Ushering in Autumn

     

          Today, ladies and gents, I am here to tell you all about this week’s theme. This post will be one of the more wordy posts about our pictures since I was so excited for it. Last October, I published a post entitled “Delicious Autumn”. In the post, I mostly summed up that I love the season and got to pick the theme. Then I showed you pictures. If you can’t tell, I am leading up to telling you about another week of autumn photos. This year, however, I am giving you more than just visuals. Last year we found some great pictures. I have saved albums on my computer and highly enjoy going back to look at them. While the theme itself has been repeated this year (as will more in the coming months, especially October), none of the pictures were. We decided, upon starting this game over, that we would not repeat any pictures even if we re-did a theme or three. This works our great because I get to find more pictures and focus on some of the cooler themes for a second time. So if you know anything about me at all, you know that I was extremely excited about this week’s autumn theme. The concept this time was to welcome autumn so each day I included a picture with the words “welcome autumn” or at least “autumn/fall”. There were the typical pictures of leaves as well. We did not go overboard with the foods or holidays this week though. It was mostly interesting pictures of foliage. There were a few pumpkins in there and I definitely got sent a harvest themed picture at least once. Primarily, though, there were rivers, roads, and houses surrounded by trees with foliage of various colors. It was definitely a beautiful week in pictures.

              

  Now you may wonder what I am going to ramble on about that pertains to fall. I’m sure I could find many things to talk about that have to do with this amazing season. However, I am posting this today for a reason. Today is the first official day of fall. Here in the north east, the seasons have begun to change and the weather has been cooler. It has been great. Yet today it is official. Today, in the Pagan religions, is Mabon. Some may call it the autumn equinox, or simply just the first day of autumn. It is one of 2 days out of the year where the day is equally as long as the night. It is a time of thankfulness and balance. In earlier times, it was the end of the harvests. Now is the time of year when preparations for the winter would begin. Thanks would be offered for the foods that were left and the fields would become barren as the weather began to change. In celebration of this day, there are many things a person could do. Cleaning out your house to prepare for winter is one. Once the weather gets colder, people spend more time indoors. A type of spring cleaning is always recommended. Get rid of anything you don’t use, and any clutter in your space. Emotionally, physically, and spiritually get rid of bad energy and prepare your home so you can enjoy it more. Also, focus on the harvest itself. It is now apple season as well as a great time to make wine. The gods of the vine or gods of vegetation are the focus of this particular holiday. Bake a pie, make your own wine, or simply enjoy a crisp bite of a fresh apple. As I mentioned, this is a time of balance. The light is now equal to the dark, but the dark is also becoming more prominent. The end of the year is considered darker. Autumn and winter are represented by deep colors such as browns, oranges, reds, and dark greens. While spring and summer are airy and light, autumn and winter are dense and dark. This is not a bad thing at all. Without the darkness, one would not know the light. Embrace the darkness to come. Decorate your home with the foliage of the season. Place gourds, leaves, pumpkins, etc around to further enhance the feeling of fall.

               

As negative as some of that sounds, it is all truly a good thing. As I have said many times, I love the fall. There are so many good foods and holidays. Who doesn’t love Thanksgiving? Personally I prefer Halloween, but to each his own. Whatever you like best, find a way to enjoy this season. Thanks to the changing global climates, this season is never around like it used to be. So step outside and take a deep breath. Enjoy the coolness (if it is cool in your area) of the air. Grab an apple, carve a pumpkin, do something festive today. I found a quote that sums up how I feel today, and is my favorite of the day (perhaps even the week or month): “Autumn, the year’s last, loveliest smile.” –William Cullen Bryant

Amore Italiano

     

        This is it, the moment when I will reveal to you the theme that is missing from my recap. Well, the first one at least. For one whole week, my aunt and I shared photos (that we found online) of all things ITALIAN! Some background for you: I have not one ounce of Italian in me, I am absolutely in love with everything about this country, and in NYC, the San Gennaro festival occurs every September. So clearly, I have been choosing themes that are relevant to current happenings. Therefore, the start of a massive festival/feast in Little Italy caused me to pick Italy as our theme. The festival lasts for about 11 days and happens every year. I believe it is a religious celebration but many people go for the fun, the booths, and most importantly the food. The food is where it's at. Now I personally love the festival but I also chose the theme because I absolutely adore all things Italian. I took the language in high school and remember almost none of it. I wish I spoke it fluently though because it is a beautiful one. I own DVDs of Italian films and have some Italian music in my library. My favorite part of the book Eat, Pray, Love was when she was in Italy (a fact that applies to the movie as well - the book is way better though). Under the Tuscan Sun is a favorite of mine as well. The country itself is beautiful, so I'm told. I've never had the pleasure of going but it is definitely on my bucket list. I am fully aware that it is just like any other place and has bad areas as well as good. I just don't care. And who can talk about Italy and not mention the food? It is all bellisima and molto deliziosa.

   

 Why am I taking up a whole post to tell you about this theme? Well, I'll tell you. I can not gush about all things Italian enough. I will post many pictures below to give you a visual but I figured I would also tell you a bit about the country/culture which I love so much. I am not going to save the best for last. I am going to jump right into the food. Can you imagine life without pizza? It has become such an American staple and yet it is not American at all. We have, as is usual, Americanized it for sure. Yet it is a concept purely Italian. There is an establishment in Manhattan that sells authentic Italian pizza.  

You can only buy a whole pie and the line is generally down the block, but it is absolutely worth the wait and the cost. They use fresh mozzarella cheese and tomatoes on every pie and I swear there were basil leaves melted under the cheese. It is absolutely mouth wateringly delicious. It is a New York pie, to be sure, but it is the first pizza in the city and was created by an Italian immigrant. It is the closest thing you are going to get to the original anywhere in the city. Then, there is a restaurant on the lower east side that makes their pasta from scratch daily. Who, other than an Italian, would do that? The Italians eat pasta like Americans eat fast food. The spice palate of the Italians is just so delectable. Often you will find fresh herbs; basil, oregano, parsley, and garlic. God, the garlic. And the cheese! The French are big on cheese and bread, but the Italians don't hold back in that arena either. There are so many dishes and foods that should be mentioned but there just isn't enough time. I will, however, not end this post without talking about gelato and tiramisu. An ice cream that is softer and smoother than anything you've ever had. It just melts on your tongue. And who can say no to coffee and rum baked into layers of moist cakes and velvety creams? Thank whatever god you believe in for the Italians and their contributions to the culinary world. I know my stomach is grateful every day.

   

While Italian food is delightful, it is not the only reason to love Italy. The country itself is rich with history. A visit to the country and one can see sights such as the leaning tower of Pisa, the Colosseum of Rome, the Vatican, or the Sistine chapel. Italy was the birthplace of an entire era; the renaissance. In fact, the renaissance is believed to have begun in Florence. Many changes rippled through all of Europe during this time but it is most notably a time of great artists. Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Donatello (all the turtles! HA) were among the many artists that worked during this period. They created many masterpieces that are still admired to this day. The renaissance wrought a great deal of change to the entire world. The primary area affected at the time was of course Europe but think of where we would be today without the influences of Galileo, Da Vinci, or Copernicus.  

The entire way we viewed the universe would be different. Also, while the renaissance was a time of scientific revolution, Italy still holds within its borders the most influential spot to the Catholic religion. The Vatican city is where the leader of the entire Catholic church resides. All major decisions are made at the Vatican and all priests ultimately report to the cardinals in Italy (well, after God of course). Every major country can claim some contribution to the way we live. Mostly this is because America is a melting pot of cultures, but throughout history decisions were made everywhere that carried influence around the world. Things would be different if Hitler never ruled Germany or if the Spanish didn't invade America. Italy, at least in my opinion, has had the most influence of them all. The things/people/ideas that came out of that country have had an impact on every other area. On top of all that, the country is full of beauty.

   

 Italy, as I said, has its bad parts just like the rest of the world. But I'd rather be in a bad area of Rome than a bad area of the Bronx. At least in Italy it's still beautiful and you can hear the musical language, even if it is curses. This is the opinion of a foreigner and thus probably isn't shared with people who actually live there, but that's ok. I have seen so many pictures of Italian countrysides and cities and canals. Even what is believably dirty water in the Venice canals is appealing to me. The rolling hills of Tuscany, the glorious ruins of Rome, etc. I am enthralled by them all. Having never been to Italy though, I must say that the most beautiful thing about the country to me has to be the language. It is one of the five romance languages and while similar to Spanish and Portuguese it has a beauty all its own. Here in America, we say hello so simply. There are ways to shorten it; hey, hi, yo, what's up, etc. In Italian you say buongiorno or ciao. They say sogni dolci instead of sweet dreams. Obviously things are lost in translation and reading random words in a blog post can not accurately convey how exquisite this language truly is. If you ever want to know the true beauty of the language, watch a movie in Italian. My personal favorite is La Vita E Bella, or Life is Beautiful. It is available in English but it really does lose something. Another good one is Cinema Paradiso. Both can be purchased easily and have subtitles so you can actually understand what is happening. I also think the little Italian that is spoken, and rather Americanized, in movies where people travel to Italy is adorable. 

   

 Clearly, I could go on forever. I will stop gushing my love of Italian all over you though. I just can't get enough of this wonderful country. It's history, culture, cuisine and language are extraordinary. So you can see why I chose to do a week of photos of Italy and why I had to use an entire post to tell you all about it. I will say goodbye, or to be cute, Ciao Bella!!!

Quick Catch Up

     

So I have yet again neglected my blogging duties... I have just started reading a new book (I am literally like 2 pages in) and immediately loved a line/concept in what I have read. The narrator mentions how he moved to New York in the late 90's to be a writer at a time when magazines were everywhere and writers actually got paid to write. What intrigued me was he said how his mind ponders things deeply and moves too slow for blogging or tweeting... I do not want to plagiarize the book, but that is the gist of the paragraph I read. It made me smile because I can totally relate to that idea. I started this blog because, in my endless search for direction in life, I considered becoming a writer for a brief time and believed that a blog would be a good way to hone my writing abilities. Yet I have often been unable to come up with something meaningful to say. If you have been reading my posts, you will notice a lack of consistency each month. Also, I resort to writing about my picture game for most of the time. Do not get me wrong, my life is really so uneventful that the picture game is the best source of material for me. To be honest, I enjoy the game as well and am often intrigued by the things I learn about each theme when I do further research for these posts. So they may seem silly, but I enjoy writing them. But still, this is truly a blog often filled with superfluous content. I have long since given up the idea of being a writer, but  still like writing the posts so I have no intention of stopping the blog anytime soon. This book, though, has made me fell less terrible about my failure to post regularly. 
    
       The point of this particular post is to catch you up on the themes I have missed. I have not posted in a month so there are technically 4 themes that I should tell you about. I'm not going to give you details and pictures on all of them though. I will tell you about the first two then mention the last two. My reasoning is simple. Last week's theme is one I love a great deal and want to devote an entire post to telling you why I love it. This week's theme has just begun and so I am on schedule to reveal it. It is theme, however, that also deserves its own post. In fact, I have mentioned it in previous posts and have probably devoted whole posts to it last year. I cannot help repeating myself sometimes. There are just some things I love in life that come around more than once and feel the need to share my love of them. And so, to begin...

       The first theme I missed was a tribute to summer. We actually used this theme once before when we played last year. I chose it again because it was almost September and thus summer was ending. We used it as one last tribute to the beauty of beaches, pools, hot days, and cool foods. I won't show you a ton of pictures because you can just go find the old post and look at those. I will say that I did not repeat a single picture and while I hate summer I love the pictures I came up with. I love to swim and I definitely love the beach so finding pictures of summer was a breeze. Following our tribute to summer, I chose back to school as our theme. In my home area that week was the week all the kids went back to school. I have been out of school for a while but I miss it horribly. So I thought it would be fun to post pictures that reminded me of school. Plus, it was a quirky theme and posed interesting challenges. I will share a few of the pictures from these two themes so you can get an idea of what we came up with. The other two themes are ones you will just have to tune in to find out. On the plus side, this means I will post a bunch of times this week. On the down side (maybe) you will have to come back to satisfy your curiosity. I will tell you one is a country and one is a season. If you know me or have a brain you can probably figure out one if not both of them. If not, you will just have to return and find out. Until then, stay well...

             

 

The Joy of a Book

Have you ever cracked open a new book and just taken a minute to appreciate it? The smoothness of the new pages; the stiffness of a perfectly unbent spine; that fresh, new book smell? Thanks to technology today, not everybody gets to experience that feeling if opening a fresh, real print book. Thanks to the Kindle, Nook, tablet, various e readers, and even cell phone, any book is available instantly at your finger tips. This is both a blessing a curse. It is making books more available in a day and age where many people are staring at a screen more than anything. Little kids with tablets can have a world of books and knowledge with the click of a button (or icon on a touch screen). Hopefully, this will result in a smarter generation than the one we have now. That, however is a conversation for another day. My point is this generation of electronic readers is missing out on something amazing. While the great part of a book is the story and where it takes you, when you read from a screen you just don't get the same feeling. You cheat yourself out of that experience.

 The feeling, the smells, etc of a new book; or even an old favorite. I love an old, worn, creased, loved book just as much as a new one. My Harry Potter collection is falling apart at the binding an has faded pages. This is because I've read them all dozens of times. I know many people who refuse to use e-readers because they do not want to give up books. My grandmother goes to the library every week and gets new books to read. My little sister has the best of both worlds. She goes to the library for print books but also has a kindle. She even rents library books on her kindle at times. Now, not to be called a hypocrite, I will openly admit to having a Kindle of my own. It is absolutely great technology that allows me to read more than I would have been able to without it.  I fall into the same category as my sister. I rent library books on my kindle, read the classics for free, and still buy new print books. While I have succumbed to technological advances of my time, for me there is still nothing like a good book (print).

 I can spend hours in a bookstore just browsing. In fact, I recently did. There is a 4 story Barnes and Noble in New York City that I get lost in every time I go. And make no mistake, I get lost on purpose. I go through random rows and pick up anything that looks interesting. I am not Rockefellar so I can't afford to actually buy all the books I want, but just being around them makes me happy sometimes. So while I am fully behind any technology that brings the joy of literature to more people, there is still something to be said for reading the old fashioned way. So next time you walk by a bookstore, take some time to browse. Crack open a new book, or an old favorite and enjoy the whole experience as you dive into the story.

              

 

Chocolate Goodness

                   

             The first theme of our new game (new because it has restarted, not because it is different), was chocolate. I chose it because I had recently gone to Max Brenner’s in Manhattan with my sister. If any of you have ever been there, you know it is absolutely delicious. They have a full menu with a variety of Australian cuisines but the main attraction is dessert. I have gone there twice now and only ate dessert each time. Throughout the entire restaurant there is what appears to be pipes of flowing chocolate, though I assume they are fake. Still, the ambiance screams chocolate. They have chocolate cocktails, fondues, cakes, cookies, cocoas and more. It is like a chocolate paradise. I suppose I love the pipe décor because it also reminds me of my childhood. As a kid, we took trips many times each year to visit our family in Pennsylvania. On each trip, the best part was always the visit to Hershey. In the summer we would go to Hershey Park but in the colder months we would go to Chocolate World. It is a short ride that narrated the making of Hershey’s chocolates. The place always smelled of chocolate, you went through a heated tunnel to simulate cooking the chocolate, you saw machines to demonstrate the ones they really used, and you always got a piece of candy on the way out. Hershey will always be dear to my heart because of those happy memories and I can’t even see a Hershey bar (or some of their other candies) without being reminded of the good times as a child. 

                Now don’t get me wrong, chocolate places are great. But the reason they are so awesome is because they bring something so yummy into your world. Chocolate is a food that is known around the globe. Many different cultures eat it, or use it for different things. The Mayans and Aztecs used it in religious rituals and often used cocoa beans as offerings to the deities. It was incorporated into the diet of many cultures in the Americas whereas Europeans sweetened it and used it primarily in desserts. Today, chocolate is everywhere. It is used in all kinds of food as well as drinks. You can find it anytime and see it especially on holidays. Easter, Halloween and Valentine’s Day are three bigger ones that come to mind. But chocolate isn’t just a tasty treat. Some studies have shown that a moderate intake of chocolate can lower blood pressure. It also raises serotonin levels in the brain which causes the eater to feel happier. So next time you see a chocolate bar, don’t just think of it as a piece of candy. It is a sweet with a long history and one that could potentially benefit you, or at least put you in a good mood. 

               

 

It's Time to Play Again

              I am writing this post to let you all know about an addition to my usual posts. I am going back to playing the picture game with my aunt. It is nothing fancy, and I’m not sure game is the right word. Whatever you want to call it, I am starting it up again. I have found that I miss trying to find interesting pictures each day as well as trying to come up with new and fun themes each week. It is also a really good way to keep in touch with my aunt. I know what some of you are thinking: why don’t I just talk to her? Well, for one thing, we are both busy people and sending a picture is simple and quick. Also, it is something that can make us smile or laugh or merely brighten up our day. The picture theme is also great when there really isn’t anything to say. You can only ask somebody how they are so many times. This is a way for us to let the other know we are thinking of her at some point in our day. So why am I telling you all this? Well, it will affect my posts a bit. I will continue to post as normal, but I will also include a post like my older ones. Each week I will tell you what our theme was. Perhaps the post will merely be pictures, or a short story about why we chose that specific theme. I will still do posts with interesting facts about some of the themes. They will be shorter and fluffier posts, but cute and fun to read. So stay tuned for the first theme, which I will announce soon.

A Little Vice...

               

        “Search others for their virtues, thyself for thy vices”, Benjamin Franklin. The subject of vices was brought to my attention recently and it has become a topic I keep going back to in my mind. I was asked what my vices were and I had trouble answering the question. At first I had to contemplate the meaning of the word. I had a basic understanding of the concept of a vice, but for some reason felt the need for a specific definition. It being the 21^st century, I merely decided to look it up online. At first, I used a simple dictionary. I figured a plain answer would be best to help me in my query. After reading the many, albeit similar, definitions of the word I decided I needed a more in depth explanation. Thus, I turned to the often distrusted Wikipedia. Personally, I love the site. I am aware that it is not 100% accurate all the time, but often I just need the gist of something and so it is perfect. So I decided to investigate what Wikipedia had to say about vice. It was actually extremely helpful. You see, the dictionary will tell you the exact meaning of the word. Thus I learned that a vice is “an immoral or evil habit or practice”. Wikipedia, however, explained the more loose ways in which the word can be used. For example, a vice can often refer to a fault or unhealthy/bad habit. These things may not necessarily be evil or immoral, but simply a negative trait. Now, knowing the definition allows me to answer the question of my own vices. You see, I think that nobody is perfect and therefore must have at least one vice. If we were to look at the simple definition of the word though, I would not be able to find anything that applies to me. I do not do things that are immoral or evil. Truthfully, the thought never crosses my mind. Using the more lenient definition makes it a little less difficult to come up with one. I do not have many bad habits, and none that fall into the general idea of a vice; I don’t smoke, I don’t do drugs, I rarely drink and almost never get drunk (thus preventing it from being a habit), and I don’t sleep around. I have no vices in that sense of the word. If I had to think of one, the only thing I could come up with is that I can be lazy at times. Sloth is one of the seven deadly sins so that should make it a vice. 

On the other hand, I tend to be a hard worker when I need to be and I certainly know how to get things done. So the quandary now becomes whether my theory of vices is wrong or whether I am unaware of my bad habits. Perhaps not everybody has to have a vice. That is not to say they are perfect, but perhaps there are people in the world who don’t have habits/practices bad enough to be considered a vice. Maybe these people can fall into the category of having a weakness (mine would be books; but again, is reading a bad enough habit to be called a vice? Wouldn’t it qualify as more of a hobby?), but is a weakness really wicked enough to be a vice? Could Wikipedia truly be wrong this time? Or could our own acceptance of a less harsh definition of the term vice impact the behavior of society? Either way, Cicero once said “It is a great thing to know our vices”. So I encourage you to search yourself and try to discover your own vices; whichever meaning you subscribe to. 

The Good, The Bad and The Opinion

       

   What makes something good or bad? I witnessed a discussion today about whether or not the White Stripes are a good band. Now, when asked my opinion I truly did not know what to say. Who am I to judge whether or not they are any good. I have no musical background nor am I an expert in the field. I am a listener, and can only comment on my opinion of them. My response was that I’m not a huge fan. That does not mean they are a bad band. They have sold albums internationally, gone on tour, been on TV, and so on. Yet the question still remains, what qualifies them as a good or bad band. This can apply to anything, not just music. It can apply to movies, books, art, theories, ideas, food, etc. People may recommend things by saying they are good. But what makes them good? Is it notoriety? Is it quantity or perhaps quality? Is a movie good based on its box office sales? How many copies does a book have to sell in order for it to be good? To call something good or bad implies an objective judgment. I believe that phrase is an oxymoron though. If something is a judgment, it is simply an opinion; and opinions are subjective. There is no such thing as objectivity in life. A person has thoughts based on their experiences and any opinion is simply a thought. That is why there are so many conflicting opinions about the “great” things in this world.

 For example, The Beatles are considered one of the greatest music groups of all time. (I know, I went back to music; stay with me though.) What makes The Beatles so great? Is it their record sales, fan base, or revolutionary music? Are they great because they started a shift in what was popular? Perhaps all of these things made them great, but what are they to people who don’t like their music? I have tried and tried to listen to and like The Beatles because they are considered “great”. I, however, cannot enjoy them. And I know for a fact that there are more people that don’t like them than just myself. Does that mean they are bad? History says otherwise. But is that because the majority loves them? Are The Beatles a good band because more people love them than hate them? (If that is in fact a true statement. Personally, I have no idea.) I think as a society we categorize things as good or bad entirely too often. There is no true way to know if they are or not. Even if you were to gather experts in all the fields to determine whether things are good or bad, but who is to say that the layperson doesn't know as well as the expert? I think the world is full of opinions. So next time a person asks you if something is good or bad, don’t get mad if they disagree. Everybody has a right to their own opinion.

Have a Little Faith

       

        I want to take a moment and step away from the normally frivolous nature of my posts. I want to have a theological discussion. Or perhaps it is philosophical. I suppose it will be either, depending on your point of view. I want to discuss the taboo issue of religion. I say it is taboo because when it comes to religion, many people walk on eggshells. Or at the very least, they become very set in their opinions. Religious discussions often result in debates, harsh words, bitter thoughts, and in the macrocosm of things, it even leads to war. It is not that people are wrong in these discussions; it is just that each individual chooses a side. Once the line is drawn, each side will not bend in their beliefs. It is sometimes hard to find an open mind on the subject of religion. Now I am not preparing to tear apart any specific religion. In fact, I do not intend to speak ill of religious beliefs of any kind. Let me say here and now that this post merely holds my own opinions, questions, theories, and beliefs. I am not here to judge or put down anybody. And now that I have added my disclaimer, let us begin…

                First, I should explain why I am writing this post; a little background if you will. I was baptized and raised in the Protestant faith. I attended Sunday school with rather good attendance until I was 15. That year, I made my confirmation in the church. This is a sacrament that is a little different than in the Catholic Church, but still along the same lines. As a child, I was active in my church. I joined the choir and youth group, participated in the pageants, and even helped out at various events. I also paid attention in my Sunday school classes and excelled at my religious studies. I can still recite many of the prayers, know the gist of a great deal of the bible, and I even remember some of the hymns. I did not object to waking up early on Sunday or giving up random week nights for practices, meetings, and events. I also did not truly understand the meaning behind it all. I went to church because that’s what I was told to do. I participated because it was fun for me. I listened to the reverend each Sunday but never truly grasped the depth of the faith. Christianity, or any religion, is a serious thing. For me, it was all superficial. I went always “believed” because I did not know there were other options. God existed for me because that’s how I was raised. As I got closer to the age of 15, many things in my life changed. I, of course, changed too. I grew up. It happens to all of us. In growing up, I became less excited for church. It became an obligation for me. I agreed to continue until I made my confirmation. I did not get involved any less, but I also did not believe in God as easily. I don’t think I can really explain my thought process, but I do think I started to think more instead of just following along. Upon making my confirmation, I was allowed to stop attending church. This was something I was excited for because I was sick of waking up every Sunday to listen to people blather on about something I wasn’t sure I believed in. I did, however, make a promise to my mother. She would not make me go to church as long as I believed in a higher power. It did not have to be the Christian God per se. It just had to be. So in an effort to keep my promise, I began to research (thanks to the awesomeness that was the internet) various religions. And this is where my theological discussion comes into place. 

               

Now, ten years after that conversation, I am not sure I can keep my promise. In my search, I have come across so many faiths. There are umbrella religions, sects, divisions, philosophies, etc. How do you know which one you can truly believe in? I will not be so naïve as to actually ask which one is real. Every person reading this will have a different answer to that question, just as you will all have a different opinion on this topic in general. I alone have had more than one debate with a friend of mine on the subject of religion. In fact, I am surrounded by it all the time. My grandmother is a devout Catholic. She attends mass every week, and participates in all the major religious holidays. My aunt does not attend church every week but is extremely spiritual and believes in fate, angels, and God. I work with multiple people of the Jewish faith, some of whom abide by the strict codes within the belief system. I also work with people who are currently fasting for Ramadan. My best friend is Christian of some kind. She says she is not religious but she is spiritual. I do not completely understand the specifics of her faith but I know that her faith is something very important to her and plays a large part in her life. Organized religion is everywhere, and I think that may be my problem. Since I have left the church I have been searching for something to believe in. Now some people may read that sentence and assume that leaving the church was my first mistake. I do not regret that decision. While I was still a teenager and couldn’t possibly have known where my life would go, I knew that attending a church service where I doubted everything was hypocritical. Being 10 years wiser, I stick with that decision. I also still doubt the existence of “God”. Blasphemous, I know. I have read countless articles about the varying faiths. I have taught myself a little about Hinduism, Buddhism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Judaism, and even Paganism. I have realized that most religions are the same, though they fight over their “differences”. Every religion has a, for lack of better word, story. There is one being who is omniscient and omnipotent. Even in polytheistic religions, there are deities that control everything. In Greek mythology, the gods had power over the humans. In Christianity and Judaism, there is the same god with minor alterations to the story. Was Jesus the son of God or merely a man who led people to his teachings? Does anybody really know?

                This blog post may seem like it is going back and forth. That is because I don’t have the answer to any of these questions. I can throw facts at you, or tell you what each faith believes, but that won’t accomplish anything. I’m not here to preach, mostly because I wouldn’t know what to preach to you. I often find myself envying the people in my life for their unassailable faith. I sometimes worry that my brain is too logical and literal, and thus prevents me from believing in a higher power. I can see merit in the big bang theory or even can follow the idea of a creator. The concept of a God, however, baffles me. I have said more than once that I want to believe in something I just don’t know how. And truthfully, I don’t know what. I think this is a big reason I am against organized religion. I still think about having a wedding in a church, and if a baby is born in my family I ask when the baptism is. But are these just because that is how I was raised? Who says you have to subscribe to one religion? Can’t we mix and match? The Catholic Church is very set in its ways and leaves little room for leeway. Yet the same can be said for most organized religions. I have, or planned on having multiple tattoos that can be construed as religious. I have a ying yang, and Celtic knots. I also have drawn (and plan to get) a pentagram, ohm, and Celtic cross. Each tattoo will represent a part of my life that is important. When I was a senior in high school, we had a project where we had to create our own utopian society. I don’t remember much, but in my society I created a religion that was a blend of Buddhism and Paganism. At the time, I was obsessed with the show Charmed and loved everything about “witches”. As the years have gone by, I always find myself drawn to the religion of Paganism. I have learned that it is an umbrella term for many different things and often times a Pagan will mix and match. Perhaps that is what has appealed to me the most. I still have trouble with the concept of a deity, which many Pagans believe in. However, I find that I can relate to a path that combines the natural connectedness of Paganism with the balance of Buddhism (which is more of a philosophy than a religion). I follow the Wiccan calendar and try to give thanks on each of the Sabbats. However, I don’t pray to a god and have trouble believing in anything more than I can see.  I merely, send out thoughts to the universe and try to respect the world I live in. I try to incorporate moderation into most of the aspects of my life as well. I suppose my biggest question is why isn’t it enough? Do I have to believe in a god of some kind? Is it bad that I don’t have faith? Is it enough to have a fascination with Wicca and believe in the power of nature? Just because what I think doesn’t fit into the box of an organized religion, does that make it wrong? And last but not least, am I just confused because I am still young? Will this all change with time?

                If you have gotten this far, I want to thank you for sticking with me in this post. I know my thought process is not very linear. This is something that I think about often. I don’t think there are answers for all my questions. And I don’t know if answers will help. I am still learning how to control what I think. Perhaps when I gain that power, I will be able to understand what it is that I truly believe. For now, I will continue to explore and follow the path I have been on. Who knows, it could lead me somewhere great. So for now, to all my readers; Blessed Be, Namaste and Amen.

 

 

Family

The past week has been an uninteresting one. Nothing new has happened in my life, and things keep moving along at the same pace. Working a ton, sleeping a bunch, and keeping my house run smoothly. My head, on the other hand, has been a bit off this week. I am having, I suppose you could say, a down week. Things in my life have always been up and down so this is not ground breaking news. One thing has occurred to me, however. I find myself missing my family more than normal. Perhaps it is from pondering a wedding invitation I received. It is an out of state wedding of a distant cousin I haven't seen in years. Unfortunately I can not attend the wedding, but while trying to make it possible I kept thinking about my family. I don't have any specific reason but I just really miss them. Visiting some is geographically easier than others but seeing any of them is fiscally out of the question for the time being. So for now, I have to suffice with the funny videos and pictures posted on social media sites. I am going to share a great deal of pictures with you in this post. I will show you pictures of my grandmother and little sister who are living together.

They are both head strong but get along fairly well. This is amazing considering that my sister is a teenager which is always trouble. If you have read any of my past posts, you know that she is an awesome kid. She is smart, beautiful, talented, and even though I don't agree with all of her decisions, I love her to pieces. I will also show you pictures of my little brother. He just turned 6 months old this week. He is the farthest from me but the cutest by far. He has moved on to baby food, and I get many pictures of his beautiful smile. The pictures make me want to squish his chubby little cheeks all the time! I am also going to show you a larger part of my family that I couldn't have lived without. My aunt, cousins, and their babies are extremely important to me. My aunt has been around for my whenever I needed anything. Even now, if I had to talk about my problems with anybody, I know I could go to her. Her kids have been my best friends since I was born. We grew up together in a way that makes us as close as siblings. And while my brother is the cutest baby in the world, the two newest members of that family are absolutely adorable.

The videos of their chatter and laughs can make me smile on my worst day. I love every member of my family so very much. I also miss my mom's side of my family who I rarely see anymore. And I even find myself missing my potential in laws who have treated me like one of their own from the very beginning. I just need to find the time to make a trip and visit them soon. It isn't easy, and I wish I could go more often. I hate that I am missing all the babies growing up. I'm missing all their milestones, and all the crazy things my sister is doing too. But I take pleasure in knowing they are available to talk to whenever I need them. And as I said, the pictures make me miss them a little less. So hopefully you enjoy them as much as I do.