Strange Homily (probably the first in a series)

The priest at the church we usually attend is a very knowledgeable and personable priest, and he can give some killer great homilies.  Several times I wish I'd recorded his homily just to be able to revel in it once more.  Other times, like last weekend, it's a real head-scratcher.  Allow me to paraphrase:

"We have a new bishop.  I haven't met him but I hear he's a great guy.  People ask me if I'd like to be a bishop.  I say, "No way!" Being a bishop is a terrible job.  Everyone is always mad at you.  But a bishop can do whatever he wants.  He doesn't answer to anyone but the Pope. He owns everything in the diocese: the churches, land, rectory, schools...he even owns me. 

As a priest, my job is the spiritual welfare of the people, but the only person I answer to is the bishop.  I'm in charge here, and I can do anything I want. 

God bless you."  

There must be a problem or issue in the parish that led to this sermon.  We thought that he was going to tie it in somehow to the elections, but....no.

How odd.

(n.b. He really does talk in short sentences as written above.)

Romney/Ryan 2012 Rallies

Mary has become more politically involved to help avoid another four years of the narcissist socialist BO, and to that end, she decided to drag the family to political rallies. Actually, they went along quite willingly, especially Elder Son who is fascinated by the political machine.

The first rally featured both Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan.  Because we weren't able to arrive early, we were stuck in traffic until the motorcade arrived.  The event didn't start for at least an hour after that, so we were able to move around a little to try to find a good standing spot.

These two Secret Service men gave me permission to snap their pic. They just looked so cool.

There was no good standing spot.  I don't really mind that for myself, but some of my children are shorter than me, and I didn't want them to be looking at a lot of backs and butts.  We walked back from whence we came, which took us up the hill from the staging area which was in the middle of a medium-sized town intersection.  We were able to see a little better, but then a campaign worker offered us free t-shirts if we would go sit in the bleachers at the END of the venue.  Scored two t-shirts, but then we were in what would be the nosebleed section if we were in an arena. At least it got us away from the loudspeakers blasting country music (with the notable exception of Boston's "More Than a Feeling".)

Later that evening, I found out that the next day, Mitt Romney would be in another town not too far from us.  I quickly got more tickets and decided to leave early enough to get there soon after the gates opened.

We got there about 30 minutes after the gate opened, scoring a close parking space, but unfortunately we weren't as close up as we'd hoped.

As we came up to this spot, where'd we need to stand for another two hours or so, a worker asked us to go up on those steps and cheer loudly when necessary.  I told her, though, that we'd prefer to be close to Mitt when he spoke.

After denying a reporter the chance to interview us (he was so disappointed!) we stood for a few minutes when another campaign worker asked if we'd stand on the steps.  I explained that we'd seen both Romney and Ryan the night before, but we were so far away and I wanted the kids to at least be able to see his face.  He said he'd been at the same place and knew I'd done a lot of driving.  "Tell you what; come with me," he said.  He led us to the VIP section and gave us each a VIP bracelet.  We ended up here.  This time we got to listen to live music, which was pretty good.  This rally appeared to be much better organized (or maybe it appeared that way simply because we were closer to the action.)

Mitt Romney finally came to the stage after numerous other candidates running for office, and a few local personalities.  After he finished speaking, he started shaking hands.  He shook a few, including mine, and then reached down to Younger Son and waited for him to raise his hand.  The little guy was thrilled (it was the first he'd smiled in a few hours) and then Older Son managed to also get a handshake.  The girls were unfortunately unable to bully their small bodies forward far enough. Maybe next rally! (DH wasn't feeling well and didn't attend.)

Four days later, Obarfa came into our town (oh darn I had to work in another city) and I snapped this wonderful sign that would greet His Majesty's royal subjects.

I fully realize that Romney isn't perfect; in fact, Santorum was my first choice.  But he at least has the knowledge and experience to pull this country out of the economic mess it's in.

For My Single Lady Friends

She carries the water from the well in the morning
While the sand burns her feet the sun only stares
And the loneliness lingers with slow grasping fingers
As the afternoon withers the flowers in her hair

Then night fills the sky as she sits on the hillside
And memories drift by like clouds past the stars
Recalling romances and all the bright chances
But none of them lasted. they passed through her heart

And she says -
Where is a man who can build a good fire
With a passion as wide as the sky at high noon
A man whose hand is strong as his longing
Where is the man who can lasso the moon

She falls asleep and her dreams are her blanket
And she shares with the moon the secret she knows
As the dawn leaves its tears to wash the dry valley
The tears of a woman can wash a man’s soul

And she says -
Where is a man who can build a good fire
With a passion as wide as the sky at high noon
A man whose hand is strong as his longing
Where is the man who can lasso the moon

And she says -
Where is a man who can build a good fire
With a passion as wide as the sky at high noon
A man whose hand is strong as his longing
Where is the man who can lasso the moon

And I say -
I am a man who can build a good fire
And my passion’s as wide as the sky at high noon
Come take my hand, it’s as strong as your longing
Just say the word and I’ll lasso the moon