in the BBC article: "I don't think anyone should be arrested because of their clothing. People cross this bridge wearing all sorts of things," one of the fishermen said.

"But unfortunately there is conservative pressure on people now because we have a religious government."

seriously, try acupuncture.

make sure you get someone good, ask around, some are definitely better than others.

and eat simple food, don't go processed. stay away from MSG, wine, beer, cheese chocolate... take all the allergy type foods out of your diet and then add 'em back in one at a time.

or heck... go to an allergist! get one of those tests, find out exactly if you're allergic to anything to rule it out.

when their sales go up at Halloween time?

we were SO ripped off w/ those gunne sax dresses for prom dresses in the 80s.

I've already been talking to my ole' high school friends about this.

I went to the event. They encouraged us to park our cars 30 minutes away and take the shuttle school busses they provided for us... this was fine for the way in to the event. They told us not to drive to Unity itself.

On the way out tho, they closed the gates and didn't allow us to leave... the shuttle bus people. The people that drove to the Unity event could leave immediately.

They had, maybe 4 (6?), school busses to shuttle the 2500 people back to their cars at the remote locations 30 minutes away. We stood there, all stuffed up against the gates, in the baking sun for 2 1/2 hours while the 4 school busses did their magic. After an hour and a half some more school busses showed up, and I was able to get away in another hour. I have no idea how long it took for them to get everyone out after I left. A school bus holds 52 people... you do the math.

We begged for someone in charge to organize a line down the town green for us all, in the shade. The mob wouldn't back up 'cuz everyone wanted to be next on the 52 person bus every time it showed up. The volunteers kept pleading ignorance, no one was in charge, and offered up cups of water.

It was a shame, 'cuz at the end of the speeches the crowd was happy and inspired, & we busted our humps to get out to west bo-fo New Hampshire... and we ended up leaving miserable, hungry, headaches, thirsty. Unbelievable.

It's the NH Obama campaign that's probably at fault, 'cuz they should have known that 4 school busses weren't going to be able to transport 2500 people. Someone with event experience should have thought it through. 'cuz after all this time in a crowd in the baking sun people started _joking_ about voting for McCain.

don't marry that poor woman either.

not until you can buy some integrity.

ignore the ones that tell you to go out and get laid... don't believe that pressure. ignore anyone being insensitive.

take care of your health first. just focus on getting through your first gyn exam with an understanding doctor. small steps.

be well.

one step at a time.

The change will happen after you can have a completely safe gyn exam. Call around, I'd contact a midwives center first, where it's all women helping women. Tell them straight out what you wrote in this letter, even if you have to ball your eyes out while you're on the phone to make this step. Ask them if they, or some other woman, that's a fantastic doctor as well as a fantastic person, can take all the time and understanding you need to get a gyn exam done.

medical help like this is out there, it's not always easy to find. The doctors are running ragged, clinics can be insensitive 'cuz there's so many patients. so take the time calling around, and meeting medical professionals in their offices only, until there's someone you can trust.

it's worth it, just keep calling until you can find a doc that will give you a pap smear, understanding that it will be both traumatic and theraputic for you to do it.

I'd imagine that your problem is more common than you think, so a sensitive doctor will be able to help you.

I had a doctor, when I started crying in the exam room, just talked to me for a little while and let me schedule another time to come and that we didn't have to do an exam that day. This doctor was a man, he was my best ob-gyn up to that time. he was great, very understanding.

the other stuff will come later, don't pressure yourself. just start w/ a pap smear by getting someone you're COMPLETELY comfortable with to do it.

good luck, & don't worry - you'll get there.