Feast of St. Blaise

Today is the Feast of St. Blaise, who is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. On this day, each year, Catholics get their throats blessed with candles that were already blessed on Candlemas. Please find out more about this saint, including the Golden Legend, at http://www.fisheaters.com/customstimeafterepiphany4.html

Snow & Ice Last Night

Last night there was a lot of snow & ice. It wasn't enough to cover the ground with many inches but it was enough to get me crazy scraping my car. My passenger door wouldn't even open. That lunatic couple next door were up to their old tricks again, neat & clean freaks they. Either the husband or the wife was out at 1:00 a.m. shoveling snow, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. They're an oddly compulsively clean couple of characters. I'm still readng that Evelyn Waugh book. Fran wants to have a Super Bowl party tomorrow. I heard that the people at Fall Creek Baptist Church in Indianapolis are being forced by the NFL to cancel their Super Bowl party. It's because they advertised on the internet using the Super Bowl trademarked name & intended to charge a fee. It's all over a bunch of stupid technical details. I don't even like sports anyway.

Very Happy Groundhog Day

Today is Groundhog Day. Yes, folks, Punxsutawney Phil, oh he of http://www.groundhog.org Aaah, there's a site for every possible occasion, or what!? Well, as it turns out, according to http://www.gojp.com/groundhog/ like far out, man. Phil didn't see his shadow. Spring is on its way. "If Candlemas is bright & clear, there'll be two winters in the year." is the old Scottish couplet from whence this legend arises. The festivities really go crazy at the legendary Gobblers' Knob, Pa. a wooded knoll just outside the place Phil's named after.

February Finally Here

February, traditionally the year's coldest month, is finally and at last upon us. Unfortunately, spring is yet quite a long way off. The weather these days has been getting progressively colder each day. My ten hours of free computer time once again beckons. KrissyKrissyKrissy is back from N.Y. Vinnie & I have been reminiscing about our loong agooo episodes as young_uns. I've been reading quite a bit of that Evelyn Waugh book so far. Tomorrow is Groundhog Day. It's one of the few interesting things Pa. is known for. In spite of what my weisenheimer friends, relatives & other connections say, my blogs have been getting quite a bit of positive feedback from people. Blogging has become quite a major obsession/compulsion of mine these days.

It's Still Cold Out

Last night I saw This Happy Breed, the movie based on Noel Coward's stage play. I finished reading The Thanatos Syndrome by Walker Percy & have started reading Evelyn Waugh's Vile Bodies. Lately I've been reading the same very few books over & over again. The winter progresses. Even though it's been very bitter cold lately, at least we can't say the snow & ice have been all that insurmountable. Pretty soon the new month will be here & I shall be able to get back to using my own computer for another ten hours. The Super Bowl, Groundhog Day & Valentine's Day await us. I've yet to get any notice to pay my 4th degree KofC dues, so I suppose I shall have, sooner or later, to go to my council in person and ask about what to do.

The Sooner the Better?

I see an Okie girl(from the Sooner State) has won the Miss America contest for the second year in a row. Hmmm....the Sooner the better, I reckon? My cousin Vinnie just sent me an email trying to jar my memory about an old soap commercial that used to remind him of me. Last night I watched the oldest movie I can remember ever having seen. It was The Show, starring John Gilbert & Renee Adoree. I've been trying to become as knowledgeable about old movies & classic literature as possible. Lately it snows at least a smidge or two around here each day but never amounts to anything. Yesterday my car spent all day at the inspection & there were all sorts of troubles with brakes, etc. At least now, though, I'm in the clear until next time.

We Play Your Favorite Beatle Oldies

Hey next weekend, in honor of the Beatles' big anniversary WCBS_FM 101.1, a one_time favorite of mine, is having its annual tribute to the Fab Four. Saturday & Sunday, the 3rd & 4th, there will be all sorts of songs, interviews, etc. in tribute to the all_time absolute masters, John, Paul, George & Ringo. The 7th is the 43rd anniversary of that fateful Sunday night Ed Sullivan show so long ago that changed entirely the nature & functioning of reality. The tripe that's on the radio these days, especially that rap crap, is an absolute nightmare. When, oh when, may I ask, will real music make a comeback?

Inspection Today

My mother's birthday was yesterday & she wanted to go to that new gambling casino around here. I lost, of course. It's nice if you have a bankroll & patience with losing. The weather's usually icy cold these days with at least a little snow every day. This morning I went to Kingston to get my car inspected. It's still there so I walked to the library. The year progresses with nothing major having happened so far. I found out this morning on the news, at the inspection, that there are two new laws around here. Everybody who puts his windshield wipers on has to put on his headlights too(already got that one in N.Y.) & all snow must be taken off of car under threat of extremely major fine if it falls off & damages another car. KrissyKrissyKrissy is back in N.Y. She comes & goes quite a whole lot.