it's been a while since i posted an update. most of the plants are doing well. except the petunias, which were eaten by an unknown animal or bug. they were pretty while they lasted also the snapdragons are dying off in the heat. i need to plant them earlier next year. the sunpatients are loving all the rain and still blooming like crazy so are the knockout roses.

the avocado plant is making a comeback too. i realized i was overwatering so i left it alone for a while and cut the dead branches. i see a lot of new growth starting. also the lemon tree finally arrived and is doing well. i added some ceramic pieces to the bottom of the pot when i planted it. i wish i had done the same to the avocado. if they do well i want to get more next year.

i also trimmed back the bushes in the front yard. they were growing pretty wildly so i had a lot of clippings. i also pruned the crepe myrtle again. the builders planted it right by the sidewalk so if i don't prune it blocks the path i also managed to step in an ant bed which was not good.

yeah Snapdragon that's the main reason i didn't join any pony groups back when i used Facebook. i like to keep my online interests more anonymous. even before doxxing was really a thing.

i generally think stuff online should be more anonymous. there are most definitely issues but it's not like Facebook or other more unsavory social media sites that require people to scan ids have no hate content. also sites can ban with IP addresses. IDK. it seems like smaller, more topical forums can do a better job of moderating even if people are fairly anonymous. i've never been a mod on a forum so i don't know what kind of content mods do end up removing. the mods here do a good job.

i tend to think a lot of the reason why Facebook wants you to have 1 account and give them so much information is for data harvesting anyway. it benefits them, not you. i've been seriously thinking about deleting a lot more of my social media accounts. i never log into Facebook anymore because it generally ends up making my angry. i still can't really understand why it still exists. i guess there aren't any good alternatives and Meta does monopolistic stuff to stifle competition. Instagram is pretty terrible and i still use it. At least there it's easy to make accounts for specific interests.

and the whole "if you're not doing anything wrong you have nothing to worry about" doesn't work if someone mistakes you for someone else online.

Also not 100% related but on another thread Taffeta pointed out that if you're setting up a website with a domain you purchase you should always choose to keep the website owner information private. in the US it's usually called "whois protection". otherwise you can accidentally publish your address if you're using your home or work address when you register the domain.

We have a general election date

yay for the UK hopefully getting some better leadership! also can no one get that man an umbrella? i don't like the "secure a better future for our children" talk. gives me bad vibes.

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i'm happy to be back home with my doggies and i have the rest of the week off from work

i'm sorry Ponyfan It takes time but it does get better.  for me it helped to look at photos.  my phone screen is still a photo of my Moose, who died in 2020 and Jessie, his BFF who is still with us.  it makes me smile when i see it.

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my complaint today is i'm tired from the last couple of days. Also i think one of my dogs got into something while she was staying at my parents'. she has a couple of itchy spots. i need to give her a bath.

Ponyfan, your mom sounds a lot like mine.

I found a dead baby bird in our yard too after the storms we had a few weeks back. i know they all don't make it but it's sad

i have a ton of stuff to do and i'm just feeling overwhelmed. i just want next week to be over.

yesterday i put up some of the new artwork i got. and i also put a shelf together. now i just need to add the doors and my shelf area in the living room will be assembled. now i just need to fill it up

Welcome to the Arena!!

it's getting hot. today should be 90+F. tomorrow we're supposed to have storms but after that no rain in the forecast. i guess summer is here I hate summer weather