Suprise Suprise Suprise

Look who is in Georgia...more later.

June 6, 1998...

...was the day I was ordained to the priesthood, making this my 10th anniversary. Here is a piece that ran in the Georgia Buletin the week before ordanation. I don't have any pictures from ordination to share (that is none digital), sorry. Thanks to all who have supported me throughout my ministry. Peace to you all. fvg

Bishop Tony Taylor

(photo Bob Ocken, Arkansas Catholic)

Well my mom has been busy these past few days, but she took some time yesterday to head over to Little Rock for the Ordination of her friend, the new Bishop Tony Taylor. Here are a few pieces about him and his new home in Arkansas. (here, here and here) Rocco over at Whispers also has some words up. Peace

What...huuh???

I am sure you have seen the images or Jesus or the Virgin Mary appearing here and there on stuff, the Chicago Tribune has a piece up and it just makes me wonder why all this??? Does this stuff build up your faith? Do you think any of these are signs? Photo 11 in the series looks cool, but I don't find my faith being uplifted...any thoughts? Peace

Friday FAILures

Enjoy

Kids to the Vet

Ooti gets looked over...more later.

Rejoice

This is a fun ad for Coke, your heart just breaks a bit for this guy...heheheheheheheee!

What happened to Ricky...

The Wall Street Journal has an absolutely stunning, at times both sad and heart warming, story up about people turning their children over to be wards of the state. It is generally story focusing on when parents knew they could no longer care for their mental challenged children. It is specifically about one families journey to reconnect. It is from a different day and time than most people live in today, but one from our past. Give it a read, then watch the video that is posted with the story when you are done.

The Deacon has arrived

Our seminarian for the summer, Deacon Salomon Garcia, arrived today. Deacon Salomon has been with us the past two Triduum's so he should look familiar. He will be with us until the end of July so you will have a good chance to get to know him. Make sure this Sunday to stop by and welcome Salomon back to our parish family. A speacial note of thanks to Fr. Dan Stack for brining Deacon Salomon to Tyrone this morning.

Fr. Dan and Deacon Salomon quite serious!

Fr. Dan goofing off as usual!

The Passing of an era

Today was a sad day 5 months to the day of the real start of the font project, Bob Imsand has completed his work on the font, save a touch up here and there and some small mechanical issues as the font is in more us. Thanks a bunch Bob and all those who worked to give our Church such a beautiful font. If you want to leave Bob a nice word in the comments, I will publish them. Peace

Final day of work photo!

Backlog on bulletins

Rennie and I have had some troubles dealing with Scribd and I take all the blame. Here is this past weekends bulletin and a link to the bulletin and insert from a week before. Peace

060108 new

Read this doc on Scribd: 060108 new

9th Sunday Insert

Read this doc on Scribd: 9th Sunday Insert

Poor kid

Could you just imagine the pressure then to think you hear one word...oh my!

This is not your father's yo-yo...YO!

Can any of you do any of these tricks? I think I can walk to dog and that is about it.

The trapped goat

Many of you have seen the cute goats on Kirkley road...well this is a
mama goat and I have had to rescue her twice now when she has gotten
her head & horns stuck in the fence. She doesn't seem to understand
what I am up too and fights a bit, but we always seem to get her on
her way no worse for the wear.

Friday FAILures

Enjoy

Technology and animals

We have all seen animals respond curiously to different technology, like a vacuum, but what happens with a real dog meets a fake dog? Enjoy

It's a Bus, it's a Train...it's a Brain?

Wired has a post up about a new dual-mode vehicle. Give it a read and then you can watch the video...kinda cool.

This should be good news to most people

You know DEET, well it has some nasty stuff in it and I generally don't like to use it, but I will when I must. Well here is some good news, hopefully something better...and soon!

Busy day & woe...

Well it was a busy one today with a trip to the Court of Appeals, then the Archdiocesan Finance Office, then to a clergy meeting at the Cathedral then back here for Mass and work I should have gotten done in between all the other stuff...oh well. I hope you day has not been as hectic. I have spoken to a few people and heard a bunch of heart ache and woe this week, so give this Josh Groban song a listen and know you are loved! Peace

Cats get a shearing

This is Ruth and her lovely assistant Lorren. On Monday Ruth gave the cats their annual shearing, I think Lorren mostly just watched. When Lorren was about to be born Ruth and Jim (side note...keep Jim in your prayers, after chemo and other treatments looks like they might have found a spot it could be something it could be nothing, so he is going for a scan, but as you can imagine this time is a bit tense, so a few prayers I am sure would be appreciated by Jim and Ruth) came to find out about Baptism and we got on the topic of cats and getting their fur trimmed back and wouldn't you know Ruth said she could do it...SWEET! Well that was a few years ago and each year about this time, Lilly and Ooti get a summer haircut. Well the whole process works like this. I get up early and give the cats a sedative, for Ruth and their protection. It takes affect pretty quickly and the cats slow down considerably. Then Ruth stops by to pick up the cats and about an hour later they are done. The picts you can find below...

Well since I now have this blog I knew I should get some photos and since it was just too cute to see the cats going about their so slowly and clumsily I also took some video. Enjoy

Sad News

Last night my brother-in-law Joe lost his father Charles Foust. Joe, and my nephew Greg, went to Miami to see his mom and be with his family for the day. I should have more info later, so for now if you would keep him in your prayers. Thanks

Don't watch this...

...it made Rosie cry!



enjoy?

This is comming to the US on FOX

I want to be on this game show, looks like a bunch of fun.

Ordination

Well as I mentioned the past two weeks at Mass, tomorrow morning will be the ordination of a number of seminarians as Transitional Deacon's for the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Two of our former seminarians Salomon Garcia and Ignacio "Nacho" Morales will be part of that ordination class. I have just heard from Ignacio and he says he has a few extra tickets. If you are interested in attending the ordination in the morning, drop me a line and I can get you a ticket of two. This will be quite a wonderful experience if you have not been to an ordination. Sorry for the late notice. Also I would ask for your continued prayers for the men being ordained tomorrow and the men who will be ordained Priests next Saturday. Peace

Friday FAILures

Enjoy

I wish we had one of these when I was a kid

My family had a table that we could expand by putting in two leaves. As we got older and added more "out-laws" to the table we need a bit more space, which of course meant more work. Every time we had a big family dinner, we had to put the whole thing together, having this table below would have been a gift from the Almighty.

Sekai No Nabeatsu

I cannot wait to catch some Japanese TV, from what I have seen, it looks just kooky enough for me. Now this guy...this guy is a nut. He is kind of funny, then fades quickly, so enjoy it while you can. Watch out for those 3's!

Rube Goldberg

I am sure you have seen a Rube Goldberg contraption at some point in your life. Well here is a great video of a nice Rube Goldberg type machine. This is fun. Enjoy

Creativity, oh yes!

These kids really put some thought into winning this wheelbarrow race, what a great plan. Enjoy

26 years ago

(Greg, Michael, Alan, Katie, Karen & Joe)

Happy 26th Anniversary to my oldest sister Karen and her husband Joe. May 22, 1982.

Here is a recap of SNL that night. The History Channel has some items up about today as well.

Catholic youtube

I stumbled across this video the other day. Kind of a Catholic and McD's mashup. Enjoy

Need a good cry?

I grew up in a family that easily expressed its emotions. I have never had too much trouble crying and sometimes it just feels like a I need a good cry. Seems as if I have been there for a few days now. Well I found this video and I think I am well on my way to get my crying out of my system for a while. If you need a good cry, or just want to see a beautiful story of parental love then check this video out. Be forewarned you will cry. Peace

Blades of...

I was on I-285 today and saw some wind turbine blades on their way somewhere. I was amazed how huge they were. I came home and found this video, it should give you some idea of how big those things are.

Then I found a video of a wind turbine being put together. This is kinda cool. Enjoy.

A dog after my own heart

Augusta is over!

This is a photo of me after my match on Saturday afternoon, which was my fourth match in two days. Anyway, as I said yesterday the team fought hard but in the quarterfinals we lost, as it happens to the eventual champions. It was a good weekend and everyone seemed to have a really good time. I forgot my camera for most of our matches our I would have more photos, sorry. Below you will see a slide show of the match we had on Saturday afternoon. Also since the Newman Tennis Center in Augusta had such a beautiful setup that I had to take some photos and do a panoramic photo. Enjoy

It's electric...

Just had this video sent to me. Vincent David made this at the picnic from a few weeks ago. You can seem me in the green hat and red shirt. I enjoyed this dance and generally creating havoc for the kids who were dancing around me. Enjoy

It's a cheesarito folks

Eat your heart out AFGG...more later.

UPDATE: Okay so it is not called a cheesarito any longer, but it is the same thing. They now call it the "cheesy roll" (btw what a stupid name) but it will always be a cheesarito; can I get an AMEN!?

We won again 4-1

Craig and I won our match 6-4,6-4...we play again at 5pm tonight. More later, peace.

UPDATE: Craig and I won again, but our team lost 2-3, but that is okay as we had enough point to make it Sunday afternoons Quarterfinals. We had two guys on our team injure themselves. One guy appears to be out for a few weeks, the other (even though he was writhing in pain with cramps during his loss this evening as well as screaming in pain after his match) hopes to be able to play tomorrow. So keep us and all the competitors in your prayers and I will let you know as things transpire. Also I have some photos, but I need sleep more than I need to post right now so nighty night. Peace

FINAL UPDATE: Well that was that. We played a team that won this last year and finished 3rd in the nation to boot...and we lost. So the guys are on their way back from Augusta with heavy hearts...as for me heavy heart here as well, so I am off to take a nap. Peace

Tennis Update

Well we have the first two matches of our round robin finished, we are some tired men. Out of a possible 10 points we have scored 8...good start huh? Well tomorrow will be another day and hopefully we can keep up the momentum. I forgot my camera at both matches, hopefully I will remember it when we head out in the morning, so you can see some better photos. Off to bed to get some rest. After tomorrow's matches I will head back to ATL for Masses on Sunday (Fr. Bryan Small will have the 5pm Mass) and then hopefully back here for the semifinals and finals on Monday. Peace and keep all the competitors in your prayers.

This is an incredible story

I get plenty of emails. People like to send me all sorts of notes and emails with this kind of stories. I thought this one was touching so I am posting it here. Enjoy!

In 1986, Peter Davies was on holiday in Kenya after graduating from Northwestern University .

On a hike through the bush, he came across a young bull elephant standing with one leg raised in the air. The elephant seemed distressed, so Peter approached it very carefully.

He got down on one knee and inspected the elephant's foot and found a large piece of wood deeply embedded in it. As carefully and as gently as he could, Peter worked the wood out with his hunting knife, after which the elephant gingerly put down its foot. The elephant turned to face the man, and with a rather curious look on its face, stared at him for several tense mom ents. Peter stood frozen, thinking of nothing else but being trampled. Eventually the elephant trumpeted loudly, turned, and walked away. Peter never forgot that elephant or the events of that day.

Twenty years later, Peter was walking through the Chicago Zoo with his teenaged son. As they approached the elephant enclosure, one of the creatures turned and walked over to near where Peter and his son Cameron were standing. The large bull elephant stared at Peter, lifted its front foot off the ground, then put it down. The elephant did that several times then trumpeted loudly, all the while staring at the man.

Remembering the encounter in 1986, Peter couldn't help wondering if this was the same elephant. Peter summoned up his courage, climbed over the railing and made his way into the enclosure. He walked right up to the elephant and stared back in wonder. The elephant trumpeted again, wrapped its trunk around one of Peter legs and slammed him against the railing, killing him instantly.

Probably wasn't the same elephant.

This is for all of my friends who send me those heart-warming stories.

We won 4-1

David and I won our match...more later

LOLz

For everyone who puts their animals in clothes...I just know they are all thinking this







This one is for Annmarie Gilbert



Too bad I did not know Rosie when she was young like this...



arrrghhhh..





and for those of you who went to collage during the late 80's and early 90's

Friday FAILures

Enjoy

Second match

We won the first match of our round robin 4-1, so we are off to a good start. Now we have the second match...I am playing with David Griffth from St. Matthew, wish us well. More later.

This is fun

I saw this commercial a few weeks back while watching TV and thought it was fun. I saw that Deacon Greg over at The Deacon's Bench had posted it so I am following his lead. As he says:

If this doesn't lift your spirits, nothing will. It's short and sweet.

Go ahead.

Shut the door and turn up the speakers and enjoy.

Augusta

I am still looking for a ride on Sunday...hopefully. Why hopefully? Glad you asked. I am in Augusta presently for an early morning start to the USTA League Tennis Adult State Championship. You can see our draw here, I think you can also follow the results as well once the matches are complete. I am on team John Flowers. If things go well, and I hope they do, I will need to be here on Sunday (anytime late afternoon) before an hopeful Monday morning semi-finals. So I am off to bed now so I can have my rest for our 8AM start time in the morning. Keep us all in your prayers for a fun and safe time for everyone. Peace

Beware of the cute

I am sure they are just sizing up their human captors so they will know their weaknesses so they can spring an attack on them, when they are older...beware!




even lolcats is sending out warnings

Flight Saftey Video

This has been out there for a few weeks, but I did not want to post this until I had seen it live on a plane. Last Sunday when I went to Charleston I saw it for the first time. If you have not seen it, now you can...enjoy

Harold Roberts

As I put in my prayer list the last night Harold Roberts, father of Leon Roberts, passed away. Here are the funeral arrangements.

• Visitation will be held at Tara Garden Chapel in Jonesboro from 2-4pm and 6-8pm Thursday 15MAY2008 (map)

• Funeral will be at Jonesboro First United Methodist Church at 2pm on Friday 16MAY2008 (map)

Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.

Tune stuck in my head

I head this on NPR this morning and cannot get it out of my head. Listen at your own peril! ;-)

Deanery Meeting

We had our deanery meeting at St. Philip Benezi in Jonesboro. We had three presenters today so it was a bit longer than usual. The meeting went well and food was wonderful, those Franciscans are wonderful hosts. Here are the photos. Peace

Bulletin & Insert for 18MAY08

Luke, I am your...

Well you know the rest...or maybe you don't. heheheheheh, Enjoy!

New Bulletin Cover

Here is our new bulletin cover. It will be used for the first time this weekend, hopefully. I really like it, and others who have seen it seem to like it as well. We hope to change the photos out now and then, but this is it for now. Enjoy

StMatthew bulletin

Sweet!

When I went to Zimbabwe in 1997 we saw Victoria Falls from the Zimbabwe side of things, it was truly majestic! Too bad I did not get the chance to swim in the Devil's Pool...it would have been quite a rush. Watch the videos and then let me know, would you swim in that pool?

h/t to Doug Scholl for the idea for this post.

ManBabies

Found this photoblog and it is really creepy. You can go check it out if you dare, weirder stuff than this you will find there. Enjoy?

Going to Augusta

Do you know anyone traveling to Augusta...or through Augusta this Sunday? I am looking for a ride on Sunday afternoon. Let me know if you know someone. Peace

Prayers

I asked for your prayers for Willard Scholl, father of Doug Scholl in this post. Well Doug sent me a note and told me that his father died last night. Please keep Doug and his family in your prayers.

Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.

One more martini

If you could do this with vodka, I would be all for it. Does anyone know someone with a vacuum machine cooking device? I would love to try some of that "flash pickling", maybe I need to go back to school? mmmm.....

Charleston photo...one more.

I took a series of photos down at the battery park and look what became of it...cool huh? Click photo for larger view. Enjoy!

How much is that doggy in the window?

Answer: Priceless

Rosie loves catching some rays each morning in the window of my office, isn't she cute?

OLV Field Day

You know how much I love playing games. Well today was field day for the OLV students and I got to play some Ultimate with the teachers and others against the students. We won...of course. Here are the photos, can you find me in among the kids? It might be tricky but just look I am there. Peace

This is cool

This is made by a company called Flogos and they are from northern Alabama (who knew Alabama could produce something so cool???). Enjoy

I hope this is not real

If it is not, maybe if I did this just once it would help with phones going off during Mass?

Bulletin & Insert for 11MAY08

Sorry these are so late...

051108 new - Upload a doc

Read this doc on Scribd: 051108 new

Pentecost Sunday Insert - Upload a doc

Read this doc on Scribd: Pentecost Sunday Insert

Ummmm.....

The cuteness continues

OMG too cute

Try to watch this and not giggle.

Happy Mother's Day!!!

My mom. Happy Mother's Day mom.

My Grandmother. Happy Mother's Day Grandma!

I hope I don't experience this...

Look closely! Click photo for larger photo.

What the...who...what what???

Mindteaser

Ok sports fans here is another mindteaser for you...same prize as last time (a T-mobile card...one prize per month).

Which one of the following words does not belong with the others and why?

Father

Aunt

Sister

Cousin

Mother

Uncle

UPDATE: I have posted all of the responses to this question. Let me say that no one has got it correct. Someone did figure out the answer but not for the obvious reason, and when you find out you will go...d'uhhhh. So the prize is still up for grabs...now go get it.

UPDATE 2: The answer is: Cousin does not belong since all the others refer to a specific sex. So the winner is my sister Angela in Salt Lake City...way to go AFGG

I cannot wait to experience this

OMG

When can you hear this?...if at all?

Can you hear this?



This is what is called a mosquito alarm, supposedly only teens can hear it. I could only hear it at about 12khz, how about you?

UPDATE: After Jon S. mentioned something in the comments I gave this a listen at home and could hear it at 14.1, so maybe it does have to do with the speakers? Anyone else have anything to add?