Afternoon At The Movies

This afternoon, my grandchildren and I went to see "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian". The movie was good fun, delightful, really, a movie for all ages. Our ages are 9, 13, and 74. I wondered about the years in between and asked my granddaughter if she thought her dad would enjoy the movie. She said, "Oh, yes. He would."

The cost of going to the movies continues to surprise me - $40.50 for the three of us, including items from the concession stand, and admission prices here are not nearly as high as in some areas.

The children went back to their mom's house today, and I will miss them, but at the same time, I'll enjoy the time off from being a part-time mom for a week.

Grandparents

1. She was in the bathroom, putting on her makeup, under the watchful eyes of her young granddaughter, as she'd done many times before. After she applied her lipstick and started to leave, the little one said, "But Gramma, you forgot to kiss the toilet paper good-bye!" I will probably never put lipstick on again without thinking about kissing the toilet paper good-bye...

2. My young grandson called the other day to wish me Happy Birthday. He asked me how old I was, and I told him, 62. My grandson was quiet for a moment, and then he asked, "Did you start at 1?"

3. After putting her grandchildren to bed, a grandmother changed into old slacks and a droopy blouse and proceeded to wash her hair. As she heard the children getting more and more rambunctious, her patience grew thin. Finally, she threw a towel around her head and stormed into their room, putting them back to bed with stern warnings. As she left the room, she heard the three-year-old say with a trembling voice, "Who was THAT?"

4. A grandmother was telling her little granddaughter what her own childhood was like: "We used to skate outside on a pond I had a swing made from a tire; it hung from a tree in our front yard. We rode our pony. We picked wild raspberries in the woods." The little girl was wide-eyed, taking this all in. At last she said, "I sure wish I'd gotten to know you sooner!"

5. My grandson was visiting one day when he asked, "Grandma, do you know how you and GOD are alike?" I mentally polished my halo and I said, "No, how are we alike?'' "You're both old," he replied.

6. A little girl was diligently pounding away on her grandfather's word processor. She told him she was writing a story. "What's it about?" he asked. "I don't know," she replied. "I can't read."

7. I didn't know if my granddaughter had learned her colours yet, so I decided to test her. I would point out something and ask what color it was. She would tell me and was always correct. It was fun for me, so I continued. At last, she headed for the door, saying, "Grandma, I think you should try to figure out some of these, yourself!"

8. When my grandson Billy and I entered our vacation cabin, we kept the lights off until we were inside to keep from attracting pesky insects. Still, a few fireflies followed us in. Noticing them before I did, Billy whispered, "It's no use Grandpa. Now the mosquitoes are coming after us with flashlights."

9. When my grandson asked me how old I was, I teasingly replied, "I'm not sure..." "Look in your underwear, Grandpa," he advised, "mine says I'm 4 to 6."

10. A second grader came home from school and said to her grandmother, "Grandma, guess what? We learned how to make babies today." The grandmother, more than a little surprised, tried to keep her cool. "That's interesting," she said, "how do you make babies?" "It's simple," replied the girl. "You just change 'y' to 'i' and add 'es'."

11. Children's Logic: "Give me a sentence about a public servant," said a teacher. The small boy wrote: "The fireman came down the ladder pregnant." The teacher took the lad aside to correct him. "Don't you know what pregnant means?" she asked. "Sure," said the young boy confidently. 'It means carrying a child."

12.. A grandfather was delivering his grandchildren to their home one day when a fire truck zoomed past. Sitting in the front seat of the fire truck was a Dalmatian dog. The children started discussing the dog's duties. "They use him to keep crowds back," said one child. "No," said another. "He's just for good luck." A third child brought the argument to a close."They use the dogs," she said firmly, "to find the fire hydrants."

13. A 6-year-old was asked where his grandma lived. "Oh," he said, "she lives at the airport, and when we want her, we just go get her. Then, when we're done having her visit, we take her back to the airport."

14. Grandpa is the smartest man on earth! He teaches me good things, but I don't get to see him enough to get as smart as him!

15. My Grandparents are funny, when they bend over; you hear gas leaks, and they blame their dog.

SEND THIS TO OTHER GRANDPARENTS, ALMOST GRANDPARENTS,

OH HECK,

SEND IT TO EVERYONE..........

Thanks to Erika.

Hmmm...Interesting

Mark Harris at Preludium points out:

Assuming that resolutions of General Convention require passage by both houses, the Theology Committee of the House of Bishops is NOT a creature of the House of Bishops, but rather of General Convention. The Theological Committee is listed as one of the CCAB's (Committees, Commissions, Agencies and Boards) of General Convention.

Read Mark's entire post. Lots of interesting stuff there.

Send A Letter Demanding Transparency

The Committee on Theology in the House of Bishops formed a sub-committee to study same-sex relationships. The membership of the sub-committee is secret. Read the article at the Lead at the Episcopal Café for further details.

Where's the transparency? Why are the names of the members secret? This should not be. I believe that our leaders in the Episcopal Church made a grave miscalculation in their decision not to release the names of the members of the sub-committee. I understand and agree that the deliberations may be confidential until the report is delivered, but not the names of the members.

Those of you who are members of the Episcopal Church and who agree that the veil of secrecy should be lifted may want to send your own communication to our church leaders, along with a copy to your bishop.

Dennis, whom many of you know from our blog world, sent the letter below. His is a fine model, but, of course, use your own wording in your letter.


Bishops Subject: HoB "secret" theology committee and our lives
Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 17:19:31 -0700

The news that the House of Bishops has a select committee to examine the inclusion of gays and lesbians into the life of our church is really shocking. So now there is a secret committee to, once again, talk about what to do about us. How sad.

Instead of moving toward inclusion we are seeing the issue delayed, once again, by another study, this time by a committee whose members' names haven't been released.

For the House of Bishops to pass on a discussion about our lives (after countless studies and listening) to a committee without releasing the names the names of the members looks like a delay tactic and is below what I expect from bishops.

When bishops start acting like machine politicians from Tammany Hall it smells suspicious and looks like the fix is going to be put in place, once again, to close the door to acceptance. This is the Episcopal Church, not one of the churches where bishops do as they please and answer to no one.

I am sure that we are to be treated to the kind of explanation best saved for political spin, that a secret committee would allow for "prayerful" deliberations or some other tale. Whatever the answer it will surely desecrate the idea being used to cover the secrecy.

I have great hopes that this year we will be rid of B033 and start allowing the church to bless our unions. It would be so nice if my partner and I, after eight years together, could look to the church to welcome us as a couple. Wouldn't that be nice?

But with secret committees discussing our place in the church, who knows?

I get so tired of being disappointed in my church. I really do.

Dennis


Send your emails to:

Katharine Jefferst-Schori, Presiding Bishop - pboffice@episcopalchurch.org

Bishop Henry Parsley, Chair, Committee on Theology - hparsley@dioala.org

Neva Rae Fox, Public Affairs Officer - nrfox@episcopalchurch.org

Dr. Charles Robertson, Canon to the Presiding Bishop - crobertson@episcopalchurch.org

Sharon Jones - Executive Assistant to the Presiding Bishop - sjones@episcopalchurch.org

Dr. Bonnie Anderson, President, House of Deputies - banderson@episcopalchurch.org

Kim Tucker, Assistant to President of House of Deputies - ktucker@episcopalchurch.org

UPDATE: Louie Crew lists the addresses of the diocesan bishops.

UPDATE 2: From Ann in the comments:

Here are the names and email addresses of the members of the Theology Committee (not the secret committee):

The Rt. Rev. Henry Nutt Parsley, Chair, hparsley@dioala.org
The Rt. Rev. David A. Alvarez, obispoalvarez@spiderlink.net
The Rt. Rev. John C. Bauerschmidt, jcbbishop@episcopaldiocese-tn.org
The Rt. Rev. Joe G. Burnett, jburnett@episcopal-ne.org
Dr. Ellen T. Charry, ellen.charry@ptsem.edu
The Rev. Dr. Sathianathan Clarke, sclarke@wesleyseminary.edu
Dr. Stephen E. Fowl, sfowl@loyola.edu
The Rev. Dr. A. Katherine Grieb, kgrieb@vts.edu
The Rt. Rev Robert W. Ihloff, rihloff@verizon.net
Dr. Charles T. Mathewes, ctm9d@Virginia.EDU
Dr. Joy A. McDougall, jamcdou@emory.edu
The Rt. Rev. Steven A. Miller, bishop11@diomil.org
Dr. Kathryn Tanner, ketanner@midway.uchicago.edu

UPDATE 3: The Lead posted the latest word from Bishop Henry Parsley, chair of the Committee on Theology.

Thought For The Day

Why is it that people who continually spew forth hate-filled rhetoric are suddenly surprised when other people become angry and commit violent acts against those to whom their hate-filled rhetoric was directed?

The speakers then back away and say, "Oh, I didn't mean that!"

My thought for the day was inspired by this article in the Huffington Post by Frank Shaeffer, who was, in his own words, "both a leader of the so-called pro-life movement and a part of a Republican Party hate machine masquerading as the moral conscience of America."

Schaeffer says:

Like many writers of moral/political/religious theories my father and I would have been shocked that someone took us at our word, walked into a Lutheran Church and pulled the trigger on an abortionist. But even if the murderer never read Dad's or my words we helped create the climate that made this murder likely to happen.

Schaeffer appeared on Rachel Maddow's show last night. Here's the link to the video.

Thanks to John for sending me the link to the HP article.

Now Is The Time To End "Don't Ask - Don't Tell"

We're waiting Mr. President. We're waiting, Democratic senators and representatives. Why no movement to end the ridiculous policy that requires gays and lesbians to stay in the closet?

When President Clinton announced the policy, I laughed out loud. I know. It's not funny at all, but it seemed so ridiculous to require gay folks to stay in the closet in order for them to serve their country in the military. I remember early in the war with Iraq a number of members of the military who spoke the languages of the Middle East were discharged for being gay or lesbian, right at the time when we were in great need of folks who spoke those languages. How stupid was that?

I've heard murmurings, and I've been wondering when the reversal of the nonsensical policy would take place, so I was disappointed to discover this article from MSNBC News:

The U.S. military says it has no plans to repeal the "don't ask-don't tell" policy regarding homosexual troops.

Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said Tuesday the military's top leaders have had initial discussions with the White House about whether gay troops should be open about their sexuality.

Under current rules, openly gay troops can be discharged from the U.S. military.

Morrell said the White House has not asked for the 1993 policy to be scrapped.

"I do not believe there are any plans under way in this building for some expected, but not articulated, anticipation that 'don't ask-don't tell' will be repealed," Morrell told reporters at the Pentagon.
....

Morrell said Defense Secretary Robert Gates and the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, Adm. Mike Mullen, both have discussed the issue with Obama.

"They're aware of where the president wants to go on this issue, but I don't think that there is any sense of any immediate developments in the offing on efforts to repeal `don't ask-don't tell'," Morrell said.

If that's the case, isn't it time for President Obama to bring the Pentagon on board with his plan and for him to urge the Congress to move forward to end 'don't ask - don't tell' and keep the promise he made during his campaign?

Childbirth At 65

With all the new technology regarding fertility recently, a 65-year-old friend of mine was able to give birth. When she was discharged from the hospital and went home, I went to visit.

'May I see the new baby?' I asked

'Not yet ,' She said 'I'll make coffee and we can chat for a while
first.'

Thirty minutes had passed, and I asked, 'May I see the new baby now?'

'No, not yet,' She said.

After another few minutes had elapsed, I asked again, 'May I see the baby now?'

'No, not yet,' replied my friend.

Growing very impatient, I asked, 'Well, when can I see the baby?'

'WHEN HE CRIES!' she told me.

'WHEN HE CRIES?' I demanded. 'Why do I have to wait until he CRIES?'

'BECAUSE I FORGOT WHERE I PUT HIM, O.K.?!!'

Thanks to Ann.

By the way, Ann has a lovely Pentecost sermon posted.

Whose Fault, Dick?

From Frank Rich at the New York Times:

Once again Cheney and his cohort were using lies and fear to try to gain political advantage — this time to rewrite history and escape accountability for the failed Bush presidency rather than to drum up a new war. Once again Democrats in Congress were cowed. And once again too much of the so-called liberal news media parroted the right’s scare tactics, putting America’s real security interests at risk by failing to challenge any Washington politician carrying a big stick.

"Dick Cheney and his cohort" are just doing what they do, taking the slimy low road to deceive, manipulate, and now weasel out of their responsibility for the giant, smelly pile that they left behind. But WTF is wrong with the Democrats in Congress and the news media?

The Democrats are in charge, now but they're still scared silly by the Republicans, even after their massive repudiation by the citizens of the country. The Senate hands Obama a 90-6 "NO!" vote to shutting down that hall of horrors and shame called Guantanamo. What will it take to stiffen the spines of the Congress critters? What will it take?

And the so-called liberal media, the media who view themselves as unbiased, not Fox News, not Rush Limbaugh and his ilk, but those whom we expect to inform us of the true state of things, what are they doing? Only a very few call Cheney and his pals on their lies - and none in face to face confrontation with the Dick himself. Ooooh! If they laid out Cheney's deceptions before him, he might not appear again on their shows. And what a profound loss THAT would be to us all! I ask the media, "Why do you give Cheney a forum to repeat his lies over and over, even after the lies have been repudiated and exposed for what they are? What's wrong with you?"

The reporters and columnists who do their jobs look like heroes today. A big "THANK YOU" to Frank Rich for this column and for his many other truth-telling columns and to Jonathan Landay and Warren Strobel at McKlatchy who lay out the "omissions, exaggerations and misstatements" in Cheney's speech at the American Enterprise Institute and who also were amongst those who called attention to the "omissions, exaggerations and misstatements" of the Bush maladministration before the Iraq War.

Shame on you, Democrats in Congress. Shame on you hotshots and pundits in the media. You're not doing your jobs. I'm compiling an "Enemies in the So-called Liberal Media" list, and David Gregory's name is on it.

Paul, the BB, highlights the money quote, and I thank him for calling my attention to Rich's column.

The harrowing truth remains unchanged from what it was before Cheney emerged from his bunker to set Washington atwitter. The Bush administration did not make us safer either before or after 9/11. Obama is not making us less safe. If there’s another terrorist attack, it will be because the mess the Bush administration ignored in Pakistan and Afghanistan spun beyond anyone’s control well before Americans could throw the bums out.

UPDATE: Heroes of the Senate who voted against the amendment to prevent appropriation funds to be used to close Guantanamo:

Dick Durbin (D-Ill.)
Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)
Tom Harkin (D-Iowa)
Carl Levin (D-Mich.)
Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.)
Jack Reed (D-R.I.)

Thank you, Senators. I am proud of you.

Gary's Surgery

Roseann posted an update on her husband Gary's surgery on his shoulder.

On A Plane

A PLANE IS ON ITS WAY TO TORONTO, WHEN A BLONDE IN ECONOMY CLASS GETS UP, AND MOVES TO THE FIRST CLASS SECTION AND SITS DOWN. THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT WATCHES HER DO THIS, AND ASKS TO SEE HER TICKET. SHE THEN TELLS THE BLONDE THAT SHE PAID FOR ECONOMY CLASS, AND THAT SHE WILL HAVE TO SIT IN THE BACK.

THE BLONDE REPLIES, "I'M BLONDE, I'M BEAUTIFUL, I'M GOING TO TORONTO AND I'M STAYING RIGHT HERE."

THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT GOES INTO THE COCKPIT AND TELLS THE PILOT AND THE CO-PILOT THAT THERE IS A BLONDE BIMBO SITTING IN FIRST CLASS, THAT BELONGS IN ECONOMY, AND WON'T MOVE BACK TO HER SEAT.

THE CO-PILOT GOES BACK TO THE BLONDE AND TRIES TO EXPLAIN THAT BECAUSE SHE ONLY PAID FOR ECONOMY SHE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE AND RETURN TO HER SEAT.

THE BLONDE REPLIES, "I'M BLONDE, I'M BEAUTIFUL, I'M GOING TO TORONTO AND I'M STAYING RIGHT HERE."

THE CO-PILOT TELLS THE PILOT THAT HE PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE THE POLICE WAITING WHEN THEY LAND TO ARREST THIS BLONDE WOMAN WHO WON'T LISTEN TO REASON.

THE PILOT SAYS, "YOU SAY SHE IS A BLONDE? I'LL HANDLE THIS, I'M MARRIED TO A BLONDE. I SPEAK BLONDE." HE GOES BACK TO THE BLONDE AND WHISPERS IN HER EAR, AND SHE SAYS, "OH, I'M SORRY." AND GETS UP AND GOES BACK TO HER SEAT IN ECONOMY.

THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT AND CO-PILOT ARE AMAZED AND ASKED HIM WHAT HE SAID TO MAKE HER MOVE WITHOUT ANY FUSS.

"I TOLD HER, "FIRST CLASS ISN'T GOING TO TORONTO".

If you think this joke is sexist, you need to know that a woman sent it to me, and the woman's name is Erika. Don't blame me. Blame Erika.