Random Thoughts of a Catholic Husband, Father, Physician, Licensed Commercial Septic System Operator, Driving Instructor, Tractor Mechanic, Gardener, Deliverer of All Foods Carry-out, Amateur Book Reviewer, Neo-Texan, Novice Chicken Rancher, Beekeeper, and Writer of Really, Really Bad Poetry. I try to live up to Chesterton's observation that 'a thing worth doing is worth doing badly.'
Where is the sacrifice when the menu for tonight's dinner consists of:
Grilled salmon
Grilled Mahi-Mahi Tuna
Grilled yellow squash from our own garden
Homemade macaroni and cheese(for those who do not eat fish)
Fresh fruit
Don't get me wrong. I love meat, especially chicken and beef, and barbecue is one of those things which is done best in Texas. But grilled seafood is what made me realize that there is more to life than tuna fish and fish sticks. Recall that I am still observing a vow which I included in this posting.
Today, the first Saturday of Lent, I started out by going to the TSRA (Texas State Rifle Association) meeting. Actually, we only went to the gun show part of the meeting, since we did not have time to stick around for the seminars and meetings. acouple of thoughts came out of walking around the displays.
One is that one part of the economy is really booming; all the folks reported a brisk sale of guns and ammunition. Signs indicating accessories which might be outlawed in the future by our present regime were everywhere. The only down side of this economically stimulated niche was that ammunition was in short supply, and the prices were higher than a few months ago.
Another thought is that some of the vendors at gun shows don't seem to be there to sell guns. There were some tables full of food, perfume, cameras, knives (well I guess that is okay), and books. While most displays were very professional and organized, there were other tables that looked as if they were selling stuff left over from a garage sale. The only thing I saw in common with all these tables was at least one gun for sale on each table. I spent the longest time talking to a man who had a collection of old cameras.
The kids wanted me to buy an AR-15, but I don't know what I would do with one. We couldn't shoot it on our property without the bullet traveling to the next county. I did enter a drawing for a few things. One was for a gun safe, which would be a great way to store the air guns that are literally stuffed into the first gun safe we have. The other drawing was for something which falls under the 'Harley-Davidson' category of things in this world.
Let me explain.
As a physician, I have a bad attitude about cigarettes, cigars, hang gliding, parachuting, motorcycle riding, ATV's, and accordions. All of these things are associated with bad memories from working at high level trauma centers or, in the case of the accordion, from taking my children to a piano teacher who had a picture of the 'father of the accordion' on her mantlepiece. Since I only see the down side of these things, I would never allow one in my house. For example, I would not want a motorcycle because of the danger it would expose myself and my family to. The exception is in the case of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle; if one found itself somehow attached to my estate I would keep it 'just because it's a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.'
This is the one which was made famous during the 1920's and was used extensively during World War II. I am sure the one I probably won't win is not fully automatic(I am not licensed to have a machine gun, to the great disappointment of my sons), but it still would be cool to fire, kinda like this one:
Cool.
After going to the gun show, we stopped off at Costco. It was lunchtime, so I sent the two Noisykids with me to grab a slice of pizza and a drink for all of us. In the meantime, I went shopping. Within minutes, I had entered the free samples zone, and soon found myself full of goodies. I had pot roast, baked tilapia, smoked salmon, almond butter, pizza(two kinds), organic pasta sauce, apple slices, sliced turkey, sugar cereal, chicken salad, bagel and cream cheese, and some muffins. After all that I did not want what the boys brought back from the food court. I ran into one of the workers at Costco who recently graduated from our homeshooling group, and he smiled at me and said,
"Ah, Lent!"
All this sample testing went well until I stopped by one table and popped a handful of what looked like granola into my mouth. Not much taste, I thought.
"That's cat litter you just put into your mouth, son," the man at the display said.
All this indulging in food, and the comment about Lent made me remind the children(and myself) that I have to try all the samples for the good of Costco as well as for the good of my family. I mean to say that if I did not try something, I would not know if it would be acceptable for my family. How else would we have known that peanut butter filled pretzels were better than they looked?
About Mortification:
Lent is here, and there are some things I have decided to give up. They are three simple things which go along with the family sacrifices.
They are:
1. 15-minute rule on the computer, which I am flagrantly violating by typing this post. This includes not putting anything on Facebook unless it is in response to another person's message on Facebook.
2. Custody of the eyes. This is something any male must practice, and I am cracking down on myself this Lent.
3. I am taking a temporary vow, not punishable by sin if it is violated. This vow is to:
NEVER AGAIN EAT FISH WHICH HAS BEEN BREADED AND FRIED OR BAKED; TO EAT ONLY FISH WHICH IS UNCOVERED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THAT ALL OF SAID FISH IS PART OF THE SAME PARTICULAR FISH OR PORTION OF FISH BODY, THEREBY AVOIDING THE CONSUMPTION OF INFERIOR FISH WHICH HAS BEEN PROCESSED INTO PORTIONS BY CONGLOMERATION OF FISH FLESH WITH THAT WHICH WILL HOLD IT TOGETHER.
Take a look at the Feto-Meter above. I just noticed that the little Noisykid has sprouted a set of well defined feet and hands.
How I spent the 4th of July....on Liver Transplant Call.
Slept in, got up and did a little school work with the kids.
Spent most of the time in the school room writing checks for bills which are due at the beginning of the month. Watched the balance drop on my checkbook.
Had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch.
Went to the store with Histor the Wise to purchase stuff for college. We shall pack the stuff up and send it on ahead.
For dinner, the kids made homemade pizza. It being the 4th of July, I had to grill something. Since it was Friday, I grilled Ahi Tuna steaks marinated in Hoisin sauce. I got the idea for the Hoisin sauce from our Anniversary dinner, where I got the Chilean Sea Bass with noodles in Hoisin sauce. (Two things impressed me about that dish: one is that I was eating the preferred fish of most giant squids, and the other was that the Hoisin sauce was delicious!)
4 out of 5 Giant Squids prefer Chilean Sea Bass, with or without Hoisin sauce!!!!!!!
After dinner, I wandered out to inspect the pecan trees. I took along an air rifle and pellets just for grins. I took some shots at a Papa John's pizza box that was in a huge pile of brush that I plan on burning this Winter.
One cool thing about the air rifle I used is that it is a repeater; one can shoot seven .177 cal pellets as fast as one can pull down the underlever device. It is a sweet little German air rifle made by RWS Diana, and is called the 300R. That is it pictured above. You can't see it, but the barrel has an engraving of the goddess Diana holding aloft a rifle, with bow and arrow discarded at her feet.
The pecan trees are showing some signs of recovery from drying out. Above the dead and dry leaves, there is new growth which shows great promise. There are also some leaves which look as if they were lunch, so I shall have to figure out something to spray on the trees to keep them from being eaten.
After watering the trees, several of my sons and I positioned the hose out on our property in case any fireworks landed and started a fire.
After night prayers, the younger kids sat on the back porch while the older kids cleaned up from dinner. We enjoyed watching other people's fireworks. To rephrase a line from General Patton, I didn't want to spend a fortune setting off fireworks; instead, I went out and let some other poor soul spend his money so I could watch fireworks.
I went for a walk around eleven p.m. with the older boys, and the fireworks were still going.
At 1 a.m., right now, I still hear the report of fireworks. It is also neat to hear the coyotes join in with the sirens that punctuate the night.
Notice that I never mentioned watching TV? Well, I was free to do all those things because we don't have a television; in fact, we got rid of it 13 years ago today. I mention this every year, and it wouldn't be the same if I didn't encourage folks to trash the TV.
We drove our TV - literally - out of our house. In retrospect, I should have used IT for target practice with the air rifle!
July 1, 2008 is the 19th Wedding Anniversary of dadwithnoisykids and Wifeofdadwithnoisykids!
For better or worse,in sickness and in health,for richer or for poorer,'til death do us part.
These past 19 years have been filled with graces from God.
We have seen the birth of twelve children and eagerly await the arrival of the 2009 Model of Noisykid.
We have migrated around Southeastern Michigan, moved to San Antonio, Texas, and then moved up to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Our home has grown from a 700 square foot efficiency in married student housing to a 12 acre slice of Texas soil.
We have survived medical school, internship, residency, fellowship, military service, and private practice - so far.
We have suffered the loss of two children by miscarriage, and lost our third child, Theodore, this past April.
The strength to stay together in the face of so many trials is truly a gift from God; the graces of the Sacrament of Matrimony, as well as the Eucharist and Confession, have held us up tremendously.
Give Thanks To God.
That is Theodore in front of the picture of Divine Mercy.
All of these experiences have just made me love my wife more and more; with each day, my love for Wifeofdadwithnoisykids grows.
Tonight we went out to Nick & Sam's for our Anniversary Dinner. I was sitting at a table where I could see all that was going on in the kitchen. Being a man who is distracted by shiny objects, I kept on looking at the chefs as they hurried around the kitchen. At the same time, I kept thinking about how deeply I love my wife. As my wife pointed out to me, love is an act of the will, and can be expressed in various degrees.
For myself, I love my wife deeply, sincerely.
Thoughts of love blend with visions of chefs at work.
Today is the Feast of St. Lawrence, who was grilled to death under the Emperor Valerian. Legend has it that he joked that he was 'done' on one side and could be turned over.
The other story about St. Lawrence is that he brought together all the riches of the Church to show to the Romans. The riches that he showed them were the poor and needy that were helped by the Church.
So, in honor of St. Lawrence, we grilled tonight. Since it was Friday, we had fish.
Friday night dinner
Cooks: 12-year old boy Noisykid, and 10-year old girl Noisykid
Grilled Mahi Mahi Pasta Marinara Sauce Green Beans Garlic Toast
File photo of Capt. Stewbean with a plate of grilled Mahi-Mahi.
Wednesdays are meatless days in Lent. If I had my way they would be meatless all year round.
Then we would have to give up meat on another day. Repeat the process until we are vegetarians.
March 21, 2007 consisted of:
Grilled and seasoned Mahi-Mahi filets
Basmati rice pilaf
Garden Salad
Tuna fish sandwiches for those who refused to eat Mahi-Mahi. Please don't ask me to explain this.
Water
Please note that the Noisykids have a serious shellfish allergy, and so the only kind of seafood featured here will be fish. If I want to eat shellfish, I have to get it at a restaurant.
Mary my mother, take my hand today, and all days. Lead me away from all occasions of sin. Guide me in fulfilling your last words in the Gospel, "Do whatever He tells you." Amen.
I used to have a section here where I listed some of my interests, but I was saddened to see that it linked my site to folks who had, well, behavior not really in line with that of a Catholic working hard to be a good dadwithnoisykids.
We have 12 living children, and their ages are: 21, 19, 17, 16, 15, 13, 12, 10, 9, 7, 5, and 2 years old.
Our third child, Theodore, passed away on April 3, 2008, at the age of 15.
Skyline Drive, Northern Virginia, September 2008.
