How Lucky Can You Get?

[mrdreamjeans]

I received a notice from Live Journal on February 12 that my paid account would be renewed automatically today. I'd always had a free account until two years ago when gotmoof surprised me and gifted me with a paid account. Tim was the one who helped me create this journal and was absolutely correct that this site would be my cup of tea. Last year, I debated and decided to continue with the paid account. I went through the same decision-making process this year and I'm continuing on.

My account was created on August 8, 2003. Tim and I were at his home in La Crosse, WI and he was fooling around on his computer as usual. I glanced over his shoulder and he was blogging. I asked the obvious ... Tim explained Live Journal to me. I knew it would be a good fit with the emphasis on writing; I have no interest in the chat sites. My screen name and the title of my journal were spontaneous ideas; the words flew out of my mouth and felt instantly right. I only wrote a couple of entries until March of 2004 when I was living in Seattle. I've been faithful ever since.

What surprised me was how much I've gotten out of the process of maintaining a journal .. how much the men and women on my friends list have come to mean to me. I started with three names, gotmoof, bluedevilsf and bearbrat. Others on the early list included: bruinwi, mncuddlecub, excessor, drscott, lowfatmuffin, handlebear and bearchitect. From these beginnings, the network expanded outward to include the 280 folks on my current list.

I'm closing with the stats I recently discovered at the bottom of my User page. Since 2003, I've written 950 posts. I've posted 17,221 comments and have received 18,836 comments. I am really blessed. Thank you to all who continue to read my musings, who comment and advise, for the laughter and the tears, for the stunning photographs, for the affection and appreciation. How lucky can you get?

Comments

[macduff131.livejournal.com]

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Oddly, when Mom and I were driving to College Station today for the Texas A&M basketball game, the first song on Sirius 77 we heard was "Happy Days Are Here Again". Streisand right off the bat .. .How Lucky Can You Get? LOL

HUGS!

[twillhead.livejournal.com]

This is what instantly came to mind when I read Dreamy's headline. My comment was going to be titled "Gee! Whee! Wow!" but you beat me to it by a mile!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Great minds ... Craig's a theatre afficianado too:)

[macduff131.livejournal.com]

i couldn't help myself...LOL

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't want you to hold back! :)

[tonethbone.livejournal.com]

and always a good read...

a great easy-going on-line personality. I am sure this is the same in real life

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Thanks, my friend. I really enjoy the originality, the cleverness and the pointed humor of your posts ... course, what I enjoy the most is to witness, through your words, your love for Pete.

HUGS!

[labeartorycub.livejournal.com]

I have loved your posts, Neil. I feel blessed too for being able to share an online friendship with you, even if we've met once in-person.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

We've met in person. We share a love of the written word. We're good guys. I call that a recipe for friendship.

HUGS!

[bootedintexas.livejournal.com]

well you are worth the interaction mr man.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Drew. You too!

[texwriterbear.livejournal.com]

I know I've only been on the journey of reading your journal for the past two years, but I have thoroughly enjoyed it. Especially meeting you and being able to call you friend.
HUGS

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Well, we share a lot of common values ... a love of photography .. appreciate many of the same things. I don't know what I'd do without my big bear in the city correspondent:)

HUGS, my friend!

[bookbear.livejournal.com]

How lucky can you get? How about, how lucky can we get? I don't get to read as much as I'd like, but always like coming across your posts. Thanks for sticking around.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Don't forget! You're one of people I've met in person and I certainly like what I saw and heard. You're a great guy and I'm glad that LJ and our mutual friends in the Twin Cities brought us together. Thanks for comtinuing to read from time to time!

HUGS!

[blt4success66.livejournal.com]

Some might even say you're blessed...

*giggles*

Happy LJ Anniversary!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I am blessed by the people I've met here online ... and in person from this site. Thanks!

[mikeybill.livejournal.com]

I'm glad we met through here.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Me too, Bubba .. Me too!

[bear-left.livejournal.com]

I started writing on LJ in some vague experiment to see what online community looked like. I can't think of any experiment in my life that has succeeded so far, far beyond my wildest imagination. Thank you for being the latest part of that amazing circle of friends that I've grown through here.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I am really happy that we've fallen into each other's lives. I very much value our exchanges and the contact. Here's to many years of future friendship!

HUGS!

how teh ghey is that!...

[bearchitect.livejournal.com]

at the risk of sounding limp-wristed, lavender-swathed, and fey I beleive one of our initial ElJAy encounters -if not the very first, oh so many years ago -had to do with our mutual admiration for a certain Broadway musical... the rest, as they say, is history!

I promise one of these trips to Katy we'll manage to meet in person, again! I know there will be more chances for it to happen since I'm planning on getting there more often than just for the holidays in december...

Re: how teh ghey is that!...

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I hope to see you again in person. We haven't managed it since we hung out when I was in Baltimore with "Evita" in November 2005! I'll make the time, my friend.

[gotmoof.livejournal.com]

Since 2003, I've written 950 posts. I've posted 17,221 comments and have received 18,836 comments.

What a time suck.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

AH, the snarky Kow returns:) Perhaps, it's a bit of a time suck, but an enjoyable one ... Aren't you glad that you haven't spent hours every day for decades on sites such as AOL, ICQ, LJ and Bear 411? I would hate to see you spend too much time on the computer! No, Really! *snort*

[twillhead.livejournal.com]

I'm such a newbie to your LJ entries, but I so enjoy reading your words, and, in some respects, living your life vicariously. Thanks for sharing. Hugs.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I really appreciate that, Bud! I'm happy you're onboard. I'm enjoying hearing from you and getting your point of view, too.

HUGS!

[scottokc.livejournal.com]

That's funny, my account was created on September 1, 2003. My friend ms7168 also gave me a paid account for a while. I recently had to decide whether to keep it a paid account or not, since I only use the extra icons. I went ahead and sprung for another year of a paid account. Keep up the good work, I enjoy your journal.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Scott! You're right .. Like you, I've kept the paid account just for the potential of extra icons. Guess I ought to create more to justify the cost:)

[scottokc.livejournal.com]

I have done a couple of polls as well. I think you have more theme options available with a paid account as well. I "borrowed" a lot of my icons. I am surprised that I have 20 icons now.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I'd forgotten about the polls and themes. Regardless, I'm enjoying it and it's not that much money.

[designerotter.livejournal.com]

As someone said, how lucky can WE get ! Your gift to this community is sharing yourself so generously (and with such verve and wit) with all of us, your readers and friends.
Never doubt that your star shines brightly.
BIG HUGS!!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

You know how much I value the interaction with the group of people who have come to my journal, as I have come to theirs. It's filled a void that I didn't realize was there. I've learned so much from the men and women who have become my LJ friends. Plus, I have the bonus of actually coming to know handsome gentlemen such as yourself in person.

Thanks, as always, for the kind words!

HUGS!

[designerotter.livejournal.com]

I feel much the same way about LJ - it has affected my life in unexpected and positive ways.
Agree on the bonus too ...Ditto, ditto :0)
Huggz!

[tbone1961.livejournal.com]

SMOOCH!!!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

See, Jim! You kissed me and made it all better! I just realized you and I have been corresponding since very early on too ... When did you start your blog?

HUGS!

[tbone1961.livejournal.com]

Holy Crap. I had to go and look. April 2004!!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Which means I'm remiss ... You were one of my first LJ-friends too along with nlotic, as we talked about trombones:)

[tbone1961.livejournal.com]

Gay LJ trombonists, Unite!!