Long time no post.... In no certain order of priority:

-busy busy busy. Wedding season in full swing: wedding in Delaware this weekend, and next weekend I get to perform the wedding of my mother in law to her new husband.

-Completed my transition to cast iron cookery. Scored 8 pieces of cast iron for $65 bucks last weekend! Most happy.

-Found out my brother Nic, who I haven't spoken to in 10 years is a gay!  I am very glad to be reconnected to him after all this time.

When his mom and my dad got divorced, he was 4 or 5. My dad was an ass and didn't pay child support, so I didn't get to be part of his life when he grew up. When Nic was 18, he made contact with dad on his own- and it was a disaster- so I only had contact with him for about six months. He knew I was gay, and he was a Jehovah Nitwit, so of course that didn't help our friendship. Nic found me on Myspace, and man was I surprised and happy and amazed that he is gay! I am quite happy.

I guess that's it!

A quick observation, and then I am off to bed.

While sitting here tonight doing some work, my husband expressed that he was getting tired, and wanted to head to bed soon.

I too am tired, and I want to get to bed as well- but I want to get to sleep so I can get up tomorrow morning and get back to work.

I realized that I REALLY enjoy what I am doing with my life- ministry. I have a great sense of peace and purpose, and its a wonderful experience to be living.

I anticipate a very busy year this year - the church collectively will be ordaining six men as deacons in the first six weeks of 2009 alone, and that's just the start of it.

We have some singularly amazing projects coming down the pike, all being managed by purpose filled people, and they are all focused on helping the people of God.

It's going to be an amazing year.

Have you ever been out, shopping, enjoying the weather and suddenly get that uneasy, rumble in your tummy... that all too familiar rumble, which is normally followed by that worried look, furrowed brow, and scramble through your brain rolodex trying to figure out where the closest "public accomidation" (read: toilet) might be??

Well, worry no more!

Just point your phone to www.sitorsquat.com and it will direct you to your closest Lu. If your phone has GPS built into it, you don't even need to know where you are! I will point you to where you need to "go."

They have apps you can download for your iPhone or Blackberry, or you can use the WAP designed webpage.

Hazaa!

I have been preaching these last weeks leading up to, and into Advent about being awake, alert, and prepared to find Christ at any moment, around any corner, and in any person. Advent is a wonderful time for self examination, and to participate in the examination process with a faith community.

 My faith community is comprised primarily of elderly men and women who live alone, forgotten or ignored by their families, as well as people who are seriously ill, surrounded by family and friends who are in emotional and spiritual pain.

 I have witnessed and experienced many things this fall and early winter with my faith community- and these experiences have given me some very interesting and thought provoking things to think about.

 The day after Barak Obama was elected president, I said Mass with my nursing home residents, who are primarily African American. The pain of racism is still very deep with these men and women, as they are old enough to have experienced it firsthand. The experience of sharing that conversation and prayers that day with them—the fulfillment of the words of Rev. Dr. King- words many of them had heard him speak in person was cathartic for them- and humbling for me.

 They cried for they had the opportunity to witness that part of the dream come to pass. I cried because I was there to witness that through their perseverance, prayer, hope, and love they felt a new level of acceptance and freedom. They were awake, waiting, and ready- always knowing that, through their faith in Christ Jesus, they would experience the promised land after being guided to that mountain top that Dr. King so eloquently described the night before he was killed.

 I saw the tear stained face of Christ that day each and every time I looked out on the faces of my faith community. They each felt a bit more free that day, even though they were confined to wheelchairs by their age and infirmity, and the loneliness they shared.  Yet, despite their confinement and their solitude, they were awake – awake and ready to find Christ around that next corner in their lives – and that day we all found him together – as a faith community, as brothers and sister, and as children of God.

 I hope we each are awake this Advent season. The holidays can be so busy, so distracting, and frustrating. Take a moment each day, slow down, think, pray, reflect – and stay awake!
 

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Wrapping Paper

2. Real tree or Artificial?
If left to me, a real tree-- however I gave into pressure on black Friday 2007 and bought a very nice artificial tree.

3. When do you put up the tree?
On or about the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, which is December 8.

4. When do you take the tree down?
On or about the Feast of the Epiphany, which is January 6.

5. Do you like eggnog?
I love eggnog. I even have been known to make my own, from scratch, using the whole egg- screw you salmonela hippies!


6. Favorite gift received as a child?
I don't know that I had a favorite gift as a child.

7. Hardest person to buy for?
Fredo and my Dad.

8. Easiest person to buy for?
My mom and the nieces Samantha & Jessica.

9. Do you have a nativity scene?
Not at home.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
I can't recall a gift that was bad.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Miracle on 34th Street - the original, in black and white - not the colorized version, and not the crappy-ass remake.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
October.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Yes.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
COOKIES!

16. Lights on the tree?
Oh yes- lots of them.

17. Favorite Christmas song?
Silent Night- I can even play it on the organ.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Always stay home- I have church obligations.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder*, Blitzen, and Rudolph (*note: it's Donder, not Donner.)

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Star.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?
Christmas Eve.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
The utter lack of Snow.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
I like ornaments that have history and personal meaning. Of course being gay, I like shiny, pretty colorful ornaments too. Honestly, many of my ornaments are from when I was a kid.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
I am a traditionalist when it comes to holiday dinners: Ham, Turkey and all the traditional sides. Being Italian, this of course means eating every type of fish known to man on Christmas Eve- which often times is the bigger meal.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
Nothing spectacular- there are a couple of books that I would like. Perhaps a nice quiet day with my husband, DC family (ya'all know who you are) and of course, with my 160 grandmothers and grandfathers at the nursing home.

While I would not consider myself a "facebook junkie" I do greatly prefer it to the other social networking sites like myspace, friendster etc.

Last night, I was "friended" by a woman who was once my partner when I worked in EMS in New Haven in what seems now a past life. It was great to re-connect to her, as she was a terrific person to work with and we were very very close.

That connection opened up a flood of other connections- all people I worked with in EMS back in CT in the 80's and early 90's- people I have often thought of over the years, as I looked back on my career in emergency medicine.

These are people I worked with, risked my life with, got drunk with, grew with, prayed with... they were (and apparently still are based on my reaction to the messages) people who were very important to me and the messages of welcome, memories, love and friendship have been quite humbling and warming for me.

These are people who not only reacted well and accepted me when I came out, these are also people who came to my aunt's funeral in full dress uniform to pay their respects, and who sat all night across the street from my house in an ambulance when my aunt was very ill so they would be close in case they were needed.

If you have never worked in public safety, it's hard to describe the bond you develop with the people you spend so much time with. You spend time with people and experience things that most people avert their eyes from seeing- from those things you see on the high way, and then get quiet about after you drive by the wreck. You experience the best and worst of the human condition all in the same eight hours, and the stress that you experience bring you closer to your co-worker. It's why you call the person you work with "partner" the very same way lovers call those they are emotionally bonded to partner - you develop a deep emotional bond to your partner, and that bond does not go away.

Spouses of public safety workers often refer to their husband/wives partner as "the other wife/husband" or "his/her mistress" because the bond is so strong, and so obvious.

It is nice to feel that bond again to those who were, and still are, very important to me.

For me, it's a great way to start the holiday season.

..... for the racist biggot who wants to "go green" this Christmas...

https://store.afa.net/pc-10000310-11-christmas-cross.aspx

Yes, it's real ,and yes, a "Christian" group is selling it...

SIgh...

I don't normally do the more silly meme, but this one gets my interest.

Here goes!

-Would you do crystal meth if it were legalized?
... yeah right. I didn't swallow pills until I was in my 30's (seriously - wierd gag reflex here, pills where the ONLY issue) and I have never tried pot or any other drug so no, I would not do CMA.

-Abortion: for or against?
... it's not that simple a question in my mind, nor should it be for Americans. From a standpoint of my religious beliefs, abortion would not be an option for me if i had a uterus, or were responsible for depositing spermatazoa into someone who has one. However, this is America, and we have a rich and diverse culture of belief and identity, so it is wholly inappropriate for my beliefs to be hoisted upon others.

I do think that the government and churches and all those groups that are anti-abortion should focus their resources not on overturning Row v. Wade but on making abortion the least attractive option. Let's make adoption easier, foster care more reliable, and open orphanages that more closely resemble decent boarding schools and less like Little Orphan Annie's childhood. If we did that, then we would reduce the number of abortions occuring in the US.

And for those who believe in God (as do I) and think this line of thought is abhorrent or something - tough cookies. In the great design by the creator- perhaps the phoenix from the ashes of abortion is all the lives we can save and improve though the use of embryonic stem cells. - so stick that in your hymnal and smoke it.

-Would our country fail with a woman president?
Seriously? no this country would not fail under a woman president any more than it would under a male president. However, It will falter with an in-effective, ill-prepared, ill-advised POTUS, but I don't think this country would fail outright under any leadership - Americans have too much resolve.

-Do I believe in the death penalty?
I do, only if it is narrowly applied. Yes, this flies directly in the face of my spirituality, but I do believe that in very special circumsstances, the death penalty is appropriate. I don't think it is a deterent to crime, but the penal system is not about deterance- it is about penalizing those who have done wrong, denying their rights and freedoms. And while we are on the subject, why do those incarcerated have so many privilidges anyway? I have been a prision chaplain, and stopped because I was a bit too much like a vacation for me.

The days of Cool Hand Luke prision farms are long gone - unfortunately.

-Do you wish marijuana would be legalized already?
I think marijuana should be legalized.

-Do you believe in God?
Absolutely, without a doubt.

-Do you think same sex marriage should be legalized?
I think that GLT's (but not B's, because they already have it) should have the right to legally complicate their lives as easily as their hetrosexual counterparts.

IMHO, the "marriage issue" is a first ammendment issue, as well as a civil rights and equality issue.

Essentally, and I am no legal scholar in any way, the fact that the state recognizes a religious ceremony as legally binding is the problem. When you consider that the state now picks and chooses which religious ceremonies it recognizes as legally binding based soley on the gender of those exercising their religious freedom essentially violates the founders broad statement that says "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . ."

I think we need to reform the entire system and follow a European model: You have a wedding in a church, and then you go to the civil authority and they register the wedding and issue legal documents. That would solve the issue with the religious groups, and give the GLT's what they want - relationship equality and legal recognition.

-Do you think its wrong that so many Hispanics are moving to the USA?
No - I don't think we have enough hispanics in this country.

Look people- the only reason we are here is because when out ancestors came here FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE. Now that we are here we want to be elitest about it. BS to me. The American Dream is still very real to those who don't experience it- so they want to come here.

To try to do so legally requires sponsorships, money, lotteries and it's near impossible. This adminstration has allowed fewer people into this country than any administration in the history of the US.

The same people who want to build big walls and toss the hispanics over it are the same people who will bitch and moan when white people want to charge them 400 bucks a week to mow their lawns. You can't have it both ways.

We have forgotten what the US stands for, and what it means to other people - and we need to re-learn that important lesson.

-A 12 year old girl has a baby..should she keep it?
Only if the press corps doesn't find out. Teen pregnancy is an epidemic in this country - it has been for 50 years. If our school system had proper sex education at early enough ages we wouldn't have 12 year old mothers out there. Our schools need to teach practical sexuality, and in the event we end up with pregnant teens- well they need to teach responsible parenting and perhaps even have day care for the children of the children so they are not forced to choose between school and raising their kid.

Nothing will scare a teen age boy into a condom quicker than seeing a school lunchroom full of girls and their kids.

-The alcohol age be lowered to 18?
Absolutely.

-Should the war in Iraq be called off?
Yes, and it should be done today.

-Assisted suicide is illegal..do you agree?
I do not. Look, if we are all about letting women choose what they can do with their body when they are pregnant, then we should allow the same women to do as they please with their body when they are in the end of their life. I know that my family understands that under no circumstances am I to be placed on a ventelator or feeding tube or any other prolonging technology. I am a human, not a begonia and I do not want to be somewhere that I am watered, fertilized, and rotated.

-Do you believe in spanking your children?
Yes. We have gotten out of control. My father was recently arrested because he slapped my 16 year old brother for mouthing off. WTF?

-Would you burn an American flag for a million dollars?
I would do it for a decent everything bagel with cream cheese and some fresh squeezed OJ. The flag represents all that protects my right do to just that if I am so inclined.

-A mother is declared innocent after murdering her 5 children in a temporary insanity case...what do you think?
I would need more information to offer an opinion. With this little bit, I would have to trust that the justice system did what it thought was best.

-It's between you and a person who is being kept alive by life support machines..one has to die? Who?
I would have no problem giving up my life for another.

-Are you afraid others will judge you from reading some of your answer?
No.
 

.... just came out in Newsweek...

DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

"... Attention Sarah Palin: Jesus Christ was a community organizer. Pontius Pilate was a Governor. "

She is such a door knob.

... 41 years ago today, Star Trek - the original series (ST:TOS as it's now known) debuted on NBC.

I am looking forward to the new movie, due out May 9, 2009 (www.startrekmovie.com)

This is great....

In the correction the next day, the editor said, "yes, we feel silly."

branded....a fool. What will they say, Monday at school...

Matt, Fredo, Brian the boy wonder and I went on a nostalgic little trip this Friday to a real live drive in theatre! it's just outside Baltimore, and it's called Bengie's.

The weather was perfect. We brough lounge chairs, parked in the front row, and really enjoyed the experience overall. Getting there was a hassle, as their website says there are in Baltimore, and they aren't. But once we figured that out, it was great.

We saw Kung-Fu Panda, and the new Batman movie. Had we stayed, we could have also seen Get Smart. Where else can you see three new movies for $8 a person. Hell, where can you see ANY movie for $8 each??!?!?!

The snack bar has all the traditional food from the hey-day of the drive in.

We will go again- it was a blast!

So, a few weeks ago, Entertainment Weekly released its list of the top 100 "New Classic" films: films from the last 25 years that they consider to be "new classics." Of these:

Boldface the ones you've seen
Underline the ones you own

1. Pulp Fiction (1994)
2. The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-03)
3. Titanic (1997)
4. Blue Velvet (1986)
5. Toy Story (1995)
6. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
7. Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)
8. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
9. Die Hard (1988)
10. Moulin Rouge (2001)
11. This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
12. The Matrix (1999)
13. GoodFellas (1990)
14. Crumb (1995)
15. Edward Scissorhands (1990)
16. Boogie Nights (1997)
17. Jerry Maguire (1996)
18. Do the Right Thing (1989)
19. Casino Royale (2006)
20. The Lion King (1994)
21. Schindler's List (1993)
22. Rushmore (1998)
23. Memento (2001)
24. A Room With a View (1986)
25. Shrek (2001)
26. Hoop Dreams (1994)
25. Aliens
28. Wings of Desire (1988)
29. The Bourne Supremacy (2004)
30. When Harry Met Sally... (1989)
31. Brokeback Mountain (2005)
32. Fight Club (1999)
33. The Breakfast Club (1985)
34. Fargo (1996) **
35. The Incredibles (2004)
36. Spider-Man 2 (2004)
37. Pretty Woman (1990)
38. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
39. The Sixth Sense (1999)
40. Speed (1994)
41. Dazed and Confused (1993)
42. Clueless (1995)
43. Gladiator (2000)
44. The Player (1992)
45. Rain Man (1988)
46. Children of Men (2006)
47. Men in Black (1997)
48. Scarface (1983)
49. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
50. The Piano (1993)
51. There Will Be Blood (2007)
52. The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad (1988)
53. The Truman Show (1998)
54. Fatal Attraction (1987)
55. Risky Business (1983)
56. The Lives of Others (2006)
57. There’s Something About Mary (1998)
58. Ghostbusters (1984)
59. L.A. Confidential (1997)
60. Scream (1996)
61. Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
62. sex, lies and videotape (1989)
63. Big (1988)
64. No Country For Old Men (2007)
65. Dirty Dancing (1987)
66. Natural Born Killers (1994)
67. Donnie Brasco (1997)
68. Witness (1985)
69. All About My Mother (1999)
70. Broadcast News (1987)
71. Unforgiven (1992)
72. Thelma & Louise (1991)
73. Office Space (1999)
74. Drugstore Cowboy (1989)
75. Out of Africa (1985)
76. The Departed (2006)
77. Sid and Nancy (1986)
78. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
79. Waiting for Guffman (1996)
80. Michael Clayton (2007)
81. Moonstruck (1987)
82. Lost in Translation (2003)
83. Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn (1987)
84. Sideways (2004)
85. The 40 Year-Old Virgin (2005)
86. Y Tu Mamá También (2002)
87. Swingers (1996)
88. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)
89. Breaking the Waves (1996)
90. Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
91. Back to the Future (1985)
92. Menace II Society (1993)
93. Ed Wood (1994)
94. Full Metal Jacket (1987)
95. In the Mood for Love (2001)
96. Far From Heaven (2002)
97. Glory (1989)
98. The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
99. The Blair Witch Project (1999)
100. South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut (1999)

 I have a long and quite detailed opinion on the current race for the oval office.

I am a just to the left of the middle of the road democrat. I have no problem voting for (and in fact have) republicans, and  I think anyone who votes for or against (not the same thing--trust me) a candidate for public office based purely on one issue is an idiot and should move from the US as quickly as possible. Politics cannot and should not ever be as simple as selecting a candidate based on the stance for one issue.

Now, I want to be clear on this, because I am rather honked off at the moment. I will be voting for whosoever the democratic party pulls from the muck and nominates. HOWEVER....

*IF* the liberal idiots and ding-dongs, that are so far left they should fall off the map never to be seen again, continue to attack Senator John McCain on his military record we (the sensible democrats and independents) will quite simply loose this race.

The man was in service to his country and did what he was told, when he was told. That is what military service is about. The Vietnam War was a tragic time in our country (one of many in the bloodiest century our country has ever had) but you, me, and us, as Americans, CANNOT, and SHOULD NOT, deride, make fun of, or otherwise question the men and women who risked their lives to ensure the blanket of freedom, and then question the manner in which they provided it.

You jack holes have no problem sitting at Starbucks, drinking 6 dollar coffee that was picked by people making 25 cents a day, and brewed by people paid below the poverty line, while writing your crap-o-blog on  your laptop computer made by $2 a day workers in indo-china, then hopping into your car that costs $75 a week to fill up, spewing your carbon emmison footprint the size of your mothers ass all over the planet so you can dive four blocks to the gym where you don't come into contact with a single thing made in this country (including your fake breasts, ass cheeks, and pectoral implants) but you question those people who lay aside their freedoms so that you can be a total ass-hat???

KNOCK IT OFF.

.... I had an interesting weekend for sure.

I do weddings... lots of weddings. Last summer, I performed about 100 or so weddings. I enjoy it a great deal.

Anyway, last fall, I was approached by a woman who was attending my parish about my doing her wedding. So she, her fiancee, and I sat down last November - and the conversation went something like this...

"My father is really looking forward to meeting and talking with you..." She then proceeded to tell me who he is. My immediate reaction was "He does know we are not ROMAN Catholic right?" and she says, "oh yes, he does. He read some of your homilies on your website, and really is looking forward to meeting you."

Gulp.

So this very wonderful woman who has me doing her wedding is the daughter of what any conservative Catholic in the US considers the lighthouse for conservative Catholicism. He is a Theologian, sits on the board of Ava Maria University, and has written dozens of books, (and the only pro-Iraw war view using the church and the bible to justify it!) He has received awards from popes, PM Margaret Thatcher- the list goes on. And of course, any liberal catholic worth his salt knows the name, and it's utterance gives you the hibbily jibbilies.

So, the wedding was Saturday. Now, I don't normally go to receptions when invited (I only went to two of them all last year) but I had to attend this one. I sat with the theologian & his wife, the president of the most conservative think-tank in the US, the same think-tanks editor in chief of their magazine, and the editorial page editor for a NY daily newspaper.

The first conversation I am welcomed into when I arrive at the reception is a woman who was in the Regan Administration and two film producers, who just did a nine hour documentary on immigration. The Reganaut says, "We need to build a 40 foot high cement wall on the border, hunt down every illegal mexican, and toss them back over the wall."

After the stun wore off, the producer looked at me and said, "Archbishop, the church has long been involved in the immigration issue- what do you think." So I said, "Well it's complex, but I think that those people who want to end immigration and chase those here away are the same people who will complain when they pay $200 a week to have their lawn mowed." Another stunned look, and I said, "excuse me, I need to go to the bar..."

And I consumed alot of red wine.. A LOT. At one point I was sure they would lock the doors to the reception room and have a "lynch the liberal party" and I was the lynchee. Afterall, the Assistant Sec'y of Homeland Security was there - so they could get away with it.

It was overall a great time- and in the end, the neo-conservative theologian shook my hand, asked me to stay in touch so we could have dinner, and if there was anything he could ever do for me to please call him. I asked him if he was going to see the Holy Father (I threw up a bit in my mouth when I said those words aloud) and he said, "Oh yes, I am having dinner with him at the Vatican Embassy." so I asked him to give Benedict my "every best wish for a successful trip- and happy birthday (Benny will be here on his 81st B-day.)

Then I had more wine on the way out.

Just goes to show you - when love is involved.. ya know, the love Jesus spoke of that most of those people forgot, is involved - ANYTHING is possible.

There is this website, www.woot.com that offers one thing for sale each day - just one. Normally it's something technological, and a great deal. The people at woot are quite honest in their assessment of items, and today was quite the hoot.

I highly urge you to check woot daily - and if you are like me and like wine, check the weekly changing offerings at http://wine.woot.com

Now remember, they are trying to get you to buy this thing that they are describing:

The Rich Man’s View-Master

Check this out.. you can RENT high priced handbags... The one I checked was $95 A WEEK.

WTF?!?!?!?