BJean

Reading your stories makes me thankful indeed for my devoted mother. I used to complain because she never sat down and told me what happens to girls when they start their periods, and she never told me about boys, even when I was engaged to be married. She worked for the health department and she gave my sister and me pamphlets! In her defense, her mother died when Mom was in the 9th grade and her siblings were two very much older sisters who had already left home. She lived with her dad (who was an oil man) and he sure wasn't equipped to tell her anything. So she was just flat too embarrassed to say the words menstruate or sex after never having had anyone say them aloud to her. I will never complain again about the pamphlets though, she did the best she could and she loved her children almost to a fault. I also never thought I'd be glad I was the smallest person in my class all through school. I was always so envious of the taller, stronger girls! I had no idea that height could be a burden too. Turned out that I was pretty much a late bloomer (although I never did get very tall).

TOM: That's strange. I haven't ever noticed that about them quoting the Old Testament more. Why is that? Because it doesn't address the issues of hope and charity as much?

Bubble you are right on about the real estate taxes in Texas. The "independent school district" add-ons jack them up considerably. We thought our real estate taxes in Florida were bad, but then we moved to Texas. It definitely was shocking when we got our first tax bill on our new house. We don't escrow so I have to be sure I have at least $9000 in cash at the ready when the end of the year rolls around. With the low interest rates in Texas and the comparatively reasonable construction costs, lots of people get in over there heads here. The homes are so well built and finished out so beautifully that the temptation to over buy is too great. In other states where we've lived, the tendancy is to just buy the size home you actually need. You know what they say.... everything is bigger in Texas! Good for you for being able to cash in on the problem. By the way, once you buy a home here it's impossible to move almost anywhere else and be happy with what kind of home you can buy. Ft. Worth is one of the most reasonable home markets in the country.

When the settlers were headed west from the east coast, they came upon a sign that read, "Texas to the left, Oklahoma right" Those who could read went to Oklahoma. eh or something like that. It's late.

I'm no expert but PB'ing isn't when you gag yourself to relieve the pain. That's a whole 'nuther can o' worms. PB'ing is a bit like having reflux only on a much bigger scale. It definitely is the result of eating too quickly or taking too big a bite. Or it can be from a certain type of food. chicken, especially white meat, is nearly impossible for me. Soft breads... bad! Fish, ground beef or turkey and crackers or tostitos go down much easier. But anything you try to eat too quickly or take a large bite of is going to probably cause you grief. Making yourself gag to bring up the food that is causing pain, is not good. I've read here too many people who have done it that later worry that they've caused themselves to slip the band or something. You are probably really irritated, possibly swollen from the bahavior. The swelling will also exacerbate the problem and inhibit eating comfortably. So cut it out now and know that meals are supposed to take at least twice as long (as much as 45 minutes - but no longer than 45 minutes) as it used to take you to eat. Another tip, if you're getting so hungry that you're needing to get some food down quickly, eat less at each sitting and eat something more often. Once you get the area calmed down and working normally, you may not need to eat between meals. But smaller meals, smaller bites and slower eating is what you probably need right now. Good luck!!!

Bubble I realize that this will be a lot like asking if I know a friend of yours who lives in Texas, but I have a friend who worked in Oncology at the Mayo - Carol Kane, later Carol Lemke. Any knowledge of her? An awesome, awesome lady who took great pride in the work she did at Mayo. A few years ago, they saved her husband too, from esophogeal cancer.

Was that what that little building was?? Ok whatever they told us said that most people would think that Tejas was the term for friend and that most people think that's why it is so accepted in Texas, but that it really didn't start out that way. I will ask the "other" half (he's in trouble tonight) if he remembers what they told us. To be honest, I don't think it was the Alamo.

Carlene: Now you're beginning to sound like Quebec, Canada.

If I remember correctly, back then the sales tax was high in AZ as well as a nasty personal property tax that we had to pay every year.

Bubble: Once again, I'm a little slow on the uptake. Do you live in Texas? Or own property here? I thought you lived in Arizona? How is Texas' tax situation worse (?) than Arizona. Admittedly it was a long time ago since I lived in Arizona and things could be much different there now. If that's the case, I wouldn't mind moving there when DH retires.

laurend: That is disgusting! 9.75 percent sales tax? Far out! When I moved to Texas from Orlando, which had 6% sales tax, I went into shock everytime I bought anything. But 9.75%! Good grief!!!

Tell me, did you claim to be agnostic before you became an atheist? Or did you just go straight from religion into atheism?

Bubble: I've also lived in Arizona. Where I lived was influenced much more by the wild west and Geronimo than by Mexico. We lived in Sierra Vista for 5.5 years. God's country for sure! High desert, best climate in captivity! That was many years ago and I miss it to this day! Gotta tell you though, I do not miss the taxes in Arizona!

Bubble- most people do think that TEJAS refers to the Mexican influence, but we toured something or other in San Antonio and they told us that using the word Tejas didn't originate from Mexican influence. Carlene could probably enlighten us further. I'm not a real Texan. Only married one and hopefully that stuff doesn't rub off on me with any regularlity. I'm from Oklahoma and proud of it. Although I try not to proclaim that aloud around here. There is some cowboy discrimination here against us redskins. And many of those ya-hoos pack pistols!

Yeah, like a $10 tip entitles you to a free ride - if you'll pardon the expression. Oooops. I think it's getting late. The next thing I know I'll be getting myself into real trouble. I better sign off.

Aaahhh - fundamentalist - muchas gracias... ooops, sorry I forgot to whom I was speaking. I mean, thank you!! (I don't actually speak Spanish, it's just something we do here in Tejas) (not that there's anything wrong with that...)

Hello - I'm really needing help tonight. Whatza fundie turned atheist? :paranoid

P.S. I forgot to mention Mark. I love to read his posts!

Carlene: That IS funny! One night 4 couples of us went to a Gentlemen's Club in Orlando because all but one of us women had never been to one. The blond I told you about, got her husband to buy me a lap dance. I had no idea what was happening. I didn't know what a lap dance was. I'm sure they all got a huge kick out of the look on my face. It's funny though, the young girl and I started talking and she must have spent 15 minutes telling us all about herself. I think the guys just like to objectify the girls in their minds, not get to know them. I'm pretty sure I have a good idea of how your daughter felt.

Hey Bubble, I gotta tell you that I really enjoy your posts. I feel like you and I share many of the same viewpoints. Maybe not 100%, but that's what makes it so interesting. When I see it's you who has posted, I always take the time to read it, as well as TOMs, TommyO's, Green's, laurend's, lethea gs, geezersue's, and others... even Ron's. His language can be so colorful, in a condesending way. :help: :embarassed:

not that there's anything wrong with that.......

mini me: What happened? Did you go to bed without telling me the name of the movie and who said the line? Rats! :bored

lethea g: Thanks, I'll check it out. And aren't we all learning here, whether we agree with each other or not? I know I am. I hope I am becoming more tolerant too. I have a very difficult time understanding extreme right wing politics, but reading many posts here (not this thread, but others) has helped me soften a little, I think.

Sacreligious, freaky old coot. :heh:

Did you read about the guy who was just released from prison after being convicted for using marijuana? He had received a LIFE SENTENCE for using!!