Independence

The funeral was easily the largest I’ve been to, and likely the largest I’ll ever attend.  Over 100 priests were in attendance, some of which I’d known from my own childhood.  Thousands were there.  Insanity.

I was supposed to do a reading, but as I knew would happen, that changed.  Not that I particularly cared to begin with, but when I was first asked, I asked if this sort of change would happen at the last minute, like the last funeral I was asked to participate in.  I hit the nail on the head.

I partied with some homies last night in Hollywood, had a blast, and wish I could be sleeping right now.

I need to get my bike’s rear tire fixed, likely this weekend, which means more walking and bus riding.  The bus fares in LA just went up, so walking is the more likely option.

Countdown

I’m going to Burning Man in 58 days.

I’m about to explode from it all.  The planning is crazed, but more organized, I suppose.  I’m going to be cooking out there a good deal, and also volunteering selling ice, as I normally do.

I’m also going to be single this time, and looking much better physically.  So, in effect, I’m bringing sexy back.  I take no shame in that pun.

Balls.

F ART

The Patriarch of my mom’s side of the family passed away yesterday.  He was quite old, and lived an extraordinary life.  A Monsignor and pastor at a church for decades, he touched thousands.  His funeral will be next week.

My personal relationship with him is a tricky one.  Priests in the family mean that every sacrament are delivered by him.  This was the case with me (except for Reconciliation, thank God) so when it came time to get married, and I wasn’t getting married in the church, he wasn’t pleased.  He sent a pissed RSVP letter back, saying he wouldn’t be there.  Then I heard he was going to be there.  Then he had another obligation, and couldn’t make it after all.  I missed him there, even if he wouldn’t have been performing the function.

I guess the lesson here is that he was always sort of a Patriarch and a Priest.  Never really an Uncle.  Not like every other Uncle I have.  Not even like his brother, who passed away in the past few years as well.  I’ve lost a set of Grandparents, the very siblings of this Uncle, and don’t find myself stricken with grief.  He had been on a decline, of course, but I just don’t know.

The funeral should be a helpful experience, but then I don’t know how therapeutic it will be, as everyone and their mother and their mother’s Priest and the Priest’s Bishop and the Bishop’s Cardinal (this is NOT an exaggeration, a Cardinal will be performing the mass) will be there, making the experience a little less intimate and personal.

I think those last 9 words sum up my feelings on the Catholic Church.

Circles

Seriously, I’m not sure if this cyclical BS is the universe being extra ironic because of my name, or if it’s just the way of the world.  I’m opting to believe the latter.

Anyway, I got an email from who I believe to be an ex.  One of the ones I’ve written and complained about before in here on several occasions.  The last email I ever sent her told her to never contact me again, that I was done, and didn’t see any reason to continue speaking.  Bad blood all over the place, like the end of Dead Alive.  It was nasty, petty, and not at all enjoyable.  I was glad to be rid of her.

That was, of course, when I was in a different point in my life.  Maybe 2 years have passed since then, and I’d say that I’ve grown quite a bit in that time.  She and I had a lot in common, and likely still do.  It seems silly to me to keep some of this grudge going.  I’m a much happier and healthier person that I think I’ve ever been, and to keep up this hooplah is just counterproductive.

Amanda, you can feel free to email me again.

Note to self

The first day of my 28th revolution around the big ball of gas has started off splendidly.  The show last night was awesome, laughs were had by all, and the drinkin’ afterwards was good times.

I’m barely awake right now.  The fact that I’m able to type this at all is a miracle to me, and later in the day when I read what I’ve typed, I’m not likely to remember typing it.

That being said, Chris, you totally have a chance with that blonde.  Don’t fuck it up.

“Engage”, “Elementary…”, and “Four Score”

Your Score: Lawful-Good

68% Good, 38% Chaotic

Plane of Existence: Mount Celestia, “The Seven Heavens“. Description: Countless paladins and saints have ascended here. Notable Inhabitants: Angels and Devas.

Examples of Lawful-Goods (Ethically Lawful, Morally Good)

Aeris “Aerith” Gainsborough (FFVII)
Superman
The Tick (“Lawful Stupid”)
Abraham Lincoln
Sherlock Holmes
Phileas Fogg
Captain Picard

A person with a lawful good attitude believes in the use of authority and rule of law to bring good to the greatest number of people. Her/His actions support the status quo and s/he uses systems and organizations to achieve good goals.

S/He will keep his/her word and value truth.
S/He will avoid the use of poison and use violence only when authorized to do so or in self defense.
S/He may or may not be disciplined, organized, emotionally restrained, caring, compassionate, and peaceful, but s/he believes that these are admirable qualities.
Respects law and order and is willing to suffer limitations on individual freedom for the benefit of the group.
Puts moral principles before material considerations.
The lawful good person will be a very faithful member of a group, but if the laws of the group clash with the ethics dictated by his or her moral alignment, the lawful good person will probably leave that group and look for a group more closely aligned with his or her ethics.
The lawful good person is an active advocate of his or her beliefs.

Lawful Good “Saintly”
“Crusader”

A lawful good [person] upholds society and its laws, believing that these laws are created to work for the good and prosperity of all. He is both honest and benevolent. He will work within the established system to change it for the better, and strives to bring order to goodness that other good-aligned [people] might pool their resources to better the world. A lawful good [person] combines a commitment to oppose evil with discipline. Most lawful good [people] live by a strict code of honor, or by the rules of conduct set down by their deity. They will generally selflessly act by these codes even at the cost of their own life.

Lawful good combines honor and compassion for the innocent.

A knight/paladin who always follows the orders of his superiors is an example of a lawful good [person].

Other Alignments and Tendencies (Tendenices are what you would more often sway towards; esp. for Neutrals):
0-39% Good, 0-39% Chaotic: Lawful-Evil
0-39% Good, 40-60% Chaotic: Neutral-Evil
0-39% Good, 61-100% Chaotic: Chaotic-Evil
40-60% Good, 0-39% Chaotic: Lawful-Neutral
40-60% Good, 40-60% Chaotic: True Neutral
40-60% Good, 61-100% Chaotic: Chaotic-Neutral
61-100% Good, 40-60% Chaotic: Neutral-Good
61-100% Good, 61-100% Chaotic: Chaotic-Good

Link: The Alignment Test written by xan81 on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

At My Funeral…

I will have prepared a video of myself dancing and singing to the tune “The Song That Doesn’t End,” and will have that video done such that it loops (no pun intended) perfectly.  Leaving or stopping the singing would be considered disrespectful.  All night long, not knowing what it was, singing it forever just because…

Sunday, Funny Sunday

The first of my weekly improv shows at the LA Connection Theatre was excellent.  The group I’m working with is hilarious, and I had a blast.  The format is similar, but a bit different.  It used to be that I’d know what sketches we were doing before we went on.  This group does a “jam,” where you won’t know what games you’re playing until you’re called up.

The group is kinda big, and the show is 2 hours.  The group is split in two, so each group gets an hour.  This is kinda cool, as everyone that comes will get to see two shows, and I’ll be able to sit in the audience with my homies while the other group performs.

All in all, I’m very excited about this new opportunity.  The guy running our group loves my ass, and lase night made sure I knew he believed me to be talented and a great asset.  And here I thought that I’d lost my dookie booty.