MD, take the time to read through the Internet Bench posts back to Jan of 2023.

Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.  I came to OT on 6th December 2022 to mention it was the third anniversary since Trix died. All of the recent posts were SPAM. I chose a cam at random. The final post on it was spam and the penultimate one was mine ... mentioning the second anniversary of Trix's death.  I just decided not to bother. I didn't expect to be missed because nobody was posting anything. 

Phoenix said the real MD would know her previous profile so I posted it ... Syrsa, and that she is originally from Troon and last I heard was living in Davie, Florida. She hasn't been on to confirm it.

In the early days we had racist posts and other unwanted topics.  I was the one who emailed Flemming Funch every time to get the offending posts removed.  I really am MD. 

Oops Homely, I forgot to add some onion and fresh basil to that recipe.

Hi Homely, I've had your weather the last couple weeks and I'm so tired of it but at least I have air conditioning, that helps a lot. I think pretty much all of the US is dealing with these hot temps !

My go to easy cold salad is cooked penne pasta, cherry tomatoes cut in half, sliced black olives, chunks of fresh mozzarella and Italian dressing over it and then refrigerated for a couple hours. It will last for a few days in the refrigerator and you really can add anything you like to it, I add fresh peas when I have them.

I hope you're not keeping too busy with work and have time to spend with your kids who I assume are both home for the summer from college ?

Hi, Silversquirrel, N Q, Phoenix, Moose, Feral Orchid, anyone who happens to be lurking out there - Still here, off and on, happy to check in and see a post from time to time. Miss our active chats but I guess that's the way things go. Super hot and humid where I am these days. I need an escape! Hope you are all well and happy. Anybody have some excellent salad recipes for dinner on these hot nights?

Hi silversquirrel, I was going to say I'm still here but it seems like I totally forgot about opentopia the last couple of months.

We started out with a warm April with temps around 85° which was too hot for this time of the year. This week we're now down in the 40s for highs which I rather have than 80s or higher.

I hope you also have a nice summer and you don't have too many 100° days !

Hi NQ and the rest of the members here on Opentopia.  Just checking in and wishing everyone a happy summer wherever you may be.  We seem to be staying silent since the passing of MD.  But I'm still here.  

silversquirrel I could never handle your heat, even if it is dry. At least when it's cold out I can put more clothing on.

Yesterday it was 50° out, light weight jacket time. The snow has mostly melted but I'm sure we'll have some more before spring which is ok because even if we get dumped on, at this time of the year it melts fast.

Hi NQ and Homely.  I'm enjoying the weather here in the Phoenix area.  This is the reason we put up with sweltering summers.  82 degrees and partly sunny.  And dry.  We're having a surge in flu and norovirus.  Apparently having nice weather doesn't prevent our getting The Crud.  Here's hoping that you both get to enjoy an early spring.  Groundhog be damned.  Hello to Stargzr if you're still checking out Opentopia.  Hugs, AZ Sue aka Silver Squirrel 🐿️ 

Homely that's sad that you didn't get to use your deck yet but it's something to look forward to once it does warm up, on the otherhand your garden sounds like it might be a lot of work ! hopefully once it does warm up that the ground will thaw fast. 

N Q, I think we get your warmer weather starting on Monday. Woke up today to 21 degrees in the meantime. It's supposed to go cold again, though, after that warm breakthrough. They're saying we will stay quite cold until mid-March. At that rate, don't know when I will ever get my garden going for the spring. Our weather broke in the fall so quickly that I never got to finish putting it all to bed for the winter, either. We were having lovely weather in October and we put a new deck on the back of the house and LITERALLY the next day it snapped cold and has stayed that way since. Never got to use the deck at all, and my garden remained half taken down from the season. What a year!

Homely now that I'm retired, I keep wishing for a big snowfall so that I can sit here looking out the windows at it, knowing I don't have to go out in it :)

We've finally broke through the subzero temps and am going up into the 40s this week but it's also hockey championship season and we always get a big snowfall during it so winters not done yet.

Take care, hope you remain virus free :)

Hello, N Q and silverquirrel - Still cold and snowy here, though the norovirus seems to be tamped down a bit. Another big storm came in this morning but is delivering us but a glancing blow. I don't think we have had a winter in which snow stays on the ground for a month at a time since I was a kid. Other than that, things are busy and well. Loved your lovely wishes for a box of heavenly chocolates for MD, SS. Well said.

Cheers - H

Hi homely & silversquirrel, the weather here has been extremely cold, we've been in the minus temps for the last couple weeks but homely it looks like the east coast has really gotten dumped on with snow the last couple of months, though I think I rather have the snow than the cold ! So far no flu for me but I see that we have record numbers of people being hospitalized for it this week :(

Happy Valentines day to both of you and silversquirrel would you send some of your warm weather towards Wis !

Hi and Happy Valentine's Day from AZ Sue and silversquirrel (both of my personas) to all the regulars here on Opentopia.  MD, wherever you are, I hope that you're enjoying a big box of heavenly chocolate.  

Hi, N Q, Phoenix, SilverSquirrel, and anyone I'm missing - Things have gotten quite busy around here but I wanted to check in and say that I hope that 2025 is treating each of you well. Still cold and snowy here, with the Norovirus running around, so I hope that has changed for you, N Q! This whole winter feels like groundhog day!

Hi silversquirrel & Homely. It's been down in the minus temps the last 5 days here and I'm so glad that I nolonger need to go out in it !!

The norovirus is hitting Wis pretty good right now so I'm working at staying away from people, from what I heard it 3-5 days of throwing up and diarrhea, something I don't want to contend with !

Hope all is well with you gals :)

Hello Phoenix, NQ, Homely, Stargzr, et al.   Happy and healthy New Year!

Good Morning, Phoenix - Glad to see you! And hello to N Q, Arizona Sue, Moose, Ed Hilver, and anyone else who filters through here on a whim during the holidays. I hope everyone is safe, warm, and happy enough during this season. Best to all of you!

Homely