Three little kittens they lost their mittens, and they began to cry, "Oh mother dear, we sadly fear that we have lost our mittens." Automatically, their first reaction is to confess their loss? This may be interpreted as pure catholic guilt at its most primary level, as there is no direct indication of even the most basic loss investigation. These kittens (referred to herein as “the perpetrators”) immediately blame themselves and spring into confession mode. There is no curiosity as to whether maybe, just maybe, some other nasty criminal kitten/perp mistakenly swiped or picked the mittens up? Absolutely no; instead they proceed directly to the authority figure (i.e., mother dear) to confess their error.
"What! Lost your mittens, you naughty kittens! Then you shall have no pie." Mother–dear’s reply is clear and concise. You are in trouble! If you ever attended Catholic school, this is most definitely representative of principal, who is quite likely an IHM nun. (Remember getting your hands slapped with a ruler?) Mother’s response causes the three little kittens to whine in a meowing sequence followed by crying, because they just lost their favorite treat of the day. (Oh great, just what we wanted to hear, whining, crying kittens. "Meeow, meeow, meeow, now we shall have no pie.")
To conclude, this particular nursery rhyme presents the sequence of sin, confession and redemption, which is highlighted and proven when the kitten perpetrators discover, "Oh mother dear, see here, see here for we have found our mittens." Mother dear is pleased and responds affectionately with the redemptive answer, “Put on your mittens, you silly kittens And you shall have some pie."
The story continues lyrically two more times and the former perpetrators/kittens soil their mittens and then they’re clean, etc., which is a repeat of main theme. But we get it already. No need to lather-rinse-repeat.
Finally, there’s a suggestion of a rat nearby. Whatever the religion of these sweet kittens, it really doesn't matter at this point, because they have come full circle and now they must trump evil -- the devil a/k/a the rat. No longer baby kittens, they are almost full-grown cats and fully capable of trumping a rat any day of the week -- which also provides a good vs. evil theme!
Next discussion -- The Rat – potential convert or agnostic?
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Saturday, May 15, 2010
The New Itty-Bitty Comcast Box Fiasco
By now, most folks in our area have installed their “upgrade” itty-bitty-Comcast boxes to TV sets which used to simply plug into the cable. That was too simple, so Comcast has now reinvented services to “Xfinity” which could simply indicate xfinity dollars they can charge customers.
My youngest darling daughter installed the two boxes Comcast grants with no additional cost to the bedroom televisions. Great job! That’s all we really need I figure. Not necessary to call for additional boxes (cost $1.99 per month) for the kitchen and basement sets. Right? Oh, no, my friend. It took about a month for Comcast to catch up to televisions not running off the itty-bitty. Once that happened, it was just like the old days, 40 years ago, with basic network programming. Okay, I give. I call and order two more itty-bittys for the kitchen and basement. This will be easy, yeah, right.
My first attempt to install the new itty-bitty was in the kitchen. My television in there is a tiny drop-down screen that mounts under the countertop. Hubby installed the unit and there’s a slight snag during installation. I only have about ¾” space to move to disconnect the old cable and install the new. The new-fangled cable is short and has some engineered blue plastic cover on the tip of each end which measure about one inch. Okay, Lucy, think….
I rip off the blue plastic cover in total frustration and contort my body in a way that is sending cramps up my legs while trying desperately to install the cable jack to the ¾” space on back of the mounted-under-the-cabinet tv. Are we having fun yet? After thinking I have succeeded, there’s a Comcast screen on my tv stating, “we have detected an interruption to your service…” Really? It’s go time. I dial 1-800-comcast and get the representative who helps me. We also try to sync the Comcast tv control to my television set. After several futile attempt, the tech concludes, “Okay, you’ll just have to turn the set on and off with your original control.” Isn’t technology great?
A week later I attempt installation of the itty-bitty box in the basement. The length of the cable cord is so tight, it barely reaches from the box to the tv set. Once installed, again, it’s a screen message to call Comcast. I comply. This time the tech asks for the serial number on the bottom of the itty-bitty box and let me inform you, the font is about 1.0 and virtually unable to read. When straining my vision doesn’t work, I run upstairs for the trusty magnifying glass and achieve success.
I don’t watch much television, but dang, does it have to be this difficult? Also, those little remote light thingies they gave along with the itty bitty box – are they secret cameras so that Comcast can watch our every move? They creep me out.
Just tossing this out for your consideration
My youngest darling daughter installed the two boxes Comcast grants with no additional cost to the bedroom televisions. Great job! That’s all we really need I figure. Not necessary to call for additional boxes (cost $1.99 per month) for the kitchen and basement sets. Right? Oh, no, my friend. It took about a month for Comcast to catch up to televisions not running off the itty-bitty. Once that happened, it was just like the old days, 40 years ago, with basic network programming. Okay, I give. I call and order two more itty-bittys for the kitchen and basement. This will be easy, yeah, right.
My first attempt to install the new itty-bitty was in the kitchen. My television in there is a tiny drop-down screen that mounts under the countertop. Hubby installed the unit and there’s a slight snag during installation. I only have about ¾” space to move to disconnect the old cable and install the new. The new-fangled cable is short and has some engineered blue plastic cover on the tip of each end which measure about one inch. Okay, Lucy, think….
I rip off the blue plastic cover in total frustration and contort my body in a way that is sending cramps up my legs while trying desperately to install the cable jack to the ¾” space on back of the mounted-under-the-cabinet tv. Are we having fun yet? After thinking I have succeeded, there’s a Comcast screen on my tv stating, “we have detected an interruption to your service…” Really? It’s go time. I dial 1-800-comcast and get the representative who helps me. We also try to sync the Comcast tv control to my television set. After several futile attempt, the tech concludes, “Okay, you’ll just have to turn the set on and off with your original control.” Isn’t technology great?
A week later I attempt installation of the itty-bitty box in the basement. The length of the cable cord is so tight, it barely reaches from the box to the tv set. Once installed, again, it’s a screen message to call Comcast. I comply. This time the tech asks for the serial number on the bottom of the itty-bitty box and let me inform you, the font is about 1.0 and virtually unable to read. When straining my vision doesn’t work, I run upstairs for the trusty magnifying glass and achieve success.
I don’t watch much television, but dang, does it have to be this difficult? Also, those little remote light thingies they gave along with the itty bitty box – are they secret cameras so that Comcast can watch our every move? They creep me out.
Just tossing this out for your consideration
Newsflash: tableware missing, culprit still at large...
Where, oh where, has my cutlery gone? It’s a bare cavernous abyss in my cutlery drawer. The next logical conclusion is, “…must be in the dishwasher.” So I go to the dishwasher and find two forks and a spoon. This is becoming quite frustrating. There's no way I'm resorting to a plastic spork!
We have three people currently living in our home. Within the past year I KNOW we had a service for at least eight people. Currently, our flatware might fully serve two people. I guess some family members (who shall remain nameless) didn’t get the memo that flatware is not to be put into the trash.
So, it’s off to Target where I purchase various needed supplies and eight forks and spoons. Upon checkout the cashier comments, “Well, it seems you have the same problem at home with tableware as I do. I’ve stopped purchasing replacements. I have family members who just give me their old flatware and I throw it into a drawer, all mixed up. Kind of makes it hard to find.” I respond that I feel her pain, and mention I’m not quite so lucky to have hand-me-down tableware so I have to purchase more.
Ah, the drawer fully restored to normalcy, all is right with the world – for now.
PS – Dear family members, please consider this notice to put flatware in the dishwasher or sink, not the trash, after dining. Your cooperation will be fully appreciated. Love, Mom
We have three people currently living in our home. Within the past year I KNOW we had a service for at least eight people. Currently, our flatware might fully serve two people. I guess some family members (who shall remain nameless) didn’t get the memo that flatware is not to be put into the trash.
So, it’s off to Target where I purchase various needed supplies and eight forks and spoons. Upon checkout the cashier comments, “Well, it seems you have the same problem at home with tableware as I do. I’ve stopped purchasing replacements. I have family members who just give me their old flatware and I throw it into a drawer, all mixed up. Kind of makes it hard to find.” I respond that I feel her pain, and mention I’m not quite so lucky to have hand-me-down tableware so I have to purchase more.
Ah, the drawer fully restored to normalcy, all is right with the world – for now.
PS – Dear family members, please consider this notice to put flatware in the dishwasher or sink, not the trash, after dining. Your cooperation will be fully appreciated. Love, Mom
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