My thoughts.

I was reading a post today from someone who was asking if others sometimes felt like things were pointless. Not depressingly so, just a “what’s the point?” sort of feeling. I wrote back the following:

I totally understand your feeling. Sometimes, I think we all feel that way. But I know for sure I do. I am an atheist and sometimes, when times are tough, I feel like what is the point of it all. I don’t believe there is a ‘higher being’ or that there is a purpose to existence. I consider it all a happy accident. But, then I wonder if awareness was the worst thing evolution gave humans. We could have just been blissfully ignorant, like the rest of the creatures on Earth. Instead, we sit and wonder why.

Then I think more and turn it around. A quote I heard once helped. “You are the universe experiencing itself.” I don’t take this as the universe being “aware”, but I do like the idea that, if it weren’t for us, this would all go on unnoticed, so to speak. So, we get to use our eyes and experience to look around and marvel at the wonders, lament the sadness and just experience life. We will be gone one day, but we have to hope, in some small, almost infinitesimal way, we made things a little better for others. Or we some how document what we see and feel, through writing or art or something.

At worst, it just means we were briefly here, enjoying the wonder of that happy accident. At best, we make it better for those yet to open their eyes.

My thoughts.

Day 1: Favorite Tradition

Christmas Challenge Day 1: Favorite Tradition

Wow, so many to choose from! We do lots of things each year here!

I will have to say the new-ish tradition (a few years now) of celebrating Christmastime instead of 'just' Christmas Day.

From the day after Thanksgiving to New Year's Day, we celebrate Christmastime. It involves the spectrum of traditions and fun we all enjoy: decorating the house, watching the movies and specials we all love, listening to Christmas music, having friends and family over and, in turn, visiting family and friends. We also take one night to drive around and look at the lit-up houses around town.

Our Christmastime is non-religious, it is just about enjoying the time together and celebrating the warmth of family and friends.

Most Hated Meme

You know I like memes. When I saw this one (I can't remember who started it), I thought about it, but then forgot.

When Cal did this, and then Darius did it, too, I had to put in my two cents (and more).

As Darius said, he tries to be positive online, and I try to, as well. So, in that vein, tomorrow I will re-do this one, changing it from "hate" to "love".

So, here we go:

1. Most Hated Food: Lobster/Crab and Octopi/Squid. I look at crustaceans as insects of the sea, and the cephalopods are like living boogers. All are just too creepy.

2. Most Hated Person: No one in particular, but I cannot stand self-righteous religious fanatics who smile at me like I am just confused or misguided.

3. Most Hated Job: Grill cook at Papa Gino's.

4. Most Hated City: No particular city, but some of the ones I have driven through in Florida are pretty bleak and depressing.

5. Most Hated Band: The Jonas Brothers. Luckily, my daughter's iPod is not a wePod.

6. Most Hated Website: Our local paper has a website that does more crashing than anything. Way to keep people interested!

7. Most Hated TV Program: Jon & Kate Screw Up 8

8. Most Hated Movie: Happily N'ever After. What the hell is that unfunny piece of crap? Just cause it's a "kids' movie" doesn't mean you can just throw together pretty pictures and inane dialogue. Even my kids hate it.

9. Most Hated Artist: Ashley Simpson, if she even counts as an artist. Just trying to cash in on her sister's already shaky claim to fame.

10. Most Hated Book: Honestly? I have tried three separate times to read "The Hobbit" and I cannot get through it. It is one of only two books I ever stopped reading, the other being "The Poseidon Adventure".

11. Most Hated Shop: Ocean State Job Lot, but only because of some rude workers I have had the displeasure of dealing with.

12. Most Hated Organization: Scientology. I mean, really? Christianity already had fairy tales being taken as historical facts, and someone created an even more bizarre, less believable religion and people buy into it??? I don't get it.

13. Most Hated Historical Event: Too many to choose from, sadly.

14. Most Hated Sport: Football. Hate me all you want, I just don't see the appeal.

15. Most Hated Piece of Tech: Bluetooth, but only when it is used outside of a car. You know, when it is NOT needed.

16. Most Hated Annual Event: Kids' first day of school. Time just flies, man.

17. Most Hated Daily Task: Putting on my socks. Don't take things for granted, kids!

18. Most Hated Comedian: Andrew Dice Clay.

What do you think?