Actual Conversation

On phone with Sears to schedule a repair.

Nice human helps me with parts information.

Conversation is ending.

Nice human says, "Is there anything else I may help you with Mrs. Casserole?"

I answer, "I'd like an end to world hunger and peace for all."

Nice human replies, "Mrs. Casserole, I'll pray for that."


May you have a day like this, too.

Thankfully,
St.Casserole

Just Today

I learned that my ridge potato chips are "a healthy snack" and "good for me". I ate the rest of the bag because I am a good American consumer. The chips are regular grocery store brand of non-health food type.

Even better:

The lady at the quick stop told me she couldn't worry anymore about Obama's health plan. "It is in God's hands", she said with frustration. "I'm 62 now and when I turn 65 the Government will make me go see a hospice counselor to discuss my suicide."

What?

"It's in Obama's plan" said Quick Stop Lady.

I told her, "I've read most of the plan and that's not in it."

"Oh, Yes it is! These Christian lawyers came to my Church and told us all about it."

I'm curious. What did the Christian lawyers say?

St.Casserole, wondering why minimum wage/no benefits people are terrified of Health Care Reform

From the Sun Herald newspaper, in an article about committee assignments for the new legislative year:

"Sen. Debbie Dawkins, D-Pass Christian, said despite her seniority, and asking every term to be placed on the Transportation committee, she was left off again - as were other women.
"No chicks whatsoever," Dawkins said. "I guess we just cannot understand asphalt and concrete and no-bid contracts. The estrogen must just block something so that we can't comprehend all that stuff like all the boys. I could stop taking the estrogen - then everybody'd be sorry.""

Sen. Dawkins speaks truth against the powers. Amen.


St. C

News from the Neighborhood

Our colleague, Edward O'Connor, will leave the Gulf Coast to become Dean of the Cathedral in Jackson. Edward accomplished many things during his time here. I am sorry to see him go. He mentored a clergy pal of mine, calmed his congregation, preached well (so I heard) and moved his congregation forward after the hurricane. One of his great skills is his ability to listen. You know he hears you when you speak. I told Mr. C. that I was going to try to be a great listener like Edward so I cocked my head and stared at Mr. C. Finally, after being silent for several seconds, Mr. C. said, "Now you've gone creepy on me." Let me work on this...

We at Little Church heard from our denominational funders this week about our hurricane rebuilding grant. We received about 1/10th of our asking. I suppose that we didn't receive more because we haven't spent our cautiously saved funds down to zero (how can a tiny church of older people do this???) and have not cleaned our membership rolls since before the storm. We didn't think it wise to notify members that we were deleting them from our rolls after the storm. It would be another loss for them even it they aren't attending.
So, here we are, almost two years from the storm, without the funds to repair our church building. The building is secure and functional but has broken sheet rock, shows storm damage and looks bad. We put in new windows, replaced the roof, replaced the front columns and porch flooring, added ceiling fans and now we need to finish. We waited all this time, having been told that the millions donated by the faithful would complete our repairs. We applied for the money last Fall. We heard this week.
Very little of the needed work can be done by unskilled volunteers.
We are stuck. Pray for us.

The Southern Gulf is getting pounded by Dean the Hurricane. Lord, have mercy on your people there!

Fish the Cat's leg is healing well! Dr. Jen, our dear Vet before the storm, was back at Dr. D.'s Saturday! She watched Fish walk and trot then pronounced "He's doing great!" Fish returned home exhausted but happy that he may have only two more weeks in his Hermitage (confinement pen).

I feel rushed on Monday's to catch up with last week's leftovers, recover from Sunday and get started on this week's tasks. Do you feel the same?

Lovingly,

St. Casserole

All day long, I heard people talking:

my son waking up angry and loud
my husband talking
the Church School class talking
the visitor who got tangled up when he realized I was the Preacher not the pianist
the sound of my voice as I preached from a full manuscript
my daughter snapping an answer at me
the sounds on Weekend Edition NPR of women musicians from Detroit with their raspy voices
the woman at the Bookstore saying to her man, "No! I'm not buying a comic book for you, not for a 25 year old man!"

Enough,

St. Casserole

Actual Conversations

*Mr. C. forgot his cellphone so he borrowed a colleague's cell. Looking through the phone list, he saw "Scumbag".

Mr. C: Who is Scumbag?
Colleague: The guy who stole my truck.


*Driving to yesterday's meeting, I stopped for a cinnamon roll at the bakery in Tiny Town.
After paying, I thanked the owner for making great rolls.

Bakery owner: You are from the Ghost Coast?
St. C: Yes, I'm from the Ghost Coast...

Thanks for your comments on the previous post. I'm doing better this morning.

St. Casserole