socks

Hand versus keyboard - a thoughtful article on the topic. An interesting topic and lest we forget there was a time when knowledge began it's journey through time verbally, passed down generation to generation. The author of that article covers some of the ideas that I'd bet were part of RR's Editor's documentation. Some of the things like the engagement of the person to the media is interesting but me, I don't think the basic idea holds up across the board but clearly there is a process that we go through when we "write" so it's worthwhile to explore and understand it. If a person thinks a certan way and acts on their preferences, then for them there are measurable differences that matter and the effect is tangible. For them there are preferences that would amount to a "right" and a "wrong" way to write, or perhaps a "preferred" and "better" way in relation to how they believe their product is affected. This is something I've thought a lot about and studied a little over the years so I won't bore the topic track to tears - it's not surprising at all that there'd be a bias towards pen/pencil and paper by someone like RR. Another topic that's probably even more intersting in regards to RR and The Way would be "records" and the ethical retention of information, history and archiving. But that's another topic. Good to remember though - pen and paper and the writing process is a learned skill, where expression is organized and funneled using the tools, hmmm, at hand. The brain, the thoughts, the emotions are all there already though. Give a child some crayons and paper and what happens? :)

Thanks Broken Arrow, What About It and all, for the clarification. Numbers mean next to nothing. What's the worth of a single soul? What is yours worth to you? and would you willingly trade it for (fill in the blank) if you knew you might never get it back, in this life or the next? Christian's believe they can be saved but that's no reason to promote bad behavior. I can picture counting heads if you want to make sure there's enough food to go around for everyone. That would make sense. :) As always if anyone's blessed right outta their shorts and needs to unload some love-cash somewhere quickly please know that I, socks, am always ready to fulfill that need. Numbers mean nothing but quality people like yourself will always be few and far between. Let's get the Giving Count up! and keep this buggy moving and tricked out - your faith deserves no less than the best - send it right now directly to Finally_AHomeForMyMoney@soxAtyourService.com and you will get your very own copy of my latest book, "The Real You Can Be Beautiful Too - Just Like Me!" Deacons are standing by.

No biggie, BA. 300,000 caught my eye. I'd agree that a third of that is probably more likely, but who's counting? :) So much has been written about the 60's, and that entire era (which is probably more "50's" in transition in the first half of the decade - but that's another topic). My personal theories on the growth of the Way from a membership perspective are pretty simple, I know there are many different "social movement" theories, all of them with some merit and primary amongst the religious - Christians - would be that there was a "movement" of God, the Holy Spirit, that streamed through the world around that decade (and still does one could say, or always did and just picked up speed or something or other). Such matters can be difficult to know or as one of the Pope's said a few years ago "It is not an easy thing to know the mind of God". Blasphemy to some, but really not all that off base when considered "from the ground" where the troops assemble and move. We can feel the breezes though the treeses but don't always see the rain coming till we're wet, y'know? A factor to consider is that today a majority of all those who would refer to "The Way International" as something they participate/d in began their particpation in the 70's and 80's over a period of about 20 years or so. VPW finished the final filming of PFAL that most of those people attended in 1967, capturing the class series he'd done live before that. He died in 1985. So over a period of about 18 years under his direction The Way became what it was that's continued on to be what it is today. A head count will never be 100% accurate because The Way never published formal numbers. For a group that said they had no "members" though they had pretty clear ideas about "faithful followers" - grad of PFAL, regular tithing and regular attendance at a local fellowship as well as acceptance of the Way's fundamental, "foundational" teachings. That works for awhile but as soon as the substance of those components changed and were redefined, (something everyone always swore would never happen so of course it did) "faithful follower" became a term that really meant something else - faithful to following what The Way International held forth at the moment, that year or that month or that day. A faithful follower in 1972 would hardly qualify as a member-non-member in 1997, unless they'd adjusted according to the changing doctrine and minimum qualifications for member-non-member status over time. Faithful Follower of the Way Nash is accurate as you can't follow faithfully if you're not current on the basic criteria and if it changes. It's essential to stay tuned....etc. etc. A total count of members (if it quacks like a duck it's a duck) probably amounted more to a general body count as time went on. Today I'm sure they don't count me as some kind of a "doesn't write anymore but may still be considering his options follower" of The Way or anything else they have. I'm off the grid as they say. But I'd suspect they round those numbers up or down pretty broadly even today, much as they always have (and have had to, following this train of thought - choo choo). Which really does relate to the topic of any monitoring of this site they may do. Over the years the number of Used-to-be-in-but-now-not-so-much non-Way affiliated internet sites and entities has increased, even as the number of members in The Way has decreased and those who leave begin other endeavors. I guess it's good to know where everyone went or something. I'm just guessing, I really wouldn't imagine it was a very useful use of time unless there was an interest in seeing what everyone was now doing. Wouldn't amount to much though from an internal standpoint, I'd think.

Dunno, exaltation. I wouldn't compare the two either, although there probably are comparisons to be made. And I'd agree, Jim wouldn't have had it in him to deliberately hurt someone, least not the years I knew him. I've heard from others closer to him in later years he struggled with his life, illness, other things, I can't speak to those things of course because the Jim I knew goes back many years, and at his best, was a good man. Yet he was very human in his faults and failings and did let others down at times. The one of us who can say they haven't or won't is free to step forward and take the Throne. Jim and choices - far be it from me to second guess now why and how he came to the decisions he did. As with the "Way West" - Had he told VPW to "F-K OFF!!!" I doubt many would have argued with him. The night of the infamous "meeting" was something he could have very well avoided had he done that the week before, had he confided openly with others across the state. He certainly wasn't muscled out of his ministry by anyone - VPW, Howard, Del or anyone else. He was more than capable of standing anyone down at eye level. I know he was concerned about his family and keeping some semblance of peace. He wasn't a fighter in any sense of the word but he was impossible to knock down if he didn't want to go down. I have immense regard for his memory, no secret there. To add: whatever anyone thinks of the Way and VPW, good or bad, in Jim's case his involvement later when he came back in in the mid-70's wasn't a good thing in the long run. It just never squared up right and by the time he went up to Maine, things changed. I really didn't understand him at that point and won't pretend to now. The best way I could place his memory is that he sought a higher calling, a greater good, one that while he may not have lived up to (who does?) he gloried in the reality he knew was true, in his heart. That more than anything I believe rubbed off on those who had the opportunity to know him. A part of me is what it is because of him and his influence on me all those years ago, so I remember it - dunno, as if it were today because it is. I don't deal today in the currency of "men of God" or "great men of God" and all of that so I can't speak in those terms - it's a phrase the carries too much baggage. To the degree anyone is great for God, I'll let that judgment come from Him.

That's a lot of Holy Spirit doves, Arrow. Where'd you get the 300K?

You're welcome, xcelta. You know, Jim performed the wedding ceremony for the wif' and I. I think it was the 2nd or 3rd he'd done and only the second in our collective Northern Cal fellowship. Donna - met her shortly after she came to the Hayward, CA fellowship of Pat and Nancy C. Nice, outgoing. Easy on the eyes as they say and always easy to be around. Passionate but reasonable with others. Linder - never met him, don't know him or anything about him. Shouting matches - this reminded me of a completely off topic event that occurred years ago with Jim, Classic Doop - you'll get a kick out of it. ( I may have told it before so excuse me if I did - old and all) Cookin' M ama was playing at the Lion S hare in Marin, CA. We played there a lot, and this was early on when both Jim and Steve were a team, the ol' Frick 'n' Frack of memory (for those who do remember) Fellowships were growing all over the Bay Area and lots of people in Alameda with Howie and the gang where we were from. There was this local character a lot of people knew, pretty rough character, took it upon himself to tattoo upside down crosses on his hands and his usual weirdness got focused on the Wayfers in the city for awhile. He showed up one night with a couple of buds at the club and during our break was in the back giving Paul H, who played sax, a boat load of grief. He knew Paul and he was doing a real number on him and everybody within earshot. Paul was trying to talk him down. We were all in the back stage area, off the parking lot, and Jim and Steve were there and this guy starts giving Jim some s--t, making fun of him. "Who are you? Who do you think you are? Jesus?" That kind of stuff. Jim - tall and skinny, the big 'stache, smoking his cigarette and this other guy are kind of squaring off. The guy was huge, and definitely intimidating just walking around let alone carrying on like he was. The 'Share had a couple of big guys that worked there, but this was a place where it was very uncool to act like that so they were kind of checking in on us but probably assumed it would cool off on it's own and left. It didn't. So Steve's off to the side leaning against the wall, brim low just watching and we're thinking if this doesn't simmer down it's going to go south quick. The guy's yelling and swearing at Jim and Jim finally looks him straight in the eye and goes "PHFFFFT! F--k OFF!!!" The nut case stops for a second like he can't believe it - "What did you say to me?" Jim takes a hit off his cigarette and blows smoke at the guy and says "You heard me! FU-UK OFF!!!" The noise nut kinda pulls himself together, his bud's are drawing in close and I'm thinking this could get very weird - 3 of them in a small space and they do this for a hobby and think it's fun to bust heads. There's about 8 of us but this is about the last thing anybody wants to do during our break from the first set - get into a bloody fight and then go start playing for 45", right? And I can't believe Jim's just standing there, puffing away and smiling that big smile of his like he's playing cards and has 2 aces in his hand and one showing. Boiled brain guy sticks a fist out and says "You know what I could do to you right now? I'm gonna rip your f--k-g head off!!!!" And Jim leans over and I swear this is true - he blows smoke at the guy and says "Do it!" It's quiet for a sec' and the guy's just staring at Jim and Jim's drilling holes back in the guy's head. He's laughing! "Do IT!!!" Sweaty crazy guy's veins are popping and finally he just kind of deflates and shakes his head and says....."You're crazy. You - are - f--k--g - crazy....." and leaves. His buds follow. Jim just started laughing and everyone just went "Whewwww......" and took a breath. Didn't phase Jim at all. He had a few choice words and noted that "Greater is He that's in me than whoever's in that foot-h--e!!" Jim was a lot of things to a lot of people and that's why - if that was the only time like that it would be one thing but it wasn't by a long shot. When push came to shove and it was time to lay 'em down on the line he was ready to go, right now. He truly had "faith". "Do it". The whole deal with Jim E and VPW spoke to a whole side of Jim that probably represents his strongest and weakest points. We all have them and so did he and he made his choices. There weren't many like him and not many like him even today. Like I said, he knew whereof he spoke.

I don't know anything about shouting matches with Donna. I myself would never shout at a match. :biglaugh: The side topic of Jim and VPW and California, and etc. etc. etc.... As most of you know (or don't) I knew Jim (and Steve Heef-ster) and all the gang back in the late 60's - their group in S.F., House of Acts and the Haight mission, most of the early crowd and after VPW came out and few went to Ohio that summer, etc. etc. etc. This whole story isn't as clean a cut as it's retold today. Like the "meeting" where Jim got "fired" - he and VPW's relationship was up and down for months before that. I remember several times talking to Jim where he sounded like he was "out", then "in", then "WTF, WGAS" the next. The event itself was a surprise to most people around the bay area but he'd quit a couple times that month already. Jim meant well and I loved him dearly. He had a huge impact on my life. But with Jim you had to know going in where he was at, and his limits. I will never regret knowing him and be thankful for the time we had together. He knew as I came to know, the reality of life. The following week Jim and I talked over the phone as he did with many people many times that week I'm sure - we visited him about a week later, at his home and out at a local club. Jim was reprinting a white syllabus with a title like - something to the effect of "Abundant Living with Power" or something like that. It was pretty much a reworked PFAL syllabus. We talked about what to do next, and he clearly didn't have a clue. He was hurt and angry no big surprise there, we were too. Not at him but at the way the whole thing was being handled - VPW wasn't offering a lot of details and neither was or did Jim - unless you called him or hooked up with him. Same with VPW - I called back to Ohio and was told to talk to Townsend when he came out. So it all went down the tubes very quickly from what it was to what was next.

I never heard the phrase "eternal elitism" used in the Way, up to and including the year 1989, but can't speak for after that. Elitism - this in Wikipeedonit is informative. I'm careful about Wikipedia, but this addresses some aspects of what's being discussed here I think. Dunno if I've ever chimed in on the Gnostic/Wayfer comparison before but I'd agree that the Way Nash wasn't gnostic, looking at the major streams of thought in gnostic beliefs and traditions. Thinking one is better than another and more capable of (x whatever) appears to be an aspect of human development. One can very well be better than another in any number of considerations - more knowledgable, more experienced, more influential, more this or that. How that plays out - whole different topic. God Himself describes His ways as "higher" than ours. God's reluctance to have a name, a place to put "Him" when referred to demonstrates that I think. Creator, Father, Just - these describe different aspects of how we might view God as ultimate authority but only describe in part. Jesus described the Kingdom of God where many who are first will be last, and vice versa. He describes the greatest as being the servant of all - in effect lesser by certain standards but greater by others. Modern society loves to reward and recognize "success stories" where someone works their way....up...from the bottom. In many societies past that wasn't possible to do regardless of the service you provided, as those who recognized it didn't, wouldn't or couldn't elevate that person "higher". So...if we think about it the dynamics involved in the processes of the "Kingdom of God" and that arena are very different than what we see in life if we distinguish ourselves without the recognition of others. And if that's reflected in this life, it requires a different way of actually hmmm, seeing stuff.

As a word of warning, a cautionery tale if you will - VPW's proclivity to anger and his willingness to express it publicly is one of the most damaging influences of his life. I've expressed it before in the past here and other places, and it applies to anyone at any time. Because the Way was populated with young people under 30 for so many years it had a major impact on the dynamics of working with and around him. Many dealt with it, accepted it but there's a factor of "lost opportunity" that comes into play - anger from a person of authority is threatening and reduces the participation of those who are threatened. How much more and better work would have been done where the environment was constructive and supportive? Never knowing when the next outburst will occur produces a nasty dynamic, like sorting through a mine field. Anger blows up and demands "changes" - there's not a lot of work invested in that kind of approach. "My way or the highway" is the demand of the lazy. "Pride comes before a fall"....put another way, when anyone sets themselves apart and above others in their close working and family relationships they disconnect from the benefit of their relationships and the balance that influences of equal strength can have on a forward moving subject - like yourself. In effect, constraints provide balance by providing tethers. Through the process of internal and external examination our range and reach of motion and action can become deliberate and planned, considering outcomes we may never consider ourselves or at first blush. Splashes of emotion fill our lives that color it, good and bad. Too much paint thrown down without thought dries slowly and unevenly. It's the well mixed colors, applied with deliberate and thoughtful craft that produce long lasting results we will look at years later and admire while remembering the process and time that produced it.

Yeh, quite a few, and quite a few less after those years Sunesis. Yep, have always loved to fish, since a kidling. Spent a year in Indian prior to Ohio and got the freshwater bug there. Largemouth bass became the fish of choice. And it was always a blast to catch big bluegill from those Ohio ponds. A lot of us fished, it was no secret. Bob, Steve, Buddy, quite a few others. For a couple years there a lot of the JN guys carried our gear with us, Skip, Mike W, Ken, myself. Fished in Minnesota, Michigan, California, Florida whenever there was a day off and we could squeeze it in. Paul C and Donnie G and I hit a little spot down in Miami one day a few hours before the Take a Stand Caravan that evening - great spot, sun was going down. Made it in and out on this boat pretty quick and as I recall we didn't catch but hey - it's always a fun time either way. When you get into the depths of Ohio, it's a pretty hmmm....quiet lifestyle. Subtle. There's a lot to enjoy but you have to take advantage of it. Fishing is one sport that drives some people nuts but if you enjoy it there's a lot fo be said for the freshwater in Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Indiana. I'm not a huge fan of endless fields of corn and soybeans but for a few years it was a unique look into that part of the country. A clear night in that area holds a completely different vibe than anywhere else. Course - California's home. The mountains, the deserts, lakes and of course the Pacific. Can't beat it.

Cool, Sunesis. Loramie was a cool lake alright. Very pretty. I used to know a dozen or so ponds around New Knoxville, could get on to. Always kept my ultra-light rig and box in the trunk, and hit a spot here and there, early morning or evenings. Sorry about Lake St. Mary's - never swam in it much but used to go out there with Buddy C and others, to catfish. Buddy was a black belt ninja-cat dude and in a view trips out there taught me the Fine Art of Catchin' (as opposed to "Fishing"... . Bob L. too, I really expanded my fresth water light weight know-how those years. We'd catch dozens of catfish, keep the good ones and do fish fries. The water in the 70's was pretty clean and there were a lot of pond catfish around too, and they tasted GREAT!, fried up.

Bo didn't "live" in a TP, he took one the first summer he showed up at the Way Nash, to camp in. Y'know, those crazy kids. Apparently, like the elder Indian in "The Outlaw Josey Wales", many took up TP livin' over the years, for short or long duration. Fascinating. Crazy. Wild. Woo hoo! Those Wayfers, what next? Branded baseball caps??!!

Thanks Bliss. That answers the question. That does add another dimension to the show and what goes on the air if those selected pay something 29K's no small potatoes, that's tall dough for most of us little people. Innerestin'.

So...speaking of Terry Bradshaw's "Pick of the Week" clip, I'm unclear on the who paid/what paid topic. Bliss and What About It (or anyone else here who knows) Did they pay to get it put on as the Pick of the Week? Pay production costs to have it filmed themselves? Pay the show's production costs to have it filmed? All of the above? Something else...?

Sunesis - Lake Loramie? We often remember the boat rentals there - for a few bucks or something we'd rent a boat and paddle around, fishing for an afternoon or morning. There were two parts to it, and if the lily pads weren't too thick you could rift through into the smaller section. Can't remember who but somebody had a little outboard, old beater but it ran most of the time, could trunk it in, clamp it down and move on out. Great lake, really pretty. Many a bass was taken there. :) Some big crappie too and not a few catfish and assorted others. Lots and lots of small ponds all over that area of Ohio too.

I'm sure you think you've heard a lot of things, no doubt about it. I think I heard once that Indians, real Native American's once camped by the River Jordan and built teepee's where they dressed and cooked deer, hunted right there in the Way Woods. Dressed the meat using Holy Spirit dove pins, those old ones that had the big pins on the back, no kidding. Big ol' honkers. Ground them up in bowls ground from bricks taken from the east side of the old Weirwille home and grilled them right out in the open using buns bought at Adolf's who himself was of Apache heritage and who was sympathetic to them and gave them some real German/Apache deep discount on both buns and condiments. Really. This kindly gesture did in fact backfire, so to speak. Read on. These were in fact the original "WOW" burgers, due an accidental seasoning of the meat with what they thought was local Paprika but was in fact Adolf's home blend of Red Hot Chili Peppers. (the L.A. band of the same name got their name from this through a chance encounter with a WOW Amabaasador who retold them the story, not having been their themselves but having heard it told first hand by one of the New Knoxville Fire Department who were called in to put out the "fire" not knowing the "red hot" blaze was from the burgers, not the fire! ) Everyone who tried one of those burgers that summer made the same sounds - "OW!!! OWWWWA WAAAA WOW!!!" which was mistaken for inspired action and utterance and immediately adopted as the name for the Way's original outreach program. The acronym "W.O.W". came later. Finnegan's only association with that whole incidentses was that he was - this is true - the last guy to get one of the last burgers and who had heard the whole thing. At lesat that's the way I heard it. Pret' near sure that's the real deal though, but don't quote me.

Bo. Over 40 years ago, give or take. Teepees...amazing the storeez that live on. I doubt anyone thought it would be of interest 40 years on. .

That drawer beckons, exnack, warm and cozy. Perhaps it would be fitting to close with this, that the inner reality of knowing Christ is as real to me today as this keyboard, no less so for sure. I may be nuts, I may be wrong but I'm not alone in that, I know. (and I'm certain I'm not wrong but it always sounds good to leave that window cracked open a little despite the fact that if pressed back against the wall I'd be happy to go with that rather than denying it). The real question might be "Does Christ know me?" Long ago, reading the Gospels it struck me how accepting Christ was of those who came to Him. Messy, messed up, life in disarray or wrapped tight and ready to go, His followers, well, followed Him. He's painted as a man who knew His audience even when they declared allegiance to the death, knowing perhaps that in the end they'd be exactly who and what they were - human, imperfect, trying with every breath at times, dying with every breath at others. So He was there for them, stolid and solid in His understanding of exactly who He Himself was and deeply aware that no one else was going to be that Man, that One, but Him. So He remained true to that to the end, and beyond. His followers changed, according to the records, once they too understood. Yet, even a man dead and risen again wouldn't validate the claim "son of God", "Savior", "Lord". Their lives were lit by an understanding that went even beyond that, that in His presence was the image of God, the Son making visible to all the Father. This reality is made known I believe in the lives and hearts of people even today. The intangible made coherent to our perception. It is in fact when we "see" that in others we see that Christ who declares His Father. It's like going Home when the planets align, so to speak, and they do, all the time, all the time. What I realized then was how great His "Love" really was and - dare I think it - "is". His followers weren't denied for what they'd done wrong nor for their lack of faith or trust in Him, rather they were accepted because they were there, present and accounted for, stupid or smart, right or wrong but finally and ultimately saying "I believe". They had no other choice. Once I stopped worrying about how impossible it was and realized how possible it was, It struck me that if He'd loved and stood by those people all those years ago, He could love even me. And I've been Home ever since. In a very real way love saved me and showed me the Way. I'd invite anyone who hasn't for whatever reasons to give it a shot. Read the Gospels and the Epistles for what their stories tell. Speak to others who follow Christ and have accepted Him as the son of God and the Way, the Truth and the Life. Realize the simplicity in the fact that none of us can be anyone else but ourselves and that by being that and only that we are exactly who God would have us to be. Give Christ a try. It won't do you no harm and it can only help.

Earth to erkjohn: Sunesis is not a guy. Groovey or otherwise.

Well thank you javajane! It's nice to be liked. I like you too!

Troll or non-Troll, this happygay brought up a really interesting topic and I'm glad that I, socks, have participated. Although I don't have any data to support this contention, I get the feeling deep down in my gut that a lot of Christianity's religions - the diverse and abundant rituals, traditions and doctrines that have proliferated throughout history - don't really serve simple common sense "validation". Belief is considered synonymous with "faith" which is kind of loosely defined as "believing in something because it's "right" with or without any direct personal investment or attachment between the believer and the Believ-ee". Often benign, sometimes destructive, that's the way I do think a lot of Christian religions run their shows. It's as if to say "Look - up in the sky!!! It's a bird, no - it's a plane! No - it's...........well, it used to be Superman, and it would be if it he were actually flying, but LOOK! It's where we look when we want to think about looking at Superman!! Up there!!!!" Some kind of a reality check may be in order, methinketh (KJV) That's not say I'm not a believer and don't care about a Believ-ee. I do. Nor do I want to insist that others see what I see, have what I have, or do what i do. We'd all be happier if we would just do and see things my way, I agree :biglaugh: but I do understand the failings of humanity and the inability to set their standards that high, right out of the gate. Seriously though - we don't all need to walk on water, if we can all be like the followers of Jesus were said to be when written about in the Gospels - shortly after Jesus was crucified, not a one of them - none - expected or thought He was anything but very dead. And they were sad, understandably. Then, completely outside of any expectation or "believing" or anything else by mankind, the impossible happened. Everyone was surprised, amazed, and incredibly changed by what would still be today an incredible first hand experience. They all went from "Doubting Thomas" to acceptance. Why? Well, so the story goes - He was alive, they saw him, He engaged with them and continued with a new relationship with them. That shouldn't be that unusual. How it occurs and how it manifests itself will be diverse, personal and wonderful, to each it's own and in each person in it's own way. Similar, but different and unique. Reliably consistent, in surprising ways. As later written - though we have known Christ in the flesh, now we know Him that way no longer. There were many ways that Christ was viewed and validated even when He was alive and "in the flesh" - son of man, son of God, Lord, rabbi, prophet, teacher, liar, "devil". It's no surprise - it's very simply natural really - that the same would be true today. As a man or as resurrected Lord on the "right hand of God" He's been knowable from many differerent and diverse perspectives. excali really makes a great point and one that requires no apology. It is what is and that's enough - when it is. :)

Greets Chockful - don't fear the googleads, they're there for a purpose.

Mssr. skyster, that is quite kind of you to say, thank you. I'm not getting anymore ads. That's disappointing, so far all of the ads have proven to be worth every penny and I was looking forward to more. "They" just seem to know exactly what I need, even before I need it! And by the way, if you you haven't tried socks without elastic, all I can say is stop denying yourself. The difference is major.

Thank you, Mr. Ham! Interesting scene there. Perhaps when you have that much of whatever it is they're in (tomatoes?) you just have to dive in! Amazing things continue to populate my page view - this just in, below: Infrared Therapy Socks. Wow. Infrared.....therapy - in a sock! Science knows no bounds nor the imagination of those seeking to serve their fellow man. Such effort humbles the thankful user. And contextual - a breakfast casserole ad was right below it! Healing, delightful food - what next? Can it get any better? I'm sure it can, I'm sure it can.

Happy seeing you Sunesis! I noticed that the GS adverts continue to present uncannily useful links at the bottom of each page - immediately after logging in and returning to this page I saw an ad for "Socks without elastic"...! Think of it - socks with no elastic. Can such things be? Apparently so, apparently so, for the Internet would never lie. Products and services that boggle the mind - they deserve my immediate attention, but first things first... excandoodat! Yes, I firmly believe that - those things that we "own" are ours, whether learned and earned through the joys and tears of this life or accepted like gifts falling from the sky - once they land in our laps there's no turning back. Hold on to what you've got, it's yours. :) Upon reflection I realize I haven't given a direct answer to the original question , for what it's worth the answer would be "Yes". Elastic socks - this changes everything.