ROLL CALL -- Optional -- Love to hear from you! :) (2,211 views)

Thanks, emptynestmom! Things aren't really all that busier, but my priorities sure have changed! What career?! LOL. I had no problem whatsoever disconnecting from my "old" job and moving on to my "new" job. LOVE it!!!

I'm Vicci (VictoriaL on the old site), age 58, and had been on the CL Boards since March 2003. In the last couple of years I've lurked more than posted, but hope to reverse that. Last year DH and I moved from an old farmhouse on 50 acres in southwest PA, where I spent almost 30 years restoring the 1865 house and adding many gardens and other outdoor things. We now live in a brand new home in Delaware, but still cannot stop planting things and making new gardens (luckily I will have to stop at some point, we only have 1/3 acre now!).

When we lived in PA we had, at one poiont, 4 dogs and 8 cats. That number slowly dwindled until, as we were building our current home, our last cat died from kidney failure. After 18 months with no pets (we were selling our farm and moving, so we didn't really notice how lonely it was...), we were given a tiny black feral kitten on closing day in May 2015. We brought Shadow here, and this past February we adopted a long-haired black cat, Onyx, and a newfoundland/lab/? mix puppy. Life will never be the same!

I love to cook and bake, and after several months of not being quite sure how to make new friends, I have become a part of our community. I regularly play pickleball (a huge thing, because previously the only sport I've ever participated in was running, solo), bike the lovely oceanside trails around here, and have recently started beading with a couple of my new friends. And I'm still unpacking!!!

And getting used to a warmer climate with the addition of hot flashes... ugh...

I'm very happy that so many CL members are over here now, and can't believe that nobody at the CL corporate thought of those Boards to be worth saving. Fools! Thanks to those who worked so hard getting this site ready for the transition!

I have not seen Jeanne around in a long time. I son't know if anyone is in touch with her, but I do have the files and have repeatedly said I would get them to anyone who wanted them. I had been asking for a pause while we figured out whether we wanted to do an update - part 2 or second edition, now that the CLBB is down. My main concern was the chance that ime or anyone might have interest in a true publication. I don't see that happening, and I'm not sure about a part 2. Even though we had another 12 years - probaby double what went into the first compilation, in other threads, I think we have 3 nominated recipes.

I don't know what the page count is, but it is near 1.2 MB of data. I just did a test and sent the files to my sons. I want to verify that I can both send and that they can receive an attachment that large. Back in 2004, none of us could. If they can be emailed, it will make life much easier.

I could really relate to your words about how cooking helps you keep your balance. DH and I have also had a very rough year, and I have found that even on a bad day emotionally, when I'm cooking a calm comes over me and I start feeling happier. There's something about creating food in the kitchen that's very soothing. I'm sorry to hear you've had a bad year soupandstew! Hope things are getting better for you.

Thank you for your compassion and kindness.  It helps to know someone else finds a refuge from external turmoil in the process of creating good food.  I too hope you and your DH find a smoother path ahead.

Welcome to another Omaha Person!!!! I guess I never knew you were from here when I would see you post on the CLBB...Just wanted to say "Go Cubs!!!!"  My MIL is going to be 87 and says she just wants to see the Cubs win the World Series before she dies!!!

Can this thread be stickied so it's always at the top (assuming you think that's a good idea)?

Varaile (Kristin IRL). I honestly can't remember when I signed on to the CLBB 2001? maybe? It was my first blog, I lurked, I waffled, I was terrified from all warnings about joining blogs (thus the strange name), and with a trembling finger I hit "join". Never regretted it! I learned SO much from everyone.

Me? I live in Duluth, MN. Hubby of 26 years, Ben (English Setter, 14 1/2), Andy (Brittney/Golden mix - rescue). And I just discovered the Great British Bake Off and binge watching Season 1.

So glad to see so many familiar and new names!


Kristin, fellow animal lover -- It's a pleasure to have you here. ~ Catbatty

Hi! I'm Wendy. I joined the clbb back in the summer of 2000. I used to post as Wendy w. I haven't been on the board in ages unless to find an old thread or recipe. Someone alerted me to the existence of this group, and it is so nice to see so many old names and new ones.

I am 57, single, and live in my childhood home in Southern California. I have 3 birds and Boomer the Wonder dog who is a rescue. Hello to all!

Hello and welcome Wendy!! That sweet person who recently told you where we are deserves a HUGE REWARD! (And I know who she is.) We all hope you will feel right to home here, among your old and new foodie friends.

Catbatty

Is that Boomer in your profile pic? He is so handsome and looks like a cuddler.

Nice to meet you too Pat!

Better late than never...

Catbatty (Brenda) here. Native to Southern California but moved away as an adult, so I've lived in Idaho, Texas, Montana and now Oregon. Belonged to many MasterCook email groups and other recipe email groups...for past 21 years. I also joined the old Cooking Light forum back in 2002 or 2003. My buddy across the country, Bev, and I started this new group (GFF) when notice went up that CLBB was shutting down. It was a wonderful forum where members could talk about any source of food or recipes. Since that group had been around for over 20 years, we all thought that it would be a very sorry thing to all lose the wonderful online world that members had all built. SO, here we are and we hope to keep group alive and bring in new people into our world as well. Everybody is welcome! We love hearing from you, too--even if it's just HELLO! I would love to know what brought people here and why they joined. Such fun!!

PS: I am retired. Met my husband at 40 (never give up hope!)...3rd times a charm! He is a dream (9 years my junior, smart, cute and very kind--plus he LIKES to COOK!). We have now been very, very happily married a loooong time. Our present 'kid' is our cat (Winnie) and we finally got my two teens raised--long ago--and they are on their own (one in Oregon and one in Rhode Island), plus we have one granddaughter.

Would love to hear about YOU if you want to!! Welcome to The Great Food Forum!

Welcome to all new members!! And to everyone - IT's ALMOST SPRING!!!!! Oh, but anyway... I thought perhaps this thread needs to come back up BEiNGS that...we have many new members and friends yet to meet!!!! I'm so thrilled to see us all together...new folks, old folks, ONE BIG FAMILY!!!!!

So, WHO are YOU?  If u care to tell us anything and everything about yourself. (NOT a requirement...just sayin'...it's so fun to read down through our list of friends!!)

In fact, you who have ALREADY posted, please feel free to edit or update your post here on this thread. We NEVER get tired of hearing about you. ANYTHING you might want to add. SO FUN!!!!!!!!!! May you find THE PERFECT recipe today!! HUGS!

Catbatty