Serge posted a few months asking for everyone that considered themselves "family" to respond in the thread. Many of you replied. And several of you werent sure.

I noticed the question was touch upon in another thread while we were out in Vegas last week.

I think that before you can answer the "who" you must first know "what" it is to be family.

In the past Mike and Serge have left this as a mystery for everyone to ponder. Last year when I was "made" I didnt realize that I was answering those questions for myself with my conversations of lobbying to take responsibility for Oprano.

We are at a point where I would find it interesting to see what some of you think being "family" is.

So what does it mean to be "family"?

Pretty simple from my standpoint, family meaning my peers who can be trusted with my business as well as my friendship.

Doesn't get any simpler than that.

:pearl:

Respect for the fellow family members positon on a subject, and points of view with an open mind.( even if you do not agree) try to understand why they feel the way they do and figure out a way to deal with it so everyone involved is satisfied with the outcome.( remeber you all eat at the same table)

Loyalty to help each other out when possible.
and looking after each others well being

NEVER let an outsider beat one of your family members down.( it doesnt matter if they are wrong, you can talk to them about it after the battle with the outsider)

If we need a vow of silence between us we're family.

It's always a good time to team up on outsiders.

Family means - people I trust and who trust me.

Those who if they hear something come to me and ask me about directly - good bad or ugly and vice versa

Who aren't afraid to tell it to me honest if I'm screwing up and can expect the same from me.

People who I can introduce my dad or my daughter to.

Family is the only people I do business with.

I've recently started my own venture and part of my vision statement (Read "Full Steam Ahead") was to only do business with "Family". I don't take on affiliates unless I know them personally, I don't sell to distributors unless I know them personally. No more of this faceless crap. Some say that I'm narrowing my market - I say I'm expanding my future because I'm taking the time to actually get to know the people I might be interested in doing business with and establishing a solid relationship with them.


Speaking of family-

Congratulate me I am officially divorced - final papers in hand. That will teach me to never marry a Russian you had working for you that you found off of GFY.

Great topic Gonzo - something I've been looking at for quite some time.

allow me to ask this then, what did you do with the 100K you ( allegedly) stole from Azure? and has the legal battle began yet or was that some misinformation I was given?

D I T T O ! ! !

was he a good lay at least?
;)

D I T T O ! ! ! [/b][/quote]
Yep, ditto here as well. Couldn't have said it better myself... :okthumb:

I agree with this too. There are people in this business I consider family and like brothers and sisters we don’t always agree or get along; however there always seems to be a mutual respect.

Agreed. You speak pretty good Engrish for a foreenor B)

Allegedly is the key word here - I did not steal anything from Azure - in fact I have criminial charges against them for Insurance fraud, and assualt - this was their method of gurrilla tactics to try and get back at me because they lost the chocolate deal for trying to get it created by another source (this product is patented and they were shopping the methods they learned from them to create themselves) I did not go to work for the manufactuers. I do not work for the manufactuers I simply rep for them. Did I know they were possibly going to pull the chocolate from Azure - I'm cute not stupid - was I making plans - again - cute not stupid.


That being said - the reasons I've shared with oprano in the past haven't changed in previous post I included the case numbers and details - the reasons why I don't work for azure -

1. Insurance Fraud
2. Missing Paychecks
3. Missing commission checks
4. Assualt by Michael Fierce on company property in front of company owners
5. Recruitment of underage talent by Michael Fierce
6. Unpaid vendors calling my personal number
7. 8 months of work on the chocolate flushed down the drain due to unethical acts on the part of Bobby DiMarco
8. Discovery that Bobby Dimarco aka Bobby Knight is currenly on federal parole for millions in fraud.

All these things I'm more then willing to share my copies and proof.


I don't believe in airing this kind of crap in public but at this point its a good enough time and place to clarify. Anything else you want to ask me I'll happily discuss with anyone one on one. My icq is there and I'll give you my number.

Note: Azure didn't attend AVN under Azure they attended under Black Knight Publications - their webmaster "invasions" company because they screwed so many people over that they were looking for them. And they were escorted by head of security from the show for their behavior.

I think an important part of my definition of family is people who have the same ethics as me.

Melissa, sorry I didn't get a chance to talk to you in Vegas - I was always in a mad rush! :(

You are looking MAHVELOUS though! Hopefully at a smaller show we can do a lunch and chat :)

Peaches we need to set up a regular lunch thing with the "girls" at every show.

I hardly got to hug or say high to anyone and I was there for 2 days before I went to my booth at AVN.

Anthony hit the nail on the head pretty much.

Peaches we need to set up a regular lunch thing with the "girls" at every show.

I hardly got to hug or say high to anyone and I was there for 2 days before I went to my booth at AVN. [/b][/quote]
Back in Miami in 1999 I think it was, there was a ladies luncheon. Best idea ever.

was he a good lay at least?
;) [/b][/quote]
Come on Serge he was 23 when I married him - he knew nothing!

But he had stamina!

My last toy was Peter and I got rid of him a couple of months ago- I'm looking for a new toy... bought some interesting toys at AVN.

Come on Serge he was 23 when I married him - he knew nothing!

But he had stamina!

My last toy was Peter and I got rid of him a couple of months ago- I'm looking for a new toy... bought some interesting toys at AVN. [/b][/quote]
oh my...I am leaving the country on Saturday, just to be safe from you and your toys!
;)

Buying Peaches a milkshake...

:inlove: :inlove: :inlove:

Ant Nailed it......... :okthumb:

(although he left out the part about free meals and borrowing money that you never have to pay back........ :yowsa: )

Anthony's excellent answer aside ....

It (also) means if I answer the question above, then I'd have to kill you. :)

http://www.rhino.com/covers150/71/71587.jpg

Hehehe

So how many of you folks are actually old enough to remember that release? ;)

Was only a year before my time :D

Leave it to Anthony to give the best answer...

But beyond that everyone else touched on some great points as well.... of course every family has that weird brother or wacky cousin that you hope won't show up for family dinners.... but even THEY are still family regardless, as each member plays his/her own part and gives his/her own contribution to the family.

Family - is always having some place to come back home to when there's no where else you can or would want to go.

:ph34r:

I gotta go with Ant and JoesHO1 on this one....... :agrin:

:pearl:

:pearl: [/b][/quote]
I thought that was "Cheers". :stout:

I thought that was "Cheers". :stout: [/b][/quote]
You know... sitting out in the "smoking hall" - hanging out @ various dinners/lunches/coffees and attending the FFN Ball this year really felt "Cheersy" to me this year - everybody knew my name and I knew theirs... maybe that's where I got the idea.

B)

You know... sitting out in the "smoking hall" - hanging out @ various dinners/lunches/coffees and attending the FFN Ball this year really felt "Cheersy" to me this year - everybody knew my name and I knew theirs... maybe that's where I got the idea.

B)[/b][/quote]
Totally agree with ya, Kath!

In fact, if Gonzo and Nick can figure out a way to dispense virtual alcohol (sorry, Nick), Oprano would make one helluva pub! :okthumb:

it means you have my back, I have yours...


but, since I'm the retarded, perverted uncle that no one mentions except the occasional "whatever happened to..." conversation during the Holidays...I'll be quiet about it all...

Allegedly is the key word here - I did not steal anything from Azure - in fact I have criminial charges against them for Insurance fraud, and assualt - this was their method of gurrilla tactics to try and get back at me because they lost the chocolate deal for trying to get it created by another source (this product is patented and they were shopping the methods they learned from them to create themselves) I did not go to work for the manufactuers. I do not work for the manufactuers I simply rep for them. Did I know they were possibly going to pull the chocolate from Azure - I'm cute not stupid - was I making plans - again - cute not stupid.


That being said - the reasons I've shared with oprano in the past haven't changed in previous post I included the case numbers and details - the reasons why I don't work for azure -

1. Insurance Fraud
2. Missing Paychecks
3. Missing commission checks
4. Assualt by Michael Fierce on company property in front of company owners
5. Recruitment of underage talent by Michael Fierce
6. Unpaid vendors calling my personal number
7. 8 months of work on the chocolate flushed down the drain due to unethical acts on the part of Bobby DiMarco
8. Discovery that Bobby Dimarco aka Bobby Knight is currenly on federal parole for millions in fraud.

All these things I'm more then willing to share my copies and proof.


I don't believe in airing this kind of crap in public but at this point its a good enough time and place to clarify. Anything else you want to ask me I'll happily discuss with anyone one on one. My icq is there and I'll give you my number.

Note: Azure didn't attend AVN under Azure they attended under Black Knight Publications - their webmaster "invasions" company because they screwed so many people over that they were looking for them. And they were escorted by head of security from the show for their behavior.

I think an important part of my definition of family is people who have the same ethics as me. [/b][/quote]
Very good answear Melissa. :D thank you, i will not concern myself with this question again.

Not to be rude, but I thought Melissa was a scammer?

I find it ironic she is discussing what "family" means.

But what do I know? :zoinks:

No need to elaborate what was said so well already.

Family is being able to say you are sorry and really mean it.

If you had seen what I wrote about what what family means...

If you have something you would like to ask me about - I am more then happy to discuss it.

I'm liking your definition, sykkboy...

Always got your back. That's the 'family' I want.

Totally agree with ya, Kath!

In fact, if Gonzo and Nick can figure out a way to dispense virtual alcohol (sorry, Nick), Oprano would make one helluva pub! :okthumb: [/b][/quote]
Drayyk you are Carla , if this is "Cheers" ahahahahahahahahahahahha

http://www.k-bay106.com/weasel.jpg


means pis on weasles when you can, as often as you can LOL