Hi, I’m Elaine, and I’m a lurker …

But it’s time to come out of the closet, so to speak! I’m Elaine, I’m English and in my final few months of university studying English language and linguistics. I feel like I sort of know some of you through my secretive lurking but it’ll be nice to join in some conversations too! I’ve liked BNL since I heard Brian Wilson on one of my sister’s mixtapes when I was about 13. I’ve seen them every time they’ve been to London, sad I won’t get to see Steven perform again though.

But yep, looking forward to talking to everyone and distracting myself from all the essays I’m meant to be writing!

Wow. This a great. A lurker. Love it.

Welcome.

How are things in jolly old England?

What is your favorite BNL cd?  Song?

And are you a Steve or Ed kinda girl?

Lurkers are always welcome!

Ah another Brit, Nice to have you on board.

Speaking of Brits…..anyone ever hear from Gnomes?

Welcome to the crazy house e_bee!

Glad you spoke up…now we can stalk you…err…talk to you and lavish in your company…yeah… ;o)

Not heard from Gnomes in years….

Fresh meat! Fresh meat! Fresh meat!

Thanks for the welcome everyone! Except maybe you Richard :P

David, things are okay in jolly ol' England thanks. A bit wet and cold but the daffodils started coming out this week so I'm hopeful that spring is on its way.

As for my favourite BNL song ... obviously I can't just choice one. Top 5: Told You So, Same Thing, Wrap Your Arms, Some Fantastic and Falling for the First Time. Well that's today's list at least. And I think I'm an Ed girl. He gave me his guitar pick at a gig a few years back and that was that, my heart was sealed!

Obviously I haven't heard from the person Gnomes, but back home I live near a dubious tourist attraction called "Gnome Magic." Fact ...

Nice top five! Told you so ranks in mine right behind Powder Blue and Wrong Man.

Of course, everyone here know MYSD is the best cd they ever did.

Welcome, e_bee!

Thanks Sean :-)

Yeah, MYSD is definitely up at the top, along with Gordon and Maroon. Born on a Pirate Ship's at the bottom, mostly because of Call Me Calmly.

oooh another MYSD fan!  *Grabs e_bee and drags her into the MYSD-loving lair* 

Welcome, e_bee

I like your name, its fun to say out loud…

muuuhhawawawawawa… you said it Richard… fresh meat…  oh sorry…

welcome to the asylum…  congratulations on coming out of the lurking closet..  depending on how long you have been lurking for, will depend on how well you know us.. hahaha

ok.. since you are fresh meat… I mean.. new.. I will not hold the MYSD comment against you…
<raising an eyebrow at Davers.. stop influencing the y'ung uns!!!>

what's your hobbies?
do you have any pets?
what's your favourite kind of jolly rancher?
English and linguistics?  why?  what are your goals?
what do you want to be when you grow up?
guess how many bars of soap I have in my basement?
If they called an orange and orange.. why don't they call a banana a yellow?
oh yea.,. and if you are 12, and you are just saying you are in university… you cannot stay… go home…  ;O)

Wolfy - be nice! ;) I've never been influenced by David in my MYSD love. it came from my heart! :D

anyways, just adding my welcome to e_bee! doesnt' really matter how long you've been lurking as long as you're speaking up now :)

Thanks everyone.

Lots of questions there wolfy but here goes.

I guess my top hobby is rock climbing, been doing it for several years and it's the only exercise I get, apart from trudging up the steep hill to my house every day. I climb regularly indoors and outdoors when I get the chance, but I live in a flat part of England so it's a fair drive to anywhere mountainous.

Pets, I have a gorgeous fat cat back home called Bertie and we've adopted a cat here at uni. It belongs to one of the houses that backs onto our garden but she comes in every day for tickles and a bit of whatever I'm having for dinner. We haven't been very inventive with her name though so she's affectionately known as "cat".

Jolly Rancher, hmm, have no idea what that is but it sounds like a real ale ... Am I close? Soap, I'm going to guess at 300. That sounds like enough soap for one person to be hoarding.

I'm not entirely sure what I want to be when I grow up. I've done some work experience at two magazine publishers so editing might be something I go into. Although I missed the contact with the great unwashed that I have at my holiday job at the library so maybe something that combines writing with some public interaction. I chose to study English because I've always been interested in language and then pairing it with linguistics makes it sound much more technical and also makes it sound like I speak other languages, even though I don't :-)

Gosh, that was long and quite dull :D

Do you play Darts?  I love Darts.

My boss is from London…he plays darts.  LOL!

My wife's best friend lives in Stafford England…

Nice to see you here.  Maybe if you're close, when we go over to visit, we'll meet up for a beer.  I would love me a big ole pint of Killkenny's.  We can't get that here in the States.

e_bee,

I queued up my mp3 player with your top BNL songs.

"Same Thing" was great to hear again, and I like the horns at the end of "Wrap Your Arms" are delightful.

"Told You So" doesn't make my top 10.  Sorry.

"Fantastic" and "Falling" are classics.

I noticed that your list is heavy on the "Ed."

I guess that Steven's departure will not be so much of a concern for you, eh?

Joe, I hadn't really noticed that those songs were quite Ed heavy. I think there's something that ties all those songs together, maybe theme-wise, but I'm not sure exactly what it is. Regret perhaps.

Top Steve-based songs; Conventioneers, Life in a Nutshell, Tonight is the Night, Break Your Heart, Blame It On Me. There we go, that even things up a bit.

C-pher, I'm off to a beer festival next weekend, I'll have one on your behalf :-)

Fresh meat? We ain't had fresh meat 'round these parts in a 'coon's age. <spits imaginary tobacco in a spitoon> Somebody crank up the barbecue.

Seriously, though, welcome! Make yourself at home. Put your feet up!