Sunday, November 23, 2008

Buy that girl another princess outfit

E (spying book on bookshelf): Dad, will you read me the Faerie Qveene?
Dad (despite the unmentionable number of pages of reading due by 5:00PM): YES!!!

We got through about 3 stanzas before she was more interested in the cover art than the poem, but that's more interest than I had at her age. By a factor of infinity. Reading then turned to Romeo and Juliet in this edition, which one of her parents (not me) got her at the library. I was torked with the surety that the "kids version" would whitewash over the suicidal love at the end. But, it didn't whitewash over it. Then I was torked that the revisionist childrens' writers (who changed plenty of important details including all aspects of redemption in the story) didn't whitewash over the suicide. So, for kids, which is better?

Which perhaps raises the further question: What cinematic version of R 'n' J is suitable for 4 year olds? Any?

Monday, November 10, 2008

Why John Paul Dionysius?

Perhaps you're asking yourself exactly why we chose the name John Paul Dionysius, and have come to realize that yourself doesn't know the answer.

There are, if you trouble to count them, about a million reasons for this name. Here are a few:

1. He is named John, after his grandfather. He is named Dionysius after his grandmother and great-godfather ("Diane" and "Dennis" are both derived from Dionysius).

2. JPD's dad is something of a nerd and took a class on Eucharistic theology in seminary which affected him greatly. The greatest writers of the New Testament are St's John and Paul. They are also the definitive voices on our understanding of the Eucharist.

3. See above about nerdy dad. Dionysius is the Greek god of flocks and vines. Hundreds of years BC the Greeks understood that a shepherd god could be present in wine. Early Christians hailed Dionysius as a pagan anticipation of Christ. So JPD is named for Jesus in a Greek-nerd kinda way. If you do any research you'll discover that Dionysius/Bacchus/Pan wasn't somebody you'd want your kids partying with. Insert a dissertation-length discussion on loving, hating, venerating, and anathematizing Classical tradition. Reiterate Dad is a nerd and guess which side he comes down on.

4. I've mentioned previously the Hymnal is one of my favorite places to look for names. Hymnists have novel names, almost as a rule. In picking a name, we like the rule that a good name is one that could show up in a hymnal some day.

5. I have a preference for a name that makes strangers say, "You named him what?!" But a kid needs normal options for everyday use too.

6. Names are preferred that produce a plethora of nickname options.

7. Several people want to know if John Paul is named after a mariner, a pope, or a supreme court justice. Sometimes I think he's named in honor of JP2 but sometimes I think he's just named like JP2. Mariners and Justices had no identifiable influence.

There's a start on why he's John Paul Dionysius. Mostly he still gets called Spud, so we'll see what ends up sticking. If he's anything like big sis he'll get a succession of monikers and sometimes even get called by his real name.

So happy together



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Happiest big sister




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John Paul Dionysius

Click the pics for big versions.

New born















Clean, dry, calm, collected




















Keeping mom's attention.
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Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Holy Land pic picks


To see many photos of our recent pilgrimage click here.

Never have I received so many photo credits in all my life. Time to update the resume.

Also be sure to glance at my educational and constructive comments.


Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Texas Fall This Ain't

I am not and never will be one to complain about October weather that means shorts and t-shirts.

But this slideshow is pretty hard to rebut as a counter-argument. 

I ain't at Nashotah any more.