Hello, Squaries!
I've been doing lots of beach trips and swimming these past few days. Been trying to squeeze as much time as I can outdoors, because it's been raining a lot. But, rain is a good thing!

*Squee's!* Poggy! I've missed you!

I've missed you too! Glad you're doing well. How's CS?

Yes, that writing bug has got me good! I think all the rain we've been having might have something to do with it. Rain just makes me want to write. I've been writing a lot of poetry, but I really want to write a novel. I'm having the same problem as you though, I can't get a good plot. I'm sure you'll think one up soon though. ^.^
Yes, their sweet tea is delicious. Thank you for your prayers! They're very much appreciated.

Poggy! It's good to see you!

Likewise! How have you been? Ooh, that's exciting about re-doing your room. What colors did you paint it? I know what you mean about getting used to it. It always takes me a while to get used to my room after I've changed it.

Definitely; tiring as it is, I love my summer being busy like this. It's so much fun. But I confess, I won't mind having nothing to do . . When will that ever be? *giggles* What are you doing this summer?

I think I have to agree with you on that, busy summers are my favorite. But it's definitely always nice to have nothing to do, just read a book or whatever. It's so peaceful.
This summer I've just been hanging out with friends, going to the beach, surfing, swimming, and doing algebra. It's been a good summer so far, but it's going by so quickly! Ah, well, time flies when you're having fun I guess.

It has been crazy hot here. And not just hot, but humid. It's like as soon as you walk out the door, BOOM-you're surrounded by air as thick as a cloud or something.

Haha, amen to that! I can handle heat alright, but the humidity is enough to drive me back inside sometimes! Sometimes I feel like I'm stuck in a fish bowl.

Aight, I think I hear my bed calling me. *waves goodbye*

Eek. A hearty congratulations on receiving your novel, though! Is there a chance that pictures of the front cover might be put up?

You're doing great, Maria. It's so good to see you in here! And I see that stargazer already explained how to quote people. It is kind of weird, getting used to quote, spoilers, such at first. You'll get the hang of it though.

Yuck for heat AND humidity. It's fortunate that there's a thing called air conditioning.

Fun, fun, Jaqui! My family enjoys traveling as well. We usually go on a road trip (from Michigan to the west coast, wandering everywhere in-between) every summer or two, but it's been several years since our last one. Hopefully we'll head out again soon.

Poggy, I painted three of the walls a light gray and the fourth a darker gray (as an accent wall). The trim is white. The accessories are black and pink, though. Yup. Kind of crazy, I know. I wanted it to be different, and I didn't want something too bright like orange and pink. Bah. So, I decided on that. It actually turned out kind of cool!

*dives into the fountain to cool off*

My family enjoys traveling as well. We usually go on a road trip (from Michigan to the west coast, wandering everywhere in-between) every summer or two, but it's been several years since our last one. Hopefully we'll head out again soon.

Wow...a road trip that far?! Sounds like fun...as long as you take lots of time to do it!

We don't have that luxury of time this summer, so our family will be meeting up in Chicago, then road trip the rest of the way. We'll be in Indianapolis this time--first time I've ever spent any time there, so it will be interesting--and then Columbus (Ohio, not IN). At one point, it looked like we'd even go as far as PA, but it didn't work out this time. Too much of a time squeeze. (Boo school schedules! Why do schools think it is OK to squeeze out summer?!?! I never got that.)

Hope your fam gets to do some more road trips. I totally agree with you about the wandering part. I love making unexpected discoveries (even if that is a recycled phrase from the department of redundancy department).

Hey ho from your local-yocal hobbit, all ye SquareOnions!

My area of study for graduate school is communication, with emphasis on community relations and crisis management.

Interesting, indeed! Is this your Masters or your Doctorate?

Les Mis is awesome, Miss Rosario. Do read it all some time if you can!

Ditto, hearty and full ditto!

You like ze curtsy, Elanor? How about a cartwheeling smiley now?

Elanor, I'm with TGW in not being a heat-lover, so I'm counting the days until Autumn. As for you, though ... enjoy! Just remember to wear sunscreen! (Do I sound like your mother? )

tomorrow evening will feature another fire with Abby and her family. We must continue the training of the next generation of firebenders.

And how did the training fare?

Thank you for the Canada Day wishes, Jacqi! And I'm curious about your signature: what does "The C.R.A.B." stand for? Also, in reading a later post, it sounds like you have a busy summer coming up. Safe traveling!

Why, johobbit, I never knew it was you!

So I get it: kinda like "Bostonians"???

Exactly! Or (near where I am), Torontonians, except we've changed that "a" to an "o" ... for fun.

Sooo, now for much overdue catch-up! No condiments were harmed during the making of this post....

'Though, shouldn't that be 'ketchup'? *waves heartily to Cor and dear Vern. ('Though you're 'dear' too, PC.

Lady Amalthea! A mocha cake? *loooooooves anything mocha* (except drinks) Actually ... *looooooooves most things food-related*

*tosses some fresh chocolate from the chocolate tree Lady A's way* Hmm, does she really need more, though?

*waves a very cheery wave stardf's way*

Bella, how fun you have discovered Chick-Fil-A. We don't have them in Canada, and in all the times I've been in the States (many, many), I don't think I've ever tried one. Methinks I should.

*reads in the Old Town Square* Ahh, it's fun going back in time. Thanks for that link, stargazer! *is quite in awe of your detective skills*

So, I gather you continue to thoroughly enjoy your new room, Louise? Calorie-free virtual treats. Yeah, that's right. Okay, I give, lol! Help yourself to any and all. (More of which shall be at the end of this post.) Btw, I know what you mean about missing all the ol' SquareOnions too.

How wonderful about your NaNo novel, Elanor! What an accomplishment!

Give me snow any day.

DITTOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

pogginfan, so nice to run into you here again! Any success with the job hunt? Oooh, you surf? Cool! I'm with you in the love of water. I try to get a swim in every day, speaking of which ... *takes a swan dive into the beautiful, refreshing Ditto pool* Ahhhhhh ...

And now, what treat to leave in the Square for this week ...

(But keep your eye on Lady Amalthea, okay?)

Excellent, Twigs! That would be quite an adventure ... 16 chapters, wow!

It is very slow going. I kind of have it but with a lot of mistakes. Of course it would be easier if I were doing it English instead of German. Actually I want to do both but I'm working more on the German than the English right now. I figure there isn't any rush to get it done.

*waves to Patterwig's Pal* I don't think we've really formally met, but I have read alot of your posts here and there and enjoyed them. (Or have we met? I'm not sure. :"}) Anywho, you can call me AitB or Bella (not from Twilight)

Hmm, we might have or we might not have. I know I've read a lot of your posts too and seen you around. The WC is rather close to the BC after all.

My sister got a teaching job. She's going to be a part time elementary music teacher. She'll be living with me. Which means I'll have someone to help with the rent. She informed me today that we will argue when living together.

I have an interview for a kindergarten job on Friday.

On the fourth, I finally got to see Tangled My sister and I painted our nails red white and blue. My parents bought me a Blackberry phone. I think it and the contract were too expensive, but they thought I needed it. If I end up subbing in the fall, it will make it easier for me to find jobs. Substitute teaching jobs are posted and filled through an online / phone system. It is easier to do online than over the phone and I don't always have access to a computer. It also has a timer and a stopwatch. Both of which I have wished for while subbing. We had to cook our hamburgers inside because my dad couldn't get the charcoal to light. My mom, sister, and I watched fireworks on my sister's laptop (they were live-streamed from NY using an iphone. The quality actually wasn't that bad. We also saw some fireworks from my apartment. The trees blocked them a little but it was a lot quieter and a lot less buggy than going somewhere to see them.

Hello, everyone!!
I got back from my vacation last night - I suppose it's good to be home, but I miss DC already. I came home a day late, because our flight on Monday night got cancelled. Frankly, I couldn't have been more glad. It was much more fun going home the next day, and I got to spend a little more time there!!! Way too much happened to talk about - we went to the art museum, toured the capitol, walked around the Mall . . .it was great!!!!!!!

I think I have to agree with you on that, busy summers are my favorite. But it's definitely always nice to have nothing to do, just read a book or whatever. It's so peaceful.

No kidding!! I am hoping I can do some more sitting around and reading . . but I have play performances starting in just a few weeks . . oh dear.

This summer I've just been hanging out with friends, going to the beach, surfing, swimming, and doing algebra. It's been a good summer so far, but it's going by so quickly! Ah, well, time flies when you're having fun I guess.

That really sounds wonderful!! I think it sounds like you live in a pretty awesome place. I know, I know . . the summer is almost gone now!!!

Yes, their sweet tea is delicious.

Did someone mention sweet tea? Ohhhhh now I'm thirsty.

4:45 a.m. is early, Elanor. Eek. A hearty congratulations on receiving your novel, though! Is there a chance that pictures of the front cover might be put up?

It certainly is!!! But we did it! Thank you so much - pictures of my imperfect copy are on the Writers Thread, I think, if you'd like to check those out.

You like ze curtsy, Elanor? How about a cartwheeling smiley now?

I LOVE IT!!!

Elanor, I'm with TGW in not being a heat-lover, so I'm counting the days until Autumn. As for you, though ... enjoy! Just remember to wear sunscreen! (Do I sound like your mother? )

Thank you, I'm loving it!! Actually, in DC I don't think it was EVER below 85, and often in the high 90's, and up. So I'm finding it very cold indeed, here. 78? WOW!! Ah yes, sunscreen . . I think I finally got rid of my sunburn I got last sunday. As in, the sunday a week and a half ago.

How wonderful about your NaNo novel, Elanor! What an accomplishment!

Thanks so much!!
Goodness, those truffles look amazing!!

I'm curious about your signature: what does "The C.R.A.B." stand for?

Greetings, johobbit! And thank you for asking about The Crab. Actually, it's not an abbreviation at all. Those dots aren't periods, but interpuncts. Just an artistic device to separate the letters. "The Crab" is my alter ego...I long ago decided to just give up hiding it and admit it: I can be a crab!!! When I found this pic (first on a greeting card, then on a coffee mug) done by one of my fav contemporary artists, Mary Englebreit, I knew it was just "me."

*stumbles in on a wilted flying carpet*

Hello, all denizens of the Square! Hope those of you affected by this heat wave are keeping cool. The high later today may reach 104F/40C, with a heat index of 120F/49C. My plans are simple...stay near an air conditioning vent. Hard to believe that just a few months ago we had mountains of snow around here.

And how did the training [of the next generations of firebenders] fare?

Quite well, thank you. Abby and her father are both natural pyromaniacs. Our group also got together this past Friday evening for his birthday; after cake and ice cream we planned on another fire, but it rained pretty much all day so that will have to wait for another day.

That tray of chocolate truffles and such looks delightful! I'm going to restrain myself to just a few of them...or not.

Glad you got to see Tangled, Pattertwigs Pal, and that you enjoyed it. I think I liked the Chinese lantern scenes best.

Sounds like you had a great time in DC, Elanor! I want to visit someday, but I think I'll go sometime other than summer. It's just too hot down there.

Thanks for explaining your signature, Jacqi. Alas, when I see the word crab I either think of the food, or the constellation Cancer (the Crab).

I suppose I should find my bed; it's approaching 2 am in this time zone. So a hearty 'good mortereve' to all!

*Happily bounces in* Oh, my! I haven't posted in here in a while! Look at all of the pages now! I wish I had time to read them all, but I don't, so I have no idea what to talk about Someone start talking to me, so I don't just sit around with nothing to say

Well, my friend and I recently quit another forum we were on, so now she and I will be on here a lot more Her name on here is FrecklefaceJill. Some of you might know her...

Mmmm I smell donuts downstairs. I shall have to hurry and get one before my family eats them all

*sidles into the square and settles down on the fountain*

Good Mortereve everyone! How are you all this evening?

It's too hot here! We've been having a high 90+ degree heat wave over here since Sunday, and it's not expected to break until Friday, uggh. No surprise, it's going to be the hottest on Thursday, over 100 the day I have my ballet/pointe classes. I'll probably make it through however once i'm inside. The studio just had new air conditioning put in, so it's wonderfully cold in each classroom!

Although I prefer having my dance classes later in the evening, the one good thing about having class very early afternoon is that you get to watch the end of the toddler ballet classes AND you get an audience of adorable, quiet, little 5 year olds crowding in the doorway watching your pointe class.

Annd now enough rambling about dance which I do way too much, and time for catch-up!

*waves to Cor* A little late but... Thanks! I'm glad to be back.

Hi Aitb! *waves like a maniac* I've been doing pretty good, thanks. A little late answering this as i've been in NY however. How've you been?

You seriously like this heat? I might have been born in the south, but I hate the heat! I do nothing but burn and pass out if I step outside, so there's no benefits for me.

I do!! Of course I hide out in the AC a lot, but I love just sitting in the sun. And I don't burn very much at all (no, don't ask why my shoulders and neck are bright red!).

Lol, I hide in front of the AC as much as possible. I was in NY last week during a 90+ degree heat wave, and my grandparents only have 2 window ACs which most of the time is set to 75! I nearly died there.

You're so lucky you don't burn. I burn so easily due to being so pale sadly. Just walking around looking at the DC monuments for a few hours, I got my first ever sunburn even though it was mostly cloudy out, and that was no fun.

I hope you enjoyed your DC trip.

*sends some cool weather over to TGW*
Hah, and I love your avatar. I trip up staircases too! *blushes*

Ya know... i'd thank you, but I don't know if I should. You definitely sent a cold front over to me... but I was visiting another state at the time which had 90 weather!

Haha, thanks about the avvie. It fits me perfectly, sadly! XD

Elanor, I'm with TGW in not being a heat-lover, so I'm counting the days until Autumn. As for you, though ... enjoy! Just remember to wear sunscreen! (Do I sound like your mother? )

Ditto everything said above. ^^ Especially with sunscreen! My whole family didn't put it on while in DC on vacation because 1. It was October and fairly cool out. and 2. It super cloudy and kept raining on and off all day! So.... guess what happened? I got a fairly bad sunburn, and my first ever too. >.< I learned my lesson... sunscreen 24/7!

So yeah... end up catch-up no matter how late it may be!

*tackles GG* Hi! Welcome back! Save us some donuts.

*snags a dozen of Jo's truffles, pours some milk and with a wave, proceeds to settle down near the fountain to flip through her new dancewear catalog*

Hello everyone!
Looks like the square has suddenly slowed, but hopefully it will be back to normal, and hopping with activity soon.
Rehearsals for Annie have really started going serious. The last two nights we did run throughs for the first time, with the orchestra, and mics. And I haven't been getting home till past 11:20. So very tired. But it's getting dreadfully fun!
And I just remembered that my aunt and cousin are coming up to visit today - they lived with us for a few months right before my Grandpa died, so we're very close. Yay! Oh, and they're coming within 30 minutes, and I have SO much to do.

Sounds like you had a great time in DC, Elanor! I want to visit someday, but I think I'll go sometime other than summer. It's just too hot down there.

I understand - though if you go sightseeing at night, which is the most fun anyway, and do museums in the day, you'd be fine. It's perfect after 10:00! But I've heard that April and October are perfect, weather wise.
*waves to GG* Glad you'll be with us a lot now!

Lol, I hide in front of the AC as much as possible. I was in NY last week during a 90+ degree heat wave, and my grandparents only have 2 window ACs which most of the time is set to 75! I nearly died there.

haha, so cool that you were in NY! I really want to visit sometime . . I love big cities. How hot was it there? Our apartment in DC was freezing the entire time, so it was always a big contrast.

I hope you enjoyed your DC trip.

I did very, very, very much.

*tumbles into the Square with a new avatar* Good mortereve, all! I decided it was high time for a "face change", as I suppose one would say on NarniaWeb.

So how have you all been? Aside from [trying] to survive the heat, I'm doing swell! Today was probably the most eventful day I've had since June (which doesn't say much, seeing as I've been doing nothing all summer, but.... you know ). I went to town with a friend, went shopping at Plato's Closet (AMAZING place, by the way! It's kind of like a good-will store for name brand clothes. I got a really fancy dress there for just twelve bucks. It was brand new, too. I love good deals. ), dropped by Dairy Queen for a chocolate ice cream cone, and got attacked by a centipede all in one day. It was action-packed, and actually quite fun. (Well, minus the centipede part. I'm scared to go back downstairs and finish my laundry, which is why I'm putting it off and posting in here.)

Throughout the past week, I also was able to go see the new Harry Potter and get my ears pierced.

Wow...a road trip that far?! Sounds like fun...as long as you take lots of time to do it!

We don't have that luxury of time this summer, so our family will be meeting up in Chicago, then road trip the rest of the way. We'll be in Indianapolis this time--first time I've ever spent any time there, so it will be interesting--and then Columbus (Ohio, not IN). At one point, it looked like we'd even go as far as PA, but it didn't work out this time. Too much of a time squeeze. (Boo school schedules! Why do schools think it is OK to squeeze out summer?!?! I never got that.)

Oh, we definitely take our time! Lol we normally leave two to three weeks early so we can wander about at our leisure. National parks are a favorite!

Bah, school schedules. They complicate life.

Well I guess that's all of the catch-up I have time for tonight, my pillow is calling me. Sozy clippers to all!

*nabs a chocolate treat from Louise's platter (carefully concealed under her invisibility cloak this time ), and putters off to bed*

*misses the Square*

I've just popped in to say a quick hullo. Hope everyone's doing well! Looks like the Square's been a bit sleepy lately.

*hugs all Square Onions about the Fountain and then runs back to dull real life*

*pops in*
I haven't been here in a while....though I can't come up with a good excuse as to why not

*waves to everyone*

How is everyone's summer coming along?
Mine is VERY slow, I've got so much free time I don't know what to do with. I'm either writing or worrying about collage
I drank an energy drink for the first time a few days ago...it was worse than coffee , I've made up my mind never to drink energy drinks again, I get all hyper and talk nonstop
Our landlords decided that it was time to fix the roof of our house, so now we've got workers walking all over our roof and throwing stuff down from there, old boards, roof tiles, nails, and stuff like that. My sister and brother in law had something fly into their room and once something almost fell on me , and also....it's soooooo loud *sighs* ah well, no use complaining

We've had REALLY hot weather last week, but this week it's a mix of rain and sun so it's not so bad, either way it's better than last year
Before I didn't mind the heat so much, but with me feeling ill this year and the constant chest pains, the heat is a little hard on me, but it's coudly today which is nice

Gotta run, my CampNaNo novel is waiting for me, will try to pop in sometime soon

Mortereve, all!

While it pleased me to find really only a page and a half for catchup, but that's unusual since I last posted in June 5. I wish the Square moved fast again!

*forgot the code for the other colour, so is just improvising*

Summer break has been nice so far. We needed a break to unwind, relax, sit around doing nothing... so that's been nice. I've been finishing an order for crocheting 12 elephants, finished two pillows yesterday (with the help of my mom, who sewed the fabric on the back of the furry knitted material), and after finishing the last 6 elephants, I'll finish a kind of blue tote I knitted and bought lovely blue material with quaint roses on it to line on the inside. I can't wait to see how that comes out. The pillows have really pretty material, too. The brown one I made has material with a cream base, sprinkled with little golden leaves throughout. It looks very Winnie-the-Pooh like, in Ella's words. And the black one has chic black-and-white birds on the back with flower prints in them. I loove the bird fabric.

The heat wave has been... Today was better, though. I can't wait for the comfortable 70's and then winter! I'm already in the Christmas spirit... kind of.
(Thanks to "Peppermint Winter" by Owl City. )

I'm glad the weather has been better there, Miss R! (or...well, around when you posted that...) Did the heatwave come over there, too?

Thanks! Ditto, the color blue is so tranquil and pretty!
Btw, nice avatar!

Ellie, no, "Bella" isn't my RL name... I don't know if I wish it was, since I love my name as it is, but it would be nice to have it as a second name or something!
Haha, that's better--not letting petty suppositions tied in with Twilight stop you. What time era do you enjoy writing?

Okay. "Nora" it is, then!
I thought so, that Dennie would be a swell big sister. Same with my and my sister, we do fight alot but are two peas in a pod.
I'm glad that you had a good vacation!

*waves to Maria* Doesn't the humidity just worsen this heat wave?!
I don't think we've met [or perhaps we have...something tells me we did in chat. ]--you can call me AitB or Bella (not from Twilight)

*waves to Jacqi* How are you?

Thanks, Poggy!! CS is doing very well, thanks! She's been busy with making a little tower thing for her novel, so she's satisfied. (She's so orderly when it comes to writing.... I never go over those details. )

Yes, yes!! Rain is such a source of inspiration for writing! Also, nearby there's this train that gives this whistle... I'm sure it's not a steam train, but my, the whistle is so old-fashioned and steam train-like that it's so inspiring to write something that takes place at a train station... I'm sure you'll think of a wonderful plot! Have you written anything yet?

How's your summer been?

Yes, I'm really excited to go back to the Chick-Fil-A, Jo! The Chick-Fil-A kind of near here is I think one of the few in North U.S. I hope you can go to one soon! The food is delicious!

*droooools* Those chocolate bonbons look sublime!!

That is true, PP... the asylum over there ahem, the BC. is very close to the WC, after all.... Of recent, I see you're my BC Monday counterpart!

It sounds like you had a very enjoyable fourth.

Hey, Gods Girl! How are you? (Do say hi to NG for me! I hope her hand is feeling better. Tell her we miss her!!)

Genny,genny!!! I really miss you, you know that? All those fun laughs we had, once upon a time in the NW chat. (I just watched your chat videos not too long ago! ) I'm glad you've been doing good! I've been doing well, thanks. Enjoying summer vacation...

*waves to wild rose* The effects that energy drink had on you reminds me of coffee's effects on me... Coffee is off-limits for me in large amounts and in the morning. (I restrict myself, because it affects me muchly. )

How is CampNaNo going?

And I'm done with Catchup!! *waves to everyone*

I'll be around for a few...