The Friday Five...

After a bit of a hiatus... The Friday Five:

1. What is your opinion on karma?

I think it's probably good for us to live as if karma exists, whether it does or not. I do believe that if we do good things, we have a good life, and if we do bad things, we have a bad life. I believe that you can't be bad and happy at the same time.

2. If anything, do you think attitude makes any difference? If you believe the world and life are good, will good things radiate toward you? If you believe otherwise, will it all be a self fulfilling prophecy?

Well, yes, attitude makes all the difference - pessimists create their own world, and there is (amost) nothing good or bad but that thinking makes it so. But 'attitude' is not a simple concept, and some things - pain, illness, loss, death, war, etc. - go beyond any individual attitude.

3. How has luck/chance/facts-of-life/God/karma/nature treated you so far?

Good and bad, like any life. I like myself; I think that's important. I have no family, no money, and a lot of money worries; but on the other hand, I wouldn't trade my life with that of anyone I know. Good or bad, it's the life I've created out of my own choices.

4. What is your opinion of the concept of destinies?

It sounds really cool in Smallville. When they talk about destiny, you know it's either Jor-El or a Luthor who's around.

I like the word, I also like the concept, but you can take it in different ways. I don't believe the future is set. Fatalism is depressing. If destiny is a matter of potential, then it's fun to play with.

5. Are both bad and good things needed in order to truly live life? Can you have the bad without the good? The good without the bad?

No, bad things are not essential. Bad things hold us back, hurt us, make us less than we ought to be. Bad things cause suffering. Of course there are no lives without misfortune and difficulty, but as should all try to minimize suffering in the world and in our lives.

I liked these quetions more than most. Saw it on monsieureden's LJ.

(no subject)

To rhiannonhero -



Have a wonderful year - full of good writing, good reading and good times.

A Saturday like Saturdays should be...

First thing, I went to the hairdresser - something long overdue. It was a lovely day, until I started to walk home, and it rained. I had no umbrella or jacket. I remembered then that it always rains when I get my hair done. I told maaboroshi this and she said, "Ah-hah, so it was your fault! I bet you're responsible for the hurricane in the Caribbean, too."

But it didn't rain long. It was a beautiful day, sunny and warm for the most part.

Sheila took me out to a wonderful post-birthday dinner, with Harry, at a Greek restaurant called Papagus on Kent St. Calamari appetizer. Sheila said she didn't like calamari, because, though she liked the taste, it was too rubbery. I said that this depended on the restaurant and the preparation. Luckily, this calamari was the tenderest I've had in a long time, and Sheila enjoyed some, too. Our main course was roast lamb, beautifully cooked.

Over dinner, we talked about Smallville. I didn't bring it up, I swear. Sheila hadn't seen "Crusade", though it turns out she's a fan; so is Harry, who had also seen "Crusade" last week. We were jointly telling her about the story, with lots of editorializing. The funny thing.. from my point of view... is that the people I usually watch Smallville with, and discuss it with, are slash fans. Harry and Sheila are not. So it was a different perspective. The most striking sign of this? We discussed the episode for maybe half an hour, and Lex's name wasn't mentioned once. (Though believe me, I was thinking of him!)

Then we went to a Who Cares party at Richard's place. Can't think when I last went to a Who Cares. We used to have them every two weeks, each time ata different place, with dozens of people participating. Quite a few people came to see Richard's new condo, and every one of them (at least when I was there) was a member of Apaplexy. I was enjoying myself thoroughly talking to people, but had to leave early, since I'm badly allergic to Richard's cats. It's too bad, because they are dreadfully cute.

Richard was playing the soundtrack to the movie Hero. It was lovely.