If you like medieval manuscripts. Thanks to my dear friend who delivered this one to my inbox yesterday:
Category Archives: links elsewhere
Something I’d heard about, but never seen.
Rapunzel-thon* continues. Convalescing 5-year-old calls for help: “Mom, can you make it play in the language I’m speaking?”
“The language you’re speaking? That’s English.” They lose track of these things.
She’s on the main menu. I go check the language settings. There’s two English choices:
- Dolby something or another
- Dolby something or another Descriptive Video Service.
“Darling, do you mind if I try something?”
“Okay.” <– She is the happiest member of our family. All the time. Wish the rest of us were so compliant**.
This is the first time I’ve seen DVS on the language-track choices, and wow, pretty cool. Useful of course for it’s intended purpose. But also: Wow, what a study in film-making! Draws your attention to what information is shared via dialogue or sound-effects, and what is told in images. Great tool for the writer.
5 year-old doesn’t seem to mind it — it could be annoying to have to listen to descriptions you don’t need — but then, she loves describing things. All about method, that child.
*I like this movie much more than Steven Greydanus did. Then again, he probably hasn’t been subject to OSHA-prohibited hours of exposure to Barbie Fairy Secret. Not that I’d trade jobs with him. Not ever. No way. It takes a true martyr to endure what that man does.
** Such a happy baby that I took her to the doctor when she was four months old, because she was suddenly so fussy, no other symptom. Ear infection, maybe? Nope. The doctor diagnosed “fussy baby”. I went home, remembered Ora-gel, and the problem was solved. A walking anti-parable, “The Girl Who Never Cried Wolf”.
3.5 Time Outs: Jesus Fairyland
Thanks once again to our host Larry D. at Acts of the Apostasy for inspiring countless countable numbers of bloggers to add structure and scandalous images to their Tuesday. But not that scandalous — take a look at his 3.5 takes to see not see images far worse than derelict toddlers.
1.
I won a prize! Oh it cheers me up. Lisa M. encouraged me to turn out for the Amazing Catechist Giveaway, which I did not want to do, because, well, I didn’t want to be commenting just to indulge my book lust. But you know what? I didn’t have to fake it. There’s useful information in that place, and friendly bloggers who answer combox questions, which means even more useful information. Needless to say, I learned about a pile of new books I want to check out, and look, I won one of them:
And now it is in my hands! I can’t wait to read it. Yay! Check out the Keep Infants of Down Syndrome blog, if you are like me, giving Catholics a bad name by chewing out telemarketers for major charities that seek to “prevent birth defects” by killing off the people who don’t meet spec. Yeah, I’m cranky. Killing innocent people makes me cranky.
2.
Respectable Christians are sending Sarah Reinhard photos of their Advent wreaths. I don’t qualify. Here’s the one we used to have:
That’s Santa and his reindeer, flying towards Christmas. (Which had not arrived at photo time — observe the recycled candles. There cannot be a single shade of purple.)
Allow me to explain: I did not donate this item because it was too tacky for me. It was because, well, look how big it is. You can store a lot of books in that cubic foot. My one vice had to give way for the other. But you who own proper Advent wreaths, send in your photos.
3.
Dear Small Children of Mine,
We have been building a model of Bethlehem in our living room every Advent since before the eldest among you was even conceived. It pleases me greatly to combine Lego, Fischer Price, and Playmobil structures into a giant sprawling representation of the Holy Land. I am not the least disturbed when the Seven Dwarves turn out for the census. Presumably the Romans counted even the very short and sneezy.
But I draw the line at calling it “Jesus Fairyland”. It is Bethlehem. B-e-t-h-l-e-h-e-m. Get it straight.
Sincerely,
That Catechist Lady Who’s Supposed to be Educating You
3.5
Rapunzel, opiate of the masses. This weekend I shipped the Y chromosomes off to Hunt Camp, Eldest Daughter did homework Friday and then spent the weekend at her friend’s house, and my two listless littles watched our new library find: Tangled. Continuously. From 9AM Friday until 3PM Sunday, with breaks only to sleep, attend church, and sometimes to eat. I got a lot of work done. And hey, it’s a pretty good movie. Edifying, even. And boy am I glad my 5-year-old is still enthralled, because last night at the ER
***
Relax. I will finish that story next week. All is well here. Offer up your suspense for the half-dozen people I’m praying for who have real problems. One in particular needs you today, desperately. God will know which one. Thanks!
7 Quick Takes: Things We Don’t Talk About
1.
I would like you to know that there are many, many reasons you should be grateful I gave up complaining. Of course I cannot tell you what they are. Just enjoy the peace and quiet for a change.
2.
Don’t panic, the reasons are all very petty. If I had something big to complain about, I’d cleverly disguise it as a “prayer request” or something.
3.
Dear Self,
Compulsively surfing the internet does not count as “praying”. Even if you do read highly edifying Catholic blogs. Even if you do toss out Hail Mary’s here and there for good causes. Please get your act together. Right now.
Sincerely,
The Person Who is Dragging You To Confession Tomorrow, Do Not Even Try One of Your Excuses to Get Out of It.
4.
Am I the only person whose spouse is obsessed with filling the freezer with venison this year?
If your sensibilities are easily offended, skip #5.
5.
PSA: How to Have Almost Free Meat
1. Do not take up hunting. Hunting saves no money. Ever. It is a giant financial black hole.
2. Instead, cultivate a general interest in hunting. An ability to make hunting talk.
3. The people who just like to shoot things will eventually come out of the woodwork. Oh, yes, you’d be surprised.
4. Get yourself a good sharp knife, a pile of freezer paper, and this book:
5. Also, sturdy rubber gloves. You don’t want mad deer disease.
6. Tell your crazy hunting friends to shoot all the big furry animals they like. And then to drop the carcass off at your place. Immediately. None of this ridiculous “aging” business. Gross.
7. Quit being so squeamish. Tofu is over-rated.
8. Sanitize, sanitize, sanitize.
9. Long slow moist heat solves all cooking problems.
10. Eat.
6.
Don’t forget to pray for Allie Hathaway.
7.
We label all our venison with the date it was wrapped, name of the hunter, a note about what animal it is, and the cut of meat. So you might see a package that says something like, “Eddie – Buck – 10/2011 – Shank”.
Which is all very well until we have to explain why there are packages in our freezer saying, “John Doe Shoulder 12/2011.”
3.5 Time Outs: Plague Journal
Thanks to our host at Acts of the Apostasy for giving me new mid-week writing ambitions. The 1/2 was going to kill me, until I realized how good I am at not finishing things.
1.
SuperHusband wants to buy a camera adapter for our microscope. I used accounting stalling techniques to put him off. And then I remembered that my resident photographers give me a treasure-trove of material for blog work. Tempting. Very tempting. On the other hand, though he tried to lure me in with promises of breath-taking snowflake photography, mostly our microscope is used for insect post-mortems. Half-smushed ants. I think I might get fired from the Internet and made to sit in the back row at church, if I posted any of those.
2.
PSA #1: Best lip balm in the universe:
PSA#2: Don’t store it in your truck. You want to. But don’t.
3.
Dan Castell’s latest Marx Brother’s story is up:
I’ve been taking advantage of the plague to work through the manuscript of the magnum opus from which these are drawn. On the one hand, the leisurely, relax-and-enjoy style of the genre is perfect for the convalescent. On the other hand, if you aren’t supposed laugh because it makes you cough, hmnn. The frail read at their own risk.
3 1/2
The boy just called me in excitedly, to show me the printing dots, as viewed under the microscope, of this book:
The book is great. Super great. Best treatment of the topic ever. And under a low-power microscope, it looks like:
***
Well, that’s all for this week. And unlike our kind host, I won’t be able to finish my half until SuperHusband talks me into the next big gear purchase, so that could be later than Volume 3. We figured out he could use his photography/consulting money to fund his gadget habit, so there’s hope for you. I only hope he doesn’t decide we should manage my book budget the same way. Shhh.
The most wonderful time of the year (on the internet)
It’s the annual I Remember Mrs. Darwin birthday event. I can remember earlier this fall composing possible entries in my head, and thinking surely Mrs. D’s birthday must be coming soon. But I can’t remember any of those attempts now. Luckily, this genre comes to me quite naturally, now that the boy has entered the Must Repeat Monty Python Sketches All Day Long phase of early adolescence. Most fun I had all day. Go join in.
***
In case just one fake memory is not enough, feel free to spread the fun here, there, and everywhere:
If you read this, if your eyes are passing over this right now, even if we don’t speak often, please post a comment with a COMPLETELY MADE UP AND FICTIONAL MEMORY OF YOU AND ME.
It can be anything you want–good or bad–BUT IT HAS TO BE FAKE.
When you’re finished, post this paragraph on your blog and be surprised (or mortified) about what people DON’T ACTUALLY remember about you.
Book Giveaway at Amazing Catechists
God with us.
As good an Advent post as you could want:
I don’t know how to tell her that my soul is thirsty for these words I’m speaking to her. Hungry for the kind of words you can write down on paper but starving for the Word that became flesh and walked this wounded planet. I need to know He’s here. I need to know He’s in this. That He’s near to all of us who are broken. That he’s near to those who can’t seem to find the good in what He’s doing. That He’s near to the people who want to quit, who have counted the cost and are asking for their money back. That He’s near to people who are struggling to trust Him. Are you near to all of this, God?
Read the whole story of Marie Lourdes, Mrs. Hendrick, and a good father probably murdered at Sit A Spell, “When Hope Happens”.
Advent!
Catching up on my goofing off, and could not agree more with this post by Fr. L on Anticipating Advent.
Our preparation: Yesterday took the kids to Target to get them decent black slacks that reach all the way to the tops of shoes, after the, er, interesting things that appeared on our altar last Sunday. Yikes. Had to do that fast before the shoppers arrived.
So I’m reading Fr. L and thinking, yes, yes, yes! And then I thought, “that theme seems vaguely familiar.” Wow I should totally write down what that lady said on Sarah’s blog, gosh I bet she’s so pulled together. [See: Things That Appeared On Our Altar]
**********
Advent PSA: If you’re on the fence about darkening the doors of a Catholic Church.
Topic that came up last night:
Let’s say you are a lapsed Catholic or non-Catholic who is looking for a church to attend after a long time away. Perhaps you have noticed there’s a Catholic parish near you, and you have a vague idea about maybe dropping in sometime. But you’re nervous. You’ll stand out. You can’t remember (or never knew) how the whole Mass thing works. People are going to laugh at you when you say or do the wrong thing.
Is that you?
Come this Sunday! Everyone will be just as lost! We’ll all have our eyes glued to the handy pamphlet in the pews! We’ll be mumbling! We’ll say the wrong things! The new (old) hand motions will feel so weird! The music will be really good or really bad or just really strange . . . to all of us together!
7 Quick Takes: Reading List
Sign of the Apocalypse: I’m organized enough to come up with 7 things to say on a Friday.
1.
A reader sends in a link to Diary of a Gold-Digger. I liked the Morocco stories especially. Look forward to reading more.
2.
I keep forgetting to pass on that Dan Castell’s second installment in the Marx Brothers series is out. Excerpted from The Marx Brothers Meet the Doctors of Death:
“I do have this.” Groucho pulls up his shirt and exposes a fine swath of swarthy tummy.
“Und what is that supposed to be?”
“It’s a rub that itches when I scratches.”
“Ach,” says Dr. Mangler, “a rub that itches when you scratches is simple schtuff. You haff the acute dermatitis.”
“Acute dermatitis!” Groucho cries. “And me…so young…so much undone…so many dames still to fun. Acute dermatitis—and I thought it was just an itch.”
“Ja,” says Dr. Mangler, “that is what I haff said. Acute dermatitis—you haff an itch.” He pulls out a prescription pad, scribbles a scrawl, and hands it to Groucho. “Here, that should help.”
“My prescription!?”
“Nein, mein bill. Fifty dollars, please.”
“I thought you said this would help.”
“Of course fifty dollars helps. You don’t think scalpels grow on trees, do you?”
My boy loves this guy. Also available at Barnes & Noble.
3.
Speaking of the boy, do you know why I have an inordinate fondness for the Young Chesterton series? Because the other night I go check on the progress of homework. Recall the child is supposed to be writing a review of Emperor of North America for his composition assignment, so he isn’t being a total slacker when I catch him with both novels open.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“I’m looking something up. I thought the ‘Oliver’ character might be the Oliver from Oliver Twist. I had to check and see.”
That’s why. Basically if it makes you think about Dickens, in a good way, I’m okay with that.
4.
Grammar Girl is my new favorite grammar book.
5.
I put new blogs into my feed reader all the time, and sometimes I forget where they came from. I clicked on Servant of Truth, which had something or another about a history curriculum the author was putting together, or, oh, gosh, where did I hear about this blog from? Who is this person? I click through for a clue.
Oh yeah. Kolbe. Idiot.
Have I mentioned I would have been sunk this fall without their ready-made course plans? You begin to see why.
6.
Okay I am not that organized. No apocalypse.
7.
And anyway, my five counts as seven if you give Castell and McNichol each credit for two.
