Religion . . . opiate of the masses . . .

It's a Bluebird kinda day

Perhaps - for me Sunday Mass is rich, musical théâtre; I believe there is much theater in all religions. As long as common sense prevails that is fine. When religion becomes heavy with righteousness and preaching "Do as I say but not as I do" then there are problems. If religion gives people a sense of peace and a devotion to loving man and nature with their imperfections then religion is on the right track.  Sunday Mass gives me time to unwind from petty cares; I feel the comfort of music that transcends the building, benches and worshipers and warms my soul. Perhaps I'm just fortunate  that our choir is good! May hap - I enjoy the calm and repetition of prayers I've known since childhood. Even though the church has tried to modernize the language of the prayers I still recite them as I learned them kneeling by my bed at night with Mama. Don't need no modernization of prayers! Hell's bells, I listened to the children at the Early Learning Center say the Hail Mary without the thou's and thy's. It's horrible and hurts my ears! Not sure basic truths whether religious or secular need to be modernized. Man is still man - as imperfect as ever and that's never going to change. Have not figured out what the Divine Higgs Boson had in mind when creation erupted in his almost perfect mind. The universe was set in motion, nature began its ascendancy and the human race has been trying to trump all creation - ain't going to happen - not with the seemingly built in perverseness of man's brilliant yet feeble intelligence. The Divine Higgs Boson has work to do.

Okay - that's enough merdeski for today - still feeling fine on this glorious, bright, cold February day as I keep puppy while P&D's Pop has gone off to buy her the proper treats - seems her folks don't spoil her enough so we have to!

Quote:  It is motive alone that gives character to the actions of men. ___La Bruyere

Impressive . . .

The Hawk and the Crow - sounds like a fable!

I mailed out my passport renewal February 7 and I received my new one today! Only took about 21/2 weeks; now that's how government should work. I have been trying to stay away from the news lately because it's so anti "Just the facts, ma'am." It's impossible to get a factual story on anything - the papers shouldn't be called newspapers; rather we should call them opinion sheets and crappy ones at that! At least I have a factual report of the government doing something right so I know it is possible for government to work properly. Not sure it is newsworthy but I don't imagine it could be reported in an article without some numb nut mentioning how the president has come down hard on the people who process passports and if they don't get them back to you faster than fast they will be fired and replaced by rich, white men! Geaux Mr. President! Good job! Yay! Okay, that's enough facetiousness for today.

I went to my first Mardi Gras parade today. It was by far the best little parade around. There were around 90 shoe box sized floats and they were outstanding. Each kiddo in the Early Learning Program brought in a float. I wish I had photos but I don't bring my camera to school and even if I had photos they can not be put in a public forum. I may have one I can share if Miss C sends me the photo of her two year old with her float as she has given me permission to put it on Facebook. But little Lucy is sick today and on the way to the doctor's office so I don't think her mom will be thinking about sharing photos. There have been a lot of sick kids and adults lately - strep and colds. Yuck. Yesterday as I was reading to the class I noticed one of the little boys looked so pale and he was shivering with his eyes so dull that I asked if he felt okay - he said yes but immediately changed it to no. I went and felt his forehead and when his teacher got back to the room I told her I was quite sure he was sick. Off to the office they went;  his fever was 102 and rising. Mom had to come pick him up. Feel so awful when the little ones get sick - they really do suffer in silence as I don't think they realize they're quite sick.

Did some weed wacking yesterday and moved some bricks to the front of the back porch to make room for pots and plants. Getting itchy for flowers and maybe cucumbers - no tomatoes this year because the mockingbirds beat me to them last year. Not sure how my plants will fare but I've got to try. I miss putting around in the garden so I'll try putting around some pots and putting pine straw near the house to keep the weeds down. (Putting around and putting are spelled the same but pronounced differently!)

Quote:  Let your views in life be directed to a solid, however moderate, independence; without it no man can be happy, nor even honest.  ___Junius

Just a little craziness . . .

Pretty bird

Left to go out to breakfast this morning and there was a sheriff's car parked next to our fence; he was standing by the stop sign at the corner of our property with his radar gun aimed at the cars coming from Brown Road! We have never seen that before but I'm guessing a neighbor called the police because when traffic gets backed up on Brown because of school buses the cars cut through to Juban on our road and drive like maniacs on the 25 mph road! They're nuts. This is a small neighborhood with narrow roads - not a highway - so it doesn't make sense to scream through and run the stop sign too in order to get to the main drag.

Another bit of craziness is the doctor has changed the antibiotic after 5 days of taking it to a different and stronger one that I must take for 10 days. I'm not complaining because the other worked a little but not great. I think this one will cure me for a month or so! What the heck - I'll just keep manoeuvring the curves Mother Nature throws in my way. Be damned, Mother Nature!

We had one of the best short trips ever this past weekend when we drove to Garland, Texas for a Control Line Flying Contest. Not only did P&D's Pop win first place in Classic Stunt but also first in Profile Stunt; to add a bit of frosting on that cake I'm finally starting to feel comfortable holding the planes while he prepares for takeoff. That's a big deal for me - seems crazy to have worried about it but I'm getting less wary of the propeller - not less wary, really, just more comfortable holding the plane steady as it is ready to pull away if I don't hold tight. That's still a bit scary! We also met our nephew, Lucas and lovely friend Argelyn along with his two kiddos and our sister-in-law, Pam. It was  so nice to meet them in Texas!

Had a great Shrimp Scampi dinner last night; our tax preparer's wife made the best dinner and we enjoyed it immensely. Haven't been to visit them in a while as they get pretty busy - as a matter of fact we'll be keeping puppy for about a week as they have business to attend to and a puppy just doesn't fit into the plans easily. That's a boon for us as we enjoy having Daytona. Keeps us walking that's for sure!

Quote:  Willingness to be taught what we do not know, is the sure pledge of growth both in knowledge and wisdom.    ____Blair

Control Line Racing - Garland, Texas

On apprend le francais dans les toilettes . . . c'est vrai chez la Madeleine . . .

One of our neighbors gave me this petunia in the late Fall - Look at it now!

Even if you're pissed, Louisiana (Baton Rouge in particular) has a way to soothe your savage beast. Had to drop off a specimen to Dr. Smither which quite literally unhinged me as we are leaving for Garland, Texas (near Dallas) tomorrow morning and feeling like crapola is not supposed to be in the mix. But at least my good Doctor lets me keep a seven day supply of Bactrim on hand; so after taking the first last night along with a super Tylenol the fever subsided and I fell asleep around 2am. Got up feeling much better than I've felt in about a week and a half. I guess Lady Doc is correct - I may need a low dose antibiotic just as I did when I was in my twenties. It seems I'm not fashioned perfectly well and the imperfection leads to problems. Oh well, c'est la vie, n'est-ce pas! On fait ce qu'il faut faire pour bien vivre. Looking forward to our Control Line Contest trip and also seeing Pam, Lucas and the kiddos. Life is interesting.

The reason I've ended up writing and thinking in French is superbe. After the drop off I smoothly made my way to la Madeleine Country French Café at Perkins Rowe. After placing my order at the wrong place (pourquoi pas, après tout, c'est moi) the charming young woman showed me how the place works and I managed to snag myself a comfortable seat where I waited happily for my Crêpe Romanoff. It was an excellent choice; I think I may even be able to get P&D's Pop to eat there with me as they have regular breakfast items and pretty darned good coffee with mugs you can just keep on refilling. Bien sur I stopped at les toilettes before leaving the restaurant; as you open the bathroom door a voice greets you in French and proceeds to give a short, basic French lesson!Wow, I am so impressed with myself finding places on my own, although my friend Amy did tell me it was good.

 I also spent way too much money on Papyrus Cards at the Perkins Rowe CVS; I like Papyrus cards for special times and I suppose I should find a place closer to home that carries them or go online but that will always be an excuse to go to La Madeleine for Breakfast or Lunch. I even made my way to and from Baton Rouge without Waze; scary how good I'm getting when I'm off on my own.

Felt badly this morning because I had to let The Early Learning Center know that I wouldn't be there today; Miss Camille already knew I wouldn't be there tomorrow but I had a really good book for the kids. Damnation - I shall have to remember it next week.  Well, time to get to work with the wash, feeding the birds and exercising.

Quote:  Children generally hate to be idle, __All the care then should be, that their busy humor should be constantly employed in something that is of use to them.   ___Locke

Think I'll be giving up my self-imposed exile from Facebook . . .

Purple Finch

I have tried to find an easy place to post bird photos that is not related to Facebook but haven't come up with a good substitute for Birds of the eastern United States and . . . I seem to miss some rather important announcements! Shucks . . . so I'll be back dragging my tail behind me! Well, not really, I must force myself not to read everything posted. P&D's Pop keeps after me because instead of skimming the Advocate I read it from cover to cover and he's right - there's not too much worthwhile news and it's as biased as the TV news. I've got to find a, "Just The Facts" somewhere but I don't know where to look. Everything I come across seems to be either right or left leaning. I don't want leaning! I want facts, that's it. If I want explanations I want them delivered in a concise, historical context. I don't know where to turn. Maybe my friend Matt can help me out. I'll have to bug him when I return to FB.

Lucky I have P&D's Pop to fix everything that breaks or goes wrong. I've had trouble wearing my Birkenstocks because I have one toe on the right foot that always rubs against the outer shoe no matter what kind I wear. I think I'm oddly made. The third toe is my longest toe! In any case P&D's Pop has carved out a place for it and also drilled another hole in the buckle belt so it fits better. He can always manage to save any situation I manage to get into. Gotta love this man who has kept me well and balanced when I try to go off the deep end either physically or emotionally. We met about 53 years ago his summer and he's been doing a great job ever since helping to keep me stable! Happy Valentine's Day to all and sundry.

Quote:  Sole partner, and sole part of all my joys, dearer thyself than all.   ___Milton

Bonsoir, les amis . . . et tout le monde . . . bonsoir. . .

Gliding . . .