Is anyone else an atheist with BC besides me?
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Lisa, sending warm positive vibes and hugs for tomorrow. You're gonna be OK.
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((((Lisa))))
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Deanna - welcome from NZ!
lindasa - Pity the poor woman named Fanny full stop! - oops you don't say full stop do you? you say period! We use 'period' for menstruation so it always seems a bit strange to me to use it as a punctuation mark. Do you use 'period' for both? With all the squillions of names that someone could give a beautiful baby girl, why would they choose that one nowdays? I haven't heard the saying 'so's my Aunt Fanny' but we have a saying if someone is questioning something we have said which is 'is the Pope a Catholic?' meaning it is 100% true.
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Hmmm . . . Alice Waters, the restauranteur/food activist, has a daughter named Fanny. I used to think it was a lovely, retro name (like Sophie or Adeline - the latter being my neice's name). Then I had an Australian friend enlighten me.
L
P.S. to say, I am so grateful for this thread!
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I think I may belong here. Gave up on religion years ago. When Anne Rice came out with her statement, I could have written it (almost). I feel it would be easier to be a believer, but I just can't buy the man in the sky. Sounds too much like Santa Claus watching who's naughty and who's nice. And then there's the fact that several of my family members were "healed," fired their docs and are no longer here.
When I was diagnosed with BC I asked my therapist, what do I do since I don't "believe." She said, you do your yoga and meditation, play with your pets and do the things you enjoy. And if I only had the BC and treatment to contend with it would have worked pretty well, but people, especially family members, made my unplanned journey full of pain. But now, yoga is a mainstay and the family has been jettisoned: addictions and religion. Bad mix.
Walking also helps me feel good. I do a little trek every fall. Think, commune with nature and the locals. It helps me clear out the minutiae and move forward.
Wish I'd found this thread much earlier.
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Welcome Maya2. You are definitely not alone in having family and close friends be hurtful. I don't know if you have visited 'the dumbest things people have said to you/about you' thread but there are 77 pages of thoughtless, hurtful things that people have said to women regarding their BC and the posts keep coming ..... I walk too - not major expeditions - but I try to get out daily for at least an hour - it keeps me sane and has done for a large part of my life. Where do you trek? - wonderful exotic places?
Lewing - I am also glad for this thread. I like the links to articles that are posted and the discussions that go on at times but most of all I love the feel of people here - 'real' women of strength, character and intelligence.
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Maya2, great to see you over here.
To Raeinnz's list of "likes" I would add: SoCalLisa's beautiful photographs and the opportunity to swap stories about our cats.
L
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Absolutely Lisa's photos! 'A picture is worth a thousand words' - my avatar certainly is. It was taken by my photo mad friend and made 'perfect' by my DD using Photoshop. It was taken when she and I were visiting our local waterlily gardens and she asked me to pick the one I thought was most beautiful. I have it as my desktop image and everytime I see it it reminds me of her and our day together and DD.
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Hi Raeinnz. Thanks for the welcome. I began the Camino St. James in Spain this year. Walked about 2 weeks and went home because one of our patients died. Hope to finish next year. It's about a 5-week walk. In between, when not riding the Metro, I walk. No car. Although if the strikes continue, may have to walk to work too. Yikes!
Hi Lewing. How did you know it was cats? Ok, horses too. I share my life with one large orange tabby named Fromage. I've already noticed some of SoCalLisa's photos!
Brave new world on this thread. My "beliefs" are ever evolving and subject to change as science and my own experience lead the way.
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Look at all the new ladies.
Welcome to you all.
I certainly could have used all of you during a report card crisis last night. I have my children in a Christian school. Besides the science dept., the quality of education is superior. My 13 year old will graduate at 17 with her AA. Just can't get that at public school.
She got a C in science, the problem is me, really. I am a evolution, global warming, Santa isn't real preacher. Her answers are spot on in real life. Problem is, they teach the bible as fact & she is getting mixed up...I suggested that she act like she is taking a test as if she had read Harry Potter.
Where does Harry go to school?
What does the book say? Any other ideas?
I spent yesterday in the office because for t-shirt day; She wore "I don't believe in you either".
This shirt sports a huge picture of a brontosaurs
I have a baby rebel:))
Love to you all. D.
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Yes, I am an atheist. God will not cure you of bc or of any other cancer. I have seen too many people pray and believe and yet they died miserably.
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oh DawnRenee, I have great empathy for your daughter! When I was in 3d&4th grade I attended a very conservative missouri synod Lutheran private school. It was what my mother could afford. And I still remember in 3d grade going to the teacher after science class and seeking reconciliation between the religion teacher's 7 days for creation and her billions of years which she was teaching because she had too, not because she thought it true.
that said, know where i can get that tshirt for my husband?
Maya2, welcome--better to find this thread later than never, right? So fun to see you writing of the Camino de Santiago. Years and years ago, I "did it" but by rail. I was solo traveling and had no great aspirations to walk but wanted to imagine what it was like to travel such a distance on faith. I started in Paris, went to Bayonne and St. Jean Pied du Porte, went to Burgos and then to Santiago. St. Jean was the best! Did you know they believe the very first travel guide was a guide to the Camino? Where do you live in France? How is the strike going? Back before I was a 3monstermama, I always went to France at this time of the year. I miss going but the schools are so tedious about pulling your kids out for 3 weeks in the middle of the term!
Still we hope to get back next year---youngest has not been yet.0 -
I'm not at all surprised that the first travel guide was to the Camino. It's centuries-old and long ago royalty walked it. It was likely somewhat dangerous then. It's very safe now, even for women walking alone. And there is much to see along the way. When I walk I notice so much more than if I'm transported by technology. You quickly develop a Camino "family," but can walk alone if you want. People understand. I was doing a spiritual walk as many do now. There have been many changes in my life and I wanted to think about options.
Currently, I'm living in Paris. Love it! The strikes are winding down, although 30% to 50% of flights are canceled for Thursday. The pension reform passed and I think the protests will stop. I'm getting around fine, visitors are still having fun (I give directions often). Strikes are just a part of the French experience and you learn to roll with them.
Hope you're able to practice your French again soon. Mine's far from perfect, but I get around.
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My 90 year old mother is currently visiting Paris and due to fly out tomorrow
I sure hope the tour company takes care of her
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Welcome undead. My Dad who was a dignified, humble, intelligent, selfless man of great faith who went through the WW2 as an infantry soldier and was commended for his bravery, died a miserable 18 month death after suffering a major stroke and then developing a rampant skin cancer. I hope that his faith remained in his befuddled brain, because everything else was taken from him. Like you, seeing him struggle through those traumatic months, has only made stronger in my atheist beliefs.
Maya2 - I looked up the walk and it looks wonderful. That is just the sort of holiday I would love. My DH unfortunately would hate it. Maybe I will be able to encourage one of my friends one day to come with me. My very dear friend was in Paris about a month age when the demonstrations were happening. She was there for 5 days and LOVED the city but felt a bit uncomfortable about the armed police everywhere - maybe there were more around because of the unrest. She said everyone was helpful (maybe you helped her with directions) and that language barrier, that she had been expecting to hit pretty hard because she speaks no French, didn't eventuate at all. I haven't been to Paris - one day .......
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Maya...we lived in Spain for four years and spent alot of time in Northern Spain
I just loved it...we would vacation in Galicia among other places...Santiago
is a treat...
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Your photos are Just Gorgeous, Lisa! They take me to a different place.
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It's election day so hold your noses and vote. I considered bringing a little bag with me in case I got sick to my stomach but I managed.
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I don't normally drink except socially but I bought a bottle of wine on the way home.
But look at the bright side. Watching the Republican leadership try to deal with Rand Paul and Sharron Angle will be hilarious.
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I confess, I had zero enthusiasm for voting this time. All the backbitting and smear campaigns from both sides. And this morning when NPR reported how much f-ing money had collectively been spent on this stupid election, I felt sick...... all the people who can't afford dinner, all the children who don't see a doctor regularly, all the elderly struggling with ss and people spent BILLIONS on this election throwing mud at each other and behaving in a way that, if it happened in my monsters' school elections, would result in all candidates getting a time out and a letter home to the parents.
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Yes, now the Republicans will have to pull a rabbit out of the hat. It will be interesting. It's the middle of the night here and I'm sipping wine and watching CNN via computer. I voted absentee. I'm sure my votes are being plowed over as I write.
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Politics leaves me cold. I have decided there is a certain type of person who puts themselves forward for that sort of office and the vast majority are only interested in self. And they are Jekyll and Hyde type people - when they are in power they are nice and when they are not they become nasty. Maybe that is the way of politics but I end up not being able to trust any of them.
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Hi there cynical Rae!!!
I don't know for sure how many would-be politicians fall into that category, BUT I actually do know some who have been urged on by their friends and colleagues, and end up finding themselves elected! There are many who view it as a public service (and I praise them for it because they give up so much of their own, free time). And there are certainly others who view it as a stepping-stone to a possible lifetime of financial security.
What bothers me the most is that very few of them (any of them?) can manage to adhere to their pinciples, because they have to compromise and make deals in order to get through a portion (sometimes a very small portion) of legislation that they've promised their constituents.
Frankly I think anyone seeking public office has to be 1/3 ambitious and 2/3 crazy!
Madalyn - DH and I were discussing "impatience" over dinner last night, specifically the inability of so many of us to understand that digging out of a deep recession is a long-term task. I compared it to some of the remarks made on this board by ladies who want their medical appts and test results NOW and are too impatient to wait their turn. Perhaps it's just simply the American way, and no doubt has been the major contributing factor to U.S. successes.
Hugs, Linda
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I honestly don't think that women with breast cancer don't want to wait their turn. They are frightened to their very core. It has nothing to do with impatience, but fear. I work with women with breast cancer every day and they don't want anything special, they just want to hear they're okay. And sadly, few of them get that news.
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Morning Friends,
When I read about the amount of money spent on campaigns it made me physical ill too. That money could have been put to much better use. At least the ads aren't running anymore.
I was so disappointed with my district. Perrielo was a straight up, walk the talk congressman .. and he lost to a shiny, glad-handing candidate. I met the guy that won the other day at the dentist. He was shaking hands, etc. The dentist used to be mayor, so it was a political stop. Hurt (who won) was downright gorgeous and very charismatic. My poor guy didn't stand a chance to get reelected. Especially in the south west district. We are so poor down here .. all the dem votes in the northern part of our district were no match for us southern poor folks.
Yes, we are impatient ... patience isn't one of my better qualities. Although, I've now been waiting TEN months to hear from the mortgage loan modification people. I could just cry. I finally heard something the other day ... they want more paperwork .. fourth time I've sent the same stuff. At least this time I actually got a persons name.
Is there some kind of mortgage god I can pray too?!?!
I've also applied for more jobs. Never did hear from the radio station. I'm getting discouraged, but what can I do ... unemployment is 23.9% in my area.
Hope everyone has a good day,
love,
Bren
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Bonjour Maya! I wasn't referring specifically to BC patients when discussing the "impatience" thing! Rather, it was a reference to one of the perceived differences between the for-profit U.S. medical system and the single-payer system here in Canada. We don't have an overabundance of hospitals, doctors, labs etc. and it's rare to get a same-day appt or test result -- unless it's an emergency. So (without gettting into the whole healthcare debate here!) it's a trade-off: either you ensure that everyone is covered by single-payer, or you leave it up to market forces and the ability to pay.
Bren, I had my fingers and toes crossed for you with the radio station. Don't know what the answer is, although I'm sure any employer would bless the stars to have hired you! Many hugs!
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Well its the morning after and the results are in.......seems not only do we want instant gratification BUT we want stuff --roads, educated populace, policeman, prosecutors--without cost. Not unlike my now 9 year old who thought that money just came from the ATM, not from me working. He, however, had an excuse--he spent his first 6.5 years in China and was never around money. Whats the excuse for the American voting populace?
As far as people who choose to go into politics, I think its a mixed bag. Obviously a significant portion go to line their pockets--or that of their friends--but probably an equal number go because they feel they can make a difference. Unfortunately, the really ethical ones don't last. One of the papers where I am reported that one of the candidates actually said "you can get away with a lot if you do it with a smile on your face." And yet the race is neck and neck--the mind boggles.
What I ponder is where the next generation of politicians will come from. When I was growing up, parents would encourage their children into public service like the classic "grow up and be president." I can't say I have EVERY encouraged one of my monsters to go into politics. I've encouraged them to public service by being doctors and working through something like Doctors without Borders or being in business and giving to the community or even being teachers [something I was steered away from and look what we have now] but not politics.
Which means the next generation will come from? Or will our system just decay like the birthplace of democracy, Greece, where in preparation for their next elections, different groups are busily mailing letter bombs to each other. Guess it could be worse.....oooo now whos the cynic?
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADNesm6F27UJust watched this on www.boingboing.net, "From Austin City Limits (2010) Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers perform his original a capella 'gospel' tune for the non-believers among us." atheists ain't got no songs?
Enjoy,
Julie E
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julie E - thanks for the link - hahahahahaha!0
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I am just reading "The Grand Design" by Stephen Hawking
my mind is having a hard time absorbing his concepts..
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