Heart thread - 12/21/2010

A request from David:

Beloved Giants of prayer & practice
It turns out my cherished cousin Frank is not to see Christmas at home.
They discovered a serious growth on one of his lungs, and he's been hospitalized, with the doctors unable to give any idea [how] long the treatments will take- especially with holiday scheduling.
They're going to be removing the mass and giving him treatment. The news comes via my Mam who received the call who was quite shaked by this news of her Godson, so she doesn't remember all that Frank shared with her, but she reports that his morale was good- as always- but he specificially asked that I share this news with you, the Giants and ask for your prayers for himself and for Carol.

thank-you

love-always-always Love

David.

Friday morning in Albuquerque

Two blocks from my house, looking toward the southeast (yes, I am waiting at a light, not driving while taking pictures).


The sidewalk at work: enough snow to be beautiful without making life too difficult. Well, I suppose that depends on perspective. There were many accidents this morning and I-40 was closed entirely at Edgewood.

--the BB

Heart thread - 12/16/2010

David offers many for us to remember in prayer.

Just a quick note to let you know that dear Rosemary entered eternal life last evening.
As tiny as she was physically, dear Rosemary was a giant in her passionate determination to beat her cancer so as to see her two sons make it to adulthood.
I ask your prayers for Rosemary's husband David, their two sons, Rosemary's mother, two brothers and her sister.
I would also ask your prayers for my baby sister Jenny, who for close to two years was Rosemary's chief ally in keeping things as normal as possible and getting her to treatments and appointments.
The last time I saw Rosemary we spoke of the prayers which were accompanying her, and she asked about each of you- it was important to know each of you by name,

Jacques continues to be palliative, though there has been some slight rallying, just in time for my neice Marion and her daughter to make it back from the Gaspe

the latest from our Margaret is that Joel has been allowed home from hospital, though he is having real issues breathing

dear, dear Paul needs prayers for operable health challenges on two fronts please

and I'd ask your prayers this evening for a young girl of only six years old, flown down south after being gravely attacked by four sled dog in her settlement- the dear child is litterally fighting for her life

Frank & Carol send their thanks and love- and he wants you all to know he is very much aware of the role you all played with your love and the support of your prayers in the fact that he will be here again this Chirstmas

Thank-you my cherished giants

love always-always Love

David

I ask your prayers for David who holds so many in his heart before God.


I also ask your prayers for my sister Shirley, pictured above in an earlier era, who battles infections and celebrates her 79th birthday tomorrow. Also for her husband Jack.

I give thanks that my nephew Jay has managed to get off diabetes meds.

O merciful Father, who hast taught us in thy holy Word that thou dost not willingly afflict or grieve thy children: Look with pity upon the sorrows of thy servants for whom our prayers are offered. Remember them, O Lord, in mercy, nourish their soul with patience, comfort them with a sense of thy goodness, lift up thy countenance upon them, and give them peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

--the BB

Heart thread - 12/12/2010

I ask your prayers for Jake, grandfather of my friends Nick and Alex.

For my friend Ryan's grandfather.

For Aileen and her husband Mike.

For Mark in his long journey of healing.

For the repose of Alice's mother and for Alice who has lost both her parents within a few months.

For all who mourn.

For David and David, for very different reasons.

For Doug's mother. For Doug and James and all my friends who are under the weather these days.

For all who seek work and are having trouble finding it.

For the people of Haiti.

For myself as I get a CT scan this morning to help diagnose and treat my persistent sinus infection.

For all who lack shelter, food, and loving words.


--the BB

Rest in peace, Elizabeth Edwards

Thank you for all you did. Thank you for all you are. Rest in peace and rise in glory.

h/t to Watertiger for the photo

--the BB

My letter to the White House

Dear Mr. President:

I urge you, I beg you not to water down your original, reasonable position on taxes, namely: extend cuts for the working class and let the cuts for income above $250,000 expire. This is the overwhelmingly popular position with the American People. It makes sense.

Compromising with the Republicans, however, will not entice them to compromise with you. It will not encourage them to work with you. It will not foster bipartisanship. It will only encourage their endless threats to hold their breaths until they get their way and to treat you like a pushover. You will gain zero respect from Republicans and zero respect from Democrats. I doubt you will win many moderates either.

Please, please, please stand up to the GOP. Don't damage our economy for the benefit of the very few, who do not need such a benefit.

I cannot express this more strongly and remain civil. Your standing with the Democratic base is already shaky and my hope in change wanes with every unreasonable compromise.

Please step out of the bubble and hear what the American People are saying.

Thank you.

[I requested a response and will add it in an update.]

--the BB

Heart thread - 12/05/2010 - updated

My friend Steve's niece Katie is scheduled for very delicate brain surgery to remove a bone spur on Wednesday morning at the Mayo Clinics. This is critical for her future health. Please keep her in your prayers.

Prayers for Aileen, a young mother who suffered a heart attack and numerous strokes. You may read about her chez Mimi, here and here.

UPDATE ON AILEEN (via Mimi):

Tis' the season for miracles, tonight after not being awake and not responding for four days Aileen squeezed my hand with BOTH of hers and was able to move her right hand from the pillow next to her over to her tummy. Then she was able to track me with her eyes. Thats my fighter!!---Mike

It is the season of the tooth (in a bad way). Mad Priest and I have had tooth problems and now David (Dah-veed) has an impacted molar and abscess. My friend Kathy has had multiple tooth problems. I have my root canal (second in three months) tomorrow. Mercifully the swelling has gone down over the last week and the endodontist's recommendation of ibuprofen and acetaminophen has kept me out of pain so well I have felt wonderfully alive for several days now. I will probably be rather tender for the next few days though. Prayers for all of us to have happy, healthy mouths again.

There are many prayer requests over at OCICBW and I urge you to add your prayers for all mentioned there.

The woes of the world are many and the temptation to despair is great (certainly for those of us following national politics in the US). Let us not forget the larger struggles.

O merciful Father, who hast taught us in thy holy Word that thou dost not willingly afflict or grieve thy children: Look with pity upon the sorrows of thy servants for whom our prayers are offered. Remember them, O Lord, in mercy, nourish their soul with patience, comfort them with a sense of thy goodness, lift up thy countenance upon them, and give them peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty God, you proclaim your truth in every age by many voices: Direct, in our time, we pray, those who speak where many listen and write what many read; that they may do their part in making the heart of this people wise, its mind sound, and its will righteous; to the honor of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O Lord our Governor, bless the leaders of our land, that we may be a people at peace among ourselves and a blessing to other nations of the earth.
Lord, keep this nation under your care.

To the President and members of the Cabinet, to Governors of States, Mayors of Cities, and to all in administrative authority, grant wisdom and grace in the exercise of their duties.
Give grace to your servants, O Lord.

To Senators and Representatives, and those who make our laws in States, Cities, and Towns, give courage, wisdom, and foresight to provide for the needs of all our people, and to fulfill our obligations in the community of nations.
Give grace to your servants, O Lord.



To the Judges and officers of our Courts give understanding and integrity, that human rights may be safeguarded and justice served.

Give grace to your servants, O Lord.

And finally, teach our people to rely on your strength and to accept their responsibilities to their fellow citizens, that they may elect trustworthy leaders and make wise decisions for the well-being of our society; that we may serve you faithfully in our generation and honor your holy Name. For yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Amen.

--the BB

Heart thread - 12/04/2010

Susan S. asks for our prayers:

For David who just died at 45 years of age in Oregon, his mother Hildred, a member of our choir and a dear friend, and his "good brother" Carl.

I remember Hildred from the choir at St Mark's, Berkeley, when I was a member there in the early 80s.

For Tim, husband of Vicar Rhonda, who had a double knee replacement on Tuesday and now struggles through pain management and physical therapy so he can heal and begin enjoying new knees.

For Doug's mother.

Some days, she seems to be aware of her surroundings and to know who people are. Other days, she seems not to recognize anyone or anything. We don't know yet if this is temporary or permanent.

Jack M. Lynn, 2001

For the repose of the soul of Jack McGregor Lynn, my father-in-law. For my in-laws as they work through their grief.

For the unemployed, about whom the Republicans in Congress do not give a damn.

Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love's sake. Amen.

--the BB

Economic policy

I don't remember who wrote this or where I got it but, amid the current discussions of our baleful economy, I thought it needed to be put out there again.

Obama Promised

Looking back

From November 2004:

Halliburton has lost 1/3 of government property in Iraq
by Plutonium Page
Sat Nov 27th, 2004 at 00:31:10 PST

Halliburton says they're doing a great job tracking their inventory in Iraq.
However, an external audit shows that they're embellishing on the truth... big time.
What the audit showed:

A third or more of the government property Halliburton Co. was paid to manage for the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq could not be located by auditors, investigative reports to Congress show.
Halliburton's KBR subsidiary ''did not effectively manage government property'' and auditors could not locate hundreds of CPA items worth millions of dollars in Iraq and Kuwait this summer and fall, Inspector General Stuart W. Bowen reported to Congress in two reports.
Not good news for Cheney's former company.

To see what Halliburton says, look below the fold. [Click link above.]


Laurence Lewis reports today:

Earlier this month, it was reported that one of the largest U.S. government contractors in Afghanistan was being fined nearly $70 million for having "knowingly and systematically overcharged the U.S. government." But just two months after a whistleblower revealed the Louis Berger Group's deliberate and systematic overcharging, the U.S. Agency for International Development awarded the company a new joint contract worth $1.4 billion. That seemingly large fine turned out to be but a minor business expense.

Once again we must ask:

What would "victory" in Afghanistan look like?

Is that even remotely achievable?

What the fuck are we doing there?

I know, we're enriching the military-industrial complex that Eisenhower warned us about in his farewell speech. But other than that?

--the BB

Family Research Council a hate group?

You betcha.

Well, the Southern Poverty Law Center declared them to be such and they took umbrage. Must have hurt their little feelings to think all they do for Jay-zuz could ever be characterized as hate speech. As one link at TMC says: "FRC's Tony Perkins Rips SPLC ... For 'Slanderous Attack And Attempted Character Assassination'."

Clutch the pearls, Tony. (And I would not be surprised if Mr. Perkins has some pearls to clutch.)

John Aravosis has a lengthy list of comments from them over the years that pretty well demonstrates what I consider hate speech against gays. If all you knew of homosexual persons came from the FRC you'd assume we all hate children (when we're not molesting them), family, and Jesus and are bent on destroying society. You would be convinced, despite all logic, that equal rights are "special rights."

Of course, if gays disappeared from the planet tomorrow FRC would go broke, losing the bogeyman they use to raise money. They need us like lung cancer needs a lung.

If you're one of the folks being talked about by the Family Research Council, you know hate when you hear it. Mr. Perkins can shove his indignation and his pearls somewhere quivering with guilty desire. And yes, that's hate speech. I am not about to play nice with those vile people.

--the BB

The aftermath

So, for the first time in my life I hosted Thanksgiving dinner. It was collaborative. Guests brought the turkey and the pumpkin pie. I provided all the side dishes: mashed potatoes, stuffing, creamed spinach, apples and yams in butter and brown sugar, cranberry sauce, cranberry-orange relish, gravy, and whipped cream for the pie. Huge thanks to Bill for helping me cook and generally get ready.

I kept a little for myself (all I really wanted) and sent guests home with lots of leftovers. Between tryptophan, wine, and the painkiller I'm taking for trauma after drilling and filling a huge cavity in a tooth two days before Thanksgiving I almost went to bed at 6:30. Two hours later I am still something less than alert.

Many thanks for all who have held the family in prayer during my father-in-law's final illness and death and through yesterday's memorial service. You are all appreciated.

Anticipating a slow day at work tomorrow and a matinee at the cinema with Kathy on Saturday. Time to chill.

--the BB

The REAL Thanksgiving Story!

"It Gets Better" — Love, Pixar

Fauré Requiem In Paradisum

For those whose time has come to enter larger life....

The bulbs are in

I worked in the yard last Sunday, bought more materials on Thursday, and worked off an on most of yesterday. I have planted something in the neighborhood (I lost count) of 600-700 bulbs, about 20 bearded iris, eight small mums, and over fifty pansies and violas. Four bags of detritus has been sent to the trash, filled with dead annuals, tree and rose prunings, and empty bulb bags. Numerous bags of compost, planting soil, and mulch have been added to the yard.

I still have lots of yanking and pruning to do but it is a goodly start.



There is a honeysuckle on the left. The green plants are snapdragons that has perdured until now. You can see bearded iris plantings sticking their little noses up. This is the south border.


You have seen the low retaining wall on the north half of the yard. All kinds of bulbs are planted beneath the pansies and chrysanthemums.


There is now a second retaining wall on the south side. Here are pansies planted over more bulbs, all in the neighborhood of the Methley plum tree (which put out a few blooms the week before last; go figure). The mulched area between the plum tree and the French lavender is planted with daffodils and freesias.


The north border has some new bearded iris and white and pink daffodils. Also ranunculus. The area circling the rose bush has pastel tulips.

And that's the excitement on the gardening front.

I treated myself to a massage on Thursday. I could have used it more yesterday or today but I'm still glad I did it. It relaxed me so much I went to bed that night at 8 and slept until 6 the next morning.

--the BB

Republicans win office, kill jobs immediately

Republicans win office, kill jobs immediately

Yo! If you voted Republican you should have anticipated this because there is a demonstrable track record that the GOP does not give a shit about American workers. If you thought they would help the jobs situation you have paid no attention to our history or their track record. Wake up and start paying attention now because those who put them in power are culpable not for what they surprisingly do but for what they predictably do.

--the BB

Impunity

R. Jeffrey Smith writes in the Washington Post:

Human rights experts have long pressed the administration of former president George W. Bush for details of who bore ultimate responsibility for approving the simulated drownings of CIA detainees, a practice that many international legal experts say was illicit torture.

In a memoir due out Tuesday, Bush makes clear that he personally approved the use of that coercive technique against alleged Sept. 11 plotter Khalid Sheik Mohammed, an admission the human rights experts say could one day have legal consequences for him.

...

Georgetown University law professor David Cole, a long-standing critic of Bush's interrogation and detention policies, called prosecution unlikely. "The fact that he did admit it suggests he believes he is politically immune from being held accountable. . . . But politics can change."

What Mr. Smith does not say, and should have been said, is that the United States declared waterboarding to be torture in WWII and prosecuted enemies for doing it.

That war criminals like George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney can make admissions like this with no apparent fear of consequences speaks volumes about the lawlessness of their regime and of this nation.

--the BB

End douchebaggery

h/t to watertiger

--the BB