I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who responded to my post yesterday. And to others who've responded to previous posts. 
You all are awesome! 
I found out that there is a no kill shelter not too far from me called Operation Kindness. I have to pass a background check, an interview and send two references. Then I do an orientation session. I think this will be a good way to spend my Saturday afternoons, at least twice a month, maybe more.
My landlady also suggested to me the hospital nursery which is really nearby. I'm going to check into that and see what it'd take to be a "hold babies a lot" volunteer. I'm sure there'd be an extensive background check for that one!! (At least I'd sure hope so!)
Oh, I also finished the first draft of my mid-term research paper. The final draft is due Wednesday. It came together pretty nicely once I started typing it out.
I celebrated by going out to IHOP for a late lunch.
I stopped by Wal-mart to see what cross stitch patterns they had. (I've decided I'm going to make a bunch of those small oval patterns as a type of ornament for gifts this year - take about 4 or 5 hours to make and usually cost under $5.) But Wal-mart had NO Cross Stitch materials!!
So, after work tomorrow I plan on either finding a local needlework store my landlady mentioned, or a Micheal's.
If no luck there, then I'm going to see if I can find patterns small enough to work - I need one sports related, one antique car, one garden related, one for my grandma (maybe something teachery???)and one for my aunt (she's a nurse admin, not really sure what she's into).
Oh, I think I haven't mentioned this. But ... for Christmas I'm going to CA again!! This time it will be even better though - because guess who'll be picking me up from the airport in San Jose???? My brother!!!!!!! He'll be able to stay until the morning of Christmas Eve, then will have to leave for work. But that gives us nearly two days together.
After Christmas we're going to visit Reagan's Presidential Library and also go to Solvang - maybe take in Hearst Castle too.
It'll be nice to get out of Texas for a while, but even better to get to see my brother in person again! (It'll be good to see my dad and grandma and aunt and uncle too ..)
Ambituous Saver's dad dying recently got me thinking. My parent's aren't very old, and I don't think I'm in any danger of losing either of them anytime soon ... but my grandma is 88 .. and you just really never know. So, I'm thinking that over Thanksgiving when I'm at my mom's, I'm going to take my camera and buy a memory card for it, especially to record her telling stories about her life, memories of her parents, stories of others in her family, stories of me when I was little, etc. Maybe I could bring the photo albums my mom gave me from her first marriage/college age and video her telling who all the people are.
Then when I'm out in California, I'll do the same thing with all my relatives out there. (may have to get a couple memory cards!) You just never really know .. and if my brother or I ever have kids someday, these videos would be a great way to share vividly with them who we came from.
I may even ask my mom's brother and sister if they'd do something similar (they live in TN and OH) - I'd have to send them question starters and find out what kind of memory cards their cameras use ... but it would be great to get all those memory cards and somehow transfer them onto a DVD. Could be good Christmas gifts for next year.
SA'ers are Awesome!
October 19th, 2009 at 02:46 am
October 19th, 2009 at 02:50 am 1255920635
October 19th, 2009 at 02:56 am 1255920966
October 19th, 2009 at 04:23 am 1255926202
Glad things are looking up!
October 19th, 2009 at 01:13 pm 1255958008
As a fellow stitcher, I can tell you that Walmart did away with their floss/fabric. Your next best options are Michael (with coupons) or Hobby Lobby or Joann's. Check out their websites to see about printing out coupons if you don't regularly get the Sunday paper for the coupons from the ads.
I have a leaflet/book of cross-stitch Christmas ornament patterns I'd be willing to pass on - I bought it for some really cute penguin patterns and I haven't used it in a few years. I did stitch up the penguins on green and red Aida (had to do a small bit of color substituting). I can contact you through the Books for Children Storytime blog if you want.
Another option is to check out free patterns - there are some at www.123stitch.com.
October 19th, 2009 at 02:25 pm 1255962330
If you get to one of the craft stores you might ask about an archival ink pen to write the info on the backs of family photographs.
I've done a lot of family interviewing over the years - it is a GOOD thing as Martha would say. Once folks are gone it's too late to think about what you'd wish you'd asked! GREAT PLAN!
October 19th, 2009 at 02:36 pm 1255963003
mrs,
it'd been a few years since I'd looked for new kits/patterns, so I hadn't realized that! They had stuff for sewing and for crocheting...
Thanks for reminding me about coupons for Michael's - if I don't find what I'm looking for there I'll let you know about the patterns, thanks for the offer!- I'm really hoping to find the premade kits that have the frame and all the materials - makes it simpler than trying to put it all together from bits and pieces
October 19th, 2009 at 02:39 pm 1255963159
I'd never heard of an archiving pen - I'll have to see if I can find one - neat idea!
October 19th, 2009 at 07:34 pm 1255980852
Get a book of alphabets, using a Michaels coupon and it will keep you busy for a few years.
For example, here's some items I made with just words and a bit of those artificial decorations:
Round Ornaments
or use the alphabets for cards like this:
Birthday Card (it is a simple matter to add tiny beads with the thread)
if you need help, ideas just private message me
October 19th, 2009 at 11:52 pm 1255996361
i realise a high percentage of the group might be older ladies but even then, i always find they are so much nicer and more talkative. i mention this only because i was thinking about how our friend-situations seem to be similar, and i realised i had another friend that i like to spend time with - she is 60 years old and works as a shop-lady at my work. she is sort of like an adopted parent or grandparent, we have tea together sometimes and she is just nice to be with sometimes. so, i don't know, but that could be another avenue to explore
October 20th, 2009 at 01:31 am 1256002319
October 20th, 2009 at 01:45 am 1256003103
Thanks for the offer
I stopped by Michael's today and they had some kits, but only one which would have sort of worked. So I found the other store my landlady also suggested. They didn't have any kits, but they had a bunch of Christmas Mini's pattern books on sale for $1. Although I hadn't wanted to do it Christmasy, I did find one mini of a Bible with candles that will work. I'm going to make four of them and insert them into a coaster - my dad, brother, and grandma will each get one, and then there'll be one for my aunt and uncle to share. Altogether will end up costing about $25 for everything. A little more than I wanted to spend, but still not too bad.
whitestripe,
No offense taken
Thanks Mooshocker.