"O Brother! Not every sea hath pearls. Not every branch will flower, nor will the nightingale sing thereon."
~ Baha'u'llah
I just finished three days disappeared from the world, three twelve hour shifts at work. Even if I go to sleep at midnight, I wake up-bing!- at six most mornings. Many things about the team-building at work are rewarding. Most are stressful. I came home last night from 13 hours of work, tired and stressed, to hear my daughter's outgoing message as I called to check up on her. "Hi, this is Jake--or as some of you call me, Pearl."
In that stressed and alienated frame of mind, I thought it was all about Me, Al Franken, and some kind of rejection of her given name and me. It turns out it's short for Jakob, as in Jakob Grimm.
Huh.
I guess I can adjust. Most of my friends, even me, change their names from time to time.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
The Unquantifiable Universe
My husband always wants me to say how much I love him, as if love were something you can quantify in specified amounts. Finally I said, "As much as an atom; as much as a drop. [Look it up in the Kitab-i-Iqan.]"
"How resplendent the luminaries of knowledge that shine in an atom, and how vast the oceans of wisdom that surge within a drop."
~Baha'u'llah
"How resplendent the luminaries of knowledge that shine in an atom, and how vast the oceans of wisdom that surge within a drop."
~Baha'u'llah
Girls' Night Out
We had a good day today, Pearl and I. We picked up her car from being repaired within an inch of its life, just short of totaled from her hitting a pole on one of her first expeditions after getting her license. Her car wouldn't start. There wasn't a drop of gas in it. If she hadn't hit a pole she would have run out of gas. We had to buy a container, fill it and learn how to fill the tank with the complicated spout.
Tonight we went to Benaroya Hall for the Seattle Symphony showing of "Psycho." I went to Value Village, hoping to find one of those animal noses, but what I did find was a pair of leather mules with a spotted animal print, which I took home and used the tops to make a pair of cat-like ears. These I sewed onto a scarf which I tied behind my head [I left my latest felt hat at Supercuts or I would have used that.] Then we used long-lasting reddish brown lip color to make a nose and black lipstick to draw whiskers, art by Pearl. A fun and minimalist costume.
She used green, then white makeup for a zombie effect; then added a bar code and the number 5, a fake bruise, red around her lips, and a realistic patch of green circuitry revealed by a bite. [The girl is good.] Then she dressed in white shirt, black vest and pants, a black bowler, carried a black umbrella, and went as a zombie android sort of deal. Very cute.
We met my sister at a great Vegan Thai restaurant called Araya on 45th Street in Seattle's University District. Imagine: an entire menu available to plant-based diners! And all delicious.
Psycho at Benaroya Hall, with the Seattle Symphony playing the score, was a hoot. About a third of the audience was in costume. A lot of men were dressed as women; not just dressed as any woman, but dressed as a woman in costume. So late in the 1960 film when the psychologist is giving his psychobabble speech and mentions transvestites, there was a roar of laughter from the audience.
Two cute coincidences: the opening date on the screen is December 11th, my daughter's birthday. And Marian Crane buys a 1957 Ford [my birth year.]
Tonight we went to Benaroya Hall for the Seattle Symphony showing of "Psycho." I went to Value Village, hoping to find one of those animal noses, but what I did find was a pair of leather mules with a spotted animal print, which I took home and used the tops to make a pair of cat-like ears. These I sewed onto a scarf which I tied behind my head [I left my latest felt hat at Supercuts or I would have used that.] Then we used long-lasting reddish brown lip color to make a nose and black lipstick to draw whiskers, art by Pearl. A fun and minimalist costume.
She used green, then white makeup for a zombie effect; then added a bar code and the number 5, a fake bruise, red around her lips, and a realistic patch of green circuitry revealed by a bite. [The girl is good.] Then she dressed in white shirt, black vest and pants, a black bowler, carried a black umbrella, and went as a zombie android sort of deal. Very cute.
We met my sister at a great Vegan Thai restaurant called Araya on 45th Street in Seattle's University District. Imagine: an entire menu available to plant-based diners! And all delicious.
Psycho at Benaroya Hall, with the Seattle Symphony playing the score, was a hoot. About a third of the audience was in costume. A lot of men were dressed as women; not just dressed as any woman, but dressed as a woman in costume. So late in the 1960 film when the psychologist is giving his psychobabble speech and mentions transvestites, there was a roar of laughter from the audience.
Two cute coincidences: the opening date on the screen is December 11th, my daughter's birthday. And Marian Crane buys a 1957 Ford [my birth year.]
Sunday, October 25, 2009
What Happened to Arlene?
I know I've been off the blog too long when I have to enter my password!
I had intended to join the morning teaching events on Hilltop this weekend, but didn't show up.
I got sick! I was starting to sniffle and sneeze and blow my nose the 17th & 18, during our teaching weekend on Tacoma's Hilltop; then took off Oct 19th and 20th from work for the anniversary of the Birth of the Bab; then Oct 21st for our second anniversary.
About 4 AM the 22nd it hit. High fever, really not feeling well. But I was scheduled to work a twelve-hour shift Thursday, so I did, going through a box of tissues and a container of that horrid alcohol gel which I applied after every sneeze and nose blow, getting sicker and sicker. After whining about my schedule and being assigned to work this weekend so I wouldn't lose my house, I ended up taking this weekend off anyway. I still have a fever but the running nose is now only jogging, and the sneezes have stopped.
I tried to go to the Doc-in-the-Box today but they wouldn't take my insurance, which is one of the major companies. I have Peach, they only accept Mango. I thought they were pretty much two sides of the same coin, but not according to their contract. So I decided since I'm not dead yet, I'll just wait. I'm not working until Tuesday, anyway.
I'm watching videos with my daughter.
I had intended to join the morning teaching events on Hilltop this weekend, but didn't show up.
I got sick! I was starting to sniffle and sneeze and blow my nose the 17th & 18, during our teaching weekend on Tacoma's Hilltop; then took off Oct 19th and 20th from work for the anniversary of the Birth of the Bab; then Oct 21st for our second anniversary.
About 4 AM the 22nd it hit. High fever, really not feeling well. But I was scheduled to work a twelve-hour shift Thursday, so I did, going through a box of tissues and a container of that horrid alcohol gel which I applied after every sneeze and nose blow, getting sicker and sicker. After whining about my schedule and being assigned to work this weekend so I wouldn't lose my house, I ended up taking this weekend off anyway. I still have a fever but the running nose is now only jogging, and the sneezes have stopped.
I tried to go to the Doc-in-the-Box today but they wouldn't take my insurance, which is one of the major companies. I have Peach, they only accept Mango. I thought they were pretty much two sides of the same coin, but not according to their contract. So I decided since I'm not dead yet, I'll just wait. I'm not working until Tuesday, anyway.
I'm watching videos with my daughter.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Business People
Saturday while we strolled through the Hilltop neighborhood, I was partnered with a gentleman from Bellevue and I asked what his wife does. After a thorough explanation, my previous observation was confirmed: the strong possibility exists I am just not intelligent enough to understand business. I've already proven I'm not smart enough to understand Stephen Hawking. But I'd rather try to explain a quasar than any aspect of business.
Years ago I used to walk along the Tacoma waterfront on Ruston Way, trying to figure out my nursing career which was always crashing and burning. I was watching for rainbows and trying to manage my weight [ha!] I used to see them on Ruston Way: Business People.
They trade their spike heels for chic walking shoes and glide out from their offices in pairs, crisp in black business suits, sliding narrowly past the stroller pushers, dog walkers, and fat, desperate housewives. The speak a staccato dialect from another planet, possibly B9 Business 1138.
I want to approach timidly in my Birkenstoks, "I come in peace." But I know they live and work and have their being in a different world from mine.
Years ago I used to walk along the Tacoma waterfront on Ruston Way, trying to figure out my nursing career which was always crashing and burning. I was watching for rainbows and trying to manage my weight [ha!] I used to see them on Ruston Way: Business People.
They trade their spike heels for chic walking shoes and glide out from their offices in pairs, crisp in black business suits, sliding narrowly past the stroller pushers, dog walkers, and fat, desperate housewives. The speak a staccato dialect from another planet, possibly B9 Business 1138.
I want to approach timidly in my Birkenstoks, "I come in peace." But I know they live and work and have their being in a different world from mine.
Love and Compassion, Part 2
The Bab said that people ought to love God because they love Him, not out of fear of hell or desire for paradise.
He also said, "The path of guidance is one of love and compassion, not of force and coercion." The Baha'i agenda is not to coerce people to seek God out of fear; it is to attract people's hearts which are already yearning to connect with their creator. I think the sea change I sensed this weekend in the Hilltop neighborhood is that, when we use the language of community-building, people sense the love and compassion and the lack of coercion, so there is no reason to feel threatened.
People we approached were friendly; I was fearful because at heart I am a hermit. I am always attracted in two directions: to associate with people and enjoy the fellowship, love and friendship, and to seek solitude and rest.
This weekend was very convivial, gathering in homes to pray together, team up and go out into the world to meet people, return and share out stories. Every year there is an event called the "Black Men's Gathering" where, being neither male nor black, I can only guess that they get together and enjoy being black men together. Anyhow, they came to participate in our teaching event this year. We also had visitors from Boise and from Salt Lake City.
Sunday morning there was a devotional meeting which included the people from the Black Men's Gathering, bringing drums and music and we had stories from the early days of the Baha'i Faith, more prayers and music, and it was fun and moving and enlivening. Then we ate waffles. After the devotional gathering I went back to the house where the teaching was going on, and joined the friends who were staying there and praying.
The whole weekend was social, convivial, joyful, full of friendliness, fellowship, love and unity. I was exhausted. I came home at 6 PM, crawled into bed and slept until 2 AM.
He also said, "The path of guidance is one of love and compassion, not of force and coercion." The Baha'i agenda is not to coerce people to seek God out of fear; it is to attract people's hearts which are already yearning to connect with their creator. I think the sea change I sensed this weekend in the Hilltop neighborhood is that, when we use the language of community-building, people sense the love and compassion and the lack of coercion, so there is no reason to feel threatened.
People we approached were friendly; I was fearful because at heart I am a hermit. I am always attracted in two directions: to associate with people and enjoy the fellowship, love and friendship, and to seek solitude and rest.
This weekend was very convivial, gathering in homes to pray together, team up and go out into the world to meet people, return and share out stories. Every year there is an event called the "Black Men's Gathering" where, being neither male nor black, I can only guess that they get together and enjoy being black men together. Anyhow, they came to participate in our teaching event this year. We also had visitors from Boise and from Salt Lake City.
Sunday morning there was a devotional meeting which included the people from the Black Men's Gathering, bringing drums and music and we had stories from the early days of the Baha'i Faith, more prayers and music, and it was fun and moving and enlivening. Then we ate waffles. After the devotional gathering I went back to the house where the teaching was going on, and joined the friends who were staying there and praying.
The whole weekend was social, convivial, joyful, full of friendliness, fellowship, love and unity. I was exhausted. I came home at 6 PM, crawled into bed and slept until 2 AM.
Love and Compassion, Part 1
I associate activities intended to save souls as having a coercive agenda. This is because at heart, Christianity as currently taught by some Christians, involves the doctrine of original sin. As I understand it, there were two people in the Bible, Adam and Eve, that failed to follow the commandment of God, and for some reason, some type of twisted genetics, everyone else who followed [being their offspring], inherited the quality of being inherently sinful.
The corollary to this situation, the way I have been taught by some Christians, is that since humanity are all sinners, we are all automatically consigned to the flames of hell unless we are saved.
How do we get "saved?" By reciting words to the effect that, "I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross to save me, and I repent from my sins." Something like that. Now this, as any child can see, is a no-brainer. If the clear choice is to go to hell or to recite whatever you think God wants you to recite, why not recite the words?
The trick, as I figured out as a child, is to be sincere. How can you know you were sufficiently sincere to keep you out of the flames of hell?
The corollary to this situation, the way I have been taught by some Christians, is that since humanity are all sinners, we are all automatically consigned to the flames of hell unless we are saved.
How do we get "saved?" By reciting words to the effect that, "I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross to save me, and I repent from my sins." Something like that. Now this, as any child can see, is a no-brainer. If the clear choice is to go to hell or to recite whatever you think God wants you to recite, why not recite the words?
The trick, as I figured out as a child, is to be sincere. How can you know you were sufficiently sincere to keep you out of the flames of hell?
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