I forgot it was the first Sunday of the month, AKA Fast & Testimony Sunday in the Mormon Church. The theory is that you eat nothing before services and donate the money represented by the food you didn't eat as a special offering. And just in case you weren't in church this morning, a member of the priesthood and a designated 12-year-old boy (priest in training) goes door to door to hand out envelopes you can put your offering into.

They were just at my door, with an envlope with Hubby's name on it. He was officially made a member decades ago, and a little thing like never stepping foot in one of their services for 20 years isn't enough for you to no longer be a member. Normally he intercepts the church reps before I do, and he'll give them a run around of "It's better to have peace at home" thing that their prophets go on about.

I have never been a member of the Mormon Church, and I can conceive of no situation where I ever would be a member. I finally had to pin Hubby down and demand a statement of whether I was keeping him from attending a church he believed in. He gave me a 90% convincing argument that I wasn't. The thing is, I cannot understand why he lets the church think he's still a member who's only being kept from the path of righteous observance because of a heathen wife who he can't bring to the true path. His reasoning is because he doesn't want to be obviously in opposition to the prevaling world view, in case some sort of social warfare breaks out.

I sent the "give us money" tag team away politely, but I dislike having those judgemental twits at my door.

Heh, I'm at a Panera in Studio City, and a softball team of writers just came in, and are talking about where there are all supposed to go picket.

I would like to mention that the Saints, after a fairly competitive first half, are cheerfully steam-rolling over Jacksonville. Drew Brees set a passing record for the team with 350+ yards in the FIRST HALF.

Thank goodness the Bears have a week off. I know they're not going to lose today.

Heh, I'm at a Panera in Studio City, and a softball team of writers just came in, and are talking about where there are all supposed to go picket.

You think they'll step up the softball season?

I'm "watching" it on ESPN Gamecast, which is not entirely satisfactory, but it's still pretty sweet.

Ha! The softball talk quickly rolled over into intensive strike talk.

Lately, everything rolls over into intensive strike talk.

How could it not?

His reasoning is because he doesn't want to be obviously in opposition to the prevaling world view, in case some sort of social warfare breaks out.

That makes sense in the 'boy, they really do take care of their own' sort of way.

On the other hand, I've always felt intensely sorry for the greenhorn 'elders' sent out to missions in places where I've spent a lot of time...Pittsburgh and DC. Such a life, I would not want for my child. But I suppose the rite of passage has its virtues.