His childhood nickname, ironically, was Quaismodo

When I was a college freshman (oh such long years ago), I had to drive from Dover to D.C. for something (what, I don't recall. Old age is gaining on me). This was before the Calvert County move, so the Eastern Shore and D.C. area were utterly foreign to me. As is my life-long habit, I ran to Daddy for aid and asked him to fix me up with some directions.

As is his habit, Daddy graciously granted my request, but with a twist -- as is also his habit. The directions were peppered with commentary about the scenery, placed I passed, and names of roads and towns. It's miraculous my hysterical laughter while driving didn't result in a wreck. Amidst the profusion of off-color and high-brow references, I recall, "SR X forks off to the left here. DO NOT TURN RIGHT, as this will have you crashing into Chesapeake Bob's Meats and Jerky." Sure enough, when I got to SR X, there was Chesapeake Bob's Meats and Jerky to the right.

Then there was the time I told Dad I was thinking of applying to Notre Dame, and he said replied with a crack about hunchbacks. If you wondered where I got it from, there it is.

Happy Birthday* to my Daddy, whose spawn I simply could not be happier or prouder to be.

*His birthday is the 9th, but it's been the 9th for a while where he is, so close enough!

Melty Heart

One of my littlest girls (5th grade) gave me this note, written in the best penmanship you have ever seen. Ignore the fact that she obviously doesn't actually know me at all and focus on the unmitigated sweetness of it.

Your The Best!

Dear Ms. C.,

Your like my second mother. Your sooo nice and friendly. I just feel safe around you.

From:
C.C.

I love my job.

...Who?

S Josie: Mrs. Reyes told me she'd be working in the gym until ten, so don't let the dogs out.
S Ngan: (To the tune of "Who Let the Dogs Out?") Don't let the dogs out... do, do-do, don't... don't let the dogs out!

McUniverse Expands

I used to have a theory that either Google would take over the world one internet app at a time, or the McDonald's/Starbucks forces would subjugate the world from the bottom up.

I just discovered McDonald's now offers wi-fi. It looks like McStarbucks is winning.

Talking to an Affectionate Wall

Student: Miss C., we're you're favorite class, right?
Me: I don't have favorites.
Student: Aw, come on, Miss. We're really you're favorites, right?
Me: I love all my classes, you're all just wonderful.
Student: But we're the best, right?

Community Life

Me, eying a cupcake with S Rosann's name on it, singing like a siren from the table in the dining room: Oooh, a cupcake!
S Josie (the one who asks me if I've eaten every time she sees me): Have it.
Me: But it's got Sister Rosann's name on it.
S Josie (in Spanglish, translated for your benefit): Ay, S Rosann, what S Rosann, if it's here, it's everybody's. Eat it before it goes bad, don't worry about S Whose. Get to it before someone else does!

Halloween-ish

Alright, I'm a week late. Sorry. I excuse myself by citing November as the month dedicated to the souls who've left this world for the next, and Halloween as the lead-up to that. So I'm not really out of sync here.

Pictures, yes. Here's a slide show for you, complete with what I hope is amusing caption commentary. Allow me, while we're on the subject, to explain my new-found affinity for these slide shows. On occasion, I have about a truck load of pictures you, my Dear Readers, would probably get at least a smirk out of and that I just want to share. Rather than wait for my archaic computer to upload just a few, I'm making use of this spiffy feature on Picasa's Web Albums. If you, whatever devoted readership I have, find this to be problematic in any way, PLEASE let me know and I will suffer through the process of picking five great pictures rather than spewing 50 pretty good ones at you. Deal? Awesome.

Boasting

I can't deny it. I'm a lexicon juggernaut.

Cash Advance Loans

The Prodigal Blogger?

I know there are hundreds of people out there who wait for every word I drop onto this site, and I know I've let you all down. It's been almost a week since I last posted, and more than that since I posted anything of any real importance, and for that I apologize. I firmly resolve to amend my ways.

Ah, that's a lie. I can't make any promises there, but I can explain my absence and assure you I will continue to do my best to get on here regularly to remind you I am alive. This week, the excuse was two parts "I was really busy" and one part "I don't have the itch to write anything worth reading". The latter state comes and goes. The former is pretty much my natural state, so don't look for much improvement there, especially since I'm going to California with the sisters on Saturday for six days (more on that later).

Ok, so within the next few days (before I leave for California), I will update you on:
...funny things nuns do.
...Halloween.
...what I'm going to California for.
...a funny story about a funny picture.
...a theophany.

Deal? Swell. I'm going to run and watch this guy now (my priorities are totally in the right place).

Attention Trekkies, and Everyone Else, too

How stinking awesome is this?!?! The British Ministry of Defense has developed a cloaking device, although they're not calling it that. If I remember my Trek science right, what we have here actually works on the same principles as the Klingon and Romulan gizmos.


This is not a doctored photo. Read about it here. Via the good folks at the Shrine of the Holy Whapping.