Monday, June 21, 2010
apologies
Somehow it seems appropriate that yesterday's blog was filled with type-o's since it was about stupidity, I swear that I did a spell check but for some reason it did not register. So, especiually to all my friends and family and both to whom I forwarded the blog, please know that I am usually more precise than that! But then again, it was Father's Day, Beth and Brian were here to help mark the occasion, and I had snuck off to write the blog in a quiet fit of -- you guessed it -- stupidity!
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Stupid Musings on Father's Day
My friend Steve and I were talking yesterday. He is 67, I am 60. It seems that we both have become cynical in our old age. I don't know if that has to do with the physical and mental process of getting older (some call it maturing, but I doubt that I am any MORE mature than ever), or just with having lived long enough to realize that the changes we sought when young have occurred only in very tiny increments. So tiny they are easy to miss.
Adter all, when I read about historical eventys and wars and junk like that, and I look around at the historical events and wars and junk like that that my grandchild will read about when he grows older like me, aabout he only two things that have changed are one, the efficiency with which we kill each other and two, the speed with which we report it.
I wonder why people haven;t listened when Christ suggested that killing each other wasn't such a good plan -- and was willing to BE killed to prove it. Or, for that matter, why after over 3500 years we still ignore the Commandment Moses brought down from the mountain that says, "Thou Shalt Not Kill." There were no exsclusions, exceptions, special circumstyances in the fine print. There was no fine mprint.
Steve told me that he read a quote that explains it all brilliantly, sums it up the way he has wanted to for years. If I find out who said it, I will let you know. But the jist of it (I'm paraphrasing because I got it second hand) is: Men will never stop killing each other vecause we're so stupid.
That's S T O O P I D.
Now, I love my war films and murder mysteries and Westerns and costume dramas and Roman epics. But for me, it;s a way of letting the demon out for a while in a safe place. It's not a life choice.
One last point: The idea that one can have a glorious death is the stupidest thing I ever heard. What good are you after that?
So, Happy Father's Day to one and all fathers. Look at your children. Hold them close in your heart. Beg them with that heart that they reject war and killing and violence and hatred and all that junk, because it is junk, of absolutely no value.
Please.
Adter all, when I read about historical eventys and wars and junk like that, and I look around at the historical events and wars and junk like that that my grandchild will read about when he grows older like me, aabout he only two things that have changed are one, the efficiency with which we kill each other and two, the speed with which we report it.
I wonder why people haven;t listened when Christ suggested that killing each other wasn't such a good plan -- and was willing to BE killed to prove it. Or, for that matter, why after over 3500 years we still ignore the Commandment Moses brought down from the mountain that says, "Thou Shalt Not Kill." There were no exsclusions, exceptions, special circumstyances in the fine print. There was no fine mprint.
Steve told me that he read a quote that explains it all brilliantly, sums it up the way he has wanted to for years. If I find out who said it, I will let you know. But the jist of it (I'm paraphrasing because I got it second hand) is: Men will never stop killing each other vecause we're so stupid.
That's S T O O P I D.
Now, I love my war films and murder mysteries and Westerns and costume dramas and Roman epics. But for me, it;s a way of letting the demon out for a while in a safe place. It's not a life choice.
One last point: The idea that one can have a glorious death is the stupidest thing I ever heard. What good are you after that?
So, Happy Father's Day to one and all fathers. Look at your children. Hold them close in your heart. Beg them with that heart that they reject war and killing and violence and hatred and all that junk, because it is junk, of absolutely no value.
Please.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Brief
Just a quick blog today, to keep my mind sharp and in the game, so to speak. I am working on something a little meatier for later in the week or on the weekend, that maybe won't be as fun as this.
And this is fun because I can proudly announce (oops, I split my infinitive) that I have been losing weight in a planned way. It's Diane's plan, as she has rejoined Weight Watchers. I just go along for the ride and draw benefits from her working the program. Actually, WE are working the program together, including even walking 2 miles a day (I hate to exercise, but the mailman duties don't require very much on the job walking anymore, so I have to do something). Diane can brag on herself on her Weight Watcher's Blog, but I have to say I am proud of her. For seven weeks now we have been relearning how to approach food. This is a change for life, not a diet or fad, and we seem to be mentally ready for it -- on the same page at the same moment. It feels great!
By the by, I'm down to a weight I haven't seen since I coached my littles in soccer back in the day. I do have toes! I suspected as much, but they were on the far side of the moon. I am half way to my goal and the best two things are, I'm not hungry like I was on past eating plans, and it turns out that I like fish after all!
One side note. Just saw "Up In The Air," the film about the man who travels the country firing people for bosses too chicken to do it themselves. A very poignant and sad little film, richly acted and presented. How many of you have seen it and listened carefully to the song in the opening credits? Very jazzy, very cool -- but did you recognize "This Land Is Your Land" by Woodie Guthrie? Yep.
And this is fun because I can proudly announce (oops, I split my infinitive) that I have been losing weight in a planned way. It's Diane's plan, as she has rejoined Weight Watchers. I just go along for the ride and draw benefits from her working the program. Actually, WE are working the program together, including even walking 2 miles a day (I hate to exercise, but the mailman duties don't require very much on the job walking anymore, so I have to do something). Diane can brag on herself on her Weight Watcher's Blog, but I have to say I am proud of her. For seven weeks now we have been relearning how to approach food. This is a change for life, not a diet or fad, and we seem to be mentally ready for it -- on the same page at the same moment. It feels great!
By the by, I'm down to a weight I haven't seen since I coached my littles in soccer back in the day. I do have toes! I suspected as much, but they were on the far side of the moon. I am half way to my goal and the best two things are, I'm not hungry like I was on past eating plans, and it turns out that I like fish after all!
One side note. Just saw "Up In The Air," the film about the man who travels the country firing people for bosses too chicken to do it themselves. A very poignant and sad little film, richly acted and presented. How many of you have seen it and listened carefully to the song in the opening credits? Very jazzy, very cool -- but did you recognize "This Land Is Your Land" by Woodie Guthrie? Yep.
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