So, What's New?

[Lynet]

Chicken pox! Aaargh! I remember when my two had that. Poor miserable little things. I sympathize, Sylla.

[ManagerJosh]

I thought there was Chicken pox vaccines.

[suitemichelle]

yes but it's still optional unlike dpt etc.

fun trip but the return took about 12 hours because of storms in Houston. 15-18 inches in about 10 hours. it was wet. didn't know about it at all until we got to airport in austin. when we got into seattle Ray met a couple while waiting for luggage, returning from mexico whose transport home cancelled on them so we gave them a ride to their park n ride lot in Purdy. opposite direction from us... but couldn't leave them stranded at the airport. so got home about 3 this morning.

glad to be back. no pets for me til payday. :cry:

[person123]

What's new with me is that I'm joining NaNoWriMo! It stands for National Novel Writing Month, which is November. Every year there's a contest where people sign up and try to write a 50,000 word novel (the correct term is novella, but novel sounds so much more impressive) between November 1st and November 30th. It's a way for people who are always thinking, "One day I'd like to write a novel," to actually do it, without worrying about the actual quality of the novel. Quantity over quality.

I'm really excited about this! It sounds like a lot of fun, and even though the result will probably be really bad, I'd love to be able to say I finished a novel. This also means I won't be on the forums as much in November--all the free time I will have will go into writing.

[Lynet]

That's wonderful, 123. You'll have fun. I hope you win but we'll all cheer for you here whether you win a prize or not. :goldmedal: < Here's medal for you just for entering the contest.

[person123]

Well, the only criteria for winning is reaching 50,000 words by November 30th. The people who are in charge of the program don't even judge your novel or anything. Still, 50,000 words is a great accomplishment.

[Lynet]

50,000 words? Piece of cake. :D

[Sacharissa]

What's new with me is that I'm joining NaNoWriMo! It stands for National Novel Writing Month, which is November. Every year there's a contest where people sign up and try to write a 50,000 word novel (the correct term is novella, but novel sounds so much more impressive) between November 1st and November 30th. It's a way for people who are always thinking, "One day I'd like to write a novel," to actually do it, without worrying about the actual quality of the novel. Quantity over quality.

I'm really excited about this! It sounds like a lot of fun, and even though the result will probably be really bad, I'd love to be able to say I finished a novel. This also means I won't be on the forums as much in November--all the free time I will have will go into writing.

Cool! I've got a friend who was doing that this year. (SBW, I think you know him too!) You GO, 123 - What a great experience that will be for you!

[jupitershana]

Hey Sach and SBW, and anyone else in Minnesota metro area I might add...would you all mind keeping your eyes open for jobs in cust. service/clerical for me? I just got laid off today and now I'm searching even harder for a new job.

I'm doing okay with it as of right now since I was planning on leaving there soon anyway, I just wanted a job lined up first! At least this way I get some (not much) severence pay. It still sucks to be unemployed though, and my benefits of course end the 31st, so I hope I can find something new soon.

[surprised_by_witches]

Good job! I'm happy for you about the computer, not about the pox.

Hope your kids get through it without driving you batty. :)

[Dylan00]

I auditioned for a Cartoon and now im one of the Voices!
Aww im so happy:D

[suitemichelle]

that sounds like fun, Dylan. What kind of cartoon?

[Lynet]

Yes, I'd like to know, too. And do you have to do something strange with your voice? Like make it squeaky? Or sinister? With an evil laugh?

[Sylla]

My kids are all better and back at school! Yay, so pleased that's all over and done and never have to be dealt with again. :D

[surprised_by_witches]

The "good job" was for Sylla's computer, not for you getting laid off, Shana. :o I just noticed that was a bit out of order ... I will keep my eyes open ...

Glad Sylla's kids are better, and congratulations Dylan. That's majorly cool. What cartoon?

I'm enjoying my new job but it's wearing me out. Haven't played sims much at all this week, and my game keeps crashing anyway due to a driver problem. Doesn't keep me from playing, just pretty annoying.

Yes, I do know whom you are speaking of, Sacha. I'm glad he's decided to participate again. Good luck 123. I know you can write "quality" too ...

Hey, I've written approximately 200,000 words about Porta de Luca. That's a novel in itself! Word won't automatically spell check it for me anymore. It pouts and says it's too long, LOL.

Wonder how big Veronaville is. Speaking of which, it dropped off the front page. Guess I'd better write some more ...

[jupitershana]

The "good job" was for Sylla's computer, not for you getting laid off, Shana. :o I just noticed that was a bit out of order ... I will keep my eyes open ...

LOL, thanks. I've got a couple of good leads on new jobs right now, and I'm enjoying my "forced vacation" right now. Sleeping in later than I should, spending WAY too much time on my computer, read a couple of good books, taking long baths...its nice so far...but we aren't hurting financially yet either...in a couple weeks that might change. But like I said I have a couple of good leads, hopefully one will work out and I'll have a job in the next two weeks.

[suitemichelle]

well it's a relatively good time of the year to get hired... if there is such a thing. and sometimes temp jobs turn into full time ones.

I hope things go well with your leads...:)

[Sacharissa]

LOL, thanks. I've got a couple of good leads on new jobs right now, and I'm enjoying my "forced vacation" right now. Sleeping in later than I should, spending WAY too much time on my computer, read a couple of good books, taking long baths...its nice so far...but we aren't hurting financially yet either...in a couple weeks that might change. But like I said I have a couple of good leads, hopefully one will work out and I'll have a job in the next two weeks.

Hey Shana! If you haven't already done it, check your e-mail! I sent you a couple more leads!

I'm a little jealous of your "time off!" Too bad it wasn't voluntary! Well, hopefully one of these leads will pay off for you!

[hugzncuddles]

What's new with me is that I quit my job today. Having worked there for almost 4 weeks, enough is enough, could take it no longer. So, I'm looking for jobs again, as you are Shana. Let's hope that something turns up soon for both of us. :)

[jupitershana]

What's new with me is that I quit my job today. Having worked there for almost 4 weeks, enough is enough, could take it no longer. So, I'm looking for jobs again, as you are Shana. Let's hope that something turns up soon for both of us. :)


Thanks! I'm still looking; still have at least one good lead, but it's temp to hire...and I'd prefer direct hire.

Did you just have enough of the kids?

[hugzncuddles]

Nope, it wasn't the kids at all. It was a whole bunch of things - they wanted me to teach more and more to allow the teacher to go off doing things when I wasn't hired for that role, and certainly wasn't being paid for that role, and I said at the interview that I didn't want to teach straightaway (hence why I applied for this TA role). They lied about my role at interview and it was a very difficult regime to get used to. There are tons of things that finally made me snap, but I was coming home every night and crying. It couldn't have gone on. I think that my time in education has come to an end, I don't want to work in a school again.

[Lynet]

That's so unfortunate, Hugz. The system is desperate for responsible and reliable teachers. A long time ago I set out to be a teacher but the people in the unversity's education department drove me bonkers, so I walked away from it. Hadn't even met a single kid in a classroom yet. :rolleyes: My daughter taught world history in one of the better public high schools around here, and walked away after one year of it. (The teacher's pay is pretty good in the county, too.) I can't think of any other profession where the group in charge works so hard to drive away new members. The work itself is touch enough without that.

[hugzncuddles]

Lynet, if the education system in the USA is anything like in the UK, I can understand why your daughter walked away from it. Good for her! :) After being told I was to be made redundant over 2 yrs ago, I had to work the 3 months notice period and during that time they had the cheek to put a final year teaching student in my classroom and I had to supervise her. What galls me is that this student's handwritten grammar and spellings were shocking, and I was told to make corrections for her! How did she get to be in the final year of teaching at Uni when she didn't know the difference between their and there, your and you're.... ? Her word processed documents were correct of course, with the spellcheck facility, but one day she is going to mark childrens' correct work as incorrect. She got a first class degree despite her written work issues. A mature student lured from industry by our Government, she will have been welcomed into the profession with a promise of a job almost immediately. I studied for 4 long years and taught for almost 10 years and it counted for nothing.

Eeek I am not gonna rant anymore. Could go on for a while LOL.

Needless to say, I am done with education. End of an era. This school I was just in had a weird regime for the reception children. In the past month I have seen the children have access to pencils/crayons just once, no computer access at all despite 2 in the classroom, one child didn't even know where the pencils were when I asked for one, the book/story area was almost non-existant, same with singing and counting and phonics and recalls of learning. There was plenty of provision for social play, with excellent resources and natural materials but it was all undirected. They had very little input at all and no promotion of key skills. Sure, for those who need the undirected play, provide opps, but there were many children who were more than ready for more advanced learning, especially after having had a year of nursery education. Gah, I feel bad for being so critical. It just irks me that their curriculum provision was so underchallenging and I could do nothing about it. I almost wanted to look for a teaching role again as I had an urge to have my own classroom again, but then I saw that staffroom politics and political correctness with paperwork had gone nuts and decided to leave it altogether.

I advise anyone thinking of becoming a teacher to think again. It will drive you into the ground. It's one of the few regrets in life that I have. I wish I had gone to train as a nurse, or maybe work in psychology or something scientific. That said, if I had done things differently in life, I may never have met all my internet buddies and of course my fiance whom I met in the Maxis Simschat. I love and treasure each and every one of them. :)

Sorry about that. I now return you to your scheduled program. :p

[Lynet]

It's OK. This is the Rant Room. :D

Some company out there has got to be in need of a good worker like you. Anywhere I've worked, bosses have complained about the staff who just don't give a darn about the clients, the customers, or the job. They're always hoping the next interviewee in the door will be the answer to their dreams.

(And then, of course, they take the good workers they've already got entirely for granted. :rolleyes: )

[hugzncuddles]

That's so true - the ones who work hard and do a great job often get little recognition or thanks. The ones they interview are supposed to be dream workers, and they sometimes expect more from them than the existing employees. Employers can be choosy though as there are so many unemployed that they can practically dictate what they want from you and if you object or leave, there are many others to choose from. Gah, nothing will change so I guess I had better get used to it. :) I guess it's just the way things are these days. So long as I can pay my mortgage, right now I don't mind what type of work I do. Not sure what I want to do with the rest of my working life so the main thing is to have a salary that pays the bills for now. Job satisfaction can come later, yup? :)

[Chee-Z]

Sorry that didn't work out for you. I can see why teachers are driven away from the profession, though. Down where I am, teachers aren't paid very much for the hard work and extra hours that they put in. From my experience as a student, and a very diligent and respectful one at that, I can see how teachers can be driven from high schools by either the disrespectful kids, the politics of the school, the confusing or underwhelming curriculum, or the poor quality of the school altogether.

I've seen teachers move out of state to get a better salary. I've seen my neighbor transfer out of a school because she was not given her own classroom, and did not agree very much with the politics of the school (I guess she didn't get along well with the principal :o ). I've seen new teachers get stomped on by troublemakers and kids that just don't give a **** about their education---and it's a miracle if those teachers stay! The good ones are taken away!

Now I can go on a rant about it. It's no wonder I made an A on the education essay in English class...:o But I'm not considering getting a job as a teacher, but I respect both the people who decide not to pursue it and the ones who have the gumption to stick with it.

[Sacharissa]

Sorry that didn't work out, Hugz! I've got two cousins who are teachers, and it is NOT an easy profession! Especially when you have people who are NOT in the classroom making decisions without any idea of how it really impacts things! (Sure, "No Child Left Behind" sounds good on paper, but implementing it is a nightmare, and often leads to unintended consequences...) It is such a shame that some really good people are being driven from the profession.

[hugzncuddles]

Yep it's a shame because to succeed in the education profession these days you have to be either strong, hard faced, couldn't care less or just plain nuts. No room for sensitive people no matter how passionate or skilled they are. I hold my hands up and say that I'm a sensitive person and to be honest I wouldn't change that about myself, it's who I am. Things get to me and when it's too tough to be in, I have to leave. Some might say it's quitting, yep it is, but I would also say it's using my head and moving on to other things that will be better for me. I left this role because I wasn't happy in it, and made a conscious decision to leave education altogether. I would always have upheld my beliefs and values in education, and when the curriculum/school policies don't allow me to practise my professional beliefs (ie I have to follow their practice) then I can't support it.

BTW, I checked on Friends Reunited, the UK website for schools/colleges/workplaces and of all those on my teaching degree course, the majority are not in education at all! Some never ever taught after gaining the degree, many have now left the profession and only a few are still in it. Sorta speaks volumes about the state of things in the UK.

Ok, no more negativity from me. :) I already said too much lol. Sorry for that. :) I'm feeling positive now and looking forward to a new chapter in my life. :)

[Lynet]

I am supposed to be working right now on my son's tax return, on extention because he's been in the Netherlands for more than a year.

It's not particularly hard, just hugely BORING, so I keep logging in here to visit. I'm so bad.

So, nothing else is new at all. Still haven't installed my Pets EP because I cringe whenever I think of visiting every single household to make sure they're ready for it.

I'm attaching a picture of Jasmine with a big smile. Maybe Flamey will drop in and give the OK on it.

[person123]

Flamey to the rescue!

She's so adorable! Her eyes are so blue! But then, I read somewhere that all babies have very clear, light-colored eyes.

I bought Pets yesterday, but I'm holding off on installing it. I already have enough distractions to tempt me away from my novel...Just to brag a bit, I've got 11,341 words! Even if you think that's not that great, please just ooh and aah for my benefit. :)

[suitemichelle]

Jasmine is soooooooo cute....

moved my downloads out when I added Pets then moved the file back in.... missing so much stuff. guess I have to find a new cep... funny how fast everything boots up when the other stuff isn't around tho.

my daughter blew an engine in her car... trying to figure out how to get her another car w/o driving ours to missouri over thanksgiving.

[Lynet]

Wow, 123! You've got 11,341 words already? And you only need 50,000, right? And it's November 5, with all the rest of the month yet to go. Outstanding! Good work. Guess that's why you haven't been around here very much. :D

Aargh, Michelle. There's always Western Union. ;)

[ManagerJosh]

Direct Deposit :D. Find two banks that are the same and relay money that way :p...

Or wire it...or better yet, mail her a chargecard :D with enough purchasing power for one car :p

Or...make her come home and buy a car and have her drive it back to MO :p

[suitemichelle]

the other option is to check the boeing classifieds from the StLouis area and have them drive the car to Moberly.... well maybe.

[Sacharissa]

I bought Pets yesterday, but I'm holding off on installing it. I already have enough distractions to tempt me away from my novel...Just to brag a bit, I've got 11,341 words! Even if you think that's not that great, please just ooh and aah for my benefit. :)

That is MOST IMPRESSIVE, 123! Isn't your goal 50,000 words? You are over 20% complete and November isn't even a week gone! A BIG Thumbs Up for you!!!:thumbsup:

[person123]

I guess it is pretty good, but I only pushed myself to get that much because I know it'll be a lot harder to get those words out towards the middle of the month. The initial enthusiasm is gone, and the one-week-left-and-I-still-have-a-lot-to-go-to-reach-50,000 enthusiasm hasn't arrived either. :o I already found myself slowing down today, and it took some extra time to think of what to write to reach the daily 2000.

[surprised_by_witches]

Wow, I missed a lot. Ooh, aah, 123. Good for you.

And a big awwwwwwww on the cute baby!

We went to see my 3 year old niece (and oh yeah, her parents, LOL) last night and as we were leaving she said, "Zip up! It's cold outside."

So precocious! Her Mama gave me a manicure so I look like an actual adult right now. :p

I love my new job but it's taking the mickey out of me, as the Brits would say. I worked out after work today, then picked up Witch Baby and we went to the library like we do every Monday, and then I took her out to eat for dinner. We have a local family restaurant we like, although the service is terrible. The food is good, and cheap. Then we came home to wake up her daddy for work.

We just got home about an hour ago. I'm beat!

The dog is so bored now that I'm working full time. We're hoping to get cats soon to liven up her life a little.

[person123]

Oh, it's great you take Witch Baby to the library every week. I wish my parents had been able to do that for me when I was her age. :(

[Sacharissa]

Speaking of libraries, I finally got to the new Minneapolis Library Downtown! Way cool! I intend to stop in a couple of times a week, if possible. You may find me curled up next to the fireplace in the Literature section, with my PowerBook, taking advantage of the free WiFi! Or perhaps sipping a cuppa in the coffee shop while getting a start on whatever I've checked out that day. I am sad that they will be closing it down on Mondays! (Silly politicians!):(

Hey SBW! Been wondering how that new job is going! We should do lunch sometime, now that you're in my neck of the woods, so to speak!

By the way, if you want to test out how your new puppy does with cats, just let me know! We may be looking for a good cat-sitter over the holidays!:D

[surprised_by_witches]

I'd love to do lunch. I think we're right across the street from each other. Let's PM each other with the particulars.

My "puppy" is 4 years old and pretty used to cats ... if you need a sitter let's discuss!

I've decided on a cat breed, I think, but they're not easy to find! It's called a Somali. Here's a thread (http://www.cfainc.org/breeds/profiles/somali.html).

Aren't they adorable?

I want to sim today but I've got a million RL things to do. Oh, well.

[person123]

Does anyone else love socks as much as I do? My dormant obsession was reawakened today when I found the link to an awesome website in a magazine: http://www.sock-dreams.com/_shop/edit/index.php They have SO MANY SOCKS! I used to buy a lot of argyle and striped socks a few years ago, but then I kind of ran out of money and I stopped...now I just HAVE to have more! I especially love striped thigh-high socks.

[surprised_by_witches]

You are so cute I can't even stand it. :p

Sock obsession. That's a new one to me.

[person123]

:D As you can see from the website, it's not only little 13 year olds who enjoy long striped socks.

Enclosed are pictures of my sock-clad legs.

[suitemichelle]

oh my goodness... those legs belong in "myspace.com"

[Sacharissa]

I know a couple of Sock-obsessed people - My roommate, for one - The wilder the better as far as she is concerned! And, interestingly enough, my college-age nephew is another! He has been collecting weird socks since grade school! He especially covets toe socks!

Thanks for the link, 123! I will have to pass this info on!:D

[Chee-Z]

*sigh* I'm upset because the publisher for my favorite magazine has announced that they won't publish it anymore. :(

RIP OPM. :cry:

The online community for that magazine have been up in arms over the news. It's like going to a funeral everytime I visit that forum. :o

I'm not sure what I'll do for my Playstation news. What's worse is that I subscribe to the mag and I'm not sure where the $ will go (I'm assuming they'll give me another magazine in its place :-/ ).

In other news, my first semester of college is winding down and I've been using Sims as a way to, well, wind down. :o That and the WoW Burning Crusade Beta...;)

[hataz_gon_hate]

oh my goodness... those legs belong in "myspace.com"

sorry for asking but what is the "myspace.com"?

j/k! :p

[hataz_gon_hate]

@Chee-Z

why not try other mags like EGM or Tips and Tricks or sumthng...or better yet, look online! There are lots of sites out there that are very accessible.

[Lynet]

Oh, man. Whenever the conversation around here starts to get interesting I have to leave. Gotta scrub the house. We're having a houseguest the week after next and we won't be here next weekend to clean. :hissyfit:

OK, back to work. :(

[suitemichelle]

myspace only because that's the only one I've heard of ... I am so ooooollllllllldddddd!

[Chee-Z]

@Chee-Z

why not try other mags like EGM or Tips and Tricks or sumthng...or better yet, look online! There are lots of sites out there that are very accessible.

I think I will be getting EGM once OPM shuts down. I wouldn't mind that, since it's from the same company. I am also a member of 1up.com, so that's comforting. :)

[jupitershana]

I have to brag a little bit...mainly because I'm so excited!

Brandon and I are trying to do a low budget wedding to save money...so we set the budget at $7000.00 figureing we could do it with that much...believe me it's low when with just family we're looking at close to 230 people. *groan* Anyway, I went to a baby shower yesterday with my mom and on the way back she asked me what the wedding budget was looking like. I told her we were aiming for 7000 but it was looking more like 8000 before tips and gratuties. She then came out and said, "well you're dad and I will cover that much for sure." WOW! I'm really excited. We knew they were going to contribute a couple thousand but we didn't expect them to pay for the whole thing! This means that the 4-5,000 we were going to set aside specifically for the wedding gets to go for a down payment on a house! I'm beyond giddy with this news!


For those who want an update on the wedding plans as well, we booked the wedding hall, set a date, I've been making invitations already, have the "save the dates" designed/ordered, have our centerpieces planned, know our baker, have the colors picked out, know who we're using for photographer and DJ, getting a discount on the tuxes...basically everything but the dress! And I've got 14 months to wait...*drums fingers*

[suitemichelle]

How wonderful... you are so organized.

[Lynet]

That's so exciting, Shana. As Michelle said, you are impressively organized. Things will happen to occupy your time over the next 14 months, never fear, (like househunting.) :D

[hugzncuddles]

For those who want an update on the wedding plans as well, we booked the wedding hall, set a date, I've been making invitations already, have the "save the dates" designed/ordered, have our centerpieces planned, know our baker, have the colors picked out, know who we're using for photographer and DJ, getting a discount on the tuxes...basically everything but the dress! And I've got 14 months to wait...*drums fingers*

Oh wow Shana!!! Great news! I'm so excited for you. :)

[Lynet]

Hugz, I wanna Hug and Cuddle your avatar. What a cutie. ;)

[hugzncuddles]

Ooooh another Josh Holloway fan! Coolies :p Lynet, I don't mind sharing hehehe. The 3rd season of LOST just started in the UK on Sunday night - the first 2 episodes were shown. *Everyone, please, no spoilers! thanks. ;) *

I'm so excited to watch the rest of the season's episodes - it just gets better and better!

I did this somewhere else in a thread, but here ya go Lynet, just for you - some more piccies to drool over. ;)

[Lynet]

Thanks. Gotta love those dimples. :o

[person123]

Congratulations Shana! You must be so excited. So the date you've chosen is in more than a year? :eek:

[jupitershana]

Congratulations Shana! You must be so excited. So the date you've chosen is in more than a year? :eek:

LOL, yes! But early 2008. January 26th 2008. I'm so excited! We have a snowflake theme!!! Snowflakes hanging from the ceiling, a snowflake cake (picture of what I want it to look like attached) and snowflakes in the centerpieces.

I almost moved it to Jan. 19th (sat. before) but since that's my birthday I decided I wanted it one week later...plus what better day to have my bachelorette party on than my birthday! ;) Brandon's birthday is middle of Feb. so this will fall right in between our birthdays.

The main reason we chose this date is because
1: I always wanted a winter wedding
2: Brandon graduates from college December 2007. So a late November or December wedding was out of the question since he'll be in skills for being a police officer at that time. He'll be going to skills 4 hours a day and working full time during that period, and doing his volunteer police reserve duties on the weekends. This way he'll be able to enjoy it a little more without worry about his finals or anything like that. By the time we get married he'll (hopefully) have a job as a police officer and that's it. No classes or reserves anymore after graduation so he'll have a LOT more free time. Me...I just work full time (when I finally get another job) so any date worked for me. Honestly though, I could be ready this January for this wedding. Just need my dress! Preferably this one (http://www.marysbridal.com/bridal/6327.htm)! (I haven't tried it on or anything, but I'm in love with it.)

[suitemichelle]

neat cake, gorgeous dress!
here's the cake my daughter had at hers:

[jupitershana]

What a fun looking cake! Your daughter also looks very pretty! I'm obsessed with wedding pictures...and wedding stuff in general lately.

[ManagerJosh]

What a fun looking cake! Your daughter also looks very pretty! I'm obsessed with wedding pictures...and wedding stuff in general lately.
Walk down Temple City, CA, and it's wedding city central -_-. Everything you want for a wedding can be done with one stop shopping there.

[Sacharissa]

Hey Shana! Exciting news!! (Hopefully we'll hear exciting news about a new job soon as well!)

LOVE the dress! One assumes that you would also include the long-sleeved coat pictured as well - after all, it WILL be Winter in Minnesota! Of course, you could always do one of those white, hooded capes. There's a gorgeous one in the window of the little bridal shop near my place. I've always liked the idea of a cape at my wedding!

[sims2]

Oh great picture=D must be so special getting married:)
I was gonna say, lovely cake!!!!

[jupitershana]

LOVE the dress! One assumes that you would also include the long-sleeved coat pictured as well - after all, it WILL be Winter in Minnesota! Of course, you could always do one of those white, hooded capes. There's a gorgeous one in the window of the little bridal shop near my place. I've always liked the idea of a cape at my wedding!


That dress actually comes with the coat AND the handbag in the picture! I checked with a website that offers discount dresses, plus they have a shop in Chicago, that can get me that dress for $460.00. On PC Mary's Bridal's website it says anywhere between $750-800 or something like that. I want to spend less than $500.00 so that's in my budget!

Oh, and Josh, if I ever get to California I'll check it out!

[alliekat]

Sorry to interrupt all the wedding talk guys (I truly am excited for you Shana if I haven't said so yet), but I have a banner at the top of my screen reading:

"Hello alliekat it appears that you have not posted on our forums in several weeks, why not take a few moments to ask a question, help provide a solution or just engage in a conversation with another member in any one of our forums?"

So here goes, I'm engaging :D !

Although I haven't posted in a while, I do still pop in a lot to see what's happening, but usually either
a) don't have any news to tell anybody
b) have other apparently more pressing things to do, honestly, who needs to eat :rolleyes: ?
c) can't think of any witty responses to anyones comments.

I do have some news as of late though. The lady I am currently job sharing with (me 3 days a week, her 2) has decided not to renew her contract for next year and therefore, I may be getting full time work! Hallelu...can't remember how to spell it, but that's how excited I am!!! No more working casually to pay bills anymore, woohoo!!

I also one a voucher for dinner on a radio show here. A battle of the sexes game which of course I won cuz I'm a woman and why wouldn't I :p ?

Anyway that's me posting. You can get back to your wedding now Shana!!

[suitemichelle]

good to hear from you Allie... I know what you mean with so many witty, clever posters sometimes you just want to surf quietly.

[reignofevil]

I to have desided to return on a lurkers status.

[jupitershana]

I have a job interview on Monday!!!!! I did the phone interview this afternoon and she wants me to come in Monday. I'd be doing customer service work again, but working for a company that I beleive does good things! It's called National Marrow Donor Program. And as the name of the company implies, we work with Bone Marrow Donors and match them up with individuals who are in need of the transplants.

The job I am interviewing for is a Donor Contact Representative. I would attempt to find people who signed up to be Donors and do a medical pre-screen with them to find out if they are qualified. I then assist them along the way of their donation as far as information goes.

The way I found this job is actually through the Director of this department, I used to babysit for her kids from when I was age 13 until age 20. She's actually applying for the Director of the entire company right now, so it's a solid in! She had thought this position started around $12.50 which is less than I was making before, so I was a little hesitent to apply. However when I did the phone interview today they told me that the job would be around $15.50 to start! That's more than I was making before so I'm excited about that!

Now everyone cross your fingers and pray for me that my interview goes well on Monday and I get the job!

[hugzncuddles]

That's great news Shana! I hope that everything goes well with your interview! I will certainly keep everything crossed for ya. :) It sounds like a great opportunity.

[Lynet]

My fingers are crossed for you. :crossfingers:

[surprised_by_witches]

Good luck! Would you be working downtown?

I'll keep my fingers and toes crossed for you.

[jupitershana]

Thanks everyone for the well wishes!

Good luck! Would you be working downtown?


Not quite downtown, off of 280 and industrial blvd...you can see the building from 35W. I'm actually thankful it's not downtown, I don't think I want to deal with that traffic; not to mention the cost of parking! This place is also only about 7-8 miles from us, so that's nice as well!

[surprised_by_witches]

I take the train. :p I know you can't do that from where you live. Maybe someday it'll run to the northern 'burbs.

Considering how packed the train is every day, I think that would be a good investment. Think of all the gas we'd save as a city.

The other day there was a delay due to technical something or other, so a lot of people were waiting for the train for a while. When we finally got going there were so many people on it it made me nervous.

I hope they stress tested it for that many people! We were packed like sardines. The train was creaking.

But I got home safely.

[hugzncuddles]

Shana, I hope your interview went well. :)

What's new with me is that I am going away for a couple of days, to the northeast of England with my fiance. He is visiting relatives there and we had planned that I would stay here this time with other commitments, but after some re-arranging I have decided to make the trip with him. We will be leaving in a few hours, however the weather conditions are terrible. Last night we were kept awake with the gales here that eventually wrecked the garden fence. They eased off during today, but have started again and will apparently be back this evening which is when we are travelling. Worst of all is that we have to drive over the Pennines/ Yorkshire moors and it's high ground, all open there. Risk of 70 to 80mph winds and flooding. Please send us good wishes for the trip, it's freaking me out a bit. My fiance won't be home from work til 6.30ish, else we would have made the journey earlier today.

Today our laptop decided to grumble and refused to load at all - nothing on the screen, no processor activity at all. After plugging in the desktop monitor it worked so I could see that there was a message about the graphics card driver causing a system failure. Tried updating the driver but it said it was unable to do so, twice. Shutdown, went shopping, tried later to load it and it refused again. Then it loaded randomly after like loads of attempts. Then I did a full virus scan which turned up nothing. Updated the zone alarm and restarted, but then it wouldn't work again. Gah, it's frustrating. I am gonna take the laptop with us and try to get it to work while at the hotel - I may be online through dial up in the room. If not, see you in a couple of days. :)

[Lynet]

I take the train. :p I know you can't do that from where you live. Maybe someday it'll run to the northern 'burbs.

Considering how packed the train is every day, I think that would be a good investment. Think of all the gas we'd save as a city.

The other day there was a delay due to technical something or other, so a lot of people were waiting for the train for a while. When we finally got going there were so many people on it it made me nervous.

I hope they stress tested it for that many people! We were packed like sardines. The train was creaking.

But I got home safely.I love traveling by train. I wish it didn't cost so much. I'd take it all around the country if I could. But the cost! Ouch! We do take the train when we go to New York City because driving up there takes years off your life, as well as a fair amount of dollars out of your wallet for tolls and parking.

Once a year over the Thanksgiving weekend we go to NY and see a broadway show. We saw the Producers this year and I'm afraid I was somewhat disappointed. I guess Mel Brooks' humor isn't mine. I never much cared for his movies. Perhaps my expectations were too high because of all the awards this show got.

But Times Square is certainly a fascinating place to visit...so many, many colorful lights, not to mention colorful people. :D Big crowds all the time. We had fun.

[Lynet]

We posted at about the same minute, Hugz. Really, I wish you well on that trip. I hope the storms ease up for you. :(

[sims2]

I think going on trains is exciting=D i quite like them! But it is annoying when your sitting on the train and it stops on the train line for ages due to a problem. I always remember when me and my mom went on this extra as acting at liverpool and we went by train and the train was so late inbetween so we stopped in the middle of nowehere, how annoying LOL!
I think train stations are more scarier than airports, if your alone:P

[jupitershana]

Shana, I hope your interview went well. :)


Thanks! It went very well! They said that I should hear something by the end of the week, they do have several others to interview this week though. But I'm pretty confident. I do very well at interviews.

Hope you and your fiancée made it okay on your trip hugz! And I hope you're having fun as well!

[hugzncuddles]

Shana, glad your interview went well. :) I'll still keep everything crossed for ya and hope that you get the job.

Well we had a safe trip last night - the weather was nowhere near as bad as they had forecast, though it was quite windy up on the moors. We managed to get the 24 hr pass to work for the wireless broadband, and the laptop is behaving very well so far. Tomorrow we return home. :)

[Sacharissa]

Shana, glad your interview went well. I'll still keep everything crossed for ya and hope that you get the job.

I second that, Shana! Glad your interview went well! Here's hoping that the next time you, SBW and I get together, we can celebrate ALL THREE of our new jobs!

Well we had a safe trip last night - the weather was nowhere near as bad as they had forecast, though it was quite windy up on the moors.

And glad you had a safe trip, Hugz! Those northern moors can be cold and treacherous in the winter!

...But Times Square is certainly a fascinating place to visit...so many, many colorful lights, not to mention colorful people. :D Big crowds all the time. We had fun.


Hey Lynet, Did you see the Naked Singing Cowboy in Times Square? Or does he only work during the Summer? :D

[Lynet]

Hey Lynet, Did you see the Naked Singing Cowboy in Times Square? Or does he only work during the Summer? :DWell, RATS! No! I didn't know about that. Maybe next year. ;)

[alliekat]

Sorry guys, this is a downer post today. I promise I'll feel better, I just need to really vent and make some nonsense, and I thought you guys may listen.

I went for my job interview to get my job back (I work in a school, on contract and have to apply every year). Currently, it's only for 3 days per week, and the opportunity of full time came up, which was really exciting as I have been waiting for 3 years to be able to go full time at this school.

I did the interview, and I admit, I don't interview very well, but these people have known me for 3 years. They only gave me my 3 days back. As you can probably imagine, I was very peeved. The main thing that keeps running through my brain is that if I didn't interview well, why give me my job back at all?? I wouldn't have.

Then again, I wouldn't make me interview over and over again for the same job I have already been doing for 3 years.

Thanks for letting me vent, I'm going to go read some of the jokes now and cheer myself up even more ;) .

Sorry again for the downer post:o

[jupitershana]

I'm sorry Allie! That does suck. I'd hate to have to interview over and over again every year as well! Go take a hot bath with a good book and chocolate, then go cuddle up with that cute kitty and puppy of yours, you'll feel a little better.

[surprised_by_witches]

Witch Baby likes your sig line, Shana. :)

We're online together tonight ...

[jupitershana]

Witch Baby likes your sig line, Shana. :)

We're online together tonight ...


Tell Witch Baby thanks!

Is she getting excited for Christmas? I am! I'm done with my part of our Christmas shopping, we still need to get Brandon's mother a gift still.

[sexierjess14]

This seems like an intresting thread :D

Well today I went christmas shopping (I think its rather early but I dont like crowds and long queue lines to pay my purchases) and I originally planned to buy 6 gifts, I brought $600 thats reserved for the gifts, $50 for my lunch, and $50 for purchasing a top I plan to wear on christmas. (I tend to wear something new every christmas :p)

I saw a couple of tops which I planned to buy for my sisters/cousins, I ended up purchasing them for myself, meaning I have 5 tops to wear on christmas :eek: Spent more than $50 on food (I was tempted!!:rolleyes: ) and no gifts. :(

The conclusion? I'm kinda broke now and with no gifts, hopefully everyone is doing better with their christmas shopping :D

[Chee-Z]

Most of my presents have been bought via online shopping. I heart amazon.com and llbean.com. :D

Now here's a tricky one...I'm planning on getting a PS2 game called Guitar Hero and its sequel, Guitar Hero 2, for my brother (and me :rolleyes: ). Now I just need to find a store online that will sell me both, AND have guitar controllers bundled in. :o

[person123]

I've been feeling depressed again lately. I have to take the SATs in January and I haven't even studied at all yet. The scores don't count, of course--it's mostly for practice--but I just don't want to do it. I don't want to do any of the things that normal Asian teenagers have to do now. I don't want to have so many extracurricular activities. I don't want to worry about doing well in high school and taking the right courses so my college resume will look good. I don't want to give up things I love to do--writing, reading, and drawing--in order to study more and get straight A's, but it's what I think I'm going to have to do in order to do what's expected of me. I've already stopped playing TS2 during the week and a lot of the time I can't even play on the weekends. I just have so much to do, and I guess I'd rather do the aforementioned activities, which have some intellectual benefit, than TS2.

I just feel so overwhelmed, and I'm not even in high school yet.

[surprised_by_witches]

I'm sorry you are feeling so depressed, 123. Sometimes when we look at "all" we have to do it seems quite overwhelming. What I do is sit down by myself and look at everything I have to do piece by piece and try to figure out how long each part might take. Then I make a list of everything that needs to be done and do it step by step. Give yourself goals, like Tuesday, study X amount of the SATs.

When your brain gets fried or you just plain don't want to do it any more, you should give yourself permission to do what you like. You'll find that you feel more at peace doing so if you've made progress on your SAT studies, or your schoolwork, or have already practiced your violin. Once you feel refreshed, you can hit the books again, or tackle it in the morning.

I think you should talk to someone about your depression. It's sometimes hard to do that with one's parents. My parents always gave the impression that they thought that was all nonsense. Maybe yours are the same, but I'm betting they'll want to know. If you can't talk to them, talk to someone else you trust. You may be in need of counseling. Life shouldn't be so overwhelming at 13, but believe me, you're not the only teenager who feels that way.

Try to take it easy on yourself. Watch a Christmas special. Go skating. Try not to worry. Things have a way of sorting themselves out. Life's a roller coaster, and you can't go up unless you occasionally go down.

By the way, hon, you're a smart girl. You'll do well on the test. You might want to get a book on how to "beat" the test to help your odds. That's what I did, and I scored quite well. BTW, I can't believe you're studying for it already!! I didn't do that until I was 16.

I hope this helped! I care about you, and your happiness, and I know I'm not the only one here who does. Keep in touch!! Big virtual hug. :)

[jupitershana]

I agree with everything SBW said and couldn't have said it better myself. I'm sending you big virtual hugs as well!

[Lynet]

Hey there, 123! I agree with SBW, too. And I've always been really impressed with how creative and artistic and well-spoken you are.

Just deal with one little step at a time, and the rest will turn out OK. You'll do just fine.

I believe in you.

[surprised_by_witches]

What's new with me is I'm home sick today. I spent half the night worshiping the porcelain god and as a result didn't get much sleep. I just got up. It's 1:30 P.M. and I still feel pretty bad. Upright doesn't seem like a great position right now.

Too bad. I wanted to sim. :(

[Lynet]

:( No simming for you, SBW. Drink lots of fluids and go lie down. I'm really sorry that you've caught such a nasty bug. I hate those stomach bugs. :o I hope it's no worse than a 24-hour thing and that you're feeling better by tonight.

[jupitershana]

Bah...I finally heard back from the company I interviewed with today. Unfortuatly I didn't get the position. They ended up hiring one of their temps...I guess I can understand that. They did say that they wanted to remain in contact with me though for other positions within the company...so maybe it will work out eventually. In the mean time...I NEED A JOB!



Sorry to hear your sick SBW...no get together this week! Hopefully you'll feel better soon.

[hugzncuddles]

Sorry to hear you're sick SBW. I hope you're feeling better by the time you read this. Take care!

Shana, sorry you didn't get the job, but I hope that something works out soon, either with that company or elsewhere. I'll still be keeping my fingers crossed for ya.

I know what you mean about needing a job. I'm still filling in applications, they get tedious after a while. Our city has a jobs crisis in that there are around 100 to 400 people applying for each position that comes up. Added to that, at 35 yrs of age I'm considered 'mature' and a lot of places prefer young graduates or school/college leavers. Added to that, those younger people have knowledge of all of Microsoft Office/ website creation and I only know Word, Publisher and a teeny weeny bit of Excel. I guess I had better start exploring those other programs and play around a bit with them. I am sending in another application today, and have some more to write. :rolleyes:

[suitemichelle]

HnC have you tried looking online, too?

[hugzncuddles]

Yep Michelle, I do most of my job searches online, everyday. Today is the day for the weekly jobs section in the local newspaper, but it has shrunk down to fit onto just 4 sides, compared to around 14 to 20 sides as it used to be. There is hardly anything in this area. I just have to keep looking and hope something turns up soon. I called one place last Thursday and asked to speak to the named person in the advert, got her voicemail, left a message. Called again Friday and left another message. Called again yesterday and left another message. I guess I'm wasting my time there, it's annoying when they can't return your call when they have advertised. Another company advertised and I looked in google for info about their company - first link was an article about how the unions were being involved as their workers were being treated badly. I didn't bother applying for that one lol. I'm sure that something will turn up soon.

I would have gone to train as a children's nurse, (you can apply for a training allowance while studying so sort of a small income) but last summer the nursing graduates at the local training school were told that their 'usually guaranteed' jobs at the local hospital were now non-existant, and that they should move to London to look for nursing jobs. That's quite a move for those mature graduates who have a family/children settled here. Our local hospital is in crisis - a third of the 7000 workforce have to lose their jobs. So nursing isn't an option for me.

Running out of ideas. I won't miss the large teaching salary as I never went into that job for the money. I just want enough to 'pay the bills' for now, so the jobs i'm looking for are offering like half the salary I was on before, or less, but then they say I'm overqualified. If I apply for jobs with more responsibility, they choose newly qualified graduates. Small businesses here have a high failure rate, so I'm scared to start one as it would mean losing our home if it failed. Admin jobs require full knowledge of all of Microsoft Office, and other software or website experience, which I don't have. There isn't much that I can do with the B.Ed degree, it's kinda useless now - no other employers (except in education) value it really.

Sorry! Kinda depressing to read. I might go to an agency where they might match me to a job that I hadn't thought of doing, based on the skills I DO have. Yup.

[jupitershana]

Too bad we don't live closer to each other Hugz; we could talk about our job searches and our fiancées together over a drink! And of course maplestory and The Sims 2! Too much in common!

I hate the "overqualified" aspect of job searching. I also hate the "under-qualified" part! I'm 3 classes and an internship away from my BA in social work at a school that's just over 5 hours away from me. Unfortunately if I transfer it will take closer to 2 years to finish, not to mention the extra cost that we can't afford until Brandon finishes his degree. And of course I don't want to move back down toward southern Wisconsin for a year because Brandon and the cats wouldn't be able to come with me! So as of right now, having 104 college credits is getting me no where...5 years of college behind me and it barely counts for crap. Luckily I am very knowledgeable on Microsoft office products and I pick up and retain knowledge quickly so I'm easily adaptable.

I do have a little good news on my job search. First of all I received a call from the same company SBW works for! I had applied for them about a month ago and had a phone interview scheduled. They called me to let me know HR at the time was reviewing that position and they had decided to hold off on hiring anyone. Well they called again today and I have a phone interview for this evening at 5pm.

Second, my mother talked to our friend who works for the bone marrow place. She told my mother that they did end up hiring the temp person just because she's already trained, but that the two people who interviewed me were very impressed and wanted me to apply for a different position. So I did and hopefully I'll hear back on that one shortly.

I'm praying that I have a job offer before the end of this year. I'd prefer working for the donor program just because it's closer to me...no offense SBW, but working downtown scares me! Hehe, not because of the people, but because of all the traffic! But of course I would do it anyway!

[hugzncuddles]

Heh, it would be great to meet up for a drink/meal somewhere and have a chat! For now at least, it will have to be 'virtual'. Nothing beats a real life convo and hugs though. :)

Good luck on the phone interview today and the other job with the donor place. They both sound really promising! I really wish ya the best. I know what you mean about traffic though - if you arrive at work stressed out from the journey there every day it's gonna affect your job satisfaction, although right now I guess it's just important to get a job.

I applied for two jobs in a similar location but they involve a traffic-laden route to work and will involve the city's multiple roundabout system which is nightmarish. Not sure on the salary too as they are negotiable at interview. Got another application with my ex-employer (City Council) - admin work in their Science and IT dept in Education. Will phone an agency tomorrow to register there too.

[jupitershana]

Quick update, I have an in-person interview on Monday. If I work the 11-7:30 shift they pay for my parking...which is nice but the hours kind of suck if I want to do something in the evenings. It's about the same wage I was getting before, just a little more actually, so not too bad. I'm not too excited about the postion, it's basic customer service work, but I'm not willing to pass it up either just yet.

[surprised_by_witches]

I went home sick today, which I don't like to do, especially with a new job, but I needed to rest. I hope to feel better tomorrow. The bug seems to have spread from my tummy to my chest, and now I'm all congested and exhausted. Wheeee.

Good luck, Shana, but if the job isn't what you'd really enjoy maybe you should keep looking. I can tell you it's a great company to work for. I get a lot more job satisfaction than I've had in a long time. But it's sounding like the donor place might suit you better. I just want you to be happy with where you are, since you've got to be there 40 hours a week. :)

Hugz, your job situation sounds more dire. Don't suppose you can move, huh. Maybe it's time to get a job at the local pub and write some freelance articles in your spare time, or some such. Sorry to hear your part of the country is so depressed. Makes me glad to live where I do. Jobs aren't aplenty here, either, but at least I found one I like.

Witch Baby and I are watching Timmy Turner's Christmas special. Very silly stuff.

Merry Halloweestertine's Day, everyone.

[ManagerJosh]

My lil update..


FINALS....

excuse me while i go scream....

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O yes, I'm sick too...and during finals too -_-

[jupitershana]

O yes, I'm sick too...and during finals too -_-


Oh...poor Josh. I hope you feel better before Christmas. Goodluck with all those crazy finals, try not to stress out too much!

[hugzncuddles]

Awwww Josh, sorry you're still feeling sick. I hope you feel better soon. As for your finals, remember - bananas and water! Perfect combo for optimum brain performance. ;)

[Lynet]

I remember finals. So depressing. I remember a Cost Accounting final that was from 8 to 10 PM on December 23. I'd put off all Christmas shopping to study for finals that week. So I did Christmas shopping on December 24, me and a quarter million other people in that mall. :( (Actually, it was more like half a million. There were at least 2 people per square foot.)

At least I wasn't sick, too. Hang in there, Josh, and good luck on your tests.

[Sacharissa]

I applied for two jobs in a similar location but they involve a traffic-laden route to work and will involve the city's multiple roundabout system which is nightmarish.

Ah yes - the British Roundabouts - or as my brother liked to refer to them - "Circles of Death!" Last time I drove in the UK, I was able to sort of get the hang of them - the single ones at least! But a couple of places had TWO roundabouts together! And one place in Cornwall had THREE roundabout all together! Let me tell you, there was some white-knuckle driving THAT day!!!

Anyway Hugz, hope your job search gets better! That is just no fun!! We are keeping our fingers crossed for you!

[Sacharissa]

Quick update, I have an in-person interview on Monday. If I work the 11-7:30 shift they pay for my parking...which is nice but the hours kind of suck if I want to do something in the evenings. It's about the same wage I was getting before, just a little more actually, so not too bad. I'm not too excited about the postion, it's basic customer service work, but I'm not willing to pass it up either just yet.

Hey Shana! Sounds like your prospects are looking up! Keeping our fingers crossed for you too! In the meantime, I was just out at our website, and it looks like several more "Associate" and "Customer Service Associate" jobs have opened up. Those make really good starting positions, with plenty of room for growth. We've had most of our trainers coming from the service associate pool! Many have also gone on to become Project Managers, Team Leaders and even Directors! Let me know if you are interested or need me to send you the URL again!

I know you are a little nervouse about possibly working down town, but you could always do a Park & Ride! I'm pretty sure there's one at Rosedale, which I beleive would be pretty handy for you! I actually prefer riding the bus or train to driving to work...I get a LOT of reading done! Plus, it would be fun to have you downtown..then all three of us could go out to lunch!
Which reminds me, SBW...We gotta do that again!)

[hugzncuddles]

Ah yes - the British Roundabouts - or as my brother liked to refer to them - "Circles of Death!" Last time I drove in the UK, I was able to sort of get the hang of them - the single ones at least! But a couple of places had TWO roundabouts together! And one place in Cornwall had THREE roundabout all together! Let me tell you, there was some white-knuckle driving THAT day!!!

Anyway Hugz, hope your job search gets better! That is just no fun!! We are keeping our fingers crossed for you!


Ahhh so you've experienced our crazy road systems then lol. Yep there are places with 2, 3, 4 or 5 close together. The first pic shows the notorious set of 3 in my city - driving test examiners just love to take you there on your test - mine did, and luckily it was quiet that day. I did have an accident there though on my second lesson - caused not by me but someone else and I got whiplash really bad because the instructor slammed the brakes really hard. The second pic shows the other notorious 5 (not as close together though) but these will be in the area where those 2 jobs are based. I'll order some valium now. LOL

[person123]

I have midterms coming up in January, as well as my SATs. If I don't do well on the midterms I won't get into the right classes for my freshman year, and then my whole high school schedule will be out of whack. If I don't do well on the SATs, I can just delete my score, but I'll have to face the disappointment of my parents and humiliation from my peers.

Yesterday a boy that I kind of sort of maybe like proved that he didn't like me at all. I feel really stupid because, the way he said it sounded like he had found out about my feelings and was worried that I might like him. It definitely hadn't been easy for me to admit to myself that I liked him, though, and I don't even become friends with boys that often. I feel like I stuck my head out of my metaphorical turtle shell, and it got chopped off.

I also hate that whenever I see him, I just feel too sad to talk to him. I feel sad when I see him, and I feel sad when I don't get to talk to him. Now I'm just depressed all the time.

Urgh. I wasn't planning on becoming like one of those flaky girls who crush after boys all the time in school and get all depressed when they don't return their feelings.

[surprised_by_witches]

Boys (and girls) can be weird about stuff like that. Who knows what he's really thinking, but who cares. Don't take it personally, 123, and remember, this is just junior high. It seems like the whole world now but when you're older you'll wonder what all the fuss was about.

That boy is just immature, and crazy if he doesn't see what a great person you are. To heck with him. Try not to be so sad, honey. I'm a little worried about you.

I'm not Asian, so I'm not sure exactly what kinds of cultural pressures you're facing, but doing just so-so on the SATs at 13, for crying out loud, is no big deal. Honestly. You'll have another chance at them, and in the meantime you're making yourself sick. Plus, I know you're going to do well, anyway. You're a very bright girl.

Try not to worry so much, OK? Go do something fun. That's an order, Missy. Go hang out with friends who do like you. Do something silly. Cop a punk attitude. Sing karaoke. Dye your hair green (but don't tell your mom I said to do it ... LOL).

You're only 13 once, thank god, but it can be fun, too, if you let it.

[Chee-Z]

SATs in middle school does seem to be a bit much. When I was in high school, people didn't start to worry about them until sophomore year, at the earliest. ACTs were a worry starting in junior year. I took the latter test so I could go to the university I wanted to, and I made a decent score. I don't take tests very well, but at least I didn't bomb it. I didn't want to take the test again, though. 'Twas too much of a hassle to do it once!

I wouldn't worry too much about finals and tests and whatever if I were you, 123. The more stressed you become, the sicker you will be and the worse you will do on them. I do believe you'll do fine. :)

In the meantime I have survived my first semester of university and I have finished taking all the finals. One was "Ack! :eek:" and the rest were "Phew easy! :o" One I was exempt for, thank goodness.

There are two gifts under the tree so far. The rest are probably going to be surprises. :D The gift that I sent to my bf has reached him, and he's turning around and sending me the gift he'll give me. :rolleyes:

[Lynet]

Congratulations, Chee-Z. :D

The last big exam I took was the CPA exam. It's all done on computers these days but when I took it in 1987 it was pencil and paper for 2 and 1/2 days. Multiple choice and essay problems and questions.

I felt unprepared and terribly nervous when I went to take it, then dumb as a brick when I finally finished it. Really, I felt like the dumbest person on the planet. I was depressed for the next several months until I got the results. My hands shook when I opened the letter because I was afraid I'd have to take that dreadful test all over again.

But I passed. All parts! :shocked: Boy, was I surprised!

The best advice I got before sitting for the exam was not to give up on it. No matter how dumb and stupid you feel, keep going and finish the test. Do your best and think positive no matter what.

(p.s. CPA is short for Certified Public Accountant and the exam is required for a license from the state government. I just realized that overseas friends won't know what I'm talking about. :o )

[Rie-Rie16]

Hi, Everyone Im new, Im Ariel, aka Rie-Rie. lol dont ask, and I love all the sims.:) I have all the sims 1 and all the sims 2, and I wanted to join so I could get some ideas on what to do, like make a sim have triplets. lol

[person123]

Honestly, I don't care if I only get 200 for writing my name. It's that my parents will be disappointed in me. If I got straight B's all through high school, I'd be perfectly content, but my parents, and basically the entire Asian community, expect me to get a 4.0+ GPA and be in a million extracurricular activities. I have to get in a great college (not Ivy League, at least. My parents aren't that demanding) and I have to get a great job when I graduate.

Here's an excerpt from a website called bitterasianmen.com, which talks about all the things that make Asian men bitter. It basically sums up the life of all second-generation Asian children.
"Academics Over Social Life
The first factor is the pressure. Oh, the pressure. If you think you know what parental pressure is, and you're not Asian, you are wrong. Asian kids are consistently expected to do more and do better than their peers, and heck, even kids twice their age. Therefore, almost all Asian children 1) will play an instrument (a dignified classical instrument at that, and certainly not electric guitar) 2) will study math at an accelerated pace - I was doing calculus in middle school 3) will participate in as many extracurricular activities as possible (all academic though, never sports) and 4) take standardized tests early and as many times as necessary to achieve a perfect score.

Asian parents instill the notion of 'you must succeed' (by which they mean academic success, not social success) so early that by the time they reach high school, Asian kids are walking zombies reciting scientific facts like gospel. This problem is only exacerbated by the Asian trait (so common I swear it must be genetic) to compare children. Inevitably in any Asian child's life, they will hear a line similar to "Why aren't you taking calculus yet? Jim Wong's son is a year younger than you and he is!", or "You only got a 1550 on the SAT? Sally Lee's daughter got a 1590!" or "What, you mean you're not valedictorian!?" Though all Asian kids are driven by their parents to be geniuses, of course, only a few of them are actually capable of being geniuses. Those that aren't live constantly under the vague impression that their parents wish their kids were better, while those who ARE, of course, live constantly under the vague impression that their parents believe they COULD be doing better.

Obviously such academic pressure leaves no time for a social life. Dating isn't mentioned in the Asian household, and girls only come up as a topic of discussion if they're horrifically smart and if your parents want to compare you to them. If dating is allowed, of course, the girlfriend must be Asian and must be smart (though not as smart as you, of course, as that would hurt the Family Honor). The end result is that Asian kids are disproportionately Book Smart over Street Smart. They can explain to you the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus but never grasp the fundamental rules of dating. Of course, there are Asian kids who don't listen to these parents. They might go out, switch girlfriends monthly like they're football players, and never study and always party. These kids are disowned and never mentioned to the relatives.

This trend continues into college somewhat, until about the age of 21 or so. By this point the Asian child's path in life is relatively clear, and the Asian parents begin the OTHER inevitable lines that every Asian child hears in their lifetime: "Why haven't you met a nice Chinese/Japanese/Korean girl yet and given us grandchildren?" Asian parents are usually oblivious to the fact that they've systematically destroyed the social competence of their children, yet they expect them to be smooth maverick playboys as young adults, charming women all around. An Asian son who fails to maintain a steady girlfriend and fiancee faces increasingly irritating 'advice' on how to find women and insinuations that he might be gay. This vicious one-two punch of social emasculation and later social expectation pretty much means that the Asian son is under constant pressure from the time he enters grade school to the time he's produced grandchildren.

Despite it all, Asian kids generally love their parents very much. We respect family and our relatives. We don't go out getting drunk and knocking up some random girl, not only because it's a generally Bad Thing to Do, but also because of how much it would hurt our parents. Asian kids take care of their parents long after other kids have shuffled their parents off to nursing homes. In short, despite all the grief Asian parents are capable of dishing out, their kids still love them - a fact Asians don't get enough credit for."

Although my parents are not quite so demanding as the average first-generation Asian parents, this is still what most of us go through. And yes, it may seem at times like the writer of the article is exaggerating a bit and just trying to sound funny and/or sarcastic, but this is truly what happens with us.

[Lynet]

Oh my, 123. I'd heard the stories but I can see it's worse than I thought. But please understand, no one here, certainly not me, thought that you were exaggerating. Pressure from family and peers can be horrendous. We're just worried about you, and want to help.

I know what it's like to be embarrassed and mortified. My first year in college was as a major in music. Piano. I'd get so nervous when playing in front of people that I'd completely forget the music I had memorized. I'd hyperventilate, too, which, when severe, makes your hands stiffen and curl up. Imagine that, in front of a roomful of people. :o I gave up music as a major. Didn't have the nerves for it.

This isn't helping you, I know.

I wonder if either of your parents felt the same anxiety when they were your age. Would they admit it? Could you show them that article? Can you talk to your Mom about it? Do any of your Asian friends talk about the pressures?

At least you can talk to us, if that helps. And the only other thing I can suggest is that you try not to worry about things years in the future. Just deal with what's happening next month. My life now does not even remotely resemble anything I imagined it would be when I was 14. And I'm very happy now. You will be, too. I know you will.

[surprised_by_witches]

Hi, Everyone Im new, Im Ariel, aka Rie-Rie. lol dont ask, and I love all the sims.:) I have all the sims 1 and all the sims 2, and I wanted to join so I could get some ideas on what to do, like make a sim have triplets. lol

There are hacks that let you have triplets or quads, but otherwise, unless you make some in CAS, the most you can have is twins. You can "force" twins if you have Open for Business, by having a pregnant sim eat cheesecake.

[Lynet]

My son arrived last night for a two week visit. I was a little anxious because of the rain and the fog here. The drive to the airport at 10:30 pm was tense, and the crowds there were larger than we'd seen before. Traffc was backed up down the road with a lot of people pulled over and waiting on the shoulders. But we arrived in good time and had no trouble meeting up with my son. The drive back was in the pouring rain, too.

However, all's well. :D Even though it was the middle of the night and he'd been traveling for 14 hours, I had to show my son the pictures I'd uploaded to Worldsims and tell him what I'd been doing with the game, :rolleyes: and get help with the sound system on the computer. He took the X out of one box and Voila! The sound is back to normal. :o Who put that X there? Not me. I swear!

I hope everyone is having fun this weekend. I'm going to try to squeeze in a little simming. I have this urge to see what Dagmar is up to. She's hard to find. Sometimes it's her coworker Pao who delivers the mail.

[person123]

I'm going to Hong Kong tomorrow morning. :) We'll be back on the 2nd. Today we did some last-minute shopping, because, according to my parents, the people in Hong Kong are really snooty and will look down at you if you don't wear nice, sophisticated-looking clothes. I bought a new pair of ballet flats. They look nice with all my striped socks. So I guess I'll be MIA for the next week or so. We do have a laptop and we are bringing it, but my siblings will probably be using it the whole time for all their homework.

A nice, relaxing vacation is exactly what I need at the moment. Happy Holidays, everyone!

[jupitershana]

How exciting 123! Have fun and take lots of pictures to post back here!


And have fun with your son Lynet...glad he's a computer wiz and fixed that sound problem!

[surprised_by_witches]

Have a safe trip, 123!

I hope everyone has a safe and fun holiday season, whichever holiday you celebrate.

[hugzncuddles]

Lynet, glad that your son is home for Christmas! The fog here in the UK the last few days has closed our busiest airport (Heathrow) and lots of families won't be together this Christmas. My brother waited in Bulgaria (had been there on business for a month) for almost a week longer to fly home - they too had bad fog last week and when that airport finally re-opened he managed to get a flight to London (his original destination was Manchester but at least he got back to British soil and is now home). I guess we are both glad to have our loved ones home. :)

Person123 - have a great trip to hong Kong and I hope you get time to relax after all the hustle and bustle of travelling. :)

Happy Holidays everyone! :D

[Lynet]

Hi, Gang. It's Thursday and this wonderful week off from work is more than half over. :eek:

Tomorrow morning I'm headed for Philadelphia with my son because his passport is falling to pieces (probably went through the wash a couple of times) and he needs to get it renewed pronto. There's a government agency in Philadelphia that will produce one faster than the usual 6 to 8 weeks or whatever.

Driving the 95 interstate from Baltimore to Philadelphia is always a nightmare. I'm not looking forward to this.

But I have squeezed in some simming. ;) Raising my little monster children. They're not so bad as they get older. No pictures yet, but soon.

[Lynet]

So we got the passport. All in the same day!

The difficult part is that my son does not have a driver's license. Yes, this is strange for a guy his age, but he's always lived downtown, whether in Baltimore, Philadelphia, Phoenix, or Amsterdam. Cars and car insurance are expensive, too.

So if you live anywhere else on this planet, a passport is the number one document of identification. In the United States, however, it is the driver's license. If you don't have one, a passport is insufficient for purposes of identification. We provided the passport we wanted to replace, his birth ceritificate, a form W-2 from his last job in the States, his 2005 tax return, a photo ID license for driving a forklift (:rolleyes: no kidding,) my affidavit that he is who he says he is (I have a driver's license to prove who I am :D,) and finally, *drum roll*, a tattered check he keeps in his wallet as a reference for his checking account number. The clerk was finally satisfied. I think it was that old torn check that did it. :confused:

If you don't have a driver's license in this country, the government has a lot of trouble believing you are really a citizen.

The thing is, they're so easy to get, a whole lot easier than a passport. Go figure.

[surprised_by_witches]

Wow. What a lot of trouble. Glad he finally got it, though! :D

I've been playing Veronaville. My brother was going to help me upgrade the puter this weekend but he caught the nasty bug that's going around, poor guy, so it'll have to wait. I don't mind. I just want him to get better!

It's nasty and rainy in Minneapolis. We're watching our friends' dog, who is our dog's opposite in many ways, even though they're really good friends. Beya was out the rain today going la la la la la and Izzy was standing in the door staring at her, like "Aren't you afraid you'll melt?"

My dog. Some hero. Santa gave her a realistic duck toy that quacks and every time hubby quacks it she runs and hides behind me. Guess it's not a hit. :rolleyes:

[Lynet]

Maybe she'll get used to the toy and eventually chew it to shreds. ;)

No one is sick around here, thank goodness. It's been a very quiet week. No snow, no rain to speak of. We're going to plant daffodils this morning. As a matter of fact, I think my significant other is waiting for me to get dressed and go outside. :o

[suitemichelle]

we were sick here day after Christmas... ugh! missed 2 days of work but finally all better.

broke down and got the other 2 stuff paks... put in body shop fix and was amazed at how fast b.s. booted ... just hope it fixed my phones. waiting for weather... not sure my system will handle it.

floor leveling living room and kitchen are underway, and soon visible progress should be made. maybe I'll send a picture soon.

[Lynet]

You know, I've actually not installed the latest patches. There's one for OFB I never bothered to install. And now one for Body Shop. Is that because of problems with the Pets EP?

While I was writing my stories I was backing up my game regularly, terrified of losing everything before the story ended. Now, however, I've gotten lazy. I'm thinking that I'll clean up the downloads folder and my neighborhoods and do a good backup to a DVD or CD or something before installing the weather EP.

If things crash before then, I'll be sad at losing Errol and Joe and everyone, but not devastated. I've got other sims in mind for bringing to life. :D

[suitemichelle]

evidently pets bs (that sounds so funny!) was not compatible with the previous versions. you would have thought someone at EA would have thought about that before they released it. anyway there's a whole list of things the patch is supposed to fix. I'll be glad if it fixes my phone glitch. My sims haven't been able to call anyone except for a date or to order out since I got pets and 9/10ths of my downloads don't show up anymore. which was another reason why I decided to get the other 2 stuff packs. that and my bonus from work. So we shall see if anythings better tomorrow.

celebrated N. Y.'s eve with dinner at McGraths and a late movie. I had blacken catfish and it was delicious. It was a great night to go to the movies, I think there were 4 other couples in the theatre. Saw Apocalypto very intense and not for the sqeamish.

[surprised_by_witches]

Thanks for the warning. I was going to miss it anyway, though. I hate Mel Gibson. But mmmm ... blackened catfish.

I have my new chip! It works great. My game is really cooking with gas now. :D

I can finally play Alec's lot again, in PDL. It used to be much too slow, though part of that was due to Bathroom Uses You. I've had it freeze more than one lot so I ditched it, along with Macrotastics. I can get along without it.

I don't think Pescado has kept up with this latest EP. A lot of his hacks seem to be acting funny, even when he upgrades them.

And, I threw out my back. So I'm typing very carefully. I really shouldn't sim today, but I will anyway. :p

[person123]

Jetlag...*collapses* :zzz:

[jupitershana]

Jetlag...*collapses* :zzz:

LOL; when you wake up we expect a full report on your trip!

[ManagerJosh]

So yea I'm back from a week's break. Spent it at Saint Louis and celebrated my first non-Pacific Standard Time New Years :).

Urbana...great stuff. more details to come later :D

[person123]

I'm sorry that I haven't been very active lately. I've just been too...I don't know, anxious, I guess, what with midterms next week and having to choose which courses to take next year. Things have been hectic.

[jupitershana]

I'm sorry that I haven't been very active lately. I've just been too...I don't know, anxious, I guess, what with midterms next week and having to choose which courses to take next year. Things have been hectic.


Don't worry about it; take your time and breathe. I do however still expect a full report on your trip to Hong Kong! It sounded pretty neat to get the chance to go. I'm almost 26 and still haven't been overseas anywhere!


I've got an update. I start a new job tomorrow. I'll be SBW's co-worker! Actually I'm going to be a completly differerent sky scraper than SBW since our company has two offices downtown. My training hours for the first 3 weeks are 8-5. Then I have to switch to an 11:00-7:30 shift; with one required weekend day per month (Not excited about the schedule, but they pay my parking for that shift $$$).

And to tell the truth I'm terrified but trying to overcome that fear.

I'm not familiar with Minneapolis at all; I'm more of a suburb kind of gal. Really the only time I've gone down to Minneapolis is if I'm going to a concert and I've never been the one driving! Taking the bus is scarier to me than driving, so that's not an option, and the lightrail doesn't run anywhere near my house so I'd have to drive to a park and ride anyway. I made Brandon go with me as I drove around Minneapolis yesterday so I could get used to driving downtown. Guess what happened? I cried. Yes; I cried because I knew that what I was driving in was already congested and it was a Saturday, so imagine the week! *sigh* I really hope I'm going to get over this after the first week or so. Hopefully I'll love it once I get over the fear of the whole driving/parking/unfamiliarity aspect of the job.

The position itself I'm not scared of. It's customer service work for an online university. I'm learner support so if any of our students have questions about anything; they call us. It's only .20 cents more an hour than I was making before, but they are hopeful that their starting wage is going to be approved to be increased come end of January and if that happens then my salary will be upped. After I'm there for 90 days I can take classes for free which is kind of a nice incentive. And my insurance will start Febuary 1st. I'll have to admit; that reason alone is why I ended up taking the job. Nothing else is panning out right now and I need insurance.

Ack...please reassure me that I'll be fine and it's all just in my head right now.

[hugzncuddles]

Woot! Many congrats Shana! And YES, you WILL be fine. :) The driving part will soon become routine and you will think of it merely as an annoyance rather than something you stress about, like right now. It's very cool that you are working close to SBW and for the same company. The job itself sounds good, especially with the salary increase after so long, and the free classes. Is it medical insurance you mentioned? If so, that's really useful. Here we don't need it as we get 'income' taxed, taxed some more, and then some more lol. I'm sure that after the initial 'newness' of everything - meeting co-workers, getting used to the working hours, driving and parking etc, the job will be fine. Don't worry! ;)

Person123, I know it's a busy time for you right now. Try to relax and when the busy part is over, we still wanna hear about your trip! :)

Josh, DETAILS ALREADY! LOL :p

My news isn't that exciting. Actually, it's pretty boring lol. I have had flu since New Year's Day evening. I'm feeling better than I was, now it's just my ear and head pains that need attention, but gonna get that sorted today hopefully. :)

[Lynet]

Congratulations to Shana. I'm sure you'll get used to the drive pretty soon. Downtown rushhour will never be comfortable, but the route you take in and out of town will become boringly familiar. :rolleyes:

123! Keep your chin up. When summer comes you'll look back on the year and say, Whew! I did it! We'll all still be here, waiting to hear how it goes.

Hope you feel much better soon, Hugz. No flu around this neighborhood so far. :crossfingers:

On Saturday I put my son on a plane back to Amsterdam. He and I are still hoping that his company moves "lock, stock and barrel" to Montreal this year.

As for me, I've been seriously neglecting my little sims. I've really got to catch up on their lives now that the holidays are done. :D

[Sacharissa]

What's new with me? Just back from Christmas in Oklahoma. Rented a car for the 13-Hour drive, and thankfully, the car had a wired input, so I could hook up my iPod...Christmas music all the way down, and 60s Classics all the way back! I got to sing along at the top of my lungs in my own private mobile sound-booth!

I also started a new job in December - same company, but a different department AND promotion! Yippee, Skippee Batman! I'm now a Training Consultant instead of a Training Designer. Not sure what that really means, yet, but I'm sure I'll find out!

Also, since I now work in the building that is right between the buildings that SBW and Shana work in, we three went out for coffee last evening to celebrate all three of our new jobs! (Thanks for the Caramel Frappacino, SBW! I guess the next one's on me!)

[surprised_by_witches]

Yep, three sim addicts in three buildings in a row, and that's just the ones we know about ... could be dangerous!

You're welcome for the coffee/milkshake! I'll be up for lunch at Ike's soon ... LOVE that place.

My back hurts a little less today than it has this week, but now that it's the end of the day it's just about trashed. I don't know what I did ... so I haven't been simming much. Some, just not much.

Sorry I've been neglecting my stories! My new job's been sapping my energy. I'm hoping to get back into my writing soon. I have a novel waiting for me as well as the sims stories ... but I will reveal what happens in Veronaville soon, and I've slowly been catching my PDL sims up to where I want them to be.

[Lynet]

I've heard of those fancy coffees, but I've never tried one. My boss blames them for her weight gain over the past year. :rolleyes: She says they're addictive--try one and you're hooked for life.

[suitemichelle]

That sounds about right. Thank goodness that starbucks roasts a blend for Costco (meridian) that never seems to get old.

[surprised_by_witches]

I'm a plain cappucino gal myself, with skim milk please. I'll occasionally order a mocha but they make me feel kind of sick sometimes. I don't have much of a sweet tooth ... those other drinks are like a cookie in a cup, or like Bill Maher says, if your coffee has more than three ingredients and most of them are sweet, call it what it is: A milkshake!

I think they're kind of gross. :rolleyes:

But I'm glad Shana and Sacha enjoyed theirs, and I'd be happy to buy you one too, someday. :)

[suitemichelle]

actually that sounds about right tho if I order out it's usually an americano with half/half if they have it. only because americano's are too too hot to drink sweetened only. plus I'm a cheapskate.

[Sacharissa]

I'm a plain cappucino gal myself, with skim milk please. I'll occasionally order a mocha but they make me feel kind of sick sometimes. I don't have much of a sweet tooth ... those other drinks are like a cookie in a cup, or like Bill Maher says, if your coffee has more than three ingredients and most of them are sweet, call it what it is: A milkshake!

I think they're kind of gross. :rolleyes:

But I'm glad Shana and Sacha enjoyed theirs, and I'd be happy to buy you one too, someday. :)

True, True - About the "milkshake" anyway! I'm afraid I've never been much of a coffee drinker, preferring to get my caffeine in other ways. (Can you say Mountain Dew? I knew you could!)

Give me a coffee with plenty of whipped cream and syrup, and that'll make it palatable for me! Or as my sister-in-law puts it: "Would you like a little coffee with your cream and sugar?" :D

[Jazz]

the past days since...lets see here...Fri night we havent had power and we still dont.
yeah its been one big party. Ya know, being in the 6th grade as i am and not having power is FUN for the first lets see here 2 and a half hours.
then it gets kinda, ok people fix my freakin power lines. so now, springfeild, MO as i hope most of you know has been declared a natural area of disaster. Which is the town i live in if you havent peiced the clues together yet. :p But at least were outta school until the 22nd.
(i mentioned we have no power, my parents r divorced, my mom has no power while my dad does so im typing this at my dads)

Edit: this is completely off topic but this is what this thread's for! SBW, is there a download for Porta de Luca? i've read the whole biography thread of all the people in Porta de Luca and i'm hooked on the neighborhood! This might be a completely stupid question if i'm wrong. If i'm right it's so not a stupid question.

[Lynet]

Jazz, you've probably already found the threads by doing a search. But just in case...http://forums.worldsims.org/showthread.php?t=7949

This is just part three. Parts one and two have basically the same name. You just have to do a search for them. :)

[Jazz]

Oh heh heh, quite sorry, totally forgot about that.

[Lynet]

It's tax season again, for anyone who does tax returns for a living. My husband is one and he's now working Saturdays. So what am I doing useful? Absolutely nothing. I cooked him breakfast this morning. The least I could do, right? :rolleyes: Now I'm going to go do some laundry. And since he's coming home for lunch, I guess I'd better change out of my PJs and open a can of soup. :D OK, I'm not quite that bad. The soup's homemade.

And after he goes back to work--SIMMING!

[surprised_by_witches]

I'm planning to sim as well, as soon as I get offline ... I have a friend coming over at 3:30 and I cleaned my house in anticipation. I still need to vacuum the stairs, but then I'll be ready for her.

Nothing like company coming to make you want to break out the broom, eh? :o

[Sacharissa]

Nothing like company coming to make you want to break out the broom, eh? :o

That's always been my theory! Why else would you invite people over!

[surprised_by_witches]

What's new with me is I joined Weight Watchers last week. Anyone else here on the program? I tried getting support on their community forum, but everyone is so judgmental. I mentioned I let my kid eat what she wants, and they all jumped down my throat. Like it's their business. I mentioned that I can cook but don't like it and everyone said, well if you just learned to cook ... no one listens anymore. I CAN, I just don't LIKE to. Argh.

As a result I don't feel comfortable sharing with them, so I thought I'd check over here. You guys know me already. :o

Anyone want to start a thread about "lifestyle changes?"

I'm frustrated with their site. I lost a pound and tried to track it and the site thought I'd already entered my weight for the week, which I hadn't.

I guess I'll have to count it to next week's total.

[Lynet]

I sympathize with the not wanting to cook, although I've done it for years. Maybe that's why I don't like to be bothered. I'd rather open a can of soup for supper, as I did when I lived alone.

I've had a lot more trouble with my weight since I got married again (almost four years ago.) My husband is so thin that some people think he's anorexic, which he's not. He's diabetic and his body burns fat instead of sugar for energy because sugar needs insulin to be converted to energy (or somthing like that. I'm no chemist.)

Anyway, I'm always trying to stuff him with food--big breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Naturally, I join him. :rolleyes:

How does the Weight Watcher's site work? Besides the unhelpful forum?

[Jazz]

I say, It's your desicion what you let your kid eat, and what you eat.
American's are over-obsessed on other people's weight
I mean there's basically every week on one news station or another a story they call a "headline" about American obesity... ok i'm rambling now.
Hmm... lifetime changes would be an interesting thread to read, i think i would enjoy it. :D
I think Weight Watchers and groups as such... they were hired to critisize others weight. And maybe even give you a not so helpful hint along the way, "Oh yeah, man, you gotta lose some weight," after 7 weeks into the program.:sob:

[surprised_by_witches]

Well, it's online, so at least I'm spared that. For all they know I'm a reporter doing an undercover story ... I'm not, but I could be.

There's a point tracker and a lot of helpful hints and recipes, Lynet. I like the point tracker because it figures out my diet for me. Makes it harder to cheat and I don't have to spend every waking hour thinking about it ... I'm sure a lot of people are nice there, some nice ones answered my thread, but the majority, whoo wee.

Maybe I'm sensitive because I know Witch Baby should probably eat better than she does, but we're working on it, and again, it's no one else's business. I didn't ask for their opinion on that, all I said was, I often eat kid food leftovers, which isn't exactly healthy for me.

Sheesh.

Thanks, guys. I knew I could count on you.

We tried to start a fitness club thread, once. Maybe I'll try a new one.

[Lynet]

I wonder why they're so unfriendly. I thought the intent was mutual support. Doesn't sound supportive to me. I'll have to go take a look at the site, though.

[Jazz]

I like the fact that theyre not watching you every step of the way,
HA! I'm eating Cheetos and you can't do anything about it!
But, yes, that would be cheating
But as you know diet is only die with a t.

[surprised_by_witches]

I wonder why they're so unfriendly. I thought the intent was mutual support. Doesn't sound supportive to me. I'll have to go take a look at the site, though.

Well, they weren't so much unfriendly as a bunch of bossy know it alls. Not my favorite button to push. :rolleyes:

I may have been a tad touchy.

Your results may vary.

I like you guys better, though.

[Lynet]

Can you stand it? Another baby picture. I sent this to SBW, then realized that I could now post to the gallery and share it with everyone else, too. So here's the link to the gallery:

http://forums.worldsims.org/gallery/showimage.php?i=1785&c=33

Hard to believe we all looked like that once upon a time. :rolleyes:

I thought the hat was a nice touch.

[jupitershana]

Oh look at those eyes!!! She's adorable Lynet! Give her lots of smooches all over those chubby cheeks the next time you see her!

[ManagerJosh]

What's new with me is I joined Weight Watchers last week. Anyone else here on the program? I tried getting support on their community forum, but everyone is so judgmental. I mentioned I let my kid eat what she wants, and they all jumped down my throat. Like it's their business. I mentioned that I can cook but don't like it and everyone said, well if you just learned to cook ... no one listens anymore. I CAN, I just don't LIKE to. Argh.

As a result I don't feel comfortable sharing with them, so I thought I'd check over here. You guys know me already. :o

Anyone want to start a thread about "lifestyle changes?"

I'm frustrated with their site. I lost a pound and tried to track it and the site thought I'd already entered my weight for the week, which I hadn't.

I guess I'll have to count it to next week's to