Economic advantage, New York

Hallelujah!

Despite religious prejudice and the ick factor, the New York State Senate passed and the governor signed the same sex marriage act into law last night. It will take effect in 30 days. As many have quipped, now NY LGBTs will have all the hassles that other married couples have.

I think we should do away with marriage as the term which grants privilege and responsibility. Too many household families are no longer defined by the word. There are many configurations from single individuals to traditional families to grandparents rearing a child to children of divorce living with remarried parents to siblings to live-in care givers to roommates, etc. which constitute a household. People who live together for a period of time should be able to register as household families for tax and other legal purposes. People complained about the "marriage penalty" which was, in fact, the recognition that individuals living alone have more expenses than those who live as a family. Let's change our thinking to accomodate households as families now.

The women in the preceding post are a household family, aren't they?

Grace on the journey

Kirstin has made the ultimate choice. Her blog entry and all that precedes it at Barefoot and Laughing is well worth reading. Over and over. Especially if facing cancer or dealing with a loved one with it.

Kirstin is my heroine.

My family at Pymatuning all together

Left to right bottom to top: Jellico with his newly regrowing hair, Tommie, LittleOne, PuddyTat, Dudie and Tim.

Photos at home

These two found some remains to clean up in the field across the road. The next day there were 16 more in the same place so the find must have been significant tho it isn't visible. It was too windy to get a good photo of the mob.

The man who owns this property yelled at me when I parked briefly to take this photo. I yelled back what I was doing and he said OK.

Three of the feline residents on the cathouse roof. Tim munches while LittleOne (who is really quite large now) and Tommie watch me.

Help needed in the Stockton/Lodi area of California

Internet friends Andee and Kirstin need help. Kirstin is fighting multiple myeloma. Andee is exhausted. The story is here. If there is any way you can help, please do!!!

Walking to and from the winery

Lago Winery, Jamestown, PA

Friday cat blogging

It was a lazy morning in the cathouse.

Until the tuna was offered.

PuddyTat always wants petted before eating.

Church of the Holy Spirit, Erie, PA

Sunday, 22 May 2011 when Christ Church Meadville's Senior Warden was "on vacation".

Why I haven't but need to mow

If you look closely you will see a red cable running across my oil tank and beyond my TV antenna. That is my phone line at the moment. It runs from the phone access around the house across the front and around the barn to a pole up the driveway. Windstream needs to move the pole so this is how they gave me temporary access. It all lay in the grass until today when I really need to mow. I raised it so I don't cut it. I hope they install the pole soon!

This is one reason I really don't want to mow. I LOVE violets and the yard is full of them this year. This is just a small sample. The daffys are mostly gone and need to be dead headed. Someday.

Both photos are embiggenable.

Friday cat blogging on Monday

The crew at breakfast this morning. Tim ate then demanded scritching. She is the most vocal of the bunch. At the top is Jellico who is eating with Tommie. PuddyTat (orange) is eating with LittleOne. Dudie is barely visible on his own level.

After they ate all retired to one place or another. LittleOne and PT were in the boxes while Jellico decided that the top of the boxes was a good place to do his toilette. I had to put reinforcement up there because he kept collapsing the boxes.

The heating pads are still out - one is barely visible under LO. I keep hoping I can remove them but I had to have the heated water bowls on a couple of days ago when the temperature plunged to 28. Someday our spring will come.

Angry sky, angry lake

We had a brief period of sunshine Saturday but it was between storms. This and the following were taken on my way to Cleveland to get the Macbook fixed.

Obviously the weather deteriorated quickly.

The following photos were taken today, Palm Sunday. This is the view out from our bay toward the beach. The long island is on the left.

This is from the "tracks" looking up the lake toward the Century Club. The wind was from the west which is across the lake. We rarely see wind strong enough to make waves across the lake but we had it today. The ponding in the foreground is unusual as the lake is very high. My neighbor had photos of the water overflowing the spillway earlier in the week. We've had a little rain.

Looking across the lake again from farther up the tracks.

Friday not cat blogging

Two of the three additions to Bible study tonight. The third wouldn't stand or sit still enough for a photo. Fred's color is a bit weird for some reason. He isn't this dark red. They are the parish livestock or so I'm told they are called. Lovely, friendly quads all. Like the bipeds.

What you've been waiting to see

The new bumper stickers on the new Prius. Thought about leaving it bare but have so many choice stickers to use. Wish the Episcopal ones were still available on CafePress.

30 March 2011

This was NOT fog on the way to choir tonight.

Obviously. When I got home.

Meanwhile, in Jamestown...

New Prius

Yes, that is frost. 14 this morning, A record apparently.

There are both good and notsogood features about this Prius. I love the headlights. Well, the dims are about as before but the brights really work. Should be much better for deer spotting. Traction control is turnoffable, I'm told. Yea! Sometimes it is good but it prevented getting out when I did get stuck the first year I had the old car. Since this is a cheaper model, the rear view mirror doesn't automatically "dim". Another Yea! Dimming was not evident with the old mirror. I don't have the garage door opener in the mirror now but I have no problem using the separate device now that I can dim the following headlights myself. The visibility out the back is limited by narrower sides but straight back is much better. The divide is still there but is higher. I don't think there is a backup camera now which I'll miss in parking lots but it was usually covered with grime anyhow. Love the fuel countdown. Started at 500+. If I can actually fill the car with gas, I will be very happy! In cold weather I could only drive 250 miles or so before refilling because the tank would only take 6 gallons. Even in warm weather more than 7 was unusual. The tank should hold 11+ gallons.

The main thing I don't like so far is the intrusive console which lacks good storage, takes up too much room and is very distracting with lights everywhere. The cup holder may make spills common as it looks to be elbow vulnerable. The second one in the retractable armrest looks even worse. Must have been a very tall designer who pushed the seat way back. I already miss the secret compartment where I kept laundry money. The tray under the console is all but useless. It will provide a safe place for the iPhone while charging but that's about it. The two pockets in the doors will hold waterbottles but I used mine for napkins and maps. Not sure they are long enough for maps. The upper glovebox doesn't have a shelf. I keep papers in there but the lack of a shelf will mingle them inconveniently.

The car feels more solid. It is a bit larger. I hit something underneath loudly in the driveway so it must be a bit lower. Hope everything underneath is protected as my driveway is very rutted.

I have not tried the garage yet.

Or put on bumperstickers. Disappointed that the Episcopal ones on CafePress are no longer available. Have plenty of others in my collection from which to choose.

Episcopalians seem to bless everything but couples who love each other but happen to be of the same sex. I'm wondering if I should ask to have the Prius blessed to, hopefully, avoid the deer that seemed drawn to the old one...