Time Winds Down

Today is Sunday, November 30, 2014, so that means tomorrow is my target date for being "done" with the reconversion of my CDs to MP3. I have 7,115 files that I believe are duplicates. When I just ran my MS DOS batch file, it gave me 72633 File(s) as a total number of music files. If all of those 7115 are, indeed, duplicates, that puts my total music collection at 65518.

HOWEVER....

I am not going to finish converting the ~100 CDs I have to enter manually. For weeks, those CDs have been a low priority. As my deadline looms, a part of me wonders whether I should have started with them, instead of the ones I could do quickly and without manually entering artist and other song information. I can't go back in time.

I also don't know if I'll have any more time to write blog posts today as it's 9:25 AM, I have to shower and be ready to leave for Mass with Megan. The youth group is singing today; I'm hoping to play drums.

Weekend and Beyond

It's a rare Sunday afternoon entry on this blog. Karen and Alex went to Wal-Mart so Alex could return an airsoft gun, Megan is cleaning her room, and me? I'm down in the den.

Last night, I went to 5:15 Mass and played drums during Mass. Then, I played Euchre in the basement until 9:15ish. We played 5 handed, which I had never played before. I liked it. Third place had 30 points and I had 28 so I didn't win, but I turned around a couple of very dismal rounds into something worth mentioning. I returned to St. Thomas More for 11 AM Mass as it was the youth group doing the music. I played drums again. I really like playing with the youth group.

After work tomorrow, we are all going down to the Riverside Casino where Lou and Jean are staying for their wedding anniversary. The kids are swimming and that probably means the four of us will play more euchre. Tuesday, Megan works. Wednesday, I am returning to Riverside because I am playing golf with members of the Pearson golf league. From what I know of it, the golf course is very tough. Thursday, Megan works. Friday is another Iowa City West football game.

Confirmation

We just got back from the Mass at Saint Thomas More where the candidates for Confirmation were introduced to the assembly. I'm not usually concerned with what people wear to Mass. During the summer, I routinely wear shorts and a shirt with a collar.

But Confirmation, in the Catholic church, is a BIG deal. It's one of the Sacraments. It's where the candidate says, "I believe in God" on their own. At the Sacrament of Baptism, the candidate's godparents made that statement for them and then, at Confirmation, it's up to the candidate to say, "Yes, I believe in God." It's a big deal.

But why doesn't our parish, Saint Thomas More, get that? Why are Confirmation candidates looking like they just got down with basketball practice and wearing a sweat suit? Why are the parents of these candidates saying, "No. Absolutely not. You are NOT wearing that to 11 AM Mass when you are being introduced as a Confirmation candidate."

To me, it doesn't make a lot of sense.

Pastor Named for STM

It's official. Our new pastor has been named @ St. Thomas More. From the Catholic Messenger website:
<snip>
Rev. Walter B. Helms, to retirement from assignment as pastor of St. Thomas More, Coralville.
<snip>
Rev. Stephen C. Page, relieved of present assignment as pastor of St. Mary Parish, Fairfield, and assigned as pastor of St. Thomas More Parish, Coralville.
<snip>

• And in other news, I am played drums tonight, at Holy Thursday. The Communion song was played SOOOOOO SLOOOOOWWWWWW. It wasn't a new song - we've played it before - but tonight, it was SOOOOOO SLOOOOOWWWWWW.
• I am playing drums tomorrow night at Good Friday Mass. 
• I am not playing at Saturday night Mass even after I talked to Jim, the guitarist that was playing tonight. He told me that Keith, a bassist, and possibly another Jim, a guitarist, were going to play at Saturday night Mass. I wish that same group was playing at 11 AM Sunday.
• I am playing drums at 11 AM Sunday Mass.

Two Masses Never Hurt Anyone & Big Shot

I am going to Mass for the second time this weekend today @ 11. Megan spent the night at a friend's house so I am picking her up @ 10 and then taking her to 11 Mass. We went last night to 5:15 and, of course, I jammed out by playing. We played "Sing of the Lord's Goodness" and it's in 5/4. I spent much of my spare time trying to get more familiar with the rhythm of that song and when we played it, I was the most comfortable I've ever been playing in 5/4. I wasn't mimicking the piano rhythm - I was actually playing closer to what Joe Morello did in "Take Five." I also played well with the other songs - it was a good gig.

We have always liked the original "Beethoven" movie. I have seen the 1st sequel, and that was okay, but then I lost track of it. There's a brand new movie out and we rented it last night. It started out really lame, but eventually, tied into a story about making a movie about a dog. The movie was first going to be about a white foo-foo dog, but that dog gets dog napped so they hold an open audition. Beethoven wrecks the set and the director and producer love it. That sets up a plot line where the movie is going to be about Beethoven. What eventually happens is that the film becomes a film about filming the very first Beethoven movie.

I still fell asleep because I was tired but that's beside the point.