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breambob
10-25-2006, 11:02 PM
festngator
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posts: 1434
registered: 2002-03-19
location: tampa
PART 6 -
FAIRGROUNDS & HEROES
By the third festival we had moved to the Fair Grounds. This site was so large compared to Congo Square, and the festival was practically empty that year. We didn't have much staff and very few volunteers. The Fair Grounds had no drainage system, and after one of the first days of the festival, it rained. Quint, Henry Hildebrand III, and I picked up all the garbage in the rain and slush at the end of the day. In those early days people brought their own drinks, and there were broken whiskey bottles everywhere. When I look at how the festival has changed over the years, I find it hard to believe.
I remember one night when, even though I was exhausted, I was so exhilarated that I ended up partying all night long at the Cornstalk Hotel in the French Quarter with the sound crew from Massachusetts. I got home early in the morning to find Robert Pete and Bukka in the kitchen. Both of them had on my aprons. Robert Pete was washing dishes and Bukka was sweeping the floor. They were shocked and scandalized that I had stayed out all night. Both of them asked, "Where have you been all night?" It was funny to see them standing there in aprons, scolding me as though I was a naughty child.
Those men are still my heroes. They were not just ordinary men; they carried the oral history of a proud musical tradition. They led such hard lives, like Professor Longhair, who died at sixty-one. The soul gets worn down when you have such a difficult life. Robert Pete collected metal and sold it. He had been a sharecropper. Brother Randolph was a junk collector who rode a bike around the city. He played harmonica and rub board. For all these men the festival gave them their identity. For the time each played on stage, he was somebody. When the festival was over, they went back to their hard lives. It never ceased to amaze me that they could sustain such joy and beauty in their music when they had such a difficult time at life. They did whatever they could the rest of the year to stay alive, like collecting scrap metals. Many of them had never been heard, nor ever would be were it not for the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. I am proud that I helped make that happen for many of them, and I'm very happy to know that music continues to be important in this city.
In New Orleans, people can hear music year round now because there is such a talent base. The festival helps support music and musicians. There is more music per square foot in New Orleans than in any other city in the world, and it's a hell of a lot of fun. It's our life! When I pass down St. Claude Avenue and see some boys and girls coming home from school holding their instruments, I get such a warm feeling. I think, oooh, they're continuing the tradition; they're doin' it.
When I first came to New Orleans from Daytona Beach, I thought I was going to take the city by storm. The truth is that the city took me by storm. I love New Orleans, and I'm glad that I've made a contribution to it. When I came as a kid, I hoped that I would. I never thought it would be such a wonderful people experience. Even when a stranger who had listened to one of my interviews says, "That was fantastic," it really means something to me. What I've done has changed people's lives. They come to hear the music and listen to the words of the great men and women who sing and tell the story of life, and they go away transformed.
In the early days, I knew the festival was more than the music. It was a family of hard working people who gave their lives for what they believed. This fully functional family labored together and loved each other and put on the greatest music festival in the world, in the only city where such a phenomenon could succeed so well because of it's commitment to and support of music.
One of my latest memories is of George Wein at the piano, poised and ready to play. He looked at me and said, "This is for you, kid." He played "Thanks a Million." - Allison Miner
2004-05-13 13:41
festngator
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posts: 1434
registered: 2002-03-19
location: tampa
freebo
posts: 66
registered: 2002-02-23
location: St Pete
In regards to A. Miner, check out this web site:
http://www.gnofn.org/~veracity/allison/
It has some background on this accomplished and fascinating woman. 60 days, 23 hours, 30 minutes for me... Not that I'm counting. Ahem.

polkaholic
posts: 83
registered: 2002-03-13
location: minneapolis
I may have posted this anecdote before, but in my 16 years of Jazzfest memories, one that consistently stands out among the very best was the tribute to Allison the year she passed. It was during the time that the grandstand was being rebuilt, so the heritage area was relocated to what appeared to be horse grooming barn. In these humble surroundings, with Bo Dollis and Monk Boudreaux singing "Indian Red" in her honor, it was absolutely beautiful. I never met the woman, and I was crying like I had lost my closest friend.

nolalou
posts: 8
registered: 2003-04-15
location: New Orleans
I met Alison back in '78 shortly after I moved to New Orleans from NY state. She was my next door neighbor, anb was married to Andy Kaslow at the time. (he was a sax player in Prof. Longhairs band). My earliest memory of her is about a month after I move in the the house next to thiers when New Orleans had a real bad flood, and our street had several feet of water in it. Once the water drained out, I helped her move a wet sofa and other furnature onto the curb! She and Andy were my 1st introduction to the New Orleans music scene, and her infulence will be felt for many years to come. Louis
2004-05-13 13:43
toronto_jim
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posts: 594
registered: 2002-03-07
location: Toronto
Bump
2004-05-18 08:07
festngator
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posts: 1434
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location: tampa
bump up for a reason
2004-05-20 06:09
staxsun
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posts: 994
registered: 2003-04-09
location: Memphis
boomp
2004-05-24 17:31
toronto_jim
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posts: 594
registered: 2002-03-07
location: Toronto
Pump!
2004-05-29 20:44
festngator
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posts: 1434
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location: tampa
Movin' on up
2004-06-09 17:47
azeater
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posts: 3127
registered: 2004-02-18
location: Flagstaff
Top
2004-06-18 10:50
azeater
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posts: 3127
registered: 2004-02-18
location: Flagstaff
Oops
2004-06-18 10:52
staxsun
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posts: 994
registered: 2003-04-09
location: Memphis
bump
2004-07-09 16:20
xxx
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posts: 101
registered: 2004-07-20
location: New Orleans
*
2004-07-20 02:44
ibjamn2
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posts: 2163
registered: 2004-07-21
location: New Orleans
near da bottom!
2004-07-22 19:13
ibjamn2
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posts: 2163
registered: 2004-07-21
location: New Orleans
bump
2004-07-28 20:31
gumbo-yaya
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posts: 537
registered: 2004-06-16
location: at large
hi.
2004-08-12 21:37
ibjamn2
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posts: 2163
registered: 2004-07-21
location: New Orleans
yeahyouright!
2004-08-25 20:44
windowman
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posts: 652
registered: 2003-02-07
location: New Orleans
up you go!
2004-09-09 09:06
zg girl
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posts: 576
registered: 2003-03-25
location: Aspen
bumping from the bottom! That was close!!
2004-10-03 05:41
swamp girl
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posts: 1834
registered: 2003-05-18
location: Forestville
bump
2004-10-18 19:38
madbumpster
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posts: 103
registered: 2004-11-03
location: Bump City
BUM-BUM-BUM-BUUUUUMP
2004-11-03 18:42
madbumpster
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posts: 103
registered: 2004-11-03
location: Bump City
ORDER BUMP
2004-11-03 18:48
ibjamn2
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posts: 2163
registered: 2004-07-21
location: New Orleans
up you!
2004-11-03 21:18
corona
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posts: 5887
registered: 2004-03-13
location: windsor
Trying to get them back in order...
2004-11-04 08:44
ibjamn2
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posts: 2163
registered: 2004-07-21
location: New Orleans
bumpus maximus
2004-11-04 09:11
gumbo-yaya
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posts: 537
registered: 2004-06-16
location: at large
P!
2004-11-04 14:00
swamp girl
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posts: 1834
registered: 2003-05-18
location: Forestville
WE LOVE NOLA!
2004-11-04 20:53
festngator
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posts: 1434
registered: 2002-03-19
location: tampa
FestnBump
2004-11-22 15:39
swamp girl
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posts: 1834
registered: 2003-05-18
location: Forestville
bump for a good cause...
2004-12-02 14:37
festngator
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posts: 1434
registered: 2002-03-19
location: tampa
Padding my posts bump
2004-12-17 09:26
festngator
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posts: 1434
registered: 2002-03-19
location: tampa
pmub
2005-01-02 00:18
swamp girl
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posts: 1834
registered: 2003-05-18
location: Forestville
bumpin' important history for the newbies...
2005-01-09 16:19
breambob
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posts: 2359
registered: 2002-03-01
location: Shreveport
gettin too low
2005-01-13 21:53
kinderkitti
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registered: 2002-04-14
location:
bump
2005-01-18 23:45
carolnabeadhead
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posts: 3098
registered: 2002-03-10
location: Mooresville
oooooh... near the bottom.
2005-01-19 01:46
breambob
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posts: 2359
registered: 2002-03-01
location: Shreveport
precautionary bump
2005-01-22 20:56
staxsun
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posts: 994
registered: 2003-04-09
location: Memphis
Pump up the bump
2005-01-24 10:10
staxsun
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posts: 994
registered: 2003-04-09
location: Memphis
b
2005-01-24 19:45
ciscokid
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posts: 442
registered: 2005-01-06
location: new york
bump
2005-01-26 03:11
festngator
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posts: 1434
registered: 2002-03-19
location: tampa
Bump in the road
2005-01-28 09:10
staxsun
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posts: 994
registered: 2003-04-09
location: Memphis
u
2005-01-30 09:43
bonnie zydeco
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posts: 720
registered: 2003-12-09
location: Boston
BOING! (An alternate for bump)
2005-02-01 12:40
breambob
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posts: 2359
registered: 2002-03-01
location: Shreveport
falling fast now...
2005-02-03 22:59
festngator
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posts: 1434
registered: 2002-03-19
location: tampa
hatsjazz is the origional poster-- This bump is for you
2005-02-05 22:51
knoxbluesgal
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posts: 32
registered: 2005-01-05
location: Knoxville
Bump
2005-02-08 17:51
breambob
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posts: 2359
registered: 2002-03-01
location: Shreveport
wow, almost lost this one...
2005-02-11 19:29
staxsun
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posts: 994
registered: 2003-04-09
location: Memphis
ump
2005-02-12 20:26
breambob
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posts: 2359
registered: 2002-03-01
location: Shreveport
spank 'em up.
2005-02-16 01:14
tx jf fanatic
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registered: 2002-12-28
location: Houston
bump
2005-02-17 22:05
montana
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posts: 2477
registered: 2003-03-01
location: Bigfork
bump
2005-02-18 16:25
festngator
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posts: 1434
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location: tampa
Up my post totals
2005-02-19 19:48
festngator
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posts: 1434
registered: 2002-03-19
location: tampa
Smoke if you gott'm bump
2005-02-22 10:45
breambob
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posts: 2359
registered: 2002-03-01
location: Shreveport
Nutria butts up.
2005-02-25 00:20
ms. festngator
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posts: 97
registered: 2003-04-10
location: Tampa
FnG B-day bump!
2005-02-27 15:39
vwgal
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posts: 390
registered: 2004-12-03
location: Calgary
Again!
2005-03-02 16:20
churchofone
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posts: 461
registered: 2005-01-04
location: wyandotte
Hope I did it right bump!
2005-03-05 23:23
breambob
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posts: 2359
registered: 2002-03-01
location: Shreveport
Birthday Bump comin' up !
2005-03-08 20:28
wefunk
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posts: 1757
registered: 2004-03-13
location: Chelmsford
Bump
2005-03-11 12:59
vwgal
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posts: 390
registered: 2004-12-03
location: Calgary
bumpity
2005-03-15 00:58
vwgal
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posts: 390
registered: 2004-12-03
location: Calgary
Bumping again
2005-03-16 18:10
carolnabeadhead
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posts: 3098
registered: 2002-03-10
location: Mooresville
Organizational bump
2005-03-17 12:42
festngator
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posts: 1434
registered: 2002-03-19
location: tampa

2005-03-20 20:31
breambob
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posts: 2359
registered: 2002-03-01
location: Shreveport
shaved rodents are 'possums disquised as metrosexual nutrias
2005-03-23 19:49
scoopjohnd
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posts: 2311
registered: 2002-04-21
location: Jersey City
bump
2005-03-26 22:22
festngator
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posts: 1434
registered: 2002-03-19
location: tampa
Bump
2005-03-29 08:42
breambob
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posts: 2359
registered: 2002-03-01
location: Shreveport
Geez, this is gonna be hard to keep up.
2005-03-31 00:58
breambob
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posts: 2359
registered: 2002-03-01
location: Shreveport
NUTRIA LUST !
I had to get that outt my system.

2005-04-02 22:59
lenac
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posts: 348
registered: 2002-04-17
location: new orleans
bump....bump
2005-04-05 15:17
festngator
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posts: 1434
registered: 2002-03-19
location: tampa


2005-04-05 19:01
vwgal
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posts: 390
registered: 2004-12-03
location: Calgary
Up to the top again!
2005-04-05 19:03
vwgal
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posts: 390
registered: 2004-12-03
location: Calgary
me again
2005-04-07 16:25
breambob
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posts: 2359
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location: Shreveport
Rootin' Tootin' Bump-o-matic
2005-04-10 19:22
vwgal
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posts: 390
registered: 2004-12-03
location: Calgary
Panic....must bump!
2005-04-13 17:21
breambob
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posts: 2359
registered: 2002-03-01
location: Shreveport
Round and round and round we go...
2005-04-16 01:03
vwgal
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posts: 390
registered: 2004-12-03
location: Calgary
Doing my civic duty
2005-04-18 02:33
ms. festngator
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posts: 97
registered: 2003-04-10
location: Tampa
clif2761 Bump
2005-04-18 19:26
breambob
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posts: 2359
registered: 2002-03-01
location: Shreveport
Female nutria have eight furry teats on their back. Just a reminder...
2005-04-20 00:42
festngator
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posts: 1434
registered: 2002-03-19
location: tampa
Pad those posts bump
2005-04-21 18:46
festngator
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posts: 1434
registered: 2002-03-19
location: tampa


2005-04-21 19:29
festngator
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posts: 1434
registered: 2002-03-19
location: tampa
Where did this go
2005-04-25 20:45
weezie
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posts: 46
registered: 2005-04-01
location: Durham
bump
2005-04-27 14:00
breambob
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posts: 2359
registered: 2002-03-01
location: Shreveport
Bumpin' for E.C. A JF 1st timer, a great show!
2005-05-01 00:22
festngator
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posts: 1434
registered: 2002-03-19
location: tampa


2005-05-06 08:15
breambob
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posts: 2359
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location: Shreveport
bumpsy doodles
2005-05-12 11:21
festngator
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posts: 1434
registered: 2002-03-19
location: tampa
lost and found bump
2005-05-12 19:16
listennshake
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posts: 94
registered: 2005-03-16
location: little rock
better bump it
2005-05-25 13:33
breambob
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posts: 2359
registered: 2002-03-01
location: Shreveport
getting this one back in the mix while listennshake does her thang.
2005-05-25 13:51
bonnie zydeco
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posts: 720
registered: 2003-12-09
location: Boston
bump
2005-06-21 16:52
flcajun
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posts: 686
registered: 2005-07-26
location: out_there
bump bump and grind
2005-07-26 18:16
flcajun
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posts: 686
registered: 2005-07-26
location: out_there

2005-08-17 13:02
flcajun
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posts: 686
registered: 2005-07-26
location: out_there
I would really hate to see these threads disappear...so here goes a BUMP!! :~)
2005-08-29 18:21
swamp girl
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posts: 1834
registered: 2003-05-18
location: Forestville
bumpity! whhhhew!
2005-09-03 00:41
flcajun
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posts: 686
registered: 2005-07-26
location: out_there
bump
2005-09-07 13:33
flcajun
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posts: 686
registered: 2005-07-26
location: out_there
bump
2005-09-13 12:18
corona
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posts: 5887
registered: 2004-03-13
location: windsor
can't lose this.
2005-09-17 09:08
breambob
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posts: 2359
registered: 2002-03-01
location: Shreveport
Threadheads rule.
2006-02-03 02:06
breambob
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posts: 2359
registered: 2002-03-01
location: Shreveport
Bimp is thet word of the day. Bimpism rules. Am I a Bimphead?
2006-02-17 00:27


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