Author Archives: joyocala

That was the standard greeting in Hawaii, usually followed by “brah” or “bruddah”. It’s a lot less formal than “how are you”? It also does not expect a deep or long answer. It is very light-hearted, usually answered with “all … Continue reading →

Catherine was a little girl of five when her mother died.  She was one of eight children ranging in age from 4 months to 12 years.  After her mother’s death, each child was taken in by a different relative, the … Continue reading →

The stats for the number of muscles used to smile versus the number of muscles used to frown is a fun fact to know. It has long been believed to smile uses fewer muscles, thus fewer wrinkles in the long … Continue reading →

A special guest blog from a dear friend. God created each and every one of us and has a plan for our life. When we are babies we are helpless; our parents take care of us totally, teaching us as … Continue reading →

While looking for a blog topic, I came across this quote by English churchman and scholar Thomas Fuller:  He loseth nothing who keepeth God for his friend.  Fuller is known for his numerous wise and witty quotes.  He lived during … Continue reading →

I remember the first time I heard a live performance of Ralph Vaughan Williams’s Christmas composition “Hodie.” It was performed in a large Catholic Church in Oak Park, Illinois with orchestra, mixed choir, boys choir, and Ivy Beard, accompanist of … Continue reading →

I taught math for forty-four years, and over that time I had many students come to my office for help.  One such student visit still sticks in my mind. The student said that he was having trouble in the course … Continue reading →

…can be done on an infinite number of subjects…whether to eat that last slice of pizza; you’re satisfied but not TOO full…why your car won’t start; I’ve tried everything; oh wait! That “jiggle the steering wheel” trick…on the clock: I … Continue reading →

The Romans had him under house arrest.  They thought they could stop his preaching.  But Paul could still write.   His “prison” epistles are so named because they were written during one of Paul’s incarcerations.  Some scholars believe that Paul wrote … Continue reading →

Do you remember the musical Annie, the film version with Carol Burnett, Bernadette Peters, and Tim Curry? So well done, and there are many versions of this film and of course, stage productions as well. In the scene, where the … Continue reading →