Anti-Social Media

That title’s not really fair.

I’ve met people through social media that I consider friends and close acquaintances: Yvette Nicole Brown, Devin’s Cow, Alt-Immigration, Giselle Fetterman, I mean Frank Figliuzzi followed me – *mind-blown*

Just when we finally put tweeting, twittering, retweets, and doomscrolling into the daily vernacular, Twitter is sold to a childish narcissist (no offense to children, the childish or narcissists) who decides to not only let it implode, but actively sabotages it. Not to mention the racism and antisemitism. I’ve been on Twitter since the beginning, and while I lovingly described it as a cesspool, it was more than the sum of its parts. It was my first stop when I woke up in the morning, knowing that among the outrage and memes was whatever was the most important in the news of that day. From there, I’d dig deeper.

In the last few months, really since the new owner came in, my newsfeed has been a mix of ads some of which are so sus that I’d question their actual existence, inappropriate propositions, nudity, and right-wing nut jobs, ninety-nine percent of which I don’t even follow.

I joined a new social media network (to be named later), followed a friend of mine, and have seen her more today on the new network than in the last three months on Twitter. The same goes for many of the pundits and entertainment blogs that I follow. Scrolling through the new site is like attending a school or job reunion: Hey! You’re here! I’ve missed you! What have you been doing the last six months when you were hidden on Twitter?!

I’ve said it before, and I’ll continually say it again: I go to the new techy thing. I go kicking and screaming, but I still go. Twitter was probably the first to prove that statement. Then Tumblr. I didn’t question Instagram as much; just went. Post. Mastodon. I waited with breath held for Spoutible, and when the opportunity came to sign up for Threads, it took me all of three minutes to get two accounts going. I’m on the waiting list for bluesky, but I’m not sure that I’ll even sign up if Spoutible and Threads continue on the way they’ve begun.

Will I use all of these?

Man, I hope not.

I can’t recommend Threads yet; I’ve barely been on forty-eight hours but give it a try. It can only be accessed by the app, no browser yet. It’s connected to your Instagram account, although I don’t know how, and I have no idea about cross-posting. I plan to use it the way I use twitter – politics, news, voting rights, social justice, and website promotion.

I will not delete my Twitter account. I may even use it to comment on some things, but I have hopes that it might return. It was comfortable when it worked.

I’ve begun a Mailchimp Email Subscription for reaching out monthly to my in-person class attendants and I’m considering expanding it to my online community. I’m not sure what I could offer for a subscription fee that I’m not already publishing on the site, but my writing and publishing are always evolving. If you’re interested in a free preview for the next three months, drop me an email with Mailchimp subscription in the subject line and your email in the body.

This month I’m continuing the writing of my prayer book, and outlining my Wales Discovery book, some of which I may talk about on social media.

These are my official accounts:

Facebook Page
Instagram
Spotify
Spoutible
Threads

Friday Food. Fried Apples.

On occasion, I will flash back to my childhood, and hear something that I haven’t heard or thought of in forever. One of these childhood phrases was “porkchops with applesauce.” I’m sure this is from The Brady Bunch, although I don’t recall if it was Greg or Peter who said it.

Applesauce was a favorite in our house. In fact, I’m sure we ate pork chops with applesauce. We also ate roast beef with applesauce. Nowadays, I usually make it with gravy, but recently, since my daughter doesn’t like beef gravy, I offered her applesauce. This is a roundabout way of inviting you into my thought process for a dinner I made this week that came together when I was visiting Cracker Barrel restaurant. They have fried apples on their menu, and they also sell them in cans with the recipe on the back. I bought one can to go with the on-sale center cut pork that I bought this week, and we had a lovely (even if we used way too much butter than is healthy) meal.

The fried apples recipe calls for two tablespoons of butter; I think I used twice that? I used half a stick. Melt the butter, add the entire can, sprinkle cinnamon, mix, heat, simmer.

After searing the pork on both sides, and adding a bit of adobo seasoning, I poured a helping of the fried apples on top of the pork, added a side of mixed vegetables, and buttered egg noodles, and voila, yummy dinner in no time. It was about half an hour, but that’s not long at all. No leftovers.

Travel – Marian Shrine, Stony Point, NY

I had the privilege of visiting the Marian Shrine in Stony Point, New York, administered by the Salesians of Don Bosco recently, and I couldn’t spend nearly as much time as I had wanted to. As you can see from the photos of that day, the sky was a perfect shade of blue with fluffy white clouds floating. The green grass and leaves were a remarkable shade for early spring, and the cool breeze really made the spirituality tangible and profound.

Driving up the lane and seeing the statue of Mary of the Rosary as if rising from the ground made my jaw drop to the floor. The immensity of the statue (48 feet and 6 1/2 tons) is something I have never seen before. It was huge, but besides its size, there was a feeling of strength resonating from Mary, and once we parked, I just stood in awe and gratitude that I had made the decision to stop on our way to visit with family.

Our Lady of the Rosary, or the Rosary Madonna has been here since 1977. It was created in Italy in 1959 and blessed by Pope Saint John XXIII. From the star-shaped base and surrounding benches is a mesmerizing fountain and beyond this is the Rosary Way, constructed in 1954, during the Marian Year. The rosary way follows a shamrock shaped path through a wooded space. In addition to the mysteries of the rosary, there are also statues depicting the Stations of the Cross on the grounds.

Because of our family visit, I had very little time to explore, so I began with sitting on the benches surrounding Mary and said the Hail Mary. I listened to (and recorded for a short time) the sound of the fountain. The peace was contagious. I slowed my breathing for fear that a normal exhalation would be too loud for this gentle, serene place.

I moved on from there to the statue of St. Francis and his prayer, which is one of my favorite ones, touching on nature and Creation. It lends itself to so many other spiritual experiences. There are several other statues (St. Michael, St. John Bosco, St. Padre Pio, St. Joseph, St. Maria Goretti, and the aforementioned St. Francis of Assisi), and devotional areas, gardens, and grottos outside as well as a wooded path that helps to center the spirit for prayer. There is also an indoor chapel. See below for times for services.

Stopping briefly at the Outdoor Altar (with seating for 1000) and a quick visit to the gift shop where my family picked me up, and I wanted more time. The photos do not do this place justice at all.

If you’re in the area, stopping by for the day is encouraged. The grounds are open from sunrise to sunset, and while there is no food available onsite, there are picnicking areas that you may use when bringing your own food.

In addition to pilgrimages from individuals and families, they also hold retreats here as well as youth retreats and activities in their youth center and regular masses and confession times. Check their website for details or if you wish to bring a larger group of fifteen (you would need to fill out a form).

Mary Help of Christians Chapel
8:00 am – 4:30 pm
Marian Shrine Gift Shop
Monday thru Saturday
11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Sunday
12:00 noon – 4:00 pm
Administration Offices
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Shrine grounds close at dusk

Links for Information:

Explore the Shrine

History of the Shrine

Mass Times

Events

Contact Information

June Inspiration, Expanded

As I mentioned in the June Inspire last week, I’ve been awed by the number of inspiring events I’ve been privileged to have participated in since the very beginning of the month. Since I was unable to choose one or two to write about, I thought I’d write about most of them, and include some photos and links so you can explore on your own in your own timeframe and let them capture your imagination and inspire you as well.

One warning before I really get into it: this will be picture heavy (as well as, from my estimate, word heavy).

June began with a weekend retreat that I’m still feeling. June is also the end of the school year, and so during finals and Regent’s exams, my youngest often doesn’t have to go to school, and since the whole crew at home took a day off to see The Flash movie (no spoilers ahead), we decided to take a road trip to Connecticut. And then finally, a field trip to a college outside of Albany to tour a set of books (a Bible actually) of Biblical calligraphy and illuminations. And in between all of that it’s been busy with driving my kids, funeral for a colleague and friend, interfaith doings, Red Hats lunch, a broken hearing aid, weekly rosary, and Father’s Day, an interfaith prayer service, and a fellowship luncheon.

June has been a lot more than usual, and it’s still got a few days left; Indiana Jones will be inspiring in its own way. I don’t want it to sound as though I’m complaining; I’m really not, although once I get started it’s hard to turn off the listing; it’s like a waterfall. However, I can’t say it’s been dull or uninspiring; it’s definitely been the opposite of both of those.

Book Rec – Embrace Your Weird by Felicia Day

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FELICIA DAY!!!

^{Felicia Day, taken from her book jacket. (c)2019-2023}

Felicia Day is Human Extraordinaire. She’s talented, cute as a button, and has the perfect color red/ginger hair that I strive for. I had known her in geek and fandom circles, and then she appeared in my favorite television show of the moment, Supernatural. Her character was the epitome of geek, nerd, D&D master that I grew up with and grew up as. In honor of her birthday, I am recommending one of her books that I am currently reading.

I borrowed her book, Embrace Your Weird: Face Your Fears and Unleash Creativity from the e-library at the end of 2019. I read about two chapters in, and knew that a borrowed book, an e-book would not do. I was expected to write in this book – something both foreign to me and impossible to do with an e-book. I broke down and ordered a hard copy in paperback with my Christmas Amazon money and waited until the perfect moment to start.

One word of advice: there is no perfect moment.

^{Embrace Your Weird book with my go-to post-it notes}
^{and the pens I bought especially for working in this book.}
^(c)2023

Some of the tasks are really thought-provoking, and some were emotionally draining, but also exhilarating. I was proud of getting through the tasks thus far. I am not even halfway done with the book. I did put it aside for a time for other (creative) projects, and I’ve picked it up again, and in picking it up, I wanted to share it with you.

There are seven chapters with several parts in each chapter. Each chapter lets you look into yourself and learn what might be holding you back from busting out the creativity and finding your jam. That sentence channels Felicia in all the best ways. Don’t be afraid to try. A lot of the hesitation for me (and for Felicia, as it turns out) is anxiety. Name the monster and it can’t hurt you, or something like that.

The book is go at your own pace, which is why I’ve been able to start it, put it down, and continue it. Notice that I said “continue;” not “start again.” The book, like your creativity, is a never-ending journey that pauses when the need arises and continues when you’re ready. I was ready last week, actually, but the book’s been missing. It was a victim of cleaning for guests, and shoved in a large green tote bag, which I only remembered yesterday morning.

This book breaks two of my rules:

Read and follow the directions as closely as possible.
Write in the book.

Despite my guilty childhood of scribbling in books, writing in books is anathema to me, but I’ve adapted with this special book.

I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I am!

Election Connection – Women’s Rights Today

Today marks 134 days before the next Election Day, and 500 days until the next Presidential Election Day. It seems like a very far time away, but it really isn’t. It will be here before we know it. It is also not too early to become familiar with your local elections and issues happening that will be addressed on the next two Election Days.

Our voting numbers in this country are abysmal. I know we want to represent freedom, and you should have the freedom to decide whether or not you want to vote. However, that should come with a dreading realization that with your one vote, you can change how things are done in this country. Look at Michigan. I am personally for a national day off for voting and automatic registration at 18 as well as requiring all those eligible to vote. We are still using a Presidential election system built on slavery and proportioning electoral college votes on land rather than on people.

How does this affect women’s rights, the presumptive focus of this missive?

Inspire. June.

Inspire is a little late this month…okay, it’s a lot late this month. It’s not that I’ve been procrastinating as much as I’ve been absorbing and acting on the plethora of inspiration that I’ve been exposed to in the last several weeks. Sometimes there is a lull or a slight time of unknowing what I’ll write about, but this month was the opposite. How do I choose from the things that inspired me this month, and continue to inspire me? This paragraph formed the introduction to a much longer article on some of the inspirational things I’ve been exposed to throughout June; however, I decided to share some stories from last night’s World Peace & Prayer Day Interfaith Service that I attended at the Historic St. Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine in upstate New York and save the longer writing for another day.

World Peace and Prayer Day was started in 1994 by Avrol Looking Horse to honor the birth two years before of a white buffalo calf, which was a sign of changing times to come as well as the “coming of the mending of the Hoop of All Nations”. She was named Miracle. June 21st was chosen because it is a powerful time to pray for peace as well as being the Summer Solstice and the longest day of the year. It is an offering and hope to heal all of Mother Earth’s gifts that live on the earth, including the Earth herself.

Speak evil of no one. If you can say no good of a person, then be silent..

Let not your tongues betray you into evil,

For these are words of our Creator.

Let all strive to cultivate friendship with those who surround them.
Handsome Lake, Iroquois Prophet

Pride

For the next four weeks, I’ll be posting some information, links, art, and photos for Pride and hopefully including some LGBT+ history. I’d like to start by saying that last week I heard some complaints by folks with nothing better to do asking why Pride gets a month and our veterans only get one day. This is obviously meant to create an issue where there is none. First, Memorial Day is not about veterans in that way; it’s about the war dead, which most people are glad to ignore until it suits their agenda. If they really felt this way, they’d spend Memorial Day at the cemetery, at a house of worship, volunteering instead of barbecuing and at baseball games and concerts. Second, there are many, many veterans (and war dead) who are in the LGBT+ community, and Pride is as much for them as any other person. Third, for those who declare that “pride” is a venal sin, I’d like to suggest that those divorced, adulterous, lying, hypocrites stay quiet and/or remove the log from their eye.

I wonder if, when these people see a rainbow in the sky if they shake a fist at it and complain loudly to the Creator about how woke He is.

Pride was born in revolution, even though LGBT+ people were around long before 1969. The ones who are out and open and celebrate Pride are not only celebrating themselves but are celebrating those of the community who are still not out, for personal reasons as well as safety ones.

My friend has a denim vest with the stenciled words: The first pride was a riot. I’ve used that to influence the art I created last night for this post. Sometimes the simplest designs tell a greater story.

Marsha P. Johnson

Sylvia Rivera

Stonewall Riots

Library of Congress Research Guides: 1969: The Stonewall Uprising

Mental Health Monday – Sleep

I don’t know anyone who gets enough sleep. Like my kids, I stay up way too late, and even with intentional naps, there is no way to catch up on missed sleep.

I slept very late today. I hadn’t intended to. I went to bed early with a stomachache, and slept until I was refreshed, which was quite late. I needed the sleep apparently. I was surprised at how much I needed it considering I actually got a lot of sleep over the weekend.

I had the privilege of attending a weekend retreat guided by Terry and Darlene Wildman. You’ll hear more about them (and the retreat) in an upcoming post. The retreat was centered around the First Nations Version of the New Testament, and the weekend was filled with music, Scripture, prayer, and really good, deep conversation. I usually have a difficult time settling down on retreat to sleep. Even though, I’m very comfortable at the retreat house, I just can’t quiet my mind. This retreat gave me the exact opposite experience. I went to sleep every night before midnight (sometimes long before) and woke up refreshed at around seven in the morning, with an alarm, and the sunrise out of my window.

At the end of the retreat, I had another event through the Cursillo movement. I had to drive out, and on my way, I decided to take a quick stop at the St. Kateri Shrine. I was so close, and after the weekend enveloped in Native spirituality, I felt the pull to sit on that holy ground, near to where St. Kateri was baptized. I decided to face the seven directions that we prayed with (East, South, West, North, Above, Below, Inward), and after a few more moments, I proceeded with my drive.

I wasn’t tired. I was refreshed. Except for last night’s stomachache, I felt great, and didn’t think I needed any extra sleep or naps.

My body told me something different.

This is my reminder to you that even though you may feel fine, feel rested, feel awakened, your body may tell you something different. Try and take the opportunities when they arise to get the rest you need, whether it’s deep sleep, resting your eyes, sitting in nature with no other thoughts. Rest, not only your body, but your thoughts.

The photo below is the (four) directions I faced at the St. Kateri Shrine. East begins in the top left, and follows the direction of the sun, what we now call clockwise.

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30	31

Griffins and Ginger Snaps

-I write, and I have a blog because of course I do-

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