There was an article in this morning's paper about a new article added to the Southern Baptist Faith and Message. "A wife is to submit graciously to the servant leadership of her husband, even as the church willingly submits to the leadership of Christ," it says. It also says a husband should provide for, protect and lead the family, and a wife has "the God-given responsibility to respect her husband and to serve as his 'helper' in managing their household and nurturing the next generation."

[barf]
[hurl]
[gag]

Do I need to explain why this is so incredibly offensive to me? Oh what the hell, I will anyway. It's my damn journal.

First off the wife is to submit to the husband as the church does to Christ. Sooooo... the husband is a deity-figure to the wife? Omniscient, Omnipotent, all-seeing, all-knowing, Can Do No Wrong?

Yeah... right.

The second thing is the fact that the wife is supposed to be the helper. That's all. Just the helper. Heaven forbid that she have a thought of her own, or responsibility of her own. God strike her down if the husband and wife have a partnership. It seems like this sure puts a helluva lot of pressure on the husband. I mean, he's supposed to lead in everything? He's supposed to know how to do everything?

I got yer "gracious submission" right here. [insert lewd gesture]

* * * * *

Well, this will be my last entry for a couple of days. Early tomorrow morning I'm driving up to Birmingham for DeepSouthCon, an SF convention. No, I'm not bringing my laptop with me. I see no sense in tempting the fates by leaving it in my hotel room, and besides I won't have an ISP to dial up to while I'm there anyway. I will however keep journal entries, and then just upload them all on Sunday. So, after you read this, check back on Sunday for the weekend updates. Late Sunday.

* * * * *

Well, I'm mostly packed, my hair is freshly cut and colored, my teeth are shiny and clean (finally got in to the dentist), my car is washed and tuned-up, my finances are settled. I think I'm almost ready. It's a bit hard to believe that the time to leave is almost here. In just over a week I'll be checking into the dorm and finally meeting all of the other Clarion people. We've been corresponding via an email mailing list for a bit over a month now, but I'm sure people will be very different in person.

I forgot to pack the twill (for blocking out the light from my window) when I sent off my boxes. I'll have to ship that separately now, since I know I'll need it. I'll probably just send that straight to the dorm.

* * * * *

Oh, and thanks go to Ron for pointing out that I could always just put an email link on my journal entry pages. Sometimes I need someone to point out the obvious to me.

* * * * *

Okay, that's it for now. Check back Sunday night for the weekend report!