Just a Slight Gag - 27 March 2021 - Plague Journal Day 380

Micah 6:8
Numbers 11:4-6
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?

I got a few emails this week making sure I hadn't missed this amazing Peeps-related news:

Pepsi, Peeps drop drink, #HangingWithMyPeeps
(PRNewsfoto/PepsiCo)
Pepsi unveiled a Pepsi x Peeps drink that people can win by entering a social sweepstakes using #HangingWithMyPeeps and Peeps marshmallows to "show the world how they're enjoying their favorite springtime activities in a safe, socially distant manner." The drink comes in 7.5-ounce mini-cans and the brands have pledged to "bring two of the most iconic moments in Pepsi TV ad history to life with Peeps dioramas."

One can only hope that one of those dioramas will include a flaming Peep. Yes, they do burn well, and they also inflate beautifully in the oven (traditional or microwave - either works). Of course, the best use to which they can be put is to record tire tread designs. I have heard that some people actually consume the things, but I put that down as an urban legend.

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.

Carnage du Jour - 26 March 2021 - Plague Journal Day 379

Micah 6:8
1 Samuel 25:18-19
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?

Here's an odd one for you. It's a carnage du jour wherein I had nearly no participation.
Heidi had roasted a chicken the other day, and we still had some leftover breast meat. I had made some rice with cilantro and lime sometime after that, and we had a good amount of that left as well.

Heidi decided to mix the two, to add some chopped wasabi-soy almonds and some golden raisins (sultanas to those who know them thus) and a pseudo-biryani dish (emphasis on pseudo) was born and was delicious.
The spice from the almonds found its way into the rice, and the raisins were a very nice sweet pop to contrast with the crunch of the nuts and the softer textures of the twice-heated rice and chicken.
All in all, it was a very tasty meal.

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.

In Bruges - 25 March 2021 - Plague Journal Day 378

Micah 6:8
1 Kings 19:5-7
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's New Yorker calendar cartoon was a Minotaur pulling a labyrinth waffle out of his waffle maker. I thought that was fun. Then I discovered that today is International Waffle Day and it was (partly) explained.
In addition, today is Pecan Day and National Lobster Newburg Day.

  
I know that chicken and waffles is a big thing - it's even really good when well done - so I'm thinking that today's homage would be a pecan waffle (sounds tasty already) with a heaping helping of hot Lobster Newburg on top. (Would that make it an homard hommage? peut être.)
At any rate, please let me know how that turns out.


also:
Today is Tolkien Reading Day. I remember reading Lord of the Rings for the first time in university - I ended up finishing book 2 at my grandparents' house in Fort Wayne over Christmas, and I also remember wanting to get back to school to start book 3. I was hooked for sure.
So - read some today - maybe the Hobbit, as you can read that all today.
(I can't recommend the Silmarilion. Sorry. Maybe it's great, but I just can't force my way through it.)

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.

 

Breathe Easier Now - 24 March 2021 - Plague Journal Day 377

Micah 6:8
Psalm 27:11-12
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?

Today is World Tuberculosis Day. One assumes it's meant as a commemoration rather than a celebration, no?
After all. Tuberculosis. T.B. There probably aren't many positives or cherished memories associated with that disease.
Or are there?

First up is the late, great Leon Redbone with the T.B. Blues. Sure, it's a sad song, but it's Leon Redbone, so it's a positive.

Thinking back to my youth, we had a friend named Tim. One day a bunch of us were scratching our initials in the bricks of our house along the driveway. (I know, that was kind of stupid, but we were kids.) Well, there were Tim's initials - T.B. - and, though we had never really thought about that before, he suddenly ceased to be Tim and was instead Tuberc. Kids and nicknames.

When my Mom was in the hospital at some point, she had a cough (not why she was there), and someone on staff said the word 'tuberculosis.' Well, that magic word meant she was in a private room with a pressure-differential and mask protocol. It turned out that was totally unnecessary, but it did make for a nicer stay in a nicer room. Hospital stays are generally negatives, so it was good to get something positive out of what turned out to be a negative TB result.

Finally, how could one forget everyone's favourite lunger, Doc Holliday as portrayed by Val Kilmer? One simply couldn't.

Today is also Chocolate Covered Raisins Day. Why not enjoy some Raisinets® today? A word to the wise: please be careful if you raise rabbits.

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.

Hi, Pup! - 23 March 2021 - Plague Journal Day 376

Micah 6:8
Luke 15:28-29
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 National Puppy Day - very appropriate, as we seem to have added a puppy to our household. I think she looks like a dog, but apparently she's "unusual" enough that some folks think she looks like a goat. Apparently, one little girl saw her and asked what kind of animal that was. I feel sorry for both of them, I guess. At any rate, due to her somewhat caprine appearance (and her all-legs bounding and jumping around the back yard!), her name is now Billie. (get it?)

Take a look and let me know what you think. Is she a dog? a goat? something else?


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.

First Bratwurst of Spring - 22 March 2021 - Plague Journal Day 375

Micah 6:8
Isaiah 44:19
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, the weather was conducive to firing up the grill, so fire it up we did!

The first bratwursts of Spring were a very nice treat for the first Sunday of Spring. Even if we had given up brats for Lent, Sundays don't count! (and who would be so foolish as to give up brats for Lent? sure, it's supposed to be a sacrifice, but it should be something that one can actually do - not an invitation to failure.)

If you want to learn how to cook brats properly, just enter "how to cook bratwurst" in the search box here on the blog. You'll be glad you did (and so will I).

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 - 21 March 2021 - Plague Journal Day 374

Micah 6:8

Psalm 150
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?

 

 

This Sunday is the Fifth Sunday in Lent.

With the COVID case levels settling down in Grosse Pointe, we've resumed our in-person worship!
Yes, we're going to be back in-person in the Sanctuary today. You'll need to register ahead of time to attend, and an email went out from the church with all the details!

This is Music Sunday! We have a stellar lineup of musicians (both singers and instrumentalists) who will lead us in worshiping God as we move through Lent to Easter through a series of hymns. (Yes, hymns! Sadly, they're not for you to sing, but - We're slowly getting back to real Methodist worship!) Remember, we'll be streaming for all those who can't join us in person.

As usual, 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