I try not to talk politics on this blog (that's what the *other* blog, http://bigbadwolf.today.com/ , is for), but since the "this day in history" box at the bottom of the page talks about it, I figured what the hey, it's an important enough topic for both blogs. First of all, for my Jewish friends (and yes, I do have some), please remember that I gave serious consideration to joining your faith in the past, have great respect for you and your beliefs, and rally am your friend. I say that, because every time I bring up the truth about Israel, Jewish people get mad at me.
See, while most of Americans today talk about Israel as if it's always been there, it is really important to remember that, as a Nation, it's only 61 years old, and that it was established as a "National Home for Jewish People" by the British, after they gained control of the region by beating the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire in World War I. More importantly, Israel was NOT the first choice of the British for the Jewish homeland, Kenya was. It's true, look up "British Uganda Program". In fact, Israel was one of 5, yes FIVE, proposed "homelands" for the Jewish people. Hitler's original plan was to send them all to Madagascar, Russia had a plan to send them to Siberia, and Japan had a plan to "invite" them to Manchuria and/or Shanghai.
The point here being that, even though Israelis and most Jewish people in America consider Israel theirs by right of it being their "homeland", they are invaders, dispossessing the native people who have lived there since the beginning of recorded history- the Palestinians. Even the Tanakh (the first five books of the Old Testament) refers to those people who alread lived in Israel when the Hebrews led by Moses (well, Aaron at that point) finally found it after wandering in the desert. Even if one counts Israel as the Jewish/Hebrew homeland from that time, when it was called Palestine, the non-jewish natives, who stayed and eventually converted to Islam, were already there.
Does this mean I am anti-semitic and/or anti-zionist? Of course not, I find much to respect and admire in the Jewish faith, and I really like the Jewish people that I know, so I'm not anti-semitic, and I agree that all of the Jewish people should be able to return to their "Promised Land", so I'm not really anti-zionist. What I am is honest and informed about the whole story, and I think that, rather than trying to force each other out, both the Palestinians AND the Israelis should think long and hard about what it's like to want a True Homeland, and admit that Israel *is* the True Homeland for BOTH OF THEM. Compromise, give each other the respect that each of your faiths *require* you to give those of other faiths, and share God's Gift to each of you with your neighbors. One might even think that THAT is what Jehovah/Allah (bbhn) intended in the first place.
And yes, I also considered converting to Islam at one point, too. It's amazing how far apart two supposedly devout religious groups can be when their Holy Books are so very much alike. Read them both, you'll see what I mean.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
And now for something completely different
If you know me, you know about Wendy, at least to some extent. If you are someone who just stumbled upon my blog (got introduced to it by a friend, whatever), you undoubtedly have no clue who Wendy is, so I shall explain, as best I can.
In 1997, Wendy was my co-worker. She became a very supportive friend as I dealt with my divorce from my first wife, Drue (yes, that's how she spells it, don't blame me). Around that same time, Wendy was just ending her 10-year relationship with Tony. In 1998 we began dating, and after several discussions about living together/commitment, on Halloween I proposed, and we moved in together. On Christmas day, we got married in Vegas. Because of various personal issues of mine, I was not a good husband. I did not actually cheat on her, but I came very close. July 31, 1999, my dad (stepfather) died back home in Montana. When I went home for the funeral, I felt it imperative that I move home to help my mom deal with things without dad. Wendy, even though our marriage was on the fence, decided to give me one more chance to be the husband she needed and deserved, and moved with me. By the end of 2001, it was clear that I wasn't accomplishing the task at hand, and on Valentine's Day (the only court date available at the time) our divorce was finalized. A few months later, it became clear to us that, while we weren't very good at being married, we were even worse at being divorced, and we got back together. Then we broke up again. Then we got back together again. Then we got separate places, and "just dated". Then, in 2005, we were both back in college, and looking at the University of Utah for grad school and such, and her grandmother needed shoulder surgery and someone to help her take care of herself, as she was in the early stages of Alzheimer's. So, we both moved back to Utah, still "dating", with separate apartments, but mine right above hers in the same complex. I was still working through those issues, getting better, then in 2006 I made a decision that she felt was an absolute betrayal (no, not a woman, it was a money thing). We were already in the process of looking for a house to move into together, and after a LOT of discussion and emotional debate, we decided that, even though we were living together in the house, it was not a permanent situation, that one day down the road we would split up again, permanently. See, I had destroyed her trust, and that can't be fixed, ever. Well, because God is an Iron, or Fate hates me, or I owe some serious Karma, or pure chance, little back and arm and leg and neck problems finally hit overload, and my spine basically gave up. Turns out I have Spondylosis, spinal arthritis, and between the pain and spasms and loss of control and pain and the drugs to try and control it all, I can't work anymore, April 2007.
Well, Wendy tried to hang on, but she was miserable, terribly depressed, hating coming home to me (not because of the disability, because of the trust), so she finally said "that's it".
What makes it really funny is that I had finally conquered all those issues, and for the first time in my life I was breaking up with someone and didn't have a "rebound" girl right handy. I finally understood the concepts of "til death do us part", and true monogamy (no flirting, no internet "chatting"), and the one person I wanted to live the rest of my life with said "we'll still be friends".
So now, we live in the same house, have separate bedrooms, and are moving on with our separate lives. Wendy, being a very attractive, slim, intelligent, witty woman who looks much younger than she is and who is also still a college student, has had no trouble finding some dates and getting over me. Our marriage and relationship are fond memories, but she has no interest in me anymore, I'm just a roomate who constantly needs a ride somewhere.
I, on the other hand, being a "morbidly obese" (according to my doctors), disabled, unemployed guy with no money to take a date anywhere, and no car to pick her up in the first place, am finding it VERY hard to even find a date, let alone finding someone who can help me get over Wendy. There is one "prospect" at this point, an SCA friend who is recently divorced herself, who definitely knows what it takes to get past the quagmire of emotions and memories, or at least how to start, so we are talking about giving it a try, going slow, and seeing what happens.
So, now you know about Wendy, my second ex-wife, best friend, former lover, and now just a roomate.
In 1997, Wendy was my co-worker. She became a very supportive friend as I dealt with my divorce from my first wife, Drue (yes, that's how she spells it, don't blame me). Around that same time, Wendy was just ending her 10-year relationship with Tony. In 1998 we began dating, and after several discussions about living together/commitment, on Halloween I proposed, and we moved in together. On Christmas day, we got married in Vegas. Because of various personal issues of mine, I was not a good husband. I did not actually cheat on her, but I came very close. July 31, 1999, my dad (stepfather) died back home in Montana. When I went home for the funeral, I felt it imperative that I move home to help my mom deal with things without dad. Wendy, even though our marriage was on the fence, decided to give me one more chance to be the husband she needed and deserved, and moved with me. By the end of 2001, it was clear that I wasn't accomplishing the task at hand, and on Valentine's Day (the only court date available at the time) our divorce was finalized. A few months later, it became clear to us that, while we weren't very good at being married, we were even worse at being divorced, and we got back together. Then we broke up again. Then we got back together again. Then we got separate places, and "just dated". Then, in 2005, we were both back in college, and looking at the University of Utah for grad school and such, and her grandmother needed shoulder surgery and someone to help her take care of herself, as she was in the early stages of Alzheimer's. So, we both moved back to Utah, still "dating", with separate apartments, but mine right above hers in the same complex. I was still working through those issues, getting better, then in 2006 I made a decision that she felt was an absolute betrayal (no, not a woman, it was a money thing). We were already in the process of looking for a house to move into together, and after a LOT of discussion and emotional debate, we decided that, even though we were living together in the house, it was not a permanent situation, that one day down the road we would split up again, permanently. See, I had destroyed her trust, and that can't be fixed, ever. Well, because God is an Iron, or Fate hates me, or I owe some serious Karma, or pure chance, little back and arm and leg and neck problems finally hit overload, and my spine basically gave up. Turns out I have Spondylosis, spinal arthritis, and between the pain and spasms and loss of control and pain and the drugs to try and control it all, I can't work anymore, April 2007.
Well, Wendy tried to hang on, but she was miserable, terribly depressed, hating coming home to me (not because of the disability, because of the trust), so she finally said "that's it".
What makes it really funny is that I had finally conquered all those issues, and for the first time in my life I was breaking up with someone and didn't have a "rebound" girl right handy. I finally understood the concepts of "til death do us part", and true monogamy (no flirting, no internet "chatting"), and the one person I wanted to live the rest of my life with said "we'll still be friends".
So now, we live in the same house, have separate bedrooms, and are moving on with our separate lives. Wendy, being a very attractive, slim, intelligent, witty woman who looks much younger than she is and who is also still a college student, has had no trouble finding some dates and getting over me. Our marriage and relationship are fond memories, but she has no interest in me anymore, I'm just a roomate who constantly needs a ride somewhere.
I, on the other hand, being a "morbidly obese" (according to my doctors), disabled, unemployed guy with no money to take a date anywhere, and no car to pick her up in the first place, am finding it VERY hard to even find a date, let alone finding someone who can help me get over Wendy. There is one "prospect" at this point, an SCA friend who is recently divorced herself, who definitely knows what it takes to get past the quagmire of emotions and memories, or at least how to start, so we are talking about giving it a try, going slow, and seeing what happens.
So, now you know about Wendy, my second ex-wife, best friend, former lover, and now just a roomate.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
And the answer is...
Nobody guessed at all! Oh well, the answer is TJ Thyne, Jack Hodgins on "Bones", appeared in multiple episodes of "Angel" as a lawyer at Wolfram and Hart, and Tamara Taylor, who plays Cam Saroyan on "Bones", was the teacher in "Serenity". A new question or two tomorrow!
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