Works for me, Sonny. Thanks.

Good sig line. Reminds me I have more work to do clearing out that tall stuff in the back yard of this place. Ah, well. I'll be working in my own yard someday.

Our load times aren't even the biggest issue. I can't even get the mod-view of the page to load 1/3 of the way before it hangs. Cat and her HS cable might get halfway, if she's lucky. Oh well, I think the conversation is worth the hassle anyway.

I only got a couple of hours sleep and a former co-worker called me and asked if I wanted a hussle fixing up some pinballs and arcade pieces. I don't have to touch a thing as far as moving goes, I'm just there to fix stuff that's broke. I repaired 5 pinballs and 2 video games in about 4 hours today. I can't do it more than 3-5 hours a day, 2-3 days a week anyway. Just that little bit of stuff today has me pretty sore, so I may not go in tomorrow to recover. ;o)

yes it does not take long 2 load, imagine loading it on a 56k modem.

(p.s. what i meant by "dying" was that this forum/site is not as popular as it once was, I took 2 years away from here and i have noticed the decline, it is not dead yet.)

Maybe we should start a new one at 50, then. I'm enjoying the conversation, so whatever works for you guys...

Pinball and arcade games? Those are hard to find these days. I would imagine that puts you pretty high in demand, knowing how to fix them. The way they're built, though, I can see why it's hard on you. Not exactly something you can move into a position that's comfortable and easy for you to get to. Still, it probably feels good to get your hands into something like that, or am I way off?

Anyway, that's still too bad that you didn't get to catch more zzzzzzzz's. Maybe you're sleeping now... like I should be. I'm going back to bed. (I'm gonna pretend you twisted my arm, Billy.) Good-night, all.

p.p.s. heres proof, sorry 2 say it used to be around 80 http://www.alexa.com/data/details/traffic_details/gamet lk.com http://www.alexa.com/data/details/traffic_details/g metalk.com http://www.alexa.com/data/details/traffic_detai s/gametalk.com

It does feel good to actually do something again, although I am hurting like a mofo right now. As soon as I get the baby girl off to school, I'm going to lay back down for a bit. I have a heated mattress pad that is to die for! Like a whole body heating pad. ;o)

Spartan, I remember when there was a page full of new threads a day, with people talking in pretty much all of them. We didn't get to 100 but once or twice in all that time and here we are now with a couple 100s on one page and a new conversation starting.

Dead to me means there is no one here, posting or replying. This forum is far from dead, even if we are just having a conversation that has nothing to do with the game.

Back in the day I held with no more than 3 posts by the same person on a page, since we could easier track a person's progress on a questline within a thread rather than have 8 posts about OK, now I have to follow the swimmer and now what is it with these seeds? and now I am at the Cavern of Song... and what about investigate a theft?

We didn't really have much off topic posting back in the day but, since there are no active game help threads being threatened by dropping off the page, I am fine with the new chat thread Sonny. It's good to hang out with friends :)

For me Billy, mod view is borked whenever there are 'too many' replies. I have almost all but stopped loading up tagivew and just do the message modview anyway when there is stuff that needs to be removed.

I remember saying something the first time we got to 100 replies in here back in the day. That was about the majik number when modview quit loading a thread so I could no longer tag. Did it ever not do that Billy?

Sleep, sleep. I want to sleep in so bad, but instead I am driving to work. *kicks the dirt*

i agree with you, i believe that in many instances that a small community is better than a large community where you do not know the person who you are talking to (e.g. gamefaqs while large it is hard to have a chat with someone), i am not faulting you for the off topic chats, it is just unusual because i have been on large community based sites. in short we eventually will need "new blood" if this site is to stay alive.

Spartan, you're right we need to keep people coming here. I've seen a few surveys, and it seems like most of us find this site by searching for game tips. GT might not be the top listing, but it's usually on the first page. So there are people coming in, just people leaving, too. That's the way it goes, though. There's a core group, not huge but pretty big, that's been here for years and years, and on the fringe of that group is people like you and me, we either came here a few years ago and stayed, or were here for a while then left and came back. I'm the former. I've only been on GT for about 3 years I guess, but I like it, so I've stayed. Part of the reason is what you said about community. This site has them. That's the reason I'm still here, but the main reason I stayed in the first place is because this site is "clean." No cookies, not too many graphics, no spyware, no crap I have to clean up every day, and these colors are a lot less harsh on the eyes. GameTalk is more text than anything, so even 100+ reply threads load faster than other gamer sites. (Not that we need to go over 100 anymore since it causes problems.)

I keep hearing about how GT is going downhill, but I don't see it. It might not be as "trendy" as the other gamer sites, but it's far from dead.

Word-of-mouth is the best way to get "new blood" here, so tell people about the site. The bigger sites are more popular, but GT is better. People might visit those sites, but they become part of GameTalk. That's how "new blood" comes in and stays. That's how I got here and I rarely go to the other sites any more.

but instead I am driving to work. *kicks the dirt*

Now I feel bad. I'll take a cat-nap for you later.

Billy, I'm jealous! A whole heated matress pad? Sounds niiiiiiiiiiiiice. Hey, why don't you take that nap for Catahoula? She'll enjoy it more than my old worn-out mattress. Seriously, though, I hope you get to feeling better.

i agree, i used to go here a lot, and recently have visited offering advice in the xbox forums enough to be considered a regular (i have been back for a few months). while this site is great, if your looking for fast responses to problems you are better off going to the larger sites, however coming back here has made me remember why i liked this site so much in the first place.

LOL! I was gonna say the same thing about dragonfly's heated mattress. God knows my back would thank me. Hope it's helping you.

I have something to add about GT. Nearly 2 years ago, I came here needing help with a game, and then came back trying to help others. Next it was for chats, ( plus still helping if I can ). I used different user names, and now stick with this one. My point being is, GT is a friendly site that you feel comfy with.

New blood is neccessary, and I hope GTs reputation will be enough to keep people coming here.

Gah! I've worked at least 4 hours a day for the past 3 days and heading there now. It's hurting me like you can't imagine, but I have a whole bottle of methadone to keep me moving albeit slowly. I can't turn it down. Who else do you know that will pay you $16.00 an hour in CASH, and I can work as much or as little as I am able to a point. I've been 'praying' for a way out of this financial funk and this has presented itself. I'm not going to tempt fate and turn it down. Not yet anyway. This will help me get my truck fixed AND get a little bit in the old mason jar buried in the back yard. I'll post this afternoon when I get home if I am able. If not, I'll see y'all tomorrow. ;o)

GT is a friendly site that you feel comfy with.

Elle, what a great way to say it! That's the whole thing in a nutshell. GT is small town barefoot comfy--with a lot of neighborhoods. ;)

if your looking for fast responses

That is probably the biggest drawback. The only game forum I really frequent, (besides this one for the conversation until I get my game back and need help), is also for an older game like this one, and sometimes it takes a few hours to answer questions. Elle's a reg on that one, too, and between the two of us and the other regs, we try to get help quickly to anyone who needs it, but we're not always on. Cat's another reg and a kind of interim mod for us (thanks, cat) when we need it.

I'll post this afternoon when I get home if I am able.

I know what you mean about answered prayers and tempting fate. Best not to say, "Nah, this ain't how I wanted it done. Try again." Yeah, sure. Still, I'm sorry you're hurting. So maybe we'll see you later, and if not, then sleep well and we'll see you tomorrow. I pray for you.

Spartan, that's a good point. The big sites offer fast answers, but GT is much better to hang with. Those sites are like, "Use your boomus spell on the door to statue's left. NEXT!" GT is like, "Remember that big tree just outside the West Gate of Maincity? Well, there's a cave entrance under the tree. When you first go in, there's an invisible tunnel to your left. If you keep going that way, you'll run straight to the castle. There's a statue by two doors. Use your boomus spell on the one to the statue's left. The other one leads to (ba-ba-ba-boom) certain death." Then a side discussion probably breaks out about Labyrinth, etc. The one needing help gets it and finds GT to be a friendly fun place, so he stays. That's why GT is still around even if it doesn't always offer instantaneous answers. NEXT! :p

Thank you all for your prayers and well wishes. I do appreciate it. It's good just to know that you have people who give a rat's behind about your well being. I take comfort in these thoughts. Thatnk you all for them.

I love my heated mattress pad. Actually, it is the whole bed as a package that makes it nice. I have a Sealy Posturpedic series mattress and foundation which is very firm, almost hard. On top of that is a 2 1/2" goose down mattress topper, then the heated pad over it. Add in 800 tc cotten sheets and it is like laying on a warm, firm, yet incredibly soft cloud.

I went in debt for 2 years for the mattress and foundation, but my Mom and Dad got the down topper as a joint Christmas present for me and my wife. We didn't get anything else from them that year either.

Vanessa?? I can so see that happening :) She's a good girl, gave better than he expected so hopefully he will learn that No means NO. I wouldn't do anything to her but maybe remind her that when you hit guys sometimes they will hit back and well... even if he's smaller he still has more upper body strength than she does proportionately.

I came home from work yesterday at 4 to find Johnny passed out on the sofa with a cup in his hand and most of my bottle of Segram's lime twisted gin gone. I had to be back for parent teacher night, don't ask me why, and I was hurting, so I took a Darvocet and 3 Flexeril and went back to work for a couple hours. Came home around 630 and got my scripts filled. took 2 Lyrica and was O U T for 11 hours.

Had a bit of a scare this morning with my first vig, got all woozy and staggered to the table. I was all: OMG! I can't go to work fracked up!! when the world stopped spinning I got my coffee and put the smoke out. Was fine after a couple cups and went to work just fine. Today was hard tho and I did a lot of moving around and now my disk is all acting up again, the L4 it has to be. each time I step to the right I get a stab.

I was a moron with the Lyrica and didn't get it filled in time so I was on half ration for 2 days and out completely for 2. I dunno if it would have stopped this but I am never waiting till the last minute again!

I took my 2 evening Lyricas just now and I have a nice gin beverage (can anyone believe he replaced my gin?? I was astounded!), I probably won't be on much more tonight... hopefully I will feel better tomorrow. I have a heating pad... and while not near good as a full mattress pad, I hope it will do the trick ;)

Thank you all for your prayers and well wishes.

Glad to do it. (Ain't it nice to know people care?)

I'm still not sure whether to praise her or ground her.

I was wondering the same thing. What would I do if it had been my daughter. Well, for one thing, I would have been laughing in the office, too.

BUT... it reeeeally irks me that they want to know if the aggressor wants to press charges. Yeah, he's the one that got beat up, but he was sexually harassing her and she said NO. I'm not a fan of fighting, but if it had been my daughter, I'd be proud of her for not putting up with his unwanted advances. Like Catahoula said, no means NO! Apparently, that was something nobody ever taught him ...until today. ~snicker~

BTW, those are some great bargains you found! Do you normally go through a lot of blank cd's?

Had a bit of a scare this morning with my first vig

Menthols will do that occasionally. That's what I smoked and they would do that if it had been a while since my last.

can anyone believe he replaced my gin??

That's unexpected!

I hope everyone gets to feeling better soon.

How old is your daughter Dragonfly? It reminds me of something I might have done when I was young. My family used to say that at least I wouldn't be pushed around as an adult. That turned out to be ironic, considering they did all the 'pushing' later. Anyway, hope all turns out o.k.

Catahoula, everything o.k with you now?

She is 16, a genius, and apparantly a redneck. *laughz* She is me up and down at that age and while I think that she should be punished in some way, I just can't bring myself to do it. I didn't let her go over to her friend's house last night, but a whole bunch of them came over here and played Texas Holdem' until 3 AM, so what did that accomplish? Nothing. ;o)

so what did that accomplish?

You said she couldn't go anywhere, and you didn't give in. You also didn't punish her unfairly for reacting to a situation she tried (repeatedly) to avoid through reasonable means. A good compromise is an accomplishment. She knows you aren't advocating violence, but she also knows you don't blame her for what the boy started. You didn't give her permission to assault people, but you gave her permission to stand up for herself against guys like that. I'd like to think I'd handle it that well if it was my daughter.

'mom, Hear, hear, very well put.

DF, you handled it great. Good job.

hiya elle! My back is back to normal now. I was good to go at work friday, just had a little scare that morning. Exhaustion combined with pharmaceuticals is not a good idea, but I was hurting.

Billy, make sure you tell Vanessa that I was thinking of her. I have a girl here that every once in a while says something so dry - I just know they would be BFFs if they ever met ;)

I can't believe its sunday! I am so ready for this year to be O V E R so I can sleep and sleep!

Yeah, I would have pretty much handled it the same way, if it were my daughter ( who is 16 this year ).

I'm glad you're mended Catahoula. Exhaustion and pain killers don't mix, but what are you gonna do? You need relief, so you take them! I know, I have a bad back too. Just makes me feel older and older!

Now he wants me to come in for as long as I can stand it EVERY day. I just pulled a hard 7, and I don't know if I really want to be there every single day of my life, ya know. He knows what I can do and he is willing to pay me more than union scale in cash to boot, I just can't walk away. In less than a week, I fixed EVERY machine that was broken in the immediate shop area, and all but one of them were tagged as basket cases by his last tech. I use the term very lightly in this case. He was a likable enough of a person, but he didn't know beans about pinball machines and video games.

It's killing me but I did ask for it, so I have to deal with it. ;o)

Hey Billy, you can always try the Johnny route: part time :) You don't have to kill yourself, the money will be there, its just a matter of earning it all in one week or 2.

Please think about it.

Elle, I swear, I don't ever really feel "old" till my back starts twinging and when I get up from a chair I start hobbling around like a granny. Even all the little moments in a day (dealing with high school kids) that make me realize I am 40 not 20, that stuff doesn't stick and I go right back to feeling my numberless internal age.

There is nothing like falling apart to remind you time is passing :P

I won't be there long today for sure. I did promise to go meet the UPS man, but beyond that, I don't think that I am going to be doing much. He's not pushing me, I just thought it was going to be over when I finished up those particular machines, but then he told me about the more permanent thing. He'll work with me on the hours and all that because he knows that I am not going to screw him out of anything.

I have to go to the Pain center this afternoon at 2 to get my stimulator reprogrammed. The scar tissue building up is moving the leads a little bit and the area of effect has changed. They assure me that this is natural, so I'm not going to worry much yet. ;o)

Doesn't sound like much fun, Billy. I'm glad you've got work, but with the pain... I'm sorry it's hurting you, man.

There is nothing like falling apart to remind you time is passing :P

LOL... true, but that's just on the outside. At heart, aren't we all twenty-one?

I don't have to rush at anything now. I've got him enough machines fixed that he can switch out to last him a little while.

I have to get 2 nice looking Pac Man, Ms. Pac Man and/or Galaga cabinets stripped and cleaned to put a multi-game board in. It has Pac Man, Ms. Pac Man, Galaga, Frogger, Defender, and a couple of other games on it. It's a nice little bar machine because of hte older games. The older folks play the heck out of these games when they can find them. It's nothing hard, believe me.

I got my stim unit reprogrammed yesterday and it's working better again. Apparantly, I have had a 9mm lead migration on my right side. He said that was due to me being right handed and reaching and stretching with that arm. It's not enough to make it stop working, it's just enough to make them have to redo all of the settings. I hae seperate settings for sitting, standing, laying down, and sitting on a low stool. I do some artsy craftsy type of stuff and work from a low stool on a wooden

stool as well, so that works out well.

When I start hurting too bad, I just go home. That's the easist thing that I can do and that keeps the number of hours down so that it doesn't break him to pay me. *laughz* Yeah, right. It wouldn't break him to pay me 50-60 hours a week, but I can't go all of that. ;o)

I just got back from Senior Honors Night, 3 hours sitting in the bleachers in the gym wearing heels. My back has been acting up, I thought it was cos I got off the Lyrica for a few days, but Its been a week? 2 now? and I am not getting any relief. I'm taking 3 Flexeril when I go to bed and 3 more in the morning, I just took a Darvocet and I just can't work on codones. Codones are for vegging out on the sofa.

I should have been going to the chiro all week. I will start back on Monday, hopefully that will help some.

Anyway, I had certificates and medals and a gift bag for 5 students... 3 were there so I had 2 gift bags left on the table... there were all sorts of leftovers and nothing got took but one of my bags.

I am heartbroken and my kids saw it. I spent all the library money and $100 of my own dollars on those bags, even if it was just a 2 gig flash drive and $20 in a card. I don't have any idea what I am going to tell the one girl who won't get a bag.

Well, not sure exactly how that gift bag giveaway was structured. Did some students not attend for personal reasons or is it popular to blow off these sort of events?

Chiropractors are nice, but if you have to see the person multiple times a week, then something is not right. What's the nature of your back trouble? Was there damage, strain, misalignment, or what?

I was seeing a chiro quite a few times a week when I had a job that required a lot of leaning, lifting and pushing. It was literally eating up my paycheck to get my back fixed, which was ridiculous, to say the least. Nothing like doing horrible, low-paying grunt work that wrenched your body badly enough to do almost negative damage to your wallet. Even shoveling out stalls on a horse farm and doing various other farm chores there didn't hurt my back like shop work did.

Hope you get to feeling better, Cat (and the rest of you guys, too).

This was the most poorly attended Senior Honors Night that the vet teachers there had ever seen. Heck, even 3 of the teacher presenters didn't show up and they were the ones who suggested kids to get recognized.

Our administration sucks, abysmally horrible planners and I can't imagine a more inept group of leaders. I wouldn't be surprised if the poor attendance was for 'political' reasons. My 2 however, did not attend because 1 didn't have anything to wear but jeans and the organizer said specifically NO JEANS. Of course I didn't find this out till this afternoon, way too late to pull an outfit together from the other staff. The other one didn't have a ride and the county is strict as hell about teachers driving the students.

I'm going to give the one bag to the girl who has no clothes. Maybe she can buy herself a pair of black slacks with the $20. Heck, my favorite pants were on sale at the Dockers site last week or so, I might get her to let me put a tape measure in her hands and I will buy her some pants for graduation.

Chiros are expensive, but mine is also stretching the muscles so there might actually be some healing/permanent improvement. I haven't been letting others do for me as much as I should. I just feel so girly asking for help with a 10 lb box o,o Its finally all added up.

I am feeling much better this morning, thank you for the good thoughts Punch :)

I just want to add that the bag was there one minute and in the blink of an eye it was gone. There were people all around the front of the gym, thanking the admins and I was standing up there too, talking with the mom and aunt of the Salutatorian, one of my kids, letting them know how much I loved her. Brazen.

I've moved past the whole: I can't believe it! into an exhausted acceptance. Even at an event where we are honoring the "good kids" there are bad people who don't give a fig about stealing from one of their classmates.

I despise liars and thieves with a passion. That's why it breaks my heart that my only son is one. He would be one to do something like that too. Not because of what may be in the bag, just the fact that the bag is right there in front of everyone just asking to be taken.

I'm sorry that your body is rejecting age sweetie, I hope that you get to feeling better soon. ;o)

I am feeling much better this morning

cat, glad you're feeling better. You know when your back hurts, you just feel like hell all over.

I despise liars and thieves with a passion.

I'm with you all the way there my friend. I know when I post, I sometimes really show my age, but I do long for the days when we never had to lock our cars or house doors and you could leave a 10.00 bill on the kitchen table and a week later it would still be there. And like you guys have said, some times they steal just because they can. How very sad.

Billy, glad to hear about the extra work. Don't over do it my friend.

I conducted an experiment today... it didn't start out as an experiment, but it ended showing me something. Whether this is just the times they are a'changin or where we were when it happened (welfare healthcare) I dunno or care.

I found this mexican money in my purse, you know the kind, looks like a dime but it isn't. Canada has them too. Anyway, I was sitting by this 'toy' they had to keep the kids busy, just a wood table with bendy loopy metal situation in it with no object to the contraption but to move the wooden bits around on it.

So, I put the Mexican coin on the edge of the table, I don't want it in my purse but I know how much I loved foreign money when I was younger and my niece has a passion for it now too so. I'm sitting there, waiting on my girl to come out from her first wummen stuff exam (one of my former students, a long story but I stepped up and filled the mom role when summoned) and the place fills up all of a sudden with 2 families with kids. I'm still sitting right there, reading my book and not one word, not a peep about the 'dime' and Who's is this? or Can I have this? or What is this?? just the next time I glanced over it was 2 just over toddlers were playing with the table and the 'dime' was gone.

Whatever that experiment was, it made me sad.

Whatever that experiment was, it made me sad.

Thanks for sharing that. It just highlighted what I was saying. And I think it makes us all a little sad.

And unless the grey matter in my skull is not really mine, I can tell you it was not always like that. I can remember a couple of times when I was working part time in a local convenience store, that people came back and gave me money back because I gave them to much change. And I will never forget the time that I was walking down the street and pulled a note out of my pants pocket to read, and not knowing, dropped a 5.00 bill on the sidewalk, and a 14-15 year old boy came up to me and handed me the money I dropped.

Hell, I need to get off this soap box. But yes cat it is sad, but the thing that happened at your school was worst, because you know for a fact they were old enough to know better.

Have a great day. Think happy thoughts.

It makes me sad too. What ya gonna do when the parents not only allow it, but encourage it. So many parents are teaching their kids how to get over rather than how to get by. There is a HUGE difference.

What makes me even sadder is that my son is in County right now along wiht my 2nd cousin. The boy got caught DUI, open container, contributing, simple possesion, failure to stop, and who knows what else. My cousin cut a dude yesterday afternoon. Apparantly his girlfriend's son pulled a gun on him and his went to whittling on him. I wasn't there, so I don't know exactly what happened and I've heard 20 different tales about it. Well, a different story from each person that you talk to anyway. I'm sure you all know how that goes.

My sister last weekend them two this weekend. My last name is getting way too well known for violence to suit my tastes. It makes me want to get violent on their behinds. They all grown or are supposed to be anyway so I just have to distance myself from the incident and get on with my lfe. If not, they would all drive me totally and completely flippin' bananas!

Cat, that was cool to pull "mom" duty, I have a kid that I pull "dad" duty for now and again. He is in the scouts and they have a father/son thing a couple of times a year and I fill the empty seat for him. I am the closest thing to a dad that he has ever had anyway. We've known his Mom since he was 2 and I have yet to see the 'sperm donor' as he is usually refered to. He is a month older than Vanessa, and we lived right next door for almost 10 years, so he is one of the family, ya know.

Well, I'm going to go kick back for awhile. I have the A/C in the bedroom on and my heated pad is on med-high. *grinz* I got myself a present of Super Mario Bros DS yesterday. I figured that if I am going to have to be laid up for 2 days to recover from the week, then I owe it to myself to be entertained. ;o)

It's a sad situation all around when parents don't teach kids what they need to live. I still blame that for most of the deaths in the poor sections of NOLA when Katrina hit. People have forgotten how to do things for themselves and are chillingly dependent on the government. Then look what happens. It's tragic. What's worse is that instead of doing something really helpful, the government just hands them more money. It's a timebomb that's going to leave a lot of victims in really bad situations.

That's great that ya'll can do that for those kids. I've done it a time or two and it feels pretty good. The parents were grateful, too, so it all worked out.

Billy, sorry to hear about all that going on around you. Maybe they'll learn someday. Glad to hear you're nicely set-up for recuperation from the work.

Ugh, there is just way too much negativity around me. I've put up barriers and walls, but it still seeps through. I just don't have the physical strengh to stop it anymore. I used to be able to put up a wall that would block anything, but now I can barely touch it.

I used to think that physical strength had nothing to do with mental strength, but in a way it does. If you are weak physically, then you can't draw enough energy to be strong mentally.

I really need to find more 'like-minded' people so that as a group, we could draw more energy than any individual can for sure. Sadly, the nearest 'public invited' Circle is 75 miles away. I used to go up there with an old friend and it wasn't a bad group, but he pissed them off and that made it look bad for me too. The High Priestess told me that I wasn't 'ready' to stand in a Circle because of his actions. I

've been standing in Circles since I was six years old and this 25 y/o woman going to tell me that Im 'not ready' for this. She is far from ready herself. She had only been practicing for a couple of years, I've been doing it a lifetime and she's trying to tell me that. I don't need to be with people like that anyway. All are welcome in the Circle, with the exception of a few more 'private' meetings by the Elders.

I've tried going to Church over and over again for a lot of years in different places and denomintions. None of them ever felt right. It just feels like there is more to it than they are teaching, and I want the whole story as it were.

Most say that I didn't give it a chance. I AM an ordained Minister of the New Life Non-denominational Christian Church, and only lack 1 1/2 credit hours of being an ordained Baptist Minister as well. So You can trust me when I say that I gave it my ALL, my heart, mind, body, and soul for many years and it NEVER once felt totaly 'right', ya know.

They say to stick to the straight and narrow. My path IS narrow, but by no means straight. It has more bends than the Sampit River. I am still runing on Hope and Faith though. ;o)

I'd say take what you need Billy, but I remember what happened to me last time I said that! I wish I was there and you could lean on me.

Hey, you wouldn't happen to know where it was I hid the Harley title back in February, hm? (whoopsie)

I found it. I distinctly remember putting it in 3 different places, and I just didn't look hard enough in the one :P

Guess what I am using my "stimulus package" money for? That's right!! Its bike riding weather finally and we need insurance and $330 worth of title, tag and tax on that bad boy.

Ad Velorum taxes blow.

I hate what seems to be just butting in when you guys are chatting! But hi all.

I saw chiros mentioned. I see one too, (when I need to, 'cos yes, they're expensive). Actually, I can walk today thanks to a chiropracter. Doctors said I'd never walk when I was born!

Aren't some families (or members of) truly the pits? I say this with no trace of a smile on my face either! In fact, because of them, I have experienced an anger and sadness (and still am) that I didn't know was possible. Hang in there Dragonfly, and anyone else, who are going through hell because of similar situations!

we *are* chatting, and that includes you, elle!

I still haven't gone to the chiro this week, but I will have to at least once, probably twice. I did get a bill tho (yay!). I used to go to a hippy chiro, burnt sage to cleanse the place each night and he was a miracle worker but once I had the bulging disks issue he told me he couldn't treat me and I would have to go to a real doctor. That started almost 2 years of epidurals and useless shots at the doc just to get my scripts filled.

Finally I came across this guy and he really seems to be doing good... now if I could just put the money issue aside and let the man work!! Too bad that isn't as easy as it sounds :P

My heart goes out to you elle and you too Billy. I wish I could lend you strength but I will keep you in my thoughts.

People deserve to be happy. Easier said than done especially when kin is concerned...

gave me money back because I gave them to much change.

Sonny, some people still do. But I admit things like that aren't commonplace anymore.

If you are weak physically, then you can't draw enough energy to be strong mentally.

Weakness is also distracting. So is pain, which leads to weakness since you put so much energy into dealing with it. Wheaties, anyone?

Most say that I didn't give it a chance.

I don't think what was lacking was your commitment, especially since you've pointed out exactly what the problem is. There IS more to Christianity, but it's a LOT more. There are classes for weeks just to lay the basic foundation of it all, and that's for adults who have been raised in the different denominations. John said when he closed his Gospel that there is more, a LOT more! Part of it was written down, most was not. Some of what wasn't then has been since, but there's more that still hasn't been written--mostly because it hasn't been necessary. This idea of rejecting any part that wasn't written down is only a few hundred years old, and was (and is) a divisive tactic. Some religions still teach that anything other than the part that was included in the Bible is wrong, or a "tradition of men" (ironically). I'm impressed that you realize something IS missing, because most people who have never truly been part of the Church don't miss what they've never had. If you want to find what's missing, discover the difference between Sacred Tradition and the traditions of men. You can't find it in a religion created by men within the past 500 years. The Church is older than that. It's not hard to find, and it is fully Christian, not Bible only. (Hint: The Bible was completed by the Church, so how can a religion based only on the Bible be the true Church?) I hope you find it, because there is more "positive energy" available to you than you can possibly use up. And that part IS revealed in the Bible. Now I'm not saying that everything our native ancestors believed is wrong. Some isn't accurate, (according to what was revealed by God to the Church, and so what I believe), but some is true and dismissing it just because they understood something of God before the Bible was taught to them is wrong, too. You keep what is true and right, but not what isn't. I don't worship idols, but God ordered visual symbols of heaven in His temple, and I use Christian visual aids to help direct my thoughts and prayers to God. But enough rambling. Well, almost enough... I am sorry that you were treated so poorly in a place that should have supported you. The young priestess sounds like she's trying to build up her own name, either because she's insecure and feels a need to prove herself, or because she's overconfident and wants to show off her authority (and you were a great one to use for that). Same effect either way. You were the one hurt by other people's actions, and that's the part that makes me sad for you.

I am still runing on Hope and Faith though. ;o)

Then I'll pray for an increase of those in you along with my other prayers for you, friend. (And I'll light a candle for you.)

Elle, good to see you. Why do you keep thinking you're butting in? If Cat hadn't invited you, you'd still be welcome to join.

Seems like everyone who's ever seen a chiro either loves them or hates them. I'm glad you guys all got good ones. My dad-in-law didn't and nearly went through the roof when I said I was thinking of seeing one. I didn't know about his bad experience, but it must have been a doozy.

Families... I'm one of the blessed ones, and the more I hear about how other families keep hurting each other, the more grateful I am that mine is close and caring. I hear and read stories that make me want to cry and stories that do make me cry and some that make me angry enough to want to lash out and slap people I've never even met. It's so sad and frustrating. And I can't wrap my brain around how people can treat family so bad and be so mean and selfish to loved ones.

Cat, would you please come next door and take out the spam post that's supposedly by Elite Ninja? We'd appreciate it, especially if it means this stays out of complaints.

mom, I love your logic. What is your faith/denomination/or whatever? (if you don't mind me asking!)

and yeah, sorry about that post, I never opened it. I will load up tag view more often, checking all the threads at once.

Called today about the insurance on the Harley, it is almost $100 LESS for a year than the tag. Can you believe??

It would be just about all the "stimulus package" money to get the Harley on the road... I have to think really hard about that one... cos it could also be a 360 and a Wii instead!!

I am going to tap my witchy girlfriend and see if she would dogsit for some folding money... that way we can go on a few trips and not just one :) Maybe make it up to Myrtle Beach as well as Vegas and CA :)

My base religious beliefs are based on things that Grandmother taught me when I was young. I have no clue as to how old the Cherokee beliefs are but I am sure that it is more than a few hundred years. Possibly more than a few thousand even. I couldn't begin to guess.

Religion has always held a fasination with me and I have studied a lot of different religions and even 'sub-religions' within some denominations. I believe more or less a big conglomeration of Pagan as well as Christian belief's. I DO believe in God, of that, there is no doubt in my mind. The biggest thing with me is that I believe in the Goddess as well. I can not see how a single male or female anything could create a race of males and females in theri own image. If a male was designing a female, trust me, they would be built much much differently to be sure.

I don't mind at all. I'm Catholic, (and I thank God). I looked into a lot of other religions because I didn't know much of anything about the Church back then. My years-long search for the truth led me here, but it was an interesting journey. Very interesting indeed.

insurance on the Harley, it is almost $100 LESS for a year than the tag

What do they make those tags out of?

cos it could also be a 360 and a Wii instead!!

Decisions, decisions... At least it's win-win. Listen to Billy. Even a Harley gets better mileage than a car or truck, and with gas prices going up, you wouldn't be able to afford games for the new consoles anyway. ;) "Tank of gas or GTA4?" They cost about the same.

Maybe make it up to Myrtle Beach as well as Vegas and CA :)

I'm guessing you have a dear friend in Myrtle Beach that could stand to be surrounded by love right now. (Somewhere in that very general area anyway, maybe the same state?)

I have no clue as to how old the Cherokee beliefs are

I would guess at least thousands, maybe tens of thousands of years old. The new religions I mentioned are the Christian-based ones that were founded by men like Calvin, Wesley, Smith, and a whole slew of others since Protestantism split from the Church. In a nutshell, a Bible-only religion that was invented in the 1880's by a guy in Cleveland, OH because he had a beef with Catholicism, can't possibly be the true Church, no matter how much "restoration" or "reformation" they claim.

The Cherokee beliefs are those of our native anscestors I mentioned. They knew something of God, for sure. A culture so close to His creation would naturally learn something of the Creator. I don't believe it's all accurate, but I have no doubt they knew something of God long before they ever heard of the Bible. What would be the point of destroying the parts of their beliefs that are true and right just because they figured it out without a missionary's help? Not everything is wrong just because it wasn't taught the way certain people want it. If God allowed them to know there was a Creator, that life does not end when the body fails, that there is a unifying and good Spirit, then who has the authority to say they can't know these things? Are these basic beliefs not correct? That's why I say keep what's true and right, but not what isn't. Build truth on what's true, and correct what isn't.

What I was really getting at is that if you want to learn about all that "more" you already know exists about Christianity, you have to go to the source. The only way to that is through the Church that goes all the way back to it. No Protestant, Bible-only, or any other Christian-based religion, cult, or sect will get close. I hope you find out how amazing all that "more" is.

I'm not trying to change your mind about the Cherokee beliefs because I doubt you made such a decision flippantly, and what I believe is irrelevant to that. I'm only trying to point you toward the rest of Christianity that you already know you're missing. It's a long path, but good.

I tried to call the numbe and it was no longer in service

Oh, I get so steamed when people do that. A bank pulled that on me, then used it to repo my SUV. Cat, it was a NOLA bank: Crescent. Beware them. (It's not libel if it's true.) A friend told me they did the very same thing to him. I just mentioned the bank's name and he poured out the same story as mine. He says he knows someone else they did it to.

Unfortunately, rest does not always come with sleep.

So true. I hope for you a good sleep and deep rest, and if you can't rest then at least dream well.

Sorry 'bout the outburst, call it bad timing I guess.

Yes, I am a family oriented person too, that's why I am still finding things hard to deal with. My biggest worry is the effect it will have on my kids. They say what doesn't kill you can only make you stronger. Thank-you muchly for those kind thoughts catahoula. Guildmom, my mother was raised as a Catholic, in the first 8 years of her life, by her grandma. She held those memories close, and passed on alot to me, though I wasn't raised as one. Glad you found what you were looking for.

P/S - The reason I sometimes feel as if I'm butting in, is because it's usually well over a week by the time I return to this forum.

Silly girl! That's the beauty of these long conversations, they can last for weeks, months even :) People wade in and out, post when there is something to say... even if it is something completely out of left field. Post to share, to vent, to commiserate, to celebrate. Sonny said it perfectly: friends just chatting

mom, I figured you for a Catholic from our first real conversation over at Fable. Or one of the first anyway :) You have such a zen feel to you about it tho, I think you've spent time with the Jesuits :D I am so out of practice now, I couldn't hold my own in a conversation with a Jesuit even if he was still wet behind the ears :P

I was raised to respect all religions, dad is a Baptist and mom is Catholic, neither one of them were in any hurry to shove religion down our throats and our spirituality just grew from that open acceptance and flourished under the freedom of information. We were baptized into the Church and had our first communions when I was 13, my sister 10, did Catholic school for 7 years for me, and I think she might have gotten 8 or 9 (there was a non denominational? school she went to with her best friend down the road).

I loved challenging the nuns, and I loved talking with the younger priest at school... and we had 2 close friends of my father who were priests via the Irish Channel marching club who would come over fir dinner every so often... it was great talking with such brilliant men. These were the 2 that baptized us and gave us our confession and communion. wew. 1st confession with a friend of my dad's! Scareeeee!

The two things my father always told me not to discuss with friends was religion and politics. But after reading the comments in this post, I can tell they come from the heart by good people, so if you'll bear with me I'll make a few comments.

I'm also Catholic as are my wife and children. They go to mass just about every week and I go twice a year 'Christmas and Easter' and complain about that. I do pray. Every night and I don't believe God thinks any less of me because I'm not in church every week throwing money in the basket.

I have a sister 'who I love dearly' who is always telling me that I need to be born again 'what ever the hell that means' and find God. Then she gets mad when I tell her she's the one that's got the problem because I never lost him, she did.

I DO believe in God, of that, there is no doubt in my mind.

Me to Billy, but that belief has been tested so many times, I some times still wonder. In the 60's when I was in the army and would be laughing and talking to a friend and 2 hrs. later he was dead. Or when I was with the fire department and would walk up to the scene on a auto accident and see 5 dead children all under the age of 12, killed by a drunk driver, it would make me ask 'What kind of a god would allow this' And then I would go home a look at my own children sleeping in their beds, I would think 'a god god allowed me to have this' So I don't know. I some times wonder if we could handle it if we were allowed to know all.

I am still runing on Hope and Faith though. ;o)

Man, that's all any of us can do. You live your life, you do your best, and when you do that and can still keep your sanity, especially when you have medical problems like you have. God Bless you friend for having that much strength.

Families... I'm one of the blessed ones, and the more I hear about how other families keep hurting each other, the more grateful I am that mine is close and caring.

Me to. I have a great wife who is also my best friend and wonderful kids. My brothers and sisters get a little wacky sometimes 'nothing bad' but I'm sure they say the same thing about me.*grinz

P/S - The reason I sometimes feel as if I'm butting in, is because it's usually well over a week by the time I return to this forum

If there's one thing I've learned from Billy and cat, everyones always welcome to jump in any time and start talking. Butting in is a good thing here, we call it friends chatting.*laughz

Sonny, my Dad told me the same thing only cars was addded to the list. I have seen people get into a fistfight over which was better, Ford, Chevy, or Chrysler. I don't listen too well as you can tell. *grinz*

Just for the record, I am NOT a very religious person. I am VERY spiritual though. Some people find it hard to differentiate the differences, but there are many. I don't attend Church or any other typ of meetings, but I do pray(not so much pray as talk) to the All on a regular basis and I am usually outdoors when I do it. What better place to worship as it were than in the beauty of nature that They gave us to enjoy. The beliefs that I have run very similar to the Wiccans. Wicca was founded in the 1940's by a man named Gerald Gardner andit was based on a number of Celt and Native American Traditions. It is really close, but not quite, if you know what I mean.

I DO practice Magick and that is hte only thing keeping me alive now I believe. I light a pure white candle every day for the sick and downtrodden. All it does is give them a 'shot' of pure white energy to help them through one day at the time.

I was born 4 days before the New Moon and my Paternal Grandmother said that I had the "glow". This is a gift that allows me to feel others pain. I can even draw their pain away if I have enough juice myself. I can also talk to the dead IF they haven't crossed over yet. The same Grandmother took me to the Reseversation when I was 6 for my Naming Ceremony. I'm not sure if it was te Chief, the Shaman, or the Medicine Man that named me, but it was someone of power within the tribe. I WAS 6 for crying out loud. *laughz* Anyhoo, he named me Dragonfly because of this "glow". In Cherokee lore, the dragonfly is the only creature on the planet that can pass between the realms of the living and the dead. It's really weird to go somewhere and a spirit just comes up to me and starts talking. Too weird.

I can also tell a good person from a bad one just by shaking their hand or touching them in some way. I have had people give me pure shivers down my spine and the hair on my neck standing up and such. I don't mess with those folks. They are bad news, trust me.

The Catholic Church has a lot of ritual that is directly related to Pagan ritual. The only big difference is that the Catholic perform these rituals to appease God and the Pagan's do it appease their Gods. See the difference? Yeah, it is hard to notice sometimes.

I am also of the persuasion that ALL paths lead to the center. In other words, I think almost ALL religions worship the same God, they just call him different thing, ya know. I think that if you live life as a good person, give to the less fortunate when you are able, and talk to them every once in awhile, that you HAVE a spot reserved in the Summerlands/Heaven/Happy Hunting Grounds/Nirvana, or whatever you want to call it. I also think that you can have a lot of fun along the way.

Oh yeah, just for the record, everyone is out of jail and back to living their screwed up lives. I try not to dwell on them and concentrate on my own delimas. I'm taking my Mom and the family out to dinner on Sunday for Mother's Day. As an afterthought, I also invited my sister and neice too. After all, they are both mother's too. The sister can be a real mother when she ways too, but I can't fault the babies for that, ya know.

Well, I'm off to the mines to make another 52 1/2 cents. A dollar just ain't what it used to be. *laughhz* ;o)

To all you great ladies out there who have hardest job in the world.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY

Sonny

Happy Mother's Day all you Mothers, be ye female or male. I send out special wishes to single parents. It is hard to be a single parent these days.

Single Mom's are some of the strongest people that you will ever meet. Best wishes going out to single Dad's on this day too. It is hard being a single Dad, especially when a girl(or 2) is in the mix. I know all of the mechanics, but can't 'relate' if you know what I mean. I did it for 2 years and it's a fate that I would only reserve for my worst enemy. It did make the girls closer to me and for that I am thankful, but for the rest, I needed some freakin' HELP!

May you all have a Blessed Day.

I called my mom to wish her a happy day today, she is out with my sis and her fam in northern California. My niece got her first communion today! Mom said it was a "very modern ceremony" which I am guessing was relatively free from incense and long winded ramblings from the bible :P

My girls got up early and cooked me breakfast and made the coffee, cleaned the house and went to the grocery store for me.

Just kidding, they lolled around the house and frolicked in the yard like any other day :P

I did however, buy myself a necklace and earrings, pearls, and I am going to be very happy and thankful, bestowing kisses and hugs when they get here.

No "stimulus package" money yet, and I was supposed to be in the first batch of disbursements starting on the 9th (Friday). I'm going to wait till it gets here to decide how I am going to spend it. I talked with Johnny about "sharing the burden" of tagging the bike. He was feeling overwhelmed by it all and that is understandable on a part time salary. The tag renewal on the truck and Volvo came in the mail (due by June 7). I completely understand feeling overwhelmed by it all :P

Anyway. The wisteria has fallen and the honeysuckle is up, the doors are open and there are some good gusts of wind, so it smells really nice in here :)

back to communion, I was having an awesome conversation with our security officer at work Friday, he is a Methodist and very active in the church... one of those got a verse for everything kind of guys but its not just snippets out of context, he actually uses his powers for good, not evil ;)

I don't remember how it started, but somehow, he was telling me about taking communion and I looked at him crazy and said: you do communion? I thought one of the Protestant Reformation deal breakers was transubstantiation. He started explaining communion to me, like I didn't know what it was (the last supper on forward) and I kept saying: This is My Body and Body of Christ/Body of Christ (with the hand gestures).

He kept talking and I kept talkign and neither one of us could wrap our heads aroudn what the other was saying. All the verses he showed me (in the bible I pulled off the library shelves) just confirmed for me what I was saying, that it was the body and blood of Christ.

Anyway, it was the oddest conversation we have ever had. Why have communion and it be the body and blood except is isn't the body and blood because that is against what is written? I mean, why bother if it isn't what it is?

long overdue reply to whether the Harley tag would be made of gold

-

the price of the tag is a flat $20 for any vehicle so: Harley tag is $20, the ad valorem tax on it is $281. the registration fee is $20. the late fee is $10. the insurance for the year is $251. for a whopping $582. to tag the Harley.

Ad velorum taxes are INSANE! and incomprehensible as well. For the Volvo it is $16.51 ad velorem and a $1 mail fee!! for a total of $37.51 The truck is $24.93

When we transfer the title on the Harley to my name I am going to do a bill of sale for $100 like we did for the truck and see if that changes things (MY assessed value vs some tax gnome's assessed value). Somehow, I think they will find a way to keep screwing me for having a nice thing :P

Looks like my reply got lost somewhere, sooo...

Thank you for the warm Mothers' Day greetings! Now it's belated, but Happy Mothers' Day to you all too. Billy, it isn't giving birth that makes a mom, it's doing the job, so that includes you.

I am VERY spiritual though.

I've thought so since we first "met" on the other forum. Religion is not spirituality, but some are more spiritual than others.

I also think that you can have a lot of fun along the way.

I hope so, or I'm on the wrong path. It's full of challenges, but life is good. I can't remember a single day of my life that I've gone through without laughing at least once, and making someone else laugh, too.

everyone is out of jail and back to living their screwed up lives

That's good, I hope.

isn't the body and blood because that is against what is written?

This saying is hard; who can accept it? (John 6:60) It's clear from their writings that the Apostles accepted it, but that was after he showed them HOW they could keep his command without going against what is written. How that got lost again after 1500 years, I don't know.

My girls got up early and cooked me breakfast and made the coffee

I can't get mine to make the coffee, and two of them have opposable thumbs.

Ad velorum taxes are INSANE! and incomprehensible as well.

Wow. Yeah, they are. That kind of differnece makes no sense.