Hi Ellis :wave: we posted at the same time :lol:

Hi sweet Sflake! :wave:

Hi girlies,
i've been posting all over alternachicks this morning. This could be a full time job, an excuse not to go to the gym today? nah...that won't fly, will it?

Jennifer, what kind of office are you in? what do you do when you aren't an administrator of alternachicks?

Ellis, Jennifer, etc...isn't it funny how many of us use the Winter Solstice to help cheer ourselves along? being the eternal optimist I never do that in summer, never start lamenting the shortening days...at least not in the midst of summer. Since we've had the time change here though, it has been hard to have the sun disappear so early in the day. Yuck!

Hi Chicks, I have been thinking about the advertizers that don't like the name 3 Fat Chicks. The name seems to have served the site well to have grown to over 25,000 members. I wonder, who are these advertizers and since we are the potential customers would we like them enough to want to buy from them? Maybe we
won't like their names/products/big noses and want them to change them so that we can feel comfortable buying from them. :p Just my two cents for today!

I hope that everyone is happy and well today!!Love and Hugs

You go, Irish Tart! :cheers:

I couldn't agree more. Would they prefer "plump?" Or perhaps, "zoftig" would suit them more? Oh wait! -- maybe it's not even the fat part that gives them pause.....maybe it's the horrifyingly sexist reference to "chicks!!" GASP!

I find it more than a little patronizing, not to mention insulting. 3 self-identified fat chicks with a sense of humor put the support-call out --- and a whole slew of other fat chicks responded, (smilingly) and then they told two friends...and they told two friends....

And now some stupid, wanking advertisers are going to take issue with the self-identification of this potential source of revenue? Please. Does Lean Cuisine get to tell Giant Foods that they don't like the connotation of their name, and will require them to change it before they allow them the priviledge of promoting their product? Please. I'd like to know who these buffoons are, so that I can make sure I take a pass on whatever they're selling.

Ok, Irish Tart....(hm, a tart sounds lovely right about now. Woopsie, back on track!) I saw your two cents and upped them two more. :soap:

Rarrrr!

Ellis - That's it, I'm moving in with you. I've always wanted to move to an exotic country... Canada is like that, right? I watched Jean Chretein's speech in Parliament yesterday. See, I could be Canadian. :)

Ruth - I love the Vagina Monologues. I read it first and then saw it performed two years ago. Did you seriously try out? Excellent.

HarmonyBreeze - I learned my lesson with Cape Cods. Ohhhh my head still hurts. My only advice. Drink a ton of water before you go to bed. I've only had one hang-over because I followed that advice the rest of the time.

mauvaisroux - What's a hot babe like you doing in a cold place like Canada anyway?

The casting call is Wednesday, Jessica. Yup, I'm definitely going for it! The rehearsals don't start until January with the performance in February so that will help me over the hump of the winter so to speak.
PMG! If you understood Jean Chretien, you are better than most of us exotic Canadians. By the way, Mauvais is exotic but Ellis and I are not. (Remind me to post my metal bra picture.)

Jessica... I just squirted water out of my nose. :lol: Yeah, Canada is really exotic. :smoking:
I've never seen Chretien give a speech. (well, not as PM, anyhow) How was he? And is he still our PM, or has he already retired?

Ruth, I'll have you know I am so exotic!
Hey, who's Alan Neal? CBC radio. He emailed me and wanted to interview me this afternoon. Fortunately I was at my psycho appointment and missed it.

Soozie, I work in management at a plasma center. One of those places that buys your blood! Never a dull moment...

Ellis, are you getting interviewed? I'm lost!

About the name - a lot of people cringe when they see it. You'd be surprised how many people write to tell us that we are either

1. disgusting
2. too hard on ourselves

It's a tongue in cheek name, but many just don't understand. The problem we think that there is with advertisers, is that fat chick is a HUGE (no pun intended) porn term on the internet. If you do a search on us, we'll be tucked in neatly between chubby chaser sites. Probably a conservative type in somebody's marketing department that made that decision.

Mauvaisroux, how's the husband?

Jennifer!!! I knew we were soul mates! My very first real job was at a plasma center (and I loved it). I was the front manager/screener technician. Stuck fingers, read hemotcrits, found out if the donors could read. Later I worked in the lab in the back, labeling and freezing the plasma. I only left because I was the person who told donors when they were permanantly rejected and the death threats got to me. Oh I miss the plasma center. Do you have problems with employee turn around too?

Ellis - He was pretty funny when he wasn't talking in French. I think he retired today. How can you not know??

Jennifer and Jessica, what a small world!! We have a plasma center here too, and a few years ago they were looking for a new manager. I checked out the position but decided I didn't want it, because the center here was in total chaos management-wise, and I didn't want to inherit problems left behind by the previous manager, and have to deal with two feuding assistant managers and unhappy staff. Jennifer, I bet you have your hands full!!

:o Thanks for the explaining the problem with the site name Jennifer. I guess I am just not getting out enough these days to be in the know. Who would have thought? Maybe you will find a new catchy name that will fit the bill! Thanks again.

Wow, this is a first! I never met anybody that worked in a plasma center. I started in the lab labeling the tubes, etc and then when we went automated I moved to the screening department and worked there a while, then slowly worked into management.
We don't have problems with turnover, thank goodness. There is so much to learn these days we'd never catch up. The rules seem to multiply each year. Which company did you work for? What city?
It would be funny if we knew some of the same people!

TwoDog - Were you in ND when you applied? I didn't know of any there. You are probably happier in a lab than in a plasma center. They are really stressful to run. You have to keep the donors happy, the employees happy, and then keep all the regulations in line. It's rarely possible to do all three at the same time. Very unusual job, to say the least!

Irish Tart - we'll keep the site the same name, but the advertisers-in-question want their advertisments on a different site name, so that will autoforward here....which is silly really, it will still be coming to us, just indirectly. If we had to change the actual site, we'd never go through with it!

Thanks, Jennifer, for clarifying the whole advertising thing....you know, I hadn't even thought of the whole porn angle.

For the record, I think this site's name rocks! It's all about context. Within this context, it's funny, sweet, and even embracing.

Big fat chick hug goin' out to the group.....do you feel the love? I want you to feel the love! :grouphug:

Yeah, silly stuff :yes: When I found this site 2 years ago the name intrigued me and then made me laugh so I joined....guess some people don't get it :shrug: why my friends and I have used the term "chick" as a term of endearment for years! I don't see the negative side of it and the name is very tongue in chick, er I mean cheek :lol: (no dirty comments here Ellis :nono: )

:p: BOING!! Did someone say, "tongue in chick?" :love: :spin::cb:

Ellis? Sooz? Am I all alone here?

Yeah Baybee!!
I mean,
Yes, dear Sarah, you are alone.
I'm the staid mother of a six year old dear.
I never think about things like, like, THAT!!
oh, and Jen...yeah, weird job!

Jennifer, there are three plasma centers in ND that I'm aware of. Is there more than one company that operates plasma centers? The one located here recently (in the past couple of years I think) changed it's name, but I think is still owned by the same company. It was kind of hard on us when the plasm center opened here, because not only did they hire away some of our best phlebotomists, but they also compete with us for donors (we have a donor center at our hospital, but we don't pay donors for their blood). But I can understand why the plasma center wanted to open here, since this is a university town, and from what I understand a lot of their donors are university students wanting a little extra money.

I hear what you're saying about the stress of the job. In mine, I have to keep the employees, doctors, patients, and other labs who refer work to us happy, and deal with a bunch of regulations as well.

Alan does the Trend programme on CBC Morning. Really, Ellis!!!! What is he going to interview you about? Were you the naked woman on Bank street? Did that make you exotic?

fatchciks? I love the term. People do laugh at it it but I always say to remember the 3 when they search or they'll be sorry! Wwell, maybe not - I do have some strange friends - besides in here - oh never mind - I'll leave.
OMG! Tongue in chick!

The book thingy I'm doing this month. I may be famous some day. Or not.

Cool! Then I can say, I knew her when - as I do about Margaret Attwood who went to Lisgar and is my age. I'l let you touch me next time we meet!

Ellis dear you are already famous :)

Ruth is offering to be touched, referring to tongue in chick again,
girls, it's still early in the morning and you're getting me all in a bother...
and I have to go to work and concentrate today.

Ellis, what book thingy are you doing?

and cool, you are headed for fame, :hat:
and you should be, cause you're amazing!:cp:

love, Soozie

Thanks, Sflake. :)
Ruth, you may kiss the hem of my jeans.

Soozie, November is National Novel Writing Month. Gotta write a 50 000 word novel in 30 days. It's a bit of a hoot.

Oh, wow, I like that concept. Call the dude back and let him interview you...but, wasn't it you who said you didn't want to discuss your writing project, ironic, isn't it. yeah, don't discuss it much, just on a NATIONAL RADIO PROGRAM!

wonder how he got your number?

Can I kiss the hem of your jeans...um...well, wait, where have you been walking lately?

stop playing in here Soozie, you have to go to work...

cool Ellis! :cool:

AWWWWRIGGHHHT! I finally got my cheerleading smiley! :cheer:
Still haven't got the pimpslap smiley to keep you naughty chicks in line though.....:lol:

You ladies are so funny! I always look forward to logging on to this site each day just to see what you have been up to. This group is the best....you make me giggle.hehehehehehehe

Cool pom-poms Mauvais...you go grrl

If anyone can write a book in a month it is you Ellis...back to
your keyboard; time is awasting.

Very cool Ellis!!! :cool:


I think I missed saying hello so - Hello Irish Tart! :wave:

Ellis - That is freaking awesome. So, I've missed the details. Is this a sponsored project? How did you get involved? Or did you just decide to write a novel on your own? I pretend to be a writer and J. Michael Strazensky sez that in order to write the good stuff you have to purge the bad by writing everyday at least 1,000 words. I don't do that. What's your novel about? Can I be in it? I wanna kill someone. :)

Jen - I worked for a very nice company called Sera-Tec Biologicals in Newport, KY. They got bought out after I left by Alpha. Funny story about getting the job. I had gained about 50 pounds (so I was about 250 pounds) and I had interviewed a bit on the phone and I was soooo worried that they weren't going to hire me because I was fat. My mom bought a suit for me to interview in and I just felt like a whale. Well, I walk into her office for the interview and she's like twice my size. I was soooo happy. After I left the job, she lost all the extra weight and then got caught stealing about 10K from the company. Rumors say she lost the weight on heroin.

okay Jessica, there's YOUR novel!
opps, better get outta here, gonna be late for work again...

drank too much last night,
got bills to pay, my head just feels in pain
I missed the bus and there'll be
**** today, I'm late for work again
and even if I'm there they'll all imply that
i might not last the day,
then you call me and its not so bad
its not so bad and
I want to thank you
for giving me the best day of my life
oh, just to be with you
is giving me the best day of my life

um...guess what song I just learned to play on my guitar?

Sooz, I love that song! :sunny: OH, and nice save on the tongue-in-chick thing!

Elllis, sounds great! Can't wait to hear more about it!

Jessica, now if that isn't your book, at least a short story? :write:

Thanks, Irish... what a sweet thing to say. (everyone is now scrolling back to see what Irish said. heh heh)

Jessica, here's the link. You've got to do it next year. It's a hoot. I just happened upon the site a couple of days before the big start.
I was caught off-guard, and didn't have much time to think about it.
http://www.nanowrimo.org/index.php?s=2

Soozie... what song is that? I'm so terribly young... I'm sure that's not from MY generation.

Sarah, it's a :mag: novel. I've read so many of them, I figured that would be the easiest thing to write in 30 days. ;)

(but seriously, I don't want to talk about writing a novel... I'll jinx myself...)

:wave: Hi Squeaker!!!!

You're welcome, Ellis...now get to writing:D so you can win this contest already!

Irish, the only way to "win" is to finish. That's the prize... finishing. :D It's quantity over quality, but it's really a good exercise in churning out the writing.

Ellis - Thanks for the info on the site! I'm so excited for you. How much fun. I'm going to be watching. I wanna hear updates! And you both know that song, you just don't realize it. It's Thank you by Dido.

You're right Jessica, everyone has heard Dido's Thank You they just don't know that that is Dido's Thank You. I really like Dido.
I've learned three songs from that album. Thank You, and gee, the others I don't know the proper titles but,
I didn't hear you leave, I wonder how am I still here.
I don't want to move a thing, it might change my memory.
Oh I am what I am, I'll do what I want, but, I can't hide.
I won't go, I can't sleep, I can breathe until you're resting here with me...

Oh yeah, it's Resting Here With Me

and I love these lyrics,
One light on, in one room, I know you're up, when I get home.
One small step upon the stair, I know your look when I get there...
if you were a king up there on your thrown,
would you be wise enough to let me go?
For this queen you think you own, wants to be a hunter again.
Wants to see the world alone again, to take a chance on life again,
so let me go...
that one's called Hunter.

now there is another verse to each of those songs so you'll have to get the CD and check her out.

Ellis, the Dido thank you song has been used all over. In commercials, it was sampled by Eminem on his song called "Earl" which Eminem performed with Elton John on some music awards program. It was also used for the television movie, If These Walls Could Talk, or something like that...it was a movie in three parts about lesbian women, three generations, all lived in the same house. The third segment starred Ellen DeGeneres and Sharon Stone as a lesbian couple.

Did you see it?

well, enough rambling.
love, Soozie

Jessica, that plasma center buying thing is like a food chain. Every year companies buy each other up...and occasionally they spit out the bones, like they just did my center.

Alpha just got bought by Baxter a couple of weeks ago, and they in turn closed down 38 and sold 4. That's all that's left of the Alpha centers - there were 42 of them. Vicious world, that healthcare! Problem right now is that the market is oversaturated. SO MANY people gave blood after 9/11 that the leftovers were skimmed for plasma, sold dirt cheap, and now nobody wants more plasma. It's dogeatdog and a lot of people are closing down. I consider myself extra super lucky that we got sold to another company (for beans I heard) because my old company closed down 3 centers already in the last year. If this company didn't buy us, I'd be drawing unemployment. Jessica- if you ever want to move to Tennessee, I'll hire you! In fact, we've got an opening for the front supervisor right now!

TwoDog - I never thought about taking phlebs from a hospital - it's usually the other way around in my town. If you can get a phleb from a plasma center, I'd take them. We only use 15-17 gauge needles, so they usually do really good when they get regular blood draw needles.

Ewww, I can't believe I am talking about work after such a long day! Somebody slap me!

Yes Sarah, I feel the love! And I bet that chick that keeps getting tongued does too!

Ellis, I'm so proud of you for doing that! I read that website last week - what an idea! Put me in and give me a naughty scene, please? Jessica wants to kill somebody, I want sex....any other requests? We'll give you lots of quantity!

Jennifer, you're getting very naughty...watch out, our moderator will get ya!

Ooooo! Can I kill Jen's lover? That would be excellent! Maybe will a 17 gauge needle?

If I ever lose my mind and move to Tenn. I will look you up because I miss the plasma stuff. I couldn't believe that Baxter bought and sold Alpha like that... then, I couldn't believe I understood what it all meant. :)