In the hedgerow out my windows 4/11/2004 1:40 PM
I'm north of Chicago, in a suburb which was a small town before everyone came out here. This morning I first noticed a female cardinal, soon joined by her mate. Then came the two pair of red winged blackbirds. I saw a downy woodpecker briefly, and I can hear him just out of sight. I have no dearth of common wrens and black capped chickadees. There are a bunch of doves, waiting patiently in the trees for their chance at the food on the ground, and, of course, the swamp sparrows. I saw a herring gull on the way home from church.

Finally, the Braciole recipe I've been working on: This is a knock them dead entree. A big salad, some vegies, pasta, it's a meal! I have cut this down, but truth to tell, if you are making Braciole, make about four times this amount, and invite the whole family. This is what fits in MY crock pot:

Braciole

4 servings :

* 5 lb round steak, Cut 1/4" thick flattened out

* 1 lb Italian sausage, mild

* 1/2 C bread crumbs

* 2/3 cup dried currants or raisins

* 3 Tbsp parsley

* 1/2 tsp. fennel seed, bruised

* 2 tsp oregano

* 8 Cloves garlic, crushed

* 2 large onion, chopped fine

* 2 x16 oz canned plum tomatoes

* 2 x 6 oz Tomato Paste

Preparation:

Trim excess fat from the beef. Cut into as many evenly sized pieces as as you can reasonably make. Place each between 2 sheets of waxed paper. Pound each as thin as possible, the thinner the steaks, the better they roll up. Chill meat.

Brown the sausage lightly in a skillet & drain. Add parsley, oregano, fennel seed, garlic, onion and currants. Mix thoroughly.

Take out meat, and spread 2 to 3 tablespoons of the filling mixture on each flattened steak. Roll up each steak jelly roll fashion. Use string & toothpicks to keep the steaks rolled. Place the rolled steaks in the bottom of the slow cooker. Combine the tomatoes & tomato paste, (or your favorite red sauce recipe). Pour over the steak rolls. Cover. Cook on the slow cooker's LOW setting for 6 to 8 hours. ( In a pinch, you can oven bake them, but...) I take out the toothpicks, and leave the string to be removed at table. That's why there are napkins.

Serve Braciole with the sauce & spaghetti. Grate the good cheese on top.

This calls for the good red wine, too.

We, the disabled and chronically ill folks of the world, think this poet, Maria Jastrzebska, is brilliant. She says it all better than I ever could.

Friends

--Maria Jastrzebska

1

thank god

for the small procession of friends

who knock on my door

bringing me flowers and newspaper cuttings

interesting books

or the wrong kind of apples

because I've forgotten to explain

which ones I like

friends who take the initiative

in supermarkets or at the grocer's

adding things to my list

forcing me to treat myself

to unexpected strawberries

or mango

friends who send me cards

from abroad

friends who go on believing

in my recovery

2

they seem

like circus dancers

daring and fast

everything they wear is brightly coloured

when they talk about their lives

I imagine them

somersaulting through the air

hanging by a silver thread

from the high wire

I think:

that's what I must have been doing

till I fell

and landed in this bed again

caught in the tangled nets

of illness

telling myself it could be worse

3

when they talk

the noise grazes my senses

so I know my body will tremble

for a long time

after they're gone

other times

they're the ones

who seem tired

they seem to find relief

in this quiet room

they move

into the huge, uncluttered spaces

in my diary and like it there

they can relax

knowing there's no need to perform

4

and then there's the ones

who say: I wouldn't mind being ill

just a little

--oh not like you of course--

but I can't afford to

as though this illness was a luxury

I can't stop

who else would take over

the kids, my job

who indeed?

as if they envied

this curtain

that comes down

so indiscriminately

that gets me out

of whatever it is

I never really wanted to do

and in the same sudden gesture

cuts me off

from all the tings

I long to do

this stillness

after the curtain's come down

this is how tired women

without a moment to themselves

define luxury

Police detectives went to Nevada and arrested a man today in the murder of my daughter who was born Judith Marie Lee on September 5, 1966. She was murdered in her home in August 2001.

I had no idea how much this was weighing on my heart until I heard this news. I never thought he would see the inside of a cell. I am cynical enough to believe it's probably okay to kill a woman in this country, if she isn't someone important.

I have no idea how I feel, other than relieved. I know that not forgiving him is like taking poison and hoping that he will die, but I'm not at forgiveness just yet.

I may be depressed and in pain, but I'm still not stupid: In tonight's news, probably to vanish before dawn, this story:

Late Friday night, two Chicagoans - Sister Kathleen Desautels and Mary Dean - joined the ranks of 27 other peace activists sentenced to federal prison this month for protesting last November at the notorious School of the Americas, the U.S. government’s elite training program for Latin American military forces at Fort Benning, Georgia. (Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation)

Seven other protesters received 6 months probation, and the judge imposed fines ranging from $500 to $5,000 dollars. The protesters’ crime? Opposing the SOA’s dismal history of training torturers, who have been accused over the last 2 decades of mounting terror, torture and murder campaigns throughout Latin America. Two years ago, Congress responded to public criticism of SOA by changing the school’s name to the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation - but SOA/WHISC’s agenda continues - as does public opposition to the crimes of its graduates

for more info, go to: (too lazy to make a link, sorry.)
http://www.soaw.org/

There are lots of crazy folks out there. Urge your apathetic friends to register and vote, because the indications are that this will get a whole lot worse. Some of us REALLY NEED the ADA. And as we age, more of us will need it.

In a long overdue move, (almost twenty years) The Archdiocese of Chicago has seen fit to accept the resignation of Fr. William Lupo, a fellow who has sexually molested eight, possibly more, young women. (er, make that allegedly, as I only know one of them, yet I was present to hear Archdiocesean representative Steve Sidlowski say there were "Several, at least seven other complaints pending against him.") In spite of the increasing number of charges against Fr. Lupo, he has until this week maintained his position as Pastor of St. Peter Damien parish in Bartlett, Illinois.

To their (almost) credit, the Archdiocese,at some time in the last ten years, told someone at the parish that Fr. Lupo had been sexually inappropriate with "at least two" young women. I say cut them off at the wallet. It's the only thing to which they pay attention.

It is almost like justice.

Reading Ted's Blog made me remember that I want many copies of The Bill of Rights out there on the internet for just anyone to find, in case the new government decides to deny they ever existed at all, instead of just ignoring them.

So here they are, the First Ten Amendments ot the Constitution of the United States of America:

Constitutional Amendments 1-10: The Bill of Rights

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Amendment III

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

Amendment VII

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Passed by Congress March 4, 1794. Ratified February 7, 1795.

The kindness of friends:

Michael and Connie Purcell, in a gesture that has touched my heart, have had a tree on the grounds of the library dedicated in honor of my late daughter, whom I knew as Judith Marie Lee. I don't know what kind of tree, but when I know, I will tell.

My library and librarians have been a great source of comfort to me during this unhappy time, and I am grateful to them all, especially the folks in the Children's Department, which is officially called "Youth Services.".

Saturday I went to a Gourmet Chocolate Tasting Event with Connie! It was my birthday present to her.
What I learned: Chocolate only grows within about twenty degrees of the Equator, whichis to say, where it is hot! Growing and harvesting Theobroma Cacao is very labor intensive work, and there are many references to "the natives" in the descriptions of how the growing, harvesting, preparing for market, transporting, and such are accomplished. For example, a tree may produce 6,000 blossoms, of which 200 will set fruit. Each fruit pod contains 2 to 4 dozen beans. They are cut open by "native men, who hold the pod in one hand, and whack it open with a machete held in the other hand. They have to be careful just to crack the hull, ..." There is no mention of great salaries for "the natives", though they "are really devoted to their work."

Chocolate Gourmands place a small piece of chocolate on their tongue, and press it gently against the roof of the mouth to begin the melting process and release the flavor and aroma near the nose. The melting temperature of chocolate is just below human body temperature. The chocolate will melt faster if there is a higher milk or cocoa butter content, and more slowly if there is a higher cocoa powder content.

I've always known I didn't much care for milk chocolate, but I never knew what a purist I am until this tasting, where I learned from experimenting thatI really prefer the intensely rich flavor of unsweetened chocolate. There is a lot more to say about this, and it raised political issues that were not surprising, but very uncomfortable for a chocoholic like me. I must go sleep now, because I'm off to a funeral at early o'clock. but I will write again, time providing.

Last night we had 73 people at our P.A.D.S. homeless shelter. P.A.D.S. is an acronym for "Public Action to Deliver Shelter". Seventy three is two shy of our fullest capacity, and thirteen more people than we own sleeping pads for. It’s starting to get colder here, and the group is only going to get bigger. There are homeless folks everywhere. Make the time to go volunteer at the shelter near you, or, failing that, donate your spare change for a month. (Do NOT run out and buy lots of little toiletries unless they are requested.)

Donate clean, used blankets, sheets, socks, underwear, (assorted sized, five times more men’s than women’s), your old winter coat, should you be lucky enough to have more than one. Our shelter has a trade-in policy. If we have coats, and they’re warmer than the coats folks are wearing, we trade them for their current coat. We clean the older coats, repair them, and send them to shelters in warmer areas. Donate cash, if you can, because a shelter uses lots of food and paper products.

It’s cold outside where I live. Someone donated eighty assorted pairs of new winter boots, which we gave out last month. These replaced shoes and boots that were so worn out, some of them had cardboard covering the holes. How long has it been since you worried about that? Never? Go volunteer out of gratitude.

Donate your old clothes. This goes double for the larger sizes. At our shelter, fifteen percent of our guests are bigger than the average bear. These are the things most shelters really need.

I have volunteered at the homeless shelter for a couple of years. Now my sister is homeless in Madison, Wisconsin, and I volunteer more frequently than I used to, in gratitude tor the folks who take her in. Someone you know, or knew once, is homeless. You could be just a few paychecks away from homelessness, yourself. Reach out, folks. It's good for what ails our culture. Happy Friday.

There came the big noise and the dark, the loud, mind-numbing noises, and the heaviness of air, the pushing down on me. Soon I had lost myself. The storm raged on, and a calmfriendly voice suggested calling the doctor. I did that. And she was there, and knew, and the noises rages and I raged and cried, and she talked about things, but I don't know what they were, except that I followed her voice back to this place/time that is the right one where I usually live. She is a good leader back. She gave us directions for a magic potion, and some tablets. "Sip slowly, and call when you can." Two servings of both and the noise was moving outside the house. The Moral Support Squad Leader called a few times, and night closed in, and morning came, a new day. The noise is still outside.

I can't remember the last time I heard anyone even mention the 1948 United Nations _Universal Declaration of Human Rights_, which may be the zenith of Eleanor Roosevelt's life work. It made a big impression on me in about sixth grade, when, as a punishment for some infraction of school rules, I was given three pages of an encyclopedia to print by hand. The document itself gave me great hope for the world. At the time we were just moving into the Cuban Missle Crisis, and everyone expected the world to end tomorrow before breakfast. Meanwhile, I know way too many people who have never heard of it, much less read it. So here it is, and damn all the curriculum designers who thought it too unimportant to include! I would like just one member of Congress read it into the Congressional Record, one Newspaper print the whole text. I would like to see the United States (and the other signatory nations) embrace this declaration and live out the true meaning and intent.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

On December 10, 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Following this act the Assembly called upon all Member countries to publicize the text of the
Declaration and "to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories."

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

On December 10, 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Following this act the Assembly called upon all Member countries to publicize the text of the
Declaration and "to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories."

PREAMBLE
Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,

Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,

Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,

Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in cooperation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,

Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN
RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective
recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

Article 1.
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 2.
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Article 3.
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Article 4.
No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

Article 5.
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Article 6.
Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

Article 7.
All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

Article 8.
Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

Article 9.
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

Article 10.
Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

Article 11.
(1) Everyone charged with a penal offense has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defense. (2) No one shall be held guilty of any penal offense on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offense, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offense was committed.

Article 12.
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honor and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

Article 13.
(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state. (2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.

Article 14.
(1) Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution. (2) This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 15.
(1) Everyone has the right to a nationality. (2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.

Article 16.
(1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
(2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses. (3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.

Article 17.
(1) Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others. (2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.

Article 18.
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his
religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 19.
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Article 20.
(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
(2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

Article 21.
(1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives. (2) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country. (3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

Article 22.
Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international cooperation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.

Article 23.
(1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favorable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
(2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work. (3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favorable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection. (4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

Article 24.
Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

Article 25.
(1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control. (2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

Article 26.
(1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit. (2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace. (3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

Article 27.
(1) Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits. (2) Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.

Article 28.
Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.

Article 29.
(1) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible. (2) In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society. (3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 30.
Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

I went to Chicago's new Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum's permanent exhibit, the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven, and was enchanted.
I never heard off these women, but I am grateful that Judy Istock gave or left money to build this Butterfly Haven. It is small, with lots of butterfly attracting plants, bushes, and trees. It is slightly warm and humid, and magnificent. There are probably half a thousand butterflies fluttering about, landing on plants and, occasionally, people. I watched as one went from hanging from a little stand as a cocoon to hatching out and drying its wings, and it was incredibly beautiful! This is something I have known about from books my whole life, but there were easily fifty varieties of butterflies there. The colors are amazing, and the people watching was almost as much fun as the butterflies!

We were there for two hours, and I could easily have stayed another three, but we had five year old Jake with us, and he wanted to go see the museum's other exhibits. His favorite was the gross one about how human insides wrok.

Ted, you devious lad, can't find any excuse now, can I? Here I am, writing in thestephy weblog. In other exciting news, went off to sit in on a *Hackmaster* game. There should probably be a copyright or trademark symbol there, but I really didn't pay all that much attention. It is a pastiche on Dungeons & Dragons, played with much wimsey and many dice and accompanied by pizza and pop. It willltake a while to create thestephy's character, a Dwarfen Day Errant, which is like a Dwarfen Knight Errant, only sillier.

It being Oh!'night thirty, or thereabouts, I go and sleep now. Wonder if I will be able to find this again?