random.: November 2005 Archives

Its been an interesting couple days in my family. It all started last week when I got an email forwarded to me from my aunt in regards to this stamp, available from the USPS. The email included a picture of the stamp and the message seen here.

I was outraged. She sends me all sorts of right wing propaganda, most of which I just laugh and shake my head at. This one really got to me tho, and I had to respond.

My response was as respectful as possible, included facts that the original email left out, and my opinion on the matter. She took it as a personal attack and flew off the handle.

I won't go through what was said because its not really important. I'm sure my view on the matter is not hard to discern, and hers pretty much supported everything that was said in the original email, along with statements that this is a slap in the face to the troops and lots of "but God Bless You for having your own beliefs" type statements.

The best thing that came out of all this, and the reason that I am writing this post to begin with, is that I saw how completely supportive my parents are of my opinions, and I couldn't be more grateful. My family runs the spectrum of religious and political beliefs. My aunt who sent the email is an extreme scary right-wing Catholic. She and her husband re-found God 10 or 15 years ago and haven't had an opinion of their own since. The true tragedy of this is that they have two children, both in college, who are highly intelligent and well-educated ... and are not allowed to form their own opinions. Its very very sad. I'm on the other end of the spectrum (altho I'm not NEARLY as far to the left as they are to the right) ... the liberal, agnostic, heathen of a niece who they probably pray will find the path of God every night. Not likely.

My parents seem to straddle both sides of "moderate". My dad being a little right of center (largely for fiscal reasons) and my mom being slightly to the left (based on social issues). I have always felt however, that they have taken my opinions seriously and want to hear what I have to say. During the 2004 elections, the boyfriend and I spent many a dinner with them drinking wine and talking politics and it was always a lot of fun.

When this whole thing with the stamp went down, I thought they would be upset. Not because I had the opinion that I had (which they both very much agree with) but because I was "stirring the pot". I thought they would have said "we agree with you, but you probably should have just let it go ... not emailed the whole family with your response". Instead, they have completely rallied around me. They have sent out their own emails supporting my opinion and my right to have my opinion and basically saying that if my aunt is going to send out right-wing propaganda, she should expect a response. And the thing is, I know they would feel this way even if they didn't share my belief on the matter.

Makes me feel pretty damn lucky.

the leaves seen through my window pane remind me that its time to move my life again,
november sun is felt by none, a chilly breeze has blown my thoughts to what's to come
a cup of warm coffee, some vitamin C,
a bowl for the cat, a bowl for the dog, a bowl for me ...

This afternoon with my head spinning with thoughts of Kona glory, the dog and I headed out for a run. It was only supposed to be a 30-40 minute trot through the neighborhood in which I live, but that plan was quickly derailed when I decided to take an alternate route home.

I hopped onto a gravel road, sure that it would take us where we wanted to go, only to realize, a good thirty minutes later, that we were nowhere near home. Our run had long since turned into a walk, and instead of turning around and heading in the direction in which we came, I thought we would push on, despite being pretty much completely lost.

The dog and I ended up running/walking for a good two hours, almost entirely on gravel roads in the middle of nowhere. We walked on beautiful tree-lined winding roads past adorable little country houses. It was late afternoon by this point and the sun was starting to set low. The whole world had that sort of golden glow that comes just before sunset. The temperature had dropped enough so that my nose and fingers were a little chilly.

I love the way the world feels just before winter starts to really set in. The chilly temperatures, the orange and red leaves, the way it seems like everything and everyone is out soaking up the last bits of warmth and sunlight.

We passed a cute house with a little corral out front. The corral contained a brown and white alpaca, a chocolate colored teeny tiny miniature horse, and two pygmy goats. When they saw us coming all four of them ran to the fence to greet us. Maddie and I walked over and I petted them while she sniffed their noses through the fence. I felt like I had just stepped into Charlotte's Web or the set of Babe or something. It was pretty sweet.

Twenty minutes or so later we saw a rather large herd of deer up the road. There were does and little babies and one very large buck with a HUGE rack. Very very cool.

Two hours after beginning our jaunt, the dog and I managed to find our way home. Her normally jet black coat was powdered with white dust from the road. We were dirty and tired and hungry and very very happy. Now she's curled up at my feet sleeping with a full belly and a look of complete contentment. I feel pretty much the same way.

A couple times last week on my way back from a run or the gym or whatever I came across an adorable little grey and gold cat hanging around the apartment complex. I always had the dog with me (yes, even when I went to the gym!) and the cat is not too fond of the dog, so I was never able to do much more than pet her. I noticed tho that she was very skinny so I went to the grocery store and bought a couple cans of cat food. I started putting food out for her every night. Last night at 7:00 I walked outside to feed her and she was sitting on my porch waiting for me. The boyfriend and I sat outside with her for a good hour and a half petting her and giving her treats and watching her eat. She curled up in a little ball on the boyfriend's lap and went to sleep. Every time he would try to move her so he could get up she would readjust so that she could continue her nap. It was adorable.

It was cold and damp out last night so we put out a makeshift bed for her. I filled a clothes basket with old towels and blankets so that there was an area in the middle just big enough for a kitty. We put her in it, and she curled up and went to sleep almost immediately. When we noticed that it was getting colder out we filled a Nalgene bottle with warm water and put it under the blankets to keep her warm. She looked oh so content - and must have been seeing as she was curled up in the same spot this morning!

I'm not really much of a cat person, but this is a GREAT cat. I would love to keep her but I am pretty allergic to cats. I can hold them and play with them and stuff - but living with them is a whole nother story.

So we are in the process of trying to find her a home. If anyone knows anyone in the greater Looneyville area looking for an adorable and friendly little teenage cat, let me know.

So I'm sitting here listening to the new(ish) Ryan Adams cd and I can't help but think damn, this is really good.

If you're into alt-country type stuff (and even if you're not), I highly reccomend.