Who'da Thunk It?

So, I was doing research for a, er, uhm, post for a Very Special Day that is coming up (pronto), and I found this check this out!

Para David

¡Ramen Perfecto!

Monday Movie Review

Yesterday, after church, the Lovely Mona and I went to the Paitilla neighborhood of Panama City to do our otro grocery shopping. We have three different supermarkets in our own neighborhood, but they don't sell everything we need. We go to Paitilla to get Asian foods. We get things like basmati rice and falafel mix and nuts and kosher meats at Super Kosher. Around the corner from Super Kosher is Mini Max, a market which features items from Japan, Korea, and China. They carry the spicy ramen I like, and have started carrying a kim chi-flavoured ramen which is killah (I will always be a ramen-boy; it's the Okinawan in me). We bought some nori and some kim chi, too. Then we crossed the street to King's Food. King's Food sells Indian foodstuffs. I buy the majority of the ingredients for my curry Powdah there, as well as various chutneys and pickles, and these "two-minute" curries such as mutter paneer and dahl tadka and pav bhaji, you know THAT kinda stuff. They also sell Bollywood films. We picked up three films yesterday. The Lovely Mona and I love Bollywood; it's not art but it's great entertainment. We like to watch Bollywood on Sunday afternoons because most Bollywood movies are close to or longer than three hours, so it's not something you want to take on in the evening. We purchased Laaga Chunari Mein Daag (Journey Of A Woman), Chalte Chalte (While Walking) and Aaja Nachle (Come Let's Dance). I'll be reviewing these films over the next few weeks, when we can find time to watch them all. Yesterday we watched Aaja Nachle.

Aaja Nachle is Madhuri Dixit's comeback film after an absence of six years. It was released in November of last year. Madhuri Dixit is in my trinity of Bollywood actresses along with Kajol and Rani Mukherji. I enjoy her acting but she is also an incredible dancer. Her dancing really stole the show in Devdas. So, as one would expect from Madhuri, Aaja Nachle features a lot of dancing.


The story is simple, as is usually the case in this genre. Daiya (Madhuri Dixit) has a dance studio in New York. She is tough task-master and really drives her students to excellence. One day she receives a telephone call from India; her dance guru is near death and wants her to come home. Daiya and her daughter return to India. Daiya's daughter asks her why they are going to India since she said she would never return. We get a flash-back which tells the story of the school she attended in her home town of Shamli. She was a strong-willed girl, and caused a scandal when, on the night of her engagement to a local boy chosen by her parents, she ran off with an estadoünidense. Her parents left Shamli in shame and no one knew where they went. Soon after arriving in New York, she and her estadoünidense husband realized that they weren't really meant for each other (must be that Tropical Heat!) and even though she was pregnant, they divorced.

She comes back to find that her teacher had died and that the city authorities want to demolish the school/temple to put up a shopping mall. To make a long story short, she puts on a show in the hopes of saving the school/temple.

I really enjoyed the songs and the dancing. Madhuri Dixit uses her whole body when she dances; not just feet, hips, and arms. She dances with her head and face and even her eyebrows. I really enjoy watching her. Below is a scene from the film.

The show that is put on is way over the top; one wonders how a school that is going under in a town that is in economic recession could afford the sets, but it IS a Bollywood movie, for goodness' sakes! One simply surrenders to the story and music if one wants to enjoy the film.

This movie was panned by many critics and was banned in certain provinces in India due to a line which some believed was a disparaging remark about caste. I disagree with the critics; it's Bollywood, not Satyajit Ray! Padre Mickey and the Lovely Mona say "Check it out!"

Here she is, the Beautiful and Talented Madhuri Dixit dancing to the song Aaja Nachle

Prayers for the Diocese of San Joaquin

For a Church Convention

Almighty and everlasting Father, you have given the Holy Spirit to abide with us for ever: Bless, we pray, with his grace and presence, the bishops and the other clergy and the laity assembled in your Name, that your Church, being preserved in true faith and godly discipline, may fulfill all the mind of him who loved it and gave himself for it, your Son Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

For the Unity of the Church

Almighty Father, whose blessed Son before his passion prayed for his disciples that they might be one, as you and he are one:
Grant that your Church, being bound together in love and obedience to you, may be united in one body by the one Spirit, that the world may believe in him whom you have sent, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Oh, THAT test!

Your Score: Tigger

You scored 17 Ego, 11 Anxiety, and 18 Agency!

And as they went, Tigger told Roo (who wanted to know)
all about the things that Tiggers could do.

"Can they fly?" asked Roo.

"Yes," said Tigger, "they're very good flyers, Tiggers
are. Strornry good flyers."

"Oo!" said Roo. "Can they fly as well as Owl?"

"Yes," said Tigger. "Only they don't want to."

"Why don't they want to?" well, they just don't like it
somehow."

Roo couldn't understand this, because he thought it
would be lovely to be able to fly, but Tigger said it was
difficult to explain to anybody who wasn't a Tigger himself.

You scored as Tigger!

ABOUT TIGGER: Tigger is the newest addition to the Hundred Acre Wood, and he lives with Kanga and Roo, because Roo's strengthening medicine turned out to be the thing that Tiggers like best. Tigger is bouncy and confident -some of his friends think he is a little TOO bouncy and confident, but attempts to unbounce him tend to be fruitless.

WHAT THIS SAYS ABOUT YOU: You are a positive and confident person. You feel capable of dealing with anything and everything, and funnily enough, you usually ARE. You don't worry about much, and you love to go out and find new adventures.

Your friends and family might sometimes be a little exasperated by your boundless enthusiasm. You don't like to admit your mistakes, and when you find yourself in over you head, you tend to bluff your way out of things. You would be surprised, however, at how happy the people around you would be if you would actually admit to a mistake. It would make you seem more human, somehow.

Link: The Deep and Meaningful Winnie-The-Pooh Character Test written by wolfcaroling on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test View My Profile(wolfcaroling)

Friday Red Mr. Peanut Bank and Gallito Mescalito Blogging: ANOTHER Evening Of Terrible Comedy: Easter Friday Edition

Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House Sigh, all I do lately is hide from that dog! At least she's off napping somewhere right now.




Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House Maybe I'll take a little nap right now, but I think I hear someone coming. Dang! It's that snooty bank!




Red Mr. Peanut Bank Good day and Happy Easter, Bunrab! How are you?
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House Hello, Red Mr. Peanut Bank. I'm fine, but a little tired.
Red Mr. Peanut Bank Have you lost weight?
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House No, I just can't outrun Chompita. What's up?
Red Mr. Peanut Bank Well, it's time for Friday Red Mr. Peanut Bank and Gallito Mescalito Blogging. You are featured this evening.
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House Oh, really! Rabbit jokes again?
Red Mr. Peanut Bank In a similar vein; Easter jokes tonight. I have a few to get things started.
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House Oh, Joy!
Red Mr. Peanut Bank What's that? Oh, never mind! Let me begin: Why did the Easter egg hide?
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House I don't know. Why?
Red Mr. Peanut Bank Because it was a little chicken. Heh, heh. Now, what do you call rabbits that marched in a long sweltering Easter parade?
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House I have no idea!
Red Mr. Peanut Bank Hot, cross bunnies. Oh, how droll! Now, how many Easter bunnies does it take to change a light bulb?
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House Surprise me!
Red Mr. Peanut Bank How many Easter bunnies can??? Oh my, that was certainly silly! Oh, look! It's Gallito Mescalito!
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House Great!



Red Mr. Peanut Bank Hello, Gallito Mescalito! Happy Easter to you!
Gallito Mescalito ¡Shriek!
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House And Happy Easter to you, too, Gallito Mescalito! What brings you here?
Gallito Mescalito ¿Shriek?Shrieky-shriek.
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the HouseWell, let's hear them. But, please, don't make me give answers or say "why?" or "I don't know, what?" okay?
Gallito Mescalito ¡Shriek! ¿Shriek-shrieky-shriek-shriekfrom this point on our Gallito to English translator is activated Q: What do you call a Easter ducky that just doesn't fit in?
A: Mallardjusted.
Q: What do you get when you cross a chicken and the Easter Bunny?
A: A good Easter.
Q: How do bunnies stay healthy?
A: Eggercise ¡Shrieeeeeek!
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House Hahahahaha! Very funny! I have a few for you!
Gallito Mescalito ¿Shriek?
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House Why did the Easter Bunny cross the road?
Gallito Mescalito ¿Shriek?
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House Because the chicken had his Easter eggs! Okay, same question: Why did the Easter Bunny cross the road?
Gallito Mescalito ¿Shriek?
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House To prove he wasn’t chicken!hahahahahahahahaha! Here's the last one: What does a rooster say to a hen he likes?
Gallito Mescalito ¿Shriek?
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House You're one hot chick! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!
Gallito Mescalito ¡Shriek! ¿Shriek?
Red Mr. Peanut Bank I agree. What's so funny about that? Well, Good day, Bunrab!
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House Hasta luego.
Gallito Mescalito ¡Shriek!




Squeaky Gorilla Happy Easter, Bunrab! skeek I have some jokes for you.skeek
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House Hello, Squeaky Gorilla. Well, let's hear 'em! But I'm not gonna ask why and stuff. Just tell the joke.
Squeaky Gorilla Very well. skeek Q: Where does Valentine's Day comes after Easter? skeek In the dictionary. Skeek
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House Very funny.
Squeaky Gorilla Yes, indeed! skeek Q: Do you know how bunnies stay in shape? skeek A: Hareobics. skeek
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House Please continue.
Squeaky Gorilla Q: What grows between your nose and chin? skeek
A: Tulips!!!!! skeek Tulips!!!!! skeek
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House Ha ha. What is that noise?
Squeaky Gorilla What noise? skeek I don't hear any noise!skeek
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House Okay. NEXT!!





¡El Toro! Hola, Bunrab! ¡Feliz Pascua!
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House Oh, hello, ¡El Toro! I suppose you have some jokes too?
¡El Toro! Sí, yo tengo, pero en inglés. Necisito a practicar.
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House Muy bién.
¡El Toro! ¡Bueno! Q: What is the end of Easter?
A: The letter R. Q: What do you get when you find a rabbit with no hair?
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House No se.
¡El Toro! ¡A hairless hare! ¡Jijijijijiji! ¡Ciao!
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House Ai, gracias a Dios. Hasta luego, ¡El Toro!




Mr. Chompy's Chewed-up Squeaky Kitty Toy Yo, Bunrab! Happy Eastah! How's it hanging?
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House It's just barely hanging, Cat. That dog has been chewing on me something awful!
Mr. Chompy's Chewed-up Squeaky Kitty Toy I tot yood lost weight! Ready ta heah sumptin' funny?
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House As long as I don't have to say "why?" or "how?" or " I don't know, how many?"
Mr. Chompy's Chewed-up Squeaky Kitty Toy No problem!I got's wunna dose Top Ten lists like on David Lettahmen! Wanna heah it?
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House Please! Go right ahead!
Mr. Chompy's Chewed-up Squeaky Kitty Toy Great! Dis is da Top Ten Reasons to Celebrate Eastah!
10. You absolutely loves da movie, "Da Ten Commandiments".
9. You look really, really good in yella.
8. You just went on a low cholesterol diet and din't wanna waste all dose eggs in da fridge.
7. You figga any Holiday what stahts wid a "Good Friday" can't be all bad.
6. You loves ta bite da heads off chocit bunnies.
5. It's a good time ta check out your neighborhood choich and not be noticeted.
4. You gots dis bunny suit you loves ta weah, but ah too insecure ta weah it wit'out a reason.
3. Even though ya don't know what it is, ya really likes da soun' a goin' ta a "Passion Play."
2. Ya figgured since Jesus went ta all DAT trouble ta make it to the foist Eastah, you'd gibbita shot.
1. As a Christian you celebrates da resurrection every other day, why not Eastah too? Funny, eh?
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House Very good, Cat. See ya 'round!
Mr. Chompy's Chewed-up Squeaky Kitty Toy Not if I sees ya foist! hahahahaha




Miss Egyptian Hippo of Love Hey there, you big filthy bunny rabbit!
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House Oooh, Hello Miss Egyptian Hippo of Love! Happy Easter! Do you have some jokes, too?
Miss Egyptian Hippo of Love I sure do, you big soggy rag of a dog toy. Happy Easter to you, too. I've got a Top Ten List like the Cat.
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House Well, I can't wait to hear it! I'm all ears, as it were! Heh heh.
Miss Egyptian Hippo of Love Very funny, big boy. Here are the Top Ten Signs that the Easter Bunny Is Nuts!
10. Neighbors describing him as "a quiet loner."
9. Removed from a department store last December after screaming at Santa, "You're going to die up there, fat man!"
8. Can't stop washing his paws.
7. Colorful eggs now filled with Prozac.
6. Apartment walls covered with photos of Sharon Stone.
5. Met with Dr. Kevorkian about the possibility of a "suicide egg."
4. Rotting corpse of Energizer bunny recently discovered in his crawl space.
3. Won't come out of his compound in Waco, Texas.
2. He's hippity-hopped up on crack.
1. Keeps rubbing himself for good luck.
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House HAHAHAHAHA!!! THOSE WERE GREAT!!!
Miss Egyptian Hippo of Love Yeah, okay, Bunrab, calm down. I gotta go. See ya!
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House Good bye, Miss Egyptian Hippo of Love. I love you!
Miss Egyptian Hippo of Love Every body does!




¡El Penguino! Dude! Happy Easter!
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House Oh, Hi, ¡El Penguino! Happy Easter!
¡El Penguino! ¡Feliz Pascua to you, too! Ready for some jokes?
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House As long as I don't have to say "why?" or "how?" or " I don't know, how many?"
¡El Penguino! No prob, Bob! Just listen to these: Good Idea: Finding Easter eggs on Easter.
Bad Idea: Finding Easter eggs on Xmas.
Altzheimer's Advantage #2 :- You can hide your own Easter eggs.
Q. What do Easter Bunny helpers get for making a basket?
A. Two points, just like anyone else.
Q. What's invisible and smells like carrots?
A. The Ether Bunny
Q. Why did the Easter Bunny hide his eggs?
A. He doesn't want the other bunnies to know tht he was fooling around with the chickens. hahahahahaha.
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House Wow! I actually LIKED those! Thanks!
¡El Penguino! See ya around, dude! I'm feelin' mighty THIRSTY!!!!
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House Not if I see you first! heheheheh!
¡El Penguino! Dude! You stole that from the cat!




The Mighty Moose of Vermont Hello, Bunrab. Happy Easter to you!
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House Hello, Mighty Moose of Vermont. How's your first Easter in Panamá going?
The Mighty Moose of Vermont Quite nicely, thank you. I don't miss the friggin' cold of Vermont, and I really like that "bun and cheese" everyone eats from Good Friday through the rest of Easter. Thanks for asking! And how are you?
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House Well, I've been chosen to listen to Easter jokes. I suppose you have a few hidden in your antlers?
The Mighty Moose of Vermont I most certainly do! Ready? Here we go!
Q. What's the difference between a counterfeit dollar bill and a crazy rabbit?
A. One is bad money, the other is a mad bunny!
Q. How many Easter eggs can you put in an empty basket?
A. Only one – after that it’s not empty any more!
Q. What’s yellow, has long ears, and grows on trees?
A. The Easter Bunana!
Q. How do you catch the Easter Bunny?
A. Hide in a bush and make a noise like a carrot!
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House Thank you! Those were quite amusing!
The Mighty Moose of Vermont You're welcome! Now I must be off and find that penguin. He seems to have developed a taste for Panamanian Rum!




The Telly Tubbies Eh-oh, bunwab. Eh-oh, bunwab. How doing? How doing?Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House Hello, Tellytubbies! Say, what happened to your wings?
The Telly Tubbies Shed da wings. Shed da wings. Gots jokes! Gots jokes!
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House Well, let's hear them!
The Telly Tubbies How dus Eastew en'? How dus Eastew en'?
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House I don't know. How DOES Easter end?
The Telly Tubbies Wif da lettow R! Wif da lettow R! What you call a wabbit dat tells good jokes? A wabbit dat tells good jokes?
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House I don't know. Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House?
The Telly Tubbies NO! A funny bunny! Funny Bunny! Not Bunwab!




Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House Gee, I thought I was the funny bunny.
The Telly Tubbies Oh,Bunwab, Big hug! BIG HUG!!!
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House Thank you, Tellytubbies. Now, run away! Run away!
The Telly Tubbies Run away!Run Away!



Blurry Bear Hey, Rabbit! Q. Why does the Easter Bunny have a shiny nose?
A. Because the powder puff is on the other end!

Q. What did the rabbit say to the carrot?
A. It’s been nice gnawing you!
Q.How do you know carrots are good for your eyes?
A.Have you ever seen a rabbit wearing glasses?
Q. Why is a bunny the luckiest animal in the world?
A. Because it has four rabbit’s feet!
Q. What did the rabbits do after their wedding?
A. Went on their bunnymoon!
Q. Why was the Easter Bunny so upset?
A. He was having a bad hare day!
Q. Why can’t a rabbit’s nose be 12 inches long?
A. Because then it would be a foot!
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House STOP IT! STOP IT!! I CAN'T TAKE ANY MORE!!! AAAARRRGGGHHHH!!!
Blurry Bear Heh heh. I'm outta here!!!




Everybody, in one voice Oh Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House, thanks for being such a good sport. You know we love you!
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House Well, at least I've been safe from Chompita for a while.
Everybody, in one voice Happy Easter, Everyone! ¡Feliz Pascua a Todos! See you next week!
Gallito Mescalito ¡¡¡¡SSSHHHRRRRIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEKKKKKK!!!!

This post has been visited by the Alter Guild, thanks to Jane R.

Friday Random Top Ten

Ya pushes "shuffle" and ya takes yer chances. . .

1. 1917 Linda Ronstandt and Emmylou Harris
2. It's Rainin' Kirk Franklin and God's Property
3. Souvenir Orchestral Manoeuvers In The Dark
4. Joe Falcon's Waltz BeauSoleil
5. The Guitar (The Lion Sleeps Tonight) They Might Be Giants
6. Garden Of Earthly Delights XTC
7. Icky Thump White Stripes
8. I Love You RAMONES!
9. I Hate Heaven The Residents
10. If I Didn't Love You Squeeze


Well, this is aNOTHER strange list I've gotten us into, Stanley! Ya can't go wrong with Linda and Emmylou, although I must say I wasn't in the mood for Kirk Franklin this morning. Souvenir is one of my favorite OMD songs; I remember dresbaby Tara dancing to it at a recital in Jr. High. Everyone else was doing noisy Hiphop and out comes Tara in some filmy black dress, twirling about to OMD. When she was at Berkeley High she did a dance to Tom Wait's The Ocean Didn't Want Me Today which is kinda like a poem with someone banging around on pots and pans. BUT SHE'S PERFECTLY NORMAL NOW, or at least what passes for normal in our family and for a person living in Berkeley. But I digress. . . I likes everything on this list, and that Icky Thump is one gloriously noisy song. But what I REALLY love is the way the last three songs worked out: I Love You (which is true,ya know) from the Ramones last album, followed by I Hate Heaven from the Resident's Wormwood album, a collection of songs about stories from the Bible (some of the worst stories from the Bible, to boot!) followed by If I Didn't Love You by Squeeze. This is the perfect combination of Love and Hate, as the first line is "If I didn't love you, I'd hate you." I declares this Top Ten a success!

The John McCain Sing-a-long Continues!

The big topic of conversation around here is: "He was born in the Canal Zone, ya know! You may end up with a Panamanian president heh heh heh." To which I always respond, "A Zonian, huh? That explains a lot!!"

pabloONpolitics.com

It's A Miss Bebé Easter!

Well, I was fishin' about for pictures of Miss Bebé, the World's Cutest Granchile™ in a frilly dress with a big hat and cute gloves, covered with chocolate mess, but such photos have yet to appear. I also received photos of The Other World's Cutest Granchile™ but her mom doesn't want her photos on the internets so you don't get to see them. She's really cute, too. Happy Easter, everyone!


Miss Bebé contemplates the profound theological meaning of the Easter Egg, or maybe she's trying to figure out why they aren't made of candy. A cat (who appears to have eaten all the candy before Evie awoke) watches from afar.


Miss Bebé plays with the darling bunny-cart

Way Cool!

Jordi Mestre/EIA/Reuters

Remains of Human Ancestors Found



Meanwhile, in CrazyFundyWorldUSA, New World Creationists visit the Denver Museum to continue brainwashing "Christian" Home Schoolers.


And to make things even more fun, super-nutso New World Creationist Documentary makers EXPELLED P.Z. Myers from their film, but let Richard Dawkins in!!!

My best friend here in Panama is an Evolutionary Biologist with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and a devout member of St. Simon's Episcopal Church in Gamboa, and even though he is somewhat more, well, actually quite more theologically conservative than I, there is no way he agrees with these people!

I taught my daughters that God created the world, but God used evolution to do it. To quote the Spudboys in Joko Homo: "God made man, But he used the monkey to do it. Apes in the plan were all here to prove it. I can walk like an ape, talk like an ape; I can do what a monkey can do. God made man, but a monkey supplied the glue!"

Christ is Risen! Allelulia! God gave you a brain and doesn't demand that you believe Iron Age Creation Myths, Alleluia, alleluia!

A Little Early, But Very Funny!

see more crazy cat pics

This Evening's Political Cartoons

Triduum (and Easter Sunday) at Parroquia San Cristóbal (and El Valle)

It's Easter Monday, and like most clergy, I'm laying low, recovering from the Triduum. Yesterday we had a Sunrise service in English at 6:00am, then la Misa Pascual en español a las 9:30am. Then the Lovely Mona and I drove about an hour and a half to El Valle de Anton, where I celebrated an Easter Mass with the developing congregation of St. Mary's of the Valley. Many people of Ciudad de Panamá go to the Interiór for Pascua, and they were all returning home at the same time we were. It took three hours to get home! When we got home, I took Chompita out for a walk. Then the Lovely Mona and I had dinner and collapsed into our bed by 9:30 pm. Big day! Also, check out Eric Jackson's photos of the Annual Grace Walter’s Easter Hat Contest at the Museo Afro-Antillano. The Lovely Mona and I loved Grace Walters; she was a dear friend and, boy, did she have hats! You will notice that we have some pretty good hats at St. Christopher's yesterday, too!
Also, Tía Sue has some great Palm Sunday photos here. Check 'em out!

So, here are our photos from the Triduum:

Maundy Thursday

Foot washing. We don't have a sign-up sheet or anything, we just invite those who want their feet washed or want to wash other's feet to come up front.







The Reserved Sacrament in the Garden of Repose
People keep vigil here


Stripping the Altar





I never experienced this until I came to San Cristóbal. We take the remaining wine in the chalice and pour it on the four corners and center of the altar, like the priest in the sin offering liturgy in Leviticus 4. Then wine is then spread about the altar using some Palm fronds from Sunday's liturgy.





Good Friday

As we have in the past, we had a Service of Three Hours. We begin with a bilingual version of the Stations of the Cross; the same version we used on Friday evenings throughout Lent. Then we use a bilingual version of the Good Friday service from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. I sang the Passion from the Gospel of John. We also had some meditations; Reverenda Nancy Eswien from the Diocese of California, my friend and seminary classmate, gave a wonderful meditation on The Trial of Jesus. We sang some hymns, and the Lovely Mona and I played some duets. Last year the service ended fifteen minutes early, but this year we ended 15 minutes late, so it all balances out.




The Great Vigil of Easter

I would love to hold the Great Vigil at 9:00 pm and then have a big party afterwards, like we did at St. Mark's in Berkeley, but people don't feel safe coming in the neighborhood at that time of the evening, plus it's difficult to find reliable public transportation at that time of night, so we hold our vigil at 6:00 pm. It gets dark once we get into the church anyway, and we do the baptisms in the dark, illumined with candlelight. We don't hold a party afterwards as we have a Sunrise service Easter morning at 6:00am and the place is always full for that service, so I can't change that tradition.

We had eleven baptisms scheduled, but only eight showed up. Actually, just before we started the Easter Eucharist of the Vigil, I was told that the other three were on their way, but I told the person it was too late and we'd have to do it another time. I guess they thought we were going to wait to start the service until they arrived, even though they didn't even start to leave their house until after 7:00pm!

One Easter tradition I did bring from St. Mark's, Berkeley, is ringing bells every time we say "Alleluia" throughout the season of Easter. We love it!


Lighting the new fire






The Crowd





The procession





Singing the exsultet




Baptisms










Alleluia! Christ is risen!




Easter Sunday

The Lovely Mona doesn't come to the Sunrise service, but she did arrive in time for la Misa Pascual to say "hi" to everyone and take photos. Everybody was on the patio enjoying bun and cheese, a West Indian Easter tradition. Bun is a kind of fruit cake, and we all eat slices of cheese with it. Nowadays THAT is my Easter treat rather than chocolate bunnies.



Here are photos of the Easter crowd









This little girl is named Hillary. The Lovely Mona and I see her as the solution to the recent arguments in the Democratic Party. She was the cutest angel at the Epiphany Pageant when she was five years old. Now she's seven and a Big Girl.



These are the Neighborhood Girls. They love to sit together in the front row, and sometimes Professora Priscilla has to remind them to behave!



The Dickens Sisters



During the announcements we brought up the niños to answer some questions about Holy Week and Easter. Everyone got a prize.



Here are the niñas answering questions and winning prizes, too! The Lovely Mona wants to point out those pink boots!


After the service, the Egg Hunt.



Here I am at the altar in El Valle, with Shirley at the piano.



Here are some of the flowers in Shirley's garden.


A black Bird of Paradise




Look at this huge tree branch! And lots of stuff is growing on it. It's part of Shirley's garden.