It was early-ish 2003 when I registered as MrsGrumpy...

[ScreamingMeemie]

and I found a ton of like minded people here and a lot of people who had been bowled over by Dean's "What I want to Know" speech in CA.

And I read a lot, and posted a little...and wondered why no one ever responded to my posts, and couldn't check for replies as easily as I can now. I was cynical about online friendships, but I did make friends. Even in GD. Because I didn't know about the Lounge and there were no groups for interests. And time went by and nsma couldn't find her keys. And we would look at the "newest member" announcement on the top right hand side of the page and laugh about GWB4evah, and then GWB4evah1, GWB4evah2...until that troll got sick of our lightning fast mods.

I signed up to become a mod, and got hooked on hanging out in the forums for hours on end. And got called a biased mod for locking the latest Kerry/Dean/Gephardt/Edwards/Kucinich/Lieberman (well not so much Lieberman) thread. And MrG complained (sort of) that I spent more time on DU then I did on dinner. And I made a bet with bigwillq that I would come visit him in Connecticut if Dean won the primary. And billyskank made us all smile every morning.

It was awful here when Kerry was robbed of the Presidency and it seemed like everything sucked for a few days. But the cool thing was that we all kind of collected ourselves and dealt with it. I found myself spending a bit more time in the Lounge, and making more friends.

I remember MrG walking into my hospital room with all the well wishes from people whom I had never met, and yet were closer to me than people I've known in real life for years. Even people I debated (or held screaming and ranting fests) with over the years. I also found out, that day, that Keph had died.

DU was there the day that the person who was the thing that makes me want to be the person I am (was) left this earth. And true suckage (which is what I thought had happened when Kerry lost)made itself known to me and my children. When MrG left, so too did MrsGrumpy...or the person she was. The care and genuine words that came from so many here will never be forgotten by this woman...nor by MrG's family.

And life went on.

And I came back as Screamingmeemie, a person and not a persona as I had felt I had gotten to be. Some(many) of the friends are not friends anymore and one can spend hours wondering if they ever really were. But that doesn't matter. What matters is that DU was a place and a time for me. A real place. And I appreciate that.

Thanks DU2. You are awesome and I hope DU3 does just as well as you have.

[maddezmom]

1. well said ScreamingMeemie

:hug:

[ScreamingMeemie]

6. .

:hug:

[antigone382]

2. You've been one of my favorite things about DU for a long time.

I'm glad you're still here.

[ScreamingMeemie]

7. I am glad you are too.

I post in fits and starts, and tried to stay away, but this place has a way of calling one back. Kind of like your folk's house at holiday time. :)

[Suich]

3. Very nice post!!!

:hi:

[ScreamingMeemie]

8. It's so good to see you.

:hi:

[OneGrassRoot]

4. That was really touching...

Thanks for sharing a bit of your heart tonight.

:hug:

[ScreamingMeemie]

9. Sometimes it seems like a very long time.

:hug:

[JanMichael]

5. I'm

so glad we met

[ScreamingMeemie]

10. You are one half of an awesome couple.

And the feeling is mutual.

[RainDog]

11. hugs to you

you have been through some hard times. glad you're here.

[ScreamingMeemie]

15. Back at you.

I'm glad you are here too.

[davsand]

12. Brightest Blessings to you as well, Laura.

DU can be whatever you make of it, and a community is maybe one of the nicer aspects of that. Certainly, I always have seen you as one of the nicer parts of DU.

I remember feeling so very sad, and so very ineffective when MrG passed. I knew there was nothing I had to say that was gonna ease your pain in the least--but I wanted to be sure you KNEW that I cared. Still do.

Don't be a stranger!




The OTHER Laura




PS, I sat through yet another USPAP class the other day. Found myself wondering I was EVER gonna have enough professional standards!

:evilgrin:

[ScreamingMeemie]

16. You can never be ethical enough...

...unless you are a loan officer. :rofl:



I think I've decided to transfer my license, but it's going to be a quadruple helping of ConEd so we'll see. Good to see you Laura.


Even though I didn't realize it at the time, the support I received from so many, the combined caring and shared grief, helped more than anyone here would ever guess.

[Texasgal]

13. Glad you are still here.

:hug:

[ScreamingMeemie]

17. Me too.

:hug:

[PeaceNikki]

14. I am glad to have met you and Mrs Grumpy here

:hug:

Go Pack!!

Oh hey... I met Dorsey Levens last Sunday!! :bounce:

[ScreamingMeemie]

18. I am jealous, jealous, JEALOUS!

:bounce: How exciting for you though! :D

[Solly Mack]

19. Thank you for sharing that.

[ScreamingMeemie]

25. .

Thank you for reading it. Hope to see you in the new forums.

[quinnox]

20. I remember " Mrs. Grumpy"

didn't realize you had changed your handle.

[ScreamingMeemie]

23. I wanted to fade into the woodwork a little bit.

I wasn't dealing well and didn't want to be that person at the time.

[quinnox]

28. that makes sense

edited because you answered what my question was in a different post above

[faithnotgreed]

21. so sweet to read this

i understand its a bittersweet for you (and for many)

but we are truly lucky to have you in whatever this great big forum is called

[ScreamingMeemie]

24. I didn't think it would be so very bittersweet-this changing of the forums

but it's kind of surprising that it is. It is I who is lucky. :)

[Rhiannon12866]

22. Thank you for such a touching post.

I feel much the same way about DU. What started as an attempt to do a little reading has turned into a way of life for me for almost nine years. And I do remember you from the very beginning. I never thought your name quite fit you, since I enjoyed your posts, you were nice to me, and I liked you a lot... :hi:

[ScreamingMeemie]

26. Funny how quickly it became an addiction, isn't it?

I always got into the "how did you get your username?" conversations late. Mine came from a slip of the lip. I accidentally said "Then MrsGrumpy would be very Harper" and it kind of stuck. :) I have always enjoyed your posts as well. :hi:

[Rhiannon12866]

27. It certainly did that, And I began to feel out of touch if I hadn't seen DU...

I am perpetually impressed how nothing gets by the plugged in members here. :toast:

I had never been on any sort of discussion board before and I almost keeled over when I got a reply to my first-ever post! But it was newyawker99 welcoming me, which was a perfect start, and I've been here ever since! :D

Now I get your previous screen name, though I must have read that before. Mine came from my beloved cat, though my signature usually is my dog... Little did I know I'd stumbled into a gathering of animal lovers, as well... ;) :hi:

Rhiannon :loveya:

[ScreamingMeemie]

29. And your cat has always reminded me of our Licorice.

Her eyes look a lot like WannaBe's (my daughter) cat Kittimus.

I always felt bad, because a lot of people always assumed that MrG was cranky. The man was rarely ever cranky. :) :hug:

[Rhiannon12866]

31. I remember when that happened and my heart broke for you...

It was always obvious how you felt and I never envisioned him as Grumpy... :hug:

Rhiannon was pretty amazing, came when she was called and was the most user friendly and attentive cat I'll ever know. I chose my screen name pretty quickly, but I've never regretted it... :hi:

[Leopolds Ghost]

30. DUer since 2004, under this name since 2005 (I guess)

I remember the Kerry campaign, although I think I was just a daily reader then.

Never had many friends on DU or online, so never had a reason to worry about what to say or not say.

Peace and hugs from a fellow DUer!

:hug:

[ellisonz]

32. K & R