Hi guys. I’m a long time lurker, first time poster. Long time as in, I can remember reading SDMB on my giant Dell monitor that took up my whole desk and waiting (impatiently) for each thread to load with my super-slow dial up. Late 1990’s I guess that was. Finally bit the bullet and joined as a guest and soon to be subscribing member.
I am awed and humbled by the intelligence of the posters on this board. I consider myself smart/well-read/open minded…but when I need a dose of reality, I can come here and have my own ignorance fought by truly gifted posters.
I joined after all this time as a lurker because my favorite posters are dying. I read about the deaths of people who I felt like I knew and was sad that I had never actually conversed with them or told them how much I respected and admired them. Now it’s too late. I don’t like having regrets. I have very few in my life. So here I am.
Heh. When I read your screen name, the first thing I thought of was the Shoes video. [warning: music video, adult language, but pretty tame, not to mention funny]
Howdy. The amazing thing is that for the most part, everyone here knows everything. We’re just really careful to make it look like we have a specific expertise.
I think someone has a bag of available specialties…feel free to grab one and contribute.
Welcome! I envy your locale. Warm sand, cold drinks, seagulls screaming at the waves to hurry up with the tide. Perhaps one lone Cessna lazily pulling a banner for some club/bar holding ‘Corona Night’. Just add the sound of a cheap FM radio, the fragrance of sunblock, and the unmistakable smell of 1000 tons of pale tourists roasting in the sun and I’ll think I’m on vacation.
Gentle, sure sure, no problem. Just hang out here for a bit, we’ll be right back.
“Hey, grab the small squid from the back! Yeah, we got a new-- what? No, not the rhinocerous. That’ll never fit. And see if the goat’s ready whil-- huh? It did? Well that’s just perfect. Listen, just find something comparable, with the right number of ridges. I’ll get the damn mop later, we’ve got something to attend to here!”
[warning: music video, adult language, but pretty tame, not to mention funny]
Another sane, friendly voice is most definitely welcome. 
