Middle-earth Journeys

Oh, I'm fine with change - my main concern is for my eyesight . . . .

I think one could safely say that this upgraded forum is a lot busier to the eye than the previous one and that, for me, is what takes getting used to.

Yeah busier it is. I think because the font is smaller on my screen.

I agree -- it is much "busier" looking, and the smaller font is problematic, especially for the "presbyopic" among us struggling to figure out how best to focus on the screen through our seamless trifocals! Is there any way to slightly bump up the size of the font without causing massive problems? I think that would be a tremendous help.

I'm also trying to get used to the flipped around format with the screen names on the right, rather than the left. Like marbretherese, I had some of the same problems and frustrations when the V-W site was updated, but I adapted quickly. It will just take some time.

Thanks as always to our Mods and Tech Support for keeping our beloved site up to date!

Strangely it's the flipped format that I find wierdest too - it feels the wrong way round . Most forums have the names etc. on the left.

I tried changing the font size in this post from normal to large as I thought it would be easier to read, but it just comes out massive so I changed it back again .

I think both Yoda and I can tweek the font size and color a bit in the near future.

I did okay enlarging the font for the Great Years Calendar entries. But now it makes the website title and the quote from Bilbo look too small! I looked in the administrative panel for a way to change that, but couldn't figure it out. So add this to your list of activities for the near future!

Riv and Mods, I was wondering if we might consider adding a thread for General Member Communication. For instance, I have just recently come home from an unexpected stay in the hospital. First, I AM FINE! Don't worry! Details below. However, there really isn't an appropriate thread for more personal communications like this so we can let our friends here at MeJ know about important/critical things happening in our lives. Another example would be Merry's ordeal with the flood, the move, etc. I think we would benefit from having a thread like that just to keep up with our MeJ friends, to rejoice with them when big happy things occur (weddings, promotions, children graduating, etc.), and to send them our virtual support and positive thoughts during times of crisis.

As far as my recent scare is concerned, on Monday I had my husband take me to the emergency room after experiencing a wave of tingliness pass over the right side of my face and scalp followed by noticeable numbness in the right side of my face. My first thought was -- STROKE! After a CATscan, lots of bloodwork, two hours in the MRI machine, a battery of neurological tests, and an overnight stay in the hospital for monitoring and observation, the diagnosis is Atypical Bell's Palsy. Essentially, my facial nerves have "caught a cold." My symptoms are relatively mild -- I can speak, swallow, and blink without impairment, and if you didn't KNOW something was wrong, you probably wouldn't notice that my face is just a bit "off." The condition will resolve on its own in a few weeks after my body has had a chance to right off whatever virus brought this on and my nerves have time to heal. In the meantime, I'm tired and achy, but otherwise just fine. However, given the other possible diagnoses -- stroke, transient ischemic attack, brain tumor -- I'll take Bell's Palsy and consider myself very, very lucky, thank you very much!

It would be nice if a certain Ranger/Warrior/Healer/Priest/King could come take care of me and bring some athelas, a bowl of chicken soup, a cozy blanket, some soft Elven melodies, and the warmest, snuggliest hugs in all of Arda . . . Sigh . . . I feel better just thinking about it!

So glad to know that your condition is temporary, Lindariel. I've known someone else with that diagnosis and, although it is not the worst, as you point out, it's not fun, either! Absent the Ranger, I hope you're being well cared for--step up to the plate, Mr. L!

Good suggestion, too, about the thread for such news. The leadership here has had some significant intrusions from Real Life, as you can probably tell, but I think Riv Res is heading for another fall rebirth, so stay tuned!

Thanks for your good wishes, Merry. Mr. L is certainly stepping up as much as he can. Unfortunately, my illness struck at the same time that he is in final rehearsals for a big series of concerts this weekend. It's a good thing my diagnosis isn't serious, because then he'd probably have to back out, and I wouldn't want him to have to do that. I'm glad my daughters are out of school for the summer, and therefore the family schedule is a good deal more relaxed, plus they are old enough to be more or less self-sufficient with just minor supervision. I'm certainly fine puttering around the house and working from home. If I get tired, I can just go lie down and nap a bit.

Still wouldn't mind at all if that Ranger fellow decided to stop in for a little visit . . . a girl can dream, can't she?

Sorry to hear you're not well, Lindariel, and relieved at the same time that things aren't worse. Take care of yourself, and in the absence of the athelas-wielding King of Gondor, here's a hug from Jonick and me!

j'ai déjà envoyé mes voeux de guérison sous le pseudo ''Coline'' sur VW, mais je les renouvelle ici pour Lindariel dont nous aimons les articles et discussions à MET.un prompt rétablissement et la pleine forme afin de reprendre vos activités dans la joie et l'entrain, bien sincèrement, Coline-Michka

OK -- here's another reason to add a General Communication thread -- Northern Virginia experienced a 5.8-level earthquake yesterday with the epicenter close to the town of Mineral, VA, about 90 miles away from Washington, DC. I live about 30 miles South of DC, and our house bumped and rattled and shook for almost a full minute! My family and I are just fine, and the house and contents are undamaged, but it was certainly one of the most bizarre experiences in my life so far!

Next week, depending on the vagaries of Mother Nature, Hurricane Irene may be blowing our way. MeJ should really have some kind of General Communication thread so we can check in with each other after things like this.

Lindariel, so glad that all is well and that you and yours are unharmed! We Tolkien fans must worry in seismic events that The Silmarillion doesn't fall off the top shelf and onto our heads! I hope your health is improving otherwise as well.

I've made an executive decision and figured out how to open a new thread, as you've suggested. Thanks for keeping us thinking!

une simple petite question: j'aime beaucoup, beaucoup la gravure qui illustre le site, ce bateau sur fond bleu me ravit les yeux et je me demande s'il existe des reproductions, si l'artiste les vend et comment agir pour l'acheter?