I have to swipe 'dul's digital camera next time I go to the Western Beef...

The signs there are so bad, it's not even funny. Except that it is. I don't know what it is about that store, but they're completely unable to get anything right on their signs. Wanuts, indeed! (and that's hardly the worst of it)

So, I went to the Western Beef today, I laughed at their signs... and got to observe the following message at the nearby White Castle: "For Lent, Enjoy A Fish Fillet" (I'm not sure what fish-food they were advertising, so I just filled in a name)

I'm not sure if that ad is clever or sacriligious. Or possibly both - is one *supposed* to enjoy their substitute for whatever they're giving up on Lent? Isn't that the purpose of giving something up?

And here's a question. Recently, I was informed that most modern Catholics don't go into a little booth with a screen to confess. They just talk to a priest. Face to face. And then, when I exclaimed in (mock) shock over this, my mother told me that most Catholics don't use rosaries anymore! (What's next, they'll stop saying the Mass in Latin? :P)

Honestly, it's like the foundation of my world is crumbling all around me. But still, I persevere. Tell me truthfully: Do many/most/some Catholics (still) give up meat for Lent? I know it's not done on Fridays anymore (world, crumbling), but, not actually being Catholic (if infant baptism counts when done by people who are inherantly anti-organized religion counts, that'd be Jenn. And I suppose that makes me Episcopalian. Whatever *they* believe) I don't actually know. I'm kinda scared to ask my mom. Our conversations about religion always end with somebody making really sacriligious jokes, and then my mother getting scared for my safety and requesting that I move at least 50 feet away from her at all times....

Just want to say thanks, everyone, for the Catholic information.

I don't want to go reply individually "thanks, thanks, thanks", so I'm just making a post.

THANKS!

On praising kids (again)

I've been trying, lately, this new technique of not-really-praising Ana, but restricting myself to things like "Yes, I see you did it, looks like you had fun" or "You can do that by yourself now" and whatnot.

It wasn't reading up on the subject that really convinced me, of course - it's being around parental-types who go insane with the praise they heap on their kids. Kid scribbles a line on a piece of paper? "GOOOOOD JOOOOOB, KAYLIE!", every time the kid does it. Kid shares a toy? "GREAT SHARING!!!!!1111" Every time. Kid picks up something their mom asked them 20 times to pick up? "GOOD BOY! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!"

And all in the same syrup voice, most suitable for babies at least half the age of the child they're speaking to.

Even though I never went that way, my visceral reaction to hearing these people made me consider how silly (at best) the whole thing sounded.

I have two little anecdotes to illustrate my point more fully.

( Read more... )

I don't know now which kids are going to be the happier ones, the better artists, the kinder ones. I don't know who's right and who's wrong. I don't know who I'm going to offend after this post. I don't know a lot of things.

I do know that patronizing is a big word.