Friday cat blogging on Saturday

It was nice to see the welcoming committee when I got home yesterday.

Dudie immediately left his shelf so he could rub against my legs.

Friday shuffle on Saturday

1. Lutkin: The Lord Bless You and Keep You - Westminster and St Olaf Choirs
2. Handel: The Lord Shall Reign Forever - Parrott
3. Simon Says - The 1910 Fruitgum Co.
4. Put Your Hand in the Hand - The Ocean
5. Polish Polka Power
6. Sharpe: Sunset - Ambridge HS Steel Band
7. Why Oh Why Polka
8. Flop Eared Mule - Grier and Compton
9. Bruckner: Christus factus est - St Bride's Church Choir
10. Elgar: The Shower - Finzi Singers

2008's classic regift

This is the best regift this year. The folks hope it works.

The world's cutest grandniece and grandnephew

Christmas 2008
She was happy here for quite awhile on Christmas morning. She is almost 5 months old.

Here she is dressed for dinner.

And not quite ready for bed. She is a happy kiddo.

At 2 he has finally figured out presents and unwrapping. Nobody's stuff was safe.

And he dressed for dinner.

But this was the usual view all day.

Christmas

There is no graphic appropriate for this post. I doubt anyone other than the parents had any real idea what was happening the night the person we call Jesus was born. If there were animals present, they were probably curious but little else. Perhaps there were little critters who cleaned up the mess of birthing. I suspect Mary and Joseph were all alone. After all, who wanted to assist with the birth of a kid whose parents couldn't even find a decent place to stay? Rumor had it they weren't even married. Shudder.

Who knew that baby would have a profound effect on the western world? Who knew that child would grow up to be a charismatic preacher who questioned everything they did and would be murdered as a result? Who knew that 2000 years after that child's birth people would still be arguing about what he had to say?

Tonight and tomorrow we celebrate the birth of another baby. The angels and shepherds will be followed by wise men, most of an age closer to that of the baby than those witnessing the event. Great singing and preaching will entertain the throngs who rarely step foot in a religious building otherwise.

I will probably be wondering what it is about the love of God and the task of loving likewise spoken of in the Gospels that so many people throughout the ages and today simply don't get...

A blessed Christmas to all and may this child teach those who say they follow him all about loving and bringing God's kingdom to earth in this life now.

Decisions, decisions

I know. This is just a bottle of water. Dump the water and recycle the bottle. But. This is genuine Hungarian water from Budapest. This is the bottle and water that escaped the notice of security at the Budapest airport. This is the bottle and water that I found in my backpack when I got to Newark after somehow bypassing security in Frankfurt. Some stuff is really hard to throw out. Sigh.

I voted for Goldwater

"However, on religious issues there can be little or no compromise. There is no position on which people are so immovable as their religious beliefs. There is no more powerful ally one can claim in a debate than Jesus Christ, or God, or Allah, or whatever one calls this supreme being. But like any powerful weapon, the use of God's name on one's behalf should be used sparingly. The religious factions that are growing throughout our land are not using their religious clout with wisdom. They are trying to force government leaders into following their position 100 percent. If you disagree with these religious groups on a particular moral issue, they complain, they threaten you with a loss of money or votes or both. I'm frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in 'A,' 'B,' 'C,' and 'D.' Just who do they think they are? And from where do they presume to claim the right to dictate their moral beliefs to me? And I am even more angry as a legislator who must endure the threats of every religious group who thinks it has some God-granted right to control my vote on every roll call in the Senate. I am warning them today: I will fight them every step of the way if they try to dictate their moral convictions to all Americans in the name of 'conservatism.' "
-- Barry Goldwater
(1909-1998) US Senator (R-Arizona)
Source: Congressional Record, September 16, 1981

Hat tip to my brother.

Cat problem

Dude is on PT's heating pad and PuddyTat is not happy about that. I wonder how long the box will hold her weight. I hope I don't have to replace it.

Verizon - I can't hear you

I just cancelled my Verizon cell account. I haven't used it for months. It rarely worked at my house. When my landline was down I had to get into the car and drive 2 miles to get a signal to report it. Of course I had to pay $70 to cancel the number.

Needless to say, I will never recommend Verizon. And no, I can't hear you now - or any time or anyone else.

Monday cat blogging

PuddyTat spent the night in her little crude shelter on the heating pad. This morning the froggie thermometer read 13° while the thermometer elsewhere read 6° - up 3° from bedtime. Her little cardboard shelter protected her from the wild wind and light snow. She could have snuggled with Tommie in his blanket but chose to stay here. He didn't join her until the last few minutes. The temp is now up to 12°. Time to feed Tommie and anyone else who braves the cold.

Sunday school project

They made gingerbread houses today.

Mornin'