Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Waste is a Terrible Thing To Waste

My Oral-B electric toothbrush died last week. I was innocently preparing to indulge in my nightly ritual of oral hygiene when I clicked the 'on' button, began brushing and the little motor inside just...stopped. Naturally, I shook it, slapped it against my palm, looked at it inquiringly, placed it back in the charger briefly, slapped it again, and finally concluded that it simply didn't work anymore. And I was mildly pissed. I take reasonably good care of my stuff because I generally can't afford to replace my stuff. So here I stood with a mouthful of toothpaste, contemplating my new-looking yet dead toothbrush. And I started thinking about where I'd find a new battery for it and how much it would cost. Of course, there is no new battery available for it. I think I knew that, but denial is a powerful thing, so I Googled it anyway.

Fast-forward to yesterday when I received my brand-spankin'-new Oral-B Sonic electric toothbrush. (NOTE: I'd continued using the dead brush in the interim, which is kinda like going up an escalator that's turned off: It does the job but it feels...wrong.) The instructions that came with the new brush told me how long I had to charge it before I could use it (12 hours), and it told me something else. It told me how to dispose of the battery when "the usable life of the toothbrush was over". And I thought, "So now products are announcing their impending doom?" When did that start?

About a month ago, I replaced a Shark hand-held mini-vacuum cleaner that I paid $69.99 for. (As advertised, it was a beast, although I never had any spilled ball-bearings lying around that needed sucking.) Again, I was going to simply replace the battery and discovered that a replacement was indeed available...for $30. Really? The new Dirt Devil mini-vacuum I ended up getting instead was $20. I remember years ago when my first Sony Discman stopped working, I took it to a electronics store to get it repaired and discovered that it was cheaper to replace it than to fix it. Even then, in my youthful ignorance, I sensed that something was terribly wrong.

At what point did replacing gadgets, as opposed to fixing them, become the norm? How many plastic trees were felled so I could use up my 'things' and simply add them to a landfill? Are the Energizer Bunny's days numbered because fewer and fewer things have batteries that can be easily replaced? Is my shoebox-full of AAA, AA and D batteries going to be obsolete before I get to use them? (Fortunately, my remote controls and authentic Darth Vader Light Saber still require the use of my trusty Duracells.) A close friend of mine recently shared a bit of post-modern consumer wisdom with me: She buys the cheapest thing she can find because it's cheaper to replace and breaks the same as the expensive stuff. Sigh.

It just seems like a cryin' shame that so much of what we use today – DVD players, vacuum cleaners, cell phones – has become entirely disposable. I'm old enough to remember when the only thing I threw away was the packaging, not the product.

208 comments:

  1. It is a shame and waste that everything is so disposable now, either because it dies an early death or it becomes obsolete due to technological changes that happen in the blink of an eye. I was thinking about it this morning, and the only two things I currently own that I don't consider disposable are my condo and my car. Everything else is cheaper to replace instead of fix. It's sad.

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  2. LOL that you kept using your old toothbrush even though it was dead! Cool you have a Darth Vader Light Saber!

    I think your friend is right in her theory. Why spend a lot of money on stuff when it's just going to break at the same time the more expensive stuff doea. I bought an expensive camera the same time a friend of mine bought a cheapie. I mocked her at the time, but you know what? Damned if that cheapie didn't take pictures that were just as good. And damned if that cheapie didn't outlast my expensive one. She's still using her cheapie while I'm searching for my next greatest camera. I'm tempted to buy a cheapie and be done with it. Why waste the money when I'm going to have to replace it in a few years anyway?

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  3. @Christy! You survived the onslaught! Good to see you out of St. Upidville, little darling! Eh, even my car and house are disposable. Why fix anything? I’ll just move and ride a bike.

    @Steven64: The Bunny’s days are indeed numbered. We’re not telling him yet. He has a family to support. Bills to pay. Food to put on the table. Let’s keep it quiet. Now, about your stash of AAAs, AAs, and Ds. The first step is admitting you have a problem, my friend.

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  4. @Steven64..did you notice where your toothbrush was manufactured? Most electronics are manufactured outside the USA in China, Mexico, etc...so we get cheaper products that are not good quality.

    How long did you have your toothbrush before it "died"? If you got two years, that is a great deal!

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  5. @Smith:
    You said: "Cool that you have a Darth Vader Light Saber!" LMAO! One of my rare indulgences. And it still works, batteries and all!

    @Hooka:
    I'm starting to feel sorry for The Bunny, but at least I'm hoarding his batteries. And LOL! "Hi, my name is Steven...and I hoard batteries." gathered crowd "Hi Steven. Welcome!"

    (P.S. St. Upidville was a trip! But it was fun.)

    @pretty girl:
    I didn't notice where my old toothbrush was made, but I'm betting it was China. If it had been made here, it may have lasted longer but it woulda cost a fortune. Shame. But I probably shouldn't be bitching too much 'cause the thing lasted over 6 years, so I guess I got my money's worth. But then I discovered that the brush heads from the old Oral-B don't fit the new Oral-B, so I'm stuck with a dozen useless brush heads! Got pissed all over again. LOL!

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  6. @Steven64: The Bunny will bounce back. Haven't you heard? He keeps going and going and going and going.

    Now about your battery hoarding problem. Was going to suggest an intervention, but you admitted your problem so I'll table it for now. @Christy, keep an eye on him. Let me know if it gets out of hand.

    You are a rock star in St. Upidville!

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  7. @Hooka, I'm keeping my eye on him, and will keep you posted on his progress. I understand he's a lifelong battery hoarder, so it may be a tough habit to kick. Stand by in case the intervention is needed down the road. On the upside, he is helping The Bunny stay in business.

    He is a rock star in St. Upidville!

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  8. @Christy: We don't want him to single-handedly save The Bunny. Check all closets, drawers, boxes, nooks, crannies, and books that have been hollowed out. Batteries may be lurking. Also be on the lookout for those he didn't mention; Cs, 9 volts, etc. My fear is that he's got a secret battery stash of them somewhere. They always do.

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  9. @Hooka, I believe you're right. Now I'm wondering about all the books he's purchased recently to "read". Hmmm... thinking of other creative places where we might find those unmentioned Cs and 9-volts. Do you have a handy, dandy Acme battery detector? It would help greatly in finding them all.

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  10. @Christy: Why yes! I do have the latest Acme battery detector. It's the best they model, the BD3000. We can stand in the middle of the room and it will alert us to all his hidden stashes. Let's just hope it doesn't explode like the BD2000. That was some nasty business, and almost cost me body parts.

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  11. @Hooka, I believe I'll leave the battery detection to you. I need all my body parts. Let me know what you find and how I can assist.

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  12. @Christy: I believe @Steven64 would be most unhappy with me if you lost body parts. I will handle it and report back. No battery will be left undiscovered.

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  13. @Christy and @Hooka Looka you made me and my fiance laugh so hard tonight! Thanks!

    @Steven every time something I own stops working before I'm ready for it to, I get annoyed. Especially if I've only owned it a few years. I can't afford to constantly replace my stuff either, but it seems like they build everything so we have to constantly replace it. Why is that necessary? Don't they know a lot of people can't afford it? Things built back in my grandma's day used to last forever. I wish our stuff did too.

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  14. LMAO at @Christy and @Hooka Looka!

    @Steven64 I've always wanted to buy one but never have. Lucky you! Some day I'll have one too.

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  15. @Christy and Hooka:
    Toilet tank. The BD2000 couldn't find squat in there, and neither can the BD3000. Course...now I'll have to move them...again. And don't even get me started on them little NiCad batteries. You can hide those suckers anywhere!

    @Michelle:
    Nice to you, girl! Christy and I were talking last night and she pointed one of my...quirks. I hate throwing stuff away that looks new even if it isn't. The ceiling fan in my second bedroom has two lights (out of four) that don't work, so I called to have it fixed. NOT! They're probably just gonna replace the whole thing. And it looks brand new! Just irks me.

    Oh, and my Grandma? OMG, she's still living in the house she and Grandpa got in 1935. And most of her stuff is that old too. (Well, maybe not most, but still.) I remember when you got something like a tape player or a vacuum cleaner and it just lasted forever as long as you took decent care of it. Now things either seem to have an annoyingly short life-span, or they become obsolete the moment they're out of the box. I'm constantly finding instruction manuals to shi -- er, stuff I don't even own anymore!

    @Smith:
    It rocks, man. I went to this free Star Wars exhibit one year. They had, like, a hundred costumes, props, and even some miniatures from the prequels. (No doubt we'd have had to pay to see stuff from the original trilogy.) Anyway, they had a gift shop at the end of the thing and there it was: the light saber in this long box. And...it was heavy. So I coughed up too much money for it and then didn't eat for a week. Good times. LOL!

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  16. @Steven, we will find them. @Hooka and I are very resourceful. Although you say you've moved them from the toilet tank, we'll check anyway just in case you're trying to pull a fast one. We're also planning on checking the A/C vents. Oh and that bird's nest on your exercise bike, it seems a little obvious. Has to be a hiding spot for your battery stash.

    @Michelle, I still have an old radio from the 1940's that still works with its original parts. It is a shame they no longer make things to last like that.

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  17. @Christy:
    It's also a shame there's nothing worth listening to on the radio. D'OH!

    You'd defile a bird's nest? Just to find my stash? Shame on you!

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  18. @Steven, true about the music. Sigh...

    It must be done. @Hooka and I will be very careful. If there is no stash, we'll apologize to the birds. Or you can just show us all the secret locations now and save the birds. Your choice.

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  19. @Christy:
    "Save The Birds" - love it! But I still won't talk. I'm saving The Bunny instead.

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  20. LMAO, @Steven! An intervention may be needed after all.

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  21. @Christy:
    What-EV-ur. Talk to the bunny!

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  22. I was going to comment on your dozen or so brush heads (you know you should only use them for 3-6 months then get rid of them) but I see you have a much bigger issues. Christy, you may want to search for the brush heads too :-)

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  23. @pretty girl, you're right! Not only is he a battery hoarder, but he's a toothbrush head hoarder as well. I'll have to see if @Hooka has an Acme detector for brush heads. I can only imagine the creative places he's hidden them.

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  24. @Christy: I do have an Acme brush head detector. It's the upgraded, platinum model; the BHD7500. There is no better. Not even the toilet tank could keep them hidden. Although I'd be worried if he hid the brush heads in there. If he did, I'd certainly reconsider kissing him if I were you. But never fear, they shall all be located, batteries and brush heads.

    As for the birds. Leave that to me. I have a plan...

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  25. Hooray, @Hooka! I knew you'd have the latest and greatest brush head detector! No worries about him storing them in the toilet tank. I'm quite certain he wouldn't. At least I'm really hoping he wouldn't. ;-)

    Will await word on your plan for the birds.

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  26. LMAO at some of the comments on here!

    @Steven64 you need help bro! BHA (Battery Hoarders Anonymous)or BHHA (Brush Head Hoarders Anonymous), either one would work for you man! Get a good sponsor. Work all the steps. Get rid of all your stashes. Most importantly, stop hanging with The Bunny! Your dealer is NEVER your friend! LOL!

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  27. Anyone know who's supplying him with the brush heads? Is The Bunny dealing those too because the battery biz has slowed down?

    @Steven we're concerned. @Christy I think he does need an intervention. What else is he hoarding?

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  28. @Sushi Lover, LOL! Words of wisdom.

    @Ally, it's possible The Bunny is behind the abundance of brush heads as well as the batteries. I'm sensing a theme here...brush heads, batteries, The Bunny. B. Hmmm...

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  29. @Ally I think you're right. He's dealing both.

    @Christy You're on to something. I've heard rumors that The Bunny sticks to things that start with the letter B. It's a vanity thing. The Bunny is straight up shady. Check out photos of him in his dark glasses. Dealer.

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  30. @All:
    The Bunny is a bastard. (Sorry, couldn't resist.)

    Actually, the real culprit is Costco. I have enough batteries and brush heads to last me 'til 2015. And that's if I'm wasteful. sigh...

    @Christy:
    LMAO! He does wear shades, doesn't he! And that pink fur coat? Bunny my butt – he's a freakin' pusher!

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  31. @Steven, LMAO! Mmm hmm. The pink fur coat is a dead giveaway. It's time to ditch The Bunny, honey, and step away from the dark side.

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  32. @Steven64 and @Christy LMAO!

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  34. @Steven64..Costco called they want their card back, you have been abusing it too much..LOL!

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  35. The comments on here are hysterical! I'll never look at the Energizer bunny the same way again. LOL!

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  36. @Sushi Lover:
    I meant to mention this before, but I was playing catch-up. Your "dealer is NOT your friend" comment cracked me up! LMAO! And I say again, The Bunny is a bastard.

    @pretty girl:
    Costco and Sam's Club both have thugs out looking for me. (Probably shouldn't mention that I have enough toilet paper to wipe the entire neighborhood...)

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  37. @Steven this is good! I'm tired of throwing away stuff that looks new. It's just a crying shame. I always try to fix it first, but they make it so you can't now days.

    Read all the comments. Very funny folks! I read it all to my wife and she giggled too. Then she reminded me of all the stuff I have hoarded in the garage and around the house. Can I blame it on that bastard Bunny too?

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  38. Oh and about Costco. I can't leave there without spending $200 or more. Toilet paper and papertowels are my weakness. For some reason I feel like if I have enough of those then life is going to be OK. LOL! Should be food instead!

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  39. @Grey Goose:
    Dude! Christy and I were talking about you just last night, wondering where you've been. Good to see you again!

    My mom's totally into the show "Hoarders" and I suspect neither of us are even close to being pathological about keeping stuff. Yet. But I think, as a matter of course, I'm gonna blame all the crap that bothers me on The Bunny. He's just been on top too long, strutting around in his Ray Bans and fur coat. Need to take him down a notch or two...

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  40. @Goose:
    Gotcha covered in the food department. Canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, apple juice -- I figure I get about a pound of stuff per dollar spent in there. So come home $200 bucks light with 200 lbs. worth of crap to carry in and...hoard. LOL! (Somehow, even paper towels are heavy when I get them at Costco. Oh, and you forgot tissues!)

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  41. @Steven that's funny because my wife and I were talking about you and Christy last night too! Seriously, man! LOL! We were talking about one of your other blog posts and what Christy had said. You two changed our lives! I've been online and on the phone less. Spending a whole lot more time talking to my wife and doing things with her. It's like we just got married all over again. She's happier. I'm happier. And I have you to thank. Crap, I sound like a woman. I need to move on before I started sounding like a Lifetime movie. LOL!

    My wife watches hoarders and tells me if I don't watch it that's where I'll be someday. She lies. I'm nowhere near that bad. I just like to hold on to a few things that might come in handy.

    The Bunny is responsible for it all! That's great! I forgot to pick up lettuce on the way home last night. That damned Bunny got in the way and wouldn't let me into the store! Why didn't I think of that before? And what's with him banging that drum? Does he really have to announce that he's arriving in a room before he gets there? Boom, boom, boom, boom. Yep, here comes The Bunny. Everyone get ready. Roll out the red carpet. I'm with you, man. Let's take him down a notch or two.

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  42. @Steven, LOL! I think I do much better than coming home with 200lbs of stuff for $200. It seems like a lot more. And I do hoard tissues too. Must have issues with paper products. My wife is the food person. She can spend like a maniac on food in there. I opened the pantry one day and we had ten cans of tuna. There's just two of us. Why do we need ten cans? We had seven boxes of Mac and Cheese. I don't even like the stuff, but we've got seven boxes.

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  43. @Goose:
    You said: "I opened the pantry one day and we had ten cans of tuna. There's just two of us. Why do we need ten cans? We had seven boxes of Mac and Cheese. I don't even like the stuff, but we've got seven boxes." LMAO!! When I was married, we used to so the same thing. Just because it's a good price doesn't...mean...we...have... to...get...it...ALL. Totally wasn't her fault though; it was a joint effort. (With The Bunny lurking in the background, softly beating his drum, boom, boom, boom; buy, buy, buy. Kinda spooky actually.)

    Way glad that you're spending more time at home, so to speak. Christy and I both figured that's what was going on. And good for you, man! Sometimes a little Lifetime, a Oxygen is good. (a little) There's always Spike when you're feeling weak. lol!

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  44. @Goose, it's so good to see you back on the blog, and great to hear about you and your wife!

    The Drumming Bunny is beginning to scare me!

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  45. @Christy it's good to see you on here too. My wife read some of the things you wrote and thinks you're a doll. She's big on @Steven too.

    Don't be scared of The Drumming Bunny. The wife says she heard The Jolly Green Giant is trying to clean things up by getting rid of him. Mr. Clean is helping him out.

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  46. Hey! My picture suddenly showed up! Does that mean I'm official now?

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  47. I think we should have a TP party at Steven's house.

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  48. @Goose:
    You were always official, but now you're back! :-)

    @pretty girl:
    Okay, I feel stupid, but . . . "TP"?

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  49. @Steven...Toilet Paper, I cannot believe you never "TP" someone's' house, its so much fun. Where do you live again? Haven't you seen toilet paper hanging from trees and houses before? If you haven't you have missed out my friend.

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  50. @Stevn...google TP house and see what images you get, then you will understand what I am talking about.

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  51. @pretty girl:
    LMAO!! Ah, TP. Yeah, I've seen a house or two that have TP'd, especially the night before Halloween. But, alas, I've never done it. :-( But I've got plenty of paper left to try it out on a neighbor!

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  52. @Steven no, don't waste perfectly good toilet paper! LOL! I dread the day my kids are old enough to discover TPing someone's house. I did it when I was a teen. I know they'll probably do it too.

    About what you wrote in the blog. I just had to toss what looks like a brand new alarm clock. Changed the batteries, no good. It's just dead. I've only had it three years. Now I have to buy a new one today. It should have lasted more than three years.

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  53. Look! The gang's all here! @Denise, Christy, Steven! LOL!

    @Denise - you can't stop them. Your kids will TP someone's house, just like we all did. LOL! It's a rite of passage as a teen. Just hope no one does it to you!

    @Christy - I've read the comments on here and now I'm scared of the Drumming Bunny too! Shaking!

    @Grey Goose - I'm a single person and I have more tuna that you do! I'll bet I can beat you in the paper products department too. LOL!

    @Steven - I really like what I've read on your blog so far. I'm looking forward to reading more! Thanks for letting me know about it. :-)

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  54. @Tammy gee thanks. LOL! I just hope my kids don't do half of what I did when I was a teen!

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  55. @Steven I forgot to mention that when I was visiting my dad, he had a lot of appliances and devices that still work that were made 20-30 years ago or more. He refuses to upgrade anything because the old stuff still works. He's convinced they make everything today with a certain lifespan so you'll have to buy replacements fast and so the companies can keep making money. I think he's right. Somewhere along the way companies figured out a lot of people would just hold on to their old stuff as long as it worked, so they just started making it cheaper and so things wouldn't last 20-30 years. That's why I'm always BROKE! It isn't right and it isn't fair to me.

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  56. @Tammy and Denise:
    I was talking to Christy the other night about not knowing what "TP" meant (thanks, pretty girl!) and made a good point that I hadn't really thought about. I grew up overseas so I didn't hear about a lot of those kinds of things. I don't feel so stupid now. (At least about that!)

    @Denise:
    I'm with your dad. I honestly believe that manufacturers are purposely making stuff with replacement in mind. I guess from a business standpoint, that makes perfect sense. If something lasts 20 years, they don't make as much money. But it still SUCKS! Things that still look brand new and haven't been dropped, spilled on, chewed or otherwise abused shouldn't just...stop working. Plastic trees everywhere cry out in anguish at the waste!

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  57. @Denise: I'm with @Steven, and agree with your dad. They're doing it on purpose to keep the $$ flowing. It's all about the moola. Unfortunately, I can't afford the timetable they have me on for replacing my things. Stop the insanity!

    @Steven: When I drive through the plastic tree forest, I can hear their cries of anguish. It's a truly pitiful sound. They know they're next. How can we stop the madness?

    @Christy: Where do I find someone like you? Smart, funny, supportive, pretty, creative. No offense @Steven, just wondering. Got a twin sister, little darling? :-)

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  58. Awww. Thanks, @Hooka, but I'm one-of-a-kind with no sisters. As you may know, I'm also very taken. ;-)

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  59. @Steven64. I like your blog. Just wanted to let you know.

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  60. @Steven64: Steven, Steven, Steven. You may have grown up overseas, but I happen to know, you did graduate high school in the good old USA. You might not have been on the football team, but you were a jock track star. Teens usually TP a player's house before a big game or a meet to support the team and probably to boost that player's ego. You must have been absent that day and never heard anyone talk about it. Referring back to a previous post, that's just one of the many personal things that I know about you, dear friend! As for this post, the one great electronic gift that I appreciated my husband spending a lot of money for was the Roomba vacuum cleaner. Until..... it went wacky and started falling down the stairs! We had to use a baby gate to keep it from taking a tumble. At the time, the company wanted a lot of money to assess and diagnose the problem and no local repair shop would touch them. Now they have a great website and help with trouble shooting but it is still rather pricey to have them fixed. Of course, they try to sway you to purchase a new and improved model. The problem with today's appliances is that they are just too sophisticated. Simplicity is better.

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  61. @Night Owl:
    Thanks! I hope you'll come back. :-)

    @99bf7266-44d4-11e0-90c7-000bcdcb8a73:
    And you may recall that we were sometimes called "track fags"! Alas, we weren't cool enough to get TP'd. ;-( That kinda sucks (no pun intended) about your Roomba. It's a shame when expensive things go bad too.

    Interesting name you have, by the way. Little hard to pronounce though.

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  62. @Hooka:
    I fear there is no stopping the madness. The deforestation of plastic trees will continue as long as greedy companies continue to develop disposable tech and we're suckered into buying it. Tis a sad, sad thing.

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  63. Hey @Whole Bunch of Numbers Person! Sorry about your suicidal Roomba. "My family doesn't appreciate me! I'm just going to end it all by throwing myself off the stairs!" LMAO!

    @Steven64 not knowing what TPing is and not having done it isn't that big of a deal. Don't sweat it, dude. I never did or had it done to me and I was on the football team. I always thought it was a stupid, juvenile act that served no purpose. Even when I was in high school.

    Oh, and I will be back. I like what you have to say. Not so crazy about some of the comments people have made on some of your posts (I've read all your posts), but I like your opinion and those of some of your other regulars who comment. Keep it up!

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  64. Good grief! When did this become about toilet papering houses? I thought this post was about the untimely death of products made today. Can we get back to that? Please? For goodness sakes! I'm sick of logging on and reading insipid remarks about toilet paper. Who really gives a hoot? Honestly? I don't.

    I do, however, think that @Night Owl's comment about the Roomba is funny, as are the remarks about the plastic trees and forest. So was the Energizer Bunny and hoarding thread. But the toilet paper thing is annoying me because you people aren't trying to be funny or witty, you're just trying to point out that @Steven64 should know what the hell toilet papering a house is. Who cares? Let it go people!

    If I've offended anyone, you have my apologies, but I felt that I needed to get it off my chest. I like logging on and reading the comments on here, but just when I thought the toilet paper thing was put to rest someone decided to bring it up unnecessarily again. Thanks a lot to the person with just a bunch of numbers for a name. Really? That was the best you could come up with? Did you just start punching randomly on your frigging keyboard? Because I have to tell you, not only was your comment annoying to me, but your "name" was irritating as hell.

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  65. @Lisa..I think you need to chill a little about the TPing, it was all in fun and I started because Steven64 said he had "tons" of toilet paper. Then he said he didn't know what tping was.

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  66. @pretty girl I'm chilled and I'm allowed to speak my mind, just as you are. I just thought we had moved past the juvenile toilet papering subject, and this person claimed they were "a friend" of his, but it sure didn't come across that way to me.

    What irritated me was that this "person" who says they "know" @Steven64 couldn't even put their name on their post, but they sure as heck could point out that he should know what toilet papering a house is, and in a way, make fun of him. It just seemed like if this person was a "friend" then they wouldn't go out of their way to make him look stupid. It's a childish thing to do. A real friend wouldn't have posted something like that. A friend would have posted the part about the Roomba and left off the other part. So to me, it just seemed like someone was trying to make fun of @Steven64 instead of trying to say something in fun or be witty. BIG difference @pretty girl. Or maybe the person had another agenda, by saying what they did. It just seemed pointless.

    I really like what @Steven64 has to say and I really like what a lot of the people who comment on here have to say. I just don't like it when someone posts something that seems to go out of their way to make someone look idiotic. Especially when that person made a point to mention that they knew him. If you know him and you're his friend, then you won't want to make him look dumb.

    I'm chilled. I'm just stating that I think the person is kind of mean and a coward and not a friend. But again that's just my opinion.

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  67. Um, I have to jump in and agree with @Lisa. @Whole Bunch of Numbers Person didn't come across in the best way. In fact, my original post was a lot meaner until I changed it (there was a reason the Roomba was wanting to throw itself off the stairs). I questioned @Whole Bunch of Numbers Person's "friendship" too.

    Maybe we've just read so much written by @Steven64 that we feel we "know" him and feel protective of him. But for @Whole Bunch of Numbers Person to point out that they "know" him seemed somehow weird, and it really did when what they had to say wasn't all that great. You don't have to mention that you know someone. Another person did that in a comment on one of his other posts and it was kind of weird then too (they actually said the same thing "I know you"). It's like they want us to know they're special. Here's a tip, if you're really special, we'll get it. I already know by reading the comments on here who is special and who isn't. And the people who are special, didn't announce it by saying, "I know you." I don't know if @Steven64 even knows a couple of the people in real life (although I'm certain he knows one because he's stated it), but that doesn't matter. They all have a friendship just the same, and it doesn't need to be announced. So that was what bothered me the most. Well, and that the person did seem to try to make him look bad. I'm not OK with that. It's not cool.

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  68. @Lisa, @pretty girl, @Night Owl and, of course, @Whole Bunch of Numbers Person:
    My haven't we been busy? LOL!

    Let's see, I'll try to do this sort of in order. First, yes, the comment by @Whole Bunch of Numbers Person seemed a little...weird. Making a point to let the Forum know that you know someone personally doesn't always come across right. BUT -- I do know this person and it was a technical error by Blogger that made her (yes, her) have to post without her name. I now know that her comments were, indeed, all in good fun.

    @Lisa's comment did seem a little over-the-top when I first read it, but I think I get where she was coming from and I appreciate what she was trying to say. I think @Night Owl nailed it: After we follow someone on a blog and we like them and like what they have to say, we feel a little protective of them because we've gotten to "know" them a bit. I've seen that on a couple of my other posts and, honestly, it's kinda nice. :-)

    @pretty girl was perfectly okay bringing up the TP'ing thing because I did mention my stash of toilet paper in the first place. I will also never, ever, ever, ever forget what TP'ing is! LOL!

    Believe it or not, I like the fact that all of you feel comfortable speaking your mind on here. That's actually what I had in mind when I first started this blog. I wanted folks to feel comfortable saying what they really felt, whether or not they agreed with me, or anyone else.

    So...

    @Whole Bunch of Numbers, you're okay. And @Lisa, @Night Owl and @pretty girl, thank you for watching my back. :-)

    @Night Owl:
    Now, about that Roomba's apparent suicide...LOL!

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  69. To the @Numbers Person who says she knows @Steven:

    The reason some of us get a little upset and defensive when you come on here and say you "know" him and then point out something like you did is this. We've gotten to "know" him too. Just in a different way. For you to state you know him implies that we don't count and our opinions don't count. You don't have to point out that you "know" him. Just make your comment and move on. Because guess what. I've been emailing back and forth with him, and I feel like I know him too. But I don't have to announce that to everyone. It doesn't matter. The fact that you know him in real life, doesn't matter. Just state your comment and move on. Don't try to make yourself sound, as Night Owl put it so well, "special".

    Several of us on here got to know @Steven on @Christy's blog long before we came here. So when we came here, we felt like we already had a little community of friends. It felt like a nice, safe, friendly place. I've read all of @Christy's blog posts and comments and I've read all of @Steven's posts and comments. They are nice people. Both of them. We feel like we do know them because they've opened up and shared some of their lives with us. So yes, we're going to be a little defensive of them when we feel like they're being attacked. I'll be one of the first. But we're also going to be defensive when we feel like we're being put down. I think that's really one of the main issues here @Numbers Person. You put us all down with your comment. You made all of the people who don't know @Steven in person feel bad. Heck, you even tried to make @Christy look bad (and she DOES know him in person) and you kind of tried to make your "friend" @Steven look silly (I know he says it was in good fun, but it didn't sound that way). Underneath your comment there seemed to be a hint of jealousy, and I think that's the weirdness everyone is picking up on. Who are you jealous of?

    I'm not trying to be mean or anything. I'm just wanting you to understand how we feel.

    About @Christy, I have to defend her a little here too, and I have to question your motives. Why did you try to make it seem like you know him better than she does? It seemed a little catty. You may be an old high school friend, but why did you have to say what you did? I'm VERY protective of both @Steven and @Christy, and he said in a comment that when they talked she made him feel better about not knowing what TPing was. That's great! Good for her! She's the best! Then you come along and tear that down. Why? You said you're married. So why do you want to try to make it look like you know @Steven better than @Christy does? I'll bet dollars to donuts she knows more about the present day @Steven than you do (from what I know, they talk every day), and I'll bet she knows a fair good bit about his past as well (she's known him for years too). Focus on your husband, honey. I'm just saying you need to take a look at your motives and see if they're right. Look within yourself. Be happy for your friend and wish him well with what he has with @Christy. If I read this wrong, sorry. But it did seem catty.

    OK. I've had my say and I'll let it go. Thanks @Steven for letting me get it out. I really like you and everyone here and over at @Christy's blog. It's a lot of fun, and I look forward to reading what everyone writes. I do feel like I know some of you, even though I really don't. It makes my small world bigger and I appreciate it. :-)

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  70. Oh and @Night Owl the Roomba thing cracked me up!

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  71. To @Everyone. My turn.

    It's hard to know what people really mean when they post things on here. I don't know what the person who inspired all these comments was thinking when she posted her comment about knowing @Steven, but I don't think she was trying to attack anyone or bring anyone down. Maybe she worded things a little badly and maybe it sounded weird, but to me it just seemed like she was trying to make a point that she knows him from high school and she knows a lot about him. I don't know why it's important to her to point that out, but that's for her to figure out.

    It just seems like some people on here, including my friend Tammy, have taken the defensive. Maybe we need to back off a little. Like I said, maybe the lady who posted the comment that started all this needs to figure out her own stuff. I just don't think there was a need to jump to anyone's defense. If you want to jump down my throat, go ahead. I'm just saying what I think, just like you did.

    To the lady who posted the comment about knowing @Steven, you might want to leave that out next time you post. We do want you to post again. At least I do. I liked the Roomba part of your comment. Just don't mention how you know @Steven or that you know him. It seems to be a hot button in here. And I kind of agree that it makes it look like you're trying to point out... something... I don't know what. That's for you to figure out. Just don't mention it and you'll be fine in the future.

    We all know that @Steven knows @Christy in person because they've mentioned talking and doing things together. Neither of them said "I know you." Or "I know things about you." If they did, that would be weird. I think that's the part of your comment that was odd to some people. If I'm wrong, I'm sure they will correct me. :)

    I hope that helps.

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  72. @Denise:
    I think you summed up what most of us have been trying to say.

    @All:
    The whole blog/text/email thing can get a little tricky. I've posted a couple of comments where a single word changed the entire meaning of what I'd intended. But I think patience and understanding is the key. If we're offended by what someone has written, maybe we should start by giving them the benefit of the doubt and allowing them to explain themselves. And if they really were being a jerk, then we can let 'em have it!

    Anyway, in this particular case, no harm, no foul. And all's well in the blogosphere.

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  73. @Denise..well said
    @Steven64..liked your comments too, sometimes we get caught up in the moment or comment and I think we need to remember the 1st ammendment :-)

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  74. @Amanda:
    Thou shalt not kill? Oh, wait a minute...wrong set of rules. (kidding)

    Seriously though, I agree with you. At least on this blog, I don't want folks to worry that they might be attacked if they say something unpopular. It's just too easy to have something innocent get misconstrued and then the feather-ruffling begins.

    One of my previous posts drew a long, angry comment from someone (anomynous, go figure) and I was like, "Why that little...!". I had to take a couple of deep breaths and wait a while before I responded. Seems to be a good rule for me: Breath...think...type, in that order. :-)

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  75. @Steven64..LOL Thou shall not kill is number 6 on that set of rules. I get your point...have a great day, now back to work for me.

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  76. #9 - Do not bear false witness against your neighbor.

    Sometimes taken to mean you shouldn't say things that might injure someone's good name. I know the person who put a bunch of numbers up for a name didn't have a name, but it kind of seems to me a little of this went on here. I'd like to think she really didn't mean any harm by what she posted, and people sure jumped on to bring her down. It might not exactly fit #9, but it's close enough.

    I understand some of why a few of you did, but I'm glad we're agreeing to give her a break and give her a chance to post again without retribution. :-)

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  77. @Denise you stated it very nicely.

    @Lady Who Made the Initial Post just read what @Denise wrote.

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  78. @Little Miss:
    I think I'm getting commandments and ammendments confused! LOL! But I get your point.

    And I hope she posts again too. :-)

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  79. @Steven64 you're right. Just one word can change the entire meaning of a sentence. We also have to remember that I can write a sentence and have it sound one way in my head. You can read that same sentence and it can sound completely different in your head. Another person can read that very same sentence and it can take on a third meaning in their head. Context. It all depends on where we are and what we're going through.

    I like what you said about giving people the benefit of the doubt and letting them explain. Instead of writing these long diatribes, why not ask the person to clarify what they meant when they wrote what they wrote? Let them explain it. Then if you're not satisfied or if they are still being weird, a jerk, insensitive, catty, whatever, then you can state your position. But give them a chance to clarify. They may have just chosen their words poorly.

    I also wonder if there is a little mob mentality going on here. One person was a little angry about something, another person jumped on about something else, then another, then another. I've seen it happen before.

    I'm not saying everyone who posted something against the initial commenting person was wrong. In fact, some of you may have had some valid points (the knowing @Steven64 thing is a little strange), depending on the meaning behind her words. But you should have asked her questions to clarify before jumping all over her.

    Hopefully she'll post again, but I'll bet she never posts anything along the lines of "I know you" or "I know things about you" again. I agree with @Denise. That would be wise because it is kind of a strange thing to do. But I do encourage her to post again someday. I encourage everyone who posted today to post again. Me included. I've been lurking for a long time.

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  80. @Amanda some things are not covered under the 1st Amendment. It doesn't give one carte blanche to say what one wants.

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  81. True @Anonymous, but it does give us the right to state what we believe to be true. No one here was stating anything that fell into the exceptions for 1st Amendment rights. On that, I think we can all agree.

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  82. @Steven64 while I'm here and no longer lurking, I should take this opportunity to let you know what I think about your blog overall.

    I've enjoyed reading your posts. You have a unique voice and opinion. I've seen comments asking about your ethnicity and I agree with you about keeping it separate and keeping it a non-issue. You've had some very interesting, provocative, sometimes angry comments, and yet you've handled them all quite well. There have been times you've responded with a dignity that a comment possibly didn't deserve, and I commend you for that. Well done, sir. Your posts are often thought-provoking, and I enjoy that. I also like the fact that you give credit to a significant lady in your life who creates thought-provoking moments with you. Thank you for sharing those. I, in turn, have used several of your posts to create thought provoking moments with a significant lady in my life. It's made for stimulating conversation that we otherwise wouldn't have had.

    I don't know if you have a direction for your blog or if you're simply posting interesting thoughts that come to you. Either way, I like it and I hope you continue to keep us debating, commenting, posting quips, and teasing. It's been great fun reading all the posts and comments.

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  83. @Anonymous..you are right, we can not slander another person and we should be careful of what we post. All I was trying to state was we live in a country where we do have freedom of speech, where other countries do not. Yes some of these posts have may have gotten out hand but some times that makes for good reading and a lively debate.

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  84. Didn't we agree to ban all @Anonymouses? Oh wait, that was a different blog.

    @Steven: If something isn't done, someday there will be no plastic tree forests for us to take our children and grandchildren to. 'Tis indeed a sad thing. Let us all have a moment of silence as we ponder what can be done to save our plastic forests.

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  85. @Me:
    Thanks for coming out of the shadows! I'm glad you've finally decided to post a comment; it's most welcome. I'm also glad that some of our 'ramblings' have given you fodder for conversations with your significant other. That's one of the coolest things I could have hoped for when I began this. Your observations and compliments are indeed well received. I hope you'll continue to comment.

    @Amanda and Anonymous:
    I briefly felt this tugging on my tongue like I was about let myself get sucked into a heady debate on First Amendment rights (a debate I'm woefully ill-equipped and would surely lose spectacularly), but I'm gonna hold my tongue. Mostly. ;-)

    I'm fairly new to the world of blogging, but I've read random posts on various blogs and have seen stuff that I wouldn't want to see on here. Rude, insensitive comments that I think should be kept one's self. @Anonymous, if I'm understanding correctly, I don't think @Amanda was saying anyone should be permitted to say anything they want, any time they want to say it. In my opinion, decorum and mutual respect should be a given, regardless any freedom of speech issues, at least on a blog. (We're not publishing a periodical or broadcasting on television here so it's unlikely anyone's gonna sue us!) So far, I haven't seen anything on here that was so heinous that I wanted to delete the comment.

    Argument vs. Debate I've never been on a debate team and have never watched anything other than political debates. I've always thought the fundamental difference between arguing and debating is a) debating is the willingness to listen to another's point of view, and b) the willingness to change one's own opinion. That's why I welcome dissenting opinions, both in life and here on this blog. If I get off on some tangent that's completely off-base, I'd like someone to tell me. I think @Amanda's absolutely correct: the freedom to state one's point of view, no matter how radical or controversial, makes for a healthy debate and exchange of ideas. I think where we potentially run into problems is when that point of view is either misstated, or stated rudely or offensively. Those comments will be best buds with the delete key.

    Of course, this all applies to you guys. I can say whatever I want 'cos it's my blog! LOL! (kidding, promise)

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  86. @Hooka:









    (That was me bowing my head in silent prayer for all the plastic seedlings whose very existence is in question.)

    And LMAO! about the moratorium on Anonymouses. ;-)

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  87. @steven64..smart man, never argue with a woman :-) I enjoyed your response it was good.

    @Anonymous..do you know you can choose Name/URL and you can pick any name (don't need a URL)and be someone It can be Mr. Free Speech or Ms. Free Speech. Just a thought.

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  88. @Amanda:
    Thank! And your directions to our latest anonymous visitor? Too cute! :-)

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  89. @Amanda why does it bother you that I didn't state my name? I have the freedom to do so. Just as you have the freedom of speech.

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  90. @Anonymous:
    It's more of a logistics issue than an assault on your freedom of speech. One of my previous posts drew a lot of comments from different anonymous people and it got very difficult to tell them all apart! I found myself replying to "@Anonymous #2" or "Anonymous #5". It was kinda goofy and damn confusing! LOL!

    We all know that some people prefer not to comment under their own name (as you've chosen to do), but it would be easier to address your comments if you picked a name, any name, other than "anonymous". Personally, I like the name Aloysius, but alas, it's too late for me to have a nom de plume.

    @Amanda:
    Go ahead and add an "S" to my "Thank!". ;-P

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  91. @Anonymous..I used to be Anonymous but it does get confusing with you have 2 or 3 Anonymous's in a blog, I am curious why would to stay Anonymous? You could pick Tom, Dick or Harry, Jane, Diane, etc...and no one would no who you are but we could address you are Tom or Jane..just a thought.

    @Thanks...LOL!!

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  92. @Amanda I'd just drop it if I were you. Big deal. So he/she chooses to be anonymous. Who cares? If it gets confusing, let @Steven64 deal with it then. This is your blog. Back off. Please. I'm asking as someone who likes reading this blog. Please.

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  93. @Amanda I think you know I meant this ISN'T your blog. So back off.

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  94. Did my comment get deleted?

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  95. Happy, happy, joy, joy! :-)

    I was reading some of these comments and I was thinking. Does it really matter if someone wants to call themselves Anonymous if there is only one of them on here? I mean, I think @Jane was a little strong with her words, but I sort of agree with her @Amanda. I think you made too big of a deal about this. The person only made 1 comment and it wasn't that big of a deal. Why not just leave him or her alone? I think you're kind of pushing it a little too much. And @Steven I don't think she was cute at all. I think she was a little rude. If we had a whole lot of Anonymouses on here making comments, I could see the need for someone to speak up, but this just seems very out of line to me.

    Just my little old opinion. :-)

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  96. Thank you @Tammy.

    I think @Steven64 deleted my previous message which basically stated that I was going to leave this blog because I didn't feel it was a place I felt I could come and post a single comment on without being attacked by @Amanda for simply not stating my name. I find it disturbing that the moderator backed her up on this. Maybe he will delete this post too.

    Good luck to you all and for heaven's sake, post your name or @Amanda will get upset. Maybe she's the one who deleted my previous post. I wouldn't want to upset @Amanda about anything.

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  97. @Steven64 - wow! Lots of comments you have here. I haven't read them all yet, but I will. I just wanted to add my own. The past couple of years I've noticed I'm using fewer and fewer batteries. I have a lot in drawers around my apartment, but I'm not using them. Why? because the things that take them are dead, as in batteries no longer required. It's frustrating. I have to go buy a new device that comes with new batteries and I get to replace the batteries once, and then the device dies. Just once I'd love to buy something and have it last several years. I mean is it too much to ask that my electrical equipment last longer than my ill-fated romantic relationships? It's getting to be a game. Which will go first? Fred or the remote to the TV? Aaaaannddd... start the timer! LOL!

    Love the post. It's actually very timely in my life right now as I just replaced several defunct items. Thanks! :-)

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  98. @Anonymous, Jane & Tammy..I was just giving my opinion isn't that what a blog is, giving an opinion? If you want to remain Anonymous go ahead no big deal, I was just writing my opinion.

    As for deleting the post only @Steven64 could do that it's his post not mine.

    Happy Friday!!

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  99. @Tammy..didn't you go off on an Anonymous person in another post for not using their name? Now you defending it?

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  100. @Steven did you delete my comment? I had to repost it.

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  101. @Steven my comment keeps getting deleted. Why?

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  102. @John did I? Point it out to me on this blog and I'll let you know. Where? Show me. Go ahead. I'm waiting. Please do.

    My point to @Amanda was that there was only ONE (1) uno anonymous post, so there was no fear of getting is confused with any others. AND that person only posted ONE (1) uno comment. Not a whole lot of comments, not a long comment, but just one small comment that just happened to be something @Amanda didn't like. It was not necessary to go on and on about making the person post their name. Most likely the person wouldn't have posted anything else at all if @Amanda hadn't brought it up. So that, dear @John, is my point.

    Now, I'm still waiting for you to show me on this blog where I whent off on an Anonymous person in another post for not using their name. Come on.

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  103. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  104. @Tammy my longer comment was deleted too.

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  105. Oh what a beautiful morning! Oh what a beautiful day!

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  106. Awwww... I wrote it wrong and hit send too soon.

    Oh what a beautiful morning,
    Oh what a beautiful day,
    I've got a wonderful feeling,
    Everything's going my way.

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  107. Lighten up everyone! Life is waaaaaay too short to be upset over this kind of stuff. I mean really. Look what you're arguing over. Be happy you're alive. This is supposed to be fun. I like @Steven and I think he's doing a fine job with his blog!

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  108. LMAO! @Hooka Looka you are fabulous! Love the song! And I agree with @Christy, well said! This is supposed to be a fun and happy place. Let's get back to it. Where is that darned ignore button on here? I'd like to ignore a lot of the latest comments... not yours @Hooka Looka or @Christy.

    Good luck @Steven64! I love your blog, but some of your commenters are out of control. Sending good thoughts your way! :-)

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  109. LMAO! Look! I'm Anonymous! Ha, ha, ha!

    NOT REALLY! I'm @Sushi Lover and I've posted before. Don't hate on me. The anonymous thing was a joke.

    I'm with @Hooka, Christy and Betty. Enjoy the ride that's life people. Don't let yourselves get upset over the small stuff, and trust me, what you use as a name on a blog is small stuff.

    @Steven ride the wave bro!

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  110. LMAO! Others may hate on you, but I thought that was funny @Sushi Lover! You're right, in the grand scheme of life, this is small stuff.

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  111. Thanks @Betty Lou!

    LMAO at @Sushi Lover! That was a good one man!

    Don't sweat the small stuff people. And, well, we all know the rest.

    @Steven where are you? @Christy where is he?

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  112. @Hooka, @Steven is having internet connection issues at the moment. He's working on it. As soon as he's able, we'll hear from him. :-)

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  113. Thanks, little darling. Too bad about his tech issues. Happens to the best of us.

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  114. That it do @Hooka. That it do.

    @Christy, tell him well fend off the mob for him and keep things lite. We're turning this into an anger free zone.

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  115. LOL! @Sushi, I'll let him know. :-)

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  116. Any of you scoundrels gotta a problem with that?

    No?

    I didn't think so.

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  117. LMAO! @Hooka you've been watching too many westerns bro!

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  118. (hitches up his gitta along and walks around the room, check'n out all the characters)

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  119. LMAO!

    I'll keep an eye on the door and make sure no new bad seeds get in.

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  120. @Sushi! Watch out for that shifty one over by the pi-anny!

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  121. No problem bro! Got him covered! Already had my eye on him. I saw him dealing in an alley the other day with The Bunny.

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  122. The Bunny. I thought we ran him out of town on a rail. (spits)

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  123. Sorry bro. He's back.

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  124. No bro. Last I heard, Trixie was hooked up a few towns over with Tony the Tiger. She liked the way he was always telling her she's grrrrrreat!

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  125. Well, that's good news. Trixie was always bad news. Never knew what The Bunny was going to do when Trixie was around. Let's hope she stays with Tony. How's the rest of the room look'n?

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  126. A-OK. But I see a shady elf in the corner dealing cards from the bottom of the deck.

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  127. Shady elves are fine as long as they're happy. We're keep'n it lite. Don't want no trouble up in here today. Gotta keep the peace for @Steven till he's back online.

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  128. What if someone isn't smiling? What should I do?

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  129. OK. I've got one. Let me go take care of her.

    Hey miss. You don't look like you're happy to be in @Steven's blog. We can't have that today. Sorry. Listen to this.

    I went to the cinema the other day and in the front row was an old man and with him was his dog. It was a sad funny kind of film, you know the type. In the sad part, the dog cried his eyes out, and in the funny part, the dog laughed its head off. This happened all the way through the film. After the film had ended, I decided to go and speak to the man.

    "That's the most amazing thing I've seen," I said. "That dog really seemed to enjoy the film."

    The man turned to me and said, "Yeah, it is. He hated the book."

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  130. LOL! Very good @Sushi!

    @Christy any word on when @Steven might be back in business?

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  131. Why thanks, @Hooka. That's probably the only joke I know! LOL! Let's hope the room stays happy.

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  132. @Hooka it may be as late as tomorrow, but if he can get on sooner, he will.

    I'm loving the @Hooka and Sushi show. ;-)

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  133. @Christy, tell him we miss him, but we'll keep the peace for him. And thanks, darling!

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  134. @Christy tell him no worries. All is chill here now. We're on the job!

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  135. LMAO!!!!! You two have made my afternoon!

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  136. Thanks @Betty Lou!

    Um, @Sushi. Should we talk about @Steven's blog post topic? Just to be politically correct?

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  137. Maybe.

    So things break and I hate it. It sucks. @Steven wrote a really good blog post about it. But it's so far up there and I'm too lazy to scroll up, I can't remember what it said. If you do, post a synopsis for us all.

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  138. Very good @Sushi. You are a indeed a worthy right hand.

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  139. Ooooo! I can! I can!

    He wrote something about his toothbrush not working and not being able to replace the battery, so he had to buy a whole new brush, but the old heads didn't work with the new brush, so that stinks, and he hates it when things break but they still look new, because he had a Shark and it stopped working but looked new, but he the battery cost more than buying a new vac, so he bought a new Dirt Devil, but he has all these batteries for things that no longer require batteries so what's he to do?

    Or something like that.

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  140. Wow @Betty Lou! You're good! You are the new official historian of the blog!

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  141. I concur @Sushi. @Betty Lou, we hereby declare you official historian of @Steven's blog. And thus it is.

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  142. Hooray! I'm historian of @Steven's blog! Thank you! I feel so important!

    Do I get a crown?

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  143. Um, no. We don't wear crowns on @Steven's blog. You might check out @Christy's blog. She might allow you to wear one there.

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  144. Darn. @Christy? If I visit your blog, can I wear a crown?

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  145. LOL! Yes, @Betty Lou. If you visit my blog, you may wear a crown.

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  146. Hooray! How do I get there?

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  147. Just click on my photo and you'll see the link listed under My Blogs. :-)

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  148. I'm glad you nixed the crown @Hooka. This is a manly place bro! (roars!)

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  149. Thanks @Christy! I'll check it out! :-)

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  150. No problem @Sushi. I'm sure @Steven would agree on this being a no crown zone.

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  151. So @Hooka if have a historian, should we have like a President and Vice President, maybe a Treasurer, and Secretary?

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  152. Hmmm... I'm thinking @Sushi.

    Yes, I do believe we need to fill those positions. Obviously @Steven is the President. and I think he would agree that @Christy should be the Vice President. That leaves the Treasurer and Secretary.

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  153. Well. There's you. And there's me.

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  154. True @Sushi. I was thinking we might be head of security, but you're right, we could also be Treasurer and Secretary.

    I'll be Treasurer and you can be Secretary.

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  155. I'd like to be Treasurer.

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  156. @Sushi. You do realize there is no actual money involved. Don't you?

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  157. Oh. Well, what does a Secretary do bro? Sounds like a job for Betty Lou?

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  158. Now, now @Sushi. That's sexist and besides, it's not that kind of Secretary.

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  159. Sorry bro. That was bad. OK. I'll be Secretary and you can be Treasurer of no money. So what exactly will you do if there is no money?

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  160. Let's see. I'll be busy counting @Steven's followers, counting his words, counting the letters in each posters names, etc.

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  161. I'm glad I'm Secretary.

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  162. LOL! I thought so. So @Sushi, how's the door looking? Any troublemakers look'n to come in?

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  163. All's clear bro. Think I'm going to have to take a break and check back with you later. Can you handle it on your own?

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  164. Yep. I got this blog all tidied up. We're in happy town now. Enjoy the break @Sushi. It was a pleasure work'n with you.

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  165. LOL! Same here @Hooka! Catch you later!

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  166. I was waiting for things to die down a little before posting.

    @Hooka and Sushi you two made me laugh! I'm sure @Steven will really appreciate logging on and seeing a thousand posts by you guys! LOL! At least you lightened the mood in here and I for one appreciate that a lot! Good job guys! Keep it up and don't let anyone get out of line. LOL!

    @Christy let @Steven know we're sorry about his internet. That stinks. Tell him we want him back soon! LOL, I thought for a minute that maybe I might see him post something on your blog, but down is down isn't it? :-)

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  167. @Denise, I laughed about you thinking he might post on my blog. It's like the electricity going out and immediately trying to do something that requires electricity.

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  168. Knowing @Steven64 can't reply makes me miss him, even though I don't know him at all. LOL!

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  169. LOL April! Me too!

    @Steven! Come back to us! We need you here!

    I'd say we could talk about him behind his back and he wouldn't know until tomorrow, but @Christy is still around and I think his security team of @Hooka and @Sushi would have us arrested. Plus I'm the historian now and I have to behave. LOL! :-)

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  170. Well said, @Hooka & Sushi Lover!..love the back and forth, now this is good reading.

    @Steven64..we miss you!! But @Christy and other are filling in nicely for you.

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  171. it seems that my posts keep on getting deleted..it that on purpose??

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  172. Just wanted to say that @Hooka Looka, Sushi Lover, Betty Lou and Christy ROCK! You guys really did an amazing thing today. I'm sure @Steven64 will be appreciative of you all. Thanks for bringing it back to what it should be, a lot of fun!

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  173. Funny @Sarah (apparently a fellow night owl). I was just going to type the same thing.

    Cheers to @Hooka Looka, Sushi Lover, Christy, and Betty Lou! I was catching up on my blog reading tonight and you guys were great. Nice way to turn things around. And I actually did chuckle out loud while reading the thread.

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  174. I also hope @Steven64 joins the online world again soon. It's not the same without his presence.

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  175. @Night Owl, yep I'm one too. And I laughed out loud too while reading tonight, or this morning, I mean. LOL!

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  176. Yes! Here's hoping @Steven64's internet issues are a thing of the past soon. It will be nice to have him back on his blog. Sounds like @Christy was in touch with him and probably let him know what was happening and that he was missed today. He's missed this early A.M. too. :-)

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  177. Yes! He need @Steven64 back on line and we need a new topic!!

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  178. I meant We need @Steven64 back online...LOL!!

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  179. Dear @Steven64,

    As your official historian, I am doing my best to keep a record in my head of everything that has been written. Darn it's hard! Rest assured I am up to the task though. I do request that the next topic be something kind of funny and kind of on the lite side. I also hope there aren't as many comments, as it is getting a bit jumbled in my brain.

    Also, your VP, @Christy is wonderful and is doing a great job; however, we'd like to have our Commander in Chief back soon.

    Sincerely,

    Betty Lou
    Official Historian of @Steven64's Blog

    PS - Is @Christy also the First Lady? LOL? You don't have to answer that. :-)

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  180. @Steven64 good blog post, and normally I like reading the comments, but this one was... wild. You've got some followers who seemed to take care of things for you. Thumbs up!

    Ditto on the new topic @Amanda and @Betty Lou. I'm looking forward to his next one.

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  181. (wham! front door slams open)
    I'm HO-OOME!
    (sound of crickets chirping; an attic eave creaks)

    @All:
    Wow. I go away for a day and…wow. LOL!

    Okay, first and foremost, I have to thank my V.P. and First Lady (yes Betty Lou, we're an item!) @Christy. She carried on when I could not. (schmaltzy music swells)

    @Treasurer Hooka, @Secretary Sushi (bro), @Historian Betty Lou:
    You guys ROCK!! V.P. @Christy kept me in the loop while I was on sabbatical and I was cracking up! You really brought things back to 'normal' around here. I didn't realize sexism and political in-fighting could be so fun. (Well, actually I do based on a few past elections, but we won't get into that.)

    @Denise, @April, @Sarah, and @Night Owl and of course @Amanda:
    Thanks! It's nice to be missed. I felt like I was out of the loop fo-EV-er and it was only a freaking' day, but I missed you guys too. :-)

    SPECIAL COMMENDATION
    @Betty Lou:
    Your re-cap of the post thus far for @Sushi was awesome!

    @Tom:
    Thanks for chiming in! My peeps have, indeed, taken good care of me. ;-)

    ___________________

    And, in the vein of the original post, I'm gonna bitch again.

    I called AT&T yesterday (Friday morning) and, after much wrangling, they set me up for a service call today (Saturday). They said, and I quote: "A technician will be at your residence between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm. Really? A 12-hour window? AND THEY DIDN'T SHOW! So…I'm pissed. But, apparently, I'm back online. Sort of. But come Monday morning, AT&T will feel the full wrath of this administration! Yea, verily, heads will roll!

    _____________

    P.S. - @Betty Lou and @Sushi Lover:
    You're officers now. You need to follow me. Dammit. (hehe)

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  182. Welcome back @Steven64! It's good to see you again! Your First Lady, @Christy did do well and we appreciated her. (tips his hat to her)

    About AT&T, if you have a choice, GET RID OF THEM! They are high on my list of do not use companies for various reasons. I'll go without before I'll pay them for anything. We have choices now, and it's time AT&T realized customers can exercise their right to choose other companies. Just my opinion. Good luck to you!

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  183. I really need to think before I hit Post Comment and make sure I included everything. LOL!

    Your "return to the blog" post was awesome! Most excellent!

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  184. LMAO! Love it @Steven64! You somehow managed to thank everyone and make it entertaining. This is why we missed you!

    I just have one question. Is it legal for @Christy to be the VP and the First Lady? LOL! Actually, I love that too! A power couple!

    Re: AT&T. Sadly my phone service is with them, but you can bet as soon as my contract is up I'm switching to Verizon, Sprint, someone else. They've been terrible. They don't care about their customers. When I have problems, they always try to tell me it's my phone's fault or mine and it never is. They never want to actually help me. I'm with Night Owl. Run as fast as you can, if you can.

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  185. @Steven64..glad to see you back and @Sarah was right, your coments were very entertaining.

    Nice to see the commnets about AT&T from @Sarah & @Night Owl too. I was thinking about switching to them when my contract was up; now I know that I might just as well stick the same one I have. They have pretty good customer service but the coverage areas are..

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  186. @Night Owl and @Sarah:
    I thought I might hear from you guys first upon my return, burning your midnight oil and all. Nice to see you again! It was weird being out of touch, even for such a relatively short time. Glad you liked my post. I worked really, really hard on it. (And I had @Christy check it before I posted. The V.P.'s supposed to watch my back, right? lol!)

    I texted a friend of mine about my AT&T woes. He knew Friday that they were supposed to come out yesterday within this huge window (the 8:00am - 8:00pm thing) and then I told him that they never showed. I said, "They suck!" He chuckled and then asked, "Whoever told you any differently?" I cracked up. I actually have a choice now between sticking with AT&T or switching to Time Warner for my Internet access. Tomorrow's call to Customer Service should be...interesting.

    @Sarah:
    Be careful with Sprint. That's who I have and their service is spotty at best. (They have really cool phones though, and their service plans are the cheapest.) @Christy switched from AT&T to Verizon recently and she seems pretty happy now. It's also probably unconstitutional to have a First Lady be your V.P., but this is our own little fiefdom now, so I figure we can make our own rules! ;-P

    @Night Owl:
    You said: "I really need to think before I hit Post Comment..." Why is it that we always notice a glaring typo moments after we hit Send? LOL!

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  187. @Amanda:
    NOOOOOO! If you decide to switch, avoid AT&T like the plague.

    And thanks for the compliment! :-)

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  188. @All:
    By the way, I posted something new. And...light. :-)

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  189. Thank you @Steven64! I really enjoy your blog, so the recap was a breeze! :-) It's a pleasure being your Historian and one of your Cabinet members! LOL!

    I figured @Christy was also your First Lady from reading some of your previous posts and comments. Very nice. @Sarah the power couple comment was great!!!

    @Steven64 I'm going to try to follow you, but I don't know how just yet. I'll figure it out before the night is done. I have to cook dinner for my brood first. Once they're settled, I'll go through the steps. I don't want to lose my position afterall. ;-)

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