Saturday, July 5, 2008
Au Revoir, Zoe
On July 4, I received this email from Roger/Lapinbizarre along with a picture of Zoe.
The current problem, however, is my old chow Zoe, the last of the dogs I have raised from a puppy. Her very uncertain legs gave out on her two nights ago and there is no sensible option to "putting her down". She barked almost non stop for 18 hours from yesterday morning - annoyance and some fear, I suppose, at not being able to get up. She's also nearasdammitt blind. But she's quieter today. Thanksgiving (sic) gives her a 24 hours respite, but I will have to take care of things sooner rather than later. Her brother lost the use of his back legs three or four years ago. We let him hang on for a couple of months in hopes that he would regain it (he was younger and had had surgery for a problem which might, with determination on his part, have been turned around) but he did not. A half-paralyzed dog, with the best will in the world, turns into an unhappy, messy creature - rashes, bedsores, etc. No point in putting the poor girl through that.
The picture is Zoe in better days. I responded that Zoe looked like a lioness.
Roger answered:
She was indeed a lioness - and she has kept he looks; her hair is as full today as it ever was - far fuller than in the photograph - and not a gray hair on her at 13 1/2 ( very good age for a chow). She was the only living thing who, when I pitched a fit about anything, would come to me and sit by me while everything else, two and four-legged, took to the hills. I called her my "still, small voice of calm".
And then today:
She was in a weary, agitated state over night so I took her to the vet's first thing this morning. The vet agreed that it was time, so we proceeded from there. I brought some pieces of roast pork that I fed to her as a "last supper" - her appetite was intact - before and as the anaesthetic was administered, and I left when it had taken effect, before the lethal injection. I'm getting the ashes back and plan to bury her and her brother - four years dead but still in a dresser drawer at a friends' house in the country, with their highland cattle, llamas, donkeys, pigs and goats. In the city they'd be dug up and scattered within years.
So far I'm feeling better than expected. The anaesthetic stage was slow (three or four minutes) and gentle, so I got to pet her as she slowly went to sleep.
It seems Zoe had a gentle going. I offer my prayers and sympathy to Roger. It's so hard to let the dear ones go.
It's Time To Come Clean
The subterfuge is over. See that picture on the sidebar? That one is no longer operative. I am not really who I said I was. All this time I've been misleading you, and I am sorry, my friends.
Watch the video, and you will see the real me and find out about the exciting things happening in my life now.
Doug convinced me that it was time to tell the truth.
UPDATE: Here's the replacement picture of me, which will soon go up on the sidebar.
Watch the video, and you will see the real me and find out about the exciting things happening in my life now.
Doug convinced me that it was time to tell the truth.
UPDATE: Here's the replacement picture of me, which will soon go up on the sidebar.
Is This OK? If Not, Blame Doug
The latest online poll taken by the California Governor's office, asked whether people who live in California think illegal immigration is a serious problem:
29% of respondents answered: "Yes, it is a serious problem."
71% of respondents answered: "No es una problema seriosa."'
My main supplier of jokes has been cavorting in Hawaii. No wonder it's been dull here. Welcome back, Doug!
29% of respondents answered: "Yes, it is a serious problem."
71% of respondents answered: "No es una problema seriosa."'
My main supplier of jokes has been cavorting in Hawaii. No wonder it's been dull here. Welcome back, Doug!
Friday, July 4, 2008
Thanksgivings For National Life
For the Nation
Almighty God, giver of all good things: We thank you for the natural majesty and beauty of this land. They restore us, though we often destroy them.
Heal us.
We thank you for the great resources of this nation. They make us rich, though we often exploit them.
Forgive us.
We thank you for the men and women who have made this country strong. They are models for us, though we often fall short of them.
Inspire us.
We thank you for the torch of liberty which has been lit in this land. It has drawn people from every nation, though we have often hidden from its light.
Enlighten us.
We thank you for the faith we have inherited in all its rich variety. It sustains our life, though we have been faithless again and again.
Renew us.
Help us, O Lord, to finish the good work here begun. Strengthen our efforts to blot out ignorance and prejudice, and to abolish poverty and crime. And hasten the day when all our people, with many voices in one united chorus, will glorify your holy Name.
Amen.
The Book of Common Prayer, pp. 838-839
With thanks to Margaret for the inspiration.
Image of Louisiana wetlands from Wiki.
Padre Mickey's Hagiography For The Day
Those of you who read Padre Mickey's Dance Party know what brilliant work he does with biographies of the saints of the day. If you don't read his blog, you may want to begin today. He has outdone himself.
Bang! - Happy Fourth Of July!
From Andrew Greeley in the Chicago Sun-Times:
Are the American people guilty of a war crime because of the Iraq war? Surely the leaders who cooked up the excuses for the war are. So, too, are the national media that allowed patriotism to silence them. So, too, are those ordinary Americans who almost insisted on some kind of patriotic gore. On this weekend in which we glorify -- with good reason -- our patriotism, we might examine our conscience about what phony patriotism has caused us to do. A third of the American population supported the war and has now changed its mind. It might be wise for such folk to prepare answers to the kinds of questions God might ask about phony patriotism.
Happy Birthday USA! We are 232 years old - young compared to many other countries. We've seen better times in our history, and we've seen worse times. Raise a glass of whatever you're drinking today to better times.
Photo from Liz Condo/The Advocate.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Counterlight's Farewell to Fr Jake
Fr Jake is closing down his blog. He's done a mighty work to engage us and inform us for five years. May God bless him and keep him. And now go see Counterlight's send-off. The link to Jake's "Last Words" is there, too.
Gems From The Advocate - Part Two
The new science law in Louisiana is unique in the country:
Louisiana is the only state in the nation that has enacted a law that could change the way evolution is taught in public schools, officials said.
Lawmakers in five other states debated similar bills this year but they failed to pass, said Heather Chikoore, education policy specialist for the National Conference of State Legislatures in Denver.
“It has definitely been a topic in states,” Chikoore said.
The measure here won final Senate approval 36-0 and cleared the House 94-3. Gov. Bobby Jindal has signed the bill.
I tell ya, I stand tall and proud. Not one senator and only three representatives voted against the bill. Imagine! We are UNIQUE! Yes! Our Rhodes scholar governor and our legislators know their science. Better than the scientists!
But Barbara Forrest of Hammond, a professor and co-founder of the Louisiana Coalition for Science, said the new rules add more infamy than distinction to the state.
....
“They pretty well have their way on this type of stuff,” Forrest said of the Louisiana Family Forum. “People who don’t agree with them are afraid to cross them.”
Ha! What does she know? She's just another pointy-headed fanatic who wants real science taught in the science classrooms. What's wrong with exploring other "theories" like Creationism and Intelligent Design in science class? Some say that's introducing religion, but what's wrong with a little faith-based teaching in science class? The plus side is that the schools graduate more students with proper "family values"? What's the harm of a little ignorance of real science in the mix, just so the students are set straight on the "family values" stuff? And for the numbers of young people who don't actually graduate from high school, (the percentage is high) well at least they may have been exposed to right thinking.
The executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union said last month that her group “will do whatever is necessary to keep religion out of our science classrooms.”
The ACLU and cohorts are nothing but spoilers. Why the obsession with teaching real science?
Louisiana is the only state in the nation that has enacted a law that could change the way evolution is taught in public schools, officials said.
Lawmakers in five other states debated similar bills this year but they failed to pass, said Heather Chikoore, education policy specialist for the National Conference of State Legislatures in Denver.
“It has definitely been a topic in states,” Chikoore said.
The measure here won final Senate approval 36-0 and cleared the House 94-3. Gov. Bobby Jindal has signed the bill.
I tell ya, I stand tall and proud. Not one senator and only three representatives voted against the bill. Imagine! We are UNIQUE! Yes! Our Rhodes scholar governor and our legislators know their science. Better than the scientists!
But Barbara Forrest of Hammond, a professor and co-founder of the Louisiana Coalition for Science, said the new rules add more infamy than distinction to the state.
....
“They pretty well have their way on this type of stuff,” Forrest said of the Louisiana Family Forum. “People who don’t agree with them are afraid to cross them.”
Ha! What does she know? She's just another pointy-headed fanatic who wants real science taught in the science classrooms. What's wrong with exploring other "theories" like Creationism and Intelligent Design in science class? Some say that's introducing religion, but what's wrong with a little faith-based teaching in science class? The plus side is that the schools graduate more students with proper "family values"? What's the harm of a little ignorance of real science in the mix, just so the students are set straight on the "family values" stuff? And for the numbers of young people who don't actually graduate from high school, (the percentage is high) well at least they may have been exposed to right thinking.
The executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union said last month that her group “will do whatever is necessary to keep religion out of our science classrooms.”
The ACLU and cohorts are nothing but spoilers. Why the obsession with teaching real science?
Gems From The Advocate - Part One
David Vitter wants to use his campaign funds to pay his legal fees:
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. David Vitter will ask the Federal Election Commission today whether he can use campaign funds to pay for the $137,177 in legal fees he incurred from his involvement in the case of a woman convicted of running a high-priced Washington prostitution ring.
The Louisiana Republican acknowledged in July 2007 that his phone number appeared on the client list of the woman dubbed “the D.C. Madam.” Deborah Jeane Palfrey was convicted in federal court in April of money laundering, mail fraud and conspiracy.
In a letter to the FEC, an attorney for Vitter says his client incurred the legal expenses in monitoring the Palfrey trial and quashing the subpoenas issued to him.
Vitter also had to hire attorneys to defend himself to the Senate Ethics Committee because of a complaint filed by the government watchdog group Citizens For Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. The complaint was dismissed by the committee, which noted that Vitter was not charged with a crime and the incidents occurred when he was a House member.
Tears are running from my eyes as I read of our senator's plight. A heartbreaking story, no? I hurt for him having to pay out all that money. OK, so his phone number was on the DC Madam's list, but should the consequences for him be so harsh?
Those of you who sent Vitter money for his campaign, what do you think? Is this how you want your money spent? Let him know your thoughts on this matter.
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. David Vitter will ask the Federal Election Commission today whether he can use campaign funds to pay for the $137,177 in legal fees he incurred from his involvement in the case of a woman convicted of running a high-priced Washington prostitution ring.
The Louisiana Republican acknowledged in July 2007 that his phone number appeared on the client list of the woman dubbed “the D.C. Madam.” Deborah Jeane Palfrey was convicted in federal court in April of money laundering, mail fraud and conspiracy.
In a letter to the FEC, an attorney for Vitter says his client incurred the legal expenses in monitoring the Palfrey trial and quashing the subpoenas issued to him.
Vitter also had to hire attorneys to defend himself to the Senate Ethics Committee because of a complaint filed by the government watchdog group Citizens For Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. The complaint was dismissed by the committee, which noted that Vitter was not charged with a crime and the incidents occurred when he was a House member.
Tears are running from my eyes as I read of our senator's plight. A heartbreaking story, no? I hurt for him having to pay out all that money. OK, so his phone number was on the DC Madam's list, but should the consequences for him be so harsh?
Those of you who sent Vitter money for his campaign, what do you think? Is this how you want your money spent? Let him know your thoughts on this matter.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)