I am not a poster. I am a crispy critter.

[The Zontron 7000]

I am an internet java script sent to infiltrate your site and transform you from political neanderthals into a modern 21st Century progressive mode.

This is your first warning.

Do not try and resist.

It is useless.

Accept your fate.

You will be assimilated.

[Monkey Face]

'Night, Irish! Sweet dreams!

[sionnsar]

No, they're for Pancake Tuesday! (Catholic thing, don't ask.)

Or, if you want to ask, it's been posted right here on FR!

(But it's "Shrove", not "Pancake", Tuesday for us...)

[sionnsar]

'Night, fanfan -- belatedly...

[sionnsar]

Anyone still here?

[NicknamedBob]

I'm sorta lurking.

I've got my head in a word-processing program.
You got something you want to jaw about, or are you just avoiding your chores?

[sionnsar]

Nah, just thought I'd stop in. In wind-down mode after another wretched day spent writing the minutes of the recent meeting. This is not what I went to engineering school for! This one is especially bad, because we need blow-by-blow accounts of the arguments in the meeting, because these are just the preliminary skirmishes.

So I can't just say, "the working group discussed the issue. Mr. So-and-sew moved X; seconded by Mr. Sew-and-so; the motion passed/failed Y-N-A (V)..."

But if nobody's here I'll go off and work on a new website.

[NicknamedBob]

It usually gets quiet in the evenings.

I'll be checking for messages, or cries for help periodically.

Right now, the only help I could offer would be a match.

[Monkey Face]

I'm actually still here...believe it or don't!

[NicknamedBob]

Run out of reading material yet?

[Monkey Face]

Nah...I finished The Two Towers last night...holding off the ROTK...I like the anticipation of something delicious...

[sionnsar]

Hi, 'Face! How are things?

Wish I had that kind of reading time... but then maybe not (recalling how my SF collection went into the many thousands of books).

[Monkey Face]

Trust me, sion...I'd rather be working. I miss my working life. However: this is the hand I've been dealt, so I aim to play it to the best of my ability!

I read the first five Harry Potter books in 2.5 weeks. Which should tell you everything you need to know about my social life. ;o]

[Monkey Face]

And that was reading for a max of three hours a night.
:o]

[sionnsar]

Sounds like the life I had once upon a time (young pre-engineer in community college and all that), and... I am so sorry!

The flip side is I have Gene Wolfe's almost-latest (I missed the hardback version completely but have the paperback) 1st of his new series, and... I got three or four chapters into it on the flight home, and nothing since.

I don't reach much fiction at home anymore, what with All The Things To Be Done. (I still haven't removed all the concrete walkway I jack-hammered in August; the new lawn will have to wait until spring.)

[sionnsar]

And that was reading for a max of three hours a night. :o]

I became a speed-reader during those years.

[Monkey Face]

Welp. If I could trade my life for someone else's, I would prefer to be busy and productive. However: I have learned to live an "exciting" life vicariously through my FRiends.

So if I seem to be "interested" in everything everyone does, I am. But it's purely selfish, I assure you!

On a sweeter note...the title for my truck came today, so I'm in Driver Heaven!

[sionnsar]

Welp. If I could trade my life for someone else's, I would prefer to be busy and productive. However: I have learned to live an "exciting" life vicariously through my FRiends.

I hear you. I would like to be able to strike a balance. But that's not in the cards right now...

[Monkey Face]

I first read the entire LOTR books (4 volumes, including The Hobbit) when they were still "underground" and not available in bookstores. I found mine in an office supply store. I think that was in 1970. I have made it a point to read them every year since. Usually around this time of year...Good triumphs over Evil and all that. My kids were lucky...The were 10 and 13 when I gave them the books...

[Monkey Face]

I know...some of us aspire to greatness...the rest of us have it thrust upon us!

I try to do the things that my family would want...transcribing my personal history, transcribing the personal histories of my relatives, scanning photos and slides for my posterity, etc., etc., and ect.!

[sionnsar]

I encountered The Hobbit about 1963, I think, when I was home with the mumps. Went through the rest soon after, so when they became "mainstream" I was way ahead of the game.