h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I know that I've been bouncing back here once in a while, but seeing what's happening at hootoo, and looking around, I think I'll settle in again.

What's been happening?

Well, I got laid off in Jan. 2009. Not a good thing, as we had taken TJ's Mom into our home so we could be caregivers. I had time, but we were short on money! I have to say, if it wasn't for the money, I would have enjoyed the time off more!

The whole caregiving thing didn't turn out well, and my MIL moved back to her home after living with us for 9 months. She just wanted to be home. Luckily, TJ's siblings stepped up and have been caring for her.

With all of my free time, and my lovely large yard, I started my first veggie garden, and found that I love gardening! I even started doing some canning, if you can believe it! Pickles and salsa are my two specialties.

I finally got a "temporary part time" position in October 2010. Very low pay, and rather far to commute, but it closed the gap in my resume. So I took it. Nobody there was happy. It was a miserable place to w*rk. There was very little talking. They had me training everybody in Flash, so I got to talk with a few of them, but it really wasn't great.

Thank goodness, after job hunting for over 2 years, I finally got a full-time position at a wonderful place! Almost too good to be true! I love it so far. I'm just finishing my first month there. Happy, friendly people, w*rk that I love, and 2 1/2 miles from home. Pretty good! Unfortunately, they're moving a half an hour away in the middle of July. That's my luck!

TJ and I are still together, still very much in and happy! So, I have people who love me, a job, and a home! Can't ask for a lot more than that!

It's nice to be back, hootoo!

Glad to hear things are going well now. It's hard to imagine how many changes there have been in your life in the years since we met.

Say hi to TJ for me!

Oh, and Welcome Home!

Putting the band back together. s all round.

Clive! Wow, it *is* like old times!

It certainly is!

I feel a distinctly British need for at this happy juncture.

PF - I think the apples have now fermented to perfection.

Shea, what's your poison?

I remember when all this was and will be again.

for me,

I guess I wandered off when so many of my friends wandered off too. It's delightful to have so many old friends back here!

Hmmm, is it a good idea to mix one's drinks across different threads? Oh, well, why not!

Don't forget to stick your little finger out as you drink that , Clive

I just got a great visual of that picture I have of him, drinking a beer with his pinkie sticking out and wearing a tiara!

I can imagine that!

Great to see so many old friends around this neighbourhood again Do you reckon Draggers might drop by at some point? Perhaps BobnElly? Maybe even *gasp* Uncle Heavy's shirt?

I'd like to see them all! Elly was about a few months back, I think...

I'm in touch with all of them on FB. Except for UH. Wonder what ever happened to him?

I heard he imploded and he became a super-massive blackhole

He appears to be writing for the Indy...

Really?!

I've got BobNElly on FB too, but haven't heard from either one in ages.

Same here--once we're settled into our new place, expect lots of posts on FB from me about h2g2, and being able to move back into original user accounts, and so forth. Not only will I be trawling for those that have elvised, but I've got some family members who would fit right in

Hootoo has a new future. The third so far. We have every right to be optimistic

I'm glad you're back, Shea.

I'm retired now. My life doesn't seem to have changed all that much. I do more of the things I used to do in my spare time -- go to movies, exercise, read, etc. The difference is that I'm not battling large crowds when I see movies on Saturday or Sunday. I can have the theater almost to myself on a Monday afternoon. When I swim, I don't have to go after work, but can do it in midmorning.

I've picked up some hobbies, like raising flowers along the sides and front of my house.

I'm on a committee to help provide programs for the library I used to work at.

I write more short stories for H2G2.