Author Archives: Jen
South Dakota and Abortion
The comments are turned off on this entry because I don’t want to start a flame war and also because I’m simply telling you what happened in South Dakota.
This law did not just randomly get passed — it’s been in the works for a couple years now.Â? They almost had it passed in 2004 but the governor refused to sign the bill because it didn’t provide for safety regulations for abortions performed while the constitutionality of the law was being challenged in the courts.Â? As one who is pro-life/pro-legal, that was not necessarily a bad thing — the governor is anti-abortion but he wanted to make sure things were safe until the law was absolutely iron-clad.
There is also only one clinic in SD that performs abortions and they have to fly doctors in from Minnesota, so this really doesn’t change much.
A Bit RisquÃ? But Still Poetic Justice
BBC: Sudan man forced to “marry” goat
Let’s keep the Montana and sheep jokes to a minimum, OK?
A Good Reminder
Protected: Observing Grief (VI)
Home At Last
I said good-bye to my grandfather for possibly the last time on Tuesday afternoon.Â? He told me he loved me and I told him I loved him.Â? Since this is me, the tears were flowing.Â? Mom and I drove to Everett where she dropped me at the train station where the tears commenced flowing again.
I was all ready to get on the train at 5:45 but… that unfortunately was not in the plans thanks to a crane accident in Seattle.Â? I was stuck in Everett until 10 p.m. and around 8:45, I just lost it and started sobbing.Â? (There’s more to this story but it’s nothing I’m mentioning in a public entry.)Â? When I finally got on the train, my bed was folded down for me and the porters brought me food.Â? They got big hugs for that.
I got home around 4 this afternoon.Â? I am tired and a little too angsty about some things in my personal life to say much more.Â? At least I’m home with my black cat (and the others… and of course Jon).
A Word from Seattle
Well… the Lenten abstention from soda lasted all of a day and a half. Oh yeah… I also ate meat on Friday.Â? Were it not for my two afghan squares a day, my soul might be in mortal danger.Â? 😛
Things are not as severe as I thought they were going to be.Â? Physiologically, my grandfather isn’t doing badly but his mind is really confused. Â? He can still recite MANY stanzas of poetry (since they had to do lots of memory work in school back in his day) and I’ve sung a couple hymns to him.Â? It’s actually been not that sad for me to be here and see this — it’s been more of a time of blessing for me because I’m getting about 7 hours a day with him and I’m able to sit and hold his hand and be present.Â? The sadness will probably come when I head home.
On a more positive note, I was able to have a lovely evening with my friend Melissa with whom I spent 3 years at UCSC.Â? The two of us headed to Applebees and then back to her apartment to watch the Oscars and talk.Â? She is literally the world’s most sweet and giving person and I’m really blessed to have her as my friend and to get to see her the last couple times I’ve been in Washington.Â? I really miss having her around since she’s very much like me in terms of faith and convictions.
I head back to Montana tomorrow and I’ll arrive sometime on Wednesday morning/afternoon depending on how late Amtrak is.Â? One nice thing: they messed up my reservation date coming here so my accomodation got upgraded to a deluxe family bedroom (i.e. my own sink and bathroom as well as more space).
Back to the crocheting I go!