Okay, I've shown my serious side, even my religious side, but as a treat for you menfolk, here's a little number I did of some lingerie displayed along Fourth Street in Santa Ana, California.Any digital photography geeks out there, it's some cropping, adjustments to saturation, and posterize filter.Ooh - la - la!
I have been taking a few days off from work, and relaxing with my hobby of digital photography. This is a picture I have gone back and forth on with details ad nauseum (should density on the adjustment layer with the photo filter be set to 32% or do I really want it slightly higher, say 45%, and what should I do with the diffuse glow setting, maybe a dithering gradient?). Believe it or not, there was a large, ugly tire sitting on top of the car and the house in the background had a small American flag that unfortunately was positioned such that it appeared to be growing from the deacon's head. That's the beauty of Photoshop - now you see it, now you don't. In fact, an unretouched photo of this same scene - only taken a few second earlier - was posted with my story on the Blessing of the Streets, posted on 4-9-06.I purposely selected only our pastor holding aloft the monstrance and applied what is called a diffuse glow to him, while keeping the others in plain mode. In largre formats it shows more clearly and brings him out of the picture, very subtly focusing the viewer's attention. What's neat is that it seems the priest is mentally removed from the people behind him, as though it is simply he and Jesus walking alone. The figure in the foreground on the far right reminds me of people seen in Brueghel the Elder paintings, who catch the viewer's eye and somehow sem detached from the rest. Here, this fellow (who, btw, is in the process of discerning whether he has a vocation to the priesthood) is part of the crowd following the priest, yet appears separate. Yesterday was my birthday (don't ask which one) and the DigiSpouse got me a new Canon wide angle lens for my camera - Lordy, I love that guy! Other wives may want jewelry or clothing, but give me digitoys!!
Hat tip to Amy Wellborn for bringing this website to the attention of others. DeathRoe.com is a pro-life site that has an interesting message to youth: "On January 22, 1973, The United States Supreme Court legalized abortion on demand. The decision is called Roe vs. Wade. We call it Death Roe. About one fourth of our generation has already been wiped out, and the executions continue at the rate of over 3000 a day. If you were born after that date, you are one of the unchosen.You are a Death Roe Survivor."On their home site is a link to Klan Parenthood - like it or not, since 1973, some 13 million Black children have been killed in the womb. Where is Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton decrying this genocide? Warning - this last website is quite graphic, and includes pictures of abortions. Their picture page shows thumbnails of pictures that I assume you can click on for larger images, but just a glance at that is enough for me, thanks.Just tonight I was saying to our parish manager how when people ask me if, as a Catholic, I feel insulted that women cannot become priests. First, I point out that knowing what our "Men in Black" go through (the good ones, that is), I wouldn't want the job! But then I point out that we women already have a ministry - it's called motherhood. Not to disparage fathers, because they are critically important, but we bear children and we nurse them and we are the ones who should be making sure our children are raised in a Catholic home. Consider the love and devotion exhibited in Scripture by Our Lord specifically towards the Virgin Mary, His mother. And motherhood is about being a "mother" - whether a biological one, and adopted one, an aunt, a grandmother, a mentor, a daughter, a sister, or a friend. When we nuture another and hold them close to us just as Mary does her dead Son in the Pieta, we're being mothers. Mothers don't simply give life - they sustain it as well.I think I'll go upstairs and check in on my two "Roe Survivors" (as both were born post-1973). Then maybe I'll have a private cry over the ones that I lost, although I know they remain the family's champions in Heaven and I look forward to the day we are reunited.
I still haven't gotten around to making another "holy card," but I was fooling around with Photoshop and this picture taken back in November 2005. Quite melancholy - just the DigiDaughter in a pensive mood on a trolley, while behind her sat a sad-looking old man. I love digital photography and post-production work in Photoshop.
After responding to the Caveman's posting on breaking the Da Vinci code (not to confused with "Breaking the Code," which was a marvelous stage play in London performed by one of my favorite actors, Derek Jacoby, back in 1979), I got to wondering . . .What ever happened to "The Celestine Prophecy?"Sure, you remember that book that came out about 1995 and dealt with ancient scrolls found in the rainforests of South America that were written by Pope Celestine V. I never read the book, as it immediately became suspect when the DigiSpouse's ex-wife, who has gone through more interpretations of spirituality than Courtney Love has with a dirty syringe, gave us a copy and proclaimed it to be "the one book that has opened [her] eyes to the truth about God!"Anyway, I googled it and lo and behold - it's now a movie! Starting last Wednesday, April 19th, it began a successive "theatrical release" in select cinemas. Its Los Angeles premiere is May 2nd, where the author will appear. Now, the L.A. "theatrifcal debut" is being produced by a group called "Hollywood's Master Storytellers," which at least reminds the simple-minded that it's fiction, which Dan Brown seems to have a hard time admitting and does so either grudgingly or obliquely.Yet, looking at the movie's official website, once again a reader can link to a second web site called "The Celestine Messages" and there be able to get a free poster of "The Nine Insights" and view a flash presentation that asks, "Is the success of this story a coincidence or is there something more to the message within?"Here are "The 9 Insights":1 –We are discovering again that we live in a deeply mysterious world, full of sudden coincidences and synchronistic encounters that seem destined.
2 -As more of us awaken to this mystery, we will create a completely new worldview - redefining the universe as energetic and sacred.
3 -We will discover that everything around us, all matter, consists of and stems from a divine energy that we are beginning to see and understand.
4 -From this perspective, we can see that humans have always felt insecure and disconnected from this sacred source, and have tried to take energy by dominating each other. This struggle is responsible for all human conflict.
5 -The only solution is to cultivate a personal reconnection with the divine, a mystical transformation that fills us with unlimited energy and love, extends our perception of beauty, and lifts us into a Higher-Self Awareness.
6 -In this awareness, we can release our own pattern of controlling, and discover a specific truth, a mission, we are here to share that helps evolve humanity toward this new level of reality.
7 -In pursuit of this mission, we can discover an inner intuition that shows us where to go and what to do, and if we make only positive interpretations, brings a flow of coincidences that opens the doors for our mission to unfold.
8 -When enough of us enter this evolutionary flow, always giving energy to the higher-self of everyone we meet, we will build a new culture where our bodies evolve to ever higher levels of energy and perception.
9 -In this way, we participate in the long journey of evolution from the Big Bang to life's ultimate goal: to energize our bodies, generation by generation, until we walk into a heaven we can finally see.
Hmmm . . . sounds like a Scientology Operating Thetan to me, mixed with some Al "I [Heart] Gaia" Gore's dire predictions of global warming and how we need to make mankind subservient to the Earth, with a few crystals and Yanni soundtrack thrown in for good measure.
Cultish? Well, I found a website that seems to be sponsored by the author, James Redfield, called "Celestine Vision" and on it he posts the following:
"Interested in a Celestine association/web community? We'd like to hear from you! I believe that it’s time to actively build a kind of community — an association, if you will, of those who see the vision. If you find yourself reading this, and you feel the same way, email us, and we will tell you what we have in mind."
Is this how L. Ron got started? Excuse me, I'm late for my auditing session/life coaching/chakra realignment/Rolfing session/Kabbalah Shabbat/past life regression . . . (gets up, goes to kitchen, pours herself a cocktail).
The DigiSpouse posed a question to Our Beloved Parochial Vicar (not to be confused with his boss, Our Beloved Pastor) after the 11 o'clock Mass this morning: When Jesus said to Thomas, "You have seen and believed. Blessed are those who have not seen yet still believe," was He (a) rebuking Thomas or (b) acknowledging Thomas' - and our - humanity and need for "corporal" proof of His existence? In our weekly discussion of the Gospel, the Digispouse noted that Jesus does acknowledge our own weakness of spirit as humans. Coming into the Upper Room, the first thing He tells frightened Apostles is, "Peace be with you." Then, without them asking, He shows them His hands and side, as His way of establishing His "street credentials, " rather than waiting for them to acknowledge His Resurrection.But what comes next? "I will be with you for all time?" No. "There is no need to worry?" No. "I'm back to take charge?" No.Rather, having acknowledged their own weaknesses - as later He will do with Thomas - Jesus hands them the responsibility of being the Church, the Body of Christ:"As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them,“Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,and whose sins you retain are retained.”But do we do it alone? No - He has stayed with us, and when we become doubting Thomas and need to be reassured, we receive that every time we come to Mass and see Him - the True Presence - as the sacrifice upon the altar. And His Church is there to get us ready for the feast, through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, as many times we want it.Divine Mercy, indeed.
Although it is nearly two months old, I'd like to bring to your attention this editorial written by Ben Stein, whom I think it a brilliant writer, funny guy, and, as a lawyer, makes me happy to see someone like this share the designation of "Esq." after our names:Missed Tributes
By Ben Stein
Published 3/6/2006
Now for a few humble thoughts about the Oscars.I did not see every second of it, but my wife did, and she joins me in noting that there was not one word of tribute, not one breath, to our fighting men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan or to their families or their widows or orphans. There were pitifully dishonest calls for peace -- as if the people we are fighting were interested in any peace for us but the peace of the grave. But not one word for the hundreds of thousands who have served and are serving, not one prayer or moment of silence for the dead and maimed.
Basically, the sad truth is that Hollywood does not think of itself as part of America, and so, to Hollywood, the war to save freedom from Islamic terrorists is happening to someone else. It does not concern them except insofar as it offers occasion to mock or criticize George Bush. They live in dreamland and cannot be gracious enough to thank the men and women who pay with their lives for the stars' ability to live in dreamland. This is shameful.
The idea that it is brave to stand up for gays in Hollywood, to stand up against Joe McCarthy in Hollywood (fifty years after his death), to say that rich white people are bad, that oil companies are evil -- this is nonsense. All of these are mainstream ideas in Hollywood, always have been, always will be. For the people who made movies denouncing Big Oil, worshiping gays, mocking the rich to think of themselves as brave -- this is pathetic, childish narcissism.
The brave guy in Hollywood will be the one who says that this is a fabulously great country where we treat gays, blacks, and everyone else as equal. The courageous writer in Hollywood will be the one who says the oil companies do their best in a very hostile world to bring us energy cheaply and efficiently and with a minimum of corruption. The producer who really has guts will be the one who says that Wall Street, despite its flaws, has done the best job of democratizing wealth ever in the history of mankind.
No doubt the men and women who came to the Oscars in gowns that cost more than an Army Sergeant makes in a year, in limousines with champagne in the back seat, think they are working class heroes to attack America -- which has made it all possible for them. They are not. They would be heroes if they said that Moslem extremists are the worst threat to human decency since Hitler and Stalin. But someone might yell at them or even attack them with a knife if they said that, so they never will.
Hollywood is above all about self: self-congratulation, self-promotion, and above all, self-protection. This is human and basic, but let's not kid ourselves. There is no greatness there in the Kodak theater. The greatness is on patrol in Kirkuk. The greatness lies unable to sleep worrying about her man in Mosul. The greatness sleeps at Arlington National Cemetery and lies waiting for death in VA Hospitals. God help us that we have sunk so low as to confuse foolish and petty boasting with the real courage that keeps this nation and the many fools in it alive and flourishing on national TV.
As I read this article (I followed a link on Professor Bainbridge's blog), I was not moved to anger but absolute pity for this woman and her family. Here is someone in need of prayers this Eastertide. I have not visited her blog yet but I will stroll over and see if some levity can be left there. I was just struck by how much of her time she is wasting in hatred when she has a family."The Left, Online and Enraged"
With a hat tip to Catholic Pillow Fight, check out the newest blog from the Prince of Lies, himself! From the Depths is devilishly funny and I daresay it will become a guilty pleasure for many.
After reading about Caveman's problems at the Vigil he attended, I just wanted to say that mine - though not in Latin (trilingual actually - English, Spanish, and Samoan) - was lovely.We welcomed into Mother Church about 20 new Roman Catholics. Candidates for the Sacarments of Initiation numbered about 35 in all.I know our pastor - who was installed just last November and this is his first post as a pastor - had been listening to the Exultant on his iPod to prepare. He did a magnificant job and was joyous in his celebration of the Mass.The choirs (one for each language) sang wonderfully. I especially liked the English choir's version of Cooney's "Exodus Reading for the Great Vigil." Our cantor has a marvelous baritone voice that resounded throughout the church. The bilingual "Litany of the Saints" was enjoyable, with the two cantors switching back and forth in chanting the saints' names in English and Spanish. Unlike other churches where I have heard them include the names of the elect (prompting one year the DigiSpouse to exclaim incredulously, "St. Tiffany?! Since when is there a St. Tiffany!?!"), my church stuck with those canonized by the Church. All the choirs joined in - loudly! - for Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus" for the recessional. "And He shall reign forever and ever!"There is something special seeing a new Paschal Candle sitting so tall in its holder.Caveman, we had both male and female altar servers. In fact, it was nice to see some of the high schoolers who had been students in our parish's grammar school come back and don the white robes, being "old hands," as they were and making sure the younger ones handled the Great Vigil correctly.And sitting in a completely darkened church, then to suddenly see the priest enter in the back with the Paschal candle held high, the only source of light, still gives me excited chills.I will head over to our 11 o'clock with the family today - DigiSon, being all of 5 years old, was not a good candidate for a 3 hour, 20 minute Vigil. His first words to me this morning were, "Mom, Jesus is alive today!"He is risen, indeed! Alleluiah, alleluiah!
THE TOMB IS EMPTY! REJOICE! REJOICE!
"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabach thani!"Nothing more needs to be said.
With a hat tip to The Curt Jester, who provided a link to Gerald's story over at The Cafeteria os Closed about Bishop Tod Brown of the Diocese of Orange, in Orange ("The O.C.") County, California. Bishop Brown refused to give Communion to a woman who kneeled to receive, instead pulling her to her feet and telling her that she was "making a scene." Very nice - and unfortunately, I gotta live with him, he's my local bishop.When the pastor of my church was being installed, Brown came to officiate. While other priests and the lay people who were going to serve as Eucharistic ministers and lectors gathered in the sacristy before the Mass, chatting and welcoming each other, His Grace remained secluded in the rectory, sending out his "assistant" to let us know how he wanted to get things donw. Brown came out just seconds before we were going to process into the Church, to speak to the priests. Not a word was said, not even an acknowledgment, to the laity also gathered there. One of the priests, as is the custom at our church, suggested we gather and pray before heading out. Brown curtly told him, "We don't have time for that," and demanded we get to the back of the Church now. Afterwards, we had a reception for our new pastor - and if you thought Brown stuck around for that, even to swallow a quick cup of coffee, nibble on a cookie, and greet some of our parish, you gotta be kidding me. Any wonder why my own nickname for him is Lord Voldemort?Contrast: Bishop Sylvester Ryan of Monterey, CA. I attended the diaconate ordination of my husband's uncle last year (who will be ordained this June) at St. John's Seminary in Camarillo, CA. The ordination was presided over by Bishop Ryan. After the Mass at the church next door, we went over to the seminary for a lunch that was available to the friends and families of the seminarians. Walking amongst us was Bishop Ryan, wearing simple clerics. He was going up to tables, shaking hands, telling people he was glad they came and thanking us for coming to support the seminarians, and how it meant a lot to them and to him to see that. There was no rush - just a good priest taking the time to be a mensch. One of my husband's uncles and I got into a bidding war over him - I wanted to steal him for Orange County and he wanted Bishop Ryan for San Diego. God bless Sylvester Ryan. God work on Tod Brown.
A tradition with my church - St. Joseph in Santa Ana, California - is that every Palm Sunday afternoon we have The Blessing of the Streets, intended to keep our city safe. We follow the Blessed Eucharist, while priests behind disperse holy water on the surrounding area. The English choir and the Spanish choir sings hymns as we go along. This year saw about 200 people. At four points along the way, altars were erected where the Eucharist was placed and the people knelt as our pastor sanctified it with incense, followed by the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be. I would say that the route, in total, was about one mile. One fellow even did it on crutches, with his leg in a cast. Fortunately, no ACLU were present, as I certain that the sight of a monstrance carried through city streets and the sound of worship would have had them running and screaming . . .Everyone, have a happy start to your Holy Week. I know mine did through this tradition of my church!
Now for those who HATE the new music played in Church, head over to visit The Punk Priest for a hysterical version of "Here I Am, Lord" done in a funky ska style by a group called Vandal.
I know that Spring is truly here when Andrew and Maria, my daughter's California Desert Tortoises, wake up. And they are - made sure they got a huge, heapin' plate of greens, because I would be hungry too if the last time I ate was in October.
I will admit to the guilty pleasure I have of watching "American Idol" each week. Last night they voted off my gal, Mandisa. Before that happened, though, just she and Elliott Yamin were standing up there, waiting to see who would go. When she learned it was her, there was a confusing moment when the camera panned to the audience who seemed happily shocked at something on stage. In the audio, I could hear Elliott saying, "I love you," and when the camera cut back to stage, Mandisa and Elliott were hugging. Mandisa then went on to say her thanks and bless everyone in the name of Jesus Christ.The Jewish white guy and the Black female Christian hugging in a competition after one has lost. Sometimes, you get a moment like that when you realize all is right and good.Good luck, Mandisa - you keep singing for God's glory as you have and He will reward you!
