February 2004 Archives

I need help

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I have this wonderful PDA and an expansion card - I bought the card with the idea that I could put some books on it. I am totally lost about how to do that! I went to the Blackmask site and there are several books I want to read, but I don't know what I am doing there. Could some one who actually had put books into a Palm please walk me through the process? Thanks.

apologies to apologia

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Actually, there is nothing for which to apologize, but I couldn't think of a title for this post.
I had a wonderful visit this afternoon with Mr. Luse, in his ancestral abode in Orlando FL. The name plate beside the front door is that of his grandfather. He served me some fresh squeezed orange juice from his back yard tree, and we talked for a couple of hours about literature, religion, fruit trees, different climates, and who knows what all else. I have to say that he is as great a conversationalist in person as on-line. His students no doubt don't appreciate the gift he is to them.
eat your heart out, micki! (said with love!!!!!!!!)

Contrast and Contradiction

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Today's Epistle includes a promise of salvation - if we call on the name of the Lord, we will be saved.
This seems to contradict Matthew 7:21, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven".
How can we reconcile these seemingly contrary passages?
I think that we need to understand that we can call on the name of the Lord for salvation, but that he then also expects from us action and not just words. Jesus did not just preach, he acted, and ultimately "By His stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 2:24)
I have not seen The Passion of the Christ yet, but I am told that the scourging is rather graphic. Well is should be. In our sanitized world where we know that the violence prtrayed on TV and in movies is just fantasy, it is chilling to realoze just what Jesus the Christ suffered for us.
By those stripes we are healed. Thanks be to God.

quiz time

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seventyfive
75%! you love hobbits!!! You are more a fan of the
book than the movie, and taking your knowledge
of Tolkien's furry creatures into account, you
could probably write a book of your own! :)


How hobbit-obsessed are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
via Jeanetta

Mark weighs in on language and culture

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Looking Beyond the Words, while rather long for a blog entry, is definitely worth reading and re-reading.

Who needs to be healed?

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Today's Gospel includes Jesus saying, "Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners."
It is in the context of the scribes and Pharisees complaining to Jesus about the company He kept - tax collectors, bartenders, customs officers, and other sinners.
I for one am very glad that Jesus was willing to keep company with that kind of folk, because I am all too often one of that kind. I need to be healed. In the words of James, I am tempted when I am "lured and enticed by desire. Then desires conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death."
Lord, save me from dying the death fortold in Genesis!

On Lenten penances

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I really love the book of Isaiah. In today's Mass readings he really calls it like it is. "Your fast ends in quarrelling and fighting, striking with the wicked claw".
Various bloggers have commented that certain penitential acts (giving up caffeine, or rigidly fasting, or the like) have in the past been more penitential for the housemates of the penitent than for the penitent herself.
I remember as a children that we sometimes competed for the 'medal' of 'most rigorous penance', without much thought as to what the true purpose of this time in the wilderness should be.
Given that our culture celebrates the seasons before they happen (Christmas from 11-1 to 12/24, as an example) I should not be surprised that the Easter candy is already on full display, tempting me horribly. Take, for example, Cadbury's eggs. That is a confection that I dearly enjoy, and I know that by Easter it will no longer be available. For me to go to the grocery store has become a penitential act, as I walk past all the premature Easter displays and try to remember that Lent has just started.
Eating fish and seafood is not penance (for me), but eating beans and rice is. The penitential meals are the ones that take time to think out and prepare. Abstaining from the quick fix meal is a household penance - one that is perhaps more sacrificial than frozen fish and chips or boxed mac and cheese. Acts of penance demand time and not just stuff - maybe even more so in our culture that worships the fast fix and complains about 'wasted time'.

I say YES

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To Quote Ellyn

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Read THIS now!

Church and State and Home

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The Inn at the End of the World posts some comments on the family - from 1934. Given all the hullabaloo about 'gay marriage' and the 'childfree movement' I found this remarkably prescient - and not a little saddening.

Video meliora, proboque; Deteriora sequor

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TSO really hits the spot with his roundup of Lenten themed posting. I really appreciate these 'reader's digest' of St. Blogs - it reminds me to check out some places that I miss on my rounds.

hi there

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I'm in Tampa FL blogging from a hotel room. I'm here for a seminar on bio-identical hormone replacement therapy with a bunch of compounding pharmacists. Looks to be lots of fun and learning. I am on the 11th floor of a lovely hotel and just had a very late dinner.
Thanks to all of you who commented on our anniversary and party. I really appreciate it.

anniversary party pix

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cake cutting.jpg
Cutting into the cake using the same knife as for our original wedding cake.

party pix 1.jpg

A great gift - an enlargement of our wedding picture with messages written on the mat board.

resource alert

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Janet Smith'snew web site

Ash Wednesday

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"Rend your hearts, and not your garments". This is a command that has been given to us. Jesus had a lot to say about the nature of fasting and mourning, as well as about celebration. We are to avoid prideful displays of our mortifications.
I have come to realize that a lot of who I am as an adult Christian was formed by my 4 years in Episcopal day school (grades 2 - 5). Daily morning prayer, twice weekly communion services, and Sunday School weekly exposed me to a lot of Scripture. I opened up my 40 year old and yellowing Book of Common Prayer this morning, and turned to the readings for Ash Wednesday. There it is - Joel. The Gospel from Matthew 6:16-21 sets out ground rules - "Be not, as the hypocrites, of sad countenance".

book quiz?

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Challenged by the Summa Mamas- but I will skip the drinking game!




You're David Copperfield!

by Charles Dickens


Coming up from a childhood that felt abusive, you have risen through hard work to gain a place of stature in your life. You've spent altogether too much time in factories and end up misspelling a fair number of words. But in general you are seen as a beacon of hope for others who might not be as fortunate. Lots of people keep mistaking you for a magician and are waiting for you to disappear.



Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.


Now, I tried this a number of other ways, and the answer to the first question determines what questions you will then be asked. A much more interesting quiz than the quizilla variety.

Dennis Prager on

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For those who have been searching

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I have had several hits on this site from those looking for the rules of Lenten Fast and abstinence.
Here they are.

Renewal of vows

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Sunday morning, we got to church even earlier than usual to talk to Father about the renewal of vows. He had told us that it could be either during Mass or right after, but since it was a special anniversary he would love to do it during. So we met with him and learned that he wanted to segue from the homily into the renewal - just be standing at the foot of the center aisle during the homily and he would call us up.
So we went on up to the choir loft and after the Gospel, we shrugged out of our choir robes and walked back down the stairs. Father gave an excellent homily on the gospel, especially about the true nature of love and the command to love and pray for all, including especially our enemies. I remember that he challenged us to pray for our enemies by asking "When was the last time you prayed for a terrorist?", and I found myself thinking about how St. Blog's has challenged me to live out the tenets of Christianity with courage, including praying for terrorists and abortionists, and all the other 'ists who make life terrible.
So we walked up that aisle and stood at the foot of the altar facing each other and holding hands. Father made a comment about "Thirty years, and they still look at each other and hold hands". He then read aloud a LONG exhortation about marriage and fidelity and added in some words of thanksgiving for the Christian witness that a marriage is. He pointed out that he was sure that we had had rough times in our marriage but that we had been able to utilize the graces of the Sacraments to keep it together (those weren't his exact words, though). He then invited us to repeat after him the words of our wedding vows, and we did that. We then walked back down that long aisle and disappeared back into the choir loft. After Mass, we had lots of parishioners stop us and say God Bless and Congratulations. It was wonderful to be able to celebrate this special event within the Sunday Mass in the Real Presence of Jesus.
My son took a picture as we walked back down the aisle. I will try to post it when I can get it to load to my computer.

another spot to visit

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Mr. Luse suggested reading Laudem Gloriae so I did. It is definitely worth adding to the rounds. I would love to hear more of her conversion story. The blogmistress is the age of my oldest child (a fallen-away cradle Catholic) and like me, an ex-feminist (or possibly a feminist of the Elizabeth Cady Stanton mold).

a gift from the kids

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5kids 2004 2.jpg
For the anniversary, 5 of the 6 went out and had a family portrait done. They also combed through boxes of old pictures and assembled an album for us.

no intent to offend

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but I thought this was a hilarious take on the lightbulb joke. from my inbox this AM.
How many Christians does it take to change a light bulb?

thanks, all

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The renewal of vows and the party went well. More later.

from my inbox

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GOOD REMINDER...
The next time you feel like GOD can't use you, just remember...
Noah was a drunk
Abraham was too old
Isaac was a daydreamer
Jacob was a liar
Leah was ugly
Joseph was abused
Moses had a stuttering problem
Gideon was afraid
Sampson had long hair and was a womanizer
Rahab was a prostitute
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
David had an affair and was a murderer
Elijah was suicidal
Isaiah preached naked
Jonah ran from God
Naomi was a widow
Job went bankrupt
John the Baptist ate bugs
Peter denied Christ
The Disciples fell asleep while praying
Martha worried about everything
Mary Magdalene had 7 demons
The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once
Zaccheus was too small
Paul was too religious
Timothy had an ulcer...AND
Lazarus was dead!
No more excuses now. God can use you to your full potential. Besides you aren't the message, you are just the messenger.

ponder this

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the church in this world is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints

new to us

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1998 plymouth voyager.jpg
This is not our actual car, but a picture I found on the net that looks just like it. John decided that he could live without 4 wheel drive since he can use the work Jeep for the remote sites. We had been talking about possibly renting a minivan for the few days that our children would be home - but this is the car that my salesman had just taken in trade when we showed up on the lot. It all fell together way too perfectly - and once again, St. Mary's bank came through! So thanks for all the prayers.
I don't know how much time I will have to blog the next few days. Any of you who are nearby, feel free to drop in Sunday morning at our renewal of vows. 1030 Mass at St. John the Baptist parish in Suncook New Hampshire.

Here is where Thomas is now

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Great News From Kathryn

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On obedience

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Scroll down to
Tuesday February 17, 2004.
All I have to add it "What she said!"

just under 30 years ago

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wedding picture 1974.bmp
Walking down the aisle after a 90 minute Nuptial Mass

don't forget to vote

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The 1st Annual St. Blog's Awards will close the polls at noon CST on 2/18/04.

A Question about Catholicism

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Bill has already blogged about this, and Lee Anne posted my reply at her site, but in case any of you haven't already chimed in, here is a request for loving and honest input. You can direct answers here, to Lee Anne, or to Bill.
-----Original Message-----
Anyway, someone asked whether Catholics do Bible study and the leader
replied that they don't, that they do catechism. Can you explain to me the
difference between the two? I get the distinct impression from reading
Catholic blogs that you indeed do Bible study (e.g., you guys, Mark Shea,
Amy Welborn).
My friend and I are concerned because sometimes these discussions turn into
Catholic-bashing sessions, and as former Catholics ourselves we don't like
to see our brothers and sisters unfairly beaten up for their differences.
She and I both feel hurt, but we don't know how to present a case against
it. I realize I am pretty ecumenical about many things, but I think we are
all going to be a little surprised when we look around us in heaven.

Many, many thanks for your answer.

Grace and peace,
Lee Anne
My answer follows:

hello out there

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I don't know if anyone has been reading this blog lately - no comments have been made so I can't really tell. We are in the last few days of trying to get things together for our upcoming anniversary party. I may post one of our wedding pix just for the heck of it.
Today was very stressful. I was at work sitting in a meeting and I got a page from my husband. He had been in a near miss (almost hit by a car that didn't yield the right of way) while taking our child to school, and afterwards the clutch on his car was acting weird. Turns out something sheared off, and to make a long story short, we are in the position where we are having to replace his 1985 Bronco. Meanwhile, I have to drop him at work on my way in tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. I guess that the tax refund will go for big stuff, not little stuff.

valentines day

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I did nothing that most people would consider romantic yesterday. I got up early, kissed hubby good bye, got in the car and drove the hour to work. Well, I guess that some would consider it romantic that just before midnight, I helped usher baby Thomas into the world. I am pretty sure that his mom and dad (fairly new immigrants from SouthEast Asia) are rather excited about how they spent their Valentines day. But I did not go to a movie, have a special dinner, or any of those things.
I have found over the years that I am more pragmatic than romantic. My husband is far more likely than I to cry at events. I don't know if my emotions are in deep-freeze, or just the expression of them. I can be deeply moved - but that deep stays inside. I am not really into the celebration of most national days of emotion like Valentines, Mother's day, Father's day, etc. I cherish the religious holidays and I do follow many traditions for Shrove Tuesday, etc. But I am just not into the 'feeling' part of it. More intellectual, I guess.
So when I read about dinner and gushy movies, about chocolates and jewelry, my response is along the lines of "That's nice". But it just doesn't touch me.
I wonder how I will react to our anniversary celebration? I wonder if I will disappoint those around me?

A Memorable Quote

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Here
Q: Isn’t this just like making some Golden Calf because the wait for Christ’s return is so intolerable? I mean, what happened to patient endurance of suffering in exile?
A: Have you even been to a Catholic church lately?
(It makes real sense once you read the whole thing)

Thomas

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ends the suspense. Prayers are in order.
Update: The above link no longer works. Try here for an update.

Tradition and Faith

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There is a great thread going on over at El Camino Real. I made the following comment, and then realized that I wanted to post it here as well. Do go over to Jeff's great blog and weigh in there, as well. His thoughtful post is well worth reading. My comment is below, exactly as I posted it there.

he's back

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Mark is back with more Vociferous Yawpings - on some very serious topics.

why god and sexuality need to stay connected

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from Lilac Rose

Write in campaign!

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smock4prez.jpg
My candidate for president!

This morning

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I was listening to NPR on the way home from work. Montana is attempting to cut state funding for schools. (Actually, much of the item was about another attempt by interest groups to use the judiciary to bypass the legislature). At the end of the bit, a phrase struck me.
"Education is a very important duty of the state".
Is it? Or is education a very important duty of the parents?
Go read Brave New Family: Men and Women, Children, Sex, Divorce, Marriage and the Family a collection of essays byGilbert Keith Chesterton
(edited by Alvaro De Silva), for a perspective from several decades ago about the long term reasons for and consequences of leaving education to bureaucrats.

My husband found this

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and I wanted to share it with you. Poet: GK Chesterton - All poems of GK Chesterton

Another new parishioner

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Summa Minutiae has moved to stblogs.org.

time to

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get off my duff and actually write some of the stuff that has been percolating in my brain. The problem, of course, is that I do my best thinking in the car on my way to work - and then I get to the office and by the time I come up for air I have completely forgotten what I had all thought out - until the next morning. Even on my Saturdays on call, I dive into action as soon as I hit the hospital floor.
Last Saturday, when I opened my door to get in the car at 0700, I was greeted by the most amazing sound. The freezing rain was singing! As it hit the snow on the ground, it gave forth the most amazing sound - like a wordless angel song. I spent much of the drive to work thinking about that sound, pondering the great insights it was giving me - and poof, I can't remember a darn thing beyond that I did have a good idea!
This phenomenon reminds me a bit of the hallucinogenic induced flights of 'creativity' that were common among many of my peers during my teenage years. For example, spending hours debating how the word 'is' can never be true, because by the time one says that something is, it no longer is but should be was - and similar meaningless twaddle.
So I apologize, dear readers, for the lack of meaningful content on this blog lately. I will endeavor to try to improve.
I think that for Lent, I will try to post something of meaning on a daily basis. For me, I think that would be more penitential than fasting from the blog. I need to develops some discipline and make better use of the gifts God has given me here.

totally off topic

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an homage to my favorite science fiction writer. Link via Don.
(you knew I was a little strange, didn't you?)
BTW, RAH did have respect for Catholicism in at least one respect. In Stranger in a Strange Land there is an interchange about miracles in religions. One character points out that all religions promise miracles, but that Catholics deliver. The other says something about Lourdes. The response was along the lines of. "Actually, I was thinking of Transubstantiation" to which the other character says something like "That is a little too subtle for me".

She's back online!

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From the Anchor Hold has a current post from Karen Marie!!! Yeah, the prayers must be helping.

Go put a virtual arm around Sparki.

On sin and confession

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From M'Lynn. It brought tears to my eyes, and that ain't easy.

Happy Birthday to

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Erik. Celebrate with a good drink and some great food.

TOTB conference alert

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If possible, I will be attending a conference in the Diocese of Bridgeport In March 2004.
Are there any readers or bloggers in the area? Will any of you be attending this event? If so, I would like to plan to get together.
Speakers will include Christopher West, George Weigel, and Dr. Janet Smith.

must be hiatus

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Disordered affections had 3 posts last week.

A prayer for Father Groeschel

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Gracious and Good Lord, You who pull the clouds across the summer sky, curl the waves white with foam, and carry tiny seeds and beautiful butterflies to faraway lands by the breath of Your lips; grant Father the wind of Your Spirit so he may breathe better and tell the world about God again. Amen.
Updates here.

Please drop by and comment

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Thomas the misplaced Protestant is hurting. "As I sit here considering where to worship this Sunday it hits me – I’ve had enough. I am sick of them all. "
Sounds like he's hitting bottom here. Please drop by and offer words of comfort and prayer, unlike Job's 'comforters'.

Attention Florida readers

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I will be in Tampa the last weekend in February, attending a meeting of compounding pharmacists on the topic of bio-identical hormone replacement therapy. The compounding pharmacist to whom I refer patients has invited me to attend as his guest. I am looking for a good place to attend Sunday Mass, and I would also like the chance to meet any of you who are in that area. I am not yet sure where I will be staying. This came up rather suddenly, but it looks like a real change from some of the more boring continuing education stuff. And it is pharmacy content in my area that is NOT contraception, for which I am very grateful.

entry in the game

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What's Brewing: Today Darjeeling, Tomorrow, Who Knows?
As an inveterate tea drinker, the title and banner appealed greatly to me. And the fact that she is local even more so. And then I see that she is a breast cancer warrior and I think I have found a new blog to read - as if I didn't have enough as it is!

read this

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a while back

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I posted several links to articles about the Theology of the body. I am on a listserv at Catholicity which is dedicated to discussion of this topic, and I thought some of my readers might be interested.
Turns out that some were, indeed, quite interested.
Anyhow, you can pick up the conversation over at El Camino Real.
Maybe when I have the time again to do some real writing, I will put up some of my thoughts about this. But not tonight. I was up all night last night with a worrisome labor, and need to try to get to bed early tonight.

St. Blog awards

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Go vote for your favorites - and thanks to whoever nominated me!

The culture of death strikes again

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Prenatal genetic screening urged for all mums-to-be

Prenatal testing for Down syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities should be made available to all mothers-to-be, not just those over 35 or considered at risk of giving birth to an affected baby, according to a study of the cost-effectiveness of such tests.
My comment: Moloch worship - or maybe Mammon. Money is worth more than life?

Go Read This!

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Two Sleepy Mommies: On Gluttony

It's kind of like a culinary contraceptive mentality -- the desire to have sex whenever you want without any consequences; to eat all you want and not get fat.

Teenagers today

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My 15 y/o daughter has about a dozen friends over right now for a "We aren't watching the Super Bowl" party. It is a kick to listen to these kids. First off, all but one of them play music on a regular basis, and of course the first thing they do at a party is to pick up some of the instruments around the house and start playing. One of them brought over a DVD of Bela Fleck and so on, so we had to hook up the DVD player our oldest son gave us for Christmas. It was a great collection of music to have in the background, but I was really blown away by the rendition of Copeland's Rodeo.
I am so blessed by the kids my daughter calls friend. Polite, loving, with good parents as well. They have even been a source of positive peer pressure, as in persuading her to sign up for confirmation classes.
To think what we would have missed if we had stopped at 5 kids!

I'll bite too

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create your own visited states map
or write about it on the open travel guide
(Click on the "continue reading" to see the map. Visited states are red)
I may actually have visited some of the states left blank, but I have only included the ones I can remember. I have never been to Hawaii, though.
One of the (?) advantages of being an Air Force brat and have done the cross country drive at least 6 times that I can remember!

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About this Archive

This page is an archive of entries from February 2004 listed from newest to oldest.

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March 2004 is the next archive.

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