2007-02-19 - 2:09 p.m.
I'm giving up antidepressants for Lent. (Just kidding.)

Highlights from the bulletin and national Catholic newspaper that my grandmother brought home from church this weekend:

A comic called, I shit you not, "Umbert the Unborn."

Readers writing in trying to outdo each other with Lenten sacrifices. One lady was giving up something like ten things, including crossing her legs. Is there something wrong with crossing one's legs, such that it is more virtuous to refrain from crossing them? Or what?

Aghast editorial from the local pastors. They visited with Sunday school kids and were hurt to hear their homilies (sermons) were boring and might be more entertaining if delivered by SpongeBob. The huffy homilists suggested families turn off the TV, including for video game use, for the entire period of Lent.

Columnist commenting that priests who say "good morning" to the parish before beginning Mass are distracting from the Trinitarian nature of the services.

An interesting article on suicide. Apparently you can get a Catholic funeral afterwards, but only if you evidenced mental illness or remorse beforehand.

The local bulletin had an entire page of pro-life activity, including a list of pregnant women to keep in mind, and a schedule of Planned Parenthood prayer pickets, but not a damn thing along the lines of ministries to help people once they're out of the womb.

I don't see myself going to Mass again before Easter, put it that way.

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In other news, The Police are back together and touring, and my reaction has been negligible. Although it was neato to watch the Grammy clip on YouTube and see Stewart and Andy and Sting with their receding hairlines. Tickets start at $50 and the closest show to me so far is the Bonaroo Festival in Tennessee, which is just not an option for me. I'm assuming they'll come to Atlanta or Charlotte or something. I'm not about to join a fan club in order to participate in pre-sales. That's Just Tacky. I'm sure they'll make a zillion dollars and go out again if I miss this tour.

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Bar exam is now a week out. My head hurts.

I'd been obsessing about people I love dying, and it took me several days to realize, DUH, I've been studying wills and probate, for godsakes. And once I figured that out the recurring thoughts went *poof* and disappeared.

woogie - woo