notinKansasanymore

pieces of taken-apart locker locks erasers pieces of erasers candy wrappers candy still in the wrappers (yum) little plastic rings from classmates' birthday cupcakes pencils pieces of pencils office passes library passess crumbs, lots and lots of crumbs An obviously interrupted-in-passing note in my little girl's handwriting "I have a boyfriend." Reply, in a friend's handwriting, "Who?" (I got to the bottom of that!) A broken mirror (ouchie) crayons, both whole and partial bolts and twisted metal mousetrap (the week of my son's engineering fair) crushed ping-pong ball (same week) cross-in-my-pocket crosses money (not much!) whole and nearly whole cookies (see "crumbs," above) paper clips, both whole and those that had been used for "sculptures" rocks: all sizes, colors, nations of origin fish hooks, both new and used hand tools folded-up Algebra homework that was never again intended to see the light of day (I got to the bottom of that) cell phone ("Oh, THAT'S where it was!) marbles tweezers little pocket notebooks used shotgun shell, found in the park used .22 bullets, found in the woods mechanical pencil lead, single pieces and whole packages (packages closed [good] and open [bad]) earbuds batteries lots of other flotsam and jetsum of daily life, items too numerous and mundane to bore you with any longer.

Paw - you rock, guy! It's a mystery. Is there a prize at the end? I can't figure out who James Beck is; the neon is fun. Good luck with your thread.

What in the name of Molly Ivins is goin' on hyar? I took a look at that link, the Texas Insider, and was amused to see how quickly the conservative side (of which I used to be a card-carrying member) forgets its own abuses, and focuses so intently on perceived abuses of the other side. (This is hardly a phenomenon limited to only one side.) There was one line, "Liberals don’t respect the Constitution, and liberals in Congress don’t hesitate to propose legislation that would clearly violate it.." Sorry, but I couldn't help but recall Cheney saying that he wasn't part of the executive branch; the Justice department making permanent appointments based primarily on an applicant's politics, and only secondarily on that applicant's qualifications; illegal wire-tapping; illegal incarcerations in Gitmo; and so many others that I don't have the time or inclination to bring them all to mind; I've just had lunch, and must protect the digestive process. I do, however, have to mention handing the wealth of our country over to big business to the degree that if we hadn't had a major change in administrations, we'd be owned by China shortly. Oversimplification, but you all remember how frighteing that was. The recession is slowing down; it would have deepened into a depression if we'd stayed on that track. I'm also a fifth-generation Texan, and think that any movement to try to get Texans to give up being Americans will A)never work, B)embarrass our great state no end, and C) put Texas in a worse position than it currently is. But it is the redneck way, yee-haw. I can still do a pretty darn good yee-haw, but I'm no separatist.

It's a valid observation that we discuss a lot of out-of-date topics here, but I think that the reason this happens is that people were so hurt "back in the day" that these old topics are still very much raw and open sources of pain for them. It's important to let folks work this stuff out, and we are some of the only folks on the planet who will understand exactly what they are talking about. Paw started a wonderful ministry to people when he started this website; it's helping a lot of individuals heal. But you are correct; we spend a lot of time in the past.

Woooo-HOOOOO! Dancing! Singing! This is very cool. Congratulations and good luck!

We saw Avatar last night, and both absolutely loved it. Perhaps not since the very first Star Wars movie has a film been such a departure from anything else I've ever seen on a movie screen. I highly recommend it.

Geez. It's just a cruise. Don't you ever go and hang out with folks you haven't seen in awhile? Do you ever go to high school reunions? They're generally kind of fun. Most folks on John's website haven't been involved with TWI for a couple of decades, and we do other things with our lives now. I know I can't make the cruise, because I'll have to work, but if I could, I would. This is not really worth getting one's panties in a twist. People who were creepy "back in the day" are probably still creepy today, and therefore probably don't play well with others, and therefore probably won't be on the cruise. If you are still mad at various people who mistreated you decades ago, perhaps this is more of a burden to you than it will ever be to them, clueless as they are, and the person who will benefit most if you unload that burden (i.e. get over it) will be you. Some people (like the folks who hurt you) just suck, but most don't. Most Corps didn't. Most Corps worked their butts off to try to help people come to God. If you are mad at folks for having a reunion, that's a little extreme. I'm just sayin'.

Hi, Excie! Did you have a Merry Christmas? We finally got out of town, once the highways were reopened after the blizzard. It was quite an adventure. Tomorrow, the kids go back to school. I hope that your 2010 is a great one! Love, niKa

Hi, Sweet Ones. I hope that your Thanksgiving was pleasant. Our last guest was taken to the airport at 4:45 this morning; the last travelling neighbor returns sometime today, and tomorrow we are all back to school and work. Thoughts of exercise and calorie counts replace thoughts of rolls and gravy. It's time to finish the year, and roll on into the next one, God willing. I hope that your year ends with blessings. Love, niKa

We just got shellacked by Texas Tech. I remember when we used to win all the time . . . it was fun . . . sigh. But it's almost time to make my mother-in-law's yeast roll recipe, toss a big turkey into the oven, gather together, and give thanks. All of the kids will be here this year, as well as my husband's oldest, best good buddy, who lives on the other side of the world. I'm looking forward to it. Happy pre-Thanksgiving to you all; I cherish knowing you. love, niKa

There was an episode in which Mr. Kotter tried to get the kids to value their various heritages. Arnold explained that Horshak means "the cattle are dying." I only saw it once, when it originally aired, and haven't forgotten it yet. Still makes me smile.

Happy Halloween, Sweet Ones. Life is jumping. We're remodelling a little house, to move into it. Classes are busy. I'm trying to learn how to get out from behind the lecturn and engage the students. We have a home football game at the moment, so the kids all Trick-Or-Treated last night (the City Council wanted to avoid little ones competing for space in the streets with drunken football fans). Since we live three blocks from the stadium, we agreed with them! The weather was incredibly perfect. There were little Power Rangers and Fairy Princesses all over the place. Parents walked with their children; the streets were full of running, happy, squealing little ones. Folks called out, "Happy Halloween," as they passed one another on the streets in our neighborhood. I can't recall enjoying a Halloween this much since I've been a grownup. I feel like having another Twix bar. Would you excuse me for a moment? Love, niKa

DWBH and Tom: Wow. Thanks for sharing those experiences.

Hi, Sweeties. I hope you're having a wonderful Autumnal Equinox Evening. We had a little rain today, as well as a nice brisk wind, the likes of which I haven't noticed in these parts for a few months. While we were sitting and talking this evening, Mr.niKa stopped in mid-sentence. He was staring out the window. "Those are leaves falling," he said, aghast. I couldn't believe it, but there they were, shaken loose by the breeze, tumbling away from the magnolia tree like big brown feathers. We were forced to admit that summer is ending. Fellowshipper, you are just coming into Spring, and we are happy for you. May the Autumn hold interesting things for all of us. Happy September 21, 9th Corps. And Honored Guests! love, niKa

I LOVE MY NEW JOB!!! It is very inspiring. I teach developmental writing. My students include a guy pushing 60, who has foster children, a sweetheart of a lady who has great-grandchildren, for whom last week was her first week of college ever in her life, several former military and law enforcement, a bounty hunter, six deaf students (there are interpreters sitting next to me as I teach), and lots of traditional-age first-time college students. Lots of tatoos, every imaginable hue of person. Undiagnosed learning disabilities which kept some from being as successful in high school as they could have been. I.Q.'s all over the scale, including some very high. Many are holding down jobs and bringing up children, and going to school as well. Enrollment at this community college is up by 24% from this time last year. It's kind of like being a waitress at the lunch rush. I LOVE THIS. It's teaching folks who lost their jobs and are retooling to be competetive in the current economy. It's teaching people who need skills in order to get into the basic first year composition classes for college. This class is one of the gateways to their college educations, and to their futures. This is the closest that I have felt to being a minister since I left TWI. The very coolest thing about it is the lessons I am learning in courage and determination, from these students. They are amazing people. I am thankful for their good examples. I came for the job, but I'll stay for the students. Funny thing, that's what everybody who works there says. Anyway, sorry that I haven't had much time to post lately. I'm a bit overwhelmed for time. But it's very, very cool. Love you, niKa

And speaking of Cash for Clunkers (see, I told you it's impossible to derail),there is no longer a beat-up, gas-guzzling Wowmobile in the niKa driveway. There's an inexpensive, gets-great-gas-mileage, something-reliable-to-commute-to-the-new-job-mobile. And because of the stimulus plan, we can deduct the state and local sales taxes on it. Interesting week. Wooo-hooooo! Karmic, still thinking about you, Sweet Lady.

Karmic, you didn't derail. This kind of thing is what it's for; it's all of the threads of our lives, which come in many colors and textures. QVC - I don't have a TV, but can sometimes be found rubbernecking great stuff on Ebay. Chicago? I love that place! I was a WOW in Joliet for a year, back in the mid-70's. Mr.niKa post-doc'd there, several years before we met. At least one sweet 9th corps guy is there, too. Do you ever visit the field museum there? Or find a wine bar and listen to jazz? And I wrote your name on my hand, so that I'll see it today while doing laundry and the rest of the grunge work of life, to remember to think of you and pray for you. You're a wonderful lady.

Oh, Karmic!!! Oh, no. I am crying for you, and am so very, very sorry that you had this devastating loss. Oh, no. I am praying for you, my sister. This cannot be gotten over; it must simply be lived through. You are strong. Call me if you think it might help; I'll send you a pm with my number. Love, niKa

Happy Anniversary to Words and Works and Mr. W&W, and all of the other 9th Corps Wedding couples!!! Thanks to Mr.W&W for remembering that; it was not on my radar at all. Wow - 28 years since we were unleashed upon the unsuspecting world? Weren't most of us younger than that then? We were such sweet babies. And now, we're such sweet . . . grownups!! Happy Graduation and Anniversary, everybody! You are some of the finest folks that it will ever be my privilege to know.

It was one hundred and four degrees here today, and this was a pretty typical day for us, lately. Maaa-aan. If it doesn't move, I'm watering it. Tomatoes love the heat, though, and they're getting big and red. Happy Summer, everybody!!

OOOOOOOohhhhh! It's PRETTY!! Thank you very much.

Excie, good topic. Twinky, that was a nice description when you said "a knowing." The still, small voice of God, which is suddenly there, where it wasn't before; which doesn't overbear, doesn't force, and is always right. Sometimes, I just quietly know something that I didn't know the moment before. Over the years, I've learned to (usually? I wish!) recognize it for what it is, and have also learned that I need to pay attention to it. My Dad could listen to it, and it saved his life several times during WWII. My Mom could, too. My sister also, and she once told me that she thought my attention was too taken up by "little things" to be able to listen clearly. Funny how someone who never "took the class" hit it right on the nose. love, niKa

Lifted: OH. I didn't know what gender you were, because I don't know who you are! If you want, you can send me a private message to spill your identity. Here's a little story called . . . THE FLYING FIRKIN. This is absolutely true, and happened three days ago. We were hiking along a narrow trail that had been cut into a steep mountainside. The mountainside was slippery shale in places, and ankle-high brown grass in other places. Suddenly, about thirty yards above me, up on the slope, there was a commotion. I looked up just in time to see a striped groundsquirrel (Firkin) bounding down the steep slope (wait - is he bounding, or is he out of control?). He was descending in a straight line, headed for the bottom (waaaaay down below) at a very fast rate, seeming to fly through the air at about six inches above the ground; every three feet or so, he'd touch down to steady himself. He crossed the path about a yard in front of me, and made it to some taller grass that was growing around the base of an aspen tree, maybe twenty yards below me. He somersaulted in a tiny, Firkin-sized perfect circle before crashing into the soft grass, therefore halting his manic descent. That was Evel Knievel Firkin, for sure. His crossing so closely in front of me leads me to believe that he was out of control, and making the best of a bad situation. If so, he handled gravity with quite a bit of Firkin Finesse. Love, niKa Lifted, by the way: Contratulations on being a . . . Grandpa! I'll bet you'll be a great one!

Thanks, Excie!! Thanks, Lifted!! Woo-HOOO, Lifted!! A Grandma? You're getting into the big times, there. You mentioned a "minor obvious change," dare we pry? You are so lucky to be a nearlyGrandma!!! Please let us know when your title is official.

WW and Ham and the rest have made some excellent points. I think it was about control. When control-freaks start to loose domination, they grasp at anything that can prove (at least to themselves) that they still have control. They used our fear of loss of "the family of God" against us, as well as our pride (who wants to admit that the ministry was a major life mistake, when we spent our twenties defending it to our natural families?) The loyalty letters, which demanded people to choose between Craig and Chris, were a symptom of this. Another was the purging of gays, which was the only means of controlling them; genetics can't be "healed," so we'd better not have them around. Women getting to be too good at what they do? Stop ordaining them. Pull some "present truth" out of your ear and watch the people dance to your tune. Diminishing numbers of people, to be sure, but the more they see others getting kicked out, the harder they dance to try to stay in. Control is achieved. Control must be very reassuring to a leader whose organization is imploding.