Everyone is different; my colonoscopy experience is not going to be the same as your colonoscopy experience. Nevertheless... I agree with those who have said that the actual procedure is easy; you're pretty much not present for it.
With regard to the prep: I strongly recommend you ask your GP/hospital department/person in charge to schedule the procedure for the afternoon, which should permit Scraps to do what they call a "split prep." He will drink 1/2 the foul soap-tasting mixture the night before, starting around 6 pm, he will get a good, though short, night's sleep, and he will drink the rest of the foul stuff in the morning. I also recommend, if it's possible, that he go on a bland diet 3 days before the test, and if he can, fast from solid food for 24 hours before starting the prep. (Jello, as long as it's not red, is okay. I allowed myself orange jello until the evening before the procedure.) If he's diabetic or has some other reason why he can't not eat for 24 hours, of course he mustn't. But I found that bland food (and not very much of that) for two days, and then a 24 hour solid food fast, made the pooping part of the prep very easy -- no cramps, no discomfort, and it was over in 3 hours.
YMMV.
SylvieG, I'm so sorry. I echo what others have said. In my experience the universe will either send you another animal companion, or tell you when it's time for you to go out and seek one. I lost two dogs in 1997, and swore I would have no more, only cats. (I love dogs and cats, both.) In 2003 I started dreaming about dogs, and knew it was time to find another dog.
As a general rule -- this comment is not directed to SylvieG -- I never have only one animal in the house. That way, when time or accident or illness intervenes and I lose one, even though I grieve, I am not without my companion. Currently I have two cats and a dog.
Oh, no.
Prayers, can and will do.
Worst Product Ever was worth a look -- and the comments on Amazon.com "reviewing" the product are funny as hell. Definitely worth a look.
He's an (expletive deleted). At least one, and possibly more than one, of my grandparents were not born here. They were only "technically" American? Does that include the one who was elected to the New York State Supreme Court? (Not as highfalutin' as it sounds: the NY State Supreme Court is a civil trial court, equivalent to "district court" or "superior court" in other states. Pretty good for a Jewish labor lawyer in the 1930s, though.) I guess his not having been born here diminishes that achievement -- not! Screw you, Mr. Rovell, and the horse you rode in on.
/rant
Clifton Royston, Bruno was indeed convicted of heresy, but the charges against him had very little to do with science. The charges against him were: Holding opinions contrary to the Catholic Faith and speaking against it and its ministers. Holding erroneous opinions about the Trinity, about Christ's divinity and Incarnation. Holding erroneous opinions about Christ. Holding erroneous opinions about Transubstantiation and Mass. Claiming the existence of a plurality of worlds and their eternity. Believing in metempsychosis and in the transmigration of the human soul into brutes. Dealing in magics and divination. Denying the Virginity of Mary.
According to some scholars, he was executed mostly because he substituted astrology and magic for faith. He did believe that the earth moved and the sun stood still. He also believed that the universe is filled with an infinite array of stars like the sun, and that there must be life elsewhere in the universe. The Church objected to this, of course, but she objected even more strongly to Bruno's assertion that Christ was not the second person of the Trinity, but actually a very powerful magician who had survived his crucifixion through black arts.
He was, by all accounts, brilliant, and a pain in the ass to know. He alienated all of his patrons across Europe. He probably could have saved himself if he had been willing to recant -- but it wasn't in him, alas.
I jumped over to Firedoglake to read their post -- thanks, Fidelio -- and it says that Ray was not inside the sweat lodge during the "Spiritual Warrior" experience. Teresa's post states that he was.
He's culpable either way. But if it's true that he wasn't inside the tent, AFAIAC it proves that he is pure charlatan, a complete con man -- not, as some have suggested, a man who may have partially believed his own constructions. A believer would have been inside.
The Raven, 330: And most Christian churches offer these people only a harsh monastic creed which barely admits the possibility of mysticism.
I go to church every Sunday, mas or menos -- the above sentence does not describe my church at all. Neither my bishop nor my pastor have any objection to mysticism per se, though they would rightfully be wary of any particular instance of it. (I'm fairly certain that Warrior Spirit retreats would not find much support in the diocese of Oakland.)
I'm not sure what "a harsh monastic creed" is. The Rule of Benedict, one of the principal Christian monastic rules, is remarkably gentle given the restrictions and assumptions of its time. The Nicene Creed, which we say every Sunday, is not "monastic," nor is it "harsh." It says, I profess this.
Could you explain, please?
According to the AP, 49 year old Liz Neuman, who was hospitalized with damage to multiple organs, has died.
Once again, I am awed by Teresa's pit bull approach to investigation, and by this community's ability to converse with clarity, attention, and respect.
Some random remarks:
I find it sad (and scary) that Mr Ray's website asks, "Are you 100% totally and completely happy with your life?†-- which suggests that you should be, and if you are not, something's wrong (which he can fix.) Such a statement and what it implies seems to me to be insane or, at best, utter bulls**t. It is, in my opinion, impossible to be 100% totally and completely happy and be human. Such a statement, on any website, should warn just about any adult that the folks who put this material together are untrustworthy and want to sell you something that could be physically, morally, and spiritually dangerous: run. I am sure there were many such statements on the website.
Spiritual hucksterism has been around a very long time; Ray is one example of this moment's version of it. Note that he appeared on Oprah, which provides a kind of cultural imprimatur,a suggestion that what he's providing is safe. But initiations aren't necessarily safe, especially those that require a physical ordeal -- that's why they require a long period of study and preparation with people one trusts. Why, one wonders, would anyone trust this guy? His charisma? Hmmm. I think none of these people had any idea of what they were getting into.
However, when people go looking for 1)something to ease their pain, or 2) power, or both, they tend to lose whatever common sense and good judgment they might have once had.
As a long time student of a Japanese martial art, anytime I hear anyone, and particularly -- though not exclusively -- anyone non-Japanese, call upon the traditions of the samurai to support this or that activity, practice, or discipline, my hair stands up and I look around for an exit. Are there ways in which aspects of Japanese culture, (for example, martial arts, or Zen, or tea ceremony, or taiko drumming) can be relevant to the life we live now? Sure. But not in a way that can be understood and internalized over a weekend in a sweat lodge.
I agree entirely with McDuffee, that Ray should be held accountable for these two deaths.
Tuesday the first Big Rain: today, sun and sweet smells everywhere.
On the tree, one persimmon
glows stubbornly
Through the tangle of wet leaves.
Carol at 634; Last year I re-read, in order, most of the Modesty Blaise books, until the stunning homophobia got to be too much for me. The relationship between Modesty and Willie still works, and is the best part of the books. Willie Garvin is a terrific character. But the stories themselves are repetitive. When I finished, I realized I would not do it again.
By handing Obama this award, the Nobel Committee (for which read, the Europeans) can be seen as saying to the United States, "Thank God you're sane again, we are so relieved to have you back." I think that's the spirit in which Obama accepted it. I agree, he hasn't earned it, not yet. I hope he does.
I also agree, this is the award for not being George Bush. It demonstrates how Bush's administration looked to people outside the country: as a complete disaster, from which the US and possibly the entire world might never recover.
It looked that way sometimes to me, too.
Happy birthday, Jon and D!! How long have I known you guys? Um -- never mind. Only 5 years until Medicare! Woot!
Pendrift at 137: don't despair. The process ain't over. The committee voted down one version of the public option (Rockefeller's), but will be voting on another (Schumer's), which might pass, though probably not. However, an amendment which adds the public option to a bill may still be brought up on the Senate floor and passed there.
The fact that four Democratic Senators voted against it is not good. It might mean that if a bill with a robust public option comes to the floor, it doesn't have 60 votes. However, one of those four, Ben Nelson, has said that he will vote for Schumer's version. Maybe the Democrats will make the Republicans actually filibuster, a la Jimmy Stewart. That would be teh awesome. Maybe Harry Reid will use the reconciliation process to pass a bill with a public option -- that only needs 51 votes. Maybe, maybe, maybe. And the beat goes on...
I don't remember the last time I wore a skirt. I don't own one. I do own some long dresses: I believe the last time I wore one of them was 2 years ago.
But I work for myself, I live alone, my church no longer requires me to cover my head inside the church, and the only thing that constrains my choice of clothing is social pressure, the threat of violence (theoretically; I have never been so threatened but I live in the Bay Area, where my short hair, jeans, and mismatched earrings are unremarkable) and my own taste and comfort.
When my church did require me to cover my head in church, I did it. Did I like it? Not especially, but that's between me and my church. I don't know how I'd feel if my religious practice required me to wear a skirt outside the church, in my public life, like the Amish women, or like Sister Angela in my parish. But I don't object to Sister Angela wearing a skirt, and I believe she should make whatever arrangement about her clothing that she chooses. Can her arrangements, or those of Muslim women in America who choose to wear hijab be critiqued in light of feminist theory? Sure. We can do that. But if we're going to have a feminist critique of headscarves or hijab or skirts then we need equally to have one of the clothing styles that sexualize and fetishize girl children practically from the time they are infants. We call this education.
When clothing arrangements are mandated and enforced by threats of fines or prison or physical violence, even if they are moderate, (a simple headscarf rather than a burqa) we need to obliterate not the scarf but the legal mandates and the violence.
This is specifically directed to all denizens and lurkers on Making Light who live in the SF Bay Area: Do you want a dog? I have rescued the most wonderful dog. She needs a home. She's about one year old, healthy, not neutered. Short-haired -- a deep brown color, almost black. She's had a litter. She's 51 pounds. I have gotten her her shots: rabies, parvo, distemper. She's been de-wormed and given flea meds. She has a weak left rear leg: the vet is not sure what it is or how serious -- maybe an old injury. It is not exceptionally noticeable.
I made a found dog report to the county. I have checked on Craigslist for her owners: nothing.
She is housebroken and leash trained. She does not chew furniture, books, or anything except her toys. She has a "soft" mouth. She is submissive rather than aggressive. She tolerates cats and likes other dogs, is good with kids, and behaves appropriately at the dog park with all sizes and genders of dogs. She's not at the moment spayed, but that's being rectified this coming Thursday.
Have I mentioned: she's a pit bull?
She's an absolute love: everyone who has met her has mourned the fact that they can't take her, including my vet. If you're at all interested, e-mail me. I'm willing to foster her for a while. If I can't find her a home, she goes to a no-kill shelter.
Her name's Midnight...
Carol at 76: Silly Putty works too. I've been using it for years to relieve stress and exercise my hands.
JESR at 71, I waited until my early sixties to read both Pratchett and Bujold.
Am I lucky, or what?
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