Laughsandlaughs-need another post

[madpots]

Hi Elizabeth, I saw your post last night and no one had responded. I started to, but decided to wait until today. When I logged on this morning there were 48 posts and I got chicken. Now there are 60 so lets have a new page.
My name is Alton and I wanted to explain...I'm so used to it that I forget that unless you meet me you would assume that I am a man. Actually I am the great grandmother of 1, grandmother of 9, mother of 7...none of whom have wrong gender names! I was born and raised in NC, married a Yankee and moved to Mass., then back to North and South Carolina, finally for the past 41 years in Las Vegas. Nobody should ever try to take the girl out of the South because you sure can't take the South out of the girl!

I'm a retired judicial secretary and just love being retired. I am an avid recipe and cookbook collector even though I don't do too much cooking now.

Madpots is the name I used when I did ceramics and the name of a cookbook I wrote, from my initials and pots.
I guess curlytop and I are in the senior citizen category, but you young folks don't seem to mind.

[KitchenWitch]

Hi all,
I am another lurker, fairly new to the BB and a little hesitant to just jump in.
As my username might imply, I am neither witchy or cranky, but my wonderful husband claims I perform magic in the kitchen. Now if I could only perfect the Elizabeth Montgomery twitch to take care of the dishes.
My name is Sherri, 34, married for 15 years to my best friend, and mom to two wonderful boys, ages 15 and 12 who are the absolute light of my life.
We are a military family (love the life)and have been living overseas for 13 of the past 16 years. Looking forward to one more assignment overseas, hopefully England and then time to settle down in one spot.
I was in Military Intelligence and have since gotten out of the Air Force, received a paralegal degree and am working as a secretary.
I love cooking, reading, volunteering at the local schools and orphanages. I am also a huge exercise fanatic, running, walking, body building and softball.

[Susann]

Hi Elizabeth! My name is Susann (pronounced Suzanne, not Susan-long story!) and DH and I live in Atlanta, Ga. We have been married for 2 1/2 years (time flies!). I am 32 and teach high school English. Summer vacation is a thing of beauty! My summer goal is to clear out a patch of land (about 30 ft. by 12 ft.)in our yard that has been overtaken by ivy and weeds. Yes, I know, strange goal! One of the rewards is yesterday I found that we have several blackberry bushes (is that even what they are called?). I am a novice gardener trying hard to learn more. Cooking, exercising, reading, and listening to music are also hobbies. I think it was Jewel who said she was an 80's music fan. Me too!! My hidden talent is being able to identify the title and artist of any song from the 80's (I grew up in Savannah, Georgia. Not too much to do down there!). I have been a bb addict since the days of the old bb (for the life of me, I cannot even recall how that old board worked!) and enjoy the people I have met here. Have a nice day, everyone! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Curleytop]

Hi, Thanks for all the compliments!
I get up early and run about 2 miles 6 days a week. This is up and down hills, not a dull flat area. I am retired from a large arospace Co. and I worked in the Information systems (I am a computer nerd as well).
I also love to read "Thrillers" which I take out of the library! (cheaper that way). I better sign off, I should really clean house today! (every Thursday) http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif

[Jewel]

Does anyone else out there feel incredibly old and unproductive after reading Curleytop's routine?? Woman, you're amazing. Whatever you're taking, I want some! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[Julia1Pin]

Madpots -

Are you joingiong us for the Vegas weekend in September?

Also, what cookbook did you write?

-Julia

[madpots]

I would like to come to some of the get-togethers. Was waiting to see if an agenda is planned.

My cookbook is Madpots Cookbook and is a collection of my favorite and family recipes and chit-chat with illustrations by some of the artistic children. I kept trying to remember some of my grandmother' and my mother's good recipes, so I decided to put all of them in a book.

I hope to meet a lot of you in September...remember it is still hot here then.

[luv2cook]

hey, laughsandlaughs, it take time to get to know people. I still have trouble remember details and names but I try!

Welcome to all the new people! As usual, this board cost me valuable working time as I saw this post and had to check it and the other one, too. I hate this board because I want to read it more than work!

It's really nice to "talk" to people all over the country. Remember you "lurkers" the more you post, the more people get to know you and you just don't know what state taht will lead you to get together!

I'd love to do Vegas but am not sure I can...but I know it will be fun. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[mandarin2j]

Okay, I might as well jump in also! My real world name is Amanda. I'm a 29-year-old married lifelong Oregonian. I'm originally from a more rural part of the state, but DH, our German Shepherd mix Kirby, and our two cats, Myrna and Netties call Oregon's largest city, Portland, our home now. No children…yet. Both my mom and his are pulling for grandkids, but we're holdouts so far. I think we've gotten to where we know we want to have kids someday (lots of our friends are starting families, and it's delightful to watch their little ones have their milestones!), but right now things are too financially tenuous to start a family. It's only our second anniversary is in August, so our moms are still cutting us some slack on the grandkids thing…for now. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

I do educational outreach & DH is a legislative aide for a state representative, which is keeping him very busy right now as we are nearing the end of our biannual legislative session. We just bought our first house a year ago & are having fun (?) fixing up the neglected yard and so far just daydreaming about what we'll do with the interior. It's a 1920 house, and not exactly a bungalow since there's no upstairs. Best description is to say that it looks like a post WWII tract home, only it was built in 1920 so it has all sorts of neat built-ins and great details.

DH, DD (darling dogger) & I are very into hiking, snowshoeing, camping, and the like. We would like to climb Mt. Hood next year if we can get ourselves into good enough shape (sans DD, of course, for safety reasons). We've already mapped out several camping trips for the summer and are looking forward to a trip to Puerto Vallarta in August. I wish I could join the Vegas crowd…I just won a professional award for a project I headed, so there may still be a way if my company's policy allows me to keep the prize money. Otherwise, have a fluffy umbrella drink for me! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

-Amanda

[Melman]

Ok, I'll take a turn. I'm Melanie and I live in upstate SC. I'm 43-years-old and work at a local college. I have a 17-year-old son and a 12-year-old golden retriever. I've been extremely involved volunteering with my son's school activities, but since he just graduated....I'm FREE! :-) Well...sort of. Now, I just have to worry about him heading off to college, etc.

I LOVE participating in this BB. Yep...I guess it's the same addiction most of us are having. I also workout (3 or 4 times a week), love reading, love visiting with my family and friends, LOVE cooking and playing in my kitchen, hope to find time to start working on my yard again in the very near future...and just love staying busy!! Ok Ok..I'm afraid to sit down and be still...I might not get back to the million-miles-a-minute mode!!!

It's nice to meet all of you!!

[This message has been edited by Melman (edited 06-21-2001).]

[melissadh]

[QUOTE]melissadh: DH is an avid diver. I wanted to be, but I have asthma and couldn't take the risks. Where's the most exciting place you've ever been diving?


Well, I have only been certified for a year, so no shark dives for me yet, but I have been diving in Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and St. Croix so far. Grand Cayman was quite amazing. It is a totally different world under the water. I am learning to enjoy it more. My SO has been diving for 7 years. He has been on a shark dive. He would not go again though, too scary he said.

[melissadh]

[QUOTE]melissadh: DH is an avid diver. I wanted to be, but I have asthma and couldn't take the risks. Where's the most exciting place you've ever been diving?


Well, I have only been certified for a year, so no shark dives for me yet, but I have been diving in Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and St. Croix so far. Grand Cayman was quite amazing. It is a totally different world under the water. I am learning to enjoy it more. My SO has been diving for 7 years. He has been on a shark dive. He would not go again though, too scary he said.

[melissadh]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Susann:
[B]Hi Elizabeth! My name is Susann (pronounced Suzanne, not Susan-long story!) and DH and I live in Atlanta, Ga.

Hi Susann-

Nice to meet another Georgian on the BB. Enjoy your summer. My mom teaches too. With school starting back sooner in the fall, it sounds like your summer is getting shorter and shorter.

[JillC]

It's about time I introduced myself. I don't know why I haven't in the past...
Would you believe me if I said I can't stand cooking??? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif
Cooking is definitely one of my hobbies. Last year gardening was a big hobby, but this year I'm growing a lot of weeds (with some tomatoes and herbs thrown in).
I've been married two years. No kids and none planned in the foreseeable future. I totally understand what others have said about changes in relationships when all of your friends start having children.
We do have a sweet, exuberant 1 year old golden retriever who has made us a family (as opposed to just being a couple). Our parents have referred to her as their granddog (maybe because they know she's the closest thing to a grandchild they'll get from us???).
Hmmm... what else? Well, I live in Madison, Wisconsin and am lucky enough to work downtown where, if I have free time at lunch, I can go to concerts on the Capitol steps on Tuesday, Farmer's Market on Wednesday, and Tai Chi overlooking Lake Mendota on Thursday. Ahh...I love this town!
So nice to meet everyone!

[RobinC]

Another diver here.

I certified in the Pudget Sound (cold water diving). All my non-certification diving has been in the warm waters of the carribbean. I've been to Cozumel twice and one to Belize. I don't think I could do a shark dive. When diving in Belize, we saw a baracuda on every dive. That kinda freaked me out. My favorite dive was a 30ft twlight dive in Cozumel - we saw soooo many different creatures and even a turtle!! My deepest dive was also in Cozumel - 132ft. I would rather do more shallow dives and stay down longer. Now that I've been to the Carribbean, I am trying to convince my DB that we really need to go diving in the Pacific....say Australia http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[Peggy]

Another scuba diver checking in!

My husband and I are certified and dive as often as we can. My favorite diving trip was a "live-aboard" trip in Belize. Didn't see land for 6 days... We stayed aboard a boat and ate, slept, sunbathed and dove 5 times a day. Even did the macho "Blue Hole" dive. A close second was BonAire (great wall diving), followed by drift-diving in Cozumel (RobinC - was your deep dive called the "Devil's Throat"?), Fiji, Tahiti, and Grand Cayman. Least impressive dive spots: Martinique and Cabo San Lucas. Over the years I have gotten used to diving with sharks. As long as visibility is good and I can see them, I'm OK. Have never run into a hammerhead...that might be a different story! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif In July we are headed to the Bahamas for a week of diving there. Can't wait! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif Would love to hear everyone's favorite dive spots...

Peggy

[This message has been edited by Peggy (edited 06-22-2001).]

[Kelli Kerrigan]

Hello Everyone!!!
Laughsandlaughs, thanks for starting this topic.
I'm in awe over so many of you. Congrats to those married couples, those with children, those expecting, those that are happiest childless, those that have pets that they love, those that have seen the world, and those that have never moved. What a GREAT group of people!!
I'm single, have owned my own 2-flat for 8yrs, just graduated from college, worked for Sears for 11 yrs in their store planning and construction dept and now work for a non-profit in facilities. I live in Chicago and love it here, yet would like to live somewhere else at some point. I'm close to my 87 year old Gram whom has cancer and would not think of leaving until she does.
I won't be having kids....I've always said the only thing I'm going to give birth to are fat cells! All my friends are having kids and it does bring on a different life for those around. (Where did all my girlfriends GO?)
I have two cats.....Travis and Harley. Harley is the love of my life. While everyone THINKS their kids/pets are special I KNOW that Harley is. Should I bring on the brag book and Harley tales? (Harley is all black and found me the morning my friend was hit on his Harley on Lake Shore Drive, thus his name.)
I garden, love cooking and entertaining.....so you are all invited over for a bbq!

[aggie94]

I've introduced myself before, but it never hurts to say it again!

My name is Eva, I'm 27, and I live in Eugene, Oregon with my DH and our fids (furry & feathered kids). We're both native Texans (I'm from Houston, DH is from Del Rio), and we met as sophomores at Texas A&M University. We got married in August 2000 (we wanted to make sure that 9 years was enough time to get to know each other!).

I dragged DH out to Oregon in 1996 when I decided to go to law school -- we both grew up in Texas and had never really lived anywhere else, so we wanted a change of scenery. Boy, did we get that! We love it in Oregon, but we miss Texas and our families. We try to get back once or twice a year to visit, and maybe someday, we'll move "home," but for now, we're pretty happy with our lives just how they are.

I graduated from the University of Oregon with my law degree in 1999 and I practice civil litigation with a private firm in Eugene. DH just finished a second bachelor's degree and he's planning to start grad school next fall in higher ed administration/student affairs.

melissadh: DH is an avid diver. I wanted to be, but I have asthma and couldn't take the risks. Where's the most exciting place you've ever been diving?

Oh, and we're also childfree (or childless-by-choice). Our fids keep us plenty busy, though.

[melissadh]

HI RobinC and Peggy- good to meet a couple more divers. Peggy have fun on your trip in July. My SO and I just got back from St. Croix. The diving was just ok. I have seen better. Grand Cayman was great. We went on a wall dive that was truely amazing. A wall to my left and to your right was just blue and it was endless. It was almost scary. I am still new to diving. But am learning to enjoy it more. I don't think I could do the live-aboard. I would be so wiped out from diving 5 times a day. We usually dive two morning dives a least 3 times while we vacation. We have talked abut going to Cozumel on a long weekend since it is not a long plane ride for us. We went last May and did diving. That is were I took my final certification tests. RobinC-I see you are in Oregeon. Peggy what is your location. I am in Atlanta. Nice to meet you guys.

[RobinC]

Peggy, yup - the deep dive in Cozumel was at "The Devil's Throat". I love hearing from other divers out there. Melissadh, I love wall dives. The one's did in Belize were amazing. Reef on one side and big blue on the other. I saw some beautiful big fish while on wall dives. I will never forget the sight of the most beautiful eagle ray gliding by while hanging out at 80ft waiting for the other divers to drop down and begin dive.

*sigh*......I just love reliving these dive memories and hearing from other divers. I am feeling even more inspired to work on loosing a few pounds to fit back into my dive suit. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[masimmons]

Hi, My name is Mary Ann and I am mostly a lurker too. I post sometimes, but mostly just read what others have to say.

I live in Virginia Beach via Ohio and Indiana. I am 46 have 2 cats (my little dears) and 3 step kids. I am an envrionmental scientist and work on hazardous waste sites throughtout the country. love to cook and do so as much as possible, but with my travel schedule this isn't always too possible. I also love to read and your on-line book club sounds wonderful. Unfortunately, the main time I can read is on airplanes. I don't know about others, but airplane reading isn't too condusive for reading the classics, I stick to mysteries/thrillers. One day when all this is over I will read all those wonderful books that I should. We have a small garden and I have been picking lettuce, radishes, cukes and a couple of tomatoes. I hope to have some peppers soon. We also grow lots of herbs.

I love this BB and get great ideas all the time. Everytime I have asked a question, I get several excellent replies in a short time - what more can you ask for? This has been a fun thread to read. Lots of friendly people from such a wide variety of backgrounds.

[Peggy]

melissadh - I live in Northern California about 2 hours south of the Oregon border. I agree, the diving in Grand Caymon is outstanding!

RobinC - I will never forget the dive at The Devil's Throat. I had only been certified for about one year and there I was on a fairly advanced dive with a bunch of near strangers. We entered that narrow tunnel at about 70 feet (?) and slowly headed down to the 132 foot exit. It was so narrow and dark and I could barely see the fins of the person ahead of me. I kept thinking "If anyone gets stuck in this tunnel or freaks out, I'm dead!!!" http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif I was sure glad to see the bottom.

Peggy

[LaraW]

I have been meaning to post here as well, but have not had the chance!

My name is Lara and I am 28 years old, married for 2 1/2 years to a wonderful guy. No kids yet, but will probably have them soon.

Our big adventure for the summer is moving from Iowa, where DH and I have both lived our whole lives, to Colorado. We will be buying our first house later this summer and moving ahead with our lives, careers, etc.

DH has been in CO for the last 4 weeks, and will be back to help me move in 1 1/2 weeks! I am so excited!

We love to cook together, usually if it involves baking I do more of the baking and DH does more of the eating...but DH is a great cook! We have decided plan a nice meal once a month where we research wine and the food that we are having with it, and spend the whole day working on dinner. It has been so fun! I can't wait to get out to CO and try to find some local food treasures there.

I have been a member of this BB since February, and have found everyone to be so nice and helpful. I love to log in and see what everyone is talking about.

I like to read, cook (obvoiusly), and work out. One accomplishment that I made last year was I rode my bicycle 490 miles across the state of Iowa! RAGBRAI is a bike ride sponsored by the local newspaper, and there are about 10,000 people who go every year. It was started almost 30 years ago!

I would be interested in finding out more about that top 100 books thing, if someone would not mind posting that info.

It is nice to meet everyone!

[karen w]

Hi fellow divers)Robin, Peggy, Melissa etc...),

My husband and I are both divers, too. In fact, he gave me my wedding ring underwater when I was doing my certification dives...in a murky, cold quarry with a visibility of FIVE FEET!! And the ring was not insured yet!!!YIKES, He's nuts(I guess that's why I love him). Anyway, that was 6+ years ago. I'd have to say my favorite dive spot was Bonaire. But I also loved Grand Cayman and a live aboard by Saba.

Happy Diving!!

[crlykat]

Ok, I'll stop being shy. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

My name is Kathy and I live in southern California. I'm 28 and an editor for a technical magazine publishing house.
I have been married for less than one year and am busy with my hubby, work, and friends.
I love to read, cook, and do lots of outdoor activities such as play tennis, hike, and ride bikes.
I have really enjoyed reading all of the wisdom on this board!