BYB, in another thread in another section, stated:

No one is in danger of losing his/her job, spouse, social standing, or anything else if he or she forgoes the opportunity to respond to every single comment ...

And yes, it's a little out of context and not complete, but this is the bit that struck me, and I've acknowledged the faults with my quote, so flame me not.

I know I have some difficulties over the amount of time I spend on the board sometimes, particularly on wet weekends like the one just past.

Without necessarily going into specifics, what reaction do the rest of you get from those around you over the time you spend here?

Without necessarily going into specifics, what reaction do the rest of you get from those around you over the time you spend here?

Well, Max. I can safely say that, if my boss found out I was posting messages of this nature during core work time it would be less than a pleasant reaction! AWAD is my little secret....

Well, when I was at home, my dad insisted that I was completely wasting my time, even after I explained to him the purpose and content of the board. Whatever. Now that I'm at college, there's nothing he can do, so nyah nyah nyah.

I keep my husband updated on all the AWAD friends, and on any especially interesting exchanges. In some ways, he regards you all as friends of his as well, and is looking forward to meeting many of you at Wordapalooza! And, he is preparing a trivia contest for W!

Pearl, she of the Bichon Frise persuasion, gets a bit miffed when I am slow to feed her or let her out. Otherwise she is content on her pillow next to my desk.
The only problem I have is when I am in converstion and someone stops me asking "Is this a person from your Board?"
So basically the only problem I have is with complaints from friends that the phone is busy when they call ... "Were you on the Board again?" is the question I get often. Lately I have been embroiled in a couple of projects which require waiting for call-backs so I can't spend fun time on the Net.
Now that the board's so much faster I do get more chances to post. Thank you, Anu!

Flirt, she of the Border Collie persuasion, is pleased to know where I can be found for a game of fetch the ball [or the rope, or the frisbee, or the...]. But she becomes much more alert when she hears from the computer-speakers the logoout sound of "Good-by".

Dear Keiva: I am interested to hear your Border Collie will fetch. Not one of the six we had would, even acting as though the ball was thrown with intent to harm them. Incidentally, a friend sent me an e-mail about duck hunters in Michigan throwing a stick of dynamite intending to create some open water to put decoys in, only to have black Lab retrieve it and blow up their big buck Mercedes. I suspect a hoax.

Saffie, she of the Keeshond persuasion, just comes and sheds over me. Doesn't matter whether I'm on the Board or not. She does, however, give me funny looks when I laugh out loud at a machine. The only machine she finds a laughing matter is the microwave, her television.

My Mom despairs of ever contacting me by phone. She is in Florida, wintering in Rv Old Fart Band of Gypsy land, and I can't reach her. Usually she calls my sister to tell me to get off the computer so she can call me. Other than that, no one is around to object to anything I do.I'm so conflicted by that last sentence!

I live in a computer-enthralled environment. Both hubby and son are fanatics so my time on Board is not an issue. There are three computers in our house, so even time-sharing is not an issue.

We have, however, been nicknamed "grammar geeks" by my hubby - who steadfastly refuses to get excited about the fact that we have solved the Hear!Hear!/Here!Here! question or the evolution of words or the different definitions of hamper, or....

One thing is good though. He knows how fond I am of everybody and when he sees I am stressed or down he’ll say, “why don’t you go have fun with your AWAD pals”.

My wife thinks I'm a sad bastard and that she and the boys should take priority. With strains of "Cat's in the Cradle" echoing in my brain I agree with her.

Unfortunately, my boss pays for most of my airtime. I need to amend my ways.

stales

My wife first thought I was just plain crazy, now thinks I'm so addicted to the computer I can't have a normal face to face relationship with real flesh and blood people. She's not interested in AWAD or what we talk about either, so I don't bore her by telling her about what goes on or who is on it. Of late, I believe she's beginning to suspect that I'm really spending my time on some sort of peculiarly nasty porn. She gets really annoyed that I spend the amount of time I do alone in my office (spare bedroom) with the computer instead of sitting by her side in the den while she is looking at yet another episode of "Entertainment Tonight" or QVC, or something equally worthless, which I have no interest in watching.

Does this sound like we have one foot in the divorce court? Well, this June we will celebrate our 40th anniversary. In spite of the fact that she has spent at least 18 years annoyed at me (an impressive figure considering that she has spent about 13 years and 4 months asleep).

Byb - thanks very much for posting what I was really trying to say!!

stales

Yep, I try to share stuff with my wife and kids too - and I bet we *all know that slightly glazed expression that comes over "normal people's" faces at the mention of esoteria such as the Latinate roots common between three words just used at the supper table...!

Commiserations, Bob - I get to 20 years this June, so I reckon you *really deserve a long service medal or sumptin!

12 year doesn’t mean you’re a happy couple. It just means you’re a long couple.
Neil Simon