Sunday Stealing

The Dirty Dozen Meme

1. This weather is really..... sunny. Yea!

2. You think you've seen it all, you should see me.... wiggle my ear. It's delighted the generations of children I've babysat.

 3. I'm sure you would still love me even if... you saw what a terrible housekeeper I am.

 4. I think I have finally realized... that not everyone needs to hear every thought I have.

 5. Since the last time we linked up... um, this is embarrassing but I wasn't aware that we had linked up.

 6. I get super embarrassed... when anyone hears me sing.

 7. I really thought by now... I'd be more domestically inclined.

8. If I thought no one would read it, I would write about... There really isn't anything. This humble blog pretty much sums me up.

9. I knew I was in the wrong place... when I saw two pairs of shoes under the bathroom stall door, and they were facing in the same direction.

10. I am so not above... reality TV.

11. Let's pretend... that tonight will live forever if we close our eyes and believe it might come true. So darling, darling, hold me ... (I'm such a sap for a love song.)



12. Just you wait... Henry Higgins, just you wait!

I'd like my faith back, please

I am both patriotic and Christian. Like Thomas Jefferson and John F. Kennedy, I believe strongly in the separation of Church and State. I don't think either my faith or my country is well-served when the State is too formally infused by the Church.

I'm offended by neighboring Indiana using my faith to sanction bigotry against gays. Yes, I know scripture can be quoted that damns homosexuality. But scripture can also be quoted about not touching pigskin, which means every Notre Dame football player is going to Hell and the concussive brain damage former NFL players are suffering is a punishment from God. So let's not even go there. 

I remember watching, slack jawed, in 2012 when Rev. Franklin Graham talked about how Newt Gingrich was a "Christian candidate" because he's a (twice divorced) Catholic but the Mormon Mitt Romeny wasn't. I can't foresee any eventuality that would have me voting for Mitt Romney, but I admire the way he has raised his sons and honors his wife. Romney says he believes in Christ and that's between him and Jesus. There's no Gal in that equation. It's offensive that any mortal would try to insert themselves into a relationship so personal and so dear.

And then there was the incident that made me want to "throw up," when Rick Santorum went off on JFK's landmark 1960 speech about his Catholic faith. Then-candidate Kennedy said he believed in an America that wasn't officially Catholic, Protestant or Jewish, where "where religious liberty is so indivisible that an act against one church is treated as an act against all." Is Santorum's own faith so fragile that the acknowledgement of others threatens it?

I look at the countries where there is a state religion, and I'm proud to say that as Americans, we've got it all over them.

This is the week that leads up to Easter. Obviously the Resurrection is very, very important to me. The message to me is that love ultimately conquers all. After all, God's love for us overcame His son's death, giving us Eternal Life. So yes, in my heart I believe that Christianity is the most wonderful, true and joyous way to live.

But that's in my heart. Not in my ballot box. Not in my legislature. The way my neighbors worship isn't, and shouldn't, be my business.

And please, Indianans, don't go discriminating in the name of my Christian faith. Thank you.

A Saturday in Spring

It was cold -- about 30º -- but dry and sunny. I dragged my big old down coat to the cleaners and took Frank Sinatra to the coffee shop for eggs scrambled with ham and read about how he managed to avoid military service in WWII.*

I got home and was lazy, indulging in a little Bonanza (thank you Me-TV) and taking a nap. Then I hurried to the bus stop so I could use my last Goodwill Sale coupons at Carson's. I sprained my ankle crossing the busy street to the catch the bus. It didn't bother me much while I was shopping.

I refreshed my sock drawer (1 navy, 1 light blue and 3 black) and bought some Clinique for myself and my niece. I also picked up a pair of bracelets at crazy low prices. Less than $15! I'm giving the "friendship" bracelet to Mindy for her November birthday because she always says I'm "a friend for the ages." I'm giving my oldest friend the "love/laugh" bracelet because 1) no one makes me laugh like she does and 2) she needs to remember she's not alone because she has me. My oldest friend's birthday isn't until December. I must remember where I put these bracelets! That's the downside to doing my shopping in advance.

I still had some coupons left and forgot I could have used them on carsons.com. Dammit! Oh well. I got bargains and Goodwill got donations so it's all good.

Then I stopped at Tony's. It's a local grocery chain -- less than a dozen stores -- that has a much bigger and cheaper selection than my usual haunts, Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. I seldom shop there because the bus ride to and fro adds $4.50 to my grocery bill. Hell, I can have a whole order delivered by Peapod for $6! But since Carson's is walking distance to Tony's, I figured what the hell. I was quite happy with my purchases in the meat department, my Sara Lee bread (I like white bread, so sue me!) and the less-than-a-dollar addition I picked up for the food pantry (Idaho Spuds Mashed Potato Mix). It's crazy how much I enjoy shopping new grocery stores, but I do.

I got home and my ankle started hurting like crazy. When I was at the store, it was stiff but fine. Once I stopped shopping … ow, ow, ow! That tells you something about retail therapy, doesn't it?

I watched the Columbo marathon on the Hallmark Mystery Channel until I went to bed. Happy to see it's still on this morning. I never watched Columbo when it was on the first time and find it Monk-like and charming. Also, with all the news stories about the German plane crash, I need escapism. I'll be flying to LA in a few weeks, and if I think too much about that crash I'll have an even harder time getting on that plane to the coast.

*He was 4F, a classification that was controversial at the time.