A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....11-08-02

Billie

[Billie]

A Few of FR's Finest.....
......Every Day

FR is a Treasure Trove of talented, compassionate, patriotic, wonderful people who gather every day to discuss the latest news and issues; salute and support our military and our leaders;  tell a few jokes;  learn a new word;  write poetry;  pray for those in need;  and congratulate those who are deserving. Thank you, Jim Robinson, for giving us the vehicle in which we can express ourselves.

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   I can remember lurking when there were only a few regulars who posted, and now there are over 60,000 who have registered for posting privileges. The forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest November 11, 2001

So many people have written me since my original Veteran's Day Tribute, asking how they, or a loved one, could be included in that tribute. Since I can no longer add the photos to the body of the thread, I've been including them in additional posts as I received enough to make another collage.

Still that doesn't seem to be enough. I think there's never been a better nor more appropriate time to keep the faces of our own Veterans and Active Military in front of FReepers--every day! That's why I wanted to do yet another Daily Thread .....ABOUT FReepers .....and FOR FReepers. But not only about our Military FReepers; for all FReepers! Wouldn't it be nice to get to know a few of the other FReepers as well? That's why, in addition to seeing FR's Finest Military Personnel every day, I thought it might be fun to feature a different FReeper (or FReepers) each day. If you would like to be pictured, or know someone who would, please FReepmail me and we'll turn the spotlight - on YOU - for the day!

And do let me know if you'd like your picture added to the groups of Veterans/Active Military below. I will keep this page updated, and continue to add them to the comment section of the original Veteran's Day thread as well.

<

TOP:  g'nad, AgThorn's son Justin, SLB, AgThorn's son Brett.
MIDDLE:  fish70, razorback-bert, CheneyChick,Leroy S Mort, Mark17.
BOTTOM:  Terry's Take, Taxman, DinkyDau.

TOP:  ValerieUSA's son Grant, SK1Thurman, kd5cts, RangerVetNam,
dansangel and .45man's son-in-law Tony
BOTTOM:  rangerX, Old China Hand, Trish, Howlin's dad, Mustang

TOP: ohioWfan's son, MamaBear's father-in-law, MamaBear's dad, ladtx
MIDDLE:  The Mayor's niece, M.Kehoe, Beach_Babe's son-in-law
BOTTOM:  deadhead's dad, HiJinx, Severa's hubby, viligantcitizen's granddad.

TOP:  spectr17, RightOnline, SERE_Doc, Tet68.
MIDDLE:  FutureSnakeEater, RightOnline's wife, CIApilot, Clamper1797
BOTTOM:  usmcobra, onedoug, DiverDave, Joe6-pack

We now have eleven groups of veterans/active military; we will post each group of three or four twice a week, with thumbnail/links of the remaining seven or eight groups on each thread. Click on any of the thumbnails below to see the group full-size.

         

GROUP 1A: TOP: Logos, SwedeGirl's hubby, Neil E Wright, FallGuy, 1John, Sneakypete MIDDLE:  T'wit, COB1, LadyX, Dick Bachert, 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub BOTTOM:  YankeeinSC, Delta21, JoeSixPack1

GROUP 2A: TOP:  Bosniajmc, AFVetGal, Archy, A Navy Vet MIDDLE:  4TheFlag, Aeronaut, 68Grunt, Xinga BOTTOM:  Codger, AAABest, Clinton's A Liar, Duke809, dcwusmc

GROUP 3A: TOP:  mc5cents, Norb2569, LBGA's son, VanJenerette MIDDLE:  Jim Robinson, KJenerette, davidosborne, KG9Kid BOTTOM:  gwmoore, Equality7-2521, SAMWolf

GROUP 4A: TOP:  porgygirl, Phil V., MudPuppy, NorCoGOP MIDDLE:  RaceBannon, OneidaM, rdb3, jwTexian BOTTOM:  USMC Vet, TheMayor, Vineyard, rhododogma

      

GROUP 9A: TOP: Q6-God, Scan59, Mama Bear and JKPhoto's son, ofMagog. MIDDLE:  Big'ol_freeper, JustAmy's great uncle, Prodigal Son. BOTTOM:  JustAmy's husband, JustAmy's brother-in-law, JustAmy's brother.

GROUP 10A: TOP: dakine's wife, MeeknMing's dad, Auntbee's nephew, MilitiaMan7, AlasBabylon. BOTTOM:  Joe Brower, Temple Owl, Temple Owl's wife, dutchess' dad, Aomagrat.

GROUP 11A: TOP: ladtx #2 son; DiverDave's twin Don; petuniasevan and husband poorman; Mustard; ladtx #1 son. BOTTOM: AlamoGirl's brother Floyd; AG's dad; AG's brother Jim (inset); WVNan's husband; ladtx' Aunt Eva.

                     

Meet "Bahama Mama"

This will be my second year as "Bahama Mama", the laid-back island lady who regularly inhabits the "Ask Bahama Mama" thread to answer cruisers' questions. I really look forward to meeting gobs of freepers aboard when the "Triumph" sets sail for the Caribbean on May 31. ~ MinuteGal

                  

One of our keywords that we use every day for this daily thread is"fun", and I daresay you won't find a FReeper who personifies that word more than MinuteGal. She is fun to know and fun to read! I know you will agree when you hear her story.

MinuteGal Freeper Since November 3, 1998

It's always fun to know when, why, who, or what brought FReepers to FRee Republic, what keeps them here, and do they have any favorite links or photos they want to share. There is no better way to learn about someone than to hear their story, in their own words. Here are Leni's (aka MinuteGal):

I discovered Free Republic in November, 1998. on a recommendation from my freeper sister, Flaglady47. I immediately knew this site was for me. This stroke of fortune turned my life around. As an adult, I was always involved in conservative causes. Eventually, I ran for public office where I served on the "Right" side of the aisle for 20 years.

But when it came to all the finer points of real conservative "activism", I was a 98-pound weakling with liberals kicking sand in my face at the beach. After signing up on FR and assimilating the never-ending wit and wisdom of Freeper posters plus my intensive study of leftist methods, I've evolved into a 900-pound gorilla-ette who's always ready at a minute's notice to debate the creeps and freep the streets!

Besides being an avid poster on FR threads, I also enjoy volunteering to help out in various Freeper events and organizational work. I serve on the Free Republic Network's board of directors and am a member of FAB, the forum advisory board.

In addition to being Leni / MinuteGal, I was recently "Friva Diva", assisting the promotion of FRN's national conference in Las Vegas last August. I'm now serving as chairperson for the forthcoming FRN cruise conference.

I attended most of the famous FR marches and rallys as well as the South Carolina Tripp banquet and the truly unforgettable Freeper Inauguration Ball. Oh, what a night that was! When there's a freep in my state, you can usually find me there on the street corner, waving a big American flag and having the time of my life with my beloved gang in the Florida chapter.

Florida Chapter FReeping Sen. Graham's office in downtown Tampa. (Leni, center)

My life has certainly been an interesting one, at least to me! I'm a mom and an avid cook and baker of delicious, calory-laden confections. I was an associate editor for a magazine publishing house. On the side, I wrote, published and distributed nation-wide my own conservative newsletter. I did this for a couple of years till the idea of throwing my hat into the political ring beckoned.

Going down memory lane, in my salad days I played professional womens' baseball (overhand pitching) in the same league portrayed in the film, "A League of Their Own" with Tom Hanks and Madonna. I guarantee you, though, that we gals were not as glamorous as the well-groomed starlets swinging the bats in the movie. Sweaty, dusty uniforms, broken fingernails, collapsed hair-do's and skinned knees were more the norm for our team. We wore natty short shorts, though!

Being in politics and government was exciting as well as profoundly satisfying to me because I felt I was making a positive contribution to conservatism. I met many notables during the course of my career which was a side benefit for me, an inveterate gawker!

The high point was my attendance at a small private party where I had the opportunity to converse at some length with Ronald Reagan. He was in his first campaign for the presidency. His amazing aura filled the room. It was incredible! He was a tall, handsome, striking figure of a man, yet warm, witty and unassuming. I remember being totally gobsmacked at the time! President Reagan was, still is, and will be forevermore my hero and inspiration.

When a more frivoulous mood strikes me at the keyboard, a favorite hobby of mine is composing satirical or humorous topical poems to insert in an FR thread. I'm a charter member of freeper Dighton's FR "Light Verse Brigade", and we rhymsters have a lot of fun with our whacky limericks and social satire doggerel.

My screen name "MinuteGal" came about when I decided to register here four years ago. I knew absolutely nothing about computers when I went to sign on, so my son sat at the keyboard filling out the form for me. He said, "Mom, you have to think of a screen name, quick!" I panicked and told him to "wait a minute" so I could think of a clever name. I couldn't. You can figure out the rest of the story for yourselves. Okay, it's not the most gripping moment in the freeperdom history of screen name origins, but hey, it was quick. So "MinuteGal" it was, therefore, I am!

I'm forever grateful to this forum, to our extended freeper family and to Mr. Robinson for having such a positive influence in my life. I'm not only older but politically wiser than I was before I became a Freeper. As an FR "Light Verse Brigadier", I can only say

No matter which way you may skinit
Thanks to FR I need but a minute
To refute any lib
Who tells me a fib
No matter how well he can spin it!

Eagles Up!

~Leni / MinuteGal

Just a Minute, Gal...
You Have a Great Day, You Hear?!

THIS WEEK'S THREADs

11-04-02 Surprise
11-05-02 Profile Pages#6
11-06-02 Mid-term Election Victory (by JulieRNR21)
11-07-02 JohnHuang Essay

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

     1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
     2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
     3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
     4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
     5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me an FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

[lodwick]

[ST.LOUIE1]

He seemed to make a remarkable and speedy recovery...

Sexy X'y knows what wolfie likes, that's why.

Oh, by that I mean....hugs AND kisses.

Gee, almost gave X'y a bad rep. LOL

[Diver Dave]

Hope you get the florist' bill before Linda does. :)

Not to worry. I purchased them with a smile :)

[WVNan]

SASSY! Kneezles! I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU!

[SassyMom]

Thank you Nan! That is so sweet! Just like you!

[WVNan]

Billie, you've been a busy girl most of the day. Did you really enjoy a cruise? I don't think I could enjoy one. I've always been so dreadfully afraid of water. I wish we could have a Freeper cattle drive or week at a dude ranch in Wyoming, preferably in Jackson Hole. Wolves, bear, elk and buffalo are not nearly as frightening as water.

[WVNan]

Thank you Pippin, for the hug. Hope you have had a good day.

[WVNan]

I miss saying hello to you guys every day. You are a couple of nice people.

[knighthawk]

Your second guess: basketball. It's indoors, thankfully. It's raining, dark and cold here!

[knighthawk]

Howdy, Just got back again to do some FR posting.

[HiJinx]

Well, since Meekie is still at his Dad's place and not FReeping regularly, Caveman Carl suggested that I provide the coffee and hot chocolate today....

HJ

Have a cup while you FReep !

For those who prefer hot chocolate.....

[lodwick]

Good job with the coffee & chocolate stuff - thanks.

[daisyscarlett]

Thanks for filling in for Meekie....big shoes to fill but it is a good start...lol..

[lodwick]

[Billie]

I did, Nan. Even the gentle rocking of the ship. When we got off the ship, I kept thinking something was missing, and it was the 'rocking'. LOL!

The only thing my husband really enjoyed though, besides all the good food, was the skeet shooting! LOL

[Billie]

We had over two weeks of dark, gloomy, cold, drizzly weather, but since Tuesday the sun has been shining brightly again. Don't know if the election results are just a coincidence or not. LOL!

I really figured it was basketball - we talked about that in your profile - but threw racquetball out there as a second guess. :)

[HiJinx]

Aw shucks, no!
I'm not filling shoes...just trying to lend a hand when needed, that's all!

[Billie]

Oh my gosh! Thanks, Jinx! I thought it WAS Meekie! I saw all his hot drink graphics there - but what? No M&Ms? :)

Come home, Meekie!

[dutchess]

"Isn't it still something - just glancing at some of the threads I've been pinged to this week shows more upbeat thread titles than I've seen in a while!"

I have never seen so many people so energized. It's like we FINALLY have been vindicated for all the Clinton years damage. Thank God that we had FR to laugh, cry, scream with anger, console and FINALLY truly celebrate.

Thank you and "the team" for this site where new and old friends could do just that! Life is good!

[HiJinx]

You mean something like this?
Or did you want something edible?!?!