Much to my relief, Proposition 8 stands, and California's constitution defines marriage as between a man and a woman. So far, the attacks on LDS facilities I feared (based on the misconduct of gay "marriage" advocates back when 8 passed) have not materialized, but it's only been six hours as I type this. We shall see.
The excellent blog "Thinking in a Marrow Bone" has an article that I think makes some very valid points regarding what comes next if gay "marriage" becomes legal. I agree completely with the writer, and in fact am surprised that gay "marriage" advocates aren't also advocating polygamy, incestuous marriage, or pedophilia as "oppressed sexual minorities". They're only interested in getting what they want, like most immature types who can't bear the existence of rules against their wishes.
Please read carefully: I do NOT claim that homosexuals are pedophiles (with the exception of those creeps at NAMBLA and like-minded organizations that actively advocate adult/child sex). Pedophiles, however, claim they're an oppressed and persecuted sexual minority who were "born that way" (sound familiar?). I'm quite sure they'll start claiming that legal protection for gay adults that doesn't include them is in itself discriminatory, and in logical terms, they'd be right. To be consistent, gay "marriage" advocates would have to also want protection for other "alternative lifestyles".
Pardon me while I get my stomach under control.
Contrary to the claims of the gay crowd, I (a Temple-married LDS woman) do not hate them as people. I have a gay uncle with a partner who's been consistently in the picture for nearly my entire life (said partner is great, and I accord him honorary uncle status). I have gay neighbors I'm friendly with. Disagreeing with your lifestyle choices does not mean I hate you as a human being. It simply means I disagree with your decisions. I don't agree with any lifestyle choices outside God's laws of chastity and virtue. God's law on sexuality is simple: complete chastity before lawful marriage, complete fidelity during same. I understand that this can be a struggle, especially in an over-sexualized society (I am human), but God's not going to change His eternal laws to accord with mortal whim, and yes, you CAN control your sexual urges and channel them in morally appropriate ways.
I do hate some philosophies, such as the "no right and wrong, my feelings decide morality" that is so common in modern society. Simply put, whether you like it or not, God has given us moral laws for our benefit. You can certainly choose to disregard those laws, but you can't force everyone else to do so. Nor do you get to claim the sacred relation of marriage without living to be worthy of that eternal blessing. God will never decide that the sacred relation of marriage can exist between two men or two women, not when the family is the fundamental building block of our eternal destiny (not to mention our earthly society). See the Proclamation on the Family for the way it is, whether human "wisdom" concurs or not.
Assuming California is not destroyed by the riots that will probably result from Proposition 8 standing, one can hope other states will follow our lead and stand for the family and for God's laws.
[minor edit to correct a grammatical error about half an hour after original posting]
26 May 2009
13 May 2009
Probably Going To Be Another Fifteen Years
As I posted last Wednesday evening, I was heading from Sacramento to the Oregon coast following my grandfather's death. DH was able to arrange to take his week of paid vacation on very short notice to come with me (otherwise, would have taken Amtrak). I was also able to arrange to have next-door neighbor pet-sit.
Well, after a 500-mile drive, turned out there was no service or memorial of any description for my grandfather (which I had not been told would be the case) and my mother found going shopping with someone she knows locally rather higher on the priority list than spending any time with a daughter she hadn't seen in person in fifteen years (in not quite 48 hours, about three hours of contact and I was apparently the only one capable of picking up a phone to find out if we were going to see each other at all), so on Saturday evening (after having arrived on Thursday evening), DH and I headed off to see an uncle of mine about an hour away. We were both getting bad cabin fever and I really resented how low I was on the priority list. Yes, I understand my mother works nights and that she does need to sleep. I do not understand her apparent inability to reschedule outings with local acquaintances or her apparent inability to pick up a phone (or drop e-mail, since I had my laptop along and she knew it) to advise me of her schedule.
Overnighted with uncle and his wife (lovely people, they're great), went to church Sunday morning, ran laundry at uncle & aunt's house, headed home. Arrived 1am-ish on Monday (this is not an outrageous time for a household that includes a swing-shift worker to be up at). After a day or two of recovery, including DH marathoning all six Star Wars movies, we got some errands run and he's back at work tomorrow.
Today was nice, except for a heat wave brewing. DH and I got in a Temple trip, remembered to replace his very beaten-up slippers, and are relaxing at home. I'm looking forward to getting back into my life's normal pattern.
Frankly, it may well be another fifteen years (if then) before I head north again, given how this trip went. By contrast, the last couple of times we've visited DH's family in Santa Barbara, we got a bit more family attention than I felt entirely comfortable with. Would be nice to be able to average the mothers together.
DMIL was evacuated for a few days, and is now back at her place, with the latest wildfire under control. Her gift was delayed until Monday, but I can't fault FedEx for that, since the evacuation got in the way. Pictures of the tote bag will be posted sometime soon.
Well, after a 500-mile drive, turned out there was no service or memorial of any description for my grandfather (which I had not been told would be the case) and my mother found going shopping with someone she knows locally rather higher on the priority list than spending any time with a daughter she hadn't seen in person in fifteen years (in not quite 48 hours, about three hours of contact and I was apparently the only one capable of picking up a phone to find out if we were going to see each other at all), so on Saturday evening (after having arrived on Thursday evening), DH and I headed off to see an uncle of mine about an hour away. We were both getting bad cabin fever and I really resented how low I was on the priority list. Yes, I understand my mother works nights and that she does need to sleep. I do not understand her apparent inability to reschedule outings with local acquaintances or her apparent inability to pick up a phone (or drop e-mail, since I had my laptop along and she knew it) to advise me of her schedule.
Overnighted with uncle and his wife (lovely people, they're great), went to church Sunday morning, ran laundry at uncle & aunt's house, headed home. Arrived 1am-ish on Monday (this is not an outrageous time for a household that includes a swing-shift worker to be up at). After a day or two of recovery, including DH marathoning all six Star Wars movies, we got some errands run and he's back at work tomorrow.
Today was nice, except for a heat wave brewing. DH and I got in a Temple trip, remembered to replace his very beaten-up slippers, and are relaxing at home. I'm looking forward to getting back into my life's normal pattern.
Frankly, it may well be another fifteen years (if then) before I head north again, given how this trip went. By contrast, the last couple of times we've visited DH's family in Santa Barbara, we got a bit more family attention than I felt entirely comfortable with. Would be nice to be able to average the mothers together.
DMIL was evacuated for a few days, and is now back at her place, with the latest wildfire under control. Her gift was delayed until Monday, but I can't fault FedEx for that, since the evacuation got in the way. Pictures of the tote bag will be posted sometime soon.
06 May 2009
Glenn Orville Gardner, 19 June 1914 - 6 May 2009
My grandfather passed away this evening, at about 8:30pm Pacific time. He had been ill for some time, and had developed both congestive heart failure and end-stage renal failure.
The last time I saw him in person was in 1995, during my honeymoon. I hadn't been able to travel to see him since, and his health did not permit him to make the trip.
I'll write up a more detailed bio for him later. Right now, I'm trying to deal with travel arrangements. I'm not as bad off emotionally as my mother for several reasons: she lived near him so had more of a relationship to him, she was there when he died, and I have the comfort of the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation, and that this is only a temporary separation until I pass through the veil. She doesn't have that faith, so is having a harder time.
On top of this problem, DMIL is dealing with a wildfire in the Santa Barbara area. It's not TOO near her house - yet. Also, landlady is having to have the locks changed after she lost a keyring with keys to apartments. Think we could maybe spread the crises out next time?
The last time I saw him in person was in 1995, during my honeymoon. I hadn't been able to travel to see him since, and his health did not permit him to make the trip.
I'll write up a more detailed bio for him later. Right now, I'm trying to deal with travel arrangements. I'm not as bad off emotionally as my mother for several reasons: she lived near him so had more of a relationship to him, she was there when he died, and I have the comfort of the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation, and that this is only a temporary separation until I pass through the veil. She doesn't have that faith, so is having a harder time.
On top of this problem, DMIL is dealing with a wildfire in the Santa Barbara area. It's not TOO near her house - yet. Also, landlady is having to have the locks changed after she lost a keyring with keys to apartments. Think we could maybe spread the crises out next time?
04 May 2009
More Unrelated Stuff
This may be fairly normal around here, posts that include two or more topics that are on my mind at that time. :-)
1. So far, my "worry? me?" husband seems to be right that the swine/H1N1 flu outbreak has been rather exaggerated by the media and causing undue anxiety. At least at this stage. I happened across an article on CNN's site that suggests we're going to have a lot more cause to worry in a few months.
2. Can anyone explain to me how "hate crime" legislation is not:
a) creating a category of "crimethink", in which one receives criminal penalties for one's thoughts/motivations?
b) declaring some citizens more valuable than others, by imposing greater penalties for crimes against members of "protected" groups?
Just try to ask any PC type that question and brace yourself for venomous ranting about how even asking such questions "proves" you've been brainwashed by the "religious right". (Interesting phrase that. Does it mean that the religious ARE right? I certainly think so (grin).) Seems to me that George Orwell definitely saw this coming, with a) covered by 1984, and b) covered by Animal Farm ("some are more equal than others").
To my thinking, the same crime should be given the same punishment, regardless of the victim's race, sex, religion, age, choice of lifestyle, etc. Wouldn't that be actual justice, to treat all citizens as equally valued, thus the same crime yields the same punishment for the offender? As for adding to the punishment because the offender's motive is deemed "prejudiced", "bigoted", etc., for one thing, how do you prove what someone is thinking? Also, doesn't the Constitution protect freedom of thought, no matter how repugnant your thoughts might be to society as a whole?
1. So far, my "worry? me?" husband seems to be right that the swine/H1N1 flu outbreak has been rather exaggerated by the media and causing undue anxiety. At least at this stage. I happened across an article on CNN's site that suggests we're going to have a lot more cause to worry in a few months.
2. Can anyone explain to me how "hate crime" legislation is not:
a) creating a category of "crimethink", in which one receives criminal penalties for one's thoughts/motivations?
b) declaring some citizens more valuable than others, by imposing greater penalties for crimes against members of "protected" groups?
Just try to ask any PC type that question and brace yourself for venomous ranting about how even asking such questions "proves" you've been brainwashed by the "religious right". (Interesting phrase that. Does it mean that the religious ARE right? I certainly think so (grin).) Seems to me that George Orwell definitely saw this coming, with a) covered by 1984, and b) covered by Animal Farm ("some are more equal than others").
To my thinking, the same crime should be given the same punishment, regardless of the victim's race, sex, religion, age, choice of lifestyle, etc. Wouldn't that be actual justice, to treat all citizens as equally valued, thus the same crime yields the same punishment for the offender? As for adding to the punishment because the offender's motive is deemed "prejudiced", "bigoted", etc., for one thing, how do you prove what someone is thinking? Also, doesn't the Constitution protect freedom of thought, no matter how repugnant your thoughts might be to society as a whole?
30 April 2009
Laying In and Laying Low
OK, maybe not the most grammatically correct title, but it works for me. :-)
Here in Sacramento, swine flu has been reported, so I'm doing my best to minimize exposure for both myself and DH. I just completed a grocery run that should hopefully, when combined with stuff we had already, hold us for two weeks (by then, this should be winding down or over, right?). I went early enough that stores were lightly populated and did not take DH. He's the one with a job right now, so it would be a bigger problem if he were to miss work and lose income. Better that I be the one exposed to the general population, since it would be inconvenient but not a major problem for me to be ill.
Long's (in my area, in the process of becoming CVS) was setting up a display of cold/flu stuff, hand sanitizer, gloves, and masks. WalMart did not have such a display, but did have hand sanitizer readily available on entry (I did employ some on my shopping cart handle as well as my hands. You never know).
The grocery run went fine, but I'm still bewildered about the bagger at Trader Joe's who thought putting a 1/2 gallon container of soy milk on top of a loaf of bread was a good idea.
At this point, the only exposure we're likely to have is DH going to work and our church attendance. Usually on Saturday, we go out for lunch, but I think this week we're getting something delivered. Must remember that it's Fast Sunday this week.
Big project for the next few days: finishing DMIL's Mother's Day gift, which is a plastic canvas needlepoint tote bag she requested (this is the second one, she's used the first one to death). I'll probably wind up having to ship it express, which is my own fault for not finishing the project sooner.
Traffic was pretty light (in Sacramento, this is always a good thing) and the general intelligence level of that traffic seemed higher than normal for here. Sacramento drivers are crazy.
Here in Sacramento, swine flu has been reported, so I'm doing my best to minimize exposure for both myself and DH. I just completed a grocery run that should hopefully, when combined with stuff we had already, hold us for two weeks (by then, this should be winding down or over, right?). I went early enough that stores were lightly populated and did not take DH. He's the one with a job right now, so it would be a bigger problem if he were to miss work and lose income. Better that I be the one exposed to the general population, since it would be inconvenient but not a major problem for me to be ill.
Long's (in my area, in the process of becoming CVS) was setting up a display of cold/flu stuff, hand sanitizer, gloves, and masks. WalMart did not have such a display, but did have hand sanitizer readily available on entry (I did employ some on my shopping cart handle as well as my hands. You never know).
The grocery run went fine, but I'm still bewildered about the bagger at Trader Joe's who thought putting a 1/2 gallon container of soy milk on top of a loaf of bread was a good idea.
At this point, the only exposure we're likely to have is DH going to work and our church attendance. Usually on Saturday, we go out for lunch, but I think this week we're getting something delivered. Must remember that it's Fast Sunday this week.
Big project for the next few days: finishing DMIL's Mother's Day gift, which is a plastic canvas needlepoint tote bag she requested (this is the second one, she's used the first one to death). I'll probably wind up having to ship it express, which is my own fault for not finishing the project sooner.
Traffic was pretty light (in Sacramento, this is always a good thing) and the general intelligence level of that traffic seemed higher than normal for here. Sacramento drivers are crazy.
29 April 2009
Just Some Stuff Stuck In My Head
Various stuff just churning around in my head today:
1. The Miss California pageant is not something I normally have any interest in, but I do take strong exception to their admonishing Carrie Prejean that exercising her right to hold and state beliefs that are not completely politically correct somehow does not "represent" California. I'm sorry, which way did the majority of voting Californians vote on gay "marriage"? As I recall, being someone who voted in favor of making sure California was using God's definition of marriage (man and woman, not two of the same sex), the gay activists LOST that round. That would strongly suggest that the majority of Californians were represented by Miss Prejean's defense of the true definition of marriage. I happened across a rather interesting article on the subject here.
2. I've been seeing a lot of strident anti-religion discussion online lately. Leaving aside that a lot of those remarks are borderline literate at best (News10's comments section offers the best examples of those), I've come to the conclusion that atheism has two source causes:
a) the arrogance of thinking that we humans are just so brilliant, special, etc., there can't possibly be anything greater than we are.
b) simple rebelliousness such as we see in any teen who doesn't want to deal with behavioral rules. Refusing to acknowledge a greater power that has the wisdom and authority to set rules for us allows the "I can do whatever I want" mindset. Well, take a look at society as a whole and see how well we're doing with that idea. Think the "no right and wrong, just do what you feel like doing" is working out well? OK, so it's now fashionable to reject faith as not scientific enough. Last I knew, truth is not determined by fashions that change constantly, but by reality.
3. I'm sure we've all heard about the Mayan calendar ending at the end of 2012, and all the apocalyptic things that are alleged to take place at that point. I think "The X-Files" has even addressed this (not that I get my science, history, etc., from Hollywood, please note (smile)). Myself, I subscribe to the calmer theory that what's going to happen when the Long Count calendar runs out is going to be very comparable to the transition from 1999 to 2000 or an odometer rollover in your car. However, if along about June, I get word of two special witnesses of Christ preaching in Jerusalem, as discussed in Revelation 11, I reserve the right to rethink that position. If those two witnesses show up about June, the prophesied 42 months of their preaching will end in December 2012. We shall see.
1. The Miss California pageant is not something I normally have any interest in, but I do take strong exception to their admonishing Carrie Prejean that exercising her right to hold and state beliefs that are not completely politically correct somehow does not "represent" California. I'm sorry, which way did the majority of voting Californians vote on gay "marriage"? As I recall, being someone who voted in favor of making sure California was using God's definition of marriage (man and woman, not two of the same sex), the gay activists LOST that round. That would strongly suggest that the majority of Californians were represented by Miss Prejean's defense of the true definition of marriage. I happened across a rather interesting article on the subject here.
2. I've been seeing a lot of strident anti-religion discussion online lately. Leaving aside that a lot of those remarks are borderline literate at best (News10's comments section offers the best examples of those), I've come to the conclusion that atheism has two source causes:
a) the arrogance of thinking that we humans are just so brilliant, special, etc., there can't possibly be anything greater than we are.
b) simple rebelliousness such as we see in any teen who doesn't want to deal with behavioral rules. Refusing to acknowledge a greater power that has the wisdom and authority to set rules for us allows the "I can do whatever I want" mindset. Well, take a look at society as a whole and see how well we're doing with that idea. Think the "no right and wrong, just do what you feel like doing" is working out well? OK, so it's now fashionable to reject faith as not scientific enough. Last I knew, truth is not determined by fashions that change constantly, but by reality.
3. I'm sure we've all heard about the Mayan calendar ending at the end of 2012, and all the apocalyptic things that are alleged to take place at that point. I think "The X-Files" has even addressed this (not that I get my science, history, etc., from Hollywood, please note (smile)). Myself, I subscribe to the calmer theory that what's going to happen when the Long Count calendar runs out is going to be very comparable to the transition from 1999 to 2000 or an odometer rollover in your car. However, if along about June, I get word of two special witnesses of Christ preaching in Jerusalem, as discussed in Revelation 11, I reserve the right to rethink that position. If those two witnesses show up about June, the prophesied 42 months of their preaching will end in December 2012. We shall see.
27 April 2009
Starting Out
Well, here I am entering the wonderful world of blogging. At this point, I don't have a lot to say that I can think of.
Basic bio: I'm 39 (as of this writing), female, married. Felix and Ava are my cat and dove (respectively). We live with my husband Bob in Sacramento, CA. Bob and I are active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Bob was born and raised in the Church, I converted in 1994 at age 24. Bob and I were married in 1995 in the Los Angeles Temple.
Felix joined the family a month after the wedding. We agreed we needed a cat, so off I went to the shelter (Bob had to work that day), where the cat they were calling "Soldier" made it clear he was claiming me. When I got him home, he got the point across that the name the shelter had given him was not his name and I needed to find the correct name. After a few days of getting to know him, I started trying out names on him, and "Felix" was the one he reacted the most strongly to, so that's his name now. No, I had not heard of the "Felix the Cat" cartoon when I named him, I was thinking of the Odd Couple character.
Ava adopted us near the end of 2002. I had opened the door to go take a walk one very cold evening and caught movement out of the corner of my eye. Turned out to be an injured ringneck dove. We took the bird in, not sure it would survive its injuries. A "found" ad in the local paper failed to turn up the bird's original owner, so a new family member was added. We initially named the bird "Avery", thinking we had a male. When we moved to Sacramento in 2004, a neighbor who was a vet tech and familiar with doves, was also sure we had a male, based on amount and volume of cooing. So "he" surprised us one morning when we found the wreckage of an egg in the cage. As best we can figure, she unloaded the egg while on a perch. She was duly renamed. :-)
My major interests are reading, needlework and crafts, and Sudoku.
I doubt I'll update all that frequently, basically when something's on my mind.
Basic bio: I'm 39 (as of this writing), female, married. Felix and Ava are my cat and dove (respectively). We live with my husband Bob in Sacramento, CA. Bob and I are active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Bob was born and raised in the Church, I converted in 1994 at age 24. Bob and I were married in 1995 in the Los Angeles Temple.
Felix joined the family a month after the wedding. We agreed we needed a cat, so off I went to the shelter (Bob had to work that day), where the cat they were calling "Soldier" made it clear he was claiming me. When I got him home, he got the point across that the name the shelter had given him was not his name and I needed to find the correct name. After a few days of getting to know him, I started trying out names on him, and "Felix" was the one he reacted the most strongly to, so that's his name now. No, I had not heard of the "Felix the Cat" cartoon when I named him, I was thinking of the Odd Couple character.
Ava adopted us near the end of 2002. I had opened the door to go take a walk one very cold evening and caught movement out of the corner of my eye. Turned out to be an injured ringneck dove. We took the bird in, not sure it would survive its injuries. A "found" ad in the local paper failed to turn up the bird's original owner, so a new family member was added. We initially named the bird "Avery", thinking we had a male. When we moved to Sacramento in 2004, a neighbor who was a vet tech and familiar with doves, was also sure we had a male, based on amount and volume of cooing. So "he" surprised us one morning when we found the wreckage of an egg in the cage. As best we can figure, she unloaded the egg while on a perch. She was duly renamed. :-)
My major interests are reading, needlework and crafts, and Sudoku.
I doubt I'll update all that frequently, basically when something's on my mind.
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