Oh consuela, that sounds amazing! I hope things go smoothly.

Paul Ryan is a conservative Catholic (supposedly) but was an apostle of Ayn Rand. I have heard him speak quite fervently about Rand and not about Jesus. I wonder, in my heart of hearts, if he really believes in God.

I saw one interview where he said that he believes in Ayn Rand's economic policies, but not her "philosophy," by which I assume he meant atheism. I'm not certain whether he counts her "charity is evil" position as economics or philosophy.

Young people especially are abandoning organized religion in droves. This seems to be entirely due to homophobia in many churches today.

Her writing (in total) runs pretty counter to the words of Jesus Christ (as I understand them. I have not been to church in awhile). I don't see how you can reconcile the two perspectives at all.

Great news, Suela!

Some Congressional districts are so small, it's not surprising there are minorities in the House who could never win in a general election.

I suspect we will have a female President, a Latino President, and a Jewish President long before we elect a Muslim or atheist. Or a gay President. Or a single childless President. There are a lot of boxes to tick off.

Didn't we have a single, child man elected president (Grover Cleveland?)- I think he got married while in the white house.

James Buchanan was single and childless, I'm pretty sure.

On the tube now is our President. He began his remarks recognizing and updating the storm victims, and he is talking to troops. One of the things that made my parental units crazy last night was the lack of acknowledgement of the military or the storm.

Awesome photos, Consuela. And great news on the assisted living information.

Kat, I hope a good solution presents itself soon, and mostly I hope Gracie is feeling better.

I suspect we will have a female President, a Latino President, and a Jewish President long before we elect a Muslim or atheist. Or a gay President. Or a single childless President. There are a lot of boxes to tick off.

I think a Latino president who strongly identifies with the Latino community would be a lot more difficult in the current political climate than even a Jewish president. Like, someone with a Spanish name who could speak Spanish fluently would totally freak out a huge segment of the population.

I'll be heading back to glorious Kernersville tonight. There were a couple who lived hear my dad and helped him out a lot after Mom died. Yesterday one of them passed away, so I'm going to the visitation this evening. It'll be the first time back in Kernersville since I wrapped up Dad's stuff.

It's a sad occasion but it is really lovely of you to go and pay respect.

Eating them, or smearing them on? contemplating pineapple bath

Eating is delicious. The prep though will soften your hands right up. Or scrubbed on skin. (I'd avoid face.)

A friend of mine has a recipe where you soak pineapple spears in rum, roll them in sugar, and then carmelize their rum-sugar coating over a fire. (We're totally doing that over my firepit when the weather cools down enough.) And now you're telling me it's good for my skin, too? Score!

That sounds delicious. And, yeah, hands-on prep will soften up your hands. Now I want pineapple. I have a great single-purpose tool that cores and spirals them. Then I dig my fingers into the peeled bits. Like a gift with purchase.

Good Friday! Blue moon rising tonight and a long weekend to follow.

Last night wasn't? It was crazy awesome bright last night. Glad to know tonight could be even brighter. I could walk around without a flashlight.

Politics scare me, particularly the seeming disconnect from reality and the blatant lies and distortions. I'll be honest, I fear bloodshed and civil unrest, but my husband discounts it.

I am, unsurprisingly, on your side with this, Burrell. I think we're in a very dangerous place.

First, of course, I'd grab y'all by the collar and shake you till your teeth rattled and sob, "ARE YOU FUCKING INSANE, RUNNING FOR OFFICE? WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT TO YOURSELF?"

JZ FOR PRESIDENT!

Seems to think that even with my mother's trifecta of issues (dementia, mental health, mobility-impaired), we can find a facility that will take both my parents and keep them together and give my mother the care she needs and my father the support he needs and all that without breaking the bank.

Oh, I do hope it works out. It's just so hard on everyone and I know you want the best for everyone involved.