A day off

I'm taking today off from work to prepare for this weekend's activities/festivities. Tonight we are going to a dinner with friends where a couple of our friends will be honored at an awards dinner. It's a formal dinner and tux's are required. Instead of the traditional black/white tux, I opted for one with black/gray strips. The shirt will be red and I’ll wear a black ascot. It's a bit more daring, but that's me.

Tomorrow night we are going to see Barber of Seville by Gioachino Rosini. It should be a lot of fun. Sunday, we rest.

I came across an interesting article that came out yesterday on how the Bible looks at gay people and gay relationships, called "What does the Bible actually say about being gay?" It's worth a read if you are interested in that sort of thing. Me... I'm perfectly happy with who and what I am and don't need scholarly analysis to tell me that I am a kind and giving person with a big heart (I only say it because it's true). I always think that a lot of folks are going to be surprised when they pass on, only to find that Jesus looks into a person's heart to find their true nature. How will you fair with Him if your heart is filled with hate for others? Are you reading this Fred Phelps???

Speaking of Jesus... Actor Jim Caviezel (super hunk) has been struck by lightning (story) while playing Jesus in Mel Gibson's controversial film The Passion Of Christ.

The lightning bolt hit Caviezel and the film's assistant director Jan Michelini while they were filming in a remote location a few hours from Rome.

It was the second time Michelini had been hit by lightning during the shoot.

Neither of them was badly hurt, according to the film's producer Steve McEveety.

For the Catholics out there who are reading this, I came across this article, Catholic bishop shows support for gays.

BOSTON, Massachusetts (AP) -- Concerned about children with gay parents, a Roman Catholic bishop said Thursday that he and other church leaders from Massachusetts would support extending some benefits to same-sex couples -- though they are strongly opposed to gay marriage.

Worcester Bishop Daniel P. Reilly told a state legislative committee that the issue of benefits should be dealt with separately from same-sex unions.

Massachusetts lawmakers are considering a bill that would legalize gay marriage. Reilly spoke at a hearing on behalf of the leaders of the four Massachusetts dioceses, including Archbishop Sean O'Malley of Boston.

"If the goal is to look at individual benefits and determine who should be eligible beyond spouses, then we will join the discussion," Reilly told the Judiciary Committee.

The Rev. Christopher Coyne, spokesman for O'Malley, said the church is specifically concerned about addressing benefits that affect children in gay families, such as education and health. Extending these benefits would not in any way contradict the Catholic Church's commitment to matrimony, he said.

"I think what's actually being said is that the benefits that are necessary for the protection of children and families don't necessarily involve any kind of a redefinition of relationship or marital status," Coyne said.

I don't know how to put this mildly, so I guess I won't try.

First off, I'm so happy that you have found it in your hearts to give us some of the rights of marriage, but only where it benefits children in gay households. But you know what? You can keep your damn condescending attitude with regards to our relationships. We really don't need it.

You talk as though it is up to religious institutions to "authorize" what benefits of marriage will be given out to whom. The fact is, it's none of your damn business because this has nothing to do with religion. We are talking about CIVIL MARRIAGE. I don't care if you bless my marriage or not. I won't ask you to perform or bless it in one of your churches.

If marriage is so pure and "holy" to you, where were you when the state and federal governments got it's hand on it and started offering civil benefits to marriage? If you wanted to maintain control over it, you should have stopped that from happening.

Now, the benefits given to marriage from the state and federal government is paid for by, you guessed it, TAX DOLLARS! I pay my share of those tax dollars. I'm sick and tired of my tax dollars going towards something that is totally discriminatory against something that is a central part of my life - my marriage. My marriage is no less worthy of those benefits as that of anyone else.

So please, if you are a religious institution weighing in on whether gay couples should be allowed to marry and be given state and federal benefits of marriage, please do us all a big favor and shut the fuck up!