YouTube Fun

Eddie Izzard and Anglicanism, way funny.


Eddie Izzard and his Star Trek commentary, too funny.


I do hope you enjoyed.

Dante Inferno Quiz

So, I bit and took the quiz that ALT took, and the results are...

...the Dante's Inferno Test has sent you to Purgatory!

Here is how you matched up against all the levels:
Level Score
Purgatory High
Level 1 - Limbo Moderate
Level 2 High
Level 3 Low
Level 4 Very Low
Level 5 Low
Level 6 - The City of Dis Very Low
Level 7 High
Level 8- the Malebolge Moderate
Level 9 - Cocytus Low

Purgatory: You have escaped damnation and made it to Purgatory, a place where the dew of repentance washes off the stain of sin and girds the spirit with humility. Through contrition, confession, and satisfaction by works of righteousness, you must make your way up the mountain. As the sins are cleansed from your soul, you will be illuminated by the Sun of Divine Grace, and you will join other souls, smiling and happy, upon the summit of this mountain. Before long you will know the joys of Paradise as you ascend to the ethereal realm of Heaven.

Level descriptions: http://www.4degreez.com/misc/dante-inferno-information.html
Take the test: http://www.4degreez.com/misc/dante-inferno-test.mv

First Crocheted Shawl

So, crocheted shawl? Doesn't she mean knitted? Weellll, knitting is going to have to wait a while. I got the basic knit stitch but I was so tense through the shoulders that instead of being relaxing and meditative it was stressing me out. I crocheted years ago and decided to see if I could pick it up again. And well I did. Crocheting is so much easier for me, and I enjoy it. I found a nifty prayer shawl pattern book. So the shawl I put together is based on a pattern in the book, but slightly modified. I do wish I'd gotten the width longer, but ah well, next time.

I made this one for the kids grandma, I hope she likes it. I can't wait to make another one :-)

Been Tagged

Two names you go by (besides your given names)?
1. JS 2. Mama

Two things you are wearing right now?
1. Blue jeans
2. Brown and tan sweater

Two longest car rides?
1. Non-stop from Texas to Pennsylvania for a funeral
2. Anytime I ride in a car with my mom driving

Two of your favorite things to do:
1. Hike with my family and take photos
2. Read

Two things you want very badly at the moment:
1. More time with a healthy dose of patience
2. Toss up between more books and camera equipment

Three animals you have or have had:
1. Diego, my six year dog.
2. Sparky, a dog who adopted my wife then the rest of us.
3. Darth Vadar, my wife’s cat.

Three things you ate today:
1. Raisin Bran cereal
2. Donut
3. Italian sub

Two things you are doing tomorrow:
1. Going to work
2. Preparing for EFM

Two favorite holidays:
1. Christmas
2. Easter

Two favorite beverages:
1. Hazelnut coffee
2. Orange soda pop

Added question - Two favorite words:
1. Plethora
2. Serendipitous

I tag: Anybody who wants to play and hasn't been tagged yet.

Who is the Girl

Who is the girl, who
Stands slightly alone but near enough
Her eyes shift and follow movements
Like breath

Who is the girl, who
Would hold your hurts but doesn’t
Let go of her own

Who is the girl, who
Wants to walk with you but hasn't
Quite figured it out herself

Knitting

ALT got my wife a beginners knitting kit for her birthday a little over a month ago. Once my wife started to get the hang of it I asked her if she would show me too. And it's a good thing she's learning all the stitches first, because there's something about knitting that almost works counter-intuitive to my brain.

My wife is thinking her first project will be a scarf, and I'm thinking socks for mine. But I need to spend some more time with the knit stitch and probably need to learn the pearl stitch before I can begin socks. Oh yeah, and how to increase and decrease stitches.

The wife's next lesson involved knitting with four needles at once - I think she decided to skip that lesson as it sounded intimidating. I'm still trying to imagine how that would work.

I'm hoping to get fluid enough with knitting that I can turn it into a meditation/prayer excerise, but first I need to make more then two rows of stitches :-)

So, next Christmas you know what you all may be getting right ;-) Socks and scarves!

Happy Thanksgiving Early

Happy Thanksgiving!

Ok, Just One More for Today

What Famous Leader Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

How serendipitous, my wife got me a bracelet that says, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Gandhi.

ALT's link to quiz

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

I suppose now I should go watch the movie.

Kid Rock: Rock N Roll Jesus

Kid Rock has grown on me, especially once his music shifted out of (well mostly) prepubescent boy audience lyrics.

I haven't gotten through the whole CD yet (got it late last night) but I do like it. And true to the title, at least thus far.

I don't often get home sick but there's another piece to Kid Rock that brings back parts of home. Kid Rock and I are from the same part of Michigan, his accent sounds like mine, and he reminds me of my brother. The same brownish hair, similiar facial structure, and mostly it's the similiarity in how they carry themselves.

My friend ALT has that effect sometimes, though it's memories of my Grandmother - it's the shape of her eyes that look like mine that look like my Grandmother's.

Quiz: What Breed of Liberal Are You?

You are an Eco-Avenger, also known as an environmentalist or tree hugger. You believe in saving the planet from the clutches of air-fouling, oil-drilling, earth-raping conservative fossil fools.

Take the quiz at www.FightConservatives.com

Find the Man in the Beans

I friend sent this to me, and I founf it fun, so I pass it on to you:

Doctors have concluded that if you find the man in the coffee beans in 3 seconds, your right half of your brain is better developed than most people. If you find the man between 3 seconds and 1 minute, your right half of the brain is developed normally. If you find the man between 1 minute and 3 minutes, then the right half of your brain is functioning slowly and you need to eat more protein. If you have not found the man after 3 minutes, the advice is to look for more of this type of exercise to make that part of the brain stronger.
And, yes, the man is really there!!!


What's interesting is that once you find the man you can't unfind him, if you know what I mean.

Be Grateful for Every Experience part ii

Be Grateful for Every Experience part ii

It’s hard to know what to say about my Cursillo experience, as I’ve only just gotten back and there’s still much to process. I went to Cursillo for two main reasons: (1) People who had gone kept saying I should go, and (2) the people who have gone I have immense respect for. I understand now why fellow Cursillitos get vague about Cursillo, it truly is something that must be experienced firsthand, and to say too much will take away from the experience if you’ve not been. I can say that your experience of Cursillo will be as unique as you are. If you want to live more fully into Christ you should go, if you’re trying to discern your role in your church and the world you should go, if you want to see Christ in others you should go. If you go, plan to eat a lot, cry a lot, sleep a little, and stack the mattresses if your Cursillo is at Camp Capers.

The word devistating from the "part i" post sticks out, and in some ways it was a devistating experience in both senses that the word can be used. I just worry that that particular word will be misconstrued...it was not my whole experience...but it I believe it is that devistation that will bring the most feeling...and for now there will be no more on that...

Be Grateful for Every Experience

I left for my Cursillo Thursday evening, and this was the Weekly Guidance awaiting me on my return from Cursillo, Sunday night:

Eileen’s Weekly Guidance 9.11.07 Be Grateful for every experience‏

Be Grateful for every experience

Be Grateful for every experience in life which draws you ever closer to Me, no matter how devastating that experience may appear to be at the time. I keep telling you that good comes out of everything for those who truly love Me and put Me first in everything. Why not open your eyes and see this come about? Look for the best and see the best come out of every situation. Put your whole faith and trust in Me.

I think right now that’s the best I can do to describe my Cursillo experience. Would I recommend Cursillo to someone else…Yes. Only time will tell if what I think I got out of Cursillo will hold true. So, until then, I need to process the experience, and see what transformation comes, if any, I think I went a butterfly already – but there was nectar there, so I look forward to seeing how that fed me.

De Colores

Sold and Clarification

Yea, the house now has new owners - they got the keys yesterday. What a relief.

I'd like to clarify my "Been on my mind" post: This post was something I needed to express and put "out there" but I already knew the answer. You cannot not be you and still make a good priest.

Even though I can't discern in my community, they validate me all the time in big and little ways. Too many people I respect validate that they can see me "in minstry," or "as a priest." And those are truly wonderful gems. But the ones that truly sparkle are the shared words that come from moments of being together.

So, what I'm saying is that "you" saw a glimpse of my insecurities and fears - that I am not good enough.

And well...phooowwwiieee on that.

Been on my mind too

I think I've been confusing what I see with what I was percieving as being wanted of me. And in the end that just isn't me. So I'm going to leave it be, and just be me. And if there's a place for me at the priestly table great.

Been on my mind

I’ve been struggling lately with can I be me and still be a priest? Of the priests I’ve seen there’s a genuine concern for others, but there’s also this distance. Is it just them? Is it protective to self? And I can’t help but think that isn’t me. That that is not what so many people need. They need someone to walk with them in their very personal pain/love/grief/life. To not be afraid to embrace them and hold them. And that image keeps calling to me. But it feels so conflicted with what I see.

The almost wasn't closing

Well, my wife and I signed the closing paperwork; first we thought we would get to close today, then we where told we couldn't; then we got the call asking if we could. But the realitor still needs to drop off the certified survey tomorrow morning, and the buyers can't close until tomorrow around 5pm since for some reason the Title Company person wasn't able to stay past 5pm today. So, we're not quite done yet...and here's to praying that we won't have to resign anything which is apparently a slight possibility.

My neighbor saw the new couple at the house yesterday, and she said they were taking pictures of the house and them in front of the house with big smiles. I'm really glad they're excited about the house. It's been a good house to us and well loved.

I just can't wait for the call that says the loan was funded.

Right Brain - Left Brain

Here's a fun right brained or left brained link:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/11/03/are-you-a-right-brainer-or-a-left-brainer-take-this-quick-test-to-find-out.aspx.

The first time I took it, I first saw counter clockwise, and then it suddenly switched. But now she spins clockwise and no shift.

The apartment is 90% unpacked, and that's a major relief. I've gotten my internet up and running again. It seems the cat ate through my ethernet cable - ugh. Happily a replacement cable was inexpensive.

I've got two chapters of EFM to get done by Tuesday as well as prepare a worship for this Tuesday's class...here's to speed reading. But, I'm torn between relaxing and watching a couple episodes of The L Word (season 3) and being studious.

I need to pack Wednesday for Cursillo. I'm excited about going, but I really dislike leaving my family for more than a day. I need to remember to give my ride directions to my new apartment. Maybe I should do that nect and soon.

I was EM/Chalice Bearer for the first time today; and it felt really right and comfortable. Prior to service I was pretty nervous but all went well.

Well, I'm off to call my ride.