john boehner: Nothing to blog about

Showing posts with label Nothing to blog about. Show all posts

Let's see... whose should I push now?

Barbie says: "I think I believe..."

Good for her.

A Miss USA contestant believes she lost the title because she said, "I think I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman." Does she think and therefore believe? Or does she just think she believes? Kidding.

At any rate, the judges and the audience did not like her response one bit. Miss California was simply responding to a question posed by blogger-turned-Louella Parsons-type-gossip-columnist, Perez Hilton regarding her stance on gay marriage. The question itself was obviously a set up, a propaganda tool for the promotion of gay marriage in California. However, the young lady did not fall for it and voiced her opinion - sounding and looking like a complete bimbo in the process - "I think I believe."

Yet who cares? What possible difference does the opinion of a beauty contestant make to the issue, much less that of an effeminate gossip monger asking dumb questions? Why am I even writing about this anyway? The whole thing is stupid. I apologize for being so trivial.

(I crack myself up sometimes!)

Oh! Oh! Oh! But why do women enter beauty pageants in the first place? I know - there is money in it, maybe scholarships, and career opportunities too - not unlike prostitution. But I doubt walking around in bikinis and lingerie and answering stupid questions does anything to elevate, much less honor the female sex.

Photo: Miss California, Carrie Prejean. I didn't want to scandalize anyone by showing the full photo of her near nudity (She really does look like Barbie). ROFLOL! Put some clothes on!

Tuesday story corner.

The Bicyclist

Chapter One: Weight limits.

Once upon a time there was a little boy who wanted to be a bus driver when he grew up. He would ride his trike for hours, up and down the sidewalk on his block, and make a pssst sound, pretending it came from the air brakes, as he stopped to pick up passengers. Sometimes when fat Cindy got on for a ride, the little boy did not have the strength to peddle hard enough to carry her, so he made Cindy get off the back of the trike, claiming there was a fire on the bus. Cindy got really mad and so then the little boy decided that driving a bus was not for him. He stopped bus service entirely.

Chapter Two: Crash on grass.

When the little boy grew up, he bought a 10 speed bike and rode it everywhere. He rode to work, and to friend's houses; down to the river, and in the summer he took long rides in the country. He often imagined that he was flying a plane or driving a race car as he rode as fast as he could peddle. One day while he was riding in town, the young man became distracted admiring how blue the sky was on that particular morning. As he turned a familiar corner, not paying attention to anything other than the beautiful blue sky, he found himself unexpectedly upon the hood of an oncoming car, his bicycle all bent out of shape. Surprisingly the young man was unhurt. As the driver of the car stood screaming at the bicyclist, the young day-tripper just picked up his bike and walked home.

The End.

At the dealership...

The waiting room.

So this is when blogging serves a purpose - when you are at the dealership waiting for the work on your car to be finished. Except I do not have my favorite's list here. Anyway - I read my comments for my posts, not many people can tell when I'm having fun and when I'm being serious - another sign of my insanity I guess. Oh well.

I toured some of my favorite websites already, although I still don't know what Fr. Z fixed for supper last night. He seems to be a good cook. (I notice Cathy has been slacking - but it's okay - no pressure hon.)

What to write about today? - I'm blank - I just don't know what to write about. One commenter warned me of detraction - I know about that - and he knows it.

However, it is interesting that people will distance themselves from me for fear I may write about them. It is absolutely true, I'm convinced of it - they stay off my radar screen. Maybe it isn't just for fear I will write about them, but what I write about - my opinion on things they disagree with - will often make them disappear out of my life. For instance, someone going into a profession - say politics - may try to erase every connection they ever had to me. No - I am not imagining it: Obama has not called me, so that means he is trying to pretend we never met. It happens all of the time. People disown me - my parents disowned me - now that is the truth.

Or how about the Cardinal? He has severed all ties with me - he can't be tainted by scandal now that he has a new job in the Vatican, can he? I know! Okay, so I don't know any Cardinals, although if I did, they would have to disavow any connection to me.

I don't think I fall into detraction now days - hopefully I learned my lesson. Have you noticed contemporary folk don't really know the meaning of detraction, or calumny? They think it is normal since the entire culture is saturated with it all of the time. Just watch TV - the news, political ads, late-nite comedians. All lies and scandal.

Hopefully, I can avoid that. Although I love to scare people...

A good friend of mine came out.

His story really influenced me.

A good friend of mine told me he surfs the net and reads blogs - this 'coming out' on his part surprised me because he never reads my blog. Imagine, he is not interested in reading Catholic stuff. I told him this blog is more nuts than Catholic and sometimes it is really funny. It still never got his attention.

He said he reads quirky blogs late at night, and I asked, "What kind? Political?"

He answered, "All kinds!" And he proceeded to explain how some people are really way out there, "They write things like, 'I feel like blowing up my neighbor's house!' - just because they are angry at the trailer trash living next door to them. They call people they don't like 'wackos' and 'freaks' and 'perverts'". Well you get the idea.

Anyway, I said, "Yeah, my one blog is kinda like that, you should read mine." But no! He's not interested in "Church crap" as he called it. That didn't bother me as much as when he said he read "Cafeteria is Closed" a couple of times. "Well over 2 million visitors to that site, you know." I told him I had heard that before.

But my friend's coming out story really did influence me. Many bloggers do come off kind of nuts. (I know I don't!) But people really write some weird stuff. (Again, I know I don't.) So I want to maybe start a new blog - just with weird stories and stuff. Funny stories - well, things I think are funny - and it just might help people look on the bright side a little more. Like Beverly Sutfin said, "Life doesn't have to be ugly." I could post things I wouldn't have to take down a half hour later because readers here might be scandalized. (I just did that with about 6 posts recently.)

What do you think?

I see skulls.

As an artist, I always see images in the patterns of nature. I see faces in marble and terrazzo floors, figures in cloud formations, or the branches of a tree. Without my glasses, I make out shapes in shadows and reflections of light at night, or while 'watching' frost on a window pane. I know it is my imagination at work - even when I 'think' I see religious images on a tabernacle door, or reflected in a glass. Lately, all the images I see are of skulls - every pattern I look at. Even in church, when I pray and become momentarily distracted by the wood grain pattern of the pew - a skull shows up. (BTW, aside from the fact it is easier to remain recollected, my recognizing images where they do not exist is the other reason I prefer to pray with my eyes closed.)

The Archbishop indicted...

I got the pamphlet in the mail today!

"Apostolic Succession or the Priesthood Betrayed." It is very slick, nice format, well written. It is not an anonymous document, it was written by Dr. David Pence for the docsociety.org. In fact, one could pretty much get all of the same information from his website. It is kind of a rebuttal to the argument between Archbishop Flynn and Star Tribune columnist, Katherine Kersten concerning the "Battle for the soul of St. Thomas" - or the secularization of the University of St. Thomas. The document comes down pretty hard on Archbishop Flynn, the president Dennis Dease, and Kevin McDonough - although the Archbishop takes the direct hit.

I don't know - I've heard all of it before. The unofficial CDF blogs, doctrinal websites of faith and morals, voices in the desert, uber parents on line, church basement gossips - every one talks about this stuff and not much happens. Look how many years St. Stephen's has held the gates to hell open, and no one stopped them. Prayer is good, talk is cheap.

I'm sure someone at the Argument of the Month Club will get their copy of the booklet (Dr. Pence will be handing them out there) and if they feel it is important, one of those guys can write about it. The document is really addressed to priests anyway.

Last year at this time all of the blogs were abuzz about the Motu Proprio and the evil machinations of select bishops to prevent it. The year before at this time the local blogs were hot about the silencing of Fr. Altier by the mean ol' bishop. Been there, done that.

Blog-o-drama...

I'm locked out of Abbey-Roads2 again.

This happens periodically and as usual, I'm annoyed about it. I usually do my more serious stuff for Abbey2, although I post serious things on Abbey1 as well, albeit more personal and oftentimes more silly. I don't know how long I'll keep that up however. And I may just post here exclusively. After viewing Cynthia Large's work, I want to resume painting. In addition, I'm running out of things to write about on my blogs, and I don't want to simply post news articles.

As you may have noticed, I have been reading Caryll Houselander - just bits and pieces - and I find her insights somewhat helpful - although I have some difficulty with her spirituality, which I find to be a bit feminine for my taste. Actually, a few of her thoughts reminded me of these lyrics by Sting:

When you're down and they're counting

When your secrets all found out

When your troubles take to mounting

When the map you have leads you to doubt

When there's no information

And the compass turns to nowhere that you know well... -"Let your soul be your pilot."

Houselander on psychologically expensive friends.

The expensive people are those who, because they are not simple, make complicated demands — people to whom we cannot respond spontaneously and simply, without anxiety. They need not be abnormal to exact these complicated responses; it is enough that they should be untruthful, or touchy, or hypersensitive, or that they have an exaggerated idea of their own importance, or that they have a pose — one which may have become second nature, but is not what they really are. With all such people we are bound to experience a little hitch in our response. If we are not sure that what they say is true, we are embarrassed. In time, our relationship with them becomes unreal. If we have to consider every word or act in their company in case it hurts their feelings or offends their dignity, or to act up to them in order to support their pose, we become strained by their society. They are costing us dearly in psychological energy. - Caryll Houselander

So anyway - if you have posted comments to Abbey2 and they are not up - the reason is I can't get into the site to edit or write. Usually, in a few days, I'm able to get back in. In the meantime - I am here. I'll be posting things which may seem disconnected, however, they grabbed my attention and were meaningful for me. It will all make sense in time.

Mrs. Wiggins

I was looking for a funny photo to post, and as I searched my files, I realized I have really posted some pretty funny photos on this blog. (I think the best were associated with the posts I did about quitting my job last March.)

This hunting season...

Swill - don't kill. ;)

(I'm not really against hunting - it just rhymed.)

Why can't I get the respect I'm entitled to?

Dialog from a dream I had about Cathy...

Cathy: Did you scrub the bathroom floor today? DID YOU?

Terry: Yes, Mommie.

Cathy: Yes, Mommie what?
Terry: Yes, Mommie Dearest.

Cathy: Terry, when I told you to call me that, I wanted you to mean it.

(Photo: Cathy at her home near Como Park.)

That's hot!

Hundreds get naked to expose Global Warming.

Is it art or is it politics? (Maybe it's Maybelline.) All I can say is that I'd be embarrassed - you know - shrinkage. (It doesn't just happen to glaciers.)

Holier than thou...

Puritanism.

I have been in this dark, dark, DARK mood for innumerable days. Lately I've been thinking deeply about penance and I got myself all 'doured-soured' out about everything - past sins and failures and all that kind of stuff. I was starting to feel like a rad-trad Catholic! Ick! Then today, it was like all the doom and gloom suddenly cleared away and I finally felt a sense of joy - for the first time in months! (Maybe it's because I just heard of another defection from the rad-trad-cult form of Catholicism. An uber-traditionalist wife just left her Feeney-ite husband. Too much religion can sometimes either cause one to lose one's faith or drive a person crazy. I personally think this woman had enough. I don't know if she left the faith, but the ubers think leaving one's husband is the same thing.)

Whatever, today I felt as if this great burden has been lifted off my shoulders. In a silly mood, I started thinking of things I don't care about, so I'll list some of them.

So yeah, here is some stuff that doesn't bother me:

* The Latin Mass in either form - I don't care if it's Novus Ordo or the TLM. If it happens to be the Novus Ordo - I don't care if it's in English or Latin.

* What people wear to Mass. I don't care if women are in camisoles - actually one was last Sunday - it doesn't bother me.

* Weddings - I've been invited to 4 this year and haven't attended any of them - and it doesn't bother me.

* Gay people - I honestly don't care if someone is gay - unless the guy is real femme or the woman is man-hating butch - that's just weird. If they claim to be Catholic, then I do care that they really abide by what the Church teaches - if not - they should stop pretending to be Catholic. If they are not religious, that's fine.

* Non-Catholics. I don't care if someone is Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, or Wiccan - just don't try to convert me or argue religion with me.

* Irreligious people. Same thing - just don't criticize me or my religion or try to argue with me.

* Marijuana. If it was legal I'd probably smoke it. However, it's not legal and it's a sin to break the law.

* Anorexic women. I think they are kind of attractive.

* Global warming - it happens.

* People who talk on cell phones in public - I enjoy listening to their conversations and pigeon-holing them by what they say.

* Motorcyclists without helmets and people who engage in extreme sports. I don't care if they kill themselves.

* Answering the phone - I don't.

* Cars. I've never ever been impressed with the type of car a person drives.

* Professional sports - I don't care about them.

* Celebrities - I don't care about them.

* Family feuds - I love the drama.

* Severe storms - I love the drama - it's related to family feuds - dysfunctional-ism.

* Working wives and mothers - at least they are not living off their husbands. (Oh lighten up! I'm kidding!)

* Harry Potter - I love the stories.

* Priests in or out of clerical clothing - that doesn't bother me - just as long as they are wearing something.

* Peace and justice radicals who are anti-war.

* Modern and contemporary art - I like a lot of it.

* Nudity.

* Talking in Church - I was letting it bother me and decided I was getting to be too 'holier than thou' about it. I've decided it is a waste of time to worry about things one has no control over.

* Smoking and people who smoke. (I do.)

* Crabby old people.

* Death - it's something we have to do.

* Nuns in secular clothing.

* Nuns in traditional habits.

* Fast food - although I rarely ever eat it.

* This post is starting to bother me. I can't think of anything else. Suffice it to say, there are a lot of things that don't bother me today. Maybe I should do a post about what does bother me?

What really does bother me is falling for the 'holier than thou' thing - it's such an easy trap to fall into - especially for bloggers.

Is this Mitchell?

Cathy - is this the man you saw in your dream? I always imagined Mitchell to wear glasses. (Isn't this him in his condo downtown?)

Terrance J. Nelson

I Googled my name to see what images came up for me - aside from some of my paintings, this image came up as me. I guess I don't mind.

(I'm kind of thinking I may return to this blog exclusively. The Catholic Company is now beginning to post advertisements on Abbey2, and everyone knows how I despise crass commercialism on blogs. I'm also not so impressed with St. Blogs and their Stepford Catholic assemblage of writers. And I don't trust "Catholic" companies that much any more either. This development raises all sorts of conscientious objections for me. I'm plunged into re-evaluating blogs, their meaning and purpose. Oy! I didn't see this crises coming back so soon! It's Cathy's doing - I'm sure of it!)

Pope on vacation...

Catholic music...

Dancing in the dark - the song has nothing to do with anything Catholic, save my post on Abbey2 by that title. But it's all about my favorite Springsteen song, and the moment I fell in love with Courtney Cox! I thought she was just a kid from the crowd - I had no idea it was staged. (I know; dork-o-rama!) She is still cute though.

john boehner