From: "dalton spence" <dalton.spence@canrem.com>
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
Subject: a stranger appears!
Date: 22 Jul 92 22:34:39 EST
Reply-To: "dalton spence" <dalton.spence@canrem.com>
Distribution: alt
Organization: Canada Remote Systems

The ultimate egotism is quoting one's own message...

DS>When no one immediately notices this rather ordinary looking fellow
DS>standing at the fringes of the merriment, he mutters a rather loud
DS><AHEM>, and asks "Is this a private party, or can anyone join in?"
DS>He waits silently for someone to answer.

And answer they do, politely and privately, in a dignified manner as
befits the august patrons of such a legendary establishment (hey,
careful with those peanuts!)  Gratified by such a positive response,
he replies, "Thank you all for such a warm welcome (this includes
those whose messages are still in transit.)  It was nice to know
that my first effort wasn't totally unappreciated, even if everybody
thought that someone else (Nick?) was going to respond.  Since my
gateway to the place (the PCB/UseNet Gateway from Sparkware #1) is
occasionally unstable, I wasn't sure that anyone had noticed I was
there.  I am sure that I am only one of the first new patrons who
will come this way via the GURPS Callahan's route, so if someone
could post the "whatisit" file (is that right, Abner?) here
publicly, I won't be the only one to appreciate it."

The stranger wanders over to Mike's porta-bar and orders a Singapore
Sling.  After paying with a Canadian $1 coin (known affectionately
as a loonie), he returns to the group and continues his monologue.
"In the mean time, allow me to introduce myself.  My name is Dalton
S. (for Seymour) Spence, and <HUMILITY MODE ON> I am but a lowly
AS/400 applications programmer (using RPG no less) who considers
himself more of a conceptual bricklayer than an architect.  Not for
me are the high tech state-of-the-art leading edge projects that
induce ulcers, headaches, and nervous breakdowns.  Give me a simple
file maintenance or report program any day <HUMILITY MODE OFF>."

Brushing a few stray peanut shells off his shoulders, he continues.
"I've been lurking here for about a month now, trying to become
familiar with the various characters posting here, before I came
*out of der voodverk*.  While others may be comfortable posting *in
character*, I prefer to think of myself as an ordinary Joe adrift in
a sea of intellectuals (and we all know about reverse snobbery, <G>
don't we?)  So here you can refer to me as Dalton, or Mr. Spence (if
you are feeling formal) or Thursday (No? Well, this is a bar, and I
had to try it.)  Anyway, I think I'm going to like it here."

A stranger no longer, he walks up to the chalk line and, putting the
plastic straw into his pocket, he makes his toast.

"To New Friends, and Warm Welcomes!"

    <<CRASH!>>

He wanders away, looking for in-dey-go fondue forks.
-
/ Dalton S. Spence  UUCP: canrem!dalton.spence  RIME: ->CRS \
\ Scarborough, Ont. Internet: dalton.spence@canrem.com      /
---
  1st 1.00 #141  Luxuriantly hand-crafted from only the finest ASCII.
--
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Newsgroups: alt.callahans