Absentee Landlord No More

Hello:

It really wasn't that long ago that I was completely immersed in the whole BLOG 'thing'. I started Dark Glass for several reasons but chiefly to promote my company, Liguori Publications, and to train myself to become a little freer with my writing (as you can see, I now easily settle for less than perfection). For most of 2006, I didn't have the time, energy or focus to keep up with my own BLOG. It wasn't long after I started neglecting Dark Glass, that the other BLOGs in the Liguori family began to look run down as well. Feel sorry for the Simple Brother at Saintly Sinner, pity Br. Secundo Pio at Mystic Alchemy - I'll be snapping the whip in 2007! I'm also working with two new writers (that is cajolling, whining and stalking) to expand the Liguori BLOG community with a Liguorian Magazine themed BLOG and a Libros Liguori BLOG focused on Hispanic Ministry. I'll keep you posted on those.

So this marks my third post since my return to BLOGville and have settled back into the old habits pretty quickly. I close my eyes and see BLOGexplosion. When I dream, I dream of BLOGmad. Despite the new found enthusiasm, I have deferred a lot of maintenance and am now playing catch-up. I should probably have waited to build my traffic up again but with the super low rent of only 10 BLOGexplosion credits - I went ahead and advertised for a new border. That said, please welcome (and by 'welcome' I mean click the billboard) Gaby, the forever 17 Glamour Girl! This lovely Senorita hails from Mexico (a country which has corrupted me with its beautiful beaches, fattening cuisine and tequila). Her BLOG really stands out to me. Her typical posts are quite short and usually involve everyday life. At first I rolled my eyes about reading the everyday life of a 17 year girl, but somehow her writing style carrys it off. One of her posts, Perfume De Violetas, is disturbing and stuck with me.

Well, I need to get my day started. I'm having a few friends drop by tomorrow night to help me usher in the 2007 and surprisingly, my house isn't clean. The soundtrack in my mind is playing "17 Again" by Annie Lennox - take that as another hint to visit Gaby.

Peace,

P. Del Ricci - Dark Glass

El Presidente Nuevo

Hello:

Well two posts in three days ought to count for something. Granted I've taken the entire week off from work and re-energizing Dark Glass while I sip a glass of 1800 Reposado Tequila is better than a lot of ways I could be NOT cleaning the basement, NOT writing my novel, or NOT studying for the GMAT (more on that in a future post).

In my last post, Time for Revival, I mentioned that 2006 has been a strange year. By 'strange' I mean to say 'full of change'. By 'full' I mean 'filled to the brim and running down the side full of change'. I'll resist the urge to type out a huge list of all the things that have been going on and dole them out one per post. Until I get back in the saddle on this BLOGging habit - I need all the topics I can get my hands on.

Among the more important changes that have occured at Liguori Publications, is that we have a new President (at Liguori, the President is also the Publisher). After more than seven years it was time for Fr. Harry Grile to serve in a new appointment. Despite our affections for Fr. Harry, it was not a time for tears. As one old friend was leaving, another also found himself in a new appointment. Our new President (or El Presidente Nuevo as I like to call him) was to be none other than Fr. Mathew Kessler, CSsR. Fr Mat had been Editor of the Libros Liguori Spanish language imprint for the past five years (Fr. Mat press release). The St. Louis Review recently did a very nice interview with Fr. Mat that actually reveals some of the complexity of our physicist / linguist / theologian (hunter, pipe organ repairer, etc.).

Fr. Kessler (who has appeared previously at Dark Glass) takes the helm at a precarious time for the publishing industry as a whole and for Catholic publishers in particular. With his roll up the sleeves and get it done attitude, and close familiarity with the people who buy our materials; he has a stronger chance than most to strengthen the company. At only 44, he's the 'young whipper snapper' of the Redemptorist order and emits a certain vitality that has become rare. He's the fun and quirky type of person that some crazed BLOGger might have thought would appreciate a neti pot as a Christmas gift. ; - }

Following Fr. Mathew Kessler in the role of Libros Liguori Editor is Jose Antonio Medina. Antonio is an established figure in Hispanic Minstries and has been published many times by Liguori and other houses. Antonio will be the subject of future BLOG posts so for now I will only refer you to the press release.

I'll leave you with a bi-lingual title today, written by none other Jose Antonio Medina. It's focus is on Advent, so my timing is a little off but the title fit so well with the topic of today's post that I couldn't pick another. Living in the Present, Imagining the Future / Vivir el presente, imaginar el futuro: Advent Prayer Services for Young Adults/ Servicios de oración en Adviento para jóvenes - putting the title in both languages makes it a bit long winded but still appropriate.

Peace,

P. Del Ricci - Dark Glass

Time for Revival

Hello:

It's been a long time since I have consistently posted to Dark Glass. In fact, I wouldn't count any post that I've made since May (either of them) as 'real'. 2006 has been a strange year, both for myself and Liguori Publications. It is easy to see the signs and portents which demand a hiatus from the things we love, but so much more difficult to sense the mundanities that signal the time to revive our passions. I'll argue vehemently that the imminent arrival of 2007 in 4 short days has nothing to do with my new found motivation. Then again, I'd also argue that I don't use large words when small ones would do.

When you have been away from something for a significant length of time, it's easy to see what you've given up. I stopped going to the gym about the same time that I stopped BLOGging. I went this morning and it kicked my ass. It was good though. It was good to be back there and it is good to be back here. My workout was harder this morning and I find that I'm not so free and easy as I write this post. I'll try to limber myself up by working at each more regularily.

I'm certain I'm not the only person who's been a little introspective as the year comes to an end. Before I sign off, I'll feature a Liguori title which can add some needed perspective to our introspection. Where There's Hope, There's Life: Women's Stories of Homelessness and Survival by Fr. Anthony J. Gittins, CSSp. This is an extremely moving book based on Fr. Gittins' experiences working with the homeless of Chicago. He paints a large canvas with a pallet of 12 twelve real life women who live (and in one case die) on the streets. In several cases, the women know one another and their stories intersect in ways that draw the reader in and submerge him. It's a harsh book, but that harshness reveals hope and love in the most desparate of circumstances and makes it simple for us to embrace the blessings in our midst.


Peace,



P. Del Ricci - Dark Glass