Dolphin’s Dock

Of course, the problem with 100% cotton sweaters that fit perfectly right out of the box, is that without special attention, they never fit perfectly again. So I’ve vowed to never let this sweater enter the dryer. Air drying takes time so I was concerned when I didn’t think to wash the sweater until, oh, around 9:30 last night. But I figured I’d give it a shot so I washed it, neglecting to put fabric softener in with the load (I only use liquid fabric softener on things that are not to be dried, otherwise I rely on dryer sheets). It was only after the load fished it’s wash cycle that I realized that I’d forgotten, so it was another time through the washer for that load (no detergent this time at least).

Taking the clothes out from the dryer the second time, yielded another surprise. We have a green towel that got somewhat damaged by Sigyn when she was a kitten, and now sheds terribly (the towel, not the cat). I don’t know why we haven’t thrown the thing out yet (again, the towel, not the cat), but somehow it ended up in the same load as my sweater. So, though my sweater was now soft, it was also covered in green fuzz! Of course, by that point it’s too late to hope that the sweater will be dry by this morning so I hang it up and am hoping that it will be dry by tonight. Further I’m hoping that, once dry, a lint roller will take off all the green fuzz.

To add final insult to injury, the rest of the clothes from the load made it into the dryer, but in all the fuss with the fuzz-covered sweater, the dryer never got cut on. So when I went down to get my jeans out this morning, I found a bunch of still wet, and likely soured, clothes laying in the dryer. Back to the wash for the third time!

And for all the talk about how gay people need to “change hearts and minds,” I think the bigots are the ones changing people hearts and minds this time (but not in the direction they’d like). Yes on 8 announced today (oops it’s after midnight, so yesterday), that despite constant assurance (from Yes on 8!!) prior to the election that the measure would not nullify any existing marriages, they are now filing suit to do just that. Now this isn’t really a surprise (who could possibly have foretold that hateful bigots would be hateful and bigoted?), but this time I really think they’re over playing their hand. It’s the first time they’ve so openly tried to nullify existing marriages (besides when Mayor Newsome started marrying folks on his own, but that move was dubious enough as to not have the same effect). People can manage to convince themselves that they don’t hate anybody while simultaneously voting to prevent others from marrying in the first place, but it’s not so easy to justify knowingly ripping apart existing families.

Preventing marriages before they start is just about as devastating as nullifying them once they are in effect, but it’s harder to see the effect (even, in many ways, for the people most effect; those of us who’d like to get married but can’t). It seems easier to not gain, than it does to lose. Compounding it is the fact that, prior to the vote, many prominent Prop 8 supporters claimed that they had no intention to nullify existing marriages. Now that they’re changing their tune, it’s starting to look like bullying, even to those sympathetic to their cause.

I could be wrong, but I believe the original petition to get Prop 8 added to the ballot specifically stated that no existing rights would be removed by the measure (of course the petition was circulated prior to the Supreme Court’s decision). One potential legal argument against Prop 8, that I’ve heard tossed around a little, is to argue that the SC decision changed everything and therefore the measure actually on the ballot was not the same one that was petitioned for. I’ve thought it was one of the weaker arguments, but the bigots at Yes on 8 may well be giving it more validity with this latest move.

Gay people have been accused of asking for too much, too quickly. Now the bigots are finding themselves in the same position. Unfortunately for them, they can’t afford to wait.

Of course, it shouldn’t have caught anybody off guard, I don’t think. Isn’t this precisely the thing Obama promised to do; reach across the aisle, acknowledge all Americans, etc? While I absolutely understand, and consider valid, the argument that we risk legitimizing abhorrent views when we honor those who hold them, I’m not convinced the risk is that great here. Were Obama to pick James Dobson, I’d absolutely be singing a different tune. Dobson is KNOWN for his hate. He’s based his entire career on it. Warren has some hateful views and has said some hateful things, but hate is not so inextricably linked to him that one cannot acknowledge positive attributes about him without validating the hate.

I don’t see having Warren come give a non-controversial prayer (if he injects socially conservative issues into it, it’s a different story altogether) as a acceptance, promotion, or even tolerance of his objectionable views. Rather, it’s offering a role in working together on what we can agree on, and I can’t find much wrong with that. As I said, it’s a prayer, not a cabinet position. There’s no power to the role. I don’t want Rick Warren making policy, but if there are parts of an Obama presidency that he can agree with, I for one don’t mind letting him have a part.

Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Wrapping paper, unless I have recieved a gift bag, in which case I will reuse it.

Real tree or Artificial?
Artificial. Why kill a young, growing tree, just so it can sit in my living room for a month and then get fed into a chipper? The artificial we have now is a little dinky in our new place (though it was perfect size for the townhouse), but it was free (from my parents) so I ain’t complaining til we an afford to by a bigger one.

When do you put up the tree?
Generally the tree and lights go up the first weekend after Thanksgiving, then I give the cats a week to get used to it being there before adding ornaments.

When do you take the tree down?
No later than the first weekend of the New Year (usually before).

Do you like eggnog?
I don’t think I’ve ever actually had it. Doesn’t strike me as something I’d like, but I’d try it at least once.

Favorite gift received as a child?
Hard to say, but I remember being INCREDIBLY excited about a Nerf Bow N’ Arrow once upon a time (picture credit).

Hardest person to buy for?
EVERYBODY. I dislike picking something out for someone else.

Easiest person to buy for?
I guess if I had to say, I’d say TheBoyfriend™, because I’m usually spending a bit more and I usually have a better idea of what he’d actually want.

Do you have a nativity scene?
Well, technically TheBoyfriend™’s mother gave us a nativity ornament for our tree this year, so yes.

Mail or email Christmas cards?
In person!

Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
I had a family member once who was distant enough that she shouldn’t have bothered to get me anything, but she did anyways. I got a 4-inch plastic ruler.

Favorite Christmas Movie?
The Nightmare Before Christmas

When do you start shopping for Christmas?
It varies. This year I started a couple of weeks ago. I’m done now.

Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Maybe a “Secret Santa” gift here or there.

Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Enh…

Lights on the tree?
Umm… Of course.

Favorite Christmas song?
Anything traditional or traditional with the slightest jazz twist. This year I’m loving the Christmas songs Micheal Buble has out (but then who doesn’t swoon everytime he sings…). I dislike “pop” remakes of Christmas songs and I LOATHE Springsteen’s “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.”

Travel at Christmas or stay home?
I go to my parents. Once TheBoyfriend™ and I build our new house, we’re going to try to have everybody come up and have Christmas there.

Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blixen and Roudolph (oh yeah and “Olive, the other reindeer”)

Angel on the tree top or a star?
Nothing this year. Last year we had a big snowflake.

Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Christmas Eve. Sleep in on Christmas morning.

Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
Traffic.

Favorite ornament theme or color?
Our tree is in silver and blue.

Favorite for Christmas dinner?
Enh…

What do you want for Christmas?
To spend time with my family and friends. Anything material thing that I want that is less than what I can reasonably expect others to spend on me, I’ve already bought myself.

We have temporarily switched her totally over to wet food to which we’re adding cranberry extract and diluted apple cider vinegar as well as giving her a couple of pellets of cantharis for pain. We started her on that regimen Saturday evening, with the understanding that if she showed no improvement, we’d make a vet appointment first thing today. I’m happy to report that as of yesterday evening, her trips to the litter box are leaving about a teaspoon of urine which, while not yet a normal amount, is a vast improvement from the drop she’d been leaving earlier. I think we caught it early (there was no blood in her urine at all because I’d have easily seen any when she left a drop or two in the white bath tub), and since she’s showing definitive signs of improvement, I think we’ll monitor her closely for a bit longer before calling the vet.