Ruminations from the Temple

we look awfully happy to be standing with a couple of TKs! lol! Norwescon '08 I am excited to say that I have now attended my first ’con’. You don’t know what a ’con’ is? Well, it is short for convention, and this was Norwescon, the biggest science fiction & fantasy convention in the Northwest. From my guess, there were a couple of thousand attendees, most of which were dressed as their favorite character or had conjured up a character of their own. Boy howdy, was that interesting! I helped field questions at the Jedi Assembly and Rebel Legion Star Wars tables, which was situated right next to the 501st Garrison Titan. Those Stormtroopers look so cool, and the guys inside are very nice, too! I participated in a photo shoot for charity, saw a masquerade and preview show, had my picture taken, observed a dance and talked to many, many folks about costuming and Star Wars. After seeing so many folks in costume, I have to say that I firmly believe that whatever they had chosen to ...

I so often, during the day, think "Man, I just love that!" I love so many things, that it may seem as though the word ’love’ could get diluted... I love my G-d and the fact that he gave me the faith to believe. I love my three children; they are truly treasures. I love my husband, of course. I love my bestest friend in the whole world. :-) I love Obi-Wan! I love Star Wars and I love living in a fantasy world. I love being warm. I love being a part of a group of people that I love and know very well. I love carving rubber stamps and sharing them with other people who like to carve rubber stamps. I love feeling needed. I love coffee! I love all myspace friends - I know, it sounds cheesy, but I really do care about each and every one of them, and would not want to lose any of them. Well... maybe one... :-) I have a love-hate relationship going on with my computer... but doesn’t everyone? I love my congregation. I love my sister. I love finding...

We have just been having a field day with all these quizzy things, my friends and I. They are just too fun and funny to read. I always learn some interesting tidbit or insight that I did not know before. That’s valuable, in my mind. I just read another quiz bulletin from my dear friend Eliyahna, but this one seemed a little different; more intraspective than most. So, I thought I would blog my answers here, for the record. 1. I’ve come to realize that my hair is:starting to get some grey and is much better short than long; it more suitably fits my personality 2. I’ve come to realize that when I start talking:I usually am talking about myself in some way - how selfish of me 3. I’ve come to realize that, when I drive:I like to pretend that I’m really driving a speeder :-) 4. I’ve come to realize that I need:more affirmations than I realized 5. I’ve come to realize that I lost:a lot of time trying to be someone I thought others wanted me to be, when I should have been true to my G-d a...

It was recently said to me that "No one is indispensable." I totally disagree with this line of thinking. I know where it originated, and I suppose it could be beneficial if you are talking to those with an over-active ego, misplaced confidence and blatant bravado in the workplace. But, other than that, it has no place in the vocabulary in the life of a believer, in my humble view. Actually, I think the saying offends me. The word indispensable means, according to Webster, "absolutely necessary, essential". Well, there are quite a few people I would put into this category. Every one of my family members, all the members of my shul, all the hundreds of letterboxers that I have contact with, all of myspace friends and the friends of my friends, people that work in any service or manufacturing industries, all the military personnel that keep our country free... I could go on and on. Yes, I take issue with the thought that someone is dispensable. I suppose ...

Often I wonder about things that no one can answer. I pray for guidance, and receive it, to be sure, but I still struggle with everyday frustrations. For instance: Why is it that people can be so shallow? Is it that they are afraid of revealing themselves? Why do some say one thing and act another. It just doesn't seem right to me. I guess they have their reasons. Why is it that some folks keep secrets they should talk about and divulge ones that they should not? Why are some not honest about their feelings and motivations, even to themselves? Why do I always seem to get in trouble for speaking what I perceive to be the truth? Why do people continue to reproach me for laughing too loudly... does it hurt them? Do they not like laughter, or am I just obnoxious and am not aware? Why does everyone pretend that the young man taking their money at the coffee shop looks perfectly normal with eye shadow and a feminine manner? Why are concepts like loyalty and respect ...