Standing Naked Before God [Pope Francis Bookclub]

Last updated on: November 10, 2014 at 11:58 am By Leah Libresco

In 2014, I’m reading and blogging through Pope Francis/Cardinal Bergoglio’s Open Mind, Faithful Heart: Reflections on Following Jesus. Every Monday, I’ll be writing about the next meditation in the book, so you’re welcome to peruse them all and/or read along. When I read this week’s chapter of Pope Francis’s book, I was quickly drawn down a wikipedia rabbithole by one particular word Francis chose to use as he discussed how we speak with God in prayer: By intercession, we gain access to the... Read more

7QT: Tallying Rats, Robbing Houses, and Judging Barbers

Last updated on: November 7, 2014 at 8:01 am By Leah Libresco

— 1 — I know we’re all done with Halloween, but I wanted to share these delightful, historical costumes with you all. I love the “Radio Queen” one (which reminds me of the set direction in Rocky Horror), but my favorite has to be this plane. You could plan to do a less naked one next year, if it suits your fancy! Halloween is less than twelve months away! — 2 — I love clever construction, whether physical or methodological. And,... Read more

Prelude to a (Platonic) Kiss

Last updated on: November 6, 2014 at 4:33 pm By Leah Libresco

Eve Tushnet (whose book is now out, and you don’t need to stand on ceremony waiting for me to formally review it next week to buy it for yourself) has a great point to make about the significance of the Kiss of Peace in an essay for On Level Ground: Words are great, don’t get me wrong, I pray words a lot. But we worship with our whole bodies. We kneel, prostrate, open our mouths or lift our hands to... Read more

I’ve Written a Book!

Last updated on: November 5, 2014 at 11:34 am By Leah Libresco

I’m really pleased to announce that this coming May, I’ll be publishing my first book with Ave Maria Press! It’s now available to pre-order on Amazon (in print, kindle will come later) and I’ve built a snazzy website to answer all your questions about the book. (Including questions you may not realize you had like “Which Shakespeare plays, exactly, wind up quoted in the text of your book? And which Pratchett?”) But, back to the main substance of the book…... Read more

$615 Raised in our Vaccination/Donation Drive!

Last updated on: November 5, 2014 at 9:13 am By Leah Libresco

I went and got my own flu shot yesterday, and then came home to do the final tally of how many flu shots you, and your children, and your chief whips all got as part of our donations-for-vaccinations drive. In the final analysis, one hundred twenty three of you went out to get your shot or nasal mist, to foil the spread of the flu virus! Building up herd immunity (and avoiding getting sick yourself) is really its own reward, but since... Read more

Being Tutored by the Expectation of Elders [Pope Francis Bookclub]

Last updated on: November 4, 2014 at 12:27 pm By Leah Libresco

In 2014, I’m reading and blogging through Pope Francis/Cardinal Bergoglio’s Open Mind, Faithful Heart: Reflections on Following Jesus. Every Monday, I’ll be writing about the next meditation in the book, so you’re welcome to peruse them all and/or read along. When I read this week’s selection from Open Mind, Faithful Heart: Reflections on Following Jesus, I was particularly struck by the way Pope Francis makes a connection between Simeon’s age and his prophetic role. Pope Francis writes: Old Simeon’s flesh is weary of life;... Read more

Here’s what I was beeminding this winter/spring

Last updated on: November 4, 2014 at 10:12 am By Leah Libresco

It took a lot of time in coffeeshops to get that line filled out. And it will be my pleasure to show you what all those points added up to tomorrow morning. P.S. for those who don’t know, Beeminder is a service that makes it easier to do in the short term what you want to do in the long term. You take out a contract on yourself, promising to pay a bounty to Beeminder if you don’t stick... Read more

Happy Halloween from the Sun Summoner!

Last updated on: November 3, 2014 at 11:23 am By Leah Libresco

Just as an FYI, if any of y’all are local to DC, I’ll be one of the five minute lightning talks at tonight’s Hack and Tell meetup, to present on my Accelerometer Controlled Light Gauntlets. I had a lot of fun dressing up as Alina Starkov, the Sun Summoner, from Leigh Bardugo’s Grisha Trilogy (Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, Ruin and Rising). The pattern for the jacket is McCall’s M6818 (with the torso substantially lengthened so that it would reach my... Read more

Breaking my Randomized Saint Pattern

Last updated on: November 1, 2014 at 1:04 pm By Leah Libresco

This month, instead of firing up Jen Fulwiler’s Saint Generator to choose a random saint for the month, I feel like this month’s saint has already been chosen for me. Last night, I had the pleasure of going to the Dominican House of Studies for their All Saints Vigil. The service was beautiful, and, as is always the case when I go to the priory, I ran into a great number of my friends. But, the big surprise was that... Read more

7QT: Costuming, Conspiracy, and Counterfeiting

Last updated on: October 31, 2014 at 1:25 am By Leah Libresco

— 1 — Guys, I have some exciting news. Here’s how I feel about what I’m going to tell you: Here’s when I’m going to tell you: November 5th. And here’s what…. ….well, that would be telling. For now, let’s just say you’ll find out what Janet, the sunk cost fallacy, and Japanese pottery repair all have in common. — 2 — But, if we’re speaking of deadlines, let me remind you that today is the last... Read more