(oops, a bit old; maybe the thread should be closed; I don't know.)

fairytalemama: Well, it happens. There are still some about who don't do it. A few. (But I wonder how women with unpierced lobes feel about the fact that these days so many have their ears done not once, but 2 or 3 times.)

WendyK: I guess I was thinking of the immersion variety that supposed adults do in some Protestant churches. Actually I pray for Billy Graham who is ill now. Honestly I do. But as well I don't have much time for organizational pressure and psychological conditioning from big, religious groups that make people come to 'decisions', signing on the dotted line, but then sometimes the folk themselves, kids or older, have no idea what it is they supposedly decided. It's got to be God through the conscience, not human pressurizing; it should be the individual getting convicted about Scripture, not the personality and persuasiveness of a salesperson.

ThatCyndiGirl: Yes, Chicken Chowder is another good one, except that I find with chicken chowder you have to be a bit careful; you need to eat it almost immediately, because somehow the cream seems to get cold very easily, unlike some other soups. (Two cent'.)

I think the crux of 'forcing' is when the church officials 'pressurize' children to 'get baptised' or 'get confirmed' or whatever, without it being the individual's initiative entirely. When church officials leave parents with the expectation that if only their child expects to 'get baptised', or 'get confirmed' by a certain age, then the parents will be considered 'better' church members, which in my view - excuse my fluent French - is a lot of nonsense. By God's grace I seek to be a strong believer, but I'm almost secularist in my aversion to the idea of kids being 'pressurized' at some summer camp or wherever to 'make a decision', etc. But yes, there is a very clear duty to show them the right way. Hope this makes some sense.

eternalknot: Well, anyway, thank-you for your honesty! and interesting that you use your microwave for storage. These threads are great because you learn new ideas, suggestions and possibilities every day.

Catwoman: No wonder some members of the US Senate act like as if: "I've seen it all before!' Interesting: the word for Senator comes from Latin, meaning 'old man', i.e., one who has indeed seen it all before.

stripe: LOL. Actually, rice IS pretty versatile, too. We kind of use rice a great deal. In various ways. (Not every day, mind.)

We think that chunky soups (beef, chicken, minestrone even) can make great casserole meals. Add rice and presto!

stripe: Ty for the link. Yes, pierced is better; some of the others can so easily fall off.

PS: amo mea filiis: I think if you scroll down the various comments, folk are seeing that there have probably been many, many aspects to the situation you have described. For you (as for not a few people, too) the ring/stud aspect is important. But there would certainly also be many other aspects which are just as important, and even more important, too. Glad you had a good trip.

eternalknot: I wonder if microwave ovens have a lot ro do with it as well. Like we use our microwave a lot. But I must admit, sometimes my thought is, when wondering what to have for supper: what will microwave easily? as if this is the most important aspect.

stripe: I've heard of them; are they for pierced ears? (something I guess I should know already).

Margaret in CO: I sometimes work out in my mind how old I was when some of the folk I talk to would have been born. Kind of sobering thought, sometimes, so I know the feeling. Re. your comment about Christians, it's best to read the Bible for oneself, rather than through other people, and what they may say.

Jenny in Florida: Kind of combination of Mexican and Italian. Delicious. We are going Mexican for supper tonight, anyway.

bluemongoose: Well, never mind. Maybe dh eventually will be able to find you a ring in metal that you can wear, with your original ring being for short, special occasions. And maybe too you'll eventually find earrings in special metal that will enable you to fill however many holes you have. Hope it works out for you, anyway. It IS a problem for not a few ppl.

Daisy: Exactly. The individual's conscience needs to be involved. Reminds me of a guy talking to the 18th century Methodist John Wesley, and he pointed to a drunk and said: He's one of your converts. Wesley replied: He must be one of my converts, you're right, because God sure didn't do it.

Janie Grace: ...and talking and discoursing at the table a great deal. Gesticulation optional but advisable (I do it a lot myself).

bluemongoose: So sorry. It's a problem. But there must be an answer somewhere. It affects people differently, of course; some much worse than others. Sometimes it becomes necessary for some ppl to take the extreme step that you did, of not wearing them any more.

LL: Umm: I wasn't talking about Queen Elizabeth I, but since you are, she did say that she didn't have a window on men's souls. (Quoted by George Bush Senior in his inaugural.) But I guess I was referring to Federal officials trying to enforce 'political correctness'. I guess, too, that it becomes circular, since a proportion of ppl will actually want to be told what to think, how to conform and what to eat for breakfast.

jplain: Funny how this works! :) This is why also I guess why earrings and jewelry are no long a sign of wealth and luxury, whatever they may have been in history. Today, filling whatever ear piercings you have should be really a matter simply of what the person is used to and comfortable with.

ysrael: Yes, a nice balance between the two methods can be suitable. Hope it works well for you guys.

jplain: Yes, it's an issue. But titanium need not be expensive. There's quite a bit of choice out there if you look for it.

LibraryLover: Dictator? fine, just look at some Federal officials. What people can eat, what people can do, what people can think, supposedly decided by them.