I am getting a sense from traffic here that perhaps people are starting to wind down internet use as the final days before Christmas press on their schedules to get things done and travel. Students are perhaps leaving their dorms. People are perhaps getting some time off work. Too much to do at home.
Am I right? I have a long list of things to get done before I have to travel.
I’m actually increasing mine now that I am home and done for the semester!!
You are probably right, Father. My traffic has slowed as well; my email too.
Oh… I’m sorry…I wasn’t paying attention.
My spiritual director told me to do more spiritual reading. Does this count?! LOL
I am enjoying your postings Father. I think more folks are taking time off from work and will most likely spend more time online. So keep ’em coming.
I’m a blogger and my traffic has taken a dive, too. I assumed people were just busy readying for Christmas, and I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one seeing a slowdown.
I know my whole household is busy… baking and prepping packages for shipping throughout the country, and other final preparations.
My internet use hasn’t, but my personal internet use has.
I’m in the process of appealing a final grade at my school which I am not actually located, which is a pain to do over email. I’m also finishing up the school work, and then I’m off to go home for Christmas.
My house looks beautiful, all my gifts are wrapped and now it’s just cookies I’ll start baking midweek. Then on Saturday morning we are off to my son’s for the weekend; a mere 2-1/2 hrs south of here.
For now I’m just enjoying these waning days of Advent and trying to understand why a good and holy priest was called to his eternal rest last week, so soon, too young!
I don’t know. I’m still tuning in here every day, Father. My wife has the shopping done. I suppose there are other things I should be doing right now. I have been trying to catch and hang on to something truly spiritual about the season. I don’t want to waste another Advent on the material (“Of all the Charlie Browns in the world…”)! Anyway, I feel the season slipping through my fingers again so I’m trying to slow it down and meditate on its beauty. Veni, veni Emanuel.
I need inspiration, Father, so I keep coming here!
After the “rush” hour I took a ride 10 miles north on Rt. 91 for an errand to a shopping mall area in Hadley. There was no traffic (not one truck). Kind of surreal for this part of the world, which leads to big box stores and centers/malls, pleasant really.
I kind of hope so; I’ve been writing full steam for the last couple of weeks, and I could use an excuse to wind down for a while.
Yes, Father, that’s certainly been the case with me. I’m involved in 3 choirs, so this has been a very busy time with lots of late nights because of concerts and practices (didn’t get home until 1:30 a.m. Sunday morning after one concert and then up to sing at Mass after what seemed like 3 hours’ sleep). We’re doing a traditional service of lessons and carols tonight in a Dominican church – opening with the chant “Dominus dixit ad me…”. That will be the last until Christmas Eve and Christmas day, but work has been fairly chaotic as well. Consequently I haven’t had the time to go on the net, except in brief snatches.
Anyway, the music has all been of high quality – even if my singing hasn’t been so at times :) – so that has compensated for the late nights and tiredness.
I have noticed a dramatic decrease in incoming emails from friends, and an even-more dramatic increase in emails from any website from which I have ever ordered anything… last minute sales!
For me, a normal week through Thursday. On Saturday I will bake the traditional babka for Christmas morning breakfast.
I’m wound down now and will soon have MORE time on here. We decided to keep Advent and Christmas simple this year so there isn’t much happening here except Mass and meals with family wandering into town and then back out again. :) I’m here for the season and will be looking at my favorite blogs daily!
Shopping, wrapping, baking, …rinse and repeat. Maybe after the 25th.
Some of us, including yours truly, in a wasteland called Ireland without any traddie contacts as of yet, find this blog even more important during the upcoming holy days….but then, I do not do any shopping, have no decorations or cookies about which to worry, and can focus on a few jewels, such as this blog.
I know I haven’t been online as much as usual, lately. Too much to do before the holidays! Lots of stuff going on with the two choirs I sing in…preparing for Midnight Mass…plus getting ready for Christmas…still have to sisters to buy gifts for…gaaaa! Work hasn’t really wound down any…we have a delivery/deadline on January 3rd, so everyone is still working full-steam. Work Christmas party is on Thursday, that should be a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to spending time with family & friends, Midnight Mass, and His coming!
Why don’t you just shut down for a couple of weeks? then their hearts will grow even fonder.
NO, please do not shut down. This blog is a little lifeline in a sea of unbelief and spiritual darkness. I am outside Dublin, and the tensions and apathy towards the Church are palpable. Just imagine the worst new agey, radical, cynical, atheistic parts of liberal Catholic America all pooled into one small island.
I have been saying Merry Christmas to everyone and am getting surprised looks back, with some acceptance. The New Evangelization needs Father Z online…
Fr. Z deserves some time off, too. This caliber of blogging is hard work.
Oh! What? wait, I’ve been too busy to read and comment. Perhaps the second week of January…