Salaam, cats and kittens. I'm Joe Crow, lurker ordinaire. Been on the b.org since 2003. I have vague memories of previous Buffista incarnations, but I've been lurking in so damn many web communities since I got online in '96 that it's difficult to keep them all straight.

Basic bio stuff: married, one kid, one remarkably sullen cat. Live in northern Mass, just on the border of NH. Currently finishing up an Illustration degree, after kiting off finishing a History degree. This is totally not a dodge to keep from paying off my student loans, I swear. Working 3rd shift convenience store gig, which seems to pretty much be my natural state.

I'm mostly lurking in Gaming, Boxed Set, Procedurals, Cable Drama, and Great Write Way.

Hiya, JoeCrow!

HI, Joe! I think I can recall you posting occasionally in Great Write. Glad to hear things are going well.

Good luck with your new house, Una! That sounds very exciting.

I'm glad to say my life is pretty much the same as last year. This is good because it means I have a job with benefits, despite the fact our governor has tried to strip us of as many of them as possible.

Oh yummy, I forgot how much fun it is to catch up on the delurking thread.

Yay vw! I know I said it before but it bears repeating: great news!

Nice to see you again, Una. Glad to hear things are good.

Hi JoeCrow, good to meet you.

And meara, I wouldn't call that boring, I'd call it stable. Isn't stable good when it means a job and a nice house in a great city?

Hi! I'm askye and I've been around for awhile, lurking less than I did the last time the thread was open.

Things that have changed - I moved to Vermont! To be closer to SLNRLBF (Second Life Now Real Life BoyFriend) aka Will (who occasionally lurks around here).

I quit my job and moved to Vermont in April. I'm currently semi employed (working temp gigs) and trying to find more regular job.

But I'm so much happier here! Will and I are only about 60 miles apart rather than 1350 miles apart. My stress levels have dropped - I haven't been clenching/grinding my teeth. I've lost about 9 lbs without trying, I've taken up crochet again, learned how to knit. I also have insurance through the state and I've been seeing a therapist on a regular basis who is really great and helpful.

Really the only things I miss from back home are my family and the ability to get good Mexican food (it's scare here in VT) I'm going back home in less than 2 weeks for a visit and get to see everyone including my awesome nephew.

I'm just overall happier and more optimistic about life than I was back in Florida. Besides losing some physical weight I feel like I've lost about 2 tons of emotional baggage.

Oh, that's so wonderful to hear, askye! I know it was a big leap for you to make the move, but I'm glad you're happier. When it's the right thing, it's the right thing!

Joe!!! I don't think of you as a lurker! I blame other locations.

Hi Joe! If you're lurking in Gaming to watch the BSG games, please feel welcome to sign up for one.

vw! Yay!

Una and Joe - nice to see you again.

I am also living and working in the same place. Caring for my geriatric cat and overwhelming myself with knitting projects.

Hi everyone! Nice to see your pixels again, Joe and Una! And come on out, all you other lurkers; we don't bite!

Just reread my post from last year, and for an update for everyone who doesn't follow Natter:

Had my gastric bypass last Thanksgiving, and have lost 190 pounds so far. Am still employed, but just barely--my entire group was laid off 10 days ago, but for some reason, I'm still working there, just with tons more tasks and with a different boss. Am now taking my sixth library class (as soon as I finish it, I'll be halfway done, yay!).

Had a car accident several weeks ago (not my fault, and it totalled my just-paid-for-last-fall Civic damnit!), bought a new car (even with the insurance check, still had to get a five-year loan), but am using what's left over from that check and the reimbursement check that the insurance co. is sending me for my taxes and fees on the new car as the basis for a trip to England and Scotland next summer (since I've never been abroad except for an overnight trip to Nova Scotia 30 years ago, I'm super-excited!).

Oh, and I'm another one dealing with a needy cat (not geriatric, just demanding attention today--she knocked every last thing off of my coffee table) and trying to finish off Christmas cross-stitching projects so I can get them wrapped and mailed out before Dec. 25th.