WARNING: Stong, emotional opinions ahead
"We've Got Trouble
Right Here in River City
With a Capital T
And That Rhymes with P
And That Stands for" PREJUDICE!
I must thank Meredith Wilson, the creator of the musical The Music Man, for the loan of his lyrics for a very important cause. That cause is of great conern to me. What it all boils down to is that I am worried about California. I am worried that the state that I have always considered superior to all others in the nation, the state that I think knows how to treat people well and cares about all its citizens, the state that I have considered above prejudice and hate, is about to give power to bigotry. How horrible would that be!? To make discrimination, hate, and bigotry a low is our fair state!? The idea terrifies me, and it should terrify you too!
I am talking about Proposition 8 - the proposition that would make a change in the California Constitution to ban gay marriage. But you know what, this proposition has nothing to do with gay marriage. This proposition has everything to do with changing our Constitution to mandate discrimination, to say "equality is only for some." Personally, and I guess I'm funny like this, but I think equality should be for everyone. Go figure!
Voting "Yes" on Propositon 8 means that a person is so full of hate and prejudice that they want to strip fundamental rights from a group of people that is a minority in our state. I compare this to people who once thought that women shouldn't be allowed to vote or that "colored" drinking fountains were best. Don't think it's the same thing? You bet it is. Only this time, the black people are gay people, but the bigots are still bigots.
I was told recently that "there are good people who don't support gay marriage." I agree with that. There are good people who don't agree with two people in love should be able to marry simply because of their sexual preference. I don't agree with those poeple, but I do agree that not liking gay marriage doesn't make you a bad person. However, I don't think that you can vote in favor of discrimination becoming a law and still be considered a good person. You have to be a pretty hateful person to think that discrimination and prejudice and stripping people of their rights would be a swell thing to add to our California Constitution. This has nothing to do with gay marriage or religion - IT IS DISCRIMINATION. Whether you descriminate because of age, sex, race, nationality, sexual preference...it doesn't matter. It's all the same. It's all descrimination. It's all prejudice. It's a biggotry. Don't like gay people for all I care. Don't recognize their marriages in YOUR church. But how dare you turn our great state, our precious Constitution, a document that was created to provide equality to all, don't you dare turn it into your selfish weapon of hate.
If you vote "Yes" on Proposition 8 on Tuesday, I don't care who you are or how much I love you, know that I will be deeply disappointed in who you are.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
My Dog's Better Than Your Dog
Okay, so this one isn't about wedding stuff...
I went to my obedience training orientation night tonight at the Sacramento SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). This was where I adopted our dog, Shaggy. For those unaware of the story, Cliff and I had been living in our house for 4 days when I was driving home from work and decided I was bored and didn't want to go straight home. Therefore, in all my brilliance, I ended up ayt the SPCA. I almost made it out free and clear, but around the final corner was a scraggily little dog that was listed as half-Bearded Collie and half-Poodle. I've never cared much for Poodles, but my very first dog was a Bearded Collie named Molly, and as they are an uncommon breed, I couldn't resist visiting with him. The rest, they say, is history.
So we will begin obedience school next week. Much like kindergarten, the dog mommies and daddies had to go to orientation without their "kids" on this first night. We got packets of information and a schedule of what we will be covering over the next 6 weeks of training. My conclusion after listening to people talk about their dogs? Shaggy is way better than a lot of these hoodlums that will be in his class! Eating leashes? Digging under fences? Knocking down people? Scattering garbage all over the kitchen? Jumping up and stealing food right off a person's dinner plate? Not Shaggy! He jumps, yes, and has an obscene amount of energy at times, and he has this peculiar habit of dumping out his food dish on the floor and eating his food from there, but otherwise, he is very well-behaved. Disney Club members can attest to his ability to sit quietly and to even be next to food without having the urge to steal it. He needs to be more polite when going for a walk (I had a stranger yell to me, "who's walkin' who?"), but, in general, he is just a good little fella. Cliff and I are so fortunate with our SPCA animals; we couldn't ask for better than Pumpkin and Shaggy.
Hopefully Shaggy and I will pass our obedience school with flying colors...unlike Hallie and I who were obedience school drop-outs :o(
I went to my obedience training orientation night tonight at the Sacramento SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). This was where I adopted our dog, Shaggy. For those unaware of the story, Cliff and I had been living in our house for 4 days when I was driving home from work and decided I was bored and didn't want to go straight home. Therefore, in all my brilliance, I ended up ayt the SPCA. I almost made it out free and clear, but around the final corner was a scraggily little dog that was listed as half-Bearded Collie and half-Poodle. I've never cared much for Poodles, but my very first dog was a Bearded Collie named Molly, and as they are an uncommon breed, I couldn't resist visiting with him. The rest, they say, is history.
So we will begin obedience school next week. Much like kindergarten, the dog mommies and daddies had to go to orientation without their "kids" on this first night. We got packets of information and a schedule of what we will be covering over the next 6 weeks of training. My conclusion after listening to people talk about their dogs? Shaggy is way better than a lot of these hoodlums that will be in his class! Eating leashes? Digging under fences? Knocking down people? Scattering garbage all over the kitchen? Jumping up and stealing food right off a person's dinner plate? Not Shaggy! He jumps, yes, and has an obscene amount of energy at times, and he has this peculiar habit of dumping out his food dish on the floor and eating his food from there, but otherwise, he is very well-behaved. Disney Club members can attest to his ability to sit quietly and to even be next to food without having the urge to steal it. He needs to be more polite when going for a walk (I had a stranger yell to me, "who's walkin' who?"), but, in general, he is just a good little fella. Cliff and I are so fortunate with our SPCA animals; we couldn't ask for better than Pumpkin and Shaggy.
Hopefully Shaggy and I will pass our obedience school with flying colors...unlike Hallie and I who were obedience school drop-outs :o(
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Our First Trip as a Married Couple
Cliff and I have been contemplating where we should go on our honeymoon. I decided to enlist the help of my beloved travel agent, Vana Carmona. Don't you love that name! If she decides to give up the travel agency, she could get a job as a lounge singer who lays across pianos. Vana planned my Italian vacation, and as I loved every moment of that, I had to turn to her again for this important vacation destination. She was happy to hear the news and immediately went to work searching for deals and locales.
That is what lead me to decide to do something I don't think I have ever done. I have decided to take a relaxing vacation! Who'd a thunk it!? Me? Relaxing vacation? Yeah, right. My parents and I have been called the "Neverending Family" because of our action-packed travel itineraries. My dad and I relish the development of our "Binder o' Fun" for each vacation we take. By the time we were finished with Italy (not to mention nearly every other trip I have ever taken), I needed a vacation from my vacation. Don't get me wrong - I adore vacations where every moment is filled with experiences I can't have at home. And while I was utterly exhausted every night in Italy, I wouldn't have passed on a single activity we did. I love busy vacations, but I have decided it is time for a change...at least, for this trip.
Cliff and I have decided (with the help of Vana) to go to an all-inclusive resort in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Our plane, hotel, food, drinks, daily activities, spa treaments, etc. are all paid for up front so that when we get there, we can just relax and take it all in. Here is a link to the Dreams Puerto Vallarta e-brochure: http://www.amresorts.com/ebrochures/vallarta/ The hotel backs up to a jungle (Cliff and see Mexican birds to his heart's content) and is only five minutes from the historical downtown of PV. From talking to Vana and my dear friend Milton, it sounds like it is a great deal and we went ahead and paid for our plane flight and put down a deposit on our stay. We will be staying for 6-nights and will leave on Saturday, June 5th (the week after the wedding). We're really excited, and I will admit that I have already begun thinking about what I will pack and what new clothes I will NEED to buy. So if you have any suggestions for things not to be missed in PV, let me know. Look at me...already trying to fill every moment!
That is what lead me to decide to do something I don't think I have ever done. I have decided to take a relaxing vacation! Who'd a thunk it!? Me? Relaxing vacation? Yeah, right. My parents and I have been called the "Neverending Family" because of our action-packed travel itineraries. My dad and I relish the development of our "Binder o' Fun" for each vacation we take. By the time we were finished with Italy (not to mention nearly every other trip I have ever taken), I needed a vacation from my vacation. Don't get me wrong - I adore vacations where every moment is filled with experiences I can't have at home. And while I was utterly exhausted every night in Italy, I wouldn't have passed on a single activity we did. I love busy vacations, but I have decided it is time for a change...at least, for this trip.
Cliff and I have decided (with the help of Vana) to go to an all-inclusive resort in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Our plane, hotel, food, drinks, daily activities, spa treaments, etc. are all paid for up front so that when we get there, we can just relax and take it all in. Here is a link to the Dreams Puerto Vallarta e-brochure: http://www.amresorts.com/ebrochures/vallarta/ The hotel backs up to a jungle (Cliff and see Mexican birds to his heart's content) and is only five minutes from the historical downtown of PV. From talking to Vana and my dear friend Milton, it sounds like it is a great deal and we went ahead and paid for our plane flight and put down a deposit on our stay. We will be staying for 6-nights and will leave on Saturday, June 5th (the week after the wedding). We're really excited, and I will admit that I have already begun thinking about what I will pack and what new clothes I will NEED to buy. So if you have any suggestions for things not to be missed in PV, let me know. Look at me...already trying to fill every moment!
Saturday, October 25, 2008
For Those Who Want To Know
Dee Dee has inspired me to write a blog about what is going on in my life. Many people I know ask me "what's new?" when I see them, and generally, there is always something, whether it be about Cliff and I getting married, our new house, or just life in general. So I thought I might start a blog and see how long I keep up with it. I used to love writing Myspace blogs, but I know not everyone has Myspace, and maybe some of you might read my blogs in a more user-friendly format. So, without further ado...
I suppose what I am most excited about is getting married. I know it is cliche to say that many little girls start planning their weddings when they are six years old, but I do, indeed, think I was one of those girls. Okay, maybe not six, but I always looked forward to the idea of having a big event, in a big location, in a big dress! So I am truly in my element with planning this wedding. And I think my mom is enjoying it too. As many of you know, there are few things in life we enjoy more than planning an event, and this just happens to be about as big as it comes: a wedding for an only-child who is also a girl! Bring it on!
Of course, much has happened prior to this blog being written, so let me catch you up so we can move forward from here in future blogs. Cliff proposed on August 3oth, and we immediately got things set in motion. We had been talking about locations, but nothing seemed quite right for us. We don't drink wine, so wineries were out. We don't play golf, so a country club was out. Many of the event centers in Sacramento just seemed too generic, and those outside of Sacramento, too expensive. So I was surfing around online one day when I stumbled upon a mention of the Sacramento Zoo. A few clicks later and I was on the Sacramento Zoo website and discovered that they do, indeed, do weddings there. Who knew!? It was the perfect fit for two quirky animal-lovers, and as the Zoo comes with its own event coordinator, we couldn't ask for anything more.
With the location for both the ceremony and reception set, it was now the little details we had to contend to. And we have been loving it! At this point in time, we have:
Caterer: the Zoo does it in-house!
DJ: the Zoo's event coordinator suggested a great guy and he's good to go
Cake: River City Cake Co. in Elk Grove, who Mom and I met at the Sacramento Bridal Show
Officient: our dear family friend, Phil Sarkisian, in a retitred Superior Court Judge, and I was thrilled to ask him to marry us
Dress: purely by accident (we were bored), I ended up taking home a great gown from David's Bridal
Wedding Party: everyone has been asked - Colby, the Man of Honor; and Brook, Sarah, and Michelle as Bridesmaids
Photos: we found a great husband-wife team at the bridal show and we think they will be a lot of fun
Invitations: already bought and ordered and currently in a box in our spare bedroom waiting to be sent
Ahhhh, it seems like a million little things, but I am all about the details (have you been to one of my Harry Potter parties?). So we are gettin' hitched on Saturday, May 30, 2008, and I am so excited. I can't wait to celebrate with all my friends and family. I only hope the monkeys don't fling poo!
I suppose what I am most excited about is getting married. I know it is cliche to say that many little girls start planning their weddings when they are six years old, but I do, indeed, think I was one of those girls. Okay, maybe not six, but I always looked forward to the idea of having a big event, in a big location, in a big dress! So I am truly in my element with planning this wedding. And I think my mom is enjoying it too. As many of you know, there are few things in life we enjoy more than planning an event, and this just happens to be about as big as it comes: a wedding for an only-child who is also a girl! Bring it on!
Of course, much has happened prior to this blog being written, so let me catch you up so we can move forward from here in future blogs. Cliff proposed on August 3oth, and we immediately got things set in motion. We had been talking about locations, but nothing seemed quite right for us. We don't drink wine, so wineries were out. We don't play golf, so a country club was out. Many of the event centers in Sacramento just seemed too generic, and those outside of Sacramento, too expensive. So I was surfing around online one day when I stumbled upon a mention of the Sacramento Zoo. A few clicks later and I was on the Sacramento Zoo website and discovered that they do, indeed, do weddings there. Who knew!? It was the perfect fit for two quirky animal-lovers, and as the Zoo comes with its own event coordinator, we couldn't ask for anything more.
With the location for both the ceremony and reception set, it was now the little details we had to contend to. And we have been loving it! At this point in time, we have:
Caterer: the Zoo does it in-house!
DJ: the Zoo's event coordinator suggested a great guy and he's good to go
Cake: River City Cake Co. in Elk Grove, who Mom and I met at the Sacramento Bridal Show
Officient: our dear family friend, Phil Sarkisian, in a retitred Superior Court Judge, and I was thrilled to ask him to marry us
Dress: purely by accident (we were bored), I ended up taking home a great gown from David's Bridal
Wedding Party: everyone has been asked - Colby, the Man of Honor; and Brook, Sarah, and Michelle as Bridesmaids
Photos: we found a great husband-wife team at the bridal show and we think they will be a lot of fun
Invitations: already bought and ordered and currently in a box in our spare bedroom waiting to be sent
Ahhhh, it seems like a million little things, but I am all about the details (have you been to one of my Harry Potter parties?). So we are gettin' hitched on Saturday, May 30, 2008, and I am so excited. I can't wait to celebrate with all my friends and family. I only hope the monkeys don't fling poo!
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