bowtwi

I just might try this one - thanks! I'd never considered baking a cheesecake before. Hmmmm, the things one learns around here! Of course after I try this one, I'll have no choice but to make dooj's. darn the bad luck Thanks for posting the recipes!

I just watched and listened to that Jim Croce video - suh-weeeeeet! I called out Roller Derby Queen as soon as he said he was watching that lady at the bar - the fat on her arms wobbling. What a treat! Thanks! ...meanest hunk a woe-man anybody'd ever seen ------ down in the arena, huh!

It took me over 10 years to forgive my mother for deserting me. I had to get to a place where I could see it from her point of view and excath, darlin - I think you hit it on the head right there. I no longer think my mom was selfish in her mind, it just felt like extreme selfishness to me at the time when I was left without her. Now I wish I had known how to reach her and give her what she needed to feel ok about accepting help, especially psychiatric. I'm so thankful that it's no longer a stigma against people to seek psychiatric help. I agree with each and every word you spoke here, ex!

Good morning, Roy! I'm one of those last year of wows that was accused of being homosexual, both me and my son, and were kicked out of the way corps in-residence training program. My son was a young teenager, accused by the way of molesting a little boy. When they kicked us out, the way spokesperson told me we would be facing federal charges. I contacted the police agencies that would have possibly been involved if this were the case and they had no reports concerning my son or myself. It's been a dozen years now and we've never heard one word beyond the false accusations their supposed pastor of God's people screamed at me while I was ordered to keep my mouth shut because I was supposedly so devil-spirit ridden that I was unable to speak two words of truth! The way doesn't know who's homosexual or who's not. They ought to be ashamed of themselves and knock it off, not to mention apologize to all those they've hurt. I have noticed, however, that the homosexuals I've met are a lot nicer than way int'l "believers." They're far less judgmental and frankly, less nosy. I ought to write a thank you note to craig because I was so dedicated to the way - even though it hurt my heart to see the witch hunts going on, craig's face all contorted as he spat those nasty terms and just looked nuts while he he talked so tough and threatened the so-called devil spirits and homos that night at the rock in '94, I never would have left the cult if they hadn't marked and avoided me. I was a lifer. That young teenage boy who was on fire for God back in the day - well, he and his fiance announced their engagement this week. The date will be the 7th anniversary of their first year dating anniversary. How cool is that for a new beginning? And no, he's not homosexual. The only reason I bring that up is that IF HE WERE, I WOULD CHERISH HIM JUST THE SAME. It seems to me that God is all love. I don't see God hating anyone, not even me. Not even craig.

Happy Birthday, O!

J, Dear, thank you for your thoughtful comments. I understand there to be a difference between people who just enjoy heavy drama and behave in ways to perpetuate that drama and those in need of help that would actually appreciate help. I think you proved my point. Unless I read you wrong, your niece had the wrong diagnosis for something like 17-20 years. that wasn't her choice, but her misfortune. Once they started treating her for PTSD instead of Biploar disorder, she became functional and even successful. I can only imagine the difference in your family's history if she had been diagnosed correctly the first time around. I'm very glad nobody gave up on your niece. I appreciate your ability to disagree with me without accusing me of being controlling and whatever else someone else said earlier.

I was trying to have a civil exchange of ideas with you, Pond. I haven't called you names at all. You've called me controlling and dysfunctional and said that I'm saying that someone is guilty of a crime? Real nice. No thanks, Pond. I'm done trying to communicate with you. Right now I can't remember why I even thought I would try.

Pond, I agree to disagree with you. I feel from my experiences that I won't ever give up on anyone as long as they're still drawing breath. Not only did I have my personal experiences, but I worked for a Medical Examiner for over 4 years. I've seen a lot of suicides that could have been prevented. I'm not saying they all can be, but I just can't tell which to give up on, so I don't give up on any. You don't see it that way. That's ok. You don't have to. I will still feel for you and pray for your family when your loved one can't hold on any longer.

I wondered the same thing too, Belle & Jardinero Darlins. Sounds like typical twi speak to me, say something nonsensical, but state it matter-of-factly and most people just keep on reading, and it's like, ok, that's the reason why. Apparently it worked for over 40 and maybe over 60 years, depending on who's doing the math. It's good for us that their reasoning doesn't make sense. I prefer that to feeling like I get the unget-table (whatever the current speweth is uttereth outteth their moutheths). In this case, not understanding is very good.

I get your frustration, I really do. But my point is that suicide is irreversible. So what if it's annoying to be around him. It's got to be better than being at his funeral. Sounds to me like they're working on it, but there must be something else to try, another therapist that might reach him. You think his mom is nearly destroyed now? You ain't seen nothin' yet, pond. I mean this in total respect and sincerity - I get feeling like if he does it he does it. I just think that if y'all keep trying to help him see his life's worth, even if just to his own mom, or get him to enjoy something, it might get him through to the place where he values his life. When you've done all you know to do and all you have energy to do, that's all you can do, but I wonder if you're really at that point. I would like to think that if I ever started displaying suicidal tendencies that my loved ones would fight all the way for me, not just til they get frustrated. Apparently his meds aren't at the right dosages if he still feels that bad. Isn't it possible to have him admitted (even involuntarily if he's a true suicide danger) and his meds re-evaluated and adjusted? If he has meds prescribed, does his doctor know he still feels this despondent?

God bless you, Granddaughter, and your wonderful new baby! He's beautiful! So glad to hear all went so well.

This subject is near and dear to my heart. My childhood was a series of my mom's failed suicide attempts. She had a very tough life and more than a few times I came home to find her in various states of trying to just die and be done wtih it. My older brother and I spent 6 months in an orphanage when I was a baby because Mom was under 21 and had tried suicide when I was 3 months old. She actually married my younger sister and brother's father to get us older 2 out of the orphanage. As a schoolgirl, I came home from school at least half a dozen times to find Mom passed out in her bed, once with a burned-down cigarette still in between her fingers with a 3-inch ash hanging off of it, the telephone receiver hanging over the side of her bed, and the german shepherd hiding underneath her bed. Mom's head and arm were dangling off the side too. She didn't even look like her own face. I was 8 years old. Thankfully, I was in the door before the younger kids were, so I sent them to the backyard while I called the operator and got an ambulance on the way. (This was pre-911 in our area.) I was 18 years and 3 months old by the time she finally succeeded. It was still a shock. By then we kids thought she had super powers and would just never die. Not only that, we were 4 kids, ages 21 down to 12. There was a guy in that hospital ward that wasn't expected to survive the night and only one family waiting room. We were 4 scared kids, kinda loud, cracking jokes out of our fear and the nursing staff sent us home so that the other family that was at risk of losing a loved one (for a non-suicide reason) could have a peaceful evening without our noisiness. That guy rallied and was out of the critical zone by morning. Mom died at 7:28 a.m. ALONE. My older brother and I had never known our fathers. My mom had been so tough to deal with that the 2 younger kids' father had nothing to do with them for years by then. Ever since then, when I hear someone talk about suicide, I take it very seriously EVERY TIME. Just before we left FL, I told my neighbor that I was afraid her husband was going to kill himself. Long story shortened, he had a work injury take away his livelihood. His body couldn't do what his mind remembered being his to do. I tried to get her to take him seriously. She couldn't. He put a shotgun in his mouth and right there, in their bed, ended his life a week after I moved to MO. I'm not saying I could have stopped him. I'm saying I take it seriously every single time I hear or feel it coming. I don't mind people thinking I'm paranoid or take stuff too seriously. I know only too well what happens when people die that way. It was just the 29th anniversary of Mom's death this month. I no longer cry like a baby, but I continue to relive, almost Groundhog-day style, that morning. Although the sadness is dulled and the pain doesn't force me to blubber like a baby anymore, it remains the worst experience of my life. 29 years later I still look in my sleeping child's face and wonder if that child would have been reason enough for Mom to fight the fight she had ahead of her. It's like a drowned child. You can't undo suicide. I never ignore what I see as warning signs anymore. Toughest lesson I've learned yet.

Happier? Could we really BE any happier? Sounds dangerous to me. And probably illegal, with MY luck.

Happy Birthday, Chas! I hope it's sweet for you. Love that tune dmiller sent you. It of course, inspired me to check out more of those clips - I could get lost in there and waste a day or 3 just tickling my ears and my soul. Happy Birthday, Chas! Love, Bow

The IT guy for the company I work for sent an email out this morning advising that we wait to install the IE7 until the second week in December, by which time he figures they'll have most the bugs worked out. Funny, they insist we use IE to access their sites. Two of the three can't be reached from Firefox, yet here we are, being warned not to install the newest version for at least 6 more weeks.

In today's mail I received an offer for an extended warranty from Dealer Services. I've seen their name on my caller ID, but have never returned their calls. There's a name of a vice president at the bottom of this letter, plus what appears to be my personal Registered Owner ID #. I called the number and asked to get a message to the vice president requesting a call back at his convenience. I was told no, I can't get a message to him and that my Registered Owner ID isn't in their system. I ask to speak with his supervisor. A very unpleasant and sassy woman got on the phone, asked my Registered Owner ID # and told me I'm not in their system. I asked how they got my personal information. She said they get it from the credit bureau. I didn't use credit when I bought my car - I paid cash. No credit involved. This woman was very rude and spoke in a condescending manner. I asked for her supervisor. That supervisor said they got my info from the credit bureau because obviously, I own a newer model car. I asked how that could be when I paid cash for the car. She had no idea. She did take me off their list, but insisted that it must be some other company that called me last week, as they only take inbound calls where they are. It appears that Ford has sold my personal info to whomever would buy it. I was planning on trading in the Taurus on a Saturn VUE anyway, but now I'm going to do it sooner than later. I imagine they all do it, but I sure don't like it. Maybe I'll give Saturn a fake phone # and address. How dare any of them make money off of their customers' personal info.

slight derail - there IS a 4th type of turd -- the bass type... coincidence? I think not.

Roy, I'm sorry that happened to you. You are a kind soul and don't deserve that treatment. God bless you, Roy. Here's a holy kiss and hug for you. xo

I know what you mean - I just had a horrible experience with lack of customer service this weekend. I had bought a 2004 Taurus a couple years ago at a Ford dealership. They explained the extended warranty and I decided I didn't want it. About every 6 months since I got the car I get a postcard from Ford inviting me to fix my mistake and get the extended warranty for a higher price, of course. I don't mind them. I just toss them out. Saturday morning around 9:00 I got a call from a female that identified herself as calling from Ford Motor Company, Extended Warranty Division. She started to talk about a million miles an hour about engine and transmission and other car stuff. I asked her to slow down and yes, I did interrupt her. I thought I was sparing us both. I told her that I was offerred the warranty two years ago and declined it, each time I get a postcard reminding me I never bought the extended warranty I throw them out too. Mot only that, this was the 4th call I'd gotten from them on the subject and really, if I wanted to buy it I know how to get ahold of them. She sighed real loudly and said that someone should have just deleted me out of their system. I asked her if she was capable of removing me from the system and I had some sarcasm in my tone. I was sick of them continuing to disrespect me by pestering me about something I'd decided against a couple years ago. Her answer to my question was "Oh S H * T, lady," and she hung up on me. Of course the caller ID showed Unknown Number so I called the dealership where I got the car and spoke with the sales manager, who told me not to vent at him, he hadn't called me and cussed at me. I said maybe not, but I gave my personal info to your company when I bought the car, which I did outright, I didn't get a loan so why they would need my personal info is beyond me as I look back. Today I called the dealership back and asked for the General Manager. He was just as snippy, said maybe they sold my personal info to some other outfit and maybe it was a division of Ford, but he surely couldn't even muster up an "I'm sorry that happened to you." He did give me a number to call Ford's supposed customer service line, but I had to wait on hold 40 minutes to speak to someone. All the while I was on hold, a bossy sounding recorded message kept telling me I could reach them faster if I went online. By the time I got someone to speak with I had about fallen asleep. I was allowed to tell my story. She didn't apologize or even sound like she understood why I was upset. Like I told each one of them that I spoke with, my next car is going to be a Saturn, so I hope they enjoyed their last opportunity to refuse me customer service. This lady said she took notes on my complaint and would send it to the proper Ford people who will investigate it and take appropriate action. (Gee, I sure felt better after that - NOT, I felt like she probably deleted the screen after she hung up with me.) Each time I call in to my home office for work I am struck by the wonderful way the receptionist answers the phones and passes calls. She makes it sound like she enjoys routing calls and I just know she's smiling while she's working. I'm done with Ford. I bet Saturn will treat me like a customer.

Happy Birthday!

Chas - thanks for speaking my thoughts - I wanted to post on this earlier, but I couldn't get my thoughts together as I wanted. You said it as I wanted to. I agree with Chas completely and totally. Except I'm not ducking, cause I see no problem there. (((((Chas))))) Ha ha, you thought I couldn't hug ya when you were ducking? Silly wabbit! I'm sure there are 2 sides to this story.

Beth Moore's Believing God, Experiencing a fresh EXPLOSION of faith was my experience with one of her seminars. It was my first post twi experience of sitting in a class setting studying biblical stuff. I enjoyed her presentation. It was once a week for 12 weeks. A few weeks into the class I lost my babysitter and couldn't continue as it was on a school night. I bought the course material and haven't gotten around to sitting down and getting back to it. It's been almost 2 years - not too motivated, am I? I remember thinking that with all the similarities of attending way classes, it was definitely different enough for me. I appreciate the reminder. I've meant to get back to that, but had forgotten about it. I guess I'm not really much help, but I did enjoy the classes I went to. I do remember thinking the workbook was a bit lame and work intensive. It seemed like a lot of homework, but maybe just cause I was so busy with other things at the time.

Thanks all! This is really as great as it seemed! You all crack me up! Belle, you know me pretty well! Good jobs for everyone, I say!

Oh yeah, sudo! Momma's lil babies love shotenin, shotenin, Momma's lil babies love shotenin bread!!!

Ha ha! Called the doctor, woke him up, said, Doctor! Is there something I can take, I said, Doctor!! to relieve this belly ache!