Happy New Year!...?

Samhain (pronounced "sow-en") is the ancient Celtic celebration of the end of the old year and the beginning of the new. Each year, according to Celtic Mythology, a new sun god (male) was born of the goddess of the earth each spring. During the year he grew old until he dies in the late autumn with the darkening of the year, but not before he has taken earth as his bride and left her with a new son god to be born in the spring. so the end of the year is also the beginning.

However, with the death of the sun god, the souls of the wicked creatures and the dead all run wild on this night. In order to confuse the spirits and keep them from harming the living, the Celtic people devised many "tricks" that are still used to this day (although not for the original intended purpose). Bonfires are still a traditional part of Halloween (Samhain) which were thought to chase away the evil spirits who would think that it was the sun god still living.

Another method of tricking the creatures, was to disguise yourself as one of them so that they would mistake you for one of their own and leave you be. Part of this was that many families would invite the spirits in for a feast, the food would distract them long enough for the living to done costumes...and lead the spirits from the house dancing their way out in the wilderness, away from the homes of the living. But for the timid spirits, just a scary face would do to frighten them away!

Happy Halloween!

Riverdance goes Bananas!

See? Even Monkeys know what good music is!

Catechism Class

Today I taught my third Catechism class at St. Patrick's. Every Sunday morning my sister Maura and I teach Catechism to the most fantastic group of little third graders. The first class was a bit hard for me. I have been in college education for so long that I have sort of forgotten how little children learn and think. Now that I am on my third time though, we are having so much fun...and I actually think that I might be teaching them something! It's so much fun to see their smiling bright young faces get all lit up when they answer a questions correctly or do something pleasing. I love how they call me "Mr. Heffron." I am still getting a handle on maintaining order and discipline while keeping things fun and lively for them (especially since I have mostly little boys...and they tend to be a bit of a rambunctious crowd). Its a bit of work...but I am getting used to preparing lessons and it will be a good experience for me should I return to Seminary or continue as a teacher. I don't think that third graders are where I am best suited as a teacher, but its not like I can't do it. I love all my little students...we are going to have a great year!

Autumnal Wonders

This is Strotheide Road looking West in front of my house.
An old tree in the woods that I thought had interesting branches.
This is my house from the woods across the pond (the second story window is my room).
Another view of Strotheide looking west just past my house.
Love the contrast in this photo!

Still Searching...

It is my firm belief that nobody likes a depressing post (and if you do I think that you should be studied). This is, perhaps, one of the chief reasons that I have not posted much of late. All my news seems to be bound up in looking for a job...and all my creativity too for that matter. It is amazing how draining it can be to the cognitive faculties to do nothing more than writing down my name, address information and work experience on daily applications!

However...never fear my friends! Happier days are coming to the Bubble soon (I HOPE!!!) as my Aunt Janice (thank you), and Aunt Sheila have both joined the ranks of people looking for suitable employment for me. As well as mine own efforts...I think that somewhere something is bound to turn up!

Also...I do have a few posts bouncing around the ol' noggin...they should find there way out sometime soon...and I think I will buy a new camera cable for the digital camera at home (ours seems to have run off someplace) so at least I can keep you all posted with some pictures (fallback entertainment...a.k.a. "filler" for an otherwise intellectually and comically stagnant Bubble)