Ever want to see what it looks like when we do a broadcast?

Well, yesterday we had a full studio as several of our colleagues from the Catholic New Media world stopped by and hung out for the full three hours of The Catholics Next Door. While in the studio, Fr. Roderick Vonhogen from SQPN.com kept a running online photo journal using Whhrl.com (see the photos below). So if you’ve ever wondered what it looks like when we’re doing a show, take a look at his Whrrl.com photo blog entry. Thanks to Lisa Hendey, David Sweeney, and Jeff Nielsen for all joining us on the program, as well!

On our show today we talked about the uCreate Music system that we got Walter for his birthday. Here’s a picture of what it looks like.

Earlier this week on The Catholics Next Door, as well as last week, I told the story about the Mickey Mouse DVD we checked out from our local library last July.

I promptly returned the DVD, and then a few days later the library closed for two weeks while they completely moved every book and DVD from the upstairs part of the library to the downstairs while renovations were being done upstairs.

A couple days after I returned the DVD, I got an email from the library that read:

“You returned the DVD “Walt Disney’s Classic Cartoon Starring Mickey” missing the DVD. Please return it by August the 2nd. The library will be closing for two weeks due to our move downstairs.”

I immediately responded:

“Thanks for the notice, but is it possible that the DVD somehow fell out in the return bin? I almost always double check the case before returning, and we do not have the disk here at our house, so I am concerned about this.

I am also concerned that another DVD we returned is still being listed as checked out on the online system. This DVD has the ISBN 1419829033. Can you also double check on this item for me, please? We try to be very diligent about keeping track of the items we check out, so I’m worried about these recent DVD problems.

Thanks in advance for your help in clearing this up.”

They never responded to this. Therefore, I went up to the library once they opened, and thus started the Great Librarian War of 2008. Eventually, the first missing DVD got cleared up, but the library insisted I still had the Mickey Mouse DVD, even though I’d returned the case. The librarian I spoke to said they’d mark my account with a notice that I claimed to return the DVD, and she said that I wouldn’t have to worry about paying a fine.

But I didn’t believe her.

And I was right.

Then two weeks ago I went to check out some books, and suddenly I had a $20 charge on my account. They decided to charge me for the lost Mickey Mouse DVD THAT I’D ALREADY RETURNED.

One librarian told me it was impossible – IMPOSSIBLE – for them to have lost it. I actually said to her, “So the library is infallible in these matters?” She quickly responded, “Yes.”

The Pope and Librarians = Infallible. Remember that. It could cost you twenty bucks if you don’t.

All the way home from that trip to the library, I was fuming! Then I realized I just need to swallow my pride and deal with this, but I didn’t want to pay that $20.

So when I got home, I looked for the disc on eBay. Someone was selling it for $2, plus $3 shipping.

I bid. I won. I brought the DVD to the library, and yesterday I got this message:

“I took the DVD off of your items checked out and forgave the bill. You have a clear card now – Library Circulation Desk.”

Stupid Mickey Mouse DVD. But at least I can check out books again!

Oh, and all of these pictures? They’re from when I brought the DVD to the library. I wanted as much proof as possible that I provided a new copy of the DVD to the library, just in case the infallible librarian lost the DVD again.

One of the reasons why I no longer live in the north is because I hate scraping my windows every morning before I go anywhere.

Since I’ve been working from home for so long, I’m blessed that I rarely have to do this anymore.

This morning the van needed to be dropped off for service so I had to follow behind to pick up Jennifer so we could get back home to do the radio show.

I walked outside and my little 96 Civic was covered in ice and the ice scraper I have apparently no longer has the ability to cut through the thinnest layer of frost.

So I do what I always do: scrape just enough to see out the window and hope the defroster will kick in quickly.

As I was driving with completely frost-ridden windows, I pondered how immensely lazy I felt considering not a single window was cleared completely.

I suppose one would say this was unsafe.

But probably not as unsafe as driving with frosted windows while also taking pictures of the frosted windows.

I may be a minimalist scraper, but at least I document my own laziness in an attempt to make up for the laziness.

Not sure it worked or not.

Here’s what a nine-year-old Walter looks like:

Here’s what a nine-year-old Walter, enjoying a Chick-Fil-A birthday breakfast looks like:

Here’s what a nine-year-old Walter, with too much chicken biscuit in his mouth looks like:
Happy Birthday, Walter! We love you much!