h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

*waves on her way down the stairs to a barbeque full of carbs and nitrites and maybe the occasional slice of onion*

Thanks for the thoughts, all. She was planning on dealing with it this morning (as a Catholic, she's been really struggling with the decision), and he was supposed to take her to her appointment and give her half the money.

He never showed up, and she'd missed her appointment time, but it looks like I may end up being the one that takes her. I don't know where the money is going to come from, though.

Her call at 7:30 this morning made for a very long day. After assuring her I would support her, I left her to deal with him (I can't help there) and spent my day with the boy here: www.sawdustfestival.org

It was lovely. We walked around and looked at art, then walked for several hours on the beach, and then went and had crab for dinner. We talked a lot about my friend's situation, and we also talked a lot about how our marriages had changed us, made us more unsure of ourselves, how we continually second guess what we say, how we feel...

the boy is rapidly turning into something serious, and although I've been mentally separated for a very long time, it seems odd. I wasn't planning on this.

That sounds such a lovely way to spend a day, MR.

B

Spending time together and talking about the things that are really important are often too rare occasions in life, real red letter days, to be cherished.

>> we also talked a lot about how our marriages had changed us, made us more unsure of ourselves, how we continually second guess what we say, how we feel...

I've been thinking about that since I read it.

Doesn't it take a period of uncertainty to eventually learn wisdom?

Wisdom, as I see it, is acceptance that life is confusing and complex, combined with the knowledge that there *are* patterns, even if we cannot see them.

Uncertainty sees only the confusion and is distressed by it.

And when one is young one, everything is clear and simple. There are no hidden patterns, because - hey - you know it all.

Ah, me.

Just a few random thoughts, before I go and eat a banana.

B

I will admit to being torn over the abortion issue. On the one hand, I think that it should be legal, because there are situations where it is appropriate - even necessary sometimes to save the life (or sanity) of the mother. On the other hand, I dislike it being used indiscriminately as an easy method of birth control. That fosters irresponsible behavior. Who cares - if I get pregnant I can always get an abortion. And I have major problems with late term abortions.

In the US, we are becoming a nation of people who flee responsibility and find ways to avoid dealing with the consequences of our actions. We now have a 50% divorce rate in most states. Again, I'm glad divorce is available, because marriage should be for better or worse - not for impossible. But I've heard several young people - one just last week - say "if it doesn't work out, we can always get a divorce." This three days before his wedding. What kind of an atitude is that to take into a marriage? It's too easy to get married and way too easy to get divorced.

End of sermon.

Happy Independence Day to my fellow Americans. I am an unabashed flag waver on July 4th.


I have 27 people coming to my house today for a picnic and it is starting to thunder. I shall have to take responsibility for my decision to have a picnic and find someplace for all of them in the house, apparently. It's going to be a long day.

Happy Independence Day to you all too! I may be going in to Roswell later today with friends to see Fahrenheit 9/11.

Happy Independence Day!

Did I mention that daughter #1 is currently on a tour of Italy? The are spending today pretending to be Canadian so as not to draw unwanted attention to their true nationality.

And can I say that I the internet? The tour guide posts several pictures a day along with commentary to the tour company web site. That, and the fact that I can see her debit card withdrawals online soothe my soul.

[MTG]

Happy Independence Day to all USAians!

Yes, indeed, happy Independence Day to all of us Americans. There is a lovely editorial in the LA Times today by Michael Moore...

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/sunday/commentary/la-op-moore4jul04,1,6063080.story

(It may be that you need to register to read it...I hope not. He says a lot of good things about how the flag has been co-opted by conservatives, and how it needs to be reclaimed for all Americans.)

I, too, am torn on the issue of abortion. I believe strongly in the right to choose, and that it should be legal. But I agree with you, Hypatia, that it should not be used as a form of birth control. That's why I'm so torn about my friend. She already has two children. Okay, she's Catholic, and has problems with birth control, fine. But if she refuses to use birth control, and knows that she's as fertile as she is, perhaps a better course of action would be to, oh, I don't know, STOP having sex?

And Ben, you're right about the way in which marriage changes you, and how at some point in your life, you realize that really, you don't have all the answers, and that's okay. It just keeps things interesting, I guess!

No movies today. My friends are sharing a heavy cold. Maybe later in the week. But this is OK, it will give me a chance to do a lot more work on the ordinance.

I don't know whether I could ever have had an abortion, but I absolutely defend a woman's right to choose for herself. The sight of a bunch of overfed geriatric male caucasians in suits grinning as they signed the partial birth abortion bill made me grind my teeth.

Happy Independance Day!

I bought a pair of large fluffy hedgehog slippers today, and am blissed out entirely.

I, too, tend to disapprove of taking abortion lightly. I tend to think it's a right one shouldn't abuse, rather like voting.

My Minister gave a good sermon this morning about the church and state. I thought it was a pretty good way to handle having services on teh national holliday.

You're absolutely right MR. If she's going to abandon Catholic tenants to the point of having extramarital sex with a man who is committed to another woman, then she might as well use birth control too. Even in Catholic teachings the use of a condom in those circumstances would be, while still sinful, the most trivial of all those details.

I just remembered something from the backlog - Happy birthdays to Coelacanth and MR (I think, it was you two right?). And was there someone else?

Amy, was this the picture?
http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B00004CR38.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

That's the one but it had been clipped, shrunk, flipped horizontally, printed on blue paper and then photocopied twice .

But we won the quiz anyway .

Witty, I hope your daughter gets a chance to go to the Cinque Terre in northern Italy. It is a beautiful area and a World Heritage site.

Congrats on winning the quiz, Amy!

Caer, the itinerary is Rome, Assisi, Florence, Pisa, Venice, Verona and Milan. From the web photos, everyone looks like they are having a great time.

In this one, she is near the bottom right in the red top and white skirt:
http://exchange.explorica.com/diary/images/2003/helmig.karen-07042004-001.jpg

Here she is bottom, left of center, wearing sunglasses:
http://exchange.explorica.com/diary/images/2003/helmig.karen-07022004-001.jpg

Those of you who are completely uninterested are forgiven if you do not click.

[z]

[B]