The end of the world as we know it?

Whew! It's been a minute since I've updated this blog, huh? Between planning my next move with careers and possible business ventures, trying to relax from what was a few rough weeks (aside from the Florida vacation), and taking in so much I need to learn. Oh, and a hurricane almost blew my house away (well not quite, fortunately).

Now that I'm sitting here at my computer writing this piece, I'm here all cozy, high above any inundating waters and dry. Of course I'm talking about Hurricane Sandy in case you didn't know about the severe weather that struck the Eastern Seaboard of the United States. I'm actually enjoying my "time off," getting things done that needed to be done now that I'm basically stranded indoors until the disruptions of the storm are over. However, I can't help but wonder why some people take this so seriously. Okay, I can understand that people should be prepared, but as long as you're careful, you should be fine. I think some people take it too far and prepare like it's Y2K again.

40 days and 40 nights wandering the desert: my experience without Facebook

NOTE: This was originally posted on my Tumblr (agentarmando.tumblr.com)

First post ever.  Yay!

Tonight, I start off with my experience with Lent, the process of self-renewal and self-acceptance that it’s supposed to mean, AND how Facebook factors into all of this.  Now, for those who don’t know, I’m not one of those preachy, you’re-going-to-hell-if-you-don’t-believe-in-God types that tells everyone how sinful they are and that the Bible is the only truth.  However, I do consider myself very religious.  Just that I show it differently.  I never go to Sunday mass (I actually hate the church for the most part for its policies and methods), but I pray to God every night before going to sleep and I’m never afraid of saying I believe in God and even carry my Rosary everywhere with me.

For those who don’t know what Lent is, it’s the time starting from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday.  It’s supposed to signify the time when Jesus Christ wandered the desert for 40 days and 40 nights fasting.  During that time, the devil (Satan) appeared and tried to tempt Him in an effort to distract and keep Him from doing so.  This is important because in Biblical writings, all fasts are followed by enlightenment in the form of God imparting His divine wisdom.  In a way, Satan was keeping God from His ultimate goal: enlightenment.  That’s basically what Lent is supposed to be for Catholics like me: a time of reflection, penance and coming to terms to the “negative” things in life, such as death.  Hence, when you get ashed on Ash Wednesday, the priest doing the ashing says “Remember that thou art dust, and to dust thou shalt return.”