I'm back. Seriously though, stumbled across this a couple of months ago but had to take time to think of the right words to describe how it made me feel. Still haven't, really, but it's the eve of my 65th B-day and it's time.
Actually it's the kind of thing I wrote the lyric "These things, these things they have no words..." for.
So humbled by all the love.
But the thing that really tears up my eye (the left one, I might be gettin' a sty, I think) is that it also served as the platform for another long-absent member, Txbumper57 to check in. (Thanks Chris!)
That has a particular meaning for me as Tx and I had butted heads a couple of times through mutual mis-understandings of some of each other's posts. I always regretted any ill will that might have been created but I have a feeling of somehow having recovered something lost, that Tx was ok posting in a thread that was started in my honor.
I guess it's the kind of thing that makes this place what it is.
Tx was a great source of info here, posted so many wonderful reviews and pics of exotic Guilds that likely most of us would only ever
see thanks to him. But yeah life was pilin' his plate pretty high towards the end, there. I hope he'll finally get some free time to visit more often.
Now on to a couple of "fine" points:
I miss Al, also. It was always a difficult decision to make between reading a short novel or what Al posted that day? And guess what - Al ways won!
Thanks Stu. Bein' a daily columnist's a lot easier than it looks.
Al tends to be a curmudgeon so I don't know whether his failure to obtain internet (and by internet, I mean LTG) access is a philosophy issue or a financial issue. If it's the latter perhaps someone should organize a GoFundMe campaign?
Curmudgeon? Ahhh...but wait: If you're the postbot's daddy, then it's only natural the fruit didn't fall far from the tree, no?
He's working on getting a laptop or some kinda computer for access but since he can't shop online he's relegated to going shopping to physical stores and he's a bit of a fuss as i'm sure you know.
You kind of forgot that the real problem was that I didn't want to shop online anyway: Gotta test out that keyboard and monitor in person, man!
And I couldn't shop in person, all the stores were
closed, man. COVID lockdowns.
Also, still no wifi or internet access at home and no smart phone. So that's really all there is to that. He may be just killing time before he goes back to work, but no word so far on when that will be yet.
Actually in June, I was still being told I'd be brought back to work as soon as possible, so there was no point in entering into an internet contract if it may be unnecessary by September (my original estimated date of "go/no go" with continued employment), right?
And had already determined a smartphone of any description was completely inadequate for my needs, even allowing for my absolute loathing of 'em.
So at the time I just assumed a laptop was going to be the only way I could have something close to useful that I didn't have to park in my space-distressed kitchen. I
would have shopped as a precautionary measure if I could.
As it was, finally got the "no-go" word on August 30th effective September 30th, so now had true necessity to obtain 'net and 'puter.
By that time at least the Apple stores were open again and they were always gonna be my first look anyway.
Although cash wasn't a problem and I'd already budgeted for it, there was also severance package that took care of the 'puter nicely.
In closing, I'd just like to remind you all: "Post early and post often, and be careful what you wish for".
Oh, wait, almost forgot, need a pic to make it an official "Al" post.
Been savin' a
ton on razors and haircuts these last few months.