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Atlas shrugged and Joy winced

Currently, I'm reading Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. It took me a couple hundred pages to get engrossed, but I'm finally there after much struggle. What a painful process it is to be forced, kicking and screaming, to re-evaluate your inner core of perspectives, political foundations, and social responsibilities. It's especially painful to admit your core beliefs may be off base and due for revision. Ouch. This book hurts to read.

So far, I find this book to be like an abusive relationship. I keep getting slapped and punched, but I still love it and go back knowing full well what I'm in for with each turned page. Although embedded deep within annoying verbal redundancies and pathetic attempts at peotry, the message is very powerful and well argued.

I would love to know what those of you may think of this book. I find myself accosting people at the bus stop and at the grocery store eagerly and desperately attempting to provoke any Atlas Shrugged debates. Feel free to email me your take on Ayn Rand's objective realism.

(click here for responses)

I'm not one for overkilling the events of September 11th, 2001.
I am merely sharing something that personally and profoundly affected me with others who may have been impacted equally.

I recommend visiting this refreshing site created by a woman in NYC named Cynthia. The images are beautiful and her "diary" is very human.

Below you will find the letter I posted on her online guestbook...

Cynthia,
Thank you for your "diary" postings on your website. Your thoughts and feelings were articulated so well considering this event has left most of us dumbfounded. I really appreciate your honest and candid manner. I have been grieving in silence from the other side of our country. Here in Portland, Oregon, I feel so removed from my friends and those bonded NYC strangers like yourself. Like an obsessed onlooker, I have been glued to daily WTC & NYC research in papers and internet postings. I repeatedly watch documentaries in a daze.

In all of this searching, your site is the first that I find to be healing and, dare I say, beautiful. The images were so touching. Typically, when I see related images (like the pricey NYC skyline pre-Sept 11th black and white framed print at the high-end home decor shops) I get irritated and feel exploited along with all the other people grieving rather than capitalizing on the event. Your poster, however, was absolutely heartfelt. Obviously you have a kinship with those towers. Your art is both a means to express that and a means for its viewers to receive something in return for this unspeakable loss.

Thank you for sharing with us. I am truly appreciative. I've been looking for this... I think I can now put to rest my endless hours of searching… I have found what I'm looking for... Thanks to you and my friend Paul and the passing of time, I have found peace. Thank you. I know this peace may be fleeting. It will undoubtedly ebb and flow, but for today I can taste it. When it fades I can revisit your site and restore it. Thank you.

If you don't mind, I would like to put a link to your site from my website. If others can feel even an ounce of what beauty I gained from your images, I will be happy.

Sincerely,
joy

And now for something lighter...

Gravity has been confirmed!

Recently, my friend Carrie and I decided to go skydiving. I've always wanted to do it and Carrie has always been up for my crazy ideas so we made a perfect team. Carrie and I have known eachother since 1st grade. With the exception of a fight in 8th grade when she poured milk over me in the cafeteria, we have maintained the most cordial and true friendship. When I asked her if she would jump out of an airplane with me she responded "Sure. If I have to die, I'd want it to be with you, Joy." I suppose I should be honored.

We set the date and scheduled the event for December 23rd. Then, in Carrie's classic manner she called me up with some interesting concerns... "Joy, do you think we should reschedule it a few days later. If we die we'll ruin Christmas for our families." Needless to say, there was no untimely deaths. We made it just fine and no holiday festivities were ruined.

I would highly recommend Skydive Palatka and the Art of Skydiving just outside of Jacksonville, Florida. My tandem instructor, Art Shaffer, and his wife Carolyn, the videographer, were awesome. Carrie and I had a blast. Carrie says she'd even do it again with me (since she lived after all!).

For those drawn to statistics... We jumped out of a King Air at 13,500 feet. The free-fall lasted for 50 seconds (falling 9,000 feet) before the chute opened.