Josie, you should be able to reply directly now, they fixed that promptly. I know what you mean, I had trouble finding the post. I didn’t even see all the encouraging comments until just now and I replied to a comment Liza made yesterday. We’ll get used to it, just a learning curve. I just searched for your name and then hit “user” (I think) and it took me to all your comments.

Frank - I had to look up that word!

Hang in there Liza. I’m sending you all my support through the airwaves from (not so sunny today) California. I start today.

Joni - The new layout is great, smaller print okay as long as I wear my glasses! Thanks so much for implementing many of the suggestions, I like the reader profiles. I agree, though, GOT to have the first / last page feature and back to top. It just makes navigating so much easier.

Maggie, Liza D, Josie - Okay, I’m in. Maggie, I know just what you mean except my kids are grown now, but oh I remember. Just try everything you know how to do - gum, patch, even the cut straw thing that Josie did, I tried that. Drink lots of water, try and be more active (hey, with two year old twins, how hard can THAT be?) I don’t mean to be flippant - All will help some - it won’t be easy but - I encourage you to try. And know ahead of time that you will be on edge and crabby sometimes - and don’t beat yourself up about it. I hope you have someone close to support you.

Josie - That would be awesome! Whenever I quit before it was because of support from friends and family and co-workers. And then….so yes, I would look forward to something like that. Because I would really like to give up this yucky habit for GOOD.

Josie - Me, too! I had a thought this morning (cue the Twilight Zone music) that one day there would be a question about smoking and how crappy I would feel having to admit that I had quit (once again) this past January but started again about 6 weeks ago. There is always a reason to start again, isn’t there? My husband quit 10 years ago and 3 weeks into it his younger brother died. He did not resume smoking. I was so proud of him for that! And now I feel so disappointed in myself for not being able to do it for more than a year at a time. I have a dear friend who can smoke “socially” and I envy her. For me, it’s all or nothing. Addictive personality, must be. Josie, if you are serious I will do it with you. For health reasons, mainly, but also for my own self image. I can’t stand the fact that smoking has such a hold on me. Liza D. and Maggie, you too!! Shall we give it a go?

Mugsy, Frank and all the WoW Ladies - I have taken a cue from Deni and decided that I should take some time to digest all that has been written here. And so I have. What I came away with is this: I realize that my upset was because Frank felt he ought to leave WoW. And in my response, I “reacted” to that emotionally when I should have “acted” intelligently. I see now that a better, truer response would have been to tell Frank how much I would miss him if he left, and also, how the things that Mugsy stated were so very important. I did say to Mugsy that she should have chosen another way to let the founders know that she thought their choice was inappropriate and the reasons why. But I can her you now, Mugsy, saying “If not now, when? If not here, where?” And there is no snide inuendo in my words, all of you, please know that. I have learned a great deal in re-reading this thread, most importantly to clearly identify my thoughts to MYSELF before posting, and know “my own truth”, as Deni said. I will certainly take the lesson with me as I continue on WoW.

Yes, Mugsy, I have something to add: It was completely out of line and uncalled for. You did not deserve that.

Take your time, Frank. We’ll be here.

Frenchy - Yeah, no complaints here! I have loved my work. The recording industry was so great in those days - VERY different than what it is now. I met many people and it was never boring. Once my girls were old enough to understand the type of job I had held, they chided me for leaving such a “Cool Career” - they said I should have stayed! But I have never regretted it. In 2006 I had a reunion in my home for all the people I had worked with at one particular studio from 1980 to 1986 - over 50 people were here, and it was such a blast. All the studio staff, independent audio engineers, letters from artists who had recorded there, etc. One woman came all the way from Kenya, East Africa to attend!! So, the ties are never broken and I cherish the people mostly. Now, tropical plants aren’t as exciting as recording artists but they sure can be exotic and they have no ego! I have to roam around the greenhouse at least once a day - get out of the office and remind myself what it is I do - plants are very calming and they are good for our earthly atmosphere.

LOL Marilyn - for me it’s the bass player!!

Dear Frank - I am so dispirited today by what has happened here. In my original post I said that if it was the fact that a man’s writing was chosen, then that is one thing, and certainly not to place the harness of responsibility for that around your neck. Subsequent posts by T.S., Lily and Maurine echoed that so eloquently (much better than I) and I was hopeful. You have been a voice of reason, a poet and a comic; you’ve reassured us and inspired us - but NEVER caused harm. Rather, I think harm has been foisted unfairly upon you. And I am sick at heart about it. Common sense has been sacrificed today at the altar of Frank, and there is no joy in Wow-ville.

My fantasy (the short list) is to hear these artists play my favorite of their albums in their entirety. Up close and personal. I could be persuaded to drink courvoisier and wear shades. The Beatles - “Revolver” and “Rubber Soul” LP’s. The Allman Bros. - “Eat a Peach” Taj Mahal - “The Natch’l Blues” Traffic - “Low Spark of High Heeled Boys” Rolling Stones - “Rolling Stones Now” Bruce Springsteen - “Born to Run” - and Frank and I would dance to “Thunder Road”.

Frank - I hope you will reconsider. I agree with Maurine, you never crossed a line. And I don’t think this site should ONLY be for women. If one contributes in a respectful way, which you always have done, why shouldn’t you be welcomed ?