Sorry and thank you.

[undergroundnomore]

First of all, I'm sorry I don't post as often as I would like. I'm working a full time job, taking care of my father-in-law who is ill, and trying to find a part-time job.

I haven't posted often because it's just easier to log in, read the great headlines and discussion that are here than it is to post. I wish I had more time to participate because it is really a warm welcome to see such thought provoking and lively discussions here.

On my first post, I decided to introduce myself and tell you all why I finally decided to join. Like I said, I really hoped I would have been able to post more.


This was my first post http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph... and as a couple of people said, I have a low post count. As a newbie, you are correct I do have a low post count.

I wanted to come back to the thread about my husband losing his job only because I wanted people to realize I had nothing to lose by coming out straight forward with the truth. It was one of those "Come To Jesus Moments" when I finally said, enough is enough and we really truly realized in a concrete way how important our vote was.

My husband worked for a company that manufactured coal cars. Back last June he told me that the company where he worked had back orders for these cars. So as you can see it seemed to us in our own little world that things would be relatively safe for us and our little town. The town of Cartersville, Ga depends on this company ( see link: http://www.romenewswire.com/index.php/2009/04/24/trinit... /)

In September there was a big meeting where the top people were getting awards and bonuses and slapping each other on the back. My husband, who had helped his boss earn that award, was told by his boss that the company was doing real well but if the election goes the wrong way and cap and trade comes in the company will have to make drastic cuts because coal companies (that plants biggest purchaser) would cancel their orders.

He had come home that night and we had talked about it a great deal. Does voting your conscience mean voting against your job? Was this all smoke and mirrors? A poke at my husband for having that Obama sticker on his car. We didn't know what to make.

It wasn't long after the election results came in that the mood at the plant had changed. According to my husband's boss the orders began drying up pretty soon after. He was told that companies had decided to hang on to old cars longer to save money in the face of new regulations that would cost them more.

The week he got laid off was a bad week. I got rear-ended earlier that week and couldn't go to work for a couple of days. My husband took two days off to be with me. He went back to work and he and maybe ten other people were called into personnel and let go. Mind you this was the day before Thanksgiving. Over the past several months we've watched as other people have been losing their jobs watching the plant close down.

I really do feel that Obama will work towards helping people, like my husband find new jobs in the new green initiatives.

I wish I had gone back to my original thread to answer. I guess that really ticked people off. Ever since all this has happened we've had to move, take in my father-in-law, who is in poor health, and the hits just keep coming.

Really I can understand why some people questioned my story. DUers are not the type of people who take things at face value. I wasn't asking for anything at the time. Just basically introducing myself and letting you know why I finally decided to speak out. I understand that there is a natural curiousity and a justifiable reason to ask "how true is that?" I understand.

Honestly though, and that goes for this post too. I get so caught up in the grind of life. The getting up going to work, supporting my family, caring for my father-in-law, trying to figure out how to pay the bills, make the check go further, and yes even help my husband try to find a job. It's the stretching the money thing that made me say hey "I'm going to push the envelope and enter a recipe contest." Now for some of you that's not pushing the envelope but for someone like me it really, truly is. I'm the girl you see at the party afraid to open her mouth because I am afraid no one will like me.

I wish I had gone back to the original thread because it appears that some people offered to help and I didn't realize it. Thank you again. Thank you for allowing me to be part of the site. I have found much of what I read here to be though provoking and helpful. I have learned so much.

Someone said I was not a member anymore and this is not true. I am. I will try to check back on my threads. I don't want to be a bad and inconsiderate person. So I'm asking for forgiveness for not participating as much as I would like. That won't stop me from coming and continuing to read the DU because it's my lifeline to the truth.

[Hepburn]

1. ....

...:hug:

[Fumesucker]

2. Welcome to DU..

Again?

On most boards I have seen there are usually a great many more lurkers than posters, sometimes a long time lurker will post but it's really two different mindsets.

I recall your previous post and the skepticism it drew, it's hard to be a low count poster just delurked and get hit with that level of questioning, I'm surprised you came back for more.

Good luck with your life, things aren't getting any easier out there.

[undergroundnomore]

4. lurker sounds

so ugly. kind of makes me want to shower. I always feel lurkers have bad intentions. I don't.

I don't blame Obama. Obviously my husband lost his job during the Bush administration. Obviously this company, like so many others, protected the guys at the top leaving others behind in the dust.

My husband does have a degree. I think we feel even worse for people who don't have the education that will lead them to a new job. With the plant closing soon and the local dealership closing this town will really be suffering.

I did hear on the news today that first time unemployment claims went down last month in Georgia. I think the well-thought out Obama stimulus plan will change this around. In the meantime there are lots of people that need help, need health care, and are grateful for a President who cares.

[Fumesucker]

7. But the real question is:

Why are there no posts in the lurkers forum? :)

It's just a word I'm used to using for those who read but do not post, I don't attach any negative connotation to it and didn't mean for you to feel that way. I know people that never post and yet read online constantly, I don't feel superior except perhaps I've honed my rhetoric a bit better than those who never post.

There could be a lot of reasons for first time unemployment claims to have dropped that don't necessarily mean fewer people have lost jobs.

Oh, I'm right down US41 from you..

[undergroundnomore]

9. wow how

cool. Over towards Rome?

I believe you are right about honing your rhetoric a bit better than those who never post. It's funny because I get up in front of young people every day. I can handle that.

When I got to small neighborhood parties or new situations with adults I don't know I clam right up. I lack a great deal in the self-esteem department. I was hoping that getting involved with an online-community would help me get better at overcoming this fear.

Just last Christmas we went to a new neighbor's house and I was so nervous I almost threw up before I left the house. When I was young, if I went to a big party I brought a book and tried to hide until I felt comfortable in the situation. Everyone has "issues" and quirks and that's mine. I'm working on it and trying to face my fears.

Yes I feel a little bad that some people misunderstood where my original post was headed. I think some people, people who worked in Petro, Defense, and Coal, understood what I was saying. The higher ups kept dropping hints that the "WRONG PERSON" (translate to be not McCain) would cause them to lose their bonuses and people like my husband to lose their jobs. It was sort of a threat they held over the employees. We voted our conscious and would vote for Obama again. We have no regrets. What I'm trying to say is that I wonder how many other people decided to be threatened in to voting differently. After all no threats are made just words to the effect that you could be voting yourself right out of a job.

I believe Obama has a clear and well thought out path to how to fix all that the previous administration has wrought upon us.

[Fumesucker]

11. I'm down in Dallas..

A key to handling social situations for the shy person is to collect and memorize some stock phrases that sound a bit witty and off the cuff and then practice delivering them until it becomes automatic. We have to work at what comes naturally to a lot of people.

If you can handle kids you can handle adults, kids are often more perceptive and quick to pick up on your insecurities than are many adults.

I always try to make the initial conversation about the other person, pick up a few cues about what they might be interested in and you can usually find something to talk about that you have in common, people dearly love to talk about themselves and won't usually take much prompting to do so.

Rhetoric is like anything else, some people have talent that others lack but practice is what really makes the words dance. As Mark Twain said, the difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between the lightning and the lightning bug.

[undergroundnomore]

12. Dallas Georgia

When my husband first moved down here from Virginia he lived in Dallas, Georgia. A year later we married and we lived in Rome. He lived right near the Walmart over there in Dallas. One of my co-workers used to teach in Paulding County Schools.

You are correct about young people being perceptive. They are. Often I have to ask kids to give presentations in front of the class and they are hesitant to do so. I relate to them how nervous I am talking in front of adults and they just laugh. They think it's funny that I would EVER have a problem because I keep them laughing.

A couple of years ago I had to do a presentation before the School Board about Technology and I could almost hear myself tripping over my words. I was afraid they wouldn't take me seriously. When it was over several of the Board members came over and told me what a great job I did.

I am working on it so maybe this will give me some courage to do better.

Thanks.

[Fumesucker]

14. The better informed you are the more confident you will become..

One advantage of arguing online is that you pretty quickly pick up all the arguments on a given subject, people will rarely find anything new to zap you with in real life if you've been talking the same stuff online. It's a great deal of fun to set someone up, have them give you you a slow floater over the plate and you just rhetorically blast it into the bleachers.

If you can keep a room full of kids laughing you can do the same to the adults and have them eating from your hand.

You sound like a fun teacher, I just went on a field trip with my oldest granddaughter's class and got along great with her teacher, she's retiring this year so I used her camera to get a lot of shots of her and the kids together.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

3. Welcome to DU,

and I hope things go well for you.

I have no idea why people questioned your motives or your status. I suppose the need to punish, o r the need to exclude sometimes trumps common sense and kindness.

Good luck...................

[RebelOne]

5. Hi, neighbor. I'm just down the road from you.

I live in Woodstock, GA. Welcome to DU and come back more often. Hope your husband finds a job soon.

[undergroundnomore]

6. hey thanks

When my husband had a job we lived over in Acworth. I had applied for a job over in Woodstock but didn't get it. I'm working in Rome. I'm very concerned for all the people in Dalton. Dalton and the carpeting factories are really being hit hard by the recession.

I know it will turn around but sometimes when you see how others are suffering it can be difficult. Thank God we don't still have a President who has to be told he's not wearing any clothes.

I believe Obama understands how important it is to change the corporate culture of the US and put an end to sending US jobs overseas.

[peace13]

8. Don't let the turkey's get you down!

I lurked for over two years and then only posted every once in a while while continuing to read a lot. If my comments were not with the mainstream I would be called a troll. It took a long time for that to change. If I hear people use that term I try to comment. I am sorry that yo have had a hard tome but put that behind you and remember to ignore the unkind comments. There are some unhappy folks out here. Peace, Kim

[Adelante]

10. Welcome to DU

Best of luck to you and your family :hi:

If it's any comfort, I have lots of posts in my count and I get beat up every so often. Everyone does.

[Maru Kitteh]

13. Goodness gracious. Don't let anyone here make you think you are a "bad" person. EVER.

Like the rest of the world there are some bullies here but don't ever let them make you feel you have some kind of obligation to them. You don't. I didn't read your post, but I'd like to extend my sympathy. I'm sorry things are going poorly right now and I hope they get better very soon.

Welcome to DU.

[CrispyQ]

15. Welcome to DU, undergroundnomore!

One of my first posts on DU was to inquire about John Kerry's military service. All I wanted to know was if his service record was available online. Several DUers accused me of being a troll & trying to stir up trouble. I almost didn't come back. Then a kind soul, who I'll never forget, responded that I was being unfairly attacked, that it was a legitimate question & that I was not necessarily a troll just because I had a low post count. I felt vindicated enough to stick around. I hope you do too.

One of the other posters was right when they said that the more you read forums like this the more articulate you will become in voicing your opinions & rebutting others. It's a good skill that will build your confidence. You may also find some of your world views challenged & that's good, too.

Great screen name!

[undergroundnomore]

17. why undergroundnomore

Generally I try to abide my Mom's advice not to stir the pot. I usually try to avoid hot button discussions because I either don't want to hurt other people's feelings or I don't feel I'm afraid someone will try to make me look foolish for my point of view. Sort of like the quote: "It's better for people to think you a fool, than to open your mouth and prove them right."

It made me upset to hear people talk with such vitriol against Obama when the same people seemed perfectly fine with the CRAZY, STUPID things that Bush did. I would occasionally interject facts to some of the crazy ramblings I heard. When I did the mood of the conversation jumped to hyper level and I would find an excuse to leave and avoid that person.

I picked the name undergroundnomore because I said, "You know I'm almost 50 and I have to learn to stand on my own two feet, say what I have to say, and if the truth hurts, then I'm sorry but I can't change facts."

So here I am and it's sort of like riding a tricycle, and at age 49 no less.

In the past I've been more of a doer. I've always taught in inner-city schools because I believe they deserve a quality education. That's what I try to deliver. If I had waited for Daddy Bush and his son to deliver then I'd still be wishing and waiting.

I believe that in America we shouldn't have people who go to bed hungry. My husband and I try to buy things with coupons to donate to the local food bank and the Habitat For Humanity. (BTW they take clothes, furniture, building supplies, etc. to help fund their projects. You can also buy from them to help support their mission).

You can say I'm underground because my voice hasn't been out there. A spectator I am not. I appreciate all your advice. I'm trying. Really. Talk about old dog and new tricks. woof woof.

[cwydro]

16. Welcome to DU!

Everyone is a newbie once.

[Coyote_Bandit]

18. Welcome to DU

:hug:

Don't let the bastards get you down!

If I may, I'd like to recommend liberal use of the ignore and hide thread options. They make my DU expereience far better. I am not obligated to entertain commentary from folks who I find rude, offensive, bigotted, etc. Nor am I obligated to entertain commentary that is clearly intended to provoke an argument (and give offense) rather than a thoughtful discussion. Obviously, you can form your own criteria of whom and what to ignore, if anything.

I also find it good to take a break from DU from time to time.

[undergroundnomore]

19. Thank you Good advice

My students are taking their exams today so I actually have a little time to get on here and post.

[unhappycamper]

20. Welcome to DU undergroundnomore!

It's not how much you post; it's what you post.

I'm sending hugs your way from Boston :hug: .

[undergroundnomore]

21. thanks for that

welcome from Boston. I went to Boston years ago in my youth.

I saw your little avatar about out of Iraq now and I want to thank you for that. My son is stationed there now. I can't tell you how happy he and his fellow soldiers are to have a commander in chief who actually knows what he's doing. He regretted that he wasn't stationed at the base Obama came to visit. He would have loved to see him as would his fellow soldiers.

[roody]

22. Welcome to DU. I read that other thread.

Some DUers are super-sensitive about Obama and took your statements of what had happened all wrong. Ignore is your friend. I hope things get better economically for you and your son comes home safely.