Heart thread - 05/22/2010

For the repose of the soul of Harry A. Doutt who passed away on May 19, 2010. His son, Brent, works where I do. May Brent and all the family find comfort.

For the Rev. Canon Scott Hayashi, elected to be the next Bishop of Utah. I knew Scott, at a distance, when he was Rector of Christ Church, Portola Valley (part of the Diocese of California). May he and the people of the Diocese of Utah enter a period of renewed ministry.

For Jonathan in transition.

For DF who just celebrated his birthday and for Doxy and DF on their first anniversary.

For all who perished in the Air India flight from Dubai to Mangalore, for their families and loved ones.

For the people of Thailand in the ongoing civil unrest.

For all creatures of the Gulf Coast, for an end to the leak and the healing of water and land.

For those killed in the derailment in China, triggered by a landslide.

For the restitution of the rule of constitutional law in my lifetime.

For our Jewish sisters and brothers celebrating Shavuot.

In thanksgiving for the witness of the Blessed Martyr Harvey B. Milk (22 May 1930-27 November 1978).

Almighty God, who created us in your own image: Grant us grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom, help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

For Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, found guilty on May 18 of unnatural acts and gross indecency in Malawi where they dared to celebrate their relationship.

O God our Father, whose Son forgave his enemies while he was suffering shame and death: Strengthen those who suffer for the sake of conscience; when they are accused, save them from speaking in hate; when they are rejected, save them from bitterness; when they are imprisoned, save them from despair; and to us your servants, give grace to respect their witness and to discern the truth, that our society may be cleansed and strengthened. This we ask for the sake of Jesus Christ, our merciful and righteous Judge. Amen.

--the BB

I have not kept up

I feel bad about not maintaining the practice of naming each fallen warrior. It is too easy for us to let their sacrifice go unnoticed.

But they are not forgotten.

--the BB

Heute

There have been some accomplishments today, though I was sluggish for most of the day.

My albs are washed. About time, too.

The garden was watered and I gave extra water to one tree and one shrub in front of the house since I suspect they don't get quite as much as they need on the drip system. (Yes, I know there are ways to adjust drip, but I have not done it.)

I tied up a number of sagging branches in the yard and did some deadheading. Lots of spent blooms still need it, but at least I chipped away at it today.

I cut, glued, and sewed the Pentecost frontal for Our Saviour and took it over to the church. I meant to take some photos when it was up but left the camera in the car and did not think of it until much later. Anyway, this now completes the seasons. Eydie made the white-and-gold frontal for All Saints last year and that served through Christmastide and Eastertide. I made a green one from African fabric, an Advent blue one, a violet Lenten one, an ecru-dark red-black one for Holy Week, and now one for Pentecost.

The one today is made with a cherry red polyester shantung, pale yellow silk, metallic gold, and an elaborate gold braid trim. I really regret not taking a photo as it seems to convey the excitement that the Spirit inspires. I had thought of making it more intricate with narrow diagonals of color (rich silks and metallics) over the central gold strip but cut myself some slack and left it less original but more traditional.

The work Father Tony has done clearing weeds and brush and generally tidying up the place really shows.

I also picked up some items for tomorrow. We are going to adorn San Gabriel, on the exterior, with most of the flags in my collection. Some seem to have gone astray but I think we can represent at least 20 nations from four continents. I just don't know where I last put the flags of Cambodia and Antigua. Ah well.

The Gospel will be read in French, German, Spanish, English, Swahili, Polish, and Latin. It just occurred to me that I miss hearing it read in Khmer by Stewart Peou. I miss the Cambodian Sanctus, the Celtic Alleluia, singing the Lord's Prayer, and Envía tu Espíritu. To all my friends at St Cuthbert's - I miss and love you! I am blessed with loving church communities here and I really like living in Albuquerque, but you are missed.

Leli vangeli bo - ayisilo lokudlala.
Leli vangeli - lihamba ngomoyo oyincgwele.
Selihamba - lihamba ngomoyo oyincgwele.
Selihamba - lihamba ngomoyo oyincgwele.

This Holy Gospel - it should not be taken lightly.
This Gospel - the Holy Spirit gives it power.
It is moving - the Holy Spirit gives it power.
It is moving - the Holy Spirit gives it power.

I always hate to see Easter come to a close.

--the BB

The Danes celebrate a bus driver's birthday

[On May 5th it's Mukhtar's, a bus-driver in Copenhagen, Birthday. In 2010 he had no idea that a large group of people had planned to celebrate him...]

He is evidently from Somalia as the Somalian flag was waved near the end along with lots of Danish ones. It is the Danish birthday song that they are all singing.

--the BB

Garden photos from this evening

I told you there was one cherry on my Black Tartarian. Here it is: photographic proof. I am assuming, of course, that the birds will get this one cherry. They do not call the cherry tree Prunus avium for nothing.


Magenta calibrachoa (million bells) with white petunias.


Look at how swiftly we have gone from two iris blooms to many! I am amazed.


Lemon Zest petunias (detail)


Blanket flower (gaillardia, detail)


John F Kennedy rose

I thought y'all might enjoy these.

--the BB

Supper

This evening I tore out some plants that were not doing well and put in some new ones that I hope will thrive. I watered. And I had supper.

Thin slices of roasted pork loin with a reduction of pork juice, white wine, and butter, all garnished with parsley from the yard; a sliced avocado with lemon juice on a bed of wilted spring greens. (Chased with calories we shall not name.)

I am cooking for myself more often. For years this was a few-times-a-year phenomenon. I take it as a good sign.

Tonight my body feels the yard work more than it does when I spend hours and hours in the yard on a Saturday. Feh.

--the BB

95,000 barrels a day

Photo by Ted Jackson, The Times-Picayune

Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser and La. Gov. Bobby Jindal tour through the Roseau Grasses that mark the coastline of Southeast Louisiana at Pass a Loutre at the mouth of the Mississippi River where oil has washed ashore, Wednesday, May 19, 2010.

"Everything that that blanket of oil is covering today will die," he said. "All of the bugs that the fish come in to eat, all of the critters in the marsh will die. And that marsh will die. There's no way to clean it up."

h/t to FishOutofWater at Daily Kos

WASHINGTON — The latest video footage of the leaking Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico show that oil is escaping at the rate of 95,000 barrels — 4 million gallons — a day, nearly 20 times greater than the 5,000 barrel a day estimate BP and government scientists have been citing for nearly three weeks, an engineering professor told a congressional hearing Wednesday.
--Renee Schoof at McClatchy Newspapers

h/t to Jed Lewison at Daily Kos


As we ponder the disaster in our part of the world, let us remember others.

Cyclone nears India's southeast coast
AFP - ‎10 minutes ago‎
HYDERABAD, India - A severe cyclone packing winds of 110 kilometres an hour closed in on India's southeast coast Thursday as tens of thousands of residents evacuated their homes fearing major storm damage.

Господи помилуй
Κυριε ελεησον
Seigneur, aies pitié.

-the BB

The happy gardener

Mind you, not all the flowers are doing this well, but tonight I am sharing these photos taken after I came home from shopping.


The iris. I love this shade of blue!


Some Circus roses, the second round of blooms on this bush.


Notice how many different colors we get just in this cluster on the Piñata rosebush.


The coral roses are now joining the party.


This photo is of the grapevine that ate the South Valley, taken just for a sense of scale. In five years it could fill the entire yard. The Piñata is to its right, covered in blooms. I have decided to nickname it "The Flor of Babylon." One must admire its tarty boldness.

Yes, I am doing a load of laundry tonight. Can't put it off forever.

--the BB

Pentecost approaches

This means I need to sew the Pentecost frontal for Our Saviour before the week is out. I purchased the fabric today after work. I think it will be sufficiently tarted up for the Sovereign Lifegiver who constantly seduces us into venturing toward God's future.

Time also to practice reading Sunday's Gospel aloud in Latin, one of several languages in which it will be read.

Fortunately the Zimbabwean Gospel chant I learned from Mark Malisa years ago is such a part of me I do not have to practice it.

My flag collection is already at the church so we can hang flags from around the world, reminding us of our call to proclaim Good News to every nation.





--the BB

Τι εἰναι αυτό; What is that?

I shared this on FB but it needs more viewers. You owe yourself this five and a half minutes.



"... my innocent little boy"

h/t to SYNTHEOPOIESIS † ΣΥΝΘΕΟΠΟΙΗΣΗΣ
--the BB

More flowers from Saturday

Delphinia, snapdragons, lobelia, petunias.

My real producer, the Piñata rose, with jasmine to the far right and America rose in the near left.


Santa Rosa plums.


Red Haven peaches.


The new windbreak with a Rosa Banksiae 'Purezza' and a Thompson seedless grapevine on this side. there is a honeysuckle on the other side next to the wall. We should have a solid wall of greenery soon at the rate those three grow.

--the BB

Sunday of the Holy Fathers

The First Council of Nicaea
Image from Wikimedia Commons

We praise three
divinely sovereign Hypostases,
the immutable form
of a single nature,
the good and human-befriending God,
Who now granteth
forgiveness of offences.

O Thou Who art the one
transcendent Lord
in one Godhead,
yet thrice-resplendent with respect
to Thy Persons,
grant us understanding
and deem us worthy
of Thy divine illumination.

Having filled all things with joy, O Merciful One, Thou didst come in Thy flesh unto the hosts on high.

As the hosts of Angels saw Thee being lifted up, they cried: Lift ye the gates for our King.

As the Apostles beheld the Saviour being lifted on high, they cried with trembling: Glory be to Thee, O our King.





--the BB

Some yard photos from today

Gaillardia with coreopsis and dwarf marigolds

Golden Masterpiece roses with lots of surrounding color

Iceberg and Blaze roses with attending flowers

--the BB

Heart thread - 05/15/2010

Prayers for Jonathan on this Seventh Sunday of Easter as he bids farewell to the church where he has served faithfully and moves into a future known only to God - yet surrounded by saints in heaven and on earth who hold him dear and intercede on his behalf.

Word from Margaret:

Tommy Brave Heart!!!!
Dear all,

Just a very quick update: Tommy was extubated at 9:30 this morning. He is resting well, breathing on his own, with the right oxygen saturation rates. They will be taking out his foley in an hour or so (he can pee on his own then), and we will be looking to take out the remaining drain tubes and arterial lines within the next 24-36 hours. He is almost there, but his breathing on his own is absolutely huge.

Thank you, thank you for all your continued prayers and love, and light and energy sent our way. It is part of this miracle and we are so very, very grateful to all of you, gifts from God whom we know and whom we don't, for holding us in your hearts.

love,
Natasha, Blaine, and Tommy brave heart

We offer continued prayers for his healing.

We also give thanks for Margaret and all who joined in today's bike ride to support the local Free Clinic.

For John Bear and Raven during John's ongoing clinical trial.


Continued prayers for Declan and his family as he is in a big chemo week. This is Declan playing with Daddy. You may follow his story here.

I give thanks for the graduation ceremony today at which my neighbor and friend Rob received a double master's degree. His wife and mother hooded him. I also rejoiced that one male graduate was hooded by his male partner and one female by her wife (announced without fanfare as partner and wife, respectively).

For Mark, Bruce, Mother Sandra, Janet, Jack, David, Frank, Jim, Kathy, N. and D. in their new apartment.


We give thanks for the ordination today of Diane Jardine Bruce and Mary Douglas Glasspool as bishops suffragan of the Diocese of Los Angeles.

Photo by Christina House for the LA Times

We continue to pray for the Gulf Coast and all who work to halt the oil leak and minimize its impact.

Oil spill imperils an unseen world at the bottom of the gulf
Washington Post - ‎1 hour ago‎

We remember those recovering from floods in Tennessee.

For the people of Thailand.

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thousands of Thai protesters refused to leave Bangkok's streets on Sunday despite three days of fighting that has killed 24 people and spiraled into chaotic urban warfare, with both sides calling for reinforcements.

For those who risk their lives for the sake of others.

Slain Oakland Police officers honored
San Jose Mercury News - ‎1 hour ago‎
WASHINGTON - Four Oakland police officers killed in the line of duty were remembered Saturday as President Barack Obama paid tribute on behalf of the nation to law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice while safeguarding their ..

Ascension by
Bagong Kussudiarja, Indonesia

O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

--the BB

This is not a theatre review

This is really more about me.

I went with friends to see Anton Checkov's The Three Sisters at the Vortex Theatre this evening.

The set and costumes were good. The blocking was good, the directing and acting quite good. The many characters were well delineated. I did not have that conscious awareness that I was watching actors performing that one experiences when the acting is not so good. In other words, I think it was a top notch production.

And I left at intermission.

That is not a judgment on the production.

A primary criterion in my response to plays and movies is whether I care about the characters and what happens to them. Love them, hate them, be amused by them, feel compassion, feel anger... no matter; do I care? Do I want to see what happens?

And tonight I did not. About two-thirds of the way through the first act I was ready to go home but I waited until intermission after the second act. In a telling parallel, I also left years ago during the intermission of Waiting for Godot at The Berkeley Rep. Excellent production then as well but (1) in that case I had read the play when studying 20th century French drama in college and (2) I had more than enough. I knew nothing would happen in the second half. In the instance of tonight's play, I did not care what happens in the second half.

As I said, this is really more about me and what engages me or does not. Give me Greek tragedy or Shakespeare, thanks.

I believe it is also a testament to Checkov's success in expressing the claustrophobic frustration of people trapped in unfulfilling lives. The characters are bored, struggling, and making no progress toward a happier life. I felt incredibly claustrophobic. Physically there was a set with many characters crowded into it and I was not sitting in the front row where I usually sit and can stretch my legs. But it is the emotional claustrophobia of the characters in their situation the connected solidly. They were not getting out of their situation. I had a choice, and I exercised it.

So this is being written while the third and fourth acts are being performed. I congratulate the actors, the director, and the Vortex for doing a good job. And I want to share some of the director's notes.

Denise Schultz writes:

As a pompous undergraduate student in the late 1960's, I hated Anton Checkov's plays. When asked to read these scripts, I groaned... they were boring, pretentious and were irreverent [irrelevant?] to the world I existed in.

She goes on to describe a transformative experience of The Three Sisters and concludes:

I became and still am a lover of Checkov's musical language, breathing characters, and his dynamic ability to tell a remarkable story. Either Checkov or I grew up. I am assuming it was me.

Though I prefer the slower pacing of European cinema to the rushed pace of Hollywood, I guess I have not yet matured with respect to Checkov.

I am much happier at home right now and, blessedly, much happier with my life than the poor folks in the play.

Sorry, Mimi, I know you loves you some Checkov.

For Checkov lovers in New Mexico, there is a good production at the Vortex through May 30.

--the BB

TGIF

This is a photo I took this morning of one of the two Iceberg rose bushes. They are both in bloom and full of lovely, full, snow white blossoms.

Tomorrow there is some planting, watering, attending a friend's graduation, and catching Checkov's The Three Sisters at the Vortex. Somewhere in there should be laundry and thinking about Sunday's sermon.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend.

--the BB

Il y avait une fois....

I got up to around page 120 in Volume Three today. This is part of the long, slow process of re-engaging my fantasy world and the current tale so I can pick up where I left off and finish telling it.

Things that need clarification or expansion or simple rewording show up on every page but basically I feel very pleased that I can tell a rich and engaging story. Well, pride goeth before a fall and all that. Nonetheless, it is gratifying to follow the adventures of characters I not only created but love dearly (or hate passionately).

From the beginning, back in 1972, these tales were only meant to be ripping good yarns and pure escapism... but with serious content wrapped in narrative. Entertainment is the primary goal (though I confess that moral formation lurks within the adventures).

I guess they are really children's books for grownups. Yep. That sounds right.

It all began as a bedtime story, and now it is time to put this weary body to bed.

--the BB

The evening workout

Two nights ago I was digging a trench in heavy wind. This evening was beautiful, balmy, and calm. I stopped, as usual, at the Despot, and loaded my car with more compost and mulch and a few other items. (No roses. I have my thirty.)

I came home, schlepped everything from the car to the back yard, and set to work. My neighbors came over and visited a while.

The windbreak is now in place On one side are the Purezza rambler rose and a grapevine, on the other a honeysuckle. I am counting on these three to cover the trellis in no time. On the east side that one sees entering the yard from the side of the house are white petunias, magenta million bells, and something else (I forget what already).

There is a stretch along the south wall between the present border plants and this windbreak and I plan to put blue delphiniums, purple foxgloves, pale pink petunias, deep purple petunias, and snapdragons.

This weekend I must get serious about dead heading.

I then had some supper and watched TV until The Daily Show was over. I am tired and my body aches just a bit from the exercise.

Bedtime.

Sweet dreams, my frolicking fritillaries.

--the BB

Booms will only collect 15% of spilled oil

God bless Representative Capps from Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Oxnard.



She asks why there have been no improved technologies since the 1969 oil spill off Santa Barbara. In all these decades nothing better than what was done then, and that was totally inadequate.

Translated into rudespeak, she's saying, 'Y'all have done diddly, you irresponsible bastids." Only she does it like a lady.

Rape and pillage is all they know.

H/t to emptywheel

--the BB

Questa notte

The winds have been out of control for two days now. It is just an integral part of springtime in New Mexico but it gets very tiresome.

I mean, y'all know I waited until we were supposed to be past freezes (and only one week after the last one) before planting vegetables. Well now my tomatoes are blasted by desert wind all day long, and half the night.

Tonight's forecast:

Mostly clear. Windy. Lows in the 30s to mid 40s. West winds 25 to 35 mph becoming northwest 10 to 15 mph after midnight. Gusts up to 45 mph.

This, mind you, is after the severe weather advisory was lifted at 8 PM. Hah!

We all know about mad dogs and Englishmen being the only ones to go out in the midday sun. Well, what about the evening gusts? Mad bears. Yep.

I have been thinking about setting up a trellis perpendicular to the south wall near where one enters the yard from the side of the house. The area between the houses is a bit of a wind tunnel. I figured if I could get some vines going that this would provide a bit of a windbreak to protect the likes of the America rose on the south wall that has been so battered by wind and cold that I am not sure it will ever be healthy again.

So I have my eye out. I was thinking maybe another grapevine as they grow so rapidly and some other vine or two. Honeysuckle, whatever grabs my fancy.

Yesterday evening at Home Depot I noticed some rambler roses looking healthy. Tonight I bought one. And another Thompson seedless grapevine. The winds were crazy (the wind actually opened the balcony door of our office several times today as though a ghost were walking in from outside). But I waited for them to die down. A little before 8 PM, when the wind advisory was supposed to lift, I went outside.

The wind had not relented, not even a little bit.

But I had the plants and decided I would not put this off.

So as it was beginning to grow dark I dug an eight-foot-long trench. At the spots where the vines would go I had to take a small adze to break the clay and sand up to enlarge and deepen the hole. I filled the trench with lovely compost. And I planted them with the wind howling around me. Their trellises are behind them, reinforced with 2"x2" stakes driven into the ground. A few other plants are in but most still wait to join them. When the winds die down in a few days I will add a 4'x8' trellis behind the current supports so they have lots of room to sprawl but it was too windy to even think about that tonight. Everything would have been blown over by tomorrow morning had I tried.

So I planted until about a quarter to nine.

I have rewarded myself with the very last of the Easter chocolate and some congratulatory rum. these are consumed with the sand in my teeth.

Mad. Absolutely off my chump.

If anyone has suck, please stop the winds. Thx.

--the BB