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Now my son loves me. I know this. Occasionally I do something that really tickles his funny bone. This morning was one of those days. I will warn you ahead. It is one of those, "You kinda had to be there."
As we were headed out for his early day of school (8:00 AM), I remembered (Devin are you paying attention? I remembered something!) it was street washing day and I had to move our fleet of vehicles around to get everything off the street.
We had about 5 minutes before we had to leave and as usual it was a little chaotic at Chateau Cronin. I asked Jack if he was ready and he mumbled something sounding like an affirmative replay. I said, "Ok, It's dishwashing day and I have to move the cars."
Yes, that little comment just set him off and I have not heard the end of it. He did stop when I threatened not to take him to the newly opened In and Out Burger for a late breakfast early lunch today. Once the greasy cheese burger was in the bag and in the car, he again tormented me about the "dishwashing day" comment.
Ok, what is up with In and Out Burgers? The place looked like sample day at Fort Knox yesterday. As I was headed over to Charlie Manson's Love Child at PT, the parking lot and the street was crazy. People, these are hamburgers and not that great a burger at that.
No, I did not have an I/O Burger. As I was waiting for Man Child to finish school, I headed to Coco's (Bakery and eatery for those who don't have US zip codes) and enjoyed my very first over 55 breakfast meal deal. I decided on the Florentine scramble with egg whites. I didn't even notice it was on the 55 and still alive list.
I had my ID ready as I knew my youthful virile appearance would require him to ask (2, 3, 4, laughing subsides and . . ) for proof I was over 55. He must have run my finger prints off the menu as he never asked.
I had left my Mini-iPad at home in the course of moving 19 cars and trucks for dishwashing day. So I was in this booth with my iPhone. I remembered (Devin, twice in one day.) I had downloaded a cool app.
The App is called Santa Rosario and it is a step by step guide to the proper execution of the Holy Rosary. (My Aunts just fainted as I am sure they thought I knew all the prayers of the Rosary. Sorry AK and AD). This app is really great. BTW I did know almost all the prayers, but was rusty on the Hail Holy Queen and the Prayer of Fatima.
I have always carried a finger Rosary with me and always used it in church, during difficult board meetings, and turbulent flights usually ending with the mantra "Don't Crash, Don't Crash, Don't Crash, Amen"
Everybody Is A Critic
From time to time (Ok, almost everyday.) I take some liberties with grammar, spelling, and lexiconical engineering. Some of you are very gentle with me and let it slide, especially during my near death experience with my finger. (I am talking about physical therapy, not the actual breakage of the hand.)
Last night whilst suffering The Agony In The Office (Not to be confused with one of the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary), I mistakenly used the word "Wreathed In Pain" versus "Writhed In Pain". One of our very astute readers (Not the usual obsessive compulsive ADD type readers.) pointed this out to me this morning.
Mary Kate cleverly informed me of the error and suggested I made the torture session sound like a Come By Here (Kumbaya) Christmas Moment. Since MK is dealing with her own physiological demons, I will acknowledge her edit and say thanks to all you folk out there who carefully read my drivel.
Valentine's Day
When you are retired, you have time to discover so much about the world around you. We all know Valentines Day was invented by Mr. Hallmark to make up for forgetting something important. He made up a card, went to Target and got some chocolate and all was good in the Hallmark Household.
Well it turns out there is a little more to the story. About 250-300 AD Valentinus was a fairly popular Roman name for guys. It apparently took a few centuries to figure out that they were getting persecuted and beat up because of their dopey name, but I digress.
Now early Christians and Catholics (I have to say that because some folk forget that Catholics are Christians. Apparently there is a perception that we don't read the Bible. I have mountains of ridiculously burdensome high school homework to dispute that, but that would take digressing to a heavenly level.) didn't have much to celebrate excepting their recent eternal life as provided by The Savior.
As such they looked for things to celebrate and there were about four guys named Valentinus who were martyred for tending to the flock. That would be the believers not sheep Douglas. The early church celebrated the feast of Saint Valentines in February. Some off shoots of the early Church moved the dates around to meet their calendar needs, but February stuck with most of the world.
In the middle ages, Geoffery Chaucer (Jeff as us writers call him) used the Holiday to write love notes. You see one of the four Valentiniusums??? Was martyered because he was performing wedding for recently converted Roman Soldiers as soldier were not allowed to marry. That is how Jeff made the leap from religious holiday to Courtly Love.
Here is one of Jeff's ditty's to prove his point. It's a grabber.
For this was on seynt Volantynys day
Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese his make.
Loosely Anglicized it says "For it was sent on Saint Valentine's Day, when every bird arrives to come choose their mate and buy cards and chocolates."
We hope you had a great Valentine's Day.
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Since 12/31/2012
