Stranger Danger

People are always saying that residents of the Pacific Northwest are surprisingly unfriendly. I think it's just that we were taught not to talk to strangers, because there is a very good chance they are a serial killer.

Tomorrow I'm off to Cabo, where I will talk to every stranger I meet. I always make stranger-friends on vacation, I don't know why. Anyway, enjoy your holiday weekend! Let's meet back on Wednesday and compare notes.

Left Behind

The Rapture was predicted to have occurred this past weekend, as we all know by now, it didn’t.

To be honest I had little faith that any man could predict when it would occur, especially since it specifically says in the bible that while we may know the times are coming we will not know the exact date.

“But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the father” Mark 13:32

I think a lot of people felt the way I did, but even with these doubts there was something tugging in the back of my and many other people’s mind... Somewhere on the horizon there is an end, whether for the world or individually. I talked about it with my mom (who is one of my favorite people to talk about “heavy” stuff with. She is the most perceptive and insightful person I know), she saw this as an exercise in ourselves. For her the big question is “who do I want to talk to, be around, or forgive before the end?” It encouraged her to look at her life and decide who and what were the most important pieces in it. (Spoiler alert: I was one)

I had a slightly different reaction. When I was younger I had no doubt that when the time came, I would go to Heaven. Zero doubt. I had an honest and pure heart. I maintained this confidence in myself and in my actions until I was about 15. Then somewhere along the line I began to make allowances for myself and operating on a more selfish path. Saturday I realized that when my time comes, I’m not so sure where I’ll wind up. That is scary. Now I know that for the most part that I am a “good” person. I have love and compassion even for those who inspire it the least. I forgive unusually easily. I don’t seek out to hurt others. But despite those qualities I am still disappointed when I  look at myself through my younger eyes. I have a long way to go before I can make myself proud, but I am starting fresh on that path as of yesterday.

While I know that this sort of self reflection was not what Harold Camping had intended, I am thankful that worldwide we were given a chance to examine our lives and our beliefs; however dramatically it was presented.

Adventures of Brady and Carly :: Dolla Dolla Bills Ya'll

Last weekend I introduced Brady to the Dollar Store. He was pretty amazed at what they had to offer, but a little confused about how it works. I think he thought they were trying to trick him or something.

B: Wow, that's cool! How much do you think it is?!
C: A dollar
B: Hey check it out! Do you think this is a dollar?
C: Yep
B: How much do you think those are?
C: .........
B: You love me.
B: Do you think these are a dollar too?
C: (laughing) I might punch you before we leave. Just a warning.
B: That's rude.

In the car I started cracking up again
B: What's so funny?
C: You kept asking how much things were and there were signs everywhere that say "Everything's a dollar"!
B: What?! I didn't see those.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who has blond moments.

Love you BAF :)

Lusting

Found here

I want this bad, like Varuca Salt style. I'm already planning my 14 point inception style attack on Brady's brain to convince him that his home will never be complete without one of these babies hanging in sun, so that I can nap the stuffing out of it. Oh, what's that you say? Brady already secretly reads my blog? Well I guess the jigs up then.

This lovely little dream provider runs just under $250, but the link only works when it feels like it.

Where I Stand. Who I Am.

I am proud of our military. They pulled off a extremely risky mission without losing a single American life. Thanks to them Osama Bin Laden has finally been found. He did terrible things. He reveled in the death of innocent people. I do not mourn for him. I am relieved that he was found. I believe that he was brought to justice for the crimes and hate that he propagated. But I am not gleeful. I do not have the urge to drink my enemies blood or stomp on their face. I do not feel like celebrating. It is not in my nature to hate. Even the grim satisfaction I feel leaves me with a heavy heart. Make no mistake, I have picked my side. I stand by my country. I stand by our way of life. I believe that we are a nation that engages in combat as a necessity, not as an act of aggression. That makes me proud. I feel like a corner has been turned, but we still have a long way to go. As we move forward I feel that every death should be treated as a necessity. I compare the videos from the Middle East celebrating 9/11 and the videos from the US celebrating Bin Laden's death and see some very disturbing similarities. I understand why other people might disagree. I'm sure that plenty of people think my view point is unpatriotic. I have been called a "bleeding heart liberal" on more than one occasion. That's ok. Compassion for others, even my enemy, is a badge I wear with honor. It is not something I ever want to lose, nor will I ever consider it a flaw.




"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." - Martin Luther King, Jr.