Terri Rimmer,
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The right name for bonus mom pays dividends

06:24 PM CST on Wednesday, December 10, 2008

By JANN BLACKSTONE-FORD and SHARYL JUPE

Bonus parents often ask us for alternative names for "Mom" or "Dad," and we always suggest that bonus families put their heads together and come up with a special name that means something to them as a family. A reader sent us a great story for how they did just that, and in the interest of "peace on Earth, good will toward everyone," we thought we would pass it on.

Question: My fiancé and I went on a beach trip 10 months into dating. He has one child who was 5 at the time. During the trip she started calling me "Mom." I assumed it was because we were filling mom-daughter roles while on vacation.

In the mornings I cooked breakfast and woke her up to eat. Afterward I helped her dress and made her brush her teeth. I was with her all through the day, and then at night I tucked her in and we stayed in the same room. I think this routine for the week we were vacationing became comfortable and she felt comfortable calling me Mom. My fiancé and I didn't correct her, but it continued.

Three months later at Halloween the child's bio-mom dropped her by so we could see her all dressed up for Halloween. While taking a picture with her bio-mom, she called out, "Now I want to take a picture with my other mom." It didn't go over well. I definitely understood her feelings, however, and was content choosing an alternate name, but what?

We struggled to find a suitable name. I didn't want to be "Mommy Joyce" because that's still calling me Mom -- and bio-mom didn't like that. I'm not her aunt or grandma, so the suggestions of Auntie or Nana seemed odd to me. We were getting increasingly irritated that we even had to deal with this issue, but I knew it was important.

About a month later my fiancé looked over at me and said, "What about Mare? Mare [pronounced Ma-Ray] means "ocean" in Italian. She first called you Mom when we were at the beach; it only seems appropriate." The name and the meaning behind it touched me, and I told him it was even better than being called Mom!

The name has gone over very well, and although I hear the occasional "Mom" that makes my heart flutter, we continue to gently encourage the use of my special name.

Answer: This is exactly what we mean when we say find a special name that means something to your family -- it doesn't have to be a variation of Mom or Dad, just something special to you. The reader reports that Mom was very grateful for their attempt to find another name and has just invited her to a "get to know each other" lunch. What better situation for a child than to be brought up witnessing her caregivers openly respect one another.

Ex-Etiquette is written by Jann Blackstone-Ford, Psy.D., and her husband's ex-wife, Sharyl Jupe. Reach them at ee@bonusfamilies.com.

Subject: blonde moments
>
> Last year I replaced all the windows in my house with that expensive
> double-pane energy efficient kind, and today, I got a call from the
> contractor who installed them. He was complaining that the work had been
> completed a whole year ago and I still hadn't paid for them.
> Hellloooo,...........just because I'm blonde doesn't mean that I am
> automatically stupid. So, I told him just what his fast talking sales guy
> had told me last year, that in ONE YEAR these windows would pay for
> themselves! Helllooooo? It's been a year! I told him. There was only
> silence at the other end of the line, so I finally just hung up. He never
> called back. Guess I won that stupid argument. I bet he felt like an
> idiot.
>
>
>

New Family for the Parrot

A housewife buys a parrot to keep her company during the day.

The clerk warns that the parrot was donated by a brothel, where he may have picked up some colorful language.

The housewife doesn't mind and brings the parrot home. When she uncovers the cage, the parrot says, "Brawkk! New Madam. Hello Madam."

When her three daughters come home from school, the parrot says, "Brawkk! New Girls. Hello Girls."

Finally, her husband, Phil, comes home from work, just in time for dinner.

When he walks past the parrot, the parrot says, "Brawkk! Hi Phil!"

Subject: Comedy Central's All New Joke of the Day!






animals


Everyone's Doing It

Q: What's bright eyed and bushy tailed? A: A squirrel on crack.



Keep Laughing with our library of 10,000 Jokes!




Filed Under: animals, kids

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Give a man a fish and you'll feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and he'll feed himself for a lifetime. Give a cat a fish and you'll feed it for a lifetime. You'll never teach a cat how to fish because now it expects you to do it.

Martha Stewart's Holiday Calendar
Date: Wed, 17 Dec 1997 15:29:33 -0500
Dec. 1 Blanch carcass from Thanksgiving turkey. Spray-paint gold, turn upside down and use as a sleigh to hold Christmas cards.
Dec. 2 Have Morman Tabernacle Choir record outgoing Christmas message for answering machine.
Dec. 3 Using candlewick and hand-gilded pine cones, fashion cat-o'-nine-tails. Flog gardener.
Dec. 4 Address sympathy cards for all friends with elderly relatives, so that they're all ready to be mailed at the moment death occurs.
Dec. 5 Get new eyeglasses. Grind lenses myself.
Dec. 6 Fax family Christmas newsletter to Pulitzer committee for consideration.
Dec. 7 Debug Windows 97.
Dec. 10 Finish needlepoint colostomy bag cozy.
Dec. 11 Buy some cockroaches from the less fortunate; decorate eggs.
Dec. 12 Update enemies list. Place in hermetically sealed vault. Remove air, replace with nitrogen.
Dec. 13 Visit crematorium. Collect dentures. They make excellent pastry cutters, particularly for decorative pie crusts.
Dec. 14 Install plumbing in gingerbread house.
Dec. 15 Replace air in minivan tires with Glade "Holiday Scents" in case tires are shot out at the mall.
Dec. 17 Childproof the Christmas tree with garlands of razor wire.
Dec. 19 Adjust legs of chairs so each Christmas dinner guest will be the same height when sitting at his or her assigned seat.
Dec. 20 Dip sheep and cows in egg white and roll in confectioner's sugar to add a festive sparkle to the pasture.
Dec. 21 Outfit neighborhood rats with tiny antlers.
Dec. 22 Float votive candles in toilet tank.
Dec. 23 Seed clouds for White Christmas.
Dec. 24 Do my annual good deed: Go to several stores. Be seen engaged in last-minute Christmas shopping, thus making people feel less inadequate than they really are.
Dec. 25 Bear son. Swaddle. Lay in color-coordinated manger scented with homemade potpourri.
Dec. 26 Write and mail Christmas thank-yous. Order cards for next Christmas. Estimate number of cards needed by allowing for making new friends and actuarially appropriate death rates for current friends and relatives.
Dec. 27 Build snowman in exact likeness of God.
Dec. 29 Enter Style Invitational; win.
Dec. 31 New Year's Eve! Give staff their resolutions. Call a friend in each time zone of the world as the clock strikes midnight in that country.
Jan. 1 1998 Catch up on gardening. Sew leaves back onto trees. Do all cooking for 1998.

Terri Rimmer,
You've been published on Associated Content! View your content here:
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Please be an 'angel' for a cold, lonely dog‏
Dear Terri,

As nasty winter weather sets in, neglected, backyard dogs face freezing cold, snow, wind, and rain. For many of these animals, a sturdily constructed doghouse can mean the difference between life and death. That's why PETA's wonderful "Angel for Animals" program is so important. Won't you be an "angel" for a lonely dog this year?

As an "angel" for animals, you can sponsor a specially designed and built doghouse that will provide a needy dog with shelter to see him or her through this winter--and the worst weather for many years to come.

Your sponsorship can immediately change the life of an animal like Spook. When PETA first met Spook, this lonely black dog was shivering outside in the cold. Spook was so big that everyone in the neighborhood was afraid to go near him. Our caseworkers saw that he wasn't aggressive, just energetic and anxious to play. So we unchained him and ran around with him in the yard. We gave him treats and lots of love and attention. Unfortunately, we then had no choice but to chain Spook up again and leave him there.

When PETA can't legally remove abused or neglected dogs, we do everything that we can to make them more comfortable. So we returned to Spook with a custom-built doghouse filled with warm straw bedding—which will give him a warmer place to curl up for years to come. We also gave him a tangle-free running line, an afternoon of playtime, tummy rubs, and a good scratch behind the ears: things that mean the world to lonely backyard dogs.

Last year, PETA provided more than 400 sturdy doghouses, thanks to generous "Angel for Animals" sponsors. With many more dogs in urgent need and temperatures dropping fast, we want to top that number this year, and I hope that we can count on your support. There are so many ways that you can help, including the following:

Your "Angel for Animals" sponsorship gift of $265 can provide a doghouse to one needy dog.


Your "Angel for Animals" sponsorship gift of $530 can provide doghouses to two neglected dogs.


Your "Angel for Animals" sponsorship gift of $1,325 can provide doghouses to five lonely outdoor dogs.
No matter how much you can afford to give, I urge you to respond today. I know that times are tough right now, but it is in times like these when unloved animals suffer most. Nearly all the dogs we reach with our "Angel for Animals" program live in underprivileged neighborhoods. We will fight as hard as we possibly can to ensure that these animals are not mistreated, forgotten, or ignored. Right now, these animals are facing another long winter with nowhere to hide from the stinging cold.

But you can give a doghouse to one lucky dog—likely the first "home" that he or she has ever had. Please become a PETA "Angel for Animals" doghouse sponsor today.

Thank you for helping a neglected dog this winter. Your simple act of kindness can bring one of these dear souls years of shelter, something that they all deserve.

Kind regards,


Ingrid E. Newkirk
President

P.S. Looking for a unique and meaningful gift this holiday season? Give a doghouse sponsorship! When you do, you'll be recognizing that compassionate person as an "angel" for animals. Each "Angel for Animals" sponsorship means that one more needy dog will get a solid-wood doghouse to protect him or her from the cold—and from the summer heat and sun—for years to come.

Terri Rimmer,
You've been published on Associated Content! View your content here:
www.associatedcontent.com/article/1171512/carol_burnett_fort_worth_tx.html

Check outhttp://www.nidcr.nih.gov/FindingDentalCare/

Use Your Kroger Card to Benefit PanCAN:
Customer Letter
Step One:
Read through this letter to understand the advantage of being a part of the Kroger Neighbor to
Neighbor Donation Program.
Step Two:
Take the letter with you to your neighborhood Kroger store the next time you go shopping.
Step Three:
Present the letter with your organization’s barcode to your cashier upon checkout. After they
have scanned your KrogerPlus Card you will be enrolled for the current year of the Kroger
Neighbor to Neighbor Donation Program. Every time you shop at Kroger and use your enrolled
KrogerPlus Card, Kroger will contribute a percentage of your eligible purchases to the Kroger
Neighbor to Neighbor Donation fund. Once a card is scanned with the barcode, it will be active
for the remainder of the program year.
Q & A
How many Kroger Neighbor to Neighbor accounts can an organization have?
One per organization. (Example: ABC HIGH SCHOOL account could represent: PTA, cheerleaders, football,
basketball, band, etc.)
Can a household “link” their Kroger Plus Card to more than one organization at a time?
No, the system allows for one organization per household. To change organizations, you must present your
KrogerPlus Card and the new organization’s barcode to the cashier.
Do I have to enroll each program year?
Yes, all organization’s and participants must re-enroll for each new enrollment period. The current Neighbor to
Neighbor Program is effective May 1, 2008 to April 30, 2009.
How much can my organization earn?
The Kroger Neighbor to Neighbor Donation Program will donate $1 million annually. Each organization will earn a
percentage of the $1 million equal to the percentage of total earned contributions attributable to that organization.
How are the funds distributed?
Contributions will be paid via check and mailed to the organization’s address and primary contact identified on the
organization application form. For schools, it will be mailed to the principal and the funds distributed at their
discretion.
Please feel free to contact a Kroger Neighbor to Neighbor Donation Program Representative with any additional
questions at 866-995-7643 or email to neighbortoneighbor@kroger.com. Additional information is also available at
www.krogerneighbortoneighbor.com.
Kroger cashier: Please scan customer’s KrogerPlus Card at the beginning of the order, and then scan the above barcode.
The customer’s KrogerPlus Card is now enrolled in the Kroger Neighbor to Neighbor Donation Program

Robin Williams - London
By Terri Rimmer
Published Yesterday
Comedian
Rating: Unrated
Fans of manic stand-up comedian and Oscar winner Robin Williams will once again get to experience the workings of the comic’s mind when he performs in London Nov. 13 and 14 with John Cleese and Rowan Atkinson among others.



The outrageous veteran Hollywood star Williams returns to perform there after a 25-year absence, this time entertaining the crowds for Prince Charles’ 60th birthday, according to research. The 57-year-old will be featured in the event, titled “We Are Most Amused.”



Williams, once described by one writer as a “walking, talking Improv,” traveled the country on a solo stand-up which included three sold-out shows at Upper Darby’s Tower Theater in 2004, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. In the summer of that year Williams cracked up crowds all across Brentwood in California, performing his unique brand of stream-of-consciousness stand-up in medium-sized venues that sell out fast, stated writer Jenny Peters.



“The son of a Ford Motor Company executive and a fashion model-turned-housewife, Robin Williams didn’t start out on the fast track to comic stardom at all,” writes Peters. “Williams’ incredible high-octane, motor-mouthed stand-up performances quickly became legendary, making him so popular and famous that television quickly beckoned.”



Years later a Charlie Rose interview was by turns enlightening and a laugh riot. (Source: signsonsandiego.com).



In 2003 the high point of an evening featuring St

eve Martin at the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute was Williams who made a surprise appearance.



“In that setting, it was easy to see genius in comedy as not so different from mathematical genius: Both comedians demonstrated an incredible ability to think quickly on their feet, fold remarks back on themselves to form jokes, and draw clever connections between seemingly disparate topics,” wrote Sara Robinson. (http://www.siam.org/news/news.php?id=314).



In 2002 Williams went on a similar live tour as the one he started this September to “recharge his batteries,” as he communicated to a reporter. He attributed the best live comedy performance to the late Richard Pryor’s Live in Concert in an interview.



Williams is also involved with numerous charities including The Gorilla Foundation, Medecins Sans Frontieres, the Pediatric AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), the Make-a-Wish Foundation, the University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco General Hospital Pediatrics, and The Africa Foundation among many others. He also co-founded the Windfall Foundation.



“No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world,” Williams once said.



His wild comic talent follows in the footsteps of his child idol, comic Jonathan Winters and Williams has been described as “like no other” by Science Fiction Weekly.



For ticket information on the London shows, see robin-williams.net, empiretickets.com, or ticketmaster.com online.

Terri Rimmer,
You've been published on Associated Content! View your content here:
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Butterflies

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


Catch monarch migration in the Texas Hill Country

10:45 AM CDT on Friday, September 19, 2008

By MALECIA EL-AMIN / The Dallas Morning News
mel-amin@dallasnews.com

MARBLE FALLS, Texas -- If you want to get in touch with nature without roughing it, keep an eye out for orange and black in this Hill Country area.

The colors mean the monarch butterflies are back, taking a break on their southbound journey to Mexico.In nature, as in life, there are no guarantees. But the vanguard of the winged migrants usually arrives in Texas in late September and early October, with peak migration in mid-October.

Unless the butterflies rest in a greenbelt or garden near you, Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge near Austin is a fairly reliable place for seeing them.

On Oct. 11, preceding National Wildlife Refuge Week (Oct. 12-19), Balcones plans a butterfly celebration among the day's activities. There will be an opportunity for visitors to catch monarchs in nets and tag them at Doeskin Ranch, near Balcones' headquarters.

The tags are used to monitor the migration. "They're like Social Security numbers," says Rob Iski, an outdoor recreation planner at the refuge.

Migrating monarchs travel 300 to 400 miles daily with tailwinds.

Also Online Millions of monarchs end up in Mexico

Texas Hill Country Travel Guide

"It's weather-dependent how far they can go," says Mr. Iski.

If the creatures hit a headwind, they rest and refuel with nectar from flowers.

Those who witness the migration are seeing something unusual. Because of the monarch's relatively short lifespan, "it's five or six generations making this annual cycle," says Mr. Iski. Those insects that start the trip are not those that finish it. The route and urge to travel are instinctive in each flier.

The 22,000-acre Balcones is one of five national wildlife refuges (two in Kansas, one each in Iowa and Florida) that make up the Monarch Butterfly Sister Protected Area Network. The coalition works on habitat preservation, research, public outreach and more. (Some monarchs spend winter in Florida and California.)

The Balcones refuge, which Mr. Iski says may see monarchs into November, has increased the likelihood of the stopovers by planting milkweed outside its headquarters. If you visit, you might be welcomed by monarch chrysalides (butterfly cocoons) hanging near the entrance.

"We just had no idea we were in this spot" for monarch migration, says refuge manager Deborah Holle.

When the weather cooperates, Ms. Holle says, thousands of monarchs flit about the refuge's flowers throughout the day, drinking nectar for their long migration to Mexico.

"At other times," she says, "the wind carries them high overhead and they don't stop at Balcones to nectar. Rather, we see them flying and gliding as spots of orange and black on their way south to their overwintering sites."

There's plenty to see if monarchs are scarce when you visit, or if you want to see the refuge at other times of year. Trails at Warbler Vista, part of the refuge, offer beautiful views. Shin Oak Observation Deck has a gazebo prime for watching birds, especially painted buntings in spring. They're one of about 200 species recorded at the refuge.

"We've actually had birds nesting near the deck," Ms. Holle says.

Information cards around the gazebo show visitors what they're seeing or might see: northern cardinal, black-capped vireo, yellow-breasted chat.

The Doeskin Ranch portion of Balcones is central to its kickoff for National Wildlife Refuge Week. In addition to the possibility of netting monarchs, nature walks and a photography workshop are planned.

Butterflies to birds and beyond, it all has a goal.

"If you can't get people to see wildlife, how are they going to love it?" Ms. Holle asks.

WHEN YOU GO
Getting there

To reach Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge from Dallas, take I-35E South toward Waco to I-35. Exit 256 (Chandler Road/FM 1431) and turn right. Proceed for several miles. If you want to go to the reserve headquarters first (open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), don't turn at the first refuge sign you see, which will be Warbler Vista. Keep going up the road until you see the rust-colored gates on your right.
National Wildlife Refuge Week

The kickoff event is from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 11 at the refuge's Doeskin Ranch on RR 1174. Groups must register. Most activities are free. Call Rob Iski at 512-339-9432, ext. 70.
More information

*Even if you can't make it to Balcones, you can monitor monarchs from your back yard. Contact Monarch Watch ( www.monarchwatch.org) for tagging kits.
*The Dallas County Lepidopterists' Society takes trips to see a variety of butterflies in North Texas. Contact: www.dallasbutterflies.com.

Terri Rimmer,
You've been published on Associated Content! View your content here:
www.associatedcontent.com/article/1033498/jewish_film_festival_dallas.html

Subject: Comedy Central's Joke of the Day



Mitch Hedberg -- Do You Believe in Gosh? Get Mitch's final album on sale now.


Escaped Midget!

What do you call a psychic midget who just escaped from jail?

A small medium at large!



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Check out db4wildaid.com.

Subject: Comedy Central's Joke of the Day



Comedy Central Games -- Get Your Game On Play massive amounts of games FREE online, anytime.


Just A Juggalo

A man is driving home, when is pulled over by a patrolman for a broken blinker. The cop looks into the guys' car and sees a collection of knives in the backseat. "Sir," the cop says. "Why do you have all those knives?"
"They're for my juggling act," the man says.

"I don't believe you," says the cop. "Prove it." So the man gets out of his car and begins juggling the knives. At the same time, a car with two guys in it drives by.

"Man," says the first guy. "I'm glad I quit drinking. These new sobriety tests are hard."





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Subject: Comedy Central's Joke of the Day



Indecision 2008 RNC Coverage We report the facts even before they're true at Indecision2008.com.


Who Let The Blondes Out?

How many blondes does it take to milk a cow? Five - one to hold the udder, and four to lift and the cow up and down.




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Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2008 00:46:10 -0700

Trouble Viewing? Click here.


Hello Terri, Understanding Your Dog's Body Language
Dogs communicate with a rich body-language vocabulary.

LEARN WHAT YOUR DOG IS SAYING

What is Your Dog's "Human" Age? Ever wonder how old your dog is in human years? Not all breeds age alike! Use this special tool to calculate your dog's "human" age.
DOG AGE CALCULATOR
Dealing With Separation Anxiety For some dogs, parting isn't sweet sorrow—it's just sorrow.
HOW TO CURE THE "HOME ALONE" BLUES


Vacation: Where Will You Leave Your Dog? Vacation planning includes figuring out where your dog will stay.
READ THIS BEFORE YOU TAKE YOUR TRIP
What would you like to see in the next issue?
Stop Halloween From Spooking Your Dog

Can Dogs Predict Storms?

5 Must-see Dog Parks

Do Dogs Dream?

Click on a headline to vote for that article


Want to know more? Check out the informative articles in our Article Library.

Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2008 23:45:11 -0600




Terri Rimmer,
You've been published on Associated Content! View your content here:
www.associatedcontent.com/article/1004506/petie_the_pony_akron_oh_.html

Terri Rimmer,
You've been published on Associated Content! View your content here:
www.associatedcontent.com/article/999538/grant_for_lgbt_comics.html

Exploring GOD Group

(EGG)
























































































































































Elvia Acevedo

Tarrant County AIDS Interfaith Network

Coordinator of Volunteer Services/Xpress Meds



www.tcain.org



801 West Magnolia

Fort Worth, Texas 76104

817-923-2800

817-923-2807 fax

Check out gordonbeeler.com.

Great Doctor


Let me tell you about my doctor. He is really good. If you tell
him you want a second opinion, he will go out and come in again.

He treated one woman for yellow jaundice for 3 years before he realized that
she was Chinese.


Another time he gave a patient 6 months to live. At the end of
the 6 months, the patient hadn't paid his bill, so the doctor gave him another 6 months.

While he was talking to me his nurse came in and said,
"Doctor, there is a man here who thinks he is invisible. The Doctor said, "Tell him I can't see him."


Another time a man came running into his office and yelled, "Doctor, Doctor, my son
just swallowed a roll of film." The Doctor calmly replied, "Lets, just wait and see what
develops."


One patient came in and said, "Doctor, I have a serious memory
problem." The Doctor asked, when did it start? The man replied, "When did what start?"


I remember one time I told my Doctor I had a ringing in my ears.
His advice: "Don't answer it."


Another guy told the doctor that he thought he was a deck of cards. The doctor
simply said, "Go sit down over there. I'll deal with you later.

When I told my doctor I broke my leg in two places, he told me to stop going to
those two places.


You know, Doctors can be so frustrating. You wait a month and a
half for an appointment. Then he says, "I wish you had come in to see me sooner."

Subject: Comedy Central's Joke of the Day



Miss The Roast of Bob Saget? Watch uncensored and exclusive clips on comedycentral.com now!


Get it Straight

A cop pulls over a drunk driver. The drunk driver says, "Ossssifer, you need to get your records straight. You just asked me for my license, but you took it away yesterday!"

Judus Asparagus


For all of us that love kids and Jesus, this will never get
old...

Judus Asparagus


A child was told to write a book report on the entire
Bible. This is
amazing and brought tears to my eyes. I wonder how often we
take for granted
that children understand what we are
teaching???

Through the eyes of a child.
Children's Bible in a Nutshell.


JUDAS ASPARAGUS

In the
beginning , which occurred near the start, there was
nothing but God,
darkness, and some gas. The Bible says, 'The Lord thy God
is one, but I
think He must be a lot older than that. Anyway, God said,
'Give me a light!'
and someone did. Then God made the world.


He split the Adam and made Eve. Adam and Eve were naked, but

they weren't embarrassed because mirrors hadn't been invented yet. Adam
and
Eve disobeyed God by eating one bad apple, so they were driven from the

Garden of Eden. Not sure what they were driven in though, because they

didn't have cars.
Adam
and Eve had a son, Cain, who hated his brother as long as
he Was Abel.
Pretty soon all of the early people died off, except for
Methuselah, who
lived to be like a million or something.


One of the next important people was Noah, who was a good
guy,
but one of his kids was kind of a Ham. Noah built a large boat and put
his
family and some animals on it. He asked some other people to join him,
but
they said they would have to take a rain check.


After Noah came Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Jacob was more
famous than His brother, Esau, because Esau sold Jacob his
birthmark in
exchange for some pot roast. Jacob had a son named Joseph who
wore a really
loud sports coat.


Another important Bible guy is Moses, whose real name was

Charlton Heston. Moses led the Israel Lights out of Egypt and away from the

evil Pharaoh after God sent ten plagues on Pharaoh's people. These plagues

included frogs, mice, lice, bowels, and no cable. God fed the Israel Lights

every day with manicotti. Then he gave them His Top ten Commandments. These

include don't lie, cheat, smoke, dance, or covet your neighbor's stuff. Oh,

yeah, I just thought of one more: Humor thy father and thy
mother.

One of Moses'
best helpers was Joshua who was the first
Bible guy to use spies. Joshua
fought the battle of Geritol and the fence
fell over on the
town.

After Joshua came
David. He got to be king by killing a giant
with a slingshot. He had a
son named Solomon who had about 300 wives and 500
porcupines. My teacher
says he was wise, but that doesn't sound very wise to
me.


After Solomon there were a bunch of
major league prophets. One
of these was Jonah, who was swallowed by a big
whale and then barfed upon
the shore. There were also some minor
league prophets, but I guess we don't
have to worry about
them.

After the Old
Testament came the New Testament. Jesus is the
star of The New Testament. He
was born in Bethlehem in a barn. (I wish I had
been born in a barn, too,
because my mom is always saying to me, 'Close the
door! Were you born in a
barn?' It would be nice to say, 'As a matter of
fact, I was.')


During His life, Jesus had many
arguments with sinners like
the Pharisees and the Republicans. Jesus
also had twelve opossums. The worst
one was Judas Asparagus. Judas was so
evil that they named a terrible
vegetable after him.


Jesus was a great man. He healed many
leopards and even
preached to some Germans on the Mount. But the Republicans
and all those
guys put Jesus on trial before Pontius the Pilot. Pilot didn't
stick up for
Jesus. He just washed his hands instead.


Anyway's, Jesus died for our sins, then came
back to life
again. He went up to Heaven but will be back at the end of the
Aluminum. His
return is foretold in the book of Revolution.

Subject: Comedy Central's Joke of the Day



Bob Saget Roast Premieres Aug 17th 10/9c Watch exclusive previews from Comedy Central's Roast of Bob Saget.


Blond Father

A blond guy and a brunette girl were happily married and about to have a baby. One day, the wife started having contractions, so the husband rushed her to the hospital. He held her hand as she went through a trying birth. In the end, there were two little baby boys. The blond guy turned to his wife and angrily said, "All right, who's the other father!?!"




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Subject: Comedy Central's Joke of the Day



Bob Saget Roast Premieres Aug 17th 10/9c Watch exclusive previews from Comedy Central's Roast of Bob Saget.


Stoopid Baby Names

A mother was sitting on the couch reading a book when one of her children walked up to her and said, "Mummy, why is my name Petal?" The mother replied, "Because when you were born, a petal fell on your head."
The next baby walked up and asked, "Mummy why is my name Rose?" she replied,

"Because when you were born, a rose fell on your head."

The last baby walked up to her and said, "BLAS CLAFLAS YIFRASSAM TASSM POONNFFFIINRTY."

The mother replied, "Please be quiet, Refrigerator."

Need Fast Cash - Selling Dresser, Fort Worth, TX:
Brown dresser with nine drawers and two doors, two-piece. Second piece is three mirrors connected together. Takes up almost an entire wall in my bedroom. TCU area. Very heavy. Asking $100.00.
Must have own transport/labor to transfer it. Cash only, please.

Desperate For Money! Please Buy My E Book (And yes, I have a job)

I published an e book on booklocker.com under the family heading called "MacKenzie's Hope" about my experiences as a birth mom.

Here's the link:

http://www.booklocker.com/books/2040.html

Subject: Comedy Central's Joke of the Day



Twice the Brutality, One Night of Reality Tune in July 17 at 10p/9c for the premiere of The Gong Show with Dave Attell and Reality Bites Back, hosted by Michael Ian Black.


The Shiny-Walled Box Thingie

An Amish boy and his father were visiting a nearby mall. They were amazed by almost everything they saw, but especially by two shiny silver walls that moved apart and back together again by themselves. The lad asked, "What is this, father?"
The father, having never seen an elevator, responded, "I have no idea what it is."

While the boy and his father were watching wide-eyed, an old lady in a wheelchair rolled up to the moving walls and pressed a button. The walls opened and the lady rolled between them into a small room. The walls closed and the boy and his father watched as small circles lit up above the walls.

The walls opened up again and a beautiful twenty-four-year-old woman stepped out.

The father looked at his son anxiously and said, "Go get your mother."

Thought you might be interested in this: How to fix your car fast without hassles, surprises or added expense.

http://editorial.autos.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=535171&topart=utes

Check out mtdn.com

Subject: Comedy Central's Joke of the Day



Full Episodes of The Daily Show and Colbert Watch now! Watch full episodes of The Daily Show and The Colbert Report — high quality, full screen and totally free!


Kitty & Lady Find L-O-V-E

One day, a fairy visits a lonely widow and says that she is there to give her three wishes.

''I wish I was 21 and beautiful!'' The wish is instantly granted.

''I wish I had a million dollars!'' The wish is granted.

''I wish that my cat here were the most handsome guy in the world and was madly in love with me.'' The wish is granted. The now young lady and her man go inside. They start to cuddle, and the man looks at her.

''Aren't you upset that you had me fixed?''



Love it? Spread the laughter. Hate it? Think you can do better?

You've been published on Associated Content! View your content here:
www.associatedcontent.com/article/849265/george_carlin_leaves_a_hole_in_comedy.html

Subject: Comedy Central's Joke of the Day



Full Episodes of The Daily Show and Colbert Watch now! Watch full episodes of The Daily Show and The Colbert Report — high quality, full screen and totally free!


Who Is God?

A little kid asks his father, "Daddy, is God a man or a woman?" "Both son. God is both."
After awhile the kid comes again and asks, "Daddy, is God black or white?"

"Both son, both."

"Daddy, does God love children?"

"Yes son, he loves all children."

The child returns a few minutes later and says, "Daddy, is Michael Jackson God?"





Love it? Spread the laughter. Hate it? Think you can do better?


Payin' The Bills
Ninja Gaiden II.
Click Here to Download Demo.

Subject: Comedy Central's Joke of the Day




Elephant Time

A young man is wandering around the zoo looking at the animals. He suddenly remembers about an appointment that he scheduled. Unfortunately, he forgot his watch. He searches for someone who could give him the time. He sees a zoo keeper standing next to an elephant. "Excuse me, sir," says the young man "Do you know what time it is?"
The zoo keeper reaches under the elephant, grabs his balls and starts playing with them.

"Mmmmm, it is about 3:00," the zoo keeper responds.

The young man looks at him in awe, "How did you know that?" The zoo keeper looks back at the man, "I looked at the clock on the wall right behind you."

Terri says,
Gas-saving tips




If you like this video please return to http://www.dallasnews.com/video/
to see more!

You've been published on Associated Content! View your content here:
www.associatedcontent.com/article/811449/melissa_etheridge_austin_texas_.html

Recommendations From Linkedin.com:
Recommendations are listed in chronological order, with most recent at the top.

Freelance Writer at Associated Content
Edit
1 visible recommendation for this position:

“We were very fortunate to have Terri feature some of Contemporary Dance/Fort Worth's "Dance Delivered" educational and community projects in a Happy News article. Terri was great to work with because she took the time to get some background and perspective before writing her story. In addition, she had a great attitude, and was fun and easy to work with... and when you are trying to find time to do something "extra" in a busy day, it is rewarding and worthwhile when the person you're working with appears to genuinely care about the quality of what they're producing. I feel that Terri has great integrity as a writer, and appreciate her work. You can read her article at http://www.happynews.com/news/contemporary-dance-school.htm” May 25, 2008

Kerry Kreiman, Executive/Artistic Director, Contemporary Dance/Fort Worth
was with another company when working with Terri at Associated Content


Pet and House Sitter at USA Self Employed (Self-employed)
Edit
1 visible recommendation for this position:

“Terri is an extremely conciencious pet and house sitter. She is dependable and goes above and beyond the service requested. I would recommend Terri to anyone going out of town or out of the country, to come to your home and take care of pets, plants, mail, turning on and off different lights, so that the place has a "lived in" look.” May 24, 2008

Top qualities: Personable, Expert, High Integrity

Margaret Berry
hired Terri as a Pet and House Sitter in 2,008, and hired Terri more than once


Freelance Writer at Happy News
Edit
1 visible recommendation for this position:

“Terri wrote up a wonderful article highlighting the handcrafted adoption jewelry designs I create. I received some very nice feedback as a result of the article. Terri is very professional and a joy to work with.” May 25, 2008

Barbara Giordano, OffTheCuffArt.com, http://OffTheCuffArt.com
was with another company when working with Terri at Happy News

Recommendation Letter I got

My Linked In Page Profile if you'd like to recommend me:

http://www.linkedin.com/myprofile?trk=hb_side_pro

Terri Rimmer,

You've been published on Associated Content! View your content here:
www.associatedcontent.com/article/760651/hyperthymestic_syndrome_brain_condition.html

Recommendation Letter:

Recommendation Letter from Volunteer Work:

Recommendation Letter from an Editor:

Letter from a Former Editor:

Letter of recommendation:

(My letter that ran in Wed.'s Star-Telegram):

Thanks for remembering
Thank you so much for running the Mother's Day story "Adoptive parents offer thanks to mom, wherever she may be."
I'm a birth mom who placed my daughter for adoption in 2000. Although I get to see her twice a year, Mother's Day is still very hard for me, as it is for all birth moms. Thanks for remembering us in your paper on this holiday.
-- Terri Rimmer, Fort Worth

Subject: Comedy Central's Joke of the Day






Marital Counseling

A husband and wife came for counseling after 20 years of marriage. When asked what the problem was, the wife went into a passionate, painful tirade listing every problem they had ever had in the 20 years they had been married.

She went on and on and on: neglect, lack of intimacy, emptiness, loneliness, feeling unloved and unlovable, an entire laundry list of unmet needs she had endured over the course of their marriage.

Finally, after allowing this to go on for a sufficient length of time, the therapist got up, walked around the desk and, after asking the wife to stand, embraced and kissed her passionately as her husband watched with a raised eyebrow. The woman shut up and quietly sat down as though in a daze.

The therapist turned to the husband and said, "This is what your wife needs at least three times a week. Can you do this?"

The husband thought for a moment and replied, "Well, I can drop her off here on Mondays and Wednesdays, but on Fridays, I fish."

Fostering Families TODAY : Healing The Hurt

Terri Rimmer,

You've been published on Associated Content! View your content here:
www.associatedcontent.com/article/648633/how_to_have_dorm_room_pets_in_college.html

Subject: Comedy Central's Joke of the Day






State Trooper

A state trooper pulls a car over for speeding. In the car is an old lady who is hard of hearing and her husband. When the trooper asks the lady for her driver's license the lady responds, "Heh, what did he say?"
The old man speaks up as he says, "HE NEEDS YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE."

A few minutes later the trooper comes back to the car and says, "Ma'am I see you're from Florida."

The old lady comments, "Heh, what did he say?"

The old man speaks up as he says, "HE SEES YOU'RE FROM FLORIDA.'" The old lady nods her head, "Yup."

The trooper mutters, "Boy, one time, I got the worst piece of ass I ever had in Florida."

The old lady replies, "Heh, what did he say?"

The old man yells, "HE SAYS HE THINKS HE KNOWS YOU!"




Payin' The Bills
Introducing the all-new Infiniti EX.
EXtraordinary. The personal luxury crossover.
Visit Infiniti.com for more information.

You've been published on Associated Content! View your content here:
www.associatedcontent.com/article/635331/resource_center_updates_report_on_policies.html

Subject: Comedy Central's Joke of the Day






Bus Stop Blondes

Two blondes are waiting at a bus stop. When a bus pulls up and opens the door, one of the blondes leans inside and asks the bus driver:''Will this bus take me to 5th Avenue?''
The bus driver shakes his head and says,''No, I'm sorry.''

At this the other blonde leans inside, smiles, and twitters: ''Will it take ME?''

Terri Rimmer,

You've been published on Associated Content! View your content here:
www.associatedcontent.com/article/628783/south_coast_air_district_funds_open.html

I saw an article in the Star-Telegram awhile back and they did an article on these sites:

Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs:

crbestbuydrugs.org


Rxaminer.com


DestinationRx.com


BenefitsCheckupRx:

benefitscheckup.org


The Partnership for Prescription Assistance:

pparx.org

Check out tradeaway.com

Subject: Comedy Central's Joke of the Day






Name That Animal, Kids

Eddie's first-grade class was having a game of Name That Animal. The teacher held up a picture of a cat and asked, "What animal is this?" "A cat!" said Suzy.
"Good job! Now, what's this animal?"

"A dog!" said Ricky.

"Good! Now what animal is this?" she asked, holding up a picture of a deer.

The class fell silent. After a couple of minutes, the teacher said, "It's what your mom calls your dad."

"A horny bastard!" called out Eddie.




Payin' The Bills
KFC’s Sauceless Hot Wings.
Spicy on the inside. Crunchy on the outside.
Get a bucket of 20 or try 6 wings for $2.99, Only at KFC.

Strategies to save on travel expenses

Here's one: Booking flight at last minute may be a loser


01:07 PM CST on Wednesday, February 20, 2008

The Boston Globe

Are you one of those people who waited till the last minute to book a flight, thinking you would snag a bargain airfare? You might wish you had heeded this from the United States Tour Operators Association:

"When it comes to airfare ... waiting for last-minute bargains, contrary to popular belief, does not guarantee the best price. Booking early will often help lock in the best price and the best routing."

That is one bit of advice that emerged when the association surveyed its members, who move more than 11 million vacationers yearly. Here are more hints and strategies:

*A strong euro means that a four-star hotel can cost $450 or more per night, and meals and sightseeing can cost more than you had counted on. Both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Europe suggest looking for cruise-tour prices bundled in dollars at the time of purchase. That protects against further devaluation.

*Choose train travel over renting a car.

*Travel in the shoulder seasons (just before and after a destination's busiest time) to get value pricing.

*Look for discounts for children 17 and younger.

*With an escorted tour, more features are usually included in the package price than if you visited the same places on your own.

*A lower-priced tour may not always be the best buy, because it may not include as many features as another. Look for packages and tours that include as many meals as possible, because dining is one of the biggest expenses on the road.

The Boston Globe

Daniele Dockter
www.badlandsbullterrier.com

I saw some job-hunting tips in the March Glamour that you might could use now or in the future or pass on to someone who could use them:

"How Facebook Can Land You a Job":

1. Create a professional profile - Treat it like a resume - as in ax, the love meter. And set your personal stuff to "private" so work people can't find it.

2. Rack up contacts. Recruit colleagues past and present (if they don't reply, let it go). To invite a stranger, ask a mutual colleague for an introduction.

3. Work your page. When job hunting, email your contacts. Meanwhile, e-schmooze by posting smart commments on other profiles and blogs.

You've been published on Associated Content! View your content here:
www.associatedcontent.com/article/593145/women_who_could_be_president_ca.html

Terri Rimmer
Terri Rimmer has 24 years of journalism experience, having worked for ten newspapers and some magazines. Currently she writes for http://associatedcontent.com. She has a daughter, McKenna, whom she placed for adoption in August 2000. Ms. Rimmer published her e-book "MacKenzie's Hope" on http://booklocker.com under the family heading. It's also listed on http://adopting.com. She resides in Fort Worth, TX. In 2007 she won a Media Award from Associated Content and in 2005 she received a grant from Change, Inc.
View all articles by Terri Rimmer
Condition Has Various Names


My sister Debbie was just diagnosed with a condition known as swollen thyroid nodules and recently underwent a biopsy.



In this test, a thin needle is inserted into the nodule to remove cells and/or fluid samples from the nodule for examination under a microscope.



She is only 49.



The doctor gave her some medication to help the swelling go down regarding the cysts found in her throat. Hopefully the treatment will help but she has to wait and see. To complicate matters Debbie, a mother and grandma who has no insurance has Diabetes and her vision has been affected by that primary illness.



According to healthbanks.com, thyroid nodules are abnormal growths or cells or lumps in the thyroid gland. The nodules feel round or oval-shaped and differ from normal thyroid tissue. Some symptoms of thyroid nodules include palpitations, insomnia, weight loss, anxiety, and tremors, common in hyperthyroidism, as explained on thyroid.about.com. Some doctor prescribe hormone pills to shrink the size of the nodules which are usually more than one quarter of an inch in diameter that may protrude from the neck's surface or may form in the thyroid gland itself.



The thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland that lies across the trachea (windpipe) below the Adam's apple, is controlled by the pituitary, a small gland at the base of the brain that sends out Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH). (Source: Healthlink.mcw.edu). The thyroid is part of the endocrine system, the system of organs that secrete hormones into the blood.



Thyroid nodules increase with age and occur in almost ten percent of the adult population, states Endocrineweb.com at http://www.endocrineweb.com/fna.html.



Most nodules are benign or non-cancerous and can be treated with medication, revealed by helium.com. (http://www.helium.com/tm/613012/nodules-small-lumps-found).



According to WebMD.com, most nodules are so small that you can’t feel them and they do not cause symptoms. But if they are big you will feel that your neck is swollen.



The Mayo Clinic dictates that usually thyroid nodules are found by a doctor during a routine medical exam. Large nodules can press against other structures

in the neck. Lymph nodes can also swell in response to any infection or irritation.



The American Family Physician stated in an article dated Feb. 1, 2003 that thyroiditis may present as a nodule.

In rare cases, you may also:

Feel pain in your throat or feel like your throat is full.
Have a hard time swallowing.
Have a hard time breathing.
Feel nervous, have a fast heartbeat, sweat a lot, lose weight, or have other symptoms of hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone).
Feel tired or depressed, have memory problems, be constipated, have dry skin, feel cold, or have other symptoms of hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hormone).
(Reference: Meritcare.com).

Thyroid nodules usually run in families, according to Cigna.com.

An older lady gets pulled over for speeding...

Older Woman: Is there a problem, Officer?

Officer: Ma'am, you were speeding.

Older Woman: Oh, I see.

Officer: Can I see your license please?

Older Woman: I'd give it to you but I don't have one.

Officer: Don't have one?

Older Woman: Lost it, 4 years ago for drunk driving.

Officer: I see...Can I see your vehicle registration papers please.

Older Woman: I can't do that.

Officer: Why not?

Older Woman: I stole this car.

Officer: Stole it?

Older Woman: Yes, and I killed and hacked up the owner.

Officer: You what?

Older Woman: His body parts are in plastic bags in the trunk if you want to see

The Officer looks at the woman and slowly backs away to his car and calls for back up. Within minutes 5 police cars circle the car. A senior officer slowly approaches the car, clasping his half drawn gun.

Officer 2: Ma'am, could you step out of your vehicle please! The woman steps out of her vehicle.

Older woman: Is there a problem sir?

Officer 2: One of my officers told me that you have stolen this car and murdered the owner.

Older Woman: Murdered the owner?

Officer 2: Yes, could you please open the trunk of your car, please.

The woman opens the trunk, revealing nothing but an empty trunk.

Officer 2: Is this your car, ma'am?

Older Woman: Yes, here are the registration papers.
The officer is quite stunned.

Officer 2: One of my officers claims that you do not have a driving license.

The woman digs into her handbag and pulls out a clutch purse and hands it to the officer.

The officer examines the license. He looks quite puzzled.

Officer 2: Thank you ma'am, one of my officers told me you didn't have a license, that you stole this car, and that you murdered and hacked up the owner.

Older Woman: Bet the liar told you I was speeding it, too!

Alanon and Privacy
By Terri Rimmer
Published Today
Health & Medicine
Rating: Unrated
Terri Rimmer
Terri Rimmer has 24 years of journalism experience, having worked for ten newspapers and some magazines. Currently she writes for http://associatedcontent.com. She has a daughter, McKenna, whom she placed for adoption in August 2000. Ms. Rimmer published her e-book "MacKenzie's Hope" on http://booklocker.com under the family heading. It's also listed on http://adopting.com. She resides in Fort Worth, TX. In 2007 she won a Media Award from Associated Content and in 2005 she received a grant from Change, Inc.
View all articles by Terri Rimmer
Traditions Dictate How Privacy Works
I got a call from a friend of mine in recovery Feb. 5 who was upset about a recent article I wrote about Alanon.



She said I shouldn’t have quoted a mutual friend of ours from a meeting even though I only used her first name and no one besides members of our group could even guess who she is. Or not.



“I hope you’re not going to write about what I say in meetings,” my friend said to me. “That is private.”



“I hadn’t planned on it,” I told her.



I listened to her point of view but didn’t apologize because I don’t agree with her.



I took it upon myself to triple check the traditions of Alanon and sure enough as long as you don’t use someone’s full name and/or picture, you are not violating the traditions talking about something they might say in a meeting. (http://www.al-anon-co.org/12_tradition.html).



I have heard theories such as my friend’s before and while I can understand why she feels the way she does and I wouldn’t want my dirty laundry aired in public or online either, I did not violate the traditions of Alanon.



I’m not saying I have all the answers but it’s not like I said the Alanon member’s full name and ran it with her picture (either/or).



Online in chat rooms and support groups via the web everyone in a 12-step group is anonymous as far as having their full identity disclosed.



There even is an Alanon video on You Tube with a man standing against a colorful backdrop. But the man’s identity is not disclosed.



You can even exercise several options of anonymity when you choose to receive emails, updates, or messages from Alanon online. (http://www.ola-is.org/olais/anon.htm).



Beth Daniell of Clemson University came up against the anonymity issue when writing a dissertation on Alanon. Several members were upset with her for addressing various problems that Alanon members discussed in meetings. But Daniell did not identify these women. She did, instead, research the tradition regarding anonymity and pointed it out to the parties of women who were upset with her. The women were questioning her methodology methods. For details, see http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0010-096X(199505)46%3A2%3C284%3AICTBEA%3E2.0.CO%3B2-O.



Sometimes when I’ve been to live meetings, either Alcoholics Anomyous or Alanon, I have seen students take notes as part of a class project on AA groups. I have also witnessed college students ask the chairperson ahead of time if it’s okay if they sit in and why they are there. The chairperson of the meeting usually says yes, as long as they don’t identify who shares in the meeting. It has long been a tradition of colleges and various other institutions who are learning about recovery to sit in on meetings to gain an education about how this stuff works.



Back in the 80s and 90s I didn’t like these “imposters” coming into “our meetings.” But now I realize what they’re doing is a gift to recovering people and to society because the students are learning about AA and they, in turn, are going back and reporting their findings to their class. If in the process some people are getting educated about recovery and what really goes on in meetings regarding honesty, humility, recovery, and new beginnings, how can that be a bad thing?



The same thing applies to online meetings.

As You Slide Down the Banister of Life, Remember


1. Jim Baker and Jimmy Swaggert have written

An impressive new book. It's called .........

"Ministers Do More Than Lay People"



2. Transvestite: A guy who likes to eat, drink

And be Mary

3. The difference between the Pope and

Your boss, the Pope only expects you

To kiss his ring.



4. My mind works like lightning, One brilliant

Flash and it is gone.



5. The only time the world beats a path to

Your door is if you're in the bathroom.



6. I hate sex in the movies. Tried it once.

The seat folded up, the drink spilled and

That ice, well, it really chilled the mood.



7. It used to be only death and taxes

Were inevitable Now, of course, there's

Shipping and handling, too.



8.. A husband is someone who, after taking

The trash out, gives the impression that

He just cleaned the whole house.



9. My next house will have no kitchen - just

Vending machines and a large trash can.



10. A blonde said, "I was worried that my

Mechanic might try to rip me off.

I was relieved when he told me all

I needed was turn signal fluid."



11. Definition of a teenager?

God's punishment...for enjoying sex.


12. As you slide down the banister of life, may

The splinters never point the wrong way.

Subject: Comedy Central's Joke of the Day






Man, Woman, Sleeping Compartment

A man and a woman who have never met before find themselves in the same sleeping carriage of a train. After the initial embarrassment they both go to sleep, the woman on the top bunk, the man on the lower.
In the middle of the night the woman leans over, wakes the man and says, "I'm sorry to bother you, but I'm awfully cold and I was wondering if you could possibly get me another blanket."

The man leans out and, with a glint in his eye, says, "I've got a better idea... just for tonight, let's pretend we're married."

The woman thinks for a moment. "Why not," she giggles.

"Great," he replies, "Get your own damn blanket!"

Check out petsmo.com

Kangaroos

Two kangaroos were talking to each other, and one said, "Gee, I hope it doesn't rain today, I hate it when the children play inside."

Look at myetrek.com

You've been published on Associated Content! View your content here:
www.associatedcontent.com/article/556151/rx_hope.html

Lovefraud Blog
Wake up to the danger of sociopaths
Jan. 24, 2008
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New blog posts
-- Ask Dr. Leedom: Are sociopaths (and psychopaths) vindictive?
-- Will you help others by recommending a professional resource?
-- After he's gone: Looking at the sociopath through open eyes
-- The psychopath's bewildering ways of talking
-- Aggression
-- Differentiating narcissists and psychopaths
Terri,
Because you've expressed an interest in Lovefraud, I'm sending you this update of our blog articles and discussions. If you do not wish to receive updates, you may unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email.



Ask Dr. Leedom: Are sociopaths (and psychopaths) vindictive?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dr. Liane Leedom explains what sociopaths really mean when they say, "I love you," and why, even though they don't really care about you, they turn vindictive when you leave. Read Ask Dr. Leedom: Are sociopaths (and psychopaths) vindictive?


Will you help others by recommending a professional resource?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Almost every day, someone calls Lovefraud asking for help--a therapist, a lawyer, an investigator. If you know a qualified professional--someone who gets it when it comes to dealing with sociopaths--will you help others by telling us who it is? Please contact us with your referral right away. Some other victim's sanity--or life--may depend on it.
Read: Will you help others by recommending a professional resource?


After he's gone: Looking at the sociopath through open eyes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
While M. L. Gallagher was with the sociopath, she focused on coping with what he did. She did not focus on what she was doing--and that was the difference between living with abuse or freeing herself. Read After he's gone: Looking at the sociopath through open eyes


The psychopath's bewildering ways of talking
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dr. Steve writes that psychopaths frequently make contradictory statements, construct strange words and talk in logical fallacies. He asks Lovefraud readers to supply examples of the bewildering speech of psychopaths--and a lively discussion ensued. Read The psychopath's bewildering ways of talking


Aggression
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New research seems to indicate that aggression can be as emotionally rewarding as food and sex, Dr. Steve writes. Many people who have tangled with a psychopath have learned to become more aggressive to protect themselves. Is there pleasure in it? Read Aggression


Differentiating narcissists and psychopaths
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In a guest post, Steve Becker, LCSW, CH.T, explains that although narcissists and psychopaths behave in similar ways, the reasons for their behavior are different. Read Differentiating narcissists and psychopaths

Juno The Movie Versus Real Birth Moms
By Terri Rimmer
Published Yesterday
Chlidren
Rating: Unrated
Terri Rimmer
Terri Rimmer has 24 years of journalism experience, having worked for ten newspapers and some magazines. Currently she writes for http://associatedcontent.com. She has a daughter, McKenna, whom she placed for adoption in August 2000. Ms. Rimmer published her e-book "MacKenzie's Hope" on http://booklocker.com under the family heading. It's also listed on http://adopting.com. She resides in Fort Worth, TX. In 2007 she won a Media Award from Associated Content and in 2005 she received a grant from Change, Inc.
View all articles by Terri Rimmer
Does the film depict what adoption is really like?
A lot of talk has been going on about the popular teen movie “Juno” about a girl who gets pregnant and places her child for adoption.



The movie takes the typical safe route in a lot of ways when it comes to portraying birth moms in a realistic light, that is to say they did not do so. Instead they opted for the story to be a closed adoption and for the birth mom on screen to be viewed as a smart-alecky brat who moves on after saying goodbye to her baby without incident. This is, of course, what society preaches and the film did birth moms no favors with regard to telling a real story. I can tell you as a birth mom involved in a semi-open adoption that you don’t “just move on” after placing your child into the arms of his or her new parents. But society wants us to do just that so they don’t have to deal with our grief.



I can count on one hand how many people actually acknowledged my pain and let me grieve.



Many bloggers have made their opinions known on various boards across the country, some who have no experience with adoption, others who do.



But, I think this birth mom hit the nail on the head when she said, “Giving your child up is not the simple solution this movie has made it out to be nor is the closed adoption it advocates healthy for the mother or child.” (http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2007/12/31/juno-misses-chance-to-address-abortion-honestly).



One statement made by someone who saw the film was that just because the adoptive parents were rich was no reason for the birth mom to choose them. Yes, the adoptive parents of my little girl are better off than me, but that is not the entire reason I chose them

. No money does not necessarily equal happiness but in my case I knew they would be able to provide things for her that I would not be able to and I’m not talking about ponies and a tiara. As it turns out my birth daughter wound up with a medical condition and the adoptive parents I chose are both nurses though when I picked them I did not know she was going to have a problem at the time.



Another person stated on one of the websites after seeing the film that birth moms shouldn’t make sure that adoptive parents get their need fulfilled by furnishing them with a child. It’s not about getting their needs filled. It’s a lot more than that. In my case, the adoptive parents of my little girl went through three miscarriages and three birth moms changing their mind before they met me. So to say they have been through a lot in that arena is putting it mildly.



Someone else made the comment that if the character in the film is supposed to be so “whip-smart” as described in movie reviews, why did she get pregnant? Well, I have been called smart yet I got pregnant because for 14 years I didn’t think I could conceive.



The fact that the screenwriter chose to make the film “quirky, funny, and smarmy” says a lot about how society isn’t ready to deal with the real picture of adoption when it comes to birth moms. And they even have a line of merchandise to go with the movie like it’s all a game. Oh, and don’t forget the hip soundtrack.



And another thing: A closed adoption doesn’t mean that the birth mom hangs out at the adoptive couple’s house all the time. In fact, in reality she would have no idea of where they live or who they are.



Note to filmmakers: Next time you want to make a realistic adoption movie, talk to some real birth moms, adoptive parents, and adoptees.

Terri Rimmer,

You've been published on Associated Content! View your content here:
www.associatedcontent.com/article/550755/reproduction_rally_.html

There is a story called The Boy Who Couldn't Eat about a little boy, Adam, 7, who doesn't eat. It sounded just like McKenna only he has Crohn's Disease. He has something called EE (eosinophilic esophagitis, a gastro disorder. I just found it and couldn't believe it.

You've been published on Associated Content! View your content here:
www.associatedcontent.com/article/546907/national_callin_day_for_horses_.html

Wake up to the danger of sociopaths
Jan. 16, 2008
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New blog posts
-- Ask Dr. Leedom: Are there psychological tactics for dealing with a psychopath?
-- Nothing says "I'm sexy" like an automatic weapon
-- What the sociopath experience has taught me
-- Book Review: The Other Mrs. Jordan
-- (Given what you've learned the hard way) what's your attitude like?
-- Married man sleeps with 13 women in a week
-- Letters to Lovefraud: He wanted me to keep playing his bitch
-- Undoing the riddle of the sociopath
-- Worst-case scenarios at the Battered Women conference
Terri,
Thank you for your interest in Lovefraud.com. If you do not wish to receive updates, you may unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom at this e- mail.



Ask Dr. Leedom: Are there psychological tactics for dealing with a psychopath?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A reader asks if there are tools and strategies for staying ahead of a psychopath. Dr. Leedom answers that there are only two legitimate reasons for involvement with psychopaths, and tells what you must always keep in mind in dealing with them. Read Ask Dr. Leedom: Are there psychological tactics for dealing with a psychopath?


Nothing says "I'm sexy" like an automatic weapon
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Not long ago, Arizona's Miss Desert Sun 2006 posed for the Subguns.com catalog in a black vinyl bikini holding an automatic weapon--see the photo on Lovefraud. In December, she was arrested for holding her ex-boyfriend captive. Read: Nothing says "I'm sexy" like an automatic weapon


What the sociopath experience has taught me
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
M. L. Gallagher recently had a run-in with someone who had the traits of a bully. Because of her experience with the sociopath, she knew what to do. Read What the sociopath experience has taught me


Book Review: The Other Mrs. Jordan
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mary Turner Thomson of Scotland wrote a book about her relationship with a bigamous sociopath. If you want to know how con artists do it, or if you want your own experience validated, it's must reading. Read Book Review: The Other Mrs. Jordan


(Given what you've learned the hard way) what's your attitude like?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you've had a nasty encounter with a sociopath, there is a danger that you could become jaded. Dr. Steve asks about your attitude, which sparked a lively discussion among Lovefraud readers. Read (Given what you've learned the hard way) what's your attitude like?


Married man sleeps with 13 women in a week
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In a letter to Dr. Gail Schultz on the Today Show website, a married man said that even though his wife is beautiful and intelligent, and they have a great sex life, he cheats incessantly. Dr. Schultz's reply broke new ground when it comes to sociopaths and the media. Read Married man sleeps with 13 women in a week


Letters to Lovefraud: He wanted me to keep playing his bitch
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A 24-year-old graduate student tells about her relationship with a sociopath. The abuse started slowly, but then spiraled downward into dangerous sexual demands. Read Letters to Lovefraud: He wanted me to keep playing his bitch


Undoing the riddle of the sociopath
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
M.L. Gallagher describes how her relationship with a sociopath was like living a riddle. Following his misdirection, she didn't see what he was really doing--which is a typical sociopathic ploy. Read Undoing the riddle of the sociopath


Worst-case scenarios at the Battered Women conference
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lovefraud attended the Battered Women, Abused Children and Child Custody conference in Albany, N.Y. Many of the women there had lost custody of their children to abusive partners. The consensus: America's family court system is broken. Read Worst-case scenarios at the Battered Women conference

The Other Promises of AA
By Terri Rimmer
Published Yesterday
Religion & Spirituality
Rating: Unrated
Terri Rimmer
Terri Rimmer has 24 years of journalism experience, having worked for ten newspapers and some magazines. Currently she writes for http://associatedcontent.com. She has a daughter, McKenna, whom she placed for adoption in August 2000. Ms. Rimmer published her e-book "MacKenzie's Hope" on http://booklocker.com under the family heading. It's also listed on http://adopting.com. She resides in Fort Worth, TX. In 2007 she won a Media Award from Associated Content and in 2005 she received a grant from Change, Inc.
View all articles by Terri Rimmer
There Are Other Guarantees That Go With the Steps
There are several sets of Promises in the book Alcoholics Anonymous, the textbook of the fellowship and most members are familiar with the ones on Pages 83 and 84.



But in this piece, I will talk about the subsets of Promises that are also found in various parts of the book.



The First Step Promises state: “I was soon to be catapulted into what I like to call the fourth dimension of existence I was to know happiness, peace, and usefulness, in a way of life that I incredibly more wonderful as time passes.” (Source: AA). An illustration of this would be the former newspaperman I knew who went from Skid Row to being an award-winning journalist. The First Step Promises continue with: “Belief in the power of God, plus enough willingness, honesty and humility to establish and maintain the new order of things, were the essential requirements” and “There is scarcely any form of trouble and misery which has not been overcome among us.” A good example of this would be the man in the program who had to ride a bike everywhere because he couldn’t afford a car for six years of his sobriety then he was able to finally afford a vehicle.



They continue with: “There is, however a vast amount of fun about it all” which can be illustrated as having fun in sobriety without alcohol and “There exists among us a fellowship, a friendliness, and an understanding which is indescribably wonderful.” This means there is a bond among AA members that doesn’t go away. It goes on to say: “The feeling of having shared in a common peril is one element in the powerful cement which binds us…The tremendous fact for every one of us is that we have discovered a common solution. We have a way out on which we can absolutely agree, and upon which we can join in brotherly and harmonious action. This is the great news this book carries to those who suffer from alcoholism.”



The First Step Promises conclude with: “The central fact of our lives today is the absolute certainty that our Creator has entered into our hearts and lives in a way which is indeed miraculous. He has commenced to accomplish those things for us which we could never do by ourselves” and “A new life has been give us, or, if you prefer, ’a design for living’ that really works.” You can understand this by imagining the former single mom who used to physically abuse her child who undergoes a spiritual transformation. The last two guarantees state “All of us, whatever our race, creed, or color are the children of a living Creator with whom we may form a relationship upon simple and understandable terms as soon as we are willing and honest enough to try.” This means we all have a fundamental idea of God and that is the beginning of our attempt for a sober life.



The Second Step Promises states the following: “We found that as soon as we were able to lay aside prejudice and express even a willingness to believe in a Power greater than ourselves, we commenced to get results, even though it was impossible for any of us to fully define or comprehend that Power, which is God” (Source: Alcoholics Anonymous) and “The Realm of Spirit is broad, roomy, all inclusive; never exclusive or forbidding to those who earnestly seek. It is open, we believe, to all men.” It goes on to say that “As soon as a man or woman can say that he does believe, or is wiling to believe, we emphatically assure him that he is on his way. It has been repeatedly proven among us that upon this simple cornerstone a wonderfully effective spiritual structure can be built.” For instance, there is a woman who once had ten years sober, relapsed, came back to the program after staying out for years and having had stolen credit cards and abused prescription drugs, and is now a totally different person.



The Second Step Promises continue by saying: “In the face of collapse and despair, in the face of the

total failure of their human resources, they found that a new power, peace, happiness, and sense of direction flowed into them,” which would explain why some prison inmates find, after serving time for DUIs, for example, a higher power and sobriety as a new way of life. They also state that “When we saw others solve their problems by a simple reliance upon the Spirit of the Universe, we had to stop doubting the power of God. Our ideas did not not work. But the God idea did” and “He has come to all who have honestly sought Him. When we drew near to Him He disclosed Himself to us!” This can be illustrated in the portrait of the man in treatment who gets on his knees and prays in earnest to something, somewhere that will help him.



The Third Step Promises state that “God was going to be our Director. He is the Principal; we are his agents. He is the Father and we are His children. Most good ideas are simple, and this concept was the keystone of the new and triumphant arch through which we passed to freedom.” An old sponsor of mine told me to use this direction when it came to problems with the boss. She also used it with another sponsee to help her stop stealing. This set of promises goes on to state that “We had a new Employer. Being all powerful, He provided what we needed, if we kept close to Him and performed His work well. Established on such a footing we became less and less interested in ourselves, our little plans, and designs.” An example of this would be the employee who has grandiose ideas without much much talent who realizes that his goal on this earth is not to chase after ill-conceived get-rich-quick schemes.



“More and more we became interested in seeing what we could contribute to life” is also part of this set of promises as is “As we felt new power flow in, as we enjoyed peace of mind, as we discovered we could face life successfully, as we became conscious of His presence, we begin to lose our fear of today, tomorrow or hereafter. We were reborn.” Another example of this would be the widow who is able to overcome her depression and isolation and who, yesterday, could not imagine life withot her husband but now can see some hope.



The Fourth Step Promises say “When the spiritual malady is overcome, we straighten out mentally and physically.” I have heard stories from many who have told me that some or all of their health problems cleared up when they strengthened themselves spiritually. “Just as to the extent that we do as we think He would have us, and humbly rely on Him, does He enable us to match calamity with serenity” is also part of this set of promises. Somehow, in this whole process we are able to hear that still, small voice guiding us to do the right thing.



It continues with “We have begun to learn tolerance, patience, and good will toward all men, even our enemies, for we look on them as sick people” which is a tough one for alcoholics but it can be achieved.



Fifth Step Promises tell us that once we have done the Fifth Step with our sponsor or that trusted someone that “We can look the world in the eye,” “We can be alone at perfect peace and ease,” “Our fears fall from us,” “We begin to feel the nearness of our Creator,“ “We may have had certain spiritual beliefs, but now we begin to have a spiritual experience,” “The feeling that the drink problem has disappeared will often come strongly,” and “We feel we are on the broad highway, walking hand in hand with the Spirit of the Universe.”



To translate, these promises mean we can hold our head up, not be morose about going through a divorce, for instance, we feel the inner spirit within us, and we might re-examine our old spiritual hang-ups. It also can be seen in an example such as this one: A formerly promiscuous woman, now sober, has a husband and child and has left that life behind all due to a psychic change.

Article on me in Fostering Families Today Magazine:

Editorial about foster care system - mentions me

juicy bits
The Condensed Tom Cruise
Slate reads the new Tom Cruise bio so you don't have to.
By Juliet Lapidos
Posted Friday, Jan. 11, 2008, at 2:04 PM ET


How dubious is Andrew Morton's long-awaited Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography? Well, the book is not for sale in the United Kingdom, due to that country's libel laws; and it's rumored that Scientology lawyers are already drawing up a suit against Morton's publisher, St. Martin's Press. If you're craving the inside (and blatantly unsubstantiated) scoop on Tom's private life, follow Slate's handy guide straight to the good parts.

Inside the Actor's Closet

Ever since that ridiculously homoerotic volleyball scene in Top Gun, the world has wondered about Tom Cruise's sexuality. But Andrew Morton's Tom is a hot-blooded heterosexual.

Page 13: One of Tom's first girlfriends, Carol Trumpler, still gets "misty-eyed" when she remembers her brief dalliance with the future star: "He was a very good kisser, very much at ease with it all. But what do you know at eleven?" Sadly for Carol, Tom moved on pretty quick. "I was trying to be a good girl, and when I didn't give in to his ways he moved on."

Page 68: Remember the sex-on-a-train scene in Risky Business? Morton alleges that "while Tom and Rebecca [De Mornay] were nervous before playing the scene, those who snuck onto the closed set are convinced that the answer to the question of 'did they, didn't they' really get it on on camera is a firm yes."

Page 195: High-school girlfriend Diane Van Zoeren doesn't give any credence to the "Tom is gay" rumor: "I don't get it. I find these stories just hard to believe. We romanced in my dad's Oldsmobile doing what you are not supposed to."

Page 34: Nancy Armel, another high-school flame, also remembers fooling around in a parked car. She told Morton: "I was black and blue from the gearshift."

Page 65: Tom tried to impress Nancy by taking her to the Broadway musical La Cage aux Folles, but he "was unaware of the story line—about two gay men living together in St. Tropez." According to Nancy, "he couldn't handle it. We had to leave before the intermission. It really bothered him. He was definitely homophobic."

Page 195: Morton claims that "Tom was uncomfortable around gay men. Those who saw him in the company of some of Nicole [Kidman's] gay friends, who included designer John Galliano, noticed that he was awkward and ill at ease, much preferring the company of jocks who talked about football rather than fashion."

Courtly Knight/Night Stalker

Page 259: Just one day after Sofía Vergara met Tom, Morton says the Colombian actress "faced a blizzard of phone calls, text messages, and e-mails." Tom also "sent her flowers, notes, and chocolates."

Page 263: Eventually, Sofía got freaked out by Tom's attentiveness and his faith. When Tom arranged for a trip to Clearwater, the Scientology center in Florida, she allegedly "stood him up, packing a bag and 'disappearing' for a few days." Tom, however, wouldn't let up: "For five days he left messages and texts, but she resolutely refused to return his calls."

Page 145: During their courtship phase, Tom sent Nicole Kidman "flowers, usually red roses, almost daily."

Page 157: Tom's romancing didn't stop with clichéd flora; he also had a way with words. Morton claims that "one householder in Toronto who rented her house to the Cruises was bemused to find several love notes in her sofa cushions when she moved back in. At first she thought her husband was being uncharacteristically affectionate. Then she realized they were penned by Tom."

Page 166: Tom was always asking, "Where is Nic?" An unnamed insider confirms that he was "a control freak, certainly. … He was always checking up on Nic especially."

Free Katie!

Page 278: Allegedly, Katie signed a Scientology contract that fundamentally changed her "human rights and those of her future children, requiring that if she or any of her children were ever to suffer from mental or terminal illness, they must turn only to Scientology's treatments. She must never use psychiatric care or psychiatric drugs."

Page 290-291: Morton repeats the sketchy tabloid rumors that Tom "bought a fetus learning system that was strapped to Katie's stomach" and that he "fitted Katie's cell phone with a tracking device so that he would know where she was day and night."

Page 289: Without naming his sources, Morton spins the following yarn: "Some [Scientology] sect members sincerely believed that Katie Holmes was carrying the baby who would be the vessel for L. Ron Hubbard's spirit when he returned from his trip around the galaxy. True believers were convinced that Tom's spawn would be the reincarnation of L. Ron Hubbard. Some Sea Org fanatics even wondered if the actress had been impregnated with Hubbard's frozen sperm." How'd Katie feel about all this? Morton puts his intuitive powers to the test to produce this gem: "Katie might have felt as if she were in the middle of a real-life version of the horror movie Rosemary's Baby, in which an unsuspecting young woman is impregnated with the Devil's child."

Operating Thetan

Page 109: Scriptwriter and onetime Scientologist Skip Press conjectures that Tom's first wife, Mimi Rogers, "made a play for Tom with the primary intention of bringing him into the [Scientology] cult and leapfrogging over him to an acting career."

Page 123: When Tom accepted an invitation to the Scientology Gold Base in the California desert, head honcho David Miscavige allegedly announced to his staff: "The most important recruit ever is in the process of being secured. His arrival will change the face of Scientology forever."

Page 153-154: Tom and Nicole shared a "fantasy of running through a meadow of wildflowers together." Eager to please his recruit, Miscavige "decided to make his dream come true. A team of twenty Sea Org disciples was set to work digging, hoeing, and planting wheat grass and wildflower seed near the Cruises' bungalow. Former Scientologist Maureen Bolstad recalled working until early in the morning in the mud and pouring rain." Sounds implausible, but Morton quotes another former Scientologist, Karen Pressley, as saying: "the story of the meadow for Tom and Nicole is absolutely true. I was there."

Page 171-172: By 1993, Morton says Tom "progressed to what Scientologists call 'the Wall of Fire,' or Operating Thetan III, where the secrets of the universe according to Hubbard [are] revealed." Allegedly, "Tom found the knowledge he had just received disturbing and alarming, as he struggled to reconcile the creationist myth with the more practical teachings contained in the lower levels of Scientology. … It was recalled that around this time relations became 'ugly' between David Miscavige and the Hollywood actor, Tom complaining that he had studied all these years and the whole faith was about space aliens."

Page 250: Tom's disenchantment didn't last long. Morton writes that by 2004, Tom "reached the exalted level of Operating Thetan VII, where Hubbard promised that man would become his own god." What's level VII like? According to former Scientologist Peter Alexander, "You believe that all your problems are due to these thetans. So when you come back into reality, you're like, 'Wow, this is a nice day, my dog's been killed but that doesn't matter, I realize that I am a being who has lived endlessly contacting all those long-lost body thetans. So nothing is really a problem.'"

Juliet Lapidos is a Slate editorial assistant.

Article URL: http://www.slate.com/id/2181858/
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