Cindy!

Upon reading the posts Steve! and I made, they seemed to come across at a bit simplistic. LIfe and marriage are anything but simplistic. I have prepared a post that kind of goes into more detail on our marriage, but it is rather long....so I decided to ask you if you want to see it. No marriage should be held up as an example. I would only post what I have written about our marriage to show that there is nothing like a "perfect marriage" or "perfect life" It has to do with what you do together with that life. If you have a partner that will make little or no effort in making you happy it is not your fault. It may feel like it, though. Every marriage is different just like every person in each marriage is different. Likewise, the needs of each person in a marriage are valid. There is no "one size fits all"

Click HERE for the test. It's awesome...but don't cheat!!! Have a pencil and piece of paper ready, though!

You made me cry with that post, mystevey.....thank you!!!

Dot, I wondered the same thing when I was in my first marriage...mostly I wondered "Why the hell DO people get married? It SUCKS!!!" I left him, went through a very difficult divorce....all the time thinking "I'll never frigging do THAT again." EWWW...all I'd seen from marriage and relationships is manipulation. If I don't do it their way, they get angry, pout, whatever... It was like having FIVE children instead of the four I'd given birth to. It was disgusting. Went to counseling for a few years so that I could figure out what about myself attracted that type of person to me so that it wouldn't happen again. Then the love of my life showed up. We'll be married four years this coming April and I know I am loved for who I am, and the look in his eyes is still the snowflake moment. I've never been happier or more loved or more willing to give love. (and we've been through some tough times, cuz life is still life....we've had lots of things to deal with together with the kids, we have a bankruptcy ending next month, and I've had some health issues here and there) Even grocery shopping together is sweet, fun, and loving. I never knew this kind of love existed. It does. Don't give up, sweet Dot....just live life maybe get some counseling to help heal your heart ... and one day when you least expect it....a snowflake will show up again.

Um...I meant today, Saturday 10/6 ... it's on NOW!!! My bad But if you missed it....look up Jeff Dunham on youtube.com search for arguing with myself, spark of insanity, or any other clip you can find on him Steve! and I saw him live in Chicago in June...and will see him live again here in December. Wayyy fun!!! What did you think after seeing his clips?????

This guy is good! His last DVD, Arguing with Myself was amazing.....Spark of Insanity, his newest dvd is darned good. It'll be on Comedy Central again Sunday, October 6....7:30 central, 8:30 Eastern/Pacific Here's a clip.... Spark of Insanity clip Jeff is adorable.

Below are links to three clips....the first one give kind of a lightweight intro to the idea of racial prejudice. The second one is a little more hard-hitting (although the dignity of those involved is honored), the third one is on homophobia. Depending on your personal view, the contents may be hard to watch. I personally was THRILLED with the honest expression of emotion and the open reception from the men in the video. I have the 90 minute version and it is amazing. The first clip has a statement at the end that might echo negatively with those of us who were issued the "stand with me or against me" edict from the then president of the way, but I believe the idea/feeling/heart/message behind this is much deeper, more effective and more real than that edict ever even dreamed of being. First clip: This is the trailer to the ninety minute version. Second clip: This is about 6 minutes of the 90 minute version Second Clip (6 minutes) Third Clip: This is a clip from The Color of Fear 3, which deals VERY well with homosexuality. Third Clip Your views, beliefs, etc.. may differ. What I admire here is the honesty and the respect given to those expressing their emotions/views. I love the dignity that is allowed here with no personal slurs.

For those of you who have posted lyrics.....is there anyway you can post a way for me to hear the song???? (I'm a visual and audio learner!!) If so, please do!!!!! I haven't yet had a chance to listen to the song that was mailed to me.....but I WILL!!!! And thank you for taking the time to record it!!!!!

Well, George...since I'm a republican, probably not! I didn't choose em based on politics, but on talent.! Since I'm one of the very very few republicans in my profession....I tend to leave politics out of discussions (except for some great people I worked with last year, cuz we would argue points passionately...then switch sides and continue to argue passionately. It boggled more than a few minds around us...but we were having FUN!!!) Although I must confess to egging on one of my classmates today in my masters cohort class!!!!

I agree....this is powerful. I would have liked to see a few different people .... Winona Ryder should have been Julia Roberts, the two young men (whom I don't recognize) should have been Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, I would have liked to see Robin Williams and Reece Witherspoon. Michael Douglas has a presence and a delivery that is unparalleled in this universe. Mel Gibson and Kathy Bates did a wonderful job, too. Whoopi Goldberg was a good addition. I took my kids to Philly (in 2001) when we lived in Trenton (the armpit of the world), New Jersey for the holiday weekend of Thanksgiving. Being a certified US History teacher, we made all the rounds and I had packets for them to read and work on. But this video would have made it perfect. I only wish Patrick Stewart were a citizen....his ability to project tone and importance would be awesome. But for a Brit he ain't bad!

I SHOULDA mentioned that the preamble and the declaration of independence are SEPARARATE documents.....but I figured ya'll knew that!!!! That video still stirs me....no matter how many times I view it. Thanks for enjoying it with me Dan and WG!!!!

We've seen the document, we know the preamble, but the DoI was meant to be read out loud.... This is the DoI as you've never heard it before....enjoy!!! Declaration of Independence

I fell in love with Jane in college and switched my concentration to British Literature. When I found out about this movie, I got wayyy excited!!!! Took my daughter Kat and her best friend Ashley to see this today, we are TOTAL fans of Jane!!! We LOVED this movie...all three of us experienced the laughter, tears, delight in the literature, etc. ....and plan to purchase it. We were thrilled when quotes from her books were used in dialogue throughout the movie (we kept nudging each other and smiling). Apparently, we were also among other Jane fans who got the subtleties, as well. This is a MUST HAVE for serious British Literature fans!!!! Anyone else seen it???? What did you think???

Raf...Hope you Dance is a powerful one...thank for the suggestion! Don't think I know the other one, will have to check it out. act2...don't think i've heard that either....will look around anotherdan...and anyone else who might be able to write something....if you get something written, here's my email (starting Tuesday, life is gonna become A LOT more busy, and I won't be able to check this thread that much) my personal email addy

Thanks Psalmy! dmiller...I hope MT gets her deserved recognition, too. It's been very moving to see MT's private thoughts/doubts/despair in print recently. Guess it just goes to show that often the most troubled souls end up doing the most for humanity. WG....I agree...her humanity is what made most of us love her....that and thoughtful and caring approach to motherhood.

A beautiful message Psalmy, and a very worthwhile thread! Definitely moving....please don't delete!!!!!!

Ok....I know it's kind of pathetic....but Princess Diana somehow made an impression on me from the first day that I heard the name "Lady Diana". She came out of a rather dysfunctional family, and married into a rather dysfunctional family. And she is just a few months older than me. Thankfully, my wonderful husband does not think me insane to follow her life....er...I mean her death....ten years after the fact. I've been touched by her since the beginning. I sobbed when she died. Watching the funeral/memorial service......I was a mess. Today I watched the tribute her sons did for her and I followed the concert in her honor on her birthday. I get that Charles married her out of duty....and really tried, as much as he was able to...to make it work with her. I think that both Charles and Diana were limited by the system, expectations, the royal family, the press, and a HUGE lack of understanding the human condition and all the very very many and very very different factors that contribute. They tried to make a go of it. To MAKE it work. It didn't. They divorced. I know that Camilla was Charles' true love, and that he did not marry her when he was 20 because his mother forbade it. I get that. It soooo sucks. He married Diana. To fulfill what his mother and father told him would fulfill his duty. It's a whole way of life that I know nothing of. Thank God. I do understand parts of it, because my own parents were distant, judgemental, and un-involved. (though that was not their wish....they also were victims of their own lives) Charles did what he did. Diana did what she did. Camilla did what she did. William and Harry were there through it all. So, anyway....back to the topic.... what was the topic????? oh yeah....... What feelings cross your heart? What thoughts cross your mind? At this ten year anniversary of her death. With conspiracy theories, the royal family's postition, your own ideas..... What's going on? (btw....you are TOTALLY exempt from this if you hated the whole "Diana" thing or just don't give a s**t!!!!!) I am used to my husband's loving indulgence in this aspect.......you are wayyyyy free to disagree!!! (of course, I'm free to throw a HUGE hissy fit in response, the likes of which Diana and Kensington Palace have never seen) :-) jk

That is precisely what I mean, Dan....thanks! Waysider....I have plenty of time.....a year to a year and a half. Not sure about the record/perform part of it yet.....at this early point....just looking for to write it. Sudo...thanks for the suggestion.....but not quite what I'm lookin for :) Dan....my kids and I used to call ourselves a "Nation of Five" cuz it was just us there for each other, through some really bad times....and we are still very close. Jessica's hubby-to-be is a wonderful person who has been deemed worthy by our family to enter into the "nation"...which with him and Steve is now a nation of 7!!! Jessie has a very sweet heart, a good head on her shoulders....she and I have never had the teenage fights that most parents and teens have. We have our private jokes that seem to get sillier and more fun. The latest have revolved around her bringing her kids over to see grandma....and grandma spoiling them rotten and then sending them back to their mom.....this scenario gets more and more outrageous as we develop it. We talk about everything.....no subject is taboo. She and her fiance are going to have a very happy life together and I am so happy to see her with a good person.....but as is usual, I don't wanna watch her move out and grow up....but at the same time I am so proud of her for moving out and growing up into the women she will be.

We are starting to look for songs for my daughter's wedding/reception. I'd love to kind of break tradition (big surprise, right???) and have a mother of the bride song. I'm looking for a song that can reflect all that my four kids and I have been through and how very close we are now as a family...with Steve! as an irreplaceable family member. We have worked very hard....in counseling, together as a family, bringing Steve into the mix, and still dealing with their bio dad (who is actually acting almost human these days!). There is a wonderful song that I'd like to use as a guide.....it's at this url: I Loved Her First Can any of our GS songwriters/musicians help????? We'd be happy to pay!!!!

Hey Kathy! Glad to read you again! This year seems to be a year of re-connecting!!!!! email addy is: chindy004@yahoo.com Hope ta hear from you, girl! Love, Cindy (Boydston) Wall

WB... They aren't blocked as far as I know....but I'll check the email that GS stuff goes to for your email!!!

Thanks guys! My son just discovered a love of cooking, so he is gonna go to culinary school! In the meantime, we're encouraging him by getting him lots and lots of the stuff he needs to perfect his craft!!! coolchef...yep, my son has his eye on a knife set...expensive is heck....but he and they are worth every penny!!! There is a culinary arts summer camp for kids 14-18 he'll be attending!

Coolchef (and anyone else who knows) ... where is the best place to buy chef supplies? Including cooking, prep, presentation/serving, and all that kinda stuff????? Thanks!!!

For whatever reason, my daughter hasn't been able to post. It could be a snafu at GS or something she isn't doing right, or whatever. I've only dashed in here to let ya'll know that she is still tryin. When she and I get a moment to sit down together, it'll probably be something wayyyy simple that was missed. Until then....our calendar is FULL!!!!!!

she will...she forgot her password so has to apply again and is waiting!