VISITATION

The word of the day for June 13, 2013 is:  visitation

vis·i·ta·tion

 noun \ˌvi-zə-ˈtā-shən\

1:  an instance of visiting: as  a :  an official visit (as for inspection)  b :  wake  c :  temporary custody of a child granted to a noncustodial parent [visitation rights]

2  a :  a special dispensation of divine favor or wrath  b :  a severe trial : affliction

3  capitalized : the visit of the Virgin Mary to Elizabeth recounted in Luke and celebrated July 2 by a Christian feast

He has visitation rights on the weekends.

the visitation of a diocese by a bishop

Visitation is from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m.

First Known Use of VISITATION:  14th century

Vicki's Backyard from the Patio 

Tonight I am staying with Vicki, because I am closing on my Wichita house tomorrow.  She apologized in advance for her house being “messy” because she has pictures sitting against the walls.  Not that I mind clutter.  (She hasn’t seen my apartment.  There are pictures stacked against the walls there—for the same reason, we both moved recently.)

We are planning on going to The Great Gatsby tomorrow evening.  Expect a review on Saturday.  Sunday I will be back in KC with the full intention of vegging out for at least—well, Tuesday I’m signed up for the Shamrock Club bus trip to the bakery and then Wednesday, I’m hosting Caitlin and Jenny for lunch, so—36 hours.

Our quote for the day is from The Cambridge History of English and American Literature in 18 Volumes (1907–21).  Volume XIII. The Victorian Age, “Part One.  XIII. Lesser Novelists,  14. Mrs. Oliphant”:

Another region which Mrs. Oliphant’s art explored was the unseen world. In A Beleaguered City (1880), with eerie imaginative power she depicted the city of Semur in the department of the Haute Bourgogne, “emptied of its folk” by a visitation of the spirits of the dead, who move about in the streets with a disconcerting purposefulness not to be fathomed by the grosser intellects of men.

;^) 

OROGENY

The word of the day for June 10, 2013 is:  orogeny

orog·e·ny

 noun \ȯ-ˈrä-jə-nē\

:  the process of mountain formation especially by folding of the earth's crust

First Known Use: 1890

My sister took me to the Kansas City Symphony yesterday.  It was the finale of the second season in their new building, which has echoes of the Sydney Opera House on the exterior, but the interior has amazing views across the city toward Union Station and the WWI Memorial.  I got to sit between George and Ringo (the next two seats down were labeled Paul and John.)

We heard Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 in G Minor—one of my favorites:  I did not vocalize, though it was a great effort to restrain myself.  Also, we heard Eine Alpensinfonie by Richard Strauss (not the Waltz King).  Strauss got it entirely right.  The opening sequence “Night” leads into “Dawn” so beautifully that one blinks when one realizes they did not actually bring the lights up.  …And the “Thunderstorm” was truly amazing!—wind machine, thunder sheet, extra horns behind the stage, the magnificent organ—WOW!

Afterward we went to Grünauer’s for dinner.  Excellent food—sorry no photos, we were too much in awe to take pictures before we ate.  We got apfelstrudel to take home.  It was also wonderfulness.

Our quote for the day from Sir Walter Scott. (1771–1832).  Guy Mannering:

On the whole, however, the Dominie, though somewhat fatigued with these mental exertions, made at unusual speed and upon the pressure of the moment, reckoned this one of the white days of his life, and always mentioned Mr. Pleydell as a very erudite and fa-ce-ti-ous person.

;^)

ERUDITE

The word of the day for June 8, 2013 is:  erudite

er·u·dite

 adjective \ˈer-ə-ˌdīt, ˈer-yə-\

:  having or showing knowledge that is gained by studying :  possessing or displaying extensive knowledge acquired chiefly from books  :  profound, recondite, or bookish learning [an erudite scholar]

[the most erudite people in medical research attended the conference]

[an erudite lecture on the latest discoveries in astronomy]

Unexpected Treasure

Yesterday, I talked to Theresa Smith—Director of Family Life Ministries for St. Patrick's Catholic Church—about the various ministries available to members wishing to serve the parish.  We discussed Marian Mantle Group, Lectoring, and Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.  She showed me around the sacristy and the sanctuary area, and we went over the details peculiar to St. Patrick’s Parish.  Of course, a refresher of the basics went along with this.  I’m going to have to keep in mind the number and depth of steps down from the ambo (reading stand), because it’s not a good idea to pitch headlong into the congregation before reverencing the altar/tabernacle—probably not afterward, either.

Theresa also gave me three books (parish policy, I think):  Made for More by Curtis Martin; The Four Signs of a Dynamic Catholic by Matthew Kelly; and United States Edition 2013 Workbook for Lectors, Gospel Readers, and Proclaimers of the Word by Mary A. Ehle, PhD and Margaret Nutting Ralph, PhD.  The staff at St. Patrick’s encourage educational reading on a regular basis.  I’m looking forward especially to reading The Four Signs, as Kelly is an engaging writer. St. Anne’s gave his Rediscover Catholicism to us as a Christmas present last year.  It is an excellent resource for both cradle Catholics and fledgling converts. 

Our quote for the day from Sir Walter Scott. (1771–1832).  Guy Mannering:

On the whole, however, the Dominie, though somewhat fatigued with these mental exertions, made at unusual speed and upon the pressure of the moment, reckoned this one of the white days of his life, and always mentioned Mr. Pleydell as a very erudite and fa-ce-ti-ous person.

;^)