In 12 hours C and I are boarding a plane for Dallas, where we will spend the weekend saying goodbye to Favorite Aunt, Mamala’s sister, who has battled valiantly against the devil that is ovarian cancer. Her kidneys are failing and we are told it will be days. (R will come on Saturday–tomorrow he is […]

From a letter to the editor of Salon, in response to an article about a nanny who was fired after her employer read the nanny’s blog (which she had told the employer about, and which contained musings on the family she worked for):
“I have the right to express myself!” I’m sure [the nanny] would claim. […]

This was last weekend’s sermon. Lectionary preachers will notice this was not the text for Sunday. I normally preach monthly, but this month I was scheduled twice–and in order to be a good steward of my time and energy while Rev. B is in Kenya and “I’m it,” I slightly reworked a sermon I preached […]

…and others.
Courtesy of Matthew, this is a series of screen captures from the Chinese version of Revenge of the Sith. The original English was translated into Chinese characters at some point, then the Chinese was translated back into English subtitles, which is what you
see on the screen shots. Hilarity ensues, including some misspellings that are […]

Dad died on a Tuesday night during the January term of my last year in seminary. Two weeks before his death, the search committee from Suburban Presbyterian Church piled into a fifteen-passenger van to make the 1200-mile roundtrip to interview me and hear me preach, since I was great with child and unable to travel. […]

The last time I was pregnant, somebody died. I’m not kidding. My pregnancy had, like, casualties.
“Oh, that’s a horrible, vulgar thing to say.”
Yes, it is.
But it’s true.
And it was horrible. And vulgar.
Before seminary I volunteered as a grief support group facilitator for teenagers who had lost a parent. Half of the kids in the group […]

If you’re chomping at the bit for RevGalBlogPal merchandise–and let’s face it, how could you not be–well, the store is undergoing some changes. I raised the price of everything by $1 (except the thong got a hefty markup, for all you supermodels), with the thought that all profits will go to a women-oriented non-profit organization, […]

I have the immunity to fifth disease. No potential harm to fetus.
And, the AFP came up negative. Negligible risk for birth defects.
skulking around looking for something to worry over…
anyone need any high quality worrying? I tell you, I’m a pro.

So at the end of the fiscal year our church underwent a financial audit. When the report came out a few months ago, it included the list of checks disbursed by the church that had never been cashed. These were all reimbursements for stuff; we have direct deposit for our paychecks—a gift from the Almighty, […]

Sun-shaft on the floor:
“Can I splash in the puddle?”
We nod, and she jumps.
That happened this morning.
Incidentally…
I’ve been writing stuff down since I could write stuff down. And I always enjoyed learning about and writing haiku, even in elementary school.
Does anyone else remember the cinquain? It seems kind of the black sheep of poetic forms. I […]

This
Our little crowd of reverend bloggers and their friends now has merchandise for sale. We’re still working out the back of the shirts, but you can take a look at the stuff here. Be a part of the most obscure club in town.
That
Today the director of the church’s preschool came into my office and said […]

5th.
Disease.
(BTW, this post is messy inside-my-head stuff, but for those of you who are desperate to read a non-Harry-Potter related post in the blogosphere, well, reading this one will make you question just how desperate you truly are. Go outside. Get some fresh air.)
C apparently had/has it. It’s a very common virus, the main symptoms […]

Off with ye if you don’t want to know what happens!
• Basically I liked it, but it was not my favorite. The exposition/fleshing out of Tom Riddle was interesting, but I didn’t realize until things picked up at the end just how little was happening plot-wise. And the identity of the Half-Blood Prince was so […]

Take it from me, the voice of experience:
In your excitement over the new Harry Potter book, do not, I repeat, do not try to best your friends and loved ones by partaking of the Earthworm flavored Bertie Bott’s.
And as for Rotten Egg, just put down the candy and walk slowly away from the table.
The latter […]

I’m a Ravenclaw!
“Here in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you’ve a ready mind,
Those of wit and learning
will always find their kind.”
Long live the blue and bronze!
And I will be picking up my book on Saturday–Friday night if I have no life.

A letter to her grandmother, written with some assistance from her personal secretary.
July 13, 2005
Dear G-mommy,
,,,,J67777777777777777IOYHHJHFMN TGBJKGJHHRRRRR33333333333333PPPPPP][]====YDXGD CTGKJ LLKLLLLLLLL
HI! How are you? I miss you. Today I went to see Mrs. C—-. I played with goo-goo goggles. I played with the camera. I went to […]

A gratitude journal for today (Oprah does have SOME good ideas):
C did not raise a fuss when I dropped her off at day care today–she will sometimes cry right when we leave. (She stops after we leave, we’re told.) I think she was great today, mainly because the 18-month old girl that terrorizes her was […]

Reverendmother’s pickled okra fetish makes you go yeeeeeech? Maybe it runs in the family. RM’s handing the keys over to the Mr., aka R, for a little guest blog. By request.
PBPMS: A Recipe
This is a family tradition that has been grossing out friends and loved ones for years. However, those brave enough to try it […]

the good
• Speaking of Faith – I love this show, and I want to be Krista Tippett. It’s always on during my Sunday morning drive to the church, and it’s such a thoughtful, quiet way to get ready for worship. Unfortunately I only get to hear 15 minutes of a given show that way. Ah […]

epilogue to the rant
Today, Friday, is my day off, and R didn’t have any morning appointments, so we slept until C woke us up, at 8:15. Then we had pancakes.
Yes, we are a two-career family, but mornings like this one are the X factor. Flexibility is nice.
milestone
As I write this, I am washing and drying […]