Hello everyone! My name is ScreamingMeemie (Laura) [View all]

[ScreamingMeemie]

I joined DU in 2003 (as MrsGrumpy) as a 32 year old, frustrated and angry housewife. At the time, my daughter (DUer WannaBeGrumpy) was 12 and my son was 4. I was (still am) a diehard Deaniac and time has made some of those Primary battles seem like fun. Okay...not really. I wove daily DU visits into the fabric of our lives and DU helped turn my Libertarian leaning husband into a more active Dem than I. I have enjoyed meeting DUers in person and have found that we really are nice people, especially in person. In 2007 my husband passed away and the care and concern we received online, and in person, from DU still blows me away. I can never impress how much that meant to me.

Shortly thereafter I went off the deep end a little bit and took a break from DU. But DU stays with a person. I came back as ScreamingMeemie and am glad I made that decision. These days, I am mother to a grown up (*sob)22 year old woman, a 13 year old son and am active in suicide prevention. My favorite group is the Sports forum, where you will often find me advocating for respect in trash talk, the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Tigers. My son is an avid Lions fan (how the heck did that happen?).

My tip is this: I have found that, should you find your blood pressure rising, take a breath, step back, don't post that thing you were going to post, and come back later.

This is an excellent forum. Thank you Skinner, EarlG and elad.