Of Corinth and Corinthians

The Thursday Morning Bunch embarked on a journey to Ancient Greece this week.

I suppose it would be more accurate to say that we're starting to read St. Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians, but that doesn't sound nearly as exotic . . .

I try to make it a point to learn something new every day, and I got that checked off my list early this morning as we established the historic foundations for our journey.

For instance, I did not realize that Corinth--not Athens--was set up as the administrative center of Greece by the Romans after they conquered the country. And, the "capital" of this puppet state quickly became known for vice.

I guess it would kinda be like someone invading/conquering the United States and establishing the occupation government in Las Vegas or New Orleans or Hollywood . . .

With that kind of an historical backdrop in place, we should be in for some colorful material over the next few weeks . . .

Yet another movie review

Wow, if ye socks didn't know any better, you'd think someone in this little corner of heaven got a new DVD player for Christmas from all the movies being reviewed in the dryer lately . . .

Today's feature "My Life in Ruins," is not a melodrama as the title may imply.

Rather, it is a fairly predictable romantic comedy "starring" the quirky yet attractive Nia Vardalos. Though, the only real star power in the ensemble cast belongs to Richard Dreyfuss.

Basically, Vardalos plays an over-qualified tour director in Greece, who has to learn to have fun and do a little less lecturing as she leads a bunch of oddballs from one set of ancient ruins to the next.

It's fairly obvious from the beginning of the film who the boy would be in this girl-meets-boy scenario, but I won't ruin it for you . . . get it? "Ruin" it for you?!?

Anyway, this DVD made for some good brainless entertainment after a hard day at work, kinda like vicariously traveling to the Aegean . . . ok, well, maybe not that good.

Bottom line: If you like "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," you'll like this one, too.

My patron saint

I suppose it's appropriate that this Sunday has yours truly contemplating the life of his patron saint: Righail.

For ye socks who have difficulty pronouncing ye olde Gaelic, the modernday Scots have simplified things by spelling his name the way it sounds to modern English-speakers: Rule.

Anyway, I'd always known St. Righail was the fellow who lived in a hermitage on Dundrum Bay in Western Ireland. That's where he supposedly predicted the Great Famine of the 1840's about a millenia and a half before it actually happened. Way back in the 4th Century, he wrote of a vision he had of a great broom that swept away three-quarters of the island's population.

But, what I just learned today was the connection between St. Righail and the Apostle Andrew.

Apparently, 'twas himself that carried the remains of the apostle from their original resting place in Patras, Greece, all the way to Scotland in or about the year 327.

Don't know what took him from Scotland to Ireland, though.

Any ideas? Anyone? Bueller?