After lurking for about four years....

[BrightBlueDot]

...here I am!

I found DU sometime in the summer of 2002. I'd been out of work for a few months and spent all my time job-hunting. For the last four years, I was either unemployed or severely underemployed and spent all my time trying to survive. I *finally* have a good job and some stability in my life, and therefore, some free time, which I plan to spend posting!

Thank you, DU, for having been my sanity and salvation so many times in the last four years. I live in Red State Hell, but I am a proud bright blue dot in the middle of it.

To all the DUers who didn't know they were my friends:

:grouphug:

:hi: from Ala-freakin-Bama!

[huskerlaw]

1. Welcome to DU!

Glad you decided to join us!

:hi:

[BrightBlueDot]

4. Thanks!!

I love your Google bomb! Please tell me how to add that to mine!

[huskerlaw]

12. No problem...

< link:www.truthout.org/docs_2006/083006J.shtml | The Path to 9/11 >

...and then take out the spaces after/before the < > and change them to brackets.

[BrightBlueDot]

19. Did it!

Thanks for the help!

[auntAgonist]

2. hey there! WELCOME to posting on DU!

Congrats on the job and stability. I hope to get to know you better!

:hi:
aA

[BrightBlueDot]

6. Thanks! And congratulations

on one of the cleverest usernames ever! I've smiled many times at your wit!

[ZombieNixon]

3. Welcome!

Well, not really a welcome *to* DU, since you know this place pretty well, already, but welcome to posting! :D :hi:

[BrightBlueDot]

7. Thanks, Zombie!

:hi: So nice to finally be posting!

[Left Is Write]

5. Hello and welcome!

[BrightBlueDot]

Another fabulous username! Thanks for the welcome!

:hi:

[blondeatlast]

8. Welcome aboard!

Looking forward to hearing more from you. :toast:

[BrightBlueDot]

9. Thank you!

:hi: I'm brunette (sp?) but may yet become blonde myself!

[Guava Jelly]

10. Welcome to the open boards

:)

[BrightBlueDot]

13. Thanks!

:hi:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

11. My dear BrightBlueDot!

Welcome to DU, and to the Lounge!

Here you have the living, beating heart of DU..........

Stick around and get aquainted.....we are friendly in this forum!

Some time, if you see the name liberaltrucker......say hi to him, too...

He is also from Alabama......I think!

Anyway, welcome aboard!

:hi:

[BrightBlueDot]

15. There are TWO of us here???

:wow:

Yay! There are two of us!! :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

Thanks! :hi:

[hfojvt]

25. two of what?

Alabamans or truckers? You've been lurking for 4 years and never heard of the Alabaman Southlandshari??? :wtf:

[BrightBlueDot]

38. LOL!!

I was trying to be funny! Sorry!

[johnnie]

14. Hiya

Congrats on the job. Welcome to the posting side of things. :hi:

[BrightBlueDot]

16. Thanks!

The best part is having health insurance again! After four years of using the ER as my doctor, when I was desperately and deathly sick ONLY, I have $9,000 in medical bills.

[bridgit]

17. welcome to du, BrightBlueDot...

:hi: :kick:

[BrightBlueDot]

20. CUTE KITTY!!!!!!

:hi:

[catmandu57]

18. Pop

Welcome back to the fight, there's a few of you Bamians running around here. :hi:

[BrightBlueDot]

21. Thanks!!

:hi: So glad to be here!

[WritingIsMyReligion]

22. Velcome, velcome, to ze hidey-hole....

:evilgrin:

:hi:

:toast:

[BrightBlueDot]

39. Thanks!

:hi:

[Arugula Latte]

23. Hi BBD!

May I call you BBD from now on? I'm kinda lazy ... :P

Anyhoo, glad you joined us officially! :toast:

edited because I meant to type :P and not :9 ... being lazy does not correlate to something tasting good ...

[BrightBlueDot]

40. You may call me anything except....

a fan of this corrupt misadministration!

[SeattleGirl]

24. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[BrightBlueDot]

41. Another great signature!

I want to co-opt almost everything I see here! You people are so clever. I hope you rub off on me more now that I'm posting!

[SeattleGirl]

45. I lurked for over 2 years before I finally signed up.

And I'm so glad I did. Interacting with people on DU has netted me a number of new friends, for which I am very grateful.

[SoyCat]

26. Here's a big welcome from someone who only recently de-lurked!

[BrightBlueDot]

42. Thanks!

:hi:

[buddhamama]

27. Welcome, BrightBlueDot !

I am glad you decided to come out of lurking mode. I am glad too, that you were able to find a good job and finally have some much needed stability in your life. :woohoo:

I like your moniker, btw! Cheers! :toast:

[BrightBlueDot]

43. I even have health insurance now!

My first trip to the doctor with it cost me $20. Before, it would have been somewhere in the neighborhood of $700, including labwork. And we wonder why our country is so messed up, eh?

Thanks! Glad to be here! :hi:

[malta blue]

28. Welcome BrightBlueDot!

Congratulations on the job and for exhibiting some serious survival skills in "Red State Hell"
:hi:

[BrightBlueDot]

44. Thanks!

I'm a black belt, and that helps! Very few rednecks mess with me! LOL!!

[zanne]

29. Welcome BrightBlueDot! How did you get your username? nt

[BrightBlueDot]

48. Bumper stickers!

I see bumper stickers occasionally that are blue dots on a red square. The words say, "Another bright blue dot in a really red state."

[matcom]

30. GLAD YOU ARE FINALLY HERE!

:hi:

[BrightBlueDot]

49. WOW!!

Matcom!! Thanks for the welcome! If I'd known I could see your signature I'd have signed up long ago!! Too cool!

[greatauntoftriplets]

31. Welcome to DU....

I lurked from February of 2001 until October 8, the day after the bombing of Afghanistan began. At the time, I didn't have a computer at home and so felt guilty about looking from work. Over the years, it's been an escape to sanity (well, not ALL the time!), but I have met some amazing people here. Including my :loveya:

[BrightBlueDot]

51. Found love here, huh?

I hope you and he or she work out beautifully! I'd love to find a liberal love on DU. Thanks for the inspiration!

[greatauntoftriplets]

73. Yep, and he is terrific!

Good luck to you.

[BrightBlueDot]

77. Congratulations!

I'm very happy for you! :D

[Tikki]

32. Hello, WELCOME.....glad you're here....

You found DU about the same time I did. Wow, my life has changed so much since then...yet, DU has been
a constant....and I appreciate this site so very much.

I live in a tiny red dot in a very Blue State...but, I don't have to go far
and I'm out into the great Blue Yonder.


Tikki

[BrightBlueDot]

52. Thanks!

Nice to finally be posting! :hi:

[tinfoil tiaras]

33. Welcome to DU!!

:hi:

I'm from Mississippi-one state over! Yay...i guess. But not really, because Mississippi sucks butt. :(

Anyways, glad you're finally posting. The DUers are really cool people...:D

[BrightBlueDot]

54. We always say, "Thank God for Mississippi,"

because we are #49 in so many areas. But I haven't heard that lately, so we must be slipping..... Thanks for the welcome! :hi:

[tinfoil tiaras]

57. Youre welcome

Haha, i know. Mississippi is the hellhole of the nation. Worst in education, obesity, womens rights, you name it. We rank the worst in it. :(

[crim son]

34. Congratulations on your job! Congratulations on your

finally making yourself known!

Nice screen name & WELCOME TO DU! :D

[BrightBlueDot]

55. Thanks!

:hi:

[ForrestGump]

35. After sleeping for about four minutes...

(shoot...copycatting gets to be a habit, after a while)

...I'm glad I popped on to DU just in time to wish you well with your adventures here, and -- retroactively -- for all you've already gained from this semi-dysfunctional community. :hi:

There're a few Alabamanese hereabouts that I know of, so you're not entirely alone out there.

Welcome!

Oh, and Roll Tide, or War Eagles, or whoever else!

Going back to sleep now...

[BrightBlueDot]

58. Forrest!!

You played for Bama, if memory serves, right? :D

Sorry, I'm a Tiger fan. I don't really care, but way fewer redneck assholes wear orange and blue than red and white, in my experience anyway!

[ForrestGump]

114. I just felt like running...

Orange and blue kinda clashes but, shoot, if I was an Alabamanian I would also probably favor yon Tigers (all the while wondering how the hell a team called the Tigers is also known as War Eagles) if only because a friend of mine does so. Besides, when Elvis played a concert in Auburn, in 1974, he proclaimed that he was a big fan of their football team (and, no, he didn't say that in every college town he played or, for that matter, in even a single other town that I know of).

[bigwillq]

36. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

Hope to chat with you soon.

[BrightBlueDot]

59. Thanks! I hope so too!

:hi:

[judaspriestess]

37. Hey there!!

thanks for posting and congrats on finally having a decent job

[BrightBlueDot]

60. Thanks!

:hi:

[Random_Australian]

46. Hi there BBD! Or in other words:

: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:                       :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:

[BrightBlueDot]

61. Wow!

How'd you do that????

[Random_Australian]

89. I used magic.

It's simple - just boil a cauldron with camphor, a woman's beard, and some spaghetti, and then type in the appropriate html code, and voilá! We have what I think of DU'ers! (Copy-paste in this case from what I typed earlier, because it would take a LONG time to type each time)


:loveya:                    :loveya:          :loveya:  :loveya:          :loveya:
:loveya:                    :loveya:          :loveya:       :loveya: :loveya:
:loveya::loveya::loveya:         :loveya::loveya::loveya:             :loveya:



:loveya:                    :loveya:          :loveya:  :loveya:          :loveya:
:loveya:                    :loveya:          :loveya:       :loveya: :loveya:
:loveya::loveya::loveya:         :loveya::loveya::loveya:             :loveya:



:loveya:                    :loveya:          :loveya:  :loveya:          :loveya:
:loveya:                    :loveya:          :loveya:       :loveya: :loveya:
:loveya::loveya::loveya:         :loveya::loveya::loveya:             :loveya:


          :loveya:               :loveya:                              :loveya:
               :loveya:     :loveya:                             :loveya:     :loveya:
                     :loveya:                              :loveya:    :)    :loveya:
               :loveya:                                  :loveya:                  :loveya:
          :loveya:                                    :loveya:                        :loveya:



                 :loveya:                        :loveya:                 :loveya:
            :loveya:   :loveya:                    :loveya:                :loveya:
          :loveya::loveya::loveya:                   :loveya:                :loveya:
       :loveya:              :loveya:              :loveya:                :loveya:
    :loveya:                    :loveya:           :loveya::loveya::loveya:    :loveya::loveya::loveya:

[femmocrat]

47. Welcome! I love your board name!

I just came out of lurkerdom this summer, too. This is a real friendly place! Hope to see you often.

[BrightBlueDot]

62. ANOTHER fabulous signature quote!

You people are an endless source of inspiration!!

:hi:

[BlueIris]

50. Welcome! Make this day Lurk No More Day for you!

This is such a great site. It has changed many lives, including mine.

[BrightBlueDot]

63. Thanks! I love your signature quote, too.

I am proudly straight but not narrow, and my bumper sticker attesting to that has sparked many conversations in parking lots with assholes. I'm a black belt though, and have a Black Belt On Board license plate frame, so they usually back down quickly! :D :D :D

[BlueIris]

106. Little late in responding to this, but--I'm sorry you have to deal with

the kind of circus animals who would mock your beautiful Straight But Not Narrow sticker. That's insane.

[cwydro]

53. I lurked forever

and still do...kinda shy...

Welcome...it's a friendly bunch here, seems to me..

[BrightBlueDot]

64. Thanks!

I have rarely felt so welcome anywhere. What an awesome group of people!

[u4ic]

56. Welcome, BrightBlueDot!

Glad to see you here. Great nick!:D

I'm glad you finally have a good job...sounds like things were pretty testy for a while.

I'm rather fortunate in that I live in a fairly liberal city. I can't imagine what it would be like to live amongst fundies... x( Bush bashing is a favourite sport here.

Hi from Al-freakin-Berta! :hi:

[BrightBlueDot]

65. Lucky ducky you!

As soon as I can afford it, I'm moving to a liberal mecca. In the meantime, I'll fight the good fight here.

Thanks for the welcome! :hi:

[sweetheart]

66. the mothership

Welcome to DU. Its' always been my feeling, that there are 10000:1 people for every DU writer, and out there somewhere
are a lot of people who agree, but simply don't have the time, or the keyboard ty
:hug: welcome to DU.

[BrightBlueDot]

68. Thanks!

:hug: You're right. THere are WAY more lurkers than posters. This board touches lives in ways that posters may not ever know!

[Aristus]

67. Welcome to DU, BigBlueDot!

Although I know you've been here for a while...

Welcome to finally being able to post here! :hi:

My mother is from Montgomery, BTW. :-)

[BrightBlueDot]

69. Hi Artistus

and Hi AristusMomfromMontgomery! Nice to meet you! :hi:

[Kajsa]

70. Welcome to posting on DU,too!

I'm so glad to hear things are working out for you.
I love forward to seeing your posts here.

:hi:

[unsavedtrash]

71. Hello from down the road.

:hi:

[BrightBlueDot]

82. greetings!

:hi:

[caty]

72. Glad you finally came out of the shadows.

Welcome!:hi:

[BrightBlueDot]

81. Gorgeous avatar.

Is that you??

[SlavesandBulldozers]

74. what up

how you doin

[BrightBlueDot]

80. Pretty good. You?

:hi:

[SlavesandBulldozers]

86. doing great. hope you have a good time here.

i would say welcome but you've been here so long already!

:toast:

[wain]

75. You don't have to have a good job in order to post!

In fact, as you know, the underlying strength of the DU Lounge is the support given unselfishly when times are tough. It's almost like family; we don't judge, we just accept you without reservation.

You sound bright and cheerful. Stay that way, but when you're a little down we'll be there to pick you up.

Welcome!!

:grouphug:

[BrightBlueDot]

78. Thanks!

I needed a good job to be able to have time, though. I worked three minimum wage jobs for two years, while job-hunting for a good job. No time to do anything but sleep and work in that scenario. x(

[scarlet_owl]

76. Welcome!

We're glad you are here. :toast:

[BrightBlueDot]

79. Thanks!

I'm so glad to be here, finally! :D

[GoddessOfGuinness]

83. Welcome, BrightBlueDot!

:toast:

[BrightBlueDot]

100. What a great picture!!

:hi:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

101. Thanks!

:D
I like anteaters...

[AussieDave]

84. Welcome BrightBlueDot !!!

Glad to know you're dipping your toes in the bright blue waters of DU - especially from Alabama. It must be hell living in a red state - I'm from Texas and have red cousins up the wazoo. It's hard to understand how we all came from the same family tree.

Cheers !!!!:toast:

[BrightBlueDot]

99. It can get to be pretty bad.

One of my coworkers had a stepson (18 years old) enlist a few weeks ago. She very quickly changed her tune about Emperor Bunnypants and the war. At least the kid has the courage of his "convictions," I told her. "You voted for him AGAIN, didn't you? Did you think he wasn't going to keep sending children over there to murder children?" She couldn't reply.

[Bucky]

85. Thanks for reviving. Earth itself is a Blue Dot, you know

According to Carl Sagan, that is.

<== you are here, by the way

[BrightBlueDot]

98. Cool picture!

Hi Bucky! :hi:

[serryjw]

87. Happy you can finally join us

Congrats on the good job, glad to hear your sanity is still in tack

[BrightBlueDot]

97. Thanks!

:hi:

[liberaltrucker]

88. Welcome to our little corner of cyberspace!

:hi:

I, too, am from Alabama. Walker County to be precise.

WAR EAGLE!!!

[BrightBlueDot]

96. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar Eagle!!!!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: How about that game Saturday, huh? We rule!! :D :D :D I'm talking football with a liberal!! I never thought that would happen! :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Radio_Lady]

90. Let me be the first to wish you HAPPY HALLOWE'EN -- more than

a month early. I like your pumpkin!

I'm going to be flying over your head in October -- going from Portland, Oregon, to Orlando -- for my 50th High School Reunion. That's in FLOR(freakin')EYE-DA, which is pretty much as far south as you can get. Grits, anyone?

Seriously, welcome to posting, Bright Blue Dot. Some of us don't work at all (well, I volunteer) because we're retired from the RAT RACE!

Warm regards,

Radio_Lady in Oregon

[BrightBlueDot]

95. Happy Hallowe'en to you, too!

I have already decorated my apartment. Started a trend! Now everyone else in my complex is decorating their patios and balconies, too!

[libby]

91. In honor of BrightBlueDot...

I have to come out of lurkdom as well.

Hi BBD :hi:

I am also from Ala-freakin-bama...
I HAVE that bumpersticker...
I'm also an Auburn fan

I'm glad you're here BBD. I've been here since 2001 and look at my post count! :rofl: :blush: :shrug: And I don't even have an excuse. Good luck on your job!

BTW, if anyone is stuck in a red state and wants to proudly display your blueness, you can get that sticker here http://www.britebluedot.com/

[BrightBlueDot]

94. libby!!

:hi: Nice to meet another bright blue dot!! :hi:

[Skittles]

92. FOUR YEARS!

you want I should kick your ass? :D

[BrightBlueDot]

93. Yes! Yes!

I've been hoping for that!!!! I want you to kick my ass and newyawker to tell me happy birthday and I want to be told the Zomby Troof!!! Yyyyyeeeeeeeesssss!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D



:bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce:

[southpaw]

102. Welcome, fellow Alabamian.

I lived in Guntersville until just recently... moved to Weaver (near Anniston) about a year ago.

I went through an employment crisis much like the one you speak of a few years back. It's a tough ordeal, for sure.

Welcome to the boards! :toast:

[BrightBlueDot]

104. Thanks!

:hi:

[Vidar]

103. Welcome to our somewhat messy house, BrightBlueDot.

[BrightBlueDot]

105. Thanks!

:hi:

[ThomCat]

107. Hi BBD!

:hug:

Congratulations on being a non-lurker!

[BrightBlueDot]

109. Hi ThomCat!

GREAT username! :hi:

[ThomCat]

112. Thank you!

BrightBlueDot is cool too. Very catchy and memorable. :)

[BarenakedLady]

108. Oh aye

That's the way to make an introduction. Hello. Welcome. Though I feel silly welcoming you as I'm the newbie as well. Welcome to us both then, eh?

[BrightBlueDot]

110. I am listening to your music right now!

*it's been one week since you looked at me*

:hi:

[GOPisEvil]

111. Oh, so you know all about me then?

Damn! Can't get anything past the newbie. x(

Welcome! :hi:

[BrightBlueDot]

113. That's my favorite smilie!

x( Too perfect!

[SoCalDemGrrl]

115. Welcome to DU..just in time for the mid-terms!!!