I need 30 posts to get to 1000, ask me anything!

[shawn703]

[merwin]

1. How many more do you need now?

[shawn703]

2. 28! lol

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. What do you like about the Lounge?

Is it your favorite place on DU? :hi:

[shawn703]

4. Well I just recently started venturing into the Lounge

I used to spend most of my time in LBN and GD, reading and lurking, and posting occasionally (to explain why it's taken me so long to get to this number.) It has become a favorite area since it's nice to get a break from the seriousness of it all once in a while.

[merwin]

5. So tell me why you became a member.

[shawn703]

6. Wow that was a while ago

My profile says 2002 that I did, but I thought for sure it would have been very early 2001 that I joined (though maybe I was just reading at that time.) I had just started going to sites like FAIR and TomPaine, and somehow stumbled on this group while looking for some other progressive sites. It was great to find others who liked to complain about the Republicans.

[lavenderdiva]

9. Hi CaliforniaPeggy!

you helped me recently reach 1000 posts!

I saw pics today of you and Missy kissing Will Pitt!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

31. Hi, lavenderdiva!

Yes, I did, and thank you for remembering that!

On my thread with me and Missy kissing Will: what a lot of fun THAT was! Thanks for your comments...

:woohoo:

[lavenderdiva]

35. Are you a kissin' fool, or what?

You looked pretty cosy in that pic! here's a smilie replay:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

36. Well, I don't know about being a kissing fool! lololol

I know we look cozy; you do have to have contact when you actually kiss someone, you know! I love your smilie replay, BTW!

:hi:

[lavenderdiva]

42. here ya go!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

44. I love it! Thanks...!

[lavenderdiva]

7. What are you doing up so late in Virginia?

Do you have work tomorrow? If so, what do you do?

[shawn703]

8. I usually function on about 5 hours of sleep a day

But I do have work tomorrow. I'm co-owner of a network and computer consulting company, but there's only three of us in the company, so I do the actual consulting.

[lavenderdiva]

11. Lucky you, being able to function on 5 hrs of snoozing...

Mr. Lavenderdiva is like that. However, of late, I have been suffering from insomnia, and haven't been able to doze off before approx. 5:30am, and only then for a few hours. Needless to say, I am sooo tired! Last night, I even took a sleeping pill, and that didn't do any good. I had some hot chocolate, and that didn't work either. Do you have any remedies that I should try?

[shawn703]

13. Try watching a movie in bed

It doesn't matter what time of day it is for me, or how good the movie is, I always end up asleep no later than halfway through.

[lavenderdiva]

14. Any particular recommendations?

[shawn703]

16. Godzilla (1998)

That remains the only movie I ever fell asleep watching in the theater. Funny thing was, it also happened to be during the first (and last) date I went on with a girl from college.

[lavenderdiva]

17. Now, are you saying that you only dated once during college?

OR, are you saying that you have only dated a college graduate once in your lifetime? Have you been on dates since that time? Certainly, you should steer clear of any film retrospectives that include 'Godzilla'... However, I will make note of that movie should my insomnia persist!

[shawn703]

21. Actually, neither of the above

I meant to say that I fell asleep on the only date I had with one particular girl. The part about college wasn't really necessary, except to say that I was in college in 1998.

But yes I have had dates since that time (now married with three kids!)

[lavenderdiva]

24. Congratulations!

Do you visit any of the forums that DU offers? I didn't realize how many there were, and how many various interests they address, until well after I first joined DU.

[shawn703]

26. My forums

Are Religion & Theology, Christian Liberals/Progressive People of Faith and Interracial/Multi-ethnic Relationship Support group. I tried (and failed) to start a group for martial artists though.

[lavenderdiva]

28. I've tried posting in both

Religion & Theology, and Christian Liberals/Progressive People of Faith, and didn't receive any replies... I thought that was kinda odd. I still read the posts though.

Where did you go for your last vacation? Would you recommend it, and if so, what you like best about it?

[shawn703]

30. The last place I went was back to Muskegon, Michigan

Not sure if that counts as a vacation, since it was for a funeral. The last "vacation" I went on was to Disney World - which I still do enjoy even as an adult. There is some neat stuff to do in Muskegon, like visit the sand dunes on Lake Michigan, but I don't know if I'd make a vacation out of it. Disney World I would recommend too, but I think that place sells itself.


What did you post about in those forums?

[lavenderdiva]

34. once I posted in response to a thread discussing

what denomination everyone was... and another was in a thread about betrayal of trust.

Funerals don't count as vacations. I must say I have never heard of Muskegon, Michigan. I was going to ask if it was near the lake, but then you say you went to the sand dunes... duh. Now Disney World, that is another matter. I LOVE Disney World and Disney Land. Have you ever been to Disney Land? If so, which do you prefer Disney World or Disney Land? Me, I prefer Disney Land. I just like the originality of it, and the ride 'StoryBook Land Canal Boats'. Call me crazy...

[shawn703]

37. Nope never went to Disney Land

Unless you're from Michigan, you probably wouldn't have heard of Muskegon. It's a decent sized city/town, but there's nothing really exciting that happens there. When I moved to Detroit, people would still ask me where Muskegon was. Nice thing about that state is you can just show them on your hand.

I've only had one occasion to go to California, and unfortunately it was only business, so I can't say if I like Disney Land.

I do recall those threads in those forums, but don't think I posted to them. The betrayal of trust one was pretty deep and difficult for me to answer in a way that would mean what I wanted it to. I don't remember why I didn't respond to the one about denomination.

[lavenderdiva]

40. Yep the betrayal of trust thread was pretty heavy...

it was right after someone had been tombstoned, and they were talking about that, and my question had to do more with a specific personal question. The other posters were just wanting to discuss what had happened that day.

Are your kids still at the age where they love Disney stuff, movies, and Disney World? Of course, I think anything 'Disney' is timeless and ageless. I have all of the Disney animated movies, and still watch them! In fact, last night, I watched 'Bambi'. What is the last Disney movie you watched?

[shawn703]

43. The two oldest are into Disney

My youngest is only a month old, so not yet. The last Disney movie I saw was probably The Incredibles. That one I really liked.

[lavenderdiva]

45. 'The Incredibles' was incredible!

Mr. Lavenderdiva and I took our 3-1/2 year old niece to see 'Madagascar' last weekend, and we all loved it. It was her very first movie in a theatre, so it was fun seeing her learn about popcorn and a real coke. She metered out her popcorn thru the whole movie, and had half a kiddie bag left at the end! She was adorable!

Now you mentioned martial arts in an earlier posting.... what type of martial arts do you participate in, and what level are you at?

[shawn703]

49. Tae kwon do

Just started, not even a white belt yet. My wife and two oldest just joined too.

My two oldest saw Madagascar recently, but I didn't get to see it with them. And they have never learned to meter their popcorn (but neither have I)

[lavenderdiva]

53. Tae Kwon do-- does that involve any meditation or anything?

or is it mainly just a movement? Also, is this a defensive/offensive potentially dangerous sort of thing, or more like a centering sort of behaviour?

What a good Daddy/husband you are to take the 12:30am feeding!

[shawn703]

56. It's a Korean martial art that involves a lot of kicking

But like all respectable martial arts teachers, ours demands that it only be used for self-defense. It is a great confidence and discipline builder too. We haven't had to even say a word to them about making their beds or brushing their teeth since we joined, because they might disappoint their teacher!

[lavenderdiva]

59. Wow! I will have to remember this...

Who would have guessed? Do you watch 'Super Nanny'?

I think its neat that you and your wife have something that you can enjoy doing together.

Did the prospect of having children seem daunting at first? It seems, since you are on night duty, you have become very accustomed to it! Was there a learning curve? I have 2 little cocker spaniels: Libby & Emma, and I feel that's all I can handle right now! I can't even say they don't talk back, because they have their own little language, and make their demands known!

[shawn703]

61. I've seen some of those shows

And I just count myself lucky that I don't live in a situation like that. The first day my wife told me she was pregnant, I was freaking out because it was unplanned, but I was fine ever since then. But it's always a challenge, and I'm still learning everyday.

I had a cocker spaniel once, a long long time ago... She was demanding too, because she had a pretty weak bladder and had trouble "holding it". Very sweet dog though.

[lavenderdiva]

63. I just never get the people in those shows whose lives are totally

out of control... How in the world did they get to this point? It seems so obvious that the kids are running the show, and almost crying out for some boundaries. When they are given boundaries, and some rules, all of a sudden, everyone's lives are so much more peaceful!

A lot of times, in older female dogs, there is a lack of estrogen, which causes the 'weak bladder', and accidents. Once you put them on estrogen, in pill form, those accidents cease. I had an older female cocker one time that had that, and we took care of it that way. They are truly the sweetest dogs ever. Libby loves opera and loves to sing at the top of her lungs! She is the quirkiest dog I've ever had, and I just love that about her!

New question: is your baby sleeping thru the night yet?

[shawn703]

64. No but she is getting better

She usually only wakes up once during the night and then wakes you up early in the morning. Much better than the every two hours feeding, with half hour trying to get her to burp.

[lavenderdiva]

65. She sounds just precious!

They are so cute at that age, and it goes by soooo fast!

Does your wife work outside the home, or is she able to stay home with your children?

[shawn703]

66. She is staying home right now

Not sure for how long though. Not too much of a rush for her to go back though.

By my calculations, this should be my 1000th post!

:woohoo:

[merwin]

27. Are the kids adorable?

[shawn703]

32. Yes, but that's to be expected

They've got great DNA, if I may say so myself. B-)

[elshiva]

10. Have you ever been to Maryland?

[shawn703]

12. Just about every day of the week!

That's where my office is, and about 70% of my clients.

[elshiva]

15. Where in MD?

[shawn703]

18. Office is in Germantown

Clients are in Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Gaithersburg, Rockville, Potomac, Beltsville, Cheverly, Baltimore, Annapolis... I may be missing some, but the bulk are in Mont. Co. and PG. Co.

[elshiva]

19. HA! nice! Do you enjoy it?

err...got to go to bed! Good night!

[shawn703]

22. Well it would be nicer if everything was in Virginia

With gas prices being what they are and all - but I don't mind the drive or the area.

[merwin]

33. Think about that response in relation to your post to 'intheflow'

regarding Virginia :-D

[shawn703]

38. LOL

I thought I had a dirty mind... :blush:

[elshiva]

72. I've never been to Virginia....

[merwin]

20. But the big question is... are you German?

[shawn703]

23. Nope

Not sure about all of my heritage, but the ancestors I do know about were either English or Lithuanian.

[intheflow]

25. Is it true that Virginia is for lovers?

My real name is Virginia, so watch how you reply. :evilgrin:

[shawn703]

29. Of course!

I saw it on TV so it must be true! :7

(wondering if that was the only way to answer the question carefully!)

[intheflow]

39. That was your careful answer?!? Hmph!

I'm just joshin'. I wouldn't have been offended no matter how you answered. Hell, I toughened up on that one when it was THE ad campaign of 1975 when I was in 5th grade studying US geography.

Before that I only had to endure the occasional sideways glance at Christmas when the teacher read "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus."

So that was my traumatic childhood experience. Or at least one of them. Did you grow up in Virginia? And if so, did it lead to any childhood trauma, no matter how minor?

[shawn703]

41. Nope, grew up in Michigan

And I'm really trying to think of some trauma caused just by living in Michigan... but I think I've blocked out any childhood trauma I've experienced, because nothing's coming to me!

[intheflow]

55. My mother grew up in Michigan.

So I guess the score is
Your Cildhood Trauma: 0
My Childhood Trauma: 2

OK, bad joke, my mother didn't really give me any trauma in my childhood. But she also experienced zero trauma growing up in Michigan. So I guess life is good in Michigan if you grew up outside Detroit.

[shawn703]

58. Which part of Michigan? n/t

[lavenderdiva]

67. You made it!!! Whoopee!!!

A Big Congratulations to you!!!!!! :party: :toast: :bounce: :yourock: :woohoo: :applause: :party: :toast: :bounce: :yourock: :woohoo: :applause: :party: :toast: :bounce: :yourock: :woohoo: :applause: :party: :toast: :bounce: :yourock: :woohoo: :applause: :party: :toast: :bounce: :yourock: :woohoo: :applause: :party: :toast: :bounce: :yourock: :woohoo: :applause: :party: :toast: :bounce: :yourock: :woohoo: :applause:



I hope you get a good night's rest after reaching 1000 posts!!!

[shawn703]

68. Thanks!

It is time for bed though. This was a great way to meet a few people too. Good night!

[lavenderdiva]

69. Night night!

[intheflow]

70. Allegan, in the county seat.

Congrats on hitting 1000! :toast:

[merwin]

46. Just 9 more to go!!!!

[lavenderdiva]

48. merwin, did we lose him?

[merwin]

50. Couldn't take the heat i guess... :)

[shawn703]

52. Still here

Detoured for a minute

[lavenderdiva]

47. Come on now, don't quit yet, you've only got 9 more to go...

and merwin and I are hanging in there with ya!!

[shawn703]

51. The baby woke up

My turn to feed her!

[merwin]

54. I hope it's not still breastfeeding. That might hurt.

[shawn703]

57. No, but it is breast milk

My wife makes sure there's plenty in bottles to enable me to help with the late night feedings.

[merwin]

60. *phew* That's good. Hey, only a couple more left

[CaliforniaPeggy]

62. I'll help out!

You have a break, OK?

:loveya:

[SKKY]

71. Hey Shawn, wouldn't it be cool if The Smiths...

Got back together? I sure think so.