Japan, Japan... there aren't words.
There are, at least, numerous ways to help out.
I'll second Mark Shea in both prayers for Japan and gratitude that our coast didn't also get hit. And since I've lived for years in paranoiac terror of a tsunami here (no doubt following an earthquake caused by the faultline running right along our coast, which would probably also set off our resident active volcano, Mt. Baker... so much for positive thinking), Mr. Shea also deserves my thanks. He put me more at ease for Bellingham's sake, at least.
God of heaven and earth, hear our prayers for the people of Japan—for safety and provision for those who survived, that the missing will be found, and for the souls of those who died.
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Thanks to Easter being almost as late as it can possibly be this year, for those of us on the Gregorian calendar, at least, Ash Wednesday finally rolled around this week. It feels odd to just be starting Lent, halfway through March and so near spring.
The night before, we had an impromptu Mardi Gras celebration with some friends. It might have been the first time I ever made more than passing notice of the holiday. No flashing at our party—it was strictly chaste. :) But I did bring brownies, since I'm giving up sugar for Lent and didn't have time to figure out how to make king cake.
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Lou and I came in possession of my family's antique dining table a couple weeks ago. Like most old dining tables, it came chairless, so we drove down to IKEA in Renton and got some plain straight-backed chairs to go around it.
IKEA is painted blue. As in, the primary color—the bright version used for Legos and Play-Doh and the like. I never knew this.
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Writers' link of the week: Nathan Bransford on self-publishing millionaires Amanda Hocking, J.A. Konrath, and the publishing industry. This piece fascinated me from start to finish. I'm one of those who will pay premium for my favorite books—I spent $35 to get Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows from a local indie bookstore at midnight on release day—but when it comes to buying books I haven't read, I've got a limited budget and am therefore slow and choosy.
It's tempting to buy something by Ms. Hocking just to see how well someone can put together a book by themselves. I'm curious. :) Besides, her covers are just lovely.
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Music of the week: Allegri's Miserere mei Deus, in short form I think—the full version apparently runs near ten minutes. The work is an arrangement of Psalm 51 in Latin. Sung by the Boys Air Choir:
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Funny of the week: I don't know where YA Highway got this chart, but it is awesome.
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Last year, Lou and I forgot to change our clocks and wound up attending Mass in Spanish. Which was kind of fun, but I think we'll try and show up for an English liturgy this year. Don't forget to set your clocks ahead!
Happy weekend. :)
So near spring? We had six inches of snow on Monday & Tuesday. But it was good to start Lent.
ReplyDeleteAlthough the Japan earthquake & tsunami are a terribly tragic reminder that man's days are short & full of much trouble. Thanks be to God that our sufferings & sorrows are redeemed in the Man of Sorrows, even Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen, George.
ReplyDeleteAs for spring, well--if I haven't jinxed us by saying that, the cherry trees are about to bloom here. :) I'd say Pacific Northwest for the win, but last year it rained and stayed between 45-60 degrees from late February through mid-July. It was awful.