This is probably not the best time to post....

but it's been a long time.
First of all, pray for my Sensei (karate instructor) from up there. We found out yesterday that he committed suicide on Monday night. Pray for us, too, while you're at it.

On a brighter note, I got a call yesterday from the person who's writing the music for "A Christmas Carol", which Deirdre and Sheila are in, and he wants me to play my violin in a couple of the performances... for $100 a show! It looks like I'll play in the dress rehearsal, opening night, and the second performance. I'm pretty thrilled about that, since playing in these things is always a blast, especially when you're making pots of money.

And it's almost Thanksgiving! I try not to think about how exciting it will be to see Claire and Cowee (and Iain) again. And eat organic food, and make potato cheese soup and barnabas rolls... *aaah!* and pumkin bread! Hurrah!

We got into book five of Euclid last week, and it's horrible. *sigh* Hannah, you understand. Through book four, you're doing normal geometric things, proving things about angles and lines and circles and triangles and squares, then book five comes along, and you've got all these horrible magnitudes and ratios and things. And i've had two props in it already, one of which was yesterday after I heard about Sensei. It was not good. Fortunately, this means that I won't be doing any more in book 5. Thank heavens.

Sarah and I have a pet Jerusalem cricket. It's magnificently ugly, and it tears to shreds anything we feed it. It is incredible. Feel free to google it, if you don't know what they look like.

I love you all. Keep praying for me. I'm praying for you!
Love,
Bingy

UAEP & Rodg Clem

Frog! Look- it's Uncle Andy and his good friend Rodg Clem! They're free agents now, apparently. Neither is sure whether he will play next year, but if so- great! Anyways, I hope you enjoy this tiny picture as much as I do.
In loving memory,
Joella

Saint Simon Ballachi

Besides being the feast of Sts. Elizabeth and Zachary, we also celebrate St. Simon Ballachi today. He was the son of Count Ballachi, and was trained as a soldier and in administration since he was expected to take over the family estates one day. Although he had two uncles who were archbishops and a younger brother who was a priest, it was against his family's wishes that Simon also join the clergy. Nevertheless he became a Dominican lay brother at the age of 27.
Simon was put to work in the garden of the friary, which he loved, though it was completely new to him. He saw God in everything and prayed constantly. He lived simply, strictly followed the Dominican rule, and was an excellent catechist to children. Penitentially speaking, he wore an iron chain around his waist for 20 years, ate only bread and water during Lent, and would often give up sleep in order to pray more. Simon was also a visionary, receiving visits from the devil, Sts. Catherine of Alexandria, Dominic de Guzman, Peter Martyr, and the Blessed Virgin Mary. When he was 57, Simon became blind, but he never despaired. He used his extra free time for prayer. (1240-1319, Italy.)