[Boomer]

I'm landing here to do one of those testimonials or whatever they are called. Here goes:

Dear Guests,

We have not yet bought in TV, but when we do, I know that I will know more about what to do than I ever would have known without knowing about TOTV.

When I found this site, it was after a long time looking. I knew that with something as big as TV, there had to be something out there in cyberspace where people were talking about it. Not just advertising. Or the official TV site. I had been googling for quite awhile, when one day TOTV showed up. And I have been here since.

When I first arrived at this wonderful theater for our demographic, I hung out in the lobby for awhile, like you are doing.

Then I registered and took a seat. In the back row.

But then I kept moving up a few rows at a time so I could shout questions from my seat. I knew that I would get great answers to add into the information gathering mission I had been on.

Then winter arrived. Winter was particularly snarly here in Ohio. Cold. Bitter. Too much snow. I was spending way too much time on my kitchen computer.

And one day, in this theater that is TOTV, I took a leap onto the stage and started to write stuff. That leap surprised the heck out of me. There I was, "strutting and fretting" like that poor actor Shakespeare talks about in Macbeth. (Yeah, I know. "A tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.") But I did not care.

I pretended that when winter came to an end, I would get over myself. But I have not. It is fun here. And even though my yard and my golf lessons call to me, and I answer them, I'm still here. I am here because I want to be, not because I am snowed in.

And just in case you are like I was in the beginning, let me share a little more story with you. I have never been part of a board before. I knew nothing about them. I watched from a distance for awhile, to be careful, until this place felt OK. I do not know how our administrators do what they do. But the internet underbelly does not get past the gate here on TOTV, not that I have seen.

And when you register, you have access to additional ways to search. And there is a feature that lets you send private messages to other members. I have also asked questions in that way of people who live in TV. They have all come through with those great answers I have learned to expect here. TOTV people really do try to help each other. It is truly "the kindness of strangers."

I have great respect for the administrators and for the posters here. And as it turned out, TOTV is more than just information about TV. There are so many other discussions here that are informative or just plain fun. OK, sometimes people argue. But that's OK, too. I just duck.

This is my invitation to all you guests still out there in the lobby. Come on in. Take a seat. Maybe shout a question or two. You may even find yourself answering some questions. You may come in for the information. You may look around for the fun. But please join us. This is an exceptional site. Lots of good people here. Even though I have never seen any of them, I know this.

btw, I don't know who thought up the name "Talk of the Villages" but it sure is a good one.

Boomer

(Psssst, Hey Jan, you can drop the check in the mail now.)