The usual on the domestic front. Called Julie L. because Susan had said she was interested in the acting company. However, when she found out we invariably rehearse and meet otherwise at night, she decided it wasn't for her.
A. changed the sensors on the garage door. However, it continues to malfunction and when she called the company, it was determined to be a bad wire, not the sensors themselves. I'll return and get my $34 back and Mike will re-wire.

Murder mystery show rehearsal last night, which went well. There are some changes to my lines, but since it's short, that shouldn't be a problem. Other than that, another ordinary day; library and supermarket stops, as usual.
Got home a little after 9:00--SO much better than when I have to go all the way to Barnegat Light--and had my usual. Slept well.

Things continue to be ho-hummy, though not bad. Went to Lowe's and got the new garage door opener sensors. Stopped at Shop-Rite for supplies. Washed clothes, as I do everyday. Went to the library, as I do several times a week and got Food Matters, by Mark Bittman. I was gratified to read he recommends eating the way I already do: very little meat and processed food, except for an occasional treat, and most of one's calories from plant food.
Actually, I probably eat less meat than he does. It occurred to me that my regular, everyday diet (in the broad sense,that is) includes no meat. I did have a turkey breast sandwich when the kids were here on Sunday, but the time before that was several week ago when Betty was here and we went to The Greenhouse. I had a hamburger and a cold beer, and it was delicious. I don't think it would have tasted so good if I ate it everyday or even every month.
In truth, I credit my near-vegetarianism with my 70 + pound weight loss, my ability to successfully cover my care-giving chores, and my abundant energy in other areas.

Fairly mundane, but pretty okay day. Aside from some supermarket trips--I seem to go everyday--hung ar0und home. Actually fell asleep on the couch about 3:00; was awakened when A. came to talk to the garage door opener people while she was operating it. It seems the sensors on either side have failed. All we have to do, I understand, is get new ones for about 30 bucks and A. thinks she can replace them. That's better than the $450 Ray paid for a new system...
Wider: I was just sent a "Born Again American" video on-line, which consists of a number of carefully diverse (black, Asian, Islamic, Jewish sprinkled amongst the pure Caucasians) singers performing a remarkably inane song that seems to be a protest against the Wall Streeters who profit from the current economic mess--or something. Of course, they sing in front of the obligatory "patriotic" backgrounds here and there around the country--mountains, farmland, college campuses, bodies of water--and, prominently mentioned, is the bible. Funny--why isn't the Koran noted? And I guess that lets out agnostics and atheists. No cliche is left unturned here, including the mention of how somebody or other "fought for our freedom"--presumably, by killing those not so privileged as we. It ends, as one could predict, with Ol' Glory snapping in the breeze. What strikes me as interesting is that this "movement" was founded by producer Norman Lear. Must look him up and see if he's as conservative--not to say reactionary--as this site suggests.
Later: Well, it looks as if Lear actually sees himself as a liberal. What's interesting is that he founded another organization that advertised against religion in politics. Yet the chorus of this video mentions the bible, clearly putting it on a par with the constitution for Americans. And, of course, the "Born Again" part of the title...food for thought, I guess.

What a great time we had on little "T.'s" second birthday! No pool--it rained heavily most of the time--but we greatly enjoyed it anyway. As it turned out, J.'s friend couldn't come, so it was A. and M., J. and the little guys, as well as Lulu, of course. I made a big salad, slumphie stew, cheese and turkey cold cuts, rolls and pumpernickel bread, and a few sides. A. made a delicious cake and brought birthday hats, party blowers, balloons, and bubbles.
The last two, terrifically simple and inexpensive as they are, amused the children the most. After lunch we repaired to the porch and they blew bubbles, running after them, "catching" them back on their wands, and exclaiming over their longevity as they rose to the sky.
That sky was dark as night while the rain came down, and we finally started getting wet, so went into the garage. There, T. rode his new trike, big J. sat in an old office chair, and little J. alternated between that and Pat's wheelchair. They then traded off using that and at one point, they and their Dad played bumper cars with trike, office chair,and transport chair. It was wonderful to be with those two beautiful, sweet-natured boys and especially, to see the fun they have together and their evident love for each other.
Talked to Ellen later and we laughed over my tendency to ignore "expiration dates" This arose when J. noticed that the mustard container said, "Best before 6/19/01." Well, fer cryin' out loud, that's only eight years--it's fine!

Another slow one. Cleaned the bathroom. Did more wash. Got to Shop-rite early. Very hot and humid and I was tempted to go to the pool, but didn't.
Today should be a lot more fun. We're expecting the J., J., and T., as well as A. and M., and possibly others for lunch and a party for the two-year-old. Hope the rain holds off so we can get to the pool, but it doesn't look good. Okay, we'll think of things to do inside.

Busy and productive day, but it entailed activities of little interest, such as washing four loads of clothes. We had a heavy rainstorm after dinner, but no tornado, about which our neighbor had warned. Nevertheless, the last day of July was curiously satisfying--not sure why, but maybe just because it was quiet.
It's already August! Must re-learn the part of the hostess for the Murder Mystery we're doing at the Elks Club on August 29. Rehearsal on Wednesday.
Wider: Ray Govern, in "Christians Largely Mum On Torture" in Anti-War.com, quotes Chris Hedges:
'"The utter failure of nearly all our religious institutions — whose texts are unequivocal about murder — to address the essence of war has rendered them useless. These institutions have little or nothing to say in wartime because the god they worship is a false god, one that promises victory to those who obey the law and believe in the manifest destiny of the nation."'
There are a few exceptions, I guess: Quakerism and Unitarianism, for two (although I'm puzzled as to whether the last is a religion or not), and McGovern mentions some major religions that harbor pockets of resistance to our country's on-going policies of death and destruction. However, none of the major religions are vocal against either torture or unprovoked war. The religion into which I was born, Roman Catholicism, is officially silent on these abominations, but hitches its authority to anti-abortion, a much safer practice to be against. After all, it revolves around all that nasty sex stuff and is a lesser challenge to the authority of the ruling class than messing with their ties to the war machine.