Anniversary of the amendment to end slavery

Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Proposition 8 Supporters Can #SuckIt

Proposition 8 Supporters Can #SuckIt

No On 8, Don't Eliminate Marriage For Anyone

No On 8, Don't Eliminate Marriage For Anyone

Kaiser & Zelda=

Homeless in Lexington

These are our people.

Stupid arguments against gay marriage

A list of stupid republican arguments against gay marriage:

• Being gay is not natural. Real Americans always reject unnatural things like eyeglasses, polyester, and air conditioning.

• Gay marriage will encourage people to be gay, in the same way that hanging around tall people will make you tall.

• Legalizing gay marriage will open the door to all kinds of crazy behavior. People may even wish to marry their pets because a dog has legal standing and can sign a marriage contract.

• Straight marriage has been around a long time and hasn't changed at all; women are still property, blacks still can't marry whites, and divorce is still illegal.

• Straight marriage will be less meaningful if gay marriage were allowed; the sanctity of Britany Spears' 55-hour just-for-fun marriage would be destroyed.

• Straight marriages are valid because they produce children. Gay couples, infertile couples, and old people shouldn't be allowed to marry because our orphanages aren't full yet, and the world needs more children.

• Obviously gay parents will raise gay children, since straight parents only raise straight children.

• Being gay is disgusting. Which is why lesbian porn isn't a 3.5 billion dollar a year industry.

• Gay marriage is not supported by religion. In a theocracy like ours, the values of one religion are imposed on the entire country. That's why we have only one religion in America.

• Children can never succeed without a male and a female role model at home. That's why we as a society expressly forbid single parents to raise children.

• Gay marriage will change the foundation of society; we could never adapt to new social norms. Just like we haven't adapted to cars, the service-sector economy, or longer life spans.

The dogs being blessed

The dogs being blessed on the feast of St. Francis.

The dogs asleep

Kaiser asleep on Tom

The dogs asleep tonight (finally).=

homophobic bishop rejects Episcopal Church

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/02/us/02church.html?ref=us

Bush bails out on faith

President Bush went on national tv to scare America into taking his bail-out package. It is either that, or economic armeggedon! His whole mission was to build fear so as to set up his plan as the savior—a plan that as it is written will let the cheaters, the speculators, the richest of rich masters of the universe who were, Bush once proudly claimed as his ‘base’—off the hook and able to retain their many millions and even add to them! Further, complete dictatorial power in the bail-out, who gets what, when and how is with Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, himself a former Wall Street insider at Goldman Sachs.These must be corrected before Congress passes the plan, which I would agree is necessary at this point. Let us remember, that it was 25 years of a volatile Republican mixture of total unregulated free-market supremacy, combined with corrupt bribe taking (campaign cash—and possibly non-campaign cash as well—in exchange for favorable legislation) that got us to this brink, and now they all, John McCain especially, are tripping all over themselves to be Democrats and finally get the government they are so quick to hate to come to the rescue. Great! Adversity makes Democrats of us all.But what struck me about Bush’s scaremongering is that it seemed so out of place from a person who professes such a Christian faith.Bush: “More banks could fail, including some in your community.”Bible: “For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Tim 1:7Bush: “The stock market would drop even more, which would reduce the value of your retirement account.”Bible: Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. Ps 40:4Bush: “The value of your home could plummet. Foreclosures would rise dramatically.”Bible: Let the righteous rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him; let all the upright in heart praise him! Ps 64:10Bush: “If you own a business or farm you would find it harder and more expensive to get credit.”Bible: He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trustingin the LORD. Ps 112:7Bush: “More businesses would close their doors and millions of Americans could lose their jobs.”Bible: It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man or princesPs 118:8-9Bush: “Ultimately, our country could experience a long and painful recession.”Bible: Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your ownunderstanding; Pro 3:5Of course, we must act and act with faith. However, it would be more credible from the nation’s top elected leader if he would act as if he’s actually learned something from past mistakes and also act consistently with his professed beliefs. Wisdom and prudence—absolutely, but fear-mongering has no place at his podium.

Richard F. Dawahare 9/25/08

Zelda napping earlier today.=

The dogs

My Own 2 Feet

A thoughtful poem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmVnrn2bZvw

A witness

I know a Roman Catholic nun here in Lexington who is currently traveling in Columbia with a group called Witness for Peace.

This is an amazing lady. At over 70 years old she is traveling in a foreign country with a group that stands up to and challenges the people (the military and government) who not only sanction but see to it that thousands of innocent people, the vast majority of them poor farmers, are slaughtered every year.

How she does it I don't know. I just pray for her safety.

http://witnessforpeace.org/

Sometimes I just love Sundays

A weird and wonderful Sunday. I found out my father had sold the old scooter (which he had bought for us when we went camping - way back when I was in high school) and I skipped church but yet had a church related get together tonight.

Right now I'm feeling a certain sense of contentment, I'm sure as I awake in the morning and realize it's Monday again, that feeling will certainly decrease, but hopefully only so much.

Right now everyone is asleep, Tom, the dogs. As they should be, it's almost midnite. I should be asleep long ago. But I'm not.

I'm here thinking about the beauty and tragedy of life. Someone who is close to a dear friend of mine, died of a heart attack yesterday.

Life can be so brutal, so short.

But yet, it can be so wonderful, beautiful.

And it's all we have right now. What happens next is such a mystery but I trust it's way better than anything that happens here.

Female bishops in the Church of England

The Church of England has approved women as bishops:

http://anglicanfuture.blogspot.com/2008/07/cofe-synod-passed-motion-on-women-in.html

and

http://www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk/

I almost made a reference that the 'mother church' had decided to follow the path of it's 'child' (The Episcopal Church) in deciding it was after all, ok to consecrate females as bishops. Then I remembered the first bishop in TEC was actually consecrated by the Scottish Episcopal Church.

Nevertheless it is a striking development, there are quite a few evangelical clergy in the Church of England who are quite opposed to such a move. Since this vote just came through today it remains to be seen what exactly they will do.

This definitely puts another spin on the entire Anglican Communion, what with most of the provinces that hate TEC so much also being strongly opposed to female priests, much less female bishops. The horrors! They'd hate to have to actually listen to a woman or a gay man and treat them as an equal.

My niece

So today I went to my parents, to visit for Father's Day and also to see my sister and her daughter who just recently moved back to Kentucky from Florida.
Besides it being kind of hot, and me (and everyone else it seems) being tired, it was fun. My niece probably interacted with me more than ever (she's just two years old).
She has so much character now and didn't take long to warm up to me. That is a big deal considering we have hardly ever seen each other. Just a few times and not for very long each time.

Obama?

What is it about Obama that scares some people?

Is it race? His name? Assuming he's muslim (which is completely false)?

Obama is a fervent supporter of the needy and impoverished, an advocate for the poor, a devout Christian and servant of the people.

Search the facts people.

Kaiser

Kaiser looking out.

Today

Been too much going on to really post. Kind of overwhelming.

I'll start small.

Tonight we're watching 'Postcards From the Edge'. I never have seen it, it's kind of entertaining.

I'm glad it's the weekend.

The dogs are good.

I hope it stops raining soon.

Last meeting with Sr.Kathy

Today I met with my spiritual director for the last time. She is moving back to her community to take a position she was called to. The sadness of the occasion didn't me until the very end (as is normal for my normal male, brutish self).She started to tear up when talking about moving back to her community. My heart fell. I am so caught up in myself. Although I had given some thought to the fact she was making a big transition, her problems and transition had not really entered my thoughts. I can be so selfish.

As we hugged in her office, she made the sign of the cross on my forehead and said something to the effect of, you are blessed, I will miss you Jason. I wanted to cry so bad.

I will miss you too Sister Kathy, I will miss you so much. More than for the wonderful guidance and insight you've given me, I will miss you for your kind face, your infectious laugh and your wonderful spirit. But even more so, you have been present on such an important part of my spiritual journey.

God speed.

Time for bed

Kaiser is conked out in his cage.

Today

Today has been a little off for me. I got up and went to church. Because they had a special service for the youth program and a reception afterwards I didn't get home until almost a quarter till one. Very late to start the rest of the day.
I also had my monthly CCN meeting tonight (church chat as Tom calls it). So as enjoyable as my CCN meeting always is, today was kind of a wash.

Bonsai

This is one of my bonsai trees. Bonsais are an interesting thing, clipping the leaves can be very meditative. Caring for them can become obsessive.

Zelda

Zelda is actually a really good girl. She's the best of the two as far as behaving well. Kaiser is an instigator, is probably more fun in general and has a really good bark. Zelda can be so very annoying because she constantly wants someone to throw a toy for to go and fetch. Morning, noon or night she wants to be catching a ball, squeaky toy or something else.

Regardless, she is a good girl. She is a great nap buddy and her affection when coming home from work is unparalleled.

My obsession (one of)

Sometimes I think being obsessed with the dogs is a bad thing. Like being obsessed with velvet Elvis paintings or old 70's muscle cars. Something other people might look down on.

But then I am always reminded how special they are.

Every morning after the blaring alarm clock jolts me into reality, I drag myself out of bed after hitting the snooze button at least twice. Kaiser acts like he needs to go out to do his business, but as soon as he sees an empty spot on the bed (my spot) he runs for it. I guess a good warm spot on the bed is hard to turn down.

Zelda on the other hand basically tears a rut in the carpet getting downstairs and out the backdoor so she can go out. And when she comes back in she is full of energy and affection for a couple of brief moments. Then she starts scanning the floor for toys like a minuteman brigade scanning the border for immigrants.

As soon as she finds a toy, your peaceful morning with a cup of coffee and the paper are over.

But alas, it's really worth it. As my mornings have become accustomed to a repetition of throwing a soggy ball or piece of a former chew toy for Zelda, I am reminded these are also children of God, I love them very much and my life wouldn't be normal nor complete without them.

Tenn women win it all

Tennessee won the women's bball title tonight. I can't stand the UT football team or their men's bball team, but I'm a huge fan of their women's team. I'm also a big fan of Pat Summit. So cheers to the UT Vols.

https://webmail.herald-leader.com/lexmail/

Tamiflu sucks

The folks came up to visit and to take me out to dinner this past Monday. It was great to see them and have a good meal down at Suggins.

The next morning though, I woke up around 2 am vomiting, I barely made it into the bathroom. I spent the next few hours being sick and debating whether or not to go into work. Around 8 am, after having showered and gotten ready I finally realized there wasn't a chance I was going to make it to work. I called in sick, although I made it in that afternoon for a little bit.

I was off Wednesday as well and although I went in Thursday, I was worthless. Friday I felt better but nowhere near 100%.

I went to my doctor on Thursday, he didn't think I had anything major. He offered to prescribe me Tamiflu just in case. I said sure, thinking I would take anything to be well once and for all.

Come to find out Tamiflu has major side effects. Nauseua, dizziness, vertigo etc. The upside is Tamiflu can cut short the flu by *one* day. Are all of those side effects worth the freakin *one* day? I don't really think so.

Tamiflu made me feel awful so I quit taking it. Since then I have felt better and better.

Who thought Tamiflu was a good idea?

Easter

Easter is here!

The Great Vigil of Easter

Tonight I attended the Great Vigil of Easter service at church. Two years ago this was the service where I was baptized. I was originally told back then it was the greatest service in the church year and the church would be packed and the service would last at least two hours etc.
Well, to be honest it didn't live up to it's billing. And last year I was running the sound so I didn't really connect with what was going on.
Tonight, I wasn't optimistic but I went. Considering it's supposed to the highlight of the year for the church and all. I was ok starting out, nothing special. But I have to admit something happened midway through. I won't go so far to say anything drastic, but it was special.
The service starts in darkness and moves into light. As we have been in Lent and dwelling darkness. And especially since Good Friday where we have been dwelling in death, lonliness and whatnot. The Vigil of Easter is special.
Like I said at the beginning, I wasn't quite sure about this one, even skeptical. As it began and continued I was ok, but still not moved. We sat in darkness with our candles, listening to the Old Testament readings. Then the lights came on and everything was supposed to be glorious. I did find my glory though. As we moved from darkness into light I realized the bonds, the weight, the cross even, that we were all supposed to bear for the last 40 days, were gone now. We were free, we could be happy, even rejoice in church and not have to kneel and grovel and ask for forgiveness. When I realized that, I could barely keep myself from smiling and indeed almost laughing out loud at the joy I felt. Thank God it's Easter!
Right now I'm worn out and would love to sleep in tomorrow, but I still feel the need to get up to back to church. Not just because Tom's sister might be going and is expecting my phone call but because it completes the cycle.

Maundy Thursday

The Thursday before Easter is traditionally referred to as Maundy Thursday in the Anglican church, and I believe the Roman Catholic church (although they tend to refer to it simply as Holy Thursday).

The term Maundy comes from "Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos" ("A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you"), the statement by Jesus in the Gospel of John (13:34) by which Jesus explained to the Apostles the significance of his action of washing their feet. (from wikipedia).

This is also the day which we signify that Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist in the form of the Last Supper.

Within the Episcopal Church we also signify this day by the descent into darkness as associated with Good Friday. At the end of the service the altar is stripped and the lights are slowly turned down to the point of darkness. At the end the congregation is left in darkness with an empty and stark altar, no choir, no clergy. Just themselves and God.

I think the dogs are out.

Dogs went crazy

The dogs managed to get hold of a couple of branches of the palm trees (even though all the plants are barricaded from them) and the results ended up in the middle of the living room floor.

When I went to vacuum (and upstairs on the white carpet I normally just vacuum up similar looking leaves with the vacuum) I started to see bright green streaks on the carpet. The palm fronds were leaving stains!!

Luckily with the carpet cleaner I was able to get everything up. I had a heart attack for a moment thinking the carpet was stained.

I noticed that Kaiser actually had to (it could only have been him - Zelda doesn't have the length) rear up on one of the chairs and actually bite a couple of the palm ends off.

Oh well, I suppose it's better than destroying the furniture.

The dogs had a heyday

This picture doesn't do it justice, but after we went out for just a little bit for dinner tonight, we came home to find the dogs had spread dirt and fronds from one of the palms, throughout the house.

Kaiser

Kaiser is out tonight.

The bishop of San Joaquin deposed

The bishop of San Joaquin has been formerly deposed (i.e. defrocked). This has been coming for awhile.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jDZX3K59yZ25znkruveYwlCs3VmgD8VC7O004

Work

Sometimes things just look bleak.

At work my manager is going to be out an additional week. The supervisor won't be back until Tuesday.

We are all way stressed about everything. And to boot next week is the Sweet 16 basketball tournament which means extra work for everyone.

Tom's stocks are in the hole, his work is crap too.

Sigh.

A pic from our Italy trip 06

I thought I'd post a picture from our Italy trip (now almost two years ago). This is a picture of a cloister from an old monastery. The monastery is no longer in use, but you can begin to imagine the monks walking through these corridors decades and centuries ago.

Obama wins Mississippi

Obama is going to win Mississippi. Probably by a good margin. What does this mean? Well, he's stepping more and more towards the nomination. He's building his lead in: the number of states he's won, the number of delegats he's won and the popular vote margin.

Dry bones

Today's reading from the old testament was about the valley of dry bones (Ezekiel 37).

From the first time I heard this passage at the Great Vigil of Easter where I was baptized (and am sure to hear it again on the upcoming Great Vigil), I have always thought this one of the most provoking passages of the Bible.

An entire valley of dry bones, 'very dry bones'. No life had been present there for a long time. But yet God breathed life into these bones.

So much we learn about our faith is centered on the idea of dying to our old self before we can attain our new self. Here we have a direct representation of that. Death becomes life. The old becomes new. Dead, dry bones take on new life.

Are we (am I?) truly ready to become dry and dead so that we may attain new life?

Obama wins Wyoming

Obama has whipped Hillary in Wyoming.

After her surprising success on March 4th, he appears to have slowed whatever momentum she was experiencing.

I've said this to everyone who asks, I like them both. I prefer Hillary, but at this point, from a mathematical standpoint, Obama is going to win unless he makes an absolute historical blunder, a la Gary Hart in 1987 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Hart

I know this won't make me popular with some people I know, but I'm trying to figure out Hillary's motive here. If she were to hang on, win Pennsylvania, probably Kentucky and a couple other states that are left, she would still trail in the pledged delegate count. Is she hoping to swing the super delegates? I guess she is, but as much of a fan as I am of hers, if she were to somehow convince the super delegates to go her way and give the nomination to her (thus overriding the will of the people who voted in the primaries and caucuses), it would destroy the democratic party and any hope for a victory in November.

Zelda is out

Jason

Sent from my mobile device=

Tom w/ his new phone

Tom playing with his new phone.=

The kids tonight, finally at rest.

One of our dog's, Zelda, wanting to play.

She wants to play fetch 24/7.

Saturday

I thought Saturdays were supposed to be at least a little fun or maybe somewhat relaxing.

I started off today falling down the iced over steps on the deck, I'm ok though. I was on my way out to pick up dog poop in the back yard. By hand I add. By hand because our current pooper scooper isn't worth crap (pun intended). Need I mention it's cold outside and most of the yard is frozen? So picking up dog poop by hand with a kroger bag quickly leads to sore and frozen fingers.
And to boot I ended up with poop smears on my hands, pants and coat.

So after cleaning up we went to Sam's Club. I should add I despise Sam's. Tons of people with flat-bed push carts loaded down with beef jerky and gallon drums of instant mashed potatoes stopping in the middle of the isle for no apparent reason.

Beyond that, UK won and the dogs are driving me crazy.