Takin' the Blog for a Walk

If all goes according to plan we'll be visiting relatives in Kentucky this time tomorrow. It's been a hectic several weeks leading up to today, Christmas, but socializing and exchanging gifts and cards with friends and family make it worthwhile.

Had the pleasure of visiting Wisconsin's newest basilica for Sunday Mass yesterday. Holy Hill looked translucent through the frosty haze of the early morning as we approached for the 8:00 a.m. mass. The countryside from the walkway outside the main church appeared surreal. Everything not moving was covered in a thick, white frost thanks to the moisture still in the air from Friday's rain. Even the horizon seemed like it was waiting for the sun to warm and melt it.

Inside the cavernous church we found the usual Chrismas decorations among some really beautiful stained glass windows, paintings, marble floors and walls, sculpture and statues. Someday I'll spend more time there, maybe climb the tower or take a tour of the grounds.

To all my friends and readers; Wishing you a warm and peaceful Christmas season. Will see you in a few days.

Only one more day and Thursday's rare appearance of the northern lights would have been even more unique - it would have come at the start of Hanukkah, the "Festival of Lights". I may not have seen the aurora borealis this time, the last time I saw them in Waukesha was 6 years ago, but did have the opportunity to celebrate a different festival of lights Friday.

After work, my sister and I visited Miller Brewing's "Friday Night Lites" where we experienced the wonder of 100,000 colored lights synchronized to Trans-Siberian Orchestra's "Wizards in Winter". Wizards in Winter is definitely not your average Christmas carol and the lights aren't your average display. I'm told it's the largest show of it's kind in the Midwest. The show was as exhilarating as the temperature.

After the show we crossed back over State Street and down into a cave. Miller's cave was used to store wooden barrels of beer before the advent of refrigeration and was hewn out of rock over a hundred years ago.

From the cave to the Miller Inn where we enjoyed a cup of very fresh Foster's Lager. Miller postcards were on the table for us to write and supposedly Miller would pay the postage to anywhere in the world. I sent one to Santa Claus, North Pole, Alaska, so we'll see...

Our tour group then walked the four blocks back to the visitor center / gift shop for another sample and a door prize raffle. It wasn't the big brewery tour I've wanted to do but it was fun. The hour long tour cost us nothing but ideally we would have brought a toy for the company's Toys for Tot's drive.

As if 100,000 lights weren't enough, we then headed back east to the Hilton for a ride on the Jingle Bus for the Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival tour. Our one dollar bought us Mardi Gras beads, hot cocoa, cookies and a narrated tour of the sights and lights of Downtown aboard a comfortable Coach USA bus expertly driven by Karen, a sleigh driver for Santa in the off season.

Miller's last "Friday Night Lites" is next Friday, 12/22, with tours every 20 minutes from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. The visitor center is on the west end of the complex at 4251 W. State St.

Milwaukee's Holiday Lights Festival runs through Jan. 7th. The Jingle bus is available for tours Thursday through Sunday until Dec. 30th. The tours start at 6:00 p.m.

Hanukkah lasts eight days beginning 12/15 and ending 12/23/06.

If you're still looking for something to do after all the snow is shoveled... If the most fun you've had so far in getting ready for the holiday is elbowing your way through the store... If you've been looking for unique and inexpensive entertainment for the family but haven't been able to find it at the movie theater...

I'd never been to Elmbrook church but had heard a lot about it, was eventually going to get there. I'd never been to a live nativity either but yesterday my son and I visited Elmbrook's Bethlehem Marketplace and experienced the past and the future.

The Marketplace took us back 2000 years. We were given four coins each and could buy food, jewelry or spices with them. Or we could help the beggars. Almost everything was detailed authentically; papyrus making, stone cutting, woodworking, pottery and animal raising with real animals. We probably lingered close to an hour, interacting with the volunteers, trying to bargain for a better deal. My favorite part? The scents; olives being pressed, frankincense, spices...

When we'd seen enough of the past I asked a gentleman if he wouldn't mind showing us a little of the future, and he did so gladly. Elmbrook Church is what I'd call high tech. We saw the 3000 seat sanctuary with the high capacity sound system and theatrical lighting with projection screens. We also had to see the amphitheater, chapel, bookstore and library. I'm informed seven to eight thousand people attend weekend services and, on at least 3 nights per week, all 100 classrooms are used.

Bethlehem Marketplace ends it's run on Dec. 17th and is held only every three years. For $3.00 everyone gets four shekels to spend and one to keep at the end. As you leave the Marketplace you're offered one or more of the 60,000 cookies the church provides during the nine day run. The entrances are timed to allow 60 people in at a time and reservations are recommended. We had no trouble at all seeing it the same day we reserved, but because 40,000 people are expected throughout it may not always be that way. The number to call is 262-796-5730

I've bought thousands of cigarettes in the last ten years and haven't enjoyed a single one. Even though I still buy for my spouse I haven't burned tobacco since I quit - not until yesterday anyway.

I mentioned Saturday that I was going to try something different. Yesterday at mass I burned tobacco in church. I didn't sneak a butt in the bathroom but actually lit it in the church. I wasn't at one of those new churches with all the ads we receive in the mail, this was a Catholic parish and I burned the tobacco as part of the worship service.

I rushed to the Congregation of the Great Spirit at 10th and Lapham for a 9:30 mass time. I left late, the freeway was closed and my detour took me too far south, but I made it. After risking a ticket I came to learn that, at least when it comes to prayer, Native Americans rely on "Indian time" and mass just doesn't start until everyone gets there.

The Congregation uses a combination of Native American and traditional Catholic ceremonies, and while I recognized many songs and prayers, I also experienced things I could never imagine in a church.

All four new visitors were properly introduced and a song was sung for us. A one minute sharing of peace at my parish was a ten minute socialization here (I think I shook hands with or hugged most of the members there, some more than once).

The first week of Advent and no wreath! There indeed were four candles though, one for each direction. The first candle lit, east, represents spring and new life, and a baby lit the candle. Next week will be south, summer, youth. After that will be west, autumn, adulthood and middle age. And last will be north, winter, old age. A circle of life, continuously spiralling toward heaven.

The tobacco ceremony cleanses the body and soul with smoke and also symbolizes the fellowship of the peace pipe. Some people burned tobacco in a fire by the altar as I did, while others took it outside saying a short prayer. related story

Mass ended with a song for travellers who gathered around the ceremonial drum on the altar. After mass I joined my new friends for food and fellowship in the basement and I enjoyed some of the best venison stew and fry bread.

In two weeks, 12/17, there will be a special Solstice Mass at 2:00 p.m. with Bishop Sklba attending. I could be talked into it!

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*********added 12/9 ***************

Two upcoming events related to the Congregation of the Great Spirit:

A nationally televised special filmed at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist which includes the Congregation participating in a drum ceremony, among many other musical groups and cultures. It airs on Channel 12 at 11:00 p.m. Christmas Eve.

Also, there will be a New Year's Eve Powwow at the Federal Courthouse, 517 E. Wisconsin Ave. in Milw. Sunday 12/31. The doors open at 5:00 p.m. and the Grand Entry is at 7:00.

After years of searching I think I've finally found the true meaning of Christmas -- right here in Waukesha. There's nothing to prove that I was at Christmas at Carroll, no photography allowed, but that doesn't mean it wasn't a blessed event. I wonder, if Jesus were born today would the birth be recorded with a digital camera?

The two hour performance by the Carroll College Wind Symphony, Concert Choir, Women's Ensemble, Vocal Collective and Chamber Ensembles was flawless. A couple thousand people together in one room and no cell phones rang. No microphone problems because there weren't any. No amplification was needed because no one in the audience was talking. We didn't even applaud until the concert was over.

It was the best ten dollars I ever spent. To get my ticket on concert day yet still find seating front and center! My thanks to all the people who thought they'd miss something by sitting in the front row. I sat so close I could feel it. The Wind Symphony conductor even sat next to me between his sets. I was just one of many who felt that close to the experience -- the audience stood on five occasions to join with the choirs in song. If someone would have led us in prayer I would have done that too; though I'm not sure they didn't, the concert was very spiritual.

I can't imagine the hours of preparation something like this would take. Thirty-four songs or readings in six parts. Four conductors with over 120 vocalists and instrumentalists - some with dual roles. A two hour concert using five different areas of the Shattuck Music Center and not one miscue. Not one sour note. Not one dropped instrument or tipped chair.

The concert was about the miracle of a birth and, like birth, it was flawless.

There's just one more chance to catch the Christmas at Carroll College concert before December 2007. The last performance of the year is at 7:30 tonight, 12/3. Get there an hour early to buy your tickets, and try to sit in the front row!

My computer is fixed thanks to North American Computer on Broadway removing 60 printed pages of viruses. We installed an updated antivirus but I'm using the Waukesha Library's system right now because we're having trouble with Roadrunner. I only have 16 minutes remaining on the library's clock.

Got a bit of snow yesterday. I left my house for work twenty miles away at 6:40 and got to work at 9:20. I was glad I made it in. Several people didn't show including one who lives 5 miles away.

This is a good weekend with lots going on. The boys and I experienced a tree lighting in downtown Waukesha Friday. The Art Crawl is today. I'm really hoping to go the the Carroll Christmas concert either tonight or tomorrow...

I'm going to try something different Sunday morning. I'll let you know how it goes. 9 minutes remaining.

Finally was able to check my mail to see if anyone had anything to share for Thanksgiving and no one wrote in. I hope it was because of the short notice and not because no one had anything to be thankful for, or because no one read the blog.

time's up thanks for reading