I Love Bagpipes

GO HEELS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Har Har Har Har!!!)

Asheville...land of the sky. It's like stepping back in time....to the 60's. Just now got it...Pirate....ECU.... I assume anyway!

Gosh..WD...brought tears to my heart and eyes. Dittos to Tops and Ex10....many hugs and showers of goodness.. The pureness of your love is evident dear WD..... to all the lives you touch.

Roy........Happiest of Birthdays. May your day be filled with goodness and special blessings. Kentucky hey? Bluegrass, rolling hills, caverns, and horses...... and Mike Cross singing 'bout that Kentucky bluegrass. (Dmiller.....can you post that song? I couldn't find the lyrics...and Lord knows about my inept puter skills trying to post an actual song.) HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR ROY!!!!!!!!!

Belle, you struck a chord here....(pun intended ) It was September, 1983. I was walking to my job in food services through the halls of the OSC at HQ. My thoughts? "Something's not right. It's probably just me and my messed up head?" And in the forefront of these thoughts? I will never forget....were the words and tune to that song "Where is the love...where is the love......where is the love....where is the love?" I'll NEVER forget that. But little did I know the evil that was afoot. AND I didn't exit TWI for another 22 FREAKING YEARS!!!!!!!!!! It feels good to throw off chains of bondage...and to hide no longer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And same to you Templelady! Much happy belated bdays to you and everybody....... and to all the baby animals born this spring!!

Like an Eagle.. Give me a call when you're somewhat settled. We will be a few hours apart but can meet somewhere and share. Quality of life....RELATIONSHIPS for me. If i have deep relationships i can handle anything (i think?). Relationships include others, myself, God, and the earth and environment. Little things mean a lot to me. We moved 5 freaking times in 7 years....not easy with a family. I think we learned to love each other, work together, and understand that life is fragile. Fragility...my father became a quadraplegic for the last 12 years of his life. Yet he lived fully and with great gratitude for every breath. He is deceased now, but I remember him on regular occassions. Brings tears to my eyes..the gratitude with which he lived. During those 12 years he never lost his wit and humor. He was a great inspiration. In spite of his circumstance, he had quality of life. Yes, quality of life, for me is in relationships.

I've played in some African drumming performances. I'd get nervous until my teacher said, "It's not a performance; it's a play-formance." Paints a different picture, heh? Some of my favorite playing? Oh so many. I love variety and spice. Here are a few favorites: Sharing with friends at the bookstore over our favorite beverage... Journaling.... Reading.... Drawing... Puzzles (I have 3 glued and framed in my home...and a few 3-d puzzles on display)..... Riding horses at a full canter through meadows ......... Wind....... Hiking, especially wide open spaces (Favorite hiking spots: Grayson Highlands, VA (wild ponies here!); Roan Mountain, TN; The Chimneys, Great Smokies)........ Drumming, African style....... Making music with little people........ Reading out loud............ Dancing, dancing, dancing (I love to jump when i dance and swing my arms high in the air!!)........ Cards and board games........ Movies........... Belly laughing............ Visiting with my kids.................... Time with Mr. Pipes (most fun of all :) and we enjoy some of the other playtimes listed above)......... And there is more...but I'll stop here. It is fun to think about!

Big applause and dances from the Pipes home!!! What beautiful pics!!!

My 15-year old son recently turned me onto this song. It is beautiful..if you ever get to hear it. Paints a picture of simple days. Reminds me of play, of lazy days, of childhood, of growing up, of broken dreams, of dreams fulfilled.....I hope I never loose childhood. Swing Life Away Lyrics by Rise Against am i loud and clear or am i breaking up? am i still your charm or am i just bad luck? are we getting closer or are we just getting more lost? ill show you mine if you show me yours first lets compare scars ill tell you whose is worse lets unwrite these pages and replace them with our own words we live on front porches and swing life away we get by just fine here on minimum wage if love is a labor i'll slave 'til the end i wont cross these streets until you hold my hand i been here so long i think that its time to move the winters so cold summers over too soon lets pack our bags and settle down where palm trees grow and ive got some friends some that i hardly know weve had some times i wouldn't trade for the world we chase these days down with talks of the places that we will go we live on front porches and swing life away we get by just fine here on minimum wage if love is a labor i'll slave 'til the end i wont cross these streets until you hold my hand swing life away [4x]

Suda stated: "God reminding me He was with me, always, and I could lean on Him. And He wanted me to do so because He loved and needed me, in the way that all parents need their children to make their lives complete. Everyday of my life I am comforted with this knowledge. It doubles the joy and halves the sorrow of life each and every day." Beautiful Suda................................

((((Cindy and family)))) So GLAD your son is getting help. If you are a reader there are some very good books on the market. One of my favorite authors is Dr. Daniel Amen, a psychiatrist and neurologist....puts the psychology stuff in layman's terms. One of my favorite books on bipolar is New Hope for People with Bipolar Disorder written by a patient, her psychologist and psychiatrist. If you want my personal story regarding bipolar you can pm me and we can touch base. You are doing the right thing. Your son sounds like he is in good hands. Much love and prayer.... Pipes

Hugs all around and great big thank yous!!! ((((Herbie)))) (((Priscilla))))) ((((Shell)))) (((White Dove)))) ((((Raf)))) ((((Just Loafing)))) (((((Linda Z)))) ((((Oeno)))) Thank you for the chats, the pming, the laughs, the prayers. Dmiller....great site on Natalie and thanks for the Scotland sounds!! I was turned on to Natalie while sampling music at Borders. Sampled "In My Hands" and bought it that eve. Months later I was in Borders sitting at my favorite table doing some reading/jounaling and over the speakers I heard "Touch of the Master's Hand" to music. It has always been one of my favorite poems. I went to the info desk and asked who was the artist. Lo & behold it was on Natalie's "Blueprint". Next coupon I had I was the owner of "Blueprint." Bela Fleck used to play in my hometown at a small local gathering called "Acoustic Stage"; he plays with Natalite some too. Later I'll share a Doc Watson story with ye. :) Tom Strange...lol...Pert refers to Candace Pert, a scientist and author of whom Belle and I are fans. However, we do have some Pert in our shower at our abode! Oeno..very special thanks to you for EVERYTHING. You have become a good friend.... See ya'll round chat...thanks for my new cafe friends. I love ya'll....

:wub: REUNIONS...............so sweet. Thanks for sharing Oeno!!!!!

Gosh..this can make a body feel REALLY good....gushy all inside.. Thanks for all the b-day blessings... Suda...was near your prior town today...prayers go up! T-bone....thanks for pickin me up after that bottle! (((ex10))))....geez.....I am celebrating in a most wonderful way...thanks to you. :) Flow...thanks...see ya' in the western parts of this humble state...maybe sometime....that is where it's happening. har Cool, look forward to that piano and lobster...anytime!! Mr. Strange...lol.....I'm making lots of "wishes" these days....and "hopes" too!!! Thanks for your insights! (((((Belle)))))...."What the Bleep??" So glad we met and that you're a Pert fan!! I'm sure we will have much to share when we meet face to face. (((Tops))))....10th rules. Maybe at the Texas ho-down we can have someone jump out of cake...with Tequila! Dmiller...thanks for the chats and prayers. Natalie rules!!!!! ((Penguin)) Ahhh...freedom... YES!! And we are comrades...exited about the same time. Looking forward to the next little Penguin. :) ((Bliss))...thank you for reaching out. Wise? Hee...I guess wiser now! :) (((((((((((Mr. Pipes)))))))))) :wub: I'm looking so forward to the weekend.... Thank you for loving me up so big. I love you deeply and forever and ever. :wub:

ROFL Cool!!!!!!!!!!!! Okay...here's a funny: My kids as toddlers were playing. "Let's pretend we're dogs," one enthusiastically voiced. "I'll sniff your butt and you sniff mine." I almost lost my wits when I heard it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But you know to them, it was just so ....... matter of fact.

MORE MORE......GIVE US MORE!!!!!!!!!!

(((((Vixen)))))) She is so cute....and I know a fond and best friend companion. I once read about what a better place this world would be if we all greeted one another the way "man's best friend" greets man....tails wagging, eager to please, wanting to give and receive, with that big doggy smile. " Bark bark...Hi love.....Your home and I'm here to greet you!!" The day I quit playing is the day I die.

IMO it's very on topic Belle. Exactly "What does it take to change your mind?" Perhaps the question could be..."to change the soul?" Can the soul be changed? I so enjoy this subject. I think it is inexhaustible. I read this morning "God has set eterninty in the hearts of men." I'd say that is pretty inexhaustible. The heart....we only have a glimpse. The more we learn the more we realize how little we know and how very intricate all of life is connected. Gosh....feeling gushy all inside now. Grateful and awed. What an awesome life.........huh????? BTW: The practitioner, Diana, is about 15 years my senior. She is British...so has that beautiful Brit accent. And at the time she was helping me was a Buddhist. Sent Buddhists prayers my way...lol....and I was a twigger!! But I didn't care....she LOVED me....and I knew it. :)

Thank ee Rumrunner. Oh my!....."more than decently"....hmmm....I probably need to change that!!!!!!!!! I really am a FAR cry from more than decent. You my dear friend, held my hand and heart on many an occassion.....I am forever grateful. Reunions.................after decades............who would have thunk????? Great rejoicing to my soul. :wub:

Great thread Oakspear. Me so recently left....the sounds of GSC are the sounds of FREEDOM and INDIVUAL opinions. As I stated on another thread, Ex 10 said to me, "The silence has been deafening...no?" in regard to TWI. I NEVER, NEVER, EVER WANT TO LIVE THAT "HUSH-SH-sh" AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! However I do shy from the more inflamed threads. I just plain old don't like arguing. I do like respectfully agreeing to disagree. I don't know if I post the way I talk. Anybody out there that knows me...do I post the way I talk? What a paradox....arguing (T. Strange's "gottabee-rits") and not feeling free to express individual opinions both remind me of TWI. :blink:

Well DANG IT!!! Wish I weren't way over here on the east coast...I'd bring drums and shakers and morroccas (sp?)!! Have a Texas ho down...with a twist... Since I didn't grad-ji-tate from the 10th...do I still count as 10th? I was 13th too...but didn't grad-ji-tate it either. Guess I'm an undergrad... Yeah...but I got odd and even in; that counts for something!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bramble...still thinking about what you wrote. To clarify, the reason I shared all this was to share the following insight (or whatever it is :blink: ): Another thing I forgot to share about this particular incident/time in my life. There was a pharmaceutical recall on the alubterol I had been using in my nebulizer. It was contaminated with pseudomonos. Thus the bouts of pneumonia without response to meds. Over 300 people died...class action law suit against the pharmaceutical company. Okay..that's all....now back to the topic...

(((((((((((Bramble))))))))))) I don't want to derail the thread...so will be very brief. Please understand that what I shared is not medical advice...it was my particular situation. And know too that there is MUCH MORE to the brief paragraph that follows....but I do not want to derail the thread. I deeply empathize with you. Please note in my posts that NOTHING was working for me...not drugs, not steroids, not intravenous drugs or steroids, not natural stuff. I had many "experts" in the field of allergies, immune disorders, and pulmonary docs that worked with me through the years. I had over 3000 doses of steroids, not including intravenous steroids. Plus I received many other treatments, including experimental treatments from Great Britain and Switzerland. The lady that helped me at this point was my homeopath, who was working with me at the same time I was working with my medical docs. My medical docs knew this and had no problem with it.....what they were doing wasn't working so they couldn't fault me. So, it was not foolish in the way it was handled. At that point I had been through so many years of illness trauma...with little relief...that I was ready to give up. Again I DEEPLY empathize with you and totally understand your viewpoint. Thanks for you care and concern. And note...this is not medical advice....it is just one woman's experience in a given situation. Much love....