Hi All! I'm ba-aack! Glad to see that so many are still around and chatting! And wow, lookie at all the new Gatchamaniacs who have joined! Welcome to each of you!! Hope all is well for everyone here. I literally just logged in, so I haven't even started reading any threads yet. I'm almost tempted to ask for a Cliff Notes version of what I've missed while I've been gone, but the challenge of reading over 1,500 posts intrigues me. (ok, so even I know that I'll never read 1,500 posts!) (Yikes! I've been gone way too long... I can't remember/find the names of my favorite smilies!!! Guess I'll have to go with the text shorthand for now! LOL!) Anywhoo, I'm off to read and see what I've missed while I've been gone. to all!

Hino!! Welcome back into the fold! You have certainly been missed here!

Welcome back Hino .. I know what you mean about seeing 1500 posts and forgetting all your fav smilies lol...

Hi Hino! We all get busy from time to time. You've been missed!

Hey Hino, welcome back!

Welcome Back Hino!!! Your perspective has been missed here. Looking forward to seeing more of your posts and deep reflections.

Welcome back Hino! Here's one smiley for you

Thanks all! It's good to be back. I'm hoping to not be such a stranger anymore!

Aww, Hino, re-accommodation takes a bit of time! But no way you'd be a stranger!

Aww! Thanks, Amy!

Hino, it's great to see you posting again! I know RL has been busy for you, so I'm glad it's calmed down enough that you're back here. I just came back to 19 threads and 394 posts myself... although I think that's kind of low for 3 weeks of action. What's going on around here? Is everyone on summer vacation? Well, I was, I guess... Well, I'm off to catch up, and I guess I have an episode review to post today.... Great to see you here, Hino!

I would say that is about typical for the summer TJ, although over all I think we have slowed down a lot on this board from a year ago.

Great to have you back around Hino.

I'm a little late to the welcome back party 'cause I was wandering around dealing with life for a few weeks there myself - but so great to have you back around! There was no one to talk to about the Billy Joel/Elton John concert . . .! (I went for my birthday last month - omg. nothing like a stadium concert that last for 3 hours).

Oh GoGirl, I am so jealous...I would have LOVED to have gone to that concert!!!

i'm also slowly getting back into things. Some of you may know that my mum was hospitalised at the end of March and died on 23 April - very sudden, very unexpected. I've had to deal with that, and with packing all her stuff up (as well as being executor of her estate). Add to that, in early May I contracted bronchitis - and have now discovered (after not getting really well again) that I've actually had pnumonia! So - hopefully will be slowly getting back into things. As usual - I couldn;t have gotten through this without Ste.

WElcome back Maddy! Sorry to hear about your Mum, and then the pnumonia to top it all off. Hope you will be around more as things clear themselves up.

I am very sorry to hear about your mother, Maddy. I hope you are recovering from your illness, and I'm very happy that Ste was there for you!

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss Maddy. Hang in there and recover well and know that you have all of our good wishes to help you along.

My condolences, Maddy. I hope things are getting better for you.

Originally posted by gogirl212 There was no one to talk to about the Billy Joel/Elton John concert . . .! (I went for my birthday last month - omg. nothing like a stadium concert that last for 3 hours).

And you didn't write up a 10 page review for me??? What a fantastic concert to go to! Ok, to make up for my absence and your not being able to tell me about it, I'll be sure to talk all things Bon Jovi with you. Their new song has been released (WDHA - if you remember that station! - has been playing it), their new album is scheduled to drop in November, and a tour is being planned. Oh, and Happy Belated Birthday!

Madilayn, though we may not know each other I'm very sorry for the loss of your mother. Losing a loved one is hard especially if it is your mum. Take care and glad you joined in again.

Oh, I'm so sorry, Madilayn, for your loss, and your illness. It's nice to see you here again, though, and I hope you recover okay.

I am so sorry to hear about your loss and illness Maddy.

Originally posted by Hinotori Ok, to make up for my absence and your not being able to tell me about it, I'll be sure to talk all things Bon Jovi with you. Their new song has been released (WDHA - if you remember that station! - has been playing it), their new album is scheduled to drop in November, and a tour is being planned. Oh, and Happy Belated Birthday!

I will be in love with Jon Bon Jovi for all eternity for ever and ever. Oh, and his music, his band, etc. etc. etc.! If they tour out here - it is a must see as far as I'm concerned - although I would *love* to catch them in Jersey (at the arena formerly known as the Meadowlands!). BJ/EJ at Rigley Field no less - what can I say!!?! They played 3+ hours and every single song was a hit and the entire crowd sang along. In the end, the crowd sang Piano Man to them - they just listened. I think I cried. Maybe my best birthday *ever*.

Originally posted by gatchamarie Madilayn, though we may not know each other I'm very sorry for the loss of your mother. Losing a loved one is hard especially if it is your mum. Take care and glad you joined in again.

[FONT=comic sans ms]My Condolences [/FONT]

Originally posted by gogirl212 I will be in love with Jon Bon Jovi for all eternity for ever and ever. Oh, and his music, his band, etc. etc. etc.! If they tour out here - it is a must see as far as I'm concerned - although I would *love* to catch them in Jersey (at the arena formerly known as the Meadowlands!).

...and still known as the Meadowlands to us natives!!! Brendan Byrne Arena, Continental Airlines Arena, now the Izod Center.... Blech! It'll always be the Meadowlands to us Jersyians!!! (besides, "the Garden, the Colisseum, or the Izod Center" just doesnt' roll off the tongue as nicely as "the Garden, the Colisseum, or the Meadowlands" does!)

BJ/EJ at Rigley Field no less - what can I say!!?! They played 3+ hours and every single song was a hit and the entire crowd sang along. In the end, the crowd sang Piano Man to them - they just listened. I think I cried. Maybe my best birthday *ever*.

That's great GoGirl! I always love it when the crowd sings to the performers. Sends a thrill right through me. I can only imagine what the performers are thinking, standing in front of 20,000 fans, singing their songs, the songs they wrote, back to them. That must be such a rush! Bon Jovi shows are the best for that. But maybe that's because I've always seen them at their "homecoming" shows, and the crowd is always louder than they are! I'll never forget the time JBJ was trying to sing one of their songs (don't remember which one. Runaway? Livin? Wanted??) and the crowd was so loud, he just stopped. He turned to Richie Sambora, smiled, shrugged his shoulders, then turned back to the crowd and started "conducting" us! LOL!

Maddy! Welcome back! I'm so sorry to hear about your mom...and then, for you to get bronchitis to top it all off...I'm so glad you're better and back with us!

[quote]Originally posted by gogirl212 I'm a little late to the welcome back party 'cause I was wandering around dealing with life for a few weeks there myself - but so great to have you back around! There was no one to talk to about the Billy Joel/Elton John concert . . .! (I went for my birthday last month - omg. nothing like a stadium concert that last for 3 hours). [/quote Those are both really good artist Gogirl, it had to of been a blast to have been there.

Maddy I'm so sorry to hear about your mother and illness that followed.