Fran

My Version of No Blogging

noreply@blogger.com (FranIAm) — Tue, 13 May 2008 11:54:00 +0000

Is of course to blog... What can I say? My name is Fran I and I am powerless over my blogging!

Just a quick post as I am so energized and excited about the event that I am attending this week.

Each year, the diocese puts on this large scale learning event called Spring Enrichment. This is my first year attending because I did not yet live here full time, or even participate in any ministry during last year's event.

The day got off to a great start with our keynote speaker, Rev. J-Glenn Murray, SJ, who is a parochial vicar at St. Aloyisius Gonzaga in Washington DC. (and yes it is J-Glenn, not J. Glenn, ok?)

In any case, he was an amazing speaker with a specialty in liturgy, which is right up my alley. He was at once fierce, funny, compelling, entertaining, demanding and informative. As an African-American and a Catholic, he brought some unique insights to the table, because frankly there is nothing like good black church. Can I get an Amen up in here?! Amen.

His ultimate message was that mass should never be boring, a topic on which I agree with him completely. And I attended most boring masses for the past number of years until I got here. I am inspired about creating liturgy and community that is anything but boring. Hearing this man speak was helpful in what I hope to accomplish in my own community.

Then I went to a session on Parish Leadership Styles, which is also right up my alley. This was taught by a very sweet, funny and incredibly bright nun, who I believe is around 70. She runs a local theological school and like many nuns, does about 10,000 other things.

She is the kind of nun I grew up with - educated, smart, funny and warm. Yes there were and are creepy nuns. Last time I checked there were lots of educated, smart and funny humans and yet no shortage of creepy ones as well.

In any case, she had us work with a Myers-Briggs like tool for church work and it was great.

So I thought I would be wiped out after two intense sessions, but no... I was ready for more and headed off to a workshop about the power of story.

I got there thinking I might have chosen poorly, but oh no. Another hit. The instructor was a former lay teacher in Catholic schools and what an interesting person. For years she had taught religion in Catholic high schools and this included morality and sexuality. By her own admission (she too must be in her 60's-70's) she was a hard nosed instructor bent on shoving information down kids' thoats.

Something must have happened because she decided to use the power of story to teach and ended up not only being wildly successful at it but also got a masters degree around this topic.

This is a good lesson about linear and hierarchal learning and about intimacy and wisdom learning and I left there on a cloud.

Off to a brief dinner with another friend who was attending and then back for what I was afraid I might fall asleep in. Not because of the topic - no, the topic was "He Came To His Own and They Did Not Recognize Him" which is about the Gospel of John.

And not because of the instructor, who I know to be a most compelling speaker.

It was because I have not sat in classes like this - and intense ones too, for a long time. I was sure I would exhausted.

Nope.

The instructors grasp of and interpretation of the Gospel of John, which I am familiar with after attending daily mass for Lent when we went through this Gospel, is mind blowing. He elucidates points that even someone who has studied this might not see in quite the same way and he does it with great skill.

So at 9.30pm when the class ended (it was part 1 of 4, can't wait for the rest from him as the week progresses) I was still energized.

That's my story kids and I am sticking to it.

Can I get an Amen up in here?

Presented Without Comment

noreply@blogger.com (FranIAm) — Mon, 12 May 2008 10:56:00 +0000

On The Road Again Revised

noreply@blogger.com (FranIAm) — Mon, 12 May 2008 01:35:00 +0000

(the photo is a complete non sequitur, but I have always wanted to use it, so why not?)

Ok, I am declaring blog amnesty for myself. With hundreds of things in my reader I must admit that I cannot read them all.

Sheesh- since blogging began (almost one year... as of 5/21) I have never been this far behind.

And next week is problematic, with all the classes that I am taking as part of our diocesan Adult Faith formation program. I will be taking everything from Scripture Study to parish leadership and more, 15 courses in all over 4 days.

I miss reading everyone's posts and I am getting to as many as I can. But whatever I don't get to after tonight... Well blog amnesty then begins.

Here is a link to our local paper and a very snarky column about Jeanine Pirro. Once the DA with the mostest, she became the laughingstock of NY Republicans. I almost began to feel sorry for her. Well not so much, but sort of. Thought you might like to read it.

And then to close - this quote from Oscar Wilde. I have been to his grave in Paris. Oh one day I will get a scanner and that will be a bloggable event.

It is absurd to divide people into good and bad.
People are either charming or tedious. - Oscar Wilde

It is pretty good... no?

That's all I got... Got to run!

Bringing Gifts of Healing, Wisdom, Consolation and Peace

noreply@blogger.com (FranIAm) — Sun, 11 May 2008 10:40:00 +0000

Greetings one and all. I have missed blogging and reading blogs, catching up on the latter is daunting and I will do what I can after having been in a not-able-to-blog place from Tuesday-Thursday and then again yesterday. Next week will be much of the same.

Today is Pentecost, which comes 50 days after Easter and is the official end of the Easter season. On Pentecost we celebrate the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I suspect that by now I have lost a bunch of readers. Do feel free to carry on, no conversion is necessary and you may learn something.

Or feel free to leave. Return to blog soon for bawdy, ridiculous or irrelevant posts soon.

Pentecost is associated with the Jewish celebration of שבועות, also known as Shavu'ot, which celebrates the gift of the Torah on Mount Sinai.

You see, this is about the gifts of wisdom given by God.

In 1995, I went to visit my Jewish cousins in Rockford, IL. My Jewish cousins- the Reform rabbi who gave a blessing at my wedding to be precise. Now as you can imagine, Rockford was not some hotbed of Judaism, but he really made a huge name for himself. I would have to google it, but he came up against some pastor of a mega-church saying anti-semetic things in the later 90's and wow... What a thing resulted from that. Another post for another day.

In any case, I did not really know my cousins yet for various and sundry reasons, but we had been in touch from about 1991 on. Talk about nature v. nurture- this one and I are so much alike it is fecking scary.

So off I went and our calendars were more in sync that year (this year not so much!) and it was Shavu'ot. So what delight I had in celebrating both of my heritages and really beginning something that is deeply embedded in my faith today... taking all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, regardless of denomination and bringing them into my faith life.

What are the gifts of the Holy Spirit? Well one reason that I love Pentecost is because it is a reminder of Shavu'ot, at the time just beyond the crucifixion. All the Jews were gathered in Jerusalem. In Luke's Gospel this timing is not the same, but the idea is right there... All of the disciples in the Upper Room (might I say they were fearful and living in their head-upper?) and the Holy Spirit came upon them, bringing wisdom, healing, consolation and peace.

In Acts chapter 2, we are shown the scene of this busy, crowded Jerusalem and the idea of all the Jews, from all over, suddenly hearing in one voice is amazing.

That is unity. Religion aside if you will, imagine that we can hear in one voice- one voice of healing and of peace.

Right now we live in times, as pretty much has been the case for most of time - living in Babel. It is sad, but we must work from within to bring forth any collective understanding - no? I think so anyway.

One last note before I run off to church... If you are a spiritual type or seeker, I must ask you to RUN, run do not walk, to your closest magazine buying place and buy the current issue of Parabola magazine.

Christian, Jewish, Muslim thought AND a Mary Oliver poem. Really, you so need to get this publication and I kid you not.

It is completely mind blowing in so many ways. I read it in the car on our long trip yesterday and talk about a gift of Pentecost. Unbelievable stuff in there.

So that is my two cents for today, bidden or not Fran is blogging.

Ciao kids!

Wait Wait - Don't Ask Me. I am about to tell you!

noreply@blogger.com (FranIAm) — Fri, 09 May 2008 10:08:00 +0000

Greetings one and all. I am back from my certification training. It was actually really good, but exhausting. When it was over, I got a bit emotional realizing that I was on trial for two days and I won't know if I got the certification for about a week I guess. And even then, there is no guarantee about how much work I will get, but I can't even worry about that just now.

I had to give a presentation and if I have a gift, it is that I can get up in front of a room and speak. That doesn't mean that I am not nervous- I am, but I can put up a good front and once I am up there, I just go.

However, it required a lot of prep the night before and I did not get enough sleep.

So I was up early on Thursday and at the certification all day. As soon as it was over about 5pm, we hopped in the car (I had given another Smalbanian a ride) for the 2 1/2 hour trek back to the capital region.

That was at 80 mph.

You see many months ago- around November I think, my sister in law had purchased tickets for me for one of my favorite NPR programs, that is sometimes taped outside of its native Chicago. So I really had to get back.

With parking and all (nightmare even in the folksy 'burg of Schenectady, NY this has challenges when there is an event at Proctor's. In any event, I raced up to find Mr. He Is in the very crowded lobby at 7.45pm, yay.

Then as we made our way through the sea of humanity, my husband was stopped by a local celebrity-of-sorts that he knows and that I finally got to meet. Bloggers The Cunning Runt and the Pagan Sphinx will know who this is, as they listen to the same NPR station that I do.

This takes my Smalbanian brushes with media-greatness (in a manner of speaking) to 3- I have also met this gentleman who is very nice. Two out of three in the photo. I do not know TV news anchor Elisa Streeter, but I do know some other anchors and reporters. The media glitterati of Smalbania and my somewhat tenuous connections to them.

All of which may one day prove useful for employment of some sorts, should I ever get myself together.

So we made our way in at last and then spent the next 90 minute laughing our asses off. It was such a funny program. It was very cool to see host Peter Sagal on stage with Carl Kassel, other panelists, Mo Rocca, Amy Dickinson and Charlie Pierce.

The special local guest that is often featured was not able to be there... You see, a certain local ~~powerbroker~~, I mean guy who you might recognize had actually asked to be the guest. Apparently, he couldn't make it after a few things happened.

The whole evening was hilarious beyond belief and very fun to experience. And if you are a listener of said program, when you hear it this weekend, you too will know what "puppeting the dung" means and the words "flaming flatus" will have new meaning. You can learn more about these terms here if you are so inclined.

So despite my exhaustion, it was great. Off to a busy day now. And a busy day Saturday. And a really busy next week.

Next post? All I can say is this...
Wait Wait!!

No I Have Not Left for Machu Picchu...

noreply@blogger.com (FranIAm) — Tue, 06 May 2008 04:14:00 +0000

(yes I took this in September 2005)

But the photo is so much nicer than one of a certain mid-sized northeastern city, which is where I will be. It appears that a company is investing in training me so that they might hire me for some consultant work in the rapidly developing field of outplacement counseling.

How did I happen upon this? As someone receiving outplacement counseling, of course. It is better to give than to receive in this case.

See you around kids. I will be back on the blog on Friday.

Religion Versus Relationship (No this is not a post about celibacy!)

noreply@blogger.com (FranIAm) — Mon, 05 May 2008 10:44:00 +0000

(Graffiti - Roman Ruins, Jerash, Jordan)

In case you did not notice, I have been over at Otherwhirled trying to not have atheism equated with communism in two different posts. And it took until late last night to get my first magical thinking comment. I will address that in a future post here or there, or maybe both.

Now if you read this blog with any regularity, you know I am deeply involved in my Catholic faith. And you should also know by now that I espouse a very live and let live outlook.

So today (so much for not posting so much in May!! Haha, that will come later in the week and next...) I received this in my email and I thought it would make for a good post here.

In case you don't wish to link, I will put it in its entirety here.

God's Love

Question of the day:
What's the difference between religion and relationship?

Humans do not want a God of love, because a lover always makes demands. That is the very nature of love and humanity doesn't want it. We seek to hide from it and destroy it. So people sought to destroy Jesus, brother to creation. The people did not want relationship; they wanted religion.

Humans do not want love relationships; we want religion and all its trappings because that is much more comfortable. A love relationship continues to challenge and make demands. It also offers a joy that we cannot tolerate: too near, too lavish, too spacious. What might we do with such freedom?
-Richard Rohr, OFM
from The Great Themes of Scripture

Richard Rohr(different link than above fyi) is one of my real heroes of the Catholic Church, just a real hero in general. I have read his work since my return to the church in 1990 and he has influenced me profoundly. I have had the good fortune to attend a conference (these are photos from that conference, we had a big ol' protest march) that he ran, as well as to hear him speak to a small group in NYC last summer.

In any event, all my Rohr-blathering aside, I love what he says here. It is so true and one of the reasons that it is so easy to bash religion. And frankly that is the kind of thing that I use to agitate from within.

Religion or anything else - it requires work, love, commitment, action... No? This is the problem of power. The so-called masses don't want to have to engage and so it is easier to tune out and follow. This can be church, government, political party or corporation.

That leads me to a topic that will be explored another day, but that came up in the comment thread of yesterday's post.

Is the ennui, the lack of engagement the real source of institutionalized evil?

Perhaps so. Your thoughts?

Choices. Pathways. Boundaries. Gates.

noreply@blogger.com (FranIAm) — Sun, 04 May 2008 13:38:00 +0000

(Steps climbing Wayna Picchu - next to Machu Picchu, Peru. September 2005)

I was just re-reading this post about the Holocaust. He has actually written quite a few and if you have not, I urge you to go read them all.

In this piece however, he presents three Catholics who died for their actions. In Dcap's own words:

Today is Yom HaZikaron laShoah ve-laGvura (יום הזיכרון לשואה ולגבורה) "Remembrance Day for the Holocaust and Heroism" I guess with all I have posted this month, I could not let this day go by without another. For this day I will take a brief look at three people who spoke up from behind the pulpit – the Catholic pulpit --- and paid the ultimate price for trying to help those being persecuted, besieged and murdered.

After reading the post and the growing list of comments, several times over, I decided to write this today. Note -this is not a pro-Catholic piece; Dcap was raised Jewish and his post was most provocative.

I think that one of the problems of all time - a problem that I feel very ill equipped to resolve, is one that I have written about before in various forms...

No one is all good, no one is all bad. The truth of this is available in your own mirror - the one you look at in the bathroom and the one you look at in your soul, your mind, your consciousness, your whatever you want to call it.

And for those who are more bad than good, one might posit as I do here, that the path to evil is usually just that... a pathway. One step and then another. Followed by yet another. I have often experienced the road to my own problems one of gates and boundaries, ill set or ill used.

For example, for a long time I was exercising very regularly and eating pretty well. Then one day something happens... I am at a party or on vacation or I have just had a crappy day. I think to myself - just this once. So that day I may eat some french fries or not go to the gym. I rationalize, I open a gate.

Then once that gate is opened, unless I use my self management skills and an honest eye, I may go down a different path. Another day - no gym. Too tired. More french fries - they have the best french fries here! I must have them! (They have the best salad too - why not have that?)

More gates, more boundaries - slowly and then more rapidly, they are breached and broken. Next thing I know 10 pounds have crept back on to my frame and suddenly, the way back is not so easy.

It would be very easy to just vilify and hate myself. It tends to be more productive - and loving - for me to detach and try to experience my fall with some compassion. And that helps me experience the falls of others with more compassion.

This is not to oversimplify evil, but the road to evil is not usually that hard to sort out with a detached and honest appraisal.

Some people appear to be all good... Usually through the lens of history, which already taints the outcome. Or through the lens of the MSM, which already taints the outcome.

Some people appear to be all bad... Usually through the lens of history, which already taints the outcome. Or through the lens of the MSM, which already taints the outcome.

The human need to project outward all that we cannot or choose not to deal with becomes a huge problem. (You can go read Carl Jung or countless others on that topic.)

The outward is the problem - often the answer is inward. It is uncomfortable to lean into our discomfort, but I venture to say that I think it is worthwhile.

So back to the main point, I look at many things with this view. Why did the particular Catholics that Dcap writes about, act out of goodness? Why did Hitler and his minions act out of evil?

Choices. Pathways. Boundaries. Gates.

I am sure that the "good" often made poor choices, although perhaps just less of them. I am also reasonably sure that the "evil" often made good choices, although perhaps just less of them.

That is why when we project out our evil onto a person, a group, an organization, a country we miss the chance to heal something in the world, something in us.

You might note that this is one of the reasons that I am so damned pragmatic about politics. I am most unlikely to support anyone with complete vigor and abandon.

That sounds cynical, doesn't it? Well it may well be, but I don't choose to see it that way. What I am trying to do when I do not go completely over the top for someone is this - I try to live with realistic expectations on both sides of the equation.

No one is all good or all bad in general. The higher I put So and So on one platform creates yet another height from which they can fall - and fall they will. The lower I put down So and So on another platform leaves me no room whatsoever for them to do any one good thing - and chances are they may rise to some occasion.

There are exceptions of course. I think that we can in general agree that there is very, very little good in the current administration. In fact, I think that there is almost none, which shakes my soul to its core.

We can say the same of other regimes as well. (Might I point you to this post at Liberality's.)

However, I am going to venture this - the road to those places goes back to long-ago made choices, pathways, boundaries and gates.

This post grows long and perhaps a bit unwieldy. Let me try to finish up.

If I want there to be peace in the world, a better world I must make my own choices, follow my own pathways, negotiate my boundaries and gates with wisdom and clarity. Some days are easier than others.

If I want there to be a better world, I better do more than just write about that, vote or show up at church. I better commit deeply and actually do something, something that starts from within.

We keep expecting someone to save us. That is probably not going to happen. We must participate, cooperate and act in our own saving, as humans and as communities.

Please try not to sour or tune out now - I am not trying to convert you but simply to show how this works for me...

Although His words are co-opted 24/7, if one actually does any reasonable reading or study of Jesus Christ, He never claimed the power. He generally said "your faith has healed you."

In my experience and understanding, Jesus wanted people to connect with God within - not from power structures without. (Yes I am aware that the church that I am a part of is one of the biggest power structures.) Remember my point about all good or all bad. It has to start with individuals and move outward in concentric circles to community and ultimately the world.

This does not require my belief system - you must look within and make your own choices.

Ultimately I will simply leave you with these questions -

What do you think?
What are your choices, pathways, boundaries and gates?
Is it possible for you to just be, to feel good, whole and validated without putting someone else down?
If so - why?
If not - why not?

Please share your answers in the comments if so inclined. I would like to write about this and explore this theme more in the near future.

Alternative Blog Realities

noreply@blogger.com (FranIAm) — Sat, 03 May 2008 15:08:00 +0000

I am back flappin' my blogjaw over at the alternative blog Otherwhirled again, opining about communism, atheism and curiosity.

Come on over! If you are curious that is. It won't kill you. It may challenge you however. Just sayin'. I am kind of like that.

And no communist or atheist credentials are required for entry! Critical thinking skills and healthy curiosity would help. Consider leaving defensiveness at the door please!

So Much For Not Posting As Much...

noreply@blogger.com (FranIAm) — Fri, 02 May 2008 21:51:00 +0000

(Sunrise at 12,000 feet - Lake Titicaca, Puno, Peru)

So much for not posting!!!

Sometimes you just have to say something.

Today I saw two posts that made me cry my eyes out. Two posts, from two women, who are both readers of my blog, friends of my blog really. We communicate "outside of the comment box" as well.

However, they are likely unknown to one another.

Yet today they both posted about the triumph of life in very different ways. Ways that made me weep, ways that made me pray, ways that made me love and ways that made me deeply grateful.

Kate has a video up that blows my mind. It is part of her post that also blows my mind, a post that is the continuation of part of her life story.

The video is about 5 minutes long and is rather anxiety provoking at times. You know- kind of like life is.

Your life is very long. Spend the five minutes - I think you may find it totally time well spent. And go say hi to the beautiful Kate, strong, filled with grace and courage.

And then CDP, our beautiful and amazing and smart and funny CDP. Today is a point in time for her, a very remarkable one. Go read A Bad Day and And A Good One and leave some words for CDP, strong, filled with grace and courage.

Is She Blogging Or Not?

noreply@blogger.com (FranIAm) — Fri, 02 May 2008 09:42:00 +0000

This graphic will make sense eventually.

Rumors of my blogging break have been greatly exaggerated!

Not that I even come close to her in any way, one of my blog BFF's is moving on completely. I won't leave at the same time, I promise. Around here, it is just a reduction in content and participation for a time.

As for that blogger, she has been a great influence upon me and she will be sorely missed, but I think she is onto something for her life, by focusing on other things.

Where are the tissues? Sniff! I am a bit weepy now! I hate good-byes.

So who else can you visit? OH MAN - go see what happened to Katie! This is big, huge.

On a more serious note, please stop by Dcap's blog to read this stirring post about the Holocaust. Dcap has been on a real streak, writing on this topic and he has done an amazing job.

Speaking of amazing, I really love Jane R's blog. This post about Bayard Rustin was so enlightening and a real story of hope. I never even heard of this man. Maybe you have not either. Please go find out his amazing legacy, one that should not be hidden.

Then there is something else. I am doing some posting somewhere else. WHAT?

It is true and perhaps controversially so.

Far be it from me to be an apologist for atheism, but there is a strong prejudice against this non-belief in our country. It is irrational to me. If nothing else, I am dedicated to some kind of equanimity in life. It is true, just who I am.

A recent Pew Study says that 64% of Americans would (listen up here!) not vote for a qualified candidate if that person did not believe. That seems ludicrous to me.

It got me to thinking about some of the reasons atheists are maligned. Which you can go read about here as well as find the link to the Pew study.

So atheists... I have not changed teams and spiritual friends, I have not abandoned the ship. I just detest the stupid hating that goes on at both sides and had something to say about it.

Have a swell weekend kids!

May Day! May Day! May Day!

noreply@blogger.com (FranIAm) — Thu, 01 May 2008 11:16:00 +0000

May Day! May Day!!

I am declaring an emergency of sorts. Blog reading and writing are eating me alive.

So, it appears that I have to give myself Google Reader Amnesty and wipe out whatever posts that I have not read.

Just because I have not commented, does not mean that I have not read your blog. Although it could.

Seriously (or should I LOLZ myself into saying "srsly"!!!) - if you have something you want me to read, don't be shy. Email me please!

Time is just not on my side and that will only get worse in the coming days. Next week I have to go to a training as part of my quest to get certified in something so that I might eventually find gainful employment.

The week after that I am getting "all Catholic-ed up" by taking 15 2-hour classes as part of the annual Adult Faith Formation initiative in our diocese. I will be wiped out by being there from 9am to 9pm from Monday through Wednesday and until 6pm on Thursday, but I am very excited about what I might learn and the people that I will encounter.

All of this Catholic stuff and general busy-ness aside, I am promising to do at least one guest post for one of my favorite atheists in the next few days.

Other bloggers have asked me to write for them and I have always bombed out. Maybe this one will work, but probably mostly because Jesus told me so!

Ultimately I am taking the advice seen at the top of this post, in a great photo! Advice that I got from the beloved Dr. Zaius that he got from the esteemed Blue Gal.

If it is good enough for them, it is good enough for me!

So much for that kind of May Day. Suddenly I feel a whole lot better.

You Tagged Me Shuck and I Let Myself Be Tagged...

noreply@blogger.com (FranIAm) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:12:00 +0000

It is a long story... aren't they all! I was looking up a line of Scripture - really and found it. Catholics suck at Scripture.

Anyway the line was this from Jeremiah, chapter 20, verse 4:

You duped me, O LORD, and I let myself be duped; you were too strong for me, and you triumphed. All the day I am an object of laughter; everyone mocks me.

Uh-oh. I feel a meme coming on!!

So instead of getting back to the work I was doing, no which was not related to the Scripture, I looked at my Google Reader. What! 135 posts to read, WTF? When would there be time???

What was the newest post (anyone sensing an ADHD 50 year old here???) Oh! It was this one from John Shuck.

So now I am tagged...

* The rules of the game get posted at the beginning.

* Each player answers the questions about himself or herself.

* At the end of the post, the player then tags five people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

1. Ten years ago I was . . .

* in the process of moving from White Plains, NY to Los Angeles. I had been kicked out of my illegal rental by a crazy landlady, was staying with a friend and my whole life was in boxes for about a month!

2. Five Things on Today's To Do List

* Work on my business
* Make phone calls related to loose end items
* Work on my parish blog and the new teen blog
* Do some of my own writing
* Figure out how to deal with the new perennials I put in... we are expecting an unexpected frost tonight. Yes I said FROST!

3. Things I'd do if I were a billionare

* Establish simple but comfortable lifestyle
* Share resources with friends

4. Three Bad Habits

* I am very cluttery- too much paper
* I am very fidgety
* None of your beeswax!

5. Five Places I've lived

* White Plains, NY
* Oswego, NY
* Rochester, NY
* Nyack, NY
* Los Angeles, CA

6. Five Jobs I've had in life:

* Ticket seller/Candy girl at movie theatre
* Salesperson at TV station
* Media Company executroid
* Floor Manager/Crate&Barrel
* Clerk at department store

Phew! That was tough. I am actually going to attempt to tag people:
1. Aunt Dahlia
2. Jewgirl
3. Pagan Sphinx

Monday Update

noreply@blogger.com (FranIAm) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:22:00 +0000

(He even made me laugh when we were exchanging vows and rings. Love that Mr. He Is!!)

Wow- I am actually very overwhelmed at the response to the anniversary post. I actually teared up quite a bit.

Thank you one and all for your kind comments and regards. We happily enter year two.

This week is off to a crazy start. As usual, I wonder what I will do when I actually do have to work again. Today I left the house at 8.30 and returned at 5.50, only making my 6pm phone appointment with minutes to spare.

And I have another client at 8.30; sadly no Salon for me of late. I miss hanging with you guys.

There was no shortage of bad news today and I have no stomach for discussing any of it... the Austrian guy who kept his daughter in a basement prison, the price of gas and oil, the food shortage and food prices.

I am by nature a hopeful person and even on this actual anniversary day, it is hard to feel hope. However, I will close with these words from Marian Wright Edelman.

As founder of the Children's Defense Fund and an advocate for many in need, Wright Edelman graduated from Yale Law School in the 60's and was the first African American woman admitted to the Mississippi Bar.

I'd say she knows about hope and despair and if she chooses hope, I am inclined to join her.

It is so important not to let ourselves off the hook or to become apathetic or cynical by telling ourselves that nothing works or makes a difference. Every day, light your small candle.... The inaction and actions of many human beings over a long time contributed to the crises our children face, and it is the action and struggle of many human beings over time that will solve them—with God's help. So every day, light your small candle.
- Marian Wright Edelman
Guide My Feet

Happy Anniversaryites We Are!!

noreply@blogger.com (FranIAm) — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:14:00 +0000

(My favorite wedding picture of all!!)

This is very sad. I had this huge post that took me three hours to do and I went to fix one error and screwed it all up.

Deep deep depression on an otherwise happy anniversary.

Oh well. Blogshit happens.

If you saw it all or have it in a reader, then you are ahead of me.

UPDATE: I was going to try to recreate it but that just seems stupid. I do have a copy of the text and photos in my email. If you are that interested I will cheerfully forward it to you if you leave me a comment or send me an email at festinalente07 at gmail dot com.

It is still a great day - a post is a post but what a gift our life together is!

Stuff Jewish - and Other People Don't Like

noreply@blogger.com (FranIAm) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:05:00 +0000

Hava nagila, baby. If you read this blog, you know that this Catholic has very Jewish roots. My father was Jewish and I am very in touch with my inner Yid.

Just ask my peeps from my bloggy mishpocha... Katie, my beloved (oh i am crushing on her hard, hard, hard) that delicious bundle of Jewy goodness aka Jewgirl. She and I have long concluded that we were blog-beshert. And let's not forget the Jewish younger brother I never had, but love having now, Boxer.

So - should I name my beloved Dcap? Oy gevalt, never never never - ptooh, ptooh, ptooh. He was there first, even before Jewgirl, before Boxer.

And then I have some Jew-lurker-readers like Ameleh and Jill. SLN is not a Jew but a lurker and her son is to be bar mitzvah soon, which to the orthodox would be a shame and a schande, but that's another story for another day. (In some circles you can't be a Jew unless your mother was, ok?)

Oh yes, I revel in my world of Jew-goodness. Jewgirl and I have recently found some great ~~JEW~~ oops I mean new to us blogs... Jewlicious and Stuff Jewish People Like. She sent me another one but I can't find the email now. What can I say, I am farmischt and farblundget.

So- nu? What am I on about then?

Well here is something that Jewish, and many, many other people don't like. People who are ignorant of history. Like this one... I mean, did he not realize that the six million in question, the one he says American soldiers went to save, were dead already?

Yes, American soldiers liberated the camp, but the six million figure clearly refers to something else. So much for punditry. Clearly we have established in the Bushian world that history and any actual grasp of its details is nothing but an annoyance at best and ignored most of the time.

"OK, when you get to the mastabatorium, turn left and go about 20 feet..." aka Funny and Smart Things Seen on The Intertubes Today

noreply@blogger.com (FranIAm) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:44:00 +0000

Holy crap. I have been sitting here going through my reader and just about laughing my ass off. Which is not a bad idea given my girth and the current state of my exercise plan. Although I do have a spin class today...

Lots of content repurposing today and yesterday. As I said to Boxer earlier, we are just a bunch of hippie freaks living in our lefty blog commune, sharin' shit 'n stuff. Mi content is su content - claro que si?

For starters - I am now dedicated to figuring out just how I can work my favorite new word into sentences today. After a visit to Bubs place the entire course of my day was redirected, starting with the title for this post.

Plus who is not going to want to tune into "Weenie Waving Wednesdays" from here on in? Get over there and wave your weenie or weenette or whatever you can wave!

Then I went over to (yes that peace-promotin' homo lovin' justice deliverin' Presbyterian and Apostate) Reverend Shuck's (now that I called him a big macher his ego is on fire!) and found these two great videos.

This one is a parody of a Christian take on Brokeback Mountain.

This priceless gem takes a real and much needed swipe at that idiotic Expelled movie from Ben Stein and countless intelligent design geeks.

Oh Hai - Can I Haz Dreem Job? Dcap too!

noreply@blogger.com (FranIAm) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:09:00 +0000

moar funny pictures

My friend (she's a lurker but we lover her anyway) just sent this link to me. Thank you SLN!

I don't know why I didn't think of this before.

My perfect job awaits me.

I mean - mai purr-fect job awaytz mee. Dcap u coming?

Isn't It Moronic?

noreply@blogger.com (FranIAm) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:29:00 +0000

I saw this over at Dr. Zaius' this morning.

In my bout of writing ennui, I decided this... If it is good enough for him to post, it is good enough for me to steal. It is much better than the empty pages that I kept coming up with. (Although you should head over to his place to see the other video he has up as well.)

BTW, if you have not been over to see the delicious GG lately, go check out her post about students 'n guns 'stuff. Seriously- go check her out pronto, please. I love that in a pistol packin' lesbian - she's hot and she's smart. It is a delightful combination indeed.

Then please come back and avail yourself of this fine video offering.

Updated - Pragmatism, Panacea and Pandering

noreply@blogger.com (FranIAm) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 23:34:00 +0000

**I am compelled to add this update along with the big disclaimer that this is in no way an endorsement of Barack Obama. The TV spot at the bottom of the post speaks to my point about peddling fear, intentionally or not. It really angers me and it does nothing to help our country at all.

She is a really smart woman and a capable politician, but I truly believe that out of her own fear and longing that she has lost her way. **
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Anyone who reads this blog knows that I have not really come out for either of the two remaining candidates. I did support Dennis Kucinich and then John Edwards. I still miss Edwards, I think he really could have made a difference.

While I have remained largely out of the fray on my own blog, I have - and that is even without endorsing either candidate - managed to have upset some folks. I am sorry for that- I am not here in the blogosphere to fight.

What hooks me at one level is this - neither candidate is any sort of panacea to me. I am very pragmatic person when it comes to politics in general, a theme I explored in this post, which is long and winding but explains some of it.

Despite my rather optimistic outlook about life, I very rarely think any person, place or thing is "it." No one thing is ever it, many elements add up to it and there is no such place as utopia as I see it.

So I do tend to become incensed when folks start going all off on who is going to save us. In my estimation, only we can save us - it works bottom up no matter what the bastards say.

That said it is hard to do. Very fracking hard to do. That is another post for another day.

While I have been watching and observing and not really feeling either candidate, I began to notice that I felt more negatively towards one than the other. I really did not delve into my thoughts and feelings, I just hung back.

Then I saw this video at Paul's and it all made sense. (Thanks Paul!)

I just really loathe having my fears appealed to. I do - I can't stand it. It insults me and I do not like it. It really leaves me feeling frustrated, angry and misunderstood.

Hence my reacting more negatively towards one candidate than the other. I can finally identify why I feel the way I do. Personally, I think they both leave much to be desired. If you

And if you don't believe me, believe the man who really is from Hope. In his own words, from 2004...

Clinton Ad that started to air in PA on Monday:

A Photo Essay by FranIam

noreply@blogger.com (FranIAm) — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 18:19:00 +0000

A person who trusts no one can't be trusted.
- Jerome Blattner

Sunday Blog Round Up and A Post of Sorts It is Long - Get Coffee,A Beer or Whatever and Read On

noreply@blogger.com (FranIAm) — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 17:08:00 +0000

Howdy all, happy Sunday or whatever day you read this on. That picture is apropos of nothing, but I liked it so much when I saw it over at Eileen's that I had to borrow it. It makes me laugh although it is not funny entirely when you consider life in this United States of Bush Hubris.

There are so many great posts out there and I am about to link to a few. Let me start by saying that it is Pesach, so a big Chag Sameach and Gut Yontiff and all that to my Jews.

Many of you know this already, but I am part Jewish. My father was raised as Jew, another story for another day. He rejected his Judaism due to his screwed up family and due to being forced into things that were not of his own choosing. What he chose was my mother's faith, Catholicism. I think he loved the generosity of Jesus and he loved grace and he loved forgiveness.

Daddy loved those things but could never integrate and live them. Deep sigh.

This year in the heart of Shaygitz-ville I am having my first Pesach with no seder to attend. Oy, what a shame and a schande ptooh ptooh ptooh.

Last year I spent the first seder with my yid cousins who now live in Israel. Finally the words "next year in Jerusalem" means now for them. I miss them and send them my love.

I found some great passover related posts. The first are more humorous - go visit two goyim bloggers Padre Mickey and have a pesach laugh. He stole the idea from Jane R.. Her link also has some serious links in it. Check her out. Plus, she like me has some Jewish background. She totally gets it.

For a very serious and important post about Jewish history, please go to Distributorcap's third installment about Jewish acts of bravery. You will weep.

My one last bit about Jews and Judaism is this - Jesus Christ. Born a Jew. Lived as a Jew. Died as a Jew. First couple of hundred years - no Christianity as we know it, it was Judaism. Just saying. It is important. Those who would decry Judaism decry Jesus the Christ. That is how I see it and I think it is important to view this with integrity. (meaning not honesty or some other virtue, but integrity as whole, the opposite of disintegration!

Sticking around that ever popular and lively topic of religion, I must recommend a stop at MockPaperScissors. Tengrain is the only non-religious blog that I broke my papal silence at. Leave it to Tengrain. He is my hero anyway, in so many, many ways. Love you Tengrain, I do.

The blogger Ubermilf is an astounding woman in so many ways. She is sacred and profrane at once and I do love that in a blogger. Go read her post about abortion. She really hits the nail on the head when she speaks about the inane and reactionary way we choose to deal with problems here in the US. Don't be afraid to read this post- be afraid to not read it.

She ends up with a Mountain Dew commercial reel. It is long, but I did watch the whole thing. The first two commercials however will take but a minute to watch and explain a lot about subliminal messages of sexuality in our culture, especially years ago.

There are two Episcopalian bloggers, both women and both clergy, that I have felt safe enough to comment on papal issues. These women are both inspire me deeply. I offer you Caminante's moving and thoughtful post about her heritage and more. Also, I recommend highly Elizabeth's post. Her words cut to the heart of things in ways that I could never express.

Before I leave the topic of faith, I offer up this from a blog I truly enjoy reading, Infidel. Today Infidel puts up a post that questions the practice of prayer.

Onto other topics!

I love Bubs, I seriously so love Bubs. A visit to his Sprawling Ramshackle Compund will delight you, with yet another love letter to his mistress. Miz Bubs seems to not only know, but understand and has even visited his lady love with him... with the kids in tow.

When Bubbsie (I love how Jewgirl calls him that and I have stolen it!) speaks of his lover, I am myself transported to her and fall in love over and over again myself.

Hey!!! Important announcement if you are still with me here!!! Somebody's blog turns one today.

Go give one of my favorite simians some blogoversary love right now and I mean it!!

And our last link and perhaps the most important. I leave the best for last and oh it not what you think it should be!

Yes, our girl blogger extraordinare, WhiskeyMarie has been up to her usual hussy-like shenanigans out there in Minnesota. She performs a sex act of sorts on a famous actor in her most recent post.

In a restaurant. With her husband near by. Is this a tall tale involving a short man or is it true? You will have to read and decide if my pun is as bad as I think it is yourself.

ENJOY the linkage, the love and more !!!

PS - just read and had to add this from Suzi Riot. The girl just nails it completely.

Transcendence, Truth, The Albatross and The Summer Day

noreply@blogger.com (FranIAm) — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 10:36:00 +0000

So so long ago, I published this post. Back then I had very few regular readers. I can tell you exactly who read my blog back then - DCap,MattyBoy, Dr. Monkey and Jess Wundrun.

So I am republishing the poem with some commentary.

I spent a good chunk of yesterday writing posts that got nowhere. That is what happens when you try to talk about what you said you wouldn't address and it is what happens when your anger gets the best of you.

See - my anger gets the best of me a lot. It is my albatross.

So popes and presidents, elections and idiocy aside, I can't say too much without making some of you angry, which is out of my control. And I can't say too much without making me angry - which is a choice that I need to make.

I will say this - yesterday gave me endless opportunity to realize that transcendence and mystery are underpinnings of my life for good or ill. Mostly I live in that place, but when I rail against it no one benefits.

And yesterday was a great reminder to me that in my life, forgiveness was and is a choice to get rid of the fracking albatross. Not that the choice comes easily or quickly and not that the choice is static, I must keep making the choices. And that very act of making choices is a dynamic; some uncomfortable intersection where both work and surrender are required and yet not... in a way that is completely counterintuitive. Some might call this grace; I know that I do.

Forgiveness given or received is hard work - and also surrender and should never come too quickly or too easily. It must however come at some point. That albatross gets pretty stinky.

Deep sigh.

It is time to stop ruminating, to stop asking questions and to get out into my garden today and just be in my own skin, in the sun and in the light. With that in mind - read on and enjoy your day.

One last thing - I want someone special to know that I was really thinking of her a lot when I read this poem this morning. I hope that you can be in your skin today and in the sun and in your life.

The Summer Day

Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean--
the one who has flung herself out of the grass, the one who is eating sugar out of my hand, who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-- who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass, how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields, which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?
-Mary Oliver

Betty Butterfield Presidential Politics - For Your Viewing Pleasure!

noreply@blogger.com (FranIAm) — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 21:07:00 +0000

Oh come on - you have the 3-4 minutes to watch this purveyor of equal opportunity insulting. Betty Butterfield will either grab your heart or turn your stomach. Possibly both at once! It is from January and slightly dated, but still very funny in regard to the ridiculous side of presidential politics.

As for me, I laughed. In the midst of trying to write a difficult and serious post, I went blog surfing for a break. This is the second time I saw this today, so I am compelled to share.

H/T to first to Elizabeth Kaeton. And yes - she is a priest. Second H/T to Eileen, who may yet become a priest.

And you thought my Episcopalian peeps were boring? Oh - no, no and more no.

Flower Roll Call - Clematis!

noreply@blogger.com (FranIAm) — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 20:31:00 +0000

Flower roll call!! Clematis! Splotchy-Daffodil, Dr. Monkey-Iris, Dguzman-Marigolds, , Bubs-Scilla!