Quick Takes Friday--Links

Or, "Why posting has been even lighter than usual"

1

So we've had strep throat around here. We didn't confirm what it was until about two weeks in, when we finally got throat swabs and antibiotics for the majority of the household. And now we're apparently adding another family player to the roster for amoxicillin allergies. And my husband has worked 18-hour days all week. And did I mention we have a four-week-old baby?

So, if I haven't been able to do it one-handed, quickly, it's probably not high on the priority list. Clicking and reading, though, fit those criteria. I thought I'd share a few things I've been filling my brain with.

2

Like this guy. (No, actually, not the one in the frame.) I won't expound on why I was searching "Greek dancing" on YouTube--something to do with the Wiggles and an inconsolable toddler at 2 a.m.--but it turned up this funny:

Hope it's good for a laugh! But if not that's ok; I showed my husband the other night while he ate dinner. He watched with raised eyebrows, and at the end of it, with a smile more for me than the ad, and said, "Well, I'm glad you're amused."

3

Which reminds me of another funny I need to show him.

4

Hat tip to Mark Shea for this post by John C. Wright, source of this gem, the best distillation of the power and beauty of fairy stories I have ever read:

No other form of story save myths and epics and fairy tales have the form and dignity and conventions needed to weave the chain made of women’s beards and fishes’ breath and mountain roots and nine other impossible things needed to capture the moonbeam of this mystic insight all healthy men know lurks at the heart of fairy: the supernatural must break into the natural and set things right when all human hope is lost.

(Mr. Wright clearly sides with those who find something of value in the Harry Potter stories, but has come to a sober respect for those who see it as something dangerous. I'm there with him on that.)

5

Earlier this month I meant to share with you this prayer I found on Catholic Mom in Hawaii's blog. In one of our recent talks, my mom and I touched on some end-of-life scenarios, which I think is why some of these beautiful lines particularly struck me:

Help me especially at my last hour;
and when I can no longer give any sign of the use of reason,
then do thou encourage me, make the sign of the cross for me,
and fight for me against the enemy.
Make in my name a profession of faith;
favor me with a testimony of my salvation,
and never let me despair of the mercy of God.

There's also a beautiful novena prayer for brothers and sisters here.

6

Hmm.. seems like there was something else.

Oh. Here. I know a bunch of you have already seen it, but I wanted to make sure one particular reader gets it. Pretty awesome.

7

That's it. I'm going to go feed the baby and look at Twitter now. Honestly, it feels like I'm walking around a huge, loud party trying to find someone I know in there, but I'm addicted to the links. Go figure.

Go see Jen for more Quick Takes.