Thanks, Amy.

Ben just left, and I'm surprisingly wistful. A big dance!

That's a big deal, Amy! How old is he?

What a mess, JZ. Good on you for going to the meeting. Is it not an RC church? I'm surprised at the pastor getting to fire another pastor.

He's fourteen, and a total sweetheart.

I'm surprised at the pastor getting to fire another pastor.

That surprised me, too, but I don't know much about the Catholic church works on the parish level.

I'm glad you found a new parish, JZ, but it's really a shame that the old one is having such a hard time.

My parents' church just elected a new minister, because the previous one retired after almost thirty years. He's Mexican and Scottish, and has a lot of plans to try to appeal to the Hispanic population in town.

Happy birthday, Dana!

JZ, I'm sorry your former parish is going through so much upheaval.

I've had a pretty good day. I picked up some cat meds, got my car washed by a girls' softball team working a fundraiser, and did a bunch of gardening. Then I sat out on my front porch with my cat and a book for a few hours. Tonight I'll be meeting amyth and some other local friends for the new Who. Meanwhile, there's been a White Collar marathon on all day. Mmmmmmm, Tim DeKay et al.

He's fourteen, and a total sweetheart.

Aw!

My parents' minister just announced his resignation -- as of January. Too much notice! But so far, so good.

No, it is RC. Everything I've heard is third-hand so I don't know exactly what's up, but the older pastor is officially retired (but covers all the Masses anyone else can't, and does counseling and paperwork and usually presides at the Spanish Masses in return for room and board and a tiny stipend). So I assume he's been told they can't afford to house or feed him or pay his stipend and he'll have to move to a retirement home for religious. I think the deacon also gets a stipend, except apparently he doesn't anymore.

But, honestly, I don't know exactly what's up. Except that, yeah, I don't think a pastor can really fire another pastor, which is why I suspect he's being told what to do.

Yikes.

And today's overheard at the nail place: "Can you believe they were in the exact same colors as the evil stepsisters?? What are the odds??" The odds that it was photoshop? 100%. [link] (The nail place only has old magazines....)

Happy Birthday Dana

JZ, that sounds hard. In Rochester, we actually had a parish split and form a new church (non-RC) with the beloved pastor. But some people just never went back to either place.

I just made stuffed peppers (sausage and cream cheese stuffing) with 6 of the hungaran peppers. I hope they freeze, as I am only one person, and I still have 4 more peppers. Maybe I should take some down to the neghbor that gave them to me.