Civil unions bill moves to Illinois House floor

Well, it's not exactly equality, as in right to marry, but it is certainly a step in the right direction. My partner of 22 years and I talked about this tonight and decided, should this bill pass, we will have a civil union...even if it makes the front page of our local newspaper! We own and operate a well established business in our community. We realize we could potentially, unfortunately lose customers, should this news come out. We feel confident; however, that the majority of the community already knows and could care less about our personal life--as it does not affect them.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill - Supporters of gay marriage say 2009 could be the year Illinois seriously considers establishing civil unions, but opponents say the pendulum of public support is swinging the other way.

A bill giving gay couples the right to form civil unions squeaked through a legislative committee Thursday. It would not legalize same-sex marriage, but it would give gay couples many of the legal benefits of marriage.

Rep. Deb Mell, who is gay, said 648 state laws -- on topics from inheritance to health care -- help married couples.

"I find it very strange that I can be elected to the General Assembly and vote on rules and laws, but these don't apply to me and my family," said Mell, D-Chicago. "We're not protected."

Click the link for the rest of the story from today's Chicago Tribune.

Name that Blago Book Contest

Chicago Tribune readers have submitted literally thousands upon thousands of entries, and it has winnowed it all down to a top 10 list and now it's time for you to vote.

Polls close at 4 p.m. CST on Thursday, so that a column can be written for Friday's paper.

I cast my vote for choice # 10... "They Paid Me a [Bleeping] Bucket of Cash to Write This [Bleeping] Book."

Now head on over to the Chicago Tribune and place your vote before the deadline!

I've even made it easy for you. Just click the title link and you're there!

Who doesn't love Dr. Seuss?

One thing I love about google is the festive google logos that you will find on their homepage for holidays and other notable events, like today. Check it out today, it will be gone tomorrow!

That's how I learned today is the 105th anniversary of the birth of one Mr. Theodor Seuss--better known to the world as the incredible, indelible Dr. Seuss. He passed away in 1991.

Of course, as a child I read all of his books. My favorite is "Green Eggs and Ham." And I absolutely love the cartoon, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." What is your favorite Dr. Seuss book? I also have great memories of reading Dr. Seuss books to my daughter and then my grandchildren, when they were little.

I knew there would be all kinds of great Dr. Seuss stuff on the Internet! After googling, I found "The Lost Dr. Seuss Poem" on a blog that hasn't been updated since last Fall. Don't you just hate that! I hope the blogger is ok. Looks like she had a really great blog, until it abruptly ended. Enjoy the lost poem!

The poem above is via Echoes of Cold Moon

On This Day...

...in history, on March 1, 1692, in Salem Village, in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the Salem witch trials began.

Four women were the first to be charged. Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne and Tituba are brought before local magistrates in Salem Village, Massachusetts, beginning what would become known as the Salem witch trials.

Now it is an even bigger tourist destination than it was during my visit. Salem, Massachusetts was one of the many stops during a two week vacation throughout the east coast back in the eighties. I loved spending a few days in Boston, but I could not wait to get to Salem.

I learned more about the Salem witch trials than I ever imagined! Even though I took a lot of pictures, I didn't have a very good camera, and I was, and still am just an amateur photographer. So, no need to share a bunch of dark pictures. Our day in Salem ended at a nice seafood restaurant overlooking the Atlantic ocean.

I like to use "this day in history" to tie into my own lifetime travels. I will do these kinds of posts occasionally. Back then, on this trip we were able to travel more freely as our store had a larger staff. For the past several years, it has been next to impossible to take a vacation together. We simply do not have a big enough staff to keep our store open in our absence, and closing would be foolish. I look forward to the day, when we can travel with each other more often. I have taken a few trips by myself though! Together, we can only take short trips-- not only because of work, but also all the farm chores. For now I will settle for reminiscing...and dreaming about our future travels... or travel alone, or with other friends and family.

























This photo above is one I took of the Salem Witch Museum. Obviously it is right in town on the corner of a busy intersection. In the left part of the picture you can see a witch statue on top of a large rock. I'm sure there are thousands of better photos of the museum at flickr and various websites.



















Yes, that is me in the cemetery. Hey, don't laugh at my short shorts! They were in style at the time in 1987. I do look so respectful though, don't I? LOL I was fascinated at all the old tombstones at Old Burying Point, also known as Charter Street Cemetery. It is the oldest cemetery in Salem, and the second oldest known cemetery in the country, started in 1637. It is located on Charter Street, next to the Witch Trials Memorial.





















Here is another shot of some of the tombstones. Due to the lighting, I couldn't get good pictures of some of the creepiest monuments. If you are morbidly curious, be sure and click on the link for some great photos (highly recommended). It was touching to read some of the old tombstones; that they died of consumption-- means they died of tuberculosis, or the different symbols on the graves such as the cherubs versus the skull and crossbones. You will see it all, and they date back to 1637 and include the grave of a passenger of the Mayflower, Captain Richard More, as well as a judge and others that were involved in the Salem Witch Trials.

By the way, there is more to Salem than witches. It is also the birthplace of Nathaniel Hawthorne, author of "The Scarlet Letter." His famous "House of Seven Gables" is right there at 54 Turner Street. I'll probably show that picture on another day that will honor this great author.

It looks like Spring...

...at least on my kitchen window sill it does! You can see my lifeless trees and barren farmland, garage and implement building (taken over by the turkeys) out my window.



Just look a my colorful Coleus! Not exactly Spring, but these beautiful plants can flourish in your window sills, if you bring them in before frost. They grow like crazy, and you can continuously take cuttings and easily root them in water for later planting. My plants aren't as big as they appear. They are in four inch pots, but I have zoomed in on them.

Outside my tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths haven't came up yet, but they will soon. I did notice today I have many little grape hyacinths about an inch tall. I can't wait for Spring!