Tired Tuesday talk

morning! It's such a bummer that the forum switch killed what was left of this place.

I'm psyching myself up to go to the verizon store today and talk to a tech person. I refuse to call their tech support.  Phone trees make me crazy and first tier  phone tech reps are worthless. So, I will trudge out in the snow and zero degree temps to talk to a live human being.

I'm feeling the same way. But at least it's not too far away from Christmas for those of you that celebrate it.

Darn it, the skies woke up but good and started dumping very heavy, very wet snow, all over us.  And of course, MA has the worst drivers in the world, with the possible exception of Detroit and FL, and they completely lose sight of any common sense when it snows.  Not once, not twice, but THREE times I almost went off the road because some fool decided to pull right out in front of me.  Ummm, hello?  Lights on, car moving, do you honestly think you can beat me when I'm 3 FEET from where you are?  And, why would you even want to try in this slop?

I am honestly trying to feel Christmas.  Did the outside decorating Sunday and finally got the advent wreath together, but, it's just hard for me to get into it..  Part of it is Christmas without Mike, but also part of it is that his death was within a month of Christmas,  So, I'm kind of a gloomy gus this time of year.

Julie, I wonder if it would help to email some of the missing members?  I don't know that the switch was the killer....a lot of folks were unhappy for a rather long time.  Maybe just the last nail in the coffin?  But, hey!  WE'RE still here!

It does seem like the already-declining posting volume has come to just barely a crawl in recent days.  But I'm hoping folks are just busy with the pre-Christmas prep, tough weather, etc.  I know that's my excuse right now!

Glenda, I'm suprised to hear you say that MA drivers are so bad in the snow.  I've been shocked by the behavior of drivers here in our recent "snowy weather," but it kind of makes sense since very few residents have any experience driving in such conditions.  The rest of the population here THINKS it can drive better than everyone else in the snow/ice because (1) they go to central Oregon to ski and snowboard and drive on iffy roads periodically, or (2) they have AWD/4WD vehicles and think that means they can go faster than everyone else.  My own driving skills have plummeted after so many years here instead of CT, but my biggest worry is the other drivers when the weather gets bad.  I just avoid driving if possible until the roads clear.

It's warming up finally -- in the low 30's, supposed to get to the mid-40's by the end of the week.  Wow - it'll be darn near balmy!!    At least the hummingbird feeders will stay thawed now.  

From last night -- Doug, you are a dedicated Grandpa doing all that driving in less-than-ideal conditions in order to see your grandchild's single song performance!  You obviously have a special relationship with your grandkids.  My MIL has not attended a single graduation or wedding of her grandchildren because "it's so hard on her to travel." I know it's not easy when you're in your 80's and have trouble getting around without a walker, but it's not impossible.  And when those events happened, she was far more mobile than she is now.  It's a shame, really . . . but don't get me started on that!

Better get back to my pile of invoices on my desk!

Some of the updates are okay here, but it seems to be back to searching for the current mindless thread. As soon as I have time to figure it out, I will try. I have been buried in work.

It is frigid here thanks to the wind. Everyone in Michigan forgets how to drive in the snow between April and October.

I decorated for Christmas on Saturday by putting out my snow lady and Santa on the appropriate shelves. Knocked myself out, I did.

My brain is completely fried today. I'm trying to come down with a cold, too, and I don't want it.

Tina, I though I was in NDR when I posted...that's where I appeared to be, and for some reason it popped up in my email notification as News & Entertainment......either a little glitch or operator (my) error!

Glenda, NDR is under the News and Entertainment section. :)  

I kept getting a weird error type message all day at work when I tried to visit the site. Something like IS117.  At home, no problem.  I got that same thing the other day and just figured the site was down due to the update.

I think most of the people who used to post here are active on the facebook idog page.  I'm not a member of that page.  I wish there was more activity on this site.  Not just NDR but training and behavior and just general dog talk.  If you are still using the linear format to view by clicking on "discussion forums" you don't see the most recent threads as easily.  Not much point in starting a thread if no one sees it.  

No Christmas spirit here.  None, nada, zip.  

I was so glad to see that family lost in the snow was found.  Thanks to the last signal their cell phone provided.  Technology can be a very good thing.  

Tracy, how is Ruby doing staying loose in the house?  Still doing well, I bet.  Good girl, Ruby.

Well, that was a lie.  I just clicked on discussion forums and everything is there, easy to find .  We need some new members who will get involved and post.  

I've gone to the facebook group, but it seems like everyone stays on Forever,

Yeah, I know what you mean, Glenda.  That chat format is not for me.  

I just got off the phone with my 13 yo niece. She is in the national honor society (or something like that) and they have to do 20 hours of volunteer service per year. (awesome program huh?) Anyway, a couple of months ago, she helped lay a trail and hide for our search dogs so she earned herself 3 hours for that, but I forgot to sign her paper. Well, her sign in log is due this fri and she called me all upset because I wouldn't be able to sign it and get it back to her in time. I said, oh well just have your dad scan and email it to me, I will sign it digitally and email it right back. You can have it done tonight! She says "Oh wow, really?! You can do that?!" lol The tone of her voice was priceless. I have proven myself the cool aunt once again! ha!

I also made arrangements with my older niece to go skiing up north over the Christmas Holiday to a resort she has never been to. She's pretty excited and her sisters are incredibly jealous. I will  no doubt have to make it up to them.

Just tring to see if I can still post!

I clearly used paragraph breaks and even tried to add them again with EDIT, but they're not appearing after I publish. I'm on a PC using Internet Explorer tonight. Hi Yanke! Long time no see. Nice to hear from you. Hope all is well with you in CT. My Mom had some snow today (west of Hartford). Did you get some in your area? Julie, you are definitely the cool aunt -- high tech solutions, awesome ski trips, fun overnights -- I'm sure you are their favorite auntie! Jackie, thanks for asking about Ruby. She's still doing well. We're the ones who are still adjusting. I keep forgetting to close off certain doors before I leave. Also, we never kept her collar on when she was crated (the stories of dog collars getting stuck in the crate rungs and causing injury or worse stuck with me). Now we have to remember to make sure her collar is on, not off. Other than that, all is well so far. She hasn't gone to her crate in a few days (she was doing so out of habit). As far as we can tell, she doesn't go anywhere but the love seat because nothing else is disturbed. I hope the posting activity picks up, too. I do think the new posts are not seen by everyone . . . the couple non-chat ones I started got only a couple replies. I guess that could be my problem, not the forums though! :-)

I try to read this everyday, but get frustrated some times trying to find it, keep posting everyone.