Zoe’s Journal

Seems like things are blowing up lately. Too much going on - too little of it good. Wish I could help more, but, what can I do for problems of others? Must I simply let the stress and helplessness burn inside, for lack of better outlet?

I may have just caused myself to be disowned by at least 3 sectors of my family. At the very least - alienated. More so than I already am.

And it’s all because of a stupid email chain letter about a Muslim holiday stamp. It said:

So I said, to everyone on the stupid list (which included my mother, my grandparents, my uncle & aunt, an assistant pastor, etc…):

The United States is also guilty of many senseless bombings of Muslim civilian places in their own country (if you don’t believe me, research it). Just as there are some Christian fanatics, there are fanatics of every religion. It is completely wrong and unfair of us to disrespect their holidays and customs. Christmas has become more than just a religious holiday, like it or not. To boycott this stamp would be the exact same thing as boycotting a stamp of Jesus on the Cross because of that one christian fanatic who blew up an abortion clinic. Think about it.

FYI, I am atheist, and still celebrate Christmas. Would you deny me this traditional holiday? I’m sorry if this truth offended you. This email very much offended me. Thank you for listening.

I got one reply. I’m not going to say from who.

I am sorry you got so infiltrated with the world.
If God had not answered our prayers, you would not be alive.
If Jesus never came, How did they base all the years? No matter what anyone thinks, facts are facts even if no one believes them. You had a great, great grandma and Grandpa that you never saw. Does that mean they did not live. Just food for thought.
Do you not know that time 2007 included, means 2007 years after the death of Christ?
Do you not see all the colors of the trees? God did that.

This is impossible to reason with. Not because I don’t have reasons WHY, but because of the simple close-mindedness to logic. Because each question is so simple! Yes, I do live in the world. No, I do not live in a bubble. It’s possible that the DOCTORS and SCIENCE kept me alive - don’t they get any credit? Or were the tubes and wires only for show? Of course Jesus was a person. There are historical documents attesting to that fact. That doesn’t mean he was anything more than a person! And, DUH. I know that there have to be great-great grandparents. That, again, is science. Yes, the years are dated by the life of Jesus. I never said religion didn’t exist, or that it’s not influential. I only claim that it is not based on FACT. It is based on the fear of hell and ignorance of the scientific processes surrounding us all, like the very leaves on the tree that change color and die. That can be very readily explained in any middle or high school biology book.

But, to be nice, I replied very decorously.

Yes, I see all the things you mentioned. I happen to believe that science and reason have better answers than using the crutch of ‘god did it, end of story’. I am happy you have your beliefs. I do not share them… I hope you can accept that.

GAH! I don’t know why I even bother! Irrationality! Unwillingness to save themselves from ignorance! Why can’t they explain these things past the “God made it, End of Story” excuse? Seems pretty pitiful.

But then. I’m not trying to convert anyone to atheism. I am asking only that they, (as “god-created humans”, they believe) use their ‘god-given’ brains and actually THINK! REASON! GAHHHHHH!!!!!!!

*grumbles*

ice cream.

P.P.S. And do you know what? The so-called “Muslim Christmas Stamp” isn’t even true. It’s a stamp that celebrates TWO muslim holidays not even vaguely related to Christmas.

According to the U.S. Postal Service, a 34-cent stamp was issued in September of 2001 and October of 2002 commemorating two important Islamic celebrations or eids. They are Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. On those days, Muslims greet one another with “Eid mubarak,” which translates literally as “blessed festival.” The phrase is written in Islamic calligraphy on the stamp. The Islamic celebrations the postage stamp commemorates are roughly in November and January and are celebrations that many Muslims focus on during the Christian holidays.

P.P.P.S I am getting sick and tired of MySpace bulletins that have a subject line of “OMG, He Didn’t!”, and then an inside message that basically says “Unfortunately, 97% of myspacers wont repost this. When Jesus died on the cross He was thinking of you. If you are one of the 3% who will stand up for Him just repost this with your city’s name.”

I know it’s stupid. I KNOW it’s silly. But it STILL MAKES ME MAD.

And where the hell, do they get off saying that 97% don’t repost? About 50% fucking percent do! It’s fucking annoying.

*grumbles*

triple cherry chocolate sundae

The first strange thing I noticed today on my way home from work was the water pouring out the top of a cement canister by the edge of the road. Literally pouring out, it was flooding the entire 2-lane street. That was kind of odd. I’d never seen anything like that before. Where do you suppose the water was coming from? Why would the outlet for that much water be in a canister, and not at a fire hydrant? What do people use that water canister for?

Then I went to the grocery store. It was filled with all sorts of people rushing to get their Thanksgiving goods before the rush starts *note the irony*. Turkey, stuffing, apple pie filling, green beans and russet potatoes. I quickly found my three items and went to stand in line. Near the Express Lane cash register was a sign, standing alone. “Accepts All Kinds of Payment”. Yep. That’s precisely what it said. I sneaked the cashier a look. He had a good body, despite the acne-ravaged face - I jokingly wondered if I could pay him with a BJ. But then, I thought, my 3 items probably aren’t worth that. Maybe if I had an entire cart… I’M JOKING!!! Sort of. The thought really did pass my mind.

After returning to my poorly parked sedan, I eased out onto the road. Just my luck, I was behind a huge towing truck. The bumper sticker on the window behind the driver said “Safety is my Goal!”. As I watched, the driver lifted both arms and tugged at something on the ceiling for a good six seconds whilst his trailer swerved into the median lane and back again.

I have discovered the wonder that is The Beatles. My package from Cirque du Soleil arrived this past weekend, and it contained a cd from their show LOVE, which is a musical of solely Beatles Music. I had only heard references to these songs before, not actually heard them. I’ve been listening to the cd nonstop since then. I’m sure the phase will pass. Until then, carpe diem.

In the mail today, there was a catalog from Breguet Watchmakers. I’ve been subtly hinting to the LotR that a watch would make a nice Christmas gift. I paged through the catalog quickly, because I was busy cleaning house, and my ramen noodles were about to boil over…

…and then WOW! I found the watch I want!

It’s called Reine de Naples:

Reine de Naples wristwatch in white gold. Bezel set with 128 diamonds weighing approx. 0,83cts. Self-winding movement with small seconds. Power-reserve and phases of the moon indicators. Silvered gold dial, hand-engraved on a rose-engine and partly in blue natural mother-of-pearl. Sapphire caseback. Water-resistant. Also in yellow gold.

It goes for only $30,400.

The room is pleasantly spinning right now. And after a stressful, weird day, it’s more than welcome. And I’m thirsty. The LotR and I just watched a Clint Eastwood movie called… Oh, I don’t know what it was called, but it was good. Something about riding into a town, painting it red, renaming it Hell, and killing all of the bad guys with a bullwhip. Yep.

*needs MORE WINE!*