Illumination

In January I flew home for my Dad's 60th birthday.  When I found my seat, I settled in for a long flight until I saw what was coming down the aisle.  My back went up instantly when I saw a family of 7 take their seats directly in front of me and across the aisle.  The children were probably aged 5-13.  However, I was pleasantly surprised that they were all well behaved and their parents did a fantastic job looking after them and keeping them entertained on the 8-hour flight.  My hat's off to the Mum and Dad!

You have a very happy, smiley American here!!  :)

I was floored to here that the Democrats not only took the House of Representatives, but did so by a wide margin.  This not only is the harbinger of change in US politics, but also sees a woman (Nancy Pelosi - Democrat from California) as the first female Speaker of House!!!

The Senate race was tight, but it looks like the Democrats may take the majority at 51 seats.  I'll be keeping a tight eye on Virginia today as the results should be in by the afternoon in the US.

Check out Rabbi Marc Gellman's latest Newsweek article:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15143377/ site/newsweek/

I arrived in New York City on 1 August 2001.  Having found a temporary flat on Bogardus Place in Upper Manhattan I went straight into job hunting.  To supplement my dwindling savings in the interim, I undertook temporary clerical positions through various agencies.  One such position was at an engineering firm located on the 91st Floor of Tower 2 at the World Trade Center.

I remember 11 September 2001 with perfect clarity.  That morning I had arranged to view an apartment in Astoria, Queens.  When I walked out my door, I remember the beauty of that morning.  It was beautiful sunshine - barely a cloud in the sky and slight breeze ruffled the trees in Fort Tryon Park.  I took the A Train to 42nd Street and changed to the N Train to Queens at Times Square.

I've been going back and forth about whether to post anything about religion and politics in the US.  As an American in London and as someone who briefly worked for an MP, I have been enjoying this country where - the two subjects you're not suppose to talk about at the dinner table (at least in America) - do not intermingle so much.

Recently The New York Times published an article detailing the struggles of a congregation in Minnesota.  The Rev Gregory Boyd gave a series of sermons entitled "The Cross and The Sword."  These outlined why Christians/The Church should not be involved directly in politics.  Many in the congregration were right-wing evangelicals who ardently supported the Republican Party and George W Bush and, in the end, of the 5,000 members - 1,000 left over this issue.

I got paid yesterday!  It's wonderful seeing the total cash in your bank account rise - looking almost impressive.  It gave me such a feeling of comfort to know that I'll make it through yet another month and, hopefully this time, not budget my pounds per day in the last week before another pay day.

Before I begin this particular post, I must make a confession......I've had no inspiration for the past few days and am in a desperate search for a decent subject.  I didn't want to be boring, so I turn to one of my favourite subjects: Bono.

Tonight I read Matthew 17.  When I curled up with my Bible this evening, I wasn't expecting to find the Lord making a funny.  But, needlesstosay, as I visualised what Jesus was saying towards the end of the chapter, I have to confess - I burst out laughing.  He is comic genius!

Journalist Dan Shaw from The New York Times recently posted an article entitled "Is This What Happiness Looks Like?"  Below is an excerpt:

And in the fall “The Architecture of Happiness,” by the philosopher Alain de Botton, who lives in England, will be published in the United States. In it he argues that physical environment is a crucial contributor to well-being. Like it or not, he suggests, the spaces we live in shape our sense of happiness and of self, so we had better choose them carefully.