Eowyn86's Xanga

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:05:40 GMT

Sad to say, Xanga's just not doing it for me anymore. Maybe it's being caught in the middle of this big switch to some kind of pseudo-social networking site, but more likely it's just that most of the friends I came here to hang out with aren't here anymore. Not that I don't enjoy hearing from the newer friends I've made, and I'm not abandoning anyone's blogs... I'll still be getting e-mail digests of all the entries. I just probably won't be making many myself.

You can find me at blogspot:

http://rohanite.blogspot.com

There's also diaryland, where I've been forever; I don't mind givng the link out, I just don't want to post it for the world to see. Same with facebook.

So yeah... it's been good. I've been here for years, and made/read/enjoyed some good posts, comments, fellowship, etc. It's just felt more like a ghost town than not lately. Friend me if you're on blogger too!

Wednesday, September 09, 2009

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 23:04:10 GMT

So I got a leash for my cat at Pet Co. Or some other similar store that specializes in pet supplies. That part isn't important. Well, it's more than a leash. It's basically a harness with a leash attached, because something tells me that a simple collar would be too easy to get out of.

I've discovered that you really can't just take cats on "walks." The few times we've gone out have become mere territorial romps - he wants to poke his nose into every bit of flora and fauna, and then chew on it, and keep going forever and ever. Also, cats don't obey commands. They really don't even acknowledge them. Even lovey-dovey requests have very little merit with him. Eventually it ends with me scooping him up and carrying him, writhing and meowing, back up to the third-floor apartment.

I'm kind of embarrassed for any adults to see me out there with a cat on a leash. A few kids have seen us so far and enjoyed petting him. Somehow they just tend to be more open-minded about these things.

Okay one more cat story and I'm done. He *almost* escaped again this weekend. My sister had him out on the balcony, and he was leaning over the edge, as he normally does, and as she stood up it startled him, and he fell over the edge. Fortunately, there's a roof above the doorway that he landed on, about on par with the second-floor balconies. So he jumped back and forth between other people's balconies and the roof (no one else was around). We ended up bringing a mushroom chair down to the ground and holding it up toward him. Eventually he just jumped into it and kinda catapulted down to the ground. We must have looked so ridiculous...

Oh cats. The things we do for them... look stupid, vacuum cat hair, scoop their poop, buy food, dishes, stupid little toys, sticky hair rollers, etc. etc. And what do we get in return? Hmmmm.... the feeling that when he rubs his little head against me and purrs... perhaps there's something like love in the gesture.

Perhaps...

Monday, August 03, 2009

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:15:34 GMT

Just sharing the link to my Soulfest 2009 photo album on facebook for those who don't know me on there. It was an awesome time! I'd highly suggest checking it out if you love music and live in the New England area.http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2220465&id=5814719&l=704dab3a12

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 23:18:55 GMT

I don't consider myself as belonging to any political party. I registered as a Republican and I often vote along those lines, but I want to re-register as an independent, because I honestly don't feel enough loyalty to either side to justify aligning myself with them.

I guess when I was younger I often saw Republicans as the "Christian party." I definitely wouldn't call it that now, not that it ever was. There may be some overlap between Christians and Republicans, but I think Christians should be able to hold onto their views without letting party loyalty get in the way.

I'm not just going to talk about politics though. I also want to talk about poverty. I had a chance to witness poverty in my own community a few weeks ago, up close and personal, and became aware again of how divisive it can be to try to mix religious views of poverty with political ones.

If I had to label myself politically, I would want to be a Compassionate Conservative. At the present, however, I feel I lack a lot of the wisdom, experience, and positive characteristics that this title would imply. Therefore, I can simply strive at it for now. Compassion, like love, is a verb. If no action results from it, it's only sympathy, and that doesn't do a whole lot in the grand scheme of things. The reason I don't like mixing politics with views on poverty is because I think each side gets it wrong in some very important ways.

The liberal point of view often seems to aim towards a fantasy utopia in which there is no poverty, war, or suffering of any kind, no rich or poor, and everyone is free to do what they want (while at the same time not hurting anyone else, which never happens). I still have to admit, there are a lot of good ideas going here. What's wrong with combating poverty and suffering?

Especially when contrasted with the stereotypical Republican stinginess which seems to imply that poor people are the way they are through their own fault, and people who have money have worked for it and therefore don't have to share it.

I really try to see some good on both sides... on the one hand, we should be actively seeking to aid our fellow human beings, and not entering into war unless there is no other choice. Sometimes people are poor because they've been born into that cycle and can't get out of it, or have just honestly fallen on hard times. On the other hand, I can understand why some people are wary about just giving hand-outs to the poor. Some people are poor because of their own choices, or their lack of interest in doing any work. Why should they get hand-outs that simply encourage that dependence?

It's not a political issue. Poverty cannot be legislated away, nor does it make sense that it should be. We live in a sinful world and as long as there is sin, there will be rich and poor. Jesus himself said "you will always have the poor among you..." (John 12:8) But if anything, that mere fact should encourage us to do something about it... not from any attempt to eradicate it completely from the world, which would be futile and arrogant, but for a genuine love for the people themselves, regardless of who they are, what they've done, or how they became "poor."

That's how Jesus approached it. He stayed out of politics, and because of that, wasn't the leader that some people were expecting. He didn't wipe out any big problems in one swipe, like he could have. Instead, he helped people on a person-by-person, community-by-community basis. He didn't judge them, but loved them, healed then, and sent them on their way.

Yes, the liberal view is unrealistic and unfair, but how is the "Republican Christian" view any better if it simply provides a political antithesis to that? We don't need politics, we need love. Real love, not human emotion or sympathy. As far away from the political squabble as possible... regardless of your party, if you can follow the Jesus model, you're heading in a much better direction than most of us.

Michael Jackson

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:51:46 GMT

It's always a big deal when an icon of American culture passes away, and I suppose there were few still living with the power and musical influence that Michael Jackson had, and obviously still has.

I feel sorry for him. I think a lot of people do. He had a horrible childhood, and yet he seemed to rise above it for a time, but those things will always catch up with you if they aren't dealt with properly. I don't think he's been in the news this much since the trial.

I remember that - the media circus. At least he isn't around to experience it all over again. And there are always opinions going around about whether he did it or not. I know you want to hear mine. Not. Well, this is my blog, so that's what it's for I suppose. I don't think he did "it", but at the same time, he did have some wacked out ideas, and plenty of issues of his own as we all know. But was he on trial for those?

My opinion about this really doesn't matter one bit, nor does anyone else's. I wasn't at the trial, I didn't read the testimony, I didn't study the facts. If people who were involved in the investigation don't even know the truth, then the rest of us sure as heck don't.

But that's what our media-crazed society encourages us to do - form opinions based on headlines, images, short articles and out-of-context quotes. Not only to form opinions, but to pass judgment and make sweeping generalizations from these jumbled pieces. I do it too, and I'm not proud of it.

I'm just saying that yeah, there are horrible people out there who commit horrible crimes, but there are also gold-diggers who will latch onto anyone they believe they can extract money from. There are also situations that kinda fall in the middle.

So ultimately, I feel bad for Michael Jackson, and appreciate the changes and enthusiasm he brought to music. He seems like an average shy, quiet sort of person with immense talent, who was just pushed to do more than a human being could reasonably be expected to carry, emotionally, physically, etc. I especially feel bad for his kids right now, being caught in this bloodsucking tug-of-war. I just hope they can end up with someone who cares more about them than money.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Wed, 27 May 2009 22:48:50 GMT

Xanga, why do you have a news feed now? Seriously. If I wanted you to be facebook, I wouldn't be here.

Someday the only way we'll know how to process information will be in multiple tidbits at once. No one will have any attention span. College classes will all be taught in alternating 15-minute increments, and "liking" 10 people's statuses in one night will make us feel like social butterflies.

Hopefully not. Anyway.

I've often felt that, as an introvert, I would enjoy living alone. While it's true that I need 'alone time' and my own space, I'm definitely coming to find that, in the long run, I'd rather not live alone.

I mean, I have a cat, but it's nice to have human company too. One roommate has gone home for the summer, and another has moved out completely, leaving me to pay 1/2 the rent instead of 1/3, and making lists of all the things I now have to buy to replace what my roommate took with her.

Bowls...more tupperware...a desk/table (which I can get from my parents)...a TV table...a DVD player. And other stuff I can't remember. Some are more wants than needs, but hopefully I'll have this place looking 'lived-in' again soon.

I do enjoy certain things about being the sole boss of the apartment for the summer - I decide where things go, when to rearrange furniture, how things will be organized, etc. And I especially enjoy being in charge of the kitchen. I will generally have at least 3 nights per week (minus Sundays) dedicated to some kind of social endeavors, so at least I shall have some human contact besides work.

In the meantime.... bills, bills, bills. It's annoying, and yet I'm gradually getting out of debt as I pay off student loans, and more importantly, not accumulating any more in the process. Frugality is a dying art.

Haha, speaking of which, I just took a vintage bike out of my parents' basement to see if I can use it. And by "vintage," I mean "old." I'm trying to find a cheap bike lock for it, but wal-mart only had the expensive ones...and there's no point having a bike lock that's worth more than the bike. Oh well. I'll take it out for a spin this week if it ever stops raining.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:48:12 GMT

I should update.
Not only because I should, but because I want to. Of course that would lead me to then haggle over a topic, but one just hit me as the imdb.com page was loading. Bea Arthur has died. Quite sad - I mean, sad that anyone dies, but every so often I'll see a celebrity death that actually means something to me. I've watched a lot of the Golden Girls, and I really loved the humor. It's one of the few "girly shows" that I can not only tolerate, but enjoy.

The character of Dorothy is probably my favorite, because she has such a quick wit and a way with sarcasm, but at the same time she's a loving, caring friend. I think it's important to have a balance there, even moreso in real life. Having a sense of humor is almost vital, and knowing how to use it correctly can be very difficult. We all need someone to remind us not to be too serious, but to also be there as a comfort after the sarcasm wears off. It seems we live in very cynical age when we'd rather just use humor to deflect problems than actually deal with them.

So RIP Bea Arthur. You'll always be Dorothy to me.

In other news, nothing is happening. Well, that's not true. I'm learning a lot about following, and trust, and not leaning on my own understanding. And that it's okay to take baby steps... sometimes it feels like that's all I'm doing, but it's better than sitting around making excuses for not taking steps at all, I suppose, although I still do too much of that.

I want to walk a lot this summer. To find trails I never knew existed, and photograph as much of the rocky coast as I can. I want to climb mountains and bike roads I used to drive by too quickly to ever really see. I don't want to be important, I want to experience importance in things that don't always display it. Here's hoping.

Looking

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 21:11:38 GMT

I love to watch the ripples finally pass,
And water's clearest plane begin to shine.
I wish I could look past it, but alas,
The only visage staring back is mine.

To peer into the depths without reserve,
Through fathoms of complete lucidity,
Would certainly require endless nerve,
But yield such infinite tranquility.

Though all before me is a murky marsh,
I would look past obstructions if I may -
If only spotlights weren't so strangely harsh,
And these reflected eyes don't block the way.

-Laura-

What is your favorite kind of ice cream? Why do you like it?

Sat, 11 Apr 2009 23:25:42 GMT

Anything with big chunks of chocolate or streaks of fudge, or anything cookie-related in it. Mocha flavor is a bonus.

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What's your idea of the perfect date?

Sat, 11 Apr 2009 00:52:36 GMT

Going for a nice walk along the back cove... couple miles, maybe. Then grabbing coffee at a local non-chain coffee shop. Or ice cream, if it's summer. Then listening to music on the drive back and singing along.

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