Talked to Bret at about noon today, noon my time. The doctor had not been in as yet but he sounded strong and ready to go home. Trish was ready to come to get him as soon as he was ready to be released. I know he is feeling better because he hated the breakfast they gave him and was hoping to be out of there before he had to face the lunch. He is so pleased that so many people are praying for him. It made him feel very special. I put him on the prayer chain at Blessed Trinity and Barbara put him on the prayer wheel at the temple. I will call him again tomorrow to be find out the instructions he has from his doctor.

We are going to the Symphony tonight. It is Broadway night so should be light and cheery.

I read this quote in Newsweek and simply HAVE to share.

From Kuti Ben-Yaakov of the Hebrew Battalion on getting approval from the rabbis to train pigs to guard settlements on the West Bank: "According to the Muslim faith, a terrorist who touches a pig is not eligible for the 70 virgins in heaven."

That is one of the silliest things I have ever heard. Wonder where the terrorists figure God is going to get all those virgins? And how about all those guard pigs?


Mary

This was a roller coaster day. First, a friend asked me to be the poetry portion of a St. Patrick's Day celebration at Richard's in Sheboygan Falls. Wow, what a privilege. I will read some of mine, some of the Irish greats and some silly tongue in cheek things.

Then, I come home to word that Bret is back in the hospital. He experienced the pain again and went to the hospital at 1:30AM. He has now successfully gone through an angeoplasty. There is now a teeny tiny balloon in a teeny tiny vein near his heart. He comes home at noon tomorrow so I will let him sleep tonight.

Then Bobbie, Jim and I went to the bust up party for the gun league. I have successfully moved from Novice to Sharpshooter since we started last year. The new Buckmark has really done wonders for my prowess. Going to a lighter single action from a heavier double action made my scores really soar.

THE MOUSE ON THE BARROOM FLOOR

Some Guinness was spilt on the barroom floor.
When the pub was shut for the night
Out of his hole crept a wee brown mouse,
And stood in the pale moonlight.

He lapped up the frothy brew from the floor,
Then back on his haunches he sat
And All night long you could hear him roar,
"Bring on the goddamn cat!".

Unknown Author


Mary

Christmas is REALLY coming. We had choir tonight and picked up all of our Christmas music. Lots of pretty and perky stuff. Like "Mary Did You Know?" and "Ding Dong Merrily on High."

Sr. Marcia had a wonderful speaker, David, for a Senior Saint program this morning. Mother went too. We started with a bit of a social gathering at 8:30AM with coffee and sweet rolls and then he spoke followed by a mass for the Seniors. A lovely morning. He said one thing that really stuck in my mind. In Leviticus 26 it speaks of the practice of the harvest of the Jews of that age. They would always leave the produce around the edge of the field for the poor. If we all did that, there would be no hungry people in the world. He also mentioned that we keep trying to build or rent more room for the things that we accumulate rather than just eliminating what we no longer need.

Sharing. After Christmas, we should all do the paring down and the winnowing out of our closets.

Tomorrow.

Love

Mary

Christmas Shopping, what a chore. We have been catalog, online shopping all day and have agreed that it is a lot easier than tromping the malls. We are making a big dent and ar down near the end.

There is a catalog avalanche that pours into this house most of the year but it becomes overwhelming at the holiday season. We easily receive 6 to 10 catalogs per DAY. Isn't that frightening?

Tomorrow is a busy day outside the house. Dick and I will get our portrait taken at Blessed Trinity, I have a meeting all morning and choir and a council agenda meeting in the evening.

Well, as my Mother used to say. It is time to "go up the wooden hill to four corners."' I am going to bed. I am tired.

Love


Mary

Wow, have I ever taken a break. It is almost a week and I vowed that I would post to this at LEAST every other day.

It has been busy and I have been terrible distracted.

Sunday, Bobbie, Jeff, Randy, Jessica and I went out to the woods to check out our stands for deer hunting which will open a week from Saturday. It was an absolutely gorgeous day. The sky was blue, the sun was warm, the grass smelled like new mown hay and it was crisp and perfect. Hope it is that nice on the opener.

I sit in the stand that Matt, Jeff's son, used to use. It overlooks the swamp and affords a nice view of a large area with several good shooting lanes. I did see several deer last year and got one shot off. I hope this is my year. I have paid my dues and really need to earn my keep now.

This Friday evening is the bust up party for the pistol league. I feel pretty good about it this time. The new Buckmark has made my scores go up considerably.

Winter is around the corner. It was almost up to 60 today, so I took advantage of the warmth to pull the last of the marigolds from my planter. I would like to share from Cadfael. Brother Cadfael's Penance, Chapter 1.

It is "A time to pause, to look round, to make sure that nothing had been neglected, no fence unrepaired, against the winter."

Hope your fences are all "repaired."


Mary