Hi, all. I thought I'd officially announce that I'm taking a break from the blog. (As if my absence since March wasn't already saying that.) There's a lot going on in my life, but:
Yeah, I've not been around a lot. Not since November! Whoa. The thing is, I started a new job at the end of November and I have been wiped out! It's a longer day, and I just don't have a lot of energy, time, or much to talk about that's blog-worthy. (I've had some knitted things to share, but they're gifts (and I didn't get great pics).) Hope everyone reading this is well.
Big news is that I've declared 2010 to be the year of knitting for me. At least every other project (on average) will be for Mel. I have a bunch of small projects lined up: hat, mittens, scarf, cowl, slippers... just things I need or have been wanting.
Happy New Year!!
Post on Books on the Halloween blog, including review of a children's book, and great resources for free downloads (PDF or Kindle) of great spooky classics.
I've been wanting to do this for ages: Mel's Halloween All Year. You can follow it in Google, or subscribe to it in a reader. From now on, I won't put full Halloween posts here, just make tiny announcements that there's new content over there.
Read More......Practically from day one of my blogging "career," I've been very aware of the potential to upset people, offend them, or hurt their feelings. I think I may have taken things to the extreme, because while I've been careful, most of the time, to do none of those things, I have managed to suppress some of the better or, at least more interesting, parts of me. I think I may have given people the impression that I'm some kind of Pollyanna or Goody-Two-Shoe. I've kept my mouth shut about a lot of topics that are important to me because I know there are people out there who could be offended, just knowing that I feel this way. Instead, I write about knitting, or other crafts, about books or movies. All of these are real; I don't make up anything. But I suppress a LOT.
But you know what? No one is sitting back, worrying about not offending or upsetting me. Other people don't seem to have a problem sitting back and announcing that their way is the only way and that everyone else is a moron, or going to hell, or both.
I don't plan on doing anything that would intentionally hurt someone's feelings, but beyond that... I'm done. If this means that no one reads my blog anymore, so be it. If people are allowed to promote their religion, belief system, food choice, etc., than so am I.
I'm tired of hearing about how all "the gays" have an "agenda" and are out to force everyone to be gay. Feel free to boycott Pepsi because they won't "stay neutral" in the culture war, but dude, if the AFA boycotts Pepsi, I'm going to start buying Pepsi even if I actually prefer Coke. There is no "homosexual agenda" to convert us all. No companies are forcing their employees to BE gay. They are asking their employees to stop harassing their co-workers because of their sexual orientation. Hardly the same thing.
Quoting John, because this pretty much boils it down:
"Collectivizing individuals into a group and attributing to them an agenda is nothing more than a means of dehumanizing people you disagree with. Saying 'I am against the GAY AGENDA' isn't as controversial as saying 'I HATE BOB BECAUSE HE'S GAY.' or 'I WON'T DO BUSINESS WITH SALLY BECAUSE SHE HAS A GIRLFRIEND.'
"It's just another way of not treating people as individuals, which in my book, would be called 'A Non Optimal Solution'"
I'm still around, but haven't been much in the mood for blogging. Hope to return in the near future!
Read More......There is so much to do today, and I'm really sick, but I couldn't stay away from the computer to check out Mrs. G's Slow Cook Thursday, which is about me today! Go check it out (unless you just came from there), and then keep reading, because it's one of my very favorite blogs!
If you have come here via Derfwad Manor, Welcome!!!
Re: Title -- I'm trying to remember a quote from Porky's II without watching it (love it, just not in the mood) ETA: Of course, John remembered it exactly. I'm declaring Halloween season on this blog. Not like I don't mention it whenever the mood strikes. So, mostly, I have a new header.
Anyway. Like the new header? I had 2 concepts and decided to combine them. The top font is "Dead Secretary." The orange cats, pumpkins and ghosts are Halloween noisemakers I got in Hell, MI last weekend. The ghost on the right is John. We have been known to, on occasion, dress up and take pictures in old, secluded graveyards. There isn't one of me that I like yet. He combined it with several elements he photographed, into this little masterpiece (reduced and watermarked):
We keep a nice framed print of it on the wall year 'round.
We're thinking about going to the big haunted house attraction in Pontiac next weekend. I don't generally "do" haunted houses. I'm afraid of the dark and claustrophobic. But John really wants to go and is prepared for me to be gripping his arm really tightly.
Yesterday, we went to the cider mill in Plymouth. We bought cider, took the tractor ride, and just enjoyed the day. I got a honey bear for my chamomile tea at work (and one for home). They have a little farm set-up there, but not a petting-zoo type place. The posted signs that read "Do not reach through fence, animals may nip" did not keep one woman near us from yelling to her kids: "Stick that grass through the fence. I want a picture!" Sigh.
Crappy Real Estate Broker News
Over two weeks now since the deal fell through, and no refund on our deposit. The guy won't even respond to our attorney. Upon the advice of a broker friend of Jdub's, I've documented the experience in detail (3 pages) and am mailing it to the head office tomorrow. The broker I spoke with was flabbergasted at just the few examples I gave him, and practically demanded that I file a complaint straight away, refund or not. Interestingly enough, Keller Williams doesn't have their mailing address anywhere on their site. (The bad agent is a franchise owner.) My Google-fu was strong yesterday (at about 2 AM), after I tracked down the name of an individual at corporate, then searched on her name, which led me to a professional networking site (similar to Linkd in, which I'm on) that listed the address for the corporate office.
I will probably post a copy of the letter, redacted of course, at some point in the future, but if you want to read it sooner, shoot me a note and I'll send a PDF. I'm not bragging, but those that do read it will see how I was told at one job that my writing skills made me dangerous, and how I was "laid off" a couple of weeks later. (Foolish man, my boss. Sat down one day to read a year's worth of reports to the board of directors. (I was required to send them one a month.) Gasp! I was reporting things as they actually occurred!) Nothing changed throughout a year of reports -- proof positive that the board wasn't reading them, either.)
I have a ton of things to tell you all, but that will have to wait until after work. I did have to come by and publicly thank Jessie for letting me know she was getting "email failed" messages when she commented. I found out that I was missing a letter in one of the places I have the email info. entered. That has been fixed, and now I' catching up on all the comments I didn't know I had!
Read More......
I think I'm settling in comfortably. I've got my sidebars loaded, and have figured out how to split posts (so long ones can have "Read More" at a reasonable breaking point).
I've had this idea for an entry for a few days, and I think this is as close as I'm going to get. Me, in my grandmother's apron (which I never wear), with no make-up is a pretty honest portrayal (except for the apron). Not the kind I usually like to share publicly, though. (At least I didn't cry this time.)*
But see: I am wearing an apron. You'll have to picture me holding a tray of cold drinks and welcoming you. The guy behind me is Fred. He's always hanging around somewhere. (He's harmless.) In the next few days, we're going to come up with a reverse housewarming gift and have a contest.
(frame from ShabbyPrincess)
*Truth is, I don't photograph so well. This one is pretty accurate; other ones are not and, well, make me cry. (My glasses are in the apron pocket because they are one of the main culprits -- they turn dark with light and really don't photograph well.)
Starting tomorrow (Friday, June 13th), I will be posting to this blog.* I've had one (same name) for almost five years on Live Journal (here), and will keep that going for archive purposes and the occasional locked post for my friends over there. I also hope to have copies of my posts from Blogger show up there, so the people who are already reading there don't have to switch. Worst case scenario: I copy/paste entries from here to there for awhile.
Most Fridays I have something called "Crafty Fun Friday," where I share links to all kinds of craft projects that I've found on the 'net.
In the coming week, I'll be hosting a kind of housewarming party, where I'll be asking for comments and drawing a name for a prize.
*Well, I kind of started already, but not officially.
