My good buddy Jeshua posted a powerful entry to his blog on October 17th. Here is a link to his entry: Budget Cuts After Lousy Planning

I have always admired Jeshua for his ability to take a strong stand for his beliefs, and to express himself in a way that most of us can’t. It’s easy to be upset, and it’s easy to be discouraged, but Jeshua gives me the courage to post my beliefs here. There are a lot of us Christians, and us Americans, that think about the poor. I hope it’s a virus that’s catching. I hope it can travel with the birds. That’s an avian flu that could bring real change.

In Europe, the government takes care of its citizens. Is there something here that we own, that we control, that is so much better than what they have? Why do we, as a nation, cling to out deep-seeded love of the rich?

I believe this discussion goes far deeper than even politics can explain. Deeper than religion can explain.

Do we expect presidents to amuse us? I remember the first time I saw George Bush speak — he was speaking with the German chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder in 2000 — and explaining how the environment wasn’t important.

I heard today that there is a group within the religious right that supports the idea that global warming is a valid concern. I suppose George Bush believes that those people are now condemned to hell. I wonder what is going on in his mind?

Comforting to know that the Christmas goods have hit the shelves. And maybe I was just thinking I heard Jingle Bells, but I’m pretty sure that I heard St. Nick jingling his bells over at the office supplies store yesterday!

I am a person who loves to buy little trinkets for the season — automatic laughing skulls with little beady flashing red eyes — and glow in the dark skeletons to hide behind (scaring the wits out of people as they enter a dark hallway!)… I guess I’m a drag when it comes to the new extended consumer Christmas season, but I kind of like Advent…

If we have a pagan Christmas societally, revolving around extravagant gifts and such, why not observe Advent societally — but I guess it’s the same with Lent. We all neglect Lent but celebrate Mardi Gras and Easter as pagan holidays!

What I miss is the peace I grew up in, and the peace I felt again when I lived in the mountains — where there is true Advent. (And for that matter — a couple of months to enjoy Halloween, Autumn, the falling of the leaves, the coming of winter…)

I remember a young mother I knew when I lived up in Washington state — walking down the street with one child in arms and another in tow — and I noticed her little kid had his pants on backwards… When I pointed that out, rather amusedly, she replied: “You choose your battles…” I had never thought about it that way — I guess she was happy the kid had pants on at all:)

Anyway — I have been putting my head through the wall trying to figure out how to fix a few little bugs in my system that have made it difficult to leave comments, etc. I think, finally, I have worked out all the kinks, and, if you sign in on the sidebar, you can leave pleasant and amusing quips to my rather odd musings!

One battle I have decided to fight. I have chosen to walk around with my pants on my head tonight! Backwards and upside down! I have tried to fix it all over the internet, but no solution is to be found. I give up, and I will let the software beat me on this one :: When you submit comments, you get a blank page. The comments get posted fine, but the blank page stares at you for a few seconds before you can figure out what to do!

So if you feel like your pants are on your head after you’ve just been trying to leave me a blanged comment, don’t fret — we all look like that around here!

Good night.

My lovely girlfriend’s blog is at Katharina Schuhmann: APPALACHIA… She put up a few pictures of us — if you are interested in my beautiful, best friend, visit her site! I neglect her too often in my web presence:)

She is my favorite person in the whole world, and she supports me when things get tricky… We met in July of 2001 when I lived up in Holden Village, and we have been fast friends ever since!

Here’s to love and lovely people!