pmouse

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Posts by pmouse

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  26

  THIS IS MY STORY (And I'm Sticking To It)

  by snowbird in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i joined this forum on 1may2007 with a promise that i would tell more about myself as time went on.

  well, here goes.. i was born and raised in the black belt of alabama in wilcox county.

  it is supposedly called the black belt due to the color of the soil, but i have a strong suspicion it is also due to the fact that there is such a heavy concentration of black people in the dozen or more counties that make up the black belt.. my parents were sharecroppers which was simply a form of whitewashed slavery.

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  pmouse

  Thanks Snowbird. Your story encouraged me to tell my own. Aren't you glad you broke free?
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  17

  My long story at least Part 1

  by pmouse in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  specifically christmas appears to be the one holiday to which all others compare.

  we either joyfully or sadly recall past christmas holidays.

  as i recall, they were controversial in our family even before i was born.. im going to go back a couple of generations in my story to give you a bit of background.

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  pmouse

  Rub-a-dub - just brain dead at this point! Thanks!
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  17

  My long story at least Part 1

  by pmouse in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  specifically christmas appears to be the one holiday to which all others compare.

  we either joyfully or sadly recall past christmas holidays.

  as i recall, they were controversial in our family even before i was born.. im going to go back a couple of generations in my story to give you a bit of background.

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  pmouse

  Thanks Jgnat. Was cutting and pasting from word and having a rough time! Almost puts me off even trying again.
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  17

  My long story at least Part 1

  by pmouse in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  specifically christmas appears to be the one holiday to which all others compare.

  we either joyfully or sadly recall past christmas holidays.

  as i recall, they were controversial in our family even before i was born.. im going to go back a couple of generations in my story to give you a bit of background.

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  pmouse

  The times that we remember the most seem to those associated with holidays. Specifically Christmas appears to be the one holiday to which all others compare. We either joyfully or sadly recall past Christmas holidays. As I recall, they were controversial in our family even before I was born.

  I’m going to go back a couple of generations in my story to give you a bit of background. In the late 1940’s and early 1950’s, my grandmother had six children (the seventh not born until 1954). My great-grandmother insisted they call her “Nanny” instead of grandmother, probably because she was a governess in England prior to immigrating here in the early 1900’s with her husband and children. She felt in the 1930’s she was much too young to be a grandmother and chastised my grandmother over her non-Victorian habit of obviously having sex not once or twice, but several times!

  I’m not sure of the exact year, but I do recall my mother telling me that it was Christmas and the oldest of the then six children was serving in the Korean War. My great-grandmother used to regularly read tea leaves and after dinner one evening was asked to do so by the children. Normally a fun activity, this time, Nanny was reluctant to tell the family that she had seen the death of her oldest grandchild. She finally did and unfortunately, her forecast proved to be true when the telegram came on Christmas Day. My grandfather, in a fit of anger and grief, took the Christmas tree and threw it out of the house into the cold snow outside. From that point on, Christmas was never celebrated again by my grandmother and grandfather.

  After losing her eldest, my grandmother went into deep mourning and became somewhat catatonic. My mother (now the oldest) dropped out of high school to care for her younger siblings while the family struggled to deal with not only the loss of their brother and son, but symbolically the loss of their mother. After a while, it was deemed necessary to move away from the dark north to the sunny south and the family settled in a small sleepy Florida town where my mother eventually met and married my father.

  A nice older lady befriended my grandmother and slowly brought her out of her grief induced trance by assuring her that the Bible offered her the hope of seeing her dead son again. Grandma grabbed on to this hope with both hands and never looked back until passed away three years ago at the ripe old age of 90. After a few months or so, Mrs. E bought a house near the bay, and told Grandma that since she was moving she was going to have to turn her over to someone else who would come weekly to visit her. Grandma was incensed. She had never heard of turning over friendship to a perfect stranger! Friendship was friendship. She didn’t realize that she was a “study” for which Mrs. E had been counting time until much later.

  While Mrs. E and Grandma remained friends for years thereafter, I do not think that my grandmother was completely indoctrinated at that point and didn’t become gung-ho until after 1959. The reason I say this is because I was born in 1955 and I do recall one family get-together in which we were celebrating with all my cousins, aunts and uncles in attendance. I remember standing on my tip toes peeking at a huge sheet cake with “Welcome 1959” in blue frosting on a white background on a side table off the dining room.

  Fast forward a little time to the very early sixties. I do remember being chastised by my mother who brought me to a Kingdom Hall. Being small, fidgety and what was termed then a “race-track” child (or in today’s terms, hyper-active), I had a terrible time sitting still for the length of a then one hour talk. In fact, I remember being introduced by my mother to the very tall white haired ancient man in a dark suit and glasses who had been on the podium earlier speaking to the entire congregation.

  He patted me on the head and later my mother told me that Brother W. was anointed and very disappointed in my behavior! He had (according to her) even thrown a pencil at my head I was so disruptive. I was mortified of course, but I still could not sit still for those meetings when we occasionally went back to the Kingdom Hall. My mother was trying to mollify her mother who was now becoming gung-ho in the “truth”.

  Add to this the birth of my little brother five years my junior and I can tell you about Christmas at our house or at least two of them. I remember getting a lovely metal dollhouse that still gives me a warm fuzzy feeling when I think about it. I had a gorgeous orange and black stuffed tiger, while my brother got a Lionel train set that belched actual smoke. I remember Santa Claus coming to our house, although on that particular Christmas I believe I might have been a little more jaded as I remember considering the strong resemblance to the neighbor across the street.

  I can also tell you about the Christmas’s we didn’t have and how hard it was to look out the window at the other kids with new bikes and toys and while trying to rationalize why we couldn’t have new toys too. Although I had no choice but to accept the JW Belief that it was wrong as instructed by my mother, emotionally I was sad and angry that we were deprived of this special day of the year that was so “kid-friendly”. My mother was not consistent in her holiday/no holiday actions so I never knew if I was going to have a birthday or a Christmas for sure. Some years I got lucky and some years I just missed out.

  One holiday in particular stands out in my mind. My mother decided we would color Easter Eggs on Good Friday even though we both knew doing so was something of which grandma wouldn’t approve so we were to keep it from her. It was a wonderful conspiracy and I was extremely excited. It was also one of the few days in Florida that the day stayed overcast, dark and rainy almost as a premonition of things to come. Late that evening while we were doing the dastardly deed and listening to the radio, a bulletin broke through the music announcing that a terrible earthquake had rocked Alaska and had literally demolished Anchorage. Tidal waves were imminent. My world rocked, literally.

  I remember looking at my mother and seeing overwhelming fear mirrored in her eyes that I also felt. Immediately we threw away the Easter Eggs while my mother continually voiced the fear that that Armageddon was beginning! I could not sleep that night and I remember praying frantically to Jehovah not to let Armageddon come and apologizing profusely for coloring Easter Eggs! I knew I was going to die. I still recall that deep, deep fear along with the knowledge that nothing would save me or my family and that we were all going to die. I was nine years old and scared out of my skin. I don’t think I fell asleep easily for a long time after that terrible incident in 1964.

  More to come if you can bear it. Paula
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  14

  "You don't return my phone calls!"

  by zack in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ok. so what is the story about people getting upset with others because their phone calls are not returned?

  i know that sometimes i don't return calls, but i also know that sometimes people just call to chat, gossip, bitch, and overall waste my time and add to my stress level.

  second, i beleive this complaint is self centered: you didn't return my phone call.

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  pmouse

  I'm not a phone person either Zack. I spend most of my day answering demands and questions at work so it's the last thing I want to do when I get home. I have told everyone including my brother that I am like the painter who won't paint his own house. I have been candid in that I screen my calls and if I don't know who's calling I certainly won't pick up.

  My Suggestions:

  1. Be honest and tell the offenders up front that you sometimes are not up to talking on the phone and will call them when you are.
  2. Advise them that you screen all calls and if there is no message, you certainly will NOT return the call. My brother-in-law is infamous for this because he hates talking to machines.
  3. Tell them that you did not return their calls or pick up because it was inconvenient and you will do so when it's convenient for you and you feel you can give them your full attention.
  4. As a last resort, get an unlisted number and don't give out the number to anyone other than those you intend to speak with. Be prepared to handle those who are insulted that you will not release your number.

  Good luck!
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  21

  Your limits on pet sleeping quarters!!!!

  by restrangled in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i know you are all tired of hearing from me about dogs, but i need help.. our one dobie sleeps where he is suppose to after being tucked in, kissed, and his head laid down on a pillow.

  his older brother after experiencing the same, after about an hour, quietly gets up and sneaks down the hall way, begging to get into bed with us.. here is the problem, the boys are 100 pounds each.

  when the older one sneaks in he promptly lays down between us with his head on the pillows.

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  pmouse

  My neighbors across the street have a huge Great Dane (almost 190 pounds). They have a queen size bed. If the dog beats them to the bed, they have to sleep to accomodate him and he hogs all the covers plus the pillow. He also occasionally wets the bed. THAT'S where I would be drawing the line. Not them. Amazing.

  My little one on the other hand is 13.5 pounds and snuggles with us every night. We have a king sized bed so there's plenty of room. She snores like a horse, but since she has hair and no fur, she does not shed and her hair is very silky. There's something to be said to waking up eye to eye, nose to nose on the pillow with a little cuddler like this one every morning and getting your nose licked before you can react.

  My take on this: if you are uncomfortable with your dog in the bed (itching, etc.), then you need to escort him back to his bed and tell him to stay. You may have to do it a few times, but it's about your comfort and sleep and YOU being the alpha dog in the family, not him.

  PS. Take a gander at the "Dog Whisperer". Great show with good examples of how to change canine behavior.
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  10

  Where there is a garage sale sign, so shall there be a Witness...

  by pmouse in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  is that written somewhere in the nwt?

  or is it "have a garage sale and they will come" the hollywood horror movie?

  i don't recall seeing it, but sure enough, hang a garage sale sign out and you will get them, all dressed up carrying book bags with a casually rolled up watchtower trying to place it to distract you while the other one tries to throw you off by offering 10 cents instead of 25 cents for your junk.

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  pmouse

  Is that written somewhere in the NWT? Or is it "Have a Garage Sale and They will Come" the Hollywood horror movie? I don't recall seeing it, but sure enough, hang a garage sale sign out and you will get them, all dressed up carrying book bags with a casually rolled up Watchtower trying to place it to distract you while the other one tries to throw you off by offering 10 cents instead of 25 cents for your junk. Not to mention frightening away all the other potential buyers who can spot them a mile away and who would pay 25 cents for a 25 cent items.

  You guessed it. Friday morning, sitting out under my patio table and umbrella, enjoying my coffee and here they come. I wait for the ultimate...and of course, after they manage to get more junk for less, they want to give me a Watchtower. Gritting my teeth, I politely decline because after all, I'm not a confrontational person today (I don't think this is the usual group because I threw the "Asleep" back the last time and not so nicely asked them not to darken my door again - another story for another time ).

  So as one gets the "not interested" response, the other tries to strike up a conversation about how bad world events are, etc. "No, no and no thank you." I guess they must have needed to justify the detour by being able to count time. In any case, they made a U-turn and exited the neighborhood. Much to my and my neighbors' relief.
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  39

  How honest about yourself are you here on this forum?

  by restrangled in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i guess i am too open.

  many times i have been slammed and get furious with the results.

  there are a few posters including some long time members and possible trolls that enrage me.

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  pmouse

  Same here. I don't post often, but when I do post, it's me and I'm pulling no punches. I really enjoy reading the posts and Restrangled, I think we're all learning and healing from the interaction on here. Ignore the trolls and those who are confrontational, they obviously have their own issues.

  The rest of us appreciate your input and hope that you continue to post and start topics. This is a good one. At least one I can certainly relate to!

  Paula
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  26

  Which of these Dinosaurs is dying the fastest

  by free2beme in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  which of the following companies do you think will die first.

  the phone company.

  the paper news paper.

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  pmouse

  I agree. The newspaper will most probably die out first. People will most likely continue to send cards, thank you notes, etc. because of etiquette....people will continue to use the phone system due to cell phones, internet, etc...so that leaves newspapers who are already seeing a decrease in subscriptions thanks to the internet news sources.

  JMHO, but I don't think the newspaper publishers will go away, but will evolve more and more into an electronic media based on subscription use.

  Paula
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  11

  Career Advice Please

  by brinjen in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've started this thread as i'm currently working in customer service and am looking for a change.

  i've just spent the better part of the day on the local university's website going through their "career decider" answering questions on education, skills, interests, lifestyle the works.

  i entered a strong interest in both the arts as well as computers and electronics.

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  pmouse

  Brinjin,

  Why not consider commercial art and graphics or a degree in Visual Arts? Large corporations are always looking for someone to design and develop their advertisements, websites, etc. You can also become and independent contractor or business owner offering this type of service to small companies. Much of this work requires computer knowledge of many art savvy programs such as Photoshop, Adobe Acrobat, HTML web page design, etc.

  My son does this for a large Fortune 500 company here in the States and makes good money at it. While you are getting your degree, compile a portfolio of your work for presentation to prospective employers. Your university may be able to place you in an intern program at a company in need of your services and in turn that company may assist you in your tuition payments.

  It sounds as though you are a creative individual with an analytical mind, which is great! Good luck in whatever you decide and congratulations for wanting to do more!

  Paula