Seven Quick Takes Vol. 7 -- Forty Niner Friday....

A real deep quick takes here at the Musings. Seven things I love about being a 49er fan. Why not?

--- 1 ---

Joe Montana, the alpha and omega of my fandom. Someone I have only slightly ironically referred to as St. Joseph of the 2 minute drill. As a kid in Northern California in the middle-late 80's he was the leader of the best team around. Also didn't hurt he was exceedingly talented. Not going to lie to my readers I spent the rest of the day crying after the 1990 NFC Championship loss to the New York Giants. I have secretly been hoping that one of the Niner linebackers hits Eli as hard as Leonard Marshall hit Montana in that game. Without the intentional added breaking of his hand as he got dragged down. I see this game as payback time. I know this current team is a generation or two removed but come on.

Montana was invariably the athlete I most wanted to be when I grew up. Sadly I posses no athletic talent whatsoever.

--- 2 ---

Jerry Rice The GOAT. The greatest of all time. For my money, there has never been another football player better than Flash. He set so many records and did so many amazing things it is hard to comprehend the numbers he left behind. Even toward the end when it was getting a little sad to see him out there he was still playing every down harder than guys half his age.

I think he is the reason for the modern air it out warfare of the NFL. Teams all sought their own counterpart to his skill set.

Someone may break his records some day, but it will take a long time to do it. He had that same hypercompetitive drive Michael Jordan had.

--- 3 ---

Spending half my life being called a bandwagon fan, the other half a die hard. People called me a bandwagoner especially after we left California and I was still rocking my Niners gear. I was like how am I bandwagoning this is my team, the first football games I remember watching are Niner games, I have always loved that team. Then in the last decade or so seeing looks of pity when I had my Niners stuff. Looks like, really they suck pick a new team, but I don't roll that way. Paying off now, but I guess soon I will hear how I am a bandwagon fan all over again.

--- 4 ---

Ronnie Freakin Lott. Dude was pure scary. Made the Pro Bowl from every position in the defensive backfield hit like a truck, ran like a gazelle. Once had a doctor lop off half his pinky so he wouldn't miss a game during the season.

--- 5 ---

Possibly the NFL's worst stadium, but a tough place to play. Candlestick Park. I hated when the team sold the naming rights for awhile I never stopped calling it Candlestick. Place is a dump has been a dump for years and they are finally getting some new digs in Santa Clara, hopefully a winning season or two before the move will help the atmosphere at the new park.

--- 6 ---

Bill Walsh the brains behind it all. The only man to ever deserve to be called a genius who made his living as an NFL coach. Also the most completely unassuming man alive. Funny true story here: When I was at the U of Oregon, Stanford was hosting the wrestling championship matches. At the time Walsh was their athletic director, when we got in I asked the wrestling media director if Mr. Walsh might be around during the weekend. "Oh he might stop in Sunday during the finals."

Awesome, I might have a chance to meet a hero. Sure enough during the action Sunday he shows up. He was up on the stage area where all us media/sports. info types were. So now I am within a few feet of one my all-time heroes. I stand up to stretch/improve my vantage for the next match as it involves one of my guys.

Walsh and the person he was with saunter to about 18 inches from me and get engrossed in what was a great match. I find an opening politely inject myself in the conversation and discuss my wrestler with the two of them for the last few minutes.

Never once did I have the courage to say anything to him about the 49ers and what those teams meant to me. I chickened out. He passed away the day before Tommy was born. I thought about trying to get Traci to change the baby's name to William Walsh Morris, but I don't think she would have gone for it.

--- 7 ---

San Francisco in general. I don't know if it is my love for the team that caused my passion for the city or what. But The City by the Bay is my all-time favorite city. To be fair I have never left the North American continent and only seen about half the US, but still.

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Seven Quick Takes Vol. 6 -- Minnesota Winter Edition

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Winter finally arrived in Minnesota after the first two months of our new life here with temps in the 30's and 40's the last few days have been in the teen's with subzero wind-chills. Fun times, but hey it's giving me a chance to break in my new Carhartt Flannel shirt that I got for Christmas.

--- 2 ---

The NFL Playoffs are in full swing. I will refrain from predicting any outcomes, because they would smack of rampant homerism and over exuberance owing to my 49ers being involved for the first time in a decade.

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Found a great church here in Minnesota that I like. I walked in and the Tabernacle is front and center right behind the altar, confessionals on either side of the church, very pre-conciliar architecture. Makes me even more interested in hearing a Latin Mass sometime. Seems like they have a bunch of churches here that offer it at least once a month, perhaps I will have to check one out.

--- 4 ---

Watched Footloose today, the original. Kevin Bacon was so young and looked even younger than he was. One of my favorite movies from my childhood. I railed and railed about the idea that they remade it, but I will probably watch it at some point.

--- 5 ---

Going home in a week. It'll be awesome to be in New Mexico for a solid week, just getting to spend the time with the family and enjoying some good Mexican food. Yes, please.

--- 6 ---

The wife and my sister-in-law are both after my brother-in-law and I to read the Hunger Games books with them. Traci has finished all three of them and keeps bugging me to read them. I'd rather read the Millennium Trilogy (Girl with a Dragon Tattoo, etc.) books. In fact I started that one tonight.

--- 7 ---

Ok, fine I'll make predictions for this weekend's games:

New England - 44
Denver - 23

B'More - 38
Houston -7

S.F. - 24
New Orleans - 20
(Yes that is a homer pick, but it's a possibility)

Upset Special:
New York - 33
Green Bay 31

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Seven Quick Takes Vol. 5 -- Idaho, I'll Miss You....

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As anyone who read last Friday's quick takes knows we are packing up and leaving Idaho. It will be hard to say goodbye. This is the place our two kids were born, baptized, and have lived their whole lives. Tommy's had amazing medical and social care. I have seen the hand of God in why we were here and in why things have gone certain ways, but it is definitely time to open a new chapter....

--- 2 ---

This is also the state where I went grouse hunting for the first time. Fun, hardy, birds that just obliterate the quiet when they take flight...Plus they are delicious...I will definitely miss trekking up Moscow Mountain looking for them...But I hear Minnesota has some grouse to be hunted so I will definitely be going out there...

--- 3 ---

I will miss St. Mary's Church, in addition to being the place where the boys were baptized it has been a wonderful Spirit-filled parish, with good leadership. Fr. Joe who has now retired was wonderful. And Fr. Brian has proven to be a wonderful priest, who demonstrates God's joy and love marvelously from the Altar. Deacon George has been a great friend and has always had time for my questions, no matter how inane. It has been nice having a parish that has always felt like home, from our first Mass, till this weekend when we go to our final Mass there as parishioners...

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Too many wonderful people in this place have demonstrated to me that no matter their persuasions they can come together to help when one of their own needs it. I will never forget being handed a $100 check, for an ancient Hi-Ho Cherryo game, at the benefit rummage sale after Tommy was born. Brings me to tears even today to think about someone being so generous for a family and a baby they didn't know...How do you ever repay an entire town's generosity. Because that is one example out of many of the things this town did for us as we struggled to find our way out of the shock of Tommy's beginnings. 

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I'll probably even miss the Vandals a little. The reason we came to Moscow was for me to take a job with the U of Idaho. After it didn't work out I took perhaps a little too much pleasure in seeing them fail. Now that things have shaken out and I realized God's Hand was in all of it, I can root for them to a certain extent. Never against my Aggies, but against other teams, sure why not.

--- 6 ---

I'll miss the old rolling hills of wheat, seemingly always brown, seemingly always with a little stubble on them. This place has gotten into my soul a bit, I'll admit it.
But come on...Look at it...

--- 7 ---

Hot Stove time for MLB. Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder will be the top dogs on the market this year. I wonder if new Cubs GM Theo Epstein will try and make a splash by luring one of them to Wrigley Field. I mean it's a band box of a field and either one of them could literally leave the yard with some of their monster shots. Plus I think Theo wants to find something to show Cubbies Fans he is serious about doing for them what he did in Boston.

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Seven Quick Takes Vol. 4--Minnesota Move Edition

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I hate it when God waits for me to decide I am ready to do something, rather than just making it happen and letting me see how good it was later. For instance moving, Traci and I are just slowly sinking out here in Idaho...we love it, but it hasn't been easy and now the time has come to move on. So we will be leaving Idaho on November 11.

--- 2 ---

That opening sentence in point one stems from the fact that we have been discussing the idea of moving to Minnesota, since Tommy was born, the medical care and educational opportunities seem to be much better there than in my home state of New Mexico. However I was always scared to be so close to her family, my own insecurities getting in the way I suppose. On Sunday I was at Mass alone, with no kids to wrangle I had time to shut up and let God talk to me. And talk He did. I prayed if it was the right move that things would open up for us and they have, we have our apartment subleased, Tommy's daycare attendant is also quitting to focus on school--whew, was worried about breaking her heart telling her Tommy was moving. So things are moving quickly now.

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Of course on Sunday God also told me that Traci and I needed to work a little harder at being a cord of three strands again. Which is from Ecclesiastes 4:7-12. That scripture was used during our wedding and we haven't always lived up to it. Hopefully with some family help around now we can work on those things. 

--- 4 ---

Ok I'll say it the winters and summers I am about to get myself into scare me. Growing up in New Mexico I am used to hot, but not humid. The first time I went to see Traci in Minnesota it was 95 in El Paso, no big deal. It was 100 in Minneapolis, still no big deal, however the humidity was 90% I thought I would pass out on the jetway the air was so heavy. Idaho has toughened me up in regards to cold, but it has nothing on Minnesota. So here's hoping I can get used to the weather.

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These next two weeks will be a busy time of packing and phone calls and getting organized as we close this chapter of our lives. Already working on calling all of Tommy's many specialists and getting recommendations on who to see in Minnesota.

--- 6 ---

Did you watch the baseball game last night? How St. Louis managed to keep coming back is amazing. Texas had three blown saves in last night's game. Unreal. Here's hoping they give us another classic tonight in Game 7 to close the Series.
Sorry Rangers Fans:
Freese's Walk-off Sends Series to Seventh Game

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Is there anything better than Game 7. Any sport. Everything is do or die. Every shift in momentum feels like the final nail in the coffin. The first Game 7 I remember caring about anyway, involves Minnesota oddly enough. In 1991 the Twins and Braves locked up in what a lot of people say was the Best World Series ever. In Game 6 Kirby Puckett seemingly single-handedly insured that there would be a Game 7. He had a home-run saving catch against Ron Gant in the third inning. But Puckett sealed the win in the 11th belting a home-run into the seats giving the Twins a 4-3 win and forcing the dramatic Game 7 pitcher's duel.
Now I have to move into Twins country and learn to like them I guess.... 

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Seven Quick Takes Vol. 3

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For now I am officially off the Rick Perry bandwagon. Taking a stand on principles, I know he has distanced himself from Robert Jeffress, but one of my reasons for not liking Obama was the company he kept. It would be disingenuous to do otherwise with any candidate in this election. That being said if I have to vote for Mr. Perry to try and limit Obama to a single term I will do so.

--- 2 ---

I had a dream the other night that Tommy stood up and took a step. I love dreams like that. They tend to make me a little sad, but the happiness outweighs the sad. Plus it was neat to see him struggle to his feet and take one step before he got his legs all tangled up like he is wont to do. Also it helps to remind me to pray for the grace of God to heal him, or at least help him develop some skills.

--- 3 ---

In light of my recent post on Transubstantiation, I think a full treatment of some of the Eucharistic Miracles is in order but for now here's a look at one of the more well-known:

Wikipedia

Miracle of the Rosary has a story as well

--- 4 ---

Time to highlight one of my favorite blogs. Brantley Millegan does great work over at Young, Evangelical, and Catholic. If you aren't reading his stuff. Get to his page now, well okay finish reading mine first. He does a great job at highlighting and defending essential aspects of the faith.

--- 5 ---

I hate being out of work, it's so easy to get down on myself. So easy to think I am a failure because I am not taking care of my family. Here's hoping that I find work soon.

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If you ever wanted to read papal documents, the encyclicals and what not there are a couple of great places to find them. The Vatican website of course has from Benedict XVI back to Leo XIII. If you really want to dig into history, and read say the Bull of Excommunication for Martin Luther or the Canons of the Fourth Lateran Council. head to http://www.papalencyclicals.net
I like to copy them to word documents and send them to my kindle.

--- 7 ---

My revised World Series prediction: Milwaukee vs. Texas....

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Seven Quick Takes Vol. 2

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Well my World Series prediction is halfway to wrong, since Tampa Bay lost. But the Phillies are still in it. So I could still end up right on the winner.

--- 2 ---

I've been thinking for a little bit (read since late last night sometime, seeing as Tommy kept me up till 2 am) that I would like to add some of the more important Papal Documents (i.e. encyclicals, Bulls, perhaps some of the important Conciliar docs) to my Kindle. So I think I see the easiest way to do it is to save them in word and email them to my Kindle, let Amazon do the converting for me. Now if I could just find a Kindle version of the Catechism, I'd be good to go. 

--- 3 ---

Got up the mountain one time last weekend for a little bird hunting. Saw 3, maybe four birds. Hurried one shot, came home empty handed. But I got to see some nature and have a little fun. Didn't end up taking the Tomster. I need to this weekend, he sure likes bouncing up and down that hill.

--- 4 ---

My dad had an endoscopy of his throat and lungs this morning. Everything looked clean from what the Dr. told my mom. So praise be to God for that. Now if they could just figure out what's causing his cough.

--- 5 ---

Today is the feast day of Our Lady of the Rosary. I should be more dedicated in praying the Rosary, it's not like its hard, and I know most of the prayers (I have to cheat a little for the Hail Holy Queen and Apostles Creed), but for some reason I never make time to say it. Which is weird because it invariably makes me feel better when I am done.

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I'd be remiss to not point out that earlier this week was the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi. Francis was a great reformer of the Church in the early middle ages. He also was a great lover of nature. Surely you are familiar with statues of him surrounded by animals. He was also my pick for my confirmation patron saint. I know he has prayed with and for me for strength as I have passed through rough periods in my life. In fact I seemingly just starting praying the prayer of St. Francis and the O Divine Master for no reason, then suddenly come to some challenge and feel fortified.

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If you haven't read Brant Pitre's Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist,get on it. That book is solid theological gold for explaining and defending the Eucharistic theology of Catholicism. Pitre does it through the lens of what first century Jews would have intrinsically understood when Jesus spoke about eating His flesh and drinking His blood. Amazing book.

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Seven Quick Takes Vol. 1

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Let's start with the most important item of the day: Today is the last day to flood Health and Human Services with calls and emails, letting them know we disagree with their conscience violating mandate in the new healthcare takeover. The mandate forces hospitals and insurance companies to cover contraceptive and abortifacient drugs. Since Tommy's primary hospital is the wonderful Sacred Heart Children's in Spokane, this issue hits home for me on a couple fronts. I don't want to see Holy Mother Church have to stand up for Herself by shuttering hospitals.

Contact the (allegedly) Catholic Secretary of HHS, and give her an ear full.

Phone:   (202) 690–7000

Email:    Kathleen.Sebelius@hhs.gov

 

Read Catholicvote's take here.

--- 2 ---

Here we are a month into grouse hunting season and I haven't been out more than three times. Sad. I think this weekend may be time to load Tommy up and take him out to bounce along those rutted old roads up Moscow Mountain and see if we can find some birds

--- 3 ---

Well, I am now officially unemployed again. My "season" with Dr. Pepper is now over. While I hate being out of work I am somewhat glad to be done with this job. It wasn't a good fit from the start. So now the search for employment begins anew.

--- 4 ---

Saw Moneyball last night: Darn good movie. Brad Pitt was really good in it. This is one movie I won't necessarily say "The book was better..." about. Although it was. It is really like they were two different takes on the same story. The movie had to be a little different than the book, just by the nature of the story it told. Anyway I definitely recommend it, plus it just helped me get fired up for the playoffs which start today.

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Another good viewing experience had lately at Casa de Musings was The Conspirator. It is the Robert Redford directed story of the military tribunal held that convicted Mary Surratt as a conspirator in the Lincoln assassination plot. Even knowing the historical facts of the case I was riveted. As much as I like Redford as an actor I believe he has done some of his best work as a director.

--- 6 ---

My World Series Pick: Phillies vs. Rays. Phillies in 6. Starting pitching is just too good in Philly. That with an offense that can explode at times, but seemingly always just does enough to win gives Philly the title.

--- 7 ---

Since Jen at Conversion Diary is trying to come up with some of these: My favorite pithy Saint quote is this one from St. Augustine:
Give me chastity and continence, but not yet.

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!