First Sun of Advent is Nov 30th

Consider this your reminder

It's hard, but I know. Unfortunately, Advent and Christmas time is really hard and depressing for me.

Prayers for you. 

Hi Bataar,


I think it is a very difficult time of year for many, many people.  You are not alone in that.  I know I am missing friends and family that have died or can't meet up with for various reasons.  Some family don't want to see me and my family because we didn't get the Covidvax or flu shot.  We haven't seen them in over 5 years.  We used to see them around the holidays but not anymore.

Did you try any of the good suggestions to meet people?  Do you still have dogs?  Maybe you can talk to someone at the dog park.  Or find some winter hobbies when you can't go fishing.

Bataar, does that name come from Tarbosaurus Bataar? 


Prayers

I haven't been able to come up with a way to meet people. I need to find some kind of activity or project that others will be involved with so I can get to know them over that. My brain is backasswards in that I need to be able to get to know someone before talking to them. 

I take my dogs for walks and I've thought about how to meet people there. Say I'm walking my dogs and someone is walking towards me in the opposite direction. Other than saying Hi or some kind of greeting like that as we walk past each other, I can not think of anything else to say. 

Hi Bataar,

Do you give your dogs those pills to kill ticks and fleas? I'm thinking of getting a dog, but always the flea and tick thing breaks the deal. I don't want to give them a weird pill, but I don't want the bugs either.

I used to give my dogs flea medicine that involved putting these drops on their backs, but I haven't done that for a while as there just don't seem to be any fleas around. 

I haven't been able to come up with a way to meet people. I need to find some kind of activity or project that others will be involved with so I can get to know them over that. My brain is backasswards in that I need to be able to get to know someone before talking to them.


I take my dogs for walks and I've thought about how to meet people there. Say I'm walking my dogs and someone is walking towards me in the opposite direction. Other than saying Hi or some kind of greeting like that as we walk past each other, I can not think of anything else to say.

Hi Bataar,


Yes, that is a great start if you see someone to say hi or nice weather.  Keep it brief!  Then, if you see the person again you can talk a little more.  How about meeting people in the grocery store?  I don't know if you shop when it is busy.  My mother is always talking to people in the grocery store.  One time she saw this lady that must have shopped the same time she did.  They chatted a bit every few weeks or so for some months.  One day the lady mentioned that her son had a restaurant.  Then Covid hit, my mother never saw her again and didn't get the name of place.  Oh, well, that could have been a start to a friendship. 

I hope you are remembering to pray to St Raphael.

Prayer to St. Raphael, Angel of Happy Meetings

O Raphael, lead us toward those we are waiting for, those who are waiting for us: Raphael, Angel of happy meetings, lead us by the hand toward those we are looking for. May all our movements be guided by your Light and transfigured with your joy.

Angel guide of Tobias, lay the request we now address to you at the feet of Him on whole unveiled Face you are privileged to gaze. Lonely and tired, crushed by the separations and sorrows of life, we feel the need of calling you and of pleading for the protection of your wings, so that we may not be as strangers in the province of joy, all ignorant of the concerns of our country.

Remember the weak, you who are strong, you whose home lies beyond the region of thunder, in a land that is always peaceful, always serene and bright with the resplendent glory of God.

After saying hello, ask them a question like, “What’s your dog’s name? What breed is he? Hey, this might be an odd question, but do you have a flea problem?”  Nobody expects or even wants a monologue from you. End the brief encounter, “Thanks for the information.” Or, “well, it’s been nice meeting you.” before going separate ways.

I haven't been able to come up with a way to meet people. I need to find some kind of activity or project that others will be involved with so I can get to know them over that. My brain is backasswards in that I need to be able to get to know someone before talking to them.

I take my dogs for walks and I've thought about how to meet people there. Say I'm walking my dogs and someone is walking towards me in the opposite direction. Other than saying Hi or some kind of greeting like that as we walk past each other, I can not think of anything else to say.

I lived a long time in Boston and there were a lot of cold people. They won’t even look at you if you’re walking by. We lived in a tight neighborhood in the last of the Catholic communities in Dorchester so the neighbors were not like that but most people that walked the pope John Paul park where I lived were bad like that. I work on a lot of cars and houses and grow huge vegetable gardens and that’s how I meet most people. If they see you working on a car they all have cars and they all have car problems. Then they have a neighbor dealing with a broken pipe or what not in their house and next thing you know I’m a couple towns over cutting into someone’s walls. Trades are an excellent way to meet people. And you always have the job at hand as a great discussion starter. Then I get their ear and I get to tell them how awful their n government is and most people agree 😄