Povey Prattle

So, late yesterday I had a yen for fish tacos. I had about ¼ lb of cod in my fridge.   I also had a half used jar of hot salsa. In my cupboard were some hard taco shells, and a can of black beans (oh how I like black beans!). All I needed to purchase was an 8oz tub of low fat sour cream. So for my dinner tonight I had two taco shells, stuffed with fish, black beans, salsa and sour cream. It was a simple meal indeed, with simple ingredients. And it was delicious. My simple dinner tonight gave me more nutrition than most people in Somalia get in a week.

I will officiate at a funeral on Saturday 13 th August 2011.   This will be my third funeral in four weeks.   I have not been in this particular ministerial role since 2006. Of course it’s all connected with my Rector’s retirement, and the vacation of my beloved Andrea Taylor, the assistant Rector at St. B’s on Siesta Key, SRQ, FL.   I am stepping up to the plate in the absence of the “regular” St. B’s staff. The first funeral was for a woman who was a faithful and prayerful member of the parish. I knew her and respected her. Next was a funeral for a lovely woman who wasn’t exactly connected with the parish.   But I had known her for so many years, dating back to my Pittsfield MA days.   Back then I had visited her dying husband at the Berkshire Medical Centre in Pittsfield.   When he passed I participated in his funeral at the Reformed Church in Chatham, N.Y. alongside that Church’s Pastor and a Roman Catholic Priest. The woman’s name was Diane, and...

1.    I was down at Sarasota’s fabulous Selby Library on Monday.   There is nothing new about that.   I am there once or twice a week to return and to borrow books. As I left the library I encountered a 50 something woman who’d also used been there.   She had an old model and beat up Ford Taurus.   It would not start. We tried to get a charge with jumper cables from my battery to hers. It did not help. I am no mechanic, but I sussed that either her car battery was totally dead, or that her starter motor was caput. It was a very hot day.   I was anxious to get back into my air conditioned care, and to drive home.   Part of me thought that I should drive her to a nearby “Goodyear” service station and buy her a new battery.   The other part of me thought that even a new battery would not help and that her beat up old Ford was beyond help.   I left her, uttering platitudinous good wishes. ------------------------------------------------...

This will not mean much to readers outside of the U.S.A. The Republican/Tea Party Governor of Wisconsin is Scott Walker. The Massachusetts Republican/Tea Party Senator is Scott Brown. The Republican/Tea Party Governor of Florida is Rick Scott. The Republican/Tea Party Governor of Texas is Rick Perry. I’m just saying.

I worry for my nephew Sam.   He is a splendid 15 year old, the son of my brother Martyn and my sister-in-law Wendy. Sam was here with his Dad in late May/early June.    We enjoyed a fabulous vacation together. But I worry about him.   I worry because the chances are that he will find it next to impossible to find a job when he graduates high school in Bristol, England.   Jobs are scarce in so many lands, not least in the U.K. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The unrest in Egypt, in Syria, in Libya is rooted in lack of jobs. The unrest in Greece, Spain, Portugal and Great Britain is rooted in the lack of jobs. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1. We have been sold a bill of goods in the idea that national economies can grow and grow to provide enough for all.   It ain’t so. 2. We have been sold a bill of good in the idea that the pl...

Elizabeth Kaeton is a Priest in the Episcopal Church.  She is a friend and colleague.  Here is her blog ( Telling Secrets ) entry from 5th August 2011. It is published here with her  permission . It's my own damn fault. I wish I could say that I hurt my back while lifting a crying child or pulling someone out of a burning building. No. I hurt my back while sitting in a beach chair for three days.   One of our daughters was visiting.   I was reading a book. A good book. A really good book. Does that ascribe at least a modicum of virtue to my pain? Probably not. It is better today. At least I'm not walking like "Pretzel Woman" today, and the pain is lessening - it's more like an persistent strong ache. Patience has never really been my strong suit. I'm seeing a chiropractor regularly. I'm having daily mild adjustments, mild vibration, light and electro-stimulation and hydroculator packs. Years ago, I bought a home electro-stimulation unit and have...