Lenten Losers Challenge
Mood:  surprised
Topic: Hallettsville Assignment

Holy Saturday marked the end of the Weight Race Challenge between the pastor and myself.  Though I lost a whopping 22 pounds, that was not enough to win.  This was a tremendous feat though, because you have to remember I did it (and hope to continue losing) in the land of pivo and kolaches.

Now that I lost the weight, I hope St. Anthony, the patron saint of lost things, does not help me find it.

Rapid Fire Confessional
Mood:  cheeky
Topic: Hallettsville Assignment
Whew!  Last night I had an interesting experience in the confessional that can only be described as rapid fire confessions.  I was sitting in the old style confessionals with confessee rooms on either side of the priest-confessor.  Those seeking confessions ignored the sign on one of the doors that directed them not to use this side.  For the first thirty or forty-five minutes I went from side to side one confession after another without a breath in between.  I would finish one confession and simultaneously slide that window shut and the other one open becuase the confessee was ready to go.  Finally, someone saw and took heed of the sign and the rapid fire confessing ceased to my elation.  I could now take a few breaths in between each confession.

Picnic Meal
Topic: Hallettsville Assignment

For those of you who are wondering how things have been for me since ordination.  It has been a while since I have posted an entry.  I have greatly enjoyed my priesthood.  The people of Hallettsville have been good...too good.  The Kolaches and Pig-in-a-Blankets are absolutely delightful.  My plan, that I tell everyone, is not to lose wait but to maintain the weight I have.  If I can do this then I think I have performed a great feat in Hallettsville, not gaining the "New Priest" / "Hallettsville" 40, 50, or more.

Let me tell you about what I have been up to today...

It is now 10:30pm and I have just finished cleaning up from a dinner that I auctioned off at our last parish picnic.  I started cooking today at 3:00 this afternoon, not to mention the cheesecake and gumbo that I cooked yesterday...well I just did mention it.  Despite the long time on my feet, the evening turned out to be a great one.  The group that showed up was minus one and insisted I sit down with them, so I got to enjoy the meal with my guests.  I failed to mention to them that I had been sampling the meal throughout the afternoon.  We had a hoot of a time and ate to our fill and drank as much.  Six hours of cooking was enjoyed for two hours and required two hours of clean-up.  Crazy, but worth it!