Women, a mystery???

This morning's news was interesting.  The world's leading scientist, Stephen Hawking is quoted that women are the biggest mystery in the world.  That's a big statement coming from someone who has managed to unravelling the most intricate of questions about life.  I gotta admit, I am stumped.  Women have certainly driven me nuts trying to figure them out sometimes, but what I believe Stephen's talking about is their paramount purpose for existence in the first place. 
I guess he never bothered to read Genesis.  According to God; you've heard of him, right?  "It is not good for man to be alone; I will create women to be his helpmate."  I am never ceased to be amazed when I read about how someone with vast intelligence beyond my comprehension, can say some of the stupidest statements ever made. 
The first reason should be more obvious to him than to me, who flunked science;  How could we multiply and have children, given our human make up?  God would have had to give us a different human structure capable of uni sexuality.  God, being omnipotent, could have easily have accomplished that, I have no doubt.  No, the reason is much deeper than a physiological differences between man and women.  It is God's ultimate plan for us, being together, man and women one flesh combined forever.  God is not only our creator, but the author of marriage itself. 
I have said and done many idiotic things in my life but, sorry Stephen; your statement is the stupidest 
one I have ever encountered in my life. 

The Persecution Continues

I just read an article on Bill Maher, bashing Tim Tebow over blunders in a stupid football game.  I understand that if you a famous for anything in today's world, you are under the microscope for anything and everything you think, believe, or do.  That's a given.  But the below the belt bashing of someone, including bashing one's religious beliefs, is to me, an abomination for they are not only insulting that person but all those who have the same beliefs.  How can he be so bold, so audacious, so cruel to act as if their poop does not stink? 
Tim Tebow, hats off to you for not even replying to the bash.  I guess this is modern day crucifying.  The persecution continues over 2,000 years later.  Oh well, we were warned of it.  I have to admit that I'd like to persecute Bill, but I have to be above this, as Tim Tebow is.  Even if I did not believe, I think I would be above bashing any one's religious beliefs. 
Maher continues to bash in a debate with Bill O Reilly, stating that 60 % of Americans still believe that the Noah's Ark story is true.  well, let me say this about that:  It is very encouraging to me if 60 % of Americans believe that.  I would have guessed the percentile to be lower.  As for me, I believe every word, every punctuation mark and exclamation point in the bible. 
God has patience of super-human power for not destroying our evil world centuries ago.  Personally, I believe the end is very near, for I can't conceive how much more violent or evil our society can get before Jesus makes his appearance.  I don't understand what people have against what Jesus stands for.  He only wants us to love one another, to have the capacity to forgive, and the humanity to help those in need.  We all, of course fall short of that in one way or another.  I can speak for myself whole heartily when I proclaim that.  I go to Mass daily, not because I'm so righteous, but because I am a sinner, a sinner who seeks God's forgiveness, mercy, and salvation. 
The evil one is alive and well in each and everyone, if we allow him to be.  That's where prayer or as St Paul puts it continuous prayer is so necessary to keep us on the course to holiness. 
Amen, amen I say to one and all: repent for your sins, pray for forgiveness, and go out into the world and spread the Good News.  Spread acts of kindness without expectations of rewards and your reward will be beyond your wildest dreams and imagination.   Do not gamble with your eternity.

God bless each and every one of you and may God have mercy on your soul, Bill

Whole Wheat Honey Anadama Bread

Anadama Whole Wheat N Honey Bread

Mix ½ corn meal with ½ cup water and let sit for  ½ hr.

1Tbs yeast

½ Tbs salt

2 ½ cups warm water

¼ cup br sugar

¼ cup honey

¼ cup molasses

1 ½ cups white flour

¼ cup butter or Crisco, even olive oil

Mix water and yeast and let sit 15 min.

Start adding the other stuff and mix, then run out on board and knead for 10 minutes until smooth.

Keep flour at hand for the board, the dough and your hands.

Cover in a greased bowl for 1 ½-2 hr.

Punch down on floured board, cut in half, make balls out of the two portions.

Grease a pan and sprinkle corn meal on pan.

Place the two loaves on the pan and cover for an hr.

Bake at 400 for 10 min. and reduce to 350 for the rest of about an hour.

Last week, I had to drive out to my old stomping grounds, Ontario, NY, to attend a funeral.  I noticed the traffic stopped up ahead and cut off on a side road.  It brought me to another and yet another before I got on familiar ground.  As I drove, I couldn't help be aware of the the new housing developments that have sprung up on these once familiar farm roads.  They were not only new developments, but huge castle like homes, looking so out of place in the rural settings.  The properties did not really offer any privacy; one could see all the other nearby castles around and behind each other.  I was surprisingly saddened by the sight.  Saddened, not because I was in envy of these folks who obviously had more money than I'll ever have, but saddened by the revelation of the ever broadening gap between the rich and the poor and the impact of the rich on not only the poor, but the environment, the land, and the real reality of how things can change during our lifetime.  Gone now, where the beautiful farming establishments that had for so long dotted the little country roads.  Gone were the empty fields, the scenic woods, the open sky, the beautiful song of silence of the outdoors.  Growing up in Ontario, we had 35 acres of land with just what I described; open fields, wooded areas, inviting one to follow the paths, orchards, streams and peace and quiet.  I remember going out back and over the hill to where I could not view the house or road and feeling so alone in my own little world.  I could close my eyes and smell the trees, grasses, and earth.  I could hear only the sighing of the ancient trees over my head, swaying to and fro in their unending song for my ears only.  As I continued closer to my destination in town, I felt a small tear, slowly making it's way down the creases of my cheek on it's journey towards my chin.  It was a strange feeling of being alone, an alien from a different world, unwillingly thrust into a society where I knew I did not fit.  I wiped the tear before it dripped off my chin, and thought of the times out back, alone with nature and realized God was there with me all the time.  Every blade of grass, every tree, was possible only with the supreme direction of he who created me.  When I get lonely or nostalgic, I think of the times in Ontario, out back, over the hill among the quiet of nature and out of vision from the castles and thank God for that life.

A Year in an MGA

I recken it was round about 1966 that three of us from high school all happened to have MGA roadsters.  Lonnie and I each had 1957 A's and Mark had maybe a 60 or so (Don't quote that year!) with a dual overhead cam engine.  Very cool.
  Guess I should drop back and splain what MGA is.  It stands for Morris Garage Automotive, I believe.  They were made in England from 1921 up until 2006 or so, passing through many hands over the years.  To me, the most popular models were produced from the mid 40's to the early 70's. OK, I'm rambling.
The MGA s replaced the earlier TA through TF models with a new more streamlined uni body look.  A British 2 seater roadster (convertible).  They came out in 1955 at the Frankfurt Auto Show and up until 1961.  My 57 sported a 1489CC engine, 4 speed transmission dual SU carbs, and when tuned up, would go like nobody's business.
I found it in an old garage off Hudson St. in Rochester, NY.  I don't recall what the guy was asking for it.  We tried to start it but no go.  He let me hook a rope on and pull it around the neighborhood to try to start it, but nothing.  It was white and fairly rusty.  It was a convertible but the frame and top were gone.  It did have a tonoue cover, which was a little leather cover that snapped over the cockpit area, covering the seats just under the windscreen (windshield).  I just remembered, the starter did not work and that's why he let us pull it around to attempt to start it.  Anyways, we pulled back into his driveway and with the rope still on it, I offered him $ 200.00  He said yes and got the title.  Away we went towing it, my friend, Lonnie behind the wheel of the MG steering and braking and I, towing it with my Dodge 440.  We weaved our way through the city and probably stopped at a gas station to pump air in the tires and get a bit of fresh gas for it. 
In those days, Rt 104 was not an expressway, but the Ridge Rd. from Rochester to Webster to Union Hill, Fruitland, and finally to Ontario, NY.  Lonnie was supposed to have the MG in neutral so I could tow it easily, but unbeknown to me, he actually had it in 3rd or 4th gear with the key on in an attempt to start it while we drove.  We had come into Webster and I was slowing down for the light in the middle of town, when I heard a popping and a small explosion.  I looked back through the rear view mirror and Lonnie and the MG had vanished in a thick cloud of black smoke!  The MG started!  I sat there at the green light in a trance and finally the smoke cleared and Lonnie sat there with this big grin, the car, now in neutral.  It was only running on three cylinders but it ran.  I think he let it run at idle the rest of the way home.  We assessed it more thoroughly at home.  The starter did not work, but it had a crank hole in the front and I could turn it over by hand.  In those days the MG's did not have side windows that rolled up and down, but plexiglases screens that fit into the top of the doors.  They were clear at some point in time, but now they were hazed over and you could barely see out them.  The car also did not have outside door handles; you had to reach inside the door to open it.  Overall, it was in pretty bad shape but I was as delighted as one who was given an new Rolls Royce.  After all, we were only about 17 years old at the time.  After getting it registered and plates on it, I took it to a friend's home nearby and he determined that it had a cracked head so one of the cylinders would not fire.  The local junkyard had a used head off a Nash Rambler that used the same engine and for $ 30.00 I grabbed it.  I somehow don't think we even put a new head gasket on, but with the Nash head, it fired up on all 4 cylinders.  At Xerox, where I worked, there was a guy from England who offered to take it home over the weekend and tune it up for me.  When he finished, it was ready to burn up the road and I did my best to do just that. 
About the same time, Lonnie found another 57, just like mine.  One day we were tooling about town, when we ran into another mate from school, Mark.  He was driving a 1960 MGA with the dual overhead cam engine.  In a small town like Ontario, NY, we were the three amigos in our MGA's. 
The cars had an entire new language to grasp describing the parts of the car.  The hood, of engine cover was the bonnet.  The generator was the dynamo.  the windshield was the windscreen. 

We three, drove those MGA's for about a year before having to grow up and go in the service.  Lonnie left in January 1968 for the Navy and stored his A in his family's barn.  I went over one day and "borrowed" the car top, frame and all.  Before that, I only had the tonoue cover and it was a brutal winter in upstate New York.  I followed Lonnie into Navy boot camp in April of 68 and foolishly stored my A at my parents one car garage.  How stupid was that?  A few weeks later, I got a check in the mail from Dad for $ 150.00 with a letter boasting about how he sold it for such a great price!  If only he knew how much I had in the car!  Sigh...........

Father, Lord, Savior,
  I can no longer imagine my journey through life without your strentgh, guidance, leadership, mercy, salvation.  "How great thou art" does not begin to convey who you are to me.  There are no words, communique, images, or feelings worthy enough to express to you.  Thank goodness, I know that all I have to do is close my eyes, bow my head, and breathe and your spirit comes upon me and I know you hear me.  You hear me through the good times and the bad, through the sickness and health, the smiles, the tears and even if I try to run and hide.  You are always there, unchanging, unwavering, patiently, forgiving.  You are my everything.  How did I go so long in my life without realizing this?  How could you be so patient with me?  How can I do my part to repay my debt?  Show me the way, O Lord.  Open the door and I will enter.  Give me the strength and courage to carry my share of your cross. Put the words in my mouth and I will sing for you.  Place the spirit in my heart so that I might always be with you.  Light the light in my soul so that I might shine for you.  Wash clean my sins so that I might be pure for you.  Help me to forgive and be slow to anger.  Give me the wisdom, the honesty, and the resolve to be your disciple.
  In all this I pray; in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

  Amen

Those "cute" FaceBook sayings are usually anything but true!

I have seen them and I'm sure you have too; cute little sayings on Face Book that seem innocent but upon a little more than casual observance, are not only misleading but send a subliminal message that, well, insults my intelligence. 

Just because you go to church, does not make you a Christian.

The implication here is one may attend church and go out into the world and be perceived as anything but Christian.  It is true that if we put a cat or dog or a deceased person in the pew, day after day, that they most likely will not glean any part of the service that is beneficial to them.  It is safe to say that if one is forced to attend or only attends out of "obligation", but does not really wish to be there or participate in the celebration, that they are likely to leave with the service having little or no effect on them.  But to me, further analisis of the phrase is an encouragement to not attend at all.  Mind you, these cute little sayings are posted by so called Christians.  Why should one discourage anyone from attending at all?  I know from personal experience that I did attend church, but left with no new meaning in life or effect from being there.  However, after many times being there (church)  whether I approved or not, I not only experienced a profound effect, but looked forward to the next Mass with great anticipation and eventually, hung on to each and every word, song, prayer, and left the church a better person for it.  I think the moral of the phrase is just because you go to church, the paramount element missing is when you leave church, it is important to go out into the world and be a shinning example of Christianity, in one's actions, demeanor, and discernment.  Everything offered at this precious celebration should be absorbed and you end up not only being a Christian, but a better person.

Try to be more like Christ and less like a Christian

This cute little saying is an oxymoron in itself.  By all means, strive to act like Christ, but don't make light or give demeaning continuation to the term Christian.  Again, I see the intention of the phrase, but to put Christianity in a negative posture is offensive to me and just plain wrong.  We must recognize that we all can be jerks and idiots from time to time, but after all, we are human.  Humans are only moral people who go through life making mistakes along with all the virtues we pick up along the journey.  To coin the phrase "Try to be more like Christ" is certainly what we all should strive for.  By being human, which of course, we are, does mean that we stumble, fall, run off in the wrong direction and are under constant pressure to be unchristian. That is the power of Satin, to always put us off guard, to justify our actions as right and proper when, of course, they are not most of the time. This is why we attend church, to admit our guilt as sinners, to ask Christ for mercy and forgiveness and to learn from the scriptures how to lead our lives as true Christians.  If the phrase were stated: "Try to be more like Christ and more Christian" I would have no problem. 

In other words, any phrase, statement, or act alluding to Christianity in a negative light is playing right into the enemy's hands.  Don't cop a phrase just because it seems catchy or cute.  Try to use your heads and raise your awareness to what you are actually saying.  Each time an argument against Christianity is brought to light, Satin wins.

This morning on FaceBook, I noticed a question that I really can't answer with any authority, but I can put my two cents in, if you don't mind, Mark.  The question: Why doesn't the Catholic Church have bibles in the pews?

The Catholic Mass is structured as to the order of events taking place on any particular day.  Perhaps I'll draft up a blog on the order of the Mass, but for reference to the question, there are three yearly cycles for the weekly mass; 50 per year with three cycles A, B, & C.  The prayers, responses, and the Bible readings can be found in the Daily Missals, provided as you enter the church along with the Hymnals.  The Mass is structured with readings from the bible as follows:  1st Reading from the old testament, the Psalm (a song usually sung) a 2nd reading from the new testament (very often the letters of St Paul to the new church) and last but not least the Gospel reading (Always read by the priest or Deacon)  Many people pick up or bring their daily Missal to read the prayers for that particular day and readings.  This never changes.  People have asked me why I go to Mass if they don't have bible study included.  The Catholic church certainly offers bible study for those interested but bible study is not part of the Mass.  The FOUR readings from the bible are most certainly given at each Mass.  The Priest's homely after the four readings almost always ties the four readings into a relationship with each other.  In fact, the Mass follows a theme, so to speak, with all the readings related to that particular Mass. The songs sung, the readings, the homely, are all inter-connected with the thyme of the Mass.

I attended services at many a church, Methodist, Catholic, Baptist, etc. and usually have not noticed bibles in the pews.  The presence of the bibles or not in the pews most certainly does not mean that the readings are not covered at Mass.

Silence is Golden

Silence is Golden A man joined a monastery, where you can not talk for two years and then only two words. The days turned into weeks, then months, then finally after two years, he was brought in to the Abbot. "Well, what do you have to say?" The man replied "Food awful!" Back into the silence he went. Days passed into weeks, then months and finally years and the man was again brought before the Abbot. "Well", asked the Abbot, "What do you have to say this time?" The man replied "Bed, lumpy." Back into silence, he went. Days turned into weeks, then months, and again, two years finally elapsed. Again, he was brought before the Abbot. Before the Abbot could ask him what he had to say, the man spouted out "I quit!" "And no wonder" said the Abbot, "All you've done is complain, complain, complain!"

Former 'Blue Baby' Enters 3rd year in Perfect Health

Former ‘Blue Baby’ Enters 3rd Year in Perfect Health Just found this old newspaper article from my 2nd birthday. I was one of the first (if not the first) to get a complete blood transfusion at birth and live to sing “Good Night Irene” The print’s a bit small so here’s what the article said: Early Bird Getting a head start on his birthday cake is Francis R. Gelo who is two years old today. At birth, Bucky was a “blue baby” but today he’s normal enough to tackle the two-layer delight before him and sing “Good Night Irene” for his relatives. Former Blue Baby enters 3rd year in perfect health. Little Francis Rober Gelo sat on the sofa in his parent’s home at 365 Rosewood Ter. Yesterday and sang “Good Night Irene” He was tuning up for his second birthday party today. His parents Mr. &  Mrs. James Gelo, proudly watched and listened to his singing. “You can see he’s just as normal as any baby now,” his mother remarked. And she was right, Bucky, boy’s nickname, who is 2 years old today, is perfectly normal-so normal in fact that he blossomed out with the measles last week. But, he’s over them now. But when Bucky was born two years ago, Bucky wasn’t normal. He was a “blue baby,” but thanks to medical science, he’s alive and well today. Immediately after his birth, doctors drained the deadly R-H positive blood from tiny body and substituted R-H negative blood. Today Bucky will be the center of attraction at his birthday party, which all his relatives will attend. “He will probably be singing “Good Night Irene,”’ his mother said until we have to put him to bed.”

Theology of Marriage

Theology of Marriage


When Fr Edison approached us about offering testimony to you, about to wed, I believe it was not coincidence, but a nudge from God, leading him to call on us to offer to you that which we truly believe; the call to aid and enlighten as you prepare to enter into the most paramount journey of your lives.

Quoting a statement from Pope John Paul II “The very preparation for Christian marriage is itself a journey of faith. It is a special opportunity for the engaged to rediscover and deepen the faith received in baptism and nourished by their Christian upbringing. In this way they come to recognize and freely accept their vocation to follow Christ and to serve the kingdom of God in the married state.”

Did you ever look at marriage as a vocation? We’ve surly heard the more common descriptive concerning marriage such as institution, but I really never considered it a vocation. Even now, as God leads me to speak to you, I learn more and understand one more piece of this marvelous mystery.

What you’re about to enter into is a covenant, so special, so glorious that it has been raised by our Lord to the dignity of a sacrament. The unending circle of our Christian faith bonds us more intricately into the woven intimacy of one flesh with each other and Christ. In other words, God sees this and claims “This is very good.”

I think to the most casual observer, we can all agree that our society has evolved into one in which the atmosphere is thick with the temptation to become complacent to so much of which clearly goes against God’s wish for us. Our divorce rate is nothing to write home about. I can attest to that on a much more personnel level and but for the grace of God, have I been tempered and reminded of his unchanging plan for us, always more perfect than I could ever imagine.

Scripture begins with the creation of man and woman, and thus the first original marriage, continues to speak again and again of its mystery, God’s plan for it, his meaning for it and concludes, leaving us with the vision of the “wedding feast of the Lamb.” It’s no coincidence; Jesus begins his public ministry at a wedding. Again and again, his teachings revolve around marriage, even commenting on the guidelines given by Moses, reiterating marriage’s “indissolubility”, according to the will of God. Through the good times and the bad, in sickness and in health, till death do us part. Forever, period.

There is a perfect plan for us all, one in which we are guided (if we choose to be) as we journey down roads that we cannot possibly see but for all the twists and corners, roads that with faith, we too can walk on water like Peter, overcome any and all obstacles in the mystery of life, including the sting of death. God reasoned, “It is not good to be alone” so he created woman to be man’s helpmate, companion, mother of his children, mother of all life. This may seem so insignificant but if we look deeper, God’s perfect plan is revealed over and over. We were meant to be with one another, as one; one body, one blood, one perfect unity with Christ, who in us and through us spread the harvest of our covenant, to our children and to their children, until we all meet at the wedding feast of the Lamb.

It started with your baptism, the long journey that to God is but a breath, taking you through your childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and now to this sacred sacrament of marriage. I can’t imagine life without my wife to be there for me, as I for her, two minds and souls, melding, nurturing, loving, as God asks of us. Through the origin of sin were we granted the pain of childbirth and the sweat of our toil but by the grace of God are we enabled to rise above our frailties be filled with the holy Spirit, radiate peace and spread love. The Catechism, 1615 words it so eloquently, stating “By coming to restore the original order of creation disturbed by sin, he himself (Christ) gives the strength and grace to live marriage in the new dimension of the Rein of God. It is by following Christ, renouncing ourselves, taking up our own crosses will we be able to “receive”
the original meaning of marriage and live it with the help of Christ. This grace of Christian marriage is a fruit of Christ’s cross, the source of all Christian life.” How wonderful it is to know that our marriage is a fruit, a fruit of that wonderful cross, graced with Christ’s blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant.

Right to free Speech ?

I realize how hard we have fought to attain our constitutional rights but now I wonder if people are getting away with moral crimes by exercising their precious free speech. I'm referring to the Westboro Baptist Church that attends military funerals and protest the allowance of homosexuality. There is a time and place for everything but disrupting a funeral is about as un-christian and act as I've ever seen. I can't imagine the pain and humiliation on the part of the deceased soldier's family and friends. A funeral is a time for saying goodbye, grieving, and above all, giving honor and respect to a loved one.

This Westboro Baptist Church, mostly made up of one family, is taking it upon themselves to protest and disrupt over what they feel is important. I am arguing their right to do so, I am stating that they don't have the moral right to place themselves in a position to cause more pain and suffering on people atop of having to bury their loved one.

The issues they are protesting for, I somewhat agree with, however, there are moral obligations to be considered as well as their 1st amendment right. I personally believe that our country is decomposing from our lack of moral ethics. I don't even watch TV because most of what is aired, to me is terrible. Even our sit-coms early in the night, are filled with sex, dissipation, most of what I feel is not appropriate for young children to be exposed to.
Our laws are continually changing to eliminate God from our society. We can not have any photos, monuments, crosses, or anything depicting Christianity on display publicly. We have sold out God and put false gods, pagan gods, and idols in place of our Father. As our grandparents and parents used to say: "We're going to hell in a hand basket."

Still, what this so-called church is doing with their protesting, I call blasphemy. As Christians, we are called to follow Christ's teachings, and preach the Gospel, not disrupt funerals, causing so much pain needlessly. I could stake my life that members of the Westboro Baptist Church are not sinless. Every single human being is a sinner. It is not our duty or direction to go about causing disruption and tongue wagging. The sad part is, our constitutional laws are protecting these creeps.

Oswald Cane

This is not the first time I've had to use Oswald. I had to acquire it last winter to help me after a fall. After that, I kept it in the back of the Volvo, finding it useful for hooking and pulling items to the back of the hatch. After Monday night's situation on the hall stairs, Oswald was brought out of the Volvo and employed once again. Good ole Os. I found it more handy for more than just supporting me when I walk. The end of the handle is perfect for hooking things from about the room. Last night, I woke up chilly and Os hooked and pulled my afghan off a shelf, without getting up. So, with a little imagination, I can keep Os busy for a while!

VistaPrint is eviil!

You've probably heard of them VistaPrint. They offer business cards for free or next to nothing. A few years ago, I ordered some and they were OK (the cards) About two years ago, I ordered some other cards from them and while I was at the checkout window and they already had my debit card no. a box opened up offering $ 10.00 off the amount. I clicked on it. That's when the trouble started. Now's a good time to advise everyone to scrutinize their bank statements as soon as they come in. I did not. A couple months went by and my bank account was kinda low, but I was aware of it. One day, I got a note from the bank advising my of a bounced check. I looked into it and discovered that VistaPrint was drawing a few bucks out and had been the last few months. I called them to resolve it and they told me that I had authorized them to for some service. I told them I did not authorize anything of the sort. They claimed I did not read the fine print. Well, the fine print must have been printed by an ant. I told them to stop that action right away and complained about the NSF fees from the bank. They told me to send them the bank statements and it would be straightened out. I again demanded them to stop this bogus service. I thought I had it straightened out and forgot about it and decided to lick my NSF wounds and move on. The next month, I got many NSF charges for bounced transactions. I contacted them once more and really got the run around. I printed out the last few months bank statements and went to the bank to deposit the money to bring my account back up to at least zero. While I was there, I asked to see the bank manager. I explained to her the problem. She went into my account and verified what I told her to be true. She cancelled my debit card and ordered a new one with a new number so VistaPrint could not continue to dip from me. She then waived all the NSF fees and instead of being minus $ 60.oo, I ended up with plus $ 145.00. It was three days before Christmas. I started to thank her but burst into tears. She smiled and wished me a merry Christmas. I am writing now to warn everyone how we all can't be too careful with our on-line transactions. I later saw a news article about just my problem and they mentioned VistaPrint and other so called legit firms doing that.
Nuff Said!

In my own words Pope John Paul II

It is a beautiful and salutary thought that, whereever people are praying in the world, there the Holy Spirit is, the living breath of prayer. It is a beautiful and salutary thought to recognize that, if prayer is offered throughout the world, in the past, in the present and in the futture, equally widespread is the prersence and action of the Holy Spirit, who "breathes" prayer in the heart of man in all the endless range of the most varried situation and conditions.

More, In my own words Jouhn Paul II

The Holy Spirit is given to the Church as the source of strength to conquer sin. Only God has the power to forgive sins, because he alone sees right into the human person and can measure human responsibility completely. Sin remains, in it's psychological depth, a secret which God alone has the power to enter, in order to say to a person the efficacious words: "Your sins are forgiven you, you are pardoned."

Past New Years Reflections

Here we are; another New Years Eve. Just trying to remember some of the celebrations I've played in bands over the years. The specific years are all fuzzy, but I remember a couple (at least) with the Back 40 Band at the Geneva Moose Club. It started with a climb up narrow stairs with the equipment, through the kitchen, to get to the main room and set up. Then there was the let down of the party woodchucks coming in to celebrate. The band sounded good, but the spirit was hard to conjure up in a room of strangers, smoke, laughter, and tipsy folk on the dance floor, doing their best to knock my teeth out, bumping into the mic stand! In the 80's, the pay scale, even at the Geneva Moose was probably better than today's pay on New Years.

I seem to remember a couple New Years Eve parties at the Ontario Fire Hall, playing with the Shortbread band. I probably did know more folk at those occasions, as I grew up in Ontario. Still, it was not the most exciting place to be on New Years Eve. I remember one time there, my wife and the bass player's wife took off bar hopping while we were playing and didn't come back till way after the ball dropped. Lord knows where they went, but my wife was not able to stand on here own two feet, and I found her outside, fertilizing a snow bank with tequila, vodka, and Cognac. That was a memorable occasion for sure.

The most profitable New Years Eve I ever played was the California Brew Haus, solo, six sets, from 9 to 3:30 AM. Dickie, the proprietor, got a special permit to stay open till 3:30! It was quite a night. By midnight, I lost my voice, ran out of material, and reverted to songs I've never performed, like Doo Wah Diddy. I only knew one verse and repeated it, stretching out the song for the dancers. The funny thing I remember was people requesting the stupid song again! By 2:00 AM, I managed to retrieve my voice, continued singing, playing, and amusing myself with the antics of the crowd. One drunk gal got up and sang with me, her breath, stinking of booze, me, bobbing and weaving, in a feeble attempt to escape her breath. I was smart and did not drink any booze. Good thing, too, for I passed through two road blocks on my way home.

In my own words Pope John Paul II

Materialistic concerns and one-sided values are never sufficient to fill the heart and mind of a human person. A life reduced to the sole dimension of possessions, of consumer goods, of temporal concerns will never let you discover and enjoy the full richness of your humanity. It is only in God--in Jesus, God made man--that you will fully understand what your are. He will unvieil to you the true greatness of yourselves: that you are redeemed by him and taken up in his love; that you are made truly free in him who said about himself: "If the Son frees you, you will be free indeed" (Jn 8:36).

In my own words Pope John Paul II

The incarnation of the Son of God attests that God goes in search of man. Jesus speaks of this search as the finding of a lost sheep. It is a search which begins in the heart of God...If God goes in search of man, created in his own image and likeness, he does so because he loves him eternally in the Word, and wishes to raise him in Christ to the dignity of an adoptive son. God therefore goes in search of man who is his special possession in a way unlike any other creature.

Bucky's Peanut butter & Jelly Cocktail Meatballs

Yep, it sounds crazy, but it turned out good!

The sauce:
With the slow cooker on high, add
1/8 Cup Olive Oil
12 oz chili sauce
10- oz grape jelly
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 vinegar
1/2 cup red wine1/3 cup water

The Meatballs:
1 lb ground beef
1/2 course ground pork butt
1 cup sauteed onions
3/4 cup bread crumbs
1/2 grated Romano cheese
1/4 parsley
2
TB Cayenne pepper
1/4 red wine
1 beaten egg
2 Tb caraway seeds
Salt & Pepper

Mix it together nicely, and form small meatballs. I fried some in olive oil, and roasted some in the oven at 375; both ways were fine.
When the sauce is hot, add the meatballs and bring up to a bubble. Reduce cooker to low and simmer.
Sweet, spicy, Bon....you know!

Pope John Paul II 1987

The name of Jesus, like the Word of God that he is, is a two-edged sword. It is a name that means salvation and life; it is a name that means a struggle and a cross, just as it did for him. But it is also the name in which we find strength to proclaim and live the truth of the Gospel: not with arrogance, but with confident joy; not with self-righteousness, but with humble repentance before God; never with enmity and always with charity.

Pope John Paul II
In My Own Words

Opps!

Yesterday, a nice day for a drive, I took the Lake Rd. from Webster, intending to travel to Pultneyville, to visit a friend. After driving a short distance in Webster, through a beautiful winding, woodsy area, I noticed each time the car encountered a knoll to climb, it began to cough and choke. After about a mile of that, it lost all power. I scanned the road for a safe shoulder to pull off; nothing. As I began to slow down to a slow coast, I had to make a judgement call and bail into a nearby driveway. I was now off the road. Trying the starter, I could tell it was not getting gas. The stiff-headed Sicilian in me, counseled that one of the two fuel pumps had quit. I reached for the cell phone and called AAA. I advised my situation and position, adding that there was a freak chance I had run out of fuel. As I was blocking some one's driveway, they put a priority on the call. The sun was shinning, and I stepped out of the car to enjoy the woods across the road. Both sides of the road where lined with heavy barked trees, climbing 75 to 100 feet. I was entranced by the song of the tree limbs, squeaking against each other and swaying to and fro. Once in a while, one of the trees would raise it's voice above the rest with a loud snap. It had been quite a while since I had the chance to be in the woods, quiet, alone, serenaded by the trees. Nice! Within 15 minutes, a guy from the Webster Fire Dept. pulled up to make sure I was off the narrow road in a safe spot. He advised me the tow truck would be along in a couple minutes. The tow gut arrived, I advised him of the possible out of gas scenario. He dispensed a couple gallons in the tank. I hit the starter a few turns, but nothing. As the car was parked on the steep incline of the driveway, he thought maybe by lifting the back end up level, it would move the fuel forward. Up went the rear of the Volvo, round went the starter, and no response from poor ole Gustoff. He continued to hitch it up to the tow truck and we headed off back to the city, Volvo, following behind. He backed it into my driveway, unhooked it, I thanked him and away he went. I was about to go in the house to warm up a bit when I decided to try the starter once again. After a couple turns, the car responded with a quick sputter. I cycled the starter again and this time it fired and started with a powerless idle. I stepped on the gas pedal and it stalled. I counted to 10, hit the ignition switch again, and it started up like nothing was ever wrong! I stepped on the gas once more and it roared into action. The last time I ran out of gas was about 28 years ago. I reckoned I was about due again. I thanked God that it was a nice day, I was not on some goat path of the Finger Lakes in the dead of night, and that I did not have to plan on a repair bill one week before Christmas! Long live AAA!

A quote from Pope John Paul II

Christ himself carried a burden, and his burden--the cross--was made heavier by the sins of us all. But Christ did not avoid the cross; he accepted it and carried it willingly. Moreover, he now stands beside those weighed down by trial and persecution, remaining beside them to the end. It is for all people and with all people that he carries the cross to Calvary, and it is there that for all of us he is nailed to his cross. He dies the death of a criminal, the most humiliating death known to the world at that time. That is why to those in our own century who carry terrible burdens he is able to say: "Come to me! I am your Brother in suffering. There is no humiliation or bitterness which I do not know!"

Hotface

What is Prayer?

It is commonly held to be a conversation. In a conversation, there are always an "I" and a "thou" or "you". In this case the Thou is used with a capital T. If at first the "I" seems to be the most important element in prayer, prayer teaches us that the situation is different. The "Thou" is more important because our prayer begins with God.

Pope John Paul II

Ultimate Toddy for a cold

So, I've got another crappy cold. Got overtired last week, got run down, you know. COLD..........

Yesterday, day 2 of the cold, I chopped up some ginger root, about the size of half my thumb. I got that boiling in some water, added a bunch of cinnamon, 1 Tsp cayenne pepper, 1/2 cloves, 1 teabag black tea, 2 jiggers whiskey, 1/3 fresh squeezed lemon juice and let that bad boy simmer for a while.

While it simmered, I took advantage of the steam from the pan and covered my head with a towel and breathed in the steam and vapors. Nice. The ginger and whiskey vapors went right to work on my head.

I ended up drinking the better part of my teapot of the wonderful stuff!

Cold go away yet? No, but I was only seeking relief from the sneezy, coughy, temple pounding, throat burning ..........I could go on forever, but, try the toddy!

Killer Meatloaf with twice baked taters and green beans

Killer Meatloaf with
Twice baked potatoes,
Green Beans with honey roasted peanuts and Caraway,
Garlic Sticks


The Meatloaf

2 ½ lbs ground beef
1 onion chopped fine
1 cup breadcrumbs
1 cup oats
2 tbs pepper
Salt to taste
1 can cream of celery soup (Don’t add the water)
1 hot pepper

Well, there’s the list; throw them together. Once you add the soup, it’s a sticky mess till it’s mixed together! It did not fit into the usual bread loaf pan; I put it in a longer cake dish. Bake about 1 ¼- 1 ½ hours at 350

The Potatoes

Wash and cut potatoes in small pieces and boil till tender. Drain water, return to bowl, mash, adding butter, salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder. I always leave the skins on! Place in bread loaf pan, sprinkle shredded Romano cheese on top and bake with meatloaf, an hour or so at 350

The Green Beans

I used frozen French cut beans and steamed them for 3-4 minutes. In a sauté pan, heat olive oil, garlic, crushed fine, the beans, ¼ cup honey roasted peanuts chopped and mashed in bowl, and lastly, sprinkle a tbsp or so, caraway. Stir fry a few minutes, blending everything.

The Garlic bread

I had some day old whole wheat bread and thought I’d jazz it up. I cut thick slices, cutting the slices into 2 ½ inch strips. I had seeped crushed garlic in olive oil, and placing the bread on a baking sheet, I spread liberally, my garlic/oil mix over the top and threw in the same oven with my meatloaf and potatoes, baking the bread at 350, almost ½ hour.


I enjoyed that dinner to the max!

Buckybob's Stir Fry Extravaganza!

Buckybob’s Stir fry Extravaganza!



Carrots, sliced thin like French Frys
Potatoes, sliced thin like French Frys
Get the above steaming for bout ½ hour

Slice up water chestnuts, lots of garlic, one big onion
Some French Green Beans
Chicken Breast (already cooked)

Get your fry pan ready with olive oil, or canola, brown the onion, garlic water chestnuts while adding some Sweet&Sour dipping sauce, horseradish, some cranberry sauce, and Chinese Mustard.

Add all the rest of the stuff, season with salt, pepper, cayenne, and stir fry together for a few minutes.

Buckybob's Rye-Wheat Rolls

BUCKYBOB’S RYE-WHEAT ROLLS


Got about four hours to bake? I made these tasty treats last night.


2 ½-3 cups warm water
1 ½ TBS yeast
1 TS salt
½ cup corn meal soaked in warm water a bit
2 Cups rye flour
2-2 ½ Cups wheat flour
1/8 Cup molasses
1 TBS coco
¼ Cup honey
1 TBS anise

Combine yeast, water, salt, molasses, honey, coco, and corn meal . Start adding the flours, bout ½ cups at a time and mix. Add anise. Add and mix with big wood spoon till you can no longer add any more flour. Dust a kneading area with flour and turn the mixture out of the bowl and start to knead. Add flour over and under the dough as it gets too sticky to handle. Knead dough at least ten minutes or more. When the dough is tacky but not too sticky, the kneading is most likely complete. Grease a large bowl, place dough in, cover with towel, and place in warm area to rise. Allow about 2 hours to rise. Back out on floured board, punch down and spread out on the board like pizza dough. Grease lightly, a cookie sheet, sprinkle some corn meal on sheet and coat lightly. Cut from the dough, and form your rolls, place on cookie sheet. It’s OK if the rolls touch each other. Cover again with the towel and back to the warm rise area. Allow 45 minutes to an hour to rise, heat the oven to 400. Bake for 10 minutes, reduce oven to 350 and bake remaining 45-50 minutes.

You should have produced crusty bottoms and tops, soft and chewy bread inside.
Don't just stand and stare; eat up!

Wonders never cease

Good morning, Rochester, NY
Just a quick update on my life.
I am no longer doing guitar repairs at Echo Tone Music. The closed minded owner went crazy when he found out I was advertising to do repairs in my home shop as well. Keeping in mind, I have no store front, no real advertising, and expect very little return for my efforts, the store owner still went nuts about it. The truth of the matter is, I was not doing a ton of repairs at his store and only was trying to add a few more bucks per week to my income. Maybe I shot myself in the foot by even trying to add more customers to my repair slate, but now it seems this music store shot themselves just below the belt area with their actions. If I loose $60.00 of income in a week or so, the store will forfeit $ 160.00 in repairs not done, plus the loss of a qualified tech. This all could have been resolved and smoothed over if the store owner had just called me and spoke to me without going postal on me with e-mails, threatening me with Federal Trade Com. copyright breech, bashing me in my own blog and on Cragslist.
So, I am planning a new web site to cater to my guitar repairs, my music compositions, my gigs and my impact in the Rochester NY area. I am sorry for all the customers who bring back their instruments to the store for future work, for now I won't be there. As far as I can tell, and I realize there are most likely a few customers not happy with my work and did not inform me, I am at 100% satisfaction with the majority of the work I completed. So, with the help of some small adds, I must rely on word of mouth by those familiar with my work to keep the repairs and restorations coming in. At the moment, I have a very old Bauer Mandolin to resotre and a vintage Kay banjo from the early 60's to work on.
REPAIRS ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!

The dangerous streets of Rochester, NY

I read in the news about the 14 year old kid who rode his bike through street traffic and was hit by an emergency police car call. It happened in an inner city neighborhood. The black community is up in arms over the accident, and claiming wrong doing on the police.

The real fact of the matter is pedestrians, bikers, skate boarders, for the most part do not obey the rules of the road. We all are aware the law states pedestrians have the right of way. They really ought to re-word that statement because the pedestrians are actually stepping out in the path of cars all the time, taking advantage of the right of way clause.

I live in the city and drive through the city daily and people do just step out in front of me. Yesterday, I was making a turn onto a street and a young girl on her cell phone, sashayed out in front of the path of my car. She took her sweet time crossing the street causing traffic behind me to honk their horns. I threw my hands up in an impatient gesture to her and she took her defensive posture, waving her arms and throwing me the finger. This is a daily occurrence, not merely occasional.

Two weeks ago, another 14 year old was hit on his skateboard in the street, in the dark, wearing dark clothes, again, believing he had the right of way. He is dead regardless of who's fault it was but the operator of the car was not held responsible.

They really should start giving tickets out to the pedestrians for making illegal crossings against the traffic. Almost nobody takes heed to the cross walk signs; they just walk out there like they are invincible. When I cross a street, I am watching the traffic, and do not waste any time getting to the other side. I don't care who's fault it is; if I get hit by a moving car, chances are high that I am going to be seriously hurt or killed.

My prayer today is that people wake up to the consequences of their idiotic actions.

What is a Catholic

A friend on Facebook just posted the question: What is a Catholic/ Is a Catholic a Christian? Questions like this have divided the Christian world for years. They say politics and religion should not be brought up in conversation for there is always division.
Where does one start to believe what is authentic or not? I was raised a Catholic, but did not attend church most of my life. As a teen, I attended a Methodist church with my sister and brother in law, but mostly to sing in the choir and socialize. As a young adult, I sent my children to a Catholic school in Virginia to keep them from being bussed to the inner city public schools. As an older adult, I began attending the Catholic church again, but as a member of the worship team band. There, things slowly began to take place in my numskull. I began to realize that God was speaking to me if I took the time to listen. My daily life problems (which were many) began to diminish in intensity by allowing God to take most of the burden on His shoulders.

Back to the question Is a Catholic a Christian? Again, I am slow on the up-take so to speak, but it is my understanding that Christianity started with Jesus Christ, who came to earth, the Son of Man, to die for the forgiveness and salvation of mankind's sins. His immediate followers took the preaching throughout the world. Jesus appointed Peter to be the rock of the church foundation and gave him the keys to heaven. Peter went on to be the first of many Popes. The Pope is the supreme human living leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Wouldn't that make a Catholic a Christian?

Jesus calls us believers to go out into the world and spread the "Good News". Why is there so much division over religion and Christianity? As Christians, we are not doing the right thing by creating divisions among the Christian religions. Jesus taught that a house (meaning the church) divided among itself will not stand. I originally believed Abe Lincoln said that first, but he was talking about our young nation and was quoting bible scripture.

If we spent more time adhering to the word of God, aspiring to do as Jesus asks of us, and less time creating all the division and strife between the Christian religions, would not the world be a better place for the advancement of all Christian alike?

Happy Belly Roast Chicken

Happy Belly Roast Chicken


Take a roasting chicken, wash, place in a roasting pan with some olive oil in the bottom. Cut up potatoes, carrots, onions, garlic. Place around the chick in the pan. Cut up more onion, and a lemon. Place inside the bird, salt & pepper, drizzle some olive oil over everything and bake at 350. After an hour or so, add a can of peas to the frey, and continue to roast till everything’s brown and done! Let cool a bit, cut up, and pig out!

Living with less is more

I am not writing today out of envy to those who make the big bucks, but to mention a few of the things I do to get through this life, spending less and keeping happy.

1. I have no credit cards. I have managed to live without that weight around my neck for the last twelve or so years and have gotten along just fine without them.

2. I have no car payment. I've had many cars over the last forty-four years and have had one car payment in my life. In 1975, I borrowed $ 1000.00 to buy a 71 VW camper. All the rest of my cars were bought outright. When one vehicle tells me it's tired, I start saving and planning for the next one. I have never paid more then $ 2000.00 for a used car. The majority of the cars I have bought were about $1000. The 89 Volvo I am driving now, I paid $ 1200.00 about six years ago.

3. Garage sales can supply many great things at a fraction of the cost of new. Three years ago, I got a beautiful sofa for $ 20.00 in perfect shape, fitting into the perfect space in the living room, and even matching the existing rug! My entire stereo system, I bought used: Bang & Olsen speakers $ 40.00 Kenwood receiver $ 20.00 Teac direct drive turntable $ 35.00. Stunning dinning room chairs (one, hand painted and priceless to me) $100.00

4. Thrift stores such as Goodwill, etc. are great values also. I have gotten pants, dress coats, coffee percolaters, wine glasses, paintings and more for a pittence.

5. I'm not too proud to stop at the curb and pick up a thing or two. Some of the prizes were a violin (which I fixed and sold for a profit), several beautiful paintings, a rattan love seat which I patched up has lasted for over three years and now ready to go back out on the curb again. I love finding odd hunks of wood/lumber left on the curb from someone's project leftovers. Wood is very expensive at the lumber yards or hardware stores.

6. Make something into something else. I salvaged a CD rack for the 1/2 inch dowling to repair furniture joints, cut into molding, etc. A roll about dishwasher, no longer working is stowage cupboard in the kitchen and shelf for the microwave and toaster.

These are but a few examples of how to save big, stretch the ole dollar, and allow one to keep a few bucks in the pocket to treat the family out to dinner on special nights, buy a bottle of good wine and much more. Almost all of my musical instruments, I have aquired used, saved a bundle and gotten a higher quality than if bought new. Almost never buy a new book; people give them away, libraries have sales, and the book shelves are full in my house.
Many go out and spend to find happiness or to quelch their bordome. Since I stopped watching TV & going to the movies years ago, I find I have more time to read, write (like now!)learn how to fix things and most of all compose my music. Everybody is not a musician or composer, but I truly believe God gives everyone something that they do better than anyone else. Everyone has a special gift and it's up to each and everyone to find it and enjoy it.

God Bless

Food Critic Instal. 2

Friday, Theresa and I usually go out for dinner, fish fry for the most part, but not always! One of my favorite places is Antonetta's Italian Restaurant 1160 Jay St. on the west side of Rochester. It's only open for dinner on Friday nights and during the week for lunch.
I usually aspire to try new dishes at restaurants, but it's hard at Antonetta's. It's hard to get past the sauce here. It brings back the memories of my mother's kitchen. Anyways, I almost always get the spaghetti and meatballs; it's that good! Last night was no exception. Theresa decided on the triple Parm plate: Veal, Chicken and Eggplant.
The place is old fashioned Italian decor; intimate, with tables with the red and white checked tablecloths, photos of Frank Sinatra on the walls of the back dinning room, and sports pics on the walls of the front room. The setting is intimate and the clientele, a mix of nuns, police, blue collar workers, families, all coming back for the best Italian eating in New York State.
Theresa licked her plate clean, while I left a small amount of sauce on my plate. I just simply could not eat another bite! A small salad, the house Chianti, and nice crunchy Italian bread rounds out the meal. I have never been able to eat desert, my tum tum too full!
The place is almost always packed; lunch or Friday dinner. One will never be disappointed with their meal, and oh yea, at a very modest price! This is the place to go for the best food in town; bring an appetite!

Cor:12

September 15, 2010
Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows
Reading 11 Cor 12:31-13:13
Brothers and sisters:
Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts.
But I shall show you a still more excellent way.
If I speak in human and angelic tongues
but do not have love,
I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.
And if I have the gift of prophecy
and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge;
if I have all faith so as to move mountains,
but do not have love, I am nothing.
If I give away everything I own,
and if I hand my body over so that I may boast
but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind.
It is not jealous, love is not pompous,
it is not inflated, it is not rude,
it does not seek its own interests,
it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury,
it does not rejoice over wrongdoing
but rejoices with the truth.
It bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails.
If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing;
if tongues, they will cease;
if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing.
For we know partially and we prophesy partially,
but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
When I was a child, I used to talk as a child,
think as a child, reason as a child;
when I became a man, I put aside childish things.
At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror,
but then face to face.
At present I know partially;
then I shall know fully, as I am fully known.So faith, hope, love remain, these three;
but the greatest of these is love.

The case of the fickle bulb failure

Most of you know I drive an old 89 Volvo. Well, the brake light went out on the right rear side. There is removable panel in the back to get to the bulbs. The bulb holder is removable by turning the holder counter-clockwise. The whole holder comes out so you can change the bulb easily. Re-assembly is in reverse order and the three bulb connections line up with three stationary points on the light assembly. Well, now that the car is 21 years old, the three stationary fingers that make the connections are worn out and one even broke away. I modified the assembly by removing the bulb holder, drilling small holes in the connection tabs, soldering three wires to the tabs, covering with shrink wrap, and crimping male spade connectors on the other end of the wire I just soldered. I removed the stationary connection tabs on the light assembly, and plugged my new wires into the original with the spade connectors, replaced the bulb connector. Hmm, with the stationary tabs removed from the light assembly, the bulb holder would not fit tight in the light assembly. A small block of wood with some duct tape wrapped a few times around it, fit behind the bulb holder and wedged it in the light assembly neat as neat. To change the bulb, I only need to pull out my block wedge, remove the bulb holder from the light, and pull it out from the compartment. I made sure my new soldered wires were long enough to pull the bulb holder out far enough to change the bulb. Cops love to pull ya over for a stupid light out! Long live Gustoff, the Volvo!

That's Right, Pass the Blame

I read this morning where BP, the oil giant is blubbering about how the giant mishap is not all their fault. That's as non relevant as a ship captain sinking his ship and saying "I'm not to blame; I did not build the ship.!"

It does not take rocket science reasoning to figure out many things fell into a sequence in order for the accident to occur. What bothers me is the irrelevancy that their statement does to my intelligence. Because of their "oopps," that incident and many others are pushing our beautiful earth over Niagara Falls in a tuna can.

Lets see how fast we can destroy our planet. We are cutting down and ruining almost all of our tropical forests, blasting away our mountain tops to get to coal faster, polluting our oceans and sucking the crude oil out of the earth's crust, eliminating our wild lands in the name of settlement, and who is profiting from all this? Why big corporations, of course!

There really will never be an end to the folly. Power is perverse and corrupted. Power controls the entire world, elects the leaders who will make the laws to benefit the power that is destroying our entire world.

I wonder if God ever gets a stiff neck from shaking His head at our maliciousness.

Food Critic

OK, I'm a breakfast person for my mostly two meals a day. Today, Saturday, Theresa was with her son, getting him settled in his dorm to start his first semester of St John Fisher College, so I decided to go out to breakfast than do some chores at home while she was gone.

I usually go to a great all day/night diner in Rochester but today for time and distance sake, I decided on somewhere a bit closer. I picked Jim's Restaurant on Main St. I have had not too good luck there twice before but I figured, it's gotta be better today! The other two bad times was just a quirk.

I went in and over to the counter. The waitress came right up and asked if I wanted coffee. "Yes, please" I replied. She brought over a cup and pot of coffee, filled the cup, walked away to some other customer and plopped it down. She came back, smiled, and took some other customer's orders, stopped back by and said "I'll bee right with you." Then she proceeded to take more orders from others, and came back by and said something, I did not understand, than went to yet other customers, leaving me sitting there still without coffee. I waited there, trying to be patient for a few more minutes, observing her going by me several more times. I got up and walked out. Three strikes and they're out.
Double thumbs down to Jim's Restaurant, Main St Rochester.

I got in the car and drove the extra distance to my usual diner, Gittzie's on Monroe Av. and enjoyed my western omelet. By the way, I got my coffee, right away, and was served the wonderful omlette in less time than I waited for my coffee at Jim's.

I highly recommend Gittzie's if anyone is ever in Rochester!

Thank you, God for making me an un-educated plough boy

Sept.2, 2010

I read in the news today, oh boy! Stephen Hawking says there did not need to be a God to create the universe. "Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing."

Just a quick refresher on Stephen Hawking; He has been the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University, the same post held by Isac Newton.

OK, how can I, little ole me, question the mind of a world class genius? I have often noticed that some of the most intelligent people I have encountered, did not believe in God. Math was my worst subject. I must trust those with bigger brains to do the "Math." I have heard arguments against Mr Hawking's statements.

Our entire universe set up could not have been created from nothing. Everything about it hangs on precision movement, alignment, and yes, gravity. If we did not have other planets revolving around the sun in those particular orbits, or if our axis was not just so, or if any one of millions of things was not just so, we would not be here. Nuff said bout that.

As to the bible argument, if Genesis is not correct, then why is it that all the other books in the bible are credible? There were many prophets that foretold of Jesus's coming hundreds and hundreds of years before Him with surprising accuracy. All of the predictions so far in time were dead on, therefore, why then should I not believe the predictions yet to be fulfilled? It seems so strange that the bible would start right out being inaccurate.

Back to the question of why the most intelligent people (I've run across) find it so hard to believe in what I seem to see as plain as the nose of my face?

Danger in taking things out of context

Going to church does not make one a Christian any more than standing in the garage makes you a car. I see this posted on Face Book by many lately. I guess what they are really saying is, just because one goes to church, it does not necessarily mean that they go out into the world a lead a pious life. But back to the original statement; I sorta have a problem with that. Going to church can make you a better Christian. If one attends church time and time again, yet goes out feeling no different than when they came in, that individual is only there in body, not spirit. Even then, God can make changes in one's spirit, small though they may be, that can lead to bigger changes in one's mind and soul, later.
I do not go into a garage and pray to be transformed into a car. I do go to church and pray for the forgiveness of my sins, I pray for the petitions of those in need, I pray for my own guidance, and thank God for filling me with the holy spirit, thank Him for my blessings and my suffering. I listen to the daily readings and homilies and reflect on how they apply to me today. I go to church for my daily bread. When the priest holds the host up high and says "This is the lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world." my spirit is lifted up high, knowing I am receiving Jesus, body and blood, into my body, into my soul, into my spirit.
So, I don't intend to be incarnated into a car today, but I have faith and hope that by going to church today, I will be a Christian who will go out into the world and spread the good news.

People never cease to amaze me!

I have a neighbor who is a Jehovah's Witness. Once in a while, out in the yard, he will engage me in religious conversation. He knows I am Catholic and go to Mass pretty much daily. He knows my faith is strong. Still, at times, he will "test" my knowledge for whatever reasons. The last time we spoke, I let him rile me some. He kept asking me questions about the Catholic faith as if to show that we were not worshiping the true and proper God. He asked if they teach the bible at Mass. I informed him that, no, they did not; however, I explained that we have four scripture readings: one from the old testament, a Psalm, one from the new testament, and finally the priest gave one from the Gospel. The readings all linked to the thyme of the day, the homily tied the readings all together in one easy to understand daily devotional. He huffed and retorted, "If you do not have bible teaching at the service, why then go to church?" All the while, he cited bible scripture, verse and paragraph. I advised him that I had read the bible once and constantly read from it but did not have all the reading memorized. He was all the time, making a mockery of our practices; wearing the cross around our neck was considered idol worship, daily communion was only to fool us into thinking we were being saved and other smug comments about our Catholic faith. He could not understand why we hold the cross in such high regard. He corrected me on several points I made, making me look a bit foolish.
The bottom line, I tried to tell him was, our knowledge of the scripture was not half as important as our personal relationship with God. Yes, my eyes are on the cross above the alter, much of the Mass, but in my view, whatever brings us closer to Jesus, is doing what is right. After all, it is all about Jesus Christ, who came to die for our sins. We are sinners and I need the close context of daily Mass to keep me on the right path, which is only to easy to stray from.
Why this neighbor is trying so hard to prove me wrong, is nothing short of evil in my mind. I never once questioned his religion. To me, if you are Christian, it will show through in your daily life, how we treat one another, what we do to help each other, and love. Sure, I will still read the bible at my pace, but more important, I will worship my God with all my heart, soul, mind, and body. If we all did that, our earth would be an entirely differnt world.

Visions at the Laundrymat

Saturday at the Laundromat, my favorite chore; I gaze round the room, people watching
The Mexican migrants with their brushcuts, quiet ways, and tinted windows
A mom and daughter folding their warm clothes, the mom but a child herself
The young woman in her twenties, approaching obesity, her face in a book
A couple young guys in Bermuda shorts in spite of the snow outside, talking football
Perpetual puddles eating away at the floor tiles, the scar faced change machine that
vandals attempted to violate, the droning of the clothes extractor The
squeaking of an occasional cycle-change of a washer, and the endless clinking of quarters
dropping into machines that appear to be ancient. What used to take two quarters
now takes fourteen.