My Favorite Season: Autumn is Here

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.
~ Ecclesiastes 3:1


Fall Foliage in Ohio


"Autumn Leaves" by John Everett Millais


Jack-in-the-Green-and-Brown-and-Orange-and-Gold


Harvest Children


Un-Raking


The Face in the Leaves

Dog and Pumpkin Still Life

Pumpkin Pickin'

Pumpkin Head

Happy Fall, Y'all!

[NB: All of these photos are a few years old. I will try to post some recent Fall photos with all 4 kids at some point during the next 3 months.]


For some reason, George Winston's version of this Vince Guaraldi classic always reminds me of the Fall:


And then there's this one, which has "Fall" written all over it:



And it just wouldn't be Autumn without these classics:

For Those Interested in Irish History ...

... I have a sort of "omnibus" post coming up on Friday regarding what is arguably the most important (certainly the most history changing) event in modern Irish history.

I'm giving you a heads up now because Friday tends to be one of my "low-traffic" days here at Pro Ecclesia (although, for the past year or so, every day has tended to be a "low-traffic" day here at Pro Ecclesia).

;-)

Sorry for the Sparse Posting of Late ...

... I've been on a much-needed vacation with the family the past 2 weeks.

What's This About Some Big Soccer Thingy That's Going On?

Wake me when it's over.

An Ecumenicism I Can Support

Christian, Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, Shintoist, Wiccan, Animist, whatever. Fine is fine, and fit is fit.

And make no mistake: the new Miss USA, Rima Fakih, is smokin' hot, notwithstanding whatever her religion may be. In this instance, I'm ALL for ecumenicism.

The Anchoress has more.

(Hat tip: Opinionated Catholic)

Pro-Life Search Videos

Thanks to my old friend the Regular Guy for sending along these great pro-life Google "SearchStories" videos:

2010 Cannonball Catholic Blog Awards

Voting starts today in the 2010 Cannonball Catholic Blog Awards.

Last year, Pro Ecclesia actually won a Canonball Award - my one and only Catholic blog award in my entire 5 years of blogging.

This year, not even a frickin' nomination.

Thanks. Bastards.

;-)

A Special Pro Ecclesia Thanks ...

... to the Cranky Con himself, Paul Zummo for meeting me for an evening of fine cigars, draught beer, and excellent conversation at Shelley's Back Room in Washington, D.C.

I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to finally meet you in person, Paul.

InsideCatholic.com's Predictions for 2008

Check out InsideCatholic.com's predictions for 2008.

(Hat tip: Rich Leonardi, whose prediction is among those featured.)

YUCK!

My Favorite Season: Fall is Here!

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.
~ Ecclesiastes 3:1


Fall Foliage in Ohio


"Autumn Leaves" by John Everett Millais


Jack-in-the-Green-and-Brown-and-Orange-and-Gold


Harvest Children


Un-Raking


The Face in the Leaves



For some reason, George Winston's version of this Vince Guaraldi classic always reminds me of the Fall:

"Cast Your Fate to the Wind"

"How can you call this a 'Lone Star' when you don't have any Texas beer?"

That would be Lone Star, Pearl, and/or Shiner Bock, none of which were available at an establishment purporting to call itself "Lone Star Steakhouse and Saloon".

The above question, posed to the lovely waitress (who actually did look like Cameron Diaz), is how the evening began. As for the rest of the evening, I think I'll let Dale's post speak for me.

Anything I might have to add likely wouldn't be fit to print in a Catholic blog.

Finally Back Home in Ohio

We had a great vacation at the beach, and it was nice visiting with family, friends, and co-workers in Charlottesville. But it's much nicer to be back home.

(And it's a lot cooler and much less humid.)

Some Completely Unrelated Notes ...

Today I received my review copy of the Holy Father's new book Jesus of Nazareth. How does one of my lowly stature go about objectively reviewing a work about Christ written by Christ's Vicar on Earth? As The Curt Jester has noted in reference to reviewing this work, I am definitely not worthy.

Some very kind folks have named this blog a "Thinking Blog". Once again, I'm not sure I feel worthy, but I thank them all for their words of support. Since I believe this is a meme of some sort, I hope to get around sometime this week to naming some "Thinking Blogs" that inspire me. But, as I'm notoriously bad at completing and passing along blog memes, I'm not making any promises.

Now I know the real reason behind the Dallas Mavericks' untimely demise in this year's NBA playoffs: the Liberator of Eastern Europe wasn't there to inspire Dirk Nowitzki as he was last year.

What the Hell?

It's the ubiquitous David Hasselhoff!

First, David Hasselhoff shows up 2 nights ago in the audience of American Idol, and is seen crying as Taylor Hicks is announced as the winner.

Then, tonight, the dude shows up in Dallas to cheer on Dirk Nowitski and the Dallas Mavericks as they evened up the Western Conference Final series 1-1. Incidentally, Hasselhoff, who for some strange reason is HUGE in Nowitzki's native Germany, is credited with the Mavericks' power forward's success at the free-throw line.

Inspiring Taylor Hicks to victory on American Idol. Leading the Mavericks past the San Antonio Spurs and into the NBA Western Conference Final.


As one blogger puts it, "Is Their Anything David Hasselhoff Can't Do?"


UPDATE
Rhonda Lugari, posting in comments, also credits Hasselhoff with the fall of the Berlin Wall. What a guy!

You just thought Superman wore an "S" on his chest -- when, in fact, he doesn't wear ANYTHING on his chest (apart from his hairy manliness), and goes by the name "David Hasselhoff".


UPDATE # 2 (27 May 2006)
See Christine's post in the comments.

Any man on whom "Sir" Charles Barkley has a man-crush has GOT to be something special.


UPDATE # 3 (30 May 2006)
PB adds this in comments:

If that still hasn't sold you on the HOF check this out.

Proving that David Hasselhoff can indeed fly - he IS Superman! Are ya "hooked" on the Hoffmeister yet?