Anyone up for a chat thread?

[Paidiske]

Yep, I'd take that as a parenting win.

I had the interesting experience recently of my nephew, my brother's son, (who's 13) needing to go into foster care, and as part of the process I was asked to consider taking him in. It didn't get very far because long complicated reasons not so much to do with this bit, but as part of the conversation, I was trying to explain to the social worker, "Look, I get that you don't want foster carers imposing their religion on kids in their care, but I'm a parish priest. We live on site. Our lives are enmeshed with the parish, and the rhythm of our household revolves around the church. So how does that work?"

She didn't really have an answer to that.

 

[Shane R]

Well, taking my daughters to VBS so close by backfired just a bit. The church that hosted it is going to award certificates of completion at the Sunday service. I suppose they think they are being clever. We are not skipping the Feast of Pentecost to go to VBS wrap-up at an evangelical church.

 

[Paidiske]

I can see exactly why they'd do that, and it's a good strategy, but you're not really their target audience.

 

[Paidiske]

So, some of you may remember that I was undergoing a review process. It was announced today that I will finish up in the parish here at the end of September. The bishop tells me the decision is basically for my wellbeing; he feels that the parish have very unreasonable expectations (his exact words were "they wouldn't be happy with Jesus himself,"), and that it wouldn't be good for me to continue in that situation.

New adventures await! Not sure yet exactly where I'll be going; various options to explore. But I think he's made the right decision, so I look forward to seeing how it all unfolds.

 

[RileyG]

So, some of you may remember that I was undergoing a review process. It was announced today that I will finish up in the parish here at the end of September. The bishop tells me the decision is basically for my wellbeing; he feels that the parish have very unreasonable expectations (his exact words were "they wouldn't be happy with Jesus himself,"), and that it wouldn't be good for me to continue in that situation.

New adventures await! Not sure yet exactly where I'll be going; various options to explore. But I think he's made the right decision, so I look forward to seeing how it all unfolds.

God bless you

 

[RamiC]

Yes, well... there's much in America that the Australian mind can't comprehend.

Is this because they don't play cricket?

 

[RamiC]

So, some of you may remember that I was undergoing a review process. It was announced today that I will finish up in the parish here at the end of September. The bishop tells me the decision is basically for my wellbeing; he feels that the parish have very unreasonable expectations (his exact words were "they wouldn't be happy with Jesus himself,"), and that it wouldn't be good for me to continue in that situation.

New adventures await! Not sure yet exactly where I'll be going; various options to explore. But I think he's made the right decision, so I look forward to seeing how it all unfolds.

May the Lord please guide and bless your next position.

 

[Paidiske]

Is this because they don't play cricket?

The Americans? Do they not?

I have a hunch that there's a big difference between a place founded as, in effect, a religious sanctuary for the nonconforming, and one founded as a penal colony.

 

[RamiC]

The Americans? Do they not?

I have a hunch that there's a big difference between a place founded as, in effect, a religious sanctuary for the nonconforming, and one founded as a penal colony.

Yes, I get it, that would make a big difference.

I am sorry about my ancestors and their weird ideas about criminal justice.

 

[Paidiske]

Oh, don't apologise to me. I'm a migrant to Australia. And overall I think we've emerged from our messy beginnings to be a pretty good place to live.

 

[Shane R]

The Americans? Do they not?

I have a hunch that there's a big difference between a place founded as, in effect, a religious sanctuary for the nonconforming, and one founded as a penal colony.

I've never even seen a real cricket bat or paddle or whatever the implement is properly called. We play baseball. My favorite team is the Cincinnati Reds, who hold the distinction of being the first professional team (1869).

 

[Paidiske]

I've never even seen a real cricket bat or paddle or whatever the implement is properly called.

That is a significant cultural gap. Cricket is absolutely part of life here, and even I (a very not-sporty person) was forced to play a bit at school.

 

[seeking.IAM]

We play baseball. My favorite team is the Cincinnati Reds

Charlie Hustle. Hall of Fame, yes or no?

 

[Shane R]

Charlie Hustle. Hall of Fame, yes or no?

I've not got a firm opinion on the matter, although I'm generally opposed to posthumous selection, so let's go with No. However, his teammate and HoFer Johnny Bench is adamantly opposed. This probably violates many rules as to the selection process but I think they ought to hold a special vote on his case. No say from the sports writers, only living Hall of Famers may vote on his selection. I suspect he'd probably lose something like 52-48 percent.

 

[Shane R]

Since we are discussing baseball, I thought I might reminisce. One of the older pictures of me was taken when I was perhaps 4 years old and I was dressed in a Reds outfit that was period appropriate for the late 1980s. I don't personally have a copy of that one. Growing up in Ohio, the state had two professional teams: the Cleveland Indians and the Cincinnati Reds. But NW Ohio, with it's proximity to Michigan and the top minor league team being in Toledo had many Detroit Tigers fans as well.

The first time I can recall watching a baseball game I was sitting with my dad. He was not a sports fan but for whatever reason he got interested in this baseball game that afternoon. I was probably 6 or 7 and the game featured the Montreal Expos (remember them?) and the Detroit Tigers from old Tiger Stadium. Cecil Fielder pounded a home run and that really impressed me.

I played between grade 6 and 7 and was not very good. I had poor eye sight at that time and didn't hit or field well, except from the catcher's position. In fact, in one game the opposing team's coach pulled the pitcher after I successfully hit off of him! However, I was fearless stealing bases and ended up scoring the second most runs on the team even though I generally only got on base via a walk. Anyhow, after that my mother decided she'd take me to a live pro game.

So once a year we would trek up to Cleveland, generally when the Reds were in town for the cross state rivalry series. It was just last year that we finally caught the game in Cincinnati. I took her for her birthday, with my daughters. My daughters and I were privileged to see games in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Cincinnati last summer. They are all about 2:30-3:00 from our house. They love the live game in the ballpark and think it's the most boring thing on TV. In the ballparks stuff is happening. There's sausages racing around the field. There's weird muppet things and other mascots sneaking up on you in the seating. If someone hits a home run fireworks go off. There's an organist and people get up to sing and dance.

Every stadium has differing food options but there are several traditional snacks. They are: hot dogs, roasted peanuts, popcorn, and ice cream. Also beer, typically now in a plastic cup or sometimes a can since many Americans can't behave and would chuck glass bottles at the game officials in times past.


My daughters with the Cleveland ketchup hot dog.

 

[seeking.IAM]

Great picture of your daughters. There is always fun to be had at the ballpark. If anyone ever deserved to be in the Hall of Fame based upon merit and bringing excitement to the game, Pete Rose was certainly deserving were it not for exceedingly bad judgment which was his undoing. I agree if he didn't deserve it during his lifetime, it probably shouldn't be done now.