Maebius Musing

When I took out the puppy for her nightly 1am potty break, I noticed the air was crisp and very cold.  a Lovely wintery chill in the air and racing clouds against the moon.   There was a light hint of frost on everything, not quite enough to sparkle properly, but enough to give everything a light hazy-grey tint.

This morning, there was snow!

A good -3 inches here, with the radio reporting some lake-effect areas getting 6 inches.

As the first official snowfall for the season (we had wet flakes earlier, but nothing stuck and had melted by the time I woke up) it was nice to see.   The kind of snow that is dry and powdery, so that preparing the car to drive meant simply slamming the door closed and watching everything *poof* off onto the driveway.

I wish my camera worked, since the drive to work was lovely.   I do enjoy winter for mornings like this where there is not a blizzard of risky driving, or cold enough to freeze your lungs instantly.   Just a nice, white-blanket across the landscape, and mostly sunny weather to make it glisten.

First snowfall means I get to stand outside as long as tolerable barefoot tonight once the kid and wife go to sleep, (I last usually all of 30 seconds) and scoop up a handful of snow to sprinkle on my head.  It’s my winter tradition to “embrace the season”.

Hope folks reading this are enjoying lovely weather too.
(and I hope things dried out in Rio by now)

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Mawwage….

Recently, the media has been quietly talking about “Proposition 8” in California.   It basically is attempting to revoke the rights of same-sex couples to marry, after recent legislation was passed saying they Could.  Why the Flip-Flop?  For this post, it doesn’t matter.

For all the discussion, debate, and open-ended conceptual warfare, I am not sure where the exact definition of Marriage comes from, in relation to its sanctity in joining a man and woman together in legally binding relationships according to Religious principles.

In terms of the bible, which is most often used to to back up the stance of marriage existing between solely a man and woman, there are not many references. (Here are the most relevant I found.)  Mainly, the references from the New Testament revolve around a relationship with Christ being likened to a marriage unto the Lord (Eph, 5 v20-32).

Historically, weddings were contractual relationships, yet the concept of a marriage existed long before recorded history. It was a way to ensure the successful upbringing of offspring from a potentially “free-acting” male.   It’s easy to know who the mother is of a child, due to obvious biological facts.  Men are not so constrained.   Thus, I beleive the entire role of Marrage was to help smooth out uneasy questions, and provide a stable framework for “families” to work.

I think, though have not researched things completely, that the first “laws” defining or structuring marriage/divorce were the Mesopotamian “Code of the Hammurabi“, however even these codes imply a pre-existing concept of husband/wife.  These origins have no grounding in strictly Religious trappings.

It can be argued, however, that the cultural atmosphere in today’s world does wrap a religious robe around the ideals of a Proper Wedding.  It is here that the major issue of “What constitutes a Marriage?” springs up.    Yet I think it is missing the original point, and simply arguing semantics.

Call it a Civil Union, call it a Domestic Partnership, or call it a Marriage.  The end result is the same.  Two people are contractually obligated to act in certain ways, with legal ramifications for acting outside the established contract.

My issue with the entirety of Proposition 8 is that it, and other arguments like it, are based on a Judeo-Christian mindset, and supported, if not legally, but de-facto ethically, by calling up Religious pre-texts.   This is inherently WRONG!

In today’s culture, even when weddings are provided my a clergy member of whatever spiritual institution you adhere to, the actual “official document” making the marriage binding is a slip of paper submitted to the State.   Government controls what a Marriage is, and only authorized selected clergy/priests/Rabbi/etc in respect for dogmatic tradition.

There then seems to exist a secondary set of laws for things like “Domestic Partnerships” and “Civil-Unions” whereby couples who did not “fill out the necessary paperwork” can still retain legal rights similar to those who were “married”.  Often, the distinction between the two things blurs in terms of legal governmental status.  The only difference, in many minds, is the lack of a Spiritually-binding act.

The point of this muse, before I get too long-winded, is that I am strongly curious why this distinction exists.   If almost every other aspect of our government is systematically forced to adhere to a “Separation of Church and State”, why does the Marriage-factor always get dragged through the mud and propped up by Godly Principles protecting it’s Sanctity?

If folks want to explicitly define a Marriage as between a man and a woman, make it so as a secular law without trying to drape the reasoning for it in spiritual terms.   Likewise, folks are welcome to be “married in the eyes of god” like in the good old celtic/etc stories, where an Official Wedding would be impossible, yet love binds two people together with opposing cultures.

I personally would like to see anyone able to “marry”, on their own terms.  Men, women, box-turtles, or entire orgies of white-lace-clad virgins.   Let them have their weddings, their Handfastings, etc, in whatever structure they prefer.  Then, just toss the actual legal aspect of “spouse-rights” into a generic Civil-Union and make everyone happy (except the Xtian-esque Fundies, of course).  This almost exists now, but still gets lost in the loud voices striving to Truly Define the thing.

It may be semantics,  but it bothers me we continue to have these arguments.  Why make such an important, solemn, and obviously deeply rooted tradition cause for continued strife and re-re-re-legislation?

Alternatively, I do understand that the gay/bi/lesbian communities would like to have same-sex marriages in order to overturn historical persecution, and enable/authenticate the lifestyle with equal validity to “normal” society. (I use the term “normal” not pejoratively, but ironically).  Again, though, I think there needs to be a cultural shift in that a contract of Civil Union as it exists today contains almost exactly the same rights as a traditional married couple.

If the spiritual and emotional aspect of a wedding is what is sought, that still exists in principle and practice due to not binding in any legal sense until the proper paperwork is signed.  Just not with the “total package” that the more common clergy-based (or Justice of the Peace-based) ceremonies include.

I know at least two couples who have never exchanged rings, and are married in the eyes of the law by going downtown with a pen and scribbling their names on some documents.   I also know a few couples who have had elaborate ceremonies with flowers, rings, and cake, who are “just dating” as far as the Government is concerned, yet more deeply “wed” than some Official Spouses in terms of their relationship and Spirituality.

What is it that keeps these two separate situations so entangled and stress-inducing to the local legislation?
Comments are encouraged!

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I’m on night-shift this week, which means my schedule is all wacky and I tend to either be At Work, or sleeping, or eating, (then sleeping some more).    I used to be able to do the whole opposite-shift in a heartbeat, easily switching from a regular 8am-5pm  to the midnight-8am shift whenever necessary.   Lately, as a sign of (shudder) Getting Old, I seem to totally crash the second day and want to sleep 24 hours.

(actually, yesterday, other than going to see a movie with the family, I DID sleep from 10am-5:30pm, then back to sleep from 8pm-2am.  I’m STILL tired here at work. Forgive the rambling-ness of this posting.)

…zzZZzz..zzZZZzz… Wha?   Oh right.  blog post.

Tomorrow is our Thanksgiving holiday, which will have it’s own blog-post this weekend once my brain is on a proper “Musing about Thankfullness” wave.  For now, know that I’m thankfull for a heck of a lot.  My life is pretty good comparatively speaking, and I do acknowledge that.   Might not make it totally into blog-form coherently.  *grin*

As for actual Content today, I bring you a Music Meme, discovered over here in the Magical Hills.  Rules:- Choose a singer/band/group.

Answer the following using ONLY titles of songs by that singer/band/group/Band/Artist

I choose the group that’s been rattling in my head lately, regardless of how many OTHER songs I try to put in front of them.   Heck, I’ve dreamed about going to see them in concert last weekend.  Obsessed a bit?!?!: Gaia Consort

1. Are you male or female? Cooling His Fire
2. Describe yourself. Three (or The Web)
3. What do people feel when they’re around you? No Shadows
4. How would you describe your previous relationship? Blood
5. Describe your current relationship.Every Sacred Thing
6. Where would you want to be now? Evolve
7. How do you feel about love? Just Because
8. What’s your life like? Move to the Country
9. What would you ask for if you had only one wish?  Peace Now
10. Say something wise. Cry Freedom

This was actually kinda hard, because on one level, the song titles kinda fit the question, but on the other hand there is a whole sub-text of connotation with actually knowing the songs.    I wanted to almost put “Just Because” as an answer to question#5, if only for the song content itself, not the title, since using just the title sounded rather flippant and dismissive of the relationship with my wife.   But the song itself is a nice love-song, in some sense.    Also, #2, with an answer of “Three” is meant as a title-only to refer to my current family of Wife, Child, and Kid….  I love my family lots, and is a huge part of who I am.    Yet, the song itself is about Polyamory, which isn’t really me at all.  *shrug*

There’s no tagging rules posted for the meme, but feel free, if you are reading this, to reply with your own answers!  Curious Maebius is curious.  (and still sleepy).

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Just a quick Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the US, and a Blessed New Moon to everyone in the world.

I’m thankful for a whole lot, which won’t make it to the blog this time around.  Suffice it to say that I’m ponderously blessed in life.  Good friends, wonderful family, a home of my own, and the means to live comfortably (per our accepted level of comfort, not necessarily society’s).    All the rest, like tech gadgets, games, and such are merely extra thankful details.    Thank you Universe!

Still recovering slightly from the nightshift work this week, and trying to get things organized for a trip this weekend, the Yule holiday fast-approaching, and Tax-season getting dumped in my wife’s lap (literally, one client said “Here’s my stuff for the last quarter.” and gave her a duffel bag of papers and receipts to go through! *sigh*

So, short blog post here, but I wanted to post something at least before zooming off to Buffalo this weekend to visit the god-daughter…..  See you all next week.

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***UPDATED with wife/kid ideas below…

Get stuff for my kid, add my name to the card, and I’d be more than satisfied!

What, you want actual Maebius-related ideas?   well, alright….

I’m a purveyor of all things tea-related, as many know.   Any sort of tea is good.  I have a plethora of strainers and such so loose-tea is always welcome, and less packaging than pre-bagged ones.  The differenter the better!
For those alcohol-friendly folks, I  am championing the cause of single-malt Scotch in the world.  Nay, I daresay I become unto a true connoisseur of Scotch.  I’ve tried the old Spayside-region standbys  like The Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, and kin, but have heard rather interesting things about Islay Isle scotches, particularly Laphroaig ,or the somewhat rarer Lowlands.  A gift of Scotch is one to be shared, as well, which adds a special treat to any such gifts I receive. /wink

Also, anything Dr Horrible inspired would net you Muse-points from this blog. As a fellow Nathan, and occasional Corporate Tool, a t-shirt would be wondrous, though the DVD is also a happy-making thing.

World of Warcraft game-cards are always welcome. I plan on having an account there until the servers die, or the internet is taken from me. Plus, gift-cards can be re-gifted to folks I know in-game affected negatively by the economy, yet derive more than just “entertainment value” from the community on-line.

Of course, any sort of random strange and unique stuff would find a place in my home (or as pants), as some of you folks know. I like surprises, and if it comes from someone I know (even virtually), or Local to the area, so much the better!

Heck, this year, a hand-painted card with watercolours or crayons on a scrap of junk-mail envelope would make me happy.  I don’t need “stuff”  as much as I enjoy surprises.

This year, I have also felt a rather huge pull to be more charitable, perhaps as some esoteric spiritual buffering of the consumer-driven economy lately. As such, I think (hopefully without ‘selfish selflessness‘) that I would love to support these types of things in leu of proper gifts. I personally know some folks who have recently gotten put out on the street or otherwise very much in need of outside support, and it’s hard knowing that while we help as we can, it is not feasible to take them into our own home or finance their grocery/medical bills. Knowing this, I am drawn to help official charities be supported so those established organizations can do what they do better than our small household could ourselves.

http://www.foundationhoc.org/CF/HTML/TheaBowmanHouse.html
http://www.stevens-swan.org/
http:/www.childsplaycharity.org/index.php
http://www.kidsoneida.org/kids-oneida-home.cfm

Blessed Holidays to you all!

UPDATE: Ok,  here’s a random wishlist for the rest of the family…. I’ve included two or three things that are already sent by Santa (and others) just so you can see what sorts of things were in mind by these two…

Sprogling: (as mentioned by him)

• small sand-timer like comes in board games. (30 Seconds = for brushing teeth the appropriate time)

• stuffed boxer dog (santa already has)

• Boom Blox (Wii game)

• Topple board game.  (or Jenga, anything tactile like that)

http://www.etoys.com/genProduct.html/PID/3373679/ctid/17?ci_sku=197853&ci_src=14110944

•   Drumsticks (already gotten)

• 100 trees (to plant in the backyard and build a fort in)

• Any kind of Craft things.  (he loves paints, and pipe-cleaners)

• Paintable figures or stuff. (we have the dragons below, but he wants “a hundred million hundred thousand hundred of them because they are so cool and can defeat anything!”)

http://gifts.barnesandnoble.com/Toys-games/Paint-Your-Own-Bowls/e/31412642007/?cds2Pid=17921
http://gifts.barnesandnoble.com/Toys-games/Dragons-Paint-and-Play-Set/e/9780641760648/?cds2Pid=17921

Mrs Maebius

• UGGs style boots (sheepskin lined boots, size womans 9, short, not knee length)

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2792101/0~2376780~6009391~6012477~6012480~6012745?origin=category&pbo=2792101

• Tales of Beedle the Bard (harry potter book)

• Heavy thick comfy socks. (be creative)

• Set of drill bits (different sizes, since we only have 2 bits right now for our drill.  “Thick”  or “pilot hole”)

• This ring-holder necklace. http://www.whatonearthcatalog.com/whatonearth/Item_Heart-Shaped-Hinged-Ring-Pendant_CB0672_ps_srm.html

• Fleecy warm blanket (amish blanket, that gamer-sleeved blanket, etc)

• White-noise generator for sound sleeping (without running the dryer or a fan.)

• The grabber tool to get canning jars out of a water bath without burning yourself.

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