Melissa569

I was told by the doc that for health sake, I should try to replace beef, pork, etc. with fish/seafood as much as possible. So I went and bought all these bass fillets at the seafood market. I'm a good cook, but I admit, I haven't been working much with fish over the years. Anyone have good fish recipes? Or tips to make the fillets turn out their best?

eek... Kinda makes me feel greatful that at least my cousin (who did a mission) was enrolled in martial arts for a few years as a teen, first. :)

I was at my mom's during the week before Christmas, and some female missionaries came over for lessons a few times. They would come over and leave after dark (in a car), which concerned me... My mom doesn't live in the best neighborhood. So I watched closely out the window, to make sure they got in their car and drove out safely. Then I remember when I was 12, and the male missionaries would come to teach me and my dad (before we moved away). They too came at night, only on bikes. One night, one of them showed us a spot on his jacket where someone in a passing car actually spit on him, minutes before! So I was just wondering-- do they teach missionaries self defense at all? I mean, I know a big part of that is going out in pairs, and I'm sure that helps. But it seems like such a dangerous job (especially for female missionaries), with all the people out there who are hateful, rude, don't believe in god, muggers, weirdo’s... ??

Well said! :)

I agree with this statement-- I REFUSE to have a game machine in my house. So many memebrs of my mom's family (especially the boys) waste their entire life away staring at the TV screen like a zombie, with their thumbs going 200 miles an hour on a game paddle. They hardly ever see the light of day, lol. I'm just a little bothered that the computer has been turned into a game machine now....

I'm not a gamer video, but I am a poker widow, lol. Well, come to think of it, maybe I am a gamer's widow too! He does spend hours playing the free online games, in addition to the live casino ones... I'm hoping that by being active in the church now, I can get some members to help me pull him out of it, because it is costing us a lot of money, even putting us in debt (he borrows money from friends to play, and then owes the later). Hope god can show us a way out...

Was the drunk friend aware that everyone else there was part of a religious gathering? I've been around missionaries a lot over the past 15 years, despite my not attending church during that time-- I'd be at my uncle and aunt's house while the missionaries stoped over for dinner or something. One thing I have noticed that really annoys me, is that non-LDS people (and sometimes even non-active members) really enjoy "messing" with religious people. People who are normally very well behaved will act out more (even sober) just because missionaries or church people are around. I guess its a form of rebellion, showing off, or just trying to get a rise out of/shock them. Alcohol or no, if the guy knew it was a church activity, this could have been the case. One night, when I was at my aunt and uncle's for dinner, and the missionaries were there, my cousin (she's not my aunt/uncle's daughter, but their niece) was also staying over. When the male missionaries got there, my cousin ran up to the guest bedroom and changed into some mini shorts and a skimpy tank top, then came prancing back downstairs in front of them! I couldn't believe her! She kept flirting with them too, and my aunt eventually had to pull her off to the side and tell her to go upstairs, and not come back down until they were gone. But normally, she never did stuff like that! People do it to priests too, sometimes. So I'm sure church people, epsecially missionaries, see it all the time. But they just learn to blow it off, or stay away from those people. I agree that you should talk to your friend about this. I like the first idea of attacking the alcohol, rather than the guy who bit you. That way its nothing personal.

Well, no offense to Lucifer/Satan... Wait, what am I saying? I don't care if I offend him! lol. Anyway, I don't think he would be too interested in having any wives. Or even a number one. Concubines, maybe. Both male and female, I'm sure he's not picky. But favorites would suggest that he's capable of valuing someone, and he's not-- other than himself.

Science doesn't do anything to my faith. I too love science, but the more I learn about it, the more it proves to me that something FAR beyond anything humans will ever be able to control, is out there running the big show. Now some people say "What about the rest of the universe? Isn't that a lot of wasted mass and space, if Earth is the only planet with life, or that matters? What if we find life on other planets? Does that mean our religions are false?" Well, I believe it was Jesus himself who said in John 14:2 -- "In my Father's house are many mansions" A lot of people believe this has a hidden meaning; that our world is not the only one with life. But Jesus couldn't very well go into detail on something like that with the people back then. They had no concept whatsoever of how the universe really worked, so even if he tried to explain it, it wouldn't make sense. In a way, I do feel sorry for Jesus... Him talking to himans, particularly those who existed back then, was almost like trying to explain to a newborn baby what college is like. How lonely god must be-- the only being in existance with his abilities, his knowledge, etc. Nobody to REALLY connect with or talk to on his level... Being God probably feels like being the only human in a world full of ants. Sure there are angles around him, but he is greater than them, even still. No one else is his equal. That's a blessing, and a curse, all in itself. Life on other planets really is not so far-fetched. We humans aren't even the only life on earth! How can we possibly think we are the only life in the whole universe?? So what if science and other worlds exist? God had to use something to create all this, didn't he? There's no doubt in my mind he has some extremely advance scientific knowledge and talents.

I don't know how I feel about it. According to legend, god banished Lilith (Adam's supposed first wife) because she "demanded equality"... She then became the spirit that drifts in and out of baby's rooms, causing crib death. But in other religions, I find that there wasn't really an equality issue until AFTER Eve was the first to fall to temptation with the fruit... Its like all the equality issues were more a result of her being the first to break the rules. And then not just taking a punishment by herself, but also spreading it to her fellow human (Adam). I know this really has nothing to do with any of it, but that leads me to wonder if Eve loved Adam at all... Because when I love someone, and I think I might be taking a risk, I prefer to face it alone, and spare/protect the person I love, at least until I know weather or not everything will turn out ok. Untill then, I will tell the one I love to keep their distance, and NOT copy my actions, until the coast is clear. I don't drag my loved ones down with me, that's just low... I really think that if Adam had been the first, and given it to Eve, he probably would have been the focus of punishment. That's just the way it works in life-- man or woman, nobody seems to care that technically ALL parties had an equal hand. Its always the ring leader who catches the most heat when they get caught. It seems that before that happened, Adam and Eve were both just two happy children of god, roaming the garden freely. I never saw any problems with equality before the fruit episode. So... No, I guess I don't believe in Lilith. It makes more sense that someone's rank gets busted down, AFTER they mess up. Not before. But your opinion also depends what religion you are. In several other religions (Islam being one fo them), Adam and Eve both took and ate the fruit at the same time. There was no one person who was to blame for all of it. Now, while that does seem like a more fair, loving and romantic idea... It also leaves me to wonder about that version of the story's validity. If that was how it really happened, then how did these other equality-based religions also end up viewing women as subservient to men...? In my opinion, again, it was a result of Eve falling to temptation first. That's why I just tend to believe the Christian version the most; it seems to make the most sense throughout human history.

By the way, Avon also has a mineral makeup line. Same thing as bare minerals, only cheaper. I use the mineral foundation, and the blush. I like it because it doesn't feel all cakey, and my skin can breathe.

I find that Maybelene (don't know if I spelled it right) "Full-n-soft" mascara dries pretty quickly. And it doesn't leave that stiff, brittle feeling. Another good one (the one I use now) is Avon's big "Super Shock" mascara. I find it is very much like the full-n-soft, dries quickly, has great color. The brushes of both mascaras are VERY detailed and fanned out with billions of little bristles in them. Those tend to keep your lashed separated better, so they can dry faster-- that's key to avoiding clumps and smudges, in addition to finding a brand that dries quickly and completely. Some brands can feel sticky, like they never dry! I hate those, lol. If anything brushes near your eyes, your lashes get mashed together and stick, lol. Also, I don't like the brushes with one big spiral, because the big spaces in the sprial tend to group your lashes together, causing clumps and making your lashes stick together. If they're in clumpy groups, they can't dry, and they look terrible. I apply (a good) mascara it in short quick strokes, then I take one of those eyebrow brushes (the black brisstled end) and fluff up my eye lashes with that. It helps to separate them even more, and it looks more natural. They dry faster too. Never apply more, until after it is completely dried (if you need to). The top lashes can take a few coats if you want, but never put more that one coat on the bottom lashes. Hope that elps.

Thanks for all the replies, everyone! Now I feel a little more relaxed about attending. The only reason I asked about the mixed race thing, is because 10 years ago, I was traveling by train out of state. The woman sitting across from me was discussing religion-- she said that she used to be a mormon also. But she had to leave her ward, because she was a single mom with a half-African-American daughter. She said the people in her ward were very mean to her (we were traveling through Utah, and that's where she got on the train). So years later, when I married, I worried about that. Especially since when I was a child, our ward had 90% white people, so that's all I remembered. But now, I live in a town where there are actually more minorities than white people, so I would think the local wards would be a lot more bi-cultural. Also, when I sat in on sacrament last sunday, I saw a few different races-- asian, latino, and some others. But because of what that lady told me on the train, I thought, "Ok, so other races do attend... But what about mixed couples?" But it sounds like it just depends what area you live in. They might be more old fashioned in some areas of Utah, I don't know...

Gargoyle-- Its good to know there are men out there who are already like that. Lucky, lucky for the single ladies... I'm already hitched, but I'm desperatly trying to introduce some of those qualities to my guy... I honestly believe that every male has it deep inside him to want to be that way, it just needs to be awakened. Hmmmm, maybe I should let him read that post?? Hahaha. Dravin-- lol, good idea, I might try that with my guy, lol.

Hmmmm, what's romantic... I'll admit, I'm a really intense person, when it comes to romance. For me, its not so much specific actions that I find romantic or exciting, its more the way a man moves, speaks, expresses and carries himself, etc. To put it bluntly, I'm attracted to a man who is confident, but not arrogant. Who has class and sophistication (in the personality sense, not the wealth sense), but also a relentless strength in his will. Bravery too, not meaning he's some kind of soldier-- but that he firmly stands along side (or even in front of) anything he loves, or believes in. As for actions, I could probably spend the entire day with my man hovering over me as we exchange kisses, and tell each other everything we can think of to send waves of ice and flames racing over the surface of each other's skin... That never gets old, no matter what! lol. Or while standing and walking around-- have him give me one of those quick, slightly rough embraces, and a posessive kiss that makes my toes curl, my breath catch in my throat, and my heart slam mercilessly against my ribcage! (what can I say, I like a man with some primal fire in him, lol). *Sigh*... Of course, none of that has ever happened with me before. But a lady can dream, can't she? :)

Oh, I feel ya, hun! Last year, I was sitting on my computer in a chat room. suddenly, I hear this trickling water noise, like when the faucet of your shower is running a little... I thought, "How could it just suddenly start dribbling?" Then it got louder, like the shower was on full blast! I ran into the bathroom, and gasped-- there was hot water GUSHING down from both the heater vent AND the regular fan/vent, on the ceiling of my bathroom! My neighbor (an elderly woman) was upstairs taking a shower, and somehow, her shower water was pouring down into my bathroom. The floor was flooded with a couple of inches of water, it was quickly soaking out into the carpet in the hallway. I tried putting down blankets, but they were drenched in just a few seconds. I was scared, I thought maybe my neighbor had fallen and hit her head, and her bath tub was overflowing or something... The apartment office was closed, I couldn't get hold of maintanance (niether their regular number, nor the "emergency" number-- go figure!). And the water continued to pour down! All I could think of, was to call 911 (after all, I did think she could have been hurt). The police came out and knocked on her door for a while... Took her about 10 minutes to finally hear us, and answer. She was fine, just taking a shower. But the next day, the maintanance staff discovered that a rat-- yes, a RAT-- had chewed a hole in her pipes, and it was leaking through my ceiling. They showed the pipe to me. I live in the city now, but I was a country-raised girl, so I knew the telltale chew marks around the edges of the big hole. They replaced everything, and cleaned my carpet to prevent mold. But what a ride...

Thank you for your help, Maya :) By the way, the quote in your signature is funny, lol

cute, lol

As I've mentioned before, I attended until I was 12, and am baptized. But ages 13 - 28, I didn‘t. Just recently came back. So There are tons of things about being Mormon I either don’t remember, or never knew. Answers to one of the questions, or all of them would be great, from anybody who knows, or just has an opinion. Thanks in advance: 1--How do they feel about mixed-race/religion couples? I’m caucasian, born in the USA. My husband is a non-active and open-minded Catholic from India. He might attend with me once in a while, if he can find a Sunday off. But he’s wondering about that too… 2-- On that note, how do they feel about the wife attending church alone? Because 95% of the time, I will be alone. 3-- Will my husband also need to speak to the Bishop, even though he‘s not sure if he will ever join? 4-- Will I have to avoid sacrament and do confessions with the Bishop for a while? 5--How often do adults do confessions? Is it like the Catholic church every week? Or just once in a while, when you feel like something is really bothering you? 6-- What about tithe? How do they collect it? What if you are pretty much broke (we are, lol)? Just wondering if its an “expected, but not required” sort of thing, or what. Also because I don’t have a job right now, and my husband is not a member at all. So I don’t know how that’s going to play out. 7-- If the missionaries want to visit me, will they do it somewhere besides my house? My husband and I live with room mates, because money is tight, and our room mates don’t really like missionaries. They’ll also be watching TV, playing music and all. Also, I was hoping they would let me meet with female missionaries, because I’m not comfortable meeting alone with male ones (no offense, lol). Or maybe meet them at another member's house...

lol, that's what I keep telling him, our most common argument-- "Maybe if you tried SAVING all your extra money and investing it in something, or just saving it for the greater good in your account, you would be closer to this wealth you want. But by going to the casino, you are basically wadding it up and throwing it in the gutter." *sigh* Its like talking to a brick wall, lol.

WOW! So many helpful replies here! :) To answer some of everyones questions: 1-- We do not have any children (been married 5 years, we just don't know if we want them, he wants more money before we have kids... More specifically, wants to be "rich" first, but I think its silly. Still, I won't force him, because what kind of father will he be, if he doesn't want them?). 2-- Yes, I could be VERY happy and stay with him, if some of the problems could just be fixed. I still love him a lot, and I'm still attracted to him (always will be, I can tell he's gonna be cute even when he's old, lol). 3-- I agree, he is a VERY good person and a keeper, outside the gambling addiction. That's why I stay. His good qualities attracted me to him (naturally) and are hard to find. He's very kind, everyone who meets him likes him. He helps everyone. Very giving. Believes in god. Doesn't cheat. Doesn't do drugs. Doesn't hit me. Forgives pretty much everything I do. I've never cheated (and never would, I would leave a man first if I wanted someone else). But I've said some really hurtful and cruel things to him when I was angry, and he always forgives it. And he's helped me through some of the roughest times of my life. I'll give him that. I'll check out some of those recomended books, because I would REALLY love to be able to save what he and I have, if we can. Maybe if the missionaries come over and talk to him, they can help us figure out why he's gambling, like what void he's trying to fill. I dont' know. Never really thought the gambling could be a result of depression... That's a good point though. Makes me wonder what he's depressed about (he hates discussing stuff like that, so I can't really get it out of him, lol). I know its probably something to do with money-- its ALWAYS about money. I don't really understand being miserable without money. I grew up poor, but happy. But it seems hubby doesn't want kids, doesn't want to be happy, doesn't want to enjoy life-- unless he's wealthy. He's obsessed with winning jackpots and buying lottery tickets, hoping to cash in. And he's constantly saying "If I win, we'll get a home." "If I win, we'll have kids." "If I win, everything will be fine, and we'll always be happy." I think he's jsut depressed and miserable being poor, lol. I dont' really care though, as long as the love I have is good. Until I met him, it never occurred to be to want to be rich... I mean, you can't take it with you anyway, lol.

I live in the bay area, California. Around here, its pretty relaxed. Sure, most ladies wear dresses to church on Sunday. However, I would say its "Expected, but not required". Even at sacrament last Sunday, I saw one woman in black slacks. And another woman walked in wearing a sun visor, and jogging suit! She sat in the back, and nobody cared. Then I went to an RS activity with my aunt Diane a few years ago, and we all wore regular clothes. Even the young women's "Beehive" group I was in back when I was 12 let us wear jeans in the church wednesday nights. Guess it depends where you are.

I cannot tell anyone how to feel. But aside from ensuring that you are being seen as a decent and clean human being, I think its silly to care what other people think, or how you appear to them. True, they do try to stop you from bringing your own food. But the ticket prices around here are completely unreasonable! So I try to bring the same brands/types of food they sell in the theater, so it at least LOOKS like something I bought there, if an usher walks by, lol. I also find that if you wait until the lights go down, and the movie starts before you break out your food, everyone is far too busy watching the movie, to notice what you are eating. And like my grandpa said, "You wouldn't worry so much about what people think of you, if you knew how seldom they did."

Oh that's terrible, you poor thing! Once at my job, a woman fell off her scooter (she had no legs). Me and a co-worker rushed to help her. She fell REALLY hard, and I saw her hit her head. Later, as she was on her way out, I genuinely said, "Get yoruself checked out, make sure you're ok..." I was just doing what I would do for any human being I was concerned about. My boss yelled at me later, telling me, "When you run to help someone like that, they can sue you for making their injury worse. And NEVER encourage someone to see the doctor. That could lead to a lawsuit!" Although I could see her point, I thought... Well, excuse me for being a decent human being, lol.

Well, 99% of the time, he's interested in gambling (poker) which has driven us badly into debt... So it would probably be easier to care about his interests, if they were healthy ones, lol. It does tend to consume the mind... I'm sure you can imagine :) I will admit that before he learned to play poker, we were MUCH happier... I guess I figured every guy has his "thing" he likes to do. But now, its like he's become this machine, with no room in his head or heart for anything else, including me. I wonder if the church has meetings for people with that problem.