Originally posted by Cloudbringer:
the previous thread is here:

<H2><font color="plum">Cloudy's Cafe</font></H2>

Come in, be welcome, be comfortable, be yourself

Welcome to Cloudy's Cafe, a place to have a cup of coffee or a good
darjeeling and the finest in conversation and camaraderie.

The proprietor asks that you follow a few simple guidelines:

<H3>this is a real conversation zone, not a role-play zone</H3>

* no flaming; if you disagree with a viewpoint expressed by any patron, please do so in a civil manner

* any topic is fair game, but keep posts to the standards that Ziroc has set for the entire forum, please (ie: foul language is not appropriate and things should be suitable for all audiences)
-a side note from Cloudy: I see this as a place for those short
conversations about a new baby or the latest soccer fiasco, not for things that are big enough to warrant their own threads, by all means give those things the space they need and post separately!

* Please, no one word or smiley posts (Ziroc has declared them 'real spam' and the proprietor doesn't want the reputuation of "good spam" to suffer!)

* do feel free to be serious or silly and enjoy the company of others while you are here. By all means POST if you have something to say, even to start another topic , we can handle multiple chats, we're a CAFE!!! But be courteous and don't disrupt a conversation just to disrupt it.

Come on in! The bar is stocked with coffees, teas, juices and waters from around the world. And purple napkins, of course!

<font color="pink">The lighting is low, the golden oak counters and tables glow with inviting warmth. Near the window, the lighting is brighter, as comfy, plush leather armchairs wait for those who'd like to read a book while relaxing to music or just lazily watch the world go by.</font>

<H1> <font color="plum"> PLEASE NOTE </font></H1>

This is a modified reminder that I've posted before in reply to someone asking "can we spam the cafe". It still holds true, so I'm going to repeat it periodically for anyone who hasn't seen it.

Read the first post of the thread, it's NOT a spam zone. If you want to discuss you grades, a problem with a teacher,the weather, your neighbor's new car etc.....etc.. (real life conversations) this is the place. I don't mind a SMALL amount of spam but when the Cafe gets to be 8 pages in one day and it's all one liner pure spam, I have to ask people not to do it because most of the members who would come to talk about their day or things that they want advice or sympathy or cheers on, will not post in that atmosphere. I want you to be comfy here, but not at the expense of other members.

So the answer is NO, I don't want to see page after page of roleplay spam or one liner spamfests that could be done on msn or aim etc. because our goal is to TALK WITH one another , not fill up a cafe in five hours. ;)

<H2><font color="pink"> HELLO IRONWORKS! </font> </H2> Good day to everyone in the Cafe!

First post!!

Cloudy, you really ought to stop spamming. I think two thirds of your total post count consists of the same posts over and over.

HAHAHA..then where would YOU come to be cranky, dear Link? :D How's your day going so far? It's just the beginning of mine over here.

I'm at work and after that I'm off to make dinner then go to a bible study with a friend. Then when I get home, my hubby will be home from work and we'll have some cuddle time, hehe! :D

Oh and HAPPY WEDNESDAY everyone!

I'm not cranky, far from it. It's almost 4 pm here, and I've got virtually nothing left to do today as all important things are already behind me.

It was just that I noticed you've gone from two cafe-startup posts to three. Subtle, but spammy. Very spammy :D

Pfft! Have a cookie, you whippersnapper, you! :D Must be nice to have nothing to do! [img]tongue.gif[/img] You sure you cleaned your room and did your homework? ;) :D

Er.. no :D

But I don't need to. I'm living on my own, no parents nearby to tell me anything. Actually that's not true either, as my mum came by to visit me today. Of course, she immediately accused me of losing my own shoes (because I was wearing my cousin's shoes) and not studying hard enough ("spending too much time behind that screen!"). I couldn't but agree with her more :D

Morning, all. Link, quit arguing with Cloudy... you'll never win [img]smile.gif[/img]

It's cold and rainy out here... and some of that rain looked distinctly solid, I hate to say... ;)

Felt like having bagels for breakfast this morning, but we didn't have any. After everyone headed out, I ran to Panera's for a dozen, including one right now with a fresh cup of hot chocolate. Mmmm... sitting by the fireplace in there, eating that choc-o-nut bagel... life was good... :D

On to more development work today, and hopefully finishing the latest release of software before the end of the month. Too bad everything I do raises more questions about what else I need to do... :(

*sets back on the couch by the fire with another bagel* Hey, I brought extras, in case anyone wants some.

chocolate....mmm....*tries not to drool on counter* I had to break into the hershey's kisses last night... but I've been doing so well I guess a few chocolate kisses didn't hurt too much. Lost a size and half in clothing so far and hubby's done equally well so we're still working at it and doing well. :D

But now I want chocolate bagels.... ack! :D

Sorry, Cloudy... *hides the chocolate bagels*

Ermmm... here's a whole-wheat low-calorie multi-grain high-fiber bagel with organic soy-based cream cheese for you...

*ducks before it gets thrown back*

Congrats on the size and a half! Every journey begins with single steps... sounds like you've been takin' more than a few steps there!

*realizes there's no way for a male to discuss weight loss with a female and escape unscathed*

Make that... Congrats! :D

I'll take the bagel, but keep that 'cream cheese'! *wonders if the chocolate kisses would go good with the bagel* :D :D

ROTFL! No worries, Bungleau! My spouse and I are doing Weight Watchers and have dropped substantial numbers of pounds to date. [img]smile.gif[/img] It isn't always easy, but we decided it was time to do something to change our way of eating and make healthy choices for life and there are ups and downs but we're doing ok and I'm proud of the hubby! I don't think it's easy for you male types to tackle major food issues and do the 'healthy thing' without a cringe or two. ;) Being told he could still have steak, fruit and pasta/bread on WW made a HUGE difference for Nacht, though! :D

[ 11-16-2005, 11:48 AM: Message edited by: Cloudbringer ]

Good save Bungleau [img]tongue.gif[/img]

It's past half of NaNoWriMo and I'm at a crossroads. I've wrote 20,000 and, in my opinion, my novel sucks. Now, I can do one of two things:
1) Continue. Write 50,000 words of rubbish (that make sense obv.) and say "Yay I won".
2) Start again. Add the 20,000 to my wordcount and write 30,000 of a new novel, then say "Yay I won kind of".

I haven't decided, but I've asked a few people from my WoW guild (as they expressed interest) if they would read *some* of it, if they aren't busy of course. I hope they get busy soon.

On a total none-novel note, all is well over in sunny (read - cold) England. Playing football at about half 5, which should be good fun.

Got to go get wrapped up, it's gonna be cold tonight.

On a football note, well done to the Aussie's for getting into the World Cup.

[sarcasm] I noticed there weren't any threads about it *grin* [/sarcasm off]

Well done anyway, and especially well done to Mark Schwarzer and Viduka (just 'cause they are Boro players)

Ack the world cup is following me everywhere I go here.. LOL But yes, congrats to the denizens of OZ for their team making it!

*imagines the World Cup on feet chasing Cloudy everywhere* :D

Imagine 20.000 Dutch footballsupporters chasing the worldcup that's chasing Cloudy. :D

*sees Links post and laughs...then sees johhny's post and shrieks* ACK! Wait...are they cute guys with shorts on or are we talking balding older couch potato types in stained sweatsuits who're belching and groaning about their bad knees as they run after the worldcup? :D :D :D ;)


edit: PS, Link, ROTFL!!!!!!!!!!! That was too funny!

[ 11-16-2005, 01:06 PM: Message edited by: Cloudbringer ]

Bloody orthodonitsts who think they know what they're doing... when I went in for my retainer checks, I told them every time that I couldn't wear it because it bothered my mouth. Their response? A sigh and telling me to wear it as much as possible. :rolleyes: So now, after a few months of doing that they finally came and said that I might be allergic to whatever compounds they use in the retainer. Well, duh. I figured that out in July. So now I have braces on again because they were too slow to figure out that I'm allergic to the retainers and my teeth shifted. It took all my willpower not to bite them when they're poking around in my mouth... :mad:

Doctors who actually listen to you... now *there's* someone worth paying money to!

Afternoon, all. The first snow of the season is sticking on the ground here... we've got about an inch on the grass, but little on the streets.

Ouch Johnny. I think i'd be biting them too. But i sure hope i don't have to see one tomorrow. My sister gave me a couple of tablets for headache on Wednesday. Admittedly, Codeine might have been an overkill. But how was i supposed to know i was gonna have an allergic reaction to 'em? The last 24 hours has been the longest of my life: I'm lethargic, but i can't sleep; I'm cold and i'm sweating; I'm burning up and i'm shivering; My throat is swollen; I've been breathing so fast that the muscles in my back are aching and i've STILL got that fraggin' headache!

It's too late for me to see a doc tonight. I would've today but i thought it all would've passed by now. And if i don't get any sleep tonight... *shudders* Well, i don't really want that to happen.

How 'bout a great big IW Get Well Soon. [img]smile.gif[/img]

<H1>GET WELL SOON</H1> :D

yah, what johhny said! :D

I hope you don't have a bad flu, Sever. :(

And Sir G...allergic to the retainers? I never realized that could happen.

I dunno, he said it might be the acrylics or something they make it with.

So does that mean you can never have a retainer, or just you have to have some specially made one?

I watched next weeks (shown on E4 this week)'s Lost and it left me a subtle clue.

In a flashback scene with Jin showing up at some guys house on "business" for Sun's father, the guy said "please, not in front of my daughter" and the camera went to his daughter, watching TV. On the TV was none other than Hurley! I paused and rewound and I know it is him! Why he was on Hong Kong (I think) TV, I hope I find out next week. I *think* next week is the episode about Hurley.

Thanks johnny, but i feel rotten. Just had my second near sleepless night and my headache is still steadily thrumming along. My throat is more swollen than yesterday but the other symptoms have calmed down a bit. Going to the doctor this morning.

Good luck with that mate!

S'all good. Tonsillitis and the flu. Though it's not like any flu i've ever had. Still, i thought it was something serious. I'm such a nanna. :rolleyes:

Anyways. Time to get me some much welcomed sleep.

I'm a wee bit shaky just now. I missed being hit by a huge semi with a flatbed as I got onto the highway (he was going too fast on the onramp and everyone else slowed to a stop while he had to swerve to miss me and barely missed the other cars in the lane he moved to!) then I narrowly (and I am not really sure how) missed being part of the news as a sploch on the highway again a few minutes later!!!

I was in the left lane doing about 70 mph with the nearest car in front of me a good 7+ car lengths ahead and moderate to low traffic in the other two lanes, and the nearest car behind me about 3-4 car lengths back. All of sudden I am conscious of a lot of motion in the middle lane a little bit ahead of me, the car in front of me is swerving off the road and then I see a VAN just moving a few miles an hour suddenly move (with a bounce because it went from the other lane to mine so fast then slowed up) right IN FRONT OF ME!

I know I braked because I was aware of going from 70-50 and thinking "OMG, I'm going to hit/be hit and it'll be on the news as a multicar pileup!". I also swerved a few feet to my left as I was aware of the 'cheese grater' part of the road that they have to warn you your off the lane. I wasn't thinking, just reacting for that part but then suddenly, clear as day, in my head was the thought and a 'picture' that the breakdown lane was a full lane and I swerved the car into it and back out on the other side of that van without a second's thought/hesitation.

Lucky for me and the guy ahead of me in the breakdown lane that I did go back to the road as I missed him and only 20 feet farther down, the breakdown lane became about 4 ft wide with a metal guard rail.

When I looked back in the mirror (doing about 30 mph by then!) I saw that car still in the breakdown lane and the idiot in the van had moved back to the middle lane but everyone around him was shaking fists or moving slowly...

I'm not sure my legs have stopped being wobbly, but I do thank God I'm not on the news this morning...

Called Nacht and talked to him...had to hear his voice. Things this close make you think of what you truly value in life!

Gotta say, though, that I grumble about my Honda Accord being 'huge' compared to my old sentra and all that.. but WOW does it handle ok in an emergency! I was amazed at how cleanly I moved over that 'grater' and around that van without losing control of the car or 'bouncing' sideways or skidding! Whew....I will never complain about my HUGE car again...well, maybe just a little... LOL, like when I can't clear the windows/roof cuz I can't reach 'em... ;D

Wow! Glad you made it through safely, Cloudy [img]smile.gif[/img] Nothing like that to keep your adrenalin pumping for a few more hours, is there?

Something similar happened to me a few years ago. It took about a mile to realize what had happened (because my body reacted subconsciously), and five miles down the road, I took the next exit just so I could stand and walk around for a couple of minutes to get my breath back.

Thanks, me too! [img]smile.gif[/img]

That's almost how it was for me this morning (the having to stop and breathe a little down the road). I got to the end of the highway I was on, turned toward work, wondering how it was I made it out of that whole thing without a crash. Then I started feeling shaky all over again as I got into the office, because it was a pretty big adrenaline burst and I'm still not quite sure how I made it out without a scratch on me or the car.

Then, of course, re-telling it to my husband got me a little wound up all over again! LOL It's been a few hours and I think I'm starting to come down from the adrenaline rush about now!

[ 11-18-2005, 10:05 AM: Message edited by: Cloudbringer ]

Oh, Cloudy, thank God you're all right!

[img]smile.gif[/img] Thank you! I've had close calls a few times in my life but this one was a WHOLE lot closer than I want to ever be again! [img]smile.gif[/img]

And now it's freezing in my office... LOL HAPPY FRIDAY! At least it IS Friday so I can go home and unwind for the weekend! :D

They're going to put a little metal wire on the back of my teeth that should hold them in place. We'll see how it goes.

Yikes Cloudy that was close... that's also reason number 135 why I'm hesitant about driving. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Glad you are OK Cloudy. I've been there before too having to manuever very quickly to avoid a potential Serious Accident. At least your right leg didn't get to shaking afterwards like mine sometimes does LOL (makes it hard to accellerate so I end up switching legs for a bit LOL, which is weird but manageable LOL). The worst is when you are sandwiched in, with cars on both sides of you, so not even any option to swerve out of it without hitting someone else, in those cases you are on pure brake power LOL. Man once I braked so hard I came within I swear 2 millimeters from the car in front of me, sooooo close LOL! And of course, like you, it's always something that happens because of fools on the road. I drive reasonably, I'm not one of those frequent lane changers, I stay a decent distance from the car in front of me, always alert to the idiots around me and think of what they may or may not do idiotically at different points in my trip LOL. But even though we drive normally and responsibly, there is always gonna be those times you end up having to be really quick on the reflexes to avoid an accident because of people in too much of a hurry, people not paying attention (cellphones!) or again, just plain idiots.

Hope your wireage goes well Sir G! [img]smile.gif[/img]

Brrrr, it's gotten cold here! What happened to the 70s LOL? Waaahh. I always know when winter has set in when I'm inside and my teeth start to feel cold LOL.

Your teeth ? LOL i usually get cold feet, then i know the time has arrived to start wearing socks again. :D

I know it's weird, my top front teeth are sensitive and so cold air makes them feel cold LOL. Oh and my feet are probably the same way, I just can't tell as much cause I am always sitting cross-legged so my feet are warm beneath my legs. So feet only get cold if I'm walking around a lot in the house, which I tend to avoid more when it's cold LOL. Like this chair here I'm in tonight. Got a nice soft shaggy blanket on it, got my TV/DVD player, computer in front of me, stereo accessible re remote. NO need to really leave this spot for any long periods of time tonight I'm thinking LOL. I'm nesting. :D

[ 11-18-2005, 07:10 PM: Message edited by: ladyzekke ]

Don't tell me you also have a little fridge next to you, so you don't have to walk into the kitchen all the time ?

Or do you have a butler ? LOL

Unfortunately neither LOL. The fridge runs I don't mind. They are short, and since my desk is on a platform, I can just lift off the chair with my arms, and run down the stairs, which gives me quite a good momentum in the hallway, and good exercise I reckon LOL. :D

You've got quite the system going, LZ. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

What a good day today! The big 1-6 :D

The only bad thing was that I was woken up at 8:30am by my parents - I wanted to sleep this morning, not get up!

Tomorrow I have to go to a meal with 40 ish people to celebrate my nana and grandads 40th wedding anniversary. I have to miss the Boro match 'cause of it.

*sigh* The things you do for family.