"... written primarily for piano and fire extinguisher..."

Given how intermittent my posting has become, I have several times flirted with terminating my blog. Whenever I begin to think about doing that, I feel a pull, an attachment that is borne of six years of constant blogging, which has been a great vehicle of personal growth for me, not a Ferrari exactly, but perhaps a Mazda Miata. Then, just yesterday, my friend, Fran, sent me a lovely card from a retreat center, where she is on a week-long retreat, telling me what my efforts here have meant to her. This, along with a few other convergences, caused me to go back and reconsider my reasons for blogging, which I grappled with throughout my first year or so.

I realized way back then that the reach of my writing would be fairly limited because it wouldn't appeal to everyone. I am fine with this, especially when I look at the tone and tenor of many popular blogs, which I work hard not to emulate, which is not to say I avoid difficult issues. I can honestly say that it is to my shame that the most popular post ever on Καθολικός διάκονος was one that I wrote during l'affair Corapi, one that got picked up and disseminated. I am not sorry for what I wrote, but it bothers me that this is the kind of thing for which people look to the Catholic blogosphere.

I want to continue to prioritize quality over quantity, which explains my recent downturn in posting. I am happy that Καθολικός διάκονος is a place that people who are looking for reinforcement of ideological positions, whether "conservative" or "liberal," will always find a bit unsatisfactory. This is due to the fact that I have never been able to achieve the kind of smug certainty that seems to be so prized in many quarters, which I can now see is a great grace. This is not to admit to being wishy-washy, blown about by every wind of doctrine, I remain very rooted in that regard, but it is to insist on approaching reality in an honest manner, that is, without the baggage of a lot of preconceptions.

Since my blog, when it first began, way back in August of 2005 (I didn't begin posting with any consistency until July 2006), was originally named Scott Dodge for Nobody, after an old radio program that aired late Sunday nights on a local community radio station, KRCL, Tom Waits for Nobody, this week's day-late traditio is Tom Waits' "Warm Beer, Cold Women." I find it especially appropriate that this video has Danish subtitles. Though its been a very long time, I used to visit Copenhagen on occasion. It remains one of my favorite cities: