In favor or against - know the facts on Prop. 8

Lately most of the discussion on the propositions up for vote in the November ballot in California has centered on Prop 8 - a yes would amend the California constitution to redefine marriage as a union between a man and a woman only, a no would leave things the way they are.

Supporters and opposition are out there giving us all arguments why we should or should not support this proposition. Very few people are doing their homework.

Morris Thurston, of the Mormon church, wrote a very enlightening document rebutting what supporters of 8 see as the six consequences of prop 8 failing. I'm not Mormon, I'm Catholic - practicing and believing. And Morris Thurston, while he offers a rebuttal, doesn't offer or neglect support of the proposition. 

His point and mine - in this blog - is: whether you support it or not, understand the facts, research the issue, and make a decision based on that and your own beliefs/moral code. Don't just follow the herd in blind acceptance of "consequences" that do not apply to the issue. To understand what I mean, please read this document. Very well written, by the way.

In her own words... (cont.)

During the morning ride to the daycare...

"Daddy, let's go to Costco!"
"Why do you want to go to Costco?"
"Because they have food there."

A few pet peeves...

1. "Please rsvp"... drives me up the wall and back! Rsvp is the acronym for the French phrase "please respond", therefore, an additional "please" is redundant - and, imho, in poor taste.

2. People who think your time is theirs and won't even bother consulting with you to see if you have time for them and their petty tasks... umph!

3. Bad use of fashion - where should I start??? If you're built like a barrel, avoid the form-fitting top and the low-rise jeans. It really is disgusting. If you're cold in the morning, wearing hot-pink leg warmers with your flip flops should just be illegal! Etc., etc., etc. If you don't have an eye for style, as evidenced by your choices, arm yourself with at least one good, honest friend who'll tell you when you look like crap.

4. People who equate Muslims with terrorists... hello!! There are more similarities between the Koran and the Bible than there are differences. And really, the most fundamental difference is: our "dude" is Jesus, theirs is Mohamed (but they do believe in Jesus as a prophet, and in Mary as an important figure). This brought back to light with the current electoral process and one of the candidates running for president - and by the by, my husband was born in the Muslim faith and was raised as such for the better part of his childhood. He's a convert Catholic, and frankly, it's not an issue at all. 

There are more, but I'll bore you senseless... and I'm done ranting for now.

You know it's Fall in So Cal...

...when you feel the bite in the wind, the nights get cooler, even though the days continue to be blistering hot. Then, before you know it, the leaves have turned, and the Santa Ana winds have come to blow them all away. The air is dry, which is great for your hair (if you're a woman), and really bad for your nose.

If you're lucky, all the winds have blown is the leaves, and the trees are still rooted. If you're lucky, you didn't forget the umbrella outside and your patio furniture is still intact. 

But you really know Fall has arrived in So Cal, when the Santa Anas not only blow the leaves off the trees, but the embers on one, two, or three fires that threaten to burn out of control.