PLEO!!!!

As I've stated in an earlier blog, I want a dog. This is a desire I equate with how other women feel about children. I don't have that need, but I do want the unconditional love of a furry, slobbering, cutiepie I can call my own. The problem is that a dog is very much like a child and requires a great deal of time (and $) and I don't want to commit to taking care of a little someone without being 100% sure that I can give them the best possible life they deserve. This has left me quite sad since dogs are allowed nearly everywhere in NorCal. I have met several wonderful pooches just in the past few weeks.

Well...I have discovered a possible solution. Pleo! The new toy from the people who brought you the Furbie-a toy I always thought was satanic looking and could give Chuckie a run for his money. Pleo, however, is the cutest damn thing ever! Check him out. The price tag is substantial (around $250), but I figure a dog will wind up costing more.

I don't know if I'll actually get one. Actually, the potential for this kind of technology is quite scary-a little too close to Terminator. But you can bet I'll keep it in mind. It might be just what this girl needs!

HOLIDAY SEASON

Another holiday season is upon me and I get the pleasure of watching people frantically shopping to buy last minute gifts. Why do we do this again? Oh yeah, for the birth of Jesus.

I've been thinking a great deal about what I believe lately. I have, for years, considered myself an agnostic. Riding that fence post just in case what I really think (that religion was created so that people might have a place to gossip and a 'legitimate' reason to hate) might not be right. Well, I've thought about Christianity, Hinduism, Muslim, Buddhism, etc. and never seriously considered taking time to think about Atheism. The fact is Atheism is always presented in the negative-nonbelievers, amoral, hateful. This idea is pure rubbish. I am fortunate to have several family members and very close friends who are openly atheist and I am happy to announce they are some of the most decent, loving, generous people I know. Let's face it-morality has nothing to do with religious beliefs. But think about if it did. What if every person who claimed to follow some religion (any religion) had to be moral to even utter it. Wow! That would be one peaceful planet.

The fact is this isn't a peaceful planet. Considering the number of 'believers'and their mistaken ideas that evil comes from nonbelievers, it should be. We all know this. I don't know if I want everyone to become atheists. The fact is I kind of like being in a minority. What I would like is for that dreaded preconceived notion that athiests are bad people to be completely errased from everyone's minds. Hell, I would like for all preconceptions about religion, race, creed to be abandoned. That would be a great gift to humanity from humanity.

In the meantime, I don't want to hide my beliefs anymore. If a complete stranger can pronounce their christian faith and intrusively ask if I follow their warped belief system, I will proudly proclaim that I am an atheist and a humanist!

If ya got a problem with it, I'd remind you of what your religion states: judgement is to be left to your god.

Here are a few books on my reading list:

Letter to a Christian Nation

The God Delusion

Breaking the Spell

I also recommend this cover article from Wired magazine

By the way, all three of those books are listed as great holiday gifts. Hmm...a little irony there.

A GIFT FOR ALL...

As usual, this season has shown both the best and worst of people. Since I'm desperately poor and not sure I want to participate in mass commercialism because of "the holiday season", (a topic to be further addressed in my next blog), I felt I'd share a little cheap joy.

I just finished listening to David Sedaris' Me Talk Pretty One Day which includes several tracks not in the book. I hope reading this will help you welcome the new year with much needed laughter.

POEMS ABOUT DOGS

By David Sedaris

Most every evening Goldilocks

Snacks from Kitty's litter box

Then on command she gives her missus

Lots of little doggie kisses

The Deaver's errant pitbull, Cass

Bit the postman on the ass

Her lower teeth destroyed his sphincter

Now his walk's a bit distincter.

A naughty Saint Bernard named Don

Finds Polly's kotex in the john

He holds the blood steak in his jaws

And mourns her coming menopause.

Dachsund, Skip, from Winnepeg

Loves to hump his master's leg

Every time he gets it up he

Stains Bill's calves with unborn puppy.

Each night old Bowser licks his balls

Than falls asleep til nature calls

He poops a stool then though it's heinous

bends back down and licks his anus.

What can I say, I love dogs....and bad poetry. Happy New Year!

IT'S BEEN A WHILE...

I haven't been blogging lately. I finally moved into my new apartment. The week of the move was very stressful for me and I think I've figured out why. For two years I have been a nomad. No real home that I could call my own, no commitment to stay anywhere. With the signing of this lease I have said that I will be staying here for x amount of time. And that thought scares me. I actually have become a minimalist. I like that everything I need can fit in my little car. I liked that, at a moment's notice, I could pick up and leave-find somewhere else to go. Now, my roommate is dependent on me, atleast for a while. The good thing is this lease is month-to-month. I don't think I'll be leaving any time soon (namely because now I am extremely broke which sucks), but also because I genuinely like it here.

I have walked to work twice now and am amazed at what I pass by. There are nearly a dozen hair salons, a dentist, a dry cleaners, a hip hop clothing store, and numerous restaurants-including a Subway, a chinese fast food chain, and several other international places (greek, russian, tai). On the other side of the street is a flower shop and a 7-11. What else does a person need. This is the first time I have lived so close to everything. The only thing I have to drive to is a grocery store.

So my funk is mostly gone. I am moved into my room and settled for the most part. I get along with my roommate which is always a bonus. I think I'll stick around for a second. I'll probably reconsider around late May when the temp starts rising. Last summer Megan (my roommate) said that it got up to 100 in the apartment! Yeah, I might be moving then. We'll see.