BigStewMan

Prayers going out for HarryO. Get well buddy.

This isn't the most enjoyable club to be a member of...my mom was killed on Thanksgiving Night (1968) by a drunk driver. She was only 33 years old. Dad died six months later at age 35. So, I can feel your pain having to have a usually joyous holiday sprinkled with horrible pain. I was only 8 years old...and in many ways it was easier back then. Perhaps, it's because I don't feel old (48) but, I know that I've already lived many years longer than my parents did. Hang in there my friend. God has blessed us with memories--and I'm sure that you have many. Steve

I had a girlfriend once that was so ugly I never left her side because i didn't want to have to Kiss her goodbye.

JB--What kind of mustache? I mean, definately not if it would be a porn-stache or goatee; but, a nice handlebar mustache--got to think about that one.

AGREE! Why spray it on when all I have to do is order the real thing and eat naturally--I don't think I've ever eaten a meal without spilling on my myself.

hey michael, i'm new to this lonliness thing...so bleeding, catching fire kinda sounds interesting. (i'm a 48 year old guy eating fast food and watching Leave it to Beaver). sadly, the hair on the top of my head went on strike a few years ago. oops, my apologies...this thread IS NOT about me! not sure how your day has went; but, i'm sure you'll end up just fine.

He said as he went down the mud slide through the wild fire into the opening fault... Dave Touche; but, at least we paid a lot to live here.

you guys think you have it rough? Today, i left home without my sunglasses and boy was that a tough drive in the southern california sunshine.

Are you sure it's not just a cheap trick done with mirrors?

Many of you know that my wife of 26 years dumped me and I'm living alone for the first time in nearly 30 years. Scary thing seeing a 48 year old living like a college kid. I've always been one that lived on the edge, so to speak. I remember being the first one on the block to have a telephone answering machine, a betamax (yes, I had one and liked it). I got two christmas trees now. One is nostaglic, an aluminum one with the colored lights. That just reminds me of my childhood in the 60s. But, for years I wanted a white christmas tree with black ornaments. I got one and it's getting rave reviews. It might sound strange, but, it's actually very appealing to the eye. I got this wild idea one day and did an internet search for black light christmas lights. I found a place that sold them and I bought some. Knowing that cool glow that a black light produces on a white background, i put them on my white christmas tree. sadly, the lights aren't bright enough to produce that cool glow; but, it's still kinda cool (in that old guy refusing to be old kind of way). anyway I look around my living room (i live in southern california near the beach) the weather is fair and i have the door wide open as well as the sliding glass door, the house is dark except for the black lights on the tree, music is playing, and I'm enjoying some ice cold Moosehead beer. I look around and see the things that I've always wanted to have--neon lights, a lava lamp, 10 Klipsch speakers in my living room, a black leather couch--i've got it all except someone to share it with. But, with my luck, I'll find a woman that want to decorate the place with the "Country Motiff" (apologies to those that have that theme already). Just some random thoughts on this December evening. Kindest regards this holiday season to all of you friends on this forum. Steve

i only smoke when i'm on fire.

She'd better hide the Shotz Beer around that thing.

does that mean that you are FOR e-coli, skunk beer, and Laverne & Shirley marathons?

You did fine. I have no problem with this thread--I have no problem with people smoking either (kinda). Both my Dad and my adopted Dad (who happened to be his younger brother) both heavy smokers and both died from cancer. I started smoking in my early teens and then at age 14 smoked pot EVERY day and all day. extremely heavy smoker and by my 20's I had damaged my lungs. Now, I have pills and three inhalers to help me breathe--so, I'd prefer that my loved ones not smoke. BUT, I do love the smell from someone smoking a pipe, and sometimes a cigar smell is okay too. When I was on the ship in the Coast Guard, we all went through a phase of smoking Swisher Sweets.

The vulnerability of the rookies to practical jokes. When I was on the ship in the Coast Guard, this 18-year old fresh out of boot camp and scared to death--was sent to the engine room for buckets of steam. When you have an Old Salt yelling at you and some of these guys can play a joke looking like they are totally serious--a scared young kid tries to do what he's told. I think on his third trip he realized that he was getting played. We'd also wrap the "Boots" (that what we called kids fresh out of boot camp) in foil and make them stand on the bow so we could calibrate the radar. We'd give them a boat hook and make them stand on the bow because we were about to reach the "Mail Buoy." Ah, the good laughs we had.

Grooms--I actually do agree with you. I guess my timing comment was more of just being sensitive at the death of a friend. Last week, my son-in law's father committed suicide--when i was talking to my daughter on the phone the following day, i didn't want to ask her details being sensitive to the fact that my son-in-law was probably right there (being thanksgiving day) and I didn't want him to have to hear "the story" all over again. but, i do agree with you in general--just sometimes emotion gets in the way and makes me look at something more than i should.

I definately agree that the timing of this thread is bad. I don't think people are "duped" by big tobacco though; I think they are providing a product that people are willing to take the risk to consume. I honestly have never met a single person that didn't think that smoking had a negative impact on thier body--they just are willing to take that chance. I've used this statement before and many people disagree; but, education doesn't solve as many problems as people want to believe. (not directed at you oscarsear) but, some people think that education will solve every social ill in existence and that just isn't true. give people all the information available and the majority are still going to do exactly what they want.

Jeremy--what's it called? I have Verizon and an LG phone as well.

Anyone have a spare magic wand that they can loan Amy?

i was disappointed that they aren't making it to the west coast on this tour--i would have loved to see them again.

seti, that avatar for OB was an emotional; but, welcomed sight. Thanks for including it in your post. May we never forget him.

i think i could have stared at the keyboard for hours without knowing what to write. OB...Rob...may GOD be with you my friend. I'm sorry I can't think of anything fancy or profound to say right now...I miss you and pray for your friends & family. It brought tears to my eyes to see your avatar earlier. I hope we can somehow incorporate your avatar into this website, maybe a section to remember those members that have, like Rob, started on a brand new journey. This is the second time this week that I've had to deal with death (my son in law's father committed suicide this past tuesday). Sometimes this all just gets a bit too much to understand; but, I'm glad that I don't have to understand everything...I know that God knows exactly what He is doing. Goodbye my friend. Steve

i hope you enjoy your holidays tommyboy--i've been there when i was in the Coast Guard (20-years), being on the ship and spending holidays without family. Although, when you are living in tight quarters on a ship (or a barracks i imagine) it is very easy to form good friendships with your shipmates, it still never felt like a "family," just that being away for the holidays didn't suck as much as it could have. glad to hear that you are back with family.

I have both Heritage and Synergy--and as I'd never give up my Heritage, I will say that my complete F3 system w/ KSW-12 does sound very good and has impressed guests on more than one occassion. In hindsight, if I had it to do over again, instead of dropping a few grand on that set-up, I probably would have searched for some "used" heritage.

That is HORRIBLE news and it saddens my heart. HarryO--do you know how long Rob has known that he was ill? Funny how at times like this memories start to surface. I would tease Rob quite a bit about the Rolling Stones--telling him that they were way overrated. He knew it was in good fun--proof of that, when he found out that my wife dumped my after 26 years, he immediately offered me a place to stay if I needed to get away for while. I'm still hoping for a miracle though. Thank you for bridging the gap between us and him during this ordeal--and a Happy Thanksgiving to you. Regards, Steve