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November 30, 2001
WAAFER
My name is waafer and no this is not referring to cookies, but I served in the WAAAF (Womens Aux Australian Air Force) 1942-1945. Sydney Australia is where I reside now, but I was born on a farm outside of Wagga Wagga, NSW. After completing my Junior exam (aged 16) I left school. My place of employment was a lawyer's office until I joined the Air Force in 1942. This was an experience which set me up for life. I was posted to Allied Headquarters and worked with many Americans at General MacArthur's Headquarters.
I was married in 1944 and have three sons and a daughter, six grandchildren,all of whom I love dearly.
I had been involved in lawn bowls for many years but the time came when I could no longer play this sport which is very popular in Australia. I served as President of the NSW Womens Bowling Association 1989-92.
I have been fortunate to travel to Britain, Europe, New Zealand, Norfolk Island and United States. My friend Wimzy, whom I met on the internet, invited me to visit and I flew over on August 28, to Indiana. We have driven thousands of miles in fourteen states, Canada (Niagara Falls), New Orleans Bash, and Oklahoma to visit my penpal who I met on the net in 1999. Somehow I found Seniorcom and made many friends. It meant I was never alone day or night. I had fun in researching the different states where my friends on the internet lived. Have always been interested in travel, gardening, reading, good movies and people which I found on the computer. I think I have yet to find a book which impressed me more than "Gone With The Wind". If I could choose a place to spend a day - it would be Niagara Falls. I will never forget the awesome sight.
I have always tried to do to others what I would wish them to do to me. I am grateful for my full life and that even at 79 I am travelling and enjoying people. I firmly believe that because of the difficult times in my life, and I have had my share, the good times and peaks seem so much higher.
I am Australian as much as it is possible to be and proud to see Australia stand by USA in recent troubles. I was in USA September 11th when the terrorists attacked NYC and I was shocked. I still find it hard to believe that such a thing could happen. It touches me deeply to see all the flags displayed everywhere. Patriotism can build a nation.God bless America.
My favourite quote : "Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves".
November 16, 2001
My real name is Steve Breitborde. I use the handle "Circusboy" often. It was a nickname given to me years ago when I was working as a support technician at a very large corporate HMO. It was found out that I used to perform (in my youth) as a juggler and so the jokes started. "Hey, don't bring in all that sawdust will ya!", they would say. Or, "be careful what you say around this fellow, you know how sensitive circus people are!" Eventually the nickname took hold and I continue to use if for lack of thinking of something on my own!
I live in southern Calif., married (12 wonderful years) and have two handsome boys, 7 and 10. My mother and father live about an hour away (when there is no traffic. When is that???) Mother-In-Law and Father-In-Law live about an hour in the other direction. I have one older sister with whom I have always been close with. My wife has 2 brothers and two sisters. Both sides have pretty close extended families with aunts, uncles and lots of cousins and their families. My mother moved here from St. Paul, MN when she was a small baby and my father was stationed here shortly during WWII where he met my mother, and I was born in Los Angeles, CA (Mid-forties say I, but my children always make sure that others are aware of exactly how old I am!)
I hold a Bachelor of Photographic Art and Science Degree from Brooks Institute. (And several undocumented years in the school of hard knocks.) I started working summers at age 13. After graduating college I worked in the advertising industry and eventually opened my own business as a commercial photographer, which ran for 14 years. Lots of fond memories (and a few I would as soon forget). I was fortunate enough to have acquired some fairly prestigious accounts and photographed a number of well known celebrities. Towards then latter end of the 14 years I bought a computer to automate some of the office functions. Well I was hooked! I taught myself how to program and eventually opened another business writing custom applications. Eventually worked at a few large corporations and on special projects.
More recently I was the managing the Engineering staff at Senior.com and a short while after we all left there I opened 39andOver.com. Yes, another senior community site, but also for senior caregivers (like myself). There are a couple of stories that explain what my family has experienced in this respect on the site under Personal Stories. (So Many Tears and My Mother Did What?) It is intended to be a place to share and exchange stories and information. I hope to have people share their creativity and experiences here. Writers, poets and just regular Joe's like me. Most of the standard stuff is there, chat, forums, crossword puzzles, jokes, recipes and the like. Come by and visit, anytime! ( http://www.39andOver.com ) I'm working hard to coordinate some seminars here locally. I will call them senior events but will welcome people of all ages. Eventually perhaps move some of them to the web. My background helps to make a lot of this happen, otherwise I might be lost. (A lot of folks think I'm lost regardless! LOL)
I have always been a dog person. I believe that dogs make the best people. We lost our Black Lab last year at 15 years old, but just last month adopted a 1 year old Shepard/Rottweiler mix. "Duke" is a great dog, he already knew how to sit, lay down and pee on the carpet! (He has since retired that trick!) Loves the kids and is really smart. I am looking forward to him being with us a long time!
Not too much traveling, but have been to the South Pacific, Tahiti, Central America, Canada and have been on two extended treks across the US. What an incredible country! Diverse and majestic full of surprises around every corner, including interesting people. I used to read a lot of philosophy. I read all of Herman Hesse's work and more recently have read some of Noam Chompsky's social commentaries.
If I had one day to go anyplace or do anything, how would I spend that day?
Definitely with my family! I am so lucky. I have such a wonderful life at home, my wife and children, my sister and her family, all of my in-laws (I hope they are reading this ;-) cousins and their families - on my wife's side as well. One of the most beautiful places I've been was Tahiti. I would not mind being there with my family, but in lieu of that just to sit at home with them all would be good for me! Au bientoIn regrds to hobbies, of course I am interested in computing. The web and programming for it is a lot of fun for me right now. I like to build things, woodworking, home projects, and computer related stuff! I like to read but seldom get to read for pleasure. Cooking is something I have always enjoyed but don't get to really cook very often. We have friends over every once in a while and my wife and I cook up a storm! Used to enjoy swimming, but alas...
My favorite quote:
"Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. That's relativity!" ~ Albert EinsteinWhen I was a very young man I wrestled with the question of what I thought I would do with my life, how would I contribute to the world I lived in? It came to me at one point, to always strive to be the best I could. Be better tomorrow than I was today. That, is the greatest gift we can give to our fellow man. At least in simple terms.
Steve@39andOver.com
Hi . . . I'm J.Ann, user name "jann". I was born and raised in Anniston, Alabama. While in school I met my husband to be -- Bob. He was also from the same area.
We both enjoyed and took part in all the school activities. I was very happy to be chosen "Most Athletic Girl" the last 6 years in school.
Bob and I dated for a short time, finished school and married. We visited with his brothers in West Texas, and ended up living there for a short time. Then, through Bob's work, the opportunity came for us to travel to Buenos Aires, Argentina, South America. From there we were sent to the southeastern coast, Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina. Bob was employed with Kerr-McGee Drilling and Oil Company as a drilling instructor.
We finished 3 six-month tours of duty in South America and went through 3 winters in that move -- one right after the other. I wouldn't advise anyone to try that. LOL !! From South America we were on our way to Anchorage, Alaska, which was quite a change. We thoroughly enjoyed our traveling and all the sites we saw.
We received a call that Bob's Dad had a stroke and we were needed at home; so we went home to Alabama and made sure his Dad was doing fine. From there we returned to Texas and decided to settle down.
We found a perfect little boy we dearly wanted and adopted. We bought a place and made a home for our retirement. Our son finished college and married. A short time later we were blessed with a fine grandson, whom we have raised. He has just completed college.
It took him a little longer to finish college, but he had a small problem. He wasn't as fortunate as we all were . . . he had cerebral palsy. After many surgeries, long stays in casts and in the hospital in Houston, he could walk. Yes, it took him a little longer to finish college, but he's on his way now! We thank the good Lord!
A short time ago I started something I had wanted to try when I was younger. A partner (Jammer) and I started writing an on-line newsletter for all the seniors we've reached out to. It's published every Friday.
Now Grandpapa and Grandnana would like a few days on a lake somewhere to relax and hopefully enjoy some time of our own again. Bob retired with Phillips Petroleum Company in 1994, and I retired from the grocery store. We have a mobile home park we would love to sell.
STORMIN' NORMAN
I was born in a suburban town, south of London, England, and have lived there ever since, but not always in the same house, or area.
I have been a widower now for over 5 years. Originally I had 2 children, a boy and a girl, but my son died 3 years ago. He was childless, but my Daughter gave me a Grandson and Grand-daughter.
After leaving college I joined the Telecommunications Division of the British Post Office, and remained with them for the rest of my working life. My place of work was in many different locations, in and around London. Most of the time I was engaged on Staff Personnel matters.
During my time with the Post Office I was released to serve with the R.A.F for 6 years, mostly as an Air Navigator. During my service time, apart from bases in the U.K, I was stationed at several places in Africa, and, finally, at an R.A.F Base near to the city of Peshawar, in India (now Pakistan) for the last 10 months of my service. On one occasion I was a member of a "Goodwill Mission" which travelled by motorised transport along, and around, the very extensive Khyber Pass to the border with Afghanistan, and then back again to Peshawar.
One of my favourite pastimes has always been travelling, and I have visited the capital cities of the many of the countries on the Western Europe mainland.
On one occasion, early in 1990, whilst I was in Berlin, the East German army had deserted and this had enabled the inhabitants of East Berlin to break through the infamous Berlin Wall, and get into the West. Shortly after this, many Russian soldiers also deserted, and they were soon seen alongside the East Germans selling their uniforms, weapons, and pieces of the Berlin Wall (covered in graffitti) as souvenirs, to tourists. We were told by our guide that these former soldiers of the East had not been paid for months.
During my life-time I have travelled as far West as Ontario (Canada) and Florida (America), and as far East as Hong Kong and Manila.
How did I get my chat-name?
In January of 2000, I had surgery on one of my knee-joints, which was replaced with one made from the metal titanium. The second day after the operation I was given a "Zimmer" frame to help me to walk. Not being able to master the "technique" I asked if I could use a pair of crutches instead. Within minutes I was dashing down the ward as if I was rocket-propelled, and the physiotherapist yelled out," Hi Stormin' Norman, take it easy!", and my nickname stuck to me for the rest of my stay in the ward. It was even used when I later attended for physio classes!Some 5 weeks later, I flew out to Florida for the SENIOR.COM 2000 Bash, where, at that time, I was known as "BillW of London". One evening I was relating my hospital story to a friend, and she suggested that I should consider changing my chat-name. At that moment, "Willow" came along, the story was re-counted to her, and she agreed to arrange for my change of name on the chat-site.
In conclusion, my favourite saying is:-
"It is an ill-wind that blows nobody any good"
I know it may not be very grammatical, but, I have often found it to be true!
Rockgran and Doubtful
Your User Name?
rockgran..but known to some as Lillium
Where are you located?
Rockingham Western Australia..on the coast!
Birthplace?
Harrow, England
Education?
High School
Retired from what type of work, or are you still employed?
Am trained in the Nursing area but....clean houses...chuckle.. my own boss!
Family?
Have a Husband Terry, we are still rather attached to each other after 33 years. Have five children 3 from a former marriage, A son first and last and daughters in the middle. 12 grandchildren..get on well with sons and daughter-in-law...what more can one ask for?
Hobbies/ Interests?
well of course the computer! and gardening and walking, and reading...and learning various things that I never had time for before.
Pets?
Dog Zeus a Staffordshire Terrier. Two cats Midnight(black) and Thor fluffy and male.
Travels?
2 years ago a holiday in Thailand...beautiful place! Travel mainly within Australia...so much here to see!
Favourite books/authors?
Iris Johansen. Elizabeth Webster. Dick Francis. in fact there are many Authors that I can't quite call to mind! and books!!
How long on-line?
3 years in Sept past.
How has being on-line enhanced your life?
Yes! oh so much! to be able to surf and learn and chat!
Have you met any chatters in real time?
Yes...Doubtful, Verity and some others from around the City of Perth
If you had one day to go anyplace or do anything, how would you spend that day?
Go to North Carolina to my Brother and Sister in law!
Favourite quote?
"Laughter is good medicine"!
What is the moral or lesson of your life, that would encourage others?
To treat all as I myself would like to be treated.To all my friends from Senior Com....." Hello!"
(regards to you Jann and to all who put together the favourite 'read' of the week! Hugs Lily)
Hi, my user name is Maggie03470 and I'm located in Winchester, New Hampshire, how ever, was born and raised in Miami, Florida and graduated from Miami High.
It is a pin head as far as population is concerned, however, the people here are wonderful...there are less of us then 5,000...so that tells you a lot. We are located in the Monadnock region, with mountains surrounding us on each side, what a beautiful sight, especially at this time of year.
I was born and raised in Miami, Florida, with a lot of my roots being in the Bahamas...my mom's family has resided there for over 200 years and the roots are deep and well founded, guess I was the rebel of the family....LOL...could not take the steady heat and sun....
I am still working, I work with special. need children and love it. I have 5 children and 10 grand children with another one due in June. I guess the spider's web just continues to get bigger.
I love music and dancing, also love to write, music and words seem to be my thing, of course a good book always turns my head. I'm reading "Memoirs of a Geshia" at this time and loving every moment of it. I also love to fool around with digital cameras and really enjoy black and white photography.
My daughter and her family introduced me to computers and I have never been the same since. My, it totally interupts my hold day a and do I love it....wowo....don't know what I did before I discovered this wonderful tool. I have had the divine pleasure to meet with some of the chatters and loved each and every moment of it...would love to meet them all, feel like family.
If I could spend a day anyway I would like, I would get in my car and take a ride to nowhere and not visit with anyone, just go where the road would take me. I am a romantic at heart and love the unknown. What a fabulous adventrue that would be! Of course, I would end up at a shoreline in the evening and try to count all the stars twinkling in the sky, just knowing I could reach them if I tried hard enough, because, they belong to each of us and all we need to do is try and they will guide us.
My favorite quote is one by Mae West:
"It is better to be looked over, then to be over looked."
I think that sums it up pretty well.Maggie
pnkyscrner@adelphia.net
Your computer man, JEFFREY
I have several user names: Jeffrey, Jeffrey_16 (paltalk), or jeffrey_burnet. I always use my real name and lots of people still ask what is my real name. Half the time they do not believe that it is my real name. LOL
I am currently living in Glen Innes, New South Wales, Australia. It is a extremely small rural town, on the top of the Great Dividing Range. with a population of around 10 thousand people spread over a 100 Square Kilometer area. It is about one hour (driving) south of the Queensland border and about 3 and a half hours west of the east coast of Australia. I have been here for just over 18 months, I moved from Melbourne in Victoria where I was living there for around 13 years and previous to that I was born and raised just north of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, in Gosford, New South Wales, Australia, about one hour north of Sydney.
My parents were divorced when I was about 16 years of age, I have two sisters one a year older and the other a year younger. I am single and have never been married.
My education was at E.R.I.N.A High School, Prahan TAFE, and Swinborne University and I'm self employed, Information Technology Tutor ( Computers LOL )
This is hard question to answer, about how I got interested in computers. I suppose it started from the fact that I have hideous handwriting and I always used a typewriter to write, and it then progressed to Word Processors, and finally Personal Computers. Around 15 years ago I first started working with computers, this is bringing back memories, I can remember working with 2 Word connected together and sharing a printer and that was high technology back then. LOL
I am not sure how I started to be involved in writing for this newsletter, "Jeffrey's Computer Help", but I will blame Gnomes as she is a close family friend to my family and I have helped her out with some of her computer problems and then some of her friends have asked for help.
Hobbies/ Interests are anything to do with Computers (of course LOL), Reading Biographies, Learning, anything to do with water e.g. Sailing, Swimming, going to the Beach or River. I have a fish tank with native Australian fish, and Troy, who is my Budgerigar, are my pets. Some of the regular chatters in Paltalk would of seen Troy as he flies around the apartment and spends time crawling up and down my arms and across my shoulders. He loves showing off in front of the camera. Have traveled all over Australia, part of one of my previous job was traveling around Australia for 3 weeks of the month. I have also been overseas, I can not wait till I can go to the USA and see some of my friends whom I have meet via the internet.
I really have not got a favorite book or a favorite author, I enjoy reading Biographies, and in the last several years have started to read some of the classic school books e.g. "To Kill A Mockingbird". But most of the time I have my head stuck in a computer manual or magazine. In the last month I have started to play Ebooks, where the computer reads the book to you so I can be enjoying a book and working on the computer at the same time.
If I had one day to go anyplace or do anything, how would I spend that day?
Gosh one day is not a long time, I was thinking I would go to the USA and visit my chat/internet friends but it would take more than 24 hours just to fly there, so that is out of the question. So depending on the budget for it I would get a group of my friends from all around the world and we would all fly to a tropical island somewhere in the Pacific Ocean and would spend the rest of the day hugging and chatting to each other face to face, eating some excellent food and wine. Hopefully people like Gnomes, Purple, Poka and Ruthie will bring some of there home made food for me to taste as I have heard how wonderful they can cook and I have wanted to sample their cooking. It is starting to sound like a Bash now, maybe we could organize a Bash on a tropical island somewhere in the Pacific Ocean.My favorite quote is:
"This program has performed an illegal action".
(What was the computer doing? Was it robbing a bank? Was it driving while drunk? What law and what country did the computer commit the legal action? Do I need to get legal representation?)Jeffrey
jeffrey_burnet@yahoo.com
September 28, 2001
Smile a while
I was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, the only girl in a family of two Brothers, and the youngest, and have always been somewhat of a rebel, LOL. I have been married twice, first marriage was at sixteen, and not a happy marriage. Second time totally in love to my best friend and lover.
As I said above I have always been somewhat of a rebel, and to the horror of my Mother, in my early years, formal education held no interest to me. However in what I will call my common sense years, I completed high school via correspondance.
My late husband was a Barrister and Solicitor and we worked together in the law practice for some twenty years. This is where I found my true calling, law, along with my husband was the love of my life. I completed a paralegal course while working, and this is what I retired from.
After I retired, I was bored and bred and showed Bichon Frise dogs, and became totally involved in the "Dog" world.
My husband lived to travel, and I have virtually travelled the world, almost every Country in Europe, as the saying goes, I have been there, done that and have the T Shirt to prove it. One thing in reflecting back on mytravels, I realize, the world is truly a small place, and people are virtually the same no matter where you go, good and bad everywhere.
Favourite books would always be biographies, but there are times when I would admit to reading Danielle Steele's novels although they do tend to have the same plot, and I can usually figure out within a few chapters what the outcome will be, LOL.
After my husband passed in January , 1998, I was lost, and decided it was long overdue for me to go on line, I did a search looking for a Senior Chat, and there was Senior.com, and in I came. The help I received from chatters at that time, I will always be greatful for. I have met many chatters personally, and have never been disappointed with the people I personally met.
My goodness, I almost forgot my children, Two Sons, the oldest Son having passed at the age of twenty three, youngest still with me, and a Daughter, three step-sons and one step-daughter, now get this, two grandaughters, five step-grandaughters, and finally one step-grandson. P.S. on this note I have been the birth coach for each and every one of them.
If I had a day to go anyplace, or do anything, I would go to a spa and be totally pampered, the works. My favourite quote, "Your only a fool if you dont know your one"
vano3831@home.com
THE RUNAWAYS, SURLY and WENDY
The title is deceptive. It's not about runaway children, people in trouble, or any other bad thing it might conjure up. On the contrary, it's the adventures of two friends. Two friends who live normal (whatever that is), ordinary lives.
Our friendship began simply enough. We had both moved to a new town. One being happy to stay at home, raise the children, and take the pluses as they came along. The other, with the oldest just married and one at home, not content to remain a homemaker only, found a job, and in doing so, we found each other.
The first day we met I opened my door and this lady, with a big smile on her face said, "Hi, I'm your new Avon Lady." I didn't even have an old "Avon Lady". But she was so pleasant I invited her in.
She came to my house every few weeks. She probably made less money from me than any of her other customers. I'd buy a lipstick now and then, or earrings for my daughter. She brought sunshine with her visits. She smiled, and she glowed. We found ourselves talking less about what I might order from Avon, and more about ourselves, our homes or our families.
And so it began....
I'm Ducky (Wendy), I was born in Columbus, Kansas and now live in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Shell Knob, Missouri. I live at the latter, most of the time, to care for my ageing parents.
I worked for many years at office jobs to help put my husband through College. We had a son and a daughter and now have two grandchildren. My husband, whom I refer to lovingly as Drake, was a financial analyst for 31 years in the aircraft business. We were transferred several times during those years. We have been married 47 years, and if Drake continues to behave, we might make it 48.
I have had many different hobbies and enjoyed them all. The only one I made money at was crafts and I made, of all things, Duck arrangements. Therefore, my name is Ducky. I also very much enjoyed scuba diving and was PADI certified. We have never had pets except for Fonzy the long haired Peruvian Guinea Pig that went to Guinea Heaven in my back yard. "Fatally Dead".
I have traveled abroad with Drake and lots of places with my Daughter when she was a Flight Attendant. I read some but mainly self help and information.
I'm Surly (Shirley), Please don't hold that against me as I'm really not, but my son couldn't pronounce my name as a young child, and the name stuck. I was born in Batesville, Arkansas and at retirement we moved back to our roots.
During the early years of our marriage I worked as an accountant for two University Payroll Departments to help my husband through College. We had a daughter and a son and no grandchildren as yet. My husband, now deceased, was a Geologist for an Oil Company and we were always subject to transfer during that time, and lived throughout the U.S.
I have no big hobbies, but love working in my yard, and I love music and Genealogy. I enjoy reading most anything. I've traveled overseas and throughout the U.S. and hope to do more if I can get out of my rut. I have one stray cat that has not strayed in ten years.
We have both been on line for two and a half years. Ducky's children gave she and Drake their computer, as did Surly's children. Sure has saved on our phone calls. We also were sending micro cassettes back and forth. Still do. Being online has added a whole new dimension to our lives. We love the knowledge and friendships at our fingertips. We have been to two bashes and met so many nice people. Chatting is one of our favorite things to do.
If we had one day to go any place or do anything, we would do it together. The place doesn't matter. The friendship does. We have been known to do what we call our RUNAWAYS. We have antiqued, done yard sales, planted trees, found lost relatives in cemeteries, Dear Uncle Luther,lol . Looked for stolen property all over Oklahoma and found it. We have been friends for 24 years. We have walked together, laughed together and cried together during that time. Our husbands tolerated it all very well. Our children think of us as second moms.
Our favorite Quote is, "When in Danger or in Doubt, Run in Circles, Scream and Shout". We have done all of that. We live by the Golden Rule and hope when we leave this place we have at least made a small contribution to this world. As to our friendship we have a favorite saying:
OF ALL THE GIFTS THAT TIME AND EARTH BESTOW.THERE IS NONE SO PRECIOUS AS ONE TRUE FRIEND.
