BOO !!!....

All right, lightening up, now.......(Shhhh. We've got candy here, but how come the porch light's out and nobody'll answer the door? LOL)

Shawn
****

Everybody else have a great Hallowe'en....

A friend shared this link about the church in Arizona with the so-called haunted house, called "Final Destination." in the news at: http://www.azfamily.com/video/featured-videos/Parents-outraged-at-churchs-haunted-house-67796337.html

Well, I had this to say about that on a message board:

"That's certainly disturbing---and worthy of picketers, IMO.

I have issues with the concept of that sort of thing, along with Superbowl Sunday at church, etc...and I really don't see the need for "haunted houses" at churches to begin with.

Basically, I'm not a fan of the ghosty-goblin-ghouly ***!!BOO!!*** stuff and have made a concerted effort to avoid watching it on TV, like the "Rosanne" Hallowe'en episodes, lol. Just too grizzly for me.

OTOH, SGTex and I spent awhile driving around town the other evening attempting to locate a residence that was featured in the local newspaper, the article written by a friend of SGTex. "Annie" is a presence who has made herself known over time, and there are some really interesting stories passed down over the years. I found it particularly interesting, as the incidences were very similar to experiences I'd heard about and witnessed in Astoria. I have a certain amount of respect for the Real Thing, you see ;+).

Anyway, this church has absolutely no business doing what they're doing. They're totally off base, committing acts of fundamentalist terrorism on the community and then excusing themselves, playing the "you know what you're getting into" card. I find that revolting, and if it weren't so utterly lame and trite, I might whip out the old "WWJD" myself. Rather than stoop to that, let me just say that I think THIS just might be the final nail in that coffin-- these ignoramuses (ignoramii?) have finally managed to polish off the last crumbs of respect I had for those who dare to call themselves Xians....

Hello God,

Save me from such morons."

Shawn
****

photo: Austin bats

Hail, Bo!!! (insert whistle) The First Pooch....

Did you read or hear all the chatter about the First Family official portrait? I read nice comments, bored comments, approving and disapproving comments...I was sitting here thinking, "What a lovely family, aren't they pretty!" But something was missing. Bo!! So I mentioned that on a message board and someone came along (Thanks, G) and posted a link to this picture. Well, he's just about the cutest dog going in DC (ours being the 2 cutest in this Texas town). Absolutely a classy dog, definitely owns his piece of the green, lol.

Just hadta put it here. Stop by often for a smile...

Shawn
****
photo borrowed from backseatcuddler.com

Spirit-lifting, lighthearted and downright bubbly...strawberries optional....

"Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;
To bend with apples the moss’d cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease,
For Summer has o’er-brimm’d their clammy cells."
John Keats

Well, it's been a less-than-festive mood around here today, what with the pouring rain and gray, gloomy clouds. I never expected to be so affected by weather, but since I've come to Texas from the Pacific Northwest, I've become rather spoiled by abundant sunshine and blue skies. Not to say I didn't appreciate the cloudless days up there in my old corner of the country, because I did. Bright sunshine-filled days are just something to which I've become accustomed. You know, I've developed that expectant attitude tinged with a sense of entitlement. More often than not, I actually do rise and shine thinking "Texas owes me a nice day, dammit--I came all this way, now let's have it!"

All right. So, I'm in a funky, weird mood, and I'm wishing for something spirit-lifting, lighthearted and downright bubbly.... thus the picture I've borrowed from the Armagan Champagne people. Alas, but there's not a drop of alcohol in the house, nor a strawberry to be found. SGTex did mention that we really should be having red wine with the (fabulous) steak, mushroom and pepper dinner he whipped up (Thank you, Dearling). OTOH, we've got sweet blackberries in the frig, movie popcorn in the cupboard and newly-harvested gorgeous pecans from our very own trees. Besides that, I've spied a dark chocolate something-or-other-type of candy bar on the breakfront in the kitchen.... and coffee we've got. Champagne will be great later on down the way, come wedding time.

I wonder what a girl hasta do around here to convince her man it's the perfect night for a cozy, romantic bedtime picnic?

Hmmm...Give me a minute. I'll think of something.........;+)

Shawn
****
photo: armagan-champagne.com, armagan champagne cellars, Healdsburg,CA

"...and the desert shall rejoice...."

Another article from the desk of SGTex:

I considered it unfortunate enough that government and the people have been unable to arrive at a reasonable solution with regard to that cross on public land in the Mojave desert, and that meanwhile we have this butt-ugly plywood box up there, conveying equal disrespect to all creeds as well as the wildlife.

Then, looking into the matter via Internet, I discovered an intriguing angle on the story that CNN did not mention. In 1999, the National Park Service was approached about erecting a Buddhist shrine in the vicinity, and it was the Park Service’s refusal to permit this that actually precipitated the current round of litigation. Plaintiff Frank Buono, a Catholic who used to be an assistant superintendent at the preserve, personally had no problem with a cross being on government property --- but did object to its being there while symbols of other religions are not allowed.

Take note, please, everybody. This set of plain facts should clear up some several misconceptions. For one thing, y’all conservative Christians can give up blaming the Atheists for everything --- they are not involved in this one. And behold, a case in which the ACLU is on the Christian side (for yes, a Catholic is a Christian), and it’s hardly the first time.

To top it off, the plaintiff is not guilty of wanting anything taken away --- on the contrary, he just wanted to see religious liberty lifted up and enlarged! Get that bit straight, then, before taking sides against Mr. Buono or making him the subject of your fretful little prayer cells.

Once and for all, consider this: The issue is not that somebody was “offended” at
this cross out in the middle of Nowhere, California. To make it look like a given lawsuit is unreasonable, church ladies in your e-mail will complain that all the fuss is over some silly extremist who was “offended” at the mere sight of a cross, the Ten Commandments or Baby Jesus. They hope to dismiss religious equal protection issues as so much zany “political correctness.” They might still be able to reassure each other with that story, but an evolution of justice is leaving them behind.

As a non-Christian, I don’t need the government to protect me against hurt feelings or irritation --- goodness knows that could keep the National Guard busy --- but I will insist that it keep its foundational promise not to let the majority religion commandeer resources and venues for which we all pay taxes.

If the expression “separation of church and state” isn’t in the constitution, the words “no…establishment” certainly are. It is wrong and illegal to have a Christian-only National Day of Prayer on the steps of City Hall, and there is a problem with having a cross and only a cross displayed on government land. The cheap/easy answer would be to remove the thing, but there is another way, disappointing to no one who loves freedom.

If Solomon the Wise and Thomas Jefferson were here today, I know they would recommend we uncover and repaint that cross --- and then promptly enjoin the National Park Service to welcome and encourage the erection of other symbols of faith and philosophy, several and various. They ought to be 5 to 8 feet tall --- the Buddhist Lotus or Dharma Wheel; the venerable Star of David; the Star and Crescent, one supposes, representing Islam; a nice pentagram from the Wiccans, and hey perhaps the American Atheist Atom, out of respect for the belief that religions are all myth and fancy.

I cannot imagine that the war dead would object, nor the long-nosed leopard lizard.

****
SGTex

Let's give it some Morning Glory....

It's a quiet Sunday/almost Monday night. SGTex made a late run to HEB for milk (he's doing homemade biscuits) and I'm sitting here doing this. We were out and about today and passed through the tiny nearby village on our way out to see the cotton fields, and discovered a fence covered with these Heavenly Blue morning glories...which prompted SGTex to tell me a very interesting story about his A&M days as an Aggie...(but I digress). I love his reminiscences....Anyway, the flowers were so stunning and gorgeous I decided we must plant a million of them right away, even if we have to wait until next year to enjoy the blooms.

Actually, we're enjoying our days off. Last night was terrific-- Austin City Limits with the Dave Matthews Band, another very interesting "what's in the frig" bed picnic and the rain on the roof. Anybody else love it when the A/C goes down and the windows come up? We sure do. And it was a full moon above it all, which is good.

And it was absolutely SUPER getting in touch with my long-but-not-lost cousin Cheryl! Just as much fun and sweet as ever! Let's do that more often!

Here's hoping everyone has a great week doing what you all do.

Shawn
*****
Photo by bratsmom via Photobucket--Heavenly Blue