59 thoughts on “Our Daily Thread 4-2-15”

  1. 🙂
    I see in the Times-News that some are projecting that the seas will rise along the NC coast in the next 30 years.
    It doesn’t matter to us, We go to the beach in South Carolina.

    😆

    Good morning everyone. We’re praying that things go well today Aj.

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  2. When I read this, I thought of a communication Donna mentioned in yesterday’s Politics thread.

    I Cor. 2:14; “But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

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  3. Good Morning All.
    I wasn’t able to tell you yesterday that the new tax referendum was voted down. Because of the way they set the ballot up some of the renewals were also voted down. Right now it looks like only 4 mils have been renewed for the school system. Even the people on the “No New Taxes” side are speaking out that they were only against the NEW taxes and are reaching out to the school system to help have another vote in September to get us back up to where we were.
    Most are blaming the heavy handed measures the school system used to try to get this increase. The increase was for over 30 years but they only had a 10 year plan for what they were going to do. Too many unanswered questions and you can’t turn a politician loose with that kink of money.
    We also have something in the state called “equity funding” where we have to send anything over a certain amount to the state to be split among the poorer counties. The lodging tax off of our beaches send a boatload of money to Montgomery. So now of course since state law mandates something like 10 mils have to go to education people are asking if we will get our equity funding back.
    It is a mess and the piling on has begun.

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  4. Good morning to all. AJ, you and yours are in my prayers today.

    I am arriving here later than I thought I would, but the videos are next up. The thought occurred to me this morning that we used to have problems with our internet going out when it rained. Last night it rained throughout the night, so I am glad to see that I can get on here today! However, our internet is very sluggish, and I have to head out the door in a half an hour, so if for some reason the videos don’t show up for a while, I’ll try posting them again later when I get back home.

    Here’s hoping… 🙂

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  5. In looking for classical composers born on this date in history, there was only one for April 2 on the list I’d bookmarked several months ago at clasical.net — Franz Lachner, someone I’d never heard of. I found this piece by him that has an interesting combination of musicians: a clarinetist, a pianist, and a soprano. 🙂 The ensemble call themselves Trio Baalbeck, and they are performing a piece entitled “Auf Flügeln des Gesanges,” which, translates to “On Wings of Song.”

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  6. Good morning, all. I have to chase down one more piece of info so husband can finish our tax return. This seems to be a year for that with all the clients.

    We are not having the Easter Egg Hunt at church as we have had in the past. With all the rain we keep having that is probably wise.

    Is anyone going to do a special meal for Sunday? We don’t here because of the tax business. It would be nice to have an Easter not weighted down by the heaviest work load of the year for my husband. I may see if my brother wants to get together.

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  8. Also on this date in classical music history, five years before Franz Lachner’s birthday, who I mentioned above, the first performance of Franz Joseph Haydn’s “The Creation” Oratorio took place in 1798 at Schwarzenberg Palace, Vienna. From that oratorio, this is the song “The Heavens are Telling.” Gorgeous setting!

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  9. We saw sandhill cranes, bald eagles, elk, etc on the drive back from Boise. I was able to see them because seventeen year old was driving. He is one that we had not thought would ever become a driver. He is quite good at it. Soon we will learn if he is good enough to pass the driving test.

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  10. I’m working from home today, my editor was kind of enough to tell me to do that as I was getting ready to leave yesterday — I just have the big Easter news/feature to finish, but that’ll take most of the day. And I think he felt bad because I originally had wanted yesterday through Friday off for vacation but the week was so busy (esp with the Easter assignment that didn’t come down until Monday from one of the higher-up editors) that I now can only take off tomorrow. But I’ll get Monday and Tuesday off this way.

    Several of us (7 so far) are going out for an Easter brunch after church, we made reservations at a local cafe. After those plans were made, my cousins (the long-lapsed Catholics 🙂 ) texted to invite me to one of their houses, too, though — so I told them if I wasn’t completely “wiped out” I’d swing by later in the afternoon if I could, his house is not far away and I do enjoy being with them. And since I have Monday off, it won’t be the crunch to “bounce back” for work the next morning.

    We normally go to the added early (8:30 a.m.) church service on Easter & then get breakfast after that, so we’re home usually by noon. But Norma, who’s part of the group going to brunch, said the later service this year is better for her as she’s feeling pretty tired first thing in the morning these days. Not sure I’ve been to the regular (later) service on Easter ever at this church, I’m sure it’ll be packed so we’re going to try to get there early.

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  12. We are going over to Mary’s house for lunch after church Sunday.
    Saturday night we are having a big dinner to celebrate Brian’s doctorate. He will be awarded a doctorate after about four years of study. Becky will be the happiest of all. She gets her husband back. Elvera went through that when I was at seminary. But I didn’t get a doctorate. I barely graduated. 🙂

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  14. We will have a family dinner with everyone in town. The Lord gave me the idea to contribute by making a cheesecake. My family are such wonderful cooks that I haven’t taken anything to the weekly dinners, but I remembered that I have a wonderful cheesecake recipe and have made it successfully before. Plus, I love cheesecake!

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  15. If you have never attended a Maundy Thursday service find a liturgical church and attend. It is a very poignant service.

    I awoke this morning unable to move my neck. The minute I opened my opens I was in pain all through my neck and shoulders. I went to a chain place called Massage Envy. I have to say the massage therapist was quite good. I am not 100% but I can move. The receptionist at work loaded me up with ibuprofen before I went and I am guzzling water now. I really don’t want to wake up this way tomorrow. 🙂

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  16. I love “The Heavens are Telling”, 6 Arrows. Haydn is often overshadowed by his contemporary Mozart, but he was an equal genius and his music is always refreshing.

    Been keeping busy this week, arranging music for both a Good Friday service (the new pastor has instituted a new tradition) and the Easter Service. The Easter piece came together well, but the Good Friday piece needed some work. The musicians are youngest sibling and myself – between the two of us we can use the violin and piano or organ (just an electric piano on organ setting, as the church organ went kaput 😦 ). I did take the time to go and see the new Cinderella, which I found thoroughly delightful.

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  17. I am frustrated almost beyond words, and the tears started falling while I was driving home from round two of the dentist appointments that started yesterday and continued today.

    I told you yesterday how excited I was to get the no cavities report.

    Not so fast.

    Today I came in with another daughter, and while she was back getting her teeth cleaned, a dental assistant came over to me in the waiting area and informed me they forgot to take X-rays when I was being seen yesterday.

    Yeah, you guessed it. Decay showed up — in two areas that they couldn’t see without X-rays. One of them is under a metal crown, so I have to have it removed, taken care of, and get a new crown put on.

    It’s an endless battle, all the dental problems I have. Yesterday’s report was very literally the first time this millenium I got good news. I don’t think I’ve had a “no cavities” pronouncement in decades. Seems like a cruel April Fool’s joke that a clean report on that day was overturned the very next day. 😦

    Just when it seems we’re finally getting ahead financially, too, something always comes along to bring back the old struggle.

    But I try to remember that it’s so small in the larger scheme of things. It does not begin to compare to what AJ and family are going through now, for example, and many others, as well.

    Thanks for putting up with my rant.

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  18. Janice, I liked that title, too, “On Wings of Song.” It brought a smile. 🙂

    Roscuro, I always enjoy Haydn’s music, too.

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  19. 6 – you’re in the same boat as my sister – always bad dentist visits through no fault of her own. However she likely doesn’t have the same financial issues as you do. I’m pretty sure her insurance covers the majority of the costs.

    I got my hair cut yesterday and she made it quite short – I’m really not sure how to do it now. Oh well, it will grow and I shouldn’t have to go back for several months! 🙂 Oh, and the dyed brown is almost gone now – I think my natural dark brown/grey is actually quite pretty.

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  20. I’m seeing otters almost daily on our little lake – I hope they stay long enough for us to get on the water in canoe or kayak so we can watch them a little closer up.

    We should be starting to see bears any day now 🙂

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  21. My sympathies, 6 Arrows. Frequent cavities in women are often related to having had multiple pregnancies. I knew a woman who had eleven children who had terrible teeth. One history book I read on the Middle Ages mentioned that most women by their thirties wore veils over the lower part of their face to conceal their rotting teeth. I believed that when I saw the women in West Africa – by around thirty, their teeth were visibly decaying when they talked or smiled. Some of course, had naturally stronger teeth than others; but the combination of chronic malnutrition and lack of dental care meant that most women suffered in silence. Western women, with our super-excellent nutrition and medical care, don’t realize just how much of our bodies goes into nourishing children. That is why pregnancy vitamins are recommended. Are you taking calcium and magnesium supplements (the magnesium helps absorb the calcium)?

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  22. This morning as I was leaving to do errands, I opened the door and a young, maybe high school age, black guy was at my door with a lady behind him. It did startle me since they had not knocked. They were Jehovah Witnesses. They are using Holy Week to get out their message. I have seen Mormans do the same.
    I was very polite to them. If I hsd not needed to be on my way I would have talked more with them.

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  23. Interesting dental posts. Sorry 6 arrows, that stinks. I was so happy when I read your triumphant “Look! No cavities!” post last night.

    And even when you do have dental insurance, it really doesn’t cover a lot of the “big” work like crowns & root canals (well, it covers a portion, but it’s usually a lot of out-of-pocket expense beyond that).

    The worst thing I have to endure lately at the dentist office is the flossing lecture whenever I go in for 6-month cleanings. They switched my hygienist and the one I have now is pretty hard-core. 😦

    And big bills, tell me about it. Just had to get new rear brakes (w/rotars) & 4 new tires — + the usual oil change, new air filter, blown fuse fix, etc. — and the bill was just shy of $1,000. Actually not all that bad considering the major work, to be honest, but ouch. I think my mechanic has taken pity on me, though, I was expecting it definitely to be over $1,000 for all of that.

    Jeep now rides nice, though, and the new tires make it feel “cushy.” And they even washed it. 🙂

    kare, at least you have a good shampoo now. 🙂

    I’m trying to pull this Easter story together, waiting for call backs from the LA & San Bernardino Archdiocese offices … And the local Catholic church.

    Worst week in the year to try to get a priest on the phone, right? I’ve had to do this before and remember that it was pretty much impossible. (Actually, I think it was a story that somehow required both Catholic priests & Orthodox rabbis — smack in the middle of Holy Week & Passover.)

    But all I have for the Easter story so far are Protestant (Lutheran/Congregational) voices — I need to get more of a denominational and geographic diversity, and I especially need a Catholic as that is the largest Christian group in our readership area. …

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  24. Kare, I like to hear about other women letting their hair go grey. 🙂 There are lots of women in my church whom I know are older than I am (52) and do not have a bit of grey. Undoubtedly there are some people who probably are late grey-ers (my husband is 3 1/2 years older than I am, and he has developed a few grey hairs in the last few months, but never had any before that, so I know some people just don’t grey fast), but sometimes I feel like I must be about the only woman near my age who doesn’t color her hair!

    Roscuro, thank you. I’ve heard the saying “Lose a tooth for each pregnancy,” or something like that, but I didn’t know if that was more of an old wives’ tale or if it had substance.

    I took prenatal vitamins with my first pregnancy, and maybe my second, but at some point, my obstetrician (whom I saw for my first three pregnancies before switching to midwives) said that they weren’t really necessary, so I didn’t take them during any of my other pregnancies. (I’ve been pregnant eight times, although two of them ended in first-trimester miscarriages.) That probably wasn’t the best advice to listen to, about abstaining from using pregnancy vitamins.

    I have been taking a liquid cal-mag-zinc-D3 formula for a number of years, but not as much as the recommended dosage. I’ve been taking a teaspoon a day, though the label says you can take it three times a day.

    I just went and looked at the label, and it seems I misread it. I thought the dosage was three teaspoons a day, but it is three TABLESPOONS. So I am way under the recommended amount.

    I will have to up that. I don’t usually take the recommended amount of any supplement because that gets expensive, and I’d rather spend money on food than supplements. I need my calories. (For a woman of my age and ethnicity, I am at the 95th percentile height and the 5th percentile weight, so eating well and in large quantities is important so I have enough reserves to function well and stay healthy, which, fortunately, I am, other than my poor dental health.)

    So that’s why we have a big foods budget and a small supplements budget. But upping the cal/mag amount, if it helps me save on dental bills, would certainly be cost-effective.

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  25. Donna, vehicle expenses are certainly a biggie. I am blessed to have a husband who can do many vehicle repairs himself, so we save a lot of money that way.

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  26. 6 Arrows, I’ve never had any interest in coloring my hair, either. I keep hoping that someday we can have a pushback and get more honor for people with age and wisdom, not just for youth and energy.

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  28. 6 arrows, maybe your husband can study dentistry on the side?

    Your tablespoon story reminded me of when I got some prescription cough syrup this last time I had the flu. I thought it said a tablespoon but I noticed the next morning it was supposed to be only a teaspoon at bedtime. I slept real good, though.

    Thankfully I’m a late gray-er as I’d be inclined to color. But I certainly don’t want the added hassle & expense, so the longer I can put that off the better.

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  29. The hair-coloring discussion comes back around every now and then, doesn’t it? Kind of like the shoe-buying conversation. 😉

    Cheryl, I agree, youth is much-celebrated in our culture; wisdom and age, not so much.

    Donna (the husband/dentistry remark) — 😀

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  31. Ok, I have a Lutheran, a Congregational and a Russian Orthodox (part of the Roman Catholic) church.

    But I need a Roman Catholic priest or parishioner in the Valley.

    I just put my first call in, will place some other calls to other churches — The idea is to try to hit most (or as many) of our major readership areas for this story as possible as it’s supposed to run in several of our papers.

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  32. Donna, my husband recently had an antibiotic that he thought he was supposed to take three times a day, but it was just once. Fortunately he said something in passing about when his next dose was due . . . and I had read the bottle. He said he planned to reread the instructions, but the reality is that often when we “know” what something says, we don’t double-check.

    One time when I was about 20 and working in a drugstore, an older man brought in a new prescription, and gave it to the pharmacist with a big smile. The customer said, “You might want to call the doctor to get new directions before you fill it.” So the pharmacist read the directions on the prescription out loud, and got a good laugh. The prescription? An enema. The instructions? “Take one teaspoonful by mouth three times a day.”

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  34. Cheryl, this is an unusual church, one of only 3 like it in the U.S. (others are in SF and NY) — It’s a small parish at that:

    http://www.standrewelsegundo.org

    It’s a “Russian Greek Catholic Church” — under the LA Archdiocese, and I did ask him specifically if they’re part of the western church, he said yes, though they have some of their own distinctive.

    The priest has a very eastern/ethnic first name but when I asked his last name he said it was Smith. S-m-i-t-h. Ha. I laughed. He said he gets the same reaction when he checks in at hotels.

    And turns out the media person at the archdiocese I’ve been working with told me a little while ago that she used to work for one of our inland papers so she completely understands my problem of getting voices from all over and is trying to see if she can provide at least some email responses for me from other priests. (The story was weighted too much toward the Protestant churches as it was — and most of our readership is Catholic.)

    A FB friend offered to get her Unitarian minister to call, but i’ve sort of ignored that offer as they’re so completely unorthodox to not even really be within the bounds.

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  36. Yes, my story mentions that the eastern church celebrates Easter later

    But this church in our area is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese

    From their history as posted on their website:

    “St. Andrew’s is a parish rooted in the Orthodox traditions of Russia and the rest of the Byzantine East that is, at the same time, in union with the Apostolic See in Rome. It is one of only three such congregations in the U.S. The others are in San Francisco and New York. The parish is also home to St. Paul’s Mission, a community belonging to the Melkite, or Greek Catholic Eparchy (diocese) of Newton, MA – likewise, an Eastern Orthodox Church historically united to Rome. Like all Eastern Catholic churches, St. Andrew’s exists as a bridge between Christian East and West, anticipating the day when Christ’s prayer will be fulfilled: “That all may be one” (Jn 17:21).

    “The second question takes us on a long journey – from Stalin’s Soviet Union to Shanghai to the Russian College in Rome to a cemetery chapel in East Los Angeles. It’s quite a story. … “

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  37. I love otters, Kare. When son was young we would go over to Stone Mountain where they had an area with animals in natural habitat and the otters were my favorite. If I had to be an animal that is the type I would be!

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  39. Here is a link to photos of the church. It amazes me that it is always cool inside. One Easter was hot though and they had incense –the next thing I knew my head was spinning.

    http://www.mosaic-tile-design.com/malbis-plantation-alabama.html

    The Greeks claim to be closest to the original Christian church. Their priests are allowed to marry, but if one wants to climb the church latter to bishop or archbishop they remain unmarried.
    Oh, and don’t try to speak Greek to me.. I can’t even function in the language but I have no difficulty with their accents when they speak English.

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  41. I didn’t even contact any of our Greek Orthodox churches since this story runs this Sunday and the majority of Christians will be celebrating Easter on that day.

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  42. Donna, that is like what happens when you look into the affiliations of churches in the Middle East and Caucasus region – some of them have Coptic affiliations, others are Orthodox, others Catholic, others Protestant, and then there is the Armenian Church. It can get pretty complicated.

    6 Arrows, for Good Friday, I have an organ and violin arrangement of ‘Athens’ (an Easter carol by the Victorian clergyman and hymnologist, J. M Neale, set to a medieval Scandinavian tune), ‘Alone Thou Goest Forth’ (a translation of a medieval hymn by Peter Abelard) and the lovely old German choral ‘O Sacred Head’. For Easter, I have a violin duet of a 17th century German Easter carol ‘Hilariter’ (which bears no resemblance to the song called Hilariter that I could find on YouTube), and the medieval Latin hymn by Jean de Tisserand, ‘O Filii et Filiae’ (in English, O Sons and Daughters). As I mentioned, I had a hard time finding any of these on YouTube, with the exception of ‘O Sacred Head’ which everyone knows, and ‘O Filii et Filiae’:

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  44. Interesting info and photos of Malbis & the tiles and church — the Greek Orthodox churches are beautiful and definitely stand out architecturally. There’s one across the street from our office, though it’s not particularly old or historic.

    I remember a friend who was raised as a fundamentalist, basically, but wound up rather adrift spiritually, which was sad. I ran into her in Quaker circles way back when (she had married a Catholic and went there for a while, but couldn’t settle in). She eventually left the Quakers, got divorced (she had two young children) was thinking of joining an Episcopal convent back east, and then went to a Greek Orthodox church where she was going to be newly baptized … until … she wound up in some really weird new-age type cult.

    That was the last I heard from her (probably close to 20 years ago now), I wrote her a letter outlining my concerns, but she never responded and I never heard from her again.

    Hopefully she found her way back to a Christian church …

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  45. Donna, driving along one of the highways running into Toronto during my years growing up, there was a landmark my siblings and I always looked for – the gold domes of an Eastern Orthodox Church. It stood a little ways out of the city outskirts, surrounded by farmers’ fields. In about the last ten years, the city has suddenly expanded out in that direction, and now you can catch a glimpse of the domes peeping over the roofs of a new subdivision. Did I mention I hate urban sprawl?

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  46. I remember watching one being built in the large beach/port city where I used to live. You could see it for quite a distance, even in what was the 2nd largest city within L.A. County (2nd only to LA city proper itself).

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  47. Roscuro, that’s a beautiful hymn (“O Filii et Filiae”). I’ve never heard it until now. Thank you.

    AJ, if you see this, I can provide another day of music tomorrow, if you would like. I found two nice renditions of Good Friday hymns today that I bookmarked and can provide tomorrow so you can have more time with family tonight. (One has Johnny Cash, Kim. 🙂 )

    Just an option for you, AJ — I can still post them if you also decide to post some music tomorrow! After tomorrow, I’ll be returning to my regular schedule of just posting music whenever. 🙂 I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to fill in, though I haven’t provided nearly the variety that you do! Thank you for everything you do, AJ, and, once again, my sympathy and prayers are with you and your family.

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  49. Still waiting for the heavy metal light show video … 😉

    Ah, Father Mike called, he was great, so exuberant, good quotes — and, most importantly, he was from a church in the geographical area that I still desperately needed for the story. Whew.

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  50. So, sixteen year old was doing his laundry. Somebody put a couple of eggs in the washing machine and dryer. Thirteen year old daughter is the egg collector, she is the chief suspect as she did her laundry last. Things get so interesting at times, around here.

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  54. I missed connecting with Father Juan, the last of my possible phone interviews lined up for today, so I just turned the story without him. I got enough — a variety of churches & geography, some pretty good quotes interspersed here and there.

    Stories like this are hard as they’re so broad & somewhat ‘soft.’ Hard to nail down a lot of solid questions to ask, so I felt like I was winging in on a lot of the interviews, just hoping the person I was talking to would be articulate enough to play along and make it “work.” 🙂 Most of them were, thankfully.

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  56. AJ, I remember collapsing (figuratively, but I was also literally physically, emotionally & mentally spent) after my mom’s funeral.

    Sleep well, be sure to eat, take care of yourself.

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  58. I’m sitting outside and looking at the massive hole Tess has dug over the years in the backyard.

    A truly impressive piece of excavation work.

    The dog needs some sheep.

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  59. How many times have I said, “take a bucket, don’t put the eggs in your pocket.” Every one has had to learn it himself. But this is the first time through the washer and dryer. She did try to blame it on her little brother.

    I can imagine, rkessler!

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