So I go to my local Kmart to get a battery for my camera and this is what I see.  If you get  shocked easily DON'T LOOK, it's bad.

 

 

 

This was LAST WEEK.  I mean come on?  I saw No Halloween stuff.  And it was like 85 degrees that day too.  Why even take them down at all.  It's ridiculous.  Plus, hello?  Jews are the ones with money, saw no Menorahs.  

Speaking of Jews and Holidays, We are now celebrating our high holy days.  Well, they are.  Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, was celebrated at my dad's with Chinese  food, which is usually reserved for Christmas.  However, My dad and step mom just got home from Spain, because as I said Jews have money, and so it was Chinese. 

I don't really want to go into my drive down into the city of Chicago, but I will , briefly.  It sucked.  Ok, I admit it, I am not a good driver.  I have zero spacial skills.  So you can imagine, with the buses, people, construction, detours  and packed with other, probably, pushy, Jewish drivers, how this went down.  

I drove in circles for like a half an hour, had no phone service thank you A- Fing t&t once again.  Thank you Garmin for not explaining there is an upper Dearborn or something and a lower one.  Whatever, I got there.

The way home wasn't much better.  As I was driving down the street some nice lady waved, I waved back, then she kept waving and I noticed it was not a friendly wave, but a panicked one.  I roll down my window, maybe her car broke down?  Maybe she was just assaulted?  Poor woman.  So as I said, I roll down the window and she goes "  You're going the wrong way on a one way street."  Not many people have done that, I have more times than I care to admit, but just admitted.  It's kind of scary when cars are coming at you , all looking at you thinking " who is that Fing idiot?"  Yeah, that sort of sucked.  And I honestly have no idea how that happened.  But I do know I will NEVER drive in the city again.  EVER!

So we are in the days of awe, ( I think) and that ends with the fun holiday of Yom Kippur.  This is the day we Jews atone for our yearly sins, such as eating shell fish, and enjoying a good Blt sandwhich with the B.  You are also supposed to apologize to someone you did wrong.  For example, maybe you talked behind someones back.  Well, I usually don't apologize for that , because I think that is considered healthy venting.  The only way to REALLY keep friends is to bitch about them to other friends or you would hold it all in. Besides what they don't know won't hurt them.  

We are also supposed to pray all day and reflect on the past year, and a way to do that is by fasting.  Not just fasting though, I hear Orthodox Jews don't even brush their teeth.  Yeah, I'm not sitting in synagog  with a bunch of halitosis  people. Totally disgusting.  I find I concentrate better on a full stomach.  And so the fasting, during a boring service, not fun.

I try and pray and be sorry but frankly, and I hope this doesn't offend people,this is what I'm thinking.

 

 

Ok I get it.  Sacrilege of the worst kind, but it is hard to repent and think about how you're going to be better next year, when you just want to eat.  Of course I have gone all day without eating many times, but on Yom Kippur, since it isn't allowed, I am craving corn beef on rye.  You know, always want what you can't have type of thing.

 

I usually do make it until lunch, so I figure I'm a half way good Jew.  Oh fine, I suck at being a Jew.  I don't go to Temple, even on high holidays, because I don't belong to one.  I don't have money.  And I have never apologized to a friend for talking behind their backs.

I don't know, maybe when I die, G-d will let me have it, but for some reason I feel pretty safe.

I will say this, there were NO new someecards, about the high holy days back in June .  They waited until it was actually, time.  So they beat Kmart in my book.  Too bad they ( someecards) don't sell those 100 calorie bagels,  the thin kind, that shouldn't even be called bagels.  If they did, I would buy some for Yom Kippur, and skip Kmart altogether.  

 

Here are some nice OCTOBER Autumn photos I took.  Not December ( cough: Kmart)

 

 

   

 

 

 

EDIT:  Having the worst time with video's this one was fun to do. I hope one of these works, and pretend you watched, because what a pain in the ass these were.

<  This one isn't sad.  Another one from last year.  It makes me laugh.

 

Oh and here are the photos for tonight.  PS. to all my Jewish friends, Happy new year you two.

 

I don't mean to beg, but for some reason it took me two hours to upload this, so PLEASE take a look.

Here you go @opticalnoise

 

Here are some reviews

The Xanga News says:

This is both humorous and poignant.  Momofjenmatt (Miss Laura) could have used some make up and looked less frumpy. This video is also not timely, word has it, this was filmed a couple years ago.  However the boy was fabulous, articulate, and informative.  For that reason I give it 4 stars.

 

I'm not really a reviewer: Miss Laura seems silly and mentally challenged.  Still I found myself riveted to the boy's words and his information on living in the projects of Chicago.  4.5 stars

 

WTF do I know: I found myself wishing Miss Laura had lost all the weight when filming this clip, she still looks kind of chunky. If she had filmed recently she would have looked much better.  Her attempt at the joke towards the end is exactly why she is called LAME frequently by her students.  Thumbs down for Miss Laura, but a huge thumbs up for the boy, putting up with her stupid questions and answering to the best of his ability. It was disappointing his face could not be shown. Miss Laura was aggravating to watch the whole time.

 

So please watch this small film _ The Interview filmed in 2009 ( I think ) -  It really represents part of my interactions with the boys at work.  Facebook gave it two thumbs up, but that's family and friends, tell me what you think.  All reviews are welcome even bad ones.

 

Please work stupid video or I shall scream

 

 

Edit: The second one works for me, not the first.

I only time stamped so soon because this video is messed up, does not have all comments and is ver yannoying.  Hope this helps.

Sorry it took so long, but I have not been feeling up to par lately.  But better late than never.

First I would like to thank my good friend Dan AKA @TheTheologianCafe for being such a good sport about my little parody of his blog.  It takes a big man to be able to laugh at himself.  I also thank him for moving his ass out of the number one spot and letting me have it.  Yes, I did it!  Thanks to

@ZombieMom_Speaks, @ZSZ-MD, @Grannys_Place, @leaflesstree, @jasonwl,  @locomotiv,

@opticalnoise, @LoBornlytesThoughtPalace,

@yourkbear, @firetyger, @dirtbubble, @rasberryjade,

Chibi_Son_Gokou, CorvyusMorte @CaKaLusa, @pinktiger335,

@wyckdstorm, @Hinase, @HeLLo_Bianca, @BubblysLife,

@NewDog2, @D3L3RIOUS, @LetsTripTheLightFantastic,

@RighteousBruin, @Moncler jacket, @haloed, @Lithium98, @murisopsis, @miss_order,

@browneyedmocha, @Steaaak, @Spinner_mom

@Orlando, @jus_joking, @blond_apocalypse, @SlackerSociety, @Yao_Wentiao, @DivaJyoti,

@funkyflo3, @RestlessButterfly, @Jeremy_Sheer, @RulerofMasons, @timestill, @dirty_sweater

@twoberry ,@lobot, @cheese_breeze, @CLOG, @maniacsicko, @AmeliaHart, @Stanelle

@Sincerely_jennie, @Mal_P, @jackie004, @dianestickler, @seedsower, @Keeko1, In_Reason_I_Trust  @nattata.

 

I hope I got everyone and I hope I did your name's right so you can see, I kept my promise and mentioned you in my next blog, which is this one.  If it didn't link your name, I screwed up or Xanga did, but I tried.

Being number one was both thrilling and a let down.  It was fun watching my name rise, then fall then rise again.  But it wasn't like winning a million dollars, not that I would know what that feels like. But since I wasn't jumping up and down and screaming, I don't think it was the same.  I did smile though.

 

What I really liked were the kind comments.  Not all were kind, just 99%.  You know if you were in the 1% and you suck.  But I was happy most people got the humor, even though some didn't, and I had to write the disclaimer, which sort of irritated me.  

All in all, it was really fun and it was great to meet new people.  As I was writing your screen names down, I really READ them.  For example, @dirty_sweater, interesting choice of a screen name.  I mean, I'm old, maybe that's a band or something, but to my old eyes it means what it says, and I will now forever think of you needing to wash that sweater.  And @manicsicko, wow, sort of scary.  @dirtbubble, hummm.  What to make of some of these names?  

Mine is boring and obvious, I am the Mom of a Jen ( Jennie) and Matt ( matthew).  But @SlackerSociety?  Are you cynical?  

 

Tell me, what do your screen names mean?  

Okay, picture time.  I know, exciting right?  here we go,

I went to a wedding this weekend on Lake Michigan, here are some shots I got.

 

This was on the head table as part of the centerpeice.

Poor kid, his fingers were probably ready to fall off, it was a bit nippy.

Autumn is almost here.

 

Putting the Church photo back since I had to protect the blog it was in from some undesirables. 

 

So that's it.  Keep blogging.  Next on Momofjenmatt, I think I am going to post a video of my interview a couple years ago with a boy from work.  If you like reality TV, documentaries,  or just short little blurbs of people talking to someone from the Hood, stayed tuned.  If not, give it a try, it's different, I'll just say that.

I made found a study that has explained so much to me about some of the top bloggers on Xanga's front page. 

 

People who are at the top of the front page are more likely to have Shit Stirring Syndrome .  Find the link yourself, why should I do all the work?

When I was a new Xangan, I saw some people who seemed to have a chronic need to create controversy.  They were always stirring the pot, shit stirring, trolling, whatever you want to call it.  It was exciting, yet scary.  I think it makes sense since this is how you make it to the top and stay there. However, it can become fatal.

That has been my general impression of top bloggers on Xanga.  They never go away, they are always on top 24/7, and they are major shit stirrers.

Some top bloggers complained that people who get no comments were causing this problem.  I think they just thought Xanga should get them their own ish site called shitstirrerish.

Is it me, or does it appear that top bloggers cause more trouble than non top bloggers?

 

Please comment, eprop and rec.  maybe even Facebook rec.  I don't care if I get Shit Stirring Syndrome.  I want to be on top too!  I am sick of being number 75 or 80.  Come on?  What do I have to do people?????  Help me out!  This was a totally controversial topic. We could argue about this forever! Have at it!  right here, call me and other commenters bad names, as long as I am number one!  I am being a troll ( still don't know what that is exactly, but I'm sure I am one).  I posted a graph!  My God, could I have done more than that? Get me to number one and I'll mention your name in my next blog. Tell me that wouldn't be special?    Please write first if you are the first to comment.  Even if you really end up being second or third. I am counting on you guys. Let me down and I may block you from this site!!!!  No photos tonight, I am too focused on being #ONE.

Edit: This is what is known as a spoof.  Please don't get your undies all up in a bunch.  @TheTheologiansCafe is well aware I was teasing him on his second to most recent blog. here is the link :http://thetheologianscafe.xanga.com/755131315/atheists-on-xanga-are-more-likely-to-have-autism/ 

And I don't appreciate Xanga taking out my curse word lol.

My computer Is in the hospital for a very serious illness. I am taking this as a sign. Im on my iPhone right now, which is the worst way to blog ever! I think this is a sign because since I have been back to more regulat blogging,I have done a couple things I am not proud of. Even though I tried to rectify those mistakes, I think I may need the time to reflect. I am 51 years old, and I feel at times I am acting like I am 13. This is not why I am here. Getting caught up in drama and mean spirited things are not who I am or who I want to be. I want to be here to tell stories, or share my opinion on important matters like " why I think getting an iPad is dumb if you have an apple lap top and an iPhone". Or my next blog, which was going to be traffic court vs divorce court. I really come here to be friendly, make someone smile, share my goofy life with you. But I want to reciprocate and visit other blogs, and that's when the thirteen year old has come out. I hurt someone I care about, I offended someone I didn't even know, I forgot something really important, several times. Everyone here is a real, live, human being. I don't know your issues, triggers, sensitive topics. I don't know your mental state, your emotional vunerability. I am guilty, at times, of looking at this as a game, having fun with the controversy , trying to be popular. All things I detest about xanga. All things that remind me of jr. High. I have found myself being hypocritical, petty, and rude. Not a lot, just one time too many. People are not their xanga site, a string of words on a screen. What I personally enjoy and get out of xanga, is as I said, is sharing what I think is interesting, funny, witty, or important to my life. I enjoy sharing my extreme, amateur photograpy, with photos taken on my cheap little camera. I also enjoy, feedback from others and reading others unique creative outlits. But the Internet by it's very nature gives people false bravado, and while you can make connections there is a level of disconect . So I need to decide why I want to be here, if I want to be here, if I can contol my fingers when visiting others sites. Have I gotten all there is to get here? Or will I go to the library and Write a blog tomorrow? I need to think. If you comment and I hope you do, I can't comment back on the phone. I will read them though, and as I said, I may end up going to the libray. I do know if and when I return to blogging I will be more mindful of My whole xanga experience. What I want? How can I get that? And is it worth it?

The good news is I get to leave work early, the bad news is I have to go to traffic court.  The crime, talking on a cell phone in a construction zone.  Okay, I know, that sounds bad.  Even I can see now why that probably is a bad idea, but let me plead my case.

First, I live in Il. in Chicago, you cannot be on the cell phone at all, unless it's hands free.  As far as the suburbs? Every town is different.  I did hear about the new state law that you couldn't be on the phone when you were near a school, but heard nothing about the construction law.  And yes, I should have bought a hands free devise because you can see it coming, it's going to be against the law period to use your cell phone while driving.  But I didn't.  

In my opinion, they just should have made that the  law and be done with it.  When they made the seat belt law, they didn't say you had to wear it when going over ten miles an hour, but when going 30 in a rural area, you could take it off.  I mean make the law, be straight forward, and move on.  Don't say it's okay here but not there, and how am I supposed to know a school is going to pop up out of nowhere, and what if it's a weekend?  And why not ban it if you are going by soccer practice, or a little league game, lots of kids are there too? Just say, only hands free devices allowed.

And although this is not going to make any difference to the Judge, no one was working that day.  Yes, there were the cones, but that's all I was going to hit, if anything.  The cop asked if I knew about this law and I said, in a very nice tone, that no, had I known, I wouldn't have been on the phone.  He informed me that he had given tickets to fifty people before me that also didn't know.  And he didn't say it in a nice way either.  Anyway, maybe I am making excuses, but a sign would have been nice.  they post the speeding, fine, signs in construction zones, how hard is it to add one more?  

 

Regardless, I'm guilty, I did the crime I'll pay the fine, which I am praying is affordable.

My friend gave me a hands free thing that goes on my visor and I plan on showing the judge, but it might be too little too late.

Having said that, did you know the National Safety Council (NSC), wants to ban all cell phone use in the car?  Even hands free?  

I really have to take issue with that.  Now the texting and driving is a no brainer.  I mean to me that's like saying don't read a book while driving, don't take a nap while driving.  I mean clearly, texting and driving was never going to be a good idea.

 

 I personally don't think talking on a non hands free phone is a huge deal, but apparently studies say it is. 

But really?  Not at all?  Why not ban the radio?  Ban talking to the passenger next to you.  And while your at it, don't drive with anyone at all under 10.  Because when my kids were fighting in the backseat, that wasn't distracting?  Oh no, not at all.  And when my baby was screaming from the car seat?  That was nothing compared to driving, with both hands on the wheel and talking about what a nice day it is.  

I mean come on?  Seriously?  I'm sorry ___ who is sitting next to me in the passenger seat, we need to drive in silence and I can't look at you either, so if you could please wear this invisible cloak that would be great.

Johnny, mommy needs to drive, you know the rule, if you have to go potty, go in your pants, mommy is not allowed to listen to anything but the traffic.  

It's ok husband, I'll just sit here while you drive around getting lost on our way to your dad's funeral, we can't talk, the big brother monitor is on and we could be fined up to one million dollars.

We could all learn sign language but that would require taking your eyes off the road.  

I mean I can name tons of things I have personally done in my car that are more dangerous than talking on a hands free phone in the car.  Here are my top twenty in no particular danger order.

1) reaching back into the back seat to give a bottle to one of my kids when they were babies, or a cookie, or a toy or whatever.

2) reaching into the back seat in an attempt to gently smack one of my kids because they were distracting me by hitting their sibling for the last hour.

3) reaching into my glove box or the seat next to me or sometimes the back seat to get something.

4) Looking at a map, ( same as reading a text).

5) eating and or drinking ( non alcohol ) while driving.

6) when I smoked, smoking while driving.  Actually, really dangerous when an ash flew somewhere in the car. And then your like, shit, shit, shit, trying to see where it went and hoping your car doesn't start on fire.

7) Singing really loud to the radio while driving and then being distracted when I notice good looking man in the car next to me heard me and saw.

8. As I said, listening to crying, whining, fighting, bad singing, repetitive questions such as are we there yet, while driving.

9.  Having no where to pull over when one of the kids puked in the car.

10. checking my self out in the rear view mirror or visor mirror to make sure my make up was on right.

11.  Arguing with expunge while driving.

12.  Crying while arguing with expunge while driving.

13.  Crying for a reason, or no reason at all while driving.

14.  laughing really hard while driving.

15. Sneezing ( which makes you close your eyes ) while driving.

16. having period cramps while driving.

17. Had braxton hicks ( mini contractions) while driving when pregnant.

18.  Have to pee really bad, while driving.

19.  got a massive migraine while driving.

20.  had an eyelash fall into my eye while driving.

I mean, lets just ban driving all together.  In fact, America is fat anyway, the walking will do us good.

I understand safety.  I don't want people to die. I eventually got used to the seat belt law, even though I still find it uncomfortable.  And I used to wish for the days, on long trips, when there was no seat belt law, especially for the whining kids.  I just wanted to throw them in the back of a station wagon, like when I was a kid. 

In reality, being on a cell phone in the car has actually made me a safer driver at times.  If I need to vent, I can just talk to someone and calm down.  Better than driving all angry.  If I am lost, I have had someone calmly direct me, rather than panic.  Telling someone a creepy guy is on my ass, is better than freaking out about it alone.  Sometimes it has kept me awake when tired.

Can we just draw the line somewhere?  Because honestly, if you are not prepared to ban driving all together, forget it.  There are at least 20 more things that can distract you while driving.  I'm fine with the hands free, especially since my friend gave it to me for free.  But that's where I draw the line.

 

Please give me your opinion but only if you agree.  Just kidding, GOD!  You Xangans are so sensitive.  I really want to know what you think. 

Okay my photos for today, not blog related just, because.

 

 

 

Today is the 10th anniversary of 9-11 as anyone who is alive knows.

¤*¨¨*¤.¸¸ ...¸.¤
9/11 AMERICA
.¸.¤*¨¨*¤ .¸¸.¸.¤*
..
☻/
/▌
/ NEVER FORGET!!! .....keep the flag going

 

And I was thinking, something good that came from that horrible time, was the way the country came together.  But I also remember people being very prejudice ( not racist, as Muslims or Islamics are practicing a religion)  against all Muslims.  I was hearing things like their religion in general was violent, they encourage suicide missions, they ALL hate Americans, and they are all responsible for 9-11.  And I know many people feel this way today.

 Now I could pretend to know all about the Muslim religion ( Islamic), or I could do research to disprove this.  But that's a waste of time.  All I know is ALL religions have extremists, people have killed in the name of other religions, and anyone read the old testament lately?   There is big time violence going on there, with the stoning for small infractions, and in general just some uncool things going on. And we know many people have turned Christianity upside down, and there has been the whole cult thing, and mass suicide, and pedophilia, and I could go on and on. I also knew a family who was Islamic and practiced the Muslim faith and they were some of the nicest people I have ever met.  I hear that the Koran says some things that could be misinterpreted.  And obviously some do misinterpret it, including people who aren't even of that faith.  

  However, in my humble opinion, and from my experience, people also misinterpret the Judea/Christian bible.  Now remember, I just said in my OPINION.  And you may be surprised to know, I don't care.  I really don't.  But as some people have said about homosexuality " just don't try and force it on me."  

Which is sort of ironic really, because I have been proselytized to more times than I can count, but a homosexual has NEVER tried to get me to be one of them, substitute any of my beliefs for their own, made me feel bad about myself and my culture, my identity, or my religion of origin.

But I have had MANY, mainly, evangelical Christians do just that.  I used to get very upset, but now I realize they are doing that because one, their teachings tell them to, two, they genuinely care about me and my well being now and in the after life, and three, they are really super excited about their faith.  

It would be like if I found gold or something.  I'm not trying to trivialize it, I am just making a analogy.

You may be wanting me to get to the part about " what this Xanga Jew believes..."  and I will, but I have something else to say first.

Some of my best friends are Christian.  I don't mean the pretend kind, who never go to church, and the last time they saw a bible was at the Holiday Inn, I mean very faithful, strong, Christians.  And we really are friends.  I'm not just saying that.  Like you know how some people say some of their best friends are black or gay, but really they just know some black and gay people and aren't mean, so they feel like they can say it? No, these are real friends.

And it's not just Xanga friends, although I do have a lot of Xanga friends who are very strong in their Christian beliefs, and deep down may even think there is a good chance I'm not getting past any pearly gates.  

These are real life friends, we have socialized many times, friends. 

Now both on Xanga and in real life, these are kind of unlikely friendships.  Not because I dislike the Christian religion, but more because I dislike being preached to. Part of the reason I am friends with these people is they don't do that and the other part is they are REAl. And I can be myself back.

Now, like I said, if it makes you feel better waisting your breath, and actually totally turning me off to Christianity, proselytize away.  I may argue some points, if I'm in the mood, or I may listen.  It is very doubtful we will be friends in any real sense of the word, and it is very likely you have made me dislike your religion ( at least in the short term.) But I understand your need.

You may be wondering what I meant by "and they're real" or you may have stopped reading by now and said " who cares?"  But if you are still reading I am going to give an example of two friends, well three really, since one is a couple.

These friends believe the same things, religiously, I know this because I know them and what churches they attend etc..

Friend one, who will be blocked from seeing this on Facebook, is a childhood friend.  One of my VERY BEST friends.  She became born again.  Friend one sat in my kitchen for HOURS one day until I was in tears.  Friend one apologized, but didn't really seem sorry.  Friend one basically said in so many words, I was stupid, going to hell, my religion that I grew up with was wrong, nothing in my life was going to work out, and on and on.  Now she said it by bible quoting, and smiling, and throwing out the love word throughout, but thats not really what I heard. And I knew exactly what she meant.

She also told her three year old daughter at the time to " get happy".  She explained something about a sermon in church and her Christian mentor or something, saying kids need to be joyful.

Well I did say something about that!  I told her, people, especially overly tired, three year olds, get cranky.  I told her, she can get that big old paddle out, that she uses with love, and knock the crankiness out, but she was going to end up with a little Stepford kid.  And lets be honest, Stepford kids are scary. And not REAl. 

Friends two and three, a couple, have NEVER tried to bring me into the fold.  I feel respected by them, and they may be praying for me, but they do it privately, and they don't tell me " we're praying for you."

Actually, I find we have a lot of things in common. For example, the husband loves to sing and I love to listen to his amazing voice. His wife is very funny, she isn't  a prude, but she doesn't drop the F bomb all the time  ( like I do) and she isn't quite as open as I am when talking about sex.

 But she is a real person.  They are people I can relate to on a human being level.  They are GENUINELY nice people, not just because they have to be, cause Jesus said.  They don't pretend to be perfect, and therefore don't come off as sanctimonious ass holes ( another word they probably don't use).

If I had to guess, they use the bible and groups from church to help them conduct their lives.  I would guess that their marriage, which really seems solid ( although one never knows), has benefited from their core beliefs and their Christianity. But they don't say, " oh Laura, it's so sad you're DIVORCED!"  " If you were a believer, and you and expunged followed some simple Christian marital steps, you too could be holding hands all the time, and giving each other loving looks, after a million years of marriage" Instead, they lead by example.  They make me want to be a better person. ( Yes, I just said that, but it's true)  They show me that some marriages can work.  They show me that you don't have to be judgmental, nor should you be, if you are a true Christian.  Nor do you have to walk around with a fake smile all the time, while dropping bible quotes every five minutes.  Nope, you can just be yourself. By NOT gossiping incessantly, or swearing all day, and NOT making others feel bad, by being kind and generous and NONJUDGEMENTAL you are showing me a small taste of what I think Jesus was like.  And isn't that the goal?  I mean from the little I know, aside of the miracles and walking on water etc... he sounds like he was likable and could relate to people, and wasn't pompous at all, hence the whole people following him thing. 

Anyway, the above ramblings are meant to demonstrate  how I feel about Muslims and Christians.  It's the same way I feel about Atheists, black people, grandmothers, and store clerks.  If you are nice, semi normal, funny, cool like me, then I like you.  If you are boring, pompous, elitist, pushy, and fake, I don't like you.

As far as my belief in G-d.  I do believe in a deity, that I call G-d.  I do some Jewish things ( like I just left the O out of G-d), but I am inconsistent and I really don't think I will be punished if I put the O in.  

I believe in a human connection to a spiritual being ( if that makes sense). I believe we are not just the body and we do have a spirit.  I really felt it after I gave birth the first time.  I thought there has to be something bigger, because I had sex with expunged and now I am holding a human being, that we created.  And that was and still is an amazing miracle to me.  And I really felt G-ds presence.  And I don't think it was just the relief of not having to push the giant head out of my down there anymore. 

I eat shell fish, I don't think homosexuality is wrong, and I think Jesus was a great spiritual teacher as well as others who have been on this earth. I think the bible has been and still is misinterpreted many times by man.  And I think people use it for their own fears and prejudices.  I think man ( and woman) may be doing a real diservice to what Jesus really wanted to teach, but I acknowledge I may be 100 % wrong.  

I don't have the answers, It's all based on faith. I think all faiths or no faith, is fine.  I understand that infuriates some people and I understand at the very least they think I'm lost. And that's fine with me. As long as you are not causing harm to your fellow human beings, the planet, or our little animal friends, it's all good.  I know, simplistic, but whatever. That's me.  Whatever brings you peace is what brings you peace.  It's none of my business actually, I think it can be a very personal thing. But if you want to share, go for it.  

I think people need to do what works for them. And I think others need to respect that, even if they disagree strongly.

I will probably never vote the same way as friends two and three.  I'm 99% sure we have some fundmental differences in what we believe socially and spiritually. But I can say I love them and enjoy their company just as much as I enjoy people who think just like me.  Maybe even more, because who wants a bunch of Stepford clones running around.

 

A couple of my photos today reflect the theme.  The first one is a boy at work.  I am not allowed to show his face, so I hope it's not recognizable, because I am in love with this photo.  The second one is self explanatory. The third one I call stairway to heaven. I took it at a Seminary, near expunged's house.  The rest random.  I hope you like them.

 

 

Sometimes I wonder about graffiti, who wrote it and why.  For example here is some bathroom graffiti I found the other night, in a stall, of a bar I was at.  This bar was really gross, so I would have expected worse graffiti.  My feet stuck to the floor of the bathroom and I just hoped that was beer and not something else.

You may be wondering why I was at said gross bar.  Well, one of my son's best friends is going back to an even worse place, Afghanistan, for the second time.  He is a marine and his friends were giving him a little send off bash.  Which has nothing to do with graffiti, it's just a back story.

Anyway, I had my camera and I thought this was picture worthy.

 

Why is Ron Burgundy in the woman's stall?  Is it really Ron or Ronnie?   And it's very faint but someone wrote FML, which is sad.  Were they broken up with?  Were they just upset about the sticky floor?    Were they angry that Ron was in the stall earlier.

I love the rich guys too.  I mean some are probably jerks and it's kind of a broad statement, but I can understand why the person wrote it.  They were probably upset, in a dive bar, with no rich guys, and buying their own.  Not to mention the drinks were either watered down or my tolerance went way up. I'm pretty sure a rich guy would take you to a place with good, strong, booze.

I don't know Marisa Garcia, but she must have done something pretty bad to be told she was a bitch on the stall.

Humm, drunk and barbecue sauce?  Seems like a bad idea, I wonder how they did?  I am hoping Jeff wasn't in the actual stall and it was a girl who liked Jeff.

Not that I am against unisex bathrooms, but this wasn't one, and I don't mind girls named Jeff but I don't know any.

 

This was graffiti I saw on a church in NY. I think it says Soul, so I suppose that's appropriate graffiti.  But I'm not 100% sure that's what it says, it might say Saul, which means Saul or someone who loved Saul, really thought a lot of him to write his giant name on a church wall. That's the problem with wall graffiti, it can be hard to read at times.

This was in Chicago, I think it says sane.  I'm glad they told the world their mental condition on a random wall, it's important we know.

I know somewhere on this wall it definitely says Chicago, but the big yellow letters?  I'm not sure, I was guessing Black, but I thought that might seem racist.  Maybe it's book, they like to write, maybe they like to read too. Under the K is a RIP which is sad, especially since the Black, Book lover clearly wrote over the RIP, which is kind of disrespectful if you ask me.

 

 

I have no idea what the two walls above say.  It's like those pictures or words people find in the midst of a design.  Yeah, I'm bad at those.

 

 

NY scribbles.

 

These two are pretty, all love and peace.  This was on a basketball court in NY.  It really brightened things up, considering the court wasn't all that nice.

 

On the whole, I like graffiti, it is usually a nice artistic touch in an otherwise ugly place.  Sometimes I wish it were more clear and legible and as in the case of the stall, it would have been nice to know why Marsia was a bitch.

Had it been me I think I would have written Marisa is a bitch because...

But I guess I'm more of a story teller.  Apparently, people who tag up bathroom stalls, just really want to make the statement and be done.  

I have never seen anything about me on a bathroom wall, but I do remember, my daughter Jennie was written about in high school.  I think it was something, that if she were to do it, woud mean she was a lesbian.  Jennie is straight, and only 14 when the statement was written, so she was upset.  I think I would be flattered, even if it was a lie, or mean like that poor bitch Marisa.  It means someone thinks your important enough to write about,while going potty no less.  That's pretty important stuff right there.

 

 Maybe some day I'll write a blog on a wall or door.  I will leave room for comments.  In the mean time, I'll stick with xanga.  If I do write a graffiti blog, I'll be sure to post it, in case you don't go in the bathroom where it's written.

The photos I am posting today, sort of go along with my graffiti post, so enjoy.  I hope you are reading this after having a wonderful day of barbecues and parties, but hopefully not filled with barbecue sauce while drunk.

 

 

So we have all gotten them, the FWD in 2 sec. #Emails/#chain letters and get millions of dollars or die a horrible death.

This always puts me in a quandary.  I can die, after starvation and thirst and then spontaneously combust into flames and then be thrown in an ocean and drown. Or I could have money coming in like I just opened the money flood gates.

Not that I believe these Emails, because in the past none of these has happened, even though I definitely sent it to 10 people within 10 min. while jumping up and down, and singing home on the range.  

And I'm pretty sure it never worked for other people either, and if did I'm pissed.

If you are my supposed friend or relative that actually started to have money trees grow in your back yard as a result of sending me the stressful Email, you need to share.

You are the one, who made me think things like the following

" Well this is bullshit, just delete" Then I stare at the part that says, delete and be VERY sorry"  Damn, I don't want to die by getting chopped up in a wood chip thing. And I am broke"  Well of course that won't happen, but what if it does?  How hard is it to send this? Besides it's a nice message about how this poor kid in Africa crawled a million miles with no legs to his mother in another village.  It's not like I'm passing on porn. And what about the poor Aids, Cancer, burn victim, who will get 1 cent every time you forward?  What about them? I don't want them to die, penniless. I mean I know this has been going around for 15 years, but still. It could be true. Sure I'm pissed off at ____ who sent it to me, so people will be mad at me too, but wow, wood chipper? " I mean do I REALLY want to risk the .1 % of this happening?  I need to find people on my Email list who won't get angry or I don't care if they are."  " Oh, here's one, I never talk to them, who cares, they can sit and wring their hands over this, now to find 9 more losers"  " Wait, did ____ think I was a loser when they sent it to ME?" " Omg, I'm obviously not on the nice and don't mind these stupid Emails list, so I must be on the I don't care if I annoy them list"  " How hurtful, I thought we were friends" " Well, next time they send me one of those you are my friend, send it back to show that I am your friend too, guess what?"  " They aren't getting anything back" NOTHING.  They can sit and wonder why too.  

 

So if this person is not sharing their new found enormous wealth with me, I think we need to break it off as friends.  I mean seriously! You are going to make me have to worry about whether or not I should forward this stupid Email and then you are not even sharing the big bucks you got by forwarding it to me?  I mean I would share my part of the the pot, even with people who got the Email because they were on my " I don't really like you list". And guess what jerk?  When you say " I usually don't send these but...? F#$K you, I just got one from you last week and the week before.

Sometimes, you don't get money straight out, you get years of good or bad luck, love or die with no one, or a free tour of Willy Wanka's Chocolate Factory, or you become allergic to all things that taste good.

Either way, it's a risk I don't want to take.  

But to be honest, if you really like me, please don't send those pieces of crap Emails to me anymore that I am forced to forward.  I understand you are in the same position as me, but take me off your lists, I am on to the game. And truthfully, I think that girl with no face, who lives in an orphanage has more money than me, or they are no longer a girl, but a faceless grandmother.

 

Comment, rec, and facebook like this post or your flesh will rot and and you will die with your 500 cats and if you think walking under a ladder is bad, try ignoring this warning.

 

 My Photo signature's for today