So for Lent, I was taught in my adult CCD class at St. Therese that you are not actually supposed to give up something, like chocolate or coffee. What you are supposed to do is do something positive, like pray, go to church every evening, or somesuch.
We decided we would go to Mass every Sunday the way we’re supposed to, but don’t always due to the odd Mass times at the church near us and the little kids and whatnot. And of course the kids were sick on Sunday so we didn’t.
A side note: did you know it’s a Mortal Sin to not attend Mass on Sundays? Well, it is. The new thinking, I guess, of Vatican II or whatever, is to not scare people into attending by telling them they’re sinners if they don’t go, but to emphasize the good if they do go. My MIL disagrees with the new way of thinking and thinks people ought to realize that they need to do things even if they don’t want to. I tend to think that they were right to change if something did not work; whatever way is more effective. Threatening people just doesn’t seem to work. Hmmm.
Anyway, for Lent, I also decided to treat my body to some good exercise on a more regular basis. I do go to the gym, but I don’t push myself that hard. I hate the machines, the boring repetitiveness of it all, but the gym is good for when it’s hot or rainy.
Anyway, I went to the gym and they were remodeling it, so I had to make a new plan.
On Saturday, we did a big (for me) hike up and down a steep lava rock hillside.
Today, I asked Elyse to walk 2.5 miles with me down to Koko Marina. Click on the link to hear some rad music. We went right after Cadillac got home. There’s only one road to the shopping center, and it’s busy. It was so busy with da Bus and such that I regretted walking; my nostrils still feel full of fumes, and sometimes we couldn’t hear each other.
Anyway, I like walking with Elyse because she tells me stuff. Some of it is quite interesting, but I promised her I wouldn’t share her personal business, potentially embarrassing, on my blog.
On the way there, we came across a dog. It was a medium to large dog, of pearl black grey hue, with green-grey eyes. It was sitting by its owner.
A Japanese woman who walked in front of us talked to the owner and called out to the dog. It ignore her. I clucked to it. The dog perked up her ears and walked slowly over to me.
I let her sniff my hand and then lifted my hand to pet her. She flinched.
The last time I saw a dog do that was because it had been beaten before.
Oh, poor doggie. I wanted to steal you away. But then your owner called you back and made you sit.
Perhaps it was naturally skinny, so skinny you could see all of its ribs and spine. Or maybe old. Or maybe the guy just got it from the pound and it was skinny, but it’s awfully obedient to be a brand new dog. And why would a guy who beat his dog be hanging out with it in front of his house, letting people pet it? Doesn’t add up.
Anyway, we continued on our walk. I dared Elyse to jump up and touch trees. My feet and legs and back hurt. Developed a blister. Ouch.
About 40 minutes later, we got to Koko Marina. Cadillac headed over to pick us up– I’m not quite ready for a 5 mile walk, at least not all at once, not right before dinner. We went into the Price Busters and bought ten-cent chocolate coins, a get-well card for Cadillac’s sister, an ice pop mold, and water balloons. Water balloons were only fifty cents. If I known how cheap they were I would have been getting them this whole time.
Then we drove home and Kaiya told us all about how she climbed Diamond Head with Scooby-Doo and the tsunami can’t get anyone because DH is too high. I told you, the kids are still on about disasters.
MARGARET DILLOWAY 