Too Far...Not Far Enough...A Third Perspective on the Fix...

After this week's political rollercoaster...the dust is finally settling here in the Hoosier State, and the Final Four has taken center stage.

On the edges there are factions from both sides whining. Conservatives unhappy.saying the "Fix" went too far. GLBT complaining that the fix didn't go far enough.

I just want to toss in the view from where I am standing for your consideration.

Ironically, the very legislation that was suppose to "protect" conservatives from baking "gay" wedding cakes or arranging "gay" flowers will go down in history as the Bill that helped "Turn the Tide" for GLBT Civil Rights.  Not because of The bill itself (which does very little)..but because for the first time in Indiana CEO's and Protesters stood side by side and said "We aren't going to tolerate this treatment any more." and the State was hit the only place that makes any difference to them...directly in their wallets.

Now the eyes of a Nation are on us. With BBC coverage, it is true to say the eyes of the World.

We have both Republican and Democrat Gubernatorial hopefuls for 2016 that want to expand Civil Rights in this State to encompass both sexual orientation and gender identity. 

And the uprising started by the original bill was the spark that set off the powderkeg of change. 

And THAT is a good thing  Instead of lamenting that the fixed bill doesn't go far enough...try to savour the small wins along with the large and take a moment to process what this particular win has accomplished...in the big picture. 

And for those of you who have a problem with equal civil rights protection for everyone...I only have one word:   EVOLVE.

More anon...

State Politics in Indiana...Sit Down and Pass the Popcorn!

This may be the face of a man with his unmentionables caught in a wringer.

Ironically, the "fix" to RFRA as proposed may actually offer a layer of protection to the LGBT community that they didn't previously have.  To refuse to sign the fix shows what we have known all along that this was a direct follow up to the passage of SSM and was directly meant as a way for business owners to refuse service to gays and lesbians.

If he signs it Micah, Eric and his rabid Christian Cronies heads explode in unison and he is branded as a RINO.

If he doesn't sign the State stays in the World News...not in a good way. It helps reinforce the idea that the bill's entire purpose was to discriminate...and we lose businesses, events, and revenues...as a bonus he also pisses off major Indianapolis businesses like Eli Lilly.

Not Good. This must be what President Obama feels like...pretty much ALL the time...don't you think?

Either option...he is still finished politically. So there is an upside, I guess. 

To repeal RFRA may be his only option...that would be a punt. 

We'll see.

And look at that face. How could you NOT feel sorry for that? Like a scolded puppy.

Let me explain. 

Typically, I am certainly not a "cheer while the World is burning" kind of person. Okay, maybe sometimes I am.  However...this time I am not only huddled around the bonfire..I've brought the fucking marshmallows, okay?

When Pence looks you in the face and says he did not know this bill was designed to legislate discrimination...he is LYING to you, okay?  Mike and his band of Merry Uber Conservatives have been fighting gay rights/SSM since the year 2000. This entire piece of legislation was drafted in response to the legalization of SSM in Indiana.

It is a matter of public record.
Look it up. 

And we don't even have to go back that far. Before the RFRA was signed- 30 law professors sent a signed statement of their own, warning Pence of the repercussions of signing such a bill.  So how the hell could he be shocked and stunned at the blow-back he has received?

So...are you feeling a bit more like kicking the puppy now?

But wait...there is more...

How can we forget the George Stephanopoulos interview in which Pence was asked (less than a week ago) if he thought lesbians and gays should be discriminated against (regardless of this bill)...and asked to answer yes or no....three times,and he could not do it. 

For the RECORD, Mr. Pence..the correct answer is NO.

If the question had been:
Is it okay to discriminate against Christians...the answer would STILL have been NO.

The correct answer is always
NO.

It isn't a "trick question". No "Gotcha" moment. Just being a goddamn human being.

"Okay...bring me my boots and that damned dog."

And, if you are still wondering why I am clutching the bag of Stay-Pufts; here is a response to today's proposed "fix" by one of the people who heavily supported this bill:

Advance America, the nonprofit lobbying group run by influential lobbyist Eric Miller, posted on its website that the "Indiana Senate and Indiana House of Representatives will be voting to destroy the Religious Freedom Restoration Act."

[sic]

The legislative fix forbids using the law to discriminate against someone's gender identification or sexual orientation.

REALLY?

"woof woof...yelp.."

So-

Add the Words or Repeal it.   (Miz Carla sees a Repeal in her crystal ball...but you never know...)


We're waiting.

In the meanwhile both John Gregg (D) and Mayor Ballard (R) are now climbing over the still warm corpse and making all the right noises to kick off their 2016 Gubernatorial Run.

Pull up a seat and enjoy the fire. It is going to be a long night.

 "Marshmallow, guys?" 

OMG...............he signed it!  The sound you just heard in the background was Micah, Eric and Smith's heads spontaneously exploding!  Mike...I still won't vote you back into office...but you did the right thing, finally! 

                                      (looking a bit less than thrilled)


 
Disclaimer:   No puppies were actually harmed in the making of this blog. Nor does the writer of said blog in any way support or encourage the kicking of puppies. Just politicians. Often Repeatedly.

The Ripples...Hannah's Birthday...Gardening Ideas and a New Recipe

Front page of my morning paper....

~laughing~

Oh sure. You're all looking around yourselves now. And did you manage to catch Governor Pence earlier in the week on GMA?  Seriously??? The man was asked point blank, yes or no, whether LGBT should be discriminated against overall...not just in reference to this badly botched bill...THREE TIMES...and he would not answer the question.

Which, of course, is your answer.

By early morning he was steadfastedly defending the RFRA again.

Mayor Ballard has called for a repeal, or at the very least, protective legislation passed so this bill can't be used to chose who gets to "sit at the lunch counter". Not that he really cares, of course. This is the guy that wanted to incarcerate the homeless for...er...being homeless, okay? But the GOP are notorious for walking over the bodies of their crushed party members when there is a political light at the end of the tunnel. 

"oops...sorry Mike...was that your head?"

Ballard is a lot of things...but he isn't stupid. He knows which way the wind is blowing and who butters his  bread. Revenues from Downtown businesses and events. And, he sees Pence's stumble and fall as a sure way to clear a path to the Governorship.

For Mayor Ballard, Christmas has come early this year.


Six of Indianapolis' major corporations...including Eli Lilly have sent CEO's to fight the RFRA. The fiscal backlash has been swift and terrible.  Bosma and Ballard have started the back-pedal and "let's fix this thing" hoping to repair some of the damage Pence has done.

I kind of want to send him a tee-shirt that reads

I passed the RFRA 
And all I got was This Lousy Tee-Shirt
(and Lost All HOPE of re-election
or a Presidential Bid)

Anyway...Miz Cleo...er...Carla predicts either a Repeal (less likely) or additional protective legislation (where my money is ) before the end of the week.

We will see!

To paraphrase Brando's character in Apocalypse Now:

"I LOVE the smell of Politics in the Morning!"


Enjoyed part of Spring Break with two of my grand-daughters last week.

Kaylee...With Easter crafts, lunch out together, checking out the new Children's Section at my Local library and making Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies to enjoy with tea and share with EVERYONE!

And Hannah...for a lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings (...my FAVORITE, Grandma Rose...) and some pre-shopping for her Birthday outfit...and planting flowers and crafts.


Grandchildren are the BEST!

Everyone came together for Hannah's 8th Birthday Party on Sunday!

 

                        

 

All of the Grandparents, family and friends showed up. Tanya outdid herself with the arrangements and the cooking! 
All in all it was perfect.  She had a wonderful day!

                                                        It Bloomed!

So...slowly but surely there is hope for Spring. Not quite basking weather yet...but perfect to tuck in some pansies and Johnny-Jump-Ups.

Just the very beginning of "muddy knees and dirt 'neath my nails" season.
Big plans for this year. A small water feature. Several heirloom roses. A lot more herbs...including fresh bay. And I found this idea on Pintrest that I love love love...and plan to do throughout the house. Mini water lilies and other aquatic plants anchored in decorative gravel at the bottom of apothecary jars. 

I may even add a Betta to a couple of the container gardens!

But for now...picking up the dead-fall and leftover leaves and such and starting this year's compost box. Using the end of last year's deep rich black soil to feed my existing Roses and Boxwoods and fill baskets and planters. As soon as it gets a bit warmer going to touch up the arbour and do a re-paint outdoors. So nice to be able to sit on the patio with my morning cup and watch the sun rise again.

Only

More days until our Spring Adventure, Idgy!

Can't wait! 

Everything should be warm and green and beautiful by then. Looking forward to our mutual birthday celebration...some horticultural and geological larceny (our MO) and laugh and chat until dawn!

Okay...and maybe singeing our eyebrows off with the candles.

LOL!


Today's recipe is fairly straight ahead...and is great for a quick breakfast, or as a nice dessert after a meal.

Grilled Honey Glazed Fresh Peaches

Cut in half and pit fresh peaches. Use One peach for each serving.

Brush cut sides with Honey
(I like to use wild-flower honey as it has a stronger flavor)

Lightly sprinkle the cut sides with cinnamon.

Grill honey side down for 7-10 minutes.

Cool for 3 minutes. Serve with a dollop of Vanilla Yogurt and garnish with a sprig of mint (optional)

Just delicious!

WELL...that didn't take long.

Complete with a FB Site...lol!  

https://www.facebook.com/GregBallardforGovernor


And you think I make these things up.


So as reprehensible as he is to me "Go Greg!"  Get that anti-discrimmination legislation together and passed. 

We can deal with you in 2016.

You know what is wrong with being clairvoyant?

Very few surprises.

Mike Pence and the signing of SB101

Oh look...Mike is waving goodbye.

Goodbye to the Conventions and Jobs and Revenue that will be funnelled away from the State of Indiana because of his latest political Blunder.

Goodbye to his Re-Election in 2016

Goodbye to any HOPE of a Presidential Bid.

(...actually, those last two may be the silver lining in all of this..)


Salesforce.com is withdrawing from Indiana. Disciples of Christ and Gen Con have said they will cancel future Conventions here.
Already.
And this is just the tip of the iceberg.

 George (effing) Takei has called for a BOYCOTT of Indiana.
 The entire damn STATE.

That is right, folks...we've effectively managed to piss off Mr. Sulu.

Even Jan Brewer knew the fiscal repercussions and vetoed this bill when it crossed her desk in Arizona.  In case you thought she vetoed that bill out of the goodness of her heart...even I don't have an imagination THAT vivid, okay?

So what Governor Pence basically signed into law was that businesses (once again) get to "Choose Who Sits at the Lunch Counter"  Legislating discrimination. Not only is it wrong...it is an embarrassment to our State and most of its residents. It is NATIONAL news today...and not in a good way. It will be overturned, undoubtedly...after wasting many more tax dollars.

Even Mayor Ballard knows what a fiscal and PR disaster this is potentially. Although I have to think, in no small part, that this is jockeying for position in 2016.  And agreeing with Mayor Ballard makes me throw up in my mouth a little bit. But even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

And Mike is wide-eyed and acting clueless tonight. He can't imagine why people are upset.

I am thinking by the end of the month, lost jobs and revenues for the city and the boycotts to follow- that he will figure it out.


More anon...

Post Script:  Only a few days after the signing and the Reality of what he has done has wiped that smug condescending smirk right off his face

From Coast to Coast this has spread like wildfire.

To make matters worse...now he stands wide eyed saying he didn't know and that the media is to blame and we misunderstand the bill. Great move, Mike. Not only do legalize discrimination...but then you try to say that we are too STUPID to understand the bill. You know. When you are in a hole...the first thing an intelligent person would do is stop digging...

We don't need the bill CLARIFIED.

We need the bill REPEALED. 

And as far as you...well...you've managed to take one for the (GOP) Team no matter how this plays out...because bigotry and hate have succeeded in ending your political aspirations.

And I think I feel warm and fuzzy about that.

On a related note I am proud of the thousands of Hoosiers who have actively protested this charade...and the businesses who have embraced the We Proudly Serve Everybody stickers. The times are changing...and it is nice to see it happen!

Eventually Pence, and his ilk, will be gone...and what I have seen helps restore my faith in Humanity.

More Anon...

The Impressionists...Another Approach to Composting...And A New Snack

Completely amazed! A new snack gleaned from Pinterest (totally nailed it) that is less than 100 calories for two pieces and tastes wonderful!

And very simple.

Slice a banana...press two pieces together using a bit of peanut butter.  Arrange on flat tray.

Freeze for 1 hour.

Remove and dip in melted chocolate (or spoon chocolate over them).

Return to freezer for 1/2 hour.

Soooooooooooooo delicious.

I could see trying something very similar with fresh strawberries and a tiny bit of cream cheese or cheesecake filling. 

Anyway...

Spring has sprung...and apparently the Tucker-Cat is "feeling" it as well.

Still playing like a kitten at 14 years old (this April). Maybe a bit too kittenish this week, as he has been flying through the house; often leaping onto me randomly while I am reading in the evening with all claws out...like Velcro-Kitty! That will get your attention.

Just finished The Impressionist Three Part Special from the BBC as part of my Virtual France Adventure. Very entertaining and informative. Well done.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eBah6c5kyA

In case you want a look.

I have been working on that Eiffel painting which took a decidedly odd turn last night. I started adding graffiti...but I think I like it. Will post photos as it is further along. 

After watching the Claude Monet special though...I must admit having an overwhelming urge to get a long, larger stretched canvas and work on that painting off my Summer photograph from Depauw Nature Park.

And another from a photograph...although not mine...but I could see where it would lend itself to Impressionism very well. Especially the flowers in the foreground.

Will be picking up canvas soon!  Very excited about these.

Learning a new compost approach as Spring arrives, now that I am using more container and baskets for my flowers and herbs. Lasagne Layering. Where you compost in layers directly in the pot, box or basket.  Layering egg shells, bits of vegetable trimmings, banana peel, coffee et. al. right in with your soil as you plant the container. Topping it off with a layer of good soil. Seems like a reasonable approach. Anxious to see how it works out.

Happy to see Spring arrive.  Years ago I was reading a book containing some of the lesser known works of Andrew Wyeth and came across this

Although I believe the official name for the watercolour is The Sexton...I remember a quote from him stating he wanted to call it

"She Didn't Winter Well"

At the time it seemed highly amusing and I may have laughed out loud.

Now as the Winter cold brings out the aches and pains and stiffness that come with FRED and a fair amount of arthritic joints...I understand the concept of Wintering Well on a far more personal level. And so....with another Winter behind me...it appears I have "Wintered Well" once again.

Go me!

Spring Break this week and looking forward to some Grandma Rose time....and Hannah's 8th Birthday!

More anon...

Monet...The Prototype and Maple Cream

Finally located a Maple Cream Recipe that was shared with me quite a few years back. Only requiring 2 ingredient's, and it is AMAZING. Tastes just like the filling of a Maple Bun Candy Bar.
Remember those?

Temperature is everything. In fact this is the reason I own a candy thermometer.  To make Maple Cream you need:

100% Maple Syrup  (for a very small batch I use one cup...just keep the ratio to cream right and you can make the batch as large as you want.)

2 tablespoons of heavy cream.

Boil the Maple Syrup in a small saucepan until the thermometer reads 232...then immediately remove from heat. If it boils longer it will either turn into Maple Sugar...or (more likely) burn.

Use an ice bath (double bowl filled with ice) to quickly cool the entire mixture to 100 degrees.

Add cream and whip together (or if doing this by hand start stirring....forever)

It will be very dark at first...but keep whipping or stirring...and the entire mixture will begin to turn a light taffy colour and get lighter and lighter as the sugar crystallizes and builds body.

It happens quickly once the colour changes.

Transfer into a wide mouthed glass jar or a dish and refrigerate. It will keep a long time...assuming it isn't eaten in the next two-three days.

Can be used as a dessert topping. Great on ice cream. Can be made into fondant for candies. Yes...you could even make a home-made BUN if you so desired. Wonderful on morning toast...or just by the spoonful :)

Had some this morning with my tea.

A drop-in by my youngest son; who never ceases to amaze me.

For the last couple of weeks he has been researching the use of electromagnetic charge to propel an object. An electromagnetic "gun" as it were. He explained in detail the way that the coils would need to interact with each other to achieve this. Then last week he began working on a tiny prototype.  Just to see if he could do it..to see if  he could make it work.  Yes...people build electromagnetic guns all the time. The Navy has a huge one. But, it was a challenge to him. Something to accomplish.

Demonstrating to me the ability to fire a finishing nail a short distance using only electromagnetic force. Just by pushing a button. And completely silent.  Impressive.

And finishing two of the books I have been using to accompany my Virtual France Adventure.

A collection of recipes from Monet's Journals in Giverny. And a nice glimpse into his life at the time. Gleaned several interesting culinary adventures from this that I plan to try soon.



And Stephanie Cowell's Historical Fiction Novel (...made into a theatrical release, as well)

Depicting the life and times of Claude Monet and his wife/muse, Camille.

Monet...who actually gave the name to the movement that would come to be  known from thereafter as Impressionistic and all the painters of this style as Impressionist's.

Excellent read...going to try to find the film.

Lennon who is heading into his final semester at college...and received the Girl Scout Cookies I mailed him (compliments of Hannah...our GSC Connection)

                                                 (SKYPED)

We've decided that the inscription on his college ring should read

"Free At Last!"

And I so understand!

And photos from Donna of my Oldest and Middle grandson this week

.                                              Brenden and Donna

                  The Amazing Preston...who is rapidly becoming a teenager!




Can't wait to see all of you again! Soon :) Thanks, hon!






And it's only Wednesday.

More anon...

Je suis...

The French say:  Je suis...

The Italians: Sono...

The German: Ich bin ...

The Spanish: Yo soy...

In English we say: I am...

Two tiny words whose following statement defines us. Ever changing, at times.
I am a mother and grandmother, I was a wife for years...then a caregiver...and now a widow. I was a Nurse. Now I am a Writer. An Author. A Traveller/Gypsy. A Gardener. A Photographer.

Actually it was at a writer's conference/seminar recently with several other authors that I realized the absolute power of those two syllables, and how as women/ writers we tend to avoid them. Downplay them. In a group of twelve of us...the question was posed:

"How many of you identify with being a writer/author."

Only three of us, myself included, out of twelve answered affirmatively. Most waffled.

"I dabble."

"I wouldn't call myself a writer."

"Not really. I've never been published."

And so it went.

The sad part is that "I dabble" has a book's worth of poetry that she shared. Some of which was outstanding.

"I wouldn't call myself a writer." has been penning her essays since before I was alive. She had been writing since she was 19 and was now in her 80's.

And "Not really." brought a manuscript to share she has been working on for the last 5 years of her life between home-making and children.

The conference was good. Many exceptional ideas bandied about. A lot of laughter. A feeling of "kindred spirits". We exchanged thoughts. Kevetched a bit about writing...not writing...time...environmental factors...what other's in our lives thought about our writing...our writing goals and steps we could take to achieve them...and how chocolate may be the perfect food. Really.

I know that personal perception rarely changes overnight, but I hope that the nine who started that evening doubting themselves, give the concept of I AM some serious consideration in the year to come.

As women we embrace so many negative qualities attributed to us by others; it would be nice to see a few of the positive take root and flourish.

As for me "Je Suis..." is going to be my next tattoo!

 Mais oui, je suis un auteur!