Please Read [Archive] - Frell Me Dead

harveywhispers

05-06-2004, 12:03 PM

Please let me ramble for a moment, as I jusr want to make sure that everyone knows I posted something like this in our local Yahoo Group. I just want to make sure that you all know this cross-posting isn't meant to lessen the impact of what I'm saying. Actually, I feel that "saying" it in more than one place shows how important you all are to me.....

Hey everyone...

For the last several months, I have felt more than slightly unsettled with the events of my online life. At the core, it seems as though we have lost some vital portion of our soul. While I have experienced this unease, it took so long for the missing element to just hit me right between the eyes. We have lost that beautiful chatter which makes us a family, and become something akin to a machine in our accomplishments. There are faces I desperately miss seeing, email discussions I miss having and chats I want to be a part of once again. Let's see if we can get a little of the magic back. I'm not saying that you have to tell us personal things, but we are family and EVERY single one of you matters to me. I care about how you feel, what you have done and what the future has in store for you. If you don't feel comfortable with personal things, talk about Farscape. Heck, if neither of those works for you, just post a "hello". I know we can get our family back.

My Update:

The month of April was fairly nondescript, save for the untimely passing of a much-beloved family pet. His death hit me very hard, as I loved/love him with every ounce of my heart. Thankfully, the kindness of my family and friends (all of you) helped pull me from my tailspin of grief.

On a strictly Farscape front, I have a project or two in the works....at least one is pretty cool...and I might explode waiting for the mini......

Next?

LiLOrion

05-06-2004, 12:36 PM

I have come to the realization that painting the Not-So-Mini Mini Cooper remote control car that I am donating to I think 3 or 4 conventions including MarCon, GenCon and DragonCon is not as easy as I thought it would be. That and it took entirely too much spray paint, some of which ended up on me, which I was not at all pleased with as yellow is not my color. :D

And I also realized as I was taking off the masking tape, that the paint isnt actually "one with" the car, its just kinda like a big ole latex yellow *thing* and peels off a bit too easy for my liking. But so long as it isnt picked at, it should be fine. SHOULD be fine.

But its almost finished now, I just need to do some black detailing and then I'll post pics.

Madre Farbot

05-06-2004, 01:02 PM

I'm not altogether sure what's missing than to say that I do miss BillFrugge. I don't exactly miss him because I had things to say to him, I guess it's just that I don't see his avatar anymore that I feel that there is something is gone. I pm'd him the other day, but I suppose that was just pointless especially if he's gone for ever :(

Personally, I sometimes feel that I'm not doing enough in the real forums, you know the ones that focus on Farscape, and I just can't seem to get it together lately. I promised Blackthorn I'd get me finger out and get on with a little project of mine. I want to build a point of sale stand inorder to do much scaping. I bought dren loads of cardboard but I'm having difficulty in getting hold of the plastic extrusions, something I hope will help my stand stand up. And on top of that there's all the other frelling things I wanna do.

If there's something in this particular forum which is eroding what we may have once had it may well be an idea as has already been suggested I think by one of the mods to indeed have an altogether separate forum that will handle all the touchy issues that may be causing frictions in our community. Or, am I off the richter scale?

Anyway, I truely hope that things work out for you.

janey_13

05-06-2004, 01:02 PM

My update: even though I purchase a house on Valentine's Day and closed at the end of March, I'm still not moved in! Hopefully by June, everything will be done and I can start the hellish procedure of packing up my junk and moving!

sny

05-06-2004, 01:08 PM

Hmm... recently...

Spending way too much time online, here and elsewhere, completed some Harry Potter-related fanfiction stories, added many stories, icons, and drawings, to my website, and drew much. Think I might accidentally be improving on the drawing front, but I am definitely getting faster and more efficient at it. What once took weeks now takes hours. Writing and drawing has been worth the time it takes. If not for the personal creative satisfaction, then just for the fact that it gives me an excuse to talk to my beta reader in Denmark. She's fun.

Got a screaming new work computer, and flat panel monitor. Now have new computer envy whenever my home computer crashes or when I think about how dark my "I can't throw it out because it still works" ten year old monitor looks in comparison. Then I feel guilty for it, because I already own a flatbed scanner, an HP color laser printer, and a Wacom tablet at home.

Finally figured out what all that "My hed iz pastede on, yay!" business I kept seeing on the internet was all about, so I'm very proud of myself. Oh, and I played a lot of Quidditch World Cup. Can ya tell I've been in a Potter-related mood lately? I love kicking behind as Bulgaria, particularly. I live to do that Wronski Feint. Fun to no end. Oh, and I attended a fantastic piano concert with a coworker last week.

There, I'm all small-talked out, now, I think.

Clarsax

05-06-2004, 01:12 PM

I've noticed that a lot of people who used to post here are now gone, and it does seem as though we have less to say to each other and respond less to each others' posts. People who I remember posting here on an everyday basis haven't been around in months and it's been awfully quiet lately. But I don't know what the answer is. I also feel like I don't spend enough time in forums that involve promoting Farscape, although it looks like most of the projects these days are focused on donations, something I am just not in a position to be able to do right now. I don't know if touchy topics have as much to do with whatever's changed. We've always had those and only a few times I can remember have they resulted in members leaving and never coming back or else disappearing for a long time. I'm not sure what's changed but our community does seem to be unwraveling here and there.

harveywhispers

05-06-2004, 01:12 PM

Hey....

I am not passing judgment on anyone/anything, as my only goal is to remind people that we do all care about each other. Consider it a thread in which you can come say "hey...I'm still here...just busy...but I feel good to notice you missed me."

I, personally, am having the time of my life in Scaperdom!

Jeff O'Connor

05-06-2004, 01:17 PM

I'll go next.

Schooling has been fairly rough; as some of you know I'm actually getting my GED. Unfortunately, in the midst of the past, my original birth certificate was lost, and you need one in order to get a non-Driver's ID (I don't have a Driver's License or even a permit yet, sadly), and you need an ID in order to take the test. I've been ready to take that test for over two months now, and rearing to go into college while maintaining my job at the grocery store near me, Kash n Karry. Finally I've been able to muster the funds together to get a new "original copy" of my birth certificate, then I get the ID and voila, I'm set to take the test.

Financially life has always been a problem for me, all sixteen years of it so far. I never knew my father and mom well, wasn't able to take care of me to make a long story short. I've lived with my disabled and unemployed grandmother most of my life since the three of us (mom, grandma, and I) moved down from New York. Lots of things in-between, but it's pretty safe to say getting food on the table has been very difficult. Now that I'm working, and since I'm no longer in high school, it's hard to get any benefits we used to get, and most of my money is going into the household.

This month, however, things have been going fairly straight. Well, what little of this month there has been, anyway... I should say last month technically. The school situation is being resolved, I got a raise at work, I've advanced relationships with a lot of Scapers online - there isn't a day that I don't talk to Reese now. (JrMTC) *brings in a huge grin at that*

I've started a message board - three, technically, but they're all tied in through one. There's plans for a website to thread them all together as sort've a headquarters. The site and boards are all about Farscape. The main board is a lot like FMD, just not as big or as cool for that matter, hahah. The other two are extended arms - a roleplaying board that promises to be fun when completed, and a fanfiction board, too! I couldn't be doing it without Reese, she rocks so much. Also, I'm now working for the Farscape-1 Encyclopedia Project. I've got five more days to get the Scorpius definition complete. I'm so excited... getting to work for such a top-notch site, and my first goal is to give the ultimate definition for Scorpie!

Mom's been doing better. I could go on an endless explanation spree about why she wouldn't normally be so good, but I won't. It's good to know, however, that she's fairing well. I love her more than anyone in the world.

Besides that, things are pretty normal. Spreading the word of Farscape, advertising here and there, writing to my heart's content, making songs, working, schooling, the likes. Thank you, though, harveywhispers. Sincerely and meaningfully, a thank you, for giving me some place to post all of this. I've wanted to get it out for a while. Kudos on making this thread.

Jeff O'Connor

05-06-2004, 04:56 PM

Just posting again because once FMD went down it didn't show that anyone new had replied to harveywhispers' thread.

kitfoxer

05-06-2004, 06:25 PM

I also care very much about this board and all its members, even though I hardly EVER post (I'm a professional lurker). I too miss the many regulars we all used to see on FMD. I don't have any explanation either, but it's a drag. I sincerely hope people haven't lost interest in the campaign just because the mini was announced. This isn't an ending, it's a beginning!

As for me, I continue to tinker on the flying money-pit on weekends, and the daily grind for the rest of the week. I ship out at the end of this month to the research vessel, but it's only for a month instead of the usual two.

I continue to carefully monitor the MS Phase 1/2/3 threads and am still deciding on where to apply my donations. It's very interesting!

-kitfoxer

P.S. Hello to Huh, CMScaper, Twich, Jul and Mickie!! And to everyone else too!

Judith

05-06-2004, 06:39 PM

Well, I got into the MFA program at my school (fiction) which is wonderful for me. Now that I'm no longer nondegree, I can actually go to the advisor and say "This is what I need for my writing at this stage" and she'll actually listen to me! She may not be able to always make things work out...but just having a say in my academic development is great!

I've been spending a lot of my down time with my pets...working on my 2 (soon to be three) aquariams, and playing with my two rats and my two cats. The rats are relatively new (I got them in December) and they are sweethearts!. They are like little tiny dogs-like little tiny big dogs, not the yappy kind. Calvin will sit in my lap while I watch TV, and will fall asleep if I pet him, and he is sooooooo licky and affectionate. Jake loves to scamper around and generally cause mischeif and glare at the cats...but he whenever he hears a loud noise, he runs and hides behind me! Wimp.

Oh, and me and about six other women in my area are starting a rat rescue, which there is great need for since small pets are pretty much viewed as disposable. We're waiting for our non profit status right now, so there's not a lot to do besides generate ideas. I am on the board of directors and will be their grant writer.

Josh needs eye surgery and the insurance won't cover it. So we're having some financial trouble. That is bad, but I don't really want to talk about it much. I'll just say that I am VERY worried about him.

That's pretty much what's been going on in my life. I haven't been around to post much, but I still lurk from time to time.

I-am-so-Johns-girl

05-06-2004, 07:10 PM

Lil O...this advice is probably too late :rolleyes: . There is special spray paint (I think Krylon) that is made for painting plastic. Is that what you used? The stuff is supposed to adhere like a MoFo :D .
On the home front...me and hubby are getting ready to go down to New Awlins to see my fam and then all of us (Mom & Dad, sister +SO and her daughter +hubby) are going to Pensacola Beach for a whole week of sun and fun! :snorkel: :partydude :sun: I plan on drinking LOTS of "Sex on the beach with John" drinks (see receipe in Scaper cookbook II) and general relaxing with my adorable hubby and visiting with the Fam.
On Farscape front...I would like to publically thank janey_13 for her invaluable help with a photograph I was trying to make in Photoshop and just couldn't make it work! (I'm an amature) :eek: It was for a birthday card I was making for my Father-in-law who was celebrating his 78the birthday with us last week. :applaud: What janey did was magic! :D
That's all folks! :hugz:

Muaadeeb

05-06-2004, 07:32 PM

I must say I normally only post in regards to news or projects in regards to Farscape. What I want to be part of is helping to get the show back. I lurk most of the pages every day waiting for that special project to call out to me to take part in fully.

If you have a few Farscape projects in the works, open up, I am not only available to help you but that is why I keep comming back to these pages. I love Farscape and the people (fans&crew) who make it happen.

:-)

muaadeeb@cox.net

grinner

05-06-2004, 08:23 PM

Okay... The tone of the OT's...

yes, there has been a shift in the discussions from conversations to arguing politics. If you look back at some of the threads and those who posted on them... there is a decidedly different group of people who seem to be missing. Johnsgirl is back, Kechara hasn't been around as much, and there are many others that don't come around as much or at all.
I lament the loss of the conversations... and I do have to take some blame on the shift... casue I can't seem to get enough arguing. But then, we have been doing that since I have been here. But we tempered it with nonsense threads... the games threads... the trivia games. It seems that the only threads like these that are still used are the word games and the Doctor Who trivia game. There are also less activity in the just frell around threads... the wacky conversations... and such.

What could be done? Who knows. We have lost many members... but have gained new ones. Those of us that have been around for a while... have sort of defined the way the OT's handle things. I don't know what can be done to change things back... as you can never truly go back to the way it once was.

Eve11

05-06-2004, 08:29 PM

Well, after a resounding success at the Pitt comicon, the Pittsburgh scapers had our meetup yesterday. We even had a new person show up to the meetup! She had some great ideas about trying to find venues around our area where we might be able to do a public, free Farscape chain reaction (and charge for snacks, lol). Also we are going to be moving forward on the Ronald McDonald house project too: we will write to Best Buy stores and ask if they would be willing to donate DVD players to the Ronald McDonald house, and then we raised about $60 at the comicon to put toward buying DVDs (we also have somebody willing to donate an extra season 1 box set). We are also going to ask around our workplaces for anyone who has older used DVDs that they might like to donate -- either kids stuff or adult stuff, the RMcD house takes both -- so hopefully we will be able to get them a bit of a library from the start.

Today I spent all day updating grades, writing out solutions, co-ordinating the real-time grading of a statistics final exam with 9 graders, a go-fer and a professor, and then collating and organizing the exams and entering grades. 13 hours of fun.

janey_13, congrats on the new house! I'm very jealous! And jeff, :hug:, hang in there. Sounds like things are on a good track :) Judith, congrats on getting into the MFA program! And I'm jealous too, because in my apartment we are not allowed to have pets. D. and I have wanted to get a cat, but the landlord won't budge. We did buy some houseplants two weekends ago though. They are pretty cool.

divinedaydreams

05-06-2004, 08:30 PM

Well things have been rather busy around here. On the Farscape side I'm about ready to get things rolling on a phase 2 of the PMU project. We have a wonderful woman who is wanting to start an outreach program. She would like a draft cross who will ride smoother and not hurt her back so much. I haven't been hanging out every night till all hours but still having fun. All and all I find Scapers a great bunch to work and hang with.

Home life is a non stop coaster ride. Trying to potty train my two year old son. He likes sitting on the pot but hasn't got the go while he's there deal yet. Hoping to have him good to go by October when the new little one get's here. We have just rescued to Blue and Gold Macaws who are staying up at a ranch. The lady will be letting us take her Scarlet pair as well, once we have arrangements made.

Today I had this guy come up to the door asking to do my yard. I told him no thank you. He then wanted to buy my hubby's boots that were by the front door. I told him no. The guy was drunk and wouldn't leave and wanted to know when my hubby would be home. I told him none of his business, but he wouldn't let it go. Fortunatly we have wonderful neighbors who came out and called the police. Hubby won't be back from a school for a week and a half so I was a little concerned. But my neighbors are going to look out for us. I needed to share that so a big thanks to harveywhispers for the chance. I didn't want to say anything to the hubby or my parents who are the people I normally talk to. I don't want to worry them or in the hubby's case piss him off. He's a little protective. I think things are fine now and I definitly feel better so thanks to everyone.

zap

05-06-2004, 08:40 PM

Well, I actually have very big news! Im having my very first art opening this summer! I am thrilled, scared, happy, just the full range of emotions about this! I will have 10-12 of my works (8 or 9 paintings, the rest etchings and drawings) in the show, and two of my good friends will be playing music for the opening. Then, when the show goes down in September, I have another opening in the next town over, so I hope this is the beginning of what I want to do (be a working artist).

On the bad side, my granma has encapsulated cancer on her right kidney. Im closer to my granma than I am to anyone else in the world, with my sister a very close second. Everyone keeps telling me I have to prepare myself for the inevitable with gran, but I just can NOT bear that. Frell, Im crying right now about it.

I dont post as much here because I dont find this place as welcoming as others do. I very rarely get actual responses to my posts, and only two people wished me happy birthday (petty, I know) and this forum, this board has gotten so political, with so many bitterly opposed to so many others (and yes, I am one of the bitter ones) that I dont really enjoy coming here except as to lurk some, and rarely post. Recently one of my posts was deleted by the mods without any explaination, so that really made me feel unwanted here.

I love Farscape, and Im so proud of the efforts of scapers everywhere but especially on THIS website have done to keep farscape alive I can't fully leave here, but ........... Other things are actually more important to me than the popularity contest this place has been sometimes, the "how cute is _________" polls were frelling stupid yall, and not community BUILDING, but rather served to enhance the idea that some here are way more important/worthwhile/loveable than others, and I get enough of that crap in the "real world", I sure as shit dont need it online. Frell, now that Ive written that, I think thats the stuff that drove plenty of folks away maybe even MORE than the political rowing! At least when we fuss about politics we are fussing about real issues (important in an election year) but the popularity stuff...........well, I guess I sound like sour grapes, and if so, Im sorry.

divinedaydreams

05-06-2004, 08:51 PM

zapgun don't be sorry if that is how you feel. These are the things we as a community need to hear. I don't think anyone is trying to make things a popularity contest but I can see how some may feel its become that. I'm sorry your birthday wasn't recieved better. But I do have to ask how much time do you really spend on the boards? Its not an attack but generally people respond to names they remember or have seen. Shoot not even names sometimes but they recongize the avatar. A community is built out of an exchange system. I at first didn't get a lot of response to my threads either but I kept at it. I offered ideas and spoke up. I participated in some of the games. I don't know everyone and everyone doesn't know me and that's fine. The point is don't give up, keep it up. There is such a diverse group here you have got to fit in somewhere, give it another shot.

harveywhispers

05-06-2004, 09:11 PM

zapgun....

How YOU feel matters to more of us than you can ever guess!

For a long time I had the same type of feelings that you have just illustrated so well, as I was a longtime lurker who plunged into this little world with both feet. It gets discouraging to post and, seemingly, have it ignored by the mass populace. Do not get discouraged when there appears to be a long dry spell, as you are giving some other person the courage to try a post of their own. We are each stewards of this community, and that is a role in which popularity does not matter in the least.

As to the actual popularity contests, I ty with all my might to avoid anything which decides our worth on anything other than "who" a person is on the inside....I know that others feel this way also.

I'm sorry that I missed your birthday.

===
*In reference to the rest of the thread*
You know....

When initially posting this thread, I just wanted to revisit a little of the old magic that brought me out of my firm footing in the halls of lurkerdom. Back in those heady days of silence, I just watched from the sidelines as everyone else did all sorts of things. I really liked my life, but the participants in the entire Scaper community always looked so happy.....and I wanted to know what it felt like to be enveloped by that love. The plunge was difficult, but rewarding. Some of that is gone and, selfishly, I miss it. Being an adult, understand the sad fact that things can never stay the same forever. I just thought that it would be nice to have a moment where we could look at the past, and make a conscious decision to positively shape tomorrow.

trubador

05-06-2004, 09:16 PM

Well, for my personal stuff y'all can read the "On A Personal Note..." thread in OT. No need to be redundant here. I also had my nephew stay with me for a month before he found his own place in the Valley.

Okay... The tone of the OT's...

yes, there has been a shift in the discussions from conversations to arguing politics. If you look back at some of the threads and those who posted on them... there is a decidedly different group of people who seem to be missing. Johnsgirl is back, Kechara hasn't been around as much, and there are many others that don't come around as much or at all.
I lament the loss of the conversations... and I do have to take some blame on the shift... casue I can't seem to get enough arguing. But then, we have been doing that since I have been here. But we tempered it with nonsense threads... the games threads... the trivia games. It seems that the only threads like these that are still used are the word games and the Doctor Who trivia game. There are also less activity in the just frell around threads... the wacky conversations... and such.

What could be done? Who knows. We have lost many members... but have gained new ones. Those of us that have been around for a while... have sort of defined the way the OT's handle things. I don't know what can be done to change things back... as you can never truly go back to the way it once was.
We've lost quite a few people around here... some important and nice people. But they got fed up with the verbal abuse some of them received on non-Farscape issues. Some are not even lurking anymore. That's bad.... that's sad.

The socio-political threads have taken a terrible toll on this community. I understand why the threads initially get going (a lot of "down time" after FS:4-22 (Bad Timing) aired. But it's become devisive to the detriment of the community. You can't avoid seeing the threads pop up whenever you click on "New Posts." And when someone attacks your own point of view, you can't help but feel compelled to defend it, rather than just let it lie.

And, with this being the presidential election season, it's going to get uglier between now and Nov. A time period that should be devoted to FS and the new Mini.

"MAKE FARSCAPE LOVE, NOT POLITICAL WAR" :D

BlackThorn

05-06-2004, 09:29 PM

Congrats on the art opening, zapgun! :beer: Exciting stuff. Hope it only continues to lead to better things.

As for fitting in or feeling welcome, eh, I'm used to it. Been that way most of my life. I'm always on the fringe of various groups of people. I'm there, I participate, but I'm never such a popular person that many would notice if I dropped off the face of the earth. I did that once, in a social sense, and I'm right -- no one realized it until I showed up again :lol That's life. I have two places where I feel welcome: Denny's, after many long years of being a good customer and making friends with the servers and managers, and wherever my dog is. That's enough for me.

As for life, uh . . . it's life. Writing, helping mom, my dog, stuff. I have a couple of pieces out for high profile contests instead of little ones (new for me.) Playing more of the waiting game on the publishing front. Am over halfway through another book. I'm going to a small writing conference in Seattle this summer (can't wait!) My mother injured her leg by walking into my dog. :rolleyes: Now she's gimping around with a cane, threatening people with it. :g2f: And I've got more to do to help her than usual. The warming weather brought back my tension headaches in chronic form, so I'm running on little sleep and much pain (hasn't done much for my mood or my ability to get things done.)

As for Farscape and the campaign, shoot me now. But hey, when you don't have any expectations, you don't have anything to lose or much left to worry about.

zap

05-07-2004, 05:31 AM

thanks dd, bt, harvey, I needed to hear that. BT, I suppose from your description you and I have a similar social way. I once put it like this is a poem ".....I know the inside and am the outside". Thats a weird way to be I think. But frell, Im nearly 38 years old, so I doubt I'm gonna become a "social butterfly" anytime soon! That sucks about your headaches, warm weather frells with me too......I wanna move up north to get away from this damn southern heat and humidity (Im in North Carolina)

One other thing I need to say to this community. I have learned SO MUCH about how to use my computer as well as how to keep it safe! I was like a little cave womon, banging away at my computer when I first got here, I really didnt have a clue. I'm still a little cave womon, but I run a tight ship with my computer now, and for that plus a lot more, I am thankful for FMD!

abbadon

05-07-2004, 06:09 AM

Hiya Zapgun...I understand...I was a long time lurker and a bit reluctant to register as I've never posted to a MB before and For the first few weeks I too didnt receive any response to my posts...in fact I was convinced that I was the great thread Kiss of death as more often than not I'd post and that would invaribly be the last post in the thread..LOL...But that probably has more to do with me being in Sea :fish: mode than anything else..And I too have had to ask questions concerning the tech side of things and have had some very helpful response's not to mention developing a somewhat addictive passion for photoshoping..thanks to BC asking for some calander ideas...
But the best thing being that apart from being able to share a love of Farscape..This is a place where I can log on and Visit "Planet Abb" so to speak.....and these days I even get some visitors there as well...Enjoy.

Planet Abb has pink Air
All the trees are Red
No-one every dies there
No-one has a head.....la la la....:bonk:...Methinks I need some sleep........or a beer........MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM Beer. :drool:

zap

05-07-2004, 06:19 AM

abbadon......you are a strange fellow.........but in a good way

BlackThorn

05-07-2004, 06:50 AM

zapgun, it is weird sometimes, but I also think it's can be useful. Being on the outside but in the middle of everything gives an interesting perspective, allowing you to see some things others aren't always able to see from being on the inside. And here's to moving to get away from the weather. :beer: I'm longing for someplace green, with milder weather. Ah, someday.

Abbadon, I know what you mean about feeling like the Kiss of Death. :lol Everything's going along nicely, people chatting away, you walk in and say one thing, and poof, the coversation stops dead. I still sometimes feel that way. :D

sny

05-07-2004, 07:50 AM

Maybe you "thread killers" just have a knack for saying all there is to say, leaving all the rest of us with nothing witty to post, wink, wink.

NYPinTA

05-07-2004, 10:46 AM

The only thing going on with me right now is: I have a new cat that is ridiculously lovable... my best friend and her husband are expecting their first baby, I love this time of year and am going out this weekend to take pics for the Grazays Lonley Hearts Club mid summer mailing, and I am in a really good mood right now because I am wearing new underwear. That always puts me in a good mood. :D

PS- I thought I was the only thread killer!! :lol

PPS- Congrats on the showing Zapgun! :aok:

Jeff O'Connor

05-07-2004, 10:52 AM

PS- I thought I was the only thread killer!! :lol

Oh, no. No, no no. Not at all.

trubador

05-07-2004, 11:28 AM

I'm half tempted to not respond to this, thereby making Jeff the resident thread killer.... but, I decided against it. :P (You can thank me later, Jeff)

"Hello. My name is Trubador. And I, too, was once a thread killer. It was awkward. I was nervous and depressed all the time. Then, one day, I realized I had a quadruple-digit post count. And people actually responded to what I wrote. Imagine the shock." :D

After about a month of lurking, I finally joined up (or rather, dove into the deep end) to this Virtual Moya of ours back in Dec of '02. I had never gone anywhere near a forum or chat or message board before. I still hardly even go anywhere else. This place has become like that perfectly well worn spot on the couch that you enjoy sitting in after a long day, yah know?

La Bomba

05-07-2004, 12:02 PM

Planet Abb has pink Air
All the trees are Red
No-one every dies there
No-one has a head.....la la la....:bonk:...Methinks I need some sleep........or a beer........MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM Beer. :drool:

On top of everything else, you're a B52's fan, too? :D

I think all of us have felt like the thread killer from time to time! I've had my share of post-enders.

I'm not sure if this has anything to do with the lack of 'family feel' or not, but it seems to me that because of the sheer number of people registered, and the huge number of threads that come and go on any given day, I have sort of unintentionally kept myself to only those threads that people I already know are on. Admittedly, that does keep me from meeting new 'Scapers, unless they join in those threads.

The other problem I've had is this: There seem to be so many 'projects' going on all the time, it's overwhelming. And in the project threads, most times there are maybe 10 people who have really committed to it and are on the thread all the time. I have felt like an invader sometimes when I've dropped in to ask questions about it.

Having said all that, there are many, many 'Scapers that I look forward to 'seeing' every day, and I do feel like part of a family here. After reading this thread, have decided that I need to make a concerted effort to expand my horizons and get to know more of the regulars around here better.

Hi, I'm La Bomba (or Lance, if you like), and I'm a Scape-a-holic. I hope to run into you soon!

Jellyfish

05-07-2004, 12:22 PM

Harveywhispers what a great idea for a thread well done.

abbadon......you are a strange fellow.........but in a good wayActually Abbadon always makes more sense to me than anyone else!!!

I think people often put themslves under pressure to always be the life and soul of the party or be very witty at all times or continually very intellegent and perceptive. The reality is that no one is and we should all just be who we are and not worry about what people think. (Mind you I probably need my own advice more than anyone, but I can finish doing that after I have posted).

I have found this board to be an amazing place full of thoughfull, kind and funny people and I think it gives me a refuge from the world I live in at work where the people are often funny but not usually kind or thoughtfull.

I lurked for a long time then posted wildly for three months up to Christmas last year.

Then I spent three months of my life working on a project that involved bringing three companies and cultures together working 20 hour days often away from home travelling a lot. I just didn't have the time or energy to do anything else. When the project was over I had played a big part in saving hundreds of peoples jobs and securing their future careers but I'll tell you something have had more thanks and a better reaction on this board for making a dancing bananna smillie!!!

When I came back I didn't think it had changed much and although there was a bit too much snarking recently I think it has been dealt with now. It is still a fantastic place where people can come and do what ever they feel like..... debate, work on saving Farscape more, laugh, compete with post counts or just post inane nonsense and whichever it is you know you'll be doing it with like minded people. On top of actually saving a binned TV program what more could any board actually achieve? Nothing that's what.

So I hope that anyone who reads this thread who has relurked or just got fed up will come back because there is lots of work to be done on keeping the Farscape flame alive and lots of fun to be had doing it.

Anyway this is my longest post ever and if that don't kill the thread then nothing will.

Jeff O'Connor

05-07-2004, 12:31 PM

Anyway this is my longest post ever and if that don't kill the thread then nothing will.

Nah! Whenever I see long posts it just inspires me to reply that much more. :aok:

I-am-so-Johns-girl

05-07-2004, 12:33 PM

NYPinTA.....I just want you to know that I'm on the floor laughing at your "new underwear" line. :yes: :applaud: :hug2: :lol
That made my day! ;)
To everyone else posting in this thread...thanks for sharing little parts of your lives with us....I am SO enjoying it! :yes: :hug2: Can't wait to read the next post! :D

edited to add: After reading this post I decided to snurch it...is that ok?

SabaceanBabe

05-07-2004, 12:38 PM

Jellyfish, that is about the most amazing and gloriously amusing avatar I've seen yet. :aok:

trinamick

05-07-2004, 01:23 PM

Ok, well I'm here practically every day anyhow, but I'll post just the same. I agree that the tone of the board has changed lately, and I have learned that some threads are just better for me to stay out of. I don't like it when certain people ridicule others for their differing opinions, or treat others as ignorant and uninformed constantly. However, I have had a lot of fun in other threads, because as we all know, most of us around here aren't exactly right in the head! :D It's eerie how many people here are on the same wavelength as I am - what's this world coming to? :scare:

So here's what's going on in my life. I was getting really stressed lately, because I was homeschooling my nephew, working full-time, judging high school speech, taking online college classes and some telecourses, waitressing occasionally - in other words, burning the candle at both ends. Bills were piling up, my horse was dropping weight, my car had issues, house was disgusting, etc. I was probably less than pleasant to be around at times. So I decided I needed to get better organized and find time for fun too. My sister took over homeschooling, high school speech is over for the season, and I left town for a much needed break for a weekend. I came back refreshed, and with a lot less tension in my muscles. Work is crazy this week, but under control. Homework is better, house is getting cleaner, load is lighter, attitude is improving. I am attempting to build a fountain in my back yard, I've made a rose garden, and I went to a movie. My horse is at the vet today getting his teeth floated, so hopefully his health will improve. My car has a safety recall, so it might not cost me anything to get it fixed. In the next 3 weeks, I have 6 graduations to go to, but the gifts are bought and ready. And best of all, they just got Hershey's Caramel Filled Kisses at our local grocery store! :woohoo: How can things get better?

La Bomba

05-07-2004, 01:42 PM

Holy cow, Trin! How do you do it? I feel like a lazy slob! Take a break, girl! In fact, take two! Sit back, relax, and eat a whole bag of cream-filled kisses. This is a direct order from your fake mother!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Sunderflame

05-07-2004, 01:48 PM

I have to agree with Harveywhispers, something is definetly missing...a lack of aloof ness. It's lost that lovin feeling....but hey, most of us are here just beyond the fringe.
I think alot of us are just reading over the post, and dropping in every once in ahwile....I think the new board is nice but it does have a distant feel to it.
Attempting to catch up when the board was hacked, is quite a task.
But love and peace to all.

as far as my life goes, I've just been working boo coo hours, so I can go to Burbank.
I've been making Farscape Undressed for those without.
Just think new Farscape soon.....
I also feel that getting use to the new fold is alittle weird for some of us...that are oldies...but the more the merrier.

NYPinTA

05-07-2004, 02:12 PM

NYPinTA.....I just want you to know that I'm on the floor laughing at your "new underwear" line. :yes: :applaud: :hug2: :lol
That made my day! ;)

...edited to add: After reading this post I decided to snurch it...is that ok?

:lol Of all the things to be immortalized for!!
But with out the other " at the end, it looks like your telling only me how much having new underwear makes you happy.
Glad I made your day. Just spreadin the love. :lol :D

To everyone else posting in this thread...thanks for sharing little parts of your lives with us....I am SO enjoying it! :yes: :hug2: Can't wait to read the next post! :D?
Ditto! :aok:

generic_screenname

05-07-2004, 02:17 PM

I moved into a new apartment with a woman I met here at FMD less than a year ago, but I mentioned that on other threads...

NYPinTA

05-07-2004, 02:20 PM

I moved into a new apartment with a woman I met here at FMD less than a year ago, but I mentioned that on other threads...

You also mention locking her in your cellar with Joe. ;) Whats wrong with you?!? :lol

generic_screenname

05-07-2004, 02:38 PM

You also mention locking her in your cellar with Joe. ;)
That's a half-truth!

attitude1

05-07-2004, 02:57 PM

Hello, people. I am new to this sort of forum although in Farscape's heyday I was a member of another under the handle rulebreaker. I hope I haven't posted this in a bad place: it seemed that most of everyone else's posts were about their lives of late etc.

I am a computer lab assistant working at a middle school, grade 5-8. I am so counting the days until summer! The 8th graders are particularly trying. Chalk it up to age, hormones, and end of the year due dates and sometimes I feel they won't make it through graduation if they come into my labs one more time!

Today is my mother's birthday. We're going to watch Pirates of the Caribbean together. I loved that movie! She hasn't seen it yet.

My father was recently taken to a nursing home to live. His care was too much for all of us. The adjustment has gone well but I come away crying nearly every time I visit him. To see my once strong dad who built his own telescope and introduced me to stars and the rings of Saturn so reduced in mind and body, I can barely stand it. I have him to thank for introducing me to the genre of scifi and eventually Farscape. He was himself a fan of the show and still is, what he can remember of it. But he was the one in my childhood who read Star Trek novels and watched the scifi movies.

I am not much of a TV watcher. I taught myself how to read at the early age of four, spinning from the examples of my mother and siblings who had read to me. I am an avid reader. I am trying to read all the books in our school library! I am also a writer. I write short stories and poems. I have written two full-length Farscape novels and am currently working on an epic fantasy of my created world Fenestra. But Farscape is a show that captured me early in its conception. I have enjoyed nearly every episode, cried at some, laughed heartily at nearly all, and been inspired by some of the strengths these fine actors and actresses have portrayed. I have to say that Aeryn Sun is my favorite character overall. I feel so much in common with her toughness and vulnerablity. I was shocked as many at the canellation of this superb show, wondering where things had gone wrong. I am thrilled that it will be given one more chance and hope fans everywhere will rise to help Farscape soar again.

I think forums such as this one are amazing. It is a priceless chance for so many different people to show how alike we can be. A poster child for doubters of the Six Degrees of Seperation theory. I am a busy person who works three jobs, one of which is taking care of a thirteen year old who has spina bifida. I cannot say that I will be a regular contributor to these disscussions. But I will do my best and enjoy the personality.

Thanks, all you fellow 'Scaper fans for being dedicated and loyal.

divinedaydreams

05-07-2004, 03:00 PM

Well welcome back attitude1 and glad to see you here.

tcpike

05-07-2004, 03:03 PM

Hey, y'all...I'm coming out of lurkdom to say that, yes, I'm still a Scaper and darned proud of it. *g* I haven't been posting much cause RL is rearing its ugly head in the way of a stress-filled job. But, I try to stop by here daily to fill myself in on your newsy bits. Glad harv started this thread. Even tho I haven't been to active posting-wise, harv failed to mention last month that our local group funded the first 2 seasons of FS as a memorial to a small public library in Iowa (see the project details posted somewhere here on FMD). So, I'm still helping to spread the wonders I've seen...Farscape! And, might I just add that I'm really PO'd that Farscape didn't win the Saturn for the best cable series...I mean really...SC1? cough cough... :rolleyes: So, hope you're enjoying your Springtime wherever you live...and I'll post when I can. Peace! :cool:

NYPinTA

05-07-2004, 03:15 PM

That's a half-truth!

So which half is true? You locked her in the cellar, or that you locked her in there with Joe? ;)
Either way, someone got locked in a cellar!

Hello attitude1 & nice to see a semi luker come out and say HI, tcpike! :D

Jellyfish

05-07-2004, 03:24 PM

Jellyfish, that is about the most amazing and gloriously amusing avatar I've seen yet. :aok:Why thankyou! Just added a prototype D'Argo dancing bananna I am working on (Selena's idea) to my sig.

Jeff O'Connor

05-07-2004, 04:11 PM

Rewelcome attitude1 and tcpike. :cool:

I-am-so-Johns-girl

05-07-2004, 04:52 PM

Oh god...I love it when scapers de-lurk! :cloud9: :crazydanc :hug2: :love:

harveywhispers

05-07-2004, 10:57 PM

gosh....

First...I really want to say that I am damn glad to see so many people posting here!!! My thanks to everyone who is participating!!!

It is incredibly cool to read about all of the things you guys are doing! Heck, all I do is let my clients get involved in armed standoffs (the client ended up dead)...get renewed threats of bodily harm from a female exotic dancer...and get into car wrecking accidents (frelling old people leaving their turn signal on as a decoration).

That last part....about the car....happened today. To make a long story short, I am okay.....and Farscape was one of the many things that flashed through my head in that "life flashing" moment....actually...I thought about my brother, and how sad he would be to watch it without me.

Jeff O'Connor

05-07-2004, 11:01 PM

Glad you're okay, though, harveywhispers. :aok:

harveywhispers

05-07-2004, 11:07 PM

No worries...I am superb....and very happy to be amongst such great folks! :D

Is there anyone else who would like to introduce/re-introduce themself? Is there anyone else who would like to just talk a little? Is there anyone else who would just like to pop-in, and say "hey"?

Yes? Superb!
Not yet? We'll wait for you!
Never? Never say never!

Gelfling

05-08-2004, 12:00 AM

HI. The timing on this thread is good. I too have lurked for a long while. I have the main page as my home page so I could see any major events happen, so when the hacker hit I checked it out. And I haven't really left since. The last time I spent so much time here was durring Brascape. I understand the feelings of the others about thread killing and not being talked to. But recently I've been spending time in I supose what some of the others would call nonesence threads, but they have been some of the bright spots in my life lately. And now I actually have people say hi to me or have conversations. I don't get out as much as I would like. I live out in the woods and run a farm, and untill recently it has mostly been alone since my husband has to work away. We have around 100 sheep and goats half of which are babies born this year so life for me has been pretty hectic. We also have taken on a teenager full time (who is not ours) and she is awesome. Its nice not to be alone all the time anymore. I am glad this is here, I was in a really sad mood and reading about every one else here has brightened things up for me some what. Thanks.

Zantar

05-08-2004, 12:11 AM

Well i dont post to often, but maybe you have seen me around the place now and then. I have avoided the political discussions here because it doesnt really seem to go anywhere, and so i tend to just ignore most of the UT (except the film section).

My status in life right now is that i am going to UC Santa Cruz pursuing a major in History. I have always had a great passion for the subject, and really enjoy my classes. Only problem with the place is that people can get a bit to liberal to the point where people tend to demonize the other side. Can be a bit annoying, especially when one is trying to research history. Overall, i really enjoy it here.

The year is almost over though, and i dont want to go home. Where i am from (northern valley of california) has a huge drug problem. Along with many other things. So when i go back i have to deal with all these issues, and wont get to see my friends here again till the fall. I am hoping i atleast get my apartment next year so i know for a fact i will see them again. If not that will make next year alot worse.

In any case summer may turn out to be quite hard for me. The onlyt hing i have going for me is i am going to China for 11 days over the summer. You see china is hosting the olympics in 2008 and they are sending american students over there every summer till then. The only real required part is that you decorate this little silk panel in something that represents peace, and then that gets sewn together in 2008 and displayed at the olympics (great wall of china after that). Basically the rest of it is free tours. Is only costing me 1600 for travel over there, food and lodging + tours. so that will be really scary since im going entirely by myself, and really fun.

As far as long term goals i want to go to law school to become a district attorney. I really want to help people, and i think thats a position where i could do that.

Gelfling

05-08-2004, 12:43 AM

Wow have fun in China. I would be scared if I was going by my self as well. Still worth it though.

VBKatLou

05-08-2004, 05:51 AM

I've been coming to this board and it's forums for a couple of years now. I think things kind of go through phases. Sometimes it's a very open and friendly place. Other times it seems pretty clicky and I'm just on the outside looking in (and for those of you who think you're "thread killers" or are being ignored, you're looking at the Queen right here :rollin: ). And there's been periods that to me, FMD becomes the very thing Bonnie Hammer accused Farscape of being; "too in", "requiring a lot of work to understand and become a part of". Like unless one lives, eats and breathes Farscape and the campaign you're not really worthy enough to be a "real" member of the board. Sometimes I feel like there is a small group of people who have appointed themselves as TPTB and feel it their duty to ever so gently guide the rest of us in the "right" direction. Being the independent person that I am, I take offense and my first instinct is to do the exact opposite just to show I'm not falling for the manipulative bulls**t.

And zapgun - just as an FYI, I personally do not post to any of the birthday threads just because I don't want to leave anybody out (does that make sense?). Your feelings were not petty, they were real.

BTW - my comments above have nothing to do with the political threads. Actually, I like those. I usually don't read them until the weekends because they're pretty lengthy. grinner and Darth, face it. While you may have different opinions, you both have one thing in common; you tend to get pretty verbose, and for me to come up with a reply that would rival yours, I would have to research for hours and sometimes I just don't want to. :)

All in all, a message board is what its members make it. Perhaps if we started some threads where people can readily reply without having to know all the inside jokes, stories and slang that are only meaningful to some on the board, more people would feel like replying.

DRD2001

05-08-2004, 06:41 AM

My turn. What have I been up to?

This has been a busy time of year for me. I do rescue work with cats, and we has a spay/neuter clinic about a month ago. Combine that with meetings, cat shows, forming a college group and local events... its been pretty busy. Then, local events are also picking up, because our local humane society is being sued by its own board of directors. How frelled it that? (The local humane society is run by a mean spirited meglomaniac who cares less about animals than about making the social scene.) Still to come, yard sale, Bow Wow/Meow event and Pause for a cause event.

That isn't all. ConCarolinas is the first part of June. I'm trying to get things organized for that. That means swag, freebies, flyers, displays etc... My husband and I are making most of the freebies. And the Carolina Scapers are creating our own Con Kit. We thought it would help SFS.com if they didn't have to ship stuff to us, especially since our cons are so small. I hope I have some awesome pics to post.

I've had to cut back on my Scottish festivals this year. I've been a volunteer for years, but I just can afford it money and time wise this year. Too many small towns are creating their own games and they expect the clans to pay for the priviledge to be there. This year, only 2 games. No more. This means no Grandfather Mountain games, which is the grandfather to all games here in the US.

And termites. We have termites in the house. Now that is some $$$.

Work is slow. The economy here isn't that good. Too many mills closing down. I don't work for a mill, but when the money gets tight, it affects everyone, my workplace too.

As for the tone of the board, things change. I think for a lot of people, real life is catching up with them and things that have been put off need to be done now. Schools are ending and vacations are starting. Personally, I've been trying to avoid the political threads, because I do think some people are so focused on proving their opinion correct, that they don't really want a discussion. And I think that some people have deliberately danced around the banned topics and posted articles anyway, although they say "It isn't about this, the article is really about that". Which may or may not be true depending on how you read the articles. And I never thought that people who consistently cried persecution after they themselves got abusive and rude, ever gave anything to any discussion. After a while, it all gets tiring and mundane to read. I'll gladly stick with a cat barf thread anyday of the week. :)

DRD2001

05-08-2004, 06:47 AM

grinner

05-08-2004, 07:20 AM

I'm verbose??? and here I thought that I was concise... frellitall... verbose it is. :D

Sunderflame

05-08-2004, 02:11 PM

[QUOTE=VBKatLou]I've been coming to this board and it's forums for a couple of years now. I think things kind of go through phases. Sometimes it's a very open and friendly place. Other times it seems pretty clicky and I'm just on the outside looking in (and for those of you who think you're "thread killers" or are being ignored, you're looking at the Queen right here :rollin: ). And there's been periods that to me, FMD becomes the very thing Bonnie Hammer accused Farscape of being; "too in", "requiring a lot of work to understand and become a part of". Like unless one lives, eats and breathes Farscape and the campaign you're not really worthy enough to be a "real" member of the board. Sometimes I feel like there is a small group of people who have appointed themselves as TPTB and feel it their duty to ever so gently guide the rest of us in the "right" direction. Being the independent person that I am, I take offense and my first instinct is to do the exact opposite just to show I'm not falling for the manipulative bulls**t.

I agree with what you just said, I definetly feel ignored. I almost feel it's deliberate at times. I know I'm just being parinoid but that's just how I feel.I have a life, and I also live Farscape to the exstreme. I've quit posting alot. But thanks for posting how "clicky" it has become..I just couldn't come up with the right words...You said it perfectly...well done...

Gelfling

05-09-2004, 01:09 AM

This is so weird. Something is seriously frelled with this board. Lately when I post, I'm not redirected back here. Instead I get to a "can't find" screen. What I posted is posted, but it is like it is invisible. It isn't bumped. It isn't showing me as the last poster.

Is this a conspiracy? Are you all trying to tell me something? ;)

I had problems in this thread last night. When I posted it gave me the can't find screen as well, then when I hit back and tried to repost it told me it was a duplicate. I thought it was a fluke so I posted a different time and it did the same thing. It didn't register my post on the main board either, or subscribe me. I had to go looking for this so I could see what else had been said.

jet

05-09-2004, 10:54 AM

I was a semi-regular poster and mostly lurker early on. I've continued to lurk off and on but...as some other folks have indicated...felt a bit left out that I didn't have anything to really contribute to projects. And to make matters worse, was involved/associated/whathaveyou with someone not all that popular in this forum. That doesn't seem to be an issue anymore, but I still felt a little odd coming back. But, back I am, now!

I've got a 2 1/2 year old, so I'm right with the potty-training deal "insert correct handle here" posted about. Don't have another on the way though, so I'm more in his timetable than mine. :)

Lost 5 grandparents this year, four have passed away and one's lost to Alzheimer's.

Got a new job since those who knew me have seen me and now work as a skiptracer for a national company. It's a very cool and interesting job that's different every day and a real intellectual challenge for me, and that's a good thing!

Started fishing for fun and last night I caught my first real gamefish. It was a ladyfish; they're no good to eat but MAN they pull and can really display some outstanding acrobatics! What a rush!

Uh...guess that's about it. :loco:

-Jet

Jellyfish

05-09-2004, 11:14 AM

Welcome back Jet nice to see you.

Jeff O'Connor

05-09-2004, 03:00 PM

Cool to see another Central Floridian, Jet. St. Petersburg Scaper, here. :cool:

jet

05-09-2004, 03:20 PM

Goodness Jeff, there are lots of Central Florida Scapers, with a website an' everything! :) Or is it just nice to see one around here, which is something completely different?

Jeff O'Connor

05-09-2004, 03:21 PM

There just don't seem to be quite as many here at FMD these days. :shrug:

jet

05-09-2004, 03:30 PM

True true. :(

harveywhispers

05-09-2004, 06:41 PM

Glad to see you delurking jet! :)

fermicat

05-10-2004, 07:31 AM

Good thread, hw + everyone who posted. I'm just catching up after a 9-day trip to Atlanta to visit my fiance and our families. We did some wedding planning for our upcoming 7/31 wedding, and just relaxed and hung out some as well. I'm in the midst of many life-changing things at the moment. I got accepted to graduate school for another masters degree starting in the fall - two weeks after the wedding in fact. I'm in the process of selling my house in Massachusetts. Have a buyer and am working out the details of our agreement and getting a few things in the house fixed for them. I'm planning for the big move back to Georgia, where I am originally from, around the beginning of July. Trying to wrap things up here at work so that my successor will be able to pick up my projects without problems.

That is pretty much what is going on for me. Quitting job/career, moving, getting married, and going back to college at age 38. Basically, I will be starting over. I made a lot of mistakes the first time around, so I am grateful for the opportunity to do things right this time.

My fiance (who introduced me to Farscape) and I can't wait for the miniseries. We're planning to make An Event out of it. We'll probably plan some special meals and snack foods for it and get a nice bottle or two of wine for the occasion.

I haven't been watching much Farscape lately because I have been very busy getting my house ready for sale and planning for the wedding and my move. Also when the weather changed to spring-like, I was spending much more time outside. But things concerning the move are at a temporary lull right now and I would like to watch my new S4 DVDs soon, before I have to pack them up.

Selena

05-10-2004, 07:35 AM

RustySlinky

05-10-2004, 03:09 PM

Some of us are also away "on-assignment", embedding the word "Farscape" into non-scaper sites.

It helps personally sometimes to think of friendship as a vast game of musical chairs.
That friends who meander away become someone else's friends. But they have friends too, who'll meander away to become ours for awhile. Besides, it'd be selfish to hog all the nicest people to oneself, eh? Can't wait for the next one to drop in . . . ---> :bounce:

grinner

05-10-2004, 03:14 PM

Did you use the Krylon paint that is especially made for plastic or did you just use regualr spray paint?

I know it's probably due to school commitments but I really miss .....
Silk
Alexxia
Kechara420
NYPinTA
Tiriel
mysticalseeker
kymom5613
NYPinTA is here... she just made some wonderful quotes about her new underwear... and how she would love to have a little Ben inside... or something to that effect.:D

divinedaydreams

05-10-2004, 03:23 PM

Kechara420 must be lurking because she's been bidding on the Ratscape wanted poster.

grinner

05-10-2004, 03:26 PM

Kechara was here last week... and if you check out her profile... she was here at 4.01pm... lurking...

:bigwave: Hi kechara... :D

Sunderflame

05-10-2004, 03:38 PM

ginner, you're avitar is really scarring me....

grinner

05-10-2004, 03:48 PM

it's giving you scars? sorry. :D

NYPinTA

05-10-2004, 03:52 PM

Martincore

05-10-2004, 03:54 PM

Lost 5 grandparents this year, four have passed away and one's lost to Alzheimer's.

...This is not an attempt to be funny on behalf of your tragedy, I do feel sorry for your loss...

But 5 ??? last time I checked I only had 4... are we counting great-grandparents, or what's going on?

grinner

05-10-2004, 03:55 PM

Probably a step-grandparent or a grandparent In-law... like a spouses grandparent.

Martincore

05-10-2004, 04:03 PM

oh, sorry... thanks for clearing that up for me... :)

LiLOrion

05-10-2004, 04:04 PM

Did you use the Krylon paint that is especially made for plastic or did you just use regualr spray paint?

Sorry, havent been back to this thread for a little while.

I used a high-end plastic-specific spray paint from Lowes (its like a Home Depot store). They didnt have Krylon (I looked - twice).

Its not that bad its just that if someone hits it with their nail or something and pulls, the paint will peal off like latex covered skin...and no I've never painted myself in latex, I saw it on MythBusters. :D

I'm finishing off the black detailing and then I'll take some pics. It will make its debut at MarCon at the end of this month.

Sunderflame

05-10-2004, 04:09 PM

I am also sorry for anyone who loses so many loved ones at once.
I'm also very pleased to see everyone coming up for air... Brighter day's are on the horizon...and grinner your avitar changes so much, I can't keep up with you...but then should I even try....http://www.emotipad.com/newemoticons/Noooo.gif

trubador

05-10-2004, 04:12 PM

Sometimes plastic will have an oily film on it (due to it being a patroleum-based by-product). Usually by spraying primer paint first, then spraying the latex as the second coat, will prevent the peeling.

B Sharp

05-10-2004, 05:14 PM

OK, I'll chime in as well (uh oh, I feel a long post coming up! :yes: ).

I'm with several others that feel like they are post-killers- I sometimes feel like the best way to stop a thread in it's tracks is to post in it. Sometimes I even feel that my posts are invisible- if someone posts after me, they refer back to something said back 2 or 3 posts. I also resonate with the general theme of the change in the atmosphere- something has changed in the conversation- it seems tense and fractured, and that's not reflection on the topics as much as just the general flow. It feels to me a little like a collective depression (can a community be called 'depressed'?). You can hardly call me a lurker, and I certainly don't post short posts...

When I first joined, my head was mostly in the advertiser threads- I was completely caught up in collecting the info, and posting as fast and as accurately as possible (which really built up my post count as well). In between those posts, I'd check in on the other projects and some of the OT area, but mostly that was to feel connected. I had this sense of a huge family of people, and the posts seemes to be from a lot of different folks with different perspectives rallying to the common cause.

After 'Bad Timing', I got a new assignment at work, and my life got a lot more difficult. My days started at 4 or 5am, and ended late- sometimes 8 or 9pm. Besides making me tired, the project I was co-leading was a lot more challenging in terms of relationships inside the company I work for, and partnerships with suppliers were equally challenging. I started checking into FMD for stress relief more than anything else, and so I felt a bit guilty about not helping with the advertiser collection work.

In that job, I started realizing that the way people collaborate is really a pretty amazing thing when it works, and a real pain when it doesn't. One thing my RL job had in common with FMD was that where there was a common shared purpose, there was hope and light and family and fun... where that common purpose was missing, or where there was a lack of ability on the part of the participants to be a good collaborator, then things start getting ugly.

As things at work got hotter, I checked in here less and less. Recently when I started seeing light at the end of the tunnel at work and came back to FMD more often, something felt different. Many commented on it in small ways in almost every post, an it seemed like the prevailiing theory was that once we declared success on the mini, we lost a shared purpose, so we were flailing a bit to get things back on track. At about the same time, there were a pile of OT threads that felt more than political- they seemed more like excuses to advocate for a personal position. Not venting, or sharing a position, or offering something for review- more like just "I'm right, and anyone who dares to declare otherwise, well, she/he is an idiot." In some cases, I tried (like my RL job) to offer some tools or thoughts or ideas on how to get the conversation back into collaboration, but other than a few 'hey, that's an interesting idea', I felt like a thread killer. stellar posted a few hilarious 'summaries' of what I said, which I really appreciated, but other than that, I started to hold back on comments out of both self-preservation and lack of interest in putting energy into something when I was getting nada back the other direction.

On the RL front, I'm now moving back to a less stressful situation, and I'm trying to take it day by day- I keep wanting everything to get immediately better, but I think it's just going to take some time to stop waking up at 3am, worried that I forgot something important, or that someone needed some support. I thnk I picked up a few new skills, and I'm a bit more self-reliant and confident in my own skills in certain areas. My S.O. and I are now talking about moving, and if I can just get my proverbial 'stuff' together, I think we'll do it. Both of us have aging parents who need more support than we can give living 800 miles away, so it would be a good move.

As far as FMD is concerned, I'm taking a wait/see attitude. I really enjoy talking to many people here, but the 'usual suspects' are not the ones I want to be having a lot of conversation with, especially if the conversation centers on things like gun control, or what terrible thing happened yesterday that the goverment did to us, or what political party stinks. It's just too damn depressing.

THIS thread, on the other hand, is just great. I love it. It's nice to hear all of your voices, and I'd love to hear more.