Joan Armatrading

A song from my college days. Love And Affection, 1980

(You may want to skip the band intro., though if you're into bands, there are some noteworthy musicians featured in this clip. And the quality is very good.)

Healthcare Not Warfare

Progressive Democrats of America click on the logo to sign the petition.

I'm on a roll with the legistlative action alerts. I agree with Jim Hightower that progressive ideas and ideals are not dead. I maintain a steadfast, stubborn hold on the democratic legislative process. I'm not ready to give up.

I know these organizations need and want our money and a lot of us are strapped, but watch the video and check out the website for what you can do even if you can't afford to support them.

The Fiddle And The Drum

Joni Mitchell - The Fiddle And The Drum

War Funding Updates

Friends Committee On National Legislation

Iraq: Senate Votes More Money for War

By a vote of 70 to 26, the Senate today passed a supplemental funding bill providing $165 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Find out how your senators voted. The Senate did not insist on any new policies, and it did not curtail the administration's ability to sign a security agreement with Iraq locking the United States into a long-term military presence. Find out more.

Congress moved one step closer last week to stopping the spread of nuclear weapons. Rep. Ellen Tauscher (CA), Chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, eliminated funding for a plan to construct new nuclear weapons, even though her district is home to a bomb plant that would profit from the proposal. Urge your representative to join Chairwoman Tauscher and learn more.

And the GI Bill passes in the Senate:

Today marked another historic vote on the GI Bill. After last week's remarkable victory in the House of Representatives, today the bill passed the Senate by an overwhelming vote of 75-22.

The Wonders of Emu

Songline Enterprises

Thanks for your caring wishes for a speedy recovery from my fall on Sunday. I'm doing a lot better. In part because of your good wishes and also because, I believe, due to the effectivenss of the product pictured below.

As if I was predicting the ill-fated event, I went to my town's art fest on Saturday and bought this locally manufactured cream. I've always been aware of the wonders of arnica but this blend of ingredients intrigued me: arnica, emu oil, menthol (which gives the treated area a great tingle), willow bark, witch hazel and capsicum. Highly recommended.

They sell emu burgers down the road, too. I intend to try one any day now and I'll be sure to give you a full report!

My days are always full and currently my evenings as well. Supergirl Two has been at my house for a couple of days now and we're trying to spend time together. This is proving to be a bit of an emotional handful, as it seems everything I say rubs her the wrong way. Sigh.

On Sunday, as I walked around my yard, phone to ear, chatting with my sweet Mom, telling her about my gorgeous tulips, I managed to slip or trip off the two steps that lead to my side door. The phone flew out of my hands and I landed on my right side! I recovered fine, told my mother everything was okay, said I'd call her after I changed my wet, dirt-covered clothes and laughed at how clumsy I was. Well, yesterday and today I'm not laughing. I bruised my foot, scraped my knee, which swelled up and bruised my hip, arm and shoulder, all of which are even more sore today than yesterday. Ugh.

To add to the list of difficulties, the hard drive of my old HP laptop (Darth Vader) finally crashed once and for all. W.P. has ordered a new drive but while I'm waiting for its arival, I have only some access to the computer I'm currently using and I can do a little blog reading from work during my lunch time.

I'm sorry to bore you with this but it's only to illustrate that my week has not gotten off to a very good start. My blogging mood is thus affected.

I'm also very busy with gardening and preparing the house for W.P.'s daughter M (25) who is coming from San Francisco to attend a wedding in Boston. She'll be spending a few days with us, arriving Thursday morning. I like M a lot and I'm looking forward to spending some time with her. I just hope that the inauspicious start to my week doesn't affect what would otherwise be a good visit.

I do have Friday off and Monday is a holiday, so a nice four day weekend will help tremendously. I hope by then to have something of value to share with you, rather than the shameless self-pity in which I'm allowing at the moment. ;-) I'll try to do as much blog reading as time allows because you're all wonderful and I will miss you too much otherwise!

Be well, blog well...and...be careful!

Namaste,
Pagan

A photo of Supergirl One and her Beloved can be found on this post.

I talked about her and failed to put her photo up!

A Letter From Emily & A Van Gogh

Vincent Van Gogh

(early May 1883)
Mrs. J. Howard Sweetser

Dear Nellie.

I have long been a Lunatic on Bulbs, though screened by my friends, as Lunacy on any theme is better undivulged, but Emerson's intimacy with his "Bee" only immortalized him -
They came in happy safety, and rest in their subterranean Home -
"Remembrance faithful to her trust, brings" us "in beauty from the Dust,"
their divine prospective - Smitten by the sweetness, I only can take those
wasted words "Thank you," on my lips.
We shall tenderly think of you in the foreign Home.
Were affection dependent on location, this would be an anonymous World.
The Apple Trees lend Vinnie Blossoms which she lends to me, and I pay no
interest, their rosy Bank in need of none, and the Woods lend Austin
Trilliums, shared in the same way - If you will
lift your little Hands I will surely fill them, though not agree to let them go, but to that,your your Lovers
would not consent -
Your great Neighbor the Ocean, will see you oftener than I, and I am jealous
already of his Morning calls -
Alice's call is still remembered - and a glance from Nettie in Hyacinth time.

Emily, with love -
(Vinnie was Lavinia, Emily's sister and Austin, her brother who after marriage, lived in the house next door to the Dickinsons, named The Evergreens.)

Two More Victories!

Letters, emails and whatever else you can do to take action, really do help!

Iraq: House Votes Down War Funds

Your lobby visits, emails, and phone calls are making a difference!
Yesterday, 149 members of Congress said "no" to more funding for war. Please take a moment right now to thank your member of Congress if he or she voted against new funding for the president's failed war strategy in Iraq.
Equally important, if your representative didn't oppose the war funding, write a short letter now asking her or him to vote no when this bill comes back to the House for another vote sometime in the next few weeks.
Congress is finally getting the message that a majority of the people in this country want the war to end. But that may not result in Congress's voting to cut off funding. The victory Thursday was made possible in part because a large block of supporters of the war decided to sit out this vote, simply voting "present."
Take Action
Congress needs to know that you are watching.
Write your representative today to thank her or him if she was one of the 149 legislators who voted no. If your representative did not vote no, let her or him know you are disappointed.
Find out more about FCNL's Iraq Peace Campaign.
Find out how your representative voted.


And this from yesterday:

You did it. Just a few minutes ago, the House of Representatives passed the new GI Bill by a vote of 256-166, as an attachment to the emergency supplemental. Click here to view the full list of who voted for it and who voted against it.Earlier this week, we told you that the new GI Bill was facing opposition from a small group of Representatives in the House, who were threatening the bill despite its deep bi-partisan support.

We asked for your help, and you stepped up to the plate. Thousands of you took action by calling your Representatives, signing the petition at http://www.gibill2008.org/, and spreading the word to your friends and neighbors. Today, your dedication paid off and together, we made history.
There's no question that your efforts had an impact. Referring specifically to the group of Representatives that were standing in the way of the bill, known as the Blue Dogs, the Politico, a Washington-insider newspaper, said that "there had been erosion among Blue Dogs in the face of pressure from veterans groups."1 The leadership you demonstrated in fighting for this bill shows that IAVA is a force to be reckoned with.

The new GI Bill has widespread support among Democrats, Republicans, and all of the major veterans organizations. But the legislative process is a long one, and it's your dedication that keeps it going during these crucial stages.

Next week, the Senate will have to vote on the bill as well. After that, it will go to the President's desk for his signature.
We'll keep you updated via email, but for the latest news, just visit http://www.gibill2008.org/.Thank you again for standing with us. The support we're getting in this fight has been truly inspiring.
Sincerely,
Patrick CampbellIraq VeteranLegislative DirectorIraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America

1. Politico: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0508/10331.html
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TELL-A-FRIEND

A Victory!

I heard about his at Mad Priest's site and shortly after got this in my email from The Human Rights Campaign, an organization to which I will be contributing a little more generously this year with a portion of my "stimulation" check. Supergirl One and the Beloved will be thrilled when they wake up! :-) They've been so sleep deprived all through finals that at 2:30 p.m. they may very well still be sleeping. The Beloved is a California resident.


Same-sex couples win the right to marry in California!their relationships have so long been denied.

Today, California's highest court ruled that denying same-sex couples the right to marry is unconstitutional, granting loving, committed gay and lesbian couples the dignity and support
Two words sum up how I feel at this moment: proud and determined.
I'm proud of Shannon Minter of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, who argued this case, and all the advocates who worked tirelessly to make this day possible. More than anything, I am proud of you and all of HRC's supporters who, rather than backing down in response to bigotry and hate, have continued this fight.

And I'm determined to make this win stick. Our right-wing opponents are using this moment to build a $10 million war chest for an amendment this November to ban same-sex marriage in California.

That's why we've set up a special fund to direct 100% of your gift today to this fight in California. Don't let them use our victory to get the upper hand.
Donate today and send your dollars straight to California to protect this victory for equality!

I would love to tell you to take a day to sit back and enjoy this momentous victory. While this win is certainly a reason to celebrate, this is not a day to rest easy.
In fact, sitting back is exactly the reaction the right-wing is hoping for. We can't afford to let them turn our success into their win.

Focus on the Family, the National Organization for Marriage and their anti-gay friends want to write discrimination into the constitution of the most populous state in our country and undo what we've achieved today.

The National Organization for Marriage's own web site is calling on their supporters to give $10 million so they can blanket the state with anti-gay messages in the coming months.
They think you'll be too busy celebrating to notice as they amass their millions. I think they're wrong.

HRC is a member of Equality for All, the coalition of groups working together to defeat the marriage ban in California. Funds raised today will go to support Equality for All's efforts.
Click here to make a gift that will go straight to California to keep discrimination out of the constitution! This is a momentous day. Let's make sure it doesn't become a piece of history this November.