I don't feel any better than I did yesterday but I got up and left the house. I've been at home since I got home after Worship Sunday.

This morning I realized I couldn't take another minute of daytime t.v. with the cats. They fight about the news, cry during soap operas and love CNN.

We needed everything at the grocery. I got as much as I thought I could carry and put away without dropping in exhaustion. I heated the saute pan with olive oil to brown a roast and caramelize onions, garlic and chopped green peppers. All went into the slow cooker (not the pan!) for several hours. I may be sick but I can make a great supper for my family. The roast recipe includes cutting up andouille sausage, browning it and adding it to the roast. The andouille gives extra "heat" and flavor to the roast.

I'm here eating my supper in front of the computer alone. Well, a few cats are hoping my dish falls over but no humans are with me. LD is over by the church for supper and Christmas play practice. Mr. C. is having dinner with a college friend who blows through the state once or twice a year.

I knew all this but my poor stuffed up cold head didn't remember.

I cooked, cleaned the kitchen and did two loads of laundry.

I feel rotten, righteous and lonely.

St. Casserole "What a Woman!" TM

Very surprised by the news Sen. Trent Lott retires in a few weeks. Caught me off guard because I know everything changes in politics when you least expect it. Lott says he stayed on to get help for his constituents after Hurricane Katrina. His home in Pascagoula disappeared in the storm.

Some say Young Pickering will be appointed by Governor Hailey Bubba to replace Lott until the election. Don't know much about Young Pickering other than he's a fertile parent (5 sons) and is the privileged child of privilege. I'm not thrilled about legacy politicos.

The Worst News Yesterday was the forced resignation of Coach Jeff Bower at USM. 14 winning seasons and you get pushed out as Coach? Our entire dinner table discussion involved this bad news.

I have a head cold. I do not feel well.

St. Casserole

Guest Blogger: Fish

For immediate transfer: Dubby, the kitten. Really, folks, I've had it with this boy. He gets attention from Mom, LD, Mr. C. and Sister-our-Nanny.

Whistle loves him. I do not love him.

Whistle plays with Dubby and takes naps with him.

That's my job. Time spent with Dubby means time taken from me.

Come get this kitten. Take his stupid blue kitten collar and that red felted mouse, too.

Up to my whiskers,

Fish

Ohhhhhhhhhhh.....I have a head cold.....I feel dreadful.....I am pitiful.

I am a walking plague of Kleenex, Chapstick and water bottles. People ran off to work and school so fast today that the cats got scared. Why?

I am crabby, very crabby.

So, why not use this ill temper in my ill body? Here's my list:

HEY WORLD! LISTEN UP!

DO NOT WHISTLE IN PUBLIC!

DO NOT PUT EMPTY BOXES BACK ON THE PANTRY SHELVES!

STOP HOLDING YOUR FORK LIKE A TROWEL!

STOP ANSWERING "NO PROBLEM" WHEN I SAY "THANK YOU".

Fondly,

St. Casserole

One More Time

One more ugly cover from The Presbyterian Outlook, November 19, 2008 Issue.

Please! I'd rather have old photos from the Historical Society than creepy covers like this one.

St. C.

Hey Inner Dorothy! Get a look at this Veggie Tales Nativity Set!

Is the world great or what???

St. Casserole

LS slept while I vacuumed the family room. When his arm dropped down from the sofa, I vacuumed around his hand then under his hand.

He slept through this.

St. C

Mug Meme

Beso Mami has a mug meme here of seven mugs in our cupboards.

Here are mine:

1. an English pottery glazed mug with blackberries on it from a trip to England with my Mom in 1978; one of four mugs only this one remains

2. my REVGALBLOGPALS mug from our site at Cafe Press Mr. C. uses this giant sized mug more than I do

3. a Kate Spade Rutherford Circle red mug from the local salvage store

4. Walter Anderson pottery mug from the Peter Anderson Festival in Ocean Springs

5. White mug, plain but lovely to hold

6. Blue Fiesta Mug in that odd blue glaze not dark or light

7. A Catzilla mug with tuxedo and ginger cats

I would like RevMutha, Songbird and NotShy to tell us about their muggage....

Hope you got enough turkey today,

St. Casserole

From the prayer book, "and give us one thing more, give us grateful hearts".

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.

St. Casserole

Ten Random Things About Me

I'm playing because Songbird invited me to play.

1. I really like Diet Coke.
2. I was head cheerleader for the Calvin Bowl my first year of seminary in Virginia.
3.I love a dollop of maple syrup in my oatmeal.
4. Sterling silver, how it can be made into anything, fascinates me.
5. I'm going on the RevGal Cruise!
6. I design houses to fall asleep.
7. I listen to audio books while driving.
8. Early morning is my favorite time of day.
9. I like sweets and wish I didn't.
10. I've learned more about the Bible preaching the lectionary than I ever have before.

You reading this? All the way through? I tag you!

St. Casserole

Rev. Bird Dog says he gives up the ministry every Monday following Easter Sunday. He says he gives it up, without a backward glance....until he gets rest.

Is Daylight Saving Time a governmental reminder that we are exhausted? Around the Casserole home everyone is worn out. We go to bed earlier and stomp around cranky through these short light days. If I didn't love them, I'd holler at them about being crabby and turned inward through the early Winter days.

James Howell writes about "Staying Power" in the Oct. 30 Christian Century. Howell tells the story of the night he decided to leave the ministry which turned out to be the night he decided to stay in ministry. He doesn't say when this night occurred but it may have been in November.

I imagine he was tired. Aren't we all just aching for a deep sleep and several good naps?

It's Advent almost. I will put aside Luke and the current lectionary to sprint with delight to a new year of texts. Not that I haven't gotten more out of the Luke year than I ever have before but because I am tired of trying to compose sermons to bring Jesus' words to a tired and worn-out world.

I head off to Manhattan next week for my Annual Shopping, Food and Theater Pilgrimage. Miss P. and I have nothing planned: no tickets to see Radio Music Hall or TV shows or anything. She's worn out, too.

Ministry is tiring. Frustrating. Provoking of anger, rebellion and chaos. Writing sermons makes me feel like a beginner every week even though I have years of experience.

Stay and rest, people. Stay and wait, people. Stay and watch, people.

St. Casserole

Today

Finally. Cold weather here! Frost on the roof! After months of heat with humidity, the weather turned crisp. I am one happy RevGal.

John Holbert, the homiletics professor at Perkins School of Theology in Dallas, speaks this morning at a local church. {The flower money pays for this. God bless the flower money!} John's topic is " What's Good about the Good News? Preaching the Alternative Reality of God."

Preacher quick recipe: Pumpkin Muffins-two boxes of Duncan Hines Spice Cake mix, two 15 oz. cans of Pumpkin, two teaspoons of vanilla. Combine the ingredients with electric mixer. Batter will be very stiff. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-24 minutes. Simple, delicious muffins with no eggs or oil.

I am very happy. Landscapers pruned, weeded, replaced dead plants and put out pine straw in our yard. Workers caulked windows and doors along with painting trim. My front doors are a subtle but odd color of green and look great. Getting work done here is frustrating, miserable and expensive. This week's crew did beautiful work. Amazing.

If your child is in theater, she becomes an instant drama critic. Hilarious discussion around the dinner table last night with LD dissing a local theater group who presented "...something about a cat and roofs" (trans. Cat on A Hot Tin Roof) "Dad", she said, "Did you know it was written by a guy from Mississippi?"

I will wear socks with my flip flops today and a turtleneck with my shorts in honor of the chilly weather.

Moving Right Along,

St. Casserole

Why I Live Here

From this morning's paper, here in the Backwater:

"When it comes to communiticating , Brown has said, “I answer my phone, my e-mails and letters, and I respond to messages.”"

Little Church is a happy place for me.

I walk up to the pulpit and feel a rush of joy and gratitude about being there.

Church redevelopment (or whatever it's called now) suits me fine.

We elected two new elders Sunday.

Couldn't have done this two years ago, but now we have the people and the energy.

Yours,

St. C.

Dear Aunt Bostick,

The Major Political Party in the state sends me several giant full color postcards daily touting their candidates. I'm even getting mass mailings of magnolia prints from the State First Lady printed in cursive! I didn't "do" Halloween this week because I know that the real "trick or treat" will happen on Tuesday with the elections. Any advice? St. Casserole



My dear Casserole,

I've been voting since Truman wore diapers. Did you get the one with the white Major Party Candidate with the picture of his Smaller Party candidate? Yes, the one where the opponent is Black. Good Lord! The subtle racism of the Major Party in this piteous State repels me!

Toughen your skin to balance between idealism and cynicism. Use your idealism to encourage hope for change and your cynicism to motivate yourself to get to work! The system needs our votes but pays little attention to us. Go to your local Council meetings, Neighborhood groups, State legislature to make your needs known. Speak up for those who have no voice.

On Tuesday, I'll vote for the candidate who has the most education and who repulses me least.

I want political parties to inspire me with thoughtful care of the children and elderly! I'm writing to the State Majority Party to tell them that I want them to put all their campaign money into programs for the poor like little children and old people. They don't care about the vulnerable. Health care for children and old people stink here. Immigration policy needs attention. Pay public school teachers a living wage! Throw out the school programs that exist to drive teachers crazy with paperwork and frustrate the children.

Let's make it a law that no politician can run for office unless his children and grandchildren attend public school. I know you sent your little precious ones to private school, so you are disqualified.

The Smaller State party isn't much better. Too bad the U.S. Attorney General's Federal Attorney Scandal cut off funds from one of the wealthiest benefactors in the State. Wait until people figure out what was done to them.

Get back to work, Sweetie. Do what you can to make your community better. Read about government. Read history. Pray. Think. Do. Isn't that what your sweatshirt says?

I've got more green peppers coming along in the garden. I'll send them on to you with Beulah Lynch when she comes to the Coast for the Baptist Ladies Drum Corp and Hymn Sing.

Love,

Aunt Bostick

I've been off line with AT&T modem problems. My modem went bad.

Workers are here at our home caulking, repairing and standing around looking at potential job areas.

John Calvin (pictured left) inspires me to proceed as best I am able, with God's grace, forward.

Nothing much else to report except my sermon which is mostly in my head but will be on paper tonight.

Yours,

St. Casserole