Anyone Home?

Evangelist Rick Warren has invited Senator Barak Obama to to speak at his AIDS conference and some ultra conservative evangelists are complaining because they don't agree with the Senator's abortion views. Hello this conference is on AIDS. You know the epidemic that is decimating whole countries around the world. One of the most deadly plagues we have ever had in history. You know the disease there is no cure for yet.

There comes a time when you have to start using some common sense. Senator Obama has done the research on AIDS especially how it has hit in Africa. If you are going to do a conference and get information out to the rest of the world you go to the experts. If you disagree with his views on abortion that is your right but this not the time or place to go into that issue. Right now the issue at hand is AIDS. Refusing to let someone speak on a topic he is expert at because you disagree with something entirely different is stupid.

I consider myself a very religious person but I get more then a little weary of the fanaticism of some of the ultra conservative evangelists. I hate to break the news to you guys but God loves us liberals also. We are not Godless. We are not heathens. The same God you profess to love loves us too. You don't have the inside track to God he is listening to all men whether they believe in him or not.

AIDS is something that has touched my life. The last convention I ran had the late Ray Sharkey as a guest. He was so sweet to me and was such a wonderful guest. He died as a result of AIDS. I was one of the people who worked on the square dedicated to him on the AIDS memorial quilt. A very close friend died of AIDS. He would babysit my cats for me if I had to be gone for a weekend doing convention work. It hurts to lose someone you care about to such a horrible disease.

Senator Barak Obama belongs at that conference on AIDS. If someone wants to challenge him on his views on abortion do so at another venue. It is pure hypocrisy to attack his inclusion using "religion" as a cover for bigotry. If you are really a follower of Christ you love all men and want what is best for them. If you really are a follower of Christ you want all the information available on how to fight this plague called AIDS. If you are really a follower of Christ you will stop attacking others whose political beliefs are not your own as being Godless. Senator Obama has professed strong religious beliefs as have many of us who consider ourselves liberal. He is our God too deal with it.

What's New In Geekdom

Okay I'm a geek and proud of it. I took the "Geek Test" and scored "Super Geek." So what are we discussing now days?

It looks like a whole bunch of us are hooked on Heroes that airs on NBC on Mondays and repeats on Sci-Fi on Fridays. It has everything we need heroes and villains, time travel, super powers, conspiracy theories, etc. We are having a ball over in a newsgroup dedicated to science fiction shows. "Save the cheerleader, save the world." Okay he saved the cheerleader now how is that going to stop the bomb going off? And how does Sylar get his powers? And of course isn't the Japanese Hiro just the most adorable geek you have seen in a long time? ;-)

After a long wait we finally have Doctor Who back. Okay the consensus of opinion is that Christopher Eccelstone was okay for the one series he did but David Tennant is a whole lot better as the current doctor. The stories have ranged from great to so-so but at least the show is on the air again. The new female companion is a cut above the rest because at least she does something other then scream which was the prerequisite for other companions. Rose rocks and has saved the day and the Doctor more then once.

On the movie front the fans are up in arms about New Line nixing Peter Jackson as the director of the Hobbit and the next Lord of the Rings movie. Are they nuts! Don't they realize that he put them on the map and made them successful? For heaven sakes settle the lawsuit, audit the books, and let him make more billions for you. The movies they are contemplating won't be them same without the master's touch. Besides do they really think we would bother to see the movies if Peter isn't given the chance to direct them? Who do they think made them the smash hit they were? The fans of course, without us being happy no movie has a chance.

On the book front it looks like Anne McCaffrey has found a way around the severe arthritis by having son Todd help her with the Pern books. Like mother, like son. Terry Pratchett continues to be one of the funniest writers in the field. Of course the biggest speculation is who will be killed off in the next Harry Potter book.

That is an update of geekdom from one of the few geeks not in line waiting to get hold of the Wii system. That explains why I'm only a super geek and not an ultimate geek. I don't care for video games. ;-)

The picture is called "Are You My Mummy" and will be recognized by all geeks who are Doctor Who and Prisoner fans.

 

Heroes

I have been watching the new show on NBC called "Heroes." It is about a group of people who have discovered that they have special powers. It is definitely a geek show and one of the characters that the geeks really love is Hiro Nakamura played by Masai Oka who in real life is a geek like us. Hiro's power is the ability to teleport through time and space. Last night's episode he went back in time to try and save the life of a waitress who was killed by the villain in the show. He discovered that even though he had these super powers he still could not change history and save the woman he had fallen in love with.

I think last night's show will really resonate with anyone who has ever been a care giver. I moved in with my mother a couple of years ago to help take care of her. She has a very bad heart and one of the most difficult things is to watch when she is suffering from a heart incident and know there is nothing I can do. Her heart is failing and nothing will change that fact.

Hiro said in last night's episode that he had failed because he didn't save Charlie's life. He loved her but he couldn't save her. I think in real life care givers face the same feelings. We love the person we care for but we ultimately can not save their lives. Does that mean we fail? The answer to that is no we don't fail. We may not be able to save their lives but what we do provide is the love and care that makes their lives easier and happier.

Ultimately what life comes down to is what can you realistically accomplish? Can I make my Mom's heart better? No I can't. Nothing can do that. Can I care for her and make life easier and happier for her? Yes I can do that. I can do the shopping for her. I can help her around the house. I can be there to listen to her when she needs to talk. I can hug her and tell her I love her.

You do the best you can and even though you can not stop the hands of death you can make the lives of those you care for better. You are not a failure. You are a hero.

The picture is called "Protector."

The Blame Game

"God is in the abundant harvest: he is also in the famine that occurs when the harvest fails." Mansur al-Hallaj

There was a person in a newsgroup I use to be a member of who claimed he was an atheist and then proceeded to blame God for everything wrong in the world. He blamed God for not stepping in and stopping anything that went wrong. He blamed God because he had been born into a poor household and had to work his way through the world. Like the rest of us haven't had to struggle?

I don't think people really understand this God thing. They use God and the devil as crutches to avoid having to take responsibility for their own lives. "God told me to" or "the devil made me do it." No and no again!

God and the devil both exist and the word of both is out there for man to hear and act on. The important words are "act on." We were born with free will and that puts the burden of our behavior right smack dab where it belongs on us. We are responsible for our own actions. God is not responsible for what we do. The devil is not responsible for what we do. We are responsible.

We are free to study the words of both God in the writings of various religions or the words of the devil in the writings of people purporting to write about religion. We need to be the ones to wade through the writings and decide if this is really the word of God or the devil. Sometimes it isn't easy.

For me the bottom line is this, is what I am reading encouraging me towards good or hatred? If what I am reading exhorts me to condemn my fellow man for any reason then I'm not reading the words inspired by God. I saw a bumper sticker the other day that said it best: "Hate is not a family value."

The hardest thing in life is to follow Christ's example and turn the other cheek. "Forgive them Father for they know not what they do." Christ taught us to forgive and pray for our enemies. It does not mean that we allow evil to continue to exist. He did drive the money lenders from the temple after all. It means we don't hate our enemies but we need to try and stop them and return the world to what is right and good without succumbing to the evil that drive men to commit atrocities.

We are responsible for our own lives and behavior. God did not cause us to be born into poverty. He did not cause the famines. He did not cause the Twin Towers to fall. The fact that there is evil in the world is not the fault of God rather it is the fault of man who has turned his back on God.

God will be there for us in all times good or bad. He is our comfort and our joy. The only thing we need to do is let him into our hearts.

Celebrate Life

We are going up to see Mom's sister today. Her family is throwing her a big party to celebrate her 90th birthday which is this coming Wednesday. My Aunt's nickname is Bird and she is an astonishing woman. She won an award a few years ago honoring her for the many, many hours she puts in volunteering for various causes. At 90 she is still the cornerstone of her churches volunteers.

I really like visiting her house because there is so much love there that is wraps you in a warm cocoon of happiness. She always has children, grandchildren and great grandchildren there. Her little house is the Grand Central Station for the family.

Aunt Bird is mother's only remaining sibling and they talk at least twice a week for a couple of hours. These conversations always leave mother in a happy frame of mind.

So happy birthday Aunt Bird. If I had to choose someone to be my Aunt you would be at the top of the list. The picture is called "The Garden" and I created it especially for her to honor her on her 90th birthday. I have it printed and in a blue stained glass frame to give her as a gift.

Finding Peace

"Those who are free of resentful thoughts surely find peace." Buddha

I think one of the things a person really needs is peace in their lives. I really resonate to today's quote from my Oriental Wisdom Calendar. Resentment can churn up so many negative emotions inside of a person and make life miserable. It is one of the things that I try hard to eliminate from my life.

One of the emotions that goes hand in hand with resentment is envy. I have known people who resent the success or abilities of a person and that resentment is invariably accompanied by envy. The two emotions turn the person into a bitter person who then attacks the object of their envy.

I am always happy when I see a person succeed at something. I believe each of us has a talent and that with the right support and encouragement anyone can succeed. I love the Special Olympics because it shows the world that handicaps are not barriers to success. Anyone can be a winner if they try.

I have come to realize that the times I have been personally attacked it has been by people who envy the fact that I am loved and respected by so many people. I have God given talents that I use and share with other people. I am open and honest. Their are people who resent anyone else succeeding because they are so insecure that they think it reflects badly on them if they aren't the center of attention.

It comes down to I and you centric beings. A small child is I centric. Their world revolves around them. As a child matures they start to realize that their are other beings who have needs and wants in addition to their own. A mature person becomes you centric. They start thinking of others in addition to themselves. Some people however never get beyond the I centric stage and even as adults feel they have to be the center of attention. Only they have ideas, abilities, etc. that are important. You is only there to take attention away from them.

One of the reason I avoid political blogs is the ego of so many of the writers. The blogger acts like they are the only person in the world with the right opinion. They rarely write about a situation without injecting their almighty opinion as to what really needs to be done. If only the world would listen to them then everything would be all right. They don't promote debate just monologues.

So today's challenge for me is to try and keep resentment out of my life. Okay I do resent that stupid alarm clock waking me up since it was such an interesting dream.

Giving Thanks

It is a beautiful day outside, crisp and cool. Most of the leaves have turned and fallen off the trees. The Business Office is closed so I have the day off. It is Thanksgiving and time to stop and reflect on the blessings of the year.

I am thankful my mother is with us for another year. Her health is frail but her spirit is strong. With the addition of little Pixie to the family mother is even more determined to live as long as she can.

I am thankful for the little kitten who has brightened our lives for the last couple of months. She is a bundle of energy and love. She enriches our lives by her existence and spreads the love to all.

I am thankful that my niece is married to a good man who is worthy of her love. She now has the type of father for her three children that they deserve. I am thankful I was able to make her the wedding dress of her dreams.

I am thankful that God continues to give me the talent to do art and writing. He has blessed me with an active imagination and given me the talents to express those visions inside my mind in both words and pictures.

I am thankful that I have discovered three new places on the web where I can talk to people about things that interest me without having to worry about jerks putting me down. I am happily chatting about science fiction shows, especially the new Heroes. I am also on a group that discusses mysteries and one that discusses graphic art. All the groups have people who encourage dialog and new ideas and most importantly do not put a person down if they have an idea that is different from theirs. Discussions are held in a civilized manner.

The picture is called "Abundance" and I hope that the holiday seasons are filled with an abundance of laughter, love, and good things for all of you.

Denying the Truth

Actors Mel Gibson and Michael Richards have been all over the news these last few months with their rants. Both of them have apologized but both of them preface their apologies with "I'm not a racist/bigot." Why make racist or bigoted statements then?

It is time that people really stopped and took a good look at themselves. Yes Mel you are a bigot. Your father denies the holocaust and you grew up listening to anti-Jewish tirades. You may not want to be a bigot but you did absorb what your father said whether you want to admit it or not. I don't know Michael Richards background but yes he is a racist. That anti-black tirade proves it. You wouldn't have lost it and started spewing out those words if in your heart you didn't feel that way.

The first step towards healing and overcoming prejudice is to admit it is there. Just as an alcoholic or drug user can not be helped until they admit their addiction a person with bigoted beliefs can not learn differently until they admit that they are there. You can not say "I'm not a bigot but" and then go on to make disparaging remarks that generalize any group of people.

I have heard bigoted remarks directed towards me in my life and they hurt. I have heard tirades about all Irish being drunkards. I babysat for a couple that would leave out anti-Catholic pamphlets for me.

A person needs to be honest with themselves. Ask yourself what do I believe about African Americans, Catholics, Jews, Irish, Italians, Hispanics, Native Americans, Orientals, etc. Do you find yourself generalizing along stereotypes? Do you find yourself saying "they are just like that. All (fill in the blank) are..." If the answer is yes then you are prejudiced, bigoted, racist. What are you going to do about it?

Any person can learn if they are willing to try. Pick up your yellow pages or do a Google search. Are you prejudiced about Native Americans? Find a pow-wow or other ceremony where you can go and see and learn about their culture. Are you prejudiced against African-Americans? Find a Black History Museum or other events where you can meet and get to know someone. Go to a Hispanic Cinco de Mayo celebration. Go to a Chinese New Years celebration. Go to the Holocaust Museum. Go somewhere where you can actually meet the people you havenegative thoughts about and learn what they are really like.

The sooner mankind realizes that there are a multitude of ethnic diversities but only one race, the human race, the better off we will be.

Beauty is Skin Deep

The media has gone nuts in its coverage of Tom Cruise's marriage over in Rome. Of course it has missed the really important things in its juggling for pictures, etc. of this circus. Rome is a good place for this fiasco. After all it does have its history of conspicuous consumption and feed the Christians and anyone we don't like to the lions. The figure bandied about for this circus is 2.5 million dollars.

What has this 2.5 million dollars gotten us? A marriage that isn't legally binding because Tom Cruise is above the law and didn't need to get the paperwork that would have made this marriage valid. Then again this continues to show a pattern in this man's behavior. Remember his marriage to Nicole Kidman whom he left high and dry and pregnant with his child and the words "Nicole knows what she did?" Not one word of sympathy when she miscarried and leave the press speculating and blaming her for the breakup. Now he is "married" to a naive girl whom he has so little respect for that he gets her pregnant, tears her away from her religion and family, won't let her get her child baptized, and won't even marry her in a legally binding ceremony.

How many children go to bed every night who could be fed for 2.5 million dollars? How many elderly people are unable to afford their medicine and are going without who would be able to take their medicine and prolong their lives for 2.5 million dollars? How many AIDS victims could be helped for 2.5 million dollars? How many orphans could be helped or adopted for 2.5 million dollars?

Tom Cruise is nothing but a pretty face with a modicum of acting talent. He is a high school drop out who is caught up in the cult of Scientology. Scientology was founded by a second rate science fiction writer named L. Ron Hubbard as the result of a drunken bet with some other science fiction writers. It is made up. It is not a religion. It isn't even good science fiction but pulp fiction and grade B pulp fiction at that. It appeals to people with little or no education. It rages against psychiatrists and medicine because they can debunk the whole thing.

2.5 million dollars makes me mad. I am struggling to try and get help for elderly people who can not pay their hospital bills and have no money for their medicines. I have had friends die from AIDS. I don't make much money and neither does my mother but both of us contribute what little we do have to charity. I contribute to the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (http://www.oblatesusa.org/) who work in this country and around the globe to help poor. My Mom contributes to the Little Sister of the Poor (http://www.littlesistersofthepoor.org/) and the soup kitchen they have in the town her sister lives in.

My mother is down to 95 pounds and is so skinny she looks anorexic however she is more beautiful then Tom Cruise will ever be because she cares about others. That inner beauty shines on the outside. The Bible asks what does it profit a man to gain the world but lose his soul? 2.5 million dollars is the inflated price of 30 pieces of silver.

Coffee on a Sunday

"The only true duty is to be unattached and to work as free beings, to give up all work unto God." Vivekananda

I am just taking it easy this morning enjoying my morning coffee. In about an hour I'll take Mom to church and this afternoon I'll continue working on my calendar for next year. In between I'll get some laundry done and lots of cuddling of the kitten. Pixie still doesn't feel good from her surgeries and Mom is so worried about her. She has spent all morning holding her.

Pixie has had the lion's share of attention since we got her back from the Vet. It is going to take some time before she heals completely and is back to her little rascal self. It is especially hard on Mom because she can't really do anything to speed the healing process and she wants Pixie back in her little scamp form. I am trying to get the things done around the house that needs to be done so Mom can just hold the kitten. It also ensures that Mom is resting like she should and not over doing things and putting a strain on her heart.

Both Sides Now

I have always liked the song Both Sides Now. I'm reminded of it today by reading this morning's news that has news both good and bad. The news that really disturbed me was the model dying as a result of anorexia. It is hard enough for young people today, especially girls, to feel good about themselves and their bodies. Fashion is always pushing for thinner and thinner and the people you see in the press are so extremely skinny. The press wants to photograph the Nicole Richies and other females that are all skin and bones. If an actress gains any weight at all they are all over her with pictures showing her in the most unflattering light. Fashion seems to be aimed for women with no bodies, no curves. Diet books abound many of them not healthy eating. Cut out carbs. Cut our protein. Cut out all sugar. Very few books tell you how to eat and still get all the nutrition your body needs to keep you healthy. Yes obesity causes a multitude of problems but so does being severely under weight.

Fashion designers and the press need to take a good look at the images they are pushing. Young girls have a tough time with their self image now. They need to see that it is important to maintain a healthy weight. I had gained a lot of weight after my divorce because I used food as a comfort but once I got out of the depression I was in I took a good look at myself and decided to do something about the weight gain. The result was a change in my eating style. I love to cook and used my skills to come up with a way of eating some of my favorite foods but I made them healthier. I wrote my own cookbook with recipes I had developed that were healthy eating but still high in taste. The recipes can be found here http://members.aol.com/michelesrecipes/recipes.htm.

The thing that excited me this morning was the discovery of "dark energy" by the Hubble telescope. I am a huge astronomy buff and this validation of one of Einstein's Theories was really fascinating. I love space in all its mysterious ways. I love a universe that is continually exciting to watch and discover. After billions of years we are still trying to figure out how God did it. That is what he gave us minds for to continue to explore to infinite variety of his creation.

 

Compassion

"Compassion automatically invites you to relate with people because you no longer regard people as a drain on your energy." Chogyam Trunpa

One of the things I learned from my parents was compassion towards others. Right now my mother is anxiously awaiting the time to pick up Pixie. She has been so worried about the kitten being at the Vet's office for two days with dogs barking and no one to hold and cuddle her and shower her with affection. I know mom will spend the whole time between picking her up and having to get ready for work caring for the kitten.

I have been told all my life that I have a big heart. I know I have strong empathy for people and one of the things that really makes me angry is cruelty towards others whether they be human or animals. I hate seeing our beautiful planet polluted and destroyed.

I have always liked being in a job where I can help others. If I can't be in that kind of job I spend my off hours helping out with charities. We are on this planet to care for others. The world does not consist of just ourselves. A child is born egocentric but as s/he matures that child should start developing a sense of others. Other people have wants and needs also that need to be taken care of. We can't always get our own way. Sometimes we need to compromise and each gets at least a partial of what they want.

Self centered adults irk me. I always want to shake them and tell them to grow up. I do things in life for myself but I make sure that I also do for others. Sometimes it is a bit tough and there are things I miss. I put most of my things in storage when I moved in with my mom at her request. I do miss having my own place and being able to cook what I want and keep the hours I'm normally use to keeping. I have lost some independence with the move. I have also gained something that is more precious then what I have lost. I have gained the ability to care for mom in her declining years. I am here to help her with so many things. She hates to shop so I do it for her. I have the computer knowledge to look up information for her. I can figure things out that she can't. Most of all I am there for her when she isn't feeling well. I can care for her. I can give her many hugs and kisses. She can see and feel my love for her every day. That is what life is really all about. Love and compassion.

Saved By The Bell

I keep listening for the jingle bell that indicates Pixie is up and around. Usually at this time she is on  my lap untying bows, pulling on necklaces, stepping on the keyboard, etc. Of course this morning she is still at the Vet's office recuperating from yesterday's surgery. She was so scared and shaking when we left her there yesterday morning and I kept expecting Mom to snatch her up and say "no I'll take my baby home with me." The Assistant could tell Mom was really upset and worried about the kitten and she had the Vet call Mom after everything was over to assure her that Pixie came through just fine. We may be able to pick her up today. Usually they keep them two days but if she continues to do well Mom can get her today.

It is amazing how six little pounds can capture so many hearts. What makes Pixie so special is her affection. Mom is her favorite and she will crawl onto her lap every chance she gets. She is especially sensitive to those times when Mom's heart is acting up and she will be resting in Dad's chair. Pixie always curls up on her lap and often times will reach up and pat her on the face as if to say "there, there everything will be just fine, you rest and I'll take care of you."

Like any other child Pixie has her toys scattered all over the house. She is a little live wire and will race and jump and twist and spin and bounce high into the air. Mom and I keep trying to get her to give us some of her energy. I miss the little scamp and sure hope she can come home today. Even Merlin misses her and is drooping around because his favorite "entertainment" isn't on.

Ah yes love it comes in many shapes and sizes and species.

Responsibility

We are taking Pixie in today to get her spade. As a pet owner I take the responsibility to make sure my pets are well cared for. There are so many cats and dogs running around that are in danger of being killed because their owners shirk their responsibility towards them. Owners will let their pets run free or even worse just dump them if they no longer want them. There are too many cats and dogs and the animal shelters are full. They can not find homes for the animals they have and many beautiful animals are killed because the shelters just can't afford to keep them.

Pets rely on their humans for their basic needs. We owe it to them to feed them, get them their shots, get them spade or neutered, and keep them safe. A cat does not need to roam or procreate. A cat makes a wonderful pet when kept indoors. I have had cats most of my life and I have always made sure that when they are old enough they are either spayed or neutered. All of my cats have led happy lives. They have been loved and spoiled rotten.

I was playing around on the computer last night and realized I hadn't done a space picture in a while. I am calling this one "Solar Flare."

 

Power of Words

There are times in your life where certain words are said and they stick with you for the rest of your life. I love art and I love doing art. There are four times in my life where words have been said that have really touched and encouraged me in my pursuit of being an artist.

The first came when I was in the second grade. My teacher had put on my report card, "Take a look at her art!" It was the first time in my life that I had an idea that I could actually do this thing called art.

When I was in college I thought of doing a double art and theater major but being a ham I realized I was going to have to do one or the other and theater won out. I did take art for a semester and my teacher told me, "Michele, I've been teaching art for 35 years. You have the best sense of space of anyone I have ever taught. You understand that what isn't there is as important as what is."

When I first got into computer generated graphic art my friend Colleen urged me to show my work to Dann Lopez. Dann is a cartoonist and game designer and at that time was in charge of the art colonies at all the science fiction conventions in the San Francisco Bay Area. I was so afraid to show anybody my art. My confidence in myself was at an all time low but I showed him some of my work any way and I was sure he wouldn't like it. Dann told me, "You are one of us and I want you in my next art colony." In addition to being a good friend Dann has become my art mentor. Dann's web site is at http://www.dork-knight.com/.

In 2000 Dann was running a convention of his own and his guest was one of my favorite artists, Frank Lurz. Frank specializes in Science Fiction, Fantasy and Astronomical art; the same areas that I was working in. Dann told me I had to show Frank my art. I was scared to death because I knew Frank would give an honest opinion. Frank was very tired and it was obvious he was only agreeing to look at my portfolio because Dann asked him to. I watched his face as he flipped through the pictures and watched as the fatigue seemed to drop away. Finally he looked at me and said, "At first glance your art looks deceptively simple but as you look you see the layers and layers of depth. Your artwork is amazing." You can find Frank's art at http://www.franklurz.com/.

In my life at four separate times their has been someone who was there encouraging me to continue to do something I love. So for my second grade teacher, my college professor, Dann and Frank I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your encouragement and support. Thank you for allowing me to call myself an artist.

The picture is called "Space Station." At my first convention I entered this into the Art Show. When I came in on Sunday morning Dann told me I had to go into the Art Show but wouldn't tell me why. When I got there I was handed a certificate for this picture for "Best Computer Generated Art." I don't know who was more thrilled me or Dann but I know both of us had tears in our eyes.

 

Smiles

A smile is a frown turned upside down. Remember hearing that as a child? You don't see too many smiles these days. The world is a scary place to be with terrorists, wars that seem to have no end, companies going out of business and taking people's livelihood and future security with them. It is not a happy place to be right now.

There are still things that can and should bring a smile to a person's face. Last night I was giving Pixie a little piece of turkey when Mom came in and asked "Are you spoiling my kitten?" I had to smile because we all know it is her kitten but she always says that Pixie is mine and who do you think got the kitten hooked on turkey? ;-)

Nature brings a smile to my face also. I took a lot of pictures with my new digital camera on my walks in the evening when the weather was so beautiful. The fall colors are so extraordinary out here in the Midwest. All that beauty can't help but make you feel good.

Helping others makes me feel good. Mom hates to shop and I am taking off in a couple of minutes to go to the store for her. I was born to shop so I don't mind at all. She also likes it when I go to church with her since she hates going by herself so I will be home in time to do that.

Children can bring a smile to your face also. The youngest great grandchild was talking to Mom about shopping and Mom told him she really didn't like to shop. "Not even for toys, Grandmother?" he asked in surprise. It still makes me giggle to think of that.

So find something to smile about today. Watch your football team play unless you are a Raiders fan and then today would be a good day to rake those leaves.

Sounds of Silence

"The only tyrant I accept in this world is the still voice within." Mahatma Gandhi

There is a voice within all of us called a conscience and if we allow it to do its job then we stay on the right path.  Our conscience can be our best friend or our most strident critic. Sometimes we wish it would be quiet but it is when it is at its loudest that we need to stop and listen to what it is saying. It is a harsh taskmaster but it is what we need to keep us human.

In life we occasionally meet people who seem to have no conscience and whose actions shock us with their brutality. One of the aspects of being human is that we have free will. We can choose our paths in life and if we choose we can still the voice of our conscience. We can choose the path of evil rather then good.

When we listen with our heart, listen to the voice of God, listen to our conscience we are at peace with ourselves. When we choose to turn away from the light we can still the conscience but it is still there and its voice can be heard again if the heart is turned. God never gives up on us.

The sounds of silence and a contented conscience is one of the most beautiful sounds there is.

A New Day

"If we are facing in the right direction, all we have to do is keep on walking." Buddhist proverb

Pixie has found a piece of cardboard to play with so at least she isn't helping me type. I got a good night's sleep and am feeling quite cheerful this morning.

My email this morning brought one from another artist from Match.com who doesn't live too far away. It looks like we have quite a bit on common so we shall see what this may bring.

I've been reminded lately of the saying "it is hard to fly with eagles when you work with turkeys." It doesn't always mean your work place because you work with turkeys in real life to. You encounter them on the net in newsgroups, you encounter them on the street, in places where people congregate, in churches and schools. Their are turkeys in all walks of life.

Well I have decided that in my life I'm done with turkeys. After all Thanksgiving is coming up and we all know what happens to turkeys then. As a result I'll not be going back to a newsgroup that I should have given up on a long time ago. A curmudgeon and a second rate cartoonist have taken over and they are welcome to it. Neither one really understands the concepts that Patrick McGoohan was trying to get across in his classic show "The Prisoner." It is nothing but an ego trip for both of them. The free exchange of ideas is not what they want. They can not grasp that there could be more esoteric meanings to the show that are interesting to explore. I have watched over the years where new people who want to discuss different aspects of the show are ridiculed and put down. I'm sure someday soon a forum will arise where people who want to explore all aspects of the show will be free to do so without fear of being put down by egotistical smart mouths.

In the meantime my life is full. My Mom is frail but hanging in there. She is my number one priority in life. We are getting ready to celebrate her sister's birthday at the end of the month and I have a beautiful picture for her beloved "Bird." The calendar is coming along and the picture for the Christmas card is designed. I have discovered a colony of artists that have welcomed me. We are all digital artists and share what we have discovered in our new art field. I have started a correspondence witha fellow artist not too far from me and we shall see what that may bring. Life is good.

 

We Now Resume

"Before you speak, ask yourself: is it kind, is it necessary, is it true, does it improve on the silence?" Shirdi Sai Baba

Okay the elections are finally over and the politicians can continue ignoring today's quote. It is a shame that some bloggers and people on the web can't understand the importance of being kind. I know I have slipped a few times myself when I've been under a lot of stress and I've regretted my actions later.

I think one of the most misunderstood concepts is "tough love." Some people think that it is a license to be cruel. Tough love means setting boundaries, forcing a person to confront their own destructive behavior and giving them the tools necessary to change. Cruelty has nothing to do with it. Cruelty is cruelty and has no place in the concept of love.

Finally!

"The strength of a nation is derived from the integrity of its homes." Confucius

Finally it is election day and we will be rid of the political ads. As they joke in Chicago vote, vote often, and don't worry if you are dead vote any way. ;-) We will know tomorrow morning if there is any change in the way things work in the United States.

I have started on the long talked about calendar and have January done. I decided to go with "Call of the Wild" for the January picture. The choosing of the picture seems to be the hardest part for me. With the exception of the December picture it is going through all the art I did the year before and trying to decide which eleven pictures I want on the calendar. The December picture is always the Christmas card picture from the previous year.

I have a lot to accomplish in the next couple of months but seem more inclined to want to curl up and read instead. Somehow I really do need to get myself motivated to accomplish the things that need to be done. Starting on the calendar is a big step since a half a dozen gifts are the calendar each year.

Today I am just glad that the elections will finally be over as of tonight. I really hope some good candidates win and that we will see the government taking care of those who need their help the most. We need to take care of the elderly, the poor, the children. The rich can look after themselves. The purpose of government is to take care of those in need not those who live in greed.

 

Monday Morning Reflections

Another challenge of trying to type around Pixie our little bundle of love. The kitten demonstrates love at its best. She gives love to all and doesn't discriminate. She truly exemplifies what the gospel was saying yesterday.

It is easy to love as long as someone is like you. It is when there are differences that humans have a problem with the concept of love one another. There is more hatred thrown around in the name of religion then anything else. I think some people really don't get the meaning of God in their lives.

It is the study of the human mind that really brings up so many questions. Psychology has its Freud with the ego, id, and superego. It also has Jung with the collective unconscious. On a personal level I find I am more is sympathy with Jung then Freud. The continual fascination with the paranormal shows that mankind is fascinated with the unknown. While I know many New Agers I am more inclined to believe that they are tapping into Jung's collective unconscious then anything else. To assume that they are all frauds and are out to bilk an unsuspecting public does a great disservice to many true believers. It shows more the prejudice of a closed mind then a service to the truth. While my personal beliefs do not go in that direction I do believe that people have the right to the beliefs that give them comfort in their personal lives and express their own spirituality in a way that serves their souls best.

I can not abide prejudice in any form. I remember attending a church service with my ex where a Lutheran minister stood up there and said that if you weren't Lutheran you were unchurched. Excuse me? I don't think so. I am just as churched as a Catholic as anyone else.

As far as I am concerned you have a right to be at peace with your God however you see him/her as long as you don't use your religion as a basis for an attack on anyone else's beliefs. God said love your neighbor as yourself and he didn't put any qualifiers on it.

 

Not Happening

The gospel passage today is the one that reinforces that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. It only takes a quick look at the news to see that isn't happening. I'll be very glad when the election is over so at least we won't be barraged by all the mean spirited political ads.

Being a self confessed geek I am very familiar with fandom which is the providence of geeks. I was a part of fandom for many years. Fandom started out as a place where people such as myself could get together and be ourselves without being made fun of. We were not part of the football/cheerleader crowd and certainly never in with the "in crowd." It is not easy growing up different and many found that being among people with the same esoteric interests as themselves made growing up a little easier.

Unfortunately this very community that was made up of misfits is also one of the most riddled with petty feuds and in-fighting. There is always a way to make someone who is an outsider feel more like an outsider. There were times when I was the only Catholic in a room full of New Age Druids. I didn't exactly feel real welcome. The converse is also true try being a New Ager among say a group belonging to the Church of England. You aren't exactly going to be made to feel welcome there either.

Fandom has its self obsessed people who believe that they know everything about a certain show, book or movie and they don't want anyone to challenge them with any new ideas. Beware of trying to start conversations on a newsgroup that is populated with old timers. You can guarantee at least one of them will start flaming you if you dare to venture an opinion that doesn't jive with their hide bound beliefs.

It is sad that a place for misfits has to be fractured by fan politics. It is hard enough being a geek in a mundane world without having to be forced to dodge the flames of others who are supposed to be able to understand you. I think it is time geeks started practicing more tolerance and love. I have had more then enough of trolls.

Children

I am stunned by the furor that Madonna's adoption has caused. With so many children orphaned in Africa and other Third World countries because of AIDS you would think that the world would encourage those with money to adopt children. These children have no future unless someone gives them a future. Madonna, Angelina Jolie, and Meg Ryan to name a few have all adopted children recently and I think that has to be seen as a good thing.

While it is important for a child to understand his/her heritage that child can not do so if they are "killed" by poverty. They have to have a chance where they can learn. Who has the money to make sure an adopted child can make frequent trips to the land of their birth if not the rich stars?

I think a sense of perspective needs to be attained here. The single most important thing has to be the child's welfare. Political ramifications have to take a back seat. The child has to have a chance to grow up with proper food, shelter, and educational opportunities. You can learn about culture if the basic necessities of life are taken care of first. People need to get off their soap boxes and start thinking of the children for a change. Life is more important then politics.

 

Best Laid Plans

Okay so I didn't get around to working on next year's art calendar last night. I wanted to change pictures on my screen saver since Halloween is over and decided I wanted to do a new picture instead of using one I'd all ready created. It will probably be a major disappointment to a couple of jerks who were hoping that I'd be so traumatized by their stupid criticism that I could no longer create art. Well they lose again. I'm an artist deal with it.

You have to have faith in yourself if you are going to accomplish anything in this life. If you don't believe in you then you will never be able to get anyone else to believe in you either. There is a difference between an over whelming ego and knowing your abilities. If I were to say I'm the best artist in the world that would be ego. I'm not but I am a good artist who is learning more each day about the graphic art field. I discovered another area just last night in the edit function. Way cool! Sorry geek moment there.

Find out what you can do in life. Everyone has their own talents. Find your talent and work at it so that it continues to grow and flourish. Be the best you that you can be and don't let the turkeys get you down. Thanksgiving is coming up and we all know what happens to turkeys then.

The picture is called "Autumn Harvest."

 

 

Drawing To A Close

This year has really gone fast. We only have two more months to go before 2007. It also means I am really far behind on my Christmas gifts this year. Come to think of it I was behind last year too. I am always behind on the Christmas gifts come to think about it. I guess tonight I better settle down and design that calendar.

The passage of time brings change with it. Where I work is in an uproar because they did a major computer upgrade and none of us can really do our job yet because they haven't finished installing the components we need to do it.

Life changes slowly where I now live. I suppose someone should tell them that Herbert Hoover isn't running next Tuesday. I have decided small towns really aren't my thing. I'll stay here as long as Mom is alive and then move back to the big city or at least near to one.

I don't really know what my future will bring but I will probably continue to travel along my own path. The Road Less Taken is my picture on this month's calendar and that sums up my life so far.