September Chat
 

hey girls! thought i'd start the sept thread since we hadn't yet...what's everyone been up to?

I went shopping yesterday with friends and got more yarn for the blanket i'm making for my neice...i'm so excited about it! I'm also doing scarves for christmas...

I used to love to crochet...I sure wish I had the time for it. What colors did you get yesterday? I love soft angora mixes!

I'm pretty eaten up with school right now. I have my first math test today & am really not feeling ready for it. My art class is going really well & english is ok. Our weather has been so wonderful here....I'm still playing hooky in the afternoons a bit & planning out my fall garden. (should be hitting the books but its soooo pretty) I bought several dark amber colored mums for 1.47...which I thought was a good deal. Also picked up an aster plant, which I'd never seen before. Dark lavenderish color...and one large rose colored mum. Just deep enough pink that it looks good with the orange in a weird way.

Dawn, what are you in school for?

I have a cold! This sucks because I'm too busy to be sick, and that makes me want to comfort eat really badly. But yesterday my favorite professor that I work as a research assistant for told me that my work was really, really good and significantly better than what he'd gotten from his other RAs, and then I answered two questions correctly in my night class and got props from that professor, too. That was good because I was feeling really down yesterday.

Oh, I'd hate to have a cold right now. I hope you get better soon. Good job on the compliment from the professor. Nothing like a compliment on your mental abilities to brighten the day.

My son has a chipped bone in his leg so we are off to the doctor this afternoon to determine what to do about it. He is so upset because he can't play basketball or football or anything else for a while.

Tiki

I finally got some knitting done over the long weekend too. I'm getting close to end of the monster yoked sweater for my husband I started *last* summer. (of course I've knitted a million other things while I've been working on it, heh) I also whipped out a cute tea cozy from last winter's Knitty.

Looks like everyone is in a creative mood this month! I got some sort of lightening bolt idea yesterday that I should do some sort of cross stitch project for people for christmas this year. I am thinking book marks and christmas ornaments, something that can be done easily in bulk.
Any crafters out there with good websites for freebie patterns? I've been searching and have found a few things, but not many paterns available online are actually readable - I know, I'm sooo picky. :)
The only other thing going on for me right now is counting down to my new job. Ever notice how hard it is to make yourself go to your old job after you've put in notice? :)

I just started, and am almost finished with, a crochet tam for my friend's baby, who will be born this month. She told me she's really excited about it because most people gave her Summery things, since her family/friends mostly live in CA, but she's living in PA and really needs winter clothes.

My mom's creative genius skipped my generation I guess. She crochets, macrames, quilts, sews, embroiders, ceramics, you name it she does it. I can tie shoes. That's about it.

Turns out my son does NOT have a chipped bone. He is suffering from growing pains. Thank goodness.

Tiki.

Hey guys....Mergatroid, whats your name? I'm fairly certain thats not it but I have not seen your sig on anything? Anyways, I am currently a graphic arts major, intenting to go into web design. It's all a bit tenuous at the moment. Lol. I'm doing fairly well considering that I'm the oldest person in any of my classes. Except math. I'm bombing that hideously...as expected. I've always had issues with math. Sigh. I got "check pluses" on a few assignments. They don't count for anything grade wise but apparently almost no one else got them so I'm tickled pink. LOL...I'm sure a check plus did not make me this happy the first time I was in college! HOpe you get over your cold quickly! Drink lots of aqua!
Tiki, I'm glad your son is doing ok!

Liz, I don't know of any free cross stitch sites....I did recently find one that had X-rated type designs though which gave me a good laugh.

Hannah, is a tam just another word for a baby blanket?

Dawnlizbeth: A tam is actually another name for a beret. I'm making this one adjustable, so hopefully it will fit him for at least the winter.

dawn - heh i'd love to see those cross stitch patterns. how fun.
i found a great book today of celtic cross stitch designs, all easy enough patterns that i could do and small enough projects to get done quickly and in bulk for chirstmas. hope it works out for me. in my spare time at work today i adapted one i found online to a smaller scale and I think it'll come out great. i cam home all excited to get started and discovered that in my move - every needle i ever had for any project has disappeared from the face of the earth. Infuriating! I think it was the underpants gnomes. :)

ick...colds...chipped bones...and the worst of all, school LMAO...sorry to hear about it all girls...

the other day i picked up all kinds of colors...my neice's blanket is a multicolor...a softened rainbow color (not pastel, but lighter than a normal rainbow)...it's called Monet...with white stripes in it here and there...turning out beautiful...and i know how that doing other projects thing is...i'm working on a scarf for her mom...red and black rolled together so it's double thick...i plan on going double thick for all the scarves i'm working on for christmas...then i have to start andy's blanket...i think he feels the bf should get one before the neice but :P lol...anyways i designed it myself and i'm excited to start it...whenever that'll be LOL

Got a dilemma. I have to let 4 girls know that they will not be allowed to compete with the team this year. I picked them for my time knowing that they lack the skills to compete but that they had the motivation and positive attitude that even my more skilled girls don't have. I want to make sure they know they are valuable team members but aren't ready to compete. Any suggestions on wording? I'm also concerned about irate parents.

Tiki.

hannah, I used to love beret's...I definitely think that would be beyond my skills. I can crochet flat squares & thats about it. :)

Liz, I cannot find the bookmark to that site, I must have accidentally deleted it. There is a site that was sort of funny but no where near as good as the one I had. The other had actual pictures & stuff....with funny sayings. This one is just samplers but it looks like a way to get ideas for being outragous. www.subversivecrossstitch.com I like the one that says "Cancer Sucks" surrounded by pretty flowers & a nice frame. The subversive site says it was created by a woman as a form of anger management when she was dealing with a boss that was a jerk all the time. lol.

Ferret, those sound like lovely colors, my gram used to use something like that in earth toned pastels...very soft. Makes me want to buy some but I know I don't really have the time. sigh.

Good luck w/your girls Tiki. Frankly, I have to say that I'd probably say screw the more talented/less grateful girls & go with the girls who have better motivation & attitude. I feel that if someone is motivated enough they can make up for a lot. I think so many people that are talented don't really appreciate how lucky they are. I guess winning is very important for the team though....I'm not very competitive so I'm sure my opinion is not very valid in the "real world". I dunno how on earth you can tell them that & not have them end up with hurt feelings.What a depressing task you have. I hope it goes better than you are expecting it too. Good luck!

Thanks again for letting me know about fitday y'all...I just filled out my info there. Looks like a very useful tool, I hope it helps keep me on track!

Dawn - my real name is Jenny, definitely not Mergatroid. Heh.

Tiki, speaking as someone who was cut from every team that I ever tried out for (pity party time!), I think that if you are very supportive and let them know they are still a part of the team and that their attitude and willingness to work hard is going to help them get to competition level next year (even if it's not), and really play up their positive qualities and ways they can contribute to the team even without competing, they will be okay. It's hard to say about their parents, though. Parents can be kind of irrational when it comes to these things!

Also, I'm glad to hear your son just has growing pains and not a chipped bone!

Man, this cold will not quit. I feel like a big, mean spider has taken up residence in my lungs.

Sister, your description of your cold has me CRINGING at my desk. That's pretty bad, nope, VERY bad. I hope you get better soon, real soon.

I have a few comforters and afghans that my mother has made over the years. I will always treasure those cause I know how much time and effort she put into picking yards, designing or researching patterns, etc. Last year, she gave each of her grandchildren a quilt (she has 9 grandkids). I'm afraid to get them cleaned because I am so afraid that they will get messed up. Do any of you put special insignia or anything on your work to show who made it and what year? My mom does that now but with the older items she's made, I can only guess at when she created them.

Tiki.

Tiki, I sign/date on paintings and sculptures (goddess figurines mostly) but I've never marked my knitted or crocheted things. I did see an ad a while back though for little personalized cloth labels you could buy to stitch onto your knitted things. I might have to pick some of those up for holiday presents this year.

Dawnlizbeth: I've actually never crocheted a square in my life. :lol: I learned so differently from most people. I guess the thing about crocheting in the round is that it is more intuitive. Not much counting stiches or anything. If your circle starts closing in too soon, then you add stiches, if you want it to close in you subtract stiches. Getting started is the hardest part. Lemme see if I can describe this: You start off by crocheting a short chain (4-5 stiches), then you attach a stich to the second link, then the third, then the fourth and by this time you'll already be started in a circle so you just keep going. Add a few stiches here and there to keep it flat until you get it a bit wider than you want it (an inch or two), then start taking away stiches. The hat will begin to take shape here. When the opening is the right size for the head it will go on you're finished!

ew that does sound like a nasty cold sister...and tiki i'm sorry to hear about this hard conversation with those girls...i don't even know if i have any words of wisdom...unfortuneately all you can do is show a lot of love and support...wish i had more for you

I went shopping for a skirt yesterday for the opening of Serenity. I wanted something long and A-Line, like a Victorian walking skirt. I ended up getting two because I happened upon on a 70% off sale at Eddie Bauer. :) One is black cotton velvet and the other is a dark gray wool. One was a size 6 and the other a size 10 and they fit nearly identically. I wish for the seventeenth million time that women's clothes would just go by inches like men's clothes. That way I wouldn't have to take 3 sizes into the dressing room every time. :P

But even men's clothes that are sold by inches vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. My husband can wear a 32 from Old Navy but has to get a 34 in Docker's. Size 34 dress pants from department store menswear departments are a little snug on him!

The men do have it easier in general, but vanity sizing is everywhere. I wear a 10 now and wore an 8 at 160 pounds, but when I was in college 13 years ago I was 125 pounds and wore a size 8. Hmmmm.... I know that a reformation of sizes would mean that I'd end up wearing a 14 or 16 (what I wear in most vintage clothes), but I don't care! I just wish that all clothes sizes were standardized. My biggest beef is when I consult a mail order catalog's size chart, measure myself, order the clothing per the size chart, and it still doesn't fit!!!

Well, I did it! Today I started my new way of eating! IT is the SUnslim diet. Certainly not hungry for sure. I eat 5 meals a day, good food, take my vitamins, and drink plenty of water which makes me go pee all the time. Once I am used to that I will do fine. I am very excited about it. Hope I can stay motivated. Another friend and I started it together and we are accountable to each other, so I think I will be able to really stick with it. Not weighing myself for 6 to eight weeks when I am done with Phase 1. That will be hard to do or rather not do, but they say not to so you will be truely surprised. My scale at home is broken anyway so I would have to go elsewhere anyway to get weighed so that helps. I will keep you informed of how I am doing, feeling etc.
Virginia

Sister M,

I know, Mail order is the worst! I also hate it on ebay when people don't list the measurements and just say "fits like a medium" :lol: whose medium??

I guess it's nice to know that the boys don't escape the annoyance either ;)

It is like the comedian that complained about pushy sales clerks and as she was holding up a dress - the clerks says "that will look much better on" and the comedian says "on what? fire?" LOL

Oh for uniform sizing cringe.

Crafty ladies everywhere - if I actually ever finished something I started I would have a crocheted quilt and a patchwork quilt for my bed. I find I am better at projects for other people like when I reapholstered the seats in DH's boat so he could sell it - they turned out awesome and I had to eyeball the shape since the old seats were too messed up to get a good pattern off of.

I am currently planning a teenager (3 14 yo girls) slumber party in my cabin. They get to spend the night up there with no adults and all the candy and junkfood and CD's they can pack up the hill. I need a really good ghost story about the woods to read to them before I leave for the night - and I think I will walk them down to the creek in the dark (semi dark - full moon coming) and tell them the story in the dark under the trees. ooh cant wait. Any ideas for a good spine tingler I can find on the internet? Age appropriate of coarse - no rapists or ax murderers just a good haunting?

Party is this friday.



Later

Oooh okay.. I suck! I haven't posted in awhile and I'm sorry folks! I've been venting a lot on the binge forum because I had a rough couple of weeks.

At any rate, I'm agape at all the crafty ladies we have in here! You all are amazing! I've never been one for cross-stitch or knitting/crochet, etc. but I do love to paint, draw, write poetry, that type of thing. Right now I'm trying to work out a general plot for a book I'm going to write. It's been floating around in my brain for years - bits and pieces coming out and forcing me to write them down on varying scraps of paper, but this time I think I'll actually sit down and piece it together. Easier said than done, but I won't know until I try right? I think that's half the reason I haven't done it earlier - because I was afraid to fail. To put all that work into something only to have a publisher tell you to go to **** is very frightening. But, carpe diem right?

You know, it's so funny that you're all talking about the size thing because I've moaned at my mother for years about that! When I was in England she'd always ask me what size I was but I never knew what to tell her! It's like, well, I'm a size 14 in this brand of pants and a size 20 in that brand... I can wear a size 12 skirt or a size 18, depending on the material, cut, brand, etc. It's just crazy isn't it? My mom did tell me, though, that the better the clothing, the smaller size you would take and that seems to hold true. While I have never been a fashion victim and labels mean about as much to me as a wet dishrag, there is something to be said for tailoring. The generic 'box suit' as I call them, that you pick up in a franchise store will not fit you as well as an Ann Taylor suit. Now of course you're talking about a $200 difference - money that I certainly don't have, but it does hold true.

One thing I like to do (because I'm a vintage clothing a-holic) is to check Ebay. Most people who list clothing on there give the measurements of the item so you have SOME idea if it will hang, gape, pull, etc. I find that very helpful - even when buying shoes. **** I can wear anything from a 6 to an 8! How crazy! My mom's other theory is that because a lot of manufacturers use foreign labor (basically sweat shops) and most of the people are of a smaller build than most Americans (i.e Taiwan, China, Japan, etc.) that their cuts are much more restrictive and less true to form.

Anyway, you're not alone! I get frustrated over the same thing! I just better be able to fit into at least a size 6 or smaller in SOMETHING when I reach goal or there'll be **** to pay! :lol:

Take care all!

Alisha :hat:

Hourglass -

A 6?!? :?:

Good lord woman - are you 5 ft tall? I couldnt get my skeleton into anything smaller than a 10 and the best I am hoping for is a 14. But I am 5' 10" tall and very broad in the shoulder - Joan Crawfords got nothing on me - it is like I was born from her and Mae West together. :p

Gads, a 6? I think I wore a 9 when I was 12 - I have the *** of a beer drinker and I dont even like beer - but every woman on both sides of my family have the butt - All that German and Irish - I would kill to be waif like for a day or a week - not forever though - I like being able to lift heavy things and work on the farm and the way I tend to trip over gopher holes - my ankles would snap right off if I was waifish. :lol: I have had friends that were 8's and 6's but they are all under 5' 5" and very small frames and my sister in law is a 1 but she is a stick - even after 2 kids she is a stick - and I like my roundness. :dizzy:

Oh well - I will try not to hate you for it - ;)

Best of luck to you. :D

Rofl!
 

Ajandpj you crack me up! :lol: I needed that so thanks! Don't feel badly, I stand 5'3" on a good day so I don't think a 6 is out of my expectations. My mom is 5'5" and wears a 4 at 115lbs (grr!) so I figure at 5'3" 110lbs I should be able to do a 6. When I was younger I weighed 135lbs and my measurements were 36" 24" 36" but I was a kid then and kid's clothes don't fit the same as adults. Back then I was still wearing a 12! Good grief I'd take off a layer of skin to be that now but I figure dieting is less painful (well, only marginally but still...).

Anyway, back to work. You all take care and thanks for the support on the accident.

All the very best.

Alisha :hat:

If I could wear an 8 at 5'6" and 155, then I think Hourglass can wear a 6 at her height and goal weight. I mean, I was still 15 pounds above my goal weight when I wore an 8 so it's possible that even I could have eventually crammed my *** into a 6!

And that, my friends, is vanity sizing to the eXXXtreme. I have about as much business in a pair of size 6 jeans as I do teaching a class on nuclear physics.

Hi girls,

Gawd, it's been forwver since I posted. I feel like a bad friend!

Hi Tiki - I'm interested in knowing how it went with the 3 girls. I had to cut a girl from the Color Guard when I coached it and I got a call that night from a very irate father. I was only 17 so I was super upset that this grown man was yelling at me.

Sister M - The vanity sizing made me laugh so hard. Yes, yes, we are suckers for that.

I've decided to learn how to sew. I'm sooo tired of not having things fit in the right areas. I have a hourglass shape with MEGA boobs and the shirts that are cute are not made for my super-sized bosom. So, when I buy them in the "right" size, I'm swimming everywhere else. AGH! Of course, between school and work, how am I goign to learn this?

Cute Boyfriend is having gallbladder surgery at the end of the month. Is it bad to be excited that he'll have to finally wake up and smell the brown rice and veggies?

Jessica, I really need to upgrade my sewing skills too. It would be nice to at least be able to alter clothes to fit better. Right now I can sew a basic a-line skirt, that's about it ;)

Good luck to your boyfriend, I had to have my gall bladder out as an emergency surgery 8 years ago or so, not fun. At least he's in good enough shape to plan for his! It's not bad to be excited ;) just try to maintain a sympathetic expression and don't cackle out loud. :lol:

Heh, yeah, especially since when he's done and recovered, just about everything he eats is going to go right through. Everyone I've ever known that did that surgery had to start carrying the immodium around with them afterwards.

For some reason I thought we were talking about size 6 shoes, not clothes. LMAO. I will be happy if I can make it down to like a 10 or 12. I'm not aiming for skinny - been there and it doesn't look good on me.

I know all about the boobage too. Sigh. I went through a cowgirl phase when I was a teen and had the body for the wrangler butt. Not a single one of those cowgirl shirts would button up over my boobs, and back then I was a lot smaller. I always have a hard time finding something.
If I ever get to a goal weight I'm going to seriously consider a reduction if they haven't shrunken away to nothing by then. *LOL*

Started my new job this week, so far so good. Lots of training but I think once we're done I'll be fine at it. Can't wait to do something new and be in a company that gives good benefits and actually has some room for promotion!

Well, I just got another reason to keep working really hard toward my weight loss goal. It looks like I'll be going to my High School boyfriend's wedding in June. I'll see all my old friends that I haven't seen in years. Hmm, I think I'll put a High School picture up in my bathroom for motivation.

Hi school :shivers: - I must admit that I would kill for the body I had as a senior - I thought I was fat then - compared to what I look like now - I was down right hot! :devil:

Anyway - enough of this self loathing...Tomorrow is Friday which means 3 teenage girls are invading my home - well my cabin anyway - but not till evening after a party at her house with a pinata and cake :cringe: and then to the Hi school Football game. The local team is playing DH old school - kinda cool. :cool:

The Fire Department is trying to drag me back in - DH wants to stay on since he likes to play on the trucks - they mostly want me for secretarial and that is what I am most tired of. I want to be on the Board and if I dont get to be :stamps feet: I am not doing any of it. :pouty face:

They don't understand that I have a job that is secretarial stuff and that when I get off this computer - I dont want to do more paperwork - I told them I would teach whoever how to do what I was doing and then let them do it - I don't have the time or the desire to do it anymore. :screams inside head:

The trouble is - while one set of friends got railroaded off the department - we have another set still on - and they are the reason I even went to the meeting and the only reason DH decided to stay.

:rock: me :hardplace:

On the up side - if I maintain a steady drunk - I am not allowed to respond to calls - so I will just start drinking everyday after work and then will have an excuse :kidding: What I intend to do is be a back up and once on the Board I am going to insist that everyone commit to a "I will be available this day" plan..That should go over like pooh in church. LOL

Better go feed the horses - they are staring over this way sending me vibes. "feeed uuss, weerree staaarrvvinng" They are so not starving - fattest horses in town - spoiled big babies.

Later.

Haha, yeah I was pretty hot in High School too, but if I stick to my goals until then I'll be down to about the same weight I was then. Maybe even smallerand definitely more fit. I didn't go to my HS reunion this summer because I'm still in touch with all the people I graduated with who matter to me, but this crowd was a couple of grades ahead of me. I've lost touch with most of them and it'll be really cool to see them again. I was sort of a mascot/little sister/huge crush, for a lot of them (different depending on who you talk to). I've already convinced my Best Friend to go with me (my BF won't go because he doesn't fly) to keep me out of trouble.

Hi everyone. Just wanted to say I joined WW last night. Can't do this on my own anymore. I hopefully will be around awhile with progress this time!

Well, today is day five of my new way of eating and living. I have eaten more in the last five days than I have in 2 weeks I think, but it is good food and eating more often to boost my metabolism. Drinking lots of water and going to the bathroom all the time. We have walked 3 out of the five days so far and will likely get one or two more walks in this week. My first goal that I have set for myself is to feel comfortable in my uniform white in the bakery, they are quite tight and uncomfortable right now but hopefully in a week or two they will feel looser on my body.
Size by size will be my short term goals, for my long term I would like to lose 80 pounds. Hope everyone is having a good week! Keep your fingers crossed for me, I have put my resume in to a couple of different jobs, one is a call center and the other is factory work. I am hoping for one or the other. Presently working so not a must , but would sure like to find something I was comfortable doing.
Virignia

I am finally almost over this cold (the spider-in-the-chest cold). Man! I even went to the doc on Friday because I was afraid I might have bronchitis. She said it was just a bad cold, though. It's good to feel almost human again and not be tired and coughing my head off all the time. I hope that is as sick as I'll get all winter, to get it out of the way early.

Now I can concentrate on Halloween... I need some groovy costume ideas. I don't know what to be this year! I think I want to be something scary. I tried to be Samara from The Ring a couple of years ago but nobody got it. Maybe I'll try again this year.

Bleh - I weighed in and nothing - not a flicker of movement - harumph!

I refuse to let it bother me though - all the walking has been great!

The girlies had a great time in the cabin last night -we even had a thunderstorm to keep them indoors. Only freaked themselves out a few times -but that was to be expected.

I need to do measurements to see if that has moved or not - arrgh - gonna have to actually go back to counting calories again - at least to see if it is me or just a new plateau. DH going camping when he gets home from work Wed so I will have a full week of eating what I need to eat - that should help - we'll see.

Later

Well my measurement improved (a couple anyway) I posted that info under the Fall Challenge so wont repeat myself.

Last night at 130 am DH calls me (wakes me up) to get new directions since the address given him by dispatch was a pile of rubble - seriously. So he had another address for this place and I gave him directions from where he was - he was so sweet and upset that he had to wake me - boy is the dispatcher gonna get an earful today!!

So how is everyone doing?

You know I was considering going back to school for a degree in Web Design but I have rethought that to be Business Admin with focus on Marketing and Sales. As cool as the web design would be - I am afraid it will be too technical and I will either hate it or become obsessed with writing code and never sleep again. At least with the Marketing and Sales I will be playing to my strengths can tap into my experience over the years with different types of jobs, industries and home businesses.

And it will more useful in my current job and my hubby's hopes to launch a catalog business some day.

Things are calming down at the Fire Dept and it looks like I am gonna join the Board of Directors - always go where the power is. Nothing official yet - the Board has to vote first - but they are down to 3 people and they are supposed to have 5 so they may not have a choice and I can maybe help them get a fifth - I probably wont have an answer until after the first of Oct.

Back to work now - bye!

Hey Pj, I've been studying web design & from what I'm hearing you don't have to focus on code, that is more a web developement thing. If I had to do nothing but code I would not want to persue it at all.
Hannah, reunions are a GREAT goal. I am sure I looked better at my first one than high school. I think that was because I never wore anything that was not black & three times too big, did not know what make up was much less how to style my hair. And I had a terrible teenage chip on my shoulder. The fact that the movie Heathers was my favorite in high school should say volumes. lol. No one recognized me at the reunion. I drove up & they were all like, sorry lady, this is a private party, class reunion. I'm like yep, thats what I'm here for. :) It was very fun.
Glad your enjoying the new job ok now Liz! Good luck getting through the training phase without too much boredom. I detest training. Rats...I hear the bf's truck. (redneckmobile) I gotta go start dinner & then hit the books. So much for having time to catch up with y'all.
bye.