The power of a state to regulate and control the basic social relationship of marriage of its domiciliaries is here challenged . . . by divergent concepts not supported by authority and in fact contrary to the decisions in this state and elsewhere.

It will be shown that such laws have been in effect in this country since before our national independence and in this state since our first legislative session. They have never been declared unconstitutional by any court in the land although frequently they have been under attack. It is difficult to see why such laws, valid when enacted and constitutionally enforceable in this state for nearly 100 years and elsewhere for a much longer period of time, are now unconstitutional under the same Constitution and with no change in the factual situation. It will also be shown that they have a valid legislative purpose even though they may not conform to the sociogenetic views of some people. When that legislative purpose appears it is entirely beyond judicial power, properly exercised, to nullify them.

Which limitation on marriage is being discussed in this judicial opinion?
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Pongo and I spent the last two days touring some of my old stomping grounds out around Palm Springs. I needed to get away from things and focus on some of my issues, and Pongo’s tail was wagging for a roadtrip, even to a desert that makes his african birthplace’s weather look downright temperate. Many old memories came bubbling to the surface for me.

I’ve been visiting Palm Springs off and on since I was 16 (1980 for those of you who didn’t read my bio page). That was the first summer that I worked for a Girl Scout summer camp (Camp Joe Scherman) in the nearby San Jacinto mountains. I visited the desert oasis a lot during those five summers, and every few years or so since then.

One of the things I enjoy about the city is that it doesn’t change much and always seems familiar. Sure, the restaurants come and go, and nearby Palm Desert’s suburban sprawl seems to continue without limits, but downtown Palm Springs doesn’t change that much. The biggest change I’ve noticed over the years is the addition of the Agua Caliente tribe’s casino into the downtown, but from the perspective of the occasional tourist it didn’t change the town much at all.

We drove up there yesterday after lunch with my parents and stayed at Motel 6, our nationwide chain of choice due to their non-discriminatory policies toward African-American dogs (and other dogs as well). I am one of those travelers who travels with his dog. I can’t bear to board him, and despite his attitude, he’s cute enough to be a great conversation starter. It can be rough traveling with him, and over the years several major chains have earned my perpetual disgust for either being unwilling to let him in or charging outrageous fees to do so. On the last trip we made without making motel reservations we had to visit six representatives of the “hospitality” industry in one particular town before we could get anyone to offer to rent us a room, and even then the surcharge was highway robbery. Word seems to have gotten out about Motel 6′s four-legged friendly policies though; there were at least four other dogs and one cat at the same motel last night.

After getting settled and turning on Animal Planet for the little one’s enjoyment (puppy porn), I went down to the pool for a few very short laps and a little reading in the sun. I had brought Jim Carroll’s The Basketball Diaries with me. I’ve read the book before, but don’t think I’ve looked at it since I started blogging. Great book. Admittedly he had the advantage of editing his diary entries ten years after the original writing to create the book, but still a great model for anyone writing one of these things to aspire to.

Later in the evening I made it over to the casino and made redress for any wrongs my ancestors may have committed against the Agua Caliente by donating ten dollars in quarters to their video poker machine. Had some fun times watching the crowd too, but even that was a little sparse on a Tuesday night in the (justifiably so) off-season.

Around 3:00 a.m. a desert thunderstorm rolled through town, washing down the dust, shaking a few windows, and waking little Pongo just in time for him to come over and cuddle during of my anxiety moments. Pongo’s healing powers are amazing. I used to think they required licks for full potency, but in his old age it appears his mere presence is enough for a curative effect.

After more sleep, a good walk, some breakfast and some more pool time, it was time to load up the truck and head out. Rhetorical question: wouldn’t it be better business to put the cute and flirty desk clerk on duty at check-ins, not check-outs? Maybe they figure that once you’re at the desk you’ve been hooked for this visit; cute and flirty is just to help with repeat traffic. Not certain I agree with the philosophy. Cute and flirty at check-in might have gotten a second night out of me.

Originally we headed out to the reservation to see the Agua Caliente Indian Canyons, but they were closed today, and besides, from their sign, they would have tried to discriminate against my little diversity dog. Tsk, tsk…A Native American tribe should know better. Guess it was a sign that it was time to go home, so we followed the signs.

Very hot and very muggy. Combined with the attention span of a gnat (or a Pongo for that matter) not much has been getting done. Finishing up some billable hours today for a client then going out to hide for a few days. I’ve got a lot of things to think about and there are too many distractions here at casa for me to focus on anything. DSL, cable, books, darts. It’s barely noon and I’ve already skated down to the pool twice, once for laps and once just to chill. Might have done more laps if the screaming kinds would have been polite enough to drown some parents around here would control their children. So tomorrow, Pongo and I are going to roadtrip a bit.

Met with a new doctor at BorgHealth on Friday who was actually good enough that I’m rethinking the pseudonym I’ve chosen for his employer. He certainly had undronelike tendancies. Honest and direct answers do help.

Spent most of the weekend with a good friend catching some movies and avoiding downtown traffic jams. Thumbs up for both League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and Mommie Dearest.

No, I really don’t know what I’m doing here. Ad libs and improv tonight. Seat-of-the-pants blogging, at least it would be if I were wearing pants. Lots of that introspective thought crap going on lately. Long and short-term goals are being reevaluated. Lots of swimming; not enough work. Or rephrased as not enough work so I’m spending more time at the pool to avoid bouncing off the walls. Leaving the beaches to las turistas. The road rage has been bad enough without subjecting myself to summer beach parking rage. Consistently amazed (though I really shouldn’t be) at how kind and thoughtful people can be, both IRL and URL. Admiring some redesigns, wondering if one here is overdue, but admitting the attention span probably isn’t up to one right now. Thinking that California’s going to have very interesting autumn what with politics and all.

The heat finally gets to be too much, so I move the furniture around so I can get some use out of the floor-level air conditioner installed in my dining room. Home office storage gets relocated, the air conditioning box gets plugged in and cranked up for the first time in a year, I put on a shirt in anticipation of nice, refreshing cool air, and …
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I’ve heard of BorgHealth’s reputation for years. I was very happy with them when I lived in the DC metro area. Of course I was 25 years old and healthy then, but still, I was satisfied. I know others who have been far less satisfied with them and took that into account when I chose BorgHealth over their competitors. I wasn’t expecting gold-standard service – tupperware generally works just fine in most areas of my life and doesn’t require as much polishing.

But after nine years of law enforcement and diplomacy and four years as an attorney, I still get incredibly frustrated (and today this is on top of all the other anxieties going through my mind) when stupid people tell stupid lies even though the truth wouldn’t hurt them in the first place. The truth might be embarrassing, but at least it should be easier to remember. If BorgHealth’s legal department won’t let the drones tell the truth, then at least someone there should incorporate a ‘consistent line’ feature into the drones’ automated phone answering software package to allow them to pass the approved version on from drone to drone.

In the present case, this modest software package might have allowed the nurse Prostate Cancer Coordinator (impressive, isn’t it?) to maintain consistency on behalf of BorgHealth. The nurse on Thursday, trying to explain why Dr. Numbnuts hadn’t returned Wednesday’s call, could pick an option from the menu. The software would probably prevent her from saying what she did say (He was only in half a day) and make her select something more professional sounding (i.e., There was no cell coverage between the 11th and 15th greens or I think he’s still on the Lido deck; let me page him.). The Prostate Cancer Coordinator could then see this notation on the screen before she typed a response to my Friday e-mail that included this blunt assessment of where I stand: “The only return phone calls this week have been emergent/urgent [sic] type calls as Dr [Numbnuts] has been extremely busy.”

I have to give her credit though: she did respond to my e-mail, even if she only addressed about half my questions. That’s a far sight better than the doctor she’s covering for.

And while we’re here, rambling about quality of care. if you’re in California the State Medical Board has a great setup for allowing patients to research the public information available on licensed physicians. Go there before you choose a doctor, not just when you’re fed up with the one you’ve got.

Indulged this evening in a three episode marathon of the La Femme Nikita series. The first season is out on DVD, and the first disk came via Netflix yesterday. Perfect timing since today ended up screaming out for attitude and style, shiny gizmos, aggressive music and dead terrorists.

I always thought the series was great and was very disappointed when it went off the air in 2001. Maybe it was a guilty pleasure but the operative word was pleasure. Yes, I also loved Luc Besson’s original french language movie. No, I have no trouble reconciling the fact that the similarities between the two pretty much end with the characters’ names. Both are fine to watch in their own rights. Just please, please, do not ever bring up the gawdawful American remake of the movie. At least the producers had the respect to not use the french name and thus keep their trash from being confused with the far superior original.

Today is all about attempted balancing…
…my desire to calm down with my need for caffeine (compromised with a 50-50 mix of iced coffee to get me through the morning).
…my work need to make phone calls with my delusion that I should keep the line free because BorgHealth may decide to return any of my recent calls (still self-deluding).
…my desire to escape the four walls and unwind with my need to do billable hours and talk to BorgHealth (I’m sitting here blogging, aren’t I?).
…my checkbook (yeah, right, not this month).
…my envy of Pongo with my use of opposable thumbs (wearing more than a little collar despite the heat, not licking myself, but I can get my own snacks).
…____________________ with ______________________ (comments are open).

Caffeine is gradually leaving my system and focus on work product is gradually getting easier. The transition back to a normal life was eased today by a massage appointment that had been set since before this mess started. Yay foresight!

Two cancer items in the news:
- This Yahoo news report first [via Naladahc]. I swear I did everything I could to prevent this cancer, and then some.
- Second comes this L.A.Times piece. Not that I would have ever voted for Davis, but I can’t believe anyone with half-an-ounce of common sense would ever compare news of a diagnosis of a life-threatening illness with the pain of receiving the news that a politician, even a beloved husband-type politician, is unpopular during an economic disaster downturn. Someone needs to get out of government and back into the real world.

Yep, even the perpetually young, perpetually beautiful sometimes need a little summer makeover.