God Bless The Irish

*I wrote this on Saturday while watching Teddy Kennedy's funeral.

I'm sitting here cryin' like a fool watching Teddy Kennedy's funeral.
I don't know why.
I think it's because it's really really weird watching all these historical figures doing what I've done hundreds of times. Sitting at a catholic funeral.
Words are the same, different faces.
All the Catholic traditions. The ceremony, the grieving wife, the kids saying the Prayers of the Faithful. Even the pallbearers.
I love the fact they had female pallbearers. My niece was one for my mother.

It's funny, I can almost hear them sitting around the table just as we did. Who's carrying up the gifts? Who do we want being pallbearers? Who is going to do the readings?

It's so personal, you have to do it yourself, no matter how much money you have.

Sort of like "Exactly the same....only different.

I think that is why the Kennedy's captured the hearts of so many Americans. Especially Irish Catholic Americans like me.

Teddy Kennedy did what alot of us would have done given the opportunity. He fought for what we would have fought for, given his power. He helped those who we would have helped, given the means. And he enjoyed life how we would have enjoyed life....if we only had a few million to spare!!!

Today, I as I watch his wife Vicky sitting in the first pew, I know in her heart she is wishing the mass would never end. I can relate as she almost runs to hug the pallbearers who walk past her pew on their way into church.
I know exactly how she awful she feels.

I watched those kids as they were saying "Lord, Hear Our Prayer" just as I watched my own children saying the same thing. I saw the look of pride on their parents faces.

I can see my own huge crazy Irish Catholic family sitting in the same pews, felling the same sadness as every person in that church. With Marion and my cousin Danny in the role of Obama delivering the eulogy of course. How appropriate!

Years ago Dan worked in Boston for a short time. He talked about it all the time. Him and a few buddies worked for a restoration company. He was particularly proud of the church he worked on. He went on and on about being so high up(I'm sure he meant that figuratively as well as literally!)in the scaffolding painting above the alter. He told me it was the only Basilica in New England. He always was telling me and the kids that he wanted to take us up there some day to show them the church. So as I'm watching this mass today, I am amazed when I hear a CNN reporter describe the church as the only Basilica in New England. I looked it up on the Internet and sure enough, tears ran down my cheeks. We finally got to see the church my husband was so proud of.

Last night, I cracked up when they all sang When Irish Eyes Are Smiling, just like we did at my mothers wake. Only thing........If the Kennedy's are anything like us.......Oh what a headache they are all going to wake up with tomorrow! I bet you can't find a bottle of champagne left in all of DC. I certainly do hope they tied one on. Just like any proper Irish Catholic family would do!

**The picture below was taken by The Madonna. She went to watch the motorcade going into Arlington Cemetery.

Pour on the Iron... or the Cane

The reason I am sure there is a God? I could have been born in Malaysia and been this poor woman.
Holy hell. Caned for drinking a beer? There would be a shortage on rattan if I were born in that country!
Could you imagine if the Anger Management Girls went out every Thursday in Malaysia??
Talk about "Off With Your Head! Holy Hell.

Ya know, I can get on this little ol' blog and bitch on just about anything without consequences. It's my opinion and in this country you are allowed to have them. Yes, even the crazy right wing"terrorists" have a right to their opinion..... Unfortunately.

So, I was wondering what other offenses are punishable by caning.
Of course there's the usual rape, robbery and burglary.
But how about illegal bicycle races, perpetrators of get-rich schemes (not bad), illegal money lending, vandals (hello Daniel Montano)and my personal favorite "Men who desert their wives." Can we drop the illegal bike racing and double the caning on that last one?

BUT you will be glad to know that they do not cane death cases. You cannot be caned and then put to death. Whew, I'm sure some death row inmates are sleeping better tonight knowing that.

Maybe some of the death row inmates should start talking to a "Prison Consultant." WTF??? A Fucking Prison Consultant. Yes folks, we now have prison consultants. Plexico Burris has a prison consultant. Stupid rich people will pay for anything won't they?
I am definitely in the wrong profession.

I wish someone would bring me over an ice cold "Arn" right now. At least my ass won't be sore after drinking it! My head may hurt, but definitely not my ass.

Not to change the subject Babe, but (I can hear my mother say that to her sister Babe like it was yesterday) In just four days I'll be celebrating my 3rd Blogivarsary. Yes, my first measly little post was written on August 29, 2006.
I guess I'll have to have a few extra Arn's to celebrate!
Who'da thunk it? Three years, 233 posts, and over 15,000 visitors later and I'm still here. Do your ears hurt yet?

OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!

Does anyone know where I could fill out an application for Sarah Palin's "Death Panels?"
Do you think it offers health benefits?
If it does, I'm in.
I will need references.
Anyone care to volunteer?
I already have plenty of experience.

I think I might have finally found my life's work.
OFF WITH YOUR HEAD.

Can't take off work to take your elderly father to that Dr.'s appointment.
OFF WITH HIS HEAD!

Kids driving you crazy?
OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!

And just so the kiddies don't feel left out.
Jane is no longer playing with that Caribou Barbie?
OFF WITH HER HEAD!! (If only!)

I think I'll like this new job.
Leave it to good ol' Sarah to come up with this! She's so smart.

Hero's and Weirdo's

Sorry the posts are few and far between lately. I need a new computer. Hopefully that will be soon.

Anyway, what's new? I guess we all know where the idiots are spending their summer vacations. At town hall meetings. Really, just stop folks. Your cover is blown. Go home. Or better yet, take a vacation. Hopefully not to a hospital if you don't have insurance. But we all know you do. Otherwise you all wouldn't be making fools of yourself on national TV. I guess its not very catholic of me to wish for these people to loose their insurance and have to pay for their own health care. How about just for a month or two? OK, OK I'll go to confession this Saturday. Hopefully I won't get hit by a truck between now and then.

On to people worthy of my time and energy.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver.

"When the full judgment on the Kennedy legacy is made — including JFK's Peace Corps and Alliance for Progress, Robert Kennedy's passion for civil rights and Ted Kennedy's efforts on health care, workplace reform and refugees — the changes wrought by Eunice Shriver may well be seen as the most consequential," Harrison Rainie, author of "Growing Up Kennedy," wrote in U.S. News & World Report in 1993.

I have a child with special needs. You've all read about him here. My "Devin from Heaven" is a gift from God who touches everyone he meets. He attended St Anthony's School for exceptional kids throughout grade school and high school.
Every year they hold their version of the special olympics at the school. Each special kid brings a regular kid and the different sites compete against each other. It is something my Devin looked forward to the entire year.

The looks on these kids faces. The pride it gives them, it is something for which we all should be forever grateful to Mrs. Shriver.
Faces like this.

This is Devin's friend Eddie.

Thank you Eunice Kennedy Shriver for making a difference in so many children's lives. You are personally responsible for putting smiles on the faces of millions. For that I and many others are eternally grateful.
I especially thank you for the smiles you put on one boys face, my Devin from heaven.

*The other boy in the picture below with my Devin on the basketball court is his friend Richard Eberlein. His brother and he came to the games every year with Devin. I don't know what they are studying in college, but I think they have a calling for special ed. I wish I had a picture of Richard (or Robert, I can't tell them apart) when he picked up Eddie and carried him over a fence when Eddie was too afraid to do it himself. Their parents should be proud.



These kids fight for basic rights everyday of their lives, then we have the phony nutcases sent to disrupt what should be civilized discussions on an important issue like health care. Too bad that is what they choose to be good at.
As Harriet was fond of saying "They aren't fit to wipe my ass." (Or Devin's)

Awe geeze, I almost forgot. Happy Bandiversary to my good friend Judi over at Stories From The Road. Please read this, she is a riot! She is a hero to many of us here in Bloggerland! She's lost 100 lbs!!!!! Christ, to me she is a Saint!