"Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset." Saint Francis De Sales

Friday, February 27, 2015

A Prayer, A Poem, Lent & Dragons.



1. This is from “Your Daily Tripod.” It is the Firefighter’s Prayer. They protect and serve without regard to themselves. Please take a moment to read this prayer.

When I'm called to duty God
wherever flames may rage,
give me strength to save a life
whatever be its age.
Help me to embrace a little child
before it is too late
or save an older person from
the horror of that fate.
Enable me to be alert
to hear the weakest shout
and quickly and efficiently
to put the fire out.
I want to fill my calling and
to give the best in me
to guard my neighbor and
protect his property.
And if according to your will
I have to lose my life
bless with your protecting hand
my children and my wife.  Amen.

Our son Stephen

2. A poem by Tom Schoenherr.

Today,
Snow blankets the scenery,
White smoke pours from chimneys,
Writing gnaws at my soul,
No words to pray
Today.
Longing for peace-filled thoughts,
Hoping for new life,
Doubting your presence,
No words to pray
Today,
Where comes the Spirit?
Where come the sighings?
Where lie deep thoughts?
Where comes the crying?
Today,
My mind settles in,
My spirit centers my soul,
I rest my open hands upon
My knees. I wait,
I listen.
You are here
Today.

3. Lent is here and I have not really gotten into it. There are no excuses. So as my mind wanders through the fog of indecision I see a clearing ahead of me. It is a beautiful “action” from the writing of Rev. Joe McCloskey, SJ. One so simple yet powerful enough to bring tears to my eyes.

Action
“For each complaint about another and how our world is going to hell, I will try to change what I might have said that would have been poor mouthing the efforts of another.  I will try to encourage rather than discourage.  I will try to be a helping hand even when it delays me and what I need to do.  I will say something positive about the others and my world.  I will try to build up my world by positive actions and encouragement.  I will go without something that is a luxury in my life for the sake of all those who cannot find the essentials for life.  Each day I will pass up rather than pass down my stomach the desserts that pleasure my life.  For the sake of bringing pleasure to the people I serve, I will try to feel hunger at one of the meals of each day.  I will try to leave the meal still hungry for all those who do not have the possibility of eating what they need to survive.  In short, I will work to make my Lent something positive I do for others for the sake of Christ and a better world.”

4. Linda Ronstadt - “Long Long Time.”


5. Our oldest grandson Justin loves dinosaurs and dragons. Some day I expect he will become a paleontologist. While he and his family were visiting last week he painted a couple of miniature dragons that I had purchased for him. The miniatures are from Ral Partha.

Justin's Gold Dragon
Justin's Red Wyvern

6. The Spiders defeated VCU last Wednesday evening. Dee and I were there enjoying the enthusiasm and energy of the crowd.

"ShawnDre' Jones scored 22 points off the bench as Richmond upset VCU 67-63 in double overtime. The Spiders haven’t won back-to-back games against VCU since Feb 2001."

The fans were energized and loud, supporting their teams throughout the game. Both teams played hard with VCU tying the game for the first overtime. The Spiders then tied the game sending it into the second overtime. ESPN covered the game and you can see video highlights here.


ShawnDre' Jones
The Fans Celebrate

7. I wasn't going to mention snow, arctic vortex, ice nor freezing temperatures. Then our good friend posted this on Facebook. I am a Minion fan and couldn't resist showing it here. Thank you Pat.


  


Read other "Takes" at "This Ain't the Lyceum."

Friday, February 20, 2015

My Slow Takes About Snow, Birds and JFK.



1. Last March I wrote about the Norse Gods of winter and how they “ravaged the countryside,” bringing snow, ice and cold winds. This year they arrived again, only the temperatures are much lower than the year before, single digits. Spring is farther away than the villagers had hoped, but Sol is here, riding her chariot over the lands. Brightening the day with her rays of light, fighting the clouds that attempt to darken the sky.   

2. I took a couple of pictures with my iPhone to show how sunshine makes snow look good.

Looking out my office window.
A view from the family room.
3. My neighbor puts out corn for the deer. This week some local birds discovered the corn. It reminded me of Alfred Hitchcock’s, “The Birds.”

They are in the trees as well as on the ground.
A scene from the movie.

4. This week we had the Forgette Clan together. Dee prepared sauce with meatballs, sausage and spaghetti.

I washed and Eric dried.

5. Mercy Me - “I Can Only Imagine”


6. Sonny and Cher - “I Got You Babe.”


7. This is a quote from “Your Daily Tripod.”

"It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped each time a man stands up for an ideal or acts to improve the lot of others or strikes out against injustice he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest wall of oppression and resistance."
Robert F. Kennedy, South Africa, 1966


Read other "Takes" at "This Ain't the Lyceum."

Friday, February 13, 2015

My Slow, "Humble," Takes About Me.


1. I have had dreams like this.


2. One of my favorite movies is “El Cid,” from 1961. After the death of king Ferdinand, the kingdom is divided into three parts. One for each of the surviving children. The eldest, Sancho, claims the throne and sends his brother Alfonso to the dungeon of Zamora. On the way, Rodrigo de Vivar, El Cid, intercepts the guard escorting Alfonso.

Rodrigo: “Will you give me your prisoner, or must I take him?”
Captain of the guard: “There are 13 of us and you are alone.”
Rodrigo: “What you do is against God's law. Were you 13 times 13
I would not be alone.”
Captain of the guard: “What kind of a man are you?”

It is a great scene and I enjoy it each time I watch the movie.

Charlton Heston as Rodrigo de Vivar
3. Kelly requested that we share “some mundane details about your life?!”

I am French-Canadian with a mix of Ojibwa and Scottish blood. An odd combination for one who was born in Hampton, Virginia. However, my Dad was from Chazy, New York near the Canadian border. His parents were from Canada. He met Mom in Hampton during WWII and they were married in '46.

We moved from Virginia, to Vermont then Maine and on to Cortland, New York. We finally settled in Buffalo, New York. I attended Canisius College and graduated with a degree in Business Management. Dee and I were married in ’71 and raised three sons. We now have six grandchildren. We moved to Richmond, Virginia about twenty years ago. I attended the University of Richmond and completed a certificate for Information Processing Systems. This was a career change that God pointed me to and I’m glad I listened to Him.

The Forgette Clan; Stephen, Eric, Dee, Todd and Me.
4. I enjoy writing and have a journal that I have kept since March of 1975. Inspiration or the desire to keep a journal came from the book “The Siren Years,” written by Charles Richie. He was a Canadian diplomat who wrote about his experiences during and after World War II. He wrote about the daily things that he experienced. There was no plot, no heroic figures or cowboys riding off into the sunset. When I go back to read about me in 1975 or 1980, I see a me who has grown in my spiritual journey. Thankful to God and knowing that He has always been there guiding me through my life.

5. Historical miniatures are another hobby I have enjoyed for a long time. I have always been interested in history and have researched Ancient Greece through to the Napoleonic Wars. I have painted armies from these periods, filling my house with a lot of “toy soldiers.” My current area of concentration is the French and Indian Wars in North America and the American Revolution.

6. I played bagpipes with the Greater Richmond Pipe and Drums. That’s me next to the piper wearing the cowboy hat. I’m wearing my Turnbull Clan kilt. 


7. I enjoy red wines and single malt scotch. Dee is an excellent cook, so my favorite foods are her Italian sauce with rigatoni, meatballs, sausage and braciole, strombolli, apple pie and french toast.  I am a cradle Catholic but was late in recognizing the importance of my spiritual journey with Christ. Dee and I share in our faith and are involved in various ministries at our church. Reading is another hobby of mine. My favorite authors; J. R. R. Tolkien, Terry Brooks and Bernard Cornwell.


Read other "Takes" at "This Ain't the Lyceum."

Friday, February 6, 2015

My Slow Takes About Minions, Spiders, and Hawks.



1. My favorite Super Bowl commercial.


2. January 31, 2015, an away game for the Spiders at VCU. Their first away game win, Spiders 64 - VCU 55. It was a great game, just ask Dee. We went to 5:15PM Mass, so I made sure the DVR captured the excitement. Dee is an avid fan of Spiders basketball. Watching the game with her at home is just as loud as watching the game at the Robins Center. Her favorite player is number 0, Kendall Anthony.

A very happy Spider team.
Kendall on the attack.
3. Dee took this photo of a hawk in our front yard area. He’s sitting on top of the neighbors basketball pole. I did some research and I believe this is a young Sparrow Hawk. 


4. I counted four “guys” on last weeks “seven takes.” Adam, George, myself and a new addition, Scott. 
Blogs from “Da Guys.”

Scott Eric     Adam     George

5. Don Gibson, “I Can’t Stop Loving You.” Alan Cackett has a nice bio of Don on his website.


6. I watched the movie “John Carter” the other day and I still like it. Edgar Rice Burroughs was an adventurer writer that I loved reading as a youngster. The John Carter of Mars series is excellent. Disney had a great idea, just a poor presentation. But, I think that there is room for more. We just need some creative talent to resurrect the story. Edgar Rice Burroughs has written a series of Mars adventures that are ready for “prime time.”

7. This is a unit of British Light Infantry for my American Revolution miniature collection. Completed it this week. They are Old Glory 25mm figures.



Read other "Takes" at "This Ain't the Lyceum."