The chat room is really easy to use and it would be an instant way for people to get help and support. I have checked in many times, even when I know that it's daylight hours or evening in the US, but I am always the only one there. I have chatted with 'Madi' (who is in Australia), who also found 'chat' easy. It's a shame that this wonderful facility is not used more often. Maybe I just keep missing the busy times, being in a different time zone (UK) . If you haven't tried it , I suggest that you do so, if you see that 'friends' happen to be signed into the forum. Tonight (today for all in US) I think it could have helped many people who are worried about pets who are very sick. Sometimes when you are distraught it's hard to compose a full 'post' so instant chat could be very beneficial. Please keep posting though, I don't for one second think that 'chat' should replace the forum postings, but used alongside the forums for instant help, advice and companionship.
Jan x

I agree Jan, I've logged in before and it's always empty. Sometimes you want to be in touch, but don't have anything in particular to post. I'll log in more often and look for you (except for the darn timezone issue).

Kelly

I look forward to seeing you there Kelly. Just had a long chat with Margi and Tahoeden. It was good to be able to instant chat like that. Hope to see more friends in there soon. xx

I go there every day, but it must be the time difference I think, nobody is ever there. I'll trot over now and take a look.

madi xx

Oh dear Madi, I just popped into chat and it's saying you are there, but no answer, think we must have just missed each other again. Hope to catch you soon. I know we're all thinking of Margi and Dear Ladywolf today, and little Sweetpea. Bless them. I do hope Margi is managing to get some sleep, it's been a terrible time for her.xx

for some reason, the chat room really never caught on. i think it is because no one organizes a mutual meeting time, and with time zone differences, etc. it can get difficult to meet up with people. it's a shame, this is one of the best chat rooms i've seen.

you can access it from any page of the website (aside from the forum), or just click here: http://lightning-strike.com/chat/flashchat.php no registration or password is needed, just login using your LS screen name. for those who are adventurous, you can create your own private chat room as well.

I agree LS support, the chat room is great, just have to get a bit more organised.

madi xx

Let's schedule at least two times and days to chat--start out small. One in the morning and one in the evening. That could include everyone, I think.

Like maybe Monday morning and Thursday night?

Margi

Sounds good to me Margi, I'll just have to work out the time difference and make sure I check in at the right times. Look forward to 'chatting' soon. xx

To all who see this message:

Check out the chat room. I just discovered it last night and spent some time with Janika and Ladywolf (I'm thinking about you and wondering how things went at your friend's house today). It was very helpful to talk with them. And then today I had over an hour of chatting with Lin-Ladywolf, which again helped me get thru some trying moments. See you all there.

Dennis

The chat room has been used a LOT this week--in fact, I'm waiting right now to see if anyone will appear to talk with. Good conversation has been happening, so thank you, Jan, for reminding us about this option!!!

The only thing I wish it had which it doesn't is a way for us to see when the other person is typing. But I'm not complaining--it's a wonderful chat room, that even rings a bell when someone comes in!

Margi

Good morning Margi, I'm in the chat room now, if you want to have a chat. Hope you are doing ok. Sorry I missed you last night. Love Jan x

I see there are 3 of us on line at the moment. I'm in 'chat' room if anyone wants a chat . Love Jan x

Jan, anyone--

How do you "invite" someone who's online to chat--other than by P.M.?

Thanks--Margi and Spiritwolf

You've got me on that one Margi, I'm not sure. Maybe LS support will have the answer, well I'm sure he will. But I'm not sure if that's possible. I think for now the best way is to put on the forums board in this thread, that you are going into chat and then wait a few minutes to see if people see it. Other than that, back to PM's.
I usually check to see who's on-line and then post in this thread if there are people about. Of course many are busy posting and replying to the forum threads, so they don't always proceed straight to 'chat'. It's important to keep reading and posting on the board. I've met a few people in there now, who only use the 'chat'. So it's good to meet even more new people. Again, Marc and Tribble, what a great thing you created with this website. It is helping so many, including me. Thanks once again.
Not sure if anyone will be there but I'm popping over to 'chat' right now. Early morning here in UK, so I might be talking to the 'wall' again. Just call me Shirley Valentine.
Hugs to all. Jan and my Angels and Pixie.xx

I'm hangin' out in the chatroom right now. Anyone else want to talk?

Margi

Glad I caught you last night Margi. Heading there now myself. x

Be prepared--you may run into some REALLY serious issues in the chat room, as I did tonight. Be prepared to do instant counseling, as well as to talk about post-menopausal whisker hairs!

Margi

Ha Margi, who can you be talking about ?????
Anna is in chat and so am I so hope to see you there. xx

Not someone we know, folks. Someone who came in as a newcomer. Just made me aware of the responsibility that we have to have a lot of integrity when thinking and talking fast to someone who has serious issues...

Anyone around? I'm in chat right now...

Margi and Spiritwolf

Hi all, I'm heading to the chat room now, if anyone's about and wants to 'chat'. x

Hi All it's 7.30 am here in UK. I'll head for the chat room and wait there for a while. Dennis I just missed you I think. Hope to see you there soon. x

Good morning everyone. It's 6.30 Am here in UK. I will head to the chat room and keep checking in to see if any ones around and feels like company. x

I'm in the chat room @ 11:23 my time. Where are you?

Margi

Hi
I'm in the chat room just before bed time here in Uk. Just gone 10 pm here. Hope to see you. x

Does anyone else's "bell" work to signal that someone else has entered the chatroom? Mine never does, no matter how many times I try to set it. It would be a huge advantage if we could get some kind of sound when someone enters. The way it is, we just sit alone and wait, or we navigate away from Chat and miss the people who do come in. My "bell" only works when I myself enter, not when someone else does. Administrators?

Thanks--

Margi and Ladywolf

I have heard the bell on occasions, but not every time. Also the door slamming when someone leaves. I have to remember to have my speaker volume turned on and up of course. Margi have you made sure all the options for sound boxes are ticked in'options' sounds. I'm sure you will have but just a thought. I'm heading there now. Hope to see you. x

click this link to see a screen capture of the chat sound option window.

http://screencast.com/t/YmMyOTY0


you will note that all sounds are muted by default.

1. make sure VOLUME is turned on/up and your speakers are loud enough to hear music
2. uncheck the Mute All box
3. in the list of possible sound events (ie, enter a room), click on the one you want to unmute and uncheck the mute box
4. repeat #3 until you have all the events unchecked that you want to hear sounds
5. click the test button to see if what you did worked.

i also always recommend people upgrade to the latest version of adobe flash player, you can update here: http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/ (note, i strongly suggest unclicking the 'Free McAfee® Security Scan Plus (optional)' checkbox.

Well thanks to LS support I have now unchecked my mute buttons and tested my sounds, turned up my volumes and Trala !!! I have all the correct sounds. Thanks once again LS Support. Hope to see more people in 'chat' so that I can put all the sounds to use.
Jan x

that's why i am here Jan enjoy the chat room, in fact i will post about it on our facebook today

You know, newcomers are turning up in the chatroom a lot these days, partly thanks to your Facebook posting, Marc--but there is often no one there to talk to them. I've met at least five newcomers in the past few days. They don't even know about the Forum, they just come straight to chat.

We ought to make an effort to be there more; we can't be of much help if we're not THERE!

Margi and Spiritwolf

P.S. I get all sounds now except the entry into the room sound, which is a drag. Wonder why this is?

Good morning (6.40 am UK time), I'm heading for the chat room, hope to see someone there.

Are there scheduled times for the chat room? I would like to join sometime.
thanks
Tracey

Dear Tracey

The Chat room is open at all times. I usually visit first thing in the morning and last thing at night, but of course I am UK based. Last night there were four of us 'chatting', but that would probably be afternoon for most of the Friends In US. It's just a case of checking in and hopefully you will find someone there. You can always post on this thread if you are about to go there, I find that quite often works. Hope to see you there.
Jan x

Hi Janika,

I ususally check the chat room around midnight my time. I just saw that Margi got a new kitty today. Rpbert Frost said, "Everything I've ever learned in life can be summed up in three words...It Goes On."

Dennis

I got a new MONSTER-kitty!! Life goes on, but sleep doesn't!

A tip on using the chat room. If you come in and someone's there but doesn't say anything, they probably have chat minimized. So type a few lines so they can hear you posting. I know that my own doorbell never works when someone comes in, but if they type a couple of things, then I hear the "typing chime." (A lot of people's doorbells don't work, the sound you're supposed to hear when someone enters the room--but their "lines of typing" sounds do work.)

Come to chat!

Margi and Spiritwolf and Leopold the Terrible

In chat room for a while. Hope to see someone there soon. Hugs Jan x

Hi everyone, I'm in the chat room talking to the 'wall' again. Hope to see you there . Hugs jan x

I'm writing to propose "scheduled chats," on Monday and Thursday evenings, from 5 til whenever, west coast time. So, 8 EST, and 1 a.m. British time. (yes, I know that's late, but that's the best I can do, given people's work schedules over here.)

What say you all? 5 on Thursday???

Margi

Margi
I will try and stay awake tomorrow night, but can't promise much scintillating converstaion from me at 1 am , ha. I know it's hard when we are all spread far and wide. I look forward to seeing you, and anyone else who feels like a chat. It really is a good chat room and it's very easy to use. Have you managed to get your 'doorbell' working yet Margi?

Hugs Jan x

We missed you Jan, but I know that you had a long night of partying the night before, lol! We had five people there--it was cool. Maybe we could start and hour earlier, for your sake?

No, my doorbell still doesn't work, but all my other sounds do. It's kind of a drag, but, oh well...

Love--Margi and the gang

Sorry I missed you. I waited as long as possible but I'm afraid I couldn't quite stay awake until 1 am GMT. I usually check in around 11 pm my time, probably a little early for most of you, I'll keep trying. I'm pleased that 5 of you managed to chat.
Hugs Jan x

Hi Everyone
Just to let you know that I haven't deserted you all. We are off to Constable Country (Suffolk) with Pixie and the Grandchildren for a weeks break. It's the first holiday for us with Pixie, she's packed all her gear and ready to go.(well Mummy has), and the first one without Noushka, so it will seem strange, but Noushka and Tasha will be there with us, along with Sooty boy and all my Angels. I will miss checking on you all, but will be thinking of you and sending love and prayers to all who are feeling the pain of the loss of a beloved fur/feather/scale companion.
I hope the 'chat' sessions are a success again tonight. I will be with you in thought.
I'll be back a week from today, so will check in again then.
Hugs
Jan, Pixie and my Angels xx

Oh, Jan, I hope you have a wonderful vacation. You deserve it!

Sorry, folks, that I couldn't be in chat tonight. I hope it went well. I had something very unexpected and unplanned come up, and I had to leave the house for awhile.

Do drop in on Thursday night at 8 EST!!!

Hugs from Margi, Spiritwolf, and Leopold the Terrible Tiger Cat

Hey guys.....completely forgot last week, hope to see you Thursday night then, 8EST,

Hi all just pushing this up the board as it's Thursday. Hope to see you in chat, I'll try and stay up as late as possible, but if I don't see you, I'll thinking of you all, and sending hugs .
Jan and Pixie and my Angels xx

I'm in chat. It's 8 am UK time, so I'll wait for a few minutes, while I have my cuppa. Hope to see someone soon. Hugs Jan x

Hi all:

As much as I wanted to join you tonight in chat, I blew it...got there 23 minutes late and no one was there. I just completely forgot. Sorry....hope to run into you all at some point. I will try to remember next week.

Dihann

I blew it too, Dihann--I was in Tucson, and didn't get home 'til almost 9 my time.

Let's try for Monday--though I may be in Tucson again, myself. Do we want to try to make it 7 p.m. EST so Janika could join us more easily? Makes no diff to me, as long as I'm here...

Margi

Hey Jan, I'm in chat right now, so please come join me!! (Friday night at 10:12 my time)

Margi