Party 'til the Cows come home!

Cowpernia · 12-14-2005, 08:32 AM

Need to rant. I have this friend, call her Ellie, who I've known of for years but only recently became friends with. She's been a wonderful friend. She's single, a teacher, beautiful, talented, smart, all that. She listens, gives good advice, feeds me, etc.

Ellie wanted to meet a guy so she went online. I took a bunch of pictures of her for her to use in her ad. She went out with several guys but really zeroed in on this Berbie. I never met Berbie but I had a bad feeling as he reminded me of Herbie. He drove her around and showed her all the property he owns. This was a first date, I think. He went out of town a lot. He didn't call regularly. But she kept saying she didn't really think Berbie was what she needed and she was still thinking about it but he was a "person of quality." In other words, it sounded like she was smitten but he was distant.

So she had him to her house for dinner and I don't know if this was his first time at her house but I know it was a big deal for her. She had someone come over to help her clean a perfectly clean house. The evening was lovely. Then he never called again. She emailed him after a while and he said he needed to take a break.

Heart broken. She is not the same person. I'm not liking her now. Ellie plans to go to France this summer with her sister and told me she's renting French movies to listen to the language. I still had "A La Mode" and offered to let her see it. I dropped it off at her house where her son (age 20-something, gifted program while in school, does not drive, does not work, is not in school) took it. A week later, I called but she wasn't home. She's the AA one .. off to meetings. I asked son if she'd watched the DVD and he said he thought she had. It has not been returned. I gave her the envelope to mail it back.

She never contacted me to acknowledge the DVD. For all I knew, son had forgotten about it and she never saw it. Last night, we had yoga class so I emailed her to see if she'd like to ride together as it's a new place she hasn't been. Went by her house to get her. Her tone is just a bit snappy these days. Every week the teacher has a printed sheet of paper that's the weeks emails from the swami and asks if anybody would like to read it. I said last night that I always want to see them (curiosity) but never have my glasses on. Teacher said "you can take it home." Ellie asked if that was the only copy, was told yes, pass it around, it's nothing anybody would want to keep. Ellie snatched it up and that's the end of it.

On the way home, I asked if she'd seem the DVD (yes) and if she'd like me to mail the it back. She snapped, "I can drive it out to you if you'd feel better about it."

I replied that I'd just like to get another movie.

She snapped again that she's had other things on her mind.

So Ellie's in a bad place. She'll be better. We all get better. Right now I don't have any idea how to relate to her. Keep emailing and calling or leave her alone. Discuss.

Cowpernia · 12-14-2005, 09:29 AM

The ranting helped. I emailed her and reminded her what a wonderful person she is. She responded with appreciation.

On this knitting list I'm on, I posted about this teenager who was watching me knit. I would liked to offer to teach her (don't know her .. never saw her again) and asked for advice. Several people offered advice but one woman sent a long, thorough reply that was so great. She's taught knitting to a lot of people and listed common problems they have, best first projects, etc. I suggested she publish this in one of the knitting periodicals and actually prodded her a little.

Weeks later, I wrote her again asking advice on some yarn problem. She told me that three years ago, a relationship had ended for her and she'd had no self-esteem since. My interest in her email/article really lifted her up for the first time in all those years.

You just never know how you're affecting people.

Wabby · 12-14-2005, 12:31 PM

You're so right, Peachpie. Sometimes a simple act of kindness makes all the difference.

Advice re: your friend - do exactly what you did. She's lucky to have you.

I should be working, shouldn't I?

DH put the tree up. Anyway it's in the stand in the living room. It's still bundled up w/ twine. Now the ball's in my court. Tonight is decorating night. Whatever doesn't get done tonight ain't gonna get done. I'm tired of thinking about it. I did some wrapping last night, but I still have a mountain to go.

Sorry to hear of the demise of your perfect dog toy, Kiwonker. The question I have about the mouse is why are your kitties sleeping? Peaches told me kitties are the answer to rodent problems. You should be rodentless.

Deck the halls with boughs of holly!!!!! Schatzi-girl, where ya been? fa-la-la-la-la and all that stuff. You know ---- "hang a star from the highest bough and have yourself a merry little Christmas now."

Kiwonk · 12-14-2005, 02:57 PM

Well, we know what radio station you're listening to, Wabbit

Boughs indeed. How about "When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall"? You know, for the Christmas impaired among us...

Peachie, glad things are looking up with your friend. Just wondering -- when this guy dumped her, did you tell her what a jerk he was? I know with some people that's just what they'd like to hear, but not always. (I have a really hard time not saying something when somebody hurts one of my friends...as you may have noticed) I'll never forget one time when I was in high school and one of my friends got dumped by her bf and I told her she was lucky because he was a jerk -- and she didn't speak to me for months! I mean it would explain why someone who's usually nice suddenly gives you a brushoff.

I have still not accomplished anything. I woke up with such a backache it was all I could do to get started this morning, and I finally took half a serious pain pill leftover over from when I had a tooth pulled and went back to bed.

Did I tell you that DD is making a dress for the Christmas dance? She's so different from me, not that I might not have thought of making a dress, just that she is so creative and always seems to know just the thing. Last week I took her to the local 2nd hand shop to see if they had anything she'd like, and we found a pretty 2 piece item, a pink brocaded top with spaghetti straps (brrrr!) with a satiny pink skirt. She didn't like the skirt and decided to make something out of lots of tulle and an underskirt. I found an old off-white cotton skirt of mine that tied at the waist so she could make it fit her and we picked up about 10 yards of tulle the other day in la big citee. She has put several layers of this over the skirt and she will look like a fairy I think. Her BF was over when she was pinning it together and apparently they are coordinating colors

-- too cute eh? Of course, he keeps asking her who's taking her to the dance, just to give her a hard time about her shall-we-say-unusual clothing ideas.

Well, I ought to try to do something, huh?

Kiwi

Cowpernia · 12-14-2005, 03:07 PM

I never met him and I never said a word about him.

Kiwiette is quite the prize. I expect her to have her own TV show where she can teach us how to do aANNYTHING. Except knit. Bet she can't knit.

The kitties were so afraid of the giant puppy that they couldn't get to the mouse.

PainterWoman · 12-14-2005, 05:36 PM

I have gotten SOOOOOOOOOOOOO behind on reading the forums.
Sorry all. Glad to know that it all worked just fine without me!

It is 48 here, and very cloudy which looks and feels chilly to me... and maybe a few snow flurries for the weekend. That would be nice... good reason to stay inside and knit... or address cards... or take a nap.

DH's birthday is Monday. Want to do something nice... and just made dinner reservations at a great place be both like, but save for "special" occasions... He has everything he "needs" and most everything he wants... so it's a challenge.

De only real dews is dat by sinuses are stubby...

Bagzz · 12-14-2005, 10:18 PM

hello tramps and cows----i am just wanting to say hello for a second and then off to bed---the CBC radio is broadcasting from the market at six am on friday and i need to get extra sleep tonight so i can get up early on friday--naturally this will backfire on me and i will wake up at four am and fret----------GUESS WHAT!!!--- we had our bookclub christmas party at a restaurant last night and i had FOUR and a half----------COSMOPOLITANS!!!!---AND!!!--- i didn't have a giant hangover---i had a little one but i should have had a GIANTone----anddd----i had a balll--------------laughing and hooting and tee heeing and hee hawing----------i haven't had such laughs and so much booze in ages--------------it must have been time---AND there was a big snowstorm last night so we had to drive sooo slowly------anyway---hopefully we will get the tree this weekend----- i am so busy at work=-=it will be sad when it all comes to an abrupt end!!!----nite nite----glad you are all here and well---------you are so adorable!!! such nice and pretty cows~!!!

Kiwonk · 12-14-2005, 11:08 PM

I'm torry your tinuses are tuppy, Painty.

You could be right about the kitties, Peachie. But kitties are very particular about when and where they chase mousies. My smart cat only does her mousing outdoors. She thinks indoor mice are for wussies. My furry dopey cat is not particular. She kills mice indoors, but she likes to do it on her own time, when no one is watching her and judging. Most of the time when we are around she is sitting on the back of the couch with her head facing the wall. We are pretty sure she is dain bramaged....

My datter is home. She is right on time. Maybe even early. This is what she and her bf do when they hang out together: arrange music. There could be things they do that she doesn't tell me about, but I wouldn't know.

Happy Birthday to Paintymon. I will probably forget by Monday. I think a special dinner out is purrfect.

Bagz -- sounds like your at least half in the BAG. I love cosmopolitans. Tres chic and delicious.

Kiwi

Wabby · 12-15-2005, 01:47 PM

Ooooooooo! I wanna party w/ Bagz and her bookworm friends!

It sounds like you girls know how to have fun!

Painty musta sent her stubby head to me - pass the kleenex, dearie. Word on buying gifts for men who have everything they need or want (except a ginormous cabin cruiser or some such thing). I haven't come up w/ anything exciting to buy the DH for Christmas. Thank goodness I don't have to come up w/ a birthday gift too.

I need some Sudafed, but you have to get a prescription to buy it in this backward state. All the meth addicts are still cooking drugs up in their kitchen because they don't mind driving to the next state over to buy Sudafed, but the rest of us are all stuffed up. I guess I could make a Dr. appt., take time off work to see the Dr. and get my prescription, but by then my cold would probably be gone. We Oregonians do, however, give a medical marijuania card to anyone w/ a hangnail.

Schatzi · 12-15-2005, 02:04 PM

Soooo that's what the big whoop with Sudafed...I guess thats whats going on with Benedryl tooo.. DH lives on Benedryl and the lady at Walgreens told us that we are gonna need Rxs for the stuff soon..Dam Tweakers!!

Waaaa! I wanna drink cosmos and tawk about deep books with Bagz and Wabby tooo..
It's rainy, cold and the roads are icy...Lots of spin outs here...Looks like most people stay home when it's like this... not like up north ... NO STINKIN snow or ice sloooows us down! The furbabies are curled up snuggled to gether..I have the Xmas lights on and the Xmas village all lit up....simmering a blend called Holiday Spice ... DH is snorkling on the couch.. a mid afternoon nap ... before he goes back to work (he's working from home...must be nice that he can nap... )

Painty and Wabby feel bettah....

Cowie: I'm glad you made yer friend smile and feel better...you're right you never know how small kindnesses can affect folks !!!

Kiwi I hope no more meeses fer you!!

PainterWoman · 12-15-2005, 04:43 PM

Shatz- I think the drug co.s are coming up with alternatives to Sudafed and the meth-maker stuff, because THEY don't want their products to be Rx any more than we do. In a pinch I can take lots of guafesinininininin (or whatever it is... and my nose runs, but I avoid the bronchitis phase.

I think partying with Bagz would be fun, too... though cosmo's aren't my favorites... Whiskey Sour? YES! Irish coffee? YES Congrats on avoiding the hangover!

Anybody read any deep books? I am about 1/4 through Exuberance by Kay Redfield Jamison... she's a shrink with bi-polar disorder... she's writing about the benefits of mania.. in moderation. It helpe me focus on good stuff, rather than always looking at flaws/flab/etc.

I know most of you've gone ALL out with Christmas decorating... since I'm not really even interested in basic cleaning/maintenance, any suggestions you have on the least I can do for the most holiday spirit (aside from RUM, etc) would be most welcome.

Maybe I'll go put some carols on, and dance with the swiffer a little.

Wabby · 12-15-2005, 06:32 PM

Aw, Painty, you'd be surprised at how little I'm actually doing this year. Remember how I said yesterday that I was going to complete any decorating I was going to do? Well, when I got home yesterday DD had decided to come to my house to do her candy making marathon so my kitchen was in a hurricane Holly mode and when I tried to put the lights on the tree half of them wouldn't work, and my cd player quit working so I couldn't listen to Christmas music while decorating so..... I decided to give up. I bought new lights today, but I think I'm going to do the tree and the staircase and that's it for this year. Done. and think how much easier it will be to put it all away after the big day. hmmmm, what is the least you can get away with? I vote for a sprig of mistletoe over a doorway. Anyway that would be the most fun.

My nephew called and asked if he could have an outdoor wedding at our place next summer. I said yes. I know. I'm crazy that way.

Stopped by the liquor store. I'm all stocked on Bailey's for my coffee, peppermint schnaps for my hot cocoa, vodka for my orange juice, and rum for everything else.

I haven't read any deep books Painty - I'm working on a shallow one, The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory who wrote The Other Boleyn Girl. It's about Kathryn of Aragon, King Henry's first wife. I love a good historical novel.

Schatzi · 12-15-2005, 06:57 PM

oooh Wabby Delicious! That book sounds Right up my Alley!! I love books about King Henry , Queen Elizabeth, king Arthur.. well I love historical novels in general! I await yer critique before I run out to get it ... have you read My Queen My Enemy? that was a good one.. I also read the "autobiography of King Henry VIII" as I sat pool side... This woman asked me what I was reading,,, I told her.. and she asked if it was a school requirement (?) When I told her..No.. it's pleasure reading... She looked at me like I had 2 heads and said .. I would never read a "big" book like that if I didn't have to... Sheesh...Like I care...Go Back to yer Sidney Sheldon lady (not that there's anything wrong with that).

I would rather have a DD come make memories of making Christmas Candy then my halls decked with holly darlin! Just Enjoy the holiday , those you love and what makes you smile..

SugP · 12-16-2005, 02:06 AM

Hi darlings

My poor sweet 76 year old dad fell down and got a black eye yesterday! My mum said she was sittin' around waiting for him to take her to the hairdresser because she' s not allowed to drive yet with the bum knee, and he comes in the room with blood all over him and says he slipped on some ice out on the road (stupid neighbours with their pressure washer), knocked himself out and got brought back inside by some other neighbour who found him lying there! Bashed up eye, sprained wrist and I don't know what else. And I'm thousands of miles away. What was I thinking?

I'm still coughing and coughing and coughing and the little bottle of imported Robitussin isn't helping. They make you get a prescription for EVERYTHING here and you can't get anything like Sudafed. I took in an old bottle of no-name Sudafed once that I'd brought back from holidays and the pharmacy lady took one look at the ingredients and freaked out, thinking it was speed or something. Duh.

Bagzie's book do looked like FUNNNNNNNNNN!

No deep books here, can't even concentrate enough to read the newspaper. But I made cookies! Oatmeal cranberry shortbread and vanilla horns and spritz cookies!

SugP · 12-16-2005, 05:45 AM

Another e mail from my mum this morning:

My fire fighter brother came home yesterday, took one look at my dad and got him straight to the hospital where they found that Dad's hand and arm are broken and that he has some bleeding on the right side of the brain. And his face is totally bashed up - he must have fallen face first. They're going to keep him in for a few days for observation.

Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!