Twinky

So it worked for him anyway!!! Moral: Be inexcusibly offensive to the court, and get excused.

I do have training in Banana Prep 101. This means cutting off the top (the bit where it fixed to the plant) very neatly, close to the edible part of the fruit, but not so close that the edible part was exposed. This looked neater, and made it easier to open the banana, should one insist on opening the banana at that end. (Yeah, right.) Considerable time on Kitchen Crew was spent sawing the tops off bananas. Redeeming the time, doncha know. Of course, we were also instructed (as a Corps) that bananas were best opened from the other end.

Looks like I missed out on a real treat here. :unsure:

A "lively evening" at the Webinar? It's a pretty lively evening at the Cafe, discussing this! It's certainly attracting a lot of attention and a lot of heated posts. How delightful that we can actually TALK about this. Have an opinion. Make up our own minds. Not be under compulsion. Not be coerced into any decision. Can attend and enjoy. Can not attend, and not suffer because of that. Perhaps some reading this are lurkers, still innies. Maybe it would help you if you were to participate in the Webinar. Give you courage to make the break. Maybe you already made the break internally, just by being at the Cafe. Maybe you already made the break physically, but internally you are still in bondage. Just do what it takes to get a sound mind. :)

The kitties have been out several times now. They just stay in the lower part of the garden and explore. Crypto loves to roll on the concrete and lie in the sun. Tuxy is more exploratory. Crypto has, however, ventured as far as my car and sniffed at the wheels - car is on hardstanding just at the edge of my property. Mostly I have had them out in broad daylight, lunchtime or early afternoon, but a couple of times recently I've allowed them out in the evening. They are much more active then. Tame-ish blackbirds come to feed on my lawn and they landed yesterday - Tuxy was all a-stealth and stalking them (I'd never have let her come close). I have got quite confident and left the back door open one afternoon - let them roam at will for half an hour or perhaps an hour while I was in another room with no sight of the garden. But they came in of their own volition, in their own time. I have a worry, though. Since I've been letting them out - this might be coincidental - but Crypto has been getting quite aggressive towards Tuxy. The other evening she hid under a bench - being completely black, she can't be seen - and when Tuxy walked past, she ran out and attacked her. She wasn't playing, this seemed quite serious. Crypto often growls or hisses at Tuxy and has taken to baling her up on a chair under the table, or in a corner. Tuxy is developing quite a wary look in her eye. This behavior takes place both outside the house and inside - it's not confined to excursions into the garden. Tuxy is fundamentally a needy cat, likes company, enjoys a fondle on her terms, and is non-aggressive. She is bigger and much more boisterous than Crypto and can push her about easily. She comes, more or less, when called, and a firm "Tuxy, no!" will have her ceasing immediately any undesired behavior. Crypto is a more self-contained cat, responds if she feels like it to her name and to instructions, is still basically unhandled though she now allows a scratch of the neck and a stroke along the body. She is very timid and hides at unusual or strange things, or at visitors, or if I move too quickly. But this hissing, attacking Tuxy, growling at her and the malevolent look in the eye - all this is new and disconcerting. If I call to her, I might get a flick of the tail by way of response, but she won't come back. I wonder if, now that they are allowed out, she is trying to drive Tuxy away? Or is she just developing her own personality, now that she feels she has more space? Or is this is her real personality coming out? She's like a completely different animal.

Oh wow, just looked in on this thread. It seems to be closing. I like the idea of trying to stretch our hymn-knowledge, or rather, dig it out of the dust. Some of the hymns I've never heard of. But I knew the Christmas carols. Years in school, Sunday school, carol concerts, no doubt. There are some really awesome old hymns but a lot of the more modern ones are a bit ... off the Word (dare I say that?). I have some older hymn books with music, and I read/review the words occasionally of the songs. I can see why they would have been unacceptable to TWI. Wording like, "Holy, holy, holy / ... / God in three persons / Blessed trinity." But apart from that chorus, the words are nice.

They gave money to the Red Cross?? ("cross"???) I think they supported some believers in Zaire, a desperately poor country, but don't have any facts so don't know how many believers, or how often funds might have been sent. Maybe they just paid (a salary?) to the Corps grad there. It was a very long time ago, late 80s probably. Funny, isn't it, that we should have to guess. I know what my church spends money on, what organisations it supports, etc. One or is it two orphanages in Romania; Send A Cow (started by a church member); mission outreach in Albania; as well as an impoverished area of the city, homeless charities in the city, and so on; also supporting individuals at times of need by, for example, provision of meals or other support (family illness, mother giving birth, people moving home - they gave me 2 x 4-person frozen meals, very kind and completely unexpected - and other unexpected events). What's this about Harve?

Hey, I liked mowing the grass too. Except when I got that ditch bit, sorry drain, whatever. But then I only did it in the extra evening sessions we all "volunteered" for, to get ready for RoA. I liked chopping wood, too, for our exercise sessions on days when we didn't run. I still enjoy chopping wood.

Thank you, John. As you'll have read, there is no small suspicion among ex-Way people. We got sucked (suckered?) into a class that didn't cost much, and have ended up with all sorts of problems. Doojable makes the point about "one more wonder class." I believe you do want to try and help people; you know what cult indoctrination can do! Certainly if there are (reasonable) expenses in putting something on, there should be recoupment of the expenses. But - advertising? (posts at GSC don't cost.) I also appreciate that preparation takes time and that takes away from earning capacity. Paw, I know, manages this site in his spare (spare? ha!) time and if that were worked out at an hourly rate would probably be about half a cent a week and who could begrudge a little income there? As a professional, I charge for my professional advice. As a Christian, as a friend, as a listening ear, as a person showing compassion - I find I put my hand in my pocket, not my hand in the other person's pocket. And somewhere in between is "mate's rates." Which is still a professional thing.

Some great insights on this thread...

At risk of sounding a real pain ... Why is there a fee of $25? Who gets it, and why? Wasn't it paying fees for - what? - that got us into this mess in the first place? Is this seminar really entitled, "Power for Abundant LEAVING"? I know John is a professional but so also are many other posters at this site, and ultimately the Cafe is a "self-help" site.

Debt is an interesting topic, one which (surprisingly) TWI doesn't have right. I thought they had abandoned the "no debt" policy? What I'd be interested in, though, is the personal assets of the BoD or whatever they call themselves now. There were reports at the Cafe about Rosie having co-ownership of a piece of land that is mostly forest. Well, as she lives in Ohio, in a well-appointed home with zero need for expenditure, what does she want with forest elsewhere? Acts 2: 4 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. 36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, 37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet. And I wonder what other "lands" any of them secretly own? With or without loans. If they want Corps to live squeaky clean lives - they need to set the example themselves.

Maybe he's excusable on the grounds that he has insufficient intelligence to understand what it's all about Maybe he never heard of contempt of court, either.

"Don't panic, don't panic!!" SARS, bird flu, swine flu... And next year's panic will be...? Ride a bike in heavy traffic. Without a helmet, if you really like to live dangerously. Lots of things are "risky" but keep things in proportion. Be realistic. Keep your immune system working the best by eating sufficient fresh fruit and veges. Go to bed and rest if you are ill. Flu really is horrible. It's not just a heavy cold. But let's face it, most of us don't get "flu" very often, we just get colds and call them flu. And most of us won't get this current ailment, either. Slaughtering pigs (WordWolf's item) is just as sensible as slaughtering every Mexican as being a potential carrier. I'm sorry for the underclass of Christians who is suffering most from this unnecessary cull.

Hey Oldies - we're likeminded on something! Yes - beware of bikes - motorized and pedal. Your first ad ran on TV and on the big screen on the cinema. When it ran in cinemas, you could see the audience flinch, even if they knew the ad. Sushi, speed limit in the UK in residential areas is generally 30mph. BikerBabe, thanks for making a case so eloquently for pedal cyclists. Being on a pedal bike is a dangerous activity. Most drivers are very courteous, but it only takes the one who says, "Sorry, didn't see you luv" - after he's hit you. I've never had a serious accident, but had a few near misses, none my fault. In town traffic, often a pedal cycle is quicker than a car. If a car driver cuts me up, when I go past at the next intersection or wherever, I bang on the roof or the window and demand to know why the driver cut me up. I have also found a useful trick from the police. (This happened when a driver RAN INTO ME whilst I was stationary at the side of the road - he saw a parking space near me and just decided to go into it - never mind me right by the parking space! He was very abusive to me. Unfortunately for him the police station was right in the next block.) Anyway, I reported this menace driver to the police and they took the car reg no. Later that afternoon they phoned me to report back. It was a company car, and they had phoned the Personnel Manager at the man's company. They said this often got much better results than them sending a warning letter to the driver. Since then, if a vehicle driver cuts me up, I note any phone numbers on the vehicle and phone to speak to a manager there to complain and to suggest driver education (it's a company liability after all, if their driver runs someone over!). I do it nicely and have only had one bad response from a company and that was where the driver was also the owner of the small business. It might be a vehicle driver's fault but it's the biker who ends up on the slab... Take care!

When I left (or rather, was kicked out), they sent my ABS check from the previous week back! But maybe they had more people then. They could afford to say goodbye to my funds. But it was a last kick in the teeth at the time. But hey, I LOVE giving to worthy causes. People that are really out making a real, healthy, difference in the lives of others. Yeah, a good cartoon. An octopus springs to mind.

gc, your parsnips will probably go well - if you leave them long enough they will seed and if you let them seed they will go crazy all over the garden! (Nice yellow flower/umbellifer, though). The beetroot are quick to germinate and grow. Pick them when small and tender, a bit bigger than a golf ball but much smaller than a tennis ball. Last year the collared doves ate the growing tips from my brassicas (cauli, cabbage and brussels sprouts) - experienced gardeners recommend netting them (more work for you!). They would go for broccoli, too. I grew some purple curly kale later on in the year but they didn't go for that. Have a go with perpetual spinach (chard) - you will be very impressed with the results. I have been out in my garden or on my patio (deck) quite a bit lately and I have noticed quite a lot of wasps about (wasps, not bees). Don't know where they are coming from. I have just started letting my cats out under supervision (see "Cat Whispering! thread) and they love these little fast-moving things. So far they haven't caught one but it may only be a matter of time. I do not want to even think about that scenario. Anybody got any good ideas for wasp deterrence? I could persuade them to fly around in another part of the garden, but I don't really want them elsewhere, either.

I applaud those of you who are still with TWI simply because your spouse or other person that you love is still there. I applaud your faithfulness and commitment to your marriage vows (something about staying together in sickness and in health?). And I trust you are making arrangements for the day your spouse realizes that s/he is part of some sick organization, and that TWI isn't really the place to be any more. It doesn't say much for your spouse's reciprocal commitment and concern for you, that s/he doesn't realize how miserable you are and has not enquired why. (Yeah, sure, it's you who is "possessed" - gag.) Keep talking. One day you too will join the exodus.

I thought this bore repeating. Quite a question to ask of a fading organization. Perhaps they are so Waybrained and so used to Wayspeak (saying the opposite to what is the fact) that they have confused "add" with "subtract" - ??

Come, and bring that wife of yours. Tell her there are believers here who would love to meet her, or something...! (There are some Way-ish fellowships around, in fact. But I don't know any that are affiliated.)

Copenhagen - a six pack!!!??? What happened to the two drink limit? LOL

Eloquently put by the author of the class description. I felt near to tears. The author obviously has a heart to hear and to learn, and as usual got kicked back. As ever, what a waste of talent and heart. All very sad. Get out now!

You could add some lavender too - smells lovely. Harvest the blooms in the early morning. Can go in a border, not necessarily your herb garden. Can get leggy, looks better after a bit of a trim but not too viciously.

Hello again! Kimberly, you crack me up with your mint description! Too true! And lemon balm is a close second, but much loved by bees. I've heard copper tape well spoken of, but not tried it. You should see the slugs we have round here (well, no, you shouldn't; they're so ugly, shudder) - great big mid-brown things and they are usually well over 6" in length. How much of MY veges do they need to get that big? There are smaller black slugs too. And snails in quite pretty colours. It has been dry as dust here for the last month or so. No rain at all. But last night it started, nice and gentle, rained gently for about 12 hours, a good cloudburst at lunch time today, and now bright sunshine. Perfect for giving those weeds a good start! I finally attacked my yukka over the weekend. It was a big mature plant, lots of "heads" on it, very stylish ... and completely out of place in a cottage garden. Occupied a lot of space for little return - and provided lots of hiding places for slugs and snails. I finally sawed it down and the shrub border has really opened up. Am amazed at how much space it took. Now I need to work over the whole shrub border (which also had 4 greatly overgrown leylandii in it till last Sept/Oct) - there is a lot of ground elder (pernicious weed) in the border which I knocked back last year with Round-Up, but it is coming through again. I think all I can do is keep digging over and digging over and removing as much root as I can. Once I have done that, I have a number of shrubs to put in the border, some rescued from before the leylandii removal. I might extend the vege garden into some of the shrub border where the yukka was. Maybe. I have a border on one side of the lawn and I plan on widening that too. Decisions, decisions....

Well, I found out what the thing was in Tuxedo's flank, actually her shoulder, when I managed to capture Tuxedo today. I found this hard thing in her fur and pulled at it - it's a claw, or sort of fingernail thing, you know, that cats rip off. But whether it belongs to Tuxy or to Crypto is impossible to tell. There didn't feel to be any scab nearby which might indicate a tear or rip in the skin. They are still both in a funny mood today. Almost like they have switched personalities. Tuxy is very jumpy and hardly comes near me. Crypto, on the contrary, wants fondles, or at least is not so averse to fondles. Maybe you're right, Dooj, it's their hormones gone awry. I'm interested in your crockpot remedies! Though they may not be acceptable to this pair, unless they are Go-Cat goulash or similar. They turned up their noses at bits of steak last night, they won't eat fish (well salmon anyway). Tuxy loves liver; Crypto loves ham. Anything else gets stalked away from.