Jane Austen and Me: A Reader’s Sojourn in the World of Classic Regency Romance

Pride and Prejudice was the first period drama novel I had ever read. It was on the summer reading list for my high school (I usually read every book on each year’s list, though only two were required). I enjoyed the book immensely. While Lizzy was practically me, I had Jane’s optimistic view of every person in my acquaintance. Kitty was understandable as well, as I, too, rarely got to do anything before my younger sibling…

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Summer

The summer is here, the sun beating down
This intense heart bringing so many frowns
Time to turn that frown into a smile
We haven’t been to the beach in a while…

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A Statue of Our Favorite War Hero

Let us build a statue of Sergeant Schultz
Standing bravely at the door of Baracke 2
With a bouquet of flowers in one mighty hand
And a slice of apple strudel in the other…

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Tristar Fan

Such an interesting name, isn’t it? What is a Tristar fan? Isn’t TriStar that Sony company? Well, it is, but that’s not what I’m referring to. It’s actually more like tri-star, triple stars. The three stars I’m referring to are Star Wars, Star Trek, and Stargate. What, you ask? Am I mad?

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Your Job is Essential

Some say this is the age of the coronavirus. Perhaps it is, but more than that this is the age of incoherence. No one agrees on what the killer virus is, where it came from, masks or not masks, isolation or congregation, work or no work, treatments, dubious medicines (Macbeth IV:1), numbers of deaths, or the utility of borders (Richard II II:1)

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Summer of the Blue Helmets

Sergeant Schneider barked at us, his young heroes
And made us crawl the beach at Oceanside
And tho’ he made each day’s harsh training1 sting
One evening at Mass we heard sweet children sing…

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Robin Goodfellow and the Hammer of Wayland

“What is it?!” barked Alfric.
“Robin Goodfellow is here to see you, my Lord,” said the herald
“What does that wretched hobgoblin want?!”
“Y-you summoned him, my Lord,” said the herald.
“Fine! Send him in!”

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Behind the Mask

A collection of poems by Lawrence “Mack in Texas” Hall
We mourn the passing of poor Joe Draper
Crushed by falling cases of toilet paper
And though poor Joe had fever, ‘flu, and gout,
It was the toilet paper that wiped him out

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Civic Holiday (Canada)

With Jesus and some children and a sheep
The funeral home Catholic calendar says
That today is “Civic Holiday (Canada)”
I don’t know what that is, this August day…

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Summer 2020: The Church: Liturgy & Worship

Join us as we explore liturgy and worship. In these pages you will learn about how different people worship and the liturgical practices of different denominations. You will find non-fiction, poetry, reflections, puzzles, book and media recommendations, and a new set of prayers for your prayer beads. We can’t wait to hear what you think!

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Putting on a Bold Texas Face Against CV-19

My latest washable mask is from the skilled fingers of a local young woman artisan who crafted it with variations on our Lone Star Flag. When I drive into town on errands I’m not only doing my small part for the safety of others, I’m also showing my loyalty to our Republic…

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Dominicans

The month of August in the Catholic Church is dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, which makes it perfect for the biggest names in the Dominican order to have feast days in this month. The Dominican Order is known for their dedication to and honor of the Mother of God. They are not the only order to be known to have the Mother of God as their special patroness, but they are the most associated with her special protection.

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A Whole New World

“I wanted to see everything. I wanted to travel and see the whole world!” Your face falls. “But that will never happen, so I’m seeing everything in town, just so I don’t miss a thing.”

“Well, traveling just to different parts of town can be more productive than traveling to other parts of the world,” he says.

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Summer In the Garden II

But we consult the winds, the clouds, the stars
Whose songs and shapes and brilliant silences
Allow us to savor all mysteries
The hymns of Creation from long ago…

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The Sneeze

The dog ran into the classroom first, followed by the two children.
​“Should we be in here?” the boy asked.
​The girl shrugged. “Why not? Just ‘cause it’s a big-kid classroom?”
​“It’s Saturday,” the boy reminded her. “And we’re not even in the kindergarten wing.”

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Hitting It Off: A Review of Starstruck

Jessica Olsen just wants to spend some time with her grandma when she and her family go to Hollywood to visit her, but Jessica has just about had it with her sister Sara’s obsession with actor Christopher Wilde…

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In Honor of Hagia Sophia

Our eternal Constantinople is
Never to be lost, never defeated:
In every Christian flows Dragases’ blood
Every village is the Holy City
Every church is Hagia Sophia…

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David Turner & the Skeleton Committee 3: Follow the Light

David spun around at Trin’s scream, just in time to see a beam of blue light race back into the castle. He turned to look at Trin, but a skeleton now sat where she had once stood.
“Doctor, Captain, we have to get to Adinburgh Castle immediately! Bones just kidnapped Trin!

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