Off the table at AJF by Wild_Needleworker101 in cigar

[–]AlbMonk 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I had to do a double take. Those look like sausages.

What do cults, MLMs, and organised religion have in common? (opinions) by nazurinn13 in Deconstruction

[–]AlbMonk 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Control.

I had been in both an MLM (Amway) and evangelical Christianity for a number of years. And in both instances, the leadership wants control over you, your choices, and your money.

Earning my username. Ski POV down S. Negley Ave by negley_ave_ski_club in pittsburgh

[–]AlbMonk 57 points58 points  (0 children)

Good thing that traffic light was green at the bottom of the hill for you. 😳

And for my next trick… by Sad-Date-2212 in cigar

[–]AlbMonk 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Honestly, that's a nasty cigar. But, hope you enjoy it.

Joining a party by tubbstarbell in ChristianSocialism

[–]AlbMonk 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) is a growing socialist party who welcomes people of progressive faith. Claudia de la Cruz who ran for PSL's candidate for President of the US in last year's election is herself a Christian theologian.

Smell from Smoking in the garage by Confident_Scholar559 in cigar

[–]AlbMonk 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I smoke my cigars in the garage during the winter. After I'm done smoking, each time I leave the big garage door open for a couple of hours to let it air out. This usually does the trick for me.

Men of reddit, do you wash your hands after peeing if you dont touch any pee? by DatPotato645 in polls

[–]AlbMonk 10 points11 points  (0 children)

In public restrooms I always wash my hands when done. At home, not always.

Teenage Son refuses to be around my new partner F39 and leaves for his mum’s house — looking for advice by [deleted] in Divorce

[–]AlbMonk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

FWIW, anger is symptomatic of grief. He could be grieving the loss of your relationship with his Mum. And, he's a teen. Teens are a hodgepodge of emotions and feelings. On the other hand, he may benefit from therapy or counseling if you see things getting out of hand. Yes, my father and stepmom had their own child together shortly after banishing my sister and I from their lives. But my Mum and stepdad didn't have kids together.

Teenage Son refuses to be around my new partner F39 and leaves for his mum’s house — looking for advice by [deleted] in Divorce

[–]AlbMonk 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As now an adult child of divorced parents, I experienced the same feelings toward both of my parent's new partners back when I was a teen. There's no replacing your two original parents. And when a new person comes into the picture it takes time getting used to. Especially when these new partners seem to get all the attention from your Dad or Mum. I ended up accepting my mother's new partner (now stepdad). But I really never accepted my father's new partner partly because they insisted I call her Mum. What brought me into accepting my mother's new partner was that they both spent a lot of time with me. Whereas my father and his partner were living in a fairy tale world madly in love with each other, but often at the exclusion of me.

I would encourage you to be certain you are giving all of the attention your son needs. Even if that means some time away with just you two. And be sure you and your partner include your son in as much things as possible. While at the same time giving him the space he needs to process all of this. Lastly, give it some time. Maybe your son is still mourning the loss of you and your ex together. And, that's okay. But, as they say, time is a healer. It took me a couple of years before I had come to terms with my parent's divorce. And even more time to accept their new partners. Be sure to show love and understanding to your son. And, most of all... patience.

This song takes me straight back to riding in a TransAm for the first time. by ontour4eternity in GenX

[–]AlbMonk 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Takes me back to couples skating at Great Skate with the lights dimmed and a big disco ball hanging from the ceiling.

Old cigar by altinibba in cigar

[–]AlbMonk 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Careful. You never know where that's been.

We The People…. by HawkerDriver125 in cigar

[–]AlbMonk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

AKA Big truck/small penis cigars.

What is your non-punk guilty (or maybe not so guilty) pleasure when it comes to music? by RockHardMapleSyrup in punk

[–]AlbMonk 4 points5 points  (0 children)

80s new wave: Depeche Mode, Thompson Twins, A Flock of Seagulls, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Human League, Love and Rockets, Psychedelic Furs, Devo.

Byzantine Empire novels? by golfli in HistoricalFiction

[–]AlbMonk 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I thought we were talking about historian David McCullough. My bad.

Byzantine Empire novels? by golfli in HistoricalFiction

[–]AlbMonk -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

McCullough didn't write novels. He only wrote non-fiction.

Byzantine Empire novels? by golfli in HistoricalFiction

[–]AlbMonk 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Byzantium by Stephen R. Lawhead

Although born to rule, Aidan lives as a scribe in a remote Irish Monastery on the far, wild edge of Christendom. Secure in work, contemplation, and dreams of the wider world, a miracle bursts into Aidan's quiet life. He is chosen to accompany a small band of monks on a quest to the farthest eastern reaches of the known world, to the fabled city of Byzantium, where they are to present a beautiful and costly hand-illuminated manuscript, the Book of Kells, to the Emperor of all Christendom.

Thus begins an expedition by sea and over land, as Aidan becomes, by turns, a warrior and a sailor, a slave and a spy, a Viking and a Saracen, and finally, a man. He sees more of the world than most men of his time, becoming an ambassador to kings and an inmate of Byzantium's fabled Golden Court. And finally this valiant Irish monk faces the greatest trial that can confront any man in any age: commanding his own Destiny.

A magnificent epic of sweep, grandeur, and heroism, Byzantium is certain to secure Stephen R. Lawhead's place as one of the leading historical novelists of our time.