The Lady Gwladys, Star of Abergavenny

In honor of International Women's Day, I pay tribute to a noble Matriarch, the Lady Gwladys, Star of Abergavenny - "the happy and the faultless." Or, in other words:

Romney Can't Lose for Winning

Still the inevitable Republican nominee. Still the best of the Republican field. Still the most electable against President Obama. And it will be a tough and dirty general election. We can expect Romney's money machine to go all out against the President just as it has been carpet-bombing the newt and Rick. He's been outspending them by the bucketful. And a win is a win. I'm talking total delegates - not the states chalked up. With proportional delegates in many states, Romney has more delegates than all the others put together.

The media wants a horse race. Romney and the Republican powers-that-be would love to be going after President Obama right now. The disturbing personalities of the other candidates won't let them. The Republican base won't let them. The Republican base will not desert the party, they just want to vent against Romney. He's not their kind of guy - but he's not Obama! The vote may be depressed and the President could still lose this if the economic recovery falters or other world events or unforeseen disasters go badly.

Awake!

As a further exploration of my personality and philosophy through music, and that of Cat Stevens to boot, I share with you one of my favorite songs of all time. It's not one of his big hits, it just speaks to my soul:

Avoiding Tribalism: Or "Miles" from Nowhere

Maybe I am part of the President's Tribe. I am a government lawyer born just four years before he was. But, I didn't go to Harvard (and was rather annoyed by my law professors who did), never worked as a community organizer (I was an LDS Bishop but that makes me more like the other guy), my father wasn't a polygamist (I have to go back four generations - Mitt, three). I wasn't born of mixed-race parents. And I've only been to the airport in Chicago. I can't figure it out why I would be in his club.

I mean, I do seem to have a lot more in common with the inevitable nominee Romney-- solid LDS background, Mormon Mission to a foreign country, former Bishop, large family, good-looking (well, I try). And I have an old friend who asked me in his Christmas card if my feelings were torn about supporting him because, well, I guess he expected it and knew I had voted for President Obama the first time.

Family Planning for Six Blessings

Heaven knows I have tried to stay out of the culture wars. But whether you blame the President or Limbaugh, it looks like there's incoming on a battlefield that can't be avoided.

Let me just state for the record that it's no accident we have six kids. It was the plan. And they are born three years apart due to the plan. In fact, our second and third were born three years apart on June 12 and June 11 during the time my wife was still teaching school (hint: she was teaching Math and Science). Nobody can plan better than my wife.

Physical Spirituality

Beyond the practical, there's a real physical aspect to Mormon spirituality. My wife and I are just back from a Temple cleaning assignment. We've done these before, although my wife a lot more frequently than I because I'm not so much of a night person. The Bountiful Temple has been closed two weeks for deep cleaning. We were part of the volunteer crew to help put things back together for re-opening next week.

We got on a crew in the laundry and basement. We moved furniture around, vacuumed and I volunteered to sweep and mop in the room behind the dryers. I made the mistake of telling the sister in charge that I had worked as a professional custodian although it was years ago while in high school. I still do a bit at home.

Finding the Lucky Spots

Today, on St. David's Day ( Dydd Gŵyl Dewi!) - by wonderful coincidence - my dad's cousin emailed me with some new family information she discovered that takes us right back to that little parish church in Llanfoist we visited a couple of years ago.

It reminded me of the "lucky" spots we were directed to in the church by our volunteer guide.

Standing on one of the lucky spots. Saint Faith's Parish Church, Llanfoist, Monmouthshire