Conscientious Objectors

For the longest time I had a real issue with conscientious objectors. I didn't understand (beyond getting drafted) why you would join the army if you didn't want to fight. After some news reading today I came across this article and it changed my views dramatically on what bravery and a conscientious objector really is.

To me this is the true measure of honor and duty. Here is a guy who was a conscientious objector, finding fighting to be against his religion. Instead of saying o hey I don't want to fight I am out of here, he took a fantastic approach. He became a medic. It seems to me this is the perfect thought for what a CO should be. This is saying that he wants to help people, he doesn't want them to be hurt. He is going out of his way to help his countrymen (and any others for that matter) by healing them. The fact that he won the Congressional Medal of Honor is not relevant (although I think its fantastic) Here is a guy who didn't abandon his post nor his duty and still followed his beliefs. I think more people should do this

Fall equinox/eating healthy

This year I am going to try something a little bit different than I have done before. I think I have gotten to the point where, although I still love partying and all that college stuff, I really want to make some changes. Usually I would wait for something like New Years and make a resolution that I probably wont keep. Instead I am going to try a new method for a year and see how it goes. I figure that around the time the seasons change I am always very motivated to make good life choices and changes, so from now on I am going to pick a couple of things for each equinox or solstice and try and keep those through the year.

The Autumnal equinox is on Wednesday, 22 September this year, so what better time to decide to try and be healthier than the fall harvest type time. Not only am I motivated by the seasonal changes, but there is so much good food in the fall.
MF and I went to Cannan Farm yesterday to pick up some fall type decorations and I was so excited to see all the pumpkins, squash etc. Such great food.

All of that was nothing compared to what happened today. Usually I am indifferent about apples, they are fine but I am not going to write home about them. I had an apple today and it was the most delicious thing! So it pops into my head, why am I eating sugary, greasy crap when this is way more satisfying. So this is where I need everyones help. I am going to try and eat more healthy and I need as many recipes as you all have. That seems to be the best way to find healthy food because you know the person you are getting it from likes it. So anyone who has websites with tasty food, cook books, secret family recipes, anything let me know ( BQ from The Sailing Foodie I am looking at you)

The second thing I am going to try and do for this Autumn season is to have less to drink. I dont think that I am over indulgent horribly or anything like that, but I think I would rather just do healthy stuff instead. It's so nice to wake up in the morning and be 100% clear headed, I find I sleep badly after drinking anything.

So those are my two "resolutions" for the season. After linking to BQ's blog my topic is somewhat similar, but that's ok. Now bring on the pumpkin pie!

T-Minus 110 Hours

So I think I can officially name this the home stretch now. On Saturday 25 September I will be getting married! It has been a very long ride, but it has also been a very informative one. I wanted to put out a couple of tips that I have learned through this process for anyone who is thinking about getting married.

1)Stick to your budget and be greedy.
Remember that it's YOUR wedding. It's not your mom's, sisters, brothers, aunt or friends. That doesn't mean neglect them, but if you really like something and they don't then fuck them and get it if its in your budget.

2)The price of everything is at least doubled when you say the word wedding.
Expect it.

3)People who say its all about you very rarely mean it.
Through this process we have only had about 4 or 5 people that have said its your wedding and meant it. I feel like we may be a bit lucky in this respect because we have such fantastic friends. Remember your family may love you but they also love themselves (no matter how cool they seem)

4)Be careful who you put in your party
Not going to lie this is one of the most important. Remember that these are the people who are your special forces/shock troops. Use them!! That's one of the things I wish I had done more. Instead we tried to do everything ourselves and the wedding party sat in standby, we should have utilized them!!

5)Weddings bring out the worst in family
The ABSOLUTE worse. You are going to get to see a look into the very fires of your families badness. They may be sweet and caring, but say wedding and it's like calling forth a demon that has no intention of being your cuddly friend.

The most important thing to do is remember why you are getting married. For us we were engaged for two years, a long time when you think about it. If anything our relationship has broadened and gotten stronger over time for one reason, we remembered that the wedding was about love. Take weekends off from wedding planning. Support your significant other (whether you agree or not) Talk to each other as much as possible. That's the most important part of a wedding.

I am pretty sure the ninja/zombie/robots have started their attack

So I am pretty sure that the ninja/zombie/robots (or any combination of the three) have started running espionage missions against me. So far this year these are the things I have lost
Brand new prescription sunglasses--killed in action
Belt--Missing in action (recovered)
Camera Cord--MIA
Hat--Killed in action ( New one acquired)
Bag of rocks--MIA (presumed captured by ninja/zombie/robots (update 20 Sept. a new bag of rocks has been acquired)
butter knives--many MIA (ok this wasn't me but was at the house)
Shoes--MIA (recovered from CV)

This is just insane. I never loose this much stuff, its just crazy.

Also I am pretty sure those crazy agents snuck into the Ipswich Town Hall and messed with our marriage liscense. I have to call since my dad's name is listed as Peter Horward instead of Peter Howard...how does a ninja/zombie/robot sneak around so easily??

Thank God I have my frog

So the wedding has, of course, added extra stress to MF and my day. Actually not so much the wedding just certain childish events/people (who will remain nameless) That being said it brings me back to my last post....I forgot my bag of rocks. So the day when I need to calm down and have a little nature, I forget them. Luckily for me I also bought a small frog made of Amazonite from South America. This little frog makes me happy and gives me a place to focus my energy a bit. I find the best way to calm down a bit is to pick up the frog and really just study it and let me head relax a bit. Am I turning into some occult/new age crazy person?? I dont think I am, but stay tuned...

Below is a picture of my little stone frog, I am now fielding name ideas for said frog

sorry for the delay/grounding

Sorry for the delay in posts everyone. It has been a very stressful last couple weeks (with the wedding planning and all that) I would love to delve further into it, but I think that may not be very appropriate so instead I wanted to talk to you about an interesting calming technique I learned about recently that has really helped me through this ridiculously stressful time.

I have always been very interested in the super natural/spiritual/occult or whatever you really want to call it. To me it makes just as much sense as religion and I have always really thought of the two as one in the same. There are natural forces in the world (there is no way to dispute that)and it fascinates me to no end what people from different places have built off of those natural forces.

Recently I have been on a Buffy the Vampire Slayer kick (yea I am not ashamed to admit it)And I have become interested in the actual practice of Wicca, not the witchcraft practiced in the show. I had done some reading into the topic when I was just getting into college, but never really had a lot of luck.

Being a little better off financially I actually went to the book store and found a couple of books on the topic. One of the books was what you would expect cast spells blah blah blah. The other book however was what I had been looking for all along. It delved more into the history and information on Wicca. Inside of that book I found a chapter on grounding.

Grounding is the idea that you take all of the bad energy out of your body and put it into something else. From what I think energy is a natural thing, whether it be "bad" or "good" is all in how it is making you feel. The person in book said the best way to describe was how Obi Wan described the force in Star wars
"It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together. "

When there is an abundance of energy you feel stressed or overwhelmed. As a trick to book suggested both meditation and grounding. I found grounding a bit easier. The idea is to picture the energy in your body that you want to rid yourself of and then picture yourself pushing that energy out. This has really helped me through the stressful times of the wedding planning and all that. It may seem goofy, but if it works then that's what counts.

Ps. I am once more reiterating to the world since it seems some people may have forgotten. Don't fuck with my loved ones, or we will have issues.