The Church Of Ste. Genevieve

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There is a very impressive Catholic church in Ste. Genevieve. Not surprising, since the town was founded in 1735 by French Catholics, but it was in beautiful condition for a place that has seen much better days.

While we were looking around, I heard what sounded like quiet arpeggios. Their source was unclear. It hit me that the music was Baroque. Then the bass notes of the organ dug under the delicate top line. When I looked at the choir loft I saw someone at the console but could not make out the person. A telephoto lens did a better job. The boy in the picture below couldn't be much more than 12 but he played with great assurance and technique.

Note the On Air sign on the wall. There must have been radio broadcasts of the organ or choir at one time.

The Sacred and the Profane

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This bizarre combination of messages is on the Catholic church in my neighborhood. Maybe if you become Catholic you get a discount on admission to the mouse races ($15 seems a bit steep). But then that would be unfair to the people who already were Catholic before the races were scheduled. What happens at church-sponsored mouse races, anyway? It this some form of rodent abuse in which the little critters are forced to leap through hoops of rosary beads and piles of burning incense to reach their eternal reward? Should we call down the animal protection office on the archbishop? Maybe being Catholic is more exciting than you think.

WHAT I THOUGHT ABOUT THE VP DEBATE: as I write this near the end, Palin is doing a creditable job. No gaffes. Articulate, well-prepared and confident. Biden is coming across as even better-spoken. He's not babbling on or being condescending. He is more authoritative, knowledgeable and seasoned. Biden won. But then I am biased (see left sidebar). In any event, there was a lot less BS than at the first Obama-McCain debate last week. And both of them are a lot warmer then the heads of their tickets.

TOMORROW: Iron Chef?