Posts by Insomniac

12

Voting on hall decoration?

by stapler99 in

jw
friends

i was just wondering what people's experiences with how the congregation decided how to decorate their hall, colour schemes and so on.

was the decision made by the boe without much consultation?

were many in the congregation upset at the choice?.

I don't recall ever getting to vote on these things. At my last hall, I was told that one of the elder's wives (not a comittee, mind you, just this one gal) got to pick out the decor. It looked exactly like her living room- all mauve and beige, with these yucky paintings of bucolic meadows and cottages with gardens.

I remember feeling vaguely annoyed that these pictures, while seeming to celebrate the beauty of nature, actually presented a very sanitized version of it. The meadows were ringed about with prim, white fences, and looked as freshly mowed as a golf course. The cottages were more of the same, lots of flowers surrounding them, but obsessively pruned with not a stray fallen leaf in sight. When I mentioned the creepy perfection of these pictures to one of the sisters, she told me it represented the New System, when we will have "conquered" the wild profusion of nature and turned the entire world into a lovingly tended park. When I pointed out the lack of people (or, for that matter, any living creatures) in the pictures, she said it was because they were all in a k-hall, praising Jehovah's name. Ugh.

24

Dr. Who question for British posters

by Insomniac in

in the episode i just watched, the doctor was fiddling with rose's cellphone and used the term "jiggery-pokery.

" i'm pretty sure that's what he said.

what does that term mean?

Insomniac

Thanks, Katie!!

Now, don't tell me any more about the current season, as we're one season behind you, here in the States. The last episode we got to see on t.v. was right after the Doctor was able to speak to Rose one last time, and then the bride appeared in his TARDIS. Can't wait to see this new season; I think we'll get it in another month or so.

13

Grieving not complete

by teela(2) in

bumped into an old friend of my mothers.

her daughter died in a car crash over 30 years ago.

the truth is all she can talk about and seeing her daughter again.

Insomniac

I agree, as witnesses, we were not really able to grieve in a normal fashion. Also, grieving family members were not given much sympathy for their pain. They were expected to carry on in service with a smile on their faces, because their loved one was "only sleeping." It's horrible to expect that one must hide their very real pain, in order show how "faithful" they were.

24

Dr. Who question for British posters

by Insomniac in

in the episode i just watched, the doctor was fiddling with rose's cellphone and used the term "jiggery-pokery.

" i'm pretty sure that's what he said.

what does that term mean?

Insomniac

In the episode I just watched, the Doctor was fiddling with Rose's cellphone and used the term "jiggery-pokery." I'm pretty sure that's what he said. What does that term mean?

27

Crazy neighbors.......you got any?

by ButtLight in

jw
friends

ok, i about had a heart attack this morning.. i have two cats, and they get out once in a while when someone doesnt shut the door.

so my fluffy got out about 10 pm last night.

i left the patio door open a crack for him to get in........but he didnt come back.. first place i went at 8:00am this morning?

Insomniac

Buttlight, that guy is nuts!!! I hope he never gets the chance to hurt your kitties.

Right now, I have no neighbors in close proximity, which is nice. But I used to live across the way from an exhibitionist. He'd turn on all his lights after dark, then walk around bare-butt naked in front of his very large, curtainless windows. I just kept my curtains closed tight so I wouldn't have to see his show, but it was embarrassing when people came to visit- he would stand right in the living room window about two feet from my front door as they walked up my steps, with a big dumb grin on his face, welcoming them in his own way. It was nice to move out of there.

82

Have You Ever Met A "Celebrity" or Actually See One Face To Face?

by minimus in

jw
friends

while i was in new york i walked by two men and one looked like the comedian jackie mason whom i adore.

i looked at him and said, "i just wanted to say how much i enjoy your shows.

i've seen you perform a number of times".

Insomniac

I once had an interesting chat with Stevie Ray Vaughan. I didn't know at the time that he was famous. I complimented him on his guitar playing and told him I thought he had talent. He was cool; while he could have justifiably laughed right in my face, he nicely thanked me for the encouragement. A year or two later I found out he was like, the greatest guitar player of all time. I've met Stephen King, but pretty much everybody in Maine has met him, so it was cool, but not a rare occurrence. I've also met, in the course of my work: Stockard Channing (really nice lady,) Kevin Costner (HUGE jerk,) and Christopher Lloyd (quite personable, but seemed rather sad.)

17

Pulmonary embolism

by Insomniac in

i just found out through the grapevine that my brother had a pulmonary embolism (blood clot went into his lung and almost killed him) a couple of weeks ago.

he's ok now, and the doc has him on blood thinners, which he'll need for the rest of his life, to keep it from happening again.

it's pretty amazing that he survived, as these things are usually only diagnosed during autopsies, it's not too often people survive them.

Insomniac

Thanks to everyone for the advice and info. I'm still feeling jittery about this whole thing, but it'll be alright. I'm hoping my big bro will take good care of himself, and take those blood thinners religiously; he's too cool a guy to die of something as b.s. as a blood clot, of all things.

106

Witchcraft - Would you use it?

by Sirona in

jw
friends

would you ever use witchcraft?.

do you think witchcraft is dangerous?.

do you think witchcraft is just a set of delusions based on ancient superstition?.

Insomniac

I'm Neo-Pagan, and I've done spellwork on occasion. IMO, it's no sillier than any other faith out there. I've told my Catholic mom that she'd feel quite comfortable at one of our rituals- what with all the candles, incense, and chanting, it's not too different from Catholic Mass. I don't think of it as Satanic, as I don't believe Satan exists.

17

Pulmonary embolism

by Insomniac in

i just found out through the grapevine that my brother had a pulmonary embolism (blood clot went into his lung and almost killed him) a couple of weeks ago.

he's ok now, and the doc has him on blood thinners, which he'll need for the rest of his life, to keep it from happening again.

it's pretty amazing that he survived, as these things are usually only diagnosed during autopsies, it's not too often people survive them.

Insomniac

Chrystal, it sounds like you're taking your health very seriously. I wish you all the best during your pregnancy. Do you find the blood thinners have many adverse side-effects?

31

Do you get "tired" of "Apostates/ex-jws" bashing the WT to you?

by booker-t in

i know it is good to let out pent up anger for healing purposes, but do you ever get tired of some "apostates or ex-jws" constantly bashing the wt?

for instance when you or having lunch and all they do is say "the evil wt this the evil wt that" during the whole time you are at lunch?

sometimes i just don't feel like hearing it especially when i am at an event for fun.

Insomniac

Once in a while, I will indulge in a round of BOrg-bashing, usually in response to some encounter I had with a witness during the day. I honestly don't get the need, however, to continuously drag up muck from 10, 20, 30 years ago. While it's easier to live in the past, it's a hell of a lot healthier (and more fun) to live in the now, and look to the future.