Subject: Re:
From: Janet Gary (jgary@LearnLink.Emory.Edu)
To: jimedavery@att.net;
Date: Saturday, January 30, 2010 9:33 AM

Jim Ed, you honor me to share yourself and your writing in this way. I feel a bit daunted by your trust in me. We really don't know each other that well. Salty language doesn't bother me in the least. I'm sorry you are feeling depressed. I have experienced that a lot of my life, but am better thanks to some good meds and good therapy! I have learned to accept myself more, "fleas and all."

I have read your blogs and found them quite interesting, a bit diaturbing, and mysterious. At the risk of being one of those "fools (who) rush in where angels fear to tread" I am going to respond to several parts of your writing, blog by blog.

1) Barrell of Monkeys: "Genesis" in reverse"

I'm not sure I understand this one completely except maybe to say the humans can evolve in reverse as well as forward from our ape beginnings Just my humble opinion!

You gave an example of how painful it is to share yourself with people at work who don't share your political views. The question is, does it really change anyone's mind when people have such opposite views? Isn't there something in the Bible about not casting one's pearls among swine?

It has been my experience that some people can hear my deepest musings and others cannot. I try to be selective, but I often find my mouth preceding my head! That does not usually turn out well. Only when I find someone who is open to differences can I really hear and be heard.

2) Pale Blue Dot

Carl Sagan is a wise man.

3) An Innocence lost.

Is that culte little boy you?

We mothers have to be taught by our sons and daughters who they really are, since we often see our children as projections of ourselves and try to make them into who we wish we could be. This is not fair to either one. I am trying now to really show my grown children who I am and get to know who they really are. It is a daunting task, but very rewarding!

4) "H" is for.....

In the alphabet, G comes before H--

Gratitude
Goodness
Giving
Growing
GOD

...and F comes before G

Forgiving (oneself and others)

HUMILITY is, indeed hard to come by.

POSTNOTE:

It is my belief that although each of us is unique--different from anyone else in the world--we are, as human beings, more alike that different--we all bleed, cry, laugh, hate, love, and need other people to hear and understand us. It is my life-long mission to try to see myself and others as God the Creator intended us to be, to judge less and to love more. I fall short more than not, but maintain hope.

Janet

***

Subject: RE:
From: Brian McCutcheon (brian@mccutcheonweb.com)
To: jimedavery@att.net;
Date: Monday, February 8, 2010 11:29 AM

Good Morning Jim… I hope you had a good weekend. I’ve just spent the past hour reading all your blog entries. Of course, I had intended to do it sooner, but that is something you’ve got to be in the “right mood” to do to really appreciate. You write really well. Honestly, much better than I expected. For some reason, I don’t recall ever seeing anything you’ve written before – maybe an email snippet or a brief card note – so I had no expectations other than the average. To put that in context, I consider myself an “average” writer so I always use myself as the “control” to compare anyone else’s writing style. Anyway, you’re a lot better than me and very interesting – you make me smile a lot. Of course, other times I’m caught off guard.

In a nutshell, you’re brave. In writing – and in life – I am basically a coward. Generally speaking, I say and do what it takes to get through a moment offending the fewest number of people (e.g., think the “anti-Jim Ed”). Oh, occasionally I’ll stand up and make an important risky stand, but it always causes me an immense amount of worry and concern after the fact. Frankly, unlike you, I’ve gotten worse with age because my memory (never my strong point) has gotten worse. I’m almost afraid to defend my opinions anymore because I don’t think I’ll do a good job of it. Ah, yeah – rationalizing away my cowardice.

Anyway, while I don’t necessarily agree with the “in your face” approach you describe in your blog for EVERY occasion, I can’t help but still be impressed by it. After all these years, and frankly, some amount of distance that has grown between us – I still really do love you Jim. I worry about you – hell I worry about everyone (mostly myself) – but I realize that’s just who “Jim” is and I’ve grown to accept it. I guess after reading your blog this morning, I’m slowly going to respect it too!

Woodrow continues fight the cancer that will soon take his life. It has been 5.5 months since the diagnosis so I’ve already had him longer than I expected. This past weekend was his worst so far. I’m guessing he will reach “that” point soon when I can no longer believe he is having more good time than bad. Still, the thing that is so frustrating is that the little guy still has some really good days (like today), but then a bad one will occur – and it will be REALLY bad. This weekend (including Friday) was a series of 3 really bad ones.

OK Jim, I’ve got tons of studying to do before class.

Love you,

…Brian

From: James Avery [mailto:jimedavery@att.net]
Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2010 1:59 PM
To: Brian McCutcheon
Subject:

hey brian,

started a blog. not sure why.

thought you might find it .....

interesting?

jim ed

www.anattemptathumility.blogspot.com

***

Subject: Penny for your thoughts, Big Sister.
From: James Avery (jimedavery@att.net)
To: donna.devine@sbcglobal.net;
Date: Sunday, April 25, 2010 1:21 PM

Have to ask.....

did you ever take a look at my blog site left up on your pc screen the day you brought me back to the airport?

A white elephant is an idiom for a valuable possession of which its owner cannot dispose and whose cost (particularly cost of upkeep) is out of proportion to its usefulness or worth.

If not, here's the link to it:

www.anattemptathumility.blogspot.com

Right now I'm just throwing stuff in, still trying to develop a style that works for me; keep going back and changing things. Lots of bad grammar also.

I've given up on Mother; moving on without her. Probably best to leave her out of this: but this is only a suggestion.

Your loving brother,

Jim Ed

***

From: donna devine <donna.devine@sbcglobal.net>
To: James Avery <jimedavery@att.net>
Sent: Tue, April 27, 2010 11:51:30 PM
Subject: Re: Penny for your thoughts, Big Sister.

Dear Jim Ed, I forgot all about looking. I'm sorry!!!! Is there anyway you could send it to me again? I;'m not very good at a computer yet. LOVE YOU Donna {your big Sis]

***

Subject: Re: Penny for your thoughts, Big Sister.
From: James Avery (jimedavery@att.net)
To: donna.devine@sbcglobal.net;
Date: Wednesday, April 28, 2010 12:44 AM

just click on the link

www.anattemptathumility.blogspot.com

***

Subject: Hello big sister,
From: James Avery (jimedavery@att.net)
To: donna.devine@sbcglobal.net;
Date: Monday, May 3, 2010 7:22 PM

Have you still not checked out my blog????

***

Subject: Re: Hello big sister,
From: donna devine (donna.devine@sbcglobal.net)
To: jimedavery@att.net;
Date: Thursday, May 6, 2010 12:14 AM

Dear Little Brother, I have checked out your blog and I think it was great!!! I didn't know you could write like that. I wish I could talk more intelligently to you about politics but I only see things in black and white and I am very conservative. I don;t trust any politician!!!! I think they are all corrupt or will become corrupt at some time in their administration. I love you and I hope to see you soon!!!! Your big Sister

***

Subject: Re: Hello big sister,
From: James Avery (jimedavery@att.net)
To: donna.devine@sbcglobal.net;
Date: Thursday, May 6, 2010 3:28 AM

What??????????

You seemed okay with Richard running for mayor!!!!!!!!!!

"I only see things in black and white and I am very conservative". I already knew that. But, that's because you've lived a very sheltered life and had no reasons to know better. I've come to learn there is no such thing as black and white; just pale blue ( grey if that didn't make sense). But that's not why I wanted you to look at the blog.

Almost all my life I've lived as if I was jumping from behind bush to bush around you guys. Not here in atlanta; just you guys. You realize, now at 48, I'm starting to have trouble keeping up an erection. I figured now or never; otherwise, what would be the point of even bringing it up.

Donna, I'm gay!

There! If that's a problem, maybe you can join Dick and Liz's support group. I hear they are still mad about Kerry bringing up something about Mary.

Your loving brother,

Jim Ed

***

Subject: Re: Hello big sister,
From: donna devine (donna.devine@sbcglobal.net)
To: jimedavery@att.net;
Date: Thursday, May 6, 2010 11:37 AM

Dear Jim Ed, I have always thought for a long time now that you were Gay but I just never wanted to bring it up because I love you and it never mattered to me as long as you are happy. I hope you have not been coming home because of what your family would think. My girls and Richard have also known for quiet a while that you were Gay but it just never really mattered to them to have it confirmed. We love you unconditionally and nothing could change our love for you. I just don't think Mother needs to know so I have never mentioned it to her that you might be Gay. What is your thought on that? I thought that you were trying to tell me that in your blog but I just wasn't sure so I was not going to say anything. I love you and I hope to see you soon!!!!!! Your Big Sister

***

Subject: Re: Hello big sister,
From: James Avery (jimedavery@att.net)
To: donna.devine@sbcglobal.net;
Date: Thursday, May 6, 2010 1:53 PM

mother has known since i was 23 yo. remember the shrink? She practically threatened to kill herself ( "if you wake up in the morning and find me dead, would you feel guilty" / "can handle you being dead easier than I can handle you being gay"). She has even met Tom (history). I didn't see how you could of not known.

Mother's reaction, plus not wanting me to tell Dad, I figured it best to let the rest of you come to me at your pace. Can you imagine the relief I felt the day Dad died? After making plane reservations and rescheduling work, I actually went out dancing that night.

Sad as all this sounds, I've never felt guilty or ashamed. I've always took pride that I knew where I stood, feet firmly in place; not one foot in two worlds, that is, until I visit family or on the phone with mom. Twenty-five years ago, the day I told mom, was the day my family stopped evolving with me. The truth, you really don't know me at all.

Family, relationships, religion.......it's all politics. To the question, "When does life begin?", I answer, "When did it ever stop?"

Eventually plan on getting all this into the blog. Even if no one reads its, it's therapuetic for me. Be sure to share it with Richard, Steph, and Dana.

How bout scanning a picture of you as homecoming queen and one with basketball team so I can put it in blog? I tell people, "With a big brother who made an "F" in P.E and a big sister who was on a championship basketball team, of course I was going to take after the jock in the family."

If I purchased you a scanner, would you have a problem sending me pics on a regular basis?

***

Subject: Re: Hello big sister,
From: donna devine (donna.devine@sbcglobal.net)
To: jimedavery@att.net;
Date: Thursday, May 6, 2010 11:41 PM

Dear Jim Ed, I GUESS YOU ARE WONDERING WHERE i HAVE BEEN ALL THESE YEARS BY NOT REALIZING WHAT WAS GOING ON AT HOME. I WAS MARRIED AND LIVING IN LEESVILLE LA. IN MY OWN LITTLE WORLD. MOTHER NEVER TELLS ME ANYTHING THAT SHE THINKS WOULD UPSET ME. NOW THAT YOU HAVE TOLD ME STRAIGHT OUT THAT YOU ARE GAY BUT I KNEW ALREADY WHAT WILL CHANGE. I AM NOT GOING TO SAY ANYTHING TO MOTHER ABOUT OUR CONVERSATION BECAUSE IT WOULD JUST UPSET HER. I GUESS I SHOULD ASK YOU IF YOU HAVE ANY PARTNER IN YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW. IF SO, WHAT IS HIS NAME? I WOULD USE A SCANNER AND SEND YOU PICTURES BUT I CAN BUY ONE MYSELF AND THE GIRLS CAN SHOW ME HOW TO USE IT. THANK YOU FOR OFFERING THOUGH!!! I LOVE YOU JIM ED AND NOTHING CAN CHANGE MY FEELINGS FOR YOU!!!! I WILL SHARE YOUR BLOG WITH THE GIRLS WHENEVER I CAN GET THEM SETTLED DOWN LONG ENOUGH TO READ IT. I HAVE HAD A FUN BUT EXHAUSTING DAY BABYSITTING LANDON SO I AM GOING TO BED NOW. HE WILL BE BACK IN THE MORNING AT 7;30 TO START ALL OVER AGAIN. GOODNIGHT AND I WILL E-MAIL YOU LATER.LOVE DONNA(YOUR BIG SISTER)

***

Subject: Re: Hello big sister,
From: James Avery (jimedavery@att.net)
To: donna.devine@sbcglobal.net;
Date: Friday, May 7, 2010 1:46 PM

no partners at the moment.

have given some thoughts to having a live-in-maid though. the liberal in me want to marry an illegal immigrant for the cheap labor as a trade off. the conservative in me wants to marry one for the tax break. ;^).
don't worry about the pics.

love

jim ed

***

Subject: Re: Your blog
From: Janet Gary (jgary@LearnLink.Emory.Edu)
To: jimedavery@att.net;
Date: Thursday, October 21, 2010 5:45 PM

James Avery <jimedavery@att.net> writes:
Barrel'>http://anattemptathumility.blogspot.com/2010/10/halloween-every-2-years.html">Barrel

1) I can't answer the question you asked about God with "yes" or "no."

2) I suppose you know your yard and blog will either bring you negative response or no response at all, with the exception of your close friends.
3) What kind of response do you expect from me?

***

Subject: Re: Your blog
From: James Avery (jimedavery@att.net)
To: jgary@LearnLink.Emory.Edu;
Date: Thursday, October 21, 2010 8:57 PM

was not really expecting a response.

but it was nice of you to do so.

jim ed.

***

Subject: Re: Your blog
From: James Avery (jimedavery@att.net)
To: jgary@LearnLink.Emory.Edu;
Date: Thursday, October 21, 2010 10:00 PM

after giving it more thought.

like to add:

"A truly virtuous man would come to the aid of a complete stranger equally as he would a "close friend."
Then again, a truly virtuous man would have no friends."

Not claiming to be anywhere close to virtuous; nor is my intent making friends.

"Doing the right thing for the wrong reason has no morale worth."

Negative response not always a bad thing. Where would Christians be without Jesus Cruxifixion.
Would call that a "negative response" to his message.

Truly, I have nothing against the man. Stripped of all the divinity stuff, nothing really unique about his teachings.

***

Subject: Re: Your blog
From: Janet Gary (jgary@LearnLink.Emory.Edu)
To: jimedavery@att.net;
Date: Friday, October 22, 2010 4:50 AM

Confirmation or rebuttal is futile to one who asks for none.

***

Subject: Re: Your blog
From: James Avery (jimedavery@att.net)
To: jgary@LearnLink.Emory.Edu;
Date: Friday, October 22, 2010 4:24 PM

"There is a need to maintain a kind of balance of intellectual power. If no atheist philosophers engaged with the issue of God's existence, then the field would be left to the believers. We would then have the impression that only the religious deal with these issues with intelligence and sophistication. That would give succour to the legions of believers who have no interest in theology, but like to know others are taking care of it for them. We need books like this, therefore, not to win the battle–-for it can't be won-–but simply to show the enemy isn't off the hook."

The word "enemy" bit strong of a word. I do not consider people of faith my enemy; nor do I believe it was "Muslim who killed us on 9/11," as O'Reilly said it on much talked about episode of The View.

From a homosexual's point of view, the Bible or the Quran, same as "six and half a dozen."

If right is right, and wrong is wrong; then anything not quite right nor completely wrong has to fall somewhere in between. Believe most would agree a non-believer, who's also a homosexual, automatically gets placed the closest to wrong. But where does one view themselves on that line in relation with people like Rev. Phelps, Bishop Long, Brother Ted? Oh what the hell; let's put The Cheney Family on there, as well?

The only way I can relate to this question is the fact, that out of three children, two sons who were hearing impaired that did not have a good relationship with, much respect for their father; the daughter, in every sense normal, who right up to his death, despite his seeming indifferent, wanted her father proud, always seeking his approval.

Probably should add, my brother , 5 years older than me, an alcoholic who until very recently, lived at home.

Yet in the end, in the Will, everything was split evenly three ways. And my sister gave him 2 granddaughters as well.

Whatever it was in the beginning.......it's neutral.

No one is going anywhere without anybody.

Simply Jim

***

Subject: Third Rock From the Sun, Pockets full of Rabies including TAg 10-13666, Break the wall .......
From: James Avery (jimedavery@att.net)
To: jgary@LearnLink.Emory.Edu;
Date: Sunday, November 21, 2010 12:38 AM

Don't have time to explain now, but you asked what I wanted from you. Nothing at the time. You even went over and beyound. Found you to be quite frigid.

But through a Rainbow Snake, I saw an angel in the Garden of Eden down under. Somehow, probably the God gene, Virgin Mary Has Sand In the Vagina, Socialist Sand Nigger has a Camel habit, and a little red rubber ducky with a potty mouth.

I see a way this can all be fun, but it's going to take 3 liberals to catch a blue dog licking his ball by surprise before Jan. 14, 2011. Did you know Eistein had a good friend with a name that sounded a lot like Google. Creepy! Till then I want to hold on to that red dress with purple spots as insurance.

How bout you, me, Dr. Gary thaw out over a beer. Not as crazy as it sounds. My dad was a real Doctor. We just have a failure to communicate. As well as Veterinary Medicine is just not the right place to be a liberal. But like Micheal Sandel said, "once thought....cannot be unthought again." And they will never forget the things i've said.

Either Jesus was just another liberal who figured out the riddle, or I'm Steve and Obama is Eve. All that matter, I can justify the actions of anyone, anytime, on this planet, past, present, and future, mine included.

The Truth is Stranger than fiction; fiction just has to make sense. The holy ghoust is the God gene.

If not sure you can laugh with me without pissing me off, a secretary who knows shorthand and ASL but without a hearing impairment will do.

I gotta figure a way to turn this into a movie, book, ransom, or around. SOON!

btw

have a wonderful day

your neighbor

head of household across the street

James Edward Avery

**

Subject: Contact and Boundaries
From: ggary@emory.edu (ggary@emory.edu)
To: jimedavery@att.net;
Cc: jgary@emory.edu;
Date: Saturday, November 27, 2010 1:33 PM

Hello Jim Ed,
You must know that in the future, there will be clear boundaries for
making contact with Janet and me, especially Janet. This is not to
say there will be no further contacts with us, but it must be under a
number of conditions.

Janet wanted to add her word before we set the conditions together.
Here is her note to you:

Jim Ed,

I was more than a little disturbed by your visit on Wednesday. In the
spirit of neighborliness and the Thanksgiving holiday coming up, I
opened our house to you, even though I felt s bit uncomfortable doing
so, especially in Bob?s absence.

We ironed out what you perceived to be a rejection on my part.

When you wanted to share the symbols that are meaningful to you, I was
interested, although having a hard time ?getting it? in the way you
told it to me. No input from me seemed to even get through to you, or
matter at all.

I was very disturbed when you talked of your depression, thinking
about getting your gun, and when you told me you are the ?Anti-Christ?
and a ?crack-head? I began to be somewhat afraid of you and wished I
had not opened my door to you.

When I told you I needed medications and even that didn?t stop your
monologue, I said it again and began to leave the room. At that point
you did thank me for listening and left, saying you would leave your
stuff so you could come back. You either didn?t hear me or didn?t pay
attention when I said, ?No, take them with you.?

Bob and I both feel we and our space were violated, and Bob has drawn
up some conditions under which we may all co-exist as neighbors. I
concur with what he has written below. Janet

The Conditions:
1. There can be no further non-negotiated visits on your part with
either or both of us.
2. We are not available to participte in your theological doctrines
which you presented to Janet for more than one hour and fifteen
minutes. You failed to leave our house until the second time Janet
indicated she needed a break for medicines. You may not know that
Janet has Parkinson's and extended stressful events activate her
symptoms. Furthermore, Janet needed to take her
medicines and tried to bring your theological discourse to a close,
but you continued. Furthermore, you left your basket of possessions in
our house in order that you would have assurance of returning to our
house. That is far too presumptuous for us.
3. You do not have permission to enter our property or phone our house
unless you can abide by these limits.
4. We do not listen to religious talk from anyone, let alone invite
them into our home. We do not do that with you. We share our faith
with people who ask questions of us and our religious convictions. You
had no questions for Janet, only pressing her to agree with your
doctrine.

G. Robert Gary, Sr. ThD

***

Subject: Re: Contact and Boundaries
From: James Avery (jimedavery@att.net)
To: ggary@emory.edu;
Date: Saturday, November 27, 2010 4:08 PM

I'm sorry for the pain I caused you. It was not my intention. I do not deny having personal problems. Was actually reaching out for some help.

Again, I apoligize for barging into your home and upsetting Janet. I do not own a gun or plan to.

jim ed

''The physicists say that I am a mathematician, and the mathematicians say that I am a physicist,'' he said. ''I am a completely isolated man and though everybody knows me, there are very few people who really know me.''

D.O.B.
January 14, 1962

AND MANY MORE?

Determinism in the West is often associated with Newtonian physics, which depicts the physical matter of the universe as operating according to a set of fixed, knowable laws. The "billiard ball" hypothesis, a product of Newtonian physics, argues that once the initial conditions of the universe have been established, the rest of the history of the universe follows inevitably. If it were actually possible to have complete knowledge of physical matter and all of the laws governing that matter at any one time, then it would be theoretically possible to compute the time and place of every event that will ever occur (Laplace's demon). In this sense, the basic particles of the universe operate in the same fashion as the rolling balls on a billiard table, moving and striking each other in predictable ways to produce predictable results.

Determinism is the philosophical position that for every event, including human interactions, there exist conditions that could cause no other event. "There are many determinisms, depending on what pre-conditions are considered to be determinative of an event or action." Deterministic theories throughout the history of philosophy have sprung from diverse and sometimes overlapping motives and considerations. Some forms of determinism can be empirically tested with ideas from physics and the philosophy of physics. The opposite of determinism is some kind of indeterminism (otherwise called nondeterminism). Determinism is often contrasted with free will.

Determinism often is taken to mean causal determinism, which in physics is known as cause-and-effect. It is the concept that events within a given paradigm are bound by causality in such a way that any state (of an object or event) is completely determined by prior states. This meaning can be distinguished from other varieties of determinism mentioned below.

Other debates often concern the scope of determined systems, with some maintaining that the entire universe is a single determinate system and others identifying other more limited determinate systems (or multiverse). Numerous historical debates involve many philosophical positions and varieties of determinism. They include debates concerning determinism and free will, technically denoted as compatibilistic (allowing the two to coexist) and incompatibilistic (denying their coexistence is a possibility).

Determinism should not be confused with self-determination of human actions by reasons, motives, and desires. Determinism rarely requires that perfect prediction be practically possible.

"There are two kinds of people in this world: victims and volunteers.
After the age of seven, we are pretty much all volunteers."
~(Mother Quoted by a Recovering Catholic)~