Please welcome my Aunt Anita to DU!!

[5thGenDemocrat]

Longtime DUers will remember the many times I've discussed my Aunt Anita here. She is an Air Force retiree, a VERY liberal Democrat (probably to the left of me, even -- but, then, half of my DNA comes from my father, her brother -- a socially liberal Republican) and she's been bumming over the twists and turns of this election season -- especially the Purple Heart bandage insult at the Nuremburg Rally this week.
So she's decided to join us. Her handle is "Gracie43."
Anita is a native of Bay City, MI, who now lives in New Hampshire. She was a Dean supporter (I backed Clark early). She raises talking birds and, like dad, is one of the funnier people I know. We only got back in contact with one another this week (after 12 or 13 years) and it was damned gratifying to find out she's still as fired-up for the Democrats as she ever was. Me, too.
I hope you all take a second to welcome her warmly (especially all the DU military vets and the residents of the Granite State). Anita will be a swell addition to our food fight
And, just so you know, Anita -- that IS me in the little avatar to the left of this message. I still have all my hair and most of my teeth.
I'll let Sarge take it from here.
John
Her proud nephew

[soothsayer]

1. Hey, welcome!

I was expecting something like "Anita Democratic President"---but you're a real person it seems, so....welcome aboard!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

2. well if she's your relative then she comes from good breeding :)

welcome Aunt Anita! :hi:

[fdr_hst_fan]

3. Welcome to DU, Aunt Anita!

Hope you don't find my language too coarse at times.

[5thGenDemocrat]

29. Anita was in the prime of her military career during my formative years

What you call "coarse," we'd call "colorful." Safe to say that Auntie knows lots of big words -- some of which are even hyphenated and Anglo-Saxon in origin.
Not that any of us ever use them. Oh, heavens, no.
John
Especially not around the birds.

[readmylips]

4. Hi Tia Anita...

Welcome to the Revolution.

[MuseRider]

5. Hi Aunt Anita

and a great big welcome to DU. We are happy to have you here. Jump in and join us. :hi:

[Skittles]

6. any aunt of 5thGenDem is an aunt of mine!

HOWDY Gracie!

Susan
born on Chanute
USAF veteran

[faithnotgreed]

7. a warm welcome to gracie43! and heres to john44!

sorry nephew john, i mean john kerry... but a warm welcome to you too

hehe

[Pithlet]

8. Welcome, Aunt Anita!

Your nephew has long been a wonderful addition to DU. Glad to see you here! :hi:

[bigwillq]

9. Welcome Gracie43

Thanks for being a proud, true American and democrat.

Will be looking for your posts!

[calico1]

10. Welcome, Anita!

:hi:

[Gracie43]

11. Hey. Good to be here

Why thank you, Nephew John. You are so sweet; now straighten that gig line.

I've been hanging out on Salon's Table Talk. I've spent a lot of time working with Marty Heldt on Smirky the Wonder Chimp's military records. They're a dog's breakfast. I worked in the AF personnel field during that time period, so I can tell an AFSC from a TAFCSD.

Was he AWOL? Legally, probably not. Was he derelict in his duty, bet your buns.

Anyway, as noted, good to be here. Hope I can make a contribution.

[Gracie43]

14. Hi Calico

[newyawker99]

41. Hi Gracie43!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[flamingyouth]

12. Welcome!

Nice to have you here!:hi:

[Lin]

13. Hiya 5thGenDem's Aunt! Misery loves company doesn't

it? Many times just when I thought I couldn't stand the nastiness anymore I glimpse a few DU posts and I'm back up again, it can be good solace.

I'm crazy about No. Conway area and Lakes region too....ahhh Meredith <sigh>

Welcome Anita, (tell us about your birds too whydoncha?) Lin -Massachusetts

[Gracie43]

22. Wow.

John told me this was a great place; your kind welcomes certainly back that up. Thank you everyone.

Lin, you have to visit the Franconia Notch one of these days. Even with The Old Man gone, it's a beautiful place. Well worth the trip.

Right now, we have a B&G macaw, a Congo Grey, two 'tiels and two 'keets. We've had Rosellas, Lories, Greens, and an assortment of these and thoses. We're the crazy old bird people up the road from here.

[Pithlet]

23. Oh, I love parrots

I can't have them because my mom is deathly allergic to them and would never be able to come over and visit. But, my step dad had a blue and gold before finding out my mom was allergic. I fell in love with that bird, and have always wanted one since. They're a lot of work, but so much fun.

[Gracie43]

24. They are a handful and fun.

It's like having a precocious four year old in the house.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

15. Welcome Gracie43

and thank you for your service to our country. Hope you get a lot of inspiration and ideas from DU-and I'm sure you'll have a lot to share with us!

[Khephra]

16. Heya Aunt Anita!

5thGenDemocrat is a great friend of mine and I'm proud to know him.

:hi: to you both!

[matcom]

17. WELCOME GRACIE!!!

glad to have you on board

:hi:

[salvorhardin]

18. Hi Auntie Anita!

Welcome to DU! :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

19. Hi Gracie43!

Welcome to DU!
Have a cyberbrew! :beer:

[Old and In the Way]

20. Hi Neighbor!

Welcome to the DU! You got one feisty nephew on your hands! :-)

:toast:

[devilgrrl]

21. Hey! My Aunt Anita is way more fun!

Seriously, I've got a Aunt Anita too! :-)

[Bunny]

25. Hi Aunt Anita!!

Welcome to DU! :hi:

On edit, I forgot to add: the new person usually has to buy the donuts. So don't forget to swing by Krispy Kream and order approximately 49,673 glazed, to go! ;)

[Gracie43]

26. OK

Oh, that's the catch.

[HawkerHurricane]

27. Welcome from a career squid!

Did my 20 in the USN, mostly on ships in San Diego, and just retired back in Feb of this year.
HawkerHurricane
SM1(SW), USN Ret.

[name not needed]

28. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[nini]

30. welcome Aunt Anita!!

:hi:

[Darth_Kitten]

31. Hello Aunt Anita!!!

We may have something in common, I was an early Dean supporter and I love the birdies too!!! :)

Welcome!!! :D :hi:

[BlueStateGirl]

32. Welcome Aunt Anita!

[Kat45]

33. Welcome Aunt Anita. I wonder if I've ever met you.

You raise birds in NH? I've been to a number of bird shows and bird stores in NH. I like your username--I have a bird named Grace, who I often call Gracie. (She's a parrotlet.) What kind of parrots do you raise?

[MrScorpio]

34. Welcome to DU, Aunt Anita

Good to see another Air Force trained killer in the house.

Stick Around!!!

[5thGenDemocrat]

35. Hey, Anita

See? I TOLD you that you weren't the last liberal in the Air Force. MrScorpio here, as I understand it, is to retire in the not-too-distant future.
He's from Michigan, too. You two have a lot to talk about.
John
Just an former Army Signal Corp feeb. Carry on.

[Gracie43]

38. Zoom, Zoom

Good Morning, MrScorpio.

Air Force trained killer, haven't heard that one in awhile.

Army: This place sucks!

Navy: It sucks off shore.

Marines: Where's it sucking?!

Air Force: Three fifty perdiem? That sucks!

[5thGenDemocrat]

43. As opposed to Signal Corps-trained killers

Sarge: "Okay, men -- we're going to go take that hill."
Us: "Ooooh, NOT in THESE pants, we're not!!!"
John
Former 72E20 Communications Center Specialist: "The Flying Fingers of Death."

[Gracie43]

44. Eager young space cadets

And don't even think about calling for an air strike - it's boss and buddy night at the club.

[roguevalley]

36. Welcome! Discerning people are always welcome. :)

[jukes]

37. a BIG DU welcome

for Gracie43!


:hi:

[Jack Rabbit]

39. Welcome

!!

[henslee]

40. Hi Aunt Anita, I'm your nephew's buddy Henslee, & I sometimes pop

by unnannounced, unshaven, wearing stained sweatpants to watch cable, use the phone or crash on the couch. So don't be alarmed. I'm harmless and apologize in advance if I ramble too much. Hey, got a cigarette?

[Gracie43]

42. You're like family then, Henslee

Just don't pester the pets and leave cans under the couch. I think there's some very old cigarette packs left in the freezer - help yourself.

[5thGenDemocrat]

47. Hey, Henslee

If you just tell Anita you're unannounced, unshaven, clad in stained sweatpants, using the phone and crashing on the couch (and bumming cigs), she's not going to be able to differentiate which one of my friends you are.
For that matter, she probably couldn't tell which member of the family you are with those clues, either. Other than Chuck and Betsie -- they don't smoke.
John
So welcome aboard. Beer's in the fridge.

[redqueen]

45. Hi Gracie43!

Welcome to DU! :hi:

Beware... this place can be very addictive. :)

[VOX]

46. A hearty welcome to DU, Aunt Anita; or may I call you "Gracie43?"

Enjoy your stay here -- it's quite lively at times! Am looking forward to your posts...

Best to you -- :toast:

[Bluebear]

48. Hey Auntie! Glad to have you!