We all gathered at Sarah and Gregorio’s last evening for Luna’s 5th birthday party. There was Luna’s godfather and his step-daughter (an old friend of Luna’s), Nico, and three kids who are the children of Sarah’s nurse practitioner friend, Liz, who assisted at Nico’s birth. Liz’s husband came to the party too. Plus Nico’s godmother…

Here are a few photos of a little girl who is turning five years old today.  Miss Luna Isabella Pacheco Beaty, who is the first of my grandchildren and one of the two brightest spots in my universe (the other being her little brother, Nico). I like to tell Luna the story of how I…

Today was one of those days.  Up early, lots of paperwork, then students all afternoon.  The good news is that I took care of lots of niggling details, and one of my college students and I finished a comparative literature essay.  Can I say just how incredible John Cheever’s short story, “The Swimmer” is?  I…

I am reposting this blog post because i want to make this salad soon.  The flavors work really well together, especially the mango, black beans, red onion and lime. Double yum. Try it, you’ll like it! Here is my original post: I am not always that crazy about salads that aren’t just greens and the…

I served at two Masses today, as the subdeacon at the 8 o’clock and the Master of Ceremonies at the 10:30. Then we headed over to Sarah’s where we spent the afternoon and early evening.  A wonderful day filled with much hope and love.  Here are a few photos:  

Every night I take the dogs for a walk before bed. This is usually fairly late since this is to help our rescue dog, Frankie, to make it through the night without bed wetting. I find this walk to be therapeutic for me. The streets where I go are near empty and the night is…

Maundy Thursday church.  I served as subdeacon.  The acolyte crew had a lot to do, what with being ready for the ritual foot washing and then at the end of the mass, recessing with the sacrament to the Damien Chapel and then coming back and stripping the altar. Everyone was a bit nervous before church…

Today was the day.  After waiting several weeks, I was finally able to go in and have my scheduled “training” to insert my new sclera contact lenses.  These babies are big. I mean bucket-big, not English pea big.  But….I can see like a champ.  Better than I’ve seen in years.  Yep.  20/20 vision for long…

We are now in Holy Week, which is, for those who do not know, the countdown to Easter Sunday, the highest of the High Holy Days in the Christian church.  As an acolyte, I will be serving almost every day this week with the exception of the Saturday night Easter Vigil mass.  That’s because I…