The End of the Long Weekend Nov 28 2004

Hello all!

The long weekend is racing to a completion. I hate to see it go. Had a great time over the four days.

Thursday was Thanksgiving Dinner in New Concord KY by my aunt and uncle's. Had a great time and good food. Friday was work day around the house. Both inside and outside. Got the leaves up from the street , put up my bird feeder, cleaned out the garden, picked up the magnolia seed cones from the yard, etc. Then went out and did some shopping in the evening. Stores weren't that crowded... Saturday was lazy bum day. I felt like being a bum and I was! Didn't get dressed until 2 pm. Washed all the laundry that was in (or near) the hamper. Put away clean dishes. Watched football, and football and football.... Poor Notre Dame, they had so much promise in the first quarter...then splat!

Today I woke up and the German program signal wasn't functioning well over the internet. So I popped on the 24/7 Polka Station and listened to it while I had my coffee and English muffins and cream cheese. Read the Morning Sun from Pittsburg KS, Chicago Tribune and glanced at the Tennessean all online. Pittsburg State Gorillas football team won their game against rival Northwest Missouri State in the Division 2 playoffs. They move on to the semi-final game next Saturday. Go Gorillas!!

Went to Mass at 11 am. Then came back in a did some needed genealogy work. Going to Salt Lake City in a few weeks to do research and need to get some of the legwork done before hand so I know which rolls of microfilm to pull when I am there. I need to list what I want and which reels of film I need to have. I can get that off of the Family Search website Card Catalog. That'll save a lot of time! I can do that here and not waste the time at the library. Then I took a nap!!!

Woke up with a headache...how odd! Decided to go to Home Depot to look for bird seed for my new feeder. Stopped for gas $1.83 a gallon at Shell (not bad)! Didn't find bird seed at HD but did some shopping and did pick up some Christmas gifts!!

Talked to mom a few minutes ago--a slow day for them as well.

So, now it's almost 9 pm and I need to load the dishwasher and do a general houseclean to gather up the loose ends and finish things up.

Today is the start of a new year...a Church new year. The church year starts on the 1st Sunday of Advent. The recessional hymn at Mass was one of my favorites. I never really liked it and then one Sunday I refused to sing it and just listened. It struck a note somehow and I have enjoyed it ever since...

WAKE, AWAKE

Wake, awake! The night is dying,
and prophets from of old are crying:
The rising sun will conquer night.
He will overcome our sadness;
the morning dawn will bring us gladness,
and then the blind will see the light.

Rejoice, the Lord is near!
Again, I say rejoice: Alleluia!
The Lord will come to set us free;
Our King will reign eternally.

He is King of every nation,
and he will bring us our salvation;
The Lord of Light will set us free.
Ev'ry nation will adore him,
and all the world will bow before him,
and he will reign eternally.

Rejoice, the Lord is near!
Again, I say rejoice: Alleluia!
The Lord will come to set us free;
Our King will reign eternally.

I will try to be more diligent in keeping up with this blog. It's just that at the end of the day, I am worn out. I tried to do it in the morning, but me mind was still foggy from sleep. So, the end of the day it is!

Wishing you all a Blessed Advent season. May you be awake and ever watchful. Be ready for the wonderful day when Jesus makes His triumphant return!

Love to all---

Mark