You age, but growing old is optional…

As I wrote in a previous post, I recently built myself a small deck out behind my home. It was a physically demanding job, and the next day I felt quite sore. I’ve come to realize as I get older, that this whole “getting sore” thing is intensifying somewhat. I also realize that in some ways, perhaps it’s a function of my attitude. Now, before you start thinking that I’m going to say that my thought alone is causing something physical, I’ll stop you there. My attitude over the past few years is something that has kept me from doing the physically active things I’ve done in the past that have allowed me to feel better, and not suffer such consequences of intermittent activity.

Sometimes, Shit Happens

Image credit: Shaken & Stirred (www.shakenandstirredweb.com).

There’s a tendency with many to look for some grand cosmic reason for everything that happens, whether it’s good stuff or bad stuff. Recently, a few ex-Christian Scientist acquaintances of mine have been going through what could mildly be called ‘rough patches’ in their lives.

Scientific Ignorance

Image credit: “Mary Death” by Matthew Tarpley (www.marydeathcomics.com)

I’m not a fan of organized religion and cults; in many ways, I see little difference between them. In addition to Christian Science, I especially dislike conservative fundamentalist Christianity, and it’s evil cousin radical Islam.

Capricious Natures

It’s August–the dog days of summer here in the northern hemisphere. Where I live, it is the height of fire season. Living in a semi-arid area, such as I do, we’re very conscious of the dangers of wildfires. Several years ago, a wildfire tore through the area, torching several thousand hectares of forest, and levelling several neighbourhoods on the outskirts of the city. This fire occasioned one of the largest single evacuations in Canadian history. Those who have lived here for a long time will sometimes measure events as “before the fire” or “after the fire”. Since then, awareness is at such a level that the smallest fire around here occasions a swift and heavy response. We’ve had a few bad fires since, one as recently as 2009, which threatened several neighbourhoods. Suffice it to say, we don’t look kindly on visitors who flick cigarette butts out of their car windows, or leave campfires unattended.

It’s Raining in the State of Denial

I’ve realized that maintaining a blog is like keeping your car maintained. If you ignore it, the stats indicate that your readers (in my case it looks like between 20 – 30 regulars) start to drop away unless you post something new.