The Anchoress

Buster, age 4 weeks, at what his Elder Brother called his “bap-a-tism.” He later titled this photo, “A Full Gown Boy” Elder Brother is quite the punster.

Buster again. First birthday. Just up from a nap.

Elder Brother, age 18 months. Best photo Pop-Pop ever took!

Sigh…as Buster packs his tuxedo…all I can do is fall into slobbering sentimentality.

But I still can’t seem to catch up - not with my reading, or my emails, or the news, or the writing…please bear with me. I’m sad to see my blog which, only a few weeks ago, was chugging along at a good clip, stalling and getting bogged down due to my inability to work the way I want to. But I’s trying! There is so much I want to write about, but the sad fact is…I’m wilting, even as I try. I’m wilting! I’m wiiiilllllting!!!!! I feel a little like the Wicked Witch of the West, having been doused. Look what’s become of my beautiful verbosity!

And battling leaves me absolutely empty. I’m not going to do it anymore until I’m up to it, so if anyone is coming here looking for a “fight” or a “spirited debate,” you’re going to leave frustrated. Mama can’t box with just sugar in her shorts. Whatever that means.

Part of the inability to sit and write, are these endless, endless doctor’s visits. Get THIS one: My hematologist swore to me that my blood pressure was becoming problematic; my blood pressure has always been great, but every time I see him - every week - the bp machine they use says the bp is high. So he tells me I have to go see my GP - I may need bp meds (the idea of which I find resistance-worthy).

I DON’T SPEND ENOUGH TIME IN DOCTOR’S OFFICES, right? I finally went today - spent all that time driving, waiting, explaining, waiting, etc - and they take my bp twice - both arms, but using the good 0ld fashioned pump and stethoscope method and voila! 130/70, 120/70 - my own, historical, reasonable blood pressure numbers that I’ve always had! My GP says, “yer bp is perfect, as usual!”

I’m gonna tell my hematologist to get himself a new bp machine for Christmas - or better yet, get a pump and a stethoscope. THREE HOURS I spent doing this, today - and just to be sure, I’ll do it again NEXT Wednesday - right after I see the breast surgeon on Tuesday about that lump. My GP is a real jokester, too, as I was leaving, he said, “And you have made the appointment with the rheumatologist like I told you to, right?” Funnee, doc.

The worst part about it is, he was serious. Now they’re using words like “lupus.” I’m choosing to believe they mean “Lupin” and they’re just talking Harry Potter.

Egad!

But that’s not the only reason for the light blogging. Did I mention that Buster, aside from all of his other activities, is heading upstate (a 9 hour drive) to perform at the All-State festival. Exciting stuff, but for some reason it’s involved a lot of running around to get everything ready for the trip. He’s leaving in the morning (ack - my baby is going hundreds of miles away from me!) and then my hubby and I are heading up Friday to make a kind of weekend getaway of it - we’ll stay at a nice B&B and see the concert. Maybe when we come back…and I’ve kept all my appointments…I’ll be back up for blogging.

Until then…Please do check back…I’ll try to write something worth reading. Anybody know any good jokes?

Voting Begins tomorrow so you might want to creep on over there and take a look at who is nominated in which catagories, and figure out who you’re voting for..

My own votes: I haven’t really thought about it fully, but I think there is no question that Ed Morrissey has more than earned the “Best Blog” award. He’s tireless, he’s an incredible investigator, he is quick to fix when he’s made a (rare) error, and he may singlehandedly have taken down the liberal gov’t in Canada!

Best Conservative Blog: Michelle Malkin. She’s also tireless, she brings real investigative reporting chops to the blogosphere, she’s fearless, and she was willing to do the work of justifiably discredibiting Air America for it’s misuse of public funds when the MSM would not write about it…as, I believe, they still have not.

Best Group Blog: I like Stones Cry Out a lot, but I’d have to vote for Polipundit.com. They are energetic and a nice blend of wonky numbers crunchers and political animals, and they have a solid writer on board in Lorie Byrd.

Best Humor/Comics Blog: I have an unreasonable softspot for the madness here.

Best PhotoBlog: I think Alexandra has created something unique to blogging, and I don’t even know if there is a catagory for her - I put her here.

Best Military Blog: Can’t decide! I like My Pet Jawa and Froggy Ruminations and Blackfive and Mudville Gazette. I may have to einey, meiney, miney, moe-it.

Best Religious Blog: She inspires me, what can I say? Happy Catholic.

I haven’t thought about the whole list, yet - it is extensive - lots of catagories I have not addressed, and I certainly want to be able to vote for folks like Gateway Pundit and others, so I’ll have to take a gander at it all when I have more time. You’ll want to see all the different catagories, check out the nominees yourself.

You will please get thyself over to All Things Beautiful and see how Alexandra has outdone herself in beauty and wisdom…she’s created a gorgeous graphic and then asked the meaty question: Is the Trinity a Doctrine of Monotheism?

I’m not going to get into the rousing debate that has ensued…those of you who know me know that apologetics is ants-in-the-pants for The Anchoress, but go read the smart folks chiming in over there, and see if you want to add anything to the conversation. I love the Baroness’ work. I love her blog!

It seems to me that some of the anger expressed by Christians last year, concerning the attempted obliteration of public expressions of “Christmas” cheer, has dampened the secularists enthusiasm for the annual quashing of Christmas this time around.

It is heartening that Denny Hastert managed to get the Capital Christmas tree to be called that and it seems the Boston Christmas tree is still marking Christmas as well These are very good things, and these occurances make me think that I was wrong (a little) when I thought the Christians last year were too full of beans and vinegar. Clearly, they have had an effect. Now, read the thing before you denounce me - I didn’t say the Christians were “wrong” last year…only that they were loud, and I questioned the boycotts. But apparently “loud boycotts” work!

Or maybe, you know, it’s still early in the season.

Meanwhile, Buster is at it again, in his own inimitable way.

Rusty Shackleford at My Pet Jawa has videotape and lots of information on the hostages which have been taken in Iraq.

Here is a transcript of the video:

My name is Tom Fox and I am 54 years old. I am from the United States and I am a member of the Christian Peacmakers team in Iraq.

Alexandra at All Things Beautiful has The Islamofascist Manifesto and an excellent round-up of who is covering the story.

We must keep these folks in our prayers, and the people of Iraq, as well, that they can be finally and fully delivered of the murderous thugs who distort their religion and threaten all that the free Iraqis - and our soldiers - are working for.

“It doesn’t matter if this painting is historically accurate! It offends my feminist and humanist sensibilities today and therefore it must be taken down and removed from our sight!”

Selectwoman Sarah Peake spun her chair around near the end of the Nov. 14 meeting, gazed up at an oversized oil painting depicting the Pilgrims voting on the Mayflower Compact when they first landed in Provincetown, and declared that she wanted it removed.

No, what Peake didn’t like was that the painting didn’t include any women. That and the fact that the painting’s only Indian — Native American, I’d better call him — wasn’t holding a ballot like everyone else.
…
In other words, William Bradford and the rest of those piggish, prejudiced Pilgrims had the audacity to exclude Indians from their civic affairs and, like the rest of the Western world, had yet to give women the right to vote. So, get them out of here.

And only one brave woman had the guts to fight back. You’ll want to read it all - the Selectwoman Sarah Peake is now doing a real disingenuous dance about the whole thing.

Then, as long as we’re talking revisionist history and playing fast and loose with facts, go read Confederate Yankee’s response to Richard Cohen’s latest. Egad.

And THEN, because it’s so dang good, and so necessary and right - take the time to read Dr. Sanity’s new piece exploring DENIAL. Want a taste?

The Wonderful World of Denial allows someone to believe something is true, when it is obvious to everyone else it is false. Iit permits someone to pretend they are feeling “love” or other altruistic emotions when they are actually behaving in a hateful manner; it hides the truth by using big words and grand concepts to prevent an individual from feeling unacceptable feelings (some have called “intellectualizion” (example)–which is a defense mechanism related to denial– sometimes referred to as “denial gone to college”).

Their denial is complete on this issue. It is simply not possible for them to admit that Bush was correct and they were wrong. This is unacceptable knowledge. Bush must be wrong, and America must fail for them to maintain not only their self-esteem, but also their worldview.

Can you guess where the good doctor is going with it? Let’s just say Joe Lieberman might be the last sane elected Democrat. Read it all. It’s a humdinger!

And then, lastly, check out Lorie Byrd, in perhaps her best column, yet doing two things: asking the president to finally set the record straight on Iraq, and asking Democrats what exactly it would take for them to “connect the dots.”

In light of this, voters have to ask on which side of the decision-making equation they want their leaders to err in this post-9/11 world. When it is pointed out that President Clinton was on-record saying the same things said by President Bush about the threat posed by Saddam Hussein, many Democrats respond by saying, “Yes, but he didn’t take us to war over it.” That is exactly the point Republicans need to make. Someone needs to ask if Democrats would not take action knowing what they did about Saddam, and what would it take for them ever to decide to act against a known threat.
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After 9/11, we all asked why the dots were not connected. We vowed that never again would our refusal to take action against known threats result in the slaughter of innocent Americans. The points made by Vice President Cheney in 2003 are ones that Republicans must make now. It is necessary, first, to lay the foundation by reminding the American public of what was known in 2002 and 2003, and refuting the big lie that has taken hold as a result of Democrat mantras parroted by a liberal media that Bush “lied” and “misled” the country into war. The administration has made a good start in that effort.

After the record has been set straight, it must be pointed out that Democrats are not to be trusted with the nation’s security. They have shown that not only will they endlessly debate until it is possibly too late but that after a military action has been initiated, in the face of difficulties and waning public support, many will back out and abandon the mission and the troops. The approach of the Democrats to the threat posed by Saddam Hussein as outlined in all of the intelligence reports available prior to the war in Iraq stands in stark contrast to that of the Bush administration.

I think Lorie is issuing a clarion call here for realistic considerations. I’m with her on both counts. President Bush has made some errors in this war but the biggest and most glaring has been his utter disinterest in keeping America informed and abreast of the situation over there, particularly when he sees that the press WON’T do it, and the Democrats won’t either. But the Democrats are signalling that they will make more glaring, more dangerous errors because they are afraid to ever take any action, particluarly if they don’t have a good idea of what the polls might say later one.

Someone suggested to me that the president is afraid to appear “proud” and that’s why he has not talked up all of the good going on over there. I say that’s nonsense. I don’t know WHY he is so reluctant to blow the horn, but his troops have earned it - they deserve to have their fine work touted, and he as CIC needs to get out there and do it definitively and finally.

And the Democrats need to get serious - really serious - about the threat of Islamofascism throughout the world, and stop playing politics with our future. Great post, Lorie!

So much for my keeping peacable….

Buster and hubby and I saw Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire over the past few days, and we were really appalled at how Albus Dumbledore was portrayed - there is simply no way Dumbledore would approach Harry in such a menacing manner, as he does after Harry’s name comes out of the goblet, and too often this Dumbledore seems to be holding his head in his hands, fretting - something Dumbledore never does in the books. I miss Richard Harris.

That said - the best of the movies thus far, although I did miss much of the detail of the book.
Lashawn Barber has the best review and link round-up I’ve seen, and I if anyone is interested, I agree with her theories on Dumbledore and Book 6!

Now, of course, I need to go back - as always, and read books 4, 5 and 6 again…Rowling has made so many clever clues, one can’t spot them all on first, or second, read!

March Hare has a review here that I agree with so completely I would have written it myself, had I the energy!

It’s never too late - you can still put an Advent Wreath together and have it ready for the Second Sunday this weekend! (Remember, the rose colored candle is lit on the THIRD Sunday - symbolizing Joy and Refreshment!)

If you got caught by surprise last Sunday and thought, “ah, well, Advent has begun and I didn’t get the candles…there is always next year,” I’m here to tell you, you needn’t feel cheated. My neighbor ran out and found three purple votives and a rose colored one, put them on a pretty plate with a sprig of holly and some pinecones, and it looks pretty nice.

What’s the point, my non-Catholic pals ask? Why bother?

Well…the point is - you do a little thing like this to mark time and take yourself our of the ordinary - out of “ordinary time” itself, within the liturgical calendar - but also to note that these are not empty sorts of “everyday” days, but days of expectation, and of looking forward. You light a candle, you sing a hymn and perhaps read a bit of Isaiah - it is a warm practice, a touch of ritual, and a cozy sort of consolation - the promise of comfort and joy.

In our house Advent usually begins with a bit of foot-dragging by my husband and children. I make them gather around the table and they say, “the game is on!” or “WHY do we have to do this,” and they roll their eyes as, having lighted the candle, I insist that we hold hands and sing the ancient hymn, “O Come, O Come Emmanu-el, and ransom captive Israel…” But by the time we’ve finished singing, and Buster has read the short verse I’ve selected, and our Thanksgiving has been made, they are more into it, and each day they become less self-conscious. Each night the candle is lit again, at sundown, as a reminder in these shorter days, that a light shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not overcome it. It remains lighted through the evening meal and is then extinguished (it’s gotta last four weeks, after all…)

Using an Advent Wreath is a small thing, but it can bring a too-busy day to a gentle close, and it helps us to not lose sight of what Christmas is bringing.

How to Make and Use an Advent Wreath
Prayers and Customs
UPDATE: Rudy from Colorado provides an excellent link to some particularly nice daily meditations for Advent, with a Marian and “women of the OT” sort of twist to it. You can use it as a sort of daily “Advent Calendar,” starting at day ONE, tomorrow and then using it daily to day 25. It contains the gorgeous ancient O Antiphons which the church uses for Vespers in the last season of Advent. Worth checking out!

Maybe the bravest blogger of all, certainly the hardest working one I can think of, the intrepid Michelle Malkin finds time (!) to sit for an interview with John Hawkins. She talks about her new book, Unhinged:Exposing Liberals Gone Wild, her blogging routine and more - it’s a good read, and I’m not just saying that because she very kindly mentions a certain girl blogger or two when the subject of blogs and sexism comes up! Michelle also talks quite openly about the vile racism she encounters with some regularity by the “tolerant” folks.

Check it out. John Hawkins is becoming quite the excellent interviewer, with good “gets.”

And while you’re at it check out Unhinged. I got my copy from Amazon today, and I’m trying desperately not to crack it open and read it right now…I’d hoped to save it for a long drive up to Rochester this weekend…but the thing is calling to me“Anchoress…come, read me….”, and David Limbaugh warns that - as I expected - if you open the book with an idea to just nose through it and “get to it later,” you will be hooked and nothing else will get done until you’ve finished it!

But see, it’s a long ride to Rochester, and my hubby will be a captive audience…so I really am trying to wait until Friday!