WEDDINGS - CALLENBY's Blog

WEDDINGS - CALLENBY's Blog - Tehachapi News http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/CALLENBY Bridal days, deals, stories, specials, culture, law Bridal days, deals, stories, specials, culture, law en-us Wedding Reception http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/CALLENBY/18297 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/CALLENBY/18297 The evil and scandalous Bill (SB777) that was signed by Governor Schwarzenegger is by far the most damaging bill that has been signed to law by any Governor in modern USA.  In the guise of broadening safe haven for the misguided homosexuals, it actually punishes the majority of decent God fearing Americans.  <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> By not distinguishing individuals based on gender and sexual orientation, especially in our schools, the Governor has opened a flood gate to law suits, amongst other predictable and unfavorable outcomes.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> According the bills broad reaching spectrum, the existing “Boys” and “Girls” signs will be removed from the bathroom doors in the public schools making it possible for them to wander into each others bathrooms.  The teachers will be forced to accept this anomaly amongst a host of other misguided eventualities.  The teachers will not be able to use books that favor, or promote heterosexual parenting.  They will be forced against their religious and moral upbringing to instill in their students that gay parenting is equal if not better than <st1:place w:st="on"><u1:place u2:st="on">Normal</u1:place> traditional straight families.  <o:p></o:p></st1:place> <o:p> </o:p> Public restrooms will no longer segregate on gender; people, including gays will be able to share bath rooms at will.  It’s bad enough that the men leave the toilet seats up at home, can you imagine sitting on the toilet in a restaurant, minding your business, and in walks a “she-man” that proceeds to whoop out its anaconda?<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> If this is the contemporary definition of progressive advancement in civilization, then we need a dose of God’s wrath to remind us that we are mortal and still under his command.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> We are legislating ourselves to extinction, without a chance at eternal peace.  If either of you readers have relatives, friends or know people living in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">California</st1:state></st1:place>, please advise them to sign the petitions to force a ballot vote on this awful law in June, 2008.  This disgusting bill is effective as of January 1st, 2008. <o:p> </o:p> The wedding venue is just as important as the wedding gown.  While some cities such as <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><u1:city u2:st="on"><u1:place u2:st="on">Reno</u1:place></u1:city> and Vegas have made a name for themselves by simplifying the wedding ceremony to dollars and cents, effectively undermining its importance, others have maintained a long tradition in offering romantic and memorable settings to celebrate this once in a lifetime occasion.<o:p></o:p></st1:place></st1:city> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><u1:place u2:st="on"><u1:city u2:st="on">Venice</u1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><u1:country-region u2:st="on">Italy</u1:country-region></st1:country-region></u1:place> quickly comes to mind as the romantic city for the ideal wedding.  Since time immemorial, the Venetians have embraced the art of romance and virtuously embedded it into their spiritual lives to produce the ideal setting for a memorable wedding.<o:p></o:p></st1:city></st1:place> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> http://www.venetianviews.com </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> The very rich and famous have an isalnd, Virgin Gorda, in the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><u1:country-region u2:st="on"><u1:place u2:st="on">Bahamas</u1:place></u1:country-region> where week long events are the norm. Sir Richard Branson, the flamboyant and outgoing billionaire, long realized the need for the rich to seclude themselves in total indulgence in honor this ceremony. Catering to this niche turned out to be another success story credited to his golden hand.</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p> </o:p> Fantasy aside, most of us will probably book the municipal hall for our reception preceding the blessings at the Church. Care should be taken when negotiating for this venue because many are the times when we neglect to cleanup after ourselves hence forfeiting our deposits.  But deposits are the least of concerns on the wedding day.  Reserving the hall and confirming the reservations is the most important thing to do.  It’s is also advisable that one send his people the night before the wedding to decorate and man the hall lest mishaps happen.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> This was the case with the Morales' wedding.  Last summer, they had reserved their hall three months in advance. Unknown to them, another couple by the same last name, Morales, had reserved the same hall a month later. The municipal event scheduler on assumption that it was the same couple calling to confirm their reservations accepted the new reservations and even waived the deposit. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> When the guests started arriving with their gifts, they were amazed at the surge in the crowd as compared to their presence in the Church'.  Earlier on, the catering services that had been hired to cater for the wedding had noticed this unmitigated disaster; however their calls went unanswered on account the cell phones had been turned off in Church. Needless to say, there was an initial commotion with guests scrambling to retrieve their gifts from the podium lest they go to the wrong couple.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> In the end, in the spirit of the occasion, both couples saw this as a blessing and proceeded with the festivities without much ado.  Last I heard the two families had formed a bond and frequent each others barbeques regularly.<o:p></o:p> Bridal Gown http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/CALLENBY/18253 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/CALLENBY/18253 While I commend the <st1:place u1:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">San Joaquin</st1:place></st1:place> diocese for breaking ties with the gay Episcopal organization that invokes God's name in selective evangelization, I take issue with them for having waited for this long.  <o:p></o:p> <u2:p> </u2:p><o:p></o:p> As a practicing Catholic, I should find relief in the fact that for once it's not my denomination that's on the chopping-block; however, I share deep love and sympathy for all those God fearing Episcopalians who were dragged into this gay fiasco by a few power hungry misfits. <o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Homosexuality is not normal, not natural, and above all is a sin by every definition there is.  It is the worst kind of adultery that brings man a step closer to fornicating with animals.  Whatever demons possessed the man in <st1:country-region u1:st="on"><st1:place u1:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region></st1:place></st1:country-region> to marry his dog must be a step above in the corporate ladder of the devils organization that fools people to view homosexuality as a norm.  I’m sure it’s a sin to imagine that they consummated the marriage!! Awful, <a href="http://www.cylive.com/content/2663/Man_weds_dog">http://www.cylive.com/content/2663/Man_weds_dog</a> <o:p></o:p> <u2:p> </u2:p><o:p></o:p> As I pointed out in my earlier article, the bride is the least helpful person in the wedding preparations.  Her day has finally come, the day she has been dreaming of since she learned how to dream.  In <st1:place u1:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Africa</st1:place></st1:place>, at least in the older days, (the economy is systematically fading away tradition), the bride to be would start collecting a few things that she might use for her wedding at a very early age.  In most cases hand me downs (heirlooms) were passed from mother to daughters with the eldest keeping the most priced.  The brides to be would collect trinkets and jewelry amongst other things.  One might argue that since the weddings in Africa were a village affair, in some cases prearranged at birth, the role of the bride in the preparations was limited if not forbidden, less she appear too eager to join the other family, a sign of disrespect to hers.<o:p></o:p> <u2:p> </u2:p><o:p></o:p> I had a pen pal Mokami, from <st1:place u1:st="on"><st1:city u1:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Nyeri</st1:city></st1:place></st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:country-region u1:st="on">Kenya</st1:country-region></st1:country-region></st1:place>, who started collecting fabric pieces after attending her cousins wedding at the age of five.  By the time she came of age, she had sewed herself a gown that resembled a quilt, and despite her wealthy groom’s insistence that she wear the expensive gown he had imported from Italy,  stuck to her guns and wore the dress she had made.  Hollowed coins, cowry shells, copper wire coils, multi colored beads of varying shapes and sizes adorned the gown which didn’t have a square foot of the same fabric.  I will rummage through my basement to find her wedding pictures. Clearly, she had aspirations for her wedding and while others were working on perfecting the rest of the formalities, she sat back in the knowledge that she had achieved what she wanted for her special day; to wear her special garment.<o:p></o:p> <u2:p> </u2:p><o:p></o:p> Today, all we have to do is shop around for the best deal even if it’s not the gown we had in mind.  While the budget plays a vital role in our final decision, the choices are unlimited. Several stores and designers have made a decent living by ensuring that we had a wide variety to choose from.  While there is always the Goodwill thrift store, and other budget clothes outlets, the internet by far has the best deals on wedding gowns.  <a href="http://elegantbridalconcepts.com/">http://elegantbridalconcepts.com</a><o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> I mentioned the thrift store because my very practical friend Julius, was of the opinion that it would be better for him to spend the extra $1200, to buy his fiancée a bigger rock, than to spend it on the frock that she would only wear for a few hours on the wedding day.  So he drove down to the thrift store and bought her a very beautiful wedding gown ($20)and told her that he would be honored if she wore his grandmother’s wedding dress.  Two years ago after celebrating their 10th anniversary, he confessed to her that he had bought her the wedding dress at the thrift store. While she was vividly upset with him for his treachery, she took comfort in the knowledge that she had long decided to donate her wedding dress on account of the multiple stains it sustained at the wedding, and that the ring had appraised for $12,300 when she had taken it in for cleaning and resizing.<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p>   Wedding Dance http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/CALLENBY/18210 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/CALLENBY/18210 Now that we agree on the true definition of a marriage, as the union of a Man and a Woman in the presence of God until death do them part, we will move on to other aspects of the ceremony.  For all I care those of you harboring reservations on my definition of a marriage can go jump off a cliff; the world will be a better place, less one adulterer.  While you may disagree with my views, I'm comfortable and at peace with myself; nevertheless, I will say a prayer or two for your troubled soul.  If the majority of the world led by the Church is of the same opinion, then it can't be wrong; marriage is that sacred Sacrament by which a man and a woman are joined together into one in the eyes of our lord.<o:p></o:p>  <a href="http://bridaldays.blogspot.com/">http://bridaldays.blogspot.com/</a> <o:p></o:p> I have been to quite a few weddings and most tend to have one thing in common; While a majority of the guests openly wish the bride and groom well, ever so often you will hear doubting whispers and daunting predictions, "give them two years", or "should have got a pre-nap", or "are you sure that's his baby she's carrying"? and so forth and so on.  Weddings are the mystical cauldron, in which love, hope, dreams, nightmares, envy, lust, jealousy and all the other venial sins you can think of are concocted; instead of being happy for the bride, the bridesmaids as well a majority of the young ladies in the audience look upon the bride with envy, mentally swapping their roles; the older ones just compare to the distant memory of theirs.<o:p></o:p> Like I pointed out earlier, as a practicing Catholic with a very practical approach to life, I understand that it's impossible to have everyone believing in the word of God, (there are external, and very powerful counter forces at work) however, one can try. The old adage that "an idle mind is the devil's workshop" is true, just like his presence amongst us. While his greatest weapon is temptation, ours is greater; Free Will.  The freedom to choose by far supersedes temptation and whenever we feel ourselves succumbing to this vice, should immediately pull ourselves together and with a little prayer and reflection, be able to overcome the temptation.   <o:p></o:p> Why do I say this?<o:p></o:p> The simple reality is that most couples don't understand the virtue of chastity; they do not understand patience; that it is best to hold off all sexual activities until that special day.  If the man really loves his fiancée, and respects himself as well as her, he will honor her wish to wait until the wedding night. On the same token, if the woman respects herself and her fiancé, then she will suppress those hormones and save herself for that special day.  Believe me, it's worth it.  Rarely does this happen.  Sex is the perpetual magical gift that God bestowed upon us, to give us a taste of heaven and the power to procreate.  If abused, it is also the cause for the 50% divorce rate, ambiguity in paternity, and in the worst case scenario, homosexuality.<o:p></o:p> Most couples understand that the wedding is the special ceremony that marks the beginning of a new life, where a man and a woman are now joined into one being. They do everything in their power to make it a very memorable day.  They invite their families and closest friends and associates to help them celebrate this joyous occasion. They will do whatever is in their power to make their guests feel comfortable and enjoy the event.  The guests are wined and dined according the couples budget.  Some couples will even prepare something special for the guests; the first dance as husband and wife:  <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPmYbP0F4Zw">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPmYbP0F4Zw</a><o:p></o:p> True Marriage http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/CALLENBY/18177 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/CALLENBY/18177 As the sage ones say, "only idiots resort to cursing, an inferior form of expressing themselves; the smart and learned always find a polite way to express themselves."  Perhaps this is my way of taking back the  "fagot and dyke" phrases that have so ignited this audience.  Good thing I’m not a politician nor a civil servant, so I don't have to constantly edit nor retract my comments. Nevertheless I understand some souls maybe scourged and that is not the intent of this dialogue.<o:p></o:p> As a practicing Catholic, I still stand by my opening remarks regarding the sanctity of marriage as described by the Church teachings and would appreciate if you acknowledged that, while responding with your piercing comments.<o:p></o:p> Wherefore I don't endorse all the advertising on the website below, I refer to it because it briefly and succinctly defines marriage in accordance to the Churches teachings.<o:p></o:p> <a href="http://www.springweddingconcepts.com/">http://www.springweddingconcepts.com</a><o:p></o:p> Left unregulated, many leftwing liberals will manipulate or circumvent the laws to allow people to marry animals.  While I've seen people loving and treating their pets (dogs, cats, snakes) better than their friends and neighbors, I've only heard and from reliable sources I might add, despicable acts of individuals adulterating with animals. Whatever desperation drives people to these extremes is inexplicable; however, it's not any different from that which drives another into homosexuality. <a href="http://www.cylive.com/content/2663/Man_weds_dog">http://www.cylive.com/content/2663/Man_weds_dog</a><o:p></o:p> Perhaps you might have heard of those who say that they hate cops without understanding that the majority of police are good hardworking men and women who risk their lives daily to maintain law and order; where does this fit in this discussion? Quite simple; Both the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region> Congress and the State Congress have the arduous task of setting the laws that govern Americans.  While we may not understand nor appreciate all the laws they pass, just like the individual who does not appreciate police presence in society, the laws are to the most part for our own benefit.  Nevertheless the aforementioned august entities are ran by politicians, the least trustworthy individuals bar none, (followed closely by used car salesmen) and are prone to pass dubious laws from to time to guaranty the next election.  One such law was passed and signed in CA. SB777 and is currently and justly so, facing a lot of criticism with a petition to repeal it on a June 2008 ballot. <a href="http://www.savecalifornia.com/CCFSB777vetoletter_092607.pdf">http://www.savecalifornia.com/CCFSB777vetoletter_092607.pdf</a><o:p></o:p> As you can see it's very easy to get distracted from the main agenda of this platform, marriage, however, there are a lot of things that go into tying the knot and left unanswered are the primary cause of the 50% divorce rate in this country. Perhaps in later publishing’s we will discuss all the memorable and bizarre weddings we have attended, as well as get ideas on how to plan for that special and sacred occasion.<o:p></o:p>   Marriage and Culture (Bridal Days) http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/CALLENBY/18136 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/CALLENBY/18136 Allow me to state my position on this issue.  As a practicing Catholic, I strongly support the Church's position on marriage and the family.  The Church's definition of a marriage is: Marriage is a sacred sacrament that permanently joins a man and a woman into one in the eyes of God until death does them part.<o:p></o:p> This means that there is No room for homosexuality nor divorce in the marriage union.  <o:p></o:p> Whereas others might try to diminish the value of the marriage sacrament, by arguing that those people of the same sex who love each other and live together ought to be allowed to marry or even have civil unions, effectively qualifying them for the full benefits accorded married couples, I stand by the Church and her teachings.<o:p></o:p> There is no ambiguity in the fact that God intended for men to marry women and when they deviated from his script, they were terminally punished, as vividly documented in the Holy Bible regarding the destruction of <st1:city w:st="on">Sodom</st1:city> and <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Gomorrah</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p> Homosexuality is neither natural nor normal; rather it is a lifestyle choice individuals make and a very poor one at that.  Just like people choose to get disfigured with tattoos, they also choose to indulge in homosexuality. They should not force themselves upon the majority of the society, nor manipulate the law to accommodate them for their immoral lifestyle choices. <o:p></o:p> While I would like to think this is the end of this discussion, some ******* or **** somewhere is boiling inside out at my remarks and would like to comment on this issue; well, their comments are not welcome on this blog and that’s the end of it.  <o:p></o:p> I’m sure there are several God fearing Christians out there who share my moral convictions and would like to add a word or two to this blog before we discuss the various weddings we have attended, helped to organize, or participated in.  We will also touch on the most memorable and bizarre weddings too.<o:p></o:p>  More definition of a marriage can be found on the website below: http://<a href="http://www.springweddingconcepts.com">www.springweddingconcepts.com</a>