September 28, 2006

Doubly Blessed

I haven't had much time to write this week, work has been busy and my addiction has been controlling my life lately. The voices have been quieter than usual, but I see they are working overtime on BBC. Reminds me of a bullfrog named Jeremiah. ;>)

The cooler weather has led to some longer runs, and I'm overdosing on endorphines this week. I was blessed with a rainbow on Sunday Morning, and another one at the end of my evening run today, this time a sunset rainbow, and cool shower just as I was finishing the run. The wind and the rain cooled me down just at the right time, and now I'm feeling great. The natural high that started on Sunday morning has not let up, I better enjoy it while it lasts. I know the voices will be back soon. And I can't get "The Rainbow Connection" song out of my head.

I scan the news. Man, this world is getting crazy! WHY! Sometimes I just want to hide away from the world. Get a cabin in the woods and be another Thoreau, but I could never match his poetic words and his wit. I would need Internet access, also. I don't think he would approve.

Peace, Love and Happiness.

September 26, 2006

Where is the outrage?

“At a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act” —George Orwell.

From 42:
Ariel Dorfman in the Wa-Po:

Can’t the United States see that when we allow someone to be tortured by our agents, it is not only the victim and the perpetrator who are corrupted, not only the “intelligence” that is contaminated, but also everyone who looked away and said they did not know, everyone who consented tacitly to that outrage so they could sleep a little safer at night, all the citizens who did not march in the streets by the millions to demand the resignation of whoever suggested, even whispered, that torture is inevitable in our day and age, that we must embrace its darkness?

Are we so morally sick, so deaf and dumb and blind, that we do not understand this? Are we so fearful, so in love with our own security and steeped in our own pain, that we are really willing to let people be tortured in the name of America? Have we so lost our bearings that we do not realize that each of us could be that hapless Argentine who sat under the Santiago sun, so possessed by the evil done to him that he could not stop shivering?
Not much else to say about that, is there?

September 24, 2006

Connection

What a wonderful Sunday! Amidst all these ugly, expensive, man-made diversions, nature shows its wonder and beauty that cannot be topped and even equalled.

I arose this morning before dawn. It's supposed to be a warm rainy day, I love rainy days. So I sat this morning checking messages and reading news with the blinds open waiting for the day to start. It was a hot humid night, and windows were all fogged up. I wanted to see out, but I couldn't see anything because of the condensation. I had nothing better to do, so I walked to the grocery store to pick up some fresh veggies for dinner. I wanted to get the shopping done before the crowds start.

On the way to the store, the planet gave me a full bright, beautiful sunrise rainbow. I was almost at the store and it seemed to get brighter and more brilliant. I couldn't stop looking, so I delayed my entrance into the store and watched, looking up at the western sky. Other people walked by. A mother and her small son turned to see what I was staring at and remarked "Pretty", then rushed into the store because it was drizzling (misting, for the Scott Adam's fans). The rain felt good in the warm air. A young overweight woman passed by and looked at me strange, I pointed at the rainbow, she quickly turned her head then kept walking to the store with a disappointed look and a roll of her eyes. She wasn't impressed. It was obvious she had more important things on her mind, she needed more food. Others passed by and just looked at me like I was a nut, I quit making eye contact and just let them pass. I surprised no one called 911 to report a man standing in the rain looking at the sky.

Then the rainbow started to dim, the rainbow's reflection disappeared and the light started to fade, then it was gone. Big sigh! I went into the store and got my produce.

I walked home in the rain, it started to rain a little harder. While the church people rushed from their apartments and homes with newspapers and umbrellas over their head, I slowly walked by and waved at them and enjoyed the rain. I imagined one of them returning "Good Morning" or a "Hi" with a "looks like its going to rain all day", and I would say "I know isn't it great, some days are so wonderful" and they would frown and yell "No", and I would just smile and give a quick chuckle. But, as always, they only gave me weird looks.

I got back to my hovel and put away the vegetables. I had a free Sunday with nothing planned. I was going on a long run tonight after a cold front had moved thru, so I couldn't go running now. What to do, what to do. I check the weather radar, and heavier rain was coming. Then it was going to be windy and cooler tonight. I just wanted to go out in the rain. So I didn't look like a complete freak just standing out in the rain, I washed my car. My thought was that if I washed the car in the rain, I wouldn't have to dry it, and since I wasn't planning on going anywhere today in my car, it wouldn't get dirty because of the wet roads.

So there I was washing my car in the rain, waving at my neighbors as they drove past on their way to church. (Everyone goes to church in Montgomery, including yours truly, sometimes. I have atheist friends that go every Sunday without fail, it's "THE" thing to do in this wretched town. The worst traffic here is the after church traffic on Sunday.) Again I was imagining what the neighbors were saying as they drove past. "Mom, why is the freaky fast-walking guy washing his car in the rain?", "Oh Look honey, there's that guy who always out running, doesn't he know its raining?", "You've got to be kidding me". Well folks, I'm out here because I enjoy it and I'm tired of doing what I'm "supposed" to do, instead of what I like to do.

I suppose that the rainbow was a bit of natural pornography and that the rain was the planet giving me some loving. I sure do feel good afterward. Should I feel guilty about being so self-indulgent this morning?

What's so amazing that keeps us star gazing
and what do we think we might see?
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection.
The lovers, the dreamers and me.

Click here for the song: The Rainbow Connection

September 21, 2006

Missing State

Thanks to a comment I left on Minou blog's, I was reminded one of my favorite columns from New Mexico magazine.

One of our 50 is missing.

A little humorous diversion from my attempt to save the world.

And while your there, take the photo tour: New Mexico Photos

Craving Vengeance Part 2

Part 1: Once upon a time.....

Did you think I forgot?

There is no ending. That story just keeps going on and on, as it has been going on for centuries. "the movie never ends, it just goes on and on and on unending...".

Fear is a prison. Vengeance is never just.

When a belief becomes a reason to kill and destroy, that belief is not holy and it is not of G-d. Jews, Christians and Muslims have proven to the world that their "gospel" is anti-spiritual and it the opposite of creation, the opposite of G-d. Creation and evolution of this world and universe, and all else beyond that, is beyond the comprehesion of the limited minds leading todays religion. They need to take my voice's advise from my previous post and destroy their religious identities to save humanity. The U.S. leader, Mr. Bush is your prophosied beast, "Christian" label, but the mark of something evil.

50,000 to 100,000 innocent lives lost in retaliation for 3,000. When does it stop?

It is one thing to be a role model, representing a better way. It is totally different to be a bully, demanding your way.

September 19, 2006

Go Jump in a Lake!

Don't Read This. It's Crazy. Please skip today's post.

I have voice in my head telling me that I need to get a message to all the people of the Jewish (Judeo), Christian, and Islamic faiths. I don't usually do what the voices in my head tell me to do, but this one is different, it won't go away until I have finished sending this message. I have asked the voice if this is G-D, but it just gives me riddles when I ask, so don't ask me. I also get this sharp pain in the groin every time I question the voice, so I'm not asking anymore.

THE MESSAGE:
A revelation is coming. There is one way for everyone on the planet to be saved. You must ask for forgiveness, then be ceremoniously cleansed of your transgressions against humanity and nature. The coming years will consist of torture and despair on this planet. In order for you to be saved, this is what you'll have to do:

After you have asked to be forgiven, find the nearest body of water, and submerge yourself, all the way. Don't hold your breath, breath in the water, its time to come home. If you don't have a body of water close by, then use any method you can to achieve this baptismal. Fill a tub with water. You need to be completed submerged. If you have to travel to get to the water, then start out now.

I told you this was crazy. You would have to be insane to listen to a voice in my head. I told the voice that it was cruel, and the voice said no it wasn't; "If they truly believe, they have no reason to fear. The water will make the journey a very pleasant, peaceful journey."

I am a skeptic. There is no reason to believe me or a voice in my head. If you read my blog, you know that I think religious conformity is irrational and unnatural. It is my opinion religions that were developed from the Bibles based on Moses' writings of the word of G-d are just following ancient folklore and myths that religious leaders have misinterpreted and abused for their own personal reasons. But I also believe that every one should follow their own heart, so if those religions make sense to you, that is okay by me, as long as you don't try to force your beliefs on others.

The last thing the voice said to me: "Open your heart and mind to see G-d differently and more truthfully and you will see no fear, no punishment, no judgments, no conditions for love, no requirements of sacrifice, no blaming with sin and no threats of any kind. You will see pure love, pure peace, pure kindness and a solid desire to do all that is necessary to help us undo what we have done to ourselves. Just say, "I choose to see more clearly.", and your path to seeing and experiencing unbiased truths will begin."

The Caffeine Effect

I see everyone is obsessing on religion, again. BIG SIGH! Don't you guys have anything better to blog about, we need to ignore the religious narcissists and egomaniacs, they already have too much vanity and pride in themselves. It’s fun to point out their faults, but then they take it the wrong way and start violent and murderous rampages that only shows how anti-spiritual they really are. We need spirituality that is aimed at preserving life and the environment required for life, anything that destroys that is not of G-d.

Uh-oh. A new voice has just popped into my head. This voice sounds wise and just. The voice is telling me to quit worrying, everything is good, everything will work out. This voice is not like any other voice I’ve had in my head before, I try to ignore it and it only gets louder. “I won’t be ignored” blares in my head;

niCk: Who is this?
Voice: I am what I am
niCk: What does that mean.
Voice: 42
niCk: Huh? You read that book, too
Voice: I’ve read all books, I know everything.
niCk: You mean, this is G-d.
Voice: What you call me is not important, do you feel that.
niCk: OUCH! Goddammit that hurt. OUCH!!!!! Fuck that really hurts please stop.
Voice: Now do you know.
niCk: Just tell me, is it you, or am I just going schizoid
Voice: How’s this.
niCk: That is so good, do that again.
Voice: You only get the good stuff once, otherwise you just become a addict
niCk: DOH!. How about turning my coffee into beer, just this once.
P-P-P-P-leaasssee.
Voice: NO! Listen I have an important message I need you to communicate to the world.
niCk: Huh! People don’t listen to me, I’m nothing.
Voice: I know. That’s way I choose you.
niCk: I don’t get it! If you want to get a message to the people, you should pick someone everyone’s listens too, like, a big star, or one of those important people who address the UN and have it broadcast all over the world.
Voice: They are hacks, they don’t know what their doing.
niCk: I don’t know what I’m doing, why me?
Voice: Because you know me better than most humans. It can’t be easy, people have to find the message. I can just speak into everyone’s mind, but I don’t, I want the people to find the answer. If they are enlightened, and are worthy they will find the message.
niCk: You have more faith in humans then they have in you.
Voice: We’ll see. Now I need to build a really big boat, an Ark.
niCk: WoooH!, I’m going to be the next Noah?
Voice: Noah? Medammit, I already tried that plan. Deucalion, Noah, that plan hasn't worked well. I’ll be right back, I have a better plan I just have to find it.

(Several hours later)

Voice: I’m back.
niCk: I’m trying to concentrate on a problem at work, can you get back to me tomorrow.
Voice: (Deep Laughter) Good One. Lets get serious, I have the plan.
niCk: The Plan? Sounds like you given this some a lot of thought.
Voice: I don’t have thoughts, I just am. Now you need to concentrate and get this right. Humanity depends on you. You got to make up for the horrible story you wrote last week.
niCk: What? Horrible? I was doing it for you.
Voice: Yeah! There is no me, there is just what there is. Let this voice do the storytelling next time. Now listen.
niCk: Hhmmm!
Voice: This message is just for the Jews, and their children, the Muslims and the Christians. Tell them the rapture is coming and I need them to do something to be saved.
niCk: OH No! The world is ending, I got to go, I have a lot to do.
Voice: No, No, NO! I just want you to tell it to those Moses religions. I can’t get through to them and I need to cleanse the earth.
niCk: Cleanse the earth! Sound like your going to get wipe us all out.
Voice: NO! Now stop thinking and just listen, trust the voice.
niCk: I think someone put something in my coffee this morning.
Voice: Yes, it was I. A little spiritual wake-up with your caffeine.

At this point, the voice told me the plan. It’s so ingenious. If only it will work.

My next post will be the Voice’s plan. Stay tuned.

(he-he). Cliffhangers, don’t you love them!

September 17, 2006

Freak

Yes, hiking up North was wonderful, it's getting cooler and I love getting out in the early morning, before other annoying humans are out, and just be with nature. Wildlife is still roaming about early in the morning and its the best chance to see them. It's amazing how much tension is released when one gets away from civilization and all the fuss they have to put up with. You tend to do a lot of thinking about what is really important.

"Sunny Day, Sweeping the clouds away......."

Then you come back to read about everything that you missed in the world, and you just want to go back to the woods and hide. The world is still full of shit-throwing human monkeys, and Mr Bush is still their leader. Sigh. Still in this nightmare. The Pope being mis-interpreted by Islamists. No need to insult Islam, they do it just fine themselves, as do Christians and Jews. What a bunch of clowns. No surprise, Bush trying to change the Geneva Convention so that his "interrogations" will be legal. What? Violence in Iraq is getting worse, now they want to build moats around Bagdad (I thought it was a joke, but that is real news, what's next, catapults with flaming bodies, dumping hot oil on enemies?). An alliance is forming against the U.S. , (as expected), and on and on and on goes the human circus........ Thanks Mr Bush, look at this mess.

Monica Lewinsky, we need you to visit the oval office again.

(Sarcasm ON)

Ya'll play nice now, y'hear. Don't hit each other. If I catch anyone hitting someone else I'll beat the crap out of all of you.

Morality, who needs it, just become a Conservative Christian and everything you do is good, you can do no wrong when you become "saved", become born again and you never again have to worry about those pesky teachings of Jesus, after all, he was a bleeding-heart liberal.

(Sarcasm OFF)


I also went and visited a friend this weekend, but I picked a bad time to visit. A football game was on that he "needed" to see. I tried to watch this "game" with him. American football is such a boring waste of time. There was nothing entertaining about it. They play for a few seconds, argue about the play, hold a meeting to decide how to play the next few seconds. They spend more time analyzing and planning then playing. That isn't a sport, that sounds like work. I want to have fun when I play, I want to play the game, i want to get away from the shit I have to put up with at work, the meeting, the planning, blaming people for your mistakes. Then the whole team gets substituted when the ball changes sides? What the hell is that. Can't the same guy play offense and defense? I'll stick to REAL football, you know, soccer, where they spend their time actually playing a game and not talking about playing. It sounds like corporate America came up with the rules to American football. All I know is that Auburn won, but I couldn't tell you which team played better, because I never saw anybody actually playing, because I blink too much. How can anyone find it entertaining? Maybe he doesn't want me visiting him anymore, and thats why he subjected me to the punishment of having to watch this non-sport. OKAY, message received! AND, all he had to drink was that tasteless corporate piss-water beer, I can't tell the difference, its Bud or Miller or Coors or something like that, all the same weak just-get-me-drunk beer. It is an insult to call this beer, I've tasted real beer, it's not even close.

I'm back from the woods, and I see humans in their so-called "environment". What a waste. Damn I whine a lot, don't I?

I'm so glad I'm a freak of nature.

September 15, 2006

Once Upon a Time........

I was sick last night and couldn't sleep, I was in a bad mood, so I wrote a story.

YES, It's Story Time. Today’s story is titled Craving Vengeance.

---------------------------------------

It’s a beautiful day in your neighborhood.

(Whistle that tune for a minute before starting to read).

You are very wealthy and successful, and are well respected and admired. You live in a very diverse neighborhood. All religions and ethnicities are represented. Some are rich, others are poor, and some in the middle.

One of your neighbors belongs to a religion that is very vocal and strict. He always complains that everyone else is wrong, that we all and heathens and are going to hell. His religion believes that it’s okay to kill those who don't agree with your religion, but you live in a country where believe you are safe. You support his business by buying his goods, thinking it’s okay for people to disagree, as long as they don't infringe on others citizen’s liberties. But your neighbor, because of his religion, believes he is above the law.

Now, because your neighbor religion defines you as a heathen, you neighbor plots acts of violence against you, and one day he sends his son over to your house to blow himself up and kill as many of your family as he can. Your house is damaged and your son is killed in the attack, never having a chance to defend himself. Your neighbor believes this was a holy religious act, and that his son is now in a fantasy paradise land, and that he is looked now upon very well by his Creator. According to the law of the land, however, this was a cowardly criminal act. Your neighbor knows he will be wanted and goes into hiding, all the best police cannot find him.

Because you don't want him or his family in your neighborhood again, you destroy his house and kill many of his families’ members and many innocent bystanders in the process.

But your neighbor still cannot be found.

There are many other families in the neighborhood that are the same religion as the guy that killed your son and damaged your home. They don't agree with the way he practiced his religion, they are not as extreme as your former neighbor was, they are friendly and do not disturb others on your neighborhood. You don't care, you never liked them anyway and because they are the same religion, and had communicated with the neighbor in the past; you see them as the same. You want them out of the neighborhood. When they refuse to leave, you destroy their houses, killing many of them, and lots of innocent bystanders.

Your neighbor that killed your son is still in hiding. He is not really free, because he cannot go anywhere he wants, he is in a prison of his own making, but he has not been brought to justice.

In the meantime, you spy on all your neighbors making sure that none of them are plotting against you. You feel you are justified because a bad thing happened to you. You continue to try to control your neighbors that were the same religion that hurt you, even though they have left you alone and they are now fighting amongst themselves, killing each other and destroying properties because of the religious beliefs. Because you have been so unjust in your reprisal, they are plotting against you, hoping to destroy you, for their own safety. You use that information to become even more violent and intolerant, and continue your doctrine of evil and hate against people of this religion, even though they originally did not support the neighbor that committed crimes against you. Events continue to escalate, and more and more innocent bystanders are killed in the process. Most of your neighbors are against the way you handled this whole episode and demand you stop, but you continue, listening to no one, doing your own thing, against the advice of others with experience in handling these kinds of affairs. You continue even though you have failed to stop the violence. You continue, when the whole neighborhood, except for a few, want you to stop. You continue, even though the guy that killed your son was never found, and probably will never be. You continue, even though you infringe on the liberties of citizens, liberties that you once believed in, but you stop believing because a guy from a different religion, who didn't like you having those liberties, and wanted you to throw them in the trash, hurt you. You gave them up to be safer, but now even more people want to hurt you.

The guy who killed your son was successful in changing your ideology, but he never changed his.

The wealth you once had is gone, the respect is gone, and the admiration is gone. The Liberties you once enjoyed are gone. More people want to hurt you now than ever before, you spend all your time and money trying to defend yourself from these “enemies” and trying to remove them from the neighborhood, but when they leave one place they just move into some other place.

And many innocent bystanders are being killed, to avenge your son’s death, but your son is still dead. Your neighbor completed his goal of trying to change the way you live. You have become like him, but you kill more people.

Will this story have a happy ending? Will your neighbors stop your bloody reign? Will you face justice? The answer is _____.

I have a believable ending for this story, but you don’t get that yet. You first must think about what has happened, and let your emotions develop.

September 14, 2006

Dueling Banjos

I'll be hiking up in North Georgia this weekend. So I thought I'd give you all a taste of that country.

Dueling Banjos

Woo-Hoo, I can embed videos:


September 13, 2006

Going to Church

Ok, those of you that know me can stop laughing. I'm not talking about Church run by the capitalist religions we have in the U.S. Those people know nothing of spirituality, their church is a place they can gather people, tell them what they want to hear, and empty their pockets. One church here in Montgomery actually tracks how much you attend and how much you give. "Satan is laughing with delight" Satan being a metaphor for the opposite G-d, or those that destroy life and and make life miserable for those who want to be spiritual.

Ok, now that I got my rant off, I can get back to the original purpose of today's post.

I went to church yesterday. It was an eight mile run in pouring rain. It was very good. I was soooo high and felt spiritually cleansed. The planet was giving it's love. I started out just going for a walk in the drizzle, and it started raining harder and the wind started to blow, so I started running to keep from getting chilled. Once I start running and I can stay nice and cool, I can run for a long time. The rain energizes me. I can keep going and going and going..... The euphoria from a long run is incredibly stimulating and quite addicting. No poisonous chemicals, just all natural high, one that comes from within yourself. Yes, it fuels the libido also. Too bad all the females runners were inside on treadmills watching Oprah make love to a warm Krispy Kreme Doughnut. Uh-oh, I'm starting to rant again.... (another story for another time).

Running isn't a religion, but it can feel like one sometimes, and only runners can know what I mean. The late great running philosopher George Sheehan M.D., author of "Running & Being", once said that his wife tells people "My husband used to be a Methodist. Now he's a runner". Running is a place to get away from your worries and crisises. A place to commune with nature, with G-d and yourself, a place for psychological and spiritual renewal. A church is not defined by a building (and G-d is not defined by a book, blah, blah, blah). It is a place where people of shared beliefs gather to connect with themselves, those around them, and give thanks for the blessings the universe is sharing with them. The roads and trails are my church, sometimes the church is full, sometimes I'm the only one in attendance, it doesn't matter. I reflect, I dream, I meditate, and I give thanks.

To paraphrase George Sheehan, "(This) glimpse of heaven is available to anyone, anywhere, anytime."

September 12, 2006

Write or Get Wet?

Writing relaxes me! Sometimes issues of the day, work, politics, or humans just being humans , make me tense. Writing is the only way I know to eliminate the tension. If feels so much better to write about what the pent voices are yelling about in my head.

I tried to take a shortcut today and use a blog entry that I wrote back in spring. I didn't think I ever published it, but I did. So I deleted today's previous post. The one I was thinking about was another one that I still haven't decided to post. It's very personal for more than myself and involves people I know and situations that are embarrassing, but funny, when you look back on it. Maybe one day I'll get up the courage to tell you THAT story.

It is raining in Montgomery today. YEA! I love rainy days here. I need to get out and go for a long walk or run in the rain. I'll most likely spend the rest of the day out in the rain. No umbrella, never use them, I like the feel of the rain. This summer has been so dry here and this rain is the drizzly, all day rain that everyone has been hoping for all summer.

Got to run. Time to shower in the planet's love.

September 10, 2006

Shuffle

Isn't it great when your mind picks random memories from way back in your past, and plays them for you in a dream? A dream that lets you wake up so happy that nothing can bother you all day. Not only did I have great dreams last night, but my mind played a song for me, and I can't get it out of my head. It was a song that I hadn't heard in years (or maybe decades). It was not even a song that was ever a favorite of mine, but today the song is running thru my head, sparked from a dream.

I don't know what I did to uncover this buried treasure, but tonight I'm having some more of that chili yesterday. :>)

I went for a run this morning, and I couldn't think of anything, this song just kept playing in my head. Six miles went by in no time at all, and the run felt great, helped out by cooler temperatures (finally), a nice breeze, and an old song.

The song was Three Dog Night's "Out In The Country"

Whenever I need to leave it all behind
Or feel the need to get away
I find a quiet place, far from the human race
Out in the country.

Before the breathing air is gone
Before the sun is just a bright spot in the night time
Out where the rivers like to run
I stand alone
And take back something worth remembering.

September 9, 2006

Silent Respect

On Monday, many will be marking the anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001. I will not honor the terrorist religious fundamentalists that killed because their G-d told them to do it. I will be remembering the lives lost, the families they've destroyed, and the loss of innocence. The terrorists shamed themselves by "shooting" their "enemies" in the back. These were but mere criminals looking for attention, believing that they were righteous because of words from a book, and the rant of superstitious leaders.

The world stood with the U.S. on that day.

Our political leadership's response to this attack started out honorably, to bring those to justice who murdered so many innocent victims on that day. But instead of sorrow, many people turned to anger and vengeance. And instead of justice, many wanted revenge. The U.S. shamed themselves by turning to evil and hatred.

The world no longer stands with the U.S.

The U.S. has shamed itself and disrespected those lives lost. The leadership of the U.S. took the same irrational approach to fundamental differences as the terrorists did. They want to fill you with fear of more attacks, and so do the terrorists. They want you to give up your freedoms, and so do the terrorists. Thanks to the U.S. leadership, the terrorists keep many in the U.S. and the world afraid. This fear has caused blindness to logic and reason among many U.S. citizens.

Many think that the way to remember Sept 11, 2001, is to show the attacks over and over again. That is wrong, that only fuels anger, that keeps people scared, that lets the terrorists control our fear. That is not the way to honor the innocent lives lost that day.

Be silent and think about those who have lost their presence in our world because of those that don't understand what G-d is, and choose to live their lives based on irrational, repulsive words from books and ravings of anti-spiritual religious leaders. They are not only from Islam, those repulsive ideas come from Christian and Judeo leaders also. They all are responsible for the murders of innocents in the name of their mythical G-d.

The way to honor the lives lost, is to be silent and think about those people who will never bless us with their gifts, their discoveries, their company, their laughter, their intelligence and their spirituality.

I will be silent that day.

"So it is that we might almost say silence is the tribute we pay to holiness; we slip off words when we enter a sacred space, just as we slip off shoes. A "moment of silence'' is the highest honor we can pay someone; it is the point at which the mind stops and something else takes over (words run out when feelings rush in). A "vow of silence'' is for holy men the highest devotional act. We hold our breath, we hold our words; we suspend our chattering selves and let ourselves "fall silent,'' and fall into the highest place of all." - Pico Iyer: The Eloquent Sounds of Silence

September 8, 2006

Zimmerman

Highly Recommended: Modern Times - Bob Dylan

September 6, 2006

Naked Town in Winter

Update to the Naked Town story. The judge in the case has decided to let nature handle it, "winter is coming..."

Vt. town to let nature deal with nudity


It didn't stop these guys:

Delusion

September 4, 2006

Naked Town

Civil Disobedience, Vermont Style?

Makes sense to me, excuse me while I go protest something............



NOTE: Okay, this guy is a little younger than I. You wouldn't want me to post a picture of myself. I want you to laugh with me, not at me. :D

The Hunter

I was shocked and saddened by the news this morning of the passing of Steve Irwin, "The Crocodile Hunter". He taught the world to love and respect the animals of our planet, and to "hunt" them without destroying them or their environment. We have all sat amazed as we watched him tempt fate. He raised awareness and educated a whole generation to the beauty and wonder of the animal kingdom. He was killed doing what he loved, he will be missed.

September 3, 2006

Beta Trouble

I apologize to those of you who aren't able to comment. I switched to the "New" Blogger in beta. The commenting problem is a known issue:

"Users who have not switched to Blogger in beta will not be able to login to comment on blogs that have been switched. Commenting using the "anonymous" or "other" options will still work."

Had I known this, I wouldn't have switched yet. Once your converted, there is no turning back. I have been working with the software development and Information Technology field for two decades, I would think that any conversion to new software, or upgrade, would include an "uninstall" or some kind of backout strategy if the functionality does not meet your requirements, but the folks at Google left that part out. Once you've switched, you can't go back to the old blogger. Yes, they do warn you about this before you convert, and I should have investigated the knows issues first.

Other Known Issues

September 2, 2006

White Noise

The other day BBC put link to Olympic National Park in his daily blog. I went to the Park's website and looked at the beautiful pictures, the mountains, rocky shorelines, thick woods and people hiking. I just want to start over somewhere like that and make a living exploring places like Olympic National Park, The European Alps, the whole country of New Zealand, the list goes on and on. So I've been sitting and daydreaming about being able to do that while I'm stuck in a place where people don't even say "Hi" to each other, the temperatures are only tolerable in the winter, the nearest place to go hiking is hours away and devoid of wildlife, and people think your wierd becuase you don't want to work all day, everyday.

Why do I stay here? It's not my home, but I never really had a place to call home. Born in Germany and promptly left before I was six months, then spent my life as a military brat moving every couple of years or being sent halfway across the world to leave with one or the other of my divorced parents, and their destructive families. Then joined the military and was moving about every three or four years. Now I'm out of the military, but as soon as I've been in a place for more than 3 years, I get restless. I always loved New Mexico, and I had a chance to make it my permanent home about six years ago, but I left NM to chase a dream. The dream turned into a nightmare that caused me mental damage. Now I look at pictures of the places I love, and I'm not able to focus on work or writing. I just need to go and start living again, and that is scaring me. What will happen? Wonderful things will happen, but I need to take that first step instead of just running around in circles. That first step is scaring the hell out of me.

The other day azgoddess wrote in her blog "i woke up this morning with a feeling of peace". I envy her. I hope you have lots of peaceful days in your life. I have those days, but I also have days where everything, even the things I like, and friendly people, everything, irrates me. I can't even listen to my favorite music, everything just annoys me. Then I have those days where everything is right with the world, nothing bothers me and I feel peaceful. Those days are great. I wish I knew how to wake up like that everyday. Is it something I ate? Was it the wonderful dream? All my dreams are great, and I do have a lot. I'd like to know the reason why I sometimes wake up at war with the world and sometimes "i woke up this morning with a feeling of peace". I want the peace everyday.

Reading all these blogs is causing a lot of the voices in my head to become active again. I have been turned on to some new blogs from my commentors, and I'm greatful to them. I'm finding a whole new crowd of "kindred spirits". But I think some new voices have moved in to my head and its causing a lot of noise recently. When I say I'm having trouble collecting my thoughts, it is because I have so many voices to sort out. "write about this today", "No, write about this other thing", " that sounded stupid", and on and on and on. I try to sort it out and I can't focus on a single idea, and I can't write about a hundred different ideas at once. So, you just get me like this, just rambling hoping some of the noise in my head will clear and I can direct my energy more positively.

You all have a great Saturday, I wish you Peace. I got to run, my shoes are calling my name.

September 1, 2006

Difficulty

I'm having trouble collected my thoughts today and putting them to blog. So I just give up and give you humor.

Things That Are "Difficult" to Say When You're Drunk.

Things That Are "Difficult" to Say When You're Drunk:
Indubitably
Innovative
Preliminary
Proliferation
Cinnamon

Things That Are "Very Difficult" to Say When You're Drunk:
Specificity
"Cogito ergo sum."
British Constitution
Passive-aggressive disorder
loquacious
transubstantiate

Things That Are "Downright Impossible" to Say When You're Drunk:
Thanks, but I don't want to have sex.
Nope, no more booze for me!
Sorry, but you're not really my type.
Good evening, Officer. Isn't it lovely out tonight.
Oh, I just couldn't - no one wants to hear me sing!


A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, rocks about 2" in diameter. He then asked the students if the jar was full? They agreed that it was.So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed that this time it was.The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous -- yes.The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and proceeded to pour their entire contents into the jar ! -- effectively filling the empty space between the sand.

The students laughed."Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, " I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The rocks are the important things - your family, your partner, your health, your children--things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else. The small stuff.""If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued "there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for thethings that are important to you.Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out dancing.! There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the car. "Take care of the rocks first -- the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked.

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of beers."








Do you remember your first beer?