A Contemplative Sort of Day

Today is a day off work which means a number of little household tasks to accomplish, most of them pleasant. I am in a state of nostalgia due to several converging factors, and reflecting on the ephemera of life's pageant. Wacky philosopher Jonathan Zap says that one should avoid doing things which you will not remember well on one's deathbed, and I agree. I am attempting to chisel my life into that mold.

I began the day with Mass at Saint Patrick's, finishing up with a brief prayer session in front to the Blessed Mother. I heartily recommend that as a great way to start your day.

" ... more honorable than the Cherubim
and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim;
without corruption you gave birth to God the Word;
true Theotokos we magnify you ... "

Came home, watered the flowers in the garden, then made a pair of glass bead and Swarovski crystal earrings and matching necklace for Heart Of Gold Jewelers and now I'm blogging, the it's off to do errands and work at the local food pantry. What joy the simple things are.

Live well! Pax Christi.

DJY


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Odds and Ends

We have been either sick or fighting viruses and "bugs" of unknown description here at the old Yost homestead lately. I apologize for the dearth of postings and only hope that any followers of this little blog have hung in there. I know sometimes it gets boring around here, but, hey, that's life. I do encourage all readers to use the "comments" section since the dialog would be better with more voices in it! We're gradually getting better, so hopefully more postings are on the way.
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I was saddened to discover that my dear friend and spiritual father, Monsignor David Hintz (of Saint Patrick's here in Lincoln, Nebraska) suffered a stroke on Christmas Eve and is recovering at home after a few days in hospital. Please include him in your prayers and intentions. He is quite young and a very wonderful pastor, humble, full of good cheer, kind and brilliant. It isn't every day that that combination of qualities is found in anyone, much less a "prince of The Church." Get well soon, Monsignor!!

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With the holidays more or less behind us, its time to turn our attention to the next big one - and I do mean Saint Patrick's Day- We haven't seen the Wild Clover Band for about a year, so its time to make the short trip to the Big O and rendezvous with them at the Brazen Head. Craic for all! Also, you will find me tending bar at St. Pat's Irish Festival again this year. And God only knows what other committees I will wind up on.
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Omaha, NE

Friday Bits and Pieces

Greetings from Nebraska! We are having such fantastic weather here I wish I could send a day of it to anyone who isn't having amazingly lucious 84 F degree days and 61 F degree nights. Also a daily thunderstorm with rain so everything here is green green, green. We had some flooding but not nearly as much as our suffering neighbor, Iowa. They are basically under water over there ~ the midwestern Katrina.

Heather from California writes me "I wish you would blog more about your daily life ~ you seem like an interesting person." Thanks, Heather!

So here's a bit about my day today. Also I would like to heartily encourage readers to make comments as able ~ I know people are viewing the blog from all over the place, thanks to my cool little widget on the right side a bit down the page ~ so feel free. Let me know what you like ~ the autobiographical stuff, the political stuff, the Catholic stuff, the science stuff, the music or whatnot. I'll try and put a poll up, if I can figure out how. :D Maybe we can eventually get a dialogue going on living the balanced Catholic life in this unbalanced world. I also hope to have some fun along the way! BTW that's my youngest daughter Toni, myself (to my Irish friends ~ Tis Herself ~ hah!)and granddaughter Taryn, taken about 8 months ago.

Today started with 6:30 AM Mass at Saint Patrick's, my neighborhood church. It is a working class church in an older neighborhood, very substandard appearance showing the ravages of post-Vatican II on the art and architechture of Mother Church. But the pastors and people are great, and there is a vibrant spirituality there. I actually went with a very bad attitude the first time or two until I got to know people. Now Monsignor there is my spiritual director and I love to visit (well, except on Sundays when the hootenanny choir is singing the moon calf bad guitar songs from the 70's along with old Protestant hymns I grew up on as a Methodist. Bletch.

Then it was on the the YMCA for my lap swimming ~ I like to swim laps 3 times a week to counter the ravages of aging (I'll be 55 soon) and generally limber up my bones. I swear by it, its as good as yoga which is very expensive here, and will keep me going as long as the good Lord wishes me to. Next I came home and made a lovely green smoothie for brekkie, I like to use them for the Friday fast. This one had a ripe banana, some greens (lambs quarter, mint)and a slice each of watermelon and cantaloupe, and a squirt of local Honey.

Now its blog time, and then I will be off to read a while, meditate, garden, go to a meeting and study some more. Today's my day off so no work today. Tonight Charlie, my next door neighbor Ann and myself are going to see my friend Mike's Grateful Dead cover band, The Jerry Pranksters. Any local folks can find us at Bob's Tavern from 9 to midnight, grooving on the mellow sounds.

Mike's Band at The Zoo Bar