Amusing

Occasionally I see a video (mostly thanks to Ross :) that makes me laugh and spurs me to watch it again. These are a few of them.

Take One

Remember Sarah Palin? Well, perhaps this video will jog your memory.

My favorite comment on this video:

They're a lovely couple! But one question, if they got divorced would they still be brother and sister?

Classic.

Take Two

This next video is Hank Johnson, a U.S. Congressman from Georgia, discussing adding more troops to the island of Guam with Admiral Robert Willard, who commands the Navy's Pacific Fleet. If this doesn't make you laugh, you need a drink.

Like all other islands, Guam is still attached to the ocean floor, right?

Take Three

We once had a swarm of bees in a tree in our yard. We called the City Administration where we lived at the time and they sent a beekeeper to our house. He used the smoke method to coax every bee into a box and drove away, bees in box and leaving our tree intact. It was the most amazing thing. Of course, this next video from a news station in Albany, Georgia proves there are alternative methods to remove bees as well as your only shade tree.

I've gotta hand it to them. WALB-News 10 was all over this. They've earned their slogan: Live. Local. Latebreaking.

Take Four

PRUDE ALERT: If you cringe at hearing the "F" word repeated (I understand - I've been there), then you will want to skip this one. You will, of course, miss Anna's ingenuity and humor, but . . . fair warning.

My name is Anna and this is my final for a college level sign language class. I am not deaf and still learning sign language and encourage others to learn sign language as well! Thank you so much for all the love.

See, now you know how to sign . . . baby.

Prettig weekend :)

De Fiets Thief

Both Ross's and Jim's bikes (fiets) were stolen last week. Right from in front of Ross's apartment where they were securely locked.

I guess it was only a matter of time. Our neighbors had already warned us of the rampant crime here in Belgium. Well, at least the crime of bicycle theft which as it turns out, is probably also the most prevalent crime in Belgium.

The U.S. has about 4 times the crime per capita as Belgium which has about the same crime rate as Canada.

We've heard that when your bike is stolen it's best to go right away to the train station because often someone steals your bike strictly for transportation to the station. Then they ditch it. We decided that probably wasn't the motive in this case since it was in the middle of the night and they came packing bolt cutters.

And why not steal these two fine bikes? I still have mine that I paid €50 for, but Jim and Ross ride their bikes a lot more and had much nicer bikes each costing 10x that. Ross had the good idea of looking on Kapaza (Belgium's equivalent to Craig's List) to see if anyone tried to sell them. They haven't yet.

There are tens of thousands of bikes in Belgium. If you have two working legs, you own a bike. It's mandatory for getting around. Every street here - highways, country roads, city streets - all have a bike lane and often on both sides of the road.

While the U.S. is expanding their highway systems and spreading their cities out, Europe seems to be doing just the opposite - making it nearly impossible to drive a car - at least in the city. Narrow cobblestone streets, numerous one ways, barriers to certain streets at certain times, parking spaces at a premium . . . bikes and trains and busses are much easier and cheaper.

Well, unless someone steals your bike.

Ross filed a police report and when he left the police station they told him 'let us know if you see them'.

The Straight and Narrow . . . minded?

The world is not flat, but apparently there was a time when we thought it was.

We don't always understand everything and sometimes we're just wrong.

If you know me very well, you know I've got an opinion on just about everything. Well, that's not what this is - it's not just an opinion. This post has been a long time coming, I suppose.

One of the hot topics in American politics is gay marriage. Perhaps a distraction from real issues like education, the economy, unemployment, healthcare . . .

In the recent NY Senate decision, the last Republican to cast the deciding vote seems to believe his vote places him on the right side of history.

I agree.

I recently posted this photo and the caption that went along with it after the landmark event in NY.

This April 12, 2011 picture provided by Freedom to Marry shows Richard Dorr, 84, left, and John Mace, 91, at their home in New York City where they both work as voice teachers. They have been partners for 61 years, and have been hoping that legislation passes that would enable them to get married in New York. (AP Photo/Freedom to Marry, EqualityPhotography.com, Jamie McGonnigal)

These two men, ages 84 and 91, have been partners since 1950:

1950.

That's . . .

- a decade before I was born

- before the Vietnam War and Sputnik

- when there were only 48 U.S. states

- before Hula Hoops and Barbie

- when the average annual salary was $3,000

- before the polio vaccine and Tupperware

- when a new house cost $8,450

- before I Love Lucy and Gunsmoke

- when a postage stamp was 3¢

- before color TV and integration and interstates . . .

Since 1950.

I believe Mr. Dorr and Mr. Mace deserve the right to make decisions for themselves. And furthermore, to have all the rights afforded every other married couple.

Although gay marriage is legal in some states, most federal benefits and advantages enjoyed by married couples now, are still denied to gay couples due to the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

For example, even with the new NY law, if Mr. Dorr (age 84) outlives Mr. Mace (age 91), estate taxes will be over 50% for Mr. Dorr (it would be zero for me), and hope they don't have to move because that marriage will be null and void (we can move anywhere we like). There's something like 1000 federal benefits that I'm entitled to that Mr. Dorr and Mr. Mace are not.

A recent Gallup poll indicates 53% of Americans are in favor of gay marriage. I wonder if there are those who simply don't have an opinion. Don't feel the need to form an opinion.

Personally, if it has absolutely nothing to do with me, doesn't affect my personal life, isn't costing me anything, I simply don't see how I need to be making decisions for other people.

And when it does affect me personally, I'm not sure the general public can help me.

In Belgium, gay marriage is a non-issue. Legal since 2003. It may surprise you that there have been no plagues or wars or protests. It is a non-issue.

The Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage a decade ago. Belgium followed as the second country in 2003, then Spain in 2005 just 17 days ahead of Canada. Currently legal in 10 countries - including parts of the U. S., civil unions and registered partnerships are also legal in about 30 additional countries.

So what happens when gay marriage is legal?

Where we are now is a long way from where we were and I'm grateful. Perhaps the biggest reason is how common it is now to realize we know and love someone who is gay.

You've heard a lot of theories about being gay and although I don't know all there is to know, I do know this . . . if you think being gay is "caused by" or "associated with" some thing or event, or that being gay is a choice a person makes, I'd like to set you straight.

I, for one, know it's as much a choice as your eye color or your height.

Worth repeating.

Being gay is as much a choice as your eye color or your height.

If you don't understand or accept this, it may be because you haven't let yourself. And you may never completely understand, but the only lifestyle they want is very similar to yours . . . to get a good education, maybe buy a house, have a good job, get married, raise children, get a dog, have friends over for dinner . . .

Don't we all deserve the right to choose that lifestyle?

You know, it's not really even about being gay or gay marriage, it's really about equality and fairness and Basic. Human. Rights.

Hear, hear

Established in 1961 by an Executive Order signed by President John F. Kennedy.

Over 10,000 Americans apply each year - approximately 1 out of 4 are selected.

Since 1961, over 200,000 Americans have served in 139 countries.

Their mission:

To promote world peace and friendship ..., which shall make available to interested countries and areas men and women of the United States qualified for service abroad and willing to serve, under conditions of hardship if necessary, to help the peoples of such countries and areas in meeting their needs for trained manpower.

I guess this pretty much says it all:

"After 3+ months of getting together my application, background checks, transcripts, reference letters, and an hour-long web interview this afternoon – I have officially been nominated as a United States Peace Corps Volunteer for French-West Sub-Saharan Africa in Business Advising & Development for June 2012."

Ross Frazier

The application process is not yet complete, but a nomination has been presented and accepted. We are very happy and proud parents. Anxious (we are parents, after all). Mostly just proud :) Congratulations, Ross!

That Doggy in the Window

After the war, WWII that is, nearly 13 million servicemen/women returned from the war. Many had the same dream - to buy a house in suburbia and raise a family. So the GI Bill of Rights helped make that dream come true with low interest loans and 30 year mortgages. And with the promise of interstates and highways, families could live away from town. A pasture or corn field was cheap.

In 1950, more than 1.5 million homes were built in the States. Perhaps the most notable developers were Alfred and William Levitt who built assembly-line homes in rural areas of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.

That's right - the suburbs.

Tony Linck, for Life Magazine, Aerial View of Levittown, June, 1948

Suburbia - where everyone is of similar income, age, education, race - sprang up all across the country. Sprawling neighborhoods with curving streets and cul-de-sacs.

The first of these suburban homes were 800 sq. ft. and cost $7,000. This dream home would have only one story (no stairs), a washer and dryer, a big refrigerator, preferably a garage or at least a carport, a big yard for the kids.

That's right - the economical ranch.

A rectangle with an L-shaped living/dining/small open kitchen, one bath and 2 or 3 bedrooms. Features included aluminum framed windows, an 8 foot ceiling, sliding patio door, and the obligatory picture window.

Yes, the picture window.

The first house Jim and I lived in had a picture window. Funny thing is, I never considered using it for display. What a missed ornamental opportunity.

This is the only picture I have of the front of our first house. Perhaps you can see the picture window. This event is Randi's first birthday.

Here in Belgium, picture windows abound and the Belgs are adept at making the most of their decorative-potential space.

Spring is here! This little waving, panting Westie stuffed into a teal ceramic, zippered satchel with the bonus bouquet in a "Westie" hue is perfect to welcome the vernal equinox.

And how can you not love this combo? A contemplative Target dog and a bug-eyed, flabbergasted chihuahua, plus the gold-plated gilding is like gravy. Not sure which one is life-size, but pretty sure they can't both be.

One of my favorites is this one. Since you probably already have a glycerin chihuahua (who doesn't?), adding the stick-on chicks is quick, easy and affordable.

Depending on your picture window status, feel free to use these ideas, if you will, for your next DIY fandangle faux pas.