Category: Random Thoughts

Monday Morning Grievance: Censorship

It’s Monday and I haven’t had my coffee.

Monday Morning Grievances Logo 1

This week book lovers across the United States observe Banned Books Week. In case you haven’t been able to tell, I strongly support the freedom of speech [and, by extension, the press]. Yes, I have strong opinions, but as one of Voltaire’s biographers summarized his philosophy:

I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.

It seems as if intolerance has grown the last several years, with people of every political, social, and cultural stripe seeking to silence those politics, values, and practices differ from their own. And while I believe in moral absolutes, I also know no belief is worth defending which seeks to silence its critics. Healthy, honest, and open debate is a sign of thriving civilization.

I could give examples, but they’re all to clear. No one side or party or people is blameless.

I just wish people could realize that disagreement is neither hate, nor intolerance, nor bigotry, nor ignorance. Society has placed acceptance on a pedestal and adopted the mantra of “Agree of Perish”.

Ignore society.

Speak Out

Be Heard

You Are Entitled To Your Opinion

Reject the Censors

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What annoys you?

 

 

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Twitter – where you can see my thoughts in 140 characters or less. Also, funny retweets.

Sunday Snapshots

This post is being published later in the day for two reasons:

1. My weekend schedule changed and I was not able to edit and upload my photos as per my normal schedule.

2. There is a large pressure system moving through and I’ve spend the last several hours in a reclined position trying not to pass out or throw up due to the pain surging through my back. Thanks, dude who ran a red light four years ago, totaling my car and causing 3+ months of swelling on my sciatic nerve. I remember you every time we have a storm.

Anyway, here’s a few things that happened this week.

As usual, food featured prominently.

IMG_4077 Krystal’s developed a kick for Zaxby’s Fried House Zalad with Zax Sauce instead of whatever dressing they include. I made a mistake on this order and purchased grilled chicken instead of fried. That’s not why I took this photo, though. No, I photographed this salad for the approximately 4 small pieces of chicken it contained. Seriously, Zaxby’s? If I’m paying $8 for a chicken salad, there had better be chicken on that salad. I’ve found more chicken in a McDonald’s four-piece nugget.

IMG_4082 I have one particular student whose family continues to be amazing. I’ve taught at least one of their children every year since I began teaching, and they’ve become one of my staunchest supporters. This year, they’ve begun sending in breakfast sandwiches at least once a week. I cannot thank them enough; as much as I like off-brand blueberry toaster pastries and coffee, it does get old. This same family just signed my up for a 5K on October 17 – I just can’t believe the generosity they bestow.

IMG_4079 Every year the Physical Science class creates cell models.

This year, one student made her model out of pizza ingredients.

IT WAS AMAZING

Honestly, it’s one of the best pizzas I’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting.

If she didn’t get extra credit for the taste, she should have.

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In case you didn’t know, this week marked the beginning of Autumn here in the Northern Hemisphere. As such, it’s time once again for fall comfort foods like tomato soup and grilled cheese. Moxie, tortilla chips, and saltine crackers are an added bonus. Krystal suggested I make this for supper – and she was totally right. It was perfect.

Despite popular opinion, I’m not totally serious 100% of the time.

Meet Buddy the Skeleton. Yes, he’s a discount Halloween decoration, but from what I can tell he’s almost anatomically correct – the only discrepancy I’ve found is fusing in the knees. Anyway, I just couldn’t resist taking a few humorous photos – and my student found it hilarious, too. It was a good way to wind down after a test.

We also worked on the pilot episode for nerdeektv.

This was taken in “Wardrobe”.

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Oh, and here’s two of our promotional videos!

NerdeekTV is a nerdy/geeky webshow put on by cousins with a shoestring budget.

Tune in beginning October 31!

Finally, here’s your internet funny for the week:

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What did you do this week?

 

Do you have a suggestion for a poem, photograph, or future post?

Drop a note in the prompt box!

 

Don’t forget to follow me on:

Facebook – where I share news stories, articles from other blogs, and various and sundry miscellany that happens to catch my eye. It’s stuff you won’t see here! Well, mostly.

Instagram – where I show you my Life in Motion and share quotes and such. The widget only shows my last three photographs – don’t you want to see them all?

Twitter – where you can see my thoughts in 140 characters or less. Also, funny retweets.

A Letter to the Muslim Women I Saw the Other Day

sorryDear Ladies,

I saw you the other day.

I – stopped in the turn lane.

You – trying to cross the road between the tienda and the fast food place.

One of you pushed a stroller.

There was no crosswalk.

I watched the light cycle.

I watched the drivers pass you.

I watched their expressions.

I watched your frustration.

When the light turned, you’d made your way to the relative safety of the center line.

And I thought about letting you cross.

I could have let you cross.

I should have let you cross.

There was no reason not to let you cross.

Except I didn’t.

Too Busy

Places to Go

People to See

At least, that’s how I justified my actions.

Really?

Too busy to stop for fifteen seconds?

Too busy to speed a mother and a child on their way?

Too busy to be a decent human being?

Too busy to live the values I claim to have?

It’s true: you were Muslim and I a Christian.

SO WHAT?

My Bible tells me to treat others as I would be treated.

As a runner, I know what it’s like to cross a busy road.

My Bible tells me to honor and respect women.

What if the woman had been my mother?

My Bible tells me to love my neighbor.

Stranding my neighbor in the middle of the road isn’t love.

In fact, it’s pretty much the opposite of the Good Samaritan.

And so I’d like to say

I’m Sorry

And if I ever get the chance, I’ll do better.

Let It Be Fall

Autumn Walkway

The calendar shows September 23 and marks the Autumnal Equinox, which means it is now officially

Fall

Autumn

Herbst

I love Autumn; I suppose that’s why I’ve been in such a good mood today.

So, to celebrate the start of the best season ever, here’s some reasons I adore the Fall.

Cool Weather for Running

Apples, Apple Orchards, and Apple Pie

Perfect Temperatures for Jeans and T-Shirts

Thanksgiving

Deer Hunting

Reformation Day

Softball

Pumpkins

Leaf Piles

Bonfires

What about you? What do you like about the fall?

Other seasons need not apply.

 

Have a suggestion for a poem, photograph, or future post?

Drop a note in the prompt box!

 

Don’t forget to follow me on:

Facebook – where I share news stories, articles from other blogs, and various and sundry miscellany that happens to catch my eye. It’s stuff you won’t see here! Well, mostly.

Instagram – where I show you my Life in Motion and share quotes and such. The widget only shows my last three photographs – don’t you want to see them all?

Twitter – where you can see my thoughts in 140 characters or less. Also, funny retweets.

Teaser Tuesday: The Man Who Touched His Own Heart

Like being stuck behind a log truck when I’m already late for an appointment, I find myself continually one book behind on my Goodreads challenge.

Be that as it may, the Wheel of Time has turned in its course to

Teaser TuesdayJust in case you don’t know, Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along! All you have to do is grab the book you’re currently reading, open to a random page and share a few sentences from that page. But make sure you don’t share any spoilers!*

*I wish I could take credit for this introduction, but I shamelessly stole it from Heather over at bitsnbooks. To help me make amends, you should go check out her blog.

As you might have guessed, I’m still reading Death in Florence: The Medici, Savonarola, and the Battle for the Soul of a Renaissance City by Paul Strathern.

So, what can I look forward to once this particular drama plays out?

I’ve taken a different tack and veered into the realm of medicine with The Man Who Touched His Own Heart by Rob Dunn.

The Truly Random Number Generator sends us to page 15:

The surgical team wanted the hundreds of thousands 
of blue daughters and sons to live. But a dog heart 
is not a human heart, and so the truth was that the 
team had no real idea whether their new procedure 
would work.

the man who touched his own heart cover

In Retrospect

I really need to get a handle on finishing what I’ve started.

 

What have you been reading?

 

 

Have a suggestion for a poem, photograph, or future post?

Drop a note in the prompt box!

 

Don’t forget to follow me on:

Facebook – where I share news stories, articles from other blogs, and various and sundry miscellany that happens to catch my eye. It’s stuff you won’t see here! Well, mostly.

Instagram – where I show you my Life in Motion and share quotes and such. The widget only shows my last three photographs – don’t you want to see them all?

Twitter – where you can see my thoughts in 140 characters or less. Also, funny retweets.

Monday Morning Grievance: The Stoplight that Hates Me

It’s Monday and I haven’t had my coffee.

Monday Morning Grievances Logo 1

The stoplight downtown hates me. I know there’s many lights people get annoyed with, but I’m talking specifically about the one by the courthouse and the old bank and the building where the aldermen meet – the one right before the roundabout.

Why does it hate me?

I don’t know.

How do I know it hates me?

Easy. It’s always red.

OK, always is a slight exaggeration.

I kept a list over the past month or so, and the light is only red 94% of the time.

Still, that’s a pretty high percentage.

It’s even more annoying because most of the time – any by most I mean 9 times out of ten – I’m coming through late at night. I am literally the only one on the road, no-one else is waiting for the light, and as soon as I leave the roundabout it’ll turn yellow and force me to stop in the middle of the night for nobody.

It used to be that the lights downtown were on a timer and after 10.30 at night they’d change to caution lights.

No more.

Now, I must suffer the capricious whims of this apparently sentient traffic signal.

Thankfully, I won’t need to go that way today.

Tomorrow, though, I will.

sigh

 

 

What annoys you?

 

 

Have a suggestion for a poem, photograph, or future post?

Drop a note in the prompt box!

 

Don’t forget to follow me on:

Facebook – where I share news stories, articles from other blogs, and various and sundry miscellany that happens to catch my eye. It’s stuff you won’t see here! Well, mostly.

Instagram – where I show you my Life in Motion and share quotes and such. The widget only shows my last three photographs – don’t you want to see them all?

Twitter – where you can see my thoughts in 140 characters or less. Also, funny retweets.

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