A Strange 2:30

Another Hint

Regarding our "secret" mission last week:


This photo will self-destruct in... well, it'll probably never self-destruct.

Princess Erin

Another photo from the trip, swiped from Cerneka Family Adventures.

We're back!

Sorry about the lack of blogging this past week... Oddwalk (and families) was road-trippin' up to Chicago, working on an "ultra-secret project" -- so ultra-secret in fact, that a bunch of you probably already know what it is. If you don't, don't worry. All will be made clear as we progress through the year.

We do have some pictures which are pretty cool and might even serve as hints about out trip. We'll be posting these over the next little while.

Where we were, Orin tried one day to sit down in the hall during a break. Apparently, Orin somehow missed the floor, and put an Orin-shaped dent in the wall. While no pictures exist of this, pictures do exist of how the building owner responded. The next day, instead of the dent, Oddwalk saw this:


Day after that, we saw this:


If you can't make it out, the squirrel is unzipping its fur to reveal a Superman t-shirt. The building owner talked about keeping the location as-is, and updating it regularly, maybe even blogging it. If that happens, we'll let you know. We (well, Orin mostly) are just glad he had a sense of humor about it. See, his place is below a Starbucks Coffee and has had problems like massive leaks destroying a ceiling and putting a couple computers out of commission for a couple days... An Orin-shaped dent in the wall, in comparison, is not that bad.

More later - glad to be back home. Oh - and happy Ascension Sunday!

Happy Mothers Day!

Gene's got a cool post about his mom over there. Check it out!

Congrats, AI Graduates!

Peering out from behind the pillar is Timothy Radcliffe, OP, speaker at AI's graduation Friday.

Congrats to all graduates (Orin plans to be one next year), including Oddblog friend Michael (here, with Radcliffe):

This reminds me of ice cream

Not sure which flavors though.

Would this work?

leftlanedrivers.org

Insert another insensitive joke about "religious crap" here

A drunken man staggers in to a Catholic church and sits down in a confession box and says nothing. The bewildered priest coughs to attract his attention, but still the man says nothing.

The priest tries a greeting, "Hello?" No response.

The priest then knocks on the wall three times in a final attempt to get the man to speak.

Finally, the drunk replies, "No use knocking, there's no paper in this one either."

Insert insensitive joke about "religious crap" here

Haggling over the toilets in Christianity's most sacred church

Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre most recently made News of the Weird in 2004 because of continued petty territorial fighting among the six Christian denominations that share management of the church, which is home to some of Christianity's holiest sites, including that of Christ's resurrection. As Easter approached this year, three of the groups that control one 10-stall restroom could not agree how to divide responsibility for repairing it, leading to a pervasive stench in the building. Furthermore, the path of the outflow sewage pipe (which needed enlarging) passes under property of a fourth denomination, which has resisted helping unless it is granted control of one of the 10 stalls. [Daily Telegraph (London), 4-7-07]

A challenge to Keytar Mystique

Some of you may remember from a few months ago Oddwalk's new fragrance, Keytar Mystique.

Well, it seems as if the Vatican has gone one step further:

The Pope's Cologne ....a fresh new fragrance from the past. The Pope’s Cologne is a classic Old World cologne made from the private formula of Pope Pius IX (1792-1878). We obtained this formula from descendants of the commander of his Papal Guard and lifelong friend, General Charles Charette. The creators have followed this complex, exclusive formula meticulously, using the same essential oils that his perfumers used 150 years ago. We believe that they have succeeded in capturing the same fragrance that he and those around him enjoyed so long ago. This is a truly extraordinary cologne with surprising freshness and notes of violet and citrus. We are pleased that you will have the opportunity to enjoy this wonderful, historic fragrance - this is a unique gift for anyone and may be used by men or women. Comes in a lovely and distinct box.

We don't know how long this will be on the site's "new" page, so check it out, quick. And if you order some — or smell it on the Pontiff himself — let us know what you think...

Seriously, we wish we were making this up. Thanks to Katie for the tip!

Okay, we will (again)!

From indexed:

Hug somebody today, okay?

.

America's fastest-growing quiz sensation, "Find the Pope"

Can you find him in this picture?


Hint: He's the Pope.

More Famouser?

Oddwalk's friend mikemiller helps to put together the e-man newsletter from the Catholic Youth Apostolate in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. While you won't find his bit in the on-the-web version, his contribution, as pictured on the left, is in the emailed version. He gave us, in his words, a "shout-out" in the latest edition, apparently for our leading him to mangoooooo! Welcome to any new readers!

He also today called our attention to the David Crowder Band, who uses (as Oddwalk does) a Yamaha SHS-10 live. While both use the keytar for the greater glory of God (no, really), Oddwalk uses the keytar for melodic, eardrum-rupturing lead solos, while David and Co. use it for "phat beats" and something to whistle too.

Check out the animated music video below (especially about 1:30 in or so), then watch some of the live videos that are up on YouTube too. In one, he clearly says "Behold the Keytar." Hm. I guess it's not "Behold, the Oddwalk Keytar" so we'll let him off with a warning this time.

Thanks Mike (and happy graduating)!

pOddcast - Salve Regina

As May is traditionally the month of Mary, on the pOddcast, we've added a recording of Orin a number of years ago singing the Gregorian Chant "Salve Regina" — known to most folks in English as the prayer "Hail Holy Queen." Orin had recorded this for an in-house Shrine video on the life of St. Eugene DeMazenod, founder of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (who own and operate the Shrine) whose feast is also this month (the 21st).

Find the pOddcast, as always, in the usual places.

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our Life, our Sweetness, and our Hope.
To Thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To Thee do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate,
Thine Eyes of Mercy toward us, and after this our exile show us the
Blessed Fruit of thy Womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

It is on the other side of the world, after all

Can't Get to Australia?

Make a World Youth Day Pilgrimage to One of the Largest Outdoor Shrines in North America

WHEN: July 17 - 20, 2008

WHERE: National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, Belleville, IL

WHY: To celebrate in conjunction with World Youth Day in Australia

WHO: Youth 16 & 17 w/their chaperones, Youth Adults 18-30

Youth and young adults will enjoy gifted speakers, Christian music groups, and singing artists. Activities will include Catechetical sessions, prayer, liturgies, processions, and community time.

Details will be posted here as they become finalized.

SEPT. 3 - UPDATE - This event has been significantly altered... Check snows.org for more info.