A la prochaine

Outandabout, the gent you are reproving doesn't seem too damaged by your finger waving!!! You seem pretty harmless to me :D-->

JT, Great idea...i'd pay to see that on film! :)-->

Dear Sky, :D--> ~ I feel ya brother!!!!

Mr. Hammie, Touch?BR> That reminds me of an incident where someone told me about a time some stupid thick headed leader ranted on and on and on about something they thought was off that this person had done. After this leader was done, the person who was being reproved burst out into laughter. Couldn't contain themselves. They thought the whole thing was absolutely ridiculous. The reprover was completely disarmed. They tried to show how 'unspiritual' this person was but it didn't go anywhere. They pretty much walked away having no effect. With humour, you can often render the power struggle ineffective. I use this in the classroom everyday. It works.

Mr. Tuttle, Could not have said it any better. Thanks.

Outandabout, The best definition of Way Brain I've seen yet. By the way, thanks for all those pics you posted. Saw alot of old croneys I knew back then.

Hahahahahahahhahahahahaahhahahahahahaha!!! Yes I think I've seen it. What a wonderful mind picture! You've made my Groundhog day!

Dear Hammie, Thank you, thank you, thank you. I'm on the floor laughing my foot off! CG/LCM vs rodent Phil. (I think that's his name if I remember correctly from Groundhog Day) Whatever brand of coffee you are drinking, don't stop. You could possibly have a career as a stand-up (or cyber-stand-up)comedian. thank you

Outandabout, Great post. I must admit, I was exactly like you. Clueless when it came to these sorta' things. Blinded by 'oh I must be imagining things'. And if I knew of something that had gone on, in the bottom of my gut I always thought it was probably some exaggeration of some sort. No man of god would do such a thing. Well, until my wow year. Up til then if something had gone on, I just chalked it up to 'bad leader' and we were the lucky ones to have to deal with them. Everyone else was holier than thou leaders. In my first year in TWI, our fearless leader managed (corps) managed to get my roomate pregnant and have an affair with a married woman. He was one of these 'Branch Wow Rovers' and would do these woman in different cities. When the proverbial 'dang' hit the fan, the head honchos from HQ got involved. The resolution was...send this guy as far away as possible...some 3,000 miles where no one would know of his doings and he could perhaps continue in his ways in his new unsuspecting area. Which he did. THANK YOU VERY MUCH TWI! But, on my wow year, our ordained fearless leader(age probably 30-35) with a pregnant wife had an affair with my just 18 year old wow sister. When all of that came to a head...VP got involved. When he heard of what had gone on, with Mrs. VP in the meeting as well, VP's opening comment was, "Is THAT what you guys are all worked up about?" Again, I thought to myself, 'OK, maybe I'm not seeing the big picture here?' --> But like you, when I arrived at GS, I began to see the puzzle come together. All this started to make sense. About a year ago, someone told me of an incident that happened to them in the motorcoach. This story OMHO revealed what type of psychopath VP really was. There was no sex involved in this incident, but the other actions that ensued showed me his true colors and what type of power mongrol he was. All have to say is that when VP did not get what he wanted, he was an ugly man. When this person left the motorcoach earlier than anticipated, the security guard outside the coach had a shocked look on their face. Later on that day, this security guard came up to this person and said, "Never look a gift horse in the mouth." This person had no idea what they were talking about because like me she never thought VP was trying to do what we know now he was trying to do. What an interesting little cult we were apart of. I get the most sick feeling in the bottom of my gut when I think that I actually solicited their wares. -->

By the way, that was the beginning of many incidents I had either heard or knew of. Some of VP, others of leadership I had the not so awesome privilege of working with. -->

I would have to say the first time I heard something that didn't sit right with me regarding VP and another woman...was in 1976. This woman was visiting HQ for the very first time. She had just finished PFAL for the 1st time a few months prior. She met VP when she was at HQ (1st time as well) and he called her over. He was sitting in a lounger style deck chairs. She went over, had her introduce herself and started to talk with her. He then started to rub her back, then proceeded to rub her back under her shirt. Then, took his hand and went under her bra-strap. At this point she felt very uncomfortable. He sensed her uncomfortability and said, "Honey, there ain't nothing to worry here. There's no evil here. There's no evil here." How's that for an introduction THE MAN OF GOD FOR OUR TIME!!!!!!! PIG.

Gaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwddddd what a f*cken mess!!

Sir Sky, Say no more. :(-->

:)--> :D-->

I speak 2 languages. I love to swim but especially dive. I always hated playing team sports. I felt guilty about this for years until I took the colours personality test and found out that I'm an orange...oranges are NOT team players. I have 3 daughters. I love taking pictures of them. I love photography. Daryl...I'd love to see your pictures. I have written a few children's books (still unpublished) I love writing emails and receiving them (except for junk ones) Music is one of my deepest passions. Friendship means alot to me.

diarrhea? --> what a way to go -->

I see 3 ... 2 horsies and the cowboy. I must be special.

Hope, I would have to agree with Grasshopper as well. The nazis were in full swing by the 90s. Though, I was in residence in the early 80's and things weren't anymore peachy keen either. Just, like you said, there seemed to be more of us than them at that time. Though I distinctly remember the 'nazis' were highly praised while I was there. One incident that comes to mind is when at some point, it was made available for people to go on this 'cabbage soup diet'. People gained much weight it seemed while I was in residence. Hours of sitting in teachings...usually 4 hrs. in the day, and at least the same in the evening. We worked 4 hrs. but most of it was not labour intensive. Therefore, with the meals being served to us on our plates we tended to overeat especially when meal times droaned on for hours. I remember the first time the diet was in effect, at least 2/3's of the campus participated. Anyhow, the second time they had this diet...I did not wish to partake. But, my 'twig' begged and pleaded for me to go on it. Said it would be a group effort. I agreed. About a day into it, I realized this was NOT for me. So, I politely told the kitchen crew that I would not be partaking and that I would rather have a regular meal. There was no problem until... A 10th corps nazi sat down at the table. We began to eat and she asked me why I was not doing the diet. As announcements had begun, I did not want to speak and be called out for interrupting, so I wrote her a brief note, stating that I had felt it was not right for me at the time. She said nothing to me, but just smiled back. As I was walking out of the dining room, I saw this same woman sitting with the Assistant Corps Coordinator's wife with both of them reading over the note I had written at supper. I gasped. I went up to the ASSistant CC's wife and said,"Yes, I wrote the note and if you care to speak to me, I will answer any questions you have." That was it. It was over. I was raked over the coals for not knowing what commitment was. I was not salted. I didn't know what it meant to keep a vow...on and on and on. By the end of it all...i was left in a pool of tears, sitting on the steps of the library by myself. I was basically told I was worthless. At that moment, sitting on those stairs, this same ASSistant CC's wife Jud* Bedar*, walked by me. She saw my state. She saw the tears. She just kept walking and never looked my way. YES.....THERE WERE CORPS NAZIS EVERYWHERE...EVEN IN 1981.

John, If you were to get a sense of humour in that place that's when it's tits up for you. Sense of humour ~ NOT ALLOWED!!!!

Exxie, I'll have to ditto that one sista' Sky, Q: What does an "abusive corps-nazis" do that distinguishes him from other corps? A: The corps nazi does exactly what he is told to the letter. Q: Were there scores of these guys or was it relatively isolated? A: I used to think that the 'corps-nazis' I had the painful experience of living under were relatively isolated, but not after I arrived here on GS. Q: Why didn't the chain of command, vpw and/or lcm, stop these "abusing corps-nazis?" A: Because they were part of the problem. They were proud of these 'corps' because they were doing what they had been taught. Q: Were these corps-nazis simply following orders from corps meetings? A: Yes, often they were. And therefore, if they ripped someone's heart out of their chests in doing so, they felt vindicated because they were doing what they were told. Q: Did there need to be any leadership structure at all for "believers to work together?" A: I believe 99% of these problems could have been solved by just being decent human beings. More structure is NOT what was needed...thank you!!! It's a heart thing when it comes to God and his people. Q: If abusive corps-nazis were working in your area and you saw this abuse(verbal?, emotional?, physical?, sexual?) then why stay with twi? A: I always believed that my abusive experiences were just isolated. I pathetically thought that if VP/LCM were to hear of these doings, they would have been apalled. MAN, was I wrong. Q: Have these abusive corps-nazis gained rank up to higher levels? A: Absolutely!

Socks, Poetic, simply poetic.

I cry when I listen to certain music. One day in the car... I was listening to the classical station (not my favourite.. but hubby's)...heard an opera singer called Cecelia Bartolie sing and started to cry uncontrollably. I hated opera pretty much up til that point. I love Norah Jones and her Handsome Band. They send me. I was hit by a car when I was 3 and broke my femur. I have had 10 teeth extracted. I love collecting rocks and find geomorphological landforms fascinating. I am a cartographer, though I have never worked as one. I think Billy Connolly is one of the funniest men alive and have seen him twice in concert. I have a deep desire to visit Scotland, Ireland and Wales. I love to travel. One of my all-time favourite movies is Jerry Maguire. I have probably watched it over 20 times.

I couldn't have imagined this any more perfect. :D--> Thank God for 'ACTS of GOD'

Hello CoolChef, Welcome! Hope you are able to share with us some nice recipes. We look forward to getting to know you. Enjoy your stay. A la ... the almighty!

Mstar That's a tough one to get unstuck...i'm praying for you !! -->