I took J to the airport (EWR) today; she's going on an Alaskan cruise with her family, to celebrate her mom. They paid for her ticket, so she only had to get airfare across the country. It's great for her, but I am alone here for the first time in years, which is going to be weird and a little sad for the week.

Not exactly alone, her kids will be here intermittently, which will also be weird without mom in place.

Plus you have your turtle!

PARTY at UT's Woo Hoo! ! ! ! ! !

oh, sorry wrong thread.

Well you always have us for company.

Several things!

My girlfriend going to visit her dog, and family, in Canada, for a while... leaving me all alone in England! It's a horrible thing, leaving her at the airport, alone, then coming home to an empty house. (Since moving in together, this is the first time we've been apart. It's a very strange, sad feeling.)

The ever-growing realisation that mainstream music no longer requires any talent... not like it did, two decades ago.

Voices are more synthetic, than real, these days. "Glee" is the most recent proof of this.

And, of course, the growing state of the world in general... which I went into a little rant about, in a different thread.

How's it going UT?

It's sad at night, but during the day I have the sounds of son and granddaughter screaming at the top of their lungs to keep me occupied.

Sounds...great? I am sure time will pass quite quickly under those circumstances. Mebbe? I am not really a "silver lining" person.
I give..... :)

At least you don't have a pinched bottom from using your "personal furniture" - that's not nothing, you know.

:bogroll:

I am dealing with my client who is very intelligent and well educated but too stupid even to use a mac. Anything beyond "I just drag it onto the blue thing and it goes up" is too much to ask for.

What FTP client are you using? "I just drag it onto the blue thing and it goes up"
25 minutes to try and figure out why a doc that was uploaded was zipped as a .bin file that I cannot open up despite unzipping it with stuffit 2010 and power iso.

I'm sure there is a default setting at the bottom of this that compresses uploaded files bigger than such and such.

"Where would I find appleshare?"

Probably somewhere on your computer. Maybe use that nifty search feature you've got there.

What's a footfootfoot? and where has it been hiding?

Personal furniture - that reminds me of Soylent Green.

Hatcher: And what about the furniture?
Det. Thorn: [motions to chest] Like grapefruit.
Hatcher: [chuckles] You never saw a grapefruit.
Det. Thorn: You never saw her.

Interesting . . .someone must be over their athlete's footfootfoot or they figured out their password! ;)

Be careful, it could be some kind of archarcharch villain come to steal our solesolesoles.

My sister is still sick, and its still upsetting. Went to her house to take her dinner, she couldn't open the door, she's in so much pain. There is good news (kinda). The arthritis specialist believes it is Rheumatoid Arthritis although she was negative for the Rheumatoid Factor, possibly (most likely) she has Adult Onset Still's Disease. She also has characteristics of spondyloarthritis. She is on meds now, I don't remember what all, most of it won't really be effective for a few more weeks, but they put her on a high dosage of Prednisone(steroid) which seems to be helping already. Some of the meds she is on will cause birth defects if she gets pregnant, we're not clear on whether or not she'll be able to have children, she had been planning on it. My mom has been crying a lot, praying (yeah like that's effective), trying to fit this into some "God has a purpose" and trying to come up with some miracle cure. She has also been really clingy to me. Which is slightly annoying, but I'm being tolerant. Of course I've been crying, but mostly to myself, the diagnosis could have been a lot worse. Mostly I've been trying to help my sis and parents best I can even though I've had to work a good amount of overtime.

My sis is only 24.

I have to get this part out of my system. So if offends you, ignore it.
I've been very well behaved and haven't gone off on mom for all the stupid blind faith that this has to be part of some divine plan. Fuck god's divine plan, you don't get to condemn my sister to a life of pain for your fucking plan, selfish motherfucking bastard. Free will? How is fucking rheumatoid arthritis part of free will? It takes away a ton of her life options, that's not fucking free will. Oh and how about “I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)”
Fucking lies and complete nonsense. My sister has been faithful (and still is despite this) and this is the way her god treats her? With a fucking chronic disease when she's always lived a healthy lifestyle. If this god exists, he's a fucking jackoff bastard, and I'll be glad to go to hell to get away from him and his fucking hypocritical fucking shitface plans.

Well said, MTP.

Well said? Because she is lashing out at god for her mother's beliefs?
I don't consider one persons screwed up religiosity the basis for what I believe or do not believe. Seems like much misplaced hostility. Why all the anger toward an entity one doesn't even believe in.

Life is full of disease. It hurts. It sucks. It makes no sense. It isn't a plan of a superior being. It is the way of all organic nature. That is all.

Lashing out at the idea of God, at the idea of blind faith, at the idea of religion... not God, Himself.

... Right, person whom I've never spoken to? (MoreThanPretty.)

Also, I'm terribly sorry that your sister, so young, has to go through so much... However, if she is able, or your mother is able, to find some comfort, in their faith... well, that, to me, is the only good to come from faith... At least they can find some form of shelter, of comfort, from what is a truly atrocious thing to happen to somebody so young.

I can see why to say "God has a reason" is better than to say "Well, nature's sure a bitch, why am I the unlucky one, why do I have to deal with this?" Don't you think? I mean, some happiness, regardless of where it's found, is better than sinking into a pit of pure depression and despair.

(I don't believe in any "God," and, to be honest, I find the entire idea of magic-men, zombie-messiahs, ghosts, and the like, to be a foolish escape for people too afraid to face the real world... but I can see the comfort your sister, and mother, must get from it... and I'd not try to take that away from them, in any manner.)

What if it's preventing them from seeking more rational strategies?

HLJ I wish....it were so.

If disease and ailments is some kind of spiritual warfare then I'm giving the devil a left hook right in the kisser. POW

That's what I tell my mom. FIGHT dammit FIGHT

If faith ever gets placed before/beyond medical reasoning/help... then...

Well, that's difficult. It's unfair to take away somebody's faith, but when it's stopping them from seeking the help they actually need... I suppose you've got to try and encourage them to seek that help, even if it means bending that faith, to allow such help to be sought.

(Perhaps encourage them, through/with their faith, to seek the help... unless their faith is directly against whatever help may be needed... in that case, as above, you'd have to try and bend their faith, to an acceptable degree, whereby they will readily seek that help, in the belief/acceptance that their God would want them to.)

Thank you.

You need to read my post better, especially this part:


Right.

I agree, that is why I have held my peace with my family and let them say whatever crazy shit they want to to make themselves feel better. It has been hard not to point out the stupidity of that belief, but if it does them some good...oh well. Let them be stupid.

I will rile against their beliefs most of the time (gays are sinners, abortion is a sin, out of wedlock sex is evil, ect ect) but this is one of those things I am keeping my mouth shut on because they need it badly and it doesn't hurt anyone (like the other beliefs do).

Fortunately, despite my sister's belief in god, she also has a rational mind and understands the benefits of science. She is following her doctor's instructions and medically proven treatments. My mom is bugging her even with all of her "if you eat [insert miracle food here] you'll get better!" If my sister were being irrational and relying on "faith" to heal her, I would definitely give her a reality check.

I am sorry about your sister MTP. Whatever she is doing to give herself hope is right for her, and its great that you understand. :)

What Nirvana said. Seems like you have a good handle on things.

My Coke glass is no longer cold, and no longer contains Coke.

... and my fridge is not within arm's reach. :(

You need a helper monkey!

I really do... think I could find one, on eBay?

I don't think so.

my fiscal incontinence.

MTP, I am very sorry to hear about your sister. Such violent autoimmune issues at such a young age -- well, it's pretty hideous. All I can say is that our knowledge in the field of immunology is growing incredibly fast right now; new treatment options and therapies are being invented left and right.

Yep, it's very hard not to point out other people's crazy shit. But evangelizing atheists are just as offensive as evangelizing christians. Good for you in recognizing the difference.

:thumb:

Sorry Shawnee, bad timing on that joke. Please re-post.

Nah, it's OK. I just needed an ear, then I realized maybe I don't need these ears, as reaching out is frowned upon if one is a jokester.

It's all good.

A friend drove a school bus, with a student on it, while extremely intoxicated. Her life, and the lives of her family, are fucked.

Ouch. Not good. :(

I read about that this am.
Sorry for your friend - Glad no one was hurt or killed. She has time to get better and learn - some do not get that chance.

Whoa. That IS very intoxicated. I hope this person gets the help they need. :(

Now there's the martyr spirit we've all come to know and love.;)

Crap. I knew I'd get either martyr or passive-aggressive...I put money on the wrong one. I can't say anything to please looky-wooky-mooky. Maybe mail him some nooky, but we know how THAT works out! ;)

Thanks for playing. You can have what's behind door number 1, or you can let door number 2 hit you on your ass on the way out. ;)

I'm always glad to see consistency. Bravo on you! Ooo's a goo' boy?
:cheerldr:

The upside of missing your meds is it brings your creativity to the surface, right S123?

Not really, you just make it so easy. I can't believe you came back just to play with me! When you grow a few inches, you might really be a contender.

I will remind you of your post last night:

I would contend that seeking someone out, on something that isn't even a topic you have an opinion on, who you have mutually ignored, just to be a snot-fuck to them, is lame too. ;)

But that's probably martyrdom or passive-aggressive, because it didn't come out of your mealy-mouth. Isn't that right, precious one?

:kisses:

what are you on about?

What issue are we discussing? You really think my comment was an "attack"? Whatever, I gave you some shit because I thought your response to HLJ was playing the martyr card pretty heavy and I thought it was funny.

I'll go back through my diary but I don't remember seeking you out and I certainly don't remember any mutual ignore contract... when did that start? I saw a post and I made a comment as I often do. You're welcome to respond in any way you want, but technically "mealy-mouth" refers to someone unwilling to give an opinion or take a stand. I'm not sure if that is descriptive of me so you might want to try something better.

You have no idea what my post was about, you have no idea what HLJ and I talked about, and you're playing innocent man like usual. My statement was a statement, you construe it however you want, but stop fucking with me.

Whatever, you bore me.

Go kick a ball or cheat on someone or something. Find something else you're good at besides kicking me when I'm down. There you go, another martyr statement for you to make fun of. Feel bigger, little man? Good, glad to help. I pity your sadness, really, that there's never any room for compassion for anyone. I may be a martyr, I may be all the things you think I am...but the truth is, good people get all my good, highly multiplied, right back. The rest, no time for...just more earth slime.

Thanks, I do feel better. You've brightened my day up about 3 notches. Thanks.

Oh, and you are right I don't know what you posted because you deleted it before nailing yourself to your cross...in response to a joke by HUNG LIKE JESUS. I've got no innocent act here. I saw something that struck me as funny. It still does. Have a nice day.

Woo hoooooooooo! I rock! :lol:

Have a blessed day!

And the beat goes on.

The entire Liar's Brigade has chimed in. Good job, fellas.

She checked into in-patient rehab this morning.

:thumb:

Could you two please take a step back and look at yourselves?

Do you see Shawnee as subhuman or something? I wasn't here either, I didn't see the posts and I'm not known for my empathy, but it's clear even to me that this was a point where she needed a little sympathy and little TLC.

Clearly HLJ had bad timing with whatever joke he was making, realized it and rescinded it, by which time our heroine had repaired the chink in her armor with a little bravado. It's not martyrdom, you fuckwits. It's an emotional survival technique that some of us use. If you had a human bone in your body, you'd realize that now was the time to leave well alone if you had nothing supportive to say. But no. I pity your wives and daughters.

Yup, she went a little postal. I woulda too. And now she's gone. She was a stone in the cellar foundations. you guys are just roofing shingles. Or pvc siding. or something. Or maybe that wooden trim that attracts carpenter bees.

So this is upsetting me today

and pass me that martyr crown because I actually came here to post about what was upsetting me, but now I don't care whether you express sympathy, concern or ridicule. Go ahead, have at it. Invite the chode to join the party. Taunt away without fear of my scary response. No I'm not leaving the cellar (dream on) but I'm all done with this for a while.

bitch on, bros.

Hopefully because she realizes she needs help and not just because her lawyer told her to.

what bruce said

Yoo Hoo Monster! That was perfect. Thanks for posting it.

Well, since I'm the one that made the comments I'll accept your reprimand. Do I see S123 as human? Absolutely. I see her as a human like we all are. I also see her give people shit all the time. I also see her play the martyr card about every hour on the hour. I thought the martyr move in response to a comment from a guy name Hung Like Jesus was fucking hilarious so I made a comment. No I don't regret it because I still think it was funny whether or not you or anyone else thought it was funny.

Welcome to the cellar.

a . . .

nevermind (unrelated post to above drama--will save for later)

I'm lost actually. There is a large missing subplot somewhere I just know it.

Not really. I called S123 for being a martyr once months ago. Today I thought it was funny and gave her shit for playing martyr again and it pissed her off. Apparently it pissed monster off as well.

I heard about that on the news, too.

.374 is not unusual for me to see at work, but way out of hand for a school bus driver, obviously, although I suspect this happens a lot more often than we know ... less often by drivers drinking on the job, but rather from them showing up still drunk from the night before. I hope she gets into treatment and sticks with it.

I fear there are more school bus drivers out there with the same problem. Too many of them drive like they own the fucking road. There was one recently that was using an unsafe bridge every day, that had been clearly posted for cars under 4,000 lbs, only.

The difference is, I don't give people shit about their personal issues.

Every hour on the hour. Do you listen to yourself?