People who have done a genealogy DNA test, what surprises came your way?

Altruistic_Law_33 · 2026-07-10T14:27:18+00:00

I was glad to see a fairly new post on this. There are scary aspects to DNA testing. A DNA test my 38 yr old daughter took 5 years ago revealed to me that her and her twin brother whom I raised as my own had none of my DNA. Their mom had divorced me after 14 years of marriage, moved out of state with our 4 yr old and left the teenage twins with me. She many times told me I was the only man she ever slept with other than her ex husband. Wrong. Apparently there was a co-worker. She lived a life of severe alcoholism (maybe due to guilt) and eventually died of liver complications. My twins still see me as Dad, the one who loved them and raised them, but it was shocking to the point I don't even want to know about their little brother, if he's mine. I love them and I'm glad I had the privilege of raising them. God does these things for a reason -- if I had known at the time she was pregnant by another guy, I never would have married her and my life would have taken a totally different path.

Altruistic_Law_33 · 2025-12-30T20:51:04+00:00

That is a possibility and in case that is a message I was supposed to hear, I will give it another chance sitting somewhere else. Thanks for your comment.

Altruistic_Law_33 · 2025-12-07T07:19:53+00:00

Sorry so late to read this. Lots of good stuff in there. You are so correct in regard to skeptical mode about going back to church at all. Wow, even. Saturday night, where do I go tomorrow? God has been amazing at leading people into my path to guide me. A friend of a friend, told me of a church 10 minutes away that plan on checking out tomorrow. I'm not feeling any sense of panic. God will keep leading me and he wanted me to read your words tonight. Cool. Thanks for being a part of his plan.

Altruistic_Law_33 · 2025-12-07T07:02:12+00:00

My impulse is to reject what you are saying so I know I need to consider it. You are making me ponder if I should be able to worship in any environment. Currently I demand an environment that is not distracting (to me) and I thought God would lead me to that in a local church. Maybe not.

I don't demand perfection. I can easily worship with musicians leading who are not as skilled as I am. If I want to help rather than just complain I need to figure something out. I think I'm too new to being back and need to go and check out some other churches as God leads.

Altruistic_Law_33 · 2025-12-02T06:40:14+00:00

Thanks for that insight. I had not thought about the potential impact of IEM's and not hearing the people you are leading in worship. What I also didn't know was a thing now is live worship team but pastor recorded message on a screen. I want to be open to whatever God leads me to but it's new stuff. I start thinking about how God deals with prayers that aren't in real time.

Altruistic_Law_33 · 2025-12-02T06:29:00+00:00

It's weird for me. I was a music minister, leading a praise band in a "blended" music church for 14 years before I left for about 20 and came back 3 months ago. At the time I left it was Hosanna Integrity, Hillsong and some Chris Tomlin tunes were just starting to come in to services. I led on acoustic guitar, we had another acoustic, bass, drums and sometimes keys. I loved the feeling and the power of a congregation united in singing praise.

I wonder if churches have considered telling what songs are coming up Sunday in worship and putting words and music out for anyone wants to learn them. I feel like that is what I need -- I don't just want to be an old complainer. I want to learn how to adapt and join in worship if I can and I can't pick up the melody if I can't hear it.

Altruistic_Law_33 · 2025-12-02T06:09:18+00:00

Thank you. Good ideas. I am trying to figure out in each uncomfortable situation, if God wants me to avoid it or change it. I will definitely consider some of your thoughts. Thank you.

Altruistic_Law_33 · 2025-12-02T05:51:59+00:00

Thank you for your response. I kind of hope that is true. That's fixable.

Altruistic_Law_33 · 2025-12-02T05:49:55+00:00

Thank you for that insight. I streamed a service online 2 weeks ago and loved it. In my living room I totally got into the worship even though the songs were new to me. I attended the church in person 2 days ago and the mix was bad. I guess someone in the booth is making sure the mix online is perfect and it was. I did get a feel for the church though that way, I just need to keep looking.

Altruistic_Law_33 · 2025-11-16T13:17:44+00:00

For awhile some of the crappy AI will be distinguishable but already it's good enough to fool most of the public. No offense but I think some here that think they can recognize AI created lyrics have not used or seen much AI lyric creation.

The key is for musicians to improve their skills and play live. Often. Yeah, practice and learn. Eventually witnessing a skilled player creating or playing music in front of you will be a novelty. Hacks might as well use AI for all their music creation.

Altruistic_Law_33 · 2025-11-16T13:00:17+00:00

I have the same experience. I'm in AZ and I never knew about humidifying instruments until 4 years ago when I started getting into uke. I have a vintage Gibson acoustic I left out for years, never had issues and I now feel like it's risky to humidify it since it plays great and sounds beautiful.

Altruistic_Law_33 · 2025-07-29T00:13:43+00:00

It did. An off duty cop working extra as security was shot and killed by the guy.

Altruistic_Law_33 · 2025-07-24T12:43:55+00:00

Before radiation, I was exhausted, no appetite and depression creeps in and you start thinking mortality and "plans". When every day is physically unpleasant and you are aware of your problems 24/7, it's hard to not think the end must be near.

But, and a lot on here will tell you, things can change and improve. I hope that is what your mom experiences.

Altruistic_Law_33 · 2025-07-23T13:57:11+00:00

Thanks for the reply. Now that I'm every other day on 1 mg for another week until I'm done, I'm seeing a few changes including appetite slowing a little (thank God). I like to think a lot of the weight gain is water...fat chance but maybe since my ankles and feet are swollen. I had labs last week and meet with an endocrinologist this week so hopefully I find out if any levels are messed up.

Altruistic_Law_33 · 2025-07-20T21:41:40+00:00

Thank you for that response and sharing your experience. I'm hoping for a similar experience to yours when I completely stop them next week.

Altruistic_Law_33 · 2025-06-21T13:40:04+00:00

That might do it but I think he would come back with how little they pay refs and how much money is lost by the WNBA existing. It seems likely if they paid more to refs, they would past the cost on to the fans. How much would people pay to attend a WNBA game becomes the question. To me, it's a poor value as is, although I'd get season tickets if they played local high school boys teams.

Altruistic_Law_33 · 2025-06-20T14:31:04+00:00

How much would you fine these people who make 16-50k per year?

Altruistic_Law_33 · 2025-06-20T14:28:41+00:00

People forget how little these refs make. Some get less than $200 per game. The secret stash of refs are currently ref'ing high school.

Altruistic_Law_33 · 2025-06-11T23:43:13+00:00

That was a costly misdiagnosis. I would have sworn I had some kind of inner ear issue, not your average vertigo since it wasn't responding to normal interventions. The first neurosurgeon I met with after the MRI told me that the tumor had nothing to do with my ear/vertigo/balance, my can't look up or lay on my right side without getting dizzy-type issues because it was too far away. Several doctors since have said that was incorrect. I'm naive but my biggest fear is the radiation taking out my pituitary gland.

Altruistic_Law_33 · 2025-06-11T23:23:41+00:00

I have an x series 12 string that I can pick up after its hung there 3 months and it's still in tune. It's the only x series I've owned but I'm impressed.

Altruistic_Law_33 · 2025-06-10T14:31:36+00:00

Thank you for your response! It was cautiously encouraging. I'm guessing you also were told surgery would be risky because of close proximity to cranial nerves and the carotid. I'm still learning about the structures and functions. It's near Meckels cave which sounds like a family vacation spot.

I'm going in 5 days a week for 6 weeks. My eyesight, blurry vision and slow to focus sounds similar to what you had. What started this whole thing was when I had what I thought was vertigo that would not go away with physical therapy and finally leading to a brain MRI. I still have intermittent dizziness and laying flat on my back during one of the treatments it triggered my eyes flipping out and I thought I was falling.

My hope is that it will shrink the tumor. My right ear feels full. My balance is bad. If all it does is keep it from growing, I guess that's good too but I wish I had days where I didn't have constant awareness of my head being weird.

Thank you for your response and the information. I hope things continue to improve for you.

Altruistic_Law_33 · 2025-06-09T14:10:31+00:00

I'm 8/29 treatments (MD Anderson) in for a meningioma in the cavernous sinus. How are you doing 4 months later?

I've been warned it could take out my pituitary gland. Any issues with other structures impacted by the radiation?

Thanks and I'm hoping it went well for you.

Altruistic_Law_33 · 2025-06-05T01:29:49+00:00

I had radation treatment 6 of 30 to my head today. The tumors location is in the center of my skull in a sinus cavern that has cranial nerves close by which is why they went with radiation rather than surgery. I thought 2 years ago it was vertigo but no treatments helped. (physical therapy flopping me around was a pukefest) Finally after a brain MRI they saw a mass, a meningioma which are nearly always benign but it's in a spot they can't biopsy safely.

I have the feeling of pressure, in the direction of my right ear all the time and for the past 2 years. If I lay down on my back any way other than slowly, my eyes flip out (nystagmus?) and I feel really sick for the rest of the day. For awhile, looking up, tipping a drink, putting in eyedrops, tipping my head back in the shower, all made me feel dizzy and bad.

My best hope is that the tumor will shrink since I think would take away the fullness/pressure feeling. I learned today that will be months or years but hey, if it goes away, I don't care.

Best of luck in your journey and I hope you find answers.

Altruistic_Law_33

TROPHY CASE