Friends....
I've met some incredible people, and though I adore some of them more than they'll ever know, I don't call them "friends." I do, however, respect and admire and occasionally envy them, as well as completely adore them and enjoy learning from them.
Some of the best:
Steve Lightspeed
SleazyDream
iceicebaby&angeleyes
AaronM
Lightning of techiemedia.com
Darren Beale of Men's Niche (Love to Scott and Andy!)
Jack, Lauren, and Sagi of AFF/ALT.com
Sperbonzo of DuoCash
Stephen and Dawn of Xbiz.com (Lori and Gretchen are sweet too! The xbiz peeps have been great to me.)
Peaches
Darren Austin
Brad, fatbaby, and 123Jason of 123Bill, (Brad also of Mojo Host/SinEmpire)
Lens
Sunny
Vanilla
Melissa and Bobby of Azure Entertainment
JFK
KRL
Joesho, brand0n, dirtyone, dirtysouth, iamKathi
, Dennis of icuchat.com, Lars, and a whole list of others who have influenced me, whether in person or via the boards.
Something to keep in mind, though, as you go through this life you've made for yourself, in this industry that we love so much: It may well not be what you know but who you know...and also HOW you're known.
My grandmother used to have a saying:
"If wisdom's ways you wisely seek
Five things observe with care:
To whom you speak
Of whom you speak,
And how and when and where."