Critical Mass

I hate Critical Mass. Seriously. For anyone who does not who about this group, they basically get hundrends of cyclists banding together to snarle rush hour traffic in hopes of promoting cycling in place of driving. While I am sure these riders believe they are promoting a nobel cause and raising awareness, it is lost on me. If you want me to support your right to ride your bike, then don't make me sit unnecessairly in a traffic jam, burning fuel and adding to the air pollution contemplating the necessity of my tax dollars paying for your police escort. Frankly, it make me want to drive through the lot of them, hopefully destroying their bikes so they can sit on an overly crowded city bus in a traffic jam (caused by cyclists) for a good 30 minutes.
I do not think I am alone in this. Looking around I saw irritated faces, drivers attempting to make u-turns to escape the ridiculous mess, people shaking their heads in disdane.
I am logging for now to see if I can find a petition to end this madness!

Thankful Blog

Things I am thankful for tonight.

A job that is enjoyable most of the time
A comfortable lifestyle
My family
My friends
My health
My family's health
The beautiful weather we've had this past week
Aziz is nearly done with his semester
My sense of humor and hope
Aunt Connie's & Peggy's comments on my blogs (the rest of you need to follow suit!)
Aziz

These are a few images from Vietnam from my trip in 2003. I really miss shooting. I have no idea what is stopping me. I want to, I have ideas and yet there is an impediment of some sort that is stopping me.
I thought it was fear, but now I am not sure that is it.

Changing habits is necessary. Fear can be a habit. Watching TV is an addictive habit. So, tonight I am beginning to break some habits.


I am putting some work up and inviting comments. I am inviting feedback. Good, bad or otherwise.


So, I hope these initial images are well received. Please be candid and let me know what you think.

Monday Night

One of my favorite quotes is from Henry Miler. He opens The Tropic of Cancer with the sentence,"Once you give up the ghost everything follows with dead certainty, even in the midst of chaos." I have always loved this quote. It gives me hope.
It is sort of in the same vein as a verse from one of my favorite songs by The Verve, "Tie yourself to the mast, my friend, and the storm will end". Again, it gives me hope.
One of the things I love about Islam is that to be Muslim means you have submitted your will to Allah. In this, one can find peace. Long before I knew about Islam, books and songs with this message that giving up the idea of who you should be, giving up the fight and struggle to accomplish what you feel you should, is ultimately what will bring you peace and happiness.
Giving up the ghost, submitting your will, is not easy. I am working on it everyday. I think the first step is to recognize what the blessing and gifts in your life are. That said, instead of being irritated that I have to do laundry and my husband has to lock himself away and study, I will be thankful that I have clothes to wash, money to pay for it and that I have a washer and dryer around the corner. I will be even more thankful that my husband has the opportunity to go to a state university and is doing very well in his program. I am thankful too that he is more than half way done.