(no subject)

[thedarksiren2]

Church bells rang across the street from Jawndomay last night around 11:30PM. It was the second night of Easter rituals at the church next to Lincoln Park Pub. Yes, that's right...next to the pub.

Friday was worse, as traffic was blocked by several police cars and there were easily 100+ Christians wandering W14th with robes and crosses.....ok, I made up the robes bit. I don't really know that they were wearing robes, as I was safely tucked inside my home, practicing tunes with Brian. But they were sure noisy and causing chaos in Tremont!

Last night was just odd though. wraptboy thought he heard fireworks, and glanced out the windows to see dozens of floating candles outside the church -- I still don't know what the "fireworks" were, except to say they might have been drums(?). Either way, Goofy was in the Dogbag last night, for sure.


Aside from the oddity that was the Christian stampede, my roommate is the fucking BOMB. He knew I was losing it yesterday, cracking as only Dawn Dawns can do. He went to the grocery store and bought all kinds of goodies, including tonight's Easter feast Jawndomay-style, and cleaned the hayel outta the house. Thank you, wraptboy -- you definitely calmed the neurosis beasties yesterday.~8)

Today I am at Howe House until 3PM. Four people are home, two of whom will be leaving in a few hours to visit with their families. Once they've all eaten, I think I'll be curling some hair, painting some nails, and making the gals feel super-girlie (it's all women left here at this point). It'll be a day of serious cooking too...chicken, potatoes, a pork roast...aww yeah...LOVE the house menu! And the dietician wonders why everyone gains weight...*shakes head*

Happy Easter Everyone.
~8)

Comments

Yep

[wraptboy.livejournal.com]

They had robes. white ones. They left the hoods at home for easter though...

Re: Yep

[lonewolf73.livejournal.com]

Nope, I wore mine out.
Just a guess, but it kinda sounds like your comparing the Christians to the KKK. So, does that mean were all KKK? I'm pretty sure I'm not.
I'm no bible puncher as you know, but damn, if that's what you meant, that hurts man.

Re: Yep

[thedarksiren.livejournal.com]

you so missed the joke, hon.
Don't take things so seriously. We mock everyone pretty indescriminately, first and foremost, ourselves.

Re: Yep

[wraptboy.livejournal.com]

I replied in a regular post. Too much to say for a comment.

[ras-sinister.livejournal.com]

It should be extra loud in Tremont this year, because the orthodox churches celebrate on the same day as the other churches this year.

[thedarksiren.livejournal.com]

YAY!

I actually enjoy the bells, even late at night. They bring me calm, for whatever reason.

[ras-sinister.livejournal.com]

I think that's why churches have bells. Because they sound nice. So at least we can give them credit for being pretty and musical.

What's wrong with a little celibration for something people believe in?

[lonewolf73.livejournal.com]

Hell, living in Tremont, surrounded by churches, I would really think you would actually just expect that sort of thing.
I'll be moving to like a block from a Jahova witness temple in a month, I already know I will be have a stack of Watchtowers building up, and talking to more people than I like to. But I'm putting myself in that place, so why bother complaining? They were there first you know?
Frankly, though I don't celibrate like many others do, I'm really glad some do the same old way that they used to. At least they are people who really believe in something, and they sure ain't afraid to show it.
Hell, be happy, your neighborhood was probably 100 times safer that night.

If I may explain myself...

[thedarksiren.livejournal.com]

OK, first of all, I think it's amazing that you would take this post as an insult or me complaining. I have zero issue with anyone believing in anything, particularly if they have true passion and strong values as a result. I guess I assumed too much when I thought anyone who read this would see that I was more in awe than anything.

Secondly, in the three years that we have lived here in Tremont, neither Jay nor I have ever witnessed these services as we have this year. Why? Because we were always at work, me specifically, because I wanted to allow for those people who *do* celebrate Christian holidays to spend them with their families. I have given up countless holidays for this reason, not because I get paid more, but because I understand and appreciate the sentiment they have toward their religious choices, and more importantly, respect those choices because they are not pushing their ideals/ beliefs at me; instead, these people have educated me, and listened when I had a thought or information to share.

I also appreciate tradition, probably more than anyone but Jay and Kelly know.

I think you and I should have coffee or something and sit to discuss this. I would say I am sorry it set you off, however, I somehow don't think this was the sole *trigger* to your own post on the matter.

My best, always.

Some info from someone who has been in the neighborhood a while

[thedarksiren.livejournal.com]

Not that I have any more issues with the celebrating, but I found this interesting:

http://www.livejournal.com/users/thedarksiren/443404.html?thread=1777676#t1777676

Re: Some info from someone who has been in the neighborhood a while

[zeldachik.livejournal.com]

Well, also, I must admit to being slightly bitter towards that particular parish because of the way their patrons love to use my previous residence's driveway as a urinal, and park underneath my window blaring loud Greek rap music at 3AM on a worknight.

Not to mention the fact that one year during the Festival, they vandalized our garden, stealing the cement Shiva goddess head my neighbor Al had carefully landscaped around. I mean really, what kind of dumbass do you have to be to steal somebody's Shiva head?!? Have you never heard of 'karma'?!?

On the other hand, if you want a Tremont church that actually does something for the community, look no further than St. Augustine's (also on 14th). Sister Corita is one of the most ass-kicking women on the planet, it was her program that helped clean out Lincoln Park from a nasty scrub of overgrown waste in the late 80s, not to mention that she continues to run the most incredible hot meal program in the city. And if you want to see an amazing sight, check out one of their holiday masses, because they have a deaf choir. I know, I know, with the jokes already, but DUH they don't sing--they perform the hymns in sign language en masse, and it's beautiful.

Just another 2 cents from a Tremont ex-patriot/ recovering Catholic.

[zeldachik.livejournal.com]

I'm all about freedom of religion, but it's soooo irresponsible the way they set off those fireworks. I remember three years ago, they were launching roman candles and setting off M-80s under the overpass, and a truck on I-90 slammed on its jake break, all freaked out... amazing there wasn't a horrible traffic accident. Of course they own the cops on that corner, so nothing was done.

Plus, one of the greek guys set his pantleg on fire, but everyone was so drunk they just laughed at it for a while before realizing it wasn't going to extinguish itself.

The candle light procession is pretty, though.