2/15/2000

How I propose to Manage The Toilet Paper Chronicles Forum in the Future

First off, the Bad News. Apologies if you have to wade through this epistle twice.

Now, the Good News: Only those who are on TP Chronicles forum alert status will be remotely tempted to read a redundant message. The duplicate heading should be a clue to hit the delete button.

And for those who have no clue regarding the subject matter of this post, (As in The Toilet Paper Chronicles? Whats THAT?) go here, and click on the sneak preview link. It should tell you all you need to know or all you WANT to know, whichever comes first...)

Start Page for The Toilet Paper Chronicles

I absolutely adore the people whove signed up for this forum and are helping me in the birthing process of this book, either through their online semi-public posts or their private emails. In fact, I revere them so much that my husband has been tempted on occasion to toss my computer out the window in the same fashion as Linda Ellerbee, when she dropped the family television from a second-story window because her husband was just too consumed with sports. Or--as the Europeans say, sport.

Now, you might ask--and rightly so--why on Earth would the husband of a future best-selling author [grin] be tempted to rid himself of the very instrument that might lead his wife to produce something of lasting historical value? (Note: I did NOT say something that might lead his wife to produce something that could enrich the family through fame and fortune. Why not? Because, quite simply, I have been as famous as I would ever choose to become. Ive had enough face-time to last a life-time. If any one of you reading this post has ever been asked to sign autographs while grocery shopping, you know what I mean. Likewise, fortune--at least in the conventional sense, i.e., the Vanderbilts, etc.,--also has its pitfalls.)

In short, the answer to the above question is quite simple: your private email messages, combined with your postings to the forum and the work associated with getting this book out the door have been so fascinating that I have quite often worked through the night and barely looked at the clock. This does not make for productive day-time functioning.

(Thank you Thomas Edison for inventing the light-bulb, but instances like these tend to be overkill.)

Accordingly, my plan for managing this forum, from here on out, will be to check in around 9:00 a.m. Eastern time, and once again in the evening, after Ive finished helping the Rug Rat with homework.

If there are urgent messages in the meantime, I hope my two volunteer Sysops/Administrators both of whom I trust, will be able to spell me.

If any of you wish to climb on board as additional Sysops (what a weird acronym but that is a story for another day) I trust the ones I have NOW to bring YOU onboard. They know who they are. Like our legendary DiETer--who always seems to know when I invoke his name in my writings--I trust that these voluntary sysops may somehow receive your message should you wish to join their ranks. How? Well, first get a password to the forum. Then, post a thread expressing your desire to become a Sysop.

Now, no matter what forum this message eventually appears on--and I suspect it will be copied and forwarded to many--Id like all of you (Alleged Doomers, Pollys, Trolls, etc.) to know that I wish the very best for you in the months and years ahead.

What an incredible experience this Y2k journey has been. Its certainly one for the history books.

Blessings,

:)

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), February 15, 2000

Answers

Marriane Michaels I HATE YOU.

My life has become a living HELL because of y2k!

-- Diane J. Squire (djsquire@indiana.edu), November 29, 2000.