Books, books, books up for adoption to help internet friends

The story is on the blog Leave it lay where Jesus flang it. The adoption agency is Amazon.

1000th post

Amazing. This is the 1000th post to my "new" blog. Thanks to all who have visited!

Family visiting

My nephew is "home" from San Francisco. Well, he is where his parents are living. Not sure where he calls "home". Pittsburgh? Wellesley? Elsewhere he has lived? Probably San Francisco now. They visited his sister (photo) so I did too. There are photos of the World's Cutest grandniece and grandnephew along with the rest of the clan here. Sad that his wife couldn't come too.

Here he is in a poster for a series of performances at The Dark Room in San Francisco this September. If you are in the neighborhood, attend and tell him you know me. He's a really good guy.

It's Friday again. Yea!

It's one thing to look forward to Friday when working. I never dreamed I'd be looking forward to Fridays for Bible study. Bible study? Me? The resident heretic who worries a friend because hell is my inevitable destination since I don't accept his literalism? Yep. It is a great group of women in an Episcopal church that has no anxiety. A great escape. Thanks, all y'all, for the privilege of joining you whenever I can without ignoring my duties elsewhere!

My opinion on the debt ceiling mess

Anyone who sincerely believes the blame must be shared between the Democrats and Republicans must only watch Fox TV and listen to Rush Limbaugh. The Democrats are dumb enough to think they can negotiate with the Republicans but the Dems aren't responsible for the problem. The Tea Partiers are liars and traitors. Their refusal to compromise is treasonous. The people who elected them out of malice toward a black president or frustration with Obama's inability to clean up the Bush/Republican mess in two years are ignorant of finance, government and reality. I have no sympathy for anyone who voted for them and has suffered as a result.

This crop of Republicans is evil. Those who support them are evil. I'm angry enough to not even ask Godde to have mercy on their souls. May they reap what they sow! May Godde help us find a way to frustrate their evil demands, defeat them and reclaim our democracy!

25k visitors

Amazing that so many have visited this humble, mostly, blog. Thanks, all.

Down one cat?

Dudie has not come to eat since I came home. Perhaps he has found another place to stay. Perhaps he doesn't realize I'm home. Perhaps he is gone. I don't miss the messes he made but I miss him.

St Edward the Confessor

On Sunday, 24 July 2011 I attended mass at St Edward the Confessor in Clifton Park, NY on the way home from Berkshire. The building is sort of industrial chic. It is functional and pleasant.

The main reason was to meet Fran, a long time blogger friend, for the first time in person. We did lunch and probably could have talked all day and all night but she had plans and I needed to get home. I hope we can get together again!!!

Raccoon mess

While I was gone, the raccoons tore everything apart. The dishes were on the ground too but I picked them up to feed the cats. The blue thing is the litterbox. There is litter stuff everywhere. Forgot to set the traps tonight but will do it tomorrow.

All my BCF Photos

Well, at least the ones that aren't too blurry are here. I really need to read the book or reset the camera or something.

BCF 2011 again, updated

You can't see the rehearsal hall/hockey rinks from the dorm so I took this from where the track begins. This is why my legs are in good shape. Going to meals breaks up the walk which goes a roundabout way.

This is the view from the front of the rinks across toward the dorms. The dorm is the leftmost white line, I think.

A few altos.

Kathy FitzGibbon conducting.

Monroe Crossing.

Julian Wachner conducting.

Some of us who sang at the Norman Rockwell Museum used the time to number the measures in our Elijah scores rather than visit the fascinating exhibit on animation.

Would you believe it was 95 outside? We were sitting directly under the air conditioning. Brrr!

These creatures fledged one by one and gathered together on the walk behind DeWindt. Being dive bombed by the parents wasn't fun.

There may be more photos but, as I said, I'm having too much fun to think about the camera. By the way, I think these are embiggenable.

BCF 2011

In case you're wondering, I haven't been taking photos this year. I don't know why. I always have my camera with me. I just don't use it. Maybe today at the Rockwell Museum tho it will be pretty hot outside. There are some interesting robot-looking things on the lawn. But maybe I'm just too comfortable?

Rutland, VT

Being within three hours rather than the 10 hours from home, I went to church at Trinity Episcopal in Rutland, VT. I'll admit that my primary purpose was not the eucharist. I could have had that in Sheffield, MA, a mere 10 minutes or so away. The priest at Trinity is a long time internet friend Caminante otherwise known as Lee Crawford. We had never met in person. The people were very friendly, many offering their name and a handshake. (They are well trained.) The liturgy was done well tho they have no sanctus bell. They even have a summer choir. Lee is a soprano and sings with them. She has a clear voice and is easy to hear and understand. It is always more interesting when the readings happen to contain a message for a current situation as was the case today. I didn't know how appropriate till after. Godde has a great sense of timing.

This sign is in their parish hall. Hmmm.

Unfortunately this is blurry but there it is anyhow.

After church it was cat tour time. There are four. This is my favorite Miss Funky Paws. Lee has other names for them all.

Some people believe that internet relationships are superficial, not "real" somehow. Perhaps with some they are. I'm blessed to be part of several tribes who know and care for each other and sometimes meet in person. Once companies destroyed families and churches by moving employees around indiscriminately,  they forced us to create temporary friendships that served our needs at the moment - before the next move. The internet has allowed people with histories to reconnect and new friends to keep in touch in ways that transcend time and location. Now, if Michelle and I can find a few minutes to get together this week and Fran and I can connect on my way home...

Friday cat blogging on Tuesday

This is what I face in the morning.

Finally everybody gets to eat.

This is the first photo Lady has allowed me to take. She doesn't come in the morning.

Meanwhile it didn't look like Besita was very interested in moving across town.

Via the iPhone - my first attempt at fireworks photos

Evening walk

Visiting family

The Cleveland contingent of the family is moving across town to find better schools and some playmates for the kiddos. The Prius can carry lotsa boxes and stuff so I visited. No photos of the new digs but the house and quiet neighborhood are very different from Cedar Road. These folks are my grandnephew and grandniece with their father.

A neighbor brought popsicle things for the kids while we were there. There are plenty of other young folks in the neighborhood. That will be a huge change.