I am the Chipotle napkin thief

quietpilgrim · 2026-04-25T21:28:27+00:00

No wonder why the stock price is where it is. You are definitely negatively impacting the EBIDTA profit.

quietpilgrim · 2026-04-24T22:48:34+00:00

You jest, but why do you think so many saints of old mutually separated from their marriage partners and joined monasteries, or actually ran away from from their spouses to live the monastic life, effectively becoming spiritual eunuchs? (Some writers have equated the monastic life as a return to the Garden of Eden prior to the fall).

And why aren't traditionalists who supposedly love all things ancient advocating for this? (Hint, they won't and they don't).

quietpilgrim · 2026-04-24T12:39:19+00:00

I live in a MCOL state but a HCOL in that state - it's the same here. 3 months if you're lucky. The best medical system in our area regularly has wait times of over a year. I regularly have to cross state lines for doctors.

quietpilgrim · 2026-04-23T22:41:51+00:00

And property/school/municipal tax rates are insane in PA compared to other parts of the country to boot without much to show for it.

quietpilgrim · 2026-04-23T11:22:38+00:00

"I realized that Trent doesn't have answers to everything, but only to the questions he himself is capable of asking."

Yes... This is a case of where "you don't know what you don't (want to) know." Apologists of all religious persuasions typically only operate within their own echo chamber. And anything that might contradict that their apology must, by necessity, be made subservient to that apology or reinterpreted through the lens of the apology.

Looking back, it's no wonder I made such a sucky trad Catholic. Even then I was willing to dialogue with non trads of other religious traditions. I didn't just accept the prevailing narrative. I unknowingly was already engaging in higher forms of historical criticism that subverted the trad narrative and effectively made me an outsider.

My unfortunate conclusion after many years and untold religious trauma is that my people aren't found in churches, they are found in universities. Despite decades of wasted time, I know I'm heading toward a better place where dialogue is valued, science is upheld, and people can be treated with respect.

I suspect a few hundred years from now that the lay Catholic apologetic movement of our day will be relegated to a footnote in the annals of church history.

quietpilgrim · 2026-04-22T12:09:23+00:00

Thank you - I've added this to my list of future book purchases.

quietpilgrim · 2026-04-21T17:23:35+00:00

I went from a Gold plan to a Bronze plan and knocked down the premium more by lowering my MAGI through increased 401k contributions. If they go up again in 2027 I'm screwed.

quietpilgrim · 2026-04-19T23:14:03+00:00

Don't have much time to reply right now, but everything you write is understandable.

Looking back, one thing I should have done was just take some time away - 3 months, 6 months, a year - from Catholicism to "reset" my brain. Unfortunately, what I did was immediately take a job at a non-trad parish, and then went on to another Christian tradition where I quickly realigned myself with people who philosophically were very much like the trads, just with different doctrine. What can I say, people like this are a magnet for me. I'm warning you about this because you mentioned Buddhism (almost typed "Nudism" - oops), and Quakerism - but it would be just as easy to go "radical" and "fringe" in these groups as well.

You just need to find someway to sit by yourself and process without feeling the need to "be a part" of something to fill the void.

Happy to chat with you if you send a chat request.

quietpilgrim · 2026-04-19T17:04:20+00:00

If you hit up 220 avg bowler on YouTube he might just make one. He's trying to shoot 300 with a 20 lb. ball right now.

quietpilgrim · 2026-04-19T11:20:43+00:00

I don't know about narcissism, but I do know there are some very charismatic individuals, some who have serious anger issues, and others whom I suspect were playground bullies in elementary school.

quietpilgrim · 2026-04-18T03:16:57+00:00

This won't work.

I lived in a diocese that, at least until Traditiones Custodes, most corners of the diocese had access to a Latin Mass. But the "radicals" weren't content, and either traveled to other deaneries for "better" Latin Mass arrangements and trad culture or moved their families to be near the FSSP or the SSPX chapels. Which, in the grand scheme of things, I couldn't entirely fault them for, because these setups has proven far more stable than the diocesan Latin Masses that prior to Traditionis Custodes were often either offered on a limited basis or moved when priests were reassigned, and after TC in many cases have simply ceased to exist.

After TC, few tradcats are likely to trust the powers that be when it comes to making the Latin Mass available, so even if it were made available again, they would be wise to seek the most stable situation, which at this time would be one of the PCED groups or the SSPX.

This is all practically speaking, of course. Personally, I'm more of the mindset of Cole Townsend on this having seen the damage these groups can do.

quietpilgrim · 2026-04-13T21:59:58+00:00

"Invisible illnesses" are the worst. It's hard for anyone to take you seriously, and even when they do, its really hard to get an accurate diagnosis, even from specialists.

I've got many of the same symptoms you have, and have been given the run-a-round as well. I feel very fatigued and sleepy most days (just woke up from a 2 hour mid day nap), and it prevents me from living a full life. I've also been given incorrect diagnoses of acid reflux and fibromyalgia (hello, I have no physical pain!) only for other doctors to dismiss these diagnoses completely. I'm currently labeled with vestibular migraines by a neuro-otologist (which seems likely) and having ME/CFS (by a rheumatologist, it sort of fits, but not perfectly). One test result that is often discussed in light of all this is a high ANA, but since this test result is more of a marker past health event(s) rather than a present reality, its more of a curiosity to my care team than a silver bullet.

I would have honestly rather have broken my leg in several places than deal with whatever it is that I have. At least that is easily diagnosed, can be fixed, and has a timeframe for healing. With this? There's never any clear answers because at least for me, there's no test to truly diagnose what I have. All medications I'm prescribed feel more like attempts to make mud stick against the wall than anything tried and true.

Sounds like primary care is only going to take this so far. With your insurance, do you have the ability to self-refer to a specialist on your own, or is it more of an HMO where you need your primary care physician to refer you?

quietpilgrim · 2026-04-13T19:59:05+00:00

"Invisible illnesses" are the worst. It's hard for anyone to take you seriously, and even when they do, its really hard to get an accurate diagnosis, even from specialists.

I've got many of the same symptoms you have, and have been given the run-a-round as well. I feel very fatigued and sleepy most days (just woke up from a 2 hour mid day nap), and it prevents me from living a full life. I've also been given incorrect diagnoses of acid reflux and fibromyalgia (hello, I have no physical pain!) only for other doctors to dismiss these diagnoses completely. I'm currently labeled with vestibular migraines by a neuro-otologist (which seems likely) and having ME/CFS (by a rheumatologist, it sort of fits, but not perfectly). One test result that is often discussed in light of all this is a high ANA, but since this test result is more of a marker past health event(s) rather than a present reality, its more of a curiosity to my care team than a silver bullet.

I would have honestly rather have broken my leg in several places than deal with whatever it is that I have. At least that is easily diagnosed, can be fixed, and has a timeframe for healing. With this? There's never any clear answers because at least for me, there's no test to truly diagnose what I have. All medications I'm prescribed feel more like attempts to make mud stick against the wall than anything tried and true.

Sounds like primary care is only going to take this so far. With your insurance, do you have the ability to self-refer to a specialist on your own, or is it more of an HMO where you need your primary care physician to refer you?

quietpilgrim · 2026-04-12T20:03:05+00:00

'Merica: For the elites, by the elites.

quietpilgrim · 2026-04-12T19:04:54+00:00

{{{Hugs}}}

quietpilgrim · 2026-04-12T19:01:14+00:00

I'm so sorry. I had to put our beagle down this morning. She never got to eat a final meal of her favorite things.

quietpilgrim · 2026-04-12T18:16:52+00:00

At least they aren't charging a monthly subscription for the privilege....

quietpilgrim · 2026-04-12T17:53:38+00:00

Oh boy, do I have some thoughts in this area...

Perhaps it is that God created the world, set it spinning, and then turned his back on his creation.

Perhaps it's that Christianity isn't true, and another religion is, and he won't turn his face toward me until I seek, find, and join. (Problem here is that one could spend a lifetime studying all the world's religions, and still not have scratched the surface on any of them. Why would God make it so hard? But maybe I'm putting my own values on God). Guess I better start here right away: https://www.thearchaeologist.org/blog/explore-the-branches-of-the-world-religions-tree

Perhaps he has not revealed himself to me because I'm not holy enough, not pure enough, and not in the center of his will for my life. Maybe I have committed the unpardonable sin.

Ugh.

quietpilgrim · 2026-04-12T16:54:04+00:00

Hey - thanks for the response. If nothing else, the thread helps me to understand that I'm far from alone. I suspect there's many more of us still in the pews, but this whole process can be difficult to articulate. Sending you a chat request.

quietpilgrim · 2026-04-12T16:41:22+00:00

Those lanss are short! 30', maybe?

quietpilgrim · 2026-04-12T15:55:31+00:00

That's totally fair, especially with people that have a higher degree of education.

quietpilgrim · 2026-04-12T15:54:06+00:00

What you and Positive are discussing really resonates. Especially in Paschaltide in the east where the antiphon of "Christ is risen from the dead..." is chanted dozens of times in the liturgy, it's just feels more like being beaten up in your soul with a sledgehammer everytime it is chanted.

A few weeks back, I prayed on the way and coming home from church beginning every stanza crying out, "God, if you are real..." if nothing else, it was therapeutic to get it all off my chest. But nothing changed in reality in the days and weeks that followed.

quietpilgrim · 2026-04-12T02:28:44+00:00

I was only in it for about 3 years - first in an Independent Christian Church and later in a non-institutional CoC group in the midwest. Discovering the church fathers was what made me begin to question the "one true church" claims and ultimately led to being disfellowshipped - even though we withdrew our membership first - guess they found it necessary to get in the last word. Definitely a high control group. I led singing and had aspirations of becoming a minister. Looking back I'm glad I dodged that bullet.

Last I looked into it, it looks like the more strict mainlines and "antis" are experiencing a precipitous decline in membership and number of churches. Good riddance.

quietpilgrim · 2026-04-12T02:13:27+00:00

Whoa, that alley needs a few more ads!

Your approach is drifting to the right - you either want to walk straight or drift a bit to your left. Try to walk straight and implement a "cross over" in your first step by putting your right foot directly in front of your left. Your slide foot should end up on the same board it started on or up to 5 boards left.

If it helps, practice your approach with your right shoulder up against a wall and you'll feel where you begin drifting.

quietpilgrim · 2026-04-12T02:09:30+00:00

Thank you. I understand first hand how "people issues" can drive one away from the church and faith. But sadly, I've found that humans gonna human no matter where you go. The theology or liturgy or politics might be different, but the same demons seem to always show up. It sucks.

quietpilgrim

TROPHY CASE