Hi, Kealoa!
The good news is, you're already leaps and bounds ahead of me...you HAVE your mind to lose! Mine has been gone on vacation for awhile. I miss it sometimes. Sigh....not really. (giggle giggle)
I had the same problems you are having when I joined a couple of days ago! My avatar pic was too big so my hubby resized it down. I JUST tried posting pictures a minute ago of my other pets and they were too large, too, LOL.
I have been a part of other forums before, but they look dramatically different and are organized very differently than BPO as well.
Here's what I know: the categories are listed on the left side of the page. You can choose a category by clicking on the link, and then when you click "post" (also on the left), it will go in that category.
To check what is getting new posts, I am doing something that is probably arse backwards, LOL, but it works for me...I click on the "Message Board Home" link at the top(ish) right of the page.
You are not alone. You are not alone!
Since you won't officially introduce yourself yet, I won't officially welcome you yet...but soon, my dear, I hope to be welcoming you warmly!
I really like it here. I'm just technologicall
y challenged, that's all.
Love,
Jen and Balthazar