What Memories?

Someone on Facebook was talking about how she wanted to find the Vice Principal of our elementary school. I was thinking later that I don't remember any of my elementary teachers names except my 3rd grade teacher as she lived across the street from us and her family was friends with our family. But otherwise I don't remember any of my elementary. And I don't think I remember any junior high. And only a handful of high school teachers. I don't have a lot of memories that others seems to have and it bothers me. It just feels like chunks of my life are missing.

6 Changes

I found this website by Zen Habits author called 6Changes.com. It is about taking 6 habits a person wants to change and then following the 6 Changes method. And I like everything it has said so far. I just want for myself....to be able to do it instead of think about it. Just as Kathie's Challenges - doing instead of just thinking about it. I don't believe in New Year's Resolutions but I do believe in setting goals and working towards something better always. I feel like for a very long time though I haven't been working on my goals. And a lot of that is my fault. And some of it is because of my focus on Michael's business - and I am THRILLED I can work with him and do what I can for the business. I just need to be better at prioritizing my other time. I do a lot of things that are time wasters. And I know that and some of them are okay time wasters as they are to help me unwind. Mindless things to just help slow down the wheels in my brain going out of control. But others I know I could cut out and make better use of my time.

So it is my hope that in 2010 that I find ways to create positive changes for myself.

Birthday Re-cap and Reflection

I had a good birthday weekend. Michael started out my birthday at midnight on the dot. And had a scavenger hunt all set up for me. When he did that, while I was in the house - is BEYOND me. But he pulled it off without a hitch - okay one hitch. I can't see worth anything in the dark. And he sent me outside and I couldn't figure it out because of not being able to see in the dark. And there was even a little light from the street light but still couldn't figure it out. So he had to come rescue me.

Then for breakfast he made his famous omelets. It is something I can't make but he makes a killer omelet. He put lots of red bell peppers in mine...which are my favorite. I would eat them on almost everything if I could. I made homemade pizza with chicken spinach sausage and roasted red bell peppers on it for dinner. We are going to go out to dinner this week. I didn't want to fight the crowd we would have on a Sunday.

I made Robert Redford for dessert instead of a cake. Robert Redford is a layer of crust, then a cream cheese layer, then a homemade chocolate pudding layer and topped with cool whip. I will be posting that recipe and photos soon.

I feel though I am going through a lot of reflection of my life right now. And that is normal for this time of the year - my birthday causes me to do that. I don't feel at all depressed about turning 42 this year - which is a good thing. But I am doing a little reassessment of my life and things I haven't accomplished and want to. That kind of made me depressed. But I need to do. I checked out a book that I hope will help me in writing up my goals and trying to work through it realistically.

So that is where I am at....very good birthday! Thank you EVERYONE for the well wishes, cards and presents. I am a very lucky woman to have so many wonderful people in my life....I feel very blessed!

Also a very Happy Birthday to my baby sister tomorrow! Happy Birthday April! I love you!

Everything comes back

"It's always better to give too much, pay too much, and love too much, than not enough.

But then, Darby, since everything comes back to you anyway, can there ever be too much?

I love you too much anyway,
The Universe"

I enjoy the notes from the universe. I think they are just good solid affirmations. This one is several days old, but I am just catching up on some email tonight. And it made me think of the seafood adventure. Our waitress got chewed out by the table next to us. And chewed out for things that were unfair and just so uncaring or unobservant.

She was called away to the front. She asked someone to cover her. While she was gone, the table next to us started complaining about her. And when the person that was covering came over, they asked her for a manager. They complained about things that just didn't really sound reasonable - at least to me.

When our waitress came back, they really were rude in complaining. And they said something about a plate of food that had been on the table and she said, "well I thought you guys were eating off it still as their was food on it." The man said, "oh yeah that is an excuse you knew it was just sitting there." They never said to her please take this plate we are done with it. They just expected her to mind-read. And know they were done with it even though it had food on it.

On top of all their complaining - just being a waiter/waitress is a very hard job. And that place was packed and the people in and out was crazy. I think she was doing exceptional for keeping up with everyone's drinks and clearing plates and just being helpful. I guess I give a little slack in those type of situations where it is crazy busy. I mean we had a 3 hour wait. I think having to deal with people all night - that all had 3 hours waits - the tension gets a little high. You have to tread carefully. And I felt she did that well.

The waitress was full-figured and it was the last rude comment right after she left their table that did me in - the man at the table with a huge beer belly said, "No wonder she is fat she sits around on her lazy ass." The woman was running all over that place and obviously more in shape then the guy and he said that. It drove me nuts.

They left shortly after and our waitress came back to our table to clear dishes away and refill water. It was very obvious she had been crying. My Mom stopped her and told her how uncalled for that table was and that she was doing a good job. We all told her were very happy with our service. She really smiled and you could tell appreciated all our comments. I hoped we had made up for the table next to us and gave her more then they took.

The note from the universe made me think that those people gave to everyone around them - not just the waitress. And what you give out - you get back so maybe that is why they were like that. They get back so much rudeness they just turn around and give it out and it comes back tenfold. Maybe one day they will see that opening their eyes to the people around them, being compassionate and appreciative will give you a lot more back. Make you feel so much better. At least I can hope for a world that everyone does that.

Chasing Cars

A couple of friends were discussing that it is hard for them to say "I love you" because the meaning of the words almost seem like nothing these days. I agree. We use love for things we simply enjoy. Like I love how blue the sky looks today. When really I am enjoying how blue the sky looks but I don't love it. Love has taken on a meaning that doesn't convey what we feel for another person....the depth and importance of those feelings. I am one that tends to say I love you easily. I say it when I mean it. When I have the feelings that match those words for me. But I do wish we had something that could convey the message of loving another person better.

In the book the Secret Life of Bees they talk about the same subject and I wrote about it here...just a little.


Lyrics for the above song from Snow Patrol...Chasing Cars

We'll do it all
Everything
On our own

We don't need
Anything
Or anyone

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

I don't quite know
How to say
How I feel

Those three words
Are said too much
They're not enough

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's bursting into life

Let's waste time
Chasing cars
Around our heads

I need your grace
To remind me
To find my own

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's bursting into life

All that I am
All that I ever was
Is here in your perfect eyes, they're all I can see

I don't know where
Confused about how as well
Just know that these things will never change for us at all

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

I wish I wanted to....

In Elizabeth Gilbert's book Eat Pray Love, she was telling one of her friends that she was going to go India in search for divinity, the friend said "Oh there is a part of me that so wishes I wanted to do that....but I really no desire whatsoever."

I have a friend who inspires me in more ways then she probably realizes and her blog and most of the links on her blog are for homesteading and going back to doing things more naturally, having food stores, reusing/recycling and cutting back on spending. I LOVE LOVE LOVE reading her blog and the other blogs similar to hers. I love all the challenges and beautiful meanings of life they come across in their journey. They are all so inspiring, creative and extraordinary. But....that line that Elizabeth Gilbert's friend said to her when she was going to India is the line I think of when I read some of the homesteading blogs -- how I wish I really wanted to do it.

I picked up a book a the library Loving and Leaving the Good Life by Helen Nearing. The book synopsis from goodreads.com: "Helen and Scott Nearing wrote Living the Good Life and many other best-selling books about working hard, living simply and self-sufficiently while saving time for fun and pursuits of the intellect. This is a book written by Helen after Scott died (at 100 years old!) and is a story of love and living....Inspiring and moving, this is a "how-to" book about facing life with delight and with eyes open." I am really enjoying it. I think anyone who does homesteading really would enjoy this book and get a lot from it. I believe the Nearing's other books on homesteading/living off the land came before this one but this is the one I found at my library. I enjoy reading of different experiences and life journeys and the Nearing's is very different from my own but very touching and thoughtful.

So that book along with my friends blog and other similar blogs creates my little fantasy of homesteading but then reality hits me. I am not a homesteading type person. I can't imagine milking a goat to have our own milk and make cheese - it just isn't something I could do. I had a flower garden and herb garden when I lived in Topeka and enjoyed both. I loved feeling the earth in my hands as I planted the bulbs and seeds. And seeing the life of the plants and flowers spring through and grow. But it was really hard for me to keep up with it because of my allergies. After I go out to spray weeds in our yard, it takes me a day to get back to breathing normally. So it isn't something I can have here in Grand Junction as it isn't fair to want it and ask Michael to do the up keep work for it. I don't can because I don't have a garden which I guess shouldn't stop me if I just go to the farmers market. There are so many things homesteaders write about that I am amazed how well they just seem to work through it -- where I would be panicked or give up.

But of course some of the ideas I read, I am trying to implement. Such as I am trying my hand at making my own bread verse buying it as it would be cheaper/healtheir. It is always easier to have flour, yeast and salt to make bread then actually stock up on store bought bread. Food storing is something I hope to do more of when we get a bigger home so I can have a freezer. But for now doing the things I can do -- such as making my own bread. (Though my first loaf isn't going well this morning -- not raising -- but not giving up).

I also try to reuse things -- round oatmeal containers become containers for ribbon in my studio. Many things I recycle for art -- the foil seals on cans of peanuts -- I have used in art many times, the mesh bags that veggies come in, the crates berries and cherry tomato come make great patterns on paper. We get a big big can of peanuts at Sam's. And I trying to think of ways to use those cans. They are bigger then coffee cans. I am hoping to utilize a few for storage in my studio - always can use storage in there. But looking to see if there are other ways I can use them in our house. I know I could even decorate the outsides of them if I didn't want them to just look like a tin can. There are many little things I do but I am sure there are other things I could do that aren't living off the land but that could help in creating a "good life" for Michael and I.

I think we get so used to running through drive through instead of making lunch or picking up a new item when an old item isn't quite working right. We see a hole in a shirt and throw it out instead of repairing it and getting a little more life out of it. We upgrade and upscale instead of using things until they don't work anymore. It is easy to think of going to Wal-Mart or Target before going to a thrift store to see if you could find something to reuse instead of buying new. There are so many things everyday we could do to help in not making a lasting imprint on the world. There are so many things we could do to cut spending and have more room in our budget to get to our goals. There are so many things we could do to appreciate all that we have available to us. So the blogs inspire me to think outside the box. I dream of homesteading -- all the way but I know the reality of me. There are some modern conveniences I don't want to give up. But all that said the blogs do remind me I do have options that I can apply to my life. I am thankful for being able to get a glimpse into their journey and that they inspire me in mine.

Here is a link to my friend Kathie's blog-- be sure to check out her links also. Her and those she links to are amazing people doing extraordinary work on making a good life.

What would you do?

I watched Oprah one day last week where she featured Primetime's What Would You Do? series with John Quinones. They set up actors to perform scenarios and see how people reacted to them. Such as they had teenagers in a park - one girl being picked on by a bunch of girls. And then they saw what people did. Men didn't respond and women did. Women would just start out trying to talk to the bully girls and then started acting like the teenagers. Calling the teenagers losers with the attitude of teenager.

Of course all the scenarios bothered me but there were a few that brought tears to my eyes as it just hurt to see others being treated so poorly and no one doing anything. One of the scenarios reminded me of a situation I encountered a month or two after 9/11.

One situation that brought tears was an African American couple arguing in a park - they were the actors. And many men that came up to them said take this out of the park. They didn't say this isn't right -- how the man was talking to the woman and how he was grabbing her. But said take it out of the park. And they would say things like..."these people" shouldn't be using the park like this. But they didn't really help the woman of the couple. It was amazing to me because the things the man was saying to the woman of couple were very offensive. He was grabbing her by the arm swinging him back to her saying don't walk away from me and he even slapped at her bottom a few times. And yet no one was stopping. But one woman finally stopped and wouldn't leave. She didn't have a cell phone and kept asking passersby for a cell phone to call 911 but wouldn't leave the woman alone. The actors did this for 5 hours before a woman that stopped. It makes me sick to think that so many people passed them by and didn't help her. When Primetime's John Quinones interviewed people after the men said they thought it would just escalate it and they might get hurt. That thought just boggles my mind. Then go to the nearest phone and call 911 - stop someone and say call 911 and then go over to the couple so you can get involved now to stop what was happening to her. Benjamin Franklin said, "He who gives up freedom for safety deserves neither." To me no man is free if they can really stand by and watch something like that.

The woman of actors/couple said after doing that for 5 hours having that kind of offensive language and behavior used on her - although she was an actor - it did affect her. She was feeling defeated and then finally that woman stopped and she said she felt like finally someone saw me. When she was asked why she stopped she said how could I not stop.

Then the other scenario that really got to me was a woman with a headcovering came into a bakery and the guy behind the counter was an actor and the woman in the headcovering was also. She said she had a question about the apple pastry and the guy behind the counter started saying he didn't serve her kind that she wasn't an American she was a terrorist. He said extremely offensive anti-Muslim and anti-Arab slurs. And most people just literally looked the other way by turning their faces to not look at her. Some even stepped in front of her to order. There was one man that thanked/commended the guy behind the counter and agreed she was a terrorist and not an American. She said I was born and raised here. That didn't matter to him. She asked people in line to buy her an apple pastry and they wouldn't. There were a few people that stopped and stuck up for her. One man had a son in Iraq and said that this woman shouldn't be treated that way. He said that he stopped in the bakery every time he passed by it and now he wouldn't again. Then there were two young women that really got angry and one said she wanted to see the manager right away that if anyone needed to leave was the guy behind the counter. That it wasn't right to treat anyone the way he was and so on - she was great!

It made me remember I was coming out of a grocery store maybe a month or just bit longer after 9/11 and there was a woman with a little kid and holding a couple sacks on the way her car a little ways in front of me. She was wearing a headcovering and also a long dress. She was basically covered - except for her face. And a man and what I assumed was his son went up to her and spit on her and knocked her groceries from her hands. They were telling her to go back home that she wasn't wanted here in the USA anymore. I ran over to her asked her if she was okay. I helped pick up her groceries. She had tears streaming down face. And the man told me I shouldn't be helping a terrorist. I was like she isn't a terrorist...and went on to say that she looked like a mom shopping for groceries to go home and make dinner just like I was and he probably was too. He just rolled his eyes at me. He told all of "them" are terrorist and he walked away. I helped her get to her car and asked if she wanted me to call 911. She said no. I felt so sorry for her. She thanked me several times. I told her that they should be apologizing and although it wasn't the same I was apologized for their behavior. She said that it was not necessary that it has been happening quite a bit -- but she can't hide out in her house for the rest of her life. I told her I hoped she wouldn't because not everyone was as ignorant as those two men. She said I proved that to her.

"Thou shalt not be a victim. Thou shalt not be a perpetrator. Above all, thou shalt not be a bystander." From the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C.

When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.

When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I wasn't a Jew.

When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out. (one version of the famous words by Martin Niemöller)

I will not be a bystander and I will not remain silent.

Oprah and A New Earth

Oprah had people on yesterdays show that have had their lives change because of reading Eckhart Tolle's book "A New Earth." I haven't read it but want to read it. She also answered some questions people had about the book. These were just a few notes I took during Oprah.

Interfere with Religion
One question if the book interferes with your religion. But Oprah answered that question - saying it was like the honey in tea. It only enhances/sweetens the tea. The book only enhances your religion. It doesn't change the basics of your beliefs but might help make it easier to understand and apply to your life as a spiritual person.

Jesus' Death & Life
One of the people that Oprah talked to said it has helped her with her understanding of Jesus. I believe this person was a decon in church also. She said she always thought that the importance of Christ in Christianity was about his death - his dying for our sins. But she came to a Christ-consciousness that is about being fully human. That to be fully human is to be Christ-like. She said when you don't follow your spiritual calling/self, you are being a lesser human and not being Christ-conscious. Oprah said she got that a long time ago after reading Discover the Power within You by Eric Butterfield. She said Jesus was here to show us how to do it - how to be - how to live - to show us Christ-consciousness he had - and that his consciousness resides inside all of us. She said she had always thought it was about his death too but it wasn't - Jesus was about life....how to live life. And frankly I had never looked at it that way.

Winning
In the above story about Jesus the reason the woman came to the conclusion was because of a story that Eckhart told in one of the online classes Oprah and Eckhart are doing for the book. He told a story of a zen master watching an archery competition and one competitor was really concentrating on winning. But he was doing very badly and someone asked the zen master why the person was doing badly and he said "his need to win drains him of power." That focusing on winning is putting energy to the future instead of just putting his energy into the now and just doing the competition.

Death
Turning 40 has made me think of death more. I think about that I have 40 to 50 years left and it seems so short to me considering this 40 years has went fast. And I am scared of what happens when I die. And that I haven't done all I wanted to do with my time. I think about all I screwed up too. I am giving lots of energy and power to the future and past....instead of living the now - I realize that. But anyway one thing that was said today about death was that we are all made of energy. Eckhart says that energy can't be destroyed so there is no death. That energy goes on to other things/places so we really don't die.

Michael Moore's Sicko

This is seriously not intended as a pun but I feel ill after watching Sicko. I knew lots of things Moore talked about such as so many Americans without health insurance (waving hand to be included in that number). And I have heard of people dying because their insurance refused to pay for care for them. I hadn't heard about hospitals calling cabs for patients to be dropped off in front of missions because they weren't insured or ran out of insurance money for the hospital stay although clearly still in need of medical attention. But it all makes me physically ill really seeing it. We live in a seriously screwed up country. I don't believe universal health care is probably perfect but it can't be worse then our system....it just can't. It can't...it just can't.

Question of the week: Haunted things

I came across this website which challenges us to a "question of the week" so as to ponder and contemplate. This weeks question:

"Do you believe (and sure, I probably should have done this question back in October, whatever) that a house* can be haunted or that people can communicate with the dead?"

I must admit - the comments to that particular question immediately jump to the empirical: nope because it's not possible. And Columbus believed the world to be flat and look where that got him. Point being: we assume how things work one way until we prove it differently, better using a different means and explanation.

That's why we have science.

But to casually dismiss the existence of a haunted house or mysterious happenings is simply subscribing to the "earth is flat" belief without at least being open to the possibility. And that's as far as I can personally take it too -- because there's no proof to say the answers rest in science any more than we can prove that something is haunted by a spirit of some kind. We simply do not know.

We find ourselves gravitating towards a comfortable explanation that soothes and satisfies our sense of awareness in the universe around us. If our beliefs are centered so that no spirits live amongst us - then your comfortable with dismissing it and living your life in that way. I happen to believe there is -- and it's not based on science, a proof, or anything of that sort. It's a feeling. And whether or not I'm projecting my feeling in that particular "odd moment" when I feel the presence of someone else or that something isn't quite right -- then so be it. That's a fair and balanced look at it.

But ultimately - we don't know, so therefore - how can we derive such concrete answers?

World Aids Day

December 1st was World's Aids Day and this was the first year in many that I forgot. I didn't mention it or even think about. And I feel ashamed. Years ago it was something that I think was more up in the face with education and awareness. And it bothers me that has disappeared because I know HIV/AIDS hasn't disappeared. Stats -- 33.2 million people living with HIV/AIDS in 2007. It is hard to think about so many people suffering. But is something I don't want to ignore or pretend isn't an issue...it is still here. And I hope that one day there will be a cure.

Watching Oprah

I don't watch regular network TV very often as our satellite doesn't carry it (yet - that is changing) and when watching it through the rabbit ears on the tv it just doesn't come in clear. A blog I read announced that Oprah was doing intersex as the topic of her show today.

It was an okay show...I mean it probably helped bring it out in the open to educate the public. And maybe it is just because I haven't watched Oprah in years, but her questions came across as shocked and slightly judgemental to me at time yet on the other hand she was truely sincere and concerned that everyone treat everyone with acceptance. And I believe she feels that way but I didn't feel the accepting vibe when she was asking questions though. Such as one of the women she interviewed she asked if she wished she was a normal woman. And the tone and just using the word normal to me is implying she is a freak and not normal. Oprah could have asked her if she wished she wasn't intersex and got the same answer she was after and been more accepting. She also said things like under her breath almost...you know when little kids say a naughty word or even say sex or penis and then snicker...that is how it came across to me....like she was embarassed. I would have had more respect if she just would have been straight forward and asked what do your partners say when you tell them or are you gay without the shocked and embarassed attitude. She has been a host for how long - you would think she would have heard it all by now to know how to phrase questions in a more accepting and sensitive way. Again I think Oprah really is very accepting and sincere in that acceptance, I just think she could have been more sensitive in her questions.

Next Friday she is doing transgender as the topic. We will be on the road so I will miss it.

The book that inspired her to do the topic of intersex was Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides. The book I want to read after her talking about it a bit and also talking to the author. He won a Pultizer Prize for Middlesex. I think I am going to add it to my library list.

Voting...

It is election day tomorrow. Yesterday before heading to some friend's house Michael read the Analysis of the 2006 Ballot Proposals - the Blue Book of the Elections while I was getting a cake together to bring with us to our friends. I was confused on a few things that were coming up to vote on. But there were a few sections that annoyed me of course too.

Domestic Partnerships
The mail ads I have getting for domestic partnership make it really confusing for me. The ads come for a group I tend to usually agree with but the ads kept saying "It's not marriage." And that bothered me. I understand why they were putting it that way. So that maybe those that don't want those of the same sex to get married will at least give same-sex couples domestic partnership. But just like New Jersey - it isn't marriage. And it bothers me that people won't let those that want to get married - get married. So Michael read me the actual referendum and then the pros and cons they print. And of course the cons...and well the pros also did a little too because of just how they worded things. One of the cons that annoyed me......

"Domestic partnerships diminish the significance of marriage for society by reducing marriage to a list of benefits and responsibilities. The benefits given to married couples are intended to support child rearing by one man and one woman. The state has an interest in restricting recognition and legal protection to these married couples to provide stability for the individuals, their families and the broader community."

Yes insert rolling eyes. Like a same-sex couple can't support and raise a child? Grrr! All in all I am not happy that they aren't allowing marriage. And this just seems like it is better then nothing and maybe will make it easier in the future. And so I am of course voting yes on it.

Which brings me to the next one...

Marriage
Another thing up is an amendment that proposes adding a new section about marriage. Basically defining marriage as one man one woman. So you know I was all growly about that one.

And of course one their pro arguments...(rolling eyes and sighing)

"The public has an interest in preserving the commonly accepted definition of marriage. Marriage as an institution has historically consisted of one man and one woman and as such provides the optimal environment for creating, nurturing and protecting children and preserving families."

Grrrrr! Commonly accepted definition because people don't get love is love. And you can't help who you love. Of course again stating that a family is only one man and one woman with children. So of course voting no on that one.

Getting lots of repeat political calls? Check this link out, and this one and this one. We haven't actually had these but I have heard that some people aren't going to vote because they have been getting so many calls and seeing so many negative television ads.

A GREAT SOURCE for political links and thoughts is Twistedchick's Free Speech Zone.

So tomorrow we vote. I am hoping and praying things get better. I have literally been scared and so sad how this country has been heading since Bush has come into office. I have cried and laid at awake at night because of it. And so as I said...hoping and praying.

Edit: (added 7:34pm)
Talking to a good friend, she pointed out that actually the nation should not get involved in marriage at all. That everyone should have be domestic partners but that marriage should be something each church decides. That for our laws of country if you want to file joint taxes, you want the rights given to you as a spouse, you want to live in together in union as a couple then those that do should file for domestic partnership. And if you want a religious marriage ceremony then you go to your church of choice for a marriage ceremony. And that makes sense to me. That is a TRUE separation of church and state to me. Then the state is not involved in the religious aspect of marriage. And the church is not meddling in who wants to live together in a domestic partnership.

The Marriage Amendment

Recently one of the forums I subscribe to brought up the Marriage Amendment. It's the proposed Amendment to the Constitution that defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman. One of the tangents in the discussion raised that it is the Bible that makes a distinction for us ... us being society, the United States and the foundation of our Constitution.

A forum participant then made the following comment: "common sense can also lead people to take a stand for the definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman."

I took exception to that and replied:

It's common sense that also defied the overwhelming premise that the earth was round a few hundred years ago. But wisdom taught the world otherwise. Common sense even proclaimed that slavery was a right - yet wisdom eventually taught our country differently. The foundation of what's held as "common sense" has been so mis-aptly applied throughout the ages by the upper hierarchy of man so that the subjects and under privileged remained in control according to what social order *they* proclaim is worthy for their civilization. Wisdom allows those who are interested, to question, to explore and otherwise question the role of those who bestow "common sense" on the populace.

But if the premise reads that "common sense" can lead people to define marriage between the union of one man and one woman -- then wisdom can tell you that love knows no color, no belief, no orientation. Anywhere any doctrine, any canon , any scribe, or any law that is applied to explicitly *exclude* one segment of the populace based solely on their sexual preference is pure and unadulterated prejudice.

Pure and unadulterated prejudice does appear to be in defiance of what "God's love" is supposed to be about, no?

But thankfully we do currently live in a country of *choice* - and while one might want to subscribe to a party of "common sense," I choose the path of wisdom. It's interesting to point out that while some contribute gays and lesbians as a catalyst of social decay -- might actually want to take a long hard look at the countries that support gay rights. They are not in chaos or out having sex with sheep -- contrary to what "common sense" might believe.

In fact, one might be surprised that when the government minds their own business and stays out of the affairs between consenting adults -- the neighbors tend to get along better with one another. But alas, "common sense" is probably trying to reinvent the United States to become that of the fabled Eden.. ...which is neither viable or possible today...

Sorry "common sense," wisdom clearly wins here.

I'm a heterosexual male - and I approve of this message...

Email Scams....

Most of us have seen the infamous subject line in our email: "URGENT - Update your PayPal Account." Well, as it turns out - the hyperlink can take you to a seemingly innocuous, legitimate website. Except it doesn't. Instead - it takes you to a phony website spoofed to look like PayPal's login screen. It looks like paypal - all the logos and their info on it. But if you look at the url it doesn't say paypal.com. And by putting in your username/password information - some thief can take your information and let the endless spending games begin.

The latest trick is to spoof Amazon.com.

So...
-Never click on the hyperlink in the email..
-ALWAYS type out the correct URL for PayPal and Amazon to sign into your account..
-Report the erroneous email to PayPal and Amazon's security departments..

At best, they will contact the host company for the erroneous website and hopefully shut it down.

Be careful out there!