"Not a sermon - just a thought" is a crock. of. shit.

Do you have something similar on broadcast radio in your area?

Here in the Washington, DC metro area, the pastor of McLean Bible Church (I think) comes on with a concentrated altar call. The latest, just heard, included this line: "You know, it seems to me that the only way to not be afraid to live is to not be afraid to die." (best I can remember)

Then the pitch: the only way to be not afraid to die is "through Christ." WTF is this "through" business? There's a local carpet business here in Southern Maryland whose motto, printed on its trucks, is "Serving Jesus Christ Through Carpeting."

Not a sermon. Just a thought.

PS I'm an atheist but am not anti-Christian, or even anti-religion. I respect your right to worship.

One of my cats is extremely unhappy and there's nothing I can do about it.

Rat Face, our five-year-old tuxy, is beleaguered by four of our other cats. She stays in the office all the time, afraid to go anywhere but the basement, where the litter boxes are.

I am probably anthropomorphizing her, but I can't help it. So here goes: she lives in a constant state of fear and anxiety. It's impossible for her to relax. I think she must be very, very sad.

I spend as much time as possible with her. She has learned to come out and sit with me when I'm on the computer in the dining room, but she'll only stay out here when I'm here. Mrs. V. holds her in her lap at least part of each day when she's working, but she hasn't been able to work for almost two months, so Rat Face is more lonesome than ever. Spending time with her is the only thing I can do for her.

Her misery is my fault. My inability to say no has blessed (?) us with ten cats. My only other option for improving her life involves making her an only cat, and I can't do that.

Got questions? Got ideas? Thanks.

PS Feliway doesn't work.

Have you ever had a concussion?

Mrs. V. had a rather gruesome boating accident last month, and it included a concussion. She's unable to work (and is on LWOP, which is not good as she's our sole breadwinner). Her job is 100% brain work, and docs have told her she must rest her brain.

I know that everyone is different, that there is probably a different period of healing for each concussed person.

Still, I'm curious: if you have had a concussion, will you please tell me what it was like, and how long it was until you were back to normal?

Thanks.

Would welcome any fibromyalgia references you have. (cross-post)

Cross-posted from Health, where I might get a response next month.



Thanks, all.

Would welcome any fibromyalgia references you have.

A question about THC.

I'm going camping. For five nights I will be sitting around a campfire with a lot of people, a few of whom will be smoking pot.

I'm applying for jobs! If I inhale cannabis smoke, can I test positive for THC?

Does anyone know how

to shrink a jpeg so it can be used as an avatar?

Lounge might be the wrong place but I need to unload

and the Lounge is filled with friendlies.

For many years I've been in denial about the state of my health. To the point where, if asked on a doctor's form to gauge the state of my health, I mark "good."

I had a come-to-jesus meeting with myself last night and this morning. I forced myself to face the fact that my health is not good. I have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and a couple of significant psych diagnoses. I take a handful of pills twice a day. And FFS, I'm 130 pounds overweight.

Good health, indeed.

I've made few serious attempts to lose weight since diabetes diagnosis ten years ago, but when I have truly tried, I've done well for a few weeks, then failed. What worked the best was counting carbs. Writing down everything I eat and counting up the carbs. Doc says three meals and three snacks per day. Meals 30-45 carbs, snacks 15-20 carbs.

I have to write it, with ink on paper. I can't do it online. If I do, I make the entries and they're gone; I don't look back at them. I need to look daily at what I've written - at what I've eaten. If it's written in a notebook I keep at hand, it will be better.

I'll take advice if you have any.

I'm 52 years old, and I want to see my wife, 11 years older, through old age. I want to grow old with her. I want to have many, many years together. I won't have that if I continue to ruin my health.

question for those who know about the hiring process

At what point in the hiring process is a background check done?

Thanks

I think my meds have fried my brain. Your experience?

I can't sustain a thought for more than a couple of seconds, can't concentrate on anything. My short-term memory is crap. Just crap. And just now I'm doing my budget and I have to go over every number several times to try to convince myself that it's right, and I'm still not convinced. And I'm using a spreadsheet.

I have taken four psych drugs for about six years.* They work fantastically well. There's been one slight change in all that time that didn't throw me off balance. We've made four other attempts through the years that proved disastrous. Although my psychiatrist and I talk about it on every visit, and she wants very badly to get me off of at least one of these, I don't see a future in getting off any of them.

I can't help but think it is the meds that have fried my brain. Of course I could be wrong - but how to tell? I'm all beshit and forty miles from water.

What's been your experience with meds/brain function?

* I've taken meds for depression for about 30 years