I just want to say I appreciate so many of you.

[ThomCat]

I hope you're dealing well with holiday stress, and winter, and economic problems, and all the stuff that's going on.

I'm awake with insomnia thinking about stuff.

There are so many good people here. Some of you have become dear close friends. Many of you are people I wish I could talk to more regularly, and see and visit in off-line as well as on-line. Many of you are people I only know casually enough to say hello to, and enjoy your company, and I don't know you very well, but I know you're people. I wish I knew you better.

It's funny how this on-line place has become so important.

There are so many things I really don't like about DU and how this place is run. I've almost drifted away repeatedly, but I keep coming back because I miss so many good people who are still here.

I'm missing so many good people who aren't here any more too. The bland value-less character of DU has driven away so many activists. There are damned few outspoken feminists left, and LGBT people seem to be under siege. I've retreated from the argumentative forums and mostly only hang out here in the lounge.

Anyway, I'm exhausted but still awake, and I'm zonked on meds but still in pain, so I'm rambling. But in all these rambles I'm thinking about a lot of people. I'm thinking about you too.

I hope you're doing well.

:hug:

[MissHoneychurch]

1. I love you Thom

and I wish I would live closer to see you every now and then :hug:

You are a wonderful person :loveya:

[ThomCat]

2. I'm looking through my DU pictures.

You're such a beautiful person. :hug:

I'm very glad you came through New York and I got to meet you. If you come to the US again at some point I hope you come through here.

I would love to be able to travel. I would love to come visit you in Germany, and I'd have to stop by Switzerland too, and England. :loveya:

[MissHoneychurch]

4. Thank you Thom

it was such a great pleasure to meet you in 2006. You know I will be back.

And it would be my pleasure to welcome you in Germany. :loveya:

[Droopy]

3. I'm doing alright, ThomCat

Better than a lot of people right now. I never thought I'd be able to say something like that, and I wish I could say it in more prosperous times.

Regarding the LGBT folks here at DU. I do not post much outside of the lounge, but I read the serious forums enough to know that a lot of poeple are hurting and angry about recent events that affect the LGBT community. I am just as astounded as they are at the blatant homophobia going on in our country right now. Then again, I guess it's always there just below the surface. Maybe this will be the first step towards intelligent dialogue on the issue, but it doesn't look like it right now.

[ThomCat]

5. You've been through some very hard times

according to stuff you've shared. It's good to hear that you're getting some breathing room and doing okay. I hope things stay good for you.

The homophobia has been right belong the surface, and sometimes not it peeks through. We've seen it and always knew it was there. It still hurts when it gets so blatant. We would like to think that most people, at least on our own team, are good enough to like us and treat us well. It hurts to find out that we're barely tolerated and considered disposable.

But we are just barely tolerated by most democrats, and we are considered disposable. LGBT issues are the first ones off the table, and we're the first ones abandoned in any fight. :(

Someday I hope we get more than just lip service. Someday I hope people will stand up for us too. But if even our friends here won't do it, then it's a long way off.

[TZ]

6. Hi Thom..

Financially, I'm doing okay..and no worries about my job..in fact my lab is going to be hiring a bunch of temps we have so much work on the horizon.
Otherwise..meh.....The nastiness in the other forums is getting to me. I think wounded people are lashing out in anger are taking a big toll on a lot of good people here. I'm sad to see people who are allies being treated like dirt because their opinion doesn't square up with others (its happening on both sides) anyway enough of that..I'm depressed enough anyway.
I also think the cold and dark of winter are getting to me.
Thank goodness for warm and fuzzy kitty cats. I might be sleeping part of my life away but at least its with my feline friends keeping me warm...

[ThomCat]

7. I'm sleeping my life away too, when I'm not an insomniac.

:P

I agree with you. Having kitties there definitely makes it better. :)

There is a whole lot of friction right now over who our allies are. A lot of people we assumed were our allies aren't stepping up when we need them. Unfortunately, there's fall-out. :(

I wish I could say it would get better. Unfortunately, that's up to straight people. When enough people stand with us to finally get this battle won, then we'll finally be able to leave this behind us.

[RFKHumphreyObama]

8. And I appreciate you as well Thom

As far as I'm concerned you have been a great asset to the DU community and I passionately admire how you have overcome such adversity, even as you deal with it on a daily basis. You are an inspiration to me and I think to many on this forum

It's sad that you no longer frequent the political forums as much as you used to -your perspective, insights and wisdom on the various issues was greatly valued by me (even on the rare occasion that I didn't agree with you). I think you first came to my attention in the GD forums when you were so eloquently defending the Congressional Black Caucus's (CBC) right not to accept white members into their group. I have those threads bookmarked and still read them from time to time and I never cease to admire how eloquently you put your case

That having been said, I understand why you don't go in there. It can be very poisonous and vexing to the spirit and not at all constructive. There are some times when I don't go in there as well. And, yes, sadly we have lost a lot of good people. A lot of feminists, LGBT advocates, other civil rights advocates, Clinton supporters, Obama supporters and the like. Sadly, I think that's the nature of political discourse which is sadly reflected in the political discourse of real life. It's a shame it is that way though

I hope you do stay on DU because we need more like you here because it would be a better place if we had more like you here. Undoubtedly the world would be a better place if we had more like you in it

I'm doing OK. I have numerous issues to deal with and none of them will likely be resolved in the short term. But at the same time I'm thankful for what I've got and am feeling upbeat leading up to Christmas

Take care and seasons greetings

[ThomCat]

9. Wow. That was a barn-burner of an argument. Wasn't it?

:)

I'm glad I wrote well and made an impression. Thank you. That makes be feel good to hear that. :hug:

As long as I still have friends here I'll hang around. And as long as I keep lurking I'll occasionally find my way into the other forums. So I'll still be speaking up. I'm been shouting a bit about this whole Warren situations, for example. But who hasn't? :P

I hope your Christmas is a very good one. :hug:

I wish it could be wonderful, or even spectacularly memorable. But so much bad stuff is going on pulling us all down that I think we'll all be happy with just a good holiday this year. But I'll hope it's Very good, just to get a bit more out of it. :P

Mind is going to be much better than I expected. A friend is taking away on a holiday trip. I'm part of her family this year. I've never much felt like part of my own family, so it's wonderful to feel like part of someone else's. So I can definitely say that despite everything, this is a good holiday this year. :)

[Callalily]

10. I always enjoy your posts.

Your goodness shines through, and I am glad that I can chat with you from time to time.

I'm doing alright considering. Still have a job and a roof over my head, and can pay my bills on time. In these economic woes, who can really ask for anything more than that?

Patiently waiting until President Obama is at the helm. I'm truly optimistic that our country will finally be headed in the right direction.

:hug:

[ThomCat]

11. I hope you are right.

I think he's going to be another triangulator who is going to sell us out to corporate interests. All his compromises are to the right, never to the left. His appointments so far don't fill me with hope. It's as if his base doesn't exist at all. :(

I'm hoping to be proven wrong. I'm a Kucinich supporter hoping to see why everyone was all fired up for this guy.

:shrug:

I don't have a job. Though, if some of my symptoms could go into remission I could get my old job back in a second. My boss wants me back. That's always nice to know. :)

I'm glad you're doing well. Please stay well. I like hearing that the bad times aren't reaching everywhere. :hug:

[Lil Missy]

12. Best wishes to you too, Thom!

:hug:

[Midlodemocrat]

13. These people? These ghost kicking freaks?

You are a better person than I am, Thom.

Hope you're doing well, my friend. :hug: