Today I am obsessing over New Zealand. I really want to live there, and for some reason, this urge has become stronger in the past week. I think it might be partly due to the fact that the anniversary of my trip there last year is coming up in a week or two. I also started looking at houses to see what we could afford, and I found a beautiful one in a village where my kiwi-friend lives. *sigh*
So, today I am searching the immigration website, assessing my and Darren's chances of getting accepted for residency. The chances are actually pretty good - they work on the points system, and we are at the prime age and education level for the points.
There are other steps, though, such as a full blood/xray workup and a letter from the FBI saying I'm not a criminal etc. Oh, and there is a small matter of getting a job. Luckily, the fields we work in are in need of applicants there. In the town where we want to live.
I have to remember, though, that once I'm there it is a long flight to ANYWHERE. Also? The NZ Dollar is lower than almost all currencies with the exception of Asia and perhaps Canada. Wait, no, just checked..the NZ$ is lower than even the CD$.
They don't have Target or big department stores or the gourmet kitchen store that is in the Columbia Mall. No peanut butter or Reeses cups. Umm..I think there are other negatives, but I can't remember them right now. I'm obsessed, what can I say? It's a beautiful country with a government I am more comfortable with that isn't controlled by the religious right. And? No smoking in restaurants etc in the WHOLE country. Also? No tipping. Ever. For anything. Best of all? Lots and lots of cuddly sheep.
d
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Cult vs. Religion
I was recently reading an article about Mormanism - I think some sort of anniversary just passed. It got me to thinking about cults and religions. Why isn't Mormanism considered a cult? Or Scientology? They are both fairly young 'religions'. How are the Heaven's Gate people different from established religions?
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines cult as:
Main Entry: cult
Etymology: French & Latin; French culte, from Latin cultus care, adoration, from colere to cultivate
1 : formal religious veneration : WORSHIP
2 : a system of religious beliefs and ritual; also : its body of adherents
3 : a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious; also : its body of adherents
And religion:
Main Entry: re·li·gion
Etymology: Middle English religioun, from Latin religion-, religio supernatural constraint, sanction, religious practice, perhaps from religare to restrain, tie back
1 a : the state of a religious
b (1) : the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2) : commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance
2 : a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices
3 archaic : scrupulous conformity : CONSCIENTIOUSNESS
4 : a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith
They are both described as a "system of religious attitudes, beliefs and practices (rituals)", although a cult is considered unorthodox/false, while the definition of religion mentions God or the supernatural. The etymology is interesting too.
Was Mormanism ever considered a cult? Scientology? And why are cults bad and religions good?
d
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines cult as:
Main Entry: cult
Etymology: French & Latin; French culte, from Latin cultus care, adoration, from colere to cultivate
1 : formal religious veneration : WORSHIP
2 : a system of religious beliefs and ritual; also : its body of adherents
3 : a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious; also : its body of adherents
And religion:
Main Entry: re·li·gion
Etymology: Middle English religioun, from Latin religion-, religio supernatural constraint, sanction, religious practice, perhaps from religare to restrain, tie back
1 a : the state of a religious
b (1) : the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2) : commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance
2 : a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices
3 archaic : scrupulous conformity : CONSCIENTIOUSNESS
4 : a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith
They are both described as a "system of religious attitudes, beliefs and practices (rituals)", although a cult is considered unorthodox/false, while the definition of religion mentions God or the supernatural. The etymology is interesting too.
Was Mormanism ever considered a cult? Scientology? And why are cults bad and religions good?
d
Friday, October 21, 2005
Friday musings
A week or two ago, so many things were happening each day I decided I should have a blog just to talk/write stuff out. And now I can't remember any of those things, and this week has been fairly uneventful. Today I will just write about a very strange albeit upsetting dream I had last night:
I was dead,and I knew I was dead. I was in a holding room of sorts; one that looked like a stripped down version of my living room. There was a couch and a loveseat, both covered with off-white slipcovers, a coffee table and an (empty) entertainment center. No windows, no doors.
I flashed back to my death, wondering how it happened and simultaneously knowing that it was supposed to happen..that it was "my time". I was chasing someone who had committed a crime, and my job was to shoot that person. I was undercover, though, and I didn't count on a police officer happening on the scene. As I shot my target from my position on the floor (and killed him), a police officer misunderstood the situation and shot me in the neck. I remember thinking "SHIT! Wait, no, I'm not ready!", although, again knowing that I had foreseen this.
I'm back in the holding room and I'm crying. Sobbing. It's all I can do, because I miss living and the people who were in my life. I sob and sleep, wake up and repeat. Some man (God? God's helper?) puts some flyers on the coffee table as suggestions of activities to help me acclimate to my situation. I'm too depressed to consider them, though, and I cry some more.
Then there are people in the room - four adult family members from my childhood. I'm glad to see them because it has been so long. We chat and catch up. I tell them about my life since I had seen them, and then suddenly remembered that I was getting married. I exclaimed "oh, yeah! I'm engaged!" and I held out my hand to show them the ring. In a second, I recall that I'm dead, though, and I say "oh, well, I was, anyway". Then I think of Darren and I get very sad. I wonder what he will do with the ring..will he pay it off? Sell it? Give it to someone else? And how is he anyway? I wish I could talk to him and make sure he isn't taking my death too hard.
There is someone else in the room - a woman who is my sister in the dream (I have no sisters). She has been in the holding room for a while, and is ready to move on. We are saying our goodbyes and I'm wishing her well. Once she is gone, I wonder how long it will take before I'm ready to move on - there is no pressure here, which is nice. I do know that I can't check in on Darren until I move on, though. I begin to wonder if this is where people go who are in comas, and maybe I'm just in a coma and will get to go back and rejoin my family and friends.
That's it. It was quite sad, though, and I couldn't get enough hugs when I woke up.
I do wonder...does this place exist? Is the 'after-life' our expectations or the same for everyone? Is there an after-life?
d
I was dead,and I knew I was dead. I was in a holding room of sorts; one that looked like a stripped down version of my living room. There was a couch and a loveseat, both covered with off-white slipcovers, a coffee table and an (empty) entertainment center. No windows, no doors.
I flashed back to my death, wondering how it happened and simultaneously knowing that it was supposed to happen..that it was "my time". I was chasing someone who had committed a crime, and my job was to shoot that person. I was undercover, though, and I didn't count on a police officer happening on the scene. As I shot my target from my position on the floor (and killed him), a police officer misunderstood the situation and shot me in the neck. I remember thinking "SHIT! Wait, no, I'm not ready!", although, again knowing that I had foreseen this.
I'm back in the holding room and I'm crying. Sobbing. It's all I can do, because I miss living and the people who were in my life. I sob and sleep, wake up and repeat. Some man (God? God's helper?) puts some flyers on the coffee table as suggestions of activities to help me acclimate to my situation. I'm too depressed to consider them, though, and I cry some more.
Then there are people in the room - four adult family members from my childhood. I'm glad to see them because it has been so long. We chat and catch up. I tell them about my life since I had seen them, and then suddenly remembered that I was getting married. I exclaimed "oh, yeah! I'm engaged!" and I held out my hand to show them the ring. In a second, I recall that I'm dead, though, and I say "oh, well, I was, anyway". Then I think of Darren and I get very sad. I wonder what he will do with the ring..will he pay it off? Sell it? Give it to someone else? And how is he anyway? I wish I could talk to him and make sure he isn't taking my death too hard.
There is someone else in the room - a woman who is my sister in the dream (I have no sisters). She has been in the holding room for a while, and is ready to move on. We are saying our goodbyes and I'm wishing her well. Once she is gone, I wonder how long it will take before I'm ready to move on - there is no pressure here, which is nice. I do know that I can't check in on Darren until I move on, though. I begin to wonder if this is where people go who are in comas, and maybe I'm just in a coma and will get to go back and rejoin my family and friends.
That's it. It was quite sad, though, and I couldn't get enough hugs when I woke up.
I do wonder...does this place exist? Is the 'after-life' our expectations or the same for everyone? Is there an after-life?
d
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Rant #1: Homophobia
Today, as I was driving into work, I was listening to my favorite morning show (Big Phat Morning Show on 92Q). Tuesdays are designated as "Tell the Truth Tuesday", and a variety of topics are up for discussion. Today the main topic was a local high school's Gay/Straight Alliance Group. Apparently this group, like any other group, was promoting itself within the school to increase membership and awareness. This was not the news, though. No, the news was the parents and students who were protesting the very existance of this group.
Ok.
So, what's the story? Why are some people so offended or freaked out about homosexuality? I listened as older listener called in to say that students who are 17 can't possibly know they are gay if they can't even figure out what their major will be in college. Wha?! Do you mean to tell me that this man didn't know he was heterosexual until college? Man, I knew WAY before then. To their credit, the DJs made fun of this man (they are open-minded and awesome). Another woman called in to say that when she learned of the Gay/Straight Alliance Group in her child's school, she moved her child to another school.
Why?
Do people think homosexuality is contagious? I'm still not understanding the basic disagreement. Is it that people fear what they don't understand? Do they think they will be forced to be gay one day? Surely they can't all be Christain fundamentalists. Even so, who are these people who use the bible to hate gays? Do you notice they always focus on gay sex? They are fascinated with gay sex, as if that is all homosexual couples do. For example, Rick Santorum - what a tool. He once likened homosexual sex with beastiality and child molestation . This guy is a real piece of work. He believes it's ok to be gay as long as you don't act on it. Luckily, the readers of gay sex advice columnist Dan Savage's column have found a use for Santorum's name. He will be forever linked with butt sex, straight or gay.
Ok, so let's say the issue is sex and the fact it is almost impossible (don't want to count out any anomalies) to procreate from gay sex. Does this mean that all us heteros should only have sex to procreate? I'm sure there are some people out there who believe that - but I don't think that accounts for all of the people who are angry that gay people exist.
I also heard the argument that God created man and woman to be together, not man and man or woman and woman. Hmmm..correct if I am wrong, but didn't God create everyone? In His/Her image? There isn't some random thing out there creating people, is there? And can anyone say for sure what it is that God wants?
I've rambled on for a while now, and still have not found an answer. I just don't understand the issue. I'd ask my homophobic readers to respond, but I don't think I have any. Actually, I don't think I have any readers at all.
*end rant*
d
Ok.
So, what's the story? Why are some people so offended or freaked out about homosexuality? I listened as older listener called in to say that students who are 17 can't possibly know they are gay if they can't even figure out what their major will be in college. Wha?! Do you mean to tell me that this man didn't know he was heterosexual until college? Man, I knew WAY before then. To their credit, the DJs made fun of this man (they are open-minded and awesome). Another woman called in to say that when she learned of the Gay/Straight Alliance Group in her child's school, she moved her child to another school.
Why?
Do people think homosexuality is contagious? I'm still not understanding the basic disagreement. Is it that people fear what they don't understand? Do they think they will be forced to be gay one day? Surely they can't all be Christain fundamentalists. Even so, who are these people who use the bible to hate gays? Do you notice they always focus on gay sex? They are fascinated with gay sex, as if that is all homosexual couples do. For example, Rick Santorum - what a tool. He once likened homosexual sex with beastiality and child molestation . This guy is a real piece of work. He believes it's ok to be gay as long as you don't act on it. Luckily, the readers of gay sex advice columnist Dan Savage's column have found a use for Santorum's name. He will be forever linked with butt sex, straight or gay.
Ok, so let's say the issue is sex and the fact it is almost impossible (don't want to count out any anomalies) to procreate from gay sex. Does this mean that all us heteros should only have sex to procreate? I'm sure there are some people out there who believe that - but I don't think that accounts for all of the people who are angry that gay people exist.
I also heard the argument that God created man and woman to be together, not man and man or woman and woman. Hmmm..correct if I am wrong, but didn't God create everyone? In His/Her image? There isn't some random thing out there creating people, is there? And can anyone say for sure what it is that God wants?
I've rambled on for a while now, and still have not found an answer. I just don't understand the issue. I'd ask my homophobic readers to respond, but I don't think I have any. Actually, I don't think I have any readers at all.
*end rant*
d
Monday, October 17, 2005
Moth Balls
Darren recently wondered why moth balls are so stinky and so effective against moths. Here is my theory:
Moth balls are just that - the balls of very large moths who live in the Amazon (because all insects are larger there). The moths are captured and castrated, and the balls are sold to your local stores. They are stinky because, well, they are BALLS. And it's not the smell that repels our little moths here in the states - it's the fear. They see that giant ball and they think "crap, if a giant moth didn't make it out of here, how will I?" and they make a run for it.
Happy Monday.
d
Moth balls are just that - the balls of very large moths who live in the Amazon (because all insects are larger there). The moths are captured and castrated, and the balls are sold to your local stores. They are stinky because, well, they are BALLS. And it's not the smell that repels our little moths here in the states - it's the fear. They see that giant ball and they think "crap, if a giant moth didn't make it out of here, how will I?" and they make a run for it.
Happy Monday.
d
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Baaaa (hello)
I have an unnatural love for sheep. Ok, not THAT kind of love, mind you. I just think they are adorable and fluffy. During my trip to New Zealand last year, I constantly hounded my poor Kiwi friend into stopping the car on our 7 day tour and letting me hug a sheep. He never did stop that car.
Months later while at Walt Disney World, I got another chance to hug a sheep at a petting zoo of sorts at the Animal Kingdom. I believe my enthusiasm scared the sheep though, because they all ran from me into the "I'm taking a rest" station. I have a picture of me half-hugging a sheep, though, who is less than happy to be near me.
So, then, let me explain the "Baaa". I recently discovered that while "baaa-ing", sheep stick out their tongues. HILARIOUS. So my soon-to-be-husband (Darren) and I now greet each other with "Baaaa" at random times, via text message or in person, in our house or in public. It's quite sad and yet proves that we are meant to be together because no one would else would put up with that shit.
And so I start my blog.
(baaa)
d
Months later while at Walt Disney World, I got another chance to hug a sheep at a petting zoo of sorts at the Animal Kingdom. I believe my enthusiasm scared the sheep though, because they all ran from me into the "I'm taking a rest" station. I have a picture of me half-hugging a sheep, though, who is less than happy to be near me.
So, then, let me explain the "Baaa". I recently discovered that while "baaa-ing", sheep stick out their tongues. HILARIOUS. So my soon-to-be-husband (Darren) and I now greet each other with "Baaaa" at random times, via text message or in person, in our house or in public. It's quite sad and yet proves that we are meant to be together because no one would else would put up with that shit.
And so I start my blog.
(baaa)
d
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