Povey Prattle

Sarasota Pride in an event, rather than a parade.  It used to be semi-private, but last year and this we moved to a downtown park.   St. Boniface Church had a table at Pride for the very first time -  thanks to our Assistant Rector Andrea Taylor. We were very well received and we able to have some good conversation with passers by about the love of God. It was also heartening to see some of the straight families from Church who stopped by with their children to wish us well. 'Twas a lovely sunny, but not too hot day, and attracted many folks.   It was a privilege to be there and to be a witness to the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. team The man on the left is also in the photo behind him, with Bishop Gene Robinson Some of you know the man in the hat Michael Povey with our Interim Rector, Dean Taylor Sarasota Mayor Suzanne Attwell in the Dunking Booth

Our Mum used to make wonderful lamb or beef stews for Saturday lunch in the winter days in England.   I still remember going to the butcher’s shop to buy “best end of neck of lamb” -   very bony indeed, but the basis of a good lamb stew.    She also made “doughboys” (dumplings) to add to the stews   -   I never cared much for them! But I cannot remember that Mum ever made soup.   The soups we ate were usually out of a can   -- Heinz’ tomato soup being the staple. Nowadays I make my own soups.   I find that canned soups are far too salty for my taste.    One of my favourites is Black Bean Soup .   I use a recipe (available via the internet)   which you’ll find by searching for “Black Bean Soup – Panera Bread style”. I change one thing on this recipe.   I used store bought vegetable stock instead of chicken bouillon cubes. The stock has much less sodium than has the cubes.   I made a batch of this a week ago,...

I shop for odds and ends at a local B.P. gas station and convenience store.  The manager is an affable chap, and one of the store clerks is a delightful woman who is always pleasant, even when under pressure.   (I found out that she is a single mother with a handicapped child, and I noticed that she often looks so very tired -  there’s the American dream for you). The store is always busy. It offers beer at very low prices.  I have been told that it has the biggest sales of beer in the region- and that would not surprise me. This convenience store has recently hired a new clerk/assistant whose name is David.  He tends to be on the surly side.  I have been keeping an eye on his approach to customers.  He extends his right arm with his hand facing down.  Then, without uttering a word, he wags his bent index finger in the direction of the next in line. He waited on me the other day.  I was annoyed when he wagged that finger at me.  Bef...

So I had the “Photodynamic Blue Light Therapy” to treat the “Actinic Keratoses” on my face.  It was all quite simple. At 10:00 I signed the consent for treatment form which included the amazingly honest phrase “remember that medicine is not an exact science”. Next my face was daubed with “Levulan” and I retired to the Doctor’s waiting room and browsed my New Yorker magazine for an hour. After that hour I returned to her office and sat in the “Blue Light Machine”  for exactly 16 minutes and 40 seconds.  I had to wear goggles, so I phantasised that I was an ace pilot in World War I. ( I’ve read too many Peanuts cartoons).   The treatment was painless, apart from some very mild stinging. Then I drove home.   I have to be under voluntary house arrest for two days so as to avoid the sun whilst the old pre-cancerous cells die, and the new cells grow.  Seven hours later I observe some inflammation on parts of my face -  an indication that the trea...

So I had the “Photodynamic Blue Light Therapy” to treat the “Actinic Keratoses” on my face.   It was all quite simple. At 10:00 I signed the consent for treatment form which included the amazingly honest phrase “remember that medicine is not an exact science”. Next my face was daubed with “Levulan” and I retired to the Doctor’s waiting room and browsed my New Yorker magazine for an hour. After that hour I returned to her office and sat in the “Blue Light Machine”   for exactly 16 minutes and 40 seconds.   I had to wear goggles, so I phantasised that I was an ace pilot in World War I. ( I’ve read too many Peanuts cartoons).   The treatment was painless, apart from some very mild stinging. Then I drove home.    I have to be under voluntary house arrest for two days so as to avoid the sun whilst the old pre-cancerous cells die, and the new cells grow.   Seven hours later I observe some inflammation on parts of my face -   an indication that th...

I had my hair “buzzed” today in preparation for tomorrow’s “Photodynamic Blue Light Therapy” to treat the “Actinic Keratoses” on my pate and on my neck.   (See an earlier blog entry for details of this treatment).   That’s one truth. Another truth is that I like my “buzzed” look - even though my friends and family members greet it with polite derision.

MUSINGS 1.South West Airlines and Air Tran are merging   ( I am not making this up).   I’d love for the merged airline to be called SWAT 2. I buy treats for my cats.   One packet advertises   "B eef Tenderloin  Flavour” , another “Tuna Flavour” , yet another is “Backyard Cookout – Chicken, Liver and Beef Flavours”.     (***) I am not sure that my cats know the difference.   But these little treats must be coated with some attractively tasting substance, for as soon as I even touch a packet, the cats come running. ( I think that it’s the same substance that they put on Doritos). 3. On a carton of orange juice emblazoned in large type   (more than once) are the words “Fresh Florida Squeezed” .   Must be good eh, if it’s from Florida.   But note that it only ever says “Florida Squeezed” , never “Florida Grown”.   Leads me to think that the oranges come from places other that Florida.   I’m just saying. (***)   I ...