Tony's Wine Warehouse...

The guy looks a little like a used car salesman, doesn't he? "Buying wine at Tony's is a little like shopping at a used car lot. Tires are kicked. Drives are tested. Bull is dispensed. The sticker price is marked up. "

Damn! It appears our buddy James is a fraud...

Take a look. (Granted, I know this is the Dallas Observer and all... but the story about the Beckmen Estate Cab Sav sounds an awful lot like the story James told us about our beloved Schlumberger.)

Thanks for the alert "Red". (He called to tell me of this during his trip to the wine store in Colorado Springs on Thanksgiving morn... and found Schlumberger for about 1/2 of what we paid at Tony's... he's going to bring some bottles back and I'll sacrifice one of my "Tony's bottles" and we'll do a comparison tasting.)

Thanksgiving...

It’s Thanksgiving week…

A few things I’m thankful for this year:

* The peacefulness that I have felt since the day I lost my job in January of this year…

* Putting a big check-mark next to Number 1 on my “To-do before I Die list”… (That is, my visit to Rome and Assisi, Italy.)

* The opportunity to have enough time to feel bored… so much so that I do not take “work” for granted…

* My new job… and the uncertainty of my future…

* The numerous friends with whom I am able to share my daily struggles and daily triumphs…

* My brother, Mark, calling me for no reason at all… just to chat.

* For my family… though they are not perfect, I love them – one and all.

* For the friends who inspire me.

* For the opportunity to see the Statue of Liberty for the first time… and to feel the sorrow at the sight of Ground Zero… for my freedom.

* For my life.

* For songs sung to me by sweet 3 and 5 year old Pumpkins…

For what are you thankful?

A Prayer for Mariana...

There are several of us who have started a novena of sorts to Saint Thérèse -- invoking the intercession of Our Lady -- asking healing for Mariana. If you are interested in joining us, following is the prayer:

Oh Holy little Thérèse of the Child Jesus, who during your short life on earth became a mirror of angelic purity, of love stronger than death, and of whole hearted abandonment to the will of God, now that you rejoice in the reward of your virtue, cast a glance of compassion on Mariana as we leave all things in your hands. Make her troubles your own – speak a word for her to Our Lady Immaculate, whose flower of special love you are – to that Queen of heaven "who smiled on thee at the dawn of life." Beg her as Queen of the Heart of Jesus to obtain for Mariana by her powerful intercession, the grace of health and peace and that she join with it a blessing that may strengthen The Murray family with the grace of her Divine Son. Amen.

Nel mezzo del cammin...

"In the middle of the journey..."

These are the opening words of The Divine Comedy… Dante Aligheri’s Great literary work about the journey of the pilgrim Dante through Hell, up the mountain of Purgatory, and finally into the bliss of Heaven.

I first read The Divine Comedy in college where I took an entire course that studied only this. The words that Dante wrote had and continue to have a profound effect on my spiritual journey.

I find myself in the middle of the journey… and so have named my blog.
I’ve been inspired by many of your blogs… and find it a wonderful means of discussion.