Howdy!

Friends, I found this site while searching for some Japanese word definitions. I'm afraid I've gotten hooked on that terribly addicting drug called Anime. There have got to be some more 50+ folks out there that get as big a kick out of them as I (or am I really that alone??) Although I enjoy the American TV Animes that have been dubbed in English, the vast majority of the ones in my collection are Japanese subtitled in English. The only downside I've found to subtitling is that I know that I'm not always getting what is actually being said. I really appreciate the fansubs that take the time to explain nuances, phrases, and culture as they relate to interpretations. I guess the reason I've enjoyed the Anime so much (and now the JTV shows and JMovies) is that I love suttleness of the humor and the depth of the pathos. That's just a fancy way of saying I think Japanese video entertainment is some of the best I've ever seen and their Anime is so far superior to American animation (with some exceptions) that I'm sometimes ashamed to see what we've got on.
Okay, enough of why I started here.
I hope to learn Japanese, both written and spoken. It'll probably never happen, but if not it'll be my fault. I'd like to visit Japan and if I ever got there they'd probably have a difficult time kicking me back out. I'd particulary be interested in a small town like the one I live in here in Arizona, USA. That too is unlikely.
After a wonderful 48 years I started having some problems with fatigue and back pain. It turned out that I had 1) Post-Polio Syndrome (chronic-fatigue/chronic-pain), 2) A couple of squarshed discs (L4-L5, S1), 3) Rheu-arthritis in my hips, and a couple of other problems. In 2001 while they were still trying to figure out what was wrong with me I was also diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (cancer). How lucky can one man get? I am happy to report that I've been in remission since June 2002. Altogether these things are called a "Catastrophic Illness." I used to think that this meant really, really sick; it doesn't, what it means is really, really broke. It took the Social Security folks two years to figure out I couldn't work. It took my creditors only 4 months. This is not whining, just letting you know where I'm coming from. I and my wife began a new life 5 years ago. It's a lot different than it was before, but it is what it is.
These days I do a little computer work here and there, but not so much that it causes me any stress. All of my work in voluntary. If I don't like the person who has requested help then I find someone else to help them. I charge anywhere from $100 to $5.00 an hour or if the situation calls for it I just tell them to send me a check when they have the money and NOTHING better to spend it on.
This is probably one of the longest intro's ever posted, so I'm going to stop right now. If you interested in more let me know and I'll tell you when I finish my book (you know, the one I haven't started yet.)
Cheers from the Grand Canyon State, Arizona, USA!
DeGimp

That was really interesting! Welcome to Jref! Enjoy your time here and post a lot!

Hey! Welcome to the family!

Welcome Young Fella !!

There are a few of us ol timers hanging here; vastly outnumbered by the youngins. Welcome to the family, hope you stay a while. As a CNA/HHA , I see our wonderful medical system from the inside as well as on the receiving end (back surgery this year and knee replacement coming soon). I could go on forever about the state of things, but you know first hand, so I won't bore you, LOL. We can use a resident computer geek here, someone always has a problem or question they need help on. ANYWAY, welcome and don't be afraid to try out chat sometime; if you can catch it when it's busy, it can be REAL interesting.

Uncle Frank

Thank you all for your words of encouragement.

Frank, I'd be delighted to help out ANYONE with a computer questions they might have. I was getting ready to start a website with "computer help for the really confused," but some new activities have delayed that. So anyone who has a question can email me directly or start a forum or send me a postcard (e.g. whatever).

anchyyy, Thank you for your message from Slovenia. Although I've been on the net for almost 15 years I still marvel as the ease of communication we have with people in every corner of this world!

silver angel, I can probably communicate with you better than anyone other than an English speaker. I was born in Southern Calif. and spent all of my life in the southwestern U.S. I've had as many friends named Mendoza and Munoz, as I have Smith and Jones. Buenos Dias!

DeGimp
Bullhead City, Arizona, USA

dont mind frank... lol

Hello and welcome to the forum. Have fun
Anime and Japanese films can get addictive. Watch out for the music, you might find yourself slowly heading towards that as well, I am, slowly.
Hope you are over your illness and good luck for the future.

yes stay away from anime...

*puts in a random DVD from his anime collection*

and as far as the music.. music is music.. unless you can understand Japanese it just feels right... i guess.. does that sound right?.. anywho...