Oggi

As I reported earlier this evening on Facebook:

My exciting life. Relentless day at work (one third of us in training, the rest trying to keep up). I was talking on the phone for two minutes short of five hours today. Retail therapy: a couple more summer shirts on clearance. Italian class. Some protein and a strong drink when I got home.

But Friday: Butterfly!


--the BB

Heart thread - 07/20/2010

My friend Mike bids our prayers for Wes. Wes' partner Scott is one of those who worked hard at the Our Saviour clean-up day (and was at San Gabriel last Sunday).

Wes had a stroke this afternoon. He's at UNMH now and doing "okay". It seems to be on the right side affecting the left side of his body with some (unknown to me) level of paralysis. He's alert, can speak though with impaired articulation due to the paralysis, and his memory seems fine. All good signs. Scott doesn't have much more info until more time has passed and more tests are done.

David@Montreal invites us to pray for many who need to be held in our hearts.

Beloved Giants of prayer and practice

I've had two calls this afternoon for prayers for Rosemary, our little Armenian bird, who last Thursday was rushed back into hospital with severe breathing difficulties- one call from Dave, Rosemary's wonderful husband, the other from my baby sister Jenny who is Rosemary's friend and chief caregiver when Dave is obliged to work in Ottawa during most weeks. As you might remember from earlier prayer calls, this is Rosemary's second bout with cancer and her determination to get through this is incredible. Dave and Rosemary have two young sons.
So prayers for Rosemary and Dave please, their sons, and my baby sister Jenny please.

Prayer's for dear Kirstin please- undergoing her second round in the school of cancer also. Kirstin has just begun a very aggressive course of teatments which will be taking over the forseeable future. Last I heard she has been released from hospital from the first round and is currently at Bishop's Ranch in California. [Update: and is now heading back to hospital for the next round.]

Another cherished sister in faith, Fran has been having a really rough time recovering from a gall bladder operation, and has been on a medical fast. Fran, her Beloved, and her step-daughter are due to leave for holidays any day now, and she's still struggling with the first steps towards healing.

Prayers please for my former colleague Louyse who underwent brain surgery late last week. The tumor was only discovered after her throid had been irradiated, and she was experiencing balance, perception and speech defecits. Louyse will have a long path of healing ahead of her.

Prayers please for a fiesty friend who manages a life with some pretty incredible challenges and demands made on her. She is currently travelling overseas for her work, .... Prayer for all involved- for the children, for the pressure and multiple demands my friend tries to balance.

And speaking of fiesty- one beloved sister who might occasionally admit to certain mother bear-like qualities; she, her husband, and their chosen son have been undergoing some horrendous trials in the last days- the system at it's near-worst. This sister is one of the most articulate, passionate, spirit-filled priests I know, so prayers for all three- that grace and strength, insight and peace will be given sufficient to the path ahead and that generous, life-giving justice will prevail.

News of Frank- he and his latest round of cancer appear to be at a standstill. The effects of the ongoing treatments are mild compared to what he as previously been through, and his attitude is incredible. With restrictions, he and Carol are having a simple summer, surrounded by their three wonderful daughters, their spouses & the grandchildren out in BC. He called Mam the other day to see how she is doing with her situation and three times sent along his thanks to 'David's Giants' who have 'made all the difference'

And speaking of Mam, even if she is my Mam, I have to say she's incredible! No complaints, no despair, she's the first one to tell you just how lucky she is that she's still got her arm, that it wasn't her hip, that she's got family to look after her, and that they're doing it so wonderfully. The whole experience has visibly aged her, and yet though there is still occasionally some confusion with individual words, her attitude is always grateful and positive. Mam saw the surgeon late last week, and will begin physiotherapy next Wednesday. She's still unable to live on her own as long as she has the cast, soshe is staying with my sister Joanne and her husband Ken. Today, for the first time since the accident she actually made it to Church with my sister Jenny.

So much to be grateful for, but even more to offer up , and like Frank says you guys really do 'make all the difference.'

love always- always Love

Continued prayers for Doris, Mark, Mother Sandra, Tad (who gets around with greater ease as time passes). For Alex and his mom, for Jack and his family, for my sister Shirley, my nephew Jay, and my grandniece Esther.

For the unemployed, the homeless, and especially the despairing.

For those killed or injured in the train crash in eastern India.

--the BB

Do you see any weeds?

I thought not. (Unless you count the "ornamental grass" on the left, which propagates with a vengeance through small hair-like devices that cling to everything. I call it "pendejo grass" because, well, the filaments resemble pubic hairs. The clump you see in the photo is not destined long for this life. Why people plant this vile thing I have no idea.)

Yours truly was on his knees under the mid-morning sun yesterday pulling weeds between the curb and the sidewalk. Yesterday evening I tackled much of the south side of the house. This morning I did the back yard and more along the side of the house. This evening I finished the south side and returned to the main front yard. Tumbleweeds have sprung up with an especial vengeance this year. Most of them were only half an inch to an inch high but they were uprooted one by one, ripped from the earth with my own hands.

The temperatures were hovering about 100 Fahrenheit and I do not want those who fear for my dehydration to fret. I, who normally never let water pass my lips, have consumed about four liters of it this weekend in addition to my usual wet chemical poison.

There are few muscles in my body who have not had something to say about all this.

But I have photos and the homeowners' association cannot say I did not clean up my weeds.

This weekend also involved visiting with friends on both days, preaching this morning, and catching a performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream this afternoon. I am plum tuckered out.

--the BB

I'm guessing most of you have not yet read Tim Wise's post at AlterNet titled "

What If the Tea Party Were Black?"

Imagine that hundreds of black protesters were to descend upon Washington DC and Northern Virginia, just a few miles from the Capitol and White House, armed with AK-47s, assorted handguns, and ammunition. And imagine that some of these protesters —the black protesters — spoke of the need for political revolution, and possibly even armed conflict in the event that laws they didn’t like were enforced by the government? Would these protesters — these black protesters with guns — be seen as brave defenders of the Second Amendment, or would they be viewed by most whites as a danger to the republic? What if they were Arab-Americans? Because, after all, that’s what happened recently when white gun enthusiasts descended upon the nation’s capital, arms in hand, and verbally announced their readiness to make war on the country’s political leaders if the need arose.

Check out the whole thing at the link.

Or perhaps you'd like a rap version of this question. Check it out at YouTube.

Y'all know the answers, don't you?

We live in a world of double standards.

--the BB

Heart thread - 07/15/2010 - UPDATED

A blessed St Swithun's Day to you all. How was the weather where you are?

I bid your fervent prayers for Fran. She has gone from utter misery through removal of the old gall bladder to.... ongoing misery.

Hospital hostage crisis day 9...
...
No liquids yet, no solids yet, no going home. Praying people unleash your prayers please.

O Father of mercies and God of all comfort, our only help in time of need: We humbly beseech thee to behold, visit, and relieve thy sick servant Fran for whom our prayers are desired. Look upon her with the eyes of thy mercy; comfort her with a sense of thy goodness; preserve her from the temptations of the enemy; and give her patience under her affliction. In thy good time, restore her to health, and enable her to lead the residue of her life in thy fear, and to thy glory; and grant that finally she may dwell with thee in life everlasting; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
-BCP, 458

I ask your prayers for my sister Shirley who has an appointment on July 23 with the cardiologist.

UPDATE:
I ask your prayers for Doris Hagen, my "den mother" and best friend at St Cuthbert's, who is "at the acute care center here in San Leandro today. She seems to be doing fairly well but is tired and a bit confused."

I ask your prayers for the repose of the soul of Stanley Kooyumjian, the man who knew lamb better than anyone and who fed many with good food and gracious hospitality, part of my larger family and a true Fresno institution. For his wife Doris and their children and grandchildren. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

For the life of the Gulf of Mexico.

For deliverance from robber barons.

I give thanks for Argentina where gay couples may now marry.

That Jarrett and Rahm may turn and be of a better mind. (Cf. deliverance from robber barons, above. These two sleazebags are working with the robber barons to gut regulations of the financial industry.)

For the utter confounding of Timothy Geithner's plans to maintain Wall Street's status quo.

Huffington Post reports that on the very day the Senate passed Wall Street reform and created a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Treasury Sec. Tim Geithner is urging President Obama NOT to appoint the most credible person as its leader: Elizabeth Warren. [h/t to Forrest Brown at DK]

(Cf. deliverance from robber barons, above.)

I'm sorry folks but I'm ready for imprecatory psalms and being honest about my prayers. As I believe God is a God of justice I am not going to be all nicey nice. The heart threads try to take the high road but we have some crap going on down in the low roads and I believe God passionately cares about this kind of thing. So yes, I'm calling for some smiting.

When wilt Thou save the people?
O God of mercy, when?
Not kings and lords, but nations,
Not thrones and crowns, but men!
Flowers of Thy heart, O God, are they;
Let them not pass, like weeds, away;
Their heritage a sunless day:
O God, save the people!

Shall crime bring crime forever,
Strength aiding still the strong?
Is it Thy will, O Father,
That man shall toil for wrong?
“No,” say Thy mountains; “No,” Thy skies;
Man’s clouded sun shall brightly rise,
And songs ascend, instead of sighs:
O God, save the people!

When wilt Thou save the people?
O God of mercy, when?
The people, Lord, the people,
Not thrones and crowns, but men!
God save the people; Thine they are,
Thy children, as Thine angels fair:
From vice, oppression, and despair,
O God, save the people!

Words: Eb­en­e­zer El­li­ott, More Prose and Verse, 1850.

--the BB

Very little news in my corner

And isn't that just fine?

I have been scrambling this week to take care of things I neglected over the weekend. Got some big overdue stuff out of the way and the yard is watered once again.

Totally looking forward to the weekend. Have a great Friday, y'all.

--the BB

Odds and ends including prayer

Midnight has come and gone so it is Bastille Day. Allons, enfants....!

This means it is also my niece Paula's birthday. She is off in Vegas for a few days, so what happens on her birthday stays in Vegas. Happy Birthday, Paula!

I ask your prayers for France and her people (especially those who made me feel so welcome there decades ago).

I ask your prayers for Evelyn Rose, mother of a classmate in my Italian class. May her suffering end and may she pass peacefully into larger life.

At Facebook Jane R noted that she was thinking of France. I am thinking of Italy. As in maybe going there next year. Finally. I have never been. Strike while the language classes are hot, no? For many years we said we were going there "year after next." This put it off forever, of course, until we stopped saying it. Well now....

I came home from Italian class tonight and heated up the water. I went into the yard and harvested one yellow squash, five cherry tomatoes, and a sprig of thyme. Boiled the egg pasta that I made last night. Then I made a truly wicked sauce, cholesterol heaven.

Two cloves of minced garlic sauteed in butter. Flour added to make a roux. Heavy cream. Yes, you heard me, the stuff you whip. Blue cheese. Slices of squash and bits of thyme. Freshly ground black pepper and freshly grated nutmeg. It wanted salt and I added some in the leftovers (which should provide lunch for days to come). Served with split cherry tomatoes on top for color and sweetness and tang. Grated parmigiano. A glass of red wine. The second half of Law and Order: Criminal Intent. La dolce vita, I tell ya.

I had been thinking about this for weeks and I certainly enjoyed it tonight. (Yes, there is a reason I take a fish oil tablet and pravastatin every day.)

Next time: thicker noodles, olive oil, garlic, whichever squash is ripe, fresh basil from the herb pots, more cherry tomatoes, and peperoncini (not hot sausage; pepper flakes).

And I have lots of sage for sage and brown butter another time. Lovely on pasta.

Buona notte a tutti.

--the BB

Nella cucina

Usually when I make home-made egg noodles from scratch they get cooked promptly. Since I began these rather late in the evening, they will not be cooked until tomorrow or the next night.

When I saw the pasta attachments for a Kitchen Aid last week I could not resist. I had been thinking of making this with my hand-cranked pasta maker but I must say, this is MUCH easier. Not much over half an hour from start to finish.

I added some sun-dried tomato paste to the beaten eggs before incorporating the flour. There is a hint of color and, I hope, will be a touch of flavor. Next time I try that I will use more.

I don't feel guilty about being lazy on the weekend but I am distressed about a couple of major items I forgot that cannot be put off. Anyway, this evening I did a touch of shopping (including the pasta rack), watered the yard, loaded and ran the dishwasher, vacuumed and mopped the kitchen, and made pasta. There was much wiping of the sweaty brow. And I began looking at some time-critical paperwork.

Tired now.

Sweet dreams, my tantalizing tuberoses.

--the BB

Yesterday in the yard

The last two photos are of Santa Rosa plums and Elberta peaches. We trust the changing colors are what they appear to be: signs of ripening.

Today I have refrained from all labor. No accomplishments. I have rested, ruthlessly.

May you all have a blessed week.

--the BB

Heart thread - 07/10/2010

Do not hesitate to bring out the big guns in your prayers, my friends.

My Little Sister gave me news about our Big Sister Shirley:

After heart studies this past week, she received a call from the NP in the cardiologist office that she has another blocked artery and they will be getting her in to see the doctor as soon as possible.

KJ asks prayer for his father who is going through difficult chemo and for his mother (and let us remember Kevin and all the family as well).

Four of my dear friends are coping with stressful situations and hard decisions. Please pray for them and their families.

For the repose of the soul of Margaret's mother and for all who mourn.

For MP.

For Mark.

For all who, this night, are in danger or desperation, for the sick and the dying, for the frightened and the furious.

Update:
I woke up this morning praying for a swift and complete recuperation from Fran's gall bladder surgery and asked myself how I could have prayed for her several times yesterday and still omitted her name here. Fran, you are not forgotten.

--the BB

Low key day

Last night I drove from work to meet friends and we then headed north of Santa Fe for the opera: Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) by Mozart. We had a picnic-style supper in a condo in Santa Fe then rejoiced in cooler weather as we settled in for the music. The music was wonderful. Well, one expects that from Mozart, but the singers and orchestra did a great job. As one friend opined, it was nice to see Tamino look and act as one imagines a prince should. Papageno had great comic timing and acting and a wonderful voice. I enjoyed listening to Tamino and Pamina and Papageno... and the Queen of the Night hit those notes. Bravi tutti! Here is the amazing thing. I was alert and engaged all the way through. No naps during the performance. This may be a first in recent history.

It made for a late night and we were up not much later than I get up for work. Breakfast at Clafouti in Santa Fe then a drive home.

After such a long day yesterday, today was a do-nothing day. I watered the yard, traded some e-mails, and not much else. Tonight three of us saw The Taming of the Shrew. It is a very problematic play because you just want to scream at the subjugation of women and treatment of them as chattel. There were some fun comic turns but the play itself is beyond problematic. Other than the Taylor-Burton film of it, I believe I had only seen it once. That was at Cal Shakes and the lead couple were husband and wife in real life. They were able to give a lot more physicality and fire to the roles than one usually gets and I vaguely remember feeling better about the play that night. Ah well. A week from tomorrow is A Midsummer Night's Dream and I look forward to that.

The photo is of penstemon.

Sweet dreams, my frivolous vogelfängers!

--the BB

Pondering food

Well, we bears are usually pondering food. It was an accepted truth that to a bear the most important meal of the day is ... the next one.

I have been hankering for homemade egg pasta lately. Was getting ready to get out the hand-cranked pasta machine. But tonight I spotted the pasta attachment for a Kitchen Aid mixer and decided to indulge myself. So the same function will be performed without my having to do the cranking.

I have not forgotten the basic recipe. Two cups of flour. Make a well in the center. Break three eggs into the well. Beat with a fork. Incorporate the two ingredients. Then many, many repetitions of feeding pieces of dough through the kneading roller. When it is satiny, gradually adjust the rollers, taking the dough to the desired thinness. Then cut (or not if you are making lasagne). Molto semplice, no?

Not this weekend, unless I do it Sunday. Tonight was Italian class, tomorrow is Die Zauberflöte at the Santa Fe Opera, and Saturday is The Taming of the Shrew at the Vortex Theatre. But Sunday.... with squash and cherry tomatoes and basil fresh from the yard, some olive oil and garlic? Perhaps.

Life is obviously busy so posting will continue to be light.

Buona notte a tutti.

--the BB

Feeling summery

I indulged in retail therapy between work and Italian class tonight. Eddie Bauer (more summer shirts on sale) and Williams Sonoma (my 8-inch skillet had died and needed replacing... oh, and there were some pretty linens on sale). Had ice cream tonight and right now I feel very mellow.

Now, the hiking and lugging and digging of the weekend did not have my body feeling mellow at work today. Quite a collection of joints and muscles were announcing that I had been using them over the past few days. But that is a good thing and they will be the better for it.

Right now, however, it is bedtime.

Sweet dreams, my oscillating ocelots!

--the BB

If deficits matter at all....

... (and I believe they do, though not in the way the deficit peacocks proclaim), then those concerned about government deficits will let the Bush tax cuts lapse. End of discussion.


If they don't, then they are fucking hypocrites and have zero credibility. We should not listen to them. I would go so far as to invoke Miss Manners and apply the harshest social judgment and give them the cut direct. No op-eds, no time on the Sunday talk shows, no interviews, no citing their opinions. Anything they have to say on the topic is demonstrable bullshit. Why pay any attention to them whatsoever?

I mean, what part of that big swath of butterscotch in the chart above is unclear?


--the BB

Heart thread - 07/06/2010

This morning's heart thread begins with an update from David@Montreal:

Praise!
And heart-felt thanks for all the prayers, you beloved Giants.
Mam emerged from the post op recovery room just before 11 p.m. last evening.
Though the original plan had been local anesthetic and sedative, complications discovered resulted in her being put under general anesthetic- which no one thought to tell us about. The sedative was still wearing off when the family was ejected from the e.r. after eleven, and Mam was still in some serious pain. Today,the first heat wave of the season continues. I'll be catching busses and metro out to the West Island to catch a lift with one of my sisters up to the hospital, and there is a chance Mam will be released at the end of the day, to go stay with one of my sisters until the cast is removed. Please know, the love and prayers of you beloved Giants have been a real and very great blessing, throughout all this.

This morning, I'd once again commend dear Kirstin to that same wondrous generosity and she works her way into her first week of what is going to be a very aggressive course of treatment on her second battle with cancer.

love always-always Love

David

Pray for the people of Thailand.

The Thai government this morning extended a state of emergency imposed in about a third of the country during recent political protests, citing ongoing danger from anti-government groups. (Guardian)

For peace throughout the Middle East and Central Asia.

For significant movement by the human race toward alternative energy before we destroy the planet.

--the BB

Yard update

The grapes continue to ripen.


I found this beauty hiding in the back as I was watering this evening.


The peaches have gained some blush.


The retaining project viewed this morning.


And completed this evening. I will probably do some more sections elsewhere in the yard as I am pleased with the result here.

I noted on Facebook last Friday evening my hope for an enjoyable and productive weekend. My hope was not disappointed. I had the manual labor of digging and lugging, a nice hike, worship (twice) at the mother church, St Michael's, and visited with several friends. Tired and happy I prepare to do my Italian homework and retire in anticipation of a very busy day at work tomorrow.

--the BB

A Message from Maggie

Maggie, the Rose Queen of Desert Farne, asks us all to save the dolphins and all her friends in the Gulf waters.

A public service announcement brought to you by Margaret Macrina Dolphin, Belle Hippoposterous, and Bearfeathers Press.

--the BB

Fresh air

How nice to have a Monday off. Today's outing was into the Jemez Mountains and a little hike to Jemez Falls and back. Just enough to get fresh air and some exercise, wear out aging knees, and enjoy the beauty of nature.

As soon as we got out of the car the smell of evergreens and mountain soil greeted me. Having spent all my summers growing up in the yellow pine belt of the Sierra Nevada, this feels like home to me.


I do not always stop and smell the roses, though often I do. In today's situation I stopped and photographed most of the varieties of wildflower that we encountered.

L'ours en plein air

Jemez Falls

On the way back we stopped for hamburgers in Jemez Springs and, since it was a beautiful day in summer, topped it off with ice cream cones.

When it cools off a bit more I will return to the yard project.

--the BB

You need to read this. Really.

In a world of so much suffering and fear and loneliness, you need to read Andee's post at Kirstin's blog. The title is "Surrounded by Angels." You will be strengthened by reading it.

--the BB

I'm not?

Watch until the punch line.



--the BB