Hanging with the nuns

I have a friend who's thinking of becoming a nun. There's a monastery of contemplative Dominicans up in Menlo Park that she loves and she's already done an aspirancy there. They told her to feel free to visit again and bring her friends, so three of us are going up this weekend. We'll only be there Saturday and Sunday. I'm sorry the visit will be so short, but some silly people have to work. :) Check out the daily schedule of this place:

5:35 AM: Office of Readings and Morning Prayer (Sunday: 6:05)

8:00: Mass

8:40: Terce (Midmorning Prayer)

11:30 Sext (Midday Prayer) followed by private Rosary

12:00PM: Lunch

2:00 -3:00: Profound silence (napping time :-)

3:15: None (Midafternoon Prayer)

5:00: Vespers (Evening Prayer)

6:30: Supper

7:00: Recreation

7:30: Compline (Night Prayer)

9:00: Lights out.

BYOB (Bring Your Own Breviary) I'm so looking forward to this. When our friend showed us pictures of her aspirancy, the chief surprise was how many parties she'd photographed. Those nuns always seemed to be feasting amid balloons or dressing in costume for All Saints' Day or something. They have too much fun up there.

Our plane leaves so early we'll miss morning Mass at our church, and we'll arrive too late for Mass at the monastery. But a very wonderful priest agreed to say a Mass just for us at 5:30 AM. This is a sign we're spoiled.

Okay, if I go to sleep right now I'll get 2.5 hours. :)