Pic Of The Day - 09.28.14 - Quiet Time

Every 4th Sunday of the month, I help distribute Holy Communion at St. Anne's.  The EMs (Extraordinary Ministers) have to get there early to pick our spots.  The few minutes before members of the congregation arrive and before the lights turn is one of favorite part of the day.  It's dark and quiet.  Sometimes the quiet is broken by the sound of a Metro bus on Westheimer.  And sometimes, this quiet time, is the only quiet time I have.

Pic Of The Day - 04.20.14

Normally on Easter Sunday I take a photo of the flowers inside of the church.  Well...it was very crowded at the 7:30AM Mass and I really needed to cough so I left the church after communion.  When I exited the church, I noticed these crosses in the circular drive on Westheimer...and there were flowers!

See You Later Bryan

If you've  been following my recent blog posts, you might remember me making a comment that there was something I need to write about but I wasn't ready to do so.  I've put it off as long as possible but today is the day.  I think I have waited writing this because the reality of the loss of friend hit me hard today when I attended a funeral Mass for him.

A few weeks ago I was at work and was getting ready to call it a day.  It was later than I usually stay.  I was getting ready to turn off my computer and a message appeared via Facebook from Trisha Beissel.  It was a request to call her.  I had met Trisha maybe once or twice.

The message really concerned because I knew that her mother had heart surgery within the past year or so.  I thought it was odd that Trisha was asking me to call her because if something had had happened to her mother, why wasn't Bryan calling me?

When I spoke with Trisha, she told me Bryan had died.  It was news I didn't expect to hear.  In fact, I had to repeat back to her what I thought I had heard her say.  And I was correct, Bryan was dead.

I met Bryan in 1997 at St. Anne Catholic Church here in Houston.  He was a part of a group of guys that would attend the Sunday, 5:00PM Mass.  AttyHou and I made friends with the group and every now and then we would go across the street to Cafe Adobe for fellowship after Mass.

Throughout the years, Bryan and I would find ourselves at the same party or fundraiser.  We did some traveling together which provided us with some great memories.  He became a BeadBoy and hosted some Mardi Gras parties with me and some others.

BeadBoys Party

Bryan had friends around the world.  He traveled the world because of his job and he made friends everywhere he went.

Bryan left Houston and moved to Atlanta.  As time went on, we didn't speak to each as often as we used to when he lived in Houston; it happens.

Sometimes when Bryan would be in Houston for work we would get together for dinner.  On occasion, his mother would join us.  He was the type of person that I could pick up the conversation where we last left off.

He was also the type of person that would do anything for you...within reason.

Our last conversation was early/mid-January.  We reminisced about a trip to Los Angeles and how much fun we had coming back to Houston.  We had a good laugh going down Memory Lane.  I also told him to think about coming to Houston for the Mystery & Fantasy Mardi Gras Party on 2/22/14.  He said he would think about it.

I sent Bryan a text message on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and never heard back from him.  I thought it was a bit odd but I didn't think too much about it when he didn't reply.  Within a week he would be dead.

Bryan was 51 when he died; a year younger than me.

At 1308 Cantina, April 2, 2010

 I was upset to hear the news.  I called his mother and we shared a few tears and laughs over the phone.  Bryan was cremated and due to the big ice/snow storm in Atlanta, there was going to be a delay in the delivery of his ashes.  And so, a Mass was scheduled for today and the reality of Bryan being dead hit me like a train.

When the arrangements were made, Trisha asked if I would say a few words at the service and I agreed.  I wasn't sure what to say and even when Mass started, I still wasn't sure what I would say.  I had a long continuous dream last night about the funeral.  I didn't sleep well.

This morning, I went to Starbucks and jotted down a few bullet points and then it was time to go to the church.

I shared some memories with the congregants.  It was by far one of the hardest things I have had to do.  I told them how we met at a church.  I told them about our last conversation and I'm glad we were able to laugh.  I told them that I had invited him to come to Houston for the Mystery & Fantasy Mardi Gras Party tomorrow.

If you could say that we had a song, it would be Amber's Above The Clouds and I shared that with the assembly.


I ended it by saying that if you believe heaven is above the clouds, then Bryan is there smiling at us.  And because I said hello to him the first time at church I was glad that I could be at a church at a Mass in his memory and be able to say, "See you later Bryan."

St. Justin the Martyr Catholic Church

EPILOGUE: A lady who was at the Mass told me that my comments made her smile.  Several guys who there told me I did good job.  Bryan's dad found me at the luncheon and thanked me for speaking.  He said he could tell that I spoke from my heart.

Photo Journal: March 28, 2010

It was Palm Sunday. I went to the 5:00PM at St. Anne...one of the most beautiful churches.

Photo Journal: January 24, 2010

This is the altar at St. Anne Catholic Church. I think it is one of the prettiest church interiors I have ever seen and enjoy going there.

Ramblings Of A Caffeinated Mind 14.1

Upcoming Anniversary
July 31, 2008 will mark the 16th year of my arrival in Houston. The past 16 years have been eventful. There have been more ups than downs. Along the way I have been a ton of wonderful people and a handful of not so wonderful people.

I know today is the the 28th but I'm at that point in my life where if I don't write it down immediately, I forget. Old age? Hmmmm.

Anywho. Just wanted to thank everyone for 16 fun years in the Bayou City. Let's hope there are many more to come.

And somewhere in my boxes of memories (really, there are boxes stuffed with photos, etc.) is a photo of my friend Robb who drove the Ryder truck for me. I took a picture of this little white boi in a big yellow truck at a truck stop off of I-45. (Remember in Jumpin Jack Flash when Whoopi Goldberg is using the pay phone to call the cops and she says, "I'm a little black lady in a big silver box. You can't miss me.")

In case you missed...
Amy Winehouse as a scarecrow. To read the story, click here.

Kaye's Kommunique
The other night I arrived at Quadra (at Status) a bit late. The crowd was thinning out but I still had the opportunity to see a few folks.

Someone that I did not expect to meet was Toma(s) Tillo! Toma(s) Tillo is a long lost brother of Kaye Sedilla. Toma(s) and Kaye found each other earlier this year when she was doing her lounge act in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. He didn't know he had a sister, much less a sister who is an international star, but when he walked into the lounge at Hotel Casa Linda he knew they were related. You see...

Kaye and Toma(s) both have big red hair with dark roots. Toma(s) would not let me take a photo of him but let me just say the resemblance IS THERE and that is how I knew he must be related to Kaye Sedilla.

Although communication with clients at The Betty Ford Center is limited, Toma(s) Tillo was able to speak briefly with Kaye Sedilla...well, let's just say she thinks she is Sopa Pilla. Toma(s) said that until Kaye/Sopa gets over her amnesia they will not be able to deal with her other issues.

Kaye/Sopa thinks she is going to be there for a long, long, time. Her spirits are high, just like her hair. Liz and Liza both sent Kaye/Sopa a message of hope and that really lifted her spirits.

Kaye/Sopa can't remember much about what happened on July 20 but she is sure that she was fabulous and wants to thank everyone who showed up.

If I hear anything else from Toma(s) or Cha Lupe (Kaye's 1/2-sister from the wrong side of the tracks), I will let you know.

Heat Wave
It is hotter than Hades here in Houston. These temps are almost like the temps I lived with in Ft. Worth! OY! At least the humidity is low. And yes, I'm sweating.

Church
Yesterday was my first day to assist with Communion during the 5:00 p.m. at St. Anne's. As a child & teenager, I was an altar boy (acolyte) for many, many years. So this was almost second nature to me but I still got nervous. You see...

There are steps that lead up to the altar at St. Anne's and they are made of marble. The last thing I wanted to do was fall down and drop the chalice. It is standing room only at the 5:00 p.m. Mass and in this day of YouTube, I so didn't want to be featured on YouTube. When the wine is consecrated you just can't wipe it up and get on with your life, there is a ritual that needs to be performed. There is a reason for my fear. You see...

Many years ago I was at the 12:00 noon Mass at St. George's in Ft. Worth. I wanted to sing in the choir that day but they needed an altar boy and my mother insisted that I be the altar boy. So I go to the sacristy to get dressed and the cassock that I select has an unraveled hem. I'm running out of time so I put it on anyway.

Everything was fine until...

Communion was over and I had to clear the altar. I was almost finished and I pick up the chalice with the consecrated hosts. I needed to set it on a small side table that was was at the bottom of the steps (4 of them) I take a step and my foot gets caught in the hem of the cassock. I go flying forward and never step foot on any of the steps (btw...the steps and floor were covered in carpet).

I land on my knees. I am holding the chalice with my right hand and my left hand is covering the top of it and get this...it is upright and I didn't spill anything other than my pride. I so wanted to cry.

When Mass was over we processed down the center aisle and I felt like everyone was staring at me and laughing. My mother comes to the back of the church to get me and I was so embarrassed and mad. She says she doesn't know what is going on. I told her what happened and she said that she was sure nobody noticed because they were all singing and looking in their hymnals.

As we are leaving the church, an elderly gentleman walks up to me and says, "Good catch there!" I burst into tears.

A few months later we were at a restaurant and a lady walks up to us and is talking and then she looks at me and says, "Aren't you the boy who fell off of the altar?"

Hence my fear of falling down yesterday. It CAN happen.

The Calvinator

This is the face of innocence. Uh huh...sure.

The other day I let Calvin out before we went for a stroll. While I was getting things together he was running around outside.

When I went to get him I couldn't find him but I could hear him. I walked around the house and didn't see him. I could still hear his tags jingling.

All of a sudden I see AttyHou and Everyday Italian's azaleas moving (and the wind wasn't blowing). When, what to my wondering eyes should appear but a miniature sleigh...oh wait, guess I have Christmas on my mind.

So all of a sudden he appears and is staring at me from the other side of the fence and he is making no effort to squeeze back through. I tried pulling him back through and he was digging in his paws and being stubborn. I tried again; nothing happened.

So I had to call Everyday Italian and tell him I was coming into the yard. When The Calvinator heard the gate open he made his way through the azaleas and had twigs and leaves all over him.

No more unsupervised play outside for The Calvinator.

So the next day I decide to take him on a short ride to the post office. On our way back I decided to use the drive-thru at the Starbucks on Shepherd and W. Gray. A grande Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino with whipped cream sounded good. After all, it is the holiday season and we're having warm weather.

I receive my beverage and place it in the cup holder. I'm trying to exit the parking lot and enter the traffic on Shepherd. Just as I'm doing this, out of the corner of my eye I see him sticking his tongue into the oversized opening on my beverage and he is helping himself to the whipped cream. I told him to stop. He looked at me with a snout covered in whipped cream.

I must say that with The Calvinator around there is never a dull moment.

In other news...

Tonight at Mass there was a guest priest. He was a bit on the enthusiastic-dramatic side of things. It took me awhile to remember who he was. At first I thought it was Mario Cantone.

Then I realized he had been here a couple of years ago. There's not a polite way to say this but it was all about him at the end of the sermon. I won't go into detail but I thought he was going to start singing There's No Business Like Show Business in his best Ethel Merman voice. So after that comment...I'm driving the bus to Hell and I'm selling tickets to anyone who wants to join me.

Once again, karma reared its head on The Amazing Race. The blondes (who U-turned a couple last week and the couple ended up getting eliminated) got eliminated tonight. HA!

Best line from Desperate Housewives tonight: If you're taking me somewhere that I can't wear a boa, then I don't want to go. -Gabrielle Solis to Carlos Solis when they are talking about leaving Wisteria Lane.

It is quite balmy here in the Bayou City. Temps are in the 70s and it rained earlier. Here it is Dec. 2 and I have the air conditioner running.

Saturday's run didn't go as planned. I woke up not feeling like I could run. So I waited until about 915a before I went over to the park. I figured a 3 mile run was better than nothing so I did 6 miles.

I watched a special on NBC yesterday afternoon. They did profiles on some people who competed in the Ironman Triathlon in Kona, Hawaii.

I've always been amazed at people who can complete that triathlon. One of the male competitors was blind (he was tethered to another competitor). Another male competitor was a double amputee. One guy almost died after a auto accident. All three of these guys completed the triathlon which consisted of a 2.4 mile, a 112 mile bike ride and a 26.2 mile run. There were other people who were profiled but these three really stuck in my mind. I was a bit teary-eyed at the end of the show. The human spirit is amazing.

Ramblings Of A Caffeinated Mind 6.2

This is an enhanced version of T 'n T for Sunday November 25, 2007.

Pay It Forward

On Tuesday night, when I left for Reef and then Cyclone Anaya's, I took my little notebook with me because it had some phone numbers in there that I might need. In that notebook were notes from various meetings as well as all of my physical activities and a grocery list. You get the picture.

So I get to Ft. Worth and I can't find the notebook that I thought was in The Cal Mobile. And of course one of the phone numbers that I needed while I was in Ft. Worth was in there! UGH.

I get back to Houston and look all over The Cal Mobile again. No sign of it. I look in some bags from Target (from Tuesday); not there. UGH! Yesterday I even said a prayer to St. Anthony who is the patron saint of lost causes.

So this morning I get a phone call from Elaine. Elaine was one of the ladies who worked at Tropical Depression #46. I haven't talked to Elaine in about a month so I'm thinking, "How nice to hear from her."

Sidebar: If you live in Houston and if you ever need dependable help at a party, hire Elaine.

So Elaine starts to ask me if I've lost a notebook and I tell her that I'm going nuts trying to find it. She got a phone call from a guy named Tony who found her phone number in there and note about September 15 (which happened to be the day of Tropical Depression #46). He called her on Wednesday but until today she couldn't remember where she was on on September 15 and then it clicked.

So after a nice chat with Elaine (BTW...she is also looking for a job. She has experience with medical records and she also has cared for people who are home bound.) I call Tony. I introduce myself and mention Elaine's name and then it clicks with him who I am.

He said he was on his way to work on Wednesday and saw a notebook in the street on Brazos. He thought it might be important so he went back around and picked it up.

I'm going to get it from him in a few days.

So, a gold star to Tony and a gold star to Elaine. It is a nice reminder that there are some good people in this world. And I hope that one day, someone does them a big favor too.

I've commented on here about paying it forward. And it goes with that saying that I will misquote and I can't remember who said it, "The good that you do is the good that you will receive in return."

Grande Sugar-free Cinnamon Dolce Latte non-fat with no whip and with an extra pump and an extra shot

That's my new other favorite drink at the office these days.

It is actually much better if you don't do sugar-free and if you do whole milk and whipped cream.

Anywho. This morning I'm at the office at my big desk reading the paper, just minding my own business and a lady walks up to the table and lets out a scream of glee. Scared the sh_t outta me. Wait it gets better.

It's not me that she is happy to see. It is someone behind me. OK. That's cool BUT she throws her purse down on the other chair at my desk, puts her coffee down RIGHT in front of me, and lays down some sort of a plastic bag on MY NEWSPAPER and walks off!

Never acknowledges that I'm sitting there. She doesn't ask if she can lay claim to my big desk. She just does it.

Eventually she comes back to gather her belongings which I have rearranged, except for the purse, and still doesn't acknowledge me.

If it hadn't have been for the phone call from Elaine which happened after this incident at the office, I'd probably still be seething over it.

Oh. So on my way out of the office, I accidentally kicked her table. LOL I swear it was an accident!

Nanook Of The North

What are the chances of me hearing that name twice within less of 24 hours? LOL

So yesterday while I was working on cards, Unzipped comes on. I've seen this frockumentary umpteen times. I could watch it another umpteen times. Every time I watch it I still get excited when Isaac shows his collection.

In the movie he refers to Nanook Of The North for his inspiration. OK. So that was yesterday afternoon.
This morning as I'm leaving LeFittes I run into Cruise Director Tom. (Haven't seen him in awhile and he always makes me laugh because he usually has some good gossip about something.) We comment about the cold to the bone wet weather and he looks at the sweater I'm wearing and says, "You're all bundled up like Nanook Of The North." Go figure.

I've never watched the movie so I guess now it is time to do so.

Post-Thanksgiving/Holiday Party

So this afternoon I made my way up the road to the annual party given by Scott & Micheal and Steven & Grant. Can't remember why but last year I didn't attend.

A fun time was had by all. Many familiar faces and as always some new faces. Great conversation and many laughs. Embellishments to events and stories at the drop of a hat. For instance, I am now adding Hapsburg (EDIT: the correct spelling is Habsburg) to my name. Sort of a long story so just use your imagination.

I could have stayed another hour chatting and drinking but I left to go to the 500p Mass at St. Anne's because I thought it was the first Sunday of Advent only to find out it was the Feast of Christ The King which is the last Sunday of the year.

So I'm home now. The Calvinator has been walked and we're waiting for The Amazing Race!

World AIDS Day Dec. 1

www.worldaidsdayhouston.org

Roaches and poop. What else for today?

Today has been an odd day that didn't get off to a good start. The Calvinator was up all night barking at something. If it only lasted a few seconds, I wouldn't get up. If it continued for more than a few seconds, I got up to look out. Never saw anything.

At one point, I could feel something tickling the back of my neck. Then it was the side of my face. Minutes passed and it started up again. I finally decide to wake up. I look at the clock (530A) and turn on the light. It was a huge @ss, frickin' Palmetto Bug (which is the nice name for a Wood Roach!) WTF? So of course I screamed like a girl and it disappeared.

Well there was no way I was going back to sleep knowing that this thing was in the bedroom. (The Calvinator was trying wake up and figure out why I was making noises. He was in the bathroom just staring at me.)

So I see the bug again but I don't have anything to smush it with and it disappears. The next time I see it it is back on the bed and I grab a shoe and knock it to the floor and smush it. So now I'm wide awake. Screaming like a girl will do that.

Fast forward through the morning ritual. I get to Memorial Park for a 3 mile run. I did 3 yesterday at lunch time and even did weights in the evening. I'm really proud of myself. This morning's run felt like 6 miles. My quads were hurtin'.

I finish the run, get to The Cal Mobile, look down and f_ck! I had fresh poop on my right shoe! And it was everywhere. UGH!

Fast forward through the details, cleaning up and finally getting to read the paper. The first thing that I notice is a story about Chau Nguyen leaving Channel 11. First Lisa Foronda and now Chau? Hmmm.

Then I see a huge @ss write up about the party this past Friday night. Of course I'm not in any of the photos in the hard copy OR the electronic version. Then I get to the HOroscopes and mine is a 2-star day. I knew I should have stayed in bed today...but there was that thing about the Palmetto Bug.

So with all this going on people are working my nerves and they don't know what I have been through. And yes, in the big scheme of things, roaches and poop don't really matter.

Today is All Saints Day which for us Roman Catholics is a Holy Day of Obligation. At the last minute I decide to run over to St. Anne's for the 1200p Mass and it was crowded. If I had thought about it I would have made a list of patron saints to pray to so instead I said a prayer for everyone that I know who has lost a close friend or relative in the past year and for all of my friends and relatives who have passed away.

I figure going to Mass in the middle of the day might calm me down and it did. However, I guess I wasn't listening very well because during the intentions, I thought I heard the priest say, "For all those who are trying to live a life of sanity." when he actually said, "For all those who are trying to live a life of sanctity."

Maybe I should go back to bed!

Monday, Monday ah ah ah...

Has anyone else been attacked by tsetse flies? I'm beginning to wonder if it is old age or what? Of course there are some contributing factors to my sleepiness.

I did not get a good night's rest Saturday going into Sunday. The Calvinator kept waking me up. There was something/someone outside. The first time was at 100A. Then it started again around 500A and continued until 630A.

I'm thinking it's critters but with the odd things that have been happening in NoRO one can't be too sure. So, I get up and look out and make sure that it isn't a person walking around the house.

I went to a birthday brunch for one of my fellow Legacy Board members. Was I the last to know about the brunch at Baba Yega? I eat there at lunch and dinner and had heard about brunch on Sunday but had no idea how good it was.

Anywho, it was a cloudy, dreary day in Houston yesterday (as opposed to bright and sunny on Saturday) so the lack of sleep + a Bloody Mary at brunch + not taking a nap on Saturday after running and walking (at the art festival) = a nice long nap on Sunday afternoon.

I did wake in time to make it to 500P Mass at St. Anne's. However, I was asleep by 1000P and couldn't get up this morning to get a run in at Memorial Park. Later maybe?

I have an interesting HO-roscope today. A long lost friend is going to come back into my life. Hmmmm.

HA! I got the laptop and he doesn't know it.

Hey everybody...it's Calvin. You might know me as The Calvinator. Str8 Up With A Twist is in the other room watching Big Brother 8. (Him and his reality shows. If I hear him say one more time, "I could win Amazing Race" I'll probably maul him while he sleeps!) He thinks I'm in here chewing a rawhide. I make some noise every now and then just so he won't come in and check on me; distraction you know.

I'm worn out! He got me up really early yesterday just because HE was wide awake. Can you believe he had me out there around 445A?!?! At least he slept in this morning until about 615A or so.

I really shouldn't complain. I took a nap while he was at the office reading the paper. He then went to that place he calls LeFittes. So by the time he got back I was all rested up and treat of treats he took me to Memorial Park. It was getting a bit hot but I didn't mind.

We didn't do our normal 1+ mile walk. I cut it short because I wanted to sit in the Jungle Gym area and watch people huff and puff. I know I drive him crazy with all of my sniffing and marking but he just doesn't understand that if I went more often I wouldn't get so excited.

He left me alone for most of the afternoon. I heard him say something about going to a fundraiser for Hope Stone. He came back for awhile and then he went to 500P Mass at St. Anne's. It must of have been a quickie because he came back and caught me napping. I wasn't expecting him home so soon.

After a walk that was interrupted by AttyHou, we came back and he gave me a Frosty Paw. He must have been in a really good mood because earlier he gave me some peanut butter with my heart worm medicine and then after he finished his dinner he gave me his left over pei wei (he calls it rice).

Well, I better get this posted before he finds out that I logged into "his blog". When he asks me what I know about this posting I'll just act nonchalant and ignore him; I'm good at that.

"Make woof not war." -Calvin

The Sky Is Falling

So the first part of today did not go as planned. Here was the plan:

1. Get up early and do a 5 mile run

2. Shower and clean up

3. Take The Calvinator to doggy daycare

4. Go to the office and read the newspaper

5. Head west on I-10 to suburbia to check out a store for my paper supply

6. Meander back inside the loop (ITL) and have lunch

Here's how it played out:

At 3:57A CDT, I was awakened by loud claps of thunder, lightning and rain. I wasn't sure how long the storm was going to last but I knew it was going to prevent me from getting out to the park by 500A. I guess at some point I turned off the alarm.

I got out of bed around 530A or so and it had stopped raining. Anthony Yanez at your education station informed me that the tropical disturbance is now Tropical Storm Erin. Erin will make landfall on Thursday between Corpus Christi and Brownsville. Galveston-Houston will be getting rain and storms. This morning was just a preview.

OK. Not to sound like Chicken Little but Tropical Storm Dean will probably make its way into the Gulf and not dog leg and go north. This storm will probably be a hurricane in a few days. UGH.

Satellite image from this morning. TS Erin is on the left and TS Dean is on the right (east of the Lesser Antilles.)

We went for our walk and while we were walking I started the debate in my head about running today. So I decided to take The Calvinator to doggy daycare and then go running.

OY! It was a 3 mile three sweater run. The park was wet (duh!) and the sun was peaking through so the temp was rising along with the humidity level. It honestly felt like I was wearing three sweaters and pallet of bricks.

I cleaned up and went to the office. By now I'm thinking that the traffic in suburbia should be OK so I did a quick read of the newspaper and headed west.

On my way to the store, I saw a mega-Garden Ridge so I stopped in and boy did I get thrown for a loop! The first thing that greeted me was rows and rows of Christmas trees and decorations. I'm sorry but mind isn't even thinking about Labor Day and I see Christmas trees. It honestly started to make me dizzy. So I left. On the way out I did see Halloween decorations.
To make myself feel better I went to Panera. I was still a bit overwhelmed by the Christmas trees so I ordered a Frozen Green Tea (with whipped cream)...Largo. I figured Largo went with Large Asso. Just put the whipped cream on both of my thighs. I took two Asiago bagels with me for future meals.




I made it to Archivers. The entire time I was on this trek I kept humming Suburbia by Pet Shop Boys. I'm not being critical but I will say that I didn't fit in with most of the people in 281 that I saw today. As Sugar Land Stuart has repeatedly told me, I'm too urban. (I take that as a compliment.)

At this point I wasn't sure what traffic was going to be like heading back ITL. I really wanted to go to Kohls 'cause I've never been to one but I didn't want to chance the traffic with all of the construction on I-10.

Made it back ITL and got to St. Anne's in time for the 12:00P Mass. The church was full which really surprised me. For the non-Catholic readers, today is a Holy Day of Obligation. This means we are obliged to attend Mass and celebrate The Feast of the Assumption.

from Catholic Encyclopedia:
This feast has a double object: (1) the happy departure of Mary from this life; (2) the assumption of her body into heaven. It is the principal feast of the Blessed Virgin.

Other than some web surfing, I don't have much else planned for the day. I was at LeFittes yesterday to do weights so I won't be going there this evening.