tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-221399462011-07-29T04:35:24.220-05:00cycling, catholicism, cats, food, life, what-have-youBethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.comBlogger1411100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-52132951432219812072009-06-14T14:57:00.001-05:002009-06-14T14:59:16.340-05:00

I admit it, I have become a Facebook addict. So I am closing this blog. Find me on Facebook:www.facebook.com/beth.harrisAlso, you can check out my photos at:www.flickr.com/beth63111

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-65027053381756508352009-02-18T08:11:00.002-06:002009-02-18T08:15:41.220-06:00

They sure don't make things the way they used to. My GE Profile dishwasher, which is less than 7 years old, died over the weekend. The control panel failed and it'll cost at least $300 to get it fixed. Rather than fix it, I just bought a brand new Whirlpool for twice that (delivery and installation on top of the cost of the unit itself was $130, but the unit was just under $500). Amazing that

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-56266549871265581132009-02-10T18:31:00.002-06:002009-02-10T18:37:37.817-06:00

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-36687166409798488422009-01-08T18:48:00.003-06:002009-01-08T18:51:44.603-06:00

In this economy, I am really grateful to have a job -- I am even more grateful to have a job I like. Even better, I am getting more responsibilities on my job, which makes me happy and challenged. I am really appreciative that my manager is willing to let me stretch in my role. It's a good feeling to know that he's interested in my professional development and will take risks to allow me to

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-39952985475476576752009-01-03T13:32:00.003-06:002009-01-03T13:44:01.894-06:00

Thank goodness 2009 is here. It's just a relief to have 2008 behind me and the promise of a new year before me. I've been thinking about resolutions -- I prefer to think of them as goals instead of resolutions. "Resolutions" sounds so absolute! One of the simplest goals this year will be for me to finally see Chuck Berry perform live. Although he is probably a pervert, he is a rock and roll

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-32857082622184952822008-12-31T10:36:00.004-06:002008-12-31T13:37:48.567-06:00

I really can't think of many years I have wished to be over as much as I have wished for this one to be over. I hate to even say that because despite all the difficulties 2008 has presented, God has been pretty good to us personally. My husband and I both have jobs. We have our home. We have our health. We made some major home improvements this year by replacing our first floor carpet with

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-19852173299343954702008-12-30T08:55:00.002-06:002008-12-30T09:15:14.480-06:00

We built our house and closed on it November 1, 2002. In that time, the house has behaved pretty well, though it's starting to show a little wear and tear. So this year, we made a few improvements to the home. We took up all the carpet on the first floor and replaced it with laminate flooring. We also extended our patio in the back yard so that we have a very generous space for outdoor

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-87193067668169010532008-12-29T09:49:00.002-06:002008-12-29T09:52:27.528-06:00

Just a quick jot today. Christmas was very good this year. We enjoyed the company of nearly 30 people on Christmas Eve and I was very glad that more of my side of the family came to visit this year. It was nice to have a great big house full of people and kids, all sharing the Christmas spirit together. God is great.I am off work right now -- won't return until January 5. I am using the time

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-13979711236453194572008-12-09T19:49:00.003-06:002008-12-13T03:09:40.507-06:00

I really enjoy cooking and this Fall/Winter has so far been spent trying lots of different soup recipes; I try a new one at least every other week. I've tried chicken and wild rice soup, minestrone, lentil and sausage soup, vegetarian chili, turkey chili, and split pea soup. I also have made my old favorites zuppa toscana and good ol' regular chili. Some of these soups, like minestrone, are

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-68850905844668785062008-12-04T18:33:00.003-06:002008-12-04T19:05:26.580-06:00

We had some very sad news on Thanksgiving -- our friend Kathy passed away that morning! Kathy was a wonderful, giving, kind person and she will be sorely missed. She was full of a joy for life and shared that generously with so many people. In addition to her wonderful gift for sharing in her personal relationships, one of the most remarkable things about Kathy's life was how she spent it

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-69092873426405424782008-11-21T19:04:00.003-06:002008-11-21T19:33:27.868-06:00

Am glad it's the weekend! Our new patio is in and solid. I got a delivery of firewood today, and the step-kids and I are planning on having a little hot dog roast tomorrow evening.Thanksgiving is almost here and I am looking forward to hosting my friends and family. I thank God for my employment and my husband's employment. We are very blessed and fortunate. I'm also keeping in mind those

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-11394963251601598932008-11-16T18:12:00.002-06:002008-11-16T18:25:18.398-06:00

Gosh I can't believe it has been since last month since I've updated my blog. I think I'll just have to at least make a habit of updating it, if only in short posts, at least once a week or so.Short version of what has happened in the last few weeks is we have been doing some work on the house in the last few weeks. The latest is we just had a patio extension poured this week and it looks

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-66778337785108148832008-10-21T19:36:00.003-05:002008-10-21T19:58:37.684-05:00

Yep it has been a while since I posted. Let me sum up:September I did the MS 150. I did 75 miles the first day and around 30 the second day. I now refer to it as the MS 105. While I didn't get all 150 miles done, I did raise $742.56, which I am pretty happy about. Also in September, I went to Minnesota. I spent time in the North Shore area, which was beautiful. Also went to Minneapolis for

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-8611472629065361022008-08-11T20:30:00.004-05:002008-08-12T17:33:30.605-05:00

A stray kitty showed up at our back door and he's a great boy -- loving, affectionate, trusting, and loyal. We named him Gus. Unfortunately, we have more than our quota of kitties and can't take him in.He has grey fur with white paws, tail tip, and chest. He is neutered, was de-wormed and given rabies shots last week. I have the paperwork to show all the things I had done for him.Gus would be

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-24978072472035075202008-08-09T16:29:00.003-05:002008-08-09T17:00:10.209-05:00

A little under the weather today, so I am letting myself rest from cycling.Thursday night I did a 24 mile ride with some friends and it was raining for the first 10 miles, so that might have helped whatever bug I had get a foothold. Anyway, the ride was fun and it was worth it.I picked up a saddle for the commuter bike that is like the one I have on my road bike. The saddle on my commuter bike

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-86188096699633677502008-08-05T16:45:00.004-05:002008-08-05T16:50:54.526-05:00

Roger Kramer has a nice roundup of some of the WNBR coverage, including this video:The video gives a nice sense for the celebratory nature of the ride.The Riverfront Times also has a slideshow and a video. (NSFW)

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-18947414206329127562008-08-03T21:01:00.005-05:002008-08-03T21:32:17.656-05:00

It was a great weekend for riding and cyclists in general. I had a great time participating in the first ever St. Louis World Naked Bike Ride (link is NSFW). No, I didn't go nude, but exposed as much as I was willing in public, which is to say, not much!Especially when compared to other people:One male rider was completely nude (there are pics of him in the album) except for a red hat, black

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-61104288131955774142008-08-01T14:07:00.004-05:002008-08-01T15:02:46.186-05:00

I haven't posted any pics in a while. I've had the fortune of traveling to Chicago a few times this summer for business. I finally took my point 'n shoot camera with me last time and snapped some pics. I just love that Cloud Gate sculpture.This is the view from the 28th floor of my Chicago office building looking towards Lake Michigan:This is looking up at my building. It's the one on the

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-38182854843200350442008-07-31T19:07:00.003-05:002008-07-31T19:19:55.558-05:00

I had never in my life heard someone say those words to me until today. Whew ... that is a tough sentence to hear from someone!I've been preparing for the upcoming MS 150 bike ride and at work I posted some flyers about a little bake sale I'll be doing around the office every Monday in August to raise funds. I also distributed the flyer via e-mail to the people on my floor. Today, I received

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-28468120353509382402008-07-29T18:32:00.003-05:002008-07-29T19:00:21.680-05:00

OK I know it's supposed to be Marsha, Marsha, Marsha, as in Brady, but today is Martha's feast day! I love the stories about Martha because she's so real and yet she's a saint! Her stories have examples of human nature that, despite the passage of 2,000 years, are still as relevant as ever! Today's Gospel reading from John (11:19-27) puts on display Martha's grief about her brother's death and

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-22939127828098736652008-07-20T19:54:00.007-05:002008-07-20T20:26:09.334-05:00

Went for a ride today in Illinois. I had planned to do 65 miles, but 17 miles into the ride, my front tire blew. So I set about the business of replacing the blown tube with my spare.First, I inspected the tire to find the culprit -- it all came down to a tiny piece of glass about 1 - 2 mm in diameter. It had gotten lodged in the tire and had worked its way through the tire until it finally

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-80553912142557894422008-07-19T22:02:00.003-05:002008-07-19T22:18:35.440-05:00

Yahoo!!! I stayed in the top 10 this year, even with the new and improved categorizations.In previous years, the men and women were divided into Men/Women Over 50 and Men/Women Under 50. So this year, I was categorized with women under 40, as opposed to last year, where I just fell into the broader Women Under 50 category. That means I had a narrower and younger field against which to compete

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-1411823065491667612008-07-17T21:37:00.004-05:002008-07-17T21:51:00.494-05:00

Had four other riders show up this evening and we had a nice time getting to know each other and chatting the miles away. Thanks Jeff, Bill, Adam, and Susan for coming out. I was rewarded with a stunning moonrise as I rode home. The full moon is tomorrow; while it was still low in the east, its color resembled a pale peach veil. Planning out at least one very major ride for the weekend --

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-39529232061023460252008-07-14T19:41:00.003-05:002008-07-14T19:44:09.722-05:00

The folks on the stlbiking.com forum have been discussing where to find cowbells locally. Of course, the conversation digressed into SNL/Blue Oyster Cult territory with some hilarious results.

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-76659774652781666722008-07-12T14:44:00.006-05:002008-07-13T11:07:51.125-05:00

It's in the books (however, their site is not updated with 2008 results as of this writing). Nearly 1,000 people attended this year -- I think the number I heard was 975-ish. The longest distance someone traveled in order to participate in the event this year was achieved by a couple from Hawaii.My bike computer said 1h 39m and some change to complete 32 miles. I faded a little in the latter

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-31997534681251744862008-07-10T18:33:00.003-05:002008-07-10T19:23:06.007-05:00

My job is taking me to Chicago a couple of days each week for the next few weeks, so I have less time to blog, which is a shame because there's lots to talk about every time I come back from a trip. I wanted to be sure to relate this story, though.At the hotel where I usually stay, they have a little happy hour every evening with free drinks and appetizers. It's a wonderful place to meet other

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-50522299082036037432008-07-03T21:18:00.002-05:002008-07-03T21:31:13.913-05:00

Sometimes, you just gotta' call it!Had organized my Thursday night ride and two people showed up promptly at 6:30 PM, but with the gathering clouds threatening, we decided to call it off. Jason and Lauren, thanks for coming by!! Tomorrow should be better riding weather -- 81 and partly cloudy. Doing my 44-miler. Husband says he wants to coordinate to meet up with me somewhere along the way,

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-18289668374713641812008-06-30T16:44:00.002-05:002008-06-30T16:44:40.804-05:00

Ouch.

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-90424997068906086542008-06-22T07:29:00.003-05:002008-06-22T08:00:56.716-05:00

After spending about a month's worth of my free time holed up in the office in front of the computer, my schedule again is allowing me to hit the bike! Went for a nice leisurely ride with a buddy from the stlbiking.com forums on Thursday night. The ride is open to any adult with a bike and helmet. Click the link for a map. Starts at 6:30 PM sharp. Pace is determined by slowest rider and uses

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-9899442837028896242008-06-13T18:06:00.002-05:002008-06-13T18:21:09.997-05:00

This weekend is the last time Fr. Chuck Barthel will say Mass at my parish as pastor. He's a wonderful priest and lovely person in so many ways. Our parish has become very attached to him and we will miss him. Fr. Chuck was pastor when I converted to Catholicism. Not only was he presider at that Mass on Easter Vigil 2006, but he is also my first and only pastor ever! So, it will be a new

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-9923713502724489262008-05-31T21:36:00.002-05:002008-05-31T22:31:25.950-05:00

One of the wonderful things about riding a bike is that I meet a lot of fine people and learn a lot of things about them in a very short time. The bike is a vehicle -- literal and figurative -- for a common understanding between individuals that likely would not occur if say, people just happened to be walking next to each other on the street. Striking up such acquaintances and carrying on

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-32430465244510320742008-05-30T21:41:00.005-05:002008-05-31T21:34:35.179-05:00

Tomorrow's Gospel reading from Luke (1:39-56) contains the Canticle of Mary, also known as the Magnificat. This is one of my favorite passages in the Gospels because the excitement, awe, and wonder that both Elizabeth and Mary are experiencing are so vividly communicated -- two mothers-to-be who know they were chosen by God in very unique and special ways. I love to imagine myself in

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-13658319741039663622008-05-18T06:34:00.003-05:002008-05-18T06:51:10.753-05:00

May is National Bike Month -- just a way to encourage people to get on their bikes and ride! Also, it's a reminder to motorists that with the warmer weather comes greater numbers of cyclists on the road. Friday was National Bike to Work Day. Trailnet, which is a fantastic locally-based organization that promotes active lifestyles, coordinated 20+ "refueling stations" where riders could stop by

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-5591981069203475732008-05-17T19:38:00.005-05:002008-05-17T20:07:45.225-05:00

At last, we are getting some fairly consistent warm/dry-ish weather. Just in time, because today was the first 5-Star century ride for me.Today was a day of obstacles: It started when I got a little lost driving to the ride -- 14-mile detour!Flooding re-routed 30 miles of the ride, causing a lot of overlap on the route.Trains kept getting in the way of crossings at inconvenient times -- spent at

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-1352498376602100442008-05-04T18:12:00.005-05:002008-05-04T18:52:00.277-05:00

There is a segment of the population that really likes good food. In that segment, there is a subset who likes to know how to prepare good food. Within that subset, there's a group of people who like to know the science behind how the elements work together to make good food happen. Alton Brown was made for this group. I would call these people sci-foodies -- they are like science fiction

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-29674408711617552982008-05-03T19:54:00.006-05:002008-05-04T17:54:58.982-05:00

I did the 11th annual Tour de Stooges ride today. This year, the ride took place in Highland, IL instead of Lebanon, IL; the change in location was because the number of riders outgrew that community's ability to handle them all. I think the count of riders last year was around 700.The choice to move the location was a good one. The route was interesting enough, but not extreme. In today's

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-4150595728452322862008-04-27T13:44:00.005-05:002008-04-28T21:30:32.117-05:00

Finally the weather is improving. Better weather = more riding + less blogging. So a quick round-up is in order. . . CyclingStarting cycle-commuting to work last week on the new bike. All is going well with it. I am very fortunate (and grateful!) to have access to some really fantastic facilities at work for bike storage and showers in the fitness center for cleaning up. I will eventually

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-52264750166222475432008-04-17T21:20:00.003-05:002008-04-17T21:42:42.807-05:00

I decided to take the cycle-commuting plunge and recently picked up a 2007 Kona Dew. I added a rear rack, panniers, bike computer, bell, and tail light to it. I moved the computer from my road bike to the Dew and indulged myself in a new cadence computer for the road bike. I need to add a headlight on the Dew, but think I can cannibalize one from another bike instead of buying a new one. The

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-67267796405731080872008-04-11T11:37:00.003-05:002008-04-11T11:40:53.688-05:00

This is Penny. She's adorable in her awkward mannerisms. This is a good example -- she's lying on a stool with a paw hanging over the edge.She's also the kind of cat who chases her own tail.

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-51179672912550653192008-04-10T21:04:00.007-05:002008-04-10T21:53:25.284-05:00

Just a quick summary review of Newstead Tower Public House, where hubby and I recently went with a friend. Scale of 1 - 5 with 5 being the best.Atmosphere - 3.5Interesting building shape -- renovator did a good job working around a series of structural support posts that slice the room in half. Nice decor for a pub, with interesting colors, good lighting, and other decor touches to look at.

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-87208845695286484272008-04-09T18:14:00.005-05:002008-04-11T11:46:30.356-05:00

I'm starting a new feature -- Randomly Recurring Cat Photo. It's too much pressure to commit to a "Feline Photo of the Day" -- even "Bi-Weekly Quadriped Image" is too much! So you will simply have to be content with a cat pic whenever I feel like it. I suppose, strictly speaking, the occasions on which I decide to put up a cat pic are not random, but to you my reader, they will seem to be at

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-60397046842748494352008-04-09T15:50:00.003-05:002008-04-09T16:16:03.990-05:00

Last night, I went with some friends to the new-ish restaurant, Off the Vine. Another friend wanted a review, so I figured I would post it here also.1 - 5 rating system, with 5 being the best.Atmosphere: 2.5It's the former Blue Water Grill space on Hampton at Columbia. Low-ish ceiling, or at least it seems that way with heavy beams in the structure. In addition to the dark brown beams/ceiling,

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-52466566935843163482008-04-07T20:40:00.003-05:002008-04-07T21:02:32.182-05:00

At last, the weather is starting to act like Spring around here! Naturally, that means one thing -- cycling!I put just under 75 miles on the bike in the last three days while the weather has been good. Pretty much the same route each day -- from home to the end of Grant's Trail and back. Muscles are tired -- tomorrow is a rest day since it looks like the weather's going to be rainy anyway.

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-6886743558744488122008-04-04T21:36:00.003-05:002008-04-04T22:13:01.791-05:00

Sometimes, rather than trying to digest all the readings for a given day together, it is useful to reflect on one idea or even just one word. The concept that really caught my attention today was that of abundance (John 6:1-15).I have been very fortunately blessed with a great share of spiritual abundance in my life, particularly in the last few years. The Holy Spirit has led me to a Christian

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-25464807748415167132008-04-02T20:56:00.004-05:002008-04-02T21:07:04.035-05:00

Internet Security:That's Mischief and Purrl, my two intimidating tortoiseshell kitties, keeping me safe on the Internet. Yes, that messy desk is where most of the magic happens, friends. I hope to clean up/organize the entire office shortly, but since I am working on a project right now, the priority is to get that done first. Deadline is just a couple of weeks away and I have to learn a

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-50180941914652622552008-04-01T21:03:00.003-05:002008-04-01T21:08:10.082-05:00

Swapped out my USB-based wireless networking card for a PCI one today. Had some help though. Oreo is saying she can't quite figure it out:So we called in the expert, Mischief. She's not afraid to get into her work:Mischief also helped me decipher the tech. support person's accent.Yes, for all you Harry Potter fans, that is a Hogwarts table I was using temporarily for my workbench.

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-49484391968294723542008-03-29T15:40:00.006-05:002008-03-30T10:23:18.336-05:00

Each day this week, the first reading at Mass has been from the Acts of the Apostles and have been focused on what I would call the Adventures of Simon Peter! In these readings (see below for complete list), Peter seems to have found his voice and his courage. He has just cured a man who was crippled from birth and this same man, who now walks on his own, enters jubilantly into the temple!

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-6278666411533151492008-03-26T19:33:00.004-05:002008-03-27T21:41:17.940-05:00

I'm a day late posting about the Gospel story from John (20:11-18) that describes the moment when Mary meets the resurrected Jesus; it's such a beautiful moment I felt compelled to write about it. The story is so abundant with meaning on both literal and symbolic levels. Mary was utterly beside herself with grief over Jesus' death. Her eyes were overflowing with tears and her mind overwrought

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-61373133288836831932008-03-25T18:05:00.004-05:002008-03-25T18:43:31.286-05:00

Read this story."The family's situation is so dire that last year Jim Shank divorced Debbie, so she could receive more money from Medicaid."While by the letter of the law, Wal-Mart was within its legal rights to pursue the money from the family, why would they risk the bad publicity? All the bad publicity this will generate will cost Wal-Mart much more than if they had let it slide. What a

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-79288779533024062522008-03-23T18:58:00.005-05:002008-03-23T21:34:01.883-05:00

One of the forms of prayer I use is to try to imagine myself inside the story, especially a Gospel story. What would it have been like to be Mary of Magdala in the story from today's Gospel (John 20:1-9)? It is still dark as she approaches Jesus' grave in the garden. Mary is probably with a friend or family member as she approaches the tomb -- imagine yourself accompanying her. Think about

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-62389022469050132992008-03-17T09:09:00.002-05:002008-03-17T09:28:50.212-05:00

Today's celebrations go much beyond that which is typical of a saint's feast day -- in St. Louis it's an unofficial holiday! But, remembering that we are in Holy Week, I thought I would share with you this prayer of St. Patrick:I bind to myself todayThe strong virtue of the Invocation of the Trinity:I believe the Trinity in the UnityThe Creator of the Universe.I bind to myself todayThe virtue of

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-77297106076976639952008-03-16T21:25:00.003-05:002008-03-16T22:06:11.879-05:00

Today was Palm Sunday, which marks the beginning of Holy Week. This week is filled with wonderful opportunities to marvel at the sacrifice Jesus made for us. Of the readings today, which were all very powerful, the one that caught my attention the most was this portion of Philippians 2:6-11:Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God,did not regard equality with Godsomething to be

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-6713895415015393052008-03-15T22:35:00.004-05:002008-03-15T23:00:52.658-05:00

I went with a friend to the Ivory Theatre last night to see Assassins, which is a Stephen Sondheim/John Weidman musical. As the name suggests, the play is about people who have either assassinated or attempted to assassinate American presidents. It was an interesting treatment of a tough subject. It is playing until March 29 and tickets are very reasonable. In addition to my interest in

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-77340265919704480832008-03-14T06:36:00.005-05:002008-03-15T12:53:51.711-05:00

Today's readings are foreshadowing things to come. People are very near to stoning Jesus to death because he is doing things they do not understand, and he has made them afraid. Jesus escapes; where does he go? He returns to the place "where John first baptized" (Jn 10:40) and an amazing thing happens there -- people begin to believe (Jn 10:42). Once Jesus returns to the source of new life --

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-90667517137707872622008-03-12T18:16:00.003-05:002008-03-12T18:24:45.995-05:00

Went for another ride today. Started at home and rode down to Grant's Trail and back. The weather was great -- 70 degrees and sunny -- so there were lots of people on the trail, which made getting up/maintaining speed difficult at times. Even so, I did just under 25 miles in about an hour and a half. Averaged around 15 mph, which was pretty good considering all the stopping/slowing/starting

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-77765427257744972008-03-11T17:47:00.003-05:002008-03-11T17:55:30.545-05:00

Got in another ride yesterday on Grant's Trail. This time I added the Clydesdale Park loop for just under 18 miles total. Got it done in 1.25 hours, which isn't too bad considering having to stop for traffic/lights and slow down for pedestrians, rollerbladers, kids, and dogs on the trail. Husband had the leg up on me for the first half of the ride, I think because I ate a Clif bar too soon

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-78554596452688587992008-03-04T20:39:00.003-06:002008-03-04T21:04:03.698-06:00

Went to my hometown on Sunday to visit family, snap some pics, and get some delicious pizza at Mario's.Went out to one of my favorite spots for viewing the sky -- I try to get there when there are meteor showers. Got some nice pics -- this is one of my favorites:Sunset in Patriot's Park in Greenville looks like this:From Greenville visitI spent lots of time with Dad at this park when I was a kid

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-9821524516125705662008-03-02T15:48:00.002-06:002008-03-02T15:50:06.088-06:00

As you might imagine, we didn't get in a bike ride today after all . . .

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-68882754942320068012008-03-02T10:37:00.004-06:002008-03-02T10:46:20.828-06:00

Went on the first bike ride of the 2008 cycling season yesterday. Just an easy 15 miles or so on Grant's Trail. Felt good to be back in the saddle again. Weather today is also warm so hubby and I are planning another ride -- probably try Route 66 State Park today, since it is one we haven't done before. This park was created out of what used to be the Times Beach community.

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-83138975508469713182008-02-28T19:04:00.003-06:002008-02-28T19:13:44.766-06:00

Feeling the cabin fever, I took our road bikes into the bike shop yesterday to have them tuned up. I am hoping the predictions for 53 degrees and sun on Saturday come true so I can finally get get in my first ride of 2008. Of course, I have also been daydreaming about the latest model bikes. I was toying with the idea of splurging on an Orbea this year, but I doubt that will happen. For now,

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-92160642343906771322008-02-23T17:45:00.002-06:002008-02-23T18:23:14.825-06:00

In this morning's homily, my pastor asserted that God's love is like a bottomless well. No matter how many times we go back to draw from the well, it never goes dry -- God's love is infinite and always available. Even when -- especially when -- we experience a dry spell, an inexhaustible life-giving wellspring is there to refresh us, sustain us, and give us life here and in the

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-54496659492336246852008-02-18T15:17:00.003-06:002008-02-18T20:45:51.161-06:00

Today's readings focus on mercy and forgiveness. The readings strike me as bookends to each other -- the first reading from Daniel (9:4b-10) asks God's mercy for humankind, while in the Gospel reading (Lk 6:36-38) Jesus instructs us to be merciful to each other.Of course, Christian living focuses a great deal on forgiveness. The Bible shows us over and over again that God forgives us, creates

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-34871870528159676452008-02-10T11:48:00.000-06:002008-02-12T09:24:39.736-06:00

I think about a lot of different things, but as life has gotten more complicated, my ability to do focused contemplation for long periods of time is not what it used to be. When I was younger and my life was much simpler, I used to be very good at it -- those were the days when I would/could go for long walks in the woods or by the creek on my own. A dog or a kitty would follow me now and then,

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-84423465541217097672008-02-06T14:31:00.000-06:002008-02-06T19:07:37.521-06:00

"We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us." 2 Cor 5:20I could spend all of Lent savoring this single statement from Paul's second letter to the Corinthians. What do Paul's words mean to you? What do you feel when you read that sentence? For me, this statement is a reminder to keep Christ top of mind and centered in my life at all times. It's easy to focus on Christ

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-66452258350561182022008-02-03T10:45:00.000-06:002008-02-03T10:46:06.578-06:00

Went to the Bicycle Swap and Classic Bike Show 2008 last Sunday which is hosted by the St. Louis Regional Bike Federation. Saw a bunch of neat vintage and antique bikes. Standouts were the Lemon Peeler,and the 1890's ladies' safety bike.From Bike Swap Mee...The above photo shows a closeup of the rear tire and chain housing. Yes, the rims, fender, and chain guard are all made of wood. The

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-79159280247667698792008-02-02T20:11:00.001-06:002008-02-03T10:32:35.507-06:00

Headed down to Soulard today to see Gumbohead play at Lucas School House. From Mardi Gras 2008Had a fantastic time as I danced my cares away this afternoon. So did a lot of other people:From Mardi Gras 2008 Outside of Lucas, there were a ton of people partying. I was glad I was on the edge of Soulard and not in the middle of this:From Mardi Gras 2008Looking forward to heading to Lucas again

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-44678838348568853792008-02-01T19:17:00.000-06:002008-02-01T20:43:07.275-06:00

Had a busy weekend last weekend, then a marathon this week, so I am just now getting a chance to post something substantive.Last Sunday I attended the sixth annual Food and Wine Experience, which is a fundraiser for the Repertory Theatre. My main reason for going was to see Fr. Dominic Garramone, who hosted the PBS program Breaking Bread with Fr. Dominic and is author to five cookbooks.I picked

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-47131084320340036842008-01-31T16:07:00.000-06:002008-01-31T16:39:11.588-06:00

Nothing completes an outfit quite like a dead animal on your head. Yes, this guy is wearing a dead red fox. Saw him today while shopping at a warehouse club store. Animal cruelty is a statement, but certainly not a fashionable one.

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-26134314706450503682008-01-24T12:24:00.001-06:002008-01-31T15:34:57.213-06:00

For people who have considered cycling, but just haven't made the leap into the sport yet, I am sure at least some of the hesitation must be due the hideousness of most cycling jerseys. This one tops them all.Yes, it's just what I always wanted, a cycling jersey that looks like I am wearing a wedding gown. My favorite detail on this stunning number is the peek at the bride's butt hat.

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-7189719155544039692008-01-19T14:20:00.000-06:002008-01-19T14:38:04.874-06:00

In my pastor's homily this morning, he brought up a great point about today's readings (1 Sm 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1 and Mk 2:13-17). Both of these stories are about being called and the call is heard by people in the midst of doing ordinary things; Saul is trying to find a couple of stray donkeys that got away from the herd and Levi is doing his job at a customs post. My takeaway from these

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-11325806529056181622008-01-16T12:28:00.000-06:002008-01-16T13:23:06.001-06:00

Been thinking about goals for 2008, especially cycling goals. Last year, my goal was to ride at least one century (100-mile ride). I did that three times over -- my first one ever on May 12, then on July 7, and the final one on October 7. Between the July and October one, I was off the bike for 2 months due to a shoulder injury sustained while doing some off-road biking.The next logical goal

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-40824341104891835752008-01-15T08:24:00.000-06:002008-01-15T08:33:31.128-06:00

Ever wonder what to do with those huge chunks of styrofoam packing materials that come in appliance or computer boxes? Someone on the stlbiking.com forum had the same question. Turns out, it is a little difficult to find resources who will take it for recycling, but not impossible.Whole Foods will take your styrofoam while a lot of municipalities will not. There are currently two Whole Foods

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-3847769813867542922008-01-11T08:55:00.000-06:002008-01-11T09:35:18.449-06:00

Hubby and I just tried a relatively new (open just a couple of months) restaurant last Thursday called Three Monkeys. We ordered the Romeo's Red Wings tossed in Jamaican BBQ sauce. Having had some exposure to West Indian and Jamaican food -- maybe a little more than the average St. Louisan -- I had a hard time discerning what about these wings made them "Jamaican BBQ" style, but it didn't

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-10797365333810576642008-01-07T13:06:00.001-06:002008-01-07T13:10:05.335-06:00

I was registering on the stltoday.com site today and saw this in their list of security questions. In working in the web development world/IT, I have often joked this should be one of the security questions offered to users.I am sure they shortened it in the interest of space, removing the term "velocity" from the question. Still funny, though.

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-19218103311827602742008-01-03T12:11:00.000-06:002008-01-03T12:36:10.311-06:00

Well in case you haven't heard -- and you should have if you live in/around the St. Louis metropolitan area -- MoDot closed a major portion of I-64 this week. Starting Jan. 2, I-64 (or highway 40 as it is affectionately known to many St. Louisans) was closed in both directions from Ballas to the I-170 interchange. It won't reopen again until December 31 of this year. Then, once that is

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-66677824636770005692008-01-01T19:37:00.001-06:002008-01-01T19:52:05.805-06:00

Today was the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God. You may know that the rose is a commonly used symbol for Mary. While out shopping before Christmas on the Hill at Viviano's market, I ran across one of Father Dominic's books, called Tis the Season to be Baking: Christmas Reflections and Bread Recipes. Always looking for interesting recipes to try, and since it was a signed copy, I

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-13915103336638849962007-12-28T20:01:00.000-06:002007-12-28T20:53:56.514-06:00

I love the new dueling piano bar, the Jive and Wail, which is in Maplewood. Hubby and I were there on opening night in September, which happened to be our wedding anniversary. We were brought there that night by a happy coincidence.I had read info on the web about this dueling piano bar coming to Maplewood. I was interested to go, but hadn't heard/seen much about an open date. Then one day, I

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-74443821753512606522007-12-25T13:08:00.000-06:002007-12-25T17:22:56.415-06:00

My pastor begins the eucharistic prayer at Mass today.Merry Christmas!

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-72537926588141173522007-12-23T22:52:00.000-06:002007-12-23T23:02:44.761-06:00

Here's what I did today -- made a ton of cookies:Here's what everyone else did:

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-54937081603927999272007-12-22T14:37:00.000-06:002007-12-22T15:05:39.114-06:00

Short answer -- lots of fun! I contract at Anheuser-Busch and they were nice enough to invite me to a holiday party earlier this week. I grabbed some pics while I was there.You had ice sculptors:Penguins:Arcade games galore:Musicians:A Clydesdale:Lots and lots of people:There was also an old-fashioned style photo snapshot booth, a mechanical bull, an oxygen bar, a nightclub with a DJ spinning,

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-14259894795464417912007-12-20T14:32:00.000-06:002007-12-20T14:42:55.157-06:00

I love this site.Don't know what a lolcat is? Read about lolcats here. There's even a lolcat Bible.

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-8180416288747169192007-12-19T07:29:00.000-06:002007-12-19T08:56:05.163-06:00

My parish is currently holding its annual seven days of prayer prior to Christmas. As my pastor wrote in our bulletin last week,Beginning with December 17, the Church proclaims daily one of the significant events that happened immediately before the birth of Christ. Each of these stories such as the Annunciation or the Visitation help to prepare us for the great celebration of the Mystery of the

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-62818428912004081462007-12-18T12:42:00.000-06:002007-12-18T12:59:22.639-06:00

Mischief is not at all happy with this turn of events:Squirrel says "thppppppt."

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-88364405167343400462007-12-17T08:42:00.000-06:002007-12-17T08:59:57.152-06:00

Rachael: May I ask you a personal question? Deckard: Sure. Rachael: Have you ever retired a human by mistake? Deckard: No. Rachael: But in your position that is a risk. The four-disc edition comes out tomorrow! Hoping Santa brings me one. . .

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-63006356717993213122007-12-16T20:47:00.001-06:002007-12-16T21:04:02.106-06:00

We had a lovely snow this weekend. It made everything beautiful and quiet. From Snow 12/15/07...We popped over to 8 AM Mass today . . .we got in quite a bit earlier than we expected, so I grabbed a pic of the church while it was still very quietFrom Snow 12/15/07...Later in the day, the sun shone so beautifully that I went to Carondelet park to take pics at Horseshoe lake. Here's one of my

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-4686819291161559732007-12-15T22:26:00.000-06:002007-12-15T23:14:09.472-06:00

A couple of my brothers-in-law are in a local band called Grumass. Went to see them play last night for the first time at Off Broadway -- lots of fun and they played great! From Grumass! 12/...I had a good time dancing, which I haven't done in a while! From Grumass! 12/...I hope to see them put together another show in the near future. Neat thing about last night was that all six of the Ryan

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-74113171878222304882007-12-14T09:24:00.000-06:002007-12-14T18:07:48.593-06:00

Nice article from VeloNews about a native St. Louisan former pro cyclist and his decision to leave the pro circuit this year. I met Dan at the Rally in the Valley in September, not long after his TOM accident when he broke his collarbone after a very unfortunate run-in with an armadillo (yes, a real armadillo). Very nice fellow and was very good about chatting with me for a few minutes. We

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-53756487178140489172007-12-13T07:55:00.001-06:002007-12-13T08:00:16.895-06:00

More puppet bike pics I took while I was in Chicago:Notice the puppet bike is secured to the bike rack, even though someone is inside the puppet bike doing a show (behind the brown curtain). I wonder if they have ever had a problem with someone trying to steal or ride the bike away while a show was happening?

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-28752997015208442962007-12-12T12:15:00.000-06:002007-12-12T12:24:49.573-06:00

Microsoft is offering free versions of Windows Vista Ultimate -- the catch is you have to let them monitor your usage of it. Sounds to me like they are trying to find ways to mitigate the disaster that the Vista release has been. http://wfp.microsoft.com/ Maybe instead of wfp.microsoft.com, they should rename it to wtf.microsoft.com w00t!

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-36197881827292899422007-12-09T21:38:00.000-06:002007-12-13T08:02:06.033-06:00

One of the more unique things I saw while in Chicago was this mobile puppet show on a bicycle. From Chicago Trip ...Very cute and clever.

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-76015885187873995892007-12-08T22:16:00.000-06:002007-12-10T13:29:46.872-06:00

I took in this morning's Mass at St. Mary of the Angels parish near the neighborhood where we are staying here in Chicago. It's a very beautiful church.From Chicago Trip ...The church was almost completely full for Mass this morning. The liturgy was about as close as you can get to a Tridentine Mass without it actually being in Latin. Opus Dei staffs the church. There were about a half-dozen

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-52975929823236433932007-12-07T22:27:00.001-06:002007-12-10T13:30:53.595-06:00

Chicago's outdoor sculpture, called Cloud Gate, in Millennium Park is like a huge distortion mirror. Everybody in Chicago affectionately refers to it as the bean, sort of like everyone in St. Louis calls the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial the arch.Here's a pic of the bean around twilight today. There's snow on it right now.From Chicago Trip ...Here's an interesting perspective of me

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-20702259645468089502007-12-06T23:39:00.000-06:002007-12-08T08:32:09.406-06:00

Visiting Chicago right now. Lots of fun!! Too many things to cram in one long weekend. The main priority was to visit the Museum of Science and Industry to see the Star Wars exhibit, which, if you are a Star Wars enthusiast like me, is fascinating. You get to see the props and costumes that were actually used in the movies, which is almost like seeing the stars themselves up close. From

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-58979571185440334642007-12-05T08:40:00.000-06:002007-12-08T08:32:33.717-06:00

Was checking out the Gold Box (daily special) deals on Amazon.com. Found this on the forum on the bottom of the page. It says, "Need to get my girlfriend something on the Q-T, so my wife doesn't find out."Ah the spirit of giving!

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-59289359134126727692007-12-04T09:53:00.000-06:002007-12-08T08:32:46.029-06:00

. . but your back looks like a wooly mammoth pelt and it's repulsive, so do something about it already."This great idea comes to you courtesy of your friends at MSN shopping. I wonder if someone put it on there as a joke?

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-30089251887473314472007-12-02T19:15:00.001-06:002007-12-03T08:31:13.343-06:00

Today is the start of the season of Advent -- a time of preparation and anticipation. I am especially looking forward to the novena at my parish later this month; it's always an excellent method to remind myself to slow down/relax just at the time preparations for Christmas typically reach a fever pitch. I tend to set very high expectations for myself, so it is a good time to get real and

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-7331561842241375382007-12-02T08:17:00.000-06:002007-12-02T08:21:18.036-06:00

Seems to be a pattern here....From Joe's Always ...From Geek Squad

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-80848806279442357112007-11-30T07:53:00.000-06:002007-12-02T08:22:56.820-06:00

Fox 2 news ran a story on the 9 PM edition last night about a cyclist who is bothering people on Grant's trail with rude and confrontational behavior.Of course, there's no excuse for the guy to push other people around, though I would like to hear his side of the story. I wonder if he was calling out to people in advance of passing them? Whatever he was doing, he definitely crossed way over the

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-83544431424528749622007-11-29T13:01:00.000-06:002007-12-02T08:23:25.457-06:00

This vid was very popular over the summer. It's very peculiar because you wouldn't expect that voice to come out of that young man and he has interesting mannerisms. I'm sure I'll sound like your grandmother when I say this, but it's refreshing to see a young person doing something creative and unique with his talent.It was so popular, other people on YouTube parodied it. My favorite is Chad

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22139946.post-35065252010561043812007-11-25T20:51:00.000-06:002007-12-02T08:23:52.548-06:00

Today was the Solemnity of Christ the King, which means that the Roman Catholic Liturgical year almost at its end, and soon we start the season of Advent, the time for the anticipation of Christ's birth.In today's homily about Christ the King, my pastor reminded us about the cosmic Christ with these words, "Christ yesterday and to-day, the beginning and the end, all time belongs to him, and all

Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242583237796329835noreply@blogger.com0