Daily Update: Friday, June 2nd, 2023

Today is the second of three Ember Days for this season of the year. Today is the First Friday of the month, dedicated to devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. As this is the First Friday in June, today is the Day of Prayer and Fasting for Protection from Storms. Today is the Optional Memorial of Saint Erasmus (or Elmo) of Formia, Bishop and Martyr (died 303), and the Optional Memorial of Saint Marcellinus and Saint Peter, Martyrs (died 304). Because today is the First Friday in June, today is National Doughnut Day.

Daily Update: Thursday, June 1st, 2023

Today is the Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr (died 165). And today is also the beginning of the 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

This book was the Oprah 2.0 Book Club selection for 2013, which means I am only ten years behind on my reading. This is a searing book about slavery in Charleston, South Carolina, and the effects it had on all people, black and white. And I am very glad to have read this book.

One, Two, Buckle My Shoe by Agatha Christie

With my current Hercule Poirot bedtime reading I have finished the twenty-first book in the series. This book was a very enjoyable read.

Daily Update: Wednesday, May 31st, 2023

Today is the first of three Ember Days for this season of the year. Today we celebrate the Feast of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary.

Daily Update: Tuesday, May 30th, 2023

Today is the Optional Memorial of Saint Joan of Arc, Virgin and Martyr (died 1431). We also celebrate Memorial Day on its Traditional date. 

British English A to Zed: A Definitive Guide to the Queen’s English by Norman W. Schur

As someone who reads a lot of British literature (Dickens, Christie, what have you), I very much enjoyed reading this book about the difference between English (in Great Britain) and English (in The United States of America).

Daily Update: Monday, May 29th, 2023

Today is the Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church, celebrated on the day after Pentecost. Today is the Optional Memorial of Saint Paul VI, Pope (died 1978). Since today is the Last Monday in May, it is also the date when (since 1971) we celebrate Memorial Day, remembering the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. In the secular world we note that today is the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.

Daily Update: Sunday, May 28th, 2023

Today we celebrate the great Feast of Pentecost (Alleluia!), which ends the Easter Season. As today is the day before Memorial Day (Observed), today we have the running of the Indianapolis 500 auto race.

Daily Update: Saturday, May 27th, 2023

The Jewish pilgrimage feast of Shavuot continues, ending at sunset today. Today is the Optional Memorial of Saint Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop (died 605).

Daily Update: Friday, May 26th, 2023

Since sundown yesterday it has been the Jewish Pilgrimage feast of Shavuot, which continues through tomorrow. Today is the Memorial of Saint Philip Neri, Priest (died 1595). Today is National Paper Airplane Day. 

Sad Cypress by Agatha Christie

In my list of the Hercule Poirot books, featuring the Belgian detective with the enormous mustaches, we have come to the twenty-first book. As usual, it is a great read, though set up slightly differently than usual.

Daily Update: Thursday, May 25th, 2023

Today is the Optional Memorial of Saint Bede the Venerable, Priest and Doctor (died 735), the Optional Memorial of Saint Gregory VII, Pope (died 1085), and the Optional Memorial of Saint Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, Virgin (died 1607). And among those who follow The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy in whatever form (radio show, book, movie, what have you), today is Towel Day. And at sunset today the Jewish feast of Shavuot begins.

Daily Update: Wednesday, May 24th, 2023

Today is the Optional Memorial of Our Lady, Help of Christians. Today is also the birthday of my daughter’s friend Chelsie (1988).

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

This book won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 2020; it is a searing indictment of an aspect of the Florida reform school system for boys, which was bad enough for most boys, but even worse for black boys in the Jim Crow era. I very much enjoyed reading this book.

Daily Update: Tuesday, May 23rd, 2023

With no Saints to honor today, we note that today is World Turtle Day. And my late mother (died in 1985) was born on this date in 1929.

Daily Update: Monday, May 22nd, 2023

Today is the Optional Memorial of Saint Rita of Cascia, Religious (died 1457). And today is the International Day for Biological Diversity and National Maritime Day.