Sweet! Glad they finally put an off topic forum. For starters, I guess we should introduce ourselves!
My name is Timothy, and I'm currently a student at Cedar Valley College for audio engineering. I'm also concurrently attending Purpose Institute Bible College. I really enjoy computers and I also enjoy programming and webdesign. If anyone cares to chat, I can be reached via under the screename of "CokoBorg".
beccalynnm
Member
Thank you so much for putting up the off-topic forum. This will be so much fun! I am a stay at home mom, so the internet is sometimes the only time during the day I get to talk to other adults.
JEBOman
Member
Hello my name is Jacob. I have been on a computer since I was one year old and pretty much do every kind of digital art at this point. I am generally reverse engineering a program though, or programming. My AIM is JABOP and I am generally happy to talk to anyone.
pauloparra
Member
Hi, my name is Mario and I am an old timer. I had a zx-81 and later an 8081 with a 8087 math coprocessor. I like games, but I am really a programmer. I have a Ph.D. in applied Math which was 90% c++, tcl, ... programing on solaris. I am back to the intels now and looking to do research. Giveaway of the day is one of the few web pages that seems too good to be true and it is!
stefaniceiceice
Member
alrite...am stefan..in last year of school...not on the computer to much but saw a video advertising the site on metacafe so i thought i would give it a look...not on AIM do have msn...but aint giving out no offence people lol
Whiterabbit
Member
Hi I'm a sixties/seventies reject who goes under the name of WhiteRabbit while in cyber space. The name is linked to one of my faivorite sixties bands Jefferson Airplane, and of course a tenuous link to Lewis Carrols "Alice in Wonderland". I'm now retired due to a serious rta last year. A speeding car hit me from behind while I was cycling to work. I received 4 fractures of the spine, two of which have left me severly disabled; however I can get around and at least am alive and live in a country with good support for disabled people. I will probably be relativly wealthy once compensation is paid out, but I'd rather have my health back. The only positive (if you can call it that)thing that the accident has given me is the freedom to not work in a humdrum job any more. I have a good education with two degrees, a teaching diploma and a health related diploma. as well as experience in teaching the National Health service, Army, researcher and general layabout. I intend to find a niche in computing sometime in the future, but I'm in no rush. I'd like to set up a web site eventually, selling my digital art, which is based around the thousands of photo's I've accumulated since my grandfather gave me an SLR when I was eight years old (42 years ago), and the use of photoshops to enhance and change the images into works of art.
This project has really grabbed me. I'm really impressed with the concept of a consumer driven idea where both the consumer and retailer win. The anticipation and excitement I feel each day when I remember to turn on my computer to check what's been given away, is fantastic. I enjoy every morning despite the condition I'm in. I still have to take morphine because the damage caused by the accident was exacerbated because I wasn't treated for a broken back and discharged home, where I rapidly deteriorated and now am unable to work effectively. Sorry for the waffle; I don't have much else to do these days, lol.
comicfan2000
Member
Hi, my name is Paul and I am 35 ,currently into PC repair, working on Network Administration, then programming. I go to college, work on computers and work for an insurance company as well. I have been married for 16 years and have 3 great kids. I love surfing the www, graphics work, furniture building, sculpturing, drawing, painting, writing, electronics, collecting comics, hence my "comicfan2000" , carpentry work, spending time with my kids, FOOD!, PS2, and music. I do like to chat as you will find out, lol. Oh and my number 1 favorite , coffee ;)
What I don't like.
Lying, I believe in honesty, even if the world has gone to hell in a hand basket, I teach my kids to be truthful, telling lies and covering up your life just turns around to bite you at any age, anywhere. Keep it simple I think. Truth upsets\scares people nowadays, more than death I think, so i'm constantly making people mad by being honest. Not saying i'm always "right", been wrong for 16 years, ;P ask my wife. ;)
I don't like Windows ME, Vista, Alcohol, drugs, stupid lawsuits, people who don't read replies right> completely taking it out of context that is< that irritates me to no end and refusing to see it any other way.
Aside from that, I may seem like a real prune in the forums but I simply dig for answers and like to know the facts. I may seem pushy trying to get them, even irritate some in order to do so but I mean no offense, I just quest for knowledge and facts.
Hope I don't peeve anyone, nice to meet everyone,
Paul
copmom
Member
Hello all.. thought I'd bring this thread back up to the top since it's been a year since anyone posted.
I'll add to it. My nickname is copmom because both of our sons are cops. One is a canine officer in North Carolina, and the other is in Southern California. We have 4 children in all, all of them grown, married, and with children of their own. That's resulted in us having 10 grandchildren, and now, we have multiplied to 5 GREAT grandkids! Even though this makes me sound ancient, I'm still young at heart!
We live in the mountains of North Carolina (the Blue Ridge Mountains, aka Smokey Mountains) and love it here. Moved here after spending 32 years in Southern California.
We have our own business (out of our home), done through the mail, and have done so since 1984, so don't have much chance to socialize, except for online. I love participating in the forums, as it gives me a chance to chat with other adults as we live in the country and neighbors aren't that close in proximity. Also love playing computer games, which is why I originally found GOTD and GGOTD.. and so glad I did!
My other interest is snapping photos of all the critters we see around here as well as the different flowers. Spent half an hour the other day on the front porch waiting for a little hummingbird to come to our feeder, and then gave up. Sure enough, when I went inside, he came... grrrrr! Also love messing around with my computer! I've finally reached the point where I've learned by mistakes what NOT to do on computers.. I learn the hard way. Enough for now.. will look forward to seeing what others post!
In friendship ~ Lauri
suzzyqz
Member
copmom..thanks for reopening this thread. I think it may help some of us get to know each other better. I wish I was where you are! LOL! I lived in Hickory for 11 yrs...now in OH, which I said I would never move north again, but we must go where work leads us...hopefully we will be back in NC in a few years..till then...Oh well!
I really like tinkering with my computer. I am one of the females my age who has the guts to tear it apart and find out what each piece does! I recently built a new one and I love it! 4 times faster...now if we could only get the games back to every day!!!LOL. As for work, we fit prosthesis for ladies who have had mastectomies/lumpectomies. I also do the electronic billing....etc........
I have 1 daughter who grew up in NC..going to school here to be an accountant..2 grandkids. Grandkids are much better...you can send them home!!LOL
copmom
Member
suzzy.. you sound like me. I love taking things apart. I figure if I mess up, then I'll pay someone to undo my mess. So far, so good. And.. as for your line of work .. been there, done that. Figure at my age, and with my husband being 'weaned', who needs 2? My sister is 2 years younger and she went through double mastectomies and then had them 'rebuilt'. But, she was still in her late 30's at that time and appearance and 'cleavage' was more important to her! Oops.. don't mean to embarrass any of the guys! LOL
As for the grands, we've got 2 of them (7 & 8) 3 days a week for summer vacation.. (anxiously waiting for Aug. 18.. back to school). They're due here tomorrow. We picked up a 6 foot wading pool today which I'll probably regret tomorrow! They're really no problem, except that I'm not used to getting up at 7 AM anymore!!!!! But, like you said, I can send them home!
clobermier
Member
Hi, I'm Cindy. My husband died in 2004, so I've raised our kids since then. The two oldest ones are both responsible, wonderful kids--my daughter is a district manager, and my son is in the Army (right now he's in Afghanistan). My younger son? Well, he's 16. That should say it all, I think. Then I have a 14 year old daughter, who goes back and forth between being really awesome and being a hostile smart aleck. :-)
I was in the Air Force for 14 years, and was medically discharged because of a back injury that had been misdiagnosed, and ended up giving me tons of problems for the past 11 years. (I can relate, Whiterabbit) I do have a spinal stimulator now, but uh, it doesn't work well at all, so I figure it's a waste of a lot of money.
I've been into computers for years, starting with the Commodore 64, moving up to the Tandy 1000, and then moving on to building my own, just to see if I could do it. I found Giveaway of the Day one day after it began, and thought, "Oh, this is too cool!" I've been here ever since, and though sometimes I'm quiet in the forums, I do read a lot of the posts.
Cindy
suzzyqz
Member
clobermier/Cindy welcome...so sorry about your husband. I know it is hard to raise kids alone. I only had 1 and it was hard. (My husband didn't die..he just keeps hanging in there)-I should say EX! I understand about the 14 & 16 thing too. Just when you think they have come up with everything under the sun to try your patience, they find something even worse!! Think tattoos and piercings etc....you know what I mean. I hope all goes well for your son in the Army & he comes back safely soon. That was why I built my computer, just to see if I could do it (and my husband-current one :)-was tired of looking at the pieces I keep scattered around my computer room!).
copmom-at least my grandkids are still in the daycare stage and I work full time!! Oldest one starts school this year..that will be something to see..her sitting still and shutting up for more than 2 seconds!!! LOL. We have to love them or we would be taken away for child abuse!!:) Hope all is well with your checkups now..see sooo many survivors it is very encouraging. If I went through it, I would have both off and be any size I wanted on whatever day! No reconstructions for me...seen too many go wrong...I like that one...husband weaned!!
Buckleysmom
Member
Neat thread.....looks like it didn't go very far back when it started, hope it goes further this time. Thanks for reviving it Copmom.
I live in PA, born and raised here as was my dad, his dad, his dad etc. We're planning/hoping to move to Texas soon. I'm sort of retired due to medical issues, worked in accounting for many years. Married, no kids (not by choice). Fostered for several years. Our first pc was an Atari or Commodore 64, had both but can't remember which came first. My favorite thing in this world....other than my hubby....is my dog, Buckley (as if I had to tell you). I also love being with our friends and sharing their/our lives. We have friends that are closer than our families - in relationship I mean - not distance. I love pc-ing and this forum and all the neat folks here. I also like to crochet and do other crafts and puzzles, my favorite being crypto-families.
My personal pc has been down for 2 weeks so I've been using hubby's whenever he'll let me get a moment on it. I do think I know now what happened to make my pc crash. The last thing I did was take some pics of myself with my video cam to share with a few folks here in the forums who I share email with. Right after that, even before I got to send the picture out, came "THE CRASH". That's got to be the answer. So you see how lucky you are that I didn't send you my pic? If I had your pc's would all be down now too.....hee hee hee.
funkymom
Member
excellent revival, copmom.
nice to meet you suzy.
good to see you cindy and bkm.
my handle (on this forum and a few other places as well) is funkymom. i've been a single mom, not by choice, for the last year and a half, to an amazing 3 1/2 year old girl. judging by her feisty personality we might not both be around by the time she reaches 14. lol.
i grew up in new york (in queens and long island, just outside manhattan). i've lived in boston, israel and wisconsin. i am currently in tucson, arizona, where it is frickin' hot!! i've just started going to school again, for the first time in 20 years. i want a career in computers, i'm just not sure in what capacity yet, it is all so interesting.
i am trying to reclaim my life. i am finally starting to realize that i really do deserve to be happy.
the majority of my time is spent with my daughter and/or online. i, too, discovered this site because of the games.
i love the people i've met in this forum.
oh, and of course, i am funky.
:D
NolafromNZ
Member
Hi, I am a divorced mum, living on a farm in the New Zealand backblocks with my 34yr old Bank Manager daughter. We only have solar power and wind generators, so if there is no sun or wind, we run out of power and have to use a generator. All our water comes from above (and into tanks) and we only have cellphones. We are 3/4s of an hour from the nearest town, which is Whangarei. This winter has been the wettest I have known and we have had more thunderstorms and hail than any other year. We have 6 cats and 3 dogs, hundreds of chickens, 4 ducks and 15 cows, bulls and calves, the rest of the farm is leased out to dairy farmers.
I have been into computers since the CPM machine and ZX80 days, and my last job was installing accounting software. But that was before 1995, we have lived on the farm ever since then. Life on the farm must be tough, I have had a hip replacement in 2003, and I had breast cancer in 2006. Copmom, I did have both of them chopped off, and I certainly never wanted reconstructions, I was huge before, now I am a fantastic size, lol. I had to have chemo and radiation therapy though and that took a bit of getting through. Never again!! Now, I spend a lot of time sitting in a lazyboy with my laptop on my lap, playing games because, thanks to a cow twisting her hoof on my foot many years ago, the bones are crumbling and some days I can't walk for the pain. I'm also riddled with osteoarthritis, and after an operation to have plates inserted into my foot which I am supposed to have any day now (yeah, right) I will be put on a list for 2 knee constructions. See what I mean about farm life being tough, lol. When I lived in Auckland, I never got sick and the only time I saw a hospital was when my children were born. I have a son living in Auckland and he has 4 children, but I rarely see them.
I have to say though, that I love this life here in the peace and quiet of the country, and I am totally addicted to computer games, GOTD, GGOTD and the forum even though I don't write much. It is just as well we aren't on mains power, as I would never turn the laptop off!
funkymom
Member
wow, what an amazing bunch of women here.
survivors, of one sort or another, one and all.
my step-mother battled breast and lymph-node cancer until it went into overdrive and ended in her brain. when my daughter was an infant and my dad was hospitalized for a whole slew of other medical issues, i would stay with my step-mom when she was going through treatment. so, i have a small clue to what you have gone through.
i am proud of the ladies of the night!
absminprof
Member
Hi. I am an anesthesiologist from India. I have been into computers only for a couple of years and Windows XP is the only OS that I have worked with. I "stumbled upon" this site last July. I like most of the software that are offered here and I play around with them a lot. In the initial days after discovering this site I was an eager visitor. Waitng for this site to open up on the browser, I felt like a child about to be taken to the circus. This enthusiasm cooled somewhat after my OS crashed after installing "CyberPowerAudioEditingLab" from GAOTD. On most days I visit the GAOTD and the forums. I think this is a great forum.
copmom
Member
Nola: I had my breast cancer diagnosed in January, 2001, went through the lumpectomy, then the mastectomy, then they called for 6 months of chemo. I quit after 4 months when they couldn't find a vein anymore and tried to inject me with their 'poisons' in my right arm which was a 'no-no'. It was just supposed to be a precaution anyhow.
Due for my annual mammogram now, and a bone density for my rheumatoid arthritis which keeps me from doing a lot of the things I love. I take methotrexate for that (which is one of the things I took for chemo). Have to fit in my appts. around when the grands aren't here.
Funkymom: Seems cancer runs in my family.. not too good a pedigree! My maternal grandma died from stomach cancer, uncle died from colon cancer, other uncle had kidney cancer, sister had breast cancer, as well as I, then found out all my grandma's sisters had cancer too! Grandma was told she had 6 months to live and that got her so mad that someone had the right to tell her that so she lived 5 more years! I think all of this has to do with attitude. I know this is going to sound crazy, but when I had mine, I really didn't think it was that big of a deal, and still don't! I'm too mean, stubborn, and rotten to give in to things like that!
absminprof.. my brother's an anesthesiologist too, and flies small planes as a hobby. First he was an engineer, then went back to med school to be a doctor. Said he was the 'old man' of the group. Now he's already talking about retiring or cutting back hours. Told him when they put in 24-36 hour shifts, and are sleep deprived, I don't think I'd want someone like that to be in charge of putting me to sleep for surgery!!
He was totally fed up with the new Vista OS.. he has a lot of expensive medical and aeronautical programs for his computer and they don't work with Vista!
suzzyqz
Member
Hello everyone! It looks like we need to start a "survivor thread". We all have survived so many things!
Nola you are amazing to still have a wonderful attitude after all you have been through. You too copmom.
Funky, it will get better...just takes time..good luck with school. Wish I had gone back when I was younger.!!! At least you just have the heat (and lots of it)..here we get the humidity with it.
buckleysmom..PA is soooo much different than TX!
Nola..my husband would love to visit you..he is enamored with the beauty of your country.
absminprof...I know what you mean..when I first started coming here..it was a treat to open the site..what new game or software will we get today?!! Now the forums seem to be what keeps me (and sometimes software..once in a while one of the games.) There are some games I hope they will "rerun"..I hope I never have to switch to Vista..but it will probably be inevitable one day...or else the next version..might have to check out Linux! Nice to meet everyone.
absminprof
Member
Thanks for the response copmom. I really admire you people for coming here and sharing your experience & knowledge. You guys are tough. You are on solid ground when you say that you do not want to be anesthetized by a sleep-deprived anesthetist. I wouldn't either. Anesthesia an area where sustained vigilance is required along with intensive cognitive and physical skills. Fatigue gets us all. Fatigued personnel= preventable errors. Fortunately, I work in an academic setting. If I am up all night at work, I am relieved from work in the morning.
jempeace
Member
Hi, My names Jill. Jempeace is 2 parts, the first is after a duck in a Beatrice Potter book and I think you can guess the 2nd. It's nice to meet other people who have been through so much and still have GREAT attitudes. I could write a book about my medical history, but that's not who I am. At age 3 I started having hearing problems and currently have 10% hearing 1 ear and 12% in other. At 11 I found out I had end stage renal diasease and started dialysis at 19 and have been doing it for 27 (going for 28 in Aug,) years. At age 29 I had ovarian cancer and they took my overies. No kids but 12 nieces and nephews who I totally love to death! My youngest brother just had twins in Feb. 4 kids 3 and under God bless him. Do to dialysis complication, degeneritive bone diasease and something they just recently found out, caused by MRI's-fibermyelga(SPELLING?) I am starting to look like the wicked witch that gave Snow White the apple LOL! In a wheelchair and it takes a hr. to open my fingers in the am. It really bugs me when my middle finger won't open and keeps hitting the right mouse key.
Have been coming here for just over a yr. but just recently started to post.
Love family, friends, games (scrabble!), reading, crafts, art and outdoors.
Live in UPSTATE NY - which is beautiful and nothing like NYC! Which can be a wonderful place to visit could never live there though.
HATE when someone says taste this it doesn't taste good or does this milk smell sour? Like I want to taste bad food or smell sour milk!
I worked at the YMCA for a number of yrs. When I was no longer able to I started teaching teens with emotional problems. Love working with children. After a student threw a chair at me and I couldn't move fast enough to get out of the way, I started working at a gift shop. Have been truely blessed with great jobs and a wonderful family support system. Now I mainly read, go to dialysis, hang out with family and play computer games.
I can't see why you'd want to go through life grumpy? It makes others grumpy and it doesn't help anything.
copmom
Member
Wow.. reading all of the above, gives me the warm fuzzies! Isn't it amazing that no matter what obstacles we face, we can still thank God for allowing us to wake up in the morning and go about our day no matter our limitations!! Once again, it's all attitude!
Just got through cleaning a couple of windows and mini blinds and unloading the dishwasher. Instead of thinking "oh no, I've GOT to do such and such", I thank God that I CAN!!!!!!!!
By the way, found an amazing tip online that really works! My mini blinds are an embarrassment.. we do both smoke. I put them in a small amount of water in the bathtub, with a bit of liquid dishwasher detergent/gel! NO scrubbing, they are spotless!!!!!!!! Yahoooooo!
Whiterabbit-uk
Games Guru
Okay, here goes folks, you've asked for it. I'm starting up an old godgers corner - or maybe a medically deteriorated thread. lol.
To al you beautiful ladies, I do hope you are all as well as you can be and that you all have long and happy lives. I've read the stories above with awe and respect and would like to say that I am proud to know you all. later
love
Stephen
p.s. here a link to the new thread:
robm
Member
What an amazing group of people here in this forum. I really feel blessed to be a part of this community. I especially appreciate the honesty with everyones experience.
My name is Robert (Rob or Robbie), 38 years old and living in Sydney. I have been born and raised here and consider myself lucky that I live in such a beautiful, diverse and cosmopolitan city. I work part time doing Financial/Book Keeping work with our family businesses.
My background is European, Greek actually and I am very grateful for that. Growing up as a teenager though was quite a different experience, the Italians and Greeks were ridiculed and often called many disgusting names. When I turned 18 but I saw a massive change and was appreciative. Unfortunately I find that people who are Asian and of Middle Eastern background tend to be made fun of. I dont agree with that at all.
I too am someone who suffers from Depression/Anxiety and have done for many years. It seems to be under control for the moment but once you have had one episode, unfortunately you are susceptible to many more. I am sensitive to anyone who experiences any kind of physical/mental/emotional pain.
I am fortunate that I have a few really good friends and close family who are loving and supportive and this makes the world of difference. I think without that it would be quite a different scenario.
Well, all this makes me feel rather lucky. All I've got is neck and shoulder pains after a car crash 5 months ago and the co-codamol takes care of that.
I'm a 55yr young service technician living in Oldham (manchester uk) actually only a few miles from WR I pass through Poynton on the way to Macclesfield when work takes me down there (I cover about a 50 mile radius from home).
The roads are definitely getting more dangerous these days, I got rear ended by a double decker bus in Manchester when some idiot came the wrong way out of a one way street. I braked, the bus braked but couldn't stop in time so everything went pear shaped.
Of course this is nothing compared to other peoples problems. Anyway I'm divorced and loving it, met a great woman who like me doesn't want to go the marriage route again, at least not for a while, 'cos we're having too much fun. need to get her signed up on GAOTD so when she's at her home we can chat with everybody on this great forum.
Catnip
Member
Thanks for bringing this thread up again, Copmom! I've never seen it before. It's inspiring to read about all of you!
My name is Beth, and I love cats, and dogs. My name comes from the fact that the computer is MY catnip. I also use the name Catniptoy on other forums, mostly reality t.v. forums, because I used to transcribe live feeds for the t.v. show Big Brother. I don't do much of that, now. I've also been a mod on a computer gaming site in the past.
I have a teenaged son and a great husband. I've got two degrees, with the major one in Speech Pathology. I am a stay-at-home mom right now, though. I used to do medical transcription at home so that I could stay home, but the privacy laws changed, so I don't do that now, either.
When I was in high school, our school got one of the first personal computers that came out, and I was hooked! My boyfriend in college had the only personal computer in his dorm, I think. He went on to work for Microsoft in development, and I won't tell you all of the things he developed, because I don't want you to identify him (or hate me because of it--LOL!). He started me on computer games, with Zork, back when the Internet was a word that the average person didn't know. I've played computer games ever since, and I am fairly good with the computer, although not great. I can usually find answers and fix things on my own, though.
I'm really appreciative of this forum and the free games. Even when the game isn't my cup of tea, I'm happy that it is to someone else's liking. :)
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