How has so much time gone by? I haven't even finished putting up pics from Montréal yet, but things got busy, I made a too-brief trip to South Carolina to visit my grandparents, and I've been busy since I got back.
I know, bad me.
Anyway, today brought a very fun visit from The Femiknit Mafia and Little Man. They got the tour of the farm, got to meet a couple of our resident snakes, and got to hang out while I did some quick vet work with a couple of the 'pacas, but the real reason for the visit was so Mafia could check out and take home my old kayak that really needs a loving home.
Unfortunately, I got an e-mail this evening that she wasn't able to get it into her building. *sigh*
Anyway, there's been no knitting to speak of for a while. A bit of repetitive strain of the wrists has made me set it all down for a bit. While I was at the grandparents' last week, though, I picked out a few nice fabrics from my grandmother's extensive stash and started a lap quilt for her. Nothing fancy, but it's in fabrics she loved once and will never be well enough to work with again herself. And despite the fact that it was getting up to 100° while I was there, she feels chilly much of the time and will really appreciate it. Photos will follow, eventually. Or at least I hope.
The other big thing going on is that we now are co-owners with the neighbors of 11 laying hen chicks. There were 12 initially, but one of the buff orpingtons decided to lie down and die a couple of days after they arrived. My big, butch project has been to construct a chicken coop for them. I have framing done, but there's still quite a lot left to do. Fortunately, I have the weekend off and am planning to work on it. Provided the weather cooperates.
26 June 2009
15 June 2009
Married same-sex couple await recognition by state - Bangor Daily News
I submitted this op-ed piece a few weeks ago, and I learned from a friend that it was just published today.
Married same-sex couple await recognition by state - Bangor Daily News
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Married same-sex couple await recognition by state - Bangor Daily News
Shared via AddThis
When we got married last year, our guests almost universally said it was the best wedding they'd ever been to, which was exactly what we'd hoped for. The wedding ceremony was in the historic and lovely Hancock Point Chapel, and the reception was held on Schoodic Peninsula, on a bluff overlooking the islands in Frenchman Bay. For me the area holds special significance, both because my roots in the area go back some 250 years and because it's where I spent the most treasured summers of my childhood.
Clergy were well-represented at our wedding. In addition to the Unitarian Universalist minister who officiated, a dear friend who had just been ordained to the Episcopal diaconate (and who has since been ordained into the priesthood) gave the readings, and David's cousin Deb, a Lutheran minister from South Dakota, was among our guests. We felt blessed, not just because of their presence, but because of all of our friends and loved ones who joined us to celebrate that day.
Despite all of this - the $20,000 or more we brought to the state economy, our commitment to and love for each other, the ecclesiastical imprimatur - the state still didn't recognize our marriage, and won't recognize it at least until the outcome of the people's veto initiative. We went to Nova Scotia to have a legal ceremony, so that when same-sex marriages are finally recognized by this state we won't need a "do-over."
Bishop Richard Malone and Michael Heath would have you believe that allowing the state to recognize our marriage is like dancing at the edge of the abyss. Maybe their hang-up is just over the word "marriage," though it really seems to me to go deeper than that. The problem is that we are, in fact, married - twice. Once by an ordained minister in front of people who are dear to us and once by a justice of the peace on a beach in Canada. We would simply like the state to grant that fact recognition and to provide to us the same protections and responsibilities it does to other married couples.
After all, the state already recognizes plenty of marriages that the Catholic Church would not condone or recognize. Atheists, divorcees, Catholics with adherents of other faith traditions, infertile couples - all of these are anathema to at least some part of the Roman Catholic church hierarchy, and yet they can still be legally married in this and any other state. This is because marriage as a civil institution is distinct from and, from the perspective of the secular state, more important than the religious ceremony. Regardless of whether or not a priest is involved, the marriage simply does not exist in the eyes of the state unless the couple has paid their fee and obtained a marriage license.
The word "marriage" has served double duty for all of this nation's history, signifying both the religious union and the secular one. The latter, at least, has changed and evolved as this nation has, such that the term "traditional marriage" as it's currently thrown around carries little meaning with regard to the civil institution. Wives were once the property of their husbands and were prohibited from owning property of their own, interracial marriages were once proscribed, but these have long since fallen by the wayside, despite dire warnings from religious conservatives at each step that eliminating these discriminatory practices would destroy the very fabric of society.
And yet with this latest stage in the evolution of civil marriage, Bishop Malone warns us that the state's recognition of same-sex marriages will "reverberate throughout society with tragic consequences." It is, quite frankly, a worn out canard that needs to be retired. Civil marriage has always changed to meet the times, and in that sense, this latest change is perfectly in keeping with tradition. So when Bishop Malone and Michael Heath try to restrict the secular institution to their particular religious concept of "traditional marriage," it makes one wonder: Who is really trying to change the definition of marriage?
14 June 2009
Le Jardin Botanique
I'm not doing these Montréal posts sequentially. The original plan was for me to be taking an ultrasound course over the weekend, but it ended up being canceled and we had our last day there as a total play day. So once we got our layabout carcasses out of bed and got reasonably woken up, we headed out to meet up with Tornwordo for a stroll around the Botanical Garden. I'd had a very nice time there on my previous visit to Montréal back in '98, but it had been so long that it was just like being there for the first time.
In no particular order, here are some pics (which curiously include none of the people involved).
"
I didn't say they were all pretty.
In no particular order, here are some pics (which curiously include none of the people involved).
"
I didn't say they were all pretty.
12 June 2009
Comment Dit-on "Super Slack-Ass"?
Good Gah! It's been a week and a half since I posted last! My excuse is that we were in Montréal most of last week, and I've been flat out or passed out since getting back. I finally managed to get pics uploaded from the trip last night, and there are enough that I think I'm going to have to break them down into multiple posts (though I was bad and got none of Lee Ann or Tornwordo).
Anyway, let's start with the most meh thing we saw - the cross on top of Mont Royal:
And the creepiest thing - these Christmas figurines in a store window near the cathedral:
Children with no eyes = the stuff of nightmares
And the cutest thing of all, from the store right next to the eyeless children shop:
Too bad it cost $395. Even with the exchange rate, that's like over $100 in real money.
And the cutest purchase I did make:
Actually, it's the only purchase I took a photo of, and I got it for $24 in a kitschy junk shop. Aside from this and some most excellent pastries from this company, I also snagged some slightly used copies of Tintin books, which were some of my favorite comics as a kid, and plunked down quite a bit of money for CD's at the Archambault store on Ste. Catherine, thereby saving myself a fair chunk of change in shipping costs. I know I've said it before, but Québec has an incredible music scene and far too little of it gets heard outside La Belle Province. At some point I'll also try to share info on some of the CD's I bought.
And Now for Something Completely Different....
It's totally not related to Montréal or our trip, but I wanted to share this pic of something we found on the threshold of our front door the other evening trying to get warm.
What it doesn't realize is that if it manages to find its way inside, there are murderous cats waiting for it. So after a few minutes warming up in my hand (and depositing some very foul-smelling musk that required two vigorous washings of the hands), it was ready to go back to the proper spot down along the foundation.
Anyway, let's start with the most meh thing we saw - the cross on top of Mont Royal:
And the creepiest thing - these Christmas figurines in a store window near the cathedral:
Children with no eyes = the stuff of nightmares
And the cutest thing of all, from the store right next to the eyeless children shop:
Too bad it cost $395. Even with the exchange rate, that's like over $100 in real money.
And the cutest purchase I did make:
Actually, it's the only purchase I took a photo of, and I got it for $24 in a kitschy junk shop. Aside from this and some most excellent pastries from this company, I also snagged some slightly used copies of Tintin books, which were some of my favorite comics as a kid, and plunked down quite a bit of money for CD's at the Archambault store on Ste. Catherine, thereby saving myself a fair chunk of change in shipping costs. I know I've said it before, but Québec has an incredible music scene and far too little of it gets heard outside La Belle Province. At some point I'll also try to share info on some of the CD's I bought.
And Now for Something Completely Different....
It's totally not related to Montréal or our trip, but I wanted to share this pic of something we found on the threshold of our front door the other evening trying to get warm.
What it doesn't realize is that if it manages to find its way inside, there are murderous cats waiting for it. So after a few minutes warming up in my hand (and depositing some very foul-smelling musk that required two vigorous washings of the hands), it was ready to go back to the proper spot down along the foundation.
02 June 2009
29 May 2009
The Defenders
Because if some people's rights are up for popular vote, why shouldn't everybody's be?
27 May 2009
Hot Dish Supper
Karen - who is one of David's employees, his fit model, and guitarist in the band who played at our wedding - has a summer tenant for the mother-in-law apartment over her garage who is from South Dakota. Since David is also from South Dakota, she decided it'd be fun to have a South Dakota party. Which, if you are from the region, would also be known as a Hot Dish Supper.
So David made green bean hot dish topped with canned fried onions, which is pretty much de rigueur for these affairs, someone else made creamed corn, and other people made other hot dish with dead animal in them and jello (also dead animal) with mandarin orange in it. Much wine (not South Dakotan) was also imbibed, and then for dessert the hostess made a very yummy rhubarb-strawberry pie (true story: David's mom's family hails from Leola, SD - Rhubarb Capital of the World - and in the mid-70's his Grandma Rose was crowned Rhubarb Queen). Also for dessert, David found this Memorial Day cake and piped on icing in the shape of Mt. Rushmore.
David would like everyone to know that while Mount Rushmore is the name of the mountain, the actual title of the sculpture is "Shrine of Democracy". And once he posed with a handbag in the old Visitor Center (since torn down) in the same spot as Eva Marie Saint in "North by Northwest".
In the course of the evening, we also found out that Chris, Karen's tenant, has family roots in Hecla, SD, which is where David's dad comes from. Considering it's a town of about 300 people, they're probably at least related by marriage somewhere down the line.
Other Food Stuff
I've been making quite a lot of yogurt lately, which is actually quite easy and very yummy. With this latest batch, I decided I'd hang it up in cheesecloth (actually, it's a loose weave muslin, rather than the cheapie disposable stuff from the supermarket) to drain off the whey and make for a thicker, richer end product.
Note how I cleverly framed it so as not to show the pile of dishes in the sink below. And yes, that is gift wrap ribbon used to tie it up. It's called recycling.
So David made green bean hot dish topped with canned fried onions, which is pretty much de rigueur for these affairs, someone else made creamed corn, and other people made other hot dish with dead animal in them and jello (also dead animal) with mandarin orange in it. Much wine (not South Dakotan) was also imbibed, and then for dessert the hostess made a very yummy rhubarb-strawberry pie (true story: David's mom's family hails from Leola, SD - Rhubarb Capital of the World - and in the mid-70's his Grandma Rose was crowned Rhubarb Queen). Also for dessert, David found this Memorial Day cake and piped on icing in the shape of Mt. Rushmore.
David would like everyone to know that while Mount Rushmore is the name of the mountain, the actual title of the sculpture is "Shrine of Democracy". And once he posed with a handbag in the old Visitor Center (since torn down) in the same spot as Eva Marie Saint in "North by Northwest".
In the course of the evening, we also found out that Chris, Karen's tenant, has family roots in Hecla, SD, which is where David's dad comes from. Considering it's a town of about 300 people, they're probably at least related by marriage somewhere down the line.
Other Food Stuff
I've been making quite a lot of yogurt lately, which is actually quite easy and very yummy. With this latest batch, I decided I'd hang it up in cheesecloth (actually, it's a loose weave muslin, rather than the cheapie disposable stuff from the supermarket) to drain off the whey and make for a thicker, richer end product.
Note how I cleverly framed it so as not to show the pile of dishes in the sink below. And yes, that is gift wrap ribbon used to tie it up. It's called recycling.
25 May 2009
Memorial Day
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
22 May 2009
Green Porno
I hadn't seen this before, since I don't have cable and therefore can't watch Sundance, but I love Isabella Rosselini.
You can see more from this series here.
You can see more from this series here.
19 May 2009
Local Denizens and Antipodean Visitors
Okay, so I know I haven't been great about updating lately, but a lot of it is just not having the free time to keep up. Last night's frost warning notwithstanding (except for where we live along the coast), spring is definitely here. When I got home from work Saturday morning, there were garter snakes in each of my front flower beds, and then a rather long milk snake basking in the grass along the eastern side of the house. Then later there was another small garter snake back in one of the front flower beds, along with what was probably one of the original garters.
And Saturday evening, David and I went looking for something he had seen earlier in the afternoon, namely this beauty:
This lovely is a gray tree frog, and is something we don't see too often, as they're quite good at camouflage. Saturday evening just happened to be quite chilly, though, and this one was moving a bit slowly as a result. It also was not on a lichen-y tree, as it should be, so I released onto one so that it would be nicely inconspicuous and protected.
On Sunday, we went down to Boston to see my little sister, who was up for the weekend visiting friends. And on Monday, I drove over to Harrisville to meet up with Nanna Peter, who had spent the weekend at the Men's Spring Knitting Retreat, which David and I weren't able to attend this year.
I've known Peter for several years from the glbt-knit listserv, but this was the first time we'd managed to meet in person. He's also known as Andrew's Tall & Handsome. I was a little dismayed to arrive in Harrisville and find a sign on their door that they were closed on Mondays, but the owners happened to be around and took pity on us, so yarn was purchased (no pics as yet, though).
Afterward, we made our way back to my home, had some cheese fondue and a bit of festivity for our guest, and today I drove him around town a bit to see some of the sights. Unfortunately, I had to work tonight, but Peter should be off at Chicks with Sticks as I type this, likely having a riotous time. Of course, I've had horrible camnesia of late, so I have no photos to share, but I know he's off to visit Mar next, so hopefully she'll do a better job than I. As brief as the visit was, it was wonderful to get to meet him finally, and maybe it'll give us that much more impetus to make the trip Down Under to visit.
On the knitting front, I did finish off my little lace sample project last night, but it's still at the boiled ass stage and needs to be blocked. Hopefully, that will get done tonight, as well, and I'll have pics to share tomorrow. As well as pics of the first daylilies, which started blooming a few days ago now.
One more item - My cousin Liz, whom I've mentioned before plays Wendy Simms on CSI (She's good - go and see for yourself.), has this as her Facebook status today:
If you are so inclined and able, go on over and make a donation. We all know what a difference $5 can make. Alternatively, you might consider donating to MoW in your own neighborhood, since it's a fair assumption that the LA organization isn't the only one that's been affected by the economy.
And Saturday evening, David and I went looking for something he had seen earlier in the afternoon, namely this beauty:
This lovely is a gray tree frog, and is something we don't see too often, as they're quite good at camouflage. Saturday evening just happened to be quite chilly, though, and this one was moving a bit slowly as a result. It also was not on a lichen-y tree, as it should be, so I released onto one so that it would be nicely inconspicuous and protected.
On Sunday, we went down to Boston to see my little sister, who was up for the weekend visiting friends. And on Monday, I drove over to Harrisville to meet up with Nanna Peter, who had spent the weekend at the Men's Spring Knitting Retreat, which David and I weren't able to attend this year.
I've known Peter for several years from the glbt-knit listserv, but this was the first time we'd managed to meet in person. He's also known as Andrew's Tall & Handsome. I was a little dismayed to arrive in Harrisville and find a sign on their door that they were closed on Mondays, but the owners happened to be around and took pity on us, so yarn was purchased (no pics as yet, though).
Afterward, we made our way back to my home, had some cheese fondue and a bit of festivity for our guest, and today I drove him around town a bit to see some of the sights. Unfortunately, I had to work tonight, but Peter should be off at Chicks with Sticks as I type this, likely having a riotous time. Of course, I've had horrible camnesia of late, so I have no photos to share, but I know he's off to visit Mar next, so hopefully she'll do a better job than I. As brief as the visit was, it was wonderful to get to meet him finally, and maybe it'll give us that much more impetus to make the trip Down Under to visit.
On the knitting front, I did finish off my little lace sample project last night, but it's still at the boiled ass stage and needs to be blocked. Hopefully, that will get done tonight, as well, and I'll have pics to share tomorrow. As well as pics of the first daylilies, which started blooming a few days ago now.
One more item - My cousin Liz, whom I've mentioned before plays Wendy Simms on CSI (She's good - go and see for yourself.), has this as her Facebook status today:
All right. I don't want you to feel like I'm hitting you up for money but I am, in fact, hitting you up for money. I have been volunteering with Meals on Wheels of LA for the past year and a half. They have fallen upon hard times in this economic climate (imagine that) and need donations: Meals On Wheels 900 Hilgard Ave LA,CA 90024 or www.mealsonwheelswla.org
If you are so inclined and able, go on over and make a donation. We all know what a difference $5 can make. Alternatively, you might consider donating to MoW in your own neighborhood, since it's a fair assumption that the LA organization isn't the only one that's been affected by the economy.
12 May 2009
Döggi Långstrump
So, a bit of background first:
At the clinic where I work, there are two full-time day doctors, Doug and Sara. They're both foreigners - Doug is Canadian (and didn't see anything wrong the first time he saw this), while Sara is Swedish (and hadn't seen this until I showed her). They also have a mostly friendly rivalry that is ongoing and whose origins have been lost in the mists of time, but which mostly consists of sabotaging each other's desks.
Anyway, a couple of weekends ago, Doug shaved a ginormous mat off of a cat's back and left it on Sara's desk. Yesterday, Sara and one of the daytime techs decided to affix bits of this matted fur to a printed photo of Doug's head (which is, in fact, rather devoid of fur) and take pics of it to put up as the desktop wallpaper on all of the computer terminals. And being Swedish, Sara decided to make one of the photos look rather Pippi Longstocking-ish.
I thought that was such a good idea that I took another Pippi-esque photo of the head and went online to find some Pippi images to attach it to. Because we don't have Photoshop here, I used the open source program GIMP. The look of the program is similar to Photoshop and it can perform a lot of the same functions, but it's different enough that there's still a bit of a learning curve. Still, I managed fairly well for a rank amateur - at least for comedic effect. See if you agree.
At the clinic where I work, there are two full-time day doctors, Doug and Sara. They're both foreigners - Doug is Canadian (and didn't see anything wrong the first time he saw this), while Sara is Swedish (and hadn't seen this until I showed her). They also have a mostly friendly rivalry that is ongoing and whose origins have been lost in the mists of time, but which mostly consists of sabotaging each other's desks.
Anyway, a couple of weekends ago, Doug shaved a ginormous mat off of a cat's back and left it on Sara's desk. Yesterday, Sara and one of the daytime techs decided to affix bits of this matted fur to a printed photo of Doug's head (which is, in fact, rather devoid of fur) and take pics of it to put up as the desktop wallpaper on all of the computer terminals. And being Swedish, Sara decided to make one of the photos look rather Pippi Longstocking-ish.
I thought that was such a good idea that I took another Pippi-esque photo of the head and went online to find some Pippi images to attach it to. Because we don't have Photoshop here, I used the open source program GIMP. The look of the program is similar to Photoshop and it can perform a lot of the same functions, but it's different enough that there's still a bit of a learning curve. Still, I managed fairly well for a rank amateur - at least for comedic effect. See if you agree.
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