MANDATORY HIATUS???????
Friday June 20, 2014 9:09 pm
I wonder how old a person has to be
before they stop accepting dares? At least for me (apparently) 58 is
not old enough :) I'm not exactly sure (even though I keep playing
the conversation over in my mind) how temporarily stopping writing on
my blog came into this dare? I think it was to expedite the
completion of the dare, but I'm not completely certain? At first I
didn't accept, even though it was an offhand comment of mine that
initiated the dare in the first place. I initially declined, and not
because I didn't think I would enjoy the challenge and neither was it
because I thought I couldn't do what was dared. I both wanted to
comply... and I felt I would be up to it!!! BUT... I wasn't sure
about the length of time I was given as I have other obligations in
my life as well. So, it isn't like I can devote all my time to
this... even though that sounds great! Nevertheless, here it is!
One week ago today the 'darer' (…..)
made their dare: I, (Robin) the 'daree' refused :) Then the stakes
were upped and I was given a “double dog dare” followed by a
smirk! I wanted to make sure this person knew what a double dog dare
meant? If memory served me, and it usually does, then that would mean
that this person who dared me (and if I accomplished the dare) would
also have to perform the same dare that I did. Without batting an eye
this person said they both could do it and would look forward to it:
so... game on!!! Although, in truth, it is impossible for it to be
EXACTLY the same dare we both are doing I think it will be near
enough alike to count?
Therefore I will be taking a break,
hiatus, leave of absence, or whatever word or phrase best fits in the
interim between this post and when I next write. I was informed only
this afternoon that tomorrow... the fun can commence!!!!!!!
This contest is in a sense open
ended... meaning that I now have a starting time but not exactly an
ending time: and because of that I'm not altogether sure when I will
write my next blog: but it WILL NOT be until I finish and win this
double dog dare! (Even in small things like this I can be competitive
and am greatly looking forward to beginning!)
Until I write again I hope all who
reads this has fun in all that they do!
ANOTHER ANNIVERSARY (OF SORTS) IS COMING UP
Wednesday June 18, 2014 3:23 pm
In less than two weeks I will mark 20
years since I became a vegetarian... mostly? I suppose I'm somewhat
like Penny on The Big Bang Theory as she said to Sheldon in the pilot
episode: “I'm a vegetarian. Well, except for fish, and the
occasional steak. I love steak!” I just now watched this clip for
the first time. So far I have watched it four times and I laughed
every time at how she emphasized that she, “... loves steak!!! Her
mannerisms are cute also :) After she said that Sheldon replied,
“Well, that's interesting. Leonard can't process corn.” LOL!!!
(
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNo0i-bwIRM)
There have been three times in my life
when I (on purpose) decided to eat flesh after I quit for good on
June 30, 1994. The first time I ate meat was after I became sick
several years ago and I stupidly decided that I might know why that
happened? Because of those thoughts I decided to buy, prepare, and
eat fish. (My reason for doing that now seems silly to me.) I also
ate raw fish while on a trip one time and I again ate raw fish some
months later as a follow up to that first time. Other than that I
guess I'm like Penny... (mostly) “vegetarian?”
For some odd reason it always seemed a
little easier for me to do anything in life that I decide I might
want to try if I have a starting date which seems important to me.
So, in 1994 I knew a date was coming when the world's atomic clocks
would stop for approximately one second in order to allow accurate
time to be kept. Every few years they must do this as the Earth's
rotation slows and our clocks are not totally in sync with the Earth.
I think over the last 40 years this has happened a couple of dozen
times? Anyway, now (and in my mind) I pretend that I quit eating meat
on the day that 'time stood still.' I admit this is both childish and
stupid: nonetheless it helps me to keep doing those things I want to
do whenever I can remind myself of when and why I stopped... or
started something? Also, on the childish part of my life and the
things I do. Well, I know that if a person lives long enough then
growing and looking old is mandatory, but I figure 'growing up' is
optional... and I have simply chosen not to do that :) (Just last week I had a person tell me that I was the "... most fun..." person she knew. I liked that because this person is still very young.)
Before I finally quit eating meat at 38
years of age and many years before while just barely out of my teen
years I had tried to become a vegetarian even back then. But, I
failed in that attempt after just a little over one year of eating
only vegetables and fruit. At that time I failed not because of a
lack of self-restraint, but I thought the right thing to do was to
eat what was set before me even though it had been cooked with meat
in it. Anyway, I didn't make any serious attempt to stop eating meat
again for nearly 20 years... with one very brief exception.
It was 1993 and I was 37 and at that
time I hadn't eaten meat for five or six months. My wife and I had
been invited to eat dinner with someone we hadn't seen for about
three years. We drove to her place and I never even thought to
mention that I wasn't eating meat, so when we arrived at her trailer
she proudly showed us what she had fixed for us: fried chicken! (Lol)
I just smiled and told her that it looked, “delicious” and I
caught my wife's eye to make sure that she wouldn't say anything
about me not eating meat. (I didn't want to hurt this person's
feelings as I imagined she had spent some time trying to prepare what
she thought I might like.)
So, the next time I decided to quit I
was 38 and July 4, 1994 was fast approaching and we had already been
invited to a cookout. This time I told everyone (well ahead of that
date) that I was planning on becoming vegetarian and I would bring my
own things to grill. (This time there was no real chance of hurting
anyone's feelings as nothing they cooked would have been prepared
especially for me.)
So, maybe it's true... the third time really is a
charm for 1994 was the third time I had attempted to stop eating
flesh and for the most part it has worked. Of course, not
withstanding my fish dinner and now twice with sushi. The thought of
a California Roll with soy sauce and Wasabi is making my mouth
actually water :) However, I will refrain from actually eating it
again but in my mind I will always remember how good it tasted!
“Honey Moon” (PLUS AN ADDED PICTURE @ 11:50 pm)
Friday June 13, 2014 6:31 pm
I'm maybe one of only a handful of
people out there who likes this??? I actually like going to the
dentist and having my teeth cleaned! Seriously :) I had my
appointment today at 10:40 and as always whenever I leave there I
like the way my mouth feels really clean and I keep running my tongue
over my teeth. By the way, me liking my dentist visits has almost
nothing to do with the very lovely dental hygienist with the
beautiful and soulful eyes. I mean, what else is there to look at for
45 minutes as she is vigorously working on my mouth and just mere
inches from my face :)
I will say though... I would not look
forward at all to my regular appointments if they would be done by
the male doctor who always comes in to examine her work whenever
Melissa is finished. He seems nice, but all I could see when he
leaned over me was the hair growing (unchecked) out of his nose... I
wanted to vomit: honestly!!! I had to close my eyes and I tried to
picture her face instead. Did I ever tell you (my readers) that I
have a weak stomach: I really do.
Now, about tonight. Our full Moon
tonight can be referred to as a “honey” Moon (more likely to
appear yellow in color in the night sky than any other full Moon of
the year) and more people are married in June than any other month.
Therefore, some couples marry in this month so they can celebrate
their “Honeymoon” beneath a “Honey” Moon. Neat, huh?
In certain cultures
it is also called a “Hot” Moon (because of the start of summer)
and even a “strawberry” Moon... because of the very short season
that strawberries are harvested and this happens in the month of
June. Tired yet of hearing about the Moon??? One more thing and I
will be done with this part. Tonight, beneath a full yellow Moon I
will look heavenward and think long, deep, and terribly sad thoughts:
then, as before, I will try and put it behind me :(
(Now, the real
reason I'm writing today.)
Not unlike millions of others I have
been sad for a very long time. For awhile now I have been in an
active process of doing things that might help me to not feel that
way... but I can't say for sure if it has helped? Maybe??? I know
that part of it is that I can't forget things. And I know that
certain things in life are better to be forgotten but I don't know
how? So, I have made a decision to at the least stop one thing I do.
I often commemorate sad events as they come unbidden to my mind...
dates, anniversaries, etc. Usually I would write about them. In
the past I thought maybe it was cathartic and it might even help
me??? But, I'm not sure? Anyway, I'm hoping this will be the last
time I ever put into writing anything sad that has happened in my
life.
Tomorrow will be 28 years to the day
that my mom died. In 1986 and in the month of June the Friday before
she died was just like today... the 13th. Because I remember hoping that if she
died it wouldn't be on the 13th. I'm really not superstitious...
Friday the 13th is really no different than Saturday the 14th: (the
day she died) nonetheless I was still glad she made it past that Friday.
(If for no other reason than Mom was a bit superstitious herself, and
I guess I wasn't sure if it would have bothered her?)
Someone dying is not the only way that
it's possible to irrevocably lose a much loved one... I have lost people
I've loved in all ways possible I think? They all hurt! Then, whenever I lose again I have always found myself writing about it on paper... through poems, songs, or just recording my thoughts and feelings so I could remind myself of my loss. I have even had myself inked in order to commemorate both sad... and even much happier times :)
So... today I'm trying something different and new: never again will I mention a sad day I've had
and remind myself in writing why it was so very sad for me :( Instead, because I can't seem to forget dates, and times, and places... as those days approach I will stay away from this blog and write nothing at all. Neither will I write long letters to myself knowing none but me would ever read the words I wrote. In the past... hours without end when I could not find sleep I would sit in a darkened room and just type, all night sometimes... then, I would read what I wrote and then delete it as if nothing was ever written. Over the years I probably have written volumes like this :(
I know that once I sit down at a keyboard and begin typing (even now) my heart fills up with emotion and I can barely control what I write... so, I will just stay away from my desk and this blog during the bad times for me. Maybe it will help? We shall see.
I hope everyone who reads this has a
good day today. And if you are not having a good day... call your dentist and go and get your teeth cleaned, maybe that will help improve your mood?
*** I just got home and thought I would add a picture: smoking a cigar and drinking an ice cold rum drink... nice evening :) ***
ONCE MORE UNTO THE BREECH, DEAR FRIENDS, ONCE MORE...
Friday June 6, 2014 11:53 am
A few weeks ago when I posted my last
blog I had no real intention of writing again: in reality I had made
no decision to stop either... I was just uncaring either way: to write or not?
Sometimes things happen in life and
we make conscious decisions and choices which lead us down uncertain
paths: in turn those choices caused me to lose interest and just
decide that I was no longer going to waste anymore of my time by
writing. (As I now had other interests to pursue.)
With those few thoughts in mind I thought
that today I would waste a little bit more of my life and yours, if
you read this, and catch up whoever is reading any of this crap I
write with a few things I have planned. (At the end of this blog this
morning is the real reason I am writing today as I would like to once again ask a favor of any readers
who might read this and actually be saved and who might know how to
pray expecting real results.)
I scheduled this day off a couple of
months ago as there is something I have planned to do later tonight.
Also in about 90 minutes I begin a new exercise regimen with a friend and with a
specific goal in mind... the John Muir Trail. This one I think is
achievable for me as it can be done in only about three weeks: 211
miles. The Appalachian Trail for me is just one of my many pipe
dreams that will never happen. I just do not have the opportunity to
leave work for six months and still try to honor my other
commitments. Three weeks though is doable for me, but even that will
have to wait until sometime next year as I already have most of my
vacation days scheduled for other things this year.
Now, to my request... first though, a
story. My youngest daughter was only about four at the time and she
had heard others call me Rob, or Robin. Even though she knew better
than to use my first name because I had told her before she could not
address me as others do because she was my child... yet, one day she
decided to try. Instead of calling me Dad or Daddy when she wanted
something from me she called me “Robin.”
I had already planned for this
eventuality as I decided I would do exactly what
God does to us when we completely disobey Him... I ignored her
completely. I did not rebuke her or scold her, I just simply ignored
her. For several minutes she walked around me calling my name as I
continued what I was doing, but I acted as if she just didn't exist.
She tried over and over and over to get my attention... but, she was
invisible to me.
Finally, I could hear real panic in her
voice and she cried out, “Daddy!” I looked concerned like it was the
first time I heard her talk to me and I lifted her little chin with
my hand and said, “What is it Pumpkin?” I saw relief flood her
face... and she never again tried to disobey me in that same way.
Naturally I had heard her all along, but I would not answer her until
she did what I had told her to do, which is the same way God treats
us.
If there can
ever be a problem from me having read the Bible too much it might be
only this: the number of verses which immediately floods my mind to
show my complete hypocrisy. Matthew 15:8: “
This people draweth
nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but
their heart is far from me.”
(Have you done that? Sing and honor Him with your lips... but live
like the devil in your real life.)
Luke 6:46: “And why call ye me,
Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (If He were
really your Lord... would you
sin the sin you are sinning.)
John 9:31:
“
Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a
worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.”
(Notice... not just a worshipper... but, DOETH his will are the only
ones He hears.)
Even now at least ten other verses are
in my mind which all teach the very same truth. God ignores us
completely and does not hear our prayers and cries when we are
knowingly, openly, and willfully ignoring His written commands.
Yet,
whenever we want or need something from Him which He alone can give,
then we pretend piety and godliness and we promise we are quitting
certain sins. But, He knows we are liars (because He sees our future)
and sadly He watches us fulfill again, and again, and again, to
infinitum... Proverbs 26:11: “
As a dog returneth to his
vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.”
You would think as nasty as vomit is... which God depicts here as our
sins: that we wouldn't want to get on our knees and lick it up, but
that is EXACTLY what we do!
There is a reason I'm telling you
this... is has to do with my request I would like to now make. There
was a time in my life when I could pray and expect real results, but
I had a real faith and I was in no open sin... that is sin which is
hidden to the world but of course open to God. So now, if I need
something from Him I try and encourage others to pray about it
because they might not be living as a hypocrite? We somehow foolishly
believe it makes us OK because others around us think we are real...
God doesn't though: He knows us!
So, if you are anything like me then
you ought to quit pretending and wasting your breath and quit asking
because He simply is not listening to you. Psalms 66:18: “If I
regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will
not hear me:”
Proverbs
1:23-30: “Turn
you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will
make known my words unto you. Because I have called, and ye
refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye
have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I
also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a
whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they
call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but
they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not
choose the fear of the Lord:
They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
(Can you imagine God, who we
think of as only loving and kind actually laughing at us when we cry
to Him. Yep, it's because we did not fear Him and we did not turn
away and stop our sinning when He commanded us to do that. Now,
according to the Bible which believers say they believe... it is now
His turn to mock us when we cry to Him. You see, it's our open sin
that constantly mocks God... and He hates that!)
Without a Concordance or a Google
search I could add another dozen verses and passages and all of them
say the same thing... God simply does not hear a person who is
dishonoring Him with their own (known) selfish sins: period!
So, if you, like me, are in reality nothing
better than a “vomit licking dog” you ought to stop wasting your
breath, and even your tears and turn to others who are real in their
faith and ask them to pray for your needs. Then, if prayers get
answered you can pretend in your heart as I have done that He still
listens to you. Believe me... it's just the coattails of real believers that you
are riding on.
With those thoughts in mind if you are
saved, and you are actually living like it in your daily life...
would you please pray for someone my wife told me about a few minutes
ago, and who is in dire need of prayer. And, “Please” ... I'm only asking
for prayer from those who are sincere believers and whose lives
reflect their stated belief. Thanks.
