Still Thanking God - 05 December 2020 - Plague Journal Day 268

Micah 6:8
2 Corinthians 9:6-15
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

We're doing another mini-Thanksgiving (with all the parts, just smaller portions and fewer people). Spreading out our thankfulness might not be such a bad idea, really. After all, why should we stop to give thanks to God in such a public and overt way only once a year? An attitude of gratitude (as they say) goes a long way to making a happier life.

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

A Potpourri - 04 December 2020 - Plague Journal Day 267

Micah 6:8
1 Corinthians 13:12
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

First up, I came across this really good review on why mirrorless cameras are starting to displace DSLRs in the digital camera market. (Warning - it's a pretty long video, but it does a good job of explaining the differences between the types of camera.) Yes, it is a good overview, but they totally miss the most important reason to go mirrorless. That's the only way to photograph a vampire.

Next, here's a telling quote:
"I used to shop at Banana Republic, but now I live in one." - anonymous Californian

Finally, it's been a long time since I rock-and-rolled.  In fact, it was on this day in 1980 that Led Zeppelin disbanded after the death of drummer John Bonham. It has been a long time indeed.
Adding insult to injury on this date, it was thirteen years later, in 1993, that Frank Zappa died. I guess December 4 is not my favorite musical date.

   

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

The New Book! - 03 December 2020 - Plague Journal Day 266

Micah 6:8
John 21:24-25
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

At last I can attest that my latest book is fully available on Amazon. I can say this with confidence because I just received a few copies, and it's really real.

So, if you're interested in becoming a writer, in getting back to writing, in giving yourself a kick in the proverbial pants to get writing some more, this might be the book for you.
It's a book of writing prompts and exercises that are designed to build a habit of writing, and to build up your ability to just plain get something down on paper (or on screen as it generally happens these days).

I'd be more than happy to have you all buy my book, but I know that's unlikely to happen. Still, I do hope it will help some folks to be happier with their writing, and to boost their output. Who knows? Maybe some of us will become as productive as Mitch Rycus! One can but hope. (Check out his books on Amazon as well - I have really enjoyed pretty much everything he has written so far!)

All of my books can be found on my Amazon author page. https://www.amazon.com/author/cvb is the address.

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

Time to Fry - 02 December 2020 - Plague Journal Day 265

Micah 6:8
Leviticus 2:6-8
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Well, it's been a long time since I've made any, but today is National Fritters Day, so I may have to break out the artichoke fritters recipe and fry up some of those bad boys.
"Artichoke fritters? Really?" I hear you cry. Indeed. I first had these delightful bites at a now-defunct restaurant (sadly, that phrase is headed toward becoming redundant) called the Double Eagle at a golf course (as I recall Sylvan Glen was the name of the course).
The fritters were a very nice starter, and came with a side of Bearnaise sauce for dipping / saucing.

If you want to make them yourself, it's quite simple, really. I used the Better Homes & Gardens cookbook recipe for apple fritters, replacing the apple with quartered artichoke hearts, and replacing the cinnamon with nutmeg. I'm sure any standard fritter recipe will do, so give it a go and let me know what you think.

Just so you know, I think they're delicious.

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

No Art? - 01 December 2020 - Plague Journal Day 264

Micah 6:8
Exodus 31:1-5
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Today is supposedly the Day Without Art. There's one I won't celebrate. What a stupid concept. I mean, Earth without art is just Eh. You gotta have art; miles and miles and miles of art!

What idiot came up with this? (Unless it's supposed to make us aware of how important art is in our lives, in which case I guess I'm helping now.) I wonder (not much, really) what my niece, Kayla, would think of this day. As an artist and an art teacher, this would feel like a slap in the face kind of day. I also wonder what my friend Libby would think of this day. I'm sure there are days when she'd like to have a day without him, but it's hard to imagine Libby and Art without each other.


Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

Jars - 30 November 2020 - Plague Journal Day 263

Micah 6:8
John 2:1-11
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

First off, let me point out that today is National Stay At Home Because You're Well Day. That might as well be the Day of National Unnecessary Redundancy Day. Another "holiday" that just seems to be rubbing it in. What a year, eh?

At least there's an actual holiday today that is worth noting. It's National Mason Jar Day.
I think it's fun that the illustration at that link shows Ball jars - a company that jumped in when the patent on Mason jars expired and became the most popular brand of Mason jars. The family later founded a university in Indiana which is affectionately known as Fruit Jar Tech. (Its official name is something closer to Ball State University, but that's neither here nor there.) Still, we are using mason jars more and more here at home. Glass seems to keep things fresher than plastic, and even acidic tomato sauce doesn't stain glass. We haven't actually canned anything yet, but they're great for leftover storage and for making quick refrigerator pickles.



Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

Worship - 29 November 2020 - Plague Journal Day 262

Micah 6:8
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

  

It's the first week of Advent!

With the current spike in COVID cases in Grosse Pointe, we've paused our in-person worship, probably for the rest of the year. We will only be streaming our services on YouTube until further notice, so please join us online.

Speaking of joining us online, our new streaming solution (all new cameras and software running on a new, video-optimized computer) came at just the right time.

Today's stream should just appear as the latest entry on our YouTube channel, here.
You'll find all our previous worship videos right there at that same place, and today's stream will stay there as a recording as well.

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.