And the isanity continues...
Today we got the cake ordered. Not sure how many people are actually going to show up but I don't care. It's going to be $50, excellent price considering that it's a small ceremony and I got to have ocean colors and seaweed-style decorations. We're getting married at my favorite fishing hole, the only thing I haven't got my way yet was the rabbi. Oh well. The officiator is going to be a notary public, who is our chiropractor's assistant and fiancee. So the only things we haven't taken care of is her boquet and where the reception will be held for the cheapskates which would be our families.
She's freaking out and stressing about the whole thing. However, I have started Tracy on listening to calming music and doing yoga, and meditation. The Buddhist philosophy and teaching are something that I have taken an interest in, and Reform Judiasm (which I have embraced) is very tolerant and even encouraging when it comes to alternative personal philosophies on life, death and the world in general. In the last couple weeks, I have learned to control alot of my panic attacks and anxiety by bringing together what I already know and what I have yet to learn. There's nothing like listening to sitars and bamboo flutes over ethereal backgrounds to make a rush hour drive seem more like a calming trance.
On another note, here's the response I wrote on one of my fishing boards to someone who was complaining about the Democrats regaining control of the House and Senate.
"I'm pleased that many of the incumbent Republicans who were voted out (i.e. Rick Santorum and George Allen) were running too far to the right for my liking. Many of the Democrats who were voted in are more centrist and more likely to reach across party lines versus the days of Congress passing everything the President wanted. By the way, I actually voted for George Allen when he ran back in 2000, and worked for his 1996 gubernatioral campaign. This time around, I would have voted against him if I still lived in VA.
I believe that Iraq was a mistake because we didn't expect all the foreign fighters to come in and start a civil war, and we didn't have a plan B. I think that in a good way, Iraq has brought them all there so that we can kill them all somewhere other than our backyards. At the same time, the current administration, as well past ones, have created a foreign policy approach towards the Middle East that has created a whole generation of terrorists that will only die out after we use both military AND diplomatic options to neutralize the threats.
I do not like Islam's belief system, especially the part about wiping out Israel, considering that I am a Jew and I have family there. However, this Islamic religion is not going away and therefore, we need to show another option to this demographic that is not based on terror and bigotry, but instead on democracy, women's rights and tolerance towards all. Then, and only then, can we not have to take our shoes off at airports and carry our drinks onto our flights home to our families from whatever fishing destination we just enjoyed.
Islam has always been a religion of "convert or be killed", but there have been some periods of Muslim rule, especially around 1000 AD Spain that was suprisingly tolerant of other beliefs. This is what we should be showing as the alternative, and working towards through diplomacy. As Teddy Roosevelt said, "Speak softly and carry a big stick". I do believe that military force is necessary but not like we are using it now. My thought is that we should first remove our ban on assasinating foreign leaders and use special forces (much like the Israeli Mossad) to take out those individuals that are a threat or who have harmed us. By the way, anyone who has not seen "Munich" should watch it."
She's freaking out and stressing about the whole thing. However, I have started Tracy on listening to calming music and doing yoga, and meditation. The Buddhist philosophy and teaching are something that I have taken an interest in, and Reform Judiasm (which I have embraced) is very tolerant and even encouraging when it comes to alternative personal philosophies on life, death and the world in general. In the last couple weeks, I have learned to control alot of my panic attacks and anxiety by bringing together what I already know and what I have yet to learn. There's nothing like listening to sitars and bamboo flutes over ethereal backgrounds to make a rush hour drive seem more like a calming trance.
On another note, here's the response I wrote on one of my fishing boards to someone who was complaining about the Democrats regaining control of the House and Senate.
"I'm pleased that many of the incumbent Republicans who were voted out (i.e. Rick Santorum and George Allen) were running too far to the right for my liking. Many of the Democrats who were voted in are more centrist and more likely to reach across party lines versus the days of Congress passing everything the President wanted. By the way, I actually voted for George Allen when he ran back in 2000, and worked for his 1996 gubernatioral campaign. This time around, I would have voted against him if I still lived in VA.
I believe that Iraq was a mistake because we didn't expect all the foreign fighters to come in and start a civil war, and we didn't have a plan B. I think that in a good way, Iraq has brought them all there so that we can kill them all somewhere other than our backyards. At the same time, the current administration, as well past ones, have created a foreign policy approach towards the Middle East that has created a whole generation of terrorists that will only die out after we use both military AND diplomatic options to neutralize the threats.
I do not like Islam's belief system, especially the part about wiping out Israel, considering that I am a Jew and I have family there. However, this Islamic religion is not going away and therefore, we need to show another option to this demographic that is not based on terror and bigotry, but instead on democracy, women's rights and tolerance towards all. Then, and only then, can we not have to take our shoes off at airports and carry our drinks onto our flights home to our families from whatever fishing destination we just enjoyed.
Islam has always been a religion of "convert or be killed", but there have been some periods of Muslim rule, especially around 1000 AD Spain that was suprisingly tolerant of other beliefs. This is what we should be showing as the alternative, and working towards through diplomacy. As Teddy Roosevelt said, "Speak softly and carry a big stick". I do believe that military force is necessary but not like we are using it now. My thought is that we should first remove our ban on assasinating foreign leaders and use special forces (much like the Israeli Mossad) to take out those individuals that are a threat or who have harmed us. By the way, anyone who has not seen "Munich" should watch it."