Between The 'Burgh and The City

Annus Horribilis

2025-12-31T18:07:00.000-05:00

Dear Old Blog,

I'm sorry it was so quiet over here in 2025.

It certainly wasn't a quiet year. In fact, it was an "annus horribilis" in multiple ways for the United States and for the world.

In the early days of this blog, I never would have guessed that we would be fighting for the survival of America's democratic republic.

But, here we are.

I could provide a detailed list of the ways Donald Trump and the greedy, evil people around him have spent the past year disregarding our Constitution and the norms that have guided our nation for so long.

But that has been done well by others in several other places, notably by Heather Richardson.

My biggest contribution in 2025 to the Trump resistance has been working with the Lake Nona Democrats, an organization of Democrats in southeastern Orlando. We officially became a "club" of the Florida Democratic Party and the Orange County Democrats a few months back.

We have about 70 dues-paying members now and about 300 people on our mailing list.

Our mantra: "When it seems like your civilization is crumbling, build up your local community."

May God protect us and guide us during the challenges that 2026 may bring.

Love,

Paul

A Hunch

2024-02-08T09:53:00.000-05:00

Dear Old Blog,

I have a hunch ...

A reason for some of the weakness in our current political system is that some of the people who might be U.S. political leaders today were killed in the Vietnam War or died of AIDS in the 1980s.

A chunk of a generational cohort with bravado (perhaps sometimes foolhardy bravado) ... who were risk-takers (perhaps sometimes of dumb risks) ... were killed off early.

Today, they would be around 70 years old, maybe around 60 years old for some of the victims of AIDS.

And, into the void, ran some of the middling, value-less, unpatriotic political leaders we have today.

Food for thought, anyway ...

Love,

Paul

Dictators Need Not Apply

2024-02-01T13:14:00.000-05:00

Dear Old Blog,

A thought regarding the presidential race:

No policy gain (even one that I really want) is worth having a dictator or even a president who moderately disrespects the rule of law.

First of all, because this is the United States of America. We are a democratic republic and we get our wins through the democratic process.

But, secondly, because a policy win handed to you by a dictator can always be changed at the whim of a dictator.

In the United States, we do not have kings or queens. We have a president who is constrained by the rule of law and the separation of powers.

And, we don't need a president who sees himself or herself as the Messiah or one with a savior complex.

We already have Jesus, thank you.

Love,

Paul

Five Questions with Paulist Deacon Affiliate Drew Dickson

2023-08-10T16:49:00.000-04:00

Dear Old Blog,

Are the lights still on on over here?

I'm sorry for being away for so long.

I do miss old-school blogging circa 2008 and 2009.

Over in Catholic land at my day job with the Paulist Fathers (now my longest-ever job), today is the Feast of St. Lawrence, bishop and martyr.

He is one of the patron saint of deacons.

So, for a "Throwback Thursday" or a "Thursday Throwback," here is a 2021 "Five Questions" conversation between Mike Hayes and Deacon Drew Dickson, one of the Paulist Deacon Affiliates.

Money quote from Deacon Drew:

"Being a minister helps the minister. When you are trying to do the work – no matter how clumsy you may be at it – when you are with people trying to do the work, it comes back to you.

"I get more out of it than I give."

Watch it here:

Love,

Paul

P.S. Deacon Drew is one of the three Paulist Deacon Affiliates who host the Paulist podcast "Deacons Pod."

COVID-19 Diary: Day 133

2020-07-24T23:55:00.004-04:00

Dear Old Blog,

Over at the Paulist Fathers' "Five Questions with a Paulist" series, we have expanded the series to include Paulist Associates and others.

Paulist Associates are non-ordained women and men who have a strong connection to the Paulist Fathers and wish to align themselves with the missionary society’s spirituality and charism. They make an annual promise to embody the ideals of the Paulists in their daily lives.

In this installment, Mike Hayes speaks with Paulist Associate Dennis Hurley:

Love,

Paul

COVID-19 Diary: Day 132

2020-07-23T12:56:00.007-04:00

Dear Old Blog,

Here is another video from Landings International's "Reflections for a Troubled Age" series.

This installment was inspired by moment on the Ganges River in Varanasi, India:

Love,

Paul

COVID-19 Diary: Day 131

2020-07-22T23:55:00.003-04:00

Dear Old Blog,

Here is another installment in the Paulist Fathers' "Five Questions with a Paulist" series:

In this video, our old friend Mike Hayes chats with Paulist Fr. Steve Bell, associate director of Newman Hall - Holy Spirit Parish in Berkeley, CA:

To get to know Fr. Steve even better, check out this profile video from 2017 when he a campus minister at St. Thomas More Newman Center in Columbus, OH:

(In my work for the Paulists, I serve as an executive producer for these profile videos.)

Love,

Paul

COVID-19 Diary: Day 130

2020-07-21T23:55:00.001-04:00

Dear Old Blog,

Landings International keeps creating these wonderful videos for its "Reflections for a Troubled Age" series.

This installment was inspired by a lighthouse at Peggy's Cove in Nova Scotia:

Love,

Paul

COVID-19 Diary: Day 129

2020-07-20T23:55:00.019-04:00

Dear Old Blog,

Continuing with the Paulist Fathers' "Five Questions with a Paulist" series:

Paulist Fr. Don Andrie is pastor of St. John XXIII University Parish in Knoxville, TN. He spoke with Mike Hayes on May 7, 2020:

Love,

Paul

COVID-19 Diary: Day 128

2020-07-19T23:55:00.001-04:00

Dear Old Blog,

Continuing with Landings International's "Reflections for a Troubled Age" series:

The photo for meditation in this installment comes from the Nong Nooch Tropical Garden in Pattaya, Thailand:

Love,

Paul

COVID-19 Diary: Day 127

2020-07-18T11:28:00.001-04:00

Dear Old Blog,

Paulist Fr. Joachim Lally lives in Grand Rapids, MI.

In this installment of "Five Questions with a Paulist," Fr. Joachim spoke with Mike Hayes about life during the COVID-19 pandemic:

Love,

Paul

COVID-19 Diary: Day 126

2020-07-17T23:55:00.018-04:00

Dear Old Blog,

Here is another offering from Landings International's special video series "Reflections for a Troubled Age."

The photo used for inspiration is from Soundscape Park in Miami, FL:

Love,

Paul

COVID-19 Diary: Day 125

2020-07-16T23:55:00.020-04:00

Dear Old Blog,

Here is another installment in the "Five Questions with a Paulist" series.

In this video, Mike Hayes chats with Paulist Fr. Stuart Wilson-Smith, associate pastor of Old St. Mary's Church in Chicago:

Love,

Paul

COVID-19 Diary: Day 124

2020-07-15T23:55:00.023-04:00

Dear Old Blog,

"How do I practice compassion?"

That is one of the reflection questions in this seventh video from Landings International's "Reflections for a Troubled Age" series:

Love,

Paul

COVID-19 Diary: Day 123

2020-07-14T23:55:00.001-04:00

Dear Old Blog,

As I have mentioned before in this space, managing the Paulist Fathers' "Five Questions with a Paulist" video series has been part of how I have spent my time during the pandemic.

Our old friend Mike Hayes is on the front end conducting the interviews. I'm behind the scenes helping to select the interviewees and then, when completed, executing the social media shares.

Here is the third video in that series: "Five Questions with Paulist Fr. Charlie Donahue":

Love,

Paul

COVID-19 Diary: Day 122

2020-07-13T23:55:00.001-04:00

Dear Old Blog,

Serious questions:

Would you hire Donald Trump to be an intern in your office?

Would you trust Donald Trump to babysit your child?

Would you leave your pet in the care of Donald Trump?

Would you trust Donald Trump to water your house plants?

If the answer is "No" to these questions, why would anyone vote for him?

Family and friends, please support Joe Biden for president.

We need to put a trustworthy adult back in the Oval Office.

Love,

Paul

COVID-19 Diary: Day 121

2020-07-12T23:55:00.000-04:00

Dear Old Blog,

Here is the sixth video in Landings International's "Reflections for a Troubled Age" series:

Love,

Paul

COVID-19 Diary: Day 120

2020-07-11T11:55:00.000-04:00

Dear Old Blog,

Mitt Romney is spot-on in this tweet about Trump commuting the sentence of Roger Stone:

Unprecedented, historic corruption: an American president commutes the sentence of a person convicted by a jury of lying to shield that very president.
— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) July 11, 2020

Love,

Paul

COVID-19 Diary: Day 119

2020-07-10T23:55:00.005-04:00

Dear Old Blog,

Trump commuted the prison sentence of Roger Stone today.

It's one more in the endless list of reasons why Trump must be soundly defeated on November 3.

Respect for the rule of law must be restored.

Love,

Paul

COVID-19 Diary: Day 118

2020-07-09T23:55:00.013-04:00

Dear Old Blog,

On June 24, I wrote in this space about the "Five Questions" series that I have been producing for work during these quarantine days.

Here is the second video in that series: "Five Questions with Paulist Fr. Rich Andre" (hosted by my buddy Mike Hayes):

Love,

Paul

COVID-19 Diary: Day 117

2020-07-08T23:55:00.009-04:00

Dear Old Blog,

Here is the fifth video in Landings International's "Reflections for a Troubled Age" series:

Love,

Paul

COVID-19 Diary: Day 116

2020-07-07T23:55:00.024-04:00

Dear Old Blog,

The great composer Ennio Morricone died yesterday at the age of 91.

Like so many, Morricone's wonderful music for the film "The Mission" touched my heart, and brought tears to my eyes, many times.

In fact, Eric and I had "Gabriel's Oboe" from "The Mission" played for our assembled guests prior to the beginning of our wedding service in 2013. It was performed by James Mobley, who then played oboe at our parish, the Church of St. Paul the Apostle, in New York City.

Here is James playing "Gabriel's Oboe" again in 2014:

Love,

Paul

COVID-19 Diary: Day 115

2020-07-06T23:55:00.004-04:00

Dear Old Blog,

I'm sorry this has to be spelled out:

Donald Trump is a racist.

He says racist things. He supports racists. He has racist policies.

There are people in our own families who support Donald Trump.

Those people enable his racist statements. Those people enable his support of racists. Those people enable his racist policies.

So, those people are also racists.

The Trump supporters are racists.

I'm sorry if they are members of your families. I'm sorry that some of them are members of my family.

But, bottom line:

If your sweet grandma supports Trump, your grandma is a racist.

If your Wall Street-working brother supports Trump, your brother is a racist.

If a cousin of mine supports Trump, that cousin of mine is a racist.

This is how it is.

And, racists should hang their heads in shame. They should repent and turn away from Trump before our country is damaged further.

Love,

Paul

COVID-19 Diary: Day 114

2020-07-05T23:55:00.001-04:00

Dear Old Blog,

To all the gays at Fire Island:

We need you to stay alive to vote for Joe Biden in November.

Social distance and wear masks, dammit!

No parties! Go home! Stay home!

Love,

Paul

COVID-19 Diary: Day 113

2020-07-04T23:55:00.000-04:00

Dear Old Blog,

Happy Independence Day!

I spied this video about "Strawberry Pretzel Salad" on Facebook today. It made me homesick for summertime picnics in Western Pennsylvania:

Love,

Paul