Cicatrix

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Posts by Cicatrix

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  60

  What Was The Stupidest Rule In Your Hall?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ....or even, "what's the stupidest organizational rule that you know of"?

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  Cicatrix

  "We got blacklisted mainly because we tried to start a program to do this and they didn't like it. "
  
  You too? LOL-I thought mine was the only congregation that did that.
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  20

  exterminate ... exterminate ... EXTERMINATE - the Daleks are BACK !

  by Simon in

  1. social
  2. entertainment

  .

  any other doctor who fans?

  the new series is now going to have the daleks back in it .... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3535588.stm.

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  Cicatrix

  Cool! I hope PBS airs it here again. Or Sci-Fi channel. I think Tom was definitely the best, and his sidekick Sarah.
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  19

  Ok. To all the women (mothers) posters

  by sunshineToo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  what did you do when you were 35-week pregnant.

  i'm so tired.

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  Cicatrix

  {{{SunshineToo}}}
  I've been in your shoes (which probably fit kinda funny right now due to the water retention,lol) five times, so I'm feeling for you.
  
  Like everyone else, I slept as much as I possibly could those last few weeks.
  
  I tried to get outdoors every day, but since most of my kids were winter babies, this wasn't always possible, due to icy conditions. Getting outdoors for a bit seemed to help me sleep better.
  
  I went shopping for whatever baby things I hadn't picked up yet, like diapers, soap, etc. I would make sure to stop in the baby clothing aisles and look at all of the adorable little things and remind myself that in the next few weeks, I would be holding my little one, and they would be wearing those impossibly tiny things, lol.
  
  I also went shopping for a special gown,comfy socks, robe and slippers to wear at the hospital for the first three, and for me to wear at home for the last two, who were born at home. Somehow, buying the nursing gown, robe and slippers really helped me to prepare mentally for birth. Also, I would buy chapstick for during labor. For me, cherry chapstick was a necessity-just couldn't have that baby without it,lol.
  
  I made sure I had lots of paper plates and cups on hand, and the numbers of the local takeout places posted. I put a few casserole type meals in the freezer, but mostly we just had take out for a few weeks after the babies were born. When our last one was born, my friends asked me what we wanted for gifts, and I told them meals for the family. They arranged to bring in dinner every night for a week, and this was the best gift I think we ever got.
  
  I had a copy of one of Sheila Kitzinger's books on pregnancy and birth, which I would look at every day. It had beautiful photos, and I loved her philosophy on birth and motherhood.
  
  I read lots of "bubblegum" paperback novels, too:)
  
  I had my sisters and my mother come over lots to keep me company.We ate lots of nutritional food and some that was not so nutritional but comforting. They were also great about helping out with chores around the house, and my little sister painted my toe nails for me when I could no longer reach them (I reciprocated when she had her kids-it kind of became a family tradition,lol).
  Later, when I lived hundreds of miles away from my family, I had a couple of high school aged girls in the congregation who were sort of surrogate sisters,and we would hang out together like my sisters and I had.
  
  I kept a journal throughout my entire pregnancies, and I found that I had more time to write in it toward the end of my pregancies.
  
  I finished decorating the nursery.
  
  With one baby, I drew my own birth announcements, and had my dad take them in to the print shop where he worked (and the really odd part is, the baby I drew looked EXACTLY like my son).
  
  I rented all of the "Look Who's Talking" movies and watched them, and any other baby themed movie I could find.
  
  I practiced relaxation and visualization exercises every day.I would listen to certain cds when I did this, and then I used those cds while in labor. Because of the practice before hand, when I heard the music during labor, I had an almost automatic relaxation response. Later, the same music would calm the baby when they started crying.Since you play piano, maybe you could record yourself playing some particularly meaningful pieces for you, and try this.
  
  When my daughter was at that stage, a friend and I had a mother's rite of passage ceremony for her, in which we had a candle ceremony, read poetry to her, adorned her with flowers, and gave her gifts just for herself (one of which she refused to take off the whole time she was in labor, lol). You can learn about rite of passage ceremonies on the net. If I'd known about them when I had my babies, I wouldn't have hesitated to do something like that for myself.
  
  There are also, according to my daughter, great message boards on the net. She's made some good online friends at a couple of her mommy boards.
  
  I used to make up mommy gift baskets and give them to the expectant mothers in the congregation at 35 weeks. It would have bath salts, lotion, a little box of chocolates, a book of some sort to read, and other little things in it for the mom to pamper herself.I'd do the same thing for myself, too;)
  
  
  My best to you and your little one:)
  Cic
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  17

  This is your subconscious speaking...

  by seattleniceguy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  many of us have had the experience of our subconscious trying to send us messages.

  sometimes we refuse to listen and it has to resort to more forceful measures, even making us physically ill. for example, while in the final throes of my witness-ism, i found that i would get horribly painful sore throats within seconds of repressing a thought about something that challenged my faith in a way i could not legitimately dispute.

  it was as though my brain was saying, "you need to think about this, now," and then punishing me for refusing to do so.. i was wondering if anyone has experiences like this.

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  Cicatrix

  Yep, it happened to me. I wrote about it awhile back:
  http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/49653/1.ashx
  
  The body-mind connection can be very strong indeed.
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  11

  What happens when you loan a JW a book

  by Nosferatu in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  about a year ago, i had purchased a book (new) called "in sheep's clothing".

  i had bought it for the sole purpose of learning to deal with my controlling, manipulative father.

  my mother became interested in the book, and i let her borrow it.

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  Cicatrix

  "I had to chuckle at what she did to the book. IT is such a typical JW thing, to underline stuff"
  
  Lol, Corvin, I had the same reaction.
  
  The ironic part is, when I got to college, they told me the same thing-mark those books up, underline key points. Well, not if you plan to sell them and get anything out of them!
  
  But it's not funny that she did it after you requested her not to, Nos. I'd think twice about loaning stuff to a family member who went against my wishes. At least you got the book back, though. I've quit loaning out my books, because I've lost too many of my favorite ones.
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  91

  ~Post your favorite Conciousness Raising song lyrics here~

  by FlyingHighNow in

  1. social
  2. entertainment

  don't we all love our freedom of speech?

  i miss the days when i was growing up when rock groups, singer/songwriters and other types of entertainers spoke out against racism, the vietnam war, etc.

  it felt to me like people were more passionate about making the world a better and more fair place.

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  Cicatrix

  Dust in Wind Lyrics
  Kansas
  
  
  I close my eyes, only for a moment, and the moment's gone
  All my dreams, pass before my eyes, a curiosity
  Dust in the wind, all they are is dust in the wind.
  Same old song, just a drop of water in an endless sea
  All we do, crumbles to the ground, though we refuse to see
  
  Dust in the wind, all we are is dust in the wind
  
  [Now] Don't hang on, nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky
  It slips away, and all your money won't another minute buy.
  
  Dust in the wind, all we are is dust in the wind
  Dust in the wind, everything is dust in the wind.
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  24

  Happy (ecstatic) news, Walking on Air...

  by CeriseRose in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've been a bit lax in posting, life got really busy over the last while.

  i've had my own business that's been gaining contracts, but not quickly enough for mortgage payments and cat food.

  hehe so i took a 5 month temp job to supplement.

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  Cicatrix

  Awww, that is so wonderful-Congratulations to you and Mr. Pookiehead!! You'll have extra special memories for your "first birthday"now:)
  
  Happy Birthday, btw.
  
  Cic
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  55

  I'm thinking about attending a Unitarian Universalist service this Sunday

  by DanTheMan in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  thoughts?

  opinions?

  experiences?

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  Cicatrix

  Then you would probably fit in pretty well there. There's a well known UU joke that goes something along the line of "There are two signs at the fork in the road. One says "Take this path to heaven" and the other says "take this path to the debate about heaven." Guess which one the UUs take? Heh.
  
  It gets pretty spirited at forums sometimes, but what amazes me is that it can be spirited debate, but still respectful. And some of the topics are very very challenging at my church (lots of uni profs from the science department and philosphy department, lol). I love the forum-have yet not to come away with something profound to think about.
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  13

  Baptist funerals vs. JW funerals

  by jws in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i went to a funeral at a 1st baptist church this past weekend.

  it was for the son of a former co-worker.

  travis was 18 and was about to start his senior year in high school.

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  Cicatrix

  I've been to three funerals at two different Baptist churches (I was "naughty" and attended them when I was JW, lol), and they were very different in style.
  
  The first two experiences were very much like the one you described.The pastor knew the two people very well, and said many kind things about them. It was as much a celebration of their lives as it was a time to commemorate their passing. There was actually NO attempt to get people to "come to Jesus" at this church at all, which surprised me (I had attended Baptist churches as a child).
  
  The last experience was outrageous. It took place at the church that my brother and sister-in-law attend. It was for my step-mother-in-law, who was actually, ironically, Methodist all her life.
  
  The pastor was of the "hell and brimstone type," and there was me,(a known JW), my husband and kids,and several other unchurched members of the family(including my father-in-law)-a great "captive audience" for the pastor.He said very little about my mother-in-law. He didn't know her, so I assume he was reading whatever information my brother and sister-in-law had given him. Then he proceeded to claim that all who did not "believe on the lord Jesus Christ" as being part of the triune god head were doomed to burn forever in hell (and looked directly at my children and I when he said this). He went on for several minutes,graphically describing the horrors of hell (not all of it scriptures, either),which those who weren't working hard on their relationship with the triune Jesus, and towards their salvation would experience.
  
  My children (who were pretty young) were literally sinking down in the pews at the force of his venomous little speech. I just sat there shocked for a moment, watching the spit literally flying out of his mouth (we had been "conveniently" seated in the second row of pews by my deacon brother-in-law), then I did the most irreverant thing I've ever done in my life-I laughed out loud at my poor step-mom-in-law's funeral! I couldn't help it, it just kind of came out when I saw that spit flying. I then grabbed the copy of the Bible that was in the pew, and started flipping it to different scriptures, and read them to my kids quietly. That calmed them down, and visibly shook up the preacher, who actually added something to his little spiel about God being the one to judge. I just looked at him firmly and nodded in agreement, and my kids smiled, as that was one of the scriptures I'd showed them-"judge not lest ye be judged."
  
  This guy's antics not only upset me, my kids,and my husband, they also upset the other unchurched family members, especially my father-in-law (he and I agree on very little, but we do have a similar opinion about hell and brimstone preachers, lol).He won't step foot in any church now, and I can't say as I blame him. Worse than that, it really ruined my mother-in-law's funeral. She was a wonderful, loving, kind woman, and she didn't deserve that kind of funeral talk. She was a very Christian woman, and she NEVER EVER would have condoned anyone talking to her family members in that fashion!
  
  The saddest part is, I later learned that my brother and sister-in-law's animosity had very little to do with my being a JW, and very much to do with the fact that my father-in-law had sold the family business and home to my husband and I.I suspect this little "performance" was a bit of a pay back for that.
  
  Danny-That is just SO WRONG that someone didn't notify you!! It certainly shows the amount of control they wish to exhibit and a total lack of love and concern on their part. They preach that everyone should "love their enemies," but I guess they don't include themselves in that catagory. Theocratic warfare and all, ya know. BARF.
  
  Anyway, I'm so sorry for the loss of your mom!
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  55

  I'm thinking about attending a Unitarian Universalist service this Sunday

  by DanTheMan in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  thoughts?

  opinions?

  experiences?

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  Cicatrix

  Hi Dan,
  I've been attending UU services since April. It seems to be a pretty good fit for me right now. There is no emphasis on doctrine (although there are seven principles of faith that are stressed), and a great mix of folks with varying beliefs in the church I attend. So far, I have met and talked to Christians, Atheists, Taoists, Buddists, and Humanists at my church. The reverend is actually an Atheist Humanist, but is very mindful of those who are not (and she's a woman to boot-talk about a major paradigm shift for me, lol).
  
  Usually, on Sunday mornings there is what is known as "forum," where someone talks about an issue for about half an hour, then there is a discussion period with the audience afterwards. The topics vary from spiritual to political to community concerns.
  
  A church service follows, and the sermons also vary in theme. At the church I attend, they usually revolve around spritual issues or community issues. The reverend tends to keep the political discussions out of the pulpit for the most part.There are often various "rites of passage" celebrated during the service. There is lots of live, beautiful music at the church I attend, and sometimes little skits performed.
  
  UUs do tend to be a liberal group, in politics as well as spirituality. I've heard (but never seen myself)that some conservative people don't feel comfortable attending certain UU churches, but I don't believe this is the case with all of them. The rev explained that individual UU churches take on the personality of their members, so that some are more liberal, some are more conservative, etc. The town the church I attend is (in comparison to the surrounding towns) more liberally minded, and has a more liberal focus, but I have noticed that the reverend has been careful not to preach a certain "brand " of politics from the pulpit.
  
  Many folks started attending the church right around the same time as I, and we all stated that we were searching for some sort of community. The reverend and the various members of the church comittees seem to work hard to organise events that help nurture a community spirit in the church.
  
  So, if you are looking for a place to find community and to explore various spirtual paths and maybe figure out what yours is, I highly recommend trying the UU church.Heck, just go and try a few services and see if you like them. No one is going to twist your arm, or call you if you don't show up the next Sunday;)