tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119323032012-02-01T18:48:31.354-05:00<b>"This is the world as best as I can remember it"</b>A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.comBlogger481100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-4004994915988839512012-02-01T14:40:00.002-05:002012-02-01T18:48:31.361-05:00

The Emerald City, a photo by []Aaroneous Monk[] on Flickr.At the hospital where I work there is one room that glows with a green light due to a colored plastic filter that is always pulled down in front of the windows. It is truly inexplicable as to why this is so and I’m always caught off guard when once in a blue(green?) moon I’m consulted to see a patient who happens to be in that particular

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-88869935191279645152011-12-06T11:35:00.004-05:002011-12-06T15:37:06.886-05:00

Commute Impressionism, a photo by []Aaroneous Monk[] on Flickr.I've recently come to make a habit of taking pictures on my commute home from work. It provides a kind of antidote for "zoning out" during that 20 minute time frame and forces me to look around at the world passing by and process it a bit. I think this is a good thing because there is a lot of world to experience between where I

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-67279407394960083002011-11-10T22:44:00.002-05:002011-11-11T15:49:42.260-05:00

The Birds, a photo by []Aaroneous Monk[] on Flickr.I saw a "murmuration" over a massive conglomeration of rice paddies in South Korea in 1994 while on a cross country bus trip from Pusan to Seoul. It was not quite as spectacular as this one, but it's been a dream-like image that recurs from time to time in my memory and I initially had to re-remember where it was that I saw it to convince myself

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-77242188173633219812011-10-20T15:28:00.003-04:002011-10-20T15:35:44.672-04:00

The Wizard of Oz , a photo by []Aaroneous Monk[] on Flickr.While reading some political commentary from a Right-ward leaning friend today about the “real motives” behind the Wall Street protests it occurred to me that those caught up taking sides in a politically bifurcated system can do little more than purvey half-truths and try and foist them off as the whole shebang. In looking back on the

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-13903489200537587422011-10-03T13:50:00.003-04:002011-11-25T13:52:39.084-05:00

View from Patient's Room, a photo by []Aaroneous Monk[] on Flickr.a tin can came rolling across the road blown by the wind causing me to swerve to avoid crushing it on the way home from the hospital it got me thinking about the patient I’d just seen blown into my path as it were by way of a psychiatric consult she was in her mid-twenties admitted for a large abscess on her arm from shooting

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-22788865815720233972011-09-21T21:31:00.002-04:002011-09-22T13:25:57.481-04:00

Different Mudhole @ Dusk #1, a photo by []Aaroneous Monk[] on Flickr.I learned tonight that R.E.M. is disbanding which resulted in a torrent of memories bubbling up to the surface. I followed the link a friend posted and watched the video for “Night Swimming” on their website. It reminded me of a time when I was serving as an infantryman in Korea in the early 90's. I was walking back to my

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-22893205206668876752011-07-31T18:45:00.005-04:002011-12-10T11:53:10.611-05:00

Vespers, a photo by []Aaroneous Monk[] on Flickr.I attended the Saturday Vespers service at St. Gregory of Nyssa Orthodox Church last night and brought my camera along. While uploading the photos to my computer later in the evening it sparked thoughts of the first time I stepped foot into an Orthodox Church in the summer of 1995. A friend from college had an Orthodox publication that I had

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-12877773862524690072011-06-13T21:53:00.002-04:002011-06-13T23:53:57.471-04:00

Drawing Pictures in the Dark, a photo by []Aaroneous Monk[] on Flickr.Most nights I lay with Elias after our bedtime ritual until he falls asleep and then I quietly extricate myself when I’m sure he’s asleep. Tonight he requested his Mom lay with him and was told she would join him after getting Anya to sleep. With this assurance of an eventual bedtime companion I left his room and gave dire

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-44300529500832883262011-05-11T21:48:00.000-04:002011-05-13T16:41:14.269-04:00

Eating Yogurt, a photo by []Aaroneous Monk[] on Flickr.I am looking at a photoof my son eating yogurtthat was taken when I was in Iraq.He is almost two big eyes and chubby cheeksit's hard to say what I feltin that hardened roomin the middle of the desertfeeling his stare.It was a connection towhat was most real in memy world daily shakenwhen I was in Iraq.

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-20844002737207038482011-01-02T16:55:00.003-05:002011-09-30T15:33:35.966-04:00

In the Night Kastle Originally uploaded by []Aaroneous Monk[] In the Slanted Lands where only shadows grow lies the Night Kastle Asleep in the parapet lies little Kramer Krow high in his perch between sheets of ice and snow In the Slanted Lands where only shadows grow The cry of the grubble-snout resounding long and low awakens the sleeping Kramer from his dreaming undertow

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-52472973093824383402010-11-05T11:27:00.002-04:002011-09-30T15:39:24.225-04:00

tupac Originally uploaded by []Aaroneous Monk[]Practicing psychiatry makes for some pretty interesting interactions as you might imagine. Recently I saw a young African American male in the ER who had a psychotic break and was likely beginning the long arduous road of a lifetime dealing with schizophrenia. The challenges of treating someone in this situation is that the psychosis can be very

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-81407624509123008782010-08-19T11:44:00.003-04:002011-10-02T21:06:35.797-04:00

They’re gardening boots now... Originally uploaded by []Aaroneous Monk[] They’re gardening boots now Stained only with the dirt Of my small raised garden Seeds unsealed from plastic Await a proper burial Reminding me of a past That still weighs on my heart but gives me hope for the possibility of new life

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-3463254525860473282010-07-17T12:45:00.005-04:002011-11-17T20:49:08.645-05:00

the land Originally uploaded by []Aaroneous Monk[] "The Good Earth" comes to mind As I mow my yard and think of “the land” This is my land and it’s not much But I work it with sweat and care when I can There are more weeds than grass But I enjoy the variety that my neighbors lack With their absolute uniformity Of changeless blades I add nothing to it that kills or coerces Things

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-76795056209262259002010-03-11T15:02:00.004-05:002011-10-19T11:44:27.111-04:00

Peace in a Box® (detail) Originally uploaded by []Aaroneous Monk[]Today was an +amazing+ day at work in the truest sense of that word and I am not really sure how to describe it. It seemed that every encounter I had with a patient or staff member was somehow charged with love and meaning in a way that I’ve rarely felt before. It was as if I had been jolted into a kind of “receptive” mode,

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-15591185418837218422009-12-21T13:24:00.002-05:002009-12-21T13:32:29.716-05:00

Attack of the Ghost PirateOriginally uploaded by []Aaroneous Monk[]Sunday morning I was on call and the workload was mercifully light which allowed me to head home just after the noon hour. At home I was presented with the daunting task of “entertaining” Elias (which basically means keeping him out of trouble) while simultaneously helping J get the house together for the family Christmas

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-18210665225848003362009-12-10T14:57:00.004-05:002011-10-21T12:17:35.804-04:00

St. Paul Orthodox Church Originally uploaded by []Aaroneous Monk[] I thought I saw the Theotokos today walking the halls of the hospital where I work. Her face dark, warm, and glowing with an inner light hair bound up in a colorful wrap a shawl draped over all cascading down getting lost in the folds of her ankle-length gown. Someone told me she was from the Somali community

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-47316539336220568222009-09-11T22:33:00.004-04:002009-09-23T12:25:06.852-04:00

The Country ShedOriginally uploaded by []Aaroneous Monk[]Some time in the mid 90’s the so-called “bypass” in Marion Indiana was being widened to accommodate a growing amount of traffic. It was originally built to bypass the downtown area which had grown stagnant and made getting from A to B in a timely manner difficult. Over time it began to attract a multitude of chain businesses. With this

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-30929291841193511112009-05-14T12:41:00.005-04:002011-10-05T11:50:03.596-04:00

30 April 2009 This past week I’ve been in the process of clearing from Ft. Campbell in order to begin a new life sans military. It is a strange place to be, no clinical duties, no set schedule, like a homeless person or ghost flitting about the base. As a ghost who haunts the places he once knew I have been eating lunch and spending my in-between-clearing-appointments time at the Adult

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-70696947506429264922008-12-19T23:51:00.005-05:002009-04-02T11:23:25.576-04:00

CrecheOriginally uploaded by []Aaroneous Monk[]This is the second year in a row we've visited a Live Nativity at a church down the road from us. It is held in the evenings leading up to Christmas for a few nights and involves driving with your lights off around a very large loop lined by candles in plastic milk jugs. The camels (as advertised!) are a sure draw for Elias with the donkeys and

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-50078247164914448632008-12-08T13:24:00.010-05:002011-10-05T11:53:10.891-04:00

Recently Elias has become more and more involved with using our vacuum attachments as his “shooter” and wearing his hooded bath towel as a head covering with flowing cape (clothes optional). His grandma dubbed him “Darth Vader” this past weekend which he quickly adopted as “Dark Vader”, much like Max in his wolf costume in the children’s literary classic WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE. We’ve been

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-91903035789716212142008-09-11T12:22:00.003-04:002011-10-21T21:05:39.644-04:00

A day of numbers Originally uploaded by []Aaroneous Monk[] nine and eleven equal twenty which doubled is forty the number of years the Children of Israel spent wandering lost in the wilderness the number of days Christ spent there being tried and tested the number of days in Lent a time for introspection a time for cleaning a time for healing a third of nine is three the number of

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-89274035820631373932008-07-25T13:47:00.006-04:002009-04-01T16:27:25.523-04:00

st. kevin was hereOriginally uploaded by sesame ellisThinking about Kevin this morning hurts. A few weeks ago I found his name in my cell phone and tried to call the number wondering if someone might pick up, if I’d hear his voice one more time on the message, or a disinterested recording telling me the number was no longer in service. It was the last one, but I couldn’t bring myself to erase

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-56489892630550880252008-06-20T19:57:00.010-04:002011-10-05T12:01:16.407-04:00

Kevin used to start paintings and then not be able to finish them because it was such a tedious process with his poor eye sight. The "model" (usually one of his friends) oftentimes could not sit long enough or often enough to complete the process. As a result he had many incomplete paintings at various stages of development sitting around his apartment. My favorite was of a faceless young man

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-33230125755421679532008-06-12T14:15:00.006-04:002011-10-05T12:03:21.339-04:00

My first memory of Kevin takes me back to the Spring of 1989 at Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU). I had just turned twenty and was a recent transfer from DePauw University. It was such an odd time for me, having spent almost an entire semester at home after a false start to my sophomore year at DePauw and now at a school affiliated with the church of my upbringing. It was a school that I’d

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-36068627496725579392008-01-21T15:48:00.004-05:002011-10-05T15:02:12.133-04:00

Almost 10 years ago now I made this cross out of palm fronds in the basement of Ss. Constantine & Elena Orthodox Church with my wife (then fiancé) and our friend Karin. It was Palm Sunday and it is traditional to use the fronds that you are given at the end of the Liturgy to weave into a cross. As we sat there together, Karin and I entered into a friendly competition to make an "8 Point

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-61352997671190063652007-12-10T15:01:00.004-05:002011-10-05T15:05:07.672-04:00

J found an advertisement for a "Christmas Celebration" at the downtown Methodist Church this evening. It seemed promising and so we spontaneously got ourselves ready which included Kramer and I dressing alike. The church was HUGE with soaring rafters, extremely tall stained glass windows, and a pipe organ whose size beggared the imagination. I think Kramer was a little overwhelmed by it all

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-18597901197798850062007-05-06T09:40:00.002-04:002011-10-05T15:06:05.099-04:00

What causes a man to be led down a path of growing infidelity whose end is the destruction of his marriage and the splitting up of his family? It seems to me it is an insidious process that happens slowly enough that he can justify each step to himself in a way that could not occur if seen cumulatively, all at once, with the enormity of the loss fully realized. At any one moment he perceives

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-1165084197811653042006-12-02T13:30:00.005-05:002011-10-05T15:11:46.437-04:00

“I could compare my music to white light which contains all colours. Only a prism can divide the colours and make them appear; this prism could be the spirit of the listener.” -Arvo Pärt I first discovered the music of Arvo Pärt in 1996 through a happy coincidence while living in Bloomington Indiana and attending Indiana University. A Russian friend of mine had off-handedly mentioned his

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-1162519296442122852006-11-02T20:54:00.005-05:002011-10-21T12:34:52.341-04:00

Morning Prayers Originally uploaded by []Aaroneous Monk[]. October 30th, 2006 - I arrived at the airport with two large duffle bags and a long thin rectangular case housing an M16 A2 assault rifle. At the Northwest check-in counter an attractive middle-aged woman asked me if I had any bags to check. I said, “yes, two duffle bags and a weapon”. That last word felt so strange in my mouth

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-1151070873094409762006-06-23T09:50:00.000-04:002006-06-23T13:20:41.363-04:00

Dream Doodle Originally uploaded by []Aaroneous Monk[]. This morning during staff meeting I doodled a dream I had a few nights ago on the back of a business card. It was the first dream I'd ever had with my son in it. As a result I shared it with my training psychotherapist and was able to make a lot of helpful connections.In the dream I could fly (not uncommon in my dreams), but for the

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-1149966936192385182006-06-10T15:12:00.001-04:002011-10-05T15:13:37.482-04:00

They say you learn something new from your kids everyday. Well today I witnessed my son pulling a push toy. This brought on the realization that you can pull a push toy but you cannot push a pull toy. I had not thought about that before... :^)

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-1147314594397125642006-05-10T22:27:00.000-04:002006-05-10T23:30:52.326-04:00

The Fifth Beatle Originally uploaded by Aaroneous Monk. Last night I dreamt I was the fifth Beatle. It was the oddest thing. We were at a large gathering of some kind wearing white suits, the five of us, Ringo, George, Paul, John, and me. Odder still was the fact I knew John was either dead or going to die and I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. His hair was wavy and shoulder length,

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-1136234375709836492006-01-02T15:39:00.001-05:002011-10-22T08:56:36.330-04:00

Kramer's 1! Originally uploaded by Aaroneous Monk. Our son turned one this past week. Unlike many extravagant celebrations I’ve seen or been aware of in the past for first birthdays, this one was very inauspicious. Most of our friends were out of town for the holidays and the one couple who wasn’t had a sick four month old on their hands and had to cancel. The day of his birthday arrived

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-1135913174503222992005-12-29T22:26:00.001-05:002011-10-05T15:14:57.866-04:00

Inspired by this photo of Greta in front of my in-laws's house on Christmas morning, I am starting a new blog. It will become a repository for old stories and poems I've written over the years no matter how embarassing. I make this announcement to alert all three of my faithful readers. You know who you are. :^)

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-1130815852561989592005-10-31T22:30:00.001-05:002011-10-05T15:50:59.654-04:00

Borders Baby Originally uploaded by Aaroneous Monk. I first fell in love with Borders Bookstore in the Spring of 1995. I was a 26 year old “non-traditional” student who had previously graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University with majors in History and Political Science, but couldn’t seem to find my way onto a career path that made sense to me. Between my junior and senior year at IWU I

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-1130181229495824282005-10-24T15:13:00.001-04:002011-10-05T15:15:48.855-04:00

Is there anything worse than being separated from those you love? And if there is, what does that say about the strangulating coils of pride and narcissism that have taken hold of me in my middle years? Maybe God has graciously given me this little guy to help me reverse this process and shed the scales of indifference.

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-1126542548746614652005-09-12T12:29:00.003-04:002011-06-14T13:04:49.041-04:00

ShadowStairs 3 Originally uploaded by Aaroneous Monk. I had a vivid dream last night: I was playing basketball in a free-standing gym with some guys when I sensed something was very wrong. I pushed open the double doors at the end of the court and saw a massive funnel cloud approaching, cutting a wide path of destruction. I yelled for everyone to run across a large parking lot to a

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-1125070281757564512005-08-26T11:31:00.001-04:002011-10-05T11:27:52.471-04:00

I had my first taste of the strange concoction known as “Green Tea Frappuccino” at Starbucks last night. Hidden in the icey sweetness was the faintest trace of green tea. My Asian friends may cringe at such a thing, but I’ve never been able to resist green beverages, culturally sensitive ones or otherwise. :^) Speaking of green tea, I had a wonderful visit with my cousin a few weeks ago

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-1123002515621850062005-08-02T13:08:00.000-04:002005-12-15T15:38:42.036-05:00

Valaam Cross with Weary Pilgrim Originally uploaded by Aaroneous Monk. When I leave this world I want to be sitting in a bookstore at night,an old man in a big chair, crumpled sweater, baggy corduroys, & wire spectacles. I’ll have just read a beautifully melancholic passage from Kundera, feel warm and sleepy as I lay the book across my belly and nap.The rise and fall of my chest will

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-1119209733688054042005-06-19T15:35:00.000-04:002005-10-13T12:23:47.353-04:00

The Guys are Chillin' Originally uploaded by Aaroneous Monk. Well, this year Father's Day corresponds with the Feast of Pentecost. EK graciously decided to take a long nap at the end of the Liturgy today so that we could stay for the Kneeling Vespers.Afterwards, JB let me decide what we'd do today since it was "my" day. I thought it would be nice to wander around Kensington and check

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-1115742281992948142005-05-10T12:24:00.001-04:002011-10-05T15:17:14.171-04:00

This year was JB's first Mother's Day! I was on my way home Sunday morning from being on call and stopped at Safeway to get flowers. It was around 8:30am and the florist section was abuzz with activity. I found the perfect bundle of multi-colored roses and headed for the checkout. The express lane had about 5-6 guys in it, all with flowers in hand. We all had sheepish grins on our faces,

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-1115295173240910272005-05-05T08:12:00.000-04:002005-05-10T12:36:29.273-04:00

Pure Radiance 2 Originally uploaded by Aaroneous Monk. Awed by the beauty of thy virginity and the exceeding radiance of thy purity, Gabriel stood amazed and cried to thee, O Mother of God: What worthy hymn of praise can I offer unto thee? By what name shall I call thee? I am lost and bewildered. Wherefore as commanded, I cry to thee: Rejoice, O Full of Grace!from the Theotokion at

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-1115044087868983842005-05-02T10:28:00.001-04:002011-10-05T15:18:12.912-04:00

referencing previous post... In speaking to academic well-roundedness I forgot one key ingredient. A sense of humor! EK is so giggly now I don't think it is so much a matter of foreshadowing as a clear and present reality. In contrast to the previous photo, I bring your attention to the "hamming it up" qualities of this photo: 1) he is exposing his belly button, 2) he has cleverly hidden

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-1114692650238108992005-04-28T08:50:00.001-04:002011-10-05T15:19:05.467-04:00

This is a photo of EK on his sheepskin play mat in the living room. It was taken about two months ago when his toy collection pretty much consisted of a Fisher Price "Happy Apple" which we had aggressively bid for and obtained on Ebay. The other item is some kind of geometric-lookin' thingy given to us by some good friends here in Silver Spring (the "noble gas" Xenon, perhaps?). :^) My

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-1114446473344238672005-04-22T12:27:00.002-04:002009-07-01T23:14:16.994-04:00

Nice Bark Originally uploaded by Aaroneous Monk. Abba Xanthios said, "A dog is better than I am, for he has love and he does not judge."The first time I heard this quote it cut me to the bone. I was newly Orthodox and had begun to familiarize myself with some of the writings of the Desert Fathers. Reading their words was like taking a spotlight down into the dank dark basement of my soul

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-1114440155811625402005-04-11T09:42:00.000-04:002005-04-25T12:25:05.090-04:00

Spinach Pies Originally uploaded by Aaroneous Monk. My Brother-in-law was in town this past weekend and made the most scrumptious Spinach Pies. He has a strong affinity for Arabic food and culture. With all the bad publicity regarding the Arab world these days I'd like to affirm them in this little bit of culinary genius. May good food warm our hearts and make the world a more peaceful

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-1112794936627141162005-04-06T09:42:00.000-04:002005-04-06T21:37:14.360-04:00

the listOriginally uploaded by Aaroneous Monk. Received a call at the clinic from my wife with a 4 item "honey do" list. Seems simple enough, but each item was at a different location and I was supposed to get them on my way home from work, during rush hour, in DC.The only way to NOT lose the list was to write it in my palm. The list reads:[] Dry Cleaning[] Camera Batt[] Subs[] DiapersOf note is

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11932303.post-1112723451112078972005-04-05T13:50:00.000-04:002005-04-06T13:08:50.886-04:00

blue window originalOriginally uploaded by Aaroneous Monk. Standing in the warm glow, peering into the cold blue,of my soul........Dedicated to Shok.

A. Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05953024359200535787noreply@blogger.com2