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I still need to write about being in the hospital.

I’ve been on Metformin for a month now.  It doesn’t seem to do much to my blood sugar; I’m still see-sawing back and forth between 90 and 250 and everywhere in between.  I’m frustrated, but I’ll give it another couple of weeks to start working.  The only thing that seems to make a difference is lots and lots of exercise and / or severely limiting carbs (or cutting them out completely.

And here I was just starting to really get into baking.

Work’s been hectic, but fun.  I have some very interesting and challenging cases to work on.

Aya finished this year’s swimming lessons and can finally swim underwater! She’s still got a pair of wiggly front teeth, though. They’ve been hanging on for months.

What’s new with you?

For the two little ones we adopted a couple of weeks ago, we’ve batted around a variety of names. Merry and Pippin.  Gray and Mr. Blackie.  Mist and Shadow. Boromir and Faramir. Mithrandir and Morgoth.

Mith and Morg have been “working” names for the pair over the last week or so, but they finally shared their names.  Those familiar with Everquest (has it really been 10 years?!) can appreciate them: Mithaniel Marr (still close to Mithrandir and oh so valorous and brave) and Bristlebane (because he has silver guard hairs or bristles in his fur and is a mischievous thief).

However, these points seem to be easily forgotten. Or ignored.

In the last few days, I’ve seen Panther essentially crucified by a group of extremely agitated, dissatisfied individuals. Some of their issues are just ridiculous. Some of their issues are quite valid, too – these are concerns I’ve brought up several times in the past – but the way they are presented is completely toxic.

I have a suggestion for these unhappy people: either use your OWN money and time and experience and friends to host, moderate and administer your own version of Rhydin and/or the Red Dragon Inn or learn how to offer constructive criticism.

Complaining because someone doesn’t like you or because you don’t like someone, their character, or how they roleplay is not constructive. Expressing angst about how one clique is not roleplaying with you is not constructive. Whinging about something that happened years and years ago is not constructive. Witch hunts are not constructive. Personal attacks are definitely not constructive.

If you see a problem, offer what you think is a reasonable solution – sans insult. Please. Does anyone really think that backing up their suggestions with vitriol is the way to get them implemented? What do you want done, how will it work with the current resources, and why should it be done? If you don’t have a solution, what the heck do you hope for other than whipping everyone into a frothing, self-righteous fury about how you’ve been wronged? Just rant about it on your journal and move on with your life already.

On a specific note, I do not believe calling for a ban of someone who is at best a deranged, arrogant, god-moding snot is reasonable or constructive. I don’t think anyone wants bans to be based on subjective complaints. Unfortunately, there’s no rule against god-moding or against being arrogant, deranged, or a snot. If there was, more than half the users of the site would have to be banned.

Before you publicly and rabidly accuse someone of doing wrong, best you make sure that you have never been guilty of that same wrong.

If you throw enough stones, your little glass house will shatter all around you — and you’ll have to find a new place to live.