I was going to say it may not be your system that changed. I am grossed out by the fast food these days. Not just the prices.
My daughter is swapping pianos today. She's replacing her upright with a symmetry Grand that's about 100 years old. It will take up more room in our dining room, but the sound is much better. My wife and daughter now have to figure out where to put the Christmas tree since the piano is now taking that space. In a little while, I'll be going to the urologist for my next appointment. I am not looking forward to seeing him today.
My family returned from the trip upstate to Santa's workshop Sunday night. My wife came home with a sore throat. She has a slight sore throat today, but overall, it is much better. My urologist yesterday doubled my dose of Flomax too .8mg. My PSA went from 8.6 to 7.6 after completing my antibiotic. He did another blood test, and while giving a urine sample I had some pain, I didn't think much of it at the time but now I'm just wondering if I passed the kidney stone into that sample cup. When I got home, I found some blood in the urine, and I felt irritation. That happened last night. My wife is pushing for me to call the doctor and tell him what happened since I'm feeling a little better now I don't see any reason why I have to call. I can always call if I get worse.
That lab report is gonna come back with a sky-high red blood cell count, and maybe a high white blood cell count as well. You need to let them know what happened or they'll be scheduling you for a cystoscopy to scan your bladder for cancer. Ask me how I know. Urological issues suck. I see mine once a month to have this catheter swapped PLUS whatever general appointments I need. I guess I should be grateful I've lived this long without any chronic issues. But why couldn't I have something more benign, like arthritis?
I pray daily sometimes for being thankful, always for my relatives, friends, and peace. My prayers are usually answered but not always in the way I expect. I went to Parochial Elementary School, where I learned to pray. During those school years I did the Stations of the Cross, Novena's, my prayers did feel connected. About a week or so ago I got involved with reading the thread about atheist. I got to thinking about prayer if you follow the definition, even atheist pray. Anyone who proclaims " I wish you well" or " I hope feel better" by definition is praying. Maybe I'm stretching the definition a little but certainly the words are not much different than a prayer. DEFINITION OF PRAYER "a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God or an object of worship." "an earnest hope or wish."
As an agnostic, I have exclaimed "Lord, help me" many times in my life. I just hoped someone heard me. I remember while going through cancer treatment so many of you offered to pray for me, plus a prayer circle at my sister's church, my friends offering prayer, etc. Believe me, I appreciated them ALL. And here I sit 4 years later, beat up but still annoying.
Beth, I appreciate you in any shape or form. I have friends who are agnostics they don't believe in organized religion, but do believe in a higher power. My experiences make me a true believer.
I'd like to say I'm a church goer, I'm not. I do go to church when I feel the need to focus my thoughts (prayers). I will attend mass when I feel the need. The mass has changed so much from my childhood, some things better, some worse. When I was in Catholic school I drove the nuns crazy with questions. I found it hard to believe without proof. Then I experienced some prayers that were answered, and Nobody can convince me otherwise. When I get a chance I will record one of the stories here.
I am like you @Tony Page. I have felt a Presence in my life during many "voyages" in my life. I can't help but believe in some higher power. I am not sure that the Deity is addressed by any specific organized religion, but at the moment I have found Catholicism to be the closest to meeting MY needs. I wouldn't have gone with Roman Catholicism prior to Vatican Two though. At that time, I thought United Methodism was the best choice and served briefly in the mission field for them. Methodism has moved WAYY far away form me and Catholicism has moved closer. As I have said before, I have attended many churches prior to forming my opinions. I have worked to have church attendees understand their church's beliefs, whatever they are, as I think many of the divisions within Christianity stem from ignorance.
A program I recently watched on the History Channel The Unexplained Special Presentation episode S1E21 titled "National Secrets" hosted by William Shatner one of the segments about "Operation Paperclip" where after WWII the US government acquired over 1600 former Nazi scientist. The story was interesting. However, what caught my eye was in a photo of some of these scientists, one of them resembled Hitler. see photos below
My wife has an appointment today with the heart specialist. could not have come at a better time Friday she was having a bad day with her heart rate, It up to over 140, first she had anxiety then she was sluggest. It did go down but it stayed between 113 and 126 for the rest of the weekend. She was sleeping a lot on Saturday, maybe she just had something in her system. Yesterday I clean the tomato plants out of their pots and spread the dirt on some uneven ground on the side of the house. I stored the pots in a large tub, I'm hoping I won't have to use them next year, instead I'll have my raised beds built. We have been searching both online and in the stores for a 10x10 installed wood shed. We have a couple of candidates, but we want to check out a couple of places that specialize in sheds only.