7 Quick Takes

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When my dad liked a song...he'd really latch on to it.  Some of the best memories of him are when he found a song and would uninhibitedly belt it out when it came on the radio or would just "serenade" my family because he wanted to enjoy it and would put it on.  When he passed I wondered what would be the next song that he would have loved.  I heard this and without doubt know this is the next song.  Of course it had to be Toby KEITH.

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On random and oh so rare days I decide to try. Last night I wet set my hair like so many women in the '50's did.  Here is the result...

Hotness you can expect to see again maybe halfway into 2014

 Someone get that girl an eyebrow wax

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I love DIY projects.  Our dishwasher dispenser cup broke and the fridge's water dispenser/ice maker has not only refused to work for more than five years but had dripped water onto our floor.  With the help of Sears Parts Direct I am proud to say we're all in working order.  I feel like we have brand new appliances.

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Last weekend I participated in the Run or Dye 5k.  I tried to train before but my painful ear infection threw me off track.  I managed to trot half and walk half.  It felt a lot shorter than I'd expected.  I'm super proud of my friend, Liz, who I begged to go with me.  She also trained couch to 5k and jogged the whole thing. The event made me feel young and like, "Maybe I'm too old for this," all at the same time.  Here we are acting like fools...

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I hate cold weather.  One of the redeeming things about it is cute babies in adorable hats.

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So, Capital Catholic right?  Politics Religion.  I have my moments then I try to lay low for awhile.  Here's a moment... I've seen two bumper stickers in Springfield so far that say, "I'm Ready for Hilary 2016"  I almost rear ended them on purpose.  WAKE UP AMERICA!
Also, I'm very proud of our Bishop in Springfield for speaking so strongly against people trying to make a mockery of the rosary and our holy space at my parish, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.  All are welcome to come and be reverent, but it's not okay to go to any church, temple, chapel, etc. with an agenda.

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We're looking forward to a good weekend here.  Pumpkin carving, possible visit from my mom, Halloween train ride, school carnival, some good home cookin', confession and mass. Hope you all have a good one too!

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

7 Quick Takes: Mostly About Ears

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The Healing of a Deaf Man. Mark 7 31-35  Again he left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis. And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!” (that is, “Be opened!”) And [immediately] the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly

--- 2 ---

I have an ear infection in my left ear.  This one comes along with a busted ear drum.  Here is a timeline:
-Thursday: Water Irrigated my own ear
-Monday: Ear ache slowly comes on.  Went to prompt care, saw a PA, put on oral antibiotic preemptively for oncoming infection.
-Tuesday: Excruciating pain.  Research convinced me I had Swimmer's ear.  That night I resorted to my post postpartum pain medicine.
-Wednesday: So nauseous I made my husband come home from work so I could stay horizontal.  Made an appointment with a new clinic because I guess I'm grown up now and actually need a primary care physician.
-Thursday:  Feeling a lot better but was hoping to get prescribed ear drop antibiotic to work faster.  By now my hearing is blocked.  The doctor was a complete waste of time.  Was more interested in telling me to lose weight and getting a thyroid and cholesterol check than telling my why my ear is blocked and when to expect it to get better. "Stay away from cheeses" he says to fat American.  Want to punch him in the ear.
-Friday:  Learning patience and self restraint by not touching/pulling ear.  Hot compress is helping drain but I seriously need this ear congestion to go. It effects my mood and everything!

--- 3 ---

I have been a pretty good trooper with the last heat wave.  I took the kids to the sprinkler park almost every other day.  Now I have been rewarded with today's cool weather.

--- 4 ---

Among crappy ear condition, Rita had a check up.  She's growing quite perfectly but to my surprise she had a double ear infection (not related to my ear infection).  I'm a horrible mother.  I had no clue.  How long had she had this?  My sweetheart has not been particularly cranky.  So sorry.

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I am ready for some Football!  Tonight Adam is going to take Jimmy to a high school game.  I excited to go to my high school's homecoming.  And oh yeah....GO BEARS!

--- 6 ---

I decided I needed a "thing."  What will be my "thing?"  Beer.  More specifically I want to learn about and be all about Belgium beer and honor my heritage.  I'm going beyond Blue Moon.  I'll keep you updated.

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There are only two more episodes of Dexter.  I think they have made this season especially crappy to make it easier to say good-bye.  They probably have a shocking finale that's been in mind since the beginning, but I'm sorry writers...the rising action sucks.  The guest acting sucks!  God speed Dexter...bring on Homeland!

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Born Alive

  I started collecting my reactions here in a draft about the Gosnell murder trial right before the outcry for main stream media (MSM) to pick up this story started, a month ago. I scratched that because it was just too daunting.  I am not going to summarize the case here but will say I am satisfied with the coverage from Fox News and impressed by the articles at www.lifesitenews.com  Before a verdict is announced I just need to let out a few points I constantly replay in my mind: 

• The only difference between an "acceptable" abortion and what Gosnell did is geography. 

• People who do not want to get too close to knowing how abortions are performed think the occurrence of babies intended for abortion but then born alive is miniscule.  "This Doctor is an unusual case" they may think.  Others know better though.  Because of the shameful nature of it we cannot get an accurate number but in 2010 a report of 1,270 babies born as a result of an abortion attempt then died is recorded. I wish everyone was aware of  these testimonies from actual survivors (click) or would watch the movie October Baby, now streaming on Netflix, so they can identify these babies born alive as viable persons. 

• Who do they think they're fooling trying to distance themselves

#Gosnell case is appalling. He ran a criminal enterprise, not a health facility, & should be punished to full extent bit.ly/ZRyssI
— Planned Parenthood (@PPact) April 12, 2013

• When just two weeks earlier, March 28th, they were fighting "Born Alive" Act in Florida.  Humor me and watch just the first two minutes 

• This shouldn't be news to you, but if Obama had his way Gosnell's actions against these babies would be perfectly legal in Illinois. 

• Throughout all of this I keep recalling from the book, Heaven is Real, how little Colton who survived a near death experience kept pestering his father who is a pastor and interrupting his Sunday school lessons that "Jesus really really REALLY loves the little children."  As the author the father didn't expand on this point but I immediately drew the conclusion and just keep reminding myself, Jesus really loves these little children.

• The saddest defense of abortion is when I hear people say, "I personally cannot imagine abortion as an option but I don't think we should tell women what to do."  I personally cannot imagine taking a razor to my forearm but I don't think we should help those that do.  Women who consider abortion are hurting.  These women who came to Gosnell were desperate.  We would intervene for someone who is suicidal because death is permanent but the hurt, no matter how deep, can be addressed.  Desperate women deserve better than abortion.