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Sunday, December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas, Darling

A very quiet Christmas for me.  More so than usual.  I've been coping with re-cooperating from a severe tussle with anemia.  Thanks to some friends here, they helped pinpoint WHAT it was, and have been on proper iron tablets for the last almost two weeks.  Right after Q's funeral on Nov 2, I knew I'd be physically and emotionally drained for two weeks.  And I was.    Then when I was mentally ready to start to get up and going on with life in general, I was knocked for a loop.  I couldn't stand for more than a minute or two without literally feeling dizzy, faint, heart pounding.  What the heck was wrong?  Eventually, friends figured it out specifically.  I'm on the mend now, but I've scarcely been out of the apartment for the last 7 or so weeks.  Had friends do shopping twice, and two days ago went to store for a quick 15 minute shop and just about managed, though very tired when I got back.



So....how's Christmas been?  Not quite up to going to Mass yet -- certainly not on a Sunday.  Other than Q's funeral, last time I was up to going to mass was the Sunday immediately following his death, and I spent half of that Mass in tears.  This morning -- still not up to an hour Mass.  But perhaps tomorrow.  Fr. Christopher, the Catholic Parish Priest in Feltham has been kind to come to see me with Communion these last few weeks.  Still on going issues with 'the visa thing.'  At least I'm not paranoid -- the Home Office IS specifically giving Americans a hard time -- this I found out from Q's former business partner, (also an immigration lawyer) who read an account from the Press Association Wire services that the Home office IS 'retaliating' against American by deliberate foot dragging.  This after a judge ruled immediately when my case was heard before him in my favor (all he can do is send on to the home office.)  Well the government DIDN'T appeal his decision in my favor...but that was nearly 3 months ago.  Apparently 'give the woman her damn visa and stop being assholes about it' means to the Home Office  'we can take our sweet time at the home office to give her maximum discomfort in securing employment, getting widow's benefits, getting a driver's license, even opening a bank account. -- Never MIND the woman saved the UK government thousands of pounds, because without her Q would have been stuck in a hospice to die somewhere uncared for and we'd have had to send someone around to clean him, and feed and water him, if we could be bothered.  Nah, let's continue to treat HER like dirt.'  The AGONY all this gave Q.  It was the one time he broke into tears, the hassles the government was giving us.

At any rate:  no presents to send -- Lloyd's caught up with Q's death and FROZE the account, so I can't get squat out of it -- and I'm not well enough just yet to march down there without keeling over.  But I anticipated this as 'what can go wrong, will' -- so I have a few other people holding a sum of money out for me (rather than put it in the bank) so at least bills can be paid -- although in a pain in the ass round about way.  Worst, was they froze it just before I was going to do some on line shopping for Q's parents Christmas presents.  So, unfortunately that has to wait until next few weeks.    As for 'Christmas stuff around the house' -- I did manage to go through 3 packs of double stuffed Oreos, and there's a nice little Christmas basket I picked up at the store -- filled with pine tree greenery and decorated cones and red bows and things.  Cheerful.  And I managed to score some good ethnic food -- had an entire pack of 12 perogies last night (sauerkraut and mushrooms) and will have the same in a bit -- well, half a pack anyway.  I'll have the rest with some halupkis tomorrow.

In a while, I'll call a few relatives.  Q's parents first, then a few back home, and I'll save Fr. Shipley for last today.  It's only about 9 in the AM there in San Diego now.   I'd really wanted to send him some Steele's Fudge which he so loves, but maybe for the New Year.  This evening I'll watch a few  cherished movies:  Meet Me in St. Louis (I always cry myself silly at Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and snowman scene -- THAT's 'tradition' for me, and it's the only movie that makes me cry) - also Holiday Inn, and A Christmas Story..   Q and I watched those together last year.

Well, what's there to be thankful for this Christmas for me?    I'm celebrating Christ coming into the world to save us.  It's because of Him coming and His eventual sacrifice on earth that my Qbunny and I can hopefully live in God's presence and love forever.  And I guess when you come down to it, that's all the presents you really need.  The picture above is my Qbunny at Henley not too many years ago, when he was still the picture of health.  There's another picture to post, taken this year at Henley, with the two of us, which I have to crop and dink with as I don't have a good photo editor software on this machine yet - so that will have to wait.

Please pray that my Qbunny is now in heaven, and did 99 percent of his purgatory on earth.    I pray I may someday be worthy to join him.  I hope he's having eternal 'jolly boating weather.'
   

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving

It's been a long time since I posted.  It's been a rough year for me, some of you already know this, some don't:  I've been in England for a year and a month now.  A fellow blogger, 'Dominic Mary' of Libera-Me-Domine blog and I had fallen in love, and had become engaged.  We didn't tell many people, because though we were engaged, we'd not met in real life, and we didn't want to look foolish if it turned out we were not right for each other -- but we'd talked for hours via Skype every day.   Last October, I came over for a 12 week visit.  Basically, we confirmed we were, in fact, 'right' for each other.  I was due to come back to San Diego, where we'd hoped to be married this last year in summer.  Well, we DID get married, on Jan 31st,  but not the way we'd planned it.



A few days before I was due to leave for home, Quentin was diagnosed with a stage 4 terminal brain cancer.    He'd had an 'episode' of seizure like symptoms over the summer, but allegedly, 'they saw nothing.'  [We'd NEVER gotten to see those scans, after repeated requests.  But believe me, I am going to pursue this under the law and they will have to cough them up, and if there IS something there, I will sue them for every last bedpan, because his treatment was delayed by 6 months when nothing was done, and it might still have been operable.]    The tumor was so large, it was inoperable.  Multiforme glioblastoma.  How long did Q have?  Weeks, months?  50% die within the year with what he had, only 2-3% make it for 2-3 years, if they are very lucky.  If I left the country then, odds were I wouldn't get back in.  There was no way I was leaving him with no one to care for him.  Q had no siblings, no children, and octogenarian parents.  Q had an annulment in progress, but we had to take advantage of a special quirk in English law and get married in the C of E, via special license, and later try and go for a ratiocination in the Catholic church.  To say this made my visa status here complicated is an overwhelming understatement.  It's STILL being sorted out, with the home office finally ruling in our favor, finally figuring out: 'no one decides to get a stage 4 cancer to try and get around the immigration rules...they deserve this on human rights.'    Literally the last day for the home office to appeal the ruling in our favor was the day Q died, Oct 21st.  I should get my stamp 'shortly' though the judge had marked it 'urgent.'

There doesn't seem like there's much for me to celebrate this year.  But there is.  I had Q for exactly a year and a day.  Never once did Q complain of having the cancer.  He'd get frustrated because he had a harder and harder time communicating.  Nominative aphasia, they called it.  I think I got to be with a saint in the making, and I thank God for that gift.

So if you have a loved ones, and family around you this year, give them a special hug, and realize when you least expect it something may happen to them.  Hug them like you were getting to hug them for the last time, because for all anyone knows, it may well be your last Thanksgiving together,  and be thankful they are with you and have graced your life.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

This one is for Mac

Two bowling teams, one of all Blondes and one of all Brunettes,charter a double-Decker bus for a weekend trip to Louisiana. The Brunette team rode on the bottom of the bus, and the Blonde team rode on the top level.



The Brunette team down below really whooped it up, having a great time, when one of them realized she hadn't heard anything from the Blondes upstairs. She decided to go up and investigate..

When the Brunette reached the top, she found all the Blondes in fear, staring straight ahead at the road,clutching the seats in front of them with white knuckles. The brunette asked, 'What the heck's going on up here? We're having a great time downstairs!'

One of the Blondes looked up at her, swallowed hard
and whispered...

'YEAH, BUT YOU'VE GOT A DRIVER!

Friday, August 26, 2011

Father Z gives misogyny a pass-what a surprise, not.

Every now and again the subject of girls being allowed to serve at the altar comes up on Fr. Z's blog.  Not surprisingly he always admonishes people to remain civil.  But in reality if a 'pro female server' argument comes up he is ruthless in applying his standard of civility.  But a man dissing women?  Go right ahead.

I took issue with one person who commented:
  "Seamas O Dalaigh says:
Father,
Of course it should be reversed. The sooner the better.
Cardinal Vingt-Trois’ observation makes sense. Everybody knows that little boys of a certain age do not wish to be involved in anything that includes little girls. Enter the little girls, exit fast the little boys.
There is a clear and obvious link between altar boys and vocations to the priesthood. Although the reasons for a drop in vocations are many and complex, serviettes can only have aggravated the problem.
In places where they exist what do serviettes wear? Alb and cincture? Soutanne and surplice? But these are men’s garments! Is it really wise to encourage little girls to dress as men?
(I wonder how many members of COW, sorry, WOC were once serviettes? Just a thought…)
James Daly?"

In one post (which was held for 'moderation') I called the user on it.  In a follow up post to Fr. Z I said I expect my follow up post to be deleted as I wanted to be as full on candid with him as I could be.  I, not for the first time, I might add, took him to task for permitting the inflammatory term 'serviettes' as applied to women servers.  Frankly, it comes off as something bitchy gay queens say.  I'm not saying the fellow who said it, IS one.  I am saying, that to one who is familiar with gay culture, it sends my own gaydar off the map and comes off as bitchy, spiteful, mean and nasty.
The upshot?  Z deleted both my posts, and let the nasty 'serviette' business stand.
Not that I'm especially surprised... but for such a 'rock star' Fr. Z. can be an awful ass.

update:  Here's what else passes for 'clever comment' on the blog - it's quite okay to make fun of girls who have physical problems.  But I doubt if she was a 'he' 'giggles' would get smug approval.

From Papaefidelis:
"At my parish, there was a female server who walked like a T. Rex (I think she had physical problems), causing giggles in the nave during mass."

Just a girl.  Okay to hurt her feelings.  

Chickens / Roads

SARAH PALIN: The chicken crossed the road because, gosh-darn it, he's a maverick!

BARACK OBAMA: The chicken crossed the road because it was time for change! The chicken wanted change!

JOHN MCCAIN: My friends, that chicken crossed the road because he recognized the need to engage in cooperation and dialogue with all the chickens on the other side of the road.

HILLARY CLINTON: When I was First Lady, I personally helped that little chicken to cross the road. This experience makes me uniquely qualified to ensure right from Day One that every chicken in this country gets the chance it deserves to cross the road. But then, this really isn't about me.

GEORGE W. BUSH: We don't really care why the chicken crossed the road. We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road, or not. The chicken is either against us, or for us. There is no middle ground here.

DICK CHENEY: Where's my gun?

COLIN POWELL: Now to the left of the screen, you can clearly see the satellite image of the chicken crossing the road.

BILL CLINTON: I did not cross the road with that chicken.

AL GORE: I invented the chicken.

JOHN KERRY: Although I voted to let the chicken cross the road, I am now against it! It was the wrong road to cross, and I was misled about the chicken's intentions. I am not for it now, and will remain against it.

AL SHARPTON: Why are all the chickens white? We need some black chickens.

DR. PHIL: The problem we have here is that this chicken won't realize that he must first deal with the problem on this side of the road before it goes after the problem on the other side of the road. What we need to do is help him realize how stupid he's acting by not taking on his current problems before adding new problems.

OPRAH: Well, I understand that the chicken is having problems, which is why he wants to cross this road so bad. So instead of having the chicken learn from his mistakes and take falls, which is a part of life, I'm going to give this chicken a NEW CAR so that he can just drive across the road and not live his life like the rest of the chickens.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN: We have reason to believe there is a chicken, but we have not yet been allowed to have access to the other side of the road.

NANCY GRACE: That chicken crossed the road because he's guilty! You can see it in his eyes and the way he walks.

PAT BUCHANAN: To steal the job of a decent, hardworking American.

DR SEUSS: Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad? Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why it crossed I've not been told.

ERNEST HEMINGWAY: To die in the rain, alone.

GRANDPA: In my day we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road. Somebody told us the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough.

BARBARA WALTERS: Isn't that interesting? In a few moments, we will be listening to the chicken tell, for the first time, the heart warming story of how it experienced a serious case of molting, and went on to accomplish it's lifelong dream of crossing the road.

ARISTOTLE: It is the nature of chickens to cross the road.

JOHN LENNON: Imagine all the chickens in the world crossing roads together, in peace.

BILL GATES: I have just released eChicken2011, which will not only cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents, and balance your checkbook. Internet Explorer is an integral part of eChicken2011. This new platform is much more stable and will never reboot.

ALBERT EINSTEIN: Did the chicken really cross the road, or did the road move beneath the chicken?

COLONEL SANDERS: Did I miss one?

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Sorry for the Long delay in posting.,..

Will resume blogging shortly.  Have had a busy summer and not much time to blog.  Well, okay that and my computer had died and had to get a new one.  Details.  Hope Toshiba lives up to its name.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Amish Road Rage

Always liked this one.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Down, Down, Down the Rabbit Hole

Think the liberal media will be endlessly regaling us year from now with Zero's gaffes of not knowing what year it was?  'Corpseman'  'all 57 states'  and other similar boners?  Not on your life.  But just for the record...




And they will also pass over this jackass continuing to speak over God Save The Queen.  Stupid fool probably thought it was underscoring for his remarks.  Zero, when you have people from the state department frantically trying to cram some protocol into your brain, PAY ATTENTION.  *You* are ALWAYS the least qualified person in the room.  These people know better.


Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Mo Does impression of Golliwog

...somewhere there's an odd buck or pound to be made for the enterprising....

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Who has more class?

George W. Bush speech after capture of Saddam:
The success of yesterday's mission is a tribute to our men and women now serving in Iraq. The operation was based on the superb work of intelligence analysts who found the dictator's footprints in a vast country. The operation was carried out with skill and precision by a brave fighting force. Our servicemen and women and our coalition allies have faced many dangers in the hunt for members of the fallen regime, and in their effort to bring hope and freedom to the Iraqi people. Their work continues, and so do the risks. Today, on behalf of the nation, I thank the members of our Armed Forces and I congratulate 'em.


Barack Obama speech after killing of bin Laden:
And so shortly after taking office, I directed Leon Panetta, the director of the CIA, to make the killing or capture of bin Laden the top priority of our war against al Qaeda, even as we continued our broader efforts to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat his network. Then, last August, after years of painstaking work by our intelligence community, I was briefed on a possible lead to bin Laden. It was far from certain, and it took many months to run this thread to ground. I met repeatedly with my national security team as we developed more information about the possibility that we had located bin Laden hiding within a compound deep inside of Pakistan. And finally, last week, I determined that we had enough intelligence to take action, and authorized an operation to get Osama bin Laden and bring him to justice. Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Where was the soul of Lazerus?

I never really thought of it before. I expect the so-called limbo of the fathers. OR purgatory. Couldn't have been heaven because Christ hadn't been sacrificed on the cross and risen from the dead at that point.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Member of Pro-life Group threatened with gun - San Diego

This morning I received an email status report re: recent activity by the San Diego branch of the pro-life group Helpers of God's Precious Infants - the email was dated March 30 regards activities that happened over this last week. The following is verbatim from the letter. [I have been out of town and did not hear first hand account, but many of these pro-lifers attend my San Diego parish ] The 'COLFS' mentioned in the report is a medical practice dedicated to helping women choose life. They put their money where their mouth is.

"Planned Parenthood First and Grape, Downtown San Diego - March 26, 2011

There were 4 prayer warriors and 2 sidewalk counselors this morning. Jose spoke with a young Hispanic couple parked on the curb who had an appointment for an abortion. They were receptive and he was able to give them all the information about what Planned Parenthood was about to do as soon as they went in. He showed them the picture of a 6-week pre-born baby and a 12-week old fetal model. The young lady let Jose borrow her phone to call the COLF's crisis line. Jose spoke with the phone counselor, and then handed over the phone to the young lady who proceeded to make an appointment for Monday morning. She looked very happy, and he hugged them both and gave her a Rosary before they drove away.


Family Planning Associates, Miramar Rd., San Diego - March 26, 2011

Today was Day 18 of 40 Days for Life at Miramar Rd, and the third Saturday of abortions at this mill during the 40 Days for Life campaign in San Diego. Streams of young people poured across the parking lot to pray along the sidewalk in front of the mill, with over a hundred people praying throughout the morning. Most of the prayer warriors were members of the St. Therese Youth Group from Del Cerro. We had 4 sidewalk counselors covering the driveways.

Just after the security guard arrived around 7:30 am, a cab brought in a couple from Mexico. The driver stopped so Roger could give the woman a flyer about the abortionist. When he started to talk about the risks of having an abortion, the woman said in broken English, "Oh no, not here for abortion". He handed her a flyer on the risks of an abortion as the cab driver slowly pulled into the lot.

The first couple that Anne greeted showed some concern about the doctor’s record. She showed them both a picture of what their baby might look like. They were doubtful about going in, and she tried her best to talk with them about how this abortion would affect their relationship and their lives. She gave the woman a Rosary and told her she was worth more than what was offered at FPA. They pulled into the lot and sat for sometime, but eventually went in.

While it was still fairly early in the morning, Roger spoke with what appeared to be a mother and her daughter. The mother was driving. He gave her a flyer about the abortionist and began to tell her about his 9 years of probation. She gave a forced smile while she slowly nodded. He asked the passenger how far along she was, and she said she didn't know. He held up a picture of a 6-week old pre-born baby, and the driver immediately turned it over so the passenger could not see it. Then Roger told her that most women will have emotional trauma because they will eventually find out how developed their baby was when it was aborted, and he held up a 12-week, life-like rubber fetal model. At that, the driver curtly said "Thank you, we don't need to see that" and she rolled up the window and sped into the parking lot.

At the steps leading up to FPA, Anne greeted some women who would not listen, nor take any literature she had to offer. However, one couple she met listened to her words of warning and concern over FPA as they walked up the steps. They went into FPA, but came out minutes later and said they were willing to listen more and take information. They came over to Anne, and she talked with them about how making the right decision will always be a blessing. She urged them to go to Dr. Delgado so they could get a proper ultrasound and be in the hands of a competent doctor. Anne handed the woman a Rosary and gave her a big hug. They did call COLFS and said they would make an appointment for Monday.

For the rest of the day Anne was met with mostly hostility and unkind words. She was able to talk with a young woman who left after having had the abortion. Anne offered her a Rachel’s Hope flier and told her God loved her and that she would pray for her healing. Terry spoke with several women who were very cold and politely listened, but either went in, or declined to get their sister/girlfriend out of the clinic.

About 2.5 hours after Roger first spoke with the couple from Mexico who had arrived earlier in a cab, he saw another cab driving the same woman toward the exit, this time by herself. The driver stopped at the exit, but the back windows were rolled up, and the woman appeared to be in tears. Roger asked the driver to hand a Rachael's Hope flyer to the woman in back, which he did. Then he asked the driver to hand her a blue Rosary, but he jerked his hand away like it was on fire, so Roger tossed it over the seat to her and told her that God still loves her. With the Rosary resting on the seat beside her, she looked away, wiping her tears as the cab driver drove off.

About mid-morning, Terry and Roger were at the front driveway when a 4-door, black car with tinted windows drove in and briefly stopped for Terry. As she attempted to hand him a flyer on the doctor, he drove past her into the parking lot and dropped off the woman who was in the passenger seat. A short while later he drove back to the exit. Again Terry tried to hand him a flyer, but he refused to take it. He then drove forward about 10 feet and stopped at the edge of the street and opened the car door. He leaned his upper body out of the car, beckoning Terry to come over. She approached him, assuming he wanted to talk about the woman he dropped off. As she neared the car, she heard a distinctive "clicking" sound as if a gun were being loaded, and then saw the driver brandish a semi-automatic pistol in her direction. He threatened her, pointing to the gun, telling her if she ever came near his car again, he would use it. He drove away as Terry called the police. The police quickly responded, took statements, and remained onsite for some time waiting for the driver to return. From various information sources, the police were able to identify the man, and said he would be apprehended and charged. The man had not returned by the time we left at noon, and as of Tuesday, had not been apprehended.

(Note to our regular prayer warriors: We believe this was an isolated threat of intimidation to a specific sidewalk counselor because he was driving someone in for an abortion. He did not threaten anyone else, he remainined [sic] in the car, and he made no remarks regarding "abortion protesters" or other such general statements against what we are doing. We do not believe he poses a future risk, but we feel you have the right to know what happened.)

In Christ,

Roger, Anne, Terry, David, and Jose"

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

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