shemirateinayim wrote on 07 Apr 2010 22:35:


Did anybody else actually read this? This guy is either incredible, or well...incredible. I think he is also serious!

Gut Shabbos....

Dov, No, I think SE isn't incredible in either sense. He just picked up on the fact that my overly-cerebral, highly-symbolic moshol-ized quotes weren't really "real" about the problem. At least, that's my take.

And it's a point well taken. (Have you ever noticed that I can be wordy and cerebral at times ?)  Thanks, SE.

But, in terms of looking for 'tools' before I can attempt a better 'fix,' my view of this imagery as of this morning is:

"stop searching.
start dancing.
take a little waltz around the room and celebrate the internal rain shower.
if i must dig under the pipes, maybe i'll find the pot of gold under my stove that they told me about in Warsaw (an old moshul; sorry).
celebrate.
above all, no giving in to yei'ush.
DANCE!!!"

Let's put that to music before I forget it.

If you want something put to music, my friend, get thee to a bard-ery!
 
To bardy's pub! Away!!

dov wrote on 09 Apr 2010 02:53:



Well, this is ANOTHER Steve's opinion -

Before beginning any plumbing job, it's important to take out a book from the library that gives you a handy list of expletives, and examples of how to use them...

Oh, and you absolutely MUST adjust your pant's waist height in the back if you want that "professional" look... (i know, i'm a cheeky devil...)

Briut, I am constantly amazed at your posts, your insights, and your chizuk to others.

KUTGW?

(Kan U sTomach a Gallon of Woodford?)

Steve wrote on 09 Apr 2010 18:36:


Steve: thanks. I've been thinking a lot lately about how to take these [bent] pipes and make them a little more [straight]. [You Brits who've read my back-story will understand more than the rest of us Yankers. Or was that, Yankees.]

I've got some good possibilities, but happily they don't involve adjusting my pants or anything. [grin]  Sof sof, I'm just trying to be a poshete Yid, trying to grow a little every day [in my mind and my middos, I mean].

But Steve, when you say 'amazed' at posts, insights, etc - I'm really baffled. I don't think it's just my insecurity that wonders what part of my rambling and random journal-writing could be offering any chizuk. If you let me know what you're even talking about, maybe I could help out the klal by focusing more on that kind of post. In the meantime, I've been assuming that I'm "whistling in the dark" except for the very occasional KOT attaboy post.  Like yours! For which I say, THANK YOU.

Steve wrote on 09 Apr 2010 18:36:

BTW...

How do plumbers get high?


Ready?


Plumber's Crack!


Sorry....hey, I think Briut's stuff (and yours, too Shteve) is amazing!

I haven't been counting any days toward 90 -- trying to take it one day at a time.

But at whatever day I'm on, I'm feeling "that" buzzing in my body. The generalized RID irritability and nervous tension and whatever that makes the YH say, "I know JUST how you can take care of this." Plus, of course, that other buzz that hits a little, er, lower.

And I don't feel like I have anything to fight back with. Maybe surrender becomes the only option, even without hitting bottom. Hmmnn.

Any hints, guys?

Go out and do something fun, but kosher fun.

Hmmnn.  But just this one little aveira and then I can go do tshuva tomorrow?  (Man, what am I even THINKING. This is just weird.)

I just put out a lifeline on 'about to fall.' Let's see who's monitoring. PM me and I can phone or PM or whatever.

PS, MeMeMe: didn't think I'd hear from YOU for another 3.5 days. Thx for checking in!

Typing out our thoughts is good - it lets us see just how ridiculous they are, sometimes!

Yesod sheb'gevura. Tonight's sefira count. As in, sexuality contained in strength. So THIS is the night I found an amazing urge to act out? What comedy! That Y'H has a great sense of humor.

I've been trying to think of some kabala or shvua or something that would make a temptation seem less tempting next time. I have an idea. What do you experts think?  Namely,
"Sure, I'd be HAPPY to act out! But I promised myself I'd lose 10 pounds before treating myself to a little fun. You wait right here, and I'll be back when I've lost 10 pounds and we can have a PARty!"

Sadly, I think I'd lose the ten pounds in no time, but happily I think I'd lose the urge to act out by the time I'm thinner. And I will have taken some weight off in the meantime!

Any wisdom somewhere behind such a crazy thought?

Certainly. Every second you can push off the yh is immeasurably important (Besides you could stand to lose a few pounds, anyway)

Could stand to lose a few pounds??

How would you know........... Wait, Me3, was that YOU in the hot tub that night? (I'm so bad with names, sometimes.)

Maybe you have had too much plumber's crack....just kidding, it seems like a nice thought to me...but just a thought on your thought:

It seems to me that Yesod is not exactly sexuality, per se'. It's more like "connection", or "the ability to connect", no? See the sefer "Usfartem Lachem" (if you haven't already).
This would give nice context to the idea of bris haloshon and bris hama'or both being related to Yosef hatzadik and Yesod. Eating and speech are connectors. In the case of eating it is connecting me with kochos/kedusha in other objects (water, cows, apples, gefilte fishes, for example) that I am missing, and making them part of me. It also maintains the living connection between my guf and neshoma. Speech is the same idea, but for people - it connects people so one can complement the other via communication and maintains relationships through understanding each other (Da'as).
Sexuality does the same - it connects a man and a woman in order to complement/complete each other, and fosters a relationship (understanding - Da'as) with each other that can get scarily real. It breaks down all the barriers there are supposed to be between people - and that is very special: "Ein ish meis ella le'ishto, v'ein isha meisa ella l'ba'alah." The connection need never end. Real scary for Henny Youngmann types!

Of course, schmutz is all and only about rendering the barriers irrelevant: Total strangers. On a page that anyone can see. There is no developed connection, only the indicators of connection - only desire. It wields awesome power, yes - but it's not real "sexuality", in my book. And I always knew it while I was doing that, R"l.

For me, it also puts into a nice light the other big issues of Yosef hatzadik: Bitochon and mesiras nefesh.  Obviously, Bitachon is the truest emotional measure of one's connection to Hashem. Only if there is a true relationship is there Trust. Mesiras nefesh is the active measure of one's relationship with Hashem. If He is really my G-d, why would I hold anything back from Him? "Ani l'Dodi" because "Dodi Li!".

I love you, and hope that this megillah was not out of place. Just having some fun at 1149 at night....guteh nacht!

I am a nothing...with nothing to offer - other my friendship and regards..

HI.