August 4
From my brain
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2008
Me 08:50, 4 August 2008 (EDT)
On Saturday, Wifey and I visited Saint Gregory Palamas Monastery for a sort of pre-celebration of the Transfiguration on Wednesday. The monastery is part of the Greek Archdiocese, and their bishop was there visiting. The feast of Transfiguration is during the Dormition fast as well, so this was a huge, huge blessing for the monks to have him there at this time.
Wifey and I have been wanting to visit the monastery for awhile. Initially, I was trying to get the boys in my scout den up there last December. The Program Helps had suggested visiting a religious institution. I thought it would be neat to show the boys a monastery as well as get myself up there for a visit. It didn't work out (people's plans combined with not wanting to drive an hour and a half north of Columbus), so it was canceled.
When Father mentioned that there was going to be this pre-celebration combined with a bishop's visit, we were all for it. As it turned out, the kids ended up having a birthday party to go to -- MIL and FIL's priest's daughter -- and so they stayed the night with MIL and FIL and went to the party while we made the pilgrimage. (Reasoning: Feast day liturgy is a longer, more formal liturgy AND there was a bishop there which takes on even more stuff. No way they'd sit through it all.)
Had to get up at my normal time I would have for work (after having been up until 2am for a continuance of beta key hell), but I pulled myself together (yay 5HE). On the way up though, Wifey and I had a long, long talk about everything any anything...completely uninterrupted by anyone. We talked about all manner of things, stuff she's been dealing with from home, Tastefully Simple stuff, stuff about the house, stuff with me for work, and stuff I've been dealing with too personally and with the guild. The conversation was just as good on the way back too. I think even more than the monastery visit, that was the most fulfilling part of the day.
I'd never been to a monastery before (Wifey had, but as as child), so other than what's on their site on monastery etiquette, we weren't wholly sure what to expect. As we pulled in, a couple of the brothers directed people to park at certain locations along the driveway so everyone would be able to fit. Usually with an event, the guy doing this is usually the loudest member of a church parish, and he's shouting everywhere. These guys were monks; it was odd to have someone so soft-spoken doing a role like that. :)
The structure of the church itself wasn't much bigger than a ranch style home, but of course it was roundish in shape (octagonal? hexagonal?). Outside there were some chair set up for people to sit in quiet observance if they liked before entering, but also a couple icons to venerate.
We'd gotten there just on time, so as we began to venerate the icons, they began ringing the bells. One large bell, and four or five smaller bells were rung beautifully, but not too loud. His Grace was just inside the entrance already, said a few opening prayers, and then proceeded in (with like 5-6 priests which grew to more by the end of service). Once they'd moved forward through the church and to the altar, we entered.
The interior of church was both humbling and breathtaking. Such a small place outside, it felt voluminous inside. In addition, while I'd been to churches that were much larger than it, I'd never seen so many icons in one place. I mean, I'd even been in icon stores where there were fewer icons. I wouldn't be surprised that every saint was represented there on the walls along with an icon of ever icon-able reference in the Bible. Truly amazing.
We were definitely right though in not having brought the kids. Was a long, long, long service. Not to mention, it was a hierarchical (i.e. with the bishop) and at a monastery...huge sections were in Greek. Sure, they'd repeat a number of them in English (the Lord's prayer, prayers before communion, Apostle's Creed, etc.), but all that Greek to someone who doesn't speak more than a couple snippets from Liturgy tends to make you zone a bit (God forgive me).
Still though, it was a very rewarding service. Re-centering from the centering that took place on vacation. Maybe that too was having all the long conversations with Wifey in the car up and back, but regardless, was a really good day.
2006
Me 13:09, 4 August 2006 (EDT)
Among the things on my mind...
2003
Me 18:34, 04, August 2003 (EDT)
Wow!
I may ACTUALLY get some work done tonight! No Zej.
So, I'm contemplating writing a letter to the CIO of our company to get our little rag-tag group into a decent home of our own. Now, if I was concerned about promotion (or for that matter, opinion of those) higher up in the comany, this may be quasi-career suicide.
However, if all I want is sanity - which Zej has countless times assured me exists in his current cubicile - it's the right thing to do. I could care less if they even make me management (although officially being team leader would be nice), I just want to get the guys somewhere safe if and when I abandon ship.
We must remove the boot of He-Who's-Lies-Know-No-Limits.
1973
Mom & Dad are Married
Oh the sideburns and big hair!
