OK, I'll admit it.

[Pale Blue Dot]

I'm starting a thread purely so I can draw attention to my new avatar. :loveya:

Isn't that freakin' obnoxious?

[Chichiri]

1. While we're at it . . .

Check out mine!

[Pale Blue Dot]

3. Yours isn't as hot as mine.

But it's still cool!

[Chichiri]

5. I dunno . . .

My girlfriend thinks it's pretty darn hot.

[MrScorpio]

2. Tres Chaud!!!

Magnifique!

[Pale Blue Dot]

4. How'd you know?

She does speak French! :loveya:

[MrScorpio]

7. Because I'm one cool MF - It's like that...

And that's the way it is

[In_The_Wind]

6. I glad you're fessin' up!

lovely avatar

[Pale Blue Dot]

8. Thanks!

She knows I have a hat fetish, so she bought this red hat just for me. And she looks awesome in it! :loveya:

[arwalden]

10. You're Putting Us On... Right? You're Having A Little Go With Us, Yes?

[SarahB]

27. yes and no

We find it hilarious that an inherently happy, normal relationship by two single parents who have been through so much in the last couple of years (both us are long time members who went through divorces after decade+ marriages and we've both been open in both our pain and emotional struggles) can spark such controversy.
I also find it strange that it would probably be deemed socially acceptable if he were this demonstrative in his affections if I were a CAT! For those reasons, do we mess with people a little? Probably, both those who have met us know we're not only nice people, but also rather innocuous types as well. That's the irony of it all.

Does he really have a thing for hats? Yeah, he does. Not a big deal. (Does he need it? Um, not even close.)
He's even said it before: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=82001#85074
(Look at the author of the thread, so hey, it's all good, right? :))

[arwalden]

28. I'm Reminded Of A Woman I Once Knew... An Ex-Relative Actually...

... who had decided to get breast implants. It was no surprise that she was going to get them... and once it was done, it was obvious that she had had a boob-job.

It was also obvious that her decision made her happy and that she was pleased with the results. And many of us were willing to nod and smile and be polite during the "novelty" period of her new enhancements. You know, that "shiny-new-car" feeling where she's just beaming with pride and satisfaction and never missed an opportunity to brag about them, or how much they cost, or how fast the healing process was, or how real they feel, or how horrible her life was before the boob-job, or how proud she is of them, or how many new dresses she needed to buy, or how many bras she had to throw away, or how she likes the tight feeling of her old blouses and sweaters, or how it different it feels when she's jogging, or how men stare at her, or how women stare at her, or how she gets better service in stores.

OH MY GOD, it just never stopped. You'd think that after a month, she would have grown tired of talking about them, but nope! Not a chance! Not a day went by, not an opportunity missed that she didn't find SOME way to work her boobs into the conversation. Whether it was a joke or a serious comment... she just NEVER STOPPED TALKING ABOUT her "girls". She thought she was being so cute and clever... but she was acting (and dressing) like someone HALF her age. It was embarrassing for anyone to be around her.

It was so bad that it started to become a whispered joke and a couple of us would even try to predict how long it would be before she mentioned her boobs... or how many TIMES, during the course of a single conversation, she would mention her boob-job.

After awhile, it was very tiresome, and very predictable. You just wanted to SCREAM at her "STOP IT!" and "GROW UP!" But I never had the nerve. One of my aunts spoke to her about it, and she got very defensive about the whole thing... she even accused my aunt of being a prude, and suggested that she was just "jealous" of her hot new boobs. -- No, actually she wasn't a prude, and being a prude has nothing to do with it. Obviously she missed the point because we would have felt the same way if she was acting this way about a new facelift or a new hairstyle. It was just TOO MUCH.

We all got tired of it, even her husband (my cousin) grew weary of her fascination with herself and (combined with their other problems) it was just too much and they eventually split up.

Even after they were separated, I heard stories of how she would joke "He may get half the house, but I get to keep BOTH my boobs!".

Like I said, at first, we were all delighted for her. We were even willing to go along with all the excessive chit-chat and droning on and on and on about her private parts and her private life. But after a certain point it just got hard to overlook, and she ended up becoming quite a joke. In general, she was very sweet and funny, but when it came to her boobs, she made quite a nuisance of herself at times.

<< (Look at the author of the thread, so hey, it's all good, right? :)) >>

Good lord... heh-heh! That's an OLD thread that brings back some memories... over 2 years ago... waa-a-ay before Skinner's crack-down on those types of threads.

Okay. Yes, I see I'm the author of the thread. I'm not sure what you were getting at... did I miss something?

[fudge stripe cookays]

29. Wow.

Just wow.

:applause:

[jpgray]

30. You have better didactic anecdotes about your relatives than Gabe Kaplan

:D

[SarahB]

33. Interesting.

Except openly loving another person is not like going on about plastic surgery. I am not a "thing" or a part. I'm a person. I am a human being and loving a person is something else all together. You've had some sort of issue with him long before me, haven't you? You did have him on ignore before, correct? Seems like anyone with some sort of issue here are all people who had some problem with one or both of us long before we even had a relationship. At least people should have the nads to admit it.

Frankly, it's no skin off my nose. I'm just going to call people on their hypocrisy and I do not let anyone step all over me or someone I care for. There are some people who spend hours a day on this site, probably not too satisfied with their lives to do so, critiquing he and I for what amounts to a small handful of posts when they write little themselves but inside jokes and a lot of inane chatter.

Even writing this post will likely result in a bunch of snide comments in other threads from the very same people who are little more than keyboard warriors without the strength to confront people directly (let alone in reality). I'm as sweet as f*cking pie, I go out of my way to be nice to people, and I never intentionally try to be hurtful to anyone, but I do NOT and will not let anyone attempt to intimidate me. Ever.

What I was getting at with the old link is that he wrote something about this little "preference" before, as did many people in regard to various preferences. Frankly, it's not that big of a deal, yet a few people wanted to act like he was some kind of weirdo for the hat thing. Hell, in the world of fetishes, thinking hats are sexy is relatively tame. I was trying to point that out.

He has never meant any ill will toward anyone. Neither have I. He was just trying to invoke a little humor because he knows he's rather crazily ga-ga over me at times. He is the sweetest, kindest, most wonderful man I've ever known. Anyone who has met him would likely say the same thing- he's truly a very sweet and nice man. I am very happy, I've been through Hell and back in my life, and I think it's nice that he is comfortable being so open and loving about me. Very few men are able to do that.

I'm tired of dealing with people who would rather be cruel at every chance the get than even try to see that. Frankly, that type of behavior says far more about the lack of character in other people than anything about either he or I.

Hopefully, this thread will just die. I have neither the time, energy, or inclination to sit on the computer all day fighting ridiculous battles with people. I have kids to play with, school forms to fill out, football practice to go to, and I'll be spending the latter part of my evening with the man I now love.

[enigmatic]

34. Don't worry about it

I think it's great you two found each other; if you want to shout it out to the world or not, I don't care, and I'm at a complete loss as to why anyone else would care here, either. Ignore and Hide Thread functions are there for those whose self-control is so lax that they can't help themselves but to click on these kinds of threads; they should use them if it's so offensive to them.

Jesus, we've got enough copycat and attention freak threads around here to last us to 2012, and people complain about this?

Unbelieveable.

[Cyndee_Lou_Who]

36. .

:hug:

That's all.

[arwalden]

37. Your Reply...

<< Except openly loving another person is not like going on about plastic surgery. >>

To you perhaps... but to many observers the incessant displays of "openly loving" (as you call it) is EXACTLY like someone droning on and on and on about something we've all heard about a hundred times before already.

<< I am not a "thing" or a part. I'm a person. >>

Yes, you're a person... and a confused one too. I never suggested that you were a "thing" or a "part", or that either of you were anything less than persons. Why on earth would you say that?

<< I am a human being and loving a person is something else all together. >>

I've not made any comments about your love or your emotions towards another person. In my anecdote I was referring only to the repetitive nature of constantly talking about the same thing without fail, to the extremes.

<< You've had some sort of issue with him long before me, haven't you? >>

I'm not aware of anything. Can you refresh my memory?

<< You did have him on ignore before, correct? >>

I don't know. Did I? -- And even if I did, I fail to see what that would have to do with my current observations.

<< Seems like anyone with some sort of issue here are all people who had some problem with one or both of us long before we even had a relationship. >>

So it couldn't possibly be that there's actually anything TO the observations? It's all about revenge?

<< At least people should have the nads to admit it. >>

Or a conspiracy?

<< Frankly, it's no skin off my nose. I'm just going to call people on their hypocrisy and I do not let anyone step all over me or someone I care for. There are some people who spend hours a day on this site, probably not too satisfied with their lives to do so, critiquing he and I for what amounts to a small handful of posts when they write little themselves but inside jokes and a lot of inane chatter. >>

I'm not sure what that means... but... okay.

<< Even writing this post will likely result in a bunch of snide comments in other threads from the very same people who are little more than keyboard warriors without the strength to confront people directly (let alone in reality). >>

I wouldn't know about that. I'm afraid I can't control what others do.

<< I'm as sweet as f*cking pie,>>

So sweet that you won't even spell out the word "fucking".

<< I go out of my way to be nice to people, and I never intentionally try to be hurtful to anyone, >>

I don't recall anyone ever making that accusation or saying such a thing about you. If they did... shame on them! But being "intentionally hurtful" is different than typing repetitively annoying topics.

<< but I do NOT and will not let anyone attempt to intimidate me. Ever. >>

Good for you. You show em! Be defiant all the way!

<< What I was getting at with the old link is that he wrote something about this little "preference" before, as did many people in regard to various preferences. Frankly, it's not that big of a deal, yet a few people wanted to act like he was some kind of weirdo for the hat thing. Hell, in the world of fetishes, thinking hats are sexy is relatively tame. I was trying to point that out. >>

Oh. Okay. Thanks for clearing that up.

<< He has never meant any ill will toward anyone. Neither have I. >>

Yes, I think we can all agree on that.

<< He was just trying to invoke a little humor because he knows he's rather crazily ga-ga over me at times. >>

"At times"??

<< He is the sweetest, kindest, >>

Most wonderful man you've ever known?

<< most wonderful man I've ever known. >>

I knew it.

<< Anyone who has met him would likely say the same thing- he's truly a very sweet and nice man. >>

Yes we know. We know.

<< I am very happy, I've been through Hell and back in my life, and I think it's nice that he is comfortable being so open and loving about me. Very few men are able to do that. >>

That's nice. We know. We know.

<< I'm tired of dealing with people who would rather be cruel at every chance the get than even try to see that. >>

Do you think I'm being cruel, or are you talking about cruel people in general?

<< Frankly, that type of behavior says far more about the lack of character in other people than anything about either he or I. >>

I don't understand. Are you suggesting that I have a "lack of character"?

<< Hopefully, this thread will just die. >>

After a response like the one you just gave?! Not bloody likely!

<< I have neither the time, energy, or inclination to sit on the computer all day fighting ridiculous battles with people. >>

Yet, here you are.

<< I have kids to play with, school forms to fill out, football practice to go to, >>

That's somethign new and different. It sounds interesting... tell us more about THAT.

<< and I'll be spending the latter part of my evening with the man I now love. >>

So what ELSE is new? :eyes:

[SarahB]

9. Yes, but...

I still love you (and I know how wonderfully normal, yet amazing you are). :loveya:

I still have to keep my flower though. It's my thing. :D

p.s. I love indulging your hat fetish. Thanks again for the pool thing. :evilgrin:

[Zuni]

11. that is just weird ,dude

just my $.02

[Zomby Woof]

12. hehe

Yep, but I love ya anyway. :loveya:

[no name no slogan]

13. Why do you hate America?

[progmom]

14. a little bit, yes.

since you asked....

[Pale Blue Dot]

15. And why is that?

I'm just curious, because I really don't understand why it would be. :shrug:

[progmom]

16. if you really didn't think it was obnoxious....

why did you ask: "Isn't that freakin' obnoxious?"

[Pale Blue Dot]

18. I thought I was being funny.

Now why did you find it obnoxious?

[progmom]

21. i am thrilled for you

seriously.

but i think this question has been repeatedly answered by people much more eloquent than i could ever hope to be.

[Pale Blue Dot]

23. Not really to my satisfaction.

I was interested in your take on it.

[progmom]

32. ok.

I am happy for you. You both seem to be at a place where you really needed this, and you seem to make each other wildly happy. We have shared this happiness with you, reflected it back at you...

And for some reason, that happiness seems to have taken on a taunting tone. I'm not sure why. Maybe I am reading something into it that isn't there. But I don't seem to be the only one seeing it. :shrug:

But I'll shut up now. Apparently we're reacting exactly as you had hoped we would. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=3894103&mesg_id=3899069

[Beware the Beast Man]

17. Yes it is.

hey, you asked... :shrug:

[Pale Blue Dot]

19. Now I ask

why? :shrug:

[Beware the Beast Man]

20. You must ask yourself why.

I'm getting Socratic on your ass... :P

[nini]

22. Happiness and Love is fine by me

I'm very happy for both of you!

:hug:

[Beware the Beast Man]

24. thing for hats?

so do you need that hat? or is it just a preference?

[enigmatic]

25. Nope

I think it's fantastic that both of you found each other, and I wish you both all the happiness in the world:)

[EstimatedProphet]

26. If you don't mind, I'll draw attention to MY avatar

Sported by fashionable DUers everywhere...

[Redbear]

31. I think ...

it's just about the coolest thread I have ever seen.

[Midlodemocrat]

35. I think it is very sweet that the two of you are so happy together.

Best wishes for continued good fortune in love.

:toast: