New Obama - Biden Seal

For your nighttime comtemplation. Sweet dreams.

From Doug.

I Voted!

 

"And when one glides low over a mirror-smooth body of water...!" - Paul the BB

Yesterday, I took advantage of the early voting procedure. There was no crowd, only a steady stream of voters making their way to the electronic machines, which I do not trust to record the votes properly. Nor do I have confidence that they will not be hacked. It's been proved that it can be done, and that it's not all that difficult. But it's all I have, so I voted.

I voted for Barack Obama (D) - Joe Biden (D) for president. Yay! It's done.

I voted for Mary Landrieu (D) for the Senate.

I voted for Chip Badeaux (R) rather than Beau Brooks (R) for the vacant position on the Thibodaux City Council. As you see, both are Republicans, but for a city office-holder, party doesn't really matter all that much. I know Chip, but I don't know Beau, and I'd find it a little hard to vote for someone named Beau, unless I knew him. How can a parent name a boy the equivalent of handsome? Suppose they grow up to be ugly. I know a young woman named Jolie, and fortunately she grew up to be pretty. But it's a risk.

I voted for some of the several constitutional amendments to the state constitution and against others. The Louisiana legislators think they must put everything into the constitution, rather than just pass laws. As a result, it is a bloated document, which will soon need to be redone in a constitutional convention. They should stop.

Now for a little soul-baring. I am a wreck, and I will be a wreck until the election is over. I relate well to Larry David's essay posted by Fran.

I can't take much more of this. Two weeks to go, and I'm at the end of my rope. I can't work. I can eat, but mostly standing up.
....

Five times a day I'll still say to someone, "I don't know what I'm going to do if McCain wins." Of course, the reality is I'm probably not going to do anything. What can I do? I'm not going to kill myself.
....

I just don't like what I've turned into -- and frankly I wasn't that crazy about me even before the turn. This election is having the same effect on me as marijuana. All of my worst qualities have been exacerbated. I'm paranoid, obsessive, nervous, and totally mental. It's one long, intense, bad trip. I need to come down. Soon.

Leave out the marijuana and Larry David is me, or I, or whatever. My bad trip comes without the aid of psychoactive substances. I want to sleep, sleep, sleep. Wake me when it's over to rejoice or to weep.

If you're wondering what the picture has to do with the post, the answer is nothing. The egret was in my neighbor's front yard, and it was a lovely thing to see. I see many egrets, but not often in front yards. The sight cheered me a little, and I wanted to post one of the pictures of the beautiful bird. I've named him/her Beau.

The election has done its work. It's made me crazy. Good thing I voted first.

"Small Town Blues" - Ruthie Foster

A resonatin' song, I tell ya.

J. C. Recants

Promoted from the comments in response to the post Recantation:

Blogger Tobias Haller said...

Greetings in Me.

After careful consideration, I realize I ought not to have placed myself in conscientious objection to the wisdom of the Scribes and Pharisees. They sit in Moses' seat, after all, and I'm just a Galilean Carpenter. I deeply regret that I may have offended them and caused any unrest among the people. Nothing was further from my mind. Special apologies to the Governor of Judea, under whose excellent guidance the peaceful reign of Caesar can continue uninterrupted by zealotry. I am very sorry if anything I said was taken in the wrong way, leading to suggestions I was attempting to usurp any kind of earthly authority or rule. I was speaking metaphorically. I'm particularly concerned that last week's demonstration and donkey-ride may have given people the wrong idea. I tried to hail a taxi, but people insisted I use the donkey. I didn't mean anything by it.

Can I go now?

J.C.

Recantation

Tom has left a new comment on your post "And Here's Another - Fr. Steve Niskanen":

From the San Gabriel Mission Weekly Bulletin, dated October 19, 2008...

"Dear Parishioners of San Gabriel Mission:

The Peace of Christ be with you!

Two weeks ago, I presented in a bulletin letter an overview of the three Propositions (4, 6 and 8) on which our California Bishops’ Conference has taken an official position. I presented these positions in summary, but then added my own personal opinion regarding Proposition 8, framing it as a matter of my conscience. I regret and apologize for placing my opinions on the same level as our Bishops, “the authentic teachers of the faith.” I fully respect and support our Bishops’ position that Proposition 8 does not intend to infringe on the human and legal rights of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters; rather it seeks to preserve the restriction of the term “marriage” to the complementary, life-long partnership of the whole of life, open to the gift of children, between one man and one woman.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Steve Niskanen, CMF, Pastor."

The peace of Christ be with you Fr. Steve.

My emphasis added in the letter. The bolded words of Fr. Steve are pure BS. I don't mean to be harsh on him, but they sound very much like a forced confession out of a Soviet gulag. His position in the church will be adversely affected anyway. He's a marked man for having made his original statement.

Let us pray for Fr. Steve.

Tom, thanks for calling my attention to his change of mind.

"Oui, On Peut! - Yes We can! - Obama Zydeco"

Elizabeth told me about this, and as soon as I saw and listened, I had to have it. I stole it from Jon. Is this not great? As Jon says, "I have never been so proud of my homeland." Why didn't I think of saying "Yes we can" in French?

H/T to Jon at The Ultimate Word

Johnieb Is Back!

Go see at Here Still Running.

Welcome back, you old rascal. We missed you while you were away. Don't you be running off like that again.

On The Fall Of Humankind

Was there a fall?

If so, what was the fall?

From what does humankind need saving?


Your thoughts?

The Four And Twenty Elders

The Four and Twenty Elders Casting their Crowns before the Divine Throne - William Blake

And whenever the living creatures give glory and honour and thanks to the one who is seated on the throne, who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall before the one who is seated on the throne and worship the one who lives for ever and ever; they cast their crowns before the throne, singing,

‘You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honour and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.’

Revelation 4:9-11

The imagery and the prayer from "Revelation" captivate me now and have done so for many years, and I love William Blake's representation of the passage. To me, it's the image of true worship, the attitude of the heart with which we approach the throne of grace. This post is for me and for anyone else who enjoys it.

This Is What Happened...

to an Obama supporter's car in Hays County, Texas. Go read the story at Mock, Paper, Scissors.

The mood in the country is ugly. The darkness comes into the light, and it's not pretty. What I see and what I hear make me quite sad. Is this my country?

H/T to FranIAm.