Well its finally upon me (and you guys, who have been so patiently and not so patiently waiting for the past few days)
post # 10,000. To paraphrase one of my favorite characters, whos big and blue (also a favorite), and once was stuck inside a lamp for a certain number of years
10,000 posts can you give you such a crick in the wrist! Oy.
It seems like only a month ago I was writing something about my 9,000th post but in actuality, it was sometime last summer. Its kind of hard to believe that it is already here but when you personally post several times on nearly 35 different pages in one 5 or 6 hour period
driving that post count up by a couple of hundred alone
its entirely possible to be here so soon. I have a few things to say, but I dont want to bore anyone either. But its my moment, so Im going to capitalize on it anyway.
When I first started here on the DIS, I was strictly a lurker. I looked for quite a while reading, reading, and reading. I lurked for several months about 6 I believe - before I ever signed up and joined. At that time we were still looking at DVC and weighing our options. I wanted to be sure I knew and understood it all as well as I could. The DIS sure helped in that regard.
After joining, I stayed on the DVC boards quite a little bit, getting myself out there slowly, bit by bit. I didnt quite feel comfortable on such a public forum. I am, afterall, by nature (whether you might think so or not), very much an introverted guy (hard to believe after 10,000 posts, I'm sure, but it is very true... my Meyer-Briggs is INTJ -with a VERY STRONG
I. I would rather hang out behind the scenes and make things happen, rather than being out in front getting the praise and glory. I slowly began to explore other parts of this DIS, posting occasionally on a board here or there when I found a topic interesting. Then I found the DIS Dads Club. It seemed right up my alley. A bunch of guys (85 to be exact) that shared several things in common with me, and I started to settle in. Soon I was sending things to our founder, The Disney Fanatic to add to the membership list. You can thank me for at least 20 of those items alone, if not more. Having fun with chillcoupons during his wifes pregnancy (who happened to have a little girl whom I just adore!), and going back and forth with DisneyFed while he was stationed in the Middle East, and their little guy showing up on to the scene as well. I'm not going to mention anyone else - simply because I don't want to leave anyone out - but we've all been around through all 7 threads, and have had some great conversations, etc throughout.
For a while, and in an effort to get my post count up, I found the games threads over in the Theme Parks Community section and had a lot of fun over there. Too much fun in fact. I burned out on those, and have absolutely no desire to go back now. I would check those threads multiple daily for a long time, and post away. Adding trivia here and there, challenging others and finding lots of fun in those silly, mindless games. But after all that time wandering and wading through other boards and threads - my favorite one to be is the DDC, with my second favorite place to hang out being the DVC threads.
The DDC started to grow with the closing out of the original thread, and my good friend Christian opening up the second round. More guys, more fun. Then closing out that round, and starting in with the third iteration. It just kept growing and going and here we are well in to the seventh edition - and even still I personally have dominated about 10% of it.
Like the funny little bunny of battery fame. To be sure that the DDC is an endearing part of my DIS time or legacy if you will the combined DDC threads represent about 20% of my total posting. Even if all of the other areas Ive posted in were removed this would be the one place I enjoy being the most.
I continued my quest (if you can call it that) to broaden my horizons and started to post on still other threads. Some I liked and stuck with for a while, others I high-tailed it right out of due to the feel or vibe given off. One other thread really struck my fancy almost as much as this one did. That was the WVL Groupies thread. Yeah its found in the DVC boards, but its really all about the Lodge and those owners and lovers who adore it. And I am one of those people - especially since the Wilderness Lodge is my hands-down favorite resort at Walt Disney World. And it is my second favorite thread, and has some of my very favorite non-dads & dads who haven't yet found there way over to the DDC (despite my nudgings and urgings...) over there. It is then followed closely by my other love - the VGC Thread since that is my other favorite resort - hands-down my favorite resort period.
Between both of the primary threads mentioned I have found some really cool people, whom I enjoy hanging out with, even if just virtually. Friends and acquaintances many of whom I have not yet met in person several of whom I have and several of whom I cant wait to see again, and again, and again. I've been to dinner with some, breakfast with others, hung out in the theme parks with others, and even been graciously invited in to the home of a dear DDC friend, sitting in his living room, enjoying his lovely family. Some of you it feels like we go way, way back - even if that isn't the reality. I've enjoyed getting to "know" several of you better via alternate mediums as well, such as Facebook, regular email, texting and phone conversations.
For a long time I enjoyed posting on our "other" DDC home - that wonderful addition thanks to AJ - Disdads.com. That was such fun posting all kinds of Disney theme park trivia - I really need to get back to that, but lost time for a while. As things settle down again within the family (I'm hoping) I fully intend to re-engage with that. It was a lot of fun digging up trivia to share with the dads.
Miles separate most of us - many miles. That is so often the way with this kind of 21st century social group all online. Very questionable in many settings, definitely, but somehow the love of all things Disney bridges those cyber gaps and brings people together. Something I never would have even thought possible just a dozen years ago and today I have dear friends who care, who pray for situations when asked, who ask advice, who seem to think for some reason that I know and can provide some answers for their Disney questions (perhaps it's because of the info in my signature line and how often I've been?
- perhaps it's just because I talk a good game and can throw out all kinds of trivia, facts, figures and opinions in a heartbeat... I'm not really sure), and still others who even responded in gracious ways to help me make my lovely brides 40th Birthday come off so well.
Sure we are all coming from different places in the country, are of different creeds, ethnicities, beliefs on the political spectrum, ages, life stages, number of kids, and years of marriage but we somehow get along, mainly because of the commonality we have - the love for our children, and the love for a magical land that exists because of one mans hopes and dreams. Not many of you have visited my first Disney love the place where the magic started 56 years ago, and the place that if it were never built, no other kingdoms would exist but you have been able to visit through many of my stories and photos that I have shared both here and in my various trip reports. I hope that someday each of you might be able to experience it firsthand for yourselves as well as for, and with, your kids. We all love the second magical land that was created on the eastern side of this country, and her sister parks raised up during the past 40 years. Still others of you have visited the cousins magical lands built in other countries places I hope to visit someday. No matter which Disney park is your favorite or which you have or have not yet visited they are 11 lands of wonder and enjoyment that I hope to continue to share with my family for many, many years to come. I also hope to meet more of you in those wonderful places in the months & years to come too.
So there you go. My time is up. Ive had my little say, and weve all gotten the delight in seeing my numbers increase by one. No longer am I a 4 digit poster, but now a 5 digit poster and Im just 9,999 posts away from being able to do this again for 20,000! No doubt 15,000 will garner some attention, but until then know that I have enjoyed thinking about this post in particular for the past week. Specifically I have enjoyed the banter, speculation and yeah, the ask stopher questions that mainly Ron and Brian threw at me a few nights ago trying to get me to this point. There were others too, but Ron and Brian spearheaded it. It was fun guys. Ive also enjoyed leaving my laptop on and logged in pretty much all day today to leave my little green light on. Sometimes its just fun messing around after all Im a guy! I may be grown up, but by golly, Ill never actually GROW UP. Age is something I cannot escape total maturity is. Heck, if I allowed myself to completely mature, then I would not enjoy Disney parks, resorts, movies and stuff as much as I do
See ya real soon!
Too bad you don't get paid by the word! 
) Roads in downtown Bagdad are probably better then the ones in NJ
