| Author | Message | ||
     las Citizen Username: Las Post Number: 677 Registered: 10-2003 |
Traveling is not commesurate with my desire to stay home knitting with my cats for eternity. Besides, I just opened the check, and I don't think I can squeeze a trip out of it. Another besides, him and I used to do the B&B thing - not ready to do it solo. Keep thinking... | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 6194 Registered: 5-2001  |
Spa day. Massage, facial, mani, pedi out to eat your favorite food. It's a must. Or, better yet, buy something for yourself that you've always wanted that He hated so you never did. | ||
| SoOrLady Citizen Username: Soorlady Post Number: 2784 Registered: 9-2003 |
Rent a suite at the Short Hills Hilton and invite 3 of your new girlfriends to a pajama party. Hit the spa for massages, have a great dinner, stay up most of the night and tell them you want an extended check-out time. | ||
| las Citizen Username: Las Post Number: 678 Registered: 10-2003 |
Not feeling it yet, ladies.... | ||
| SoOrLady Citizen Username: Soorlady Post Number: 2785 Registered: 9-2003 |
Rent a suite at the Short Hills HIlton and invite 3 of your new girlfriends to a knitting party. Hit the spa for massages, have a great dinner and stay up most of the night creating little hats for the NICU at your hospital of choice. Ask for an extended check out time. | ||
| Virtual It Girl Citizen Username: Shh Post Number: 3551 Registered: 5-2001 |
Las, WE'RE TRYING! You have to too my dear! We all seem to be in agreement about this...sure the specifics might be different, but you need to stop resisting. I think SOL's idea is great, and I'm available every weekend!  | ||
| Cynicalgirl Citizen Username: Cynicalgirl Post Number: 2051 Registered: 9-2003  |
Really dumb question alert: Some of your mourning seems to lie with loss of your physical home, the way it looked, where it was, your feelings about it. Do you think that if you owned a small house with yard it would help? Is this wholly impossible? I realize that the dream of having your former house, pursuing a life of total volunteerism isn't in the cards right now for financial reasons. But, is the house part completely out of the question? I say this know Maplewood houses are pretty durned expensive, but I find myself wondering whether it's a reasonable goal, albeit on a reduced scale... At least in the telling, the guy himself sounds lose-able, or at least the bargains you were having the make fulfillment-wise to live with him. I do wonder if striving for the house part is reasonable... apologies if this is hopelessly dumb. | ||
| las Citizen Username: Las Post Number: 679 Registered: 10-2003 |
What about tea? The only place I know that has it around here is SH Hilton (ugh). Does any place else? A bunch of us could break away one afternoon, I could put my check towards it, and we could split the difference among us. Thoughts, comments, issues? My only other thought was a $230 pair of shoes at Futters, but I don't even know if they come in my size (8.5W). Cyn, superlative idea, so in tune with what I want. I think of it all the time and am always scanning the ads. Impossible however, at least at this time, and if I want to stay in the area. But certainly a hauntingly obsessive wish. | ||
| Virtual It Girl Citizen Username: Shh Post Number: 3552 Registered: 5-2001 |
I guess the secret bonus was less than I thought. I was thinking 4 figures.  Tea is easy, we could all go to the Plaza! And buy yourself the shoes! If they don't have your size, find them online! | ||
| Cynicalgirl Citizen Username: Cynicalgirl Post Number: 2055 Registered: 9-2003 |
Hmmmm...maybe a way to kill a couple of birds with one stone is to take up wine. Take one of those classes (rich guys like that stuff) and then get a Sat/Sun afternoon job in a local wine store. Get a discount, meet guys with money, worst case second job starts slowly funding a house downpayment??? I know, I can't help myself. Too practical. I want you to get a house cuz I think that really matters to you. | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 6197 Registered: 5-2001 |
Las - there is a tea house in Chester. A quant little town field trip thing. I'd much rather do that than SH! Or, a field trip into the city to Tea & Sympathy. Like how I invited myself? | ||
| Eightball Citizen Username: Eightball Post Number: 31 Registered: 11-2005  |
AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!! Stop it already. Las, I think you are a great woman, but you need to just stop this cold turkey, and so do all the enablers. Many years ago I was practically dumped at the alter, I grieved for a bit but eventually realized that just stopping it was the best thing to do. I decided to no longer wonder about this or that, to stop thinking about her, and to just live my life. You know what, I had/have a lot of fun. Now for the other foot I have been a dumper too, when I met my wife I knew right then and there that she was the one, the very next day I let the one go to be with the other. Maybe it was a crappy thing to do, but it wouldn't have been right to stay with both of them, & it wouldn't have been fair to myself to ignore what I knew was the right thing to do for myself, & stay with .. (dang I can't even remember her name). So I pursued my now wife (come hell or high water), & I got lucky. But it would have never happened if I didn't just do it. Now back to the one who dumped me, several months later (after I had moved from Texas to Viginia), she moved up there too and wanted to get back together, by that time it didn't even phase me, I had already stopped that, she just didn't matter to me anymore. She also started working in the same office as I was, & I didn't even care. So to make things short, just go on doin', leave the past in the past, it just doesn't matter.... & you seem to have plenty of friends to do it with. LAS!!! the magic Eightball says, | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 6198 Registered: 5-2001 |
Eightball - you need to read the entire blog before you weigh in with such sage advice. Some things are easier said than done. This is what women do - we support each other. | ||
| ess Citizen Username: Ess Post Number: 567 Registered: 11-2001 |
Just got the kids to sleep, and was lurking, but then I saw the timestamp on Greenetree's post and figured it was OK to join the fray. Las, you know we are all here for you and support you and want to do whatever we all can to ease the transition from old life to new life. Eightball, clearly you have not been following this from the beginning. It's great to be a cheerleader and to adopt the JUST GET OVER IT approach, but as Greenetree has said, some things are easier said than done. Let me add to that the fact that your situations aren't quite parallel. We are not enabling our friend Las, we are supporting her and giving her the many shoulders she needs, for however long she needs them. Now, las, back to the bonus celebration: why not get a significant piece of jewelry? Every time you look at it, you can be reminded of your own competence and greatness, not to mention your independence. | ||
| las Citizen Username: Las Post Number: 680 Registered: 10-2003 |
Eightball I tell you what: next time the love of your life of fourteen years runs away from home on your birthday without a word, give me advice. Being 'practically dumped at the altar' is not quite the same as having your life (and house and edcuation and belongings) of a decade and a half ripped out from under you. Glad you made your peace. I am working on mine. Say nice things to me or stay away, as this blog is about me rebuilding my life, and it is customary to offer kind and supportive words on blogs. So there is no confusion, I herein state this as a rule for mine. So much changes in a day. This morning I had the bonus (not four figures, contrary to VIG's imagination), this evening I've only got a couple of hundred bucks left after purchasing a down coat from Eddie Bauer. I'd completely forgotten that I don't own a winter coat - until it dropped below freezing last night. Brrrrrr... | ||
| las Citizen Username: Las Post Number: 681 Registered: 10-2003 |
Greenemom sock update: First, this is what I was able to retrieve from Ernie-cat's stomach:  The scary thing is, he must have swallowed about two feet - I managed to pull it all out in one piece, thank heavens. (Don't worry Greenie, I threw it out.) Second, I'm trying a new pattern. It's a lace top sock - wherein the lace will be about four inches, then fold over. The pattern calls for a size two dpn, but we all know those socks come out too tight, so I'm using a size 3, but I am wondering if I should switch to a thinner yarn or keep working with this one. It might be too bulky. I've never knitted lace before and am enjoying the product, although the process is gruesome - every stitch is part of the pattern (ie, k1 yf, k2, s1, k2t, psso, etc...) so I have to keep referring to the instructions, and each time I get distracted I have to rip out until I get to a marker and know where I am. It's hard to see the detail in the photograph, so my sister* can't really help, so I'll stop at the yarn shop tomorrow for some opinions. But if anyone can manage to cull some sense from my photo, please let me know your thoughts.  *The one who owns the yarn and bead shop, All Strung Out in Cocoa Beach, FL. | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 6200 Registered: 5-2001 |
Las - S'ok. Mom is used to animal barf. I wish that I could help, but what I know about knitting..... Re: The Coat. I know that a few people said "buy yourself something" - including me - but that was before the idea of taking Friends to Tea. You are sooooo self-centered!  My favorite coat is from EB - wool-lined, down-filled cotton sueded trench coat. This puppy is like a sleeping bag for arctic expeditions. | ||
| las Citizen Username: Las Post Number: 682 Registered: 10-2003 |
There was something about this sock and I just wasn't sure, so I stopped at the yarn shop in Millburn for a second opinion (no offense to all the second opinions I solicited in person - your opinions matter, but no one said what I wanted to hear). Turns out the yarn was indeed a bit too thick for the number threes and I was pointed to a yummy 75% wool/25% silk blend that would be ideal for twos or threes and the shop owner insisted silk was durable enough and I would not need the polymid. So I purchased it. And I was at home knitting when I realized I forgot to check the care instructions. Hand wash. So change of plans. Greenemom will not be getting socks, she will be getting Lounging Socks. Here's a photo of the new top:  The thinner fiber definitely makes for a better lace trim. Since they are now Lounging Socks as opposed to mere socks I am thinking instead of making the cuff as originally planned, I might just make them lace topped ankle socks. (Him used to wear ankle socks. I always thought they were faggy for a man. For Greenemom these will be way cool.) The reason for the shortening of the sock is I can't knit this pattern with any distractions plus I have to look at every stitch I make as well as continually count the number of stitches on each needle - should be 20, which there rarely is, so I am constantly correcting. I'll keep you posted. (Get it? Posted?) | ||
| las Citizen Username: Las Post Number: 692 Registered: 10-2003 |
The strangest thing I missed my husband last night and it lasted for moments then was gone in a jiff. You see something happened and the one person I know who would appreciate and laugh and enjoy the tale was the man with whom the story was made. So for an instant or maybe three I instinctively longed to tell him and laugh with him for it seemed the natural thing to do. Then I remembered I can't tell him so I laughed with my friend some more. It wasn't the same not even close but she's a good friend so I told her again and being a friend she laughed for a year. I doubt it will be quite as funny herein as it was last night when it happened and not nearly as funny as it is in my mind as is the nature of the rapports that we share and the inside jokes that we make, but here's the exchange as it transpired last night: Setting: Ess and I eating sliced steak sandwiches at my flat. Al the cat sits down next to Ess and stares. And stares. And stares. Ess stares back and says: E: This cat looks like a person I know. Me: I'm sure. Tell me who. E: I don't know, but he looks really familiar. Me: Guess. E: I can't. But I know he looks like someone I've seen. Me: Don Rickles. [laugh, laugh, laugh] See? It's just not the same unless you were in on it from the beginning. | ||
| Meandtheboys Citizen Username: Meandtheboys Post Number: 2282 Registered: 12-2004  |
It did make me smile though. Particularly the picture in my head of a cat that looks like Don Rickles. | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 6232 Registered: 5-2001 |
I think it's funny. But, then again, I have a cat who looks like Orson Wells. | ||
| mem Citizen Username: Mem Post Number: 5576 Registered: 5-2001  |
Las my friend, Steak sandwiches - yum! My 18 year old Siamese looks like Joan Rivers. We were going to get together over socks? | ||
| ess Citizen Username: Ess Post Number: 599 Registered: 11-2001 |
I'm still laughing!!!!!!!!! | ||
| Amateur Night Citizen Username: Deborahg Post Number: 1689 Registered: 5-2001  |
My cat = Simon Cowell... | ||
| las Citizen Username: Las Post Number: 697 Registered: 10-2003 |
It's so cool to know I'm the not only oddball with a star-look-a-like cat! | ||
| CLK Supporter Username: Clkelley Post Number: 1737 Registered: 6-2002  |
My cat got named for Grace Kelly because she looked like her as a kitten. She had this very elegant face with a nose that looked slightly turned up because of the markings on it. (not any more though - she's closer to Orson Welles really.) las we should compare knitting notes someday. I do the odd bit of lace knitting too, though right now I'm working on a cable afghan. Just finished Christmas stockings for Mr. CLK and CLK-jr from a pattern my mom had used when I was a baby to knit my stocking. Has a fuzzy Santa face on it. I adapted it to make a little kitty sock with Gracie's face knitted into it - it came out pretty cute, I'll try to remember to take a pic and post later. | ||
| mem Citizen Username: Mem Post Number: 5581 Registered: 5-2001 |
What's really funny about my cat looking like Joan Rivers is that he is male and is named Kitty. | ||
| ess Citizen Username: Ess Post Number: 612 Registered: 11-2001 |
What's really funny about Las's cat looking like Don Rickles is that when Las left the room, he insulted me. | ||
| las Citizen Username: Las Post Number: 703 Registered: 10-2003 |
What's really funny about my cat looking like Don Rickles is that when Ess left the room he licked her sandwich. | ||
| las Citizen Username: Las Post Number: 719 Registered: 10-2003 |
About a day after I ordered my coat I got an email from Eddie Bauer saying they were sold out until January 24. And LL Bean and Lands End and the entire virtual world seem to be out of three quarter length down coats so I still had this top-secret-don't-even-tell-your-boss-bonus to spend and not sure what to spend it on for it seems I won't be getting a three quarter length down coat this year. Then this morning spur of the moment I went online and I purchased a ticket to visit my sister in Florida*, a trip she's been asking me to make for months but I have been hesitant to take because I hate traveling in the best of times and the last time I went to visit her my husband ran away from home three days later. And now in this new life I hate to leave home for even though my home is no longer my house but a rental my cats are here and I hate to leave them. And I still remind them as I head out to work each day that I will be back at night and I make it a point to tell each cat that I love them and won't run away. I know it is strange and I know it's not normal to be so attached to your cats, but I hate losing things and I hate losing people so I assume they hate losing as well. My sister she knows me and knows that I'm tender about leaving my home and my cats so she keeps praising the decision I made to purchase the tickets and come next week. The funny thing is I'm making the trip to be there for her and support her, but at least for now until I get home again she must deal with my nerves that are splitting and throbbing and making me scared about traveling. You see the last time I saw her was way back in March, a hundred years prior to now, when I had a husband and house and money and I flew down for the weekend to help her care for her ailing puppy so she could get some sleep. And before I left, as he did each time I went, him made me promise to take my sister out for dinner and put the charge on his card. And we chatted by email while I was there and I promised him I'd bring home chuletas and he wrote back 'vios con dios my darling.' Of course I can't help but wonder now if he knew when he wrote that he was leaving three days later. But I can't dwell on him for I must dwell on her and the trip that is pending next week. *The one who owns the knitting and bead store, All Strung Out in Cocoa Beach, FL | ||
| Meandtheboys Citizen Username: Meandtheboys Post Number: 2325 Registered: 12-2004 |
Good for you las. A trip to warm sunny Florida will do you good. You're kitties will be fine as I'm certian they know you would never go away and leave them and not come back. I bet they even knew him was a sh*t. As I said to you once very recently, animals "know good people," and you are that! | ||
| las Citizen Username: Las Post Number: 720 Registered: 10-2003 |
Ahh, Me - you always say the kindest things to me. | ||
| Meandtheboys Citizen Username: Meandtheboys Post Number: 2326 Registered: 12-2004 |
Just returning the favor, my dear! | ||
| CLK Supporter Username: Clkelley Post Number: 1762 Registered: 6-2002 |
las PL-ed me and reminded me that I owed her a cat-stocking pic. Here are two pictures, one showing the original (my stocking from when I was a baby, made by my mom) and the little one that I made with Gracie's face on it. I also made two full-sized ones with the Santa faces for Mr. CLK and CLK-jr, but as they have their names on them I'm not posting pictures of them here. I used white eyelash yarn for those as I could not obtain angora, as was used in my own stocking.   And here, for comparison purposes, is the real Gracie:  | ||
| Meandtheboys Citizen Username: Meandtheboys Post Number: 2370 Registered: 12-2004 |
Wow, I'm very impressed. | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 6311 Registered: 5-2001 |
That's not Gracie! Gracie is laying right here next to me, zonked by the fire. She hasn't moved since I got home from work 3 hours ago. My Gracie is also black & white. Hmmmm.... | ||
| CLK Supporter Username: Clkelley Post Number: 1763 Registered: 6-2002 |
Well, our Gracie does have a habit of disappearing "into the walls" now and again. Hmmm, indeed. Is your Gracie really fat? You can't tell from this pic, but Gracie is a very big girl. | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 6312 Registered: 5-2001 |
She was, but we've been in Kitty Diet Boot Camp for 4 months. She's down to about 15 pounds. She & The Monster were at the point of being stuffed for Thanksgiving. Now if only I could have the same thing - only able to eat the teeny-weeny portions that someone gives me twice a day. | ||
| las Citizen Username: Las Post Number: 727 Registered: 10-2003 |
She really does look like Grace Kelly. Only prettier... CLK, we both knit socks! I'm very much looking forward to our knitting playdate. | ||
| CLK Supporter Username: Clkelley Post Number: 1764 Registered: 6-2002 |
Well, I've never knitted "real" socks, just Christmas stockings. I did one other stocking many years ago for a little boy I never even met - it was a favor for my mom, who knew his family. His older brother's stocking had been knitted by their grandmother, who had passed away. The pattern could not be located. So I was charged with duplicating her work just by eyeballing the pattern. It came out surprisingly not-bad. I used a regular sock pattern for it and charted out the little teddy bear that was on the big brother's stocking. I think I did the teddy in duplicate stitch though I can't remember - but having tried a charted color pattern when knitting in the round, I am pretty sure that I would have remembered if I'd done anything so foolish in the past. (it's darn near impossible to do.) That's the closest to "real" sock knitting I've gotten so far. The ones above were knitted flat, not in the round, and there is a seam in the back - so they'd be very uncomfortable to wear. I purchased two big boxes of fingering-weight yarn this past year though in all colors of the rainbow with the intention of doing some socks though. I think I have enough yarn to knit socks for a small army. What I got was two of these: http://www.knitpicks.com/Tools/Tools_display.aspx?itemid=40021 I have no clear understanding why I got two boxes instead of just one .... (and yes, I admit that I have a problem, though I have no particular desire to recover ... ) |
