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.

Time flies when you are mourning.

It is one year ago that I discovered the demise of my unborn baby and then was admitted to the hospital to have labor induced. Its is one year ago that I injured my back in the process. It is one year ago that, thankfully, I met a wonderful, caring, supportive nurse/grief counselor through the Hospital, as well as the comforting bereavement minister from my Church. Both of these women have aided my family and me a great deal through this unfortunate process.

As a way to "give back" I volunteered to write articles for the perinatal loss support group newsletter through the Hospital. For the November issue, I was asked to compose "10 reasons to feel thankful even when you don't feel like it."

This is what I wrote; I hope that each of you, when you need it, can come back to this list and find a way to apply it in your life. (Except, for most people, number 1, and number 8, although each can be extrapolated into something applicable in your own circumstance.)

Top Ten Reasons To Feel Thankful Even When It May Seem Difficult

10. Economy: Compared to most of the world, and even parts of our own country, we have access to wonderful food, education, and healthcare.

9. Treasure: We each have unique talents and skills that can be used to make our own lives – as well as the lives of others – rich and fulfilled. They are hidden treasures waiting for us to discover.

8. Geography: Illinois' residents have not experienced the economic and environmental devastation of a massive hurricane, earthquake, or war in recent history.

7. Serendipity: Don't forget the occasional gift of turning on your car radio and hearing one of your favorite tunes that you have not heard for years – and rolling up the windows to sing along without any inhibition!

6. Time: Realizing how much change and progress is made in our healing – emotionally and physically – each day, month, and year that goes by.

5. Family: Spouses, parents, siblings, friends, and extended family provide the love and support to we need as human beings throughout our life journey.

4. Environment: The life cycles of the earth – plants, animals, water, mountains, weather and the changing of the seasons provide sources of deep inspiration and reflection for us if we take the time to observe it.

3. Mind and Body: Though both may seem to fail us at times, we can be wonderfully surprised with the things we can achieve with our bodies and minds when we take the time to nurture them.

2. Spirit – Whether we worship traditionally or focus on personal contemplation, our unique spirit, our soulfulness of being, is what makes us, as humans, memorable, and valuable, in life and after.

1. Love: Despite the physical loss of our children, nothing can take away our love for them – it is held within our hearts always.