GuitPicken61’s blog

Pondering...Why is it that I feel unable to drive when my husband is with me?  :)

I was NOT tagged by Danielle a while ago.  Neither was I tagged by Michelle.  Nor was I tagged by Kirk. 

The rules:

1. Each player starts with 8 random facts/habits about themselves.
2. People who are tagged, write a blog post about their own 8 random things, and post these rules.
3. At the end of your post you need to tag 8 people and include their names.
4. Don’t forget to leave them a comment on their blog and tell them they’ve been tagged, and to come back and read your blog for the whole story.

My Random Eight:
1. My idea of a great vacation is spending time with friends in a cabin, by a river, near some trees in cool weather.
2. I am capable of playing a single computer game over and over for an entire day/weekend.
3. I sometimes wonder about my childhood friend, Dewley Barlow, and whether his kids have a jungle gym like he did?
4. My perfect summer food is tomato sandwiches which are made from fresh-picked tomato, white bread and homemade mayo and with salt and pepper.
5. I don't live alone very well.  Hopefully, I will not have to live alone for a long time.
6. I secretly hate technology.
7. If I could purge myself of any character weakness, I would purge myself of lack of follow-through first!
8. I could eventually be content with no television, no computer and no cell phone.

My best friend has decided she needs to move closer to her parents.  I'd love to be the supportive friend but I feel very selfish about it.  She is the closest girlfriend I have.  ALL of my relationships have undergone tremendous change over the last few years.  She is the close one.  What will it be like to have her move out of town? 

Handsome has offered some suggestions.  We will see how things pan out. 

I should be able to retain a best friend once she is out of town.  MY problem with it is that I never have before. 

Are you planning on doing any spring cleaning this year? If so, please share a cleaning tip you swear by.

Well, I have and I will.

We mowed the yard and raked up the last of the autumn leaves.
We cleaned the house.
We took all the hazardous waste to the hazardous waste center.
We've cleaned one car.  There is another to go.
We're already transitioning to a veggie diet.
I need to clean the grill so I can cook on it.
I need to buy new bedding material for the front bed.

Well, here is a fancy but abbreviated expression of my story and the stories of Dennis Jernigan and Stephen Black.  Please watch it when you have a chance.  Clicking on the link will take you to First Stone Ministries' website and begin video play immediately.

Freedom Video

Well, that is how the reports are being given.  Gasp!  It's amazing!  A MAN is pregnant!

Except...

He isn't/wasn't a man. 

Well, he's been reassigned.  It is a legal issue.  He is legally a man.

Boing Boing's account

And such is the rhythm of our days.  He is a man because he says he is a man. 

But, he is a WOMB-man.  He has a womb.  He was born with it and elected to keep his internal female anatomy when he elected to have all the rest removed.  By "all the rest" I mean to say that he had his female chest removed and took testosterone therapy and grew facial hair.  He probably didn't elect to buy a penis.  It wasn't mentioned.

What an amazing thing. 

Fox News' better account  This account reports HER as a transsexual woman.

I think it is irresponsible to say that a MAN is pregnant.  There is no miracle here.

Well, pregnancy and birth is a miracle but THIS slant on it is NOT a miracle. 

If I consider the article posted the The Advocate, these folks are, in fact, a lesbian couple.  They are buying donor sperm. He/she went off the testosterone treatments and has temporarily embraced his/HER ability to carry a child.  The Advocate called it a "labor of love."  OH!  For crying out loud!

Since they brought it up, I have to question the idea of reassignment surgery for them because it has psychological implications too.  Didn't HE divorce himself for his identity as a woman?  Isn't this a situation of side-stepping what he says he has embraced?  He called himself his own surrogate!  Yikes!

Somebody help me.  I thought Dr. Alex Hesse was the first man...as played by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1994 movie, "Junior."

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive.  It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies.  The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."  ~ C.S. Lewis from God In The Dock: Essays In Theology and Ethics

This quote did not come from a commentary on spiritual abuse but from an essay on the Humanitarian Theory of Punishment.  This is conjuring images of the benevolent abusers.  I am thinking about closed systems of households, churches and even many bloggers from many backgrounds as I consider this quotation.  I feel it is important to recognize the shaming component I am capable of hefting out on the heads of those I love and want to protect.  It is powerful to consider that it really might be better to be under the greedy tyrant than under the religious tyrant, for example.

As I consider the other belief systems of other bloggers who don't agree with me in the least, I am challenged to consider that their moral mountaintop may not be any less abusive than a religious tyrant's .  I am considering a challenge that is being sent around by Dr.Warren Throckmorton to live the golden rule.  That one rule might change my life.  The truth is, I do live it pretty decisively but I could use better adherence. 

I probably have a lot to say here but I want to post so that my blog doesn't get any more cold than it already is.  I want to affirm that true things apply to us all.  I really hate being called naive or bigoted or hate-mongering or homophobic simply because I am a living testimony that homosexual leanings and attractions are, indeed, redeemable and changeable.  Lots of people really are finding real freedom. 

Thanks for visiting my loose thoughts.

"Do to others as you would have them do to you."  Luke 6:31

If you are a man, I need your input.

Is there music which really makes you feel strong as a man...makes you think big thoughts...makes you dream big dreams...centers you...makes you want to leap over tall buildings...

Are you getting the idea?

This music really could be from any source, I just need your thoughts on it.

I hate them!  I loathe them!  I loathe every news agency that cites them as some sort of newsworthy item.  I won't alter my vote based upon polls.  I will not form an opinion based upon everyone else's opinion.  Give me the news!  Keep the shock, the gore and the voyeuristic crud that is allowed to pass for the news.

Slanted!  Dark! Emotional!

But, this is NOT news.

I am at home and not feeling well.  My numb brain wanders a lot when I don't feel well.  Every anxiety has a moment to visit.  Each idol thought from the months that have passed is likely going to be brought up.  That said, I've been thinking about politics and how I FEEL about them.  So, if you are expecting something upon which we can disagree (as if a changing sexual orientation wouldn't be enough) you have come to the right post.

My city voted last night to KEEP a 1 cent sales tax so that we can fund a remodeling of a 5-year old building in our downtown renovation project called "MAPS."  They say that this remodel will make us a better candidate for a professional sports team to come to our city.  They say it will bring us jobs and money and better living all the way around.  I love the downtown renovations, but really!  The building is only FIVE!  Without going all deep into the ideas around acquiring a professional sports team, I have a few thoughts to offer.  First of all, I was under the impression that people own sporting teams...maybe even companies...and that those people BUY a team, give them a home and try to make money with it.  I was also under the impression that COMPANIES own stadiums and ball parks and arenas for the most part.  I figure that THEY gain the most from their ownership/sponsorship.  They've promised that jobs (really, really good jobs) will follow the acquisition of a team because the city becomes more attractive to "good" companies.  Jobs galore will follow the acquisition of a team!  But, we don't have a team!  And, we have a 5-year old arena that has breathed new life in the downtown area and into the city.  Our downtown renovation has given us many other gifts.  For example, the downtown area is scenic.  Beautiful!  But, it costs $10 to park as it is. TEN DOLLARS to park the car to get to the thing that they are attracting us to.  If we want to eat, take a boat ride, SHOP, attend a concert we need to tack on $10 to the outlay of moolah for the night!  (Sometimes it costs a little less, I'll admit it.)

I've been watching/listening to C-SPAN2 all day.  It has the effect of listening to golf on a lazy afternoon.  You can't "watch" it really.  I wonder where all the Senators are?  I know where three of them are!  They are on the campaign trail.  Senator Obama has been running for President for about as long as he has been Senator.    If I had elected him in 2005 as MY senator in Illinois, I would be peeved.  I have my reasons.  In the past several years I have voted for some good folks who subsequently decided to do other things. A couple of those people elected in good faith seemed to have a little hissy-fit when we didn't get behind them on their bid for higher offices.

My city has come out of a long sleep and we are going to let them put "the arm" on us for the same money for longer and longer periods of time.  Is there such a thing a nickel and dime-ing us to death...one penny at a time?

As for the other election this past Tuesday I've got to say I'm getting really creeped out.  NONE of the candidates represent ME!