10 Things I Hate

Hate is such a strong word and I am reluctant to focus on negative thoughts at 4:00 am, but I'll try. 

1 - I hate oppression of those who are perceived weak.  This includes the oppression of women and children, as well as those who are handicapped in any form.  Those who oppress are on power trips and ego trips and personify true evil. 

Hitler was the personification of evil in last century.  Who will be

the evil for our current century? 

2 - Speaking of evil I hate it in all forms.  I fight it where I can and refuse to succumb to it.  Sometimes standing up against evil is frightening, but it has to be done.  And if I lose my possessions or my life through standing up against evil, I will have lost for the right reasons.  I do not want to live in a world ruled by evil. 

3 - I hate those who take this wonderful and amazing world that we live on for granted.  Those who throw trash out of their car window, those who place graffiti on the rocks in national parks, those who throw empty beer cans in the streams and rivers.  Shame on them! 

Puppies are just SO cute!

4 - I hate those who abuse animals.  Those plants and animals who share this world with us should be cherished and welcomed as partners in this life.  Do you want to know about a person?  Check out their attitudes towards animals and plants. 

5 - I hate people who exploit children.  Children are our most precious asset and should not be sold into slavery either for work or sexual slavery.  Children should be protected and allowed to experience a true childhood in a loving family. 

6 - I hate people who exploit people for sexual superiority.  It is not sexual pleasure, it is total exploitation.  It is far different than consenting adults participating in sexual games that benefit both parties, I hate those who are placed in these sexual situations against their will just so that their partner can find release. 

7 - I hate liars.  There is a difference between tact and small untruths and true lies.  True lies should not be tolerated by those who hear them.  Do you hear this, politicians? 

8 - I hate politics.  It has its' place in the world, but I despise it.  The reality is that if someone actually wants to run for office of any kind, they probably are the worst person for the job.  But, that said, once they are in office, sometimes they can grow into that position and truly become responsive to those who they represent. 

9 - I hate people who do not communicate; those who think that they are always right and will not listen or even try to understand other viewpoints.  People with this type of tunnel vision are dangerous people. 

I love the Dalai Lama.  His pure joy in his beliefs of Spirit and people

is infectious.  Spirit should be joy! 

10 - I hate many aspects of "organized" and "mainstream" religion.  There are many parts of the many religious views practiced in this world that are worthwhile and true.  But there are also too many people who walk the road of "souls at any cost" which sends fear to my heart.  I am deeply spiritual, but I walk my own path as I hear the Song.  I have no intention, now or any other time, of fitting into the box provided by organized religion.  The fact that I don't walk their road does not mean that I don't believe in Spirit, but they see all those who don't walk their road as damned and evil.  I respectfully disagree.  In older days, I would have been burned at the stake for my beliefs.  That's quite frightening, isn't it? 

10 Things I Love

Continuing on with my personal lists...10 Things I Love

1 - I love art in all of its forms and varieties.  The expression of joy and angst into visual, audible and kinetic displays is basic to human-kind.  A small child will make artistic visions with colors and paints, an elder will pick up a pencil to draw, a musician will tap out a rhythmn or take an instrument in hand, a dancer will spin and move gloriously.  It is all art, and I love it all. 

This Dale Chihuly piece hangs in the Minneapolis Institute of Art

2 - I love museums.  Going to a museum is one of my favorite activities and one that I never tire of.  I have been known to travel to distant cities just to visit specific exhibits at museums. 
3 - I love reading, especially fanfic (non-commercially published stories and novels based on the published works of other authors) and cannot imagine how I could have lived so many years without exploring this vast resource of alternative literature. 
4 - In the same vein - I love my Nook Color.  OK, it's banal to mention a specific product in a listing like this, but after more than a month of using it every day for hours a day, I can conclusively say that this was the "Best Gift EVER". 

Nook Color - I love it, I love it, I love it!

5 - I love the world in which we live.  Even on these days of winter when the world is a dirty grey and the temperature is such that I would much rather not go out, I love it.  I love the animals and the plants, I love the breezes and the clouds, I love the waters and the mountains.  I just wish we, as people, walked with a lighter footprint on this glorious world. 
6 - I love my family, at least most of the time - LOL.  And I suspect that is true for almost everyone. 
7 - I love the sound of rushing water, as long as it is not associated with another basement flood for me.  Babbling brooks, the sound of waterfalls, the rushing of a river - I love all of them. 

This beauty is in Lesotho, Africa.  It's stunning, isn't it?

8 - I love Spirit - a word that can encompass so much.  I know that there is a broader universe out there and much that I can't perceive or understand.  I love the beauty of the Universe in which I am allowed to live.  I love that I am allowed to be a part of it and I hope that I am performing up to expectations/desires.  I look forward to walking into the next stage when it is time for me to do so, and understanding more of Spirit at that time. 
9 - I love attending the Renaissance Festival - several weekends of outdoor activities shared with others of like feelings in costume.  It gives me an opportunity to leave my everyday cares behind me. 
10 - I love making art - thinking about it, drawing it out, grabbing my color pens or watercolors, and then making it in metal and enamel.  My beads and my metalwork surround my life as creative bookends with everything else between them and I'm eternally grateful to find time to play with my art when I can. 

I was going to also deal with the things that I hate - a strong emotion, but I can't seem to just make short lists so I'll deal with that on a different day. 

10 Things - Day 1

My friend Spiced found these on  the post of a friend of hers and decided to jump in.  These were of interest to me, so I also decided to jump in, but not over 10 days - too organized for me today.  I'll post when I feel like it, but not in a row.  Too much else can happen that I may want to discuss.  I'll eventually get through all 10 days though.  The only thing I will guarantee is that it won't take 10 days. 

DAY 1 - 10 things about you
1 - Although I am a very organized person, my personal space is a disaster with piles of stuff I need all around me .  Housekeeping and cleaning are too far down on my personal "to do" meter.
2 - I am an unrepentent Hippie from the 60's and experienced as much of that cultural lifestyle as I possibly could while I was growing up.  If I had been just a couple of years older I probably would have run away from home which would have been a really stupid move on my part.  For once youth was a plus. 

3 - I am an adopted only child, born in Europe and adopted by European refugees who were living in the US.  It has given me a unique perspective and an interesting history. 
4 - I love "watching" TV.  By that, I mean having the TV on behind me, and occasionally turning around to see what the excitement is.  But there are very few shows that I will actually pay attention to and watch. 
5 - I spend too much time on my computer - it's like another full-time job with about 40 hours a week just at the keyboard.  Silly me. 
6 - I adore the clouds in all of their varied forms which is probably why I love tornados.  But their variety astounds me and I wish I had more time to lean back and just watch them as I did when I was a child. 
7 - I was a fearless child - climbing trees, walking across beams in homes being built, exploring abandoned houses, building forts, and running around in my neighborhood.  My block was kid-heavy and on any normal day there were more than eight of us playing at a time.  Add vacant lots and homes being built to the mix and you've got the perfect playground. 
8 - There were many things that I worked very hard at that I let go as I grew up.  I have an MA which I really don't use, and I was a very talented cellist and don't play any more.  I miss making music though, and have a great yearning to teach myself how to play the harp. 
9 - I hate growing old - at least bodily, mentally isn't so bad yet since experience is only learned through...well...experience.  But the body is a traitor and I am not fond of inviting traitors into my life. 
10 - I always have had my nose in a book since I was a small child.  I plan to continue reading until the day that I die because through those other worlds and viewpoints I can live and experience the greater world(s). 

And happy Year of the Rabbit.  Celebrate well, enjoy your families, wear red.  Even set off a firework or two (or three - I love fireworks).  I hope that this year will be fulfilling for you and happy for you and your loved ones. 

Rodents and Art

Today is Groundhog Day in the US.  This probably means next to nothing for my outside-of-the-US readers, but it is an important day in the life of one rodent and anyone sick of winter here.  The adage goes - the groundhog sticks his nose out of his den today and wanders around a little bit.  Looking around himself for any possible predators, this silly being can scare himself back into his den for another six weeks if he sees his shadow.  Therefore, if he sees his shadow and scurries back to his den, we will have six more weeks of winter.  If he does not see his shadow, winter will end soon.  It is predicted that we will have snow and clouds over his Pennsylvania home today, so hopefully he will not see his shadow and winter will end soon.  (Of course, this is Minnesota and ending soon for winter is simply not in our lexicon up here.  But an earlier end to winter would be welcomed by almost everyone I have spoken to over the past two weeks.) 

Evelyn De Morgan - 1855-1919

I had several people comment on the painting I included in yesterday's post.  The picture was by Evelyn De Morgan, an artist who lived from 1855-1919.  You can read a short Wikipedia on her here, but there is much more information available about her on-line in general.  I chose a couple of additional pictures for you to view because I like her art and wanted to share. 

Phospherus and Hesperus by Evelyn De Morgan, 1882

Angel of Death by Evelyn De Morgan, 1890

Deep Thoughts for a Cold Morning

What happens when we die?  That's a deep question for 4:00 am on a Tuesday morning, but it's what occurred to me to contemplate today.  Why?  No special reason, but it is a question that has been asked by mankind for as long as humans have existed in this dimension.  Although woman can't isolate the soul, she has no doubt that it exists.  Although man can't isolate a God, he had no doubt that one exists - even though the names and attributes of that diety vary with the timeframe and the cultural mileu of the individual.  Death is alternatively called a Gift and a Curse.  But it is the one thing that we, as souls on this world, cannot fight.  We are all mortal.  We will all die.  All plants, all animals, all people - we will all die.  So if we will all die and leave behind those who love us, why do we, as a group, focus so hard on causing the death of others? 

The Crusaders attacked people because of a dispute over

religious philosophy.  They didn't succeed for very long, because

philosophy is a slippery slope - it is always changing.

I understand fighting against evil, although the definitions of evil also differ by culture.  Evil can disguise itself as "merely" a different philosophy or a different religious belief.  These philosophies or religions, however, can condem freedom of expression and exploration, force people to do things against their will or push women into roles where they have no options open to themselves but suicide, either mental or physical.  Although a philosophy is not a sword or a gun; not a physical threat, it can be a mental threat.  It can open the doors of thought to an individual and allowing them to grow in a direction that you may not approve of.  But you, or anyone, cannot isolate thought and keep it from emerging.  Small tendrils of thought can grow into large ideas and inspire movements of people.  So this small, non-edged weapon, can indeed be thought of as a threat.  And yes, people can be killed and are killed daily for their thoughts. 

The Field of the Slain by Evelyn De Morgan

So the question comes to you.  Look around you at your society, at your freedoms, at your family and friends, at your abilities, or inabilities, to create your art, to love your children, to meet with your friends.  These are the things that make life worth living.  Now, imagine them threatened.  Would you be willing to walk into the unknown of death to protect those that you love from harrasment, from torture, from death?  If you answer "yes", then you are human.  And you need not fear the next step, because if all of us do this, then there must be more lessons for our souls to learn and this world is but one step on a longer journey.  And I find that rather comforting.  May Spirit walk with you today. 

Ending With a Bang

The month of January is ending with a bang.  We're getting extreme weather throughout the US today, bringing extreme temps and snow from the West Coast through to the East Coast.  Since I have an appointment at my Chiropractor this morning, I'll get to drive a bit slower and a bit more carefully, which will push me behind on time.  But, I am sure to build in plenty of time before I have to be at the shop, so a delay is already calculated in. 

I had a nice and relaxed Sunday.  The snowflakes that fell were few and far between, so no shoveling.  We picked up the paper from the house of my Father-by-marriage, and then dropped by Barnes & Noble on the way home.  I downloaded a book recommended by a friend and DH found a really nice book on gardens and stone that he wanted for artistic inspiration.  We had a quick meal at Taco Bell and then went home, read and watched some recorded TV shows from earlier in the week (I'm recommending Face Off - SyFy on Wednesday nights - to all my friends.  It's a reality show/competition for makeup special effects artists.  Well worth watching.)  I ended up the day with my nose in my Nook, of course.  Now, back to the grind. 

Looters even broke into the National Museum and destroyed two

mummies.  So what luck for the incredible treasures of Egypt

if ignorant people topple the government?  Things will be destroyed

and ignored again, priceless items will be lost.  Egypt is a tragedy

in the making. 

And the events in Egypt are frightening.  The question begs asking, "What kind of government will they end up with"?  There are a lot of similarities with the Russian Revolution as well as other revolutions that have occurred throughout the world.  And Egypt is a moderate to extreme Muslim nation.  So will this turn out to be another government in which women will be oppressed?  Egypt, in Pharonic times, was a land that gave women more rights than any other nation on earth.  Now it could fall back into the Middle Ages and condemn women to a life of shadow.  It would be a pity.