Scary Times

I think part of the reason why I have not written much on my blog lately is because most of the news is so depressing and I hate to write about what's going on. One benefit of writing the cook book is that I am not spending as much time watching the news shows. I've been in a funk lately and am really bordering on depression . When I analyze my feelings I have to realize that things are going well in my life. I am in very good health, my most recent colonoscopy was 'clean' and I was told to come back in three years. My routine check up from the gastro-enterologist was good, I have energy and enjoy helping out at MDS, no one has broken in to my house lately, no intruders have dropped in to scare the lights out of me, so why am I so glum?

I've become more and more upset about the gun issue in this country. When people feel free to carry guns at all times, when the media shows pictures of people openly carrying rifles to public gatherings. I read an account in the paper yesterday about a whole group of men, self designated militiamen, carrying AK-47's over their shoulders and holstered 9 mm, guns on their bodies and displaying their casch of ammo on their belts. Their message, they claimed was that they were peaceful but ready to 'take back' their country when the time is right.

A few years ago a friend and I were having lunch together when another person joined us. She had been off work the day before and explained to us that her husband had traveled out of town to a gun show and she had gone with him. She said he bought two more guns to add to his large collection of guns. One of us asked why he had so many guns and she replied, "He wants to be ready when the little black folks try to take over entirely". She said when the time came she was going to take her son and get the heck out of Dodge. I admit that her statements shocked me! That was the first time I realized that we have our own home grown terrorists to fear. They are not all in the hills of Utah, or the hinterlands of Michigan, or other back country locations but we have them right here in our own back yard in Louisville, Kentucky.

I used to worry and deplore the fact that so many hand guns found their way into the hands of the criminals and the irresponsible segment of society.I lamented the fact that so many youth were killed by other youths that had access to guns. It was almost epidemic in our city. I looked upon it as a waste of human lives. Little did I know that lurking in the grey area were droves of men arming themselves with enough fire power to kill us all. WHY?

I think we all know why these rabble rousers are out there screaming in the streets holding up their obscene signs and threatening all of us.

The First Amendment gives the people the right to PEACEABLY assemble and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The Second Amendment says "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, gives the right of the people to keep and bear arms."

Please, someone tell me, are these amendments being properly interpreted?

Let us pray," God, protect us from anxiety and God protect us from the enemy! Amen,"

Are there any among you who remember"Pogo" on the comic page? He said, "We was lookin' for the enemy and found the enemy is us".
Ciao

I have been working dilligently on the cook book that I hope to get finished by the Fitzgerald Family Fun Festival that will take place on June 19,2010 at Travis and Andrea's. It has been nice to have a project that I can look forward to each day. I spend many hours typing all of the recipes into the computer. I find myself wanting to try so many of the recipes, they all sound so good, as a matter of fact, I have tried quite a few of them since I've been compliling. I have fallen way behind on my blogging. I have so many subjects that I want to write about but I'm tapped out by the end of the day. I was going to say 'typed out' but the modern day language usage requires that we refer to typing as key boarding. We now have key boarding, skate boarding, and water boarding!



Among other subjects, I wanted to finish my account of my Perfect Easter Sunday. The weather was fabulous. Temperature perfect, sun shined all day and excellent company and food all day long. What more could I ask for. As I mentioned earlier (blog before this) I was very moved by the ceremony at church, very pleased with the gourmet breakfast, and then I went home and made a vanilla cream pie that I refuse to be humble about, it was superb!



At Linda's Stephanie and Lee and the two boys, Pearce and Robert were there, Courtney, with her two girls, Ellen and Madeline (Al was working and Sam stayed in the country with his Grandpa Ward) and Nathan and Erin with their two girls, Marie and Molly Beth. We had such fun chatting and visiting. I haven't had a chance to talk to Stephanie and Courtney for a long time.

eASTER eGGS

We sometimes joke about the C &E Catholics. They are the Catholics that only come to church on Christmas and Easter, and while I am glad to see all of them there, I sometimes resent the ones that sit in My pew. I designate it, my pew, when actually it is any not any one's pew. It is there for the general population and just because I choose to sit there every Sunday does not make it MY pew. We become so territorial as time goes by. I claim ownership for the space where I park my car each Sunday! Then when someone usurps My space, I feel put upon. I heard that some wag , in an attempt to be funny, posted a sign on the windshield of one of the usurpers saying, " Thanks to you, I had to walk three blocks to get to church today. I faithfully attend every Sunday and park in an easily accessible space a few steps from the door of the church; however today you are parked in My space and probably will be sitting in My pew while I stand in the back of the church hoping I do not faint from over exertion! May God bless you." That is rather amusing but I must question the Christian spirit of the sign writer. I am sure he/she had no intention of offending the recipient of the sign.



My pew and My parking space were up for grabs Easter Sunday because I went to church with K and P. I could very well have been considered a usurper at their church. It was a very beautiful ceremony. We knew that we needed to arrive early but to our chagrin we found that 45minutes early is too early. We toured the back streets of J-town and found our way to Wallmart to buy some Honey Buns. Yes, you heard me right!



We were back in plenty of time to get a parking space and there were many pews available. I loved the ceremony. At St. Martha the Mass I attend is a 'no frills' Mass. So it was wonderful to hear all of the trumpets, and the organ and the joyful voices of the choir singing, and the parade of the celebrant, servers and others entering the church. There was a young child being baptized at that Mass and she walked up the aisle with her parents and her siblings following behind the priest et al. She was garbed in a dull brown robe and responded to all questions at the back of the church by the baptismal font by nodding her head. Father had introduced her as Elaina and said she was very shy.



The whole ceremony was very reverent and thought provoking. There were many young children in church and I could not help but compare their murmurings and cooing to the birds in my back yard in the early morning.

Father gave a very good and timely sermon. I listened to his words and wondered why the Pope could not speak to our church in the same manner and use some of the same words. He pointed out that the people in the church this morning and the people around the world that have professed to be members of the Roman Catholic Church are in fact 'the church'. He spoke of how embarrassed he and all of the other priests that are not involved in the scandalous behavior of the few that have dishonored the church. He expressed anger at their behavior and said he understands our anger and disgust.

It was a sermon that lifted my spirits and I hope other members of the clergy will have the courage to stand up for the good and be courageous enough to express their own outrage and give notice to any one out there that is covering up this egregious behavior that we will not tolerate them any longer. Father pointed out that their actions are not only sinful they are also criminal.

The Mass started at 8:30 A.M. and ended at 10:04 A.M. Karen and Paul had a bet riding on the time that the ceremony would end. Would it end before 10:00 or after 10:00? Loser had to cook breakfast. Karen had picked after ten so Paul had to do the honors for breakfast. He prepared a great mushroom and spinach omelet, English muffins and the Honey Buns. BUT we are not just talking Honey Buns....He split them in two, slathered them with butter and FRIED them. (He is on a diet.) After the repast, he asked if it was too early to have a beer!!!Now, there's a man that lives on the edge.( He did not have the beer ;0)

My Easter wasn't over yet, I went to Linda's for dinner and I will write about that tomorrow, It also was wonderful. Ciao