The Hound Of Ulster

OK, so THIS is really old.  (I’m kicking myself for not getting to it sooner…and for not getting to any of the other cool Moose stuff.  Can’t believe he out-blogged me over the last couple of months, and by a significant amount.  Sad.  Trying to make up for lost ground now.)

But the word’s meaning is not what makes “freakin’” interesting. What sets it apart is its grammatical placement: American slang usage prefers that “freakin’” be inserted within the word or phrase it modifies. We’re all familiar with “co” and “pre” and so on, which attach at the beginning off words like “coworker” and “presale”; we know about “ful” and “ment”, which attach at the end of words like “helpful” and “wonderment”; but one can only marvel at “Dude, he’s a megalofreakinmaniac!”, or “That is absofreakinlutely hysterical!” The possibilities are endless: “technofreakinlogical”, “superfreakinstitious”, “Vatican freakin’ II”.

Melanie’s CANCER-FREE!

My doctor’s office just called. The test results were fine. No cancer found.

Thanks be to God!

Dom has a similary brief POST. (Who can blem them? The last thing I’m sure they want to be doing right now is writing about it. What a weight has been lifted from their shoulders.)

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us.

Fr. Martin Fox (from over at Bonfire of the Vanities) has an interesting POST asking his readers to comment on the use of Latin in the Mass, specifically at their respective churches and parishes.

If you know of a parish (i.e., it’s either your parish, or you go there regularly) that is using any Latin on a regular basis, or using any Gregorian chant, please post here. (I’d ask that this not be a place for folks to post opinions pro and con.) I ask that you identify the parish by name, city and diocese. If you can provide a link to a webpage or something else with more information, even better!

So far, he’s got 134 responses. Very encouraging. (And that doesn’t even include my parish yet, so that means about 135 parishes. Excellent!)

…sort of, ANYWAY.

Today, with the support of family and friends, I made the transition from hobbyist to full-time worker in the New Media. I have accepted a position as Political Director of Blog Talk Radio, an exciting new venture known to the CQ community but one which I hope to help expand exponentially. It’s a chance to work full time in the field which I have grown to love, and an opportunity to help others literally discover their voices.

Apparently, I need to start paying attention to Blog Talk Radio. Don’t worry, though. He’s not leaving without a trace, or anything. Quite the contrary, in fact:

But, I hear you ask, what does this mean for Captain’s Quarters? Well, that’s the best part. I will have more time and flexibility to blog, as Blog Talk Radio wants to maintain and increase my presence in the commentary community. They see that as an asset for them as well as me. They also have agreed that I will have complete editorial control over the content of CQ.

I like that “more time and flexibility” part, though I’m not sure my feedreader can take it.  I have a hard enough time keeping up with all the great stuff he’s putting out in his “spare time.”  I can’t even begin to imagine what this new focus is going to mean.

Melanie delivers a greatly encouraging REPORT.

My doctor called a little bit ago. Yeah, 8:30 on a Saturday night. He said the biopsy results were negative for cancer. And so, of course, he wants to run some more tests. Because there’s still a chance the biopsy missed something. So he’s going to schedule a hysteroscopy and d&c.

So a sigh a relief, but still the knot of tension. And more waiting. We’re not out of the woods yet, but there might be light at the end of the tunnel. Or it might be a will o’ the wisp. I am so glad glad he called tonight. I was thinking I wasn’t sure how I was going to get through two more days of this agony, this waiting. I am so glad I have such a conscientious doctor; I could hear the relief in his voice and the concern.

I am still praying and I ask those of you who have been praying to continue to do so. To pray that the next tests will also be negative, to pray that we continue to be comforted during this next waiting period and to pray that we will continue to embrace whatever God wills for us.

(Dom has a COUPLE more THOUGHTS, as well.) Keep those prayers coming!

Please continue to pray for Melanie Bettinelli, over at The Wine-Dark Sea. Several weeks ago, she suffered a miscarriage. And now she has been diagnosed with CANCER. (A cancer which was discovered as a direct result of her miscarriage, actually. God works in mysterious ways.)

She prays that this cup may pass, and for strength if it should not.

Dom’s thoughts are HERE:

We haven’t given up hope. We’ve decided to ask for the intercession of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who is in need of another miracle for the cause of her canonization. We do have a first class relic, given to me several years ago by some Missionaries of Charity, and we would like to publicly ask you all to pray for her intercession.

Blessed Mother Teresa, pray for us!

A couple days ago, Rod Bennett promised some further thoughts on the Cameron mess. And he has DELIVERED them.

Okay, here’s the real trouble with James Cameron’s Lost Tomb of Jesus.

The problem isn’t with the evidence he’s providing; I’ve already admitted that his discoveries are odd and I don’t blame him for finding them mysterious and suggestive. The real problem is with the evidence he’s withholding–that is, the evidence he doesn’t take seriously, the evidence he dismisses out of hand. The money quote, the one that really let the cat out of the bag, was when he said “there has never been a shred of physical, archeological evidence to support [the existence of Jesus] until right now.” In other words, James Cameron thinks one single bit of physical evidence trumps any amount of traditionary or documentary evidence, no matter how widespread, no matter how ancient and established. And that’s just silly.

Rod’s PLEASED that the debate seems to be elevating a bit, as am I. But I’m also glad to see him use the word “silly” there, as well.

I do think that folks jumped on Cameron a bit too much. But I don’t want to let him off scot-free, either. His demeanor has been (in my opinion) intentionally confrontational and dismissive. And while I’m happy to see Rod suggest the “high road approach,” (and even happier to see people take it), I think Cameron should be called for his attitude at least a little bit.

That’s exactly what “silly” does.