General Discussion, Saturday, January 27, 2018

Posted on January 27, 2018 by Stella

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140 Responses to General Discussion, Saturday, January 27, 2018

  1. czarowniczy says:
    January 27, 2018 at 1:07 am

    Prayers for a true American hero and patriot, G. Gordon Liddy who is having health issues.
    “A liberal is someone who feels a great debt to his fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money.” GGL

    Liked by 3 people

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  2. nyetneetot says:
    January 27, 2018 at 8:44 am

    Mornin’ stella! (Smiter of those that ought to be smote) 😎 🍸 (Long Island Iced Tea)
    Mornin’ WeeWeed! (Master Mixologist Extrodinare) 😎 🍸 (Old Fashioned)
    Mornin’ Menagerie! 😎 |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| (Jack Daniels – Single Barrel )
    Mornin’ Ad rem! (Queen Felis catus) 🐱 🍸 (Flaming Lamborghini)
    Mornin’ Sharon! 😎 🍸 🍸 (earthquake)
    Mornin’ ytz4mee! 😎 🍸 (cosmopolitan)
    Mornin’ waltzingmtilda! 🙂 🍸 (white wine and perrier)
    Mornin’ partyzantski! 🙂 |_| (Tom Collins)
    Mornin’ texan59! 🙂 |_| (Black & Tan)
    Mornin’ ZurichMike! 🙂 🍸 (fuzzy navel)
    Mornin’ Col.(R) Ken! (hand salute) 🙂 |_| (Boilermaker)
    Mornin’ czarina33! (aka czarina) 🙂 🍸 (Lynchburg Lemonade)
    Mornin’ czarowniczy! 🙂 |_| (Wild Turkey Rare Breed)
    Mornin’ letjusticeprevail2014! 🙂 |_| (Irish Car Bomb)
    Mornin’ Patriot1783-ctdar! (aka “ctdar”) 🙂 🍸 (grasshopper)
    Mornin’ tessa50! 🙂 🍸 (flaming volcano)
    Mornin’ waltzingmtilda! 🙂 🍸 (sidecar)
    Mornin’ varsityward! 🙂 |_| (Godfather)
    Mornin’ MaryfromMarin! 😀 |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| (Mortlach)
    Mornin’ Wooly Covfefe! (aka “Wooly Phlox” aka “taqiyyologist”) 🙂 |_| (Roy Rogers)
    Mornin’ Howie! (aka “doodahdaze”) 🙂 |_| (Classic Daiquiri)
    Mornin’ TwoLaine! 🙂 |_| (Gin & Tonic)
    Mornin’ Sha! 🙂 🍸 (Lemon Drop)
    Mornin’ BigMamaTEA! 🙂 🍸 (Harvey Wallbanger)
    Mornin’ cetera5! (aka “Cetera”) 🙂 |_| (Blackberry wine)
    Mornin’ The Tundra PA! 🙂 🍸 (Gentleman Jack Whiskey Sling)
    Mornin’ lovely! 🙂 |_| (Backdraft)
    Mornin’ michellc! 🙂 🍸 (Salty dog)
    Mornin’ auscitizenmom! 🙂 🍸 (Kiss on the Lips)
    Mornin’ Margaret-Ann! 🙂 🍸 (White Russian)
    Mornin’ Auntie Lib! 🙂 🍸 (Tom and Jerry)
    Mornin’ holly100! 🙂 🍸 (Jack & Coke)
    Mornin’ Pam! 🙂 (Not even water)
    Mornin’ Ms.Tee! 🙂 🍸 (Mojito)
    Mornin’ koolkosherkitchen! 🙂 🍸 🍸 (Cuba Libre)
    Mornin’ ImpeachEmAll 🙂 |_| (Flaming Dr. Pepper)
    Mornin’ Monroe! 🙂 |_| (Stinger)
    Mornin’ Les! 🙂 |_| (Rusty Nail)
    Mornin’ shiloh1973! 🙂 |_| (Jack Daniels)
    Mornin’ TexasRanger! 🙂 |_| (Whiskey Smash)
    Mornin’ Ziiggii! 🙂 |_| (B52)
    Mornin’ oldiadguy! 🙂 |_| (Rum & Coke)
    Mornin’ smiley! (“stuck in spambucket”) 🙂 🍸 (Spanish coffee)
    Mornin’ derk! (“Stellars”) 🙂 🍸 (Kamikaze)
    Mornin’ Jacqueline Taylor Robson 🙂 🍸 (Shirley Temple)
    Mornin’ facebkwallflower! 🙂 |_| (Night Train Express)
    Mornin’ Ms. Cindy! (aka “Ms Cynlynn” aka “ms cynlynn”) 🙂 🍸 (1970 ducru beaucaillou)
    Mornin’ sandandsea2015! 🙂 🍸 (1961 Château Montrose)
    Mornin’ amwick! 🙂 🍸 (Blue motorcycle)
    Mornin’ hocuspocus13! 🙂 🍸 (1970 Chateau Latour)
    Mornin’ Sloth1963! 🙂 🍸 (1971 Moulin Touchais)
    Mornin’ MTeresa! (Ex-lurker) 🙂 |_| (Albanian Raki Moskat)
    Mornin’ Rhea Salacia Volans! 🙂 |_| (Hot Buttered Rum)
    Mornin’ joshua! 🙂 |_| (Mudslide)
    Mornin’ John Denney! 🙂 |_| (RumChata)
    Mornin’ litenmaus! 🙂 |_| (Stolichnaya elit, no ice)
    Mornin’ kinthenorthwest! 🙂 🍸 (A Lonely Island Lost in the Middle of a Foggy Sea)
    Mornin’ TwoLaine! 🙂 |_| (Smoking Bishop)
    Mornin’ patternpuzzler! 🙂 🍸 (Old Lady)
    Mornin’ Senatssekretär FREISTAAT DANZIG! 🙂 |_| (Red Russian)
    Mornin’ G-d&Country! 🙂 🍸 (Blind Russian)
    Mornin’ Gary! 🙂 |_| (Yuengling)
    Mornin’ valeriecurren! 🙂 🍸 (Flaming Sambuca)
    Mornin’ Lucille! 🙂 🍸 (Peach Schnapps)
    Mornin’ Lburg! 🙂 🍸 (Lburg lemonade)
    Mornin’ davidhuntpe! 🙂 |_| (Baileys Irish Cream on the rocks)
    Mornin’ skipper1961! 🙂 |_| (Brompton’s Cocktail – No cherry, no umbrella, no plastic monkey)
    Mornin’ mightyconservative! 🙂 |_| (Benjamin Franklin’s clarified milk punch)
    Mornin’ whiners and complainers! 😛 (No drink for you!)
    Mornin’ to people posting that I missed. 😳
    Mornin’ to all you lurkers! 😕

    Also just in case someday; mornin’ to Elvis Chupacabra, F.D.R. in Hell and sundance! :mrgreen:

    Breakfast!

    NEW and IMPROVED breakfast with extra bacon for ZurichMike!

    Cinnamon rolls for coffee!

    Liked by 8 people

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  4. G-d&Country says:
    January 27, 2018 at 9:44 am

    Good Morning everyone 🙂

    Today’s painting is “Geraniums and Cats” by Pierre-Auguste Renoir:

    Pierre-Auguste Renoir, commonly known as Auguste Renoir 1841 –1919, was a French artist who was a leading painter in the development of the Impressionist style. In his youth the location of their home in central Paris placed Renoir in proximity to the Louvre. Although the young Renoir had a natural proclivity for drawing, he exhibited a greater talent for singing, & his talent was encouraged by his teacher. Due to the family’s financial circumstances, Renoir had to discontinue his music lessons & leave school at the age of thirteen to pursue an apprenticeship at a porcelain factory. Although Renoir displayed a talent for his work, he frequently tired of the subject matter & sought refuge in the galleries of the Louvre. The owner of the factory recognized his apprentice’s talent & communicated this to Renoir’s family. Following this, Renoir started taking lessons to prepare for entry into Ecole des Beaux Arts. At times, when he was in his 20s, he did not have even enough money to buy paint. However eventually towards the end of his life in 1919 he was able to visit the Louvre & see his paintings hanging with those of the old masters.
    http://www.theartstory.org/artist-renoir-pierre-auguste.htm
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre-Auguste_Renoir
    Enjoy! Have a great day 🙂

    Liked by 5 people

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  5. Wooly Covfefe says:
    January 27, 2018 at 10:01 am

    Mornin’ Stellars. Had serious DTs since Thursday night, didn’t sleep until probably 3:00 this morning. Thank you Advil PM. I didn’t cold-turkey, but went from 7-8 25oz beers a day to 1-2… been awhile since I cut back that drastically. Realized I had to when I couldn’t eat with a fork. Everything kept falling off the fork. Not good. Reasonably sure it ain’t Parkinson’s.

    I do read the thread every day, even if I don’t make an appearance.

    Liked by 6 people

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    • lovely says:
      January 27, 2018 at 10:17 am

      (((Wooly))) please please be safe, you can beat this, please get a friend in the area to help you, I’ve lost friends to alcoholism. I’ve nursed a friend who blew a .34 because rehab wouldn’t take her as they just had a girl die who blew less than that. I’ve had a friend almost kill himself because he threw a chair threw a plate glass window during his DT’s and then tried to climb out through the jagged glass. Buried a friend who was 4′ 11″ and about 85 pounds but her body was so puffy she was squished in the coffin. I could go on. And on.

      What you’re trying to do is serious, deadly serious, your body is telling you it is serious, your mind knows that it’s serious and your soul is fighting for your body. Please please get some help from an actual person.

      I know what it is like to not want to reach out to a physical person because it has not helped in the past, act as if it will work Wooly, what have you got to lose?

      Love you sweet man ❤️.

      Liked by 5 people

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      • Wooly Covfefe says:
        January 27, 2018 at 10:45 am

        Thank you, Lovely, I am taking it very seriously.

        3 years back I cold-turkeyed for 12 days. The first three were horrible, the next 9 got better each day, until I said, “Okay, I’m good. I can trust myself with a beer or two, now.”

        I appreciate everyone’s prayers, and the advice. I’ll keep you updated over the course of the week. Next weekend is the busiest of the year for us, bar none. I’d like to be ready for it.

        Liked by 5 people

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        • lovely says:
          January 27, 2018 at 11:22 am

          And you will continue to believe that “Okay, I’m good. I can trust myself with a beer or two, now.” until the monkey of deception is lifted off your back, the monkey is there no matter how much you try to ignore it, you need a paradigm shift. Your body and mind are chemically imbalanced, they will continue to be so until that shift happens. When the shift happens you recognize the lie.

          One is too many 10 are not enough. There is only truth in that statement.

          I will say it again, you are better than the life you are living.

          Liked by 3 people

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          • Wooly Covfefe says:
            January 27, 2018 at 10:40 pm

            I will say it again, you are better than the life you are living.

            I’d be rich if I had five bucks for everyone who ever told me that. I appreciate that, and I need to realize it fully and not just in part. Faith is nothing without works. I do works, but only in part. Which is why I’m doing this, as it’s an obstacle. The obstacle.

            10 Let A$=”Beer”
            20 Work, drink A$, think, read, think, drink A$, eat, sleep, drink A$
            30 Goto 20

            That’s a horrible program.

            Liked by 1 person

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            • lovely says:
              January 28, 2018 at 12:18 am

              You’re right that is a horrible program so perhaps you could try a program with some horrible aspects that might have a different outcome? As I’ve said I’m no fan of the propaganda and promiscuousness that AA endorses but I am also no fan of a beautiful person like yourself wrestling unnecessary demons every day. If you try to work some aspects of AA you can take the good parts, maybe make a friend or 2 who is in the same boat as you.

              I have been sober for 28 years, (I was an alcohol at age 14 and continued on for 7 years) when I was first in AA the old goats would joke that they spilled more on their shoes than I drank in my lifetime. I went to meetings faithfully for about 3 months and that is where I capped out.

              I could not hear one more person trying to portray a worse childhood than the next person, one more person trying to talk about how “they” were the biggest drunk/druggie/whatever in the room, it was like the Monty Python chaps fighting over who grew up the poorest, nor could I hear one more time how this anniversary or that anniversary was being looked upon with fear and trepidation that the person might celebrate by drinking, and lastly but not solely a relative of my boyfriend at the time (I didn’t know he was related to my boyfriend) asked me if I’d like to be his f*ck buddy, people hook up with no emotional connection to get over their primal urges.

              Now I’ve told you all the negatives and I have never been a big social person so I did not need to replace my drinking buddies. I am still friends to this day with some of them. Some are sober, some are dead.

              So the positives of AA, it is a first good bridge to sobriety. You may meet one person who will help you when you want to reach for that 1 or 2 beers. You may help someone. Someone may help you. I honestly wish I could say more good about it but I can’t but if it is your first step that is still better than where you are now.

              I do remember the first time I was aware of the gift of sobriety, a police car pulled up to a meeting place and I knew for certain that they weren’t there for me.

              I was not christian when I was first sober, I was not really looking in that direction, so when a guy used to hold up a pencil and call it both Fred and his higher power I thought it was just dumb. Now I would find it incredibly sad.

              There is a lot that sucks about AA and I know you know that but all you need is one person to hold your hand and you will be in a better place than you are now so in my Trump voice “What do you have to lose?”

              Something comes to mind and I feel compelled to say it though it goes against my nature to do so. You just told us the story of your giving $200 to a gentle in need. It was a gift freely given by you so that the man might better his life and his children’s lives. Now what if that man took that $200 and went to a hooker or bought drugs and OD’d or bought a gun and robbed a store? What a waste of a gift. Don’t waste the gift of life Wooly. There is so much beauty here. So much.

              The 12 steps and its inherent subjectivity of God’s place in sobriety is a hindrance without a doubt but you can restructured them to truth.

              I looked them up and made some quick simple adjustments.

              1 We admitted we were powerless over alcohol – that our lives had become unmanageable.

              2) Believe that Jesus Christ could restore us to sanity.

              3) Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God.

              4) Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

              5) Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.6)

              6) Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

              7) Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

              8) Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

              9)Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

              10) Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

              11) Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

              12) Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

              Just saw this

              “Newcomers are not asked to accept or follow these Twelve Steps in their entirety if they feel unwilling or unable to do so.”

              Understand at every meeting they discuss a “step” and there is a 99% chance that they will not be receptive to a Christian interpretation. That is not what you are called to do at the moment. You are called to put the oxen mask on yourself first. Without saving yourself you cannot help others and you are called to a beautiful life where you help others. Heck you may even go on to found a christian sobriety program who knows.

              You are the best of the best Wooly, you are a person who more often says “Thank you God” than “Please God” your’e a rare bird, imagine a world with a sober Wooly living the life you are worthy of living.

              My great grandfather was friends with Bill W and Bill S. My GGF died sober, his son died drunk. There is nothing mythological about AA or sobriety it is a Grace and a choice. Bob S in particular led a dry life, not a sober life.

              The answer is inside of you Wooly.

              I listen to the wind to the wind of my soul. Where I’ll end up well I think only God really knows. I’ve sat upon the setting sun. But never never never never. I never wanted water once. No never never, never. I listen to my words but they fall far below. I let my music take me where my heart wants to go. I swam upon the devil’s lake. But never never never never. I’ll never make the same mistake. No never never never…

              Liked by 1 person

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        • Lburg says:
          January 27, 2018 at 11:50 am

          A counselor friend of mine said that the hardest times are at three days, three weeks, three months and three years. Know that there will be ups and downs and reach out to people for both.

          Celebrate your achievements with trusted friends, Wooly. You are worth the celebration!

          Liked by 2 people

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          • stella says:
            January 27, 2018 at 11:59 am

            I know that when I quit smoking the first time, I went six months completely without a cigarette and confidently (and wrongly) believed I could have a cigarette. Off the wagon I went.

            For me, smoking is an all or nothing situation. I only quit for good when my older sister died of emphysema. That was 1989, and she was only 60. I was motivated, and it worked that time.

            Liked by 5 people

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            • Menagerie says:
              January 27, 2018 at 12:13 pm

              I did the same thing. For years I tried to tell myself I could only smoke occasionally, and I always started back.

              Then, because It’s just what works for me, classes, learning, I took a six week class hosted by a local hospital. They had quite a few doctors – cardiologists and pulmonary guys, a very convincing podiatrist who probably impacted us more than the lung guys, a dentist, and dietician.

              After I found out what improves in your body (drastically, not just a little) after 24 hours, one week, one month, one year, and one decade, I knew I would never smoke again because for the first time they showed me how one puff, just one puff undoes all that you have invested in those lengths of time, and I did not want to waste all that effort. I never again saw one cigarette as just one cigarette, it would be an end to years of work.

              Addictions can never, ever be part time. They cannot be negotiated with. It is all or nothing.

              Liked by 4 people

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    • joshua says:
      January 27, 2018 at 10:18 am

      some folks have found their solution here.
      http://www.aa.org/pages/en_US/index

      Liked by 1 person

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      • joshua says:
        January 27, 2018 at 10:21 am

        dropping back is called “controlled drinking”…it rarely does anything to help…just puts off the next binge. I have some personal experience here. There is hope for you if you chose it. It will not cure itself. Good luck. You are worth saving from an addiction and the resulting behaviors.

        Liked by 4 people

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    • auscitizenmom says:
      January 27, 2018 at 10:27 am

      Still praying for you every night. ❤

      Liked by 4 people

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    • stella says:
      January 27, 2018 at 10:41 am

      Listen to what lovely is telling you, Wooly. We do care about you, and are pulling for you to get through this safely.

      I’m thinking that you don’t want to admit that you can’t do this by yourself – that you don’t need anybody to help. I’m like that myself lots of the time. Give in and seek help. You will be glad you did in the end.

      Liked by 7 people

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      • Menagerie says:
        January 27, 2018 at 10:59 am

        Wooly, I have to second here what Stella and lovely and joshua have said. In the past you have rejected help because you don’t like the program, the books, or the Bible translation they use.

        For God’s sake, do not reject the good because it is not perfect. Bow that stiff neck and take help from someone somewhere. Question your absolute rejection of help. Is it really for the reasons you state, and are those reasons really more important than the help you need, or are they rooted in pride?

        Your knowledge of scripture and biblical studies and translations might be superior to hundreds of people who reach out for help, get it, and go on to do very well in healing and growing. Including spiritually.

        Your friends above have given you such excellent counsel. Perhaps God led you here among these dear friends that you might listen to them.

        Liked by 5 people

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        • Wooly Covfefe says:
          January 27, 2018 at 11:18 am

          As I said below, I know, on all counts, that what you say is true. And I wrote that comment before I read yours. Fear, and pride. I have both in great measure.

          Liked by 2 people

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          • Lburg says:
            January 27, 2018 at 5:57 pm

            Wooly, apparently my heart and I have been thinking about you all day because, while I stirred some pinto beans, I heard the following question:

            If fear and pride have kept you in your current situation, what might change if you didn’t let them stop you from reaching out?

            Thank you for being courageous enough to share your struggle – the question that popped out is applicable to me as well – different scenario – but the same question applies.

            Sending Hugs. (And pinto beans.)

            Liked by 3 people

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      • Wooly Covfefe says:
        January 27, 2018 at 11:15 am

        In this town, there is godless AA, and a “Chirstian” “church”-based organization which is little more than a weekly sales pitch for Zondervan books, and only Zondervan books. I kindly returned their abomination of a “bible” and never returned. The director there called me and asked why, and I asked him, “Why can’t a bunch of Christians just get together and pray with one another, without it being a blatantly obvious sales pitch?” This guy is running a business, and knows it. He never answered my question, and said, “Sorry you feel that way,” as if knowledge = feelings alone, and we’ve since parted ways.

        I’m considering going to St. Basil’s, our local Diocese, thanks to Menagerie — but fear that they’ll be SJW-converged, too. I know I want nothing to do with AA or Zondervan Publishers sales pitches. Both have worked for many people, I know. People far less knowledgeable than I am about scripture and heresy. So I have too much fear, and perhaps too much pride, as well.

        Liked by 3 people

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        • stella says:
          January 27, 2018 at 11:28 am

          I sent you an email. Put yourself in God’s hands, and let him lead you where you should go. God won’t fail you. Men will.

          Liked by 5 people

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        • stella says:
          January 27, 2018 at 11:41 am

          And …. we all have suggestions for what you should do, and all of us have your well being in our hearts, but only God knows for sure what is best for you.

          Liked by 5 people

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        • G-d&Country says:
          January 27, 2018 at 12:12 pm

          Wooly, I was thinking if you could get a job at or near a place like Wyoming Catholic College and the outdoor program there it would most likely be a better environment than a restaurant with alcohol around. It is a true Catholic College, no SJW there.
          https://wyomingcatholic.org/
          They also have a great true classical liberal arts curriculum which I think you would really like. You may be able to just sit in on classes. Thomas More in NH or I’m guessing any of the Newman Society colleges would be a good environment, but unknown if they are as outdoorsy as Wyoming.
          Getting away from alcohol, and progressive, (religious as well as marijuana etc) people and area would most likely help you.

          Liked by 4 people

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          • Wooly Covfefe says:
            January 27, 2018 at 11:09 pm

            I understand, G&C, and it’s true.

            One of the best years of my life was in ’97, when I’d hit a rock bottom that is several strata lower than where I am now, I went to this place, in Hillsboro NH, and spent a year working a farm, praising God, and learning about the Bible and it’s meaning. The Church we all went to wasn’t at the farm, on “the Hill”, as we called it; it was in town. It was just a Bible Chapel. No lasers, smoke, recording artists, Max Lucado candles/calendars/books/blue-jeans (that last was a joke of mine about Max at the time. I wonder what his mansion looks like today). It was just worship and great sermons, knowledge, and praise.

            http://hismansion.com/

            All funded by all sorts of churches in the U.S. and the world, and I think my folks paid $35 a month for them to put me some grace and knowledge and love. And they did. I still get their newsletter, and read it, each month. 11 years later. I’ve still got all my Bible class notes in a three-ring binder, and another full of praise songs, and hymns from back to 1853 that I hand-wrote and tabbed. They’re in a box in the bottom of my closet.

            I don’t think I need to be in a communal Christian place like that right now, though. I’ve affected so many people for good in this town, and have been told that by several people. I could affect even more if I quit drinking.

            Like

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        • Menagerie says:
          January 27, 2018 at 12:39 pm

          Look Wooly, I read something one time that I have used over and over. If I did it all the time, I’d be a lot more the person I want to be than I am now.

          Try something. Anything. Make your best decision, and then go for it. Take action. If it does not work, use the value you did find and make another choice. If you know you are failing, fail fast. Get out, go on, but do go on. And dammit, do not use the fail fast as an excuse, but recognize it’s rarity.

          I am a person who could be a hermit. I fear what might happen to me if my husband dies before I do. He keeps me in the world. Consequently, I try to find groups to join in periodically. That is why I helped teach RCIA, I used to be a member of a senior’s group at another parish. That was pretty difficult for me – I felt oh, so out of place. Every one of those efforts paid off hugely for me, and every one of them had things about them that I did not like, or something that I didn’t agree with, or something someone was pushing.

          So what? Life is like that. The church selling the books might be using that funding to good outcome in operating their ministries. They might be entirely persuaded that what they offer is helping people, and some of it might. AA has helped millions of people. They get something out of it. I daresay that participants, independent of the program, have a huge impact through their words and actions to other people.

          Maybe God is sending you somewhere you need to be, and you need to be the help to someone else while you help yourself.

          Unless you are personally keeping company with Mary and Jesus, you are living amongst people who imperfectly relate to you, share with you, work with you, serve you and with you, worship and pray with you, and be with you, yet still you tell story after story of your love of them.

          Go love some others who are imperfect, and outside your comfort zone. There will be good in them too, and I guarantee that some of them are waiting for puzzle pieces you need to place for them.

          This sermon starts with a story I am sure you’ve heard, but I do not believe for a minute you have listened to. He fleshes it out, and he does an awesom job of it. You ought to spend the 7 minutes to listen. God usually doesn’t send what we expect or want. We choose to miss it because it isn’t what we ordered or expected Him, who knows us best, to give us.

          Stop being a Pharisee and recognize Jesus as He is.

          Liked by 5 people

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          • auscitizenmom says:
            January 27, 2018 at 1:07 pm

            That would make a good sermon, Menagerie. 🙂

            Liked by 4 people

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          • Menagerie says:
            January 27, 2018 at 1:19 pm

            One other thing. Suppose I have stage IV cancer. The best treatment with highest rates of longterm remissions are performed by an atheist doctor. Nearby are a couple of Christian doctors who are fairly good. I’m going straight to the best doc, short of him being Satanic.

            Liked by 3 people

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          • rheavolans says:
            January 27, 2018 at 6:24 pm

            I’m not trying to gang up on you Wooly, but there is something I want to say, that my mother said to me once, and I remember it still:

            “If you ever find the perfect church, don’t join. You’ll ruin it.”

            We’re all imperfect people. Every last one. I have been hurt worse by Christians – who knew me well enough to know where I was in my spiritual walk, and should have never said what they said to me – then I’ve ever been hurt by non-believers. At least I can write the non-believers off. Running away from the church and from God looked like a damned good option at the time. But it wasn’t the right answer. What was said to me hurts to this day (there was never any real remorse for what was said or the damage it caused, but an “I’m sorry you took my statements wrong” apology), but running from God and the church, which was my plan, is never the right answer.

            Liked by 2 people

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    • auscitizenmom says:
      January 27, 2018 at 10:47 am

      Wooly, my brother got to where you are now. He got treatment, went to AA, and quit for good. It can be done.

      Liked by 4 people

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    • Menagerie says:
      January 27, 2018 at 10:51 am

      You know you are in my prayers daily, and you have been for years. This week I will make my daily offerings and my sacrifices for you Wooly.

      Liked by 4 people

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    • Lburg says:
      January 27, 2018 at 11:27 am

      “Your best days are ahead of you. The movie starts when the guy gets sober and puts his life back together; it doesn’t end there.”
      ― Bucky Sinister, Get Up: A 12-Step Guide to Recovery for Misfits, Freaks, and Weirdos

      Prayers for you, Wooly.

      Liked by 4 people

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    • G-d&Country says:
      January 27, 2018 at 11:31 am

      Wooly – dear Wooly, We all support you in your efforts. Today I happened to wake up early enough to hear the homily on the EWTN (.com also) Mass. It was about fear. It will be repeated at noon eastern time, and will eventually show up on the website. You are never alone because you have the Holy Spirit in you. You are a child of God. You are loved.
      Choose the people around you – even AA group carefully, and quickly leave to find another if they are not right. A relative of mine went to AA, and after each meeting they all went out to a bar for drinks!
      You are wise enough to understand what happens with your body during detox, and that it is temporary, but the desire stays so staying away from drink is important. What was it when you were in NH that helped you before? Can that be even somewhat repeated where you are now? Eat well to nourish your body, even supplementing your food with vitamins and minerals.You can succeed, and improve your life. One day at a time, one foot in front of the other. Prayers for you our friend. You and we all are here together every day, but really good, helpful in your detox “real life” people are also important.

      Liked by 4 people

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    • nyetneetot says:
      January 27, 2018 at 1:44 pm

      When I stopped drinking and smoking a couple of years ago I replaced it with vending machine food. Eventually I was able to find a tent maker that was willing to add an elastic strip to keep my “pants” up. I guess that really doesn’t help, but hang in there.

      Liked by 3 people

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    • Jacqueline Taylor Robson says:
      January 27, 2018 at 4:21 pm

      Wooly, I’ve been there myself. Remember that you have many people here who will be praying for you, as will I. Wish we could all be with you to hold your hand, and help. We all care for you very much, and Tripod needs you too. Take care.

      Liked by 5 people

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    • michellc says:
      January 27, 2018 at 8:02 pm

      Woody, alcoholism ran on my father’s side and I can tell you none of them beat it by being a casual drinker. It honestly can’t be done. One family member went 10 years without a drink and thought he could drink just one beer and then it took him another 5 years of battling it all over again.

      Liked by 2 people

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  6. auscitizenmom says:
    January 27, 2018 at 10:57 am

    I have been avoiding the update on Windows 10 because so often the update puts problems in and I didn’t want to deal with it. Last night it sneaked up on me while I was out walking my doggie and when I came back it had started and was well into the update. That was about 6:00 PM and it continued on so long, I wasn’t sure I would get control back in time to post the 9:00 prayer. But, I did. I was really mad, but so far I haven’t seen any problems.

    A few years ago, Windows did an update and I couldn’t use my computer because it shut it down. I took it to Best Buy to the Geek Squad. It cost me $89 to get it fixed. And, they did fix it. What made me mad was that it was a problem the update had created and the fix was on the Internet and all he had to do was download it and install it. I could never have done that. I didn’t even know such a thing existed. That is why I pay Geek Squad every year now so I can have them fix whatever happens to it. For the last few months, Firefox has wanted to do a big update. 😦

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    • G-d&Country says:
      January 27, 2018 at 11:37 am

      Yes, I have been putting off updating firefox, but eventually will have to allow it or it will stop being supported and not work. I try and wait a few months or as long as possible thinking the bugs that show up when the 1st people update will have answers or workarounds when you search online. I should start searching now to see if there are problems with the update.

      Liked by 1 person

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      • auscitizenmom says:
        January 27, 2018 at 11:43 am

        Well, they have been after me for months to do this update, so I will be interested to know if they have cleaned up all the bugs they have added in the update. 🙄

        Liked by 1 person

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        • G-d&Country says:
          January 27, 2018 at 7:44 pm

          OK, well firefox must have been listening because earlier I went to comment here and I had no control over my computer – no task manager, no my pc, no word documents, no web connection – no nothing but a blue whirring “wait circle”. Then it stopped with a message about an application not being able to finish running. So I thought it might be the firefox update,but I had clicked don’t run by mistake on the Mcaffee warning, and I don’t know if that messed stuff up. It did not update at all the way it was said it would on firefox help. It did not tell me it was updating or even that it had started or stopped, but it did update. My home page was changed to mozilla, which I changed back, I had to get my bookmarks back up, and the url line is shorter, which I do not like, but so far that’s all the difference.

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          • auscitizenmom says:
            January 27, 2018 at 7:53 pm

            Holy Cow! I was trying to play solitaire and it started going really slowly and then took the cursor away from me and moved it around, then made some weird beeping sort of noises and gave the cursor back to me. It was running so slowly I finally restarted it and when that didn’t solve the problem, I disconnected from the Internet and then restarted. Now it seems fine. Very curious.

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            • G-d&Country says:
              January 28, 2018 at 9:14 am

              Think about getting a “Fix me Stick” and run it. You may have a virus. I had Norton anti- virus and got a bug so bad it ruined my computers software. Nothing worked, nothing helped but the Fix Me Stick. We are going to run it again on this computer. The old computer can no longer be attached to web, but I have all my info and pictures back, and can use it fine as long as not on web because it’s so old now. Or bring it back to the Geek Squad, but tome the Fix Me Stick is easier than anything else.

              Like

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              • auscitizenmom says:
                January 28, 2018 at 9:15 am

                Is this a thing I have to buy and attach to the computer? Or, is a some kind of program?

                Like

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                • G-d&Country says:
                  January 28, 2018 at 5:08 pm

                  You buy it at a store. We bought ours at Staples. It looks like a little thumb drive you insert in your computer slot. It connects to the internet, bypassing your computer’s internet connection, which was part of the problem with our old computer. The directions are fairly easy – much easier than the firefox update in my experience. You can pay extra and get a couple of years updates to a particular stick. We did not do that the 1st time, but since it did such a good job for our particular problem, we bought updates when we started running it on our newer (3 year old) computer. There is no security system that will save you from all viruses, that’s why we have McAffee on the computer (which I can’t stand slowing it down), and also use the Fix Me Stick every now and then. We should use it more regularly.
                  https://app.fixmestick.com/store/
                  It has a 4 of 5 review on pcmag , 4 of 5 at Staples, 3.7 of 5 at amazon, (but some amazon reviews are always questionable). 3.6 and 4.0 at 2 other sites.

                  BTW Before updating firefox I had 2 firefox showing running on task manager when online, after updating I now show 3 firefox running! How many do you have running?

                  Sorry in taking so long to get back to you. I do not have a wordpress account, so I have to look at older days to see if anyone responded. I will continue to check back tonight 🙂 I hope this helps your problem as it helped ours.

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                  • auscitizenmom says:
                    January 28, 2018 at 5:15 pm

                    Well, thank you for all that information. I will definitely look into it. If I can figure out how to check and see what is running, I will see how many firefoxes I have running on mine. 🙄 They did an update of some kind a year or so ago and ever since I can’t remember how to do that. Makes me so mad. I used to be able to find it very easily and now I have to go through everything until I just happen upon it. 😡

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    • G-d&Country says:
      January 28, 2018 at 5:31 pm

      I’m replying up here because it is wider, and there is no reply button down below. To see what’s running on task manager on my dell computer I right click on the bar on the bottom of my desktop (it can also be on the top of desktop) that you have set up with firefox and other icons. Then regular left click on task manager. 🙂

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      • auscitizenmom says:
        January 28, 2018 at 6:49 pm

        {sniff} THEY (whoever THEY are) moved it. I can’t find it.

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        • G-d&Country says:
          January 28, 2018 at 7:24 pm

          2 other ways I found: 1 is to press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and then selecting Start Task Manager. 2nd is press Ctrl+Shift+Esc & it pops up.

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          • auscitizenmom says:
            January 28, 2018 at 8:57 pm

            Thanks, I had forgotten that. Duh!

            Like

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            • G-d&Country says:
              January 28, 2018 at 10:03 pm

              You’re welcome. I hope it works for you 🙂

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              • auscitizenmom says:
                January 28, 2018 at 10:49 pm

                Okay. Here is what I found out. My security program is Webroot. The Geek squad recommended it and it seems to work for me. However, a while back I had to print out something and download Adobe and they added McAfee in the download……..even though I clicked for it not to. So, it has been running along with Webroot and I am sure that is what is bogging it down. I am going to let the Geek Squad fix it tomorrow even though I tried to uninstal it today, I don’t think it worked. Dang thing. Thank you so much for your help.

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                • G-d&Country says:
                  January 29, 2018 at 10:37 am

                  You’re very welcome! We help each other 🙂 I would be very interested in what Geek Squad says about McAfee. It does seem to run CONSTANTLY and bog the computer down significantly. I’ll have to look into that Webroot.
                  Were you able to see how many firefoxes were running on task manager while you are online? I am wondering because I had read multiple firefoxes might be a virus, but that was when you were NOT on the internet! I don’t know why I have 3 firefoxes running!

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                  • auscitizenmom says:
                    January 29, 2018 at 10:52 am

                    I don’t think there is but one Firefox running. Webroot doesn’t bog your computer down. I don’t know if I can explain it right, but the McAfee program is on your computer and uses CPU or Memory, or whatever. The Webroot program is NOT on your computer (sorry, I don’t know where it actually is) and so, when it is running, it is not using your CPU. I have had good luck with it.

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                  • stella says:
                    January 29, 2018 at 11:01 am

                    I’ve been using Webroot for more than a year now on all my devices, including phone and Kindle. I like it very much.

                    Like

                  • auscitizenmom says:
                    January 29, 2018 at 2:51 pm

                    I let the Geek Squad work on my computer. Took about 10 min. LOL. I had actually managed to uninstall McAfee last night. I just couldn’t tell. I also had tried to run an update for Foxfire and it would never work. Of course, it worked for him. Now it is running like a top. I really think it was McAfee that was causing the worst of the problems.

                    Liked by 1 person

                • G-d&Country says:
                  January 29, 2018 at 4:29 pm

                  Hi Thanks for the info! 🙂 I think my problem is the 3 firefoxes running as well as keeping an eye on when McAffee runs. I need to dial back the checks it makes.
                  Webroot is cloud based so it is on on whoever owns the servers they use, & they have access to the info on your computer to things like your usernames, account numbers, and other personal information they say they protect for you. It is a decision I will have to make, but the 3 firefoxes are a problem I need to figure out first.
                  Stella there is no reply button for your comment, but I wanted to say Thanks! for the review of Webroot 🙂 Maybe I’ll ask tomorrow morning on Wed. gen’l discussion if anyone else has 3 firefoxes running using 35% of memory when on web, or if they know how to fix it.

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                • G-d&Country says:
                  January 29, 2018 at 6:21 pm

                  After a little research apparently you are supposed to run 2 at the same time. I have only been running 3 since I updated firefox on Saturday, but it did not update as FAQ said it should.
                  I had kept task manager open on desktop, and all of a sudden system started using 95-100% of disk. THAT is what slows my computer to unusable – so did more research. It may be a microsoft thing. I wonder if microsoft screws up mozilla on purpose so you’ll go back to internet explorer. I have to go through & figure that out as well.
                  It started when I went on Washington Examiner/Washington Times website which I think I remember now I had deleted before from bookmarks because of problems, so sadly won’t go there again. Has something to do with Mozilla retrieval and website cache apparently?
                  I am now in mozilla safe mode. Interesting adblocker does not run in safe mode, but I can move around Stella’s fine. I had to adblock Stella’s because it ran so slow it was unusable without it. Gateway Pundit is also so slow it is unusable without adblocker.
                  McAfee also went nuts, but did not suck up as much memory or disk as firefox and system. Between firefox, system, and mcafee at one point I had about 100% memory and disk used up.
                  Good for you uninstalling McAfee. I am impressed!
                  I think there are 3 separate issues going on. I have to run fix me stick, and try some mozilla suggested fixes later this week. If that does not work, I’ll have to bring computer somewhere. There are no passwords or financials on it.
                  I’m thinking back to the good old days of binary, basic, and cobol!
                  Thanks for listening! 🙂

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  8. stella says:
    January 27, 2018 at 12:12 pm

    For Outlander book fans.

    Diana G. publishes what she calls her “Daily Lines” every so often. They are bits and pieces of her new book, “Tell the Bees That I Am Gone” (not finished yet). This is today’s, on Facebook:

    https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDianaGabaldon/?hc_ref=ARTcsU2TVzo_cT0-IiWX8MZ-2HYHe-N-olaaM-EQEFBnc_cf-Rux2M9e_aSZ1pgqtQQ&fref=nf

    This excerpt isn’t on her blog or the official book page yet, but this the link for the others:

    http://www.dianagabaldon.com/books/outlander-series/book-nine-outlander-series/

    Anyway, in the comments on Facebook, she said that she will be writing a full book about Master Raymond. I think that would be very interesting.

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  9. stella says:
    January 27, 2018 at 12:17 pm

    Fat vs. Fiction: The Truth About Fat in Your Diet

    https://www.familycircle.com/health/concerns/the-truth-about-fat-in-your-diet/

    Investigative journalist Nina Teicholz, author of The Big Fat Surprise, explains how several shocking discoveries led her to radically change her family’s diet.

    Liked by 2 people

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    • Menagerie says:
      January 27, 2018 at 12:50 pm

      I have been trying this out for a few months. I would be a lot better at it if I could lose my danged taste for sugar.

      Liked by 2 people

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    • G-d&Country says:
      January 27, 2018 at 8:22 pm

      “High-fat foods, moreover, tend to be more satiating. While research shows that people can easily consume excessive calories on carbohydrates like pasta and potato chips, it’s almost impossible to do so with meat.” and carbos increase insulin.
      For years I had a few doctors who said to decrease fats, and increase whole grains. I was always hungry and cranky. I finally gave up and added olive oil and other “good” fats back. That made it better, but then I gave upon that, and added animal fat back into my diet, (obviously not eating ice cream every day). I am not constantly hungry, and don’t even think of food for hours. I take a fish oil tab each time I eat a meal with animal fat, and my current doctor is thrilled with my cholesterol numbers. He says just eat good food, not junk food or chemical laden foods, no high fructose corn syrup, and he is happy. Now I just have to stop injuring myself trying to exercise!

      Liked by 2 people

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  10. stella says:
    January 27, 2018 at 12:25 pm

    Interesting article about autism.

    https://www.familycircle.com/health/concerns/things-you-didnt-know-about-autism/

    One point they make: Children born to women who were obese, had high blood pressure or had diabetes had a 60% higher risk of developing autism. Experts think the persistent inflammation and poorly controlled blood sugar levels that characterize these conditions may damage the fetus’s developing brain.

    I wonder if the huge rise in obesity is correlated with the rise in autism?

    They also say that Vaccines play no role. A recent study of 95,000 kids found no increased risk of autism from immunizations at any age. “It needs to be blasted from the rooftops that over a dozen thorough studies have found no connection,” says Leslie Speer, PhD, program director of the Autism Spectrum Evaluation Team at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Center for Autism.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • auscitizenmom says:
      January 27, 2018 at 12:51 pm

      It has been several years since I last went on a cruise. I really could not believe how many people on the cruise were hugely, morbidly obese, between what looked like 350 to 450 lbs. I don’t know how many times we got on the elevator only to have a few people get back off because it could only hold a certain weight limit. I have never seen that before.

      Liked by 3 people

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      • michellc says:
        January 27, 2018 at 8:19 pm

        I catch myself describing someone as fat to correct myself and say, “well what was fat in my day, I guess today it’s considered chubby.”
        I know going with my doctor to doctor’s appointments with both her kids that the majority of the women had gestational diabetes and the majority were grossly overweight. I can’t remember if it was with my granddaughter or grandson that her doctor started going over a checklist of dos and not dos and then had to backtrack and say it didn’t apply to her. Then explained that you give the speech so much because so many women have gestational diabetes that you forget the small few who don’t have it.

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        • auscitizenmom says:
          January 27, 2018 at 9:12 pm

          Just about everybody I know has diabetes.

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          • michellc says:
            January 27, 2018 at 9:39 pm

            I’ve been seeing a lot of people lately in their 30’s and 40’s saying they have type 2 diabetes and all of them always say the same thing. The doctor tells them if they lose weight they won’t have to keep taking medication. The only problem I see with it is usually they go to the other extreme and quit eating fast food and boxed food and start eating super healthy, mainly grains, fruits and veggies and don’t lose weight and go back to eating junk and keep on taking medication.
            I wish doctors and dieticians would learn a balanced diet and exercise is the key along with cutting out processed foods, not rabbit food as my husband calls it. lol

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            • auscitizenmom says:
              January 27, 2018 at 10:37 pm

              I think people don’t realize how bad the processed foods are for you. And, I read years ago that high fructose corn syrup was very bad for diabetics. But, they were careful to say that there was no evidence that it causes diabetes. As soon as I read that, I thought , yep, it probably helps cause diabetes.

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              • michellc says:
                January 27, 2018 at 11:17 pm

                And they put corn syrup in everything. I didn’t realize that for a long time and now I try to buy things that have real sugar and not corn syrup in it that I don’t make myself.

                I know not all people who have diabetes are over weight including Type 2, but just about every 30 and 40 year olds are overweight.

                I do believe obesity has lots of factors besides the processed foods, but they play a huge part. People just don’t exercise like they once did, they sit too much, many not even mowing their own yards anymore. I shake my head all the time at the younger people who pay to have their lawns mowed instead of doing it themselves. I remember a time where only the elderly or disabled payed someone to mow their yard and it usually was a neighbor kid. Now you can’t shake a stick without hitting a lawn service.

                Liked by 2 people

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                • auscitizenmom says:
                  January 28, 2018 at 12:12 am

                  I was just shocked at how many people were so much overweight. It seemed like at least a third of the people were in the 300 to 400 lb. range. My friend and I are both overweight, but so many were 2 or 3 times as big as we are. I really think it says something about our food.

                  Liked by 1 person

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  11. stella says:
    January 27, 2018 at 1:25 pm

    I am starting to worry about how well the stock market is doing. Just superstition. I can’t believe how well my retirement account has been doing. More than 6% increase already this year (2018). Only four weeks of trading!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  12. lovely says:
    January 27, 2018 at 4:03 pm

    Whatever Hillary paid her makeup artist to give her a neck during the presidential campaign, it was not enough.

    She looks puffy and drunk. Manic even.

    Liked by 1 person

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  13. Lucille says:
    January 27, 2018 at 4:20 pm

    As you know, 1960s haters of America are now in charge of many educational facilities. Here’s an excellent article by Dennis Prager from April 2016….

    WHY THE LEFT LOATHES WESTERN CIVILIZATION
    The motivation behind leftist hate for the West.
    https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/262646/why-left-loathes-western-civilization-dennis-prager

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  14. auscitizenmom says:
    January 27, 2018 at 9:00 pm

    lilbirdee12’s prayer:

    Our Heavenly Father, Your children come to you tonight to ask for healing and peace throughout our country so that we may return to being One Nation Under God. Guide us to be leaders in Your Kingdom, spreading Your Love and Salvation to all. Forgive us our sins and deliver us from evil.

    Lord, we ask for a blanket of protection over all our troops and law enforcement who serve to defend and protect us. Bless our representatives with the strength and wisdom they need to achieve the path You have chosen for us.

    Please place Your Guardian Angels of Protection around Donald Trump and Mike Pence and their families as they seek to lead America back to You.

    Grant us patience, Lord, as the evil ones try to anger us and cause us to fall.
    Spread blessings over Israel and Netanyahu.

    We humbly ask that You please comfort those who are grieving and in pain.
    Thank you Father, for Your Love and the gift of Life.

    In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.

    Liked by 3 people

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