Thursday, March 19, 2020

10 Things I’d Rather be Doing than Staying Glued to the Media Talking about You-Know-What

1.   Eating lunch at my favorite Chinese buffet.  Ah snap, the city shut down sit-down eating out.  Something to look forward to once this Lenten mini-Chastisement passes. 

2.  My morning constitutional. Gastrointestinal health experts recommend a routine morning sit-down after awakening to stay regular.  But oh you know what, all the hysterics out there emptied the market shelves of toilet paper.   Guess I’m going to have to go third world. 

3.  Staying home in quiet.  Our twenty first century land of endless entertainment and pleasure has been reduced to Mayberry circa the 1950s.   Do we really need weekly outings to laser tag, malls, and spending more on eating out than on our retirement funds?    I’m enjoying the calmness of less traffic outside my door. 

4.  Reading about nice, everyday, pleasant topics beyond the mosh pit of the geopolitical news cycle.  Books about gardening, cooking, outdoor sports, classic novels.   Too much study of the unfolding of the end times does not make for a happy camper. 

5.  Going camping.  The Spring camping season is upon us.  Visions of steaks and eggs cooked in a cast iron skillet, with crickets cricketing away in the background, removed from larger society, and from You-Know-What.  

6.  Taking selenium, zinc, and vitamin C daily to augment the immune system.  Far more proactive than wringing our hands whining about the What-if of this situation.   Make a list what needs to be done to keep you and yours healthy, do it, and stop worrying.  Pour yourself a glass of wine and chill out with family.  

7. Prepping.  Same principle.  Stock up some food, water, and basic supplies and then sit back with a serene smile while the masses panic looking for things like toilet paper. 

8.  Praying the rosary.   So Francis called for us to pray a rosary about this.  Well, a broken clock is right at least twice a day. :).   Our Lady, pray for us. 

9.  Taking Peanut hiking on Saturday.   Have to work a few hours in the AM, but my little bundle of energy has as much cabin fever as me.   

10. Practicing flying my drone. Fun fun. 

Saturday, March 7, 2020

New Oklahoma Law! Liquor Stores Can Open on Sundays!

In my opinion, a step forward in the right direction. While I’m sure my local hedonists, who think the sum total of human well-being is constituted by material pleasures, and the careerist pursuit thereof, will laud this as a step closer to the complete liberalization of society, for me it’s implicitly and indirectly one little step towards the better ideals of a Catholic society.  At least a de-Calvinizing measure towards Catholic moderation in all things.

I had read an article about how the new law was being voted on this month in the Oklahoma legislature, with low expectations of not being passed.  Something about the local liquor industry not getting the word out to the public in support of it.   But last night after work, when I dropped by my neighborly, quaint little liquor store for my end-of-week 200 ml mini-bottle of Jim Beam, I asked the cashier/owner about it—an always pleasant hipster type—and she smiled ear to ear saying the legislation takes effect this weekend.   

And, for the first time in Oklahoma history (read discussed in my post here about how we had prohibition before it went federal, and used prohibition to discriminate against the Catholic Church here)...drum roll please...this Sunday liquor stores will be open here in the Heartland!

Tomorrow after Mass, you won’t have to endure the crowd of your grocery store to get a nice bottle of wine for Sunday leisure.  Stores open at noon.

Some Catholic traditionalists might disagree, to which I’d counter with this tongue-in-cheek post a couple years back, arguing trads generally speaking, with obvious exceptions, need to be consuming more spirits.  Something on the natural level to deal with toxic traditionalism coupled with the crisis in the Church.

Some commenters, as I recall, warned against alcoholism, that alcohol had once ruined their lives, or that of loved ones.  I countered that yes some people with a personal or family history of alcohol addiction should obviously not drink, but that the teetotaler philosophy only negatively reinforces the problem.  

In my opinion.

The problem being addiction and abuse through the vice of immoderation in food, drink, etc, not the substance of alcohol itself.   It was a fun discussion.  Not even a dogmatic question. 

Hey the word “dogma” has the word “dog” in it, and as I write this 
on my phone I’m sitting on a rocky perch half way through an almost-Spring Saturday hike with my dog Peanut.  Ruff ruff.  That was Peanut saying hi to all you Teetotalers and Spirits-Connoisseurs out there alike. 

All are welcome here at The Okie Traditionalist, regardless of where your temperament sits on the Rigorism-Laxity scale. 

Did Saturday morning tasks and errands in quick, summary order. Later grilling rib eyes, drinking a little Bush lite, practicing my drone flying, and reading.  Tomorrow:  Mass, lunch, visit family, and drop into my local quaint liquor store.   Maybe for some sweet red wine the Mrs likes. 

Yessir. 

Happy Saturday.