Friday was Passover, so my sister had off work.

It was also Good Friday, but she works at a Jewish not-for-profit, and isn't, last I heard, a believer... so it's Passover she got off for.

Abdul had the day off too, and if I'd known that, I likely wouldn't've gone to the Children's Museum with her, but would have taken the day off. Oh well, I needed to get paid.

So we went to the museum, and then to Manhattan to see my mom. Once we got into Manhattan, 'dul decided he wanted to do something else, so it was just me, Jenn, and the niecelings going on the train.

( And this was either very cute, or very sad )

And then when she did see her dad again, the first thing she said is (not happily) "Daddy, you don't go bye-bye without me, 'k?"

On the one hand, it's one of our very few Real Conversations Ever. On the other hand... that was really sad. And it's made worse by the fact that "Don't go bye-bye without me, okay?" is what she said to me after I'd spent the boat ride sitting on a different deck than them (this was an accident, but I was loathe to move after settling down). I feel guilty now. Just a little.

Oh, god.

"Apples are so sweet, and they're wholesome, and it's biblical," Ms. Paltrow said in an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2004. "And I just thought it sounded so lovely and clean."

Jezebel is a biblical name too, and antifreeze is considered to be sweet (sweet apples are rather icky, anyway - I prefer the tart ones).

It's not the name that bothers me (I mean, it is, but that's not what I'm talking about), it's the "Apple is biblical" argument. Because, first off, it's not (apple in the Bible means fruit, and not apple) and secondly - no. Just... no. If you like the name, fine... but pick a better reason.

An article from thren0dy

I'm just linking to her post, it's easier.

Interesting quotes:

An article in Monday's Section A said Gregory S. Baylor of the Christian Legal Society viewed homosexuality as a lifestyle choice. In fact, he does not have a stance on that issue. As the article noted, he supports policies that protect people from discrimination based on race, gender and other inborn traits. He asserts that antidiscrimination policies regarding homosexuality are different because they protect people based on conduct. Baylor's organization seeks to exempt religious groups from those policies. —

Wait, wait, waittaminute. Does exempting religious groups from these policies mean he wants them to be able to say hateful things against gay people - or that he wants other people to be able to say hateful things about them? Because religion is *not* an inborn trait.

( Read more... )

There's a lot of good stuff in there. Scary stuff, but good if you take it little by little.

Connie Obvious:

(After reading five whole OSC books in a few short weeks)

Gee. Orson Scott Card sure does seem hung up on the gay, doesn't he?

This has been another edition of Very Obvious Programming, brought to you by the Homecoming Saga. Thank you.

So, Ana's birthday's in a month.

And Jenn has just informed me that she can't find Ana's summer clothes.

...

This is the sound of simmering rage. Simmering, simmering... but I am NOT a happy Connie.

So instead of posting a long and pie-in-the-sky list of the various toys, books, and other assorted goods I'd love to get Ana if I were made of money, I'm posting a set of links to various clothing items which are not too expensive, and again asking that anybody with access to used children's clothing (size 3T) which is summer-appropriate send it my way. My address given upon request to people I trust.

I'm *not* happy.

( Because nobody has to see this )

I'm really pissed. I thought "Well, she'll outgrow them by the end of summer, but at least she'll last until the end of summer", but apparently Jenn put away the clothes and forgot where. And I *know* they were in the drawer not that long ago, but I don't know where they are now!

The baby, of course, has plenty of clothes. Of course, because she has all Ana's hand-me-downs. Clearly, this is what I'm spending my next weekend on, finding garage sales and similar for Ana's clothes this summer.

If Jenn turns up dead one of these months, it's not my fault, 'k? It's somebody *else* disgruntled about not being able to clothe her own niece every day.

Note:

I daresay we can get together the money to outfit Ana for this summer. But if you were inclined to spend a few dollars on me (or Ana) anyway this month (I especially do like the $5 shirts and shorts that match), those links should be helpful. And it'd be much appreciated. Seriously. The difference between enough outfits for a week (and then Jenn *must* do laundry) and enough outfits for twice as long is astounding.

Note again: We do have a few pairs of shorts in her size now, thanks to somebody I can't remember whose neighbor coming through with several 3T pants and shorts. But we're moving her out of diapers and into padded panties, so.... yeah.

Edit: If you do purchase something, you will receive in exchange my ETERNAL GRATITUDE (now with more eternity!)

Just please tell me what it is so that nobody buys something we're already getting, thanks. I'd feel *really* bad should that happen. Moreso than I already kinda do.