Worst First Date #10 - Persistent Devil

I went on a "blind date" that my best friend had set me up on. We talked on the phone on Thursday and agreed to meet on Friday. When I saw him, I about fell over. He was so yucky! I always say looks aren't important but you DO have to be physically attracted to them. This guy...like I said...just plain yucky!

So I was nice...we went and got a coffee and headed back to the car. I said I had to go and he went off the deep end.

"I wanna go back to your house with you," he said.

We met in a town that is about 25 minutes from where I live. I kept saying no… that I didn’t want him to, and he kept bugging me about it.

SO finally, I concluded I wasn't going to get away from this guy and told him to follow me. Then I "accidentally" lost him on the highway.

He called my cell and I never picked up. He left nasty messages telling me how horrible that was for me to do that to him. Oh well!!!! I didn't care!

I never spoke to him again. But I gave my friend a piece of my mind!

THEN Christmas eve, he called me. I picked up not knowing the phone number and he started talking. I figured out who it was and again "accidentally" hung up the phone.

From: Plenty Of Fish

Marvelous Monday Update 11/24/08

Weather
Woke up to our first real snowfall this morning! About 1/2" accumulated but was gone by the afternoon. Not ready... Not ready... Not ready... (For any of you who remember "Shove"... She's not ready either!)


School
I pulled a high C on that last test. Screwed up too many MC questions! I'm still holding on to a B overall, but just barely. I figure if I do well on the 2 papers that are due this week and get a B on the last test/final, I should be OK.

That brings me to the papers. Psychologists say we gain our values around the age of 10 and by 20, they're pretty much set in stone *unless* a significant emotional event occurs that changes a value. So, the assignment is to write a 2-3 page paper entitled "Who You Are Now Is Who You Were Back When" and detail out various aspects my life that made me who I am today. Easy enough, however, there are just some things a business college professor or the public in general do not need to know so I had a tough time writing up an "edited" version.

The second paper is to be 8 pages and based on a book having to do with business management. My book is called "The Five Dysfunctions of a Team". A rather interesting read, actually. (Kinda like my blog, LOL!) I've read the book and so far, I have five pages written. Two more "topics" to cover, the conclusion, and I'm finished!

Did I mention both these papers are due this Wed?

Oh, I almost forgot: Today, I received my degree check confirming that I'll be finishing my SECOND degree after this semester. Woo Hoo!! *happy dance*


Stitchy Stuff
Last week, I received my ornament for the SNS2 ornament exchange.

In addition to sending an ornament, Lizzie in Scotland also sent me a stitched card and a skein of SSS that I had on my wish list! Thank you so much.


I also received a RAK from Linda in TX: cloth to make a stitched afghan. Thank you, Linda!





Dating
I finally have a first date story of my own to tell! Why are first dates so awkward? I think I'm dating-challenged... Thre real me doesn't come out until like the 3rd or 4th date! I had a date last Thursday and he seems pretty nice. (Would it be too high schoolish of me to say that he was rather cute too? LOL) He's thoughtful and even opened the car door for me (twice!) as well as the door to the restaurant. Don't know where it'll go, if anywhere, but I did have a nice time.

Take note of the partial conversations that occurred after the date...

Sister (newly married): "Was he nice to you?"

Friend (L/T divorced): "Look him up on judici"

Hairdresser (L/T married): "Did you look him up on judici?"

Esthetician (single): "Did he look like his picture? Was his car a rental?"

One can tell that the women in my life (as well as myself) have been around the "loser" block one too many times, LOL.

Edited: For those of you not familiar with judici, it's a website to check a person's court "record" in 48 Illinois counties. I'm sure each state has it's own website.

Worst First Date #9 - No Gifts... Please!

I was having a lot of first dates weeding thru the duds in my local area in New Orleans. I had a usual format: If their profile didn't have a good photo, I’d ask for one. If they didn't have one, I moved on to the next candidate... it always seemed fishy to me when a person had enough computer savvy to have a profile on an internet dating site, but couldn't provide a clear picture of yourself. If you have done online dating you know, most people have at least one good picture of themselves. I am not a superficial person, and I look for things other than looks, but if we are HONEST with ourselves we know that physical attraction is important... hence the reason why clear pictures are important before we go to the "meet in person" phase.

I was contacted by a particular gentleman... all the pictures he sent me were blurry. It seemed he tried to enlarge photos that were too small and so when enlarged you could barely make any of the detail out. The face part of the picture was totally wiped out but he seemed so nice, we got along well via our conversation, and I wasn't doing anything that day - so I abandoned my "picture procedure" and agreed to meet him at a local restaurant. I figured - what the heck - I might be pleasantly surprised.


Let me just say... NOT! He was not pleasing to the eye in the least. I won't get into the many problems I had with his appearance, but suffice it to say, he was not even close to my type. I tried to make the best of things, and not hurt his feelings by running away from the restaurant.



I tried to make conversation and be friendly - unfortunately I had to carry the conversation thru the entire dinner.. I don't know WHO I was talking to before, but this person in front of me had no conversational skills.. I decided that even if I could get past the physical issues, there was nothing attractive for me underneath.

As we were going our separate ways, he gives me a gift bag and thanks me for the evening.. I found that odd. I had never gotten a gift like that on a first date. As I walked away, I started wondering if perhaps he was nervous and that’s why he didn't talk during the date. I went to my apartment and as soon as I got inside, curiosity was killing me, so I opened the gift bag. You could've picked my jaw off the floor.. it was LINGERIE!! On a first date he had given me LINGERIE!!!

I was thankful I had the forethought to wait until I was in my apartment before I opened the bag. I have no idea what I would've said, and would've had to fight the urge to slap him upside the head. What's even creepier: It had mail order packaging that let me know he had purchased it WAY before he met me online. even creepier still: it was MY SIZE (the size was printed on the label of the package)! I imagined either he purchased it for someone else that was my size and it was a coincidence (eww!)… or he had a huge filing system where when he went on dates he guessed the size and then went to the proper cabinet for that size (double eww)! I had visions of him being a wierdo pervert - or worse some kind of serial killer. I mean who gives lingerie on a first date?!?

To end this story, he has the nerve to write me a scathing email after he got home about how superficial I was - despite how polite and friendly I had been to him. I had done my very best to not hurt his feelings and let on that he was not my type. I am picky, but I am not rude and careless about other's feelings. However, after the gift bag shock, I fired back and email letting him know that I was not the rude one - I was the one chatting and trying to get to know him and he was the one sitting there like a bump on a log. I also gave him a good dating tip - do NOT give lingerie on a first date - it is TACKY and wierd.

~Courtney in Louisiana


This one was sent to me by one of my blog readers. Now, I've gotten flowers on first dates, but never lingerie... The gall of men never cease to amaze me.

Series of Sixes

I was tagged by Vicki and Sharon.

Here are the rules:
* Find the 6th folder in your photos folder and then the 6th photo in it.
* Pray that you remember the details ;)
* Post it on your blog
* Tag 5 others, leave a comment to let them know they’ve been tagged.




LOL, well my 6th album is my Wishlist. The 6th photo is King of the Hill by Kustom Krafts. (And Velda thought her photo was boring...)





I tag Nancy, Patty, Barb, Sadie, and Terry.

Marvelous Monday 11/17/08

School
Ahhh... It’s over! Two tests down, only the final left to go. Out of all the tests I’ve taken from this instructor, this had to be the easiest one. I’m not sure why since it was just as intensive as all the others. Usually, the essay questions are worth 2-3 points each... He had one that was worth 10 points and he left 2/3 of the page blank to write. I thought, OMG! Thankfully, I knew *all* the material for that question... Behavioral Theorists. Who’da thunk it? There was another essay worth 5 points, and I TOTALLY screwed that one up... no if’s, and’s, or but’s about it. It’s a good thing I was so immersed in doing my test because had I looked up and around, I would’ve found that I was the last one finishing and THAT would’ve freaked me out!

Communication... Isn’t it a funny thing how people send, receive and process information? They either “get it” or totally screw it up. Assumptions are made that aren’t there. Communication... can’t live without it. My instructor paired students up and had us do an exercise in communication. My partner was a young woman (about 19 or 20). We were given handouts with drawings on them, and had to describe to the other person how to draw them. First back to back, no questioning from the person drawing. Then back to back, with one question from the person drawing. Then both facing the chalkboard, no questioning. Then both facing the board and one question. Then we switched roles.

My partner and I did really well. Afterwards, I asked her if it helped that I was the “describer” first. (I had noticed she was using the same descriptors/phraseology that I used.) She said “Yeah, because I had no idea how to describe the drawings!” I came away from that exercise with a little pride in that I taught a complete stranger something. :)


Shopping
I *love* shopping at thrift stores! It's like a treasure hunt of sorts... you never know what you'll find. I bought 4 VERY nice sweaters (one was a sweater set), 6 books, one magazine, 3 rolls of scrapbooking ribbon, and a package of plastic floss bobbins for $14!
Included was "A Merry Christmas in Cross Stitch" and the December 1992 issue of Just Cross Stitch. I did GOOD!


Weather
Snow fell for about 30 minutes on Sunday, just enough to dust the ground. I'm not looking forward to winter, but it sure was pretty coming down!



Stitchy Stuff
This is what Margaret in NY made me for the CSC Christmas Ornament Exchange:


Isn't it pretty? When I first got it, I thought: "How did she attach that ribbon and those bells?!" I'm gonna have to try that. :)

This was a secret exchange, and what's neat about it is that in July, I stitched an ornament for her as part of the Christmas in July Ornament Exchange. Thanks again, Margaret!

I made a few more beaded scissor fobs:


I've got a dilemma going on. Back in March, I started Quakers Rule by Milady's Needle. Some of the colors do not look like the model in the chart photo. I don't mean they're a little "off"... They look a *lot* off to me. (The chart model is on my sidebar) So my dilemma is: Should I start over? My progress is about 1/2 done. It's stitched on 40ct over-two and ripping out the 'offending' color(s) would not be easy. Opinions?

Just Another Saturday...

When I ventured out this morning, I thought I'd have a typical morning trip to the chiropracter and then a bit of shopping. Little did I know...


Today, I observed that entirely too many elderly (no offense to my blog readers) people are out shopping on Saturday mornings. I certainly looked out of place in a sea of white haired people (LOL). I'm surprised one of them didn't refer to me as "youngster".

As I was squatting in front of shelving in one of the store aisles in order to look at something, a little old lady HIT me with her cart! Did she *not* see me? I'm not that little. And there was no one else in the aisle!

And then...

I was at another store where a 5ft (I'm not exaggerating!) tall man approaches me and apologizes for being forward/personal... then after stuttering and stammering a bit, proceeds to ask me if I was familiar with [insert name here] online dating site! My mind did a fast rewind (it was just like you see in the movies) and it clicked he'd been at least 3 spots in the store I'd been! It was kinda creepy when I realized he'd been following me around the store.

I also thought it was odd that he remembered a lot that was in my profile. The city I listed (not my own, of course) and various other details I'd listed. He clearly was not my 'type' and way too old for me, so before he could even ask I told him I was dating someone. LOL Which I'm not, but he didn't need to know that. I do have to give him credit, though... I'm sure it had to take a lot of courage to approach me (a total stranger) like that.

PIF #3

I found out my third and final PIF was received. I completed my obligation and it didn't even take me a year.... Woo Hoo!

What's a PIF? How does it work? Check it out HERE.

I did something a little bit different for Beth:

Handmade beaded scissor fob with glass beads.
PIF #1 - Rene
PIF #2 - Lynn in TX

Just Believe...

This piece is riddled with mistakes, but you can't really tell. Can you?

Believe
Designer: The Trilogy
Time: 15 hours to stitch
Fabric: 32ct natural Belfast linen
Fibers: Gentle Arts Sampler Threads,
Weeks Dye Works
Embellishments: Ivy button
by Just-A-Button Co

Friendships

Although I'm not much of a socializer and don't make friends easily, I'd say this sums it up pretty darn good!

You Are A Good Friend

You're always willing to listen to your friends. And you're the first to lend a shoulder to cry on. You're there through thick and thin. You won't stop being friends with someone when times are tough. In fact, you're such a good friend that many people consider you their "best friend"!

What Kind of Friend Are You?

Noel

I received word that my ornament reached it's destination. Watching the polls come in for a historical presidential election in the US, this is what I created:


Noel
Designer: Windy Willows (Japanese)
Time: Approx. 2 hours each side
Fabric: 14ct opalescent white aida
Fibers: DMC floss
Embellishments: silver cord, silver eyelets, red lace
Date: 10/4/08

I changed the chart to suit my idea for an ornament. I made this for Mel in Dubai as part of the SNS2 ornament exchange. It has also fulfilled my Christmas ornie SAL for November in two groups!

Marvelous Monday 11/10/08

Weather
*sigh* Father Winter has come tap-tap-tapping on the windows. Highs over the weekend were in the upper 30's. Brr! SD and ND has blizzards with 4ft of snow and 80mph winds. Yikes...



School
The second test is coming upon me, so I'll be spending the next few days hitting the books hard. Only 4 more weeks left in the semester!


Pink Exchange
This was one of the most comical exchanges I've been involved with. The post office wasn't very diligent in updating their website as to the travels of the package, so over the course of a week emails flew back and forth between the sender and I as to whether "THE BOX" arrived yet. Both of us were online when we got notification the package was at my PO, and both of us sent each other emails at the same time telling each other. LOL!

When I opened "the box", this is the first thing I saw:


Breast Cancer Awareness & Small Sampler by Dragonfly Stitches - fully kitted up! I *so* want to start this, but am putting off gratification until I get another UFO finished.




Froggie said: "Ribbit... Look at all that pink paper!" He was being nosey and wanted to know what else was in the box.



Talk about being spoiled! This was the best thing that has happened to me in a long time. Each thing she sent brought a big smile to my face. I liked everything she especially picked out for me.


Lastly, it all came in this pink bucket! Froggie couldn't pass up the chance to get in the pic. He's such a show-off!


I want to say a big "Thank You!" to Mary in my CSF group for the thoughtful gifts she sent for the Pink Exchange.

No stitching done last week, but I did try my hand at making some beaded scissor fobs:



An Award
Carolyn awarded me with the Brilliante Award. This award is given based on creativity, design, interesting material and also for contributing to the blogging community. Since I've already awarded this one previously, I'm going to forego passing it on. Thank you, Carolyn!

6 Things About Me

I was tagged by Pirjo and Kathy to share six things about me.

The rules are as follows:
1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post.
5. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know your entry is up.

So, here are six random things about myself:
1. I like trying new recipes. They have to be quick, easy, and use relatively few ingredients. I don't like cooking the same things over and over.
2. I'm not a picky eater. I'll eat almost anything and will try everything at least once. However, don't offer me yogurt or cottage cheese. No thanks!
3. Housekeeping is always the last thing on my list of things to-do. I'd rather be enjoying life.
4. I'm a career student. Always taking classes and teaching myself how to do new things.
5. I'm an award winning photographer. It started as a hobby and has evolved into semi-professional status.
6. I love nature and animals. Spending time in the great outdoors is one of the most peaceful and serene activities I enjoy (provided the weather is nice).

I have tagged:
1. Debra
2. Gabi
3. Barb
4. Deidre
5. Jennifer
6. Mel

Worst First Date #8 - He Said What?!

I met a guy at the gym about 4 years ago. He was seemingly normal in passing (decent convo, attractive). We wound up exchanging numbers, conversing by phone several times, and planned a date.

I met him at a restaurant where he decided he didn’t want to eat. so, we settled on another place about 10 minutes away. I drove.

About 5 minutes into the ride, I was addressed in every other sentence as the “n” word. Of course I looked at this fool like he’d lost it. He went on to explain that he calls everybody the N-word.

His behavior only worsened once we were seated at the restaurant. His convo went up a notch (if that’s possible) to the point that every other word out of his mouth was a curse word. I felt like i was on a date with Richard Pryor on a crack binge…lol. I got up and left him there at the restaurant before dinner even started.

I still don’t know how he got home (and don’t care!).

From: www.ajc.com

Definitely Going...

... down in the history books! Whether you're a fan of Barack Obama or not, our country has experienced CHANGE with the election of our first African-American president. Not only did Obama wallop McCain with the electoral vote, he also won over the popular vote and redrew party lines. In addition, the democrats have swept the House and the Senate.

Photo by CNN
It all started with McCain's famous statement: "The fundamentals of the economy are strong..." That fumble dogged him for the rest of the campaign. Add to it his choice of running mate, Sarah Palin, who had little national, let alone foreign policy experience. (Who knows? Maybe by 2012, we may see her on stage again.)

Photo from Telegraph.co.uk
McCain gave an excellent and gracious concession speech, urging Americans to unite behind the president-elect and even admonished negativity being expressed during his speech. He also urged everyone to offer our 44th president goodwill and to find ways to come together as a country. Kudos!

Obama has huge messes to clean up as a result of the Bush administration. He hit the nail on the head when he said it would take “more than one year and more than one term” to address the challenges that lie ahead. What other CHANGE he will bring to the presidency and the country is yet to be seen, but one thing is certain: He's brought hope to people all over the world.


Another history maker: George Bush has the lowest EVER approval rating of any president leaving office in polling history. Congratulations, Mr. Bush.



It was one emotionally charged election day/night, and the American people made it clear who they wanted for president!

Photo by Tristan Savatier

Hey you!

"Ma'am... you in the black.... You belong in *this* line."

I turned around while standing in line waiting to get my ballot to vote. I was pretty sure I was in the right line, but the polling lady insisted I belonged in her line. After trying to spell my name three times and not finding it in her book, she finally released me to go back to the line I was standing in. LOL

Yep. That's how my voting experience started out. Despite the line, everyone was in a good mood. Happy, smiling people... getting out to vote! I was in and out within 15-20 minutes.

Did you vote?


GET OUT & VOTE!

Marvelous Monday Update 11/3/08

Weather
The weather has been unseasonably nice for this time of year. It was the first Halloween I can ever remember where it wasn't cold and rainy for trick-or-treating. This week, forecasters are calling for temps in the mid to upper 70's! Unfortunately, it's not going to last. By week's end, temps are to be in the upper 40's and snow is in the forecast. Crazy stuff!


I'm Rich!
I've always been content with where I'm at financially. I don't roll in the dough like a lot of others, and it doesn't really bother me because It's been documented that for the most part people debts will be proportionate (if not higher) than their income. So whether you make $18K a year or $180K, you're in debt up to your eyeballs (as the TV commercial says). Wow, I'm way off track as to what I really wanted to say... I'm RICH, or at least I'm in the top 4.33% wealthiest in the world. How do I know this? See for yourself:

I'm the 260,000,000 richest person on earth! Discover how rich you are! >>

Interesting!

What's also interesting are these comparisons:
* $8 could buy 15 organic apples OR 25 fruit trees for farmers in Honduras to grow and sell fruit at their local market.
* $30 could buy an ER DVD Boxset OR a First Aid kit for a village in Haiti.
*$73 could buy a new mobile phone OR a new mobile health clinic to care for AIDS orphans in Uganda.
*$2400 could buy a second generation HDTV OR schooling for an entire generation of school children in an Angolan village.

Anyone got $2400 laying around that I could donate to an Angola village?


Freecycle
My goodness the games never end, do they? The local Freecycle “owners” are so passive-aggressive... and I find it quite amusing. I found it odd that suddenly no messages were finding it’s way to my mailbox and thought “Did they remove me from the group, after just last week saying I could remain a member?” So I searched through my Yahoo groups, and yes I was still a member *but* they’d changed my status to “No Mail.” LOL, talk about high-schoolish stuff! So, I changed it back to daily messages and am waiting to see how long it takes before they change it again. I mean, really... What owner/moderator has the time to do that stuff? Hmmm... wonder how long it’ll be before they “remove” me from the group?


Stitchy Stuff
Nora received the Color Exchange I sent her in the CSF group. For October, the color was PINK. I'm glad she liked it. I forgot to take a pic, so this one is hers:

• "Be Nice" chart by Heart in Hand
• Fuzzy Stuff Floss
• Seed Beads
• Sewing Kit
• Silk Floss
• DMC Floss in various shads of pink
• 2 different spools of ribbon
• Flat of pink funky patterned fabric

This week, I've spent some time working on Believe by The Trilogy. Here's what it looks like after 11.25 hours:

Other WIP pics can be seen HERE.