Someone smart, funny and can live life with or without me. I spent too many years being looked to as some kind of leader of the marriage. I want us both to enjoy time together and time apart. She needs to be able to think for herself and say what she thinks. Fortunately, I found her and married her a couple of years ago.
Posts by thom
-
88What type of person are you attracted to now?
by Layla33 ini was just thinking about this the other day, about how my ideas of a romantic partner have changed since being a jw.. growing up, i thought i would marry a very upstanding jw, we would pioneer together, do missionary work, have children, see the world.
(never had any thoughts about bethel, though.
) so what it boiled down to was a stepford husband, up tight, not the least bit sexual, closed minded bore.. so now that i have grown up, seen the world, been married (and actually picked a good man the first time, although it didn't work out), i just contrast that with what i am attracted to now.. i like them open minded, earthy, i love artistic types because i am a published writer, hair doesn't matter to me (long/short, bald, etc), challenges convention, very sexual, still like a traveling man.. i am just curious if you anyone else can compare and contrast how their ideas have changed since breaking out the group-think of the jw organization..
-
-
-
31
American tax rebate: How will you spend yours? Will it help the economy?
by Gopher init appears that both political parties and economists are agreeing on the need for a tax rebate.
the white house has a proposal in mind, and the democrats seem to be in line.. so will this help head off a recession?
and will you "do your part" .
-
-
thom
The IRS would help me make the decision by applying any rebate to what I owe, which is fine with me. I should have my tax debts paid off in just a few decades now.
-
33
did you enjoy your first cigarette?
by inkling innot only am i not a smoker, i have never even tried smoking of any kind (besides a weird .
half hearted attempt at smoking blackberry tea from a homemade wooden pipe.
friends of mine who smoke, besides the complicated layers of guilt, talk about a basic .
-
-
thom
I don't specifically remember the first time I smoked, but I remember the time about 20 minutes ago. I can't even say what I specifically enjoy about it, but if I try to stop for a few hours I really really want one! They must be great!
-
43
new BS assignment, new threats.
by inkling inok, so after about 2 months of straight absence from my bookstudy, the elders shuffled me off.
apparently my current (actually quite kind, if a bit clueless) bs overseer was.
not being enough of a nazi.. my newly assigned bs has a (aforementioned in another post) dimwitted, socially obtuse, and.
-
-
thom
They're studying the Revelation book again? How booooooring! I haven't been to a meeting in four years, but we (my wife and I) are going in about an hour to the talk because my dad is giving it and we're being nice. Hopefully I won't get too much attention. At least I get to go to the KH with a beard.
-
8
AA and the issue of God
by digderidoo infurther to my apprehensions regarding the aa and the mention of god in there meetings.
i attended a meeting on monday night and shared my feelings within the group.. i spoke and told everyone of my jw past, being critical of the way i was brought up.
this is the first time i have been openly critical about the organistion with people, except with other x jws, may be for fear of being labelled an 'apostate'.
-
-
thom
I went to AA for a short time in Kentucky and I remember one woman there who said her god was herself. The lack of reaction from anyone indicated to me that god wasn't a big part of it (in that particular group anyway).
-
23
What did you learn as a JW that helps you in your work today
by Lady Lee innote: if you are cautious about being outted then be very careful what you post.. the biggest thing i learned was sign language.
after i left i had a few jobs interpreting.. public speaking - didn't help me at all - that could be because speaking to someone else on the platform doesn't gives women an opportunity to address the audience.
i took a intro course in public speaking that was far better than 22 years of the ministry school.. i'm thinking .
-
-
thom
I think I did learn public speaking very well. I enjoyed giving public talks and other talks. For years I did that for a living. I traveled to companies and taught classes in my industry, and I thoroughly enjoyed it (and was good at it).
-
60
JW IQ's. Below average? (Includes SM anecdote.)
by Open mind inare dub bulbs just a little dimmer than the general population?
here's a little highlight from this week's local service meeting that prompts my question.. it's the annual, 20 minute, robotic hand-pumping session conducted by the secretary trying to get everyone all hyped/guilted up for this summer's district convention.
anyway, towards the end of the q&a, there's a paragraph that talks about offering a ride to the elderly/infirm ones in your congo.
-
-
thom
I remember a talk mostly about how to wash your hands. "Remember to keep your hands under the running water for a count of 30. That's 30 seconds." (I remember that part exactly) I really doubt anyone in the congregation needed to be told how to wash their hands, that didn't seem to be a problem (afaik). I think the GB just keeps saying this crap over and over and over again and we all learned to tune it out and try not too look at the clock too much.
-
68
What was the 1st thing you did that wasn't allowed after leaving the JW's?
by cognac ini haven't left.... 1 thing while i'm actually in is being here though.... i'm happy here.
i actually feel for the first time really "right" about something... .
-
-
thom
Started dating a girl much younger than me, and had the good times I missed out on when I was that age (early 20's). I was a virgin when I married at 25, so it was nice to "fornicate" with a young girl for a year or so, I don't regret it one bit.
-
20
What Does A JW "Learn" At The Meetings?
by minimus incorrect me if you think i'm wrong but i don't think the meeting teach witnesses anything they don't already know.
"getting reminders".
i do not understand why anyone would want to leave the comfort of their homes to pretend that you're going to a "life-saving" meeting..
-
-
thom
For 40 years I heard the same things over and over. For the last 20 years, I mostly sat there and tried to pay attention, but was so bored I just wanted it to be over so I could go home. I gave a lot of talks on the service meeting and public talks. It's interesting watching the audience from the platform, the percentage of people that actually look like they give a sh$$ what you're saying is low.
-
3
Politics & America
by LouBelle ini must say for the first time i'm actually interested in the politics of america.
i don't know the details of it and the different camps but i must say with oprah backing that one dude (don't know his name) and with hilary clinton running - it is very interesting.
i reckon either one of these 2 could do a very good job.. how do you guys feel and who are you supporting and why.
-
-
thom
There are maybe 8 names in the running now that are getting better than single digit percentages. I'm not surprised that Clinton and Obama are the two names people outside the U.S. are mostly hearing about. I think that if either one of them wins their primary, it will swing a few votes toward the Republicans as people may vote against either of them. I thought Bill Clinton was reasonably good as a president, but I have no interest in Hillary winning. I don't believe the administrations will be similar. Obama is a good speaker, but I believe inexperienced for the job. I'd take Lieberman (though he's not running) or Ron Paul (won't win the primary) over any of them. I'm guessing that those outside the U.S. are just more intrigued that a woman and a black man are in the running. We have never had either as president and the world wants to see what happens. It may be interesting, but it would be nice to have a president that is effective and reasonable, not one based only on their skin color or sex.