Oops

just heard a funny freadian slip on the radio....

the traffic reporter said the "extressways" are messy...how true. I hit them in about 90 minutes...going to springfield to see mom.

Two Lunch Time Thoughts

Part of my lunch time ritual is to leave the office, find a place to eat lunch and read the newspaper. It is a very nice was to split up the day and find an hour or of solitude in the hectic area of the Mag. Mile.

Well, today I was at a resturant eating my sandwich reading the paper. As expected there was lots about Pope Benedict XVI...from all persepctives. Among the liberals in the world there is some concern. I, as a relatively liberal person, am not too concerned (yet). I am taking a wait and see approach. I found my thoughs echoed by Father Andrew Greeley. In this coloumn he discusses the choice of name for the new pontiff. But was stuck out to me was the followin paragraph:

Heaven knows that there is need for healing in the church. Perhaps a man whose conservative credentials as the head of the Congregation for the Defense of the Faith are unquestioned might be uniquely situated for the task --just as Richard Nixon was uniquely situated to visit China.

Pope Benedict would have a truly unique perspective.

I, also, read Richard Roeper's column. He talks alot about the Virgin Mary of the Viaduct. Pilgrams are starting to flock the the vision/stain depending on your faith in the apperation. But one thing he notice that showed the one sidedness of the pilgrams:

Just a few steps west of the holy image, leaning against a streetlight pole on Fullerton, there is a homeless man, holding up a small cardboard sign that says:

HELP
I'M HUNGRY

You'd chastise a screenwriter for such easy symbolism, but there the man sits, squinting against the sun and holding up his sign.

In clusters of two and three and four, the faithful who are flocking to and from the image of the Virgin Mary -- they walk right past the homeless man. They walk right past him, as if he's not even there.

It is my prayer that I start to open my eyes more and care for the man on the ramp. It is my prayer the God forgives me my self-centeredness.

Take this city
A city should be shining on a hill
Take this city
If it be your will
What no man can own, no man can take
Take this heart
Take this heart
Take this heart
And make it break
--Yahweh, U2

Bono on The Catholic Church

"The Church has its problems, but the older I get, the more comfort I find there. The physical experience of being in a crowd of largely humble people, heads bowed, murmuring prayers, stories told in stained-glass windows, the colors of Catholicism - purple, mauve, yellow, red - the burning incense ... My friend Gavin Friday says Catholicism is the glam-rock of religion."

Found this and forgot the site...sorry. But there is a book called "Conversations with Bono" coming out.

I Just liked this quote

HABEMUS PAPAM

HABEMUS PAPAM

Pope Benedict XVI

God grant him wisdom. God grant the Catholics of the world Peace. God bless us all.

They are HEEERRRREEEE

wedding ring, originally uploaded by CelticWander.

The Rings have arrived...Huzzah

Getting Closer

Wow! It just hit me. Mae and I are getting married...soon.

Things are starting to come together. This is fun. Mae is here! My kilt is here. The groom's mens' kilts are on the way. Mae has a fitting type thingy, with Kate, tomorrow. We have what I think is our last official premarital session tomorrow. Leo is taking our engagement photo tomorrow. Jane has material to make the stoles for our three participating ministers...Pastor Tripp , Pastor Bob, and Pastor Andy (my cousin's husband). Mae's folks are readying the backyard for a bunch of out-of-towners, and planning a shower. My mom is keeping herself busy planning the rehearsal dinner, and a shower. Our rings will be shipping from Dublin in the next day or so.

But the coolest part of all this happened when I re-read what I just wrote. All of these people are blessing us with their gifts of kindness, patience, and love. To you all, thanks!

Quiz Fun

This is pretty darn accurate:

Global Personality Test Results

Stability (80%) high which suggests you are very relaxed, calm, secure, and optimistic.. Orderliness (23%) low which suggests you are overly flexible, improvised, and fun seeking at the expense too often of reliability, work ethic, and long term accomplishment. Extraversion (38%) moderately low which suggests you are reclusive, quiet, unassertive, and secretive.

Take Free Global Personality Test
personality tests by similarminds.com

Everybody! Everybody!

Leave a happy birthday wish for my Brother, Josh! He turns 25 today!!!

Happy Birthday, Bro.

Please leave a greeting whether you know him or not....

thanks

God Save Ireland

Manchester Martyrs, originally uploaded by CelticWander.

God Save Ireland
Timothy Daniel Sullivan

God save Ireland, said the heroes
God save Ireland, said they all
Whether on the scaffold high
Or the battlefield we die
Oh, what matter when for Erin dear we fall

High upon the gallows tree swung the noble hearted three
By the vengeful tyrant stricken in their bloom
But they met him face to face with the courage of their race
And they went with souls undaunted to their doom

God save Ireland, said the heroes
God save Ireland, said they all
Whether on the scaffold high
Or the battlefield we die
Oh, what matter when for Erin dear we fall

Climbed they up the rugged stair, rang their voices out in prayer
Then with England's fatal cord around them cast
Close beside the gallows tree kissed like brothers lovingly
True to home and faith and freedom to the last

God save Ireland, said the heroes
God save Ireland, said they all
Whether on the scaffold high
Or the battlefield we die
Oh, what matter when for Erin dear we fall

Never till the latest day shall the memory pass away
Of the gallant lives thus given for our land
But on the cause must go, amidst joy and weal and woe
Till we make our Isle a nation free and grand

God save Ireland, said the heroes
God save Ireland, said they all
Whether on the scaffold high
Or the battlefield we die
Oh, what matter when for Erin dear we fall

-------------------
The link in the first line of the song tells of the inspiration of this song. The Manchester Martyrs were one of the catalysts for the Easter Rising of 1916.

Tartan

MacConnell
Originally uploaded by CelticWander.

This is the tartan of my Kilt. It is the MacConnell tartan. That is my mom's side of the family.

Huzzah!!

GreatKilt
Originally uploaded by CelticWander.

My Kilt will be shipping today...hip hip...

Blood of Innocence

I just moved to the Andersonville/Edgewater neighborhood in Chicago. It is a very nice neighborhood. It is close to friends, Mom 'n Pop shops, church, transportation, theater, and many other things. If is a family friendly area. It has a sense of ease and tranquility in the midst of a major city. It is nice.

Last Monday, though, something happened that has altered this place. Something happened to prompt someone to scrawl disillusioned in red spray paint on the sidewalk. Something happened that caused pastor to look like they have not slept in a week. Something happened that has caused a normally jubilant 9 year old to sit by herself and reflect. Something happened.

There were 2 people whose blood was spilled. There were 2 people. A mother and a husband/father. A new widow. Newly fatherless children. A motherless woman. These tragic murders have rattled a normally calm and peaceful neighborhood. The Blood of Innocents.

These murders have been on the news constantly for the past week, and this is a good thing. As my pastor said, "Evil flourishes in silence." Evil spreads and strengthens its grip when it is not confronted. Headlines are a weapon that is quite powerful. News keeps eyes open. People are aware. People notice. There is help. People are looking for the culprits.

It is good that the news is following this story. This crime can not go unpunished. A family needs to heal. Families need to heal. Families whose loved ones die anonymously. Families who grieve, but are silenced by where they live. Families who mourn in solitude. These families, too, must have their stories told. We can not allow evil to grow in the silence.

It is my prayer that the Blood of the Innocents killed on Lakewood Avenue will not be spilled in vain, but will mix with the Blood of the Innocent Price of Peace and help to bring awareness and justice for ALL those whose blood is shed.

The Blood of Innocence has been shed, let us work to stop the flow.

I Am A Wee Bit Slow

I have had a "blogroll me" button over on my side bar for, I don't know, two years maybe. Well, today I finally figgered out how to use it. So, I have been adding some of my daily wanderings to it. Feel free to check 'em out.

Peace

Fozen Over???

Is hell freezing over? Tomorrow morning The Al Franken Show and the G. Gordon Liddy Show will be broadcasting together!!!

This should make for some interresting listening...to be sure!

Water and Oil, anyone?

Organized Democrats?

(This is a comment for Cliff's blog.... As usual I stayed from the topic, but believe this a viable if incoherent post.)

With the near imminent election of Howard Dean to the DNC Chair I think notice has been given to the Beltway Dems who have run the party since the inception of the DLC. The grassroots of the party are firing up, and I think Dean, while not my choice for pres, will make a...(God forgive me for saying this)...Rove like leader that the Dems need. Someone who understands how the grassroots works. Can appeal to the base of the party. The DLC has too long tried to be Republican Light (not all, but most). That hasn't worked. See the congressional seats lost, the 2 failed presidential campaigns. Dean and Reid (I am a still a little leery of Pelosi) "get it" and will get the grassroots moving.

Dean won the chair of the DNC the old fashioned way. Grassroots. There was a massive anyone but Dean campaigning put on by the DLC and the other Beltway Babies, but through grassroots organizing and old-school door knocking and phone calling Dean won his way into leadership.

As for the anyone but Dean, I think the Good Doctor learned a valuable lesson...that kind of message can not win a campaign. Focusing on issues (that he has promised to let the Democratic congressional leadership determine), making people a part of the system...damn his slogan is "You have the power"...decentralizing the national party and focusing on the state parties (allowing them to build viable candidates) and then facilitating communication between them...that is what wins elections.

Reid has been working hard to unite Senate Democrats. This is working. The whole idea is to make sure that in a system where the majority party holds all the power, there is strength to our checks and balances system. Without a united frot this can not happen. Newt Gingrich did the same thing during Clinton's first term. Look where it got them. Hopefully, this new, fresh batch of Democratic leadership has been taking notes.

Listen to the people...GET IT!

Death Of A Playwright

Arthur Miller
Originally uploaded by CelticWander.

Arthur Miller Died last night.

One of the most prolific playwrights of the 20th Century has gone to join the myriad before him.

Rest in Peace

Welcome

Bar
Originally uploaded by CelticWander.

Welcome to the Knotty Pine Inn. Our new apartment. This room was built in the 1950's. Click here to see more picture of the apartment, including the SWEET wall paper. Feel free to leave comments here on with the pictures. Be sure to click to page 2 to see more,

Birthday Boy

Birthday Boy
Originally uploaded by CelticWander.

Everybody wish THE MAN Alice Cooper a wicked birthday!

oh yeah...it is mine too!

Ossie Davis

Ossie Davis
Originally uploaded by CelticWander.

I just heard on the radio that actor Ossie Davis has died. Not only is he the husband to the wonderful Ruby Dee, but he was such a force in the civil rights movement. The two of them have used their fame to instigate more good than most can even fathom. From race relations of the 60s to the anti-war movement of today. An Inspiration.

Rest in Peace