Happy birthday, Gek!!!

Happy Belated Birthday to you too. As far as what you said on that other blog, do you really believe things went down the way the author described it?

I'm so embarrassed. When I first saw the photo of the gorgeous cake I didn't see the "birthday" at the bottom so I didn't realize it was your birthday! What a total dolt! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GF!!!

Peej, 's'okay GF. I had a marvelous day. Pampered like the Birthday Princess I am. It's a rule in the gekko household that the person having the birthday is The Birthday Princess and this starts about a week before the natal anniversary, and extends to a week beyond. My daughter invented that one year when she started getting cards beforehand, and somehow presents continued to trickle in the following week.

So We are still The Birthday Princess, and it is right and meet that you should wish us felicitations yea even two days past.

DFW (Steve):
If you could first explain your nick (screenname) to me? I presume the "Werny" refers to a surname, and you have a nickname of "Diamond Fist"? What's the story behind that?

Second: Happy belated to you. Don't think I wished you that on Mark's blog, so here 'tis.

Next: In the interests of full disclosure, let me start off by saying I am a troll. I prey upon peeps I perceive as being overly and needlessly aggressive, or those who I perceive as being overly whiny, either of who ALSO must appear to me to enjoy on-line sparring.

Also in the interests of full disclosure: I like Mark. He's bristly and takes offense easily and comes out swinging a -lot-, but he's a good-hearted soul. He and I started off our 'Net Relationship with fists a-swinging, as I trolled him up one side and down the other. We made peace.

So. Do I really believe things went down the way Mark described it? Somewhat. Dunno, don't care much about the interactions. I judged you based on your responses in the comments I read and you came off exactly as I stated in my comment.

See, I -know- that people see things through filters, usually ones set to make themselves seem a bit more gracious and right, a bit more justified. I know, too, that when they get upset about something, they tend to see only those bits of what their "sworn enemy" has done that underscore their own righteousness, and highlight the enemy's evilness.

And, in truth, you both overreacted and you're both being hyper-masculine dolts. But I lurves Mark anyway and I'm willing to let you be my buddy if you promise to call me "Your Highness."

:-)

"See, I -know- that people see things through filters...you both overreacted and you're both being hyper-masculine dolts."

I like the hyper-masculine part. I'll go with that.

"but he's a good-hearted soul."

Damn. My cover's been blown....

Oh yeah, 'bout this?

"But I lurves Mark anyway"

Thanks, Gek, back atcha.

You and PJ make a fine pair of peacemakers...

Gekko is not a peacemaker. Do not associate my peacemaking efforts, as annoying as they may be, with gekko's trollistic antics, as I am insulted at the comparison.

Oh sure, she's gone to bat for me maybe a million times on blogs and on the newsgroup. And yeah, she promotes my cookbook here on her blog. And then there were all those times when she stood up for her friends even when she personally got insulted in the process. And those occasions when she was the only diplomat in the crowd when everyone else was throttling each other. And then there was---

Oh screw it, call her a peacemaker then, see if I give a rip.

Okay, how about Princess Troll of the Everlovin' Internet and Sometime Peacemaker?

I could live with that.

If you ever read my blog you'll find that diamond fist werny is the names of the members of my band. I'm sorry you're a troll. It's not my style. But I appreciate you're being honest and upfront with me. The way Mark presented his story, was to leave out half the facts. And that's why I reacted. Wouldn't you?

"The way Mark presented his story, was to leave out half the facts. And that's why I reacted. Wouldn't you?"

Here's a fact Steve:

Cheese goes really well with the whine you're having.

Mark, I didn't realize it was whining to tell the truth. But it doesn't matter. You've created your reality, live with it bud :)

Steve: just because I nit-pick over words and meanings, and I am neither agreeing nor disagreeing with either of you, but the truth of a statement has nothing to do with whether the tone is "whining" or not.

If Suzie hits her little brother Taylor, and Taylor hits back, when Mommy yells at Taylor, he can truthfully say "But she hit me fiiirrrrrrsssttt!" and he could be whining, yes?

Also, one does not "create" a reality. Reality simply exists and we perceive it or fail to perceive it.

And, finally, it is not only possible, but extremely likely that any person, telling a story, will leave out many if not most of the facts. We each perceive different things, yes? We all continually skew our tellings according to what we are feeling. We filter things through our prior experiences and expectations. That's a simple human fact of life. I'm sure Mark left stuff out because Mark is as human as any one else. That's why judges have jobs, yes?

Mark left stuff out because Mark chose to leave things out. It made it easier to paint a skewed picture. That's not a filter and that's not the reality of the world. That's a perception which one deliberately chooses.

You know Steve, you came here and left a completely irrelevant and fuckwitted comment about me. That's called trolling, in my book. You can do what you want, anywhere you want but I reserve the right to point out when you're acting like a whiny little prick. And that would be right here, right now.

I hope we're clear on the facts about THIS particular disagreement.