Oh, no, no ~ you could not be more wrong. You were absolutely missed! And not only because you are one of the very few people who ever dive into the dark recesses of the bottom of page 2 and bring things up into the daylight! Your contributions to this forum are immeasurable. The next time this happens you must run out with great haste and buy a new computer!

At any rate, could not be more glad you're back ~ and even more delighted to know that it was only your computer that was broken this time!

DITTO to what Starfish has just said !!!! I have been lurking in and out and was getting a bit worried as I hadnt seen you on the chains, and I did notice that some of them had been hanging for a while, so I put my little contributions in the last few days.

I must admit I have been missing a bit recently as I up to my neck in work, and dont have all the free time I used to, hopefully it will calm down soon enough. I also must admit I have been spending a bit more time on the trivia side. I got the quiz writing itch, especially the challenges put together by Kyleisalive and WesleyCrusher in the authors lounge, some of them are quite challenging but great fun. Dave,I still remember the days when we used to have our weekly trivia rounds, I always found them great fun and interesting, its a pity that died a slow death.

Anyway glad to see you back, and I will try to contribute a bit more, once thing settle down again.

Any word about Gats? I always get concerned when we do not hear from him in a while. He adds so much to the chains and they move much better with him around.

Don't have a clue where Gats has gotten off to. It is very concerning when folks disappear. We have had several regulars here disappear, never to be heard from again. Hope Gats isn't going to be another one!

Gats would not just wander off. He has been gone in the past for small gaps and it has always been a medical issue, that is why I feel concerned.

Hi guys ... and thanks for checking on my whereabouts . Sorry to disappear like that ~ it's been a rather rocky month or two over here. I mentioned somewhere about having some trouble with my right arm, as in it had basically become a rather useless ouch-ridden dangling thing, so I finally went to the hospital to have it checked out (after weeks of duress). Got out a few days ago. I'm still getting my head wrapped around the entire situation, and there may be a few roadblocks ahead ... so I thought I'd better pop in and at least give an update. I've been sitting here for days trying to decide what/how to broach the subject, where I should attempt to say anything first, and so forth; I finally decided that I should try and get it all said here first and will discuss it all where I need to do so further once I get this far? Dunno if it's the right protocol, really. I really don't know what the right 'protocol' is, if any, in such things. What was happening was a strange and unfriendly mass (<--- such a murky word, that one) had landed up on my right shoulder, causing major nerve disruption along my entire right side. It made typing, at least with any speed OR comfort, next to impossible for weeks on end. I was checking in here a lot -- but found myself unable to do anything much besides that. Anyway, let me just blurt it on out and get it said: the diagnosis was/is "small cell squamous lung cancer, stage three". Trust me, if that sounds perfectly ghastly to you? I can readily assure you that it sounds even worse to me . I'm entirely (entirely, entirely) unsure what happens next ~ thus the potential roadblocks I mentioned. I'm currently getting radiation treatments daily and will begin outpatient physical rehab next week to try to get the arm useable again. As for a further plan and/or prognosis than that? No real details just yet. The mass slash tumor has NOT spread anywhere, or so the CAT scans and MRIs indicate - and that is good news. But when it comes to my obsessive participation ( ) down here returning again I just don't know. My involvement is not such an issue, though, bottom-line. Things are going along smoothly here in Chainville, and [as always] you good folks are picking up my slack capably and and reliably. And I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. Seems kinda weird to say, but I've sort of spent years trying to keep our silly happy (yet often thought-provoking) chain games on the "build" ... and we're absolutely there. This little corner of our FT world is here to thrive and stay. I've learned that one takes their victories however and whenever they land, though, and (in my opinion, anyway) our games are a solid success. You stalwart members have done that and I'm sure you will continue to do so as I muddle through the next few months . Everybody wins, yes? And, for the record, I feel pretty much OK with every reason to think that this momentary glitch will be fine given the right amount of time and attention. And that's the thing, I guess. My personal attention(s) will be notably divided for a while, just until I get this sorted.

Two things (maybe three?) to close on, for today. Cancer ... well, it's just a word assigned to me right now. Nothing more, nothing less. No power in a word unless you give it some. I've had my share of practice with medical buzzwords by now so this one is just another on some peculiar melodramatic medical list. "Bah!" to melodramatic lists, then. Second thing? Good grief! It took me nearly an hour to type this short little post!? Ugh! I reckon if the radiation doesn't fry my brains the pace of doing things that I'm expected to adapt to now will drive me completely mad! Just kidding. It'll all be just fine. Anyway ... I am and plan to be still around. Just saying a lot less and lurking a lot more. Carry on, OK? And I'll try to update my 'stuff' better as things unfold. If not better, at least in a more timely way. Thank you all, again, for your help and patience with me on this one!

Gats, you are and always will be one dude with class! Sorry to hear of your ailments, but like you say, it's a word with no power unless you give it some. However, I will be praying for your comfort and well return.

Oh Gats... be well!! Do what the people in the white coats tell you, and without a fuss!

I guess we do get on alright here when you're less present it just takes longer for inactive threads to get locked

Oh, that's terrible to hear, Gats! You'll be better before you know it, and back to maintaining your spot of most posts (like you have any competition) .

We're thinking of you. Take care of yourself first and foremost.

We will be thinking of you. I fought my battle with the C a year ago and things worked out fine. Attitude is a big part of managing this and it is good to hear how you are reacting to it. Thanks for keeping us posted, we do care.

Oh, that's awful! Get well soon, and I promise to try and help the Chains, although nothing we all do will be like what you've done.

Hope you'll be fine soon.

Gosh, Gats, I really hate to hear that! (But I'm impressed with your attitude!) You know, we may not all know each other "personally" around here, but the regulars here are all in each others' daily lives, nonetheless. It's difficult in this non-personal context to say "Let me know if there's anything I can do to help", but we will try to help by being delighted when you are present and stalwart when you are not. And sending oodles of good wishes and thoughts your way!

Ditto

I second that

I personally like the chains because they’re a fun way to unwind.

I have my favorite forums saved to my Favorites (I E), so it makes it easier for me to just zip wherever I want.

I also feel like my posts are inadequate to others, but I just do the best I can because it’s fun (and, if I’m doing something wrong, I’m still learning).

I'm just now reading this and hope things are looking better in Gatsbyland.

Happy Thanksgiving to our U.S. folks!

Everyone have a happy holiday season ? Here's hoping 2013 is better than kind to all of you! I thought I'd give a quick update on my medical brouhaha ... even though there's really not so much to tell. As per recommendations () I have been following orders much like an obedient child and it seems to be working in my favor. After some 40 radiation treatments and approximately 2.5 months of chemotherapy, it's good to know that something is working, eh? I had a CAT scan in early December which showed that the tumor (still just one, too --- despite some expectations to the contrary, Mr. Tumor has not spread/called in reinforcements) has shrunk. While it didn't shrink as much as my doc had hoped for, all I cared about was that it had gotten smaller than it was. So? All of those wretched hospital appointments daily served a purpose. I'm now getting chemo once every three weeks as opposed to once a week, too, which is mostly a relief. I say 'mostly' because it's a more potent/longer dosage of it and it is followed by an injection (one intended to boost the remanufacturing of white cells that chemotherapy enthusiastically eats up) that leaves me sicker than an especially sick dog for days after I get it. But it's doing what it's supposed to so I won't complain (too) much. Another fun residual: after weeks of wondering why it wasn't happening yet, I finally started experiencing hair loss. Ha! It didn't mess around either, once it started; I shed all of it in less than seven days! Unlike many, none of this new baldness bothers me at all, though. I really (really) do "get it", I think. Cancer treatments are so generally ghastly to begin with, it must seem like adding insult to injury to lose one's hair as a bonus - it's not an issue in my case, however. Gets a little drafty is the worst of it. And that's where it all stands at this time. The typing left-handed has gotten to be almost normal by now, too, so I'm not getting hung up that way any longer. In other words? All is as well, maybe even a little better than predicted, as this odd and interesting journey progresses.

As to the chains ... welcome to our new players ! A few new names are popping up, and it's always nice to see more people participating. I cleaned out all of the old/expired (and locked) games recently and ended up deleting some non-locked ones that had timed out (but folks had stopped playing them, and bumping them up had proven fruitless). For a short while we didn't even have a Page 2 anymore . I run the risk, I know, of sounding like a broken record but if anyone has any ideas for new games, please feel free to try them out. We certainly now have room. If they don't or won't work? No harm, no foul ... we'll just try something else. Any idea is workable, usually, even if it gets tweaked as we play it. The only thing to remember is that, in chain games, one post needs to lead into the next one in a succinct and 'play forward' sort of way. While that's a rather broad definition of it, I think we all can see pretty quickly what works and what doesn't.

That's all I got, for now. Again, Happy New Year to all ye rascals !

Gatsby, thanks so much for the update! So glad to hear you are doing well! I don't think anyone wants to trouble you by asking, but we do care and want to know how you are doing, the father of our little community. So please do keep us informed.

As for your second paragraph: I'm thinking.

I'm glad for the update as well! Pleased to hear things are going in the right direction. A positive attitude is almost the most important thing

Well, I'm glad I happened to check this discussion site today. Am also very pleased to know that you are responding to treatments and getting better Gats! As for the hair loss, baldness actually seems to be the preferred "trend" nowadays. Bet you look just fine...

I think I'm a day late but my motto has always been: better to be late (and sincere) than never ! One of our most regular, and creative, and purposeful contributors had a birthday on Monday! Hope you had a completely outstanding day of it, StarfishTwo ... and here's a cyber *toast* [insert cocktail glasses clinking together here] that there are many many more such milestones in your future.

If it is true that it is better to be late and sincere than never, I must be the most sincere person on the FT planet!
You will be amazed to hear that, although I have been an occasional Chainplayer, mainly in The Next Person, and some limerick lines, I have never even SEEN this thread. Wow! It has been going since 2010, and I come here every single day and have done since 1999. I just never saw it before. I caught up and read some great stuff just now and I think it is one of the warmest threads(that and Photo a day and Bookworms of course...).
The first chains ,yonks ago, were run by Sypher, Joe(he of the Sports forums, ) had it so we had a certain time slot every day to fill in our word, and if we missed it we missed our turn for the day(no going out of turn)This was (if you are asking) because the chain word had to start with the letter the last word ended with. It worked fine for a while, but for instance with dinosaurs it was a bit iffy as most of them end in 'saurus' so there was a limit to those beginning with S. But we had fun and I remember taking a taxi to get home in time so as not to miss my turn.
I learnt a lot about you all from reading this.The most gratifying news being that my Best Boy is mending a bit.You rock David!
This has made me resolve to join in a few more chains . Sincerely
XX Sara (ren)

I realized today that I too forgot to acknowledge our birthday girl, so happy belated Starfish!

Thanks so much for the birthday wishes, everyone! Despite the fact that I would not know you if I passed you on the street, I count you all as my friends -- and I do believe I spend more time with some of you than with folks bearing familiar faces!

Every year, when I receive birthday wishes on FT, I worry that I will miss *your* birthdays when they come around. It's awfully easy to miss that little cake!

And after reading Sara's post above, I have to say I'm frightfully glad we do not have assigned times to play these games -- I would miss a *lot* of my turns!

Ditto ! While it seems like I'm in the chains all the time (or it used to, anyway) I can almost guarantee that if I HAD to be here at a particular time of day? I'd forget, I just know it. Interesting to read, too, that Sypher was the moderator here at the beginning; I didn't know that. I can't recall who the mod was when I started playing ... ten (plus) years ago?! Yikes. Not even sure how long I've been a moderator in Chainland, quite frankly. Maybe seven years? Alas, time flies when you're having fun, eh?

Anybody interested in a medical update? Probably not, but you're getting one anyway . I yatter on about cancer so much at hospitals and with doctors it seems that I like not talking about it very much elsewhere (aside from Facebook, that is --- and I find that I'm running out of things to say about it, even over there). Did I mention here before that some of my high school classmates from Facebook got together and threw me a party in January, calling it "The Mad Hatters"? It happened at a nearby watering hole/restaurant in mid-January. Everyone who came was asked to bring a hat, seeing as how I was entirely hairless by then. Oh, how I tried to weasel out of this alleged 'party' - it just didn't feel like a comfortable idea to me. Being the honoree at a function has never been my cup of tea, even as a kid. And a party about cancer? Ugh ... how much fun could such a thing end up? Turns out it was a g-r-e-a-t time . While unfriendly tumors WAS the theme, cancer blues did not suffocate the proceedings. It was lurking, o' course, but the gathering turned out to be full of laughter and high spirits (and ample supplies of beer and delicious food, as well). The hats were hysterical, too. I ought to get ambitious and post some photos over here; not sure where I'd do that, though. There were pirate hats, Alice in Wonderland hats, Indian headdresses, Chinese hats ... you name it. Good fun. But as for current *status* as per me and Mr. Lung Problem? Things are finally becoming mostly manageable. I had a very (very) bad spurt in February ... it was a residual of the treatments, but not entirely that. The chemotherapy really is pretty brutal now ~ but it was only happening once every three weeks, instead of once per week (like before). Seemed like I could handle the killer side effects of it and the injections [basically] once a month, no problem. Not so fast, though! Because my immune system was so compromised I managed to pick up an infection (more than likely somebody sneezed in my vicinity?). My lungs were riddled with infected nodules of some sort ... at first no one really listened to me. They chalked up my fatigue and weight loss to the treatments, even though I tried aimlessly to convince them that this all "felt" very different than what I'd gotten used to. I'd never been left flat on my back, unable to cross a room, for three weeks straight prior. They finally heard me, found the infection(s), prescribed antibiotics and I was back on my feet in just days. During all that, too, I had another CT scan which indicated that my unfriendly tumor has gone dormant, no increase OR decrease in size. To me, that seemed dubious news at best ... but to my doctor it was good enough to take me off chemotherapy for a while. So as to let my body regain some power, I guess. I was plenty shocked this week when he told me I didn't have to see him again for an entire month! Say what? Seems like I've been in that hospital for this thing or that every other day (<--- a wee exaggeration there) for six months! A whole month "off"? Sounded better than terrific to me! When I go back another scan will happen and if the tumor has started growing? Back to chemo and wicked shots I go. But, for now, all I want to ponder and/or celebrate is a whole month free of any of it! A person takes these little victories, as I think I've mentioned before, and runs with them.

Whew. What a long report, eh? Sorry. I didn't know, I never do, that there'd end up that much to say until I got going. But, thankfully, there ought to be no 'news' for another four weeks. You're off the hook from reading this tiresome crap until then, thank heavens. Things are going pretty well. 'Nuff said, I reckon .

You know we don't mind the updates

Glad to hear you have some time off from the hospital

So sorry that we missed your party ~ sounds like a fabulous time! Did you get to keep all the hats?

I'd been hoping things were looking up for you, as I've noticed you'd been around a bit more of late. Sorta feeling like I can gauge how you're doing, just a bit, anyway, simply by the volume of your posts. I would rather not have only that to go by, though. GG said, "You know we don't mind the updates," and I love that she put it that way because you do need to *know* that we want to hear how you're doing. We're not Facebooking with you ~ (when did that become a verb? and why am I so comfortable using it as such?) ~ so this is really the only way we have to hear about your progress.

Congratulations on your vacation ~ here's hoping you enjoy every minute of it!

I did get to keep all the hats, Starfish . Where I'll ever wear the majority of them? No idea. Costume parties, maybe? They certainly "broke the ice" at the party, though --- everybody couldn't wait to try them all on.

Gats, I pray you will have a wonderful "time off" with great weather to enjoy it! Ah, spring come quickly!