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Showing posts from October 21, 2018

BREXIT - fabulous new U.K. postage stamps.

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Via Rachel E

Tears for Matthew Shepard, tears for his parents. Gratitude for the Episcopal Church.

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WASHINGTON   —  Matthew Shepard , who was murdered at 21 years old in 1998 in an anti-gay hate crime, will be interred at  Washington National Cathedral  following a service of thanksgiving and remembrance on  Fri day, Oct. 2 6 , at the request of the Shepard family. This Friday, Oct. 12, is the 20th anniversary of Shepard’s death. The service will celebrate and recall Shepard’s life and will be followed by a private interment in the Cathedral crypt. The service will be presided over by the  Right Rev. Mariann Edgar  Budde ,  Episcopal  Bishop of Washington , and the  Right Rev.  V.  Gene Robinson , the first openly gay priest to be consecrated a bishop in the Episcopal Church.     ------------------------------------------------------------------- It was a horrid and brutal murder. My brother in Christ Matthew was cruelly slain.  There is never a good reason for murder.  There are many bad reasons.  In Matthew's case it was because he was gay.  He left this lif

Such a vile stench

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There was a horrid stench in my home this morning.   I had to track it down. 1)  It was not from me. Even though I had not yet showered I could still live with my body odours. 2)  It was not from Zion. He is a masterful farter but I could not blame him. 3)  Then I remembered.  A wee frog had decided to move in on Wednesday.  It's difficult to prevent this happening.  It's impossible to usher frogs outside. Zion tapped Mr. Frog a few times without hurting him. But in jumping around my new friend had managed to coat its skin with bits of dog hair. It was all too much.  The wee creature retired to a corner where he died, and soon began to stink. Dead, hair covered,  and rotting frog. Thank goodness that it was not a possum, a raccoon, a burmese python or a bobcat.

HSSC (Humane Society of Sarasota County)

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HSSC - ADOPTIONS TODAY  24th October 2018 Year to date HSSC has facilitated 1401 adoptions (mostly dogs as Sarasota's premier feline adoption agency, the Cat Depot , takes care of most of the cats). Back to HSSC  which enables   about 140 adoptions per month That's wonderful  because many of the adoptees come from very small kill shelters, in other states.   The HSSC shelter is "no kill" which means that even  un-adoptable dogs are given a good and caring home until they die, or have to be euthanised  on account of severe or debilitating illness. Don't be harsh about the kill shelters in other places.  Many of them are very small, underfunded, and run by lovely volunteers. HSSC is fortunate enough to be very well funded (individuals and foundations) in a very prosperous County. The famous Mr. Z  (Zion) was in a kill shelter in another State.  He and I were so blessed that HSSC brought him to Sarasota and thence to me. Great stuff  but I must a

A very proud and happy Uncle

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23rd October 2018 My great niece Imogen Chapman (19) was today declared to be the winner of the Miss Teen Great Britain Pageant. http://www.missteengreatbritain.co.uk My heart and the hearts of her family and friends are bursting with joy. (Imogen is the daughter of my niece Louise and her husband David, and the grand daughter of my sister Maureen and her husband Bernard). The pageant indeed has to do with beauty and style, but much more than that. it is "judged" on character, inter-personal relationships, communication skills, and commitment and work with charitable organisations. Dear Imogen has a deep and sustained commitment to the health, shelter, feeding and well being of  homeless people (rough sleepers) in our home City of Bristol, U.K. She is also a star in amateur theatre. She is devoted to her parents and grand parents. Imogen is a well rounded, cheerful, modest and gracious young woman. Well done "Immy"

Preparing for the inevitable disaster

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Matthew 24:37-39   New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) 37  For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.  38  For as until the day Noah entered the ark,  39  and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away,  This biblical text has often been interpreted as one about God's judgment.   I suggest that it can also be interpreted to refer to a willful  lack of preparation in the face of disaster.  Read it this way  "in those days before the great disaster they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage" The great disaster is upon us.   climate change,  global warming,  world wide over population,  the feckless and reckless plunder of our planet's resources,  the pollution of springs, wells, rivers and oceans,  the profligate use of  pesticides, herbicides, and fertilisers  etc., etc., etc. all these are leading us to a massive collapse of planet earth's ecology, with ghast

Cool (ish) in SRQ

Cooler in SRQ https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/sarasota-fl/34237/hourly-weather-forecast/328166 Air conditioning off.  Windows open.  Lovely long walks with Mr. Z.