Saturday, December 18, 2010
Geeky Things I Like To Do - Number 9
Move the ornaments on the Christmas tree around because I don't like the spacing / color combination. I have done pretty well this year. Usually I do it ALL season, pretty much every other day or so until the tree comes down in Jan. This year, I really didn't touch the ornaments after the tree was decorated. Until today. I found some of the plastic candy canes that I bought last year & forgot I had. Once I started putting them on the tree, I had to move stuff all around to make them "fit" properly. Then I was out today & found these cute ribbon candy ornaments that I had to have. Luckily it was only a pack of 4, so the reconfiguration of the tree was a bit simpler. Again, I swear I do not have OCD!
Friday, December 17, 2010
Paul & the Great American Musical
I once devoted a post to my husband, claiming that he knows everything. I forgot to mention his lack of knowledge in the area of showtunes and related topics. For as often as he randomly breaks out in song (ala the musical theater genre), you'd think he'd be more familiar. He spontaneously makes up songs about the mundane, the ridiculous, the absurd. He will take a hip-hop song & turn it into a 40's jazz standard on the spot. I mean, he will occasionally even break out a little Danke Shoen, but that's only because it was in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, I'm sure. He will even bust a move pretty often. Granted, it's usually the Robot, but that counts in my book. My book that nobody reads. But I digress.
The point is that Paul has very limited knowledge of musical theater/ movies, despite his propensity for acting like he lives in one. I blame his mom. She recently confessed to me that she does not like The Sound of Music. I love my mother-in-law, but I yelled at her before I even had time to think. I blurted out something like, "WHAT?! WHO DOESN'T LIKE THE SOUND OF MUSIC?" It actually made me physically angry. So, I don't think Paul was exposed to the basics of musicals as a child because his mom does not enjoy them. This is a tragedy. A true injustice. An injustice that I feel I need to correct.
Paul has taken me to a couple of musicals in the theater district in Pittsburgh because he knows how much I enjoy them. I LOVE going to any of the theaters in the city. It's so exciting! He enjoys making me happy, so he sometimes indulges my love of theater. I think he also enjoys the shows. He seems to. But he usually complains about any combination of the following: uncomfortable seats, people kicking the back of his chair, fear of being chosen for audience interaction, etc. Despite these issues, I feel the need to find ways to heighten his appreciation for the performing arts. It's kind of a mission. Hey, I might even make it a resolution for 2011!!! Oh, that will be FUN!! For me anyway. Perhaps movies are the answer. Yes, live performances are more exciting, but it's not practical to take him to very many plays. Movies are his thing. We're always watching movies. Think he'd notice if I threw in some classic musicals here & there? Probably. But too bad.
The point is that Paul has very limited knowledge of musical theater/ movies, despite his propensity for acting like he lives in one. I blame his mom. She recently confessed to me that she does not like The Sound of Music. I love my mother-in-law, but I yelled at her before I even had time to think. I blurted out something like, "WHAT?! WHO DOESN'T LIKE THE SOUND OF MUSIC?" It actually made me physically angry. So, I don't think Paul was exposed to the basics of musicals as a child because his mom does not enjoy them. This is a tragedy. A true injustice. An injustice that I feel I need to correct.
Paul has taken me to a couple of musicals in the theater district in Pittsburgh because he knows how much I enjoy them. I LOVE going to any of the theaters in the city. It's so exciting! He enjoys making me happy, so he sometimes indulges my love of theater. I think he also enjoys the shows. He seems to. But he usually complains about any combination of the following: uncomfortable seats, people kicking the back of his chair, fear of being chosen for audience interaction, etc. Despite these issues, I feel the need to find ways to heighten his appreciation for the performing arts. It's kind of a mission. Hey, I might even make it a resolution for 2011!!! Oh, that will be FUN!! For me anyway. Perhaps movies are the answer. Yes, live performances are more exciting, but it's not practical to take him to very many plays. Movies are his thing. We're always watching movies. Think he'd notice if I threw in some classic musicals here & there? Probably. But too bad.
Who is this Jesus?
I do not like to discuss religion or politics. Inevitably, someone gets hurt or offended. Sometimes me. I think religion is a very personal thing. But with Christmas coming, I just want to say "what Jesus means to me."
I went to Catholic school for 13 years, but I am not a biblical scholar or theologian by any means. I have come to think of God/ Jesus as more of a concept than distinct beings, but that's just me. Here are some quotes, some from the bible, some from pop culture, that represent what I think are the most important & basic teachings of Jesus. Things have gotten so distorted in our society. People have been (and continue to be every day) persecuted, ridiculed, killed, and tortured over their differences - in faith, politics, race, etc - forever. Too many horrible things are done in the name of religion. I don't believe these things are what Jesus had in mind for us. He tried to do the exact opposite. He tried to make us embrace each other. Accept each other. Love each other without judgment. Regardless of who we are or what we have done or how we live our lives. I think that the birth of Christ represents peace, love, tolerance, acceptance, generosity, and kindness.
All that being said, here are my snippets of scripture & literature that epitomize the essence of spirituality & Christianity to me:
"Truly he taught us to love one another. His law is love & his gospel is peace. Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother. And in his name, all oppression shall cease." - O Holy Night by Adolphe Adam
"His kindness, His tolerance... Listen, here's what I think. I think that we can't go around measuring our goodness by what we don't do. By what we deny ourselves, what we resist, and who we exclude. I think we've got to measure goodness by what we embrace, what we create... and who we include." - Chocolat (book & movie) by Joanne Harris
Beatitudes (Gospel of Matthew):
"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they shall possess the earth.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice,
for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure of heart,
for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Book of Corinthians:
"Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."
Matthew 25:
"For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me."
I went to Catholic school for 13 years, but I am not a biblical scholar or theologian by any means. I have come to think of God/ Jesus as more of a concept than distinct beings, but that's just me. Here are some quotes, some from the bible, some from pop culture, that represent what I think are the most important & basic teachings of Jesus. Things have gotten so distorted in our society. People have been (and continue to be every day) persecuted, ridiculed, killed, and tortured over their differences - in faith, politics, race, etc - forever. Too many horrible things are done in the name of religion. I don't believe these things are what Jesus had in mind for us. He tried to do the exact opposite. He tried to make us embrace each other. Accept each other. Love each other without judgment. Regardless of who we are or what we have done or how we live our lives. I think that the birth of Christ represents peace, love, tolerance, acceptance, generosity, and kindness.
All that being said, here are my snippets of scripture & literature that epitomize the essence of spirituality & Christianity to me:
"Truly he taught us to love one another. His law is love & his gospel is peace. Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother. And in his name, all oppression shall cease." - O Holy Night by Adolphe Adam
"His kindness, His tolerance... Listen, here's what I think. I think that we can't go around measuring our goodness by what we don't do. By what we deny ourselves, what we resist, and who we exclude. I think we've got to measure goodness by what we embrace, what we create... and who we include." - Chocolat (book & movie) by Joanne Harris
Beatitudes (Gospel of Matthew):
"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they shall possess the earth.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice,
for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure of heart,
for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Book of Corinthians:
"Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."
Matthew 25:
"For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me."
Sunday, December 05, 2010
In Memoriam
This is a re-post of a note I wrote on Facebook a year ago in honor of the passing of my granddaddy:
I don't usually post too much personal stuff, but I felt like I needed to honor my grandfather. He was strong, gentle, funny, sensitive, quiet, smart, and generous. He was always there for his family. I grew up riding down country roads in his green truck on summer days, watching him water & tend his garden that just overflowed with vegetables, waiting for him to pick me up from school on days when I needed a ride. These are just a few of the thousands of wonderful memories that he has left with me. I am grateful to be his granddaughter, and I'll miss him.
Joseph P. Mongelluzzo
Connellsville
Joseph P. Mongelluzzo, 93, of Connellsville, died Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009, in Excela Health Frick Hospital, Mt. Pleasant. He was born March 26, 1916, in Connellsville, a son of the late Amato and Filomena Meluzzo Mongelluzzo. He was retired from U.S. Steel's Robena Mines. He was a World War II veteran, serving as a sergeant in the Army. He was a member of the Connellsville American Legion and VFW and also a member of the UMWA Local. Joseph was a member of St. Rita's Roman Catholic Church and its Holy Name Society. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife, Mary Dellavechia Mongelluzzo, on Oct. 10, 1990; three brothers, Patsy, Michael and John Mongelluzzo; and two sisters, Celeste Theresa Mongell and Felicia Spagnoletti. He is survived by three daughters, Janet Stroncheck and her husband, John, of Dunbar, Nancy Mongelluzzo, of Connellsville, and Linda Gaudiello and her husband, Tony, of Connellsville; two grandchildren, Michele Lombardi and her husband, Paul, of Imperial, and Timothy Gaudiello, of Connellsville; a brother, Anthony Mongelluzzo and his wife, Roberta, of Connellsville; and a brother-in-law, Anthony Dellavechia and his wife, Helen. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday in the BROOKS FUNERAL HOME INC., 111 E. Green St., Connellsville, where prayers of transfer will be recited at 10 a.m. Wednesday, followed by a funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. in St. Rita's Roman Catholic Church, Connellsville, with the Rev. Joseph Bonafed as celebrant. Interment will follow in St. Rita's Cemetery. Military rites will be conducted at the funeral home by the Connellsville American Legion and VFW and Trotter American Legion Honor Guard. To sign the guest registry, please visit www.brooksfuneralhomes.com.
I don't usually post too much personal stuff, but I felt like I needed to honor my grandfather. He was strong, gentle, funny, sensitive, quiet, smart, and generous. He was always there for his family. I grew up riding down country roads in his green truck on summer days, watching him water & tend his garden that just overflowed with vegetables, waiting for him to pick me up from school on days when I needed a ride. These are just a few of the thousands of wonderful memories that he has left with me. I am grateful to be his granddaughter, and I'll miss him.
Joseph P. Mongelluzzo
Connellsville
Joseph P. Mongelluzzo, 93, of Connellsville, died Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009, in Excela Health Frick Hospital, Mt. Pleasant. He was born March 26, 1916, in Connellsville, a son of the late Amato and Filomena Meluzzo Mongelluzzo. He was retired from U.S. Steel's Robena Mines. He was a World War II veteran, serving as a sergeant in the Army. He was a member of the Connellsville American Legion and VFW and also a member of the UMWA Local. Joseph was a member of St. Rita's Roman Catholic Church and its Holy Name Society. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife, Mary Dellavechia Mongelluzzo, on Oct. 10, 1990; three brothers, Patsy, Michael and John Mongelluzzo; and two sisters, Celeste Theresa Mongell and Felicia Spagnoletti. He is survived by three daughters, Janet Stroncheck and her husband, John, of Dunbar, Nancy Mongelluzzo, of Connellsville, and Linda Gaudiello and her husband, Tony, of Connellsville; two grandchildren, Michele Lombardi and her husband, Paul, of Imperial, and Timothy Gaudiello, of Connellsville; a brother, Anthony Mongelluzzo and his wife, Roberta, of Connellsville; and a brother-in-law, Anthony Dellavechia and his wife, Helen. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday in the BROOKS FUNERAL HOME INC., 111 E. Green St., Connellsville, where prayers of transfer will be recited at 10 a.m. Wednesday, followed by a funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. in St. Rita's Roman Catholic Church, Connellsville, with the Rev. Joseph Bonafed as celebrant. Interment will follow in St. Rita's Cemetery. Military rites will be conducted at the funeral home by the Connellsville American Legion and VFW and Trotter American Legion Honor Guard. To sign the guest registry, please visit www.brooksfuneralhomes.com.
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