oenophile

I agree that there are sexual offenders who would use anything to move their agenda forward, i.e. NAMBLA. As long as the sexual predator is not willing to own up fully to the moral depravity of violating innocence and refuses to begin to understand the hurtful consequences of the transgression,he/she is living in delusion and we are rightfully entitled to be skeptical and perhaps even scornful. I believe that Anothen has some work to do in coming to terms with his actions. I inferred as much in the paragraph that you omitted that encouraged him to come to grips with his responsibility of what he did and the damage that was done. Yet, he could have remained silent about his past but he volunteered publicly to wash his dirty linen here. He even said that he is not asking for anything like acceptance or forgiveness from us. While he does have some ways to go in accepting responsibility, to be presumptuous as to his motives serves no good purpose. I am sure that I would be mad as hell just as you are. I would fight that my child got the help he needed to recover his lost innocence as much as he could. I would make damn sure that the perp was brought to justice. Yet I hope I would remember that hate is rust on the soul. Everyone's story makes a difference. Life is not black and white.

Anothen, You have certainly encountered the anger and scorn for which you say you had prepared yourself. It seems that some have a hard time coming to grips with the fact that opening their hearts is not tantamount opening their door and allowing you access to their young children alone. ( As a wine / beer wholesale rep, I have stacks of samples in my home. While it wouldn't be a good idea for me to take in an alcoholic room mate, I can have empathy and love for someone who has struggles with alcoholism.) I applaud your courage in your very public confessional. I am sorry that some have some here have taken it upon themselves to question your motives and would exact from you death by crucifixion as your proper penance. You have admitted your painful struggles with your desires that hold sway over you even though you have turned to the Scriptures and prayer to rid yourself of them. I would encourage you not to assuage your conscience by minimizing the suffering of those that you have wronged. Rather, you should take full ownership of your actions and the total damage (which you may only see the tip of the iceberg at present) that they caused. In owning up to our transgressions, we empty ourselves or pride and allow the only thing that trumps karma - grace to happen. Perhaps it would be helpful if you could help us understand how you came to take sexual liberties with a minor. Were you abused as a child yourself? If so, could you share details as to how old you were when the abuse first occurred, what happened and how long did the abuse go on? Could you tell us when these desires came up in you? What triggers them now? Feel free to expand this discussion to whatever extent you think would be informative for us. Some will listen and seek to understand. Some will throw stones.

Thank you very much! There is also a procedure called vagus nerve stimulation that has proven beneficial to some patients that have been through several antidepressant regimines that have proven unsatisfactory. It involves an implant near the collarbone of a device that stimulates the vagus nerve, which when the procedure is successful, stimulates the production of neurotransmitters (norpranephrine and serotonin) in the brain.

Mdsnnp, IQ has nothing to do with "functioning", it is a measure of intellectual potential. A professional working in the psychiatric field should be fully aware of this. . While examples of melancholy genius abound, I am not sure that higher IQ people are at greater risk for depression than the general population. I am curious about what you are referring to as a mundane existence. Is it the human condition in general that you deem to be mundane or are you referring to depression? Robin

Ductape, I am voting for you to stay although I do not agree with your characterization of yourself as a lowlife. People have very strong opinions and sometimes differences in opinions escalate into personal attacks. I must admit that there have been times that my disagreements with my detractors have crossed the lines of good taste. You and I have had the opportunity to express our differing opinions. I do not apologize for my views and I do not expect that of you. This place is first and foremost a place where people who have been impacted by TWI to find healing, perspective, closure and perhaps connection with others similarly impacted. I hope that you will stick around so we can get to know you better. Who knows you and I may find actually find things we like about each other. Robin

Overture to Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro Bach's Air on a G string (not a reference anything worn by a stripper) Overture to Rossini's The Barber of Seville Mozart Concerto for flute in A Beethoven Symphony Nine, Ode to Joy (last movement of Beethoven's Ninth) Aaron Copeland Rodeo especially hoedown Aaron Copeland Appalachain Spring

Thanks likeaneagle, For the uninitiated this place is the holy grail for bbq lovers. They cook whole hogs over hardwood coals all night long, mince it in the morning and season with a vinegar and red hot red pepper sauce. A good heaping scoop of Wilburs barbecue with cole slaw, brunswick stew and hush puppies served iced tea is like ambrosia and nectar of the gods. It's in my hometown, Goldsboro, North Carolina. Robin

We see some depression here, but not as much as one would think, and often the depression predates incarceration and is extremely chronic or "characterologic", beginning in early teen years. It is often associated with substance abuse, which only deepens depression, as well as borderline intellectual functioning, IQ in the 70-85 range. Not mental retardation but not rhodes scholarship material, either. Would you please expound on borderline IQ being a marker for depression? How do you account for people who struggle with depression like my mother who was a visiting scholar at a major university in Shakespearean Studies and my son who finished high school in three years with a 4.0 taking mostly A.P. classes and now attends an Ivy League university and is pulling an cumlative G.P.A. of 4.0 there?

ahh but you've never had my mama's collard greens, hamhocks and okra...it nourishes the soul as well as the body. but wait, there's more...candied yams with cinnamon and melted marshmallows.

Wishing you a happy, albeit belated, birthday. RJ

Though the mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding small; Though with patience He stands waiting, with exactness grinds He all. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow The final accounting is not forgotten but only held in store. Justice and truth will be served in the end. Until then may we remember that His mercies are fresh every morning.

Collards, hamhocks, cornbread that melts in your mouth and fried okra trumps yankee pot roast anyday. Peach cobbler and hand cranked ice cream beats your apple pie. To say nothing about home made white lightning as smooth as a baby's butt beating your scotch.

Yes, thank God you Yankees did win. I shudder to think where the cause of Civil Rights and Democracy would be now if the South had won. Yet, our food is demonstrably better than yours. I think the shortest book ever to be written would be Great Northern Cuisine.

Even though I am glad the North won the war. I congratulate the Hoyas. I hope they win it all in Atlanta and enjoy your time in the sun. After all, I am a Southern gentleman and a proud Tar boiler. I am a good sport and do not want do or say anything to disparage my heritage. Win or lose, I am a Tar Heel born and a Tar Heel bred and when I die, I will be a Tar Heel dead! I congratulate Coach Roy and the 'Heels on a great season. Likeaneagle, Send Wilbur's BBQ. I need a pick me up!!!

Thank you Don Tomas! You brought things in perspective here.

now im gonna take the big sleep! My Tar Heels are in the process of losing to Georgetown. Goodbye cruel world. Make that they lost. Oh, wait smoking a good cigar. There is something to live for after all.

happy birthday, dougie.

i spray on a hint of Cool Waters just enough to cover the BO base. It makes women weak in the knees...as they are running away.

I forgot to take my meds this morning. Now I can't stop my head from spinning and green puke is all over the place.

I worked with Jay in the mid 80's while he was in Fort Lauderdale at Faxcorp. He was lot of fun to be around.

Happy Birthday Comrade! Robin

Happy Birthday Hap!!!

I was told this morning by a GSC'er following this thread that maybe I should consider going to God about my depression to get the spiritual cause removed. I thought I did that 17 years ago when the twi doctor I was seeing suggested I see the BC in my area of Hollywood, Florida. The BC told me that I didn't need therapy / meds all I needed was get more involved in twi and write my goals down. Two years later my situation deteriorated to the point that I could no longer do the job that I used to be able to do by the seat of my pants. In addition, the illness took it's toll on my marriage which ended in divorce in a few years after that. Ofcourse, she got custody of my son and successfully petitioned the court to allow her to move out of state with him to take a job offer. Some other sanctimonious soul suggested that my depression was a result of inter-generational sin. What happened to JC abolishing the curse because of his substitution..."cursed is he who hangs on a tree." Thanks for the advice. I will keep taking my meds.

Happy Birthday George!

I love Bagpipes knows that I love her and her husband. She and he have been very helpful to me through some very difficult times. Tonya's motives may be as pure as the driven snow but the road to hell is often paved with good intentions. So now I and others who are out of the closet regarding depression and other mental disorders have to live under the cloud of suspicion that we could possibly be possessed. Are our words here now weighed to be in the balance of "genuine spiritual suspicion?"