I'm trying to quit smoking. I'm not doing a very good job. It's probably because, as bad as I know it is, I'm not ready yet. Kind of strange coming from someone with a family history of cancer and heart disease, wouldn't you say? Well, wish me luck.
Saturday, March 16, 2002
Wednesday, March 13, 2002
I know writing/talking about politics and religion is only asking for trouble. But something has been bothering me since yesterday and if I don't write about it, I'll keep obsessing over it. There's a so-called "Christian" webring that has a blacklist of other webrings and groups its members are forbidden to join. Among these groups is The RAOK Group -- a group of people who believe spending 5 minutes a day spreading kindness on the Internet can make a difference. Why is RAOK so "bad," according to these people? Because Wiccans and gays (oh my God! No! Not those heathen homosexuals!!) and other naughty people are among the members. Other unacceptable practices/beliefs include transcendental meditation, numerology, ESP, new age, reincarnation and karma.
These are the kind of "Christians" that bother me and, quite frankly, scare me. Their tips and guidelines for deciding if the links on your site are acceptable include "Would you show this link to Jesus?" Well, yes. Yes I would point Jesus in the direction of RAOK. I like to think that if he didn't like it, we'd have a discussion about it. We'd listen to each other's points of view. He'd let me make my own decision. I debated on whether I should post a link to this site. I decided to do it so you can see for yourself, decide for yourself.
The link to the blacklisted sites was taken down yesterday after a few people expressed their opinions on it. I wish I could see it so I could show you what these "Christians" are saying about other people. It's one of the most un-Christian things I've ever seen. The woman who runs the group also deleted guestbook entries that took offense to the blacklist. Of course it's her right to delete anything she wants to from her guestbook, but I don't understand why she did it? Afraid of an intelligent discussion on the subject, perhaps?
I consider myself a Christian. However, I don't belong to an organized religion. I believe in being the best person I can be. I believe in helping others. I believe in being in kind. I believe in what Mahatma Gandhi taught -- "God has no religion." If we are to believe what the "Christians" in this group believe, we must believe Gandhi is not in heaven. Does anyone believe that?
These are the kind of "Christians" that bother me and, quite frankly, scare me. Their tips and guidelines for deciding if the links on your site are acceptable include "Would you show this link to Jesus?" Well, yes. Yes I would point Jesus in the direction of RAOK. I like to think that if he didn't like it, we'd have a discussion about it. We'd listen to each other's points of view. He'd let me make my own decision. I debated on whether I should post a link to this site. I decided to do it so you can see for yourself, decide for yourself.
The link to the blacklisted sites was taken down yesterday after a few people expressed their opinions on it. I wish I could see it so I could show you what these "Christians" are saying about other people. It's one of the most un-Christian things I've ever seen. The woman who runs the group also deleted guestbook entries that took offense to the blacklist. Of course it's her right to delete anything she wants to from her guestbook, but I don't understand why she did it? Afraid of an intelligent discussion on the subject, perhaps?
I consider myself a Christian. However, I don't belong to an organized religion. I believe in being the best person I can be. I believe in helping others. I believe in being in kind. I believe in what Mahatma Gandhi taught -- "God has no religion." If we are to believe what the "Christians" in this group believe, we must believe Gandhi is not in heaven. Does anyone believe that?
Tuesday, March 12, 2002
Monday, March 11, 2002
Today's Monday Mission:
1. I love to order a Wendy's "Frosty" and then dip my French Fries into it before I eat them. Do you have any eating habits others might think are odd? Do I ever! I think I have some that Nick doesn't even know about yet. Anyway, sometimes I like dipping my french fries in tartar sauce, but only if I'm eating fish. I like ketchup on my scrambled eggs, although I promised I wouldn't eat them that way in front of him. Let's see. I know I've got more, but I can't think of them right now.
2. What was the worst date you ever went on? I have to pick only one? Hmmm? I think this counts as a date since we weren't actually a couple and expected to go to weddings and family events together. It was his sister's wedding. The family's seats in the church were reserved and they didn't think to reserve one for me, so I had to sit by myself. At the reception, some relative forced me to eat something (I still don't know what it was) that made me sick and I ended up throwing up in the restroom for about 45 minutes. My date took that 45 minutes without me as an opportunity to get falling down drunk. He couldn't drive back to his parent's house afterward, so I had to drive a car I didn't know on a highway I didn't know, at night (I have mild night blindness) with a drunk guy giving me directions. At his parent's house, I was surrounded by relatives who were all older than me -- by about 40 years -- asking when the next wedding was. (We'd known each other for a month at the time.) Later, he drove me to my uncle's house, where I was spending the weekend. Although it was about 1 a.m. and I wasn't even sure if my uncle remembered to leave the door unlocked for me, my date didn't walk me to the door because it wasn't his "style." We broke up a few weeks later.
3. Who (or what site) inspired you to begin Blogging? These guys.
4. Have you inspired, encourgaed, or begged anyone else to start a Blog? I've been part of, how should I say this?, a group inspiration/encouragement thing to get a few people to start.
5. Any foods you just will not eat?Mussels. I just found that out recently. Nick's trying to "help" me with this answer. Uh. He's not helping.
6. Describe the worst Birthday party (adult or child's) that you ever attended? It wasn't so much the party that was bad, but what happened beforehand. I fell in the bathroom, cut my head on the corner of a drawer that was sticking out and had to get two stitches. I was 8 or 9.
7. What was the first music album you ever bought (tape, CD, LP, whichever or all of the above)? My dad used to buy me albums, so I had a little collection before I bought my very first one with my very own money. And yes, I'm going to admit this. It was The Partridge Family.
BONUS: Do you think you're what they say you are? da da da Su-perstar. Uh, yeah. They say I'm a freak. I am.
1. I love to order a Wendy's "Frosty" and then dip my French Fries into it before I eat them. Do you have any eating habits others might think are odd? Do I ever! I think I have some that Nick doesn't even know about yet. Anyway, sometimes I like dipping my french fries in tartar sauce, but only if I'm eating fish. I like ketchup on my scrambled eggs, although I promised I wouldn't eat them that way in front of him. Let's see. I know I've got more, but I can't think of them right now.
2. What was the worst date you ever went on? I have to pick only one? Hmmm? I think this counts as a date since we weren't actually a couple and expected to go to weddings and family events together. It was his sister's wedding. The family's seats in the church were reserved and they didn't think to reserve one for me, so I had to sit by myself. At the reception, some relative forced me to eat something (I still don't know what it was) that made me sick and I ended up throwing up in the restroom for about 45 minutes. My date took that 45 minutes without me as an opportunity to get falling down drunk. He couldn't drive back to his parent's house afterward, so I had to drive a car I didn't know on a highway I didn't know, at night (I have mild night blindness) with a drunk guy giving me directions. At his parent's house, I was surrounded by relatives who were all older than me -- by about 40 years -- asking when the next wedding was. (We'd known each other for a month at the time.) Later, he drove me to my uncle's house, where I was spending the weekend. Although it was about 1 a.m. and I wasn't even sure if my uncle remembered to leave the door unlocked for me, my date didn't walk me to the door because it wasn't his "style." We broke up a few weeks later.
3. Who (or what site) inspired you to begin Blogging? These guys.
4. Have you inspired, encourgaed, or begged anyone else to start a Blog? I've been part of, how should I say this?, a group inspiration/encouragement thing to get a few people to start.
5. Any foods you just will not eat?Mussels. I just found that out recently. Nick's trying to "help" me with this answer. Uh. He's not helping.
6. Describe the worst Birthday party (adult or child's) that you ever attended? It wasn't so much the party that was bad, but what happened beforehand. I fell in the bathroom, cut my head on the corner of a drawer that was sticking out and had to get two stitches. I was 8 or 9.
7. What was the first music album you ever bought (tape, CD, LP, whichever or all of the above)? My dad used to buy me albums, so I had a little collection before I bought my very first one with my very own money. And yes, I'm going to admit this. It was The Partridge Family.
BONUS: Do you think you're what they say you are? da da da Su-perstar. Uh, yeah. They say I'm a freak. I am.
Saturday, March 09, 2002
Friday, March 08, 2002
The Friday Five:
1. What makes you homesick? Thinking about my mom and the long talks we used to have. We still have long talks on the phone, but it's different in person.
2. Where is "home" for you? Is it where you are living now, or somewhere else (ie: Mom & Dad's house, particular state/city)? It was just about a year ago that I figured out "home" is where Nick is. I came here to visit for a week, but it only took a few hours before I realized this is where I belong.
3. What makes it home for you? People? Things?Nick
4. Where is the furthest you've been from home, miles-wise? 3778 miles. Paris, France. When I was 12, my aunt took me on a tour of Europe.
5. What are your plans for this weekend? A little work then, if all the planets are aligned properly, Nick and I are reinstituting our "Sunday date." Keep your fingers crossed for us, ok? It's been a long time.
1. What makes you homesick? Thinking about my mom and the long talks we used to have. We still have long talks on the phone, but it's different in person.
2. Where is "home" for you? Is it where you are living now, or somewhere else (ie: Mom & Dad's house, particular state/city)? It was just about a year ago that I figured out "home" is where Nick is. I came here to visit for a week, but it only took a few hours before I realized this is where I belong.
3. What makes it home for you? People? Things?Nick
4. Where is the furthest you've been from home, miles-wise? 3778 miles. Paris, France. When I was 12, my aunt took me on a tour of Europe.
5. What are your plans for this weekend? A little work then, if all the planets are aligned properly, Nick and I are reinstituting our "Sunday date." Keep your fingers crossed for us, ok? It's been a long time.
Thursday, March 07, 2002
Here's today's Thursday Threesome:
Onesome: Eat: What one food do you love so much that you could easily overeat (be specific here)? I have to pick only one? Hmmm. Actually, this is pretty easy. Mashed potatoes and gravy, preferrably turkey or country gravy and real potatoes as opposed to instant. I love them made with lots of butter and milk and still slightly lumpy. Mmmm.
Twosome: Drink: What one beverage do you drink more than anything? Water. I try my best to drink a gallon a day. Sometimes it's hard to do, but I feel much better if I do.
Threesome: Be Merry: When life has you down, what one thing can remind you to smile? Nick. He always seems to find a way to make me feel better.
Onesome: Eat: What one food do you love so much that you could easily overeat (be specific here)? I have to pick only one? Hmmm. Actually, this is pretty easy. Mashed potatoes and gravy, preferrably turkey or country gravy and real potatoes as opposed to instant. I love them made with lots of butter and milk and still slightly lumpy. Mmmm.
Twosome: Drink: What one beverage do you drink more than anything? Water. I try my best to drink a gallon a day. Sometimes it's hard to do, but I feel much better if I do.
Threesome: Be Merry: When life has you down, what one thing can remind you to smile? Nick. He always seems to find a way to make me feel better.