Secular Confessions

[Cosmosmom]

I am so happy to be home alone today. DH normally works 3rd and I'm on first...works great for us for the most part. This week only he has been on first and it's been weird to not have any alone time.
he will watch quite a few of my shows that most guys wouldn't...but even he has his limits and I was able to get my DVR emptied out a bit and got my purse cleaned out and the mail out (ok so not all the exciting LOL).

Pretty soon I will get started on the lasagna for tonight. It's fun to be home alone once in a while....though I really don't understand how someone could be a stay at home wife and not have kids (I get that kids would keep one busy).
I really like working but it is fun to sleep in!

[daylilies]

Oh, I dunno, being a stay at home wife was pretty nice. I'm not hard to keep entertained on my own.
Glad you're going to have fun Gwenn!

[Cosmosmom]

I ordered this http://www.amazon.com/Santa-Snowflak...ecc_rvi_cart_1

Both DH and I have these felt beaded stockings that our mom's made for us. I don't really sew and figure that it's going to take me forever and I was going to be optimistic that we will have a baby in a few years.

So yeah I can sort of fix seams if they get a hole in them and I can fix holes in Cosmo's toys though it's not always that pretty looking depending on where the surgery is needed on her babies. (and now that she is 7 yrs old, she doesn't put so many holes in them anymore).

[Cosmosmom]

Here you can see the ones my mom and his mom did......

[AbbeysMom]

I'm stopping in here to vent a bit:

*edited*

(I got a strange email that referenced something in this post, so it's removed.)

[Bridget]

That sucks so bad. What is wrong with people? Doesn't Jesus teach tolerance and love?
I know it's hard to see it this way but you don't want people like that in you or your daughter's life anyway. I have found that people, christian or otherwise, that are judgemental arseholes are judgemental arseholes about everything. Who needs that?
It is none of anyone's business what you believe or don't believe so why have they made it theirs? Shameful behavior if you ask me.
Just be patient and keep your feelers out and you will find friends that either share your views or have the common sense to love you and your daughter because of all of the wonderful qualities you possess and not because of your belief, or lack of. In the end, you will teach Abbey a valuable lesson about tolerance and respect that will be far more valuable than playdates with ignorant people that are simply not nice.

[AmeriBrit]

I agree with Bridget. And yeah, that is totally out of order for them to say things like that to you! And what a tree got to do with Jesus any way? He wasn't born in a tree, was he?!

I hope that you can find a group not so judgmental! I wouldn't pretend to be something I'm not just to fit in but I see what you're saying about worrying for your daughter, but would you really want her to be friends with kids who are going to grow up and probably be just like their ignorant parents?

Argh! I'm mad for you!

[AbbeysMom]

That sucks so bad. What is wrong with people? Doesn't Jesus teach tolerance and love?
I know it's hard to see it this way but you don't want people like that in you or your daughter's life anyway. I have found that people, christian or otherwise, that are judgemental arseholes are judgemental arseholes about everything. Who needs that?
It is none of anyone's business what you believe or don't believe so why have they made it theirs? Shameful behavior if you ask me.
Just be patient and keep your feelers out and you will find friends that either share your views or have the common sense to love you and your daughter because of all of the wonderful qualities you possess and not because of your belief, or lack of. In the end, you will teach Abbey a valuable lesson about tolerance and respect that will be far more valuable than playdates with ignorant people that are simply not nice.

Everything you said is true, but I can't help feeling sad. Abbey's 23 months and all she ever wants to do is play with other kiddos. I've really tried to meet people (I seriously belong to like 7 meetup groups at this point) but it is *so difficult* to make friends for myself, and find kids she can play with consistently. For some reason I never had a problem finding people to hang out with back home.

ETA: And honestly, the only thing I can think of is this reminds me of high school in the worst way. I love staying at home with Abbey more than anything but I've seriously considered going back to work just so she can socialize with other kids without me having to interect with other moms and somehow scare them away.

[daylilies]

Oh, right. Because only devout Jesus believers can have a Christmas tree. What planet are they on?
This is why I never open my mouth about my religion (or lack thereof)

[Gwenn]

Everything you said is true, but I can't help feeling sad. Abbey's 23 months and all she ever wants to do is play with other kiddos. I've really tried to meet people (I seriously belong to like 7 meetup groups at this point) but it is *so difficult* to make friends for myself, and find kids she can play with consistently. For some reason I never had a problem finding people to hang out with back home.

ETA: And honestly, the only thing I can think of is this reminds me of high school in the worst way. I love staying at home with Abbey more than anything but I've seriously considered going back to work just so she can socialize with other kids without me having to interect with other moms and somehow scare them away.

That's just awful.

[The10Eels]

I confess I tried the baking soda/ACV wash today as well.. I like it so far, but the true test will be how my hair is in the am

[Cosmosmom]

how do you not be jealous? My BFF had her baby on Wednesday and I found out on Thursday that yet alone person on my floor at work is expecting in the late spring/early summer.

I really am happy that my bff had a healthy little girl....but on the other hand am so horribly angry and jealous that she tried for 3 months to get her second and we have been trying for four years with nothing.

I think that I'm relieved that that she will want some space and than her family visiting so we probably won't get to see them again until Feb.

I'm not usually the jealous type but man this is sooo hard. It is really hard sometimes to remain optimistic that it will every be our turn and I really work at it.

[AbbeysMom]

how do you not be jealous? My BFF had her baby on Wednesday and I found out on Thursday that yet alone person on my floor at work is expecting in the late spring/early summer.

I really am happy that my bff had a healthy little girl....but on the other hand am so horribly angry and jealous that she tried for 3 months to get her second and we have been trying for four years with nothing.

I think that I'm relieved that that she will want some space and than her family visiting so we probably won't get to see them again until Feb.

I'm not usually the jealous type but man this is sooo hard. It is really hard sometimes to remain optimistic that it will every be our turn and I really work at it.

I typed out some stuff but I really don't know what to say. STC for four years has to be incredibly difficult, and I've never been there. I have been jealous of people though, especially recently, and that is just the worst feeling. It eats me up and makes me feel guilty too. I'm sorry you're dealing with this.

[LupeLauraly]

Everything you said is true, but I can't help feeling sad. Abbey's 23 months and all she ever wants to do is play with other kiddos. I've really tried to meet people (I seriously belong to like 7 meetup groups at this point) but it is *so difficult* to make friends for myself, and find kids she can play with consistently. For some reason I never had a problem finding people to hang out with back home.

ETA: And honestly, the only thing I can think of is this reminds me of high school in the worst way. I love staying at home with Abbey more than anything but I've seriously considered going back to work just so she can socialize with other kids without me having to interect with other moms and somehow scare them away.

Your main problem is that you live in Dallas. Chuck a rock in the air and it's guaranteed to land on a mega-church. I was born in Dallas and lived/suffocated there until I was seventeen, when I convinced my parents to move to Austin. Austin has its share of religious zealots (sadly, two of them are my folks), but it's a more palatable atmosphere than Dallas. Still, DH and I live in a close suburb of Austin and sometimes I feel like we're aliens when compared to our gun-toting, Bible-reading, über-conservative neighbors and co-workers. I totally get you on finding it hard to make mommy friends and I worry about how that will impact DS when he's school-aged. Now it's like the moms at the playgrounds can tell by looking at me that I don't go to their church or any church. Or that I lean heavily left. It sucks.

If y'all are ever in Austin, PM me and we'll have a good ol' secular play date.

[AbbeysMom]

And what a tree got to do with Jesus any way? He wasn't born in a tree, was he?!

lol

Your main problem is that you live in Dallas. Chuck a rock in the air and it's guaranteed to land on a mega-church. I was born in Dallas and lived/suffocated there until I was seventeen, when I convinced my parents to move to Austin. Austin has its share of religious zealots (sadly, two of them are my folks), but it's a more palatable atmosphere than Dallas. Still, DH and I live in a close suburb of Austin and sometimes I feel like we're aliens when compared to our gun-toting, Bible-reading, über-conservative neighbors and co-workers. I totally get you on finding it hard to make mommy friends and I worry about how that will impact DS when he's school-aged. Now it's like the moms at the playgrounds can tell by looking at me that I don't go to their church or any church. Or that I lean heavily left. It sucks.

If y'all are ever in Austin, PM me and we'll have a good ol' secular play date.

Will do. We have been talking of visiting Austin in the spring anyway.

[The10Eels]

I confess it is January first, and I just designed and ordered my "christmas" cards.... yeah, I am a little late!


but, in my defense, I really wanted to use the picture of me and the girls in front of Cinderella's castle for one of the pics!


I confess my hair was NOT greasy this morning!!! It was however probably the biggest rat's nest Ive had in my life! lol

[daylilies]

I did the baking soda and apple cider vinegar rinse last night too. I don't notice a huge difference, but I liked how fresh it felt after.
DH and I watched **** Clark's new year's thing at the end. NKOTB and BSB performed last and were on the stage for the countdown. It was so exciting to see; now I'm totally pumped for the cruise and the concert. It was shaping up to be a great new year's eve and then we had a really dumb fight about sex in which DH said he wasn't going to bother me for sex anymore (I absolutely dread sex and he seems to need it to survive) and I cried myself to sleep. Happy new year.

I understand sex is a basic need for most people but I'm having a hard time understanding that concept and it doesn't help that he doesn't try to explain it to me, we just fight about it and it doesn't make me want to try. I really want to understand and help him but his attitude and approach are all wrong.

[Gwenn]

I did the baking soda and apple cider vinegar rinse last night too. I don't notice a huge difference, but I liked how fresh it felt after.
DH and I watched **** Clark's new year's thing at the end. NKOTB and BSB performed last and were on the stage for the countdown. It was so exciting to see; now I'm totally pumped for the cruise and the concert. It was shaping up to be a great new year's eve and then we had a really dumb fight about sex in which DH said he wasn't going to bother me for sex anymore (I absolutely dread sex and he seems to need it to survive) and I cried myself to sleep. Happy new year.

I understand sex is a basic need for most people but I'm having a hard time understanding that concept and it doesn't help that he doesn't try to explain it to me, we just fight about it and it doesn't make me want to try. I really want to understand and help him but his attitude and approach are all wrong.

I'm so sorry you're fighting about that. Is that something the two of you could get therapy for maybe? From what you've been posting in this thread it sounded like things were getting better for you and I hate to see you fighting about sex.

I have to admit I totally thought of you when I saw the New Kids on **** Clark! I actually thought, "I hope Kate is watching this!" And I am so amused APA is editing out **** Clark's name!

I confess I did something kind of unlike myself last night. I think I've mentioned in here that I've been writing a book. Many, many years ago I used to date/live with a professional author and he introduced me to quite a few other authors in the state. None of them are super-famous, but one of them was actually my favorite writer at the time so it was really neat for me. After I broke up with him, I went to a couple of conventions where I ran into some of the same writer crowd and I remember one of them being quite helpful and encouraging to me at that time. And then I decided to go back to school and become an SLP and I completely walked away from all of those people because I was connected to them through my ex.

I've obviously been writing again for a few years but actually I set my story aside about a year ago and haven't been writing. I really want to get back to it and need motivation. So, on a whim, I found the writer I mentioned that was very encouraging to me. He's written tons of books and also has a blog where he shares info about writing and the publishing industry, all kinds of stuff, and it just seems like he's a good person to know if I want to be serious about writing. I remember my ex really looked up to him and would call to ask his advice about the industry. So I found him on Facebook and sent him a message telling him I didn't know if he remembered me, but explaining how I knew him and that I wanted connections in the writing world, etc. Today I logged into facebook and in return, he sent me a friend request - but no comments or anything. He didn't say if he remembers me at all or if he just thinks I'm some psycho stalker.

[daylilies]

That's exciting Gwenn! I hope you get some good advice from him!
Oh you bet I knew about the NKOTB thing quite a while ago...but it was a surprise that they were up there on the stage for the countdown. That was really neat. They're touring with BSB next year, that's why they were together.
Gwenn, didn't you send me a story you wrote a very long time ago? I started to read it and then my computer died and I lost it. I kept meaning to ask you for it again.
I know the therapist is just going to tell me to go to the doctor about the sexual issues. I did go a while ago, and they were going to refer me to a specialist but they never got back to me even after I called back a couple times, and I hate doctors with a passion so I gave up. I know I should try again. I've just been poked and prodded for so many years in so many undignified ways, I'm really not jumping up and down to do it again.

[Gwenn]

That's exciting Gwenn! I hope you get some good advice from him!
Oh you bet I knew about the NKOTB thing quite a while ago...but it was a surprise that they were up there on the stage for the countdown. That was really neat. They're touring with BSB next year, that's why they were together.
Gwenn, didn't you send me a story you wrote a very long time ago? I started to read it and then my computer died and I lost it. I kept meaning to ask you for it again.
I know the therapist is just going to tell me to go to the doctor about the sexual issues. I did go a while ago, and they were going to refer me to a specialist but they never got back to me even after I called back a couple times, and I hate doctors with a passion so I gave up. I know I should try again. I've just been poked and prodded for so many years in so many undignified ways, I'm really not jumping up and down to do it again.

I hate doctors, too, so I understand, but I think this is really important for your relationship. Which makes it important to Josh as well as your DH if that makes sense. Just get yourself checked out.

I'm happy to re-send the story. I'm pretty sure I have your email around here somewhere. What word processor do you have? I'm using the new Word for Mac so it's a .docx file. Let me know if I need to convert it to a .doc file instead (the old Word file format).

[daylilies]

Umm, not sure, but I have microsoft works on my laptop.

[Gwenn]

Oh, and since I'm on the subject anyway, I had lunch with my cousin last week and she had just quit her job. I was telling her I'd love to be able to at least work part time and have more time for myself. I was actually thinking "that way I could have time to work on my writing" but I didn't say anything because I hadn't told her I was writing and I don't just come out and tell people that. I don't mind talking about it, but I don't advertise it, either.

So she said, "Oh, your dad told me you're writing a book, and that way you'd have time to write."

Ummm.... I didn't realize my parents were telling everyone they know that I'm writing a book! Especially when I barely feel comfortable mentioning it to my closest friends ... I don't even feel comfortable calling it a book and usually call it a story out of superstition or something. So later, I asked my mom why Sherry had told me Dad told her I was writing a book, and Mom was dead silent for about 30 seconds, then said, "well, maybe you should tell Dad you don't want him to tell people." So I pointed out that I had never told him I was writing a book in the first place, so I never had the opportunity to tell him not to tell people! And she said "Oh, oh, yes, you told me, not Dad." Ack!!!

One of these days I need to stop complaining about my parents ... I feel like a teenager. But I swear, when I was a teenager they didn't bother me!

[Gwenn]

Umm, not sure, but I have microsoft works on my laptop.

Is it from before or after 2007?

[Inca]

You could just convert it in RTF, then anyone can open it. (well any word processor that is.)

[daylilies]

After

[daylilies]

LOL about your parents...I think it's always okay to complain about them a little bit! I used to complain about my mom a lot, but she backed off a lot over the last couple years. Basically when Josh was about 1 I told her to back off about things I didn't ask her advice on, and she did. I'm glad I don't have to worry about privacy though. Basically I know anything I tell her won't be told to anyone else unless she asks me first.

[Gwenn]

If it's after then I think she should be able to read a .docx, so I shouldn't need to convert? I'll send it, and if you can't open it, just tell me and I'll convert. I'm just lazy and don't want to bother with any conversions if I don't have to!

But I didn't know I could do RTF and that would work with any format. Good to know. I'm still new to this mac thing!

[daylilies]

I kind of wish I'd gotten a ticket to Donnie's party at Mohegan Sun tonight

[Inca]

If it's after then I think she should be able to read a .docx, so I shouldn't need to convert? I'll send it, and if you can't open it, just tell me and I'll convert. I'm just lazy and don't want to bother with any conversions if I don't have to!

But I didn't know I could do RTF and that would work with any format. Good to know. I'm still new to this mac thing!

I've had a mac since end of 08. DBF has had one for about 2 years before that. He's actually upstairs working his magic on a friend's mac that wouldn't even turn on .... and now it does!

[Gwenn]

I've had a mac since end of 08. DBF has had one for about 2 years before that. He's actually upstairs working his magic on a friend's mac that wouldn't even turn on .... and now it does!

Very cool!

Can you tell me something? I had Word 2007 on my PC and now Word for Mac 2008. They're basically the same generation of Word, but they aren't exactly the same. I had my book/story/whatever document on the PC and I did some odd things with the page formatting to make it print out in the shape of a book. It's totally unprofessional and real writers use manuscript format, I know, but seeing the pages actually looking like a page in a book was helping me pace the chapters. But I'm embarrassed I did that and when I want my editor friend to read it over I end up changing the layout back.

So I went into the copy on my new mac, saved a backup, and tried to switch around the layout, and apparently I don't have all the same tools on Word for Mac that I did on the PC. I can't undo the formatting without copying and pasting into a new document. Do you know if the function is missing because mac has a software that does that, and wants me to use it? And what software would that be?