The Rebel Jesus (Jackson Browne)

Today is my son Robby's birthday - he is 23. Rob was born knowing how to draw - when other 4-year-olds were sketching people as "daddy long legs" figures (a circle with arms and legs attached), Rob's characters were so sophisticated such that they had motion lines under their hats (to show they were running!).

We've always said he'd be a lawyer, because he's argumentative... not in a negative, but in a push-the-boundaries, way - he questions everything, which I've always loved, never taking anything for granted. Even as a child, Rob was talkative, wearing his feelings on his sleeve and sharing his deepest thoughts at the least invitation - he continues to be sensitive, kind and smart... and I'm very blessed to have him as my son, my middle child, my heart. Happy Birthday, Rob!

Otherwise, craziness abounds in our household as we attempt to get out of town for almost a week - I've wanted to post more personal comments but, with limited time, I've had to prioritize... so just blogging daily has been an accomplishment. Maybe Friday - we shall see... :-)

SONG: The Rebel Jesus by Jackson Browne

BOOK: Jesus in Blue Jeans: A Practical Guide to Everyday Spirituality by Laurie Beth Jones

POEM: Ring Out, Wild Bells by Alfred Lord Tennyson

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light;
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind,
For those that here we see no more,
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the want, the care the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes,
But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease,
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.

QUOTE: "For the spirit of Christmas fulfills the greatest hunger of mankind." ~ Loring A. Schuler

Chocolate Jesus (Tom Waits)

My friend J, who works for Dave Barry, sent this in my direction a few weeks ago - Dave also posted it to his blog. Okay, well - let's just say some people manage to do what others of us only dream (just kidding... kinda... :-)

Caught On Tape: Woman Goes On Fudge Frenzy
Midnight Burglary Caught On 4 Cameras
POSTED: 11:52 am EDT August 6, 2007

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- A Maryland woman with an apparent craving for chocolate went on a fudge rampage, and it was all caught on tape.

A sign said, "free samples." But authorities said the woman from Greenbelt, Md., took it to the extreme while the store was closed. "She ended up just ripping them off. This end of the counter got ... broke away," said Bob Lawinger of Uncle Bob's Fudge Kitchen. "And then she saw the Rocky Road and it was all over."

The midnight burglary was caught on four cameras as the woman went from cookies to fudge. She fell down a couple of times, but got back up to fill bags, plastic bins and her pockets.
Lawinger said the theft was worth several hundred dollars. He said it could also cost a thousands more to fix the display cases. Authorities said her getaway bag broke by the time she made it to the top of the street and the lobby of the historic Maryland Inn.

Police said she told a clerk that she was assaulted and needed a place to stay. The hotel called police. "The officers just happened to notice that she had some large pieces of chocolate fudge in her pockets," said Annapolis police Officer Hal Dalton. "I mean, she had so much, ... it was actually spilling out of her pockets. When she moved, some of it would fall out. Her shirt was all stained with fresh fudge."

The woman, Catherine Anne Delgado, 35, asked to use the rest room during her interview at the hotel, police said. Authorities said she tried to flush a large amount of fudge down the toilet, so much so that it clogged the toilet. Police said they arrested her and charged her with burglary.

SONG: Chocolate Jesus by Tom Waits

BOOK: Chocolat by Joanne Harris

POEM: The Dirt Eaters by Virgil Suárez

Whenever we grew tired and bored of curb ball,
of encircling the scorpions we found under rocks
by the mother-in-law tongue within a fiery circle
of kerosene and watching as they stung themselves
to death, we ate dirt; soft, grainy, pretend chocolate
dirt, in our fantasies sent to us by distant relatives
in El Norte. Fango. We stood in a circle, wet the dirt
under our bare feet, worked with our fingers to crumble
the clogs with our nails, removed the undesired twigs,
pebbles, and beetles. Dirt—how delicious. How filling.
We ate our share of it back then. Beto, the youngest,
warned us not to eat too much; it could make us sick,
vomit, give us the shits, or even worse, worms.
We laughed. We ridiculed him. We chanted
after him: "¡Lo que no mata, engorda!
¡Lo que no mata, engorda!"
What doesn’t kill you makes you fat, and stronger.

QUOTE: “Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, champagne in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming “WOO HOO what a ride!”

My Heaven (Mary Chapin Carpenter)

SONG: My Heaven by Mary Chapin Carpenter

BOOK: The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

POEM: Heaven on Earth by Kristin Berkey

I saw Jesus at the bowling alley,
slinging nothing but gutter balls.
He said, "You've gotta love a hobby
that allows ugly shoes."
He lit a cigarette and bought me a beer.
So I invited him to dinner.

I knew the Lord couldn't see my house
in its current condition, so I gave it an out
of season spring cleaning. What to serve
for dinner? Fish—the logical
choice, but after 2000 years, he must grow weary
of everyone's favorite seafood dishes.
I thought of my Granny's ham with Coca Cola
glaze, but you can't serve that to a Jewish
boy. Likewise pizza—all my favorite
toppings involve pork.

In the end, I made us an all-dessert buffet.
We played Scrabble and Uno and Yahtzee
and listened to Bill Monroe.
Jesus has a healthy appetite for sweets,
I'm happy to report. He told strange
stories which I've puzzled over for days now.

We've got an appointment for golf on Wednesday.
Ordinarily I don't play, and certainly not in this humidity.
But the Lord says he knows a grand miniature
golf course with fiberglass mermaids and working windmills
and the best homemade ice cream you ever tasted.
Sounds like Heaven to me.

QUOTE: "Shall I go to heaven or a-fishing?" ~ Henry David Thoreau