Linda Z

I'm so happy for the progress you've made, and proud, because it's clear you're really pushed yourself. And you're right this will be much better than an emergency procedure. You're in my prayers. Be well, our friend.

First, I'm happy as heck to "see" you here, Bumpy. I've missed your posts, and I hope you're having some lovely R&R in France. I loved the video, and it brought tears to my eyes. It was a combination of "average guy shows 'em" happy tears and just being moved by the guy's obvious love for music. Anybody who can get a positive comment from both Simon AND Piers can be really proud. Bravo. One of my favorite scenes in one of my favorite movies is the one in Moonstruck where Cher hears opera sung for the first time and is moved to tears by the music without being able to understand the words. Too cool.

Hey, hey, HEEEEYYY! Don't count yer chickens before they're hatched, Ex70s. Go CAVS!!!

Ah, yes. Rick Ross. Bill collector and convicted felon (diamond heist) turned self-proclaimed "cult expert." He was consulted as such by the FBI during the Waco standoff. We all saw how well that worked out. Belle: The following statement isn't directed toward you or to anyone who's posted in this thread, but I have to say that when I see anyone giving any credibility to people like this mercenary bottom feeder, it concerns me that their gullibility level is still way too high to be healthy. Do a search of Rick Ross and deprogramming. You can skip all the obviously biased sites, like Scientology's and just check out the ones that simply state the facts. Rick Ross, and people like him, give me the major creeps. It occurs to me that the pagans and wiccans among us could very easily attract the attention of someone of Rick Ross's ilk, if their parents aren't happy with their religious path. Or a Jewish family might give the so-called "exit counsellors" a call if their adult child decides to enter a monastery. More dangerous, IMO, than groups like twi are groups that kidnap people and do their best to force them to relinquish their religious beliefs, no matter how distasteful those beliefs may be to the kidnap victim's family and/or friends.

Hi Larry: Here's a post by WhiteDove about two books Walter's written: http://www.greasespotcafe.com/ipb/index.ph...&hl=Cummins

On the bright side, look at all the money we can save when Halloween rolls around. Or all the fun we could have scaring away door-to-door salesmen. I thought my dogs would freak out seeing me in that get-up, but they don't even notice.

Oh yes, MStar, sexy indeed. My first thought when I got fitted for the thing was, "OK, this is it. The sex life is officially over."

I don't have a deviated septum, so surgery wasn't even one of the options the doc gave me. Besides, as much as I dislike being cut up and sewed back together, I'd rather use the machine forever, if necessary. MStar, the hose on the CPAP machine is so flexible that I usually don't notice it's there. I wish you'd give treatment another try, because sleep apnea has a lot of adverse effects on your body.

Hi Danny! The company that set me up with my machine replaces the mask every 3 months. When I get my replacement I'm going to try the "nasal pillows" style--it's tiny compared to the mask and fits just barely inside the nostrils. There's nothing pressing on your face, which is what bugs me. Maybe that would make yours more comfy. My mom switched to the nasal pillow thingy and likes it much better than the mask.

I think the difference is that a BiPap has a different level of pressure for exhaling than for inhaling, while a CPAP maintains constant pressure for both. My respiratory therapist said most insurance companies won't pay for a BiPap unless the CPAP is unsuccessful; apparently the BiPaps are more expensive. I don't think the pressure is set very high on mine, so I tolerate the air pressure fine. It's just the mask that drives me nuts.

Hi Notta: I have a related condition called hypopnea. I don't stop breathing completely while sleeping, but I breathe so shallowly that my oxygen levels drop below where they should be. I've been using my CPAP machine for about 3 weeks now. It's annoying sometimes, but I have more energy during the day so it's worth it. It's also beneficial for keeping the blood pressure down, and your heart doesn't have to work so hard. My doctor said it can even help with weight loss, because chronic fatigue leads to overeating in an attempt to boost energy. You'll get used to it, I'm sure. I'm glad you got diagnosed.

Tattoos can look cool on a young woman, but I've seen tattooed women in their 50s and 60s who look horrendous. That little upper-arm "bracelet," for example, is suddenly encircling an arm that's no longer firm and young, and all I can say is YUCK! Your iris is very pretty, Chas, and I'm sure you'll consider the future appearance of any additional tattoos you get.

I've been in a couple towns like Jane describes. I'd portray them exactly the same way. I'm white. Does that make me a bigot? Back to Mrs. W's little dog...I seem to recall seeing it running around on the asphalt area behind the Wierwille house at a dance or cookout or something in the mid-80s when I was on staff. Anyone else remember seeing it then?

Kit, I don't doubt Michael's sincerity. I'm sure he believes what he preaches/teaches. I am, however, wary of predictions like thermonuclear war in 3 years, not to mention the really obvious one about violence in Israel. That one was like saying, "I think it will be sunny in San Diego tomorrow." Either he's a heavy-weight prophet and we're all going to go poof in an H-bomb cloud in 3 years, or he and his followers are delusional. I'd have much more confidence in some of these leaders of offshoots if they supported themselves and their families like everyone else has to, rather than going straight from twi into their own "ministries" and getting followers to support them. Every newsletter I've ever received from his group includes a pitch for cash. He does give CDs away, but then asks that people who receive them make a donation, and he regularly proclaims that his work can't continue without more money. Time will tell who's the real deal and who's not, I guess. And if Michael wants to go around dressed like Moses, predicting that the sky is falling, that's his business. Call me a skeptic, but it just doesn't feel right to me.

Aw, Lifted, I guess I need to pray, "Lord help my unbelief." :) I admire your ability to hang in there with our beloved Tribe for 50 years. I, on the other hand, haven't quite recovered from the 1995 World Series.

George, that was my reaction precisely. Lifted, Belle's correct. The group was started by a 7th Corps grad, has other ex-Wayfers on its staff, and many of its followers are ex-Way. I'd call that an offshoot of twi. :) As for your Cleveland Indians offshoot--after decades of "maybe next year," I only will consider joining if they are doing well at the end of the season rather than the beginning. (Besides, I am currently too busy being a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers offshoot. They just might have a chance to bring Cleveland's fans a championship.)

I try not to be critical of anyone else's religious beliefs, as long as they aren't being shoved down my throat. But I'd have to say, Michael R o o d's outfit wins the "most unusual offshoot" award. I got on the "Rood Awakenings" mailing list because I had a friend staying with me for a while who is part of his group. Here's his latest offering: The Jonah Code Seminar "The Jonah Code and the Seventy Shavuim Prophecy of Daniel" Seminar is the highest achievement of Michael's thirty-year quest to understand the Gospel chronology and the last days prophecies of Daniel. This is the revelation for which you have been waiting an entire lifetime. "Whatever you are doing that you THINK is important -- STOP! Believers are NOT supposed to be ignorant of His times and seasons! Severn years ago I stated "If we have accurately restored the Creator's calendar, we will see violence erupt in Jerusalem before sundown September 2000 -- six months later, on that very day, the second intifada* began, annulling Israel's 'covenant with death.' "If my continuing calculations are correct, we are less than three and a half years away from Zechariah's thermonuclear war and the beginning of the last 'Shevua' [Linda's note: loosley "seven days" or "a week" in Hebrew, if I understand correctly]. DON'T MISS THIS SEMINAR!" *Main Entry: in·ti·fa·da Pronunciation: \ˌin-tə-ˈfä-də\ Function: noun Etymology: Arabic intifāḍa, literally, the act of shaking off Date: 1985 : uprising, rebellion; specifically : an armed uprising of Palestinians against Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip [from Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary] To each his own, I guess. If people want to join offshoots, it's their business. But this one just seems a little farther out than most. Anyone have any epxerience with Rood Awakenings?

I'm such an insect-o-phobe that I could only watch for a couple of seconds, but I understand why you'd appreciate the Godly design behind it all. I know the homlier creatures on earth have a purpose in the grand scheme of things. For instance, if there weren't creepy-crawlies, what would the cast members on Survivor eat?!? :lol: :lol: Me, I prefer mammals to insects--both for watching and eating!

Oh cool, I'm so glad you said this. Not thinking, I dropped all my bill payments in a mailbox early Monday morning...all with 39 cent stamps. Then on the way to work I heard that was the day the rates went up. I hope you're right (about the grace period), or all my creditors will be bouncing back my payment envelopes, and I'll be late paying when I actually sent them on time!!

This is the first I've heard that they canned children's fellowship during adult fellowships. I can't believe anyone expected children to sit through an adult fellowship for 2.5 hours. Good grief. I left twi for about a year in the mid-1970s because some a-hole, wet-behind-the-ears interim Corps guy scolded a woman for not being able to keep her infant quiet during fellowship and made her stick him in the next room by himself. I was furious. He was just an inexperienced, arrogant kid. At that time, none of this stuff was twi doctrine. If Twig fellowship had gone for 2.5 hours when I was around, I'd have been crying right along with that baby! What the heck were they thinking?

Mark, I understand your not posting his name so that it can't be searched, but it seems rather a moot point since he's already revealed his full name in a post here. That aside, it's interesting the journey he's taken.

That's great...congratulations!!

What a little sweetheart. I could just reach into my monitor and give him a hug. Welll, I would if I could! Way to go!

Dot said: I want a quiet, Christian, perhaps older community....etc Quiet...check Christian...check older (both the community and the majority of the people)...check New Knoxville, Ohio, it is! Okay, okay, just joshing, although I liked living there a lot and probably wouldn't have moved had I not quit my job at HQ. There are lots of places in the USA I'd like to live, but it's true, wages are tied to the cost of living. You're not likely to find a cheap house in a town where you'll get high wages for doing work similar to what you're doing now. If you have other marketable skills that would allow you to telecommute, then that's a hurdle you might be able to get over. I took the quiz. High on my list was Salem, Oregon, the place where I was born. I went back to Oregon for a visit after I left HQ, and it was still gorgeous. The Portland area has gotten way too crowded for my taste, though. Washington's nice, too. I'd live in either state in a heartbeat if I didn't have family ties here!

How's Nico doing, Rottie? How long will she have to stay at the vet's? Poor baby. My pooches send her some smooches!