~Off Topic Thread~

[no name 1]

Very cool, pointy! Sounds like fun!! Rubbing elbows with the stars. Here, I just stayed in and watched reruns of Law & Oder SVU that I'd not previously seen and chalked that up to a pretty good night.

Sounds cool, Pointy.

[no name 1]

i don't either, i'm trying to get stuff together this week and send it at the weekend at the latest

We're going to mail it off tmrow!

[*julez* 124]

I really just love Law & Order, especially SVU...not into CSI or any of the others.

well sure rubbing elbow... not really, there were around after but just for a photo op, and then off again. But it sure was fun.

I cannot hear the words Law and Order without also hearing the dun dun in my head, you know the bit of music between the scenes. lol

It makes the show, pointy, makes the show!!

[no name 1]

I really just love Law & Order, especially SVU...not into CSI or any of the others.

well sure rubbing elbow... not really, there were around after but just for a photo op, and then off again. But it sure was fun.

I cannot hear the words Law and Order without also hearing the dun dun in my head, you know the bit of music between the scenes. lol

It makes the show, pointy, makes the show!!

totally. That & the information about where it is!

I only like SVU as well.

21 days till I see my family!

[Jeraly 4]

I used to only like SVU but have got into Criminal Intent more as well...

[no name 1]

A 15 lb. 12 oz. package cost me $70 to ship to Bristol.

[VisaJourneyLady 33]

Wow - was that USPS? Or some other like fedex? That's quite an addition to the present budget.

[no name 1]

Wow - was that USPS? Or some other like fedex? That's quite an addition to the present budget.

USPS. Rip-off!

[StillThePrettiest 3]

I was REALLY surprised when I went to the post office here recently that there was no reduced rate for printed materials... most western countries do that, and I believe the US has a book rate, but nothing for papers... a small package of craft papers I was sending my mother, which had cost me something like $3, cost me $11 to send

I don't even want to THINK about what I've spent on postage over the years... it's very hard to get a good deal, and hard to know the best way to package and send things (eg the UK has the 'small packet' rule for parcels under 2kg, so do you split a larger package into two? do you separate printed materials to get the lower rate? blah blah blah...)

[ginger1981 0]

Hello and greetings everyone...it feels like it has been a while since I've been on here. I get that way with websites for some reason...I take a couple week break and I'm back. But I did miss everyone here.

Nothing much going on...big layoffs next Monday, so at the moment I'm crossing my fingers hoping I'll stay employed.

However, if there is a silver lining to the cloud, it would be the Clay Aiken Pin Extravaganza. In the dark moments where I was scared for my future, this application helped take my mind off of things by harrassing everyone I know into adding the Clay Aiken Pin Extravaganza to their facebook.

It was interesting going back and reading some of the parental experiences here...it's amazing how very few people have "normal" families. I think mine is just plain bizzarre...basically, my grandparents raised me while my mom was following bands around (she used to date one of the sax players from Huey Lewis and the News...and no I'm not making that up). My mom got married to my step dad (whom I call dad) when I was 6...and all of a sudden I moved in with people who I didn't really know that well. It made for interesting times and interesting situations.

For a while I wondered if my paternity was due in part to the guy who sang "The Heart of Rock n' Roll." (which, after some research I can attest that Huey Lewis is NOT my father).

[Jeraly 4]

I was REALLY surprised when I went to the post office here recently that there was no reduced rate for printed materials... most western countries do that, and I believe the US has a book rate, but nothing for papers... a small package of craft papers I was sending my mother, which had cost me something like $3, cost me $11 to send

I don't even want to THINK about what I've spent on postage over the years... it's very hard to get a good deal, and hard to know the best way to package and send things (eg the UK has the 'small packet' rule for parcels under 2kg, so do you split a larger package into two? do you separate printed materials to get the lower rate? blah blah blah...)

Oh tell me about it - I can't figure it all out - I have a few smaller parcels going to various places, but the heaviest will be the one to mum as it has like a 3lb bag of tootsie rolls in as she loves them Other than that I made earrings for mum, sis-in-law, best friend and gran which are small and light to ship and I am sending my Christmas cards in bundles to people who will see other people so they can distribute them - mum's just went in the shoe box with her other things For the most part though I have been trying to take advantage of the exchange rate and getting things online from the UK and shipping them to people they aren't for so they can wrap them up!! That and the £35 Amazon.co.uk vouchers that are virtually useless for me unless I want to pay ridiculous shipping rates to here or wait months to get what we ordered!! I managed to get another four presents with the vouchers so that has helped too

[*julez* 124]

I was wondering where the heck you were Ginger! I thouhgt you'd gone off VJ due to the Chicago meetup! I somehow got the idea that it wasn't what you hoped?

Totally agree with you re the Clay Aiken Pin Extravaganza!! It has changed my life for the good!!!

Fingers crossed that your job will be OK come Monday. Someone needs to send you the Adversity Flower Clay pin for good luck!

Your upbringing certainly sounds interesting.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Wow, I am bowled over by the response to the Clay Aiken Pin Extravaganza! I am a bit of a thicky when it comes to IT stuff, so I'm not sure how to add more pins but trust me, I'm trying! It too has helped me in a few dark moments over the past week or so. (Nothing like the holidays to throw your woes into sharp relief.)

I'm experiencing a massive cash flow problem right now -- my main gig neglected to pay me last month, over $4000 unpaid. I had to ask my mom to loan me my rent for December, and having checked my account balances I have to hit her up again today for another grand to help me float for the next 2 weeks. It's humiliating to have to do this, even if she is happy to help. By mid-January I will be totally solvent again, but in the meantime this sucks. (The nearly $900 bill for my tooth last month didn't help.) It's been my first year self-employed and if anything good has come of this nightmare is learning that I need to budget better for December in years to come. In the meantime, everyone gets Xmas presents from Sears as I still have a grand on that charge card!

Adversity Flower pins all round!

[Jeraly 4]

Hahaha Maven - sounds like a nightmare but like you said - come January it will be much better and it isn't too long until then I'll make a mental note for when i get my business up and running (at this rate in about ten years' time) to double my pay for December... actually with the nature of my business I don't think it works like that... but owel Maybe I'll bring out a range of Christmas jewelry to boost sales or something

[ginger1981 0]

Aly, maybe you should look into producing Clay Aiken pins!

Wow...what did your gig from last month tell you as to why they haven't paid you yet?

I think if my job ends up being dust in the wind next week I might become an artist. Last night I told Nicky about some of the ideas I had. I love art, but the way I am I'm so meticulous that I frustrate myself.

Then again, is there ever such thing as a content artist?