Thoughts On A Rainy Fall Saturday

 

Life goes on here at Casa Tipton-Kelly. 

Yesterday I had my annual HVAC heater checkup. Whereas in the past these annual checkups have resulted in little if no cost, this year I wasn't so lucky. I wasn't surprised after being hit with so many unexpected large bills this year. This visit set me back $1,652. 

Here is the breakdown folks

Install 24v Plasma Pure Air Purifier     $883.00

Install new burner(s), flame sensor & igniter in gas furnace                                                    769.00

"Steve" (the service person), showed me pictures of my old burner and it did need replaced. The air purifier also needed replacement. The picture of the old one looked bad, probably why I've been having so many sneezing attacks and runny noses the past several months. 

I could tell the difference almost immediately. The heating element is working much more efficiently and I can breath again. So I don't feel like I was "taken" of these replacements weren't necessary. I can justify this expense. I don't feel as bad about this as I did as replacing my perfectly good tires on my car for almost a $1,000 because of a leak caused by a big nail could no longer be contained.

Then there is the situation in Israel. I've watched a lot of coverage included too many graphic photos and videos of the death and destruction. What an awful situation and there seems to be no solution to that problem they're having over there. I just can't imagine living like that. And who is to fault? Sure, it's "complicated" but can we say religion has a lot to do with it? Sure, we can. 

Look, I was brought up Christian in the Southern Baptist church. I fell away from the church when I was about eleven years old when I had the shit scared out of me by a red faced, foaming at the mouth Pentecostal screaming at me and everyone else at his Sunday service that I was attending with one of my favorite aunts. 

"YOU'RE ALL SINNERS!

"YOU'RE BORN IN SIN!" 

"YOU WILL BE SINNERS UNTIL YOU DIE!"

Yep, that what this religious hate zealot was screaming at a very impressionable eleven year old who heretofore attended Sunday school classes where I was taught all about "Christian values." 

You know, "Love thy neighbor" and "Turn the other cheek" propaganda. Didn't take me too long to figure out "What chance to I have? I'm just a sinner."

I watch the TV and see these Muslims killing innocents including children and babies. The oh so holy Muslims who believe all other religions are infidels and should be put to death. Fuck them!

Then I watch the Israelis do exactly what the Germans did to them during World War II. To do "collective punishment" of Palestinians who live in Gaza for the atrocities committed by the Hamas terrorists. Fuck them. 

I've come to believe that religion has caused more death and destruction in this world than all the famines combined. Look at what the European colonizers did to the New World Indians when they "emancipated" them. They just about wiped out the Indians converting them to their false Christian religion.

I can understand those who find comfort in religion and that's the way they get through their life. What I don't understand or accept is those who condemn others who don't believe in their religion. I don't force my atheism on anybody. "Live and let live" is my modus operandi in life.  

So I will continue to live out the end of my days on this earth here in this peaceful corner of earth where President Biden's summer home is only four miles away from Casa Tipton-Kelly. And I will continue to be thankful that I can live a peaceful life here in spite of our many physical challenges as our bodies age. 

But my heart goes out to all those innocents who are caught in the crossfire on both sides in the Israeli and Palestinian conflict. I hope for peace but I know in my heart that isn't possible. That situation has been that way my whole life and it isn't going to miraculously change in whatever time I have left.