Tell Me my Babies aren't Tuned into the Universe...

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island (AP) -- Oscar the cat seems to have an uncanny knack for predicting when nursing home patients are going to die, by curling up next to them during their final hours.

Oscar the cat doesn't like to be put out in the hall when a patient is dying.

His accuracy, observed in 25 cases, has led the staff to call family members once he has chosen someone. It usually means the patient has less than four hours to live.

"He doesn't make too many mistakes. He seems to understand when patients are about to die," Dr. David Dosa said in an interview. He describes the phenomenon in a poignant essay in Thursday's issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

"Many family members take some solace from it. They appreciate the companionship that the cat provides for their dying loved one," said Dosa, a geriatrician and assistant professor of medicine at Brown University.

Full Story Here.

Animals understand life and death better than most of us do anyway. This is one example of a cat who helps confused patients find comfort in their last moments. Just an amazingly beautiful story.

Man must pay alimony to wife despite her domestic partnership

Judge: Domestic partnership doesn't stop wife's alimony / Man ordered to continue alimony even if wife uses other woman's name / Ex-husband plans to appeal

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- A judge has ordered a man to continue paying alimony to his ex-wife -- even though she's in a registered domestic partnership with another woman and even uses the other woman's last name.

California marriage laws say alimony ends when a former spouse remarries, and Ron Garber thought that meant he was off the hook when he learned his ex-wife had registered her new relationship under the state's domestic partnership law.

An Orange County judge didn't see it that way.

The judge ruled that a registered partnership is cohabitation, not marriage, and that Garber must keep writing the checks, $1,250 a month, to his ex-wife, Melinda Kirkwood. Garber plans to appeal.

FULL STORY HERE AT CNN

Ok, bitches. Now you get what us Gay activists have been saying, and now you get to feel it in your wallets.

Don't want us to marry? Don't want us to receive the legal status as a married couple? Then guess what? When you divorce because your wife comes out of the closet, and she finds her life partner, you STILL get to pay her alimony - because cohabitation and marriage are two different things.

Especially when you signed your divorce decree WITH the alimony stipulation even after you knew she was living with another woman.

*SMACK*

You don't get it both ways.

As more and more heterosexual men get hit with this exact same circumstance, I'll be proponents of gay marriage will increase.

30 random ways to a happier life.

I've highlighted the ones I love...

...courtesy of Nickblog

1. Learn early on to enjoy warm soda. Trust me, it comes in handy. While you're at it, learn to drink black coffee.
2. Let go of your need to make all the choices all of the time. Other people have better ones sometimes.
3. Learn to play guitar, juggle, ride a unicycle, do a backflip and play Scrabble.
4. Avoid trends. Go for timeless fashion.
5. Skip the iPhone. Get a Blackberry.
6. Learn to enjoy warm beer. (this one is more advanced, but well worth it).
7. Pick a team in any sport and be a hardcore fan.
8. Combine all of your e-mail addresses.
9. Own a car that doesn't own you. There may be no bigger waste of stress than worrying about the looks of a car. Let it go.
10. Love what you love. Don't trick yourself or others.
11. Cut out people that bum you out.
12. Find joy in condiments. Similarly, acquire tastes just for the hell of it. Like Sauerkraut and Whisky. But not together. Unless you're high.
13. Stop imagining that people are saying things about you. They're mostly just worried about themselves.
14. Ignore social constraints if more convenient or sensible than abiding by them.
15. Learn to play D&D. If you're already laughing this one off, learn it immediately.
16. Feel free to simply let parts of your past go.
17. Get rid of the stuff you're hoarding. It's an emotional drain.
18. Don't get too attached to any one material thing. It's just stuff.
19. Learn the basic rules of the major sports.
20. Get good at frisbee.
21. Whoever makes you happy most of the time, that's "the one."
22. Change is unavoidable. Embrace it, on every level.
23. Learn how to use a gun.
24. When it comes to parking, pay the most for the closest once in a while.
25. Treat yourself to nice underwear. Life is too short.
26. Get a passport, even if you never plan on leaving the country.
27. Learn how to play poker.
28. Don't be too afraid of "street meat."
29. Always be ready to let go of your original plan...

Enough!

Breaktaking.





Shame on NBC for censoring the truth and the beauty of this American Musical Hero.

"There is no US and THEM!"

"The two men appeared out of nowhere..."

(first line of HP-7)

What a week and weekend!

Monday, Sarah officially got the remainder of her things and moved into Grandma’s house. It’s weird not having her around, but she wanted to try a new place, a change of scenery. Lindi and I are planning what to do with that other room, probably a den/craft room.

Thursday, I came home and decided to make a special meal for Lindi – for no good reason. I made homemade au gratin potatoes, from scratch, mind you, New York Strip steaks, medium rare, marinated in garlic and black pepper and grilled, green salad and banana cream pie for dessert. It was nummy.

Friday evening, Lindi and I spent a quiet evening together, then I went out to get the new HP book at Midnight. It was quite the adventure, and actually, the crowds weren’t too bad. I was home and in my recliner at 1 am and began reading. I went to sleep at about 3 out of sheer exhaustion.

Saturday morning, I got back up at 10 am and continued reading until Lindi and Sarah came in at about 4:30. The grandparents were out of town, so Sarah wanted to stay overnight with us (I think she missed us, really) They took me to dinner, we played cards and they went to bed while I stayed up to 1am and FINISHED THE BOOK. 24 hours ~ 759 pages ~ pure happiness. I stayed up ‘til 4 watching TV until they awoke to open the store, and I collapsed into a coma until Lindi came home at 2:30.

About the book – yes, people die. Beloved characters, even. Made me sad, but you knew it had to happen. It showed more of Harry’s compassion. That was good. It wasn’t really surprising, the ending. It was a fine ending, and she set it up to end in almost any way your imagination could go, which just showcased her talents. I had read some spoilers and I am here to say that they were not that accurate, although a couple were close. I can’t wait to see it on the big screen.
Lindi is out of town this week at a convention in Vegas and I am really not sure what to do with myself. I get 4 days of solitude. There are some friends to catch up with, dinners to be had, alone time and sleep I have been missing.

So, today I am at work and raring to go (not really). I am part of a new pilot program, which is a great opportunity for me, but it’s going to take some getting used to. I moved from my old desk to a new one (with a view, no less) and sitting around new people. Instead of being grouped with other BR's, I am now sitting with my team - each of us serving a specific set of clients. It's going to cut down on emailing and IMing and shold prove to really facilitate client focus. I am used to a very quiet environment, and this one is a little nosier than I am used to. Thank goodness for headphones.

HAPPY 21st BIRTHDAY LORENE! (ha,ha) Hope it is filled with love and happiness!

My love and thoughts out to Toni. Chin up, sister. We love you guys.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HONEY

Happy Birthday to my loving, beautiful and wonderful wife! Many more year of happiness and health. I love you!

My Uncle Mike

Michael Maverakis 1920 ~ 2007

Michael Maverakis passed away on July 1, 2007 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was born on Sept. 1, 1920 in Sunnyside, Utah to Emanual Michael Maverakis and Alice Blavos Maverakis. Michael attended West High and the University of Utah. He married Tessie Mary Anast Maverakis on Dec. 5, 1950 in Nevada. Later they were married in the Greek Orthodox Church.

He served in the Merchant Marines, worked for Trans Ocean Airlines as a radio operator. He retired from the Los Angeles Police and Fire Department in Communications.

Michael loved fishing, gardening, cooking, walking and being with family and friends. He always had a big heart and cared more for others than himself.

Michael is survived by his wife, children, Paula Butler, Mitchell Maverakis, Stephanie Bambrook and Christopher Maverakis; his siblings, Emanual Maverakis, Nick Maverakis, Irene Maverakis Work; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his father, Emanual Michael Maverakis; his mother, Alice (Blavos) Maverakis; and his sisters, Mary Winders and Lula Bukosky.

Services will be held on Thurs. July 12, 2007 at 11 a.m. at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 279 S. 300 W., Salt Lake City, Utah. The viewing will be Wed. July 11, 2007 from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. with a prayer service at 7 p.m. at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary, 3401 S. Highland Drive, Salt Lake City. Interment will be held at Wasatch Lawn Cemetery following the funeral service at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church.

Published in the Salt Lake Tribune on 7/10/2007.

Guest Book • Flowers • Charities

Highlights of a 07/07/07 Wedding

One bridesmaid didn't show. One bridesmaid passed out. Other than that - C&T's wedding was FABULOUS! And we are exhausted... still.

Our Saturday morning started with the gathering of clothes, and cutting of 15 pounds of hard cheeses for the cheese tray. We arrived at the church at 11am for rehearsal and decorating. Logistically, Lindi was in charge of turning a sanctuary of 150 chairs into 11 tables with chairs surrounding them in 15 minutes, so she was planning that while we were tying ribbon on bottles of bubbles and wrapping candy bars.

The day actually went very well, even if we lost a bridesmaid. I had purchased the bridesmaids dresses online and had got an extra one in case we needed matching material for any reason. So, when the one Bridesmaid went MIA, the bride chose her other cousin to stand in her line... and wouldn't you know, the extra dress I bought fit her like a glove! It couldn't have been better if it were planned!

We walked down the aisle to Pachbel's Cannon and placed a flower in a vase at the altar to represent our well wishes for the couple. By the time we all placed a flower, the vase was filled and a beautiful "community" bouquet was created with all sorts of different flowers with different meanings. The bridesmaids carried white roses in our bouquets with cobalt tank-style dresses and the groomsmen wore white roses, black tuxes and cobalt ties. The bride walked down to the Classical music that is usually played for English Royalty, which is very appropriate! The Bride wore a simple champagne colored floor length gown with a tiara and lace cascading veil that almost reached the ground. She looked classic. The groom wore a black tux with periwinkle accent. We were a gorgeous wedding party.

When the couple was reintroduced to the party, they were escorted through a tunnel of guests blowing bubbles. Daddy-daughter dance: "I Loved Her First", Son and Mother dance, "Moon River", Couple's Dance "Somebody."

The cake was a gorgeous white creation of Rep. Christine Johnson - three tiers with roses and daisies and simply the very best wedding cake I have ever tasted. She also created the flowers as a present from Michael Marriott and his boyfriend Adam. WOW were they ever stunning!

My baklava went over very, very well. There was still a ton of food left, but that always happens. Better to have too much than not enough. Fresh fruit, veggies, cheese, sourdough breads, strawberries, homemade salsa - it was a feast.

When everyone was gone, Lindi was a pro getting the sanctuary cleaned up with everyone's help. I couldn't do much, but Sarah vacuumed everything, we had extra hands putting tables and chairs away and cleaning everything up for services the next day. We finally fell into bed about 2am.

The church was hot, the food was great, the dancing was fun, the company was awesome and we all had a great time, celebrating the new marriage of two amazing people.

B R E A T H E

This week has just been crazy, and that is quite the understatement.

I got my bridesmaids dress from my seamstress and it is quite the stunner. I am so happy with it, it fits like a glove and it a gorgeous shimmery cobalt blue. Something I will definitely wear again, I am sure. I finished tying over 200 koufeta and placing them in a gorgeous mahogany basket.

Yesterday, work was slow, so I took advantage of my personal time off and took the afternoon to run errands. I ran to my parents and visited with them for a while, did some more wedding shopping, bought the couple their champagne flutes for toasting, got my nails done, got Lindi's birthday presents, and last night I finished making 80 pieces of baklava for the dessert table.

Today, I need to cut up 15 pounds of cheese for cheese platters, decorate the champagne flutes and mahogany basket with ribbon and burn the CD with the music for the wedding. If I can take a half a day today, that would be fabulous.

Whew.

There is usually a wedding in the LBGT every year that is the "event" of the season. I am sure this is it, like My wedding was in 2003. It is going to be busy, hot and a whole lot of fun! There has been many varied challenges to this wedding including the death of one of the planners (Goddess be with you, Chad), vendors backing out, changes in the line - but we've gotten through them all. We can't wait to celebrate!

Sunday, we had a bit of bad news. My Uncle Mike passed away. He is married to my great aunt Tessie, my grandfather's sister. He and my father were very close, growing closer over the last few years. They would go to lunch together every week when Mike was up to it. Uncle Mike was, in many ways, the father my dad always wanted. Mike accepted people for who they were, not for what was expected for them to be. He always had the sweetest smile. He never judged me or any of my family - we were just his family.

I am sad for my father, but happy for Mike and his release from his earthly body, which was so painful.

His funeral will be the 12th, since we are waiting for people to come in from out of town. My work has been wonderful, giving me the day off with pay and any other time off as I need.

So, I am ready to P A R T Y tomorrow, get my groove on and just enjoy some happiness!


HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHANE! I hope this year brings you all the happiness in the world!


Your Daily Number: 5

You may find yourself discussing or embarking on a trip today. Not a great day for details; it's better to take advantage of today's self-promoting energy to get off the beaten path and be social.

Horoscope for Virgo

Lack of clear direction at work today could make for a cascade of problems. You don't, however, have to contribute to it with such a critical attitude. Instead of blaming anyone else for shortcomings that may be out of your control, stay as positive as you can. By focusing on your response instead of other people's behavior, you'll be able to maintain a high level of efficiency, even in a difficult situation.