Linda Z

Funny you should mention this today, Dot. I just heard at work that a building a few doors down from my office, owned by our buiilding's owner, is soon going to house a "swinger's club." Greaaaaaaaaaaat. We already have 100+ sex offenders at the men's shelter down the street the other direction, now we're going to have pairs of pervs prowling. Ewwwww. Double ewwwww. lindy, maybe it's not technically cheating, but it's disgusting--at least to me. It makes a mockery of marriage and creeps me right out.

They've both been on my mind. Anyone hear from either of them? Drats...OilField, not OildField.

Awww, I love to hear stuff like this. I'll bet you guys would be great for Bugaboo. If it were me, I'd just figure Rascal is someplace warm and safe and take in the lonely lil bird. If Rascal returns, he/she'll have a pal. If not, Bugaboo will havea happy new home either way.

I feel better now. I didn't get it either. *sits in back of room passing notes to Rocky and TomS*

Isn't a philatelist a stamp collector?? I collect these quarters just because I like the different graphics, not because I think they'll be worth anything. I'm sure they won't. I don't really have a favorite that I can think of. In fact, I like the specially minted nickels better, because they're lots harder to find (at least around here).

I couldn't build anything or put on a roof on a house to save my life. Good thing we don't all have identical skills, isn't it? Anyhow, I just popped in to say I love you (love to Patti, too). And if I had a copy of that book, which I don't, I'd be glad to give it away. L.

Eagle, go back and read that Univ. of Toledo thread again. It was a donation of a piece of equipment...a band shell. UT responded to potato's question about it.

I'm so sorry, Psalmie. I like the wildflower garden, too.

Oh duh on me! We need an emoticon for something whizzing right over one's head. Thank you, SirTom.

*blink blink* Whew! For a second I thought you called TS "exDude." I must say, I was more than a little worried. That would be doing WAY too much!

I think they were in several different cities, Evan. I recognized Hollywood and Venice, Calif., but not all the scenes were shot there. Looks like some were maybe in Fla., some in Texas. Don't know about the rest.

Maybe I'm just dense, but I wouldn't want to give CES $29 either. If he bought it used for $5 on ebay, would that be unethical? If someone here was about to throw a copy out and decided to give it to him, what would be so unethical?

David, I often agree with you, but I don't see anything unethical about straightforwardly asking if someone has a copy of a book to give away. Perhaps, as is often the case around here, he wants a copy so he can pick it apart, but he doesn't want to put money in the coffer of anything as screwed up as CES. I can understand that.

Exsie, I was relieved too. No more freakin' meetings! No more "leaders" butting into people's lives. Yeehaw. But at the same time, I felt like the legalistic a$$holes had stolen away a ministry that I considered just as much mine as theirs. Lots of mixed feelings were running through me at that time, just as I imagine they are in people involved in this current drama. Pond, I'm so sorry you had to hear that crap when at such a low point in your life. I'm glad you cut your ties with them!

I agree wholeheartedly, Danny. The sentence of yours that I've put in bold above sums up perfectly how I feel about most of the History Channel programs that try to cover anything biblical. And Belle said: With this I agree. Twi was a high-demand religious sect that got more and more legalistic and controlling over time. But compared to the Jonestowns and Wacos of this world, it was a tame organization.

Now, Belle, how do you know if FriscoGuy is involved with CES (unless he PM'd you and said he was)? And you know, some very fine people have been associated with CES; Raf and DMiller come to mind. So, on their behalf, I find "CESpool dwellers" offensive. Maybe they don't, but it makes me cringe. I don't think it's fair to paint every person involved in a group with the same brush the group's big shots might deserve to be painted with. Just my opinion. Not trying to tell you what to do.

Exsie, Socks, Pond, everyone... I know what you're saying and on one hand I agree. But on the other hand, I have to say this: If all this stuff had been kept hush-hush, we'd probably be complaining about a cover-up. Since it was brought out into the open by Cap'n Crunch and others, we're calling the players in this drama queens. GS is a tough room. :D I don't feel sorry for the JALs and the MGs and the JSs involved in this mess. They've had more than their 15 minutes of fame and it's up to each of them to "get right with God" for some of the goofy paths they've led people down. I do remember, though, how hurt I was when I realized that twi, which I'd devoted a lot of heart and time to, was crashing and burning. So I feel bad for the people who jumped off the twi bandwagon and onto the CES bandwagon. To those people I say, never forget that your relationship with God isn't dependent on any man or any organization. If you will give yourself half a chance, you'll see how fantastic life can be on the other side of this mess. Oh, and PS. I don't care who is named president. If it's anyone who had one iota to do with momentus and the personal prophecy fiasco, even if only to stand by and let them happen, it's time for you people to move on and leave CES/STF behind.

Let me add my congrats to all you quitters, especially those who went cold turkey. Last time I tried that I thought I was gonna flip. I have a lot of respect for anyone who can do it. I used the patch. I've used it before, but this time I just accepted the fact that it would take time. I know it's not for everyone. Some friends at work did it cold turkey, others have used the gum (which I tried and didn't like). There's some new laser thing advertised on the radio now, but I don't know anyone who's done it. They claim you walk out feeling as if you never smoked. Pond, I don't want to give the wrong impression, that I'm wracked with horrendous cravings all the time. It's not like that at all. I just have these fleeting urges. I have absolutely no desire to give in to them. I decided when I quit that it was for good and that I wouldn't let my mind trick me into "just one." I was just wondering when these silly urges might go away. I do what Tonto said--I just get busy and I forget about them. Or I give myself a little talk. Krys is right. An attitude of "I'm trying to quit" is a recipe for failure. You've gotta be tough. One thing that helped me is, before actually quitting completely, I started purposely not having a cigarette at key times, like after meals, while driving, while talking on the phone, while on the computer. Those were activities that ALWAYS meant the smoking lamp was lit. That made it a little easier when I gave up tobacco completely. Good luck to everyone who's still wrestling with this. And don't be discouraged if you've tried before and failed. You can make the next time the last time if I could, that's for sure.

I quit smoking 6 months or so ago. I'm really glad I did. I know how awful it is for my health and the health of those around me. I don't miss the stench of it all, and I really don't miss the high cost of cigarettes. I'm determined to never get hooked again by never having even one puff. But I gotta tell you.... I still miss it!! I hate the way it smells when I'm around others smoking. But I still miss it! I hate the way it makes my clothes and hair smell when I'm smoking. But I still miss it! I know it's not good for my dogs and cat and my son's snake to breathe the fumes of cigarettes, but I still miss it! You get my drift. There's nothing sensible or logical about it. I may be over the physcial addiction, but I'm clearly not over the mental craving. Does that craving go away, or do I just have to realize that it's there and deal with it? I was thinking maybe this thread could be a place for pep talks from those who also have quit. I know Krys did, and there have been others talking about quitting, but I don't know if they stuck with it (been there, done that myself...more times than I want to count!). It could be a place where those of us who have quit can encourage those who are trying to quit. Or where those of us who have quit could come for a little boost when those cravings are strong. So please jump in there. Maybe we can all help each other. Anyone have anything to share that's helped you?

I've been praying for Rascal and his humans. {{{you all}}}

Skyrider, thanks for your sweet words. I thought of somthing, after reading the posts of Notta and others. I was lucky in that not many people I considered close friends stayed in twi after I left. I ran into one in St. Mary's, Ohio, after I left, and she looked like she saw a ghost, muttered something to her hubby, and left quickly. Sad, but God only knows what Ms. Rivenbark told her about me after I left staff. Most of my twi friends around the country were out or on their way out when I was. So what came between us was time and distance, as Socks alluded to, or their insistence that I join an offshoot.

Uptown said: "I came to gs to talk to believers, but I didn’t find any." Maybe you just didn't look around enough because you were too busy preaching at everyone. Or maybe they were hiding from you. I think I get the gist of what you've been saying, but it's coming off as judgmental. Sorry, no church with you.

I definitely had some true friends in twi. They're still my friends today. We understood/understand each other, had/have common interests (besides twi), and we loved/love each other. Some of them I don't stay in touch with as often as I'd like to, but when we do talk or see each other, it's as if no time has passed. Hearts knit together and all that. I also still have true friends from before twi, some true friends I made while I was in twi who weren't in the least bit interested in twi, and true friends I've made after twi. Friends are a blessing.

Aha! I've just discovered the source of your fascination with Sno-Cones!!