two years ago today, this meerkat fanatic wandered onto animal planet and into this burrow. afraid and hoping that i would not be accepted, i had no idea what was to be the start of a whole new world and a bursting burrow full of new friends.
now after two years and over 1000 posts, i want to extend the same warmth and acceptance that was shown to me. back then, meerkat times were simple and happy. with flower at the helm and new pups galore, the burrow was always filled with joy and excitement over the next installment of the new episode.
but alot has happened since then and meerkat times have changed. i've met so many new and wonderful friends here, some have gone on to other burrows, and some have just roamed off into the desert. but those of you that continue to be my family here are a constant joy.
so with that said, i would like to open my own thread and be here to welcome somebody that might just feel like i did two years ago.
just come on in, put your paws up and just say what's on your mind. i love to listen and sometimes i might need someone to listen to me. as some of you already know.
so, welcome to korkie's korner where all are welcome (except for trolls and snakes)
I just stopped for the piece of cake. I brought some champagne and I raise my glass to you Korkie and the burrowmates. I echo your feelings totally. I've only been here a matter of months, but it seems like I've known some of you for years. In spite of the occasional difference of opinion, dealt with respectfully in most cases, the people here a caring, supportive family that I hope to have share my joys and sorrows for a long time to come. Prosit.
Hi Korkiemama. It is so nice of you for helping the new people to feel accepted. I am still trying to find my place in this burrow. Do you think that you could help me? Also that cake sounds really good.
i am one of those who think nobody will take us in. but i love meerkkat manor please take me in your arms! i still cry over flower and mozart, ithough i would die i miss them. yet i can write peoms. still i cry over flower, no one can bring it it up to me.
Hey Korkie, did I hear cake? Sorry its so late, I have been busy. Now its about time to put my sore bones to bed.(read hildys thread)I think its great you started this thread. Its cold and windy here and that does not help my sore bones. LOL. I will send you an email later. Just want you to know I would never forget to say howdy. After all I got lost in alot of nine foot high corn fields to meet you. Hahaha. Love ya lady!
Welcome LittleNugget and Tasha Mai Mai! I will give you open paws and hug you both! Its great to have you here, please make yourselves at home! Nuzzels!
Paw waves Krazolkatlady and Iams, having problems with the msn messenger again. Grrrr.
Korkie, this is great! You are a very special ladykat! Ohhhhh, cake! This is a wonderful warm burrow full of great people, but sometimes it is hard to find your place.
Welcome LittleNugget and Tasha Mai Mai! I love both your names! Hugs and paw waves, everybody!
It is only fitting that the momma of the Burrow have her own little corner...great idea, Korkie! Knowing you as well as I do, I would have never imagined that you would be concerned about acceptance; what's not to like and love, you filbert!! News flash for the burrow, it was Korkie that kept the DM and I sane during and after IKE. We did not have a clue what was going on most of the time for over two weeks but Korkie kept us linked to not only the outside world but even to the area around us. We would have been lost without her!! Believe me, there wasn't anything to laugh about unless it was Korkies TMs or con- verstions. The DM thinks she is absolutely the best! LittleNugget and Tasha, you will find Korkie a real treasure. You have definitely come to the right place. Again, Korkie, great idea; now we will always know where to find you! teehee
Hey Korkie, a little late for the cake & KOKL's champaign, but I finally made it. Really starving after moving a new freezer (help from my wonderful neighbor) into the garage. Now I know where I can find you! This is nice & mmmmm cake......Will your band be stopping by for a concert? They are wonderful from what I heard on the rally site.
Hi Tasha Mai Mai & LittleNugget! Everyone was new in the burrow at one time or another. Bienvenido - Welcome.
Hi Korkie...and all who come here! Wonderful idea, to have a new welcome thread for those who hesitate to post on the established ones. Some of us have been here longer than others but it's always great to have new posters join the mob. This is such a great place to meet and chat about almost anything. Korkie, you have been such a blessing to so many of us...always ready with a kind word or comfort in bad times. We truly appreciate your warmth and friendship!
you know, i sit here and read all the nice things that you say about me and i just don't know how to answer. you have been a blessing to me in ways you don't even know. i just want someone to have a place to say hi and not feel like they are butting in where they don't belong. because everyone is welcome here. so, like i said, put your paws up and let us know what's on your mind and if i can't help out, i know alot of wonderful friends that are more than willing to give you a hug and steer you in the right direction.
Korkie, Thank you for starting this thread. And did someone say cake? Nice to see everyone on here. Great idea....for starters, it is going to be about 97 degrees here in So. Cal by friday so if you have any cool weather in your area, please send it over. If I do bake a cake it will have to go into the frig as it will melt away quickly. Hope everyone is well.....
Hi Korkie. This is a great idea. LittleNugget and Tasha Mai Mai, welcome. Don't feel like you don't belong because we all were in your shoes at one time. It takes time to get to know everyone but you will find that we are all kind and caring and will help you get established every step of the way. High five to Korkie for starting this thread. YOU GO MEERFRIEND!
LittleNugget,i'm sorry that i didn't answer you earlier. how can i help you find your way? hope you like the cake. made from only the finest of scorpions and millipedes, with a nice sprinkling of ants on the top. hugs
i want to thank you all for takking me in the fold.i no longer feel like i do not fit in the burrow. i was looking for other meerkat manor people to talk to. and yes me and mai mai are getting better. thanks to everyone! this is where we belong. love tasha mai mai.
Hey Korkie, sweetie, I did try to send the weather to Hildy, and Janelle. C.A. must have an invisible shield, cause it came right back. SO, guess what? You get it! All winter too, better keep those boots handy, it may get deep! Hahaha! Its the gift that keeps on giving. Love ya!
Hey Darkdream, nice to see you here.
Tasha Mai Mai, Iam glad you feel at home here. We are all animal lovers!
Thank you everyone for welcoming me here. All of you are so nice. I feel like I have found my place in this burrow and I don't have to worry about feeling like I don't belong here anymore. I am glad that there are people that I can talk to about meerkat manor.
WHAT?!?!?! a meerkat in my burrow? are you kidding me? what are you thinking?
of course chico is most welcome. we can't pass up the opportunity to send chico's message of despair to as many people as possible. had ya goin didn't i?
very gray and chilly here in the burrow today. i wish that i were with hildy and the sweetest new babies in the world right now. i wonder how korkie and them would get along. he is part chi also. you can tell by his 'attitude'. for those of you that don't know, hildy and kescha came aloooong way just to have dinner with me. they got to know corn up close and personal here in ill. you'd have to read hildy's thread to find out about their adventures. so i'm waiting for her to go road tripping again so i can puppy sit. she might not get them back.
so you all snuggle up and keep warm (especially you hildy and janelle) and enjoy the cma 's tonight. for me, it's ghost hunters.
Hi Korkie, Sounds like you're getting some of this wonderful wet WA weather too. I've been trying to trade some 90 degree days with Hildy and Janelle. I can include you in on this weather swap too And yes, it's my favorite Roto-Rooter (do you ever wonder now if it's a ghost hunter when you see one of those vans?)/Ghost guys tonight for me too. I even sat through the 7 hour live show Halloween
so did i meergato. but the reveal show was a disappointment. i thought they would show what was on the still cameras and talk about what people saw. i think that i hit the panic button about 7 times. but why did they even have a panic button if they weren't even going to talk about it? and yes, i do notice where all of our lovely weather is coming from. it's either you or kescha. happy ghost hunting!
Okay Korkie, now that our good friends out West have sent you all that weather so that you can have a good crop next year, could you please keep it there? Well, maybe you can send a little to Indiana, but it should stop at the Ohio border, please. My neighbors in Canada (no offense Choco) keep sending all that cold air and snow accross the lake, I don't need the double whammy from the West too.
Good morning Korkie..Kescha..KOKL..Meergato..DD and all other friends here. It's cool and rainy here, too. I'm glad we got most of the leaves picked up yesterday...wet ones are so much harder to get rid of..and so much heavier! I hope everyone has a good day, in spite of the weather.
Hola All! Having dreary but dry weather for a short spell & a heat wave - hit 55 today! Whoo-hoo! Only a 4 cat night tonight. Hear you on the leaves Susybear!
Korkie & Kescha, I've always thought the panic button stuff & having a host for the GH marathon shows is hokey. Pretty soon they'll have mediums like Most Haunted Don't even get me started on the reveal. I really liked the 1st one they did at that hotel that inspired Stephen King"s "The Shining". Just good old fashioned ghost hunting.
Hey, Korkie. How are you. I've been thinking about you. You do so much to support and help everyone else here, and it sounds like you have a bushel of problems of your own. If you ever just want to vent without the whole world tuned in, please feel free to email me at krazolkatlady@yahoo.com. I'm a good listener.
Hey Korkie and everyone! Looks like we have a few Ghosthunters fans here. I've been watching that show since the beginning, although I missed alot of the last season, except for Ghost Hunters International. My own parents had a ghostly encounter when I was a teen. My grandmother had died, and forty days later my parents heard a woman sobbing in the middle of the night. BOTH of them heard it. When my dad got up to investigate, he still heard the sobbing as he stood in front of the front door. He said it sounded like the crying went past the front door to the outside. Spooooky!
Well, I'll drop by from time to time. I'm bringing along the chocolate covered strawberries to pass along with the cake and champagne!
Hey Korkie, Hope all's going better. You can always vent to me too. You too KOKL. In the mean time I'm going to have a couple of Josnaj's chocolate strawberries while listening to Kescha's music picks before I'm bumped off the pc.
Josnaj, we had the wake for my late father at my parents' home & I will swear to this day that I saw my Dad, wearing what he was buried in, peaking around the corner of the dining room at everyone. Just for a moment, but clear as day. Had another communication, kinda a dream(?) later on that night. I'm a believer!
Hola everyone & hoping all burrow mate friends and family living near those horrible fires are safe.
Hey Korkie, how ya doing sweetie? Wasnt that nice of Josnaj to leave chocolate covered strawberries and Champagne? Thanks Josnaj!
Hey Josnaj and Meergato, I'am with both of you. Dads house in Riverside was haunted. My hubby never believed till we lived there. All kinds of things going on. Anyways, after dad passed, we could not find his glasses anywhere! We looked and looked. About a week later I was in the kitchen, making coffee, in dads house, and I looked up and he was standing there, with his glasses on, smiling. Clear as day too. Funny thing is, we never did find those glasses! LOL
Paw waves to all and please keep the people in C.A. in your prayers.
i konwn what youre talking about, i keep t elling them about my trailer theres something not right somebody stay at my trailer,theres something wrong?...please help....tasha mai mai
Tasha Mai Mai, there is nothing out to hurt you, just ignore it and go about your buisness, you will be fine.
Korkie, where are ya? Hope everythings going better. You better get in on the choc covered strawberries and champagne, before I eat them all and get drunk. LOL
Hey Korkie. How ya doin? If the strawberries and cake are gone, I made some brownies tonight. We can share those before the DM eats them all. Sorry about the champagne, I hear Kescha drank it all. How about a nice pot of hot tea?
I didn't want to say anything about ghosts before because I thought you would all think I was bonkers, but I have seen enough of them that I can't even watch those ghost type programs. I can't say I am afraid of them but it is startling to wake up at night and see some man standing next to the bed. This has happened so many times in this house that DM is worried that the neighbors will call the police when I wake up screaming. It's really wierd, he always wears a plaid shirt, not the same one, and just stands there. And then I wake up more and he's gone. One time I woke up feeling him get in bed with me, and I literally felt him close to me and then I woke up. Scary stuff. Really, I am quite sane, and that is only one experience. I don't want to bore you with a novel.
Tasha, sometimes it is scary, but it helps to play music and hug your kitties. I know you don't have power, but do you have a battery operated player or radio?
Funny, but the more I type, the warmer my hands get, it is so cold with the wind, but I refuse to turn up the heat. Its just too expensive and it's a long winter.
Meergato and Kescha, I'm not a deeply religious person, more spiritual, you could say, but I think it is wonderful that your loved ones, your very own fathers, paid you a "visit," before they left this plane of existence. We may have our faiths, but with little else to rely on, it is special to get that extra confirmation that there is more out there than this concrete world.
Tasha Mai Mai, it is your home and sometimes saying "Go away, you don't belong here," helps. But I'm with Kescha, I don't believe anything can hurt you.
KOKL, you would have to peel me off the ceiling if that had happened to me. We seem to have enough believers here and no one would think you are bonkers. I've seen enough ghost programs to know that sometimes they are so earthbound and can't leave for some reason. It would seem that "he" misses human contact. But for this to happen while you are sleeping is eerie indeed. Why they come out when it is pitch black outside is puzzling.
Wow, I've never known other people who had experiences. I think it is great that we can share ours with each other. Now I don't feel so alone about this.
Josnaj, I'd be right up there on the ceiling with you if I had KOKL's experiences With all of us having "visits", maybe we should form our own Meerkat Paranormal Society I wonder if meerkats get visited by those that have departed? Cats & dogs sure seem to sense these presences.
KOKL, yum brownies!!! I've been doing alot of sampling on this thread I don't think I could handle dealing with your "visitor", I would be running for the hills (around here them hills be volcanos).
Korkie, how are you? Going to visit your boys site for a cd when I go home at Christmas & can use a "safe" computer for ordering. I think the library burrow pc's allowed that person to get my bank card info - don't think there's much security here. I borrow a friend's pc if I can't call in orders & really need the order. So much for progress. Hope your mess is finally straightened out.
Hola to all. Tasha, your kitties will keep you safe.
hey all. you better be hungry tonight. i made apple pie. get to shakin off those calories meergato lol you guys would just freak out if you knew the goings on here at my place. i wrote to the paranormal research society and i'm waiting for them to respond. it's a good thing my pup witnessed some things because everyone was beginning to think that i was crazy. maybe we ought to invite them to come on here and give their input. they might report us to the tin foil hat society. i'm sure glad that the fires are under control out there. i really wish that i could send them some of this deep freeze. well it's news time and i'll say good-night. enjoy the pie all.
Hey Korkie, thanks for the pie! Iam not fat enough? Hahaha. Its good to see you posting. Hows the band battle going? Did they start the vote yet? Let me know, Iam kinda outta the loop. Love ya
Krazolkatlady, I would be right up there with Josnaj, and Meergato. Never seen anything like that. Id probably be yelling at it to go away. Lol. Those Brownies were good, I just got a crumb, but it was enough! Haha.
Everyone have a good day and I guess next time I need to bring a treat!
Wow, you might have to go ahead and make preparations to put me in a phyche ward to wake up and see someone looking down at me. And then to crawl in bed with you..no way
Hello my slinky shekats, Does anyone have any good tips on how to quit smoking? I know, I know, it is bad for you, and I tried quitting last October only to pick up that habit again this past summer. They are just too irresistable to me but it is time to can it for good.
Gracias for the pie Korkie! I'm actually wiggling the calories off right now listening to Kescha's latest playlist. I'll be in class tomorrow night so if there's any leftover, save me a piece. The dance instructor has us doing numerous drills & my hips become disoriented after awhile. DWTS gives me inspiration. Benn voting for Lance & Lacey (I had a Lacy cat who lived to 20!, I love that they're different & he's a cutey (so is his grandpa )We have a gal who does ballroom dancing in the class & she's very graceful & has that wonderful dancer's posture! I'm still doing my spastic version, but having fun.
LOL the tin foil hat society - that's more my speed than the red hat people anyway. I'll see what I can whip up for the next visit...
Sorry my pc froze.... Josnaj, please let me know what you come up with I just had a bad report from my doc and and a 35 minute speach....I also have a 40% blockage in my autery in the left side of my neck............I also took care of my mom as she was dying of well you know, I am having a hard time kicking this habit, I tried the patches and they worked for 3 months until I became allergic to the glue, nicotine lozenges, wellbutrin, I think I may need to sew my lips together.
Imas, so sorry about your mother and your current medical condition. I hope the doctors take good care of you. Seems like it though, for them to give you a long speech about it.
As for kicking the habit, I've tried the patches several years ago, and it worked for awhile until I came down with insomnia(related to a medical condition) and picked it up again. Then last year I tried quitting cold turkey, which worked, except that I started up in the summer for no apparent reason. I just hope to get some good advice and strengthen my resolve to end this. I'm not in a stressful place in my life, at this moment, so it shouldn't be too hard. Here's to hoping.
imas, you get the last piece. the wind is howling and i made potato soup for supper. so i kicked back and watched ghost hunters and kept warm. it was pretty good tonight. i had a good laugh when they walked out of the place with a knife holding a spoon and i think it was jason that spun it around. i had good luck with nicorette gum a few years ago. i was really determined to quit and stuck to the directions like a gawshawk. but i was stupid and started back up 2 years later. and since i have upper dentures, i can't use the gum. but i did try chantix a few weeks ago and after about 2 weeks, i found myself with all of my pill bottles in front of me and wondering which one i was going to start with. then the phone rang and my sister said, whaya doin? so she gave me a lecture for a couple of hours and i didn't take another chantix. it is not a good time for me to try to quit smoking anyway. at least the gum keeps your mouth busy. and i planned my spring cleaning and alot of craft work to keep me busy. so that really worked. and i also didn't tell anyone that i was quitting. that way i wouldn't be bothered all the time with people asking me about it. am i rambling again? i seem to do alot of that. well you all have a good night. and imas, i'm saying a special prayer for you tonight. hugs
Well, now we know how Korkie's Korner is furnished. We have a huge table in the middle covered in fat food, and several really big ash trays. This apparently is the smokers burrow as evidenced by the blue haze in the air.
If this gives any of you one little bit of incentive to quit, I will share, and sorry to write so much.
I smoked for more than 40 years, sometimes over 2 packs a day. Up until a few years ago, you could smoke anywhere and I did, home, car, restaurants, movies, and one burning on my desk all day. I even cleaned house with one in my mouth. I love smoking, more than alcohol, chocolate, sex and money.
In 2002, I was having a lot of chest discomfort, so I went to my doctor who put me on acid reflux meds. Better, but then it came back. The short story, after many doctor visits and two trips to emergency, it turned out I had been having a heart problems, ending with a heart attack. So they did the angioplasty and 3 stents. I quit smoking for a few months, started to feel better and started smoking again. Real bright, huh.
Last February, after having had a flu that just wouldn't go away,and a lot of strange symptoms,I went back into emergency, guess what? Another heart attack. More surgery. This time it wasn't hard to quit. I'd been in the hospital for a week, so the nicotine was out of my system and if I would have lit one up when I got home, I'm sure DM would have gone to jail for murder. And this time I was scared, fear is a great motivator.
It was just so stupid looking back on it, there I was driving myself to the emergency room, pain in chest, and fumbling trying to light a cigarette, so I could have one more before I got there. Talk about an addict.
So now, Surprise, here I am dealing with the evil weed again. After 4 or 5 months, I started having a cigarette if we were out having cocktails, and that worked well for a while, but now I find it creeping back into my life, making excuses to put myself into situations where I can smoke. Sneaking them, like who am I fooling.
What works is different for everybody, but the key is motivation. Nothing works unless you really want to quit. Fear of dying is the best incentive, but then we are all immortal, aren't we.
We have a great support system in this burrow, so lets start there. And ask friends, family and coworkers for their support too. Don't be shy.
I will see my doctor and perhaps get into a program. There are many that are free through health insurance. Often, they will even pay for the patch, although I prefer to avoid any drug, if possible.
I will get rid of all cigarettes and ashtrays. Clean the house and car to get rid of the great smell. Lots of air freshener.
I will avoid smokers and situations where I might be tempted to smoke when at all possible. Avoiding alcohol helps too.
When I feel I just have to smoke, I will do something else I enjoy like take a walk, call a friend, argue with the husband.
I will avoid stress, using relaxation techniques, aroma showers, exercise, and as a last resort, xanax is a good friend in moderation. (Better than the antidepressants - I smoke when I'm hyper, not down.)
I will pray for strength and a positive attitude, and see myself meeting my goal of having better health and more money in my pocket.
Sorry to write the book, but maybe we can help each other to get it right this time. Good luck.
KOKL, forgive my shrill tone, but what do mean by "I will" or "perhaps?" You ARE going to do those things. I am saying this because we care and love you and can't afford to lose you. Who else is going to respond to my Tom Flower fantasies with that finely-honed wit?(Your responses had me rolling in the aisles, I forgot to tell you). I just don't want to here from someone else that you are in the hospital again. And I can tell you as a fellow trying-to-quit-smoker how hard it is to give it up, but we slinky shekats never give in to failure! Yeah, I may be having withdrawals today, and maybe I'm thinking of sneaking off to the gas station to buy a carton but I WON'T. So please, join that program. Do it soon.
Titus, that is a good idea. I heard that too. Unfortunately, mental strength is all I have. You should see the position I have to get into to put my jeans on.
Josnaj, thank you for the support. I only told my experience in hopes that others might benefit from it. I am doing all the things I listed, and hope anyone wanting to quit can use the tips to their advantage.
Its funny but we spend all of our lives looking to tomorrow. Tomorrow, I will have more money, tomorrow I will go on a diet; tomorrow I will quit smoking; tomorrow I'll deal with my problems (name one). Well, it is tomorrow, so make the changes in your life that you need to today, otherwise you must learn to live with guilt and regret.
It is appropriate to say that I am thankful for you all and for all the love and support and we will continue to be here for one another. Hugs and bless you all.
& mmmmm cake......Will your band be stopping by for a concert? They are wonderful from what I heard on the rally site.
Don't even get me started on the reveal. I really liked the 1st one they did at that hotel that inspired Stephen King"s "The Shining". Just good old fashioned ghost hunting. 
I know, I know, it is bad for you, and I tried quitting last October only to pick up that habit again this past summer. They are just too irresistable to me but it is time to can it for good.