February 2008
The Lessons of Jesus
Jesus Christ taught not religion, per se. What one can learn from teachings of Jesus is humanity. NOT politics, NOT judgments.
Religion in its organized, political state is often in contrast to what Jesus taught. Our religions are more interested in their own political standings and how they can influence government to determine society.
Jesus said more or less, Give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s; give unto God what is God’s.
We don’t only live in religion; we are also obligated to government and society. Jesus taught love and acceptance of everyone. Jesus stressed the importance of not throwing the first stone from a glass house, so to speak.
What have we done in our "religions?" We have decided that our own "religion" is the only one true belief. Instead of accepting the love of God as our Father, we have converted our spirituality into social and political beliefs.
We have completely disregarded what God wants for us: to live together as brothers and sisters in harmony. What we’ve created is a world where one’s idea of God and religion is more important than anyone else’s belief of God.
"Religion" is full of arrogance, political motivations, insistence upon one’s own thoughts and judgment against others upon everyone else.
Though acknowledged it’s not practiced; The Sermon on The Mount and The Golden Rule.
It doesn’t matter how we get to God, as long as we get there, is what matters. Of course, really getting to God means certain things that so much of our world, us included, isn’t willing to release. Christians, Jews, Muslims, any other indoctrinated religion aren’t either willing or able to let go of dogmas to really embrace and live according to the teachings of Jesus and His Father, Our Lord God.
If we all were to release the religious ties that bind us to dogmas, rituals, attitudes and thoughts of superiority, and embrace each other as much as we embrace God, we could become His children of whom He could be proud.
BEING A Man
Well, you know it's so funny that after a certain age, conversations become less about "how late I stayed out," "how much I drank last night," etc. and more like, "Oh, I've had THAT," "What's your cholesterol score?" "I get up in the middle of the night to pee THAT often." Oh...LOLOLOL
This past week I once again was confronted with my age (and family history) by having a colonoscopy. My brother-in-law drove me to outpatient surgery on his way to work. I registered and was taken back to a curtained area. Just wouldn't you know it, one of the women working was someone with whom I went to high school. LOL She was a friend then, she remains a friend now. She apparently knew I was coming (as she saw my name on lists and charts) and as soon as I walked in she yelled her greeting. We did all the things we needed to do in preparation for my colonoscopy; all the while joking with each other.
Yesterday, the prep wasn't bad; not until I began having this sinus headache that has been persisting me. I finally had to take a couple of OTC sinus pills. Other than that, the prep was not so bad. I ate some jell-o and drank some hot tea; no solid food all day the day before. I went into the procedure room and my memory is as follows: the doctor came in and greeted me, asked how the prep went; I felt burning in the IV in my hand and the doctor saying, "Okay, I've started..." "...Are you ready to wake up?" I was in recovery. LOLOLOL
I went back at 8:45 a.m. and this was now around 10:15 a.m. I got and drank some iced water; the nurse asked me if I had anyone waiting for me. I said that my father was picking me up at 10:30. She told me to get dressed and she'd tell him to bring the car around. She was gone before I could say, "He's probably not out there yet." I dressed and as I walked through the doors into the waiting room, I saw him standing outside with his car backed up to the door waiting for me. After I'd asked, he told me, "I've been here since 9:00. The doctor came out and talked to me. Do you want to go have breakfast? I'm buying?"
Wow. My father was there the whole time, waiting; he spoke to the doctor. "I haven't eaten since Sunday," I said. "Yeah," he replied, "I know what it's like." "Well, "I said, "I'd love breakfast, if you don't mind." Off we went, father and son, to have breakfast together. I gotta say that I ate everything and two and a half cups of coffee. lol We talked and he dropped me off at home around 12:00 noon.
It seems like such a small thing, what my father did for me; he was there when I went in and waited, then took me out to breakfast. It may seem like a small thing to others, but to me it was everything. Aside from his waiting for me in a waiting room, the time we spent together at the restaurant eating breakfast, talking ... being together, just us two.
Jokingly as I got out of his car I said, "Okay, if I don't see you before, I'll see you in three years." He said, "You have a real birthday this month; come up to the house when you can." (To understand that, I was born on February 29, Leap Year.) My father was there for me, not just there for me but generous and giving as well; I don't mean just money and a car-ride, but as a father with his adult son. As an independent and open and honest (both good and bad) man who has never questioned his father's love for him, but has at times wondered where he stood as a son, personally; as a gay son; a gay man. Men really ARE different; fathers and sons are different. The older I grow, the older he grows; maybe it's easier for both of us to let go of preconceived notions and see each other for who we are.
(P.S. Only one polyp removed today, heading for biopsy)
Then I returned to work; I actually only took a day and a half off for my "roto-rooter" this week. LOL
Several months ago, the "chief" (second to the Boss) left and someone new was hired. Not as "the chief" but as the manager of a section of our office; the rest of the chief's duties were mostly given to the office manager (who moved into her office.)
Though I would miss the "chief", I feel comfortable and competent in my job. I've only held my position since 2004, but before the "chief" left she told me, "I stopped worrying about you a long time ago."
I take my job very seriously. I'm a fun guy and like to laugh and make others laugh. I'm not a "clown" however; I'm serious about my job, what I do; I'm a team-player and somewhat of a perfectionist when it comes to my duties, as well as my expectations from other co-workers. When I was hired in 2004, I had absolutely no experience in what my job entailed; I had four hours of training from my predecessor. Wow, I don't know if I can do this! lol
My personality is one that tends to take control; I've been told that by some of my best friends, but not in a negative sense.
In my new job, I knew nothing about what my position entailed, other than those four hours of training. What I DID know was that the office was operating in the late-1970s or early-1980s. After several weeks, as is my personality, I took charge of changing nearly everything with regard to how the office used and utilized computers (which they really didn't.) The "chief" not only embraced my new ideas and changes, she encouraged me to change whatever would help and benefit the office. The "office manager", at the time, initially treated me as a godsend. It wasn't long, though, before he began resenting me. He would take the opportunities to talk down to me, embarrass me and insult my work. He did this, but my WORK was mostly beyond reproach; which only pissed him off more.
After so long, I knew my job well enough and knew what worked for the office, that I stopped taking his "jabs" and his intentional efforts to demean me. I've got self-confidence and (as I've been told) quite a mouth; enough of both to maintain my self-respect and put another into his place. The "office manager’s" relationship with me changed when he realized (I convinced him?) that he could not intimidate me. Co-workers have told me that he's threatened by me. In my own experience, I've decided that is the truth. He is so concerned with his "title" that he considers himself to be more than he is, or more than he knows.
Now, things have shifted. He may still harbor resentment toward me, but he often comes to me to confer and get my opinion; what he is really seeking is an answer. As a co-worker said to me, "He cannot piss you off; he needs you."
Today he called a meeting with him, the new person and myself. He approached me about several issues; I did admit concern about certain issues. These issues are very important; but since we are working with someone new, all we need to do is explain it all.
THAT is NOT what happened in the meeting. I don't think he could have been more humiliating and demeaning to her (the new person) if he tried. He presented everything as something that came directly from him; he turned the knowledge and concerns of mine into his own power trip; using my words and concerns as though they were his own. He talked down to her (as he does everyone; and me, until I stopped him); lectured her (on things of which he doesn't know, except for what I tell him); refused to listen to her when she tried to explain what she did or did not understand; refused to acknowledge her at all except that she was beneath him. All the while he kept referring to me as the instigator of this most uncomfortable of meetings; "Joey needs this," "Joey wants this"....
I was appalled sitting there. THIS was NOT what I thought the intention of the meeting would be, a meeting to inform a new person. I know that she is new and my intention was to educate her on what was needed, especially by me, in order to do what we need to do and work as a team.
Now what do I do? I was put into the middle of a "power-play" by one who is new and learning and one who is threatened by anyone who knows more than him. I want the new person to learn. The other, well he and I have had our battles. He has tried to challenge me and demean me; I've proven myself to him that he won't ever win THAT game.
I'm not a "boss." Though sometimes I feel like I am because I am the one to whom everyone comes for answers because they know that if I don't know the answer, I'll find out the answer without just shooting off at the mouth.
Part of me wants to talk to the boss about what happened. I don't want to be a "tattle-tale" but what the office manager did to the new girl, to me, was humiliating, inappropriate, mean and nasty. I don't want to cause trouble; neither is my intention to cause conflict (even when I was honest with the "office manager"); but I know enough to know when someone is being bullied. I also know when I am being used as the excuse for the bullying because the bully isn't man enough to admit that he doesn’t know or understand certain things. He wasn’t so much concerned about anything other than his own feelings of superiority and satisfaction in tearing another person down.
The new person is now barely speaking to me; before that meeting, we had been developing a good relationship. I suspect that the "office manager" told her or said things to her about me; in effect letting her know that I approached him bitching, complaining. That is how a bully, or if I were to be honest about it, a "weasel" will work. He used me and my concerns; he doesn’t know enough, nor does he possess any "people skills," to constructively explain or teach; no, he is too worried and concerned and arrogant about his own "title." Because of is own arrogance and insecurity, he is a bully asserting himself; he doesn’t know or understand certain things other than what is told and explained to him by another. THAT, apparently, is me.
Yes, I do think that he is threatened by and resents me for my knowledge of the law, what is needed and required and my "people skills." He is so concerned with his "title" and appearance as being the "in charge" man that his so fragile masculine ego won’t allow him to admit that he doesn’t know everything or ask for help.
Not knowing something does not emasculate a man. Not having all the answers doesn’t mean that a man is less of a man. The fact is that a man who is honest, a man who doesn’t arrogantly assume that he knows all, a man who has enough self-respect to admit that is more of a man than the one who hides behind arrogance and demeans others in order to boost his own opinion of himself. We all know, don’t we, that man is NOT a man; he is an ass.
It’s that time again. It happens every four years. Most people don’t even see it coming; in fact, most people don’t even know about it until they turn the calendar. Even then, they are oblivious to the fact that every four years something is different.
No, I’m not talking about the Presidential election; I’m talking about Leap Year. You know, that 29th day of February. It often goes unnoticed other than noting that there is an extra day on the calendar. The Presidential election often coincides with Leap Year. Sure, the campaigning of those hoping to be elected to the Oval Office makes headlines and news. THAT is noticed and how could it NOT be? The media thrives on this time of year and on reporting about politics.
Most people have a "birthday anniversary" every year. Each year they commemorate the day of their birth. Some of us, however, don’t have that. Every day on the calendar occurs every year except February 29. THAT day only occurs once every four years; Leap Year.
Unless February 29, or Leap Year, has some sort of connection in one’s life, it is barely noticed and much less understood. There is a reason for that extra day once every four years; but most people only see it as an extra day in February; an extra day on the calendar without meaning and without any other thought.
I was born on February 29th. Back in the 1980’s when everyone began computerizing, I had difficulties. Back then, DOS was the prevailing operating system; DOS also didn’t recognize February 29 before 1980. We all have to give our birth date at pharmacies, don’t we? In the 1980s, I would go to the pharmacy and give my birth date; I routinely had problems. The pharmacist would have to ask me what date my insurance company used as my birth date; he’d have to call my insurance provider every time. Once a pharmacist asked me, "Have you ever been told to change your birth date?"
Who knew that the day on which I was born would work against me? As a kid, I was told that I didn’t have a birthday that year. THAT was true; but to a young boy, I didn’t understand. I mean, everyone else had a birthday every year. Oh, but those Leap Years when there WAS a February 29th. It was special; that one day which occurs only once every four years, on which I was born, was more than an extra day on the calendar. My parents and family always acknowledged me being a year older, as they did everyone else on their birthday. But when it was Leap Year and my actual birth date, February 29, was a real day, instead of February 28 or March 1, it was a big deal. My parents and sisters, aunts and uncles and friends went out of their way to make my birthday so very special.
My father told me when I was a kid, "Don’t ask for the keys to the car when you are sixteen because you’ll only be four years old." Well, I did get the keys to the car when I was sixteen years old. Even though I don’t have a birthday every year, I still age every year. My nephew wanted to take me to school for "show and tell" one year because I was only ten years old. My nieces and nephews get a laugh from having more birthdays than their much older uncle.
Being a Leap Year Baby used to be a burden when I was a young boy. Now, I can turn it around to my advantage: I age in reverse dog years.
Whatever. Being a Leap Year Baby is something very special…. and different. Though February 29 is often unnoticed by the general public, it is very meaningful to those who were born on that day that occurs only once every four years.
Comparatively, there aren’t as many of us Leap Year Babies as everyone else who have a birth date on the calendar each year. Leap Year also often coincides with the year of major, Presidential, elections. The campaigning and debates for the Primary nomination may dominate the press and television, and encourage and discourage voters. Some things happen only once every four years.
If you know someone born on February 29th, send him or her a card this year; acknowledge Leap Year and his or her actual birth date. Leap Year may not mean much to others; but to a Leap Year Baby, it is most special.
Happy Leap Year everyone!
HAPPY LEAP DAY
February 29. I’m a "Leaper," a "Leapling," a Leap Year Baby." When my mother was in labor with me, her grandmother ran into her hospital room yelling, "DON’T YOU DARE!" LOLOL My paternal grandfather took a special pride in his grandson being born on February 29. I’m very happy that this week’s edition of WVAsQueerNews comes out on February 29. There is "Breast Cancer Awareness" and "AIDS Awareness;" I cannot afford to make ribbons, so I write this to spread "Leap Day Awareness." I’m a member of the Honor Society of Leap Year Day Babies, member 921. http://leapyearday.com/hr/
Yes, that day that doesn't exist three out of four years. It's funny how many people don't realize that there IS a February 29 every four years.
Remember this?
Thirty days hath September,
April, June and November;
All the rest have thirty-one
Save February, she alone
Hath eight days and a score
Til leap year gives her one day more.
There is a reason for it. Here is why:
As the Earth revolves around the Sun, it rotates on its axis. When it has made exactly one orbit around the Sun, it has made 366.2422 rotations on its axis. One of those rotations is accounted for by its revolving about the Sun. (Think of a planet like Mercury for which one side always faces the Sun. After one revolution, it has made one rotation, but the Sun has never set on one side of Mercury, and never risen on the other.) That means that 365.2422 days have elapsed. An ordinary year contains 365 days, not 365.2422 days.
Since .2422 is about 1/4, every four years we have fallen behind by almost a full day. If we didn't do anything about this, after 700 years we would have Summer in January and Winter in July! As a result,
we insert an extra day, 29 February, to make a Leap Year.
So, being born on Leap Day is something like "1 in 1,506 or 1 in 1,461 chance of being born on February 29th." Some estimate there are 200,000 Leap Year babies in the United States; four million in the world.
Being born on February 29 is a paradox. Take me, for instance; I've lived 44 years, but I've NOT had 44 birthdays.
Famous people born on February 29 include*:
1468 – Pope Paul III (d. 1549)
1792 – Gioacchino Rossini, Italian composer (William Tell, The Barber of Seville) (d. 1868)
1896 – Morarji Desai, former Indian prime minister (d. 1995)
1916 – Dinah Shore, American singer (d. 1994)
1924 – Al Rosen, American baseball player
1924 – Carlos Humberto Romero, former president of El Salvador
1960 – Richard Ramirez, American serial killer
1960 – Anthony (Tony) Robbins, American motivational speaker
1964 – Lyndon Byers, Canadian hockey player
1972 – Antonio Sabàto Jr, Italian-born actor
1976 – Ja Rule, American rapper and actor
1980 – Chris Conley, American musician and songwriter/composer
Events that took place on February 29 in history include*:
1692 – First accusations began during the Salem witch trials. The trials occurred in Massachusetts in the United States, where more than 150 people were arrested and at least 25 people died by hanging, torture or during their prison stay.
1848 – Neufchatel declares the independence of Switzerland.
1940 – Hattie McDaniel was the first African American actress to win an Oscar. She won the Best Supporting Actress award for her role as "Mammy" in Gone with the Wind. The movie won eight Oscars.
1944 – The invasion of the Admiralty Islands began as United States General Douglas MacArthur led his forces in "Operation Brewer". Troops surged onto Los Negros, following a month of Allied advances in the Pacific. This event was one of the highlights of World War II.
1952 – The first "Walk/Don't Walk" signs were installed in New York City.
1964 – Australian swimmer Dawn Fraser received her 36th world record. She was timed at 58.9 seconds in the 100-meter freestyle in Sydney, Australia. She was the first female swimmer to win gold medals in three consecutive Olympic Games (1956, 1960 and 1964).
1972 – The Carpenters received a gold record for the hit single Hurting Each Other. The Carpenters were a vocal and instrumental duo of siblings, Karen and Richard, who produced a softer style of music in an era when loud rock was in demand. They were one of the best-selling music artists in the 1970s.
*Please note that not every historical event and famous birthday that happened on leap day is listed.
Leap Year Cocktail
Invented at the Savoy Hotel in London on February 29, 1928 this sweet concoction was said to have spurred many a marriage proposal.
2 ounces gin
1/2 ounce Grand Marnier
1/2 ounce sweet vermouth
1/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
Stir and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Serve with a twist of lemon.
Leap Year on Stage & Screen
The day also plays a pivotal role in the fictional The Pirates of Penzance, the most famous Gilbert & Sullivan comic opera that was translated to Broadway and the silver screen.
In the story, the hero Frederic realizes his apprenticeship binds him until his 21st birthday, but since his birthday falls on February 29, it means that technically he is only a young lad - and won't reach his 21st birthday until he is in his eighties!
bravenet.com