The Duke of Whales: 7 Quick Takes XXII

by | Jul 26, 2013 | 7 Quick Takes, Catholic Mom TV Review, Notable and Quotable | 12 comments

Me: Hey, remember when we watched the Royal Wedding? The Duke and Duchess are having a baby today!
Bobby: What’s he the Duke of?
Me: Wales, I think.
Bobby: The Duke of WHALES? How does that work?

well, something like this, I’d imagine

As it turns out he’s the Duke of Cambridge, not nearly as cool.

And to all the pooh-pah-ers on Facebook and the rest of the internets: I would like to state for the record that I LIKE THE ROYAL BABY. I suppose I should call him George, or Prince George, or His Royal Highness Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge (that last one does seem to go a bit too far). Or Stormageddon?

If you are mad that your daytime television watching was interrupted, may I suggest Tivo? Or, ya know, books? Or maybe outside?

If you are mad because they are British and we have gained our independence from their sovereign control, may I remind you that our American freedoms extend to liking even British babies if we want to, and also to turning off television sets should we not like what we see there?

And if you’d like to use this opportunity to further your cause or promote your product, even if it’s a very good cause or product, may I say, I think you’re better than that? (So does Simcha, or maybe she doesn’t.)

I think everything about it is lovely. Interrupting regularly scheduled programming for GOOD news? Yes, please. The young couple out there together introducing their baby to the people? Adorable. They seemed so happy, it really brought back all those memories of the day after my oldest son was born. We, too, were happy and tired and thrilled and bewildered. (My hair did not look that good.) I got to live it all again through them.

And how CUTE is she? I’m pretty sure she’ll never wear that dress again, right? But I’M going to have a baby in November. Maybe she’ll let me borrow it for when *I* leave the hospital?

In case you missed it, I had rather an eventful last Friday at Mass. But, lemons to lemonade and all that. Frankie and Anita and I have been having a perfectly ordinary time at daily Mass at the next parish over this week. And I’m getting some extra exercise in the morning.

We have a real love/hate thing going with the baby jogger. The kids love it. I hate it. I keep telling myself that I’m trying to get exercise anyway, and this way I’m just getting MORE of it, right? But . . .

When I go for a run by myself, I feel like this:

And when I’m pushing the baby jogger, I feel like this:

(except wearing pants)

So, um, hooray for mortifications.

The other nice thing that came out of all that was an awesome link-up about cry rooms.

I have really loved reading everyone’s comments and posts.

Some highlights . . .

And thanks to Lisa for posting this awesome flyer on the Catholic All Year Facebook page:

Really, all the posts were great, and so were the comments. The link-up is live through Saturday. So if you’ve got an opinion, come share it!

Last week, I shared the Buzzfeed post: 38 Things Catholic Girls Love but I told you I wasn’t familiar with number 24: The Dick van Dyke Show episode “The Life and Love of Joe Coogan.”

But ya’ll, I did some research up in here and watched it on Netflix streaming. And . . . they’re right. It is super-cute.

You can find it on Netflix (it’s Season 3, Episode 16) or watch it here on hulu. If you’re like me, it will make you smile. And feel even worse than you already do about having ever watched It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Jack turned eleven last month, so I’ve let him start reading the Harry Potter books. He read the first three in a week! I love overhearing him laughing to himself over on the couch while he’s reading.

We’ve had some great discussions about it so far.

But my favorite was today when Jack asked me about the Dementor’s Kiss:
You can exist without your soul, you know, as long as your brain and heart are still working. But you’ll have no sense of self anymore, no memory, no…anything. There’s no chance at all of recovery. You’ll just — exist. As an empty shell. And your soul is gone forever…lost.
Remus Lupin on the Dementor’s Kiss[src]
He wondered which would be worse, to go to Hell or to suffer the Dementor’s Kiss?

I’m pretty sure there isn’t an official Church position on this, but I’m thinking if you’re bound for Hell, existence as an empty shell is probably preferable.

 

And finally, I’m working on a sewing project for the first time in quite a while and I do like me some mindless telly to have on in the background while I work. So, I’ve been watching America’s Got Talent.

I have to say, that show is the perfect example of a concept I try to drill into my children from a very early age:

You CAN’T be anything you want to be just by trying really hard and having a lot of heart and painting with all the colors of the wind. 

That’s not how it works.

It is amazing to me to see the gifts that God has given some people. Obviously they have also put a lot of work into it as well. But, wow. Some people are really great at dancing like robots, some people can totally karate chop through 40 cement blocks, some people can hold their breath for a crazy long time. These are clearly gifts from God. (Some gifts seem less useful than others, but you don’t get to pick.)

I could want it with all my heart and really dream big like all the cartoons say and I would still not be able to rip a phone book in half or use my foot to throw a bunch of bowls onto my own head (while riding a really tall unicycle). And I’m okay with that. ‘Cause I can do other stuff that maybe the book-ripper and bowl-tosser can’t do.

I just pray I can help my kids find what their gifts are and develop them. (And also keep them off of reality TV shows, ideally.)

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

12 Comments

  1. Tamie

    I love your blog! Thank you for making me laugh while STILL up at 3 am with my son who apparently is not going to sleep tonight. 🙂

  2. Sarah@Like sunshine in the home

    Haha so funny 😀 you made me chuckle. And I totally high-five you regarding your viewpoint on the royal baby. I had a little rant about the naysayers a couple of posts back on my blog. I am especially irritated by those who turn it into a 'Christians should have only one King' thing. I like royal babies – yay.

    Enjoying reading your blog. 🙂

  3. Amanda

    I like all babies, no prejudice against royal ones here either 🙂

    I'm glad to see someone else is making their kids wait until the appropriate age for Harry Potter. I'm a huge Potter fan and believe they are best read by kids at similar ages to the characters. Except I'm even meaner, I'm making my kids read one per year (and yes I will be keeping the series under lock and key if my kids are anything like myself) since the first one or two are pretty childish but it gets more mature and darker as the series progresses. I figure middle school is angsty enough, best to wait a bit to read the Deathly Hallows 🙂

    And I loved #7, glad I'm not the only one who watches mindless tv while sewing (Glee, anyone?) or the only one not telling my kids they can be anything they want if they just paint with all the colors of the wind or whatever, lol!

  4. Meghann

    My exact Facebook reaction to the royal baby was: "All babies are good news."

    Unfortunately, it was quickly misunderstood to mean that I was pregnant. I had to put that fire out and redirect attention to the new little prince. Then I turned it into a learning opportunity for the kiddos who were bewildered that he wasn't born wearing a crown. Kids are awesome.

    I love their "new family" glow, and I loved the glimpse into William's sense of humor when he joked that the kid had more hair than he did.

    You're not missing anything when it comes to Always Sunny in Philadelphia. I watched 4 episodes, waiting for it to become funny, and it just didn't happen. I'd like to think that I'm easy to please in the comedy department, too.

    Fun post! I suppose I should have opened with "long time reader, first (maybe second?) time commenter," but there it is anyway. 🙂

    • Maria Ashton

      Oh, man – having one's words taken for an indication that one is expecting – that has happened quite a few times to me, too. Maybe it is an occupational hazard of being a Catholic mom with young children:D

  5. October Rose

    As a mother of a little boy who is expecting two more this fall, when I saw a light-up billboard welcoming the new little Prince, I teared up. Up til that point I couldn't have cared less about the royals, but a new baby boy? Oh, be still my heart!

  6. Nanacamille

    Leave it to Bobby to always have the funniest comment. I loved the news and pictures of the new royal baby and his parents. Of course her stylist came to her private hospital wing to see that she looked her best. I wish them much happiness as I do do all new babies and their parents.
    Nanacamille

  7. Maria Ashton

    Ha ha, I love the pictures illustrating your feelings about running with vs. without the jogging stroller.

  8. Kara Warme

    So maybe your hair doesn't look like that on the way home from the hospital, but I've seen you wear that style and look just as lovely lots of times! So she should definitely send you her dress!

  9. Anonymous

    Thanks for the blog mention!!! :)))

    We love that Dick Van Dyke Show episode. In fact, we love all episodes of The Dick Van Dyke show, but that is one of our favorites. My husband and I have watched the entire series several times.

    And, I love your #7. That "you can be whatever you want to be" stuff just really annoys me. Much as I would love to be able to sing, God did NOT give me any talent in that department whatsoever…absolutely none. And, all the colors of the wind aren't going to make my voice sound good

  10. Christine

    I loved the pictures accompanying your jogging stroller commentary. I feel the exact same way! Which is why I only go for a run about twice a year, now that I have kids.

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Hi! I’m Kendra.

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