I Still Say Forest Fires - 09 October 2021 - Plague Journal Day 576

Micah 6:8
Revelation 8:5-7   2 Kings 2:23-25
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Today is Fire Prevention Day, something to be wished for every day, don't you think? Here is a picture of Heidi and Kooder by Smokey the Bear. After all, who else could represent fire prevention?

Also - we're finally back to seeing the Detroit Symphony Orchestra live and in person tonight! We're really looking forward to getting back to the friendly confines of Orchestra Hall, Detroit's acoustic marvel, to hear the orchestra under the baton of our new music director, Jader Bignamini. We've seen him a few times in the past, and he is quite an excellent conductor, and Ray Chen will be playing the Sibelius Violin Concerto - all in all, a program we're really looking forward to enjoying.

Keep Calm and Don't 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 (preview) - 08 October 2021 - Plague Journal Day 575

Micah 6:8
Acts 10:9-15
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Today is National Pierogi Day! You know, those Polish (and Russian and Ukrainian and all those other ethnicities) filled pasta - sort of Slavic ravioli, I suppose.

At any rate, since that's what we're to celebrate today, I'm thinking to do a pork tenderloin, some braised red cabbage, and some cheese and potato pierogi. (Yes, pierogi is actually the plural - at least in Russian - the singular is pierog.)

If the weather would cooperate by getting a bit cooler, this would seem more appropriate, but a glass of vodka should make pork, cabbage, and pierogi seem like just the thing to have. And it is.

Keep Calm and Don't 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.

I'm Watching - 07 October 2021 - Plague Journal Day 574

Micah 6:8
Genesis 4:9  Matthew 5:23-24
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?
 
First for a celebration. I wish I had known of this before today so I could have encouraged  others to take part in it - today is Bring Your Bible To School Day, celebrated the first Thursday of October each year. That's a great thing to do - and not only on this pseudo-official holiday, but rather every day. I have kept a Bible in my briefcase for many years, so I've always had one with me at work (and probably at school as well, thinking back to my university days).

Now, let's note a couple remarkable events that happened on this date in history.

In 1959, folks here on Earth got our first glimpse of the far side of the Moon. The Soviets sent the Luna 3 spacecraft around the Moon where it took pictures which it sent back to Earth, covering about 70% of that far side. (Please note that the far side is not always the dark side of the Moon - if it were, we would always have a full moon rather than cycling from full to new over the course of each month. I still like Pink Floyd, but I don't count on them for my astronomical information; after all, who really wants to set the controls for the heart of the Sun, eh?)


One year later, the birth of my sister, Jacki, made me a big brother - an office which I still occupy with some pride and trepidation. Thanks, and Happy Birthday, Jacki! (One wonders if the lunar coincidence has anything to do with her predilection to mooning.)

By the way, please make a contribution to WRCJ-FM to keep classical and jazz music on the air in the Detroit area.

Keep Calm and Don't 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.

There Goes Rhymin' Simon - 06 October 2021 - Plague Journal Day 573

Micah 6:8
Psalm 96
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Today is Random Acts Of  Poetry Day! Why not compose a brief poem celebrating the item closest to your right hand as you read this? That seems adequately random to me (although, as I've prescribed it, you may want to choose something else altogether).

Also on this date in 1892 Alfred, Lord Tennyson shuffled off this mortal coil. One assumes his passing may have something to do with today's being associated with poetry, but it's always possible that this is just a random act of poetry. (Do you see what I did there?)

Finally, it's also National Badger Day, and that makes me want to reread the fabulous book, The Wind in the Willows. You should too.

Keep Calm and Don't 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.

Pining for the Fjords - 05 October 2021 - Plague Journal Day 572

Micah 6:8
2 Corinthians 5:1-2
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

1969 Britain had no idea just what the BBC was about to spring on them. On 05 October 1969, a new programme was broadcast - Monty Python's Flying Circus - and television and comedy have not been the same since.

While these folks were clearly influenced by Beyond the Fringe and the Goon Show, there was just another level of zany, madcap subversion to the Pythons and we're all the better for their having had their say on the airwaves.

Now, for something completely different.
Ten years ago today, on 05 October 2011, Steve Jobs shuffled off his mortal coil (purportedly his last word was "Wow," spoken as he looked at something no one else could see up in the corner of his room near the ceiling.

Keep Calm and Don't 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.

Bamboozled About Beer - 04 October 2021 - Plague Journal Day 571

Micah 6:8
Proverbs 20:1
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Bamboozled by a brewery is just how I felt the other day. Newcastle Brown Ale is one of the finest beers in the world, and one of my personal favourites to boot. I've been told (and have come to believe) that the closer one is to Newcastle when buying said brew the better it will be. Nonetheless, I do enjoy the imported version here in the States. That's the beer pictured above.
I hadn't had any in a couple years, and the package caught my eye last week when I was at the market, so I grabbed a six-pack and took it home, anticipating a taste delight.

Imagine my surprise when it just wasn't as good as I had expected. In fact, it was "wrong" enough that I looked at the label, only to discover that this was an imposter. It was brewed and bottled in Petaluma, CA and Chicago, IL. That's the second beer pictured above.
I probably should have known something was up when it came in brown glass bottles rather than clear, but that just didn't register as I put the beer in my basket. It's "OK" beer, but it's nowhere near as good as the real thing, and I will steer clear of this imposter in future, and I plan to read the packages of all other imported beers before I buy them now. Caveat emptor, as they say, or perhaps caveat potator is more appropriate.
Grr. I'm still unhappy.

On a more entertaining note, we see that it's 10/4 in the American styling of dates, and thus we celebrate CB radios and all they brought to popular culture.

Keep Calm and Don't 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 - 03 October 2021 - Plague Journal Day 570

Micah 6:8
Ezekiel 37:1-14
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one? 

 

For our 9:30 worship service we are sharing communion on Wold Communion Sunday, we have the Chancel Choir at offertory time, and three(!) hymns for congregational singing. (Yes - we're back to congregational singing. We're Methodists again!) Remember, we'll be streaming for all those who can't join us in person, and intend to continue that practice indefinitely. Still, know that we miss seeing you in person - please come join in corporate prayer, praise, and worship as soon as you feel ready.

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 Don't 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