Agnus Dei? Doxology?

Actually, this is not about “Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata munde, Miserere nobis, et Dona Nobis Pacem”. Though I could write a rather lengthy tome on that subject. A pivotal point in the Mass. Magnificently captured in Schubert's "Mass in G". And you were starting to think there wouldn't be a song reference...

“Doxology” wouldn’t be right either, since the Mass has a Doxology but it isn’t the same as the one known to protestant churches. It’s not the end of the service as Protestants know it. For Catholics, the doxology is “Through Him, with Him and in Him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, Almighty Father, forever and ever. Amen.” Said/sung just before the Eucharist is served.

This is about the Lord’s Prayer.

Actually, it’s about the break in the Lord’s Prayer that Catholics observe. The break and the words said between "deliver us from evil" and "for thine is the kingdom..." I wrote this to Dad several years ago – explaining the prayer within a prayer and just how powerful these words are.

“Deliver us, Lord, from every evil and grant us peace in our day. In your mercy, keep us free from sin, protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope of the coming our Savior, Christ, Our Lord.”

Yes, I have more than once referred to this particular text as the Catholic Intermission in the Lord’s Prayer. Those words are spoken by the priest, not the congregation (except I always say it as well). We get a chance to catch our breath. And yes, I poke fun, but am very serious about the observance of the Mass when I’m participating.

Two sentences. 40 words. And this is how it breaks down:

“Deliver us, Lord from every evil”. The first prayer here is for protection. It’s also a statement of trust – we trust that the Lord can indeed protect us. Protect us from every evil – those we know and those we don’t know. It’s also stating that the Lord knows and can deal with more evil than we mere mortals are aware of.

“And grant us peace in our day.” As much as all of us would love to see an end to war and the worldwide peace that would ensue, this is more than just about an end to wars going on around the globe. Grant us peace. Peace in our own minds, hearts, lives, relationships… Because where there is peace, there is calm. And where there is calm, a stronger relationship is built.

“In your mercy.” We acknowledge that God is indeed merciful, and that we don’t deserve it. Face it – just about every plea you’ve ever heard of “Please have mercy on me!” was spoken or written in a context of “I know I don’t deserve this, but…” Our God can be vengeful, as shown many times in scripture, but he is also merciful. Willing to give us a second chance, as it were.

“Keep us free from sin.” We ask, and God is willing, but we have to do our part as well. Keep us free from sin… think about what that includes. It’s not only asking “keep me from sinning today”, but also “keep me free from sins being committed against me”. Now wouldn’t that be a wonderful calming thing? (see a previous paragraph).

“Protect us from all anxiety.” Worry has a way of interrupting our communication with God. That’s because worry is basically fueled by self-doubt, and a feeling that we need to control everything in our lives. Well, Matthew had something to say about that: Chapter 10, verses 29-31: (King James Version)

“29Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
30But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.”

To put it in the vulgate of 2009, God’s got your back.

“As we wait in joyful hope.” Yes, joyful, because we know that one day our Lord will return to earth, and we all hope to see that and never experience death again. We rejoice for the souls of the faithful departed, but also hope that one day none of the faithful will have to physically die in order to be with our Lord.

“For the coming of our Savior, Christ, Our Lord.” Another acknowledgement that we rely on Christ to rescue us and grant us salvation (there’s a word you should look up sometime – etymology as well as definition).

“Amen.” So be it.

So. Two sentences. 40 words.

Very powerful.

If I didn't know better, I think I just wrote a homily/sermon.

Check Out Guitar George

He knows all the chords, after all.

Over the past few days it has struck me that the guitar is basically a rhythm instrument. A rare few have been able to master “which single finger pressed against this single string on this fretboard will produce this single note when I pluck said string”. The rest of us learn the fingering of chords, strum in rhythm, and occasionally we’re called “good”. Maybe a few of us learn some “finger-picking” techniques, which may evoke the response that we’re “very good”.

If I were asked to play an E Major scale on one of my guitars, I would have to defer and admit that I’m incapable of doing so.

But here’s a couple of things I know about guitars:

1. They are built by craftsmen – each one is hand-made to a certain extent. Yes, even the cheapest you can find has had someone - someone's hands - set the neck, aligned the top board, finished the purfling just so… The best are made by luthiers who know the relationship between hand and wood. I will never understand how any musician can take a guitar that someone lovingly made and smash it “in the name of art”. Or stupidity or ratings or whatever. Try doing that with my $1,200 Seagull 12-String, and I’ll probably hurt you. Or any Martin guitar, which I hope someday to own. Preferably a D000 12 fret six string from the 1940’s (which I actually had the privilege of playing once), but I don’t have the $10K needed to buy one.

2. If you have ever just held a guitar while sitting, learned to place three fingers on 3 strings and strum to create a G Chord, you will have felt the resonance of music, vibrating strings, and vibrating wood against your body. Do that a few times and the guitar becomes a part of you. It is a physical thing as well as a musical and creative thing.

That’s why I’m a greater fan of acoustic vs. electric guitar. I appreciate the virtuosity of many electric guitar players, marvel at their speed and dexterity on their solos, but wonder if they’re not just showing off their abilities, impressive though they may be. I will say that the "Unplugged" version of "Riding The Storm Out" by REO Speedwagon blew me away. Mostly because it showed that a guitarist known for his electric work really had chops and played an acoustic six string so damn good.

Acoustic seems to have the attitude “keep it slow, keep it simple, slow and accurate is best”. I’d suggest listening to the Electric and acoustic versions of “Layla” by Eric Clapton to appreciate the difference.

Electric often equals frenetic.

Strange how those words rhyme.

Think I’m Goin’ to Katmandu…

Well it seemed an appropriate song reference for a couple of reasons – the song is by Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band (my new machine has been dubbed “The Silver Bullet”) and now that I’m back online, my abilities to reach around the globe on the web include such faraway places as Katmandu.

This is one slick little machine. I know, it’s got a faster processor, faster bridges, faster graphics card, more memory, and nearly an unlimited amount of hard drive space to designate as virtual memory. I love it. It’s just taken a while to get it built back to what I’m used to. I decided not to rely on my backups very much, since I suspect a few program files in there might be infected. So I went from the ground up.

In the process I found that I really needed to get organized more in my office. I just about went nuts trying to find the original disc for one program that is a MUST for me, because it holds the original activation key. I’ve used this program and updated it for about 4 years now, but needed that key to validate not only the installation but my access to my account on their website as well so I could let them know that “jmkole@bresnan.net” is no longer a valid address. Tres frustrating.

Tomorrow I’ll be setting up a new wireless router. Faster, of course. And my old one seemed to have a bug in it. I’ll be downloading new firmware for it and probably setting it up on another machine (Hint – not in GJ).

And I’m also getting my iPAQ set up again. Time to have a more portable device for traveling that holds all my contact info, a very good MP3 player, and it will even play movies thanks to a piece of software I bought. An 8 Gb iPod that can also do spreadsheets and Word documents, if you will. With its expansion pack, I’ll even be able to use WiFi hotspots and get to the web.

I could do all that with my new very cool phone, but subscribing to the services that enable you to do that adds up very quickly. I like my rather inexpensive basic Verizon plan and I doubt I’ll ever go over the 250 text messages per month limit that is included.

So I’m back online. Don’t know which subject I may expound on next that I’d consider relevant and worthy of your consideration, but I’m sure I’ll think of something.

Meanwhile, I’ll just go listen to some really good 70’s classic rock.

Nobody knows... Nobody cares

“When everything you own
Will fit in a paper sack
No one notice you leavin'
Nobody ask when you comin' back..."

“Quarter Moon” – Kathy Mattea

It’s a song that could be interpreted as being about a) a shady character, or b) a homeless person.

TLMK and I have supported our local homeless shelter for several years. Volunteered there to assemble 50 new bunk beds that doubled the capacity of the shelter, have made and served meals to the clients on various occasions, and have contributed clothes, blankets, money, etc. over the years.

I feel I have not done enough.

Today, after taking one last look through the local Circuit City (closing and merchandise being liquidated), I was about to head home when I saw an older gentleman walking along the side of the road carrying two rather heavy aluminum tire rims. And struggling to do so.

Phred was mostly empty, and I had time.

I had to get turned around and head east to be able to pull up next to him. I rolled down the window and asked where he was headed. He said, “Thanks, but I’m headed west.” I said “So am I eventually. Toss those wheels inside and I’ll take you there.”

He hesitated for a moment, then got up, opened Phred’s side door and hefted the rims inside. And took the passenger’s seat. “Mister, my knee appreciates this,” he said.

I took him to a salvage yard where he sold the rims for scrap. I told him I’d wait for him and then take him wherever he needed to go.

He came back grumbling that he could only get 12 cents a pound for them. “Used to be I could get just better than a buck a pound.” I asked where I could take him next. Burger King was his answer.

So I took him to Burger King, since it was obvious that he had just earned his lunch money. He noticed a bunch of clothes in the back – which are going to Catholic Outreach. I told him I was on disability, had time on my hands and could do these things. I offered him any of the men’s shirts he wanted.

He said “Thanks, but I don’t take charity. I get by. A friend lets me sleep on his couch in the basement. I can walk just fine, as long as I don’t have to carry anything too heavy. And I live close to Goodwill, so I can get clothes cheap there.” The conditions of his clothes and his odor belied his words.

I told him it wasn’t charity, but rather a kindness. The shirts will be given away free, so help yourself.

He hesitated, then took two polo shirts. Said, “I’m obliged.”

He refused to let me buy him lunch, or even give him some cash. “Thank you, but I don’t take charity. I earn my keep.”

And so I dropped him off and left. He never gave me his name.

I came home with a lot of thoughts. One was that I’ve seen enough of the homeless people who are nightly visitors to the shelter to know that they choose this lifestyle and manipulate the system. But second, I was reminded that there are those who have just found themselves in this situation due to circumstances beyond their control, but still have their integrity and their pride.

I guess I’ve been taught again that every person deserves respect and kindness. No matter their circumstance in life.

And that I have not done enough.

Inspiration

MTV Unplugged music... a sometimes unexpectedly surprising inspiration...

I absolutely MUST get back to playing my guitars. If for no other reason than to begin to play electric guitar with all it's bends, hammers on and off, pushes, pulls, and upper end arpeggiois and scales which require 15 frets and 6 strings... all of which you actually learn on an acoustic guitar.

Believe it or not, it was probably George Strait's "Amarillo by Morning" that made me think about taking up the guitar. Probably back around 1986 I saw him perform live a as a "rising star" in the Basement Bar of the Nashville Stockyards. Also a great place to have a porterhouse steak.- a potential client treated me.

Well, at the time, I didn't know A or E or wasn't workin' on G... and there was no chimp to disagree... so I just figured it out myself with a simple book and one good friend who taught me a few things once a week.

TLMK bought me my first guitar - a Gibson PR-200 Cedar Top six string that has a gorgeous sound but I'm afraid to play these days because it has a cedar top - which has great sound but only a life span of about 10 years before developing a huge crack in the top. I'm nearing 14 years on that one. But also a Seagull 12 -string that I love (needs new strings at the moment) that just resonates brilliantly or has the sound of an autoharp if capoed up about 5 frets.) Both have incredible sounds. And it's been interesting over the years how I've found which strings work best for each guitar to get the best sounds. And which strings are easiest to pop harmonics with.

I have a third guitar - a 3/4 size student guitar. Made for smaller hands, but not for less quality sound. It's harder to keep tuned, but produces a very nice bright sound (which from music theory classes, I know is more pleasing to younger ears.)

My next stringed instrument? Probably a ukulele. It's harder to play than its four strings would have you believe. Then a four-string upright bass. Though I do have a certain model in mind that would be much easier to transport than a mondo orchestral version.

Six strings, a box and a strap. Who'd a thunk it'd gone so far? The surprise is 14 years of playing acoustic, and now being interested in playing electric. Geez - a Bob Dylan flashback!

(of course there's a hidden song reference in there... what post of mine lately hasn't included a song reference?)

Jay

Oh, Colorado's Calling Me

"Oh, Colorado's calling me
From her hillsides and her rivers
And her mesas and her trees.
When blizzards snap the power lines
And all the toilets freeze
In December in the Colorado Rockies."

"Colorado," by Christopher Guest, Sean Kelly and Tony Hendra, from the movie "Lemmings"

Actually, Chevy Chase and John Belushi did another version of this and the last line of that chorus was changed to "when it's springtime in the Colorado Rockies" for a Saturday Night Live skit.

Weather report, just because it's noteworthy today.

Currently - around 4:30 PM MST - it is clear and the sun is shining on Phred.

Earlier today, the skies were dark, it started snowing, turned to rain, precipitation stopped and the sun came out. And melted the accummulated snow.

This happened twice today.

Last I checked, our toilets had not frozen. Yet.

Welcome to near springtime in Colorado.

Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad

The song reference, of course is from Meat Loaf – the 1980’s arena rock star. He produced some great music.

We produced some great meatloaf for supper tonight. But it has a story behind it – otherwise I wouldn’t be posting this to my blog. I’m doing my regular thing… very lean beef, an egg, salt, pepper, oatmeal… AUGGGHHH! Only half the oatmeal I need and I’ve already started mixing it! Onion… AUGGGHHH! No onion in the fridge!

Chef mind kicks into gear. Substitute a shallot for the onion. Bread crumbs – that’ll work. AUGGGHHH! No bread crumbs in the pantry! But we do have corn flake crumbs. What the hey? Toss it in, mix, toss in a little more, add another splash of milk, put it in the meatloaf pan and toss it in the oven.

Go to store while it bakes, figuring if it’s a flop tonight, it might be good for breakfast tomorrow given the corn flake crumbs... maybe with a little milk and sugar. (Eewww....)

Mix up Theany’s glaze when I get back home. During the last 10 minutes of baking, make an envelope of instant mashed potatoes and nukyulate some frozen peas.

Let everything rest for 6 minutes and 37 seconds after the meatloaf comes out of the oven, completely degreased (meatloaf pans are a wonderful thing!)

Serve to TLMK. Listen to shouts of joy as I’m loading my own plate, with her telling me this is probably the best meatloaf she’s ever had in her whole entire lifetime. We both had seconds.

And she ate all her veggies, too.

So. Somehow I have to figure out what I did in order to recreate this Most Magnificent Meatloaf (there’s that 3M’s recipe name again) .

Not much left for those incredible leftover cold meatloaf sandwiches, but I’ll get by.

Two out of three ain’t bad, says Meat Loaf.

True… but three out of three is better!