Impostors

This is not a random thought, just something I wanted to get off my chest.  
However, I may have written it in a random way, and for that I apologize.

People at work who are "team leads" or "managers", but who do not know how to lead or create team mentality, and who only manage to create chaos, create backlash from their favoritism practices, and put discourse in place from their own backstabbing and setting people one against the other...those are the impostors.

Impostors practice incessant lying and covering up of things gone wrong, making masses of issues and stacks of boxes, and tempers flare.  There is one expert impostor in the White House (and he's put many more like himself - they're called 'yes men' - in places of power) slinging his malicious brand of subterfuge and ignorance.  We are all suffering because of this buffoon impostor.

Even our new HR rep accused me of 'trying to pull one over on the new guy' when I brought to his attention a pervasive problem regarding my vacation time.  I thought I'd found a fresh set of ears to listen and help me figure it out and fix the oversight.  Fortunately, he finally ended up looking further than his ego (and initial perception of my request), and righted the wrong.  I just couldn't believe his initial response was to whitewash it by accusing me of trying to cheat the company out of something I had earned and was entitled to, rather than to listen with an open mind.

Our specific building is chockablock full of impostors in positions of leadership, and they have no idea of what they are doing - except when they practice their crap skills, totally intending to create chaos in other directions to keep the eyes of scrutiny engaged in looking in the wrong place, and not focused on problems caused by the impostor's own inadequacies.

Impostors light a fuse then stand back and watch with glee.

Atomic boom.

It's all about color

Feeling blue, with squidgy purple-ish edges.

Just a thought

If some people I work with spent as much time simply allowing me to do my job (and assisted, as they are supposed to), instead of obstructing and scheming, things would run so much more smoothly and efficiently - and there'd be far less 'Peyton Place' drama where it doesn't belong.

Seriously, they really have that much free time to screw over a co-worker, as opposed to doing a better job at accomplishing their own tasks?  What the...?

What are you celebrating... and why?

Shouldn't it always be a time of love?
Especially now, when you've saved up all year for this season of joy, your patience and generous spirit should be overflowing, boundless, and capable of a little more tolerance - at the very least.

Where's the love?

I am having a hard time wrapping my head around why it is people feel the need to be overwhelmingly territorial / hostile / possessive / ready to pick a fight over a simple greeting shared at this time of year?

I'm not understanding why it is that humans are coming unglued over someone's choice to say "happy holidays" or "season's greetings" in place of "merry Christmas." It's not a contest or a challenge. It's not meant to disparage your faith or communal spirit, so WHY take it personally? I really don't get it; what a silly thing to get your ' 'murican' panties in a twist over.

If you feel it's a slap to your Christianity to be greeted in a pleasant and alternate way - other than hearing "merry Christmas" - why not practice the time-honored Jesus method of returning the love and say, "thank you, and to you as well." Heck, even "thank you, and merry Christmas to you," would work.

Do you truly believe a rebuke over civility from one human to another is in order simply because you didn't hear your particular turn of holiday phrase?

Think of it this way: perhaps the person who just offended *your* delicate senses is attempting an overarching greeting so-as not to inadvertently exclude anyone else from enjoying their own festivus train of thought.

Hanukkah.
Kwanzaa.
Boxing Day.
Ōmisoka.
Christmas.
St. Lucia Day
Three Kings Day.
Diwali.

Keep in mind the world is a lot smaller than it used to be, but we are all still one race - the human race. Let's act like that matters.

Peace and joy, people. Peace and joy ~

What is it about life?

Along the way from where you entered your life and where it comes to an end, I hope you:

• find/found reasons to appreciate your family
• accumulate(d) friends and amass(ed) memories 
• enjoy(ed) the unbridled, no-strings love of a pet - hopefully more than once in your lifetime
• learn(ed) what you needed to know (and used it well) 
• strive/strove to remain curious and open to all of life's lessons
• stand/stood up for someone incapable of standing up for themselves
• experience(d) a protective guiding force of your own when it is/was most needed
• own(ed) a completely comfortable pair of shoes, jeans, and an over-sized sweater
• teach/taught yourself a skill, and then pass(ed) it down to another eager student
• excel(led) at something you enjoy(ed)
• understand/understood the power of belief and prayer
• practice(d) patience, kindness, empathy, teaching, giving and receiving, sharing
• share(d) the road and drive/drove like a citizen of a larger community... and not a total asshole
• share(d) a secret 'family' recipe
• share(d) your crayons
• share(d) happiness
• share(d) yourself
• find/found contentment
• love(d); found love, gave love, received love, enjoyed love, learned from love

These are some of the things I wish for you. 

Go and live your life, and peace be with you ~

The word "get" has got to go

What is with the ignorance of people using the English language?

I have a lot of pet peeves.  This I know and, well....whatever.

However, I feel compelled to tell the universe how I feel regarding the lack of ability (within the general population) to correctly use the English language in an intelligent and thoughtful way. Let's face it, embrace it, and erase it - the funk of the grammatically lazy, that is. When did mediocrity become the norm?

Has anyone else even noticed that the practice of intelligent speaking has truly taken a nose dive over the last 10-20 years.  'I mean', just listen to us!

• Lazy speech patterns
• The overuse of words in sentences taking the place of "um" and "uh" and the rest - specifically the words "like" and "so", and the phrase "I mean"....when the speaker hasn't even said anything of note requiring clarification
• Saying "hashtag" to bring an air of importance to some trivial subject matter
• Inventing other uses for a word(s), when it isn't necessary, to get the meaning across; i.e. - a "life hack" is NOT the same as a tip or shortcut or a unique solution share
• The needless (and stupid) use of certain other words to shortcut the need for inserting a little grey matter into the conversation - which is why I am here today

This is a bit of text, taken from something I read online this morning, and if you can't see the issue without prompting, then you need to return to third or forth grade - PRONTO!

This is how routine affects us; absorbs us from the inside until we get consumed by it and get comfortable with repetitive patterns and accept changes along the way.

Seriously?!

Let's try this:
"...absorbs us from the inside until we are consumed by it and become comfortable with repetitive patterns..."

Quite frankly, there are a small number of ways that sentence could have been better constructed, but it wasn't.  Don't even get me started on the poor punctuation. [slow burn]

Sadly, the lazy and improper use of language is becoming more disappointing with every passing year.  The word "get" has found its way into most sentences any more, when so many other perfectly suited words would do a much better job communicating, informing, and delivering content.  What are we so afraid of that we can't even hire people to type up news stories on television for our 'talking heads' to say in front of a camera?  Or, are our newscasters presenting the news in a rogue fashion, and they themselves can't construct a proper sentence?

It's horrifying to know there are horrible English students (with deplorable speaking habits) wending their way through college and gaining accreditation to teach young, pliable minds.  Once youngsters are subjected to these new lazy and improperly speaking teachers, who's left to reverse the damage?  Who will monitor the decline of intelligence and work to reverse it?  There are an equal amount of parents who also speak poorly, so there will be no help for the coming generations of kids to recognize the issues and reverse the trend.

How are we to "life hack" our way out of this trouble?  MacGyver has retired.

Oh, and, PS:
Don't blame your mobile phone (or other electronic device) for messing up a conversation and inadvertently causing issues due to its "spellcheck" feature, if you are the sort of lazy idiot who can't be bothered to even attempt to spell a word correctly - or remember the correct uses for "your", "you're", "their", "they're", and "there" (among others).  But these are matters for another time and place.

Oh yeah, it's been a while

This is a carryover from an entry on the quilting blog, as I felt this sort of thing has no place there (I mean, in all fairness I did start the quilting blog to save you all from the banal-ness of quilting - since some people didn't give two hoots about quilting...even if it was what I had been working on).

The verbiage below stems from a misunderstanding that became inflated to Texas-sized proportions, all because someone failed to read....not because I chose to use a word I use on occasion. And by 'occasion', I mean more than ten times a year. Sue me if you don't like my intelligence and my formidable brilliance (and if you embrace your own ignorance).

*   *   *   *   *

[From the quilting blog]

"Why are you picking on Texas?"

Well, I am not picking on the entire state, simply one or two characters living there.  See, if I had named them there would be bigger issues, so I simply mentioned where they lived to make my life easier.  On a networking site (where I created and admin a group for Free Motion Quilting on Domestic machines) this person attempted to post an image which didn't show up - just a generated message that the person posting may not have had permission to post it, or that it may have been removed, or that I didn't have permission to view it.  So I commented that I could not see it, but that my interest was piqued.

Yes, the word of the day, kiddies - "piqued" - started a small firestorm.

Said person did not understand the word "piqued", and upon looking it up found (I'm certain) the two definitions that are standard for the word.  Well, the phrase I used ("...you've piqued my interest.") appears in both physical, hard cover dictionaries and online....but she chose to (mis)interpret my meaning anyhow and write this:  

"I am afraid I don' t understand: Pique: a sudden feeling of annoyance or angel when someone has offended you. How have I offended you? I will remove the picture."

In less than 20 minutes I had returned to my keyboard to look for a response or a plea for assistance to correct the photo issue and to get this person's snapshot loaded to the timeline for all to see. When I saw their response I quickly wrote this, hoping to soothe nerves and calm the overwrought (and semi-ignorant) person:

"Don't take the very literal derogatory/negative connotation, but the more overarching "plucked", "raised", suddenly engaged. How could you annoy my curiosity?

"Attachment Unavailable
This attachment may have been removed or the person who shared it may not have permission to share it with you."

There is no image (at least, I cannot see it), therefore, I am suddenly curious and anxious to see whatever it was that should have posted ~ "

Another member of the group wrote (more than five hours later) that they also could not see the image, and that they were curious.  So, instead of rectifying the problem, this person overreacts to the point of extreme silliness and leaves the group.  Not being happy with this outcome, I wrote a fairly quick note saying:

"I am sorry if you were offended at my comment, which was meant as an explanation as to how I meant the word and not your inference. 

It's also unfortunate that the misunderstanding of my question (as to where/what your photo was) turned into such a major issue instead of resolution - resulting in you deciding to withdraw from FMQ. Totally unnecessary. 

A few of us were hoping to see your post...an accomplishment, perhaps? Sad to see now we'll never know. 

Best wishes for your FMQ future ~ "

Mind you, only a few weeks earlier we had had an exchange regarding one of her quilt photos I used as a banner image for the group...and everything was fine.  I suppose it was because I used words smaller than two syllables for the most part in our quick exchange (yes, I am feeling a little snarky).  Yet here, in their final response to my completely unnecessary - but sincere - apology, is a rather terse (and somewhat ignorant), and rather disjointed set of non-reasons: 

"What was unfortunate and unnecessary is the use of such a complex word to make such a simple statement. My husband was looking over my shoulder as I read your response and he too did not understand why you chose that word. The words even related to that word are most all questionable. Simply ask where picture was taken or when. Not necessary to risk using a word through a written text that may be interpreted at its original meaning. When that is possible use alternate word that will bring a smile. I enjoyed my time on FMQ. Life is just to short to take a fun picture and complicate it with words most often not used. I had posted the picture of the camping quilt here in this picture a couple days prior. I just enjoy simple time. Simple life. Simple words. No need to spruce it up with complex choices. We dont use that word very often here in Texas. Take Care. God Bless and Best wishes for FMQ."

Seriously?  You added another ignorant person to your hissy-fit-athon, and between the two of you, you still  couldn't see the overreaction factor?  I am not feeling tremendously optimistic about the educational system there in your neck 'o' da' woods, or about the future of reading and comprehension.  To say nothing of the ability to follow a 'bread crumb trail' that totally spells out the misunderstanding of a word with dual meaning(s) - and points you directly at the correct meaning.

And yes, let me not obfuscate, I did (and do) use punctuation and paragraphs - even in Fb!  All text was copied directly from the source (for both parties) and NO instances of substitution or corrections or screwing up (used for you simple Texificans) were applied to this.

You have piqued my curiosity - are all Texicarians so simple and rude, and bullheaded and uncomprehending?  

Time for me to move to Canada - or the UK - where they like words.

Oh, seriously?!

Does the world REALLY require bacon-scented underarm deodorant?

REALLY?

[sigh]

If it comes to somebody creating bacon-scented tampons, I am chartering the next flight to the International Space Station!

Yes...my beautiful carpet is home!

Finally ended up bringing my lovely Kazakhstan carpet home. It has been at Hagopian cleaners/repair for more than a year, and in all that time THEY NEVER FULLY REPAIRED THE DAMAGE, despite pointing it out to them on five seperate occasions!! It was stated on their contract as "...repair all moth damage," and they never closed the deal. Each time I drove to their location (hopeful in my expectations) to look over the carpet before bringing it home...there were the moth holes! Each time, I marked the areas with blue painter's tape - provided by an employee - thinking the necessary areas would be finished; but I'm not certain WHAT the repair team thought the blue tape was there for. No one EVER repaired the threadbare areas!

Nothing about today's trip was any different. Bud went with me, as I was determined to not lose my cool, and we inspected the rug (on hands and knees, as always) and found all the same spots lacking repair! We marked them, took photos as we stood in the showroom, then I signed for the rug and registered a complaint - both written on the invoice AND voiced to the gentleman who always handled me with care when I visited my carpet.

Now, I am conducting a campaign to warn people to not take any repairs to the "purple truck people." Whatever it takes - signs in my car window, internet announcements, FB-spread-the-word-tactics, advertisements in local papers and signs posted on lightpoles. ANYthing and EVERYthing. I am even ready to call the troubleshooters for two of the local news outlets, just to give the purple H a black eye. Tomorrow I am contacting the BBB first, then see which way the wind blows me.

Heh!

Received a phone call from an unknown number the other day. Well, maybe it's more correct to say an "unfamiliar" number. At any rate, it just happened to be the first day of filming on that project I mentioned a few days back (ah, but that could simply be coincidence), and since I didn't know the number I let the phone ring itself right into voicemail.

Of course, whomever it was left no message. Of course, that shouldn't be an 'of course"...it should be a 'WTF?!' Why would you phone someone and NOT leave a message? If it was important enough to call, then there must be something you wanted to say.

"Well, it could've been a wrong number, and they figured that out when they heard your outgoing message," you bellow in my direction. Hey, if that's the case then, at least leave a little message akin to "sorry for the misdial" so I don't go on wondering all day.

I either get a lot of misdials, or I know a lot of stupid people.




I'm just sayin'.



I may come back in here in a little bit and post the number for grins and giggles. We'll see.

Post-P.S

Turned down a Scripty job on an indie which is due to begin shooting in the state on Monday or Tuesday.

Yes, I turned down another film. Same ol' same ol': 'turds wouldn't respond to important questions such as what would be my daily rate? Also, the Production Coordinator knew absolutely nothing at this late date as far as schedule items (like: of a five-day work week, what are the standing days off?). Did they have a locked script? Nope, but here's version 14 of the (as yet) unfinished work...'enjoy'.

Um, can't line an 'unlocked' script if it's so up in the air that there are multiple changes to it every day.

In addition to all of that, I had received no paperwork - no contract, no NDA, no W2s...no nothin' - so I sent a "no-thanks" email yesterday. Yes, it broke my heart (a little), but I have things going on that I would have had to juggle and allocate to others, and fix, and so on, so it would have been a pain-in-the-end right up to the first minute of rolling camera.

It's better this way.

[yeah, beth, just keep muttering that to yourself over and over - eventually, you'll believe it]

Been gone, but don't suppose ya noticed

I have been a little preoccupied and a little 'could-give-a-sh*t' over the last week or so. It's been a rough summer emotionally - and an eye-opener in so many ways - that sitting down at the keyboard to write seemed pointless.

No one is going to read [whatever], and the even more distressing and disappointing thought is that most readers would simply skim and absorb next to nothing of what I had to say (as apparently they [YOU] have been), and then never comment. So, I resorted to making very trite entries over the last few months.

My friends do occassionally comment (and I thank you most sincerely, you lovely people - all two of you), but by and large, I am disheartened by the readership numbers versus the commentors. I can safely say 98.9% of the comments are nothing but SPAM, and it makes the disappointment that much more palpable day after day.

I don't require the attention to survive, but if I am being honest with myself, I guess I am blown away by the fact that others blog and garner craploads of comments for seemingly no good reason. Quilt bloggers I have seen have many followers, and every entry receives some sort of feedback. What I don't understand is why I don't get anything by way of feedback; no greetings, compliments, criticisms, suggestions, questions, etc. You get the idea.

I get SPAM for the most part. And not even RELEVANT SPAM. It lacks intelligence; it insults my intelligence, and; it wastes my time.

It has also made me curmudgeonly and bitter, and you 98.9% people aren't worth it any more. You will not be allowed to drill in on my psyche and my self worth any more, so don't be surprised if you decide to look in on the blog one day and find you have no access. If you don't care enough to make an effort (even a little bit of one) why the hell should I?

That's right.....YOU SUCK! - you 98.9%. So put that in your bag of thoughtlessness and carry it around for a while. And while you're at it....bite me! If your readership is lost over this entry, as you can plainly tell, it wouldn't matter in the least. What difference would it make at this point?

Let's see if you respond to this. I am betting there won't be anything of value, one way or the other, left in the comments any time in the next month. If this is so, then you will have more time on your internet-trolling calendar very soon.

Congratulations.

WTH ? ! ? !

Challenges

A friend on a social network site challenged people to use one word to describe their 'ex.' Some folks answered directly and quickly, and some of them wrote paragraphs based on the answers of others.

I was neither of those; I asked whether or not I could hyphenate my answer - because one word was not going to accomplish the task.

Disappointing.
Underwhelming.
Philanderer (although "cheater" sounds clearer).
Abusive.
Drunkard.
Hurtful.
Lackluster.
Unfaithful.
Serial liar.
Uncommited.
Thoughtless.

Those are the most immediate thoughts which popped into my mind, but a more fitting word would be "regretful".

No, he has/had no regrets - rather, the regret is on my part.

I regret having continued with the marriage past the birth of my first son; I regret allowing my inlaws to sway my feelings to the point of closing my eyes to the big/bigger issues (a familial history of drinking to excess); I regret wanting to believe his lies and excuses when caught redhanded with evidence of cheating; I regret allowing myself to feel guilt with thoughts of leaving him to begin a happier life (which I should have done sooner); I regret marrying him in the first place, and not insisting upon one of several other options we could have embarked on (and no, abortion was not one of those).

So many regrets. More than I've listed here. More than I care to indulge in here, but this would be my list of words, any one of them appropriate, but not enough. Not completely, at any rate, but "regretful" comes closest, I suppose.

I am trying to put him out of my mind, trying to make up for lost time, trying to let go of those regrets.

This is a challenge.

Catching up

I took the time yesterday to finish the paint job I began last week (before leaving to stay with mom), but ended up in tears.

Everything was moving along fine, then I began to peel the tape at the wall junctions and at the ceiling. Yup, you guessed it! The paint came of in large pieces along the ceiling, and by the time I could get it to stop, several inches were gone! Today will be a day of cleaning up the edges with a blade; using plaster to fill in and smooth it all over; sanding the dry compound; washing the wall down in those areas, then; priming the repaired spots and repainting.

Although, to be truthful with myself, the priming and painting will most likely happen tomorrow. Everything needs drying time, and I don't want any further issues with this paint job!!! Besides, there were also spots in the middle of the wall where it bubbled up and pealed, too, and those will need the same treatment. So I have enough to do with the filling and such to keep me from priming and painting today.

I don't know why this happened, since the first layer went on without any hitches or glitches - this just doesn't make any sense. It was/IS all very frustrating and disappointing, and I washed up everything in a flood of tears last night.

The boys had their own clean-up to attend to, since Hobbes lay down with her tail draped across the lid of the paint can! I couldn't believe it - the one time I grabbed the can to pour more paint in the tray and went right back to work without replacing the can lid!!! Really, Hobbes?!?!?!?

I'm still shaking my head over that one. I'll keep you updated on everything. Sadly. I won't get to move the furniture to it's experimental spots, but that's the breaks I s'pose. Of course, it also means there will be a further delay in hanging the art back on the walls and getting the new quilt pole hung as well.

[heavy sigh]

Weee-e-e-e-e-e-l-l-l-l-l-l-lllllll

Apparently, if you're looking for a good time in Michigan, you don't need to drive any further than the nearest Burger King in Dundee.

That's right kids - order a kid's meal and get your food and a pipe filled with hashish...and they'll even light it up for you!

Sheesh.  Way to go, Michigan. [forehead smack]

"E-cigarettes" - c'mon!

Electronic cigarettes!?! 

Seriously.  Looky, world - a different way to enjoy your addiction to nicotine. 

Yes, it may be a somewhat 'healthier' way to imbibe in a tobacco-less smoke, but it still isn't sexy, nor has it been determined to be a totally safe alternative.

Try chewing gum and willpower, people!

One month and counting

I've made it well over a month already without visiting facebook.  That's right - one month and counting!

For my birthday I gave myself one month "off" for good behavior. 

Well, what does "good behavior" have to do with it?  Not a thing, actually.  I simply decided to stay off of the disappointing treadmill of FB BS for a month to see if my attitude improved, my expectations mellowed, or my reactions to perceived slights and outright rudeness abated a bit.

I highly doubt any of that would be the case, so I am still sans the ol' fb for a while longer.  Tell me, has any of the self-aggrandizing twaddle (or the ignoring others' announcements and whatnot) calmed a bit?  I doubt that much as well.

It's been nearly seven weeks...and I'm still counting.  AND I'm still standing.

Take that, FB!

I've had it with the world -- you load of jackasses!!!!! 

Neighbors.

Lying ex-husbands. 

Cheating ex-husbands.

Philandering bosses. 

Diddling uncles.

Contractors of ALL sorts who take your money & don't accomplish half of what they're paid for.

Hospitals that add charges for services not rendered & that allow doctors to roam the halls signing patient charts without ever seeing the patient.  And let's not forget double billing for ER docs.

Men who are fathers who don't act like it.  Losers who duck out on their parental responsibility and are absent for much of the formative years.  Snip, snip, fellas.

Would-be employers who tell you that they were looking for a younger person during the interview process.

Those who drive someones car with a handicap plate or sign, and then park in handicap spots because they think it's OK.  LAZINESS IS NOT A HANDICAP!

People who smoke on campus despite all the signage saying it's a COMPLETELY smoke-free zone.

Judges who dismiss your work as a copy of something else without checking facts or dates.

Cats that whiz outside the box when the damned thing is fresh.

People who throw their cigarette butts out a car window.  YOU HAVE ASHTRAYS IN YOUR CARS!!!

People who use the race card...right off the bat - for e v e r y encounter.  Hey, if you're stupid it really has nothing to do with your color or ethnicity.  Stupid is stupid - deal with it and fix yourself!

I'm certain there are more, but I am tired...and I'm pretty sure you get the idea.

Maybe tomorrow I will feel better, but you will all still be here.  So. . . . . . . . .the effing world can eat my shorts! 

People. Go figure.

Somewhere over the last 48 hours I received a comment on the ol' blog (which wasn't your ordinary, everyday SPAM, and which I haven't approved), and it had nothing to do with the posting 'commented' on. 

Nothing to do with me. 

No questions; no suggestions (terse or otherwise) regarding a previous issue I may have posted; no "how-do-you-do" or similar pleasantries. 

Just an invitation.  Yes, I am aware Stevie Nicks said: "Just an invitation would have been just fine," but in this case....it wasn't.

Woo me!  Yes, I used the word "woo."

- - - - Sorry, I seem to have wandered off topic.

Wait, I think I may have misspoken, too.  In fact, this annoying 'comment' was a suggestion - after a fashion.

The non-comment comment said simply: "you are invited to follow my blog" (Yes, I included the punctuation he used.)

Well, I am pretty certain if I wanted to follow a blog I wouldn't have to wait for an invitation.  Most folks would be happy to have others flock to their blog and click on the old "follow" button without having to ask.  But to troll the blogways and willy-nilly tell people "you are invited to follow my blog" without the thoughtfulness of the act of reciprocity, well.....[sputtering and harrumphing]. 

Where's the rationale'?  Where's the touch of friendliness....the human interaction of the suggested transaction?

See, here's the thing -
 If you are already counting several hundred (or thousand) people who 'follow' your blog, and you are inviting someone else to join in, try an email invitation as opposed to a fake comment.  Start a 'conversation' instead of employing the Jehovah's witness tactics and methodology, Steve, and allow those new acquaintances to make their own decisions based on other factors over the course of a few emails. 

Personally, I tend to respond better to a straightforward and honest approach. 

Of course, if you tip-toe and pussyfoot around a subject I tend to 'get' that sort of thing too, but I prefer to get to know someone using a variety of information, and I make my decisions based on a lot of external data.  I shy away from overt BS and those using overt BS.  I make exceptions for friends because, by the time they are friends, you have come to know and understand all of the cues and subtleties (and not-so subtleties) of the friendship dynamic.

By the way, when your reply to my "no thank you" response to your (initial) 'comment' arrived from an alter-email-ego named "Steve Player".....I thought to myself, "case closed!"

Steve PLAYER.  Such an anything-but-Christian nom de plume.

Yes, by all means, share the word of God, but try introducing yourself in a different way.  Hammers and caveman clubs don't get it for me.  Maybe it works on those more simpleminded or less cynical.