starshadow_rivaulx (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
starshadow_rivaulx) wrote2010-04-05 10:39 pm
starshadow_rivaulx) wrote2010-04-05 10:39 pm
Because Easter is a season
At least in the Catholic faith, I don't feel a bit late in extending
Easter wishes on Easter Monday instead of Easter Sunday. The Lord is
risen, indeed - at least for me; those of other persuasions, I hope,
are feeling the spirit of renewal and refreshment that the onset of
spring is supposed to herald after the gray and rain of winter.
Easter Sunday was pretty mundane.
Of course we started the day by going to Mass, Ramon and I. To give
thanks and to renew spiritual ties. However, I must say that the
music of the Mass, while powerful and uplifting, was more Good Friday
than Easter! I have nothing against an all-male choir, understand.
Some of the best music of my life has been rendered by all-male Mass
choir, with songs suited to the occasion. In this particular case, I
have the strong suspicion that all the best music was sung during the
Easter Vigil Mass, leaving the morning Mass with the most somber
Easter music it has been my privilege to hear.
I don't know if I've been away from church that long, but I didn't
recognize any of the melodies, so I couldn't follow along, not like
the Mass two years ago where everyone jumped into the chorus of the
"Gloria" because it was the most familiar melody ever. Add to that,
the bass line was dominant, such that the Prayer of St. Francis
sounded quite like a bunch of bullfrogs, seriously. My every memory
of Easter Sunday Mass is filled with the sound of joyful, lively
music, the better to remind everyone that Christ is Risen, Alleluia!
I remembered a former chaplain's rule about song line-ups: for the
Masses, but most especially the high Masses, sing the melodies most
familiar to the people, as the point of the music was to get the
congregation to participate. He allowed all sorts of high drama
during the Communion songs (when most people don't care to sing while
in line, and are busy praying afterwards), the Offertory (when people
are reaching into their wallets for the offerings, and the gifts are
being brought to the altar to be blessed). Maybe even the
Processional hymn. But for the Glory to God, the Our Father, the Lamb
of God, and the Recessional, he insisted that the songs be the ones
the congregation could sing in their sleep. *grin*
It certainly made for spirited participation during the high holy
days. The chaplain did recommend that a choir introduce new songs
during the Ordinary Time Masses, say, the same new song in all the
Masses for one week, till it became familiar to the congregation.
Ah, well. Certainly their hearts were in the right places, and that's
all that matters. But obviously I missed the delight of being able to
sing along. Maybe next year?
* * * * *
After Mass, then off to Plaza San Antonio. Bought some of Ramon's
prescriptions, got money for the week. Tootled off to Cash n Carry.
Dropped Ramon off at the Luk Yuen entrance, and he advance ordered
lunch while I parked the car. Lunch was celebratory in nature, in
part due to the day, and in part due to the fact that Ramon's FBS that
morning was down to 113 mg/dl - a fantastic drop from the 138 mg/dl of
two weeks ago. I continue to live in the hope that we will avoid
insulin shots for as long as Ramon has diabetes.
Then after lunch, the usual stops at Book Sale; Japan Home Store;
Mercury Drug; the Generics Pharmacy. Treated myself to a full-body
massage at the blind massage center, and let me tell you, they are
some other kind of good. For the price of a scalp massage, I got
every last kink and knot worked out of my muscles. While somewhat
painful, it was good to feel my circulation improve!
Then it was grocery time, and then home, where life continued as usual.
* * * * *
Today was rest day, and catch-up day. At some point the night before,
I ended up bookmarking all the journal entries I wanted to read using
ReadItLater, because I was sleepy beyond belief. Not surprising,
since I'd been out practically the entire day, with a massage, to
boot. Forced myself to finish each task I set out for myself in
sequential order, which had me jotting down quick notes on things I
wanted to do once I'd done with my task list for the morning.
The maintenance crew came and looked at a couple of pinprick holes in
the water pipes. They will return tomorrow, with full kit, and fix
the problems.
I went through my Slam Dunk! archive and tidied things up. As a
result, I discovered notes for at least three more chapters for the
fanfic that I am writing, and inspiration for the current chapter. It
really does pay to keep a file of chapter outlines - sometimes, I need
to construct a chapter almost line-by-line, and then it writes itself,
with dialogue and everything. Cannot wait to get back to the story.
My poor leads are going to have at least three chapters worth of wrong
assumptions and misunderstandings before they even get anywhere near
to resolving their relationship.
* * * * *
Tomorrow, I pop Ramon into the MMC lab for his blood extraction, then
back home for breakfast and a quick shower before Ma's PT. Maintenance
crew is due, of course. And that will be that for the day.
Easter wishes on Easter Monday instead of Easter Sunday. The Lord is
risen, indeed - at least for me; those of other persuasions, I hope,
are feeling the spirit of renewal and refreshment that the onset of
spring is supposed to herald after the gray and rain of winter.
Easter Sunday was pretty mundane.
Of course we started the day by going to Mass, Ramon and I. To give
thanks and to renew spiritual ties. However, I must say that the
music of the Mass, while powerful and uplifting, was more Good Friday
than Easter! I have nothing against an all-male choir, understand.
Some of the best music of my life has been rendered by all-male Mass
choir, with songs suited to the occasion. In this particular case, I
have the strong suspicion that all the best music was sung during the
Easter Vigil Mass, leaving the morning Mass with the most somber
Easter music it has been my privilege to hear.
I don't know if I've been away from church that long, but I didn't
recognize any of the melodies, so I couldn't follow along, not like
the Mass two years ago where everyone jumped into the chorus of the
"Gloria" because it was the most familiar melody ever. Add to that,
the bass line was dominant, such that the Prayer of St. Francis
sounded quite like a bunch of bullfrogs, seriously. My every memory
of Easter Sunday Mass is filled with the sound of joyful, lively
music, the better to remind everyone that Christ is Risen, Alleluia!
I remembered a former chaplain's rule about song line-ups: for the
Masses, but most especially the high Masses, sing the melodies most
familiar to the people, as the point of the music was to get the
congregation to participate. He allowed all sorts of high drama
during the Communion songs (when most people don't care to sing while
in line, and are busy praying afterwards), the Offertory (when people
are reaching into their wallets for the offerings, and the gifts are
being brought to the altar to be blessed). Maybe even the
Processional hymn. But for the Glory to God, the Our Father, the Lamb
of God, and the Recessional, he insisted that the songs be the ones
the congregation could sing in their sleep. *grin*
It certainly made for spirited participation during the high holy
days. The chaplain did recommend that a choir introduce new songs
during the Ordinary Time Masses, say, the same new song in all the
Masses for one week, till it became familiar to the congregation.
Ah, well. Certainly their hearts were in the right places, and that's
all that matters. But obviously I missed the delight of being able to
sing along. Maybe next year?
* * * * *
After Mass, then off to Plaza San Antonio. Bought some of Ramon's
prescriptions, got money for the week. Tootled off to Cash n Carry.
Dropped Ramon off at the Luk Yuen entrance, and he advance ordered
lunch while I parked the car. Lunch was celebratory in nature, in
part due to the day, and in part due to the fact that Ramon's FBS that
morning was down to 113 mg/dl - a fantastic drop from the 138 mg/dl of
two weeks ago. I continue to live in the hope that we will avoid
insulin shots for as long as Ramon has diabetes.
Then after lunch, the usual stops at Book Sale; Japan Home Store;
Mercury Drug; the Generics Pharmacy. Treated myself to a full-body
massage at the blind massage center, and let me tell you, they are
some other kind of good. For the price of a scalp massage, I got
every last kink and knot worked out of my muscles. While somewhat
painful, it was good to feel my circulation improve!
Then it was grocery time, and then home, where life continued as usual.
* * * * *
Today was rest day, and catch-up day. At some point the night before,
I ended up bookmarking all the journal entries I wanted to read using
ReadItLater, because I was sleepy beyond belief. Not surprising,
since I'd been out practically the entire day, with a massage, to
boot. Forced myself to finish each task I set out for myself in
sequential order, which had me jotting down quick notes on things I
wanted to do once I'd done with my task list for the morning.
The maintenance crew came and looked at a couple of pinprick holes in
the water pipes. They will return tomorrow, with full kit, and fix
the problems.
I went through my Slam Dunk! archive and tidied things up. As a
result, I discovered notes for at least three more chapters for the
fanfic that I am writing, and inspiration for the current chapter. It
really does pay to keep a file of chapter outlines - sometimes, I need
to construct a chapter almost line-by-line, and then it writes itself,
with dialogue and everything. Cannot wait to get back to the story.
My poor leads are going to have at least three chapters worth of wrong
assumptions and misunderstandings before they even get anywhere near
to resolving their relationship.
* * * * *
Tomorrow, I pop Ramon into the MMC lab for his blood extraction, then
back home for breakfast and a quick shower before Ma's PT. Maintenance
crew is due, of course. And that will be that for the day.