Well, first off, I want to thank Diki and Chas for their very kind words.

Like Diki, I find it very hard to search for a place to start.

My admiration for many people has grown since I first logged on back in July, 2005, and I would have to say Nigel(I mean this not in a kissy-assed way) has shown remarkable restraint and patience during the Ian and Diki, and Ian and Donny wars...I don't think I'd have the tolerance, but I am glad we have a group owner that does...he has also posted some very dry, and witty posts, and I appreciate both him and this wonderful forum.

I got a computer very reluctantly...I was a given a laptop by my former Yamaha boss, when I was on a sabbatical to look after the last member of my family, and Uncle Jim, who had dementia, and had no one else to look after him. I promised him he would never go into a "home" and I kept it...he died here, in his own home, with his only family, me, by his side. I owed him a lot, since it was he who paid for my piano lessons, and who helped me buy my first keyboard...he passed away in December, 2005, and I still miss him a lot.

I taught myself how to use the laptop and it became a friend, and the Internet was a vast playground that helped me while away the time...I discovered there were a great number of arranger players...hardly any pros here in Cape Breton, and more importantly, I discovered Synth Zone.

Diki, is a great source of knowledge, and I always enjoyed his posts, even when I was the target of his wit and strange and infectious sense of humor...that what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger, and I came to appreciate, and identify with his passion for music and also his sense of fair play.

Capt Russ...ahhh...he reminds so much of an Uncle Allie...who was a jazz violinist, and who was larger than life, much like Russ...his uncompromising points of view are often great lessons for those of us who aren't as experienced, but still have to play in the same playground.

I really miss Chas around here...I have said this many times. I respect his reasons for backing off...that took a lot of guts and/or diplomacy...I would really love to hear him play, and would be tickled if he posted a tune.

Fran and Donny are every bit as important to me, and to this place...Donny helps me recognize my humanness with his antics, and he is as passionate about music and gigging as the rest of us, and very talented,...as is Fran, who can take a joke with the best of them, even when he is sometimes the target...SZ would not be the same without them....I miss having Donny around, and I'm sure he misses this place, and is no doubt, contrite about his faux pas.

Cassp has my thanks, and my appreciation for getting the SZ Jam started, and opening my ears to remarkable talent, such as Cassp himself, and Bill Corfield, Noel, Stephenm52, Eddie (betweengigs), Fred Wren, ChicoBrasil, John Squance(jwyvern), and, last, but certainly not least, Tony Mads.
I certainly feel like I know everyone a lot better, and I feel it's because of Cassp, who has been the been the one who really set his sights on a SZ Jam goal, did not discourage easily, and carried it off very well.

This place is the first stop for me...and the last at night...sometimes I've checked in throughout the night if there was something really interesting, and/or controversial going on.

Diki is right...it is a family here...dysfunctional sometimes, but it would be boring otherwise.