Letter to the Editor....

....about Gideon Bible distribution in public schools:

I wish to commend the AISD for their enlightened policy prohibiting Gideon Bible distribution on the campuses of (our city's) public schools. It is unfortunate (and decidedly unlawful) that the presumptuous practice continues in (local small towns).The constitutional guarantee regarding "no establishment of religion" should extend to all communities where the U.S. flag is flown, without exceptions made just because a town is little. It would not hurt for public school students (and faculty/administration) in those places to learn that tax-supported institutions are supposed to be neutral in the matter of faith options. Unless they welcome the literature of Buddhists, Pagans, etc., just as affirmatively as they do Gideon Bibles, they are in egregious violation of the letter and spirit of constitutional religious liberty.
In the same sense, it violates the rights of many citizens to have prayers "in Jesus' name" at graduation ceremonies; to present the creationist or intelligent design "theory" alongside or instead of valid science; to use elementary school rosters for Vacation Bible School mailings---and indeed, to have inserted the expression "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance at public school functions all these years.
There has been progress, but surely a ways to go yet toward the ideal of justice for all Americans regardless of faith status. Freedom is dubious that hasn't proper equality to it.

SGTex
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photo borrowed from pyrophile.livejournal.com

Spring is on the move, and so are the rattlesnakes, it seems....

I love this picture of the bird's nest. Spring is well underway around here. Some would say it'll be summer before you know it, and others say that it's already here! Whichever it is out there, it's been the usual busy schedule for us, mostly work and a little R&R time on the weekend. We did go out to do some more treasure-hunting out at the old fort site where we were before. We had a car picnic and the caretaker came by to chat. "Are you guys going to get out and walk around?" "Yeah, we are." "Well, watch out for rattlesnakes!" "Oh yeah? Okay." "Yeah, someone saw one yesterday out by the surgeon's quarters." So, DH tells him about the one I'd encountered last time, and the caretaker's eyes get all big. Then he proceeds to tell us, rather matter-of-factly and by the way, about the one he shot the day before that he and his puppy encountered...finishing his story up with a wave of the hand and a "Be careful, they're on the move!" Needless to say, I didn't get out and walk around after all. SGTex did, and since I was wearing sandals--the same ones I had on last time I was there. I know...what was I thinking? LOL

Oh, yeah, and then there's the sign we see at a local vet's office about "It's time to get your dog immunized for rattlesnake bite." I'm like, "Whaaat?"

Anyway, here's hoping you are having a wonderful spring!

Shawn
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Picture courtesy of our friend T in TN, a Chipping Sparrows nest. Thank you, T!

I don't know what to put here....How about "All's well that ends well," or something like that?

Isn't that a gorgeous flower? Blue Spider Gerbera. I'd love to have some of those growing in a pot on the verandah. I've discovered that it might be best to avoid starting things by seed, as the Finch Family from next door (Fred and Ethel) makes short work of anything we're trying to grow that way. It seems it's their policy to clean out the flower pot and then swing on the hanging baskets and burst into song...Singing for their supper, I guess ;^).

It's been one of those exhausting weeks, for various reasons. And we're already ready for next weekend to roll around, so have been making tentative plans--hah. Hopefully, the work week will go smoothly and quickly so we can get back to that R&R thing we pretty much missed out on this time, whew.

The big deal this week was finally deciding on red velvet wedding cake-- (What, we didn't *have* to buy a whole cake for taste-testing?) Hmmmm....Okay. Next time I'll forego the Mexican Mudslide and have it with black coffee, though. That was just way too good for my own good, IYKWIM.

Speaking of coffee, it's kahvi aika.

TTYL!

Shawn
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A Texas-Styled Easter....

Happy Easter!

It's a fine, breezy holiday here in Texas, after a rainy night with some pretty exciting thunder and lightning. We'd gone out treasure-hunting yesterday and I confess I kept one eye on the sky when it was getting dark and threatening with the wind blowing pretty hard. SGTex was off in the distance with metal-detector and shovel seeing what could be found. The location is an old fort, pretty impressive, actually. I do think we'll be going back earlier in the day when the weather is calmer. About the only thing I discovered was what it sounds like when a rattlesnake feels cranky about the weather, hiding out under a not-nearly-distant-enough-for-me rock tucked next to a yucca!! I froze, made a slow, 360-degree turn and then backed politely away, LOL. The find of the day was a toy Easter egg, evidently lost at an earlier egg hunt that day, so it's something to add to our collection of found memorabilia. Next time it'll be a gold coin.... ;+) What else was impressive was the beautiful pastureland of the ranches and bluebonnets carpeting the roadside. It's really wonderful getting to live here in Texas.

Last weekend we went to see "Clue," and really enjoyed A's performance. After that we hit the road and headed out to meet J & I at an old ghost town. They met us there and we came home with Seamus (who gets carsick, btw, lol). He is a darling, and is getting along well with his big brother Sebastian and big sister Sasha. We're having fun and are completely enamored of these two special puppies.

This morning we discovered a pair of doves working on a nest just across the way, right out in the open atop one of the lights on the building next door. Talk about a bird's eye view, lol.

Have a wonderful holiday and a prosperous week!

Shawn & SGTex
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Bluebonnets and a blessing....

St. Theresa's Prayer:

"May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us."

Our friend Jan sent the above prayer to us today, and I thought it was definitely worth sharing. Thanks, Jan!

And it's bluebonnet time in our part of Texas, at last! We went hunting them on the weekend (Yes, D reminded us that you have to sneak up on 'em, and C gave us a "don't shoot toward the road" tip, LOL!!) They are lovely, and I'm so excited to see them emerge. Bluebonnets are our wedding flower, so that makes them extra special. We'll be on the road this weekend to go pick up Seamus, and part of the fun of that trip is going to be seeing more bluebonnets, as well as getting a glimpse of a Texas ghost town. That's my idea of a great way to spend a Saturday late afternoon. Earlier in the day we'll get to see A, son of SGTex, perform in his college play.

Meanwhile, it's one more day of work here in the office and then a busy Friday getting ready for the arrival of Hav-II. Stay tuned for how that all turns out. I'm pretty sure there will be something to tell, when it's all said and done....

Shawn
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Did you ever...

...have a really, really weird dream? I mean, totally out of character for you and something so realistic and strange that it left you shocked and bothered for most of the following day? Well, sure you have. I did in the early hours the other morning, and I'm still shaking my head and wondering wheretheheck did that come from? How can one's mind go so far astray in the night? Bewildering to me, and I did an entire college semester independent study on dreams, rather than have to get up early during the winter and make it to class (awake) at 8 a.m. It was fascinating and very educational, I did well, but I can't recall anything from that study that could explain this. Then again, I seem to have other things going on regarding the subject of so-called dreams, soooo...Oh, but that's another blog entirely!!

We did something fun this weekend. In spite of being somewhat ill with URIs, we pulled ourselves together and went out to a nearby small town big deal flea market. I had a ball! Came back with some wonderful bird feeders (china cup/plate and cut glass) to use in the plants on our verandah. SGTex just put some grape nuts out there to coax the neighbor finches over. We also picked up some movies and watched one last night for "date night." I'm wondering, though...why do they call them "flea" markets? It's held every month in an old oak grove, so it was nice and mostly shady, filled with interesting sights and pleasant people willing to chat. I loved it!

And yes. There is a new Havanese puppy on the way. We're not quite sure how that happened. I guess the Cute Factor got the best of us. No, we're not rich, just totally mad for our little guy and can only imagine how 2 is going to be double-good-fun!

Until next time,

Shawn
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photo courtesy of stamptabulous

Can't stop staring at our wedding rings....

Well, our rings came back today from Dallas and SGTex went out in the rain (!) to pick them up. They are *drop-dead-gorgeous* and we're very happy with them... A very nice way to brighten up the day!

I had an amazing, Texas-style birthday weekend. Roses, chocolate cake w/choco-covered-strawberries (that were massive!) and gifts. We shopped 'til we dropped, ate out, listened to live music at the coffee house (a song-writer of some fame was performing), and just had a great 3 days together. SGTex took the day off from work to help me celebrate (Thank you, Sir), and that means a lot.

There's catfish for supper tonight, so I'd better go see about that...

Shawn
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photo courtesy of tacomacc.edu (amish double wedding rings quilt)

Texas Independence Day.....

Today is Texas Independence Day, the celebration of the adoption of the Texas Declaration of Independence on March 2, 1836. That's the Lone Star above, something you see a lot of around these parts. Two things I've noticed about Texas folks: They show a lot of friendliness, and they show a lot of pride.

We just acquired something I'm getting ready to hang, maybe in the kitchen. It's a cute wooden box advertising "Made In Texas," and it says this: "You might give some serious thought to thanking your lucky stars you're in Texas." We found that in an antique store in a nearby town, and what it says really applies to my personal situation!

We're keeping busy as usual with work and play, training the puppy (when he's not training us!), planning the future and just all-around enjoying signs of spring.

Shawn
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image courtesy of downtownaustin.com

Hearts and Flowers....

Valentine's Day started early for us! There's a HUGE bouquet of gorgeous red roses on the dining room table, a gift from SGTex. (Thanks again, Darling Man) We've found and purchased our rings, at long last. The mansion is reserved for the day of our wedding, the perfect place to celebrate and have our sunset reception. All in all, it has been great!

Hope your Valentine's Day is special for you and yours...

Shawn&SGTex
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A Texas Valentine....

I'm finding it hard to believe that it's February already! We just got back from another trip to PetSmart and as we were checking out the sunset sky was so gorgeous, amazing to look one direction and see the beautiful moon, turn and look off to the west and see what was left of the sunset. Forgive me, but it's still incredible to me to be able to look out and see so much sky, unlike Washington, where there was so much in the way, lol!! Beautiful, but still, this is really nice! I s'pose I'll always be like that.

Anyway, just dropping by to say Happy Valentine's Day coming up real soon, and that we hope yours is as nice as can be.

Shawn & SGTex
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What a wonderful morning....

So, how was your Saturday morning? Ours was terrific. It was cold this morning (for Texas), so SGTex went gathering kindling and made a fire in the fireplace. We sat and talked, drank coffee (with brandy), and he read from The World Tribune. You know, it was really, really nice after the week we had. Yesterday was our day off too, but that was pretty busy.

The best day of the week was Inauguration Day (wasn't that great?!), made unforgettable by the arrival of My Ring (WoW!!!). Thank you, Dear Man. And the other great thing is that the new job is going well. It's so nice to be working with super people while I'm learning some new stuff, re-learning some old and forgotten stuff, which makes it all go down that much easier.

The puppy is doing great! He seems to feel that we're here to entertain him. (He's teaching us to fetch, lol). I've been wondering if he actually thinks his name really is "NoSebastian!!" Probably not... ;+)

Well, time to find my shoes and head out for PeopleStupid. I mean PetSmart.

Life is good...

Shawn
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So we were in line at Starbucks yesterday....

...actually, one of two lines coming from two directions, and SGTex lets this lady pull in front of us. It was after 3:00 in the afternoon, and we hadn't had any coffee yet at all, so it was pretty nice of him to let her go ahead of us. To our surprise, when we pulled up to pay for our two white chocolate mocha grandes, the guy says, "Your coffee is paid for! The lady in front of you took care of your bill!" How nice was that?!! It tastes even better when it's free, and I have a feeling her coffee tasted pretty good to her, too!

Well, I just haveta report we had a fantastic New Year's holiday in Dallas. The King Tut exhibit is absolutely awesome. The city is beautiful, and the B&B is the nicest yet! We had a wonderful SGI Buddhist meeting in Ft. Worth (I met a lot of really nice people who made me feel very welcome), and we're hoping to do it all over again next New Year's! We actually made it out of town without any delay, in spite of the Cottonbowl traffic (wow), and all in all, it was a wonderful trip. That night sky with the buildings lit up for the holidays was amazing, and we had a 'to die for' view from the balcony off our room. The Texas hospitality of Peter and Dan made our stay very memorable.

And now we're back, and 2009 is in full swing. Tomorrow I start my new account (about which I'm kinda chicken....), but everything is pretty much under control. Well, the new puppy has us pretty much under his control, LOL! He's made himself right at home.

That's about it for now, so have a great week!

Shawn
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picture borrowed from Pegasus News, Blackland Coffee Royce City

Happy New Year....

I've been wanting to use this picture of a Texas dandelion for some time, and it looks like fireworks to me, so here it is! Beautiful! I hope you like it.
Did everybody have a nice Xmas? We have, and will enjoy the holiday spirit well into 2009. We're looking forward to going to the King Tut exhibit in Dallas and will stay in a posh B&B. There will be New Year's gongyo and possibly another museum visit, too. Then on the way back home we'll pick up Sebastian.

I'm going to be starting out on a new account in January, too. New puppy and new job, all at the same time? What was I thinking?? LOL!! Life around here is about to change....

I've been thinking a lot about friends and family up in Washington, where it's been more like Alaska than the normally mild climate of Puget Sound. I'm sure it's pretty, but a little of that goes a long way, and I'm sure everyone would like the weather to simmer down. We were so blessed to be able to run around barefoot with windows and patio doors open on Christmas here, although I am looking forward to seeing a little bit of that Texas snow...(I said a *little* bit, mindya!!)


Well, SGTex has the bacon and pancakes going, so it's time to sign off and check on the coffee.

We'll be back soon with a puppy update and our upcoming trip news, but meanwhile, we're sincerely wishing you all a most blessed 2009!

Cheers!!

Shawn & SGTex
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Christmas Cookie Rules....

1. If you eat a Christmas cookie fresh out of the oven, it has no calories because everyone knows that the first cookie is the test and thus calorie free.

2. If you drink a diet soda after eating your second cookie, it also has no calories because the diet soda cancels out the cookie calories.

3. If a friend comes over while you're making your Christmas cookies and needs to sample, you must sample with your friend. Because your friend's first cookie is calorie free (see rule #1), yours is also. It would be rude to let your friend sample alone.

4. Any cookie calories consumed while walking around will fall to your feet and eventually fall off as you move. This is due to gravity and the density of the caloric mass.

5. Any calories consumed during the frosting of the Christmas cookies will be used up because it takes many calories to lick excess frosting from a knife without cutting your tongue.

6. Cookies colored red or green have very few calories. Red ones have three and green ones have five - one calorie four each letter. Make more red ones!

7. Cookies eaten while watching any classic Christmas shows on TV have no calories because they are part of the traditional entertainment package and not part of one's personal fuel.

8. As always, cookie pieces contain no calories because the process of breaking causes calorie leakage.

9. Any cookies consumed from someone else's plate have no calories since the calories rightfully belong to the other person and will cling to their plate. We all know how calories like to cling!

10. Any cookies consumed while feeling stressed have no calories because cookies used for medicinal purposes NEVER have calories. It's a rule!

Merry Christmas! Enjoy your cookies!
Shawn
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photo courtesy of www.karenschronicle.com (Betty Crocker is a slacker)

"There is an awesome truth..."

I can’t let on to be very well-read, but one time during a period of underemployment I was at the public library and got hold of Paul Davies’ *The 5th Miracle* and something or other by Stuart Kauffman, and I would cite these 2 fellows and urge those concerned about the true story of the origin of life to join me in checking out the ol’ Wikipedia on the very very valid things these men of science hold up to the light. If they must, creationists can find M. Behe’s review of the aforementioned Davies book.

Oh, and see *Black Holes and Baby Universes* or *A Brief History of Time* by Stephen Hawking, of course.

But anyway, greetings CARM evolutionists and creationists, old friends and new who think it matters a lot where we came from, and what really happened long ago to give rise to us.

I confess a zeal for this; why, since I was 9 years old and younger, I have been on the side of reason and reality. I have been a science believer all my life. Unashamed am I that this is a type of faith; hey, it’s robust faith indeed that bases on what *can* be known and is known, ‘stead of unseen and perhaps unlikely things we are expected to believe without a whiff of evidence.

An important thrust of religious evolutionism is that our physical existence is fabulously wondrous and meaningful, not *merely* a product of, but one with the sovereign absolute.

I don’t see why the word of science should be thought hostile to religious faith or even theism, but it is even more simpatico with Buddhism. I get all filled with the spirit and excited when I consider the corroboration and proof there is to be had between Buddhism and the honest philosophy of science.

One is changed, lifted up by the news: There is an awesome truth about the expansive beginning of all things, that so-called Big Bang, and there is the elegant, wondrous truth about the physics and chemistry of the emergence of life out of the properties and programming of the material universe.

It’s a strong humanistic message, and runs joyously contrary to the negatives of hard fundamentalist religion, you know, that we are worth nothing innately and can only go wrong on our own. Science, like the merciful Buddha, holds up hope and courage for us, and some wholesome confidence in ourselves. Like a parent who says “You can do it!”

Of all faith traditions, Buddhism invests least in the supernatural and evolved (if you will) a fastidious rationalism in the millennium through China toward Japan. My master, Nichiren, stood up and introduced the Mandala very much as theoretical physicists reveal equations on a chalkboard.

Now science such as the physics of Hawking and peers gestures to an ultimate profound primary principle, a formula for the universe. In the Buddhism of the Lotus Sutra, this is called Wonderful or Myoho.

Anyway, now I’ve rattled on. Creationists, do you reckon I have bought into old Satan's lie, and all that?

SGTex
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It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.....

It is starting to take on a look of good cheer and glad tidings around here. The other evening we were on our way somewhere and saw a big star-like ornament shining across the way, and it was so pretty. Now there are lights going up and lawn displays and everyone is starting to decorate. We did a wonderful display outside our front door, including the best wreath ever! The tree has gone up and the lights are so pretty. SGTex is going to add more colored lights, so I can't wait to see that. There's a pretty snowflake on top and the mantel is decorated with antique cherubs, cones and pine boughs. We had company over yesterday for a little party, which was a great way to start the season. We've added a wonderful Happy Holidays playlist on imeem, which is growing.
All in all, it's been a terrific December so far! There's more to come, and we'll try to get back and update during the holidays, but right now there's some cookie dough waiting, so...
Oh~ The best part was the warm eggnog laced with cinnamon, nutmeg and rum last night (in bed!!!)
Now I call that a fine way to celebrate...

Cheers!!!

Shawn & SGTex
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How was your Thanksgiving?

Hoping your holiday was great!
We've been kinda stretching ours out a bit. After both of us had made several trips to the grocery store for all the extra stuff I seem to think I must have on hand for the holiday (like why are there 3 cans of water chestnuts?), we finished up our work week on Wednesday, really quite late. We'd decided to take M and A to the Cracker Barrel for Thanksgiving breakfast, which turned out to be more like lunch, as we were slow getting on the road. It was wonderful, naturally. I'm hoping their pumpkin strudel pie is available the next time we're there- it looked beautiful! We didn't have any, but imagine it's as scrumptious as it looks. That's such a cute place to eat (and shop). Anyway, we never did make it back home in time to get everything done for dinner, so just made the dressing and stuffed the bird, got a few things ready and called it a day. We'd gotten new furniture delivered and SGTex spent some time getting that taken care of.

So, today was more suited to making it more like Thanksgiving, and we did have a lovely dinner after a short Black Friday shopping spree, which included a new set of pots and pans and a new microwave, plus some gift items.

All in all, it's been the best Thanksgiving ever. The turkey was perfect, everything came out even. We used the best dishes, a gift from a beloved uncle. The wine and conversation was so nice, and I am deeply grateful.

Cheers!
Shawn & SGTex

Surely you've seen the 'Recipe for the Perfect Turkey'....

1 - 15 lb. turkey
1 cup melted butter
1 cup stuffing (Pepperidge Farm is good.)
1 cup uncooked popcorn (Orville Redenbacher's low fat)
Salt/pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush turkey well with melted butter, salt, and pepper. Fill cavity with stuffing and popcorn.
Place in baking pan with the neck end toward the
back of the oven.

Listen for the popping sounds.
When the turkey's ass blows the oven door open and the bird flies across the room, it's done.

Gobble, gobble...
Shawn & SGTex
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Serendipitous Sundae...I mean Saturday....

Serendipity. That thing that happens when you're searching for one thing and get surprised by finding something else. It's usually a good thing.

I'm not sure why it came to mind, but I've always liked that word. As SGTex was heading out the door to run a couple of errands (a couple of hours ago, now...just where the heck did he get too!? But I digress), he mentioned that we should really find a name for the car, so I've been thinking about words and stuff. (Oh, here he is now...and he got DONUTS!!! All's forgiven, LOL xoxoxoxo)

Anyway, where was I? Oh, it seems that I had some time on my hands and started thinking about stuff- which is almost *never* a good thing. So, I googled "serendipity" and here I am. Images brought up this cool picture, Lordsaveme, of a serendiptous sundae. Forgive me, but I'm not even going to try and find out how they came up with it. Must just leave well enough alone.

So, where I'm kinda going with this is, on another board a bunch of us were talking about politics and had a healthy debate going. I posted something and kinda got off the track, mentioning what I considered to be a blessing (finding my wedding veil that's more what we wanted but cost even less, that sorta thing).

*Which caused someone else to ask about our plans, and I answered in some detail. *Which caused someone else to come along and, by asking a question, attempted to put me down.
*Which caused several someone elses to come along and, in defense of my Man and I, show kindness and friendship to us in a Big Way.
*Which caused us to be even more blessed, and we are so grateful.

In other words, sometimes I set about looking for one thing and end up finding something else altogether. Even better.

I like that. Very much.

Shawn
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photo borrowed from reneeashleybaker@wordpress.com, Reuters

Where there's room in the heart, there's room in the home....

That's what my Grandma Mac used to say. I've seen that (or a version of it)done up in tea towels and embroidered on pillows, so I doubt that sentiment originated with her, but it applies. Or it should.

I don't know what actually got me thinking about it. Maybe it's pre-election jitters causing me to think about the security of hearth and home. Could be it was a phone conversation with Carol, looking forward to her upcoming visit to Texas. Or maybe it's about wedding planning. Or SGTex building shelves and organizing the storage room and me washing the good china to stow safely away until we order the china cupboard for the dining room (that comes after the wall is painted and a couple more bills get paid). I guess it could be any of those, or a little bit of all of them.

Anyway, the important thing is that our hearts are in the right place, attempting to keep our home free of all those stresses and worries that seem to come knockin' at the door these days. That's easier said than done, but we're managing, I think. We're both having some job stress (his is good stress, mine is wacky stress, lol). Days are filled with the usual stuff of working long hours, trying to keep ahead of the bills, the cat fed (she's turned into a little con artist and has figured out how to get 2 breakfasts in the morning....), the fruit bowl filled, and the garbage emptied, gas in the car (under 2 bucks/gal,now). Seems pretty normal to me.

Life is good.

Shawn
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