Povey Prattle

(1) I retired in 2006.  'Twas one of the best decisions of my life. In 2007 I un-retired , and began to share in ministries at St. David's, Englewood FL; All Angels by the Sea on Longboat Key, FL; and St Boniface on Siesta Key FL. In 2011 I retired again , feeling weary and dispirited, and ready to kick it all in. I recovered (!), un-retired ,  and came back to engage in some shared ministries at St. Boniface in October 2012. (2) Kim Hardy should be amused by this, 'cause back in 2011 she wondered how long it would be before I was "back in the saddle". (3)  My week:  b ack in the saddle I am! WEDNESDAY 10th     Prayer Service at Resurrection House, Sarasota's day shelter for homeless people. THURSDAY 11th  Presided and preached at the St. Boniface Thursday morning Eucharist. FRIDAY 12th  Visited and prayed with Edythe T at a Nursing Home in South Venice, FL (15 miles away) SATURDAY 13th  Visited and prayed with Bob...

On my second walk with Penne this morning I noticed and enjoyed the glorious sunrise, with the fabulous rippled clouds.   I did not have my camera with me.  But my Facebook and Church friend  Susan R enjoyed the same sunrise -  and this is her picture.   Susan R lives in the Gulf Gate SRQ area.   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------     Later today (probably because it's been chilly in SRQ)  I decided to make a rice pudding -  (comfort food). I had memories of the wondrous rice puds my mother used to make.    In those days, before milk was homogenized, the cream of the milk would rise to the surface, and then be baked into a tasty crust. I also remember that she grated some nutmeg into the pudding.   I could not find un-homogenized milk (more's the pity) so I used heavy whipping cream instead.  I...

My cats have been fighting all day.   Fur has been flying.     Adelaide (l) has been the teaser. Ada (r) has been the aggressor.           At the end of the day, weary of their fights, they share a pillow on my dining room table.     Politics?   Lord above we are in a mess.  Our Representatives, Senators, and President are sending us down the river with a ghastly Finance bill which panders to the oligarchical "special interests" at the expense of "We The People".     I did not expect anything better from the Republican Representatives and Senators.     I have come to understand that the Democratic Senators and Representatives are no more than "Republicans with a smile".   And President Obama, instead of being the Great Reconciler has become the Great Compromiser.   What has this to do with cats?   Not a thing.   But most of m...

FROM THE BOSTON GLOBE   By Andrew J. Bacevich  December 09, 2014 The just-released Senate report on CIA interrogation practices since 9/11 contains nothing that would have surprised the journalist and critic Randolph Bourne. Back in 1918, in an essay left unfinished at the time of his death later that year, Bourne had warned that “war is the health of the state.” And so it is. War thrusts power into the hands of those who covet it. Only the perpetuation of war, whether under the guise of “keeping us safe” or “spreading freedom,” can satisfy the appetite of those for whom the exercise of power is its own reward. Only war will perpetuate their prerogatives and shield them from accountability. What prompted Bourne’s pungent observation was US intervention into the disastrous European war that began a century ago this summer. In 1917, Congress had acceded to President Woodrow Wilson’s request to enter that stalemated conflict, Wilson promising a world made safe ...

Senator John McCain's noble speech to the U.S. Senate yesterday. Work Mobile: 941 330 4948 Send an eCard Get a map or directions   (N.B.  McCain was a prisoner of the North Vietnamese, and was himself tortured)       “Mr. President, I rise in support of the release – the long-delayed release – of the Senate Intelligence Committee’s summarized, unclassified review of the so-called ‘enhanced interrogation techniques’ that were employed by the previous administration to extract information from captured terrorists. It is a thorough and thoughtful study of practices that I believe not only failed their purpose – to secure actionable intelligence to prevent further attacks on the U.S. and our allies – but actually damaged our security interests, as well as our reputation as a force for good in the world.   “I believe the American people have a right – indeed, a responsibility – to know what was do...

I anticipated that I would have to  rant following the release of the U.S. Senate's report on C.I.A. sponsored torture.   Mercy me, I did not have to rant.    This is because John McCain, the REPUBLICAN Senator from Arizona said it all for me.   And he said it with an eloquence and credibility which I could never achieve.   Senator McCain speaks of the better nature of we American citizens.  I applaud his words.    http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/we-need-not-risk-our-national-honor-prevail-or-any-war

If only American Fundamentalist/Republican /Tea Party Christians were grown-ups... we would not need to fuss about seasonal greetings.   But since many of them are silly, immature, and ill-educated we need this reminder  (with thanks to Susan R who posted it on Facebook).