"Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset." Saint Francis De Sales

Friday, November 29, 2013

My Slow Takes (Vol. 123)

1. The National Catholic Youth Conference was last weekend. The Church of the Epiphany was proud to sponsor a youth team for this event. 

2. “To be saints is not a privilege for the few, but a vocation for everyone.” Pope Francis
I have read and enjoyed “My Life with the Saints,” by Fr. James Martin, SJ. The suffering, sinning and coming to Grace with God that they went through humbled me. How could I even come close to this. But as I thought about it more, I realized that they were just ordinary people like me. Still, I can’t imagine myself as a Saint, but maybe I shouldn’t. If I just love and care for others, pray and study scripture, then I can be an earthly saint. One that will not be canonized, but one who follows what Jesus teaches.

3. The Spiders ended their season with a win over William & Mary at home. They finished 6-6 for the season.

4. It was “Senior Day” for the Irish Lads on Saturday as they triumphed over BYU 23-13. This puts them at 8-3. Next Saturday they travel to Stanford, California to face the Cardinals at home. They are at 9-2.  

5. November 26, 1942 was the debut of “Casablanca.” The movie starred Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. One of my favorite characters was Captain Louis Renault, played by Claude Rains. This is one of those timeless movies that I enjoy watching. “Here’s Looking At You, Kid.” 


6. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. I pray that your day was filled with love, family, friends and good food. 


The First Thanksgiving at Plymouth by Jennie Augusta Brownscombe.

7. Last night was sleep-over at Grandma Dee’s. It’s always a blessing having them spend the night with us. This morning we watched “Do-Re-Mi” performed by Chester See & Mike Tompkins along with the cast of Carrie Underwood’s Sound of Music. We are also continuing with a new family tradition of putting up our Christmas tree and having the girls help decorate it.



Read other "Takes" at Conversion Diary.



Friday, November 22, 2013

My Slow Takes (Vol. 122)

1. Deacon Arthur gave his first Homily on Sunday. He is a quiet speaking man that delivers his message with authority and conviction. We are blessed to have him as part of our church community.

2. The 1st Maryland Regiment, 1776. This unit took part in the following engagements. Long Island, Harlem Heights, White Plains, Trenton-Princeton, Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, Camden, Cowpens, Guilford Courthouse, Hobkirk Hill. Ninety-Six and Eutaw Springs. It is a unit that served it’s country well. This is my primary Southern Campaign unit. It fits in with the 4th Maryland Regiment, I painted back in August. Figures are Old Glory Miniatures


3. Saturday was another exciting game for the Spiders. They came from behind and beat the Blue Hens 64-43. This puts their record at 5-6. November 23 William and Mary will enter Robins Stadium for the final game of the season. 

4. On November 17, 1958, the Kingston Trio’s song, “Tom Dooley” was number one on the “Billboard” pop chart. Bob Shane, Nick Reynolds and Dave Guard became “folk music” legend. They are still around and performing.


5. Prayers for my sister Kim who had her appendix removed. She is in the hospital recovering and doing well.

6. I am not a real fan of basketball but enjoy an evening with friends when we attend the Richmond Spider games. Tuesday night we watched an exciting game at the newly renovated Robins Center. My observation of the game of basketball is that all the action always occurs at the end of the game. I marvel at how the coaches can take the last two minutes of a game and stretch it out to what seems like 20 minutes. Tuesday night was one of those moments. The Spiders had been trailing the entire game and at the two minute mark the score was 55-58. They then tied Hofstra, 58-58, with less than a minute to play. A shot by one of the Hofstra players was blocked and that led to overtime. The Spiders finished 74-63. 

7. Next week is “Black Friday” and the ads are overwhelming as always. If you’re thinking about tech gifts for your family members, I suggest you read the article by Kim Komando at USA Today. “6 tech gifts you shouldn’t buy this holiday season.”

Read other "Takes" at Conversion Diary

Friday, November 15, 2013

My Slow Takes (Vol. 121)

1. Ancestry.com has launched a website to honor those who served our country. This is an opportunity to find someone you know or add information about a friend or relative who served. The link is here. My Dad Paul and Dee's Dad Frank.

Paul Peter Forgette 1946
Frank C. Siracusa 1945
2. The Spiders, led by quarterback Michael Strauss, played hard against the Stony Brook Seawolves last Saturday. Both teams were on top at one point, but the Spiders came back winning 39-31. This puts them at 4-6.

3. The Irish Lads had a disappointing loss against the Pittsburgh Panthers. They are now at 7-3 and host the BYU Cougars on November 23.

4.  On November 15, 1958, Elvis Presley starred in his first movie, “Love Me Tender.” This was the first of over 30 movies that he made.

5. Cowboys have always been my heroes. The Cisco Kid, Hopalong Cassidy, Roy Rogers and the Lone Ranger. All of them had television programs which I watched every week. In the summer of about 1954 my Mom took a picture of my brother Tom and I. Fortunately the photo is still around, so I’m sharing it here.

The infamous Forgette brothers.
6. Dee and I are proud to announce that Todd, our middle son, completed his EdD this week. (A doctorate in Educational Leadership.) He is the first of our family to complete this level of education.


7. There is still much work to be completed in the Philippines. Fortunately many countries are sending food, medicine and relief workers. Please continue your prayers. If possible support what ever you can through your church, local relief effort or the Catholic Relief Services. 


Read other "Takes" at Conversion Diary.

Friday, November 8, 2013

My Slow Takes (Vol. 120)

1. Last weekend was “Homecoming” at the University of Richmond. The Spiders won over the Albany Great Danes in front of a sell-out crowd. Their record is now 3-6.

2. It was a close and exciting game with the Irish Lads finishing ahead of the Navy Midshipmen 38-34. Both teams played well and made this an enjoyable game to watch. The win puts the Lads at 7-2 as they travel to Pittsburg on November 9. 

3. Saturday was the dedication of the Columbarium at the Church of the Epiphany. Our pastor Father John was joined by Msgr. Shreve, Father Jim, Father Michael and Deacon Arthur in this momentous event. It has taken a few years to complete the project that was started by Father Randy when he was pastor.

Deacon Arthur, Fr. John, Fr. Jim, Fr. Michael & Msgr. Shreve
4. On November 6,1789, John Carroll was appointed the first Catholic bishop in the United States. 

“Carroll was born in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, in 1735. His mother came from a wealthy family and had been educated in France. At age 13, Carroll sailed for France in order to complete his own education at St. Omer's College in French Flanders. At age 18, he joined the Society of Jesus, and after a further 14 years of study in Liege, he received ordination as a priest at age 34. Pope Clement XIV's decision in 1773 to dissolve the Jesuit order, however, ended Carroll's European career.
Three years after Carroll's return to Maryland, the need to make allies of French Catholics in Canada created an opportunity for him to join a Congressional delegation dispatched to negotiate with the Canadians. Benjamin Franklin served on the same delegation, and although the mission failed, Franklin proved an excellent ally to Carroll. In 1784, Franklin recommended to the papal nuncio in Paris that Carroll assume the position of Superior of Missions in the United States of North America, which removed American Catholics from the authority of the British Catholic hierarchy. In this role, as bishop and ultimately as the first archbishop in the United States (1808), Carroll oversaw the creation of leading Catholic institutions in the new nation, including the nation's first Catholic university (Georgetown University, founded in 1789) and cathedral (Baltimore Basilica, built in 1806)” History.Com
5. We are in the “old-time” versus “new time” realm. It usually takes Dee a week to adjust to Daylight Saving Time. Although I think she does this just to make me laugh. She throws one these anecdotes at just the right moment. I’m blessed to have her as my wife and soul mate.   

6. The election is over. There will be no more political television ads, no more political mail and no more political telephone calls. The results are Terry McAuliffe, Democrat with 48% of the vote. Ken Cuccinelli, Republican at 45% of the vote. Robert Sarvis, Libertarian with 7% of the vote. My candidate did not win.

7. Politics have not changed since 400BC Greece. The Greek philosopher Plato wrote: “Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber.”



Read other "Takes" at Conversion Diary.


Friday, November 1, 2013

My Slow Takes (Vol. 119)

1. We had a “Beach Group” dinner party Saturday evening at our house. The “girls” prepared chili, taco soup, salad, fresh shrimp and desert. I cooked sausage on the grill that Dee and I brought back from the Sloan Super Market in Buffalo, New York. There were a few bottles of wine, interesting discussion and plenty of laughter.

Dee, Susan, Jeanine, Pam, Brenda & Maureen
Me, Tony, Roger, Lou, Dave & Jack
2 .The Spiders lost to Towson on Saturday putting their record at 2-6. They host Albany on November 2.

3. Quarterback Tommy Rees threw for 284 yards with a career-high five touchdown passes against the Air Force Falcons. The win put the Irish Lads at 6-2. Navy travels to Notre Dame on November 2.

4. Our son Stephen and his Truck Company 24, “C” Platoon, were awarded the Meritorious Service award. They received the award for a river rescue they completed on the James River last summer. The photo shows half of the Company.

Joel, Stephen & Ryan
5. October 26, 1881: Wyatt, Virgil and Morgan Earp and Doc Holiday shot it out at the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona. The faced Ike and Billy Clanton, Tom and Frank McLaury and Billy Claiborne. The most famous gun fight in the west. 

The best movie depicting the incident was “Tombstone,” made in 1993. Kurt Russell was a perfect Wyatt Earp while Val Kilmer made the character Doc Holiday. 
Memorable lines.
Val Kilmer; “I’m your huckleberry” and “Why Johnny Ringo. You look like someone just walked over your grave.” 
     Kurt Russell; “I don’t think I’ll let you arrest us today.”

Kurt Russell & Val Kilmer
Val Kilmer, Sam Elliott, Kurt Russell & Bill Paxton

6. Happy Halloween!


A Lady Pirate & her Knight
7. Happy All Saints Day. Dee and I will be attending Mass at Epiphany and assisting as needed with Hospitality.


Read other "Takes" at Conversion Diary.