Well. I'm not surprised to find such welcoming and warm vibes here at The Orchard. It's delightful to see that the ethos of OTR permeates this forum; and, of course, a recognition of something familiar helps tentative persons like myself step out of the shadows.

This is my first post. I've visited periodically since joining in March, but always felt too restless to sit down and begin a conversation. It began to feel a bit dishonest, frequenting this locale and eavesdropping on all your conversations. So. Now what do I say?

I'll start where numerous others have started:
Almost ten years ago, during my freshman year of college, my best friend began signing her emails with the phrase "What a beautiful piece of heartache this has all turned out to be." Before I ever heard a note of their music, I had the lyrics to "Latter Days" taped to my dorm room wall (people still ask me if I am most attracted to OTR's lyrics or music, I never can answer that question; love at first sight, love at first hearing). A copied cassette (yes, cassette) of Good Dog Bad Dog (now worn out) was all the OTR sustenance I had for about four or five years before picking up Films for Radio. Other than Drunkard's Prayer, my most recent acquisition was Linford's "Unspoken Requests." It made me jealous of Karin for the first time.

I finally saw them in concert this year - despite the fact that I lived outside Dayton, OH for two years, I never saw them in concert there. Instead, I chose to fly from NC to Los Angeles to see them this past May.
And now, I just purchased tickets for their Christmas concert(s), although I have no idea how I am getting to Ohio yet.

A brief run down of some personal info: I have moved four times since graduating from college, spent many summers away from home (stateside and abroad), and will likely move at least two more times in the next 5 years. First it was job changes, now it is graduate school. My wanderlust has been losing out to my desire for constancy and deeper roots. I'm in between degrees right now, teaching part time and trying to use the rest of my time to be with people I love and to write. Which means I'm rather poor most of the time! Right now I am writing a personal essay inspired by the molting process of tarantulas.

I'll stop here before I type four more paragraphs. There is plenty of time to talk. Looking forward to meeting some of you!

You have done well, grasshopper. (sorry, couldn't resist)

Thanks for saying hello, and welcome to the ranks of the posting. Are you an entymologist?

Yeees, Grasshopper learns quickly....

Ha! Entymologist would be one of the last 3 of my career choices. I have much fear and little empathy for most bugs - especially for spiders and the psychotic Men in Black bugs that live in my basement (aka, camel crickets). But grasshoppers have special status, and tarantulas are slowing charming me. Long stories go along with my changes of heart.

Other than a part-time college teacher, I am a writer, and the tarantula molting process has facinated me because of its personal metaphorical value. I'm trying to work up the courage to see one in person one day.

Anyone here own a tarantula?

Thanks for saying hi, keith. Great photo of you and Karin, by the way.

Hey grasshopper. Glad you're here. As you likely already know, it is truly a wonderful community.
John

i don't, but i did see one crossing the road a couple of months ago.

welcome to the orchard, grasshopper!

Welcome, grasshopper! No, no tarantulas here, have never seen one up close, lucky me! We have those furry wolf spiders out in the woods around here, though.

Well I've yet to see one in person. Nor do I know anyone who owns one - yet! I'm trying to work up the courage to "meet" one.

Thanks for saying hi!

Welcome Grasshopper!

Glad you could join us! See ya in the Orchard.

Shawn

PS No Tarantula here.

*waves* hi! great to have you around!



i don't, but i had a friend named victor who did. the spider's name was creepy. i was seriously disturbed by it, but slowly grew to be excited to go and see it...i never touched it, though.

it did have a red stick that it would play with...it would bat at the stick like it was a kitten...very weird.

good luck getting up the courage. looking forward to meeting you at taft!