I'm officially old. Yesterday I picked up my new glasses -- my first pair of bifocals. *sigh*

I went to Dupont for work today. Unfortunately the timing for this trip was bad, since the air shuttle home was cancelled due to a heavy wind/rainstorm. So I had to carpool back from Dupont with some coworkers; we had to wait forever for a rental car, then I-5 was closed for about an hour due to a downed tree. I wound up getting home 4+ hours later than I otherwise would have. I'm reallllly tired.

Marie and I went to see the Christmas Ship Parade last night on the Willamette. It was a lot of fun! Although "ship" is a bit of an overstatement -- they are really boats. The decorations were quite pretty though. My favorites were one that had an outline of a salmon and lights that blinked "CO HO HO", and also one that had an "L" in a circle-slash (No-L, get it? It took me a second).

Also last night I shaved off my beard, except for a little bit under my lower lip that I kept for an experiment -- it looks dorky though, so it and the mustache will probably go soon.

A very moving editorial about the James Kim story: Ultimate dad knew meaning of devotion / Why futile journey of a stranger had nation mesmerized.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.

An interesting article on frozen embryos and the controversy and confusion as to what should be done with them. It's interesting how the human spirit resists the commoditization of them as "objects" in spite of so many efforts to characterize them as mere hunks of tissue.

Thanks to Mark Shea for the link.

Happy Feast of the Immaculate Conception!

I went to the vigil Mass last night at my parish. Fr. Steve gave one of the best homilies on the IC that I've ever heard (must write a note!).

On the other hand, the folk group did the music. The closing was "Hail Holy Queen" sounding like it was supposed to be the "Sister Act" arrangement. I was resolved that if people started rhythmically clapping I would find something to throw... fortunately they did not. Gaaah!

This weekend I performed in my first two concerts with the Oregon Chorale. We performed the C.P.E. Bach "Magnificat" with choirs from Pacific University. It was a lovely pair of performances. The Magnificat is rarely heard (compared with J.S.'s) and the last movement is especially challenging.

Moment from tonight's concert -- thinking "phew, I'm tired. How many pages to go? Dang, only on page 111!" (of 124). And our conductor forgetting to bring us in on the Gloria Patri :-).