Graphic . . . Don’t Drink and Drive . . .

Where Were You?

On September 11, 2001, our country was attacked by the Islamic terrorist group called al-Qaeda. Do you remember where you were and what you were doing that day?

I am an early riser so was up and checking my e-mail that morning before heading to morning Mass. There were a lot of garbled messages from people saying there was something happening, some planes crashed into each other, buildings seemed to have been hit . . . Naturally, I turned on the television and saw news reporters coming into work and skipping the makeup and usual prep to report on something no one was yet sure about.

I woke my children to get ready for the day making frequent passes by the television for news. I saw the twin towers collapse, views of people running from their lives. Later on, coverage of the planes deliberately flying into the buildings. Then the courageous passengers that prevented a plane from reaching the White House sacrificing their lives to save even more on the ground. All flights to anywhere were grounded that day as the disaster was sifted through to discover what happened and why. The four plane attacks, using our airlines, killed 2,996 people, injured more than 6,000 others, and cost millions in damage. There were many deaths later from cancer and respiratory diseases related to the 9/ll tragedy.

At morning Mass, our pastor asked us to pray for some plane crashes the cause of which he wasn’t certain as he had come to church early and hadn’t heard the total news. A friend went back to the sacristy, after Mass, and told Father. He said Father just blanched and knowing the pastor, a multitude of Rosaries and prayers were offered by him that day.

A friend and I were talking about it after Mass while our children played on the school grounds. You don’t realize how much noise planes make constantly in the air until every plane in the country is grounded. There was an extra peace and sad quiet. We thought we were in control but when one of the children suddenly pointed to the sky, our nerves jumped. It was only a bird sighted by an delighted child. For children, the world hadn’t changed too much for them.

Fudge Fantasy Dessert

Holidays are coming! Hey! YES, they are, just look at the calendar. This dessert, however, might take some of the worry out of providing a treat for family or guests. It is very rich so you can find some of those cute, small dishes and surprise people with your elegant dessert.

Fudge Fantasy Dessert

When the Lent ends and your thoughts turn to Easter meals and sumptuous calories . . .
12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
2 14-ounce cans sweetened, condensed milk (evaporated milk will not work!)
½ cup hot water
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 pint heavy whipping cream
In a saucepan, gently melt chocolate and condensed milk. Cook, stirring constantly until thick, about five minutes. Add hot water and continue cooking until it thickens and boils. Remove immediately from heat. Scrape into bowl and refrigerate until thoroughly cool, about an hour. Beat whipping cream until very stiff and fold into cooled chocolate mixture.
Spoon into individual dessert dishes or sundae cups and refrigerate until set. Garnish with a swirl of whipped cream and a cherry. This is very rich so you won’t need huge servings.

AB 2943 bans books, conferences, counseling advocating Muslim, Jewish, and Christian views on gender and sexual orientation!

‘Communist’ California never stops and it is always a shock but never quite unexpected when the Democrats and like-minded liberals have another brain storm that votes to impinge upon our First Amendment Rights and cross the separation of church and state to the point that it actually crosses out any faith’s right to speak on the particular subject chosen by the California government. It is quite unsettling to find that the government wants to take total control of every person’s choice and prevent any kind of counseling, even if wanted, by anyone looking for insight and a change that goes against the government’s high-handed grab of individual rights and choices.

The California Assembly approved a bill (50-18) which forbids churches, faith groups, and counselors offering or helping those who seek their assistance in sexual orientation change counseling. This disastrous bill would make it totally illegal under the State of California’s consumer fraud law. EVEN, if a grown person, of their own volition went to his or her pastor, minister, counselor, etc., wanting to discuss or seek help for feelings in their sexuality that they aren’t comfortable with, it’s against the law for them to find help. However, if they went to get hormone treatment, advice, surgery, no problem and don’t worry about anyone doing any psychiatric analysis to see if this is a well-thought out feeling or the result of some mental trauma that might need sorting out. Already, licensed therapists are forbidden to help minors who seek help for unwanted same-sex attractions.

And such a bill could have even more far-reaching implications to everyone. Some say that if the citizens are not allowed to speak against such help or counseling, what about the Bible? The Bible is pretty clear so will that book along with many others join in the legal book burning peering over the ever growing mountain of legal intrusions into the ordinary citizen’s life?

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. FIRST AMENDMENT

Our world is a daily war with politics. The representatives elected to office are only representing either the lining of their own pockets, personal circumstances, or seeing how much further they can destroy the freedoms this state and our country was successfully built upon. Already, the governor of California (an ex-Jesuit seminarian and, to all intents and purposes given his actions as governor, a fallen-away Catholic) plans to sign the bill once it goes through the last of the required actions and votes. I guess that jeopardizing the business climate in California along with the unneeded taxes, and laws are not enough. Now, he wants the government to burst into every home, church, synagogue, faith group, and mosque to insure that all ways are at the beck and call of a group of people with only their welfare in mind. And, I don’t imagine the conscience-free lawmakers who came up with this travesty of justice will rest if this Bill passes. It will just open things up for more and more control of every aspect of our lives until (to paraphrase Alice In Wonderland), “All ways are our ways”!

http://timmerie.com/2018/04/call-to-action-oppose-california-ab-2943-on-sexuality/

Going Out For Sunday Brunch . . .?

We have all been aware of the problems in the food industry over the last year or so with the everlasting food trauma with Chipotle and now MacDonald’s. Seems that their problems are not isolated cases and too many restaurants and other places providing prepared food to the public are, themselves, potential distributors of any number of food borne illnesses.

I’ve had three cases of food poisoning in my life and from three well-known restaurants. In one case, I actually called the place and they said they were sorry and would like to give me and the family a free dinner there. Uh, no thank you! When my stomach stops churning along with the rest of the problems, I may probably take a longer route when shopping to avoid even seeing that particular restaurant. A friend was deathly sick in the hospital for a month after having a sandwich at a restaurant that I bet most everyone reading this post has been to at one time or another. The shiny tables out front don’t always reflect the truth of what is going on behind the scenes.

Restaurant food safety is an oxymoron

More Attacks On Our Freedoms . . .

Why Is ERA Bad for Women, Children and Families? If ERA passes things like co-ed bathrooms in your children’s school, locker room and even your church will become law. Notice the wording of ERA below.  It doesn’t say “women” anywhere, it says “sex” which, in today’s culture, can mean anything. Equality Rights Amendment Section 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article. Section 3. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification. Myths & Facts About ERA American’s Women Are Being Lied To!  Check Out These Myths and Facts of ERA and the dangers it poses to women and children. Myth: Women’s rights are not protected under the constitution. FACT:  Women’s Rights are Already Protected. The U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled that the Equal Protection mandate of the 14th Amendment applies to women. ERA actually violates the constitution giving special privileges to some while denying the rights of others. Myth: ERA Protects Women’s Rights FACT: ERA Infringes on Women’s Rights Under ERA women that are dependent on their husbands would lose social security benefits.Programs that assist women to re-enter the work force would be eliminated, and invalidate the Pregnancy Discrimination Act and other laws that protect pregnant women. Myth: ERA Protects Women FACT: ERA Erases Gender and Endangers Women. ERA eliminates privacy for women in our hospitals, bathrooms, locker rooms, nursing homes, prisons and even domestic violence shelters.  The military could not have different training standards for men or women and in the event of war with a draft, the draft would have to apply to women as well as men. ERA would not allow exceptions for privacy in these areas, as all would become unisex. Myth: ERA creates equality FACT: ERA erases gender and endangers women and children. Under ERA.  Coed bathrooms, showers and locker rooms in our children’s schools will become mandatory—enforced by law. All sports activities would become co-ed, leaving an unfair advantage to men competing against women. Myth: ERA will provide equal pay for equal work. FACT: Equal pay already exists for women. Equal pay for Equal work and discrimination in the workplace laws already exist for all Americans—men and women. It is the law, exclusive to no one regardless of race, religion, or gender. Myth: ERA creates equality for next generation FACT: ERA Endangers Children If ERA becomes law, gender identification (see Gender-Bread flyer), homosexuality, and comprehensive Sex education will become mandatory curriculum and courses of study in our children’s classrooms at all grade levels. ERA would overrule states and mandate, by order of the courts, that taxpayers fund abortion on demand—literally killing the next generation! Myth: ERA has no secret agenda FACT: ERA Endangers Religious Freedoms. Under ERA churches would be required to perform same sex marriages and all seminaries, schools, and classes would be required coed. Sign here: https://citizengo.org/en-us/fm/163679-help-stop-era-protect-women-and-families-america

Motherly Observations . . .

A friend and I were gently teasing each other about our future, eternal rewards. My friend cinched the matter by saying, “Oh, I think we all should spend a little time in Purgatory . . .to say hello to friends before we head on up into Heaven!”.
A friend at daily Mass said her mother felt that afternoon soap operas depicted more than should be aired on television. In consideration of the characters feelings, she always turns the television off for the afternoon to give them privacy!

 

I knew further investigation was in order when I came upon three-year-old Marc muttering to himself, “I will never tell the truth again! It gets me in nothing but trouble!”