A BLOGGER'S TOAST

I propose a toast to all of the AOL Journalists out there, may you have a safe and prosperous New Year, may all of your stories be happy, may you never run out of RAM or GB, may your surge protector never surge, may your family respect your cyber-space and allow you quality online time... may your computer seat always be vacate and waiting for you... may you never have to wait in line to use the computer, may your mailbox always be full of mail from friends (and that doesn't include FWD's), may your virus detector never find anything worth detecting, may your firewall burn bright, and may your next year be full of LOL's and ROTFLMAO's!

Blog on my friends,

JUNK MAIL

Even with my spam filters on I'm still getting email from online pharmacies pushing Viagra and Vicodin.  At least I'm not getting any more for those penile enlargement drugs.  They don't work, I still haven't grown one.  I want my money back!

Quote of the Day

"A bus station is where a bus stops.  A train station is where trains stop.  On my desk I have a work station...."
~Anonymous

FLAMMING TEXT, try it, you'll LOVE it!

Woo hoo!  Dorn has a new toy!  If you haven't messed around with flamingtext yet, click on the logo below.  Its FUN!

WHO SAYS DUSTBUNNIES CAN'T TYPE?

 

Dustbunny by Cody's Animation Station : Computers

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

TRICK OR TREAT!

Please insert candy into your d-drive or Zipdrive and forward to dornbrau c/o Bloggers Anonymous. Unwrapped treats will be inspected and if found to be safe and tasty more may be requested!  Please... no black jellybeans as they have been known to linked to several distructive viruses. 

I'VE GOT MAIL!

Is it just me or does the AOL 'You've got mail' dude have a sexy voice?  I just love when I turn on my computer and he greets me with those 3 little words.

HI, I'M SICK, HOW ARE YOU?

I am ill today, so what am I doing?  What any self respecting blogaholic would do when they are sick.... I am writing in my journal!  I don't waste time lying around feeling sorry for myself, no siree.  I get online and let the entire world wide web know how miserable I am!  I let them know how hard I am coughing (cough! cough! hack! hack!), how much phlegm I produce (ptoooowie!) how high my fever is (99 degrees thanks to Comtrex) and how badly I hurt (non-existent thanks to a shot of tequila!).  So, now that I have fulfilled my obligatory blogging here I am off to inform the rest of the world that I have a non-computer virus.  Blog on my friends.

2xGeek!

I used to think I was bad when it came to spending time on the computer.  I no longer feel that way.  I could not get online today because my husband was on the computers doing his homework.  No, that was not a typographical mistake... I really meant to type 'computers' as in plural, 2 of them... he was using my computer and his laptop at the same time!  The way I see it that counts for double the time, so that definitely makes him twice the geek that I am. 

HONESTY ON THE WEB

                          

There is something very alluring about the anonymousness of the internet.  We generally have no idea who we are communicating with other than what they themselves have told us. Many people tend to exaderate in an effort to portray themselves in a more favorable light.  For the most part people believe them.  I tell the honest to goodness truth about my short comings and people are constantly asking me 'No, really, what happened?', or 'where do you come up with those stories!'.   I think many people think 'There is NO way anyone can be that bad'. but guess what folks, in my case, what you see is what you get! 

Not everyone on the web wants honesty though.  I was IM'd by a guy once who asked what I was wearing.  I told him.... an old Army teeshirt, sweatpants and fuzzy bunny slippers.  He wasn't impressed.  Then he told me that he wanted to suck my toes.  "Oh no, I wouldn't recommend that' I told him, 'I've been wearing shoes all day!'  He hasn't tried to contact me since.  I'll bet it was the bunny slippers that turned him off.  My husband doesn't like them either.

DO YOU REMEMBER....

* 5¼" floppy disks

* when hard drives were measured in MB's.

* When your monitor could fit ontop of the CPU.

* DOS

* Black and white monitors.

* Windows, not 98, not XP, just Windows. 

* the sound of a dial up modem.

* a 4 character password for AOL.

* what life was like WITHOUT a computer?

COMPUTER WAR

My girls are restricted from using the computer.  Apparently they got into a shouting match yesterday.  When I got home they both started in on it again, accusing the other of being to blame for the punishment their father had imposed on them. 

"You made me shout!"

"You made me mad!"

I could see where this was going, so I innocently inquired how long their restriction was for... "2 weeks?" I suggested, knowing full well that it was only for 1 week.  They immediately got the hint and the altercation ceased abruptly.

HAPPY DISCOVER'ERS DAY (or what ever they call it now days)

One nice thing about blogging is that there is almost always something to celebrate in J-Land that requires a special entry.  So, Happy Discoverers Day (is discoverer even a word?) to everyone out there, especially to the poor souls like myself who have to work while the rest of the country is BBQing and relaxing at home.

Special thanks to Mahuffers and www.ohmygoodness.com for the graphics

DOING CHORES FOR A CHANGE

The Frankenputer is on the fritz again (surprise, surprise).  Actually what happened is that someone tried to fix it and ended up deleting some vital shared files, and now the kids can't log on to AOL.  (Okay, it was ME... I admit it... but I have to make the kids think that it's their fault, otherwise I will lose my rank of House Geek).  Unfortunately its not as simple as tossing in the AOL disc and re-installing it.  Oh no!  When I screw something up I screw it up BIG TIME!  So I guess next Tuesday I'll try to fix it and redeem  my credibility.  In the meantime, the kids have been punishing me by using MY computer, thus limiting my time on it.  When I balk, they point out that they are doing 'homework'.  Little rats!  So grudgingly I occupy myself with other tasks, like... washing dishes... ugh!  This has got to STOP!

Graphics by CyberGifs

An IM to my son Zack.

 Dornbrau [3:56 PM]:  do you want to switch computers?  Rocky's down here and her feet are making my eyes water.
DraklingLoW [3:56 PM]:  Saying it like that... no
Dornbrau [3:57 PM]:  Okay, no problem.  I'll just send her upstairs.
Dornbrau [3:57 PM]:  :-P
DraklingLoW signed off at 3:57 PM

WHEN NERDS MEET.

 

Its funny how my husband used to accuse me of being a 'computer geek' because I wrote on message boards.... but look at him now... he's got a government issued pocket protector and a laptop that he carries around like a purse!  He flashes his hard drive and ram around like a business card, and falls for every ergonomic scam there is.  So, go ahead, call me a nerd....  "It takes one to know one!" .

TESTIMONIAL (there is no hope for me!)

I don't jog, I blog.  Besides, there's an extra letter there, that should account for something!

I don't laugh, I  LOL!  Got to admit, its not as loud or annoying!

I don't talk, I type.  Its faster, and nobody makes fun of my pronounciation, just my spelling.

I don't window shop, I surf.  I don't get tired, and there are no obnoxious sales people shadowing me like a lost puppy.

I don't mingle, I chat!  And if I don't like someone, I ignore!

I don't have a street address, I have a web address.  Its not rural, it URL.

I don't have a first name, just a screen name.  I don't remember my last name, does it end with .com?

I have more passwords than James Bond, and I have more email accounts than Bill Gates.  Who needs a car to drive when you have a 40 GB hard drive?

My name is Dorn, and I am a blogging addict.

JUST CLICK HERE!

I was in a chatroom earlier with several other bloggers, talking about the day and the weather... and someone popped in, a spammer, with a message "For Instant Sexual Stress Relief Click Here".  Well, I clicked and I clicked and nothing! No sexual stress relieve.  It was suggested that maybe I had broken the clicker on my mouse, but now I'm wondering, was I supposed to be sitting on the mouse when I was clicking?

(THIS KID IS WORSE THAN ME!)

 Dornbrau [6:01 PM]:  Guess what buddy, its that time again...
Nativesnowfoot [6:01 PM]:  y:'(
Dornbrau [6:02 PM]:  Sorry.... you know the rules.
Nativesnowfoot [6:02 PM]:  i have just suffered amnizea .. cant remember squat
Dornbrau [6:03 PM]:  I see you've forgotten how to spell 'amnesia'
Nativesnowfoot [6:03 PM]:  see .... i have suffered amnesia
Dornbrau [6:03 PM]:  Anyhow, let me refresh your memory... its 6:00 pm, time to get off the computer and get started on your homework.
Dornbrau [6:04 PM]:  Good, your memory is coming back.  Now get off!
Nativesnowfoot [6:04 PM]:  what if i have no homework
Dornbrau [6:04 PM]:  Do your sister's home work, I don't care, just do some homework!
Dornbrau [6:04 PM]:  You're in high school, theres always homework in high school.
Nativesnowfoot [6:04 PM]:  :'(waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Nativesnowfoot [6:05 PM]:  not today or the other days
Nativesnowfoot [6:05 PM]:  u know there is a such thing as an acces peiod
Dornbrau [6:05 PM]:  You could always wash some dishes  :-)
Nativesnowfoot [6:05 PM]:  to bad
Nativesnowfoot [6:05 PM]:  it'll have a cost to it mom
Dornbrau [6:05 PM]:  Does that mean you're going to bring home A's this quarter?
Nativesnowfoot [6:06 PM]:  ........
Nativesnowfoot [6:06 PM]:  maybe
Dornbrau [6:06 PM]:  I'll believe that when I see it.  Now, shut down and get off.
Dornbrau [6:07 PM]:  You have exactly 30 seconds.... I'll be upstairs by then.
Dornbrau [6:07 PM]:  i like chicken
Dornbrau [6:07 PM]:  bye bye
Nativesnowfoot [6:08 PM]:  please!!
Dornbrau [6:08 PM]:  Here I come...
Nativesnowfoot [6:08 PM]:  no no no no no no no no
Nativesnowfoot signed off at 6:09 PM

BUSTED AGAIN

 Dornbrau [7:10 PM]:  Times up buddy!
Nativesnowfoot [7:10 PM]:  ohh
Nativesnowfoot [7:11 PM]:  please:'(
Dornbrau [7:11 PM]:  Nope!  Now go do your homework!  :-D
Nativesnowfoot [7:11 PM]:  i haf no home work though
Nativesnowfoot [7:11 PM]:  this helps my practice typing
Dornbrau [7:12 PM]:  Then do your sister's homework, but get off the computer!
Nativesnowfoot [7:12 PM]:  :'(please:'(
Dornbrau [7:13 PM]:  If you aren't off by the time I get upstairs you've lost tomorrow's turn.
Dornbrau [7:13 PM]:  I'm standing up right now.... here I come!
Nativesnowfoot signed off at 7:14 PM

Morning routine

I just got out of the shower and I should be fixing my hair, but instead I'm sitting at the computer reading up on my favorite journals.  No doubt I will be rushing out of the house with my hair still down, barely squeeking in to work to beat the time clock.  Thats okay, folks at work actually like when I leave my hair down and suggest that I wear it down more often.  Okay.  Not a problem.  That means I can spend a little more time on the computer without feeling guilty.  After all, they WANT me to let my hair loose.  And you know me, always happy to oblige.  Life should always be this accomodating.

BUSTED! (another child born with the addiction)

I was on my computer checking my bank balance (really.... I wasn't surfing, or blogging or anything like that...) when I happened to glance at my buddy list.  Now normally I don't keep my list on... not so much that I don't want to talk to anyone... but so nobody will know much time I actually do spend online... but that day, for what ever reason I had the privacy block off.  And there was my son's screen name indicating that he was online.  Which was pretty interesting since he was restricted from using the computer for being on earlier when he wasn't supposed to be on! 

Sooooo, I shoot an instant message his way.  It says:  Hey buddy, aren't you grounded? 

There was a pause, and he writes back:  Maybe

Then right on cue his screen name disappears.  When I got upstairs he was innocently watching 'Blue Collar TV', but he was busted and he knew it.  Add one more day to the term buster!

(And you too Sammie, cos I saw you LOL'ing when you were supposed to be online!)

THE CHILDREN OF BLOGGING ADDICTS

I was driving my children to the store the other day and one of the kids cracked a joke, which is common in our household.  My oldest daughter immediately showed her appreciation by yelling out 'LOL, LOL, LOL'.  Seriously folks, she didn't laugh or giggle, she actually spelled out the letters 'LOL, LOL, LOL'!  I immediately put her on computer restriction!

WHY I DON'T GO TO BALLS

I went to a ball before, it was a Unit Ball when my husband was still active duty.  It wasn't just the usual dining out, it was a BALL!  And I was expected to wear a gown, not just a dress.  I had never been to a ball before.  In fact I hadn't even been to a high school prom, so I was very excited.

My husband bought me a beautiful purple lace 2 piece formal skirt outfit.  It was the most beautiful outfit I had ever worn besides my wedding dress.  I wanted to do my hair up, but the last time I had my hair done it cost $72 for a do that wilted half way through the party, so I decided to do a temporary home perm.  I bought the rollers, the solution, and got to work.  Unfortunately when your hair is 3 feet long it takes a long LONG time to set.  My husband had to help out because I thought my arms were going to drop off.

So, while I'm waiting for my hair to dry, I began to get ready.  Next thing on the list, press on nails!  I use super glue to make sure they stay on good, and then I polish the nails a deep wine color that matches my outfit.  Next, apply prefab face.  That goes on without a hitch and I was actually ahead of schedule, which was good being as I was about to encounter every problem in the book.

 

Did you know that it is almost impossible to put on control top panty hose with press-on nails?  I learned that the hard way.  In the end I had to enlist the help of my husband.  I went through 2 pairs due to popping holes from my perfect plum colored Lees.  And... if I thought rolling my hair was hard, I was about to experience something even worse... UNROLLING my hair!  After the last curler was removed I looked like Bozo the clown!  I tried wetting down my hair but it hardly made a difference.  It didn't help that my husband stood by barely able to contain his laughter.

I ended up clipping my hair down and it almost looked like I had actually intended to look that way, so I still went to the hotel feeling good about myself.  We sat with people I had never met before, but I had on my Lee press-on nails, and I felt marvelous!  I ate my dinner in between animated conversations in which I waved my hands and flashed my beautiful nails.  Towards the end of the meal I excused myself to go to the restroom.  When I moved to wash my hands I saw to my complete dismay that my nails were full of baked potatoes and sour cream from my dinner.  Not being used to the extra length of my new nails I had evidently gouged the spud on my plate more than once and was no doubt flashing it around the table during my dinner conversation.  No wonder everyone was laughing.  And there I was thinking I was being witty.

That was the last time I wore artificial nails, and my last ball.  And so while I love a good party, I don't do well at balls and will have to sit the Cyber-ball out.  To the elected court, my congratulations, but Cinderella will just have to read about this one the day after.

CYBER-SOCIALIZATION

I just read on the journal message board where it was stated that the internet was not a social convention.  I didn't know that!  Everyday when I log on I come in contact with dozens of other internet users and I thought that what we were doing was socializing.  True, it was not a convention, but it was true socializing.  Just because we were not face to face in the flesh, we still traded comments, shared ideas and thoughts, and with each day we learn a little more about each other, become more familiar.  We bond over cyber-space.  We develope a relationship of sorts.  What is it if not socializing?  Seriously folks, any ideas?  Cos my friends here are just as important to me as my friends in my neighborhood or at work.  Some I even like BETTER than some people I know in the flesh.  Is there an alternative name for this alternative form of friendship and aquaintence?  If not should we make one up?  Or should we all just consider them all as friends.

COMPUTER OVER-LOAD

Contrary to common belief, the title of this entry doesn't refer to a virus or malfunction.  At least not for a computer.  This is in regards to the over abundance of computers in my household.  By over abundance, I mean 2 or more.  6 years ago I didn't even own a computer.  Then my sister gave me a hand-me-down monstrocity that I don't think even had a brand name.  It ran on DOS, and there was something about BASIC that I was supposed to study, but I never did.  Maybe thats why its 475mb harddrive crashed on me so many times.  The only windows this computer had were the ones I had inadvertently hammered in while attempting one of a million re-boots.

My next computer was a packard bell.  That one had about 800mb, enough to load Windows on, but barely enough to operate it.  It had a modem and I was able to install free-mail until my husband realized how quiet I would get while messing around on the computer.  Liking the peace and quiet, he subscribed to AOL.  The peace was short lived once the cussing at the computer began.  People would hear me from the freeway 8 miles away and drop off computer parts to help fix my problems.  Nothing worked, lets face it, you wouldn't let a preschooler fix a skyscraper, so don't expect me to fix a computer.  When I finally had enough money invested in my stocks I sold them all and bought a cheap little emachine.  With 4.3 gb of harddrive and 128 ram I was in cyber-heaven!

But, as any cyber-junkie will tell you, its not easy to share.  I would 'hog-cheese' the computer and not let anyone else on.  The kids couldn't load games on it because they would take up too much of the precious harddrive space.  And my husband was always online when I was at work, making it impossible for me to call the house, which I only tried because I knew he was on my computer and it irritated me that he was on instead of me! 

We eventually got a separate line for the computer, and with unlimited internet access life was good!  It didn't take long to outgrow the eMachine though, and with my digital camera filling up my shrinking hd it was time for a new computer.  My husband was given a laptop for school, but the computer monster had taken control of him along time ago and although he generously added my name onto his computer as an authorized user, he would not let me load anything on or customize my settings.  Basically, he would not share!

Not a problem, a new eMachine was introduced just about the time my profit sharing check was due to come out, and I put it on layaway.  Now my husband has a Dell, and he decided that it was the best computer out there.  I'm not convinced, I think its over-priced and he's just a sucker for the commercials, but when he offered to pay the difference and get me a Dell, I jumped at the opportunity, on one condition.... he not dictate what I can and cannot do with MY computer.  The kids automatically inherited my old eMachine.  Okay, are you keeping count?  Thats 3 computers. 

A few weeks after my Dell arrived, my husband comes home with yet another computer... another Dell.  He justs wants me to take a look at it, which I do.  It hasn't got a monitor or keyboard, but its a nice machine.  Not worth the $ the guy is asking, and I say I wouldn't pay more than $300 for it since it needs a lot to make it usable.  Next thing I know we're the proud owner of computer #4!  We've taken the monitor and keyboard off of the eMachine and put it on the Dell so the kids have their own computer.  Thats the Frankenputer I use on occasion.  They get mad at me when I use it, cos they don't like to share either.  They can have it.... I think its haunted, or maybe the keyboard isn't compatible.  What ever the reason, sometimes it starts typing backwards and all funky. 

So yes, we have 4 functioning computers in the house.  The little eMachine is just waiting to be hooked up in one of the kids rooms after my oldest boy goes off to basic.  Then instead of having little family gatherings in the den, we can all sit in our rooms and chat online with a 'lol' and a 'brb'!

MY .com LIFE

I know now that I am in the final stages of 'author-writus', or BS, bloggers syndrome.  My free waking moments are spent infront of the computer, even as my morning coffee is brewing, most times before my first visit to the bathroom.  I've got highspeed internet, but its too slow.  I have a huge crush on the 'You've got mail' guy, I quiver when I hear him late at night when the rest of the house is asleep.  My social life is a .com.  My sister calls and asks how I am, I send her the link to my journal.  My house is a mess, but only until I can find a compatible reformat program.  The kids are good lately and haven't been leaving whiney comments on my journal.  I think my husband really believes I'm having cyber-sex or some kind of online affair.  He'd probably be disappointed to discover that I'm just writing in my journal.  If he were to actually READ my journal, I'd probably be in all kinds of trouble for calling him a Dickidoo!  Oh well, such is my .com life! 

STATE FLOWER

I just added a beautiful graphic of my state flower, the Columbine, to my ABOUT ME column.  This comes from one of our charter members, the talented smartypantzjessi .  Check out her journal for more examples of her work. 

DINNER AND A BLOG...

How many of you eat at your computer and I don't mean snacking.  I'm talking all out meals.  I'm talking breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner!  I ask as I sit here with a plate of waffles perched precariously on a stack of cd cases next to the monitor, a large glass of milk to the left of the keyboard, and my coffee cup... missing in action!

Except for weekends, breakfast is an 'every man for himself' meal. Most of the time I'm running late and therefore don't have time for breakfast, but when I do, its usually consumed right here by the light of my monitor.  My lunch break at work is long after the kids at home eat, so I drive home just to make sure they have eatten and not burned the house down.  My lunch, if I have one, is also spent infront of the computer as I check my email.

Dinner, or supper as I like to call it, is our family time, when we sit down together at the table to eat and talk about the day's events.  But every now and then, like on nights when 'he's' at class, I sit the kids infront of the tv with their supper and I go into the computer room and eat my meal by the light of my monitor.  It helps me to digest, really it does!

SLOW DOWNLOAD

My daughter Rocky was working on the computer last night then came to me and said with a very frustrated tone:

"Mama, that site loads slower than Becca's brain!"  Oh my gosh, I couldn't believe my 9 year old said that about her 12 year old sister!  Naturally I scolded her, but I had to admit, that was a good one!  Yep, its a keeper, I've already got it written in my little book of computer one-liners!  Hehehehe!  Thats my girl!

Today is the day, its AOL JounalLand's 1st Anniversary.  I all ready to head out for the virtual parade with my cyber-noisemakers and cyber-fetti.  I've got on my red, white and blue bobbly headband that jiggles when I move, and I've got my jug of coffee.  Nope, not a cyber-latte, this is the REAL stuff.  The weather's fine, my buddy-alert birds are chirping happily and I'm all set.  Here comes the parade!  Happy Anniversary J-Land.

COLORADO FLAG FOR PARADE OF FLAGS

JOURNALERS IN COLORADO ARE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH!

DOING THE POTTY DANCE

You know you've got it bad when you go to the computer BEFORE you use the bathroom in the morning!  Once at the computer I decided that I should make a pot of coffee while waiting for the computer to start up and get online with AOL.... So there I am, I've measured the grounds and am filling up the carafe (thats THEIR word, not mine!), and the sound of running water stimulates my own reservoir, and next thing I know I'm standing there in the kitchen doing the potty dance like a kid, knowing that I should shut off the faucet and hurry to the bathroom before there is a flash flood in my kitchen, which is NOT covered by my homeowners insurance... but unwilling... no, UNABLE to stop because my extreme addiction to coffee has full control over my body and I HAVE to get the pot on the maker so I can get a cup of fresh brewed coffee immediately upon my return from the bathroom.  Does the potty dance really help stop the urge?  The answer is NO, but it makes me feel like I'm in motion towards my final destination and I am able to control myself.  Do I put the 'carafe' down and rush to the bathroom?  No, of course not, I have to go and empty it into Bunn Pour-Omatic first.  Once again my sences detect the sound of flowing water and my version of the Potty dance has just picked up the tempo.  And then I key in my password to AOL....  Finally its a mad dash to the toilet and I am proud to announce that I was a good girl and made it in time... I get a potty-point for that one!  And to top things off, my coffee was ready and I was signed on to AOL by the time I returned.  Hows that for timing?

ITS HEREDITARY!

Last night my husband told the kids they were to turn off the computer and the video game system because they were playing too much.  He wanted them to do something a little more social with the family, like watch tv.?  I'm serious folks, that was his suggestion.  "You spend too much time on those games, I want you to do something with the family, like watch tv or something!"  Okay, I was good and made no remark but inside I was thinking 'yeah, thats a great alternative, lets watch tv before our brains turn to mush!'

So we go down and watch one of my favorite movies 'Tremors' (don't roll your eyes at me, thats a great movie!  Nothing like a big people-eatting-prehistoric-subterrainian-alien-wormmonster called a grabboid to bring a family together for a little quality family time!)  At the end of the movie my 2nd oldest boy asked me to go with him upstairs, and there he proudly displayed a high score for a game on the computer.  I don't pay much attention to the score because... wasn't he just told that there were to be no more games played?

"I know, I just kind of fell on the computer and had to play" he said. Okay, thats a good one, he 'fell' on the computer, and I suppose he 'accidently' hit the power button and it was an uncontrollable twitch that clicked the mouse on the game icon.  Okay, I didn't buy it, but I think I'll keep that excuse in my memory banks, just in case I get desperate.

PARADE FLOAT FOR DORNBRAU

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO AOL JOURNALS, AND ALL OF MY FELLOW JOURNALS.  HERE'S TO A WONDERFUL FIRST YEAR AND MANY MORE TO COME!

DORNBRAU: President of the Dust Bunny Club of North America.

           

 

TO ALL OF MY FELLOW BLOG-A-HOLICS, ITS BEEN FUN, ITS BEEN REAL... BLOG ON MY FRIENDS, BLOG ON! 

 

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, TO ALL OF THE CASHIERS OUT THERE WHO READ MY DIARY OF A MAD CASHIER AND SHAKE THEIR HEADS THINKING... 'BEEN THERE, DONE THAT', REMEMBER THESE WORDS THAT KEEP MY SANITY IN TACT AT WORK...  THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT, EXCEPT WHEN THEY'RE WRONG!

(PLEASE CLICK ON THE GRAPHICS FOR LINKS TO MY JOURNALS)

CREDIT:  THESE WONDERFUL GRAPHICS WERE DESIGNED BY THE WONDERFULLY TALENTED AND GENEROUS SmartyPantzJessi, THANKS JESSIE, YOU'RE AWESOME!  Dorn

AOL JOURNALS ANNIVERSARY

Oh my gosh, the Anniversary is just one week away and I haven't a thing to wear!  And what shall I bring?  A float?  There isn't enough time!  What to do, what to do!?

Okay, maybe I'm a little too new to this to be as caught-up in the celebration as some others, but I still feel like I should be doing something. But what?

Planting a garden is out, my gardening skills, even a cyber garden,suck so I won't even go there.  I've no idea how these cyber-floats work, and I think I dropped the cyber torch a couple of times, I'm not sure, I just saw fire so I sprayed it with my cyber-hose and nothing was left but a cyber-puddle and a wet stick.  How many of them things are there out there anyhow cos I know for a fact I've exstinguished at least 6 (I live in a high-fire-danger area).  Fireworks are out for the same reason.

So what can I do for this 'Cyber-bration'?  I refuse to sit back and do nothing because the fact is I owe a lot to AOL Journals.  For starters I've invested valuable time in my 4 journals and through them have gained many wonderful friends.  Journal-land has given me a much needed break from the stress of the real world although that is not to say that it is not real or genuine.  I take my fellow jouralers very seriously and they are just as real and important in my life as my own friends and family.

Well, the answer is obviously not coming to me today, so I will ponder this over the next few days and hopefully will have an offering for the celebration of a great institution and inspiration.  Til then, blog on my friends.

BLOGGERS WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME

When we set off on vacation I was under the impression that I would be able to access the internet pretty much the whole time we would be gone.  Then, at the last minute my husband announces that we will be camping out on the first part of the trip.  What, no hotel with free highspeed dsl internet access?  I calm myself on the drive down to Arizona.  It will be late by the time we get there, and we haven't made any reservations at the campgrounds.  I play along, pretending to be excited about camping out at the Reservation, but inside I'm keeping track of all the hotels in the area as we near our destination.  We pass the last hotel well before we ever hit the Hopi reservation.  Fortunately (?) reservations are not needed to camp on the designated camp ground/RV park/squatters alley.  We pitch the tent in the middle of nowhere.  There is no highspeed dsl access within 200 miles.

After a tour of the kivas and ancestral homes of my husband's grandparents (not even a regular phone line to be found there), we head off to the Grand Canyon.  Being a federal monument, and a big tourist attraction I know for a fact that there will be no vacantcies at the campgrounds.  I am wrong.  I stare at the public payphones, trying to figure a way to hack into them, but my family wants to sightsee.  There are no phone lines in the Desert View Tower, or at our campsite.  Later, in the tent the kids watch a dvd on the computer.  I tap the keyboard desolately.  I now have the shakes.

The next day its off to California.  I am eager to get there.  I smile at the Hoover Dam, and wave at Las Vegas.  No, we don't need to stop there, lets just get to our final destination... quickly.  I fiddle with the buttons on the dash, pretending to type.  I offer to dial the cell phone, anything just to push buttons and keys.  We finally make it to the in-laws.  Its late, too late to set up the computer.  The next day we go to Santa Ana.  Even before we leave the driveway I am impatient to return.  When we do get home my brother-in-law offers us his computer.  Whats this?  I have entered the wrong password?  IMPOSSIBLE!  I try to set up the laptop, but the in-laws won't let us use their phoneline, and the modem for their dsl is incompatible for our service.  By now I am sweating.

The next morning its off to Disneyland, and more delays.  We don't get the rooms my sister-in-law reserved so there is a big issue about it.  Does it have a phoneline?  Then we'll take it!  When we finally make it to the room I plug the laptop in.  I offered to help my husband with his homework assignment just so I could use the computer.  I quickly unplug the phone and plug the line into the modem, set up the local access and poof, I'm online.  I shoot a quick entry before anyone even knows I'm on. 

Unbeknown to me that would be my only opportunity to get online.  I would go the rest of my vacation cold turkey.  My fingers tap nervously at anything.  I look longingly at the billboards we pass for hotels advertising internet service.  I begin to lose interest in the vacation and daydream of my return home, and to my awaiting computer... my Precioussssssss.  I don't nag when my husband speeds along the interstates, it just means we'll get home that much quicker.

Finally we are home.  I pass by the computer room while bringing our things in from the truck.  Later, over dinner I pretend to enjoy the meal and conversation.  I laugh mechanically at some show on TV, then hurry the kids off to bed.  I insist that my husband not wait for me, I'll be up when I finish the beer I just opened.  Finally they are gone and I bolt into the computer room like a bullet.  I'm online in no time and logged on to AOL.  'Welcome', the Aol dude says, 'You've got mail!'.  I could kiss him, and I would if I wasn't afraid of getting electrocuted.  I read my mail with a big smile on my face.  My fingers tap out passwords and URL's blindly.  I feel all of the tension leaving my body.  I am home.

 

I was home for 3 hours before I turned on the computer.  Don't get me wrong.... I wanted to as soon as I walked in the front door.  It had been 10 days since I had last touched the keyboard and my fingertips itched to caress the keys, but I knew that everyone was watching me, waiting to see how long it would take.  So I sat down and pretended to taste the taco I was eating, pretended to listen to the TV when all I could hear was the ticking of the clock marking wasted seconds that could have been better spent infront of my 17 inch monitor.

But they are asleep now and I am free to log on to visit my old friends.  And I will.... just as soon as I get some sleep myself.  But I just had to stop by and feel my computer once again, and to peek at my blog, to see if anyone has visited while I was gone, to see if anyone had missed me as much as I have missed them.

Ahhhhh, vacations are fun,  but most of all vacations are for reminding you of how wonderful it is to be home. 

Blog on my friends.  Thanks for waiting on me.

FALLEN OFF THE WAGON

Its only 5 days into my vacation and I am ashamed to admit that I could not resist the temptation to hack into the hotel's phone system and get online.  Even more embarassing is the admission that I had tried to get online at my sister-in-law's house but their wiring would not allow access and thus I suffered frustration and learned to use the word 'thus' in a sentence out of sheer boredom and for the lack of something better to do with 24 hours of the day.

So, anyhow, this is a classic example of a stuttering hit and run entry, where a blogger spends the entire entry discussing absolutely nothing, but accomplishing the main purpose of getting a blog fix.  Miss you all, can't wait to get back home to my own computer.

Blog on my friends.  (how I miss typing those four words),

Dorn

VACATION - Updating Journals for Dummies (reprint)

I leave for the family vacation tomorrow with the sunrise.  Unfortunately I have to work today so I will be very busy once I get off.  In anticipation of not being able to get my blog-fix again before I leave, I will leave you will this, probably one of my favorite blog entry.  For those who read it previously on my other journal, I apologize for the repetition. 

I am making some upgrades to my journal.  These are inter-active upgrades so you will have to follow the instructions I give to benefit from the application.  First of all, in order to spruce up my journal, kind of give it a flashy facelift with the little blinkies that are so popular with the other journals, I am adding some of my own.  Here is where the 'inter-active' part comes in.  When ever you see a little asterik, like this  *  , just blink your eyes several times in succession.  The more you blink, the faster the blinkie!  Try it now:

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

If you did it properly you should have seen a blinking row of twinkly stars.  Got it?  Good.  Now I'll add some color.... and.... blink! blink! blink!

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * 

Next I will add some background music.  Scroll back up to *the top of the message.  Under the heading there should be a song title * and the artist that performs it.  In this case it is 'How Do You Like Me Now' by Toby Keith.  Go to AOL Music on the toolbar and click on it.  Find the country section and select TobyKeith, and then the song title.  Crank it up and continue reading the message.  *       *

Through the marvels of modern technology I am now able to provide you with a unique interactive online  * experience.  I *hope you have enjoyed your visit here at my journal.  To my new found friends, thank you  for the support and encouragement you * have given me.  To those who made fun of my name, or made insinuations as to whether or not I have* a life, all I can say is....   (crank up the chorus now)   "How Do You Like Me Now?!"  *

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

UPCOMING AOL JOURNAL GALA EVENTS

AOL journals turns 1 year old and several sites are planning big Anniversary celebrations.  Now the common person would scoff at such an idea, after all the journals are just a daily weblog program, not some elaborate multimillion dollar corporation or something of the kind.  Its just a collection of daily journals from average people about their lives, their dreams, goals, their families and jobs, their fantasies, right?

WRONG!  This is our world!  This is our lives, our inner most self, this is US!  And you can darn well bet we're going to celebrate the creation of something so special that brought us all together!  Blog on my friends, blog on!

(oooops, gotta go, here comes the husband again!  Dang, why can't he just go to bed and leave me to blog in peace!)

I AM A BLOGGING ADDICT

(this is a reprint of an entry from the Dust Bunny Club which I felt would be more at home here)

Hello, my name is Dorn, and I am a Blogging Addict.  Its hard to admit it, I didn't even realize it at first.  But the symptoms are obvious.  I go straight to the computer in the morning after I start the coffee pot.  I open my mailbox for any new Comment Alerts, then go  to my journal and check the counter to compare the number from what it was before I logged off last night.  Pleased that there have been 20 hits overnight, I go to my favorite journals and read their latest entries.  I try to leave a comment of my own because I know how much I appreciate when they leave me comments.  I wait until the last minute to log off, just incase I get a Comment Alert.... I like to read them as soon as they pop up.

During the day I refer to other journalers as 'friends', even though I don't know them personally and in fact only know them by their screen name.  They are real enough to me and I believe every thing they write because nobody would ever lie or exaderate on a journal.

After work I rush back home and straight down to the computer room and turn on AOL.  My mailbox is full lately and I am happy because most of the comments are favorable.  I have so many friends now and I feel so special.

But when my husband comes in I guiltily shut down the computer.  He gives me long brooding looks.  I think he suspects that I might be having some kind of online affair, but he never says anything.  Its hard, but I wait until he goes to bed before logging on again.  More journal alerts... so I quickly pull them up and read them before checking the counter and logging off.

Now that I am over the denial stage of this addiction I must deal with it.  I didn't sleep well last night trying to come up with a solution.  With the sunrise came the answer.  I will just have to make a committment and take responsibility for my sickness.  I will have to go cold turkey.  It will be hard in the beginning, but changes must be made in order to save my sanity.

I will quit my job and devote myself to blogging full time! 

And I will start a help group for other addicts so that they may come to terms with their sickness.  I will call it 'Bloggers Anonymous'.  Blogging is not a crime, it isa disease.  Don't hate me because I blog.  Bloggers are people too.  Just because we 'LOL' instead of laughing out loud doesn't make us bad.  We are just misunderstood.   And bloggers are beautiful people.  I am proud to be a blogger! 

(oops, here comes the husband, gotta go!)

HAL

How many of you have named their computer.  The first computer I ever saw was Hal, or HAL 9000 from the Space Odessey.  Hal was enough to intimidate anyone.

I don't think my first computer even had a brand.  It had a 475 MB harddrive (yes, I said MB, not GB).  I had all kinds of names for that stupid thing, but they can't be repeated here in a public forum.  My next computer was a Packard Bell, or the Packasaurus Rex as was more fitting.  That was followed by My Baby, the eMachine.  My current computer, My Precious (say this with a hissssss) is a Dell.  And finally, there is the Frankenputer upstairs.... its possessed by past users, past mainframes, old motherboards, I don't know for sure, but its haunted!

BLOG AND RUN!

Another habit of bloggers is to randomly write about absolutely nothing.  They just log on to their journal and submit 2 paragraphs about how they have nothing to say or report for the day.  They are in fact just satisfying their need to add an entry to their journal.  Many do it out of a sence of duty, they feel their loyal readers expect a new entry each and every day and so they type up meaningless drivel so as not to let their readers down.  Truth be known they NEED to add an entry for their own satisfaction.  They log on to their journal to check the counter, then panic if they see that its been more than 24 hours since their last entry.  They don't want their readers to get bored and find another blog to frequent.  And so they write.  Sometimes it will be works of art, complete brilliance.  Other times it will be a stammering jumble of words just to drop back the 'entry-ticker'.  And sometimes it will be a senceless paragraph about how other journaler feel the need to write senceless paragraphs just to get a 'blog-fix'

Blog on my friends.

What is a 'blog'?

I was asked a while back this question, and I apologize for not responding sooner, but the truth of the matter is that I had no idea what a blog was.  It baffled me why something as special as a personal journal would be named something that sounds like it should come from a nasal passage.  So I did my homework, and this is what I came up with.

BLOG:  A frequent, chronological publication of personal thoughts and Web links.

The word 'blog' comes from 'web log'.  It is used to represent an almost infinite variety of journals by and equally almost infinite number of writers.  And what is the attraction?  The blog is the soul creation of the author.  Nobody can tell them that it is wrong.  Well, they can, but it wouldn't matter, because the blog belongs to the author to do with as he or she sees fit.  Writing a blog can be very satisfying and therapeutic.  Reading others can be educational and enjoyable.

For me, having a blog, or several as it is, has been my saving grace.  I no longer vent on the family.  I just sit down at the computer and have a cyber-pity party for a little while, then get up, brush off my hands and carry on with life, refreshed and ready to tackle anything.  The most important aspect of blogging for me is my small following of loyal readers who offer advice, share laughs and lend a shoulder when needed without judging.  I do not have to fit a stereotype or pattern, I can just be myself.  I think that is a major attraction for many bloggers.  Blog on my friends, blog on!

WHERE DO YOU BLOG?

I've been noticing that there are a lot of different names for the World of Blogging.  I myself use several different names when referring to it.  These are some that I know of, and I'm sure that there are many more.

Bloggersville,   Blogsville,  Journal-land,  J-Land,  Bloggerstown,  Journaltown,  Blogsylvania,  New Blogston, 

Can you think of (or make up) any more?

A BLOGGER'S MORNING

Its 6am.  I've been awake for almost an hour but waited until my husband left for work before getting up and turning on the computer.  I make a pot of coffee while the computer is powering up.  My first stop.... my mailbox!  Most of the new mail consists of Journal Comment Alerts.  I delete any spam so I can just breeze through the alerts without interruption.  My next stop is my journals.  I scroll down to check the counter and compare it with the number from last night before I logged off at bedtime.  10 hits or more overnight is a decent night.  20 or more is great.  I will then read the new comments... again.  I refresh my memory by reading my original entry.  I am comforted by bloggers who leave comments like "ITA" (I totally agree).  I don't get much ITA offline. The more common response offline is "AYC"  (Are You Crazy?).  Next its the news.  No, I don't mean AOL news, or CNN or FoxNewsOnline.  I mean news in Bloggersville.  Blogs have taken over my Favorites and I just go down the line catching up on some of my new friends.  I laugh at some of them, cry over others.  And some I sit there with a look of wonder and amazement wishing I had thought of that first.

And so starts my average day.  I'll leave the computer on while I get ready for work, just in case some new comments pop up.  I used to hate logging off and shutting down, but have since come up with a new way of thinking.  Do you know how much a counter can climb and the comments alerts can pile up during the course of a workday?  Its absolutely awesome to come home after a rough day at work to log on and see your mailbox overflowing with laughs and messages of encouragement, and to see that the counter has once again shot through the roof. 

Soooo, reluctantly I must step away from the keyboard and begin preparations for earning my minimum wage.  I shall be back as soon as possible to this very seat catching up on the very latest in Bloggersville.  Until then, Blog on my friends.

ADD-A-VERSE

ODE TO THE BLOGGERS

(Oh my gosh folks, we need help!  Hahahahahaha!)

I resent the insinuation

That I haven't got a life

I only blog three times a day,

Morning, noon and night!  

I'm tired of ppl complaining  (z7snowflake)

That I'm tying up the phone

All I want to say to them is

Leave me the heck alone

I'm promise i'm not addicted   (phscecee821 )
WELL.. maaaybe a little bit
but truthfully honestly
i'm tired of hearing your shit...

So just leave me alone
I just want to have some fun.
leave your mean comments in my journal
and I might reply to one

So if you're just a lurker,  (emfeasel)
And you never leave a word,
Come on outta the shadows...
You know you're a blogger nerd.

Don't worry 'bout people seeing
What you really wanna say.
I just like to get comments,
Every single day.

My only rule is this,
Listen carefully to what I say.
Don't leave me something nasty...
(Oh, you don't want my full attention)
Come on...make my day!

I've seen the husband off to work   (Jennifer)
I've brushed and fed the dog
My duties are accomplished now
It's time to tend my blog

I open up my journal    (Cathy0o0)

And hit the entry key,

And there i type my thoughts

For all the world to see.

Sometimes they are silly,

And sometimes they are sad,

And sometimes i just type

What kind of day i had.

A blogaholic i have become,

Yes to it i am obsessed,

But thank god for journals like dornbrau's

A place to come confess

(please feel free to add a verse)

TESTIMONIALS

Oh My God at 14 years old I think I have and addiction to blogging i havent lived long enough I dont know what to do... I spend longer typing and picking out pictures everyday than watching TV.. HELP... Cecile

my story is somewhat similar-- only been blogging a little over 2 months, hard to believe. Don't have braodband so my phoneline is scarily busy a lot. oops. Have you ever looked at the blogs of people (on other blog sites) who have been doing it since 2002 or so... we are late to the party!  --Albert

My son said i had become a puter nerd...lol I told him i can have more fun for 23.90 a month that he could with a 1000.00 a month. And thats the truth. :) Cathy

HI MY NAME IS LORI AND I AM A BLOGAHOLIC! Thank you for telling your story. I have been  hooked on blogs since I started mine back in July of 03 as a way to deal with the greif of my grandmothers impending death. She died in August 03 and my jland friends have been what has gotten me thru. Lori

I am on dial up and my phone is busy for hours and hours and hours.  Oh, well, who needs "real" people in their lives when we have bloggers in ours.  lol Kathy

Hi, I am Glopsblink and I'm a bloggaholic. It all started back in February when I was snooping into people's profiles and journals were so interesting. And so it started. I found the main page for journaling. I was hesatent, but made a journal. Then I made more journals. Now, I am perminently grown onto my blogging chair, LoL-ing for hours on end because a journal's coloring looks funny.::sigh::. .::sob::. It's all over, I know it....waaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

I finally admitted my problem when, during a phone conversation with my 6-year-old grandson, I asked him to repeat the same line 4 times (claiming that I couldn't understand him) because I was trying to write down his words for a blog entry.  The minute he started talking I knew I had a blog entry, and I just wanted to get the words to his question exactly as he had said them.  That's just sick.
And I don't have verbal conversations anymore.  People say "how are you?"  I say "read my blog."
I have admitted the problem, and I am seeking help.  Jennifer

EMERGENCY KITS

BLOGGER'S ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE KIT:

* Notepad to write down random thoughts when away from the computer.

* 12 pack of #2 pencils with eraser and sharpener. (pens tend to dry out)

* Printout of earlier entries that you can re-read while sitting in traffic.

* Cell phone with number for AOL by Phone for audio journal entries.

* Old keyboard to carry on your lap

* Map of all Internet Cafes and hotels with Internet access along your route.

PC HOME REPAIR KIT:

* Size 12 steel-toed mens' work boot for quick re-boots.

* 3 lb. ball hammer for when re-boot fails.

* A roll of duct tape for repairs after using the first two methods.

I started blogging on March 18, 2004.  I had just gotten broadband installed and was experimenting with my new version of AOL on my new computer.  It was awesome, the connection was super-sonic fast, and I could leave the internet on all day long without tying up the phone line.  This was the start of a new passion!

With my new capabilities I began to investigate the AOL toolbar, which was off limits with my old computer.  Journals... never heard of them before but I clicked on the keyword and poof, there it was... the AOL Journals Welcome screen.  It listed the Editor's Picks, and I clicked on them.  That week's journals were kind of foofy, all financial, technical hoo-haa but the idea of a journal was tittilating.  My next stop... message boards.  I clicked on computer help, where I had posted eons ago.... and found a link for a journal message board.  I clicked on it and found a bunch of messages fussing about the Editor's Picks.  I also found a bunch of messages that started with... 'Read my journal',   I clicked on the provided links and was transported into another world.  It was like satellite tv, there were millions of them out there, and everyone was different.  I was like a kid in a candy store!  So many stories, funny ones, sad ones, happy ones about families, angry ones about ex's and politicians.  It didn't take me too long to decided... I wanted one too!

So I clicked on the link to start one of my own and started typing.  At the time I had no idea what I wanted my story to be about, I just wanted to write, so I wrote.  http://journals.aol.com/dornbrau/DUSTBUNNYCLUBOFNORTHAMERICA/entries/95Then I went to the message board and quietly pleaded for complete strangers to read my journal.  I started reading other journals from links left on the message board, but didn't start getting readers until I learned to link my journal to my signature which was left every time I left a message on the message board. 

3 months later I am totally hooked.  I currently have 4 journals, two of which I add entries almost daily.  I no longer have time to read books, I read journals instead.  I listen to the news, then log on so I can get real opinions on my favorite journals and message boards.  My husband barely glanced on my feature photo on the Welcome screen, and scrolled quickly down the first page of my journal without comment, but thats okay because I have many other appreciative readers who even take time out to leave a comment.  Actually, come to think of it, it probably would not have been a good thing for him to read all of my journal, he might not have appreciated my portrayal of himself.  Oh well, if he has problems with it he can either leave a comment, or get his own journal!  This is my story and I'm sticking to it!

Tip of the Day

Today's tip comes from Xzasporated Jennifer.

Keep a blogging notepad with you, or for you long winded bloggers, a notebook.  This way you can jot down thoughts and ideas throughout the day while you are away from the computer.  This is especially useful when you are to be away from your computer for an extended period of time....(4 hours or longer).  A quick fix is to carry an old keyboard with your luggage so you can phantom blog infront of a TV until you return home.  The keyboard can also be used during long car rides, airplane trips and camp-outs.

Another tip... this one comes from me... keep a pen in your toothbrush holder.  That way you always have a writing implement handy when an idea suddenly pops into your head while sitting upon the most thought producing piece of furniture in the house... the Porcelain Throne!  2 or 3 ply toilet tissue makes nice stationery and can be recycled after your notes have been transfered on to the computer.

Well, to all my wonderful fellow journalers, Blog On!  And a special thanks to Xzasporated Jennifer for todays tips.

YOU'VE GOT MAIL

I was trying to wean myself off of the computer the other night so I turned on the TV set, I still have to look at a monitor, it soothes me.  So any how, guess what comes on?  You've got it, 'You've Got Mail', starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.  And I sat there just 'ROFLOL' (quietly and behind my hand of course cos everyone in the house would have thought me totally bonkers), as the movie started out with our two main characters waiting for their significant others to leave their respective abodes so that they could turn on the computer.  I have actually peered out from behind the curtain myself to watch my husband drive away before running to my computer.... and then doing a speed shut-down when he returns.  Lately I've just turned off the monitor, it makes logging back on so much faster.  I didn't watch the entire movie.  I lasted as long as the midway point before going back to my own computer. Sorry, can't do it cold turkey.

GOT ZITS?

A common problem that bloggers have to deal with are zits.  No, thats not a skin problem, and its not an acronym, it is just what I call harrassing posters who leave rude and many times off-topic comments on other peoples' journals. 

It is not expected that every reader will agree with the journaler and some may leave a disagreeable but respectful comment.  That is fine.  It is the rude commenter who does a 'read-by' and leaves a harassing comment with the sole intention of angering or embarassing the author.  That is in my opinion rude, cowardly and immature.  But these zits don't care what other people think about them, just just want others to know what they, the zit, thinks about them, the journaler.

To the journals who have an occasional problem with zits, ignore them and they will fade away.  If you pick at them they will only become bigger problems and spread, often times leaving scars (see why I call them zits?).  To the zits, I have this advice.  Get your own journal so you don't have to scab off of other peoples' lives to get your thrills.  Journaling is really fun once you get into it.  Try it, you may find that its even more fun than harassing strangers and people may actually start taking you seriously.  (unless you are like me, then alas, nobody will ever take you seriously)

COMMON SIDE EFFECTS:

A couple of the more serious medical side effects of Blogaholism are:

 'Authorwritus', mistakenly diagnosed as arthritus until the early part of the millineum.

'Journalitis' , also known as tendonitis; a painful condition in the hands, wrists and lower arms due to repetitive motions as in typing and blogging.

'Blogger-ti-tas' , a condition that occurs when pressure is put on your buttock for an extended period of time without relief, leaving large muscle numb or tingly.  This commonly occurs after long sessions of writing and reading blogs.

If you suffer from any of these ailments, get used to it, cos it ain't gonna get better so long as you blog!  Get some asprin, get some Bengay, and a nice soft cushion to sit on.  And you may also consider investing in some Depends for those unexpected ROFLOL sessions.

WELCOME FELLOW BLOGAHOLICS

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I introduce our Charter Membership.  Welcome one and all.  And now, a word from E-Bear, our Honorary Chairblogger:

"How can this many good people be wrong?  Blog On!"  

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Kathy told me about this blog!  Great!!  It's funny because I just mentioned in my entry today that I was concerned about my addiction. I guess I just am admitting that I'm powerless over it!  --Albert

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * That's a great and accurate list. Add me to the list of Blogaholics. :)
Shelly

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * It's all so very very true, I'm so addicted, and I hope there is no cure.  It's too much fun!  ~lila~

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * OH man did you hit the nail on the head for me LOL Lori

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Aye me! I admit it, I'm an addict, but its nice to know I'm not the only one, lol.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ::hangs head::  I also am a blogaholic.  Will be back.  I will watch your counter with you.

Kathy

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Himy name is Sara and I'm a Blogaholic.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ROFLMAO  I said "Yep! That's ME!" Through a lot of that LOL :)

Maria
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Thats cute...I'm jsut gonna borrow that...
::runs::
Renee