A Big Thank You to This Board

[Mudpup]

To everyone,
I found this place about two or three weeks ago. The response to my questions and whining have been so gratifying I have a hard time expressing it.
 My first posts were pretty angry. Just dumping stuff out that I didn't want to say to others who don't understand Ns. I won't dump it on my wife because I won't lighten my burden by increasing hers. So I dumped it here, and I was welcomed by everyone. I just wanted to say thank you. It is really nice to be able to say what I want and have it instantly understood. Or better yet explained to me.
My posts now are a lot less angry just because I spit so much of it out.
 Anyway this is just my way of saying thanks.
I doubt that I have helped anyone with my posts as I'm kind of emotionally oblivious (just ask my wife) but I mean well.
And I really hope I haven't offended anyone with my wisecracks. Some of them were probably a little insensitive or inappropriate. The oaf who means well thing again. But sometimes its a case of "if I don't find something to laugh about I'll start crying".
I'll give an update on the warfront. My brother, as I have said elsewhere, is engaged in an attempt to bankrupt me before we can divide our real estate holdings. I have had some very good economic news this week with a good sale and the opportunity to make a good deal on another piece of property, if I can arrange the financing, so the wolf is held at bay a few more months. My brother has made an idiotic lopsided proposed setlement; if I don't accept it then he promises to delay things many more months. I told my lawyer to respond with "Nuts" to the offer. My lawsuit to get him off our backs and recover some of the damage he has done is ready to file, if it hasn't been already. He lives about five miles away. Since I haven't heard a long werewolf-like howl  in that direction, I know he hasn't been served papers. He sent me a letter refusing to settle, a few days before the deadline I gave him, full of contradictions, twisted half truths and dripping of course with condescension. He even sent one to my MIL. He met her at our wedding once, fifteen years ago and then starts it out 'Dear Beth" and proceeds to tell her what a bum I am for dragging her daughter into this conflict. If he only realized that, given the opportunity, either one would neuter him in two shake's of a ducks tail he wouldn't waste his time.
Speaking of neutering, thank goodness his charm has been insufficient to produce any spawn. If he ever does, I'm pretty sure it'll be named Damien, or maybe Son of Chuckie.
Anyway, thanks to this board I feel freer than I have since Hector was a pup (I have always loved that phrase). I won't single out any names of who has helped me because I don't want to leave anyone out. But I want everyone here to know I'm really touched by the love I feel coming from you all. Thank you.

Mudpuppy
PS. I Will be gone a couple of days so I won't be able to post. I hope everyone can survive without me.

[longtire]

Anyway this is just my way of saying thanks.

You're welcome.  I doubt I've said anything to help you, but you are welcome to vent or discuss or anything in between here.

I doubt that I have helped anyone with my posts as I'm kind of emotionally oblivious (just ask my wife) but I mean well.

I've found you're posts very down to earth, to the point and helpful.  I'm glad you're here!  

[mum]

Ditto!  You are funny and warm. A lot like my big brothers. Thanks for letting ME whine and be imperfect....and you have been helpful.

[Guest from afar]

I am following your case with interest and empathy, Mudpuppy. As I've mentioned, my bro and I had a problem with a sibling and she was something else. She had a very similar approach to issues and conflict as your bro. She would always begin her attempts at negotiation with a ludicrous, outrageous offer, for example. I have since been informed that this is a normal negotiation ploy. Each party begins with an extreme offer, then they gradually come down to meet somewhere in the middle. Your response of "Nuts" is extreme enough, so you may well hear from him again - especially once the papers are served. It is my belief (from my experience) that Narcissists do not want to go to court as at heart, deep down, they know they will come across as mentally unstable. So being proactive and going for the jugular is a good idea (we did that in the end (after several years of her craziness), and won    ).

Congratulations on your latest economic success, by the way.

S

[Anonymous]

Thank you, Mudpuppy, for you have indeed helped me.  You've made me laugh out loud, quite a few times, and I really needed that.  You've been like the big brother I wish I had, (not any George Orwell-like-type either!), and even if I think it is childlike of me to want that from a stranger in cyber space, it still feels good and I'm so glad you're here.  I appreciate your bothering to speak up when you see an opportunity to help.  And that has not just been for me, but for others here too.

Your brother will keep thinking of ways to slow the legal process down, is my guess, sorry to say.  So hang around all you like and vent when you need to, and if you keep generously offering your gifts of kindness and humour and prayer to others, I can only give you back one of my new favorite lines, which you taught me, and which I can adapt to almost any situation now:

May God reward you for your works!!

(((((((Mudpuppy))))))

GFN

[Anonymous]

mudpup,

How sweet of you to write that post. You're hilarious. "Long werewolf-like howl" indeed. How can that not brighten anyone's day?  

Good luck with the lawsuit!

bunny

[Lara]

Dear Mudpuppy,
Your posts have helped me too;you sound like a great guy!
And to echo your comment above...I daresay we can survive without you for a couple of days,but it's NICE when you are here!

Sincerely,
Lara.

[Anonymous]

Dear Mudpuppy:

Glad to see that you closed a good property deal.  This should help you out.  I am also glad that you are posting, especially to give the site "balance" from a male perspective!

I sorta picked up on the fact when you were firsting posting, that you were spitting nails so to speak.  This is completely  understandable when you are dealing with narcs in the family.  I just know from my own experience with my two brothers that their behavior becomes very predictable.  I don't know if this is any consolation or maybe a warning but according to a forensic psychiatrist I saw on Oprah the incidence of sociopaths and narcs in the general population is a ratio of 1:25.  

 My older brother has been being "nice" to me for the last 18 months.  Well, the reason is because I have been making money with my own investments and he wanted a piece of the "action".  So far no cigar for him.  Well all of the sudden he has quit calling.  I think he is tired of waiting around and has moved on.  (We can only hope.)  

Just like your own brother whatever their motivations, believe me it is  never in your interests is it?  Patz

[Anonymous]

mudpup

Thank you for your words of encouragement and support.

I'm glad that you found this board.
I'm glad that I found it too.

God bless.

Mia

[Anonymous]

mudpup

Thank you for your words of encouragement and support.

I'm glad that you found this board.
I'm glad that I found it too.

God bless.

Mia

[Anonymous]

Hello everyone,
I thought I would be out all weekend, but I got sick so I just checked in for a bit.
Thank you everyone for your replies. They are so nice, it sounds like I was fishing for a compliment. I wasn't, I promise. If I actually have helped anyone I'm shocked.
I hate singling anyone out because it can seem unfair when everyone here has been so kind and friendly, but I just wanted to give a special thanks to GFN. She always says just what I need to hear and she always says it in a way that I wish I could. And unlike me, she can challenge a person's thinking without sounding like a bear with a sore tooth.
And to those people who said I sound like a big brother; that is a real honor. I lost my big brother to this disorder we all hate so much, so that has a special meaning to me.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend all.
God bless us everyone, as Tiny Tim said.
mudpuppy

[Brigid]

Mudpup,
I wish I could say I think of you like a big brother, but I fear that you a fair amount younger than I.  I would accept you as a good younger brother, however, as the one I have is worthless.

I have greatly appreciated your postings and read with interest your very detailed explanation of how to insert a quote.  I haven't yet been able to figure it out   , but I was interested.

Thanks for all your kind, thoughtful and intelligent perspectives on our many varied issues.  I'm glad to hear there is some positive progress in your own situation.  Hang in there.

Brigid

[Anonymous]

I just wanted to give a special thanks to GFN. She always says just what I need to hear and she always says it in a way that I wish I could. And unlike me, she can challenge a person's thinking without sounding like a bear with a sore tooth.

Thankyou Mudpuppy for saying such nice things about me.  You are too kind!  I don't always say it that way.  Sometimes, I speak mighty mixed-andmesseduppedly (heehee) but at least now....I have a new way to ask for mercy.  I can say:

"Today, I'm speaking just like a bear with a sore tooth.  Please excuse me."

GFN

[Anonymous]

Brigid,
Credit where credit is due. I couldn't figure out the quote thing either. It was GFN who showed me the light.
I would consider it a privilege to be your 'honorary' younger brother, sis.
God bless you.

mud

[Anonymous]

How to do the quote thingy:

.......click the left button on your mouse....drag it across the words you wish to quote......click the right button on your mouse....click copy......place the pointer in the reply box, where you want the quote to appear...right click your mouse and click paste......click the left button on your mouse again and highlight the text by going over it with your pointer again......go to the top of the reply box and click "Quote" and voila!!!