"One thing I never could stand about Santa Carla...all the damn vampires!"

That's one of my favorite movie lines (from The Lost Boys...a great 80's vampire camp-fest) and it somehow seemed appropriate for this All Hallow's Eve.  I've had a whirlwind of a day.  Gardened in the morning (lots of trimming, fertilizing and yanking...needless to say, the green waste can is full!).  then I tried to put together the e-vite for the annual Baldridge Thanksgiving party--did a bit o' wrasslin' with evite.come and had to abandon the project in midstream so that Dan and I could go play 9 holes at our club.

We pushed carts, so it was a good workout...somewhat enhanced by the fact I wasn't playing as well as I'd like (again).  Moira showed up for a few holes.  Since it's Halloween, I'm just counting that as my costume.  Not sure Dan would agree, though.

By the 8th hole, I'd pretty much put a stake in Moira's black heart.  It was a good thing, too.  8 is a par four.  I hit a nice drive, an off-line but well-struck second shot.  Then I holed the approach shot for a birdie.  My first birdie ever on that hole...and likely my last.

I laughed loud and long at getting a birdie on the next to last hole of a fairly bad round.  The irony. 

Of course, something like that keeps you coming back, so we're signed up for tomorrow.  But for now, we're putting up our feed while waiting for elusive trick-or-treeaters to figure out that there are full-sized candy bars awaiting them on our quiet little street.

Hope the ghosties and goblins are nice to you!

This photo was taken by miro31 on flickr.com, but it's pretty darn close to the view in the hall outside of the courtroom to which I'll be reporting this morning.  I'm part of a large pool of potential jurors and today is the day they whittle us down to 12 jurors and 4 alternates.

I'm taking books, snack money and water to my adventure in civic duty.  Unfortunately, I won't have my computer available...so if I get picked, blogs may be shortened for a day or two.

There is a silver lining to the situation.  There are lots of McCain Palin stickers and Yes on 8 stickers in Orange County on the way to and from the courthouse in Santa Ana.  The good news is my jury duty travel provides a Lexus counterpoint (Obama and No on 8) to the general OC Conservative opinion on the freeways.

I know I've blogged quite a bit on Proposition 8 and the issue of "gay marriage."  But as today is "Write to Marry" day, where bloggers blog against Prop 8 and in support of equal marriage rights, I'm taking the topic on again because I believe completely and whole-heartedly in the cause.

If you're living in California and have been anywhere within earshot of radio or t.v. in the last month or so, you've heard all sorts of hysteria in the ads put out by the "Yes on 8" committees.  You've heard that "it's about the children."  You've heard that it's about "what will be taught in schools."  If you've been out on the streets and seen a Yes on 8 gathering, you've even seen signs that claim Prop 8 = Less Government.

What you haven't seen is a single, substantive, reasoned argument (backed up by science) about why you should support Proposition 8.  You have not heard proponents tell you why, for the first time in history, we should codify something in our constitution that limits, rather than expands, equal rights under the law.

I submit that the reason you've not seen or heard such arguments is that they don't bear scrutiny.  Here are four of the things most touted by opponents of equal marriage rights in recent years:

1.  If homosexuals are allowed to marry, it will degrade traditional marriage.  The closest thing I've found to an argument was on the Family Research Council's one pager on "Counterfeit Marriage," where Timothy Dailey says, "like all counterfeits, it cheapens and degrades the real thing." 

As to Dailey's assertions about the cheapening effect of counterfeits, simple common sense undermines his reasoning.  If one buys a counterfeit handbag, that purchase does not affect the pleasure of owning the genuine item.  In a similar way, my friend's marriage to the woman of her dreams has nothing to do with the sanctity of my marriage to Dan.

Dailey reasons that gay marriage is a counterfeit because it "lacks the fundamental sexual complementariness of male and female."  While I would agree (to a degree) that male/female dynamics wouldn't be part of most gay marriages, I don't believe he proves such a marriage "counterfeit" by simple assertion.  Many heterosexual marriages do not contain components Dailey would find necessary to a biblically correct marriage (submission of the wife, production of children, man at work/woman at home).  Yet Dailey would not deny these folks the right to marry despite their difference from his self-defined ideal. 

The truth is that Dailey's argument is a cover for his belief that homosexuality is evil.  Homosexuals don't qualify for equal marriage rights because they are less than heterosexuals.

What religious folks often fail to mention is that there are only a handful of verses dealing with homosexuality in the Bible.  The majority of these are found in Old Testament "holiness codes," many parts of which are routinely ignored (and explained away as cultural) by the church today.  Furthermore, homosexuality is not mentioned in the Ten Commandments, the Summary of the Law nor did Jesus see fit to address it.  Poverty, on the other hand, seems to be of great concern to God and Christ.  Pity the church (and Mr. Dailey) don't expend their energies on God's true concerns.

2.  It's a slippery slope.  If we allow gays to marry, what's to prevent polygamy, adults marrying children, people marrying animals, etc.  Beyond the utterly insulting comparisons this argument makes between pedophilia and homosexuality, there's a simple answer to the question.

We are to prevent it.  If NAMBLA managed, somewhere in America, to get in a "right to marry children" initiative on a ballot, we would have our say.  Further, the courts, in examining the inevitable defeat of such a measure would not find the argument for human dignity valid in relationships (like polygamy and pedophilia) where consenting adults agree and power is equally balanced.

Honestly, this argument makes me want to say, "Really.  In America.  We'll have animal human marriages.  Really?"

3.  We have to protect the children. This is really two arguments.  First, we have to protect "our" heterosexual children from being taught that gay marriage and heterosexual marriage are equal in the eyes of the law.  For a humorous take on this argument, click here.

Seriously though, California schools teach lots of things that fundamentalists don't agree with.  They teach evolution.  They teach that women and men are equally capable of success in the workplace.  Later they teach that condoms are an effective way to protect yourself if you become sexually active.  Even IF, and it's highly unlikely, some teachers touch on gay marriage in the classroom, it won't present an insurmountable obstacle to parents who disagree.

Instead it will provide them with the opportunity to educate their children on their own beliefs and the origins of those beliefs.  A teaching moment, if you will.

The second argument is that children raised in gay marriages will be warped by the experience.  That is simply not true.  There is not a single, peer-reviewed scientific study that reveals any difference between kids raised in similar parameters by heterosexual and homosexual parents.  To quote the American Psychological Association, "there is no evidence to suggest that lesbian women or gay men are unfit to be parents or that psychosical development among children of lesbian women or gay men is compromised relative to that among offspring of heterosexual parents."

James Dobson has argued that children do better when "raised by their married mother and father."  The trouble is, the research he quotes deals with children in single parent households versus those in two-parent households.  He also twisted research by Dr. Kyle Pruett about the critical impacts of male role models on children, claiming that it showed children of gay families are at risk.

Dr. Pruett sums up the children issue for me when he says, "it is the love that surrounds children that prepares them to give to the world and to protect themselves from its difficulties."   

Arguments against the Yes on 8 proponents aside, my vote against proposition 8 is informed and illuminated by scientific research and the anecdotal evidence of beloved people, gay and straight, in my life.  I believe in human dignity for all humans.  As my friend, Erik, says--If you're human, you qualify.

I also believe in the constitution of the United States of America when it says that "all men are endowed with certain inalienable rights."  That among these rights are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  My gay friends deserve the same right to pursue the happiness of marriage as my heterosexual friends.

Please join me in voting no on H8.

It's been a couple of weeks since I've been on the golf course...and boy did that show today!  My front nine was the worst its ever been on this course.  The back nine was better...but still not "good."

Nevertheless, I was pleased with the round for a couple of reasons.

1.  I got out and played!  My new friend at the club, Tina, and I have made a sort of loose pact to play together on Tuesdays.  I was tempted, after little sleep last night and fighting of a cold this weekend, to give it a pass today.  But I stuck with my plans and got a good workout (cart path only and 118 strokes means a good workout)...and I enjoyed the time with Tina.

2.  Moira didn't show up.  Some of you may know my evil twin, Moira.  She usually only shows up on the golf course these days, when I'm not playing well.  As an evil twin, you might imagine that she's not the most pleasant person to be around.  She pouts.  She pounds the ground with her golf club.  She calls me an idiot, a loser and (sometimes) worse.

Quite refreshing that she didn't show today. 

3.  Instead of Moira, Laura showed up.  I had reasonable expectations of my play for the round (that proved to be wildly optimisitic in retrospect).  When the first two holes turned out so horribly, I was able to adjust those expectations even lower.  As a result, the round never turned into a referendum on myself.

4.  I enjoyed playing with Tina.  Two great things about Tina as a golf partner are that she plays her own game (so she doesn't worry about yours) and she is an encourager at heart

At the end of the round, I was exhausted, hot, mildly annoyed by my disappointing score and happily surprised by my ability to stick with myself through a horrible round.

Honestly, I think golf is more than a game.  It's a growth medium for (appropriate) self-esteem and life skills.  (And, apparently, a way to exorcise one's evil twin.)

Despite still fighting off my cold, I spent a bit more time in the garden today.  I planted some annuals in the color bowls I have out front (they'd been looking pretty bedraggled), planted a larger plant in one of my pots, trimmed, cleaned, weeded.

As I was planting the Mexican Heather, a paticular bee became enamored of the fresh pollen it presented.  He and I had quite a tussle over which of us had "rights" to the plant.  No stinging took place, but there were some aggressive aeronautics on the part of the bee.

I don't know what it is about gardening that blisses me out.  The only other times I've entered the state that I get to gardening are:

--after Yoga class.

--sitting on the lanai at Hale Honu watching the waves break, the sun set, the fish chase each other, whales drift by, swimmers swimming, snorkelers snorkeling, paddlers paddling.  (Essentially, just sitting on the lanai and letting whatever happens, happen.)

Perhaps its the combination of solitude, labor and nature.  I enjoy watching the birds, butterflies, bees and even the ants at work while I'm working.  The work forms its own rhythm but it also allows me to be very creative in my approach.  I flit from task to task (something that would drive my friend, Lynne, to distraction!) but it all gets done.  And at the end of the project, something has been planted, cleaned or tamed (and often all three).

Pretty damn rewarding time for me.

Of course, my back hurts a lot less after a session on the lanai.  But you can't have everything.

(Photo by dardilrocks on flickr.com)

Since I saw a bit under the weather this week, I took things easy so my body could rest and heal.  But by yesterday, even though I wasn't 100%, I was antsy.

I heard Dad's voice in my head, "Get up and move around.  You'll feel better."

It's a prescription I've often heard, frequently as a child and as an adult, Dad's voice pops up with the urge even though he' in my head.  Sometimes I heed it too soon and end up getting sicker...but in recent years, it seems to kick in at the right time.

Which leads me to the Sunday question:

What piece(s) of advice do you most remember from your parents?

Not much to report from Chez Morefield.  My cold/sinus attack is about done with its assault on my body.  I'm feeling so much better that I took part of the morning to clean the garage.  Now there's compelling blog fodder.

Since then, I've been catching up on blogs, the LA Times and emails.  There were some interesting items in the blogs and articles. 

--A hedge fund manager who quite his wildly successful stint in order to repair his life and stop making money for rich folk.  His letter to clients included a recommendation for legalizing marijuana.

--A characteristically funny piece by Joel Stein in the LA Times about last minute registration of voters.

--The nearly unbelievable news that the Yes on 8 campaign sent a letter to businesses who donated to the No on 8 campaign, threatening to make their position "public" if they don't cough up a similar amount to the Yes campaign.  Blackmail...now there's the high moral ground for you.

--And the truly unbelievable (old news) claim that America is considering going in with Canada and Mexico on a new currency--the "Amero."  And I thought I had too much time on my hands!

So that sums up my day so far.  What are y'all up to?

Deanna wanted a photo of my No on 8 sign...check it out below.  (My camera's being funky...we don't have a pink house...but the point still comes across.)

I'm a bit under the weather, hence no blog posts for a few days.   I'm not quite 100% yet so I thought I'd take this opportunity to share, with the author's permission, an open email about Prop 8.  The letter says it all, much better than I ever have.  Many thanks to the letter's author, Jeffrey Bryan.

From: Jeffrey Bryan 
Sent: Monday, October 20, 2008 4:00 PM
Subject: Today is My Birthday
 

I was born October 20th, 1977 in the far recesses of the Inland Empire (I admit it, I'm not technically an Orange County native).  We did move before I turned a year old though, if that counts.

As a child, I was always involved in the community somehow.  I had a short stint in the Boy Scouts (and also in the Girl Scouts - long story).  I was president of the Lake Forest 4H Club, and Vice President of my High School's Environmental Action Group.  If that's not geeky enough I was a Mathlete and in the Academic Decathlon.

Through theatre, I performed with dozens of groups across Orange County - and through the Children's Mime Experience I was part of the opening ceremonies for Lake Mission Viejo and many other carnivals, festivals, and private parties.

My first job was at Togo's in Lake Forest, and I've also done my time at Disney, PETCO, and FreeCreditReport.com.  My first "real job" was at AppleOne Employment in Santa Ana helping people find jobs to support their families - an experience that will never leave me.

For the last three years I've donated a week of my life to AIDS LifeCycle - a charity event to raise funds to fight AIDS in San Francisco and Los Angeles.  I personally have raised several thousand dollars, and the event has raised almost $30,000,000 in those three years.

But like I said, it's my birthday.  And this year, I only want one thing for my birthday.  For the past 31 years I've given to California.  I've supported the community, paid my taxes, and been the best citizen I could be.  In November, there is a Proposition to amend our state constitution to prohibit marriages between members of the same sex.  I want to get married one day.  I want to have a big amazing wedding and invite all of you to help me celebrate the love that you all keep telling me I deserve.  If Prop 8 passes, that will never happen.

The people supporting Prop 8 have told a lot of lies trying to convince you this change to the constitution is needed.  They said it will legally require schools to teach kids about gay marriage (not true, the state law says that all changes to curriculum must be independently reviewed and approved by a committee of teachers, administrators, and parents).  They have said that your taxes will go to support gay marriage (not true, having gay marriages HELPS the economy and no taxes are required to support them).  They have said that gay couples will force churches to marry them (not true, this law has nothing to do with church rights).

This isn't a political issue, or a "social agenda".  This is personal.  This is my life.  These are my rights.  For my birthday, please vote no on Prop 8.  And if you're feeling particularly generous, please donate to the cause.
http://www.noonprop8.com

Your Friend and Neighbor,
Jeffrey Mahacek

My friend and occasional political sparring partner, Steve Peden, asked me a good question about my Voter's Guide recommendation for a yes vote on Prop 1A.

In my disclaimer on the Voter's Guide page, I say, "--I'm a fiscal moderate.  If government has surpluses and wants to invest in infrastructure, I'll tend to vote for funding.  If, on the other hand, there are deficits, it's going to be difficult for me to justify extending debt--even for worthy projects."

I was very much on the fence on Prop 1A because of the current economic situation in California.  We have large deficits; our housing market is imploding; our state legislature is in deadlock over any meaningful budget reform; and even if we get the deadlock removed through redistricting, we've done so much ballot box budgeting in recent years, we'll need more reform to allow legislators the ability to actually budget.

So I didn't lightly recommend Yes on 1A. 

My reasoning is that this type of infrastructure project (necessary for the future, forward-leaning in a technological sense, broad-based and multi-year in scope) can be more helpful to the economy than hurtful.  It creates jobs for the immediate future and for the long term.  It also looks toward a future where fossil fuels are exorbitantly expensive and alternatives will be needed to air and car travel.

Some, Steve among them I expect, will feel that these potential benefits do not justify taking on a big chunk of debt.  I don't agree.  But I can certainly understand their reasoning and appreciate their fiscally conservative impulse.

Thanks for the question, Steve!