18 years goes by so fast... :)

My fridge, for '.' :

Chris, here's the photo, I took some with no flash and some with flash.

... been an interesting week of wins and losses here. In the winning department, I came in first place at a cribbage tournament on Wednesday night. That was great, I won $60.00! :)

Meant to spend it at a sale at Goodwill (thrift store, I love 2nd-hand clothes), but I had the wrong date for the sale, it was last weekend. I was sorta bummed out about that, but then a friend came up from Florida unexpectedly, so on Sunday I'll use my winning cash to get some potatoes and salad ingredients, along with a nice dessert, and maybe a bottle of wine, to go along with the haddock we're broiling up for a nice Sunday dinner there.

Now for the weird loss of the week... although, it wasn't so much a loss as it was a 'taken'. The cache we made for geocaching, which I posted pictures of here on the blog not long ago, was muggled (the geocaching term for 'stolen'.) In the strangest way, I almost feel like our cache being taken is a badge of Geocaching honor... the odds of somebody taking a clearly marked container are actually pretty low. That somebody found our cache, read the note explaining what it was and why leaving it there would be a nice thing to do, and took the whole cache anyways ... the odds aren't that high of it happening, cuz most folks are pretty cool about stuff like that.

And we beat those odds, the moment our cache got muggled. :)

I think about the person who took it out of the park... and wonder what they plan to do with 2 water squirters, a wooden giraffe, and a bunch of paperbags marked for geocaching trash pickup. They also got some Better Crocker points. And a log book... that's the only thing I wish I could have back. :( I was very much looking forward to seeing what people wrote in it, although I do have the geocaching.com website's comments about the cache, and that can't be muggled. Before the cache's disappearance, it had been found four or five times. People liked the park we brought them to... and we're planning to put another cache back in the park within the next few weeks. The way I figure it, even if this new cache gets muggled, we'll just keep replacing it. No big loss, and kinda comical in its own goofy way. I'll try to find a better hiding spot, although I kinda liked the way we had this one set up... nestled up in a tree, where the branches hugged it closely and securely.

Maybe we'll add some camoflage to the new cache.

I'm off today to help out with something in Bourne, at a Scallop Festival. It's sorta looking like rain out there, but the festival has tents, from what I hear.

When I get home from the Scallop Festival, there's a cellar that has to be reorganized, as a lot of stuff got moved to down there during the painting of the main part of the house. The boys also have to go through a bunch of old toys down there, so that tomorrow when Kenny hits the dump he can drop off the toys in the Salvation Army bin, or in the part of the dump where you can put gently-used items for people to take if they want them. We get a lot of old books that way, because they have a shed where people drop off unwanted magazines and books. I think they also have a section for toys, but if not, the Salvation Army bin will do.

Lately, I've been listening to this song a lot...



It's such a pretty song. Reminds me of so many different aspects of my life, of people in my life, including myself. I've been listening to it throughout the morning, as well as while writing this blog post. Sometimes I get stuck on a song like that.

KC's bird Patrik just flew over to me and landed on my head. :)

I'm off to get ready for the festival.

The last major house project of the year is finished. I wasn't sure if I wanted to embark upon the painting of the ceilings, walls and trim of the main part of the house after working on the deck all spring and summer, but with the two paint cans full of brilliant light blue (which I cut with another can and a half of white to lighten it even more, thanks, Krissy!) sitting right near the fireplace, and the kids back in school, along with a sudden burst of autumn-cleaning energy, I did the ceilings and walls last week. Kenny helped me do the trim over the weekend... it took us ten hours total, with both of us working on it. It was exhausting, but also fun, and we played a lot of old cds we hadn't listened to in quite a while (like Toad The Wet Sprocket and Dream Theater.)

The great thing about this color blue is that in most lighting it looks almost white, with just a hint of blue to it. It reminds me a lot of the color of the office I work at, which is where I got the idea and desire for this shade of blue for the walls. The shade of blue I have here is just a wee bit lighter than the office. Initially, I was going to go with a gray-tone white, but I'm so glad I went with the blue instead. It's a happy color. :)

With the walls painted, now I'm doing a full-blown fall cleaning, and making a lot of room changes while I'm at it. Each autumn (and spring), I get into this 'move stuff around' mode, along with a 'organize and clean stuff' mode, which is pretty normal for a lot of folks.

But then the mode, for me, ends up trickling into other areas of my life, like at the office... I so badly want to mop and shine up the kitchen and bathroom floors there, and do a Murphy's Oil Soap washing of the stairs, along with fixing some white paint along the backboards of the staircase. Some would call this frame of mind OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), but after years of describing myself as being somebody who has OCD, and after having a very happy dream last night of washing the staircase at work, I don't think it's OCD at all... I think I'm just nuts. Really. Not nuts in a bad way, just nuts in a 'somebody who really enjoys the look, feel and smell of cleaning stuff both during and after the process.' That's exactly how I think and feel about cleaning and organizing stuff, and I guess that is sorta odd, based on my close friends telling me over the years that my love (literally) of cleaning/organizing borders on crazy... each close friend has gotten a free housecleaning outta the deal, though, so it's not like anybody was calling me crazy in a mean way, just a matter-of-factly 'you are insane when it comes to cleaning, but if you ever want to go crazy on my living space and clean and organize it, knock yourself out!'

And I have, which I guess is weird, but it doesn't seem too weird, just different, I guess. And it's the kinda weird which doesn't have a negative impact on my life or anybody else's life, so it's all good, as Martha (one of my favorite tv chicks) would say.

My last few blog posts have been about the Muslim crusade I've been on, to alert them to some groups they could join... I was focussed on that for a few weeks, but now, having done what I could to spread the word, I've let it go... allowing my mind to get back to a world view that involves only the people around me, those in my life and things in my life, responsibilities in my life and decisions in my life. Once in a while, my mind kicks into this gear where I want to take on a global conflict and try to figure out a way to solve it... or at least try to put in some input that will get those involved in the conflict on the right path to resolution with it. Something outside of 'my' own life, but yet something that does or could directly impact 'my' life.

I don't know why my mind does this for sure, but I am pretty sure an accurate guess would be that it's a combination of a few things... sometimes, it's because I am trying not to think about something else in my own life. Sometimes it's a few 'something elses.' I also have a sincere desire to not see the world in constant upheaval and chaos, on a global scale. I feel a strong connection to people on this planet, even though I'm Agnostic, I just have always had this sense that somehow we all are very connected to each other, as oddballish as that probably sounds, for somebody like me who isn't considered spiritual by conventional definitions. I don't think it's through a God that we are all connected, but I haven't ruled that out as a possibility. And lastly, but not leastly, I get outraged when I think any group or individual is being inaccurately portrayed by the media and/or the government. When I'm outraged, I take action, and most times my actions are in text. I not only blogged about the Muslims, I spoke with quite a few of them from all over this planet using instant messengers. What I learned is that the vast majority of Muslims are not represented by the extremist groups, but the USA media tends to group the extremists as the spokespeople for the entire Muslim sector... which is horribly wrong to do, but it continues to be done. It would be like all Christians and Catholics being represented in the media by a group of extremists that condone blowing up abortion clinics... the majority of Christians and Catholics do not approve of that method of spreading a pro-life message, but it is exactly the same type of portrayal being pushed upon the Muslims when they are constantly being reported upon using the extremist groups as representation.

The way the media should be reporting on Muslim extremist groups is by calling them, naming them, for what they are... extremists. To use the word Muslim without adding the word 'extremist' is basically to group all Muslims in with the extremists, when the views are VERY different, the actions VERY different, between a Muslim and an extremist.

Hopefully, in time, this type of unfair reporting will stop. But the Muslims will have to speak out in greater numbers, for themselves.

So, having let that all go, my mind and energy are now focussed upon getting back to some other writing I've put aside for quite a while. And autumn cleaning. And warm days and cool nights... and just thinking about some of the great things coming up the next few months. A trip to New York to hang out with Urgo at the park in a few weeks, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas... this time of year is my favorite. Fires in the fireplace, hot apple cider, leaves changing color, snow falling in December, quiet and slow-paced days. Family gatherings. Playing board games at the kitchen table.

I'm about to start my day... 3 cups of coffee in me and the sun shining in through the sliding glass doors on my cheek. A fresh blog post complete. A perfect way to start my morning. :)

To all Sunni Muslims:

The extremists are using your religion again for violent purposes, directives and threats, and you must, as a collective, rise up and speak out against them. Very easy to do, out here on the internet.

Although not yet verified, if it is the words of Abu Hamza al-Muhajer, they are trying to use Islam to play 'Allah' and to have YOU play 'Allah' as well.

As this was posted on Al-Jezeera, it very well might be authentic:

"Oh followers of (Taliban leader) Mullah Mohammed Omar, oh sons of (Al-Qaeda leader) Osama bin Laden, oh disciples of (slain Al-Qaeda in Iraq leader) Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi ... I urge each of you to kill at least one American within a period not exceeding 15 days," Muhajer said.

Full text here: http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/09/07/060907192013.3btecvzo.html

If you are a TRUE Muslim, if you are truly followers of a religion of peace, if you have ever claimed your religion is one of peace, you must see the words of Muhajer as that of a FALSE PROPHET.

You are not followers of Mullah Mohammed Omar. You are followers of ISLAM. You are not sons of Osama bin Laden, you are sons of MUHAMMAD. You are not disciples of Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi... you are disciples of peace, are you not?

Do not let these terrorists take your religion and turn it into this. Look at what happened to the Catholic church when male priests were allowed for so long to molest and rape young boys... many people left that religion, because the church itself did nothing. Turned a blind eye, said nothing, did nothing. And that religion, just as peaceful as Islam, suffered for it. People will not seek out your religion in the large numbers they have if suddenly Islam means that you must kill one person each. If being a Muslim means you must murder another person whom has done nothing to you, whom even supports your religion and respects your right to worship Allah, how will you expect to find millions of people willing to do that?


Muslims ARE the embodiment of the church of Islam. You represent your God, your Allah, and you must, without fear, speak out and tell the extremists that they do not represent you. They are seperate from you. They use the words of Islam, that you do agree with, to get you to agree to things you know, in your heart, are wrong. That you know, in your mind, are wrong. These are false prophets. They are claiming for themselves the status of Muhhamad, of Islam itself, they are claiming YOU, as Muslims, as those who must now do as they say. Tell them you answer to noone but Muhhamad. Tell them you follow nothing but the words of Islam. Tell them that you are not disciples of death, but of life, hope and peace.


They are using you. They are asking you to each kill an American. Many Americans ARE Muslims. They are asking you to solve a political dispute using religious blackmail. They are asking you to go against Islam itself, to follow them, instead of Islam. To be lead by them, instead of by Muhhamad. To be commanded by hate, and not peaceful resolve.

Speak out against them. If you speak in the millions of numbers of individuals that you are, they will never be able to outnumber you or speak louder than you will.

And you must speak out that loudly, quickly, as Americans can not speak any louder than we already have in favor of freedom of religion, in favor of Islam, in defense of Muslims. Our voices are not enough. It must be your voices now.

These extremists are perhaps planning other dangerous things for citizens of America. America is very divided right now, politically. A lot of Americans are angry with their government and the way it does things globally. Weapons it sells. Wars it gets involved in. Money it funds various groups and leaders with. Americans are trying to get control back of their government, and are very close to getting that control back. Elections are in 2008 for national offices, but smaller state and town elections are taking place every year, and more and more people are voting in people that better represent the Americans. We're doing our part to get control of our government, now we need you, as Muslims, to get control of Islam back from extremists.

So that the two are exclusive of each other. So that one can think of a Muslim as a person of peace, and think of Extremists as a person of violent measures and unfair, immoral tactics.

So that one does not think of all Muslims as extremists.

With words alone, you can achieve this. As one voice, through writing, everywhere you can out here. Some are already doing just that, on a large internet gathering place called 'MySpace'. Please seek out these already-large in membership Muslim groups, followers of Islam, whom are already speaking out against the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and Osama himself. They are the true Muslims. They are defending their religion peacefully, with words, and doing their best to see to it this reign of false prophets claiming to represent Islam and Muslims as a whole is not validated as such.

Do your part... search 'Islam' and 'Muslims' on MySpace. Join their groups. Speak out.

Adam Gadahn's "An Invitation to Islam" video link:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6930946825768025342&q=Adam+Gadahn+An+Invitation+to+Islam&hl=en

Summary: you can choose to die as a believer or die as a disbeliever. Convert if you want to, but either way, you're dead, simply because you are here in America. Unless, and this is a HUGE and impossible 'unless', George Bush and all in government become followers of Islam.

Side note: something about his hand gestures, but most of all, his head tilts, suggests to me there's something insincere about this guy. I can't distinguish if it's an insincerity with what he is actually saying, or if it is an insincerity only realised upon and during the making of this video, literally while speaking the words, and recognizing the fact he is playing a role, as is Bush, to push forward an agenda that is neither righteous, respectable or loving towards mankind, at any level, to any extent.

Adam... seriously, get on that computer behind you in the video and do some reading, listen to what so many Americans are trying to do to stop the war, who respect TRUE followers of Islam, consider the fact that those you are working with are not concerned with your wellbeing or safety, either. You are preaching to the choir when you tell us Americans our government is corrupt, out of control and guilty of many crimes internationally, the majority of Americans have no problem admitting our government is facist and corrupt. But to tell us the only way out of that corruption is to embrace a religious belief that is NOT that of Islam, but an extremist interpretation of the Koran, you are requesting, no, DEMANDING that which you KNOW can not and will not happen.

You are not fooling Allah with this false invite to Islam... it is not an invitation to Islam at all. It is a declaration of an intent to take judgement and vengence within your own hands, without Allah himself requesting it of you, to murder as many disbelievers as you can until your own death. That is not the way of Islam. That is not the way of a peaceful man. That is not the way to lead people into any salvation.

That, Adam, is your one way ticket to the hell you speak of, should your Allah be the one God you hope created mankind.

Your Allah, as has every God in any religious testament, warned you not to follow false prophets, yet that is exactly what you are doing, not in the name of Allah, but in the name of the leaders of these extremists, who have now made you a leader as well, and perhaps that will make it hard for you to climb out of this unholy pit you have thrust yourself into, but you must seek out TRUE Muslims, TRUE followers of Islam, in order to SAVE YOURSELF from the very damnation you are threatening each American with.

This is not the way, Adam... you are being mislead. I hope many Muslims find a way to write to you, by any medium possible, to enlighten you and bring you back to the light of peace you have been manipulated away from.

My heart goes out to you, Adam, and to true followers of Islam, Muslims who unfortunately will be heartbroken to hear the words you spoke in this video with claims that it is that of Islam.

It is not that of Islam. You are only speaking for the equivalent of a group of serial killers.

Please seek out the billions of Muslims you speak about in the video, and listen to them instead... listen to and read what they write on blogs, message boards, and the like out here in cyberspace. You are NOT speaking for them, Adam. You are taking the religion of Islam and turning it into something ugly and cruel, frightening and demented.

Seek out true followers of peace. You are worshipping a false prophet.

An open RSVP to Adam Gadahn's "Invitation to Islam."

Dear Adam,

Thanks for the invite to your religion. Unfortunately, as an agnostic, I can not accept your invitation and must decline your invitation. Please understand that I also declined invites from Catholicism, Christianity, Buddhism and even Paganism. Satanism, Atheism and Jehova's Witnesses, too. And even some offbeat, obscure 'thought up while smoking pot' religions.


I have friends and even family members who worship various Gods, and all in all I find religion to be a decent way for some folks to guide themselves through life... I find your religion, Islam, to be a very peaceful religion, for those who do not stray from the peaceful message, and who accept, with logical and loving intent, those outside of their religion.

But I am unable to subscribe to your personal invite to Islam... It's nothing personal, and I wish you no ill will or harm, nor do I find your choice to worship any God you select to be a decision I should interfere with, nor would I force my own beliefs or even disbeliefs upon you. In fact, I can't think of a time in my life when I literally invited anybody to my religion (or lack thereof) of Agnosticism, although I have certainly discussed my beliefs with quite a few folks of varying beliefs, so your invitation, at first, appeared very sincere and graceful. I was also somewhat flattered, because you are kind of a hot looking guy. Something about you tells me you'd look mighty fine in a pair of jeans and a Rush concert t-shirt. Or a pair of Spongebob Squarepants boxer shorts. I'd hit it. (Praise Allah.)

However, your invitation then goes on to become somewhat, well, crappy in context. I'm not certain you represent the core of Islam, as most (actually, all, not just most) I know who follow Islam have never threatened me with harm in an attempt to get me to subscribe to their viewpoint with Islam.

I found that aspect of your invitation somewhat goofy. Kinda like being invited to a backyard BBQ or a wedding and the invite having a p.s. of "and if you don't come, there's a chance you will be killed, apologies in advance, but you brought this upon yourself by NOT COMING TO MY PARTY." It doesn't sound to me like you were inviting me to Islam... it sounded to me like you were requesting me to join an extremist group with a different interpretation of Islam... am I wrong?

Be frank with me, Adam. Don't invite me to a House-Warming party and have me actually being invited to show up at a Tupperware party, ya know, that's false advertising. Maybe I could use some plastic containers for my leftover spaghetti dinners. You never know.

I guess the most frightening aspect of your invitational threat is that you were and are actually serious. You are hanging out with people with actual plans and objectives, and you have become their spokesperson to all Americans. That's got to feel somewhat cool for you, maybe your video will even be up on youtube.com soon, and not just some Islamic website that is not linked to on any of the major news websites here in America (such freakin' censorship...)


You will applaud and willingly embrace as 'good' the killing of any Agnostic, Atheist, Catholic, Pagan, Christian, Jehova's Witness, Buddhist, and even a follower of Islam itself, as you see all of this leading to the logically impossible: that every human being on this planet will follow Islam. Even if some of Islam faith die in the process...

And you, yourself, are willing to die trying to achieve the impossible.

I'm not willing to die for any God, Adam. I'm not even willing to LIVE for any God. I respect each religion as is, as long as those individuals following any religion don't step on my rights, or threaten my life, or the lives of those I love.

And I will continue to love and respect those of Islamic faith... but you do not fall into that category, Adam. Because you threatened to kill me and those I love if we refuse to follow your version of Islam. Dude... that ain't cool. You're being a cacahead about this... threatening folks. And it doesn't work.

So, respectfully, I decline your invite, and invite you to rethink your profoundly immoral invitation, as no amount of loopholes found in the extremist interpretations of the Koran would justify to Allah or any God the betrayal of peace and love, which is the foundation of each and every religion, at its core.

Again, thank you for the invite, but this party of one will not be attending.

Sincerely,

Renee Camille

p.s. I forgive you. You may never forgive me or accept me and respect my life and my choices, but I forgive you, already, for sending me an 'invite' to your point of view riddled with threats. It was interesting... you certainly are an interesting character.