HAS SENILITY STRUCK?!?

We (Linda and I) leave for Houston the day after tomorrow, off to scope out H1/DIL1's new home.  We thought it would be a nice change for Ian, after school and all his leg issues, to maybe get away for a weekend, so we invited him along for the trip.  Long story short, Ian is staying home to wallow in the precious silence of a house free from little sisters, while Grandpa and Grandma are taking BB and Molly-moo to Houston.  BB, who is seven (I think... might be eight... Hey, I'm OLD, OK?!?!) and MM who is three, which is just an extension and amplification of the "terrible twos".  Are we NUTS?

Hopefully all will go well.  Both girls dearly love Aunt Hannah, and then there's Molly's "MY Michael!", so the girls are all excited about going.  If we can just get through the six hours in the car part on each end of the trip I think we'll do OK.  At the very least, there should be some bloggable moments in the near future!

I can't remember if I posted that we are getting a new priest at our parish, and I'm too lazy to check.  So... We're getting a new priest at our parish!!  Fr. Michael, who grew up in Wisconsin, but has been in NOLA for most of his priestly life (since 1974 or thereabouts) takes over the reins on July 1st. 

Linda and I went to Mass at Fr. Michael's parish two weekends ago to watch him in action, and to introduce ourselves.  Turns out he's a former biker, and already new that I ride.  He expressed a desire to rekindle his passion for the open roads once he gets to Holy Name of Mary.  I can hardly wait to drag him out to The Shed!!!

I would like to ask for prayers, especially through the intercession of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, for my good friend and brother deacon, Paul.  He is at MD Anderson after having been diagnosed, for the third time, with thyroid cancer.  Thanks, in advance.

Wishing everyone a happy, and safe Memorial Day weekend!  God bless!!

And Sometimes Tea: Manufacturers of angertainment

From the always enlightening and thought-provoking Red Cardigan: And Sometimes Tea: Manufacturers of angertainment.  I've had this concept floating around in my brain, but was having difficulty putting it into words.  Mark Shea of NCR may be on to something.

Linda and I were recently discussing how the media seems to no longer be able to report the news without trying to make every story a "sensational" story, one that grabs our itnerest.    It seems like they try at every opportunity to turn what should be at best a one-liner into a front page exposé.

Case in point... As most people are aware, the Gulf Coast is trying desperately to avert or avoid another major disaster caused by the explosion on and subsequent sinking of an oil rig.  This is of MAJOR concern to the entire area.  It's impact will be far reaching on the coastline, the marine wildlife, the fishing industry, the restaurant industry, and on and on.  In other words, BIG NEWS!! 
 
Two nights ago a man, member of a wealthy LA farming family that contributes generously to political campaigns, was arrested outside Harrah's casino for several charges, including public drunkenness and pointing a gun at law enforcement officers.  He is also a political appointee to a state commission that oversees the State Police.  The day after it happened the story was reported on the 10 PM news broadcast.  It was also noted that he had immediately resigned from the commission.  Not a problem.  What becomes a problem, IMHO, is that this particular news station decided that this was such a major story that they actually tracked the governor down while he was working on the oil rig crisis to "follow up", NOT on the oil rig disaster coverage which is ongoing, but on the gun incident which, except for the subsequent hearings, is over.  Please!! Let's have some priorities, people!! Really!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR DAUGHTER. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

I didn’t realize just how badly I’ve been slacking off until I checked the date of my last post. Mea culpa!! (that’s “My bad!!” in the Extraordinary Form)

This post will probably take me forever to finish, I guess because I’m feeling OLD today. It’s my daughter’s 40th birthday! And so she writes on HER blog just how OLD she feels, which of course is like saying, “Gee, Pops, I’m old, so YOU must be ANCIENT!!” Thanks, so much, daughter dearest!! And Happy Birthday to YOU!!!

Still working on wedding plans for Dean and Brenda. July seems to be looming on the horizon. So far everything is going about as smoothly as any wedding prep, I’d imagine. Our biggest glitch (ok, MY biggest glitch) is what to do about a rehearsal dinner. Del Rio is a SMALL town in Texas. We are trying to set up a dinner to accommodate somewhere around 50 people. The closest we came was a place that could do 25, but that would be “pushing it.”

The bride’s parents, who are wonderful people, have offered their home as the location for the rehearsal dinner. Now I’m struggling with what to serve, who will prepare, etc. Initially I thought perhaps a good old-fashioned New Orleans shrimp boil. We did that for Patti’s wedding and it worked well. But that would involve transporting fresh shrimp or trying to cook frozen shrimp without it getting overcooked and difficult to peel. Not insurmountable problems, still… Then the Deepwater Horizon went down in the Gulf and fishing waters are being closed daily. There may not be any shrimp to purchase come July!! And crawfish season is well over by then, so no option there.

Other thoughts bouncing around in my head…

Spiedies? Not too difficult to do AND there will be other spiedie “experts” there who I might be able to talk into lending a hand. This option has the additional upside of answering the question that so many have asked recently, “What is a spiedie”?

Also under consideration is having a local restaurant prepare New Orleans’ red beans and rice, gumbo, and jambalaya for 50 and transporting/reheating in Del Rio.

Maybe I’ll just print a map to the nearest Mickey D’s and have everyone meet there!

Stay tuned!!