Upon learning that I will be going on vacation to the UK---
Middle-aged White Male Patient: Why are you going there? What's there? Pubs, bars?
My internal dialogue: OMG!!! Just the whole history of civilization. The nation that ruled over the largest empire Earth has ever known. Ever hear of the Revolutionary War? Our closest ally during WW 2 and until now. Geez.



"Music is the pathway to the heart."---Voltaire


"Nowhere to go but the heart." ---Rumi

"What's the difference between ignorance and apathy? I don't know and I don't care."

Overheard inside the Discovery Times Square Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit: "I'm not lining up for that. That's crazy."

Problem was, this was the line to see THE ACTUAL SCROLLS. Dude and his wife have been through the other artifacts, and this was the big finale. Why was he there then?


Seen on T-shirt: The Count, still more bad-ass then Edward.

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"This November, all of that gay vampire shit finally ends." Failed Twilight movie campaign

I went to Christopher Plummer's estate (I'm currently reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) for a family gathering. As I was leaving, more people were coming and I wondered why he didn't fix his pothole-ridden driveway. As I waited for the other cars to get by, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson came out of the woods, walked up to my car to tell me something I don't remember now. Then we were standing in the sidewalk and I was getting into a London cab (where did my car go?) while Rupert gave instructions to the driver. We weren't in England but it was somewhere busy and congested. Then I woke up to go to Easter Sunday mass.


I went to the lovely Easter Vigil mass last night. It was 2 hours long but it was worth it. The church is dark and the Monsignor kindles the new fire, the Paschal candle is lit, followed by the congregation's candles. This is followed by prayers, beautiful chanting of the Exsultet, and readings interspersed with more singing of psalms. The readings encompassed Biblical history, from Genesis, to Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt, ending with one of St. Paul's letters. It was a special night, too, because 2 people got baptized and a few others got confirmed. I've never seen a Catholic adult baptism, and there's something about a grown-up being christened. This is their choice, an informed decision.
There was a full choir, with keyboards, a trumpet, and drums accompanying them. Heavenly voices and celestial music all made for a very solemn service. Some people complain about the rituals, but hearing ancient texts made me feel connected to the millions of Catholics over the ages. It is fascinating to think that long ago, the mass was in Latin and the priest had his back to the congregation. Before Vatican II, the people weren't even participating in the liturgy. And now, we get to sing and listen to otherwordly music (last week's Were you There mash-up with Amazing Grace=tears), hear stories from the Bible. Say what you will about religion, but it can elevate and inspire our human existence.

The Easter morning Mass was offered by the Knights of Columbus, so they were in their full regalia. The children's choir sang today. More angelic voices.

Jesus is Risen. Jesus is Risen, indeed.


“It matters not..
who you love..
where you love..
why you love..
when you love..
or how you love.
It matters only..
that you love”

~ John Lennon

You didn't get mad when we spent over 800 billion (and counting) on said illegal war.

You didn't get mad when Bush borrowed more money from foreign sources than the previous 42 Presidents combined.

You didn't get mad when over 10 billion dollars in cash just disappeared in Iraq.

You didn't get mad when Bush embraced trade and outsourcing policies that shipped 6 million American jobs out of the country.

You didn't get mad when they didn't catch Bin Laden.

You didn't get mad when Bush rang up 10 trillion dollars in combined budget and current account deficits.

You didn't get mad when you saw the horrible conditions at Walter Reed.

You didn't get mad when we let a major US city, New Orleans, drown.

You didn't get mad when we gave people who had more money than they could spend, the 1%, over a trillion dollars in tax breaks.

You didn't get mad with the worst 8 years of job creations in several decades.

You didn't get mad when over 200,000 US Citizens lost their lives because they had no health insurance.

You didn't get mad when lack of oversight and regulations from the Bush Administration caused US Citizens to lose 12 trillion dollars in investments, retirement, and home values in the Wall Street crash.

You finally got mad when a black man was elected President, and decided that people in America deserved the right to see a doctor if they are sick. Yes, illegal wars, lies, corruption, torture, job losses by the millions, stealing your tax dollars to make the rich richer, and the worst economic disaster since 1929 are all okay with you, but helping fellow Americans who are sick... Oh, Hell No!

From Barbara Phillippi


What a lousy day. I wish I had fulfilled this today.

"Do all the good you can

By all the means you can

In all the places you can

To all the people you can

As long as ever you can."

---John Wesley


EDIT 4/3/2012: God wants me to know... that no matter how good you try to be to others, you will occasionally hurt them. Forgive yourself for it.

The same will happen with them. Forgive them for it.



"I never look back, dahling. It detracts from the now."---Edna E. Mode


 

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