One good thing I have done in my life

... was to begin the tradition of celebrating el Día de los Muertos at St Cuthbert's, Oakland. The first year Hallowe'en fell on a Sunday and it was the day of Bishop Swing's visitation. We dedicated new vestments and altar hangings that day (the wild "festal green" set) and remembered our loved ones. Prayer and tears and healing and deeper community. Thanks to Laurie Garnier I can share a photo from this year's celebration. The ofrenda at St Cuddy's, 2008.


Last Sunday in Albuquerque I lit a candle for Phyllis Brislawn, one of the great saints of St Cuthbert's.

We who are many are one body for we all share in one bread and one cup.
-the BB

Mr Bear's wild night

U. S. Customs House, New Orleans, 1892
Courtesy Wikipedia Commons

Looking down Decatur, le Vieux Carré
New Orleans

Detail of the Customs House, New Orleans
Decatur Street

Yep, after work my carpool partner and I headed into the Quarter on a Saturday night.

Dinner on Decatur. Then back to this neck of the woods where I am about to go to bed early. She, my vehicular voisine, is working tomorrow and I am staying home to get over this flipping cold and do some laundry.

I can no longer say I have not ventured into the Quarter after sunset. Well, actually, there was that one time when the company we work through put on a dinner. OK, I haven't been a virgin for a while.

Anyway, that's about as wild as I have gotten in Louisiana.

I still owe y'all a restaurant review and I'm still too tired to write it. Hasta mañana.

As a further note on architecture, I was astonished by the post-modern look of some of the Custom House along Decatur toward the Iberville corner. Very simplified and sleek while retaining neoclassical proportions.

You may read more about the New Orleans Customs House here and here and here.

The impressive exterior of the U.S. Custom House retains its original design, which includes modified Greek and Egyptian Revival elements. The immense four-story building occupies the full trapezoidal downtown city block bounded by Canal, North Peters, Iberville, and Decatur Streets. Due to the shape of the lot, the corner of the building at Canal and North Peters Streets is rounded. The majority of the building is constructed of brick sheathed in gray granite from Quincy, Massachusetts; however, the entablature material is cast iron.

Each of the four facades is similar in design. In the center of each facade is a projecting pavilion consisting of four round, fluted, modified Egyptian, engaged columns. The first floor of the structure is faced with rusticated granite stonework. The cast-iron entablature contains widely spaced triglyphs (three vertical bands) in the frieze and dentils (small square blocks) in the cornice, and supports a triangular pediment above the central portico on each facade. Near both ends of each facade is a slightly projecting bay composed of four modified Egyptian pilasters supporting the entablature. (source)

New Orleans Customs House
viewed from across Canal Street

--the BB

Taking back our nation

Bob Herbert says it well:

Voters said no to incompetence and divisiveness and elbowed their way past the blight of racism that has been such a barrier to progress for so long. Barack Obama won the state of North Carolina, for crying out loud.

The nation deserves to take a bow. This is not the same place it used to be.

h't to John Aravosis at Americablog

--the BB

4192

Last Tuesday in review

Thanks to Jed L for this selection of highlights from election night.
--the BB

Heart thread - 11/7/2008

I ask your prayers for E, who sets out on a painful, difficult journey toward new life. May she be safe, strong, and hopeful - surrounded and upheld by love and prayer.

There is new life. I promise.
--the BB

Soon to be our First Family

w00t!

h/t to Magnifico and to David Katz, campaign photographer
--the BB

Indulge me in a little fantasy

Since voters in some states, heavily influenced by advertising and outright lies by various well-organized christofascists, have decided that some citizens are not allowed to marry....

What if, in the interest of equality, we decided that nobody can marry? In order to give such an arrangement teeth we might have to criminalize marriage. Fair enough, no?

Nobody gets "special rights" anymore. No obligations, no rights, no privileges, no benefits. All tax returns filed singly, of course.

Everyone may cohabit as they please but there will be no legal recognition whatsoever.

If you want to own property together you will want to hire an attorney to hammer out your agreement because nothing will be automatic. Your standing, when your beloved falls ill, is only that of "friend." You will have no say in healthcare or emergency treatment or end-of-life or quality-of-life issues. You may observe at a distance. Unless you go to the effort and expense to make sure you have iron-clad arrangements in place with full documentation. Your beloved's parents or siblings will, of course, make all funeral arrangements and decisions regarding the disposition of remains in case of death. You are just a friend, after all.

You'd better work out some kind of arrangement about children too. Who has parental custody and authority? Just because you contributed a sperm, guy, don't count on that giving you any say in this offspring. Or, in the interest of egalitarianism, maybe even the woman who bore the child will have to allow the state some say in whether the child is really hers. Some folks don't seem to want to give women any say in what happens to, through, or by means of their bodies after all.

Inheritance? Better brush up that will.

Pre-nups are child's play. Now that we have no-nups everybody will have to work out every detail in full legal codification and have it signed and notarized and filed away. Don't you just love paperwork?

Employers will get a real break on healthcare costs as they will only cover individuals and never a spouse or partner. Why should they support their employees' friends, after all?

Nobody will be allowed to marry. No civil marriage at the courthouse. No marriage certificate. No marital status.

Religious institutions may bless or not bless anyone as they please but since there were no recorded vows or ceremony in Eden when God allegedly instituted marriage the whole industry is probably bogus even from a religious standpoint. And Saint Paul discourages it anyway.

Hey, we won't have to worry about divorce anymore! Except, trust me on this one, you may find that it takes more paperwork to divide assets than it ever took to acquire them. And nothing may be assumed or left to chance. An attorney's paradise.

You get the idea. I am sure you can run with it.

Sound absurd?

Welcome to our world.

But it would be pefectly fair.
--the BB

Repeal Prop 8

This is the pledge:

We, the undersigned, are united in our refusal to accept a California where discrimination is enshrined in our state's constitution.

We pledge to repeal Prop 8 and restore marriage equality to California.

I don't know if you are supposed to be a California resident to sign up or not. But you can count me in for the struggle!
--the BB

Let's put this one to rest

Railroad mural in Pinole, California

Pundits love to spout bullshit about the United States being a center-right nation. It is simply not true. So don't let them get away with it.

As Kula2316 reports this morning:

64% of Americans believe government should guarantee health insurance for all. 51% of Republicans think universal healthcare coverage should be a right of every American. 73% of Americans think large corporations pay too little in taxes. 67% of Americans favor more diplomacy with our enemies. A Quinnipiac poll in July found that 63% of Americans agree with the Roe v. Wade decision. A TIME Magazine poll in July found that 58% of Americans oppose an amendment to the US Constitution that would ban gay marriage. Does that look like a center-right nation to you?

The United States, if you ask the People instead of the beltway pundits, is a progressive nation. Even, brace yourselves, liberal!

Part of what this election is about is telling the reality-challenged folks we know better. Keep it up as there is a lot of ignorance being propagated.
--the BB

PS: I slept from 8 until the alarm this morning. An excellent beginning!

[Updated with link to Kula2316's post]

Very quick update

Gratuitous cute photo

Although I did not stay up election night any later than I often do, I was utterly exhausted all day yesterday. Then I went out for dinner.

Today I feel as though I coming down with a chest cold. Post-election let-down? Golden poppy blues? Cumulative effect of insufficient sleep? In any case, I am too pooped to pop right now.

But I do have a couple of items rolling around in my head. One is a restaurant review of last night's meal. One is a fantasy to stimulate thought and discussion on the issue of equal marriage rights.

Right now, however, I am going to take 2000mg of vitamin C and go to bed. (Had chicken soup for dinner already.)

Thanks for stopping by. Sorry I don't have more to offer today.
--the BB

Truth trumps nice

There is a place for magnanimity. John McCain's concession speech and Barack Obama's victory speech were both magnanimous.

As they should have been.

And I'm glad of it.

But let's not let magnanimity trump truth.

John Aravosis has a few words to say and I agree with him. I keep hearing the "both sides do it" line and though on one level that is true there is such an egregious degree of difference that it simply will not wash. Here's John:

After eight years of having Republicans call me an un-American troop-hating fag-loving socialist, after months of John McCain embracing the hate to a level where his own supporters were calling out for Barack Obama to be assassinated, no one is going to be permitted to tell me with a straight face that "oh you know, both sides do it."

Your side was abominable. Your side was hateful. Your side race-baited. Your side gay-baited. Your side lied like we've never seen in recent presidential campaign history. Your side used a tax-cheat who would do better under Obama's tax proposal to be your everyman on the issue of taxes. Your side, in a veiled effort at race-baiting, said Obama doesn't put his country first. Your side had the audacity to call Obama a socialist. Your side suggested he was a Muslim. Your side suggested he was a terrorist. Your side suggested he was Osama bin Laden.

Spare me the crap about how both sides do it. You people are a disgrace, you've been a disgrace for eight long years, and all your hate and lying and venom and vitriol finally bit you in your collective fat ass.

So before we all sing kumbaya I want to say to all the liars, Bite me.

OK, that said, maybe we can get to work together. But I am not going to pretend that really vile behavior from the opposition did not happen or does not matter.

It did and it does.
--the BB

May flights of angels sing her to her rest

An update from Susan S.

I just thought you would want to know that Rhoda died yesterday afternoon about 4:30pm PST.
According to Judith it was peaceful and painless.

Please keep them in your prayers.

Et lux perpetua luceat ei.
--the BB

A lovely meal

I just returned from dinner at MiLa with my boss, belatedly celebrating her birthday. Regular readers know I have been wanting to dine there. More to come but I just want to say it was a really spectacular meal. All I had hoped for.

Tired. Very tired all day today.
--the BB

Fearmongers 4; Reason 0

That's the score on the homophobe issues in California, Florida, Arizona, and Arkansas (adoption).

California Proposition 8 to ban gay marriage (84% of precincts counted):
For:
4,605,065 - 51.8%

Against:
4,293,068 - 48.2%

I talked to my nephew last night. He voted no but his mother, my sister, voted yes (and had a Yes on Prop 8 yard sign).

Update:

A thought - Those who supported measures like this thinking they were defending marriage actually just degraded it by saying some people can tell others whom they may and may not marry.

I want to be furious but I am overwhelmingly sad that so many people can be misled by the loud, repeated, insistent lies and distortions of some.

As for the liars.... well, you know.

Thou shalt not bear false witness

--the BB

It was looking good when I went to bed

And this is what I woke up to.


From the Albuquerque Journal:
Heinrich Wins 1st District Congressional Race

U.S. House - District 1 - General
November 05, 2008 - 06:27AM ET
New Mexico - 459 of 459 Precincts Reporting - 100%


Heinrich , Martin-Dem
161,551
55%

White , Darren-GOP
130,101
45%

Obama got 57% of the votes in New Mexico to McCain's 42%.

And yes, we swept to hold all five seats in the U. S. Congress. Udall joins Bingaman in the Senate and Heinrich, Teague, and Luján were elected to the House.

New Mexico is, right now, a solidly blue state!
--the BB

626

11/03/08 :
DoD Identifies Army Casualty
Sgt. Daniel W. Wallace, 27, of Dry Ridge, Ky., died Oct. 31 in Badin Kheyl, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire. He was assigned to the 201st Engineer Battalion...

May light perpetual shine upon him.
--the BB

4190

Latest Coalition Fatalities

11/03/08 DoD Identifies Army Casualty
Pfc. Bradley S. Coleman, 24, of Martinsville, Va., died Oct. 29 at Qayyarah Airfield, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 51st Transportation Company, 21st Theater Sustainment Command...

Source

Que descanse en paz.
--the BB

Around the World

Barack Obama est élu président des Etats-Unis
A 5 h 05, heure de Paris, les médias américains ont annoncé la victoire du candidat démocrate Barack Obama face à John McCain.
--Le Monde (France)

US-WAHL Obama wird neuer US-Präsident
Die Entscheidung ist gefallen: Der Kandidat der Demokraten liegt nach Siegen unter anderem in Virginia, Ohio und Florida uneinholbar vorn […] »
--Die Zeit (Germany)

ΗΠΑ: «Δεν υπάρχει δρόμος προς τη νίκη», δηλώνουν σύμβουλοι του ...
Nαυτεμπορικη - Πριν από 37 λεπτά
Ο Μπαράκ Ομπάμα βρίσκεται στο κατώφλι του Λευκού Οίκου έπειτα από την επικράτησή του στην πολιτεία του Οχάιο, αφήνοντας τον Τζον Μακέιν να αγωνίζεται για την πολιτική του επιβίωση. Ο υποψήφιος των Δημοκρατικών απέσπασε το Οχάιο, την πολιτεία που έδωσε ...

C'est fait, Obama à la Maison Blanche
L'Express - Il y a 18 minutes
Le candidat démocrate passe la barre des 270 grands électeurs. Il est président des Etats-Unis. Le démocrate Barack Obama a remporté mardi une victoire historique, devenant le premier Noir élu président des Etats-Unis, selon des chaînes de télévision ...

Barack Obama eleito Presidente dos Estados Unidos
Expresso - 12 minutos atrás
A estação de televisão norte-americana acabou de anunciar que o candidato democrata vai ser o próximo Presidente dos Estados Unidos. A CNN acabou de anunciar que Barack Obama vai ser eleito o 44.º Presidente dos Estados Unidos. ...

Barack Obama ist US-Präsident
OÖNachrichten - vor 24 Minuten gefunden
WASHINGTON. Das Rennen um das Weiße Haus ist entschieden. Nach Ergebnissen aus 41 von 51 Staaten (inklusive Washington DC) liegt der demokratische US-Präsidentschaftskanditat Barack Obama mit 297 Wahlmännern klar vor seinem republikanischen ...

מדגמים ראשונים בארה"ב: אובמה זוכה בוורמונט, מקיין בקנטקי
NRG מעריב - לפני 3 שעות
הקלפיות בתשע ממדינות ארה"ב כבר נסגרו, ורשתות השידור האמריקניות הציגו תוצאות של המדגמים שקיימו, אשר חוזות ניצחון לאובמה במדינת ורמונט (3 אלקטורים), מול ניצחון של מקיין במדינת קנטקי (8 אלקטורים). בשאר המדינות התוצאות טרם ניתנות לחיזוי הקלפיות בבחירות לנשיאות ארה"ב נסגרו בתשע ממדינות ארה"ב. כלי התקשורת דיווחו כי ג'ון מקיין ניצח בקנטקי בעוד שברק אובמה הוא המנצח בורמונט. עדיין לא פורסמו התוצאות בשאר שבע המדינות. לפי המדגמים שפרסמו רשתות הטלוויזיה האמריקניות, מקיין קיבל את שמונת האלקטורים של קנטקי, ...

Barack Obama 44 prezydentem USA
Dziennik - Sprzed 25 minut
To koniec marzeń Johna McCaina o prezydenturze. Według pierwszych, nieoficjalnych wyników wyborów Barack Obama zdobył 297 głosów elektorskich i wygrał wybory w Stanach Zjednoczonych. 20 stycznia to on będzie zaprzysiężony na 44 prezydenta USA. ...

Барак Обама победил на президентских выборах в США
Вести.Ru - 16 мин. назад
Кандидат демократов сенатор Барак Обама победил на президентских выборах в США, заручившись поддержкой 333 выборщиков. Для полного успеха кандидату в президенты нужно набрать не менее 270 голосов выборщиков из 538. Республиканец Джон Маккейн поздравил своего соперника с победой. "Я позвонил сенатору Бараку Обаме, чтобы поздравить его с победой. Его успех вызывает уважение", - заявил в среду кандидат в президенты США от Республиканской партии Джон Маккейн. Помимо Вирджинии, Огайо и Пенсильвании, ...

RESUMEN 8-Obama logra histórico triunfo en elección de EEUU
Reuters América Latina - hace 11 minutos
WASHINGTON, nov 4 (Reuters) - El senador demócrata Barack Obama ganó el martes una extenuante batalla de dos años para llegar a la Casa Blanca, venciendo al republicano John McCain para convertirse en el primer presidente negro en la historia de ...

Usa 2008/ Ispanici votano in massa per Obama, al 67% (Cnn)
Virgilio Notizie - 1 ora fa
Roma, 5 nov. (Apcom) - Gli ispanici degli Stati Uniti hanno votato in massa per l'afro americano Barack Obama: lo dice un'analisi fornita dagli esperti della Cnn, secondo cui i "latinos" hanno votato per il candidato democratico alla Casa Bianca al 67% ...

Barack Obama sweeps battleground states
The Australian - 31 minutes ago
BARACK Obama has been elected the first black president of the United States after sweeping the key battleground states of Pennsylvania, Ohio and Virginia.

Barack Obama elected next President of the United States after ...
Telegraph.co.uk - 31 minutes ago - Barack Obama has won a historic victory after he appeared to have collected enough electoral votes to defeat Senator ..

--the BB (with a little help from Google News)

Government of, by, and for the People

We the People of the United States,
in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.



Thank you, my fellow citizens.
--the BB

¡Viva Nuevo México! ¡Viva Presidente Obama!

h/t to the Daily Kos electoral scoreboard

NBC has called New Mexico for Obama.
--Joe Sudbay at Americablog

Actually, before reading this I got a phone call from my friend Kathy back in Albuquerque to let me know the good news. Shortly thereafter she called to inform me that Martin Heinrich was leading over Darren White.



Now, my California friends, don't let us down. Crush Prop Hate!
--the BB

My new United States Senator

Tom Udall now joins Senator Jeff Bingaman and we have two Democratic Senators from New Mexico.

What a joyous change from Pajamas Pete Domenici.

I have been trashing the Mormon Church for their role in California Prop 8 and don't back off from that for a second but that should not be construed as an attack on Mormon individuals. I very happily and proudly supported Tom Udall, a Democratic Mormon, for U.S. Senator from New Mexico and rejoice in his victory. I believe this is good news for New Mexico. And every Senate seat gained for the Dems is good news for the nation and the world.

Congratulations, Senator-elect Udall!

h/t to Plutonium Page for the video and news that CNN called NM for Udall.
--the BB

I can't give up now

Thanks to Joy from Illinois for this great video! Check out her diary. Why we must vote.

h/t to ninshubur for pointing me to it. And congrats to ninshubur and new hubby too.
--the BB

In case the polls near you are still open....

[ Find Your Polling Place | Voting Info For Your State | Know Your Voting Rights | Report Voting Problems ]

Signs of Hope and Change

h/t to Kula2316

Vote!

[ Find Your Polling Place | Voting Info For Your State | Know Your Voting Rights | Report Voting Problems ]

--the BB

Encouragement from New Mexico

flitedocnm has a great post up at Daily Kos with photos and comments about the campaign in New Mexico.

Obama HQ in Ratón, energetic and full of volunteers. Unless I am mistaken I recognize state chair Brian Colón in the center with the flag behind him. He is the man who gave me the papers to register to vote the first week after I moved from California to New Mexico.

McCain-Palin HQ in Ratón. Compare and contrast.


Change New Mexico style.

Check out the whole post here.

Vote!

[ Find Your Polling Place | Voting Info For Your State | Know Your Voting Rights | Report Voting Problems ]

--the BB

On the matter of courtesy

Remember this ad? Of course you do.

Well, the Mormon Church was offended.

I can assure you their sense of being offended does not begin to match mine at their actions.

Their statement:

“The Church has joined a broad-based coalition in defense of traditional marriage. While we feel this is important to all of society, we have always emphasized that respect be given to those who feel differently on this issue. It is unfortunate that some who oppose this proposition have not given the Church this same courtesy.”

Julia Rosen at Crooks and Liars does a nice rebuttal:

We respect that you feel differently about this issue, but rather than respecting our differing positions, you have attempted to impose your position on all of California. That is what we are responding to and why we are fighting so hard to keep our rights that you are trying to take away.

Indeed.

Let me just emphasize the core of Rosen's rebuttal:
You have attempted to impose your position on all of California.

That is the issue.

Prop 8 would not have made a dent without the Mormon Church which has been planning to do this sort of thing since at least 1997.

And so, Californians, I urge you to do the right thing. Vote tomorrow and tell the Mormon Church and all other theocrats that they are entitled to their moral beliefs and their religious practices but THEY MAY NOT IMPOSE THEM ON OTHERS.

And that's as civilly as I can put it.

Courtesy my ass.
--the BB

Driving to the bank this morning

I had two motives for that drive: (1) I needed cash to pay for the taxi ride to the airport; the ATM in the airport would not help me pay for the ride thither. (2) I wanted some photos of the cottonwoods turned golden yellow for y'all.

So, here are some shots from my drive to the bank. (Yes, I pulled over to the side of the road and parked the car to take them.)

Local artwork. Check out the cool car!

Los Sandías y un alamo dorado

Una vista campestre en Albuquerque

Yes, this is my ordinary commute toward I-25 and anywhere in the south or southeast end of town.

In twelve days I will be home for good.
--the BB

We have a lot of work to do. Be inspired.

h/t to Joe Sudbay at Americablog

I feel as though I have done very little for Obama's campaign. I have donated more where I felt my pittance made a bigger difference (No on 8; Heinrich for NM-01), I have not phoned or rung doorbells. I have played cheerleader here but doubt that it has influenced a single vote.

Today, in the tiniest little gesture, after a quick trip to the bank, I stopped next door in Walgreen's and picked up a case of bottled water, then schlepped it over to the local Obama HQ to keep at least a few of the throngs of volunteers hydrated. As I walked back to the car I thanked those volunteers just arriving. Then I rushed home to park the car in the garage, lock up the house, and be ready for the taxi to the airport.

Maybe a bottle of water will help one volunteer have the one encounter that yields one more vote. I hope so.

[ Find Your Polling Place | Voting Info For Your State | Know Your Voting Rights | Report Voting Problems ]

--the BB

Heart thread - 11/3/2008

Let us pray for the soul of Madelyn Dunham.

Sen. Barack Obama's grandmother died Sunday night, just hours before a presidential election in which her grandson could become the first African-American to win the nation's highest office.

May she rest in peace and rise in glory. Our thanks to her for helping raise her grandson and giving him to America.

I ask your prayers for Karen's mother. While checking in through TSA today I overheard a snippet about devastating news regarding cancer. I offered sympathy for whoever was involved and learned that the mother of a supervisor there is gravely ill and probably terminal. I promised prayer for her.

I ask your prayers for Rhoda who is in her last hours after bravely battling cancer (and perhaps more bravely dealing with bipolarity for many years). May she pass peacefully and painlessly into the arms of mercy. May her partner Judith be sustained by grace and love at this time. May the light of Christ enfold them both.

And finally:

Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers and privileges: Guide the people of the United States in the election of officials and representatives; that, by faithful administration and wise laws, the rights of all may be protected and our nation be enabled to fulfill your purposes; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Please add your own intercessions, petitions, and thanksgivings to this thread.
--the BB

Travel day

The BB now logs out until tonight.

Today we feature all music and positive messages. Now vote!

...on peut marcher ensemble....



... y traernos juntos en esta gran nación.

Lo importante es que votemos

--the BB

[ Find Your Polling Place | Voting Info For Your State | Know Your Voting Rights | Report Voting Problems ]

We are the ones

This is my America.

This is your America.

This is our America.

--the BB

Choose to Unite

Open the door.

Let's see the light.

Hey, people love the USA!
--the BB

We'll Get There

Heather Morris, a Pennsylvania Obama supporter, gives us some encouragement.
--the BB

Au secours, mon peuple!

Dave Stewart's American Prayer
--the BB

It's a Les Mis day

Sandalena put this video together.

To the barricades, my compatriots! GOTV!

We have a peaceful revolution to accomplish.

I have wanted my country back for some time now. Let's make it happen.
--the BB

I really had to give this an encore - given the date

Your Sunday evening hymn sing - with update

With themes right out of the Gospels:



h/t to John Aravosis at Americablog, who says: "The video itself is okay, but the song is great. Stacy Beyer, the singer/songwriter has a beautiful voice. Nice lyrics too."


Update:

Now, addressing the liturgical season, here is a snippet of sine nomine. I would put up something longer because it is one of my favorite hymns but all the choirs and congregations singing to an organ that I find on YouTube sound, to my ears, more like dirges. This is uptempo, the way I like it (and most of my hymns, for that matter).



Here is a litany of the saints in Setswana from a first profession of Sisters of Christ the King in Botswana.



With a nod to Tom Lehrer:



And our finale from the Canadian Brass:



Enjoy.

--the BB

A Sunday back home

Obama poster in the guest room window

Heinrich poster in the parlor window

An unfortunately blurry photo (no flash) of the
All Saints' Sunday Mass at St Michael and All Angels, Albuquerque

It was good to be in my church home. I lit a candle for Phyllis and had a quiet but rather uncontrollable cry during the Offertory time. All I needed was someone to hold me while I wept, but I doubt this will be my last good cry over her.

Fr. Christopher sang the Litany of Saints. In addition to singing the "pray for us" refrain I crossed myself at mention of my favorites like Cuthbert, Bernard Mizeki, Martin Luther King Jr, Samuel Schereschewsky, Jon Daniels, Julian of Norwich.

Los Sandías vistas desde La Luz del Sol, Albuquerque

After church we had a working lunch to plan adult formation events for the year ahead. So very good to see that little band I had grown close to in the past year.

Home. Place. People. Where the heart rests.


I wanted to get some good photos of the cottonwoods along the bosque. This is the time of year they turn a bright golden yellow. You can see the crown of one tree sticking up just above the houses to the right of center in the photo above but that does not give you even a hint of the glory that is out there. Perhaps I can get some shots tomorrow.

The best shots would have been from points when I was driving and could not legally or safely pull over (such as stopping on a bridge or blocking a bicycle lane that had approaching bicyclists). So I refrained.

Before long this brilliant yellow will turn to a pale brown, tinted with a wash of copper. Still lovely to many of us but not so spectacular.

The Sandias seen from Coors Avenue

In two weeks I will be home for good. Sigh. Happy smile.
--the BB

"This is something that no Californian, of any religious belief, should accept." - LA Times

h/t to Susan Russell

I also commend to your attention the entire Los Angeles Times editorial against Prop 8. Well written rebuttal of the lies. Susan Russell put it up for us.
--the BB

It only stands to reason

I can't see any of them critters voting for the killa from Wasilla.

h/t to watertiger
--the BB

STAND UP!

h/t to Mahablog
--the BB

John McCain's best endorsement yet!

Wow, the man Satan wishes he could be endorses John McSame. I bet McCain was just thrilled.

h/t to Joe Sudbay at Americablog for this video
--the BB

From the beautiful state of Arizona

Barack Obama for president
...


However, the ways of the past, which we believe McCain understands, will not work in this new America. The future requires new tools and new expertise. A premium must be placed on more than just love of country. We must re-embrace American ideals and lead the world on a stronger path to prosperity and peace.

...

This moment in history requires courage to change. Our nation must find a way to restore the confidence that our government is of the people, by the people, for the people — all of our people.

We share Obama's vision of America. And we share his urgency.
--the Arizona Daily Star

h/t to Kula2316