I have been reading this collection of Father Brown stories off and on for the past couple of weeks. Father Brown is a humble, quick, perceptive and wry little priest who is also a detective. And he always figures out who done it. G.K.Chesterton wrote many stories all published in various magazines at the time. This is a collection of stories edited by John Peterson and put out by Ignatius Press. I haven't read many Father Brown stories. I have read The Blue Cross a couple of times; this I believe is his most well known and is the story in which he introduced the character of Father Brown as well as the French jewel thief turned crime fighter, Flambeau, and the French Inspector Valentin.
I got this book several years ago but I only read the first two stories and then it sat on the shelf for a long while until I finally picked it up again. The stories are very witty and always have a surprise twist. Chesterton writes some lovely, lively descriptions of people and places. He gets a lot of meaning and innuendo in very efficiently. He is quite sly in his humor. I did find though, that I just couldn't read these stories at night in bed. For some reason I'd just fall right to sleep over them. And they all began to blur into one story where I could not keep the characters straight. However, if I read it during the day, I was alert enough to really enjoy these clever little gems. My favorite one was The Resurrection of Father Brown. My favorite quote from that one: "You silly people. You silly, silly people." You have to read it to know how funny that scene is.
I really appreciated John Peterson's helpful footnotes. Chesterton makes a lot of references to things that were popular knowledge in his day but which we might not catch the significance of. And I love all the allusions Chesterton makes to Shakespeare, to history and to Catholicism. He was one learned guy!
I have a hankering now to see Alec Guinness's portrayal of Father Brown. Here's a little clip I found on youtube.
For more book reviews go to Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks.
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Friday, October 25, 2013
Unschooling Revisited
There has been a really refreshing conversation going on on the Catholic Unschoolers facebook page. I hadn't really been thinking in unschooling terms lately because we are so caught up in more schooly things. But even so I see unschooling swirling just beneath the surface a lot of times. For instance, Sean and Rick have been really into building this arcade, though I do think the ardor died down a little bit this week, just because other things took over. But they both have been learning a ton of stuff while doing this project. And then another incident: Rick and Sean read the book Of Mice and Men, assigned to Sean in his English class. Well, they both loved it. So Sean in his unschooling fashion, started researching about it on the internet. He found out 4 movies were made of the book. He watched two of them on line to compare the scene where (spoilers!) George shoots Lenny. Then he went into a detailed critique about how they filmed it and how the actors played the characters and whether he agreed with their interpretation. Next, he is going to read the play, which was adapted from the book in the 1940s. Rabbit trail!
For Becky even though we are mostly doing Aquinas Learning, she's off doing her own thing too. She's gotten back to making videos. She also has requested she take the National Mythology Exam just to see how much she knows (she's a walking encyclopedia on the subject). And she now has this great idea where she wants to start a student newspaper at Aquinas.
You just can't keep unschooling down! And that is because if given freedom, children enjoy learning. I am glad I was so relaxed when the kids were younger. It keeps them fresh and intellectually curious.
For Becky even though we are mostly doing Aquinas Learning, she's off doing her own thing too. She's gotten back to making videos. She also has requested she take the National Mythology Exam just to see how much she knows (she's a walking encyclopedia on the subject). And she now has this great idea where she wants to start a student newspaper at Aquinas.
You just can't keep unschooling down! And that is because if given freedom, children enjoy learning. I am glad I was so relaxed when the kids were younger. It keeps them fresh and intellectually curious.
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Bible Basics for Catholics - Book 46
The whole title of this book is Bible Basics for Catholics; A New Picture of Salvation History. It's by John Bergsma who teaches at the Franciscan University of Steubenville. I wish it had a catchier title because it is a highly readable and very clever way of presenting the seven covenants found in the Bible that God makes with us, his children. Bergsma uses the the device of cleverly drawn simple cartoons to help students remember the details of each covenant. It really is a rather delightful way of teaching this.
I wish I had found this book a couple of weeks ago. Sean's text in high school this year is the Didache Series' Understanding the Scriptures. That book talks about these covenants too, but in such a confusing way that we were really puzzled by it and Sean got a C on his quiz about it. This book, though, is written so clearly that Bergsma makes something that is profound and complex really easy to understand. And the pictures are great triggers for helping the student recall the meaning and context of each covenant.
I am planning on reading this out loud to Becky. Bergmsa handles some potentially tricky stuff very deftly, like the little incident of Noah's nakedness/drunkenness. So I think it would be appropriate for 7th or 8th grade students (with maybe some very slight censoring) and a wonderful way to introduce them to these concepts.
I am cheating a little bit here with this review. I haven't quite finished the book. I still have 40 pages to go (what a biblical number!). But for an adult it is a quick read.
For more book reviews go to Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks.
I wish I had found this book a couple of weeks ago. Sean's text in high school this year is the Didache Series' Understanding the Scriptures. That book talks about these covenants too, but in such a confusing way that we were really puzzled by it and Sean got a C on his quiz about it. This book, though, is written so clearly that Bergsma makes something that is profound and complex really easy to understand. And the pictures are great triggers for helping the student recall the meaning and context of each covenant.
I am planning on reading this out loud to Becky. Bergmsa handles some potentially tricky stuff very deftly, like the little incident of Noah's nakedness/drunkenness. So I think it would be appropriate for 7th or 8th grade students (with maybe some very slight censoring) and a wonderful way to introduce them to these concepts.
I am cheating a little bit here with this review. I haven't quite finished the book. I still have 40 pages to go (what a biblical number!). But for an adult it is a quick read.
For more book reviews go to Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks.
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Lunches for Sean
Sean's getting tired of the food in the school cafeteria. I thought it would get old quickly. At first he was so thrilled. Also, his physical trainer has been talking to him about eating better. Too many sodas, french fries and chips. So Sean and I brainstormed a bit and came up with a plan. It is a little extravagant I think, because he wants a different soup every day. I can't do that homemade, so I'm looking at soups I can get at the store that relatively healthy.
Here's our plan:
Monday - homemade pizza pockets, chicken noodle soup.
I plan to buy the whole wheat pizza dough at Trader Joe's. Grate up some mozzarella cheese and some pizza sauce. Ta da! I am going to make a bunch. Becky will get the same lunch at home here. I'll freeze a bunch of them so I can make enough for a few Mondays.
Tuesday - turkey or ham and cheese, French onion soup.
Trader Joe's has those nice pretzel rolls I can put the sandwich on. I don't know about that soup! TJ's used to have frozen French Onion but I haven't gotten for a long time because it had MSG in it. Do they still have it? If not, I'll see if I can come up with a suitable substitute. I might just give him a cup of homemade chicken broth. I need to make some more.
Wednesday - Sausage roll, potato soup
I think I'm going to get some pastry dough and some sausages and make a bunch of these and freeze them too. Potato soup??? I never get the canned stuff. I make really good potato soup but I am not sure how to make lunch size portions. I might have to find a substitute for this one too. Maybe tomato.
Thursday - grilled cheese croutons and chili
Grilled cheese croutons are the new thing around here. You just make a grilled cheese sandwich and then cut it up into crouton chunks and mix them with your soup. In this case I'm just going to open up a can of chili.
Friday - tuna or egg salad, crackers, lentil soup.
The hard thing about this is saving crackers because they are usually all eaten up by Friday. TJ's has a really nice organic lentil veggie soup that Sean really likes.
Tomorrow a.m. I am going to go shopping before Mass. Then after Mass and breakfast, I'll have to run somewhere (Target?) to get thermoses, lunch bag, etc. Then I'll come home and make the pizza pockets and the sausage rolls.
Then we made a list of 'sides'.
Fruits/veggies:
apple
banana
raisins
grapes
pear
orange/clementine
dried mango
cucumber slices
carrot sticks
something crunchy:
almonds
pretzels
those dried green beans TJ's has
tortilla chips
popcorn
Trail mix
Here's our plan:
Monday - homemade pizza pockets, chicken noodle soup.
I plan to buy the whole wheat pizza dough at Trader Joe's. Grate up some mozzarella cheese and some pizza sauce. Ta da! I am going to make a bunch. Becky will get the same lunch at home here. I'll freeze a bunch of them so I can make enough for a few Mondays.
Tuesday - turkey or ham and cheese, French onion soup.
Trader Joe's has those nice pretzel rolls I can put the sandwich on. I don't know about that soup! TJ's used to have frozen French Onion but I haven't gotten for a long time because it had MSG in it. Do they still have it? If not, I'll see if I can come up with a suitable substitute. I might just give him a cup of homemade chicken broth. I need to make some more.
Wednesday - Sausage roll, potato soup
I think I'm going to get some pastry dough and some sausages and make a bunch of these and freeze them too. Potato soup??? I never get the canned stuff. I make really good potato soup but I am not sure how to make lunch size portions. I might have to find a substitute for this one too. Maybe tomato.
Thursday - grilled cheese croutons and chili
Grilled cheese croutons are the new thing around here. You just make a grilled cheese sandwich and then cut it up into crouton chunks and mix them with your soup. In this case I'm just going to open up a can of chili.
Friday - tuna or egg salad, crackers, lentil soup.
The hard thing about this is saving crackers because they are usually all eaten up by Friday. TJ's has a really nice organic lentil veggie soup that Sean really likes.
Tomorrow a.m. I am going to go shopping before Mass. Then after Mass and breakfast, I'll have to run somewhere (Target?) to get thermoses, lunch bag, etc. Then I'll come home and make the pizza pockets and the sausage rolls.
Then we made a list of 'sides'.
Fruits/veggies:
apple
banana
raisins
grapes
pear
orange/clementine
dried mango
cucumber slices
carrot sticks
something crunchy:
almonds
pretzels
those dried green beans TJ's has
tortilla chips
popcorn
Trail mix
Friday, October 18, 2013
Thinking about our Family Traditions
I didn't feel like journaling today!
So instead I started thinking about this article at the Art of Manliness (which is such a wonderful blog for anybody; not just men).
What are our family traditions? I have never felt very good at creating these, but some have happened sort of from their own volition:
1. Prayers - we do say prayers together every night. It is just the Our Father, a listing of all our family and special intentions we ash God to bless, and then the prayer of St. Michael the Archangel. With the kids getting older though some nights we aren't all together. A couple of times we've forgotten but I'd say 98% of the time we say prayers together at night.
2. Saturday morning bagels. I've been getting bagels for Saturday mornings breakfast for at least a decade. "Is it bagel day?" Is a question that gets asked around here.
3. Going out to breakfast on Sundays. This has been happening in some way shape or form for a good part of our marriage.
4. Rick grilling on Sunday evenings. I'd say 70% of the time, Rick grills us something for dinner on Sunday nights.
5. At least one night of the week is pizza night. The actual night moves around because of our schedule but it is always there.
I just realized that a lot of this happened because I am not such a great cook. LOL!
6. First hug! The kids would always race to hug daddy first when he came home. They'd call first hug as they ran toward him. Now they are older and don't do this so much, but sometimes they will make reference to it.
7. We pretty much celebrate the holidays the same way every year. I won't go into all that detail right now but it is there in our lives.
8. Birthdays - the birthday person gets to choose what kind of cake they want and the dinner menu.
9. Nightly read alouds. This is waning too with the kids getting older, but right now Rick is reading Becky the latest Percy Jackson and he is also reading Of Mice and Men to Sean. So I might not be reading to them, but they are still getting read alouds!
10. Mass on Sundays. We make it every Sunday. Right now we are trying for the 10:00 a.m. consistently. For a few years it was the 8:15 when Hannah was in the choir. For a few years after that it was the 11:45 before everyone decided they really didn't care for the guitar music. Sometimes we go through periods where we tend to go to evening Masses at other parishes. But we always go! Sunday wouldn't be Sunday without Mass!
I think I'll ask the kids what traditions they can think of. I am sure there are little ones that I am forgetting.
So instead I started thinking about this article at the Art of Manliness (which is such a wonderful blog for anybody; not just men).
What are our family traditions? I have never felt very good at creating these, but some have happened sort of from their own volition:
1. Prayers - we do say prayers together every night. It is just the Our Father, a listing of all our family and special intentions we ash God to bless, and then the prayer of St. Michael the Archangel. With the kids getting older though some nights we aren't all together. A couple of times we've forgotten but I'd say 98% of the time we say prayers together at night.
2. Saturday morning bagels. I've been getting bagels for Saturday mornings breakfast for at least a decade. "Is it bagel day?" Is a question that gets asked around here.
3. Going out to breakfast on Sundays. This has been happening in some way shape or form for a good part of our marriage.
4. Rick grilling on Sunday evenings. I'd say 70% of the time, Rick grills us something for dinner on Sunday nights.
5. At least one night of the week is pizza night. The actual night moves around because of our schedule but it is always there.
I just realized that a lot of this happened because I am not such a great cook. LOL!
6. First hug! The kids would always race to hug daddy first when he came home. They'd call first hug as they ran toward him. Now they are older and don't do this so much, but sometimes they will make reference to it.
7. We pretty much celebrate the holidays the same way every year. I won't go into all that detail right now but it is there in our lives.
8. Birthdays - the birthday person gets to choose what kind of cake they want and the dinner menu.
9. Nightly read alouds. This is waning too with the kids getting older, but right now Rick is reading Becky the latest Percy Jackson and he is also reading Of Mice and Men to Sean. So I might not be reading to them, but they are still getting read alouds!
10. Mass on Sundays. We make it every Sunday. Right now we are trying for the 10:00 a.m. consistently. For a few years it was the 8:15 when Hannah was in the choir. For a few years after that it was the 11:45 before everyone decided they really didn't care for the guitar music. Sometimes we go through periods where we tend to go to evening Masses at other parishes. But we always go! Sunday wouldn't be Sunday without Mass!
I think I'll ask the kids what traditions they can think of. I am sure there are little ones that I am forgetting.
Journal of day - 10/17/13
Alarm went off at 5:30 but couldn't get out of bed until 5:45
Packed up everything for Aquinas Learning; made copies of worksheets, etc.
Got S up
Made him a pb&j again for breakfast
Carpool picked up S and dropped off C
Woke B up
I took shower and got dressed
Packed up lunch for B
Took B and C to Aquinas.
Prepped more for class
Taught class (Ros helped with sorting lesson in LTW)
After class hung out with ladies and read through 5 Topics worksheets
Walked to get lunch
Came back and worked on Latin translations
Got too busy talking and misremembered when class started! Students came to find me! Oops!
Had good Latin class though. These are some sharp students. I am struggling to keep up!
Drove home with B and C, dropped C off.
Came home. Talked to H who was substitute teacher today in school niece is in.
Talked to S who was very upset because more kids had teased him about his speech impediment. Very sad.
H took him out for hot cocoa to cheer him up.
Called R to talk about S's issue. Sent email to psych.
Basically collapsed, putzed around and did nothing productive for a couple of hours.
Made not very good fried rice with leftovers for dinner.
P came over.
Helped S with Latin
R came home
R read to B
R read to S
I collapsed. Don't even remember going to bed!
Packed up everything for Aquinas Learning; made copies of worksheets, etc.
Got S up
Made him a pb&j again for breakfast
Carpool picked up S and dropped off C
Woke B up
I took shower and got dressed
Packed up lunch for B
Took B and C to Aquinas.
Prepped more for class
Taught class (Ros helped with sorting lesson in LTW)
After class hung out with ladies and read through 5 Topics worksheets
Walked to get lunch
Came back and worked on Latin translations
Got too busy talking and misremembered when class started! Students came to find me! Oops!
Had good Latin class though. These are some sharp students. I am struggling to keep up!
Drove home with B and C, dropped C off.
Came home. Talked to H who was substitute teacher today in school niece is in.
Talked to S who was very upset because more kids had teased him about his speech impediment. Very sad.
H took him out for hot cocoa to cheer him up.
Called R to talk about S's issue. Sent email to psych.
Basically collapsed, putzed around and did nothing productive for a couple of hours.
Made not very good fried rice with leftovers for dinner.
P came over.
Helped S with Latin
R came home
R read to B
R read to S
I collapsed. Don't even remember going to bed!
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Journal of Day - Wednesday 10/16/13
Alarm went off at 5:30
Got out of bed at 5:40
Fed pets
listened to beautiful hymn music while sipping coffee
Got S up
moved laundry
made him a pb&j for breakfast
took him and N to school
Came home
answered email
got B up
made her scrambled eggs and eng. muffin
B worked on math test
unloaded dishwasher
during math tutor answered more email
cleaned kitchen more. Sadly, no matter how much I clean it never looks that much better!
Went into panic mode about missing books. I have mislaid the Latin books for the course I am teaching.
I have also mislaid all the books I need for handling the religious awards for our AHG troop. And I'm the religious award person.
I tore through the house looking for both sets of books. Rick helped a bit but we couldn't find either. the AHG stuff has been missing for weeks. The Latin stuff I just notice missing last Wednesday. I have no idea where they are; no memory whatsoever. I hate being ADD.
Becky worked more on her ANI chart
Becky and I worked on her logic together. This is heavy duty stuff for a 7th grader.
I read history out loud to B but then started to fall asleep.
S called. He was released at 1:30 not 2.
Made cup of coffee because I was too sleepy to drive.
Picked up S - he complained about how long it took me :(
B was supposed to read a biography of famous men from Middle Ages and write essay.
She may or may not have read it.
I gave her and Sean a break before we start up studies again.
Sent more emails to students
Did outline of lesson plan for tomorrow but need to do more substantial planning for it.
Becky wrote her essay.
S did his Latin homework
Trainer came. Doesn't usually come on Wednesdays. B goes with them for fun!
I wasted time on internet.
Got carry out from 5 guys for dinner.
B did her 5 Topics outline
S did his biology vocab.
R read to both kids
Didn't get to bed until 11:00 p.m.
Got out of bed at 5:40
Fed pets
listened to beautiful hymn music while sipping coffee
Got S up
moved laundry
made him a pb&j for breakfast
took him and N to school
Came home
answered email
got B up
made her scrambled eggs and eng. muffin
B worked on math test
unloaded dishwasher
during math tutor answered more email
cleaned kitchen more. Sadly, no matter how much I clean it never looks that much better!
Went into panic mode about missing books. I have mislaid the Latin books for the course I am teaching.
I have also mislaid all the books I need for handling the religious awards for our AHG troop. And I'm the religious award person.
I tore through the house looking for both sets of books. Rick helped a bit but we couldn't find either. the AHG stuff has been missing for weeks. The Latin stuff I just notice missing last Wednesday. I have no idea where they are; no memory whatsoever. I hate being ADD.
Becky worked more on her ANI chart
Becky and I worked on her logic together. This is heavy duty stuff for a 7th grader.
I read history out loud to B but then started to fall asleep.
S called. He was released at 1:30 not 2.
Made cup of coffee because I was too sleepy to drive.
Picked up S - he complained about how long it took me :(
B was supposed to read a biography of famous men from Middle Ages and write essay.
She may or may not have read it.
I gave her and Sean a break before we start up studies again.
Sent more emails to students
Did outline of lesson plan for tomorrow but need to do more substantial planning for it.
Becky wrote her essay.
S did his Latin homework
Trainer came. Doesn't usually come on Wednesdays. B goes with them for fun!
I wasted time on internet.
Got carry out from 5 guys for dinner.
B did her 5 Topics outline
S did his biology vocab.
R read to both kids
Didn't get to bed until 11:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Journaling the Week - 10/14/13 and 10/15/13
I decided yesterday that I should journal all the stuff I get done since I really seem to be in the habit of beating myself up whenever there is any stress or anything. Suddenly, I am down in the dumps, yelling at myself for never getting anything right, then I eat and eat and eat. Bad habits! So I am going to journal all the stuff I do get done. Just bare bones record keeping since that is all I have time for really.
First, I'll do Monday - Columbus Day
Slept in a bit (that's good!)
Finished writing my book review for Read 52 Books (always have a sense of accomplishment there!)
Cleaned the kitchen
Went to Mass at 10:00 a.m. (lovely!)
Came home to Rick making pancakes and scrambled eggs - nice!
putzed around a bit.
Put on a load of laundry
baked cookies to send to Josh
make a nice spaghetti dinner for Will
Rick took Will to airport to go back to Boston
Nagged or rather encouraged children to do homework they had been putting off.
Rick really helped them though when he got back.
Sat and watched Antiques Roadshow and then Genaology Roadshow - love both those shows!
Tuesday:
Fed pets
Got Sean up for school
Took him to school through bad fog! Crazy
Got gas in van
Cleaned kitchen
Made bagels for Becky and Rick
Read rest of Beowulf to Becky over breakfast
Becky picked her issue for her ANI chart
Took B to music lessons
While in car made appt for dermatologist
Finished a Father Brown story
Cleaned out purse
Came home
Becky worked on math
I took shower
put on more laundry
Started pork roast in crock pot
Took B to art class
picked S up from school
ran to Whole Foods and got him a snack before his psych appt.
Mailed cookies to J
Picked up B from art and ran to library to drop off due books and pick up a couple more
Picked up S
Stopped at dry cleaners on way home.
Got home and basically fell apart energy wise.
Almost fell asleep for a few minutes but doorbell interrupted.
Got on internet and wasted time!
Started rest of dinner
Made B do her Latin homework
Saw H for a few minutes before she went out.
R came home
Ate dinner
B worked on math again
B also worked a bit on her ANI Chart for composition
R worked with S on Biology vocabulary.
Cleaned kitchen
Put laundry away
In bed by 10:30
First, I'll do Monday - Columbus Day
Slept in a bit (that's good!)
Finished writing my book review for Read 52 Books (always have a sense of accomplishment there!)
Cleaned the kitchen
Went to Mass at 10:00 a.m. (lovely!)
Came home to Rick making pancakes and scrambled eggs - nice!
putzed around a bit.
Put on a load of laundry
baked cookies to send to Josh
make a nice spaghetti dinner for Will
Rick took Will to airport to go back to Boston
Nagged or rather encouraged children to do homework they had been putting off.
Rick really helped them though when he got back.
Sat and watched Antiques Roadshow and then Genaology Roadshow - love both those shows!
Tuesday:
Fed pets
Got Sean up for school
Took him to school through bad fog! Crazy
Got gas in van
Cleaned kitchen
Made bagels for Becky and Rick
Read rest of Beowulf to Becky over breakfast
Becky picked her issue for her ANI chart
Took B to music lessons
While in car made appt for dermatologist
Finished a Father Brown story
Cleaned out purse
Came home
Becky worked on math
I took shower
put on more laundry
Started pork roast in crock pot
Took B to art class
picked S up from school
ran to Whole Foods and got him a snack before his psych appt.
Mailed cookies to J
Picked up B from art and ran to library to drop off due books and pick up a couple more
Picked up S
Stopped at dry cleaners on way home.
Got home and basically fell apart energy wise.
Almost fell asleep for a few minutes but doorbell interrupted.
Got on internet and wasted time!
Started rest of dinner
Made B do her Latin homework
Saw H for a few minutes before she went out.
R came home
Ate dinner
B worked on math again
B also worked a bit on her ANI Chart for composition
R worked with S on Biology vocabulary.
Cleaned kitchen
Put laundry away
In bed by 10:30
Monday, October 14, 2013
Camerado, I Give You My Hand - Book 45
Camerado, I Give You My Hand by Maura Poston Zagrans is the story of Father David Link, a man who became a priest at the age of 71 after having a very successful law career and serving as the dean of the law school at the University of Notre Dame for many years. But the book is really about how to serve other people and it is most especially about prison reform.
Father David Link (you can like him on facebook!)is a man of amazing optimism and drive. His life is completely grounded in love for others. He started out as a successful student and attorney, always rising to the upper echelons of whatever endeavor he focused on. After becoming a partner in a successful law firm in Chicago he was invited to teach at Notre Dame and then quickly became dean of the school. He is remembered for emphasizing ethics in the practice of law; as seeing lawyers as people who are trying to resolve conflict so that all parties benefit. The sense that lawyers are a civilizing force in society; that they are there to serve society is what my father, a lawyer and judge, believed. Lawyers have a very tarnished image now, probably pretty well deserved. I think it is the breakdown in our society; we no longer have widely accepted cultural principles that we all work from. Father Dave also was very involved in the Civil Rights movement and helping the homeless. He co-founded a very successful homeless shelter that took a holistic approach to giving the homeless what they needed to break out of the vicious cycle of poverty that had brought them so low.
Throughout the book we learn about Father David's wife of 45 years, Barbara. Barbara was a strong moral force in Father David's life. It was she who suggested that Father Dave get involved in prison ministry. After she died, he became a priest and his whole life is focused on ministering to prisoners. In fact this whole book is a build up to Father David's A Crime Peace Plan, his vision for prison reform in the U.S.
Many years ago I worked with prisoners as a public defender. I was appalled at our prison system. I heartily agree with Father Dave's well-thought out solution to the problem of epidemic levels of incarceration that exists today. The War on Drugs/Crime is a failure. As Father Dave points out 'war' is always costly and there is always injustice and destruction as a result. Governments shouldn't be at war with their own citizens, those from which it derives its very authority. His plan is practical and just.
This book was an easy read for me. I found the man and his life fascinating. The author's writing style does strike me as a little bit simplistic. Really it is wave after wave of praise for Father Dave from people who knew or know him in all walks of his life. But I kept thinking, did he never, ever do anything wrong? Sometimes the praise just seemed a little over the top. I guess because I just finished Mornings on Horseback which was such a incredible biography,and which doesn't shy away from complexities and flaws even in a brilliant and great man. But perhaps the author is constrained a bit because she knows Father Dave and he and his family are all still alive.
Still, Father Dave is deeply inspirational. I'd love to get involved somehow in promoting his prison reform. I do think our growing prison population is a sign of the deepening gulf between the rich and the poor in our country.
But one last thing, maybe I missed it, but I can't for the life of me figure out where the title comes from. I think I'll have to go back and reread the book to find it. I did read through this book quickly, in less than two days, mostly because it really spoke to authentic Catholic social justice, which I always find so uplifting.
I highly recommend this book! For more book reviews go to Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks.
Father David Link (you can like him on facebook!)is a man of amazing optimism and drive. His life is completely grounded in love for others. He started out as a successful student and attorney, always rising to the upper echelons of whatever endeavor he focused on. After becoming a partner in a successful law firm in Chicago he was invited to teach at Notre Dame and then quickly became dean of the school. He is remembered for emphasizing ethics in the practice of law; as seeing lawyers as people who are trying to resolve conflict so that all parties benefit. The sense that lawyers are a civilizing force in society; that they are there to serve society is what my father, a lawyer and judge, believed. Lawyers have a very tarnished image now, probably pretty well deserved. I think it is the breakdown in our society; we no longer have widely accepted cultural principles that we all work from. Father Dave also was very involved in the Civil Rights movement and helping the homeless. He co-founded a very successful homeless shelter that took a holistic approach to giving the homeless what they needed to break out of the vicious cycle of poverty that had brought them so low.
Throughout the book we learn about Father David's wife of 45 years, Barbara. Barbara was a strong moral force in Father David's life. It was she who suggested that Father Dave get involved in prison ministry. After she died, he became a priest and his whole life is focused on ministering to prisoners. In fact this whole book is a build up to Father David's A Crime Peace Plan, his vision for prison reform in the U.S.
Many years ago I worked with prisoners as a public defender. I was appalled at our prison system. I heartily agree with Father Dave's well-thought out solution to the problem of epidemic levels of incarceration that exists today. The War on Drugs/Crime is a failure. As Father Dave points out 'war' is always costly and there is always injustice and destruction as a result. Governments shouldn't be at war with their own citizens, those from which it derives its very authority. His plan is practical and just.
This book was an easy read for me. I found the man and his life fascinating. The author's writing style does strike me as a little bit simplistic. Really it is wave after wave of praise for Father Dave from people who knew or know him in all walks of his life. But I kept thinking, did he never, ever do anything wrong? Sometimes the praise just seemed a little over the top. I guess because I just finished Mornings on Horseback which was such a incredible biography,and which doesn't shy away from complexities and flaws even in a brilliant and great man. But perhaps the author is constrained a bit because she knows Father Dave and he and his family are all still alive.
Still, Father Dave is deeply inspirational. I'd love to get involved somehow in promoting his prison reform. I do think our growing prison population is a sign of the deepening gulf between the rich and the poor in our country.
But one last thing, maybe I missed it, but I can't for the life of me figure out where the title comes from. I think I'll have to go back and reread the book to find it. I did read through this book quickly, in less than two days, mostly because it really spoke to authentic Catholic social justice, which I always find so uplifting.
I highly recommend this book! For more book reviews go to Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
No time for blogging!
Since our fall schedule really got into swing I just haven't had much time for blogging. I used to actually write blog posts in my head a head of time, but now my head is crowded with other things and I am not even doing that.
Also, I am going through a 'cringe-y' period. I just keep thinking about things that make me cringe. The whole government shut down and both sides being ridiculously partisan and so lost in blaming and name-calling they don't even realize how stupid they both are. Cringe. I've made a couple of completely unforeseeable blunders (the kind that in retrospect you have no idea how you could have avoided) and those keep making me cringe. Then I got all offended over something and didn't handle it all that well at first - that makes me cringe too. So I am just feeling emotionally vulnerable which means it is a good time to be off line a lot.
I've been busy. . . .
Getting up early in the a.m. and getting him off to high school, though I only have to make the drive myself 2 or 3 times a week. Then picking him up and helping with homework.
Trying to teach and cope with my 12 yo daughter who is obviously going through a tough beginning period of adolescence. She's pretty prickly and irrational and thus very hard to manage! We seem to have several confrontations a day with at least one ending in tears.
Preparing for teaching at Aquinas Learning which means literature, writing and Latin.
Driving a lot, especially on Tuesdays and Thursdays but then also every other day of the week too!
Prepping for teaching a religious education class for 8th grade girls Monday evenings.
Co-leading the Pioneers/Patriots for our American Heritage Girls plus I am supposed to be the religious awards person but I haven't even started that!
Trying (but failing miserably) at feeding my family in a more healthy way.
Trying to be a better housekeeper. Failing pretty much there.
One very good thing is that my neck no longer is killing me. But I did burn out on having to go to physical therapy all the time. I have stopped doing physical training because 1) I am afraid of being injured again which was too draining and time consuming! and 2) I feel like it would just add stress and more of a time crunch on everything. But on the other hand I was so proud of myself that I was daring to do it and I did feel better physically (except when I had aching muscles and you know, the injury!). So somehow I also want to fold into things:
- more walking, especially with my dog.
- trying to get a few minutes of gentle exercise in at least twice a week.
Alright, I have vowed to myself that I will use the hour the math tutor is here to clean my house, so that's what I'm going to do now.
Also, I am going through a 'cringe-y' period. I just keep thinking about things that make me cringe. The whole government shut down and both sides being ridiculously partisan and so lost in blaming and name-calling they don't even realize how stupid they both are. Cringe. I've made a couple of completely unforeseeable blunders (the kind that in retrospect you have no idea how you could have avoided) and those keep making me cringe. Then I got all offended over something and didn't handle it all that well at first - that makes me cringe too. So I am just feeling emotionally vulnerable which means it is a good time to be off line a lot.
I've been busy. . . .
Getting up early in the a.m. and getting him off to high school, though I only have to make the drive myself 2 or 3 times a week. Then picking him up and helping with homework.
Trying to teach and cope with my 12 yo daughter who is obviously going through a tough beginning period of adolescence. She's pretty prickly and irrational and thus very hard to manage! We seem to have several confrontations a day with at least one ending in tears.
Preparing for teaching at Aquinas Learning which means literature, writing and Latin.
Driving a lot, especially on Tuesdays and Thursdays but then also every other day of the week too!
Prepping for teaching a religious education class for 8th grade girls Monday evenings.
Co-leading the Pioneers/Patriots for our American Heritage Girls plus I am supposed to be the religious awards person but I haven't even started that!
Trying (but failing miserably) at feeding my family in a more healthy way.
Trying to be a better housekeeper. Failing pretty much there.
One very good thing is that my neck no longer is killing me. But I did burn out on having to go to physical therapy all the time. I have stopped doing physical training because 1) I am afraid of being injured again which was too draining and time consuming! and 2) I feel like it would just add stress and more of a time crunch on everything. But on the other hand I was so proud of myself that I was daring to do it and I did feel better physically (except when I had aching muscles and you know, the injury!). So somehow I also want to fold into things:
- more walking, especially with my dog.
- trying to get a few minutes of gentle exercise in at least twice a week.
Alright, I have vowed to myself that I will use the hour the math tutor is here to clean my house, so that's what I'm going to do now.
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Mornings on Horseback - Book 44
This was a lovely read. Mornings on Horseback by David McCullough traces Teddy Roosevelt's childhood and his family background up to his marriage to Edith Carow. It is incredibly interesting and McCullough writes in such a highly readable but intelligent way. He obviously loves Roosevelt and writes about him with great respect and with a nuanced perception of all the many factors that went into the shaping of this unusual and complex man. We learn all about Roosevelt's peculiarities as well as his flashes of brilliance that give us a taste of what is to come.
Roosevelt was born to one of the most prominent and wealthy families in New York city. His family really had it all, wealth, education, intelligence, a strong sense of virtue, a sense of moral and social duties. His father (also Theodore) was a really interesting and admirable man who managed to balance vast wealth with a strong sense of philanthropy and a sense of modesty. Teddy adored his father, but tragically he died from stomach cancer at age 46, while Teddy was studying at Harvard. The way McCullough tells it will bring tears to your eyes. The Roosevelt family for all their money really struggled with health issues; oldest daughter's deformed back; Teddy's asthma, Elliot's 'nervous' issues and then his alcoholism, etc. They were an extremely loving and close family. They home schooled their children because of health issues and frankly I think this contributed to Teddy's ability to think outside the box!
Two things struck me about politics as it is written about in this book: One, things were really corrupt even back then! I think we tend to get so focused on the here and now, we forget that it has always been like this! And two, it was so strange reading about the Republican party and how it was the party of Lincoln, civil rights, reform. Oh that it could go back to those days! Actually, even during Teddy's time they were trying to reform the party. After Lincoln, when Grant took over, there was a lot of corruption. This was politics done Tammany Hall style and it did not sit well with many, including both the elder Roosevelt and Teddy. The book only goes up Teddy's first unsuccessful run for mayor. He had been an assemblyman in Albany and had really aroused people's interest in him. He was truly seen as a maverick who was guided by a strong sense of justice.
One really cool thing about reading this book that I didn't expect, Teddy Roosevelt and Samuel Gompers (my great grandfather) visiting the cigar makers homes. They lived in overcrowded tenements and worked in horrific conditions. Roosevelt tried to pass laws protecting them. Samuel Gompers seemed to have really liked Teddy! It was fun reading about my own great grandfather.
And while that was interesting, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Teddy Roosevelt's unusual and privileged childhood and also about his escapades ranching out in the Badlands, after his first wife died so tragically when he was only 25.
I highly recommend this book. This is the second book I've read by McCullough. I read 1776 a couple years ago. That one follows George Washington month by month in that important year. That was a great book too. I look forward to learning more history at McCullough's knee. He is a great storyteller!
For more book reviews go to Read 52 Book in 52 Weeks.
Roosevelt was born to one of the most prominent and wealthy families in New York city. His family really had it all, wealth, education, intelligence, a strong sense of virtue, a sense of moral and social duties. His father (also Theodore) was a really interesting and admirable man who managed to balance vast wealth with a strong sense of philanthropy and a sense of modesty. Teddy adored his father, but tragically he died from stomach cancer at age 46, while Teddy was studying at Harvard. The way McCullough tells it will bring tears to your eyes. The Roosevelt family for all their money really struggled with health issues; oldest daughter's deformed back; Teddy's asthma, Elliot's 'nervous' issues and then his alcoholism, etc. They were an extremely loving and close family. They home schooled their children because of health issues and frankly I think this contributed to Teddy's ability to think outside the box!
Two things struck me about politics as it is written about in this book: One, things were really corrupt even back then! I think we tend to get so focused on the here and now, we forget that it has always been like this! And two, it was so strange reading about the Republican party and how it was the party of Lincoln, civil rights, reform. Oh that it could go back to those days! Actually, even during Teddy's time they were trying to reform the party. After Lincoln, when Grant took over, there was a lot of corruption. This was politics done Tammany Hall style and it did not sit well with many, including both the elder Roosevelt and Teddy. The book only goes up Teddy's first unsuccessful run for mayor. He had been an assemblyman in Albany and had really aroused people's interest in him. He was truly seen as a maverick who was guided by a strong sense of justice.
One really cool thing about reading this book that I didn't expect, Teddy Roosevelt and Samuel Gompers (my great grandfather) visiting the cigar makers homes. They lived in overcrowded tenements and worked in horrific conditions. Roosevelt tried to pass laws protecting them. Samuel Gompers seemed to have really liked Teddy! It was fun reading about my own great grandfather.
And while that was interesting, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Teddy Roosevelt's unusual and privileged childhood and also about his escapades ranching out in the Badlands, after his first wife died so tragically when he was only 25.
I highly recommend this book. This is the second book I've read by McCullough. I read 1776 a couple years ago. That one follows George Washington month by month in that important year. That was a great book too. I look forward to learning more history at McCullough's knee. He is a great storyteller!
For more book reviews go to Read 52 Book in 52 Weeks.
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