Message Board Celebrity Of The Day (Part II) - Shameless- Page 111

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 1:47am

I will throw a few questions your way:
These are all questions pondered by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in The Heart of the Buddha's Path and I am interested in your take as well.

What determines the form of our rebirth?

I can understand how my own mind and actions affect my own causes and conditions. Can they also affect world conditions like poverty, hunger and other great sufferings?

In trying to be a compasionate human being, how responsible should we feel? What should you do if you find someone emotionally dependent upon your compasion? Is it compasionate to hurt someone if you think it is good for them in the long run?

[mominator]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 6:25am

One more hug for miss pennywise! I hope you had a grand day in the spotlight of our adoration. I will not be here when you choose the next MBCotD, but I know you'll do fine. Thank you for sharing so much about you. (and I really do think we are kindred spirits!)

[Bluemoon]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 6:41am

A raise of the coffee mug to pennywise! Hope your reign was fun - I enjoyed your answers!

[cturtle]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 6:53am

i get to edit the LE RAMON DE MADEMOISELLE PENNYWISE!! i can see it now ...

MONTAGE
CTURTLE


and matthew broderick would play me.

[bdwaygirl]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 7:23am

Sorry I'm so late chiming in with congrats! Hope you enjoyed your reign!

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 7:49am

Wow, Miss P, thanks for a good morning read over my big cup o' coffee! You truly are an amazing lady.

[shameless]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 8:12am

Good morning, Miss P!

Reading what I missed made me sorry I went to bed, but it seems like you had a good time. I'm glad to see it.

[bwayaddict]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 8:20am

Miss Pennywise - Just read your response to my question and it made me cry. You say things so elequently. One thing I've learned from my own experience is that I thought I had problems until I "really" had problems and now nothing seems so bad by comparison. Thank you for sharing.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 8:47am

Miss Pennywise, your responses were lovely. I, too, know about the challenges of having a child with disabilities. My sister's son was born with multiple handicaps, and it has been a life-changing experience. It has been difficult, but there has been a new level of joy and love and compassion and understanding that has enriched all of our lives. The angels in our world... here's to them!

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 9:06am

Good morning, all! Thank you for all of the lovely things you said about my answers. I'm just glad no one thinks I was too verbose. (It happens sometimes, what can I say?)

To paraphrase Kermit the Frog: It ain't easy being queen.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 9:08am

You should print out all the wonderful posts and messages... and keep them for a day when you want some inspiration and cheer.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 9:12am

I have learned an important lesson as queen, and I want to pass it on to my successors:

If someone doesn't ask questions, DON'T encourage them to!!!

Case in point: I nudge Pengy because he pops in on the thread from time to time with short little comments. "Pengy," say I, foolishly, "Where are your questions?" So at about 2:00 AM he asks me questions about the essence of our existence. This is what happens what you don't leave things alone.

I have no one to blame but myself.

Updated On: 3/16/06 at 09:12 AM

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 9:14am

Told ya it wasn't easy being queen, Miss P! You need another day to recover from it!

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 9:24am

But I will TRY, nonetheless, to answer Pengy's inquiries.

1. What determines the form of our rebirth?
I like to refer to Father Guido Sarducci on this one. He believes that life is "a job." As we go through each day, god in heaven is keeping a tally of what we're owed in back pay. Each time we commit a sin, we have to, literally, "pay" for it. The amount we have to pay is determined by the severity of the crime. For example, a murder may cost us $100,000, which god deducts from our total. Smaller crimes--like masturbation--only cost us about 35 cents ("but," as the good padre points out, "It adds up.")

When we die, we stand before god who does the final accounting. If you "owe" because you have done many awful and serious things in your life, you have to go back to earth and "repay" your debt to society. If you were "a mafioso," he says, you have to live your life over in direct service to god. "You have no idea how many nuns are former mafioso," says he.

Words to live by.

[amasis]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 9:28am

I just caught up with this thread again. Miss P - it was really wonderful reading your responses and getting to know you better. You are one amazing lady .

[Elphaba]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 9:29am

and who is todays mbc?

[Craig]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 9:34am

Miss Pennywise-

One of my favorite routines of Father Guido EVER! Thanks for the smiles.

I never understood why Lorne Michaels never made a film about Father Guido. I think it would have been a lot better than some other of his investments of time and money into other SNL horrible films

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 9:38am

2. I can understand how my own mind and actions affect my own causes and conditions. Can they also affect world conditions like poverty, hunger and other great sufferings?

The short answer is "Yes."

One of the frustrating things about being an American and living in the United States my whole life is knowing how nationalistic and isolationist this country really is. With all due respect, many Americans refuse to understand how what they do affects the rest of the world and vice-versa. "Globalization" means absolutely nothing to a lot of people here.

9/11 was awful and horrible, but in the end, it should not have come as such a terrible shock to people. We have been so overly complacent and even smug about our status and safety in the world. Do I believe for every action there is a chain reaction? Yup. Do I believe in karma? Yup. Even the collective karma.

In everday life, we have to understand that every person on this planet is inter-dependent. Just because they live in China and you'll never meet them doesn't mean that decisions you make here won't have a bearing on their existence.

It's not just about actions, it's also about ideology.

Am I answering your question, Pengy?

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 9:39am

Craig,

My husband says the very same thing all the time! Guido: The Movie!

[beacon1]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 9:47am

Miss Pennywise you have been wearing the crown with such a wonderful dignity and wit. Brava!!!!

Final questions:

Favorite Sandwich filling?
What will your epitaph be?
If you could speak to Congress, what would you want to address?

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 9:51am

Finally, Pengy's last question:

3. In trying to be a compassionate human being, how responsible should we feel? What should you do if you find someone emotionally dependent upon your compassion? Is it compassionate to hurt someone if you think it is good for them in the long run?

Compassion begins with yourself. In many ways, it's harder to be compassionate with yourself than with other people because we (and other people!) can perceive it as being selfish. I don't look at it that way. Life is a gift. To honor and respect that rare and amazing gift, we have to cherish the one we have been given and are most responsible for...before we can truly be compassionate to others.

If we don't really look at ourselves--our strengths and our flaws--we cannot expect others "do for us." Compassion begins with forgiving ourselves. That means deep self-exploration, taking time and making the effort to be honest and gentle with ourselves.

It is not good to be emotionally dependent upon the compassion of others. Compassion should inspire us to be more mindful and honest about who we are so that we can embrace ourselves--and then others.

We should feel responsible for each other in this life. Plain and simple. We're all in this thing called life together. But people shouldn't take advantage of others' compassion. Then the goodwill is corrupted. And the compassionate one may have to step back.

I do believe it is compassionate to hurt someone in the immediate of you understand that in the long run they will be good for them, absolutely. What truly matters is your motivation and what's in your heart.

Whew.

Updated On: 3/16/06 at 09:51 AM

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 9:53am

DG's question about my 3 most beautiful places I've seen:

1. French countryside

2. Rolling hills of Napa

3. Home

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 9:56am

Beacs:

1. Favorite Sandwich filling? Turkey with Green Olive Tapanade on grainy bread

2. What will your epitaph be? "She's not here; she's in a meeting."

3. If you could speak to Congress, what would you want to address? Their terrible fashion sense...or lack thereof, I should say!!!!

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 9:59am

There are so many friends I have made through the Board. It has been such a gift, really.

I agree with everyone who says that being the Queen is a tough job. It’s an honor and a challenge.

I wanted to make sure I didn’t forget anyone who went to the trouble of posting a question...and I wanted to be honest without boring everyone to tears.

In true “award acceptance speech style,” I want to thank everyone who paid me a visit.

Brdlwyr
Mamie
Mom
Undi
Boobs
Elphaba
Papa
Shameless
SOMMS
Moonie
DG
Cookie
Wexy
Peach
Addy
YWIW
Pengy
Grizz
Erika
Best12
Sueleen
Namo
DayDreamer
Junglered
Justthefacts
JoeKv99
Tiff
Liotte
Kelrel
Kringas
Roxy
Cturtle
Aigoo
Justme2
BSoBW3
Amasis
Yoda
Bwayaddict
Jaily
bdwaygirl
Craig
Beacs
Iflit

and, of course, Jane2, who was so sweet to choose me as the board celeb...to cheer me up and raise my spirits when I most needed it. That’s a true friend.

(If I forgot ANYONE, please let me know and I'll kiss the hem of your garment.)

Choosing someone to assume this honor today has been such a challenge. There are about 10 people I narrowed my choices down to. Then from there, I shortened the list to 2. Seriously, there are new and old frriends I would like to honor, but Craig only lets us have ONE. How inconsiderate is that?

Okay, my choice is...

(edited to add Iflit at the very last second!)

Updated On: 3/16/06 at 09:59 AM

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 9:59am

Did I slip in in time to say congrats to Miss P? Hope you had a wonderful 'reign'!