In church sometimes the pastor tells you to shake the hand of 2 people next to you, and I always dreaded this, but the people were always nicer than I expected them to be, and it was always a pleasant experience.

I know the Lounge isn't church, and most people here aren't religious, including me, but there's always a need for civility and the communal thang, no matter the community.

So this thread is a thread where you say 2 nice things to 2 Lounge people. Because I'm starting this thread, I will begin.

Entertainme, you seem like a nice lady, raising your family and balancing your career. You've often responded to my posts, and you have hillbilly heritage like me, and I like you.

KatySeagull, you put with with my pm's and often respond in my threads, even when they're bad threads. You go out of your way to be nice to people here, and you are all-around terrific.

Mr. Wookie, I like the way you randomly get drunk and ban Hobbyhorse for reasons that are either inscrutable or that the rest of us never even see. It helps make up for all the other times you don't.

Random lurkers, I like the way you randomly lurk. Every once in a while one of you will pop up with a remark that shows you've evidently been following a thread, or many of them, for quite some time. I wonder why you might contribute so sporadically despite lurking often, but that's your business and it's still nice to see some new people pop up randomly according to their own personal mysteries.

Katy-ever the diplomat and concerned about all. For me a very kind and understanding sounding board and confidante. Thank you friend.

Diebitter-also very diplomatic and passionate about the welfare of this forum and all who post, regulars and lurkers.

I don't even like to call them "lurkers', because that seems mildly pejorative.

Some of my favorite Lounge posters rarely post here, and I try to give their posts the attention they deserve.

Like people will be idly wondering or referencing something, and AngusThermopyle will come in quietly and drop all the pertinent facts as succinctly as possible.

Wouldn't it be funny if I was just an obnoxious jerk in real life and somehow kept being mistaken for being a nice mod? Ditto on the Diebitter nomination. Diebitter is one of the nicest people on the site. He will always give someone a second chance, no matter how big of an ass they are.


Shadowrun - great poster. He always seems to have something interesting to add to a thread. I would love to know what his personality type is because it's a good one. Even when he doesn't say much, I still get a good vibe from him.

SoloAJ - He never loses his temper - not that there's anything wrong with the rest of us who lose our tempers because god knows that's entertaining as hell - but Solo is consistently diplomatic and always adds to the site. And I like the way he checks in with the forum just to say hi. Now that's sweet.

Airship Ohio, thanks for understanding what I was trying to say when I got too tired to say it anymore. Thanks for explaining that even if you didn't agree with my position, I wasn't being evasive and argumentative. I was just trying to explain another point of view, regardless of whether anyone agreed with it or not.

To all posters in the lounge, thanks for keeping this forum civil. When we don't agree its nice to have an interesting (at times) debate instead of angry outbursts.

I like this thread.

LandonFan - Thank You for your youthful perspective on things and a good sense of humor even if it means picking on yourself at times. A lot of your posts literally make me laugh out loud. You are like the little brother I wish I could have had when I was much younger.

Blarg: Thank You for you perspective on things even, perhaps especially, when it is not the same as what I would have. I have been able to see the other side of things more often in your posts than I think I would have anywhere else and I think that is a good thing. I may not always agree but I have to say I have learned things from your many many words.

I know it is only supposed to be two but I also have to put in an extra thanks To Mrs. Utah. Just a really nice person and someone who always brings a smile to my face whenever she shows up.

This is a good thread!

Landonfan - you're a great kid, smart, funny and with a big heart. Anyone worth knowing is a little odd, so it's okay that you're a little odd, too.

Hobby - you're a sweet, nice girl who is very smart and opinionated and I like you. I'm just not going to unignore you because I don't want to french kiss my dog.

I thought you were in Calcutta, caring for the lepers. You mean you're just an internet forum mod???

I'm like Chance the gardener. It's all been a huge misunderstanding.

Thanks to everyone for laughing at my train-wreck of a life. Also, thanks to all that actually sees the truth of my thoughts and gives excellent advice: special mention for Dominic and Blarg.

any woman who can reference Being There. Even if she does picture me as a vain Fabio.

Yes, agree! Some of you may not know this but Mrs. Utah is smart as a whip, has a great sense of humor and is one of the best cooks on the site. She is also an amazing photographer AND she's a nurse! Now if only she would post more so others would get to know how cool she is.

I miss her food pics.

Tell the truth I'm intimidated by many of the food pics here, both for the level of cooking they seem to show and sometimes for their photography. But now that I'm well out of my frenzied youth and heading into an age where I'm more turned on by a good potato salad than porno, it's nice to see the hot, sexy food pics being posted.

Blarg, thanks for saying a lot of what I want to say, because I am not as eloquent as you and am not able to type in my fleeting thoughts as quickly as I think of them - random lurker.

kioshk, thanks for being off-center.

youngsters, thanks for sharing your dating angst. Remember, it's perfectly normal to be a dork around women. I think they find it cuter than mister debonair. A little self confidence doesn't hurt though.

<3 circlejerks

Solo is probably the nicest internet person I've ever known. I feel like I'm nowhere near nice enough in return, and should I ever meet him IRL I'd almost certainly buy him dinner.

I don't wanna exclude anyone, so instead I'll just cop out and thank everyone here for putting up with me, and for giving me a place to hang out with smart, funny people without the hassle of actual human interaction.

kudzudemon - smart, intelligent and down to earth. Probably my favorite lounge poster.

Katyseagull - one of the nicest lounge posters

I never see kudzu around anymore

My favorite Joni Mitchell song.

daveT, you are trying so hard to find your woman, and are so open about the process, warts and all, that I salute you and wish you the best of luck. Persistence pays off.

Blarg seems like a very wise person, and also has an uncanny ability to express himself very clearly on a pretty wide spectrum of toppics.

Fishwhenican seems like a person worthy of respect. He seems like a person who takes himself just seriously enough to have integrity, but not so seriously as to be pompous or rigid.

Dominic is likely the "coolest" Lounge denizen. Really knows his stuff on cool topics.

Katy's just the nuts, obviously.

Yeah, I know. That's four. I am twice the Christian any of you sob's are.

wow, I never would think of myself as cool, so thanks.

I think everyone that contributes to The Lounge is worthy of a compliment or two...there's no one I'd say "get rid of."

C'mon Dom, let's hear'em.

Two? Hell there's about 2 dozen I want to shake hands with. And a few I'd kiss


I consider many of you good friends, and good mentors too. Glad we got to know each other, glad we got this quieter place to talk.

I miss Kudzu, an early champion of my strange threads.

Where have you gone, Mr. Smoking Skeleton Man?