Let me preface this by saying, *some* of you will understand the meaning behind this post more than others. I hope this won't dissuade the others from continuing to read along.
I'm coming up on 3 yrs with ECCIE, and have provided in one form or another for 13 years, grand total.
I'm not sure why I should care if you guys are being used, but I do. In the last year, I have crossed boundaries and been mean and bitchy to a couple of providers who totally deserved it, but it was not my cause to embrace. That's something
you fellas need to find out on your own, because I learned (and hopefully we ALL learn from our mistakes; we are only human, after all) that it ends up being more destructive than helpful. No one wants to believe their ATF is doing shady things behind the scenes, and it is not my place to say a word. I still hold the stance that my thoughts and opinions have never been secretive, which I find quite respectable, as opposed to secretly gossiping amongst provider and hobbyist cliques.
For my rudeness last year, I do apologize to those who were under fire.
I don't, however, expect any apologies from those who intentionally made me feel excluded from all the gatherings I may or may not have attended. Everyone doesn't have the same amount of forgiveness in a face-to-face setting as I do.
It is not my place to say anything unless it's about happy bunnies and chicks and flowers and how horny I am and how much I love dick (and pussy for that matter). Other than that, It comes across to you fine fellows as jealousy, instead of the harsh reality or truth. You guys will find out in your own time. That was a huge lesson I learned!!
The real purpose for this thread, however, is to thank my friends for helping me stay sane through the last couple of months. I am not one to bring my personal issues and tribulations to the board, so I want to sincerely thank those who made these tough times better.
The way I have been treated over the last couple months has really made me rethink what is and is not important in life. You, my friends, are important to me and it's not a hobby thing. You lifted me up from a low place and I want to be that kind of person this year, and many more to follow.
I've turned a new leaf due to life teaching me what matters and what doesn't. Time will tell, but I've never been so motivated to be a better board-"me", than I have been in the past. I've often mistakenly let the board be my outlet for saying things that I shouldn't have, even when I was totally right
. So I hope we can all learn from our shortcomings, forgive those who you really have no beef with, and have fun this year. Lots of it!
So in the spirit of keeping this a discussion, comments are welcome, and if there are any major lessons you learned (humorous or otherwise) in the past year or several, please share!!
Sorry this was lengthy but I had to let it out and own it.
Thanks for reading, if I ever offended you, I offer my apologies. That's all I have!
OXOXO
~D.
A few thoughts and hobby reflections from the past year and for 2013...hear me out....
We can use both pyramiders inches too.
Just remember who did a review of your slamming gumbo 
it was some dude 
