Garnes checks out of "glider world" -- permanently. Here's why:

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A comment by Sugeebaby, posted at USGN, on July 1st, 10:38 PM

"The baby shower that I had planned for Thrusday night has been cancelled. Since the guest of honor will not come no matter what. There is no reason to have it. So if you want PM and I will give you her address and you can send her your gift.You are all still welcome to come over and we can have a few drinks and some really good desserts."

and my reply, posted this morning: Today, 07:54 AM

"Sugeebaby, I can NOT come... Thursday night was NEVER a possibilty on MY side... even if Sprout HAD BEEN BORN on June 22nd... my four-week follow-up exam was not even SCHEDULED until July 27th... which is a Friday. Obviously, I appreciate all that you had planned to do, but you have to understand that I DO HAVE LIMITATIONS as to what I can, and can not, do at this point in my life. As much as we've talked, time and again, PMs, IMs, e-mails, incessant phone calls, when you kept me, literally, from falling apart during the worst time of my life in March.... YOU, of all people, I would have thought would have understood... obviously not.

I am very sorry that I have created a problem for all of you, and that I am "just too stupid to have gotten knocked up at age 43" (your words, Karen, on more than one occasion), and that I have had so many complications with this pregnancy. I've tried to let those petty comments fall by the wayside, because you have been my #1 for such a long time... but I just can't take anymore of this, and I am done with "glider world" forever.

To all that have been there for me, through all of this, God bless you all, and I am sorry that I have let, what seems like the entire "glider world" down, but I just can't take anymore of any of this. Effective today, I am canceling my memberships on ALL boards, and that will take some time, for sure, because I have been involved in so many.... Yes, that's it. That's my solution. Call me selfish, call me "stupid" (I got that part, Karen, clearly, on many occasions), and I've explained everything, time and again, and no one seems to be REALLY LISTENING to what I have been saying and going through these past few months. I can only do what I CAN do... not what everyone WANTS me to do...

So, again, I apologize for letting you all down. As you all know, as glider owners, pregnant females are supposed to be kept stress-free... I'm a person, and I just don't need the pressure that is being placed on me to attend the SGGA. I am only one person, and you would think the entire world would stop spinning on its axis just because I can't make it to the SGGA this year. Do you all, REALLY THINK that I would NOT love to come? As long as I have been in "glider world" I have been to not only the SGGA, but the GAGT, and I have tried, my best, to be the best "glider supporter" that I can be.

People, I have had ISSUES... and lots of them with this pregnancy, and I have missed A LOT of work, and UNPAID, too... to take care of them. I am only one person, and I can't handle all of this stress, and, honestly, I shouldn't have to. I have not been able to meet many of my OWN obligations here at home, and even sitting for any length of time is painful... I can't even drive to Columbus, which is only an hour away, without being laid up the whole next day, so, how in the world could I make it FIVE hours... and have any kind of quality time with my friends? The REALITY is... I'd have slept all the way through the weekend if I had made it up there. And the best that I COULD HAVE DONE... EVER... would have been to arrive early on a Saturday morning.

You all know that there is nothing definite with a pregnancy... especially since the baby hasn't even been born yet. Again, they were going to take her on June 22nd... that never happened because I had an infection.... HAD she been born on that day, my DOCTOR would not have seen me for a follow-up exam until JULY 27th!!!! And that is only MY appointment... Sprout would need to have seen a PEDIATRICIAN before I could even be allowed to travel (shots, immunizations, all that stuff). But, Karen, once again, you don't seem to "get that." You act is if I have been deliberately trying to just not show up, which I find insulting and offensive. I drove over 800 miles to go SGGA 2005... do you really believe that I wouldn't have tried my damnedest to make it to YOUR SGGA? You know how much I have loved you and our friendship.

I'm sorry that MY LIFE is just not convenient for your "time schedule."

Now, I am NOT parting with any of my gliders. They are my fuzzle-butts, and I love them dearly. The only two gliders that are going anywhere are Thing and Sweetie, who are rescues that were being rehomed to begin with. I have found them the best glider mommy that there is... and as soon as we can meet up, they will be blessed little angels... so don't anyone think that just because I am leaving "glider world" means that I am abandoning my gliders. I am not. The only thing that changes, right now, is my virtual existence in "glider world" -- and that -- I am voluntarily leaving, for good... just as I did before when I left GC.

I am closing this topic. My suggestion is to anyone who has been kind enough to think of buying something for Sprout and/or me... Please return it and make a donation in Sprout's honor (a.k.a. "Evey Lyn")... to the SRR!

Let whatever warm feelings that any of you have EVER had for me, or the warm wishes for little Sprout, at least benefit the love I have for gliders everywhere... let SOMETHING good come of this entire fiasco....

I will not be replying to any PMs... IMs... but if I am ever needed, you may contact me at: cyndi@glider-island.com. It will take some time to cancel board memberships, which I am in the process of doing now.

Good-bye "glider world" I wish you all the best...

Garnes, over and out."

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That's it... now, I am NOT abandoning my love for my sugar gliders, and I am NOT parting with any of them, but two (as stated above) as soon as I can realistically meet up with their new adoptive mommy, which were rescues: Thing and Sweetie. Their story and photos are detailed here in this blog... just do a search (top left corner) for "Thing and Sweetie."

If anyone ever needs my help to save a glider, I'm there for you... I just will not be present on the boards.