MJ's Mayflowers

[MerHearted]

Ok, a little serious here. But what are your takes on online friends? I've been online for over a decade now and I've prolly made hundreds of online friends over the years, including some very close ones and one I fell in love with. To me, online friendships seem to bring this safety of anonymity. These people don't really know anything about you other than what you tell them. It makes it easy to open up and express things you would rarely do in real life. And in the process, it also becomes very easy to get attached to people. But as I have also learned, that comes with a price. As easy it is to make friends online, it's just as easy to lose them. Of all the hundreds of people I've known online, I've lost contact with most of them. To me, it seems a lot of people come online during a lull in their lives, when they seek out people, whether its cause they have a lot of free time or are having a difficult time of things and need some voice of support. It's then when friendships seem to blossom. But when their lives pick up, they move on and it feels like they don't need you anymore. And you look back and you think, "So that's it? You just wanted someone to vent to or entertain you. But now you don't need me anymore. You have your real life now and apparently our friendship wasn't real." There have been so many times that has happened, at least to me. It's at a point where I just expect it now. I'm practically used to it. Any new friend I make, they always seem so excited to have you as a friend, but in the back of my mind, I know they'll be off someday as well. That's not always the case though. There have been some online friends that have developed into true friends that have stayed with me... but those are rare. I guess the reason I brought this up is because I see how close and friendly this community here seems. And I wonder if you really view yourselves as true friends to each other.

 

[MerHearted]

Yay!
What kind?
Oreo? Chocolate Chip? Milano? Oatmeal Raisin?
Just no Nilla Vanilla Wafers. . . :hurl:

Ummm... all of the above? :lookaroun

 

[Uponastar]

I'm here , but leaving - mom just came back. I'm not sure how much I'll be on for the next couple of days, but I'll see you all in the new thread! :wave:

Bye Fishy!:kiss:
Enjoy the next few days. :lookaroun
And remember we're here to vent to!!!!!

 

[Pongo]

Oooooh threads almost up!

What's our new speculative name, just in case I get it?

 

[Uponastar]

Ok, a little serious here. But what are your takes on online friends? I've been online for over a decade now and I've prolly made hundreds of online friends over the years, including some very close ones and one I fell in love with. To me, online friendships seem to bring this safety of anonymity. These people don't really know anything about you other than what you tell them. It makes it easy to open up and express things you would rarely do in real life. And in the process, it also becomes very easy to get attached to people. But as I have also learned, that comes with a price. As easy it is to make friends online, it's just as easy to lose them. Of all the hundreds of people I've known online, I've lost contact with most of them. To me, it seems a lot of people come online during a lull in their lives, when they seek out people, whether its cause they have a lot of free time or are having a difficult time of things and need some voice of support. It's then when friendships seem to blossom. But when their lives pick up, they move on and it feels like they don't need you anymore. And you look back and you think, "So that's it? You just wanted someone to vent to or entertain you. But now you don't need me anymore. You have your real life now and apparently our friendship wasn't real." There have been so many times that has happened, at least to me. It's at a point where I just expect it now. I'm practically used to it. Any new friend I make, they always seem so excited to have you as a friend, but in the back of my mind, I know they'll be off someday as well. That's not always the case though. There have been some online friends that have developed into true friends that have stayed with me... but those are rare. I guess the reason I brought this up is because I see how close and friendly this community here seems. And I wonder if you really view yourselves as true friends to each other.

Boy can I relate to what you're saying, Vince.
I wear my heart on my sleeve. I can't help it. It's who I am. And I trust that when people say they are my friend, they mean it. I don't know how to be any other way. And I know that when you are that way you leave yourself open to hurt.
I came to this thread because I saw it as a place where I could speak comfortably. A simple thing, but for me, not so simple. It worked out to be just what I thought it would be. People accepted me for being me! At first it was that simple. I was one of the group. But then, it grew into something more. I wasn't just one of a group, I became part of a family. I do believe that's what it is. We "get" one another. We know we can come here for support when things are bad and for celebration when things are going good! We can come here when we just want to be with people who don't make demands on us. To just "be". When things are bad. . . it's like a small army forms to hold you up and gently push you on. And we can always count on it!
I believe this is real. I wouldn't be here if I doubted that. I know that with that comes the real possibility of losing someone whom you have grown to love. That has happened. And it hurts like hell. But if the friendship is real it survives the leaving. If it wasn't real. . .you didn't lose much, although you still have to deal with that pain. It's the price we pay. We take big chances here. Huge ones! But I believe they are so worth it. There have been some difficult times here for me, but do I wish I never came here? No way! I bless the day I found this site. And I cherish these people. It is real!

 

[Uponastar]

Oooooh threads almost up!

What's our new speculative name, just in case I get it?

MJ's LoveBugs I think?

 

[WaltzingMatilda]

It's the perfect example, Amy, of what the friendships here can mean.
Dana and Jess and Nibbs. . .amazing girls.

I didn't actually find anything, either I'm doing it wrong or I missed something, but no worries. I've got a lot of proof about what great girls these are and how much friendships here can mean.

Now, I have to read back to find out what I missed while I was finding out what I missed.:lol:

 

[Uponastar]

How about these cookies Vince?

 

[MerHearted]

How about these cookies Vince?

Arista? Aquata?

 

[Uponastar]

Arista? Aquata?

Not the real ones, silly!
Cookie ones.
They won't mind if you eat them!

 

[MerHearted]

Not the real ones, silly!
Cookie ones.
They won't mind if you eat them!

Ok... *bites their heads off* :lookaroun

 

[nibblesandbits]

Boy can I relate to what you're saying, Vince.
I wear my heart on my sleeve. I can't help it. It's who I am. And I trust that when people say they are my friend, they mean it. I don't know how to be any other way. And I know that when you are that way you leave yourself open to hurt.
I came to this thread because I saw it as a place where I could speak comfortably. A simple thing, but for me, not so simple. It worked out to be just what I thought it would be. People accepted me for being me! At first it was that simple. I was one of the group. But then, it grew into something more. I wasn't just one of a group, I became part of a family. I do believe that's what it is. We "get" one another. We know we can come here for support when things are bad and for celebration when things are going good! We can come here when we just want to be with people who don't make demands on us. To just "be". When things are bad. . . it's like a small army forms to hold you up and gently push you on. And we can always count on it!
I believe this is real. I wouldn't be here if I doubted that. I know that with that comes the real possibility of losing someone whom you have grown to love. That has happened. And it hurts like hell. But if the friendship is real it survives the leaving. If it wasn't real. . .you didn't lose much, although you still have to deal with that pain. It's the price we pay. We take big chances here. Huge ones! But I believe they are so worth it. There have been some difficult times here for me, but do I wish I never came here? No way! I bless the day I found this site. And I cherish these people. It is real!

Dot...couldn't have said it better.

I think that we here are a group of people who, if we were gonna leave, we would have done it a long time ago. We have become a family. I have a group of friends who I adore who are in my real life...but then I have all of you here whom I also love. I have seen people come and go among these boards...just look at the photo contests from the past year. It's amazing to see who has stayed and who doesn't post either as much or anymore at all. It's a testament of time sometimes. Yeah, some people come and go because their life gets in the way...and yeah, some go because they don't like what's going on on the forums that they partake in...

I have friends who I used to have in real life, who I don't speak to today. It's just a testament of time and the fact that all parties involved have changed. It's not just an internet thing...it's a real world thing. Does it stink? Sure...especially if you are the one who seemingly gets dumped...but both parties move on.

but to me the most important thing isn't whether they end up staying in your life forever...what matters most is the impact they have on your life in the present and how that will impact you in the future. Because if you can take something away with you for your life...then the friendship, no matter how brief it was, was worth it.

 

[Uponastar]

Ok... *bites their heads off* :lookaroun

Yay!

 

[nibblesandbits]

I didn't actually find anything, either I'm doing it wrong or I missed something, but no worries. I've got a lot of proof about what great girls these are and how much friendships here can mean.

Now, I have to read back to find out what I missed while I was finding out what I missed.:lol:

Oh...um...well when you get to the conversation from today that start with "OMG" from me...that's where you know it will start. :lol:

 

[joanna71985]

Oh man, dinner was pretty good tonight. We went to Lone Star Steakhouse. It was sooooo good. I had steak soup and steak with garlic mashed potatoes on the side.:slurp:

Bye Jo! Have a great dinner!

Thanks!

Bye Jo!

Bye Betty!

Uhhhh... no... why would you think that?

Just wondering.

Wow! I've been working and writing a TR all day... I miss you guys! :kiss: TR is finally done and I just have to wrap up one more thing he at work before I'll leave. Good day!

Oh, and take a look at my TR if you haven't already. It's cool that people like to read them on here, but I really like sharing my trip with my MJ friends. :kiss: Love you all!

Can't wait to read it!

YAY! Ok. I was excited to tell y'all... so here goes:


Mama and I had a 10 am apt. at a spa... where we got the world's best (seriously) manicures and pedicures EVER!

They sat us in these gargantuan massage chairs that I almost fell asleep in - then we put our legs in the pedi spa... then got a leg massage while in the chair - (i'm nearly asleep at this point. ) then an amazing foot rub and pedi, followed by a great mani (my guy used 3 different paint brushes to do a french. It was actually pretty entertaining) during which they massaged our arms up to our shoulders... *sigh* bliss...

Then we go and pick up my little sis who just got out of class and went over to the Palmetto Cafe in the Charleston Place Hotel (uber fancy - I've lived here 8 years and have walked by this place about a million times always thinking someday when i hit the jackpot I want to go there... daddy insisted on splurging on mama and I since it was mother's day and my birthday - and we couldn't leave beth out...) so anyways... drinks all around... I had a Peach Bellini, mom had a rasberry martini and beth had the Charleston Place Malibu Punch - which was amazing. My bellini had a frozen peach in the bottom... soooo yummy. Followed by shecrab soup, crab cakes, mini "21" burgers with green sweet basil ketchup and some other small sides... then we topped it off with the most fantastic dessert plate - we got the sampler and split key lime pie, fruit tart, espresso ice cream and carrot cake.

It was hands down the best meal I've ever had in my entire life - so much flavor and everything was incredibly fresh. And I got a glimpse of the bill... :dazzle: $110 later (for the 3 of us) That was the one and only time in my entire life we will be visiting said Palmetto Cafe.

But it was worth it and amazing.

We sat on the terrace under an umbrella sipping our drinks and feeling rather hoity toity. Should you ever make it to Charleston on a special occassion - or just a nice night out... this is the place to go... (and that was just the lunch pricing... I'm not even going to take a stab at what dinner would have cost for 3...)

It was a treat. Something really special and I'm so glad I was there with my mama and sister...


Anyway... now I'm back to reality. :lol:

Awsome Jess!

How bout MJ Hates Epcot

Um, no.

Oh my gosh! I made it into the final poll at MGM photos! I have never done that before!

Yay! That's awsome! I did too!

Jess!!!!! I know you aren't here right now!!! But thank you!!! PhotoDave's comment was taken out of the thread!!! Yay!!! I feel much better now!

:sohappy:

Oh, it was him!

Ok..Im off..

Tonight My Gilmore Girls ends for good..

I will be one big old blubbery mess..

I am SO SAD over this...I feel like Im losing my friends..


I know I need some help..lol..but still..


Love you all...

I'm sorry girly.

Ok, a little serious here. But what are your takes on online friends? I've been online for over a decade now and I've prolly made hundreds of online friends over the years, including some very close ones and one I fell in love with. To me, online friendships seem to bring this safety of anonymity. These people don't really know anything about you other than what you tell them. It makes it easy to open up and express things you would rarely do in real life. And in the process, it also becomes very easy to get attached to people. But as I have also learned, that comes with a price. As easy it is to make friends online, it's just as easy to lose them. Of all the hundreds of people I've known online, I've lost contact with most of them. To me, it seems a lot of people come online during a lull in their lives, when they seek out people, whether its cause they have a lot of free time or are having a difficult time of things and need some voice of support. It's then when friendships seem to blossom. But when their lives pick up, they move on and it feels like they don't need you anymore. And you look back and you think, "So that's it? You just wanted someone to vent to or entertain you. But now you don't need me anymore. You have your real life now and apparently our friendship wasn't real." There have been so many times that has happened, at least to me. It's at a point where I just expect it now. I'm practically used to it. Any new friend I make, they always seem so excited to have you as a friend, but in the back of my mind, I know they'll be off someday as well. That's not always the case though. There have been some online friends that have developed into true friends that have stayed with me... but those are rare. I guess the reason I brought this up is because I see how close and friendly this community here seems. And I wonder if you really view yourselves as true friends to each other.

I like online friends. I have made some good ones over the years, including Bonny from here.

 

[WaltzingMatilda]

Boy can I relate to what you're saying, Vince.
I wear my heart on my sleeve. I can't help it. It's who I am. And I trust that when people say they are my friend, they mean it. I don't know how to be any other way. And I know that when you are that way you leave yourself open to hurt.
I came to this thread because I saw it as a place where I could speak comfortably. A simple thing, but for me, not so simple. It worked out to be just what I thought it would be. People accepted me for being me! At first it was that simple. I was one of the group. But then, it grew into something more. I wasn't just one of a group, I became part of a family. I do believe that's what it is. We "get" one another. We know we can come here for support when things are bad and for celebration when things are going good! We can come here when we just want to be with people who don't make demands on us. To just "be". When things are bad. . . it's like a small army forms to hold you up and gently push you on. And we can always count on it!
I believe this is real. I wouldn't be here if I doubted that. I know that with that comes the real possibility of losing someone whom you have grown to love. That has happened. And it hurts like hell. But if the friendship is real it survives the leaving. If it wasn't real. . .you didn't lose much, although you still have to deal with that pain. It's the price we pay. We take big chances here. Huge ones! But I believe they are so worth it. There have been some difficult times here for me, but do I wish I never came here? No way! I bless the day I found this site. And I cherish these people. It is real!

I feel a lot the same way. I'm not as good with words as Dot, so thank goodness for her reply! When I first started with the MJ threads, I was here a lot for a while and then not so much and then I came back because I couldn't stop thinking about it. And I am SO glad to still be here...when I saw my name in the list of MJ'rs that Dana posted I got a little teary eyed.

I try not to express too much emotion, but I pretty much can't help myself here. It's good that you posted your question Vince, because I looked at Grant Sunday night and said: " You know what? I realize that they are "online" friends" but guess what? I love them and I think about them and I miss them when I can't talk to them. To me, that means that they are my friends." (side note, I was just I was telling him the latest...and it hit me, that you guys really are my friends).

Anyways...ahem...love you all. Or something.:lookaroun

 

[Uponastar]

Dot...couldn't have said it better.

I think that we here are a group of people who, if we were gonna leave, we would have done it a long time ago. We have become a family. I have a group of friends who I adore who are in my real life...but then I have all of you here whom I also love. I have seen people come and go among these boards...just look at the photo contests from the past year. It's amazing to see who has stayed and who doesn't post either as much or anymore at all. It's a testament of time sometimes. Yeah, some people come and go because their life gets in the way...and yeah, some go because they don't like what's going on on the forums that they partake in...

I have friends who I used to have in real life, who I don't speak to today. It's just a testament of time and the fact that all parties involved have changed. It's not just an internet thing...it's a real world thing. Does it stink? Sure...especially if you are the one who seemingly gets dumped...but both parties move on.

but to me the most important thing isn't whether they end up staying in your life forever...what matters most is the impact they have on your life in the present and how that will impact you in the future. Because if you can take something away with you for your life...then the friendship, no matter how brief it was, was worth it.

Nibblies, yes!
That's exactly right. People come and go out of our lives all the time. Some stay a long time and impact our lives daily in a way that we can count on. Others stay only a short time and leave an imprint that lasts forever, so in that way they never really leave us.

 

[Uponastar]

Oh man, dinner was pretty good tonight. We went to Lone Star Steakhouse. It was sooooo good. I had steak soup and steak with garlic mashed potatoes on the side.:slurp:

Oh yum!
I love Lone Star!

 

[nibblesandbits]

Nibblies, yes!
That's exactly right. People come and go out of our lives all the time. Some stay a long time and impact our lives daily in a way that we can count on. Others stay only a short time and leave an imprint that lasts forever, so in that way they never really leave us.

glad I could at least get something helpful in there! :lol:

 

[nibblesandbits]

Oh, it was him!

Yeah...that's who it was.