@Cathy Reed It's not as conspicuous in the present in English, and kind of optional. Which sounds better to you? 1) "On Wednesday, it's important he be on time to the interview." 2) "On Wednesday, it's important he's on time to the interview." Would you pick A) "I suggested she walk" vs B) "I suggested she walks". In the first example I might pick either 1 (the subjunctive) or 2, but in the second more definitely A (the subjunctive) I think, but they all sound OK to me. I am more likely to use the past subjunctive consistently though. Would you pick i) "I wish he were smarter" or i) "I wish he was smarter". At this point they both sound OK to me, but I *think* I still say always say (i). I think it's more just grammatical patterning for me than a real mood feel.

I have difficulty with the subjunctive mode. My stepmother always tried to teach me the usage of the subjunctive in English when I was young, but even then, I had problems remembering to use it. Such as "May I have some more" instead of "Can I have some more". She tried to explain, but the concepts involved are still difficult for me. I wonder if it is something that comes to some people naturally and defines them as being more capable to comprehend verbal concepts than others. Do any of you use the subjunctive while speaking in English as part of your normal speech pattern?

@BettyBoo I know what you mean. Although I mostly kept up on Fluency Club it was the barest minimum until yesterday, and I skipped several days of Go Spanish altogether.

Wow, with everything going on around Thanksgiving, I've missed more than a week of Yabla! That hasn't happened for a long time. I have a lot of catching up to do!

@BettyBoo That sounds delicious - especially the candied walnuts and cranberry goat cheese. I am hooked on kuri squash right now as no peeling! I agree on the columbian videos - every one has been helpful.

@BettyBoo I think I did one two of them and found them very good. I also rarely get opportunities to speak so I finally - just in the last couple of weeks - signed up for GoSpanish. It is really helpful so far - and a serious reality check on the gap between my understanding and use of Spanish. I picked the option where you get unlimited group classes and 2 1:1 classes a month.

@Cathy Reed Yeah, they're all grown up now. Time flies. I've been on Yabla for about 15 years (at first under a different name). The best part of my day, early in the morning I do my Yabla brain exercises. And I think I can even speak a little Spanish by now! Living in Arizona and working in a small tourist shop, I often have the opportunity to use it.

Did you guys do one of the free "Live Class" lessons? I did. There were a few technical difficulties but once we got past that, it was really fun and helpful. It exercises a part of my brain I rarely use. I can read and write Spanish pretty easily, but when on the spot in a live conversation, that's where I need to improve.

@KateP Interesting. Right now, I've got two Thanksgiving events coming up and I'm going to a Butternut Squash soup (with carrots, pumpkin, onion and celery, maybe even some potato). And nutmeg, sage, rosemary, topped with roasted pumpkin seeds, or candied walnuts, or cranberry goat cheese. I also like the Zulbany videos, though I have trouble sometimes with the Venezuelan accent. The Colombian videos are my favorites.

@Cathy Reed I’ll have to check out the rest of the series. The clear speaking really helps.