Thanks to ** astroboy ** who, after I e-mailed him about his thread on the Korean production of “Phantom of the Opera,” sent me a Playbill and Programme from it. I’ve since bought the CD, and it kicks ass. A super-great addition to my ALW collection.
To TUDADiva, who has answered some of my Threadspotting nominating e-mails with polite and often witty replies; ie. What’s a discreet one?
When my car was broken into over July 4th, I did what I usually do in times of crisis: bitch and smoke. But since my She-Ra Princess of Power cigarette case was stolen, I had to make due with cigarettes that were not enriched with the power of Greyskull. Ewone, went out of his way to find and purchase a duplicate case, which is now the envy of every human being who sees it. Plus, he made me feel infinately less jaded about the music/arts scene in our mutual city of Burlington. You are, my friend, a REAL class act. (get it? Ahh…UVM humor…)
Robot Arm sent me a mix tape about two years ago. I swear to Buddha, Robie, when I get my new CD burner (which hopefully will be soon), you are the first on my list.
And here’s one that’s sort of indirect, but deserved. I believe it was Eve who started a seemingly fluffy thread asking what peoples’ beauty regime was. Someone in that thread mentioned using Miracle Whip as a face mask. I have excema, and the topical prescription I have for it is fairly useless for prevention of outbreaks (basically, my skin gets these white, dry, flaky spots about the size of a quarter. ON MY FACE.) This Miracle Whip mask has all but cured the excema, and at the risk of sounding like an infomercial, I am receiving compliments about how good my skin looks. Thanks, Eve.
I’d like to add my name to the list of people thanking Cranky. I recently moved across the country to a town I had never visited, and didn’t know anyone in. A number of really crappy things have happened to me since, up to and including the total destruction of my beloved car. So, special thanks go out to Cranky for taking me out to dinner for my birthday, driving me to the most recent LiveJournal MeetUp, and for surprising me with a gift of yarn! (This is a very good gift for me, btw.)
I started writing out the names of all the other Dopers of have helped me and for whose friendships I am grateful, but the list was unwielding, and I am afraid of missing someone. So: all of the BADS - you guys are great and I miss you terribly. Everyone whose house I have been to - I’ve never been to a bad Dopefest. And everyone on my LJ Friends List - you guys brighten my day, every day.
Of course there’s a reason: I’m a Nazi-esque figure of authority! It’s an open invitation to hate, when you think of it. Anyway, I enjoy your posts too, man. And your steamy love letters. 
Me, I’d like to thank Globetrotter, formery known as MoosieGirl (she’s Canadian, what a surprise, huh?). And why?
Well, I’ll tell ya. See, back in the summer of 2000, Globie told me (per ICQ) that she was coming to Ireland for her holidays. Quickly, an initiative to organise the now infamous DubDope fest in October of 2000. It was my first DopeFest! We had an excellent time with the two visiting Canuck Chicks, the local DubDopers, and a few assorted Eurotrash Dopers that flew in. One of them was our Danish Doper Spiny Norman (though he lived in Hamburg at the time). Great guy, liked his Guinness and his fast motorbikes - someone I could definitely relate to.
Because I had so much fun, I decided to organise an AmsterDope in March 2001. Even though it was St. Patrick’s day that weekend, a few Irish Dopers made it over. Spiny was there as well, as were some American Dopers, notably Weirddave and the lovely Shayna, whom I had convinced to blow her recently received bonus on a plane ticket to Amsterdam - from LAX, for 4 days.
The weekend was simply awesome, and Spiny Norman and Shayna hit it off REAL well. A canal boat ride was all it took, and we didn’t verbally communicate with either of them for the rest of the weekend.
They managed to maintain their long distance relationship quite well. After having visited Spiny in Hamburg a few times (during one of those visits Shayna was there as well), the both of them invited me to come over to California in October of 2001. Together with Spiny -with who I met up at Milan Malpensa- I sat on a plane for 11 hours, entering the US for the first time in my life.
The day after we arrived, Shayna had organised a huge DopeFest at a Mexican restaurant in Redondo Beach (El Torrito, though I could be wrong about the name).
Before we went over to the restaurant, Heloise met up with us at Shayna’s place. I had spoken to Heloise on ICQ somewhat (introduced to her by Shayna, again, thanks :)), and she seemed really interesting, intelligent and funny. From the pictures I had seen from previous LA dopefests, she was also a complete knockout! However, I had ended a 3.5 year (partial) long distance relationship just a few months prior to that, so I had no interest in starting anything anew, then and there. My previous LDR commute had been Amsterdam - London. Why make it friggin’ Los Angeles, you know?
Yeah.
Well, all that rationality worked perfectly fine until she walked though that door on that Saturday evening. She was even more stunning than in all the pictures I’d seen. We had a great evening, sitting beside each other at dinner, laughing about God knows what. Watching her tease a gay guy to the point of great confusion was very entertaining as well. 
After dinner, a smaller group of Dopers including the two of us walked Northwards along the ocean towards Manhattan Beach, where we had a few more drinks at Hennessey’s. Genuine Irish bar and all that. 
I don’t know the precise details, but for some reason, I had “offended” her earlier in the evening, and the only way to make up for it was to give her three kisses. She’d tell me when she wanted them. Mind you, all well mannered stuff: quick kiss on the firmly closed lips, and all that.
Well, after a few rounds of shots and Guinness, she excercised her option on the third kiss.
This was the one that did it.
I’m sure we must have been a complete ebarassment to the other Dopers at the table. In our defense, I think we kept the PDA’s to a minimum, as far as minima go for people who just found out they’re the best kissing combination in the history of mankind.
I continued to see her throughout the week that I was there. Saying goodbye was hard. For Shayna and Spiny, it had become somewhat of a routine, after a few earlier goodbye’s, but for us it was the first time.
After a few weeks back in Amsterdam, she surprised me by forwarding a confirmation e-mail of a purchased airline ticket. She was coming over after Christmas!! I had never been so excited in my life.
We had an excellent week together, although it was a little cold for my little desert rat. Think minus ten degrees celcius, worse than it had been in years.
I’ve been over to California twice since, and my next flight leaves four weeks from today. It’s not easy maintaining a long distance relationship, especially not whe you’re THAT far away, making trips long, and periods in between as well. I can’t wait for us to be closer together on a more permanent basis.
I love her very much.
So, here’s to Globetrotter, and Shayna.
I’d like to thank Cranky for playing me (and kicking my ass quite often) in online Scrabble. I really enjoy those games. And also for the book exchange.
Shirley Ujest for sending me crocheting materials. I’m fumbling, but will hopefully get there someday.
Lizard for sending me an 80s music CD. It was great on our two-day drive to Texas.
And to various and sundry Dopers for posts about books, movies, food, drink and websites. I’ve tried and seen many new things in the 11 months or so that I’ve been here.
I hope I haven’t forgotten anybody.
Sheri
Wow…I got props! Thanks d12!
I would like to thank fizzestothetop for my cookies.
Nocturne for being an Ezralite.
And a doper (who shall remain nameless) for showing me what life was like outside of my little world. A debt which can truly never be repaid.
And zev_steinhardt, Zyada, Zaphod Beeblebrox and more!
– The future zlel
I just want to thank Persephone for … well … being Persephone.
Thanks to the lovely female dopers who sent me ‘extra-special’ pictures as I was compiling the Picture Pages. I don’t want to name names, but you know who you are, and you made my day
He probably doesn’t remember, but I want to thank Grelby for the very colorful Pit thread he started on my behalf, while I was being stalked and harrassed by someone. It’s the reason I stayed instead of leaving in tears.
I didn’t send you any “special pics” Max Carnage, but I think you did a wonderful job on those picture pages so kudos to you
Welcome Max. I dunno if I am one of the lovelies tho…
Thanks Cranky for the Book Swap! It was fun!
Thanks to Yersinia Pestis for introducing me to Patrick O’Brien.
Thanks to whomever it was that mentioned Powell’s Bookstore in Portland, Or. It was a truly orgasmic experience!
And as always Thanks to Mitchey, yer the best friend a girl could have! and probly the ONLY reason I got through this summer sane!
All of the New York Dopers are The Living End. Tons of things I could thank them for, although I need to make a special mention of Manhattan, who knows the way to a Buffalo girl’s heart. And I completely forgot to thank him when I saw him in person recently! Clearly, he is a saint among men even though I am a TOTAL IDIOT.
Rocking Chair is probably the most thoughtful person in the world, and I enjoy drinking from my Leg Lifter Lager glass that she gave me.
Many people did very nice things around 9/11, but I have to single out Arden Ranger for going above and beyond the call of duty. She CALLED MY MOTHER for me because our phones were out. We should note here that not only didn’t she know my mother, she didn’t know me from Adam. Several other people also offered to do so, and it’s crappy that I can’t think of any other names off-hand other than Strainger.
The worst things about these threads are that one has to stop writing at some point, and I didn’t mention even close to the number of people for whose friendship I am extremely thankful. Hopefully, you guys know who you are.
Shirley, I’m glad you liked getting the book! As I sent it in the mail, I did worry that you might think I was stalking you.
I rarely wander in to MPSIMS at all so funny I should see this. This week I was struck down by the flu not long after an accident that already had me pretty knocked about exacerbating an old back injury. Earlier I had made coffee plans for this weekend with one Leechbabe who lives nearby. I cancelled our plans and the next day I received in the mail a care package full of music, throat lozenges, chocolate biscuits and other goodies and even food for my cat in case I was too laid up. It was quite possibly the nicest surprise I have ever received and yes kiddies, this old dyke wept.
I wasn’t going to say anything but then I stumbled on this thread and it seemed to be calling for it.
Thanks again Leechy, so very much.
Jodi, Jodi, YAY Jodi!
Thanks so much for the wonderful box of chocolates! They arrived today!
I want to thank Mr Cynical, who taught me the meaning of true love, ate my balls and gave Gary Coleman a reason to live. Thank you, my friend.
**White Lightning, Slainte, Hugh Jass, Myrnalene, ** and everyone else who at least glanced into my thread about my life falling to bits 2 years ago.
As has been said before, thanks to the Dopers who have knowledge and are more then willing to share it, and occasionally, ok, more then occasionally make me laugh so hard my Dad asks if I’m okay.
The SDMB has helped me through the last 5 months which have been pretty, no very rough and hard, what with my mom dying.
I know that I’ve acted like an asshole at times and I’ve been (rightly) remonstrated for it.
The cool thing about SDMB is that there are different viewpoints, very different viewpoints about issues and that is cool and great because that is what makes for interesting and learned discussions.
By the way, what is the 3rd word that ends with gry ?
If I tried to thank everyone that needs to be thanked by me, this would be the longest post in SDMB history.
But I’ll thank a few anyway.
manhattan: One of these days, I’ll find a gift to give you that might come close to the gifts you’ve given me.
DAVEW0071: For being there, every freaking time I need you.
Scotticher: I started a thread for you, as have others. And there is no doubt in my mind that you will have MORE threads in the future devoted to your wonderfulness.
mrblue92: For driving me to the last what…two? three? Michigan Fests. And for giving such darn good advice. And for taking such good care of me when I had a seizure at the Michigan Renaissance Festival (likewise to Shadowfox, ResIpsaLoquitor, and Mr. Shadowfox).
Xploder: For simply being one of the very best friends a person could ever ask for. You rule, man. You absolutely rule.
Eutychus: For the Spongebob tapes. For talking to my daughter on the phone. For not telling me that I’m a sucky researcher. For existing on this planet at the same time as me, and allowing me to know you.
I’m way too lucky.
and thanks to whichever moderator deleted my dupe post and left the one that was spelled correctly!
Wow, you’re welcome