve. My original prayer request is here.

No changes on the MRI from the last two catscans so he is not getting worse. Today was good. He moved his arm and scratched his chin and squeezed his hand when we told him to do it. Small steps. Tough trip back and forth for 2 hrs each and then talking to the docs and trying to get Medicaid. My sister is still strong but tired tonight. Tomorrow is another day.

Prayers for Adam and all those caring for and working with him appreciated.

A curiosity

Sometimes I mix an egg with some milk, heat it slightly then give it to the cats. Tonight the stuff they didn't lap up froze almost immediately. When it is frozen, it is almost transparent. The next time a feline comes around I nuke it and it turns white again. I wonder how, why, etc.

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 4 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

One of them is a Facebook friend. I believe she is a college student in Maine. There is another in Beatrice, NE. I was tempted to try to call her years ago when I passed thru the state but I didn't stop anywhere. The fourth is in Phoenix, AZ.

This time everyone will be included

The Right Reverend Gene Robinson, Episcopal bishop of New Hampshire, will give the invocation at the first of the Inaugural Week activities at the Lincoln Memorial, Sunday, January 18, at 2:00 pm. The Concord Monitor article is here. You can read the note +Gene sent to friends at the Episcopal Cafe among many other places. I wish it were being broadcast by someone other than HBO which would be a stupid investment for me since I almost never watch movies.

Why I don't like to put suet out

You know I dislike photos, Mom

Sometimes the church...

drives me nuts. There are reasons why only certain people have certain privileges in certain religions. I'm not inclined to think very highly of most of those reasons or restrictions. To me, most seem to insure prestige, power and wealth for the privileged few, mostly white males in so-called western societies.

This morning, the third time in six weeks, the weather kept our Episcopal supply priest away. It is not easy for us to suddenly change to Morning Prayer because we rarely do it and only a couple of people are licensed. And few like it. So we do what we have begun calling the "third setting" - simply omitting the homily and the eucharist.

What bothers me is the insistence that only properly ordained priests can properly bless the elements. Even deacons don't have that privilege. I believe I and most other lay persons are perfectly capable of presiding at the eucharist in an emergency in God's "eyes". I don't mean that in an arrogant way. I respect the rules even tho I suspect Jesus would roll his eyes and shake his head and wonder how he can possibly reach some people. Actually he probably does that constantly, especially in many institutions which claim exclusive knowledge of him.

I believe that the ELCA suspends the "rules" in emergency situations but I have no idea if our situation would be considered an emergency. It certainly is for us.

Sometimes I wonder if I really want to be an Episcopalian. Oh well, I want to try to help the parish so why not? God cares how I live, not what what dogma I believe is God's true word literally.

Side yard birds

They haven't found the suet yet as I just put it out. The feeders are wearing band hats of snow.

As I was posting the above, it started to snow. All the birds disappeared. I had to use the little ladder last night but so far the satellite dish is still functioning. The one early red bract on my 40 year old poinsettia is visible. It never blooms this early. Weird.

Birds are hungry

Hurry up!

Thanks.

Friday cat blogging on Saturday

The cats stayed away yesterday.

PuddyTat spent most of last night in her box but left early.

Tim gets her water from licking the dripping icicles.

Suet

My "productive before noon" project today is suet for the birds. The weatherpeople have predicted extremely cold temperatures next week. I make my own suet for the birds. I do not use seeds because the fat makes them slippery and difficult to grasp and hull. I use shortening, peanut butter and cornmeal. The shortening has to be the kind that will set up, not hydrogenated or it will be runny which will only make a worse mess. I'm not sure the proportions are important.

Soften the shortening and peanut butter then mix in as much cornmeal as you have the strength to move. Put it in a pan to harden. Make sure you don't make it deeper than your cages are. When it sets up, cut it into the size blocks you need. If you line the pan with waxed paper, you'll have an easier time getting the suet cakes out.

You can add other items like raisins or cranberries. I usually don't. The only problem with this is the blackbirds. Once the starlings find it, they mob the place and keep the other birds out.

Friday shuffle

1. It Ain't Me Babe - The Turtles
2. Walk On - Reba McEntire
3. No Beer in Heaven Polka
4. Take Me Back to Happy Valley - The Bailey Brothers
5. In navitatum Domini nostri - Taverner Consort
6. Twenty-five Miles - Edwin Starr
7. There I've Said It Again - Bobby Vinton
8. The Touch of Your Hand - Alexander/Brown
9. Barnwell: No Mirrors in my Nana's House - Bach Choir Pittsburgh
10. In a Mellow Tone - Ernestine Anderson

MDs' Opinions of the Financial Bailout Package

The Allergists voted to scratch it, but the Dermatologists advised not to make any rash moves.

The Gastroenterologists had sort of a gut feeling about it, but the Neurologists thought the Administration had a lot of nerve.

The Obstetricians felt they were all laboring under a misconception.

Ophthalmologists considered the idea shortsighted.

Pathologists yelled, "Over my dead body!" while the Pediatricians said, 'Oh, grow up!'

The Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, while the Radiologists could see right through it.

Surgeons decided to wash their hands of the whole thing.

The Internists thought it was a bitter pill to swallow, and the Plastic Surgeons said, "This puts a whole new face on the matter."

The Podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but the Urologists felt the scheme wouldn't hold water.

The Anesthesiologists thought the whole idea was a gas, and the Cardiologists didn't have the heart to say no.

In the end, the Proctologists won out, leaving the entire decision up to the assholes in Washington.

New Years Resolution

I rarely make New Years resolutions but I made one this year. I am determined to do something productive before noon - other than blogging, email, Facebook, etc.

As most who know me personally are aware, I have never been domesticated. Every once in awhile I do something domestic. This morning I made applesauce and spaghetti sauce. This is how I simmer spaghetti sauce. Keeps the red off the stove and everything surrounding it. I think there were 55 meatballs but I've eaten 5. The sauce needs a bit more garlic and considerably more simmering. I used a different brand of Italian flavored bread crumbs which is noticeable but tolerable. When the sauce is suitably thick, it will be frozen in single portions to be enjoyed a dozen more times.

This is the third day in a row that I've been productive. This may work. Maybe I will eventually get the livingroom cleaned up. Don't hold your breath.

Two patients

Two patients limp into two different medical clinics with the same complaint. Both have trouble walking and appear to require a knee replacement.
The FIRST patient is examined within the hour, is x-rayed the same day and has a time booked for surgery the following week.
The SECOND sees his family doctor after waiting 3 weeks for an appointment, then waits 8 weeks to see a specialist, then gets an x-ray, which isn't reviewed for another week and finally has his surgery scheduled for a month from then.
Why the different treatment for the two patients?





The FIRST is a Golden Retriever.
The SECOND is a Senior Citizen.
Next time take me to a vet!

A rude awakening

Quoting Susan Russell+:

At 10:00 a.m. Pacific time, the California Supreme Court released its long awaited decision on the property disputes between the Diocese of Los Angeles and former Episcopalians attempting to take diocesan property with them when they left the Episcopal Church. You can read the whole decision here... but if you want to "cut to the chase," here's the bottom line:

"Applying the neutral principles of law approach, we conclude that the general church, not the local church, owns the property in question."

and from another source:

"As stated in one of the out-of-state cases involving the same Episcopal Church, "[t]he individual defendants are free to disassociate themselves from [the parish and the Episcopal Church] and to affiliate themselves with another religious denomination. No court can interfere with or control such an exercise of conscience. The problem lies in defendants' efforts to take the church property with them. This they may not do."

More at Episcopal Cafe.

Forgive me, God, for I am grinning at someone's loss which is not good behavior for a follower of Jesus. I wonder what this will do to the folks like Duncan and Iker and all the others who think they have the only true knowledge of God and can violate the canons they vowed to respect and obey.

Perhaps this is the decision which will allow TEC to avoid further costly lawsuits and get on with doing God's work as described in the Gospels.

Things

Adam seems to be improving and is off the oxygen bed. Still praying. And for my sil who will drive on Tuesday and Wednesday from Ohio to New York state to be with him. Weather could be nasty.

Meanwhile I'm sick. Wonder if it might been the organic flavored coffee at coffee hour that upset my tummy mightily. A bit better now but sinuses are mimicking Niagara Falls. Ugh.

Thanks for all the support from my blog buddies. Those Brits need to get a life. We are a community.

On Gaza

The Israelis invaded Gaza to force change. Hamas rockets must be stopped. Invasion, bombing and killing is the only way to stop them.

Starving people, preventing them from going to work, keeping medical supplies away and otherwise maintaining an atmosphere of fear and hopelessness is a great way to make peace.

Perhaps killing most of the Palestinians will stop the violence?

Ugh.

By the way, I have no sympathy for Hamas. But I have little for Israel either.

Controversial wonderments

The Episcopal parish I attend, (yes, I'm still Lutheran until our bishop comes to visit whenever) is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania. According to the diocesan website we have 23 parishes and 11 organized missions. Several of those including ours are without clergy.

The Diocese of Pittsburgh, immediately to our south, has 22 parishes so far. I know there are clergy who have decided to stay with TEC who might be able to help NWPA with the clergy shortage. From Pittsburgh to Meadville is about 2 hours, far less than distances in the Dio of Wyoming, for example. We need supply priests. I wonder if Pittsburgh has any available?

We have a bishop who is working hard to try to get control of the many issues which plague our diocese. The Dio of Pgh has a provisional bishop. Once upon a time we were together. I wonder if there are benefits to be one again?

PS The Dio of NWPA banner is one of 10 that members of the parish have donated.

The latest on Adam

Continuing from here:

"Today started out a little rocky but he is stable now. He had an infection from his abdomen but they found no internal injury. It is common to have higher white count after an accident. His oxygen was very low and so they put him on a board that rotates. When he lies on his back mucous fills up. They turn him all the way from back to front slowly and then back on the back. His oxygen levels came up. They are going to do this for 3 days. So, he is still critical but stable again."

Thanks for your continuing prayers.

Friday cat blogging

Tim was looking for a scritch while PuddyTat watched from her box.

The CoE furor

I assume most of you are unaware of the holy war going on in the Church of England. It is ok in certain parts for women to be priests/vicars/deacons/whatevers. It is impossible for some men to even imagine women as bishops. In my experience online, most of those who consider themselves "conservative" or "orthodox" have little or no sense of humor or irony. "Libruls" and atheists on the other hand seem far more worldly, literate and funny perhaps because of living in the real world rather than some "approved" ivory tower of right belief and practice. Anyhow, there is a great article in The Guardian's Comment is Free column by Judith Maltby. "Women bishops: Get over it" is worth reading. The best part for me, however, is the following from one of the comments:

The churches had indeed better get over it, unless Xtianity is to become no more than a few old men in frocks playing with their testaments.

Friday shuffle

1. Mendelssohn: Symphony 4 - London Symphony
2. Mitä kaikatat, kivonen? - Rajaton
3. Michael Brown - Capitol Steps
4. From the Beginning - Emerson, Lake & Palmer
5. Dawson: Soon-ah Will Be Done - Bach Choir Pittsburgh
6. Bach: B minor mass, Dona nobis pacem - Rilling, Gächinger Kantorei
7. Walton: King Herod and the Cock - Trinity Choir
8. Strauss: Drei Männerchöre, Vor Den Türen - Chanticleer
9. Let's Stay Together - Al Green
10. Love Letters in the Sand - Pat Boone

PT and me

PuddyTat was in her box watching me wash dishes so I grabbed the camera.

The Year-End Roundup Meme

From Padre Mickey:

For this meme, you take the first sentence of the first post of each month and line 'em up.

Mine is short because I accidently deleted my old blog. This is August thru September. Kinda interesting. Makes me wonder what I blogged the rest of the year.

Dear Archbishop Orombi: You chose to boycott Lambeth. Why don't hotels located near airports put parking information on their websites? For those of you who have followed my adventures all year, there is exceptionally good news. The ordinations yesterday were at the Cathedral of St. Paul in Erie, PA. Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has released a message about World AIDS Day urging Episcopalians to get involved in the effort to reduce the tragedy that AIDS brings daily everywhere in the world.

Prayer request

My sister-in-law's nephew was in a serious automobile accident on Tuesday. They do not know whether Adam will live or die because of serious swelling from head injuries. The possibility of permanent disability is almost certain. They can't learn the full extent of his injuries because they don't want to move him. The trooper who was on duty was in his wedding and delivered the news personally to Adam's mother. The circumstances of the accident are not clear yet. He is married but I don't believe they have children yet. He does not have health insurance and he has no durable power of attorney or any other legal document for his family. Not a fun way to start the new year. Prayers for Adam and his family appreciated even tho none of them are "church people". God doesn't discriminate.

Anticipations

There are several adventures I hope happen in 2009.

A few high school classmates have planned a get together in Florida the end of February. I'm planning to be there and hope to visit a number of friends on the way.

Sometime soon I hope the bishop of our TEC diocese will visit Christ Church and receive me. I'm praying it isn't 1 March as I will be in Florida. If he chooses that date, I'll be unchurched for a long time. Not that God cares.

In late June I've registered to go to Montreal to sing Mendelssohn's Paulus with the Berkshire Choral Festival. I've also applied to sing in Sheffield in July but don't know if I'll get accepted. Or if I can afford both.

There are concerts to sing, people to meet, blogs to read, miles to go and much, much more.

Hope you have people to hug and hug you back.

What are your plans, hopes and prayers for 2009?

2009

begins. 2008 is history. May it stay there!

Hugs to all.

Windy, snowy morning

It is a grey morning here in NWPA as you can see. Or not see in the case of the birds on the feeders. The hungry birds didn't care that I was close. I don't think I have ever had as many birds as I have this winter. Most are what a neighbor used to call "spotsies" - goldfinches, house finches, pine siskins and several varieties of sparrows tho few house sparrows. I haven't used the glasses to identify them as there are too many and they don't keep still long enough to see the markings. There are also many chickadees, juncoes, tits, downies, cardinals, mourning doves, blue jays, crows and the occasional flocks of starlings and other blackbirds.

Can't resist one more...

HT to Padre Mickey via Friends of Jake

Uncle Jay explains 2008

HT to Grandmère Mimi.

December sunset