However, I'm still planning to do that. To tide you over, here's a note I posted on facebook. I'm posting it here, in case you haven't seen it. Stay tuned for a post tomorrow -- it's about halfway done right now.
Until then:
I believe people calling themselves followers of Christ might want to rally around the central principal of the religion. Love is all there is that matters. Being right doesn't matter if you have no love. More's the tragedy, we actually ARE love, and we cast it out of ourselves. "If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing." I'm not simply sad, or tired, or unloved, or empty. I'm nothing.
I believe in graciousness: individual, and collective. I'm inexplicably thankful for the people who extend graciousness to me each day. When I do something that causes major inconvenience at work, usually, someone understands that we're all human and we work out the problem. I believe that the day the new president takes office is not a good day to make snide comments about his character or his potential ability to execute. It seems like a good day to be thankful. Or to make moving arrangements: France will probably take you.*
I believe I'm both fantastically, amazingly together and an utter damn mess. As an angel of a friend once said, "I'm perfect, flawed, and contradictory." I've handled some stuff. I've done some good stuff. I am a judgement machine most of the time. I know some stuff. I don't know way, way more stuff. I am, however, open.
Saturday, January 24
Hey, look! I never got back in the habit.
Wednesday, November 26
To get back in the habit
...of blogging! I thought I'd do this lovely meme. Wanna hear it? Here it go:
1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Not that I'm aware of.
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
November 4th.
3. Do you like your handwriting
Yep.
4 . WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Sopresetta
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
Nope. Just dogs.
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Oh my damn, yes!
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
Is the bear a Catholic?
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yep.
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Um, no. I really doubt it.
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Frosted Flakes with half and half. But I don’t eat it anymore, either. 'Cause, hi, I don't need any MORE calories, esp. first thing in the morning!
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Not usually.
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Yes, I do.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Very good vanilla or coffee.
14. WHAT’S THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
If they'll look at me in the eye.
15. RED OR PINK?
Red.
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
That I keep refusing to exercise discipline.
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST
My fam, my numb3rs, my vbf.
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU?
Nah. I'm flexible.
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Jeans, none.
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
A taste of yeast roll.
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW
Toddykins telling me stories of his day.
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Silver.
23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Clean sheets and clean man!
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
Toddykins.
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS?
Lurve.
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
College basketball.
27. HAIR COLOR ?
Brown, blond, etc.
28. EYE COLOR?
Brown.
29. Do you wear contacts
Yes.
30. FAVORITE FOODS?
Carbohydrates?
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Happy endings.
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Smiley Face (Please, please, do not waste your time.)
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Black. But just until there's something darker.
34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Summer all the way!!!!
35. HUGS OR KISSES?
Yes, definitely!
36. FAVORITE DESSERT?
Shagbark hickory magic cookie from The Goose.
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
Not sure.
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND
Also not sure.
39. What book are you reading now?
Twilight
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
Nothing.
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V.. LAST NIGHT?
Fringe
42. FAVORITE SOUND?
Hysterical laughter, especially groups of people -- especially the Numb3rs or my niece and nephews.
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Depends on the day.
44. What is the farthest you have been from home?
Portugal... but I was sort of "home" then, too.
45. Any new news in your life?
I'm going to go be a minister. Like, for a living.
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Patuxent River, Maryland
47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?
Anyone who answers!
48. WHAT TIME IS IT NOW?
7:26 p.m.
Thursday, October 30
Monday, September 8
Friday, September 5
Thursday, September 4
Just a few more words on the political front
So, when you talk with someone about your point of view, what sort of tact do you (does one) take? Well, if you're intent on having them see your point of view, possibly even adopt your point of view, you would first demonstrate on what points the two of you agree. You'd build rapport, lay some groundwork. If you're really smart, and you truly care about the person to whom you're speaking, you'll maintain respect throughout the entire discourse. And, if you happen to be talking to me personally, you will not show up with hate. You won't show up to the party with a nice, heaping, steaming pile of bitter. Or better, either.
I fail to understand how anyone expects ANYONE to "come over to their side" by belittling, declaring another's point of view stupid/greedy/self-serving, or presuming that you're are better than someone else because you're more, oh, I don't know, enlightened. . . evolved. . . superior?
I'm very lucky to have had almost all of my political discussions of late start and continue with respect and love. Some of them have not. Personal attacks on human beings that WE DON'T EVEN KNOW are fantastically ridiculous. Breathing fire about some woman from Alaska makes as much sense as hating the guy behind the counter at Subway. I'm not stupid, I get that her choices may turn out to have much more impact than do his; however, they're equally human. And equally fallible.
To be clear, I'm not trying to take the enlightened/evolved/superior path. (Hee!) I'm just pointing out that discussing choices, leadership styles, decisions, and philosophies creates an entirely different thing than tearing at the fiber of a person. Tearing people down, even those you believe to be against you personally, does not create anything worth having.
Just some thoughts on how we might move forward talking about politics. Or, you know, whatever.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
P.S., If you're reading this, I didn't write this in reaction to anything we've discussed.
Tuesday, September 2
One More Taboo Topic: Politics
I'm not a Senator McCain hater in any way. Truly. I don't think he's Satan or Satan's Puppet (those are the ones I've heard that make me laugh,) or anything less inflammatory, either. But I do have one very important question, and it goes like this: WHAT THE F*&%?!
Whether Sarah Palin is qualified for a national office -- particularly this one -- is not what is most disturbing to me. What's disturbing (for the sake of this particular blog entry) is how it appears. The selection of a little-known, inexperienced, female person comes off like this to your random woman voter:
"You didn't get Hillary, so here's another vagina for you."
To be clear, I'm NOT saying anything about Ms. Palin with this statement -- she could, indeed, make a good VP -- I'm saying it about the people who selected her for the candidacy. If the GOP felt they truly needed a female candidate for the ticket, how about Sen. Elizabeth Dole? She's an educated, nationally-eperienced, charismatic woman. How about Kay Bailey Hutchison, the senior female senator? How about anyone, regardless of anatomy, with leadership experience and qualities that makes her or him an acceptable choice for president, should anything happen to McCain?
This entire frame of selection pisses me directly off. I remember feeling exactly the same way about President Clinton's selection of Janet Reno. Both of the president's previous nominees, Zoe Baird and Kimba Wood, had confirmation problems; by the time he selected Reno, it appeared that he was searching for a woman to do the job much more urgently than he was searching for the most-qualified person to do the job. Yes, of course there's always the chance that the three most qualified candidates were all female, but I doubt it.
It's this sort of gymnastics (among other things, naturally) that makes me wonder how we'll rise above the game of politics and move forward, and upward with concern and love for people living in this country.
Yes, I'm idealistic. Yes, I had a visceral reaction. I offer no apologies for either.
Tuesday, August 26
Religion. Just what you're not supposed to talk about.
My dadness posted this on his blog a couple of weeks ago, and it has been much on my mind since. Here's what he posted:
"Although the US is one of the most religious nations in the world, a survey by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life shows many believe things which contradict their stated faith. 70% of those who claim religious affiliation believe multiple religions can lead to salvation and 68% believe in multiple interpretations of their own religion. 57% of self-identified evangelicals believe multiple religions can lead to salvation. 21% of self-identified atheists believe that some kind of God exists. 80% of respondents believe in moral standards of right and wrong, but only 29% claim their religious teachings help them determine those standards. A copy of the report can be read at www.pewforum.com (SFGate.com June 23, 2008)"
I found the study very interesting, mostly because I'm positively crazy about sociology and about belief in and wrestling with the divine. I'd like to know your thoughts about this study, if you're interested in discussing them.
My dad's comments, found here (click me) were principally about the aspect of human nature dictating that moral determinations are personal, and what we do and do not know about our religions' teachings. For example, our culture says it’s OK to adhere to the tenets we agree with and ignore others.
My opinion is that yes, culture shapes religion. I would suggest that making a religion constant is not possible; indeed, is not even all bad. Religion isn’t a way to “have eternal life” as mentioned in the study. If one adheres to the Christian scripture, it’s obvious that religion isn’t a path to God, the person of Christ is that path. I believe that religion is NOT equal to God, it’s just a way to practise knowing God while we’re in this form. Another thing to think about: is it possible that people are discovering the Divine — real, personal, tangible discovery of the living God — in ways that don’t line up at all with their religions? and… wouldn’t that be GREAT!!!!????
Interested in your thoughts.
Much love,
Stacey
Monday, August 18
Also, what the hell?
OK, so I love the Go Fug Yourself girls. I found this picture on their site, along with comments that are far more clever than these. However, I HAD to post this one, along with the very important question: what the hell? Paula, 1986 called... blah blah blah, you know the rest.
