Super fan goes to NC

That's what my husband calls me around this time of year. Yes that's right football season! I just love it. I can't tell you why, but I do. And having one of the best husband's, yes I acknowledge he is in the creme de la creme grouping of men, he purchased for my birthday Steeler, Panther exhibition tickets.

The stadium is very well kept and has a convenient lay out , if you visit a lot of stadiums that is, and being married to a Sports writer I do. It's coridoors are large and it's easy to find your way around. It's biggest plus - the bathrooms are plentiful and clean. I didn't even have to stand in line at half time, now that's well planned. The whole stadium looks new and it's been around since the late 90's.

We were evacuated to wait in the open air concourse area because of a rapidly approaching thunder storm, I took stock of the opportunities around me, Twittered...and had my face painted.

and made a friend.

As we scanned the growing mass of fans, we noted that there was at least a 40 - 60% ratio of Steeler to Carolina fans. Black and Gold was every where you looked.

Game play was rather "vanilla" to quote the Sports writer.

So I amused myself in other ways between the potentially exciting plays. The people watching at this game was fabulous!

(Our new coach)

There were these two very genteel southern ladies or as mi quierda amiga would say colorful old broads. They were a hoot between harassing the stadium employee assigned to our section with questions like "Are you here to take role?" and shout things to their team like "Keep on him dingle" or my favorite " Pass the ball dipstick" I lost track of the number of times I saw one or the other of them come up and down from the concession stand with their glasses of beer. I have two visuals for you, gold lame strap heels and fun foam flower visor - priceless.

The city of Charlotte isn't bad for a view either, especially when it gets dark and it's all lit up.

A very large THANK YOU to Andrew G who lent me his camera to photo essay our trip.

Ours has bit the dust so we're to buy a new one soon. Have pity on my husband, it's like buying a new car for me

On the way home we had a great breakfast, and saw a "cow bus" and the Big Peach in Gaffney.

Next time we're over that way, we'll be doing a little shopping at the outlets too.

And so it begins

Tonight we have Opening Mass for new year of Faith Formation classes. 6:30pm and feeling blessed to have a mostly teen crew.

FJ has returned and it looks like Life Teen Mass at 5:30pm is safe for the moment. No definite word about it starting on the 9th though.

I hear my self saying moments a lot lately, that's either wisdom of learning to make the most of each moment or finding myself behind the 8 ball. I'll go with wisdom....makes me feel more secure : )

The Jeff Report lives again!

Ladies and Gentlemen announcing the much anticipated - Jeff Report! Yes in an unprecidented manuver today, Jeff has started blogging on his blog. Tune in to find out what's on our favorite Sport's Editors mind and plate. http://www.thejeffreport.blogspot.com/

Traveling Phone

Walking around with the camera phone feels very different than having the actual camera, but it works...mostly.

The "G girls" and myself at the Goo Goo Dolls concert.

Kennedy Space Center & Cape Canaveral

Annual B-day lunch with los J's menos una.

Capt Bab's and the A-Boy!
The Good
The Bad

The Blurry : )

Starfish and casting nets

There are about 5 or 6 people who have responded to the call to read the Bible and CCC in a year. That is too awesome!!! Starfish Begs, I haven't forgotten. Thanks.

For now posting on our blogs is good, I am going to look into the Yahoo! communities and see if going that route give us any advantages. But want to remind everyone that there is no pressure to share your thoughts on every reading. If you are inspired do so, if a particular reading or set doesn't stir much that doesn't mean it isn't working and moving you somewhere spiritually speaking.

I started at 337, and know I suggested we all do so, but for those of you who know me (and love me) hold on...I moved down to 365 to truly start from the bottom and work up. If you've already started at 337 and want to join me down at the bottom, know that the thoughts on 337 isn't wasted. I don't know why starting at the begining of the last pile made more sense at first than starting at the end of the pile. Either way we're all in the same section.

Invitation to enrichment - Jn 8:31-32

"If you remain in My word, you will truly be My disciples, and you will know that truth, and the truth will set you free." (NAB) New American Bible

I was going through the handouts for the RCIA classes today and found amidst the usual Catholic Updates http://www.americancatholic.org/Newsletters/CU.asp a beige pamphlet with this simple title printed in unassuming font: Read the Bible and the Catechism in a year.

It's put out by CHResources in Zanesville OH. When you get to their website http://www.chnetwork.org/ you can get the down loadable PDF version or pay for a pamphlet. I chose the download www.chnetwork.org/journals/readguide04.pdf

There is a forum listed on the site www.chnetwork.org as well, but I'm probably going to just post my thoughts here and invite comments as we're not all local anymore, unless there's a better way to do it - yahoo groups? They - the pamphlet people say this can be done in about 30 mins a day and is sorted into monthly sections. They suggest an opening prayer and of course to have a Bible, any version you choose so long as it has the full Scriptures found in the Roman Catholic canon. It's not like I don't already live at the church. It's not like I have nothing else to prepare, search for, cook or clean, but I have to say something about this is really right, right now.

Maybe it was the simple layout of the pamphlet or the idea that anything in small doses is do-able or maybe the time is just right, but I really feel I'm being called to do this. So I'm nuts. And like misery, insanity loves company, so if any of you would like to do this with me - I'm going to be starting with the last section 337 Eze 40-21 Sir 36:1-14 Rev 5 and 2623-2636 of the CCC and work my way back down.

If it's meant for you as well, please walk with me.


P.S. for those of us who are in SPX area, if you'd like to meet at Kaiteur - that fabulous new coffee community cafe in North Rockdale - I'm up for it : )

The Weekend of Many Meetings

Yesterday - new catechists, returning catechists - in English. Hoy, la reuníon para clases regular en español and LifeTeen group 1. ¿Listo para este semana? ¡No pienso! Pero, tengo mucho trabajo.

When you comment, and I hope you do, be gentle.

Searching

We're getting ready for the start of the new year and I find myself searching, for new catechists, new assistants, a new youth minister. Searching for ways to spend time with friends, with young adults going off to college. Searching for what my purpose is as I turned another year older. I was feeling very overwhelmed searching.

Then I thought or rather was inspired to think. Searching, although it can feel like lost wandering to me, is difficult because it's involves something being out of my control. Searching actually implies trusting. Trust that there is something definite that is there, that is ready, that is coming, but not yet. Trusting that I will have the ability to see it when it gets here. Trusting that it will happen in time. Bottom line trust in God.

New skin I'm in

O.K. so I'm making some changes in my life and the new blog skin you're looking at is no big really compared to the others, physical and spiritual, but I think it's pretty cool none the less. I thought the previous one was cool, but was a little difficult to read.

Also with help from the illustrious Miss Barb and Harry, I'm going through the family archive of slides. Turns out my "shutterbugness" is inherited from both sides of the family. My maternal grandfather, Charlie was quite the artist and my father loved photography too. In trying to catalogue his picts I realize that my photo essayist style comes from Dad. AHHHHHH that's a hug on the heart.

These are pictures from the Pittsburgh flood of 1972.

Imitation is the highest form of flattery

www.Dailylit.com - taken from The Bronzed Shoe Archives on blogger. You can suscribe to the RSS feed or get an email at your choice of days and time and choose any number of books in small digestible pieces. So great for reading gluttons like myself who need to attend to life while reading a fantastic book. I get my first of 581 installments of The Count of Monte Cristo tomorrow! Sweet. I know NERD! I am embarassed, but embrace how cool I think this is.