Interrupted

My Life Thus Far
2006-09-12 03:16:32 (UTC)

To Become Nonattached...

*****

"Since we have a natural compassion in us, and that
compassion has to manifest itself, it might be good to
awaken it. Violence done to an innocent person, for
example, can make us indignant, scadalize us, and in so
doing help us to discover our compassion. By its very
violence, television might keep us in a state of alert.
However, it is very dangerous if violence leads to
indifference. Thus, a central point of our teaching is how
to reach nonattachment without falling into indifference."

I couldn't have picked a better passage for the 5th
anniversary of 9/11. The Dalai Lama wrote this book in
1998, so it isn't directly related to 9/11, but it most
certainly describes how I've felt all day. Everywhere I've
turned, there's been constant radio, television and
newspaper spots about it. I realize it was a bad thing,
but hearing the voice data recorders on the planes,
listening to air traffic controllers trying to contact the
planes, watching the second plane hit the tower over and
over and over again, hearing all the names of the people
who died, watching the memorials all over the country. It
stirs up my compassion, but also makes me a little
indifferent at the same time. Hearing and seeing it
constantly, makes me want to avoid it all together, so
that creates my indifference. I've put myself in the shoes
of the families who lost loved ones and it's unimaginable
pain. I think they should never be forgotten, but I want
to become nonattached...

Gen and I worked out together for the first time in WEEKS!
It was nice having her back. Burning calories is so much
more fun with a buddy. She talked me out of strength
training, so I feel like I didn't do my best, but in all
actuality I probably shouldn't have lifted weights today,
anyway. My quads are still VERY sore from my uphill run on
Sunday and they're going to need some time to heal. I do
have that run on Friday. I don't want to still be sore
then.

Snookums had to work a little later today (2pm, wow. So
late). I decided to use the extra time alone to my
advantage, so I gave Pala (my car) a good bath. Today was
her first time getting waxed since her new paint job! I
put a lot of effort into it, which was a good thing,
because Snookums begged me to let him go to the Chinese
Buffet one last time before he leaves on Wednesday.
Because I know I'll have a lot of time to stash away money
(I'm putting it where he can't get to it), I let him have
this dinner out. Because when he gets home, HE'S LOSING
WEIGHT. Whether he likes it or not! I love him just as he
is, but I'm tired of him teetering on the edge of military
standards. He needs to lose 20 pounds and I'm going to see
to it that he does it. Have you ever heard of a sailor
coming back from sea HEAVIER than when he left? That's
what Snookums does. He hates the mess deck food so much
that he lives on snack foods from the ship store. Chips,
candy bars, soda, cookies. Crap, just plain crap. While
he's gone, I'm going to work on some vegan dishes I can
convert into "Snookie meals" that will help him drop some
pounds (and will save some cash, since he won't be eating
out as much). Why let him eat away his money, when I can
shop it away? Kidding. I'm putting it my personal savings
account. The one he has no access to.

I've really got nothing else to say. It wasn't a terribly
interesting day, sorry. I didn't even get any junk mail,
that's how dry my day was. Maybe something juicy will
happen tomorrow! Ciao.




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