It's very good to see this forum becoming more accessible for posting once again. I hope admirers of Samantha have not become disheartened or discouraged by their inability to reach her, and haven't permanently walked away in frustration from this place, their unsent messages never even getting to the keyboard. For over a month, too. That's a long time in Fiona years, and a significant chunk even in Tuttle's. I'm glad Mod Ben has returned to help clean out the Augean Stables of his Herculean task. We do appreciate the staff's efforts. I'm generally getting in without trouble now (although it may still take a few tries at the log-in screen).

But remember Samantha is still out there, somewhere, filming for the Travel Channel. She's still trying to entertain us while showing us the world (no doubt she's also getting in a few back rubs, gourmet meals and fine vintages, but I for one am fine with that). The results after all are impeccably presented for us. Her grace and openness is a thing of wonderment; her kindness to admirers well-documented, including appearances here.

So let's not pass up the opportunity, now that we can again, to reassure Samantha that people are anticipating her new series in the coming spring and summer. Presumably she's shooting them right now, and may well be checking in at times for comments or encouragement. Her forum may have changed somewhat, but I suspect that Sam has not. I think she's well worth celebrating, and now we have our means of doing so again. I know she has more followers than those who've managed to post out here of late. So those of us who can, and have not wandered off in confusion and befuddlement, I hope will come back to her forum soon and let Samantha know.

Hello again, Sam.

Yes, I eagerly anticipate our “travel goddess’s” new programs. In a world full of open sewers, she’s a cool, clear, mountain stream.

<ahem> Yes, well. An interesting post to follow.

Beginning anew to address our forum and its brief history, allow me to suggest we follow the sage advice of Linus, i.e., Linus of Peanuts cartoon immortality; specifically, Linus and the Great Pumpkin. Remember, the Great Pumpkin only visits the pumpkin patches that are the most sincere. And WE have one sincere pumpkin patch here, my friends.

Sincere about SB, that is, and those less sincere have fallen by the wayside, perhaps, or have not yet found their way back to the home patch. And in regard to those who have not yet returned or shall not return, I have but one observation:

Good grief.

Intl Doc

Good Grief is one of my favorite oxymorons along with:

Small Crowd, Alone Together,Pretty Ugly,Turned Up Missing and Instant Classic.
Oh, that language of ours!

Yes indeed, Captain Tuttle.
It sure looks like we ARE back. Many of the problems with this website have been fixed, it now seems. With my flurry of posts this morning, I have emerged as a "Member" once again. Thanks mod ben, for cutting us some slack.

Is this what one might call a March Message in a Bottle? If so, I also hope that others, falling at all levels of sincerity, will come on board to say hello.
I'm sure I am not alone in thinking it has been too long since we have seen a new show. With the writer's strike going on, February would have been a fine time for something like the Best of Great Hotels in primetime, but what do I know? Hopefully, Samantha's latest Disney show will show up in early April, seeming much like Mr. Schneidman's cool mountain stream.
Hang in there, everybody.

Yep, it seems that all the cool people are back! That is... except for the travel goddess herself. I miss Sam!

When the heck does China premiere? I'm dying here! I turn on the travel channel and I'm like "Oh... reruns."

Oh, Mother O,
You always bring such kind dignity to this site. I'm not sure I should be sending any more messages in bottles anymore; I don't really know these days in which ocean, lake, ornamental pond or bath tub to throw one (the latter location would not be particularly polite or wise anyway, plus I don't actually want to hit her with it. Might send the wrong message, so to speak. Not to mention that plastic is ecologically unsound, and glass would really hurt).

But I'm guessing, in my fortress of solitude here, that Samantha would like to hear from her flock, her little fleet scattered by the recent storm and still trying to work their way back from over the horizon, and maybe, now that you mention it, we have picked up some bottles floating out there with messages for her safely enclosed in them.

We know that some of us are back in port (I hope Cruiseluver will let us know her final college decision), but some very recognizable names to me at least have yet to return. They are missed. But I don't believe Samantha ever intended this to be an exclusive community. First time posters who have only recently discovered Samantha's warm appeal are greatly welcome here, I'm sure we all mean to say, and there is a rich archive of previous posts and Samantha's comments that did survive the bumpy ride from our previous incarnation. I still remember when I first posted here, when Sam was only maybe 12 years old, I felt very much the outsider. Now... well, I should have retired long ago. But something keeps bringing me back. I hope many others will return, and certainly hope new explorers will enter here as well.

I'm sure Samantha will post when she thinks it appropriate, or gets the chance. But in her privacy, she can read our best wishes to her at any time she chooses.

LIVING TOO HIGH ON THE HOG

Sorry for not posting lately and I have little excuse to show for it. One poor excuse (besides being a lazy, good for nothing, low-down polecat), is that I’ve been living too high on the hog in front of the TV watching political coverage of the presidential campaign. No disrespect to all the candidates but I’ve decided to cast my vote for Samantha to be our first woman president! With her glowing good-natured charm, fluent resonant voice, personal integrity, intellectual foresightedness, slender Hollywood figure and captivating beauty, why she would be the topnotch candidate that would not only win all the women’s vote … but certainly get all the men to vote for her too ! It would be a united gender landslide victory!

And to surround her campaign with even more depth and durability in order to get through the rigmarole of getting elected, and giving her presidential tenure a long two-term success, I consider the Captain and both Orange’s to be superb coterie choices as her campaign and policy speechwriters. With theirs natural ability for being studiously attentive to perspicacious detail, accompanied with a soaring blend of sonorous rhetoric, makes them in keeping to enunciate and emblazon Sam’s positive vision she has for our motherland .

Intldoc would be my choice as her perfect VP running mate for his solid foreign policy credentials and aura as an international statesman. He would embolden her campaign with an unparalleled protective integument that would scatter away bickering partisanship by corralling all political factions and intelligentsia think tanks together with his unflappable leadership. I call that cracking the parliamentary whip! And, if any of her opponents are creeping up too close in the polls for comfort, Intldoc can use his sharp wit and biting sassiness as her attack dog against those scurrilous scallywags who would attempt to challenge her !

Because of Cruiseluver’s steadfast allegiance as an energetic supporter and frequent contributor to the forum (unlike me), she is well qualified to be Samantha’s Campaign Manager to ensure all scheduled campaign events happens smoothly with accruing success, making sure the catchy "Sam Revolution" chant is expeditiously spreading across the country and keeping her tracking polls elevated. I, as a loyal foot soldier in the "Sam Revolution," together we can appear on talk shows as surrogates to extol Samantha’s qualifications and debate anyone who would challenge her extraordinary genius to pilot our country through the reefs of adversity and stormy seas of competition, until she drops anchor in the harbor of environmental, domestic, and foreign policy success .

Great galloping bullfrogs! (As though when Samantha loudly slaps her thigh on TV when making her point). I bet Samantha would be so smart, amusingly clever, and confident in the debates that she could instantaneously conjure up her own persuasive recitations whilst discussing meat-and-potatoes issues most important to voters, and why she should be elected over her opponents, all while confidently filing down her fingernails with an emery board! Yes, I expect when Samantha commences talking that even the other candidates up on stage will swoon with joy. With their knees weakening before her exquisite refinement, I foretell they’ll all voluntarily expunge themselves from running for presidential office right there on TV when it’s there turn to talk up on stage, and even quarrel amongst themselves to first commend Samantha to the moderator before the debate is half over !

And with the debate finally finished and all candidates bowing out of the race and declaring Samantha the presumptive winner, they can all still have more fun than a bear cub in a honey tree by hoisting Sam up on their shoulders to carry her off to victory, chanting: "President Sam!"

Stumping for Sam in 08.

Happy Super Tuesday II!

In my last post I didn't mean to sound like I was pressuring Sam to post... because there isn't any. Pressure, that is. The Sam shows seem to be on their summer vacation (yes, in the winter, but you get my meaning).

Beyond words... haha thanks but I don't want the pressure of being campaign manager! I'm not cunning enough. Besides, when my government class did a mock election, I was Press and it was fun... I got to annoy the campaign teams with questions and write scathing articles (and get yelled at by the democrat's funds manager).

Besides, I don't think I'd even want to know her party (though I have my suspicions of what it might be! ). I'd prefer Sam to be our ambassador. We could use one like Sam after John "Actually I Don't Like Carrots" Bolton.

Rather than seeing myself as SB's VP or even Secretary of State, I see myself as SB's Athos of Three Musketeers fame (infamy?). Makes infinitely more sense. A quick check of Mssr. Dumas' work will explain everything.

Welcome back, Beyond Words, and good to see you aren't using the lengthy substitution name we've already (thankfully) forgotten.

Adieu --

Intl Athos

I second Samantha’s nomination for President, and nominate beyond words for press secretary to answer all of cruiseluver's vexing questions.

I am reminded of what Samantha said before plunging into shark infested waters off the coast of Belize.
I am thinking she might say she would do anything to avoid running for political office, including staying at a budget hotel! Very nice try though, beyondwords. Can we keep mod ben in mind for a high paying position in the Department of Homeland Security?

What lengthy substitution name? I’ve forgotten it too. But I wonder what happened to my capital "B" and capital "W" I was so proud to get in my login name? Oh well, so much for progress. I actually came up with "Beyond Words" by browsing through a book of Robert Frost Poems because it was filled with so many attractive words. My first login name was also pretty bad, with little thought put into it, from an old song title called "Here Lies Love." It worked as a subject title for what I wanted to say in my first post, but I realized it was too sappy as a screen name to look at all the time. I then made that same mistake again with my forgotten substitute name.

To rid myself of "Here Lies Love" I browsed through a Robert Frost book for inspiration and came across a short poem called “Beyond Words,” which is about being so angry that you have a loss of words to describe your feelings. Robert Frost sure must have gotten pretty angry with someone to inspire this poem, which goes:

That row of icicles along the gutter
Feels like my armory of hate;
And you, you ... you, you utter....
You wait!

I didn’t come across anything I liked better in the book and decided to use it. But I used it in a positive way in my first post to describe the positive amulet effect Samantha’s show had on me in my first respond session to her. I wrote her show was "beyond words." I’m glad I’m still able to use it after the switch over because, as you know, I didn’t come up with anything better afterwards.

I would only want to be Samantha’s Press Secretary if I got to fly on Air Force One with her and get to sleep in the Lincoln bedroom in the White House. If I did, I wonder if I would get 24-hour room service? If so, then I’ll be glad to absorb all the vexation Cruiseluver could throw at me in defense of Samantha’s administration. If I fail to qualify for the position then I'll be happy enough to carry her luggage on my back.

I hope in 4 more years we’ll be chanting: "4 more years!"

Jeff

Well, I will always be honored to work with Mother Orange, Beyond Words, but she is more perspicatious than I am, and if elected I'd have to retire anyway, of course. Still you know my devotion to the Samanthan cause runs very deep even if I'm not quite sure where she stands on NAFTA, esp. after all that time spent down in Mexico.

And, to return from this allegorial fantasy for a bit, the charm of Samantha's shows is that she has no speechwriters. Her deliveries, her phrases, are her own, which is why they are so fresh and delightful, a little quirky at times, often musically poetic, sometimes just the perfect words for the occasion, always very personal. I just like to listen.

In the words of Dorothy . . . . . There's no place like home. It feels right being back in familiar territory, and reading the thread reminds me how much I have missed reading the musings of all my fellow Brownheads.

If needed, I'll second Mother O's nomination of mod ben for the top DHS post. I have strong suspicions he would elect to remain where he currently is however. Wise man.

Carry on my friends!

Hello! to all. So glad to see you are all back.I can't believe I got on. I moved. Then I was not able to get on.And when I got the flu I gave up.I was never too sick to watch Samantha. I love her reruns. Mother Orange that is a good idea to have a best of Great Hotels in prime time.I would not miss a show. Samantha what a joy you are. I can't wait to see all your new shows. God Bless You Sam in all your travels. Love Mary.

I'm very glad to see Hummingbirdlady and Maryoflakewood (no longer Lakewood?) flit by. Samantha surely knows many of her followers look in, as she likely does herself, without leaving a calling card in their wake. But I think, like all good shepherdesses, she also wants to know her flock is gathered in and accounted for from the predatory wolves of the outside world. And I can imagine her curiosity whirring away in her mind, wondering where some of her most entertaining or longtime followers have been when she checks her forum threads. She'll be surely pleased to know that MaryO and HummingbirdLady are safely back among them.

I hope she had a good weekend, if shortened by an hour (in case she still harbors some confusion as to where it went last night). If off again for work, have a fine week, Samantha. If enjoying some down time, rest up with some deserved tranquility. And remember that it's almost spring.

I completely agree Captain that Samantha absolutely needs no help with her writing and I thank you for apprising me of my misbegotten statement. Your kind interpolation is greatly appreciated. I gladly expurgate my unintended mischaracterization that Samantha would ever need anyone to do writing for her. The writing she does on her shows is excellent and uniquely expressed with wonderful charm, as are her journals, which are something I truly marvel over and is a great pleasure to read through. I eagerly anticipate reading her new journals on China when they become available too.

What I really meant to say, as it was nesting in the back of my mind but never came forward properly, is that the three of you would be excellent writing assistances to help ease her burden in having to prepare so many speeches that a contender running for president would have to make over a long period of time. I was thinking this when I wrote you would be superb coterie choices as her campaign and policy speechwriters, but I should have phrased it as coterie assistances instead, because I meant to implant the pleasurable thought of you three having the opportunity to work with Samantha altogether in unison teamwork. My idea was not to have you and both Oranges working separately from Samantha that you would hand over to her when finished, but be by her side, like being on a movie set to help a great filmmaker complete her masterpiece at her direction.

Because of my lack of participation in the forum from watching too much political coverage on TV, and being too lowbrow on most topics discussed, my motive here was to make up for it with this silly fantasy. I also have fun skimming through my dictionary to use new words as tools to express myself better (like interpolation and expurgate). Sometimes, however, using a new word will take my thoughts in a poorer direction intended, like making a wrong turn on a side street leading into a dead end. I like it better when one good word will eliminate the use of several others. I suppose a lot of gifted writers can use their words like colors on a painter’s palette to mix and choose from, and I’m just having fun learning to mix some basic colors without concocting a highly developed scenic portrait in English 101.

Happy writing!

I think, BeyondWords, we would all like to ease her burden (isn't that a message from Field of Dreams? If so, it might be James Earl Jones she needs and not Mother O and me). Certainly I'd like to ease her burden if it were to attend a five star gourmet dinner for her, but she'd probably just ask me to haul the burden of her grocery bags instead (which I would do - I want to go on record as saying).

But of course we knew all along that you did not mean our taking the words out of her mouth. The things Sam might need assistance in, however, I'm pretty sure I cannot give her, beyond our written sentiments. I can't give her more hours in the day (couldn't even do that for myself Saturday), make obstreperous quadrupeds (i.e., horses and donkeys) behave for her on shootings, get her the sunlight she desires for a closing shot, reduce the outside temperature in Guadalajara by about 40 degrees when she needs it, get her home when she often wants to be there instead of a thousand miles away, or raise her salary by an extra digit. And her real life is full of people who play the important roles for her as she goes the distance. But I am here to help if I can, along with others. I can't write for her, but I can write to her, with supportive and admiring words for when her spirits might need a little lift. I suspect that's what Samantha wants from Tuttle, and she has that. And it is no burden, I assure you.

But keep loading up your verbal palette, BeyondWords. It's the perspicatious thing to do, and Sam must enjoy your scintillating posts.

[Edited because correct grammar is needed in posts like these.]

Well said Captain, and I will keep loading up my verbal palette as a happy foot soldier of supportive and admiring words. Nominating her for president during an election year is my tomfoolery pleasure towards this objective principle to make her feel good. And as an enlisted soldier of fortune in this noble cause I will always show respect to my company Captain .

Cruiseluver,
I don't know if anyone post this yet, but about Sam's show in China, someplace on this forum, a few months back, it said her China show will be on the air this summer. It sure takes a long time for us to see it. She filmed in September 2007!
Something to look forward too.
I haven't post for a very long time. I've been really busy! I've been on Sam's Wiki. Not very active there, so I decided to come back here.
Feels good be be with you guys again!

I thought the Wiki website shut down a while ago. I quit trying to get on it for some time. I enjoyed it, but there was a lot to it. Very time consuming. I don't know why they're dragging their feet with Samantha's new show. I wonder if they realize how anxious we are. It's been a long time since we've seen or heard from her. Thank goodness for Captuttle, Beyond words, Intldoc, FatherOarnge, Cruiseluver, David Schneidman and others who keep this forum going.

Thanks for throwing my name in there nunesy, but what would really liven things up, would be if littlepinetree would tell us of her recent trip to Berlin and Prague.

Oooh yes, LPT, do tell! I feel like I haven't been anywhere in ages, so let me live vicariously through you!

Summer? But I'll be busy this summer... whatever, I'll just make my friends watch PTC with me! (They really do love Sam, they just don't know it yet.) Anyone know if Sam's filming anything right now? Great Weekends, perhaps another cruise...?

Random thought: what would happen if Anthony Bourdain and Sam did a show together? What would that be like? Would it even work?

Thank you so much for being so interested in my trip! I thought no one cared. It's nice to find out you do care.
I wrote about my plane trip over to Berlin, and about the first full day I was there. I can send that, but I yet need to write about the rest. Just didn't have much time to do that yet, but I will.
Thanks so much for all your kindness.
LPT

"I thought no one cared."

Have you forgotten which forum you're on???

Of course we care! We are all travel junkies, after all, and I'm sure everyone wants to hear your perspective of the city.

little pine tree...of COURSE we care. Please post us all about the trip so we can live vicariously!

Sprecken zie deutsche?

Thank you! I will write more about my trip.
I'm glad you enjoy what I wrote so far!
LPT