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.

Economic advantage, New York

Hallelujah!

Despite religious prejudice and the ick factor, the New York State Senate passed and the governor signed the same sex marriage act into law last night. It will take effect in 30 days. As many have quipped, now NY LGBTs will have all the hassles that other married couples have.

I think we should do away with marriage as the term which grants privilege and responsibility. Too many household families are no longer defined by the word. There are many configurations from single individuals to traditional families to grandparents rearing a child to children of divorce living with remarried parents to siblings to live-in care givers to roommates, etc. which constitute a household. People who live together for a period of time should be able to register as household families for tax and other legal purposes. People complained about the "marriage penalty" which was, in fact, the recognition that individuals living alone have more expenses than those who live as a family. Let's change our thinking to accomodate households as families now.

The women in the preceding post are a household family, aren't they?

Grace on the journey

Kirstin has made the ultimate choice. Her blog entry and all that precedes it at Barefoot and Laughing is well worth reading. Over and over. Especially if facing cancer or dealing with a loved one with it.

Kirstin is my heroine.

My family at Pymatuning all together

Left to right bottom to top: Jellico with his newly regrowing hair, Tommie, LittleOne, PuddyTat, Dudie and Tim.

Photos at home

These two found some remains to clean up in the field across the road. The next day there were 16 more in the same place so the find must have been significant tho it isn't visible. It was too windy to get a good photo of the mob.

The man who owns this property yelled at me when I parked briefly to take this photo. I yelled back what I was doing and he said OK.

Three of the feline residents on the cathouse roof. Tim munches while LittleOne (who is really quite large now) and Tommie watch me.

Help needed in the Stockton/Lodi area of California

Internet friends Andee and Kirstin need help. Kirstin is fighting multiple myeloma. Andee is exhausted. The story is here. If there is any way you can help, please do!!!