you can make your own rosary

Instructions here on how to make your own rosary out of #36 nylon twine.

sick

I have a sore throat like I've never had before. The ones I've had would be soothed by running fluid across it, as in drinking. This sore throat feels like a lump and it hurts like crazy to swallow. Last night the lump was bigger, almost affecting my inner ear. It's gone down but it's still there and still hurts if I swallow.

I had severe chills last night too. My teeth chattered and my muscles are sore from shivering. I was so exhausted this morning. I slept through much of the day. But when I sleep too much, I get headaches. An e-mail I received several weeks back indicated that drinking two glasses of Gatorade will relieve a headache. It also indicated that mixing equal parts of white vinegar and honey and taking a tablespoon of the stuff six times a day will relieve a sore throat. So here I go.

I've had two doses of Tylenol and Mucinex today.  Maybe I'll take another dose.

Every now and then I have to take "space heater therapy" where I toast myself in front of a space heater to relieve the chills.

Triduum

Wishing everyone a holy and most blessed Triduum.  For those who have never attended a Holy Thursday mass or Good Friday service, perhaps this is the year you'll try one.

goodbye, my friend

Tuxedo cat died at 15 years of age.  The fella never hinted that he was old.  Sweet, sweet, handsome cat.

for real

Yes, there is a company named "Big Ass Fans"

whew

What a week.  The workers finished the work on windows and doors on Monday.  Now the doors are waiting to be painted and stained.

Monday night we attended bible study.

Tuesday Gumby went into the hospital.  It was just precautionary.  They did tests on Wednesday.  While Gumby was in the hospital, I was the runner to get any needed stuff.  This evening (Thursday) I picked Gumby up from the hospital.  With all that running around, I haven't been able to get the house back in order.

Our oak tree in the back is dropping leaves like crazy.  I guess the tree is kinda "molting."  New growth is coming in as the leaves are dropping.  I suppose I have a tree worth of leaves in the backyard.  The two trees in the front had green buds Tuesday morning and today those buds have grown into baby leaves.

Work is crazy.  We were pretty much told today that if it takes living at our workplace to meet the schedule, then that's what we have to do.  Missing the schedule is not an option.  As usual, I'm behind schedule.  Let the floggings begin.

I pray for the miracle of not being irate at work, to remember that it's JUST a J-O-B, and to somehow be Christ for others.

installed

The doors and windows are installed, though not quite finished.  We're enjoying them.  We finally have doors and windows that are functional.  The windows have a greenish tint to them; probably an effect of the argon gas in them.

The house is still topsy turvy.  Things have not been put back in place yet.  After the workers left, we had to deal with the dust.  It's concrete dust from when they were taking out the old windows.  We've done the kitchen as that was the first order of things.  Yucky to have gritty kitchen:  floors, counters, you name it.  I've vacuumed the floors where I can and mopped the front and back entries (but not the kitchen).  It's been busy, I haven't gotten to it.

Doors have glass inserts.  We're getting used to them.  With the light coming through them, we get the feeling that the door is open.  We're actually using the front entrance now.  We used to just go through the garage.  We have some stuff we have to do tomorrow (Saturday), but I hope to put up some new blinds as well as finish clean up of at least one area and get things back to there.

doors and windows

Repairs are continuing with the house.  Last year we got the fascia replaced.  It was rotting and the previous contractor we hired didn't replace everything, didn't do a good job where it was replaced, and simply didn't finish the job.  On the second go-around the new contractor replaced all the fascia including the work that was half done, and painted the trim around the house.  The new fascia is Hardi-plank and we shouldn't have to worry about it rotting.

We hired another contractor to look at the roof.  They did spot repairs on the roof and installed new gutters in the front and back of the house.  They will also be replacing our front and back doors and the windows.  Our replacement doors and windows arrived this past week and are sitting in the garage.  We also have new locks to go with the new doors.  All together, it's a LOT of dollars.

One of our windows has been broken ever since we bought the house.  It's a small hole in the glass.  For the most part, we seldom open the windows because it is very difficult.  The doors has always had a big gap in them.  We stuff the gap with a yardstick and towel.

We look forward to having these problems corrected.  We don't know yet when the workers can come.  But all the parts are here.

sick

I've been sick for a week now. The symptoms keep changing. Sinus, cold, allergies ... any one of those probably occurred some time during the week. I've a cough that just won't quit. I've tried just about every color of Mucinex. Delsym worked for me at one time, but it doesn't seem to do anything this time around. This past week I have tried eating oranges, drinking hot tea, hot apple juice, and hot apple cider. I went to the doctor on Friday and he prescribed a cough syrup with codeine and Zyrtec D. I think the Zyrtec is throwing my body for a loop. It did dry me up (too much, I think) but now it's time for another dose and my body is still feeling drugged though my nose is running again. I couldn't get they cough syrup because the pharmacist needs to talk to the Doc and it was Saturday when I tried to fill that prescription. So I'm trying super duper strength Robitussin DM.

I learned Thursday night that a friend of mine passed. I was able to confirm it on Friday morning. He was a good guy. We're not real close but I do try to call him on his birthday and perhaps any one of those military days (Veteran's Day, Memorial Day, Pearl Harbor Day, etc.).  He had been bed-ridden for years.  I was not able to attend any of the services for him because I found out too late (the funeral was at the same time as my doctor's appointment).  May his soul rest in peace.  And may time heal the sorrow of his friend who had taken care of him through all those years.

Baryshnikov

Mikhail Baryshnikov dances to Vladimir Visotsky (or Vysotsky)in the movie "White Nights"

apostolic visitation

A representative from Rome is visiting the U.S.A. women religious congregations.  It's not new news; I just haven't paid it much attention.  However, the visitation seems to have caused quite a flurry.  Here is National Catholic Reporter's collection of "stuff" on the topic: http://ncronline.org/apostolicvisitation

As someone seeking to enter religious life, I ought to be keenly interested.  I've just been too pre-occupied with my own fires.  I am surprised by the negative views of the ordeal.  Of course nobody likes audits.  Usually the grumbling is along the lines of it being another inconvenience.  In this case, the grumblings go far beyond that into issues that I don't understand and have no awareness of.  It'd be nice to sit with some women religious over some bubble tea and hear what the big hoolabaloo is all about.

C'mon T.O.

C'mon T.O., if you're still lurking, please e-mail me.  It's been a while.  I think your blog was LAMLand.  Like I said, it's been a while.  Please.

Little Portion Hermitage

Last year, there was a fire at Little Portion Hermitage, the community founded by John Michael Talbot.  They are rebuilding.  If you are able, please help them by giving a donation.  Thanks.

awesome ice cubes

I love this idea!


via bookofjoe

checking in

We went to see Avatar again. IMAX. 3D.  Still cool.

We just came back from a potluck at the church.  Father was giving an educational lecture/presentation on the topic of "the Mass."  It was very good.  It'd be wonderful if can just go to be now, but alas, that is not to be.

This week is another hectic week at work.  We will be having all-day meeting for the whole week.  Oh boy.

easy way to help

Cory pledges to donate $300 to the Haiti relief effort for every 100,000 views of this video on YouTube.  (originally seen on MSNBC)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URBdbxZjXlA

update:  the author has pulled the video ... lame

You can also help at any time by visiting the Hunger Site and click daily.

the passing of time

I'm in a very vibrant parish with lots of diversity in ages and ethnicity.  One thing about being a member of a parish such as this for a while is that I get to see young families grow and the kids grow up.  Now I don't connect with these folks, and that's my doing no doubt.  But I do see them almost every week and can recognize some of them.  It's really just amazing to me to see those little tykes grow up to be adults.  Really, it's just amazing.  I think I'm starting to understand the phrase, "I'm not getting old, they are."

meager posts

I hope everyone's year is kicking off well.

I think posting on this blog will be sparse (even more so than it's been) for a while. We are now required to work 10 hour days.  Plus I like my 1-hour lunch.  Plus the 1 hour commute.  So that comes out to 12 hours minimum to the job.  We've some major stuff coming up, so I've actually been putting in more hours than that.  It's okay considering that the job pays the bills (at least so far).  Several years back, there was a time when I was looking for a second job ... that would have been even more hours working plus a second commute and another set of job conditions to deal with.  So considering that, I'm not complaining.

New Year's Resolution

I don't normally have a New Year's Resolution. But my spiritual director said "Aim for nothing, get nothing."

Hmm... 

I resolve to finish reading at least ONE book this year.

I think I have a learning disability: put a book in my hands and I fall asleep.  Printed-texta-hyper-somnia. The fix? Read in short blurbs; stop before the zzz's invade. Seriously, I read much of the bible that way: only a few lines each night.

Avatar 3D IMAX

It's Great!  Go see it.  Something along the lines of "Lord of the Rings."  I was pumped on "Avatar," but on further thought, LOTR is better.  Still "Avatar" is a definite must see on its own merits.

My eyes did get a little bleary. That many hours of 3D requires some getting used to.