This topic made me think about how when I was a kid, there was a break between the Ministry School and Service Meeting. We just always had it and I don't know if this was standard in the 60's/70's or not. I found out later that the reason for the break was for those who smoked to have a smoke break back in the day and it just stuck. Anyone else remember that?
Posts by Alana
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16The Tobacco Bombshell...
by Snoozy inback in the 70's jw smokers where given 6 to 12 months to quit... i remember one witness in particular that had come up to missouri from arkansas to try and make a living for him and his wife and daughter.
(all jw"s).
well they had previously tried to earn a living in arkansas by picking cotton and doing other farm labors.
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6
Getting in touch with a DF'd former acquintance....puzzled at how to respond
by Alana ini was wandering around facebook and spotted someone from my last congregation before i 'faded'.
i knew that she had had some problems and was at a time df'd.
i didn't know if she would respond to a message from me (as some other former "friends" wouldn't) or not.
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Alana
Thank you, Troubled Mind. I do believe that you are right on target on this one. Before you responded, my mind was going in that same direction. I was hoping when we started emailing that maybe I could help her feel better about leaving or help her along that journey, but I don't think that is the way she wants to go in the long run. Thank you for validating my concerns.
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Getting in touch with a DF'd former acquintance....puzzled at how to respond
by Alana ini was wandering around facebook and spotted someone from my last congregation before i 'faded'.
i knew that she had had some problems and was at a time df'd.
i didn't know if she would respond to a message from me (as some other former "friends" wouldn't) or not.
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Alana
I was wandering around FaceBook and spotted someone from my last congregation before I 'faded'. I knew that she had had some problems and was at a time DF'd. I didn't know if she would respond to a message from me (as some other former "friends" wouldn't) or not. But, she did.
We have been emailing back and forth and catching each other up on our lives. She is currently DF’d a second time, but trying to get reinstated, but only half-heartedly as she has a close male relationship and worldly friends that she hates to have to give up. She tried to give them up for a few months, but couldn’t do it. She has also been diagnosed as bi-polar and post-traumatic stress syndrome, which has been part of her ‘problems’ leading to activity that has gotten her DF’d twice. She has two kids, who want her to “do what’s right” and come back to the meetings. She is a 3 rd or 4 th generation JW, so most all her family are JW’s and in the area. Being a JW was very much ingrained into her all her life.
From her emails, I sense that she really wishes that she can have the best of both worlds……her life now and her family. But, she is aware that this is not truly possible. I feel so bad for her. I told my husband about her situation and he just can’t get over how JW’s break up families. I have tried to say things here and there to her about my status and why I cannot go back…..not in a lot of detail, as I don’t want to scare her away by appearing as the Big Bad Apostate.
However, I received an email today that stated that as far as her “…becoming a JW…I never really gave up my beliefs, just develop some habits that don’t jive.” She goes on to say that whatever I do is my business and she is not out to judge, but that she is actively trying to get back though, so perhaps it could be best if we don’t discuss our habits anymore. But then she goes on to tell me more about her life and having to learn to date and some things like that (which I think is talking about ‘habits’, but whatever.)
I am torn as to how to proceed. I would like to perhaps meet up with her, but not feeling all that comfortable about that right now. Associating with me wouldn’t help her get back and who knows if being seen with her could sic the brothers on me or something. Any suggestions?
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7
Sinus Surgery
by Princess Daisy Boo inso i had results back on my ct scan and the ent doc has recommended that i have surgery, he reckons it will definitly put an end to my recurrent infections and awful headaches.. i am thinking it is probably a good idea, but then again, it is surgery and that is not so cool... any experiences or comments?.
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Alana
I'm not going to lie....post-op time was miserable. I had a deviated septum repair, reduction of my tubinites, and what I like to call a "rotor rooter' procedure to clean out my sinuses.
The post-op period was painful and I hate anything in my nose....so, what did I have but internal splint-like things in there until it healed and I had to flush out my nasal passages with saline to clear out the crud while it all healed. Words cannot describe how awful it was.
BUT.....once the packing/splint things were removed and I no longer had to flush out crud with saline....it was FANTASTIC to be able to breath well again, not have daily headache, and my chronic sinus infections were gone. And my husband said I no longer snored, which he appreciated. So, if you can made it thru the pain and post-op crap, then it's great.
The only thing I am worried about now is the long term effectiveness. At the time my ENT said that it was not a forever cure....and now, several years later, I have had several sinus infections, I'm snoring again, and my headaches are slowly coming back. So, be sure to talk to your doctor about how long the surgery will help the problem or if it may recur in the future. :-)
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sad start to our new years.....
by Alana inthen if that wasn't bad enough, on new years eve, after going to the doctor as i was sick, i got home and pulled into our lane and got out to get our mail.
as i was getting back into my car, a minivan passed by and i heard a huge "thud".
i looked to see what happened and didn't see anything and the minivan kept going.
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Alana
This is Gunner Aspen. This wasn't the pic I tried to embed previously, but one I had on this computer. I hope this one shows up and isn't just that red X.
I haven't back here since my post about Gunner....more drama......flooding here in Illinois resulted in my elderly mom being evacuated from her apartment and she's lost alot of her stuff, so I'm preoccupied with helping her out.
Thank you all very much for your kind responses!
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14
sad start to our new years.....
by Alana inthen if that wasn't bad enough, on new years eve, after going to the doctor as i was sick, i got home and pulled into our lane and got out to get our mail.
as i was getting back into my car, a minivan passed by and i heard a huge "thud".
i looked to see what happened and didn't see anything and the minivan kept going.
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Alana
It was a sad start to our new years. First a girl in my daughters class was killed in a housefire here in our small town. Another classmate was killed (as I think I may have posted previously) in a car wreck on Halloween...so two classmates in two months.
Then if that wasn't bad enough, on New Years Eve, after going to the doctor as I was sick, I got home and pulled into our lane and got out to get our mail. As I was getting back into my car, a minivan passed by and I heard a huge "thud". I looked to see what happened and didn't see anything and the minivan kept going. So, I drove on up to the house. My dogs didn't run to meet me. Sophie, the collie, did show up when I called her, but no Gunner. I went in the house and I told my daughter about the strange 'thud' and she grabbed my keys and said Gunner was outside and she drove like a maniac to the end of our lane. I heard her scream and knew the worst had happened.
He is now buried on the hill in our pasture, along side his furry brother, Remington, our beagle who passed away July 2006. Gunner and Remy are together again chasing squirrels, tormenting cats, and getting into the trash. :-) Please keep us in your thoughts, as it's going to be a sad New Years this year for us.
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51
Moments at the District Assembly You'll Never Forget...
by integ ini'll never forget the assembly in madison, wi.
where some poor sap had to tell everyone that he had become addicted to porno on the net, but through much prayerful contemplation and after confessing to the elders he was able to come to "grips" with it.. good luck to that guy with ever getting a fine sister to marry him.. poor guy.
i really felt sorry for him.
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Alana
Snakes & Calico......LOL.....I was also at that Springfield IL convention where Noah never saw it rain (and it was pouring on him).....that was so funny and we laughed about that for years. My dad was in charge of the First Aid department, which was the only part air conditioned, so my friends and I tended to 'visit' alot there. They had closed circuit TV and we could chill out on a cot, until real 'patients' came in. Oh the memories. I remember storms, heat, wind, and all kinds of weather, but, again, with my dad I got to escape alot. :-) I remember at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati that the First Aid dept was down by the locker rooms.....so I got to wander through there and see Pete Rose's stuff and other cool things underneath the stadium. Before the Circuit Assembly Hall was built in Romeoville, we had an Assembly Hall up on Ashland Avenue in Chicago.....it was an old theatre.....my dad worked in the accounting department then and it was up in the old organ lofts of the theatre and we would help out in there and then sit out on the fire escape sometimes during the sessions. As you can tell, I was a pretty good at volunteering and escaping the sessions. Of course, I could also escape without volunteering.....like when I went with a friend and her family to a big district convention up in Green Bay, WI......we worked in the food area (back when there was big cafeteria style meals) outdoors....then, we happened to wander on over to the practice field next door while the Packers were practicing. That was really cool, and I wasn't even into football back then! So many were getting distracted that they made an announcement that we should not leave the convention to go over there during sessions and that parents should be aware of where their kids were at....so my friend's dad came out to look for us....fortunately he wasn't the most zealous and he just joined us! LOL
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I adopted a very special Puppy. Pics...and do you have Tips?
by Sirona indon't say "i told you so".. .
guide dogs for the blind need people to look after puppies until they are ready to be trained as guide dogs (until approx 12 months old).
the puppy walkers (adopters) need to provide a home and preliminary training for the pup.. .
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Alana
OMG....if that those aren't the cutest pics I've seen in a while. Poppy is absolutely ADORABLE! I think that is a wonderful thing you are doing.
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50
i'm so freaking nervous
by bigdreaux inwell, as some of you know, i've hung up my tools and am leaving the mechanic world.
i start my new career tomorrow.
i am going into new car sales.
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Alana
I'm wishing the best for you! You are a very personable person and that will sure help. My ex just went into car sales....he's a natural salesman and he works well with people, and I must say that when my husband and I met you and Missanna, I couldn't help but notice that you were a people person. (and that's a compliment from an shy type personality like me!) Good luck and tell Missanna "hi" from us!
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Anyone from New Orleans?
by Alana ini'll be visiting the crescent city in a couple of weeks.
my husband has a conference he goes to each year down there (except for when katrina hit and they moved it to miami....when wilma hit.....) my husband was there in new orleans last october, but i haven't been there since katrina.
i spend my time in the french quarter and my assumption is that things are pretty much normal there??
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Alana
I'll be visiting the Crescent City in a couple of weeks.
My husband has a conference he goes to each year down there (except for when Katrina hit and they moved it to Miami....when Wilma hit.....) My husband was there in New Orleans last October, but I haven't been there since Katrina. I spend my time in the French Quarter and my assumption is that things are pretty much normal there?? (well, as normal as the FQ can be.....)
Just curious as to how things are down in the Quarter.....
Thanks!