Super Bowl Bound...

Colts 30, Jets 17

Post-season 1-0

Colts 20, Ravens 3

Oh yeah baby!!!

The Marriage Rules

Today the question of gay marriage took it's first step towards the U.S. Supreme Court in what will one day be a landmark decision.

In case you're wondering, I'm in favor of gay marriage. I'm in favor of two consenting adults entering into a legally binding contract - which is what marriage is in the eyes of the law. I believe that the biggest threat we face today to the separation of church and state is NOT prayer in school but opposition to gay marriage. I have yet to hear a valid argument against gay marriage that doesn't rely on the Bible.

To be more specific, the old testament of the Bible, where people quite often rely on the story of Sodom and Gomorrah for their opposition to gay marriage while forgetting that the "hero" of that story offered his virgin daughters to a gang of men looking to violate human flesh. The hero whose daughters eventually got him drunk and had relations with him to get pregnant. Yes...that man. Obviously the man we should hold up as a moral compass, she said sarcastically.

But I digress. I have yet to hear a valid argument against gay marriage that doesn't rely on the Bible. As a matter of fact, I have yet to hear a valid argument.

Today I read that the defendants of this lawsuit destined for the Supreme Court have this argument: Marriage is for the proper rearing of children. That every child deserves a father (male) and a mother (female). That allowing gay marriage would violate this basic human right.

So...I could go on and on about the proper rearing of children, and how you can actually do it with one parent (male or female) or two parents (male-male, female-female, or male-female), or possibly even properly rear your children with three males (father-uncle-and strange friend that just hangs out - thank you Full House). And Hilary Clinton seems to think it takes a village. But instead, I'm going to attack the argument that marriage is SOLELY for the rearing of children, as to be presented by the defense.

If that's the case, I'd like to suggest a few more laws, while we're outlawing gay marriage.

1. If you have children under the age of 18, divorce is illegal.

2. If you are beyond child-bearing years, you may not marry.

3. If you are barren, sterile or voluntary choose to not have children, you may not marry.

4. If you are not pregnant or have not delivered a child within 18 months of your marriage, the marriage is null and void.

5. If you deliver a baby out of wedlock, you may not leave the hospital without providing a legal and proper marriage certificate.

6. If your spouse dies, you have 72 hours to replace your spouse. In cases where you can not replace your spouse, the state will pick one for you.

After all...Marriage is all for the children.

2009 Reading Review

Just for fun, let's take a look at the books I read in 2009... (starting 4/28 - Didn't bother to log them prior to that)

My favorite book of the year: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Other 5 Star Book:

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

My 4 Star books:
What I Did for Love by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Hot Pursuit by Suzanne Brockmann
The Next Thing on My List by Jill Smolinksi
The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

My 3 Star books:
Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich
The Guy Not Taken by Jennifer Weiner
Tears of the Renegade by Linda Howard
Burn by Linda Howard
Black Hills by Nora Roberts
Smash Cut by Sandra Brown
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Dogs and Goddesses by Jennifer Crusie, Anne Stuart & Lani Diane Rich
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Ice by Linda Howard
Rainwater by Sandra Brown
Don't Tell by Karen Rose (2nd time through)
Have You Seen Her by Karen Rose (2nd time through)
I'm Watching You by Karen Rose (2nd time through)

My 2 Star books:
Me & Mr. Darcy by Alexandra Potter
The Cradle by Patrick Sommerville
Darling Jim by Christian Moerk
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson & Gabrielle Charbonnet
Bogeyman by Gayle Wilson
Trouble in High Heels by Christina Dodd
Shades of Gray by Vicki Hinze
All Due Respect by Vicki Hinze

My 1 Star book:
The Wedding Dress by Maggie Casper, Lena Matthews & Liz Andrews

Total read this year: 33

5 star books grabbed me and kept me thinking. They were more than I expected and were exceptional stories with memorable characters. I guess it's telling that this year, my 5 star books are classics.

4 star books exceed my expectations (the expectations I formed when I, you know, judged the book by it's cover). Most of these books were books I couldn't put down (but of course, I did because I have a job).

3 star books are what I expect them to be. I expect my favorite authors to produce 3 star books, but I still hold out hope for more. I would (and in some cases have) re-read my 3 star books.

2 star books weren't terrible, but I wouldn't necessary classify them as a painless read. I would probably not re-read and would certainly would not recommend.

1 star books are just bad. I force myself to finish them because it's against my nature to stop mid-book, though there are several books I've attempted this year that didn't make this list because I just couldn't force my way through. I only had one this year, but be happy that I listed even that one - I'm almost embarassed to admit to reading 1 star books.