Where am I going? And why am I in this handbasket?

My view on organized religion is pretty simple. If it works for you, great... but I really don't want to hear about it.

I live my life by the golden rule (or try to): do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Pretty simple and straightforward and easy to remember... and really covers every situation.

So this morning, as I was getting ready for work, I saw a commercial about a woman who had cheated on her husband with a co-worker. Then it proceeded to go on about how she wasn't "human" until she had found Christ... and not just found Him, but had been reborn in Him. And that if you didn't do this you were damned to forever suffering.

So, who's going to decide if I have, or have not, been saved? You? Them? I thought that was God's job, and his alone.

This kind of crap just drives me nuts. I have seen some of the worst of human kind purport to be the most Christian... and the atrocities that have been done over thousands of years "In the name of God" (or Allah) make me sick.

People really need to stop preaching at me and just concern themselves with how they are making the world a better place. Please...

Update: Just wanted to make one point clear. In the commercial they were saying that the only way to be saved was their way, and their way only. That was what I found so offensive. Not that they were saying you needed Christ to do it...

Well, that's a first...

I received this message on my dating profile last night:


Nov. 3, 2010 – 4:11pm

Hi, I am the female side of this couple. We are going to be in Lincoln City this Friday and Saturday. We would like to find a nice attractive female to join us. We know this is not what you are looking for but our attitude is that if we had not asked the outcome would be the same as if we did not ask. We are an attractive couple, that is fun and easy to get along with. Is meeting us something you would be interested in. We will be with other family members so we would need to be careful, we do have our own room though.

Hope to hear back from you.

 

First of all, let me just say that I'm happy that they think I'm nice and attractive. Always bonuses.

At first I was thinking that she (or they... not sure if the male side was involved in the picking out of the female to join them or not) didn't really read my profile. In my profile it clearly states that I do not do one night stands. But then I realized that they wanted someone for both Friday and Saturday so clearly that is not a one night stand... in their book. 

 

Perhaps I should have been more clear?

Oh wait, I was. The next line states: sex is only happening in a serious, monogamous relationship.

Guess they missed that part...

And the debate continues...

Ah, my friend Six... always putting forth the interesting questions.

Text from last night (no... not the site, the question he sent me): So what is the morality of establishing an emotional connection and then sleeping together and finding out the sex is really bad... then breaking it off?

So, I actually have several thoughts about this scenario...

#1. I'm not sure this is a morality issue. It is a real relationship issue and one that I have intimate knowledge of. In my opinion, a relationship is made up of three components... emotional, physical, spiritual. If one isn't working, none are. They are all dependent upon one another. And walking away from something because parts aren't working is OK by me. I mean, of course, I don't think that you should bail at the first sign of trouble, but when you reach an impasse it's time to move on.

#2. With good communication comes good sex. I may be wrong on this one, but don't think I am... but it's been known to happen. I just think that if you have real open lines of communication that you can work out what is tragic in the bedroom.

#3. Out of all the problematic issues, bad sex is probably the easiest to fix if there aren't serious underlying issues. Emotional or spiritual issues seem to be way harder to get a fix on vs. physical. But incompatibilities in the physical realm can, and do, happen. Some people are super-affectionate (like me, for instance). Some people are not (like ex-hub... his idea of a kiss was pecking me like a chicken). When you get too far apart on this issue it can become an issue and either you meet in the middle or move on.

I think the key to any issue is communication. If you have open communication and are honest about the place you are coming from, most things can be worked out. If you don't, it won't...

Is knowledge power?

And is that a bad thing?

I was talking with my friend Six last night about this particular subject and it led to some interesting conversation (always a good thing, in my never-very-humble opinion). He was relating a story to me where a husband had gained insight to his wife and then had used that insight to manipulate her. Interesting... and a pretty crappy thing to do, as well.

My thought on it is this: people will do what they are going to do regardless of what insight you give them. If this husband didn't have that particular information to use for manipulation, it would have been something else. He's obviously an asshat that was just looking to get what he wanted and didn't give a rat's banana about how he was going to get it and who he was hurting in the process. I believe that "players" are also very good at this type of manipulation. They "woo" you with pretty words and fluff (or whatever works for you) only to take what they want and then leave.

We all use the tools available to us to try and get what we want. If you think you don't, you're crazy... and in serious denial. The difference is how we treat the other person while we do it. There are those that are only concerned about what they want. And then there are those that really care about what the other person desires as well. And then that knowledge becomes another level to connect to each other and really explore.

So, is knowledge power? Yes.

To be used for good or evil? That's the tough one to figure out...

Wait, what? Where did the rest of the year go?

I seriously can't believe it's November. Seriously.

Where, o' where has 2010 gone? Oh where, 'o where could it be?

Gone, that's where. On the plus side though, it's almost November 2nd which means I won't have to endure those ridiculous political ads much longer... thank goodness. Those are trying my patience...

Unexpected, to be sure...

Yesterday we had a very unexpected day of sunshine, warm temps and no wind. Ally and I decided to seize the opportunity and soak up some rays... in the parking lot. Hey, got take the vitamin D where you can get it...

My coloring, however, was compared to the underbelly of a halibut...

In my defense: 1. I am wearing a white t-shirt underneath my black button-down (I swear... it's there). That is not my tummy hanging out, I promise.

2. The picture is very washed out. It is... really. In real life I am not that white... more of like a pale blue.

Either way, it was a nice day. Glad I was able to get out and enjoy it...

What a treat...

So, when I went to feed Elmo last night there was finally a break in the weather. I decided to run down to the beach with the pups and let them run before it started pouring down rain again.

We got there and saw the most amazing sunset, complete with no wind... and I mean none!! Not even a gentle breeze. It was so cool.

So, here is what I saw last night. Enjoy...

Some days I really love where I live :)