Ann

Larry...Gotta answer Ry's question and then post your question...lol.

Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.

This could be fun. The name of this game is "Which is Worse." I'll start out with a question. Then, someone answers my question and then posts another "which is worse" question. Someone answers that...then posts another question...etc. Let's see how long we can keep this rolling? Which is worse...too hot or too cold???

Christy, I will certainly be keeping Donnie in my thoughts and will be remembering him in my prayers!

We started to "bud" in our blouses at 9 or 10 years old only to find that anything that came in contact with those tender, blooming buds hurt so bad it brought us to tears. So came the ridiculously uncomfortable training bra contraption that the boys in school would snap until we had calluses on our backs. Next, we get our periods in our early to mid-teens (or sooner). Along with those budding boobs, we bloated, we cramped, we got the hormone crankies, had to wear little mattresses between our legs or insert tubular, packed cotton rods in places we didn't even know we had. Our next little rite of passage (premarital or not) was having sex for the first time which was about as much fun as having a ramrod push your uterus through your nostrils (IF he did it right and didn't end up with his little cart before his horse), leaving us to wonder what all the fuss was about. Then it' was off to Motherhood where we learned to live on dry crackers and water for a few months so we didn't spend the entire day leaning over Brother John. Of course, amazing creatures that we are (and we are), we learned to live with the growing little angels inside us steadily kicking our innards night and day making us wonder if we were preparing to have Rosemary's Baby. Our once flat bellies looked like we swallowed a watermelon whole and we pee'd our pants every time we sneezed. When the big moment arrived, the dam in our blessed Nether Regions invariably burst right in the middle of the mall and we had to waddle, with our big cartoon feet, moaning in pain all the way to the ER. Then it was huff and puff and beg to die while the OB says, "Please stop screaming, Mrs. Hearmeroar. Calm down and push. Just one more good push (more like 10)," warranting a strong, well-deserved impulse to punch the %*#!* (and hubby) square in the nose for making us cram a wiggling, mushroom-headed 10lb bowling ball through a keyhole. After that, it was time to raise those angels only to find that when all that "cute" wears off, the beautiful little darlings morphed into walking, jabbering, wet, gooey, snot-blowing, life-sucking little poop machines. Then come their "Teen Years." Need I say more? When the kids are almost grown, we women hit our voracious sexual prime in our e! arly 40's - while hubby had his somewhere around his 18th birthday So we progress into the grand finale: "The Menopause," the Grandmother of all womanhood. It's either take HRT and chance cancer in those now seasoned "buds" or the aforementioned Nether Regions, or, sweat like a hog in July, wash your sheets and pillowcases daily and bite the head off anything that moves. Now, you ask WHY women seem to be more spiteful than men, when men get off so easy, INCLUDING the icing on life's cake: Being able to pee in the woods without soaking their socks... So, while I love being a woman, "Womanhood" would make the Great Gandhi a tad crabby. Women are the "weaker sex"? Yeah right. Bite me. You might want to pass this onto some bright women that you know and make their day!!! Or at least make them laugh a little.....Wo u ldn't hurt to pass it on to a few Men either !

Oh Ray, you have been really missed around this neighborhood! Now that you've been back...you can't leave us again! I'm so happy to hear all your good news and hear you are NED ! Yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! I just think it's great that our members are doing so much to get all this great PR for lung cancer! You be sure that we get to see the article!!!

Larry, I really enjoyed reading your post and I think I left with a valuable message. For much of my life, I was one that always had to find something or someone to blame when things didn't go as I thought they should. When Dennis was diagnosed, I was very angry. I was angry with everyone...about everything. I so wanted to find something to blame his illness on. In the end, there seemed to be only two people I could blame and I couldn't be angry with either of them. I blamed Dennis for not taking better care of himself and for never listening to me when I tried and stress the importance of regular doctor visits and check ups. I also blamed him for not stopping smoking 30 years prior to his diagnosis. After I realized I couldn't be angry with Dennis, I began to blame God. How could God do this to us? How could He be a loving and compassionate God and allow my husband such pain and suffering? Then, I realized I couldn't blame God, because He would surely punish me and would definitely take Dennis from me. Well, finally I was able to accept the blow we had been dealt and I stopped looking for reasons or people to blame. I have always heard that "everything happens for a reason." I have really never been able to yet find a reason in Dennis's untimely death but I do know that I learned a big lesson about acceptance!

Well, it looks like my area is getting ready to brace itself for yet another hurricane. My home is now in the area with hurricane warnings. The actual hurricane watch is up as far as Vero Beach (15 minutes from my office.) We are closely monitoring the weather today, as this thing shoul hit in the early morning hours tommorrow and our office is right on the river. Get this....I have finally had almost everything repaired from last years storms. I have a new roof, new tile (replaced soaked carpet), new drywall, new paint and my new garage door is scheduled for installation tommorrow. If we have any wind at all, the old door will be located in my living room, as it is barely hanging! Of course, I know the new door won't go in tommorrow because of the weather! Oh well, guess I need you guys to pray me through Katrina now!!!You did a great job praying me through Ivan, Charlie, Frances and Jeanne.

This is such a tough question for me, as I'm usually very conservative with money. Well, since I can't save any, I would buy a couple of things for me and my family and then donate the rest to Katie and Rick for LCSC. I think I would definitely have to run out and buy one of the new little Ford Thunderbirds! I just think they're so cute. I would buy a plane ticket that would just allow me to travel for about a month. I would just hop on board and fly to the areas where some of you live and give hugs in person when needed!I just think of some of the great things LCSC could do with major bucks....like having laptops to loan to our members when they are hospitalized for a month!!!

Addie, although I feel terrible that you can't sleep, I have to let you know that the laughs I got from this post almost make me glad you were awake!! You can really come up with some great things! I hope you're awake the next time I'm really down in the dumps!!!!

Welcome to our group Grammymuiller! If you're anything like your Amy, I know you'll be one of the gang in no time!!!

If you were given a million dollars and 24 hours to spend it (no depositing in the bank or investing) what would you buy?

I would definitely have to say that this is the most handsome "shadow" I have ever seen!! Wow...you must be really proud of this little fellow!!!

Shar, I am so sorry you are having such a rough time of things right now. I can't even imagine how painful this must be for you! I just hate having any problem that is tooth related, as I seem to always have some type of complication! Honestly, I'm to the point that I have to get all loaded up on anti-anxiety meds before going for even a cleaning because I know there will be some type of problem! As for the dog, man is his timing off!!! Do you have any kids in the neighborhood that might help look for him? I'm just so sorry you have all this s*** happening right now and really sorry to hear you were crying. Hey...crying is definitely allowed! Big girls do cry...and I think I hold the world's record! Why don't we meet at Cindi's Pub, have a few drinks and shed some serious cyber tears???

Having walked in your shoes almost three years ago, I know exactly the feelings you are experiencing right now. Some of your words made my tears flow! There is nothing any one of us can say that will ease your pain right now. I know that it's really hard to believe this is actually happening to you...and to the love of your life. Your post sounds as if he has accepted the fact that life is slipping from him and he has some issues to solve and things to accomplish while he is able. You must see to it that his wishes are met right now, regardless of how you feel about them. If you don't see that these things happen, you will definitely regret it when you are trying to heal. Love him, hold him, cherish him. Tell him everything you want him to know and don't hold back. When he sleeps, look at him and memorize every feature of his face. Talk to him about the good times and keep those memories in your heart. Do you have Hospice with you? If not, please consider getting their help. They are a great group of wonderful people that will offer you a great amount of support and information. Their presence really does make things a bit easier. I know it's hard to believe that anything or anybody could possibly make things easier...but they can help! My husband had the same type of cancer as your husband. My husband had just turned 49 at diagnosis. Please remember that I am here for you, along with many others. This is definitely a road no one should travel on alone! I'm saying prayers through teary eyes.

A preacher was telling his congregation that anything they could think of, old or new, was discussed somewhere in the Bible and that the entirety of the human experience could be found there. After the service, he was approached by a woman who said "Preacher, I don't believe the Bible mentions PMS." The preacher replied that he was sure it must be there somewhere and that he would look for it. The following week after the service, the preacher called the woman aside and showed her a passage which read,.... "...And Mary rode Joseph's *ss all the way to Bethlehem."

Old Men An elderly man in Florida had owned a large farm for several years. He had a large pond in the back, fixed up nice: picnic tables, horseshoe courts, and some apple and peach trees. The pond was properly shaped and fixed up for swimming when it was built. One evening the old farmer decided to go down to the pond, as he hadn't been there for a while, and look it over. He grabbed a five-gallon bucket to bring back some fruit. As he neared the pond, he heard voices shouting and gleeful laughing. As he came closer he saw it was a bunch of young women skinny-dipping in his pond. He made the women aware of his presence, and they all went to the deep end. One of the women shouted to him, "We're not coming out until you leave!" The old man frowned. "I didn't come down here to watch you ladies swim naked or make you get out of the pond naked." Holding up the bucket he said, "I'm here to feed the alligator." Moral: Old men can still think

Jen, I am so sorry to hear that your family is dealing with so many problems right now. I will be saying prayers for your mom, great-aunt and you! You must have really broad shoulders! Hoping things start looking up really soon!

Laurie, it's so very good to hear from you! I'm glad to hear that things are going well for both you and your mom. I really do miss you and your little panda!!!

No offense California friends...just had to share this. Like, A Totally California State Residency Application... man... Name: (Feel free to use popular nicknames, such as "Moon Beam", "Dweezil", "Moon Unit" "Capt. Trips", etc.) Age: _____________ Inner Child's Age: _______ Age in Dog Years: _______ Age as told to you in a vision by ancient Mayan calendar: ________ sex: _____ M _____ F _____ Hermaphrodite _____ Still working it out in therapy Footwear: ____ Birkenstocks ____ Barefoot Condition of Feet: ____ Wash Daily ____ Wash Weekly ____ Like, whenever I get to the beach, man... Occupation: ___ Massage Therapist ___ Astral Counsel ___ Pet Psychologist ___ Channeler of the Dead (real dead, not merely Grateful) ___ Follower of the Dead, (Grateful) ___ Tie-dye vendor at Dead Shows ___ Vendor of "nice hot, fresh veggie burritos" at concerts ___ Cooking up a scheme to channel Jerry Garcia ___ Assistant to Shirley MacLaine ___ Rent-A-Mob protester ___ Purveyor of Fine Herbal Remedies ___ Panhandler claiming to be a veteran ___ Professional Guest on Ricki Lake ___ LA rock star groupie ___ Bottom-feeding LA lawyer ___ Professional Emotional Victim Name(s) of Significant Other(s): ________________________________ Relationship(s) of Significant Other(s): : ____ Astral Soulmate ____ One-night stand from the protest rally who stayed because the rent was cheap ____ My dog's massage therapist ____ "Just Friends" ____ They're really not that significant, but I'll try to claim them as tax deduction(s) Number of Children in Commune: _____ Number of Inner Children In Commune: _____ Number of your Inner Children which have been molested by one of Roseanne's multiple personalities: ____ Mother's Name: ____________________ Father's Name: ____________________ Where were you were conceived: ____ Woodstock ____ Monterey ____ Under the stars on in the commune's hot tub ____ In the back of a VW micro-bus on the way to a Dead show Name of book exposing your parents as inner-child abusers: Number of copies sold: ____ Number of Wind Chimes Owned: ____ Number of times you've given yourself a concussion by hitting head on wind chimes: ___ Number of time you've channeled dead space aliens: ____ Number of times a space alien has copped a feel off you: ____ Talk Shows on Which You Make a Regular Appearance: ____ Donahue ____ Ricki Lake ____ Geraldo ____ Sally Jesse ____ The morning news' surf report Number of times you've eaten your surfboard: ____ Above, while still in parking lot after tripping on your sandals: ____ Number of Grateful Dead concerts attended: ____ (if all, enter "on tour") Number of bongs you own: ____ Number of times you've drunk your bong water because the weed ran out: Political Party Affiliation: (Choose as many as you have personalities) ____ Green Party ____ American Communist Party ____ Socialist Party ____ New Age Astral Party (channeling the spirits of dead Romans) ____ Hemp Party ____ The Party-Hearty Party ____ Inner Child Abuse Hotline Party ____ New Age Goddess Party How far is your home from the waterline: ___ Miles ___ Yards ___ Feet ___ I like to wake up with sand in my nose and seaweed in my teeth, in true harmony with nature as it washes up my nose Number of surfboards owned: ____ Number of seconds you can talk without using the words "totally", "like", "man" and "fer shure": ____ (enter, like 0, if you, like, totally don't know)

There was a man who computed his taxes for 1998 and discovered that he owed $3407. He packaged up his payment and included this letter: Dear IRS: Enclosed is my 2004 Tax Return & payment. Please take note of the attached article from the USA Today newspaper. In the article, you will see that the Pentagon is paying $171.50 for hammers and NASA has paid $600.00 for a toilet seat. Please find enclosed four toilet seats (value $2400) and six hammers (value $1029). This brings my total payment to $3429.00. Please note the overpayment of $22.00 and apply it to the "Presidential Election Fund," as noted on my return. Might I suggest you the send the above mentioned fund a "1.5 inch screw." (See attached article...HUD paid $22.00 for a 1.5 inch Phillips Head Screw.) It has been a pleasure to pay my tax bill this year, and I look forward to paying it again next year. Sincerely, A satisfied taxpayer

I just read the post about our dear Fay and just can't imagine being cooped up in a hospital for a month. Does anyone know what she likes to do? Hobbies? Reading? I really wish we could organize a little "cheer" basket and send it to her, filled with things she enjoys. Does anyone have the hospital information so we can at least send cards? I would love to help put something together to cheer her up!!!!

Fay...what in the world will we do for a month without you??? Oh my, that's way too long. What are your hobbies? Can we send a care package to help pass some time? I'm saying lots of prayers!!!

So sorry to hear this news! Saying prayers for your friend's family and friends.

Fresh starts can be good for all of us.