In the semi-awkward news:
Our next door neighbor is an Episcopalian priest and his wife and three kids. ONe of the little boys is Ellie's best friend. Our backyards sort of form a V so that from the backyard, you can easily look into the back of either house, although we each look out and can't see the other person's house.
Anyway, they must have friends over tonight because even though it's dark, I can hear them in the back yard. And I just finished watching True Blood which happened to have
2 naked sex scenes
tonight. Which I enjoyed and it's their own damn fault if they are looking in my windows, but still, I feel a little dirty. Now I'm about to watch Breaking Bad. Less sex, more drugs and violence!!
eta: and then probably SPN after that - so horror, demons, and blood!
Barcelona is on my "to visit" cities! I really need to go. My Spanish won't hack it, but I figure the ocean/sea will be worth it.
English is pretty much the language Europeans use when they travel in foreign countries, so you'll be fine almost everywhere. Everywhere a tourist spends money, someone can communicate with you, somehow.
I really enjoyed Barcelona when I was there in 1998.
Sounds like an awesome trip, shrift! Yay! Now we plan for Hawaii?
Ha ha. Dude, I still have jet lag! But I'll figure out how many vacation days I have left after VividCon and DragonCon tomorrow at work.
Nonian, Episcopal priests are pretty chill, in my admittedly somewhat limited experience.
Yeah, they are actually very cool people and serve margaritas to me most Saturday nights.
They do like their booze!
Dishes done. After scooping pans and taking out trash, I think it's time for bed. Here's hoping I can fall asleep. Leverage will have to wait until tomorrow, unless of course I can't sleep.
Isn't Episic the flavor that allows women to be ordained? And I recall that they were the only church to have an official presence at the recent pride parade in NYC after the gay marriage passed.
Anyway, your windows, your house, your rules. If people look in and see something they don't approve of, too fucking bad, IMHO.
When I had a first floor apartment on the Plaza (lots of foot traffic and an apartment building on the other side) a friend was aghast I didn't keep all of my shades permanently drawn to the edges. I walked around naked or in panties and a tank all the time, esp. in summer.
Dude. If someone saw a sliver of tit, or the whole monty, whatevs.
And anyone trying to sneak in my windows would encounter either (A) locks, shattering glass placed on the tops of the sills and windchimes and/or (B) a faceful of Mace, followed with a cast iron skillet to the head, and a filleting knife to the hands.
(Yeah, I had kitchen implements by my bed. Mugged once in own house, you develop Plans A, B, C and D.)
Current house is less defensible than apartment, but we do have a very barky dog. Since we have a child, I don't keep knives by all windows anymore, and we don't have a gun, as I would keep it in a gun safe, and render it pretty fucking ineffective in an emergency, plus I don't have the money to spend enough time at the range, but there's still...er, measures sprinkled throughout the house.
I love my husband, but I know I would be point person in an emergency. He's 140 lbs after a heavy meal, and I am way more aggro, crisis tested and trained than he. Someone more trained would have me, I know, but a casual B&E or an opportunity rapist would be in for a distinctly unpleasant surprise.
The Episcopal Church is one of many with women clergy and one of quite a few that show up to pride events -- but that's just by way of fact-check; to the broader point, hells yeah they're liberal and fabulous as all that.
They do like their booze!
I took N&G to an Episcopalian church thing (Messy Church!) three weeks go. Messy Church events always have a meal. They had beer and wine! LOVE THESE PEOPLE. Well, not just for the wine and beer, but for the fact that at least 4 people came over to take Grace and do something with her. No one batted an eye, but they helped her bake bread and put prayer offerings in the box and make a pyramid.
I think any group that is willing to welcome and love my disabled daughter is a worthy group.
That just made me teary. I think I best go lie down and sleep.
One of the things I love about my Methodist church is that they are so inclusive. I don't think every Methodist church is like that, but this one seems to welcome everyone. It's funny because I was trying to describe it to my mom and the words that came out were "It's so...Christ-like." Which made us laugh because, shit, shouldn't all churches be like that?