Kevin and KJ, you stated it well for me: the despair, the memories, the renewed hope, the determination. Thank you.

Wasn't it great hearing Obama's acceptance speech and thinking about the big smile on Martin's face! There's a long way to go, before and after the election, but they really were in sight of the mountain last night. Stevie Wonder could see it.

I was also struck, last night during the speech, by a beautifully intense flashback to the legendary and classical times of Dr. King.
And I believe that Obama is much more than merely 'the best we can do right now for our future'-----I truly believe him to be much more than that. I "see" within him a passionate spirituality, and an honest and gloriously exciting vision of how we could turn our planet into a garden. (Hey---I can have a dream too, can't I?)
I know it's not hard to find someone with better vision than GW, but we now have the rare opportunity to elect a person who is absolutely the right and the best for this moment, not just the better of two evils.

Moderators: Arnie, Larry, sparkydon
Moderators: Arnie, Larry, sparkydon
Moderators: Arnie, Larry, sparkydon
Moderators: Arnie, Larry, sparkydon
Moderators: Arnie, Larry, sparkydon
Moderators: Arnie, Larry, sparkydon
Moderators: Arnie, Larry, sparkydon
Moderators: Arnie, Larry, sparkydon
Moderators: Arnie, Larry, sparkydon

Last week after the convention ended, I wanted to swap ideas with people on the boards...but I couldnt get in - only administrators need apply - I didnt have time to deal with what I thought was routine maint. so I just left. Then today I saw a place than other than administrators - "vermin click HERE"

So here I am. Ive been here long enough to remember when they got rid of the previous layout and into the last one. There were a lot of moans and groans as change always brings out...but it was cleaner, more streamlined, more modern at the time, easier to use and def. more attrative.

With all the beautiful photos and painting of the church - Who thought of the off pink leaves and the schmered picture of the church?

Well at least we for sure know who the moderators are...



Ceashell - I love the name of the thread - taken from a true NY girl's book !!

Louise - If I dont get my 3 hours of sleep a night, I just cant function...and as far as what I do when I first get up - After ignoring my cell phone buzzing for at least 1/2 hour, I sit up in bed, doing a terrific rag doll impression, until someone wonderful meets my right hand with the handle of a coffee cup. That is the best part of my day. After a few sips, and a mouthful of pills, Im almost ready to focus on the news which is usually all BS and eventually schlep into the shower. From there my day is all downhill. It's what happens when you live with someone who works evenings and can sleep until 11 am every morning.

[i]No matter who wins... come next spring or so, it is going to take we the people to tell the powers that be, we want to rob the corporations of... so we can have an honest 21st century wage where we can take care of our selves and others who may have fallen through the cracks.[/i]

Who was that masked man?

[quote="louise"]What do you HAVE to do before you get up in the morning????????????


OK, maybe someone can help me with this. I get straight up and eat my breakfast. I don't know what's wrong with me, but I remember when I could get ready for work in 45 minutes and get kids ready for school too. Today, I got up at 5:30 am this morning so I could be ready to leave at 8am and I still wasn't ready until 8:30. Am I moving in slow motion? It took 30 minutes just to eat my mini wheats. I sit in the dark while I eat, but the last bites didn't seem super soggy, so what was I doing all that time. My husband said I brushed my teeth for like 15 minutes. It didn't feel like 15 minutes. If I try to rush my essential tremors act up and I poke myself in the eye with my mascara, and I get all sweaty so then it's super hard to do my sweaty hair, and I give myself a migraine, but I swear, I really wonder what's wrong with me. I'm also staying 2 1/2 hours off the clock to finish my work. I have had daily migraines for 8 years. I take a lot of medication like triptans during the day because they come back 2 or 3 times, and I take meds so my hands won't shake when I'm holding somebody's baby. I really don't know how everything takes so much time! It's like I'm living in slow motion but can't feel how much time has gone by. Has anyone else ever had this problem? And I admit, louise and Ceashell, I am only sleeping about 5-6 hours because it takes so long for me to wind down when I get home from work at 8:30 pm. I start getting ready for bed at 9:30 but next thing I know it it's midnight. I've been using a guided yoga meditation to induce deep and refreshing sleep on my ipod. That has helped me some. But to tell you the truth, I feel a little scared I have something really mentally wrong with me. My husband thinks it's my medications. I'm also either having a migraine or recovering from one 24/7. I suppose that could affect a person. Anybody have any advice?

I feel the same way frequently. I read too many medical journals and they all threaten me with a stroke or heart attach at any moment because I'm so plumpy. People with migraines are also at greater risk of a stroke. Time goes faster the older I get too.

It was easier to be comforted by my faith regarding the afterlife before I felt so close to that chapter in the book of my life. That's back when 50 was old. Now if I here someone has passed on at 68 I'm like, "Oh my God, they were so young!"

I know this won't work for everyone, but one of the things that makes me feel better when I worry about leaving this life is to go through my old hymnal with the old songs no body sings anymore. There's a lot of comfort in those old songs for me. My Grandma passed away at 93 last month. Even though my Dad spent most of his life after I was about 8 years old not wanting to hear about God and being a drinkin', philanderin' cowboy, it was touching to see him so comforted when the pastor that did Grandma's funeral sang some old hymns during the memorial service. Grandma wasn't very religious and didn't have a pastor so the funeral home helped my dad find one. The pastor sang an old hymn with a beautiful a cappella voice from the back of the room before the eulogy. I could see my dad and others were very touched by this singing. There was only a handful of us since by the time you're 93 most of your friends are already gone. But we felt comforted when we recited The Lord's Prayer and the 23rd Psalm. Even though none of us had said them for years, we all knew the words. When we got to the cemetery my dad asked the pastor to sing another song that had meaning for him. We all sang along. It was a side of my dad I have never seen, though we went to church when I was a young child.

My husband's uncle passed away the day after my grandma. He had cancer and had never been a religious man at all. He considered himself an atheist. He was quite important in his field and well known. The Assemblyman from his district came by the hospital and prayed with him every day for the last 3 weeks of his life and he seemed to appreciate it very much. His two sons and his wife were sitting with him when he died. He was on large doses of morphine. He was sitting up in the bed, very agitated and mumbling incoherently. Many years ago one of his sons had drowned when the child was 11. All of the sudden he looked up at the ceiling. Very alert and very clearly he said, "Kenny, is that you?". After that, he completely relaxed, laid back, and quietly passed away in his sleep a few hours later. Those were the last words he said. I know we each have our own beliefs here. I respect that and I have no desire to push someone else' beliefs on others, but if it suits you, some of us find that event greatly comforting. I admit, it made me feel better.

I am sincerely interested in hearing what other people with a different background than Christianity feel or think about "The Big Sleep". Do you ever feel a little scared too? If you ever feel a little scared, what makes you feel better? What happens after we die? Is it something you are looking forward to? I admit, my background makes it harder for me to imagine things differently all on my own. I could read about different beliefs in books, but it's not the same as someone who is there telling you first hand how it affects them. It's cool if no one wants to talk about it here too. I know that for some, their spirituality or thoughts about these things are too personal to share. I am also not the least bit interested in debating the validity of different beliefs and would not be happy if this discussion lead to people feeling like they have to defend their views. I'm just truly interested in new points of view.

Love and Peace,
Primula Brandybuck

Hi,

I'm just going to jump right in and say I think I agree with your Hubby.
How long have you been on these meds? Maybe it's time for a change.
Your body may have just gotten use to them and they are not as effective as they once were.
The best advice I can give is speak to your doctor. Tell him everything you told us.
The migraines....Those take a lot out of a person and can truly leave you mentally drained!!
If you do see your Doctor and he/she changes your meds, any chance you could take a couple or a few days off to see how they are going to work?
You know yourself better than anyone. The fact that you feel there might be a problem warrants a visit.

I wish you the very best and you get a huge(but light) hug from me for having to dealing with all this.
Sorry for jumping in. I know I don't really know you, but wanted to post what popped into my head.
The only other tip I have is that celery can help induce sleep. It has something in it like the stuff in turkey that I can't spell. Maybe munch on a stalk or two before you head to bed.
Best wishes!!

I'm of the same faith.

I agree with you about the Hymnals. I really enjoy the oldies. I go to church with my Mother when I'm back home. They seem to be trying to bring a modern flair to the music. They post the lyrics on a screen and everyone sings. Lots of folks don't know the tune or when the changes come. The new songs are okay, but what was wrong with How Great Thou Art and The Old Rugged Cross ?

The story about your Husband's Uncle was really touching. Hearing that would bring me comfort as well. You just knew where he was going and who he would be with!

My conception of what will happen to me when this life ends has evolved over the years. As a young man, this line of thinking filled me with trepidation and worry (I was raised as a catholic). During my middle years, I tried on many new and different faithful concepts dealing with life and death, existance and non-existance, but none of them seemed to fit me very well. At this moment, I would have to say that I've come to believe that my spiritual existance will not cease with my corporal death, that there are infinite possibilities awaiting. My personal feelings don't include traditional religious concepts like heaven or hell, or reincarnation, etc., but who knows? I certainly can't rule them out as possibilities. I've grown to accept that my present existance will end at some point, and it comforts me to at least be open to other transformative possibilities. I really have no clue what these might be like, but by leaving the doors open, I'm pretty sure I have something to look forward to.
That felt good. Very stimulating thread!!

Ok, my workday is half over, I have been waiting for Tuesday to come and now it is 2:30 pm. I know over in Arlo country it is about 8 in the morning, I want to know what the surprise is.
I think it is not the Recycled Peace Tote Bag even though the design is fantastic. Made of Postconsumer Soda Bottles, what kind of material is that? O, well I have to wait until this my celery time afternoon when RSR starts working. I am curious, but I do have an idea what it could be. There was a thread about it a long time ago menitioning something that was due even a longer time ago.
Peace and Patience
Brigitte

I'm sorry to hear of your grandmother's passing.

I am just amazed when I hear of so many people who see someone spiritually right before they die. My grandpop said he had "visitors" in his hospital room. A friend's grandmother said it was Jesus she spoke to. I think my mom spoke to someone too. It always seems to be shortly before a person dies and puts them much more at peace with the whole ordeal.


Primula,I too, would think that it could be you've built up a tolerance to your migrain meds. I'd recommend seeing your doctor if for peace of mind if nothing else. Have you sought any alternative treatment? My son was suffering from headaches from a concussion for 5 months and we really felt the doctor's course was getting him nowhere. Brought him to an accupunturist MD and he was cured in 2 treatments.

Diane, thank you very much for your kind words about my grandma. Thank you also for your thoughtful advice. I had 3 accupunture treatments on my medical insurance, but when I didn't get better right away the doctor wouldn't see me anymore.

I've gone a couple times on my own but I can't afford to continue.
I'm super glad it helped your son and maybe something will work out so I can try again.

It feels so great to be on Arlo.net and feel the love from our Moose Friends Network. When you work all the time these days, you don't have time to nurture friendships. Everyone is so busy. Here, I know that only people who really care write back to us and we get to have a kind of second family. This is the only place besides my mom's house where I feel like I can be the real me.

Diane mc wrote:

[/quote]Have you sought any alternative treatment? My son was suffering from headaches from a concussion for 5 months and we really felt the doctor's course was getting him nowhere. Brought him to an accupunturist MD and he was cured in 2 treatments.[/quote]

These daily migraines have been going on for 8 years so sometimes I forget everything I've tried. I was given 6 biofeedback sessions. Didn't help. I also get about 20 botox injections along my hair line in the front and in the base of my hair in the back. I get two more in the middle of my forehead. I get them about every 3 months. They seem to help a little by preventing the muscles to be about to tighten around my head in case some of the migraines are triggered by stress headaches.

Love and Peace,
Primula Brandybuck

I am sorry about your grandma and apologize for posting inbetween something silly compared. Have to admit I didn't read your post, it's kind of difficult for me to read long posts. All the best to you. Primula.