Feelin’ the LOVE, wow. Not only did you ask me to come back; you also said “don’t go” (“Mac, don’t go”)  –  instead of saying “don’t go away mad, just go away” (like guys usually do to me). I’m stunned, and rather grateful, to know that I wasn’t just being tolerated around here. I feel like ‘we are family’...wonder if I can get them to play that on TC day at the Ted…

There seems to be some speculation that I left simply because there was boobage present (admittedly it was a little alarming because I was at work, but if it’s our IT guys monitoring it and not corporate, I think they’d like it too much to get me in trouble). I assure you all that I’m not so much of a prude or a delicate flower that just that pic alone would not cause me to spit fire and take off. Granted it’s not what I came here for, but not only have I waited tables at a strip club in the past, I have two such appendages extruding off my own body that I see everyday. If I hated them that much, I would’ve been lying in a pool of blood with two gaping chest wounds long ago. I also spent 5 years as a line cook & chef in otherwise all-male kitchens - which is basically a locker room with food, so I’ve been privy to a lot of guy talk.

I read all the other posts this kid made and tried to just be patient and wait for him to go away. Unfortunately, patience is not one of my greatest virtues (however, cynicism, sarcasm and distrust are, just in case you haven’t noticed). I even tried to see some of the humor in his posts, after seeing and admiring some of the incredible patience several of you were exhibiting. But the continual passive-aggressive behavior was very annoying, and that post was just the straw that broke the camel’s back, as Jug said. Already being down because of our losing streak, down because of Smoltzie having surgery, being treated crappy at work…then this guy trying the bait & switch on my TC Braves brothers?? – I just couldn’t sit and watch that. The weasel-like tactic of worming his way into the guys’ good graces with a pic of a hottie, yet simultaneously stabbing them in the back by having her in the rival team’s jersey (c’mon, would you really try to tell me this guy doesn’t troll the net enough to find a similar pic of a girl in a Braves jersey if he was a true supporter??) And he knew it’d get to sddbaker, ‘cause he had already pushed her buttons. Personally, I just don’t need more deliberate provocation toward violence in my life…my job alone is plenty and this losing streak isn't helping! Plus I felt like it was a double - nay, a triple stab: (1) wrong jersey; (2) cursing the game early on with a girlie pic post, and (3) it wasn’t Jamie K. I know people have acknowledged the admiration of other women (OKT, Erin A.) during threads, but game thread has consistently been the pic domain of Mrs. Kotsay. Am I wrong? Now, I know I groused about her pic a little at first, but it was because there was no equivalent for us non-lesbian gals in the peanut gallery - that was quickly remedied (thank you), and I’ve been fine with her as a good luck winning post as long as our guy is up there too.

I’m saying all this ‘cause I don’t want anyone in the TC Braves family to second-guess their posts in fear of offending me. Like I said, no delicate flower here; I’m quite the cusser (think female Gordon Ramsey) – but I still consider myself a bit of a lady. Of course we all don’t know each other that well, but enough to where you can correct my spelling, tease me, tell me when I’m about to cross the line, etc.; and I’m very ok with that. Dammit, let’s just be ourselves, minus one jackleg, and get back to Braves baseball!

Man, I hated being away…it’s going to kill me in a week and a half when I go to the beach and have no internet access during games…sigh.

Here’s the Oscar speech: I’d like to thank everyone who made this possible (just say ‘awwww” after each one): Jug and bigjoe for jumping on it right away and calling for me to come back; gondee for wiping this sucker out and emailing me about returning; sddbaker for finding me over at another blog and asking me to come back; royhobbs for offering to post JS pics (hell yeah! I mean, sure if you get time); VegasAces, clemsonfan, Perrinbar, mvandonsel, JDMaker1 for being supportive; Smoltz’s Beard for being confused…it’s ok, after a while you’ll get used to it; traphicg – we miss you even if it’s not put in print; …and anyone else I didn’t name, including the silent TCers, who were sitting there screaming “off with his head” at their monitors. Oh, yeah, some lame tnks (you don’t deserve the whole word) to chopchop for making us stronger as a group and reinforcing my thoughts as to what a killer bunch of people we’ve got here at Talking Chop.