A little departure from our regularly scheduled Lenten topical prayers, thoughts and poems to think about dogs and how great they are. Happy Tuesday Friends and Visitors! I am glad you stopped by for a look.
HOMECOMING
Whether I’ve been halfway around the world or just out to the mailbox, Jenny’s greeting upon my return is equally enthusiastic. I hear her prepare for my arrival as I walk across the garage. First, there’s the gentle thud as she leaps off the couch in the family room above me, then the clicking of toenails as she races across the tiles on the kitchen floor, and finally the thawp-thawping of her sturdy tail against the walls in our tiny mudroom. By the time I open the back door, Jenny’s tail is moving so fast and furiously, her entire body is wiggling and waggling. She leans into me, nearly taking me out at the knees as she does so, as though she just can’t get close enough. She looks up at me, golden eyes shining with pure joy. It’s always a perfect homecoming. - Christine Otto Hirshland
Dog Blessings: Poems, Prose, and Prayers Celebrating Our Relationship with Dogs
Today marks the three hundred and thirtieth birthday of the Frenchman François-Marie Arouet, better known by his nom de plume, Voltaire (1694-1778).
Born into a bourgeois family during the reign of Louis XIV, the “Sun King” (r. 1643-1715), Voltaire suffered tragedy at a young age when his mother died. Never close with his father or brother, Voltaire exhibited a rebellious attitude toward authority from his youth. His brilliant mind was fostered in the care of the Society of Jesus, who introduced him to the joys of literature and theater. Despite his later criticisms against the Church, Voltaire, throughout his life, fondly recalled his dedicated Jesuit teachers.
Although he spent time as a civil servant in the French embassy to the Hague, Voltaire’s main love was writing—an endeavor where he excelled in various genres, including poetry, which led to his appointment as the royal court poet for King Louis XV. Widely recognized as one of the greatest French writers, and even hyperbolically referred to by ...
Happy National Best Friends Day Y'all!
I strongly suggest combining celebrations for this with National Name Your Poison Day and National Jelly-Filled Doughnut Day. Think I'll have to wash a custard doughnut down with a cold beer later.
Padre - Tom Miller invites you to a Coffee Talk, Speakeasies, Schmoozes, Tea Times, Afterhours and other gatherings.
https://teams.live.com/meet/93792382189049?p=DiBHsYfuECPgDrG7vO
2026 Coffee Talk with the ADD Irregulars
Thursday, January 1, 2026
6:00 AM - 8:00 AM (CST)
Occurs every day starting 1/1 until 12/31/2027
Coffee Talk - Daily beginning at 6:00 AM Central Time Zone - USA
White Pilled Wednesday - A break from the heaviness of news and current events to focus upon things more personal & positive for the first hour of Coffee Talk.
Afternoon Chats - Most Tuesday, Friday & Sundays 2:00 PM Central
Other chats as posted in the community.
