We finally reach it - our last day. Mankind had reached a nadir while above the sun is shining. On the horizon is darkness and one can only wonder what lies ahead for us all. Will we go on? Was there a better place waiting? Or would the crouching darkness devour our very souls? What will we do?
The last year has been one of radical change, chaos, and confusion. We'd weathered it but there were many wounded and many battle-scarred. Some had died on the field. Even the earth had been assaulted. The villages and towns that still stood were reeling under fiscal problems, energy crises, and joblessness. In many places children cried for food while famine raged in the land. Wars among factions had only increased, their participants splintering skirmishes around the globe.
Terror had become a raging monster fed by a demonic mindset. Children had lain bleeding or dismembered in the streets, a sacrifice to a violent god filled with hatred and minds so twisted by their fables that they believe a lie and are damned themselves.
I scanned the horizon, looking for some sign, some rising star, some glimmer of hope. I saw none. We had obliterated hope along with faith. No one prayed anymore for peace and safety because there was no longer a God to pray to. Or if there was, He must remain hidden in case someone actually grasped His garments in desperation and began to believe in Him. Goodness was servant to selfishness. Mercy lay dying on the alter of intolerance, bigotry, and self-righteousness. No longer was there freedom to speak without fear. No longer could one assert a righteous indignation without fear of reprisal or accusations of religiousness. Death lurked around every corner waiting for a willing participant to utilize his tools.
I sat down on the rotting stump of an ancient oak. It had stood many centuries, growing tall, strong, and full. It's branches had sheltered many from storms, given shade to the weary travelers, and lifted up a multitude of downcast eyes. But long ago they'd begun to hew it down. It had taken a couple of generations to succeed but finally they had chopped it down and burned the carcase. Only the stump remained, a slowly rotting reminder of a time when people actually believed in something good. When ideals, dreams, and hopes were allowed to flourish without dissension.
The sun was lower in the west now, near the time when the darkness would be complete. From the East, it had begun to crawl along the ground, reaching long probing fingers toward us. We stood and watched, making no effort to greet it and none to stop it. I knew that it would overtake us but some part of me continued to search along that dividing line between light and dark, as a thirsty animal searches for a watering hole. Still I saw nothing but approaching darkness. The light behind me dimmed further as the power of that darkness began to overwhelm it.
Then, it came. One moment a fleeting glow suddenly shut out by overwhelming blackness the consistence of tar. My heart pounded so hard I knew others must hear but I couldn't see beyond my outstretched fingertips. I felt tears begin to course down my cheeks and my stomach twisted in knots as I stood in a a night deeper than any well I'd ever seen. I had no measure of how long it lasted because without the sun, time didn't exist.
Just as the last flame of hope in my heart began to gutter like a candle in the wind, I raised my head and hands and strained my eyes to the void. Suddenly, from the farthest reaches of the heavens came a tiny flicker, so faint it would have been undetectable to the casual observer. But I was searching for that flicker and as I watched through blinding tears, it grew and expanded and blazed forth with gathering strength, until it broke through the darkness and glowed brightly -a single star in a vast expanse of nothingness. All around me I heard gasps as first one, and another and then, another star broke through until all the heavens were filled with brilliant starlight, their beams stretching to touch one another.
I looked at the horizon again and saw where the earth and sky formed a line and stars blinked along it the way diamonds do on a necklace. I turned back to my ancient stool for a seat to observe the wonder of it all. At the base of the stump, where gnarled roots snaked away and into the ground, a single green stalk now stood. Tender green leaves had unfurled during the long dark night and now began to reach to the lightening sky.
Then, it came, blazing from the east and banishing the darkness to the depths. A fresh breeze began to blow and dawn came with a chorus of songbirds. We were here.
Now, what will we do?
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Impending Cosmic Event
A new year is on the horizon! Well, what did you think I meant?
Morning to all my visitors, friends, and wannabe friends. I hope as the end approaches you are taking the opportunity to spend time with your families, feast, and frolic. The end is near . . . when you have to go back to work.
For those already working, you have my sympathy. I've been off since Christmas Eve and will return to work next Monday. I'm not looking forward to it. It isn't that I am not thankful for my job, I am. I just hate working in an office 9-5 five days a week. I work with some fun people. I have a variety of duties that demand my time and provide a level of interest that allows me to survive until 5 p.m. But I'd rather be writing, reading, sewing, playing with Sarah, fixing up the house, writing, reading . . . oh, already said that.
This week my plan is to get this house in order but it has already hit several snags. Mike came over and helped me move the table back into the den (the one with no heat and junk headed for other areas, such as the dump if I have my way). But after that other people had places to go guess who was in charge of transporting? Jerry had to be at work at three so after three nothing got done. I had to get ready for church by six. He got off at 8:30 while I was still at church. I got in around 10:30. Uh, well, we have real church... singing, shouting, preaching, shouting, singing and praying. Not that other kinds of church aren't real . . . but I wouldn't know how to act. We are in the middle of Winter Warm-up at church. Great service last night and I expect another tonight.
I've been up since 7:30 and Jerry's still sleeping. I'm going to get dressed and get started but now I don't know where to start! LOL! There's plenty of places but what first?
I want to do some writing this afternoon. I'm working on Mist and have done two and a half chapters this week. Alice will be in clover! I need to get as many done on Winter. I have six months for that to be completely done and I reeeeeally want to do it.
So, I'm off for a bit. When I am home like this I find time to pop in more but the content is abysmally boring. So bear with me.
I have a couple of invitations pending out there. Please do not think I am ignoring you. I'm not. I just declined a couple that have been pending for a couple of months. I have a couple of posts . . . well, actually about four I think, on the process I use to add folks. If you're lazy and don't want to look them up, here they are in a nutshell. Being too lazy to read my posts will probably not get you added, by the way. They are listed as favorites on the home page and so should be easy to find.
I suggest you visit my current contacts to see what I like. I have some people I added for interest, some for entertainment, some for comfort, and all because I like them. Can you believe, I've actually added people at THEIR request and they later deleted me without explanation! How rude is that? They were "friends of friends" and I no longer accept these based on that relationship until I check them out for a bit.So, before you add me or invite me, be sure you want to be seen here. I certainly don't want to embarrass you or be embarrassed by you!
Now, daylight's burning and I have tons of work to do yet! Have a great day everyone!
Morning to all my visitors, friends, and wannabe friends. I hope as the end approaches you are taking the opportunity to spend time with your families, feast, and frolic. The end is near . . . when you have to go back to work.
For those already working, you have my sympathy. I've been off since Christmas Eve and will return to work next Monday. I'm not looking forward to it. It isn't that I am not thankful for my job, I am. I just hate working in an office 9-5 five days a week. I work with some fun people. I have a variety of duties that demand my time and provide a level of interest that allows me to survive until 5 p.m. But I'd rather be writing, reading, sewing, playing with Sarah, fixing up the house, writing, reading . . . oh, already said that.
This week my plan is to get this house in order but it has already hit several snags. Mike came over and helped me move the table back into the den (the one with no heat and junk headed for other areas, such as the dump if I have my way). But after that other people had places to go guess who was in charge of transporting? Jerry had to be at work at three so after three nothing got done. I had to get ready for church by six. He got off at 8:30 while I was still at church. I got in around 10:30. Uh, well, we have real church... singing, shouting, preaching, shouting, singing and praying. Not that other kinds of church aren't real . . . but I wouldn't know how to act. We are in the middle of Winter Warm-up at church. Great service last night and I expect another tonight.
I've been up since 7:30 and Jerry's still sleeping. I'm going to get dressed and get started but now I don't know where to start! LOL! There's plenty of places but what first?
I want to do some writing this afternoon. I'm working on Mist and have done two and a half chapters this week. Alice will be in clover! I need to get as many done on Winter. I have six months for that to be completely done and I reeeeeally want to do it.
So, I'm off for a bit. When I am home like this I find time to pop in more but the content is abysmally boring. So bear with me.
I have a couple of invitations pending out there. Please do not think I am ignoring you. I'm not. I just declined a couple that have been pending for a couple of months. I have a couple of posts . . . well, actually about four I think, on the process I use to add folks. If you're lazy and don't want to look them up, here they are in a nutshell. Being too lazy to read my posts will probably not get you added, by the way. They are listed as favorites on the home page and so should be easy to find.
- I want to see an actual site, with "stuff" on it that will tell me "who" and "what" you are
- I want to read several posts, usually several week's of posts
- I try and pray over each one I think of adding before I add them
- I look for things in common, of interest, or unique to your site that will keep me interested 'cause I will read it and don't want to waste either of our time (if you never post, I will eventually delete you . . . cause you're not home when I stop by! Well.... unless you're related to me. {sigh} Exceptions are not good and so rare.)
- I will add NO ONE with inappropriate content and will delete anyone who adds it later.
- I am religious, very much so but I do not expect you to share my feelings. But I do expect you to respect them and I welcome respectful disagreement
- I am, at times, funny, interesting, boring, sad, angry, frustrated, annoyed, irritated, and just spitting mad. I'll be saying so. This blog is all about ME. If that's going to be hard to live with, you may want to reconsider your invitations.
- I AM NOT LOOKING FOR BOYFRIENDS - I've had a husband 35 years. I'm over it. Although, here on multiply, I've had fewer marriage proposals . . . gee, I'm wounded.
I suggest you visit my current contacts to see what I like. I have some people I added for interest, some for entertainment, some for comfort, and all because I like them. Can you believe, I've actually added people at THEIR request and they later deleted me without explanation! How rude is that? They were "friends of friends" and I no longer accept these based on that relationship until I check them out for a bit.So, before you add me or invite me, be sure you want to be seen here. I certainly don't want to embarrass you or be embarrassed by you!
Now, daylight's burning and I have tons of work to do yet! Have a great day everyone!
Monday, December 29, 2008
Monday Morning Mission
I'm still adjusting the theme. I'm on a mission this morning. In about 30 minutes I will begin CLEANING MY HOUSE! I'm telling you, I 'bout had enough of this mess. Mike is coming over to help me move some things and I want to clean out closets and shelves and take down my tree. I never leave it up anymore until New Year. I want to start the new year fresh and clean and uncluttered. I have two days to do it. LOL!
Y'all better be praying for me, too, because I see major pain looming on the horizon after this. But it has to be done. I'm serious. The place is becoming a hazardous waste site. I told Jerry this morning he either cleans his side of the room up or I'm moving into Mike's old room. I can't stand it anymore.
I don't know what is wrong with him but he won't throw anything away and leaves his dirty laundry in the corner so he can do it himself. Now, why he can't take it out of the hamper, is beyond me but apparently that's too difficult. We have a small room and he can't put a hamper in the room. Besides, who wants dirty laundry in their bedroom? He can't remember to do his laundry if it isn't lying in front of him? I don't know. This is a person who was obsessively clean for decades and suddenly he hordes ever scrap of paper, every plastic bottle, every useless item he can and it is driving me nuts.
O.k. that's way more than I intended to share. Suffice it to say, I'm cleaning out some of the garbage. It has to go or I do. I'll see y'all when I get a spare minute.
I say Mike is helping. I suspect he'll help some but I'll have a time keeping him off the computer. He's a cyber-junkie.
Ta Ta for now!
Y'all better be praying for me, too, because I see major pain looming on the horizon after this. But it has to be done. I'm serious. The place is becoming a hazardous waste site. I told Jerry this morning he either cleans his side of the room up or I'm moving into Mike's old room. I can't stand it anymore.
I don't know what is wrong with him but he won't throw anything away and leaves his dirty laundry in the corner so he can do it himself. Now, why he can't take it out of the hamper, is beyond me but apparently that's too difficult. We have a small room and he can't put a hamper in the room. Besides, who wants dirty laundry in their bedroom? He can't remember to do his laundry if it isn't lying in front of him? I don't know. This is a person who was obsessively clean for decades and suddenly he hordes ever scrap of paper, every plastic bottle, every useless item he can and it is driving me nuts.
O.k. that's way more than I intended to share. Suffice it to say, I'm cleaning out some of the garbage. It has to go or I do. I'll see y'all when I get a spare minute.
I say Mike is helping. I suspect he'll help some but I'll have a time keeping him off the computer. He's a cyber-junkie.
Ta Ta for now!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Messing Around
As you can see, I'm messing around again with my page. Those blinking stars are a Google skin I added as a background. Bit busy but for now, I'll leave it as it is festive.
I've been working on the books again. Lordy, BOOKS! Two at once. I've never been this crazy! Only managed to write several pages in Mist thus far tonight. I was going to work on Winter too but I lay down at 7 p.m. and slept until 8:30 when I had to go get Jerry fom work. Since we are down to one car, I can't go to church on Sunday night if he works. He gets off at 8:30 and would have to stand in the cold for over an hour. I think I was really tired. I'm still tired and probably going to go to bed shortly. I am hoping to get a lot accomplished tomorrow and the rest of the week. I have several things I want to do before Monday.
I hope you are all enjoying your week. Some of you will already be into Monday and anticipating the New Year celebrations. My church has Winter Warm-Up every year the week of the month. Usually two to three nights. This year it is Monday and Tuesday night. Since Wednesday is a holiday, we are not having church that night. A lot of people do family things on Christmas and New Year so we usually cancel services that fall on those days and have it earlier in the week. Since Warm Up is earlier in the week. . . well you get it by now. LOL
I'm off ladies and laddies. Have a great evening if you're just starting and a great day if that is about to begin.
I've been working on the books again. Lordy, BOOKS! Two at once. I've never been this crazy! Only managed to write several pages in Mist thus far tonight. I was going to work on Winter too but I lay down at 7 p.m. and slept until 8:30 when I had to go get Jerry fom work. Since we are down to one car, I can't go to church on Sunday night if he works. He gets off at 8:30 and would have to stand in the cold for over an hour. I think I was really tired. I'm still tired and probably going to go to bed shortly. I am hoping to get a lot accomplished tomorrow and the rest of the week. I have several things I want to do before Monday.
I hope you are all enjoying your week. Some of you will already be into Monday and anticipating the New Year celebrations. My church has Winter Warm-Up every year the week of the month. Usually two to three nights. This year it is Monday and Tuesday night. Since Wednesday is a holiday, we are not having church that night. A lot of people do family things on Christmas and New Year so we usually cancel services that fall on those days and have it earlier in the week. Since Warm Up is earlier in the week. . . well you get it by now. LOL
I'm off ladies and laddies. Have a great evening if you're just starting and a great day if that is about to begin.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Whew! Glad That's Done
You know, I love holidays but I'm so glad when they are over. I really wanted a lovely Christmas day and for the most part it was. My sons argued and I sent one home before lunch! My sister got snotty about where she had to park Christmas Eve! I have a large drive area but you can only get so many cars in it and she said my husband was "double parked"! In his own driveway! So, she threatened to leave. How stupid is that? And then she didn't come to Christmas dinner because she had a headache. Whatever! I didn't point out to her that when I go to her house I have to park in the street. I don't know why she makes this issue about the parking here but she does it all the time and it is so foolish. It's my drive, for heaven's sake!
LOL, maybe I shouldn't tell all that. Makes us sound like savages. Or dysfunctional. Well, we are dysfunctional. I don't have a normal family and I've reached the stage in my life that I just am too annoyed to pretend otherwise. My sons are jerks for the most part. I love 'em dearly but those two are only about themselves. And they do not take after MY family! Daddy would have beat the crap out of us if we'd acted as they do. Believe me when I say they know better too but they're too old to beat. So, I send them home. I just won't tolerate ill manners any longer, nor pigs in the parlor!
But my son's in-laws, Sue and John, were quite nice and I enjoyed them. WE had a good dinner and visit. I really like Sue and she came over at 9 a.m. and helped me get everything ready. I'd done most of my cooking on Christmas Eve. We had ham, chicken dressing, sweet pea salad, green bean casserole (Sue's contribution), REAL banana pudding, cherry cheese cake, lemon pie, chocolate pie, apple pie and pumpkin spice pie (the last two both Sue's contribution.
Sue is a little woman but let me tell you, she can eat! I laughed because I don't see how a woman that tiny can eat like that and stay tiny! I have to get a photo sometime of Sue and post it. I feel like an Amazon next to her.
They left after dinner and I sent them some food that evening. There was plenty go around. When I make dressing I make tons! My family loves it and I freeze some for New Years Day.
My husband gave me a visit to the spa for a massage. My sister gave me an digital photo album for my desk and I think I will like it. My Dad and my step-mom, Mary, sent us money which was very much needed. I can't tell them how much I appreciated that gift. I am using it to get a new microwave. Mine went out about three months ago. We've been using Mike's because it was just sitting in storage. But he moved out and this week I gave it back not thinking I'd need one for the holiday! Dad's & Mary's gift only arrived on Tuesday and I didn't have time to shop for one. Becca brought her's over and we used it but tonight I needed one again. So, tomorrow I'm shopping for my own. Out of Dad's gift, I paid a bill for each of the boys. So, that gave them some help, too. Again, thanks so very much, Dad and Mary. And I will probably find a better deal now than I would have earlier in the week.
So, my the holiday is over and I can have a whole week to do what I want to do. I plan on doing some rearranging in the house and tossing. Things, not people. I have too much junk and am too crowded. I want my space back and no room to allow anyone to move back home. I've decided to redecorate my bedroom the way I did the study a couple of years ago. I think a hunter green with white trim. Not sure yet but my bed is blond wood and I have to find something to go with it. I don't favor browns much on the walls.
I am working on both Mist and Winter! It is hard but I think it is working for me. I've posted new photos of my little angel. Take a look.
Well, got to get going. I will be in and out. Hope you all have a great weekend.
LOL, maybe I shouldn't tell all that. Makes us sound like savages. Or dysfunctional. Well, we are dysfunctional. I don't have a normal family and I've reached the stage in my life that I just am too annoyed to pretend otherwise. My sons are jerks for the most part. I love 'em dearly but those two are only about themselves. And they do not take after MY family! Daddy would have beat the crap out of us if we'd acted as they do. Believe me when I say they know better too but they're too old to beat. So, I send them home. I just won't tolerate ill manners any longer, nor pigs in the parlor!
But my son's in-laws, Sue and John, were quite nice and I enjoyed them. WE had a good dinner and visit. I really like Sue and she came over at 9 a.m. and helped me get everything ready. I'd done most of my cooking on Christmas Eve. We had ham, chicken dressing, sweet pea salad, green bean casserole (Sue's contribution), REAL banana pudding, cherry cheese cake, lemon pie, chocolate pie, apple pie and pumpkin spice pie (the last two both Sue's contribution.
Sue is a little woman but let me tell you, she can eat! I laughed because I don't see how a woman that tiny can eat like that and stay tiny! I have to get a photo sometime of Sue and post it. I feel like an Amazon next to her.
They left after dinner and I sent them some food that evening. There was plenty go around. When I make dressing I make tons! My family loves it and I freeze some for New Years Day.
My husband gave me a visit to the spa for a massage. My sister gave me an digital photo album for my desk and I think I will like it. My Dad and my step-mom, Mary, sent us money which was very much needed. I can't tell them how much I appreciated that gift. I am using it to get a new microwave. Mine went out about three months ago. We've been using Mike's because it was just sitting in storage. But he moved out and this week I gave it back not thinking I'd need one for the holiday! Dad's & Mary's gift only arrived on Tuesday and I didn't have time to shop for one. Becca brought her's over and we used it but tonight I needed one again. So, tomorrow I'm shopping for my own. Out of Dad's gift, I paid a bill for each of the boys. So, that gave them some help, too. Again, thanks so very much, Dad and Mary. And I will probably find a better deal now than I would have earlier in the week.
So, my the holiday is over and I can have a whole week to do what I want to do. I plan on doing some rearranging in the house and tossing. Things, not people. I have too much junk and am too crowded. I want my space back and no room to allow anyone to move back home. I've decided to redecorate my bedroom the way I did the study a couple of years ago. I think a hunter green with white trim. Not sure yet but my bed is blond wood and I have to find something to go with it. I don't favor browns much on the walls.
I am working on both Mist and Winter! It is hard but I think it is working for me. I've posted new photos of my little angel. Take a look.
Well, got to get going. I will be in and out. Hope you all have a great weekend.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
A Tradition is Born
Amid all the hustle and bustle and seriousness of the season, laughter is another huge part of the Christmas holiday. If you haven't laughed today, maybe you will after this. I suspect you have all seen this in your email several times, as I have, but a good joke is hard to keep down. It was supposed to be a happy time, but it wasn't. Santa was really angry. It was Christmas Eve, and NOTHING was going right. Mrs. Claus had burned all the Christmas cookies. The elves were complaining about not getting paid for the overtime they had put in while making toys, and the reindeer had been drinking all afternoon and were dead drunk. They had taken the sleigh out for a spin earlier in the day and crashed it into a tree, breaking off one of the runners.
Santa was beside himself with anger. "I CAN'T believe it! I've got to deliver millions of presents all over the world just a few hours from now, and all my reindeer are drunk, my elves are on strike and I don't even have a Christmas tree! I sent that stupid little angel out HOURS ago to find a tree and he isn't even back yet! What am I going to do?"
Just then the little angel opened the front door and stepped in from the snowy night, dragging a Christmas tree behind him. "Yo, Santa," he said, "where do you want me to stick the Christmas tree this year?"
And thus the tradition of angels perched atop the Christmas trees came to pass...
Saturday, December 20, 2008
The Reason for The Season!
I read a post recently that said they wished people would stop saying Jesus is the reason for the season. I’ve seen a few others with the same theme and heard statements about it. I decided I wanted to shed a little historical light on this matter of Christmas and holidays in general. There are other sites that will give you even more detailed view but here’s my condensed version with a few personal interpretations.
The truth is that the Christmas holiday was instituted by the Catholic Church for Christians to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and for no other reason, regardless of when his birth happened, ergo, the name "Christmas" - a mass to celebrate Christ's birth. There is NO other reason to have Christmas. Whether it is December 25 or June 22 has no bearing on the issue. Without the birth of Christ there would be NO Christmas since the reason for instituting Christ's Mass would not exist. I get so annoyed by the evident lack of knowledge of historical fact and the lack of logic in thinking! These two events are inextricably linked. Unbelievers need to get over it, put your packages back on the shelves, take down your tree, put away all the decorations and move on. It isn’t YOUR holiday.
Americans celebrate the birth of several early presidents... but not on their birthday. We celebrate them on a Monday, regardless of the date in February. So the argument that Christmas is not "on" Christ birthday is irrelevant. The day is not important. The REASON for the celebration is the issue. We take off from work to celebrate these presidents' births and their contribution to the development of this nation. They are the "reason" for that one holiday. You could honestly say, “Happy Washington’s Birthday!” But it is a bit unwieldy. Again, it is unnecessary to celebrate the birth of presidents who no longer server as president. They are not presidents then, they are citizens and no more important than I. But someone thought it important so they made a day for it. I benefit with a paid holiday.
We also celebrate Martin Luther King's birth on a Monday so we can be off work, whether we view him as a great citizen or not. I personally find celebrating his birth offensive. He was not a president. His major contribution to the development of the nation was to join an already large movement of civil rights activist who received no recognition. He was a good organizer, an eloquent speaker and he was a Baptist preacher, pretty good one, too. That, in my view, doesn't make him special. He sought change through peaceful means which is commendable. He was tragically murdered and that sets him apart. Amazing how dying for someone can make you very important!!!!! He is considered a savior to the African-American community because he motivated them to make a change in their status through political dialogue and peaceful protest actions. AND he DIED FOR THE CAUSE. Someone thought he deserved recognition. He gets it and I get another paid day off. It isn’t MY holiday.
Jesus Christ did the same thing, whether you believe he is God or not. He motivated billions of people for centuries to change their lives for the better. AND HE WAS MURDERED FOR THE CAUSE! Yes, some of those were dishonest and cruel people who twisted the message and used it for evil. So do some African-Americans but no one is suggesting they toss MLK Day because some of those who followed him were criminals or because others find it offensive! The message is not the problem, people are.
The pagan seasonal holidays have nothing to do with the Christmas celebration other than the fact that it falls around the time of the Winter Solstice. Although, Christmas is December 25th and the winter solstice is December 22nd. The Catholic Church probably deliberately elected to have their religious celebrations around times when the pagan holidays fell for a very good reason. People were already used to celebrating a holiday at those times of year – an established ritual already existed. They liked to celebrate something because their lives were miserable and celebrating relieved their misery for a short time and those so called Pagan priest were no better than some Christian priest. They used pagan gods to manipulate and control a miserable population!
People celebrated lots of things for good reasons. A good harvest was cause for celebration to whatever god they believed in because it meant hunger was staved off for at least another year. A wet spring could be prayed for and celebrated because it meant a good crop. The long dark night of the winter solstice would be reason to pray for the sun to rise again. It might not in such times. The Summer Solstice would be eagerly celebrated because the sun remained in the sky longer that day than any other and to see a sunrise and have one long day of life was probably something they knew the real value of.
It is important to remember that in less complex times, life was more complex. People had no knowledge of medicine, grocery stores, or department stores. The average family did not know where their next meal was coming from or if their children would even survive being born! They grasped at ritual celebrations as a way of comfort and control. They prayed to whatever they could in the hope that someone was listening and would come to give value to their existence. They wanted control of their lives.
Ritual is about controlling your environment! You can't control life and death but you can control the ritual and then the ritual becomes magical. It is why the Catholic Church easily converted so people on so many continents. They replaced pagan rituals and symbols with "Christian" rituals and symbols so the transition would be easy for those not fully convinced. The church used holidays to reinforce their teachings of the gospel. The populace was still given their celebrations, but they were centered around the gospel rather than the weather and crops.
The mass for Christ was set near the time of the Winter solstice. In many countries, native peoples still celebrate their pagan ritual along side their Christian rituals because they want to be sure they have their bases covered. It isn’t a matter of right or wrong to them. Their lives are usually still miserable. People still have no control. So they cling to ancient rituals. Thankfully, the Catholic Church doesn’t use torture anymore to “convert” them. And thankfully, other churches have moved into those areas and they that do not rely on rituals to draw converts. Some have wrought wonderful changes in the lives and treatment of these people. Others, both Christian and non-Christian have exploited them.
When the split with the Catholic Church occurred, one of the most prominent things that changed was the rituals and symbols. The protestant church eliminated icons and statues and worship of saints. It eliminated rote prayer and allowed its members to actually own a Bible so they could read it for themselves. The members now could pray for themselves rather than pay the priest to pray for them. But remember, these changes took place over centuries, not in a day.
Pagans then and now celebrate their winter holiday as do those who celebrate Kwanzaa celebrate their African heritage. I don't particularly care for an African Kwanzaa doll on my Christmas tree since it has nothing to do with Christmas but I have no problem with those who elect to celebrate "their" holiday in that manner.
I propose that those who do not believe in Christmas should not celebrate in any way. Go to work, don't buy presents, and don’t put up a tree. For heaven's sake do not smile that sappy smile and say "Happy Holidays!" There is only one holiday (meaning holy day by the way) in December and you don't believe in holy days!
However, in America, no one has the right, at least not yet, to insist those who do elect to celebrate stop doing so because you don't share their beliefs. We still have a right to say, ‘Merry Christmas” because we are celebrating! We still have a right to post a banner that says, “Jesus is the reason.” I don't get all bent when people say, "GO TIGERS!" or whatever team they squeal for or when they paint those messages on their bodies and cars. Personally, that’s the stupidest thing I ever saw but everyone has a right to be stupid. I’m fine with it.
Here’s what I suggest. All non-Christians should just ignore the greetings by saying "Up yours." if you like. I promise we'll get the message. Or perhaps, "May the Force be with you." I’m a Star Wars fan and this is a multi-religious response. All religions believe in some kind of “Force” so you won't offend anyone! They’ll just think you are a nut. And popular opinion would seem to support that.
If you are non-religious, you may just smile and say, "I'm a friend of Madeline Murray O'Hare." In America, we all know her and will understand completely. She’s the atheist who ended up murdered and buried in a trash can. She was the person responsible for having prayer and Bibles removed from all public schools. Oddly enough, only one of her son’s defected from her teaching and accepted Jesus Christ as savior. The other son, an atheist to the end . . . died with her. She changed the social and political environment of a whole nation and she was murdered! Do you know that as far as I know no one has suggested a day to celebrate her life or death! Actually, virtually no one under the age of 40 knows who she is! But she left a cancer in this nation that is slowly destroying it.
Of courses, non-Christians could still find something to celebrate, even though they aren't recognized by any agency as "legal" holidays and in fact, they aren’t holy days at all. You can celebrate the Winter Solstice but it falls on December 22 at midnight. Not many people will be celebrating then, unless you have a bunch of Druids hanging about. I believe there are some around... in England?
The ancient ones celebrated all the seasonal starts based on the sun's path throughout the year. I believe there are only four major holidays for them. Winter Solstice, Vernal Equinox, Summer Solstice, and the Autumnal Equinox. I think, but could be wrong, that the traditional way to celebrate is by dancing in a clearing in long white robes and having a feast. I do believe they pray in some manner, however, so it is still a religions thing. Oh, wait, do they celebrate Samhain? That's the holiday that became Halloween or All Hallows Eve. Or is it only witches who do that. Of course, you got that religion thing going on again. Amazing how humans keep creating religion, isn’t it?
If you want to really get into the concept of pagan control of December 25 and other holidays you might read this fellow’s site. Christmas - The Real StoryHe is a real fanatic who dwells on all the hideous history and goes to great detail to outline the horrors and satanic connections to December 25. You may actually decide it is just too horrible a day to celebrate the birth of Christ. He asks a very good question at the end of his page. My response to that is that on December 25 I will be celebrating the birth of the person who came to deliver us from all such atrocities as described on this page.
I don’t care about pagan roots and connections to certain days of the year. I AM taking that day back from the pagan. I’m not a pagan. I wasn’t a participant in those events. Those days have no power over me and are merely interesting, often sad historical side notes. I believe that if you are all “het” up about pagan connections to your Christian holidays, then you need to get back to the altar. You are acknowledging that those connections have power over you. You are so concerned that 10,000 years ago someone worshiped a false god on December 25, or that someone had ritual sex 5,000 years ago on December 25, or that someone was murdered on December 25 that you want to ban the day altogether! Why, thank you very much! You know what you just did? You just gave that day back to the pagan. You abandoned territory that has already been battled over. You have just given power back to those spirits and by giving them the day, you are authorizing their right to rule over you and control your days of worship and celebration! Never surrender territory to the enemy or he will overrun your position.
Colossians 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: I choose to worship any day I please and I intend to celebrate the birth of MY Savior on any day I wish. And if I want to bake a cake and put a candle on I will. If I want a tree with a star on top to honor the triumph of Jesus over a pagan holiday, I will. I will not be led by powerless Christians who can’t lay claim to one single day to celebrate and who are so terrified and unbelieving in the power of their own faith that they tremble at the sight of a decorated evergreen! Get over it!
I also won’t be controlled by people who can’t handle good wishes directed to them because they are so insecure in their own beliefs that they feel threatened by a blessing directed to them! How silly is that? I sincerely respect your right to not like it, not agree, and not participate in my worship and celebration. I promise not to participate in your New Year celebration which is a totally pagan ritual to pagan gods and has absolutely NO Christian connotation at all!
The tradition of using a baby to signify the New Year began in Greece in 600 BC. It was their tradition to celebrate their god of wine, Dionysus, by parading a baby in a basket, representing the annual rebirth of that god as the spirit of fertility. Early Egyptians also used a baby as a symbol of rebirth. Although Christians denounced the practice as paganistic, the popularity of the baby as a symbol of rebirth forced them to reevaluate their positions. The church then allowed the members to celebrate the New Year with a baby, which was to symbolize the birth of Jesus Christ. The image of a baby with a New Year's banner was brought to early America by Germans, who had been using the symbol since the 14th century. From: New Year’s Cheer- Traditions
There is that religion thing again and even the Greeks were doing it! Again, the church in question was the Catholic Church. Modern churches in no way believe this, at least, mine doesn’t! We do not use the “new year baby” to symbolize Jesus Christ. We are educated enough to know that it signifies the “birth” of a new year, a chance to start over and do better the next year. This is an inherent desire in the human psyche! We all wish we could have a second chance to do things “right this time”. However, we won’t be worshiping Dionysus. I will assure you that all over the world Christians will kneel in prayer at midnight and pray for the coming year to be blessed, prospered, and peaceful. All while the pagans are dancing and getting drunk. And we won’t be hugging toilet bowls or have pounding heads the next morning.
Folks, on this blog, you will hear me shouting loud and clear! Jesus Christ IS the reason for this season. Always has been and always will be. Christmas was created as a direct result of the birth of Jesus Christ. Just get over and move on with your life. The rest of us have celebrating to do!
Merry Christmas!
The truth is that the Christmas holiday was instituted by the Catholic Church for Christians to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and for no other reason, regardless of when his birth happened, ergo, the name "Christmas" - a mass to celebrate Christ's birth. There is NO other reason to have Christmas. Whether it is December 25 or June 22 has no bearing on the issue. Without the birth of Christ there would be NO Christmas since the reason for instituting Christ's Mass would not exist. I get so annoyed by the evident lack of knowledge of historical fact and the lack of logic in thinking! These two events are inextricably linked. Unbelievers need to get over it, put your packages back on the shelves, take down your tree, put away all the decorations and move on. It isn’t YOUR holiday.
Americans celebrate the birth of several early presidents... but not on their birthday. We celebrate them on a Monday, regardless of the date in February. So the argument that Christmas is not "on" Christ birthday is irrelevant. The day is not important. The REASON for the celebration is the issue. We take off from work to celebrate these presidents' births and their contribution to the development of this nation. They are the "reason" for that one holiday. You could honestly say, “Happy Washington’s Birthday!” But it is a bit unwieldy. Again, it is unnecessary to celebrate the birth of presidents who no longer server as president. They are not presidents then, they are citizens and no more important than I. But someone thought it important so they made a day for it. I benefit with a paid holiday.
We also celebrate Martin Luther King's birth on a Monday so we can be off work, whether we view him as a great citizen or not. I personally find celebrating his birth offensive. He was not a president. His major contribution to the development of the nation was to join an already large movement of civil rights activist who received no recognition. He was a good organizer, an eloquent speaker and he was a Baptist preacher, pretty good one, too. That, in my view, doesn't make him special. He sought change through peaceful means which is commendable. He was tragically murdered and that sets him apart. Amazing how dying for someone can make you very important!!!!! He is considered a savior to the African-American community because he motivated them to make a change in their status through political dialogue and peaceful protest actions. AND he DIED FOR THE CAUSE. Someone thought he deserved recognition. He gets it and I get another paid day off. It isn’t MY holiday.
Jesus Christ did the same thing, whether you believe he is God or not. He motivated billions of people for centuries to change their lives for the better. AND HE WAS MURDERED FOR THE CAUSE! Yes, some of those were dishonest and cruel people who twisted the message and used it for evil. So do some African-Americans but no one is suggesting they toss MLK Day because some of those who followed him were criminals or because others find it offensive! The message is not the problem, people are.
The pagan seasonal holidays have nothing to do with the Christmas celebration other than the fact that it falls around the time of the Winter Solstice. Although, Christmas is December 25th and the winter solstice is December 22nd. The Catholic Church probably deliberately elected to have their religious celebrations around times when the pagan holidays fell for a very good reason. People were already used to celebrating a holiday at those times of year – an established ritual already existed. They liked to celebrate something because their lives were miserable and celebrating relieved their misery for a short time and those so called Pagan priest were no better than some Christian priest. They used pagan gods to manipulate and control a miserable population!
People celebrated lots of things for good reasons. A good harvest was cause for celebration to whatever god they believed in because it meant hunger was staved off for at least another year. A wet spring could be prayed for and celebrated because it meant a good crop. The long dark night of the winter solstice would be reason to pray for the sun to rise again. It might not in such times. The Summer Solstice would be eagerly celebrated because the sun remained in the sky longer that day than any other and to see a sunrise and have one long day of life was probably something they knew the real value of.
It is important to remember that in less complex times, life was more complex. People had no knowledge of medicine, grocery stores, or department stores. The average family did not know where their next meal was coming from or if their children would even survive being born! They grasped at ritual celebrations as a way of comfort and control. They prayed to whatever they could in the hope that someone was listening and would come to give value to their existence. They wanted control of their lives.
Ritual is about controlling your environment! You can't control life and death but you can control the ritual and then the ritual becomes magical. It is why the Catholic Church easily converted so people on so many continents. They replaced pagan rituals and symbols with "Christian" rituals and symbols so the transition would be easy for those not fully convinced. The church used holidays to reinforce their teachings of the gospel. The populace was still given their celebrations, but they were centered around the gospel rather than the weather and crops.
The mass for Christ was set near the time of the Winter solstice. In many countries, native peoples still celebrate their pagan ritual along side their Christian rituals because they want to be sure they have their bases covered. It isn’t a matter of right or wrong to them. Their lives are usually still miserable. People still have no control. So they cling to ancient rituals. Thankfully, the Catholic Church doesn’t use torture anymore to “convert” them. And thankfully, other churches have moved into those areas and they that do not rely on rituals to draw converts. Some have wrought wonderful changes in the lives and treatment of these people. Others, both Christian and non-Christian have exploited them.
When the split with the Catholic Church occurred, one of the most prominent things that changed was the rituals and symbols. The protestant church eliminated icons and statues and worship of saints. It eliminated rote prayer and allowed its members to actually own a Bible so they could read it for themselves. The members now could pray for themselves rather than pay the priest to pray for them. But remember, these changes took place over centuries, not in a day.
Pagans then and now celebrate their winter holiday as do those who celebrate Kwanzaa celebrate their African heritage. I don't particularly care for an African Kwanzaa doll on my Christmas tree since it has nothing to do with Christmas but I have no problem with those who elect to celebrate "their" holiday in that manner.
I propose that those who do not believe in Christmas should not celebrate in any way. Go to work, don't buy presents, and don’t put up a tree. For heaven's sake do not smile that sappy smile and say "Happy Holidays!" There is only one holiday (meaning holy day by the way) in December and you don't believe in holy days!
However, in America, no one has the right, at least not yet, to insist those who do elect to celebrate stop doing so because you don't share their beliefs. We still have a right to say, ‘Merry Christmas” because we are celebrating! We still have a right to post a banner that says, “Jesus is the reason.” I don't get all bent when people say, "GO TIGERS!" or whatever team they squeal for or when they paint those messages on their bodies and cars. Personally, that’s the stupidest thing I ever saw but everyone has a right to be stupid. I’m fine with it.
Here’s what I suggest. All non-Christians should just ignore the greetings by saying "Up yours." if you like. I promise we'll get the message. Or perhaps, "May the Force be with you." I’m a Star Wars fan and this is a multi-religious response. All religions believe in some kind of “Force” so you won't offend anyone! They’ll just think you are a nut. And popular opinion would seem to support that.
If you are non-religious, you may just smile and say, "I'm a friend of Madeline Murray O'Hare." In America, we all know her and will understand completely. She’s the atheist who ended up murdered and buried in a trash can. She was the person responsible for having prayer and Bibles removed from all public schools. Oddly enough, only one of her son’s defected from her teaching and accepted Jesus Christ as savior. The other son, an atheist to the end . . . died with her. She changed the social and political environment of a whole nation and she was murdered! Do you know that as far as I know no one has suggested a day to celebrate her life or death! Actually, virtually no one under the age of 40 knows who she is! But she left a cancer in this nation that is slowly destroying it.
Of courses, non-Christians could still find something to celebrate, even though they aren't recognized by any agency as "legal" holidays and in fact, they aren’t holy days at all. You can celebrate the Winter Solstice but it falls on December 22 at midnight. Not many people will be celebrating then, unless you have a bunch of Druids hanging about. I believe there are some around... in England?
The ancient ones celebrated all the seasonal starts based on the sun's path throughout the year. I believe there are only four major holidays for them. Winter Solstice, Vernal Equinox, Summer Solstice, and the Autumnal Equinox. I think, but could be wrong, that the traditional way to celebrate is by dancing in a clearing in long white robes and having a feast. I do believe they pray in some manner, however, so it is still a religions thing. Oh, wait, do they celebrate Samhain? That's the holiday that became Halloween or All Hallows Eve. Or is it only witches who do that. Of course, you got that religion thing going on again. Amazing how humans keep creating religion, isn’t it?
If you want to really get into the concept of pagan control of December 25 and other holidays you might read this fellow’s site. Christmas - The Real StoryHe is a real fanatic who dwells on all the hideous history and goes to great detail to outline the horrors and satanic connections to December 25. You may actually decide it is just too horrible a day to celebrate the birth of Christ. He asks a very good question at the end of his page. My response to that is that on December 25 I will be celebrating the birth of the person who came to deliver us from all such atrocities as described on this page.
I don’t care about pagan roots and connections to certain days of the year. I AM taking that day back from the pagan. I’m not a pagan. I wasn’t a participant in those events. Those days have no power over me and are merely interesting, often sad historical side notes. I believe that if you are all “het” up about pagan connections to your Christian holidays, then you need to get back to the altar. You are acknowledging that those connections have power over you. You are so concerned that 10,000 years ago someone worshiped a false god on December 25, or that someone had ritual sex 5,000 years ago on December 25, or that someone was murdered on December 25 that you want to ban the day altogether! Why, thank you very much! You know what you just did? You just gave that day back to the pagan. You abandoned territory that has already been battled over. You have just given power back to those spirits and by giving them the day, you are authorizing their right to rule over you and control your days of worship and celebration! Never surrender territory to the enemy or he will overrun your position.
Colossians 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: I choose to worship any day I please and I intend to celebrate the birth of MY Savior on any day I wish. And if I want to bake a cake and put a candle on I will. If I want a tree with a star on top to honor the triumph of Jesus over a pagan holiday, I will. I will not be led by powerless Christians who can’t lay claim to one single day to celebrate and who are so terrified and unbelieving in the power of their own faith that they tremble at the sight of a decorated evergreen! Get over it!
I also won’t be controlled by people who can’t handle good wishes directed to them because they are so insecure in their own beliefs that they feel threatened by a blessing directed to them! How silly is that? I sincerely respect your right to not like it, not agree, and not participate in my worship and celebration. I promise not to participate in your New Year celebration which is a totally pagan ritual to pagan gods and has absolutely NO Christian connotation at all!
The tradition of using a baby to signify the New Year began in Greece in 600 BC. It was their tradition to celebrate their god of wine, Dionysus, by parading a baby in a basket, representing the annual rebirth of that god as the spirit of fertility. Early Egyptians also used a baby as a symbol of rebirth. Although Christians denounced the practice as paganistic, the popularity of the baby as a symbol of rebirth forced them to reevaluate their positions. The church then allowed the members to celebrate the New Year with a baby, which was to symbolize the birth of Jesus Christ. The image of a baby with a New Year's banner was brought to early America by Germans, who had been using the symbol since the 14th century. From: New Year’s Cheer- Traditions
There is that religion thing again and even the Greeks were doing it! Again, the church in question was the Catholic Church. Modern churches in no way believe this, at least, mine doesn’t! We do not use the “new year baby” to symbolize Jesus Christ. We are educated enough to know that it signifies the “birth” of a new year, a chance to start over and do better the next year. This is an inherent desire in the human psyche! We all wish we could have a second chance to do things “right this time”. However, we won’t be worshiping Dionysus. I will assure you that all over the world Christians will kneel in prayer at midnight and pray for the coming year to be blessed, prospered, and peaceful. All while the pagans are dancing and getting drunk. And we won’t be hugging toilet bowls or have pounding heads the next morning.
Folks, on this blog, you will hear me shouting loud and clear! Jesus Christ IS the reason for this season. Always has been and always will be. Christmas was created as a direct result of the birth of Jesus Christ. Just get over and move on with your life. The rest of us have celebrating to do!
Merry Christmas!
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Mama's Boy
Mike is here tonight for supper. His oven doesn't work and it will be tomorrow before they get it fixed. He stopped by my chair for just a minute. He is so sweet and Mike loves his Mom a bunch. I have never had one moment of doubt about that. Pray for him. He has a lot of problems I can't fix and I worry about his future once I am not here.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Staking Territory
I've driven a stake in the ground. I came home tonight and I am so tired. The whole week I've been working hard to get a bit ahead at work in preparation for my vacation. When I get off, I have had to go get Mike because his tub was being resurfaced and he couldn't bathe in his new apartment. Takes an extra 15 minutes, then I have to take him home in a few hours and then pick Jerry up at 9 p.m. We only have one car, remember.
Last night the weather was so bad they closed the "expressway" (an oxymoron here) and it took me nearly an hour to get home on the side streets. I learned something though that will help me next time but I digress.
Tonight, I had to go get Mike for him to sell blood to pay his rent but he had to go back home without doing it because he lost his cell phone and went into a small panic. We found it in the road where he got out to check his mail! So I had an hour or running after work. But he also found there is a plasma bank about three block from his house on the same street! Another bonus.
When I got home, I put a message on my voice mail. It says the standard "leave a message" stuff but I added at the end "If you are calling between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. those hours are now scheduled for my personal time and I will not accept calls or answer the phone during those hours. Please leave your name and number and I will call you back after 8 or you can call me back after 8 o'clock. Thank you."
So, we'll see how that works. I made my other son and his wife angry with me . . . again. Every time they don't get their way the get mad but suddenly, I'm ok with it. Means I don't get pestered every 15 minutes! I'm done with their Christmas. I gave them $25 each because they were hitting me up for money again and I was financially strapped this week.She called me at work to ask for it then she hung up on me when I said I didn't have it. Do you know that the only people I've ever hung up on were cursing at me? I have never been so rude in my life as to hang up on someone. I might not like what is being said but I am so thankful for a parent who taught me good manners. I started not to but I called her back and she didn't answer the phone so I left a message saying she was the rudest person I'd ever known, particularly in light of how well she was treated by this family. My son calls and starts chewing me out but with the first word I hung up on him. Well, I figured at this point they should know how that felt. He didn't like it and called back but I let it go to voice mail this time. He left a nasty message I think but I simply deleted it when I heard his voice. When I got home I took the money I'd saved for their presents and sent it to them via my husband. Merry Christmas! I've had it. I'm tired of being treated like this. I don't need anyone to pay my way!
So, the evening is mine!!! Humph, and here I sit. Actually, I've been using this time in the evenings to study and pray for an hour while Jerry is working. And the rest of the time, I think I'll be working on two novels.
I'll be back again soon. Hope you are all having a great evening. I think I am!
Last night the weather was so bad they closed the "expressway" (an oxymoron here) and it took me nearly an hour to get home on the side streets. I learned something though that will help me next time but I digress.
Tonight, I had to go get Mike for him to sell blood to pay his rent but he had to go back home without doing it because he lost his cell phone and went into a small panic. We found it in the road where he got out to check his mail! So I had an hour or running after work. But he also found there is a plasma bank about three block from his house on the same street! Another bonus.
When I got home, I put a message on my voice mail. It says the standard "leave a message" stuff but I added at the end "If you are calling between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. those hours are now scheduled for my personal time and I will not accept calls or answer the phone during those hours. Please leave your name and number and I will call you back after 8 or you can call me back after 8 o'clock. Thank you."
So, we'll see how that works. I made my other son and his wife angry with me . . . again. Every time they don't get their way the get mad but suddenly, I'm ok with it. Means I don't get pestered every 15 minutes! I'm done with their Christmas. I gave them $25 each because they were hitting me up for money again and I was financially strapped this week.She called me at work to ask for it then she hung up on me when I said I didn't have it. Do you know that the only people I've ever hung up on were cursing at me? I have never been so rude in my life as to hang up on someone. I might not like what is being said but I am so thankful for a parent who taught me good manners. I started not to but I called her back and she didn't answer the phone so I left a message saying she was the rudest person I'd ever known, particularly in light of how well she was treated by this family. My son calls and starts chewing me out but with the first word I hung up on him. Well, I figured at this point they should know how that felt. He didn't like it and called back but I let it go to voice mail this time. He left a nasty message I think but I simply deleted it when I heard his voice. When I got home I took the money I'd saved for their presents and sent it to them via my husband. Merry Christmas! I've had it. I'm tired of being treated like this. I don't need anyone to pay my way!
So, the evening is mine!!! Humph, and here I sit. Actually, I've been using this time in the evenings to study and pray for an hour while Jerry is working. And the rest of the time, I think I'll be working on two novels.
I'll be back again soon. Hope you are all having a great evening. I think I am!
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Working
I'm working on a section of Mist and Winter! I'm crazy. I'm tired. My whole day was blown by my kids.
Mike moved out and he wasn't the problem. I had about 40 phone calls all day long. Mostly from the other kids! It was insane. Then, I'd agreed to keep Sarah but since my whole day was shot, I kind of resented it. Oh, I'm not going into it all here. No sense in it now. I am on my way to bed. I just wanted to let you who are reading the two above works to know what to expect.
Thanks, Jilly for your comments. They are incentives to keep going. I really want the story arc completed so I can start editing it.
Eyes closing on their own. Nite!
Mike moved out and he wasn't the problem. I had about 40 phone calls all day long. Mostly from the other kids! It was insane. Then, I'd agreed to keep Sarah but since my whole day was shot, I kind of resented it. Oh, I'm not going into it all here. No sense in it now. I am on my way to bed. I just wanted to let you who are reading the two above works to know what to expect.
Thanks, Jilly for your comments. They are incentives to keep going. I really want the story arc completed so I can start editing it.
Eyes closing on their own. Nite!
Friday, December 12, 2008
Thinking and Thinking
I just been thinking. Hard. I'm thinking I want me a laptop. I'm wondering, too. I'm wondering if I should try and find me a good used one for now. I don't really have any money to spend on me but I really want to get one that I can carry with me and write. I spend my lunch hour reading mostly but I've decided if I could get a laptop I could spend it writing. I also want to be able to leave the house and go somewhere that no one would bother me. The library is one block from where I work. I could spend a couple of hours there in the study rooms they have writing.
I borrowed the office laptop when I went to the conference. It is a Gateway that is about five years old but it was really nice. Some keyboards are not very comfortable but this one was ok. But the end of the conference I'd decided I wouldn't mind a laptop.
I've been looking around the ads but at the moment, $500 looks like a small fortune. I have this nice new computer at home and I use it all the time. Jerry is at work often when I get home but one of the kids is apt to pop in unexpectedly. I've wished several times that I could just stay away from the house for a few hours. Since I love my being at home that's strange.
Anyway, I don't know where to start looking for used ones and not sure what I'd have to spend. I couldn't t be sure that it would be any good either, I guess. So maybe it isn't a good idea.
Your input is welcome.
I am going to bed I think. I'm tired. Got to go get Jerry from work first. Have a warm evening. It is cold here.
I borrowed the office laptop when I went to the conference. It is a Gateway that is about five years old but it was really nice. Some keyboards are not very comfortable but this one was ok. But the end of the conference I'd decided I wouldn't mind a laptop.
I've been looking around the ads but at the moment, $500 looks like a small fortune. I have this nice new computer at home and I use it all the time. Jerry is at work often when I get home but one of the kids is apt to pop in unexpectedly. I've wished several times that I could just stay away from the house for a few hours. Since I love my being at home that's strange.
Anyway, I don't know where to start looking for used ones and not sure what I'd have to spend. I couldn't t be sure that it would be any good either, I guess. So maybe it isn't a good idea.
Your input is welcome.
I am going to bed I think. I'm tired. Got to go get Jerry from work first. Have a warm evening. It is cold here.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Rain and Other Calamities
My sister in Florida went to the hospital last night with chest pains. Her BP was 249 over something. I can never remember the bottom number! I was so stunned at the top one I forgot. She didn't have a heart attack but they kept her. Some of you may be on her contact list. She's Roselynn. They said she had too much stress in her life. Those of you who have read her blog know about the foster kids? Well, she also handles problems with our mother. I'd rather have five foster children. 'Nuff said.
My mother, as you know, is also in the hospital. The same one, in fact. She had surgery today on her shoulder and they removed the metal they had put in months ago. Roselyn said they had to because her body was rejecting it.
My uncle in Georgia fell last night an had to go to the ER. He got very ill at a dinner they attended and when he throws up he faints. He fainted in the parking lot and smacked his head. He just had cataract surgery last week so she was worried but he didn't injure that. Just his face and pride, I'm thinking. They had to call an ambulance for him and he was sent home around 3 a.m.
It isn't raining but it is colder than a well diggers ankles. I'm tired and just want some chocolate. Think I'll go get hot cocoa.
My mother, as you know, is also in the hospital. The same one, in fact. She had surgery today on her shoulder and they removed the metal they had put in months ago. Roselyn said they had to because her body was rejecting it.
My uncle in Georgia fell last night an had to go to the ER. He got very ill at a dinner they attended and when he throws up he faints. He fainted in the parking lot and smacked his head. He just had cataract surgery last week so she was worried but he didn't injure that. Just his face and pride, I'm thinking. They had to call an ambulance for him and he was sent home around 3 a.m.
It isn't raining but it is colder than a well diggers ankles. I'm tired and just want some chocolate. Think I'll go get hot cocoa.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Another Prayer Request
Keep my mother in your prayers today. She is in the hospital after a fall and has contracted a staph infection. I'm 12 hours away and my younger sister is taking care of things down there.
You might pray for her, too. Our family is crazy and she doesn't really have any help there since our other sister lives here where I live. I should qualify that. The boys are crazy in my family.
You know, the infection is serious but I'm more concerned for her soul than anything else. I was praying last night for her but all I could pray about was her spiritual state. There is a long personal story here but because of the involvement of six other people, I can't go into it. Let's just say that when you live your life your way, at the end of the day, your way may not have been the right way. So pray for her.
In other news, my shoulder is really hurting today and so are my legs. Could be the weather. The shoulder hurts from the curve of my neck straight down my back to the left of my spine to just where my bra stars. I'm sure that's a muscle but the name escapes me for the moment. I'm getting a headache as a result of that. Oh well, nothing last forever, I guess. I have too many doctor appointments coming up to take off for another cervical block.l I'm really nervous about them anyway but I did feel wonderful for nearly a whole month.
So, pray for me, too.
I gotta run. Work is calling. Wonder if I could just hang up?
You might pray for her, too. Our family is crazy and she doesn't really have any help there since our other sister lives here where I live. I should qualify that. The boys are crazy in my family.
You know, the infection is serious but I'm more concerned for her soul than anything else. I was praying last night for her but all I could pray about was her spiritual state. There is a long personal story here but because of the involvement of six other people, I can't go into it. Let's just say that when you live your life your way, at the end of the day, your way may not have been the right way. So pray for her.
In other news, my shoulder is really hurting today and so are my legs. Could be the weather. The shoulder hurts from the curve of my neck straight down my back to the left of my spine to just where my bra stars. I'm sure that's a muscle but the name escapes me for the moment. I'm getting a headache as a result of that. Oh well, nothing last forever, I guess. I have too many doctor appointments coming up to take off for another cervical block.l I'm really nervous about them anyway but I did feel wonderful for nearly a whole month.
So, pray for me, too.
I gotta run. Work is calling. Wonder if I could just hang up?
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
What a Crazy World!
I have discovered Pod-cast! Really. I've decided I want an iPod, something I have not, until now, found a logical use for. But I've been listening to a audio pod-cast on my computer at home and work. It is a fiction program much like an old radio show. Well, I downloaded iTunes so I could just download it and listen while doing other things.
What I discovered is that there are a lot of free pod-cast that are really good! I can learn any language I want! I can brush up on my two year college Spanish! For Free! There are several of actual old radio shows. I like listening to these at work. Relieves the monotony of some jobs.I could listen in my car if I had a way.... {smile}. So, thus is born my reevaluation of the iPod.
I don't listen to the radio at all in the car. We.. maybe once in awhile the Christian station or the oldies station but usually not. I do frequently listen to gospel CD's. And imagine when I discovered you can get pod-cast of Christian programs.
I was just browsing, minding my own business. There were some that looked interesting. Most are not of my faith but there were some I thought might be good, like a Bible reading every day. Or maybe the XXX Church? WHAT! XXX CHURCH! I went to the information page. Yep. XXX CHURCH! A Christian Porn pod-cast!
My initial reaction: AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
My second reaction: OH MY GOD! I can't believe that!
My third reaction: I gotta blog this!
Come on! CHRISTIAN PORN! Lord have mercy the world is filled with people absolutely devoid of any brain at all. They are walking around with their heads filled with pus and absolutely no idea of how stupid they really are! I do not usually blast anyone here but there are some forms of idiocy that simply can't be ignored. They boggle the normal mind, astound the intelligent, and shock the sane.
Fourth reaction: DID I READ THAT CORRECTLY??? I don't know what sicko even imagined that there was such a thing. What cesspool did they come out of?
For those who do not know... pornography can't, by its very nature be Christian! It is anathema to Biblical principals as stated in the ONLY authorized Christian text - THE BIBLE. Obviously, the moron who started this pod-cast didn't read the directions. Someone give them a bottle of Ipecac and tell them it's koo-laid! Clean that sewer out!
I am SO offended by this and there is not a darn thing I can do. Welcome to America! No wonder God plans to blow the whole place up!
Oh yes He does. Revelations is pretty clear on that.
Whew! I think I got it all out but I'm still not sure! I may be back. Sorry, folks. . . . . . . . no, I'm not. People need to say something... LOUDLY!
What I discovered is that there are a lot of free pod-cast that are really good! I can learn any language I want! I can brush up on my two year college Spanish! For Free! There are several of actual old radio shows. I like listening to these at work. Relieves the monotony of some jobs.I could listen in my car if I had a way.... {smile}. So, thus is born my reevaluation of the iPod.
I don't listen to the radio at all in the car. We.. maybe once in awhile the Christian station or the oldies station but usually not. I do frequently listen to gospel CD's. And imagine when I discovered you can get pod-cast of Christian programs.
I was just browsing, minding my own business. There were some that looked interesting. Most are not of my faith but there were some I thought might be good, like a Bible reading every day. Or maybe the XXX Church? WHAT! XXX CHURCH! I went to the information page. Yep. XXX CHURCH! A Christian Porn pod-cast!
My initial reaction: AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
My second reaction: OH MY GOD! I can't believe that!
My third reaction: I gotta blog this!
Come on! CHRISTIAN PORN! Lord have mercy the world is filled with people absolutely devoid of any brain at all. They are walking around with their heads filled with pus and absolutely no idea of how stupid they really are! I do not usually blast anyone here but there are some forms of idiocy that simply can't be ignored. They boggle the normal mind, astound the intelligent, and shock the sane.
Fourth reaction: DID I READ THAT CORRECTLY??? I don't know what sicko even imagined that there was such a thing. What cesspool did they come out of?
For those who do not know... pornography can't, by its very nature be Christian! It is anathema to Biblical principals as stated in the ONLY authorized Christian text - THE BIBLE. Obviously, the moron who started this pod-cast didn't read the directions. Someone give them a bottle of Ipecac and tell them it's koo-laid! Clean that sewer out!
I am SO offended by this and there is not a darn thing I can do. Welcome to America! No wonder God plans to blow the whole place up!
Oh yes He does. Revelations is pretty clear on that.
Whew! I think I got it all out but I'm still not sure! I may be back. Sorry, folks. . . . . . . . no, I'm not. People need to say something... LOUDLY!
Rain, Rain, Rain
And snow on the way. I suspect. It has rained for the last two days and my guess is that we will have ice next. We may even get a white Christmas if this continues!
Hope all of you are doing well. I'm still caught up in other things and my posts are BORING! Nothing really riveting to post about unless it is the weather. I saw on Jilly's blog that it was raining in England, too. Doesn't it always? Seems like it rains a lot there. I wonder if it is like Seattle here? I'll have to look at the Latitude and Longitude to see how it compares.
They say it always rains in Seattle too. One of my favorite songs growing up was a sung by Sammi Smith and called "Seattle". "The bluest skies you've ever seen are in Seattle and the hills the greenest green, in Seattle." It made me want to go to Seattle!
Boy am I reaching!
I gotta get back to work. I just returned from lunch and had appointment all morning. Maybe catch up later.
Hope all of you are doing well. I'm still caught up in other things and my posts are BORING! Nothing really riveting to post about unless it is the weather. I saw on Jilly's blog that it was raining in England, too. Doesn't it always? Seems like it rains a lot there. I wonder if it is like Seattle here? I'll have to look at the Latitude and Longitude to see how it compares.
They say it always rains in Seattle too. One of my favorite songs growing up was a sung by Sammi Smith and called "Seattle". "The bluest skies you've ever seen are in Seattle and the hills the greenest green, in Seattle." It made me want to go to Seattle!
Boy am I reaching!
I gotta get back to work. I just returned from lunch and had appointment all morning. Maybe catch up later.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Finding the Center
Alice sent me this this morning and I really enjoyed it. I hope you will, too.
It is a powerpoint presentation and you will need a viewer on your computer. For those of you who don't have a Powerpoint viewer, you can get a free PowerPoint viewer from Microsoft here: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/downloads/CD010798701033.aspx Just select PowerPoint Viewer 2003 and follow the prompts to download. Then, select the attachment and it will open in the viewer.
It is a powerpoint presentation and you will need a viewer on your computer. For those of you who don't have a Powerpoint viewer, you can get a free PowerPoint viewer from Microsoft here: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/downloads/CD010798701033.aspx Just select PowerPoint Viewer 2003 and follow the prompts to download. Then, select the attachment and it will open in the viewer.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)