Belle

I am soooo jealous!!

Thanks for the pics, George! Can't wait to see the rest.

Wish I could have talked to y'all!!

*sigh*

If someone has a problem with the moderation, take it up with the moderators privately instead of derailing yet another thread complaining about it. <_<

Regardless of one's political views, this is a historic moment in our history and one to be proud of, I think.

It will be an interesting four years and, if we do not like the direction the country is heading, we will, again, vote for change.

Jeff, sounds like you're doing everything you can. Continuing to keep the lines of communication open and letting your son know that he can talk to you about everything - count on you to support and defend him - and, most importantly, never seeing the bad behavior your ex and that group exhibit in your life....

Children are very perceptive and they do notice those things. There will be bigger differences in the two as your son continues to grow. A friend of mine had a similar non-TWI situation with a very nasty ex. His son is 16 now and prefers to spend time with his dad instead of his mom because of how unpleasant it is to be around his mom. Despite all her attempts at the opposite, she has strengthened their bond and weakened her ability to impact her son.

IMO, it's a learned helplessness. Going back to TWI is easy. TWI tells them what to think, how to think, what to do with their time and money and people have to pretend to like you, so you instantly fit in.

Leaving/change is the hard part (really leaving like Oakspear said). You have to re-evaluate everything you learned, make your own decisions, learn to really think and relate to people without canned responses, decide what to do with your time, money, emotions, etc., etc.

There really is no way to talk someone into leaving or to convince them to see what you see.... that old adage, "a man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still" does contain truth. What you can do is ask questions to, hopefully, stimulate thought. You can live your life and let them see how wonderful things are and how much more peaceful it is to have control over your own decisions and situations.

Things that got to me while I was still in were "normal" things my family and friends mentioned that I knew we'd never have or be able to do. We just did not have the same goals and ambitions as those "normal" people did. There really is a huge contrast between how "normal" people live and how TWIts live - even everyday mundane things.

I was never a leader but I did hurt people and have apologized to folks as I come across them.

I have seen some people go to great lengths to apologize to others and, likewise, some arrogant arses who do not even acknowledge their evil.

Happy Birthday!!! Sorry I'm late, too....

Awesome, Paw!! Good on ya!

Thanks, too, for that link. Great article!

:jump:

I have nothing witty to add, but just wanted to say thanks to those who have shared.

:( So wish I could be there.

I know y'all are gonna have a doggone good time!! Can't wait to hear all about it!

AWESOME!! Congrats, SF! It's not an easy thing to do, but feels oh, so wonderful once that noose comes off.

I agree with Lindy, it is a process and the real "you" is already there, it's learning to think without TWI blinders on and to trust ourselves to make the right decisions for our lives..... allowing that "real you" to flourish and blossom. TWI subjugates that. Therapy, of course, was key in my own recovery, but everyone does not need that.

Awww, thanks so much, y'all! It was a great day despite the fact that it means I am now 40.

Waysider, thanks so much for sending my favorite waitress over! She always gets the order right.

Bow - I love that picture!! Weenie colored tulle, no less! Thank you! I can not wait for you to come visit again!! Love ya, Girl!!

Dot - I love that quote! Thank you ever so much.

WW - I am so glad that you are healthier now and feeling mucho better! Can not wait to hug your neck!

Lifted - I am so honored to share 29 with you.

Sudo - You have always been the quintessential southern gentleman.... even for a Rebel.

Bow - Right after that picture was taken he dropped me on the ground and ran off with someone prettier, nicer, sweeter and downright more incredible than I could ever hope to be.

RG - Thanks for all those pictures and the birthday wishes.

Cheranne - We do have a reputation to uphold, don't we? ;) Thanks for helping do your part!

GSG - So wish I was gonna be in TX to see you and the Countess!

Chef - Thank you! I thought of your culinary expertise yesterday as I enjoyed homemade cheesecake.

Rhino - It was much fun exceeding the two drink limit yesterday on a very nice vintage....

TommyZ, Shellon, GT, Twinky, WB, ex, Penguin, PurpleDays - thank you all so very much!!

I took the day off from work today because I'm hoping to find some new Osh Kosh By-Gosh Overalls. I've finally outgrown my old ones.

From NPR's site:

Widely regarded as America's greatest living songwriter, Bob Dylan has written and recorded some of the most influential and acclaimed music of the past century. With countless studio albums, compilations and live discs to his name in his nearly 50-year career, Dylan continues to produce new music that's as vital as his earliest recordings, and still performs more than 100 concerts every year in what's been called the "never-ending tour."

For the legions of fans who still can't get enough, Dylan's longtime label (Columbia Records) has been releasing a series of "bootleg" CDs from the singer — a vast collection of rare recordings and outtakes spanning five decades. The series began in 1991 with the first three bootleg volumes, covering the first 30 years of Dylan's career. Now, 17 years later, Columbia is about to release the eighth volume. Tell Tale Signs covers Dylan's past 20 years, a period that produced the albums Time Out of Mind, Love and Theft, Modern Times and Oh Mercy. Tell Tale Signs offers a rare glimpse into Dylan's creative process, with alternate takes that show the evolution of his work, as his songs take shape lyrically and musically.

Columbia recently gave listeners an early taste of Tell Tale Signs by offering the track "Dreamin' of You" as a free download from Dylan's Web site. You can also hear the song on the latest episode of All Songs Considered. Here, NPR Music offers a sneak preview of the entire two-disc set as a free stream. The album will be officially released in stores and online on Oct. 7.

You can listen to the album free here.

An Ole Cake for an Ole Man....

nevermind

Joh, that sounds like what we were taught while I was involved in the 90's through 2004. I'm glad to see they are at least putting it in writing these days. <_<

Not one penny of ABS was used "on the field" while I was involved until it had been accounted for; gone to HQ and then "approved" by HQ who then cut a check for said approved expenses. Not one penny of those expenses went to help anyone in TWI... it was used for meeting room rent and whatnot, but even then, we usually paid for that, too.

WAIT!!! You forgot to pack ME!!! :(

Sorry, Penguin. I can not help, but have heard Atlantis is awesome! I'm thinking I've had friends visit there without paying for a room, but their website probably has that kind of information.

I just did not want your thread to get lost in all the others on here. Have a great time!!

Oh yay!! :) Of course they'd love you! That is absolutely no surprise.

Dooj, I have a funny about this... I had clicked on your link yesterday and was going to see if there was one in my area but my doorbell rang as I was waiting on the page to load, so I left it.

Gramma Mary, my beloved 85 year old neighbor, had come by for a visit and while we were talking she started telling me about these food packages she and her sister get at one of the local churches and how much food is in them. This week, though, they got a huge bag of some chicken parts that she was not familiar with. We determined that they were chitterlings and she did not know how to fix them. I told her we'd just look up some recipes.

We walked into my office and there on my computer was your links and Mary exclaimed that Angel Food Ministries is who they purchase their packages from! :)

After getting her a couple of recipes for fixin' her chitlin's I had a chuckle to myself because those are the nastiest smelling things in the world and I know to stay away from her house for the next week because I can NOT stand the smell. I would, however, love to be a fly on the wall when SHE discovers for the first time how awful the smell is.... and to see Granpa Bert's reaction.... I'm betting he will not even taste them!

Sorry I missed it, but I assure you .... I went way over the two drink limit in your honor this week-end at the Styx concert.

This is just a really high stakes game of Liar's Poker only it's OUR money they are playing with! I for one, do not like it!

My daddy's bank never made bad loans or softened their standards and they are fine as long as people don't panic and start running the bank based on the bozos making the news.

I had forgotten that TWI was incorporated in AZ, too. Goey had posted financial information a while back that showed that, I believe.

I wonder if TWI knew about it and covered for this guy like they did so many others.

Pictures! We want pictures and Details!!!

Please let the jealous folks who couldn't come live vicariously through you. :)