Dandelion Wine

2010-08-19T14:56:00.000-07:00

New Music

Check out Paste Magazine's Featured Audio the band, Railroad Earth music from their self titled album due out October 12th on One Haven Music. See the video to the right.

2010-05-29T09:53:00.000-07:00

Lady Bugs on Mount Lemmon

2010-05-19T21:59:00.000-07:00

After The Dance

Marcus outside of the Orpheum, waiting to go home.

2010-04-25T23:04:00.001-07:00

2010-04-25T22:47:00.002-07:00

The Chicks
or
Easter, is such a big mystery
that it can't fit into one day, it fills an entire season
New Life

Storm

Luna

Lacy

Cali

Birds in the Hand. . .
She or He has the whole world. . .
or
I hope these don't poop in their sleep

"Hold On" Performance with Bobby McFerrin

2010-04-25T22:28:00.000-07:00

2010-04-06T17:06:00.002-07:00

Desert Botanical Garden

We're All Happy Here

Orange

Butterfly Pavilion

Elias

Flowers

Marcus

2010-03-30T23:36:00.004-07:00

24 Hours
A Day in the Life of a Bipolar Child
A Brief Excerpt of the DVD

The Bipolar Child website

Janice Papolos was a co-founder of the Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation and the Juvenile Bipolar Research Foundation. In addition to her serving on the board of the Juvenile Bipolar Research Foundation, she publishes The Bipolar Child Newsletter which is subscribed to by over 20,000 parents and professionals throughout this country and abroad. She is a powerful advocate for families of children with bipolar disorder and has appeared on Oprah, 20/20, The Infinite Mind and on television and radio shows throughout the country in order to bring attention to this disorder of childhood.

Very happy to have found this resource. We are not alone.

2010-03-30T10:15:00.000-07:00

Forgotten Characters

in the

Easter and Passover Stories

In a garden, Gethsemane or Cedron as reported in the gospel of John, Judas identified Jesus for the soldiers and the Chief Priest and his staff. Simon Peter in an impulsive act cut off an ear of Malchus a servant of the Chief Priest. In Luke's story Jesus reaches out and heals the slaves ear. I wonder what happened to Malchus. If he wasn't healed and lived the rest of his life with the scar, was he bitter, did he blame Christ for the action of his follower? Malchus was a follower and a servant to a powerful master. All of this about Malchus is just speculation; however he was mentioned in the story and I wonder why.

In the Passover story the final plague set upon Egypt was the death of all the first born sons of the Egyptians.

¹² On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn-both men and animals-and I will bring judgement on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord.

²⁹ At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well. ³⁰ Pharaoh and all his officials and all the Egyptians got up during the night, and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead.

The first born of the prisoners in the dungeons, dead. Loud wailing, all the mothers holding their dieing boys. It was supposed to be a judgment on the gods of Egypt. Did the people blame their gods for not protecting them against the plagues? When Hagar and her son were thrown out into the desert to die, God rescued them and promised Hagar that her son would be great. Did God comfort any of the Egyptian mothers, did they hear assurances that the remaining children would be blessed?
I wonder what it was like to be a daughter, still alive when the treasured son had died. Where they despised for surviving? What about the younger sons, I am sure there were jealous younger brothers happy to step into the older brother's place and claim his inheritance and power.

I wonder.

2010-03-20T10:54:00.004-07:00

Haiku for Spring

Bright sun and white sky
Hot Spring in a dry desert
We're soaking in sweat

2010-03-17T19:40:00.000-07:00

Happy St Patrick's Day

How To Store And Organise Cats

2010-02-23T13:38:00.001-07:00

How To Store And Organise Cats

Posted using ShareThis

2010-01-29T17:03:00.002-07:00

In Honor of Marcus

2010-01-27T20:15:00.001-07:00

What's for Dinner

Chili and corn bread for a rainy desert night. I have been thinking about chili during this raining "chilly" week.
I found a chili powder at Bashas called Santa Cruz Mild Chili Powder. Now this is powdered chile peppers, not the spice mixture labeled Chili Powder found in the spice section. I am sure many of you already know that is a mixture of dried spices and herbs which can include powdered chilies, oregano, onion, garlic, cumin, mild paprika, black pepper, and salt.
Anyway, here's what we did with it:
I heated about 1/4 cup in a dry hot skillet until it was very aromatic and turned slightly darker at which time I added 3 or 4 teaspoons of cumin and continued to heat and stir for an other minute or so. Then I added a pound of 95% fat free beef. I pushed the block of meat into the dry spice with a wooden spoon, and kept chopping, turning and pushing the spice into the beef. I continued this until the spice and the crumbly beef were combined. The beef should still be in small chunks, not tiny mealy bits. Cook the beef until it is medium well, browned but not cooked through. dump this into a large dutch oven and set aside.
Chop one large yellow onion and saute in a bit of olive oil, add a couple of yellow jalepenos cut into strips. This makes it easier for those who are pepper adverse to remove them from their bowl. When they are soft add 1/2 a bottle of beer and cook down until the liquid is thickened and the vegies are quite tender. Add to the beef in the big pot, add a large can of whole tomatoes. I had a jar of tomatoes that my mom brought from her garden is Missouri. I added a small can of Mexican Style Stewed tomatoes because I had it. Salt to taste, add a teaspoon or so of sugar, and a splash of soy sauce. Stir and simmer for an hour of so. When you are 10 minutes or so from serving mix corn flour with water enough to make about 1/4 cup of very thick liquid. Note use corn flour not cornmeal. Stir it into the chili and continue cooking until it is thickened.
We serve this with crunchy cornbread using the southern cast iron skillet recipe in the Joy of Cooking. For dessert we have one last piece of cornbread with butter and dark molasses.

2010-01-19T21:12:00.000-07:00

Great news from Port au Prince !

We just received word from Haiti that Gladys and her team of 17 workers have arrived safely in Port au Prince.

Gladys' son Mark - who is a med student and part of the team - sent word that the team arrived safely and spent most of the day working at Hope Hospital.

He said that everyone is OK, just very tired.

Thanks to all our friends who were praying for the team over the past few days.

As we mentioned in our last report, the road through the Dominican Republic to Haiti is very dangerous with numerous instances of looters hitting aid convoys, so having the team safely in Port au Prince is a great relief.

We'll send more news once Gladys gets back to us.

Thad Newman

2010-01-18T11:37:00.000-07:00

Haiti Update

Update from Gladys, director of orphanage where we our boys were.

"I am on my way Haiti now.
We have secured lots of supplies.   Roads travel to PAP from the DR are very dangerous. Please be praying for us.
We might find a plane to fly supply for us (if one is available), especially mattresses as patients are on the floor everywhere in Hope Hospital.
I will have a satellite phone and mostly likely will be using it for updates.
Rebecca Hackworth [a director of the USFCH] has a facebook page up as well: feh haiti gladys thomas.
My staff in Haiti, although reduced in numbers, is doing above and beyond what I imagined possible.
Natalie [Gladys daughter who works for the Foundation] is overwhelmed and exhausted but is being an angel and lots is being done.
Yesterday Natalie secured new medical staff for today: surgeons, nurses.
Somehow she was able to get 300 gal of diesel fuel to run the hospitals generators and allow us to use equipment, and offer full services. Natalie told me she will be looking for a backup generator as they are being donated by an aid agency. Today she is expecting full services.   Dr Gousse [Hope Hospital's medical director] is doing beyond and above as always.
Please keep us in your prayers specially today for safe traveling. we have about 40 bags of supplies with us plus we are picking up much more in the way of supplies in the DR.

Thank you to all of our supporters.   This will be a long, long struggle.

Thank you so much and God bless.

Gladys"

2010-01-18T11:34:00.004-07:00

Places to Donate

There are many places to send your money, if you have already made a decision about where to send your donation, then disregard this. If however, you are looking for more information or a suggestion then please consider one of these.

Marcus and Elias were living in an orphanage run by Gladys Silvester Thomas and supported by the United States Foundation for the Children of Haiti. Gladys was born in Haiti, received her RN in USA and returned to make a difference in her country. She also runs the only pediatric hospital in Haiti as well as a home for children with aids and other disabilities. This is a lean organization that has a long history in Haiti.
The pediatric hospital is one of the few hospitals left standing, and if full to overflowing with earthquake survivors of all ages.
Click here for more information United States Foundation for the Children of Haiti.

Partners in Health, PHI, has been working in Haiti for over 20 years.

The work of PIH has three goals: to care for our patients, to alleviate the root causes of disease in their communities, and to share lessons learned around the world.Based in Boston, PIH employs more than 11,000 people worldwide, including doctors, nurses and community health workers. The vast majority of PIH staff are local nationals based in the communities we serve.

Click here for more information Partners in Health.

Both of these organization have a long history in Haiti. Both of them employ local Haitians for many of the leadership positions. They are dedicated to the country and will be working long after the worlds attention is no longer focused on Haiti.

Thank you for your concern, good thoughts, and prayers.

Much love

The Murphy Family.

2009-12-15T15:00:00.001-07:00

Questions

I haven't been sure of many things lately so I haven't written here. However since that doesn't seem to be changing I decided to begin to post my questions, maybe someone has a question to add or an idea to add to a question here.

Compassion without Forgiveness
An author on NPR was being asked about compassion and forgiveness in context of a man who had assaulted her. She said she had compassion for him but without forgiveness. I wonder what that means? Does that mean then that there is forgiveness without compassion? Where's the bright line between these? I wonder if she's equating forgiveness with exoneration? The thesaurus lists them as synonym, I'm not sure they fit together like that for me. Can such important definitions be left to individual interpretation without making their use difficult or meaningless?

2009-10-01T12:25:00.001-07:00

This is my first mobile post.
It's October already and I just noticed that I forgot to lose weight. I think the reason that it is so dificult is that it depends on the absence of an action.Not doing something is difficult. Spend less time and energy eating than I am currently spending. Thinking about not eating is a lot like thinking about eating. So I need to not think about not eating. I wonder if it. Is possible to do this not thinking without being aware of it? Even if I could for a time-there's always food that wakes my thoughts-then I'm thinking again. Oh wretched woman that I am.

2009-08-18T15:28:00.012-07:00

St. Louis Arch

Park Around St Louis Arch

First Dandelion
Park Around St Louis Arch

The Boys

Arch

"I love the Arch!"

Going Up!

Murphys at the Top

Finding a Window

First Look

I wonder what he's thinking.

Same Point of View

Brotherly Love

Brotherly Love?

?

Yeah, It's Love.

Model Car

Under the Arch
in the Museum

2009-07-16T15:52:00.002-07:00

Gay Penguins Adopt Chick

Male penguins raise adopted chick, BBC article. This is the second account I know of, the first is in the New York City Zoo, Central Park Zoo's gay penguins ignite debate.

2009-07-14T11:20:00.000-07:00

Fish Won't Bite

But the Crawdads

Will

Coaxing him out from under the rocks.

Got 'em.

Big Boy

Back to the Rock

2009-06-14T19:51:00.000-07:00

Fireflies Tonight

Twilight under a grove of large evenly spaced trees, the boys and Fritz were running through the grass with their arms outstretched chasing flashes of yellow light. Kim and I walking the path follow them with Fritz. We walk until the path opens into a meadow surrounded by thick woods.

Dusk now, Kim is walking with her hands lifted up and stretched out following a light across the meadow, she reaches out and misses--her light flying higher into the woods. We all look up at the dense trees surrounding the meadow and they are full of fireflies twinkling like Christmas Tree lights. Marcus slips up beside me and whispers, "Paradise."

2009-06-09T13:28:00.001-07:00

Cross Country

We are in St. Louis Missouri, after driving in from Kansas City last night. We left on June 3rd., our routeand went through Flagstaff, over to New Mexico where we spent our first night in Santa Fe. We ate at the Flying Tortilla that was right beside the motel. Elias had some really good buttermilk pancakes for dinner. We didn't do much there but went on to Taos the next morning and walked around the Plaza. There were quite a few locals hanging around talking and most of them greeted each other with a hug. We saw more platonics hugs there then we have seen anywhere else.
The dull pastel green hills between Sante Fe and Taos were dotted with small round bushes evenly spaced around the hill. Rustic polka dot landscaping.
Elias found some juggling stick that called his name so he spent a portion of his vacation allowance and took them unto himself. I needed coffee so we walk around until we found a coffee cafe. While I was in getting my large 2% quad latte, Elias found a someone to begin teaching him how to use his new toy. By the time I had my first sip he had mastered some basic moves with the sticks.

2009-06-01T10:23:00.000-07:00

Forgot

We leave soon for our road trip
Family reunion in Missouri

Snacks packed
Finished the laundry

Can begin packing
Forgot to lose weight

Damn

2009-05-14T18:55:00.005-07:00

What's for Dinner
Jicama and Apple Slaw

1 small jalapeño pepper
Juice of 1/2 small lemon
1/2 small vidalia onion
1 medium jicama
3 tart apples for example gala, pink rose, jonathon, jonagold

1 teaspoon evaporated cane juice if you don't have, substitute sugar
drizzle of olive oil
Salt to taste

Remove seeds and finely chop the jalapeño pepper. Removing the white pith will lower the heat of the chili.
Finely chop the vidalia onion.
Toss the jalapeño pepper and the onion with the lemon juice. Set aside.
Shred jicama with a mandolin into matchstick sized julienne strips.

Do the same for the apples.

Mix apples, jicama, and lemon juice mixture, add sugar and salt. Drizzle with olive oil and toss together right before serving.

Option: Add fresh pineapple tidbits at the end with the apples and jicama.

This is what we're having for dinner with cold leftover roasted turkey wrapped in pita with sliced cucumbers and a dolup of yogurt.

2009-05-14T15:03:00.000-07:00

Publicity Stunt in Belgium

Have you seen this?

2009-05-04T21:28:00.006-07:00

Flu Folly

flu fashion: particulate protection for party people.

Flu Fashion Respirator Masks add style, form and N95 function in one easy product. Don't look sick while trying to avoid being sick. Bright colors prints or animal prints.

A real face mask discretely hidden inside.
There's really nothing more to say.

2009-05-04T14:20:00.000-07:00

Overheard

I rode the light rail home from church yesterday. I overheard a comment from one of a couple who got off the train behind me.

Great Sunday! Real nice. I feel strong today. Maybe it's because I'm sober.
Uh. Hmm, replied his companion.

2009-04-26T16:40:00.000-07:00

Beatrice Arthur

Beatrice Arthur died early Saturday morning. She was 86.
I remember watching Bea Arthur Maude when I was a child. I wanted to be just like her. Funny, smart, loud, and opinionated.

Beatrice Arthur as Maude and Ester Rolle as Florida Evans

A quote from Remembering Bea Arthur, feminist TV pioneer, an article on Salon:

But it's also important to remember that before "Dollhouse," before "Sex and the City," there was "Maude." The "All in the Family" spin-off, which ran from 1972 to 1978, starred Arthur as Maude Findlay, the Democratic-voting, women's liberation-supporting, four times married cousin of Edith Bunker.

2009-04-23T12:46:00.001-07:00

Word of the Day

Good for a Laugh : risibility

You're forgiven for thinking this word means "an ability to rise." In fact it means "readiness to laugh." Its etymology is somewhat obscured by the conjugation of its Latin root (ridere), which also gives us deride and ridiculous.

Click here for the Visual Thesaurus

2009-04-21T13:05:00.001-07:00

A Poem
by
Elizabeth Barret Browning

To Flush, My Dog
Yet, my pretty sportive friend,
Little is't to such an end
That I praise thy rareness!
Other dogs may be thy peers
Haply in these drooping ears,
And this glossy fairness.

But of thee it shall be said,
This dog watched beside a bed
Day and night unweary -
Watched within a curtained room,
Where no sunbeam brake the gloom
Round the sick and dreary.

Roses, gathered for a vase,
In that chamber died apace,
Beam and breeze resigning.
This dog only, waited on,
Knowing that when light is gone
Love remains for shining.

Other dogs in thymy dew
Tracked the hares, and followed through
Sunny moor or meadow.
This dog only, crept and crept
Next a languid cheek that slept,
Sharing in the shadow.

Other dogs of loyal cheer
Bounded at the whistle clear,
Up the woodside hieing.
This dog only, watched in reach
Of a faintly uttered speech,
Or a louder sighing.

And if one or two quick tears
Dropped upon his glossy ears,
Or a sigh came double -
Up he sprang in eager haste,
Fawning, fondling, breathing fast,
In a tender trouble.

And this dog was satisfied
If a pale thin hand would glide
Down his dewlaps sloping -
Which he pushed his nose within,
After -platforming his chin
On the palm left open.

2009-04-20T14:21:00.000-07:00

Easter Egg Hunt

Karen, Doug and Sam joined us for Easter brunch and an Easter Egg hunt. The focus was intense. The boys search for the money filled eggs across 3 yards. In the end all eggs were emptied and the money evenly divided.

2009-04-20T14:07:00.002-07:00

Easter Pictures

Handsome Handsome

Can you say MGM 1940?

Squash the Competition

Are you Bored Yet?

I have more.

I'm not really bored yet.

They really do love each other.

Now I'm finished. Just now.

2009-04-20T09:19:00.003-07:00

Christmas Pictures

Really Late

The Boys

All of Us

Marcus distances himself from the foolishness

Elias he smiles and smiles

2009-04-16T16:03:00.005-07:00

Appearances Don't Always Mean Much

Susan Boyl appeared on the UK television program "Britain's Got Talent," singing her rendition of a song from "Les Miserables." She's middle aged, frumpy, unmarried, and a bit overweight. When she appeared on stage the audiences expected her to bomb, they were waiting for her to humiliate herself. If you haven't seen this video yet, please do. Click here to go to You Tube.

Update:

Exclusive: Susan Boyle's first ever song release revealed

From the DailyRecord.co.uk

...the Record can reveal she made her first recording back in 1999, when she sang blues ballad Cry Me A River for a charity CD.
Only 1000 copies of the disc were ever produced, but we’ve got hold of the long-forgotten recording and it’s now on our site. A showbiz insider said: “This is a real coup for the Record. The whole world would have wanted to find this.

listen to it here

2009-04-08T20:44:00.001-07:00

Word of the Day

Ruach

Copied from "The Hebrew Name for God"

In the Tanakh, the word ruach generally means wind, breath, mind, spirit.
In a living creature (nephesh chayah), the ruach is the breath, whether of animals (Gen 7:15; Psa 104:25, 29) or mankind (Isa 42:5; Ezek 37:5).

God is the creator of ruach: "The ruach of God (from God) is in my nostrils" (Job 27:3). In God's hand is the ruach of all mankind (Job 12:10; Isa 42:5). In mankind, ruach further denotes the principle of life that possesses reason, will, and conscience.

The ruach imparts the divine image to man, and constitutes the animating dynamic which results in man's nephesh as the subject of personal life.

When applied to God, the word Ruach indicates creative activity (Gen 1:2) and active power (Isa 40:13). The Spirit of God also works in providence (Job 33:4; Psa 104:30), in redemption (Ezek 11:19; Ezek 36:26-27), in upholding and guiding his chosen ones (Neh 9:20; Psa 143:10; Hag 2:5), and in the empowering of the Messiah (Isa 11:2; Isa 42:1; Isa 61:1).

In short, as the ruach is to the created nephesh, so the Ruach Elohim is to God Himself, part of God and identified with God.

Ruach may be understood as the Author of the animating dynamic of the created order, the underlying Principle of creation, and the One that imparts the nephesh to the entire universe.

Martin Burber quoted on the Biblical Heritage Center site:

… Both accounts of creation – the account of the making of the world (1:1-2:4a) and the account of the making of human beings (2:4b-25), the primordial legend of nature and the primordial legend of history … In the first, RUACH maternally spreads her wings to shelter the totality of the things that are to be; in the second, unnamed and enigmatic, she is infused into the being destined for existence in history, to be present for his decision and to share his fate. . . .

Happy Easter

New Life

Birth Follows Death

Easter

Turns Everything Inside Out

and

Upside Down

2009-04-07T16:53:00.000-07:00

Dogs at Church

This one is especially for Bill

Omaha, Nebraska, Underwood Hills Presbyterian Church every Thursday they have a Paws & Prayer service for folks and their dogs. Jeff Martin in USA TODAY,

As they enter the church, they yip, they lick and they sniff the tail ends of their fellow parishioners. An occasional woof interrupts the piano notes wafting through the sanctuary.
But this is a forgiving audience.
It is full of dog lovers, mostly, who gather every Thursday to worship at Underwood Hill Presbyterian Church.

Another feature of the service is dog treats in the offering plate--put your offering in and take out a treat for your dog. Presbyterians aren't the only ones to welcome dogs:

In New York City, it is common to have a couple of dogs — perhaps a few more — in the main Sunday worship service at Church of the Holy Trinity, an Episcopal congregation, and dogs are welcome at other services, says the Rev. Michael Phillips, the church rector.
"It's been a custom of this parish for, I would say, at least 10 years, if not more," Phillips says. "For many people in Manhattan who live by themselves, by choice or not, it's remarkably easy to feel isolated and alone in a city with this many people. ... When they come to church, they want to bring their family."

Vermont, Boston:

In Vermont, artist Stephen Huneck built Dog Chapel atop a mountain near St. Johnsbury. The chapel doesn't have regular services, but Huneck says visitors are welcome. People have covered the walls with photos of deceased dogs since the chapel opened in 2000. "Dogs have a soul and they're part of our family," he says.
About 20 to 50 dogs typically show up for the "Woof and Worship" service at 5 p.m. every Sunday at Pilgrim Congregational Church in the Boston suburb of Weymouth, Mass., says the Rev. Rachel Bickford. The services began in September, she adds. "I thought this would be a wonderful way to bring some joy back into the community," she says. "It's been terrific."

Some of these congregations are also considering outreach ministries for their canine parishoners, visiting nursing home and hospitals.

2009-04-07T14:32:00.003-07:00

Just a Bit of News

White House invites
Gay families to Easter event

Associated Press by Gillian Gaynair

The White House is allocating tickets for the upcoming Easter Egg Roll to gay and lesbian families as part of the Obama administration's outreach to diverse communities.

Families say the gesture shows that the new Democratic administration values them as equal to other families. And for many, being included in the annual tradition — dating to 1878 — renews hope that they will have more support in their quest for equal rights in matters such as marriage and adoption than under the previous administration.

2009-04-04T22:41:00.001-07:00

Clara

Clara, our Italian Greyhound mix, has been a part of our family for about two years. She is a great companion for me but she's also a runner. She loves to slip out of the backyard, she climbs the fence, or the front door, when the boys are running in and out. Then she runs around taking care of her business in about a 3 or 4 block radius from our house. Places that need pee, dog to greet or growl at, people to greet or growl at--business.
Animal control has revoked her business license and we are afraid that she will get hit by a car on 3rd avenue. So we have decided to find her a new home that is quieter and safer. If anyone knows of anyone that is looking for a new dog let us know. We have 2 leads, but don't know if either will come through.

Clara and Clover

Her favorite place

2009-04-02T10:20:00.001-07:00

The Queen of England's Entire Title

If you are interested, here it is:

Her Majesty Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas Queen, Defender of the Faith, Duchess of Edinburgh, Countess of Merioneth, Baroness Greenwich, Duke of Lancaster, Lord of Mann, Duke of Normandy, Sovereign of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Sovereign of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, Sovereign of the Most Illustrious Order of Saint Patrick, Sovereign of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Sovereign of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Sovereign of the Distinguished Service Order, Sovereign of the Imperial Service Order, Sovereign of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India, Sovereign of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, Sovereign of the Order of British India, Sovereign of the Indian Order of Merit, Sovereign of the Order of Burma, Sovereign of the Royal Order of Victoria and Albert, Sovereign of the Royal Family Order of King Edward VII, Sovereign of the Order of Mercy, Sovereign of the Order of Merit, Sovereign of the Order of the Companions of Honour, Sovereign of the Royal Victorian Order, Sovereign of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem.

2009-04-02T10:18:00.000-07:00

The Queen of England Hugs Michelle Obama

Really. It's the first time in the 57 years of her reign that Elizabeth of England has ever embraced another world leader in public. According to MailOnline. The article goes on to say that:

Michelle Obama and the Queen clearly took to each other at the drinks reception afterwards as they chatted and laughed together.

About President Obama:

Mrs Obama, who is nearly as tall as her 6ft 1in husband, towered over the Queen, a diminutive figure in pink, as they chatted. However, on his first meeting with the Queen, Barack Obama made it clear that it was he who looked up to her.
Sources said he was as 'excited as a schoolboy' to meet the woman he has only ever seen 'on stamps and in documentaries'.

Leaning towards The Queen with a grin. School boy indeed.

2009-03-30T16:26:00.000-07:00

Natural Easter Candy

Look at this. I have just stumbled across an online candy store. They even have cotton candy with natural flavors and colors. Pure sugar! What could be more natural? Natural Candy Store.

2008-10-11T17:36:00.003-07:00

McCain Supporter Prays

Rev. Arnold Conrad, past pastor of the Grace Evangelical Free Church. His prayer before McCain arrived at the convention center blocks from the Mississippi River appeared to dismiss faiths other than Christianity and cast the election as a referendum on God himself.

"I would also pray, Lord, that your reputation is involved in all that happens between now and November, because there are millions of people around this world praying to their god — whether it's Hindu, Buddha, Allah — that his opponent wins, for a variety of reasons," Conrad said. "And Lord, I pray that you would guard your own reputation, because they're going to think that their god is bigger than you, if that happens. So I pray that you will step forward and honor your own name with all that
happens between now and Election Day," he said.

MSNBC

2008-10-07T13:43:00.000-07:00

Godly Play

Chiapus, Mexico

The Mision Mexico Orphanage

Look at this. Caryl Menkhus talks about her experience teaching Godly Play in Mexico.

2008-09-29T12:40:00.001-07:00

Nutcracker Dates

We have finally been given the dates that the boys are performing.

12/11 6:30 pm Angel Night Performance

12/13 7:30 pm
12/17 7:30 pm
12/20 2:00 pm
12/21 5:00 pm
12/24 1:00 pm
12/27 2:00 pm
12/28 5:00 pm

The performance are at Symphony Hall. If you are interested in going, tickets can be purchased at Ballet Arizona box office 602.381.1096.

2008-09-27T17:44:00.003-07:00

Urban Observations

We woke up and found that we were out of coffee. I had to run to Lux for beans. On the way I passed a yard sale on 3rd avenue. They had an entertainment center, lots of clothes, a table, and an ATM machine for sale.

Later I took the boys to Nutcracker rehearsal, I saw a helicopter circling an small area south of Indian School, between 7th street and 3rd about 4 blocks north of Osborn. When I looked down the street in passing there were 3 or 4 police cars, lights spinning in front of a duplex. Several men looking down with their hands behind their backs.

Home, one of our ducks in the front yard greeted me. She was being pecked quite mercilessly by the others, so she is now a front yard duck.

The boys are learning how to ask for help. Strong people, smart people ask for help. Our house mantra. None of us can do as much as all of us. There put that on your wall plaque and quote it!

2008-09-16T14:02:00.000-07:00

Wall Art

I was in cruising Target today waiting for a prescription to be filled, when I passed a sign that advertised, Removable Vinyl Wall Art. I continued passed, then 2 aisles later I became aware of what I had read. I returned to learn more. What a wonder I found. This removable wall art is not only made with vinyl but promises that it can be applied in minutes to give any, absolutely any room in your house a personal touch. Why in a matter of minutes you can put the cursive text: Behold Wonder, on your wall. A personal touch that doesn't take all day.

And if that grows stale your Vinyl Wall Art is Removable! This period of our history is about change, it's about reaching out with a personal touch. What could be more timely? We all need Removable Vinyl Wall Art. You can replace: Behold Wonder, with Not Perfect, But Very Close in just minutes.

Further more declining school funding means less money for art instruction. With this available at local stores, art is accessible to us all. You can have fun original art work just like everyone else. And as a bonus this Vinyl Wall Art looks hand painted! Guaranteed. All of this for only $16.99.

2008-09-13T20:13:00.004-07:00

Circle of the Church Year

Tomorrow is the first day of the church spiritual formation year. Godly Play begins tomorrow with the Circle of the Church Year story. Many of you are familiar with Godly Play, a Montessori based spiritual discipline .

Some Foundational Concepts
of Godly Play
A Montessori approach

Children can be trusted to seek out what they need to know.

The Holy Spirit can be trusted to lead the children.

During the child’s work time it is critically important for the door person and story teller to be "observers" of the child instead of demonstrating or directing the child’s choices.

When allowed children have an "absorbent mind" possessing limitless motivation to achieve competence within their environment and to perfect skills and understandings.

Children are masters of their Godly Play room and environment, which has been specifically prepared for them child sized shelves, everything made to be touched.

We encourage independence by giving them the tools and responsibility to manage its upkeep. This includes dusting, polishing the silver, putting away the materials with care, and using the stories as they are intended. i.e. the Ark should never be in the desert box.

Children learn through discovery, children learn to explore their own thoughts and ideas, instead of relying on a teacher to give them the correct answer.

Children most often learn alone during periods of intense concentration. During these self-chosen and spontaneous periods, the child is not to be interrupted by the story teller or door person.

The hand is intimately connected to the developing brain in children. Children must actually touch the shapes, figures, ark, etc. that they are learning about--not just watch a teacher, puppets, or video tell them about these ideas or spiritual concepts.

Let us wonder.

2008-09-13T12:34:00.004-07:00

Scraper Bikes

On NPR this morning they interviewed Tyrone Stevenson Jr. about the scraper bike movement--Scraper Bike Fever Spreads, Thanks To YouTube.

"Actually, scraper bikes saved my life," says Tyrone Stevenson Jr., who prefers the title "Scraper Bike King."

"Because I was at a young age, getting into a lot of serious trouble, selling drugs and on the verge of going to jail. So my mom told me this is a way to channel anger and frustration, just focusing on something that's creative, something that's me, and the bikes is me."

The scraper bikes are modeled after scraper cars.

"The idea from the scraper bikes, it basically came from the cars that ride in Oakland — we call them scrapers — basically it's an old model car, such as a Buick, that's painted a custom color to match the rims. I wanted to take that and put a bike onto it."

After Tyrone recorded a music video and posted it on YouTube the movement took off. He's now making a living off of the bikes. Cool, really cool--silly but cool.

"The true meaning of a scraper bike is basically, I want to give back something positive to the community," Stevenson said.
"Because there's so much going on. Drugs and killing and stuff, this is a way of giving the kids a way to a positive future, but being creative at the same time."

2008-09-12T13:32:00.000-07:00

McCain on the View

2008-09-11T21:53:00.002-07:00

Nutcracker News

Marcus and Elias auditioned for the Ballet Arizona performance of the Nutcracker last Sunday. Both have a part in the production. Elias will be repeating his role as a young party boy, and Marcus will be performing the role of Fritz for the first time. He was hoping to get this part as he has been a party boy for 3 years. He was very excited and exclaimed, "I get to break the nutcracker!"
When asked about his part, Elias said, "I already know most of the steps, so I can spend more time on the extra stuff we get to do on stage--like pretend to sneak the wine, drink it, then pretend to spit it out.

The Nutcracker

Astrit Zejnati
Choreography by Ib Andersen
Photo by Rosalie O'Connor
Premiere: December 9, 2006

They haven't assigned casts or performance date yet. When the dates are announced we'll post them here.

2008-09-11T16:17:00.006-07:00

McCain Obama Proposals

Campain 2008

Analysis and Comparisons

McCain and Obama

Here are a few links I have found, as I find more comparison information I'll post them.

Health Care

Side by Side Analysis of Health Care Proposals

provided by the Kaiser Family Foundation

Tax Policy Proposals

Paul L. Caron the Associate Dean of Faculty at Charles Hartsock Professor of Law, Univ. of Cincinnati College of Law on his blog, TaxProf, June 12, 2008 entry: Comparison of the McCain and Obama Tax Plans.

Washington Post article, Obama and McCain Tax Proposals.

CNN, Money article, What they'll do to your tax bill

Urban Institute paper, A Preliminary Analysis of the 2008 Presidential Candidates' Tax Plans, click the pdf link for the full report.

The nonpartisan Urban Institute publishes studies, reports, and books on timely topics worthy of public consideration.

The Economy

Article in CNN Money, The economy: McCain vs. Obama

Foreign Policy

Citizens for Global Solutions, The Candidate Comparison Matrix.

Science and Technology

Sea, Scientist and Engineers for America, side by side comparison chart, Science & Technology: McCain & Obama

The Environment

Article in New York Observer, Obama vs. McCain on the Environment at the Opening Bell.

Grist, Enviromental News and Commentary, See chart Compare the Candidates, See at a glance where the presidential contenders stand on climate and energy issues

Quizzes

These quizzes compare your answers to various question with statements from candidates and displays a list of those that match your answers the closest.

OnTheIssues, Every candidate on every issue VoteMatch Quiz,

MPR, Minnesota Public Radio, President Survey.

2008-09-11T10:00:00.001-07:00

Storm Aftermath in Haiti

Though our own coasts are experiencing the effects of the storm, we start from a place of relative wealth and well being. To those whose baseline is so low, the storms are--what word would be adequate? tragic, deadly, I don't know. Who is our neighbor?
Video of Haitian Clinic trying to cope with victims.

2008-08-29T11:42:00.007-07:00

The Storm

Hurricane force winds clocked at 100 miles per hour during a thunder storm last night. Ducks blown all over the back yard. Stunned people, with coffee or cameras in their hands surveying the damage accompanied by the sound of chain saws. We lost power all night until noon. According to azcentral.com 40,000 were without power last night and this morning. 4,300 are still without power, maybe until tomorrow. Fallen power lines still block parts of the intersection of 7th Street and Thomas Road and all of 3rd avenue in Willo. See pictures below. Windows blown out, schools closed, there is more information about valley wide damage in the azcentral.com article.

Willo

The Bottom

The Top

This is a 20 year old pine tree that our neighbor, Ann, planted. The top landed two houses over missing a powerline between the houses. Her back screened-in porch was lifted and set down a way over without breaking any of the windows.

Further down the street, Cindy and Trini lost their mesquite tree in the front and a window. In back another of their trees fell on the corner of the house.

Power Poles Down

Looking south down 3rd avenue, poles snapped in two, others laying over at an angle held up by their wire. Powers lines on the ground or hanging waist high over the street.

Held Up By Wires

Bonk!

Signs

Like Dominoes

Snapped

Tree Fills Two Yards

This is on Wilshire, the street just south of us. The roots of the tree were fully exposed. Across the street two palm trees lay neatly side by side where they fell.

Palms on Wilshire

More Palms

Encanto between 5th Avenue and 7th Avenue

Amazing to See

Another View

The Other End on a

Vintage Collector Car

Bummer.

Next Door

Traffic Light on the Ground

Finally Breakfast at Lux

Paid for By a

Generous Fellow in the Corner

Soy Vanilla Steamer

Makes Boy Happy

Stylin' Goggles

After we ordered and tried to pay, we were told that the fellow in the corner bought a round for everyone. All orders paid for until 9 am. Just a gift he said, "rich in friends."

2008-08-28T15:10:00.005-07:00

Marcus Turned 11

Because it's so hot in August, only inside birthday parties work this time of year. So, we went bowling!

Note: Ethan from School of Ballet Arizona was there--however he managed to avoid the camera so there's nothing to prove he was there. Hmmm.

Before the Party

The Candy Surfboard Factory

The Boards

Surfin' Dude

At the Alley

King of the Lanes

Emotions Beyond Words

They didn't bowl!

Jacob's Dad

Ethan's Mom
Didn't Bowl Either

Sam's Mom and Sam

Bulge in cheek does not necessarily indicate guilt.

Eleven Candles

Is being advised not to eat blue food.

Not likely to take the advise.

Jake Ate Cake

Yum! Cupcakes

World Industries
Tech Deck!

Blue Lips

Happy Happy Birthday!

2008-08-22T12:24:00.003-07:00

Baking Soda

Baking soda is cheap, safe, and very effective. Not New or Improved because it has always worked.

Refrigerator Wipe Out
Wiping out your refrigerator with a soapy cloth can leave your fridge smelly. Use baking soda sprinkled on a damp cloth. Wipe out with a different damp cloth.

Clean Your Pipes
Remember the vinegar and baking soda science experiment? This foaming action can help clean your pipes without using harsh chemicals. Just put about 2/3 cup baking soda over the drain. Add about a cup of vinegar. Repeat if there is a bunch of ookey stuff coming out. Rinse sink with very hot water. Do this weekly to keep pipes clear.

The Pits For Silver
This is a cool experiment, but don't do it on valuable silver as this will eventually pit your silverware.

Place the silver on aluminum foil in an enamel pot. Add boiling water and 4 tablespoons baking soda. Let stand, rinse and dry.

An electrochemical reaction takes place when the silver and aluminum are touching each other in the dissolved baking soda. The silver and aluminum have to be touching each other because a small electric current must flows between them during the reaction. Sulfur atoms are transferred from the silver to the aluminum, converting the black layer of silver sulfide back into silver and forming aluminum sulfide.

Naturally Abrasive

Made a paste of baking soda and water right on the surface you need to scrub. Counters, glassware, floors, bathroom surfaces. It does a great job of scrubbing without scratching.

Fire Extingusher

Puts out grease fires, keep a bit in an attractive ceramic container* by the side of your stove as your cooking. In case of fire sprinkle a bit or dump the lot to smother the fire.
*So many of us have had kitchen re-does. A box by the store is so tacky.

Clean Burnt Pans

To clean burnt food from pans, sprinkle with baking soda, then soak. After several hours, the charred pieces will come loose. Heavily burned on food may also take a bit a scrubbing.

Natural Deorderizer

Sprinkle in litter boxes
In the bottom of new trash bags
Wash dogs with dissolved baking soda, gentle and effective
The much touted open box in the refrigerator
Add to stinky laundry--socks, sleeping bags, workout clothes
Dissolve in water and gargle for fresh breath
Anywhere stink is unwelcome.

2008-08-21T19:34:00.002-07:00

The Librarian Militia

Woman cuffed, booked for not paying library fines

Aug 21st, 2008 | GRAFTON, Wis. -- A Wisconsin woman has been arrested and booked for failing to pay her library fines.
Twenty-year-old Heidi Dalibor told the News Graphic in Cedarburg that she ignored the library's calls and letters as well as a notice to appear in court.
Still, she was surprised when officers with a warrant knocked on her door, cuffed her and took her to the police station to be fingerprinted and photographed.
Police Capt. Joe Gabrish says officers follow the same procedure with every warrant.
Library director John Hanson says a couple of dozen people are cited each year for failure to return materials or pay fines.
The incident cost Dalibor about $30 for the two overdue paperbacks. It cost her mother $172 to free her.

2008-08-21T12:24:00.002-07:00

Obscure Words

From Thinkmap Visual Thesaurus:

There are handbags, and then there are reticules — if you want to get old-fashioned about it. This word has several relatives in English, all having to do with a net pattern (reticle, reticulate, reticulation), since reticule originally described a handbag made of net fabric.

Beaded satin reticule, c.1890-1900

Found on Vintage Textile:

This charming little Victorian reticule features splendid Native American style beading. Borrowing from the native arts was popular during the 19th century when ladies were constantly searching for new ideas for their many needlework projects.
The reticule is fashioned from copper colored satin and is lined with green satin. I love the pleated top and looped fringe! The bead colors are copper, red, and white. The snap closure may have been added later.
In the early 20th century, Native American beaded bags became major fashion items. They were usually made of simple chamois and decorated with brightly colored beads. Our reticule is slightly earlier and of higher quality construction than many of the 20th century bags, whose patterns were marketed by big companies like McCall's.

Click here for other examples.

2008-08-17T17:23:00.005-07:00

Six-Minute Chocolate Cake

Easy, quick cake for chocolate emergencies.

Preheat oven to 370 degrees

1 ½ cups white flour
⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar

Sift together the dry ingredients. into an ungreased 8-inch pan

In a 2 cup measuring cup measure and mix together

1 cup brewed coffee or water
½ cup oil
2 teaspoons vanilla

Add to the dry ingredients and mix batter with a fork or small whisk. When the batter is smooth, add

2 tablespoons white vinegar

There will be pale swirls in the batter where the baking soda and the vinegar are reacting. Stir just until the vinegar is evenly distributed.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.

2008-08-15T19:04:00.004-07:00

US swimming Champion

Michael Phelps

10,000 Calories a Day

According to Michael Hirst, BBC News, here's Phelps average daily intake:

If it is true that you are what you eat, then here is the suggested intake if you want to become history's most successful Olympian:

For breakfast: three fried egg sandwiches, with cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, fried onions and mayonnaise, followed by three chocolate-chip pancakes; a five-egg omelette; three sugar-coated slices of French toast and a bowl of grits, washed down with two cups of coffee.

For lunch: half a kilogramme (one pound) of enriched pasta; two large ham and cheese sandwiches on white bread smothered with mayonnaise, washed down by energy drinks.

For dinner: Another half-kilogramme of pasta, perhaps with a carbonara sauce, followed by a large pizza and more energy drinks.

That combination may not sound very healthy, and at a staggering 10,000 calories, would feed five average men for a day....

It's a combination of peak performance coupled with the fact that he has an enormous metabolism - he burns more calories sitting at a desk than a lot of people burn walking," Mr Kotterman told the BBC.

He suggested Phelps, with an estimated 8% body fat, probably burns 1,000 calories per hour during his swimming training, compared to the equivalent exercise for an average person - vigorous walking - that would burn between 170 and 240 calories.

There's nothing more to say

2008-08-12T10:48:00.010-07:00

Remembering
Imperial Beach

California

This is the last year for the present Sea Coast Inn. It will be torn down and rebuilt, newer, bigger, and more expensive. We went together with Doug Ryan, Karen Bruhn and their son Sam. No trips to Sea World, San Diego Zoo, or Lego Land. We did go to the harbor one afternoon, other than that we did very little.

Beach Run

Splash

Morning

Happy Boy

Leaping

First splash of the day

Deep, real deep

Dead, very, very dead

This seemed like a good idea

A large bucket of water approaches!

Ferry Ride

Kennebunkport Yacht Man

Our Fourth of July Light Show

Sam spinning the light fantastic

All the boys

Marcus

Light Concert

Glowing Ankles

2008-08-09T23:12:00.008-07:00

Cows with Guns

Animation of the song Cows With Guns by Dana Lyons. Animation created by Bjorn-Magne Stuesol. Read the story behind the song as written by Oliver, Dana's cat.

We will fight for bovine freedom and hold our large heads high
We will run free with the buffalo or die
Cows with Guns

2008-08-08T12:10:00.006-07:00

Ashes and Snow

A collection of photographs, Ashes and Snow depicts people with both wild animals and also those that have been habituated to human contact. Not sentimental--Colbert calls animals “nature's living masterpieces”

His 21^st-century bestiary includes more than 40 totemic species from around the world. Since he began creating his singular work of Ashes and Snow, Colbert has mounted more than 30 expeditions to locations such as India, Egypt, Burma, Tonga, Sri Lanka, Namibia, Kenya, Antarctica, the Azores, and Borneo.

The Rolex Institute has made it possible to preserve the body of work as shown in its original form at the Venice Arsenale in 2002.

“In exploring the shared language and poetic sensibilities of all animals, I am working towards rediscovering the common ground that once existed when people lived in harmony with animals. The images depict a world that is without beginning or end, here or there, past or present.”

—Gregory Colbert, Creator of Ashes and Snow

Visit Ashes and Snow.

2008-08-07T13:33:00.016-07:00

Uses for Vinegar

Also includes frivolous, fairly useless information

The Frivolous information

The International Vinegar Museum is located in Roslyn, South Dakota. It is under the governance of Vinegar Connoisseurs International, which hosts an Annual International Vinegar Festival.
Note: there is a helpful page on their website for Extraterrestrial Alien Visitors who attend the festival. Please make note of these suggestions if you plan to attend and this applies to you.

In Pischelsdorf in the eastern part of Styria, Austria, is one of the world's most modern vinegar centers of the world.

The mysticism of the vinegar production is shown from the beginning to the ready vinegar. Learn more about the oldest food people know. Find out why vinegar is good for your health and feel the power of this natural condiment. Visit our modern production line. Under the label "Fischerauer" we produce nearly all kind of fruit vinegars.

The mysticism of vinegar... Wow! The world is a mysterious and wondrous place, and vinegar, the right kind of vinegar, can keep you safe in this world.

Four Thieves Vinegar. "Old-time Root Doctors tell us they have used FOUR THIEVES VINEGAR for their own Personal Protection, to Rule, Control, and Foment Dissent among Enemies."

According to John M. Hansen (jmhansen@erols.com), the original recipe for Four Thieves Vinegar dates to the 15th century in Italy and consists of garlic steeped in soured red wine. Based on his own family's experience, John says that, "As an inoculation against epidemic diseases it actually works. Its use in magic came about much later; as with many other substances it became useful in the magical arts."

According to legend this potion got it's name from four men of Marseilles who, during the 17th century plagues of Toulouse, France, were caught robbing the dying and the dead without succumbing to the plague themselves. As reported on the website LifeBoheme:

“During the great plague, four robbers were convicted of going to the houses of plague-victims, strangling them in their beds and then looting their dwellings; for this they were condemned to be burned at the stake, and in order to have the sentence mitigated they revealed their secret preservative; after which they were hanged.” — Parliament of Toulouse archives 1628-1631

The formula for the Four Thieves Vinegar from The Practice Of Aromatherapy by Jean Valnet contains

3 pints strong white wine vinegar
a handful each of wormwood*, meadowsweet, juniper berries, wild marjoram and sage
50 cloves
2 ounces of elecampane root
2 ounces of angelica
2 ounces of rosemary
2 ounces of horehound
3 g camphor

The complete directions can be found on the LifeBoheme website.

*Note: Don't take Four Thieves Vinegar internally, wormwood is poisonous. Absinthe doesn't count.

The Uses

Below are just a few that we use at our house. For more ideas see twenty-seven uses for vinegar at FrugalFun.com or Vinegar Tips they boast 1001 uses for vinegar listed on their site.

Get rid of Water Line in a Vase
Fill the vase with a solution of half water and half white distilled vinegar, or soak a paper towel in white distilled vinegar and stuffing it into the vase so that it is in contact with the water line.

Remove Mineral Deposits from Sink Fixtures
Use a rag or paper towel saturated with vinegar, wrap fixture, let soak for an hour so to loosen the crud. Wipe off. Repeat if necessary. No scrubbing.

Remove Mineral Deposits in Tea Pot
Add 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar to the water and letting it sit overnight. If the crud is resistant, boil full-strength white distilled vinegar in the pot, let cool and rinse with water.

Fruit and vegetable wash
Add 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar to 1 pint water in a spray bottle. Use to wash fresh fruits and vegetables, then rinse thoroughly. Research has shown that vinegar helps kill bacteria on fruits and vegetables.
Heinz company spokesperson Michael Mullen has cited numerous studies to show that a straight 5 percent solution of vinegar such as you can buy in the supermarket kills 99 percent of bacteria, 82 percent of mold, and 80 percent of germs (viruses).

Remove Soap Buildup from Dishwasher
Pour a cup of white distilled vinegar inside the empty machine and running it through a whole cycle.

Clean Shower-heads
Shower-heads can get clogged with mineral deposits from your water. Remove the deposits by mixing 1/2 cup vinegar and 1 quart water in a large bowl or bucket. Remove the shower-head and soak it in vinegar solution for 15 minutes. For plastic shower-heads, soak for 1 hour in a mixture of 1 pint vinegar and 1 pint hot water.

Glass cleaner
One cup of white vinegar to four cups of water (for a stronger solution, one cup of white vinegar to one cup of water works) makes a fine window-washing fluid, substituting for Windex. If windows appear streaky after washing with vinegar, add a half-teaspoon of liquid soap to the mix. This removes the waxy, streak-causing residue left over by commercial window cleaners.

Unclog a drain
Dump 1 cup of baking soda down your drain and follow it with 1 cup of vinegar. When they mix, they foam and expand, cleaning your drain. Allow a few minutes for the mixture to do it's job, then flush with hot water for several minutes.

Note: Improperly diluted vinegar is acidic and can eat away at tile grout. Never use vinegar on marble surfaces.

2008-08-04T22:50:00.012-07:00

Why it's important to Vote

or
There is a difference to us

When Obama became the presumptive Democratic nominee a friend remarked that although she would probably vote for him, it really didn't make any difference whether Hillary or Obama won or maybe not that much difference between Obama and McCain. I nodded quietly and changed the subject.

I've been ruminating over that comment since then and what I want to say is to Gay and Lesbian people, to our friends and especially our families this election will make a big difference to us.

Below is a brief list of the issues that are specific to gay, lesbian, and transgendered people and their families:

Second parent adoption. There are only a few states that allow both parents to adopt their children if they are gay or lesbian. Legally, I have no parental rights for Marcus and Elias. If Kim would die, I would be just another friend of the family. Our fate as a surviving family would depend on the opinions of the judge.

Since I can't adopt the boys, if I die they have no right to any of my Social Security benefits.

Health Care Insurance Coverage. I have health care only because Kim's employer has a hospital in San Fransisco. This city requires all businesses that do business with the city to provide domestic partner benefits. Many gay and lesbians do not have the opportunity to be covered by their partners benefits. This is discrimination that has real dollar loss for them.

Boy Scouts don't allow gay boys to attend.

The Family leave act doesn't apply to our families.

Laws banning discrimination based on sexual orientation (7 states)
Wisconsin (1982); Massachusetts (1989); Connecticut (1991); New Hampshire (1997); Nevada (1999); Maryland (2001); New York (2002)

In most places in our country is it legal to fire someone because of their sexual orientation.
There are only 13 states and the District of Columbia that ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression:
Minnesota (1993); Rhode Island (1995, 2001)1; New Mexico (2003); California (1992, 2003)1; District of Columbia (1997, 2005)1; Illinois (2005); Maine (2005);
Hawaii (1991, 2005, 2006)2; New Jersey (1992, 2006)1; Washington (2006); Iowa (2007); Oregon (2007); Vermont (1992, 2007)1; Colorado (2007)

There are 7 states banning discrimination based on sexual orientation (these states do not include protection for transgendered people)
Wisconsin (1982); Massachusetts (1989); Connecticut (1991); New Hampshire (1997); Nevada (1999); Maryland (2001); New York (2002)

Quotes from Public Figures

Remember a majority of the people living in their district voted for these people--it would seem they don't speak just for themselves

Oklahoma State Rep. Sally Kern

Studies show, no society that has totally embraced homosexuality has lasted for more than, you know, a few decades. . .
I honestly think it’s the biggest threat our nation has, even more so than terrorism or Islam. . .
They want to get them into the government schools so they can indoctrinate them . . . They are going after our young children, as young as two years of age, to try to teach them that the homosexual lifestyle is an acceptable lifestyle.

When confronted,

“I will not apologize. I did not say anything false. I did not say anything malicious or hateful.”

You have to wonder how she defines “false,” “malicious” and “hateful.”

Ron Paul

"Homosexuals," he said, "not to speak of the rest of society, were far better off when social pressure forced them to hide their activities." And "I miss the closet."

Oregon Senator Gary George

George is the chief petitioner to repeal the Oregon Equality Act. When asked why he sought a vote to repeal a law that protects someone from being fired from his or her job based on their sexual orientation, Senator George had some advice for the gay community:

“My advice to the gay community is SHUT UP, just don’t talk about it. If you walk around talking about what you do in the bedroom, you should be on the pervert channel."

Rod Parsley

Televangelist and McCain supporter, who McCain has called a "spiritual guide." Parsley was quoted in the report by correspondent Tom Foreman

"I will lift my voice against the agenda of America's tortured and angry homosexual population."

Please research the local as well as the national candidates carefully. Make an informed choice. It makes a difference, especially to us.
Thank you.

2008-08-04T20:22:00.017-07:00

The First Day of School
2008

Looks like a garden fashion show, but it's really just the Murphy boys showing off before getting in the car and heading to 1st and 5th grade respectively.
Can you believe it? Marcus is 11 years old??!! Elias is 7.
They are both readers! Marcus has just finished the 5th Harry Potter book and is starting on the 6th one. Elias is our navigator reading all the road and business signs.
Marcus will be attending Phoenix Elementary Magnet Traditional School, and Elias will be attending Phoenix Elementary Faith North at Shaw campus Montessori school. Two different boys, two different schools.

Elias

Lookin' good, preppy shorts? With a red Mohawk?

It's not what it seems
those aren't little sailboats on his shorts

Pirate Stylin'

Marcus

Collegiate material

Loaded down ready to study

The thoughtful scholar

2008-08-04T12:08:00.009-07:00

Urban Ducks

This weekend Bryan Wampler of WaterWerx finished our backyard pond. We are so pleased. He did all we asked and more. And if we are pleased the ducks are ecstatic! They have been swimming, splashing, gliding on the water, and diving with their ducks butts in the air.

We are Queens over all we float over

The ladies and the falls

Clover wonders

Clara and the ladies

Frankie stretches her wings,
because she can,
Captures me because I can't

Home
it's just ducky!

2008-07-28T12:43:00.012-07:00

Camping at

Big Bear Lake
California

He has a rope and he will soon loop it over a limp and swing from it.
Finding taller and taller trees, higher and higher limbs.
I shall not watch.

Fresh green pine cone, not dry and open.

Wish this picture was better, the cones in the center are lavender.

The investigator

Whittling

Elias Feeding the Hungry
peanut butter on a pine cone with peanuts and almonds.

Fungi We Found

Not sure this is a fungus or not.

Saucers under the log

Sweet little guy
probably lethal

The orange dome

Marcus Builds

Focus of the builder

Frame's almost finished.

It's a Tee-Pee

Dinner Time's Comin'
in the end, it's all about the food.

Happy Happy

2008-05-25T16:48:00.006-07:00

Ten Years
A Renewal of Vows

2008-03-05T19:13:00.005-07:00

Surgery News

Greetings. The surgery was a success and the patient is doing well now. The verdict is out as to the effectiveness of the procedure. The doctors didn't see what they had expected to see in her head around her nerve.
I will write more later or feel free to call.
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.
Kim Murphy

P.S. Cyndi Marie turned the corner yesterday afternoon and is home today Thursday, the 6th. Her incision is about 2.5inches behind the L ear at her hairline. They didn't even trim any of her hair. The nausea is almost gone (it is worse due to the part of the brain that is manipulated in the surgery.) She can't tell if it has helped the face pain because the nerve was not as trapped or compressed as previously thought in the MRI. Sooo that means, we see if the padding helps enough to improve the pain. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers for major relief! She has been in severe pain for too long and needs a miracle. I can say that since I am the one giving the update!
Love to all--
Kim

2008-02-26T10:47:00.007-07:00

What's For Dinner

Pumpkin Lasagna

Marcus was at Dance, Kim was at work, that left Elias and I in charge of dinner. We were stumped. Wednesday is market day, so the pantry was low-still is. After careful inventory this is what we came up with:

1/2 container creme fraiche
1/2 block creme cheese
About a 2 by 2 inch square of white cheese (sorry I forgot what kind) with bit of apricot
2 eggs
1 can cannellini or white kidney beans
1 can pumpkin
1 package lasagna noodles
1 chunk of parmigiano reggiano

We whipped the cheeses and eggs and added grated nutmeg, fennel, salt and pepper.
Added salt and pepper to the pumpkin.
Drained the beans.
Layered them with the noodles, poured a bit of unsweetened soy over the top to make sure it didn't dry out.
Grated lots of parmigiano reggiano on top and baked at 375 degrees for about 35 or 40 minutes, which was when Marcus came home from ballet.

The result was pretty good for a pantry dinner on a Monday night. If Elias wasn't eating it, fresh spinach would have been a good addition. We only had one can of pumpkin, it needed two, and ricotta of course is the preferred cheese. However, the creme fraiche added body and smoothness. It also lightened the dish, no heavy thud when we put the lasagna on the plate. That was a change I had been trying for. I think I will keep the creme in the dish as well as an addition egg to lighten the cheese filling even further. Maybe a white sausage instead of the beans would be another variation worth trying.
Yum. If you try it and make other changes, please let us know. It can only get better with collaboration.
If you are not so adventurous there are many wonderful tested recipes for pumpkin lasagna in cookbooks and all over the web.

2008-02-23T17:34:00.009-07:00

Like a Mother Duck
Brooding Over Her Nest

Frankie on Her Nest

She has laid at least a dozen eggs in her nest that she has built in her duck house. It is hard to see it in this photo, but her nest is about 12 or 14 inches high. She is very diligent to cover her eggs with straw whenever she leaves the nest to eat or drink. We are all anxious to know if the eggs will hatch. The gestation period for duck egg is 28 days, that's a long time to sit. If anything happens you'll see it here.

2008-02-22T20:21:00.011-07:00

Mud Cookies

Simple recipe salt, vegetable shortening, and mud. Click here for a mud cookie production slide show. More and more people in Haiti are depending on these as their main source of food.

The mud has long been prized by pregnant women and children here as an antacid and source of calcium. But in places such as Cité Soleil, the oceanside slum where Charlene shares a two-room house with her baby, five siblings, and two unemployed parents, cookies made of dirt, salt, and vegetable shortening have become a regular meal.
Jonathan M. Katz in Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Associated Press
January 30, 2008

The state of the country of Haiti is so bad that it is easy to build a scene of absolute desperation and hopelessness. It would then be easy to feel guilty, terribly American and spoiled. The United States has played a role in helping to create the current conditions affecting Haitians. Since 2004, when the US drove Aristide into exile, food prices have gotten so high, many can't even afford rice. You know the rest---violence, lack of education, unemployment . . . So what can we do??

Aid from various non-governmental organizations have done little to help. Without political and economic structure there can be no stability. Proceeds from a bake sale or 5 bucks a months from each of us won't do much to achieve this.
However, we can help change things by influencing our leaders. Writing letters to our representatives and asking them to put Haiti back on their agenda can make a difference. Or joining groups like "ONE," and paying attention to their policy alerts, then writing a personalized letter as well as clicking their e-mail form letter.
I wonder if folks would come to letter writing tea parties, like a Tupperware party, only we don't have to buy things we won't use. Everyone comes to the party with their own stationary, stamps, information about the cause, and a sample letter. There will be addresses of representatives, newspapers or other places to send our opinions (and you know you have one.) We can write letters for our causes; write letters for causes that interest us brought by others. We can do light research via Internet. Of course we would also need snacks, tea, and coffee. It would be, not a quilting bee, but a what? An Action bee? A Lob-bee? I am sure you'll come up with a better phrase.
Once or twice a year, we could have an amazing influence. Really! According to this author, Merrik, hand-written letters do make a difference.

"Even on the biggest issues, a single letter can stand out when it shows thoughtful consideration of the subject," said one Capitol Hill staffer "I would pull that letter out of the pile and give it right to the senator."
How much difference does a letter or phone call make?

by Merrik Bush

Letter parties, just an idea. Any takers? Could be fun. As soon as the hole in my head is healed, I'll be ready to wield a pen and organize the bee!

2008-02-22T17:38:00.007-07:00

Mischief

A Monster
by Elias Murphy

2008-02-22T16:29:00.009-07:00

Seen in Scottsdale

Muted, moss green tie-dye t-shirt

Think Global
Act Local

Worn under a very hip, FUR jacket

hmmmmm.

2008-02-22T15:38:00.008-07:00

Another Hole in My Head
or
Microvascular Decompression

On March 3rd I will undergo a procedure call Microvascular Decompression or MVD to treat the trigeminal neuralgia or TN causing my face pain.

This is a brief video if anyone wants any more information about the surgery.

I'll be in the hospital for a couple of days and then home recuperating. If all goes well, I might be pain free or pain reduced for the first time in 15 years.

Cool.

2008-02-15T13:18:00.003-07:00

Thoughts About Action
how absurd, what can we do, really do?

David Rovics has been called the musical voice of the progressive movement.

"[David Rovics] is a guy George W. Bush would probably like to clamp in chains at Guantanamo Bay -- the last American protest singer (or so it seems)... In these days of ongoing neo-conservatism he carries the torch of dissent and protest -- in fact if the great Phil Ochs were to come back from the dead tonight he'd probably be hailed as the new David Rovics."
Andy Kershaw, BBC Radio 3

I stumbled on this populist folk singer today. I wonder what to do as a result of this bump with the truth. Any ideas? Are we all tired from the sixties whether we participated or not? Does it matter? Is it just too much?

2008-02-14T21:48:00.004-07:00

Sledding in Flagstaff

Elias and Marcus and giving their Royal Flyer from Uncle John a work out.
It's Fast!

2008-02-14T21:41:00.004-07:00

Would You Like That War With Fries?

Taxpayers in Arizona will have paid $6.3 billion for the cost of the Iraq War through 2007. For the same amount of money, one of the following menu options could have been selected instead:

1,382,519 People with Health Care

5,379,782 Homes with Renewable Electricity

148,937 Public Safety Officers

136,290 Music and Arts Teachers

1,396,075 Scholarships for University Students

476 New Elementary Schools

47,806 Affordable Housing Units

2,710,742 Children with Health Care

803,914 Head Start Places for Children

145,528 Elementary School Teachers

75,114 Port Container Inspectors

Hmmm. I don't think I got what I ordered. For more information see National Priorities Project.

2008-02-12T21:16:00.003-07:00

Driveway Paint Recipe

One part cornstarch
One part water
Lots and lots of parts of food coloring, depending on what color you want. We like saturated colors.

2008-02-12T20:54:00.004-07:00

Elias Lost a Tooth

At the ripe old age of 7 years and 4 months Elias has lost his first tooth!

2008-01-01T22:47:00.001-07:00

First Party for Fritz

Clara stayed home.

Happy Boy.

Safe in Kenny's Arms.

Friends are great, but ain't nothin' like the Mama!

2008-01-01T22:45:00.003-07:00

HRC New Year's Resolution Video
click to view

2008-01-01T21:53:00.002-07:00

Sam Learns to Skateboard

Beginnings are never easy.

Dad lends a hand.

Letting go.

Will he stay up?

A guy can stand on his own.

Really Stand, Stand Tall.

Yeah, we're proud, beaming you might say.
He's cute and we're his parents.
And we will alway be his parents.

Watch, he can do it again.

Stand young man,
Stand and Zoom!

2007-12-26T22:52:00.002-07:00

The Family School
at the
Nutcracker

2007-12-22T11:06:00.002-07:00

Sleeping Dogs

Clara and Fritz
Surprise!
We came home with two!

2007-12-20T23:16:00.001-07:00

Elias Named Her Clara

She's a miniature pinscher and Italian greyhound mix. She's full grown, a year old, and very lively and curious about her new home. She has briefly met the ducks, they didn't seem to think very highly of each other. The cats have growled and hissed and then left her alone.
She is sleeping in Marcus' sleeping bag at his feet. She likes warm places.

Looking around.

She likes to stand on her back legs, especially to reach "people food"

Yummy to hold and snuggle.

2007-12-20T13:26:00.002-07:00

Crazy!

Click on the links to see pics of the dogs.

I think we're getting a dog. I'll post the details as we know them. We are also listening to the Elvis Christmas album. I wonder if the two are related.
The dogs we are looking at are a couple of Chihuahuas, one black and tan, one chocolate and tan. The others are miniature Pinschers. The first is Penny. The next is Lucky. Finally there's Sheba.

2007-12-13T10:56:00.001-07:00

Ducks in the Tub

What to do when your duck starts coughing in the evening of a cold night? What to do that will take care of your duck without covering your floor with, with duck poo?
Put a tarp in the tub and the ducks on the tarp.

Pippin Peekin' Over the Side

Snoozing on the Sock

Why am I in here? Did I offend you, forget your birthday?

2007-11-30T09:13:00.002-07:00

Thanksgiving Leftovers
A Revelation

My first homemade pate on Triscuit crackers topped with red pepper spread made with eggplant and garlic. I put cornichons and calamata olives on the side. Then I served it to myself with a full bodied red Zinfandel. What a fine nosh to eat while I watched the boys perform their scooter tricks.

Sublime.

No, it was not duck liver pate! Sick, those of you who had that idea--bah and again I say bah! Turkey liver, from the Thanksgiving bird.

The pate

In a small sauce pan, I simmered the livers (we had two birds) in just enough salt water to cover them. I added a small onion, quartered, a couple celery chunks, a bay leaf, some black pepper corns, and a chunk of carrot. I skimmed off the grey scum as it collected on the surface of the water. When the liver was just barely done I removed the pan from the heat to let it cool.
When all was cool, I removed the bay leaf, the pepper corns, and the carrot. I poured off most of the water and saved it to thin the puree if needed.
Then pureed the livers, the onion, and celery to a moist, but not wet or watery paste. Poured it into a buttered ramekin, covered it with waxed paper pushed down to touch the top of the pate to prevent discoloration.
When it was solid, I served it up. Very tasty.

2007-11-29T10:35:00.001-07:00

Scooter Games

click for a larger image

Attitude

Bump

He got air

Zoom

Lookin' Good

2007-11-26T12:57:00.001-07:00

Marcus an Acolyte

Optional educational and historical information.

Altar servers are called acolytes and can be of any gender or age (usually 10 and up).

In contemporary Anglicanism, a general term which covers not only servers, torchbearers, and lighters of candles but also crucifers, thurifers, and banner-bearers. Acolytes are mentioned as a minor order (along with porters, lectors, and exorcists) as early as a letter of Pope Cornelius to Fabius of Antioch in 252.
There now, don't you feel smarter. Yes, I thought you would.

2007-11-20T12:25:00.002-07:00

A Tribute to our Neighbor
Myriel

Myriel is gone too soon. I can not believe I won’t see her out in her beautiful yard, watering and carefully pruning her roses, or coming through the wet grass in her stocking feet to tell me the latest Willo neighborhood news.

Myriel was always a good neighbor in the regular sense, watching our animals when we were gone, picking up the mail, watching out for our property, trimming our shared grass when it got too long. But she taught us about being a neighbor that is like a friend and finally a friend that’s like family. She and Dale demonstrated an unconditional love and acceptance to our family, their own family and to any one who came their way in their kindness and care. She was intelligent, well-informed, and always interesting to talk with, one who often shared relevant newspaper articles or magazine clippings she had collected for us based on a previous conversation. She could recount in detail the history of our homes, our block, our neighborhood as well as Arizona history and memories of visiting some of the most beautiful, but often unknown parts of the Southwest.

Myriel was quiet in her affections, showing her love through her actions. She helped us mark the seasons with traditions between our families and some for families of our Virginia Avenue community. a colorful flag was hung for each holiday. Saint Valentine’s Day stuffed animals or candy. Bags of Vidalia onions in the spring. Easter eggs filled with candy hanging from her front tree--one for each child on the block. On Halloween, the Fairchild porch would be filled with a werewolf, talking monsters, and a friendly witch in the corner that usually had a special present tucked under her chair for our boys. Thanksgiving and Christmas always brought homemade fresh cranberry relish. Days before Christmas we would set out the luminaries that she and Dale had prepared. She organized us, fed us, and always made sure we were working hard and having a good time. Her love for her family and friends in thoughtful gifts each Christmas. I remember the Christmas piñata—all the kids swinging hard. Myriel, after the party, handing out handmade gifts and lots of food.

The little spaces she filled keep showing themselves. November 18th was Elias’ birthday, this is the first of the boy’s birthday parties that she will have missed.

Her life was rich, filled with passions and interests that permeated her home and conversations. Rocks and desert remains found on hikes in the desert. Many of those sit in our yard. Small stuffed animals covering kitchen cabinets that always sang or talked. Her collection of Nativity scenes easily approaching a hundred, the Mexican pottery that filled her kitchen cabinet, the hundreds of hand-made wooden craft pieces to celebrate each holiday, her beautifully displayed photographs of a mission or of the Brooklyn bridge, all taken by her beloved son, Eric. Her legacy of over 50 years of marriage seen in the collectable stuffed Steiff animals that Dale had given her on every anniversary of their marriage.

She and Dale welcomed our boys with love. When I opened the letter that announced our “match” I ran over to show them the pictures. They were the first to see pictures of our soon to be sons. Myriel and Dale were always generous to Marcus and Elias--but the best gift was their time and attention. Dale would come over and ask if the boys could play. The boys were often found sitting with Myriel watching football (ASU of course), or Diamondback baseball , suns basketball or any other sporting event. If there wasn’t a game, they would persuade her to watch cartoons and eat vanilla cookies together. If there wasn’t time for television watching she would at the very least, send them home with the cookies.

A rich man came to our Lord and asked, “Who is my neighbor?” Our Lord answered with a story about an unlikely man helping an injured man simply because he saw him in passing. Neighbors, people who are near us. I don’t think she ever thought to ask who is my neighbor. Instead, she acted, she noticed and remembered the little things about people around her, she looked for ways to give tailor-made gifts, so we knew we were known and loved.

2007-11-20T08:34:00.001-07:00

2007 Ballet Arizona

Nutcracker Performances

Featuring the Dancing of the
Trinity Cathedral‘s Students of Ballet Arizona

Marcus Murphy as Oldest Party Boy
Elias Murphy as Youngest Party Boy
&
Ariel Hagerty as a Lead Soldier and Lead Angel

Performance Dates and Times

Thursday, December 6—6:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 8—7:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 13—7:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 15—7:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 20—2:00 p.m.
Friday, December 21—7:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 23—1:00 p.m.
Wednesday, December 26—2:00 p.m.
Thursday, December 27—7:30 p.m.

2007-11-18T21:15:00.002-07:00

Not Unexpected
Click cartoon to read.

We Robots November 14, 2007 by Chris Harding

2007-11-12T21:05:00.002-07:00

A List for Today

Morning, hear ducks.
Scratch head, splash face.
Turn on NPR.
No more ducks sounds.
Ducks wander, find ducks,
Herd them back home.
Feed ducks.
Move clothes from dryer to sofa,
Move clothes from washer to dryer,
Add more clothes.
Boys hungry, feed boys.
Kim leaves, kiss good-bye.
Boys wander, peer out,
They seem safe, return to NPR.
Note: I am assuming boys are smarter than ducks.
Move clothes from dryer to sofa,
Move clothes from washer to dryer,
Add more clothes.
Dishes, how high is too high?
Time will tell.
Elias must practice violin.
Turn off NPR, find the boys.
Elias and Marcus need food before they can study,
Feed boys.
Move clothes from dryer to sofa,
Move clothes from washer to dryer,
Add more clothes.
Study with boys.
Boys play and wander.
Turn on NPR.
Ducks muck and wander.
Find ducks, pray for boys.
Move clothes from dryer to sofa,
Move clothes from washer to dryer,
Add more clothes.
Kim comes home, greet Kim,
Appear refreshed and organized.
Turn off NPR.
Slip away, find boys.
Boys hungry.
Whine boys, whine.
Feed boys and Kim.
Move clothes from dryer to sofa,
Move clothes from washer to dryer,
Add more clothes.
Boys stink.
Shower, and dry them.
Brush their teeth.
Move clothes from dryer to sofa,
Move clothes from washer to dryer,
Add more clothes.
Reading time.
Move clothes from sofa to my bed.
Read, and cuddle.
Smile, this is good.
Hug and medicate boys.
Tuck them in bed.
Ducks wander, find ducks, and put them away for the night.
Sit, sigh, shower, brush teeth, look through household paperwork.
Can't hold eyes open any longer.
See bed.
No, see clothes piled on bed.
Move clothes from bed to sofa.
Move cat from bed to floor.
Lie down, sleep.

2007-11-05T09:52:00.003-07:00

Myriel Fairchild

Our friend and neighbor Myriel, Dale's wife, died this afternoon at about 3 pm. It's an end to a long hard 3 months for her. At least 3 maybe 5 strokes, infections, and loss of independence.

Our family has lost a dear friend, Willo has lost a strong advocate, and we have all lost a member of our community.

2007-11-02T18:44:00.002-07:00

My Friend Dale

I just helped my neighbor's son put him into his car and take him to a locked Alzheimer's unit. Finding a place for Dale has been a like a tricky maze for Eric. Just after it looked as though he had found a way for Dale to be taken care of--the institution would call and tell Eric that after they looked over his file a final time they determined that we wasn't eligible or it wasn't an appropriate placement. Many of these cancellations came a day or hours before Eric expected to be taking Dale to his new home.

Wednesday was to be the day that Dale went, but they had an outbreak of something that required the facility be disinfected. Eric received the call today that Dale could come.
It took two people to herd Dale into the car. We put on the child locks and put him in the backseat for his safety and Eric's. Dale is combative. He whimpered and wandered picking things up holding them then setting them down in a different place. A pair of shorts, a basket.

Dale has been our friend for over 10 years. He has helped us break into our house when we have locked ourselves out. He and Myriel have always remembered the boys on their birthdays

Elias' birthday party

And they always included our family on the holidays.

Halloween ornaments that Dale and Myriel made with the boys.

He was a ruthless prankster and loved to play with the boys. One of their water gun fights is legendary. He would toss toys over the fence for the boys to find. He sanded odd bits of wood to make some great building blocks. He loaned us tools, gave us building hints, and often stepped in and did some of the work himself.

Dale helping us move 10 tons of sand into the boys new sand box

The boys sweat equity

He told us about rock hunting and gave us buckets of rocks and crystals. Big 5 gallon buckets of really cool minerals.

We had potato soup each with them on Christmas eve, and Dale demonstrated all of his animated animals and figurines for Marcus and Elias. The boys loved him and used to go over to "help him," I think most of the time they ended up watching the ballgames and eating snacks.

Marcus once said, "Some one at school said they hated going to their grandma's 'cause old people are boring." I asked him what he thought about that and he said, "That's so wrong." Dale wasn't boring and because of that our boys don't shun people because of their age.
I miss my friend, Dale. He was adopted. He told us that he always felt adopted, never really part of the family. I think he watched the boys closely to see if they were happy. He once told us that he thought they were doing fine, just all a family over there. Thanks Dale, I hope I can be a good friend, I know you were.

2007-11-01T11:31:00.001-07:00

A poem by Zen Master Ryokan

Too lazy to be ambitious,
I let the world take care of itself.
Ten days' worth of rice in my bag;
a bundle of twigs by the fireplace.
Why chatter about delusion and enlightenment?
Listening to the night rain on my roof,
I sit comfortably, with both legs stretched out.

-- Ryokan