Welcome to my forum, y'all!

I'm so excited I could vomit! Okay, I'm not gonna lay out any rules or anything because I don't want y'all to know what a control freak I am until later. Feel free to start topics and say badwords. I don't have to tell y'all to be polite, though, do I? No, I know I don't.

Okay... um... I think I'm gonna start several topics before making this thing public. If I don't come back for a while after that, you'll know it's coz I'm calling people on the phone and bragging that I have my own forum.

Maybe if y'all want you can use this topic to introduce yourselves. If you want, I mean. No pressure...

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2000

Answers

Congratulations Gwen! Your site is starting to get fresh! I'll be hangin' here now that I can reply to all those compliments you make about me.

Good luck!

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2000

Woo, I'm the first person outside Gwen's house to post on the board! This is what I'll do when I'm procrastinating writing copy for my husband's boring corporate site.

Maybe y'all could hook a sister up with some synonyms for "fresh," "vibrant," "exciting," "clean," and other words people use to make boring and nearly all identical videogame sites sound cool? Thanks!

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2000

Congrats, Gwen. I've been reading your site since I was living back in Panhandle Florida, in my own trailer trash world, and first came upon the Things To Do in Wal-Mart list and could barely believe somebody else had my life and could still see the humor. Now I'm trashing-up San Francisco and I totally miss Wal-Mart. . .so I must've been reading your stuff for at least a million years. Look forward to much giggling with the new forum.

By the way, my name's Sarahjane, and I live over here. Howdy!

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2000

Yessssss. Gwen, it's about time. Congratulations!

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2000

I was one of I am sure the many people who told Gwen that a forum for her would be fun, so I should post to all of the topics, right?
I used Gwen and her journal to get myself an A in my English Comp class, so I owe her much. And she inspires me.

Her piece about housework?

I got off my ass and washed the kitchen floor. I didn't just wash it; I scrubbed it like there was no tomorrow and made sure it shined like the top of the Chrysler building.

No, still didn't do the dishes, but it was definitely a step in the right direction.

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2000

Gwen, you silly girl. You already know me!

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2000

Congratulations on the forum, Gwen. Now I really _do_ have a reason to keep coming to your site daily.

Okay, about me - I'm Lauren. 23. I live in Fresno, CA. I live with my internet boyfriend. Well, he was my internet boyfriend. Now he lives with me. He moved here from Alabama. He's cute, if you wanna see pictures e-mail me and I'll send some. Of course, I'm also in the pictures. I'm not so cute. I am a receptionist at a dentist's office. I've never lived in a trailer, but I wouldn't be unwilling to try it. There aren't many trailer parks in Fresno, and they are mostly inhabited by old people. I like old people - they're quiet.

Anyway, nice meeting all of you, Gwen's other readers.

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2000

This is fantastic!! Things just keep getting better!

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

Hi Gwen,

I'm proud of you, girl. I still want to hear which opera arias you're singing now.

Valerie the Voice Teacher http://www.vocalsplendor.com ~who dosn't live in a trailor but is another webmom with the 'puter in the kitchen.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

Yay! I must say that I dearly love your web page. I read the whole darn diary all the way back and was so sorry when I finished it. There was nothing else to read. And as if in answer to my prayers, you go and spawn a forum! Good show!

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

Gwen! Hugz!

Heh.

Anyway, I'm Jackie and I'm one of Gwen's co-workers at Mighty Big TV, but I've been stalking Gwen since forever (last summer). I'm her biggest fan and am saving her voicemail messages for when she becomes the next big cultural icon, when I'll sell them to some skanky British tabloid to feed my smack habit.

Nice to meet y'all!

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

Greetings all. I currently live in Britain but have been so inspired by Gwen's site that I am moving my entire family to the US in six weeks to enjoy shopping at Wal-Mart!

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

Good morning, Miss Gwen! I'm (insert adjective suitable for Wing's husband's boring corporate site here) because I see this forum as an integral part of my new slacker lifestyle.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

Hi Gwen. Love your new forum. I was just wondering, is there any way to respond to responses (threading)?

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

Very glad you started the forum, Gwen!

And I love talking about me, so what a good topic. Hmm: 26, Canadian, have own journal (shameless promotion), work in arts administrator and also a writer (all the published stuff is poetry), amateur astronomer, have Gwen's water lily photo on desktop now (shameless kissing up). Can talk about own ego without apparent irony.

Joanne

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

Hey Gwen! Thank you for giving me an extra extra-curric that will distract me from work!!!

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

Gimme a G! Gimme a W! Gimme an E! Gimme an N! Hooray for the forum! Hooray for Gwen having a short name!

I'm Rachel, I'm a big-time Gwen fan, and she has inspired me to start my own journal, so would y'all please check it out:

http://www.citygrrl.com

--Rachel

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

Hi Gwen. I've been a reader of The Trailer Trash Page for nearly a year but never wrote you for fear of being one of those stalker-type people you mentioned. I'm an office slave in Virginia. I dated a guy once who briefly lived in a trailer with his mom. His dad still lives in a trailer in Georgia. Anyway, I always enjoy reading your page and it's a really cool idea to bring your readers together.

Alison

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

Congratulations, Gwen! Your site is, was, and always will be great. I especially love the illustrated essays. They're fabulous and so are you.

I might remember Gwen from such web sites as Mediarama, Hissyfit, Fametracker, and Mightybigtv, which are other places that I like to hang out. I am Canadian and one of the highlights of last summer was meeting Gwen in person and having her lift me clear off the ground. She is waaay strong.

Good luck with the forums.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

Paula: no, I don't think there's a way. The set-up makes you choose between Q&A and threading, and I chose Q&A... so I'm just assuming we can't thread.

Wing: how about "super-bad-ass"? I can't believe you forgot that one. Oh, and "wicked cool". And "ultra-fresh", for things that are better than merely fresh. And that same trick works with "uber". You're welcome!

Maggie: oh, man... I didn't really pick you up, did I? D'oh! And I wasn't even drunk.

Man, I'm so glad y'all like the forums. If y'all had told me way back when, I would have done it much sooner. (Now I'm waiting for everyone to say, "Uh, we did tell you. Check your e-mail, idiot.")

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

All right! A forum! Great idea, Gwen.

Gwen and I like to write about our good friends the Camdens over at www.mightybigtv.com but I think Gwen's swell for so many other reasons. In fact I'm hoping to move to the Austin area just to be her neighbour.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

Is it possible I'm Gwen's first male fan to post here? Woo-hoo! Gwen, everything you do is positively sublime.I've been a devoted fan since 1997, and you're only getting better as you go! Paul W.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

I know my name is Katherine but I've been online as Lulu for so long it's sort of stuck - Canadian, PR hack, deluded writer, mommy - and since we're discussing abodes I do live in a trailer - ha! - in 40 below I live in a trailer - boo!, thanks for another forum Gwen,:) it's exactly what I need because I only spend most of my life on marigold and stompofapproval now - so another forum is just what I needed - yup, yup, yup. Did I mention we have a WalMart?

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

I did this all backwards, I know. I posted to the "irrational fears" thing before introducing myself here. Anyway, I'm Karen. I'm a 38 year old housewife (Ok, so I'm really a pretend housewife. I pretty much suck at most of the domestic arts.) in North Carolina. I've been married 17 years (Yes, 17!) and have two sons who are 10 and 6. I've already gushed about Gwen in an email to her (or I probably just typed too much about myself to her), so I won't subject y'all to that here. It's nice to meet you (And yes, I am aware that I have a parenthesis affliction. I apologize if it's annoying).

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

Woo hoo! Way to go Gwen!!

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

Wahoo! A forum! Cool! I'll introduce myself. I'm a recovering attorney who lives in Pittsburgh. We have the world's second largest Wal-Mart just up the street from me. I'm 30, been married for six years, no kids, two cats. I love Gwen because her bathroom is not picture perfect and she's not afraid to show it!

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

Hey Gwen! Laura Fusion/Fusionsbabe/Fusionbabe/Fusion3 writing from work (heh heh heh). I never know if I should use my work or home email, so I used the home one, just FYI. Totally cool to see this forum! Now there's something else to look forward to doing at work each day! As a loyal reader since 1997 (?), I can't tell you how stoked I am! For all the other readers, I just turned 36, live in Ojai, Calif., work at Homestore.com, mother to 10-year old son (who is catcher for 1st place little league team in our town, mind you) and wife to Bill Fusion, all around great guy with fabulous wavy hair.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

Howdy Gwen! I've been reading your journal, website, Hissyfits, and MBTVs for about a year now.

I'm 38, live in Durham, NC, work in an office at UNC, and live with my dog, Dolly, and cat, Noel. No man right now, since I ran the last one off. Hehehe. My site is Corviosity where I just created a new background design. If you check it out, let me know what you think.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

Hi Gwen! Good for you. I was thinking about dropping you an e-mail to tell you how much I like the new format for the site and now I can just tell the world.

My name is Sherry. I'm twenty-six. I stay at home with my two kiddlets (a three and a half year old boy and a seven month old girl). I live in a retirement home. (Old people are quiet -- it's nice.) I'm also a poet and I preform said poetry at various coffee house style venues. I have red hair. It's two o'clock in the afternoon and I'm wearing my pajamas. I'm a vegetarian. I'm a socialist. I'm a person reluctant to clean my own bathroom. I'm nearly old enough not to fight with my mother.

I'm terrible at these introductory posts.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

Hey, Gwen! Congrats on the new forum! And, gee, thanks for giving me something else to read (and post to) when I should be working. Because, y'know, I don't spend nearly enough time reading journals, HissyFit, MBTV and ChickLit.

It's a miracle I get anything done, it really is.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

I've been a Gwen fan since the beginning and have had the distinct pleasure of meeting her not once but twice (yes, I am one of those annoying stalker types). It's so great to meet all these new (to me) people who love Gwen as much as I do. You can read some stuff that I've written at www.constantreader.org if you want. No pressure, but I've been told it doesn't suck. I'm just sayin (TM Gwen).

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

WOW!! I knew you were popular, but i never realized just HOW! One of my best friends told me about your site. Her name is Rachel "Catwoman". Gwen, I think you may have spoken with her. Anyhow, i have a whole week off from work and I am spending it reading EVERYTHING you ever wrote. (And washing the damned floor...). Anyhow, you are splendiferous, and I think that if you ever stopped writing, i would be screwed up for a bit. I really like how you think aloud and your honesty makes me howl. I sit there and think..."Hey, I think that too!!!" Your "Tribute to the Jehovah's" (as I call it) was awesome. I'll be back missy!!

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

My name is Mallory, and I love your site, Gwen. Nice forum, it's ulra- fresh! Even though you don't know me, I prefer to be shrouded in mystery. Am I a teenage rebel? An ancient hippie? The ghost of Nixon? You'll never know.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

Dude! I can't believe how popular you are! Well, I can believe it, because you rawk, but this is great! I am thrilled that so many people enjoy your genius, because you are too funny not to share it.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

Now I'm so embarrassed. Not only have I not figured out how to put my site in as a link, the darn URL didn't even post. Hmmph. Corviosity http://www.unc.edu/~kirchner Damn it.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

All this time I thought I was the only one obsessively checking in on Gwen's page. I'm so glad to see she has so many other stalkers. And, of course, I mean stalker strictly in the non-criminal sense of the word.

About me, first, I have lived in a trailer and am damn proud of it. My husband is in the Marine Corps and we were stationed at Camp Pendelton. Everyone we knew was paying huge amounts of money to rent shit hole apartments or teeny tiny houses. Turned out their was a trailer park on base. I'd never been in a trailer before, so we went to visit a friend who was living there. Two minutes after she gave us the grand tour, we decided to buy one. So, from 1991-1997 I lived in Southern California, 1/2 mile from the beach in a three bedroom, two bathroom double wide for a grand total of $500 a month. I still get happy just thinking about it.

Sorry to go on so...I'll just sum up the rest. I've been married for 11 years to a great guy and we have a wonderful eight year old son. We're currently in the process of moving from Texas to Virginia, so I get on line when I can and bitch about not having access the rest of the time.

This is too cool! Thanks, Gwen!

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

I've only been reading your pages for about seven months. I love your writing and your art, but I feel pushy emailing people I don't know. I'm glad you put up forums, so I can communicated without feeling intrusive.

I'm living in Atlanta, tutoring and majoring in computer science. I sometimes think about quitting school and just being a tutor, but I couldn't deal with teenagers if I knew that I wasn't going to stop in a couple of years.

I like loud, fast music and pretty music with hidden edges. I like cartoons and comics. I read a lot. I love to cook, but I can't do it well if I'm stressed. I have pronoun trouble.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

Damn, woman! I'm just havin' too much fun with this forum!

-- Anonymous, June 14, 2000

Ooohh, a forum! More ways to Spend Time With Gwen!

I'm a 43-year old mother of two boys, 7 & 4. I used to be a housewife but due to a miraculous Internet encounter with an investor, now I'm an Entrepreneur, la di da.

I don't live in a trailer, but I do live in a run-down shack in the Northern California woods. We don't have a Wal-Mart in town, which means that our K-Mart is the most sucessful one in the country.

-- Anonymous, June 14, 2000

Okay, pressure. I'm not a writer, so bear with me. I just deleted all the gushing "GREAT!"s that I originally thought were clever (?), but then felt really hokey. Congratulations to you Gwen, and yeah for all of us, this is truly a wondrous thing (sigh, tear).

Gwen, you are awesome! I bet you didn't know just how many of us fans are out there. Enjoy this.

-- Anonymous, June 14, 2000

hey kids

Another Gwen/Trailer Trash fan here -- there are so dang many of us! FYI, I'm 33, recently-ish married -- okay, eight months ago -- and trying to make it through the old First Year of Married Life. (To quote Sheryl Crow, which, trust me, I never thought I'd end up doing: Nobody said it would be easy.) (Caveat: all worth it.) I'm also a writer with a novel out there and another one to come if I can ever finish it, and am frantically trying to decide whether to have babies. (Nice to see so many hip mamas on the forum. Help!) Struggling with continuing addictions to cigarettes -- I keep on quitting and they keep on sneaking up on me -- and french fries and of course Sex and the City. (Makes me wistful for my single past, and happy as hell I'm out of it.)

Oh, and I'm Canadian, though we move around a lot.

-- Anonymous, June 14, 2000

What fun Gwen! Congratulations. I, like some others, started posting at the bottom and worked my way up. Is this related to reading the funnies first? I'm tied with someone else for the oldest of your fans. I am 21 with 21 years of experience (very soon to be 22 years of experience). But, someone thought I was a teenager the other day, they made my decade! By the way, Paul-I think what you really meant was DEFEND yourself :). I have a 7 year old daugther and am basically a single mom. I think very tangentially and blame it on the fact that I am a scientist. I'm also a musician (can we blame music on something Gwen?) I long for the day that I have a 'puter at home because my only Internet access is at work and my employers would not be able to recognize how Gwen's brilliance and humor contribute to my productivity and creativity. Oops, gotta get back to work! Hi everyone!!!

-- Anonymous, June 14, 2000

Dear God... I'll never do anything at work but read/post to forums, ever, will I?

Gwen, I'm tickled fuschia about your forums! I'll be over with some Cheeze Wiz, Ritz crackers and a can of Vienna Sausages to celebrate, 'kay?

Hi, it's Dwanollah, who posts all sorts of annoying stuff at Mediarama, Hissyfit, squishy and the like. I'm also in the process of creating dwanollah.com, if I might insert a shameless self-plug.

Glad to have another opportunity to chat with y'all!

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2000

Thanks, y'all! [sobbing, blowing kisses]

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2000

yay Gwen forums. i never need an excuse to say i think Gwen is a genius. meeting her was like meeting David Bowie or something ...i was IN AWE.

-- Anonymous, June 16, 2000

Hi Gwen,

I have been reading your journal for about two months now and I love it. I sent you an email asking you to let me know when you update your journal but it was probably way stalkerish and scared you and that is why you never replied. I understand. I am Canadian and my fiance and i lived in a trailer for some time. We still own it, but rent it out. It smelled terrible because the old man who lived there previous to us peed on the carpet.

-- Anonymous, June 16, 2000

Wow, Gwen this is great!! I was running out of things to do at work.

I am 24, single, female, never lived in a trailer, but my grandma does. I live a seemingly-middle-class existence, but I am thinking of giving it all up to go live where my boyfriend does, small town down in southern Illinois. Most of the homes in his town are in fact trailers, so I may have one too. They don't have a wal-mart yet, but are building one as we speak. As for me, my town now has 2! A super one and a regular one.

-- Anonymous, June 16, 2000

Cool, Gwen. Very cool. See you all in the forums. :)

-- Anonymous, June 16, 2000

Hey, congratulations! I've been reading your journal entries for a year or so. I really enjoy your sense of humor. I don't live in a trailer now, but I grew up in one.

-- Anonymous, June 18, 2000

Y'all are spoiling me. (That doesn't mean you have to stop, though.)

Quinn, how sad am I that you aren't coming to Toronto this summer?

-- Anonymous, June 19, 2000

I'm still freaking out about that. part of me feels that as the date gets closer i'll just run to the airport and hop a plane and deal with the consequences later.

-- Anonymous, June 22, 2000

Do it! Do it!

-- Anonymous, June 22, 2000