I just have to share this story. I was swimming in the pool today, when two little girls started to take turns baptizing each other, over and over. They would hold up their hands and announce:

“In the name of the priesthood, I baptize you, in the name of the father, son and holy ghost. Now your gonna get dunked!”

This went on for a little while until their grandmother noticed them. She was off her lounge chair like a bat out of hell! She yanked them out of the pool and yelled at them, “Don’t you ever play sacred games again!” Girls can never, ever baptize anyone and don’t you forget it!” The little girls looked very contrite until grannie turned her back and they just giggled and giggled. I got such a kick out of their antics!

Question: Has anyone out there ever played a “sacred game” in childhood? I don’t think I ever did.

It is shocking to learn that there has been a sharp increase in hate crimes against members of the LGBT community, and still not prosecutable as a hate crime in 20 states. The violence perpetrated against out fellow human beings can not be tolerated. Sadly, the violence escalated around the time of the last Presidential Election, the revisiting of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy and Prop 8.

The Senate is set to vote any day on legislation that aims to remedy this situation. Would you please consider signing this petition?

And perhaps even contacting your state Senator to urge them to support the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act (S. 909)?

Thank You.

Apparently, the Danbury Mint Company is in bed with “The Church”. Strange bedfellows until you find out that Danbury is offering a limted edition christmas ornament of the Salt Lake Temple. The ornament certainly won’t win any design awards - not tastefully done at all.

It seems that more annual ornaments are to come but fail to say what the focus will be. I hope it’s not the San Diego Temple, that always reminds me of something in Disneyland. My friends saw it for the first time and when I asked, “Well what do you think of it” he thought for a moment and repled, ” It needs to be backed into a cul-de-sac with a crucifix!” I mean, how hard is it to find a good architect?

The brochure I received described the ornament with such a flourish. I was particularly interested to know the magical powers that accompanied the thing. I quote… “Peace on Earth can be yours for just $21.95 ( plus $3.95 shipping and service)” Get Out! Do you know how many peace organizations are going to be thrilled to hear this! It also comes, free of charge, a beautiful gift box, so you can buy several and mail to your friends! Imagine, being able to mail, peace on earth to your friends?

I’ve already started my list. Palestine is getting one, Israel, Pakistan, The Sudan, Oh, the list goes on. I need to send several to the GOP. Isn’t this wonderful news?

Wait: Should the Muslims ornament have a mosque instead of a temple? Better have a menorah or star of David for the jews. And the GOP, no question, they have to have a Gun and tiny Abu Graibe figures. ( I can never spell that right!)

Anyway, if you had to design an ornament for 2009 what would it be?

My heart has been heavy ever since I learned of the California Supreme Court’s decision on Prop 8. There is no room in this country for institutionalized hate and discrimination, and yet it continues to exist. I was so offended by the joy and self righteous rhetoric from the opposition. What ignorance and arrrogance!

I was reminded of something that I read many, many, years ago in the novel Jane Eyre written by Charlotte Bronte:

“Prejudices, it is well known, are most difficult to eradicate from the heart whose soil has never been loosed or fertilized by education; they grow there, firm as weeds among stones.”

To all my GLBT friends and family I say: Do not give up, do not be discouraged, I remember the witch hunts in the sixties and seventies and we have come a long way. We will continue to love and support you, and fight for your equal rights or by God die trying!

Visit CourageToCampaign.org To sign a petition on prop 8 and one asking Obama to reinstate Lt.Don Choi to the military follwing his dismissal for being gay.

Allison here. I’ve just been observing Kathleen’s one woman show - “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest” ……

Just thought I’d let you know she’s alive…. not sure about well.

I know she’s in there somewhere because I’m channeling her right now. I haven’t sworn this much for a very long time, and I had a hamburger and fries! And, alarmingly, I’m trying to abort my inner child.

Hopefully her mind and fingers will connect again soon and spew forth abundant wit and wisdom.

Pray with me.

My friend would like to have this on his license plate. Currently, the slogan is Utah: The Greatest Snow on Earth.

THANKS to each of you for your support and advice. I am considering my options. This is a lousy time to try to sell my condo, maybe I could rent it out or something. I have also considered the possibility of moving out of Utah during the winter months and returning for the summers. I do know that when I am away from Utah my anxiety levels are reduced! Seriously!

RELIEF SOCIETY: Paul, you are right about trying to make changes from within. For years I used Relief Society, first in the Ward and then in the Stake as a platform to get women thinking about issues from their own perspective and not the church’s or their spouses. I had a small measure of success but eventually I had a Bishop who said that the men in my ward wanted to lynch me. True story. Of course this reaction from the priesthood stemmed from a particular incident, which I could share but is long and maybe boring to some.

POLITICS: Josh your insight is appreciated. You are young and energetic, I believe you represent the new face of homosexuality in Utah and I am glad we have someone like you working on behalf of the others. In one of the letters to the editor in the SL Tribune today, someone wrote that the Dinosaurs of the legislator will eventually be silenced as the younger generation comes of age and policies change over time with the rise of a new generation. I hope that is true………..

MEANWHILE, Some Ass in the legislature from Provo would like to conduct a study to see if it would be possible to tax caffeine next session. He considers himself a ” social caffeine” drinker. Is that like having an occasional cocktail at social events but against alcohol?

NATIVE AMERICAN TREASURES: One more thing and then I will change my tune. A very exciting discovery was made in Draper, ruins of a three thousand years old Native American village with countless artifacts, and an amazing opportunity to learn more about this ancient civilization. Too bad it stands in the path of a current development project for the city. To cut a long story short, arguments were made and the legislature has has made it possible for this amazing historically important find to be paved over in the name of progress ARGH!!!!!!

CRAIG: you crack me up! Have you thought about writing a sit-com?

ALLISON, KRISTIN and ROBERT: I love the Pacific North West, it reminds me of England in many ways. I have also spent several summers in Connecticut, Boston and New York, while visiting several other New England states. I love CT. especially, the seaside communities. So many decisions, so little time.

THANKS AGAIN TO EACH OF YOU.

EASTER came early in my bedroom, that is to say: She is risen! LET ME EXPLAIN, due to circumstances beyond my control most of January I was without access to a computer and under stress. Then came February, mostly another stressful, computerless month with two highlights: a visit with PAUL and CRAIG and their wonderful family and a visit to California with my family for my newly adopted GRANDAUGHTER’S BLESSING. Along came March, more computer problems and respiratory problems. My coping mechanism is simple, I medicate with Wine, prescription medication, food or a combination of any or all three and enter into a self-induced coma!
It’s such a departure from the old days of “GIRDING UP MY LOINS” and “FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT” but then again, I was younger and stronger in those days. Anyway, when I realized what was happening in ZION and particularly with the Utah legislature I almost went back to bed, but my righteous indignation got the better of me and I just had to get out of bed, find a computer and get busy.

CHRIS BUTTARS: FORMER BISHOP, BRAINLESS SENATOR, HOMOPHOBE, RACIST and JUST A DOWNRIGHT NASTY HUMAN BEING.

Buttars was interviewed by REED COWAN, a former SLC newscaster who now lives and works in Miami and is making an independent film about HOMOSEXUALITY and UTAH POLITICS. Cowan hopes Sundance will show the film. Anyway, Buttars stated that homsexuals et al., were a bigger threat not just to the United States but to the entire world, than Terrorists!!!!!
He also went on to say that the situation was worse than in Sodom and Gomorah since that problem was localized and the current homosexual issue is global.

What an ass of a man!
Does that make San Francisco the equivalent of an Al Quaida stronghold on the Pakistan/Afhanistan border? Despite calls for his resignation, Senate President and friend of Buttars, Mike Waddoups claims that Buttars was removed from chair of the Senate Judicial committee, not because of his comments, but because he (Buttars) had promised not to speak
in public about homosexualty while the legislature was in session.
I believe it was Senator Howard Christiansen who stated that over 90% of Utahns agreed with Buttars statements! Where the hell does he live!

I MUST CALM DOWN.
My question is this: Do I stay in Utah and try to fight these people through various means or do I escape from Zion and try to save my sanity?
HELP ME DECIDE.
COMMENTS AND ADVICE PLEASE.

I love the excitement of the season, the smell, the bustle, the baking and shopping, getting just the right gift for someone you love and barely being able to wait until Christmas morning to see the look of joy on the face of that loved one.  Feeling the warmth of that big hug of gratitude and the squeals of delight as the gift is shown to others.  Yes!  I do love it!   It always happened that way with the children but when it came to exchanging gifts with Tim ( my late husband )  it was quite another story.

Peace on earth good will to men somehow turned into a christmas morning tradition of,  Pearce’s on earth, oh go to hell!!

Tim loved to shop!  He loved to shop in high end stores, buy expensive gifts for as little money as possible and surprise everyone.  My first clue about Tim’s proclivity for retail recreation came when we were dating.  Arriving earlier than planned at my apartment for a date, Tim informed me  (without shame or embarrassment,  I might add)  that he needed to go to Auerbach’s department store and pick out a girdle for his mother!!  I kid you not!   His mother had asked him to do that. ( I must confess I did wonder if the girdle was for him and he was using his mother as an excuse.) He was slim and looked good in his clothes but then that was when he was in pants and a shirt, I had no idea how he would look in a dress.  The girdle was bought and the date continued.  The girdle wasn’t a deal breaker we did end up getting married and taking his “second mother” on our honeymoon, but that’s another story.

Our first Christmas together  Tim bought me some fabulous clothes. Unfortunately, I was pregnant with our first child and needed maternity clothes, which he didn’t buy.  He bought me leather boots,  a matching purse, a new coat and jewelery. I loved the gifts, but I was worried.  I couldn’t bring myself to remind him that he was still at student at the U or, more to the point, ask him where he found the money for such a Christmas.  I didn’t have to wait long for the answer. By the end of January statements of charges from several department stores graced our mail box. And so began the first of twenty two years of our traditional Christmas fights.

I suspect he was a little deaf too.  He always asked me what I wanted for Christmas and then surprise me with something completely different.  Like the year I wanted a string of pearls. He shopped and there was a long narrow box under the Christmas tree with my name on it, but it was too heavy to be pearls.  I was puzzled.

Finally, Christmas morning arrived and I tore open the wrapping on that gift, I opened the box with a mixture of anxiety and excitement and there they were, nestled in cotton, a beautiful pair of expensive scissors.  “You wouldn’t believe the deal I go on those”  Tim exclaimed, Oh I believe I do I thought.  “Now when you sew  - which I seldom did since the  kids had grown into the name brand stage of youth -  you have the very best scissors.”  Was he really that clueless?

I resigned myself to being appreciative of the gift until I put my fingers into them…  They were for a left handed person.   You guessed it!  I am right handed.  Tim was unfazed by that, “I bet you could learn to cut fabric with your left hand”   Oh, I wanted to cut something alright but it wasn’t fabric.  Life with Tim could be a headache but it was never dull!

Do you have any stories of Christmas dissapointments?  What is the wierdest gift you ever received?  When did you stop believing in Santa Claus?  Am I the only person who had christmas fights?  Do Tell!

        Do you have people on your christmas list who have everything?    Are their people in your life who long to be remembered at this time of the year in a very special way?   Are you clueless as to what to surpise these people with?  Would like some help with this?

Go to: www.invalidateprop8.com

For every donation made to this very worthy cause a postcard will be sent to President Thomas M, letting him know that a donation has been made in his honor (or dishonor) depending on how you feel.  Personally, I don’t want a card sent to Tom, since I believe that one can catch more flies with honey than vinegar.  I’ll probably send him a letter on my very nice Crane stationery  letting him know how much he has dissapointed this widow.  He loves widows, he has always been so loving and attentive to them.  I have this nagging feeling that he really isn’t opposed to same sex marriage but he’s made it to the top and has to follow the party line.  So sad.   Could be wrong though!

I’m so sorry  that I have not posted recently.  Dec. is not a very happy month for me even though I love Christmas.  Dec 4th is the anniversary of my daughter Annie’s death.  Some years I am sad but fuctional and there are other years where for some inexplicable reason I relive the events of that day as if it were yesterday.  This year was not a good year.  I am happy to report that I am feeling better and have been thinking about the holidays and have some thoughts and pictures I would like to share with you.  I hope to share and post later this week.  Thanks for your patience and understanding.