Living by the Qur'an

Question:

Living by the Qur’an [Alif Lam Ra. This is a Book We have sent down to you so that you can bring mankind from the darkness to the light, by the permission of their Lord, to the Path of the Almighty, the Praiseworthy.] (Ibrahim 14:1) Allah sent down the Qur’an for people to reflect upon, so that they can know that He is the only God, to learn how to worship Him, and to become heedful. The Qur’an, our only guide, provides us with explanations for everything we need, shows us the path which pleases Allah, and gives the good news of the great consequences of surrendering as a servant to Him: [We have sent down the Book to you making all things clear and as guidance and mercy and good news for the Muslims.] (An-Nahl 16:89) The Qur’an is the book Allah sent in truth to His servants. It is an admonition, a healing, and a mercy for believers. Believers who can grasp this important reality reflect deeply on every verse of the Qur’an and spend all their lives in compliance with it. Allah provides in the Qur’an the answer to any question they seek: [We have brought them a Book elucidating everything with knowledge, as guidance and a mercy for people who believe.] (Al-A`raf 7:52) Since the Qur’an explains everything relevant to being a servant to Allah, man is responsible for living by the Qur’an, observing its limits, and complying with its commands. On the Day of Reckoning, people will be questioned based on this book alone. More… http://www.islamonline.net/english/Quran/2004/12/article03.shtml

Response:

of Reckoning, people will be questioned based on this book alone.

Mumbo Jumbo Bullshit. (What’s the pass mark?)

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Living by the Qur’an , fairy tales

Response:

Living by the Qur’an By Harun Yahya [Alif Lam Ra. This is a Book We have sent down to you so that you can bring mankind from the darkness to the light, by the permission of their Lord, to the Path of the Almighty, the Praiseworthy.] (Ibrahim 14:1) Allah sent down the Qur’an for people to reflect upon, so that they can know that He is the only God, to learn how to worship Him, and to become heedful. The Qur’an, our only guide, provides us with explanations for everything we need, shows us the path which pleases Allah, and gives the good news of the great consequences of surrendering as a servant to Him: [We have sent down the Book to you making all things clear and as guidance and mercy and good news for the Muslims.] (An-Nahl 16:89) The Qur’an is the book Allah sent in truth to His servants. It is an admonition, a healing, and a mercy for believers. Believers who can grasp this important reality reflect deeply on every verse of the Qur’an and spend all their lives in compliance with it. Allah provides in the Qur’an the answer to any question they seek: [We have brought them a Book elucidating everything with knowledge, as guidance and a mercy for people who believe.] (Al-A`raf 7:52) Since the Qur’an explains everything relevant to being a servant to Allah, man is responsible for living by the Qur’an, observing its limits, and complying with its commands. On the Day of Reckoning, people will be questioned based on this book alone. Therefore, never forget that the way you conduct yourself, your thoughts and decisions-in brief, your entire way of life-should be in compliance only with the Qur’an, and not with what the majority of people want. Living by the Qur’an is the unique way to salvation. Moreover, it is necessary to read and comprehend the Qur’an in order to live by the religion revealed in it, even though those around you may be far from complying with it. The majority of people might have never read the Qur’an. Among those who are familiar with the Qur’an, on the other hand, there may be those who only memorize verses in Arabic without reflecting on their meaning. They may even consider the Qur’an as a kind of amulet (Surely Allah is beyond all that which they falsely ascribe to Him) and thus keep it on the upper shelves of closets. But if what you want to accomplish is salvation, you need to comply with Allah’s commands, not those of the majority of people. You need to read the admonitions Allah has sent down and know by heart His commands. The reason why the Qur’an was revealed is made clear in the following verses: [This is a communication to be transmitted to mankind so that they may be warned by it and so that they will know that He is One God and so that people of intelligence will pay heed.] (Ibrahim 14:52) [It is a Book We have sent down to you, full of blessing, so let people of intelligence ponder its Signs and take heed.] (Saad 38:29) As is seen in the above quoted verses, Allah informs us that only the people of intelligence, who have the faith described in the Qur’an, can take heed. The Qur’an is made easy for us to reflect and take advice: ["Am I to desire someone other than Allah as a judge when it is He Who has sent down the Book to you clarifying everything?" Those We have given the Book know it has been sent down from your Lord with truth, so on no account be among the doubters.] (Al-An`am 6:114) [In this way We have sent it down as Clear Signs. Allah guides anyone He wills.] (Al-Hajj 22:16) Aside from that stated in these verses, there is yet another fact we need to keep in mind: The Qur’an is a guide for believers; whereas it may misguide disbelievers. Those who do not believe that they will be gathered in the presence of their Lord on the Day of Judgment and that the Qur’an is the book in truth sent by the Lord, fail to grasp the divine purpose of its verses. They remain deaf and blind towards them. This condition is related in the Qur’an as follows: [When you recite the Qur'an, We place an obscuring veil between you and those who do not believe in the hereafter. We have placed covers on their hearts, preventing them from understanding it, and heaviness in their ears. When you mention your Lord alone in the Qur'an, they turn their backs and run away.] (Al-Israa’ 17:45-46) Undoubtedly, this attitude of the disbelievers results from their insincerity and their inclination to follow their whims and desires. Examples of this inherent lack of understanding among the disbelievers are as follows: [We have only appointed angels as masters of the Fire and We have only specified their number as a trial for those who are disbelievers; so that those who were given the Book might gain in certainty, and those who believe might increase in their faith, and both those who were given the Book and the believers might have no doubt; and so that those with sickness in their hearts and the disbelievers might say, "What did Allah intend by this example?" In this way Allah misguides those He wills and guides those He wills. No one knows the legions of your Lord but Him. This is nothing but a reminder to all human beings.] (Al-Muddaththir 74:31) Believers, on the other hand, are of an entirely different state of mind. As soon as they hear Allah’s verses, they conform to this most beautiful message, and thus, attain salvation both in this world and beyond. The attitude typical of a believer towards Allah’s signs is related in the Qur’an as follows: [Allah has sent down the Supreme Discourse, a Book consistent in its frequent repetitions. The skins of those who fear their Lord tremble at it and then their skins and hearts yield softly to the remembrance of Allah. That is Allah's guidance by which He guides whoever He wills. And no one can guide those whom Allah misguides.] (Az-Zumar 39:23) Allah has informed us that believers with sincere faith will have the faculty to grasp the Qur’an as the book in truth. Only disbelievers harbor doubts about its justness: [... and so that those who have been given knowledge will know it is the truth from their Lord and believe in it and their hearts will be humbled to Him. Allah guides those who believe to a straight path. But those who disbelieve will not cease to be in doubt of it until the Hour comes on them suddenly or the punishment of a desolate Day arrives.] (Al-Hajj 22:54-55) People will be judged according to the Qur’an on the Day of Judgment. Allah reveals this truth in the following verse: [So hold fast to what has been revealed to you. You are on a straight path. It is certainly a reminder to you and to your people and you will be questioned.] (Az-Zukhruf 43: 43-44) That the majority of people are far removed from the Qur’an, and that they have almost abandoned it, should not deceive you. That is because, as people regard a lifespan of 60-70 years as guaranteed, they tend to wait for the later years of their lives as the appropriate time to follow the Qur’an. They wrongly conclude that living by the religion would deprive them of the pleasures of youth. By this insincere reasoning, however, they prepare a bitter end for themselves. The sole guide that explains for you how to be a servant to Allah is the Qur’an. You must structure your life according to its commands. That is because, on the Day of Judgment, believers and disbelievers alike will be judged according to their obedience to the Qur’an. You can only hope to attain Paradise and deliverance from eternal punishment provided that you sincerely carry out what the Qur’an commands. Harun Yahya was born in Ankara in 1956. He studied arts at Istanbul’s Mimar Sinan University, and philosophy at Istanbul University. Since the 1980s, he has published many books on political, faith-related and scientific issues. http://www.islamonline.net/english/Quran/2004/12/article03.shtml

Response:

Living by the Qur’an By Harun Yahya [Alif Lam Ra. This is a Book We have sent down to you so that you can bring mankind from the darkness to the light, by the permission of their Lord, to the Path of the Almighty, the Praiseworthy.] (Ibrahim 14:1) Allah sent down the Qur’an for people to reflect upon, so that they can know that He is the only God, to learn how to worship Him, and to become heedful. The Qur’an, our only guide, provides us with explanations for everything we need, shows us the path which pleases Allah, and gives the good news of the great consequences of surrendering as a servant to Him: [We have sent down the Book to you making all things clear and as guidance and mercy and good news for the Muslims.] (An-Nahl 16:89) The Qur’an is the book Allah sent in truth to His servants. It is an admonition, a healing, and a mercy for believers. Believers who can grasp this important reality reflect deeply on every verse of the Qur’an and spend all their lives in compliance with it. Allah provides in the Qur’an the answer to any question they seek: [We have brought them a Book elucidating everything with knowledge, as guidance and a mercy for people who believe.] (Al-A`raf 7:52) Since the Qur’an explains everything relevant to being a servant to Allah, man is responsible for living by the Qur’an, observing its limits, and complying with its commands. On the Day of Reckoning, people will be questioned based on this book alone. Therefore, never forget that the way you conduct yourself, your thoughts and decisions-in brief, your entire way of life-should be in compliance only with the Qur’an, and not with what the majority of people want. Living by the Qur’an is the unique way to salvation. Moreover, it is necessary to read and comprehend the Qur’an in order to live by the religion revealed in it, even though those around you may be far from complying with it. The majority of people might have never read the Qur’an. Among those who are familiar with the Qur’an, on the other hand, there may be those who only memorize verses in Arabic without reflecting on their meaning. They may even consider the Qur’an as a kind of amulet (Surely Allah is beyond all that which they falsely ascribe to Him) and thus keep it on the upper shelves of closets. But if what you want to accomplish is salvation, you need to comply with Allah’s commands, not those of the majority of people. You need to read the admonitions Allah has sent down and know by heart His commands. The reason why the Qur’an was revealed is made clear in the following verses: [This is a communication to be transmitted to mankind so that they may be warned by it and so that they will know that He is One God and so that people of intelligence will pay heed.] (Ibrahim 14:52) [It is a Book We have sent down to you, full of blessing, so let people of intelligence ponder its Signs and take heed.] (Saad 38:29) As is seen in the above quoted verses, Allah informs us that only the people of intelligence, who have the faith described in the Qur’an, can take heed. The Qur’an is made easy for us to reflect and take advice: ["Am I to desire someone other than Allah as a judge when it is He Who has sent down the Book to you clarifying everything?" Those We have given the Book know it has been sent down from your Lord with truth, so on no account be among the doubters.] (Al-An`am 6:114) [In this way We have sent it down as Clear Signs. Allah guides anyone He wills.] (Al-Hajj 22:16) Aside from that stated in these verses, there is yet another fact we need to keep in mind: The Qur’an is a guide for believers; whereas it may misguide disbelievers. Those who do not believe that they will be gathered in the presence of their Lord on the Day of Judgment and that the Qur’an is the book in truth sent by the Lord, fail to grasp the divine purpose of its verses. They remain deaf and blind towards them. This condition is related in the Qur’an as follows: [When you recite the Qur'an, We place an obscuring veil between you and those who do not believe in the hereafter. We have placed covers on their hearts, preventing them from understanding it, and heaviness in their ears. When you mention your Lord alone in the Qur'an, they turn their backs and run away.] (Al-Israa’ 17:45-46) Undoubtedly, this attitude of the disbelievers results from their insincerity and their inclination to follow their whims and desires. Examples of this inherent lack of understanding among the disbelievers are as follows: [We have only appointed angels as masters of the Fire and We have only specified their number as a trial for those who are disbelievers; so that those who were given the Book might gain in certainty, and those who believe might increase in their faith, and both those who were given the Book and the believers might have no doubt; and so that those with sickness in their hearts and the disbelievers might say, "What did Allah intend by this example?" In this way Allah misguides those He wills and guides those He wills. No one knows the legions of your Lord but Him. This is nothing but a reminder to all human beings.] (Al-Muddaththir 74:31) Believers, on the other hand, are of an entirely different state of mind. As soon as they hear Allah’s verses, they conform to this most beautiful message, and thus, attain salvation both in this world and beyond. The attitude typical of a believer towards Allah’s signs is related in the Qur’an as follows: [Allah has sent down the Supreme Discourse, a Book consistent in its frequent repetitions. The skins of those who fear their Lord tremble at it and then their skins and hearts yield softly to the remembrance of Allah. That is Allah's guidance by which He guides whoever He wills. And no one can guide those whom Allah misguides.] (Az-Zumar 39:23) Allah has informed us that believers with sincere faith will have the faculty to grasp the Qur’an as the book in truth. Only disbelievers harbor doubts about its justness: [... and so that those who have been given knowledge will know it is the truth from their Lord and believe in it and their hearts will be humbled to Him. Allah guides those who believe to a straight path. But those who disbelieve will not cease to be in doubt of it until the Hour comes on them suddenly or the punishment of a desolate Day arrives.] (Al-Hajj 22:54-55) People will be judged according to the Qur’an on the Day of Judgment. Allah reveals this truth in the following verse: [So hold fast to what has been revealed to you. You are on a straight path. It is certainly a reminder to you and to your people and you will be questioned.] (Az-Zukhruf 43: 43-44) That the majority of people are far removed from the Qur’an, and that they have almost abandoned it, should not deceive you. That is because, as people regard a lifespan of 60-70 years as guaranteed, they tend to wait for the later years of their lives as the appropriate time to follow the Qur’an. They wrongly conclude that living by the religion would deprive them of the pleasures of youth. By this insincere reasoning, however, they prepare a bitter end for themselves. The sole guide that explains for you how to be a servant to Allah is the Qur’an. You must structure your life according to its commands. That is because, on the Day of Judgment, believers and disbelievers alike will be judged according to their obedience to the Qur’an. You can only hope to attain Paradise and deliverance from eternal punishment provided that you sincerely carry out what the Qur’an commands. Harun Yahya was born in Ankara in 1956. He studied arts at Istanbul’s Mimar Sinan University, and philosophy at Istanbul University. Since the 1980s, he has published many books on political, faith-related and scientific issues. http://www.islamonline.net/english/Quran/2004/12/article03.shtml

Response:

The end of an era

Question:

In 1968 Charlie and I bought a small black puff of fur we named Wilhelmina that grew into the most spoiled toy poodle in the world.

Hugs and purrs.  Wish there was something else I could do for you. — Mogget, the Churl in the Puce Greatcoat

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – In 1968 Charlie and I bought a small black puff of fur we named Wilhelmina that grew into the most spoiled toy poodle in the world.  She lived until 1983.  I was bereft when she died as we had been extremely close for fifteen years.  If I was sitting down or sleeping she was right next to me.  Always. After a few months we found another golden ball of fur we named Brandie Alesandra.  She was smart and independent.  A delight to train.  And turned out to be a very good and easy Mamma dog as well.  She had two puppies at a time for five litters, and we kept the two little girls from the last litter.  We named the babies Taffee and Sugar.  That was over seventeen years ago.  And for several years the three little golden poodles ruled our home and our life.  Taffee and Sugar looked so much alike that I could not tell them apart from across the room if they were newly clipped.  And felt to different I could tell them apart at the slightest touch.  Taffee died a year ago. Yesterday I finally had to make the choice that Sugar was too ill and in too much pain to have any benefit in extending her life.  She had been deaf and blind for years and suffering from congestive heart failure, but still managed to enjoy cuddles and sunshine warmth.  And just being close.  There won’t be any more poodles for us.  Its the right choice but it still breaks my heart.  For close to thirty seven years now, there has been a little curly head close by.  Wanting a cuddle or a snack or a walk.  Or just someone to curl up next to. Jo

"Rise up slowly Angel.  It’s hard to let you go…" Sincere condolences.   MLB

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – In 1968 Charlie and I bought a small black puff of fur we named Wilhelmina that grew into the most spoiled toy poodle in the world.  She lived until 1983.  I was bereft when she died as we had been extremely close for fifteen years.  If I was sitting down or sleeping she was right next to me. Always. After a few months we found another golden ball of fur we named Brandie Alesandra.  She was smart and independent.  A delight to train.  And turned out to be a very good and easy Mamma dog as well.  She had two puppies at a time for five litters, and we kept the two little girls from the last litter.  We named the babies Taffee and Sugar.  That was over seventeen years ago.  And for several years the three little golden poodles ruled our home and our life.  Taffee and Sugar looked so much alike that I could not tell them apart from across the room if they were newly clipped.  And felt to different I could tell them apart at the slightest touch.  Taffee died a year ago. Yesterday I finally had to make the choice that Sugar was too ill and in too much pain to have any benefit in extending her life.  She had been deaf and blind for years and suffering from congestive heart failure, but still managed to enjoy cuddles and sunshine warmth.  And just being close. There won’t be any more poodles for us.  Its the right choice but it still breaks my heart.  For close to thirty seven years now, there has been a little curly head close by.  Wanting a cuddle or a snack or a walk.  Or just someone to curl up next to. Jo

Oh Jo, it made me cry just to read this.  My heart cries for you.  I’ll get the purrs and grunts (from Shelby the miniature Australian Shepherd) going for you. Smokie Darling (Annie)

Response:

On 2005-03-19, Jo Firey penned: Yesterday I finally had to make the choice that Sugar was too ill and in too much pain to have any benefit in extending her life.  She had been deaf and blind for years and suffering from congestive heart failure, but still managed to enjoy cuddles and sunshine warmth.  And just being close.  There won’t be any more poodles for us.  Its the right choice but it still breaks my heart.  For close to thirty seven years now, there has been a little curly head close by.  Wanting a cuddle or a snack or a walk.  Or just someone to curl up next to. Jo

I’m so sorry. — monique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca

Response:

  I’m so sorry to hear about Sugar. You loved her well.

Response:

Yesterday I finally had to make the choice that Sugar was too ill and in too much pain to have any benefit in extending her life.  She had been deaf and blind for years and suffering from congestive heart failure, but still managed to enjoy cuddles and sunshine warmth.  And just being close.  There won’t be any more poodles for us.  Its the right choice but it still breaks my heart.  For close to thirty seven years now, there has been a little curly head close by.  Wanting a cuddle or a snack or a walk.  Or just someone to curl up next to.

We’re so sorry Jo.  We’re sending purrs and healing thoughts to you and yours on your loss.  A lot of little poodles are waiting for you at the bridge. Pam, Rob, and the Fayetteville Six + Calvin and Speedy the d-thing

Response:

Heartfelt condolence purrs to you from me and the Deadly Duo here.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Yesterday I finally had to make the choice that Sugar was too ill and in too much pain to have any benefit in extending her life.  She had been deaf and blind for years and suffering from congestive heart failure, but still managed to enjoy cuddles and sunshine warmth.  And just being close. There won’t be any more poodles for us.  Its the right choice but it still breaks my heart.  For close to thirty seven years now, there has been a little curly head close by.  Wanting a cuddle or a snack or a walk.  Or just someone to curl up next to. We’re so sorry Jo.  We’re sending purrs and healing thoughts to you and yours on your loss.  A lot of little poodles are waiting for you at the bridge. Pam, Rob, and the Fayetteville Six + Calvin and Speedy the d-thing

Response:

Yesterday I finally had to make the choice that Sugar was too ill and in too much pain to have any benefit in extending her life.  She had been deaf and blind for years and suffering from congestive heart failure, but still managed to enjoy cuddles and sunshine warmth.  And just being close.  There won’t be any more poodles for us.  Its the right choice but it still breaks my heart.  For close to thirty seven years now, there has been a little curly head close by.  Wanting a cuddle or a snack or a walk.  Or just someone to curl up next to.

Comforting purrs for your aching hearts and purrs for Sugar’s journey — Elise (supervised by Gossamer & Jeeves)

Response:

I’m so sorry, Jo.  My heart goes out to you. PatM

Response:

Yesterday I finally had to make the choice that Sugar was too ill and in too much pain to have any benefit in extending her life.  She had been deaf and blind for years and suffering from congestive heart failure, but still managed to enjoy cuddles and sunshine warmth.  And just being close.  There won’t be any more poodles for us.  Its the right choice but it still breaks my heart.  

I’m so sorry, Jo. Purrs and hugs. — Marina, Frank, Nikki, and coming soon: Mere! marina (dot) kurten (at) pp (dot) inet (dot) fi Pics at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frankiennikki/ and http://community.webshots.com/user/frankiennikki

Response:

I’m so sorry.  Hugs and purrs, — Britta "There is no snooze button on a cat who wants breakfast." — Unknown Check out pictures of Vino at: http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – In 1968 Charlie and I bought a small black puff of fur we named Wilhelmina that grew into the most spoiled toy poodle in the world. She lived until 1983.  I was bereft when she died as we had been extremely close for fifteen years.  If I was sitting down or sleeping she was right next to me.  Always. After a few months we found another golden ball of fur we named Brandie Alesandra.  She was smart and independent.  A delight to train.  And turned out to be a very good and easy Mamma dog as well. She had two puppies at a time for five litters, and we kept the two little girls from the last litter.  We named the babies Taffee and Sugar.  That was over seventeen years ago.  And for several years the three little golden poodles ruled our home and our life.  Taffee and Sugar looked so much alike that I could not tell them apart from across the room if they were newly clipped.  And felt to different I could tell them apart at the slightest touch.  Taffee died a year ago. Yesterday I finally had to make the choice that Sugar was too ill and in too much pain to have any benefit in extending her life.  She had been deaf and blind for years and suffering from congestive heart failure, but still managed to enjoy cuddles and sunshine warmth. And just being close.  There won’t be any more poodles for us.  Its the right choice but it still breaks my heart.  For close to thirty seven years now, there has been a little curly head close by.  Wanting a cuddle or a snack or a walk.  Or just someone to curl up next to. Jo

Response:

(((((((((Jo))))))))) Joy

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – In 1968 Charlie and I bought a small black puff of fur we named Wilhelmina that grew into the most spoiled toy poodle in the world.  She lived until 1983.  I was bereft when she died as we had been extremely close for fifteen years.  If I was sitting down or sleeping she was right next to me. Always. After a few months we found another golden ball of fur we named Brandie Alesandra.  She was smart and independent.  A delight to train.  And turned out to be a very good and easy Mamma dog as well.  She had two puppies at a time for five litters, and we kept the two little girls from the last litter.  We named the babies Taffee and Sugar.  That was over seventeen years ago.  And for several years the three little golden poodles ruled our home and our life.  Taffee and Sugar looked so much alike that I could not tell them apart from across the room if they were newly clipped.  And felt to different I could tell them apart at the slightest touch.  Taffee died a year ago. Yesterday I finally had to make the choice that Sugar was too ill and in too much pain to have any benefit in extending her life.  She had been deaf and blind for years and suffering from congestive heart failure, but still managed to enjoy cuddles and sunshine warmth.  And just being close. There won’t be any more poodles for us.  Its the right choice but it still breaks my heart.  For close to thirty seven years now, there has been a little curly head close by.  Wanting a cuddle or a snack or a walk.  Or just someone to curl up next to. Jo

Response:

We’re so sorry for your loss, Jo… –Kim and Crew – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -In 1968 Charlie and I bought a small black puff of fur we named Wilhelmina that grew into the most spoiled toy poodle in the world.  She lived until 1983.  I was bereft when she died as we had been extremely close for fifteen years.  If I was sitting down or sleeping she was right next to me.  Always. After a few months we found another golden ball of fur we named Brandie Alesandra.  She was smart and independent.  A delight to train.  And turned out to be a very good and easy Mamma dog as well.  She had two puppies at a time for five litters, and we kept the two little girls from the last litter.  We named the babies Taffee and Sugar.  That was over seventeen years ago.  And for several years the three little golden poodles ruled our home and our life.  Taffee and Sugar looked so much alike that I could not tell them apart from across the room if they were newly clipped.  And felt to different I could tell them apart at the slightest touch.  Taffee died a year ago. Yesterday I finally had to make the choice that Sugar was too ill and in too much pain to have any benefit in extending her life.  She had been deaf and blind for years and suffering from congestive heart failure, but still managed to enjoy cuddles and sunshine warmth.  And just being close.  There won’t be any more poodles for us.  Its the right choice but it still breaks my heart.  For close to thirty seven years now, there has been a little curly head close by.  Wanting a cuddle or a snack or a walk.  Or just someone to curl up next to. Jo

Response:

Yesterday I finally had to make the choice that Sugar was too ill and in too much pain to have any benefit in extending her life.  She had been deaf and blind for years and suffering from congestive heart failure, but still managed to enjoy cuddles and sunshine warmth.  And just being close.  There won’t be any more poodles for us.  Its the right choice but it still breaks my heart.  For close to thirty seven years now, there has been a little curly head close by.  Wanting a cuddle or a snack or a walk.  Or just someone to curl up next to. Jo

Awwwww  I’m so sorry, Jo.  It’s terrible to have to let them go.  My heart goes out to you. Jill

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – In 1968 Charlie and I bought a small black puff of fur we named Wilhelmina that grew into the most spoiled toy poodle in the world.  She lived until 1983.  I was bereft when she died as we had been extremely close for fifteen years.  If I was sitting down or sleeping she was right next to me.  Always. After a few months we found another golden ball of fur we named Brandie Alesandra.  She was smart and independent.  A delight to train.  And turned out to be a very good and easy Mamma dog as well.  She had two puppies at a time for five litters, and we kept the two little girls from the last litter.  We named the babies Taffee and Sugar.  That was over seventeen years ago.  And for several years the three little golden poodles ruled our home and our life.  Taffee and Sugar looked so much alike that I could not tell them apart from across the room if they were newly clipped.  And felt to different I could tell them apart at the slightest touch.  Taffee died a year ago. Yesterday I finally had to make the choice that Sugar was too ill and in too much pain to have any benefit in extending her life.  She had been deaf and blind for years and suffering from congestive heart failure, but still managed to enjoy cuddles and sunshine warmth.  And just being close.  There won’t be any more poodles for us.  Its the right choice but it still breaks my heart.  For close to thirty seven years now, there has been a little curly head close by.  Wanting a cuddle or a snack or a walk.  Or just someone to curl up next to. Jo

Awww. I am so sorry to hear this. Purrs from my Sugar to your Sugar that she crosses to the Bridge pleasantly and purrs of comfort for you.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -In 1968 Charlie and I bought a small black puff of fur we named Wilhelmina that grew into the most spoiled toy poodle in the world.  She lived until 1983.  I was bereft when she died as we had been extremely close for fifteen years.  If I was sitting down or sleeping she was right next to me.  Always. After a few months we found another golden ball of fur we named Brandie Alesandra.  She was smart and independent.  A delight to train.  And turned out to be a very good and easy Mamma dog as well.  She had two puppies at a time for five litters, and we kept the two little girls from the last litter.  We named the babies Taffee and Sugar.  That was over seventeen years ago.  And for several years the three little golden poodles ruled our home and our life.  Taffee and Sugar looked so much alike that I could not tell them apart from across the room if they were newly clipped.  And felt to different I could tell them apart at the slightest touch.  Taffee died a year ago. Yesterday I finally had to make the choice that Sugar was too ill and in too much pain to have any benefit in extending her life.  She had been deaf and blind for years and suffering from congestive heart failure, but still managed to enjoy cuddles and sunshine warmth.  And just being close.  There won’t be any more poodles for us.  Its the right choice but it still breaks my heart.  For close to thirty seven years now, there has been a little curly head close by.  Wanting a cuddle or a snack or a walk.  Or just someone to curl up next to. Jo

{{{{{Jo}}}}} I am so sorry for your loss.  My heart goes out to you. Purrs for Sugar on the way to the Bridge, and for your heart to heal in time. Blessings, Ginger-lyn Home Pages:   http://www.spiritrealm.com/summer/   http://www.angelfire.com/folk/glsummer (homepage & cats)   http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~summer/index.htm (genealogy)   http://www.i-love-cats.com/meow/glsummer/ (The Violence Against                                              Animals in Movies Website)

Response:

It’s so hard to let them go. Lots of hugs and purrs, — Polonca & Soncek

<snip – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Yesterday I finally had to make the choice that Sugar was too ill and in too much pain to have any benefit in extending her life.  She had been deaf and blind for years and suffering from congestive heart failure, but still managed to enjoy cuddles and sunshine warmth.  And just being close. There won’t be any more poodles for us.  Its the right choice but it still breaks my heart.  For close to thirty seven years now, there has been a little curly head close by.  Wanting a cuddle or a snack or a walk.  Or just someone to curl up next to. Jo

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – In 1968 Charlie and I bought a small black puff of fur we named Wilhelmina that grew into the most spoiled toy poodle in the world. She lived until 1983.  I was bereft when she died as we had been extremely close for fifteen years.  If I was sitting down or sleeping she was right next to me.  Always. After a few months we found another golden ball of fur we named Brandie Alesandra.  She was smart and independent.  A delight to train.  And turned out to be a very good and easy Mamma dog as well. She had two puppies at a time for five litters, and we kept the two little girls from the last litter.  We named the babies Taffee and Sugar.  That was over seventeen years ago.  And for several years the three little golden poodles ruled our home and our life.  Taffee and Sugar looked so much alike that I could not tell them apart from across the room if they were newly clipped.  And felt to different I could tell them apart at the slightest touch.  Taffee died a year ago. Yesterday I finally had to make the choice that Sugar was too ill and in too much pain to have any benefit in extending her life.  She had been deaf and blind for years and suffering from congestive heart failure, but still managed to enjoy cuddles and sunshine warmth.  And just being close.  There won’t be any more poodles for us.  Its the right choice but it still breaks my heart.  For close to thirty seven years now, there has been a little curly head close by.  Wanting a cuddle or a snack or a walk.  Or just someone to curl up next to. Jo

Deepest sympathy. — Cliologist, Philanthropologist, Prothonotary Wibbler, Paleoconservative, Surface Warrior Squid

Response:

You’ve given your little darlings the best in life. You can always keep that thought in your heart. Sorry to hear about the choice you had to make, but you had many, many years of happiness with all of them. We will light a candle for Sugar’s safe journey to the RB. She will be happy there. Jazz & his mama — Irulan from the stars we come to the stars we return from now until the end of time

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – In 1968 Charlie and I bought a small black puff of fur we named Wilhelmina that grew into the most spoiled toy poodle in the world.  She lived until 1983.  I was bereft when she died as we had been extremely close for fifteen years.  If I was sitting down or sleeping she was right next to me. Always. After a few months we found another golden ball of fur we named Brandie Alesandra.  She was smart and independent.  A delight to train.  And turned out to be a very good and easy Mamma dog as well.  She had two puppies at a time for five litters, and we kept the two little girls from the last litter.  We named the babies Taffee and Sugar.  That was over seventeen years ago.  And for several years the three little golden poodles ruled our home and our life.  Taffee and Sugar looked so much alike that I could not tell them apart from across the room if they were newly clipped.  And felt to different I could tell them apart at the slightest touch.  Taffee died a year ago. Yesterday I finally had to make the choice that Sugar was too ill and in too much pain to have any benefit in extending her life.  She had been deaf and blind for years and suffering from congestive heart failure, but still managed to enjoy cuddles and sunshine warmth.  And just being close. There won’t be any more poodles for us.  Its the right choice but it still breaks my heart.  For close to thirty seven years now, there has been a little curly head close by.  Wanting a cuddle or a snack or a walk.  Or just someone to curl up next to. Jo

Response:

In 1968 Charlie and I bought a small black puff of fur we named Wilhelmina that grew into the most spoiled toy poodle in the world.  She lived until 1983.  I was bereft when she died as we had been extremely close for fifteen years.  If I was sitting down or sleeping she was right next to me.  Always. After a few months we found another golden ball of fur we named Brandie Alesandra.  She was smart and independent.  A delight to train.  And turned out to be a very good and easy Mamma dog as well.  She had two puppies at a time for five litters, and we kept the two little girls from the last litter.  We named the babies Taffee and Sugar.  That was over seventeen years ago.  And for several years the three little golden poodles ruled our home and our life.  Taffee and Sugar looked so much alike that I could not tell them apart from across the room if they were newly clipped.  And felt to different I could tell them apart at the slightest touch.  Taffee died a year ago. Yesterday I finally had to make the choice that Sugar was too ill and in too much pain to have any benefit in extending her life.  She had been deaf and blind for years and suffering from congestive heart failure, but still managed to enjoy cuddles and sunshine warmth.  And just being close.  There won’t be any more poodles for us.  Its the right choice but it still breaks my heart.  For close to thirty seven years now, there has been a little curly head close by.  Wanting a cuddle or a snack or a walk.  Or just someone to curl up next to. Jo

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Yesterday I finally had to make the choice that Sugar was too ill and in too much pain to have any benefit in extending her life.  She had been deaf and blind for years and suffering from congestive heart failure, but still managed to enjoy cuddles and sunshine warmth.  And just being close. There won’t be any more poodles for us.  Its the right choice but it still breaks my heart.  For close to thirty seven years now, there has been a little curly head close by.  Wanting a cuddle or a snack or a walk.  Or just someone to curl up next to. Aww. I’m so sorry about Sugar. They all sound like such sweeties.

I know that it’s horrible when it comes time to make that choice. Katz

Response:

Blessings to you and little Sugar.

Response:

yodeled: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -In 1968 Charlie and I bought a small black puff of fur we named Wilhelmina that grew into the most spoiled toy poodle in the world.  She lived until 1983.  I was bereft when she died as we had been extremely close for fifteen years.  If I was sitting down or sleeping she was right next to me.  Always. After a few months we found another golden ball of fur we named Brandie Alesandra.  She was smart and independent.  A delight to train.  And turned out to be a very good and easy Mamma dog as well.  She had two puppies at a time for five litters, and we kept the two little girls from the last litter.  We named the babies Taffee and Sugar.  That was over seventeen years ago.  And for several years the three little golden poodles ruled our home and our life.  Taffee and Sugar looked so much alike that I could not tell them apart from across the room if they were newly clipped.  And felt to different I could tell them apart at the slightest touch.  Taffee died a year ago. Yesterday I finally had to make the choice that Sugar was too ill and in too much pain to have any benefit in extending her life.  She had been deaf and blind for years and suffering from congestive heart failure, but still managed to enjoy cuddles and sunshine warmth.  And just being close.  There won’t be any more poodles for us.  Its the right choice but it still breaks my heart.  For close to thirty seven years now, there has been a little curly head close by.  Wanting a cuddle or a snack or a walk.  Or just someone to curl up next to. Jo

I am so sorry for your loss of your dear old friend.  Purrs for both of you, and your family. Theresa Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh My Blog: http://www.humanitas.blogspot.com

Response:

So sorry for your loss. — Victor M. Martinez Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM)

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – In 1968 Charlie and I bought a small black puff of fur we named Wilhelmina that grew into the most spoiled toy poodle in the world.  She lived until 1983.  I was bereft when she died as we had been extremely close for fifteen years.  If I was sitting down or sleeping she was right next to me. Always. After a few months we found another golden ball of fur we named Brandie Alesandra.  She was smart and independent.  A delight to train.  And turned out to be a very good and easy Mamma dog as well.  She had two puppies at a time for five litters, and we kept the two little girls from the last litter.  We named the babies Taffee and Sugar.  That was over seventeen years ago.  And for several years the three little golden poodles ruled our home and our life.  Taffee and Sugar looked so much alike that I could not tell them apart from across the room if they were newly clipped.  And felt to different I could tell them apart at the slightest touch.  Taffee died a year ago. Yesterday I finally had to make the choice that Sugar was too ill and in too much pain to have any benefit in extending her life.  She had been deaf and blind for years and suffering from congestive heart failure, but still managed to enjoy cuddles and sunshine warmth.  And just being close. There won’t be any more poodles for us.  Its the right choice but it still breaks my heart.  For close to thirty seven years now, there has been a little curly head close by.  Wanting a cuddle or a snack or a walk.  Or just someone to curl up next to. Jo

I can empathise completely. I said goodbye to my last 17 y.o, whippet in 2003.  I had them for years, up to 11 of the little devils. I can’t describe how I felt when any went to RB.  You know, though. I like poodles, when I was 18 I had a Saturday job shampooing and grooming them.  Poodles are underestimated. Purrs for your aching heart.  I know it only too well when a beloved dog leaves for the RB. Tweed

Response:

Vet Tech Journals 21 New Year's Eve

Question:

Sigh…… Another New Years with just me, the kitties and a bottle of champagne….. Just my luck that I would draw the short stick and be chosen to work the AM shift on New Year’s Day… So no matter how befuddled I get, I still have to be at work at 9 AM tomorrow to walk all the dogs. And it BETTER NOT RAIN…. I had to be at work at 7 AM this morning and it was POURING!!  To anyone here that owns a D*G, it is one thing to have a little door so the D*G can do his business on his own, and it’s another thing to give the D*G a quick walk…. But I challenge anyone here to try walking 15+ dogs in a downpour and see how they feel. I was soaking wet by the time I was done this morning.  I am not looking forward to this weekend. Not only can I not party with any of my friends, but since a lot of dogs are going home on Sunday, and about 6 of them need baths, I’ve been asked to go in an hour earlier on Sunday so I can bathe the dogs. I also finally got to see my chart and take care of my bill while the kitties were boarding.  Both Imp and Mischief have gained weight. Mischief is now about 13.4 pounds, and Imp is a hefty 14.4 pounds. Guess I’m not the only one that going on a diet once the New Year comes. BTW, on Wednesday was the day of the KITTY OPERA. Starring in one cage…… FAT LOUIE!!!! Incredibly moved by his bath to perform his rendition of Romeo from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet!! And as Juliet, here for a week, and just before her spay is, TINKERBELL!!! Watch closely as Tinkerbell rolls around her cage, LOUDLY lamenting as Shakespeare’s Juliet would do…. Watch as Fat Louie romances Tinkerbell as Romeo and reaches through the bars of his cage to reach her LOUDLY professing his love… ….okay okay okay, this is pushing it….  but when I came into work on Wednesday, Fat Louie was screaming at the top of his lungs because he was given a bath and was trying to escape the cage dryer.  He was reaching through the bars of his cage to the cage next door, where Tinkerbell lay. Tinkerbell, on the other hand was ROLLING around her cage, also screaming at the top of her lungs, trying to play dead to invoke sympathy before she had to be knocked out to be spayed.  There were times I would look up and she would be flat on her back, twitching and pretending to have a seizure or something.  Ah, she still got knocked out, shaved, and spayed. Fat Louie has gone home, but Tinkerbell has gotten this habit of looking VERY PITIFUL and rolling on her back to show her shaved tummy. Naturally us techs are compelled to give her lots of attention a tummy rub which results in a very loud purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr…… Anyways, one cat is curled up in his cube, trying to take his evening nap, and the other is underneath the Xmas tree in a meatloaf position. Happy New Year everyone, and I get to report at 9 AM tomorrow to walk Cheers, Kristi

Response:

Just to make you feel better.  Our little dog is ancient, deaf, and blind. But she feels good most of the time and we love her.  She has had congestive heart failure for years and is on a diuretic.  As in she pees often.  And drinks a lot of water.  And pees some more. She has to go out many times a day, at bed time, and usually twice during the night.  Because she is blind she has to be carried into the yard and then carried back in when she is done.  If she isn’t feeling well its more than twice during the night. Thank God she is pretty well trained and lifts a leg pretty quickly when she realizes she is on grass. Oh, and its pouring down rain tonight. Jo

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Sigh…… Another New Years with just me, the kitties and a bottle of champagne….. Just my luck that I would draw the short stick and be chosen to work the AM shift on New Year’s Day… So no matter how befuddled I get, I still have to be at work at 9 AM tomorrow to walk all the dogs. And it BETTER NOT RAIN…. I had to be at work at 7 AM this morning and it was POURING!!  To anyone here that owns a D*G, it is one thing to have a little door so the D*G can do his business on his own, and it’s another thing to give the D*G a quick walk…. But I challenge anyone here to try walking 15+ dogs in a downpour and see how they feel. I was soaking wet by the time I was done this morning.  I am not looking forward to this weekend. Not only can I not party with any of my friends, but since a lot of dogs are going home on Sunday, and about 6 of them need baths, I’ve been asked to go in an hour earlier on Sunday so I can bathe the dogs. I also finally got to see my chart and take care of my bill while the kitties were boarding.  Both Imp and Mischief have gained weight. Mischief is now about 13.4 pounds, and Imp is a hefty 14.4 pounds. Guess I’m not the only one that going on a diet once the New Year comes. BTW, on Wednesday was the day of the KITTY OPERA. Starring in one cage…… FAT LOUIE!!!! Incredibly moved by his bath to perform his rendition of Romeo from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet!! And as Juliet, here for a week, and just before her spay is, TINKERBELL!!! Watch closely as Tinkerbell rolls around her cage, LOUDLY lamenting as Shakespeare’s Juliet would do…. Watch as Fat Louie romances Tinkerbell as Romeo and reaches through the bars of his cage to reach her LOUDLY professing his love… ….okay okay okay, this is pushing it….  but when I came into work on Wednesday, Fat Louie was screaming at the top of his lungs because he was given a bath and was trying to escape the cage dryer.  He was reaching through the bars of his cage to the cage next door, where Tinkerbell lay. Tinkerbell, on the other hand was ROLLING around her cage, also screaming at the top of her lungs, trying to play dead to invoke sympathy before she had to be knocked out to be spayed.  There were times I would look up and she would be flat on her back, twitching and pretending to have a seizure or something.  Ah, she still got knocked out, shaved, and spayed. Fat Louie has gone home, but Tinkerbell has gotten this habit of looking VERY PITIFUL and rolling on her back to show her shaved tummy. Naturally us techs are compelled to give her lots of attention a tummy rub which results in a very loud purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr…… Anyways, one cat is curled up in his cube, trying to take his evening nap, and the other is underneath the Xmas tree in a meatloaf position. Happy New Year everyone, and I get to report at 9 AM tomorrow to walk Cheers, Kristi

Response:

Sigh…… Another New Years with just me, the kitties and a bottle of champagne…..

I didn’t have champagne – champagne taste, beer pocket-book this year Just my luck that I would draw the short stick and be chosen to work the AM shift on New Year’s Day…

I’m sorry! about 6 of them need baths, I’ve been asked to go in an hour earlier on Sunday so I can bathe the dogs.

You’ll be happy to know I never once had anyone at the vet bathe my dog He was a tiny little mutt; weighed less than my cat does.  I’d just plop him in the kitchen sink and give him a good wet-down with the sprayer and finger scrub him with baby shampoo, then rinse.  He would stand patiently while I attempted to dry him with "his" towel, then flap all over the place and take off running.  It was the dog version of the ‘zoomies’.  Even at a ripe old age, a bath made him get the zoomies.  And he’d run around with his muzzle on the carpet, butt in the air, attempting to dry himself off.  He also loved the blow-dryer  Once he was done with the zoomies I’d turn on the blowdryer in the bathroom and he’d come stand patiently while I dried him off.  Of course I’d be ruffling his fur with my fingers and the heat undoubtedly felt like the warm sunshine on his old bones

You are a glutton for *animals* and we love you for it! Happy New Year! Jill

Response:

Happy New Year, Kristi — you may not be partying but be assured that your little charges are appreciating your care (whether they know it or not!) — hugs for you and all you do for them. Christine

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Sigh…… Another New Years with just me, the kitties and a bottle of champagne….. Just my luck that I would draw the short stick and be chosen to work the AM shift on New Year’s Day… So no matter how befuddled I get, I still have to be at work at 9 AM tomorrow to walk all the dogs. And it BETTER NOT RAIN…. I had to be at work at 7 AM this morning and it was POURING!!  To anyone here that owns a D*G, it is one thing to have a little door so the D*G can do his business on his own, and it’s another thing to give the D*G a quick walk…. But I challenge anyone here to try walking 15+ dogs in a downpour and see how they feel. I was soaking wet by the time I was done this morning.  I am not looking forward to this weekend. Not only can I not party with any of my friends, but since a lot of dogs are going home on Sunday, and about 6 of them need baths, I’ve been asked to go in an hour earlier on Sunday so I can bathe the dogs. I also finally got to see my chart and take care of my bill while the kitties were boarding.  Both Imp and Mischief have gained weight. Mischief is now about 13.4 pounds, and Imp is a hefty 14.4 pounds. Guess I’m not the only one that going on a diet once the New Year comes. BTW, on Wednesday was the day of the KITTY OPERA. Starring in one cage…… FAT LOUIE!!!! Incredibly moved by his bath to perform his rendition of Romeo from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet!! And as Juliet, here for a week, and just before her spay is, TINKERBELL!!! Watch closely as Tinkerbell rolls around her cage, LOUDLY lamenting as Shakespeare’s Juliet would do…. Watch as Fat Louie romances Tinkerbell as Romeo and reaches through the bars of his cage to reach her LOUDLY professing his love… ….okay okay okay, this is pushing it….  but when I came into work on Wednesday, Fat Louie was screaming at the top of his lungs because he was given a bath and was trying to escape the cage dryer.  He was reaching through the bars of his cage to the cage next door, where Tinkerbell lay. Tinkerbell, on the other hand was ROLLING around her cage, also screaming at the top of her lungs, trying to play dead to invoke sympathy before she had to be knocked out to be spayed.  There were times I would look up and she would be flat on her back, twitching and pretending to have a seizure or something.  Ah, she still got knocked out, shaved, and spayed. Fat Louie has gone home, but Tinkerbell has gotten this habit of looking VERY PITIFUL and rolling on her back to show her shaved tummy. Naturally us techs are compelled to give her lots of attention a tummy rub which results in a very loud purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr…… Anyways, one cat is curled up in his cube, trying to take his evening nap, and the other is underneath the Xmas tree in a meatloaf position. Happy New Year everyone, and I get to report at 9 AM tomorrow to walk Cheers, Kristi

Response:

Holiday Stress.

Question:

"FireFighter" <Ask me for i…@Hotmail.com> wrote in news:RvednbctZum4cnSiRVn-iQ@comcast.com: > What I really want for Christmas is a decent paying job that I somewhat > enjoy, either that or a rich dumb,deaf and blind woman.lol

Pinball is optional?

Response:

On Wed, 24 Dec 2003 14:50:18 GMT, "eerie rodent of unusual size & typing ability" <ee…@biteme.com> wrote: >What the hell is it?  Why do people experience it?  

*shrug* As a nearly friendless non-Christian, I wouldn’t know. No shopping/party/etc. worries for me! — RK

Response:

lm <lmandtheb…@mailandnews.com> wrote in news:j0djuv0clqv46om7oovi7rfp4h55gi912a@4ax.com: >>Then you should be thankful. > I am, quite. > lm

For the anxiety?

Response:

eerie rodent of unusual size & typing ability wrote: > What the hell is it?  Why do people experience it?

I have it right now and its depressing. I only have a $100 to spend for gifts for my 3 brothers and mother. Didn’t feel like shopping and fighting the crowds so its money and cards for brothers and a gift certificate for dinner for my mom which I’ll probably take her to next week. Being out of work sucks, I wanted to give more and do more. My family and I always agreed to not spend more than $100 for each person. Funny enough my one brother and I who have birthdays 2 days apart usually don’t give each other anything  money wise cause were really just exchanging the same amount of money, we just go out and do something together. What I really want for Christmas is a decent paying job that I somewhat enjoy, either that or a rich dumb,deaf and blind woman.lol — FiRe "Shut up brain,or I’ll stab ya with a Q-tip" Homer J.Simpson "Beer is proof God loves us and wants us to be happy". Ben Franklin www.Station60.com

Response:

lm <lmandtheb…@mailandnews.com> wrote in news:j0djuv0clqv46om7oovi7rfp4h55gi912a@4ax.com: >>>>That sounds more depression than anxiety. >>> I’m an equal opportunity neurotic. >>> lm >>Then you should be thankful. > I am, quite. > lm

Hey, then it’s a win-win!

Response:

On Wed, 24 Dec 2003 15:38:15 GMT, "eerie rodent of unusual size & – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -typing ability" <ee…@biteme.com> wrote: >lm <lmandtheb…@mailandnews.com> wrote in >news:1jcjuvc417gp0ok1s7rl48du15rcguga7a@4ax.com: >> On Wed, 24 Dec 2003 15:34:50 GMT, "eerie rodent of unusual size & >> typing ability" <ee…@biteme.com> wrote: >>>lm <lmandtheb…@mailandnews.com> wrote in >>>news:m2cjuv8hpboh6m5kkidfr283gp2eedc68h@4ax.com: >>>> On Wed, 24 Dec 2003 14:50:18 GMT, "eerie rodent of unusual size & >>>> typing ability" <ee…@biteme.com> wrote: >>>>>What the hell is it?  Why do people experience it?   >>>> It’s supposed to be Norman Rockwell, It’s a Wonderful Life, family >>>> bonding, etc. and it isn’t. Each year people set themselves up for it >>>> and each year they’re disappointed. Then come the new year’s >>>> resolutions. >>>> lm >>>That sounds more depression than anxiety. >> I’m an equal opportunity neurotic. >> lm >Then you should be thankful.

I am, quite. lm

Response:

lm <lmandtheb…@mailandnews.com> wrote in news:m2cjuv8hpboh6m5kkidfr283gp2eedc68h@4ax.com: > On Wed, 24 Dec 2003 14:50:18 GMT, "eerie rodent of unusual size & > typing ability" <ee…@biteme.com> wrote: >>What the hell is it?  Why do people experience it?   > It’s supposed to be Norman Rockwell, It’s a Wonderful Life, family > bonding, etc. and it isn’t. Each year people set themselves up for it > and each year they’re disappointed. Then come the new year’s > resolutions. > lm

That sounds more depression than anxiety.

Response:

On Wed, 24 Dec 2003 15:34:50 GMT, "eerie rodent of unusual size & – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -typing ability" <ee…@biteme.com> wrote: >lm <lmandtheb…@mailandnews.com> wrote in >news:m2cjuv8hpboh6m5kkidfr283gp2eedc68h@4ax.com: >> On Wed, 24 Dec 2003 14:50:18 GMT, "eerie rodent of unusual size & >> typing ability" <ee…@biteme.com> wrote: >>>What the hell is it?  Why do people experience it?   >> It’s supposed to be Norman Rockwell, It’s a Wonderful Life, family >> bonding, etc. and it isn’t. Each year people set themselves up for it >> and each year they’re disappointed. Then come the new year’s >> resolutions. >> lm >That sounds more depression than anxiety.

I’m an equal opportunity neurotic. lm

Response:

lm <lmandtheb…@mailandnews.com> wrote in news:1jcjuvc417gp0ok1s7rl48du15rcguga7a@4ax.com: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> On Wed, 24 Dec 2003 15:34:50 GMT, "eerie rodent of unusual size & > typing ability" <ee…@biteme.com> wrote: >>lm <lmandtheb…@mailandnews.com> wrote in >>news:m2cjuv8hpboh6m5kkidfr283gp2eedc68h@4ax.com: >>> On Wed, 24 Dec 2003 14:50:18 GMT, "eerie rodent of unusual size & >>> typing ability" <ee…@biteme.com> wrote: >>>>What the hell is it?  Why do people experience it?   >>> It’s supposed to be Norman Rockwell, It’s a Wonderful Life, family >>> bonding, etc. and it isn’t. Each year people set themselves up for it >>> and each year they’re disappointed. Then come the new year’s >>> resolutions. >>> lm >>That sounds more depression than anxiety. > I’m an equal opportunity neurotic. > lm

Then you should be thankful.

Response:

dudenephx1…@aol.com (DudeNEPhx1971) wrote in news:20031224102252.29517.00000846@mb-m02.aol.com: >>What the hell is it?  Why do people experience it?   > Holiday stress is not for lonely people. > Folks can get stressed with > 1. Finance: How much to spend, what gifts to buy. Imagine if you have > to buy gifts for 20 people of different ages, and make them like the > gift.

Don’t have so many friends.  2. Food: If you have to watch your diet/blood > pressure/cholestrol/sugar intake, >  and there is food eevrywhere

Hmmm, only if I buy it. > 3. X-mas parties: Too many parties to go to, what to wear…will I > look fat in this dress..bla bla

Oh I’d look better than Divine. > 4. Family: Spending too much time with them, sibling rivalry, > relatives asking you stuff that you dont want to talk about. > 5. Shopping can be stressful

See #1.

Response:

What the hell is it?  Why do people experience it?  

Response:

>What the hell is it?  Why do people experience it?  

Holiday stress is not for lonely people. Folks can get stressed with 1. Finance: How much to spend, what gifts to buy. Imagine if you have to buy gifts for 20 people of different ages, and make them like the gift. 2. Food: If you have to watch your diet/blood pressure/cholestrol/sugar intake,  and there is food eevrywhere 3. X-mas parties: Too many parties to go to, what to wear…will I look fat in this dress..bla bla 4. Family: Spending too much time with them, sibling rivalry, relatives asking you stuff that you dont want to talk about. 5. Shopping can be stressful

Response:

On Wed, 24 Dec 2003 14:50:18 GMT, "eerie rodent of unusual size & typing ability" <ee…@biteme.com> wrote: >What the hell is it?  Why do people experience it?  

It’s supposed to be Norman Rockwell, It’s a Wonderful Life, family bonding, etc. and it isn’t. Each year people set themselves up for it and each year they’re disappointed. Then come the new year’s resolutions. lm

Response:

Xmas want list for B & C and FSP

Question:

Clyde wants :- Food, mostly biscuits, birds, staying out all night, toilet paper for shredding, paper bags ditto.  In particular wants people who think he is a beautiful cat and spend a lot of time admiring his sleek self. Bonnie wants :- Cat biscuits, many birds, staying out all day and night, more neighbours to visit, cars to investigate   Anything made of paper that is shredable. Of particular interest are people who hate cats, they can be climbed on and partially shredded. Fluffy SP wants :- Only cat biscuits of a certain make.   Wants to go out when in and in when out.   Wants to sit on Bev day and night and use her long claws to pull threads in various items of clothing. Does not want John to grab her and hug her and wants to get off his knee asap. Bev and John want :- A quiet life. Bev PS, Lets hear what your Masters want for Xmas.   — If you can step on 9 daisies all at once it’s Springtime.

Response:

Gizmos list: A red bug she can actually catch, an endless supply of mince in her bowl, a hoomin to let her in and out all day and night as she pleases, more dogs next door to tease, her Ginger friend to be allowed inside, permanently (condition that it doesn’t eat her food)…. Oh….and a magic wand to teleport the fish out of the tank into her path!! Purrs Angela

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Clyde wants :- Food, mostly biscuits, birds, staying out all night, toilet paper for shredding, paper bags ditto.  In particular wants people who think he is a beautiful cat and spend a lot of time admiring his sleek self. Bonnie wants :- Cat biscuits, many birds, staying out all day and night, more neighbours to visit, cars to investigate   Anything made of paper that is shredable. Of particular interest are people who hate cats, they can be climbed on and partially shredded. Fluffy SP wants :- Only cat biscuits of a certain make.   Wants to go out when in and in when out.   Wants to sit on Bev day and night and use her long claws to pull threads in various items of clothing. Does not want John to grab her and hug her and wants to get off his knee asap. Bev and John want :- A quiet life. Bev PS, Lets hear what your Masters want for Xmas. — If you can step on 9 daisies all at once it’s Springtime.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Clyde wants :- Food, mostly biscuits, birds, staying out all night, toilet paper for shredding, paper bags ditto.  In particular wants people who think he is a beautiful cat and spend a lot of time admiring his sleek self. Bonnie wants :- Cat biscuits, many birds, staying out all day and night, more neighbours to visit, cars to investigate   Anything made of paper that is shredable. Of particular interest are people who hate cats, they can be climbed on and partially shredded. Fluffy SP wants :- Only cat biscuits of a certain make.   Wants to go out when in and in when out.   Wants to sit on Bev day and night and use her long claws to pull threads in various items of clothing. Does not want John to grab her and hug her and wants to get off his knee asap. Bev and John want :- A quiet life. Bev PS, Lets hear what your Masters want for Xmas. — If you can step on 9 daisies all at once it’s Springtime.

Phoebe, Freya, Gigi and Bobbi want to visit the Tom cat (again) but they can want all they want because it ain’t going to happen just yet, and the wire netting has been fixed so that Freya can’t help herself!!! Rama and Bruno would want endless lady visitors and heaps of cuddles from their meowmie. The kittens that are left here would want to have fun, fun. fun, plenty of food, shoulders to sit on and legs to climb up and a soft lap to curl up on at the end of the day for a nice sleep. Lois wants her girls to stop calling out for a mate !!!!!

Response:

Brenna

Getting along better… not sure why.

Question:

Something has been happening between my wife and I and I’m not sure why.  We’ve been holding each other a moment or two longer when we greet each other after working, our kisses have lasted longer and we are laughing more.  We’ve been taking our 3 year old for snow balls more often and we lay in bed and talk about our coming baby or we’ll just watch our son sleep and talk about our day. We’ve also been having sex more frequently and it’s been pretty good.  I’m finding I’m able to relax more, even during tense bath times, and messy "opps I spilled the grape juice times." My wife has found her sense of humor and it’s not unlikely to see her dancing across the floor, pregnant belly and all.   This is all happening during a pretty stressful time as well. Our 2001 Highlander is going in the shop for what could be a pretty substantial repair that may or may not be covered under warranty. Her 93 Cabriolet has to go in for about $1000 worth of work. Her dog may need a $350 non-life threatening surgery, and we are in the process of refinancing our home.   I’ve found that we’ve also been calling one another more often during the day, sometimes for no reason.   Eh… I just felt like sharing.  We all share so much of the bad stuff all the time. I figured I’d share something good for a change.   –Brian

Response:

Brian <jbrianchamber…@yahoo.com> writes: > Something has been happening between my wife and I and I’m not sure > why.  We’ve been holding each other a moment or two longer when we > greet each other after working, our kisses have lasted longer and we > are laughing more.  We’ve been taking our 3 year old for snow balls

Do you live in Maryland?  If not, where?  I want to know where they are called snow balls! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> more often and we lay in bed and talk about our coming baby or we’ll > just watch our son sleep and talk about our day. We’ve also been > having sex more frequently and it’s been pretty good.  I’m finding I’m > able to relax more, even during tense bath times, and messy "opps I > spilled the grape juice times." My wife has found her sense of humor > and it’s not unlikely to see her dancing across the floor, pregnant > belly and all.   This is all happening during a pretty stressful time > as well. Our 2001 Highlander is going in the shop for what could be a > pretty substantial repair that may or may not be covered under > warranty. Her 93 Cabriolet has to go in for about $1000 worth of work. > Her dog may need a $350 non-life threatening surgery, and we are in > the process of refinancing our home.   I’ve found that we’ve also been > calling one another more often during the day, sometimes for no > reason.   > Eh… I just felt like sharing.  We all share so much of the bad stuff > all the time. I figured I’d share something good for a change.  

Thanks!

Response:

On Tue, 24 Jun 2003 03:54:33 GMT, Doug Anderson – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -<ethelthe…@yahoo.com> wrote: >Brian <jbrianchamber…@yahoo.com> writes: >> Something has been happening between my wife and I and I’m not sure >> why.  We’ve been holding each other a moment or two longer when we >> greet each other after working, our kisses have lasted longer and we >> are laughing more.  We’ve been taking our 3 year old for snow balls >Do you live in Maryland?  If not, where?  I want to know where they >are called snow balls! >> more often and we lay in bed and talk about our coming baby or we’ll >> just watch our son sleep and talk about our day. We’ve also been >> having sex more frequently and it’s been pretty good.  I’m finding I’m >> able to relax more, even during tense bath times, and messy "opps I >> spilled the grape juice times." My wife has found her sense of humor >> and it’s not unlikely to see her dancing across the floor, pregnant >> belly and all.   This is all happening during a pretty stressful time >> as well. Our 2001 Highlander is going in the shop for what could be a >> pretty substantial repair that may or may not be covered under >> warranty. Her 93 Cabriolet has to go in for about $1000 worth of work. >> Her dog may need a $350 non-life threatening surgery, and we are in >> the process of refinancing our home.   I’ve found that we’ve also been >> calling one another more often during the day, sometimes for no >> reason.   >> Eh… I just felt like sharing.  We all share so much of the bad stuff >> all the time. I figured I’d share something good for a change.   >Thanks!

Yes, I live in Maryland. –Brian

Response:

Brian wrote: > Eh… I just felt like sharing.  We all share so much of > the bad stuff all the time. I figured I’d share something > good for a change.  

It _is_ good to hear that kind of thing.  One can hope that it’s not merely the maternal hormones kicking in but the spouse-retention gene may have been activated by the hormones from the baby.  (I know I’m over-stating a widely hypothesized and likely fanciful meme.) Of course this provides a sense of intimacy that can be built upon…  and, with enough encouragement, become more of a habit. Good luck…  which I _really_ *really* hope you will not need. — Jack C Lipton  |  cupas…@softhome.net  |  http://www.asstr.org/~CupaSoup/                "Do these pants make my penis look small?"

Response:

On Tue, 24 Jun 2003 04:18:27 GMT, cupas…@softhome.net (Jack C – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Lipton) wrote: >Brian wrote: >> Eh… I just felt like sharing.  We all share so much of >> the bad stuff all the time. I figured I’d share something >> good for a change.   >It _is_ good to hear that kind of thing.  One can hope that >it’s not merely the maternal hormones kicking in but the >spouse-retention gene may have been activated by the hormones >from the baby.  (I know I’m over-stating a widely hypothesized >and likely fanciful meme.) >Of course this provides a sense of intimacy that can be >built upon…  and, with enough encouragement, become more >of a habit. >Good luck…  which I _really_ *really* hope you will not >need.

Thanks, Jack. I’m simply going to enjoy this while I can and of course do whatever necessary to keep it going. –Brian

Response:

Brian wrote: > Something has been happening between my wife and I and I’m not sure > why.  We’ve been holding each other a moment or two longer when we > greet each other after working, our kisses have lasted longer and we > are laughing more.  We’ve been taking our 3 year old for snow balls > more often and we lay in bed and talk about our coming baby or we’ll > just watch our son sleep and talk about our day. We’ve also been > having sex more frequently and it’s been pretty good.  I’m finding I’m > able to relax more, even during tense bath times, and messy "opps I > spilled the grape juice times." My wife has found her sense of humor > and it’s not unlikely to see her dancing across the floor, pregnant > belly and all.

That’s really good to hear, Brian! I hope the good feelings continue and breed off each other.  :) Tai

Response:

>From: Doug Anderson ethelthe…@yahoo.com >Date: 06/23/2003 11:54 PM Eastern Daylight Time >Do you live in Maryland?  If not, where?  I want to know where they >are called snow balls!

I live in Maryland and want to know what these snowballs are. kitten

Response:

On 24 Jun 2003 08:19:57 GMT, kitten…@aol.comabcdefgh (kitten) wrote: >>From: Doug Anderson ethelthe…@yahoo.com >>Date: 06/23/2003 11:54 PM Eastern Daylight Time >>Do you live in Maryland?  If not, where?  I want to know where they >>are called snow balls! >I live in Maryland and want to know what these snowballs are. >kitten

You’ve never seen a snowball stand? It’s just shaved ice with flavor topped with marshmallow. –Brian

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Brian wrote: > Something has been happening between my wife and I and I’m not sure > why.  We’ve been holding each other a moment or two longer when we > greet each other after working, our kisses have lasted longer and we > are laughing more.  We’ve been taking our 3 year old for snow balls > more often and we lay in bed and talk about our coming baby or we’ll > just watch our son sleep and talk about our day. We’ve also been > having sex more frequently and it’s been pretty good.  I’m finding I’m > able to relax more, even during tense bath times, and messy "opps I > spilled the grape juice times." My wife has found her sense of humor > and it’s not unlikely to see her dancing across the floor, pregnant > belly and all.   This is all happening during a pretty stressful time > as well. Our 2001 Highlander is going in the shop for what could be a > pretty substantial repair that may or may not be covered under > warranty. Her 93 Cabriolet has to go in for about $1000 worth of work. > Her dog may need a $350 non-life threatening surgery, and we are in > the process of refinancing our home.   I’ve found that we’ve also been > calling one another more often during the day, sometimes for no > reason.   > Eh… I just felt like sharing.  We all share so much of the bad stuff > all the time. I figured I’d share something good for a change.   > –Brian

Aside from the car issues, I’m really happy for you and your family, Brian.  Keep it up Cari — email: cari_p at comcast dot net

Response:

kitten wrote: >>From: Doug Anderson ethelthe…@yahoo.com >>Date: 06/23/2003 11:54 PM Eastern Daylight Time >>Do you live in Maryland?  If not, where?  I want to know where they >>are called snow balls! > I live in Maryland and want to know what these snowballs are. > kitten

Ditto. Cari — email: cari_p at comcast dot net

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -On Tue, 24 Jun 2003 08:28:16 -0400, Cari{P} <Cari{P}> wrote: >kitten wrote: >>>From: Doug Anderson ethelthe…@yahoo.com >>>Date: 06/23/2003 11:54 PM Eastern Daylight Time >>>Do you live in Maryland?  If not, where?  I want to know where they >>>are called snow balls! >> I live in Maryland and want to know what these snowballs are. >> kitten >Ditto. >Cari

You guys are just messing with me, right? Haven’t you ever seen a snowball stand before? Where I live, they are all over the place.  I can’t drive 5 miles without seeing one and the long lines behind them. I think you’re just putting me on. =) –Brian

Response:

"Brian" <jbrianchamber…@yahoo.com> wrote in message

news:abkgfvg5cfbae126glrrr622a464mp1sfd@4ax.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> On Tue, 24 Jun 2003 08:28:16 -0400, Cari{P} <Cari{P}> wrote: > >kitten wrote: > >>>From: Doug Anderson ethelthe…@yahoo.com > >>>Date: 06/23/2003 11:54 PM Eastern Daylight Time > >>>Do you live in Maryland?  If not, where?  I want to know where they > >>>are called snow balls! > >> I live in Maryland and want to know what these snowballs are. > >> kitten > >Ditto. > >Cari > You guys are just messing with me, right? Haven’t you ever seen a > snowball stand before? Where I live, they are all over the place.  I > can’t drive 5 miles without seeing one and the long lines behind them. > I think you’re just putting me on. =) > –Brian

We have no such thing in California that I’ve seen anywhere either.  I remember them from another state where they were all over the place though.

Response:

That’s great Brian, enjoy it while it lasts! i – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -In article <77iffv09399mdug2tmagflc6u6rru15…@4ax.com>, Brian wrote: >  Something has been happening between my wife and I and I’m not sure >  why.  We’ve been holding each other a moment or two longer when we >  greet each other after working, our kisses have lasted longer and we >  are laughing more.  We’ve been taking our 3 year old for snow balls >  more often and we lay in bed and talk about our coming baby or we’ll >  just watch our son sleep and talk about our day. We’ve also been >  having sex more frequently and it’s been pretty good.  I’m finding I’m >  able to relax more, even during tense bath times, and messy "opps I >  spilled the grape juice times." My wife has found her sense of humor >  and it’s not unlikely to see her dancing across the floor, pregnant >  belly and all.   This is all happening during a pretty stressful time >  as well. Our 2001 Highlander is going in the shop for what could be a >  pretty substantial repair that may or may not be covered under >  warranty. Her 93 Cabriolet has to go in for about $1000 worth of work. >  Her dog may need a $350 non-life threatening surgery, and we are in >  the process of refinancing our home.   I’ve found that we’ve also been >  calling one another more often during the day, sometimes for no >  reason.   >  Eh… I just felt like sharing.  We all share so much of the bad stuff >  all the time. I figured I’d share something good for a change.  

Response:

On Tue, 24 Jun 2003 03:51:32 GMT, Brian <jbrianchamber…@yahoo.com> wrote: >We’ve been taking our 3 year old for snow balls >more often and we lay in bed and talk about our coming baby or we’ll >just watch our son sleep and talk about our day.

You are getting along better because you have become an emasculated pussy.  That domineering bitch you call "wifey" has finally broken your spirit, as she intended all along. Chopping off your balls for your wife to carry around in her purse is a pretty high price to pay for domestic tranquility, don’t you think? >I’m finding I’m >able to relax more, even during tense bath times, and messy "opps I >spilled the grape juice times." My wife has found her sense of humor >and it’s not unlikely to see her dancing across the floor, pregnant >belly and all.  

I can imagine the "opps I vomited on the floor" moments such a sight must induce….

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -"Tai" <tainu…@yahoo.com> wrote in message <news:bd8k55$qcn3r$1@ID-123442.news.dfncis.de>… > Brian wrote: > > Something has been happening between my wife and I and I’m not sure > > why.  We’ve been holding each other a moment or two longer when we > > greet each other after working, our kisses have lasted longer and we > > are laughing more.  We’ve been taking our 3 year old for snow balls > > more often and we lay in bed and talk about our coming baby or we’ll > > just watch our son sleep and talk about our day. We’ve also been > > having sex more frequently and it’s been pretty good.  I’m finding I’m > > able to relax more, even during tense bath times, and messy "opps I > > spilled the grape juice times." My wife has found her sense of humor > > and it’s not unlikely to see her dancing across the floor, pregnant > > belly and all. > That’s really good to hear, Brian! I hope the good feelings continue and > breed off each other.  :) > Tai

It must be that new computer that you’re all excited about  Just kidding.  It might be a good idea to put your two heads together and try and figure out what it is that is helping you guys connect better.  Try and brainstorm about it during a happy time together.  Why, you ask?  Because during those not so yucky times, it’s good to have something positive to draw on; remembering what was going on when it was good.  It is one of the first things that a therapist will ask you when you tell her/him that you had a good week, "why do you think the week went well?" Glad to hear the news Brian.

Response:

I am not sure if there is any evidence of Brian’s broken spirit etc. i – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -In article <3ef858bd.32904…@news.cis.dfn.de>, Kendricks wrote: >  On Tue, 24 Jun 2003 03:51:32 GMT, Brian <jbrianchamber…@yahoo.com> >  wrote: > >We’ve been taking our 3 year old for snow balls > >more often and we lay in bed and talk about our coming baby or we’ll > >just watch our son sleep and talk about our day. >  You are getting along better because you have become an emasculated >  pussy.  That domineering bitch you call "wifey" has finally broken >  your spirit, as she intended all along. >  Chopping off your balls for your wife to carry around in her purse is >  a pretty high price to pay for domestic tranquility, don’t you think? > >I’m finding I’m > >able to relax more, even during tense bath times, and messy "opps I > >spilled the grape juice times." My wife has found her sense of humor > >and it’s not unlikely to see her dancing across the floor, pregnant > >belly and all.   >  I can imagine the "opps I vomited on the floor" moments such a sight >  must induce….

Response:

On 24 Jun 2003 14:27:47 GMT, Ignoramus6121 <ignoramus6…@NOSPAM.6121.invalid> wrote: >I am not sure if there is any evidence of Brian’s broken spirit etc.

His whole post is evidence of his broken spirit.  I guess you have fallen in the same domestic trap as he, and are blind to the broken nature of your own spirit as well. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->In article <3ef858bd.32904…@news.cis.dfn.de>, Kendricks wrote: >>  On Tue, 24 Jun 2003 03:51:32 GMT, Brian <jbrianchamber…@yahoo.com> >>  wrote: >> >We’ve been taking our 3 year old for snow balls >> >more often and we lay in bed and talk about our coming baby or we’ll >> >just watch our son sleep and talk about our day. >>  You are getting along better because you have become an emasculated >>  pussy.  That domineering bitch you call "wifey" has finally broken >>  your spirit, as she intended all along. >>  Chopping off your balls for your wife to carry around in her purse is >>  a pretty high price to pay for domestic tranquility, don’t you think? >> >I’m finding I’m >> >able to relax more, even during tense bath times, and messy "opps I >> >spilled the grape juice times." My wife has found her sense of humor >> >and it’s not unlikely to see her dancing across the floor, pregnant >> >belly and all.   >>  I can imagine the "opps I vomited on the floor" moments such a sight >>  must induce….

Response:

kitten…@aol.comabcdefgh (kitten) writes: > >From: Doug Anderson ethelthe…@yahoo.com > >Date: 06/23/2003 11:54 PM Eastern Daylight Time > >Do you live in Maryland?  If not, where?  I want to know where they > >are called snow balls! > I live in Maryland and want to know what these snowballs are.

Where do you live in Maryland that you don’t know what a snow ball (I do think it’s two words) is! Apparently not in Bawlmer, hon. We lived there 5 years, and would have had to be deaf and blind not to know about them. It is crushed ice with sticky sweet disgusting syrup poured over it. Kids love them.  I had one once and had no particular desire to repeat the experience. But it is a fun word since many places have something similar.  For example in some places this is called "shaved ice."  (Though truly shaved ice is a bit different – you’re supposed to take a sharp cutter, and shave off flakes of ice – it tends to be smoother than snow balls.)  In Boston the comparable thing was called "Italian ice." (The syrups were often Italian.)  In Hawaii it is called "shave ice" (not "shaved ice").

Response:

Ignoramus6121 <ignoramus6…@NOSPAM.6121.invalid> writes: > I am not sure if there is any evidence of Brian’s broken spirit etc.

And yet the evidence that Sub is a 14 year old who is just trying to get a rise out of people continues to increase.

Response:

>It _is_ good to hear that kind of thing.  One can hope that >it’s not merely the maternal hormones kicking in but the >spouse-retention gene may have been activated by the hormones >from the baby.

Jack, I love you, hon, but ***THWACK!!!*** <<kick in the shins>>  Don’t ANALYZE, just enjoy!!! ))) Seriously, Brian, this is great.  Good times and loving actions are like money in the bank.  You can draw on them during the rough times, and in the meantime, ENJOY! Sheila

Response:

That is great Brian..<S> I hope the trend continues for you and your wife! Kass "Brian" <jbrianchamber…@yahoo.com> wrote in message

news:77iffv09399mdug2tmagflc6u6rru15b9l@4ax.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Something has been happening between my wife and I and I’m not sure > why.  We’ve been holding each other a moment or two longer when we > greet each other after working, our kisses have lasted longer and we > are laughing more.  We’ve been taking our 3 year old for snow balls > more often and we lay in bed and talk about our coming baby or we’ll > just watch our son sleep and talk about our day. We’ve also been > having sex more frequently and it’s been pretty good.  I’m finding I’m > able to relax more, even during tense bath times, and messy "opps I > spilled the grape juice times." My wife has found her sense of humor > and it’s not unlikely to see her dancing across the floor, pregnant > belly and all.   This is all happening during a pretty stressful time > as well. Our 2001 Highlander is going in the shop for what could be a > pretty substantial repair that may or may not be covered under > warranty. Her 93 Cabriolet has to go in for about $1000 worth of work. > Her dog may need a $350 non-life threatening surgery, and we are in > the process of refinancing our home.   I’ve found that we’ve also been > calling one another more often during the day, sometimes for no > reason. > Eh… I just felt like sharing.  We all share so much of the bad stuff > all the time. I figured I’d share something good for a change. > –Brian

Response:

>Thanks, Jack. I’m simply going to enjoy >this while I can and of course do whatever >necessary to keep it going. >–Brian

Glad things are going well!  Go with the flow, baby.  What trimester are ya’ll in?  We found the second to always be the "happiest" after the initial "hormonal swings and adjustments" <and actually — neither were truly "planned" so there was some "panic and acceptance" phase, too> — and before the third trimester which was always a little more uncomfortable — and awkward.   amy

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -On Tue, 24 Jun 2003 14:00:32 GMT, jd…@yahoo.com (Kendricks) wrote: >On Tue, 24 Jun 2003 03:51:32 GMT, Brian <jbrianchamber…@yahoo.com> >wrote: >>We’ve been taking our 3 year old for snow balls >>more often and we lay in bed and talk about our coming baby or we’ll >>just watch our son sleep and talk about our day. >You are getting along better because you have become an emasculated >pussy.  That domineering bitch you call "wifey" has finally broken >your spirit, as she intended all along. >Chopping off your balls for your wife to carry around in her purse is >a pretty high price to pay for domestic tranquility, don’t you think? >>I’m finding I’m >>able to relax more, even during tense bath times, and messy "opps I >>spilled the grape juice times." My wife has found her sense of humor >>and it’s not unlikely to see her dancing across the floor, pregnant >>belly and all.   >I can imagine the "opps I vomited on the floor" moments such a sight >must induce….

I don’t know about that. We’ve been having a lot of sex lately. I’m not saying that was our only problem, but we’ve certainly been communicating a lot more.  I’m getting more of what I want out of the relationship. I imagine she is as well. –Brian

Response:

On 24 Jun 2003 07:15:55 -0700, keelandrasisl…@yahoo.com (keelandra – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -sislack) wrote: >"Tai" <tainu…@yahoo.com> wrote in message <news:bd8k55$qcn3r$1@ID-123442.news.dfncis.de>… >> Brian wrote: >> > Something has been happening between my wife and I and I’m not sure >> > why.  We’ve been holding each other a moment or two longer when we >> > greet each other after working, our kisses have lasted longer and we >> > are laughing more.  We’ve been taking our 3 year old for snow balls >> > more often and we lay in bed and talk about our coming baby or we’ll >> > just watch our son sleep and talk about our day. We’ve also been >> > having sex more frequently and it’s been pretty good.  I’m finding I’m >> > able to relax more, even during tense bath times, and messy "opps I >> > spilled the grape juice times." My wife has found her sense of humor >> > and it’s not unlikely to see her dancing across the floor, pregnant >> > belly and all. >> That’s really good to hear, Brian! I hope the good feelings continue and >> breed off each other.  :) >> Tai >It must be that new computer that you’re all excited about  Just >kidding.  It might be a good idea to put your two heads together and >try and figure out what it is that is helping you guys connect better. > Try and brainstorm about it during a happy time together.  Why, you >ask?  Because during those not so yucky times, it’s good to have >something positive to draw on; remembering what was going on when it >was good.  It is one of the first things that a therapist will ask you >when you tell her/him that you had a good week, "why do you think the >week went well?" >Glad to hear the news Brian.

Thanks.  Hopefully we’ll find some kind of positives in all of this, for our sake and our childrens. –Brian

Response:

On Tue, 24 Jun 2003 10:50:17 -0500 (CDT), Chrome2…@webtv.net (Amy D) wrote: >>Thanks, Jack. I’m simply going to enjoy >>this while I can and of course do whatever >>necessary to keep it going. >>–Brian >Glad things are going well!  Go with the flow, baby.  What trimester >are ya’ll in?  We found the second to always be the "happiest" after the >initial "hormonal swings and adjustments" <and actually — neither were >truly "planned" so there was some "panic and acceptance" phase, too> — >and before the third trimester which was always a little more >uncomfortable — and awkward.   >amy

She’d due October 21st. –Brian

Response:

I'M IN!

Question:

Well, folks I finally got my letter from Dr. Uba Jega, of the Federal Government of Nigeria Petroleum Corporation. I was starting to feel quite left out. What a nice guy. All I have to do is send him my bank name, bank account number,  and telefax number and I get 30% of  $21,500.  I know this is legit, because he even game me the name & phone number of the last kind soul who laundered money for them: Mr. Patrice Miller of NYC. Geez. You think anybody actually falls for this stuff? Sherry

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well, folks I finally got my letter from Dr. Uba Jega, of the Federal Government of Nigeria Petroleum Corporation. I was starting to feel quite left out. What a nice guy. All I have to do is send him my bank name, bank account number,  and telefax number and I get 30% of  $21,500.  I know this is legit, because he even game me the name & phone number of the last kind soul who laundered money for them: Mr. Patrice Miller of NYC. Geez. You think anybody actually falls for this stuff? Sherry

Unfortunately, I’ve read about several cases where people did – and lost their life’s savings.  According to one source I read, enough people fall for it that the scam is big business among Nigerian criminals. Joy

Response:

Well, folks I finally got my letter from Dr. Uba Jega, of the Federal Government of Nigeria Petroleum Corporation. I was starting to feel quite left out. What a nice guy. All I have to do is send him my bank name, bank account number,  and telefax number and I get 30% of  $21,500.  I know this is legit, because he even game me the name & phone number of the last kind soul who laundered money for them: Mr. Patrice Miller of NYC. Geez. You think anybody actually falls for this stuff?

No one who should be allowed out without a keeper!<grin It’s really an updated, electronic version of the old con game known as the "pigeon drop", where someone would "find" a wallet full of money, and offer to share with you, if you’d put up money to "show good faith".  the "finder" would pick another "passerby" (his accomplice) to hold the money (yours and – presumably – his).  You then, sometime later, would receive a sealed envelope containing your own money back, plus your "share" of the amount found.  Somehow, once the original finder and friend had departed, you’d find yourself with an envelope full of old newspaper!  I guess some people are so greedy that they never stop to wonder why a total stranger should be willing to give them money for nothing!  (And of course, the fact that it’s made to seem slightly illegal doesn’t phase them a bit.)

Response:

It’s really an updated, electronic version of the old con game known as the "pigeon drop", where someone would "find" a wallet full of money, and offer to share with you, if you’d put up money to "show good faith".  the "finder" would pick another "passerby" (his accomplice) to hold the money (yours and – presumably – his).  You then, sometime later, would receive a sealed envelope containing your own money back, plus your "share" of the amount found.  Somehow, once the original finder and friend had departed, you’d find yourself with an envelope full of old newspaper!  I guess some people are so greedy that they never stop to wonder why a total stranger should be willing to give them money for nothing!  (And of course, the fact that it’s made to seem slightly illegal doesn’t phase them a bit.)

I remember that one. A con artist blew through town in the 70’s and besides being a master short-change artist, he duped somebody into that one. It was in the newspaper. He hit several businesses and short-changed cashiers, pulled the pigeon drop scam, and left town. I’m gullible, *very* gullible. But I don’t think I’d fall for that one. Sherry

Response:

come on, now, im sure it is legit… sunds pretty good to me…. sandra ( hiding her wallet )

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well, folks I finally got my letter from Dr. Uba Jega, of the Federal Government of Nigeria Petroleum Corporation. I was starting to feel quite left out. What a nice guy. All I have to do is send him my bank name, bank account number,  and telefax number and I get 30% of  $21,500.  I know this is legit, because he even game me the name & phone number of the last kind soul who laundered money for them: Mr. Patrice Miller of NYC. Geez. You think anybody actually falls for this stuff? Sherry

Response:

  It’s really an updated, electronic version of the old con game   known as the "pigeon drop", where someone would "find" a wallet   full of money, and offer to share with you, if you’d put up money   to "show good faith".  the "finder" would pick another "passerby"   (his accomplice) to hold the money (yours and – presumably – his). I don’t understand why, in order to share some money that someone has found, you would have to put up extra money (yours). If someone approached me with an idea like this, even if I hadn’t heard of this scam, I’d be wondering, "Why do I have to give this person money in order to share what s/he found? And why do we need someone to hold the money? What exactly are we waiting for – why can’t we just split it up right now??" Seriously, what is the (supposed) purpose of having someone *hold* the money? Joyce, perhaps too stupid to fall for this con

Response:

Now I might not understand how the pigeon drop scam works, but here’s one I read about a while ago that I think is brilliant, not illegal, and not even dishonest. The Aussies on this ng can verify whether this one’s true or just an urban legend. Someone places ads in the back pages of sex magazines advertising kinky videos, giving an address to send money to order the video. A while goes by, and eventually, each person who ordered a video receives a letter from the company stating that unfortunately, they were unable to obtain the video the person ordered, so here is a refund check. Included is a perfectly valid check for the same amount that the person had sent in for the order. The only problem is that something such as "Sado-Masochistic Sex Club", ie, something really explicit and extremely visible, is printed right on the check. Some percentage of the people receiving the checks are too embarrassed to deposit them, and that’s how the scammers make their money. When I read about this, the article said that the Australian government couldn’t figure out a way to prosecute them because they hadn’t done anything illegal, but this was a couple of years ago. Any truth to this, and if so, any updates? Joyce

Response:

Not from personal experience. As far as I know, according to the newspapers the scam is stlll good. Isn’t it a beauty. dave – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Now I might not understand how the pigeon drop scam works, but here’s one I read about a while ago that I think is brilliant, not illegal, and not even dishonest. The Aussies on this ng can verify whether this one’s true or just an urban legend. Someone places ads in the back pages of sex magazines advertising kinky videos, giving an address to send money to order the video. A while goes by, and eventually, each person who ordered a video receives a letter from the company stating that unfortunately, they were unable to obtain the video the person ordered, so here is a refund check. Included is a perfectly valid check for the same amount that the person had sent in for the order. The only problem is that something such as "Sado-Masochistic Sex Club", ie, something really explicit and extremely visible, is printed right on the check. Some percentage of the people receiving the checks are too embarrassed to deposit them, and that’s how the scammers make their money. When I read about this, the article said that the Australian government couldn’t figure out a way to prosecute them because they hadn’t done anything illegal, but this was a couple of years ago. Any truth to this, and if so, any updates? Joyce

– remove spam for e-mail

Response:

There have been similar scams in the UK.  This week I heard a man who had once been involved in such a scam talking about it on the television.  He had made an awful lot of money from it. Sheenah     .

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Now I might not understand how the pigeon drop scam works, but here’s one I read about a while ago that I think is brilliant, not illegal, and not even dishonest. The Aussies on this ng can verify whether this one’s true or just an urban legend. Someone places ads in the back pages of sex magazines advertising kinky videos, giving an address to send money to order the video. A while goes by, and eventually, each person who ordered a video receives a letter from the company stating that unfortunately, they were unable to obtain the video the person ordered, so here is a refund check. Included is a perfectly valid check for the same amount that the person had sent in for the order. The only problem is that something such as "Sado-Masochistic Sex Club", ie, something really explicit and extremely visible, is printed right on the check. Some percentage of the people receiving the checks are too embarrassed to deposit them, and that’s how the scammers make their money. When I read about this, the article said that the Australian government couldn’t figure out a way to prosecute them because they hadn’t done anything illegal, but this was a couple of years ago. Any truth to this, and if so, any updates? Joyce

Response:

I love these "419" scams! If you have a minute, I can strongly recommend this site: http://www.sweetchillisauce.com/nigeria.html Some hysterical wind-ups perpetrated against Nigerian con-men! Best, Al – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well, folks I finally got my letter from Dr. Uba Jega, of the Federal Government of Nigeria Petroleum Corporation. I was starting to feel quite left out. What a nice guy. All I have to do is send him my bank name, bank account number,  and telefax number and I get 30% of  $21,500.  I know this is legit, because he even game me the name & phone number of the last kind soul who laundered money for them: Mr. Patrice Miller of NYC. Geez. You think anybody actually falls for this stuff? Sherry

Response:

That is CLASSIC! I hardly made it through two or three of the letters before I just lost it. Sherry

Response:

Went and read the letter… ROFLMAO!!!  Nipple arousal day…. rofl Kristy – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I love these "419" scams! If you have a minute, I can strongly recommend this site: http://www.sweetchillisauce.com/nigeria.html Some hysterical wind-ups perpetrated against Nigerian con-men! Best, Al Well, folks I finally got my letter from Dr. Uba Jega, of the Federal Government of Nigeria Petroleum Corporation. I was starting to feel quite left out. What a nice guy. All I have to do is send him my bank name, bank account number,  and telefax number and I get 30% of  $21,500.  I know this is legit, because he even game me the name & phone number of the last kind soul who laundered money for them: Mr. Patrice Miller of NYC. Geez. You think anybody actually falls for this stuff? Sherry

– (Insert Random Cat Quote Here)

Response:

FYI… if you get these letters via snail mail (you know, the actual paper stuff that is delivered by a person)… you should bring it to the post office, as they track them for legal sake. Unfortunately, no big reward <sigh. Stacey

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well, folks I finally got my letter from Dr. Uba Jega, of the Federal Government of Nigeria Petroleum Corporation. I was starting to feel quite left out. What a nice guy. All I have to do is send him my bank name, bank account number,  and telefax number and I get 30% of  $21,500.  I know this is legit, because he even game me the name & phone number of the last kind soul who laundered money for them: Mr. Patrice Miller of NYC. Geez. You think anybody actually falls for this stuff? Sherry

Response:

Actually, LOL.. I’d love to take a check like that to my local bank and watch the ‘ol biddy turn a few shades of red. Stuff like that makes living in a small town MUCH more exciting. Stacey

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Now I might not understand how the pigeon drop scam works, but here’s one I read about a while ago that I think is brilliant, not illegal, and not even dishonest. The Aussies on this ng can verify whether this one’s true or just an urban legend. Someone places ads in the back pages of sex magazines advertising kinky videos, giving an address to send money to order the video. A while goes by, and eventually, each person who ordered a video receives a letter from the company stating that unfortunately, they were unable to obtain the video the person ordered, so here is a refund check. Included is a perfectly valid check for the same amount that the person had sent in for the order. The only problem is that something such as "Sado-Masochistic Sex Club", ie, something really explicit and extremely visible, is printed right on the check. Some percentage of the people receiving the checks are too embarrassed to deposit them, and that’s how the scammers make their money. When I read about this, the article said that the Australian government couldn’t figure out a way to prosecute them because they hadn’t done anything illegal, but this was a couple of years ago. Any truth to this, and if so, any updates? Joyce

Response:

One of our business clients is also good buddy of  hubby.  He stayed in one of our rentals for awhile.  Well the 1st, then the 5th, then the 10th came and went and no rent check from this guy.  So I called him at work and I put on my best "pink fuzzy robed, curlers in hair, crazy, rolling pin in hand" landlady voice and demanded he pay  his rent or all his stuff would be out on the street by 5pm!  LOL.  Well he had just forgot to pay, no biggie, and as they say payback is a bitch and boy did I get mine! The rent check showed up in the mail a couple days later.  It was made out to me and in the memo section at the bottom it said, "Thanks for the really awesome bl*wjob".  :-o   I cashed that check and figured let the tellers have their laugh.  Let them wonder just how good I must be to get $375 for that act.  Just hope I don’t get arrested for solicitation when they do an audit!  LOL TJ

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Actually, LOL.. I’d love to take a check like that to my local bank and watch the ‘ol biddy turn a few shades of red. Stuff like that makes living in a small town MUCH more exciting. Stacey Now I might not understand how the pigeon drop scam works, but here’s one I read about a while ago that I think is brilliant, not illegal, and not even dishonest. The Aussies on this ng can verify whether this one’s true or just an urban legend. Someone places ads in the back pages of sex magazines advertising kinky videos, giving an address to send money to order the video. A while goes by, and eventually, each person who ordered a video receives a letter from the company stating that unfortunately, they were unable to obtain the video the person ordered, so here is a refund check. Included is a perfectly valid check for the same amount that the person had sent in for the order. The only problem is that something such as "Sado-Masochistic Sex Club", ie, something really explicit and extremely visible, is printed right on the check. Some percentage of the people receiving the checks are too embarrassed to deposit them, and that’s how the scammers make their money. When I read about this, the article said that the Australian government couldn’t figure out a way to prosecute them because they hadn’t done anything illegal, but this was a couple of years ago. Any truth to this, and if so, any updates? Joyce

Response:

things to say about Re: speaking of scams…: One of our business clients is also good buddy of  hubby.  He stayed in one of our rentals for awhile.  Well the 1st, then the 5th, then the 10th came and went and no rent check from this guy.  So I called him at work and I put on my best "pink fuzzy robed, curlers in hair, crazy, rolling pin in hand" landlady voice and demanded he pay  his rent or all his stuff would be out on the street by 5pm!  LOL.  Well he had just forgot to pay, no biggie, and as they say payback is a bitch and boy did I get mine! The rent check showed up in the mail a couple days later.  It was made out to me and in the memo section at the bottom it said, "Thanks for the really awesome bl*wjob".  :-o   I cashed that check and figured let the tellers have their laugh.  Let them wonder just how good I must be to get $375 for that act.  Just hope I don’t get arrested for solicitation when they do an audit!  LOL

[giggle] Hope your husband didn’t freak. — Seanette Blaylock "You attribute perfect rationality to the whole of humanity, which has to be one of the most misguided assumptions ever." – Alan Krueger in NANAE [make obvious correction to address to send e-mail]

Response:

Sadly- The city manager and mayor of a small town in Oregon were on their way to Nigeria to "invest" their cities’ nest egg, literally at the airport when someone got wind of what they were doing and told them it was a scam. My cousin, a bright, well-educated man embezzeled a huge sum from the firm he worked for (this was in the days when the scam was not well-known) and spent almost 2 years in the federal penitentary for it. People full of hope (or greed) just can’t see it for what it is – something for nothing. Cindy

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Now I might not understand how the pigeon drop scam works, but here’s one I read about a while ago that I think is brilliant, not illegal, and not even dishonest. The Aussies on this ng can verify whether this one’s true or just an urban legend. Someone places ads in the back pages of sex magazines advertising kinky videos, giving an address to send money to order the video. A while goes by, and eventually, each person who ordered a video receives a letter from the company stating that unfortunately, they were unable to obtain the video the person ordered, so here is a refund check. Included is a perfectly valid check for the same amount that the person had sent in for the order. The only problem is that something such as "Sado-Masochistic Sex Club", ie, something really explicit and extremely visible, is printed right on the check. Some percentage of the people receiving the checks are too embarrassed to deposit them, and that’s how the scammers make their money. When I read about this, the article said that the Australian government couldn’t figure out a way to prosecute them because they hadn’t done anything illegal, but this was a couple of years ago. Any truth to this, and if so, any updates? Joyce

I heard a version of this where the scammers read the obituaries and send invoices for porn videos addressed to recently dead guys. Of course, it’s upsetting for the relatives, who usually pay up to get the whole horrible experience over with. They got caught out when one of the widows who opened the invoice contacted the police, enquiring why her deaf and blind late husband would buy a pornographic video? Jeanette

Response:

AFAIK, its true, but AFAIK, it is *not* legal as the intent is to "receive money via deception". I personally would just cash the check – who cares what the heck the bank thinks. (I am weird, since I share an account with my sister, and we use electronic funds transfer to move money from our own accounts into the shared one, we can put a "comment" to go with the deposit. We have competitions on how creative we can be. "Sexaholics anonymous" and such regular appear on the shared account statement, its an on-going joke). Then again, its prolly not what hte bank thinks so much as what the wife who looks at the account thinks that allows the scam artist to get away with it.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Now I might not understand how the pigeon drop scam works, but here’s one I read about a while ago that I think is brilliant, not illegal, and not even dishonest. The Aussies on this ng can verify whether this one’s true or just an urban legend. Someone places ads in the back pages of sex magazines advertising kinky videos, giving an address to send money to order the video. A while goes by, and eventually, each person who ordered a video receives a letter from the company stating that unfortunately, they were unable to obtain the video the person ordered, so here is a refund check. Included is a perfectly valid check for the same amount that the person had sent in for the order. The only problem is that something such as "Sado-Masochistic Sex Club", ie, something really explicit and extremely visible, is printed right on the check. Some percentage of the people receiving the checks are too embarrassed to deposit them, and that’s how the scammers make their money. When I read about this, the article said that the Australian government couldn’t figure out a way to prosecute them because they hadn’t done anything illegal, but this was a couple of years ago. Any truth to this, and if so, any updates? Joyce

Response:

  AFAIK, its true, but AFAIK, it is *not* legal as the intent is to   "receive money via deception". So does that mean that these guys have been prosecuted? Joyce

Response:

—–BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE—– Hash: SHA1 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – FYI… if you get these letters via snail mail (you know, the actual paper stuff that is delivered by a person)… you should bring it to the post office, as they track them for legal sake. Unfortunately, no big reward <sigh. Stacey Well, folks I finally got my letter from Dr. Uba Jega, of the Federal Government of Nigeria Petroleum Corporation. I was starting to feel quite left out.

If an email scam directs you to send money to a physical address, then it comes under the jurisdiction of the Postal Service, from what I have been told by the Postal Service.  I have turned in a number of scams to them over the years, both received via paper-mail and received via email.  I haven’t heard back from the Postal Inspection Service (the investigative arm of the USPS) in any cases,  and suspect that, for practical reasons, they probably only prosecute the cases involving large sums of money. If a scam directs you to send money via some non-paper means, such as an electronic funds transfer, then I would presume it would be classed as wire fraud rather than mail fraud.  I am not sure which government agency would have jurisdiction, but your local FBI office could probably tell you the answer. I have only contacted the FBI directly on one occasion, when I got a bulk-mailing email advertising child pornography for sale (no, I am _definitely_ not in the market for that).  I printed out a full copy of the message, including all headers, and took it directly to the FBI office, where I talked to an agent for 15 minutes or so.  I never heard anything back from them, but there was a report in a USENET newsgroup a few weeks later about someone who had tried to get someone else in trouble by forging their name to a child-porn batch of spam.  The FBI was reportedly able to trace the messages back to their original sender.  Since it is a felony to offer such material for sale, even if you don’t actually have any and never try to complete the sale, I suspect that the person who actually sent the messages ended up serving prison time. —–BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE—– Version: PGPfreeware 7.0.3 for non-commercial use <http://www.pgp.com iQA/AwUBPf0zITMYPge5L34aEQLMFACgozSIkocNI6KPslHLZ6TRtVVIkc8AmgNa wCuzy4GvcXZLVBXaNpL2SLoS =PTMy —–END PGP SIGNATURE—– — PGP key available from http://pgp.mit.edu "Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all." — Hypatia of Alexendria

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –   It’s really an updated, electronic version of the old con game   known as the "pigeon drop", where someone would "find" a wallet   full of money, and offer to share with you, if you’d put up money   to "show good faith".  the "finder" would pick another "passerby"   (his accomplice) to hold the money (yours and – presumably – his). I don’t understand why, in order to share some money that someone has found, you would have to put up extra money (yours). If someone approached me with an idea like this, even if I hadn’t heard of this scam, I’d be wondering, "Why do I have to give this person money in order to share what s/he found? And why do we need someone to hold the money? What exactly are we waiting for – why can’t we just split it up right now??" Seriously, what is the (supposed) purpose of having someone *hold* the money?

You tell me!  (I always found that part fishy, too – but of course, the REAL reason is so they can palm it, and substitute trash, instead.)  But you realize we’re talking quite LARGE amounts of money, enough so greed can blind the "mark" to reality, and confidence tricksters have a talent for sounding plausible (that’s how they manage to trick people). I have an otherwise intelligent brother who has fallen for more obviously bogus "get rich quick" schemes than the rest of the family can believe.  (Usually suckering someone else into putting up part of the money, but he loses his portion, too, so it’s not he who is the con artist.)  The real killer, and the one I still chuckle about, was an electronic gadget that was supposed to be "programmable" to act like a bloodhound.  You exposed its "sensors" to something belonging to a "missing person", and it would then track that person down.  And they PROVED it worked, too, by letting it "sniff" something belonging to one of the two con artists – they always come in pairs – then having him "disappear" and the gadget "found" him.  (Yeah, sure!)  Unbelievable, you say?  Not half so unbelievable as my brother actually falling for it!  And raving, over dinner, about what a revolutionary development it represented in the security industry (while the rest of us scratched our heads and wondered how much money he’d thrown away, THIS time). Barnum was right – there’s one born every minute, and my brother is a prime example.  I guess that’s why I’m a bit too cynical – my mottoes are "There ain’t no free lunch" and "If it seems too good to be true, it probably is".     – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Joyce, perhaps too stupid to fall for this con

Response:

Dot says… Either you or Geoff will go to the bank and cash it. Money is money! dave note who is going to go the bank! Geoff is an adopted sone – used to live next door – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Actually, LOL.. I’d love to take a check like that to my local bank and watch the ‘ol biddy turn a few shades of red. Stuff like that makes living in a small town MUCH more exciting. Stacey Now I might not understand how the pigeon drop scam works, but here’s one I read about a while ago that I think is brilliant, not illegal, and not even dishonest. The Aussies on this ng can verify whether this one’s true or just an urban legend. Someone places ads in the back pages of sex magazines advertising kinky videos, giving an address to send money to order the video. A while goes by, and eventually, each person who ordered a video receives a letter from the company stating that unfortunately, they were unable to obtain the video the person ordered, so here is a refund check. Included is a perfectly valid check for the same amount that the person had sent in for the order. The only problem is that something such as "Sado-Masochistic Sex Club", ie, something really explicit and extremely visible, is printed right on the check. Some percentage of the people receiving the checks are too embarrassed to deposit them, and that’s how the scammers make their money. When I read about this, the article said that the Australian government couldn’t figure out a way to prosecute them because they hadn’t done anything illegal, but this was a couple of years ago. Any truth to this, and if so, any updates? Joyce

– remove spam for e-mail

Response:

  AFAIK, its true, but AFAIK, it is *not* legal as the intent is to   "receive money via deception". So does that mean that these guys have been prosecuted?

Dunno, but since it was on the news, I’d say its been shut down and the con artists sent to jail. They wouldn’t have advertised a perfectly legal (but shonky) scam in the media otherwise it would give too many bad people good ideas. Yowie

Response:

Whenever I see those AMAZING GADGETS or get rich quick plans on TV, my motto is "If it were that amazing, it would cost much more than $19.95." Stacey (however, I would like one of those sauce pans with the colander-lid)…

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –   It’s really an updated, electronic version of the old con game   known as the "pigeon drop", where someone would "find" a wallet   full of money, and offer to share with you, if you’d put up money   to "show good faith".  the "finder" would pick another "passerby"   (his accomplice) to hold the money (yours and – presumably – his). I don’t understand why, in order to share some money that someone has found, you would have to put up extra money (yours). If someone approached me with an idea like this, even if I hadn’t heard of this scam, I’d be wondering, "Why do I have to give this person money in order to share what s/he found? And why do we need someone to hold the money? What exactly are we waiting for – why can’t we just split it up right now??" Seriously, what is the (supposed) purpose of having someone *hold* the money? You tell me!  (I always found that part fishy, too – but of course, the REAL reason is so they can palm it, and substitute trash, instead.)  But you realize we’re talking quite LARGE amounts of money, enough so greed can blind the "mark" to reality, and confidence tricksters have a talent for sounding plausible (that’s how they manage to trick people). I have an otherwise intelligent brother who has fallen for more obviously bogus "get rich quick" schemes than the rest of the family can believe.  (Usually suckering someone else into putting up part of the money, but he loses his portion, too, so it’s not he who is the con artist.)  The real killer, and the one I still chuckle about, was an electronic gadget that was supposed to be "programmable" to act like a bloodhound.  You exposed its "sensors" to something belonging to a "missing person", and it would then track that person down.  And they PROVED it worked, too, by letting it "sniff" something belonging to one of the two con artists – they always come in pairs – then having him "disappear" and the gadget "found" him.  (Yeah, sure!)  Unbelievable, you say?  Not half so unbelievable as my brother actually falling for it!  And raving, over dinner, about what a revolutionary development it represented in the security industry (while the rest of us scratched our heads and wondered how much money he’d thrown away, THIS time). Barnum was right – there’s one born every minute, and my brother is a prime example.  I guess that’s why I’m a bit too cynical – my mottoes are "There ain’t no free lunch" and "If it seems too good to be true, it probably is". Joyce, perhaps too stupid to fall for this con

Response:

Interview Went GREAT!!!!

Question:

This is wonderful news Vicki!  I’ll be praying for you.  {{{{{Vicki}}}}} Di

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi all! I just wanted to let you know I was in with my interviewer for nearly 2 hours and he kept telling me how much he loved my answers to his questions. He asked when I could be available, gave me a tour of the hospital and told me he could probably pay for me to take a class on Microsoft Access in the evenings.  As I was leaving he said he had to make a decision soon because he needs someone fast.  Please keep fingers, toes, whatever crossed for me!! This job seems to be made for me.  I felt really anxious when I got there and had to wait a few minutes but an old friend who works there came by to see me and she calmed my nerves.  I am really excited about this.  I have never left an interview feeling so good and so confident.  Thanks for allowing me to share.  I will keep you posted. Vicki

Response:

:Hi all! :I just wanted to let you know I was in with my interviewer for nearly 2 :hours and he kept telling me how much he loved my answers to his questions. :He asked when I could be available, gave me a tour of the hospital and told :me he could probably pay for me to take a class on Microsoft Access in the :evenings.  As I was leaving he said he had to make a decision soon because :he needs someone fast.  Please keep fingers, toes, whatever crossed for me!! :This job seems to be made for me.  I felt really anxious when I got there :and had to wait a few minutes but an old friend who works there came by to :see me and she calmed my nerves.  I am really excited about this.  I have :never left an interview feeling so good and so confident.  Thanks for :allowing me to share.  I will keep you posted. Dear Vicki, This sounds very promising and I hope you get this job! Kudo`s to you for doing so well with the interview. Please keep us updated {{{{{Vicki}}}}} Jackie ~*~Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much~*~.            ~Helen Keller~

Response:

~*~Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much~*~.           ~Helen Keller~

Congratulations! You finally got it right Jackie. The deaf and blind leading the deaf and blind.;-) The Clique summed up PERFECTLY!!!!

Response:

Hi, Vicki, smiles, Elise – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – WOO WOO Vicki~~   You go girl!~  You can do this! BIG {{hugs}} Sue Hi all! I just wanted to let you know I was in with my interviewer for nearly 2 hours and he kept telling me how much he loved my answers to his questions. He asked when I could be available, gave me a tour of the hospital and told me he could probably pay for me to take a class on Microsoft Access in the evenings.  As I was leaving he said he had to make a decision soon because he needs someone fast.  Please keep fingers, toes, whatever crossed for me!! This job seems to be made for me.  I felt really anxious when I got there and had to wait a few minutes but an old friend who works there came by to see me and she calmed my nerves.  I am really excited about this.  I have never left an interview feeling so good and so confident.  Thanks for allowing me to share.  I will keep you posted. Vicki

Response:

Wow Vicki, this is great! I certainly hope you get the job! If the boss likes your answers, and you like the job, I bet you’ll get it. I hope so! Boyd

: Hi all! : I just wanted to let you know I was in with my interviewer for nearly 2 : hours and he kept telling me how much he loved my answers to his questions. : He asked when I could be available, gave me a tour of the hospital and told : me he could probably pay for me to take a class on Microsoft Access in the : evenings.  As I was leaving he said he had to make a decision soon because : he needs someone fast.  Please keep fingers, toes, whatever crossed for me!! : This job seems to be made for me.  I felt really anxious when I got there : and had to wait a few minutes but an old friend who works there came by to : see me and she calmed my nerves.  I am really excited about this.  I have : never left an interview feeling so good and so confident.  Thanks for : allowing me to share.  I will keep you posted. : : Vicki : :

Response:

WOO WOO Vicki~~   You go girl!~  You can do this! BIG {{hugs}} Sue

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi all! I just wanted to let you know I was in with my interviewer for nearly 2 hours and he kept telling me how much he loved my answers to his questions. He asked when I could be available, gave me a tour of the hospital and told me he could probably pay for me to take a class on Microsoft Access in the evenings.  As I was leaving he said he had to make a decision soon because he needs someone fast.  Please keep fingers, toes, whatever crossed for me!! This job seems to be made for me.  I felt really anxious when I got there and had to wait a few minutes but an old friend who works there came by to see me and she calmed my nerves.  I am really excited about this.  I have never left an interview feeling so good and so confident.  Thanks for allowing me to share.  I will keep you posted. Vicki

Response:

Having just been in your situation…. all ten fingers and all ten toes are crossed and I sincerely hope you get the job. Especially if you’d like to have it. My interview went two hours, and I got the job, (and others I’ve talked to said that was a really good thing) so I’m sending you and the other guy good vibes. Glad you’re feeling confident! It’s a wonderful feeling. Much Love, Brooke

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi all! I just wanted to let you know I was in with my interviewer for nearly 2 hours and he kept telling me how much he loved my answers to his questions. He asked when I could be available, gave me a tour of the hospital and told me he could probably pay for me to take a class on Microsoft Access in the evenings.  As I was leaving he said he had to make a decision soon because he needs someone fast.  Please keep fingers, toes, whatever crossed for me!! This job seems to be made for me.  I felt really anxious when I got there and had to wait a few minutes but an old friend who works there came by to see me and she calmed my nerves.  I am really excited about this.  I have never left an interview feeling so good and so confident.  Thanks for allowing me to share.  I will keep you posted. Vicki

Response:

Thanks Liz!!!! Vicki

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you! Take care, Liz Hi all! I just wanted to let you know I was in with my interviewer for nearly 2 hours and he kept telling me how much he loved my answers to his questions. He asked when I could be available, gave me a tour of the hospital and told me he could probably pay for me to take a class on Microsoft Access in the evenings.  As I was leaving he said he had to make a decision soon because he needs someone fast.  Please keep fingers, toes, whatever crossed for me!! This job seems to be made for me.  I felt really anxious when I got there and had to wait a few minutes but an old friend who works there came by to see me and she calmed my nerves.  I am really excited about this.  I have never left an interview feeling so good and so confident.  Thanks for allowing me to share.  I will keep you posted. Vicki

Response:

Hi all! I just wanted to let you know I was in with my interviewer for nearly 2 hours and he kept telling me how much he loved my answers to his questions. He asked when I could be available, gave me a tour of the hospital and told me he could probably pay for me to take a class on Microsoft Access in the evenings.  As I was leaving he said he had to make a decision soon because he needs someone fast.  Please keep fingers, toes, whatever crossed for me!! This job seems to be made for me.  I felt really anxious when I got there and had to wait a few minutes but an old friend who works there came by to see me and she calmed my nerves.  I am really excited about this.  I have never left an interview feeling so good and so confident.  Thanks for allowing me to share.  I will keep you posted. Vicki

Response:

Keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you! Take care, Liz – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi all! I just wanted to let you know I was in with my interviewer for nearly 2 hours and he kept telling me how much he loved my answers to his questions. He asked when I could be available, gave me a tour of the hospital and told me he could probably pay for me to take a class on Microsoft Access in the evenings.  As I was leaving he said he had to make a decision soon because he needs someone fast.  Please keep fingers, toes, whatever crossed for me!! This job seems to be made for me.  I felt really anxious when I got there and had to wait a few minutes but an old friend who works there came by to see me and she calmed my nerves.  I am really excited about this.  I have never left an interview feeling so good and so confident.  Thanks for allowing me to share.  I will keep you posted. Vicki

Response:

THE GENIUS OF ME.

Question:

Even now you shake head at me, so sure of your intellectual supremacy.

Careful, Doctor. As field is so fond of saying: The line between madness and genius is very thin. I think it’s not only thin, but nonexistent. Beethoven is a perfect example. A man who deaf and blind writes music that he can’t hear, Learn your history, little god — Beethoven wasn’t blind.  It would seem you are combining Ray Charles & Beethoven into one person.  Figures.  And you want anyone to think you’re all knowing????  Sheesh…… and we SAY him brilliant. How can we judge? Perhaps to him it was

ludicrous. I AM GENIUS. I AM MAD. I AM ALL SALVATION. MIGHTY JAGUAR

More like mighty lame. Michele

Response:

Even now you shake head at me, so sure of your intellectual supremacy. Careful, Doctor. As field is so fond of saying: The line between madness and genius is very thin. I think it’s not only thin, but nonexistent. Beethoven is a perfect example. A man who deaf and blind writes music that he can’t hear, and we SAY him brilliant. How can we judge? Perhaps to him it was ludicrous. I AM GENIUS. I AM MAD. I AM ALL SALVATION. MIGHTY JAGUAR — This post was anonymized at http://www.xganon.com —

Response:

Even now you shake head at me, so sure of your intellectual supremacy. Careful, Doctor. As field is so fond of saying: The line between madness and genius is very thin. I think it’s not only thin, but nonexistent. Beethoven is a perfect example. A man who deaf and blind writes music that he can’t hear, and we SAY him brilliant. How can we judge? Perhaps to him it was ludicrous. I AM GENIUS. I AM MAD. I AM ALL SALVATION. MIGHTY JAGUAR — This post was anonymized at http://www.xganon.com —

Unnghaaa muhngowha, me shake head, me shake head…chick-ih chick-kih chick-kahhh. –Catfish away from home (eeeehhhhrrrr bount bount)

Response:

who can relate to me?

Question:

It’s not that I’m depressed, I just don’t care. I’m almost too lazy to type this. God, my life sucks. I’m going deaf and blind, and I’m only 23. I dropped out of college because I’m too lazy to study. I fucked a girl I don’t even like, and now I have an illegitimate child and one more on the way. sometimes I think the pain of living has got to be worse than any kind of death. The agonizing torture I experience everyday is so horrible that I’ve become numb. I’m sick of the "pucker up, buckaroo!" mentality that everyone around me tries to shove down my throat like some sort of stomach pump. WHO THE FUCK CAN RELATE TO ME??? I ask myself this question at least 10 times a day. I understand why people jump off 30 story high rises. That thrill has got to be so great, knowing that the pain will soon be over, and freedom will soon embrace you like a mother to her child. I’d like to know what it takes to get out of this hellhole we call life. This is why I laugh at another’s plunder. THis is why I take comfort in recognizing pain in others. It soothes my own pain, if only for a few moments.  Mockery is my outlet. I don’t need advice. Christ, I don’t even need a hug right now. I just need to know that someone, somewhere, feels the same way I do. Give me some closure. -Hellrazor

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It’s not that I’m depressed, I just don’t care. I’m almost too lazy to type this. God, my life sucks. I’m going deaf and blind, and I’m only 23. I dropped out of college because I’m too lazy to study. I fucked a girl I don’t even like, and now I have an illegitimate child and one more on the way. sometimes I think the pain of living has got to be worse than any kind of death. The agonizing torture I experience everyday is so horrible that I’ve become numb. I’m sick of the "pucker up, buckaroo!" mentality that everyone around me tries to shove down my throat like some sort of stomach pump. WHO THE FUCK CAN RELATE TO ME??? I ask myself this question at least 10 times a day. I understand why people jump off 30 story high rises. That thrill has got to be so great, knowing that the pain will soon be over, and freedom will soon embrace you like a mother to her child. I’d like to know what it takes to get out of this hellhole we call life. This is why I laugh at another’s plunder. THis is why I take comfort in recognizing pain in others. It soothes my own pain, if only for a few moments.  Mockery is my outlet. I don’t need advice. Christ, I don’t even need a hug right now. I just need to know that someone, somewhere, feels the same way I do. Give me some closure. -Hellrazor

i can’t relate to all of the individual situations you are going through or nothing, but i can relate to depression.  i can relate to feeling totally alone with no one that can understand how i feel or what i am going through.  i can relate to that feeling of hopelessness. i use to be THE most anti-therapy person that ever was.  i was anti-med, anti-therapy.  therapy to me was paying someone to be a friend, and that was it.  when i finally brokedown and lost control of holding those walls up and putting up a "sane" front, i was forced to go to my doctor and he heavily suggested therapy.  i went.  it helped.  i am on meds now and they monitor the meds very closely and i have a therapist that i truly believe understands how i feel and can see my emotions. i urge you to seek help.  maybe it won’t help, but it sure as hell can’t hurt.

Response:

hi.  all i can say is that i read your post and i feel so bad for you.  depression can be hell and your pain comes through every word that you write.  i have no right to tell anyone what to do with his or her own life so i won’t.  i will just say that this is a powerful post and i appreciate your taking the time to write it.  my own experience is that depression can’t be cured by someone telling me to just keep going, ‘fake it till i make it’ or whatever.  maybe strangling such a person might make a dent in my depression but i don’t want to go to jail.  besides, i know that the well-meaning simps who tell me that are simply well, well-meaning simps.   maybe the fact that you took the time to write maybe that will help even 1%.  i know that i can relate on at least some level and others will relate as well.  there is a lot of pain here. thank you for sharing. diana – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It’s not that I’m depressed, I just don’t care. I’m almost too lazy to type this. God, my life sucks. I’m going deaf and blind, and I’m only 23. I dropped out of college because I’m too lazy to study. I fucked a girl I don’t even like, and now I have an illegitimate child and one more on the way. sometimes I think the pain of living has got to be worse than any kind of death. The agonizing torture I experience everyday is so horrible that I’ve become numb. I’m sick of the "pucker up, buckaroo!" mentality that everyone around me tries to shove down my throat like some sort of stomach pump. WHO THE FUCK CAN RELATE TO ME??? I ask myself this question at least 10 times a day. I understand why people jump off 30 story high rises. That thrill has got to be so great, knowing that the pain will soon be over, and freedom will soon embrace you like a mother to her child. I’d like to know what it takes to get out of this hellhole we call life. This is why I laugh at another’s plunder. THis is why I take comfort in recognizing pain in others. It soothes my own pain, if only for a few moments.  Mockery is my outlet. I don’t need advice. Christ, I don’t even need a hug right now. I just need to know that someone, somewhere, feels the same way I do. Give me some closure. -Hellrazor

Response: