“Because of my quest to help make the world happier, healthier, wealthier and wiser, I found Adland on January 20th, 2007.  Oh how my daily habits changed rapidly after getting to know a few members here.   I don’t know if it was the “Getting organized” or “Making a Difference” forums that allowed me to really enjoy being here in the beginning, but I can truly say that my life has been enriched with friendships far beyond my expectations.”

---Joe Downing  (January-08)

“This has certainly become a great adventure for me.  The friends that I have made are priceless.  They have taught me many things about business, respect, diligence, honor, being generous, helpfulness, sharing, kindness, the world and about love.  Maybe one day I will be able to repay this great debt of kindness that all of you have hugged me with.  You have all certainly touched my heart and for that my world has changed.  Adland has become a common subject with my family these days.  I have to laugh when one of my family members casually asks "how are things going in Adland?", as though Adland was my 100 Acre Woods from Winnie the Pooh”

---Joe Downing  (January-08)

“Natalie and I just celebrated our 25th Anniversary!  We married after knowing each other less than three months.  It has been a wild romance too!  For those that do not believe in "kiss and tell", you might want to skip this paragraph, because we kiss so often.

God has been very good to me and I hope to return the favor by spreading the love and joy that I have come to know very well”

---Joe Downing  (January-08)

“To my dear friend Pauline Raina,

I am forever grateful for what you have brought to Adland, but primarily your friendship.  Yes, the POTW has been a very important part of my life this past year.  It has taught me more about people than any experiences I have encountered in the past 49 years.  I feel like I am amongst a long lost family of surogate siblings, parents. Yes, I think I have found myself high in the clouds. LOL!!!  I just hope I can get my feet back to earth so that I reply to all of our friends, grand-parents, uncles and aunts, and cousins when I am at the POTW forums”

---Joe Downing  (January-08)

“…Hello Beef Sloan, Your name reminded me of a time as a kid when we had milk cows.  My friend who used to come to our place would say, "Let's go play down by the beef".  I never knew why he didn't say cattle or cows or the barn like most others, but it always brought a smile to my face.  It really was the haystack he wanted to climb.  LOL!”

---Joe Downing  (January-08)

To Judy Smith

“What can you say?  You say it with your beautiful smile.  It tells everyone that you are a positive, healthy, warm, friendly, on-the-go, loving life... friend!  Talk about rocking someone’s world! LOL!!  I will always be grateful for those first few weeks here at Adland sharing a lot of silly and fun times with you, Terry and Kathleen in Kathleen's infamous "Would you HIRE you... would you work for you?" forum.  What a blast from the past.  Of course, we have had a lot more of these wonderful times.  I'm already ROTLF just thinking about that forum”

---Joe Downing  (January-08)

Hello BJ!!!!

“The other day I was having one of those moments where you look at the hammer and the monitor and then back at the hammer and then at the door... it was a good thing my daughter was standing there giving me that "look".  She saved the monitor!   Afterwards I had to laugh because it made me think about the good times the Gang had, playing the Alphabet Game!  I'll never forget the "38 Special" game”

---Joe Downing  (January-08)

“Joe, I have been observing you over the time and could see only positive things around you. The incredible manner in which you always find something to be happy about in everything which surrounds you is very infectious and ….. The other thing is that you never seek attention but you pay attention, you are not trying to be interesting but interested, you always give credit where credit is due and instead of saying that something happened because of you, you say that you were lucky. These are traits of a person who is happy regardless of circumstances. If more people would realize that being happy is all what matters, they could wake up each day with the smile on their faces and thank their Creator for another opportunity to do something of value instead of feeling scared, worried or angry”

--- Bogdan Fiedur (January-08)

“Hello Kathleen VanBeekom!

I have to share with you how I have been able to be so active.  Are you ready for this?  Because all of you create such intriguing forums!!!  Hey, I went searching today for that first forum that I participated in which so happened to be one of yours.  Do you remember it?   "Would you HIRE you... would you work for you?"  It took me almost an hour to find it.  Oh it was a great read during my lunch.  Judy, Terry and I think you are one of the nicest people for not getting mad when we hijacked your serious discussion and turned it into the lunie bin!  Hey, you gals helped me decide to stay in Adland!”

---Joe Downing  (January-08)

“Halo moj prijatelj Zvonimir Rakigjija  (Hello my friend)

I have not attempted to translate anything for some time, so I hope this comes out correctly...
JA priželjkivanje te sretan Nova godina i svibanj tvoj obitelj biti blagoslovljen sa sreća , dobr zdravlje i napredak. (I wish you a happy new year and may your family be blessed with happiness, good health and prosperity.)

------All translations are not final.  They are more than likely incorrect.  All letters will be responsible for appropriate placement and order.  There may be unknown or mismatched words, therefore it is up to the reader to interpret at their own risk.  Dislexia may help! Recommended solution for mistranslations is... laugh like I do! LOL!!!”

---Joe Downing  (January-08)

“Hi Joe, As we were passing through I kept on saying, "WOW!!!" and "This is so beautiful." and Shirley was saying, "It's so HOT!!" and "How soon before we are out of here?" At one point I pointed and exclaimed, "Look at that swimming pool and all those naked girls."  I could feel the bus begin to tip. ------.  Our world has so many beautiful sights that should be shared by all, and above all what makes places like Las Cruces, so very beautiful is knowing that people such as yourself live there.  No matter where we live, we have to put up with the Heat, Wind, Fire, Cold, Hurricanes, Tornados, and other forces of nature. However if we have neighbors like Joe Downing, we do not fear as much because we know that he takes the word Friend seriously and would never run the other way if he knew that just one friend or complete stranger was in danger”

--- Michael Caron (Jan-08)  Michael Caron

“Hello Jill Bachman, Did I not tell you that my reflections encouraged me to take the Journey to the mountain of Love this year? LOL!!  I think this has become one of the trails for me.   The wolf is certainly a great mascot to have.  And having some of the ancestral blood running through my veins, I am quickly finding that peace and harmony.  It is truly spiritual!”

--- Joe Downing (January-08)

“Hello Joe, Bogdan and I have decided to extend your celebration to two weeks so I hope you're taking your vitamins and resting your fingers at night, lol. You may have to get your wife to massage your fingers every day or you'll have permanent Writer's Cramp”

--- John Sanchez (January-08)

“As a new member I have received a lot of invitations and also I was BOMBED with private messages.

YOUR INVITATION IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT. I didn’t feel attack from your side. It is the voice of a gentle person, of one who may become very good friend. I hope you don’t mind if I post it here, because a lot can be learned from it……

After accepting your invitation, among a crowd of messages WITH ADVERTISING CONTEST from other members, I found a real "remedy for the wound" in your message and again, I feel free to post it: …………. And, that was your LAST message!!!! You are not an occasionally Person of the Year. You deserve this and any other honor and respect. Without your invitation and response, I think I could have left Adland in first few hours. You are the best example how to attract confidence and partnership. CONGRATULATIONS and BIG THANK YOU!”  More..

--- Biljana Susnjar (January-08)

“Hello Joe Lawrence!  I don't know, but you might be the first pilot in the forum! Hey!  I almost became one, but the ARMY wouldn't send me stateside.   I was almost a twirlybird operator. LOL!!!  It would have been fun!  Let's see, I wonder what they would have added to my list of many names: Joe Cool!, Joe-brat, GI-Joe, Hmmm... Hahah!  What a name we share!  Thank you Joe, our mighty warrior!”

--- Joe Downing (January-08)

“Hello Stephan "Chuck Norris" Stenzil, I think this is so cool to meet a Chuck Norris double.  I'm sure we watched all of the Walker Texas Ranger shows in the past.  Pretty cool!  I never saw the Karate Dog, but now I'm going to have to hunt it down.  You were probably around Chuck a bunch, right?  I bet his attitude was one to enjoy being around.  Thanks Stephan!”

--- Joe Downing  (January-08)

To Gabrielle Brothers

“Ah, there is nothing like having friends.  We have certainly had a lot of laughs this past year and I hope MANY more to come. *hickup*  I wonder if anyone remembers your REAL name?  Zaby!  Zome zill znow zand zome zon't. LOL!!!  Hey, I just realized that we haven't been getting any French lessons lately.  Wassup wid dat? LOL!! When I was in Germany, I use to travel by train to Luxenboug and France, just to hang out where they spoke French.  It is such a cool linguistically musical language! So, let's hear some french!  How do you say, "Parlez-vous Français"?  I hope this comes out correctly....À mon en l'honneur de , MOI admires vous pour chérir l'un l'autre à votre coeur.

NOTICE:  You can't hold me responsible for this translation.  Why? I'm the world's 1,048,217th fastest runner and I don't think the others are here in Adland. LOL!!!”

--- Joe Downing  (January-08)

To Branka Bebic

“Now, I attempt a message in Serbian. (I must wish myself goodluck! LOL!!!), BUT seriously.... Za moj najdraži Srpski pa Mjesto račvanja prijatelj , JA hvala ti izdno nad moj srce umjesto imajući određeni član hrabrost za oporaviti se Adland pa ispružiti diljem svijeta s ovakav velik prijateljstvo. To 3. lice od TO BE u prezentu jedan velik znak nad ljubav. Hvala ti!
(Repeat in English) To my dearest Serbian and Crotian friends, -- I thank you from the bottom of my heart for having the courage to come to Adland and reach out around the world with such great friendship.  It is a great sign of love.  Thank you!”

--- Joe Downing  (January-08)

“Oh Anamaria Padurean!!! I have to say you are a very happy person and it is very infectious! (That is a good thing by the way).  I just had to share both of your online pictures to everyone, cuz I wanted to point something out.  You are photographed with trees every time. LOL!!!  And you are smiling... always!  It is why we all just love you so much!  HUGS!”

--- Joe Downing  (January-08)

“Hello Allyson Lier, I would love to have the title of King of Hugs!  I'll accept the title if you will accept all these HUGS!!!!   ---   Hugging is very important to me and I'm not afraid to share them with anyone, anywhere at anytime!  They just absorb directly into one's heart when they receive them.  I believe that the world can be changed simply by everyone hugging more.  --- If you haven't hugged anyone today, then stop right now whatever you are doing and go hug the nearest person!  Many will ask, "What's that for?"  I just smile and say, "Just for being a wonderful you” There are actually unlimited reasons to hug someone.  Have you ever noticed how in the beginning it is hard to make the decision to give or accept the HUG?  But, once the decision is made... it happens!  Everything in life is like this.  I see them as two strangers... they decide to hug for whatever reason and both walk away with smiles on their faces and happiness in their hearts! HUG EVERYONE!!!!”

--- Joe Downing  (January-08)

……………..TO BE CONTINUED!!