I Stand Corrected

Last night Quincy's school had their end of the year open house.  While reading one of his poems about dinosaurs I read the line "no dinosaur could fly".

Says me:  "What about Teradactyls?"

Replies Quincy:  "Mooomm.  Teradactyls are Pterosaurs!"

Geez, parents can be such idiots sometimes.  

Meet the family...

Back in February I mentioned that we would be selecting saint names as part of our chrismation process. Just thought I'd post a little update to tell you "who" we are.....

St. Herman of Alaska

Erik initially was favoring St. Innocent, but was impressed more -at least I think - by the humble nature of St. Herman. He was a Russian monk who was one of the first missionaries to Alaska and beloved by the native people there. He built a school, and I think he helped develop a written language. And he defended the Aleut people against the frequent exploitation of the Russian fur traders. He was not necessarily  highly educated and never aspired to "advance" in any sort of way. He lived a pretty solitary and ascetic life.  He was not a priest, yet the people referred to him as "father" so that certainly speaks to his commitment to them. Overall, he was a good man and I think that really says it all.

St. Brigid of Ireland

After taking several weeks of my usual indecision and waffling and a last minute flirtation with Hermione, I finally settled comfortably with dear Brigid. While her hagiography is muddled with that of the Celtic Brigid, there are characteristics about her that stand through all the various legends and folklore. Primary was her generosity and compassion for the poor. There seemed to be a gentleness about her although she was also a woman of intelligence, committment, and strength. While Hermione seemed to share more of my actual personality traits - I was once described by someone as having "piss and vinegar" and Hermione seems to have had more than a fair amount of sass - Brigid is the one who, at the end of the day, I desire to emulate and grow to be more like.  I desire her prayers for my growth and hope that one day those same qualities will be seen in me.

St. Basil the Great

Erik and I agreed that while we wanted the kids to have some say in their saint names, we did want to at least narrow down the options for them.  For Quincy we both went immediately to the Church Fathers and various other theologian/scholarly types because - and I really don't want to sound like that incredibly annoying overly proud mother - but he really is a bright kid with a genuine thirst for knowledge and understanding.  From there it was narrowed pretty quickly to the 3 Cappadocian Fathers -- Gregory the Theologian (of Nazianzus), Gregory of Nyssa, and his brother Basil.   All great men, but after some discussion over what they all did, looking at their various icons, and assuring Quincy that Basil is not just an herb, this is who he chose.  We were also quick to point out that he is the only one with "the Great" attached to his saint.  Now when asked, he states his saint name with pride.

St. Anna

Okay, okay, I will admit that I had my preferences for who Addie should pick, but forced myself to go ahead and let her be involved in the process even though I knew that meant the decision would most likely come down to which icon had the most pink in it.  I was really pulling for Hermione (it was only when Adelaide rejected her that she made her way over to my list), but there was also St. Helen who I was partial to because it was my grandmother's name.  And I believe we also had Susannah and Sophia.  While there were little details that she was quick to point out in each one, much to my surprise it was Anna that she kept coming back to as her favorite.  We explained that she was the mother of Mary and a very special woman indeed to have raised a daughter worthy to be the bearer of God.  Anna and her husband Joachim were very devout living simply and giving much of what they had to the poor and to the temple.  They were also barren, though,  and prayed for the miracle that Abraham and Sarah had received.  When that prayer was answered through God, they devoted their precious daughter to God.  The rest is, quite literally, history.

St. Jude

When Milo was born, we new there was a chance we would be heading down this Orthodox road so we went ahead and gave him a saint name at birth.  A brother of Christ and one of the 12, we actually preferred the name based on the tradition of the Western Church.  (The Eastern Church doesn't really do the "patron" thing.)  In the west, St. Jude is recognized as the patron saint of lost or hopeless causes.  The one who cares for those people and things that all others have abandoned.  Yeah, that's a trait I would be happy to see in my boy.

And their ya have it.  

Let the Music Play

So I'm totally stealing this blog idea from Gayla and it was given to her from her friend Becky.  I was intrigued by what it might say about me as an individual and I also thought it would be an easy post without too much thought.  Turns out I was let down on both counts, but here it is anyway.  The task at hand is simply to take a look at your top 10 most frequently played songs on iTunes.  From my music library that currently contains 2651 songs, here are the ones played the most -- some to my dismay.  I'm going in ascending order because I love a good countdown.

10.  Just Like the Sun Laurie Berkner

9.    Be Still My Child Ladysmith Black Mambazo

8.    Banana Pancakes Jack Johnson

7.     Inaudible Melodies Jack Johnson

6.     Lullaby Take 6

5.     Wonderful  Pascal Parisot

4.     Sleep, Little One, Sleep Kevin Locke

3.     Do You Remember Jack Johnson

2.     Nyanpi Matilda (Waltzing Matilda) Trevor Adamson

1.     Closer to You  Brandi Carlile

Now, I'm guessing that outside of the Jack Johnson tunes, most of you have no clue on who most of the rest of those artists are.  Guess what.  Neither do I.  I have a fair amount of compilation CD's and that's where several of these came from.  That and the fact that 6 of these songs are kid's music.  Ya see, I don't actually own an iPod, but rather the Mac simply serves as our home sound system.  And when I'm home so are the kids, so that's a lot of what we listen to.  To my credit, though, I do try and at least keep their selection varied and interesting as you can hopefully tell.

Of course, once I got started on this little project I couldn't stop with just one list.  Oh no, I've got to take it up a notch and break out some top 10's on my varied playlists (mostly to assure myself that I do listen to something other than children's music.)  So here ya go.  Read into and psychoanalyze it however you like.  

Feelin' Folksy - 146 songs

10. Older Chests Damien Rice - when I first got my hands on his CD "O", I pretty much played the crap out of it . . . as if you couldn't tell.

9.  The Professor   Damien Rice

8.  Cannonball Damien Rice

7.  Amie         Damien Rice

6.  Beautiful World Colin Hay - yeah, it's the "Men at Work" guy doing some pretty good solo stuff

5.  Untouchable Face Ani Difranco - I am no musician and I haven't listened to all of her stuff, but I think she is pretty freaking amazing.

4.  The Blower's Daughter Damien Rice

3.  Delicate  Damien Rice

2.  Both Hands Ani Difranco

1.  Closer to You        Brandi Carlile - I got this song as a free download on iTunes about 3 years ago before "Grey's Anatomy"  and her hit "The Story".  Her style falls into several different categories and that's my theory on why it is so high on the play count.  It's a good song, just not what I expected to be at the top of the list.

Heather's playlist - 300 songs - my very first playlist created when Erik was the only one with iTunes.  He's got good taste and all, but there's a lot of excess on his that I'm fine to overlook.

10.  Question     Old 97's - are they country? are they rock?  adult contemporary?  Whatever it is, they are just a fun, unique band that I really enjoy

9.  You Didn't Kiss Me    Marry Me Jane - A band from NYC that did the entire soundtrack of one of my favorite (but little seen) movies "If Lucy Fell".  This is my fave song on it.

8.  Moon on my Shoulder Lyle Lovett

7.  Untouchable Face Ani Difranco

6.  Creeps Like Me    Lyle Lovett

5.  Breakdown        Jack Johnson - yeah, I love me some JJ.  In my humble opinion, he can do virtually nothing wrong with a pen, paper, and guitar

4.  Both Hands         Ani Difranco

3.  Banana Pancakes Jack Johnson

2.  Do You Remember        Jack Johnson

1.  Closer to You      Brandi Carlile (surprise!)

Kid Stuff - 117 songs - in case you are interested in broadening this category in your own home....

I enjoy world music and and found some great stuff on the Putamayo label where you will find most of the exotic names on this list.

10.  Smile          Laurie Berkner - Adelaide loooves this song

9.  Bonjour, Bonjour L'autobus Avapeur

8.  Mardi Gras Mambo Buckwheat Zydeco

7.  Spirit Lullaby    Sweet Honey in the Rock - not just kid's stuff.  A fantastic group all on their own.

6.  Just Like the Sun Laurie Berkner

5.  Be Still My Child Ladysmith Black Mambazo - same goes for these folks as the "Sweet Honey in the Rock" ladies.  

4.  Lullaby  Take 6

3.  Wonderful          Pascal Parisot

2.  Sleep, Little One Sleep Kevin Locke

1.  Nyanpi Matilda (Waltzing Matilda) Trevor Adamson

Sappy stuff - 69 songs - I know that some of these songs are actually kind of sad, but I say sappy is in the ear of the beholder.  Mostly they are songs that for a variety of reasons make me think of my husband and smile.

10.  Storybook Love       The Willy Deville Acoustic Trio

9.  Hallelujah       Jeff Buckley

8.  Bubble Toes       Jack Johnson

7.  Flake        Jack Johnson

6.  100 Years        Five for Fighting

5.  Question         Old 97's

4.  You Didn't Kiss Me      Marry Me Jane

3.  The Blower's Daughter Damien Rice

2.  Banana Pancakes  Jack Johnson

1.  Do You Remember    Jack Johnson

Southern Goodness -  143 songs - I opted to leave this one a top 5 since 6-10 were all Lyle Lovett songs as well.  It's hard not to love Mr. Lovett.

5.  Penguins         Lyle Lovett

4.  Moon On My Shoulder Lyle Lovett

3.  Adelaide Old 97's - the lyrics are pretty depressing, but it's quite lovely and melodic and how often am I going to find a good song with my daughter's name?

2.  Creeps Like Me  Lyle Lovett

1.  Closer to You     Brandi Carlile (Shocking!)

World  - 207 songs - gosh Heather, so tell me what you think of the Gipsy Kings?  Uh gee, just that they freakin' rock!   I only have the one CD, though.  Gotta do something about that.

5.  Love and Liberte Gipsy Kings

4.  No Volvere Gipsy Kings

3.  Mi Corazon Gipsy Kings

2.  Hace Tuto Guagua         Familion

1.  Un Amor         Gipsy Kings

Worship - 57 songs - I actually haven't listened to this playlist in a while, but in looking at it, it's got some good stuff on it.  Might need to re-visit soon.

5.  Lord Let Your Glory Fall Rita Springer

4.  Oh How You Love Me Rita Springer

3.  Better Days         Robbie Seay Band

2.  I Receive         Maranatha Alternative

1.  I Love You         Nickel and Dime

Soooo, what do your songs say about you or what do you have to say about your songs?

Culinary Idiocy

Two nights ago, for what I believe to be the first time in nearly 10 years of being part of the "Young" family, I made dinner for my mother-in-law.  As I may have mentioned on here a time or two before, cooking is not what you would call my forte but it is something I would really like to do better and over the past year have been making small gains in that area.  My husband suggested it, and I was doing a recipe that had already gone well for me just a few short weeks ago.  So here's my chance to impress the woman who grew up excelling in all things stereotypically feminine and has watched her son and grandchildren suffer through my fumblings.  

I must mention here, though, that my m-i-l and I have a great relationship.  She does not have an overbearing bone in her body and she is incredibly gracious when it comes to my domestic shortcomings to the point of never really even acknowledging them.  This was really more about me proving something to myself and making my husband proud.

So it's a shrimp dish.  We don't really eat seafood, but as it turned out, this recipe passed the Lenten test several weeks back which is why we even gave it a shot.  A fortunate thing since it's actually quite tasty.  I don't know why, but last time I had some prep time on my hands and thought to myself it might be nice to go ahead an remove the tails from the shrimp.  The only times I have ever eaten it have been fried and as shrimp cocktails in which cases the tails have always remained on.  But hey, I've got the time so what the heck.  This time around, however, there was a bit more pressure (from myself) to pull it together in a timely manner so I pulled off as many as I could without delaying the entire preparation of the meal and then just carried on thinking all would be fine and we could eat around or pull off the tails on an 'as needed' basis.  The recipe simply called for "peeled and deveined" which is what I had bought -- or so I thought.  It was as the little suckers were cooking that I noticed a sort of thin shell shriveling and pulling away from the meat on several of them.  I told myself quietly that it could be dealt with, but I think it was when I noticed some still had LEGS (!) that I started to panic just a little on the inside.  I did my best to continue my peeling efforts as they cooked, but I'm sure you can imagine how that went.  I quickly realized that I simply had to soldier on and hope for the best.  (Meanwhile, I discovered that - for reasons I have yet to figure out - the rice in the other pan was simply not going to cook all the way down.  Fabulous.)  In the end I sucked up my pride and served up the meal with a heaping side dish of "my apologies" and a pile of napkins.    True to her nature, my mother-in-law jumped in with a smile and peeled away and commented on how great the it tasted.  (Damn you Rachael Ray and your tasty flavor combinations that will draw me in yet again to give this recipe another shot at some point in the future.)

So, the lesson learned here?  Peel the freakin' shrimp, you idiot!  

Almost forgot the eggs . . .

And finally, after everyone has gone home and gotten a decent amount of sleep (everyone without small children, that is.  I got about 2 1/2 hours) we gather once again in the afternoon for a very casual, very light hearted, very joyous, (and very short by Orthodox standards) vespers service.  This is followed by another 'family' meal, this time hot dogs, sausages and other picnic fare.  I think I enjoy this one even more since everyone is pretty much rested and relaxed after the very long service the night before.  The kids, of course, have their egg hunt, there is music and drink and much, much laughter.

Not sure how many more years Quincy will do this, but I'm enjoying it while it lasts

For some reason, I always seem to be chasing the kids for this hence all of the shots from the rear. : (
Surveying her haul.  This was Addie's best year yet.  We've got candy to last until next year.

Pascha Vigil and Liturgy

So after the Saturday morning liturgy - and baptisms and chrismations - we had a lovely (Lenten) luncheon at the parish hall. I had no idea the congratulations, hugs, well wishes, and even gifts we would be receiving. It was all so sweet and touching. At 3:00 we took our turn reading scripture over Christ's body. (Immediately following the Friday afternoon service where Christ's body is laid at the front of the church, a round the clock vigil begins with readings from Psalms and Acts. Parishioners sign up in 30 minute to 1 hour increments of time with breaks for various services. This continues up to Pascha.) We got home around 4:30 and I proceeded to begin baking about 6 dozen parmesan dinner rolls as well as a cake for the banquet that would take place after the Pascha Liturgy. This is the feast when we break our fast and it is as difficult as you can imagine to bake with the foods you are not yet allowed to eat and restrain yourself as the smell fills every square inch of your home. Brutal.

At 11:00pm we roused the kids enough to get them into the car and headed back to church. After some brief litanies every light in the church goes out and everyone lights the candles they are holding in their hands. The clergy and the choir then lead the way as we all head out into the night and process around the church singing something I can not recall at this moment. When we return to the closed doors of the darkened church, the gospel accounts of the women at the tomb are read and then Fr. George pounds on the door 3 times saying something that once again escapes me at this moment. When the doors open, the 'empty tomb' is all at once full of light and we go in full of joy and celebration. The change in mood is just remarkable and honestly I get choked up whenever I think of it. At that point the liturgy begins and goes on with random interjections from the priest of "Christ is Risen!" and the wholehearted response from the people that "Indeed He is Risen!" And usually 3 or 4 more languages follow.

It's usually around 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning when things wrap up and the feast begins. Fried chicken, ham, lamb, various cheesy side dishes and of course Amy's now famous 5 m&m salad. There is wine and laughter and more hugs and cards and gifts and the baskets! Oh my, the baskets. I do regret that I did not take my camera with me because the whole event truly is a sight to behold. Folks out grilling in the dead of night for one. But one of my favorites is always the tables full of Pascha baskets full of all sorts of things that have been given up throughout Lent and now brought to be blessed by the priest. Our godparents put together one big family basket for us and let me tell you, you have never had an Easter basket like this. Icons for 3 of us, toys for the kids, all sorts of chocolates and various candies, a large block of cheddar cheese, deli ham, a bottle of wine, kulich (a traditional Pascha sweet bread) and when was the last time you received whiskey for Easter? It was beautiful and so thoughtful and I really, really wish I had gotten a photo of it since it was disassembled in no time.

We arrived home around 4:30am. The kids - who slept in their Sunday school room for all of the Liturgy and were only awake for the food part of the night - slept in all the way until about 7:00. Yikes. The Easter bunny almost didn't get those baskets on the table in time and did have to make a return visit to hide the eggs while Dad was sleeping and the kids and I were having breakfast at Grandma and Grandpa's hotel. (Did I mention that my in-laws were also here for all the goings-on? Fortunately we all get along quite well and it was a treat to have them here.)

So it was a marathon of a day and night, but I wouldn't change a thing. It was beautiful, it was emotional, it was exhausting, and it was exhilirating. And I will never be the same again.

Addie and the wine

Adelaide's reaction was so classic, she gets a post all to herself.

So far, so good . . . .



Uh-oh . . .

A little touch and go here . . .

Not only did she swallow it down, but she remembered to kiss the cup. I was really proud of her.

Communion

And finally, we are able to partake of the Holy Mysteries.

Yay! It all stayed in his mouth!

Milo: "Oh, you have something for me to eat? Sure, no problem. Ya got any more?"

Chrismation

The chrism is the most aromatic oil you will ever be anointed with. I have no idea what the reasons are for it, but I think there are several different herbs or essential oils or something in there and the fragrance is just gorgeous. The chrism is applied (in the sign of the cross, duh) on the forehead, eyes, nose, mouth, ears, chest, feet, and hands. With each cross the priest states "the seal and gift of the Holy Spirit". To be honest, I'm not sure we actually hit every one of those spots, but they were as thorough as they could be. Did I mention it was a 4 hour service and there is an aweful lot for a priest to remember?