Here's mine, but it's not related to GW.

I've been online talking to people for 19 years. Beginning with Prodigy. I've met "forever" friends 19 years ago and we still talk daily!

Anyway, in our emails we usually use the initials of our family members since we all know each other. My dh's initial is "F." So when I refer to F, they know who I'm talking about.

Not long ago I was at the pharmacy picking up some meds for dh. I said, "I need this for F." Steve (the pharmacist and a neighbor) looked at me like I was nuts! lol. Then I had to explain why I called dh "F."

This is a cute topic, btw.

When you are out shopping and find something that would be perfect in another GWs home.
You are more familiar with the decor of GWs houses than IRL friends.
You talk about GWers like they live next door.
You collect paint chips and paint samples cause they are pretty.

When you can't make a decorating decision before consulting the experts here.

I am afraid that I will be in a conversation someday and actually refer to my husband as dh. Seriously.

I'll be talking to my mom or sister's or girlfriend's and I'll say, well Tina from Tennessee said or Lynn from New Mexico cooked or Allison from Alabama has something like that. They just roll their eyes thinking I'm taking another virtual tour with strangers. (lol)

It's funny though I have never told them the name of the site, this is where I can share my own private thoughts and idea's on my own virtual tour. Interesting subject!

I talk about you all to DH and Aimee, using your usernames like they are your real names. "Who is Whitdobe?," they ask. " You remember the border collie puppy I showed you pics of... Whitdobe is Jovie's mom. You know, the pup we're training to be an agility star?" (Note the 'we' in the sentence...)

I love this. I have come SO close to referring to DH as DH in real life - and then laughed out loud when I managed to stop myself, so people STILL wonder about me.

I canÂt count the number of times I have been out just window shopping, and spotted things that would be perfect in some GWÂs home, particularly if it is related to a project that Âwe have been working on.

The worst part for me of going back to work full time, besides not being able to pick up my younger son from school and hear about his day right away, has been losing time here.

I refer all the time to people Âon the board and their experiences, as well as relying on your opinions and experiences. I am sure some people must think I actually know all of you, or at least that I have met you!

But most of all, I would like to think that the title should be changed to "You know you have been hanging out on GW for the right amount of time", because I enjoy this place so much, have gotten so much support and wonderful comments from so many here, and have loved the mutual sharing of time, talent and treasure..

All my in real life friends and family know about you guys. You're my 'forum friends'. My business partner, Paula, never has done forums, never will but she does read every now and then and when I mention threads, topics or people she often knows exactly what I'm talking about. Don't know if that means I hang out too long or not, but that's just the way it is! :)

Yesterday, I was at the hardware store to pick up a tack cloth and saw Dirtex on the shelf. I knew I HAD to buy Dirtex because someone on GW said so. Then I came home to do a search on why I needed it. (It was sheesharee with paintguy on the paint forum with the steps to clean.)

I always have GW members on my mind. I went to a paint store yesterday and the owner asked me how I heard about FPE. I said I saw it on different forums on the internet. He looked very confused. I could tell that he had never been on a forum before.

Anyhoo, he had just bought the store two weeks ago. As he was talking to me all I could think about was if the cupcake thing doesn't work out for ttodd, she should get a paint store!

. . . when you buy a Ben Moore fan deck so that you can keep up with the conversations. And it sits next to the computer monitor.

OK, so I had another reason for buying it, but secretly I was so happy to be able to be able to quickly reference colors talked about here. (Everything at myperfectcolor.com looks pinkish-brown on my monitor.)

Ok, I have thought about that graywings, I feel so left out. How much is it?

They cost somewhere between $17 and $20 depending on who is selling them. And there are two of them. I bought the Classic Colors version.

You can buy them? I thought only decorators could get them. D'OH!! Off to the BM store!fun fun!
I have referred to my husband as DH in emails to friends and family- they have no idea who I am talking about.

You know ............

when your DH goes golfing on the most beautiful sunday afternoon of august,
and you're stuck home because you broke your baby toe and it's black and blue and hurts like hell and you don't really care because you know you'll find something to read on the home decorating forum, as you sit there with your foot elevated.

Oh, mitch!! A broken toe sounds terrible! Maybe especially to me right now because I will be doing lots of walking in pumps this week. I can't imagine having a broken toe. How did you do it?

Ouch, Mitchdesj.

Fan decks. That was one thing that was on my christmas list a few years back because of the concept of participating here, of course. LOL So my older son (probably 18 at the time) headed off to the SW store to get one. When he told the guy why he wanted it, the man GAVE the fan deck to him for free, because he thought that was such a nice thing for Jason to do for his mom.

Thinking of that, I do need to get a couple of new ones, this time BM as well as SW!

I bumped it on the corner of a wall, stupid really, I was bare foot. It made a crunching sound, lol...
A baby toe should heal fast though.
I'll have to postpone my fall shoe shopping I had planned.
I have a few pairs of flip flops with a flower on top, it hides it a bit.

Feel better soon! How about a few pair of these in the interim?

socks

You overhear one son tell another son about the Border Collie puppy that "mom seems to be obsessed with lately and it doesn't even belong to someone she knows, but she's watching it grow up on the web." I think they're worried about old weird mom. ; (

Sorry about the toe, Mitch. Major bummer.

I know I haven't been hanging out on gw long enough!
I went back to work a few months ago and now all I do is lurk and look forward to jumping in again. I love checking in and seeing what you all are up too!

deedee

When a member posts about a decorating/fashion conundrum and you spend ... well, a long time, searching for just the right thing so you can post a link.

Not that *I* have ever done anything like that.

This thread is cracking me up. I don't say "DH" but have started to say "Dear Husband" more than once! Threads seem to stick in my mind when I'm out shopping or online.

My children used to tease me about my "internet friends." Especially when I went to the swamps of Missouri to meet a dozen of them! Demifloyd has become a very close friend. We talk at least once a week and have traveled together three times, not including the week I spent at her house. ;D She's been to mine too, but only a short visit and lunch when driving through.

I had to laugh at newdawn's "Tina in Tennessee" etc since I've been known to to the same thing. Then I realize it sounds like I have no "in town" friends, so I start leaving the states off. lol

My closest two in town friends think it's great. DD2 cannot give me any more grief since she just married a guy she met through her online church website. lol

So now I'm "Tina in Tennessee"? Well just this morning I thought of questions to ask both Jane (newdawn) and Allison (another thread). LOL

I show my hubby pics on this board and a blog I keep up with. He is becoming quite fond of Jovi and a baby girl that I have followed since before her birth (blog). We antique together and he gets a kick when we see something and I'll say "I saw this on GW or such and such blog!" heehee.

That's neat about DD2 Allison. I didn't know that was how they met. We have two couples at work who met through on-line dating. Both married now for a few years . . .

tina

Bumblebeez & Cooperbailey, OMG, yes, you can buy the paint decks! Thought you "had" to own at least one to be "permitted" on this board, lol!

I own a very dog-eared BM Preview deck, the Classic deck, two Affinity decks (freebies) The Duron/SW deck, a Colonial Williamsburg Official Colors deck, and a SW Exterior Colors deck.

No, y'all haven't influenced me in the least!

You overhear one son tell another son about the Border Collie puppy that "mom seems to be obsessed with lately and it doesn't even belong to someone she knows, but she's watching it grow up on the web."

OMG, I'm sitting in a McDs reading this and just about snorted coffee out my nose.

Hey, that's another one: checking in here when you are traveling. I guess it is the new age version of the six men sitting at the next booth who meet here every day, drink coffee and shoot the breeze.

Oh...? And where might you be traveling, Graywings? Business, or pleasure....do tell!

DD #3 asking if I wanted to invite any of my 'forum friends' to her wedding~~and I did!

Going to flea markets and shopping w/them~~my first time to the Rosebowl fleamarket was with 3 other forum members.

When you've met the whole family!

No DH, but have caught myself very close to saying DD when talking about one of my 3 DD's. ;o)

You know you've been hanging out on GW too long when....you start reading about how others are decorating or living and something that you've never thought of as attractive suddenly becomes a must-have. Oooooo, I could use a wall-mounted swing-arm lamp or 3! Ooooo, I need to get me some thin, scratchy wash cloths! Turquoise? Just because I've never liked it particularly before doesn't mean I don't need a bunch of it now! Must find me something turquoise! A turquoise rug? A turquoise vase? Maybe some turquoise thin, scratchy wash cloths?

Oh, yes, folk. I can't forget about the Pixi eyeliner. I went from 'I've never heard of it' to owning one in three different colors. Then there is the collective shopping trips I've been on with you all... Mona picked out a purse for me and several nixed my shoe choice so I just could not wear them... And thanks to everyone here, I'm trying to find other uses for that drawer of nylons leftover from when they *were* groovy but seldom worn.

Yep. I do carry you all around with me IRL. I will think of Johnmari every time I try on a bra - for the rest of my life!

Stinky - I'm away from home taking care of a sick relative who doesn't have internet, so I get her settled and then run out for coffee and and internet surfing at the local McDonald's.

Sorry that you have a loved one who is ill, Graywings. I'm sure they are very grateful for your care. Take care of yourself, & check in with us when you can!

I probably searched hours for a pig to hold a hand towel and you don't even know me. Did anyone ever find that by the way?

I met some people on vacation recently and really wanted to ask them, "Do you know Gardenweb, I feel like I know you".

Anyone from Iowa ride a motorcyle to Yosemite and Sequoia in July?

The other thing is, how I miss or worry about people who "disappear" from the board for any length of time. I have seriously been concerned about Parma's absence & hope she's fine. Mona's current thread demonstrates how we develop a real interest in & concern for the people we get to know here.

When you send your coworker an email to call Bill with SW and she responds with,"What's SW?"

I've enjoyed reading these.

Kelly - You know, I never did find the powder Dirtex anywhere. Paintguy and I agreed sanding was sufficient!

Mitch - Hope your toe gets better fast!

Dirtex????

Sheesh...I've even seen at some grocery stores 'round here!

Yeah...we DO tend to throw around some acronyms!

Signs I've been here too long...
* When one of our decorator's is visiting with a customer, I find myself thinking, "What would Funcolors do here..."?
* ...if I stare at a good-lookin' Lady (SLYLY of course!), and then suddenly duck, 'cuz I think Moonshadow will throw a frypan at me...
* Wondering why I felt like I had to "check-in" with my GW-friends...EVEN WHEN I WAS AT THE Maui Four-Seasons!!!!
* Wonderin if I've started anyone saying "UFFDA" yet...
;-)

Faron

Faron. While I haven't started saying UFFDA yet, I admit I googled it because of you. Initially I thought it was like DH or ROTFLMAO but I couldn't for the life of me put a string of words together that matched those letters. So I googled it and discovered it is Scandinavian and a term for disgruntlement. It's like Oy Vey, which is Yiddish for dismay.

I love learning this stuff.

wait- I missed pixie eyeliner?? gotta do a search.uffda.