2008 Airing of Goodwill

[schild]

You know what to do, classy people.

[Draegan]

I'm glad Schild didn't ban me for sending him centaur porn.

[schild]

I think I only have one thing to be thankful for this year, or only one thing worth posting.

I may be out of a job. I may be near broke. And hell, given the economy, my prospects look more like farts in the wind. But beyond all that. I still have f13.

I can flat out say that if this were just a blog with people commenting and no forum, I would have shut it down after this recruitment ordeal.

Thank you. All of you, seriously. You made it more important than that. I still, however, want a street brawl.

[Draegan]

If you're ever in New Jersey the beer's on me.

[schild]

God willing, I will never, ever end up in Jersey. Or anywhere on the east coast, ever again. But if you're ever in Austin, I'll take you up on that.

[bhodi]

I give grudging respect to the pit that is the politics forum and those in it for educating me on several things this year :) I guess that place isn't completely worthless after all!

[Yegolev]

I'm happy for my newfound mental health.  It's also awesome to have the other great things, like a family, F13 and a PS3.  It's pretty neat that I have to think hard to come up with something for the Grievance thread.  I don't think I can even get mad at everyone who does it wrong.  You're all a bunch of WoW players, and have my pity.

[IainC]

I'm really taken aback by the support and good wishes I've received since I announced I was leaving WAR. At work, on various community sites and on my blog I've had a lot of people say some really nice things to me.

[SnakeCharmer]

Thankful for
- a wonderful wife who still lights my world on fire
- a beautiful, healthy, rambunctious 2 year old son
- my family and friends
- a successful 3rd year of business that resulted in the opening of two additional satellite offices in Houston and Tampa, with even better prospects for the future

[Sky]

I still, however, want a street brawl.

You want to kill a guy with a trident, be honest. And thanks for keeping the lights on for so long, it means a lot to me.

I started this year living in my ghetto apartment and driving my busted old pickup, I was pretty fed up with things. Now I'm in my own house, I've been able to do some good work on it, I'm driving a new (wicked! zomg) truck, I've got a great (crazy ninja) cat, things are great with my fiancee, and so far the job is still stable (for at least a couple years). I also got out and played my first blues show and it went great.

I'm more content than I've ever been in my life.

But to get here, I had to hit bottom over ten years ago and re-evaluate things, set up a plan and stick to it. Ten years of hard work and planning, researching and budgeting, but I've finally accomplished almost every goal I set ten years ago, and most of them came to fruition this year.

I say this because I know for some board members, things aren't going great right now, and it's easy to get bummed out. I was there for way too long. Just use it as inspiration to set some new goals and work toward them. Remember, luck favors the prepared mind. So I wish everyone the best!

[Yegolev]

As of a few minutes ago, I'm happy that I got a holiday e-card from Cornelius.  I guess.

[Nebu]

I'm grateful for

- f13 (Thanks Schild!) and the information contained within.  Some great folks here... even if they are imaginary.

- having met one of the most extraordinary women of my life.  Four months now and she continues to amaze me.

- having a centered and intelligent daughter.  Last night she called me just to say "what the hell is up with high school?  It's a non-stop drama-fest and I just don't get any of it!"  I love her. 

- My old mannx cat, Marie.  I rescued her from abandonment at 12,000 ft in the Rockies and she still shows me that she appreciates it. 

- My wits.  I always feel fortunate for having all the career options that I do.  It keeps life interesting.

[Numtini]

I'm grateful for this place. Really grateful. I don't get a lot of contact with "my people" (gaming & computer geeks, nevermind ones with solid political thinking) and this place is just a nice reminder that it is the 21st century and I'm not the only person who loves these pixels so much.

I'm grateful for learning how to ride a scooter.

I'm grateful for an amazing partner.

Of all the year though I'm grateful for just plain dumb luck I guess. A year ago today (good timing on the thread post), my best friend was diagnosed with a very rare form of jaw cancer with an almost farcically low survival rate (think single digits and months). They operated and did the biopsy, yeah, she had cancer, but a different slow form. Jury is still out and all that--insert Deckard quote about "but who does" but it's a hell of a better than things looked a year ago.

[Triforcer]

I'm grateful eternally for my family (even if they are 5,000 miles away) and the new friends I have made in a new place.

I am profoundly grateful for this site.  I've never met even one of you in person, but I can say with 100% honesty that over the years here I have interacted with a lot of fundamentally good and decent people.  I'm not the same person, in a lot of ways, that I was in 2002 or 2004, and while part of that may just be getting away from my rural home for the first time a large part of it is the wonderful and intelligent people here.  So, I'm grateful for all here, even those who dislike me.  Thanks and have a wonderful holiday season!   

EDIT:  Also, many thanks to schild for his blood, sweat and tears here and caring enough to keep it going.  Quite apart from the snuggly points above, its nice to not feel so geeky about liking games while also being able to use words like "cockmongery" in casual conversation.   

[stray]

I don't even play games much anymore, but I still feel it's worth my time to come here to shoot the shit about other things. Glad y'all can illuminate on a wide variety of subjects. And if I'm not learning about something, then I'm laughing about something. So thanks for that too!

[apocrypha]

I'll join the ranks of the grateful for f13. It's an oasis of intelligence and decency in the miasmic sea of stupidity that is the rest of the internet. Plus I can get away with making up words like miasmic and nobody rails on me about it 

Mostly though, this year, I am grateful for my girlfriend. Over the last two years I've suffered from major depression, I've given up my job to pursue a new career and I've had a major back injury and she's been simply amazing. I cannot imagine how anyone could possibly have been more supportive. I know there's no chance of her reading this so I think it's safe for me to say that I've decided I'm going to ask her to marry me next year, once I'm out of the woods with the back surgery. Wife 2.0 hehehe.

[Paelos]

I am happy for beauty. Each and every day that I see it is a miracle.

[Velorath]

I'm still happy that Obama won.  Sure, I don't expect him to summon Unicorns that will magically lead us to the promised land, and fix economy and all that, and everything will be just perfect right after he takes office, but I'm glad that there isn't the absence of hope that permeated the last 8 years.

I'm grateful that I have a job I don't hate going to, even after two and a half years of it so far.

Grateful for f13 obviously.  This year kicked off with the vajuras thread.  Can't wait to see what next year brings.

[Nevermore]

I'm happy for me and my family's relative good health, and that my father came through his surgery ok.  I'm happy I, my friends and family all still have steady jobs in this uncertain economy.  I'm happy that with the exception of one lunatic branch of family I haven't seen in years, my family is drama-free and we all can enjoy each others company for the holidays.  Knock on wood to all of this. >.>

I'm happy that I live in a country were I can still express myself freely, even when the party that stands for everything I'm opposed to is in power (January 20th can't get here soon enough, though).  I'm happy I found Waterthread years ago, and that Schild kept up the site as F13 when Joe left, and has kept it relatively moderation free so we can all BS about pretty much anything.  I'm also happy that for the most part, people here don't abuse the privilege.

[Draegan]

I'll actually be serious this time.

I'm grateful, of course, to this community here which I've grown to enjoy.  I find myself coming here more often than any other message board.  You crazy fucks and your sick sense of humor matches mine nicely.  So I'm grateful for that as you can see by my ever increasing post count.

I'm grateful that I still have a job.  And it's not pretty here.  Ugh.

I'm happy that we elected a smart person as president.  Here's to 2009 hopefully turning it around, at least mentally!

Lastly, I happy for my family and grateful that my grandfather's open heart surgery was successful yesterday!  He's got pig parts in him now!!

You guys are awesome Happy Merry's.

[Rendakor]

f13, job, girlfriend, etc. Saying nice things is hard.

[Signe]

This year I loved:

My husband.

My pussies.

The tiny wee bit of my family that's left.

People here and especially Schildy for all his hard work, his girlish good looks and his lingering fragrance.

Honeycrisp apples.

[ahoythematey]

Thankful for f13.  It's a hive of villainy that I very much would miss were it taken away.  Big ups to schild.

Thankful for finding a job I enjoy, to the point that it is usually the best part of my day.

Thankful for the one that smiles in just the right way to make me forget about my worries.

Thankful for living in the US.  This country is all kinds of fucked up sometimes, but it also has its moments of strange beauty and big dreams come true.

[WayAbvPar]

Thankful for-

My wonderful wife
My new son
My family and friends
My continued employment through this recession
Obama as president elect giving me a sliver of hope for the future


F13 has been my 'net home since it was born. I really enjoy (almost   ) all the people here, whether we are gaming or having a virtual screaming match about politics. I have met a few of you in person, and spoke to many others via phone or VOIP, and you all seem to be as interesting, funny, and generally cool as you do through your online personas.

Happy holidays.

[Broughden]

Im grateful for...

my wife. she is without doubt the only thing keeping me sane (my definition of sanity might be argued by some on here who deal with me in the politics forums!  ) She really loves me. Me. Not some puffed up projected image I'm putting out, but me. With all my flaws and imperfections. She loves me. I wake up everyday amazed that such a creature exists and is so sweet and beautiful to boot.

that over the past year my life has changed. Having left the military and police work I have decided to live a more conscious and directed life. Working to help others in need and lessening our impact on this planet we call home. The future is going to be bright and shiny. I hope.

Im grateful that Obama was elected and I have hope for change.
Im grateful for my house. I feel like a real adult now.
Im grateful for my best friend. He, his wife and daughter are my family. Their support has meant everything to me.


And yes Im even grateful for F13, who else but the poor people in the politics forums would suffer through my bungling screaming at the void?


edit- spelling r hard.

[FatuousTwat]

I'm thankful that I have a roof over my head, I know a lot of people are doing really poorly, and I feel fortunate.
I'm thankful that the voters of my county voted for funding libraries.
I'm thankful that I have no life threatening health problems, and that my family is all basically healthy.

I'm glad that I have a community I can visit and see that not all people are complete assholes.

[Phildo]

Two weddings in my family this year.
Being able to move to the city of my choice.
New music still doesn't suck despite what people have been telling me for 28 years.
My new internet alter-ego.

[Signe]

GAH!  I still don't who you used to be!  And NO I DIDN'T TRY AND FIGURE IT OUT!  I was going to but then it seemed like it all happened such a long time ago and that it would take time and I would have to think and it would be hard and it would make me frustrated and everyone would suffer. 

But Happy Goodwill Day to you anyway. 

[JWIV]

I'm grateful that I was fortunate enough to have a healthy daughter born in June.

I'm grateful that I've so far have dodged some fairly significant layoffs at my company so far.
And in conjunction with that, that I'm fortunate enough to have a job that I really like doing and am paid quite well for.

I'm thankful that after years of wandering the metaphorical desert, I've found a board that is both intelligent and mostly free of pretension.

[Lantyssa]

I'm thankful for my friends, who can make me feel loved and appreciated even on my worst days.

I'm grateful for f13 for giving me a place to pass time, talk about a huge variety of subjects with (some) intelligence, and making me feel like you're all people I wouldn't mind having a drink with, even if we have major differences of opinions on topics near and dear to us.  Also y'all put up with my lunacy.  Major bonus goodwill points for that.

I'm especially thankful my hangover morning after has been light.  That was a lot of alcohol last night.  (Can't really be a hangover if I'm still tipsy, huh?)

[Paelos]

I'm also thankful for a family who can take care of me temporarily when layoffs are more prominant than new hires. Also, I'd be thankful for a job should one come along in the next two months.

[Strazos]

EH...thankful the fuel pump hasn't died in my car...yet.
I still have a crappy job that I hate, but it pays the bills.
I have my health, I suppose....I should probably give that "exercise" thing another shot soon.
Thankful I get to play DnD.
Thankful the damn Flyers are actually doing well.
Thankful for a year swelling with good games.

And I'm really fucking thankful Schild has kept this place open for us. For reals. Whether it's idle politics banter, looking for honest, credible game info, amusing links to crap, or timely and honest tech advice, it's great. I suppose the camaraderie is nice as well.

[Cheddar]

f13 - as usual.  Hours of entertaining (sometimes educational!) reading, lots of people to game with, lots of useful advice.  I love all of you!   

[Soln]

*this was one of the hardest years I've had in a long time.  I am grateful things turned around by Oct.
*I'm grateful for my wife (1 year in April)
*I'm grateful for my family and my parents
*I'm grateful I have job that's steady and that allows me to peruse non-work oriented materials like f13
*and I'm grateful to f13 -- "Schild and the Gang".  I took a near 6 month sabbatical from all things Web this year (incl. f13).  And I am grateful you are all here.  I love the ecosystem, with the wandering wild asshats who occasionally roam in and the older, beardy devs who still lurk amongst the threads.  F13 is totally unique.  Thanks.

See you all in 2009.  Cheers.

[Ironwood]

Terrible Year.

Thankful for my wife, child, pills and that wee blonde in the Edinburgh office for helping me to get through it without topping myself.

Everything else, frankly, is a bonus after that.