Just a quick food for thought, and a step back for perspective type of thing:
Obviously each and every person here must really love their AC, or none of us would be spending half as much time as any of us do posting and reading, and knocking things around here. I have a saying that I feel really fits here and it sort of goes like this:
"If I didn't give a damn, then it would just be easy to shut-up, and say or do nothing, I could easily just turn my back and ignore things. But it is exactly because I do give a damn, that I do care so much that I am pushing so hard. It is much harder to actually set-up, get your hands dirty, and to do the hard work of sticking your nose in, doing what is right or needs to be done."
Heck I even sort of say a modified version of this to my own kids when they get all mad at me for sticking to my guns, being their dad and setting limits or what have you. It would be easy to just let them do whatever they want, but it takes a real parent to be the heavy to do what's right, to set the limits and raise good kids. It's because I do love them and care for them so much.
Anyhow, I think this is getting a bit too heated but it is coming from a good place. And it is most probably because we all really do give a damn, we really do love and value our AC so it sort hits a bit hard and close to the bone. And the tone has gotten heated partically because we all really do give a damn, even though we may have different points of view here.
Bert and I were just talking today about our repect for one another and our friendship. And how we really apperciate the fact that we can sometimes really slug it out and that we don't have to agree, and yet we can still be really good friends who know that whatever the other says, we know that it is coming from a good and sincere place. And that if push came to shove, we know we could always count on one another to be there when the chips are down...
Anyhow, I just wanted to throw that all out there because I felt it was needed and might be of some use....
And as for you Roy, please don't go. I have really come to value you, your input as well as your friendship and support. You seem to be really down, and I must say I'm sort of feeling it too. It would be really sad to see you leave for good....
Paul
P.S.
Vinny,
How the hell are ya??? I know things were getting kind of rough for you last we spoke... Hope everything is OK with you and your practice.
Anyway, your input is all too welcome news. It is really wonderful and reasurring to hear that a decent part of these concerns have been heard and probably addressed. If they are as you say they are, then I for one want to be one of the first to get in line and say a big "Thanks" to Jon for hearing us out and working on this. Thanks for chimming in with this important update and once again send a big thanks to Jon for being "big enough".
