Today is December 8th; in the Catholic Church this means it is The Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Which is an awesome trivia question that people get wrong all the time. It means that Catholics believe that MARY was concieved by her mother (St. Anne) without Original Sin on her soul. How this factoid came about is beyond me...all I know is that when I was a kid, in private Catholic school, we got the day off for it! So needless to say, I was all in favor of it!

As I sat at Mass today, I got a bit nostalgic in that since we always had this day off, it was traditionally the day my mom would take us to Center City Philadelphia to see the Wanamaker Light Show and then go to lunch at the Crystal Room.

Even though Wanmakers has gone through many incarnations to its current state as Macy's, the light show still carries on, along with the massive Wanamaker Organ that other bloggers have mentioned elsewhere...

There was talk that the narration track for the light show was to be re-done, replacing the voice of the late, great Philly broadcaster, John Facenda. This stirred much controversy in my hometown but my sister attended one of the shows to discover that Facenda was replaced by...none other than Mary Poppins/Sister Maria/Victor-Victoria herself, Julie Andrews! Actually I think it was a great choice.

Anyway, back at Mass I reminisced in my head for awhile as I listened to the readings. And then Father Steve began his homily...

Don't get me wrong - his homilies are GREAT. This guy must have studied speechwriting and public speaking/theatre extensively because his stuff is the shizzle...thoughtful, engaging, intelligent and yet accessible and unpretentious. A difficult mix to achieve, in my book. I keep thinking he could make a fortune on the talk show/lecture circuit. But anyway...

He was discussing today's first reading from Genesis - about Adam & Eve getting totally busted by God and fruitlessly trying to fake their way out of it. Then he looks directly at me (the Church was pretty empty) and says, "Now, all of us have embarassing things from our past, we can't hide them from God." and then something to the effect of "we should confess them to free ourselves from that shame and embarrassment."

WTF?!?!?

Immediately I recalled yesterday's blog entry and thought,"Is that dude lurking on my friggin BLOG?!?"

So, Steve - if you are out there, leave a note here and free yourself from the embarrassment of getting busted by ME!

post script -I'm realizing now that this "free yourself" talk was really strange as the few times I have gone to confession w. Fr. Steve, he's so laid back and says, "Ah,. that isn't a sin I wouldn't worry about it." Plus the penances he gives are pretty boring and mild ("say a prayer about it.")You certainly won't get a clerical spanking from him when you spill your guts.  Maybe he's bored and is looking for some new lurid confessional tales to spice things up. Gee, wouldn't THAT be a kickass idea for a "reality show" - put a hidden camera & mic in a confessional?!?!? Of course completely unethical/illegal - but we ARE talking about American television.  In the meantime, if you are seeking all things lurid and/or horrific to stir up your emotional melting pot, then I highly recommend the bizarre memoir, Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs.

Today I did my first "home visit" as a Minister of Care. It was an "apprenticeship" session - I was under the impression from the MOC Coordinator that I'd go on a few visits but she told me that the gentleman we chatted with, prayed with, and gave communion to will be "my guy" as of next week! I have to get cracking memorizing the prayer service/blessing that I perform before giving the actual host.

And I am so lucky becasue the man I will be visitng is very friendly, has very close ties to the parish - his wife, now passed, worked there for many years in the office - and really seems to enjoy the visit. I am a sociable person so I think it will be a good match. However I am really nervous about doing this on my own.

My mom keeps chuckling in disbelief that her daughter, who nearly got expelled from Catholic school (well, at least I got PLENTY of demerits!) is now a Eucharistic Minister!

I had to laugh after viewing the made-for-cable tv-movie, "The Notoriuous Bettie Paige" at how similar her life and mine have gone in terms of our spiritual selves - from wild and wacky (although at all times happy-go-lucky/fun-loving) to deeply tuned to the Spirit within and around us. They always say that sinners make the best saints. I think its true, even if I do offer a devilish grin now and again.

That rocking van flew back across PA, OH, IN and finally snaking its way up I-294 to get us home in a record 12.5 hours!

Many thanks to my lead-footed spouse for undertaking this year's Thanksgiving driving adventure.

It was actually quite a pleasant ride as we downloaded hours upon hours of charming material from the archives of 'NPR's "This American Life." Now I have a growing crush for Ira Glass and his sweet boyish voice. *sigh*

Likely the most memorable event surrounding this weekend was the Thanksgiving Night Movie my 60-year old, white, suburban, Republican mother selected for our viewing pleasure.

My parents refuse to subscribe to Cable television. After scanning the scant few channels they do get, my mom offered, "Well I ordered "Hustle 'n Flow" from Blockbuster. How about we watch that."

"Uh, Mom? Do you know what that is? Its a RAP movie!"

"All I know is that Terrence Howard was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance."

As our viewing commenced, it became apparent that we, in our Turkey & stuffing stupor,  would not be able to follow the thick, exaggerated southern-slash-ghetto accents affected by SOME of the actors. Thankfully (and what a good day to be thankful) close captioning came to the rescue and mom and I lounged on the couch taking in more deliberate misspellings, and overuse of the word "muthafuckah" to the point that we were utterly giddy. We were astonished at the level of crapitude to which the script sunk, not only in terms of the ridiculous plot, but mostly the outrageously laughable dialogue.

If you are familiar with some of the minor hit tunes spawned from the film, then you may be aware of what strong hooks they carry. The next morning I distinctly heard my mom, swathed in Talbots and tucking away the Williams-Sonoma wares from Turkey Day, singing to herself, "Its hard out here for a pimp..."

Yep.
We're taking our rockin' van onthe road to Philly for Thanksgiving.

Have a good one.

Want a super-bed-spinning, 4-hour buzz and subsequent end to your sniffles and constant wheezing and hacking?

Try this recipe for some over-the-counter pharmeceutical fun:

1 12-hour (time-release) Sudaphed
2 pumps of Afrin nasal spray
2 tsp. Robitussin DM

Man, I could barely breathe this morning so I downed my various remedies as outlined above and then I felt as if I got hit by an ectasy train at some gay rave party. I had to close my blinds, turn off the TV and wait that one out. It was one un-fun buzz, for certain.

Luckily it was no worse than my horrendous Dilaudid expereince in 2004. Man, I don't get how people become drug addicts; this sh*t is NASTY.

Since Halloween I've been chillin' at home since I have some sort of lower respiratory infection.

Last week I felt cruddy but wanted to get things done...so I did my Christmas shopping online. This week, since I received so many of the items via UPS and USPS, I wrapped them up while listening to holiday melodies on 93.9 FM - "The Lite". They fire-up the Christmas tunes all day and night THE DAY AFTER HALLOWEEN.

Pass the Figgy Pudding and the Halls Sugar-free-eucalyptus drops, please.

Here is a slideshow of the AMAZING robot costume my hubby and I made for our daughter. I designed and sewed the silver stretchy outfit. Hubby, the electrical engineer, made his own circuit boards and programmed the chips to run the various electronics - including a scrolling LCD message board, swirling lights, and a sound board. I did the makeup and the kiddo acted the part talking in a little robot voice.

It was VERY elaborate but of course, the incredible reaction from very impressed neighbors made it worth the effort.

Then there are pics of a few pets: Megan and Buster in pumpkin costume. Megan LOVES dressing up and gets jealous when any other pets are adorned in any way!

Check out the latest ripoffs from Urban Outfitters:

Ah, I get it, retro- 80's moonboots. Is it me, or is $80 is alot of dough to shell out to be Napolean-Dynamite-esque ironic?

Then we have my perrenial fave, the ever-so-punk "lace up combat boots":

Ladies and Gents, hold on to your hats: I am now an "official' Minister as Mandated by my Parish and the Archdiocese of Chicago!!!!!

Yesterday I attended a ceremony during Mass where 4 other persons and myself were "mandated" (the official term) as Ministers of Care for our Parish. I attended 6 weekly training sessions and then will be apprenticing with an expereinced Minister for the next year or so.

What is a Minister of Care? We take consecrated Communion Host to persons in nursing homes, hospitals, and to the homebound, who cannot attend Mass to receive this sacrament. We also spend time with these persons saying prayers, blessing with holy water, annointing with oil, and just being there for them to talk and listen and provide a link to the Parish Community. Largely the people I will serve are elderly which is my thing. When I was in high school, I worked in a local nursing home for two years as an activities aide. I enjoy the company of seniors a great deal so I look forward to being able to help them in the near future.

During yesterday's ceremony, I received my blessed pyx. A pyx is a metal container specially designed for transporting the consecrated host. Michelle over at smoochdog and I have had a few chuckles imagining the correct way to transport Jesus in the car: seatbelt? Car seat? Well now I have this pyx which then fits into a little leather pouch called a BURSE and THAT goes in a pocket or purse or tote bag. As long as it doesn't end up on the floor.

Here's a pic of a pyx.: (Mine is actually square and not as jazzy as this one...)

With all the tumult of our lives this year, my husband and I got this semi-wacky, semi-savvy idea to go buy acreage in central Wisconsin as a personal "retreat" for ourselves. Initially it was a quest for inexpensive, undeveloped, wooded land, perhaps near a creek or pond. That search revealed some properties in our price range that were more "turnkey" - sizeable lots with small homes already built on them, many sold fully furnished.

We stumbled upon a really cool-looking, low maintenaince, charming, and exceptionally "rustic" hand-hewn log cabn. Yes, Log Cabin, as in Laura Ingalls Wilder-esque. As in you'd still feel like you were camping in the woods, log cabin. Alas, we weren't the only ones to discover this little gem in the Wisconsin Woods and we lost a bidding war for it.

But in the grand scheme of things, I'm GLAD we didn't get it. In retrospect I think we rushed into this without evaluating our real needs and wants in our existing home - like the fact that we really need to put some siding on it to keep it from falling to pieces!

We had plans drawn up last year to put on an addition but the bids came  in so high and at this time neither of us want to deal with the prospect of living amidst construction.

Now, if something exceptional and affodable comes on the market in our area of interest, then we may re-visit the idea of a second home but for now I'm going to focus on our little cottage in IL that could use some attention.