And here’s why.
But mostly? None of the stuff I think is cool or weird ever makes the lists.
So. Let’s make our own and feel free to make them personal to you. Fill in the blanks:
Best meal I had in 2009:
Best movie I saw and why:
One moment I’ll take with me to the grave from 2009:
Longest night of 2009:
(We’ll do the decade-list later.)
Dating Jesus 
Best meal:
On a snowy January Sunday my girlfriend I made fresh pasta (from scratch) and homemade sauce together.
Best movie:
Anna and I both love to cook so we really enjoyed “Julie and Julia” if Meryl Streep doesn’t win an Academy then should do away with the award. Stanley Tucci also was great.
The moment I’ll take to my grave in 2009:
My youngest son’s travel soccer team winning the State Cup vs. New Haven 4-2 and seeing him score all four of the team’s goals!
Longest Night:
August 28-the night before I moved my oldest son into his freshman dorm. How in the heck did 18 years go by so quickly?! I remember putting him in his car seat leaving the hospital after he was born.
Wow. Listed like that, you had a very full year. My stepson made homemade pasta for us last year and I had no idea, just no idea, the difference between homemade and store-bought. And I tell my other son far more than he wants to hear (he’s 25) that I miss the days when I could gather him into my lap and kiss the back of his neck.
Best meal I had in 2009: The day after Thanksgiving we went to a friend’s house to eat leftovers and relax. It was divine.
Best movie I saw and why: I really enjoyed THe Christmas Carol because I saw it with my youngest son; it gave us lots to talk about, and Hangover, which I saw with my husband. That was hilarious. (Also enjoyed Tyson, which I saw the same week as the Hangover.)
One moment I’ll take with me to the grave from 2009: GOing to the Governor’s Mansion to see my oldest son recieve Charter School Studentof the Year.
Longest night of 2009: Thank goodness, I can’t think of one. Insomnia, maybe but nothing like the long nights in the past few years.
Good year, and good on your son!
Best meal – this is tough, I’m gonna say my mom probably made cabbage rolls once this year and that would be the best.
Best Movie – uhhh, I saw Precious tonight which was exactly what you think it will be. I saw it with my best friend whose life mirrors Precious in far too many ways so we cried together. We also saw The Hangover together and I have never laughed so hard at a movie.
I am still avoiding “Precious” because I think I want some goofy/happy fare, but I don’t want it so goofy/happy that it’s dumb. I’ve loaded up my Netflix account based on suggestions found here, but has any one see “The Fantastic Mr. Fox?”
Oops. And the moment – sadly this may be my sister telling me about her assault.
Longest night – well, I have a baby so there were too many to count.
Oh my. That must have been a tough story to hear. And I only vaguely remember the long baby-nights. I believe God has erased my memory banks on that one.
God made me remember, with a vengeance! Actually, he sleeps thru most nights, and he’s just so darn cute!
One moment I’ll take with me to my grave: January 20, 2009, noon
Best meal: lobster pie at the oceanside restaurant near my new apartment
Best movie: Star Trek (rebooted)
Longest night: my first night in New Hampshire
Lobster pie….I’m heading downstairs for breakfast and it won’t be anything nearly that good. Why was your longest night your first night in New Hampshire?
“Why was your longest night your first night in New Hampshire?”
Knowing that I would never again ever sleep in my little house in Danbury. And maybe never again in my own house period.
Jaysus. That would make a long night.
http://playamind.blogspot.com/2009/01/there-it-is.html
Oh, awesome!!!!!!
Best meal, Carmen-Anthony, Wethersfield, CT.
Best steak outside of Peter-Lugers in NYC.
Rabbit-proof fence. This movie shows the arrogance of man trying to control the free will and the bonds of others.
Moment to take to the grave…having dinner with all my grown children, like it was when we were all younger.
My head hits the pillow, I’m out till I need to awaken. Just lucky, I guess!
You sleep the sleep of the just? That is wonderful. And I loved “Rabbit-Proof Fence.” That made me both think and feel something. And I can’t seem to get my children in one room together, though I’d like to very much.
They get together with their Mom, who lives more centrally located, but I feel like the odd man out at her home, even though I am welcome, so I cherish whenever we can sit down at my house. Hey, you’re a Mom, give ’em some good old Mother’s guilt! I works for my Ex!
Not hugely committed to guilt. One son’s in New Mexico and he just left after five days here. Other son didn’t get up to see him (from NY). Too bad.
Mario,
I like the Avon Carmen Anthony’s…but I’d feel funny having a steak there… I always thought that CM was a seafood place. Steak there feels like ordering a martini at a Mexican restaurant. Was it a ribeye, filet, or T-bone? I ususally only make it there once or twice a year…perhaps next time I’ll try the red meat.
Best meal I had in 2009:
Thanksgiving this year. Incredible food. Incredible day.
Best movie I saw and why:
I haven’t seen any new movies this year. Being stuck out in the boonies makes getting to town difficult.
But the most impressive film/video project I think I saw this year was We Shall Remain on PBS.
It “represents an unprecedented collaboration between Native and non-Native filmmakers and involves Native advisors and scholars at all levels of the project.”
Not exactly fiction, though. (I am sooooo boring.)
One moment I’ll take with me to the grave from 2009:
There was an incident in a coffeshop earlier this year I described on kickable’s blog. The look on that woman’s face when she recognized me…I hope I never forget it.
Longest night of 2009:
Friday last.
Don’t ask. The long story on Kick’s blog is much more enjoyable.
“There was an incident in a coffeshop earlier this year I described on kickable’s blog. ”
That’s a stunning story. It seems as if the recognition that took place was not only hers of you but hers of herself as the subject of disgust and suspicion.
Wow. I just read it. Awesome on all counts.
I was at that same coffeeshop yesterday.
I’ve been back a few times, but I haven’t seen her since our first encounter.
She may be Avoiding You.
Leftover,
Perhaps God put “Herself” there to remind you of something? Your story affected many people, not a bad thing, if you catch my drift! Everyone is here for a purpose.
Please notice that I didn’t use the word “Impacted” when I meant “Affected.” Impacted sounds harsh, cold, while affected sounds warm and caring. Anyway, thanks for posting that story. If you see “Herself” again, tell her that I love her!
Remind me of what?
That is what you need to find out. Perhaps to remind you that he loves you in spite of what others say, or that you need to love others in spite of what they say or even do. Me? I would have yelled something at her and promised myself that I will try to be more loving later in the future!
I don’t believe in God, Mario.
So spending time wondering about a message from a god I know doesn’t exist wouldn’t do much good, I’m afraid.
We’ve got the All-Girl 24-hour Prayer Circle going for Bro. Leftover! I kid. He’s not a lost cause, per se, but we’re moving on to hunger and homelessness, I think.
“Everyone is here for a purpose.”
I don’t understand this. What is The Purpose of people who cause mayhem around them? Some people put on explosive vests and they kill and maim, some are taken over by substances and they kill and maim, some hear their “higher power” and kill and maim, and some do their best fighting against the common good. What exactly is The Purpose?
Leftover, does it offend you that others might think God was involved? Or are you just peeved that there was an assumption that you believed?
I often wonder about that kind of stuff (as we wait for Leftover’s answer). I make quick and passing and often teasing references to God, to Baby Jesus, to the 24-Hour All-Girl Prayer Circle here and I sometimes wonder if that’s funny just to me — or if I’m offending atheists/agnostics/and believers — which would be kind of cool, but.l
Leftover, does it offend you that others might think God was involved?
No.
I wasn’t even peeved. Honestly.
The mention of God or faith or references to religion don’t offend me, (unless it’s like rationalizing murder or asking children for their papers before giving them a present for Christmas). If it did, I wouldn’t be hanging around here much.
And I always listen to who I am and what I want. That’s why I’m an atheist.
And just because I’m an atheist, it doesn’t mean I reject that we are all affected by others in our lives, both positive and negative, or how you allow others to effect you and your life is what’s important, whether you believe in God or not.
The only thing I deny is theism.
And I promise I called off the All-Girl, 24-Hour Prayer Circle. You’re perfect just as you are. I do sometimes wonder if all my backhanded mentions of God/Jesus/What have you makes any of the atheists or agnostics cringe just a little. I figure so long as I’m making believers cringe just a little with my irreverent stuff, then it’s at least an equal-opportunity cringe-worthy blog.
I’m not a New Atheist, the militant kind.
Now those folks get peeved.
But if somebody comes to a site called “dating jesus” expecting not see religious references, they’re much more confused than I.
And you don’t have to stop the prayer circle….I don’t think a 24-hr vigil is necessary….but the critical in me is keen enough to allow one thought….a little outside the self-imposed framework of my worldview, but valid in a sense….
I could be wrong.
Only fools and politicians think they have all the answers
And fundamentalists. What brought you here, I wonder? I mean, did you just stumble across the site?
Yes.
You’re site was listed in a “Sites Linking To This Topic” list on the CNN page. (I believe it was about an abortion story.)
I saw “dating jesus” and just had to see what that was about. I wasn’t looking for pictures, I promise.
I admit “Christian” and “Feminist” weren’t terms I was accustomed to seeing used together.
That has changed.
I come back because you’re a very gracious and tolerant host. You have interesting and intelligent friends. And I always learn something here.
One way or the other.
And you come across the bestest web sites…..Landover Baptist…
…that’s my kind of sick……
But be honest, Leftover. What keeps you here is the sick. I hope that’s the case, anyway. I believe I remember being linked-to from CNN. The website was verrry busy that day and I was a little strung out trying to keep up with the comments, etc. MUCH better to pick obscure stuff no one cares about. Keeps the comments to a mininimum. I’m only partly-kidding.
Yeah…it’s the sick……
Common ground.
MWAH! Big ol’ Interweb kiss!
Again, as a former atheist, I respect everyone’s views on the existence of God. I don’t respect those who try to force their beliefs on me. I have mine, they have theirs, That’s fine. I can be a bit irreverent at times, since I was forced into a church doctrine that made as much sense to me as the fear-mongers in Washington do. My Mother believes that I am still Roman Catholic, regardless of what I believe! Then again, I’m still her little baby boy!
Through the course of the evening while I was at work, I’ve been chewing on a couple of comments on this thread — I dashed off a comment or two on other threads, but just kept chewing on this one.
I was surprised to see Vegas ask Leftover if he were offended or “just peeved,” when it didn’t seem to me that either of those reactions was evident in his response. And then Mario concluded I’m cynical because I asked a question about his statement “everyone is here for a purpose.” Both of these responses seemed to me to be kind of … yikes … intolerant?
My cynicism is pretty much based on experience. It’s not my only characteristic, and it’s just one of the names I tried as this blog was getting going; and out of laziness, and because “Cynical” fit several subjects, it stuck. And that’s fine with me.
Like Leftover, I’m not a militant atheist. I’m just not a believer. Also like Leftover, I don’t think I have The Answers. As a kid I went to the little Methodist church my ancestors helped establish, I did all the Sunday school things and a few MYF things, and in the end: nada. It just doesn’t work for me. I think I’m respectful of the faith that others express here, and why not. As long as another’s faith doesn’t work against the common good, as long as it doesn’t disdainfully look down its nose at me and my ilk, as long as it doesn’t try to control others’ lives with what it considers morality, there’s no problem.
The point I was trying to make about The Purpose was not whether someone “gets it right the next time,” but the damage individuals and groups can do now. They may or may not evolve in a “next time,” but if they’ve caused great damage in “this time,” it seems to me to negate the idea of having a purpose. A crazy / wounded / damaged person blows up the Murragh Building or a market square or the World Trade Center, and maybe they’ll get it right the next time? What about all the horrible horrible pain caused THIS time? Or will the victims have a better time of it the next time around? That line of thinking seems reminiscent of what the slaves used to be told: it’s okay if you suffer now because you’re going to a better place when you die. But oops, sorry, you DO have to suffer now.
CS,
Welcome back. I hope that my comments didn’t sound intolerant, as nothing could be further from my intention. I tolerate everyone for anything that they do. I don’t want to impose my beliefs or will on anyone, nor do I want to tell anyone how to live, what to do with their body or what to think. That’s why fundamentalists of any religion really piss me off!
As to morality, It is what you choose. There are many who would look at my life and question my morals. Fine by me, but I try not to questions the morals of others. Try is the operative word!
It would be difficult for me to explain my religious beliefs on a blog page, except to say that I love everyone and tolerate everything.
As to suffering, It is a matter of choice. We don’t choose to suffer out of some desire to be punished, but we choose to come to Earth to get it right. Sometimes we need to learn of the pain of hate to learn of love. There is a greater chance of spiritual growth here. You cannot experience being hot without experiencing being cold, as you would have no frame of reference. If I was to cause someone much suffering and pain, when I passed on I would not have helped myself being closer to God. I would come back to a life where maybe I would suffer, not as punishment, but rather as a “learning experience.” Some of us get it right, others need to go back often to understand the truths. Anyway, I did not want to get into a serious discussion on belief in God. My credo is have fun every day, and I do! I hope that you are enjoying your time here as well!
CS, he sounded irritated to me, some things are lost in translation on the internet. I don’t think Mario or myself sounded the least intolerant. I know I was honestly just curious. I live in SW Ohio, I’ve only ever MET one atheist IRL. I can’t stop being ignorant if people are offended when I try and learn. Questioning someone else on their beliefs shows the opposite of intolerance.
“…some things are lost in translation on the internet.”
Too true! And I perceived some … I dunno … put-down in “just peeved” and “Say…you are cynical, aren’t you?” Forgive my sensitivity or misinterpretation, and thanks to you, Vegas, and you, Mario, for the clarification.
I didn’t mean to be abrupt, and I can see how you might have thought that because usually my word count is way higher. I don’t think you guys were being intolerant. I’ve been called much worse than peeved…just recently, too……
It’s easy for me to forget here that not everybody knows I’m an atheist.
And a loon.
And an addict (recovering….18 years).
And an alcoholic (recovering…18 years).
Did I say loon? (I’m still working on that…)
And having met only one atheist I can see why you would be curious. There’s about as many kinds of atheists as there are Christian denominations. And then there’s agnostics.
And agnostic atheists. (“There’s probably no God.” or the old school would be George Carlin, keeping your bases covered.)
And militant atheists, like Bill Maher, who is an award winning atheist. That, to me, seems more than a little absurd.
And then there’s the secular humanists…if you’re looking for wordcount…..
But if you have a question….ask…it doesn’t bother me.
And if you think I’m being out of line….please say something. I’m still working on that loon thing. I try to save the snark for Alternet, but sometimes a little leaks out.
Today, we’re blaming Droopy….again….
Ah, Sen. Droopy. Bless his heart. He’s one of ours, and I’m sorry.
From the land of Max Baucus…you’re forgiven.
Gee, I hope no one felt that I was irritated! I only get irritated at the guy in the silver BMW who live down the block and has to accelerate to 50 mph so he can come to a screeching halt at the stop sigh in front of my house!
CS, pretty darn near impossible to get angry with you or anyone on this blog, with the possible exception of DJ who just likes to aggravate me for fun! I’m just out here to learn and exchange opinions with you fine folks. Also, Todd needs an ally or two out here! Just to clarify further, I am not a christian, although I have been to a church. (My daughter’s funeral mass was the last time, 3 1/2 years ago.) I belong to no church, I don’t pray, I just give thanks! And in the words of one of my favorite musicians, “I’m the one who’s gonna die when it’s time for me to die, so let me live my life, the way I want-to!” Jimi Hendrix.
Ah, Mario. I am so very sorry for the loss of your daughter.
Oh…and on the waiting part…
I live in a blended, shaken and stirred household and we share….
Weekends and when the kids are home from school I get off the computer. We only have so many boxes and if you want peeved….make a couple of World of Warcraft fanatics late for whatever virtual death and destruction awaits.
So it’s not I’m ignoring or pouting, much…, but we try to be as cooperative as possible when using the network.
With any luck, I’ll be able to finagle a MacBook in a couple of months.
Then…you better just watch out…
Leftover Unleashed….
MoreCoffee
And service with a smile! You know what? I don’t even know how to do links like you do on the comment section…
Leftover,
It never hurts to listen to who you are and what you want! Think of it as Karma, of fate. Either way, you cannot deny that we are all affected by others in our lives, both positive and negative. How you allow others to effect you and your life is what’s important, whether you believe in God or not.
Say, Susan, you are cynical, aren’t you?
If you believe that life here is long and death is final, It can never make any sense. But if you believe that this life on Earth is but a quick dream and that there are many reincarnations, It falls under “it doesn’t really matter.” If you believe that we are very old souls and have lived many lives, then the purpose of what we do here falls under “do what you need to do” to remember who God is and what he wants for us. I spent most of my adult life not believing in God. When I was shown what I believe to be absolute truth to his (or hers) existence, I found that the only thing that matters is how I live my life. Others will live as they choose and will have to remember how to live more like God on their own. If it takes strapping on a C-4 vest, so be it. Perhaps they will get it right the next time. You cannot know the joys of love without experiencing the pain of hate. Think of it as “Groundhog Day” where the prize is a lot better then Andie MacDowell, although she’s quite a dish!
I am facebook friends with Jessie Bennett through Mother Talkers who I guess works for your publisher? Not sure, but she linked a post and I’ve not been able to look away since!
I love the “how did you get here” threads.
It is very cool, isn’t it? I should start a new blog entry and ask people: How the hell’d you find this? Jessie does work for my publisher. She runs their website (Beacon Broadside, and it’s frequently wonderful). She’s also a very cool person whom I’ve met and like.
Leftover, you are so very gracious. Go ahead and add that to your list. I don’t like people assuming things about me based on their interactions with other Christians so I don’t want to do that to you. Of course the atheist I know is amazing so it wouldn’t really be bad if it influenced how I saw other atheists I suppose.
When I said “peeved” I didn’t mean it negatively, it is simply annoying when people make assumptions, even if it’s innocent.
Mario, I’m sorry about your daughter. That is one of the toughest times a person can face.
Rest eternal grant to her, O Lord, and may light perpetual shine upon her.