Thank you Gonzo & Oprano

[kath]

Spoke with Gonzo via ICQ today (flipped that thing on for the first time in YEARS) and he invited me to check out Oprano... so I did... last login it says was 12-30-2006 - kinda hard to believe, but I guess it's true.

Thank you for all the random photo albums you guys have posted here - it was like a major flashback and I could honestly say, "OMG - I was there!" when many were taken.

Doing a lot of freelance work now in both adult/mainstream so I haven't been around like I used to and haven't been to an event in years - but thank you for the walk down memory lane. Some of it was bittersweet, but most of it was just awesome.

Think I'll hang out a bit from time to time... didn't realize how much I'd missed everyone.

[RawAlex]

It's a pretty decent place these days. The thieving masses left the building, and most of the people left here are trying to make some money and have a good time at it. Not such a bad deal, really

[gonzo]

Originally Posted by kath

Spoke with Gonzo via ICQ today (flipped that thing on for the first time in YEARS) and he invited me to check out Oprano... so I did... last login it says was 12-30-2006 - kinda hard to believe, but I guess it's true.

Thank you for all the random photo albums you guys have posted here - it was like a major flashback and I could honestly say, "OMG - I was there!" when many were taken.

Doing a lot of freelance work now in both adult/mainstream so I haven't been around like I used to and haven't been to an event in years - but thank you for the walk down memory lane. Some of it was bittersweet, but most of it was just awesome.

Think I'll hang out a bit from time to time... didn't realize how much I'd missed everyone.

Thanks for yours and Joe D's kindness to Oprano with Klixxx up until they outsourced it to people with zero webmastering experience.

As Alex said the sign of things to come to the business has already happened here. Today is a perfect case in point wher eyou see the last of the homie hookup show you who would sink low enough to try and screw their friends for $10.

Times are tough and its hard for all of them to get a job on the used car lot.

[TheEnforcer]

Good to see you around again!!

[Robert]

Hi Kath

[WebBilling.com]

Hi Kath

...and thanks for the kind words Gonzo - keep up the great work in all your theaters of operation

[kath]

Thanks for the welcome - and Gonzo, thanks for noticing. Then again, there isn't much that you don't notice or recognize for what it is. Glad to see Oprano is a bullshit-free zone.

I find it interesting to see what everyone is up to now after some time has passed. I was really starting to feel like I hadn't achieved much since I'd been on the boards, but now that I look at the strong contracts I have with companies and the freelance work I've been doing in/out of the industry, I think I've really done OK considering. I always wanted to do the "work smarter not harder" thing that we were taught as newbies back in the pond, but I've found that smarter and harder seem to work best for me. Lots of medium-sized clients that pay well and really appreciate my work vs. one large employer that doesn't has worked out much better for me. Lesson learned.

I'm so glad I came back - reading your posts, seeing all these names that gave such support/sage advice to me over the years has been good. It really puts things into perspective.

[ali25extreme]

Hello! Glad to have you around....

[gonzo]

Originally Posted by kath

Thanks for the welcome - and Gonzo, thanks for noticing. Then again, there isn't much that you don't notice or recognize for what it is. Glad to see Oprano is a bullshit-free zone.

I find it interesting to see what everyone is up to now after some time has passed. I was really starting to feel like I hadn't achieved much since I'd been on the boards, but now that I look at the strong contracts I have with companies and the freelance work I've been doing in/out of the industry, I think I've really done OK considering. I always wanted to do the "work smarter not harder" thing that we were taught as newbies back in the pond, but I've found that smarter and harder seem to work best for me. Lots of medium-sized clients that pay well and really appreciate my work vs. one large employer that doesn't has worked out much better for me. Lesson learned.

I'm so glad I came back - reading your posts, seeing all these names that gave such support/sage advice to me over the years has been good. It really puts things into perspective.

I have to say since going full time into this business outside of helping out a few friends for a couple of monhts Ive had one large client for almost 5 years.

We are glad to have you here. All of us are here to make money doing this...it doesnt matter how many clients you have as long as your getting along well.

Hope to see you frequently as we all have valued your input and advice over the years... mostly in print though.

[kath]

Originally Posted by gonzo

I have to say since going full time into this business outside of helping out a few friends for a couple of monhts Ive had one large client for almost 5 years.

We are glad to have you here. All of us are here to make money doing this...it doesnt matter how many clients you have as long as your getting along well.

Hope to see you frequently as we all have valued your input and advice over the years... mostly in print though.

Good point - it's all about finding what works best for you AND finding the situation/people that help you work your best. For example, I know I work better for a client than I work for myself... I neglect things "for me" and dedicate 110% for anyone else. Recognizing this is 1/2 the battle.

And thank you for the compliment. I miss the weekly writing and work with newbies/education, but it's good to be doing what I'm doing now. I did do the seminar/conference circuit years ago and that was really good too. I think it was the "give something back to the community" thing that really drove me the most. I was lucky to get in this biz when I did and am thankful for all the guidance and support I got when I was still green.

[Dravyk]

Hi Kath! Knew you were around as I follow the articles circuit for AOE and saw you over at XBiz.

Glad to see you posting again! Much for fun when you don't have to do it.