Happy Labor Day

Has anyone heard from Joyce since the new forum look?

Janice, I was thinking of a few people I've not seen since the forum change, and Joyce was one of them.  Also, I don't think we've seen Kate, Vivian, and couple others.  I hope everyone finds their way back when/if they smooth out the things that are so frustrating.

Glenda, we rarely have thunderstorms here, but a couple years ago we had one and a huge tree in a yard just kitty-corner from ours got struck by lightening.  That sounded like a sonic boom; I've never heard anything like it.  I thought a house exploded or something.

We had two birthday parties to attend yesterday, and both involved way too much eating.  I tried to pace myself, but it was hard to resist so many delicious options.  It was a gorgeous day, and both parties were partially held outdoors, so that was great.  Today it's overcast and cool . . . fine with me, because I'm planning to do a bunch of indoor tasks as soon as I get back from a walk with my friend.

I cannot believe it's September.  This summer flew by -- I feel ours was "lost" to hosting so much company.  But we also had a number of social things going on that kept us busy.  I guess that's good, but since I so hate the rainy season here, I really get bummed out as summer comes to a close. 

Joyce posted a few days after the beta format went live.  I don't remember seeing Kate or Vivian posting lately but I could have missed their posts. Kate's probably busy with the new school semester starting.

Tracy, sounds like yesterday was fun, if fattening.  I envy your cool overcast weather though I wish it didn't last for so much of the year in your part of the country.  I couldn't take it.

It's hot and dry here but, yeah, that's normal for us.  It will be another month before we start to see cooler weather.

I changed my default setting to 'use rich formatting' in my account settings but it doesn't seem to have taken. lol  Still opens in text format unless I change it within a reply post.

I don't know how to add a picture even though Steph or someone explained it the other day. I didn't pay attention.  I guess I'll have to try harder to figure it out.  With only 64 bit size, hardly seems worth it.  One thread about posting pics of your dog with their favorite football team gear on has a pic that's so tiny it's silly.  Cute dog though. :)

DH has a man cold.  You know what that means.

We've had very unusual weather today. It started raining around 8, then there were some loud thunderclaps and a downpour. It's been raining off an on since. Poor DH wanted to ride his bike so bad today. He's decided to do some DIY projects instead and I've just puttered around. We haven't had a cool day like this since we moved in and it's super nice to have the windows open. Once the sun comes out, it's sure to be icky humid though.

I'm in denial about summer coming to an end. Our winters aren't that bad but I still love spring and summer. We leave for Maui in about a week, so I'm not gonna think about Fall or the holidays until we come back.

I needed a sympathy card, so I went to the Dollar Tree store nearby for the 1st time. Wow! I couldn't believe how much stuff they have in there for $1 or less. I got a nice card for 50 cents. Even at Big Lots, they're reduced but still $2-$3.

I'd volunteered to help at HB's volunteer picnic next Sunday and found out yesterday that I've been assigned to help in the dog park. The person that I'm closest to chose me to work with her but I really wanted to email her and say I'm not comfortable. The idea of breaking up a dog fight or preventing them makes me nervous. I'm going to be firm that I'm not working it at any time alone but I think they're already planning for at least 2 people to be there at all times. I'm also not taking Shane this year. Last year he was overwhelmed by all the dogs and some of the rough (for him)  play styles and I pulled him out after only a few min's.

I hope those that are MIA will show up soon. If I hadn't found the link on FB, I'm not sure I'd have found my way back :(.

The forum seems a tad better. At least the sticky note look is gone from what I can tell. I am still not viewing any other forum than general chat though since it is too much work without the not read function isn't working. I am still peeved my post was deleted where I asked others if there were any other good dog forums they visited.

Anyway I am bummed that summer is over too. The temps usually dramatically drop right after labor day and true to Form yesterday was near 90 but it only hit 72 or so today. The rest of this week is supposed to be perfect 70s though. Gotta get out and enjoy it while we can!  

I spent yesterday and today hanging out with friends and doing dog stuff. Even though I am fighting a nasty sinus infection I had to get out of the house. We really had a nice time and ate lots of good food. My dogs reek of swamp water though! I am not up for bathing them tonight so that is on the to do list for tomorrow.

Did I mention abbie and I passed our level 3 night test? 3 more tests to go and we will be allowed to go out on searches. I am hoping to get fully certified by Nov.

Julie, I hope your sinus infection runs its course quickly.  If one of your symptoms is a stuffy nose, that might help reduce the "fragrant experience" your dogs might offer you tonight!  Jackie, I hope your husband's man cold is equally short-lived.

I must have missed Joyce's post . . . but that's no surprise, considering I can barely find the most current thread each day!

Cathy, I don't blame you for being apprehensive about being the monitor in the dog play group.  I wouldn't want to have to break up any scuffles either.  I'm glad you didn't find out you had a huge family (flock?) of bats hanging out at your house.  Maybe you can live with just being a temporary rest stop for them each night!

I think I've mentioned that my MIL's favorite activity (besides shopping) is talking NON-stop, in EXTENSIVE detail about absolutely the most trivial things.  It's intolerable, and what makes it worse is she wants to talk to DH (and his sisters) everyday.  DH tries to limit it to 3-4 times per week.  Tonight is a phone call night.  Right now he has the phone on speaker-phone, it's on the arm of the couch, and she's rambling about something while he watches the news.  She doesn't even need a conversation "return" -- she just keeps talking -- so he just says "Uh-huh" and "Hmmmm" now and then. 

Julie, I had really hoped that the surgery you had would do the trick and I'm so sorry you continue to have to deal with all the sinus/nose issues.

Congrats to you and Abbie both!

I'm awfully glad that I'm not the only one who finds the new format confusing as heck.  Thot just maybe I was getting a bit senile!

I think that as people get older that they tend to feel the need to talk....and talk....and TALK.  Mom has been known to do that too, or she stops talking all together and when I suggest she must be tired and I should let her get ready for bed, she insists that she's not even slightly tired!

Lol nope I can breathe through my nose just fine and so I get the full swamp fragrance right in the face! Lucky me. Glenda, I hoped the surgery would have fixed me for good too but no suck luck. This is the first time I've been on antibiotics for it though since the surgery. I consider that an improvement. With all the traveling I've been doing and stress I've been under I'm not surprised I couldn't fight off a full on infection this time around.

Non stop talkers are exhausting! It is funny though when they don't even need a 2 way conversation. They just need an outlet for their brain/mouth.

Hmm I see my code for paragraph breaks is showing up. Does that mean it is fixed and I don't need to type that in? If so that'd be great!

Wohoo! Good job forum fixers!

Julie, I forgot you had that sinus surgery!  My BIL had that surgery, and although it didn't eliminate his issues, he definitely gets infections less frequently after having it done several years ago.  Yeah, there's nothing like traveling and stress to take a toll on one's immune system!

Glenda, according to DH, this incessant talking (especially with random strangers) is not a factor of MIL's old age -- it's a permanent trait.  He remembers as a very young child that she would talk non-stop to cashiers at the market, clerks in department stores, waiters, etc.  He remembers having to stand around waiting for her with his Dad.  He says it's why he hates going shopping to this day (with or without his mother)!  

Changing my settings to "enhanced" or whatever doesn't seem to have an effect on always using the rich formatting either.  Maybe they'll get get fixed at some point.

WTG Julie & Abbie!!