Friday, August 15, 2008

Encounter

This is the large dog that raids the catfood. He had just picked up Jellico's dish and carried it off but put it down and retreated slowly past Tim when I appeared with the camera. Apparently the gals aren't afraid of him as you can see Tim lying there watching me.

Friday cat blogging

PuddyTat watches Tim.

While Tim watches something else.
The big news for today is peculiar, not exactly tasteful. I have had a cat box in the new cathouse since it was closed off. I've never seen any evidence that anyone has used it tho I don't check it very often. After being away for a week, I checked the cathouse for anything unusual and was surprised to see the box surface disturbed. Lo and behold, somebody is using it. I suspect Dude. I think the cats take turns sleeping in the cathouse. I should get a camera and snoop on them?

Friday shuffle

1. Stardust - Benny Goodman
2. Mozart: Requiem, Agnus Dei - Bach Choir of Pittsburgh
3. Einhorn: Voices of Light, Illness - Anonymous 4
4. Recuerdos de la Alhambra - Pepe Romero
5. Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini - Lang Lang
6. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida - Iron Butterfly
7. Handel: Israel in Egypt, And believed the Lord... - Parrott
8. Weary in Well-Doing - Rajaton
9. Spanish Eyes - Zamfir
10. Ives: Circus Band - Westminster Choir

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Two sunsets

From Alioto's on Fisherman's Wharf

Up the road a piece at home

Control

A bunch of Episcopal/Anglican male clergy are unable to accept female clergy, lately especially female bishops. Many seem to be the same men who are unable to accept the idea that most LGBTQs are ordinary people with ordinary lives, loved by God and entitled to the same rights and privileges as everyone else. Why are so many males afflicted with control issues?

I find it easy to worship with these men, difficult to discuss religion with them and almost impossible to respect them. Why are they and their followers so afraid of change? Of questions? Of difference? Of God? They seem to have all the beliefs and none of the faith. The clergy types control the message as if the slightest variation will cause rebellion, rejection of their control. They know God personally and none of the rest of us do or can without their guidance.

Altho I can love a person and will do what I can in a given situation, I have trouble respecting someone who has unquestioned "faith" and insists that only their religion/church has the "Truth". Religion and church were created by men. The documents of the followers of Abraham were written by men who believed they were divinely inspired yet the later two disagree significantly even in each internally. The idea that any one of the belief systems is closest to God seems to me to be just plain silly. Presumptuous. Heretical?

So where do the Episcopal/Anglican clergy who reject segments of society as unworthy of responding to God's call get their authority? Not from the Gospels. Not from Jesus. Definitely not from the Holy Spirit whom they claim to include but restrict to those who wrote, translated, edited or otherwise affected their versions of the Bible.

The men who seek to exclude and divide seem to feel threatened by those they can't control. For good reason? God help them! And us!

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Sunday, August 10, 2008

And more food

The wedding reception was catered by The Slanted Door. In case you're curious, here is the menu:
Croatian and Hungarian wines
frisse salad with orange, candied pecans and crispy shallots - very good
poached local halibut with tomato, ginger and thai basil - could not eat it. waaaaay too hot
braised duck leg with chinese red dates, bamboo leaf and shiitake mushroom - excellent
grilled Niman Ranch lamb rack with lemongrass, garlic and thai chilis - to die for
organic corn stir-fry with chanterelles mushroom - ok
wedding cake that was much better than the night before

And Friday's Chinese dinner was at Canton Dim Sum and Seafood Restaurant. It was a ten or so course meal. I'll try to remember what all when I get home.

And wedded again