Quote of the Day

Love seems the swiftest but it is the slowest of all growths. No man or woman really knows what perfect love is until they have been married a quarter of a century. ~Mark Twain

She Tells Her Love while Half Asleep by Robert Graves

She tells her love while half asleep,
In the dark hours,
With half-words whispered low:
As Earth stirs in her winter sleep
And puts out grass and flowers
Despite the snow,
Despite the falling snow.

O, to take what we love inside

I have been positively giddy all week this week - as my brothers came in town (as well as a cousin!) and my entire family was together.  I admit I was surprised by the overpowering happiness I felt just in anticipating their arrival - no less in seeing them daily all week!

And then just yesterday I received news that a long-hoped for ambition is one step away from realization. At that point the giddiness subsided, and I started shining (a la Stardust).

All I can think of is this poem and how much I love it (still). It reminds me of Isaiah 58:11, 12:3, and Ezekiel 3:3. 

And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.

I hope that you enjoyed your week of family and feasting as much as I did :)

A Decade by Amy Lowell

When you came, you were like red wine and honey,
And the taste of you burnt my mouth with its sweetness.
Now you are like morning bread,
Smooth and pleasant.
I hardly taste you at all for I know your savour,
But I am completely nourished.

Quote of the Day

Despair, doom, and discouragement are not an acceptable view of life for a Latter-day Saint. However high on the charts they are on the hit parade of contemporary news, we must not walk on our lower lip every time a few difficult moments happen to confront us. There have always been some difficulties in mortal life and there always will be. But knowing what we know, and living as we are supposed to live, there really is no place, no excuse, for pessimism and despair.
H. W. Hunter

Quote of the Day

I have been complimented many times and they always embarrass me; I always feel that they have not said enough.
Mark Twain

You might be a Thomas if...

KT: EVERYONE likes us
effortlessly
Gordon: hehe
'cept for the people who don't
but yeah
KT: uh I don't know those people
Gordon: haha
those people don't matter
KT: right
exactly

My favorite YouTube video of all time

Press Release: The Rumors are True

My sister is expecting #2

=)

Adam's Curse by William Butler Yeats

We sat together at one summer's end,
That beautiful mild woman, your close friend,
And you and I, and talked of poetry.
I said, 'A line will take us hours maybe;
Yet if it does not seem a moment's thought,
Our stitching and unstitching has been naught.
Better go down upon your marrow-bones
And scrub a kitchen pavement, or break stones
Like an old pauper, in all kinds of weather;
For to articulate sweet sounds together
Is to work harder than all these, and yet
Be thought an idler by the noisy set
Of bankers, schoolmasters, and clergymen
The martyrs call the world.'

........ And thereupon
That beautiful mild woman for whose sake
There's many a one shall find out all heartache
On finding that her voice is sweet and low
Replied, 'To be born woman is to know --
Although they do not talk of it at school --
That we must labour to be beautiful.'

I said, 'It's certain there is no fine thing
Since Adam's fall but needs much labouring.
There have been lovers who thought love should be
So much compounded of high courtesy
That they would sigh and quote with learned looks
precedents out of beautiful old books;
Yet now it seems an idle trade enough.'

We sat grown quiet at the name of love;
We saw the last embers of daylight die,
And in the trembling blue-green of the sky
A moon, worn as if it had been a shell
Washed by time's waters as they rose and fell
About the stars and broke in days and years.

I had a thought for no one's but your ears:
That you were beautiful, and that I strove
To love you in the old high way of love;
That it had all seemed happy, and yet we'd grown
As weary-hearted as that hollow moon.

Quote of the Day

Marriage is the triumph of imagination over intelligence.
Oscar Wilde

Quote of the Day

The sum which two married people owe to one another defies calculation. It is an infinite debt, which can only be discharged through eternity.
Goethe

The Department of Louise

FYI, Obama called me and I delightedly accepted:

http://archive.deseretnews.com/archive/140875/ITS-91-AND-TIME-TO-UNVEIL-WHOLL-RUN-FOR-PRESIDENT.html

A few talking points

If, like me, you have friends who are incredibly hurt by what's happened in California, I have developed a few talking points to help foster understanding. I hope these are helpful:

Civil Rights
Everyone, regardless of race, gender, creed is allowed to marry – no one is withheld that right. It is the definition of what a marriage is that is in question, not who has the right to access it.

Church / State
I simply vote for what I believe is true, whether that is founded on religious beliefs or not, that is my moral obligation. I am not forcing my religious code on anyone by voting my conscience.

The Definition of Marriage
I believe that marriage = man + woman; that just as a man and a woman physically procreate, they socially marry. This belief can be held without any religious beliefs (though, in my case, all of my morals and values are founded on mine). My morals and values are not any less valid because they are religiously founded.

Quote of the Day

We are not enemies, but friends -- though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection.
Abraham Lincoln, as quoted by Barack Obama.

Prop 8: Aftermath

Last night a friend of mine from High School updated her status to say:
"R is depressed that 52% of people in her state are evil."

Which prompted me to write the following:

Hey R,

I know we don't talk often, but I just wanted to respond to your status. I hope you don't really look upon all people who voted Yes on prop 8 as "evil." Clearly we all see this as a very difficult and emotional issue, but I do promise you that at least SOME of the people who voted yes on that issue care very much about their friends and their happiness, but simply feel a moral obligation to vote for things they see as true - not out of a desire to impose a "religious will" on anyone.

I hope this isn't offensive to you, I just wanted to give you insight from someone on the other side of the issue.

respectfully,
kt

R's Response:
Hi kt,
Thanks for the message, I appreciate it. I shouldn't have used the word "evil"... the emotions are just very strong still. While I feel like I understand that you feel that being gay is wrong/sinful/etc, I don't think I'll ever understand why a "moral obligation," as you put it, would drive people to fight to take civil rights away from others.

It parallels interracial marriage in every way. 50 years ago, it would be illegal for me to marry my now-husband. It would also mean I would not exist since my own parents wouldn't be allowed to marry either. So, this is a highly personal issue to me.

Even if someone thinks homosexuality is sinful, I don't understand the need to go out of your way to take rights away from them. This is the first time in our state's history that there will be an amendment to the constitution to REMOVE civil rights. Isn't that saying something? You can disagree w/someone's "lifestyle" yet recognize that it has no bearing on your own life/happiness/well-being. And also, aren't your morals tied to your religion? So if enforcing your morals on others isn't enforcing religious will, then what is it?

Had justices in the Loving v Virginia case not stood up for interracial marriage, who knows if I would have the same rights as you today. At the time, I'm guessing popular vote would have voted against allowing it, but with hindsight, I hope you'd agree that the right decision was made.

Happy to keep the conversation going... I respect you but just haven't heard a single convincing argument yet...

R

And my response:

R,

Thanks for your great response. I know there has been some ridiculous rhetoric thrown around, some of which L. corrected for me (in terms of how state laws differ, etc.). And, yes, you are correct that my morals are founded on my religion, but it is not a desire to force my religious "code" that drives this issue for me. I'll try to explain as best I can. Please feel free to pick this apart.

The best way to explain this is that I believe in a society with genders. I know that seems like an odd way to put it, but I believe that in the way the genders interact physically, emotionally, psychologically, etc. they are designed to be different (Even though, of course, like all populations, there are statistical variances to any generalized characteristics), and that these differences are desireable.

I do not see this as the same as interracial marriage, because this is an issue of gender to me. Whereas a white man and a black man are the same (with some genetic differences, obviously), a woman and a man are not (obviously, as mentioned before, there are some outlying variances statistically - but those are, statistically, exceptions). I read an article in the NYT this summer that seemed shocked that although women are just as capable as men in science, they are "just not interested" - further evidence to me that the brain, the body, and, I would contend, the spirit of the genders have fundamental differences. Again, I believe those differences have value. This is the foundation for why I believe marriage is only between a man and a woman.

I believe that the sexual relationship is a metaphor for the emotional relationship - that just as the two genders are designed to procreate physically in different, but complementary ways, they are designed to parent emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually in different, but complementary ways.

This does not mean that I don't think other individuals (single, in committed homosexual relationships, etc.) wouldn't make great parents. It also doesn't mean that the worst heterosexual relationship is better than the best homosexual relationship. Clearly that is not true. Even though I do not personally relate to homosexuality, I readily believe that the love these couples have is sincere and lasting. I absolutely trust that these couples sincerely love and desire each other.

I simply believe that God designed two genders to teach each other - in ways that are harder, sometimes, than it would be with someone of the same gender - and that there is truth, beauty, and importance in that design. That it is something physically, socially, psychologically, and spiritually worth promoting above all other relationships.

Because I believe this is true, I feel a moral obligation to support what I see as true in the laws that I support. It does not affect my respect for others' choices, nor does it affect my wishes for others' happiness.

I really appreciate your willingness to discuss the issue with me. I hope this makes sense, even though you may disagree.

Best
kt

ps - the article I mentioned is here:
and obviously it's a generalization that women "just aren't as interested" - because I have many girlfriends who are very talented and interested in the sciences, although most of them are just as interested (and talented) in the liberal arts as well.

Quote of the Day

Make no mistake about it, brothers and sisters, in the months and years ahead, events are likely to require each member to decide whether or not he will follow the First Presidency. Members will find it more difficult to halt longer between two opinions. President Marion G. Romney said, many years ago, that he had 'never hesitated to follow the counsel of the Authorities of the Church even though it crossed my social, professional or political life.'

This is hard doctrine, but it is particularly vital doctrine in a society which is becoming more wicked. In short, brothers and sisters, not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ includes not being ashamed of the prophets of Jesus Christ. . . . Your discipleship may see the time when such religious convictions are discounted. . . . This new irreligious imperialism seeks to disallow certain opinions simply because those opinions grow out of religious convictions.

Resistance to abortion will be seen as primitive. Concern over the institution of the family will be viewed as untrendy and unenlightened.... Before the ultimate victory of the forces of righteousness, some skirmishes will be lost. Even in these, however, let us leave a record so that the choices are clear, letting others do as they will in the face of prophetic counsel. There will also be times, happily, when a minor defeat seems probable, but others will step forward, having been rallied to rightness by what we do. We will know the joy, on occasion, of having awakened a slumbering majority of the decent people of all races and creeds which was, till then, unconscious of itself. Jesus said that when the fig trees put forth their leaves, 'summer is nigh.' Thus warned that summer is upon us, let us not then complain of the heat.

Neal A. Maxwell

via Jocelyn

Vote

Quote of the Day

"You have your own life. You owe it to yourself and everyone around you to develop your philosophy. To examine why you think the things you do, and to withstand the praise and scorn of the diverse communities around you that can neither accept you nor reject you." iceowl

Rock the Vote

California Proposition 1
Abstract: California High Speed Rail Bond. S.B. 1856. (SF to LA)
My Vote: No
Comments: none

California Proposition 2
Abstract: Treatment of Farm Animals. Statute.
My Vote: No
Comments: Ambiguous terms of compliance, should be handled by the state legislature.

California Proposition 3
Abstract: Children's Hospital Bond Act. Grant Program. Statute.
My Vote: No
Comments: none

California Proposition 4
Abstract: Waiting Period and Parental Notification Before Termination of Minor's Pregnancy. Constitutional Amendment.
My Vote: Yes
Comments: consistent with other health codes dealing with minors, sensible provisions.

California Proposition 5
Abstract: Nonviolent Offenders. Sentencing, Parole and Rehabilitation. Statute.
My Vote: No
Comments: none

California Proposition 6
Abstract: Criminal Penalties and Laws. Public Safety Funding. Statute.
My Vote: Yes
Comments: none

California Proposition 7
Abstract: Renewable Energy. Statute.
My Vote: No
Comments: none

California Proposition 8
Abstract: Eliminates the Rights of Same-Sex Couples to Marry. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
My Vote: Yes
Comments: Current laws provide civil rights to same-sex couples; marriage is a civic institution for supporting families, best promoted by promoting traditional marriage.

California Proposition 9
Abstract: Criminal Justice System. Victims' Rights. Parole. Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
My Vote: Undecided
Comments: Still studying.

California Proposition 10
Abstract: Alternative Fuel Vehicles and Renewable Energy. Statute.
My Vote: No
Comments: Rebates inflate the market price, with no value for the consumer.

California Proposition 11
Abstract: Redistricting. Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
My Vote: No
Comments: none

California Proposition 12
Abstract: Veterans' Bond Act of 2008. S.B. 1572.
My Vote: Yes
Comments: none

Palo Alto Measure N:
Abstract: Palo Alto library bond election, Measure N, 2008, $76 million.
My Vote: No
Comments: I would love to vote yes on a bond for palo alto libraries, but I think it could be more fiscally efficient.

iTunes Playlist

Under African Skies (Paul Simon)
The Tower of Learning (Rufus Wainwright)
You are the Sunshine of my Life (Stevie Wonder)
Simple Gifts (Yo-Yo Ma and Alison Krauss)
Is this How Love is Supposed to Feel (Ben Lee)
Into the Mystic (Van Morrison)
My Kindness Shall Not Depart from Thee (Rob Gardner / Spire Chorus)