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Time for a little break from things Episcopal. After sharing recent Episcopal Bishops in Oklahoma, I thought I'd share this historic shot of a young Rt Rev Dr Omed. Dr. Omed is the Prelate, of sorts, of the Seventh Day Atheist Aztec Baptist Synod. Which, incidentally, claims no God, no guilt, no heaven.

This picture dates from 1987. We see the learned doctor in communion with a spiritual ancestor.

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Copes of bishops past.

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Soon-to-be retired Bishop Robert M. Moody makes his name tag at the reception honoring the consecration of his successor.

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Helen and Gerald, with Betsy. Gerald was Bishop of Oklahoma from sometime in the 70s until 1987.

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Katharine Jefferts Schori (center), Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church USA, meets Sadie and Moses, of the Joy Mennonite Church; Moses is the church's former minister.

The Mennonites are radical pacifists, and Sadie and Moses have been very involved in OKC's peace movement. I imagine Sadie is talking to PB Katharine about the up-coming Spiritual Walk for Peace.

I made a point of introducing the couple to PB - although I had barely met her myself.

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Now, on to "consecration weekend", which began with a reception Friday evening, Sept. 14. Pictured is Myra, a 91 year-old Anglican from Barbados, and Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori. In the background is Myra's son-in-law (and my friend), Hank.

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The High Altar at St Paul's Cathedral (Episcopal) in downtown Oklahoma City. There a number of challenges in taking a picture of the altar - light reflects off the marble altar (the marble was imported from Italy); the stained glass windows emit enough back light to throw off a light meter; and the surrounding dark wood absorbs most of the light provided by the six or seven spots. I resolved this by bringing in a pair of studio lights, using 100 ASA (slowest speed available in my Rebel), and closing down the F-stop.

The studio lights, by the way, are hidden behind the columns defining each side of the vaulted arch.

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The Oakerhater Window at St Paul's Cathedral. The structure is the sundance lodge. The figure in the lower left hand corner is a sundancer. This drawing served as David Oakerhater's signature; his name roughly translates as "Making Medicine", meaning he was a sort of medicine man and that he participated in the Sundance.

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The Honor Dance continued until way past dark. That light you see in the upper left-hand corner is a street lamp, which is situated at the edge of the property. This picture was taken sometime between 8 and 9 p.m.

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After the dedication of the Whirlwind Mission, we observed the annual Oakerhater Honor Dance.

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A closer look at the drum altar from yesterday. The drum as used to lead prayer in many Native American ceremonies.

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Before I share pictures from this past weekend, I wanted to share shots from the previous weekend (9/08), when we dedicated the Whirlwind Mission of the Holy Family in Watonga, OK.

Seen here is the sanctuary. In the far rear is the church's banner. In front of that is the podium. Then the prayer drum altar. In the lower right-hand corner is the baptismal basin.

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This is from an archive of pictures Padre took. I have few clues as to when this picture was taken, but I would guess sometime in the early- to mid-60s.

Padre was quite the amateur photographer. I have clear memories of him converting the kitchen into a dark room. He would wait for the new moon, and work very late at night. I remember staying up with him one time. I complained about the smell of the chemicals. But I enjoyed being with him more than I disliked the smell.

I spent Saturday morning scanning a number of historic photos that I sent on to Brother Dave. It reminded me of how important these pictures can be to later generations. Something comforting in the history, I think.

Ironically, I spent the weekend as a photographer, marking events in our church's history. This weekend marked the consecration and seating of the seventh bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma, The Rev. Dr. Edward J. Konieczny. Odds are I will be sharing several pictures from the weekend in the days to come.

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There are some flaws in this panoramic shot of the fence I've been sharing the past few days. Hopefully, it will give you a sense of what the thing looks like as a whole.

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Panel four of four.

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Panel three of four.

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Panel two of four.

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For the next four days, I'll be sharing panels from this fence, which runs on the north side of the former "Back Door Cafe" (see Sept 3).

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Today is the 6th anniversary of the fall of the twin towers. The "attack on America" included a plane crashing into the side of the Pentagon, and another crashing into a field in Pennsylvania (presumably en route to Washington, DC).

Ironically, it is also the anniversary of the day I interviewed for my current position. The first plane hit shortly after our interview began. The second one hit shortly after that. Though this colored the interview, I don't think it affected the decision to hire me.

The Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield is also this week, as it was that year. Many performers could not make it that year, or were late, because all flights were grounded. One performer spent his time entertaining people in a soccer stadium in Great Britain.

It was a fugue week. It was hard to be present to much more than my shock, and the shock of others.

Most of us now understand that Iraq had nothing to do with that day. While I didn't agree with the decision to attack Afghanistan, I understood the revengeful desire behind it. Iraq, on the other hand, was entirely the wrong war at the wrong time for the wrong reason. Diversion of troops to Iraq lessened the effectiveness of US troops in Afghanistan.

While most of us have forgotten Afghanistan, it must be noted that it is almost as much a fiasco as Iraq. Tribal leaders have regained power. The Taliban is renewing its influence. Opium production has returned to pre-Taliban levels.

The moral I draw on this anniversary is that times of crisis, such as 9/11/01, are times when the public must scrutinize claims and decisions with extra caution. It is too easy to move forward, or to be manipulated, based on the desire for revenge.

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Another example of a business in the "Asian District": a bank designed in a stereotypical "pagoda" style.

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I promised sample pictures of unique businesses in the "Asian District" along Classen Blvd. I count at least three languages in this sign: English, Spanish, and (I assume) Vietnamese.

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These signs represent a portion of my ten-block constitutional (taken two weeks ago). These unique "Asian District" street signs begin at NW 21st and Classen, and end around NW 34th.

There's an amazing number of Asian businesses - Chinese, Laotian, Vietnamese - along this corridor. The next couple of pictures will share representative examples.

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I don't have a photograph of the image I want to share for this particular "Cat Friday". So I shall try my best to describe it.

DJ ("Dame Julian") has a number of windows she runs to for bird watching and foreign cat monitoring. At least once a week, when I think I have the bathroom to myself, I see a cat-shaped silhouette on the blinds.

There's three windows that face the back yard, where most of the bird programming takes place: kitchen, dining room, and my bedroom. I have heavy blue curtains up in the bedroom. There's a chair just in front of the window.

This past Saturday I saw a cat fanny perched on the back of the chair. Her body was curved about the left side of the curtain. Her front paws (one presumes) were balanced on the window sill.

I ran to get my camera, but she had moved to a different view port by the time I returned.

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Section of side walk on the east side of Classen. This is the only area I saw, in the few blocks I walked, which had bricks. The section seems fairly well-kept, considering the lot is empty.

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This shop recently moved for the third time (to my knowledge). Pictured here is the second location, in a plaza on the southwest corner of NW 30th and Classen. It was previously further north, on Western.

It now has a new name (something like "Hippie Shop"), and is located around 2100 N. Shartel.

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This Trumpet Vine has taken over a fence to east-north-east of the jeep shown below. This fence delineates the eastern edge of the former deli's property.

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As promised (Wed, Aug 29) the reason this coffee shop/deli was called "Jeep on a Stick". So far as I know, this was never the official place of the place. The sign on the gate reads "Back Door Cafe"; one had to enter through the back.

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A detail of the milk bottle. In an e-mail, Brother Dave tells me this grocery was one of two places on the "north side" (north of the Canadian River) which sold 3.2 beers to minors when he was a teen.

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The plaque commemorating the "Milk Bottle Grocery", pictured below (Thursday, Aug 30).