Okay, so it's not technically a lake, but you wouldn't know it to look at the overhead views. The whole state is flooding, since we have enough rivers that it looks like veins on a map. 55 of our 99 counties have been declared disaster areas, Homeland Security is here, FEMA is here, and reporters are everywhere.

I and my family are fine. The suburb I live in doesn't flood, since it has no rivers or lakes running through it. Thank goodness for small blessings. And the water supply for the metro is good, since after the floods of '93, then spent 10 million bucks upgrading the levees and stuff so the treatment plant looks like an island surrounded by a lake. If you want to see pictures and read things about what is going on, here are some links:

http://www.kcci.com/index.html

http://www.whotv.com/

http://www.woitv.com/

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage

I will write more about these floods later, but right now I just wanted to ease the minds of those who were worrying.

You know, after reading all the blogs about people leaving and how the site has changed, I have been doing some thinking on things. The fight on the Flack thread was indeed a pivotal moment in changing the friendships and lives of many people, and for that I am truly sorry. I jumped in to the defense of a friend, which I woud happily do again, if I felt the need. I was having issues of my own back then, which are better now, and perhaps that affected my judgement.

I have not been around the boards much myself, for a very long time, so I can understand people saying how things have changed. That fight made me lose my taste for stalking for a long time, and I am only now starting to maybe reconsider starting up again. Maybe. But you know, those of you who are leaving, perhaps it won't be forever. Perhaps you may just reduce your frequency. I have gained and lost many internet friends over the years, on various different sites, including World of Warcraft, some of them never to be found ever again, with me left wondering where they vanished to and why they left.

I guess I'm trying to say, don't judge the people who leave too harshly. Miss them, if you must, but don't be too saddened. Like life, people come and people go. I have many people in my life that I cared deeply about, some of whom I have never been able to contact after losing touch with them, even with the aid of the internet. Life goes on, new friends come and go.

We must teach the new arrivals to the site the rules, be kind to them, let them become new friends to fill the void left by old ones. In time, they may become just as cherished as the old ones who have left. For some of us old timers, change is difficult, but life is about change, and we must learn to cope as best we can.

Again, I am truly sorry for all the lives that got irrevocably changed by that fight. But perhaps we all learned a few things about each other we wish we hadn't. Take care, everybody, and know that I am still around, for the few people who probably care about such things - you know who you are - and I'll be seeing you around sometime.

R.I.P. Riker

June 23, 1999 - April 4, 2008

Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

Farewell, Old Man. We all loved you and will miss you horribly.

Just a quick hello to say I'm not dead. I haven't been all that busy either, but I have had many things to deal with over the past two months, and I am still dealing with some of them. Let's just say it's better for me to be staying off the boards. That way I don't wind up saying or doing something I will regret later. I haven't forgotten about the rpg, I just have nothing to post about at the moment. That's really the only thread I keep up with anymore. I no longer stalk, for reasons that really don't matter anymore, so anybody who wants my locations can have them. Really, I don't mind. I just have too much going on in my life right now to be able to deal with the online community, and I don't see it improving at all in the near future, since some changes in my life are fairly permanent. I keep up when I can, but my heart's not in it right now, frankly. I'll try to do an rpg post at some point, as soon as i figure out something to write about. For those of you who have me on your watch lists, I apologize, but I'm a pretty boring watch. Take care of yourselves, everybody. For those of you who tagged me (STACEY), I'm afraid I don't feel much like playing right now, but perhaps at some point I will play and pick some others to tag.

Merry Christmas to everybody. I hope you got all you wanted. My holiday had ups and downs as usual. Some things changed for me over the holidays, some for the good, some for the bad. What they were doesn't really matter, what matters is that I wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.