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Deb’s House Concerts

Last update before posting this:

I wrote to Robert, the man I’m talking about in this post. Robert not only gave his permission to include a link to his web page. He asked me to call him Rob, rather than ‘this man’ (the term I was using in order not to identify him).  Rob would like for you to read (and watch) his blog (he posts videos). Rob’s blog is The Architect’s Garage.

Note:

I wrote this post a few weeks ago after submitting comments to this man’s Rob’s blog. My comments are below. He did publish my comments to his blog, and he replied with very thoughtful comments of his own.  I replied again (to his comments). I do not understand his perspective. It looks like denial to me.

He believes he is honoring God by denying himself (by saying he is a married, straight man who is attracted to men). We disagree on that point (that being with one person while obsessing about others is honoring anyone). We have discussed it in email and comments.

It’s his life, and he is living it as he chooses. The only reason this conversation began was because he used Ray Boltz as an example of a gay many who is doing the wrong thing (living as an openly gay man rather than staying married to a woman after he accepted that he is a gay man).

I happen to believe that Ray Boltz has honored God with his love for his family and his honesty with himself, his family and everyone who has read the article about his coming out in The Washington Blade.

We’ve Had This Conversation Before

He wants to believe he’s not really gay, just that he “struggles with same sex attractions.” I say, “Straight men don’t feel that way for other men. They feel that way for women.”

It’s About Community

He wants to believe he simply desires the company of other men, because that’s what is good for men. I say, “It’s true that men enjoy the company of other men, but the straight men are not emotionally and sexually attracted to other men the way you are.”

He Criticized Ray Boltz for Living an Open and Honest Life

That’s when I knew it was time to speak up again. “If you want to live a lie, and try to make yourself believe you are a straight man who ’struggles with same sex attractions’, so be it. If you want to deny your poor wife the opportunity to meet, fall in love with, and marry a man who can actually feel for her the way you feel for other men, so be it.  If you want to pretend you are a straight man just hanging out with the guys, when you are really dying inside and their company is all that keeps you alive, so be it. But, why try to defend your self-deception by talking badly about a man who is living an honest life?”

What Did I Really Say?

I said basically the same thing I’ve said above. But, it was longer, and I submitted it as a comment to his blog. I do not know if he will post it. He wants to believe he is doing the right thing by talking constantly about his “struggle with same sex attraction” while thinking about men all the time and staying married to a woman.  I believe that is so wrong, and so unfair to the one who loves him. (What I wrote to him is after the fold … ) Continue Reading »

December 1, 2009

Deb’s House Concerts

World AIDS Day

Deb’s House Concerts

Flowering Plants, Autumn Leaves

On this walk through Freedom Park, I saw bees on flowers and beautiful wispy purple grasses. I saw green plants and trees in autumn color.

Water, Fountains, Ducks, Concerts

I saw water, fountains, ducks, pathways, a playground, picnic tables, and an amphitheater.

So Long Without Knowing

How did I live so many years and never realize that park was there? I suppose the obvious answer is that I do not live in that city. I am sure there are many wonderful parks in many cities, and I am ignorant of the existence of most of them.

Lingering Over Bees on the Flowers

I’m not able to post video on this blog, but I spent a long time holding the camera right over a honeybee as she moved from flower to flower. I was able to get a few photos, too.

2009 Oct Freedom Park Flowers 12009 Oct Freedom Park Flowers 22009 Oct Freedom Park Flowers 32009 Oct Freedom Park Flowers 42009 Oct Freedom Park Purple Grass Lake

Do You Feel Grateful?

Deb’s House Concerts

So Much Right, So Much Wrong

In this time when we hear of (or experience personally) violence, war, loss of jobs, homes and health, how does it feel to you? There is so much right in the world, and so much wrong in the world, all at the same time.

Half Full vs. Half Empty

How do you see your glass of life?  What is happening for you? Are you happy? Are you hurting? Are you in loving relationships? Are you broken-hearted? Are you healthy? Are you fighting to regain health or to maintain what you have?

How Does Your Life Feel to You?

Are you mostly happy? Are you mostly sad? Do you feel valued and appreciated? Do you feel alone and unimportant? Does the future seem bright? Do you feel that your best years are behind you?

Where will you go from here?

If you  look at your life, yourself, your loved ones, your abundance of whatever is good in your life, and if you look at what makes you sad or anxious, where will you go from here? What are you thinking right now? What will you do next?

For Me?

I am grateful to have loved ones nearby. I miss those who are not with us. I am grateful to be able to work and go to school. I am grateful to have a place to live, food to eat and heat for the coming winter. I am grateful to feel grateful. I know that there are many who feel a sadness so heavy they cannot feel gratitude for anything.

Loneliness and Stress During the Holidays

Do you feel lonely or stressed, more than usual, during holidays or holiday seasons? What do you do to get through? What do you do to help yourself feel better? Do you find yourself isolating? Do you reach out to others for support? Do you eat or drink too much? Are you angrier or sadder than usual?

How Do You Help Yourself or Others?

If you feel lonely or stressed during this time of year, what do you do to get through? What suggestions do you have for others? What has helped you? What would you like for others to do for you? How can others know that you need help?

Thanksgiving Day

This is a time for me to stop and reflect, a time to be grateful for what is good in my life. It is a time to pray for loved ones who are not with me and for those who are suffering on this day. I want to look at myself and my life and see what is good and be thankful.

From Gratitude, Change

I want to see what needs to be different in myself, my life, and the world around me. I want to recognize that I can do something to make that change happen. Out of gratitude for what is good, I want to make things better for myself and for others.

Deb’s House Concerts

If Only I Had an Acre of Land

That’s how much you have to have in order to keep ‘farm animals’ in the city, in my city anyway. I say I like the animals on the farm, but still I choose to live in the city.

Watching Animals Interact

It’s so neat to see how animals behave alone, with one other and in groups.

Swimming Club

2009 Oct Freedom Ducks in a group 1

2009 Oct Freedom Ducks in a group 2

2009 Oct Freedom Ducks in a group 3

Deb’s House Concerts

Ducks, Ducks, Ducks

I could not be a hunter. The only way I shoot ducks is with a camera.

Pity Those Who Wait For Me

I tend to be the tail end of anything, anywhere. In a group, I’m lagging behind.

When A Child, Also When An Adult

When I was a child, I was always stopping to look at things. It was difficult for my poor mother to keep me going at the pace of the rest of the family (or herself). I am still that way. When I saw the ducks, that was the end of my walking for at least 10 minutes or more. I watched and took photos for a long time.

A Few of Many Photos

2009 Oct Freedom Ducks 1a

2009 Oct Freedom Ducks 2a

2009 Oct Freedom Ducks 3

2009 Oct Freedom Ducks 4

Deb’s House Concerts

H1N1 Haiku (Politiku) On Huffington Post

Susanna Speier just activated her H1N1 Politiku post on Huffington Post.

She Asked People to Write Political Haiku (Politiku) About H1N1

So, I did, of course. I wrote lots of H1N1 haiku.

She Posted This One

My job required it.
I had to get the vaccine.
Ohhhh, I hate needles!

The Rest Are Here

Here are the rest of my haiku pieces about H1N1.

Continue Reading »

Deb’s House Concerts

My First Visit to Freedom Park

I don’t know how I missed Freedom Park. Maybe I missed it, because I don’t live in Charlotte, and I have never before  visited anyone in Charlotte who took me there.

A Great Park

I learned recently that Freedom Park is the oldest park in Charlotte. I have lived in North Carolina for almost all of my life, but I never knew about it.

Maybe I Have Heard of It

I’m sure I’ve heard the name, but I never had the ‘in person’ experience until now. In fact, I’ve probably even posted about events there! Ha! It just never clicked, because I’d never been there before.

If I Lived in Charlotte …

If I lived in Charlotte, I’d want to live near the park.  The people who can walk to Freedom Park are the luckiest ones. I saw many cars in the parking lot. So, it must be a park that many people enjoy.

Looking Forward to Going Back

I’m already looking forward to the next opportunity to spend some time in such a nice park.

Water and Trees in Freedom Park

2009 Oct Freedom Park Bench

2009 Oct Freedom Fountain

2009 Oct Freedom Fountain 2

2009 Oct Freedom Park Pond Trees

2009 Oct Freedom Park Red Tree

Deb’s House Concerts

Write H1N1 Political Haiku

A friend just sent me an email asking people to submit haiku about H1N1.

My First Time to Respond

She sends me these things all the time. Usually, a writer is looking for someonen to interview about a specific topic. So, I move on to another email. But, this time was different.

I Like Haiku

Here is what I have to say about Haiku.

It’s fun. It’s easy.   << 5 syllables
There’s really nothing to it.  << 7 syllables
Write in a rhythm.  << 5 syllables

Would You Like to Participate?

Here is the information my friend emailed:

31)Summary: Looking for epidemiologists and medical professionals with literary inclinations
Name: Susanna Speier
Category: Health/Fitness
Email: susanna AT susannaspeier DOT com
Title: H1N1 Politiku
Media Outlet: Huffington Post
Deadline: 01:11pm PACIFIC – 15 November
Query: Looking for epidemiologists and medical professionals with literary inclinations to write an original Politiku (political haiku) about the H1N1
epidemic for my The Huffington Post Politiku column. Deadline is November 15th Additional info available on my website:
http://www.susannaspeier.com/politiku/h1n1-politiku-call-for-submissions/

Here is the link for the post requesting submissions of H1N1 haiku:

H1N1 Politiku – call for submissions

Here Are My H1N1 Haikus

I wrote a lot of them after reading the email. Then, when I went to the web page, I saw that she only wanted one per person. Aw :(   So, I wrote one in response to one that was already posted:

To Elizabeth (Teacher of Epidemiology. Thwacker of vaccine alarmists),

Your haiku is sharp
Stings like a shot in the arm.
Immunize us all.

Then, I posted the ones I wrote after learning about the request for H1N1 haiku:

Hi Susanna, A friend told me about your project, and I wrote these haikus before coming to this page (and seeing your one-haiku rule). You can pick the one you want to post.

H-1-N-1 hmmmm
At first, it was called swine flu
Now, we call it BAD!


No children in here!
Hospital won’t allow it.
Might bring/take swine flu.


My job required it.
I had to get the vaccine.
Ohhhh, I hate needles!


No longer winter
Now it comes in springtime, too!
and summer and fall


Old and sick feared flu
They were the ones who might die
Fear now for children


What a bad virus
How can we protect ourselves?
Wash hands well, often


No one sneezed near me
Must have rubbed eyes/nose after
I touched a doorknob


What a topic, this!
H-1-N-1 writes itself
Live and breathe haiku


Oh, how sad this is.
All because of a pig (not!)
So many have died


How can we do it?
Wash hands. Soap, water. Often.
Please protect yourself


Water, green veggies
Vitamins C and D, too
And, get enough sleep!


Staying well, healthy.
This is my goal this winter.
No H-1 for me!


I should not worry.
I worry for those I love
And, those you love, too!


Time to wash my hands,
Eat well, drink enough water
And, get enough sleep.


This flu began small
Quickly it spread far and wide
Exponentially

I was on a roll, so I wrote one more:

Her rules: Submit One.
Did I follow her rules? No.
I submitted all

Why Will My Politikus (political haikus) Not Qualify?

This is who she wanted to write for her column:

Are You a Scientist or a Heath Policy Expert?

If you’re an expert on this topic, I’d love to feature your Politiku along with a Tweet length bio, specifying your expertise to supplement.

You’ve Read Mine Here, Now Read The Rest

Read her request for H1N1 Haiku, and read the ones people have submitted. Then, watch for Susanna Speier’s column on Huffington Post, and read about the medical professionals, educators, scientists and health policy experts who participated.

[UPDATE: November 19, 2009 The H1N1 Politiku piece is now up on Huffington Post.]

NASA: Water on the Moon

Morning At Lake Norman

Deb’s House Concerts

Living by the Lake

I love water. I’d love to be able to live with water right outside my window. Life on a lake, a bay, a river, an ocean, or even a house boat would be lovely.

Zooming by the Lake

Alas. There is no river, lake, bay or ocean outside my window.  And, my photos are from 65mph as we zoomed by.

Still, It’s Pretty in the Morning

Morning Lake Norman 1

Morning Lake Norman 2

Morning Lake Norman 3

Veterans’ Day 2009

Deb’s House Concerts

Who Do You Know? Who Do  You Love?

Who in your life has served in the United States Military? I think we all have had family members who have served.

Thank You

Thank you to people who voluntarily put themselves in harm’s way with the goal and desire of keeping the rest of us safe.

Offer a Tribute

Please feel free to use the comments to offer thanks or praise for someone you know or love who is currently serving, or has served, in the U.S. Military. (Feel free also to offer generic thanks to any or all who wear the uniform)

Remember

On this day we remember all those who have lost their lives while in the service of this country.

Peace

On this day, I wish for peace in this world: peace within families, peace between tribes, peace between nations, peace between ethic groups, peace between races, peace between people of all religions and beliefs. I wish for a world where there is no longer a reason for people to go to war. I wish for all who fight to be able to return safely to their loved ones and their homes.

Deb’s House Concerts

Google’s Great Logos

I love to go to google.com and see a special logo. This week, all week, the logos have been about Sesame Street’s 40th birthday.

Where Were You 40 Years Ago (and, years since then)?

Did you watch Sesame Street when you were growing up? I did not. I wonder if I watched TV when I was a toddler and preschool age. I doubt it.

Sesame Street Logos All Week

Here’s the one from today:

Happy 40th Sesame Street

Pumpkin Mushrooms

Deb’s House Concerts

Pumpkin-Colored Mushrooms

I saw them one day before I photographed them. The color was beautiful. They were a bright orange, just like pumpkins.

Too Late!

I only waited one day, but it was too late. :(   The color had already begun to fade.

What is it about my yard?

Is it soggy? What makes an entire town of mushrooms pop up overnight?

Photos

2009 Oct Orange Mushrooms in my yard

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