Mary And Steve's Wedding

Here's some pics from Mary and Steve's wedding... I wasn't invited. But I'm not bitter. Much.


Okay, so maybe it wasn't that I didn't get invited as much as my parents didn't take us with them. Either way, I'm completely over it. I think...

John Bauer

This is a picture of my older brother John. Amazing how much his daughter Laura takes after him.

1944 - My Parents

Here are two pics of my Mom and Dad from 1944. Eight kids and 21 years later, I came into the picture.

Pin-Up Mom

Here's a picture of my Mom from 1943. I'm sure she's embarrassed right this second for me having posted it.

Curb Appeal

After eight years of redesigning the interior of our house, we decided to invest a little (or more than a little) on the outside of our house. The updates included a new vinyl fence, new landscaping and a lot of pavers. The paver work included adding a front patio and walkway, changing out the pavers around the front oak tree, an extended paver driveway that continues into a walkway to the back of the house, and a new patio in the backyard. They should also help a lot with some previous drainage problems.

Front of the house.

New walkway and front patio.

New pavers around the oak.

New paver driveway.

Driveway pavers extend down the side of the house.

New paver patio in the back yard.

We've wanted to use the exterior of our house for so long, now we'll be able to sit outside and enjoy. After the winter we're going to sod the back yard and then it will be complete.

Me And Noah

For all of those who prayed for Noah after his birth, here is a picture of Noah and me at Thanksgiving. Sorry it's not a more clear picture.

Flatulence Forces Plane To Land

From AP...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- An American Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing Monday morning after a passenger lit a match to disguise the scent of flatulence, authorities said.

You can read the entire article here.

Editors have to love when they get to write headlines for stories such as these!

Aunt Hannah and Uncle Rasimir Reiser

Click on pic for larger image.

Aunt Elizabeth Buckley

Click on pic for larger image.

Albert Buckley & Bill Carmody

Click on pic for larger image.

Father Paul Merrill, Passed Away 11/28/06

My Uncle Paul, a priest and my mother's brother, passed away this Tuesday. He was a passionate man who blessed, literally, everyone he met.

He will be truly missed.

(Here is Father Paul at his Ordination)

Update: Here is the obituary from the funeral home website... you can login there and sign the guestbook if you'd like.

*****

Waltham - Rev. Paul C. Merrill, C.S.S., a member of the Congregation of the Sacred Stigmata of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Stigmatine Fathers and Brothers), died Tuesday November 28, 2006 at the Sancta Maria Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Cambridge. He was 74.

Born in Boston on September 16, 1932, he was the son of the late John C.J., Sr. and Mary A. (Buckley) Merrill. Father Merrill’s home parish was Saint Matthew’s in Dorchester. He attended Saint Matthew’s Grammer School, Dorchester, Cathedral High School, Boston, The Stigmatine Minor and Major Seminary, Waltham and The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.

Fr. Merrill entered the Stigmatine Community in Waltham on September 16, 1951, made his first profession of vows on June 22, 1954, his perpetual profession of vows on June 22, 1957 and was ordained to the Holy Priesthood at Saint Matthew Church, Dorchester on June 6, 1961 by Bishop Thomas J. Riley, Auxiliary Bishop of Boston.

Father Merrill served in the following assignments: Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Springfield, Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Milford, Saint Joachim Parish, Ontario, Canada, Saint Joseph Parish, East Longmeadow and Elm Bank Seminary, Wellesley. He also served as chaplain at Maristhill Nursing Center in Waltham. Due to poor health, he retired to Saint Joseph Hall, Waltham, in 1991.

Fr. Merrill was a very devoted Religious and Priest. He served to the very best of his ability, despite many illnesses. Never one to complain, he offered himself to God in his many years of sickness and was a fine witness of identification with the Passion of our Lord. He truly lived the suffering Stigmata of Christ. May God now generously reward Fr. Merrill with peace and joy in his holy kingdom. May he rest in peace.

Fr. Merrill was the brother of the late Louise Westpfal, John D. Merrill, Jr. and Lorenzo D. Merrill.

He leaves two sisters, Mary J. Johnson of Bucksport, Maine and Catherine Bauer of Hayesville, North Carolina.

Visitation will be held on Monday, December 4th, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the Espousal Center Chapel, 554 Lexington Street, Waltham, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Sacred Heart of Jesus Cemetery, Milford, at 1:30 p.m.

Memorial donations may be made to The Stigmatine Mission Office, 554 Lexington Street, Waltham, MA 02452.

Polar Opposites

Some things just strike me as funny... like popping onto the Fox News website to see one pic of the pope visiting Turkey flanked by another picture of Britney Spears hanging out with Paris Hilton. Nothing screams opposite ends of the moral spectrum than those two pictures side by side...

(click pic for larger image)

In the mean time, Pope Benedict is certainly an impressive figure. In such a volatile time between clashing faiths, the pope is venturing to Turkey, who's 72 million people only contain 32,000 Catholics. So, his mission is far greater than stirring up support from the Catholic masses (as there aren't really enough people to be considered as such), but instead to bridge the gaps creating violence between faiths.

Talk about walking into the lion's den!

I strongly suggest you visit this great special website hosted by the Catholic News Agency about the pope's trip, the history and the reasons behind it all. Great info.

Aunt Kate Fitzsimmons

Some of the pictures I get are REALLY beat up. I do my best to clean them up. The one below has been one of the worst so far...

Before

After

As always, click on the pics for larger images.

Al Reiser, Nana's Cousin

This is a picture of Al Reiser, Mike's brother and my Nana Merrill's cousin.

Click on pic for larger image.

Mother's House off of 7th St.

Mother's House off of 7th St. Not sure of which mother, but I'm sure Mom will let us know.

Click picture for larger image.

Last Pic of Gramma Bauer?

This picture is accompanied by a note which reads:

To Chiz and Kitty,
I think this was
the last picture mother
had made in 1941, I think.

Love Eileen

Gramma Bauer is pictured with John Lee McClain

Three Little Bauers Sitting In A Row

I am not sure who is who in this picture.

Update from Mom: Alice on the left, Frances in the middle and Eileen on the right.

Catherine and Johnny Merrill

Edward and John Bauer

Two of my uncles, on my father's side, died on Valentines Day (not sure of the year) when their sled went under an ice truck... at least that's the story as I remember it. Mom, feel free to correct me.

Their funeral.

As usual, click on all pics for bigger images.

The Benefits of Family

So my wife and I were taking our daughter to a local Catholic high school for an open house. Once my wife and I got past the idea that our daughter was entering high school, we scoped out the school for a certain teacher... a very very smart lad... my nephew Phil.

The weird part of getting older is that all of the little kids in your family, the nieces and nephews, grow up. Whenever I think of Phil I think of this little boy who had trouble saying "truck!" It's hard for me to wrap my brain around the fact that he is a college graduate, incredibly smart and now a teacher at his high school alma mater. Time flies once you pass thirty!

So, during the open house we eventually spied Phil, his back to us working on a computer. My wife walked up to him, put her hands over his eyes and asked him to guess who it was. Phil's mind was swimming... recognizing the voice slightly, thinking it was family, but certain that no family would be stopping by his school that day. Much to his surprise (or disappointment) it was us.

We had a nice chat as he juggled catching up with us and keeping up with his duties during the open house. It was great to see him and left us even more impressed by his accomplishments.

On the drive home my daughter confided that entering high school is a scary proposition, but knowing her cousin would be there in case of an emergency gave her a lot of comfort.

The perks of being part of a large family.

At this point, we're not sure where our daughter will go to high school, but that Catholic school certainly has an edge... we hear one of their teachers is pretty dang good!

Virgin Birth

My wife and I have been going to a bible study over the last few months and, when studying the Old Testament, there are numerous examples of God intervening to allow women previously barren to produce off spring.

It occurred to me that, for Jews raised with that understanding of God's participation in such events, that the idea of a Virgin Birth, with Jesus being conceived in Mary, would not be that dramatic of an event, or that unique. Where for New Testament focused Christians, we may not understand that God has allowed or brought life into the wombs of women throughout history, this may be a singular event, for old school Jews, this is just another example where God stepped in to allow his covenants to continue.

Just a thought.

UK's Christ-less Christmas

The UK Postal Service releases it's Christmas stamps... none of which have Christ on them! I guess offending Christians on one of the holiest of holidays is okay.

Ah, hypocrisy still runs strong.

You can read more here: http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/nov/06111001.html

Quick Takes

Poseidon (2006) - The remake of the 1970s disaster flick, the film is enjoyable, but unbelievable in a Hollywood sort of way. The cast is solid, but unspectacular. Worth the time if you're looking to burn two hours on an above average action flick.





The Family Stone (2005) - This film is awful. It's supposed to be one of those quirky holiday films about a normal person entering the weird world of a wacky family. The problem? The family is full of people you actively dislike. The only person you identify with is the normal person who is the butt of all of their shallow, mean jokes. It's a film with conflicting messages and a horrid script. Avoid this film at all cost. I wish I did.



Silverado (1985) - Silverado is one of those great films that just never caught on upon its release. It's the ultimate homage to the classic Western, brought up to today's sensibilities without losing the texture of the original classics. The film holds up exceptionally well and is just good fun. Especially good is Kevin Costner as the excitable Jake. It's his best acting performance ever... unfortunately it was his first big film (excluding his cutting room floor performance in Big Chill). He's never been this good since.


Mean Girls (2004) - A clever, well written mature teen film about high school politics, bad parenting and the struggles of well meaning teachers. The film is written by Saturday Night Live writer Tina Fey, who also portrays one of the main teachers, and her script is inventive and very funny. We follow a new student (Lindsay Lohan) who comes from being home-schooled in Africa by her parents to the uber-important politics of today's high school arena. Rachel McAdams, Lacey Chabert and Lizzy Caplan play the popular girls who teach Lohan the ropes. Also nice was to see other SNL alum Tim Meadows and Amy Poehler in roles larger than their SNL skits, showing they can really act. It's PG-13 and earns it, so its not for some younger teens, but its a very funny flick.

War Games (1983) - War Games is interesting because it holds up well, especially considering the dramatic changes in both technology and global politics (fall of Soviet Union, growth of radical Islam). I watched this with my thirteen year old daughter and, despite the obvious technological differences (no cell phones, no internet, slow DOS-based computers, big-big floppy disks, etc.) and she was in it from the first time he typed "Let's play Global Thermonuclear War." A great jaunt back to my high school days and still a good time on the movie screen.

Vote Today

Don't forget to VOTE today! We can't complain about our politics if we don't vote for our politicians.


God bless America!

John Bauer, Sr. and Charles Bauer, Sr.

Here's a pic of my Dad during WWII with my late grandfather, John Bauer.

Mike Rieser, Nana's Cousin

This picture states that Mike Rieser is my grandmother's cousin and is in the middle of the picture.

Grampa Buckley

This picture only says Grampa Buckley. I'm assuming that it's the older gentleman to the left. Mom, any more info you can add?

Funny Agenda for the 2008 Democratic National Convention

This was sent in an email and I found it funny enough to post:

Agenda for the Democratic National Convention for 2008

7:00 P.M. Opening flag burning.

7:15 P.M. Pledge of allegiance to U.N.

7:30 P.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

7:30 till 8:00 P.M. Nonreligious prayer and worship. Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton.

8:00 P.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.

8:05 P.M. Ceremonial tree hugging.

8:15- 8:30 P.M. Gay Wedding-- Barney Frank Presiding.

8:30 P.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.

8:35 P.M. Free Saddam Rally. Cindy Sheehan-- Susan Sarandon.

9:00 P.M. Keynote speech. The proper etiquette for surrender--French President Jacques Chirac

9:15 P.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.

9:20 P.M. Collection to benefit Osama Bin Laden kidney transplant fund

9:30 P.M. Unveiling of plan to free freedom fighters from Guantanamo Bay .. Sean Penn

9:40 P.M. Why I hate the Military, A short talk by William Jefferson Clinton

9:45 P.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

9:50 P.M. Dan Rather presented Truth in Broadcasting award, presented by Michael Moore

9:55 P.M., Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

10:00 P.M. How George bush and Donald Rumsfeld brought down the World Trade Center Towers-- Howard Dean

10:30 P.M. Nomination of Hillary Rodham Clinton by Mahmud Ahnadinejad

11:00 P.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

11:05 P.M. Al Gore reinvents Internet

11:15 P.M. Our Troops are War criminals-- John Kerry

11:30 P.M. Coronation Of Mrs. Rodham Clinton

12:00 A.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

12:05 A.M. Bill asks Ted to drive Hillary home

Grampa John Bauer

I believe this is a picture of my father's Dad as a child.

(Click on picture for larger image)

Gramma Merrill's Brother

This is a picture of Joseph Buckley, my Grandma Merrill's brother.


So THAT'S where the unibrow in the family comes from! Thanks Nana! My son is especially grateful!

Gramma Merrill and Friend

The title of the picture is Nana and friend. I believe my grandmother is the young lady to the right , but she could be the baby. I'm not sure. On the original picture, some child appears to have used pen or pencil to scratch over the young woman's face and hat. I did my best to clean it up.

Mom, can you shed some light?

UPDATE FROM MOM: Okay, apparently the picture is my great-grandmother (my Mother's father's mother) who is holding the baby. The great-grandmother apparently died in 1929 when my Mom was three years old. The baby is guessed to by my Mom's cousin Patsy Lynch, but the woman beside her doesn't look like Patsy's mother, so we're not sure. The one thing we do know is that my original guess was completely wrong! :)

John Merrill, Sr

Here's another old family pic. I think this is my grandfather as child.

Mom and Family

I've been scanning pics from our family and cleaning them up in Photoshop.

Here we have my Mom's family, including Left to Right,
John Jr., my Mom (Catherine), Paul, Mary, Lorenzo,
Louise and in the front, my grandparents Da and Nana.

Click on Picture for larger image.

Update from my Mom - My Mom emailed me to say that this picture was taken on Nana and Da's 30th Wedding Anniversary in Tewksbury, MA. In this picture my Mom was pregnant with my sister Mary, which means that Joe and John were running around somewhere.

Fall Ball Ends...

Well, our Fall Ball Little League experience ended last night. My son's team, which was the only team that had more than one quality pitcher, ended up being 11-1. Most pitchers in the league walked most everyone and the teams would quickly reach their five run maximum per inning. We were fortunate to have five quality pitchers (Gabe, Jonathan, David, Noah and Mitchell).

Gabe up to bat in the last game.

Gabe and I had some very specific goals this fall ball, to make consistent solid contact when hitting and to throw consistent strikes as a pitcher. He was able to get better with each game and we ended up achieving both.

One of the hardest things to teach a young batter is to wait on slow pitches. What usually happens is the batter's bat speed matches the incoming pitch speed. If the pitch is slow, the bat swing is slow. If the pitch is fast, the bat speed is fast.

Teaching a kid to wait on the slow pitch and then swing fast is difficult. Gabe still hasn't mastered it yet, but he has improved. During the game the best player on the other team, Andrew, waited on a slow pitch and knocked it into center field.

After the hit, in between innings, Gabe and I talked and I asked him if he was capable of doing the same. Gabe is extremely competitive and he always seeks out the best player on the other team and wants to do better. He said he could hit it as far.

So, his next at bat Andrew is pitching and Gabe is hitting. The pitch count goes to 3-0 and Gabe steps out of the batters box and yells out to Andrew (who had hit Gabe twice in two previous games and walked him almost every time before as well) and said "you're not going to hit me again or walk me, are you?" Gabe's tactic worked and Andrew's next pitch was right over the plate, which Gabe knocked it to the base of the center field fence. After sliding safely into third, Gabe popped up and gave me a thumbs up.

He's better than I ever imagined and he's only ten. Granted, he's still just a kid and has a lot to learn, but his approach and talent compared to others of his age is pretty amazing to me. I take very little credit for it. He works hard, loves to play and is always thinking ahead. When I was his age I was the kid in right field wondering if I could convince my Mom to buy me bubble gum from the concession stand after the game.

Despite all that, the greatest compliment he gets from his coaches is that he's a very good leader and a very good sportsman. I feel very blessed.

Gabe ended up closing the game, walking one, striking out three. We're anxiously looking forward to moving up to the next level where he'll be pushed by kids much better than he is and where we can set higher goals.

There's talk about throwing together a tournament next week between the four teams, but we're kind of burnt out and could use a few weeks just focusing on football. If they have the tournament, I'll take pics and let you know how it turns out.

Memorable Bucs Game

For my son's birthday we went to the Eagles/Bucs game at Raymond James Stadium this past Sunday. It ended up being a very memorable 23-21 win for the Bucs. From Ronde Barber's two interceptions returned for touchdowns to Donovan McNabb having to call timeout because he was puking on the field from the heat to Matt Bryant's historic game-winning 62 yard field goal and the delerium that followed... it was certainly a memorable game on many levels.

Here my son and I snack at the Burger King before the game,
saving ourselves about $2 billion from
buying food in the stadium.

(This picture is warped because my cellphone
sometimes saves the pic all screwed up... like this one.)
The heat was oppressive. We were handed bandanas as we entered
the stadium. We stuffed them under our hats and used them
the keep the sun from baking our necks and shoulders.

Our vantage point at the game. High, but not a bad seat.
It was especially good when watching the winning field goal.

The most absurd moment of the day? The Buccaneer cheerleaders in the sweaty and skimpy outfits shaking their groove things in the End Zones to Aretha Franklin's song about respecting women. The juxtaposition was humorous to just about everyone in our section.

Nothing spells R-E-S-P-E-C-T like cleavage.

94% Of The Time Judges Allow Teens To Bypass Consent Laws To Get Abortion

Florida passed an amendment last year requiring women under 18 years old to get parental approval before receiving an abortion. If they want, a teen girl can request a hearing with a judge to allow an abortion without notifying the parents. And, low and behold, 94% of the time, they get it.

And who says the courts aren't liberal???? I wonder if the judge validates the father wasn't over 18 where statutory rape would have occured? I doubt it. Nah. A girl who doesn't even know how to drive is certainly old enough to know the ramifications of chopping up a baby in her own womb and sucking it out with a vacuum cleaner. Why require children to take responsibility for their own actions... after all, we don't have to as adults, do we? Oh, wait. We do.

You can read more about this on the St. Pete Times website HERE.

Sometimes this country makes me sick. When a society embraces a barbaric and unnatural act that would make Nazi Doctor Mengele proud as a woman's basic right... well, our moral compass must be seriously broken.

God forgive us.

Facing The Giants Opens Big

The Christian film Facing the Giants, made for about $100,000 and screening in limited release in theaters across the country has made $2.7 million in 10 days, just below the $60 million film called Flyboys.

Facing the Giants is made by the makers of Flywheel, a great Christian flick. My family and I tried to see it opening weekend at a local AMC Theater but found the showing sold out. We're hoping to see it this weekend, if our schedule allows.

This is good news for Christian filmmakers. Christian films have a market waiting to be filled by quality entertainment. The market is a niche market, however, so the budgets must remain low.

Congrats and continued success to Giants filmmakers. You can read more about their success on the Washington Post website.

North Korea At Night

Things are so bad in North Korea that they have to shut off electricity throughout the country after 9 p.m. The only city that has any electricity is the capital Pyongyang where dictator Kim Jong-il and his friends live in luxury.



The picture shows the stark differences between capitalism and marxism. In the free capitalistic South Korea, lights ablaze, food is aplenty and people are free to pursue their dreams. In the socialistic North Korea you have a totalitarian government where the entire country suffers at the whims of the demented leader.

You can read more online from the Daily Mail in the UK HERE.

Pope To Bring Back The Latin Mass

Reports are stating that Pope Benedict will allow churches to bring back the Latin mass at any parish unless the local Bishop explicitly forbids it in writing.

Personally, I would love to attend a Latin mass. You can read more about it HERE at the UK website Times Online.

Anyone out there old enough to remember when the Latin mass (pre-Vatican II) was the norm? What was it like? How was it different?

The Flu On Hold - Gabby Takes The Lead

After spending a lot of quality hours hashing out the Second Act of the feature script The Flu, I decdied to revisit the entire idea later and focus, instead on the kids feature called The Adventures of Gabby Wells.

As I mentioned in a previous entry, the story of The Flu had taken some unexpected turns, as can happen during the writing process. Often times this is a good thing, some times it is not. In this case, it made me rethink the entire premise and will revisit it later when I've had some time to think about it.

In the meantime I'm fleshing out the full idea for Gabby Wells and hope to begin writing soon.

Short Takes

November (2004) - Courtney Cox plays a woman who deals with the murder of her boyfriend (James LeGros) at a convenience store. The film was one of the first releases of a company called InDigEnt (Independent Digital Entertainment) which was going to use a unique business model and new digital technology to create a new paradigm of filmmaking. On some levels it has worked, on others it has not. The paradigm, which pays every cast crew a low, flat fee with profit participation, which keeps the budget low, along with the focus of using digital technology was very exciting when it was first introduced.

In filmmaking, however, any new paradigm only works if the end product is good. November is an interesting project, but not very mainstream, which limits its financial potential. The story unfolds like a unique dream-like mystery and finishes up at around a quick 80 minutes. The film is broken into three sections where the story repeats itself as with slightly different outcomes.

Overall the film works as designed, but the audience will be limited.

*****

Behind the Nine (2003) - a microcinema feature film effort about a man who is sponsoring an illegal nine-ball tournament in his home concerned someone is out to steal the prize money. The film is solid for a microcinema effort, but uneven performances and not-quite believable and cramped set locations undermine the effect of the film. The movie did find distribution and was available via Netflix, which is how I came to view it, so good for them.

*****

Hubris (2005) - Hubrisis a very funny short film about a man, Jeremywho's attempt to help his best friend's dating drought by trying to manipulate a speed dating event to make his best friend Barry look the best. Apparently based on a true story, Jeremy gets a couple of friends to participate in his scheme and by portraying the worst men possible they elevate Barry's stature among the speed dating women. The humor of the story really kicks into high gear as we quickly move from one of Barry's friends to another, each one displaying some of the most inappropriate dating introductions possible.

The actors are all very solid and the writing is exceptionally funny at times. The momentum of the short loses a little steam as the dating event twists into an unexpected ending, but not enough to undermine the comedy that so effectively preceded it. Hubris is a well crafted humorous short that is an enjoyable treat.

*****

Perceptions (2005) - Perceptions is a short film about a young college student, Shawn who finds himself intertwined in a murder he did not commit. The story unfolds like repeating dream within a dream where Shawn relives various moments of the events, yet with slightly different outcomes. The film never quite comes to any sort of solid resolution, but the journey is an interesting one.

The cinematography is quite standard and actually undermines the effect of the living dream/nightmare quality of the piece. In such a story as this the audience is looking for hints as to what is real and what is fantasy where the mood created from the lighting could give, even on a subconscious level, a hint of the filmmakers intention. The acting is relatively solid with Jarrod Lawrence and Lisa Lee, playing his attractive classmate, offering the most natural performances.

Perceptions disjointed non-linear story telling is intriguing, yet not fully realized due to rather plain production values and occasionally distracting mediocre acting of some of the minor characters. Overall the short is a solid effort. I always appreciate filmmakers who use the microcinema forum to attempt varying styles of storytelling, even if the end result is not fully presented.

*****

Preserve Me a Seat (2005) - If you have a historic theater in your area, when was the last time you visited one? When was the last time you went to a movie theater, period? Preserve Me a Seat is a documentary by Jim Fields that focuses, primarily, on the attempts to preserve the last remaining Cinemarama theaters of it’s kind in the United States. The theater, in Indian Hills, Nebraska, is one of three designed with a completely circular structure. The theater was purchased by a local hospital and is scheduled to be torn down to make way for a parking lot. In quick fashion, people who grew up watching films in that theater form a preservation society in an attempt to stave off demolition.

Fields then takes us on similar journeys to other cities in Illinois, Utah and Michigan that have faced such tasks of trying to save a historic, yet financially struggling movie theater. Fields does a very good job of showing various tactics, each of which with different levels of impact and/or success, as well as unique ways a theater can be “saved” without retaining itself as a working theater.

I am lucky to live within a quick drive to the Tampa Theater, a grand movie house in downtown Tampa that was built in the 1920’s, with wonderful and opulent decorations, a starlit ceiling, balcony seating and an original organ used for re-showings of silent films. And the sad thing is that the last time I actually went to watch a film there was in 1990 to watch a Star Trek film festival called Sit Long and Prosper. Watching this film made me realize that I was long overdue to revisit my local historical landmark with my kids, who are now old enough to appreciate it.

Preserve Me a Seat also briefly deals with the growing impact of home theaters to the theater chain movie-watching experience. I understood the filmmaker’s concern, as I watched this film on theater preservation in the comfort of my own self-made home theater. With DVD releases coming so soon after theatrical release, I rarely find myself wit the urge to see a theater outside of my home. Which is why one has to wonder just how important theater preservation truly is since the trend is to not go to the theaters to watch a movie anyway.

This documentary is a perfect fit for film lovers and cinema historians. It shows what is probably the end of a movement, the last gasps of movie theater preservation.

Something Funny

My Mom emailed me asking me to post something funny on my blog. I have been very busy lately and have not had time to put my daily entry as I normally would, but who can turn down their own Mom?

So here goes...

1987. A local professional theater in Gainesville is putting on a production of the musical Hair. I had planned on auditioning, but a conflict with the performance schedule made me change my mind.

During one of my calls home I told my Mom that I had considered auditioning for Hair.

She asked, "Don't the actors have to undress in that play?"

"Yeah, at the end of the first act the entire cast is naked."

"I don't think I would be proud of you if you did that," she stated.

I replied with a confident, innuendo-filled tone. "Yeah you would."

After a moment she burst into laughter.

I love hearing my Mom laugh. When I can make her laugh I feel like I've really accomplished something special.

There you go, Mom... something funny. Though, the fact that a humorous story revolves around my nudity should make me a little concerned.

Guardian Angels

From Catholic News Agency, the Saints of the Day are Guardian Angels...

"For he hath given his angels charge over thee; to keep thee in all thy ways.” - Psalm 90:11

The truth that each and every human soul has a Guardian Angel who protects us from spiritual and physical evil has been shown throughout the Old Testament, and is made very clear in the New.

It is written that the Lord Jesus is strengthened by an angel in the Garden of Gethsemane and that angel delivered St. Peter from prison in the Acts of the Apostles.

But Jesus makes the existence and function of guardian angels explicit when he says, "See that you despise not one of these little ones: for I say to you, that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 18:10).

In saying this Jesus points out that all people, even little children, have a guardian angel and that the angels are always in Heaven, always looking at the face of God throughout their mission on earth which is to guide us and protect us throughout our pilgrimage to the house of our Father. As St. Paul says, "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent to minister for them, who shall receive the inheritance of salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14)

However, they guide us to Heaven only if we desire it. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote that angels cannot act directly upon our will or intellect, although they can do so on our senses and imaginations – thus encouraging us to make the right decisions. In Heaven our guardian angels, though no longer needing to guide us to salvation, will continually enlighten us.

Prayer to the guardian angels is encouraged and the habit of remembering their presence and support leads to frienship with them. The prayer to the guardian angels has been present in the Church since at least the beginning of the 12th century:

Angel of God,
my Guardian dear,
to whom His love
commits me here,
ever this day
be at my side,
to light and guard,
to rule and guide.
Amen.

“Let us affectionately love His angels as counselors and defenders appointed by the Father and placed over us. They are faithful; they are prudent; they are powerful; Let us only follow them, let us remain close to them, and in the protection of the God of heaven let us abide.” St. Bernard of Clairvaux