not for the faint of heart

Extra-Pleural Pneumonectomy: a live web broadcast from Boston's Brigham & Women's Hospital. Brigham's is one of the few hospitals in the world that performs this complicated procedure for people suffering from mesothelioma, a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Fascinating.

I'm disoriented with the anatomical view they show, but it was a pleasant surprise to glimpse the pericardium. I just love seeing cardiac structures. It is among the most beautiful of God's creations. It's such an elegant organ. Of course, this surgery deals with the lung, itself an important and arguably elegant feature, but not like the heart. Perhaps the BW has other thoracic procedures. I'll let you know.

ultimate slacker summer

They said it couldn't be done. I proved them wrong - again.

Remember that summer before college, or maybe it was the summer before you graduated college, when it seemed like everyone had to tell you that this was the last summer you could really enjoy before going into the work-a-day world? I've heard that several times now; and I always manage to pull off another bonzer summer. This year was only different in that it was the best of my "last" summers.

Check it:

Spanish. Fun, made funner by going into the city twice a week. I do love exploring. I only wish I brought the camera so you could see the sights too. Next time.

Got to see a Cubs game. That rocked. It was one of the highlights of the summer to be sure. I have got to do that again. And I know just who to bring with.

Sailing. Aargh! My swashes were buckled and me timbers were shivered. Love to do that again.

Tomatoes. I think I'm an addict now. Honestly who else has toms for breakfast!?

Calligraphy. It's coming along. Practice, practice, practice. I've already gotten a request for a piece.

Spoken word nite. I've been checking out open mic nights at local coffee shops to see if I want to try to hone the spoken word poetry I stumbled onto last year. Open mic nights are a breed apart. So far I can only tell you who's got better coffee.

GOE prep. It may not seem like fun to you, but I thrive on pre-prep. I live by the "Five Ps" rule: Proper Planing Prevents Poor Performance. I've been reorganizing everything. I'm almost ready to start pestering the faculty for their book lists for fall classes. Hey, it's not like I darken their doorsteps all that often.

Parties on the lawn. One of the newbies shared smoked duck jerky last week at a gathering. I like the new neighbors. There a good lot - and not just because they fed me.

Preaching. Still have one more this coming Sunday! Haven't got a clue what I'm going to say.

The point, children, is that "last" summer is really a misnomer. Don't let the work-a-day world get you without a fight. Let your inner slacker out.

All good things come to an end of course. My end of summer barometer, also known as the inbox of my student e-mail, is being visited more and more by school-related missives. On the one hand this place is like a ghost town without all my seminary peeps. I miss them so. On the other hand, their arrival heralds the coming of stuffy classrooms, early morning lectures, and a metric buttload of reading. Oh the quandry!

wicked pissa

Props to Megan for this nugget. I'm not typically inclined to add these things on my blog, but this one's clutch.

Dude! You're 100% from Massachusetts!

Dude! Me and Sully and Fitzie and Sean are gonna hit Landsdowne tonight after the game, hang out at the Beerworks. I'll pick you up at the Coop at 6.

How Massachusetts are you?

There was also a quiz about Red Sox fans, but it was lame. It was so 2005. A real fan would know things like the significance of Section 42, Row 37, Seat 21; who was the Splendid Splinter; or at the very least, the team name from 1944-1948. "Tessie" by the Dropkick Murphys, by the way, is a better answer than "Dirty Water" for the Red Sox song in my book.

question:

Why is July 4th, Independence Day, considered a Holy Day? (BCP 923)

Seriously. I'm not kidding. Anyone...? The BCP lists it along side such moments in Christianity as the Transfiguration, and the Annunciation; along with numerous saints. What gives?

ooooo... look what I can do

Check it: calligraphy skills so far.




























Okay, not that great, I'll admit. It's riddled with mistakes and you can probably still make out the guide lines. This is my first "finished" calligraphic piece. The text and music are from the Julian's monastery in Wisconsin where I took myself on retreat earlier this summer. I coloured the paper with conte' crayon -- a dry medium -- and it came out better than I thought it would. Usually I shy away from the dry media. It's not my strong suit. I can wield a pencil with the best, but pastels are hard for me. I tried a new technique I found in the book I picked up in Boston last month. Not bad.

I went shopping for the paper I'd like to use for this calligraphy project I've got in mind. A single sheet was $0.69 (hey! did you know there's no cents symbols on keyboards anymore!?). I think the paper will work out nicely. Or maybe I'll find out why it was only $0.69.

update

I took the el into Chicago yesterday and delivered all the paperwork to the diocesan offices for the application for postulancy. Today is the deadline.

The last meeting with my discernment committee went well. Really. I was surprised. We'll be meeting a few more times between now and the February Ministry Discernment Weekend. The entire committee seemed happy with the work done since we began. They showed facial expressions, shared a few laughs, and ended on a high note. Exactly the opposite of any of the previous meetings. They prepared their report to the COM and shared it with me. It was positive and accurate - as if they really knew me. I'm tempted to comment, so I won't. Suffice it to say everything is a "go" at this time.

According to the schedule, at some point in the next few months I'll meet with the Director of Pastoral Care, the Bishop, and I think the Canon to the Ordinary. More on that as it unfolds.

Kathryn and I have roughly outlined Plan B just in case.

oops, I did it again

I had the privilege and peasure to preach again this morning at St. Matthew's Church. Preparing the homily was difficult. I have to say that the scholarship for todays readings was disappointing. No one had anything interesting to say about any of it. Basically it was, Jesus said it, we believe it, 'nuff sed. I couldn't find any commentaries that approached the text in a new or different way. So naturally I made up my own. I took a chance at another spoken-word sermon. It seemed to go over well. It was relatively short compared to the usual St. Matt's fare -- only about 7 minutes. I kept my audience the whole time (I think). The presider showcased me during the announcements. One woman couldn't stop talking about it afterwards. Somebody else thanked me! Not too shabby.

I'm up one more time to preach this summer and I've been given the closing day of the beach services. Dunno what the lectionary has in store. Hopefully the scholars will come through for me next time. Don't make me open up a can of whoop-ass on your pulpit.

eggplant dish

Y'all know how much I love to cook. Well, I picked a lovely eggplant this evening for dinner. I've never prepared a fresh eggplant before, but it came out so good I wanted to share the recipie with you -- it's so simple.

Cut the eggplant lengthwise & scoop out the meat
mince in blender with evoo ('bout a Tbsp)
transfer to a mixing bowl & mix in:
1 egg (farm fresh ;) is best)
1 slice low-carb whole grain bread (no crust)
garlic, oregano, basil, salt to taste
stuff back into the eggplant rind shells
top with grated parmesan
bake 400 degrees until golden brown

Serve with sliced garden-fresh, vine-ripened tomatoes dusted with salt, oregano, & parm

It's a delicately flavoured main with a fluffy light stuffing. The slightly crisped filling contrasts well with the smooth, mildly sweet rind. Pair with a crisp chardonnay. Serves 2.

There! Couldn't be easier. Try it. Eggplant may have very little nutritional value, but it is very low in calories and soaks up flavors like a sponge so you could add just about anything to it. The egg and cheese give it protein value, and the side dish can make up for nutritional shortcomings.

toms!

Fresh from the vine, picked only moments before photographing. Some Seabury people are planting a variety of veggies and they're finally ready to pick. You should see the number of green tomatoes just waiting to turn colour. The vines alone are almost as tall as I am. Also being grown are jalapenos, eggplant, and green peppers. Mostly though, its tomatoes. (Anyone have a good recipie for jalapenos?) I'm house-sitting for a faculty member with a premier garden, with the added bonus of picking whatever is ripe. Last night Kathryn's cousin Aaron came over and we had sliced tomatoes as an appetizer. Yes, summer is very nice here in Ev'tn. It was even comfortable enough to eat dinner outside last evening.

Remember: don't put those toms in the fridge.

hmmm...

Dunno why Megan's and Ray's blogs won't link. I can get to them elsewise.

-- Later: Fixed it! Try it now.

introducing...

Bad me, I've been holding on to a couple friend's blogs and haven't posted the links to them. *tsk, tsk, tsk*. Megan and Ray are good friends of mine from Boston. I worked with them at Cataldo Ambulance Service, in Somerville, MA. Megan has finally finished her RN schooling. She's fabulous. Y'all know I'm not fond of nurses in general (too many bad professional encounters), but I must say Megan breaks the mold. Medicine is far better with her in it. Ray is equally great. He's got possibly the driest sense of humor of anyone I know. He's now a medic for Cambridge Fire. He had some choice descriptors for the fire fighting community, as I recall. And now he's a firefighter! Imagine that. Both Megan and Ray are really terrific people. They do a lot with Christian youth camps, and have a strong interest in Christian music. I also linked to Bruce's trek blog. I'm hoping for lots of pix. Somewhere on his site there's a picture of his red bike. I painted the wall it's in front of.