The Socratic Method compliments of Willie Wonka

Ear Candy

An unlikely duo sing this amazing piece to Our Holy Mother. Composed by Slow Hand after a particularly difficult substance abuse relapse, here we find our human condition that can be comforted only by Our Mother; the universal Mother of God of whom we are all her children.  These two gentlemen, well-acquainted with that plaintiff cry, remind us of this.

This is a special day for me.  Not only is it on the regular (non-Sunday) calendar as my patron's saint's feast day (St. Mary Magdalene), but it is also the day that I celebrate my son-saint in heaven's birthday...he would be 25.  Happy birthday, Michael.  I miss you so...

Holy Mother, where are you?

Tonight I feel broken in two.

I've seen the stars fall from the sky.

Holy mother, can't keep from crying.

Oh I need your help this time,

Get me through this lonely night.

Tell me please which way to turn

To find myself again.

Holy mother, hear my prayer,

Somehow I know you're still there.

Send me please some peace of mind;

Take away this pain.

Thanks Candida for this beautiful reminder. 

Best Feel-Good Video of the Week (Maybe the Whole Month)

Our government officials should take a lesson...

The Black Hole of Universal Coverage

This is what happens when healthcare becomes a free-for-all. John Stossel raises a good point.  When someone else is footing the bill, it matters less what something costs. I am less likely to bargain shop or clip coupons if I know the dime being spent is not mine. Let's be honest, if lunch is free, I'm going to order filet mignon instead of cube steak....

Chew on that as we consider the costs of universal healthcare. This is a black hole we may never get out of.

The Art of Manliness

I live with 3 males (4 if you count the English Bulldog). Of the humans, one is old. 2 are much younger. There is an imbalance of testosterone in my home.  You know you aren't in Kansas anymore when Pagani and Bugatti are not designer shoes; when the only thing on TV is the Golf Channel, Top Gear and ESPN; when every sock emerging from the dryer is a black Nike footie; when over half of all household cookbooks are about grilling; when the big green egg in the backyard takes up 40% of the patio space; when all things pink are prohibited. Welcome to my world.

I am used to this.  I grew up in a gender imbalanced home with 2 older brothers.  I could pitch a tent, a lawn dart and a fastball. Under pain of death I knew what a Phillips Head screwdriver was. I mowed the lawn.  I built cardboard forts in the basement. I rode dirt bikes and played football with boys. I wore my brothers hand-me-downs. (Yes I did). I have lived in a man's world all my life, in more ways than I can recount. Though I am not a man, nor ever wished to be one, I find the subject of manliness fascinating. Why are we women attracted to men?  Just what is it about them draws us??

Naturally, when I encountered this website Art of Manliness my curiosity was piqued.  It explains a lot of stuff.  It's an understatement to say that most of this is simply not taught anymore, but should be. It is a testament to a bygone era when men were known for things like...chivalry, for instance.  Ladies...if you want manly men (and I think we all do) then this is everything you want your men to know and then some.  In fact, it's so manly, I swear it's written by a woman :-)))   Don't get me wrong.  I'm not slamming my family members or just picking on men here, but I do think we, as a society have lost touch with what it means to be a gentleman (OR A GENTLEWOMAN for that matter!)  We have become less civilized, more abbreviated, and more or less, less than what our beautiful gender could ultimately blossom into if we gave it half a try.  And Ladies, we are not off the hook.  We have a role to play.  We simply must desire and demand more of our guys.  We want them in heaven with us, right? Besides, if we don't clue them into these nuggets of wisdom, who will? Charlie Sheen? Tiger Woods? Men's Health Magazine? Stop staring at me like that.

Oh, and after doing a little research, I found out that the authors are a lovely husband and wife team.  That's sweet. I like the site so much, I've added it on the sidebar to My Little Linkdom. Now you can get there easy like I do.  Here's a beautiful slice of the Art of Manliness for you:

HOW TO APOLOGIZE LIKE A MAN
by Brett and Kate McKay
“I’m sorry.” Two simple words and yet two of the hardest to say. We easily utter them in response to trivial matters like accidentally jostling a stranger on the subway or giving the cashier the wrong change. Yet in important matters and to those who mean the most to us, we can find ourselves practically choking on the words. But the inability to apologize can critically wound all of our relationships, from home to work. Learning how to properly apologize is a necessary step in moving from boy to man.  read more here: http://artofmanliness.com/2009/08/23/how-to-apologize-like-a-man/


So whether you are impeccably gentlemanly or rather roguish, I believe this site will help you trim your rough edges.  Or, maybe it will just help you trim your moustache.