Nite Neak

eat the lot hon !!! lol

Home birth?? who had that thought? no thanks drugs, more drugs and lots more drugs <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Now I'm going out to select some paint for the lounge room
<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

I did. Right about the time I started worrying about another bill of $6-7,000 headed our way, with neither insurance nor medi-Cal to cover a penny of it! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> However, now it's looking like this will be funded by the good tax payers of California after all, (finally my tax dollars at work, doing something for me!), and the hospital and a real doctor can be made available for the BIG event. And housekeeping, afterwards, for which Neaksis breathes a big sigh of relief! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

She just wants to go to the hospital because she's hoping for an epidural this time around. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> Also, I think her vivid imagination may be picturing a home birth as something along the lines of 6 inquisitive little heads repeatedly materializing in the Cnamber of Pain, and asking over and over, "Is it soup yet?" <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

t&l

P.S. The "BIG event" is the birth, not Neak personally. Hope no one misunderstood. Although she does get pretty doggone large. I named her Protrubera Blossom the first time around. I guess it'll be flowering again soon. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

OUCH

$7,000 hurts as near as much as the birthing!! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

I can't complain..the specialists and the womens Hospital cost me $0 Ya for the Public health System!

The private scheme would have got me the same room the same hospital and the same docs and cost me $$$$$$

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/you_neak/detail?.dir=/676e&.dnm=c2bd.jpg&.src=ph

OK, I'm going to post this and see if I actually accomplished anything. I see it has an address, but the title, "Guess who played in the same gene pool?" is mysteriously missing.

t&l

Thanks for the reminder, T&L. You're a wise lady.

-AD

Maybe so, AD, maybe not. That opinion, oddly enough, is not shared by all. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> But doesn't it often seem to you as if, a lot of the time, there are WAY more locusts than there are restorations? Sigh. Sometimes it's hard to believe anything can EVER be restored when it seems that all you can see, horizon to horizon, are the swarming hordes. "For we are saved by hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for what a man seeth why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it." <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> Does it count if we wait impatiently? Hope so, because a lot of times impatient waiting is all I've got. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> If waiting is good for us (faith-wise), sn't it a good thing it's involuntary? You're sure not going to see ME lining up for any extra postponements! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> I have a hard enough time tolerating the ones that are forced upon me...

I was trying to post a copy of the cover of Neak's first book when I accidentally deleted my post. The re-post will be somewhat condensed. So much for TechnoBabe. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> The picture on the left (Malchus, Touched by Jesus) is the cover as it ended up. The picture on the right (Malchus, Re-Touched by Susan) is what it looked like after I restored and refurbished Neakbro's whiskers, which were somehow deleted when the cover was painted! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> I think it looks better with the whiskers, but obviously the publisher didn't...and what do I know, after all? Not much, I guess. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />



I've deleted this link until I can figure out what went wrong, AW. It's very odd because Neak and I looked at the link earlier, and it was working just fine. When we locate the problem, the link will reappear. Just like magic. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />


t&l


malchus book cover




OK, I restarted the computer, ditched Windows, switched to Linux, and here it is. I have no idea why, or why it has part of an ad over one cover. Really, computers are such a mystery to me!

Neakbro in his natural state

Neakbro as Malchus

These are the two pictures we submitted to the publisher. I think as long they were going to delete the famous sword, they shouldn't have left him, swordless, in a sword-holding position. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> On the actual cover, he reminds me of some underling in a space movie, bowing low and smiting himself on the chest, as he murmurs, "Commander..." <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

t&l

the former shell of t&l

This was taken at Neak's wedding, 4 months after MS and I met again for the first time in 26 years. Set this picture next to the camping one, and you can see that the years have beaten me up!!! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> If I were a stress starver, like Neak, instead of the stress eater that I am, by now I'd have to stand twice in one spot to make a shadow. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> As it is, small animals make their burrows in my shadow, where they are protected from the sun, predators, and other unfriendly elements! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> I really, really HATE getting old. Well, at least I hate looking old. Who thought this was a good idea, anyway? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> And why wasn't I consulted?

t&l

hey t&l

Lunch time...... Mikey complained lol <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

can't get to your cover page ..lol <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Still feeling so queasy and darn nose is driving me crazy!!

I went to early mass today over at the chapel so I could get stuck into the painting.

I wandered out and walked around the Rock, saw all the names of the slain, how sad for the families. And there to the side saw a little plaque, looked old I read it & looked it up when I got home. It read..

Hymn Before Battle

The earth is full of anger,
The seas are dark with wrath,
The Nations in their harness
Go up against our path:
Ere yet we loose the legions --
Ere yet we draw the blade,
Jehovah of the Thunders,
Lord God of Battles, aid!

High lust and froward bearing,
Proud heart, rebellious brow --
Deaf ear and soul uncaring,
We seek Thy mercy now!
The sinner that forswore Thee,
The fool that passed Thee by,
Our times are known before Thee --
Lord, grant us strength to die!

For those who kneel beside us
At altars not Thine own,
Who lack the lights that guide us,
Lord, let their faith atone!
If wrong we did to call them,
By honour bound they came;
Let not Thy Wrath befall them,
But deal to us the blame.

From panic, pride, and terror
Revenge that knows no rein --
Light haste and lawless error,
Protect us yet again,
Cloke Thou our undeserving,
Make firm the shuddering breath,
In silence and unswerving
To taste Thy lesser death.

Ah, Mary pierced with sorrow,
Remember, reach and save
The soul that comes to-morrow
Before the God that gave!
Since each was born of woman,
For each at utter need --
True comrade and true foeman --
Madonna, intercede!

E'en now their vanguard gathers,
E'en now we face the fray --
As Thou didst help our fathers,
Help Thou our host to-day.
Fulfilled of signs and wonders,
In life, in death made clear --
Jehovah of the Thunders,
Lord God of Battles, hear!

A strange prayer, a strange hymn ... You know what I thought, how strange we pray to God to fight & kill.

Though we didn't start this war we aren't that different from our enemies are we?

Not a pleasant thought. Might need to keep this in mind because I've been having a very hard time not hating them.
I've got to work on this, I think its inhibiting my own recovery and self forgiveness.

Wierd thoughts,,maybe its the paint fumes. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

adoptionday--2004

When you're adopted into the family of God, you get the robe of Christ's righteousness to wear. Not quite so great of a gift when you're adopted into the family of t&l, but they at least DID get Hawaiian outfits made especially for the occasion by my own stubby little fingers. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

t&l

I hope you're queasy because of your cold, and not because you're going to be having another moose soon! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> Unless, of course, you want another moose... <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

t&l

t&l

ah that shouldn't be possible should it so soon after giving birth?

Tried ringing my sis but she's out said i'd ring her tomorrow.

Cripes <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

You wouldn't be the first one to be surprised (even shocked) to find out how very possible it is! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> Breastfeeding reduces your chance of ovulating. It doesn't eliminate it completely. It's the flu. It's the flu. You keep telling yourself that. It's the flu!! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

t&l

Is "Flu" a boy or a girl?

Mom says it depends on whether you spell it 'flu' or 'flue'. (The latter would be a girl.)

AW, the good news is that if your nausea is caused by, um, something other than the common flu, a pregnancy test would work in RULING OUT that possible cause.

Ok, full truth time. It would definitely rule something.

If you are, can we tell Aussie for you? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

If you already read this on Pepperband's 2x4 thread, please don't think you need to wade through it again. But since it deals with a question I think a lot of Christians have, I thought I'd include it here, too.

Quote:
I am trying to work out if it is worthwhile asking God to intercede in our lives or not. It seems not, what I am being told here.



I hope you are misunderstanding what is being said, and that you aren't really being told that prayer is not worthwhile. This question actually deserves a longer answer than I'll be able to give, but let me make a quick effort.

According to the Bible, when Adam was created he was given dominion over this planet. By sinning, he ceded his authority to another, and Satan has tried to claim it fully ever since. Even since Jesus, the second Adam, won the victory over Satan at the cross, and regained the rulership of this world, Satan still fights for human territory anywhere and everywhere he can. (And obviously with some good results, considering the condition of the world in which we live!) Before Moses was raised from the dead, the Bible says in Jude that Satan "disputed" over his body, since as ruler of this world ("the prince of the power of the air") he claimed Moses as his property, and his death as final. That he did not win this argument is evinced by Moses' appearance (with Elijah) to Jesus at the Transfiguration...but that didn't stop the devil from putting up a good fight over his resurrection at the time. And why shouldn't he have argued about it? Moses was a murderer, and a man of sometimes-uncontrolled temper. He'd had plenty of sins chalked up to his name during his lifetime. He should've been Satan's property, and lost forever...except that he'd sought divine forgiveness and had been pardoned. In Job 1 and 2, Satan is described as appearing in the councils of heaven as the official representative of this planet, taking his place among the other "sons of God" (which is what Adam is described as being) who were there representing their own worlds. He defiantly claims to God Himself, his rulership over this world. There are other examples of this, but these 2 should do for now.

My point is this: There is a war going on between God and Satan--the battleground the human heart; the objective, individual loyalty to one one side or the other. In this conflict, God "plays" by the rules. Satan does not. God enters by invitation. Satan by force. Man's choices have said to God, "Keep out," and Satan fully intends that this should be true for each one of us. There are a number of texts that describe humans as "sold under sin," etc. If the Bible is true, we are Satan's lawful prey, his legal captives, and our condition is hopeless without God. But He doesn't come where He's not invited, so unless you ask Him, Satan is able to demand that He keep out. And God respects Satan's ownership. However, Satan cannot keep God out when His presence is requested...so asking becomes the key to every spiritual blessing we could ever want, or hope to have.

Having said that, we need to acknowledge that God sometimes says no, much in the same way that I'd refuse to give the Dervish a knife just because his 4-yr. old heart desires to have one. "No" IS an answer, which is something that is often easy for me to forget. So is "Maybe" or "Not right now." Just because God didn't say yes to my prayer, and immediately, too, doesn't mean that I haven't been heard and answered.. Earthly parents often know best, a hard fact for a child to accept who's just had his great idea rejected and shot down. Our heavenly Father knows best, also, and sometimes His answers are every bit as hard for us (adult) earthly children to understand, since we may view things only from our own perspectives, and not from God's.

We are also told to pray for others. In my case, I have 2 sons whom I adore. Both have (temporarily!) lost their spiritual ways, although for different reasons, and in different ways. They don't have the wisdom or the good sense to prayer for themselves right now, and if left to their own devices, would be fully captive of an enemy the Bible describes as being like "a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." So I pray for them, and ask God to intervene in their lives in a way He would not legally be able to do, in this great controversy with Satan, if He were not invited. Do I see any results yet? No. Is it discouraging? You bet. Excessively, in fact. Will I quit? Not as long as I live, or possess my mental marbles, whichever comes first.

This concept of intercessory prayer is a hard one for me, because for a lot of years I wondered, "Why pray? God knows everything already anyway. It's not like I'm going to bring up some new, previously-unconsidered fact that will change His mind." Learning about what I have just written changed all this for me, although sometimes it's very hard yet to maintain in the face of little or no visible progress and change. Still, Jesus prayed for His disciples. He instructed them to pray for each other. The Holy Spirit "Himself maketh intercession for us, with groanings which cannot be uttered." If praying is not worthwhile, there's certainly a lot of wasted instruction in the Bible telling us to "without ceasing" do something useless. "Men ought always to pray, and not to faint." That even includes those all-too-frequent times when fainting is the easiest thing to do, and very, very attractive to the depressed pray-er. I should know. If "fainting" in prayer were an art, I'd be known world-wide for my gallery exhibitions! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

So don't give up. That's why God gave us teeth and toenails--so we can hang on till the very end! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

t&l

P.S. If you can come to undertand evil as a manifestation of the great controversy between Christ and Satan, I think you will find it much easier not to be destroyed by the wrong actions of others. It's certainly proved to be true for me. The great controversy is not between my husband and me. For that matter, it's not between any other person and me, either! The battle is always between Christ and Satan, waged on the battlefied of each human heart. And in this engagement, sometimes other people (innocent betrayed spouses and children, for example) get severely, even tragically wounded in the crossfire. For myself, I've come to accept that my getting hurt doesn't mean it's now MY battle, and I need to get in there and personally start waging war. The battle is still God's, and even if I've got a black eye, a bloody nose, and a few bullet holes, I'm learning to stand back and let Him fight it Himself, on a heavenly timetable, with heavenly weapons, and divine strategy. My part is to pray, as He has instructed me to do, and because I "hope for that see not," to "with patience wait for it." <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Bad Neak. Of course, you can't! She should just tell him she's getting a new shape to "surprise" him and he can see it when he gets back. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Somebody over in Australia had better check on AW. She's very quiet. I'm afraid she's fainted. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

t&l

I think she went to buy a pregnancy test.... just to prove us wrong!

Gellnjen sent me this. I especially like the one about whales. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

HEALTH QUESTION & ANSWER SESSION


Q: I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life; is this true?

A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it... don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.

---------------------------------


Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?

A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies.. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.

---------------------------------


Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?

A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms up!

---------------------------------


Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?

A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.

---------------------------------


Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise
program?

A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is:

No pain...good!

---------------------------------


Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?

A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!!. Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?

---------------------------------


Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the
middle?

A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

---------------------------------


Q: Is chocolate bad for me?

A: Are you crazy? HELLO ...... Cocoa beans! Another vegetable!!! It's the best feel-good food around!

---------------------------------


Q: Is swimming good for your figure?

A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.

---------------------------------


Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?

A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape!

---------------------------------


Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets. And remember: "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming "WOO HOO, What a ride!"