tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453833.post2560904068299624525..comments2023-11-24T03:48:54.813-05:00Comments on No More Hornets: Join Me in Welcoming ... (Name Withheld)The Exterminatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14452054124550486048noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453833.post-15279246014653805802007-12-02T22:07:00.000-05:002007-12-02T22:07:00.000-05:00That would be the creepiest thing ever. I found ou...That would be the creepiest thing ever. I found out last month that he had a facebook page (I've had one for months), and that was weird enough! <BR/>I'm pretty sure he's not - he's a youth director, and I did come out to him a year and a half or so ago. It's a topic that we don't discuss, but he hasn't complained that I've sloughed off a lot of my former church duties. I've even gotten to where I take the kids home after Sunday School and don't stay (or keep them there) for the worship service, and he hasn't pushed back on that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453833.post-21145178929523734662007-12-02T11:33:00.000-05:002007-12-02T11:33:00.000-05:00car:Thanks for the compliment. You'll always be we...<B>car</B>:<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the compliment. You'll always be welcome here. <BR/><BR/>Here's a scenario I've thought about in the past, but I'll address it to you: Wouldn't it be funny if it turned out that your spouse is another closeted atheist, frequenting the very same blogs you do?The Exterminatorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14452054124550486048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453833.post-49383238423276345092007-12-02T10:59:00.000-05:002007-12-02T10:59:00.000-05:00Nice blog! Just got here from the carnival. Import...Nice blog! Just got here from the carnival. <BR/>Important topic to me, as I'm also a closeted atheist in real life. I lost my faith slowly, over many years, until I finally realized there was nothing left. I grew up in a family of fundamentalists, married one, had kids, teach in Sunday school, etc. Church is and has been a linchpin of my entire family and my identity my whole life, so I haven't even started to figure out what to do. Over the last year or two I've been slowly getting more and more brave about being straightforward about it online in the blogs I frequent (although most are under a pseudonym), just for the practice. <BR/>I have "come out" to a few close friends I grew up with, and weirdly they went through the same thing too, although we all grew up in the same church and same family type. In fact, when I told one of them she said "What took you so long? I always thought you'd go first." <BR/><BR/>Anyway, I have no advice since I haven't done anything about it, but just another voice to say there are a lot of us out there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453833.post-30070539779644634332007-11-28T16:06:00.000-05:002007-11-28T16:06:00.000-05:00Sorry, I meant to say the education thing AND the ...Sorry, I meant to say the education thing AND the preamble to the charter are the only religious things in the Constitution. It was a typo that subtly changes the meaning of the first paragraph. Just wanted to clarify.Father Shaggyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13387065831329240927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453833.post-89069997383143041372007-11-28T16:03:00.000-05:002007-11-28T16:03:00.000-05:00It's funny.We have a hangover from confederation w...It's funny.<BR/><BR/>We have a hangover from confederation where the Protestants agreed to protect Catholic education and vice versa in Ontario and Quebec (and as a consequence, PEI and New Brunswick and every province that has since entered confederation), this is the preamble to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (similar to the US Bill of Rights, I suppose):<BR/><BR/>"Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law:"<BR/><BR/>And that's it. Our Constitution actually mentions God once (in the Charter), and protects Protestant and Catholic education. Somehow we managed to acheive a balance between church and state.<BR/><BR/>Maybe Canadians are just like that. I'd like to think so. It appeals to my totally arbitrary patriotism.<BR/><BR/>Glad to know about the Baptists' vociferous (I've been waiting for weeks for an excuse to use that word) defense of freedom of religion. It's fodder for Xmas. Some of my family is that particular flavour of Xtian.<BR/><BR/>In cas you're curious, the Charter can be found here:<BR/><BR/>http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/const/annex_e.html#IIFather Shaggyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13387065831329240927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453833.post-33346236370712032842007-11-28T14:01:00.000-05:002007-11-28T14:01:00.000-05:00Zoinks:Yours is an inspiring story. I only wish we...Zoinks:<BR/><BR/>Yours is an inspiring story. I only wish we had some U.S. politicians who have your courage and honesty.<BR/><BR/>You're also absolutely correct when you say, <I>as contradictory as this sounds, an atheist is in a better position to protect all faiths.</I><BR/><BR/>This was not always the case, particularly during the early separation debates. Some churches felt just as strongly as we atheists do today that "establishment" could be dangerous, not only to their own institutions, but to society as a whole. Most American fundamentalists forget -- or, more likely, never knew -- that the separation of church and state was originally championed, and quite adamantly, by many out-of-the-mainstream Protestant sects, including Baptists.<BR/><BR/>Isaac Backus, a Baptist preacher who lived during the Revolutionary period and the subsequent formation of the United States, summed up their position very well:<BR/><BR/><I>Now who can hear Christ declare, that his kingdom is, not of this world, and yet believe that this blending of church and state together can be pleasing to him?</I><BR/><BR/>He also wrote: <I>When Church and State are separate, the effects are happy, and they do not at all interfere with each other; but where they have been confounded together, no tongue nor pen can fully describe the mischiefs that have ensued.</I><BR/><BR/>Today's Baptists don't even know their own history.The Exterminatorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14452054124550486048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453833.post-26868163890987395412007-11-28T11:58:00.000-05:002007-11-28T11:58:00.000-05:00Well sir, welcome to you! I wish for the day the U...Well sir, welcome to you! I wish for the day the US actually lives up to it's Constitution. Canada sounds like heaven compared to the US today.<BR/><BR/>I've argued elsewhere that it's atheists who actually defend the freedom of religion better in the US than theists. Naturally this pisses theists off. It's nice to hear someone else say it.<BR/><BR/>I think you'll find several people here who can relate to your home life description.PhillyChiefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03355892225956705948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453833.post-82860406298993042212007-11-28T11:48:00.000-05:002007-11-28T11:48:00.000-05:00I'd been dicking around with agnosticism for a lon...I'd been dicking around with agnosticism for a long time before I "came out". My wife's pretty Catholic and was pretty upset. Which is okay, because I get a little annoyed when she takes our daughter to church. However, at least she's stopped asking me to go. And besides, I did agree to let her raise the kids Catholic when we married. I guess I figured they'd just ourgrow it. I expect some difficult conversations when Mickie gets to be four or five.<BR/><BR/>Then, after coming out to my wife (who seemed to be the only person in my life who didn't know), I came out quite publicly. I was running for Provincial Parliament in Ontario, and a key election issue was provincial funding for religious education. So, at one or two debates, I said it, "I'm an atheist." And I said for several reasons.<BR/><BR/>First, in Ontario (and most of Canada, I expect), it's no big deal. Second, I feel very strongly about secular government, and we've never really had that. Canada's too multicultural now for any god-government to fly, and, as contradictory as this sounds, an atheist is in a better position to protect all faiths. I think they're all equally silly.<BR/><BR/>Evie, hang in there. I don't know what it's like to be in your position, exactly, but I do know it can be hard.<BR/><BR/>Oh, and my brother just came out as an atheist when he came out. Atheism kind of got lost in the grand scheme of things.Father Shaggyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13387065831329240927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453833.post-39014618593243141042007-11-23T18:30:00.000-05:002007-11-23T18:30:00.000-05:00chappy said:Please, all of you, keep writing. I, f...chappy said:<BR/><I>Please, all of you, keep writing. I, for one, eagerly eat up all of your stuff every day.</I><BR/><BR/>Well that settles a big mystery for me. I wondered who'd been eating all my stuff.The Exterminatorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14452054124550486048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453833.post-89872405955529377402007-11-23T11:36:00.000-05:002007-11-23T11:36:00.000-05:00To all of you and the rest of the Atheosphere:Plea...To all of you and the rest of the Atheosphere:<BR/><BR/>Please be assured that your "little blogs" do an enormous amount of good for at least two reasons.<BR/><BR/>1) They form a community for like-minded people who may not have anyone else with whom to discuss certain issues. The primary reasons I started my new blog were <BR/><BR/>a) so that I could write about things I can't discuss as openly and "in-the-raw" with friends and family.<BR/><BR/>b) so that I could engage in dialog with other like-minded folks. I know you all aren't going to agree with everything I write, but I also know that you won't threaten me with hell, start praying for me, start laying hands on me, or recommend an exorcist to me.<BR/><BR/>2) They provide information for believers who are questioning their beliefs. Blogs were a big influence in my de-conversion. In addition to reading a couple of dozen books, I read scores of blogs. I read other web sites too, but the content at those sites tend to be more static than the blogosphere. The latter is great for finding new data every day.<BR/><BR/>Please, all of you, keep writing. I, for one, eagerly eat up all of your stuff every day.<BR/><BR/>EvieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453833.post-50032974607491531582007-11-22T00:56:00.000-05:002007-11-22T00:56:00.000-05:00chaplain, Lifeguard, JP:I left this comment over a...<B>chaplain, Lifeguard, JP</B>:<BR/><BR/>I left this comment over at Evo's blog, addressed to chappy only. But I thought I'd bring it over here and include all you recent de-cons: <BR/><BR/><I>It's nice to have you folks openly joining the dialogue. I don't know whom you're gonna thank this Thanksgiving, although I have a pretty good idea of whom you're <B>not</B> gonna thank. But I'd like to thank <B>you</B> for helping me realize that our little blogs might actually do some good.</I>The Exterminatorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14452054124550486048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453833.post-80887983340590064002007-11-22T00:27:00.000-05:002007-11-22T00:27:00.000-05:00Evie, If you liked my recent post "Clinton Would H...Evie, If you liked my recent post "Clinton Would Hang" you'll LOVE the stuff Ric writes! I don't know how be maintains his anger. I get angry in fits - he is permanently enraged. Whenever I think I'm getting soft on the people who run this country I listen to the Young Turks and I read The Grumpy Lion.John Evohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10868904051881865159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453833.post-7010021228024319742007-11-21T17:58:00.000-05:002007-11-21T17:58:00.000-05:00You guys have black hooded robes with the red A? A...You guys have black hooded robes with the red A? And you didn't tell me about this? C'mon, where do I get one? Where are the meetings? Do we get to burn things up? Sacrifice virgins... ummm, lemme rethink that last one.<BR/><BR/>Evie, welcome aboard. I don't blog primarily about religion and atheism, but I'm uncommonly rude to the religious breed. Give no quarter, take no prisoners, we need more lions, and so on. Some of these other fellows are just too polite, you know? :) Probably too much for you at this point, but it beats hell out of playing harps and sucking up to phantasms.<BR/><BR/>Ric<BR/>Grumpy LionAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453833.post-47884108821015991632007-11-20T20:26:00.000-05:002007-11-20T20:26:00.000-05:00ahhh, what a nice big coming out party....amongst ...ahhh, what a nice big coming out party....amongst other non-believers.JPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00682007915158940095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453833.post-27151512619134245062007-11-20T15:21:00.000-05:002007-11-20T15:21:00.000-05:00Ex said: (yeah, I know the plural is really "fora,...Ex said: <I>(yeah, I know the plural is really "fora," but even I draw some limits on pretentiousness).</I><BR/><BR/>I did not know that. I always learn something new from you - like "atheosphere". You'll be happy to know that the Pinker book I've been touting goes in to some depth about "new words". You are definitely a candidate for this book.<BR/><BR/>Philly - same topic - yes, you definitely should read his chapter on curse words. You don't know how much I'm thinking of you as I read!John Evohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10868904051881865159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453833.post-10841346323014970012007-11-20T14:57:00.000-05:002007-11-20T14:57:00.000-05:00My goodness, it's just a regular coming out party....My goodness, it's just a regular coming out party. Atheistically speaking, that is. I understand how difficult it is to "come out" to your friends and family who are believers of some god or the other. If you've been steeped in religion a good portion of your life, then you have been made to feel guilty for just about everything you do. Then there's the fear. The fear of burning eternally in hell was always a big motivator in the churches I went to. <BR/><BR/>So now, even if you know that the guilt and fear are just a bunch of bullshit, it's still hard to let go of them. Why is it so difficult? Because when a religion brainwashes you, it does so on an emotional level. And when something effects you deeply on an emotional level, it's hard to get it out of your system. There's also the fear of your family and friends forever chasing you down trying to re-convert you, and well that's just not any fun, either. <BR/><BR/>Oh hell, I don't even know if I'm making any sense. I'm just trying to let those who are letting go of their religion that I know it's tough. And if you want someone to listen to you, just send me an email and let it all out. I've been there, I know how it is.Babs Gladhandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05120612577936100239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453833.post-6633964205392473372007-11-20T14:24:00.000-05:002007-11-20T14:24:00.000-05:00What I can't believe is you've ONLY agreed with me...What I can't believe is you've ONLY agreed with me twice this week, Ex. And as for who you're introducing terms to, being in a me-centric world I am correct in saying you introduced it to me. Oh yes, others can share in the introduction as well I guess. :)<BR/><BR/>I'll file away "pro-forced-maternity" as well for future use. I don't know about "anatheist". It doesn't roll off the tongue and I think it would be confused in speech. I suppose to make it clearer it would have to be "anti-atheist", but what's the root of their objection? Fear. So I say use "atheophobe". It also rolls better off the tongue. ;)PhillyChiefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03355892225956705948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453833.post-40232528975805812152007-11-20T13:55:00.000-05:002007-11-20T13:55:00.000-05:00I hear you loudly and clearly about the second blo...I hear you loudly and clearly about the second blog. I just feel a need to have some space in which I can develop my thoughts. I'm shifting an entire world view here, and I usually think more clearly when I write things down. But I obviously can't do too much of that on the family blog at the moment.<BR/><BR/>I also want a space where I can interact freely with fellow atheists. At the moment, that's not possible on the family blog.<BR/><BR/>How long will the second blog last? Who knows. I sort of like the idea of having a space where I can let it all hang out and develop sides of my personality that have been submerged for a long time. Reflecting and ranting on my "secret" blog may help me find ways to express myself when the time comes to open up more with the family.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453833.post-89942745826107424922007-11-20T13:42:00.000-05:002007-11-20T13:42:00.000-05:00Lifeguard:I'm interested to hear from both you and...<B>Lifeguard</B>:<BR/>I'm interested to hear from both you and JP -- and also from Evie, as The Apostate's Chapel takes shape -- how you manage to maintain your blogs without anyone else knowing about them. I feel the compulsion to tell <I>everyone</I> about mine. Sometimes, my wife has to warn me that I'm getting tiresome: "Shut up, already, about your blog. Nobody cares about your fucking blog. This is a proctologist's office." <BR/><BR/><B>chaplain</B>:<BR/>I suspect I'll be calling you Charlie before long. In any case, I'm going to add you, as "chaplain," to my Frequent Commenters list of links. Those are the ones that I, personally, use most often. If you're comfortable that you'll be able to maintain your anonymity, you might want to write to Mojoey and ask to be put on the Atheist Blogroll. Most of us here are already on it -- with just a few exceptions (Evo!) -- and I think you might enjoy seeing your blog listed with about 500 others. <BR/><BR/><B>Evo</B>:<BR/>You suspect that <I>more and more people are questioning faith.</I> I'm not certain that's true; perhaps we're only seeing more of those people because of the Atheosphere and various forums (yeah, I know the plural is really "fora," but even <I>I</I> draw some limits on pretentiousness). I'd like to think that we all have some small role in facilitating de-conversion for those who, in previous times, would have had to stew in silence. <BR/><BR/><B>Philly</B>: <BR/>I can't believe I'm agreeing with you again. Twice in one week. But I do think you could be right about the 2nd blog issue. On the other hand, maybe we old farts who have trouble whistling and chewing gum at the same time, just haven't figured out how to keep our virtual and real lives separate. <BR/><BR/>And, of course, I agree with everything you wrote about coming OUT. But, once again, that's so easy for me to say, because it hasn't ever been an issue in my life.<BR/><BR/>You said, <I>Thanks for introducing me to the term "A-dar".</I><BR/>Well, I introduced <I>the world</I> to it, since, as far as I know, it didn't exist until I made it up.<BR/><BR/>I love thinking up new, useful terms. Right now, I'm trying to push <I>anatheists</I>, those who are against atheists. In the past, some of you may remember, I began using <I>Pro-Forced-Maternity</I>, rather than the lying "Pro-Life."<BR/><BR/>I can't be sure, because I think I first used the term in someone's comment thread somewhere, and I <I>may</I> have subconsciously picked it up from elsewhere, but I <I>believe</I> I invented the word <I>Atheosphere</I>. The first reference I can find to it at this blog is on May 26. If someone runs across any earlier usage anywhere, let me know.The Exterminatorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14452054124550486048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453833.post-80608829428628141412007-11-20T12:20:00.000-05:002007-11-20T12:20:00.000-05:00Great post. Evie, welcome. As (maybe) the biggest ...Great post. Evie, welcome. <BR/><BR/>As (maybe) the biggest firebrand in the crowd I do have to say I think the best thing in the long run is to be open and honest. I'm further concerned about having a 2nd blog for the very reason you mention Evie, that you'd be leading a double life, only now it would be both in reality and virtual reality so to speak. I feel that not only is it important to you and to those in your life, but coming out has ramifications for all of us. The more people do it, the more the issue is pushed and acceptance HAS TO follow. Furthermore, the more Out stories there are the more others in hiding gain courage to out themselves. It's a snowball effect, one that we all hope grows into an avalanche.<BR/><BR/>I'm pretty adamant about the Out issue. Be that as it may, I can respect the fears that you may have. I can only urge you to fully out yourself for everyone's sake, and know that there are way more of us out here to lend encouragement and support than perhaps you can even imagine. <BR/><BR/>Since I have no self discipline to hold my tongue, I probably will not comment on your blog, Evie. There's no telling what I may say, what people will say in response or how they would react if they followed my name back to my blog.<BR/><BR/>Now I also want to share another thing, the comparison to the gay issue. Some of you speak of still being involved in church. Through my wife I've come to know many gay musicians, many singers. These people, despite what their personal views on religion may be or the stance of the churches they belong to is, participate in choirs and often are the choir or music directors of these churches. Why? Because their love of the music and their need to be a part of it overrides everything else. I suppose there's some sort of "don't ask, don't tell" thing going on. I don't know. I wish they would out themselves there, but like Ex's story of his sister, I can't imagine how anyone wouldn't know these people are gay. Anyway, I think I had a point when I started this but it's totally escaped me now. Oh well.<BR/><BR/>Ex - thanks for introducing me to the term "A-dar". That will no doubt become a permanent part of my speech from this day forward.PhillyChiefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03355892225956705948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453833.post-16371634251252801272007-11-20T12:13:00.000-05:002007-11-20T12:13:00.000-05:00Look at Evie! Being the first to publically chang...Look at Evie! Being the first to publically change "A" to "Lifeguard"! I like it.<BR/><BR/>I think old timers like Ext and I are just going to have to be understanding about the new generation of non-believers. It's hard for us to imagine having fears about these things, but all of your discomfort is highly understandable when I step back from my own life and look at it. <BR/><BR/>Personally, I encouraged that more and more people are questioning faith. I think there is empirical evidence of this when you look at census records from the last 100 years (and especially when we think about folks like you guys, who might still be "listing" as Catholic - or whatever - out of tradition and because of answering in the presence of other family members).John Evohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10868904051881865159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453833.post-47821525551592534032007-11-20T11:32:00.000-05:002007-11-20T11:32:00.000-05:00Wow - your responses have all been great. Thanks s...Wow - your responses have all been great. Thanks so much for your support. JP and Lifeguard, you won't be at all surprised to know that I'm also still attending church. I took a step back, however, by quitting the choir last week. Now I just have to tolerate Sunday mornings. I can do that for awhile.<BR/><BR/>By the way, I've started a new blog at Wordpress, The Apostate's Chapel (http://thechapel.wordpress.com). I went with them so that I could post under a pseudonym - the chaplain. Feel free to drop in and leave comments, as my family will not be visiting this one any time soon. God, I'm starting to feel like I'm leading a double life! That's just too weird.Eviehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00212038923735410573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453833.post-10360754826901353682007-11-20T08:55:00.000-05:002007-11-20T08:55:00.000-05:00jp and evie:Only three people in my life know abou...jp and evie:<BR/><BR/>Only three people in my life know about my being an atheist or about my blog and none of them are related to me by blood. <BR/><BR/>You and I have a lot in common though. I was actually a youth minister at my church and am actually STILL a eucharistic minister.<BR/><BR/>Yeah. <BR/><BR/>My fiancee (a kind of agnostic deist if that makes much sense) wants to get married in the church so we have kept up a major charade so we can get "permission" to get married. She's Italian, I'm Cuban, so getting married in a church matters a lot to a lot of people. Somehow that makes sense to me, although I know in the long run it doesn't.<BR/><BR/>Oddly, it feels more silly to me than anything else, but I do often feel insecure about it just like you and I'm sure Evie do.<BR/><BR/>If I had to sum it all up, I would have to say it's a very fine line wanting to be who you are, an atheist, and being worried people won't realize that you are actually the exact same person, minus belief in god.<BR/><BR/>It's a lonely place to be. I've actually even kept a lot of this out of my blog simply because it's a bit weird to be writing about atheism and going to freaking church. Maybe I'll post about it.<BR/><BR/>Exterminator: Do NOT feel guilty. Honestly, I thank you for pointing it out to me, and that's the truth. Nonetheless, Jesus was, first and foremost, Jewish, so we share a common guilt complex.<BR/><BR/>Exterminator and John: As for a "flaming enema," under those circumstances, I have no problem declaring martial law, suspending the elections, and coronating myself the Lifeguard.<BR/><BR/>All of you: You inspire me a great deal. Okay, seriously, now I'm leaving for THanksgiving.Alejandrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08578877429793660591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453833.post-1252057173151315972007-11-20T00:20:00.000-05:002007-11-20T00:20:00.000-05:00No, my wife doesn't do the whole blogging thing an...No, my wife doesn't do the whole blogging thing and has never checked mine.<BR/><BR/>So thinking about it, no, nobody I know checks my blog and if they did, I don't hear about it.<BR/><BR/>Plus, I have just recently moved. So, I can give 2 shits if someone from my previous life knows.JPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00682007915158940095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453833.post-86321913792407002952007-11-19T23:11:00.000-05:002007-11-19T23:11:00.000-05:00SI:That's a great point. I wish I'd thought of ear...<B>SI</B>:<BR/>That's a great point. I wish I'd thought of earlier. Yikes!<BR/><BR/><B>Evie</B>: <BR/>You probably ought to delete my comment on that post. (NOTE TO EVERYONE ELSE: I'm sending her an email too, so she <I>will</I> get this message.)<BR/><BR/><B>Lynet</B>: <BR/>You said, <I>I almost wish I lived in a horribly theistic place</I>. <BR/>Well, you could always pray for that. While you're at it, Georgia (the state, not the country) needs rain.<BR/><BR/><B>JP</B>:<BR/>Do you mean to say that <I>no one</I> you know in person reads your blog? Some of us have mentioned that our spouses are indifferent to our blogging. But I do know my wife sneaks a peek <I>once in a while</I>. And I have a few close friends who stop by every few weeks to see what I've been up to. For me, blogging has become so much a part of what I do in my spare time that I can't imagine how I'd be able to keep it a secret.The Exterminatorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14452054124550486048noreply@blogger.com