Liver

After the Community Mass yesterday, I went to the Mass "for English speaking friends" which meets in the crypt chapel. THAT was an interesting experience ...in English yes, but definitely multicultural. The music was all contemporary American, but I think I was the only American present. They were very welcoming ...had me sign the Guest Book and all...but I'm not sure I'll repeat the experience.

After lunch I went out to the museums. Turns out they're not free on Sundays, but only cost one euro. The two sculpture museums were OK ... I moved pretty quickly, especially since all the identification tags were in German and reading those got to be a bit taxing. Then I found my way to one of the galleries ... the Altepinothek (or something like that). It's huge, so I decided to target just a section or so, starting with the El Greco. Before I knew it, an hour had passed and it looked to be getting very cloudy outside, so I thought I better head home ... especially since I didn't bring an umbrella. I got back to the Monastery just before the downpour.

Those who know me know that I'll eat (or at least try) anything, except liver ... and coconut. Yesterday at Midday, as the soup came 'round, I found large dumplings (size of tennis balls) in clear broth. But they were an unusual color...kinda grey. So I played safe and took just one, with lots of broth. As soon as I bit into it, I knew ... leberknodel ... liver dunplings. I asked if that's indeed what these were, and received a very enthusiastic response. My simple question then started a bit of discussion among several of the monks around me of whether leberknodel was a German Bavarian specialty or Austrian thing. I gave up trying to follow the discussion, and just ate my dumpling ...with lots of broth. It wasn't sooooooo bad....but I don't think I'll repeat that expereince, either.

As for my schedule .... Morning Office is at 6:00, then, after a brief break, Mass is at 6:50am. I get a quick breakfast then head off to school. I miss the Midday Office and meal, which is at 12:15ff, because class goes till 12:45. Vespers is at 6:15, followed by supper, and then Compline at 7:30. On Saturday and Sunday, Morning Office isn't till 7:00, with Mass at 9:00 ... otherwise the schedule is the same. By time I do computer stuff and get soemthing to eat, it's sometimes 3:00 or later when I get home, so I do some review work and maybe get a little nap before Vespers. I'm most often in bed by 10:00.

Looks like the rain has let up a bit, so I'm gonna head out.