Much of the stress that I'm experiencing at work is due to the codependency of my coworkers and managers. Codependency is a term that I recently learned about, though I have always recognized signs and symptoms of it. I don't recall it was ever a topic on the CM forums, at least when I was participating on it.

We're all broken people. I even recognize some codependent behaviors within myself. But experiencing other people's codependency can be extremely taxing. So, I have to figure out how to protect my own interests and sanity and to set boundaries.

I had never seen the term social media "lurker" until a few months ago, when a lady posted that she had been a CM Forum "lurker" for many years. She posted for the first time just a few days before the sunset of CM Forums to express her regrets that the forums were ending. I see the same phenomenon here. For a given thread, there are many, many more views than posts. The disparity is perhaps greater here than on CM Forums. I don't know what the total membership is here but it appears to be far greater than the number of regular posters. Anyway, if you look at these forums regularly, please consider posting. Maybe you could even start your own thread on a topic that interests you. If you have posted in the past and have not posted in a while, it would be great to see you again.

I normally don't have the radio on in my vehicle except during the holiday season. There's one station here that touts having "Christmas music", 24/7. It appears to be the only station that does that, so I listen to it in spite of their playlist selection. It is all about Santa, gifts, making love and jingle bells, but it's rare when they even play "Silent Night". I guess they don't want to offend someone playing a carol or a song about the birth of Jesus. Many popular movies skip that part as well. I put my radio on "scan", and by golly, there was another station playing, "O Come all you Faithful". Problem was that whoever was singing yelling it sounded like a cross between rock and rap. I will keep scanning, I have a couple of leads of stations that are playing Christmas music, I just don't know what type. praising Santa or praising the birth of Christ.

So, maybe between now and Christmas, we can provide links to some real Christmas music and maybe list a few of our favorite Christmas movies.

There has been a number of threads relating to Christmas. What are you all doing for Advent?

There are a couple of books that I plan to read from a long list that my local priest recommended:
-Welcoming the Christ Child with Padre Pio: Daily Reflections for Advent by Susan De Bartoli
-Celebrating a Merry Catholic Christmas: A Guide to the Customs and Feast Days of Advent and Christmas by William Saunders

The Hallow app also has an Advent prayer challenge. I'm sure it would be helpful, but I personally don't want any more apps.

On Dec 24th, 2024, Pope Francis will open the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica to signify the start of the new Jubilee (Holy Year). The last time was in 2016, also by Pope Francis. The year will end on Jan 6, 2026 with the closing of the Holy, or Papal, Door.

"We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision," stated Pope Francis while announcing the 2025 Jubilee. In a letter, Pope Francis titles the papal bull "Spes Non Confundit," meaning "Hope does not disappoint," with hope being the central theme of this Holy Year.

The main activities will take place in and around Vatican City, with an estimated 35 million people traveling for this milestone year. It's been my dream to visit Rome and I would personally do anything I could to be among these folks, but unfortunately, traveling that far is out of the question right now.

Does anyone have plans to go to Vatican City during this Holy Year?

cannot resist folks as I have absolutely several


appetizer with cream cheese.....spicy sauce and shrimp with crackers

[my autistic son must be closely supervised........ ]

What Saint or Saints do you admire the most? Feel free to share what you are comfortable sharing on this topic

For me, I admire the Archangels, St. Pope John Paul II, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Maximilian Kolbe, St. Joan of Arc, St. Gianna Molla, Sts Louis and Zelle, St. George, St. Peter, St. Matthew, St. Padre Pio, St. John the Apostle and St. John the Baptist

Earlier today, I posted a music track on Your Favorite Music Tracks, which was an example of the use of Gregorian chant in popular music in the late 1960s, which was when the Church was throwing it out. The virtual elimination of Gregorian chant was in direct contradiction to the Vatican II document on the liturgy. Apparently, the world saw the value of chant even at a time when many in the Church saw it as outdated. Then I went to mass at a parish that is not my regular parish. The mass started out with a song (I am hesitant to call it a hymn), which is an obvious rip off of Dave Brubeck's "Take Five." The song borders on plagiarism, except that you cannot plagiarize a 5/4 time signature. I found the use of drums in the song not to be conducive to creating a proper environment for prayer. Fortunately, when the mass began, the priest used Gregorian chant for the Gloria and many of the responses. This was certainly a positive. However, it was too soon back to the mediocre music and the irritating drums. The use of the drums in the Communion hymn was especially irritating, since it made it hard to focus on prayer. Ironically, the best contemporary music in the mass today was a hymn written and originally sung by a Protestant, "He Is Exalted" by Twila Paris. There are parishes that do the mass reverently and maybe the solution is just to avoid this mass at this particular parish in the future. Do any of you struggle with mediocre music and inappropriate instrumentation at mass and, if so, what is your solution?

Hello friends
God has me in a bit of a transition. I have gone back to working with deaf children for the local school district and did so with high hopes of adding some "return to the ways of a child" joy back into my soul. 
I was initially thrilled with the staff that surrounds me.. they literally said "Please pick out a desk, we really want to have you!" when I first visited. Yet its been two weeks and I am struggling with just who people are these days. 

While I was eating lunch yesterday a coworker came to show me a photo of she and her partner. They were enjoying dinner on a charcuterie board however as she pointed out (and God forgive me) it was a "C--- cuterie board".. The board itself was carved in the shape of a mans privates. I am not the person to show that to. I am still disgusted. 
Earlier in the week the lead teacher showed me a series of photos from her daughters birthday party. The ENTIRE party was done in the poo emoji theme. Believe me when I tell you... from the cake to the plungers with the pinata.

I just cant. I want to just check out of this current culture! I hate being the uptight old lady! I dont want these friends and I find that I dont want ANY of these friends. When I volunteered the other night for Compassion International I didnt even talk to the women. I just went off on my own so I feel myself giving up on meeting decent people. 

Rant over. Thank God for our tiny group. I dont see any of you throwing poo themed parties. Please take me back to 1923. 

  charcuterie board 

no sure if other countries have a similar holiday to remember this or when......

we get an early thanksgiving then all that candy and chocolates
then the Christmas decorations begin.......

long list always


there are enough things that are tiresome so this is joyful


babysitting the best grandkids ever
participating with my choir
my family
my parents gorgeous condo that is almost mine
my health
plus a million more