And... We're Clear!

Girl Scouts Troop 1124 has sold it's last box of cookies. Sales officially ended on Sunday, and our troop raised $1210.55 for our girls (that is our profit, mind you, not the total amount sold). This has been AWESOME!
The girls hoped to earn enough money to go to Great America as a troop, so I'm sure we have that to look forward to. This money will cover materials for projects as the girls earn more badges and other expenses throughout the year. This is the only major fundraiser for the troops, so this is their "spending money" until next cookie season.

We have a number of upcoming events. The girls have a Father-Daughter dance this Friday. There are plans to participate in the Powder Puff Derby, which I'm excited about! They will learn CPR and First Aid. They are going to spend an afternoon in a mechanic's shop and learn how to change oil, check all fluid levels, change a tire, check air pressure, and whatever else comes up. They will spend time cooking and caring for pets and children. They will be making Easter baskets for The Sacramento Children's Hospital, as well. Of course, these are only the events I know about so far!

So, thank you for your support during the cookie drive and check in often to see what Annie is up to with her troop! This has been a very rewarding experience for all of us!

**Giggle**

That was so fun.

So, if you missed it (and I'm sure you did because no one I know watches ER with me anymore), it was awesome.

Only three episodes left, people!

Tonight we were treated to Carol Hathaway, Peter Benton, John Carter, and - wait for it... wait for it... - Doug Ross. Oh, yeah.

I was very impressed with George Clooney, because I wondered how well he could pull off Doug after all these years. He did it beautifully, as did the gorgeous Julianna Margulies pull off Carol. Benton ain't so hard, but admittedly Eriq La Salle played him to a T, as well. Then there's Carter... well, Noah Wyle has John Truman Carter III burned into his brain by now, I think!

So, Doug and Carol are married. I distinctly noticed wedding rings on their fingers. :)

Carter and Benton are so awesome together. I LOVE watching them. They have perfect platonic chemistry. And Benton totally saved Carter's life and that stupid surgeon's ass by following protocol, am I right?? ... Oh, wait, no one reading this saw it. Trust me, he did. ... Anyway, that was SO vintage Benton and Carter.

My husband noticed that the scene between Doug, Sam, and Neela appears to have been shot in two parts and edited together. I don't think the three of them were ever in the same room together. I guess Mighty George couldn't wrap his schedule around theirs... OR his appearance was still hush-hush and the actresses had to just deliver their lines with no questions asked. It's been done before.

Looks like we get one more night with Abby next week. That thrills me beyond words.

Oh, and I LOVE how Carol says to Doug at the end of the episode that the kidney went to "some doctor." If they only knew.

All in all, I am very satisfied. I think The Powers That Be have done a spectacular job with this final season. They have truly given it the respect and honor it deserves, as far as television shows go. I am proud to have been around for all of it.

Three more to go.

The Danger of Precedent

While on one hand, I completely understand the concept of precedent, when do we just admit that a mistake may have been made?

Some of the conversation in the Prop 8 hearing this morning has surrounded an earlier decision to allow the death penalty in the State of California. Life, most certainly, is a fundamental and inalienable right. I will not get into the death penalty discussion here, but I would make the point that the fact that the court made a questionable decision in the past does not mean they are required to follow suit in the future... or should I say, it should not. Mistakes have been made in the past. Racist legislation has been passed and subsequently overturned, as have other issues.

That said, however, the death penalty directly (not concerning indirect effects at this time) affects CRIMINALS. There is a difference in the way we treat our law-abiding citizens and our criminals. Rights are taken away when you are a felon. That is a fact. Therefore, regardless of your stance on the death penalty and whether or not it should be allowed, it does not have anything to do with the Equal Rights and Equal Protection conversation where law-abiding citizens are concerned.

On a lighter note, I am getting tired of the symantic arguments over the meaning of "inalienable," "fundamental," "revision," and "amendment." I understand that this is the basis of today's argument, but OH MY GOSH it's getting tiresome! Maybe someone will jump up on a desk or something and inject some excitment to the hearing. :)

As Long as it's a Narrow Exception!

Justice Kennard is claiming that Prop 8 is a "narrow exception to equal protection."

Well, OKAY! As long as it's only a narrow exception!

Grr...

You May As Well Know

I am absolutely appalled by the passage of Proposition 8, and I have not made a secret of that. That said, today the California Supreme Court will hear arguments appealing Prop 8 and I am letting everyone know right now that I will surely have some things to say about everything before, during, and after the decision has been made. If you don't want to hear about it, you probably ought to avoid my blog for a few days. If you are interested to know what I and others have to say, please stay tuned. :)

For starters, allow me to re-print this article from Equality California's website at www.eqca.org.

March 2, 2009

State Legislature Goes On Record to Oppose Prop. 8

Both Houses Pass Equality California Sponsored Resolutions Supporting Legal Challenge

Sacramento – Both the California Senate and Assembly passed resolutions today opposing Proposition 8 as an illegal and unprecedented revision to the state Constitution. According to the resolutions, Prop. 8 illegally usurps the legislature’s role to vote on all fundamental revisions to the Constitution. By taking away the fundamental freedom to marry from one particular group, Prop. 8 alters the very intent of the Constitution, which is to treat all people equally under the law.

The resolutions, Senate Resolution 7 and House Resolution 5, are sponsored by Equality California (EQCA) and were introduced by Senator Mark Leno and Assemblymember Tom Ammiano, respectively, both of San Francisco. In addition, a full 17 Senators and 40 Assemblymembers signed on as resolution co-authors. The Senate resolution passed by a final vote of 18-14, whereas the Assembly version passed 44-27.

“This is the first time in our state’s history that the initiative process has been used to take away a fundamental freedom from one particular group,” said EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors. “Our legislators understand this is an unequivocal change to our State’s Constitution, which is to protect and empower all people equally.”

"Both houses of the Legislature recognize that Proposition 8 undermines the fundamental principle of equal protection guaranteed by the California Constitution," said Senator Leno. "Proposition 8's revision to the California Constitution violated key structural checks and balances in the state's legal system when it was approved by a slim majority of voters last November. If Proposition 8 stands, we would be setting a dangerous precedent in California that allows a majority of the people to deny equal protection under the law to a minority of Californians."

“Our state guarantees a system of checks and balances to prevent discrimination like Prop. 8,” said Ammiano. “Prop. 8 flouts that system as it alters the very nature of our Constitution and bypasses the constitutionally-assigned duty of the Legislature to begin the process of making fundamental revisions. If Prop. 8 is allowed to stand, the rights of every minority group will be at risk and our Courts and our Legislature will be powerless to stop it.”

The Supreme Court of California is scheduled to hear arguments challenging Prop. 8 on March 5th.

“We are thankful that our elected representatives have sided with the people in standing up against this dangerous and unprecedented revision,” Kors continued. “We are hopeful that the Supreme Court will do the same.”

Two weeks ago, nearly 1,000 volunteers traveled to Sacramento as part of EQCA’s Lobby Day, where they met directly with legislators and urged them to support the resolutions. Last week, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) weighed in on the threat all minorities face if Prop. 8 is not overturned. In a letter to the state’s legislators, NAACP National Board Chair Julian Bond and President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous urged the swift passage of both resolutions.

What's at Stake

Tomorrow the California Supreme Court will hear arguments against the passage of Proposition 8, which banned marriage for homosexual couples. I wanted to share this video, because I think it makes important points about the basic rights of Californians and all people everywhere. There is no reason to strip one minority of a basic right. Next stop, 18-year-olds? Interracial marriage? Where does it end?



In addition, I wanted to let everyone know that there is a candlelight vigil taking place tonight at the Galleria.

Wednesday, March 4 is the day before the California Supreme Court hears oral arguments on the validity of Prop 8. That evening, we’ll stand together and send a unified message to our fellow Californians, including the Supreme Court Justices, that individual liberties like the right to marry are guaranteed by the Constitution to everyone and cannot be stripped away at the ballot box by a bare majority. Just as important, we will give our love and support to all the families headed by same-sex couples who are threatened by the recent electoral outcome, as well as same-sex couples whose hopes and dreams of marriage and family have been frustrated by enactment of Prop 8.

Eve of Justice: Lighting The Way For The Supreme Court

Gather at the Roseville Galleria Mall, 1151 Galleria Blvd. from 6-7:30pm for a peaceful candlelight vigil Meet outside the mall entrance between the Cheesecake Factory (next to JC Penney) and Nordstroms.

Gratitude and Humility

As many of you know, Jay was laid off at the end of January. It had been rough even before that, because he was in commission-based employment in the automotive industry. Obviously, however, his dismissal on January 30 was the final affront on our finances (not to mention our sanity). Since then, we have applied for and/or enrolled in a few government-type assistance programs to put food on the table, but it's a daily struggle when there is NO money coming into the house. Yes, he has filed for unemployment, but the government is taking its sweet time processing everything and we have yet to receive a penny.

We have received help in various forms from many people during this time, and this is just my public acknowledgment of those people - and they know who they are! When friends and family step up to the plate the way ours have to ask what they can do and actually be willing to do it, we just have no words that properly convey our thankfulness. Some people have been constant advocates for us in the job market, using their contacts and inquiring about potential employment opportunities on our behalf. Some people have assisted us financially, while others have provided food. Some have provided diapers and other baby needs, while still others have provided prayers and advice. And bear in mind, NO ONE is financially sound right now. Every person who helps us does so out of his or her heart and leaves the logistics to God.

I KNOW that we will see the other side of this experience and will one day work and provide for our family again. I have absolute faith that God wants us to have this experience because we need to have this experience and that it is truly for our betterment that it has come about. I confess I have certainly lost my focus a time or two and felt out of control and scared. We keep plugging on, however, and eventually things will turn around.

This has given us the opportunity to re-evaluate some things. Jay will be going back to school to attain his Associates Degree in Art and Design, while (God willing) working part-time. I will go back to work full-time as soon as I receive a job offer. I am pursuing every avenue, submitting more applications and attending more interviews every week. So far, we are still jobless, but we will continue to search and apply.

This experience has definitely humbled us and illustrated exactly who our friends are. Anyone know Tim McGraw?

"You find out who your friends are. Somebody's gonna drop everything, run out and jump in their car, hit the gas, get there fast, never stop to think 'What's in it for me?' or 'It's way too far!' They just show on up, with their big ol' heart. You find out who your friends are."

So true.

So, all I'm trying to say is THANK YOU. Thank you a million times.