Association Of Catholic Bloggers

"...[NOT] the perfect time to start hauling a fishing boat...." From my news feed this morning: " Hundreds of crashes, spinouts as heavy snow impacts Minnesota travel " Adam Uren, Bring Me The News (November 26, 2025) "...Among those off the road is this driver in west-central Minnesota, who decided a blizzard is the perfect time to start hauling a fishing boat ...." [emphasis mine] I don't know who made that decision, or why. But I'm glad it wasn't me.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Someone learned why a blizzard is not the perfect time to start hauling a boat. Good news, though: so far, nobody died in this storm.)

I'm embarrassed. Three weeks ago I talked about a fire that one of our daughters and son-in-law kept from getting out of hand. What I said then was mostly accurate, but left out the parts that made it a good story. As I said, embarrassed. Particularly since I'd asked our daughter to look it over and correct any mistakes or omissions: which she did. But somehow I didn't notice her contributions. So this week I've pared back what I said — and added what our daughter had to say [with a couple of my notes] about a small fire that stayed small.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Keeping a small fire small depended on being prepared and knowing how to use hoe and hose. Our daughter tells the rest, and the interesting part, of the story.)

One of our daughters and her husband run a milling company on the homestead where my mother grew up. Nothing about running a small business is, I suspect, "routine", but some days are less routine than other. Take, for example, the fire that didn't get out of control earlier this summer. There's an old Red River Valley joke where a newcomer asks "does it always blow this way?" and the local replies, "no: sometimes it blows the other way". This particular day was windier than usual.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Strong south wind and a small fire in the waste pile: keeping it small depended on being prepared and knowing how to use hoe and hose.)

Two tourists in Canada asked someone which city they were in. The man replied, "Saskatoon, Saskatchewan". One of the tourists said "oh! They don't speak English here!" I haven't heard that one in more than a half-century, there's a lead-up that makes it funnier, but never mind. This week I'm talking about a place in Minnesota, and a salesman who asked for help. Destination: Bemidji A Reasonable Question, Basically Rentals and Regional Transportation Routes and Decisions Deep in the Heart of Darkest Minnesota — Perceptions and Living in Minnesota An Impression, and Something to Remember More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Asking questions makes sense. So does remembering that what everybody knows may not be accurate. That goes double for unconsidered impressions.)

Since I'm mostly doing something else this week, I'll talk about two mice. I didn't see either, but I did hear one; and that's the one I'll start with. The Resident Mouse and Me: Another San Francisco Memory I was working at Pellegrini Refrigeration's office/warehouse for most of the time I lived in San Francisco. The office section was big enough for — a dozen or more folks, I suppose. The break corner, between the front office where I worked and the main room, was just an L-shaped bench, wrapped around a small table: very basic. It wouldn't have held more than maybe four or five people comfortably.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (My brief encounter with the resident mouse at a warehouse, and an experience my father had with a mouse which was making great haste but no speed.)

Growing up, my folks and I would go to Itasca State Park, north of Park Rapids, in Minnesota's lake country. The place has changed since then, a little. The place I remember as a parking area, a little north of the Mississippi headwaters, where the river officially starts, isn't there any more. It was about a thousand feet east of the Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Center. Google Maps says that spot is the "Headwaters Concession Ruins".... ...New buildings. A place I remember labeled as a ruins. Change happens.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Remembering the time my father found the perfect spot for taking a picture: the middle of a poison ivy patch.)

It's two tales and two customers, actually. But that title was too cool to pass up. Anyway, I worked at a place called Pellegrini Refrigeration for most of the time I spent in San Francisco. 1 Part of my job was taking service calls. Some of the service calls were routine. Some, like the customer who apparently wouldn't or couldn't believe what a technician said each time, were mildly frustrating. Mildly for me: I don't think that customer was having a good time. And one was in its own category. Make that two calls and two categories. A Difficult Customer I am the Office Girl A Calm, Even Jaunty, Customer Monday Morning, Flowing Mush More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (From my time as an office clerk: surprising, maybe shocking, a blustering customer; remembering a ton of melted ice cream and a remarkably cheerful manager.)

I Googled Sauk Centre history this week. I learned that the Minnesota Historical Society's website has back issues of our town's Sauk Centre Herald — and an impressive set of records connected with the Sauk Centre Home School for Girls, AKA Minnesota Correctional Facility-Sauk Centre. Focusing on conventional publications, government officials, and their institutions, has some merit. But so does remembering what happened when schoolkids found a skunk in a woodpile. A literal skunk in an actual woodpile.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Bringing explosives to school: cultural and historical context. Or: what happened when kids found a skunk in a woodpile.)

San Francisco's BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) system wasn't the world's first automated transit system, or even the first in this country. But it was among the first all-new American rapid transit systems designed in the 20th century. BART was also, I gather, among the first with trains that didn't need drivers. Or, rather, didn't need a human at the controls. An Automatic Train Control (ATC) system ran each train, and the network as a whole. 1 Today I'll be taking a quick look at how news media covered a BART accident that wasn't particularly serious, and talk about what happened when a train and its driver didn't communicate — plus whatever else comes to mind. The Fleetingly Famous Fremont Flyer ROBOT TRAIN RUNS AMOK! CHAOS RIDES THE RAILS! The Train That Left Its Human Behind Daft Kids and Open Doors WAIT FOR ME! Seriously? Humans: A Brief Meditation on Kids, Commuters, and Molten Ice Cream More at A Catholic Citizen in America ....

I'd planned on posting this today, with an 'Easter' post tomorrow. But, although I'm not feeling as awful as I did Wednesday morning: that's not going to happen. It's "nothing serious". Probably the same "nothing serious" that's been plaguing this household for a month and more. My temperature's stayed below the 103° F threshold, so I'm a comparatively happy camper. And that's another topic. Now, about these cards: the first three are Victorian-era, part of this selection.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Three Victorian-era humorous Easter cards, one from the early 20th century. Not what I had planned posting this week, but I hope you enjoy them.)

As someone said in this video's comments, “God does have a sense of humor!” 😉 It's been one of those weeks, I'm pretty sure I’ll have Saturday's post out in time, but I needed a break. (More — and more to the point, the embedded video - at A Catholic Citizen in America )

I'll be sharing some very odd 19th century Christmas cards today. And rambling a bit about holidays, history and whatever else comes to mind. Briefly, for me. Christmas and New Year's Eve: a Double-Header Solstice Celebration Many if not all folks who experience non-equatorial seasons where they live have some sort of winter solstice celebration. My native culture has two: Christmas and New Year's Eve. More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (My winter solstice celebrations, holiday greetings from the ISS, strange Victorian greeting cards and the first Christmas card.)

My culture's Christmas season begins with Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. Our traditionally-frenzied holiday shopping season does, at any rate. That's not a particularly good thing, considering what stress can do to folks. On the other hand, America's shopping frenzy inspired "I Yust Go Nuts at Christmas." I'll be talking about that, more-or-less-recent news, and events we're still celebrating, two millennia later.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Recent news, holiday stress and a hipster nativity. Yogi Yorgesson and C. S. Lewis: views regarding Christmas. Joseph, Mary and decisions.)

I'm working on a "Christmas" post that should be ready by tomorrow morning. But in case it's not, here's something seasonal and slightly silly. Pip's Christmas 'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the shop Nothing was stirring, you could hear a pin drop. The sleigh was not ready, the toys were not packed, Santa was fuming, quite lacking in tact.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

This is the season of jingle bells and mistletoe, cyber sales and glitter bows. Evergreen festoons and plastic reindeer strung above our streets remind us that Christmas is coming. America's holiday season is in session.... ...I'm still working on my 'starting Advent' post. It's somewhat serious. What I'm doing here isn't.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

Robin Williams was a few months older than I am when he died. That photo is from 1979, when he was becoming famous for his role in " Mork & Mindy ." I admire Williams' work, regret his addiction to cocaine and alcohol, and am sorry that he is dead. He was a remarkably talented actor and comedian. Sadly, he apparently decided to hang himself. We can't be sure, but it's likely that suffering from depression had something to do with his death. Celebrity deaths get heavy media coverage: so when yet another movie star dies from suicide, drug overdose, or some other avoidable cause, it can seem that fame leads to self-destruction. Although famous folks from Hannibal to Margaux Hemmingway killed themselves, I think it's prudent to remember that many high-profile folks didn't: like Lauren Bacall and Bob Hope . I'll be writing mostly about life, depression, death, and why I haven't killed myself. You'll find links to articles about Rob...

Just in time for Christmas, here are some awesome book suggestions for nearly everyone on your list. For Married or Engaged Couples For Better... Forever!: A Catholic Guide to Lifelong Marriage, by Greg Popcak . This modern Catholic classic has been offering helpful advice to couples for more than a decade. Give a gift that helps love grow all year long. Click here for  my review . For Moms and Dads Growing Up in God's Image, by Carolyn J. Smith.   One of the biggest struggles parents face is teaching their kids a healthy outlook on sexuality. You can start laying the groundwork when your kids are very young by teaching them respect for their bodies. Then, it's much easier to talk to them as they get older. Learn how in this helpful book. Click here for  my review and link to buy . Catholic Family Fun, by Sarah A. Reinhard.   The family fun can last all year round if you use the ideas in this clever book. Imagine always having something whol...

I know my purpose here on earth is to love and serve God so that I can spend eternity with Him in Heaven… But at my age, even having some of the answers to life’s bigger questions doesn’t mean there still aren’t a few things I wonder about… For instance, I was recently watching a rerun of I Love Lucy and found myself saying out loud—to no one in particular: I don’t remember Ethel being so young and pretty! In fact, she’s beautiful! How did I ever miss that? Or there was the time I was answering questions for a survey and wondered why my age group was the last choice. I thought everyone was living longer. Was I mistaken? Shouldn’t there be an age group after mine? I felt it was important to bring that to the attention of the gal conducting the survey: Have you not updated your survey recently? You know people are living much longer now and there is no way I should be in the last age group!   And yet on that same survey, my income was in the first, low...

 Through our baptism, we're called to be royal, priestly parents to our children, exercising our God-given authority with kindness and benevolence. When we truly understand the essence of our authority, we can be leaders and nurturers of our children and help them to become the nurturers and leaders of the future .~ from Strengthening Your Family by Marge Fenelon, p.176  I did a lot of babysitting when I was young and became quite proficient at handling other people's children. I wondered at some parents' inability to control their children in church and other public places, since I rarely had any problem getting my little charges to listen to me. There was no doubt in my mind that I would someday be a  model parent with model children, all sitting quietly in the pew with rapt attention. However, when I finally married, God in His wisdom saw fit to send me the most rambunctious little girl ever created, the kind of child who loves to perform in pub...

Commonweal Online Enjoy and Have A Merry Christmas!!!