tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89714324797823543962024-03-05T17:28:44.227-08:00The Two AunteesSometimes your path will lead and discover youKay & Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244257765709660605noreply@blogger.comBlogger528125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8971432479782354396.post-37505771567972420732014-12-26T19:33:00.002-08:002014-12-26T19:33:52.055-08:00A New Christmas with familyAs anyone can expect the end of the year can bring surprises and lots of joy to one's heart and soul. This year is really an exception for Kay and I, as we welcome a new member to our family. My granddaughter was born 19th of December, a few days late but a joy to behold. Mother and daughter is doing fine and she seem's to be real trouper. Lucy is wearing a cap make by her aunt, cute isn't it?<br />
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This year the whole family gathered at their mother's house for Christmas Eve this year and it is a joy to watch my children banter back and forth telling stories on themselves and doting on their new niece. It thrills my heart to see such a strong connection between the three of them as they chatted away the time.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We had a great meal and time spent with the children and grandchildren. Three years ago I would have never even thought of a gathering with my children. My oldest son has extended an invitation for us to join them at their Uncle's house on the lake in South Carolina; will have to see if that pans out.</div>
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But to everyone who reads this blog believe that there is a sliver of a chance that things can and must might work out for everyone. Happy Holidays and a New Year from "The Two Auntees"</div>
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Kay & Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244257765709660605noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8971432479782354396.post-70025875256132718052014-11-29T05:33:00.001-08:002014-11-29T05:33:52.924-08:00this years post and picturesWell, it has been so busy this year that I "forgot" to post anything to this blog. It's been one thing after another for so long that we hardly let our feet touch the ground, much less let the grass grow around our feet.<br />
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After our surprised holidays celebrations with all of my family, we have gotten used to greeting each other when we meet somewhere. Kay and I still do a lot of traveling for fun and for getting away, but this year we got more involved with the mid-term elections and trying to raise capitol for our local candidates. While we live in the deep south, supporting the Democratic ticket has been like spitting in the wind, but we did make some progress in changing the people's attitude towards Democratic ideals of equality for everyone, we couldn't make people vote for those ideal and break with party lines.<br />
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As I had said, it's been my daughter who has brought everyone together in the past; well this year she is expecting her first child by the 16th of December and everyone is very excited. This year we gathered at my ex's house to visit and catch the family up with lives, and we have been invited to spend Christmas Eve at her house with the family. We are very excited.<br />
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There is a trans women who posts frequently to Facebook, and it saddens me that her family is not accepting at this time and she feel herself in a quandary as to how she will resolve this fight with herself. If only we could reach across the miles and hug her, letting her know that most of us had the same fight and we 'bloodied and beaten' time and time again until one of us let the other identity win.<br />
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We continue to travel and explore place across the nation, and Gettysburg National Civil War Battlefield left a mark on my soul. I wish that every Congressman should visit that battlefield before they vote on whether we go to war with someone, else; knowing that war on today's battlefield leaves terrible scars for those at home as well as those we send into battle.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The State Monument at Gettysburg</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Independence Hall, Philadelphia </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kay and I protesting Ben Carson's paid speech at the University.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here I am with Democratic Candidate for Governor, Jason Carter</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kay at the PFLAG booth at a college event</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kay at the Georgia Integrity table at the Local Convention</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking out a window at the Governor's Home at Colonial Williansburg<br /></td></tr>
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Kay & Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244257765709660605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8971432479782354396.post-10410584429451900152013-12-31T06:13:00.000-08:002013-12-31T06:13:00.568-08:00The Best Christmas Presents<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have described a film in production about us which is being produced by a good friend and professor of Sociology. We tried to finish the story and view it before Christmas, but with his classes the schedule was too tight. I am sure he will schedule the viewing sometime in the first of the new year. As this is a story about family that must be told my children hopes that others will find this and it will help their families cope with a child that is transitioning.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlD7PjFfvUVO7ZBzKxsWe7XSLE34e731_OYRRyM3WGRlbSqrfTzkzSxpDOTVbrge1AvTh2HMxa3IXIKBFEpBXTmr1z47gr1zNN-K3OXmPhYbm0MUNKwQiIeh87-vZJ0EMkWfFcUWdc5I/s1600/DSCN6145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlD7PjFfvUVO7ZBzKxsWe7XSLE34e731_OYRRyM3WGRlbSqrfTzkzSxpDOTVbrge1AvTh2HMxa3IXIKBFEpBXTmr1z47gr1zNN-K3OXmPhYbm0MUNKwQiIeh87-vZJ0EMkWfFcUWdc5I/s320/DSCN6145.JPG" width="320" /></a>I have said that I have 3 children and my daughter graduated from Brandeis in 2004, but her brother graduated this semester after overcoming some personal medical difficulties to graduate this year with a degree in math. It has taken him a few more years than his sister, but I was extremely proud to watch him walk across that stage a few weeks ago. Seeing his determination and drive to finish his degree filled my heart with so much joy.<br />
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It was the first opportunity to have the whole family together again for the first time since I transitioned. My daughter helped in so many ways to make sure the family was comfortable and cautioned me to take the first meeting slow.<br />
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After the family got together after the official ceremony, we all went out to lunch and was able to have great conversations with all of the family and with my grandchildren; they have grown so much. Then again everyone joined my son at a Graduation Party that night.<br />
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My daughter has been planning a surprise for her boyfriend who has always wanted a boat; well we had a pirate party and she managed to buy him a small sailing boat to work on and play. He has always had dreadlocks and she sent him on a scavenger hunt to get his coat and call for his last present; the boat. What an awesome couple they make and now with the boat I see many happy days on the water. It was another opportunity to get the family together again.<br />
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We had a wonderful time helping my daughter celebrate her boyfriend's birthday surrounded by family again.<br />
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We had invited everyone over for lunch on Christmas eve and the weather was nice enough that we were able to eat outside on the porch as my ex-wife joined us for the day.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTf98ouS4RWxqvTBiV1oPSRDiUFbXRFHkLQIg9_65KR9f29MvN2Nk-kIDJsqdjGLRzMyP6lYQbfrSztPAfkT9msBYR0iqZqwtGsgAOjkgzRceqyyCZYs3lQqCzQNo6DE_ErdmEuHPmPdU/s1600/IMG_1029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTf98ouS4RWxqvTBiV1oPSRDiUFbXRFHkLQIg9_65KR9f29MvN2Nk-kIDJsqdjGLRzMyP6lYQbfrSztPAfkT9msBYR0iqZqwtGsgAOjkgzRceqyyCZYs3lQqCzQNo6DE_ErdmEuHPmPdU/s320/IMG_1029.jpg" width="240" /></a>Everyone seemed so relaxed and happy as we dined on our holiday meal of soup and salad with a few deserts, like our version of the Alton Brown's free range fruit cake doused with a good helping of bourbon sprinkled over the top.<br />
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I am not sure if I can measure the joy and happiness I am feeling as this year comes to it's end. Having my family together again under one roof is a dream and vision I thought would never happen this soon or if ever. So much time has passed but I will not dwell on what could have been; what I have before me is so many opportunities to build on that Christmas Eve day, to make new memories with my family and with my grandchildren.<br />
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The new year shines as bright as the smiles on the faces of my son and my grandchildren and I will take every chance to be with them that I am given.Kay & Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244257765709660605noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8971432479782354396.post-2016480295031446082013-10-24T00:17:00.000-07:002013-10-24T00:18:33.199-07:00Letting Sarah Live, on screen and in words<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For some years now a professor has been gathering sound bites and short videos of my transition and story. When we started it was going to be just about my transition and how I reacted about my betting breast cancer after 15 months on my HRT program. However since he knows about my history from other friends and my children from other connections, he has morphed this project into something bigger. He is trying to get a story of how my grown children have reacted and dealt with watching their father fade away and finding Sarah.<br />
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Mark has set a date to finish this film for himself and for us, my family for the purpose of showing other families that how we managed. Both the good and the bad. His date of the premier, if you will, will be sometime in the middle of November. I am not quite sure just how it will be marketed or if my daughter and son will agree to let it be put on youtube. But we all agree this story, our stories must be told, not for us but for all families who might be struggling with coming to terms for a family member who might be transitioning.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LYpZQVXn1sRp8lyW7f0MpCHhVG9Bqu6jyBFagn3uXWgUJlqhSaUdbwTgkqAD4CkKHQuFGBM6opqrbBPTRpNTDinddI1GXaQO8YF5O5SDFAV5Q-3XwDP6-LqcVac8suPABecFs94wvlY/s1600/Book+Cover02.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LYpZQVXn1sRp8lyW7f0MpCHhVG9Bqu6jyBFagn3uXWgUJlqhSaUdbwTgkqAD4CkKHQuFGBM6opqrbBPTRpNTDinddI1GXaQO8YF5O5SDFAV5Q-3XwDP6-LqcVac8suPABecFs94wvlY/s320/Book+Cover02.jpeg" width="274" /></a>For as many of the professors who we have talked to their classes, wherever we show this for the first time there might be a crowd. I have been on pins and needles about this, knowing he tells a good story, but my difficulty will be watching my story unfold in video form. Regardless of the fact that we have told our story to so many classes over the years, describing my life in words with slides is very different that watching a video of yourself and your families thoughts and feelings.<br />
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For the past six year or so I have been trying to put my memoirs into some sort of book form. It has grown from 150 pages with my first edition, to a manuscript of 320 pages in it's seventh edition or such. After finally getting a finished book, I got the nerve to let someone else read it and make suggestion and comments about content and construction. I included all my trans poetry and parts of my Life Journal that I kept during the early years of my transition. This is a telling of my gender variant journey mixed in with my military years and my adventures as I tried to find myself.<br />
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When I got the manuscript back, I couldn't believe my emotional and physical reaction to someone actually reading my book. I got a sick feeling in my gut and felt like I did when I got caught dressed full of fear and nerves on edge. I was walking around in a fog, and could not grasp all the emotions I was feeling now that someone had actually read my book and was giving me her opinions. Several people have read this final version and now that I am satisfied I will begin to figure the best was to get it published because everyone agrees that this must be told, just as the film must be shown.Kay & Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244257765709660605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8971432479782354396.post-66254799202920551002013-09-03T22:56:00.003-07:002013-09-03T22:56:36.186-07:00Can you explain what you said.I had a comment from this person called, "George Waite" which I immediately deleted; but the more I thought about his comment; the more I needed to say something in reply.<br />
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/08606538098234143731" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" target="_blank">George Waite</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> has left a new comment on your post "</span><a href="http://thetwoauntees.blogspot.com/2013/08/reflections-and-chelsea-manning.html" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" target="_blank">Reflections and Chelsea Manning</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">": </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">That picture of the freak in the dress and lipstick will haunt my dreams.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Church is a joke. So glad to be an atheist and not have to pay for this. </span><br />
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So I checked his name and there was no photo or any information except that this person identifies as 'male'. Strange, is it that someone can blast you and remain anonymous.<br />
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If someone's picture will haunt his dreams, then he is a 'shallow' person. For someone to have such 'strong' opinions, I can think of other 'pictures' that should haunt his dreams more vividly than someone in a dress. Say pictures of children murdered and defiled; of towns that are torn from the map by disasters, pictures of war and killing of the innocence mothers and fathers by crazed men. <br />
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Oh, another thing even if you are an atheist Mr. Waite, and think Church is a joke, you are somehow paying for it. Your tax dollars are paying for all the medical treatments retired military receive for their transgender medical needs, did you realize that, Mr. Waite?<br />
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I hope all of us freaks keep you awake for the rest of your life, Mr. Waite!!Kay & Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244257765709660605noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8971432479782354396.post-72951989170034240852013-08-27T07:28:00.000-07:002013-08-27T07:32:40.804-07:00Reflections and Chelsea ManningNo one who surfs the news reports can turn a blind eye to all the comments published about <a href="http://www.upworthy.com/read-the-powerful-words-that-this-soldier-used-to-tell-the-world-who-she-truly-is?g=2&c=ufb1">Chelsea Manning</a> and I can imagine a whole series of question about her timings to tell the world she will now live her life as Chelsea. I do not believe that her timing to 'come out' now, now that she will be living the rest of her life in prison, was an attempt to elicit sympathy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_g4OMtoIpmYVbt2ZZVsrQtpLqr_KW1fCuKO6jgAOxS-yqZQLTKN8gn1heteczrVb-VAeqsFVTL3rM0ImIp-Vqs7xYKEYwJYDFuq0HtGCfro6smpxIdBPOed8zgYJf9ZlZ7yFwBHT0Who/s1600/SP5+John+Riggle+getting+Army+Commendation+Medal+1968.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_g4OMtoIpmYVbt2ZZVsrQtpLqr_KW1fCuKO6jgAOxS-yqZQLTKN8gn1heteczrVb-VAeqsFVTL3rM0ImIp-Vqs7xYKEYwJYDFuq0HtGCfro6smpxIdBPOed8zgYJf9ZlZ7yFwBHT0Who/s320/SP5+John+Riggle+getting+Army+Commendation+Medal+1968.jpg" width="228" /></a>I too am a combat veteran having served in Vietnam from June 67 to June 68 and decided to get out after my first 3 years in December of 68. It was seven years later that I decided to re-enlist and complete my 20 years and get out. All I wanted to do was to play music but the Army promoted me to E-8 and I was appointed as First Sergeant of the post band at Fort Bliss, Tx. As the First Sergeant one must follow and enforce Army Regulations even if you don't like what you have to do.<br />
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So when a soldier who served under me was charged by his wife of dressing and demanding sex, which was considered "Conduct Unbecoming", the Commander proceeded to court-martial the young man and kick him out of the service. He was a great clarinet player and an otherwise outstanding soldier who served as a Marine before he changed services; but I had to stand with the Commander and process this good soldier out of the Army. My moral integrity began to crumble that day. I was dressing in my own home at the time, feeling my own feminine pull and I resented what I did that day. That was the day my moral ethics collided with Army Regulation and Standards of Conduct I swore an Oath to protect and enforce.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMFbeZD0qbGZbYlkXX2mV9fJv7oEw8ioMBEz3vIDC-TGaO7ICR2ZBGyJDoD1iku5a6q_eiDUwmsYWDW8mY_iJZCZS2jVw_F-FR5WZi7lKnzaVByv5tNT7zS3HllwYo_t1Sx7VVa-tv64/s1600/IMG_1246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMFbeZD0qbGZbYlkXX2mV9fJv7oEw8ioMBEz3vIDC-TGaO7ICR2ZBGyJDoD1iku5a6q_eiDUwmsYWDW8mY_iJZCZS2jVw_F-FR5WZi7lKnzaVByv5tNT7zS3HllwYo_t1Sx7VVa-tv64/s320/IMG_1246.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wedding Day</td></tr>
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It was only after I was selected as a student for the next Sergeant's Major Class and I was tasked to teach the "Military Ethics" Class that I realized that; 1) I did not want to be in that class, 2) I just wanted to play music and encourage those around me to be better musicians, 3) the Army wanted me to continue to violate and ignore my ethics and principles to enforce their policies and 4) that I was not a very "good" First Sergeant and could not serve as a Sergeant Major with my set of ethical values.<br />
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And so events unfolded which resulted in my be summarily discharged from the Academy and 'Retired' with less then 20 year active federal military service. It was years later, that my wife divorced me and I took the opportunity to complete my transition from male to female.<br />
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I kind of understand the moral angst to "right" some thing's that we see and feel to be wrong, but it would be a difficult decision for me to release information that might compromise lives and the National Security not knowing all the information and facts. And being outed by the Army, forced her hand, as it were, to come clean and live a life without secrets.Kay & Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244257765709660605noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8971432479782354396.post-37444589289544600082013-06-05T20:13:00.000-07:002013-06-05T20:13:03.110-07:00Butterfly updateGood news, both butterflies have hatched, sad new is that I was not home when they flew away and don't have pictures.Kay & Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244257765709660605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8971432479782354396.post-60052186052972848062013-05-24T07:54:00.001-07:002013-05-24T07:54:53.395-07:00The butterfly who came to callAround the first of summer, I watched a butterfly flutter around the new leaves of my small orange tree and deposit two very small eggs. She stayed around for another few minutes and then flew away. I examined the eggs carefully as they were on the tips of two different orange leave, and then I didn't think anything more about them and left them alone. I figured that some birds or other insects would eat them. Photo taken from a webpage for caterpillars and moths.<br />
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About a month or so later I noticed that a lot of the leaves of the orange tree (which they seem to prefer) had been eaten by something, and as I was searching among the leaves I found two caterpillars of the Giant Swallowtail. The caterpillar looked a twig with droppings of white and the head of a snake, so I left them alone to eat as they pleased. I would find them on the leaves in the morning and during the hot part of the day have moved into the shade of the stem or branches.<br />
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I wondered what would happen if they were disturbed and when I touched them with a small twig the larger one responded by protruding these two tongue-like things as the defense mechanism, that quickly withdrew into the mouth area.<br />
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It was but a week ago that I noticed that one of the caterpillars had found himself a place under a large stem and began to attache and change. <br />
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This week I found that both of them had transformed and begun the next cycle of change. I am not sure just how long this process will take but I will keep my eye on them and hope I can get some good shots as the emerge.Kay & Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244257765709660605noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8971432479782354396.post-10666364388523271492013-05-14T07:59:00.002-07:002013-05-14T07:59:34.838-07:00<iframe frameborder="0" height="404" src="https://www.facebook.com/video/embed?video_id=10201329442424538" width="720"></iframe>Kay & Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244257765709660605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8971432479782354396.post-50192679973315012752013-04-05T07:37:00.003-07:002013-04-05T07:37:37.836-07:00Everywhere I look I see life.<a href="http://www.salon.com/2011/09/15/roger_ebert/">I do not fear death</a><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">I loved this article about a man a person who loved life as much as the movie he reviewed, I like this line from the article:<i> "</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><i>I respect kindness in human beings first of all, and kindness to animals.". </i>I read this after reading an article about coffee shops and cafe agreeing to let customers pay forward for a cup of coffee, or a simple meal for someone who is homeless; is called paying for a "suspended---", coffee, or a sandwich, a meal--- something hot for a cold day, something to eat when someone can't pay for a sandwich. That's a great way to give </span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">anonymously </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">What I really love to do is gardening; watching something grow as it brings forth new life after a dark and dreary winter of sleep. I find myself standing in front of my grape vine and tree that was a "volunteer" last year. I am amazed at how much new growth can be seen every week. I sometimes wish I had a slow motion camera to document the the speed at which the new leaves grow.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">Last year I planted two Loofa plants and they got away from; almost covered the old playhouse. This year I have planted some 'Popcorn' corn, and potatoes (at different stages), carrots (2 kinds), </span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">radishes (2 kinds). I am growing cucumber plants and hope to plant them within the corn as they both grow together; which will hold up the cucumber as they mature. I have 3 kinds of tomato plants in pots this year and 2 green pepper plants; they seem to do better in pots and next to the porch.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">I also have an orange and lemon tree, 2 blackberry, thornless of course and a muscadine grape that is new this year. I believe that is all I have room to plant in the backyard. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">I love to dig in the dirt of my garden in the backyard while barefoot. As you can see I had to add a screen over my rolling garden bins, as I discovered cats lying in them after a cold morning that I had covered them with a sheet.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLYmvsW2eA_tDtn-7TPYO9yTXPMD2MT7LDFFfzGBsjSZArW0ij0ZoIIVKrMHj1PSAfk9Bcc_2Z_TPwFYERqZRj9ZF4VKPfhEgSlGajHPccqt4cFn0pU0YFM9NhwtNLeg2RPrfTgOGsNuY/s1600/IMG_0182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLYmvsW2eA_tDtn-7TPYO9yTXPMD2MT7LDFFfzGBsjSZArW0ij0ZoIIVKrMHj1PSAfk9Bcc_2Z_TPwFYERqZRj9ZF4VKPfhEgSlGajHPccqt4cFn0pU0YFM9NhwtNLeg2RPrfTgOGsNuY/s320/IMG_0182.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"></div><div style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF7EfElBa7Cx91cedSjLtMADuTFd1UEUCRmDy9NoO8vm-hBO_HsvJpnhXRVqsJ6BkIXYTF2eJBrKYOGt9hdWw6ANvIo5sTKQSrtR96JQ_saiK7Va5NxvVUfYgRHebJdXh-6wIkTkbpG84/s1600/IMG_0186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF7EfElBa7Cx91cedSjLtMADuTFd1UEUCRmDy9NoO8vm-hBO_HsvJpnhXRVqsJ6BkIXYTF2eJBrKYOGt9hdWw6ANvIo5sTKQSrtR96JQ_saiK7Va5NxvVUfYgRHebJdXh-6wIkTkbpG84/s320/IMG_0186.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQxAGl4smyEjIzW4daWa1UV6g07gE_rRreNYZ9kKslq1ZJTADC7OMR_2cLFXVU4m5S5ToI_jrv7oYCNUhN9zPnG7NKplp9tej0p_I_zCGfF3x6SVdwTOHWOmKLANcvUn57N9V5Pwc_OAY/s1600/IMG_0185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQxAGl4smyEjIzW4daWa1UV6g07gE_rRreNYZ9kKslq1ZJTADC7OMR_2cLFXVU4m5S5ToI_jrv7oYCNUhN9zPnG7NKplp9tej0p_I_zCGfF3x6SVdwTOHWOmKLANcvUn57N9V5Pwc_OAY/s320/IMG_0185.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">It took only 3 years for the grapevine to give enough fruit to make jelly. Our problem was keeping the birds away long enough to harvest the grapes; I have left quite enough for the birds to feast on. As always that's a pleasure to watch them fight over the grapes. We have had to cover the vine, but that hasn't </span><span style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">deterred one Mocking bird who found a way to sneak under the netting to feast on the early grapes; but he doesn't get much.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHb9udxlg4bHb5gdiDxL02NWnd1tXOKcCQE3mVo_uSGoftEfXHK2WsJI_TXfe6NotTxmXkEuSWNGD5UQO07ISzhFh2CVg-u-i1HwY564lyarrtzwEslZ22d3yCe514Rf3Ed-e8gxbkxoU/s1600/IMG_0187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHb9udxlg4bHb5gdiDxL02NWnd1tXOKcCQE3mVo_uSGoftEfXHK2WsJI_TXfe6NotTxmXkEuSWNGD5UQO07ISzhFh2CVg-u-i1HwY564lyarrtzwEslZ22d3yCe514Rf3Ed-e8gxbkxoU/s320/IMG_0187.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg96diwfP42GufqEqFZdFkooc2rcSN3JTRQ0VNdXTZJf7EljSk5mU1jwNfZx1y5QN_za4ffYWK-mBHgZRHJrXViXce4oOoPqdpE36ELxhOrivFcNsCGnyl6dnO_B0c204jDRun96Vz4VA/s1600/IMG_0179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg96diwfP42GufqEqFZdFkooc2rcSN3JTRQ0VNdXTZJf7EljSk5mU1jwNfZx1y5QN_za4ffYWK-mBHgZRHJrXViXce4oOoPqdpE36ELxhOrivFcNsCGnyl6dnO_B0c204jDRun96Vz4VA/s320/IMG_0179.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div>Kay & Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244257765709660605noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8971432479782354396.post-20464640253499641912013-04-05T07:37:00.001-07:002013-04-05T07:37:36.863-07:00Everywhere I look I see life.<a href="http://www.salon.com/2011/09/15/roger_ebert/">I do not fear death</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">I loved this article about a man a person who loved life as much as the movie he reviewed, I like this line from the article:<i> "</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><i>I respect kindness in human beings first of all, and kindness to animals.". </i>I read this after reading an article about coffee shops and cafe agreeing to let customers pay forward for a cup of coffee, or a simple meal for someone who is homeless; is called paying for a "suspended---", coffee, or a sandwich, a meal--- something hot for a cold day, something to eat when someone can't pay for a sandwich. That's a great way to give </span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">anonymously </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">What I really love to do is gardening; watching something grow as it brings forth new life after a dark and dreary winter of sleep. I find myself standing in front of my grape vine and tree that was a "volunteer" last year. I am amazed at how much new growth can be seen every week. I sometimes wish I had a slow motion camera to document the the speed at which the new leaves grow.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">Last year I planted two Loofa plants and they got away from; almost covered the old playhouse. This year I have planted some 'Popcorn' corn, and potatoes (at different stages), carrots (2 kinds), </span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">radishes (2 kinds). I am growing cucumber plants and hope to plant them within the corn as they both grow together; which will hold up the cucumber as they mature. I have 3 kinds of tomato plants in pots this year and 2 green pepper plants; they seem to do better in pots and next to the porch.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">I also have an orange and lemon tree, 2 blackberry, thornless of course and a muscadine grape that is new this year. I believe that is all I have room to plant in the backyard. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">I love to dig in the dirt of my garden in the backyard while barefoot. As you can see I had to add a screen over my rolling garden bins, as I discovered cats lying in them after a cold morning that I had covered them with a sheet.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLYmvsW2eA_tDtn-7TPYO9yTXPMD2MT7LDFFfzGBsjSZArW0ij0ZoIIVKrMHj1PSAfk9Bcc_2Z_TPwFYERqZRj9ZF4VKPfhEgSlGajHPccqt4cFn0pU0YFM9NhwtNLeg2RPrfTgOGsNuY/s1600/IMG_0182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLYmvsW2eA_tDtn-7TPYO9yTXPMD2MT7LDFFfzGBsjSZArW0ij0ZoIIVKrMHj1PSAfk9Bcc_2Z_TPwFYERqZRj9ZF4VKPfhEgSlGajHPccqt4cFn0pU0YFM9NhwtNLeg2RPrfTgOGsNuY/s320/IMG_0182.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"></div><div style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF7EfElBa7Cx91cedSjLtMADuTFd1UEUCRmDy9NoO8vm-hBO_HsvJpnhXRVqsJ6BkIXYTF2eJBrKYOGt9hdWw6ANvIo5sTKQSrtR96JQ_saiK7Va5NxvVUfYgRHebJdXh-6wIkTkbpG84/s1600/IMG_0186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF7EfElBa7Cx91cedSjLtMADuTFd1UEUCRmDy9NoO8vm-hBO_HsvJpnhXRVqsJ6BkIXYTF2eJBrKYOGt9hdWw6ANvIo5sTKQSrtR96JQ_saiK7Va5NxvVUfYgRHebJdXh-6wIkTkbpG84/s320/IMG_0186.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQxAGl4smyEjIzW4daWa1UV6g07gE_rRreNYZ9kKslq1ZJTADC7OMR_2cLFXVU4m5S5ToI_jrv7oYCNUhN9zPnG7NKplp9tej0p_I_zCGfF3x6SVdwTOHWOmKLANcvUn57N9V5Pwc_OAY/s1600/IMG_0185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQxAGl4smyEjIzW4daWa1UV6g07gE_rRreNYZ9kKslq1ZJTADC7OMR_2cLFXVU4m5S5ToI_jrv7oYCNUhN9zPnG7NKplp9tej0p_I_zCGfF3x6SVdwTOHWOmKLANcvUn57N9V5Pwc_OAY/s320/IMG_0185.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">It took only 3 years for the grapevine to give enough fruit to make jelly. Our problem was keeping the birds away long enough to harvest the grapes; I have left quite enough for the birds to feast on. As always that's a pleasure to watch them fight over the grapes. We have had to cover the vine, but that hasn't </span><span style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">deterred one Mocking bird who found a way to sneak under the netting to feast on the early grapes; but he doesn't get much.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHb9udxlg4bHb5gdiDxL02NWnd1tXOKcCQE3mVo_uSGoftEfXHK2WsJI_TXfe6NotTxmXkEuSWNGD5UQO07ISzhFh2CVg-u-i1HwY564lyarrtzwEslZ22d3yCe514Rf3Ed-e8gxbkxoU/s1600/IMG_0187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHb9udxlg4bHb5gdiDxL02NWnd1tXOKcCQE3mVo_uSGoftEfXHK2WsJI_TXfe6NotTxmXkEuSWNGD5UQO07ISzhFh2CVg-u-i1HwY564lyarrtzwEslZ22d3yCe514Rf3Ed-e8gxbkxoU/s320/IMG_0187.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg96diwfP42GufqEqFZdFkooc2rcSN3JTRQ0VNdXTZJf7EljSk5mU1jwNfZx1y5QN_za4ffYWK-mBHgZRHJrXViXce4oOoPqdpE36ELxhOrivFcNsCGnyl6dnO_B0c204jDRun96Vz4VA/s1600/IMG_0179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg96diwfP42GufqEqFZdFkooc2rcSN3JTRQ0VNdXTZJf7EljSk5mU1jwNfZx1y5QN_za4ffYWK-mBHgZRHJrXViXce4oOoPqdpE36ELxhOrivFcNsCGnyl6dnO_B0c204jDRun96Vz4VA/s320/IMG_0179.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div>Kay & Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244257765709660605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8971432479782354396.post-39469277066446641292013-03-21T08:55:00.001-07:002013-03-21T09:09:54.291-07:00Arizona's Bill To Prosecute Transgender People Who Use The ‘Wrong’ Bathroom<a href="http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2013/03/20/1748851/arizona-lawmaker-introduces-bill-to-prosecute-transgender-people-who-use-the-wrong-bathroom/">Arizona Lawmaker Introduces Bill To Prosecute Transgender People Who Use The ‘Wrong’ Bathroom</a>: pLast month, the City Council of Phoenix, Arizona passed sweeping nondiscrimination protections, ensuring that people have equal access to employment, housing, and public accommodations regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. One state lawmaker, Rep. John Kavanagh (R) is not pleased that transgender people will be protected when using the correct bathroom, and so [...]/p<br />
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Rep. Kavanagh goes on to say that we are not transgender, "we are Weird", of course this is what he thinks. On into the article, he says "<span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: Calibri, 'Trebuchet MS', 'Lucida Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">In Arizona, it is possible for transgender people to </span><a href="http://www.hrc.org/laws-and-legislation/entry/arizona-birth-certificate-law-gender-identity-issues" style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: Calibri, 'Trebuchet MS', 'Lucida Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">receive a new birth certificate</a>*<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, 'Trebuchet MS', 'Lucida Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"> with their proper gender, but only if they undergo gender reassignment surgery, which not all trans people choose to pursue. In addition to being quite expensive, </span><span style="color: #274e13;">it also results in sterilization</span><span style="color: #cc0000;">. Were Kavanagh’s bill to pass, trans people would have to sacrifice their ability to ever have children just to legally use the proper bathroom.</span>" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri, Trebuchet MS, Lucida Sans, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span></span> <span style="font-family: Calibri, Trebuchet MS, Lucida Sans, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">There is also an issue that the Representative abhors men who voluntarily give up their gonads also gives up their male privileges as a sperm planter, and I would infer that for him, this is a God given right for all 'men' to impregnate a woman. What Rep. Kavanagh fails to see or understand is that trans people gladly give up that sexual ability in order to make their body and mind one, their strong desire to let go of the offending sex parts they don't want. Procreating is way down on the list of things to do on the mind of a trans person, male or female. He doesn't understand that for a trans woman it not the ability to give the sperm, is the reality that they can't birth their child, that's what a trans woman knows and understands. But they do know that they can adopt a child that a heterosexual couple has abused or given up; there is a child out there that would grow in love and understanding when raised by a gay couple.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri, Trebuchet MS, Lucida Sans, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri, Trebuchet MS, Lucida Sans, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">Concerning the wording of "Chromosomal Count" I would like to believe they have taken into account all the </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">variations that can be found, that it's not just XX or XY. For those people who are XXY and have been raised as female, will they be arrested once they have been identified as intersexed.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri, Trebuchet MS, Lucida Sans, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span>
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<h1 style="border: 0px; font-family: 'Akzidenz Black', 'Akzidenz Grotesk', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: 28px;">*</span><span style="font-size: small;">Gender Identity Issues</span></h1>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Issues a new or amended birth certificate? Yes.</strong><br />Arizona law permits a individual who has undergone sex-reassignment surgery or who has a chromosomal count that establishes that the individual’s sex is different than the information registered on his or her birth certificate to amend the birth certificate with 1) a written request for an amended birth certificate from the individual and 2) a written statement by a physician that verifies the sex-reassignment operation or chromosomal count.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Citation: </strong>ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 36-337(A)(3).</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Updated:</strong> Tue, March 27, 2007 - 12:00:12</div>
Kay & Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244257765709660605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8971432479782354396.post-40867734674266727432013-03-19T07:16:00.000-07:002013-03-19T07:16:00.050-07:00Life RenewWe all have to get one with our lives, and always it involves beginning again, starting over or what ever one calls it. But the one thing that I love to see is Spring! Spring and Mother Nature always surprises me with how she can change something that we, as human's try to mess up. New live springs up in the most unlikeliest of places, between cement blocks, in the rock and crevices, small trees in gutters; that kind of surprises. I really needed to get back to my walking and so this morning was the day.<br />
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It really helps that my wife gave me an iPod for Christmas so that I can listen to my music as I walk and exercise, the other advantage is the camera takes great picture. It's so much easier that lugging my big camera with me. These are some shots that I took this morning. You can tell that I love the colors of mornings and sunsets, I will never tire of their brilliance and displays.<br />
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These shrubs have grown over the years and there is beauty in their shape and form, but this picture shows the sadness of human nature in it's carelessness and intention to litter. Can't understand how people will deliberately litter our streets and yards with trash, as you can see the water bottle stuck in this tree's branches.<br />
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I call these the "Three Sisters", I have always wanted to get a picture of these in each season, that is Spring, in full summer and the brilliance of Fall, with the intention of putting them together. And below is the walkway to the entrance of the West Hall, the main building on our campus here at Valdosta State. It's nice to see the flowing fountain as it add a sheer view of the entrance just behind. The Azaleas you see have been in abundance this year, as they started to bloom in late February with what was a mild winter and has graces the city since with their color and variety.<br />
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<br />Kay & Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244257765709660605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8971432479782354396.post-55480685174998291332013-03-11T07:45:00.002-07:002013-03-11T07:45:29.591-07:00Weekend Collision of Good Things. We sometimes find ourselves creating a weekend of collisions of good things, and they are all for a good cause; it just works out that way and we must deal with it. So every year our town has the Azalea Festival, it's a two day affair of fun, sunshine and masses of blooming azalea bushes. The festival is a carnival atmosphere packed with vendor's selling homemade offerings that we must have, music, children's games, dog shows, you name it; it's probable here.<br />
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Our PFLAG Chapter had a table this year, we weren't selling anything, or giving away prizes or candy; we just wanted to let the community know we are here and they gotta learn to deal with us. This first photo is our celebration and reward for setting up the basics and tent.<br />
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This year I decided that we needed to up date and simply our PFLAG poster to show the issues in a more positive way, so I chose Safe Schools, some photo for the bathroom issue and support for same sex marriage. Simply and straight forward I thought.<br />
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There was quite a crowd of Saturday and a smaller one on Sunday. We had great conversations with old and young, a few signed up for the email contact list and heard the story of how one young lady came out to her Grandmother after talking to one of our board members. Very proud day and that one young lady made our weekend for us. She just confirmed the reason why we need to be at the festival, be more visible in our communities and tell our stories.</div>
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So that was part one of the weekend, another side story for us, was the interview Kay and I did with a student for her Sociology project Friday afternoon, before we set up the PFLAG table at the festival. As Advocates, we speak to several classes at the University (VSU) to tell our story of a Married Same Sex Couple in the state of Georgia and how that happened. It's our story that we gladly share when asked.</div>
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But the Biggest story for me was being able to sing Haydn's Creation with a chorus of 120+ voices and full orchestra. A performance like this always requires dedicated rehearsal hours; so for us it was one night a week for 9 weeks and 3 full rehearsals with orchestra before the performance on Saturday evening. The final 'dress' rehearsal for me was of course Saturday morning for 2 1/2 hours, which meant that I could not be at the PFLAG table for the first hours of the festival.</div>
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The soprano, was Tamara Hardesty, the bass, Nathan Stark and the tenor soloist was Mr. Stanford Olsen. I was particularly interested in meeting Mr. Olsen, (who is standing to the left of the conductor) as he has his Operatic debut in 1986, singing opposite Joan Sutherland, who I think, is one of the Queen's of the Metropolitan stage. His playful antics during the dress rehearsal made for a pleasant singing experience.<br />
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<span style="text-align: left;"> It's always takes quite a lot of time, to put on a performance of such a grand scale, combining 3 University groups, and 2 community groups; but the performance was grand indeed.</span></div>
Kay & Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244257765709660605noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8971432479782354396.post-48036811272147048952013-03-06T06:45:00.001-08:002013-03-06T06:45:23.996-08:00The Pathologization of Trans* Identity<a href="http://www.bilerico.com/2013/03/the_pathologization_of_trans_identity.php#more">The Pathologization of Trans* Identity</a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px; text-align: justify;">"We must remind ourselves of the most fundamental principles of gender and transness -- </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">your body is not your gender;</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">your physical sex is not your fate</span><span style="color: #274e13;">.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px; text-align: justify;"> If you can be a man with breast tissue and a vagina, if you can be a woman with a penis, you can be trans* with whatever body you possess, whether you choose to alter it drastically or maintain it the way it is."</span>Kay & Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244257765709660605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8971432479782354396.post-20737505520505067832013-03-06T06:36:00.001-08:002013-03-06T06:36:16.477-08:00Cool or Controversial? New 'Coming Out' Video for Youth<a href="http://www.bilerico.com/2013/03/cool_or_controversial_new_coming_out_video_for_you.php#.UTdT-eANDoo.blogger">Cool or Controversial? New 'Coming Out' Video for Youth</a><br />
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I think this is a great visual help for those who are asking, great advise, good common sense and simple message. What do you thinkKay & Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244257765709660605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8971432479782354396.post-33214837452719868202013-02-13T06:52:00.003-08:002013-02-13T06:52:55.791-08:00It's Ash Wednesday, really?Today is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the Lenten season. A day which marks an important day in our Church's Calendar year. As Christian's who follow the Apostolic tradition's I have always seen this day as a day to begin the season of reflection and change; to get back on the wagon, as it were.<br />
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To steal a line from Elizabeth Keaten's blog, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333233; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">http://telling-secrets.blogspot.com, which I am going to chop up in this way; </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">"Yes, the ashes are a sign of our mortality - the finiteness of human existence - which is the reason to repent. ......</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"> "I always brush off the ashes from my forehead, anyway," she said. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">"Really?" I asked, "Why is that?" </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">"Well," she said, "I've always thought of the ashes as the church's need to remind us of our mortality ...... as well as our sins.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333233; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;"> ....</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333233; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">We may hold the pencil, but God holds the erasure." </span></span><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">"I always brush off the ashes from my forehead, anyway," for how many years have I, have some of us walked out of church wearing our smudge of ashes with pride. To keep our 'mark' like some badge of honor, some sign of our duty as one of those Christians. Never mind that our 'mark' was put on our foreheads at some evening service so we did not have to keep it very long. But we would carry this sign proudly. If I had gone to morning or noon service, I would forget the mark was on my forehead until someone would tell me I had a smudge or I would notice it when I looked into a mirror; and then I would wipe it off.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">Elizabeth's post was about how much she uses a pencil instead of a pen and why. And of course, a pencil has an erasure which we tend to use quite often. And so I love the phrase, "</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333233; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">We may hold the pencil, but God holds the erasure." God can wipe our slate clean for us as many time as He need to forgive and erase.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333233; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">But for how long do we carry a grudge on our shoulder against someone. Why do we carry the burden of guilt, or of hurt on our own shoulder's; even after we have been forgiven, even after we have forgiven ourselves. Why is it so hard to erase hard feelings we might have against our 'brother'? Why do we carry around someone else's baggage when we know in our hearts it's not their's, but our feelings against or about them.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333233; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">At our recent Diocesan Convention, we erased a prohibitive moral canon which has kept a lot of good candidates from the priesthood, because they were gay and in a loving, wholesome relationship. We worked hard to change people's thinking about what this canon has done to so many of our gay brother's and sister's within the church. We were able to erase the fear and caution most people held which changed people's hearts. But just as some pencil marks are made worse by a bad erasure, or marking made by a pen, we could not completely erase the words from some people's minds and hearts. Some of the people in that room will continue to have light pen or pencil marks on their shoulders, or foreheads even after God has used his erasure.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333233; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">I hope that during this Lenten season I might 'work' on a few people to seek God's help in erasing or clearing off the chip on their shoulders, as it were. </span></div>
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Kay & Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244257765709660605noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8971432479782354396.post-2055649080850366792012-12-21T07:01:00.000-08:002012-12-21T07:01:22.195-08:00"The End is Near"Frank Sinatra's song, "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egY8rUpxqcE">My Way</a>" contain these lyrics for the first verse;<br />
"And now, the end is here<br />
And so I face the final curtain
<br />My friend, I'll say it clear
<br />I'll state my case, of which I'm certain
<br />I've lived a life that's full
<br />I traveled each and ev'ry highway
<br />And more, much more than this, I did it my way"<div>
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For us we would gladly watch the curtain close on this year's end. And what a year this has been for us as we both fought a bout of the flu in the past week. Thank goodness we have our christmas shopping done; now it's trying to put together a Christmas dinner for the family. Being able to bring the family back together and celebrate at the same table is a huge Christmas gift for Kay and I. This is an answer to prayers long said and hoped for; but never thinking it possible. </div>
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I was washing clothes last night and as I went to put them in the dryer, if found a lot of water on the floor; not a good sign but I though there was a backup to the discharge hose. After checking the drain and hose I began to fill the tub for the next load and immediate saw water running from under the machine. So we now get to replace at least the washer if not both as they are quite old.</div>
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This year was most certainly done 'Our Way', what with being a delegate at our Diocesan Convention, sitting at the GLBT table at the National Convention in Indianapolis, In, join a choir for a concert in the National Cathedral in Washington DC, joining the chorus for my University's production of "Candide" as a alumni.</div>
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On the sad side, Kay and I were with my family, as we sat with our Mother bedside when she passed away from us in April, only to watch an old friend and choir director pass away in June as we sat beside him with his dear wife and close church friends to say their goodbye's.</div>
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I would only infer that as we close the curtain on this year and finally put it on the shelf of our memories, that I have traveled many different highways and had to do it "my way", as each of us who is thinking, or has transitioned has figured things out in their own way. As far as transitions go we are given the hub and the rim, it is up to us to construct our own spokes; as it were. We are given the square logs and we must cut and shape them as we find our own way.</div>
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I worked through my own transition years ago without any real outside influence almost drowning as frequently as I walked on the waters, breaking doors down and new ground with the government and medical institutions as I pushed my transition forward. I am sure there will be other fights in the future but I am better prepared to fight them as I come to them.</div>
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Have a Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year.......</div>
Kay & Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244257765709660605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8971432479782354396.post-47510028466078217322012-11-22T21:04:00.001-08:002012-11-22T21:04:29.259-08:00Family Thanksgiving<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, all the beer is gone, the food has been put in smaller containers and put away in the fridge and the kitchen is clean. The Turkey bones and juice are in the pot for soup or stock for another day and we are 'bone' tired; but very happy.<br />
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We did eat a little late and since there was 16 of us we set up everything outside, which allowed the boys and Trinny to play as loud as they wanted and we could enjoy eating sort of together. Family eating together, that's what this day is about, and for Kay and I this is a most WONDERFUL day indeed. A day that I thought could or would never happen; but has, in a big way. A day of sharing with my Son and his girlfriend, and my Daughter and her boyfriend and their mother. I am truly thankful that they came and ate a little something after they had a meal with their other 'family'. I know how difficult that can be for some; to eat two holiday dinners. We did that for so many years; not wanting to ignore one's family. I am thankful for Reed, who took the last two pictures of me. As someone who always is taking the pictures, I am not in very many of my own pictures.<br />
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It was a wonderful day of ruckus laughter and noise and of stories told on each other; a time to meet Kay's adoptive family with the 3 happy and loud kids. Their laughter and love with stay with us for a long time in our home. Hopefully, the next time we can get together there will be 4 more who will meet everyone and reconnect with this family of love.<br />
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Thank you ever so much my Children for a truly wonderful Early Christmas Gift EVER!!!!Kay & Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244257765709660605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8971432479782354396.post-68956158566955442582012-11-19T16:14:00.001-08:002012-11-19T16:14:28.167-08:00Prayers AnsweredIt has been so long since I posted anything here that the operator almost forgot how to recall this blog. <br />
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Over a year and a half ago, my daughter's wish was to get most, or all of the family back together for a holiday meal. Kay and I have sent many a prayer for that same thing. Over time we have learned that it's not the best policy to ask for such specific detailed wished, but just throw a couple general prayers His way and you could get better resulted than if you spelled it out.<br />
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SOOOO, this Thanksgiving it's happening; the family will spend Thanksgiving together again under one roof plus a few more. My son and his girlfriend, my daughter and her boyfriend, their mother; Kay's 'adopted' family and 3 kids and the couple who have been living with us for a few month's. That just until they can save enough to rent something of their own. Anyway should be about 14 people filling our little house with laughter, lots of fun and joy; some yelling and screaming, if we know the kids. But I am not complaining; NOT One Iota!! No Ma'am!!! We Got our Early Christmas Presents.<br />
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Happy Thanksgiving to All!!!Kay & Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244257765709660605noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8971432479782354396.post-49694416919452407052012-10-30T17:29:00.000-07:002012-10-30T17:29:02.431-07:00Returning to the Stage, musically and in life!<br />
The combined departments of dance and Opera put on a wonderful production of the Operetta <a href="http://valdostadailytimes.com/local/x699462826/CANDIDE">Candide</a>, the music department had invited the Music Alumni to return and join the chorus in the fun. We were given an abbreviated score with all the choral parts and with a good run through with orchestra and cast on Friday before the show. On Saturday, there was a rehearsal with the chorus before the first performance that evening. The graduates who were able to return, were treated to a wonderful luncheon paid for by the Alumni Assoc., giving us a chance to reconnect and chat with old friends. I actually met 2 classmates, one was my accompanist for several of my student recitals performances the other was 2 years behind me and sang with me in Concert Choir. My accompanist recognized and remembered me from so many years ago which gave us a chance to chat and catch up, also we helped each other rehearse some of the more challenging pieces.<br />
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Quite a fun weekend after so much of having to deal 'other' stuff with family as we had gathered the weekend before to sort through my Mother's things. 5 adult sorting through 7 areas and 4 bedrooms of almost 48 years of accumulated treasures and gifts and STUFF. We ran out of time before we even got to the laundry room which has one of my father's military footlockers which holds some of his technical books and the storage shed which we never set foot in.<br />
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We started the sorting process around noon on Saturday and we pick and sorted for 10 hours on Saturday and almost 12 hours Sunday. My brother left early afternoon on Monday to catch a plane, I had to leave my sisters in the kitchen by 6 pm that Monday evening. I brought home several boxes of items home with me, most were pictures, small items and boardgames for my children. I asked for a small table with a marble top and one of mother's curio cabinets. I was able to put a 6 foot curio in our Kia Soul; really! I laid the back of the front seat and both back seats down to get it to fit, which mean that I had to ride sitting on top of the back seat and hold onto the cabinet.</div>
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Both of us made it home in one piece, although I had to stoop as I was riding in the backseat, or on the backseat as it were. The Cabinet found it's place both of us agreed to and is now filled with the small mementos and treasures I chose from our's and Mother's travels.</div>
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If you have never had to sort through a house crammed full of collected stuff, you will find a need to downsize around your own house, to do some house sorting of your own. </div>
<br />Kay & Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244257765709660605noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8971432479782354396.post-27134289494697783262012-10-03T05:50:00.002-07:002012-10-03T05:50:56.393-07:00Clerical Wear<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/obTIdzVjYUk" width="560"></iframe>Kay & Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244257765709660605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8971432479782354396.post-17234767472333025542012-09-17T20:48:00.002-07:002012-09-17T20:48:56.261-07:00Backyard gardens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm not sure just how many of you have experienced the aroma and sweet fragrance of the Night Blooming Jasmine. I planted this one at the end of last summer and the frost and freeze killed all but one branch of the bush. So I was just not expecting the sort of continued blooms that this plant produces; all summer long. With each new branch, I get hundreds of small trumpet-like blooms that will only open at night and give off it's sweet aroma. Each and every evening the air is saturated, if I leave the back door open, the whole house is filled with the jasmine perfume. It does make for a lovely outdoor party and I will sit outside at the garden table to breath in it's nectar. I will probable put up a trellis next year and hopefully keep it trained and controlled.<br />
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In the back ground, you can see my two Mango's tree; I started with three and one died. These are about 3 years old. Since we do have frost I bring them in during the winter and they grow in spurts.<br />
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On the opposite fence I planted 2 small Loofa plants. As you can see the vines have taken over the back fence, the small building and my garden. They also give off a faint sweet small as this plant is in the gourd family. So far I have 4 large tubers that I am hoping to clean and use for bathing. Will see just how much trouble it's going to be to clean them up. I will NOT be planting any more loofa's next year.Kay & Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244257765709660605noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8971432479782354396.post-5001300093180777592012-09-09T01:16:00.001-07:002012-09-09T01:16:40.301-07:00Nothing is by chance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For the past week, I have described our purpose for visiting Washington DC; all of which mean that for us when we are away from home we hardly watch any TV. Coming back to one's hotel room at the end of a long day is the time we settle in, clear our head, check messages and read other people's postings. So we missed the last days of the Republican stuff and all of the Democratic Convention and their speakers. We have to read the messages later. The chance that my concert at the National Cathedral coincided with most of the majority of Important people being absent from DC probable made the traffic seem easier to navigate around the city. DC is a large city with lots of things one should see in one's life time; but as one of our bus driver Mr. Map said; it would take more then 40 years to see all of the museums both free and private.<br />
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Note; it would be important to recharge the battery of one's camera every night to make sure you don't miss any photo opportunities. My camera's batteries died when we got the the Lincoln Memorial on the night tour, as you can see in this photo of the Washington Monument.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8KVZB2beKXMYi3G-aVUmq3Bdu4OE_n-tHdpIIo1vvKFPJhKTEzGL7BhUxO9IpFXyAd3Xph4lmiKtl7ZW7uoDVWrM-Id8gTkxDEhVZM15lhboIbcpbw6tlPVznCAHdV3w7rg-R91Ojbk/s1600/DSCN2981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8KVZB2beKXMYi3G-aVUmq3Bdu4OE_n-tHdpIIo1vvKFPJhKTEzGL7BhUxO9IpFXyAd3Xph4lmiKtl7ZW7uoDVWrM-Id8gTkxDEhVZM15lhboIbcpbw6tlPVznCAHdV3w7rg-R91Ojbk/s320/DSCN2981.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-jXOFnvfXUdsNbrCtuXavqdHnL865_kblIrGzXJrsYMV7V_8HoYb654XfKOlMSSN4QVy3SGLMXDA2CdUx1CEXbdG2uW8B9j9mUZ9SXtlZ0PM2_6ogKXECwwiD8yAhyphenhyphenVcn1PqkQgSej3g/s1600/DSCN2984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-jXOFnvfXUdsNbrCtuXavqdHnL865_kblIrGzXJrsYMV7V_8HoYb654XfKOlMSSN4QVy3SGLMXDA2CdUx1CEXbdG2uW8B9j9mUZ9SXtlZ0PM2_6ogKXECwwiD8yAhyphenhyphenVcn1PqkQgSej3g/s320/DSCN2984.JPG" width="240" /></a>On this night tour, our driver worked as an Urban Planner before he took this job of a Bus Tour driver. Our first stop was the Navy's Memorial, with 3 fountains that contained the saltwater from each of the Oceans our Navy sailed surrounding the large map of the world and it's oceans; and if you splashed your loved one with the water, you will have good luck. As he watched us give each other a bath he said that we must be very good friends. <br />
But the tour had to make rather quick stops as there was a time limit so we had to pick and choose. One of our stops at the Tidal Basin was at the FDR, Dr. King's, Memorial and the second stop had the Korean, Vietnam and Lincoln Memorials; a lot to see and take in, in such a relative short time.<br />
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FDR's and the Vietnam Memorials were the two that affected me the most; visiting the four 'room's' of FDR's memorial and reading his quote's made me angry. Angry, that our representatives that we have sent to Washington have failed to take note and learn the lessons our Nations learned as we struggled to overcome the many years of the Depression. Neglected to take to heart the reasons our Government failed the people. Our Republican lead Congress failed to learn their history lessons. And it makes me angry.<br />
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My experience standing at the Vietnam memorial, a man made scar on the grounds of the Washington Mall grounds, with it's marble slabs with the names of our young men who gave their lives engraved on the polished marble face, elicits tears and sobbing. It manifests a deep pulling connections to be one with the Wall. Actually touching the Wall open so many memories, feelings, smells that completely emersion one's self into that lifetime so many years ago. The Wall re-awakes memories forgotten; on purpose, or of times too far into one's past life. My war experiences were very different from those who walked the rice paddy landscape, broken by bombs, or by chemicals and physically fighting for their lives in their small private wars. I think about the combat soldiers I saw; not knowing who lived or who died, and I remember!<br />
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On our last day after walking all over washington, we returned to Lincoln's Memorial. Only I forgot to bring my camera so I have no pictures of that night. But it was humbling to stand in front of Lincoln's statue placed in that huge chamber upon which are the Gettysburg Address and his Second Inaugural Speech in engrave in the wall for as long as it stands. As our tour driver, Mr Map said; there is a reason as to why each and every monument is placed and to what and where it faces. Nothing is haphazardly built in Washington DC.Kay & Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244257765709660605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8971432479782354396.post-24413026701869101192012-09-08T20:17:00.002-07:002012-09-08T20:17:51.520-07:00Clouds on the Skyline Drive<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQ1M2NZ9dlJmby9pv7XPUT3MEBTiJFw143zsWSWcnrvftDIk6aq3B_Mu7sZrXbHCPKQWGt3smT2dTTDV39DxrwiO2-mgdpRDqSSd3eGC9teRITnNAQokFHxMz8OF5O9F6Xmlhp_2bh8U/s1600/DSCN3095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQ1M2NZ9dlJmby9pv7XPUT3MEBTiJFw143zsWSWcnrvftDIk6aq3B_Mu7sZrXbHCPKQWGt3smT2dTTDV39DxrwiO2-mgdpRDqSSd3eGC9teRITnNAQokFHxMz8OF5O9F6Xmlhp_2bh8U/s320/DSCN3095.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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These pictures were taken on Skyline Drive of the Blue ridge mountains. There was a very low ceiling that morning with a low clouds. As we drove down the ridge we had our windows open and no radio playing; we could actually feel the moisture within the car. Once in a while we stopped at the lookout and would be in sunshine.<br />
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<br />Kay & Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244257765709660605noreply@blogger.com0