I'm experimenting with a new type of comments on Typepad, so if you're reading comments or trying to leave a comment, you might notice some changes. I'm still sorting through how it all works, but it appears that you can set up a free account with Typepad which can include optional links to your own blog or web site, a photo or image, and some profile information. With this new type of comment system, they also recommended that I disable that annoying spam-filtering device that made you type in some alpha-numeric code, because they claim they have an internal spam-filtering device already included. So THAT's kind of a relief.
I like the way the new comments are formatted and numbered but I'm still trying to work out why the image in my profile is NOT showing up on my past comments -- perhaps it will only appear on new ones in the new system. Anyway if you have any difficulty with comments, please let me know as this system is in beta and still has some kinks to be worked out. Feel free to send feedback to me about this new system.
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In other news, I had a FABULOUS time on Saturday night at the Katia and KylieMac Episode 200 Extravaganza, and an extravaganza it was -- with M&Ms and goodies galore, contest prizes, a live opera performance by Emily, drawings, loads of laughs and over 60 devoted podcast listeners there. Check out the audio of Episode 200 (and 201 when it's posted... also recorded at the same event, and both featuring The Bold Soul as one of the guest "hosts" and debate participants with her favorite Frog with a Blog).
Believe it or not, I am still not completely over the upper respiratory crap I've been dealing with for well over five weeks now. Finally saw my doctor yesterday and now on antibiotics, trying to knock it out once and for all before I get on a plane for New Jersey next Tuesday. Last thing I want is to be sick for my holiday visit with my family and friends! Unfortunately now we have a sick teenager in the house, too... again. When there are kids in the house, it's always something. I love my step-kids but you know what? I was healthier before. Oh well, they're still worth it.
Making some headway on my projects finally so that's making me a little less stressed. But adding TO the stress is the knowledge that tomorrow I go for my medical exam just prior to FINALLY getting my new spouse Carte de Séjour. It will be a 1-year card to start with, but that's one year from end of OCTOBER and I have to initiate the renewal process three months before it expires, so this basically gives me only six months to relax and not have to chase down any paperwork. Oh joy.
In my free moments this week, I bought some Christmas decorations and a potted Christmas tree instead of a cut one, because we'll be gone for 11 days and we wanted a healthy tree when we return to celebrate a belated Christmas with the kids. The only problem was, the florist sneakily hid the fact that the tree was "potted" in a broken plastic container with nearly NO earth inside it. So today I have to go out and find a big terracotta pot and some soil to keep the tree from falling over. Currently it is living inside my biggest pasta pot and sort of leaning against the wall! Anyway, it's nice to have a tree to look forward to decorating... I haven't done that in a few years, not having had a place of my own. My collection of ornaments is still in New Jersey this year but I do have one new one that we bought in July just after our wedding, and it's sort of symbolic of our first real Christmas together (if you remember, last Christmas I was in NJ and Georges was back here in France so we didn't actually get to BE together on Christmas).
So that's what's happening here, in case you were wondering why posting has been a little spotty lately. Just lots of little things going on that make up a full-time "job".
